“Then what's this display represent?” This Ria directed at Peter.
“I'll answer that,” Jaime said, sighing. “The Tarees provided it, but I believe what we're seeing is the range of that influence. Tesirax said they left the Eye's influence when they left Gozgazel for Chalawan, but re-entered it when passing Gozgazel in order to return to Merak. However, the Starglobe did not leave that influence until halfway between Gozgazel and Merak. Hence the expansion.”
“I thought the Starglobes couldn't be flown by one individual alone,” Stander asked.
Jaime grinned. “Tesirax is more skilled than Korgovax, who knew nothing about his own ship. Tesirax was able to pilot the Korvaleen just fine when the ship was in the Eye.”
“So there's another entity to blame for this?” Peter asked, alarmed.
Everyone looked to Vekta. “Er, we clearly need to return to Gozgazel to verify that, but I believe that may be the case.” He cleared his throat. “I would like to call upon that other observer now... he was in the Gozgazel system when we were.”
Ria Vorclif straightened, alarmed. “Another High telepath? Not Taree or of the USC? Why am I just hearing about this now?”
Austine looked at Vekta with a mixture of irritation and interest. “Not—?”
Then there was a fifth person sitting at the conference table on the Andromedea, a man with long, black hair, a strand falling dramatically over one eye, Draconic in appearance — wearing a Fleet uniform. Sighing, he leaned his elbows on the table, affecting boredom.
Vekta coughed. “Mister Hendrian, this is not the place to be wearing that.”
“Oh, right,” Zena muttered, then the dark blue uniform transformed into his preferred leathers.
“Hendrian?” Jaime inquired, chuckling. “I suppose that's better than Scorpion Thing!
“Scorpa,” Zena corrected hastily, then added, “but my new name is Zena Hendrian. I watch... and observe. I'm very stealthy because...” He glanced at Vekta for assistance, but there was no help there. “Well, because.”
“Because?” Novella prompted him, smirking.
“Because I don't have to be, er, manifest all the time.” Zena shrugged. “All right, I'll tell you because Red there is going to bust a gut if I don't. I'm a — well, you’d call me an energy entity from what you might call Kappa Universe, and I left my home universe because... ah, long story, but I'll never go back and they don't want me anyway, so since I was a bit of a bother to the Andromedea personnel — sorry! — I'm trying to atone and generally make myself useful.”
“He gathered critical intelligence on the Ruena and Xandee society for us,” Vekta added, nodding. “And although he was also self-serving at the time, he saved my children's lives. I don't trust him, of course, but he has been quite useful.”
Zena glanced nervously at “Red” who was lasering an iron gaze at him. “I'm really trying!”
“He's functionally a Level 8,” Vekta went on, sighing. “But his powers naturally are not identical to a Human Level 8's.” Then he added in an aside to the entity, “I don't recommend you refer to the Brigadier General as 'Red' again, Zena. Bad, really bad!”
“Mostly trying,” Zena said to Ria Vorclif, giving her a cheeky grin.
“Whatever!” Ria exploded, then took a deep breath. “Just tell us what you know about this damn Eye!”
Zena blinked. “Hmmm, nothing much, actually. It just made things easier for me to take the Andromedea personnel by surprise. It's not from this universe, of course. Didn't you say it was like a bubble, a bulge into this universe from another one? Only it's not, as you said, solely a physical phenomenon. I believe it's likely some mind caused this.”
“A... Mind?” Peter echoed, shocked. “You mean some entity is... is—”
“Reaching into this universe from another one? Yep, that's pretty much it, I think,” Zena replied smoothly. “Vekta, you said it made you feel vertigo and nausea, right? Well, I imagine this Mind is massively unhappy.”
*
The discussion continued with a lot of back and forth between the skeptical generals, a highly amused Jaime Cenntl, and the increasingly convinced Andromedea telepaths. What Zena Hendrian had said made sense. But the biggest question was whether they could they do anything about the Mind. What could even affect a dimensional barrier?
