Chapter 21: The Naturalista Counterattack

“General, we are in the cavern. There is a new garish castle we have not seen previously. There are no troops, nor can we detect defenses that can resist us. Shall we attack?”

“No, give me a minute; I will join you. I want to see what happens. I rarely see the fruit of my efforts.”

“General, it is unwise. You risk too much. You give us hope and a vision of a great future. Without you, we will be lost.”

“Nonsense, we have many who share the vision. Billions will carry on after my death,” said Varshtein. “How many guards can you see?”

“We see a few random guards, no more than five. We have two hundred elite troops and four thousand regular troops, half of which are bugs. We couldn’t fit more troops into the cavern.”

“There is an Uzliumbax fleet above us. They could send troops into the cavern.”

“True, but by the time they do, we will be long gone, and we will disappear back to our bases,” said Varshtein. “That palace is an eyesore. I will enjoy destroying it”.

“Our Collective scouts don’t believe that gaudy palace was here in the past,” said Col. Gazarta Zell.

“The Collective has done well; perhaps they built a new palace to show off their wealth. I will be with you in thirty seconds, and then we can attack.”

“The Naturalista troops are inside the cavern. Our scouts identified Varshtein behind a shield. Our snipers can’t get her. Horti, are you ready?” Yoyo asked.

“Yes, Yoyo, we are ready. Are they doing as expected?”

“Yes, shortly, they will hit the palace.”

Missiles and cannons hammered the palace. It burst into flames and then exploded. Several massive explosions shook the ground.

“Those are hand-held bunker busters,” Yoyo explained. “I am enjoying watching your plan unfold. You were right, Horti; Varshtein couldn’t resist coming inside.”

Yoyo nodded to Horti and Heather.

They drew water from the lake, formed twenty-meter-high waves, and sent them toward the enemy.

The tidal waves struck them and swept them into channels dug, prepared years previously for the anticipated attack on Nobatia. The water carried the Naturalista faster and faster as the river narrowed over a waterfall that dumped them unceremoniously onto rocks fifty meters below to create a massive pile of bodies, the General at the bottom.

Tens of thousands of Uzliumbax troops, accompanied by tanks and gunships, manifested around them. Many more troops loaded for bear stood guard in the cavern.

“I don’t understand what happened,” said Kram frowning.

“Who built that gaudy castle next to the wall over there,” Kram asked and pointed. “How could they build it so fast?”

Yoyo laughed, and Horti and Heather giggled. Orma Chatzke looked at her sisters lovingly.

“Horti and Heather built the castle.”

“All that work and the Naturalista destroyed it in seconds.” Zanta sighed and looked at Horti. “It was pretty. My mother encouraged you to build a castle and palace near us! That is an exciting surprise, Horti. You will always be welcome here. We can help you create another one and help you find staff. It was too big by far to run it yourself.”

“Mum, won’t Jason notice it when he comes here? He will ask about it and find out about Horti,” said Kram.

“That is an important observation. We can wait until after the war with the Gazronnaas,” said Brecht.

“Where did the troops, tanks, and gunships come from? Nothing can get in here that fast,” said Kram.

“Horti hid them,” said Orma Chatzke.

“The gaudy palace was Heather’s design; I have better taste. It was a convincing but gaudy illusion. Kram, I would never deface your cave with such a hideous home. Heather and I cloaked and hid the troops as they entered the cavern over several hours,” said Horti.

“What happened to the evil General?” Zanta asked.

“The Dinnion armor is excellent but did not save the dreadful general. The general and most of her troops survived the massive waves, but they could do nothing as they went over the waterfall and fell to the ground with tons of water cascading onto them. The general landed on the rocks; aside from the water, at least a hundred troops fell on her. They crushed her, each other, and her senior command. Ten percent survived but were seriously injured. We captured most of them. Few, if any, escaped,” said Yoyo

“Horti, we would love to have you build a home on our estate,” said Kram. “I am pleased the one you built was an illusion; it was gaudy and pretentious, quite unlike you.”

“Horti, was it difficult?” Zanta asked.

“Living with Heather’s flashy design was difficult, but it did the job. When we finished it, our generators arrived and kept the illusion going. We then hid our troops and gunships as they entered this place. Heather and I managed one tidal wave. It was enough. The generators helped augment our power,” said Horti.

