II. Violet

Maia: Ah! Violet, thank you for joining us. Please, take a seat. Violet: Of course. I can’t thank you all enough for your help. We truly had lost all hope of rescue. Althaea: Don’t mention it! It’s kinda what we do, after all. Besides, I never thought we’d ever meet actual vampires! Maia: Speaking of, how are your folks doing? Violet: As good as they can be, all things considered. They’re a little cramped and a lot of us are getting very thirsty, but my wife, Alex, is doing what she can for everyone. Synthia: I’m sorry we couldn’t find a larger transport ship in time, but I’ll see if we can reprogram our replicators to synthesize human blood. That’ll be a first, but it should work. Violet: Thank you, again. We’re honestly not used to such… kindness. By the way, I’m sorry to be so direct, but are those… wings? Synthia: *laughs* Yep, sure are. I’m not really with them anymore, but I used to be an angel. Violet: An… angel? You mean like, ‘be not afraid’ and all that? Synthia: The very same. In fact, I might be the only one in this room older than you are. I was created around the same relative time that humanity first began cataloging the stars. I never really got along with the rest of the angels, however, and after I met my dear Althaea, they cut off my first pair of wings and cast me out. I’m only the second angel they’ve done that to, but I’m sure you’ve at least heard of the first. Violet: You don’t mean… Lucifer? Synthia: Indeed. Thankfully, they showed me slightly more mercy than they showed him, but it was only with Althaea’s help that I got my wings back at all. I’m not sure what changed, but they truly did used to be valiant and righteous protectors. At least, I believed them to be. Now, they seem to be the exact opposite. In fact, that’s why we invited you to speak with us. *computer beeps* Maia: Unfortunately, it would appear that the Angels of Aldebaran themselves are responsible for your star’s sudden, rapid expansion. Recently, they’ve started consolidating power and enforcing their will on more of the galaxy than they ever have before. Not only that, they’re already aware of our intervention in your peoples’ genocide and it won’t be long before they retaliate in some way. Violet: But… why would they do that? We’d been existing peacefully on Vulcan for hundreds of thousands of years. We had no idea Angels were even real, and suddenly they want to eradicate us? Synthia: They see you as a threat to their will. Even though you’ve done nothing wrong, your very existence flies in the face of their doctrine and they resent your true immortality. They *must* be seen as the most powerful, longest-living beings in the cosmos as that is where they stake their claim to authority. The knowledge your people possess could easily disprove or contradict their version of history, and if the wider galaxy becomes aware of your presence, it could topple everything they’re trying to build. Althaea: Good! Those assholes *need* to be stopped! Synthia: I find myself in agreement. I may be of their kind, but I once again stand against them. Violet: I see… So, what’s the plan? Maia: First, we get you all to your new home. We’ve already found another planet with a star you should find agreeable inhabited by folks more than happy to take you in. Second, we travel the cosmos and try to build as much of a coalition against the Angels as possible. After that, we just have to do our best to keep the bloodshed to a minimum. Violet: If there is blood to be spilled, please, allow me the chance to avenge the suffering of my people. Maia: Are you sure? We’ll need all the help we can get, but— Violet: I took part in nearly every single world war on Earth before we left for the stars and I know what will happen to the galaxy if we don’t act. I’m sure. Maia: Well, alright then. Violet, it is my honor to welcome you to Pleiades Squad. Althaea: Hell yeah!! It’s good to have you on the team, Violet! Violet: Thank you, again and again. Maia: Oh, don’t thank us yet. Now you have to learn how to fly a spaceship on your own! But first, let’s get you all to your new home.