Peter Cenntl took a deep breath after there was a lull in the discussion. “General Vorclif,” he began, dread in his voice. “I have a massive request of you as the representative to this meeting of Fleet General Staff. There are two options that must apply to you at this point, and unfortunately you're not going to be happy with either one of them. In my opinion, we cannot afford to ignore this threat, even if it's not aimed at the USC. So... two options.”
Ria Vorclif widened her eyes, frankly shocked at the Commander General's wording. “I can opt for FGS to ignore the threat, Cenntl,” she nevertheless snapped back. “This is not your decision alone to make. If I have to take it to Welowitz on Thirdeye, I will.” The USC's elected leader was President Astra Welowitz who presided over Communities' Congress on the capital planet, Thirdeye of Argus, Argus Panoptes II.
Normally the Perseus Defense Agency operated without consulting Congress. Only when there were dire circumstances did the main governing body get involved in the USC's security matters. The last time had been the Muphroi rebel incursions on Turus.
“There's no time for that,” Peter replied, keeping his voice firm against the strong persona of the Dracon general. “I'm appealing to reason here, and asking you to trust me and trust our High telepaths to handle this situation.”
Ria twitched at that. No one had to read her mind to see her deep distrust of Vekta Rentclifv in particular. “Reason, you say? Trust?” she said in a deceptively quiet voice, the one that made her fellow generals in FGS quail with fear.
Novella sent a carefully private thought to Vekta abruptly. “Do not do what I think you're thinking of doing. You do not want the consequences.”
Vekta blinked, his only outer reaction. “Do what?”
She narrowed her eyes though she was not looking at him. “Mentform Ria Vorclif, of course. Just don't!”
He swallowed carefully. “She won't know.”
“I'll know.”
Vekta coughed. “Commander General, as Brigadier General Vorclif is a Level 8 telepath—”
“Tell me the options, General Cenntl,” Ria said suddenly. It was clear she did not want to hear from the audacious Vekta Rentclifv at all.
Peter glanced at Vekta, but then addressed her again. “Very well. Either you choose to agree to allow Vekta and the other three High telepaths on the Andromedea to handle this threat on their own without further input or approval from FGS or we shall continue this meeting to its full conclusion.” He took a deep breath.
Ria frowned, then glanced at the Starguard Director. “Do you know what he's talking about, Director Denayrga?”
The gray-skinned Esontian nodded. “It seems there is more information to be learned that affects this. situation. Information—”
“That will take considerable time to explain adequately,” Vekta finished for her quietly.
“And an open mind,” Novella added cryptically, not looking at anyone.
*
Ria Vorclif looked around the combined “room,” searching the expressions of each member. Denayrga was actually the most relaxed... because qe does trust Vekta? And qe knows about this already? Peter seemed vexed, frustrated perhaps because he has to deal with me at all, I'll bet!
Of the Andromedea personnel, Stander Kvaan was his usual cool self. That one seems a little too detached... what is he really thinking? And Austine Tauscher... she's clearly agitated, and why does she keep glancing at Kvaan? Ria considered the black-haired woman. Novella Aurand... she knows whatever it is I do not... she knows all of it. And Vekta Rentclifv...
To her wonder, she felt her anger dissipate. Damn, but this is serious business...
and clearly there's a need for urgent action here, if the Taree on Sarga are to be saved. I hate all of this, but reason demands a response...
*
“Colonel Rentclifv,” Ria murmured finally, reverting to formality, “I understand you've been under a lot of stress. We've all been stunned to lose Starguard Pliverr, and I understand that the timing was especially unfortunate for you. And there's all that the Andromedea has had to deal with in utilizing the Starlock for the first time, encountering new universes and entities...” Her glance flicked at Zena, who merely winked back at her. Really! But she quickly continued, “And of course the abduction of your children. You've been under extreme amounts of stress. One ought to be concerned for your mental health.”
