Erica Olafson, Rise of the Dark One

by Vanessa Ravencroft

Copyright© 2019 by Vanessa Ravencroft

(GC Vol 10, GC 36)
Volume 10 of the Eric Olafson saga.
Edited by Renaud Kener

Description: Erica Olafson, Rise of the Dark One (GC Vol 10, GC 36) Volume 10 of the Eric Olafson saga. by Vanessa Ravencroft Edited by Renaud Kener

Tags: No Sex, Ma/Fa, TransGender, Fiction, Military, Science Fiction, Aliens, Extra Sensory Perception, Robot, Space, Paranormal, Demons

Published: 2019-12-17

Updated: 2019-12-24

Size: ≈ 120200 Words

Foreword

The Year is 5028 (Old Terran Time ). The Milky Way Galaxy is teeming with life and sentient species. Earth is now known as Terra and part of the United Stars of the Galaxies, a multicultural mega civilization that by now stretches across two-quarters of the Milky Way Galaxy and has a foothold in the Andromeda Galaxy. There are over 5030 distinctive member civilizations calling themselves members of the Union. The United Stars Space fleet protects this mega civilization against external threats.

Erica Olafson, born as Eric on a cold world called Nilfeheim raised under harsh conditions of a very traditional inward-looking society of Neo-Vikings left her planet to fulfill his dream to become a Star ship captain.

Erica stands 199 cm tall and weighs almost exactly 90 kilos and some say she moves with the same purpose and grace as a Nubhir Wolf.

Like everyone from Nilfeheim she has a greater tolerance to freezing temperatures and is able to stay submerged underwater for a very long time because of gills and eyes that are adapted to see well underwater thanks to a second set of clear eyelids. His muscles are denser than that of a standard human, allowing her to swim longer and deeper. Due to those abilities, she has great endurance and is much stronger than she looks.

She loves fish, has a very clear sense of honor and hates unfair situations. Even though she doesn't like to admit it, she carries the same short temper of her father and is more often than not ready to face a challenge with fists or weapons.

She is now fully aware of a Dark God growing within her.

Together with her truly unusual crew, she is leaving Thauran space behind, advancing deep into unknown space to solve an ancient mystery...

Chapter 1: Limping Away

The tall man in the all-black uniform and the mirror-polished boots stepping into McElligott's office was the most celebrated hero in all of Union history.

McElligott knew some considered him a myth, some even considered him a god, but the vast majority of Union Citizens loved this man. His reputation had long transcended into the very fabric of Union culture and society and his name was known far beyond the boundaries of the Union.

True entities of tremendous power, like Mothermachine, the Klack Queen, even the mysterious Narth Supreme spoke of him with the greatest affection and respect.

The Old Highlander knew that this man did none of what he did for glory or acknowledgment. He simply did it because it had to be done.

They called him the Eternal Warrior, and Admiral McElligott who was around for just as long, secretly admitted there was no better title describing this man.

After a little over three thousand years, they developed something that was beyond friendship. Obrock McElligott, the Admiral of the Fleet never considered the man a close friend, there was always that nagging feeling of envy. A petty and stupid emotion, he knew had no place between two men that were considered immortals. Yet deep down McElligott was human and could never truly suppress his feelings. That this textbook definition of a Teutonic hero didn't have the most favorable opinion of McElligott was something he believed to be true, even though Stahl never said anything in that regard.

But they had a working relationship, perhaps like none other in the universe.

When it came to war and fighting battles, even the enemies of the Union agreed there was no one more experienced and capable of that old warrior.

McElligott got up from behind his desk, the windows behind him provided a fantastic bird's eye view over San Francisco Bay. Despite the available technology, there was no weather or climate control on Earth and while the new calendar called this date Two-Day, Red Week, Fifth Divider 5028. According to Old Terran Time, it was the tenth of September. It was a particularly beautiful California coast day with a crisp blue sky and brisk winds churning the waters below the still elegant and beautiful bridge to white-crested waves.

The old warrior walked past him and gazed past the transparent Duro plast. McElligott joined Stahl and there was a moment of silence. Then Stahl sighed. "I have traveled this universe of ours from one end to the other; stepped on the surfaces of many thousand planets, but I still don't think there is a more beautiful world than our good old Earth."

McElligott had to agree. "Even after all this time, I can never really get enough of this view."

"I think I take a few days of vacation and visit Europe. The October Fest will soon open."

"So you decided not to travel to the Leo galaxy after all?"

"No, I think Admiral Rasmussen is doing a great job. He is commanding two battle clusters and I think that is more than enough to check if there is anything left of the Crucible."

"Yes, you told me about this Steve Rasmussen. Was he not one of those you put through your Big Test?"

"A variation of it, I put him in charge of a battle group, while he was just a Lieutenant."

"And how about the Or-Ghe? Do we know why they decided to declare war on us?"

Stahl moved away from the window and took a seat in the visitors' chair across McElligott's desk. "Officially, they object to the Kakth talking to us. They deposed their king, literally by throwing him out the window of his palace, throne and all and want to join, but we have intel that it was a very well planned and well-disguised agitation of the Kermac. I am sure they are livid about the fact that we found Koken."

"I always wonder what happened that made them abandon their world of origin."

"There are suggestions that the Ker fell for an elaborate trick. This seems to be substantiated by reports and documents that were found in the Archives of the Golden."

"We should send the Tigershark, they uncover the secret in no time. So how we are doing Or-Ghe wise?"

"Harris turned two planets of theirs to slag and depopulated two more dropping Marines and robots. A delegation of Or-Ghe is on its way to Pluribus ready to sign an unconditional surrender if I understood Harris correctly."

"And I bet a bottle of my special reserve that you were among the grunts dropping on the Or-Ghe."

"Your liquor is safe."

"Well not really, care for a spot?"

"I would not mind". Stahl fished for one of his beloved cigarettes. He knew the Old Highlander didn't mind and would most likely stuff a pipe in a moment or two. "Say Obrock whatever came about that explosion at the Assembly?"

"Or mutual friend Phil is on the case. He determined it was not a terror attack, but a well planned and executed theft."

"I expected as much. Well, he is much better to find out who did steal that document. There aren't too many entities that could have pulled that off."

McElligott handed Stahl a tumbler with a deep golden liquid, the distinct scent of highland moss emanating from it.

Stahl inhaled deeply and then flicked his 3000-year-old Zippo, many hundred times refurbished and put the flame to his cigarette.

McElligott complained. "How can you even smell anything else with that gasoline fume thing?"

Stahl looked at the ancient lighter like he would look at an old friend. "I guess I got used to it. This thing was with me when we faced Chinese tanks, so long ago."

McElligott sat down and sure enough begun his ritual to prepare a pipe. "I hear you, I have my suspicions too, but there is not a shred of evidence". McElligott was, of course, responding to Stahl's previous comment.

"It's called the Good Company after all. If I ever get my hands on even the smallest shred of evidence..."

"He is at this as long as we are and he is a businessman. What use would he have for some old parchment? His only motivation seems to be profit."

Stahl sipped from the old Single Malt. "No Obrock not profit but power. I am still mostly in the dark about things. Not that I understand most of what is explained to me, but my wife thinks that parchment is the key to unimaginable power."

"So this 'power' you speak off is up for grabs to whoever has that parchment?"

"That is where I am not so sure. That Neo Viking we both know is, in my opinion, the real epicenter of all this metaphysics gobbledygook."

"Well, it might be just a coincidence. She and her crew uncovered a Necro conspiracy penetrating the Thaauran society for a very long time. They also recovered a dozen Trans spatial threshhold bars. Technology we think is of Nnnth origin. The Narth Supreme sent a real Narth engineer examining those things."

"I heard she was mixing up the Thaurans pretty good."

"It was one of her latest crew additions, a thing called Meeze". McElligott took the first puff and then reached for his glass. "You know there were more than 20,000 of these worms and a significant number of those Y'All calling themselves Yeehaa now, descending on Blue Harbor, scaring the living daylight out of them".

"And now the Thaurans complain in the Assembly?"

"Not at all, the new Emperor and the recently elected cabinet is thanking the Wheeze and the Yeehaa for helping to cleanse old Thauran filth. The incident has not even developed into a docket issue. It's all over GalNet Channel three though".

Stahl turned the glass in his hands. "So where did you sent Erica and her boatload of unusual individuals?"

"I told her to stop sticking her nose in civil Union affairs and get that cursed Ypeherix problem solved. The last I heard she slipped past the GalNet horizon and is somewhere Spin or perhaps downward."

--""--

Alegar marveled about the private one hundred meter space ship of Phil Decker as he and his two friends followed the old detective aboard. "If I didn't know better, but this ship you call the Jolly Blue does not strike me as a Union product, but more like a Saresii one. Yet I have never seen any Saresii ship looking like that".

The immortal detective closed the ramp and said. "Some of it is Union tech, like the GalNet com and the AutoChef". He then had a strange distant smile on his face. "It is a gift from my wife. She was Seenian and this ship comes from a time when Saresii and Seenians ruled the galaxy".

He led them to the small flight deck and gestured suggestively towards comfortable seats. "Let me get this ride in space and then we can talk some more".

Phil Decker, born on Earth and in New York even before the second world war, went through the motions of taking a ship into deep space, with the confidence and routine of someone doing this for a long time.

Alegar looked at an old two dee picture of a rare dark-haired Saresii beauty. "So the legend is true, you really were engaged to Alegra Soneri?"

Decker linked the Jolly Blue into the automated departure traffic system. While Pluribus Spaceport seven was a small port at the edge of Government continent, almost exclusively used by privately-owned space ship, it was still part of Pluribus traffic. There were few planets and space systems with more traffic than Pluribus. Automated traffic assistance was the best way to avoid collisions, disturbing someone else's acceleration run or being considered a potential unknown. After he had done that he too looked at the prominently displayed photo. "No, Mr. Moansti we were not just engaged, we were married Earth-style in a New York City church and I am still married to her. It may take an eternity, but I will see her again. I met and loved many women since, but none like her".

Egill who had no idea what Alegar or Phil were talking about said. "Then you are an immortal? A pal of Stahl, Schwartz, and McElligott?"

