The Needs of the Many

by Christina McMullen

  Ellie cut her eyes to the guards, noting that while they all appeared Eidyssic—at least, they all wore the faceless mask of the Eidyssic—that didn’t necessarily mean they were loyal to Nyessovor. Especially if what he said was true.

  “You’ll find no whisperers here,” Nyessovor said, correctly interpreting her apprehension. “For one thing, I didn’t program them with the ability to speak.”

  “Program?” Ellie asked, but gasped as Nyessovor made another weird, guttural noise and the guards each reached up to remove their faceplates, revealing nothing more than circuits and wires.

  “They’re no Limitless Battalion, to be sure, but without knowledge of the language of the Iriani, you’d have a time of trying to bring them under your command.”

  Ellie had no idea who the Iriani were, let alone what language they used, but Gri seemed both intrigued and impressed.

  “I thought all record of the Iriani language vanished long before the creation of the Kyroibi.”

  As if to punctuate his comments, the Kyroibi had absolutely no record of who or what the Iriani were, which Ellie found quite unnerving.

  “A completely understandable assumption, Leader Ka’griannas, considering that I myself discovered records of their language and culture quite by accident as a young child. Come,” he said, addressing them all. “I believe we all have much to discuss and share, but as I mentioned, there are many who would see my end if they thought my loyalties were not first and foremost to rebuilding the Huptsovian Empire. It would be best if we returned to the privacy of my office.”

  Ellie and Mikk each darted questioning glances at Gri and Vonsse, receiving a slight nod as confirmation that they were not likely walking into a trap, before following everyone back into the office. Ellie was surprised to find the chamber modestly furnished and not overly large. It looked more like one of the temple scholar’s workrooms than the private chamber of an emperor.

  Nyessovor’s robotic guard took up their posts both inside the room and outside the doors, prompting Bethany to hoist a weapon and take a covering position with her back against the wall and eyes on both the door and those in the room.

  “Old habits die hard and trust don’t come easy,” she said in response to the many eyes that questioned her intent.

  “I was thinking the same thing,” Vonsse said as he took up post on the opposite side of the door.

  “I assure you, no one is getting in and no one in here poses a threat,” Nyessovor assured. “But I too come from a place of little trust, so your precautions are understood.” He then turned to Ellie. “I’m sure you have many questions for me, but I must ask. What was the energy that held hostage my mind? The drive I felt while under compulsion was not at all similar to the effects of the Kyroibi on those who long for power. On the contrary. I wanted to see the end of it all, even if that meant the end of me.”

  A chill ran down Ellie’s spine. Nyessovor’s experience with the entity was almost word for word the same as her own mother’s.

  “I’m not entirely sure,” she replied with a shrug. “I only know that whatever it is had attached itself to me, but I believe it capable of leaving me to possess others. That I was able to trap it in the stone was quite simply luck. I’ll take it back to the scholars at the T’al Kyri for further research, but right now, we’re on borrowed time and I’m afraid my being here right now with you has complicated matters somewhat.”

  “How do you mean?” the emperor asked.

  “I was curious as to why you came here as well, considering,” Gri noted, causing the emperor confusion.

  “That wasn’t a failed assassination attempt?”

  Ellie shook her head. “I had Gri set up the meeting as a means of getting myself and a small team of explorers on the ground here on Helsyn. We were looking for information. Information on the ancients that had been stolen from the original temple on Ia’na Eidyn by my grandmother in an attempt to keep her sister, well her… it’s complicated, but she was trying to keep the information from being destroyed. I knew there was a colony of Eidyssic still living in hiding and well, I’d hoped to find relatives still alive who might know where she hid the information. In fairness, I’d hoped one of them might have been holding it safe. I reached out, using the Kyroibi, on the faint hope that I’d feel a familial bond and…”

  Silence descended on the room as Ellie’s words trailed away. For a long time, Nyessovor held her eye, saying nothing, but communicating a wealth of questions in just his gaze. At long last, he finished her sentence.

  “… and you did.”

