Stem’s leaves were brown and he showed his sadness at so many that would not join their families in safety. “We just don’t have enough time. You’re right; they shouldn’t be here when the time is up.”
Destiny keyed his communications board when suddenly Eyes said, “Universal Drive breaking normal space ten miles out.”
“That is a very close emergence,” Stem said.
“Father, gather the remaining families as close together as possible. We are going to try and move them all at once.”
Destiny looked at Stem, “Einstein, that’s not possible. They will cover an area more than half a light year.”
“We have to try; we have a device that will expand the jump field to cover the ships and then we’ll initiate the jump.”
“What happens if it doesn’t work?”
“We may lose our lives. However, we have to try it. Call them together now!”
Destiny struggled with the possible loss of his two children but knew if he didn’t allow them to try they would blame themselves for what followed. So would he. He looked at Eyes and said, “Issue the instructions. Tell them to get hull to hull and move quickly.”
The green ships began coming toward the ship that had just arrived. Eyes took Destiny’s ship away since it had a drive that would allow them to jump. Stem watched the mass growing by the second and marveled at the numbers. “That’s a lot of ships, Destiny.”
“We’re leaving millions of them behind from families that were consumed. This ship is not quite as familiar as the one I gave to remove the Supreme Males but I’m getting used to it.’
The mass continued to grow. “Newton, we’re running out of time. If we’re doing this, it must be done now.”
“Einstein is adjusting the field now. We’re going to have to extend it further than we planned to include those not in the mass yet.”
“Don’t take unnecessary risks. Don’t lose the mass to save a few more ships.”
“They are all important, Father.”
Stem and Destiny watched the huge mass of green ships as a violet field began moving out from the center of them and extended in a globe big enough to cover them all. “I hope my children survive this.”
Suddenly the huge mass disappeared. “Take us home, Eyes.”
Destiny’s ship disappeared.
An hour later a giant fleet of white ships appeared and rushed toward the green mass and found only empty ships floating in space.
Matt and Melanie were in the map room watching the map of the dark galaxy. “It shouldn’t be long now. The time is up that the Reg told me they were going to move us.”
“How do you feel, Love?”
“Fine, the baby is not ready to come at this moment but it will be soon.”
“I love you, Melanie.”
Melanie waited with Matt and watched; she turned to ask Matt if he was sure of the time when suddenly the dark galaxy disappeared from the map. She smiled, “I imagine there will be some disturbed beings today.”
Matt smiled, “I imagine.”
The red being was viewing his new creation enter the universe of the old tool and he jumped up from his display shocked at what he saw. They were gone. “What have you done?”
“What do you mean; I just sent my new tool on its initial run to destroy the old one and they are not there. They have disappeared. Only derelict ships remain.”
“They are not the only thing missing.”
“What!”
“A universe has also disappeared and we cannot find it.”
“That’s not possible. We’re connected to every universe in existence through the interdimensional plane.”
“It is no longer connected and we cannot find it.”
“Could it have been destroyed?”
The being said nothing.
“No, of course it couldn’t have been destroyed. What do you think has happened?”
“An agency has moved it and represents a clear and present danger to us. I also believe this agency must have done something with your old tool. We must find it and destroy it.”
“How are we going to do that?”
“All of us will begin searching immediately but first the Elders want answers concerning your old tool.”
The second being felt fear, “What questions do they have?”
“When was the last time you checked on your old tool?”
“Not that long ago; about six million years.”
“Why did you have them collect information from all the universes they harvested?”
“You know why. So they could develop whatever they needed to be effective against those they attacked.”
“Did you ever consider that they with all the information they collected that they could develop the means of breaking the compulsions and hiding from us.”
The second red being was now scared, “You don’t think that they did this? The compulsions prevented them using highly advanced technology. They could not have done this.”
“If that is true, where are they?”
“Give me a small amount to time to find them.”
The first red being was silent for a moment and then said, “We will immediately begin our search for the missing universe; you have twelve intervals to find your missing tool.”
The second red being turned to his board and started issuing instructions.
The White Clan Leader hit his communication panel and said, “Every ship in our fleet has just received a list of universes to scan. You will go to each of those and scan for the green creatures. That is all you will do; there will be no time for killing. If you stop to kill the Maker will deal with you directly and all of you know what that means. If you find them you will notify me at once. You have ten intervals to scan the three thousand universes assigned to you. Be back here in eleven intervals. Now go!”
The sixty million ships disappeared and the Clan Leader turned and hit his jump button. He was going to have to hurry to get to all three thousand assigned to him.