Phil glanced at the instrument readouts and then shook his head. "Again that would be a no. I was part of a group that became immortal long before the rest. I did not know about the Guardian and met that artificial spook only briefly in 2100. Egill, I was born on April 4th, 1912. 189 years before this so-called Guardian revealed itself to Humankind. Long before the ascent of Earth.

I resided on Sares Prime for over a century when the Sarans landed on the White House lawn".

Egill processed this with a hard swallow. "But how did you become immortal? Are you human?"

"My mother was the first female Police detective in Earth history. My father was a police officer in New York City as his father was. My father died in France during World War One. I am as Terran Human as Richard Stahl. You are immortal, Mr. Skallagrimmson. The guardian of Earth had nothing to do with it. A certain White Fish however has, is that not so?"

"I almost died if it weren't for the great skills and knowledge of my Saresii friends". Egill paused."How do you know about that?"

"I am a detective remember? You applied for security classification when you decided to join the Assembly Security Council, part of that application is a detailed background check and an investigation into your Psionic abilities. The results of these checks are available to me".

The Narth Rep sounded pleased. "The detective considered us potential suspects and investigated our background, how delightful."

Alegar gasped. "Suspects, you considered us to have anything to do with that explosion and that theft?"

Egill sighed. "Of course, he did, he is the most logical thinking man I ever encountered. We barged in on him right when he showed up. He had to consider us as potential suspects".

Phil nodded. "Indeed, your interest in the events and my investigation could very likely be fueled by self-interest and the desire to stay abreast of the investigation. All three of you have, at least theoretically access to the resources I mentioned to conduct this crime and fabricate the cover. The Eldest of the Saresii. A man who has unlimited access to the resources of Silver Hawk Inc. The Narth Representative with virtually unlimited resources and access to the Narth Supreme".

Alegar leaned forward. "Are we still considered suspects?"

"No, I was pretty certain neither of you was, but I had to eliminate you based on evidence nevertheless."

Phil pointed at the Narth. "The Narth have near unlimited resources indeed, but never displayed cunning deceptive behavior. Covering the theft with a manufactured terror attack is simply not within their MO. Besides if the Narth wanted that Parchment for whatever reason, the Coven would have never hesitated to give it to them".

He then nodded towards Alegar. "You are the Eldest of the Saresii. Your kind is quite capable of deceit and subterfuge if it is deemed vital to Sares interests. Pulling off that theft as it occurred is well within the capabilities of the Gray Cat society. What eliminates you, is the very long history of Sares allegiance to the Union and the same reason that eliminates the Narth. If Sares wanted that Prophecy, the Coven would have no objection and gladly assist in translation and interpretation if necessary".

He then turned to Egill. "While you do have unlimited access to Silver Hawk resources and most certainly the credits to fund such a caper. In terms of galactic history exposure, you are virtually a Virgin. Before you arrived on Nilfeheim, you had no knowledge of things beyond Nilfeheim. But if for whatever reason you knew about that prophecy, all you had to ask one of your friends, their friendship to you is well known."

Egill digested that, while the Jolly Blue lined up before a Hyper Jump Gate. He then said. "So the source of your immortality is a secret?"

"No, not so much a secret than it is a mystery even to me. The Immortals chosen by the Guardian received specific tasks. Other so-called immortals know of their purpose. I don't. I and a few others became immortals by the association to a being called Dark Cloud. Who or what he was, I never found out. I think he made us immortal simply because we were friends. Dark Cloud and Wulf Starr disappeared before the Ascent. The only other Immortal like me still around is Peter Baker, he patrols the fringe regions as a Union Ranger".

The Narth asked. "We are pursuing that Saresii scholar to Sares because this was one of the destinations the Astrographical society revealed to him?"

Decker transferred the Hyper Jump-Gate fee and his ship approached the immense bluish glowing structure flowing in deep space, just a few light-hours from Pluribus.

They were caught by the guide tractor fields right after a Meteor freighter and pushed into the bright white energy field.

"Yes, and since he is Saresii and a member of the Black Cats, I think his first try to find out more about Avondur will be the Deep Libraries of Sares One".

Egill stared past the viewports and at the humongous construct. "I traveled many times to Sares, but always aboard a Space Train. What is that thing we are approaching?"

Phil explained. "This is a Hyper Jump Gate, an entry point to the Union Intergalactic Highway network".

"I am a hick from a backwater planet after all. I still have no idea what it is".

Alegar explained. "As you may know, bridging the vast distances in space has always been a challenge for societies spreading over multi-parsecs distances. The lack of contact and interaction with the core worlds has almost always been the reason why star empires eventually failed. The Saran - Pan Saran split is a prime example of this. The Pan Saran revolution was only successful because it took months and years for messages to arrive at Thebes".

Egill stopped himself from a grumpy response because his friend gave him a history lesson, rather than explanation, but he knew he was learning things he needed to know anyway; he kept listening. To his surprise, the Narth did too.

Alegar was in his element and kept on. "The Shiss lost 32 Purple Throat Colonies for the same reason. By the time the First Nestling ordered the attack on the 33rd Colony and Shiss forces arrived, they encountered 32 Colonies that were Union along with waiting for Union Fleets. Our Union is growing in leaps and bounds and claims territories in all four Milky Way Sectors, the LMC, Andromeda and other galaxies of the Local Group. Our Assembly has always put great emphasis on integration and communication. Technologies such as GalNet, TransMatter Radio, Space Train, Space Bus and the very recent and quickly expanding Trans Matter Tunnel network are the real reason such a huge and diverse Community feels united and part of the whole".

Egill grunted. "By the time you are done with that Basic School lesson and tell me what we are jumping through, we might as well retire".

The Narth Representative hushed him. "One has never attended Union School. Let Alegar complete his educational monologue".

Egill crossed his arms and Alegar continued. "Todays space ships rely on the much safer and more practical ISAH drive to access Quasi Space, instead of the old Hyper Jump method. As the distance limitations still make traveling across the Galaxy via Hyper Jumps a still quite risky and time-consuming business. A team of scientists and engineers looked at that old Hyper Jump Technology. They developed a new way of FTL travel. With a grant of the Linda Schwartz Foundation, they formed the company Intergalactica and introduced the Hyper Highway concept, right after the 4th Intergalactic War. Intergalactica is expanding its network of Hyper Highways ever since.

The original concept of Hyper Jumps was dangerous and limited to jump from Gravity Well to Gravity Well and Jumps of more than 10-12 Light years were impossible. Ships had to have two different drive systems, sub light velocity Engines, and Hyper Jump Drives. Traveling in the system to a safe Hyper Jump Point took weeks or months, velocity and momentum was taken along and long deceleration maneuvers had to be performed.

Hyper Jump calculation is difficult and leaves no room for error. Hyper Jump Engines to this day are dangerous and not reliable. When ISAH introduced the ISAH Drive, Space hyper-jump technology was abandoned. However, Intergalactica developed these Hyper Jump Gate at fixed positions, creating its own Gravity Well by simulating a small gravity singularity and generating an External hyper-jump pulse. Calculations are always the same as the target is another gate.

Ships with standard Isah Drives can make hyperspace jumps of up to 5000 Light years and Travel times between gates in minutes".

Phil nodded. "So for a fee of 5,000 credits we make the trip to Sares Prime almost as fast as a Space train".

"And that would have been all the explanation I needed".

The Old Detective said. "There are certain ill effects on humans, including those who are considered immortal. I think they call it Hyperspace Nausea, so we better get ourself in Zero Stasis".

Just before Phil activated the Zero Stasis field for the passengers, Egill heard the Narth. "It is still a mystery to me why we are going to Sares Prime. I know where Avondur is."

--""--

I scrambled on the bridge. Two heavy jolts had rocked the Tigershark, Har-Hi was just getting on his feet.

Even before I reached my seat I said loud. "Maximum reverse thrust. Shield and hull status?"

A heartbeat later I was in my seat and SHIP raised me into battle view. Every department was represented by a floating symbol. It was then when I saw whatever had attacked us. It was humongous and with some imagination looked like an arrow-shaped yule log, with lots of jagged extrusions. Scanner data told me that it was 24,000 meters long.

A thundering non-human voice could be heard. "Non-conforming life must be sterilized".

Our shields had been completely obliterated, most of the simulated hull of the Silver Streak destroyed, but our real hull once again had saved our bacon.

Shaka signaled that he was executing my orders and we were accelerating in reverse, passing the Quasi threshold entering at first, that in itself was certainly a Fleet unit first. Giving attest to the great skills of my chief engineer, who must have adjusted the ISAH fields for so vital supersymmetry on the fly, and in a few seconds flat.

"Great job, Circuit!"

Warner appeared behind the engineering icon. "Lt. Circuit is still on the virtu coach captain. Our new engineering apprentice, Meeze did that".

In the background I heard Meeze. "Pfffz, apprenticez. Meeze knowz ze machinz".

I promised myself to talk a little more with Meeze, he was clearly not just a scavenger with some rudimentary engineering skills.

Narth reported. "That unknown has pulled us out of Quasi and engaged us with very strong multi-dimensional based weaponry".

Shea interacted as well. "Now known species, tech level beyond ours. I estimate TL 10 or 11".

Elfi elaborated. "The unknowns transmitted in virtually all known communication methods, including psionic and Quasi space radio. No GalNet and GalCom equivalent. Their hail is contained and isolated but repeats itself".

Mao was next. "The thing obliterated the shields that came with our Janus disguise. We are now under full TransDim shields.

Har-Hi delivered casualty and damage report. "Seven crew members have been injured, including your XO. No injuries are life-threatening. Our Janus device is severely damaged, no prognosis of possibility if repair possible at the moment. Our Dime-tap energy siphon is malfunctioning. Engineering has shut it down. Warner and Three Four are on it".

I acknowledged the reports. "None of the known adversary civilizations were able to pull a ship out of Quasi. I knew NAVINT operated a special spy ship codenamed Tarantula that was able to do so. I also knew we had this capability, but have never tried".

You needed truly far-reaching multi-dimensional scanners, to time this just right. A few nanoseconds of real-time at best. Technology that could reach into quasi and collapse an ISAH field fast enough to make such an attack successful was at the upper edge of TL nine.

