Book IV: Chapter 4 | Solis Amatorios Scio

The elves wait in the boat as Pampanius, Barbara, and Pliny leave.

"You have your orders. Wait for me. If you do not hear back from us after several hours, depart, never return. Accept no ransom for us. Build your city, build your armies, and burn the city to the ground."

Alexander nods. Arachne looks nervous, but they wait.

Pliny, Barbara, and Pampanius scurry into a small craft provided to them, a paddle boat similar to the one they left at sea.

"My name is Yuna, and I will bring you to Psychotome, nya."

They nod and enter the boat.

There are two gates to the large metal entrance of the building. One seems to connect to what was once a dock with plastic and concrete piers standing like sentinels above the water, with a now long, rust-rotted wooden dock. However, next to what looks almost like a large metallic ship, overturned and capsized, is a much smaller entrance. This entrance does not seem to have been made by the Great One, but instead appears to have been cut in after the fact. Metal is ripped apart and cut open. Crudely cut wood and brick form the entrance and the gate, and large words in common, of mixed fonts and styles, are bolted onto this door and waterway.

"The tunnel to the Queen's heart," Barbara mutters aloud.

They enter this port. After passing through the water into the dark, torch-lit tunnel, the cat guard asks them to exit the craft.
"This way, nya."

They do so, and stand on a dock made of smooth white concrete. There is a door.

They enter through the door and see a large, vast, empty space. Inside this empty space are large tubes, chutes, and metal structures. There are buildings within buildings surrounding the large empty space, and above them, what was once a glass ceiling.

A large, brightly colored box is then walked over to them—a litter covered with plastic sheets or transparent cloth of an unknown material that looks almost solid like glass. It features brightly colored animals, all with a similar style to the idol: large eyes, a large, menacing grin. The slaves lower the litter, and the curtain is drawn back against the metal pole.

"Come in, come in, nya~ sit with me, nyan."

Pliny and Pampanius look at each other.

Pampanius jokes, "Well, Caesar, it looks like you found your Cleopatra. So shall I be Mark Antony, or will you be Caesar?"

Barbara nervously giggles, trying not to think about their scenario. Both men enter the litter. Barbara prepares to enter, but she is stopped by the Queen.

"You can leave your slave behind, fshh. She's no use here, nya."

Pliny turns, prepared to get up. "This woman is a citizen of ours. She will remain with us."

The Queen, dressed in elaborate pinks and light greens of a hue neither of the two Romans had ever seen before, except on the colors produced from an oil spill on the water, smiles. Her wide grin is filled with golden teeth. She purrs, "Nyan~ I accept, nya. Come on in, come in, nyan." She sits up and places her hand on the cushion beside her.

Barbara nervously sits down. The litter lifts, and they are walked into the city.

"So you captured one of my boats, nya, and you returned my men to me as hostages, fshh. Is that correct, nyan?"

As the litter walks towards the center of the complex, Pliny responds, "We will return the hostages freely. They are all well taken care of and maintained, provided that our conditions are met."

"Conditions, neeya? You already have conditions for me, nyaaa, I see." The Queen smiles. Her ears move up and down on the top of her head, and her tail sways to a beat that none can hear except her. "Won't you let me speak my case first, nyan? What are you looking for, nya?"

Pampanius then speaks, "We are looking for—we have fled our old island, and we are looking to establish a new city for our people. We come here as ambassadors to this new nation and to establish friendly relations. We hoped to return the hostages as a gift and to establish friendly ties and trade, and to purchase supplies for the building of our cities."

The Queen looks over at them and smiles. "You wish to buy supplies, nya? Do you have? What would you buy those supplies with, neeya?"

Pliny says, "We have some resources we would be willing to trade. Additionally, my colleague and I are skilled warriors, and our commanders, as your troops have clearly learned. We would be willing to offer our services as mercenaries for the time being."

"So you would be willing to fight for me, nya, under certain circumstances, nyan~?"

Pliny asks, "Do you have any immediate threats?"

The Queen then turns to Barbara, who is scribbling away on a tablet. "What are you doing, fshh nya?"

Barbara sputters, "I'm the secretary. It is my job to keep records of these conversations. A historian? How nice and how useful." She continues to scribble with the stylus.

Meanwhile, Barbara takes a look around. As the litter moves deeper into the building, rather than a palace or banquet hall, she notices that the cat people around them are not what she would normally expect from a village—not merchants, not traders. They all seem to be soldiers and guards, and they all seem to be looking at and approaching the litter.

"Pliny, Father, can you please look at my writing here?" She holds the tablet over. "I want to make sure I have the grammar on this correct."

Pliny looks down and sees just a single word: "Timeo."

"Neeya… I fear, nya. Where are you from, stranger, nya?"

"We are from another world. On divine commission, we have been sent to unite this world."

"Oh, like the great hero, nyan?" She smiles. "Oh, well, the cities are not going to be very happy to hear about that, fshh."

"Would the cities be in need of our aid? Aren't we here to help?"

"Maybe in a practical sense, ne… maybe, nya. But you represent a dangerous force. There already has been a great hero, nyan. He founded our peoples. You wouldn't be implying that that great work has to be undone, neeya?"

Pampanius tries to be diplomatic. "I would think only continued."

"Why continue something that's already perfect, nyaaa? No, no, no, nyan, you should stay with me, grya. Work with me, nya. I will protect you from the cities, nyan. You can be my mercenaries, fshh. And in time, perhaps we can figure out some sort of arrangement, nyan. You can help me raid ships, nya! There's much money to be made now. The ocean's underwater kingdoms are falling apart, fshh, and these waters are prime for the raiding of ships. Much loot can be made if you're good, nyan. After a year or so, I'll even let you have a cut of the wealth that we gain, nya~"

Pliny says, "An intriguing offer, however, we would prefer if these could be upfront. We would, if we're going to work for you, have specific duties and specific charges."

The Queen smiles and says, "That's not really what I do, nya." She waves her hand.

Pliny and Pampanius look at each other and say, "If that's the case, then you may return us back to our ship. I believe our negotiations are finished."

"Oh, but you haven't heard my offer in its entirety, fshhh. If you will not work for me as my crew, nya, then you will work for my amusement and entertainment, nyan~."

Pampanius says outright, "We will do no such thing."

"Oh, I think you will, nya. Look here, sha!" She grabs something in her hand and turns it around. With an open palm, a bright light emerges—a flash.

Pliny, Pampanius stare into the light, and they suddenly are no longer moving. Barbara screams as the light turns on her.