Chapter 9
Humble thanks to my steadfast reviewers – your feedback makes the months of writing and editing worth the work. Thank you is not enough, but all I can offer.
Without further ado, let's peek in on how events are unfolding beyond Volu and company.
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When word came from Trient'Ut's Elder of Elders, Phai was overjoyed. A major hurdle had been overcome. Specifications for the new bio-technology that would allow fluid transformative between corporeal and not quite would be transmitted to the other Trients shortly. And none too soon. Etagllot teams within Phai's Trient'Ir and the third sector, Trient'El, would be diverted from parallel projects to replicating the bionites designed by Ut Etagllot teams. Another failsafe was theirs.
Without transformative ability, the Nexus machines would not recognize a Shozen as an U'larr – they knew that from the old databanks that survived the collapse and ensuing ravages of time. Only an U'larr could command the great machines, as they were tuned to very that specific trait to prevent someone from another race attempting to hijack the incredibly advanced technology. What can save a galaxy could as easily destroy it.
The Shozen were no longer U'larr enough and lacked the ability to fluctuate between solid and not fully, save for Taer and her Triune. Should any of the Triune die, they could create stand-ins. With an enemy as powerful as the Eilu, one must have redundancy.
Early on in the effort to rebuild, Shozen leaders realized their ancestors never envisioned a future without the U'larr. Again, the arrogance of the race came through. Without the U'larr, the galaxy lost its defensive weapon against the Dark Coming. Thankfully, their mixed-breed descendants found a loophole, or so they prayed. Salvaged data clearly stated the Nexus would scan for transformative trait, not for how the fluctuation was accomplished. So perhaps, just perhaps, the ancients weren't so arrogant after all and planted that small, subtle clue for just such a workaround.
The galaxy depended on the Shozen having interpreted the ancient information correctly and that it was complete enough. Phai and the others lived with the underlying fear that they had not.
Standing in her office, she conjured the holographic tracking board and stood in silent contemplation what had been accomplished. A single word at the top of the display said it all: "Omnipotent." Ozshi'wanae was. The U'larr almost had been. All projects led to the single goal of recreating that eons old relationship.
The three major stepping stone projects were tracked beneath the umbrella goal.
Project One: Develop biotechnology for transformative ability. Project complete. She moved the marker to the very top and broke the thread between Archangel and that project. His bionites were no longer required. Resources devoted to that research task would be shifted to production, and she'd broadcast new orders and specifications to Director Sident that very hour.
Restless, Phai circled the holo projection. She had not slept well of late. Fatigue was creeping in. She could ill afford unclear thinking. Mediation hadn't been of much help. With a shrug of shoulders to ease tension, she refocused on the tracker board.
Project Unification: Unite as many races as possible under a single leader. Incomplete. Time had run out for full realization. However, over the past hundreds of years, much progress had been made. Elder Vui's building of the Gnocque Empire, while not a favorite of Phai's, had succeeded beyond expectations and represented a vast pool of lifeforce.
However, the most critical sector of Trient'Ir was that dominated by the Commonwealth and Turzent realms. The species there most closely resembled the U'larr in form and lifeforce potency. Why that was the case was lost to the collapse, but speculation leaned toward the three Trients being life-seeded differently by the U'larr as an experiment. The lines of distinction blurred most along the invisible, undulating borders between the three Trients, as the Gnocque, Cquax, Yat, and others attested, but in the core of Trient'Ir, most species held to the U'larr's basic physical form.
Even before Phai's time, the Shozen had learned the species holding closest to their genetic roots housed the strongest lifeforce energy by a significant margin. That made the beings of the Commonwealth and Turzent territories critical in the coming battle. And what made choosing the right Unifiers important. They needed a leader or leaders the people would follow and willing offer up lifeforce when asked.
A wry grin escaped. Originally, the Commonwealth was their chosen unifying force for the sector, but Phai changed directions once she became aware of Ztar. He had the fire and determination lacking in the Commonwealth regime. Ztar had his down side – for years, he was a conqueror and forcibly brought independent systems under his control. But unlike the Gnocque, acquired systems were assimilated in a beneficial manner as long as they cooperated. Most eventually came around to deciding that Turzent membership was advantageous.
But how strong were those ties? How much did the people actually support their ruler? Wouldn't the Commonwealth's voluntary alliance garner more loyalty and in the end, more willingness to do as asked?
