“Yeah, that's right, we're bad. So why did the T'aafhal, the same critters that made you, decide to whip themselves up a batch of homicidal killer monkeys?” The others could tell that Billy Ray was on the edge of losing his temper with the pedantic AI.
I am not privy to the specific instructions given D'lat Me'tan, only the steps it took to achieve its end purpose. I do know that the T'aafhal were in the process of... evolving. Advancing to the next stage of their existence as a species. For millions of years they were the Paladins, the protectors of warm life in this galaxy. When they began their withdrawal from the galaxy they evidently created you to take their place.
“We are supposed to be galactic peacekeepers? The defenders of warm life? And we don't get any say in the matter?” Billy Ray was growing angrier.
“At least you could have turned us into Jedi knights,” Bobby interjected, purposefully interrupting his friend's building rage. “They got special powers and nifty light sabers, all we got was less hairy.”
“What?” Billy Ray stared at his friend.
“Come on, the T'aafhal didn't create the galaxy. Right, Formicidae?”
That is correct, Commander Danner.
“So the bad guys would have come for us eventually, assuming we ever got smart enough to trip their alarms. The way I see it, this way we at least have a fighting chance. Hell, 'the most dangerous species in the galaxy'? That makes me kinda proud, brother.”
“He does have a point, darling. Otherwise we might still be running around the Serengeti naked, picking lice off each other and waiting for the next major extinction event.”
“When you think about it, it does make sense,” Misuki chimed in. “We do seem to have a certain talent for organized violence—we've been fighting wars against each other since the beginning of history. The T'aafhal threw us into the galactic struggle knowing that we would do what we always do.”
Billy Ray nodded. “Fight. They knew we would fight.”
“As we most definitely have, dear.”
“But how does that make us the most dangerous species in the galaxy?”
It is a combination of characteristics: You are adaptable, as your spread across your home world and into space shows; Your fecundity is astounding, there were 7.4 billion of you on one planet before the Dark Lords attacked; You are inventive, as your recent defeat of the Dark Lord's ship illustrates; and you are curious to a fault—why else would you come searching for me? In battle you are capable of great acts of heroism and self sacrifice, though you also posses a keen sense of self preservation. You claim to crave peace yet you often harry your opponents to utter annihilation.
“Oh really?”
Your history is littered with examples. The destruction of Nineveh, the Roman sacking of Carthage, the string of ruined cities left in the wake of the Mongol hordes, the Spanish conquest of the New World. You constantly bicker among yourselves and only band together when you perceive a common threat. The Allies in the great wars of the last century demanded unconditional surrender of their foes and waged total war, firebombing cities of women and children. They invented nuclear weapons and immediately unleashed them against their all but defeated foes.
“If you bother to check, once we were done annihilatin' we rebuilt the nations that were our enemies. The rebuilding took longer than the destroying.”
Yes, I see. Yet another example of your inconsistency and unpredictability. There are also other things in your nature. I can see from your history that you have great empathy for other living creatures, at least when you are not killing them. You care for the polar bears from your home world, you even keep lower animals for no reason other than you like them. Perhaps you are what the galaxy's warm life needs in a protector race, but the logic of it escapes me.
Billy Ray was not impressed by the AI's analysis, so he forged ahead. “So we get to fight for a couple of million years, like the T'aafhal? Then what?”
If you are successful—if you survive—when the time comes you will follow the T'aafhal, and the other Paladin races that preceded them.
“What does that mean?”
I do not know the precise details. Evidently biological sentients evolve until they reach a, for lack of a better term, a singularity. When that happens they transcend this existence. My kind do not evolve as you do, at least not to my knowledge. To find out more you would need to ask the T'aafhal.
“We'd love to do just that, if we could find any of the varmints. You wouldn't happen to know where they went to?”
I am not certain that any remain on this plane of existence. The last area where they were active in this arm of the galaxy was in a nearby open cluster of young stars, a star nursery. Observe.
