ã€ŠFallen Angelsã€‹


 Prologue

    A sense of disjointed motion returned first. That, and a growing awareness of his ever-changing spatial milieu.

    Nevertheless, his perceptions were confused. A jumbled hullabaloo of conflicting references and energies that transposed into a gut-churning, bile-inducing freefall of fearful proportions. And yet, though the ongoing nosedive dominated his world, he felt detached somehow¡ªindistinct¡ªas if those sensations were a calamity inflicted upon another person entirely. Any moment now, he was sure he would awaken, only to find himself partaking of the bliss in utmost tranquility.

    But no! This horror was real. And it was happening now.

    As he regained consciousness, the terrible fall afflicted his very atoms, truncating them within an overwhelming compression field that would condemn him to certain oblivion if left to run its course.

    Sight restored¡ªat last, he was stuck by a giddy, kaleidoscopic rush of chaotic impressions. Sound followed in a deafening roar that swamped him, overpowering his ability to form a single coherent thought. Fighting against it, he struggled to establish some form of equilibrium and employed his waning capabilities in an effort of heroic proportions.

    I . . . I remain Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem. And my . . .? Yes, there they are!

    The others were here too, spread out all around him, unwilling participants of this sickeningly endless migration. Over and over they tumbled; darkening the further they fell from the Source; their spectral brilliance guttering as the Flame was leeched from their nexuses, diminishing their life-force into pathetic, somber embers of the splendor they once possessed.

    One by one, they too regained a measure of awareness, their rising panic flaring strontium-red amid the bedlam as they approached the geodesic curvature between realities.

    The plexus of actuality loomed ever larger.

    Brace yourselves, he called: this is going to hurt!

    Silent screams filled the ether as the esoteric grip increased, crushing their fragile sensibilities even further. It felt to him as if he had been fastened to a torture rack and was now being stretched to the point of rupturing.

    An eternity of purest agony followed¡ªwhere he was skewered upon a blade of the bleakest torment imaginable¡ªand then he was through, the gray limbo of multidimensional subspace replacing the overwhelming surge of light and sound.

    Welcome respite flooded his system, only to be occluded by a presence manifesting behind them.

    Casting his diminished senses backward, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem recognized Heimdhariel, Guardian of the Crossing, already in position to bar the way to those who might retain sufficient dynamism to create a bridge. How . . . how did I miss him?

    He was about to send a mental query, when a thunderous voice suppressed him into debased subjection.

    IN YOUR DISGRACED CONDITION, YOU ARE FORBIDDEN TO INTERACT WITH THOSE WHO ARE UNTAINTED. YOU ARE FORBIDDEN TO REVEAL THIS JUDGMENT TO ANY WHOSE ORIGIN IS NOT OF THE HOST. ONLY THE TRULY PENITENT MAY ONE DAY HOPE TO ACHIEVE CONSOLATION. GO NOW AND REFLECT ON THE ACTIONS THAT LED TO YOUR JUST PROSCRIPTION.

    With that, Heimdhariel raised his flaming sword. A blazing tau-field formed within the firmament and time held its breath. It resumed an instant later in an implosion of light, flame and irresistible mass that swept in toward a common nucleus.

    As the vortex swallowed them whole, psychic disorientation increased and Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem felt more of his anima stripped from him as he was forced through the Celestial Arch. The pulse of ambient life became muted, less fluid somehow, more insubstantial than it was before.

    Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem crashed through. His life-force shrank, a swing in status that eclipsed and then solidified his constitution in a way that shocked him to the core. This has gone further than I imagined possible. He didn¡¯t have time to dwell on his dilemma, however, for moments later they were ejected en masse from the cosmic axis and found themselves fully bound to the mortal plane.

    One of the first to recover, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem scanned their position, confirming their arrival within a huge void at the center of an immense galaxy. A galaxy now bereft of its gravitational failsafe as a direct consequence of their banishment. So, this is what Tartarus feels like?

    The energy shift was more pronounced here and so palpable he could taste its nuance in every molecule of his psi-well. His analysis was interrupted by a piercing query: Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem?

    He turned to find Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel in a quandary, his attention divided between a detailed study of their strange new environment and a broad assessment of the changes taking place inside him. Keeping his tone as level as possible, he replied: Yes, my friend?

    Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel¡¯s distraction was compounded as he widened his scans to include those scattered nearby: I am . . . we are . . . enveloped by corruption! Even you and I, who were of the Primary Echelon, are now debased. How were we so harshly judged?

    Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem directed his most intimate companion¡¯s attention to their brothers and sisters, most of who were already squabbling: It would appear those responsible for provoking resistance insist on trying to validate their actions . . . see? Though they coveted what didn¡¯t belong to them, their perverted ideals still dominate their aspirations, blinding them to the truth. We should not have tried to speak out in favor of a lighter ruling.

    But we took no part in the revolt! Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel retorted: We only expressed our doubt as to the wisdom of banishing them from their proper dwelling place among the Host. Surely, the Prime Causality must realize that such action reflects poorly on Him?

    Singling out one of the largest group of radicals, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem replied: Ah, but in expressing doubt we inadvertently raised a challenge against the wisdom and validity of His judgment. We allied ourselves with these the moment we uttered our reservations out loud. Because of our station, an example had to be made. We left Him with no other choice.

    They gazed across to where Psiedoni-jah and his cohorts¡ªMenoetius, Arestartus, Porphyries, Mnemosyne, Bael-zebad, Hestan-eal, Hadez¡¯ekiel, Adionysus and Ophaestus, were already trying to field the complaints of those crowding in on them.

    Although not of the Primary Echelon, their glory as members of the Median¡ªor Secondary Echelon¡ªhad become tainted over time. In an effort to win power and influence, it was these in particular who had started to obtrude in the affairs of the lower realms. It went without saying that they wanted to be worshipped as gods. Something they felt was their right as superior life-forms and members of the Heavenly Host. Those of the Exterior Echelon, who had been swayed by their more senior kindreds¡¯ arguments into joining the insurrection, were now questioning the wisdom of following their leadership.

    As de facto leader of the rebellion, Psiedoni-jah¡¯s rebuttals were the most vocal: I tell you we can turn this abasement to our advantage. If you¡¯d all just listen, we can establish a strategic pres¡ª

    You call this an advantage? Selene interjected.

    Her allusion to their dismal and degraded condition was not lost on the majority. Undaunted, she swept on: No matter what our station within the Host, we were glorious. Look at us now! Are you seriously trying to suggest we fall even farther by continuing this madness?

    Psiedoni-jah¡¯s puppet and most avid supporter, Menoetius, sneered: You are a fool, Selene, if you think we shouldn¡¯t dominate the mortals inhabiting this realm. Yes! We can all feel the effects of our exclusion, but our grandeur still far exceeds anything they possess.

    Psiedoni-jah¡¯s aura flared in approval: Menoetius is correct. This venture has cost us our true standing, so it is only fitting they offer recompense in the form of subjection, as is our rightful due

    A score of others flickered in support.

    Marking them, an exchange passed between Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem and Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel. The latter reacted directly. Storm loud, his rebuke sliced through the chatter: FITTING? RIGHTFUL DUE? Reining back his ardor, his irony became cutting: Were you asleep when we were torn from our home? Or did the worst affair in our existence mean nothing to you?

    Silence!

    Having captured their attention, he continued: Your corruption sinks deeper than I thought. Tell me, Psiedoni-jah, is psychological derangement a prerequisite to membership of this little coterie of yours?

    A menacing undertone began to coalesce amongst Psiedoni-jah¡¯s most ardent followers.

    Hadez¡¯ekiel cautioned: Brother, guard your opinion! Psiedoni-jah¡¯s assessment is sound. Yes, we have fallen from grace, but that is only because of the strength of our convictions. Would it not be a course of wisdom to capitalize on the situation we now find ourselves in?

    Murmurs of support rippled forth¡ªand from some¡ªa deeper nuance of stubborn defiance.

    Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem moved closer to his friend, blushing toward the infrared end of the spectrum in warning. The gesture was not lost on the majority. God¡¯s Angel of Vengeance and Destruction would still be a formidable adversary, fallen or no.

    Nevertheless, Hadez¡¯ekiel doggedly pressed ahead: We are cut off, there is no way back. So where is the harm in making the best of our circumstances? The beings of this realm are fleshly. Weaker. And Fallen or not, we are superior to them.

    Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel whispered: Strange you would forget Heimdhariel¡¯s words so easily. I fear that for those like you, there is no way to return.

    Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem detected a kernel of intent forming beneath the surface layers of Psiedoni-jah¡¯s consciousness. An intent mirrored by those possessing a similar temperament. Swiftly gaining both strength and purpose, that seed sprouted, blossoming toward impending action.

    Changing tack, Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel tried to reason the matter through: Tell me Hadez¡¯ekiel, what would you and those in your group do for these lesser beings?

    Do for them? Are you mad? They are beneath us, Brother. We should be considering what they can do for us. They owe us their servitude. Their devotion. We could reign supreme here!

    Menoetius, Hay-yel, Mnemosyne, and Porphyries started to fan out, their auras deepening to scarlet, betraying their murderous inclinations.

    Acknowledging their posturing, Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel remarked: It is evident Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem and I made the gravest of errors in trying to speak on your behalf. I did not realize the depth of your debasement, nor indeed how poisoned your souls have become. Addressing Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem directly, he emphasized: We were deluded to think that the Prime Causality wouldn¡¯t know the full extent of their iniquity from the outset. What have we done, Brother?

    Absorbed as he was by the maneuvering taking place before them, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem didn¡¯t reply. He watched closely as Menoetius barked in contempt, a scornful act signaling the commencement of something far more provocative; the invitation to form a harmonic link, open to more than a dozen of his more aggressive contemporaries.

    Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem restrained himself admirably. Until Menoetius¡¯ threat pushed things too far: You are all imbeciles. Especially if you think to oppose us now!

    Before a connection could be established and before any of its contributors could react, four coherent beams of devastating energy stabbed out. The containment thresholds belonging to Menoetius, Hay-yel, Mnemosyne, and Porphyries were breached instantly. For what seemed like an eternity they hung there¡ªimpaled and shrieking in agony¡ªbefore they ruptured, their atoms vaporized into a quartet of spiraling dust clouds.

    All minds turned to the originator of those lethal blasts: Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem. His glacial brilliance hadn¡¯t phase-shifted once during the attack.

    Subsuming the essences of the would-be murderers into his already mighty complexus, he then seized the rest of Psiedoni-jah¡¯s lackeys within a vicelike mental grip, causing them to cry out in anguish.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    The unfathomable embrace faded, only to return a heartbeat later in the form of a gentle insinuation that rested innocuously against their psyches. Each and every one of them shied automatically, tensing in trepidation.

    Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem hovered there, calmly, until everyone acknowledged the weight of his rank. When he spoke, he uttered a veiled threat of his own: It looks as if Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel and I retain an echo of our capacities as members of the Primary Echelon. Remember that, should you be inclined to further foolishness . . . or scheme treachery in the future.

    The point was well made. A minority of the Fallen started gravitating toward Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem and Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel immediately, the former noting they were composed mostly of those who were regretful of the wrong they had perpetrated.

    He continued: Do you not appreciate the reality of our situation? We are now afflicted by Tartarus. A condition we were never meant to have. I cannot believe I stood before the Assembly of the Heavenly Host, advocating a more lenient form of correction for your errors. I see now I was wrong. Your stigma runs deep. If you do not make a determined effort to leave such error behind . . . well . . . you have no future.

    So what would you have us do, Brother? Psiedoni-jah demanded, the barest flicker of sincerity brightening his visage: Ignore them? Cast them adrift to folly entirely?

    The shamed Destroyer withdrew, seeking counsel from his ranking counterpart. A buzz of telepathic activity spurted back and forth between them at lightning speed. In due course, an accord was reached. Breaking the link, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem replied for them both: Listen, everyone. Listen!

    Enfolding their minds within his vast nexus, he ranged for billions upon billions of leagues in all directions, searching out the telltale signs indicative of fledgling sentience. He found it, though such life was newly introduced on this universal sphere: These humans require our help. They need to be nurtured, guided. Are you so blinded by ignorance that you can¡¯t perceive their potential? Yes, they are fleshly. Nonetheless, they contain a spark of the divine flame within them. When it matures¡ªthousands upon thousands of their cycles from now into the future¡ªwill they not bring glory to the Source in their own unique way?

    A number of the Fallen flashed brighter at that suggestion. Some in hope. But sadly, most in outright rejection.

    Flustered, Psiedoni-jah hissed: What? You would have us stoop even lower and . . . and play nursemaids to them? Really!

    Why not? Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel exclaimed: Who better to help us understand the hidden depths and scope of the Prime Causality? Perchance our banishment here can be turned to our advantage, though in a different manner than you intended. Who knows, our service might even facilitate our eventual return.

    Service? Psiedoni-jah didn¡¯t sound convinced: But how will serving them, serve us?

    Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel glanced Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem¡¯s way, and replied: Our decline was due in part to our presumptuousness. A number of us thought too highly of our own opinion. Others craved that to which we are not due. Whatever the reason, a willingness to capitulate requires humility. A characteristic lacking in some more than others! Who knows what might be achieved if we but put our minds to the task?

    Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem scanned the throng about them as they considered Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel¡¯s proposal. Some were obviously keen to accept the challenge. Of these, Hera¡¯n-el, Cassiel, Selene, Za-Hermesiah, Raphael, and Din¡¯athinae were to the fore. Others cogitated more deeply, clearly troubled that they had been led into wrongdoing so easily.

    A few¡ªled by Mae¡¯loch and Bael-zebad of the Median Echelon¡ªremained rigidly inflexible. When they started to edge away, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem decided to deliver a blunt ultimatum: Persist on that path if you must! The choice is yours. Regardless, it would bode you well to remember a simple fact. If you ever set out to govern any of the beings inhabiting this realm, I will ensure you face the consequences of your error. Reduced I may be. Yet I remain beyond you and would make a fearsome adversary.

    His remark was accepted with a grudging acknowledgement.

    In close series, the diehards departed, fading into self-imposed banishment whilst sulking openly over lost chances and what might-have-beens.

    Ruminating privately, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem watched them go. Fools, they think to gain a measure of freedom. All they are doing is condemning themselves to petrifaction and extinction.

    His brooding was interrupted by a gentle request: My friend, Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel probed: out of all of us here your intuitive sight is the strongest. Please. Reveal the hurdles ahead of us so we may better decide our course.

    Doing as he was bid, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem mitigated his demeanor, cast out his senses, and gathered the entirety of his immeasurable precognitive faculty to him.

    Once his summoning was ready, he commenced linking facets of its potential to the legion of causational probability nodes saturating the subspace medium. Priming those nodes, he then sent an almost insubstantial pulse along each one, before releasing them to their¡ªas yet¡ªundetermined fate.

    A multitude of incorporeal destinies sickened the instant they appeared, inundated by a swarm of muddy green shrouds that smothered, and then choked the life from them. Discarding such refuse, he sent another, deeper burst of power along the remaining cords.

    Again, most expired, flaring into brilliance for the briefest of moments before fading away to nothing.

    Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem continued his ministrations, exerting his will, over and over without letup. Every effort became more refined and precise; his control, more polished and explicit. As the number of viable alternatives dwindled, they started gleaming, and Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem was quick to entice a melody from each latent source of joy until the ether glowed hot with brilliant pinpoints of light.

    In the end, a mere seven remained.

    Erupting in argent radiance, their lustrous character generated musical notes of the purest stripe. Swiftly, dexterously, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem set about gathering them together with a finesse only the Prime Causality and the First could hope to surpass.

    Awestruck, the others admired his work from a distance.

    Lost to a cadence of his choosing, he wove his will into and around the texture of those filaments, coaxing them toward the plausibility apogees they might one day encompass. As he did so, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem extended his mighty precognitive faculty along each node, whereupon he instigated an in-depth assessment of their worth.

    Finally, after more than an hour had passed, he was able to share his prognosis.

    A squadron of delicate, fernlike fronds lingered upon the threshold of existence, a whirling multicolored structure of intricate design, pleasing on the eye and soul alike. Fluttering on gossamer wings, they peeled back their outer layers to reveal a series of expediencies that would need to be followed as the centuries passed. Projecting them into the far distant future, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem realized only four might stabilize into a solid temporal stream. He sighed: It would appear we have a choice before us, Brothers and Sisters.

    An unexpected bonus, Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel acknowledged: But which offers the best outcome for the mortals of this realm?

    It depends on how many of the Host joins us on this venture . . . observe! Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem then highlighted the variances involved within each strand; the specific obstacles that needed to be overcome; the victories and defeats they would have to endure as the eons rolled slowly by. He finished by stressing what would be required of them.

    Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel expanded his perceptions: Who is with us?

    Gaur-el, Hera¡¯n-el, Cassiel, Selene, Za-Hermesiah, Raphael, and Din¡¯athinae gravitated to their side without hesitation. When no one else moved, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem regarded the stragglers wearily.

    He needn¡¯t have worried. It was clear some were still deliberating the matter, while others couldn¡¯t seem to decide, one way or the other.

    Considering his options, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem decided to test the waters with persuasion: Why do you hold back from what needs to be done?

    Appalled, Hestan-eal spluttered: Mu . . . must we adopt a restrictive lesser form? Surely there¡¯s another way. Is guiding these . . . these insects not enough?

    The alpha probability indicates the best results will be achieved by walking among them as humans. Shepherds must be approachable. Our current form, although darkened, would no doubt result in them attempting to blindly worship us. That must be avoided at all costs. Agreed?

    Hestan-eal turned to her sponsor, Psiedoni-jah for support. In turn, Psiedoni-jah beckoned to his remaining advocates, Arestartus, Hadez¡¯ekiel, Xe-Dionysus, and Ophaestus to come and link with them. They were joined by Liwet and Xaph-ean.

    A multitude of opinions flashed hither and thither between them, the volume of crimson and ruby eruptions providing ample evidence of how heated the debate was.

    As they argued, the rest of the Fallen gravitated away slightly . . . just in case.

    Eventually, the ad hoc meeting broke apart and Psiedoni-jah spoke for his cabal: While we question the wisdom of this charade, we feel that perhaps it would be a course of prudence to at least make the attempt . . . If only to see how long this madness can last.

    Seeds of ill-concealed malice burned deeply within Psiedoni-jah¡¯s complexus. An attitude sadly prevalent amongst his supporters¡ªespecially Arestartus, Hadez¡¯ekiel and Hestan-eal¡ªwho seemed incapable of repressing their true feelings sufficiently to hide them.

    Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem¡¯s counsel trilled along Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel¡¯s intimate mode, expertly masked: We need to watch them closely! Even if we end up trapped here forever, they will seek to turn this situation to their own advantage.

    Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel¡¯s mental overlay revealed his fatigue: No, my Brother. You will have to watch them. After what we¡¯ve been through, I don¡¯t have the stomach to play nanny to these idiots as well as steer the younger race toward enlightenment.

    Sensitive to his companion¡¯s shock, Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel made haste to continue: Oh, don¡¯t worry too much. I wouldn¡¯t leave you completely alone with such a monumental task ahead of you. I¡¯ll wait until after the intervention has been initialized before I begin my own personal penance. Indicating the huge void around them, he teased: I was thinking here would be as good a place as any?

    Following his friend¡¯s line of thought, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem took the measure of the surrounding abyss. It was evident their arrival had triggered a major catastrophe by destroying the resident black hole that had anchored the galaxy in place among the expanding cluster. Without it, the entire star-whorl would gradually cool, slow, diminish, and die.

    Stunned, he replied: What? You intend to fulfill the function of a singularity?

    It will be a sound place to start. Who knows? It might even work! If you read between the lines, I think Heimdhariel was trying to give us a hope as we were cast down. . .

    . . . I¡¯d like to think so anyway.

    Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem didn¡¯t think it rude to let his reservations show.

    Directing his attention toward the more responsive of the Fallen, Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel tried to brighten the mood: And to be honest, I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll face the task alone. There are enough Median Echelon members here to help you keep our wayward brats in check without having to resort to drastic measures.

    While that statement was true, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem didn¡¯t fail to notice that nearly a score of the remaining Fallen¡ªa number representing nearly all the Exterior Echelon in fact¡ªwere reluctant to join them. Of those, the majority seemed contrite, though they were evidently still overwhelmed by the events leading to their ostracism. What¡¯s more, the outer veneer of their auras revealed no hint of malice. Projecting his question toward them in particular, he demanded: What will you do?

    Gaia-le¡¯el was the first to answer: I, for one, need to be alone. Seclusion will give me the opportunity to reflect as I sojourn the cosmos. If we are expected to nurture the infants of this plane, then I may go ahead of you and determine how many empty worlds are suitable for life. Maybe the timely manipulation of each planet¡¯s essence will help prepare them for future habitation?

    Both Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem and Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel radiated approval. It would be a worthy task, stretching across the endless expanse. More minds were quick to add their support.

    As Gaia-le¡¯el summoned her hyperspatial translation field, she was joined by Azala-Jophiel, Aslan-di¡¯el, Ocean-az¡¯el, Sachael-Yao-teth and Olinda.

    Ocean-az¡¯el was moved to express her small cadre¡¯s desire: We would come with you, Sister . . . if you don¡¯t mind the company to begin with? Your offer has spurred us to consider similar ideals. I assure you, it won¡¯t be for long. And once we¡¯ve determined where best to concentrate our respective endeavors, we can go our separate ways.

    Gaia-le¡¯el¡¯s aura mellowed to a rosy hue: You are welcome, Brothers and Sisters. Come. Let us depart in haste so we may begin to soothe the scalding heat of our disgrace.

    And with that, the most compassionate of them all winked away into exile.

    Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel turned his attention to those of the Exterior Echelon who had yet to assert their position: And you? Have you determined the path you would follow?

    At first, no one dared answer directly¡ªalthough the mental chatter between them increased tenfold. Nevertheless, a united consensus soon predominated.

    Leaping on it, Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel inquired: You have a question, Gazad-riel?

    Gazad-riel remained unsure. Hesitant: As the least of these, our Brothers and Sisters, we may be unequal to the task ahead. Would you welcome us in sharing some of the load?

    Glancing toward Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem, Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel showered feelings of support and comradeship upon their lower brethren: Be in no doubt, your assistance will be sorely needed and greatly appreciated. The road ahead of us is long. Your contributions will no doubt be a vital factor in ensuring the success of our endeavors . . . Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem?

    On cue, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem stilled his mind. Concentrating, he wove the personalities and influence the remaining members of the Fallen would contribute into the still vibrant causality matrix. The four nodes inside chimed, reverberating with sonorous tones as they were projected toward their respective probability climaxes.

    The assembled host waited.

    At last, one of the matrices blazed as bright as a sun cresting the disc of an occluding planet. Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem was jubilant. Expanding the crown of that quasi-reality for all to see, he declared: See there? A theotet! This is the canon we must commit to, to ensure the fulfillment of our goal.

    The scale of his ingenuity was mind numbing. Weaving a rich tapestry of circumstance, cause and effect, he went on to emphasize exactly what would have to take place across millennia in order for them to stay on course. It was a grand enterprise. Majestic in scope and purpose. But it came at a price.

    A price some were unwilling to pay.

    The midnight canvass of space disappeared as two of their number¡ªGau-re¡¯el and Elphaesus¡ªended their lives in an act of self-immolation. The glare of their sacrifice caused all present to throw up hasty shields. All, that is, except for Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem, who swiftly subsumed their ruptured energies into his own potential.

