The creature fell on one knee, and then just as before remained utterly still, its right arm reduced to ash by the slowly consuming fire. The voice spoke out again in response to the man's question. [i]Make no mistake, yuman. I am both all and nothing- rather a desire. A culmination of that desire, that will... To eat. Consume. Destroy everything in one's path to make themselves feel better, or put themselves above others. It never goes away- never dies out. Yumans, animals... They all have a hunger for something, someone. I am that hunger. [/i] The flames grew brighter for a quick moment as the thing spoke again. [i]Years ago, a yuman planet attempted to be rid of me- a religion where they had no desire... But I was far bigger than they could imagine. I am Hunger, I am thirst. I am the will to achieve power. [/i] A chuckle arose from the followers in the back, hearing the words of the great one was both a privilege and a curse, they were sure to be killed out of jealousy when they returned. On the other hand, they had the level of importance as a priest. [i]And that- will never go away. Only recently I have seen it arise. A planet not far from here full of people wishing to better themselves. I seek to investigate. [/i]

[i]"Investigate?[/i] That's a funny way to say 'devour'." He shrugged with open hands, being fully honest. "I get your deal. 100%, all transparent. You want to eat. You know, it's surprisingly easy to understand a zealot. Oh, that's not an insult. That's just my job. My job is to understand whoever I'm talking to. How their mind works, what their motive is. I see what yours is. And judging from how you cut off several planets from an interstellar republic, I can only assume you have the means to ends. That accent of yours. Russian? Interesting. Would you like to know my other job? It's finding a common language to negotiate in. I've discovered that there's one common tongue that everyone understands. Pain. But it seems that you already understand that language, burning your follower alive just to talk to me. On one hand, I'm flattered. On the other, I'm impressed. The mind of a devotee is easy to understand but still quite commendable. I'm guessing your culture is quite accustomed to pain, yes?"

"Pain... Yes, we are. See the person in front of you- see his pain. When one feels pain, they have a desire above all others, to make it stop. This desire is so strong, so powerful that men and woman will murder to achieve their wills. They hunger for this... Solution to their pain." By now, it was clear the follower was nearly dead, his arms and one leg off, but still calm, the occasional twitch sending of ashes across the floor. "Another time, another place, humans saw into my plans, attempted to ward me off by getting rid of all desires- Budism? Boodlism? Something along those lines, but they lacked the willing followers." At the end on the sentence, the follower screamed and turned to ash, spreading its dead remains across the metal floor. Quickly, the captain of the ground smacked another one onto the runes, and the same event happened, with fire, ash and... Pain. "So yes- pain is understood."