“Since we weren’t prisoners White Blossom asked how she could help us fix our ship. A sign of good faith. We needed more than we could offer and she didn’t hesitate to tell us she needed to taste metal so she could have her Behemoths refine ore since those Keptl, we found later, eat iron rich dirt and rocks and naturally refine it into their own bodies to aid digestion. Metal usually fills their excrement. It might be gross, but we spent ten years collecting and melting the iron, made steel. It took ten years because the planet didn’t have a lot of iron. I’m just glad our magnets worked or we’d need to dig. Gross.
“We were eventually brought to the hive. It was weird finding it was a semi-living creature. Kind of like a hermit crab. Hard shell outside and soft inside. Yet not slimy as I feared. It was like skin really. Dry and smooth.
“Some of the Queen’s brood were intelligent. Especially the Lisks and Dragoons. So long as they maintain contact with their Queen they don’t have the urge to eat anything with a pulse. Since we were safe in the Hive we established a home to further research on a docile insectoid species that is also deadly.
“Just when our ship was completed after ten long years we were attacked again, but this time I issued the Raptor to fight with our friends. We made good distractions and eventually got too cocky to receive a blow that we couldn’t repair. Our FTL drive as well as our Dark Matter crystal corrupted information on blueprints we needed to engineer them and our only way of communicating and returning home to reveal our discovery was ruined. We couldn’t manufacture Dark Matter and the Keptl certainly cannot refine it nor comprehend how it worked. It was beyond White Blossom’s ability. So we spent decades in the hive, starting families, enjoying real Keptl hospitality.
“After so long my second son figured a way to integrate the distress beacon directly to the ship systems. We couldn’t use long range communications as I said, but the beacon would work enough to reach out. So I decided it was time we figure a way home to let the Empire know we have a new ally, not knowing how long it would take for rescue though. And after so long, only one stasis pod was functional. I had to pull rank because our sublight engines was the only way to get away. FTL was out of the question.
“White Blossom was adamant to send protectors with me. Children she specifically bore who had the ability to maintain influence over the greatest distance she could impress, but they would keep me safe as I tried leaving such dangerous space. They had slowed metabolisms to live on as little as possible and could work the ship if there was a need to miss something we’d collide with. If attacked the Keptl crew had power aplenty to keep us out of danger. And the beacon wouldn’t activate till I was outside Keptl controlled space. They were my friends.” She wiped her cheeks. “But I can’t blame your ignorance. If you knew White Blossom like me, there would not be a dogma and you would have seen their goodness.”
“You claim she is good, but then why does the Keptl on your ship have a second brain like those in Andromeda that have showed up in just the past ten years?” Renee questioned.
“What?!” Melanie jumped to her feet. “The Feral have a second?” heads all nodded. She paced. “No, no, no, no, no… White Blossom spent fifty years developing that organ so she didn’t lose her soldiers so much. If the Feral have it in Empire space… Stars… if one Feral Queen figured it out they all know how to do it now. But how… White Blossom’s Keptl are toxic to the Feral when ingested. They couldn’t have eaten it unless…” Melanie’s head looked up. “One of White Blossom’s daughters must have been taken advantage of. True Queens aren’t connected like the Feral and it takes much Psionic strength for White Blossom to send her psyche to relay information to her children. White Blossom told us that much.”
“Could White Blossom have been killed?” Asked the Queen of Ice.
“Killed? Possibly. Taken advantage of to give knowledge of the second, healing heart? Never. I just said her brood as well as herself is poison to the Feral. My crew and our families have been aiding White Blossom to ensure it.”
“How?” one of the men asked.
“Adding armor to Goliath underbellies, arms and face. Using our knowledge in tool making to help her. She sent some Goliaths filled with Behemoths to iron rich worlds to make tons of metal each day. You would know if it was her brood. They all wear armor to battle and don’t fight like crazed demons on drugs. They fight with military tactics. It is the reason why White Blossom hasn’t been killed. She’s cunning even without her astounding power that take no less than five Feral Queens to match. Have you ever seen or fought armored Keptl?” more shook their heads.