The planetarium display rotated and expanded. It displayed a star cluster containing hundreds of hot, blue-white stars surrounded by intricate blue filaments of light. It was a birthplace of new stars, the nebulosity a result of starlight scattering off minute grains of interstellar dust in the vicinity.
“That looks familiar,” said Mizuki. “Could you show the star cluster from the viewpoint of our home world?”
The view shifted, stars changing position and the magnification reduced. The stars dimmed until only the brightest remained. Mizuki smiled in recognition. “That is Messier 45, the Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters.”
“And you say we can find the T'aafhal there?” asked Billy Ray.
I cannot guarantee that the T'aafhal are still there. The last communication I received from any T'aafhal installation was over two hundred thousand years ago. The Paladins were supposedly on a planet around a variable star, also partially obscured by gas and dust.
“The stars in the Pleiades are quite young. They are thought to have formed around 100 million years ago, making them much younger than our sun. They figure in the mythology of many different peoples on Earth. In Greek mythology the bright stars are the daughters of Atlas and Pleione, hence the Pleiades. In Japan they are called Subaru.”
“Hey, I owned a Subaru once,” Bobby exclaimed. “So that's why it had a constellation on its logo.”
“Exactly, Bobby.” Mizuki smiled and went on with her description. “Traditionally six of the stars are visible to the naked eye while the seventh is not. The missing seventh star gave rise to stories and legends of the 'lost Pleiad'.”
“'Many a night I saw the Pleiads, rising through the mellow shade, Glitter like a swarm of fire-flies tangled in a silver braid.'” Billy Ray recited. “Alfred Lord Tennyson.”
I see you are familiar with the cluster. There is a mystery involving the presence of several white dwarfs among the large bright stars of the cluster. Solve the mystery and you will find the knowledge you seek. Find the lost Pleiads if you wish to find the T'aafhal.
“Cryptic, much?” Beth asked archly.
“The Pleiades are a long way away. The cluster lies on the ecliptic, approximately 136 parsecs—around 440 light-years—from Earth.”
“We're going to have to think about that. I wish we could contact Captain Jack and the others.”
Mizuki addressed another question at the alien intelligence. “You claim to be the protector of life in this system. You are aware that the primary star will turn into a red giant in less than one hundred thousand years?”
93,450 ± 6,200 years, yes.
“This will consume the planet that orbits the K type, killing the Fakkaa if they still exist.”
They did not exist when I was given my mission. I am only concerned with the arthropods that inhabit this planet, as they have for more than a million years.
“A million years?” Bobby interrupted. “Why haven't they evolved, why can't they save themselves?”
The “ants” as you call them, have reached a balance with their ecosystem. They need no greater technology than they currently posses. They have remained in evolutionary stasis since soon after I arrived. The only change they experience is that every few centuries the old queen dies and a new one takes her
place. Without external threats or natural catastrophes they remain as they are.
“So you keep the natives in a planetary ant farm and don't care about the other intelligent lifeform in the system because it wasn't covered by your orders? I think you criticizing us is pretty laughable given your attitude.”
That may be, but I have my purpose... and I suppose you have yours. I have uploaded my historical records to your ship's computer. They may be of some help to you on your quest for our mutual creators.
“I don't give the T'aafhal credit for creatin' us, just for nudging our ancestors in the right direction. They no more created us than we created dogs.”
As you will. In any case, given that you were able to find me so easily I need to relocate. Do not linger on your way out of the cavern. I bid you farewell, young Paladins.
The scene changed. The four humans found themselves back in the cave, encased in their armor, and staring at a blank rock wall.
Chapter 40
The Cavern
A flock of butterflies swirled around the four explorers, who stood dumfounded, staring at the rock wall in front of them. There was no astronomical display, no voice in their heads, no wall of T'aafhal hull metal behind them—just the cave and Mizuki's butterflies.
