Galactic Assimilation 2:: Empire Rising

by J. K. Mabrey

  "I can't permit you in without an appointment, and I don't think I'd let you in with that anyway."

  "We were just in Councilor Hains's office with it," Zavik cried. "It's not dangerous, well, not now."

  "I think you should go," the guard said, "before I call for backup."

  "He's right, Zavik," Dani said. "We should go."

  She tugged at his arm and he jerked it away. "Do you know who I am?" His voice was rising and it drew the attention of other guards.

  "I take it your name's Zavik."

  "Yeah, I'm the guy who warned the Council about Red Moon. I was there when Paquiko was murdered by Varin while he tried to frame me for it." Two guards closed in from the opposite ends of the hallway. Zavik saw them coming towards him but continued to shout. "I need to speak to the Councilor about this now! I think Varin has come back and is trying to-"

  The door to the office opened and an older Chokmnd stood in the doorway. He resembled Brax, but clearly had more age on his face. His eyes were heavy, but full of life and wisdom, at least from what Zavik could tell. He was just a tad shorter than Zavik and a long purple robe was draped over his body.

  "What is the meaning of all this shouting, Walic?" he asked in a higher-pitched voice than Zavik was expecting. "Who is this?"

  "Some crazy human who wants to see you," Walic said.

  "Hmm...What's so special about me that you'd risk being arrested to see?" Councilor Rigendas asked.

  Zavik was frozen for a second. He didn't know what to say. He was only going to get one shot at this to convince of the truth. He tried to speak, but instead of words coming out, his hand raised.

  The Councilor looked at it and a glimpse of fright flashed across his face as if he were bracing for an attack. Zavik slowly opened his hand to reveal the blue lighted stone, and his face returned to a calm but inquisitive look. It dissolved quickly into fear.

  The guard started to raise his weapon but the Councilor held out a hand and stopped him.

  "Where did you get that?" he asked.

  Zavik snapped out of his trance and said, "From a Chokmnd named Traval. He is an agent of Varin's."

  "Varin Bragko?" the Councilor asked without taking his eyes off the stone.

  "Yes, he worked for him while Varin was the leader of Red Moon. He attacked us, using this. I want to know what it is."

  "You don't know what it is?" the Councilor asked.

  "Other than it looks like a getrino stone, no," Zavik said.

  "I think you better come inside, all of you," the Councilor said. "Walic, I don't want to be disturbed."

  "Yes, sir," Walic said shooting a look of disgust at Zavik.

  Rigendas led them into his office. A female Chokmnd sat at a desk to the right of the door. She eyed them as they walked past. Clearly she had heard Zavik screaming outside and was a little disturbed. Brax's head followed her as they rounded a corner. He cocked a half smile her direction and nodded. Zavik could see her blush ever so slightly, her light brown scales betraying a rose gold tone.

  His office was laid out similarly to Councilor Hains, but his decorations were purely Chokmnd inspired. Wooden and stone statues were displayed on pedestals throughout the office. Abstract artwork peppered the walls. In his personal office hung a large portrait of Paquiko along with a few smaller pictures of other Chokmnd. A painting of a sunset over an ocean was mixed in among them. An orange sun bathed the dark blue sea with an orange and purple hue. Clouds rose around the sun and carried the thinning light over the water and towards the beach.

  Councilor Rigendas sat behind a heavy wooden desk and prompted them to sit down. They complied.

  "Honorable Councilor," Zavik said, "my name is-"

  "I know who you are," Rigendas said. "What, do you think I just let anyone shouting at my door in? We're all very familiar with what you've done, and I would like to take this time to personally thank you for your efforts. The Galaxy continues to owe you a great debt."

  "Thank you, sir," Zavik said. It wasn't the welcoming he expected from the Chokmnd Councilor.

  "Can I see the stone again?" he asked.

  Zavik placed it on his desk and the Councilor stared at it for a moment. "What is this?" Zavik asked.

  Councilor Rigendas let out a sigh and said, "This appears to be an Etashi Stone."

  "So it's not a getrino stone?" Dani asked.

