by Ivan Kal
“I learned a lot,” Adrian started. “For example, they don’t have genders. They just are. So I believe that we should refer to them as beings, or use ‘it’ to reference them.”
“Then how do they reproduce?”
“When a Krashinar reaches a certain age, they can grow a womb inside their bodies. They then ‘craft’ the necessary genetic material and mold their children. The womb is then ejected outside of the body and it grows until it can fit several Krashinar children inside, forming a brood. Once they develop enough, they are spawned.”
“Krashinar?”
“Yes, the Erasi call them Krashin, but that is wrong. I assume that the mistake comes from the fact that communications between them were not perfect.”
“And do you know why they are at war with the Erasi?”
“The Erasi manipulated them. They led them to do their dirty work and wipe out an innocent race, and then they betrayed them in turn.”
“Classic Erasi strategy, then,” Ruiss said, nodding her large head in a very human-like gesture.
“Yes.”
“And do you think that we can fulfill our mission here?”
“We shall see,” Adrian said. He then stood up, and turned to leave the briefing room. “Let’s continue speaking tomorrow. I am still recovering from the ordeal and need rest.”
“What if they try to communicate? Only you can understand them.”
“They won’t, but I will share my understanding with the Herald of War’s Sowir crew. They are the only ones that can digest the information quickly enough to be of any use. You should change the command crew shift so that we have one Sowir present on the bridge at all times.”
“I’ll see to it, Lord Sentinel.”
“Thank you, Commander.”
***
Once Adrian reached his room, he collapsed on his bed in exhaustion. He had learned so much that he could barely structure his own thoughts. But one thing had stuck in his mind: the way that the Krashinar spawned their ships—their beasts. They had the Sha, of course, all intelligent life did, but they could use it on such a small scale that they were able to program genetic codes. It took a lot of strength from their spawners, and a lot of time and craft had to be dedicated to it, but they were growing beasts of low intelligence in massive wombs.
And it was very similar to how they reproduced. It was all extremely fascinating and worrying. They were essentially using war animals, although Adrian knew that it was more complicated than that. Adrian didn’t know how to feel about it. The Krashinar void beasts depended on the bonds with their tamers, and when the Krashinar went to battle, every destroyed void beast was to them another life lost.
But then on the other hand, humanity had used animals for war since before they had learned to write. Adrian knew that it was not up to them to judge. It was the Krashinar way; it was how they had been shaped by the Universe. And he was more certain now that they were indeed a race that had not been interfered with by the People. He couldn’t be one hundred percent sure, of course, but from what he had lived through, he considered it extremely probable.
And now he needed to convince them to join in the attack on the Erasi. And from the Old Scar’s memories, he knew that the Six would need much convincing. They had trusted another before, and because of it had committed a crime that they would feel shame for forever, and for it they had paid an unimaginable price. That was why they now required a price themselves for any action between themselves and a new race. They would never again do something without gaining something concrete in return. The spilling of blood was a ritual, a symbol of a race’s willingness to abide by the terms reached. It was hard for Adrian to make sense of it now as the memories settled into the background, but he knew that it made perfect sense to the Krashinar.
And a price must be paid. If it was in sacrifice, it required the blood of the Krashinar for the crime they committed unknowingly, and it required too the blood of those they encountered as a kind of collateral against any future dealings. If it was in knowledge, it required the entirety of a life lived, for it was the only way for the Krashinar to truly know another entity and prevent any further betrayal. All this because the Erasi had killed the Seventh and destroyed an entire world.
The Seven had been the long lines of their rulers, Krashinar that had dated back to long before they had left their world and ventured out into space. They were from a time when they had first learned to use the Sha to shape life consciously. Each of the Seven had held the memories of all the previous rulers of their line, through the way similar to the one that Adrian and the Old Scar had used to share their lives with each other. So each of the Seven had done with its predecessors. Only for them, the exchange was more…vivid. At least based on Old Scar’s knowledge; it had not experienced it. But the Old Scar knew that it involved a true consumption of organic matter, not just telepathy. And that was because it had only been done at the end of one of the Seven’s life, by one of their line that was chosen to succeed as the next ruler. The Krashinar were not virtually immortal like most other races, but they were however extremely long lived. Capable of surviving for tens of thousands of years.
The Erasi had killed the Seventh. And in doing so, they had robbed the Krashinar of the memories of the Seventh’s line. Countless ages worth of experience that the Krashinar had relied upon to guide them gone in an instant. Adrian knew that the Krashinar hated the Erasi with the passion of a burning sun, that they wanted to kill them all slowly. It was why they were enacting their long hunt. But they didn’t understand that it didn’t have the effect that they desired. Nor did they understand that not all Erasi were guilty.