“I sent you what we saw and did, Yoyo and Brecht,” said Horti. “I consolidated it into a single seamless presentation.”

“Thank you, Horti,” said Yoyo. “It worked much better than I hoped and exceeded all my expectations.”

Merken came in with breakfast on a tray that looked far too big and heavily laden for her. Mazzod followed her and carried an even larger tray.

Merken wiped her hands on her apron and hugged Horti tightly.

“Craig will recover. At long last, he has found a sense of urgency, meaning, and purpose.”

“Thank you, Merken.”

“The Colonel will attempt to kill you when you see her. Despite all that, you must see her and confront her directly. It is important for you and your friends, including Charlie.”

“I suspected that might be necessary,” said Horti.

Orma Chatzke looked at Horti fondly.

“No medals, ceremonies, gifts, or palaces, please. I will happily ask your advice and consult Merken in place of ceremonies, rewards stipends, and medals,” said Horti.

Yoyo and Orma Chatzke laughed uproariously, as did Kram and Zanta.

“Brecht, Horti has only recently met you, but she knows you well. Horti I know you met Porquenta. May I send this battle to him to add to his simulations?” Yoyo asked.

Horti nodded. “I don’t think he has available processing time to work on the simulation as he is playing the game. I had a recent message from him to say he cannot get to the highest levels of the game despite devoting millions of human equivalent years to it,” Horti giggled.

“Porquenta speaks fondly of you, Horti,” said Brecht.

“I like him. I also trust him implicitly. As I was concerned about his well-being, I sent him generators, shields, and some nasty weapons so the Gazronnaas couldn’t see him or get to Mars or Venus. I will send him a few more weapons for the other planets when I have time later this week or next. Kareg and I partnered with him to build AIs after the Gazronnaas bit the dust. He says he has several others to bring into our consortium.”

“Do you know if anyone is interested in your patents?” Orma Chatzke asked.

“I have no idea. Kareg has a lawyer friend looking after the AI patents, and I have a Gromelix lawyer taking care of the generators they are building for me. He is my professor’s son, and my professor liaised with him for me. I chatted with him a few times while setting it up.”

“Kareg has known his friend the lawyer since they were grubs in kindergarten and says he is a fine lawyer and a good salesman. I like him and am happy to leave the AI patent work to him for what I have done recently. We have been too busy to scratch ourselves,” said Horti, “anyhow, who could do any business while all the chaos is happening?”

“Philippa!” Orma Chatzke, Yoyo, Kram, and Zanta said simultaneously.

“Horti, if you find the time, look at your account before you leave here,” said Orma Chatzke. “I want to ensure you are getting what I sent you.”

“I will, but I know I have been getting your money regularly. I checked it last a month ago. I meant to visit the bank because there is money I cannot account for in my account. I intend to sort it out earlier rather than later. Someone, in error, transferred millions into my account. Thank you, Brecht; the amount you gave me is much more than I expected. I hope we will get enough for the farm I have discussed. And get a discount for a haunted farm,” said Horti. “Otherwise, it will be tight.”

“Wasn’t a haunted house part of the predictions?” Asked Yoyo.

“Yes, we are looking for a farm that is haunted.”

“How are your friends getting on?” Asked Yoyo.

“I must get hold of Aubrey and Charlie; they tried to get me,” said Horti looking at her slate. “I sent a message to say we survived an attack and were OK.”

Horti didn’t see Orma Chatzke winking at Yoyo and struggling not to laugh.

“Shortly, I will return to Etarsaway. Thank you, Brecht, Kram, and Zanta, for your hospitality,” said Yoyo.

“Horti, I was delighted to meet you and your friends. You helped simplify a complex operation and did an excellent job here. You are outstanding young people. If the rest of your people are like you, they will greatly contribute to our universe. They have billions of galaxies to choose from,” said Yoyo.

“Thank you, Yoyo; it was a pleasure to meet you. I loved your ship. It is wonderful. Thank you for your hospitality and providing the means to rescue Craig.”

Yoyo smiled, waved, and walked through the portal.

That afternoon a much rested Horti walked into the hospital, where they rebuilt her in Charassa, and met Sammy in the canteen.

