197: Mutual Fantasies

"Is your friend all right?"

In the quiet, comfortable room, light spilled softly through gaps in the ceiling, falling upon the two T'au and casting unusual patterns of light and shadow across their gray-blue skin.

The Fire Caste warrior asked the Water Caste diplomat Po'Niwa with concern, while Po'Niwa silently shook his head.

"I believe the Tech-priest's self-destruction put him under considerable psychological strain—but greater dangers still lurk beneath the surface. I think he has begun to waver."

Shadowsun cleared his throat, then turned his face away somewhat apologetically.

"I am sorry for causing your friend such psychological pressure. I should have searched that prisoner more thoroughly."

Po'Niwa fell silent for a moment, then raised his three fingers to his smooth forehead. No hair grew there, and a thin olfactory slit ran downward from the center of his brow.

"I am not blaming you. Perhaps I am merely blaming myself. I truly should not have let that poor human soldier witness all this, even if it was voluntary."

Shadowsun shrugged, the Fire Caste member doing his best to express his emotions.

"Stay with him more,"

he said.

"There are also soldiers from the Imperium of Man in my cadre, and I often fight that colossal entity known as the Imperium—The beast that is the Imperium of Man is far too cruel and vast. It usually leaves unimaginable scars upon its subjects."

Po'Niwa rested his hand against his forehead.

"Most of them are fanatics, at least in the beginning."

"Yes."

Shadowsun nodded. Soldiers of the Imperium of Man usually displayed a devotion so fanatical it bordered on stupidity. To the T'au, such a mindset was incomprehensible.

The Imperium's faith sustained them, making them willing to accept suffering for some particular figure, or to forcibly inflict suffering upon innocent Xenos for their