In the year 2187, something unusual happened. Giant, stunning spaceships appeared in the sky, unlike anything people had ever seen. There was a strange mix of feelings in the air—confusion, curiosity, and, of course, fear. The Zylaris, an alien race that would soon change human history, had arrived.

  Far from hostile, these otherworldly guests came with gifts—lots of knowledge and unimaginable technology to share. This news was especially welcomed by all those desperately seeking a ‘quick-fix’ to our greatest problems. Whether it be eliminating hunger, or solving the ongoing political crisis, or even putting a stop to the ceaseless rain of seagull droppings, it seemed this intergalactic help could bring a solution to everything.

  Yet, not everyone was quite so pleased by this. For many, the arrival of these strange aliens was seen as nothing less than an invasion from beyond the stars. No matter what kinds of goods they offered or what new inventions they brought with them, there were those who refused to believe they had come in peace.

  Thus came to be a band of proud protectors of culture. They pledged to make sure humanity kept its identity and independence here on earth. Some suggested that we set aside our differences and embrace this new partnership, but we all know how these things tend to end.

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  Guns were drawn, stakes were raised, and the Zylaris had no choice but to respond. The ensuing battles were brief and bloody. The all-powerful Zylaris emerged triumphant on every front.

  In the interests of maintaining some level of peace, the Zylaris refrained from total destruction. But what remained was a world irrevocably changed. And humans were forever reminded of their place in it.

  In the years and decades that followed, the Zylaris’ influence spread far and wide. Their language rolled out across the globe. The Zylaris’ way weaved its way into our customs until everything was so mixed up it was impossible to tell which was which.

  Despite the initial uproar, this was no longer a debate. It seemed like a new inter-species way of life was on the horizon. Humans’ culture, so very treasured, was sinking away and with it their identity. A new thing, something alien and alienating, would take its place.

  In New Paris, humans and Zylaris have achieved something resembling harmony, if one is willing to be generous with the definition of harmony.

  You might find any number of things there—ambition, dreams, even the occasional stroke of luck. But when it came to humans, justice had developed the unfortunate habit of looking the other way and whistling nonchalantly. The Zylaris, it appears, have yet to revise their opinion of humans as the lesser beings in the cosmic order.

  Such is the strange, complex bond of these two so different and yet so similar species.