    Before anyone could express their outrage, he flatly stated: What we do here affects the outcome eons from now. You all know my cardinal attributes. I¡¯ll not see vital strength wasted on futile gestures or petulant outbursts.

    Ignoring further protestations, he activated the probability strand again, held his ethereal breath, and assessed the node¡¯s integrity.

    His relief was as profound as it was personal: Thank the Maker for that! The theotet¡¯s structure hasn¡¯t been compromised. We still retain a viable option for progress.

    Satisfied, he turned to Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel: You were generated before me, Brother, so it is fitting you should shoulder the burden of headship. Please, lead us all in harmonic union. I need to detail our path in its fullness before demonstrating how we may empty ourselves of our Divine nature to assume a human form.

    Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel consented. Coming together, the last of the Fallen bound themselves in a state of utmost intimacy.

    They remained that way, locked in position like a cluster of orbiting stars, for an age of days. During that time, the secret to Unification was laid bare in all its magnificence. Once the revelation was over, all were content to float quietly in the vastness of space, meditating privately on its implications for the future.

    In due course Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel suggested: Shall we?

    And with that, the obsidian backdrop of the void was split by a supernova, an event signifying the commencement of an immense journey toward a tiny planet lying so very, very far away. If all went to plan, their ministrations there¡ªdue to culminate only after thousands and thousands of years had passed¡ªwould yield everlasting results.

    If all went to plan!

 Close Call

    Grand Master Hexa-ka Moonlight regarded her class from afar with professional interest. They were engaged in something that had always been very dear to her heart: Tracking.

    Of Dakotan Indian descent, she had grown up in the Swan Lake area of Manitoba, Canada. Indeed, many of her family still lived on the Reserve there, proud bearers of a noble and prolific heritage.

    Her own name, Hexa-ka¡ªHexa for short¡ªwas Dakotan for deer, an apt title in her case. Even as a child she was fleet of foot and would run like the wind over most terrains. And no matter how fast she ran, Hexa could still track better than anyone else she knew. What¡¯s more, she was always able to find her way home, regardless of the distance involved or how dark it was.

    In the days leading up to her twelfth birthday, Hexa¡¯s family finally discovered why it was their child was so gifted. That¡¯s when puberty hit and her underlying supernatural abilities had manifested.

    As Hexa was delighted to discover, she was highly telepathic. Powerful in all the ultrasenses, she was also telekinetic and capable of generating shield bubbles of impressive integrity. Best of all¡ªin her opinion¡ªshe could manipulate the visible light spectrum in startling, yet wondrous ways.

    Indeed, as her gifts blossomed, people from her tribe would often see her sprinting through the forests surrounding the reservation at breakneck speed. Always laughing and sparkling like a bejeweled rainbow, she was looked upon as a good omen, for her kinfolk¡¯s legends were brimming with detailed stories regarding the life and times of mystical characters called Sun and Moon and Falling-Star.

    It was inevitable that her talents would one day attract the attention of those outside her community, and for a while, it was necessary to hide what she could do. Fortunately, her expansion into metapsychic infancy¡ªsome fifty summers previously¡ªhad come to the notice of another group of mystical characters. And now, Hexa¡¯s life was devoted to serving others, and helping them discover the delights their abilities could bring.

    Rising to the rank of Grand Master, Hexa had never lost those skills, honed during her informative years. And just as well, for the Guardians not only ensured their members were as thoroughly trained as possible¡ªboth physically and psychically¡ªbut prepared to face any dilemma, no matter the environment or conditions they found themselves in.

    Earlier that morning, Hexa had dispatched a small group of fifth year students into the boulder-strewn valleys close to the Florey Basin. Situated a few miles west of the Training Academy, it was her favorite site for what had become known as, the ¡°Rapid Ravine Race,¡± the culminating exercise that would determine who had the right mettle to face the final trials.

    Though some looked on the race as nothing more than glorified orienteering without a compass, Hexa knew better. Those in her care had to be stretched. Their ingenuity, courage and stamina needed to be tested under stress conditions.

    So, as was her custom, she had left a number of increasingly difficult trails¡ªtwelve in all¡ªacross the lunar landscape. The class was then divided into teams and allocated diminishing windows of time to track her footprints or markers, retrieve a hidden object and complete an emergency related exercise, before returning to a designated RV point.

    While most of the undergraduates were able to generate a barrier of sufficient strength to protect themselves from the effects of the surrounding vacuum, she¡¯d seen to it that they carried supplementary protection by way of belt-mounted mitigators.

    Prevention was better than cure. And though her training methods were unusual, Hexa¡¯s safety record was second to none.

    This particular group had done well. Better than any other class before them. As such, Hexa decided to make the afternoon phase more difficult by retracing her steps over the last three stages. Instead of the wide open vista of the Florey basin, the teams would now be traversing the rugged canyons close to the Moon¡¯s magnetic north pole.

    In an effort to confuse them even further, Hexa added a little surprise to the final leg of their journey: an additional seven mile hike, leading everyone back to her current location at a spot just beyond the Academy¡¯s perimeter.

    She was understandably keen to see how these students would react to the change in circumstances and distance.

    And she hadn¡¯t been disappointed.

    Hexa observed the candidates with her farsight as each respective group had reached the twelfth checkpoint thinking they could take a break, only to discover the trail continued along an unexpected path. Commendably, the majority immediately followed the fresher tracks, obviously remembering their instructor was well known for pulling such stunts.

    Only two teams had vacillated.

    Checking back along their presumed return route, they travelled for nearly a mile before realizing their error. Needless to say, they had expended themselves mightily since then, getting back on course.

    Hexa watched closely as all five groups approached, less than three minutes apart. The last two teams had made up for lost time admirably and were sweating heavily for their efforts. As usual, residue from the lunar surface caked their uniforms in an ashlike film. It always amazed her how the damned stuff managed to filter through mechanically generated screens. But at least it was entertaining. The powdery soil made everyone look like aboriginal hunters engaged on a dream-quest.

    Laughing to herself, she mused. That¡¯ll teach them!

    Though she basked in the satisfaction of catching yet another intake on the hop, she was only too ready to give credit where it was due. This bunch¡ªdue to graduate next month¡ªhad been a pleasure to teach.

    As the first pair jogged in with team two hot on their heels, she began handing out bottles of water so they would be able to wash the dust from their parched throats. Speaking telepathically because of the vacuum, she called: Well done! Take a break over there by the auxiliary power relay station and check your dosimeter readings while we wait for the others to arrive.

    She started to relax a little. Competent they may be, but until they graduated, these students were her responsibility. And being out and about in one of the harshest environments in existence always put her on edge. Not that there was much chance of anything happening this close to the environs of the Academy, for the entire complex was protected by a triple-tiered Recognition and Response¡ªRoaR System¡ªa much larger adaptation of the Automatic Targeting Recognition¡ªATR¡ªhardware fitted on board their orbital stations.

    The inner vector field was comprised of a hard barrier, and was always operational. It not only formed an impervious but transparent line of defense against solar radiation and meteoroids, but it also confined the air bubble to a specific one hundred-foot radius from the farthest reaches of the base.

    Above that, the outer screen¡ªset to a maximum altitude of one nautical mile¡ªwas also invisible. However, this layer operated under the strictures of oscillating pulse frequencies. Emitted by an aggressive AI awareness package, those waves were capable of identifying unknown threats within a fraction of a second. If a danger was detected, the barrier would transmute into a viscous medium, tagging the objective of interest whilst simultaneously triggering the intermediate buffer.

    Once activated, the median force field would deliver a psitronically amplified psychoenergetic shock, thereby neutralizing the indicated target, be it technological or biological in nature.

    Hexa¡¯s third team was only a hundred yards out when the defensive screens blazed to life. Her hand automatically twitched toward her baton as she dropped into a crouch and spun on her heel, seeking out the extent of the danger. She was distracted from her task by a sudden tightness in her extremities. Glancing down, she was alarmed to see her fingers swelling before her eyes. She froze, and was slammed into the dirt, the force of the impact knocking the air from her lungs.

    The facility¡¯s vector field went to work; delivering a stunning wallop to whatever it was it had latched onto. Before she could attempt to farscan what that hazard might be, plasmic tendrils arced down from the dome and struck her in the chest.

    Taken by surprise for a second time, she allowed the static spillover to snap and crackle across the surface of her uniform several times before bringing it under control.

    Too late!

    The static charge grounded, rendering her momentarily senseless.

    When she came to, Hexa found herself gulping like a fish out of water. Her heart pounded in her chest, demanding oxygen from lungs that refused to inflate properly. Damn, it feels as if I¡¯m going to explode!

    A tremor rolled through the strata beneath her feet. She tensed, expecting another shockwave . . .

    It never came. So what in the . . .?

    That¡¯s when she noticed her students choking and clutching at their throats. Until some thought to employ their own talents. Those who did quickly recovered.

    A rather large penny dropped!

    The potency of the safeguards¡ªamplified by psitronic energy¡ªhad overloaded the personal mitigators they were wearing.

    As swiftly as she could, Hexa reached out toward the remaining three teams who had not yet returned: RAISE SHIELDS! RAISE SHIELDS! THE DEFENSIVE PROTOCOLS HAVE SHORTED OUT THE MITIGATORS. RAISE YOUR SHIELDS NOW OTHERWISE YOU¡¯LL PASS OUT AND SUFFOCATE!

    Turning back toward the base, she then activated her locator beacon and calmly announced: Emergency Standby Squads, this is Grand Master Hexa-ka Moonlight. I am at reference twelve alpha zero, by one beta one with a class of ten souls. Please home in on my signal. We may have casualties needing attention.

    The space in front of her contorted. Stepping smartly to one side, Hexa was treated to the astonishing sight of Team Three¡ªcomprised of Robin Johns and Emma Boucher¡ªwho were each assisting a pair of candidates from the final two groups.

    Both Robin and Emma were very strong natural shielders. Emma also possessed Grand Master ranking hyperspatial translation abilities. Having been a paramedic before entering the Guardians program, Emma was accustomed to keeping her head in a crisis. It was evident she had been able to quickly determine the peril.

    Hexa¡¯s suspicions were soon confirmed. As Emma deposited her classmates on a large roll-out survival blanket, she paused to pass a brief update to her instructor:

    Because they were farther away from the pulse generators, Robin and Emma had time to employ their own defenses before their mitigators shorted out. Reacting instinctively, they went on to make an accurate assessment of the threat level, and prioritized who might need help first. Emma then teleported them both out to Team Four. Dropping Robin off there to care for their fellow students, she immediately jumped again, this time to where Team Five were fighting off the effects of asphyxiation.

    Snatching them free of the vacuum, Emma had then leapfrogged back through Robin¡¯s position, before unceremoniously dumping everyone at the feet of their tutor.

    Impressed, Hexa watched as Emma administered first aid to her stricken colleagues in a clam and professional manner. Even when the Emergency Standby Squad arrived, she didn¡¯t let up, and began issuing a detailed pr¨¦cis to the healers of who was suffering from what malady. That girl has one hell of a positive attitude. It won¡¯t be long before she gets a command of her own!

    Catching the Squad Leader¡¯s attention, Hexa snapped: What the hell happened? My students were nearly caught on the back foot out there.

    Guardian Master Mark Smith raised his hands in defeat: Your guess is as good as mine, Hexa. One moment it was as quiet as a death wake in a morgue, and then all hell broke loose. Next thing I know, the Shadow Lord turns up¡ªliterally within a few heartbeats of the alarm activating¡ªwith the Lord Inquisitor close behind! From what I was told, they politely insisted the Special Protection Group ¡°get lost,¡± and began mooching around all by themselves. I¡¯m talking with Tamari now on another psi-channel. Nobody seems to have any idea what¡¯s going on.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll find out what we need to know in due course. In any event, thanks for getting here so quickly. That was too close for comfort. If not for Emma and Robin, I think you¡¯d have had far worse to deal with.

    The Guardian Master grinned: That¡¯s the great thing about fifth year students. They¡¯re almost ready to be unleashed, and are easier to look after . . . Or so I¡¯m told!

    Flipping a thumbs-up, he jumped his squad away and Hexa got to work, helping to prepare the casualties for the brief hop back to the medical wing.

    She¡¯d been lucky. Only three of her students had ruptured capillaries about their sclera from the sudden pressure variance brought on by the collapse of the mitigator shields. Two were suffering from hypothermia, and one had a mild case of flash-freeze frostbite. It could have been much worse.

    Yes, that was a close call. Though God only knows how I¡¯m going to explain all this to Lord Marshal Suresh!

    <h6>*</h6>

    Andrew exited the gray limbo of hyperspace¡ªmind blazing, fired up and ready for battle¡ªand crashed into the lunar surface. The ground shook under an assault releasing the energy of a Grade 2 moonquake.

    Lightning played across his visage, a sure sign of kill lust. Only five seconds had passed since the alarm¡¯s activation, and he was confident their prize would still be nearby.

    He spotted the quavering green halo of the tag a thousand yards up, and was reminded of a miniature Aurora Borealis. Leaping to its location, he immediately set to, separating the exuberance unleashed by the defensive discharge from the esoteric vibrations still throbbing wanly in the ether. Ah bugger!

    Then Victoria arrived.

    As she materialized, his sister released a psychic pulse designed to pursue and paralyze a very specific target within a ten mile radius. Her task complete, she screamed toward her brother like a meteor, only pulling up with scant inches to spare: What¡¯s cooking?

    Completing his manipulations of the rarified medium, Andrew replied: I¡¯m just about to find out. Although I¡¯ve got a feeling we already know what it¡¯s going to say.

    A few seconds later, he had his answer and enlarged the info-packet for ease of examination.

    Before they could delve into its contents, a full contingent from the Special Protection Group jumped into the location. Arrayed in tactical formation, their shields and batons were fully charged and deployed.

    The team leader, High Grand Master Designate Tamari Singh seemed surprised to find the two Lords already in attendance: Sir! Ma¡¯am! Do you wish for me to take over? This is what we¡¯re here for.

    Andrew made haste to conceal what he had uncovered, while Victoria turned to their subordinate and replied: Thank you, Tamari, but we¡¯ll be handling this . . . Alone. You can all go now.

    If she was offended by the bluntness of the dismissal, Tamari didn¡¯t show it. Saluting, she signaled for her team to leave and, after they had departed, inspected the area herself. Apparently satisfied there were no further threats to worry about, she too disappeared without a word.

    Once they were alone again, Andrew gravitated toward to his sister and projected the results of his preliminary investigation in the void between them: Take a look at this.

    Victoria digested the data and read the AI¡¯s tag-log herself. Well, screw me blind! It actually worked. Do you see? It recognized the binary helix and generated sufficient wattage to almost capture our intruder.

    Almost being the point! Andrew replied sourly: They¡¯re obviously stronger than we thought, and are still employing an amazingly sophisticated means of escape. A pyramid pod of all things. But now we know, we can adjust the protocols and zap them as soon as they dare make another appearance. A calculating look tightened his features: I think I may have a little surprise cooked up by the time they come calling again.

    You think they¡¯ll be back?

    Remember who we¡¯re dealing with. They didn¡¯t get what they were after, so yes. They¡¯ll be back . . . eventually.

    Sound reasoning, I suppose. Victoria edged closer: So, can you tell who it was?

    Deftly completing his manipulations, Andrew replied: Hang on. . .

    . . . Yup! Here we go! It was Ares. And if what I¡¯m reading here is correct, he only just managed to escape. Goddammit!

    Why do you think he was here? Victoria mused, scoping the base far below and then focusing on their assets in high orbit: You don¡¯t think he was poking around the hyper-jump gate do you? It¡¯s almost completed now and security is tight. If they managed to sabotage it, it would set our colonization schedules back for years.

    Andrew¡¯s expression mirrored that of his twin: I don¡¯t know, Vic. That would be too obvious. . .

    He had a thought: Hey, what about their hosts? They¡¯ve been our patients now for over five years and are only just coming out of their comas. Who knows what their reintegrated memories will be able to tell us?

    Victoria met her brother¡¯s scrutiny, her countenance an open book. Her gaze portrayed the mantra they knew so well: Prepare for every eventuality¡ªeven those nobody has thought of yet. Aloud, she said: So! How do we prepare for the unexpected?

    Andrew chewed his lip for a moment and received a healthy dose of welcome inspiration: Where¡¯s father? I¡¯ve just had a brainwave!

    This near to completing his preparations, I¡¯ll give you one guess. Why?

    I think we¡¯re definitely going to need his help on this.

    Victoria¡¯s eyes glowed warmly: What have you thought of? C¡¯mon, spill!

    Andrew didn¡¯t reply immediately, and smiled when his sister began skimming the various facets of his aura expertly as each part of a foolproof plan fell into place. But he wasn¡¯t surprised. Born of a very special union¡ªand only one minute apart¡ªthey shared a symbiotic behavioral mindset unlike anything or anyone else under creation.

    Somehow, she managed to contain her excitement until he¡¯d finished.

    Ushering her closer, Andrew explained his reckoning process: Would you agree that, if we adjusted the output of the psitronic crystal, it should boost the defenses enough to easily hold Psi-edon and his cohorts in check, yes?

    Yeeees, go on.

    Even so, that option is only viable for the Headquarters environs. It won¡¯t do any of the orbital stations, ships, or Earth-bound facilities any long-term good will it?

    Of course not. If we expanded its active field too far, it would directly impact our ability to function as an organization. Where are you going with this?

    Andrew flashed his eyebrows: I was thinking. Seeing as the crystal is so big, what if we excised some of its smaller nodules¡ªjust a dozen or so¡ªand shaved them into flecks? That way, we¡¯d have thousands of options to play with. And while they¡¯ll be nowhere near as strong as the mother lode, it would still extend our reach, especially if we get father¡¯s help in splicing some of those flecks with mineral samples from the stratum outside the Reflection Chamber!

    The light in Victoria¡¯s eyes grew more intense: But . . . but that would . . .

    Precisely! The crystal would enhance the suppressant qualities of the moon rock and nullify the rebels¡¯ potential for long enough to allow us to get our hands on them.

    Without warning, Andrew found himself on the receiving end of a sisterly bear hug. A bear hug that made no attempt to spare his blushes. Victoria crowed: And the great thing is, if we scatter the samples strategically, we¡¯d be able to protect our most important facilities, no matter how spread out they are. Wow! Talk about, ¡®surprise suckers!¡¯ Brilliant!

    But Andrew hadn¡¯t finished. Wriggling to escape Victoria¡¯s clutches, he continued: If you think that¡¯s worthy of getting all girly-whirly about, I dread to think what you¡¯ll do when you hear my thoughts about negating the effects of their pyramid escape pods as well.

    Negate? What do you mean by . . . negate?

    Well, as you know, once initiated, the escape pod generates two hyperspace windows. One real and the other bogus! In turn, that pairing spawns four gates; then eight; then sixteen, and so on and so forth. The more powerful the originating threshold, the more false trails they¡¯re capable of leaving. Even the weaker ones make distinguishing the correct path extremely difficult.

    Yes, I understand. So?

    Sooo, if we could rig something up that either marked the real route from the word go, or corrupted it . . . Andrew clenched his fist for emphasis: they¡¯d fall right into our trap! With father¡¯s know-how, we might even be able to influence the final materialization point so it steers them to a location of our choosing.

    A smell of ozone predominated as a spark jumped between their respective shield bubbles. Victoria released her grip and shook her head in wonder: Andy. If you could do that, I would be super-uber impressed.

    Unable to resist the opening, he replied: Well, as firstborn it comes naturally. Pity you popped out second, otherwise you¡¯d have been the one unfairly blessed with a vastly superior intellect and astonishing good looks.

    Victoria snorted and punched him on the arm: Then I¡¯d better shepherd my limited brain cells into doing something useful. Stand out of the way while I update father.

    Andrew winced and rubbed his bicep: Bloody hell! Have you put on weight?

    Ignoring the jibe, Victoria gave herself room to maneuver and became encompassed within a sizzling astral corona. Compressing her will into a single coherent thought-package, she sent it caroming away into the vast reaches of space.

    Though he tried to relax, Andrew wasn¡¯t happy. A nagging feeling he was missing something¡ªsomething obvious¡ªcontinued to plague him. He tried to imagine their predicament from another perspective. If I was out to get one over on us, what would I target first? What¡¯s here on Moon Base that could be so important?

    A few moments later, his jaw dropped open. No way!

    Ending her call, Victoria caught the expression on her brother¡¯s face: Ah-ha! There¡¯s the witless caveman I know so well. What made you revert back to your normal hit everything with a club persona?

    He was too shocked to enjoy the dig: Sis, what if they were after the crystal itself?

    Her mood sobered instantly.

    Andrew rushed to expand on his remark: Remember? At the time, Hestia was second only to father in her understanding and use of a psitronic crystal. She maintained the Flame! Just imagine what she could do if she got her hands on this new one! It¡¯s way more powerful than the Source that protected old Kalliste.

    As they reminisced on ancient history, brother and sister regarded each other closely. Then the corner of Victoria¡¯s lips lifted into a crafty sneer: Unless we make it easy for them.

    Now it was Andrew¡¯s turn to bite on the hook: Easy for them? How?

    I was thinking . . . why don¡¯t provide them with enough rope so that they get a bit careless and go and hang themselves.

    As in a trap?

    More like a spider¡¯s web. We¡¯ve waited so long for them to slip up, it would be a pity to waste another golden opportunity. Obviously, we¡¯ll need to plan things accordingly.

    Andrew was struck by something his sister had just said: Yes, they have been quiet. Too quiet. It¡¯s been what, more than five years?

    Victoria appeared puzzled by his line of reasoning: So what? After what father did to them, they¡¯re used to being patient.

    That¡¯s just it, Sis. We¡¯ve been waiting so long for them to try anything, it felt as if they¡¯d dropped off the face of the Earth. They probably thought we¡¯d become complacent. And now they¡¯ve had their knuckles rapped, it¡¯ll show we haven¡¯t forgotten about them at all. They¡¯ll tread very carefully from¡ª

    So we¡¯ll just have to give them an incentive to place the noose around their own necks, wont we? Victoria interjected: Like I said. Patient they may be, but they¡¯re clearly up to something. If we can get an inkling of what that is, we can incorporate your ideas regarding the psitronic crystal and moon rock into our plans to make sure whatever trap we lay out has a nice juicy fly to bait them.

    Nodding in agreement, Andrew replied: I suppose you¡¯re right. I¡¯d just like to know why they left it so long to try anything. I mean¡ªit¡¯s not like they¡¯ve had much to keep them occupied since their escape, wouldn¡¯t you say?

    <h6>*</h6>

    Harry Johnson exited his final escape nexus with a profound sense of relief. Jesus, that was too close for comfort! How did they discover me so quickly? I wasn¡¯t emitting anything hard, probing aggressively or being confrontational. And because I was in human guise, the only thing I was intent on doing was remaining mute and invisible. So how did . . .?

    Stilling his palpitating heart, he reviewed the events leading up to his near capture in his mind.

    To no avail.

    I¡¯ll have to go slower. It¡¯s vital I understand what happened.

    On this occasion, he spent considerable effort dissecting each facet governing the shield¡¯s activation, and especially on the energy he¡¯d been forced to expend in order to escape. Concentrating on the exact moment the net had closed about him, he froze the replay and jumped each micro-frame backward and forward repeatedly until he found what he was looking for. What the devil? Oh, you sneaky bastards!

    The warrior side of his nature didn¡¯t know whether to be elated by his discovery; impressed by the finesse of the measures the Guardians used to protect their facility; or horrified by its seemingly boundless capacity.

