by T. R. Harris
Adam could see that Panur was ecstatic, enjoying his interaction with the Humans like a child in a petting zoo. “So what’s next?” he asked.
It took Panur a moment to break from his study of the non-verbal conversation taking place between Riyad and Sherri, yet when he did his manner was serious.
“Noslead Vosmin is under the suspicion that my pulse beam is not working properly, or that it is not effective against certain races within this universe. That was why I kept your condition a secret—by the omission of certain data I had in my possession.” He nearly burst out laughing. “I lied!” He regained his composure. “I know the capabilities of my beam, and I have seen it work on other Humans. So why were you not affected?”
Adam took a non-verbal survey himself of the other two before responding. With slight nods he was given permission. He reached out with his imbedded Artificial Telepathy Device—his ATD—and sought to gain control of the electronics within the laboratory. Not finding any compatible controllers—these truly were of alien origin—he elected instead to begin collecting the negative ions within the dry atmosphere in the room. As they responded to the commands from the ATD, a small ball of light began to build in the space between him and Panur. The alien noticed it immediately and his eyes grew wide as the ball grew larger.
“An accumulation of static electricity, drawn from the air. But how?”
The sphere was now about the size of a golf ball, and seemed alive with tiny streaks of blue and white electricity, crackling faintly as it radiated a fair amount of heat.
“We—the three of us—have imbedded in our bodies devices that link with our brainwaves and allow for the manipulation of other compatible electronic devices. Since your ship was built using a different technology, I can’t find any devices I can control, yet I am able to gather stray electricity from the atmosphere and concentrate it into a ball.”
“And you believe these devices spared you from my beam?”
“We felt the effects, yet we were able to function in spite of it. Our Artificial Telepathy Devices, as we call them, may have absorbed or counteracted the influence of the beam.”
“That would make sense. The pulse does affect the electrical functioning of the brain, slowing the processes and dulling the senses. Your device may have served as a filter to buffer the effects. How many Humans are equipped with such devices?”
“Only a handful.”
“That is regrettable. The Sol-Kor are soon to call in their reaper fleet, and it would have been beneficial to have a sizeable force immune to the beam to stop them. I must study this device. I am sure I can find ways to make it more efficient.”
“I’m sure you can,” Adam said. “But what about this other fleet? You called it the reaper fleet.”
“Yes, that’s what it’s called.”
Adam extended his hands, palms up. “What the hell is a reaper fleet?”
“Now I understand the question. Once the Sol-Kor find the source of the strain they wish to harvest, they will call in a very large fleet of vessels for the task.”
“A fleet to kill an entire population?” Sherri asked.
“The entire population of a planet or group of planets. It is quite efficient. The pulse beams used are of enormous proportions. I invented them, you know. Yet be calm. For the time being the Sol-Kor are more interested in the strain from the first large ship they attacked than they are of the Human homeworld. Although I must admit, once the analysis is done, I have no doubt the nutritional value of the Human brain may be just as compatible.”
“The Juireans? They like Juirean brains more than they do Humans?” Sherri asked.
“They are called Juireans? That is good to know. It is as I said, Sherri Valentine, your brains may be compatible, in which case the Sol-Kor will be just as interested in a Human harvest as they are a Juirean harvest.”
“How about we all work to make sure there’s no harvest, on any world, at least in this universe?” Adam said. “Does that sound like a plan?”
They all nodded, including Panur. “We may need new allies in the struggle, Adam Cain. Others who are more technologically advanced than any of the strains I’ve met so far.”
“You mean the builders of the array?”
“Precisely. You believe you know who built it.”
“It sounds like something they’d do, build a device that can link universes, on the off chance that what comes through can help them…”
“Who are they? Is it not an individual, someone like me?”
“No. I believe it’s a race of beings called the Klin.”
“And what help would they be expecting?”
“Help in defeating the Juireans…and the Humans. You see, we don’t like each other very much.”
Panur suddenly grew very serious. “So without knowing what to expect, this race—the Klin—built a portal to another dimension, expecting to then enlist the assistance of whichever superior race came through in performing genocide against their enemies? Why would they assume this race—any race—would be so inclined to help? It is an extremely risky assumption.”
“Maybe, maybe not,” Adam said. “The Klin are pretty conniving. They may have a plan in place that will pit any new aliens coming through the gate against their enemies. It’s what they do. The Klin are the technological masters of this galaxy, and extremely patient. If they do have a plan, I wouldn’t dismiss it too quickly. In the past, they’ve maneuvered an entire galaxy into war, while they sat back and watched.”
“And now you say the Sol-Kor are already interested in the Juireans as food, and may very well add Humans to the menu,” Sherri added. “Sounds like their plan is already working perfectly.”
Chapter 11
Molison Jons had been staring at the analysis of the blue pulse beam for days now and still hadn’t figured out a way to neutralize it. His task should have been simple. There was plenty of data and the frequencies involved were nothing exotic.