“Have you fought alongside Keptl on the ground.”
“Not me personally, I’m a Class Two and hate violence, but my son rode on the back of a Dragoon in one skirmish. Battles happen once every ten or so years. Many of the men ride the larger Keptl. My youngest trains with Trackers when they go hunting for Beasts… he’d be a grown man by now I imagine. We learned so much from White Blossom and our friends. As they did with us.”
“And you shared knowledge willingly?” asked another male.
“Yes, but if any of you faced White Blossom you’d lose.” This oddly caused smirks. “She could have stolen our knowledge and eaten us if she was inclined. Yet she brought us into her home, cared for us, helped us be able to repair my ship…”
“If you were so important, why were you covered in five tons of shit?” Soifon wondered as she played with a strand of hair.
“We had to gut the hydroponics so my friends could fit. Especially the Dragoons Whiplash and Heavy Tail. I slept and they took care of their needs as all living creatures must. I must warn that if you threaten her, she will defend herself.” More smirks. “What am I missing? Do you honestly think any of you are a match for her let alone together?”
“Hey grandpa, why don’t you uncoil the power you wrap around yourself and see if she thinks this Queen is stronger.”
“No, Merril. I do not wish to frighten the female and I forbid any of you to do likewise. She is understandably distraught and I must attend to this revelation immediately. If there is a Queen who is considerate and a potential ally and one of so few, I must inform the Archivers and bring this White Blossom somewhere safe. She is a rare sentient species surrounded by enemies. We follow the law.”
Vikki stood. “I will go as well, Papa. As Queen of Ice, I’m responsible as arbiter and will verify data before announcing and making contact.” He held out a hand and soon as they touched they vanished.
“Whe… Where’d they go. We can teleport now?!”
“You’ve missed a lot in over two centuries, Sweetie.” Said the Queen of Wind in too thin wisps of cloth that barely covered anything. “Ma, I’m going home to ready the last ships. We’ll be ready in a week. Let me know if you find anything else juicy.”
Over the speakers Emperor Coleson’s voice said “I’ll leave matters in your capable hands, Renee. And I’m glad you came home safe. I missed that banter while you were away. Luck to you.”
The next day in a private council chamber on Jaffablin, inside a Creelin floating colony-city a decision was reached among the eldest Archivers in the known universe. The eldest living Creelin was female and much shorter than Creelin living today. Upon her breast sparkled a significant pendant that radiated light. It meant she held the highest possible rank and no other could oppose her judgments. She stared at the Solarian general and his Ice Queen daughter. Being such good friends and allies. “We’ve reached a decision, Oliver. The evidence you’ve shown us makes it a necessary vote to move immediately. Thanks to the records you shared eighteen hours ago, we tasked our Observers and have identified a Psionic Keptl signature three hundred percent larger than any in our records. Indeed we also found living Humans inside the Hive and none have been infested. And among the scans we found these Keptl have a unique enzyme that acts more like acid to the Keptl we know and deal with. This new discovery must be handled with upmost care. If we can sway this Queen to ally with us, we may fi
nd a way to eradicate them since the records point to the discovery and rescue of the Raptor Marquis being true. This means our common enemy are mere animals of their former heritage and can allow our Zeelin to slay without our laws infringing with sentient genocide.
“Queen Vikki Void, it would be prudent to send emissaries as well as your father. Bring the woman to ensure smooth deliberations as she has a connection. We cannot Allow the swarm to remain so vicious if we have proof they aren’t truly worth saving and able to join the collective. Contact this council when you’ve gained this White Blossom’s trust so our people can let her know we too wish to learn from her and will openly allow her into our hall. Also ask if she is willing for relocation. We would certainly be willing to send her world into our space so she can make more Queens in safety and be able to flourish. And be sure to ask if she has any qualms about razing the Feral Keptl.”
“With your Observers, have you discovered her age?” Vikki asked before the meeting disbanded.
“Indeed we have and it was exceptionally difficult. The Queen is over nine hundred million years old, using the Terran calendar. We’ve never encountered such an ancient creature. And I’m only a hundred and ninety million. It is not often I feel like a babe, yet I am next to her. I would like to have an alliance started before our greatest weapons are sent to the rally point in six days for the opening. Make haste, Solarians.” It ended.