The two probes left behind in the former universe of spiders recorded billions of ships break into normal space. They scattered and began searching for the spiders. After an hour, they recorded the instructions being given by the White Clan Leader and waited until all of the white ships had disappeared. The first probe jumped back to the Realm to report its findings to Fleet Command while the first waited for the white ships to return. The probe arrived just outside the blue barrier and waited for the psychic trigger to release its information. After five days, an Alpha Commander moved close to the barrier and detected the probes presence and triggered the relay.
The leadership council was gathered in the Map room at Castle Gardner. They all rose as Matt and Melanie entered and bowed to the rulers of the Realm. Everyone noticed that Melanie was very pregnant. Matt said, “Please be seated. Destiny, why have you requested this meeting?”
“You Majesties, we have uncovered some new information and we feel it should be shared with those who direct our efforts against the beings in the dark galaxy.”
Matt looked at the spider and saw his tension, “What have you found?”
“My children were able to develop the field that we used to move the rest of the families after our Mother allowed them to download all of the data that had been collected from the many harvestings. They are still working to correlate all that they learned, but one of the things they were able to see is the beings that gave my species intelligence. It was in the original nest Mother’s memory.”
Matt looked at Melanie and then said, “Please show us on the display monitor.”
A picture of the red colored being suddenly appeared on the display and everyone in the room gasped, “I know this being,” Terlen said in a soft voice. “It is one of the demons from my race’s ancient history.”
Matt looked at the picture and said, “We also know this being. It is the embodiment of evil and has been in our history since before we were civilized. It’s missing the horns, lower body o
f a goat, and a pointed tail, but it is remarkably similar. This was also one of our demons.”
Teng-Gee looked at the display and everyone in the room could see his cold anger, “This being is also in my race’s past. It is evil indescribable.”
Matt looked at the being with a face similar to a human only more triangular and a mouth with small pointed teeth. The nose and chin were pointed and its eyes were red. His history had given this being numerous names, Satan, Lucifer, Devil, and many more.
Sprig thought, “We don’t know this creature, however, it appears that many races have a racial memory of this being. I feel fear, dread, and revulsion when I look at it.”
Matt looked back at the gathering, “It appears that evil does have a face. These beings are obviously ancient and represent everything that life abhors. We’ll call these beings Red Demons.”
“There’s more, Your Majesty.”
“What else, Destiny?”
“We don’t have a complete picture, but one of the memories has one of their vessels in it.”
The display changed and right behind one of the red beings was the front end of a vessel. It was glowing orange and appeared to be pure energy.”
“Do you know what that ship is made of, Destiny?”
“No, we are unable to identify it.”
“Thank you, Destiny. Now we know what we’re facing. At least we can put a face on the enemy.” Suddenly Matt heard a thought, “Brother, we wish to communicate.”
Matt stood up and said, “This meeting is adjourned. Please go and try to determine what that energy is and notify me if you find anything. I have just received a communication from the Reg and I must go speak with them.”
The attendee’s stood and bowed and Matt looked to see Melanie staring at him, “Have they ever contacted you before?”
“No; this is the first time so it must be important. I’ll let you know what’s happening but I must leave immediately.”
“Be careful, Magic.”
“I will. Al, I need you to come and get me.”
“I also heard their thought, Magic. I’m over Ross now and I’m teleporting you.” Matt disappeared from the map room and reappeared on Al’s bridge; the ship immediately teleported directly above the planet of the Reg. “I notice you went straight to the planet, Al.”
“They requested your presence. I didn’t want to keep them waiting.”
The three Reg appeared on the bridge, “Thank you for coming, Brother.”
“What do you need, Brothers?”
The First turned to Matt, “We see that you have seen the red beings. You have a racial memory of them and you know what they represent. We now feel compelled to take part in the coming conflict.”
“How can you do that without damaging yourself?”
“We will not lead the fight; you will have to provide the warriors needed to meet them but we will build ships to use against them. They are also in our memory and we are not bound by compulsions that prevent us from assisting you against them. They are also a danger to us and we are allowed to defend ourselves. We cannot directly fight them unless they come to our world but we can provide ships to prevent their arrival. We will suffer no harm in the process.”
“What warriors will use the ships you build?”
“The ships will select the warriors.”
“Will you tell us who they are?”
“No, the ships will select.”
Matt thought furiously, “How will they know?”
“Just like the ship you returned to us, they will know. We didn’t know you were selected for the ship; the ship knew and waited for you. It structured itself for you and your power generator.”
“Will these ships require two to fly them?”
“We don’t know; the ships will decide. We will take the crystal to the outer system and it will decide what shape it will take. We do not control it; it is a force unto itself.”
“Thank you, Brothers; I will do all I can to find the warriors to use these gifts.”
“You have five years. We will eventually be found by the evil ones. Do not waste the time remaining. Your gift is waiting for you at your home world.” The Reg disappeared and Matt and Al found themselves above Ross next to the crystal ship.
“Looks like I have to move.”