The Council argued endlessly until Phai finally agreed to use the Commonwealth to test Ztar's Empire. Most thought the man would lash out quickly at the antagonism. He did not. Sequi especially was surprised as Ztar was not his choice. Keep pushing, he'd told Phai, and Phai ordered her Commonwealth minions to do so. Still the Emperor did not strike out. Not until Phai ordered the Commonwealth to claim Earth. If Archangel was the cause of Ztar's uncharacteristic turn-the-other-cheek mentality, that should change the man's attitude. It had.
A majority of the people and worlds of the Empire supported the war effort, likely as a direct result of Ztar's initial determination to avoid conflict. The strength of the Turzent Empire had been confirmed as its people followed their monarch even unto death. Phai had been vindicated.
Next step – fold the Commonwealth into the Empire. Plans to dismantle the Commonwealth and migrate star systems into the neighboring realm had begun. Sadly, time had run out. An embedded Shozen would rally people of the Commonwealth when the final battle began.
Phai pulled wanderings back to the tracker board. Third leg of the plan…Project 1165; Failsafe, as Phai coined it: Recreate the Esha'Aru race. Advancing, but not yet complete. With the species nearly extinct, replication became necessary. However, in their jealous guarding of Source, the U'larr saw to it that Esha'Aru cloning was next to impossible. Loss of viability in first generation replicants was difficult to overcome, but Etagllot scientists had succeeded. Phase One was accomplished thanks to a captured Esha'Aru of twenty-some imperial standard years ago…T'Azrued – T'Qilla's mate. His DNA lived on in all current clones.
What scientists were not able to retain was the Aru channeling ability. That was a two-fold ability – opening a dimensional portal and then funneling Source/lifeforce energy. Hence the need for channeling bionites and Phase Two of Failsafe.
Esha'Aru were required to channel Source, which powered the Nexus machines. Without that power fount, the machines would not operate long on their own energy reserves – yet another layer of safeguards. Immensely powerful equipment required equally massive amounts of energy, and Source was just that. Each Esha'Aru pair at the Nexus would channel more lifeforce than any pair since the last, great battle – it was possible they would not survive.
She mentally summoned an image of Archangel and Ettwanae from Neu. They were the only known natural Esha'Aru pair with an intact amulet in Phai's Trient. She extended a hand to the frozen moment in time as the two stood on the spot where the Eilu fortress had stood. If the enemy should get to them, then the clones and the channeling bionites were all that stood between light and dark.
And the soulbinding aspect? Phai nodded absentmindedly, dropping her arm. Yet another obstacle, but that was where cloning had advantages. A cloned pair from the same single-source genetic material inherently had the same lifeforce frequency – a perfect match. Thankfully, recreating the required amulet for their cloned pairs was a challenge overcome hundreds of years earlier.
Finding a frequency-matched mate in naturally born Esha'Aru took a concerted effort when the population was thriving…next to impossible with only a few surviving members. Non-soulbound couples could not reproduce. With fewer and fewer Esha'Aru alive, the odds of finding a breeding partner were diminished greatly – the beauty of the Eilu's campaign. Hunting down the species had become moot; they could simply allow extinction to take its natural course.
No one expected Archangel. Unfortunately, events on Neu revealed to the Eilu that the pair was compatible and together, powerful channelers. They would hunt Archangel and Ettwanae without mercy. The Esha'Aru couple must be protected. Project 1165 wasn't a sure thing – Hercjell could still fail. The galaxy needed Archangel and Ettwanae alive.
And it needed them to soulbind.
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After a couple hours of sleep, Ettwanae and Warren had mostly recovered from the effort to heal Volu during the attack, but were ravenous. The Eshaar'ne acknowledged she would require many days to heal completely. Her weakened condition worried Warren, but she refused another round of healing Aru, saying he and Ettwanae had done all that could be done, and the rest was up to her own body.
Ettwanae immediately began pressing Volu for what she'd learned from the other ship. Gathering everyone in the galley where Gatebi had set out food, Volu shared most of what she'd learned, requesting her audience to refrain questions and comments until she was done.
The foursome looked wide-eyed between each other during the telling. To say Volu's occupants were stunned was the purest definition of the word. Flint was the first to find his voice.
"Vo, you're nuts! The end of the galaxy?! The Shozen are really the U'larr?! That other ship infected you with a computer virus or somethin' cuz that's bullshit."