"Mao, SHIP? Why didn't that thing show up on our sensors before it could attack. Aren't we able to scan ahead?"

"Unknown at this time.

Mao added. "Whatever it is, it has vanished from our sensors".

"Mao, light up our real sensors, active probing and tie in Tyron's experimental sensor suite".

"Aye, captain. No artificial object within sensor range".

Narth chimed in. "There is a spatial distortion exactly where that unknown attacked us first".

"Elfi they are broadcasting in standard lingu?"

It was Narth who answered. "No, Captain. The psionic component of their broadcast triggers comprehension".

"Why can I hear it then, am I not shielded?"

"Like no other entity, known to Narth Captain. The psionic component was so intense, it overwhelmed my defenses. Your mind and mine are linked".

"Alright, Elfi hail then on all channels you got!"

Her icon blinked in acknowledgment and the external communications symbol appeared before and turned from red to green.

"This is Captain Olafson of the USS Tigershark. You just attacked unprovoked. I am offering communication alternatives to hostile action".

I was interrupted. "You are not conforming to life we tolerate. You must be neutralized, sterilized so conforming life may spread. You are insignificant, you are impotent, your existence insults approved life".

"I understand there are philosophies that are alien to ours, however, this is deep space and it was you who initiated hostilities. We are prepared to defend ourselves".

"Eliminate your existence and we are satisfied. You do not conform..."

I cut the transmission.

"Shaka drop us out of Quasi and keep us stationary at the outmost scanner horizon to that anomaly Narth detected."

"Aye Captain!"

"Tactical prepare to launch a Mirage drone, simulating the energy and mass signature of a Union Battleship".

Mao acknowledged.

"Circuit still out?"

"Yes, Captain. He is still connected to the Nnnth Core and unresponsive to external stimuli. Our Non-Corp said".

"Three-Four, can we use our SPDWG?"

"Yes, I think so. It was repaired while we were in Dock at Christmas Base".

"Captinz, Meeze likez ze bigz bumbz. Meeze helpz fiz it".

"You know how it works, Meeze?"

"Maybeez youz lizze biz stoopiz. Meeze knowz the machinz".

I decided to overlook that insult for now.

"I think that alien Yule log hides behind some kind of unknown cloaking field. Target that anomaly, as soon as it reacts to the decoy drone, fire the SPDWG".

Our decoy drone simulated the mass and energy emissions of a full-size battleship and sure enough, as it reached a point just two light hours from that anomaly, the huge alien Jule log thing came suddenly visible, the drone was pulled out of Quasi Space and immediately fired upon.

Krabbel executed a perfect short-range Quasi jump, bringing us into range and Mao slammed his hand on the activation sensor of our Spine weapon.

It took almost a second before the weapon had charged to full capacity, energies equal to the output of a white sun obliterated whatever shields the alien had and cut the enormous thing in half.

Mao reported. "The drive section of the unknown is destroyed, but there are energy sources consistent with weapon energies and repair activity in the bow section".

My left hand keyed in a special authorization code to our Arsenal vault control. "Tactical, launch three Loki VI. ZPV warheads authorized and released for use".

My tactical department worked as fast as possible to follow my orders. True to their high skill levels, Mao reported the launch of the torpedoes only five minutes after I gave the order. Changing the ready for launch torpedoes with different warheads was a major task, I knew.

A weapon beam originating from the bow section engulfed us. Our shields held but were pulled down to the second of three layers.

Har-Hi's deadpan tone reported. "Energy reserves down to 53 percent. Trans Dim tab is still inoperative. Primary shields gone, secondary shields at 45 percent. SPDWG still recharging. Opponent shields opaque to Translocator fire.

I acknowledged with a nod and said. "Evasive maneuvers, Shaka. Krabbel stand by for emergency jump".

ZPV warheads were the latest addition to our arsenal. Technically not only experimental but also Trans X class. Weapons generally not fielded by Fleet units, but the Space Force and use authorized by the Assembly. Since they were still in the experimental stage that was a grey area. Over sixty percent of our arsenal was experimental for that very purpose.

A ZPV warhead did not carry a load of Anti Matter, but a phase shielded bulb of zero-point radiation. This was also called zero-point energy; the energy of a system at a temperature of zero. Because then a quantum of matter would be left with less than the minimum amount that the laws of quantum physics require it to have. Thus zero-point radiation of the vacuum was an order of magnitude greater than nuclear energy.

As the commanding officer of the Tigershark, I had been briefed about these warheads. Eighteen delivered to us during our brief stop at Mildrus Edge. It was the most potent weapon in its size ever developed.

I was not sure if even Har-Hi had been briefed.

The three Loki torpedoes dropped out of Quasi space, accelerated to 99 percent of the speed of light, impacted into the alien thing and obliterated the bow section, displacing every quanta separately. It imploded into a momentary singularity and ... was gone!

Har-Hi received the telemetry data just as Narth, Mao, and Shea did. "Galactic spirits what did we just release? Those things had enough power to obliterate an entire Dai Fleet!"

"Terrans developed these Max Destruct ZPV warheads from a Camogi concept if I am correct".

After listening to the Damage report delivered by Har-Hi, I was called from engineering. While I had great confidence in Warner, our Non-Corp and gained a new respect for Meeze, I felt great relieve to see Circuit. "Captain, I am back!"

"I don't have the time now to express my relieve to see you up and in charge of things. What is our status? There is a good chance that thing is not the only one of its kind".

"We need to land somewhere, our SHIP held up remarkably well, but there is considerable damage, we are not able to tab energy at the moment and our reserves are depleting fast. We won't survive another encounter with an adversary like that"

"Krabbel is there anything we can reach with the reserves we got?"

"There is a GIII type eighteen light-years distant. It is not in our catalogs at all".

"Circuit can we make 18 light-years?"

"Yes, if we go slow and don't fight anyone".

"Shaka get us there, nice and slow".

Chapter 2: No Air in Space

We did make it to that GIII star system. The damage report didn't sound so severe when I had first heard it, and there was virtually no structural damage to the ship. As bad as a damaged Janus system was, it was technically not a vital system. Without the Dime Tap, we still had extendable backup ISAH engines. We had some fuel and an onboard refinery, able to turn any source of hydrogen into NuGas.

We were not beyond any hope ever reaching Union space, but without our real engines, it would take over a year to reach the closest Union system, almost 30,000 light-years from our current position. With our engines and energy tap working, a trip of 127 days. Relying on the backup engines the same journey would last almost 300 days, not counting fuel stops.

We crawled figuratively speaking, partially to preserve energy and partially because I suspected more of these Yule log things to be around. Going slow with every eye glued on the sensors I hoped we were able to avoid another confrontation.

Har-Hi and Mehedi assured me that the crew morale was in an alert, but overall very good state,

Mehedi believed that the crew preferred this uncertain, potential very dangerous situation over being stuck for days and week on the surface of a planet.

Krabbel christened the unexplored system Kryktim, an old Archa term for a yellow glowing insect native to his home-world. The star had twelve planets, four gas giants, many moons, a dense asteroid belt between the sixth and seventh orbit and many planetesimals.

Only one of the inner rock core planets was within the Goldilocks zone that allowed liquid water to form. While Union science had encountered life in the most unusual environments, including the very surface of suns and Neutron stars. The vast majority of encountered life was of the Carbon-based variety, relying on water as a solvent and a core condition of life.

This planet was at the innermost orbit where liquid water could exist, and our sensors picked up a rich biosphere. According to Narth and the other telepathic gifted members of my crew, nothing even remotely sentient. Narth was certain that the most developed life form did not exceed the intellectual comprehension of a Terran sheep. While I had never seen a sheep, Mao assured me that even the dumbest goat kept by members of his tribe far outsmarted a Terran sheep.

Since I never seen a goat either and generally disliked their taste I simply took their word for it.

To avoid as much of even that non-sentient life, we found a region of bone dry deserts that suited our purposes.

I was not ready to call it quits and limp home. Circuit assured me he could affect repairs and put everything back in working order, but he needed the main energy systems offline to do that, hence the need for putting our ship down on the reddish coarse sand and rock of that desert plane.

I called my seniors to a conference in the Den.

After they all found their seats I said. "We have two options, guys. We can limp to the outer rim and find the Camogi system. From there we have GalCom and other resources. It will take about a year in our current state".

I paused to let this sink in. "Or we repair our ride, find out who or what tried to stop us and continue with our mission. Whatever we are facing is very advanced with unknown but quite possible better resources than we have".

Har-Hi said. "Are you asking that for real? No one on this SHIP is ever going to quit".

TheOther agreed. "That's not us, Captain. Leaving this for someone else to unravel".

Sodoby grinned. "She already made up her mind, otherwise, we would be on our way to Camogi Star already".

"Givz upz, Weeze? Captinz Meeze noz givz upz!"

"Mr.Meeze this is a Senior staff meeting, what are you doing here?"

"Whaz youz zinkz Meeze doiz? Meeze rotaz in departminz youz saiz. Meeze rotaz in ze seniorz departminz. Meeze noz soz stoopiz".

I sighed. "Of all things, Mister that is one aspect no one thinks is true about you".

To Circuit I said. "Do you have everything you need to get us up and running?"

"Not even close, Captain. I want a fully equipped dock, access to Fleet logistics for parts and tools". He spread his arms. "Give me four of five days and I think we should be okay".

He got up and walked to the Den exit and said. "I better get started. Three-Four and Warner are already stripping the Dime Tap". Our Sentmac engineer then motioned Meeze. "What are you waiting for? You said you know the Big Boomz, so you might as well get it fixed".

The worm followed him. "Big Boomz melz ze emiiterz, Meeze fiz it."

Shea said. "We are going to be stuck on this baking oven of a planet, for a few days. Can the Sci department survey it?"

"Sure you can, but I need your best Xeno Tech to come with me".

Har-Hi glanced at me. "You are not serious?"

Narth was perplexed. "Can you read her mind?"

"Almost, friend Narth, almost. Eighteen light-years from here is a piece of alien ship".