“Horti, did you know the scum bombed our campus in Vendaska? The area where we lived became a hole in the ground. Do you think it is because we are so popular?” Sammy asked, snorting then laughing. “Horti, do you think the Naturalista may have strong negative feelings toward you?”

“I suspect it’s possible, but I am unsure if there is quite enough evidence to substantiate your proposition. When are we meeting the doctors?” Horti asked.

“They keep putting us off. They are struggling. I offered to modify one of the pods to use magic and extract the stuff in her head. I told them my pod would bypass the Colonel’s hardware and security. Despite my assurances, they can’t decide what to do.”

“Let’s talk to them when they are ready. I know how to break the impasse,” said Horti.

“While waiting, please show me what happened on the estate?” Sammy asked.

“Sure, I will package up a presentation, and we can watch it together,” said Horti.

Horti pulled out her slate, sent the presentation to her slate from her crystal, and played the events.

Within a few minutes, she had thirty bugs standing around her, watching intently. Horti was uncertain about playing it through for her audience but continued.

The bugs became engrossed in what was happening. They became upset when they saw the enemy with so few defenders. They clacked to each other, antennae waving anxiously when they saw Orma Chatzke and Yoyo with only a few guards. They were distraught when they saw the elaborate palace destroyed. Finally, they cheered when Horti and Heather created the tidal wave.

They went berserk when Horti and Heather’s wave swept the general, her troops, and her staff into the channel. The bugs cheered as the attackers were washed away, then shouted and gesticulated when the enemy went over the waterfall.

The audience patted Horti on the back and congratulated her when they realized how she and Heather had created illusions. They were overwrought when they saw Orma Chatzke, Yoyo, Kram, and Zanta had survived.

The bugs reluctantly returned to their seats or the wards after the show ended.

“You and Heather did well,” said Sammy.

Ten minutes later, the doctors called them into the meeting. Sammy introduced Horti. All of them knew of Horti.

“Please show us what happened on the estate of Orma Chatzke. We believe you recorded the events?”

Horti nodded and once more set up the presentation and played it.

The famous doctors were as unrestrained as those in the canteen audience.

“We can see Horti, you and your friends demonstrate unique skills, and you made a critical difference in the battle. The doctors here have treated more casualties in the last few weeks than in the battle for Charassa. Orma Chatzke is precious to us, and we are delighted you became her friend. You are a true friend of our people.”

“Thank you, Professor Lemtok; I am grateful for your help and the guidance of Dr. Parbath Gremmith, who spent time with me daily and helped motivate me during the rebuilding process. I see the bugs as great friends. We feel comfortable and welcome here.”

The bugs all nodded and smiled.

“Let us begin with Craig, the son of the Emperor and your betrothed husband. We consulted our Uzliumbax and Dinnion colleagues. We are privileged to welcome many Uzliumbax doctors to the Collective following their reconstruction. Many of the Dinnion are here on sabbatical, but Queen Basarab has sent her greatest specialists to assist,” said Prof. Lemtok. “I speak for a large team who has examined Craig. We found it difficult to examine him as we could not risk a pod triggering a device that would kill him. The Naturalista implanted many explosive devices in him. He is also sick from a genetic poison that will convert his DNA to Dinnion DNA, but as it does so, it will trigger a catastrophic autoimmune disease.”

“Why would they add the poison?” Sammy asked.

“We cannot understand why this was done,” said Prof. Lemtok.

“Can you remove the devices and remove the genetic poison?” Horti asked.

“The doctors have debated several possible strategies. We can remove the peripheral devices using old surgical techniques. However, our Dinnion colleagues tell me the devices implanted in his brain are sensitive to any intervention to remove them. They do not know if the peripheral ones will be similarly sensitive. Our engineering team cannot enlighten us. We can and have removed similar devices implanted in the Destroyers. These devices are more sensitive and far more dangerous.”

“What do you suggest, professor?”

“We must reconstruct him,” said Prof. Lemtok.

“Do you have backups of his consciousness?” Sammy asked.

“Yes, we do; we had the backup done the night before he went to the stadium. Craig left it in the care of Queen Basarab.”

“Excellent, you can rebuild him in a week,” said Sammy. “Horti, you will have him back in a week.

“No, he will not be back in a week,” said Dr. Parbath Gremmith.

