by T. R. Harris
“Your companion is dead,” Garus announced when he and the others entered the cargo hold. The Gracilian was hiding somewhere in the stacks of crates, undoubtedly trembling from fear, expecting he would be next. “Show yourself. We will not harm you. At the moment, your utility to us is unknown, but we prefer to keep a servant around for when needs arise. Will you be our servant?”
The alien slipped out from between the crates.
“Yes! Yes, I will be your servant!” the creature cried out. “I will do anything you ask. It was Solon’s idea completely, Solon’s and the mutant Lila. I was not complicit.”
“We know that. Now attend us. We wish to speak with the mutants.”
The three Masters approached the shimmering screen.
“There is much data regarding the two of you in what’s called the Formilian Library. It tells a fascinating tale which we find almost unbelievable.”
“You cannot believe everything you read,” the being Lila replied.
Garus looked at the other creature, the grey mutant that was even shorter than the Luz. He frowned.
“Observing what we do now, I tend to believe you, Lila Bol. It is said that the mutant known as Panur is immortal and that it has been five thousand years since his creation. He is said to be even more powerful than you. However, look at him now. What is wrong with him? He appears to be in the throes of death.”
“You just caught him at a bad time. This is only temporary.”
“A molting perhaps?”
“That will suffice. Now, you are the Luz, and I would assume the three referred to as the Masters. Apparently, a confluence of quantum beams freed you from the prison Nunki placed you within. What are your intentions now that you are free?”
Garus looked at his companions, startled.
“You are remarkably well-informed. How could you possibly know what you know? Indeed, I shall say what has been written about you appears to be true.”
The female now glared at Garus with an intensity that caused her eyes to glow white. “Then you know that of which I am capable. I know you came for the Formation, not for us. Free us now, and we will come to an accommodation. Otherwise, you will have to face my wrath.”
This is delightful, Garus thought to the others. See how she attempts to intimidate us with the glowing eyes.
If she is what the reports say she is, then Lila Bol could be of value, Docem thought.
This would be true if we intended to use the Formation in the traditional manner, Panof thought. But for our purposes, a biologic is not necessary.
Observe! Docem exclaimed. Does it appear that the female can hear our thoughts?
Garus suspected the same thing. There was a tell-tale shift in her glowing eyes toward the Master who was communicating, along with other subtle facial twitches observed, especially when Docem made his statement of discovery.
You can hear us. Garus stated.
I can hear you.
Truly amazing. You not only can communicate with us telepathically without an implant, but you can further decipher our thoughts into a language you can understand.
I understand all languages.
But not Luz; how could you? It has been a dead language for three billion years.
Mental visualizations help with the translation. The rest was simple extrapolation.
Yet it is something even we cannot do.
Which brings me back to my original point: I am much more powerful than you. Your only chance for survival is to set free my companion and me.
Garus smiled. “And yet you remain held in suspension by the anchors.” He spoke aloud, preferring now to hear his words of defiance echo off the metal walls. “If you are so powerful, then free yourself. If you can do that, then we will submit.”
The mutant remained silent.
“I thought so. Now, let us dispense with this bombast. Our goal is not to hold you and your companion, but rather the return of our property. If you are so well informed, you know it was the Luz who first discovered the Formation. The Aris stole it from us and then used it to create life in this Epoch. I congratulate Nunki; I did not think his project would succeed. But looking at you now, the organism the Library database refers to as The Apex Being, you are the culmination of his Epoch-long experiment. However, the fact that you are here tells me Nunki failed to assimilate you as much as he failed to assimilate the Masters. So, in the end, Nunki’s project was a failure. And yet the Masters survive.
“And now we need information. As I said before, we do not want you or the creature Panur—whose history is even more intriguing than yours. And we do not need your immortality. All we want is the Formation. I ask you, will your companions trade your freedom for the device, or shall we use more direct—and violent—measures?”
“I believe they will trade.”
“That is good to hear. Now a second question: Will you and your companions leave us alone should this transfer take place, or will you attempt to reacquire the device?”
“I believe you already know the answer to that question.”
“I had to ask.”
Garus looked to the others. Then let us make arrangements, he thought telepathically. And we should make haste. Regardless of what you say, Lila Bol, your friend does not look healthy. The Masters are not cruel creatures, only driven. Now, give us the contacts so arrangements can be made.
CHAPTER 3
ADAM’S COMMUNICATOR CHIMED; he had it with him day and night and answered it before the second beep.
“Father.”
Adam stared at the tiny image on the screen, his heart racing with joy. “Lila! Are you okay?” Although she was immortal, he still worried about her, and with the Luz knowing how to insert someone into a quantum prison, there was always the chance he could lose her forever. He’d already lost one daughter; he didn’t want to lose another.
“Of course, father. I am calling to give you instructions for the exchange. I assume you have been expecting such a link.”
Adam was in the laboratory; he now waved an arm frantically to get everyone’s attention. They came running. Using his ATD, he linked the image to the large monitor on the wall. Lila was standing in the middle of a dimly-lit room with crates lining the bulkhead, the cargo hold of the freighter. She was enclosed in a shimmering blue ball of soft light—the Lerpiniere Field—while being suspended a few inches above the deck by an invisible quantum anchor. She was alert and healthy, as he expected. But next to her and hanging limp in the air, was the unconscious figure of Panur.
