48 Second Destination (1/2)
Ivan's second stop was a mining planet called Kav'sall. The entire planet was originally covered in forestry, but excessive mining over several hundred years has turned a quarter of the planet into a barren pit.
Colossal machines and factories dug apart the planet, separating timber, biomatter, various ores and resources before packing them up and selling them to various locations across the galaxy. This is just the legal proceeds on the planet, what isn't stated is that this is actually a life planet with humans, a primitive tribe of blue skinned humans still fighting with spears and bows.
The presence of humans would have made mining on this planet illegal, but Northern Star Mining Co. hid this information to take advantage of the resource rich planet. They also have many hidden transactions where they capture and sell the natives as slaves. Originally the nearby pirates treat this planet as a hub for collecting manpower when needed, but now it was a central transaction hub for all slaves, purchasing and selling.
This time Ivan rose the Kraken from subspace into the surface universe some distance away from the planet and allowed the ship to slowly descend toward it, because of a certain individual kneeling before him while trembling.
Lanise was terrified as Ivan looked down at her kneeling before him.
”P-President-” Lanise began to desperately say.
”Lanise, tell me why you did it.”
”P-President, that unevolved trash dared touch me all over with his disgusting hands. I… How can I let something like that go? I did what you said, President, I took them somewhere others wouldn't see…”
”But they did see, Lanise. Either someone saw, there was a hidden camera somewhere, or something else. You were careless, and even left a mess of a body behind.”
”I…I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry, President.”
Lanise was crying and trembling with her head downcast as Ivan coldly looked down upon her. Seeing her like this, Ivan was lost in his own thoughts.
'I knew the Celestials held some prejudice toward three-dimensional beings. Although this is especially true for the Vulpes, who came from a limited monarchy society where their social positions determined their status. I didn't expect it to become this severe though. At least they are patriotic toward Celestials, and as long as I grasp the propaganda, I can easily lead them in the direction I want.'
”Lanise,” Ivan called out calmly, pinching Lanise's chin and raising her head up as he knelt on one knee to look down into her violet eyes. ”How old are you this year?”
”Tw-twenty-one,” Lanise choked on her voice through the tears.
”Are you proud to be a Celestial?”
”Y-yes… It, and you, mean everything to me, P-President… You have done so much for us.”
”And do you think that being a Celestial makes you superior?”
”Th-that…”
”Lanise, it does make you superior.”
Lanise's eyes grew wide in surprise while being slightly confused. She looked back into Ivan's eyes which were blue like the ocean, becoming lost in his gaze.
”It makes you superior, Lanise, never forget that. So do not lower yourself to that level again, they are unworthy of your attention.”
Lanise blankly nodded and Ivan grabbed his sleeve and dried her tears.
”Next time simply throw them into subspace and be done with it, no evidence will remain that way. Although make it somewhere it won't cause us any problems, okay?”
Lanise nodded repetitively and wanted to say yes, but got choked up on her own words.
”It's enough, go back and rest for now.”
At Ivan's words, Lanise blushed as she got up and bowed awkwardly before fleeing the bridge back to her chambers.