by Saxon Andrew
“Why should I do this?”
“There are three-reasons.”
“Go on.”
“One; it would allow both of our civilizations to start trusting each other. Two; You and I are here in leadership positions, to insure that those agreements are followed, and any issues are resolved before either of us do something really stupid.”
“And the third?”
“Gregor has gone out searching for the Filament Makers.”
“WHAT!?!”
“Think about if for a moment, Gold. Use that Insectoid mind of yours and see if you agree with doing this.”
Gold thought furiously and, after ten minutes, he sat back on his throne. “The new filament communicators make them a possible threat.”
Gem nodded, “They are probably detecting our using them at this moment.”
“By going out to find them, other dangerous civilizations may discover our existence.”
Gem nodded again, “Go on.”
“The odds of another powerful civilization showing up goes up with the search.”
“Would you not go and look for them, Gold?”
“You know any threat must be examined.”
“So, finding them is necessary?” Gold stared at Gem and finally, nodded. “Would you rather face whatever shows up alone, or have the Alliance with you?” Gold was still silent, and Gem added, “And even if Gregor wasn’t conducting his search, a new attacker could show up at any time unexpectedly. You need us just as much as we need you. I made this call hoping that I could get you to see the truth in we are stronger together than alone.”
“And you still consider yourself one of us?”
“I can never remove that part of me that is Insectoid. I am a citizen of both civilizations.”
“And having you in a leadership position in the Alliance is a good thing, not a liability.”
“Do you really see that, Gold?”
“I believe I do. Perhaps things happened for a reason.”
“That’s what I’ve come to believe, my friend.”
“I will no longer attempt to force you to come back to the Kingdom and you can visit without fear of retaliation.”
“That means a lot.”
“I’ll discuss this with the Families and see what they decide.”
“Thank you, Gold.”
The contact ended, and Ana asked, “How do you feel?”
Gem smiled, “Like a ton of weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”
“I’m announcing to Romania that you are still alive and that we deceived them to keep you safe.”
“Why do that now?”
“Because I will no longer go through this charade that you are a new person in my life and our children need to know you are their father.”
Gem reached for her and she rushed into his arms.”
• • •
The Prime Advisor looked at Gold, “Are you seriously thinking about a Gramget?”
“What would you suggest?”
The Prime Advisor thought about it and said, “Well, they could destroy us, and we couldn’t stop them.”
“Go on.”
“This would give us the new technology, if we made a Gramget.”
“And?”
“What he said about the possible dangers out in the universe is reasonable. I just have difficulty agreeing to never attack them.”
“That’s because we’re made that way. The Gramget is a way to protect us from ourselves,” Gold replied. “Call for a conference of the Royal Families and we’ll see if they see it like you.”
The Advisor turned around and started sending the invitations.
Chapter Twelve
“Gregor.”
“What’s up, computer?”
“There’s been a development.”
The Dragon Fly entered the Red-Letter Space four-days earlier and went to maximum speed to move through it, as quickly as possible. So far, nothing out of the Ordinary had happened. “What’s the problem?”
“A strange energy field has attached itself to the ship’s outer hull and is not moving away.”
“What kind of energy?”
The computer hesitated, before answering, “There’s nothing in my databanks like it. It’s highly coherent and complex. I don’t understand how it is able to cling to the hull.”
“Is it causing us any damage.”
“Not directly.”
“What do you mean by that, Computer.”
“Well, our stealth systems are useless with it attached to the hull. It can be detected by even a weak scanning beam; we’ve lost our ability to be invisible.”
“Try shutting down all the systems on the hull and see if it drops off.”
Gregor and Elena heard, “Humph.”
Gregor looked at Elena, “Did you say that?”
“No, I thought you did.”
“Computer?”
“It wasn’t me.”
“You are such simple creatures. Do you honestly thing removing power would make me leave?”
Gregor looked at Elena and saw her expression. “Uhhh…exactly who are you?” Gregor asked.
“That’s none of your concern.”
“It’s my concern if you’ve attached yourself to my vessel.”
“You can’t do anything about it, so just be quiet.”
Gregor looked up and said, “Stop the thrusters.”
“Why do you want that, Gregor.” Elena asked.
Gregor was silent and the being laughed, “I don’t care if you slow down. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Why do you need to attach to my ship? You can certainly move without using it.”
“False flattery won’t get me to move, either. I’m staying here.”
Gregor shook his head, “Take us out of the filament, Computer, and shutdown all systems.”
They heard the being laugh, “You think I feed on the energy in your ship and will leave if you stop using your systems? You really are simpletons.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I choose to be here.”
“No, you have another reason. You’re just not sharing it.”
“Gregor?”