  "It is, but it's not," he said. "In their raw form, getrino stones are highly unstable and quite frankly dangerous. The amount of energy they contain is necessary to power the portals, but that is all they are authorized to be used in. This Etashi Stone is a manipulation of the getrino stones."

  "To what end?" Zavik asked.

  "I think you know that answer. To turn it into a weapon, of sorts."

  "So it was this that gave Traval his powers?" Brax asked. "How come we've never heard of it before?"

  "How disappointing that we don't allow the true history of the Chokmnd to be taught anymore," Rigendas said. "Out of fear, more than anything. But also shame, I believe. But before I can tell you any more about the stone, I need to know what you know. You said this Traval worked for Varin?"

  "Yes, we remember seeing him and hearing his name when Varin was torturing us on Theros."

  "How terrible," Rigendas said. "He held all four of you?"

  "No," Zavik said. "Just me and Dani."

  "I wasn't with Zavik at the time," Charra said.

  "And I was on his ship, trying to convince the Earth fleet to help save them," Brax said.

  "I see. You think this Traval is still working for Varin?" Rigendas asked.

  "I do," Zavik said.

  "But Varin is trapped in the Dark Sector. Why should we worry about him?"

  "I just have a feeling he's come back," Zavik said.

  "Oh, a feeling, that's what you have," Rigendas said. "I can't go on feelings. The rest of the Council wouldn't have it if it were my feelings, much less yours."

  "Either way, something is going on, you must see it," Zavik pleaded.

  "Like what?" Rigendas asked.

  "We know there have been attacks that have crippled the Council Fleet, and now that fleet has been concentrated here and the other core systems, leaving the Outer Spiral weakened. Soltin has already gone dark, and I understand the situation there is still unknown."

  "We have a battle fleet there now," Rigendas said. "They should report back shortly."

  "If they can," Zavik said. "I think Varin is trying to invade the Galaxy. I don't know how, or what fleet he's using, but I know he's still dangerous."

  "Yes, I fear you may be right," Rigendas said. "This stone may confirm it."

  Zavik felt a swell of relief, but it was suddenly overcome with deepening fear. Someone actually believed his theory about Varin, and it was the Chokmnd Councilor. Could it be true? Was he right? Or was the Councilor just saying things to help usher him out of his office without a scene? "Excuse me?"

  "What I am about to reveal to you is highly classified information. It is not Council intelligence, it is Chokmnd intelligence. Your Councilor does not have the privilege to this information, at least not at this time. That may change if what you have said is true. Ever since Varin traveled to the Dark Sector and we cut off his access to this part of the Galaxy, we have been monitoring to make sure he does not return."

  "You didn't think he was trapped for good?" Zavik asked.

  "We thought some brave loyal soldier would attempt to reactivate the portal, hoping for Varin to come rushing back to set up his new galactic order. But it never happened. Not even so much as a derelict cargo ship got within a thousand miles of that portal. But we knew there were other ways for him to get back."

  "How?" Zavik asked.

  "Lightdrives," Rigendas said.

  "But I thought lightdrives weren't invented until after the Red Moon rebellion?" Brax asked.

  "Don't be silly," Rigendas said. "You can't just invent a technology like that overnight. Lightdrives have been in research and develo
pment for years. It was only after the Red Moon rebellion that they became stable enough for real-world testing and then commercialization."

  "Did Varin have access to any of this research?" Brax asked.

  "Of course," Rigendas said. "Red Moon was one of the prime contractors who worked on the development of lightdrives."

  "And you didn't think that was information people should know?" Zavik cried. His voice rose and he quickly realized that he should not be yelling at the Chokmnd Councilor. Rigendas didn't seem to mind his yelling as much as Zavik did.

  "We were keeping an eye on the situation," Rigendas said. "There were a few key discoveries that had yet to be made by the time of the rebellion, so our intelligence estimated a small percentage chance that Varin and his organization could complete any work and develop a working prototype lightdrive, much less outfit a fleet to invade the Galaxy. Even with these attacks, I didn't believe it was Varin's doing. But this stone changes everything,"

  "How?" Brax asked. "What don't we know about Chokmnd history?"