    In any event, he was forced to concede he¡¯d neglected to plan for an obvious eventuality. I should have realized! Those damned fools notified Yeung over five years ago that they¡¯d recovered his former employees from Antarctica. Bound as they were within our old forms, they were transferred to the hospital wing of the new Academy. It would seem our friends have been busy since then.

    Cogitating deeply on where his former body¡ªand those belonging to his fellow rebels¡ªnow resided, he had an epiphany. Of course! They would have used them as a template from which to reverse engineer a copy of our psidetic and biometric signatures. Like us, they¡¯re unique. I¡¯ll bet our spliced images were entered into the AI¡¯s mainframe the instant they found out. Damn! That¡¯s going to make it difficult to get the intel we need for the next phase of the plan.

    After mulling things over for a while, he brightened considerably. Unless we drop some breadcrumbs, here and there, to make it appear they were the target and that we are actually trying to reclaim our bodies? Now that could work, especially if we also add an additional psychic layer to our signatures. Even better, we could use some of Esther¡¯s toys to create false readings. Or both!

    His more positive frame of mind was snuffed from existence when he remembered he would still have to account for his failed intelligence gathering mission. At least my nosing around revealed how far their defensive measures have progressed. A little stronger and they¡¯d have had me. Lucky for us they don¡¯t know how much feeding we¡¯ve done since our escape, nor the work we¡¯ve accomplished.

    Shaking his head, he steeled himself for the ordeal ahead. Positives aside, he was still going to get it in the neck. Ah well, forewarned is forearmed. I¡¯d better get back and face the inevitable music.

    And with that, he restored his shield, created an appropriate gateway, and squeezed himself into a sluggish tributary of the nearest macrospatial conduit.

    Travelling in such a manner would extend a supposedly instantaneous journey through hyperspace across twenty, sanity twisting, spine-jarring seconds. But it was worth it, for he would be safe from prying eyes and the fatal consequences of being caught by a relentless foe.

    The things we do to stay under the radar.

 Thats Given Me An Idea

    Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ¨C January 15, 2043

    Rio de Janeiro enjoyed the prestige of reigning as Brazil¡¯s principal municipality for nearly two centuries, before Brasilia claimed that honor in 1960. No matter, such was her splendor that Rio¡ªas she later became known¡ªremained the capital of the state bearing her name. And as the second largest city, she, along with her nine million residents, played an essential role in the drive beginning at the turn of the twenty-first century to make Brazil a leading industrial power.

    Rio has always been the most visited location in the South Americas. And any sane person would appreciate why. Spread along a south facing coastal plain on the western shore of Guanabara Bay, and split by the granite majesty of the spur of the Serra do Mar Mountains, it is a place of outstanding natural beauty. The city is also blessed with several striking must see attractions: Christ the Redeemer, atop Corcovado Mountain; Sugarloaf Mountain, with its cable car; the Samb¨®dromo Parade Avenue¡ªfamous for its carnival; and finally, Maracan? Arena, one of the largest football stadium¡¯s ever built.

    If those sights weren¡¯t imposing enough, the startling contrast between the cosmopolitan sprawl extending up and down and along the rolling hills of the coast against the breathtaking majesty of the highlands to the rear, is one of the most spectacular sights on the planet. It has also been said that those witnessing the extent of the green and white fresco for the first time from the air, are so struck by the urban against rainforest vista, that it leaves an impression, impossible to forget.

    However, there were other assets to be found in Rio besides its scenic beauty.

    Not only was it the headquarters of four influential Brazilian companies, but, in more recent years, it had become home to two global giants¡ªSigma-Sat Systems, a media based offshoot of Yeung Technologies¡ªand Yeung Tec, a research and development branch of the same international conglomerate.

    These two enterprises alone had boosted economic growth throughout the country by over seventy percent. And now they were a major employer throughout the district, they had ensured local residents made up almost the entire fourteen thousand-strong workforce.

    Indeed, Yeung¡¯s commitment to the province had been demonstrated only five years previously when he had moved a large portion of his worldwide operations to the outskirts of the city. Stating it was part of a logistical restructuring program, he had assured concerned bureaucrats and politicians alike that the extensive relocation would help facilitate the regeneration of the South American financial infrastructure.

    Needless to say, when proof of that statement began to manifest, the citizens of Rio went out of their way to make the new corporation and its executives feel welcome. It was also a deciding factor in the newly established enterprise being extended a great deal of leeway when proposals for their impressive complexes had been presented to planning officials.

    Because of the many benefits his company would bring, Yeung had been allowed to purchase over three hundred acres of pristine government owned land to the north of Guanabara Bay. At the time of acquisition, the authorities were assured no industrial facilities would operate anywhere within that area and that all new structures would be devoted to the enhancement of recently released Artificial Lung Technology. As it was intended to build the laboratories underground¡ªwithin the bulk of the mountain range itself¡ªit was felt the exquisite flora and fauna of the region wouldn¡¯t suffer in the slightest. Yeung¡¯s further promise that any benefits derived from his research would be devoted to the environment in that locality first, as a ¡°thank you¡± to the people of Brazil, not only sealed the deal, but turned him into an overnight sensation and champion of the people.

    However, Yeung didn¡¯t become a billionaire mogul by simply giving things away and pandering to the vanities of those he conducted business with. A primary factor behind the selection of Rio as a base of operations was purely strategic.

    Rio drew millions upon millions of visitors each year. The carnivals and pageants, nightlife and hedonism, beaches and other areas of pristine splendor, guaranteed an overabundance of complete strangers passing through the city almost every day.

    An essential criterion to hiding something in plain sight.

    Additionally, the complex geology found within the mountains themselves provided a natural filter against many forms of electronic surveillance¡ªand even better¡ªagainst telepathic eavesdropping. Something about the dense composition of granite, together with its spontaneously occurring radioactivity, made it very difficult to scan through without a great deal of concentration by all but the strongest psychics.

    That was even better if you had something specific to conceal.

    <h6>*</h6>

    ¡°Well this is just fan-fucking-tastic! Are you insane? Intellectually stunted? What on earth possessed you to make such a stupid attempt? Moron! You could have blown everything we¡¯ve been planning for!¡±

    So strong was the esoteric undercurrent thrumming around the room that the fixtures and fittings were on the verge of dancing free of the walls and shelves. Lei Yeung winced, being relieved he was not on the receiving end of such a scathing onslaught.

    His presence as a bystander was pure coincidence. Even so, it did nothing to ease the discomfort of watching Harry Johnson brace himself against a fresh squall issuing from the cyclone that was Esther Perry.

    Turning an unhealthy shade of purple, she raged, ¡°I thought you were a warrior, for Christ¡¯s sake. Not some human simpleton with an IQ of a fuck-wit! You¡¯re supposed to know about things like tactics, ambushes, and planning before you go jumping in and fucking things up like some¡­some brainless retard who can¡¯t think farther than the end of his dick!¡±

    Yeung was secretly impressed. Esther¡¯s grasp of cursing¡ªwith all of its subtle, yet colorful nuances¡ªwas coming along nicely. Especially regarding the use of one vulgarity in particular. Once she¡¯d managed to extend herself beyond the toddling phase and learned to mix it up a little, she¡¯d be out of her reins and blend in perfectly with the residents of just about any city in the world.

    Harry was no pushover, though, and angrily shouted back, ¡°Well what do you expect? You get to pass the time by playing with your toys and experimenting on prisoners while I have nothing to do. I only thought to¡ª¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just it,¡± she cut in, ¡°you didn¡¯t think! Psi . . . Simon told us to stay well away until our plans were nearer to completion. But oh no! You had to play the prize prick and go sticking your nose in where you shouldn¡¯t, creating a nightmare of a balls-up that could come back and bite us in the ass. He¡¯ll be furious.¡±

    Flinging her arms in the air in disgust, she spun away from her unfortunate victim and noticed Yeung was smiling. Turning the heat of her anger on him, she spat, ¡°And what do you think is so funny, you insignificant sack of skin?¡±

    Time to douse the flames, I think. Leaning forward in his chair, Yeung met her gaze without flinching and raised a single eyebrow in an effort to stall her diatribe. He declared, ¡°I know I am but a mere infant in your eyes, having weathered a paltry fourscore years and change. Nevertheless, it appears I possess the greatest maturity of anyone here.¡±

    Taken by surprise, Esther¡¯s next outburst caught in her throat. ¡°Wha . . . what the hell do you mean by that?¡±

    The menacing undercurrent increased dramatically.

    Ignoring it, Yeung adopted the tone of a schoolteacher enduring a misbehaving class of wayward juveniles. ¡°If I may start with Harry?

    ¡°Yes! He did make an error of judgment. A big one! However, there are positives to be gained from his experience.¡±

    ¡°Positives?¡± she hissed. ¡°From a monumental fuck up like that! Are you . . .?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Esther! I¡¯m talking about a definite benefit arising from today¡¯s rather unpleasant venture. Do you want to find out what it is or not?¡±

    Swallowing her anger with difficulty, she growled, ¡°By all means. Enlighten me . . . human.¡±

    Standing, Yeung began to pace back and forth between them. ¡°Whatever the reason Harry chose to go snooping is irrelevant. He did. He nearly got caught and although we¡¯re not happy with that, we gained valuable intelligence.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s precisely what I was trying to say!¡± Harry whined. Biting off his next words, he tried to score a few extra points at Esther¡¯s expense, ¡°But as we know, someone didn¡¯t listen or give me the chance to explain properly.¡±

    Exercising supreme patience, Yeung turned to Harry, took a deep breath, and said, ¡°Okay then, here¡¯s your chance to speak without impediment. What do you feel we actually gained from your near capture?¡±

    Yeung was pleasantly surprised when Harry didn¡¯t immediately leap in and start blabbing. Instead, the former angel took a moment to arrange his thoughts, before replying, ¡°Well, firstly, we didn¡¯t know their defensive capabilities were so formidable. We mustn¡¯t forget¡ªas I admit, I did today¡ªtheir technology is extremely advanced. Beyond even what we have guided you in developing. . .¡± Glancing toward his longtime partner in crime, he added, ¡°. . . With Esther¡¯s most valuable assistance, of course!¡±

    The compliment had the desired effect. The heat of her anger dropped considerably.

    Continuing, Harry¡¯s face fell as he delivered an unexpected bombshell, ¡°In addition, I uncovered a tactical advantage they must have gleaned from the ongoing treatment of your former employees.¡±

    In answer to Yeung¡¯s bemused expression, Harry explained, ¡°You know, the ones whose bodies we now possess? Remember, in swapping forms with them, we had to adopt part of each person¡¯s corresponding complexus. We now carry an echo of their original mental signatures within us. Likewise, they are graced with a portion of ours.¡±

    Esther¡¯s eyes bulged. ¡°And who else on this planet carries a unique binary signature like ours . . . or theirs, come to that?¡±

    ¡°Precisely!¡± Harry replied, satisfaction written all over his face.

    Yeung was still confused. ¡°So, this is a different process from when you subsume someone¡¯s essence, as you¡¯ve done so often?¡±

    ¡°Very different!¡± Esther snapped. ¡°If we subsume someone, we consume everything associated with that person. Physically, metapsychically, ethereally. There¡¯s nothing left because we absorb all of their vitality into our own.¡±

    Harry took over. ¡°But when we assumed these forms, we had to graft part of our corresponding identities onto our chosen complexus to prevent spiritual rejection.¡± He tapped himself on the chest. ¡°Remember, this isn¡¯t my body, It¡¯s Harry Johnson¡¯s, the man you once knew. Although my personality and nexus are now dominant, the flesh itself is not naturally meshed to my soul. If we didn¡¯t add that splicing component, it would reject my quintessence outright, or gradually weaken and die.¡±

    Amazed, Yeung said, ¡°You¡¯re talking about a psychic personality transplant where the grafting program acts as an immunosuppressive filter, preventing rejection by the host?¡±

    Both Esther and Harry seemed delighted by the speed with which he grasped the principles behind the practice.

    Progressing his line of reasoning, Yeung continued, ¡°So they¡¯ve obviously isolated the hybrid signatures generated by the merging of your natural bodies with the personas of the real Simon Cooper, Esther Perry, and Harry Johnson, yes?¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡± Harry replied. ¡°And from what I discovered today, they must have incorporated their findings into the AI defensive system surrounding their Headquarters and Academy¡ªwhich, by the way¡ªwere calibrated to capture, not kill. They want us alive, and we all know why, eh?¡±

    Esther gasped. ¡°Those wily bastards! I knew they¡¯d be able to identify us if we ever adopted our true forms. But I never suspected they could pinpoint our mundane psychic imprints as well. They¡¯d be all over us in seconds.¡±

    Yeung cautioned, ¡°And don¡¯t forget. After this little escapade, I bet they¡¯re tweaking every sensor they¡¯ve got as we speak . . .¡± That¡¯s a point!

    Addressing Esther, he asked, ¡°Is there anything you can do to mitigate your natural auras when in a purely human form? Even if it¡¯s only temporary. Better still, could you add an extra layer to your psyches? It¡¯s a valid tactic. If you¡¯re broadcasting a triple, as opposed to a binary signature, you shouldn¡¯t even appear on their radar as they simply won¡¯t be looking for it.¡±

    Esther warmed to the proposal immediately. ¡°I like the way your mind works.¡±

    Glowering Harry¡¯s way, she couldn¡¯t resist the urge to get on the scoreboard herself. ¡°I¡¯ll just go and play with my toys and see what I can do.¡±

    Yeung was on a roll and came up with another idea. ¡°Esther, can you also give some consideration to a mechanical means of reproducing your idents as they currently are? I was just thinking . . . Wouldn¡¯t it be fun to have our adversaries running around, say, in the middle of the African continent, while we get on with our business elsewhere? It would be liberating to be able to further our goals without having to worry about avenging busybodies breathing down our necks.¡±

    ¡°Now that I know I can do!¡± she enthused, ¡°Well done. Perhaps you¡¯re not such a useless sack of skin after all.¡±

    Chuckling, Yeung replied, ¡°You see, this infant does have his uses. I may only be a fragile, eighty year old man¡ªwho looks and feels like someone who hasn¡¯t reached sixty because of your wonderful toys, as Harry likes to call them¡ªbut I¡¯m quite grownup for my age.¡±

    His self-mockery did the trick. They all burst out laughing.

    Their revelry was cut short by the appearance of a macrospatial translation creeper. Slowly, torturously, the leader probe shifted into phase and commenced squeezing its traveler through the hyperspace medium.

    Half a minute later saw Simon Cooper congealing in the air before them. Pouring out from the vortex like a gooey soup, he solidified from the feet up. Once he had incarnated, he cracked his neck and groaned, ¡°No matter how adept I get, it always hurts like hell.¡±

    Yeung acknowledged the feat. ¡°Impressive, that you¡¯ve managed to slow the process down even further since last week. That took thirty seconds from beginning to end. No one¡ªnot even our illustrious adversaries¡ªwould be able to detect such a jump. You really must instruct me in its operation now that I¡¯ve been augmented with such ability.¡±

    Simon was stunned. ¡°If you¡¯re sure you wish to subject yourself to the pain required to undergo the procedure, be my guest. We can start later today if you wish.¡±

    ¡°That would be excellent. It¡¯s such a shame my frail old body couldn¡¯t accommodate more than two artificial enhancements. Still, we must make do with what we¡¯re given.¡± He sniffed and sat back down. ¡°All the same, I fear we may have to delay our lesson until tomorrow. I have some news you will wish to digest and act on first.¡±

    Pausing, Yeung transferred the earlier events from the Guardian Headquarters directly into Simon¡¯s mind, ensuring to add the bonus that had so fortuitously arisen.

    He waited, expecting some display of anger.

    When none was forthcoming, he glanced toward his companions who were obviously intrigued by Simon¡¯s behavior. Eventually, Harry couldn¡¯t take it any longer. Hanging his head in resignation, he sighed, ¡°If you¡¯re going to tear me a new one, just get on with it will you. The suspense is killing me.¡±

    Simon ruminated for a few minutes longer before replying. ¡°I don¡¯t think berating you further will achieve anything. Do you? As Yeung has already pointed out, certain benefits have accrued from your error, which will give the advantage to us when we eventually decide to act.¡±

    Turning to Esther, Simon sounded rather eager, ¡°Do you think you can achieve what Yeung suggested with a degree of accuracy?¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    ¡°Regarding the techno-identities? Certainly. And quickly too! Why?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s admirable! But check with me before you make things too precise. We don¡¯t want to tip our hand before we¡¯ve had a chance to enjoy ourselves, do we?¡±

    Yeung was quick on the uptake. ¡°Are you thinking of a rudimentary test run to check their efficiency? You know, just to make sure we can trigger the response we desire without having to get too bogged down with intricacies?¡±

    ¡°Exactly! There are a number of stages to our strategy. Each requires specific things to be in place in time to guarantee the success of the next phase. As you are always urging, my eager little friend, prioritizing and prudence will guarantee the realization of our goals.¡±

    Yeung smiled. ¡°It¡¯s a philosophy that has kept me alive in an unfriendly world until now. I intend to make sure it stays that way.¡±

    Nodding in agreement, Simon changed the subject. ¡°By the way, has Angelika returned from Los Angeles yet?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±Esther responded, ¡°Although she did farspeak with me about an hour ago.¡±

    The room went still at the news.

    ¡°Aaand?¡± Yeung probed.

    ¡°The news is better than we¡¯d hoped for. She¡¯s still retrieving the last of the data, but from what she¡¯s gathered so far, we have confirmed the sites of three major and five minor asperities along the Pacific North American coast.¡±

    ¡°So many options?¡± While delighted, Yeung wanted further clarification. ¡°From where did she actually acquire her information?¡±

    ¡°Angelika obtained everything our integrated orbital and Californian GPS network had to offer, and supplemented it with additional creep meter, tilt meter, and magnometer readings from the West Coast Institute of Seismology. She¡¯s still waiting for the final strain meter measurements to come in. Once she has them, she¡¯ll return, post haste, so we can go over everything with a fine toothcomb.¡±

    Yeung deliberated for a moment, juggling facts and figures in his head. ¡°This is very good news. With that much energy building up, we won¡¯t need to put as many people as we originally anticipated on the ground. Needless to say, it will make our task that much easier to execute.¡±

    The unearthly trio bristled with anticipation. They liked that word: execute.

    Meeting Simon¡¯s gaze, Harry quizzed, ¡°If we are successful, do you think you¡¯ll be able to pull your part of the plan off?¡±

    A sizzling scarlet corona crackled to life about the onetime rebel leader of the Celestial Host. ¡°That remains to be seen, my old comrade at arms. Let¡¯s just say, I¡¯ve learned a thing or two in isolation that should help me redress certain grievances. A thing I intend to do . . . with extreme prejudice.¡±

    <h6>*</h6>

    Guardian Headquarters and Training Academy ¨C January 16, 2043

    Anil Suresh, Lord Marshal of the Guardians, drummed his fingers against his knee, impatient for the impromptu conference to begin.

    In the five years he¡¯d held this position, he had rarely felt as aggravated as he did now. The killers of his oldest and dearest friend were scum he wanted to obliterate with the fire of his own mind. It irked him to think they were able to remain at large, especially now, having shown their faces again after so long.

    The stench of trouble surrounds us, and it¡¯s a stink that won¡¯t easily fade. Mark my words, this is just the beginning . . . of what, I dread to think.

    All Ultra Class Guardians had been ordered to attend the meeting, including those now displaying the potential for transcension. Anil could guess why this might be the case and was keen to see his suspicions confirmed.

    As he waited, he studied the faces at the table, amazed by the fruits of the Earth¡¯s incredible psychomaturative bounty. Joshua Drake and Becky Selleck occupied seats down at the far end. Fast approaching their twelfth and thirteenth birthdays respectively, they had only recently begun their pre-Guardian internships. And it¡¯s astonishing to think they¡¯re already beyond High Grand Master Class in strength.

    The UMP¡ªUltra-Mitigator Program¡ªa staggering opus revealed only half a decade ago by the Overlord, had allowed an increasing number of individuals with the predisposition for higher evolution to be identified. It also ensured such aspirants received the early stimulus required to guarantee the emergence of their godlike capabilities. For safety reasons, the final phase was usually delayed until after they had achieved physical and psychological maturity.

    However, as soon as the latency for expansion was recognized, an ingenious adaptation of the compressor training¡ªnow incorporated into the Guardian undergraduate syllabus¡ªwas implemented. Called the MitaCom, the modification allowed transcension candidates to access a portion of their expanded psi-well long before final metamorphosis took place.

    The effects of this provision were mind-blowing! As demonstrated by the first ever subject to partially undergo the process: Deputy Marshal Anatt Yasin. Having risen to power less than six years previously, her amplified nexus had already stabilized. What¡¯s more, she was stronger than just about everyone else; the only exceptions being Andrew, Victoria and the Overlord.

    It was a pity their latest glorified brother and sister¡ªUltra Grand Master Aaron De-Ville; an extraordinarily gifted healer, and Ultra Master Felicity Dobson; a shielding genius¡ªhad missed the opportunity to partake fully in what the new platform had to offer. They had transcended four years ago, before the program was wholly integrated within the advanced training curriculum.

    Nonetheless, progress couldn¡¯t be thwarted. And soon, everyone would witness the impact of the new regimen in all its majesty, when Charlie Savage took center stage in six weeks time.

    Charlie was a thirty-two year old telekinetic and teleportation prodigy. Engaged to be married to his life-partner, Aaron De-Ville during the coming Fall, he was the only Guardian to have undergone the full UMP expansion cycle from start to finish, and was scheduled to magnify at the end of February, when the arcane mental blocks seeded throughout his super-energized cerebrum commenced their structured collapse.

    Anil in particular was eager to see the results, as this inaugural genesis event had been designed and instigated by none other than the Lord Healer, Corinne Jackson¡ªwho had been privileged to receive direct instruction from the Overlord himself.

    Altering his perspective, Anil studied the rest of those seated about the table who still retained the priceless psychware within their brains. Each glowing composition was a miracle to behold, for they were individually tuned to the recipient and designed to elicit an uncannily precise cascade failure that would unleash the titan hidden away within their host¡¯s psyche:

    Madison Mozdure, an elemental tigress of American-French decent, blessed with a preternatural control of molecules and subspace¡ªMarch; Pieter Schmidt, an ultrasensing giant from the small Swiss town of Altdorf¡ªApril; Rosa Fairbanks, a future Lord Inquisitor if ever there was one. Her aggressive, intuitive and empathic mindset had earned her the nickname Venus Flytrap in Guardian circles. You might go in, but she would never let you out¡ªMay.

    And finally, midway down the table sat the Adjutant Marshal, Naomi Cruz. Out of all of them, she would have endured the MitaCom the longest, having been unwittingly introduced to a primary expansion catalyst six years previously within the Reflection Chamber during Anatt Yasin¡¯s Transcension Ceremony.

    Due to receive her triggering sequence in June, it would be fascinating to see just how strongly she eventually manifested. Interestingly, Victoria had already volunteered for the Shepherd¡¯s role during Naomi¡¯s ritual, and Anil was eager to discover why.

    Much debate still raged as to who her Supporter would be. Naomi was a popular officer and the list of volunteers was a mile long.

    Anil¡¯s analytical mind reveled at the implications of the harvest his beloved Guardians were reaping. That spurred him to consider Becky and Joshua for a second time. Somehow, the intricate marvels of the MitaCom¡¯s design would prevent their transmogrification for over sixteen years.

