Chapter 24: The Dai arrived

The Space Train terminal was located on the very apex of the truly gigantic station known as Sares Hub. Roy, while he started to become a seasoned traveler, still found places like this overwhelming. There was so much activity, this was by far the busiest place he had been so far.

He had to admit he was glad Tanya was with him. She was not intimidated and seemed to know where to go.

While he traveled with Cara, who also always seemed to know where to go and what to do, it was different with her. Tanya always wanted to know his opinion, and never for a moment forgot Partner. This was perhaps one of the biggest reasons he had fallen in love with her. While she was not psionically connected to the big beast, Roy knew his four-legged friend liked her a lot.

They had reached an immense hall like place, with the usual white smooth surface, the ever-present islands of greenery. By now he knew that the grass and the trees were completely inert but to him even this more artificial than a real nod to nature and living things were better than the sterile, void of anything corridors he had seen while he was at Harper’s Junction. There were the usual shops and restaurants.

Tanya pointed to an area with tables and chairs. “We have an hour before the next train arrives to take us Galactic West.”

“How do you know that?”

“She tapped on her wrist-com. I am not a full Data Head, I hate having hardware wired to my brain, but I have an opti-link in my retinas. I blinked our tickets and got the train schedule for our trip to Lamax.”

“I am a hopeless goof from a backwoods planet, aren’t I?” He sighed.

She kissed him on the cheek. “I think you are perfect and certainly not hopeless. When we found your Mother, will you take me to Green Hell? I would love to see the place you grew up in. And there I am certain, I am going to be the hopeless Off-worlder.”

“I love to show you around, introduce you to Ma Swanson, Clarion and maybe even old Martin who never really leaves the flyer garage. Then there is my friend Norm, Bob, Maria and Melissa. There is Ranger Solomon and most of all you must meet Uncle Sam and Charles, my robot.”

She squeezed his hand. “I love the way your whole face lights up when you talk about your home. It must be a wonderful place.”

He blushed at that and then he said. “I never even asked, are you okay tagging along to Lamax or wherever we end up till we find my mother.”

“Are you seriously asking that?”

“I think I do, I don’t ever want to take you for granted.”

“You know that is probably the nicest thing any boy ever said to his girl. No, I am glad we are together, the reason is not all that important. Of course, the goal of finding your mother is paramount.”

“How about your parents?”

“I am a Daddy’s girl for sure and I think he knows I am serious this time and about you. He loves Mom ever since they met and I always wanted something like that. I think I did.”

A Garbini Tree polyp approached on his walking tentacles. “I am sorry, the tables are not yet set up for ordering. Can I get you anything?”

Tanya smiled at the waiter. “I prefer a life service anyway. I like to have a Terran style latte with an extra shot if possible and I am hungry. What’s good here?”

“We have a life Androian chef, while we can print a lot of choices. You’re humans so I would recommend an Andorian grill sampler.”

“Oh yes, sounds great. An Andorian wheel, fresh bread and lots of dips.”

Tanya then said to Roy. “If you never had Andorian, and you like the grilled meats, you be amazed.”

“No never had any, but I love to try.”

The waiter was happy. Roy ordered cranberry juice for himself. He found it was the closet thing to Hell Ade.

Tanya got up. “I think I visit the facilities before the food comes. I will be right back.”

The two beings standing not too distant from the patio area of the Sares Hub Café were apparently busy with an infobot. One of them was Saran form the looks of his olive skin and the helmet style hair, an expensive and quite typical Saran wig. The other was also human in shape and proportions. He was completely hairless and had a purple hue to his skin. This was an indication that he was most likely a Bloke. A very long time ago this was a Gene Clone species, but Blokes started to disappear because the added genetic traits that distinguished the Blokes were virtually gone after almost 3000 years of mingling with other members of the species Homo Galactus.

The Bloke said to the Saran. “There is no doubt it is him, there is only one like him traveling with a huge black beast and wearing a camouflage pattern Bioseal suit.”

“I concur, our contact on Sares Prime said he would take a Space Train.” The Saran responded.

“The experiment was successful?”

“So it appears. Our asset has been arrested, however, and could not deliver the details of the device as we hoped. The device is within reach in terms of distance, but Alegar himself has taken charge and that means the Gray Cats are all over it.”

“The being that knows the device to the last detail, the Tri of Science and knowledge himself, Avnak has traveled all the way from the Leedei galaxy to Sares and was instrumentally calibrating the device to a human brain. If he could be captured.”

