Chapter 12: Spider Queen

Jason was aware of a faint clattering sound and then faintly heard Philippa protesting about something. He couldn’t move a muscle or open his eyes. He felt himself being carried and then recalled no more until he woke in utter blackness. He was lying on a very comfortable bed, but he knew he was not in the palace. The smell was completely different. He concentrated on his smell. There was a smell of the earth and the air was humid, but there was more. It smelled like his doctor’s surgery on Earth. He smelled the residue of the beings that carried him out of the palace. He was drowsy and wanted to fall asleep again. No, he wanted to know more. He tried to sit up, but he couldn’t. It was like being paralyzed in a dream. Could he make a flame, so he could see? No, his powers had not returned. He drifted back into sleep.

He felt someone in his head wandering around. He tried to resist but he couldn’t and the person didn’t feel hostile. He was defenseless. He wondered if he was blind.

“No blind you, dark, in tunnel, deep underground, my city, my planet. Not hurt you, I won’t. I queen Azloc am. Soldier mine palace bring. No wait, too much talk, nothing clack, clack, nothing words. You soon back.”

The voice was tinny and sounded like it came from a cheap speaker.

“How long have I been here?” Jason asked, surprised his telepathic skills had returned.

“You here twenty-three revolutions Dinnio Prime,” the queen replied telepathically.

“Three weeks, that is a long time! What have you been doing with me Azloc Queen?”

“Name Valsam Sabins. I look head. Doctor look body.”

“Have you reached a conclusion?”

“I look king long time. Twenty-three revolutions short time. Be sure, Valsam almost. Sleep!”

Jason woke feeling healthy and energetic. He was gently lifted and then placed on the back of a huge ant-like creature the size of a buffalo. They moved through a dimly lighted hanger towards a threatening gunship. The hanger was packed with equipment and ships and was a hive of activity. They were accompanied by several heavily armed eight-legged spider-ants who were clustered around an even larger spider-ant. He was relaxed and comfortable. His legs and arms were not bound. He was semi-recumbent in a silken half cocoon on the back of one of the large spider ants. The Queen was smiling at him telepathically. It was a very warm feeling. He could feel a bond with her and he began to feel a connection with the others, but he couldn’t understand the communication.

“Very good ... King mine ... we one mind.”

“What are we doing now?”

“With you we go back Porquenta, you King, me Queen. Azloc mine, follow. You, we, strong make. Ship build, spiderlings make”.

“Valsam you know I have many queens. Can you explain to me how you will be my queen?”

“Question much! You see. We do ... you know.”

Jason didn’t know why but he felt relaxed about it all.

The shuttle was even more dimly lit than those of the Collective. The controls were unlike any he encountered. The pilot held a lever and it didn’t move. There was no hologram control. Valsam touched a lever every few minutes. There was a large window in the front.

Fifteen minutes later Jason saw a huge structure in front of him. It was made up of balls connected to each other with tubes. It looked like a space station. Nearby he saw several similar shapes.

“Dreadnaught mine, fleet mine; shape ships, polyhedron.”

They soon drew near one of the peripheral balls. It was a dull grey color and filled the window. Suddenly they were inside the hanger. It was twice the size of the ones on his carriers and they were big. It was filled with ships of different kinds. Two were the size of destroyers. As they left the gunship they transported into a wide passageway. Jason was carried to the bridge then placed in a silken chair. He noticed there were much larger similar silken chairs suspended throughout the bridge. In this environment the Azloc looked much more spider-like rather than ants. The Dinnion thought of them as spiders. They had eight legs and the eyes were spider eyes. Perhaps they would tell him later. They lived like ants and they had queens; unlike the spiders he knew.

The activity on the bridge fascinated Jason. They had levers as on the shuttle but also holograms they felt rather than looked at. The bridge was crowded and they made more physical contact than any civilization he’d encountered other than the Coven. He was offered a sweet drink in a metal container. He saw the others had a proboscis they used to drink.

One of the spider-ants approached him a few hours later and respectfully handed Jason an oval stone. “You speak Dinnio prime now. Queen land you, four guards. Fleet wait big planet.”

Jason held the stone and a picture formed of a nervous Dinnion traffic controller. He looked relieved when he saw it was Jason. He was replaced seconds later by Asterius.

“Asterius I am returning to Dinnio prime along with Queen Valsam Sabins, who for reasons of her own has selected me as her King and has elected to follow me home with her fleet. She will accompany me to Dinnio Prime along with her four guards and she will be returning with me and her fleet to Porquenta. Her fleet will wait nearby at your first gas giant. I have passed muster and am the first Uzliumbax to become an Azloc King. They have also fixed me and I am now well. We will see you shortly. Please notify all my wives I am fine. I feel great and back to normal except for my powers.”

A half an hour later Jason was on the ground being welcomed by his Empresses and his hosts along with Asterius and Feraldis. Jason introduced Queen Valsam to Queen Basarab and to everyone else. He was as confused as everyone else was, but he decided to go along with the flow. Valsam was offered a room, but she declined it saying she was going to sleep with Jason.

