Her 'survey thing'... Well, he had only just come back from the brink of death when she explained it to him.<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"It's more than just a survey,"</span></span>she explained to him.<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"My team and I are here observing humans to look for something promising and valuable in your culture."</span></span>It felt a little strange, now, saying that, since it turned out Ryan was only half-human. It was still the culture he'd grown up with, though, so she supposed the statement was still true.<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"All intergalactic species are subject to a law which makes it illegal to cause damage to the planets of intelligent creatures not directly involved in their war. Nobody knew there was intelligent life on this planet until some damage had already been done. After that, the Elisions decided the matter wasn't worth investigating and continued to push their battles."</span></span>She shook her head,<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"At the time, we couldn't afford to lower our defenses--we would have been annihilated. When we finally reached a truce, the Elisions continued to insist that there was no promising culture on this planet, in hopes of escaping a trial for their war crimes--the Arondites have been waiting for ages to crush them in court, ever since the Elisions allegedly blew up their home planet Aerodel. The bottom line here, is that if the Elisions get their way, humans won't be recognized as an intelligent species, and this planet will likely be conquered by a more advanced civilization. Humans will either be eradicated, made as slaves, or, if they're lucky, accepted as lower or mid-class citizens. Ryan,"</span></span>she said earnestly,<span style="color: #BF80FF"><span style="font-style: italic">"My little misfit team and I are trying to save the future of this world--and you're helping us."</span></span><br/><br/>She wondered if he'd even heard much of anything about the other alien races she mentioned. Elisions and Arondites both looked a great deal similar to humans--honestly, if an Arondite and a human were put next to each other, she wouldn't know one from the other without more to go on than physical appearance. Elisions, on the other hand, could be spotted by their furry, cat-like ears and tail. Not all aliens looked so human, though. Most of the civilized ones happened to walk upright with two arms and legs, though. Perhaps that was just an evolutionary consensus.