Twenty hours afterwards three large battleships appeared in a new solar system. Two were brown battleships of Terra and the third was white of Ice.
Aboard the Ice allied ship the queen of it connected to its systems through her neural chip and sent a multitude of signals. “This is Vikki Void of the Empire. Does anyone read me?”
The radio inside the hive blasted her voice, scaring everyone out of a sound sleep. The Hunter grinned and ran to the radio and pressed the transmitter “Loud and Clear!” he couldn’t hide his laugh. “It’s been so long since we heard from anyone…” he kept talking.
White Blossom sensed several massive Psionic powers that rivaled her own and immediately summoned her Goliaths to rise from the oceans and let her prepare defenses.
“Goliath signatures detected.” A person on the bridge informed and on the screen it showed fifty Goliaths encased in full armor covered in ice as water froze in space. They were clearly designed to fortify weaknesses and reinforce its claws. The Goliaths moved quickly considering their size and surrounded the world of water with five continents. Yet when they got into position the massive creature opened their claws and surrounded the whole world with a kinetic barrier.
“All ships hold position.” Vikki ordered and the three battleships came to a stop.
“Never seen them do that before.” Someone said.
“Yeah, they always attack when they know fresh meat is close.” Another replied.
“Silence!” Vikki said coolly and the edge made it sound as if she shouted. Even the voice on the radio quit gushing about being rescued. “Melanie, make contact if you know who that is on the other end.”
The blonde grinned. “Garrak, it’s me. How are my boys?!”
“Still a pain in my ass.” The voice chuckled. “Damn it’s great to hear your voice, girl. We all missed you. Especially White Blossom… Ah, speak of the Keptl. She’s just come in. White Blossom, it’s Melanie. She made it.”
“But my young did not.” Said a strange voice. “Melanie, is that really you, Dear One?”
“Yes… and I’m so sorry. I didn’t want them to die.”
“It was a risk we both knew may have happened. I’m glad you found your people, but there are two near you that are far beyond my power and I know one I think. Is it a large male with glowing yellow eyes. Is it Mantiv?”
Oliver’s head snapped at that. He had been blocking a seeking mind from the planet surface. Vikki as well as everyone went deathly still. “Do we know each other?”
“Mantiv! It is you! I’d recognize that voice and power anywhere. Please find me. I miss my friend… especially after what happened to Reten. Then you live! Oh wondrous news. You beat the Invaders. Come and find me. Come. Come.” On the screen all the Goliaths undid the planetary barrier. Then they spread out some more and one of the larger space-crabs waved its claw as if gesturing to come right in.
Silence after that was palpable till the bridge’s teleporter activated and Renee came running through “I heard her call your name, Olly. She knows you. Did she touch your thoughts?” Sparky following seconds behind.
“Not even remotely. Vikki, take us down. Leave Isabella’s escort remain in orbit. No one comes or goes without my authorization.”
“You heard my father.”
The Solarian style battleship came down for reentry and landed beside a massive Hive that was even bigger than the Raptor Marquis’ recordings made it seem. The ship landed on the ocean and created large waves, but a massive power was detected flying as fast as possible and landed on the nose of the ship all alone bouncing in excitement before running up to the deck window, floated and cupped hands over its eyes under the bright sunlight trying to sneak a peek inside. When the rather alluring and obvious Keptl Queen found him she waved as if this was the best day of her life.
Talk about weird.
Before anyone could stop her, White Blossom sent a fraction of power to rip the screen off the bridge and landed to yell “Mantiv! My Friend!” opened her arms and paused as she blinked at the redhead at his side. “Reten? How are you… you died. I saw you die. The invaders ripped you apart and sent Mantiv insane. You died saving me. Dammit, I’m dreaming again. My sleep must have taken me again too close to my nodes…” White Blossom collapsed to her large abdomen.
“Er… White Blossom right?” Renee tentatively said. “This isn’t a dream. And I’m not Reten. I’m Renee.”
