In three, two, one.
We all flashed into orbit around poor old planet Earth. Everyone had seen pictures of the devastation, but it was something else to see it up close. Then, we were all above Azsuram. Nice tight formation, nobody missing. Boom, we were back where we started less than two minutes later.
Okay, nice. This time I want you all to stay in tighter formation and reappear at the following coordinates in the Andromeda Galaxy. I broadcast the details.
Say what? We can go to M 31 just like that? No way. It’s over two million light-years away.
You’re not getting chicken are you, Allison? One fold in space-time is just the same as any other.
Chicken. You’re not going to let me forget that, are you, boss?
On three, two, one.
Puff, we were at the edge of an alien galaxy. Looking out the view screen, I could just make out the smudge that was our galaxy. Totally weird. Disorienting too, I’ll have to admit. A few seconds later, we were back on Exeter.
You are privileged to pilot one of the most powerful ships in existence. I hope you all respect that fact. It’ll take awhile, but pretty soon, you won’t think about distances anymore. Everything is literally at your fingertips. Okay, we’ll meet back in two hours for some target practice. Please study the combat simulations I provided you with. When the shit hits the fan for real, I don’t want anyone taken out by friendly fire. Is that clear?
Thirty-six yes, sirs popped into my head all at once.
Back in command. Two weirds in one day.
We drilled for a few days. We destroyed some asteroids, I can tell you that. The combined fire power we provided the fleet was impressive with a capital I. It didn’t take long before any further repetition wasn’t useful. The vortex was easy to use, after all.
It was time to face the Berrillians.
TWENTY-SIX
Anganctus lounged lazily in his throne on his flagship, Color of Blood. His fleet of nearly ten thousand heavy battleships orbited a planet whose name he could no longer recall. Their extraction of valuable resources was nearly complete. A colony would be left to consume whatever was left so it could grow and serve his will. This was what he deemed the dull but necessary process of empire building. He’d rather be engaged in combat with the next world he destroyed. There was no narcotic like battle. It was better than sex, and it served a greater purpose—it brought glory and it brought death. It was so much more satisfying to sink his teeth into a struggling enemy than his…
“My lord,” shouted a young deck officer, “we’re under attack.”
Anganctus spun and sat straight in his throne. “Sound battle stations, you witless kitten. Alert the fleet.”
The high-pitched whistle signaling battle stations sounded on every ship.
“Can you identify whose ships, what their strength is, and give me an estimated arrival time?” Anganctus called to the first officer.
“Yes. They’re Deavoriath vortices, I count over one thousand, and they’re three kilometers off our port.”
“What!” howled the king. “Defensive maneuvers, open fire immediately, and stand ready with the gravity beams.”
“Ah, I’m not sure that’s necessary, lord. The Deavoriath are sitting dead in space. They have their force fields up, so our weapons would have no impact on them,” replied the deck officer.
“How dare you.” Anganctus grabbed the rifle out of a nearby guard’s arms and shot the officer right between the eyes.
The cat fell like a sack of wet sand.
“Remove that traitor from my sight. Officer of the watch, open fire.”
The newly promoted officer had no reservations following that order. A plume of light flashed from the Berrillian fleet. Thousands of missiles were launched at the cubes. Naturally, when the initial broadside was completed, the vortices sat unharmed, exactly where they were to begin with.
“Damn you all to Haldrob,” roared the king. “Can no one so much as frighten my sworn enemies? None of their wretched vessels were even damaged.”
“Shall I bring the gravity beams to bear, lord,” asked the same officer.
“Why, you hollow fool? They have never been effective against the cubes. I need a commander who can fight these devils, not an idiot with a checklist of options. I want blood.”
“I await your command, master.” Immediately the officer, an ambitious male of dubious talent named Frackor, regretted echoing the word command. He closed his eyes and prayed he’d open them again still among the living.
“What are the demons doing? Are they attacking yet?”
“No, majesty. They are hailing us.” Fractor’s eyes were still shut as he responded.
“They want to chat like old women? We’re in the heat of battle. What madness is this? I demand answers.”
“Shall I patch them through so you might demand answers from them, master?”
“No. You coward. Where’s that rifle?” Anganctus scanned the area around his throne in a rush.
Fractor saw his life passing before his eyes. He had only tried to serve, it was all he desired. If being executed pleased the king, then it was…acceptable.
In a flash, Fractor tapped a series of keys. “This is the flagship Color of Blood of the invincible King Anganctus. We have opened this communication to accept your unconditional surrender.”
“Wh…” the king started to shout.
“This is Yibitriander, commander of the battle fleet you face. We come in peace to discuss a matter of great urgency. Is Anganctus present?”
All eyes on Color of Blood's bridge turned to Anganctus, who was still fumbling with a rifle. None of the Faxel moved.
“Er…I am King Anganctus, Tenth Lord in the House of Zell, son of Vertopar the Merciless. Why have you invaded my space?”
“House of Zell? I don’t recall that one. Must be new to power,” responded Yibitriander.
“New to power. How dare you, scum. My mighty house has reigned for centuries.”