  “I did,” she said in a hushed voice, no louder than a whisper.

  Even Bethany was stunned into silence at the unspoken revelation.

  “When I was a young boy, an older cousin of mine came from T’al Eidyn,” he began as he moved to sit behind his desk, rummaging through the drawers as he spoke. “She was instrumental in my development and seemed to have a wealth of information, including intelligence that someone or something was grooming Junior Delegate Svoryk to take a more active role in the governance of the Helsynnic-Huptsovian planetary partnership. It was thanks to her warning that most of the Eidyssic born were able to leave or go further into hiding once the Huptsovian Empire was formed. I wanted to leave, but my cousin had a plan for me.”

  He drew a book out of a drawer and set it on the desk, placing a hand on the cover and bowing his head as if in prayer before continuing.

  “I was to do everything in my power to hide the fact that I was anything other than Helsynnic and get close to the emperor. I was setting up to be in position to bring order back to the system after the emperor was removed from power. At least, I believe that was the plan. My cousin was assassinated before I was let in on all of her secrets. I stayed the course, working my way up to next in command, but then, something happened not long after Svoryk’s death. A sickness came over me and I no longer wanted to restore order. I wanted to end what was left of the Ghowrn Federation. I…”

  Nyessovor choked back a silent sob at the memories of his actions.

  “I became inexcusably ambitious. I gave orders I will never live down. I became more of a monster than even the puppet Svoryk but without the excuse of being driven by greed or a desire to rule. But worst of all were the periods of lucidity. Moments like this, when I was aware of myself and of what I’d done. I would try to do everything in my power to remember my training. To be the benevolent leader my cousin would be proud of, but it would never last. A few days or even a few hours later, I’d again be consumed with the desire to destroy it all.”

  He flipped open the book, a photo album, and riffled through the stiff pages until he found the image he was looking for. Looking over his shoulder, Ellie gasped. The picture was taken many years before. Nyessovor was a young boy, maybe in his early teens, but unmistakable, just like the young woman who stood smiling with her hand on his shoulder.

  “I failed, El’iadrylline. I failed Dryova, but in you, I’ve been given another chance to play a part in the restoration of peace.”

  Chapter 15

  Ellie stood silently by as the others processed Nyessovor’s revelation. Finally, Gri cleared his throat, breaking the spell.

  “You really have proof of the Iriani’s legacy?”

  “Recorded history,” Nyessovor replied with a gesture that was close to a shrug. “A language and some stories, but proof is a strong word.”

  “The Iriani.” Ellie shook off her stupor and once again searched her mind over. “The Kyroibi says nothing. It might as well be a nonsense word. I’ve never experienced anything like this before. There’s usually something, even if it’s just unverified speculation.”

  “The Iriani are our predecessors,” Nyessovor explained. “They are thought to have been the very first sentient beings in the universe. The civilization who discovered and colonized Ia’na Eidyn. We are believed to be evolved from the original Iriani, but many believe them to be legends only. As there is nothing more than an oral history,
it is said the Iriani removed all traces of their existence, took all of their knowledge and erased clean our reference libraries, and left. Those who still listen to the legends believe they died out, but I know otherwise. They are the sowers of life. They were never meant to be remembered. They were never meant to have a lasting impact on our world.”

  “But that makes no sense. The Kyroibi is all knowledge. Whether the Iriani were real or not, I should have at least an entry on them. I mean, hardly anyone believes in transcendence and I have… Okay, well, that’s just odd…” Ellie cut off with a frown as she accessed all that the Kyroibi knew of the Transcendent, surprised to come up with nothing. She realized that all she knew was what had been told to her by others. Whether or not this was related, she wasn’t sure, but she had much bigger questions at the moment.

  “I will admit that my knowledge of the Eidyssic history is limited, but I believe I am correct in assuming that Kyri, the word for knowledge, is defined as that which is known absolutely.”

  “You are correct,” Gri confirmed with a nod. “That would explain much. May I assume that when you claim the Iriani were sowers of life, you discovered records here on Helsyn that indicated they were responsible for building that which would become life here as well?”