“Can’t you do it? Am I going to lose him?” Horti interrupted, her eyes filling with tears.

“As I was about to say, he acquired your species’ genes and genetic structure and discovered it several months ago. He informed Queen Basarab that if he was to be reconstructed, he wanted your kind of genes to increase to the level we gave you when we rebuilt you. Orma Chatzke told me Merken warned Craig the Naturalista would kidnap him, and he would face reconstruction.”

“That is extraordinary,” said Horti, “did you know this, Sammy?”

“I knew about the gene changes; Sean and Harry are becoming like us, as is Charlie. He confessed to Aubrey yesterday that his reconstruction took as long as ours, but he asked the doctors not to tell us as he wanted to be the one to let us know. He did not go home as we thought. Charlie also hid from your telepathic inquiry.”

“How did the doctors know what he wanted them to do?”

“The doctors simply thought he was one of us, as he had some of our genes, though much less than us. He got it in his head we would be angry with him, so he said nothing and begged the doctors not to tell.”

“The Uzliumbax genes dominate over all genes in this universe, but your genes may dominate theirs,” said Professor Gorfath Lemtok.

“Orma Chatzke has given us the go-ahead after speaking to the Dinnion Queen.”

After a short break, the professor continued. “I will call in the representatives of two groups investigating Col. Senka Kemel.”

Professor Lemtok touched his hologram.

“They are on their way.”

Two doctors entered the room and stood near Professor Lemtok. He introduced them both. Horti didn’t hear their names as she was looking at them intently.

‘ Horti, think filter two.’ said Sammy.

‘ Sammy, they are like double images. None of the other doctors look like that. Something is seriously wrong. Prepare to capture the one on my left, and I will do the other one. Three ... two ... one ... go!’

They cast simultaneously and captured the doctors in magical bubbles.

“Don’t be alarmed. Something is wrong with them. Our vision shows they are different from you and fractionally hotter than other bugs. Can we put them in the pods behind you?” Sammy asked.

Dr. Parbath Gremmith nodded.

Horti and Sammy looked at each other, then at the bubbles. The doctors inside were hammering at the bubbles and shouting. Horti and Sammy slid the bubbles onto the pod targets.

Horti nodded. The bubbles dissipated, Parbath pressed the hologram control, and the bubble doctors disappeared. One of the assemblages doctors walked to the hologram in front of the first pod, Parbath Gremmith to the other.

Each called others to look at the holograms.

After several minutes they were gesturing and pointing at the holograms. Doctors freely moved from one group to the other.

After ten minutes of frenetic activity, Professor Lemtok addressed the doctors and guests.

“Colleagues and friends, our guests and ex-patients drew our attention to a matter of grave importance. What we found disturbs us and will no doubt disturb you all. Another being occupies both doctors. We incarcerated the organism separately and removed its consciousness.”

“What is it?” Sammy asked; “I have never seen anything like it.”

“The parasitic organism is interesting, it has a large brain the size of a Teokraeus, but most of it is in another dimension. The consciousness is characteristic of a Grork. Our Dinnion colleagues recognized the parasites from their world but believed they were extinct and had no idea they were Grork. We sent this information to our intelligence services for dissemination. I forwarded the Grork memories to our interrogators. The doctors and parasites are in stasis, and the consciousnesses are in secure containment and can no longer be accessed from here,” said Prof. Lemtok.

“Can you tell us more about what you know about the parasite?” Sammy asked.

Prof. Lemtok beckoned to the Dinnion doctor. “The parasite is internal and attaches to the highest part of the throat behind the nose and sends tendrils into the host’s brain. The Grork was in a symbiotic relationship with the Uzliumbax in Norbut 19. Still, when the Uzliumbax descended, they placed the Grork in parasites, which were jelly-like. We have not previously encountered Grork in Dinnion parasites.”

“What is the life cycle?” Sammy asked.

“The parasite lays eggs which form cysts in fish. If you eat contaminated fish, it will infest you. Rarely one of the parasites produces small, cloned versions of themselves, which can directly infest another animal. As far as I knew, the parasites did not infest humans, though there were rumors of a sect that believed in union with the parasites. I suspect we are dealing with a Grork, who produces young that can infest us,” explained the Dinnion Professor. “They emerged from Kemel. The hospital security holo-vids show them moving from her to the doctors.”