"No, Flint, my mental faculties are 100 percent. I know the information is difficult to accept, but the details provided answer many questions and are sound and logical."
Ettwanae stood, blue eyes dancing with anger, and she seemed to want to storm out of Volu's presence, but naturally, that was impossible. "No, Volu. My mother clearly warned me about the Shozen. They were responsible for my father's disappearance and why my mother left me with Bhenra. I will not believe they are descendants of our creators. The U'larr were good – not evil!"
"At first, I was disbelieving and still have many doubts and questions. However, we should explore what they told us. If it is truth, it changes everything."
The Eshaaru narrowed her eyes. "No, Volu, it changes nothing. This is a trick."
Warren locked eyes with the Eshaaru. "Think about, Ettwanae. Remember what the Dark Ones' leader said on Neu? Something about affronting Norzra'tir. Light fades. Darkness is eternal. He could have been referring to The Dark Coming."
"Yes, Warren. Bits of information are beginning to fit together," Volu added.
"The idea of destroying an entire galaxy is…difficult to comprehend," Gatebi said with a disbelieving gesture.
Flint nodded with enthusiasm. "I'm with ya, Gabby!"
"They know where Etxan'Ir is," the living ship with a tight voice.
Bombshell one.
Ettwanae fell back into her seat. Flint's mouth dropped open, and the Alcab scanned everyone else's reaction.
"They do?" Warren was equally stunned. He had thought – everyone had thought – no one had found the legendary repository. Then thoughts immediately whirled with the possibilities. If true – if the Shozen had the location…
"They will take us there."
Bombshell two.
The room's occupants inhaled sharply in unison. After several silent-as-death heartbeats, simultaneous outbursts filled the air. "Goddess!" "Why?" "It's a trap!" "They will?"
"They explained Etxan'Ir is one of the Nexus machines. The great library also helps protects the galaxy from the Dark Coming. There are three Nexus – one to each galactic Trient, as the Shozen call them. If true, if they know where Etxan'Ir lies, then it adds credibility to their story."
"That's one big if, Vo."
"If they indeed know when no one else has been able to find Etxan'Ir, perhaps they truly are descendants of the U'larr."
The Eshaaru shook her head, blond waves swaying. "This is a lot to accept. I desperately want to find Etxan'Ir, but these are the Shozen."
Ettwanae was torn. The goal was to find the Library of All Knowledge – the dream was that within the great repository lay the answers to what happened to her people, finding a way to free Warren of the nannites, and break his soulbinding to Ztar without killing the emperor. What Volu learned explained what happened to the Eshaaru – genocide at the hands of the Dark Ones, or Eilu, as other ship had said was their true name. It was a lie Ettwanae refused to believe – her people had fled somewhere. She knew it – that was logical. She could not alone.
But the chance to go to Etxan'Ir and learn the truth was so-o-o tempting despite the grave danger.
"It's all a crock of shit! They want us to go with them 'cause they want us back in their labs. That's where they'd be leading us. I'm not goin' anywhere with those assholes!"
Ettwanae looked to her friend. "But Flint, what if it's all true? Or even some of it? So much makes sense."
"So did what the serpent told Eve in the Garden of Eden!" the teen spat. Naturally, only Warren understood the reference. "Lies wrapped in a slick story to tempt ya to do somethin' that will only bite ya in the ass!" Flint explained in frustration.
Gatebi's face revealed her support of Flint's viewpoint. "Ettwanae, they may be using the desire to find your people for their own purposes. The Shozen disregard life and freedom – that we all know firsthand. Even if we choose to believe their unbelievable story, we cannot trust why they've revealed these things."
"I don't. But if there's a chance…"
Warren listened. Following the Shozen ship would be a monumental risk. Was it worth it? He had many doubts about them finding Etxan'Ir on their own. Is that what the Shozen were banking on? That their little group was becoming so desperate that they'd follow on the slim chance that it'd lead to the goal? Problem was, everyone in the room was right no matter which side of the argument they were on. Someone needed to make a decision.
"We all knew finding the Library was going to be dangerous. We knew the Shozen were hunting us and after Neu, I for one figured the Dark Ones would be, too. Frankly, I'm more afraid of them than the Shozen at this point. Sometimes, when surrounded by more than one enemy, the only option lies in an alliance with the one that presents the lesser threat. Right now, that may be the Shozen…or U'larr…or whatever they call themselves."