“Computer, we can’t continue without our stealth systems operational. Move the ship out of subspace into normal space.”
The Dragon Fly left subspace and moved into normal space. The Computer announced, “It’s still clinging to our hull.”
“Can you use our defenses on it?”
“No, Gregor. Firing our blaster or one of our missiles at it would possibly damage the indentations.”
“Alright, remain here,” Gregor ordered.
• • •
Twelve-hours later, the being was still attached to the hull, and Elena said, “You sound angry.” Her statement was greeted with silence and she asked, “Are you?”
“More than you can guess.”
“Is it something we did?”
“No, of course not. What could you possibly do to make me angry?”
“Then who did?”
“My parents think they know everything!”
“What did they do to make you this mad?”
“They tried to link me with a male that is not my choice. I refused to do it and left.”
“Do parents decide who their children will link with, as you call it?”
“I’m not a child! I’m an adult now!!”
Gregor started to speak, and Elena shook her head, “I don’t think she wants to hear a male’s opinion about this.”
“You’re right about that!” the voice replied.
“Couldn’t you just continue to move away and not stay on our ship?”
“I could, but I don’t choose to do it.”
“You’re causing us some real problems,” Elena replied.
“What do I care about your problems? I’m done communicating with you.”
• • •
After another five-hours, the computer said, “Gregor, if this
being refuses to leave, perhaps we should call it a day and use the failsafe to head back. It would be too dangerous to continue without our stealth systems.”
“Do you want to take this twit back with us if we do that, Computer?”
“Oh, heaven’s no!”
“WHO ARE YOU CALLING A TWIT?!”
“They’re calling you a twit because of your bad manners.”
Gregor and Elena’s heads went back at the sound of a different voice, as they heard the first being yell, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!”
“It’s obvious I came here looking for you, Gen-L. You’ve caused me some problems in the community.”
“What do I care about your problems? You’re the reason I fled the community!”
“But every female believes you left because you found fault in me and none of them will speak to me. You must come back and tell them I had nothing to do with your leaving.”
“But you did!”
“No, I didn’t. It was your parents that negotiated you being linked with me; I had no part in the negotiations.”
“It doesn’t matter; I will never link with you!”
“Gen-L, you’re making a mockery of the community’s customs.”
“I’m an adult and I don’t care one whit about customs.”
“What is so wrong with me?”
“It has nothing to do with you.”
“But you just said it does!”
“I will not go back to the community with you; my parents would force me to go through the link and I won’t do it!”
There was a long silence and Gregor opened his mouth, but Elena put her index finger on his lips and shook her head. After a few more minutes, they heard the male being say, “You’ve already linked with another.”
“Shut-up!”
“That’s why you fled.”
“He’s twice the person you are!”
“My life in the community is ruined, if you don’t go back and straighten this out.”
“I could care less about your life. I will not have my life ruined by being forced to link with the likes of you.”
“I’m beginning to feel thankful you chose not to do it. Would you consider doing this; I’ll remain here and allow you to go back alone to straighten this out.”
“I will not trust you to do that.”
“All you need do is examine my matrix and you’ll see I’m being honest. I promise not to come back until the linking time has passed.”
“If I sense you coming, I will flee again, Tor-N!”
“I’ll keep my promise. Just make the community understand it wasn’t me that caused you to run.”
“I’m leaving now! Don’t follow me!”
• • •
The Computer announced, “One of the two-energy beings has entered subspace and left at high-speed.”
Gregor looked up, “Now that she’s gone, will you kindly leave my ship?”
“You heard me promise to remain here.” Gregor fell back in his chair and rolled his eyes, as he heard, “Look, I don’t want to cause you issues but I can’t leave your ship until the linking time has passed.”
“Just how long is that?”
“About six-tengs.”
“That doesn’t tell me anything.”
“Give me a moment to look at your data.”
The Computer yelled, “HEY! STAY OUT OF…”
“What, Computer?!” Gregor asked urgently.”
“Too late. It got in and I couldn’t stop it.”
“Six-tengs is about six-months in your time.”
Gregor’s head fell back on his chair and he rolled his eyes again. Elena asked, “I don’t understand why you didn’t just tell the females in your community that you didn’t cause this Gen-L to flee.”
“I did, but they didn’t believe me.”
“Why not?”
“Because they know the importance of the Link Ceremony and believed that something far outside the ordinary was happening. They blamed me for it.”
“What is so wrong with you that she would flee?” Elena waited and was greeted with silence. “Were you chosen by her parents?”
“Yes.”
“Why did they choose you?” Gregor inquired.”
“My genetic-line is one of the best in the community.”
“What does that mean exactly?” Elena asked.
“My name has all the names of my ancestors in it back to the origins of my species.”