The Saran still busy selecting completely random information from the info-bots display answered. “The asset we had on him, first reported both Alegar and Avnak sudden disappearance, and then seconds ago we received her last location signal from deep space. Someone teleported her into space without warning and to a distance that seems to exceed the capabilities of the most talented Saresii or Leedei we know of.”

“Did the Saresii not re-arrange the entire system using Psionics?” The Bloke asked

“By linking every single Saresii mind ... billions of them and it took centuries from what I heard. Saresii has lost that ability when the First Age of Knowledge ended.”

“We must investigate who dispatched our asset with such power, but that can wait. Our focus must now be on this human.” The way he said the word human was an indication that the Bloke was not what he appeared to be.

But then the Saran wasn’t really Saran either. Even though his appearance was more than a disguise but carefully crafted in a genetic laboratory of the Ministry of Control. He did not know who was behind the true origin of the Bloke before him, however, he had been contacted the correct way, only top agents of the Kermac knew how. To operate so close to Sares Prime was very dangerous. The famously, yet utterly secretive Order of the Gray Cats had been a guardian of Saresii secrets from a time before the Kermac left Koken if that legend was true. He was convinced Erma Halvagh met her end in space just before her body burned to molecular ashes in the corona of Sares sun had been teleported there by the Gray Cats using some ancient Device of the First Age. There was no other explanation of how someone could be transferred over such an enormous distance.

He asked. “I do not understand what further interest we have in this human. He does not know how the device works.”

“We know this, the human has successfully located his mother and reported her to be under attack of a T Cruiser. Our supreme leader does not know of this, yet our contact at the Assembly confirmed this. This is of great concern, as it points to activity that is not authorized or known by us.”

The Saran was surprised by that but did not voice it. Instead, he asked. “How do we proceed?”

“Follow the human, to a place where he can be neutralized and then interrogated as to where he has located his mother. We must intercept this rogue element at all costs and discover who is behind it before Union authorities can do so.”

The Saran forgot to keep up the charade with the Info Bot.” You have not been on Union side before. The T Cruiser will not escape their fleet. We are too distant to be there on time.”

Before the disguised Bloke responded a very old looking human female approached them. “You still can’t find the information you are looking for? You spend a long time with that bot.”

While alarm bells went off inside the Saran. The one in the Bloke disguise snarled. “What business is this of yours, Bicentennial oldtimer? Find another Bot, there are plenty everywhere.”

“I just wanted you to know these bots are quite intelligent despite their simple appearance, operated by the GalNet company and equipped with the finest acoustic sensors. You goons have been on my sensors since I noticed you and I listened in what the bot was transmitting.”

The Saran lost much of his facial color as the blood drained, his eyes looked for a way to escape. His Bloke associate now too understood that the old lady was not here to use the bot.

The old lady snickered. “You know we are at war and spies are simply hanged or shot on the spot, but I am not with the Government.”

The Saran slowly responded. “You are not Union?”

“Oh I am, but I represent a civilian group so to speak. For both of you, unfortunately much worse.”

She waddled away and towards the washroom facilities.

The Bloke was confused. “She identified us and now lets us be?”

The Saran, however, noticed the tiny black dot crawling into the nostril of his associate. “We are dead, already.”

Like a ray of sunshine so she appeared to Roy as she returned from the washroom facilities. Just as a human waiter served a wooden platter that was almost as big as the table. “Enjoy your meal, but be careful with the Torchberry dip, the red one, it is the hottest Andorian condiment. It is traditionally served with a wheel but we always warn non-Andorians and stick with the brown sauce.”

Roy fished a little red berry out of the dip, popped in his mouth and chewed. “Nope, this can’t be the hottest condiment. It’s perhaps mildly piquant.”

The waiter dipped his finger in the little pot. Touched his lips and screamed in pain.

While this went on Roy missed the sudden collapse of two men rushing away from an Info Bot.

Tanya laughed. “How can you eat that? It is insanely hot!”

He shrugged. “I think because I am a Greenie, we have Pollen Dust that is reportedly so hot, it kills Off Worlders, but we think of it as spicy that’s about it.”

“You better use lots of water before you kiss me.”

Roy enjoyed the crispy fried meat, then he noticed the Med Bots and a Police officer near the two collapsed men. “Wonder what happened there?”

