by Isaac Hooke
“These dwellers forced the student to reveal the knowledge to them, and with his help, they built an inter-dimensional ship that could not only travel the galaxy, but journey between our universe and yours. Once the Cre’ite finished the construction, they killed the student so he wouldn’t reveal his knowledge to any other tribes, and backed up the brains of the other Builders involved, and similarly exterminated them. Rogue cells managed to destroy those backups, leaving the Cre’ite with only the one ship, and the knowledge of its making lost.
“The Cre’ite tribe waged wars on the tribes that opposed them, and subjugated many of them. Our homeworld, for example, fell entirely under Cre’ite dominion. Those tribes that didn’t submit were banished. With the dweller tribes subjugated, the new Cre’ite empire began journeying back and forth between this universe and yours with their flagship, raiding the different species that existed there at the time. Their favorite tactic was to locate an inhabited planet in the Umbra. There would be no lifeforms present to stop them from purloining all the technology lying around, so they would take it, duplicate it, and then jump into your universe and use the technology of their prey against them.
“This was done not for resources, or anything of the sort. But for sport. You see, your universe doesn’t seem entirely real to us. We see the different species of your universe as insubstantial, ghostly. It was mostly a game for the Cre’ite, a way to sate their bloodthirst without having to attack members of their own race. A game where the reward was not only a few kills, but the acquisition of new technology and equipment.
“Tiberius had hidden away his origins from most of his followers, so that when the Cre’ite interrogated them, they did not learn where humanity existed in this galaxy. But the Cre’ite empire finally encountered human bases and colonies many centuries later, or about twenty standard human years ago, and the Cre’ite finally met their match. Humanity was taken by surprise, but quickly rallied. Your Volur destroyed their inter-dimensional ship. Meanwhile, the Hated Enemy rose to power among your kind, and ripped open the homeworld of the Cre’ite empire, killing not only the Cre’ite, but the many innocent tribes that resided thereupon. The destruction created a permanent rift leading from our universe to yours.” G’allanthamas paused. “I have become slightly sidetracked in answering your question. But I’ll wrap up with this: the remnants of the Cre’ite, and those tribes allied with them, now fight humanity not for sport, but for vengeance.”
“And what about you?” Tane asked.
“The Cre’ite deserved a beatdown for what they were doing in your universe,” G’allanthamas said. “But destroying the homeworld the Cre’ite shared with the other tribes they had subjugated, and the billions of innocent lives inhabiting it, was entirely uncalled for, and beyond cruel. That said, our two races, human and dweller, have been fighting for long enough. There must be peace between us. And soon.”
Tane sat back to consider the dweller’s words. After a moment, he leaned forward.
“So why are you helping me?” Tane asked the alien. “You already admitted you intended to abandon me after you fulfilled your part. Yet you came back. Saved me. And don’t tell me it’s to honor the memory of Tiberius, or to keep your word to him, or that you want our two races to stop fighting. You have your own motivations, and they run deeper than that. What are they? I need to know, if I’m to trust you.”
“I couldn’t let the memories and skills of Tiberius fall into the hands of the Hated Enemy,” G’allanthamas said.
“It’s as simple as that?” Tane said.
“Well, I admit to feeling the need to be useful once again,” the dweller said. “When I told you I would return to my cave and wither away to join my mate, I meant it. But when the Hated Enemy arrived, it sparked a will to fight inside of me, a will I thought I had long lost. When I watched members of your own party betray you, I realized you needed more coddling than even Tiberius thought. You’re not the Doomwielder I was expecting, not yet. You can’t even choose your friends wisely.” He turned slightly toward Sinive’s sleeping form. “I saw her point a pistol at you in the street, before the Hated Enemy arrived. I don’t trust her in the least.”
“So that’s why you’re so antagonistic toward her,” Tane said.
“That, and because she stabbed me when we first met,” G’allanthamas said.
“That would do it, I guess,” Tane said. “As for her behavior on the street… she was injected with controlling nanotech, like me. By the… Hated Enemy.”