Before Vekta could speak up, Novella quickly responded, “General Vorclif, sir, if I may... I am not suffering from such stresses myself, but I fully commit as well to just the four of us, probably in a merge3, approaching this dimensional Mind to deal with it. Clearly we need to know more. As a Fleet Major I am of course under your authority, but I ask that you please allow us to move forward in dealing with this. If Colonel Rentclifv's mental state concerns you, please place me in charge of this project. I will take full responsibility for this... for all four of us.”
The Iron Lady still looked unhappy, but she had to acknowledge that Major Novella Aurand was a fairly stable officer, unlike that ex-Starguard. “So much trust flying around,” she murmured. “The Commander General trusts. The Starguard Director trusts. Starguard Cenntl trusts... and here we have three of my Fleet officers who trust—”
“I trust Rentclifv,” Zena offered, grinning. “He took in this lost, stray energy entity, after all!”
Most rolled eyes at that, but Ria Vorclif wasn't one of them. “And everyone present here knows something considerable that I do not. Or anyone else in FGS. And you're asking me to... not ask.”
“General Vorclif,” Vekta spoke up, solemn.“Right now, the Eye of the Gazelle is expanding exponentially toward Sarga and I'm thinking the Taree could be at their most dangerous when frightened.”
“It occurs to me,” Jaime murmured, “that the Taree might try to use something like the Distel on the Eye of the Gazelle.” If they're that desperate. Who knows what could happen in that case?”
“Oh, hell, those idiots.” Ria Vorclif stood and waved a hand in irritation. “Go, Rentclifv, do your Guard thing! But I'm going to hold you to that claim of responsibility, Aurand... if you and we survive.” With a last Iron glare, she turned and left the room.
*
There was a long pause, then Vekta murmured, “Vorclif is a Level 8. She needs to know about the Attitudes at some point, and if she chooses, her own potential needs to be developed. As we encounter more alternate universes, we may also encounter other entities. And there is still the Sdaldi to follow up with. We need the Attitudes of Consciousness.”
Peter sighed. “Vorclif needs to know, but I doubt she would want to... go there. Maybe someday. Her enmity regarding the Guard will probably prevent her from accepting all that power.”
“You guys need my help?” Jaime offered. “Althaea is on your way—”
“No,” Denayrga countered, surprising them. “I know the Taree Empire is something of your territory, Jaime, but I don't want to risk you with this. Vekta, perhaps you could send Jaime in the Elektra ahead to Sarga. Jaime, you can work to soothe Tesirax's fears while these four deal with the Eye. Then, if they need you, you'll be in close proximity.”
“Got it,” Jaime replied, sighing. “More babysitting.”
“Novella... you had a good point,” Denayrga continued. “Vekta, do you have any objection to her being in charge for this? I admit I'm concerned about you as well.”
Vekta felt the itch to refuse, but knew better, and he could feel Novella beside him glaring in his direction. “No objection,” he said simply.
“Good luck, all,” Peter Cenntl said.
“You're gonna need it,” his brother added.
“Tell me about it!” Zena chimed in.
*
It was clear to everyone that even with two of them having the Attitudes, a four-way merge3 was likely going to be required. To everyone's surprise, however, Novella suggested that the entity be included.
“M...me?” Zena asked, shocked.
“I want Austine to stay behind and monitor us as well as handle the ship with Crater,” Novella explained. “Remember that we cannot have anyone less than Level 7 on board the ship; they'd be unconscious anyway.”
“I can't complain,” Austine said with evident relief.
“But I've never done that merge thing...”
Vekta frowned. “But you did, right? With the twins and the teleXandee. None of us have ever merged with a nonHuman.”
“Only because there haven't been any nonHuman High telepaths to merge with,” Novella countered wryly. “I'm assuming we're including Vriesians as Human... but you didn't have any trouble with the teleXandee.”
Zena wrinkled his nose. “Merging with children and nontelepaths doesn't count. Baby play.”
“You think it's that much different?” she threw back at him.
Vekta, however, was nodding. “Oh, right, of course they were completely passive in that merge.” Vekta glanced at the entity, his gaze narrowed. “Did you feel the same nausea and vertigo in the Eye that we did?”