Tanya shrugged. “Who knows. Maybe they ate something they should not have. Still the number one accident in the Union. What’s good for Takkians is deadly for others. Always check for the Green Label when your human.”

His Danger sense had not reacted, and the scene unfolded a good distance. The food was fantastic and then they both went onto the main platform. A floating project-a-sign told them they needed to be on platform eight.

Roy had never seen a Space Train and watched as a long tube-like vehicle pulled in. It was divided into thirty-meter long sections, separated by a small flexible bellow type strip. While the first five segments were gleaming white with thin red stripes bearing the Space Train corporation logo, there were an additional eight segments in different colors. There was one in green for the Union Post Office; a red and white checkered element with a large smiling pig, Roy instantly recognized Arthur, the smiling Pig. There was a segment in a light gray with the Union Flag and the fleet logo.

The one she was aiming for was gleaming black with the SII logo on the side.

Roy still had his eyes on the red and white one. “Is that a restaurant?”

She nodded. “Yes, the first five coaches are passenger coaches and there is a central connection to Arthurs. The train is the fasted way to travel, but on long direct connections, trips can take hours and days. So people get hungry.”

“Aren’t we already past the passenger pod things?”

“Yes, I think so. The mail coach is only for mail and I have no idea what the Fleet transports in their coach. Many companies and organizations maintain coaches for personnel and freight purposes. They simply link them to a train that goes into the direction they want to go. Space Train can be as long as desired but can not exceed ten meters in diameter. That’s some weird limitation of the Blacklight Tunnel technology.” She said and then pointed to the seven compartments after the black one. Behind ours are freight modules. They are loading them now.”

“Ours?”

“Of course ours. She stepped through an opening slide door into a place of the polished marble floor, brightly lid by expensive-looking crystal chandeliers. There was the finest, non-tech furniture, priceless real wood stuff. Soft intricate patterned rugs. This looked like the lobby of a super lux villa.

A wide staircase was curving up to a second level.

Tanya stepped out of her heeled mules and tossed her purse on a white leather seat. Roy still stood there in awe.

She petted Partner and actually kissed the big animal. “There are big beds upstairs. “ Then she turned and looked at Roy. Her laughter pearled of her lips while her eyes added to the amused impish expression. “What’s the matter, love?”

“All this.”

“This is one of my family’s coaches. Mine was too far to get in time. It’s a little kitschy and old fashioned I know.”

She stepped into his reach and snaked her arms around his neck. “Roy, I liked you from the first moment, because you liked me for who I was, not for my family.”

“I know nothing really about your family, other than your dad operates some kind of Pharma company on Harper’s Junction, right?”

“This makes me love you even more. Roy, my father is Rex Schwartz.”

“I think he said so.”

“You really have no idea, don’t you?”

“About what?”

“Rex Schwartz is the CEO, president and owns most of the stock in SII ... All of it. SII Shipworx, SII Energy, GalNet. the Space Train company and a gazillion other companies. He is the richest individual ever to exist in the known universe. Roy, he is as old as your hero Richard Stahl. He comes from Pre Astro Earth and is an Immortal.”

He had a dry mouth and blinked. “That explains the black ship, he didn’t book a ride on it, he owns it.”

“Well, and you are part of the family now, you still going to do what the Leedei recommended right?”

He sneaked his arms around her.”I am in, but I think I have no idea what I am in for.”

Her leg sneaked around his and she gently pulled his head. “No boy in the last one million years of human history has ever figured that out, my love.” The last words were no more than a whisper as her lips touched his.

“One has suspended the flow of time within this condition, one that is the Stahl. The mind that is Centron can not react, one has not stepped into this abode to cause harm.”

Stahl slowly rose from behind his desk and equally slowly holstered the only known TKU 12 of the first series still in existence. “You are the Narth Supreme...”

“One is pleased, the Stahl recalls. One’s initial meeting with the Stahl has resulted in considerable thought analysis and one concludes the Stahl is favorable to one’s condition.”

Richard Stahl was not easily impressed, but he too felt the presence of the Narth as a true existential power. “It is beyond my comprehension to evaluate and grasp the gravity of your decision to appear. The Narth saved our bacon the last time we met.”