  “Here, yes. I know the Korghetians think highly of themselves,” he said, adding as an aside to Ellie, “I do not mean to offend, mind you, but Helsyn is truly the cradle of civilization for the Ghowrn system. But we are not the end of the Iriani story. I do not believe they have gone anywhere. I think they are still out there, creating life and even repopulating where our ancestors did their best to snuff out that which they felt began wrongly.”

  “This is all quite interesting, but I don’t see how it is of any help to us,” Ellie cut in with as much tact as she could muster, given her impatience to get on with their search. “You say Dryova came here and brought knowledge. I believe she hid information here. What she brought might be that which keeps the Limitless Battalion from ending us all. Do you know where we may begin looking?”

  At that, Nyessovor smiled wide. “As a matter of fact, I do and you shouldn’t be surprised to learn it is quite related to the legend of the Iriani. You mentioned Transcendence. Can I assume you have accepted the existence of that which we cannot readily explain with logic?”

  “I’ve traveled via phase pulse. And I’ve… shifted… I guess, between planes of existence.”

  “Wonderful news. This is more than I could have hoped for.” Nyessovor’s diodes alit with a soft glow of joy. “When in my youth, I finally proved myself trustworthy to Dryova, she tasked me to find a safe place. She told me nothing of what she was looking to hide, nor for how long, but she told me I was looking for a place that felt different. I didn’t know then, and would not know for many years, but she was asking me, a child who was open to the unknown and innocent of skepticism, to find a natural portal to another realm. What I found was the temple of the Order of Sowers, an ancient religion meant to remember, revere, and keep sacred the history of the Iriani and the birth of Ghowrn.”

  “And that’s where she hid her information?” Ellie asked, blushing at her impatience when she noticed that everyone else seemed to be hanging on Nyessovor’s every word.

  “I cannot say with certainty, but I know she was looking to hide something. Regardless, I can say with confidence that whatever she placed within the temple is likely to remain within, undisturbed. Few Helsynnic, if any, are capable of transcendence.”

  “Then it sounds like our best bet. Can you take us there?”

  “I can. However, it would not do to be seen escorting the Eidyn Master, who is very publically meeting with the emperor. If you can use the same subterfuge to make it look as if you’ve left, I can easily slip away with my personal guard. I’m sure I have uniforms that would easily fit all but the pilot.”

  “I’m not leaving,” Mikk said automatically, but Ellie held up her hand.

  “It’s for the best, Mikk. They already know you’re the pilot and Reg will need an escort. Besides,” She turned to Bethany and handed her the leaden box containing the grounding stone with the entity inside. “I need to get this to the Temple Kyri. There are scholars who will be as curious about the contents as I am. As you’re now cleared for travel to T’al Eidyn, can I ask that you and Reg please take this to the temple keeper immediately? That is, after dropping Mikk off on Cald.”

  “Your wish is my command,” Bethany said with a solemn bow, but quickly flashed a wink and a smile. “You know I’ve been looking for any excuse to see where Reg grew up. We’ll do it.”

  “If we’re settled, then I shall escort Eidyn Master back to her ship,” Nyessovor said and indicated a short hallway through which a closet full of uniforms could be seen. Ellie armed herself with her exo-shield and stood guard while the rest of the party suited up.

  “I may be tall for a Sintarian, but I feel a bit out of place,” Vonsse grumbled, comparing his short, stocky profile against that of Gri and the rest of the willowy Eidyssic.

  “Apologies, Commander,” Nyessovor said upon returning. “I suppose the uniform does highlight what was not as obvious otherwise. But I am sure if you stay towards the middle of the group, you should not be noticed.”

  “How far is it to your transport?” Ellie asked, suddenly nervous. While Vonsse was a force to be reckoned with, the absence of Bethany and Mikk made her realize just how vulnerable they were. Despite the change in attitude, she wasn’t ready to let her guard down completely around the emperor.

  “Not far at all. There is only one public corridor between here and there, so there is little chance anyone who would challenge my authority may be around.”