I nodded. "The bow section is gone, but the aft piece is still there. We have the Apparition and we do need to find out more about our adversary".

Tyron floated close. "Permission to be your protective garment. I also recommend taking a Casern along".

--""--

The being stepping on the Plane of Eternity was completely shrouded. Yet, even here at this metaphysical location, removed from the very Omniverse, this entity radiated wisdom and power of great magnitude.

The Voice of the Rule, who had seen this entity come to be when the Arth and the Nnnth united in a symbiotic relationship and became the Narth.

The shrouded entity lifted his arm and extended a finger. The Voice was completely unprepared for the strong emotions that emanated from the Narth Supreme.

"Voice! I come to accuse you of meddling and interfering! I no longer call upon you, but on the One Behind it All".

"Narth Supreme! You are the first Entity of the Prime Universe. Your very existence was preordained by The One Behind it all. I am the Voice of the Rule and impartial until the Decision is made".

Neither the Narth Supreme nor the Voice was prepared for the white-blue sphere of light brighter than all the suns together. A brilliance that transcended the very fabric of existence. It was not a blinding light, or hurtful. It was the ultimate definition of light. Nothing could stay hidden, no crevice, not the shadow of the biggest mountains could conceal a single atom of matter or a quantum of energy.

What became present here above the Plane of Eternity was beyond the understanding of the Voice and the Narth Supreme by infinite magnitudes. There was no voice, no conversation. Both the Voice and the Narth Supreme were in the presence of the One Behind it All. Both entities controlled considerable cosmic power. Yet compared to the condition that appeared to them, it amounted to nothing.

Time had a different meaning here on the Plane of Eternity. Neither could say if time existed at all or if eternities passed, but the brilliant light subsided and then was gone.

The Voice of the Rule was no longer avoiding the accusation. "Your charge has been received and the Voice of the Rule has been purged, punished and renewed to its purpose, Narth Supreme. Bring forth the cause that compelled you to come here".

"The previous incarnation of the Voice had become a stalwart of Duality and pursued ways to restore the inflexible condition of Duality as it governed Cron, the First Universe. Duality is not malleable, Compromise and shades of Grey do not exist. This is the reason Crea was able to break the Rule because Crea crossed from the side of light and incorporated aspects of darkness, a third condition was introduced. A concept that could not exist under the auspice of Duality.

The Rule had been broken and Cron was doomed and ceased to exist. The changed Crea clashed with the Dark One, who was still soundly connected to Duality as the Dark One represented all that was opposing light.

The surprise attack of Crea failed, as this very act introduced aspects of light in the Dark One. This caused confusion within the Singularity of Evil and Darkness and is the real cause for its defeat. It could no longer exist as it was".

The Voice of the Rule did not interrupt, even though it received the same cosmic revelation just now.

The Narth Supreme thundered. "The One Behind it all punished and exiled Crea from the Prime Universe and promised the Dark One to be the one making the decision that was to restore the RULE or abolish it forever. The old Dark One could no longer exist. Twelve symbolic items were created and strewn across a new Universe. It was ordained that the essence of the Dark one would resurrect in the Prime Universe and begin a quest to reunite the twelve token. It was to be a journey of learning and to define the New Dark One, so when all twelve tokens were reunited a New Dark One was to make that Decision with a new understanding based on experiences gained on this quest.

The Voice of the Rule came into being, meant to be as an impartial arbitrator and you summoned 25 beings and made them Cosmic Elders, to guard and protect the conditions necessary for this Decision to be made.

The Narth Supreme was one of these. Yet one was unaware that you summoned an Nnnth before me to fulfill that role. This Nnnth rejected and exiled along with two others by us because they were unfit to join the new symbiosis. Their minds and being filled with hate, the lust for power. Power for the sole purpose of gaining power over others and everything".

The voice of the Narth Supreme was not acoustic but his words were expressed by one of the strongest psionic sources of all creation. It always was a voice of disembodied aloofness, now it was colored by strong emotion.

"You, Voice of the Rule gifted Rehux with powers far beyond those of an Nnnth and declared him to be a Cosmic Elder. Yet he rejected your charge and instead of a Cosmic Guardian he became the First Emperor. The one known as Invictus Rex. The one raising an Empire of the cruelest totalitarian kind and spreading over thousands of galaxies".

The Voice responded. "It is as you say. The Voice failed and this failure corrupted the Voice. The Voice of the Rule has been punished, expunged and restored".

"One does not question the justice delivered by the One Behind it All".

"Yet you are not the Narth that was summoned by the Voice when Elders were chosen".

"Because Narth too rejects this role of Cosmic Elder and impartial guarantor of conditions. None of the Elders you have chosen remained impartial.

After contemplation, all that is Narth decided to create a new young Narth, endow him with a physical form to explore the Prime Universe. This young Narth discovered concepts that the Nnnth rejected, the Arth forgot and the Narth lacked. Friendship, loyalty and love chief among them.

This young Narth embraced this concept of true friendship with a human being, a being that carried the Essence of the Dark One!

This friendship grew into the purest form of love as they shared the Hugavh, the core essence of their individuality. Young Narth did not only share it with Erica who shared that human body but was allowed to glimpse the true essence of Eric. In doing so Narth shared it with all that is Narth.

One is the Narth Supreme and the sum of all Narth, but with these newfound concepts, one is also I. The one that is Narth Supreme declares impartiality is impossible. Narth is loyal to the Dark One, and I the Narth Supreme declare before you and the Universe to be a Union Citizen. It appears a condition so simple and dimensional, but its true concept of celebrating individualism by embracing community is unique throughout the universe and I am proud of this. The respect and love that is given to me by myriads of individuals is a non-tangible treasure that exceeds it all".

The Voice said. "I sense your emotions and they are stronger than your psionics".

The Narth Supreme nodded slowly. "This validates our decision".

"We know the Dark One walks among the beings of the Prime Universe and has united most of the tokens already. Still, inside a weak human body, he swatted Lord Lumis and greatly injured the Lord of Light, who is infused with all of Crea's might".

"Lord Lumis is not aware of this, and lacks the intellect to realize this". Then the Narth Supreme laughed in a very corporeal human way. "You are mistaken, Voice. Erica might appear to be a weak human. Yet I am certain she would try to defeat you, her body is human, oh indeed. Her will power and resolve are beyond measure. In that, she is a true twin of that entity within her".

"Lord Lumis searches for the WEAPON".

"The WEAPON is aboard the Tigershark. The WEAPON was conceived by those who fear the return of the Dark One, it is of no consequence to the Old Dark One, but who can measure its effect on the New Dark One?"

"The time of the restoration of the Dark One is close. What can we do to prepare?"

"Let the Gods and Entities beyond our level of understanding do that". The Narth Supreme said. "One is concerned about the proliferation of Nnnth technology. One will now trace and exterminate those that are Nnnth but failed to become Narth. Nnnth must no longer exist".

--""--

I entered main engineering. The cube-like block of our Dime-Tap Energy system no longer looked like the smooth piece of equipment it usually did. All panels were removed. Many parts were strewn all over the floor.

The transparent cube-like thing at its center was no longer displaying that swirling soup of orange and white glowing energies, it was dull and dark.

Narth was sitting on the floor, an entire cloud of technical components floating around him, while he consulted an info bubble with technical specs.

Warner standing on a sophisticated looking workbench directing the spinning arms of a Nanite assembler inside a transparent compartment. Something metallic and complicated was growing inside.

Two-Three's suit deflated on the floor, most likely somewhere inside the actual system.

Circuit stood before Meeze scolding the worm.

I could hear him.

"Mr. Meeze did you repair the Wave Cannon with Stick-and-Fix and a kitchen spatula for pancakes?"

"Yeehz, anz iz workzd. Big Boohmz cutz ze baz onez".

"In the process, bleeding energy melted the muzzle emitter and the discharge chamber to slack".

"Sooz? Youz sleepiz whenz ze baadz comez. Captinz wanz uze ze Big Bhoomz. Meeze fizes iz so Captinz canz uze iz".

"You take your wiggle but into the discharge chamber with a plasma cutter".

Circuit noticed me, pointing at Meeze. "A pancake spatula! Captain, he glued a pancake spatula over the wave energy conduit!"

Meeze was not intimidated. "Iz fiz anz youze sleepiz. Meeze fizes iz".

I rolled my eyes. "I can't completely disagree with Meeze. The SPDWG worked and cut that thing in half. It had shields we couldn't penetrate with our TLs".

Meeze looked at Circuit. "Pffz!"

To me the Worm said. "Oh, Meeze likez ze raliz bigz boomz. Canz we shooz iz againz?"

"Mr.Meeze there are military forms we must adhere to. Calling your Captain stupid is not really a good thing. You may eventually serve on another ship".

"Meeze saiz youz stoopiz a lize biz sometimez, Meeze likez the Captinz".

He gathered a sizeable cutting tool, almost too big for him. "Meeze noz likez ozer shipiz". He wiggled away.

Circuit slowly shook his head. "That thing is a natural engineer and he seems to be able to instinctively understand complicated systems, but his practical approach and attitude is not exactly Union standard".

"Want me to assign him to another department?"

Circuit laughed. "No need Captain, despite all his semantics he fits right in".

"I came to see how we are doing?"

"The Narth filled me with all sorts of knowledge, Captain. I can fix the Janus device and the Dime-Tap, it will just take time. Four days Captain. We need four days".

I thanked him and left engineering making my way to the access ramp of the USS Apparition. Hans, Xon, TheOther and all our Marines including the Y'All were standing behind Har-Hi. All of them in Destroyer suits and armed to the teeth.

My XO said. "They volunteered to come along. Can I try to talk you out of coming along? It's only 18 light-years and with the Apparition, we can be in constant contact".

"We have no idea what we are facing, so I think I better go along".

Har-Hi sighed. "That's exactly the reason you should not come along. The aft section of that thing is still over 17,000 meters long. Much longer than any of our standard Battleships. I am not talking all that Seenian hardware we found".

He gave me a defeated look. "I know you toasted the bow and whoever was in there into oblivion, but who knows what survived in the other half".

"It might not even be there anymore. I want to know who they are? How many there are, and what we can do to protect ourselves?"