“Exactly why I don’t trust her,” the dweller said. “Who know what subconscious commands lurk in her brain stem, waiting to rise to the surface and lash out?”
Tane glanced at Jed, and realized the warrior Volur was not only watching Tane to protect him from G’allanthamas, but from Sinive as well, for exactly the reason the dweller just stated.
“Also,” G’allanthamas continued. “I help you because I learned what happened to the dweller fleet in the system you call Anteres. All these years, the Hated Enemy did not enter the Umbra in force because we dwellers mostly kept to ourselves after the destruction of the Cre’ite-ruled homeworld. The Hated Enemy felt they had done enough damage. But now, after the failed invasion attempt, I worry that waves of human warships will soon begin entering the different rifts leading to our space, on hunter killer missions to eradicate our kind. If they discover the colonies of the other tribes, there is a good chance the Hated Enemy will use the same tactics to destroy them as they did the Cre’ite homeworld. This cannot be allowed.”
“And you think I can stop the TSN?” Tane said.
“You are the Doomwielder,” G’allanthamas said. “Already you are distracting the Hated Enemy. They should be mobilizing their fleet, preparing to invade the Umbra, instead, they’re mustering all of their resources to look for you.”
“And how do you know about this?” Tane asked.
“We dwellers have our own equivalent of your Galnet,” G’allanthamas said. “I still keep in touch with old friends. Friends who live among the Cre’ite, and have access to their intel.”
Tane considered the dweller’s words for a moment, and he had a sudden realization.
“The Cre’ite think I’m going to give that knowledge back to them,” Tane said. “The ability to travel back and forth between this universe and our own by using only the Dark Essence.”
“That, among other things,” G’allanthamas said.
“What other things?” Tane said.
The dweller was silent.
“Okay, so back to the inter-dimensional travel ability...” Tane said. “I’ve seen the list of Essence works Tiberius left me. The inter-dimensional distortion tunnel is available to Dark and White Mixing alone. There isn’t a Dark-only variant.”
“I know,” G’allanthamas said. “Tiberius decided not to encode the Dark variant in any of the artifacts, for the very reason that he didn’t want the dwellers to capture you and take it from you. He figured you would discover it for yourself if it were truly necessary. But the other dwellers don’t know the knowledge is not yours. And they wouldn’t believe me even if I told them.”
“Do you know the Dark-only variant of the inter-dimensional distortion tunnel?” Tane asked.
“No,” the alien said. “Tiberius did not teach me. He taught only the one Builder apprentice.”
Tane sat in silence for some time. The cabin floor shook as the craft no doubt dodged the latest tree in its path. “All right, well, what’s going to happen when we reach Matahepte? Do you have an environmental suit?”
“Yes,” G’allanthamas said. “It’s here.” He tapped the cabin floor with a large leg, and the thud resounded across the surface.
“Underneath the floor?” Tane asked.
“There is a hidden panel, yes,” the dweller replied. “My suit is underneath.”
“Must be a big hidden panel,” Tane commented. He couldn’t see seams anywhere.
“Yes, half the floor comes off,” G’allanthamas said.
“Nice,” Tane said. “So you can come with us after all. Maybe… how many people can I take back with me when I reach the lens in Matahepte?”
“The inter-dimensional distortion tunnels that Tiberius imbued into the lenses were of high level,” G’allanthamas said. “And could easily handle ten people within a five meter radius of the device.”
“So you can come back with us,” Tane said.
“I’m not entering Matahepte,” the alien said. “Nor am I traveling with you back to your universe. I don’t belong there, with the humans. You know this. When I told you I would help you, I didn’t mean for all of eternity. Nor even for more than a few hours. I promised I would take you to the city, and I will. But my aid to you ends when we arrive. Once we land, I will bid you farewell, and we will never see one another again.”
“But there’s nothing for you here,” Tane said. “You admitted it yourself. You need something to keep you occupied, remember? To make you feel useful. And I have to be coddled...”