  "Have you ever heard of the Etashi?" Rigendas asked.

  They all shook their heads.

  "A long time ago, oh forty thousand years or so, I'd say, there was a sector of the Chokmnd people who came to be known as the Etashi. You see, the Chokmnd, if I may boast for a moment, discovered the getrino stones. They are sprinkled throughout the Galaxy, on planets, asteroids, moons, many different celestial bodies. Chokmna happens to be one of the more highly enriched planets with getrino stones.

  "These stones, very similar to what you see on my desk, are highly unstable. Their matter can easily be converted into energy with the simplest of provocation. Handled incorrectly they can cause devastating destruction. In the early years of their discovery, many people would be killed just touching the stones. Eventually, their powers were harnessed for improved space travel and finally, with enough energy concentrated, a rupture in space-time was created that was stable enough to develop the portals.

  "This sector of Chokmnd, the Etashi, discovered that if harnessed another way, the stones could be used to manipulate the natural forces around us. They became a sort of religious cult, devoted to unlocking the powers of the stones for themselves, developing artificial powers and weapons. The rest of the Chokmnd thankfully outnumbered them and when war broke out between the two factions, despite their superior weapons, the Etashi lost. We had discovered a number of habitable planets by then and set up over two dozen portals. It was decided by a treaty that the Etashi would be banished to what would come to be known as the Dark Sector for their crimes. They were cut off from the worlds we knew that had life and left to live on four planets connected by portals. They were so far away from the other planets that we never feared them returning. At the time the portals were the only way to travel such distances. The one portal over Chokmna to the Dark Sector was always monitored and we thought there was no other way for them to reach us."

  "And now?" Zavik asked.

  "Now, you show me a stone that resembles the Etashi stones they used to manipulate forces, and you tell me you came face-to-face with a Chokmnd employing such tactics. Now, I fear, Varin has returned from the Dark Sector, and he has brought the magic of the Etashi with him."

  "You believe me?" Zavik asked.

  "Yes," Rigendas said, "of course. This stone, refined in such a way, could only have come from the Dark Sector. That means Varin is not trapped, as we all had hoped."

  "How do you know this stone wasn't made here?" Dani asked.

  "After the civil war, cooler heads prevailed. Some still wanted to explore the powers of the stones, beyond our current portal creations. But others, rightfully, feared what could be uncovered. These stones are pure energy, they have the power to destroy worlds, even stars. Our ancestors, to their credit, feared what could happen if the knowledge of how to manipulate the stones was released. The information was destroyed, and all records of the stones erased, except the portals. The Etashi were written off as a lost society, an urban legend with no bearing on reality. They had their four worlds to conquer to satisfy their need for power."

  "Forty thousand years later, it looks like they're still hungry," Brax said.

  "You knew they were out there?" Zavik asked. "Lurking in the Dark Sector? When Varin went there, did you not think he would lead them back?"

  "We knew there was a chance," Rigendas said, "that is why we kept a close monitor on the portal. Our intel on the Etashi is not adequate, I'll admit. We have been neglectful in monitoring them over the millennia. We assumed their society failed, that they destroyed each other in a quest for power. This stone may prove us wrong."

  The door to Rigendas's office flung open and Councilor Hains stood in the doorway. Her brow was furrowed, nostrils flared, and her mouth drawn tight.

  "Ah, Councilor Hains," Rigendas started.

  She cut him off. "Councilor Ekridge, I must apologize for this intrusion. I did not give them authorization to bother you."

  "My dear, I believe it is you who is intruding," Rigendas said, a smile set in on his face. "We were just finishing up a lovely discussion on Varin Bragko."

  She shook her head and said, "I know, Zavik has these ideas that Varin has come back from the Dark Sector and wants to take over the Galaxy."

  "Ideas that I'm beginning to share," he said.

  "What!" she asked. Her jaw dropped and hands fell to her side.

  "I believe you should shut the door and come in," Rigendas said. "I fear we have much to discuss."