Har-Hi looked towards Mao, and my Tactical chief chewing on something, looking as much at ease as a marine in his destroyer suit said. "It's still there, Captain. Whatever we did to it, it hasn't moved or cloaked itself".

"By the way, Mr. Mao why are you suited up?"

"Oh come on, Captain. I am off duty and when do I ever get to have any fun? Besides if Krabbel can go why can't I?"

"I didn't authorize Krabbel".

"The Archa is already aboard the Apparition".

"Some marines have to stay behind. We are on a world we have not surveyed. We encountered problems on apparently harmless worlds before. The Carpet thing, Orthbeer's friends, the living mountain".

I looked at Roghor who just came down the corridor also wearing a suit. "My shift is over, Ma'am. I am not too late right?"

"No, Roghor but since my XO insists on coming along. I have to ask you to take the Conn and stay in charge of the ship till we come back. Your current rank does not reflect what I think of you. You have been a Commanding Officer of a ship and I know you are a good one".

He growled embarrassed and then said. "Aye, Captain". He waved Ak Fective and my Jooltar friend gave me a short look, but then picked twenty marines and followed Roghor.

While he was only a Lieutenant in technical terms. I knew the crew respected him as much as I did. I kept calling him by his old Togar rank of Commander. I was certain if he stayed in the Fleet they would eventually offer him the big seat. He was a Togar, but he had that unexplainable quality and gravity that all real Captains seemed to have. Zezz had it, Harris did and other's I had met. Secretly I hoped every day that I too was living up to that legacy.

I looked after him for a moment, then walked down the access ramp and boarded the Apparition.

Har-Hi next to me gave voice to what I was thinking. "One day he will be asked to command a battleship for sure".

"My thoughts exactly".

"Back into the Black Velvet and Leather outfit?"

I looked down myself. "Tyron, I didn't even realize..."

Tyron's voice in my ear said. "I assumed to simulate this garment choice because we are the Silver Streak again. Do you want me to change it?"

Aloud and answering both at the same time. "No, don't change it. I think this look has become my signature appearance and after all this time, I think it became part of me".

The destroyer was quite crowded as Krabbel detached it from the Tigershark's belly and pulled the fast ship in a steep incline and pierced the last traces of the planet's atmosphere moments later.

I sat in the command chair which was not much different from mine aboard the Tigershark, but it had, of course, fewer functions and instead of rising me into the Battle Dome, it lowered a virtu helmet over my head for similar reasons.

The ship was named Apparition for a reason. I hoped to remain undetected by having us drop out of Quasi almost four light hours distance, and ordered full cloak.

Our approach would take the better part of a day, but that allowed us to approach the remnant of that alien ship, expelling very low emissions and thus hopefully undetected.

--""--

Egill rubbed his eyes. "If you ask me, I don't like those Hyper Jump gates. I rather go the other way or use a space train".

Alegar got up from the soft seat and stretched its long legs. "You didn't like Space Trains the last time we went to Sares Prime. Well, we are here and I better get my self presentable before we land".

Phil gestured to the flight deck door. "There are facilities on the main deck".

Egill still feeling grumpy turned to the Narth. "Did I dream it or did you say you know about that Avondur place?"

"It is impossible to dream in Zero stasis as one is removed from the progress and influence of time. Further, I must correct your erroneous perception of my statement. I do not know about Avondur, however, I know its location. It is a planet I might add".

"You aren't helping to raise my mood".

Phis was quite interested. "It is still our objective to talk to that Seenian professor, but his goal is to find Avondur. Where would that planet be?"

"Avondur is a planet in the Avondur Galaxy, a star isle 32.4 million light-years from this star isle".

"Thirty-two million light-years?" Egill repeated. "There is no way to get there".

The Narth responded. "Distances are relative to the speed and method of travel. I believe the Gate Mapping project has reached Galaxies beyond what Astrographer call the local group. It is conceivable that there might be such Trans Spatial Gates bypassing this distance. Narth did not travel beyond this star isle, yet Narth knows about Avondur".

Phil listened. "I do not know how Avondur fits into this case, but I have a feeling it somehow plays a central role. Maybe this Seenian Professor knows more".

Alegar returned to the flight deck while the Jolly Blue linked into Sares traffic control.

This was the home system of the Saresii, one of the very old sentient species. The system consisted of nine planets, all planets on a perfect concentric orbit. All planets exactly the same size without any axial tilt. There were no moons, no asteroids but there was a very large space station at the Apex above the stabilized and revitalized sun Sares Prime. The system was also known as the System of Nine Perfect worlds. While all planets had the same climate and were of the same size. Sares One was the original homeworld.

All of them had been terraformed and cultivated to the most minute detail for many hundred thousands of years.

It was said that even the Delicates considered the Saran world as too frilly.

Egill had been here many times. First coming here as a very sick man. He received expert care and while he was here became best friends with Alegar. He had been here many times since, usually staying in the sprawling home of his friend on Sares One, built in perfect harmony with its surroundings into a rolling hill and overlooking the Syniteei ocean.

There were no spaceports on any of the Sares world, not even shuttle ports. From the big station, the Sares Hub there were countless TMT tunnel connections to frilly pagoda-style situations on all nine planets.

Egill asked. "I think I never really asked, but what is it with those Cat Societies?"

Alegar sat back down, as traffic control had taken over and slowly guided the Jolly Blue towards the big and busy station.

"There are several wild cat-like species that existed on Sares even before the rise of civilization. There are several species, differing in size and coloring of their furs. While none of the species that still exist are sentient, they are considered intelligent and are like all Sares life psionic gifted. One of these creatures are known as the Gray Cats, about the size of a very large Nubhir wolf or a Terran Tiger. They are very intelligent and very dangerous as they have the ability to teleport and render themselves invisible. The ones that still exist live on Gray Island on Sares One, the only region of land not altered by Saresii hand. It is sort of a Wildlife preserve if you will".

Phil smiled as he listened. "The oldest religious sect of Saresii origin are the Grey Cats of Sares. It compares somewhat to a very strict and secretive order of Shaolin monks of Earth. They practice martial arts and a form of combat psionics and they have evolved into something like an Intelligence organization for the Saresii government".

Egill grunted. "I have no idea what a Shaolin is, but I think I get the idea".

Phil said. "There are seven such orders or groups, with a strict hierarchy within Saresii culture. The Grey Cats on top, membership, and training is almost impossible to obtain for an outsider. Near the other end of this hierarchy are the Black Cats. Their members are numerous and the requirements of gaining membership are simple and include the participation in the annual Cat Festival and spending a week in the Black Cat monastery".

The Jolly Blue was grabbed by a robotic arm and pulled past an energy curtain inside the station. The arm deposited the ship in what appeared a privately owned docking bay.

Phil got up and motioned them to follow.

"The Grey Cats maintain a library on that island, and it is said the deeper down you are allowed to venture, the older the documents and information become".

Alegar touched Egill's shoulder. "I am a Grey Cat of the Ninth Level and I think I can get permission for the two of you. Grey Cats normally do not accept non-Saresii in that library and only a select few, in the lower levels".

"I didn't come here to read some dusty documents". The Nilfeheim man said. "I want to be there when Phil grills that Donomensi guy or gal". He looked at his Saresii friend. "You and every Saresii dolled up, who knows what he or she is anyway. There are billions of you, how do we even find that Lurega Donomensi person?"

Phil pushed a high res image from his PDD to the one Egill held. "This is Lurega Donomensi".

Egill followed them down the ramp. "Odin's Beard. I never thought there are ugly Saresii. This one would not win any contests on Nilfeheim for sure".

Alarm signals suddenly blared away. Egill noticed as he turned, that the robot arm had somehow lost its grip on a D-60 long-range shuttle and it was just colliding with the force field curtain projector separating deep space from this landing facility. All four of them was suddenly exposed to deep space.

The moisture in Egill's mouth and eyes freezing almost instantly...

Chapter 3: Psycho Surgery

The Apparition felt quite crowded. While she was designated a destroyer. and had been designed from the ground up to accommodate most Union members up to BaPhy II, she was not meant to accommodate a crowd of Petharian and Y'All volunteers.

Xon, the Gray Nul prince, himself member of a species of considerable physical presence sat behind the Communications station. "I never dreamt of being part of a crew, that makes me feel small."

"What are you complaining about?" Ensign Salhof, one of the Mini Terrans asked. Even without an active cloak, him being just a tad over ten centimeters tall appeared almost invisible on the small bridge. He was sitting right on the tactical console, rather than behind it.

Har-Hi, my XO standing with crossed arms next to me, gave me a glance from the side. "I think it is a good thing, being small and all, Mr.Salhof. The bigger you are the more you stick out, and I know a certain Neo Viking that attacks pretty much anything larger than her."

Hans, my Security chief and after Dusty, physically the largest of our crew standing behind me, manning the security console used his enormous fingers. "Y'All, Xandrao, Togar, Shiss, Stompers, fiery demons just for starters."

I made myself sound insulted. "I am a delicate person and you all make me sound like..."

Narth interrupted me. " ... some sort of brutish barbarian perhaps?"

"Guys, I am your captain, we are in a serious situation. On our way to examine a hostile spaceship filled with unknowns way beyond our technological abilities. I expect you to be a tad more serious!"

"And where do you come from? Didn't I see you in the engine room with a cloud of parts?"

"I decided to be part of this mission. You did not order me to do anything specific. Circuit did not need me."

"Well in that case, if Circuit says so."

Narth sounded very Narth like and very serious. "How does one quantify a 'tad'?"

Of all beings present on the crowded bridge, it was TheOther who raised his upper right arm. "A tad is a small indefinite amount or a small indefinite quantity, meaning it is an indefinite quantity that is below average size or magnitude. Linguistic scholars believe it probably originated from a Terran language called English."

The deadpan delivery of this information made me groan. "Odin help! Now we got a Y'All nerd. How in Loki's name would you know something like that?"

"I am attending a GalNet Bible class. One element is Ancient Terran language studies."

Narth declined his head towards the Y'All. "One appreciates this definition. Not that the very concept of indefinite makes sense to the Narth."

