Night had fallen, and the atmosphere still carried the bloody stench of the night before.
Song Chen paused at the entrance to the Shadowglide for two seconds, letting some of the blood-laden night air around him disperse before he stepped inside.
When Shelly saw him enter, she asked, "Will they keep resisting? Or will they retreat into their shells again once we leave?"
Song Chen had already considered that question. These natives had lived under the Blood-Eclipse Clan's heel for many years.
He had never expected a few words to set an entire star system ablaze. A revolution needed a spark and a fuse. All he could do was light the fire, then see which way the wind blew.
Still, Song Chen replied, "They won't back down. They just took the resources hauled out of the Flesh Station."
"Those ores, medicinal herbs, and weapons all belonged to the Blood-Eclipse Clan."
"Once they took them, there was no going back. When the Blood-Eclipse Clan returns, they'll investigate who took what. Now that they've taken those things, there's only one path left for them."
"Just because of that?" Shelly asked, puzzled.
Song Chen could feel her attention on him. Her emotions were tangled, a mixture of doubt and exhaustion.
"There's hatred, too. Hatred combined with self-interest works better than any slogan."
"They killed members of the Blood-Eclipse Clan with their own hands today. That blood won't wash off."
"Even if they stop resisting now, the Blood-Eclipse Clan won't spare them later."
"So their only choice is to resist."
"The Blood-Eclipse Clan has ruled this planet for so long that the natives have learned to hide even their anger. But some things can't be hidden. Push them down, and they'll seep through your fingers."
"Lock them away, and they'll leak through the cracks