“A dream would say it’s not a dream and mine are always so vivid.” The Keptl Queen rolled her eyes and acted very much like a distraught human.
“Then Read me. I can sense I’m stronger than you, but if you try to seize my mind I’ll tear you apart before Olly, Sparky and the Ligers get a chance.”
White Blossom blinked, confusion marring her alien features. “Ligers?” Renee pointed to the hulking felines. “Oh, you mean the Zeramndillieq villip? You and I created them together, Reten. Surely you haven’t forgotten? You and I worked many cycles trying to bond those powerful Beasts to act like my swarm. You know, always make a king or queen to control the others…”
“You’re full of knowledge aren’t you. Now Read me so you know I’m not screwing with you.”
White Blossom’s large jaw dropped as she entered Renee’s complex mind and carefully focused on memories of the past. Nobody moved for some time. “You certainly aren’t Reten… But Mantiv…” Glowing silver eyes met topaz. “I mean Oliver… you are so similar… no wonder why they stripped your memories. When Reten died you destroyed four solar systems before your brother and daughters sent word they finally subdued you and put you to sleep. I’m so sorry, but you warned me to tell you this and I’m glad you found me before opening the gateway.”
“What? What do you mean?” He was confused and knuckled his cutlass till it hurt.
“You can’t open it. Destroy the gateway. Destroy it right now!” She was clearly frightened. “You can’t open it. It was the only way to keep the Invaders from killing everything in this universe. You told me just before they found us and killed Reten that you both would stay behind and asleep for no more than five thousand years the humans I have in my home use to tell time. You made a chemical program your brother would use to awaken you and Reten to open the hole when they succeeded… you said many confusing things, but I remember you made it a hole in space big enough to make a stand against the Invaders. Your people were all to go and lure the Invaders out of our time and space… ummm, and your brother would wake you when every last invader was killed.
“You said if you ever forget, to tell you if more than five thousand years pass to
never open the gateway. It means your brother and people are all to be considered dead and if they could not find a way to kill them then to keep everything shut. Not even you, in your astounding mentality could find a way to kill the Invaders permanently. They kept coming back alive and killing countless.
“You and Reten stopped by to tell me you and she were going to take a long sleep, but one Invader was attached to your flying machine and was going to kill me, but Reten saved me, sacrificing herself…” fat tears spilled down White Blossom’s cheeks. “When she died you barely sent me here in time before you destroyed everything, but I’ll never forget you telling me to keep my word and to stop you if I had to, to keep the gateway closed. It’s been far too long and that means the invaders are still very much alive.” A clawed hand pointed to Renee. “Her memory showed me it was her fault you awoke in a birthing chamber where you’ve slept more than twenty five thousand years. Her puncturing the chamber broke the membrane and activated the waking procedure. Forget your people, they are gone, My Friend, and the Creelin weapon Renee has in her memory will not be enough. If you could not find a way to kill a single Invader, they never will find a way. Opening the gateway will doom me and everyone else. They lie to you.”
“Finally some answers!” Renee nodded to herself.
“Speak no more!” a familiar male Archiver appeared in a bright flash.
“You have no power over me.” White Blossom stood and her features became fearsome as any Queen. “Mantiv is my friend. I will tell him all I know because friends share without holding back. And you cannot stop me. I will speak to the Creelin later. It is past time we met anyway. Now I’m with an old friend who forgot about me and I need to rectify his ignorance before you fools kill us all by letting him do what you too know best be sealed forever.”
“Is White Blossom telling the truth Archiver Tammat?” Oliver assumed his battle suit form and stepped between the two powerhouses squaring off. “Are these Invaders so powerful they cannot be killed?” the Creelin seemed to be at war deciding how to answer. “Silence speaks volumes. You were going to let me open it and damn the consequences without giving me full access to the potential danger. Well if she is speaking a trillionth of a percent telling me the truth then it is too late for my people.” He tapped behind his ear. “Call Jake Dorgen.” It beeped and before a greetings could come from the captain Oliver ordered “Captain, get the hell away from the gate. I’m blowing it up immediately. New information has come to light that the Creelin neglected to inform me about.”
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