“As I said, new to power.”
“I know of the arch demon Yibitriander. Are you of his seed?”
“No. I am he.”
Anganctus was, for the first time in his life, speechless. He slumped back in his throne, nearly missing the seat he was so stunned.
“No. You cannot be over a million years old. You cannot be the one who battled…”
“Hexorth of House Claymort. I am the one who forced his tail between his thin legs and chased him into the brush.”
“How can this be?”
“Anganctus, these are uninteresting discussions we can have later, if at all. I have pressing news. May we meet face to face under a flag of truce?”
The king gathered himself up. “I do not exchange words with my forever enemy. I eat their heart. Prepare to…”
“Sir,” shouted Fractor, “they’ve launched a missile.”
“How many?” the king asked incredulously.
“One. And it’s directed along the z-axis, directly away from all ships.”
“Wh…”
“Sir, they fired on the missile. It has exploded with elemental force.”
“What does that mean, imbecile?”
“It degenerated into energy. It was completely transformed. I believe this is the same weapon the single vortex used on Havibibo’s squadron.”
“Sons of whore cats. They make a demonstration of superiority rather than attack. What timid kittens they are.”
“Be that as it may, lord, they hail you once again.”
A deflated king waved a single claw toward himself, indicating to put them through.
“King Anganctus, please understand I do not wish to destroy your fleet. If, however, you refuse to listen to my warning under a flag of truce, I shall do just that.”
“I hope to never understand a species that prefers to spare a weaker opponent.” Anganctus said as he shrugged. “It makes no sense.”
“Sense, I have found, is relative,” replied Yibitriander. “Come now, there can be no harm in
talking.”
Anganctus’s face reflected a look of absolute revulsion. “No harm in putting on pretty scarves and bells and dancing in the meadow like foolish children wasting their time? Are your people all insane or only the one I address?”
“I am quite pressed for time. Gibber-jabbering about character flaws and perceptions is not what we must discuss. Either agree to meet under a truce, or we shall not speak again.”
“Very well, you rotten carcass. Where, when, and how?”
“Your bridge, now, just me and my associate along with you and one advisor. Otherwise the bridge must be cleared.”
“Accepted.”
“One last request. Please contact your fleets designated Roar, Thunder, and Consequences.”
“I would ask why, but my luck in gaining ground in conversation with you is so far abysmal.”
Thirty seconds later, they hailed us.
“Yes, I understand you have those fleets poised for destruction too. Am I to assume that if any harm befalls you, there will be little left for my successor to wage war with?”
“That is correct. We will shuttle over to your ship presently. Please have an unarmed escort available for us.”
“Fine. We’ll have tea and sweet cakes ready too.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“No, those will be for me. If I am to live as a eunuch, I might as well learn to enjoy their ways.”
Fifteen minutes later, the four of us stood uncomfortably on Color of Blood's bridge. Check that. Anganctus, Fractor, and I were ill at ease. Damn Yibitriander was in his element. He looked disinterested, confident, and imperious.
“What is so cursedly important you'd risk your sorry lives to tell me?” asked a grumpy king.
“We face a universal threat, all of us. There is a force about to set upon us that will likely kill us all in the process of destroying the universe.”
“I knew it was a mistake to invite you here under a truce. My father told me a thousand times to kill and eat the insane, never converse with them.”
“How quaint,” Yibitriander responded blandly. He held out an info-disk to Anganctus. “This summarizes our data and our knowledge set on the Last Nightmare. You scientist will confirm to you the danger they pose. You don’t have to believe me. I wouldn’t, if the tables were turned.”
“The Last Nightmare? Never heard of them. Why should I fear the unknown? In my experience, the unknown can be pounded to dust with the application of sufficient conviction.”
“Not in this case. They are the destroyers of universes. The Deavoriath have documentary evidence of one such annihilation. The Last Nightmare is credited with perhaps a dozen such acts.”
“What does it mean to destroy a universe? Surely, they can’t collapse it back into a singularity and consume all the matter and energy,” said Fractor.
“We are not certain how they do it, just that they do.”
“So, what is your proposal? Why have you come to plague me this day?” asked the king.
“Two requests. First, we need to cease hostilities immediately so we can focus on our enemy. Second, we would ask you to join us in the defense of the universe when the time comes.”
“Is that all?” Anganctus mocked, addressing Fractor. “Such a basic request could have been delivered by a servant girl.”
“All I require is for the Berrillians to stand down until the crisis has passed. That way I will not be force to destroy you.”
“We would rather you burned our children with the holy flames of war than submit to your domination,” raged Anganctus.
“I do not require dominating your species. I only ask you to find some activity other than waging war on our empire for a short period. If the Last Nightmare don’t end us all, I will be more than happy to crush you in battle afterwards.” Yibitriander didn’t even look at the two as he spoke those words.
“So it is an empire you desire? I knew it. Your race will never be content until all bow at your feet or are buried beneath them.” Anganctus was livid.
“We have an empire. We simply do not wish to expand it over you.”
“At this particular time?” said Anganctus more as an accusation than a question.