“You certainly do,” the alien said. “But unfortunately, I won’t be able to do the coddling. I will see you away from the Hated Enemy, and then I am done.”
“But the Hated Enemy will be waiting for me in Matahepte,” Tane said. “And when I return to my own universe, I’ll be in even more danger from them.”
“And what about me?” the dweller said. “I won’t be in danger? My mere presence will draw attention to you. You must realize this.”
“What about that blurring Essencework you told me about?” Tane said. “You can hide your form, can’t you?”
“I can,” the dweller said. “But it does not work well during daylight, remember...”
“We’ll make it work,” Tane said. “Hell, if we find a storage pouch with big enough inventory slots, I can carry you at my belt.”
“Oh yes, my favorite form of travel,” G’allanthamas said. The sarcasm was lost in the multiple human speakers enunciating each word. “Believe me when I tell you: my adventuring days are done. Today was the most adventure I have had since the time of Tiberius.”
“Maybe it’s for the best if the dweller has no desire to come,” Jed said. “Lugging a member of an alien species considered at war with the TSN through a crowded human city will cause... issues.”
“See?” G’allanthamas said. “The Volur does not wish me to come.”
“And since when has the will of a Volur ever swayed you?” Tane said. “Tiberius always thought of you as headstrong, and loyal to a fault. You would have followed Tiberius to the center of the galaxy if he asked it of you.”
“Yes,” G’allanthamas said. “But you are not Tiberius.”
Tane decided to back off. Perhaps it was wrong to force the dweller to come with him. Still, he couldn’t help but feel it would be useful to have the alien on his side, especially considering how obviously capable in the Dark Essence G’allanthamas was. The alien’s presence might also be helpful if Tane needed to communicate with other dwellers and their factions, in space or in person.
He shook his head.
Already I’m only thinking of ways I can use him. He was Tiberius’ friend. I should respect his wishes. If he doesn’t want to come, I have to let him go.
G’allanthamas had fulfilled any obligation he had to Tiberius when he delivered the artifact to Tane. He didn’t have to rescue Tane, nor fly him to the next city. G’allanthamas was already going above and beyond what was required of him.
The alien had done enough.
Yes, Tane resolved not to pursue the matter again.
He rested, but was unable to fall asleep again.
About half an hour later Sinive stirred. She crunched her gloves into fists and raised them as if intending to rub her eyes, but when her fingers touched the translucent faceplate she realized she was wearing a helmet.
She lowered her arms and glanced at the dweller.
“You know, I’ve been thinking about something… are you mentally linked to a Graaz’dhen?” she asked the alien.
The dweller’s large sideways-oriented jaw tilted slightly toward her, but then reverted to its normal positioning. Long moments passed, so much so that Tane thought the dweller was going to ignore her, but then he spoke.
“Of course I’m not,” G’allanthamas said. “I’m not part of a fighting cohort.”
“What’s the point of the link, anyway?” Sinive pressed. “You have communications tech, don’t you?”
“Yes, but the mental link evolved before we ever had tech,” the dweller said. “Graaz’dhen still use it today, mostly because it allows them to issue orders seamlessly, without the range limitations and deployment requirements of a technology-based network. And also a Graaz’dhen uses the link to ensure its subordinates don’t flee.”
“Can Graaz’dhen Siphon?” Tane asked.
Jed was the one who answered. “Graaz’dhen are enhanced with the Dark Essence to be bigger and stronger than other dwellers. But only a few can Siphon themselves.”
“Yes,” G’allanthamas agreed. “Some are Amaranth, as your Volur friend says. The Graaz’dhen Amaranth are even more dangerous than ordinary Graaz’dhen. They can bestow bonuses to their linked troops from afar. Or drain stamina and strength from them in times of need, also from afar. Of course, they can also reach into the minds of humans. Yes, very dangerous.”
“I’ve only ever met one Graaz’dhen Amaranth before,” Jed said. “Wasn’t fun.”
“No, I imagine not,” G’allanthamas said.