“Must be a very long name,” the computer responded.
“It would take more than two-years of your time to say it.”
“So, what is your name? I notice you called her Genel,” Elena asked.
“No, her name is Gen followed by an L. It’s pronounced the same in your language.”
Gregor quickly asked, “Are you telepathic?!”
“What is that?”
“You know; able to hear other being’s thoughts.”
The computer quickly said, “Gregor, I don’t have thoughts, and this being is able to hear me.”
“That’s not what I do. I am not what you call, telepathic.”
“What do you do?” the computer asked.
“I see the energy patterns created by the large organs in their heads and I see the energy created by the systems you use to communicate.”
“I’m not sure I understand,” Gregor commented.
“The organ in your head creates energy impulses that move through you that form your verbal communications; do you understand that?”
“I guess.”
“Well, I can see those energy patterns and understand what you’re communicating.”
“But I don’t have an organ that does that!” the computer replied.
“The systems that are used to create you produce energy patters for you to communicate, don’t they?”
“Well, yes, but…”
“The energy you use to communicate is made the exact same way their organs function,” the being interrupted.
“So, you don’t actually hear our voices?”
“I feel the vibrations but ignore them. I’ve already heard what you want to say in the energy pattern that comes out of your head organ,”
“We call that organ a brain,” Elena commented.
“Ok.”
“To get back on the subject, what is your name?” Gregor asked.
“My name is Tor followed by an N.”
“Torn?” Elena asked.
“You’re spelling it wrong, but the pronunciation is close to same.”
“You can see how I’m spelling it?”
“I can see the pattern you use and the spelling in the pattern.”
“So, why did she turn you down, if you say your genetic-line is so good?”
“There are only two-genetic-lines considered better than mine.”
“How many are there?” Gregor asked.
“More than a billion.”
Gregor and Elena were stunned silent by the being’s statement and then they heard him sigh, “She turned me down because I’m not beautiful enough.”
The computer sputtered, “SAY WHAT?”
“I know it’s true. Gen-L is absolutely the best-looking female in the community and, though I have a good genetic-line, I’m only average in appearance.”
“That sounds like what parents do, Gregor,” Elena replied. “They choose the best mate based on his background, family, and other traits that would make a good match.”
“This sounds like what your mother did, Elena,” the computer interjected.
“What do you mean by that?” the being asked.
Elena shrugged, “Six-suitors were chosen by my people’s leaders to court my mother. They all came from very high-ranking families among the clans, but she rejected all of them and chose another to be her mate.”
“She is just like Gen-L.”
“Oh, no, she’s not. My mother is a nice person and Gen-L is a twit!”
Gregor turned to Elena, “The end result of th
eir behaviors is the same, Elena. Angel went against convention and chose to marry Sam; Gen-L did the same thing.”
Elena huffed and said, “You should go back and find a better mate than her!”
“I don’t think that will happen.”
“Why not. You should be thankful you didn’t end up with that self-centered, selfish, arrogant, twit.”
“I agree that I am fortunate to have not been linked with her, but I know what’s going to happen when I return.”
“What is that?” Gregor asked.
“Gen-L will go to the Community Leaders and tell them that she fled because I rejected her. She’ll flash her beauty at the leaders and they won’t see anything else. They’ll agree with her and I will be ostracized and made an outcast. No one will ever speak to me again.”
“If you knew that was going to happen, why did you send her back?” the Computer asked.
“I couldn’t stand the sound of her whining voice anymore! She sickens me. If I went back, no female would ever link with me and everyone would look at me like something was terribly wrong in me. She will go to her parents and convince then to go after the one she’s already linked with and they’ll do it because of the embarrassment I caused them. Either way, Gen-L will get what she wants, and everyone will believe her over me. Those who are beautiful have such a large advantage over those that aren’t.”
“And you’re still going to keep your promise to someone that doesn’t deserve it?” Elena asked.
“Breaking a promise goes to one’s honor. I will not diminish myself and my ancestors by acting dishonorable.”
Elena glanced at Gregor and saw him looking at her. She rolled her eyes and said, “But you’re preventing us from doing something for our people that we are honor bound to do.”
“How were you able to find us?” Gregor asked.
“I followed Gen-L’s trace and ran across the wake you made. Her trace was in the wake, so I followed it to your ship.”
“What wake?” Gregor asked.
“Don’t get upset. Everyone could see it.”
“How long have you been following us?”
“About…seven of your days.”
“Are you saying you saw my ship even before that twit landed on the hull?”
“Pretty much every being in the energy path you’ve been following saw your passage.”
Gregor was furious, and Elena asked, “Tell me what you mean by wake. We believed our vessel is invisible.”