“Recall I have not time for semantics. Will you relent?”
“Who is this silent human?” asked the king.
“Oh, I’m thinking you know me, boss. I’m Jon Ryan.”
His muscles tensed. “You devil. You amalgamation of devils. How I have dreamed of crushing your throat with my jaws.”
“Sorry, today’s not good for me. Raincheck?”
He roared in anger. Scary guy. Seriously.
“Jon, it does not advance our position to bait the fellow,” said Yibitriander. Funny, him being the voice of reason.
“I am not this fellow. I am Anganctus, lord of all I survey.”
“About as unhelpful,” replied Yibitriander with no small measure of smugness. “I require your answer.”
“Here’s what I will concede. Trust me, it is far more than you deserve. If my scientist convinces me this Last Nightmare is an existential threat as you suggest, I will gladly allow you to stand at my side as the glorious storm of Berrill separate them from their lives.”
I thought that was more than we could have hoped for. I was stoked.
“We can discuss the details of our attack formation when the time comes,” responded Yibitriander.
“I will signal your vortex if and when I am won over,” concluded the king.
“Hardly. I cannot wait for technicalities. One of the human vortices will remain behind and accept your terms. They will pass them along to me. If you see me or my vortex before we stand side by side against the Last Nightmare, it will be the last thing you see.”
“Your attitude is not one I warm to,” menaced Anganctus.
“How fortunate that your approval is not on my list of requirements.”
Son of gun, that Yibitriander was one tough guy. I was glad we were on the same side. Somewhere, way back in my head, a little voice said it hoped that our alliance would never change.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Within a week, Anganctus relayed his response. He said that our evidence was a weak as our wills to fight. He expanded to state, however, that he was as magnanimous as he was mighty. Since we clearly shivered in our boots even thinking about engaging a difficult enemy, the gracious citizens of Berrill would stoop so low as to hold our hands and lead us into battle. He provided a direct link to his flagship to contact us if we found the little butterflies that caused us such vexation. It was nice to have them onboard, but I could see his ego was going to be difficult to stomach.
The next meeting of the powers that be on Exeter was almost positive and upbeat.
“I’m certain you’ve all read Jon’s report on the truce we’ve parlayed with the Berrillians. Strong work, Jon,” Alexis said, tossing me a partial salute.
“It was mostly Yibitriander’s doing,” I conceded. “I’m sure my presence intimidated them into acquiescing, however. So, thanks.”
Toño closed his eyes and shook his head.
“Kymee, thank you for joining us again,” said Alexis.
“Yeah. Sure beats the hell out of dealing with your son,” I observed.
“Yibitriander is your son?” asked Alexis incredulously.
Kymee rocked his head side to side gently. “One of them. Boy’s been a handful, I can tell you that.”
We all chuckled.
“I might as well get to the point,” he said, switching to his serious face. “We’ve made some excellent progress in enlisting the support of several highly-advanced races.”
“You mean like us,” I asked with a wink.
“To be certain,” he replied with a wink of his own. “I meant to say races second only to those present.” He looked at JJ. “It’s getting hard to be silly around here. I think I may go back into seclusion.”
“Take him with you if you do please,” responded JJ.
“Do we know any of these communities?” asked Alexis.
“Likely not. Most are quite distant. Jon might have run across a few, but otherwise no.”
“Who?” I asked.
“The Churell, Fenptodinians, Maxwal-Asute, and the Luminarians mostly. A few others have responded with more reservation or have declined to join an alliance.”
“Why? Are they nuts?” I had to ask. “Ben Franklin said if we don’t hang together, we’ll hang separately. What are these guys thinking?”
“One has become non-corporeal since we last interacted with them. They are completely uninterested in the physical world.”
“What, did they turn to gas of something?” I asked.
“No. Pure energy.”
“That won’t protect them from the Last Nightmare. I don’t care if they turn into ice cream, the Nightmare won’t spare them.”
“You’re right,” Kymee responded. “I’ve found that when a species makes that transition, they become very uppity. They generally believe they are so superior they cannot relate to us. Bunch of prissy asses, if you ask me.”
“Kymee, there can’t be that many non-corporeal races out there. Are you being fair?” Alexis asked.
“Oh, there have been many. Usually they’re short lived and they’re always intolerably smug.”
“We do since we met Jon here.” He pointed to me to firmly affix blame.
“I apologize for that cultural indiscretion,” she said, looking down.
“The term fits them well. You’ll meet with them soon and can decide for yourself.”
“Are you serious,” she said with a huge smile.
“Absolutely. All the key players must meet to forge a firm alliance. When the fighting begins, we must all work as one,” said Kymee.
“I just never thought I’d come in contact with so many alien races so quickly,” she replied.
“You’re a real babe in the woods, Al,” I said to her with a grin. “There’s a lot of them out there.”
“We’ve arranged for a meeting two days from now,” he said. “We’d like to keep it as intimate as possible, so we ask that only two or three representatives from each species attend.”
“Certainly,” she replied. “Makes sense.”
Forever Series 5: The Forever Alliance Page 15