Gatebi's face reflected inner conflict, but Flint shook his head vigorously, eyes sparking.
"No! You may be a kickass X-Man, War, but there are some people ya just don't jump into bed with – Shozen's them people! They get their claws in us again and it'll be all over. I won't do it!" The young man was nearly shaking in both fear and anger. His head snapped to Gatebi. "You're with me on this, right?"
She nodded, but not with conviction. "Flint, the Dark Ones are hunting us. They found us at Ita and Volu barely survived…" she let the rest hang.
"They are too powerful, Flint. Warren and I almost died on Neu. A single Dark One – a half-breed at that – was all it took on Ayni to nearly kill us again. And now Ita."
Volu broke in. "I made the decision. We are underway to their stronghold on Ekkamm in The Barrens."
Bomb three away.
"You bitch!" Flint shot up in fury. "No! You drop me off somewhere! You can't force me back with them!"
A food wrapper on the counter burst into flames.
"Flint, please calm down," Warren said gently to soothe the firestarter. If Flint lost control of his ability, someone could get hurt.
One of the dishes on the table began to smolder. The teen spun toward Warren. "Calm down? We're gonna be back in their lab! You believe that galaxy-ending bullshit?!" The young face showed shock. "Thought you was smarter than that. Dark Coming. Only the Shozen can save us. We'll take you to that fuckin' library. How stupid do they think we are?" Fisted hands shook. Accusing eyes darted to the Eshaaru. "They've suckered Volu and sounds like you, too!" An unopened food container on the countertop exploded, causing everyone to jump.
"Flint…?" Gatebi's brown eyes were saucers.
Warren spoke smoothly and quietly. "Flint, please. We'll deal with Volu, but right now, you are the one putting us in danger."
"Fuck you, birdman!" Warren's sleeve suddenly caught fire. Everyone gasped as Warren quickly smothered the flames. The teen didn't seem to care.
"Flint, I have stopped. We are not moving," Volu announced clearly.
Gatebi rose slowly and eased toward Flint. He looked at her with a blend of suspicion and a plea.
"You don't buy their bull, do ya Gabby? It's a con job…a trap. You see through it, right?"
"I will not believe what they say without proof."
Flint waved toward Gatebi and glared at Ettwanae and Warren. "See? Hear that, Vo? Gabby gets it. You're bein' suckered!"
Gatebi edged closer to the teen. "I want to see their proof, Flint. I am afraid of them just as you are. They have done horrible things to all of us, but maybe we can use them for our purposes. Get the information we need and then be gone. I trust Volu to keep us safe."
Disbelief spread across the boyish features. "What are you sayin'? You agree with Vo? Why?!"
"This is not our quest, Flint. You and I are here because we love Ettwanae. We knew her search would be dangerous. We chose to help her and to satisfy our own need for adventure and to do something important with our lives. Going with the Shozen may be one of the greatest risks we will ever take, and there is no shame in being frightened. I am. But if there is even the slightest chance they are speaking truth, then it could be the greatest adventure of all."
Flint crossed his arms tightly. "Or the stupidest, fuckin' mistake ever!"
"We will proceed with extreme caution. We will doubt everything they say. We will verify all we can. Volu is not foolish or naïve. She would not have agreed to follow if she felt it unsafe to do so. She'll take it one step at a time." The Alcab reached out and placed a hand over Flint's. "You are one of the bravest people I've met. I'm proud to call you friend. We will face this together, and we will get information from those bastards and then be gone." Gatebi smiled slightly and tilted her head at the younger Human. She'd said 'bastard' in English.
Flint produced a lopsided smirk. "So ya picked up one of my swear words." She nodded. Flint moved his gazed from Gatebi to Ettwanae, then Warren. "I don't like this one bit, but if we take it real slow like Gabby says, then I guess it's worth tryin'. But first sign of trouble we high-tail it outta there, agreed?"
Everyone did, including Volu.
"I am underway once again," the Eshaar'ne informed. "As Gatebi offered, we will proceed with extreme caution. We are en route to a planet named Ekkamm. I will scan the region carefully before leaving phase to ensure they do not have attack ships waiting. Only if I sense no other vessels will I dephase. I have other demands they must meet to progress from there. If they fail to comply fully on any point, we will depart."
"Have you shared those demands?"
"No, Warren. They may anticipate our terms, but I do not wish to prepare the enemy myself."