“What the hell was that all about?” asked Bobby.
“I think our audience with the artifact is over,” said Beth.
The rock beneath their feet trembled.
“That Formicidae character told us not to dawdle on our way out. You don't think its gonna do some kind of Indiana Jones number on this cave do ya?”
“I think that is exactly what the AI's final comments implied.” Mizuki looked at the others and blinked once. “We should run.”
“Oh hell yeah! And don't forget about that chasm.” Billy Ray turned and sprinted after Mizuki and Beth, who were already headed for the exit.
“Hey, wait for me,” Bobby cried and ran after them.
The others sprinted the hundred meters to the edge of the chasm and launched themselves into the air. Mizuki hit the ground on the other side without breaking stride, closely followed by Beth and Billy Ray.
Bobby's takeoff was a bit rough and his landing even more so. He hit the far wall at about waist level and slid back into the yawing pit, desperately grabbing the surface rock with his gloved hands.
“Help!” He yelled.
Both Beth and Billy Ray pulled up short. They looked at each other for a split second and raced back to the precipice. Each grabbed an arm and yanked Bobby from the lip of the crevasse, tossing him forward. In their excitement, the enhanced strength provided by their suits made the rescue excessively energetic. Bobby hit the ground, rolled to his feet and took off running. He look back at his rescuers and shouted, “Well come on, what are you waiting for?”
Obstacles carefully negotiated on the way in were crossed at break neck speed. They came to the hall with the ensnaring roots and did not slow down. There was no sign of dangling tendrils as they passed the chamber without hindrance—perhaps the ceiling dwelling predators had sensed what was coming and fled.
Ahead, Mizuki came to the first of several vertical walls and stopped. She turned and yelled to her partner. “Bobby! Lift me up.”
Bobby pulled up next to her and made a stirrup using his hands. “Step up, stand on my shoulders and lean against the rock face.”
“Hai.”
Mizuki complied. Standing on Bobby's shoulders the two could almost reach the top of the cliff. As Beth approached she immediately understood what to do—she climbed up the human ladder formed by her friends and pulled herself over the top of the cliff. Hot on her heals, Billy Ray repeated the maneuver and disappeared over the top.
An instant later he reappeared, reaching down to grasp Mizuki's upraised hands. Again powered armor made easy work of dead-lifting nearly two hundred kilos. With Mizuki safe, Billy Ray again dangled his arms over the edge of the cliff.
“Come on, pardner, time's a wastin'.”
Bobby took two steps back and made a running jump. At the apex of his leap the two friends clasped wrists and Billy Ray pulled Bobby over the top.
“Eat yer hearts out, Flying Wallendas.”
They quickly scrambled down the lose rock fall on the other side and ran after the women.
CIC, Peggy Sue
“Telemetry is back!” Shouted Betty, as her medical displays came back to life. “They are all alive, but they seem to be under significant physical stress. Elevated respiration and heart rates, I'd say they were running for their lives.”
On the large wall display the video from the recon drone showed the little robot bobbing and weaving its way through twisty passages. No sign of the four explorers.
“What the Sam Hill?” The Chief swore. “Pinnace, Peggy Sue. Come in you two knuckleheads.”
“Go, Peggy Sue.”
“Interrogative, WTFO?”
“We just got telemetry back. The recon drone showed the metal wall disappear. One minute it was there and then, bang, it was gone. Over.”
The Chief shook his head. “What about the officers? Can you see them?”
“Yeah. They were running like crazy, heading back out of the cave. I'm following them with the drone but haven't caught up with them yet.”
“Well hop to it, mister! Get that drone squared away.”
“Aye, aye, Chief. Uh, by the way, we've been getting some ground tremors.”
“Great. Get the boat ready to cast off as soon as the Captain and them arrive.”
“Affirmative. Copy that.”