With the pressure of the deadline weighing on him, he had chased several time-consuming dead ends, which only served to frustrate him even more. Molison was not the type of person to accept failure with grace, even if it was an honorable attribute of his rapidly declining race. However, with the delegation already selected, he was in even more of a rush than ever. There had to be an answer, and he feared it was right there in front of him, yet the pressure of the deadline was keeping him from seeing it.
Duplicating the beam was not the problem, which did give him real-life scenarios to work with. But no matter what he used to interfere, diminish, or dissolve the beam, nothing worked. His assistant was now setting up a target—a creature called a Grek—which had proved susceptible to the beam. This would be a test of oblique jamming of the frequencies. Sometimes a scattering of waves at a forty-five degree angle could confuse the original beam—if not enough to completely negate it, then enough to limit its impact. At this point it was worth a try.
The blue pulse beam had come as a surprise to the Klin, even though they had anticipated a superior technological level from those who’d transited the portal. At first, the Klin plan had functioned perfectly, as the aliens followed the faint trail they’d left leading to the Juirean warship. What happened at that point was unexpected. The aliens had fired off their blue beam and then simply walked aboard the Class-Four without resistance.
After they left, the Klin sent an automated probe aboard to read the tracks. All data was collected, both from inside the Juirean ship as well as outside. This allowed Molison to duplicate the beam, the beam he was now trying to defeat.
As studies proved, the Klin were not immune to the beam’s affects. In fact, his race appeared to be potentially harmed by it in the long-term, causing a mild form of dementia if exposed for too long. That was the reason they now used aliens in their tests rather than Klin volunteers.
His assistant was a young female named Rius, and she seemed nervous working alongside the great Molison Jons. He did his best to put her at ease, yet
his reputation as the inventor of the Continuous Wormhole communications method was something he couldn’t downplay. It had revolutionized communications throughout the galaxy, in all actuality bringing the races closer together while making the light-years seem shorter. With near-instant communications for up to an hour anywhere there was a matching link, Molison had made talking across the galaxy essentially the same as a link to the room next door.
What the general population didn’t know, however, was that his invention was the forerunner of the trans-dimensional generator, the device that was causing all the tension within the Council of the Klin these days.
Rius was part of the inner circle who knew the truth, and although she, too, felt the pressure, it was her almost godlike worship of Molison that now was at issue. Even though she was extremely honored to be working with the great scientist, she often went out of her way to prove her worth. Molison appreciated the help, yet more often than not the female would stick her hands into places where she wasn’t needed.
Case-in-point was her instance in helping him align the beam for this latest test. There were several projectors in the large room, and they had debated on which one to use. Debate wasn’t the right word for it, because anything Molison said Rius was quick to agree. So when confusion resulted over which beam he wanted at what time, a near-tragic event occurred that ended with some very fortuitous consequences…
“No, the other one,” Molison said. “Three more degrees, then activate—”
The beam was lit before the scientist could finish his sentence, requesting that the recording devices be activated, not the beam itself. Molison had already aligned another beam, and when the second pulse mingled with the first pulse, they both disappeared.
The young assistant quickly realized her mistake and shut down her beam.
“No, wait! What just happened? Do we have a recording?”
“Not from this angle, my Lord. I am terribly sorry.”
“Replay what we have. I must see the readings.”
Even from another angle, it was clear to both scientist and assistant that the beam was defeated—both beams. But how?
The moment of discovery came soon enough when Molison noticed where the second beam was aimed. It was straight at the first.
In a mad rush, the two Klin carefully aligned the beams again and then turned on every recording device they had. The lights were dimmed so the beams’ blueness could be better seen in the recordings, and then they fired it again.
It was a wondrous moment as no beam appeared from either source. They tested the circuits and found both devices to be in working order. And then Molison had Rius shut down her beam. Sure enough, his beam now pulsed strong, steady and blue. Then he had Rius activate her beam again. Gone…both beams, just like that.
With unbridled enthusiasm, the pair spent the rest of the afternoon testing a dozen different angles, from directly on, to fractions of degrees off, to over five degrees out, to see at what point the two beams merged to annihilate one another. What they found was that they didn’t have to be precise. The aim could be off by as much as one-point-five degrees and still work.
Once the tolerances were determined, the researchers began developing defensive scenarios employing their discovery. The best solution was an automated system activated by detection of the first pulse beam. Since the weapon affected only biologics, the systems aboard would remain functional and able to send out a cancelling beam automatically. In studies, the pair found that even an attack from a completely opposite direction could be countered with programming that would aim the counter-beam at the attacker even if it meant turning the ship by computer control. With the crew incapacitated—and possibly under the subliminal suggestion of the aliens—this would have to be accomplished automatically and without possibility of override by the crew. Once recovered, the crew could then engage more conventional defensive and offensive weapons.
