"He's starving." Krel noted softly, pressing one hand to the thick glass wall that separated him from the giant creature. Fog covered the glass around his hand when it breathed, a deep, pitiful whine echoed around them.
"How can you tell?" The human lieutenant asked, basic curiosity in his tone.
"When did you last feed him?" Krel asked, sparing a glance to the human. The blank expressions noticeable even from the living hazmat suits gave the anger-inducing answer. Were all humans this careless? Or this stupid? He turned back to the cage. "Does he have a name?"
"Ah, a former specimen called it Buster." The lieutenant stammered.
Specimen. The word quickly became an insult to Krel after they had landed. Morando told him to ignore it, that one day the humans would become the specimens, maybe pets if any were so merciful. Hmph, Krel didn't care much for either idea.
"Open the cage." Krel ordered the walking yellow suits hard at work around him. Somehow none noticed the hefty black and white beast he brought with him.
"W-what?" One suit questioned for the collective.
"Are your sound receptors defective?" Krel snapped in annoyance. "I said, open the cage." The creature beside him crowed with a loud belch of a sound.
"Commander Kubritz told us strictly to never open the specimen's cage." The same suit explained.
"And she is a soolian," he spat, "open the cage. Unless you would like to continue to starve your one living 'specimen'." Scowling down at the living suit that dared speak, watching it shrink in on itself and look to it's companions for assistance. Another one, farther away, stepped toward a lit button and pressed it.
The glass wall raised with a hiss and stale air washed over Krel. Behind the glass, Buster watched the wall rise closely, tail wagging, each of his spider-like feet tapping the pavement with excited movement. Once the wall was completely out of the way, Buster stepped one foot out, glowing eyes looking over the many little suits watching, some reaching for near by weapons.
"Ignore them," Krel spoke quickly, reaching up his upper right hand to get his attention. "They won't hurt you, I promise."
A deep rumble came from Buster as he looked back at the many suits, creeping slowly out of the cage, focusing more on the princeling. Lowering his beak to Krel's extended hand, his eyes seemed to dim calmly.
"Yes, that's it," Krel's hand stroked up the horn of his beak, another pet the underside on his chin. "You must be starving, friend. I brought you something." He tugged gently on Buster's beak, gesturing with his free hands to the animal beside him. The creature stared off absentmindedly, not seeming to realize it's coming end.
Warm air washed over Krel, heavy liquid rained from Buster's beak and pooled around the princeling's feet. Red eyes looked over the smaller creature glowing bright with excitement, darting back to Krel for certainty. Krel stepped back, feeling the rare smile spread over his face, he nodded taking back his hands.
In just a single moment Buster picked up the earth born creature, it squawked with fear as it was swept off of it's cloven hooves and tossed into the air, and down Buster's throat. Gasps went around, whether they were in awe or fear Krel didn't know or care.
"Very good," he praised, raising his hands to pet his beak again. Laughing giddily as a slimy tongue slicked him from foot to head. "I have more for you, just outside." He stepped back, tugging lightly on the hook of Buster's beak for him to follow. Buster was reluctant at first, especially when the weapons that some of the hazmat suits held started humming.
"Put down your weapons." Krel ordered firmly. "You are making him nervous."
"W-we cannot let it escape the compound." A new suit raised it's blaster. "Commander's orders."
"Your 'commander' currently answers to my king," Krel reminded, forcing more authority into his voice. "And as prince, I order you to lower your weapons." His right lower hand brushed over his serator, prepared to fight if need be.
The suits shared looks amongst themselves, none lowering their guns. Just what has Kibritz done to earn such loyalty? Wavering at one moment and steadfast the next. Humans are incredibly weird.
"What is going on!" Kubritz stormed into the building, her lieutenant at her side. "Why is there a barnyard of animals outside? And where is that little alien, Morando is looking for him!" She noticed how her underlings stood, then she noticed Buster. "Why is the specimen out of it's cage!"
She spotted where Krel stood beside Buster's lowered head and collected herself, almost as if she never lost her composer in the first place.
"Your majesty," Kubritz addressed him, taking a step forward. She paused at Buster's growl. "It seems you are not aware, but you have released an incredible volatile specimen. It must be returned to its cell."
Krel's hand slid over Buster's beak, soothing another low growl. "I would be angry too if I were starved for so long." He replied. "I am the one that had the animals brought here. So Buster can finally eat. Your people, however, seem insistent to stop that simple idea."
Kubritz looked over the hazmat suits, nodding once, and those that held weapons lowered them. "We just worry about the specimen escaping the compound. Please understand, we cannot let the rest of the populus find out about the existence of extraterrestrial life."
"And yet you are so terribly eager to use our weaponry and abuse lifeforms you fear will oust your research," he returned with a roll of his eyes. "Its no wonder how this planet is so far behind if all of its 'trusted' officials keep such advances a secret."
"Some are just not ready." She defended.
"And who are you to decide that?" Krel questioned, positioning himself more in front of Buster, eyes narrow. "To decide when one is ready or not. Join in the current times or fall behind, I believe that is a famous phrase in your moving pictures," he laughed, "but, then, I suppose it must be difficult to join when you do not know anything."
Kubritz scowled, but maintained her composure. "Please remember you are but a guest to my planet, I only ask that you respect our rules."
"Your planet?" Krel tipped his head, amusement clear on his face at the strain in hers. "Such a possessive phrase, I must say." He approached her, all four hands behind his back. Bending at the waist to her height, speaking in a low, quiet tone. "And you ask for far more than respect, far more than you are prepared to handle, commander." He stood up again, grinning broadly down at her. "I am taking Brutus for a walk after he finishes eating." Then he walked off past them, whistling sharply for the insectile creature to follow. Which he did, for the first time in who knows how long into the sunlight.
