Chapter 1

“Welcome to my office,” said the Empress Alana smiling and waving them in, “you acquitted yourselves well, and contributed to ending the intergalactic war.”

“Welcome back, Razza, from your first family into the bosom of your second. I had my hopes you would save your family, but I did not think for a single-second there was a plan to return the Emperor to Merpakt. That plan was inspirational. Jason tells me you enjoyed your vacation and are rested. I was sorry to hear Julia was shot and is having a reconstruction. She needs to face a daunting rehabilitation! I see you are well after your ordeal. I forgot to breathe watching the holo-video you sent me Jason, of the rescue of the Coven Royals. Razza, your powers grew!

“I heard Cyril tried to kill Jason and your father, Razza. Crystals with an embedded AI that takes control; is a clever, but frightening idea. Brecht Chatzke the Prime Minister of the Collective told Cassius the manufacture of the AI is by those awful slug/jellyfish creatures who skulk in the background. I contacted your grandfather, Emperor Ergol, to ask Coven intelligence how they got the crystals. Coven intelligence received the crystals through an intermediary. The Coven refer to those creatures as the Grork/Schlogg. At long last we were given a name. He told me the Grork are being rejected by the slugs; the Schlogg. Schlogg is an excellent name for a slug! He told me the Schlogg are sentient and want their independence.

“I find your grandfather a delight to speak with, Razza, I enjoy talking with him and appreciate his charming old-world style. We look forward to our visit to Merpakt.

“You all have done outstanding work. Cassius will give you medals later today. You will be granted your degrees and your achievements will be recognized at the end of the academic year. We continue to find and arrest infiltrators as a result of all your work. Many have sought asylum or we find they have returned to the Coven.

“I am overhauling the University. We will add Coven and Collective content and methods. I intend to start the new curriculum at the start of next year. I will brook no opposition and it will be messy,” said Alana and laughed.

“Brecht and I wanted to send both groups someplace safe where you can learn something new and unique and find a challenging project for you. What task could we find to help you grow? I think we came up with a plan. Prof. Nora DeBeer, professor and Dean of anthropology comes from an ancient people and came up with an interesting proposal. Her proposal satisfies our requirements and will equip you with a new set of skills and will keep you safe and away from our enemies.

“Nora is here,” said Alana, Jason’s aunt, seconds before the secretary brought her through. “Welcome Nora, I was just talking to them of your offer a minute ago. Can you explain what you offer them?” she asked, as she welcomed Prof. Nora into the room.

“Greetings Jason and I am pleased to meet both university groups. I saw your rescue of the Royals from the Coven. Alana briefed me on your dangerous project and your intelligence coup. Jason, you never cease to surprise me! You acquired impressive friends. I will enjoy helping you.” Said Nora, before turning to the others.

“Alana told me of the enemies we are facing and her intention to prepare Jason’s friends for the future. Your work is outstanding. You mastered the martial arts of the Empire, Coven and Collective. I told Jason a little about my people, but I promised more at the right time.

“My people, the Azayal will offer both a challenge and an opportunity. We are much older than the Collective and can trace our history back two and a half million years. The actual history of the Azayal goes back much further, but we fought each other back to the Stone Age on six occasions. We were slow to learn how to cooperate, since we were a species of independent humanoid felines who hunted alone. Our people damaged our original core planet so badly, that it was becoming uninhabitable. We were forced to learn how to work together and explore space and developed our education and healthcare beyond the Coven and the Collective.

“The Azayal are a warlike people of Feline origin but have also become an academic and scientific people who can travel with ease between universes. I will give you an example of what I am saying.

“Our scientists moved our entire core planet and its solar system. Then moved our other solar systems as well one by one closer together and hid our planets between universes in an unpopulated sub-universe. We believe no one else knows where we live and hope our bitter enemies will not find us.

“You will live in a very different society and will form valuable friendships. You will learn advanced humanoid techniques of fighting. We will also give you the opportunity to extend your knowledge and you will be able to develop your powers further. Jason, I hope you encourage my father to be one of your followers and allies,” explained Nora.

Alana added. “There is another little piece that may be worth some thought; if you set up a good relationship with your professors, you may help the Una or offer their expertise to do so. Your friends will take time, even with your mathematics, to return their people. Nora has given you more than enough information upon which you can base your decisions. However, please ask her any questions you may have.”

“Professor, may I ask why you moved from such an advanced society to this one?” Trackrof asked.

