Prologue

The Council sat around a hovering illuminated table, a three-dimensional holographic image of a planet spun in place a few feet above the smooth glowing surface of the tabletop. Head Council member Shenla A', an Aqualean, sat with her three silver eyes aimed at the dying planet. Her lips were pursed tightly as the other members bickered around her. She stood to her full eight-foot height. Her skin was smooth and pale, her hair was a pale blue and swayed around her as if it was in the water. Her flowing, almost liquid-like garment followed and flowed around her. She raised a four-fingered hand and successfully quieted the room.

"Silence, my brethren," her voice rang out, yet her lips did not move from their intense scowl. "These Earthlings clearly have no respect for their planet nor the children who would one day inherit it from their elders."

Helio, a Crolimean from the Thril Sector of the Universe stood. He was a stocky tripedal man with bright, neon orange hair and honey-colored irises, surrounded by black eyes. He had a tail that was almost reptilian in nature but a light layering of fur that covered the entirety of his body. "What do you suggest we do, your highness?" A bell-like laugh filled the room.

"The children should not have to suffer for their superiors transgressions. Do you not agree, Mr. President?" She turned towards the trembling human man that was one of the leaders of Earth. His mused hair and rumpled suit suggested that he was not here for a business meeting willingly. He had wondered silently how creatures from all over the Universe were able to speak English.

Shenla A', as if she read the humans mind, spoke to him. "I am making us all speak your language in order for you to understand us all. Now, back to the topic at hand. Do you truly think it fair for the children of your planet to inherit a planet that will die within the next twenty or thirty of your Earth years?"

The man cleared his throat before sitting up straighter and smoothing out his suit and hair to the best of his ability. "No, ma'am, I do not think it fair, but we are doing the best that we can, given the circumstances," he said with only a slight tremble to his voice. He wasn't the smallest species here, there was the stereotypical gray alien with the three fingers and wide bug-like eyes and thin knobby limbs and large elongated head. It was about six foot as the human male was, instead of the three-foot creature everyone thought about.

The head councilwoman sighed without the movement of her lips yet again. "B-but, I suppose, if you told us what we were doing wrong, we could always change our habits," President Smythe said with a hopeful smile. Shenla reached out a strangely pale hand that was almost transparent and gently touched the humans face.

"It's too late for that, I'm afraid. You had a chance to change before getting us involved. Now, the Council must make a decision of the fate of your children in order for your race to survive. Please, return to your world and give them this message. We will save them." She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the man's forehead before he promptly passed out.

"Place him in a pod and see to it that this human makes it to Earth. Then, I wish to have a word sent out to the children of Earth. If you could prepare the arc's and the holo-screens, I will prepare for my speech." With that being said, Shenla turned with a graceful, billowing turn and left the room, the only thing heard is a sound that was close to heels clicking on the metal floor.

Once everything, was prepared, Shenla stood in front of a camera far more advanced than anything that Earth had. How they made it to space with their limited knowledge was baffling to the Aqualean woman. She spoke with her mind just as always as she addressed the planet, knowing that it was being translated into all the Earthly languages.

"Children of Earth, I am Shelna A', let me be your savior from this cruel fate you have been dealt."