  Ellie smiled in response and hoped that Gri and Vonsse were also on alert. Enemies of the emperor were a concern, of course, but not the only one. The mechanical guard still gave her chills, though she wasn’t sure if that was because they reminded her of the battalion or because Nyessovor controlled them with a language she had no means of deciphering. Regardless, she kept her senses on alert as they marched in formation through the vast hallway to the airfield. Fortunately, they made it to the vessel without incident.

  “We’ll be taking off in a moment,” Nyessovor said as he took the pilot’s chair. “But first, it seems we’ll be coordinating a rendezvous at the temple.”

  “We’re what?” Ellie asked, trying to keep her voice steady as her heart began hammering. She knew something wasn’t right. She looked over to see concern on Gri’s unmasked face, but oddly, Vonsse remained calm.

  “I’m afraid there was no talking her out of it,” Nyessovor said with a smile as he opened up a communications channel, revealing Mikk, suited up and tucked into the cockpit of one of the tiny emergency escort fighters that were standard on their transport vessel. Immediate relief washed over Ellie and she understood why Vonsse hadn’t looked concerned.

  “You coordinated this, didn’t you?” she asked.

  “Sorry, Ellie,” Mikk’s voice, distorted by her breathing apparatus and the long range connection, held a note of amusement. “But there was truly no reason for Bethany and Reg to go out of the way to drop me off on Korghetia when we had a fighter in cargo.”

  “Coordinates have been sent,” Nyessovor informed her. “Security check is complete and we’ll be taking off shortly. See you in a moment, your highness.”

  Mikk gave a sloppy salute and cut the transmission. A moment later, the emperor was already dropping them out of pulse and running perimeter scans. Almost immediately, Ellie felt a familiar thrum of energy and knew that they were close. If not to the information hidden here, at least to a portal that went somewhere.

  “I hope you all wore sturdy shoes,” Nyessovor noted as they stepped out into the overgrown grass and vines that hung from a canopy of old growth trees.

  “I suppose it’s a good thing I left my dress uniform back at the palace,” Vonsse quipped as he pulled yet another bramble from his pant leg.

  “I h
ave doubts that anyone has lived here in centuries, if not longer,” Nyessovor explained, but Ellie was no longer listening to the banter. Instead, she shut her eyes and focused on the hum of energy that seemed to come from an area directly ahead. Taking the lead, she let the feeling guide her steps until she stood at the base of a crumbling stone structure.

  “Tell me this is not what you were looking for,” Mikk said as she joined Ellie at the base of the structure.

  “I’m pretty sure it is.”

  “If there is anything hidden here, I do hope it is very well packaged.” To emphasize her words, Mikk nudged her toe against a jagged rock that jutted from the earth by their feet, crumbling it to dust with the slightest touch.

  “I believe the decay might have been accelerated,” Nyessovor said upon joining them. “But the portal remains strong. You can feel it, can’t you?” he asked Ellie, who nodded in response.

  “I guess I’d better get in there,” she added, feeling suddenly apprehensive despite knowing the outward decay had nothing to do with where she would be going.

  “Wait,” Nyessovor said. “Do you have a tether to this realm?”

  “A tether?”

  “Something of value to keep on you. In my youth, I had no understanding of what it was I was doing when I transcended realms. I recall this particular portal being…” He made a face, as if searching for the right word. “It would just be better if you had a token to remind you of all you have in this realm.”

  Ellie subconsciously twirled the pulse suppression ring she wore on her left hand and smiled. “I’m prepared,” she said, and stepped forward into the ruined temple.

  Almost immediately, the forest and her surroundings faded from view and the humming in her head became a cacophony that nearly floored her, but she pushed on, taking another step until the darkness gave way to an explosion of colorful light. Ellie stumbled, but quickly regained her footing and gasped as she looked around. The cavernous room appeared to be made entirely of stained glass and shot through with an intense light that seemed brighter than any star she’d yet seen. It was beautiful, but somehow, she knew this was not her final destination.