Har-Hi chuckled. "I remember that Bible thing from Stahl's wedding. It had a lot of funny stories if I recall."

Mao laughing. "Narth scared the living daylights out of a guy called the Pope."

I interrupted the banter. "Enough now, guys. Focus! We should be getting close."

My tactical officer instantly switched to professional behavior. "Aye Captain. We are approaching the 3 light-year mark in two minutes."

Shaka had remained aboard the Tigershark, as he had developed quite the engineering skills. First demonstrated some time back when we were stuck on Quagmire's Bog. Now he was assisting Circuit restoring the damaged systems, but Krabbel was not only the best navigator in my opinion but also an excellent Helmsman.

My Archa friend, operating helm and navigation held up one of his legs in a clear, but most likely unconscious attempt to emulate his friend Shaka. "Dropping at your requested distance, now."

Tyron supplemented the Apparition's scanner and sensor data with its own and transmitted it as visually interpreted information right into my retina. To me, the effect was an easy to digest overlay overt the visual image.

The remaining aft section of the huge thing was still there. The passive scanner data I received highlighted hundreds of energy sources.

Narth, acting as the science officer reported. "There are multiple sources of repair activities. It does not appear to be consistent with the replicative activity observed with Seenian equipment."

I acknowledged and said. "Thank the gods for that." I shifted a little in my seat and said. "No sense of delaying it. Krabbel get us close and approach that thing."

--""--

Lord Lumis should have felt proud and invincible in his new shiny white armor, armed with a new sword as he passed through the rift that connected Crea's Upper realm with the Citadel of Light.

However, recent events had changed his outlook on things forever.

To Crea, to the universe, he was the old arrogant Lord Lumis, the invincible champion of the Spirit of Creation herself. Chosen above all that ever lived, bestowed with powers of cosmic magnitude, he was the one to banish and defeat the vilest and truly evil entity, the incarnation of darkness.

He was so confident and assured in his power and position when he met his adversary the first time.

Lord Lumis was at the peak of power, nothing in creation his equal. His opponent, still trapped in a weak, mortal body of a human female, the Dark One not even fully resurrected. He, the Lord of Light should have been victorious. Yet, before he could even complete that attack, he was swatted aside with such unrivaled power, that shattered unbreakable bones, tore impenetrable skin and drained his life-force. Yet his opponent lashed out with a tiny fraction, with no more effort than a fleeting afterthought.

Crea assured him that he now was equal in might to herself. That the new armor was a representation of that might and the new sword, a weapon without equal.

While he acted as if he believed her, he sensed Crea's fear. She knew the time of reckoning was soon at hand. Openly she proclaimed the new sword to have no equal, yet she urged him to find the WEAPON, an object used to strike against the Dark One and cause his defeat.

He had partnered with a Netherworld Lord, but Ciferus had abandoned him.

Now he had once more returned to the Prime Universe, the core reality of all the Omni-Verse. It was here the streams of time and space moved unstoppable towards that ultimate confrontation. It was here where he would have to face the fully restored and resurrected entity known as the Dark One.

Crea invested all of her essence and supernatural being in Lord Lumis and his success finding that obscure object, the WEAPON. This was her last hope to escape her destiny, and his destiny was tied to hers with unbreakable bonds.

Lumis gave his cape a sweeping motion before he sat on his throne, known as the Seat of the Righteous.

Of the twelve stalwart Paladins of Light, only nine had gathered at the bottom of the golden steps. Gariel the mightiest of all, killed by Luc. Miracel, now exiled for all eternity in a desolate Netherworld realm. Zophim dead, slain by what the Urd claimed was a mortal warrior.

Uritel, one of the first Lumis had chosen and elevated knelt and spread his arms. "Champion of Light, you returned to the Citadel. Your summon has reached us, but Miracel has not answered your call. None of us can sense him."

Lumis made a dismissing gesture. "I know of Miracel and his fate. He will be rewarded and return to us once we defeated Darkness."

"Our numbers dwindle, Champion of Light, our resolve to be defenders of the Realm of light has not. Speak then, dispel the rumors that you, Lord Lumis thou hast allied thyself with foul Ciferus."

"I am allied to Crea alone. I did meet with Ciferus and by the decree of the Seven Circles that govern the conditions at Avondur, I did not confront him."

Another if his Knights, stepped next to Urtiel. Lumis recognized Serael of course.

The tall Knight holding his helmet under his right arm, exposing his blonde hair said with unveiled accusation. "Another rumor speaks of you casting lots with that abomination known as the Necro King."

Before Lumis could answer, another knight chastised Serael. "Silence your doubts, Serael. It is I, Haramael who has just returned from the Necro King's stronghold. This death worshiping insult to life has been utterly destroyed, and so have all his followers. That necropolis is utterly destroyed. No doubt the work of our beloved master."

Lumis nodded. "Of course, it was I, who else could destroy in such a manner?" Then he quickly changed the subject.

"I have traveled and must confirm the Dark One has found his vessel. It was revealed to me that a WEAPON exists, able to slay this most foul of all entities. Crea herself predicted it to be found on Avondur."

Uritel was now certain their master was either a great fool or a liar. "I have stayed silent and considered all the possibilities. I have knelt before you and hoped you would speak to us truthful as it is the hallmark of Light. Deception is the realm of Netherworld dwellers.

I ask you here within the walls of our Citadel and before the ones pledged to the Champion of Light. Lord Lumis, speak the truth and all of it. Do not think of me, of us as fools.

If you believe what you say, you are not a worthy Champion of Light. If you speak to deceive us, then I shall no longer be thy knight."

Lumis was completely taken by surprise. "How dare you question me? Do you not see what Crea has bestowed upon me?"

"That the Dark One has found its vessel was established and confirmed when we spoke to you the last time. It was established and confirmed that the Dark One has found and gathered eight tokens. It was you who traveled with Ciferus. Balkus proclaimed it. The Sentinel of the Rifts saw it and Geoan confirmed it. You have been seen with the Netherworld lord on N'Ger.

But you fell for Haramael's rouse. "It was not you who destroyed the Necro King and slew all the servants."

First, he wanted to lash out and punish them all, he did have the power to do so, but after facing the enemy he was destined to fight, he had changed.

Instead of striking Uritel he sank into his throne.

"It is true. The mistress, the goddess of all creation has not prepared me for what I am facing. I was already striking, what is to become the Dark One, and I was swiped away. Not with a weapon, not even conscious, just a thought. Knights, I have no way to explain what I felt. It was true and unbridled power. It was universal, cosmic and ultimate. It was such anger, an anger expressed in Dark Flames ready to consume reality and all that is the Metaverse." He sighed deeply and with open fear and resignation. "Yet it was not a force of chaos, oh no! It was controlled by the consciousness of a God."

Uritel slowly nodded. "Now you see the truth, Lord Lumis. It is an eternal truth. What begins, must end. What lives, must die. It is the dream of Light to vanquish darkness and death forever. It is a cosmic rule that can be broken and newly defined my lord.

The one that was called the Emperor has taken possession of the prophecy. The Seven Circles say he is a contender to the power and essence of the Dark One. The Prophecy speaks of the Weapon and we think it knows how it can be found."

Haramal, Regoldur, Masara the Battle Angel of Light and the rest stepped closer. Masara, not made or elevated by Lumis but a creature of the Upper Realms herself, never spoken many words ever since she joined the Knights of Light said. "He is more than a mortal but less than God. Once he controlled an Empire unparalleled in size and expanse. They say he lost interest in physical power and wanted to ascent. No one knows if he succeeded, but the Emperor is not to be trifled with. I am confident I can slay whatever he is. Whatever creature the Dark One occupies now is weak and tainted. Will the Dark One merge with the Emperor, the restored rule will be Evil itself. All Light and goodness banished forever."

Regoldur, a very strong Knight of light said. "Balkus, has not been defeated by you. He too stirs and amasses forces to tip the scales to his favor. Balkus is as old as the others and he too wants to be the Dark One."

Haramal, his arms crossed. "Crimsor, the Red Knight and servant of Sata himself has aspirations and some say his master, the Lord of many Nether Realms is the truest contender. Whatever will come to be, it will happen on Avondur."

--""--

Egill was certain he was never closer to death than just now. while he was far from helpless he needed to focus.

He suddenly felt warm again and could breathe. His vision was blurred and he felt as if a thousand needles were pushed in his skin. His Narth friend held him and Alegar, despite seeing only a hooded face, with nothing but bright glowing yellow light behind two eye slits. He felt a deep concern.

The usually inhuman voice of the Narth Representative had a warm tone. "Friend Egill, you are injured but you are alive."

Still unable to see details. He saw the outlines of a med bot rushing by and scooping him up on a form field stretcher.

The next thing he remembered, was a Union Medic smiling into his face. He felt completely fine.

"I hate Zero stasis! That robot put me in zero stasis did it not?"

The medic was a Colorful, with bright blue fur and very big cat-like ears. "Citizen, much of moisture in your lungs was frozen and caused serious damage. The zero stasis measure saved your life. You do have a new lung, new eyes and we did restore freeze damage to your hands."

"Alegar, is he okay?"

"Yes, Citizen. The Narth reacted fast enough to save you."

"Before I want to know what happened, how is the Detective?"

"He too is recuperating."

"Am I okay to leave?"

"Sorry not yet, Citizen. Your lung is not completely grown and you are still on our respiration system."

Egill realized he was suspended in a bathtub like bed or something. Filled with a bluish gel. He knew about Regen-Tanks, and he had spent quite some time in a Saresii Psi hospital, but his time there was more like being in a sanatorium.

The medic touched a panel and the tub like contraption tilted upward. Egill noticed the room was crowded with official-looking people, most of them of course Saresii.

One of them, wearing the uniform of a Union Police officer with the rank insignia of a Commander, was clearly male, despite his cultural-based efforts to appear female.

"I am here to apologize, Mr. Skallagrimmson and I am very glad to find you under good care and on your way to full recuperation."

"Apologies should come from whoever failed to maintain the safety systems."

"I am Commander Rychar and I fully agree with you. It was just an unfortunate chain of events that caused this accident. The long-range shuttle was an automated transport and on an incorrect approach path. The robot arm was not rated to handle a transport of this bulk, especially since the positioning thrusters were still active and counteracting to the..."