“Yes, we’ve been expecting the link. I’m glad it’s come this soon. How far are you from Navarus? How is Panur?”
“We are not far, although I am unable to disclose the exact location until the proper time. As for Panur, he is resting, conserving his energy. Now, about the transfer of the Formation in exchange for our freedom.”
“Yeah, about that. We’re going to need your help getting the disks. We can’t get past your security measures.”
“I reasoned as much. The features were designed to be impenetrable, although a password will disengage the Lerpiniere field and other measures to gain access to the vault.”
“What’s the password?”
“CASSIE.”
Adam gasped when he heard the word. So did Sherri and Riyad, although none of the others understood the significance.
“That’s amazing, Lila. Thanks.”
“She was my half-sister; she is due proper respect.”
Summer/J’nae was at a computer with the security file already open. For the past two days, the immortal genius had been trying every combination she could to break the code. She would never have thought of Adam’s long-deceased daughter, Cassie. Now, she plugged in the letters, and the screen opened up. There were six layers of security; even so, thirty seconds later, the chamber four stories below them was now accessible. Earlier, the team discovered a video feed to the room, showing that the Formation skeleton was still assembled; however, the disks had been removed.<
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“The disks are in a separate safe within the room,” Lila said. “You will need another code for access.”
“Let me guess … Maria?” Adam said. Maria was the name of his late wife and Cassie’s mother. Both had died during the first alien attack on Earth by the Juireans over thirty years earlier.
“Very close, father, but incorrect. It is DAVID.”
“That was my second choice.” David was Adam’s father, the former Navy Master Chief who still lived in Northern California.
With the codes revealed, Riyad and Monty set off for the elevator and the subterranean vault.
“Okay, now what?”
“The Masters inform me that all they want is the return of their property. In their reality, the disks were taken from them only a few days ago. The feeling of loss and betrayal is still strong. I assume you have had J’nae studying our research for more information on the Luz. You know the trio holding us are the Luz Masters, the immortals in the race. Direct action against them would be futile and a waste of time. I propose we make the trade without incident.”
“No problem,” Adam said. “All we want is to get you and Panur back here safely and as soon as possible.”
The video image shifted, spinning away from Lila to center on the head and upper torso of another creature. Adam recognized him immediately as an Aris—or correction—a Luz which had sprung from the Aris’ early immortality experiments. The being was pale-skinned, slender and almost sickly looking. Knowing what he knew of the Aris, the Luz would be about five feet tall. He was dressed in a filthy pale yellow robe. Someone else was operating the camera.
“I am called Garus. I am the First Master the Luz produced with the Formation, and therefore, the default leader of what is left of my race.”
“I’m Adam Cain—”
“Yes, I know who you are.” The alien scanned the other faces looking up at the wall-mounted camera in the mutant’s laboratory. “And this is your team, your companions who have helped generate hundreds of fantastic tales found in the Formilian Library? Such a small group of individuals for the impact they have had on a galaxy.”
“We do what we can to keep the masses entertained,” Adam said snidely.
“I also understand you are the father of Nunki’s Apex Being, Lila Bol. Imagine my shock when I discovered who we abducted.”
Adam tensed. Was he going to insist on keeping Lila for her genetic material? Wolfgang Stimmel tried that when he controlled the Formation. But these Luz were already immortal; however, would they want all the new Luz they produce with the Formation to be immortal as well?
“Both Lila and Panur are returned, or you get nothing.”
Garus looked confused. “Of course; that is the understanding. I only mention the Apex Being because I speculate how the pairing came about that produced her. I find it fascinating, and wonder how that came to be?”
“I don’t know how the Luz do it, but we call it knocking pooch, or rumpty dumpty, bone surfing, bumping uglies or plain old doing the nasty.”
The blank look on the face of the three-billion-year-old immortal alien was priceless, and the reaction Adam was going for. “But that doesn’t matter. It happened. Now, let’s get down to business. You want the Formation, and we want the mutants. Where do you want us to deliver the disks?”
Appearing relieved, Garus gathered his thoughts. “Very well. I had hoped to learn more about the Humans—one of the pivotal races in the Epoch Nunki and the Aris built—but I see that will be impossible until we develop conversation parameters. As it stands, there is too much useless banter and an emphasis on humor.” The Luz Master grinned.
Adam was surprised by the expression but accepted that the Luz had not inherited the Aris complete lack of emotion, at least as it pertained to the Privileged. The Technicians were another matter; while they survived, they had more emotion than they could handle. Witness the Mad Aris Kracion and the temper tantrum he threw against the Milky Way.
Garus sighed. “For specifics: There is an asteroid cluster in the Dinis star system. A planetoid within the cluster is designated CD-126868 in the star charts. It will be easy to find. Come to that location. And we require more than just the Formation before the mutants will be released.”
“What is it?”
