“Yes, Kaede. Do you think someone like me didn’t catch on when you tried to pass off an object of power as a simple trinket? Both my father and I knew what Selena wore the moment she entered the Assembly, and we know what problems would arise if news about the truth spread across the universe. We didn’t want to draw any more unneeded attention to Selena and her necklace since the Assembly already had their focus on her. It has been interesting working here on Destima; while they refuse to speak to me, I can feel their presence on the moon.In fact, I cansense yoursymbiont listening to us. Aren’t you going to introduce us?”
“Why would you want to speak to it?”Kaede asked, not understanding why she would be interested in something she couldn’t study in person. “You aren’t looking to get one for yourself, are you?”
“No, I would never,” Oeta confessed, her mental voice failing to mask her curiosity.“This discovery is new to me since they aren’t registered with the CEG—for good reason. If others knew of the power they wield and the possibilities they grant their hosts, I fear that we would have a civil war within the CEG on our hands. The other CEG governments already fear the Aldawi’s strength but have stayed out of their border spat with the Quaww. If news got out, I foresee the whole CEG would turn their backs on the Aldawi and swarm them.”
“We wouldn’t allow it,” REI interjected.“The Oetsae are loyal to the Aldawi and no one else. They have discovered our crash site and released us from our underground prison before we all slowly faded and died off. The Sovereign Zirene and the Fab Five gave us an opportunity to pay them back by using our abilities to power their creations.”
“They aren’t abusing or taking advantage of you?”
“Quite the contrary. By allowing us to charge ourselves with their dual suns, we can strengthen our lifeforce and prevent ourselves from fading. Instead of starting a relationship with a host, we have integrated into some of their designs to create living machines—”
“Those robots? Is that why those devices had a presence?”Oeta asked, her mental voice full of shock. “You’ve created a metallic host for them to use until they find a biological one! By allowing them to power your creations, you have essentially saved their lives.”
“Exactly,” REI replied proudly.“That is why we will never betray those who saved us.”
