The Alien Within

Chapter 231: A Calculated Mercy

Rinliner Ao surveyed the scene, his mind racing as he weighed his options. Despite his group's superior numbers, resistance was futile. The Deri-Legu's advanced technology could annihilate them if they chose to retaliate. Any further defiance could only lead to irreparable destruction.

His shoulders sagged as defeat settled in. Slowly, he raised his hands and dropped to his knees. "Please pardon me," he began, his voice trembling. "I was only thinking of my people. I offended you… Please forgive me." His tone was laced with desperation.

Seeing their leader surrender, the others followed suit, dropping to their knees and pleading loudly in unison.

Tessa's unwavering smile didn't falter. She tilted her head slightly, observing Rinliner Ao with an air of amused detachment. Then, her voice rang out, cool and cutting: "You really know how to act, Rinliner Ao. Have you considered joining an acting school? I'm sure you'd be a star."

Even Nzak-Deri was stunned. He had expected Tessa to accept Rinliner Ao's apology and move forward. After all, wasn't that the natural course of action when someone admitted their fault? But instead, she dismissed their pleas as an act.

The atmosphere had grown impossibly tense. Work had stopped entirely as all eyes turned to Tessa. The moment felt like a scene from a dramatic play, each word carrying weight and consequence.

"You think I'm stupid, don't you?" Tessa continued, her voice steady yet sharp. "You pretend to be sorry so I'll naively forgive you, allowing your people to join this construction. To you, it would be a win-win—access to advanced technology while you keep your ulterior motives intact."

Rinliner Ao's face paled. Her words felt like daggers, each one piercing his innermost thoughts. For a fleeting moment, he genuinely believed she could read his mind. His body began to tremble as if he had seen a ghost.

"Great goddess, please forgive my stupidity!" Rinliner Ao shouted this time, his voice breaking with sincerity. The fear in his tone was unmistakable.

Tessa knew she had him exactly where she wanted him—on his knees and utterly submissive. Her expression remained calm, but her eyes glinted with cold calculation. "Go back to my partner, Gastro," she commanded. "Stand by the ship. When I return, we'll discuss your fate."

Rinliner Ao, now fully convinced that Tessa could read minds, scrambled to his feet. He barked orders at his people to retreat to the ship, their collective shame palpable. They obeyed without a word, leaving the construction site under Tessa's watchful gaze.

As they disappeared from view, Tessa allowed herself a small smile. She could see the fear and awe she had planted in their hearts. They would spend hours wondering how she had unraveled their schemes so effortlessly.

The truth, however, was far simpler. Tessa's deep knowledge of Zubo's inhabitants and culture, combined with her lightning-fast cognitive processing, made her an unparalleled strategist. She could piece together ideologies, behavioral tendencies, and subtle reactions to form an eerily accurate picture of her opponents' intentions.

Most beings—alien or otherwise—who entered the realm of higher gods gained one of three abilities: rapid mental processing, the ability to interpret thinking patterns, or predicting behavioral tendencies. These abilities made them formidable, but still mortal.

Tessa, however, had inherited something far greater. Before his death, Zorath had imparted to her a vast, intricate knowledge of countless civilizations, including Zubo. This "cheat," as she liked to think of it, gave her mastery over all three abilities. It wasn't magic—it was logic, honed to a razor-sharp edge. But to her enemies, it might as well have been divine omniscience.

Satisfied, Tessa turned her attention back to Nzak-Deri, who had been silently observing the entire exchange. He looked up at her, a mixture of awe and apprehension in his eyes.

"Well?" she said sharply, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Why aren't you working?"

"Yes, my goddess!" Nzak-Deri stammered, rushing to comply.

Though Tessa didn't react outwardly, she could tell that Nzak-Deri now believed she could read minds as well. His previous resentment had melted into fear. He resolved to work without any stray thoughts or doubts that might betray him.

With renewed determination, Nzak-Deri and his group returned to their tasks, their focus sharper than ever. To them, they were no longer merely constructing a transportation device—they were building the "god vessel" under the watchful eye of a deity who saw everything.