“What do you suggest as the best course of action?” asked an Uzliumbax doctor.

“I asked security people to round up anyone who worked on the Colonel. I will then ask Horti and Sammy to discern which among them is occupied by the Grork. The Gromelix and Azloc can also recognize the Grork consciousness, as can the Schlogg,” said Prof. Lemtok.

“I have the doctors’ reports who examined the Colonel while she was in stasis. I will summarize the findings, but we are no longer sure the findings are accurate. As a precaution, we placed Col. Kemel in a quarantine stasis area,” said Prof. Lemtok.

“These are the findings relevant to Colonel Kemel. We used small pods to examine the arms, legs, and torso in sections. They are small enough for doctors’ offices. Our doctors found concealed weapons in both arms, between every finger, and in every finger. The doctors removed these weapons and confirmed they were of Grork manufacture. Old-fashioned ultra short-wave technology ensures that Kemel has metallic material in her brain.

“The security people placed those who approached Kemel in a large conference room next door. We will bring them in one at a time. This is a stasis ring. Indicate if they are a suspect, and I shall capture them.

There were twenty doctors and thirty-six nurses. One nurse disappeared while on duty, and security could not locate her. The police launched an extensive search for her.”

Sammy and Horti examined the ones present and cleared them.

“I arranged for a team of Gromelix intelligence people to come here and go through our entire staff. These Grork may be behind the Naturalistas. This is an unusual and discomforting finding,” said Professor Lemtok. “The Grork discovered how to live in a human host. I had hoped the curse of the Grork had passed.”

“What happened to the Grork within the Uzliumbax who recently arrived from Norbut 19?” Asked Sammy.

“Many Uzliumbax and their partner Grork elected to descend. The Grork descends successfully into Azloc, the spiders.”

“I don’t understand descent,” said Horti.

“The Uzliumbax learned to send their consciousness here from Norbut 19. The consciousness enters into a fertilized egg. The disadvantage of descent is that the original person loses all their memories. It is a concept that may underlie beliefs that many beings have of reincarnation. Our anthropologists suspect many different ancients may have descended, making the concept so common and widely shared. In the Uzliumbax that came here, we send the Grork consciousness to the Azloc, and they create an Azloc body for the Grork. The rehabilitation is brutal as the Grork are unused to operating limbs.”

“Are the Grork not a threat to us, the ones from the recent Uzliumbax?”

“In short, no. The Destroyers rejected the Grork when they descended to Bekta Delta. They dumped them into the familiar jelly parasite we know and wanted nothing to do with them. Those Grork became bitter and twisted and chose a path of evil deeds. We suspect the Uzliumbax and Dinnion may have done something different. The Grork never became a problem here until some left Bekta Delta. Today we discovered a new and previously unknown manifestation of the Grork.”

“What happens to the Grork after rehabilitation in their new Azloc bodies.”

“They return to live with us,” said one of the Uzliumbax doctors. “I miss my Grork partner terribly. The Grork have reunited with our previous king and queen. My Grork is still struggling with rehabilitation and will retrain with the Azloc doctors before joining me. I feel like part of me is missing.”

“Can the intelligence people safely interrogate the Colonel?” Horti asked.

“I can answer that question tomorrow. We are examining the parasite and getting all known information on it. We must find out how it moves host if it has the same intermediate pathways, and if it can move trans-dimensionally from host to host as did the parasite they tailor-made for the Schlogg to keep them in line.”

“Come back tomorrow, and we will tell you what we found,” said Prof. Lemtok.

Sammy described what happened that day at dinner on the estate to the others.

Orma Chatzke nodded. “Yes, I know. I received a report that informed me the Grork is alive and well and living in an ancient parasite. It shocked me to my core. The intelligence report adds they are working on the hypothesis the Grork are behind the Naturalista. I am told you guys uncovered them. All of you are black holes for trouble. I will be interested to hear what the doctors discover tomorrow.”

“Merken, what do you see?” Horti asked.

“When the General was close to us, I detected another. I did not realize it was two minds. It was much how we talked to ourselves about a problem. Sporadically, the one was a leader, sometimes a follower, but a close partnership, so close it was like one mind. The General considered the Colonel to be the Mother. I cannot comprehend what that means.”

