So I give them the entire pitch.
“They have one resource more precious and valuable than all the universe’s Resnyx combined,” I say.
Vraik grunts and grabs my shoulder. “Tell us more,” he says.
I can’t hide my grin. “Female.”
An unnatural excitement floods through my chest as I watch their expressions echo my own.
I bite the inside of my bottom lip. “Billions of them. As far as the eyes can see.”
“Bullshit,” Rekker mutters, testing me.
“Say what you want. You’re free to look for yourselves,” I say.
Rekker squints his eyes and views the choppy holographic footage transmitted from Earth.
With this allure, I can make up for my past mistakes. I hit the fucking gold mine on this, and they know it.
“Hm…” he hums.
“Rekker, you were right,” I declare. “The resources we have harvested from this planet have provided us with more than enough wealth.”
Rekker breathes out, patiently waiting for me to wrap up my speech. Instead, I drag it out for him.
“We have been working for decades. The more time we spend, the more we lose. Alphas, we must answer to our biological needs. It is time to breed.”
Both alphas stir. Vraik’s scales flutter and shine.
Rekker looks away from the hologram. “You have turned savage,” he says. “Like the ancient ones…”
I raise my chin. “Maybe that’s what we need to be.”
Vraik growls in approval. “A bride would be nice,” he says.
“Don’t be silly. There are nine billion people on Earth. We can have ten brides if we want,” I say.
Rekker paces. “Except, it goes against the code of the Ubaran Empire. Women are off-limits unless you win the Lottery.”
“No one wins the Lottery,” Vraik states.
I don’t even want to think about the Empire Lottery.
I have studied Earth’s people for months. Humans are filth. But their women are the finest in the universe.
They will give in to our demands.
“Our empire will never allow our children back inside the gates,” Rekker argues.
My grin fades. “Every so often, an opportunity comes. You either refuse the challenge, or you take it. It’s time to build our own empire.”
“You’re out of your mind,” Vraik says.
Intrigue lights a fire in our bellies.
“Am I? When the Empire first started, were there millions fighting for their independence? No. We were one and a few. We seized control of a corner of the universe, and we built an army.”
Together, we stare at the blue planet. Each of us weigh the options of this insane idea.