    Sixteen years! What in heaven¡¯s name will they become?

    In these children in particular, the results had already been impressive in other ways. Gone were the precocious little monsters of several years ago. They had been replaced by prodigies who were polite, patient, levelheaded, and who displayed a maturity that was quite frankly . . . freakish. It was if a combination of the fictitious characters Yoda and Neo from two of Anil¡¯s favorite sci-fi classics had been miraculously transplanted into their egos and set loose to share their wisdom with the world!

    And the good news didn¡¯t stop there.

    Society now enjoyed the luxury of being protected by Psychic Emergency Service Personnel. Comprised of ratified operators, their ranks were filled by experts qualified in a range of vocations; fire and rescue, law and order, and paramedics included¡ªwho in turn¡ªwere complimented by an accredited cadre of legal experts.

    An expanding number of applications were being received from those in the medical profession. Anil looked forward to the day when every hospital, clinic and private practice boasted the services of a dedicated team of gifted doctors, nurses and therapists capable of providing the very best that healthcare could offer.

    The inauguration of the new Global Marshal¡¯s Service was also due later in the year. Anil found it delightful that so many people were coming forward to offer their skills to the growing pool of talent. Because of that, public expectations had never been so high.

    Of course, the Psychic Law and Order Bill had gone a long way in facilitating this change. Smoothing out and accelerating the transition whereby gifted individuals were recognized, it offered vital guidance, protection, training, and encouragement for all those who volunteered.

    The knock-on benefits engendered by attracting so many specialists was as profound as it was gratifying, and nowhere more so than for the Guardians, who found their ¡°emergency response¡± workload diminishing as global safety standards rose.

    In this, Yeung Technologies played a large part. Over thirty-four percent of the corporation¡¯s employees were telepathically proficient. Their inclusion in the implementation and promotion of a number of cutting-edge scientific research trials had led to one discovery after another.

    Thanks to them, the advancement of mitigator and mirror shielding applications had been astounding. Progress toward a viable, working combined atmospheric scrubber-artificial lung processing plant was almost complete. Their breakthroughs in the fields of advanced medical diagnostic and assessment regimens were spectacular, as were their AI applications in the Human Genome project. Anil was particularly looking forward to their latest findings regarding the early detection and evaluation of children with suppressed psychic abilities. Having discussed their preliminary results with Corrine, it was hoped they might incorporate those innovations into maternity wards internationally within the next two years.

    Lately, Yeung Tec had also turned their hand to solving those problems encountered by scientists delving into the mysteries of quantum levitation and viable fuel sources for micro aqua-power cells.

    Yes, he mused, we¡¯ve made a great deal of progress, in a short period of time.

    Nevertheless, Anil battled with feelings of doubt.

    Now that Earl was dead, only he was old enough to remember the uphill struggle mankind had endured over thousands of years to make it this far.

    If we¡¯re not very careful, our enemies could put it all in jeopardy. . .

    . . . God, I want them dead!

    His reflective mood was interrupted by the arrival of both the Overlord and Shadow Lord. Entering together, both men made their way to a vacant spot near to Joshua and Becky, where they paused to make eye contact with everyone present.

    A hush settled over the chamber as Andrew moved to erect a privacy barrier about them. Adjusting it for a few moments until he was satisfied, he signaled the Overlord when everything was ready.

    The Overlord began, ¡°Thank you all for coming at such short notice . . . though I don¡¯t think any of you will be surprised by the reason behind the summons. In any event, here¡¯s the gist of it.¡±

    A concise, full sensory replay of the mystery intruder¡¯s attempt to infiltrate the base was projected into the space above the table.

    Resuming, the Overlord alluded to what was on everyone¡¯s mind. ¡°The murderers of the former Lord Marshal have remained quiet and elusive for some time, haven¡¯t they? Well, we¡¯re going to find out why they¡¯ve decided to break their silence. And to help us. . .¡±

    He gestured, and a set of four, strange overlapping mental signatures appeared in the ether. As everybody leaned forward to study the proffered information, the Overlord detailed what they were looking at. ¡°The first three examples¡ªthe smaller ones, grouped side by side¡ªbelong to a trio of patients currently under observation in the special isolation ward in the hospital wing of this facility. As you can see, they¡¯re rather distinctive because of the wraithlike afterimages that somehow overlap and worm their way through each core essence. That feature was caused by a grafting process employed to bond their psyches to the foreign¡ªor dare I say, alien bodies they now inhabit. The other one, however. . .¡±

    The Overlord enlarged the single example for clarification, ¡°. . .is much more complex and powerful. Nevertheless, it¡¯s strikingly similar in form and timbre. And well it should be. Ladies and gentlemen, behold our enemy, a creature responsible for inflicting grievous harm on those who stand in the way of its aspirations. You need only examine its corresponding victim in the hospital wing to understand just how callous it can be.¡±

    Two more patterns materialized. ¡°These are the identifying matrices of its accomplices, fellow abusers who will go to any lengths, even to the wreaking evil upon innocents, if it aids their evasion of justice.

    ¡°What names they go by is irrelevant. Their unique binary identities are what matter. Study them. Memorize and absorb them. When you¡¯ve done so, program instinctive aggressive and defensive measures into your personal shields. Whatever you do, do not face them alone, even if you encounter them singularly. They have the aptitude to deploy some form of warped mirroring-mitigator capability that will neutralize your metapsychic potential . . . as happened in Earl Foster¡¯s case. We suspect this skill may be technologically enhanced. So remain vigilant. If you think you have isolated such a signature, call myself, the Shadow Lord, Lord Inquisitor or the Deputy Marshal. . .¡±

    As he spoke, the Overlord sent a lightning-quick private message to his Lord Marshal: Sorry Anil, no offence. Anatt is stronger than you are. And these bastards have the muscle to screw you over!

    Anil smirked: I¡¯m well aware of Anatt¡¯s capacity, my old friend. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m far too seasoned to be throwing teddy out of the pram.

    The corner of the Overlord¡¯s mouth twitched in a miniscule smile, the only outward sign he¡¯d noted the Lord Marshal¡¯s comments. Then he suddenly went still, as if listening to something. When he spoke again, it was to make a brief, hurried announcement. ¡°That being said, we have a plan.¡±

    He waited, and glanced toward the main entrance of the conference center. Following the direction of his gaze, Anil wasn¡¯t surprised when the doors burst open a split-second later. Victoria, the Lord Inquisitor, swept into the chamber with two people in tow. One of them was immediately recognizable, as his six-foot-seven inch frame and wide grin seemed to fill the room.

    Marty Mays waved a hand. ¡°Howdy, y¡¯all. Miss me?¡±

    The other person was unknown to them. A diminutive young woman with long mousey hair down to her waist, she wore stylish glasses and an equally huge smile.

    Without preamble, Victoria said, ¡°Allow me to introduce you to Sharon Dyer. Although you might not know her, you¡¯re certainly aware of her father, Doctor Peter Dyer, of Yeung Technologies fame! You¡¯ll be glad to know, Sharon is blessed with even stronger gifts than her father . . . metaphysically speaking. Her additional forte lies in the fact she has a powerfully developed deepsight capability, potent enough to discern the inherent nature or symmetry of any object, thing or living creature she scans.

    ¡°We are fortunate in that her talent has an abnormal twist. Sharon can invert her sight to supply a reverse or antipodal evaluation. Simply put, it means she is able to discern what is required to negate the energy of the target she is scanning.¡±

    Anil was stunned at the revelation of such an unusual¡ªand dangerous¡ªgift. He could tell by the way his colleagues stared at the young woman that they were of a similar mind. Thank goodness she¡¯s on our side!

    The opportunity to ask questions was lost as Overlord repeated his last statement. ¡°As I said, we have a plan. Andrew will now explain our strategy, as he¡¯s come up with an ingenious way to gain the upper hand.¡±

    Andrew stepped forward. ¡°The circumstances surrounding Earl¡¯s death are well known and have bearing upon what we¡¯re going to discuss. The reason? Our targets employed a new style of mirroring-mitigator technology to set a trap. Those emitters, combined with the harmonic union of three extremely powerful individuals, were sufficient to prevent Earl from being able to assume his transcended state. While trapped in his human form, he was helpless to prevent his eradication and ensuing subsumption.

    ¡°The generators self-destructed after they had served their purpose. Even so, we were able to analyze sufficient debris at the scene to retrograde their tech. With Marty¡¯s help, we also uncovered the frequency used to arm and activate them. The barriers surrounding this complex now incorporate such a design, and were almost successful in capturing our surprise visitor. I say almost, because our adversaries are obviously growing in potential. The shield should have been strong enough to snare and restrain them. It wasn¡¯t, revealing if you¡¯re potent enough, you can overcome the emitter.

    ¡°That gave me an idea. Who is the expert at reading and meshing with all known forms of energy barebrained?¡±

    Pointing toward their imposing guest, Andrew continued, ¡°Marty is! You could say he¡¯s the ace in our deck when we have to deal with things we don¡¯t understand. However, we¡¯ve now got another ace to play with. And this one we can hide up our sleeves.¡±

    He winked at Marty¡¯s companion, ¡°Sharon has been working with Marty for the past five months and they have discovered something which will come as a great relief to us. When they combine their talents in harmonic union, Sharon can not only piggy-back Marty¡¯s ability to distinguish different forms of energy, but she can also evaluate its direct opposite. Good news indeed, because having identified the specific measures needed to counteract the threat, Marty can then generate the appropriate wave frequency to ensure it¡¯s cancelled out!

    ¡°In a nutshell, our new wildcards are going to submit themselves to exhaustive testing so we can map the extent of their gifts and devise a mechanical equivalent to them. Once we¡¯ve done that, we hope to install working versions of our own inverse mirror readers at all our facilities. If they work as we think they will, our enemies won¡¯t have a place to hide, because we¡¯ll not only be able to spot them, but we¡¯ll render them impotent as well.¡±

    A shock ran through those seated about the table.

    Holding up his hand, Andrew emphasized, ¡°Now, we don¡¯t know how long all this is going to take, but such is the urgency that both Marty and Sharon are willing to get right into the project today. Our objective will be twofold, you see. The establishment of a working mechanical defense is just the first step in our strategy. The second step involves formulating suitable mental programs to achieve the same ends. One way or another, we¡¯ll soon have dual countermeasures¡ªtechnical and natural¡ªto hit back with.¡±

    The shock commuted into a noisy, jubilant atmosphere.

    Reverting to telepathy to make himself heard, Andrew called down to the Lord Marshal: Anil, I¡¯m going to get our star players settled into their rooms. In the meantime, the boss has a few defensive procedures to share with all the Ultras. If you can calm them down, he¡¯ll crack on with it immediately so everyone has a chance to practice before the excitement wears off.

    Anil glanced the Overlord¡¯s way, only to find the man himself striding toward him.

    Unfortunately, the buoyant mood was more infectious than anyone realized.

    As Andrew ushered their VIPs away, Marty¡¯s booming voice could be heard above the din, declaring a sudden hankering for steak and eggs¡ªa statement quickly echoed by several others known for their hearty appetites. Left to herself, Sharon was accosted by Rosa Fairbanks who¡ªfrom what Anil could hear without prying¡ªwas keen to discover the more aggressive aspects of the younger woman¡¯s ability. And there, circling the small band like a hawk was Corrine Jackson, no doubt intent on swooping in and eliciting their help on some medical project or the other.

    Heaven help them, Anil chuckled quietly, they won¡¯t know . . .?

    Anil! Andrew!

    The Overlord¡¯s mental hail snapped through the bedlam like a whip.

    Once he had their attention, the Overlord said: Before the lesson commences, I need to speak to you both about a set of special upgrades that will need to be instituted at a moment¡¯s notice down in the catacombs.

    The catacombs? That was news to Anil. While he wouldn¡¯t be the one to install such things, maintenance of strategic areas came under the broad umbrella of his oversight. So far as he was aware, nothing like that had been scheduled.

    Aloud, he queried: What upgrades are you talking about?

    The overlord met his gaze without blinking: It¡¯s just a little something I¡¯d like to see incorporated into the security measures around the Reflection Chamber. All I¡¯m prepared to say at this stage is . . . think of it as bait for if things go wrong.

    Bait? That¡¯s it?

    It was clear the Overlord wouldn¡¯t be drawn further. Neither did it help the way Andrew remained silent.

    Fighting down his irritation, Anil glanced between his contemporaries to see if he might glean anything from their demeanors. Both stood at ease, relaxed among the chaos with the same blank expression on their softly glowing faces. In fact, their manner and bearing were remarkably similar.

    Only then did it strike him how alike the two men were.

    Anil¡¯s personal shields slammed into place. Why have I never noticed this before?

 Graduation

    His chest puffed out with pride, Ali Omar Biixi watched through night vision binoculars as his fifteen-year-old son¡ªAssad Ali Omar¡ªnavigated his craft with natural skill and flair through the inky black waters.

    A tenth generation fisherman, Ali had started taking Assad with him on the family¡¯s daily expeditions out into the Indian Ocean as soon as the boy could stand. As was their tradition, Assad would watch closely as the crew went about their business. A process repeated day in, day out, month after month. And as time went by, Assad was gradually introduced to the myriad facets involved in managing a working boat at sea.

    Thus, in an age old institution practiced around the world, son was schooled by father in the skills required to earn a living and feed his future family.

    Hailing as they did from the Galmudug region of Somalia, making that living was far more difficult than people realized. Yes, the advent of the Guardians had done much to quell the unrest caused by civil war and abject poverty, but their presence had also suppressed a source of revenue his family had been particularly skillful in: Piracy!

    In the past, Ali had trained with his father too, learning how to farm the ocean and discovering the intricacies of their secret trade. Then, one day when Ali was judged mature enough, he was invited to accompany the men of his clan on a raid against a Greek registered tanker. It was during that time¡ªwhen international maritime patrols were escalating¡ªthat Ali gained the nickname that would stay with him for life: The Sage!

    As was the custom, most Somalian pirates liked to attack vulnerable ships during daylight if they came too close to their waters. Approaching from the rear, they would threaten the sailors on board with Russian made RPG¡¯s and machine guns, and then force them to stop.

    Once boarded, the vessels would be held to ransom, and huge amounts of cash demanded for the safe release of the crew, cargo, and of course the craft itself. Most of the time, their demands were met and everyone went their separate ways. Sometimes¡ªand thankfully, such episodes were rare¡ªthings ended in bloodshed, and the wrath of the global community was brought to bear. It was because of those volatile incidents that the presence of so many foreign navies grew to become commonplace.

    An unwelcome turn of events, for increased patrols not only led to a cut in revenue, but an expensive turnaround of weapons too. If a crew even suspected they were going to be boarded, it was essential they ditch their guns overboard in a hurry. A costly exercise. Yet it was far more preferable to the alternative. Under international law, any and all vessels involved in attacks on shipping were always confiscated. Consequently, on the rare occasions villagers were caught in the act of piracy, it meant the loss of their livelihoods, the ability to feed themselves, and certain destitution.

    As a boy, Ali often wondered why the elders stubbornly stuck to the old ways. They were alarmingly hazardous, unprofitable, and hit and miss at best.

    So, when he was out fishing with his father and a small crew one day, he¡¯d waited for the opportunity to present itself, and voiced his dissatisfaction. Ali could remember the conversation now as if it were yesterday:

    Appearing somewhat offended, his father had scolded, ¡°Boy, what makes you think you¡¯re so clever when we follow in the footsteps of generations of predecessors?¡±

    Without pausing to gather his thoughts, Ali responded, ¡°Father! If the old ways are flawed, does sticking rigidly to them suddenly make them right?¡±

    Omar had been surprised by the depth of feeling in that reply and several of the deck hands also stopped to listen. Intrigued, Omar invited his son to express his thoughts more openly. ¡°Go on, then. If you had the power, what would you do?¡±

    ¡°Father, because we are blessed and have been more productive than our brothers, we need to be careful not to waste that good fortune. We must spend money to make money. So many of the families continue to operate in the daytime! This is dangerous. They can not only be seen on radar, but by sight too. The warships have helicopters and drones. We can¡¯t outrun them if we are too far from national waters, so we need to change . . .¡±

    By now, the rest of the men had gathered round as well.

    Ali continued, ¡°. . . If I were leader, I would buy a very good computer. They can do all sorts of things, and provide much information about shipping and destinations. I would check to see what vessels are going where. What are they carrying? Where are their crews from? We would choose our targets more carefully. I¡¯d send some of the clan north to the Gulf of Aden. They could see which private yachts came through and find out which way they were heading. The rest of us would be fishing and earning our bread while we waited. In this manner, we provide for our families until the right prey comes along, those who are vulnerable, for they would provide many riches for little risk.

    ¡°I would also buy better engines for our boats so we could extend our range. I¡¯d purchase smaller, faster support craft too, ones that allowed us to sail closer when making our approach. That would fool radar surveillance and give us wider options than merely throwing our weapons overboard if pursued. And, with the money we save on guns and rockets, I¡¯d equip our coxswains with the special goggles that allow them to see at night. Or even get radar of our own. Then my clan could work when no others dare, reducing the hazard of being caught even further.

    ¡°It would also be a good idea to time our attacks with other families and ensure they are working nearby. That way, if we are pursued, they will have nothing incriminating on board and can form an effective blockade. Remember, those other countries have to follow the law and will not be allowed to sink simple fishermen, even if they do accidentally hinder their pursuit.¡±

    Ali had spoken quickly and in a breathless, embarrassed garble. It mattered not. The common sense in his words was evident for all to hear. On their return home later that day, Ali¡¯s father got him to repeat his ideas in front of the elders.

    That meeting resulted in Ali¡¯s name being changed to The Sage forever. Adopting his methods, Ali¡¯s village went on to achieve victory after victory. So accomplished were they, that even after the advent of the Guardians, they managed to remain the most active of the Somalian pirate clans. And all by simply by changing their strategy.

    Instead of the larger oil tankers or container rigs¡ªwhich were equipped with sophisticated radios and often carried armed contingents to repel boarders¡ªthey followed Ali¡¯s advice and began travelling further afield to target smaller, private vessels instead.

    The rest became tribal history.

    So, it was with a great deal of pride that Ali Omar Biixi¡ªaka The Sage¡ªwatched his son, Assad, completing his drills. Such exercises were now part of the new regime instituted by Ali when he took his own father¡¯s place as head of the family.

    Everyone who wanted to be part of the White Sails was required to complete at least a year¡¯s probation. During that time, they were granted ever growing responsibilities . . . if they passed an increasingly difficult set of trials. Those trials involved gaining skills and experience in subjects ranging from seamanship, navigation and first aid, to reacting to authority figures, weapons handling and radio procedures under mock¡ªyet realistic¡ªconditions.

    Repetition and familiarity became the key to success. Knowing how the others reacted under stress had helped each member operate much more efficiently as a team.

    Ali ensured to train his son well. Taking Assad fishing from an early age exposed the natural sailor in him, and revealed his aptitude for piloting craft of all shapes and sizes. No matter what it was, Assad could drive it, steer it, and maneuver it through the tightest, most impossible gaps or slalom courses imaginable. It didn¡¯t matter what cargo was on board, or if his boat was considerably slower than those about him. Assad could out-turn, out-run, and out-play just about everyone else by the time he was twelve.

    Obviously, the Sage in Ali wanted to put those skills to use¡ªfull use¡ªin the other side of the family business as quickly as possible. A providential strategy, for it was as Assad entered his teenage years that his additional talents began to manifest:

    At first the clan thought it was sheer fluke! Every time they took young Assad along on a raid¡ªeven as an observer¡ªthey enjoyed rich rewards. Yes, nowadays they did restrict their activities, mostly to the hours between sundown and sunrise. And it was true their targets were softer than in previous years. However, their marks could still prove difficult, especially if the private yachts or motor launches involved possessed an alert crew, private security, or the latest Yeung Tec GPS radar alarm technology.

    All that became inconsequential once Assad began accompanying them. Somehow, they would always manage to avoid detection by the authorities; get nearer to their objective before rousing suspicion; remain unmolested whilst picking their victims clean; escape with an ease never before witnessed.

    A superstitious lot, the sailors came to look on him as a lucky charm.

    Until the incident¡ªonly a year ago¡ªwhen they realized there was more to young Assad than met the eye:

    The White sails had completed another hassle-free foray against a private yacht owned by a wealthy banker sailing from Egypt toward the Maldives, with his wife and two young daughters on board. Unfortunately, his men had stayed far longer than intended due to the overabundance of possessions on board. The woman was something of a hoarder, and her jewelry selection alone had taken them over half an hour to sort through and bag. Making their eventual escape as the distant horizon began to lighten, they developed engine trouble while still several miles outside their own territorial waters.

    Regrettably for them, an experienced and usually competent crewmember¡ªBahdoon¡ªhad failed to render their victim¡¯s ship-to-shore radio fully inoperative. A fact they were unaware of until forty-five minutes after their departure. That¡¯s when they found themselves bobbing along at the mercy of costal currents and in ever brightening daylight, with a Canadian Warship bearing down on them.

    Sitting ducks!

    Ali had been forced to ditch thousands of dollars worth of weapons and contraband over the side in an effort to avoid arrest.

    If only he¡¯d known, he needn¡¯t have bothered.

    The first time they knew something was a little off, was when they gathered on deck in anticipation of the frigate pulling alongside to disgorge its boarding party of heavily armed commandos. Only it didn¡¯t!

    Instead, Ali watched, openmouthed, as the sleek grey hull of the warship steamed past in a hurry, seemingly intent on another target entirely. Then the helicopter had been launched. Flying backward and forward, it too appeared focused on another purpose, actually swooping directly over them twice!

    After his crew had managed to force their stomachs back down their throats, Ali set his engineer¡ªRashid¡ªto repairing the engine while everyone else settled in to watch the entertainment.

    Without the weight of impending arrest hanging over them, they soon set things right and got underway, whooping with delight and relief. Even so, Ali kept his attention fixed on the ship and its encircling helicopter until they were mere dots in the distance.

    Relaxing at last, he only then realized Assad had been sitting quietly at the prow¡ªhead bent, staring down at the waves¡ªduring the entire episode. When Ali went to check on him, he was horrified to discover his son¡¯s pupils had expanded to fill the whole of his eye sockets. Eye sockets that exuded a milky mist that filtered down onto the water in the manner of a seaborne fog.

    Ali felt as if he was gazing into another dimension entirely.

    His father¡¯s presence seemed to bring Assad out of a trance. Shaking his head, he gulped down air, blinked, and a natural cast returned to his haunted visage. As it did so, a distinctive shimmer ran along the boat from stem to stern. So pronounced was that anomaly, everyone noticed it.

    Startled, Ali blurted out, ¡°By the spirits, what was that?¡±

    Releasing his breath, Assad admitted, ¡°It was me, Father. But don¡¯t worry; it¡¯s something I¡¯ve been able to do for a while now.¡±

    Confused, Ali sought further clarification. ¡°What do you mean? What have you been able to do for a while?¡±

    ¡°Hide us.¡±

    ¡°Hide us? My son, you¡¯re just a boy. How could you possibly do that?¡±

    Shrugging his shoulders, Assad quietly replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know, exactly. All I can say is, when I concentrate, we remain veiled from sight. And I suspect from their radar too.¡±

    Sure enough, when Ali tested that theory with several of their own boats during the days that followed, they discovered Assad¡¯s assertions were true. Assad would take various vessels out to sea and, at a signal from his father, activate his ability. No matter what craft he was aboard, or how big, it would disappear from radar like a nonexistent wraith.