“I suspect a mother produces young clones that infest others,” said Sammy.

“Tomorrow, you and your friends must confront the Colonel from a position the hospital will make safe. You must add your magical protective measures before she enters. She will attack you. This is important; Aubrey, you must eliminate the Colonel’s threat; you know how. It is her other that will attack. You will learn something of importance and future value. This lesson will be vital when you return to your home universe,” said Merken.

“We will learn something when the Grork attacks us,” said Horti.

“Perhaps it is like when we achieve something in the game, and the achievement unlocks something in us,” said Aubrey.

“There is something else you will discover. You will find a being who you must rescue. She is with the enemy, but she is a friend, like the Grork on Earth. She must leave the Colonel. The Colonel will kill her if she can. Kill the Colonel when she is of no more value. Save the worm and give her to the Azloc priestess. The priestess, unlike the other Azloc, will not reveal who you are to the Emperor. She is a different, much older Azloc.”

Merken turned to Orma Chatzke. “You will pull these Naturalista out of their bolt holes one by one in the next two years, but like the Dinnion, you must seek help from the Azloc and the Gromelix,” added Merken. “More from the Azloc as the Gromelix are fewer. The Dinnion must become closer to the Azloc and not remain apart. They are two halves of the same whole.”

Merken turned and then strode into the kitchen with her heavily laden tray.

“I like her very much. Merken is a fine person and a wonderful oracle,” said Heather.

“I am pleased to know what is coming, but I am not looking forward to fighting a Grork; I feel woefully unprepared,” said Horti.

Her friends nodded.

“Orma Chatzke, may I ask your advice,” said Horti.

“Would you like to see me in my study?”

“No, I believe it is good for you guys to hear what I say,” said Horti, then paused. “I am terrified I could be the deluded fool who will bring grief to this universe. I don’t know who I am and know nothing of my people. Maybe they are using me to get them into this universe, and then they will be pretty awful.”

“Why do you say that, Horti?” Asked Brecht.

“Today, after encountering real live Grork, everything is suddenly more real. I felt terrible about Craig and Charlie having our DNA. I wanted to avoid converting anyone or taking them over. Maybe this is the way our people take over universes. What if I think I am good, but I am evil? A switch will go on, and I will turn into someone awful. What if there is something evil in my transdim brain?”

Orma Chatzke smiled and hugged Horti.

“The One, now known as Montgomery, one of the Una, is visiting tomorrow. I suggest we postpone our discussion until he is here. I will ask him if he can assess you. Before Jason became Emperor, the One was of great help to him. Jason shared several of your concerns. Horti, I am not worried about you and your people. However, I am worried about possible enemies of your people finding a way to leave with them,” said Brecht.

Horti nodded. She remained unmoving, her eyes unfocused, her brow furrowed. “That is a good point; if my people are as advanced as I think they are, they will have horrifying enemies!”

Horti shuddered as she recalled some of the enemies she had faced in the game.

“Welcome, back; I am happy to update you on the progress of our inquiries since yesterday. A team of Gromelix and Azloc come through the hospital. They picked up two nurses who had parasites. Other teams are working through our senior military. The Gromelix are teaching our military how to cast and find Grork and Gazronnaas,” said Prof. Lemtok.

“Do we know how powerful the Grork telepathic skills might be?” asked one of the Uzliumbax doctors.

“They vary much as we do. The Emperor used an Uzliumbax psychic enhancer in several battles to fight the most powerful of the Grork. The Schlogg tell me some are formidable,” said Prof. Lemtok.

“How can we learn magic?” Asked one of the Collective doctors.

“I believe we have Horti to thank for a new game we can play on our simulators which will teach us how to use magic,” said Prof. Lemtok. “The game is addictive and absorbs all my spare time. I discovered the game adapted to my needs. I learned about the techniques Sammy described to us. Like many worthwhile activities, it is not an easy shortcut. We all will have much to learn. To address the requirement, the hospital has arranged lessons for interested people. One of the Gromelix doctors will run a class on Thursday afternoons. She recommends spending at least an hour a day in the game. It is easier said than done. An hour in the game translates into a week while playing. Nevertheless, I am not tired unless I play longer than two hours. I can’t believe how much I learned in a week.”