"Your food actually suits my palate quite well."
Osh placed a piece of perfectly roasted meat into his mouth. He was still wearing his heavy XV Crisis Battlesuit but had removed his helmet, revealing the resolute face of a Fire Caste warrior. The meat was tender and juicy, carrying a unique flavor he had never tasted before.
Yuki smiled as he served him another meticulously prepared steak. "I'm glad you like it."
Yuki's voice was gentle and pleasant. His four arms gracefully poured a lightly scented tea for both of them. "I have always believed that all life in the universe shares a commonality."
"Commonality?" Osh chewed, looking up with curiosity. His gaze swept over Yuki's semi-human, semi-serpentine body, wondering how a creature of this form had evolved.
"Organisms need food, and they need to procreate. We all share these fundamental needs. Ultimately, this is determined by the most basic matter that constitutes our lives," Yuki said nonchalantly.
"It seems that through your own cognitive process, you have gradually come to understand the true essence of the Greater Good." Osh set down his utensils, the joints of his battlesuit emitting a mechanical whir. "The Ethereals teach us that all life has value and that everyone plays a role in the universe."
Inwardly, Yuki was dismissive of the so-called "Greater Good." To him, it was merely a broad, utopian theory, similar to the "Golden Rule." If one traced its origins, the Imperial Creed or even the long-abandoned Imperial Truth shared similar underlying structures. Ultimately, these theories were just frameworks; what truly mattered were the specific policies derived from them. The Ecclesiarchy could perform acts of good or evil, and the Greater Good was the same. It was simply that the Ethereals currently ruling the Tau Empire still understood the value of restraint.
"Yes, perhaps after some time, I will fully understand the Greater Good," Yuki replied perfunctorily.
Osh, however, took it to heart, his tone filled with admiration. "That is truly impressive. You must be something like an 'Ethereal' among the snakemen, right? As expected, rulers are different. No matter how much I think, I can only obtain knowledge regarding combat." He looked down at his palms. "Such is the fate of the Fire Caste. Our genetic sequence dictates that we are best suited for the battlefield."
Yuki had heard bits and pieces about the Tau's caste system; now was a perfect opportunity to learn more. He gently flicked his serpentine tail, adjusting into a more comfortable position. "Have you never thought about crossing your class and trying another profession? For instance, becoming an artist or a scholar?"
Osh let out a short laugh. "My family, my education, and my genes..." He pointed to his temple. "...do not allow me to do so. The Greater Good does not recognize such behavior either. Each of us has a destined place." He paused, as if organizing his words. "My father, my grandfather—every male in my family was a Fire Caste warrior. We are governed by combat instincts. That cannot be changed."
Yuki took a sip of tea; the temperature was exactly right. He was about to steer the conversation further when Yuno appeared at the right moment. She glided over gracefully and leaned down to whisper in Yuki's ear.
"The Ultramarines are close. They have made contact with the Tau's forward units. However, it will still take quite some time for them to reach this place."
"Mm." Yuki nodded imperceptibly, his face maintaining a gentle smile. He turned toward Osh and noticed the warrior was watching the intimate way Yuno leaned against him.
Seeing the close interaction between the two, Osh couldn't help but remark, "You two have a very good relationship." There was a trace of unperceivable envy in his tone.
In Tau society, unions were strictly regulated. A Fire Caste warrior like Osh had almost no time to develop personal feelings. He would most likely wait for the family to assign a partner and then become a standard husband and father according to the regulations. Some Fire Caste warriors even underwent a sort of mental self-castration, viewing procreation purely as a duty; they were the "excellent" practitioners of the Greater Good.
"Is that so?" Yuki laughed softly, his hand naturally wrapping around Yuno's waist. "The universe is so dark and depressing. If there wasn't even love, that would be a terrible shame."
Yuno leaned against him cooperatively, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Love..." Osh started to speak but hesitated.
Just then, Fal's voice came through the comms, breaking the momentary peace: "Time's up, Osh. It's time for the shift change. Clean yourself up."
Osh stood up quickly, his battlesuit system letting out a faint startup hum. He thanked Yuki once more: "Thank you very much. This meal was far better than military rations."
Once Osh's figure had completely vanished from sight, Yuno turned to Yuki, her expression curious. "Why didn't you give him the special meat? The Tyranid tissue with the encoded genes?"
Yuki stood up slowly. "These people might come into contact with Ethereals or other higher-level Tau units. I don't want to take the risk." He walked toward the depths of the cave, where their secretly arranged spawning pools lay. "Tau technology is too peculiar. It would be unwise to expose our true intentions prematurely."
Yuno followed his pace, her form shifting back into the appearance Yuki was familiar with. "When do we turn on them?"
"When the Tau have finished building their military facilities here, and when they and the Imperium have fought each other to a standstill." Yuki also shifted back to his usual body. "Calgar's fleet is approaching. This conflict will provide us with the perfect cover."
"I have to remind you of one thing," Yuno's voice carried a hint of concern. "The remnants of Hive Fleet Gorgon are heading this way, and they haven't employed much camouflage. If they arrive early, it might disrupt our plans."
Yuki nodded. "That's actually not bad. More hive units mean more power. As long as we can control the situation, that force can be used for our purposes."
They arrived at a massive underground cavern filled with elite Tyranid units—Hive Tyrants, Swarmlords, Neurotyrants, and even massive bio-titans.
"Do you think we can really satisfy those Ethereals? They seem very interested in our technology."
A cold sneer curled at the corner of Yuki's mouth. "The most they suspect is that we have other motives; they could never imagine our true identity. The Tau are so confident in their Greater Good that they cannot imagine that a true threat often hides behind a friendly mask." Yuki then added, "But it's not surprising. There aren't many beings in the universe willing to express goodwill toward the Tau."
Yuno laughed. "Interesting. Even if I hadn't fallen in love with you, I suspect I would have kept you by my side anyway."
Yuki didn't take the bait.
"Do you think... we can become friends with Osh?"
"Sometimes even I can't keep up with your train of thought."