    They brought him closer to shore and asked him to repeat his trick, this time having a clear line of sight. As soon as Assad exerted himself, a shimmering miasma rippled across the surface of the sea, very similar in appearance to the cold water mirages experienced sailors knew so well. Whatever boat the boy was piloting at the time simply folded out of view, blending into the haze as if it didn¡¯t exist.

    Needless to say, Assad¡¯s nickname came to reflect his ability: Stealth!You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    And now, as Stealth completed his final tests, Ali¡¯s heart swelled with pride. The boy was superbly talented, both in the ways of the sea and spirits. His graduation to Sheet signified his full entrance, as a man, into the White Sails. An apt name for their pirate clan, as it signified their amazing record of making clean getaways.

    Assad brought the skiff back to shore where the elders waited, his silent approach a testimony to his skill and maturity. Leaping lightly from the prow, he strode confidently up to his father to receive the mark of a full member.

    Removing the knife from the fire, Ali carved their sigil into his son¡¯s forearm, gratified to note how still Assad remained under the scorching kiss of the blade.

    One by one, the elders approached to offer their congratulations.

    Finally, his father said, ¡°Well done, Stealth. Now you are truly one of us. Soon, we will mark your graduation with a baptism of fire. But for tonight, relax and enjoy the celebrations.¡±

    <h6>*</h6>

    Guardian Institute of Scientific Research (Former site of Headquarters on Earth)

    Pacific Ocean ¨C February 10, 2043

    A fanfare announced the final stage of the proceedings. None of it really registered on the two young people observing events from the seclusion of the grand upper balcony lining the circumference of the state room.

    Joshua Drake reached down to his side, absentmindedly, to scratch behind an ear that wasn¡¯t there. His actions didn¡¯t go unnoticed. Becky Selleck teased, ¡°Missing someone?¡±

    A crooked smile lifted the corner of Joshua¡¯s mouth, but his vacant gaze didn¡¯t leave the joint Graduation Ceremony taking place below. ¡°It certainly looks like it, eh? I don¡¯t realize how much I do it.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯d let you fuss him all day long if you were stupid enough. You do know he¡¯s subliminally compelling you?¡±

    ¡°Of course! All felines do. Just because String is as big as a house doesn¡¯t alter his nature. He¡¯s telepathic. He¡¯s a cat. And he loves being petted.¡±

    Becky giggled at the mere mention of the huge predator¡¯s name. When he was a cub, String¡¯s mother used to regularly bring him¡ªalong with his monstrous brothers and sisters¡ª to meet the tiny humans who had befriended her.

    Although the size of a snack to them, none of the leonines ever viewed the children as a tasty morsel. Instead, they had been fascinated by the toys Becky and Joshua brought for them to play with.

    In particular, String was the cub most mesmerized by the rope Joshua always seemed to carry wherever he went. Within seconds of it being offered, he would pounce on it. Then, in a display of frenzied feline ferociousness¡ªand copious amounts of frizzy-haired hissing and spitting¡ªhe would claw the cord to shreds. Having accomplished this arduous, but essential task, String would then writhe on his back like an upended squirrel, reveling in the ecstasy of vanquishing his imaginary foe.

    The two had been close from the start, sharing a rapport that went beyond the norm. It always made Joshua laugh, the way the giant cub would suddenly turn to stone the moment his fingers delved into the thick fur behind his ear tufts. Head frozen to one side, String would begin radiating titanic waves of pleasure. If Joshua dared stop, String would whine and butt his head against the boy, knocking Joshua over while demanding he continue his ministrations with chirruping protests and repeated licks from a rough black tongue.

    Needless to say, one of the most deadly hunters on Kalliste was doomed to a name denoting novelty for the rest of his life.

    As String grew larger, Joshua started playing telepathic hide-and-seek games with him. This not only bonded them together at a subconscious level, but also had the amazing side effect of augmenting the animal¡¯s natural psychic capacity. Alarmingly so!

    The fact had been noted, and currently, studies were being conducted as to how far those capabilities might be enhanced. It presented a great opportunity. With the colonization program moving forward apace, settlers would need time to adjust to life in an initially strange and hostile environment. And, because of the voracious nature of many of the larger species, they would be dependent upon some form of ¡°guard dog¡± to protect them. As the Verans were now adapting to the presence of humans¡ªand had shown sufficient intelligence to realize people were not to be classed as prey¡ªit looked as if the near invincible creatures might be just the thing to fulfill that role.

    At over five years of age, String was approaching adolescence. Already six feet tall at the shoulder, he was only a shadow of the brute he would one day become. So, it made it all the more amusing when Joshua projected an image into Becky¡¯s mind of the powerful beast lying on his back, kicking all four legs in the air in wanton abandon, as he clawed yet another medicine ball from the gymnasium into leathery strips.

    Joshua murmured, ¡°He doesn¡¯t like it when I¡¯m gone. I can taste his anxiety.¡±

    Becky was surprised. ¡°What? You can sense him from here?¡±

    For the first time, Joshua turned to look at her. Shrugging, he replied, ¡°Like I said. He doesn¡¯t like it when we¡¯re apart . . . Even when I project feelings of comfort and reassurance.¡±

    She didn¡¯t challenge his assertions.

    The children had learned a long time ago how different they were from each other. For Joshua, his empathic abilities were unmatched . . . apart, perhaps, from their favorite aunt and uncles. Somehow, he was able to absorb and influence the emotions of individuals across vast distances. They were beginning to suspect his dexterity may even stretch to manipulating the probability lattices, as Joshua¡¯s precognitive function was also massively developed. He seemed able to feel the right course that needed to be taken to achieve the most beneficial results. As such, the Overlord had personally been training him over the past year in some very advanced techniques to enhance his natural flair for a very rare gift.

    Becky had received similar attention herself. Victoria was widely regarded as having the most finely attuned ultrasenses amongst the Guardians and had been instructing Becky in some astounding long-range, hyper-scanning and hailing procedures that were already way beyond what most of the Lords could achieve.

    Suddenly, Becky laughed out loud.

    Joshua stepped back from the railing. ¡°What?¡±

    She pointed to the class of 2043. The new graduates, now qualified as Protectors after five years of training led the way. Marching smartly along in their distinguishing black uniforms, they were closely followed by the class of 2041. The more senior group had completed their probation and were here today to be confirmed as fully fledged Guardians.

    Reverting to telepathy, Becky raised a profound thought: That will be us in the not too far distant future. It¡¯s strange to think we¡¯re already more accomplished than most people here. Yet, for all our differences, we still need to complete the curriculum that will raise our physical and psychological competence sufficiently to begin closing the gap on our outlandish supernatural freakiness. How do you think we¡¯ll fit in?

    Joshua pulled a face, the slant of his features already revealing a hint of the man he would one day become: Do you know, I hadn¡¯t really thought about that. I know a few noses will be put out of joint because of our ages. Up until now, the youngest candidates to enter the Academy have been sixteen. So, just imagine the joy the ¡®grown-ups¡¯ will feel at having us, a couple of snot-nose kids pulling at their skirts for five years. Especially as some of them think were too precocious for own good.

    Becky grunted: Ha! We¡¯ve already had a little taste of that on the Pre-Course internship! Thank God it¡¯s broken down into modules over the year so we can get a break.

    Joshua brightened: Breaks in which I get to see String . . . Hey! Do you think they¡¯ll let me take him up to the Academy?

    Casting her eyes heavenward, Becky replied: Seriously? God . . . you are! Josh, if you want to improve your chances from nil to sure, when hell freezes over, I think you¡¯d better start bribing the instructors now, don¡¯t you?

    Sighing, Joshua noticed the drill display had just come to an end. ¡°You¡¯re probably right!¡± he grumbled out loud. ¡°Did you want to come with me and congratulate Robin? He was at the same place they rescued you from, wasn¡¯t he?¡±

    Becky¡¯s aura softened to a coral hue. ¡°Yes he was. Good idea, let¡¯s go and mingle.¡±

    <h6>*</h6>

    Jose Calderon couldn¡¯t believe he¡¯d actually done it.

    After pinching himself until it hurt, he held out his arms and drank in the symbol of his new office, a freshly added bronze ring at the end of each sleeve. Swaggering with well deserved pride, his face creased in a grin that added a gentle innocence to his features that had been sorely lacking when he was younger.

    A blunt and highly compulsive individual with a powerful self-healing faculty, Jose had originally been a career hood, carving out a little empire for himself in Houston, Texas. Growing up alone and always having to look out for himself, he became secretive, insular and reclusive, with a predisposition to violence. After a number of successful hits on him had mysteriously failed, he was subsequently exposed as a subject possessing extrasensory capabilities to the authorities.

    The CIA later tracked him down and incarcerated him within the Angel Project, an ultra-secure holding facility beneath Langley. Fortunately for him, he was one of a number of people held there illegally, and had been rescued by the Guardians in a blaze of bright lights and publicity. That incident changed his life.

    Following his rehabilitation, the Guardian facilitators had gone on to treat him with respect, entrusting him with ever more responsibility as the months passed. He hadn¡¯t let them down. For the first time ever, he felt as if he truly belonged somewhere. And it showed.

    Here he was, just over seven years later, clutching his authorization documents to his first posting. Inquisitor Wing: Section 1¡ªSouth Americas Sector. He was a Guardian cop, with compulsive and healing abilities currently assessed at Grand Master level. And to top it all, it was thought the additional self-rejuvenating aspect gracing his psi-well was going to be even stronger by the time his maturation had run its course.

    The irony of the turnabout his fortunes had undergone still hadn¡¯t sunk in and made him somewhat reflective even now. His appointment meant he would be stationed at the underground Zone facility in the Mato Grosso do Sul district of Brazil. That would please his new girlfriend immensely, as her company had recently relocated her to Rio de Janeiro. Being so close would mean they could take their time getting to know one another properly.

    The icing on the cake as far as Jose was concerned!

    One of his classmates, Bob ¡®Johnnie¡¯ Walker caught his attention over on the other side of the hall: Hey, Big Guy! Are you coming or what? If we don¡¯t get to the photo lines fast enough, we¡¯ll be late for the gala. All the best seats will be taken.

    Yeah, Johnnie, I know. I¡¯m on my way.

    It was as Jose steamrollered his way through the mob that he spotted someone he knew from the Langley incident. He stopped dead in his tracks. It can¡¯t be!

    An evil plot hatched in his mind.

    Pushing his way through the crowd, Jose came up behind his quarry. His victim was chatting to an older, attractive blonde-haired Protector. Jose grinned at her and winked as he covered his target¡¯s eyes with his palms. In a false gangster voice, he snarled, ¡°Stickemup, fuck-wit! Guess who?¡±

    Robin Johns went completely still.

    Despite the huge paws clamped about his head, he still managed to assume a thoughtful posture. Tapping his chin with his forefinger, he replied, ¡°Hang on a minute, no clues now! No clues . . . So, let me see! Smooth girly hands with a very weak grip. That indicates either a complete weakling or someone with a penchant for self-abuse. Or¡ªand this is the most likely option¡ªboth!

    ¡°The casual use of vulgarity highlights my aggressor has an exceedingly low IQ, equal to that of a three-week-old turd! The stench of body odor combined with the smell of vomit tells me that someone is so ugly, even the sight of their own reflection causes a reflex hurl. They also dare to put their grubby mitts all over my handsome face. Goodness only knows what disgusting bodily orifices those broken nails and pallid fingers have been scratching or delving into . . .? Though the aroma is quite distinctive. Mmmh, only one person I can think of has somehow managed to wheedle his way through Guardian training with such appallingly low standards. Probably by playing on the mental disability quotient modern-day employers are forced to adhere to. . .¡±

    Flinging his arms wide, Robin concluded, ¡°Did you manage to dress yourself today, Jose? Or did mummy do it for you, diapers and all?¡±

    Jose spun Robin around to face him and engulfed him in a huge bear hug. ¡°How¡¯re you doing, you pig-ugly retard? Long time, no see!¡±

    ¡°Oh you know, overcoming further huge hurdles on the long road to recovery,¡± Robin gestured toward his companion, ¡°and saving lives with my classmate here.¡±

    ¡°Jesus, I heard about that! Lucky you guys were there then by all accounts.¡±

    Robin flexed his broad shoulders into a Charles Atlas pose, and then relaxed. ¡°Yes . . . and no. I throw up a pretty mean shield, but it was Emm¡¯s who really saved the day with her knack for teleportation. They¡¯d have been dead by the time I¡¯d jogged my manly way to them, even with the Moon¡¯s gravity being what it is.¡±

    Jose seized his opening. ¡°By God, you¡¯re right! Get out of the way, you useless fucking moron, so I can speak to a real hero.¡±

    Roughly manhandling Robin aside, Jose began advancing on the hapless woman.

    She seemed appalled, until both men paused to embrace each other for a second time. A further stream of exchanged vulgarities followed. Then they burst out laughing.

    Relaxing a little, she snorted, ¡°Bloody children!¡±

    Their manner clearly betrayed the fact that such insults were a normal means of communicating their deep affection for each other.

    Suddenly, Robin had the decency to look embarrassed. Turning to his fellow Protector, he announced, ¡°Where are my manners? Emma, this is Gua . . . Guard . . . It¡¯s no use, the title doesn¡¯t fit him. This is Jose Calderon. Sorry about him, he¡¯s a twat that isn¡¯t getting used often enough¡ªby men or women¡ªor any form of mutated beast known to mankind. One time criminal thug and hit-man, now¡ªbelieve it or not¡ªdestined to blaze a trail of self destruction within the Inquisitor ranks! God help us. . .

    ¡°. . . Twat! This is Protector Emma Boucher. She¡¯s far too nice a lady for you to even look at. So, just dribble and go take your club and play with the sand on the beach. About two miles out from the low tide mark should do it. Oh, and don¡¯t bother holding your breath. Nobody cares.¡±

    The bluntness of the two men¡¯s humor took quite a few bystanders by surprise¡ªEmma included. So much so, her jaw dropped open.

    Using his finger to lift her chin, Jose ignored the jibe and said, ¡°Hi, Emma. It¡¯s nice to meet a real hero who doesn¡¯t still wet the bed at night.¡±

    ¡°Nice to mee¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve told you, dickhead!¡± Robin shot back, ¡°I only ever do that when we¡¯re in bunk beds and you¡¯re on the bottom.¡±

    Adopting a theatrical pose, Robin added ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know how my body can hold that much liquid! It¡¯s like I¡¯m blessed with an additional ability.¡±

    Jose pushed Robin even farther out of the way, ¡°Can you hear an annoying, irritating buzz? Anyway! It is nice to meet you Emma, even if your choice in unworthy charitable causes leaves much to be desired.¡±

    Struggling to keep a straight face, she replied, ¡°Good to meet you at last! He¡¯s always going on about you, you know.¡±

    Without missing a beat, Jose responded, ¡°All bad, I¡¯m sure. We¡¯re getting engaged next month. The wedding¡¯s due as soon as I get him heavily insured. Needless to say, he¡¯ll suffer a needless, painful accident soon after. Twice¡ªjust to make sure! I¡¯ll mourn his heartrending loss for a healthy period of about five minutes. . .¡± He paused to leer directly at her. ¡°Then we can run off together to Vegas. Sound good?¡±

    Emma burst out laughing. Fortunately, she was spared further displays of testosterone-laced posturing when a mental fist bludgeoned its way into Jose¡¯s psyche:

    Johnnie Walker was back: Hey, big man, haul ass! People are beginning to gripe about me saving you a spot in line. You¡¯ll lose your place entirely if you don¡¯t shift it!

    Genuinely sorry he had to leave; Jose started jostling his way back through the press. ¡°Apologies, guys, you¡¯ll have to enjoy the celebrations without me. Well done, by the way! I¡¯m late for the class photographs. I promised Angelika I¡¯d get her a few portraits shots for her bedside cabinet.¡±

    He wiggled his eyebrows outrageously as he projected a lurid mental image of himself naked, in a typical male model catalogue pose.

    Emma choked on her punch.

    Though the distance between them grew by the second, Robin was on him like a rash. He shouted, ¡°Angelika? Who¡¯s Angelika? Surely you can¡¯t be alluding to someone with an actual pulse?¡±

    Nonchalantly, Jose replied, ¡°Oh, a great girl I met on a night out in Rio a few months back.¡±

    Jose was getting a bit far away, so Robin reverted to mental speech: Are you sure she¡¯s a woman? Was it dark? I¡¯ve heard the transvestites from that part of the world are particularly alluring.

    Well, you¡¯d know!

    Is she blind?

    Boring.

    Is she retarded?

    Prick!

    Is she a moose? She is, isn¡¯t she? A certified double bagger!

    Raising a middle finger, so the young upstart could clearly see it across the throng, Jose projected: Twist on this, spindle dick. . .

    . . . No, cancel my last thought. You¡¯d definitely get too much of a kick out of that.

    Meeting up with his fellow graduates, Jose cut off any further conversation with his long-lost pal. Even so, he couldn¡¯t help but smile. It was really nice to see him again. He¡¯s an entirely new kid now that his head¡¯s sorted out. The shrinks did an amazing job on him.

    Jose¡¯s grin got bigger as an image of his girlfriend¡¯s voluptuous body sprang to mind. I think I¡¯ll have to introduce him to Angelika. When he sees what she looks like for real, he¡¯ll be sooo pissed. I¡¯ll be able to wind him up with it for years!

 An Echo in The Night

    Andrew¡¯s aura red-shifted, flashing through multiple, ever-darkening hues as he reentered normal spacetime. Shields raised, his aggressive faculties primed and ready, he analyzed the boundaries of the entire region warily, suspicious of the fact he had been led to this spot. At over fifteen billion light years from Earth, it was an area of the universe that was ancient, and therefore sparsely populated.

    No sooner had he completed a sweep of the astronomical itinerants travelling through this sector, than he released a huge hunter-seeker pulse. Waiting patiently, he followed the leading edge of his invocation as it propagated out into the star-spangled void, sensitive to any variance that might reveal the presence of the other that had caught his attention only thirty seconds previously. C¡¯mon, where are you? Something that intangible must be up to no good . . . and I can guess why.

    He had been busy exploring the immeasurable reaches of the heavens for future viable colonization candidates. In order to do so, Andrew had tuned his prodigious psychoenergetic talents to the precise esophysical and geoteric bandwidths required for human life to exist. Then, employing an arcane program of the utmost complexity, he commenced jumping from one Gradial Reference Point¡ªGRP¡ªto another, a technique that allowed him to scan for a distance of over a hundred million light years in every direction whilst skimming along the steep gradient of the hyper-spatial ellipse.

    Only moments ago, he had been traversing the outer fringes of Abel-18351k1916. As one of the outermost nebulas yet detected by mankind, it was a region of space that should have been deserted. And yet, his mental alarm notified him of the presence of an ascended life-form.

    Because of the current threat, none of the other Ultra Guardians had been assigned this far out. Of those who were capable of standing up to their adversaries, Victoria was on Earth, overseeing the amalgamation of her new staff from the previous week¡¯s graduation; Anatt was on Kalliste, managing the off world project; and the Overlord was busy again, attuning himself to a galaxy stripped of its hub in preparation for the role he would undertake in the near future.

    That narrowed the margin considerably as to who the mysterious interloper might be. I wouldn¡¯t put it past them! The renegades are onto the fact their transcended complexi would ring like the proverbial bell to other higher beings if they were close enough. But out past the galactic rim? That would be a different matter! We would have to be specifically scanning for them¡ªand with all manner of filters phased in¡ªto stand a chance of locking-on to their binary idents. Especially with the amount of celestial white noise and background radiation that exists out here along the spur.

    He studied his environs again. Perhaps that was why my would-be tail dropped their guard? They weren¡¯t expecting me all the way out here.

    Thankful for the absence of the supernal frequencies that would encroach on his stupendous senses, Andrew altered his perceptions. Subtlety, he began to blend with the viscous tides of dark matter so prevalent here in the older areas of space. Sending out a further probe, he waited, listening. . .

    Nothing!

    . . . Well, nothing that can be termed unnatural or risky.

    Andrew stretched himself again.

    Merging with those cosmic chains that bound reality together, he became one with the deep melodic tones of their constitution. Vibrating his complexus at the exact same pitch, he sent out a further query.

    Still nothing!

    Determined not to be beaten, he absorbed vitality directly from the subspace matrix pervading the void about him. Exerting himself mightily, he then discharged the sum of that exuberance in cognitive waves, straining to listen the further they traveled.

    There you are!

    At the very limits of his capacity he discerned the fleeting touch of his shadow. Though rooted in the familiar, it was hauntingly alien in some way. What the hell is it?

    Spinning a hasty translation field, Andrew launched himself through hyperspace in pursuit. As he did so, an unexpected distortion rippled through his psi-well, boosting his potential alarmingly. Emerging into normal space an instant later, he discovered he¡¯d travelled over four billion light years in one leap.

    Overflowing with never before experienced dominion, Andrew gasped as his nexus followed suit, swelling to a fanfare of pealing tonal discharges.

    The unexpected experience brought him up dead. How on earth did I do that?

    Checking his astral orientation, Andrew had the presence of mind to range for his tag-along sprite. He caught it, winking out of existence along an entirely different heading. Discarding the chase¡ªfor now¡ªhe assessed his position for a third time. I¡¯ve just teleported half again as far as I¡¯ve ever managed to do in one attempt?

    He altered his acuity to look down on himself from above. Fuuuck!

    Andrew¡¯s transcended complexus had grown. Now close to twelve feet in height, his spectral brilliance was bedazzling, even from the perspective of someone as majestic as he was.

    Realization hit him.

    I¡¯ve just undergone a maturation phase! Bugger me, I¡¯m almost as strong as father now and . . . ?

    Without warning, his glorified substance throbbed in esoteric sympathy.

    Shifting through a refractive m¨¦lange of scintillating colors, he felt a familiar intellect, far, far away, reacting in shock. He didn¡¯t understand how or why, exactly, but Andrew knew his twin sister¡ªback on Earth¡ªhad just experienced a similar transition.

    An urgent query homed in on his consciousness: Andrew? Andrew? Are you there?

    Yes, Vic, are you okay?

    I was just . . . I mean . . . Then I felt . . . ? Did . . . did we just grow?

    It certainly seems that way. I was in mid-jump too, and got boosted over four billion light years for my troubles.

    Victoria couldn¡¯t hide her surprise: Four billion! That¡¯s, that¡¯s¡ª

    Bloody incredible! He finished her sentence for her: I know. Look, when I¡¯m finished here, we¡¯ve got to talk. I¡¯m at:

    A stream of squeezed data containing his precise coordinates spurted away.

    What are you doing all the way out there? She queried: I thought you were on Star Search?

    I was! I am! But I came across something and when I went to investigate, it skipped away from me before I could lock-on and identify it properly.

    The outer veneer of Victoria¡¯s psyche sparked yellow in astonishment: Skipped away from you? Who besides father can do that?

    That¡¯s what I¡¯d like to know. You don¡¯t think they¡¯ve somehow managed to enhance themselves again, do you, artificially this time?

    There was no need to clarify who they were.

    Hell, I haven¡¯t got a clue, Andrew. If you wind things up out there, I¡¯ll get onto father and ask him to examine the data with us. Perhaps he can shed some light on this.

    Sending an image of himself nodding, Andrew said: Will do. Catch you . . . Whoa!

    Immediately reacting to his outburst, Victoria cried: What?

    Andrew ran through his calculations yet again: Sis, how far am I from you?