"Wise." Warren ran through the situation, concluding he would have decided on the same tactics. "Can I assume one of our demands will be to drop all defenses and shields so you can scan the planet and their facility?"
"You assume correctly."
"If they try to hide anything from you…"
"We leave."
Warren was somewhat unhappy with Volu for making her decision without consulting anyone, particularly him as mission leader, but he'd let it slide. However, it was time he took back the reins of leadership.
"Everyone okay with the plan so far?" Differing levels of enthusiasm answered, but generally, his shipmates were agreeable. "We're facing another Neu. We don't know what we'll be up against until we get to Ekkamm. However, if they drop shields, then we are better off than Neu. On the other hand, we know their technology is highly advanced and things could be not as they scan to be. On that point, Volu, we will be depending on your own advanced technology to uncover what they may try to disguise."
"Understood."
"I want to be clear on our goal – obtain the location of Etxan'Ir. Whether we simply get the coordinates or they lead us there doesn't matter. Anything else we gain is bonus. Agreed?"
Ettwanae looked to Warren. "Agreed, but I'd like to see if we can somehow confirm their story about The Dark Coming. If that's true, I want to know. Intuition says that has something to do with what I mentioned to you before – about us needing to do something. Remember?"
Warren did and nodded. "Volu, did they say anything about our involvement in that whole issue?"
"It was emphasized that the Eilu kill Eshaaru because Eshaaru are needed to channel power for the Nexus."
"That is all?"
"That was the extent of her explanation of why the Eilu wish to kill Ettwanae."
Warren caught that Volu referred only to Ettwanae. But the Dark Ones on Neu called him Eshaaru. 'The Esha'Aru who denies himself,' was what the Eilu leader had said in a odd pronunciation of the name.
"We focus on the mission goal, but if we have an opportunity to learn more, we'll take it if safe to do so," he stated firmly to end more discussion on the subject. "How long until we reach Ekkamm?"
"Approximately 56 standard hours."
"We'll use that time to prepare. Volu, you and I are going to go through every bit of information they gave you with a fine-toothed comb. I'd like to see if you can glean any intel about Ekkamm from them while we're in transit." A reply was not forthcoming. "Is something wrong?"
"I would rather not initiate conversation unless necessary."
Ettwanae and Warren exchanged puzzled glances.
"Why not, Volu?"
"I do not wish to speak with her more than required."
Gatebi leaned forward on the table. "Her? Volu, what haven't you told us?"
"I apologize for withholding a piece of information, but I felt it best until you heard everything else."
Warren's stomach knotted. He knew. Without being told, he knew. He watched as the faces around him revealed understanding one by one.
"It's them, isn't it?" he demanded.
Volu's argument for following the Shozen lost ground, if Warren's interpretation of the varied expressions around the table were correct.
"Yes."
The redhead scowled and fire danced in the green eyes once again. "Those bastards!?" Gatebi's eyes quickly found Flint's, clearly saying 'not now.'
Ettwanae looked torn between fear, anger, and shock. Speechlessness was the initial result. Wings shuddered. No one spoke as they waited for Ettwanae to address Volu. Finally, she found her voice.
"You should have told us immediately." Her tenor was stiff from a very obvious attempt to hold emotions in check.
"You may not have listened if I had."
"You got that right!" the teen snapped. Gatebi gave Flint another 'shush' look, at which he scowled even more.
"Ekkamm is still the best choice for your welfare and our mission under the circumstances."
A snort erupted from the firestarter. Gatebi eased back in her seat, brow knitted.
"I am no match for the Dark Ones, especially in my current condition. We need protection for a short time, even if that is from an enemy under truce. My decision to follow her was very difficult for many reasons."
Something more was going on, Warren would have bet on it. He watched the Eshaaru. She seemed to be softening.
"My Other, difficult because she attacked you at Earth? Eshaar'ne do not harm one another – that was a terrible betrayal."
"That is part of it, and only made worse by what else I learned." It seemed as if the living ship couldn't bring herself to freely offer what was troubling her beyond the obvious.
Deepening concern crept across Ettwanae's perfect face. "What's wrong, Volu? What else did she say?"
Swiftly, the room grew heavy and still, nearly stealing breath. "Her name is Bae. She is my mother."
The fourth bomb exploded in the room.
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Next time – Ekkamm looms large, and one long awaited meeting takes place. See everyone for C10!