The Erasi were thriving. The Krashinar might be a thorn in their side, but the Erasi had been expanding coreward every time the Krashinar pushed them from the rim. They had been adding new members to the Erasi just to compensate and gain back the losses they had suffered from the Krashinar. The Krashinar scheme of revenge was not going to work. Eventually the Erasi would manage to build up enough forces to prevent the Krashinar attacks.
Perhaps the Old Scar now understood that after it had seen Adrian’s own memories. It understood that the Erasi were an enemy of the Empire. The Old Scar had been there when the Erasi delegation had met with the Seventh. It remembered their leader: Valanaru, the Weaver of the Erasi. And Adrian knew that he would have the trust of the Krashinar—because the Old Scar had lived through Adrian’s life, and it knew that Valanaru was Adrian’s enemy as well.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Krashinar great beast
The Old Scar had slowly recovered from the mind share. It had learned much about the individual whose life it had lived. Many things good, others not so much. But above all else, it now knew that the Empire and their Shara Daim allies were the enemies of the Betrayers of Oaths. And it had learned a lot more about the Betrayers themselves. A part of it wanted to forget what it had learned; it only added to their shame. But how could’ve the Six known? To live like the rest of the races did was incomprehensible to the Krashinar who shared their memories.
But the Six needed to know that the long hunt had to change. Whether or not they would join with this alliance was a decision for someone like them, not for an old scar. Regardless, it needed to give them the information. The Old Scar had rested enough that he could use the relay and mind-talk with the Six. It had ordered the great beast back to the gas giant, where, among the rest of the pack, waited the relay beast.
The Old Scar felt the great beast’s dissatisfaction at being ordered to connect with the relay beast, and so the tamers reinforced the order. One needed to be strict with the beasts; they needed to be controlled firmly. The great beast allowed the relay beast to wrap its communication tendrils around its own, and initiate the contact.
The Old Scar accessed the node, and through it the great relay of the beast that amplified its voice enough to reach the Six. It was a tasking endeavor, and it would not be able to speak as fully as if they were in the same r
oom, or even the same system. But it would be enough.
Almost immediately the Six responded—they always did when the Old Scar called. Very few Krashinar could call upon the Six and be answered immediately. It was an honor that the Old Scar knew it did not deserve.
“Greetings, Old Scar,” the Second greeted it, taking the lead in the conversation.
“I greet the Six. I hope that I am not interrupting your duties.”
“It is rare for you to call upon us. Tell us what you need. We are always free to speak with you, Hunt-master.”
The Old Scar felt gratitude at the kind words they had bestowed upon it, and it sent a part of that gratitude back to them. Then it turned to more important matters.
“A new race has been encountered,” it sent.
“How much of a price did we pay? How many did we lose?” the Second asked, a touch of sadness making its way to the Old Scar.
“We lost none. The people we encountered chose to share lives.”
The Old Scar felt their amazement, even disbelief.
“Who of the Krashinar did live their life?”
“It was I.”
For a moment the link was silent, and then joy and hope passed through the link to bathe the Old Scar.
“You shared of yourself with another? Are you the Seeker once more?”
Old Scar shrunk in shame, “I… No. Not yet.”
“You say yet. And while we understand, we are glad that who you were still lingers.”
The Old Scar had been surprised at its own words. It had not intended on ever being the Seeker again. It knew that it was the influence of the memories—the life he had lived. Adrian was a strange creature, a thing that it could never have understood without sharing lives. He cared for very few of his own people, and all that he did was in a service to a goal that impacted only himself. A selfish creature that lived for the challenge of tomorrow. Yet his life had been filled with him being responsible for the progress and prosperity of many. His goal had helped those around him almost by accident, and they were uplifted simply by being near him.
The Old Scar could never live like that. For the Seeker, life had been about learning everything for the sake of the Krashinar. For the Old Scar, life was about revenge—but even that it did for the sake of the Krashinar. Yet there was something infectious about the life it had lived through the alien. It could feel the call of a goal like Adrian’s. His life had awakened the Seeker within the Old Scar.
“We shall see. Perhaps in time the Seeker might live again,” the Old Scar told them.
“Tell us of these newcomers. What did the life you lived show you, and what do they want?”
“There are many things that I’ve learned, things that you need to know. I would like permission to come to you and share parts of the life I lived, and to discuss the proposal of these newcomers.”
“Of course, Old Scar. You never need ask to come to us.”
“I thank you. I shall be with you soon,” the Old Scar said, and pulled back from the link, feeling exhausted.
It would go to the Six and tell them everything it had learned about the galaxy, of the People, and of the things they had unwittingly unleashed; of the Empire and the Shara Daim, and the Erasi—the Betrayers of Oaths, who were not what the Krashinar believed them to be.