Jason looked at her wide eyed and eyebrows raised. What did she mean?

Basarab looked at Jason and grinned.

Her guards looked agitated.

Basarab waved to them.

They then went down for lunch. Valsam was provided a boat like chair and she sat close to Jason. She ate the emulsified and blended food the kitchen gave her. Her guards tested before she ate it. She ate a substantial meal and enjoyed it. She sent Jason a happy full feeling.

“Valsam, we will be leaving tomorrow to return to Porquenta. Will you be flying in your own ship or will you be on our ship?” Philippa asked telepathically.

“Me be Jason ship! Fleet come after.”

“Jason what happened during your assessment phase?” Razza asked.

“I woke up after three weeks and she was exploring my mind. She told me I was also examined by her doctors. I woke up again a week later as we were returning here. I was carried by her entourage onto the shuttle and we returned on an enormous dreadnought. All I know was that we were deep underground and it was utterly black. Valsam assured me I was not blind.”

“Jason King strong. He King me. Jason, Valsam stand. We build army. We children many.“

She conveyed telepathically she was happy.

“Whoa, that is some powerful telepathy on band two, but there is no doubt that she seems to be pretty happy with you,” said Ooryphyon. “There’s no doubt Valsam we need to find a better way to communicate with you. To us there is a lot that is missing.”

“Not understand. I speak direct.“

“Valsam is there another way you communicate?” Ooryphyon asked.

“I speak leg, thorax my people.”

“Can you explain more?”

“I explained.”

Ooryphyon made no further progress.

“Let us all make our way to sleep. We need to get back tomorrow. Is there anything planned for when we get back?” Jason asked.

“You have many Uzliumbax who wish to meet you,” said Philippa. My mother tells me she has quite a lot of interesting stuff to speak to you about and she suggests that we stop there on the way as you are in no hurry to get back to the War College. Cassius is dying of curiosity and is keen to speak to you.”

“I like the idea of visiting your mother on the way back and I wouldn’t mind a few days break on the estate and it will give Valsam an opportunity to meet your mother.”

Jason noticed over the course of the trip to the Collective, Valsam was changing as were her guards.

As they were waiting for the portal to be configured Jason decided to ask her about it.

“Valsam are you and your guards changing?”

“Yes.”

“In what way are you changing.”

“Uzliumbax.”

“You will look like us?”

“Yes all.”

“Can you change back?”

“Yes.”

“That will make things much easier,” said Jason.

Valsam sent back a happy feeling and an image of spiderlings.

“I wonder how that will work? If she is humanoid how can she have spiderlings?” Razza asked.

Jason shrugged. “In the fullness of time all will be revealed,” he replied pompously.

“Jason, I can’t understand how you aren’t curious. You just go along, and you are so comfortable with Valsam despite knowing nothing about her.

“Uzliumbax and Azloc like ship ball and ship tube. Mother mine know but not do. Azloc, Uzliumbax fit good. You see you understand later. Me not know why, only we know fit proper, fit right,” said Valsam.

“Sorry Valsam, we will talk more later. We must go down to the planet.

Okay guys the portal is ready. Let’s go. Philippa where to first?” Razza asked.

“Jason we are heading for the estate first and then we will join my mother for dinner. It is just before lunch there and my mother has a busy afternoon schedule. She is talking to the allies.”

“We have a six-hour time difference with Dinnio prime, so we awoke very early. We can catch up on some sleep this afternoon before we meet my mother. My sisters are keen to see you,” said Philippa moments before she led the way through the portal onto the estate in Nobatia.

“Interesting, I see insects, big insects, “ said Valsam. “You can change? I not understand. I see in Jason?”

“All of us can change form and we can change to many forms. If you like we can take you to the hospital to see if we can help you change form as well?”

“Change form self.“

“If you change your mind, let us know,” said Philippa. “Our method is very quick.”

“How long?”

“It takes us a few seconds.”

“Oh, not know quick, middle slow change Uzliumbax. Change back quick Azloc. Talk again later.“

“Our way is quick as the other bodies are stored in trans-dimensional space. It is not a physical change as such,” said Philippa.

Jason saw Valsam looked pensive. Her face was looking distinctly more humanoid and she had humanoid expressions. She was much smaller and her middle legs were retreating into her body.

Valsam followed Jason and Philippa to the bedroom. Ooryphyon, Andrea and Linda followed behind.

“Philippa, we need to test Jason’s warhammer after his traumatic experiences,” said Linda.

“Linda, I agree with you fully. Ooryphyon you can watch as you seem to be so interested, I’m not so sure how much sleep any of us will get.”

Jason felt awkward and inhibited with Valsam and Ooryphyon watching them so intently. He was relieved to find all his parts operated as they should, and he was full of energy. Afterwards they slept until Mazzod, the butler and factotum of the estate woke them.

Valsam looked at Jason directly.

“Interesting, what you do ... different Azloc. Valsam ready soon. Many spiderlings want.”

“If that is what Valsam wants that is what Valsam will get,” said Jason.

Valsam sent him a happy image.

