The Eden War - Book 3 of Re-Forge

Manipulation

It was during the afternoon of her visit to the arena observation box that Adara acknowledged an idea that began seeding her thoughts. She pondered on how it could add value to her plan, then leaned in close to the Leader and said: "Mister Leader, Sir, who is allowed to challenge at these events?"

He tore his eyes off the arena floor with great difficulty and said: "Anyone. Why?"

Adara asked: "Is there a rule that forbids females from competing?"

He laughed with a hiss and answered: "No female would last a second against any male in that arena. Each male challenger is the fighting pride of their family, so, there was never a need to include such a silly rule. Besides females of our species are gentle. They couldn't harm an insect."

Adara asked. "Oh, really? Then I have something for you and the other leaders to see. With your permission, Sector Leader?"

The Sector leader replied: "We are watching the games; can't this wait until the interval?"

Adara said: "I disagree that your females are weak. Please allow me to entertain your followers with a short holovid."

The Sector Leader growled and loudly said: "I grow tired of humouring you, despite your value, but you can proceed but this last concession."

Adara stood and then bowed low to the Sector leader. With his explicit approval, she walked to the front of the observation box, turned, and she gazed briefly at every reptilian face in the box.

Eden just knew Adara had reached her limit, and thought: "Oh no. She is going to tear them apart."

Adara surprised her by growling: "Sector leader, members of the governing body and elite guards. I have a problem I would like to share with you. Will you hear what I have to say, Sirs?"

The Leader hissed loudly with humour at this and said: "Talk. We are between challenge rounds anyway. Entertain us, young human."

The reptiles in the observation box joined in the good cheer, and so, Adara laughed as well and said: "Eternal ship, lower the lighting level." The transparent material surrounding the observation box went black, and the interior lighting dimmed as if it was a cinema.

In Terran, Adara said: "Eternal ship, replay the last five minutes of the incident in Tim's bathing pond. Play it exactly as I did for Tim's parents." As it played out, Adara watched the effect it had on the reptiles. She saw as some shared comments that were obviously vulgarity laced with reptile humour.

Then the reptilian faces turned to shocked expressions as they witnessed with horror, as a 'helpless, gentle female' tore the throat right out of her mate, then threw her head back and gulped down her mate's neck flesh. Then as requested, Eden played back the slow-motion scene that ended as two heads exploded. The observation box was silent.

Adara said: "Eternal ship, playback the first part of my interview with the parents."

The interview showed the parents telling Adara about the treatment they received before coming to Eden and the reward they would get if they killed Tim. Everyone present knew there was only one place that such an order would come from.

Adara said: "Eternal ship, bring up the internal lights."

Every reptile eye in the room was focussed on her, waiting for her next exciting move.

Adara did not disappoint them: "Sector leader, you have voided our agreement by having my friend killed, killed by a female in the most dishonourable way. Therefore, you have no honour in my eyes. You have shown you cannot be trusted when making a binding agreement that I also have recorded." Adara could see that the Leader was about to attack her and said "Wait!" and held up her hand.