Egill snarled. "They said the Assembly explosion was a terror attack. It turned out it was something completely different. I do not accept your explanation of an accident. I will investigate myself as soon as I am out of here."

The medic said. "Union medicine is very advanced, but you are still healing."

The medic touched the panel again. Egill suddenly felt right as rain and the bio gel tub leveled out again. While Egill felt wonderful, there was a distant voice in his mind protesting against unwanted drugs.

Egill had lost his sense of time. When his mind was able to focus, the light in the room he was in had been dimmed. He could hear the faint electronic whisper of machines.

He felt alarmed, what medical condition was it that kept him in suspended animation like that?

His senses told him, he was not alone.

"Who's there?"

A beautiful Saresii came into view. She wore the Saresii version of a Medical Specialist. All white, with fine black lines curving around hips and boobs. She wore her peach-colored hair in a high riding knot. While her face was beautiful and flawless, it had an artificial, generic quality. He stared at her. "Who are you and why are you wearing a mask?"

She smiled at him. "Very good, Egill. You have a very sharp mind and eye for details, but not much longer. I am a very good Psych Surgeon. When we are done with you, we control the Wisemen and you will be a happy little puppet."

She looked at an info bubble. "Oh, don't get all excited, Egill. I am almost done mapping your mind and after that, you will be just fine."

Egill's mind filled with panic and fear. Psycho Surgery would wipe out his very essence and replace it with whatever the Psycho surgeon decided on. Where was the Narth?

She seemed to guess his thoughts. "We noticed how hard to kill the Immortal detective is. Cherubim tried it and failed, but we will change his mind."

She laughed. "The Narth? He can't read you right now. And once we are done, he will do what you guys suggest. The Narth is intelligent, but children when it comes to social interaction. Be proud, Egill we don't spare expenses to change your mind. She laughed, thirty more minutes and you won't know the difference between Nilfeheim and Pluribus."

She pressed a contact on a panel, Egill wanted to scream as he felt all his worries melt away.

--""--

Har-Hi checked the mag clamp controls again then he said. "The connection is solid and it looks no one noticed us."

Narth looked on his handheld scanner. "There are 7,545 fragments of scrap and debris with the approximate size of the Apparition and I sense no psionic or other activity that suggests we have been discovered."

"You sense any psionic activity?"

"Yes, but I am unable to make sense of it. Using human terms it feels as if the minds that emit the psionics are very deep asleep."

I cleared my throat. "No sense of delaying it. Let us be as stealthy as possible. That chunk of alien ship is still huge and could hold thousands."

Then I turned to Narth. "You understand your orders, right?"

"If disgusting biomatter hits the air moving device, and I can't extract you safely I return to the Tigershark, assume command and proceed to Camogi Star."

Har-Hi sounded defeated. "That's the essence of every plan you ever made. You should be back aboard the Tigershark, and you know it."

"I can't change who I am, Har-Hi. I can only make decisions if I know what we are up against."

Har-Hi checked his TKU and then opened the airlock door. The dark bulk across about a hundred meters of deep space. As I jumped after my Dai friend, I realized I had not been completely cured of my fear of space.

--""--

After we left the chaos of twisted metal and melted matter behind, the corridors became more defined. The cross-section of the corridor we now entered was that if a blunt triangle with steep inclining walls. If there were light elements, none worked. The part we were in, was still without an atmosphere and as cold as space.

TheOther right behind me said in a very low tone. "There are no airlocks, no seal able sections at least so far."

Mao agreed. "Not even Kermac ships lack seal able sections. When we punched this thing, we drained all the air out of it."

Mehdi keeping his attention on his scanner slowly shook his head. "I am convinced that, at least the sections we have inspected so far never held any atmosphere. All the materials show signs of decay, I think this ship is very old."

Har-Hi who insisted on taking point stopped us with a hand sign. "My advance drone reports movement and an energy source coming this way."

As if on cue, a dark red shaded wall panel suddenly slid open and something that reminded me of a Ypeherix, same size, similar shape withered away in a barrage of a dozen TKU blasts before I could see it clearer.

I gave Krabbel a scolding look as he discharged all four of his TKU blasters.

"Maybe we can talk and find out more before we roast them."

Har-Hi tapped on his wrist readout. "The one detected by my drone is about to come into sight."

I motioned my friends and crew to hug the walls for cover and told them to hold their fire.

The thing that came into view indeed shared many characteristics with the Ypeherix warrior I had met in that doomed jungle planet a while back. However, this thing clearly had artificial components and had an overall smooth and somehow manufactured character.

The walls did not really provide any cover, but the thing simply stalked past us, not taking any notice. It carried a deformed metal piece in its claw-like pincers.

"Tyron, turn on all shields you got."

"Aye, Captain. You are under full Seenian shields and triple ParaDim."

With this, I stepped into the middle of the corridor, but the alien thing did not react to me in any way.

Har-Hi reported another one coming this way.

I remained standing in the middle of the corridor. The alien worker thing also carried a piece of metal and simply stalked around me, and continued on its path.

Mao said. "Are those robots?"

Mehdi reading his scanner results. "Those things have considerable bio components, emit very weak bio-neural energies."

Even after several hours of exploring, we did not find anything else than these stalking robot-like things. We observed them clearing debris and carrying it to a central location and an ever-increasing pile of scrap.

We called the Apparition and the Tigershark to let them know we were in no danger.

The whole thing was huge and it took us a while to advance, as we still expected other more aggressive opposition.

But we finally breached into an immense storage room of sorts. Shelf racks held many thousand of these Ypeherix worker things, looking dead or inactive.

TheOther waved me to a central column like storage shelf. "This is the source of the psionic thoughts Narth identified, Captain. There are a few thousand beings in cryostasis, but most are dead. According to my scanner, only two appear to be alive."

After spending almost a day, having my friends spread out. We found nothing immediately dangerous or aggressive. After the violent attack, this proofed to be rather anti-climatic.

I even decided to send the Apparition back and pull Shea from helping Circuit, so she could have a look.

Cateria and Brana had arrived as well and examined the Cryo unit closer.

My CMO said to me after a while. "I think the two beings inside these cryo cells are beyond help, Captain."

"It's the advanced tech?"

She shook her head. "The tech is advanced indeed and in general terms perhaps TL 10, but crude compared to Seenian tech. I brought a load of Circuit's nanites."

From behind one of the fogged op cryo capsules, I heard a mumbling curing.

There was Meeze!

He looked up. "Oh heloz, Captinz. Theze Rundiranz are no gooz for eazing, Baaah tastiz baaz!"

"Weren't you supposed to work on the discharge chamber or something? And did you just try to eat one of those alien Cryo corpses?"

"Meeze fizes Biig Boomz and wenze small shipiz comnz. Meeze thinz to checkz on youz." Then he held up something greenish, looking something. "Yeez, Meeze triez. baah iz baz buz youz wanz triez?"

"Uh no, I take your word for it. What is a Rundirans?"

He pointed at the Cryo storage. "Allz zem are Rundiranz. Zey are ze verzy olz makiz theirz ownz livez, whenz zey not likez yourz lifez. Meeze noz likez Rundiranz, noz gooz forz ze eaz."

"You know what these aliens are?"

"Whaz I jusz saiz? Captinz, Meeze likez youz buz maybezz you not listenz or maybez a lize biz stoopiz?"

Chapter 4 : Aseir

"The Rundiranz?" I repeated. So what do you know about all this?"

"Lize Biz, Captinz." Meeze said, looking at the greenish goob of organic substance in one of his small hands. He took a bite."Iz baaz Captinz buz maybez I puz the salz or ze strawberriez onz ze Rundiranz."

"Mr. Meeze can you pause your culinary experiments for a moment and tell me what you know?"

The worm creature gave the green glob a last look and then tossed it back into the cracked open cryotube."Meeze knows lize biz. The Rundiranz anz ze otzers travelz from ze planez zo ze planez anz changz ze lifez. The Rundiranz noz likez ze otzers."

I tried hard to understand, but the worm's explanation made little sense.

TheOther stepped next to me and exchanged sentences in an alien language with Meeze and then said to me."Meeze thinks, the beings in these cryotubes were ready to be seeded but somehow had not been deployed or released by the Life changers. Meeze remembers Mora legends about two distinct life seeding mega societies. Each trying to spread their particular brand of life and opposing the efforts of the other society."

I digested the information, even though it was much clearer, I was not sure how it applied to our situation, but it was more than we had before. "You speak the native language of Meeze?"

"Yes captain, I believe Meeze and Y'All are related somehow, we share basic genetic similarities. The other Yehaa aboard have taught me Mora language."

Luitenant Bergdorf one of the Mini Terran buzzed close and hovered at eye-level before me."Captain, we discovered tanks full of these." He held up a plastic container and inside was something that reminded me of a tiny organic shaped throw dart.

He continued, "Shea examined our scans and we think these things are rained onto a planet by the billions, then they sting lifeforms and inject an aggressive gene code changing virus. Captain, I think we discovered a Seeder ship."

---

Our expedition to the alien wreck was un-eventful and while we now had the outline of an idea what we had encountered, there were lots of unanswered questions.

I had returned to the Tigershark and went to Circuit to check on the progress of the repair work.

My X101 Centmac engineer told me that everything was progressing nicely. The Dime-Tap was almost ready to go online and that the Janus device was also close to being restored. The science department had completed a planetary survey and reported the existence of a stone-age society of lizard beings on another continent, unable to cross the oceans. Open contact with a primitive culture was strongly discouraged and if at all to be avoided.

I permitted Shea to lead an excursion to the alien wreck to give it a closer look.

All this activity kept my crew busy, but there was little I needed to do. So, after an extensive swim, I decided to take the opportunity for a leisure day and a nice long sleep.

I just closed my eyes and was ready to catch a few zees, when I found myself inside a dark glowing shapeless environment without clearly defined ground or any other solid boundaries. I felt my brother's mind, more substantial than before. Whatever he was, he was gaining awareness and with that, he began to separate himself from me. The distinct feeling of him being a completely separate person had grown.