“We are alone in our little sub-universe. I had felt claustrophobic on my planet. My father is the king and I find him insufferable. My mother and I get along, but my father tries to interfere with what I do. He is a controlling and manipulative person. Only one of my brothers and one sister are pleasant to visit. I trained as an anthropologist and our anthropologists go to other universes for experience. The palace is big and I now obtained employment elsewhere, so he can’t interfere with me that much. My career and life are now on track,” explained Nora.

“Prof. DeBeer how will we pay for this and where will we live?” Sergei asked.

“Money will not be a problem. Students do not pay for education including foreign students. You will stay with me in the palace; there is a guest wing and you can attend university on Merka, the capital at no cost. The palace is seconds away from the university by portal. I own property in Merka and if we can’t stand the palace, we will move,” Nora answered.

“There is another benefit if you go there to study. Travel to the sub-universe stops time in the Empire and starts again when you come back. I return on the day I left. The universes synchronize every million years. If you are interested, I shall leave in a week. Discuss it, take another week’s vacation and let your aunt know. I need no prior warning if you decide to join me. Jason has seen my shuttle, I can take all of you. We travel for an hour to reach the ideal entry position. We shift universes, and then there is another hour of travel before we reach the planet, Remza. Ten minutes later we are above the palace in Merka. The academic term was due to start in a week at the time I left, so you will enjoy another week of vacation there. That way I can show you the planet.

“I hope the king will be on his best behavior as you are visitors. In any event, we won’t need to spend much time with my father and his awful son through his mistress. You should spend at least one academic year there. It should be plenty to give you a unique, once in a million years, experience and I hope you take up this offer of a unique opportunity,” Nora added.

“Well people; that is as much as I can say. As you have no more questions, I will bid you farewell.” Nora finished and she and Alana went off together.

“First, I will go to Charassa tomorrow, to fetch Julia. She has worked hard for six agonizing days and has finished her rehabilitation. Then I plan to take her for a vacation to a resort on Porquenta. We can ask Porquenta to tell us about the Azayal and find out if he can offer us useful training. Who wants to join me?” Jason asked.

“Razza, can you lead a discussion on the Azayal choice, this afternoon? We can discuss your views of the invitation to go to Merka and decide who wants to go with me to Charassa and then Porquenta.”

“Let’s eat lunch at that new restaurant where you use funny thin little sticks, while we have our discussion,” said Razza.

The groups walked to the restaurant, chatting with each other and laughing. The restaurant advertised they were an Asian fusion restaurant, and it was part of a new franchise. Jason smiled when he recognized a picture of Robert, his friend the chef, on the hologram menu.

“Why are you smiling?” Razza asked Jason.

“I’m smiling because the food is my favorite from Earth, and I am a partner in this chain of restaurants!”

“As you say Jason, heavens above and dogs below!” Razza said laughing.

“Can you tell me why they eat with those funny little sticks?” Adrianna Xavier asked.

Jason looked at her and nodded and frowned before replying.

“They were a very dangerous people, and no one trusted another with a sharp knife. They didn’t even allow them to use metal cutlery of any kind, so they gave them little wooden sticks which they made blunt,” said Jason with a poker face.

“Jason you are so full of it!” Said Trackrof. “Absolute rubbish! Razza let us get the discussion underway before we wallow in a morass of garbage when Jason relaxes, he talks drivel!”

“Please tell me your views on the professor’s proposal to spend time with the Azayal,” requested Razza.

“I vote to go! I enjoyed the special training we had before the Coven mission and the Intelligence education before that. We could learn more awesome mathematics, physics and electronics. However, I instinctively feel our expedition will not be easy or safe. There is a hidden agenda,” said Amelia DiMaggio.

“What do we know?” Razza asked.

“The palace environment may be awkward and complicated. The professor left for a reason. The Azayal may be parochial and will not welcome us. They may see as primitive and ugly,” said Mandy Fritzell from Jason’s university group.

“Speak for yourself,” said Stinger Murphy laughing. Most grinned at each other.

Julia looked at the others. “The professor said they are of feline origin. If they are a feline species, will we be able to cope with their speed? Do they use teeth and claws? How will we cope? I do not want to be disadvantaged. I know Jason will draw trouble that will scare the living daylights out of us. I experienced terror more than once but each time I learned an incredible amount from the adventures!”

Amelia Di Maggio also Jason’s university group continued. “I know if we can survive, we will come out stronger. My family’s philosophy has always been to take an educated guess at the risks and if the return is worth it, take a bigger risk. I don’t think we can take an educated series of guesses but I suspect the professor has solutions to the problems I identified. I am reassured she has goodwill towards us.”

