Chapter 6

As promised, here is a short bonus chapter. Enjoy.

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Den-neer sat in the bridge chair of the Eshaar'ne. He should have risen out of respect when Phai's image materialized, but he had not. From the instant she appeared, the Shozen leader didn't look in the mood for the trappings of formality. The next moments confirmed his interpretation.

"We nearly lost the Esha'Aru on Ayni."

Den-neer straightened in his chair. "Ayni? We knew their initial trajectory took them toward the Commonwealth, but why…" He nearly cursed himself. "Of course, a last-chance resupply before leaving Turzent space – every day's extra ration may be critical. We chose the wrong port."

They had. His superiors had bet the Eshaaru would stop at Nosidam, a large port on Rzonl offering a vast array of spacefaring supplies. Instead, the Eshaaru had chosen to stop at the small colony planet of Ayni. It was a change in their modus operandi.

"Nosidam was the logical choice – they have always favored large ports, likely because they and their actions would be further obscured by the volume of activity. Ayni is a deviation in behavior." Phai gave a quick nod of agreement. It was a reminder that as powerful and intelligent as the Shozen were, they made mistakes. "What happened?"

Phai provided a brief summary. "Dark Ones technology was involved – the only explanation for the total block against the Turzent military's best penetrating scanners. Our fears are realized – Archangel and Ettwanae are active targets," she summed up.

"We've confirmed it wasn't the Eshaar'ne's own shields?" Den-neer asked despite knowing if there had been doubts, Phai would have said so.

"No. She was outside the city when the shield went up."

"What are my orders?"

"You are to follow them into The Barrens and intercept. There is only one reasonable resupply choice – Ita."

"The Dark Ones know that as well as we do," he warned, though knowing was unnecessary.

Phai's image leaned back against something; Den-neer guessed it was her desk. She crossed her arms. "True, assuming they realize the pair's destination."

"Which we must presume they do."

"Yes, that we must. Your mission is to protect and delay, preferably before they enter Commonwealth space. It is too soon for Atmos. We need them to disappear somewhere safe for a while. How you accomplish that, I leave to your discretion, as long as they resume their journey when necessary."

"Delay them by any means necessary?" He wished to be certain.

"Yes. You know the endgame – they must be at the appointed location at the appointed time. What happens between now and then, I leave to your good judgment. Keep me apprised. I will tell you if I disagree with your decision."

Of that, Den-neer had no doubts. "On another topic, the comnet announced your most recent success." He was hugely relieved that the issue was behind them as he was largely at fault. Den-neer rarely blundered, but when he did, it had the potential to be quite spectacular. Tchut had proven that assessment correct.

Not surprisingly, Phai's expression soured, and the intensely blue eyes drilled into his own far paler version. "Yes, it took careful maneuverings at a hefty cost to accomplish that without appearing Ztar's Court had manipulated a favorable outcome."

"I appreciate the effort, mother." He rarely called Phai that, except under unusual circumstances. The fallout from Tchut warranted the more intimate address – she'd undone the damage he inadvertently caused. However, he did not believe for one moment that she did it for him.

Phai gave a single nod of her white-haired head in acknowledgement.

The Shozen wasn't his parent in the traditional sense, except that her DNA, along with others, was used to create him. Phai raised him through an accelerated childhood and young adulthood to ensure he was molded to her exacting requirements. He was a tool – one that Phai had limited motherly affection for, true; but a tool nonetheless.

After wrapping up other details, the Elder's image winked out. Den-neer crossed his long legs, and tilted his head wondering how the Eshaar'ne was reacting to their plans. "Are you prepared to face the wrath of your offspring, Bae?"

"You assume she will recognize me at some point. She has not thus far. All Eshaar'ne are identical."

"Oh, I assume nothing, Bae. It is a reasonable prediction if we are forced to intercede. Truth has a way of revealing itself. You…we…should be prepared."

"She will be hostile."

"I have faith in your powers of persuasion."

"Hatred often overrides persuasive arguments no matter how logical."

"As yours nearly did, until you realized that we are not the essence of evil you believed." He could have sworn she snorted.

"Shozen methods are abhorrent."

"They are necessary, as we've discussed."

"And as we have argued, that viewpoint is debatable."

"Sadly, neither of us are in a position to determine what is or isn't necessary. Those that hold the complete picture are the better judges. All the rest of us can do is work within the current situation."

"And blindly follow orders," came the sarcastic retort.

"No, Bae. Rather, place faith in those who have sacrificed much in the past and continue to do so under extremely difficult circumstances to save all we know."

"And that, my unwanted master, is the only reason I am no longer an unwilling participant in their convoluted and twisted plan. I do not trust them. I do not trust you. I simply choose to believe they do not wish to die any more than the rest of life in this galaxy and will do whatever is necessary to avoid that. By default, if the Shozen live, all others also live."