It took another hour and a half to reach the target. Tane managed to nap for another twenty minutes during that time, and when he woke up, he prepared two Dark reserves: one Fingers of Ruin, the other Melt Metal, and then waited for the final minutes to pass.
“We’ve arrived,” G’allanthamas finally announced. “I’ve instructed the shuttle AI to land two hundred meters outside the city walls. It’s currently nighttime.”
“You’ve been flying using a combination of echolocation and multi-echo LIDAR, I assume?” Jed asked.
“Not me,” the dweller answered. “The AI. But it had no choice. Not if we wanted to remain below the canopy and still avoid the trees.”
“If there are any TSN scouts deployed in the jungle, you might have alerted them, then,” Jed said.
“I have instructed the AI to take the utmost care,” G’allanthamas said. “Already we’ve slowed to a crawl, and dropped the range of the LIDAR down to very close. If Rusty spots anything, he’ll retreat immediately.”
“Rusty!” Sinive said triumphantly. “I got you to call it Rusty!”
“I did so only out of courtesy to you humans,” the dweller said. “Not specifically for you.”
“Yeah sure,” Sinive said. “You did it for me.”
In a few moments the shuttle landed. The ramp lowered and Jed hurried down. He became invisible before reaching the bottom.
Tane had his beam hilt in hand, and his D18 hanging from his shoulder. Sinive held her pistol. They both stared into the darkness beyond, ready for anything.
“It’s clear,” Jed transmitted.
Tane turned toward the dweller.
“Thank you,” Tane told G’allanthamas. “For everything.”
“No, thank you,” the alien said. “You have brought hope to this old heart. Hope that the galaxy can yet be saved.”
“Yeah, I wish I knew what I was saving it from,” Tane said.
“There is… another threat coming,” G’allanthamas said.
“Another threat?” Tane asked.
The dweller retreated a pace. “Yes. That is all you need to know, for now.”
“I wish everyone would stop being so cryptic about what it is I’m supposed to do,” Tane said.
“That’s because no one really knows what you’re to do, Doomwielder,” G’allanthamas said. “Such is the mystery of fate.”
“All right,” Tane said. “It was good seeing you again one last time. Thanks again for your help.”
He turn
ed to go.
“What, you’re not coming?” Sinive said. She sounded stunned, and more than a little upset. But then her voice hardened. “I mean: that’s good. Can’t say I’ll miss you, Dweller.”
“Nor I you, Human,” G’allanthamas said.
With that, Tane and Sinive stepped down the ramp and joined Jed. Tane relied on his overhead map, as he couldn’t actually see him. It wasn’t that Jed was invisible—well, he probably was—but it was just pitch black out there.
Tane turned back toward the shuttle, and saw the silhouette of G’allanthamas lingering at the top of the ramp behind him, lit by the shuttle’s inner lights. The alien retreated as the ramp silently sealed.
Jed shared LIDAR and echolocation map data with Tane, so that the darkness around him lit up with 3D wireframes representing the undergrowth and the tall trees sprinkled among the foliage. Jed also showed up as a wireframe, so that Tane still couldn’t tell if he was invisible or not. Sinive was there, too.
“The city wall is this way,” Jed said. He began moving away into the jungle, and Tane and Sinive followed close behind.
“Make sure your transmission ranges are low,” Jed said. “I’m talking sub five meters, here.”
Tane and Sinive confirmed their settings before continuing on their way. Tane tried to activate his shield generator, but like before, the foliage was too thick, and constantly caused the shield to trigger, draining it of energy. So he left it offline for the time being.
Tane glanced back one last time at the shuttle, but then froze.
“Jed, wait,” he said.
The ramp was opening again.
When it touched the ground, G’allanthamas appeared in an old-style environmental suit, the kind P’lotholemus, his Dark Siphoning teacher, had worn. Pistons slowly moved up and down at the rear of the suit, circulating the internal environment. On the 3D wireframe, Tane could discern the bulge of a shield generator underneath the dome that covered G’allanthamas’ sideways-oriented head.