Tessa watched them work, her smile lingering. It wasn't trust that bound these people to her will—it was fear. And for now, that was more than enough.

For Rinliner Ao and his people, Tessa wasn't letting them off easily. She was no fool—she knew the Clover ship that brought her to Zubo was being tracked. The Clover Manufacturing Company, notorious for its ruthless tactics, would eventually catch up. They wouldn't just come for the ship; they'd come for her, their runaway "investment" and whatever gold, silver or profiteering venture that they could tap into or digg-out from their new location.

But Tessa wasn't worried. No, she saw opportunity where others might see impending doom. Rinliner Ao and his people had wanted to use Nzak-Deri and the Deri-Legu as cannon fodder in their own schemes. It was only fitting, poetic even, that they should now serve the same purpose for her.

Yet Tessa wasn't one to move without precision. She'd observed Rinliner Ao closely, noting his stubbornness, his pride, and his unrelenting ambition. He was still unrepentant despite his earlier pleas. Fear had subdued him momentarily, but beneath the surface, she could sense the simmering defiance. Rinliner Ao wasn't someone who truly submitted—he was someone who waited for his chance to strike.

Tessa decided it was time to show Rinliner Ao who the true master of schemes was. If he thought she would forgive and forget, he was mistaken. No, she would use him and his people for what they were worth—and when the inevitable calamity arrived, they would stand as the first line of defense, cannon fodder for the storm heading their way.

---

Hours later, Rinliner Ao stood by Tessa's spaceship, oblivious to the intricate web of plans she had spun around him. His earlier fear had begun to wane, replaced by a cautious optimism. He believed he had played his cards well. He had knelt, he had begged, and Tessa had seemingly spared him and his people. He even thought he might still have a chance to benefit from her arrival on Zubo.

Unbeknownst to Rinliner Ao, Tessa had anticipated his every thought. As he paced near the ship, pretending to stand guard, Tessa watched from a distance, hidden behind the towering Zubo flora. Her eyes gleamed with a quiet satisfaction.

Rinliner Ao was nothing more than a pawn, a placeholder in her grander scheme. She had no intention of sparing him when the time came. In her mind, she mapped out every step, every contingency. The Clover Company's arrival was no longer a question of "if" but "when." And when they came, Rinliner Ao and his people would unknowingly shield her from the brunt of their wrath.

---

Back at the construction site, the Zubo people worked tirelessly under Nzak-Deri's watchful eye. The god vessel—Tessa's so-called "transportation device"—was nearing the completion of its individual components.

The workers meticulously crafted the materials and body parts needed for the vessel, their precision honed by a mix of reverence and dread. Once the components were ready, the assembly phase would begin. It was during this phase that they planned to address any unforeseen issues, making adjustments or replacements as necessary to ensure the vessel's perfection.

Nzak-Deri, unlike Rinliner Ao, had fully committed himself to Tessa's cause. Whether driven by fear of her perceived god-like power, awe at her strategic brilliance, or simple self-preservation, his devotion to her had become unwavering. He oversaw the labor with a sense of urgency, barking orders to keep his people focused and productive.

For him, Tessa wasn't merely a leader—she was a force to be reckoned with, one he couldn't afford to cross. If completing the god vessel meant ensuring his survival, then he would pour every ounce of effort into its creation.

Tessa returned to the site, her presence instantly commanding attention. The workers paused, glancing up at her as if she were a celestial being descended to earth.

"How's the progress?" she asked, her voice calm but laced with authority.

Nzak-Deri stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Nearly complete, my goddess. We'll need a few more hours for the final calibrations."

"Now, that is good news." Tessa nodded, her gaze sweeping over the mechanical parts of the 'under-construction' vessel. It was a masterpiece of Zubo engineering, enhanced by the knowledge she had shared with them. To the Zubo people, it was a god vessel, a sacred machine that would transcend the limitations of their existence. To Tessa, it was simply a means to an end.