The words were bitter and harsh. Den-neer understood, though. Bae had been cruelly handled from the beginning, never truly understanding why she was subjugated and forcibly augmented until recent events began unfolding in a manner that permitted her to comprehend the broader issues. Early on, he and others needed to rule her with an iron fist to ensure cooperation. The time for that had passed. The Eshaar'ne may not trust the Shozen; may not agree with their tactics and 'ends justify the means' methods, but she had come to understand that without them, the galaxy would fall into eternal darkness.

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All was progressing rapidly, much to everyone's tentative relief, and Phai's Council had just wrapped up a status meeting. The most exciting news came from Trient'Ut, and she'd shared it with her fellow Elders…Etagllot scientists there had nearly perfected the transformative technology. Holo images winked out one by one until only Taer remained. Phai was curious as to why she had chosen to appear in person, but the often-infuriating Elder insisted on a private explanation after adjournment.

"You traveled a great distance, Elder. Obviously, you left well before our last meeting," she greeted without pretense of a warm welcome. As much as Phai attempted to put aside years of irritating behavior on Taer's part, she found she really didn't wish to try.

"I made the decision some time ago to visit. I know you planned to be the Nexus interface and are discontented that will not be the case." Taer rarely was anything but blunt, and that day was no exception.

Phai didn't reply immediately – she remained perturbed at Taer's continued disregard for protocol and Phai's position as Elder of Elders. Turning away from her uninvited guest, she strode gracefully to her desk. She would choose words carefully, knowing that Taer had lofty connections within the other Trients. Phai gave her credit – the Elder that appeared female but was actually bi-gender apparently did not feel compelled to fill the strained silence.

Facing Taer from behind her throne of power, Phai finally spoke. "Is that truly what brought you here?" She didn't wait for a response. "If so, your actions are troubling you far more than me. I would have chosen whoever represented the greatest chance for success. Too much is at stake for personal desires to be in the equation."

"Spoken like a true leader." Taer cocked her triangular head in an odd way and studied Phai. "I do not lack respect for you or our Council, Phai, nor do I wish to usurp your position, though I believe you think both of me."

The declaration surprised in some ways. "Actually, you are wrong. I have never felt you wished to be Elder of Elders."

Taer's expression changed to perplexed. "Then I have misread your antipathy toward me."

"It is your ambivalent attitude toward our Council and its work that has disturbed me, Taer. Perhaps those tasks have been too lowly for you."

Taer laughed – a melodically haunting sound. "Is that truly what you believe of me? This is our ancestral home. It is all that our people were – are." The straight, black hair swayed as the woman shook her head in apparent disbelief. "Detachment served to keep my focus on the ultimate goal and ensure perspective. I wished no emotional connections to our Council for that can mar judgment." The blue-skinned Elder moved to the front of the desk and looked down to lock black eyes onto Phai's face. "I carry within me the blessing of more DNA sequences from our ancestors than have manifested in thousands of years. I sense things you do not, Phai…things you can never experience. I feel death's approach. Darkness is close. I do not intend to die. I will not let our galaxy fall into oblivion. The task ahead as the Nexus interface is why I exist. Just as you exist to do what you have been doing – that is your purpose. No one has performed the role better. All you've accomplished is paving the way for me to fulfill my role."

Phai studied the blue-skinned features for clues. The conversation was leading somewhere. "Why say this now? You've had hundreds of years…"

"Because the time has come, just as it has for our key players to become aware of their destiny."

Phai didn't like the implications. "You've been manipulating me?" she accused more than asked.

A sly smile crept across the full mouth. "No, Elder of Elders, I have not. I am only guilty of concealing certain aspects of myself until the appropriate time. The Triune determined thousands of years ago to remain visible, yet invisible, until we were needed."

Phai was perplexed. Triune? Thousands of years ago? What was Taer saying? Something very significant was about to be unveiled. At the same time, the coyness was annoying. "No more riddles, Taer. Tell me what you came to say."

"Project One is also a failsafe program, Phai, just as Project 1165 is for the Esha'Aru. It was a failsafe in case one or all of the Triune was discovered and killed by the Eilu."

"This Triune, you are one of them?" Taer nodded once. "And the other two members – where are they?"

"One to each Trient."

"They are like you?"

"Yes, Phai. We are all genetic throwbacks to our ancestors, though still far from pure U'larr. Just like you, our DNA carries the contamination of cross-breeding the few surviving U'larr were forced into for survival's sake 15,000 years ago."

"And each of you will interface with a Nexus?"

"Correct."

"You have the required transformative ability?"