And the Old Scar would tell them what Adrian had wanted, and hear the Six’s decision. It would see if they would put their long hunt aside, and seek to punish rather than destroy.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
December; Year 563 of the Empire—Herald of War
Adrian took a last look at the Krashinar system as the Herald of War disappeared into the star’s corona and into the access point. He and the Old Scar had negotiated for days after it had communicated with the Six. It said that it would go to the Six and tell them of his proposal of a joint attack on the Erasi. Adrian knew that before their life-sharing, the Krashinar plan had been to wipe out the Erasi in their entirety. But now they would know that that would be near impossible. Adrian’s plan would see the Erasi gone, their way of life destroyed completely. He had to make adjustments during the negotiation with the Old Scar, to make an allowance for the Krashinar.
There was nothing now for Adrian to do other than wait, and there was no need for him to stay here while the Krashinar decided, which he knew from the Old Scar’s memories could take some time. Instead, he offered to open an access point for them and give them the codes for Sol. That way they would be able to answer as soon as they reached their decision, and Adrian could return home.
The Herald of War passed through the access point, making its own return to Sol. Almost immediately upon entering the system, they received a message calling Adrian to Olympus Mons. The ship left the Sun and then made a short skim to Mars.
Once the transport got him down to the planet, he entered Olympus Mons and was met by his daughter. He saw her walking toward him, followed by a man wearing the uniform of the Sentinel support staff. He raised his eyebrow at that—his daughter had never before shown interest in such companionship. He walked up to meet her half way.
***
Ryaana walked over and gave her father a hug. She had known that he had left on a secret mission, but she was glad that he had returned in time for the start of the operation. Her mother had already set things in motion, and soon the Empire and the Shara Daim fleets would be getting in position. She released her father and gave him a warm smile.
“I’m glad that you are back. A lot of things have happened. But first…” She turned to Vas, who was looking at her father with a strange expression. “This is Vas. He will be a part of my team now. Vas, this is my father.”
Her father narrowed his eyes at Vas, and held his gaze for several moments. Then she could swear she saw her father’s eyes widen in shock, but his face was back to his usual stern mask so quickly that she doubted her own eyes.
“Vas, you said…” He stepped closer to him and extended his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Vas. I am Adrian.”
Vas hesitated for a moment, but then grasped her father’s hand in a handshake. “It is a pleasure, Lord Sentinel.”
Her father held Vas’s hand for a second too long, and then finally released him. Then he turned to Ryaana, ignoring Vas completely.
“So—what happened while I was gone?” he asked.
“I think that we should move somewhere more private,” Ryaana said. The plan was still being kept as under wraps as possible.
“You know, it has been a long time since we’ve had dinner, just the two of us. And I’ve been craving something other than the rations they fed me with on the Herald of War. Come, let us go to my quarters, and I’ll have the kitchen bring us something good.”
Ryaana tilted her head, but then smiled. Having her father all to herself was a rare chance, one that she would not refuse. “All right.” She turned to Vas. “I’ll meet up with you later. You still owe me a training session for today.”
“Of course, Sentinel,” Vas said as Ryaana’s father gently took her hand and led her away.
***
Every time he thought that he had a clear picture of the children of Axull Darr, something happened to show him how wrong he was. Aranis looked at the being walking away with Ryaana—her father. He had been surprised enough when he had accompanied Ryaana to see her mother; the Kar Daim was powerful, more so than Ryaana, but not by any large margin. But her father… He was so powerful, that for the first time since he had been changed, he felt fear. Aranis knew that he held more power, knew that he understood the Sha better than any other, that he was connected to it in ways that nothing else in the universe was.
But the thing that had stood before him was something else entirely. To someone like himself, Ryaana’s father had radiated so much power that Aranis could feel it in his bones. And he worried that his disguise would fail, that the Lord Sentinel would see through it. For a moment there, he had been sure that he had been discovered. But in the end, he had remained u
ndetected. The body he had crafted was truly human, down to its genetic code. It was the Sha that held the truth of who Aranis really was. And he had taken great care to fabricate the Sha image that hid his strength; his mental state was that of someone much weaker than he. There was no way for him to see who he was.
Yet again, his decision to come and see the children of Axull Darr in person had proven to be the correct one. What would’ve happened if they hadn’t known? If they had begun the inevitable, only to be met with such power unprepared? No—now he knew, and the right countermeasures would be taken. But for now he would watch, and he would learn.
***
“You’ve been very quiet,” Ryaana said as she watched her father push his food around for the tenth time.
He raised his head and looked at her, seemingly surprised that she was there.
“Sorry, Ry. I have a lot of things on my mind. I got lost in thought.”
“Is it because mother gave authorization for the plan without you?”
“What? No, of course not, we’ve agreed to it.”
“What is it, then?”
“Nothing. I was thinking about the Krashinar,” he said.
Ryaana could still barely believe what he told her—that the Krashinar were a race that had evolved naturally. Only the second such race known to have done so in the Milky Way galaxy.
“So, tell me more about Vas,” her father asked in a strange tone that made her frown.
“There’s not much to tell, really. He was a part of our operation against the pirates.”