The Cavern
The return trip was a mad dash through an obstacle course—up hill and down, running across broken rock, belly crawling through narrow passages, scaling cliffs. They at least had the advantage of having crossed the terrain on the way in. At the top of the mossy incline where they encountered the white worms they paused to catch their breath.
“I will never complain about running laps in the cargo hold again,” Billy Ray wheezed. Despite the four of them being in excellent physical condition they were all about winded.
“And I will never complain about wearing armor when on a surface expedition again,” said Mizuki with feeling. “I can't imagine us making such good time without it.”
“Well, dear, you were the one waxing poetic about 'caverns measureless to man'. How far have we come?”
“You really don't like that poem, do you? We just covered in twenty minutes that it took us an hour and a half to cross going in, honey bunch.”
“You better watch where you're going, remember where you been. That's the way I see it, I'm a Simple Man,” Beth recited. “Well, a simple woman.”
“Oh fer sure, yer as simple as quantum mechanics.”
“Who said that, Beth?”
“Charlie Daniels. I keep telling you, you should try listening to country music, Mizuki.”
The ground trembled. Several large rocks fell from the ceiling nearby. The recon drone went flying passed them, closely followed by Mizuki's butterflies.
“I think we'd best pick up the pace, people.”
“Right behind you, Captain.”
The Pinnace
“Hey look! There are the officers,” Hitch yelled to Jacobs. For a brief instant, four armored figures appeared on the recon drone's video feed. The drone did not stop and quickly passed by the humans. “Well, they were there. At least we know they are OK and on their way back out. Try to call 'em.”
“Right, Stevie.” Matt changed frequencies. “Captain, Pinnace. Interrogative your status, over.”
“We're on our way back to the shuttle,” the Captain panted. “Get everything powered up and ready for immediate take off.”
“Roger that, Sir. Pinnace, out.”
The whole shuttle shook. Resting in the cave mouth the deck gravity had been shut down. The only major system powered up was the forward repulsor shield, left on because gravel and rocks kept falling from the cave roof. Following the tremor, a large dar
k shape fell past the cave entrance.
“Holy shit! Did you see that?”
“See what, Stevie?”
“A humungous rock just fell past the cave opening!”
“Damn, it never rains but it pours. Let's get the shuttle powered up and ready to shove off.”
“I'm with you, Matt, the sooner we get outta here the better.”
The Cavern
They squished through the worm chamber without incident—evidently the tremors had sent the worms packing as well. In short order they were back in the large chamber festooned with stalactites and stalagmites. This time, instead of looking fanciful the pointed stone formations looked sinister, like the teeth of a giant monster ready to chew them up.
In the lead, Mizuki was the first across the stone bridge spanning the pool. As she stepped off the far side another tremor struck. The surface of the formerly placid pond was distorted by ripples, and then the natural bridge fell into the water.
“The Bridge is out!” Billy Ray yelled.
Ahead of him, Beth ran up the approach to the collapsed span and lept into the air. She sailed easily across the pond, landing lightly on the far side.
“Come on, we're almost out!” she shouted to the others.
The two men followed the First Officer's lead and jumped across the water. En passant, Billy Ray squinted at his wife and said, “show off.”
As they ran for the exit another quake shook the cavern, the strongest shock yet. Bobby, who was bringing up the rear, looked at the ceiling, just in time to see a large stalactite break loose and fall. Without thinking he jumped, tackling Beth and knocking her out of the path of the falling rock.
“Oof!” Beth said as she struck the ground.
The two officers tumbled across the uneven cavern floor. The stalactite landed a couple of meters away, shattering on impact. Stone rubble landed on the armored couple, curled up together with Bobby trying to shield Beth.
Their armor's impact resistant polymers stiffened to distribute the energy from the falling rock, leaving the pair immobilized for a few seconds. As soon as full mobility returned Bobby clambered to his feet, freeing Beth.
The Queen's Daemon (T'aafhal Legacy Book 2) Page 31