Jason hugged Kram and Zanta his sisters-in-law. “You two must be almost ready to have your babies,” said Philippa. “I am pretty sure I am pregnant again.” She hugged her sisters tightly.

They all walked through the portal and into the atrium of Brecht Chatzke’s home.

Jason introduced his mother-in-law to Valsam. They were interested in each other.

“Brecht can we speak telepathically, I will teach all of you quickly how to use the channel Valsam uses. Her translator is ponderous.”

Jason quickly introduced Brecht’s people to Channel 2. Our six channels are different to the ones in their galaxy but as you see it is easy to learn how to access channel 2. The Dinnio use two channels often.

“You also form change?” Valsam asked Brecht who was in her humanoid form.

“Yes I change, sometimes many times a day. I like this form, but I am more used to doing my daily work in my insect form. We can easily ask our doctors to look at you and see if they can find a way of doing an easy and quick change of form for you.” Brecht replied.

“I already middle change. Back change quick, humanoid slow. I look you system later,” said Valsam.

“Jason has many of our doctors working with him. If you do change your mind let us know.

Welcome back all of you. You have had an adventurous time as usual Jason. We now all understand the plague prediction of the Destroyers and the prediction of a new Queen.

“This evening we are going to eat more of the food of the Uzliumbax. We have a visiting chef who has recently come out of stasis who is cooking for us this evening. The food was imported from the capital. We are increasing trade with the Uzliumbax. Please sit down and make yourselves comfortable, we will be joined by Osgood and several of his colleagues. Oh, here he comes. Osgood please meet Queen Valsam Sabins who is of the Azloc and is Jason’s latest Queen as part of his continuously expanding harem.” Brecht said.

She went on to explain to Valsam that Osgood was her intelligence chief and he was working in Jason’s Empire helping to find spies, criminals and who was poisoning the Uzliumbax and how they were doing it. She went on to explain there were two types of poisoning a more recent poisoning that was administered into the Uzliumbax in stasis and a longer-term poisoning through the food chain. She explained they were assisted by the Warriors who had also been poisoned and were trying to find the poison together. Brecht went on to explain how the Empire had been poisoned over thousands of years and how poison had been used against the Warriors.

Valsam looked very interested. “How investigate?“

Osgood went on to explain in detail everything that was being done.

Valsam nodded her head knowingly.

“Smell poison?”

“These are not poisons that we can smell. As insects we have excellent smell, and we can detect many poisons with our antennae, but not the ongoing longer-term poison or even the short-term one.”

“Smell many part poison?”

“We are aware of multicomponent poisons and we are attempting to test for them. We cannot smell anything out of the ordinary,” said Osgood. “I wish we could. Our medical pods can detect both poisons and remove them.”

“Azloc, we have powerful smell. Part poison smell. Part poison know.“

The first, of seven courses, was delivered to the table. Jason was introduced to the chef who treated him with the greatest of respect.

“Emperor, I am very grateful for all you have done for the Uzliumbax. My wife is a professor at the University here and she would have died without your intervention and the help of the Collective,” said the chef.

Jason acknowledged his thanks.

“I understand all of you like spicy. The next dish is a combination of vegetables all of them freshly grown on Ethora. I hope you enjoy the dish.”

Several waitstaff brought plates to the table and handed them out.

“Valsam first component poison find in this“ – She held up one of the vegetables – “Valsam sure this one component, know civilization make poison. Jason, I find you poison. We go Grevat. Grevat make many poison, many parts. Grevat nasty snail. Galaxy Azloc, Pempha Namu, galaxy Grevat“ – Valsam placed her two developing hands with her fists clenched one on top of the other. She moved her upper fist – “Azloc” – she moved her lower fist – “Grevat” – she pointed below her lower fist – “middle universe.”

“If I understand you correctly Valsam, you recognize the poison and you recognize one of the components. You know who makes the poison and they live in a galaxy adjacent to yours but closer to the core,” confirmed Osgood.

“Correct.“

“That is an amazing sense of smell,” said Razza. “Not only did you identify the component of a complex poison, you were able to tell who made it. I am very impressed Valsam.”

Valsam briefly smiled but carried on. “Grevat, Azloc poison make damage us. Destroyers poison bring. Workers sick, Azloc learn smell.“

“That is very interesting, you may well solve a very complex problem for us very quickly. We will need to find out how they have inserted it into the food chain.”

“Valsam find quick. Take Valsam Uzliumbax.”

“We can get you to join the team of the Warriors.”

“Valsam take team. Help smell find. Warriors catch. Valsam find before, Valsam find again.”

“Valsam, you may well be another excellent Queen for Jason,” said Brecht Chatzke.

Valsam looked pleased with the complement and placed her hand on Jason’s shoulder.

“Valsam, I need to get back to Porquenta to see my Kings and Queens and then I would like to visit the Uzliumbax capital. We can get your people settled on Porquenta. I will show you around and we will plan the trip to the Uzliumbax capital which is on the planet Ethora. We will spend two days here first. I would like to make sure we will have ample security for our trip. I would also like to hear what Osgood has to report,” said Jason.