"I am indeed growing and becoming more and more aware of what I am. The bonds that tie me to this body and you are weakening."

"Does that mean, I have to fear you? I am mortal and tied to this body, unlike you, there aren't mystical trinkets for me."

"Sister, you need to listen to our friend Narth. I am forever tied to you, you are more than a temporary vessel. Even without me, you will be a powerful psion user. It was you who the Narth Supreme invited."

"There is a reason other than some weird mental sibling chit chat we are talking, right?"

"Yes, sister, the pace of my ultimate awakening is quickening and the Omniverse is preparing for that. Some forces fear my coming, some believe they can affect my essence and become the vessel. Others believe it can be prevented. The closer we approach this time, the more powerful and potent these forces will become."

"That means exactly what?"

"Nothing can harm or stop me, but until I am what must be, you can be harmed. If you, my vessel is harmed or killed. I can not incarnate as pre-ordained and the Decision can not be made. Sister, we must seek out the remaining tokens."

"You know, I am a Starship Captain, no matter what. I can't just go on a quest of my own.

"We crossed many light-years stepping over trans-spatial thresholds. We traveled with Luci Fera, bypassing space via the Netherrealms and we traveled with the Narth Supreme, Time and space have a different meaning to us ... to me. We know where the gauntlets are. Let us go to Netlor and retrieve them, we will be gone for less than five minutes."

I sighed, opened my eyes and got out of bed

"Tell SHIP that we will be back. You are a Starship captain indeed, and able to make decisions, you come to the aid of anyone asking. I am your brother."

"You know how to get there?"

"In theory sister, as I have never done it before as you know. Take our ax, it cuts everything including the very fabric of time and space."

"And if it does cut it, how do we mend it?"

"Such cut or tear is not permanent."

I sighed got up from the bed and it took only a thought to summon the shroud. It appeared out of nowhere and replaced the nighty I was wearing. With the shroud, my boots appeared.

A metal belt girded the loose shroud above my hips.

"Sister, I know this is not your style but it is mine."

"Let us just hope no one gets a heart attack seeing me like that."

"SHIP, I will be gone for five minutes or so. Don't be alarmed, if anything urgent happens, let Har-Hi know."

I raised my hand, the ax grew to full size. My mind filled with images of Netlor.I knew this was not me, but the growing abilities of my brother able to see a distant world with such incredible detail. These images were so substantial. I swiped the ax in an arch through the air, creating a glowing rift and I stepped through.

---

Har-Hi sat brooding in the command chair and stared through the front viewport. As usual, the viewscreen had been raised to allow a direct view over the dust-dry desert landscape. He had asked Xon, who was sitting behind the Comm Channel to keep the common channels open, so he could listen to the science team aboard the shipwreck. Their voices were excited in the usual science geek way, but there was no distress or any indication they were in danger. He was still worried, despite the armed marines, half of them conscripted Y'All.

Har-Hi's lips curled to a faint smile as he was thinking about these terrifying brutes. Beings of a dozen galaxies felt panic like fear, just hearing these brutes were coming.

Yet, in Quarva the hollow asteroid moon in the Leo II galaxy when they faced a whole troop of these genetically constructed warrior beasts, but true to the unexplainable Tigershark magic, fifty revived Y'All joined the crew, then argued and pleaded with the Admiral to have them remain aboard. To the Tigershark crew, they weren't fear-inducing, of course mainly due to TheOther, who had long ceased to be frightening but was the welcome sight of a dear friend.

But Har-Hi was not just a Union Officer, he was also Dai, boarding ships to plunder them was a way of life. He knew of many stories when inert and dead wrecks and concealed lethal terrors.

He shifted his position. "Of course no Dai boarding party ever had Y'All warriors in heavy destroyer suits, Petharians, and a dozen Cerberus to keep guard.

He was actually glad when the ship bell announced the begin of the next watch. Not that this had been his shift, but like the Captain, he sometimes extended his shift just to make sure everything was running smoothly.

Har-Hi had no words for it, nor did he consciously know he had it, but he too had this unexplainable sense, humans called gut-feeling. Something didn't feel right, the Tigershark was almost back to normal, but almost was just not good enough for him, until the Dime-Tab was back online, they were sitting Kanthus. Easy prey in other words."

The Dai got up, so Roghor could occupy the command chair. He briefed the magnificent Togar cat on the status of things and walked to the rear bridge access, He decided to forego the planned meal and do the same the Captain did, take a nap. Even though a Dai warrior could forego days without sleep. If his vague insubstantial feeling of something looming, he might as well find some rest now.

He glanced back and watched Roghor adjust field screens and ask for a mission and repair update, He agreed with Erica, that Togar cat was technically just a Luitenant, without even a month at the academy, but Roghor was, in experience and demeanor a seasoned commanding officer. Captain Olafson kept calling Roghor by its old Togar rank of Commander. Everyone picked to serve as a watch officer and hold the Conn as this particular task was called in the Union Navy was doing an excellent job, but Roghor added an almost feelable element of confidence to it. The Tigershark was in good paws and Har-Hi was certain the day would come when Roghor would wear Union Captain's gold on his sleeves and command a Battleship.

As he stepped in the brightly lit corridor of the command deck and the heavy iris doors of the bridge closed behind him, a dark shrouded being peeled out of the air right next to him and kept pace.

While the being looked exactly like his dear friend Narth, he instantly knew this was not Narth, but the Narth Supreme himself.

"Permission to come aboard, Commander Hi."

"Permission granted. You are the Narth Supreme are you not?"

"Indeed. your senses are developing remarkably well."

Har-Hi did not know what the Narth Supreme wanted to say with that."Not that it would do much good denying it, you Narth can appear inside any ship."

The shrouded being sounded amused."This ship is transparent to me because our mutual friend Erica allows it. SHIP would never let me pass her defenses if it was not so."

"I was trying to make a sarcastic joke, Honorable Supreme Narth. You are always a most welcomed visitor. We are not far from our never used Officer's lounge, can I interest you in some refreshments perhaps? My friend Narth has developed quite a taste for real food."

"All Narth knows, and there are more and more that embrace food, not as a source of sustenance, as we do no longer require it in this form, but as a source joy through taste and flavor. Let us then proceed to this lounge, a portion of the famous Tigershark coffee would be appreciated indeed. While the venue of your Den would be far more welcome, I came to speak to you."

Har-Hi sighed."I was certain you would say that, hot that I appreciate your visit and presence, but you are an entity of god-like level and hardly waste time on a simple Dai if it wasn't necessary."

"Har-Hi, I am not a god. Far from it, but you share the vicinity with an entity that will be the closest definition of an omniscient, omnipotent condition able to alter the fabric of space and time."

"It is about Erica, is it?"

"Only indirect, Har-Hi. She is not aboard, I came to see you."

They had walked past the Captain's quarters, his quarters and approached the entrance to the Tigershark's officer lounge. Har-Hi remembered being here once, back when the Tigershark was given to them, and he made a point to walk every deck.

His chin fell as he heard those words."She is not aboard? Abducted again?"

"Oh no, she can no longer be abducted all that easily. She used her Ax to split time and space to retrieve things that belong to her."

The doors slid open with a faint whisper, Instead of the expected unused officer's galley. They had walked into a food and meat locker. Boxes and bags of all sort of food items, piled scrap metal and system parts.

Har-Hi was stopped dead in his tracks."SHIP, what in Trauks infected eyeballs is going on here?"

"Midshipman Meeze asked, if he could utilize an unused room to store a few personal items, you approved it by signature."

"A few personal items? I think I read the request line item. This looks like a ton of things." Har-Hi's eyes were caught by a bloody thing in a vacuum seak pack."Spirit of the Universe, is that a Thauran arm, didn't we get rid of all that?"

SHIP tried to sound innocent."This is the least used room of any and there was no stipulation on weight, type or amount."

Har-Hi wanted to say something when he heard the sound of chewing and a sharp burp. There behind a plastic barrel, with raw gag reflex inducing odor fish and meat bits sat Fafnir, the not so little dragon blissfully chewing on what looked like the thigh of something big. Puffs of black smoke escaped its nostrils now and then between bites.

"SHIP, I am busy with an important guest. When I come back I want Mr. Meeze on the carpet and discuss this, this ... mess!"

Apologetic he said to the Narth Supreme."I am so sorry, this is not suitable. My quarters include an office, maybe we can go there."

---

Never was he more afraid than now. The statuesque med-tech hummed a little tune, while she kept an eye on the read-outs. He was completely immobilized, not a single muscle in his body reacted to his mind. She stepped next to him and padded his cheek."Ten more minutes and I know where to attach the neuro path scrubbers. Every brain is a little different. A simple mind wipe would be easier, but you going to be a very valuable asset. Just as your friend, Alegar. Through you two, we can control a Narth, how delightful."

She readied a helmet-like contraption, clearly meant to be lowered over his head and begin that inhuman procedure of wiping Egill's mind and implanting a new personality.

He screamed, he fought the mind-numbing drugs, but not a single sound reached his lips. Not a single muscle twitched.

A male medic entered the room."The detective is more complicated. It appears whatever keeps him alive for so long has altered his brain and makes it more resistant."

"He is Terran, go for an old fashioned Lobotomy and cauterize the lobe stems. He might heal, but he will be a drooling fool. He just was too long exposed to deep space."

"How about that primitive fool from Nilfeheim?"

"No complications there, his mind was easily mapped. He is an impressive Psi talent and will be a great tool."

"Praise the Tribunal!"

"Yes, the Ajax protocol was premature and has been stopped."

She turned to Egill."Say goodbye to yourself, Egill. Time for me to make a new one."

Before she could proceed, a bright arch of light appeared in midair.

Egill could see only very little, not even his eyeballs reacted to his will, but he felt a sudden presence. He heard the distinct gnarl of leather gear, the faint metallic hiss of a blade drawn.

The Seenian special operations android, masquerading as a male Med Tech said."I am sorry, visiting the patient is not possible right now. We are preparing a surgical procedure. If you want to wait in the designated area of this clinic, we will keep you informed."

That was a preview of Erica Olafson, Rise of the Dark One (Vol 10). To read the rest purchase the book.

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