The Ceasefire

They sat. The Rexian gave the holographic tables another look. In an instant, his face cycled from anger to confusion and back again.
“Lies! Deception! There is no way this plague could finish us that swiftly.” He coughed. “There are too many of us for this to be accurate.”
“I know it seems extreme but our people are trying to do everything we can to cure this.” Char joined The Rexian and Lore at the table.
“Our species has been on this planet since its formation. We developed space travel hundreds of years before you humans left your caves and only since we allowed you to breathe our air have we seen death on this scale.” He removed a bloodied handkerchief from his sleeve. “And now you expect us to accept your help.”
Lore pondered their next words wisely. “This does look bad I’ll admit but look at the data your own scientists have provided. There is no way that this plague was created by Human or Quatarrian hands. Your own reports state that to manufacture such a plague would prove equally deadly to Humanity.” Lore quoted one of The Rexian’s earlier video appearances verbatim in the hopes of winning him over.
“On that I do agree but it is equally likely that Humanity developed the plague and outsourced its creation to their Quatarrian lapdogs. It is true that your people are immune to death?” The Rexian now turned to Char.
“We can die. We feel all the pain, in fact I dare say we suffer more painful deaths than most because we have to endure through them. If my liver was to fail, I would feel the organ wither and die. I would feel the pain spread through my body as the tainted organ destroyed my body and when it was over, I would feel the burn of life, dragging me back and healing my wounds. If a Quatarrian was behind this, they would likely know the pain of every victim and even the worst of my kind would be unable to unleash that.” Char had subconsciously risen from her seat. She had lost herself in the passion of her argument. She re-joined them, seated and waited for one of the others to break the silence.
“Fine. If I accept that neither of your species are guilty, then why aren’t they effected? Why can you walk this planet and assist our ill without penalty?” He bent over to discreetly evacuate his mouth of blood.
“We have no idea but the scientists and the medical staff in the orbital labs are trying their hardest to find a cure and to ensure that this never happens again.” Lore reiterated their initial point. The Rexian was beginning to loosen his posture.
“Fine. For the moment, you will have your peace. But should more of my people die, I will make sure my last acts lead to yours.” He tapped at his tablet. He then nodded to Char and Lore.
“Come, I should make my apology in person. Which station sent you, I will start there.” His sudden calmness worried Lore.
“Orbital Hospital Five.” Lore tapped at their Breacher. “It’ll be faster this way.”
“As you wish.” The Rexian tapped their tablet before placing their hand over Lore’s wrist. White light engulfed them for a moment and when it dissipated, they were back inside Doctor Tolan’s office. His child joined them and invited the group into their living area.
“Dad’s through here. They’ve been waiting for you to get back to them.” They smiled, dragging Lore into the other room.
“Ah you’re back… And you’ve brought… The Rexian.” Tolan’s voice dropped.
“I needed to see you face to face Doctor. I understand my protesters have been detrimental to your efforts. For that I am truly sorry.”
“We just need to realise that we’re all on the same team. I want to see this over just as much as you do.” Doctor Tolan reached for the closest of The Rexian’s hands but ended up shaking all four. The Rexian didn’t seem to mind.
“How old is your child?” He looked to the child latched onto Lore’s finger.
“They’re not mine. Not in the traditional sense. I co-parent with a couple. They send them to me for a few weeks for tuition or to see the rest of their family. They’re six though.”
“I had two daughters. One human the other Rexian. They were around that age when they died.” It was as if the air itself had left out of awkwardness leaving only vacuum.
The silence persisted until a flash of light filled the void. From their vantage point in orbit of Rexel Five, they could see most of the system and the other medical stations. One by one, they were engulfed in the red orange flash. The closest station on Rexel four was yet to be caught so they held out hope but to no avail. The rear of the station was struck by the light and began its descent into the planet below. Thousands of lives with each one were now hurtling towards the planets below. As the glow died down, Lore saw something that returned their hope for but a moment. A single pod. A small craft, big enough for perhaps seven had detached from station four before its destruction. Lore had hoped that it contained survivors but then saw the vessels markings as it approached them.
“I’m afraid that’s mine.” The Rexian spluttered. He turned to the child. “Know this little one, you have spared this vessel from its fate. Not the prattling of fools but you. I may hate what you are but not who you are. I have no qualms with the innocent.” He patted the child on the back before retreating.
His ship disembarked and returned to the surface of Rexel Five with a backdrop of burning debris on the surrounding planets. Once again, vacuum. They sat in stunned silence for what felt like eternity but was in actuality an instant. White light flooded the room.
“And I thought we were over eager.” Quart elbowed their Char. “Lore? Aren’t you two supposed to be on leave?”
“Yes they are.” Quart’s Char moved towards them. “They were supposed to finish their business with Illia and The Stolen Breacher then go on their honeymoon.”
Lore simply gestured to the burning craters below.
“All the more reason. As the chief medical officer of our council I’m placing you both on forced leave. You are to use this time to rest and recuperate. We’re time travellers, if we’ve not sorted this out before you get back, it’ll still be here for you in a month now…” She reached for Char’s Breacher and began searching its memory. She did the same to Lore’s. The interfaces went from the standard red to white. “They’re locked to your honeymoon locations. Have fun and relax.”
“Reminds me of our honeymoon.” Quart smiled as The Breacher’s light engulfed them. Family meetings.