«...and in conclusion, the poison was unsuccessful.»
«Thank you, Doctor Huloe» the Galida Fre, Toulo Qor said.
Losker took his seat. He felt smaller than usual, sitting across the table from the second-in-command of the Galida Lii. He had been asked to join these meetings by Fre Qor himself, since he was the linguist of the English Floor Attack.
«Kle. Fre, It is imperative that we find a stronger means of...removing the human females» a woman said.
«What are you suggesting?» Fre Qor asked.
«Kle. We might want to try a more...direct approach when killing the humans. While poison is a fine way to painlessly rid ourselves of a fellow Lii» — a sneer in Losker's direction — «it is evident that it does not work on humans, besides drugging them.»
The Fre rubbed his chin, his arm fins rippling slightly as he thought. Losker touched his arms and felt the absence of his fins. He only possessed webbed feet and hands, and was constantly struggling to swim in the strong current underwater. He never stopped feeling relieved that the underwater buildings were air-filled.
Even his flat, thick nose drew attention. The Galida had nostrils placed directly on their face, that could seal off when entering the water. Losker had to hold his breath to breath through his gills, making him unable to speak clearly underwater.
But, his claw-like fingers and toes made gripping things easy, and he did not need a textured floor to walk like the others did. He had the blunt, square teeth of a Neda, with the unique ability to drop down his sharper Galida teeth down behind them. He was stronger than a Galida, though weaker than a Neda. He possessed half the intelligence of a Galida, and half the bravery of a Neda. His skin was blue like a Galida, but a far less vibrant color that looked the the sky above a mountain. While one subspecies could not understand the other, Losker could see both sides quite clearly...and was shunned for it.
«I believe you are correct» the Fre said at last.
Losker raised a hand hesitantly. Fre Qor nodded.
«Kle. Sir, if I may speak freely. We have broadcasts going throughout both Galida and Neda territories about the Revenge and their brutality. We're having our reporters, our news, distancing our kind from theirs. We say that the Lii would never do anything so brutal, and that these humans are a thousand-hundred times worse than we could have ever believed. We cannot kill Roseanne and Laura in the same manner that their kind has been killing because it would contradict everything we've been saying.»
«Doctor» the Fre replied, «we don't have to tell our kind how we removed the human females.»
«Kle. If there is one thing that is identical between Galida and humans, it is our thirst for information. Withholding the truth will always be noticeable to some extent, and there will always be that one person who does not believe us. That one person would have a chance — no matter how small — to find out how we killed and reveal that information to the public. Imagine, sir, how much control we would lose; especially at a time like this.»
Losker shifted uncomfortably in the silence, but took the angry glares with courage. This was how he knew he was right in his reasoning — no one appreciated a mix with a clear head.
«I have to say that I agree with you» Fre Qor said slowly. «How would you propose carrying out the execution?»
Losker thought. One of the strongest poisons on Liivat only made Ro (what was the human word?) high. They needed something strong to injure the humans, and something very strong to kill them.
«Kle. I have one idea, but I'm afraid you won't like it.»
The Fre cocked his head, and gestured for Losker to elaborate.
«Kle. We can use elpaenip to poison them. Not only will it most definitely work, but it will send a clear message to our kind about the direness of our situation.»
The Fre's eyes bulged and he lost his leader-like attitude for a moment. «El-elpaenip?»
Losker nodded.
«Kle. Fre Qor, this is madness» a man exclaimed. «This...man» — he sneered — «is insane. Clearly insane.»
The Fre held up a hand and the man quieted.
«Are you certain elpaenip is the only poison that will work?»
«Kle. The only painless poison. And we are going for painless and morally sound, sir» Losker replied confidently.
Fre Qor replied slowly. «Then we will use elpaenip. I will send out a message to all of you with the details of the execution. Meeting adjourned.»
Losker stood and stretched his stiff legs.
«You're going to kill us all, bringing out elpaenip» the man from earlier sneered. «I hope you get its acid on you and burn.»
Losker nodded, relatively unfazed by the common threat. Elpaenip poisoning was a very familiar and overused death threat. He gathered his papers and shoved them into his bag before starting out the door.
He couldn't help but feel a sharp pain in his chest. He was going to kill Ro — the woman who betrayed him and hurt his kind but that he nevertheless loved — with a highly acidic fruit that would destroy her nervous system and then melt away her body until she was a mushy, sizzling mass on the floor. It was sick.
He should visit her. So he could say goodbye. He needed to make sure he could leave feeling not the least bit guilty. He made a sharp turn into a stairwell and climbed up to the humans' secure room. He flashed his ID at the guard in front of the door and reached for the handle, but couldn't bring himself to turn it.
If he went in, he wouldn't be able to carry out his plan. He wouldn't even be able to look at her without going back on his idea. Leave with a clear mind; who was he kidding? It took all his control to stay emotionless towards her thus far. He wished there was someone to confide in, but Qiem Poy was the only one who knew his secret, and he was transferred back to his old job.
Losker lifted his hand off the door, and backed away.
«Get them anything they want» Losker said to the guard. He didn't wait for the eye roll that usually followed his requests. Turning on his heels, he rushed down the hall, anxious to get home.