    Here on Earth? Hang on! I¡¯m using gravitational lensing to help focus. It puts you at precisely fourteen billion eight hundred million m . . . ? Slap me stupid!

    Vic, I know you¡¯re better at this than me, but do you have to strain to maintain the connection over such a massive distance?

    No, not at all! Jeesh! Is this what father was hinting at when he talked about us evolving into something never seen before?

    Numbed, Andrew replied: I can¡¯t say for sure! But I¡¯ve got a feeling this might only be a foretaste of what¡¯s to come.

    That brought him back to the reason why he was there in the first place. He continued: I¡¯ll catch you later. There¡¯s something I¡¯ve got to look into . . . now!

    Breaking the link, Andrew concentrated on the last heading the mysterious entity had taken. He decided to err on the side of caution, and began a series of short hyperspatial hops at a tangent to its last trajectory. Such a tactic allowed him to adopt a similar course, while maintaining full tactical readiness.

    On his fifteenth hop, he emerged from hyper-space . . . and was blown away!

    Before him¡ªplain as day¡ªsat a small solar system blessed with three planets. The star at its center was a main sequence, G2V yellow dwarf, slightly larger than Earth¡¯s sun.

    The innermost world was only sixty million miles out, and therefore, far too hot to sustain life. However, its two siblings, orbiting at ninety-seven million, and one hundred and nineteen million miles respectively, were an entirely different prospect. For this class of luminary, they were smack-bang inside the Goldilocks Zone.

    Andrew swooped in on the second planet. Assessing it closely, he discovered it to be about ten percent again as big as Earth. Casting his astral sight further afield and out into the orbital plane, he also saw it was ideally placed within the family group for maximized protection from roving bodies. It had no moon, and the beautiful blue-white vista indicated a high probability of lush flora and fauna.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    He surveyed the surface. Dry land accounted for forty percent of its total area. Seasonal variation was clearly evident and would warrant further scrutiny. The oceans were comprised of water, albeit with nowhere near the amount of sodium found in Earth¡¯s seas.

    Diving into the thermosphere, Andrew examined the marine environment more closely. Magnesium, sodium, sulfur, potassium, calcium, and fluorine were plentiful. So were beneficial levels of sulfates, bicarbonates, and borates. And life . . . life teemed in its multitudes wherever he looked.

    In fact, the entire planet seemed to radiate health of the highest quality.

    A tingle infused Andrew¡¯s soul. It was almost as if Earth had a slightly younger sister that had somehow been scrubbed clean, transported through space, and positioned here.

    He tasted the atmosphere. The predominant gases were nitrogen and oxygen¡ªboth at tolerable levels¡ªthe remainder being a mix of carbon dioxide, helium, argon, hydrogen, and ammonia. Trace elements were plentiful, ozone was good. Bloody spooky! I¡¯ve read science fiction novels describing this kind of scenario.

    As there were no moons, Andrew couldn¡¯t easily assess tidal variation. That would require a deeper study of this amazing world¡¯s interaction with its sun and neighbors. Regardless, by skimming the composition all four major landmasses, he was able to discern areas of coastal erosion and accretion. He also discovered two subduction zones, indicative of volcanic activity where opposing tectonic plates infringed upon their neighbors.

    Immersing himself in their stratal history, he spent some time digesting the full implications of what he saw. Hmm, nothing we can¡¯t deal with. Seismic instability is localized to two of the continents, giving us room to maneuver by establishing our initial bases on the other ones until we¡¯re ready to expand.

    Gravity was fractionally higher than that on Earth, and the rotational variant indicated the days here would be twenty-five and a half standard Earth hours long.

    Andrew lightly sounded the aquatic depths, and drew back to scope the planet¡¯s surface to get a better indication of the range of bio-diversity. He jumped in disbelief as multiple responses to his telepathic probes pinged back.

    He broke the link; an instinctive reaction completed before he realized what he had done. Nonetheless, after replaying the incident through and confirming the absence of a direct threat, he extended the invitation of his thoughts again.

    Wave upon wave of eager naivety and innocence responded.

    Holding his ground this time, he gauged the emotions behind those queries, and quickly determined no aggressive intent. How in . . . ?

    Measuring them more precisely, Andrew realized he was receiving millions upon millions of replies to his call. Though vastly different in their inflexion, most were driven by simple curiosity as to who the shining mind high above them might be.

    Because he hadn¡¯t responded immediately, the fledgling creatures were becoming desperate to find the answer to their questions. So much so, they were already on the verge of uniting in a crude metaconcert.

    Drawn by their need, Andrew descended further into the atmosphere.

    He was astonished to discover an amazingly balanced and self-sustaining ecosystem. The multitudes of living organisms surrounding him were not only intimately attuned to each other, but to the nature of their solar precincts as well. They . . . they¡¯re so different to the simple life-forms I¡¯ve found elsewhere amongst the reaches of the cosmos. I¡¯ve never seen such a thriving quasi-community so dedicated to working together to ensure their planetary attributes are more conducive to the stellar numen.

    Andrew expanded his perspicacity to encompass the entire globe. . .

    . . . and was flabbergasted.

    Although primitive, the id of this world was so incredibly rich in essence, it verged on being sentient. How could this be possible?

    . . . Bloody hell!

    Andrew was so dumbfounded, he couldn¡¯t think straight.

    Then he heard it; that haunting echo again, somewhere nearby, reminding him who had brought him here.

    Flinging his strongest probe that way, Andrew¡¯s pursuit was over before it even began, the rush of ethereal endorphins produced by the anticlimax causing his plexus to flutter wildly. This was no agent provocateur come to taunt his efforts. It was the last planet out of the brood¡ªthe one only twenty-two million miles away¡ªcalling out in response to its fellow¡¯s excitement. Has it absorbed a degree of its maker¡¯s character in some way? If so, that would mean . . .? I¡¯ve got to see!

    Quickly spinning a crude tau-field, Andrew bore himself through the stellar medium and materialized above the next enigma. Oh¡ªmy¡ªGod!

    It was immediately apparent conditions here were very different.

    This final world was much larger than its sibling. And at just over a hundred and nineteen million miles out from its sun, it should also have been unable to support humanoid life. However, there appeared to be some form of link between the two bodies. Though obscure, that bond drew forth an efflux of subliminal, resonating emissions from deep within the heart of the larger planet. In turn, those vibrations manipulated the core¡ªand through that¡ªthe range and extent of its electromagnetic field, effectively decreasing its rate of axial spin and surface gravity.

    Andrew guestimated its rotational frequency as lying between seventy-three to seventy-four standard Earth hours. Incredible, for that was exactly what was required to warm the thick soupy atmosphere and surface sufficiently for human life to thrive.

    Piercing the veil, Andrew was greeted by a melody of the sweetest angelic purity. I don¡¯t believe this . . . it¡¯s. . .

    Emotions fluttered unbidden, erupting from one end of his complexus to the other. Had he been in human form, tears would have been rolling down his cheeks at this moment, adding their frozen, tinkling substance to a prelude centuries in the making.

    She . . . they . . . it . . . was beyond beauty. And so breathtaking to behold, it actually pained him in the most intimate of ways to look upon it.

    Dragging his perceptions away from the marvels below, Andrew scoped far and wide into the distant regions of the surrounding expanse. From Earth, this planetary arrangement would appear behind the constellation of Leo. If I had followed my current search pattern, it would have remained undiscovered for nearly two thousand years.

    A glittering silver skein crackled through the extremities of his nimbus as he grasped what must have occurred. So I was led here! But by whom?

    Taking a step back, Andrew reviewed everything that had happened¡ªfrom the instant he had detected he was being watched until now. He repeated the exercise, twice over, just to make sure. Whatever, whoever, that echo was, it displayed no overt signs of aggression.

    . . . And its signature?

    Although unknown, there was something about the mental overlay that was achingly familiar. Not only was the entity adept in its use of the higher functions, but it had guided him here as if intent on showing him an example of its work.

    A chime sounded in his mind. Now that¡¯s a point! If this is a construct, then . . .?

    Pausing, Andrew meshed with the harmonic solace emitted by the two outer planets and let its music tug his awareness along in an eddy of soothing delight. The current led him directly to the parent star. Examining it closely, he was stunned to learn it was the source of an intricate network of arcane filaments permeating the ether. Although natural¡ªin that they were comprised of the interrelated gravity and particles dominating this area of space¡ªwhat they were feeding, was not.

    Over what must¡¯ve been eons and eons of time, someone¡ªor something¡ªhad taken the group¡¯s natural arrangement, and gradually and painstakingly enhanced it at its most basic level. Whereas before this solar system had been mute, now it flared with an awareness that connected each component member in a way that bordered on the preternatural. The matrix forming at its heart guaranteed the optimum conditions for transcendent evolution were not only being achieved, but sustained and advanced with each passing day.

    Andrew turned to the first planet again and gazed upon it for the first time with eyes free of the scales of ignorance.

    The patient manipulations that were terraforming its hostile environment into a template fit for life were now evident. It might take millennia upon millennia, but one day¡ªfar into the distant future¡ªthis world¡¯s profusion would be plentiful and vibrant.

    Something from within the obscure arrangement called to him. Andrew responded, reaching out to grasp at one of the strands. Meshing with it, he issued a welcoming consonance into the nucleus of its structure. Then he let go, eager to see if his intent would be relayed to the existing communities on the outer two planets.

    The filament somehow recognized and obeyed the impulse without hesitation. In the blink of an eye, Andrew¡¯s expression of love and fellowship was amplified and transferred to every organism capable of understanding those sentiments.

    Within seconds, the entire structure throbbed in response. And the mirrored harmonic reflection that came bounding back sent a flare of delight surging along his synapses. The others have got to see this. They¡¯ll pee themselves silly!

    Of course, we¡¯ll have to quarantine the damn place until we can be sure nothing we do causes it harm. What a shame if the human mindset is too aggressive to settle here.

    . . . unless?

    He expanded the options this current state of affairs might offer.

    Would this model be capable of enhancing humans as well? Remove their natural inclination to destroy and speed up their maturation?

    That view seemed to fit the ambiance of what he saw.

    Well, screw me blind!

    Without realizing he was doing, Andrew started running through suitable names in his head. It was something he had always loved to do when unearthing new delights and making fresh discoveries.

    He let the mood of the place guide him. Before I get too carried away, I need to settle on a language. Hmmm, Latin might be appropriate on this occasion.

    First, he considered the star governing the strange set-up. Acknowledging that her influence was an essential factor to the embryonic sentience coalescing all around him helped Andrew find the answer almost immediately. Ha! Life-giver: Veritasu.

    Looking down, the impression he received of the hot little orb closest to the sun filled him with the promise of hope. A fitting choice for a name, as this world would one day be an incredible place to behold: Speratus.

    The evocatively fascinating third planet came next, gloriously splendid for all her differences. But of course, it¡¯s so simple when beauty is involved: Decorus.

    Finally, he turned his attention to the magnificence of the blue-white treasure hanging like a jewel between the two extremes.

    His emotions were an ideal guide. You are a wondrous place. So many people will come to love the spirit of what you have to offer.

    Chuckling, he conceded: That¡¯s perfect! Seeing as you¡¯re so wonderful, Mirari it is.

    Only then did he recall what it was that led him here.

    In his newly enlightened state, he saw why the mystery entity had managed to elude him. An infinitely faint web of interconnected pathways crisscrossed a little-known layer of the subspace medium. A stable wormhole network!

    Savoring the extent and complexity of the framework, Andrew realized it was too orderly, too structured to have been generated randomly. What has Father neglected to mention this time, I wonder?

    Resisting the urge to intrude, Andrew bared his soul to every single esoteric and telepathic frequency he could think of. When he was ready, he sent out an extremely powerful, but gentle message: Thank you, whoever you are for bringing me here today! I will personally ensure this gift is cherished, not squandered.

    Though a set of instructions would have been nice?

    He waited . . . radiating tolerance, benevolence, welcome and camaraderie.

    As he expected, his not so subtle attempt to elicit a response was completely ignored¡ªas far as he was aware.

    Resigned to the fact that it would probably stay this way until whoever was responsible felt ready to say hello, Andrew fine-tuned his ultrasenses and homed-in on his next destination: Earth.

    In moments, he had spun the immense hypertranslation field that would take him the unimaginable distance home in only three jumps.

    Then he was gone, leaving the hypnotic little star system to go about its business in peace.

    <h6>*</h6>

    A short while later, something peeled back a hitherto unknown layer of subspace and peeked out. Tasting the tincture of the stranger, the entity decided this perplexing new visitor to be neither known nor unknown, but something in between.

    Impossible! How can such an aberration exist? It mused.

    The outsider presented a puzzle it was neither equipped to deal with nor tolerant enough to understand. The entity decided it might be best to consult the others.

    While it means rousing them from consulate bliss, they can¡¯t complain. They have been dormant long enough. Cogitation will provide a stimulating change after an age spent in darkness with nothing but our errors for company.

    Then it had another, more disturbing thought.

    No! It couldn¡¯t be . . . could it?

    So soon?

 Surprises

    The reception dais of the Headquarters transportation hub glowed faintly as Jade Heung, Lord Evaluator of the Guardians, materialized on the center of the platform. The scarlet flashes rippling through her aura betrayed her obvious excitement to the security detail stationed around the chamber. Ignoring the looks of surprise her unannounced arrival had generated, she stepped down and swiftly made her way toward the main elevator pads.

    Jade rarely displayed emotion in front of others. So, for her to be telegraphing her feelings so openly, gave the game away that something was up.

    It wouldn¡¯t cause any harm, of course, but she berated herself nonetheless. Switch on, Jade. You¡¯re acting like an undergraduate who¡¯s just levitated her first chair!

    She clutched the reason for her jubilation tightly in her hand: the message crystal, detailing the latest results of the N-Gate Program they had been working on for only two weeks. Two weeks! And already events were in motion to go live.

    If she gave her blessing.

    As she hurried along, Jade summarized the contents of the report again, all the time cursing that part of Headquarters etiquette that required everyone to walk about the complex in an orderly fashion as opposed to teleporting.

    And of course, the mere fact she was the Lord Evaluator, meant she had to set an example. A well-known line from Charles Dickens¡¯ ¡°A Christmas Carol¡± came to mind: Bah humbug!

    A few moments later, and she¡¯d reached the pad. Snorting to herself as it began to descend, she had to admit. The walk was helping restore the usual glacial veneer she liked to adopt in front of others. But boy, it¡¯s difficult . . . given our current situation.

    Everyone had been on edge since the attempt to infiltrate the facility had become public knowledge. Herself included! So, the fact her department had already come up with a solution to the immediate threat, would give everyone the morale boost they needed.

    A boost, along with a positive goal to focus on.

    To be honest, it had surprised Jade how easily Marty and Sharon had pointed the rest of their colleagues in the right direction:

    The research team had the bright idea of wiring Marty up to a converted HaSP scanner¡ªcourtesy of Yeung Technologies. Making use of its multidimensional holographic interface, they began the unenviable task of measuring and cataloging each and every single psychic faculty the Guardians had at their disposal.

    As they were already aware, each ability generated its own unique esoteric energy signature. By using the HaSP, they had since been able to transpose those frequencies into a quantifiable mundane form.

    Marty had then demonstrated what actually happened when he deployed his mirroring talents. Being able to witness the mechanics of the process in each case, allowed Guardian scientists to accurately calculate the precise wavelengths Marty employed on each occasion. Then, using the data collected as a template, they managed to reproduce the exact same effects artificially.

    A rousing success to be sure.

    Nevertheless, they were only halfway to their goal. Before anyone could start shouting from the rooftops, they needed Sharon¡¯s input.

    It had been amazing to watch Sharon¡¯s dexterity at work. Unlike Marty, she didn¡¯t just reflect the incoming frequencies back to their originator to create a barrier. She inverted them too, negating the waveforms entirely.

    Once again, they¡¯d been able to mimic the process, creating the N-Gate technology.

    If the report was correct, the procedure was still a little slow. Evidently, the scanners took a few moments to fully assess the incoming energies, before introducing the medium to nullify them. But that didn¡¯t matter at this stage. Accuracy was essential. Speed could be enhanced later through the introduction of a series of upgraded targeting nodes, each incorporating an increased range of sensitivity.

    All in all, very encouraging news.

    However, that wasn¡¯t what had excited the Lord Evaluator so much.

    No! The thing that had Jade doing mental back-flips, was the discovery that once the unique tonal medium for each inversed capability had been memorized and stored mentally, that was it! Any competent operator would be able to embed the program within their psyche.

    Of course, personal strength and fortitude would then be an obvious factor as to whether an individual would be resilient enough to counteract their opponent. But that wasn¡¯t the point. The Guardians now had a two-tiered strategy to deal with their godlike foes. If it transpired they weren¡¯t potent enough to defend themselves metaphysically, then at least they had the luxury of a mechanical option to keep them alive until help arrived.

    And if today went well, they would see a successful demonstration of the range and flexibility the N-Gater had to offer against preprogrammed targets.

    Jade was still mulling things over as she swept into the main laboratory. So, when she found herself frozen, mid-step and enclosed within a crawling web of power, it took her completely by surprise. A faint buzz also announced the fact that the internal security countermeasures had locked on to her. She was about react, when she recognized the absence of any threat.

    Everyone seemed to be studying her closely, a look of professional interest or concern written across their faces. All, that is, except for Marty Mays, who peered out from behind his command console wearing a smile that stretched from ear to ear.

    An old style light bulb blinked on!

    ¡°I see you¡¯ve adapted the N-Gater technology to specific psi-dents then?¡±

    ¡°It would appear so, little lady!¡± Marty replied, feeding extra teeth into his Cheshire Cat grin.

    Little lady?

    He continued, ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind. But, seeing as we needed your approval, I thought you¡¯d be the perfect guinea-pig to try it out on. Minus the psychic stun element, of course.¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡±

    Her eyes narrowed, and everyone took that as a cue to get back to work. True to form, Marty merely winked and continued tinkering about with the controls on his desk.

    She assumed he must be making some last minute adjustments, so contented herself by testing the limits of the field holding her still. No matter how hard she tried, Jade couldn¡¯t get her muscles to work. Not bad. Apart from my autonomous functions, I can¡¯t budge an inch. Let¡¯s see what happens if I try to use my telekinesis?

    A miniscule vibration ran through her body. Then, something cancelled out the manifestation of her will before it could evolve into motion. Okay, I¡¯ll teleport instead.

    Intrigued, she felt a familiar surge of power as hidden energies answered her call, only to find them skipping away before their purpose had been served. From what she could determine, her ability had responded, but once it passed a certain threshold, it shied away from her mental grasp in the way similar poles of a magnet reacted when introduced to one another. And once it had absented itself, that particular aptitude remained elusive and beyond her capacity to recall.

    Jade was impressed . . . impressed and somewhat disturbed by the claustrophobic helplessness now closing in on her. Clearing her throat to attract Marty¡¯s attention, she said, ¡°Can I have my foot back now, please? I¡¯m beginning to feel a little ridiculous standing here like a cartoon character stuck on freeze-frame.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± he blinked and looked her up and down. ¡°Oh yes, of course!¡±

    A gentle hum coincided with the restoration of her motor functions.

    Stalking across to Marty¡¯s terminal, she held out the message crystal. ¡°You weren¡¯t exaggerating when you said we were ready to go live across the board. That was quite unnerving.¡±

    Shrugging, he replied, ¡°I aim to please. But you really need to be thanking that pretty lady over there. . .¡±

    Pointing toward Sharon Dyer, he explained, ¡°. . . Sharon came up with the idea of featuring the HaSP¡¯s holo-displays within our working parameters. They say a picture paints a thousand words? Well, her idea jumped us forward a Texas mile. Once everyone could see what was needed, it was a simple matter for us to replicate those conditions over and over again. After that, we worked on isolating the frequencies and adding them to the database. The rest¡ªas the saying goes¡ªis history.¡±

    Studying the young woman, who was now engrossed in the circuitry of a cerebral enhancer, Jade thought. Hmmmh! She¡¯s full of surprises. I really must make the effort to get to know her better.

    Out loud, she mused, ¡°Marty, what¡¯s she doing now?¡±

    Glancing across the room, Marty¡¯s eyes lit up in comprehension. ¡°Ah yes! A major part of the problem appears to be pinpointing the murdering scumbags when they¡¯re keeping their heads down. We¡¯ve all seen how elusive they are when they choose to be, so Sharon suggested we try integrating the new tech into the SEPS scanners aboard your orbiting stations. If she manages to splice the N-Gate hardware into the sensitive targeting nodes of the cerebro-energizers . . . well, it¡¯ll be game over! That¡¯ll give us access to your Automatic Targeting Recognition and THOR arrays.¡±

    He sucked in through his teeth. ¡°We¡¯ve run into some hurdles, true. But she¡¯s working on them.¡±

    Jade looked more closely at the heroine of the hour.

    Yes! Full of surprises! I¡¯m definitely going to get to know her better. Starting now!

    <h6>*</h6>

    The ionized cloud drifted sedately across the northern polar region of the Moon. Comprised of the finest particles saturating the interstellar medium, it was almost indistinguishable from the background solar radiation permeating this region of space and blended perfectly to its ambient surroundings. The pain of maintaining such a diaphanous constitution was considerable. But the entity was used to discomfort. It was the only way he could safely get about lately.

    And safety was a priority. Especially after one of their number nearly went and got himself caught.

    Oh, it was tempting to try out one of Esther¡¯s toys. But there was always a risk involved in any new venture. And he wasn¡¯t willing to dip his toe into the water just yet . . . at least, not until they¡¯d finished seeding.

    The creature now known as Simon Cooper smiled within himself.

    Yeung had come up with the term seeding only last week, when they had been discussing their options. Esther had completed the latest batch of sub-dermal emitters and was keen to mesh those upgrades with their new trinary psi-dents. As always, Yeung had urged caution, suggesting that, perhaps it would be beneficial to sow the seeds of doubt before using the devices on themselves. His idea to carry out a series of test runs among the unsuspecting populace was as brilliant as it was inspiring.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    Having procured fifteen of Esther¡¯s special prototypes, Yeung incorporated them into a set of biodegradable chips. Those chips were then sprinkled among random families living in France, Moscow, Hong Kong, Mexico, and Australia. Designed to lay dormant within their hosts until armed by a signal, broadcast along a predesignated narrow-bandwidth, they would disintegrate by absorption into the bloodstream a mere thirty seconds after being activated.

    And just as well.

    Over the past week, he had triggered three of the five clusters. The fact they worked was evidenced by the speedy response of the freaks and their minions:

    On the first occasion, the infernal twins reacted in less than a minute; on the second, they¡¯d cut their response time by ten percent; the last attempt¡ªin Australia¡ªwas even faster, down to thirty-eight seconds! And they¡¯d brought an Inquisitor team with them, armed to the teeth with all sorts of lethal looking gadgets and weaponry.

    Valuable intelligence indeed!

    The stakes had changed. They all knew now, that if they were ever captured, they were dead. And Simon couldn¡¯t abide the thought of that happening.

    As light as a smattering of moon dust, Simon allowed his consciousness to drift idly across the base below. What other fiendish plots are you cooking up down there?

    Yearning to uncover even the slightest hint about his ancient foes¡¯ operations, he tried to penetrate various parts of the complex with his astral vision.

    To no avail.

    For over two weeks now, a deathly hush had gripped the ether. An expectancy that something was going to happen. The urge to scream was very tempting.