There was silence as the Narth Supreme, in all his wisdom and great intellect struggled to understand the human completely, but his psionic abilities detected nothing but unbendable strength fueled by a will power so great, it was equal to the Narth. There was no falsehood within the humans’ mind. While the Narth supreme reached deeper into the humans’ mind easily brushing aside the most sophisticated mind shields, he touched the very essence of Stahl. There was more, indeed. While there were humans that received the gift of suspended aging from an old artificial entity the Narth had learned about only recently, this human was a true Immortal. Chosen by entities beyond the Narth Supreme to become a guide to the soon to arrive Essence of the Dark One, its most important guide. It was the Narth Supreme who experienced awe as he touched the Hugavh of Stahl. In many ways just a human, but also somehow the sum of all the qualities of Terran Humans. Stahl’s innermost shell was harder than anything the Narth ever encountered, impenetrable, and as unblemished.

“One has not interacted with corporeal sentients in this manner since the Narth became. One is increasing experience to this effect and one concludes by the Stahl’s reaction, that the manner of one’s appearance was not the correct approach. However since one has met the Stahl all Narth is confident in one’s decision to accept the Stahl as the human entity worth our attention. Emotions are very difficult to understand, but one begins to understand the concept of sympathy. One very much experiences this new concept when the Stahl is the subject.”

The Admiral cleared his throat. “You Narth are certainly the most enigmatic of all entities and people I encountered so far, Even my friend Vantuur understands little about you and he knows of the Narth for a very long time. However, I always had a good feeling about you guys. I see you brought guests, can I offer refreshments or seating options perhaps?”

“One must communicate with the Vantuur, this mind can comprehend Narth.” Then the shrouded apparition pointed to the still shocked Leedei and the Saresii. “One does not need to consume. The concept of nourishment gained through the consumption of solid matter is very alien and will be part of the mandate of the Young Narth when he is ready to be inserted into this plane. However, these beings are of the physical aspect of the core universe and thus might require such.”

Alegar finally found words. “Admiral Stahl, I am Alegar Moansti, first of the Eldest. I am Saresii. I was unprepared to meet you in person like this, but I feel privileged and honored.”

Now the Leedei spoke. “I am the Tri of Science, Avnak and I am Leedei. I too have been transported here, on very short notice if I may say so, However, all that is Leedei thinks very highly of you and that includes me, Eternal Warrior.”

Stahl suppressed what he apparently wanted to say and actually bowed.”I am Admiral Richard Stahl, commandant of the First Fleet and this is the USS Devastator. I was not prepared to welcome such distinguished guests, but I am honored and enriched by your presence. Please find seats if you like.”

Alegar looked around, and a comfortable chair established itself.”

Alegar was impressed, you are able to do this even in suspended time?”

The Eternal Warrior even surprised the Narth and that did not happen very often,

“I deeply appreciate all of your presence and I can not fathom the significance of the Narth Supreme deciding to come, but I do not like to be invaded and put into states I have not been asked to be in.”

The Narth Supreme said. “One is indeed impressed and it is evident the no time sphere I have extended is no longer active.”

“This is my study, honored guest. I am not a spring chicken and have been dealing with TL 12 and psionics for a long time. I have friends who made it possible for me to react, even to something like this. Vanuur is as old as the Narth and while it has not found it necessary to create any form of tech. Vanuur knows about it and gifted me with a few things in that regard. I do not advertise this, but not even Comic Elders with access to the Will can come here and find me helpless.”

The Narth Supreme now bowed. “One has perceived you as a worthy individual and wish to extend an invitation to Narth Prime. There is an event cosmic in the near future, one wants you to know about.”

“Is this why you guys are here?

Alegar shrugged. “I have no idea why we are here, to be frank. I am as surprised as you are, Admiral. We have been on Sares mere moments ago.”

“One has conveyed you here because one is a Union Citizen and there is a group of sentient beings hailing from the place Leedei call home, Leegus Leedei Go.”

Avnak was thinking. “We Leedei had our last Cleansing war about 2000 OTT. It was a terrible thing, I know. However, we had been almost exterminated by others. It lead to a very aggressive stance against all other sentients for a very long time.” The Leedei was clearly contemplating something profound and then he said. “We know the Utenrra, have come to this galaxy a long time ago and our secret investigation is confident they infiltrated the Kermac society. This is the main reason I came to Sares One, I wanted to speak to the Gray Cats about this.”

The Narth had his arms buried deep in the voluminous sleeves of his black all obscuring robe. “One has gathered you here in the presence of the Stahl, who is the military expression of that which is the Union. Narth have become aware of psionic activity that is not Kermac. Narth wishes to remain isolated, but Narth is Union. All that is Narth has decided to protect this Union from psionic aggression.”

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