“Not immediately, Al. Melanie must have our child before she comes on board.”
“Fly Girl is also expecting a child, Matt.”
“Al, that’s wonderful. Why haven’t you told me?”
“We just found out. I, too, would like to wait until our child arrives.”
“I’m certain we will be busy for a while trying to find the chosen warriors to fly these ships. I wish I knew how to go about finding them.”
“Are you going to have time to do that and rule the Realm?”
“Oh my ancestors; you’re right.” Matt thought for more than an hour and then said, “Before I do anything I have to see if what I suspect is right. Please go back to the outer system of the Reg with Fly Girl and notify me as soon as the ships begin appearing.”
“We’ll leave immediately.”
Matt appeared back in the Map Room and he sat down and thought about how to find the chosen warriors.
Two hours later he heard, “Magic.”
“Yes, Melanie.”
“It’s time. You’ll have to tell me later about your visit to the Reg. Our baby is coming to see us.”
Matt jumped out of his chair and ran out of the map room.
Chapter 7
Matt sat on the bed beside Melanie looking at their baby. He was amazed at how small she was and how much he loved her. His heart was almost overwhelmed with his emotions. He and Melanie had been talking with her mentally months before she was born and the child would radiate its happiness at hearing them. “She’s beautiful, Magic. I have to believe that this is your greatest trick ever.”
Matt shook his head, “No, Darling, this was all you.”
“You’re sweet but it takes two to make a baby.”
Matt smiled and asked, “What are we going to name her?”
Melanie looked at Matt and said, “The only name we could ever consider; her name will be Angel.”
Matt looked at Melanie and then leaned down and kissed her tenderly. “Her middle name will be Grace.”
Melanie looked at him with tears in her eyes and held on tightly. The baby yawned and fell asleep feeling her parent’s love.
Matt stayed with Melanie and the baby for three days but then he heard Al’s thought, “Matt, five masses of crystal have appeared in the outer system. They don’t look anything like your ship but just large lumps of crystal.”
“You say there are five.”
“Yes.”
I’ll be out to join you after I pick up some passengers.”
“We’ll be here; congratulations on the birth of your little girl. Tell Melanie for me, please.”
“Fly Girl has already contacted her and gave her both of your well wishes.”
Al sighed mentally, “She’s better at that kinda stuff than I am.”
Matt laughed, “So is Melanie.”
Matt sent a thought, “Cassandra, could you come to Ross and bring Tommy with you. If you could come in the Kosiev I’d appreciate it.”
“What’s up, Matt?”
“I’ll explain when you arrive.”
“We’ll finish up here and probably arrive in thirty minutes.”
“That would be fine, Cassandra.”
“Tag, will you and Danielle join me in the map room in thirty minutes, please.”
“Is it something that can wait?”
“No, Tag, it isn’t.”
“We’ll drop what we’re doing and be there.”
“Thank you.”
“Anglo, will you join me in the map room in thirty minutes, please.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Sprig, would you and Twig mind meeting me in the map room in thirty minutes?”
“We’ll come immediately, Your Majesty.”
“Make it thirty minutes from now if you don’t mind.”
“See you then.”
“Life, please meet me in the map room at Castle Gardner in thirty minutes. Bring Grena with you.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Melanie looked up at Matt, “What are you doing?”
“Rounding up the usual suspects to see if they are some of the chosen.”
“Matt, I don’t want to leave our child without parents.”
“Melanie, if we lose this next round, none of us will be around. We owe it to our child to make sure we do all we can to protect her.”
“You’re right. I just love her so much and worry about her future.”
“I know.”
“How are the spiders adapting to living on a planet?”
Matt smiled broadly, “They’ve taken to it like a fish to water. Some of them have even discovered that they still have web making capability. Those webs are huge. I believe they could catch a dinosaur in them.”
“I’m glad; they deserve a time of peace.”
“We’re also protecting them as well.”
“Maybe they can help us.”
“We can only hope.”
Matt sat in the Map Room looking at all the systems that were members of the Stars Realm and was amazed at how fast the Realm had grown. Governing that vast a Realm was proving to be a big problem and something had to be done to make it work or the Realm would fall apart because of the weight of members. Perhaps his idea might work if what he suspected was true. Anglo Gardner walked in and bowed, “Your Majesty.”
“Please come in and sit down.”
Cassandra, Tommy, Life, Grena, Sprig and Twig all arrived within a second of each other and bowed. “Please sit down. We have two more attendees and then we will begin.”
The group made small talk for ten minutes and then Tag and Danielle appeared. “Sorry we’re late. You caught us out in the open and we had to walk in to our teleporters.”
Cassandra looked at them with a sly look, “I thought you always kept them on.”
Danielle smiled, “We don’t keep anything on at all times.”
Tag turned red and Cassandra laughed out loud.
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