by T. R. Harris
“As I said, I’m Adam Cain. Perhaps you’ve heard of me?”
“Yes…the Human. What is your purpose here? You have entered our space without authorization.”
“I just thought I’d pay a visit to your people, kind of a goodwill effort between the Orion-Cygnus Union and your confederation.”
“Under whose authority? The Cadonic are not supporters of your Union. We had wished to become part of the Expansion—until your intervention.”
Adam was taken aback. He hadn’t researched the political leanings of the Cadons, just assuming everyone in the Kidis Frontier had been against the annexation of the spur by the Juireans. Seems he assumed wrong.
“I understand, Simic Lor, and that is why I’m here; to patch up any misunderstandings and to offer assistance.”
“Your Union has sided with the Incus. As long as you support our enemy, you can expect no accommodation from the Cadonic.”
Adam was getting mad. Here was a lowly supervisor of a distance field of space rock making policy for his entire race.
“Forgive me, Simic Lor, but do you have authority to speak for your confederation? Perhaps I should seek a more-senior representative.”
The alien stretched out a wide grin, all the while keeping most of his yellowish teeth concealed. “Your arrogance is humorous and insulting, Adam Cain. Yes, I know of you and your reckless exploits, as well as your interference in the affairs of independent species throughout the galaxy. But what you do not realize is that the Zaniff Field is currently the most-important and valuable region within our confederation. As such, its security has been placed under the authority of the ruling family, of which I am a member. Within our hierarchy, I am the third-highest ranking Cadon. So when you ask for a more senior representative, only my mother and father are higher. Now, do you wish me to bother them with your arrogant attempt to subvert my authority?”
Adam had never been known for this diplomatic prowess or instincts. This just showed why.
“Please forgive me; my intention was not to insult.”
“Then what is your true intention, Human?”
Adam couldn’t see how being honest would upset the applecart any more than it already was. “All we seek is permission to survey the paths of asteroids in the Zaniff Field.”
“To what end?”
“It’s of scientific importance is all, not financial. We will remove nothing—”
“Unlike your Incus partners.”
“I had nothing to do with that.”
“It matters not,” said the alien, whose skin had now shifted back to the intense yellow. His original matching of Human skin tone must have been a courtesy. No such accommodation was now being offered. “I find satisfaction in denying your request and ordering you—the famous Adam Cain—from Cadonic space. Comply—or I will be known throughout the galaxy as the being who finally ended your reign of terror and intimidation.”
“I would recommend you reconsider—”
“More vessels closing,” Trimen reported. Adam saw that the mutants had taken up stations on the bridge.
“You have two Juirean minutes to comply.”
“I’m afraid we can’t do that. We’re going to do our survey, whether you let us or not.”
“Weapons charging—they’ve launched bolts.”
“I thought we had two minutes?” Adam said to the grinning alien.
“I lied.”
Adam tried to imagine the shock on Simic Lor’s narrow face when the Najmah Fayd disappeared from his screens. Panur had sent the ship into an alternate universe and then made it reappear moments later behind the ring of Cadonic starships forming to destroy them.
J’nae released an array of flash bolts toward the alien ships, aimed directly at their strongest shield points. She hesitated launching a second wave until the first had contacted the diffusion screens and been absorbed, waiting for the intentions of the Cadons to become known. They didn’t want to kill the Cadons, just make a statement.
The aliens turned out to be more stubborn than smart. They changed course and unleashed another barrage of cannon bolts at the Najmah Fayd. After another quick transition, the ship was once again to the rear of the attacking ships, leaving the released bolts to dissipate in the emptiness of space as their maximum range was reach and then exceeded.
Adam opened the CW link again.
“Are you done playing around?” he asked the glowing yellow face of Simic Lor. The color was even more brilliant, probably the result of anger, fear or frustration—probably all three. “Just let us do our survey and no one will get hurt.”
The red eyes bore into Adam’s. “Do I have a choice?”
“No you don’t.”
“A formal complaint will be lodged with the Union, although I doubt anything will be done to their most revered hero.”
“So…permission granted?”
“Proceed, yet you will be watched. Remove nothing, complete your survey, and then be gone.”
Adam winked at the yellow alien. This time when Simic smiled, it came with a full display of teeth—which meant something entirely different to the alien than a smile.
“We’ve identified three asteroids with rock as old as the original fragment, and they follow the same general trajectory.” Panur didn’t bother to look away from his computer screen to make the report. J’nae was hunched over next to him, busily typing on a keyboard. “There are more variables to factor in, and then a smoothing of the findings, but we are very close.”
Adam had his eyes on a different screen. “The Cadons are getting close too. They’ve brought up more ships, and some biggies. I didn’t know they had such a sizeable fleet out here.”
“We’re almost done.”
“Can we not complete the calculations outside Cadonic space?” Trimen asked.
“Just a few more.” Panur looked at J’nae. She nodded.
“Very well, Trimen, you may take us away.”
The mutant had already programmed in a TD-jump to take them away from the Cadonic asteroid belt. Trimen fingered the controls and instantly a greenish glow filtered into the bridge through the main viewport. It remained for nearly a full minute before space outside returned to normal.