Amelia leaned back in her chair.

“We were effective and inspired when we worked together and fought in that command vehicle. I felt competent, and I felt I was doing something worthwhile. We worked together as they taught us on a dangerous rescue,” said Sergio Paz from Razza’s group. “I am a better person after going along on Jason’s misadventures. Both groups achieved incredible and worthwhile objectives. Our team helped to clean up human trafficking, we rescued prisoners from pirates and produced computer programs that led to the capture of infiltrators my enemies into my adopted home in the Empire. The larger group helped shorten an intergalactic war by rescuing Razza’s family. If I died tomorrow, I will know I did something worthwhile. I gained more experience in half a year than all the years before. Just meeting Porquenta and Nuswa has been astounding. Spending time with Royal families after doing amazing things has been fantastic.”

Many nodded in support of him.

“Far be it from me to be a stick in the mud, but I hanker for a relaxing year. I am considering taking Emperor Ergol up on his offer to go to university in the capital. Time with cockroach babes and the high spots of the capital are visions I see. Those that meet me will worship me as a hero because I knew the bloated cockroach, sorry enlarged cockroach,” said Heinrich Harold from Razza’s group. “I am a Cockroach, and I think often of my family who I barely know. I can explore explore my origins and my instincts!”

“Yes, Marsin, we all know your instincts are guided by your small head. Stop fooling around! We are in the middle of a war. This is not a time to gaze at your navel and chase cockroach babes,” said Razza. “You are in any case wasting your time. You may well fall in love with an Azayal cat woman. She will hold you in check ... with her long sharp nails.”

Razza grinned and then bowed towards the groups as they laughed and applauded; flapping their arms.

“You are talking of a mythical state, Nirvana as a zombie. You spent time with your family on Merpakt. It will bore you in a week. I can’t see you as a playboy. You are an idiot. Do you want to be as empty as a Ghoul husk? We are young and doing great things with wonderful beings. Should I say spoken like a husk?” Marsin Zinduski looked at Heinrich quizzically.

“An easy life has an appeal. I’d love to spend time with my family, since I spent so little time with them. Jason has spoken more with my grandfather than me, even including the time I chatted with him over the years. But we’re not going to lose any time with our family, if we go. We should all consider other priorities and values and balance immediate gratification against what we will learn,” said Razza. “Come back and spend time with your families before we find something else worthwhile to do.”

“I love mathematics physics and electronics and I relish the opportunity afforded to us. Maybe we can get the king to help us bring the Una back? Could we find a great weapon to help in the war? Also, we are at high risk of attack by both the Ghouls and Grork while in this Universe because of our high profile. I will have claws and sharp teeth to help defend myself on my return. A few nasties hidden in my fingertips will help,” said Razza smiling.

“Any other views against the proposal?” Razza asked.

“I assume before we decide, Jason you need to go along with Razza to chat with our professor. We cannot afford to be at a disadvantage against a race, adapted to inflict harm upon others. What could they do to give us an equal chance? We need to find our if they have superior crystals or AIs we will need to acquire? The professor believes they have superior techniques and abilities. Can she assure us we can become equals with our Azayal peers? They associate little with other races from what the prof said, they are in their own little sub-universe,” said Dominique Delouf. “How will they accept us?”

“Does anybody else, other than zombie Playboy on my left, wish to express any negative view? I believe everyone goes or no-one goes.” said Razza pointing at Heinrich, then moved her finger to point at everyone.

The groups agreed that it was important to establish the salient facts and sent Razza and Jason to see Nora later that afternoon.

“That is a fascinating and important set of questions, thank you for forwarding them before your appointment.

“If the Azayal injure you fighting, they will treat you. The health technology is extraordinary and better than the Collective. We repair injuries overnight. Catastrophic injuries take a little longer. In martial arts, we injure each other, but we will not use killing blows. Azayal have extendable claws and sharp teeth that lengthen when fighting. We will give you the same and you will fight on even terms. The hospital will set you up the day after we fly in. Our first week is free time for organizing you and visit the planet. I will give you learning cubes and brains. We will decide on crystals when we are there. We can teach a physical skill overnight and can incorporate years of practice. We will teach you to be proficient in our martial arts in a week. Then you have to practice. The educational material and training takes you to an advanced level as if you have practiced the techniques for a long time. Natural athletes will leap ahead. I suspect you will go a long way before you even start university,” said the professor.