  He explained to Councilor Hains all about the Etashi Stones and the Etashi people. The civil war, the banishment, power of the stones, and the fear of their use. He told her he thought Varin had returned to Galactic space and that his threat was serious. They had no idea what size fleet or army he had amassed, but he wouldn't attack without being well prepared. He had waited too long to do that. Rigendas now thought the mystery attacks were a way of weakening the fleet and drawing them away from the outer systems, leaving them more vulnerable to invasion. He feared that Soltin was already controlled by Varin, and was almost certain that the battle fleet they sent would never return. He informed Councilor Hains that he was going to make a statement of similar effect to the whole Council. It was time they knew the truth. He was going to recommend sending some of the fleet back to the Outer Spiral, to protect the systems. He recommend that Earth do something similar for Garos. On that recommendation, Zavik grew to like the Councilor more than he thought possible. He really did care about all of the systems under Council control, even a new colony controlled by another species that he doesn't always get along with. That was definitely a new step for the Council.

  Councilor Hains thanked him for sharing what he knew and promised to help in any way to solve this problem and root out the threat. She left the office and Zavik turned to follow her. Rigendas stopped him but told the others to go on.

  "Councilor?" Zavik asked.

  "You know, I knew Varin, years ago," Rigendas said.

  "Did you?" Zavik asked.

  "Yes, well, being involved in politics means you have to play nice with all the people in power. Varin's father was, and still is, the Emperor of the Chokmnd Empire. And while that sounds more daunting than it actually is, he is still one of the most power Chokmnd in the Galaxy, along with me, of course. Varin was groomed from birth to take his father's place as Emperor. He is part of a long lineage of Chokmnd Emperors, that have always had an uneasy relationship with the Council. Varin had a personal hatred for the way the Council worked and wasn't very secretive in his thoughts. Paquiko was his friend. One might have hoped that would soften his thoughts on the Council. Clearly, that was wrong. He thought, as I'm sure you know, that the Chokmnd were the superior race. It was the Chokmnd who discovered the portal technology and brought the races together. Why shouldn't we rule? His words, not mine. But those are words that any race would love to hear from their leader. I have to admit that there are many Chokmnd who still hold allegiance to what Varin was
trying to do. Many, I fear, will join him, when he makes his reemergence known. I will try and keep his name out of the news for as long as I can, but eventually he will make a public appearance. If he has an army of Chokmnd Etashi with him, it will only make it easier for those Chokmnd who are easily swayed to follow.

  "He is a detestable person. He only really cares about himself. His Chokmnd superiority is really just Varin superiority. But you must not let him get to you. I know you seek revenge on him, and he on you, but what is at stake is so much more important than squaring a debt. You must be cautious."

  "Thank you, Councilor," Zavik said.

  "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get ready to convince the Council to prepare for war. Not as simple a matter as it sounds."

  Zavik made his way out of Rigendas's office and back towards Councilor Hains's office. A few of the guards stationed in the hallway followed him with interest as he passed. He felt as if they were towering over his presence, ready to strike him down if he made any sudden or suspicious moves. He tiptoed back to Councilor Hains's office. She was in the reception area talking to the others.

  "Here he is," Dani said and hugged him.

  He was taken a bit off guard by her embrace. "What's wrong?"

  "Do you really think what he said about that stone is true?" she asked.

  "I guess so," he said, "but at the same time, I hope not."

  "A race of Chokmnd that use getrino stones to manipulate physics," Councilor Hains said. "It's hard to believe."

  "Yet he believed us when we said Traval attacked us with powers," Zavik said.

  "Yes," Hains said.

  "And he believed us when we said there was a threat of Varin coming back and conquering planets."

  "Yes, and I have to apologize," she said, "but you have to understand, he had more information on the matter than anyone else. He knew there was a chance Varin had a near working lightdrive, he knew about a race of Chokmnd in the Dark Sector that, clearly, the rest of the Chokmnd people either don't know about or don't want to talk about." Her gaze focused on Brax as she finished that last sentence.

  "I didn't know anything about them," Brax said.