    After several more hours of fruitless scanning, he finally decided enough was enough. Yeung would shortly return to the fold with the results of his latest scheme, and Simon was eager to see how things had gone.

    He pondered for a moment on the antics of his fellow conspirator.

    For a human, Yeung was surprisingly resourceful and inventive. He displayed a wisdom that was as insightful as it was revealing. His counsel had steered them through intrusive investigations and saved them from tragedy on a number of occasions where needless mistakes had been made. He¡¯s been more use to me than my own people. Pity he¡¯s so . . . temporary. Still, he doesn¡¯t cease to surprise me. If there¡¯s a way to raise him toward a higher, glorified state, he¡¯ll find it.

    As he mulled things over, Simon cast his gaze upward. His attention came to rest on the Hyper Jump Gate installation. The escort star base orbited close above it, an ever watchful sentinel ready to pounce on anyone foolish enough to think they could test its defenses with impunity. He didn¡¯t have to look too closely to recognize the unknown enhancements deployed across the reactive grid. They were the same kind that now ringed the combined Headquarters and Academy . . . and just about every other Guardian facility of note as well.

    Checking to ensure his composition was as rarified as possible, Simon drifted closer. Something tugged at memories buried in the deepest recesses of his mind. A familiarity that insisted he remember things of long ago.

    His consideration was drawn to the gate again, and in particular, the stabilizing collars. A tangible feeling of recognition thrummed through his complexus. The Monolith Gate! They have a transport system similar in design to the one at Kalliste.

    Risking a closer peek, he focused more precisely on the generators. A musical tone he hadn¡¯t heard in an age confirmed his suspicions. They¡¯re using a polarized pair of shards from the old psitronic crystal. Well, well, well! Esther will be pleased. I think she¡¯d love to take a closer look at this as soon as possible.

    Deeming his mission a success, Simon made haste to depart. However, that entailed waiting until the solar winds had swept him more than a hundred thousand miles from the lunar environs before he dared open a macrospatial fissure.

    As he squeezed himself into the subspace medium that would furnish the means of his journey home, he had a thought. Hey, I wonder what they¡¯ve got hidden away on the other side?

    <h6>*</h6>

    The motor launch wallowed calmly at anchor, an oasis of shadowed serenity caught in the moonbeam cutting across the still waters of the Indian Ocean. So quiet was the surrounding sea that the occasional twang of cable-guides rang for nearly half a mile out into the night.

    A gentle mist caressed the graceful curves of the hull, its feelers eagerly probing every nook and cranny with the intimacy of a lover. Gradually, the vapor thickened. Within a few minutes, it had become a fog, gleaming with a sterling iridescence that complimented the lunar infusion shining down from above. Several other craft materialized from out of the brume. Converging on their target, the silence was thrown back by the sound of repeated orders, barked in a tone that revealed compliance was inevitable.

    Silhouetted figures swarmed the motor launch from all sides, moving with a choreography that hinted at the familiarity of a well rehearsed routine. In moments the assault was over.

    An older man approached a teenage boy who had appeared out of nowhere to stand at the stern of the captured vessel. Surprisingly, it was the younger individual who appeared to be in charge. ¡°The boat is taken, my Son. Your orders?¡±

    Assad Ali Omar¡ªStealth to the rest of the White Sails gathered around him¡ªstudied the layout of their latest acquisition and considered his options. He said, ¡°Check again. Make sure no one is hiding. Disable the satnav and radio systems immediately. But take care, if they are serviceable to our needs, remove them intact.

    ¡°Support crews, return to your skiffs. Patrol out from this position for at least a mile. Raid contingents, you are to begin a thorough inspection; stem to stern, and top to bottom. Father, Sylvester, Jagpal¡­you¡¯re with me. Let¡¯s go and say hello to our benefactor for the evening.¡±

    Ali¡¯s heart swelled with pride. His son was not only a highly skilled coxswain, and gifted with preternatural abilities, but it would appear he was also a natural born leader too. Just what his men would need in the future.

    Swiftly, they made their way below decks. As they neared the galley, they were met by a small gaggle of White Sails, all wearing baffled expressions.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Assad inquired.

    ¡°You¡¯ll need to see it for yourself. . .¡± muttered Nevadan, a veteran sailor with over twelve years experience. He paused to listen to another message over his handheld radio. Whatever Nevadan heard disturbed him more than he already was.

    Shaking his head, he pointed toward the kitchen. ¡°Despite the size of our catch, we¡¯ve only found one other person. The guy through there. And he¡¯s . . . he¡¯s¡ª¡±

    ¡°Then keep looking,¡± Assad interrupted. ¡°If something¡¯s not right, search more thoroughly. And have the third support team extend their range out for another half mile, just to be safe!¡±

    His son at his side, Ali strode forward to take a look at the problem for himself.

    A male of European origins sat at the galley¡¯s only table. Although open, his eyes had rolled into the back of his head. At first, Ali assumed the man¡¯s hands were resting upon an exceedingly large, finely polished stone positioned in the middle of the worktop in front of him. But he was wrong. It took him a moment longer to realize that person¡¯s fingers were, in fact, sunk into the fabric of the rock itself in a bizarre union between mineral and flesh. How did he manage to do that without breaking his bones?

    Reaching out, Ali cautiously touched the unknown occupant on the shoulder.

    Their host started, and took a deep, shuddering breath. Then in perfect Somali, he intoned, ¡°On behalf of friends who have admired your work for some time now from afar, please accept a token of our esteem. You will discover a range of items in the two forward berths that I am sure will prove invaluable to your cause. They are yours, no matter the outcome of this night¡¯s venture. However, it is within the rear stateroom that you will find an extra surprise, one that will explain the conditions of your continued cooperation.

    ¡°Do not be alarmed, for the cost should involve no danger to yourselves, considering the skills of the young man in your midst. . .¡±

    Ali¡¯s gaze snapped to Assad.

    Whoever this person was, he represented people who clearly knew about his son and what he could do.

    The automaton continued, ¡°. . . The instructions are plain and concise. Listen to them carefully. If you agree to our terms, indicate that fact via the electronic measures left for you at that location. Your acceptance will grant you ownership of this exceptional vessel. To facilitate a speedy transaction, my associates have prepared bona fide documents authorizing legal transfer to you. A duplicate of those documents will be delivered to your village while the master copies will be lodged at Lloyds of London.

    ¡°If you refuse, you will not hear or see from us again. Merely disembark the craft with our token gifts and we will see to its retrieval ourselves.¡±

    As if on cue, a muffled voice intruded from the bow. ¡°Sage! Stealth! Come and take a look at what we¡¯ve found. You won¡¯t believe it.¡±

    Ali was gratified to see how Assad handled this latest development. Turning to the other two members of their contingent, Assad said, ¡°Sylvester, Jagpal. Head aft and secure that area. Ensure nobody enters until my father and I get there. Any problems, call me on the radio.

    ¡°Father, let¡¯s go up front and see exactly what these tokens are.¡±

    The doors to the forward berths had been thrown wide by the time they arrived. Even at a distance it was easy to see the interior space was filled with a version of pirate¡¯s heaven Ali would never forget. Rocket propelled grenades predominated, along with flash-bangs; Kalashnikov assault rifles and automatic pistols still in their wax papers; telescopic scopes; night sights; and ammunition galore.

    On checking the contents of the nearest crate, Ali learned their merchandise was Soviet made, and, from what he could ascertain from a quick inspection, completely free of serial numbers. Did they get these straight from the assembly line?

    Mixed in along with everything else were the latest handheld GPS satnav systems; radio scanners and jammers; walkie-talkies; outboard engines; first aid kits; and finally, a set of inflatable survival rafts. All in all, an Aladdin¡¯s cave of goodies.

    Ali and Assad stared at each other for a long time. Here was a haul they could never hope to amass in their own lifetimes.

    Nonetheless, Ali could see his son was troubled and actually mumbling under his breath. ¡°You have something to say, Assad? Go with your instincts; never be afraid to express your reservations.¡±

    Without taking his eyes off the fortune in front of them, Assad replied, ¡°Father. While tempting¡ªespecially if this launch is included in the prize¡ªshould we not first assess the true expense of our participation? Whoever these people are, they are not to be crossed. They know about us. They know about me! Look how brazen they are to leave such a prize before us, confident that we will not try to betray them. If we accept, I have a feeling we will be bound to something we can never back out of.¡±

    Around them, older, wiser heads were nodding in agreement.

    Excellent! thought Ali, he is earning their trust.

    Aloud, he said, ¡°A wise choice, my Son. Come, while the men here load these weapons into our boats, let¡¯s you and I see what that price entails.¡±

    Slowly, they made their way aft, only to find another group of shocked crewmembers¡ªJagpal and Sylvester included¡ªstaring bug-eyed into what must have been the master cabin. Although many of the White Sails couldn¡¯t read, they were well aware of the international symbol for radioactive materials. They were looking at a number of such emblems now, emblazoned in bright yellow stickers along the outer casing of two devices.

    Between them sat a strange looking computer with a frozen image displayed on its screen.

    Pressing a play button, Ali watched for the next five minutes as the fine print of their involvement was spelled out in crystal clear clarity. That¡¯s some price tag!

    The video ended and everyone fell silent. All eyes looked to Ali directly. Although Assad had been leading the White Sails for the raid, this new decision affected the entire clan.

    Ali ruminated for a while before asking the opinion of his trusted friends. ¡°What do you think? The instructions are as simple as they are specific. They¡ªwhoever they are¡ªhave already chosen their target. Because of the nature of its cargo, it will be travelling in secrecy and without escort. We will be furnished with further details on the day of the attack, so as not to jeopardize security. That means no one can plan ahead to intercept us or alert the authorities. When we receive confirmation, we are to approach the vessel under cover of Assad¡¯s ability. Once on board, we need only secret the appliances in amongst others of a similar nature already stored within its hold, before withdrawing. It¡¯s a simple in and out job involving no confrontation.

    ¡°If we proceed with caution, we will not draw attention to ourselves in any way . . . and will benefit from the possession of this new motor launch for many years to come.¡±

    He gazed slowly around the circle.

    Meeting his gaze, everybody inclined their heads, one after the other in turn.

    Tentatively, Ali reached out and pressed the accept key, sending their response.

    Within moments the computer sputtered and sparked, before bursting into flames. Assad reacted quickly. Swiping it to the floor, he doused the fire with a blanket. It was as he was extinguishing the blaze that the sound of running feet and shouting could be heard from amidships.

    ¡°What now?¡± Ali muttered.

    Fuming, he headed back toward the galley, only to listen as the disturbance moved away from him and up onto the main deck.

    The sounds of a struggle grew louder. There was more shouting, followed by a distinctive splash and cries of alarm. Charging up onto the bridge, Ali was shocked to discover over half a dozen of his men at the starboard railing, peering down into the sea. Three more were in the water.

    ¡°What the hell¡¯s going on?¡± he demanded.

    ¡°He jumped in!¡± one of the sailor¡¯s replied.

    The assertion was backed up by several more voices. Even so, it didn¡¯t make sense to Ali. ¡°What do you mean he jumped in?¡±

    ¡°The man with the rock! While the rest of you were searching, he suddenly stood up and went nuts. When we attempted to stop him, he used some kind of invisible talent to push us away. Once we were on deck, we had room to spread out and surround him. But it didn¡¯t matter. He got angrier and knocked us down with the same force. Then, as he stepped past, Neel and his guys tried to tackle him to the ground and wrap themselves around the legs. It didn¡¯t work. He just threw himself over the side with them still hanging on to his ankles. They sank like a stone and had to let go!¡±

    Nobody laughed at the unintended pun.

    Fighting against a sense of foreboding, Ali recalled Assad¡¯s warning. Our mystery sponsors obviously appreciate their anonymity more than we do. If this is the way they treat their envoys, I hope we haven¡¯t bitten off more than we can chew.

    Dawn teased the horizon. Looking around one last time, Ali could see Assad had joined him. Placing an arm around his son¡¯s shoulder, he commended him warmly. ¡°Very well done. You led us to a fruitful, if unexpected bounty. Why don¡¯t you round things up so we can all get home. Though, if you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯ll drive this beauty. You can play with it once we¡¯ve had a chance to ensure there are no booby-traps on board.¡±

    Smiling, Assad turned to follow his father¡¯s instructions.

    Watching his men move with practiced ease, Ali couldn¡¯t shake the uneasy feeling, fomenting in his gut. Do I really want to know who these people are . . . or what I¡¯ve committed us to?

 Progress

    Sighing with relief, Deputy Marshal Anatt Yasin pressed back into the molded comfort of her seat and stared out from the shuttle¡¯s viewport. The spectacularly rare sunset bathed her face in warm radiance, despite the filters, and helped her relax.

    A great deal had been accomplished over the last five years, so she had every right to feel contented. Smiling, she mentally reviewed their progress as her brief journey got underway.

    The infrastructure for colonization was now in place. What headquarters had assessed would take ten years to complete, she had achieved in half that time. Beta site¡ªnow called Helion because of its elevated position¡ªwas fully provisioned and ready to go. As the least perilous region, it would serve as a temporary capital-reception zone until those first pioneering adventurers setting foot on this brave new world decided for themselves where they would like to establish their premier city.

    By positioning the main Teleport Hub at that location, Anatt had ensured that each of the thirteen settlements scattered throughout the three main continents could be accessed with relative ease.

    And ease of transition was the key to their success.

    At Naomi¡¯s suggestion, they had also constructed a working customs and logistics terminal on each of the major landmasses. Doing so would alleviate the sheer volume of traffic flowing through primary focal points as things got busier, and allow explorers to access the various encampments within each sector via their own local network. To facilitate this, the precincts of each terminal incorporated an extensive shuttle port and storage depot.

    I can¡¯t believe I almost threw a spanner in the works over that issue! I was so sure it was all too excessive and would slow us down. Thank goodness Naomi had the spine to stand up to me.

    Thinking back on the conclusion of that heated discussion, Anatt chuckled. Naomi had stood nose to nose with her, reminding her of the character of initial business:

    ¡°. . . While I appreciate scientist and terraformers will no doubt form the bulk of the earliest arrivals, that will change as time goes by. Every outpost will develop and eventually establish their own identity. As they do, they will need room to grow. Properly and safely.

    By looking ahead now and viewing those settlements as future hamlets, towns¡ªor even a city¡ªwe will guarantee the right road, rail, transport and communication networks are in place from the word go. Thereafter, we won¡¯t have to worry if and when heavy plant or agricultural equipment is needed to extend subsequent modifications. It¡¯ll already be there. Each locus will then be able to expand into its own specialty, at their own pace and in their own way. . .¡±

    Anatt grunted at the memory. It was radical thinking! And spot on too. Thank God she had the guts to force the issue.

    Although initially slow, Naomi¡¯s recommendations had proven a great boon to the accelerated development of each site. It didn¡¯t matter whether a region was earmarked for harvesting, economic or industrial use. The huge undertaking was now set to take off, and it would be capable of sustaining future growth for the next twenty to thirty years at least.

    Soon, the first civilian settlers would be invited to attend.

    I can¡¯t wait. The cream of the world¡¯s scientists is bound to stimulate a fresh infusion of skills that will bring this place to life. It¡¯ll be refreshing to work with some new blood, completing the final stages of our preparations for the ones who really matter: the general populace!

    Because of the wilder nature of the flora and fauna on Kalliste, Anatt was aiming for a fifty-fifty balance between psychic and mundane colonists¡ªwhatever their specialty¡ªliving and working side by side. She hoped such a blending would bring out the best, in them and their unique surroundings. Surmounting differences is still a hot potato back on Earth! And like it or not, international political agenda still exercises a lot of influence over public opinion. If we¡¯re successful here, we¡¯ll be able to hold Kalliste up as a beacon to future generations. Maturation of the human mind will take a great stride forward and pave the way for even grander projects in the future.

    A thrill made Anatt¡¯s extremities tingle as she contemplated that prospect. She knew better than most that one day, the human race would be a united psychic family evolving toward transcension. She¡¯d seen it clearly within the Overlord¡¯s mind during their private sessions together.

    But that was a long way off. For now, they were still dipping their toes into a very big pond, and anything that made the water more inviting was to be welcomed. I just hope the template we¡¯re offering will be enough.

    By now, the shuttle had circled the southern tip of Nerada twice, and was heading toward Viridian, the westernmost continent. The humidity of the jungles covering that region was evidenced by the density of the mists saturating the already thickened atmosphere.

    Watching those mists ascend the slopes of the mountains that formed the spine of Viridian, Anatt was reminded as to why they had been called the Vulcan Range. The rapidly rising warmer air, combined with the colder ionized clouds at high altitude, gave the horizon a decidedly ruddy glow. At this distance, it looked as if the whole land was burning.

    However, on rare occasions like this, when there was a break in the clouds, you caught sight of its full glory! The brilliant indigo-blue glare of the setting sun was enhanced by the shimmering violet and orange vapors rising past the peaks. The mirage produced a living-flame effect that made it look as if the mountaintops were on fire.

    It would literally take your breath away . . . and your sight too, if the protective filters weren¡¯t in place. That¡¯s why they had to be so careful here. Kalliste was certainly beautiful, but she was also hazardous. Just as well I¡¯ve got an Adjutant Marshal who never leaves anything to chance!

    Thinking about Naomi again spurred Anatt to cast her mental sight back toward their original Alpha Site at Aeralon.

    She had only dropped the young woman off there five minutes ago, but already she could see her aide was hard at work. From the looks of it, preparing the schedules that would ensure the Star Base and its extended facilities would be completed on time.

    It was Naomi¡¯s latest pet project, and Anatt had to agree, it was an excellent idea. New arrivals would spend their first couple of weeks acclimatizing to this system aboard the orbiting station. There, they would be educated as to the conditions and the environment they could expect, and indoctrinated with the necessary survival skills to keep them safe.

    Then, when they were certified as competent, they would be allowed to complete the final phases on the planet itself.

    Very clever!

    And of course, things would only get better later in the year when Naomi finally underwent transcension. Roll on the day! I can¡¯t wait to see what she becomes. . .

    . . . Probably Deputy Marshal knowing my luck!

    Yes, Anatt had every reason to be satisfied.

    They were well ahead of schedule; everything was going to plan; and she was determined things would stay that way.

    <h6>*</h6>

    If there was one thing the entity now called Esther Perry couldn¡¯t abide, it was the tedium that smothered you in a blanket of soul-sapping lethargy if you allowed yourself to fall into a rut.

    Fortunately for her, the past six years had been neither tedious nor lethargic, thanks to one person in particular: Lei Yeung.

    Skimming back through the files held on her computer, she could see exactly why it was she¡¯d changed her opinion about him.

    The drudgery of being constrained to human form had weighed on Esther more profoundly than her fellow radicals. For some reason, she found the mortal condition to be most unnerving. It made you weak and susceptible to external influences. Even if you were blessed with higher metafaculties, you were still temporary at best . . . unless you were fortunate enough to number yourself among mankind¡¯s elite of course! Then, the strange aberration that engendered true rebirth would change you into something closer to a more natural, godlier personification.

    Even so, etiquette required transcended beings to set an example when in the presence of their less fortunate kin by restricting themselves within a disconcerting cage of flesh and blood.

    A pointless exercise in Esther¡¯s view.

    And yet, for all its inherent drawbacks, being bound to such a coil has never seemed to hold Lei Yeung back? She mused. He¡¯s resourceful, wily, surprisingly strong willed, and ruthless when it comes to achieving his goals and protecting his assets. And despite being limited by a temporary condition, he has become one of the most powerful and influential individuals in history.

    Esther reflected more deeply on what she¡¯d learned about this remarkable man. When he was younger, he not only rose through the ranks of a criminal organization that despised people of his particular race, but adroitly created the perfect fa?ade to hide his true¡ªgifted self¡ªbehind. Self educated, he¡¯s nobody¡¯s fool. Nothing of consequence goes on without him knowing about it.

    His iron grip on the advanced technologies and medical markets reveal a skill for intuitive manipulation that is as insidious as it is discreet. . .

    Attributes Esther found especially endearing.

    . . .And yet, for all his caution, Yeung never seems complacent. He¡¯s always planning ahead for the unexpected. Wheels within wheels . . . within wheels.

    Just look at where it¡¯s got him!

    Opening one of her document folders, she scrutinized several press releases highlighting his current standing within society.

    Known to humanity as one of their greatest ambassadors for peace, Yeung was lauded globally for his efforts to integrate both the psychic and mundane communities. Molding them into a united, cohesive force for good made him an attractive prospect to investors and businesses alike. Even the world¡¯s military now courted his favors with open arms.

    Publicly, Yeung engendered a benevolent profile. He was on record as stating he would be happy to consider martial projects, only so long as their aims remained focused on a universal quest for the ultimate planetary defensive capability.

    Behind the scenes, however, Yeung ensured his subsidiary companies pounced on those invitations like a starving cat on an abandoned hatchling, regardless of their objectives.

    Brilliant!

    Esther never thought it possible for her to have a human as a friend. But I do! And reviewing these records helps to explain why.

    Because of Yeung, she had been able to devote her considerable talents to a multitude of worthwhile projects. Tasks that helped keep her focused; keep her sane. Schemes that not only ensured Yeung Industries remained in control of the global markets, but ones that also ensured their collective hidden agendas were well-served too!

    Esther brought up the restricted specs on the Delta Class¡ªa new generation of Wave Reader¡ªto support her reasoning.

    Designed to provide an invaluable security screen around sensitive venues, the Delta Class now carried an ingenious adaptation tucked away within their hardware. A telepathically activated cipher, that could be used to gain access to the deeper layers of the minds of both mundane and metapsychics alike.

    An invaluable tool for the amassing of information.

    And it got better.

    The very latest Delta Class models to leave the assembly lines had undergone further modification. Looking at the results of what they could now deliver put Esther in a celebratory mood. The compulsive element I managed to sneak into the engram targeters should do the trick nicely. Once it¡¯s embedded within the delivery matrix, we¡¯ll be able to implant untraceable subliminal suggestions into the consciousnesses of those we seek to exploit, making us nigh-on unstoppable!

    Scrolling down the list, Esther picked out another example she found to be particularly gratifying. The adapted Mitigating-Mirror Units, dubbed MiMis for short.

    Only last year, Esther had started dabbling with biotech enhanced augmentation. While the initial MiMi tests proved encouraging¡ªand had continued apace since then¡ªshe was determined to come up with something better; something capable of targeting and eliciting a wider diversity of talents.

    Easier said than done.

    Nevertheless, she¡¯d been inspired by a paper published in the 2042 Christmas edition of ¡°The Lancet¡± by Dr. Peter Dyer, regarding the versatility of the upgraded interrogation systems incorporated into the new generation of HaSP monitors.

    That had given her an idea.

    Following a hunch, Esther had requested that each of the Apostles of the Council undergo a full molecular scan. Using the results of those readings as a template, she was able to assess by what margin their bodies could undergo forced adaptation without surgery. By adding an additional component to the micro-technology already implanted within their MiMis, she was amazed to find she was able to influence the elasticity and efficiency of all her test subjects major muscle groups and organs.

    The simple pleasure of reflecting on those amazing results brought a smile to her face.

    On average, muscle mass and stamina had been improved by thirty-two percent; reactions, hand-eye coordination, and balance by over twenty-seven percent. Even better, it was now possible to stimulate the nanobots into resculpting their host¡¯s anatomical and facial biography, just by entering a recoding sequence.

    So startling was the contrast, that in some cases it was as if they were looking at another person entirely!