“We are now sixteen light-years from the asteroid field and outside Cadonic space,” Trimen reported with relief. “I assume this is the proper course toward the Aris hiding place?”
“Generally. As the calculations are refined, I will feed you course corrections.”
“How far do we have to go?” Adam asked.
“Hard to tell, since we only have an estimate of when the Aris star became unstable. The timeframe could vary by millions of years. As such we cannot accurately calculate the distance the fragments traveled. Yet as long as we follow this course, we should eventually find evidence.”
“But in round numbers, are we talking days, weeks or months?”
“We must remain in this universe to avoid missing clues, so I would estimate days, to perhaps a few weeks.”
Adam was afraid he’d say that. He was already fed up with the cramped conditions aboard the starship. He also had Sherri and Riyad on his mind. The longer it took to find and rescue Lila, the colder the trail for his friends would get.
And now that they were closing in the location of the Aris, the sixty-four thousand dollar question still remained unanswered: What would they do then? How do you defeat an enemy a million years more advanced, and able to abscond with an immortal mutant genius without batting an eye?
This is what kept Adam Cain awake at night, with questions that were also destined to change his life.
70
Apparently, the mutants had the same concerns—at least about Lila—and now that they had a track on the region of space where the Aris may be hiding, the question had to be answered.
“I need to know more about how they were able to subdue Lila,” Panur said to Adam and Trimen. “I am not foolish enough to believe we can rescue her without first learning their se
crets. The Aris possess technology beyond even my imagining. We must take them seriously.”
“We’ve told you all we know,” Adam replied. “There’s no more to tell.”
“I understand, but please indulge me.”
Adam looked at Trimen. “Well, let’s see. All the other guards were under the influence of some brain-dulling wave; I figured Trimen and I were immune to the full effects because of our ATD’s. When we entered Lila’s room, we were hit by a more intense beam that gave me one hell of a headache. Lila was encased in a shimmering blue bubble of light. We were alone until the pain went away, and then I saw the Aris.”
“They just appeared?”
“That’s right. They were also in blue bubbles, and when they moved, they seemed to glide along the floor rather than walk.”
Panur looked at Trimen. “My recollection is not as detailed,” the Formilian admitted. “My blindness to the Aris remained throughout. All I could see was Lila.”
“There is more here than you both realize,” Panur stated. “Your minds recorded data even if you cannot recall. If I’m to have a chance of developing a counter to the Aris powers, I will need to extract this hidden data.”
“Extract…like how?” Adam asked.
“I have been thinking on this and have decided that a mind meld would be the most efficient.”
“A mind meld, like placing your fingers on my head and reading my thoughts?”
Panur frowned. “I don’t understand the reference.”
“Like Mr. Spock does in Star Trek.”
“Ah, the broadcast program you’ve referred to before.” The mutant smiled and looked over at J’nae. “I’m afraid it’s a little more complicated than that. I propose to blend our minds together…physically.”
Adam recoiled. “I don’t like the sound of that. How exactly would that be done?”
“As you know, I’m able to manipulate the individual cells in my body to take on other forms. This also allows them to interact with the cells of other living creatures—”
“You want to literally melt our brains together?”
“That is one way of describing it.”
“Well…let’s see. Not only no, but hell no!”
“It should be quite painless and leave no residual effects.”
“Our friggin brains will melt together. Just knowing that will be a residual effect.”
“Do you want to save Lila or not?”
“Don’t even go there. You know I do, but there has to be another way. Meld you mind with Trimen’s brain.”
The Formilian jerked his head in Adam’s direction. “Forgive me, but I, too, find the prospect abhorrent. However, I did not observe the Aris during any of my experience. Yes, my brain may have recorded events, but yours recorded events in more detailed. If anyone should have their brain scanned, it should be you.”
“I agree,” both mutants echoed.
“You’re overlooking one important factor: It’s my brain.”
Panur’s face turned sour. “One would think you’d jump at the chance to merge it with mine.”
“Why, because you’re a genius? I thought you said there would be no residual effects? What benefit would there be if I couldn’t tell it happened?”
“My statement was an unsuccessful attempt to enlist your cooperation,” Panur snarled. “I’ve never done this before, yet I can extrapolate much better than you. I can enter and leave without you knowing.”
“Bullshit…I would know.”
Panur’s eyes remained locked with Adam’s. “You would know, you say? Then observe your arm.”
Adam looked down. He gasped when he saw that his arm was fully merged with Panur’s. Neither hand remained, just one contiguous limb, with light grey skin merging seamlessly to pink.
Reacting instinctively, Adam pulled his arm back, dragging the smaller creature halfway across the tabletop. “Dammit, Panur, give me back my hand!”
“Calm yourself!” the mutant cried out. “Let me regain my seat.”
Adam was on his feet, his breath coming in quick gulps. He was connected to the alien, with his hand missing. He had feeling—in fact he had feeling all the way to Panur’s narrow shoulders. The thought almost made him vomit.
