Villain Retirement

"Elders, it has been a long time. It is a pleasure to finally meet all of you face to face."

7 seats, 6 elders, and 1 queen. The dome once again changed its interiors, shifting into a circular auditorium with a wide podium at the very center where the main characters of the hearing stood—Riley Ross.

Aerith was beside him; her eyes like a hawk as she tried her best to stay alert. The tension between Riley and the Elders was almost visible from how thick it is, and she just had to be at the crossfire.

She subtly trailed her eyes to the 6 Elders surrounding them, gauging what they were thinking before they started whatever demonstration they wanted to see.

Elder Olseyir, the newest addition to the Elders, still had her entire body covered in her pink cloak and robes; making it impossible for Aerith to get a read on her.

Elder S'adar seemed completely relaxed; the snappy sound of him brushing his quills, whispering in the air. He also had both his feet raised as his tail very slowly wagged behind him—Aerith wouldn't have to worry about him.

Elder Skeem, on the other hand, seemed completely aloof to the point he wasn't even using his chair. His worm-like head has never once strayed away from Riley's direction, clearly showing his animosity. He didn't really pose a threat, however.

Now the queen of evaniels, Queen Vania, was a completely different matter altogether. She wasn't initially involved in this hearing, but with her position in the Universe, the Elders didn't really have any choice but to bow down to her request. Out of all the people here, she was the one she needed to watch out for.

An evaniel's durability grows stronger with their speed—and this makes Queen Vania nigh-invulnerable. If there was only one that could be described as an unstoppable force in the Universe, it would be her.

Aerith and Queen Vania have already discussed Riley; they have an agreement—but sometimes, emotions can run high, especially if she is always being reminded of the murder of her son.

The three remaining Elders also didn't seem too tense about the situation, as they just looked at Riley with their faces not showing anything prominent.

This was the first time she was seeing Elder Apo. He belonged to a gold-skinned humanoid species, and not the common ones that Riley has seen so far—no. Elder Apo looked eerily similar to Bulwark; both their silhouettes, giving a golden glow.

…Is Bulwark perhaps truly an alien?

One of the other Elders that Aerith has only seen now was Elder Bato—she couldn't really get a read on him since… he was a literal moving rock. And not a golem, no… just a moving, talking rock.

And then lastly, the Grand Elder.

Aerith had only seen his silhouette through the holograms, and she wasn't really aware of what he or his species looked like—the only thing she knows is that they are also one of the long-lived races in the Known Universe. She has only really seen him always sitting on a large hovering throne…

…and now, he is here.

His throne, actually just the size of a computer chair; the one sitting on it, as small as a 3-year-old human toddler—he even looked like a child. His voice, however, was as deep as the Unknown.

"A pleasure to meet you, it is not," the Grand Elder's voice reverberated throughout the entire dome as he leaned to look at Riley, looking at him from head to toe,

"You have caused many problems for us, boy. We strive for the peace and improvement of the Known Universe, and yet your kind, Outlaws and deviants, continue to cause havoc."

"I would say we provide jobs, Grand Elder." And to everyone's shock, Riley just casually opened his mouth and answered,

"I saw how many bounty hunters there are. Outlaws are the primary reason why people travel across the universe, it's a great source of tourism, really. It is the same on Earth—heroes and villains is a good busine—"

"Silence!" Grand Elder slammed his fist on the armrest of his throne, causing a ripple of wind to blast throughout the dome,

"You will learn respect, boy! Princess Aerith, I thought you had him on a leash!?"

"Now, now. Grand Elder, your blood pressure is going up again," Elder S'adar stopped brushing his quills, crossing his arms as he looked at Riley with a growing smile on his face, "Maybe we should make Riley Ross an Elder? He will fill the void that Tedi left behind. After all…

…they are both experts at pretending to have emotions."

"Silence!" Grand Elder once again roared, "We have already wasted enough time as it is. You keep your opinions until this charade is over. Riley Ross, do you know why you are standing before us right now?"

"I suppose," Riley shrugged.

[You have destroyed several planets, committed genocides, publicly executed an Elder. All these crimes made your bounty jump—an unprecedented act of evil in the shortest amount of time.] Ahor Zai's words suddenly echoed throughout the dome,

[You, Riley Ross, are considered to be a threat to the entire Known Universe. You are considered to be terminated on sight.]

"And yet here you are, still standing peacefully in front of us," Grand Elder continued Ahor Zai's words, "Do you know why that is?"

"Because you are afraid of me?"

"Because Princess Aerith said that you can be controlled. You think you are the first one to be a threat to the Known Universe, Riley Ross?"

"I suppose not."

"Elder Bato was like you—there was also a time when he reigned terror through several galaxies, enslaving a number of planets."

"..." Both Aerith and Riley looked at each other, before looking at the rock that was sitting on one of the chairs with their eyes showing their shock.

"But we captured him—but we did not terminate him, no. The Common Council of that time decided that he would be useful to the universe alive; he showed diplomacy, he showed us that he could better the Known Universe… and now he is one of us."

"..." Riley just stared at Elder Bato, still in disbelief at what he had just heard.

"Prove yourself to us now, Riley Ross," Grand Elder then slightly raised his head; the tone of his voice, even deeper,

"Or we will put your termination as our highest priority."

"...What?" Aerith quickly stepped forward as she looked the Grand Elder in the eyes, "This isn't what we agreed on."

"I know. But do you know what is better than a tamed hound?" The Grand Elder smirked as he looked down at Riley and Aerith,

"A trained one."

"Are you…" Aerith closed her eyes as she heard the Grand Elder's words; her mouth, almost whistling as she took in a very deep and very long breath, "Are you…

…fucking kidding me right now?"

"!!!"

And with the calmness suddenly gone from Aerith's eyes as she opened them, all the Elders flinched from their seats.

"Princess Aerith!" The Grand Elder stood from his seat, "Calm yourself down! Where is the calmness and peace that you spoke of earlier!?"

"Oh, I am very calm and peaceful, Grand Elder—I assure you that," Aerith breathed out, "You seem to not realize that I am saving all of you right now."

"...What?"

"I am saving a lot of lives," Aerith suddenly grabbed Riley's hand, which unbeknownst to the Grand Elder, was already slowly pointing toward him,

"You think you have a dog trapped in a cage…

…not knowing you are at the mercy of a starving hound."