I Became A Zompirewolf

The room was a hive of activity as Rea oversaw the final preparations for Ashton's lie detection test. Xyrans moved efficiently, setting up intricate systems and ensuring every detail was in place. 

Rea, her expression stern, coordinated the efforts with military precision. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, surveyed the room as Xyran technicians fine-tuned the lie detection equipment. 

Unlike the rest of them, Rea was on a mission to prove Ashton was wrong and then make him pay the price for making up lies and defaming the Xyran lords. 

Besides, she knew the chaos Ashton could bring to the Xyrans from his allegations and wanted to stop it at all costs. While lost in her thoughts, the attendant informed her of Ashton's arrival and instructed him to be brought inside. 

Ashton entered the room, his gaze meeting Rea's cold stare. The atmosphere crackled with unspoken tension as they locked eyes. 

With an air of authority, Rea acknowledged his presence with a cold greeting, "Ashton."

He responded with a curt nod, his expression unreadable. Coldly greeted by Rea, Ashton showed no sign of being affected. Instead, he calmly approached the lie detection setup, acknowledging the presence of Xyrans around him with a nod.

Rea, the so-called embodiment of Xyran's loyalty, didn't like Ashton's calm demeanour and decided to play around a little. 

"I hope you didn't take a drug or something to fool our systems," She said.

"Do I look like a Xyran to you?" Ashton quickly quipped with a smile.

Rea understood it was useless to get him riled up and gestured him towards the setup for his test. 

Undeterred by her antics, Ashton sat in the designated area. Before he allowed the lie detection test to commence, he presented his condition, which would ruffle Rea's composed exterior.

"You'll take the test after me," Ashton declared, his gaze unwavering.

"What? Why would I do that?" Rea's brow furrowed in disbelief. "I don't need to prove anything. You are the one who-"

Ashton interrupted without wasting a second. "I don't need to prove anything to you or your people. My people believe in me, and that's enough."

Rea, vexed by Ashton's unexpected condition, vehemently denied his request. "This is absurd! You're the one making accusations, not me. I have nothing to prove."

"I already told you," Ashton stood up, his gaze piercing Rea's panicked exterior. "I don't need to prove anything to you, Rea. My people believe me, and that's all that matters. If you're unwilling to undergo the test after me, I won't take it either."

"I don't-"

"Fine, I'll give you a reason to do it," Ashton smiled. "I have reasons to believe that your equipment has been tampered with."

Rea, caught off guard by Ashton's claim, hesitated momentarily. The room held its breath as the two figures confronted each other, locked in a silent battle of wills.

"Fine. I'll sit for the test after you. But this doesn't change anything," Rea finally relented, her voice tight with displeasure. "Your accusations regarding lord Rood won't hold water."

Ashton nodded, satisfied. However, before they proceeded, he introduced another condition. "You'll be the only Xyran present in the room. My people will watch the equipment to ensure there's no touching the equipment when it is your turn."

"Listen here, you..." Rea's eyes flashed with defiance. "I already agreed to one condition. I won't continue bowing to your demands."

Ashton smiled, his tone unwavering. "Take it or leave it, Rea. Your choice."

"...Fine!"

Reluctantly, Rea agreed to Ashton's condition, bitterness evident in her gaze. As Ashton settled back into the chair, Rea assumed her place before him. 

With a few clicks, the lie detection equipment hummed to life, its complex mechanisms preparing to examine truths and falsehoods. Rea, with a veneer of composed resolve, began the test.

"Ashton, do you hold animosity towards the Xyrans?"

"No."

The machine responded with a resounding false. Rea's eyes narrowed momentarily before she scoffed and rolled her eyes. "If you're willing to go as far as framing us, then it's obvious how you feel about us."

"You can say whatever you want. The truth will reveal itself sooner than later," Ashton replied, "Ask me something else."

Rea continued the questioning, and each answer from Ashton met with the machine's judgment of falsehood. The room hung heavy with the tension of impending revelation.

Slowly, Rea had 'proven' that Ashton was lying about everything he had said the day before. However, she couldn't get any reaction from Ashton, no matter what she did.

Unexpectedly, Anna, standing on the sidelines, took the initiative. "Ashton, is this planet Earth?"

"Yes," Ashton replied, his smile got even wider. 

The machine, to everyone's surprise, reported another false. Confusion rippled through the room as Rea's face seemed to crumble.

Rea, catching on to Anna's strategy, moved to intervene. But before she could utter a word, Mazton stepped forward, his expression stern. 

"Stay where you are, Rea. Let the test proceed."

Rea opened her mouth to protest, knowing if she let things go, her lies would be exposed. She signalled one of her subordinates to reset the system, but before he could do it, Vimur grabbed his hand, pushing him away from the machine.

The rest of Ashton's crew jumped in, warning the Xyrans to stay away from the machine or they'd have to face the consequences. A few tried to protest but were quickly escorted out of the room. 

Anna, a glint of satisfaction in her eyes, continued her line of questioning. "Is water wet?"

"Yes."

False.

"Do you love me?"

"More than myself."

False.

"Aw, hell nah," Vimur laughed out loud. "If that guy doesn't love her, then I don't know if love is real!"

Vimur's remarks were accompanied by laughs and shaking heads. Rea's frustration grew as her scheme was slowly exposed to everyone. The room buzzed with murmurs, and a sense of unease settled in.

"It's clear someone has tampered with the machine," Ashton said. "Since you personally oversaw this operation, I think you'd know who will do such a thing."

Rea, her composure slipping, snapped back, "This is preposterous! I did nothing."

"He never said you did it," Anna chimed in. "Sir Mazton, let your people check the equipment. Something's not right here."

Mazton nodded, and a moment later, the technicians from the Tower walked in. Technicians quickly surrounded the lie detection setup, inspecting the machinery for any signs of foul play.

As the investigation unfolded, it became apparent – the machine had been manipulated. Truths were being reported as falsehoods and lies as truths. The integrity of the lie detection test had been compromised.

Rea, cornered by the revelation, glared at the floor. There was no point in hiding what she had done anymore. 

"I did what I had to," Rea admitted. "I wanted to preserve the faith the Xyrans have in their superiors. You wouldn't understand the consequences-"

Ashton, his tone cutting, retorted, "Ah yes, your loyalty is more important than truth, is that it?"

"Someone like you will never understand my reasons," Rea, defiant to the end, asserted, "Even if I did what I did, the intergalactic community would rather believe the Xyrans than a mercenary like you."

"Then it's a good thing that I brought cameras with me," Ashton scoffed, his gaze unwavering. "Whatever you did has already been broadcasted throughout the galaxy. I'm sure your higher-ups would love to reward you for your loyalty."

As soon as he said that, cameramen entered Rea's vision, capturing her face and confession. She realised that her actions had inadvertently exposed the darker underbelly of Xyran's loyalty to the entire galaxy.

Addressing the onlookers, Ashton declared, "Imprison Rea for her crimes. As for the Xyrans, stay away from Earth. If you want, we will hear your explanations and consider compensation. But crimes committed on foreign soil won't be tolerated."