A moment later, the joined limb began to lose focus, as the mid-point swirled like a liquid. Panur pulled back his arm, and as he did, his hand began to take form, along with Adam’s. It only took a few seconds before everything was back to normal.
Adam wriggled his fingers and flexed his fist.
“See…no lasting effects, and you felt nothing. You must let me do this,” the mutant declared. “Without a means of countering the Aris technology, we will fail in our attempt to rescue Lila.”
Adam looked at Trimen and J’nae, hoping to find support for his concerns in their eyes. He found none. Instead, both appeared excited by the prospect.
“Dammit, you alien bastard! Let’s just get this over with,” Adam pouted. “But don’t hang around in there too long. Just get what you need and get out.”
“Trust me, Adam, there’s nothing in your mind that I would find of value…except this tiny thread of memory.”
With a growl, Adam flashed his teeth at the mutant. It wasn’t meant to be a smile.
“We should sit back-to-back,” Panur instructed.
Chairs were arranged, after which Adam and Panur took their places. The mutant increased his size until their heads were at the same level. “Now lean back,” Panur commanded. “I will do the same.”
Adam obeyed, feeling Panur’s head contact his. That was the last thing he felt.
To the observers in the room, the mutant’s hairless head appeared to lose its solidity, turning instead into a viscous grey liquid. It flowed back, over the bulk of Adam’s skull to be absorbed through his hair and directly into the skull. It took only ten seconds before the two heads were one.
Even if Adam couldn’t feel anything, he was still affected by the merging. His eyes rolled back in his head and his mouth fell slack, yet in his mind’s eye, he was fully awake and staring into a hazy darkness. Off in the distance, a cluster of sparking lights moved closer as he focused his attention on them. He remembered what was happening, knowing that somewhere in here Panur was rummaging through his brain. He felt a natural resistance taking place, but he didn’t know how to stop the mutant. And even as his mind fought the intrusion, his consciousness didn’t want it to stop. He wanted to save Lila.
The lights were closer now, almost upon him. He squinted against the flashes; they were painful. Panur said he would feel no pain, but that wasn’t true. There was pain, a lot of it. Within his mind, Adam squeezed his eyes shut, but the sparks were all around him now, burning his virtual skin with each flash. His breathing came fast as he drew his arms in around him for protection. It didn’t help. His body was on fire. He couldn’t take much more of this….
Adam’s eyes fluttered open. He was drained, struggling for even the energy to breathe. He was on his back, a soft light glowing overhead. He recoiled mentally from the light until he realized it was nothing threatening, just normal illumination in the real world.
As his awareness returned, it was accompanied by a growing anger. Panur had said there would be no pain, no lasting effects to the mind meld. That definitely wasn’t the case. He opened his eyes a little more and turned his head to the right. Panur was seated next to the bed, staring at him with emotionless eyes.
“You…bastard,” Adam managed to whisper.
“Yes, I was mistaken as to the impact the procedure would have on your primitive brain. I apologize, however, be assured your condition is only temporary—and the meld was a success!”
“You almost killed me.”
“You’re being melodramatic. At no time was your life was in danger.”
“That’s what you say.”
Panur nodded. “I have never done a meld before, so I was only working on theory. It seems my mind merged with yours more rapidly than I had anticipated.
My mission was rather straightforward; separating our bodies, more difficult. However, it was a fascinating experiment.”
“Am I all right?”
“Perfectly normal, just drained of energy. Not physical, but mental. Your mind simply couldn’t cope with what it was experiencing and fought hard against the intrusion.”
There was an IV in his arm, feeding electrolytes and other stimulants into his body. Adam sat up, feeling another pair of hands helping him. It was Trimen.
“Easy, my friend,” he said.
Adam was recovering rapidly, feeling almost normal again. He looked at Panur. “Lila? You said the meld was a success.”
“Yes, I learned much. It was in fact Lila who provided the answers we seek.”
“What do you mean?”
J’nae entered the stateroom carrying a cup of hot tea. She handed it to Adam, who found it disconcerting that the evil former queen of the Sol-Kor was serving him tea. It was something he could have never imagined before this moment.
Panur watched as J’nae took a seat beside the bed. Adam got the impression that what Panur was about to say was the first revelation of what he’d found in Adam’s mind.
“When you and Trimen entered Lila’s chambers, she used the opportunity to quiz the Aris how she was being held. She spoke the words, knowing your minds would be recording the event. It would be the only reason she would have used words, since she and the Aris were able to communicate telepathically. She sent me a message.”
“She sent the message to you? But you were not present at the time of her abduction,” Trimen pointed out.
“True, but she knew I would come, then she used the verbal input in your brains to leave a clue.”
“What clue?” Adam asked.
“The Aris used dimensional interphase shields to subdue her.”
Adam nodded. “Well of course they did; I could have told you that,” he said with sarcasm. “What the hell are dimensional interphase shields?”
Panur frowned. “It’s obvious none of my genius transferred to you during the meld,” the mutant said with equal sarcasm. “The Aris have found a way to make finite shifts in the space-time continuum around a specific space, placing all within into a state of indeterminate positioning.”