“Of course not,” Zena muttered. “Not having a stomach or inner ears, I could hardly have those sensations, right? But it was kinda icky. A general sense of wrongness.”
“Will you merge3 with us?”
“I don't want to do this, ugh! Do I have to?” But he waved his hand in agitation. “Yes, yes, of course I'll do it!”
“We need a plan,” Novella said tightly. “Zena... please excuse us.”
“Yeah, fine.” The entity disappeared.
“This is your thing,” Austine murmured to Vekta as she got up to leave. “Let me know what's what later, all right?”
Then there were the three of them left.
“Of necessity I defer to the two of you as the Attitudinals,” Stander said, closing his eyes. His hands folded on the table before him, he appeared Tryker-calm. The large Freen in the room had draped a long tendril over his shoulder, which he ignored.
“No, you have to be in on the planning, too,” Novella said, then got up abruptly, pushing off the table. Freen tendrils hastily disengaged, she went to the autochef against the wall. “Freiascha for three,” she muttered.
“Being that you're Tryker,” Vekta added, as Stander opened a questioning eye.
Crater, too, wanted to pull away from this discussion, and understood well the entity's reluctance. I can't begin to understand telepathic powers. How to deal with a mind that can warp a dimensional barrier? That defies everything we know about the integrity of alternate universes. Will Gullweaver's Premise be turned upside down as a result? But he knew he was present at the moment as recorder, if nothing else.
The discussion started badly. “Perhaps I should go alone, or maybe just with Stander for emotional support,” Vekta started in. “Novella, you can then pull us out if we get into trouble—”
“Not a chance!” Novella shot back. “Being that you and I are mentally matched, our capabilities more than double when merged. We'd have to fight to stay in merge3, but I think with the Attitudes, we're capable of resisting the compulsion to conclude to merge5. And even if that were to happen, we're not going to be subject to merge depletion. No, we're going to go all in, all three of us together. Maybe with Zena as well. But I'm going to call upon someone for backup. She owes us.”
Both men gaped at her a moment in shock; Stander of course recovered first, swiftly restoring his impassioned demeanor. “Backup? You mean...” Vekta asked, his eyes wide.
“I do mean.” Then, letting both of them cept her menttransmission, Novella arrowed a thought to the Pelan.
“I know well that you do not want to
get involved in this, but we want you to stand by to remove us from proximity to the Eye if something goes terribly wrong. We do not have three Attitudinals... yet. Vekta and I obviously must be merged to deal with this.”
There was a pause, then the Pelan's reply came through to all three. “I would have anyway. Throw away all the work done to develop the Attitudes in other telepaths? Not likely. There must be more who develop the Attitudes. But I will have nothing to do with the Mind in that universe. The emotions...” The listening Dracons received a wave of disgust and fear from the Pelan. Fear not for loss of life if exposed to the Mind of the Eye of the Gazelle, but fear of exposure to very unwanted emotions.
Novella sighed and relaxed a little. “We accept that... as long as you can watch and assist if our lives are in danger.”
There was a mental snort of derision from Thho that surprised them. “The danger is not to your lives, but your sanity. Still, I will do what I can.”
Vekta thought again of the Sdaldi and the Nror empaths that had lured the personnel — and Pricilla Pliverr — at Threvgem II. “You mean the Mind could harm us emotionally?”
Thho hesitated. She had cepted what she dared to of the Eye, but the experience was distasteful and she frankly did not care if it grew or not. “I care only for the continuation of the Attitudes, not you fragile beings,” she replied, irritated. “Not of your home federation or that other.”
“You're not happy that we're doing this at all, are you?” Vekta asked. The Pelan's blatant xenophobia and anti-social ways were warring with her wish for her two new Attitudinals to survive with their enhanced minds intact. “But we need you, even if that need is a concept alien to you. Just as you needed us.”
Another pause, a longer one this time. Then, “Point taken. But as long as the awareness is there — that dealing with this entity will change those exposed. Be prepared for that.” Then the Pelan withdrew her presence from the awareness of the Dracons, disappearing behind the Attitude of Powerlessness.
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