Taer's face took on a soft and gentle appearance, as a loving mother might give her child. "Yes, Phai. The ancient DNA has manifested. We can transform between corporeal and not quite."

Phai grappled with the implications. "And the brainwave patterns?"

"They match closely enough."

Elder Phai drew in a quick breath. Was it true? Had she been in the presence of one the ancients for hundreds of years and not realized? Not quite an ancient, but perhaps close. "Are there others?"

Taer's face suddenly reflected sadness and concern. "No, Elder. Fate was kind in giving us three, but no more. Hence the need for Project One. We must ensure we can recreate what I and my counterparts do naturally should any of us fall to enemy attack."

"The transformative ability – to move from one state of physicality to another and back again."

Taer gestured affirmative. "Yes, though a true U'larr could manipulate their form to a far greater extent. We three are limited in ability. However, the writings tell us that the Nexus will only seek confirmation of the ability, not the extent to which it exists." Taer tilted her head. "Would you like to see, Elder?" The first genuinely warm smile Phai could recall spread across Taer's face.

Without waiting for an answer, Taer's skin began to glow from beneath, becoming more intensely blue before the color was overtaken by a soft golden glow. Phai blinked when the room behind Taer became discernable as her body grew semi-transparent. Taer stretched out a hand. "Touch me," came the whispery command.

In childlike awe, Phai reached out to place a hand on Taer's. The sensation was like touching hard air – solid, yet not. There was a vibration to the touch as well…and warmth, but not of heat. She quickly realized the feeling came from beneath her own skin where their hands touched.

"That is my Aru you feel," Taer explained before Phai could ask.

"Your lifeforce."

"Yes. Do you wish to experience it?" The smile on the luminous face grew wider, and Phai could only nod.

The golden aura grew more intense, expanded out toward Phai, and then bliss flowed like a warm, thick fluid, wrapping her in joyous peace. She moaned in ecstasy and a smile came of its own accord. When the Aru energy slid away and Taer's hand dropped, she swayed. Realizing her eyes were closed, Phai reopened them and sought Taer's face.

"That…was…indescribable," she whispered.

Taer shook her head as if denying. "In the area of lifeforce sharing, it is the Esha'Aru who do that best. It is part of what they were designed to do – to go beyond what the U'larr themselves could manifest and channel vast amounts of Source. You will experience that power, Phai. When the Dark Coming is upon us and the Esha'Aru take their place within the Nexus. You will witness what they and Ozshi'wanae can conjure."

Phai shook her head. "But you will be operating the Nexus – I won't-"

Taer cut her off. "You will be there as my anchor, Phai. I need you to keep me rooted to the physical plane. Just as the Elder of Elders in the other Trients will accompany my counterparts. We have discussed it and accept our limits. We are not U'larr enough and need a physical anchor or we may lose ourselves within the non-corporeal realm. If that happens during the resealing of the portal rift, all could be lost."

Phai did not doubt any of what Taer revealed. She knew it was truth – she didn't simply believe it to be true. The knowing came from somewhere deep and certain.

"Then that is where I shall be."

The blue woman who was more U'larr than anyone had seen in 15,000 years dipped her head and extended a hand. "We are a pairing, my fellow Elder."

Phai accepted the proffered hand and squeezed gently. They had their Nexus controllers. They had their Esha'Aru pairs. The Sentinels and Nexus awaited. All that remained was ensuring backup plans were brought to fruition and everyone was in place when the time was right.

"We've still much to do. The Eilu will seek to destroy what we have spent thousands of years recreating and do that when there is no time to recover. I must receive the Source channeling augmentation, for that is a trait the Sentinel will also seek. These last weeks will be the most dangerous. We have much to attend to, Elder of Elders. Time grows shorter by the hour."

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Life aboard Volu had become unpredictable, yet Warren felt that wasn't the cause. Mating urges mixed with edginess from Ettwanae's escalating mood swings coupled with the general tension of their mission? Could be. Or more distressing, perhaps he was heading toward another feral episode. Gut instinct said no. He'd gone over everything and found nothing he'd overlooked or forgotten to do regarding their mission. Then why the sense of foreboding or restless or something that he couldn't truly define?

Warren growled in the lack of a proper definition for whatever was nagging at his subconscious. The only thing he did know was that it started after the supply house incident.

'Perhaps you should just ignore it, Worthington. Likely, it's simply stress of a new variety given you're living under some unusual circumstances.'

That seemed as good an explanation as any. Best course of action was to find ways to relieve the tension. Perhaps it was time for another training session with Flint.

Warren set off to find the teen. He hoped the kid was up for an intense workout.

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Next time, an action-filled installment – at least I hope that's how you come away feeling!