The Pleabaen of the Klin would welcome this breakthrough, yet Molison had the decorum to wait until morning to request an audience. He would bring Rius with him to share in the discovery. He’d already had his moments of glory, and by allowing the female her chance in the spotlight, it might also provide him with the more personal reward the aging Klin had been without for many years.
As he fell asleep that night in his laboratory, with Rius on the next couch over, he smiled. At his age, the anticipated episode with the young female might kill him. Yet the smile remained even into his slumber, as Molison Jons couldn’t imagine a better way to go.
Chapter 12
The summons came when the mainship was still four hours out from the array. Panur made the Humans promise they would stay in the laboratory, shackled as they had arrived in case someone came to investigate, yet with a key to escape. A quick welding job was needed to repair the wrist cuffs of Cain and Tarazi, yet upon a cursory inspection they would pass.
Noslead Vosmin was in a foul mood when Panur entered his chamber.
“What have you learned from the Humans? You’ve had ample time. Are they edible or not?”
“I haven’t proceeded to that point yet.”
“Why not?”
“I would prefer to gain all the information I can while their heads are still attached to their shoulders. I find it easier that way to carry on a conversation.”
“I have been detecting a rebellious tone in you recently, Panur. And don’t blame it on some imagined phase shift between dimensions. I have researched this and there is no such thing.”
“And who is telling you this, my Lead? I must bow to the superior intelligence of your source, someone who understands trans-dimensional physics better than I. I’m sure such references are easily found in every databank.”
“You demonstrate my belief even now.”
“Forgive me if I’m being testy. Perhaps I’m frustrated with constantly being questioned about my opinion and expertise. If there is anyone else aboard this ship who has invented a trans-dimensional portal, or a pulse beam, or a jump drive, please bring them forth. I have served your Queen for over five thousand years, and yet still you question my loyalty. I have opened up entire universes to the gullets of the Sol-Kor and allowed you the means of harvesting entire worlds without the need for bloody wars, as had been your practice before I came along. This entire episode has been a learning exercise, Vosmin, and I will be sure to pass along to your Queen what I have learned.”
The veiled threat had its affect. “It is my turn to ask forgiveness, scientist. I, too, am under pressure. The Queen is much too busy to bother herself with the management of expeditions such as ours. That responsibility has passed to others, and they are making multiple demands upon me.”
“What demands?”
“They wish to know more detail about the loss of the mainship. They also demand to know who built the array and whether or not they are a threat to enter our dimension. They are concerned about the number of advanced strains so close to the portal, and apparently working in concert rather than in competition. They fear a united galaxy could become a threat. And lastly, since a sample for the stock from the large ship was sent to Kor for analysis, they are demanding that I locate the food source as soon as possible so a reaper fleet can be sent. It appears that rather than receiving a bonus for our actions, finding such a rich stock is causing frustration and anxiety among my Leads.”
“That is all very interesting, Vosmin. It is still no excuse to treat me as harshly as you have.”
“You are correct, and I acknowledge your close relationship with the Queen. With all my other concerns, the prospect of a negative report from you to my Creator is probably the most troubling.”
“Then be nice to me.”
“Nice?” The Noslead seemed honestly confused. “I will be respectful from now on. I will be more tolerant of your own, often caustic manner. But I will not be nice. I would not know how to be nice.”
“I will then settle for respectful and tolerant. And in return I will try to be more und
erstanding of the pressures associated with command. This is called negotiating.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Of course you don’t, and that’s understandable. Now, was questioning me about the Humans the only reason you called me here?”
“No, it is not, and that is just one more demonstration of your perceptive nature.”
“That, Noslead Vosmin, is being nice.”
The Sol-Kor was stunned into silence for a moment before responding. “I therefore…apologize?” There was doubt in his voice.
Panur just shook his head. “Why was I called in?”
“Eighteen more mainships have recently come through the portal, making it possible for us to survey more territory. In the process we have found several monitoring devices in and around the array and the stellar system.”
“As would be expected. The builders wouldn’t construct the array and then simply disappear. They would want to know when and what comes through. They are being prudent by observing us first before revealing themselves.”
“So you believe they will come forward?”
“Undoubtedly.”
“Will they be expecting an accommodation, a partnership of some kind between portal builders?”
“You have seen and commented on the strange interaction between strains in this universe. Why would this builder-strain be any different?”
“Yet the Sol-Kor do not interact, we do not partner.”
“My advice, my Lead: do not show this at first. If we have indeed been observed, then the builders have witnessed our attacks on vessels within the region. They may see this as indiscriminate and consider themselves to be just as susceptible. We have been in this universe for three of their standard months, as far as I have been able to determine. That should have been time enough for them to show. My only hope is that the damage has not already been done.”
“You should have brought your concerns to me sooner, Panur. I may have scaled down our hunting expeditions, at least until the builders were known.”