“A new starship; a faster starship. I understand there are vessels powered by so-called dark matter. Provide such a craft, along with the disks and your people will be released. You come alone. Land at the beacon that will guide you in. The transfer will take place there.”
“And then what? You take the ship and leave me—”
“Yes, to be recovered by the other vessels you will undoubtedly have in the area, and do so before your air supply runs out. But let me detail more of the rules you must abide by. You will not follow or track the dark-matter vessel. We will be allowed to leave. And be assured, we can detect any tracking device placed on the spacecraft. There will be a shelter erected on the planetoid. There you will find the mutants and will make the exchange. However, to assure your compliance, a quantity of explosives will be placed under the shelter. Should you attempt to stop us from leaving or track our departure, we will detonate the explosives. Once we have left the system, you can bring in your ships for recovery. But do not delay. You will be allowed only one tank of air.”
“Understood. All we want is Lila and Panur.”
“And all we want is the Formation, as well as a more appropriate ship than this cargo freighter. How much time will you need to acquire the dark energy starship and reach the Dinis system?”
“We have dark matter ships here on Navarus. In a ship like that, we can get to Dinis sooner than by conventional travel. I can be on station in about—” he looked at J’nae, who had already done the calculations in her head.
“You can be on-site in seventeen hours,” she said to the room.
“That is acceptable. Arrangements can be made on our end in that time. And Adam Cain, the timeline you have offered is now firm. There will be no delays, no early arrivals, and no stray vessels casually arriving in the asteroid field beforehand. You have seventeen hours from now.”
The screen went blank as the link was severed.
Adam didn’t waste time. Almost before the image of Garus faded on the screen, he was on a link with General Todd Oakes, commander of the Human Garrison on Navarus. He had three of the Gracilian-designed DM ships at his small annex on the Enforcer base, part of the research carried on by Earth into using dark matter as a power source for more starships. Adam crossed his fingers that at least one of them would be operational; scientists had a nasty habit of tearing things apart to see how they work. Reassembly was another issue.
Riyad and Monty bolted out of the elevator a moment later carrying eight small cases, each about three inches thick by eight long. They appeared to be made of wood, but Adam knew better. They were made of an exotic material that had never been identified, material that had survived for over ten billion years, from the time of the First Epoch. They protected the thin wafer disks that, when combined, created the Formation. Or many Formations. That was the wonder of the device. There were eighty disks, and depending on how they were stacked, a different biological substance would emerge at the end of the filtration process. And that was what the disks were—filters—but more. They not only distilled organic material but altered it as well, depending on the stack created. Adam had absolutely no idea how any of that worked; that was what he had immortal mutant geniuses around for. And now, this mysterious and powerful device would be turned over to another three immortals. Adam desperately hoped that his immortals were better than the Luz immortals; otherwise, the future of the Milky Way could become a murky mess.
He snickered. So, what’s new? he thought. Just another friggin’ day in paradise…
CHAPTER 4
ADAM PILOTED the DM ship to the Dinis star system as another ten Enforcer vessels trailed behind, one of them carrying Summer/J’nae, ready for an emergency mind-meld the mome
nt they could get Panur aboard. Adam wasn’t messing around, not this time. Heroics would come later. All he wanted to do was get Lila and save Panur.
The DM ship made good time and arrived within minutes of the deadline. Adam had the coordinates of CD-126868 programmed into the nav computer, and he was taken right to it. The asteroid was a typical nickel-iron rock about one hundred eighty miles long and seventy wide, performing a slow roll on its multi-year journey around the star Dinis. The surface was a uniform grey, except for a tiny dot where a homing beacon was active, guiding him in.
A small survival dome had been erected—standard issue aboard most starships, including freighters. A generator was outside the habitat, powering equipment inside.
The DM ship landed nearby, and Adam was out the airlock before the dust settled back to the surface, drawn in by the asteroid's micro-gravity. He was encased in a military-grade pressure suit with an air supply regulated for four hours. Tiny air jets in the suit's shoulders kept him anchored to the surface as he made his way to the shelter fifty feet away. A satchel attached to a utility belt held the eight containers with the Formation disks.
A fine powdery surface marked his boot prints as he made the trek to the shelter. Other tracks surrounded the structure, left there by those who constructed the dome only hours before. And somewhere beneath the shelter was a supply of high-explosives. Adam didn’t doubt the word of the alien. It made sense that they would do something like this. He had to trust they wouldn’t detonate the bomb after getting the disks. They had no reason to do so.
The dome had an airlock, and it was active, showing an atmosphere inside the structure. If that were the case, then what was all the talk about his air supply running out? Honestly, he hadn’t been counting on the dome being pressurized, not since he was the only person present that required life-support. He cycled through and entered the open interior.
A small equipment cluster was set to the left, generating the various electronic signals that held the two mutants suspended in the center of the circular space, defined by the shimmering blue ball of the Lerpiniere field, which was used to insulate the pair from outside interference. An L-field worked by phase-shifting the space inside the sphere slightly out of sync with the existing dimension. Although it appeared to be in this universe, it wasn’t, not entirely. This kept electronics such as flash bolts and teleportation beams from making the transition. Quantum anchors didn’t have that problem. They could work anywhere and in any time.