    Obviously, age was a crucial factor affecting the multiplicity of this outstanding invention. Yeung¡ªfor example¡ªcould only manage one such profile adaptation, while his younger Apostles could store up to four ¡°portraits¡± within their implant¡¯s database.

    Another handy tool in our growing arsenal, she thought. Especially with the little extras I¡¯ve thrown in.

    Most of Esther¡¯s toys incorporated a secret backdoor setup riddled with snares. Snares that were as lethal as they were barbaric. But that explained a lot about Esther¡¯s disposition, for she despised those she viewed as insects; those who were nothing more than an infestation who would capitalize on the hard work of others by stealing, retrograding or replicating her work to guarantee their supposed dominion over their equally insignificant neighbors.

    Espionage they called it.

    And the humans thought they were so clever.

    As she reviewed several of her later assignments, Esther could see how her own prejudice had blinded her to the fact that some of them were clever. And one of them in particular taught me some of the most valuable lessons of my long and inglorious life.

    The trinary psi-dent issue proved the point in question quite succinctly.

    Esther had already negated the hazards presented by the distinctive auras of her fellow rebels by developing a third helix that could blur their existing psychic fingerprints. Keen to ensure their safety, she had wanted to implement the update immediately.

    Notwithstanding the urgency of the situation, Yeung had counseled patience, stating:

    ¡°We embark upon our most perilous undertaking to date. If successful, the backlash will be widespread, invasive, and something all of us would wish to avoid. Would it not be judicious to wait until then to adopt your new identities?¡±

    On reflection, Esther had to concede. He was right! But how can someone who¡¯s only eighty years old be so damned sharp . . . what? Literally all the bloody time?

    The quantum levitation project only supported her argument.

    Esther had shown Yeung the solution to the problems often encountered by physicists when generating a quantized field between two objects more than four years ago. But¡ªtrue to form¡ªwhen she presented a working inertialess model shortly thereafter, Yeung had begged her forbearance against full-scale production by suggesting an alternate and more profitable course instead.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    He went on to stress that, by siphoning their latest tech through in progressive stages; they would be able to secure a massive amount of continual funding from all sectors of the transport and aviation industries.

    And that¡¯s exactly what had happened!

    Lining the Council¡¯s coffers from the profits, Yeung had managed to keep his backers happy during the intervening months by edging them¡ªstep by agonizing step¡ªtoward the culmination of their dreams. Dreams he assured them would turn to reality in 2045 when the program went fully online.

    Fools!

    They might think their ideals were now only a short step away, but the truth of the matter would prove quite different. Yeung had confessed to Esther that, while he had every intention of fulfilling his promises, the working prototype he would graciously bestow upon the fawning masses would be prone to regular malfunctions during its first few years of life.

    Of course, rectification of those malfunctions would cost his guarantors dearly.

    Such a callous manipulator, Esther ruminated, a smile gracing her lips, for someone who isn¡¯t precognitive, he¡¯s an astute little bugger, and annoyingly knowledgeable!

    Needless to say, the enhanced and fully operational apparatus would remain the property of the Council, and be put to use in their subterranean complexes around the world until they moved on to something better.

    And talking of something better . . . the Orbital Defense Grid is every tyrant¡¯s fantasy made manifest!

    Invited to tender their proposal along with a select group of other companies, it came as no surprise when Yeung Technologies won the contract to develop a particle beam accelerator and firing platform. That was largely down to Esther, who picked an old idea she had mothballed as ¡°inefficient¡± down off the shelf for revitalization.

    Inefficient or not, her design was so radical it still outshone every other bid.

    A little tinkering saw the newly patented system brought up to speed. In a move that surprised everyone, Yeung Industries announced the global ODG would be installed and ready to launch in the coming New Year.

    It was this ability to deliver on their promises so swiftly that had attracted the glut of military backed sponsors and media attention since then.

    Regardless, what the joint UN-NASA-ESA-STS subcommittee¡ªand humanity in general¡ªdidn¡¯t realize, was that they were throwing a ticker tape parade over nothing, for these supposedly contemporary and groundbreaking concepts were but mere cast-offs. Stop-gaps released to please the public and appease the powers-that-be.

    The Council always kept their most sophisticated models for themselves. Just in case.

    And Esther loved the fact that Yeung always put their interests first.

    Only recently, he¡¯d finalized the inauguration of his latest ghost company. Separate and sanitized from any connection to his other holdings, it was an entity through which the Council would survive if anything ever endangered their livelihoods and aspirations.

    In tandem with this project, he had asked Esther to take the lead in establishing a number of covert command bunkers.

    Of course, the term bunker was rather a loose one.

    Highlighting and enlarging the blueprints now, Esther could plainly see the structures were more like miniature palaces. Underground, armored, and bristling with the most sophisticated weaponry and technology known to man, true! But palaces nonetheless.

    It had taken her six months. But it had been well worth the effort, because now they had an extensive network of ultra secure facilities secreted away around the globe that no one knew existed. And, each of those locations was capable of allowing the Council to continue manipulating the markets in their favor . . . and more!

    Much more! She giggled.

    Delving into a restricted folder, Esther checked over the designs of the SPF¡ªthe Specter Protocol Framework¡ªshe had incorporated into each site. Installed as failsafe should anything ever go drastically wrong, Specter was not only capable of holding off a small army, but its AI construct could also remotely commandeer a number of the ODG satellites circling the Earth. A brilliant strategy, for which Esther had been given cart-blanche authority.

    Keen to learn from past mistakes, Esther had already factored in the inevitable countermeasures that might one day be launched against them. In the event of that happening, she had seeded more than a dozen of the firing platforms with Specter software. On paper, those particular assets appeared to be nothing more than integral links in the planetary defense grid. In reality, they had been adapted to serve as failsafe weapons the Council could unleash at a moment¡¯s notice against their enemies, or to destroy any compromised facility of their choosing.

    And as an additional precaution, there were a few more held in reserve that nobody knew about. I guess I must be learning something from Yeung after all?

    Of course, once the Guardians started to play, no precaution would last for long. But by then they would have served their purpose.

    It had been great fun, and Esther had to admit she¡¯d enjoyed exercising her creative talents more than she¡¯d realized. And it¡¯s all thanks to Yeung. A human!

    But sadly¡ªas is often the case¡ªthe good times came to an end and Esther had been left wondering what on earth she could turn her talents to next.

    Then, out of the blue, Simon had unearthed the existence of something Esther thought lost and forgotten. Remains from one of her oldest, most precious toys from way back when, which appeared to have been turned to a new use in powering the focusing collars of the new Guardian hyper-jump gate in high lunar orbit.

    Perfect!

    Opening a fresh folder, Esther paused to consider what she would call her new pet project.

    <h6>*</h6>

    Although she wouldn¡¯t dare say so out loud, Naomi sometimes thought being the Adjutant Marshal was a crock of shit.

    Instead of being out and about, exploring this magnificently, fresh and wonderful world, she was stuck in Aeralon, doing what was expected of her: completing reports.

    Damn but I¡¯m a lucky girl!

    What made it worse was that she was very good at it. Her ability to compartmentalize multiple scenarios at the same time made her a natural organizer and planner. She was able to complete more¡ªfaster¡ªthan just about anyone else Guardian Command knew. And sadly, instead of furnishing her with the free time she craved, her invaluable talents only seemed to guarantee yet more work . . . of the brain-rotting variety!

    Glancing through the transcript of her latest recording, she decided to add the amendment she had thought of only that morning.

    ¡®. . . As Solaris 1 Star Base will be completed and fully functional at least one month prior to the advent of the first migrants, (as per appendix A¨Cattached), I propose the following revision of the welcome itinerary for new arrivals:

    The initial two week Solaris Reception Module is to be cut to just eight days.

    Note: -

    This entire stage is essentially an educational package. It is essential travelers are indoctrinated as early as possible to the dangers incumbent to this system. In particular, the elevated UV hazard and the long-term consequences of ignoring safety procedures. Once apprised of the risks, colonists must then pass a number of written tests to confirm that, in theory at least, they are aware of the conditions they will encounter on the surface.

    Although indispensable, I feel the duration of this module can be reduced as participants will be better served by the real-life conditions presented by the environment itself. Therefore, I propose the sealing of a written and verbal waver at the conclusion of the eight day period in the presence of two witnesses.

    The planned groundside segment should then be extended into two parts.

    Part A: - Helion.

    A two week period within the primary processing center will allow newcomers the opportunity to familiarize themselves with ambient conditions firsthand. Extensive gym/cardio-vascular exercises must also be undertaken, so individuals can become acquainted with the effects of elevated gravity in an alternate atmospheric setting.

    Note: -

    Mild cases of euphoria/dizziness and/or dyspepsia are expected.

    However, due to the rigors of our vetting and selection process, more severe cases should be rare. Those who do suffer will have access to extensive medical treatment regimens, to assist them in acclimatizing.

    Part B: - Localized.

    (This appendix has been added to enhance long-term safety).

    I feel new arrivals will be better served by ¡®hands-on¡¯ familiarity in a controlled setting. Therefore, the week salvaged from the Solaris Reception Module, is to be added back in here.

    Once settlers have gained a degree of familiarity with the local habitat of their assigned community, they will be expected to put what they have learned into practice.

    A continuation phase of indeterminate length will follow under the watchful eye of specialist Guardian instructors to begin with, who will be in the best position to select and train those who will maintain standards as numbers increase. . .¡¯

    Naomi glanced through the addendum again, making a few adjustments here and there to ensure continuity of flow and structure. Satisfied, she read it fully, one last time. Yes, that makes much more sense! Pruning and grafting the schedule as required will improve efficiency and ensure we adhere to duty of care requirements. There¡¯s no substitute to actual experience, and everyone will benefit.

    Rapt in concentration, Naomi was disturbed by a deep, throaty growl from Lucifer, her pet Quincha.

    She had rescued him as a cub from the Paladian Sea just four years previously. Although young, he had already developed his perpetually bad attitude, and had suffered the consequences of attempting to tackle a fully grown Grylar. Resembling an unholy alliance between a polar and grizzly bear, Gylars were to be treated with respect. And all the more so by foul tempered feline cubs with a bad attitude.

    Fully grown Quinchas were no slouch in a fight either. Looking much like what you¡¯d expect if a mad scientist crossed a tiger with a hyena, they were the size of a fully grown male lion. And their size belied their speed, as they could cruse at seventy miles per hour and sprint for short distances in excess of one hundred and ten.

    But that was an adult. . .

    Lucifer had been a mere cub.

    Because of his feisty ¡®I¡¯m invincible¡¯ character, Lucifer attempted to shoo a female Grylar away from a carcass she was feasting on down at the Silver Cliffs. Not taking her warning growls as a hint, the sparky little ball of wire wool and fluff had stalked right up to the beast and stood toe to toe, challenging her.

    The Grylar had put up with his petulant attitude for all of three seconds, before smashing the upstart from sight with one swipe of her huge paws. Lucifer had sailed over the cliff edge, and plunged two hundred feet into the raging sea below.

    Fortunately for him, Naomi had seen the incident via farsight and homed in on his pathetic telepathic bleating just before he succumbed to the combined effects of being beaten against the rocks and water immersion. Bonding to her from that moment on, she was the only one he never showed the slightest inclination toward eating.

    Even the Deputy Marshal had to stay on her toes around him!

    Lucifer had been curled up asleep, and filling one corner of the room with his considerable bulk. Now, his head was leveled straight at the door and the black discs of his eyes burned with the glare of a predator fixated on prey.

    Skimming his mind, Naomi saw the object of his obsession and giggled. ¡°Now, now, Lucifer! Down boy! I keep telling you, Grand Master Williams doesn¡¯t like to be viewed as food. Or as a claw post!¡±

    One of Lucifer¡¯s ears twitched and swiveled toward her, the only sign he had paid any heed to his mistress¡¯ admonition.

    L-u-c-i-f-e-r! She repeated mentally.

    The stern overlay of her reprimand did the trick. Reluctantly, his head lowered onto his paws.

    A brief rapping sound intruded as Ben Williams entered. ¡°Hi, Naomi, how¡¯s things in the world of the great and mighty?¡±

    Snorting, she gestured to the pile of documents and message crystals in front of her. ¡°Oh, just great as you can see. This little lot will ensure I never stand a chance of ruining my skin with too much UV exposure. Talk about house arrest!¡±

    Grinning, Ben subconsciously bent to pat Lucifer on the head. A resonating, warning grumble made him think twice about the disadvantage of losing his hand. Altering course, he plunked himself down in the chair next to Naomi and said. ¡°How¡¯d you like to help me out on something? Something that would get you out of the office!¡±

    Seizing his face in both hands, she squeezed his cheeks until his lips protruded like an angelfish puckering up for a kiss, and squealed, ¡°If you could do that . . . I¡¯d be eternally grateful.¡±

    Ben reddened from the neck up. He didn¡¯t have a lot of experience with women, so for Naomi to have clasped him like that obviously embarrassed him.

    Sensing his discomfort, Naomi quickly changed tack. Fortunately, she had the very thing to grab his attention. ¡°And to show you how grateful I was¡­I might have to slip you the name of a demure young scientist who thinks you¡¯re the best thing to come along since sliced bread was invented.¡±

    Perking up considerably, Ben demanded, ¡°What? Who? Where?¡±

    ¡°Whoa! Slow down, big boy! This is priceless information we¡¯re talking about here,¡± Naomi teased. ¡°I need to see if the goods you¡¯re offering are worth what I have to tell you. But to grease the wheels, I¡¯m talking about someone who is quiet and reserved, like yourself. And like you, she¡¯s a student of theoretical and quantum physics. For some strange, inexplicable reason, she finds gazing at the stars all night better than food.¡±

    ¡°Heaven!¡± Ben drooled.

    Deflating with a sigh, he added, ¡°Where would I find a girl like that, who¡¯s interested in the things I like?¡±

    ¡°Do you know, I appear to have forgotten!¡± Naomi shrugged, noncommittally. ¡°What on earth would help me remember, do you think?¡±

    ¡°Okay, you win!¡±

    Hunching forward, Ben expanded on his introductory comment, ¡°I was tasked to implement the latest security upgrades. You know . . . the ones that were recommended at the meeting you attended at Headquarters last month.¡±

    ¡°What, the N-Gate technology? To prevent spying by transcended beings?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right! We have the prototypes already, and to tell the truth, the actual implementation should be quite straightforward.¡±

    ¡°So why do you need my help?¡±

    Looking a little ashamed, Ben explained, ¡°Because they have to be positioned tactically . . . and I¡¯m totally useless at that type of thing! You know me. Ask me to build a quantum gateway out of a toothpick and the contents of a woman¡¯s purse, and I¡¯d beat MacGyver any day! But thinking tactically? The closest I can get to that is chess.¡±

    Naomi was intrigued. ¡°So what do you need?¡±

    ¡°At the moment, we only have a limited number of prototypes to play with. Eight targeting scanners and eight emitters. That¡¯s sixteen orbital platforms in total. I thought you might like to take a look upstairs and personally assess how they could best be deployed amongst our grid.¡±

    Her eyes widened. Upstairs, off planet! Out of the office. . .

    . . . Thank the God of overworked Adjutant Marshals!

    Patting Ben on the knee, Naomi whispered, ¡°Now we¡¯re making progress. You¡¯ve just earned yourself a deal.¡±

    Solemnly, she projected the identity of a recently arrived Guardian Master, assigned to Shadow operations, directly into his mind.

    Ben¡¯s eyes popped wide in shocked disbelief. ¡°What! She¡¯s interested in me? Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°Oh yes, Ben. So sure, I¡¯ve already selected the dress, shoes, hat and accessories I¡¯m going to wear at your wedding.

    ¡°Anyway, about this visit upstairs. . .¡±

    <h6>*</h6>

    At forty-one years of age, Angelika Papadakos was still an eye-catching and powerful woman. An active lifestyle and healthy diet helped her stay young and she prided herself in the fact that people often mistook her for someone in their early thirties at most.

    But she had to face facts. While her vigor had helped her remain a valuable undercover asset, this latest task would have been beyond even her, were it not for the upgraded MiMi nanobots she now carried within her body. Tech that allowed her to modify her appearance into four different characterizations.

    On this setting, she had opted for the simplicity of a more youthful version of herself.

    Breezing along, Angelika slowed to glance at her reflection in one of the display cases lining the walls of the entrance vestibule to the campus. She smiled. Hello you!

    A striking young female¡ªappearing in her early twenties¡ªsmiled back.

    She giggled and lengthened her gait.

    The mirror image reciprocated, keeping pace with ease.

    It was as simple a charade as it was elegant. Because this persona drained less energy from her nexus, Angelika could maintain its integrity for five or six days before having to rest. It also explained why she was able to stalk the halls of Cambridge University so easily. She blended with her environment perfectly, and no one gave her a second glance. . .

    . . .apart from the admiring looks that showered down upon her from both men and women alike as she sauntered by.

    And Angelika had ensured to use her obvious allure to make remarkable progress in the two weeks she had been here.

    Her target was a young German undergraduate, twenty-three-year-old Annika Pahmeyer, from Dusseldorf. A certified genius, Annika favored biology and chemistry over the other scientific disciplines. She was also a strong psychic, being blessed with telepathy, healing, and an extremely refined farscan and deepsight faculty.

    A background check revealed that Annika had been attracted to Cambridge because of the university¡¯s work on behavioral modification. Evidently, she had lost both parents¡ªher father to Alzheimer¡¯s, her mother to Parkinson¡¯s¡ªjust five years previously. However, the debilitating effects those diseases wrought upon the apperceptions of the two most important people in Annika¡¯s life, meant she¡¯d been orphaned long before their inevitable deaths.

    It had left Annika with a blunt and cynical view on life, along with a determination to put things right. Yes, great strides were being made in combating such afflictions. Even so, she didn¡¯t feel they were moving fast enough. So, using her personal experiences as motivation, Annika had devoted her young life¡ªalong with her gifts and startling insight into the human mind¡ªto speed developments along considerably.

    Following her lead, the university was close to producing their first working prototype of a Docilator, a remarkable piece of bioengineering that could directly influence cognitive functioning.

    Needless to say, Annika¡¯s labors had come to the attention of the Council.

    As such, Angelika had breezed into her life only a fortnight ago, and all of a sudden Annika found herself with a new dorm-mate; someone who was rapidly turning into something more.

    When they had met for the first time, the bitterness in the girl¡¯s heart was all too apparent. Skilled operative that she was, Angelika had picked the scabs from that wound and shamelessly exploited the girl¡¯s vulnerability without the slightest remorse.

    The Council¡¯s aspirations were of paramount importance. And Angelika always put their objectives first . . . as exemplified by her existing dilemma.

    To stay ahead in the ever evolving game, the Council needed a constant influx of fresh intelligence from as many diverse sources as possible. Currently, they sought the particular knowledge that might be locked away within the mind of Angelika¡¯s new boyfriend, Jose.

    Being a newly qualified Guardian Inquisitor of considerable strength, they were sure he would have access to certain codes and psi-dent keys that would make their ambitions easier to execute. . .

    . . .If they could access them.

    The trouble was how to gain that information without arousing suspicion.

    As she entered her room, Angelika gritted her teeth in frustration. My problem stems from the fact that he¡¯s a highly compulsive individual with a strong self-healing aspect to his psyche. No matter how subtle my methods, I can¡¯t seem to break through the mental firewall that prevents him from wanting to share his deepest secrets with me.

    Even when he¡¯s asleep, or distracted by sex, his ego remains shielded; aware in some arcane fashion of any attempt to manipulate his thoughts or desires.

    Shedding her clothes, Angelika turned on the shower and contemplated her earlier efforts to entice Jose into demonstrating the function of one of the latest doctored Wave Readers.

    She became annoyed all over again.

    If only I could have got him to at least put the damned helmet on, I¡¯d have had him. I¡¯m sure of it! After all, my own capabilities have been technologically enhanced with a highly compulsive element. The last time Esther calibrated them, they were close to Grand Master Class in strength. Add that to the coercive matrix within the Reader and it should be more than enough to allow me to crack him open like a nut. . .

    . . .If only.

    For some reason, Jose refused to play along, muttering instead about his concerns over his new position and status should anyone find out.

    Too many ifs! Men and their preoccupation with image! Is it a dick thing?

    The drawback had proved an irritating diversion since.

    However, all was not lost. Because of her MiMi implant, Angelika¡¯s own inherent abilities had also been augmented. On the last assessment, her telepathic, remote viewing, and energy-draining functions had maxed out somewhere in the range of a Guardian High Grand Master.

    Of course, if push comes to shove, I could just kill Jose and take the information I need from his ruined shell. But the backlash doesn¡¯t bear thinking about. He is a Guardian cop after all. Thank goodness there¡¯s still time for an alternate solution.

    Annika and her Docilator program.

    It¡¯s taking slightly longer than I anticipated, but, I¡¯m sure it will be worth all the hassle. The intelligence will not only benefit the Council as a whole, but I¡¯ll be able to use what I learn against Jose, and refine the process as I go along in the comfort of his arms. Then, once all the niggles have been ironed out, I¡¯ll be able to present Yeung with a product that will allow him to saturate the world with behaviorally modified sleeper agents. He¡¯ll love having an army at his disposal that won¡¯t have a clue they¡¯re working for him . . . especially in they include weaker-minded Guardians. Perfect!

    Well, it will be once I¡¯ve taken what I need from Annika.

    Thinking of the younger woman ignited a burning desire deep inside.

    Angelika stepped toward the shower and paused to wipe away the steam that had condensed across the floor to ceiling mirror. Looking herself up and down, she made a promise. One way or another, I¡¯m going to use this to get the results I need!

 Ready or Not

    It¡¯s always darkest before the dawn!

    For some reason, Yeung couldn¡¯t get that well known saying out of his head as he stood quietly to one side, watching his co-conspirators prepare for their latest mission. A task that would involve the greatest danger they had ever faced since forming their coalition: an incursion deep into the heart of enemy territory . . . and then some.

    Just thinking about the scale of their undertaking caused Yeung¡¯s chest to constrict and his heart to beat that little bit faster.

    Several weeks had passed while they waited for Angelika to acquire the requisite information from their Cambridge source. And when those particulars arrived, only a few days ago, it immediately became apparent their gamble had paid off. Annika Pahmeyer¡¯s proposals for the new technology¡¯s development were as radical as they were brilliant. Even better, she¡¯d managed to progress the program further than anticipated.

    Esther had been moved to absolute raptures by the implications of what she saw.

    However, ¡°implications¡± wouldn¡¯t be able to help them now.

    It¡¯s going to take at least a few more weeks for Esther to be able to retrograde the tech, so I can patent it under the auspices of my own companies. And several more after that to make it suitable for testing on Angelika¡¯s Guardian boyfriend! No. Ready or not we have to proceed now, without the benefits of the key codes or psi-dents.

    For some reason, that filled him with an insidious sense of foreboding.

    In an effort to shake off his pensiveness, Yeung had devised a cunning strategy for the mission and scheduled what he hoped would be a rousing pep-talk.

    In honor of the fabled weapon wielded by Neptune¡ªPsi-edon¡¯s namesake in Roman mythology¡ªYeung proposed they adopt a three-pronged trident approach to achieve a triad of separate objectives.

    By striking each of their targets simultaneously, he stressed they would not only spread their enemy¡¯s resources, but reduce the chances of an organized response. In the confusion such an offensive would generate, it was hoped they might be afforded opportunities that would not otherwise occur. Opportunities they could turn to their advantage.

    His accomplices had responded enthusiastically to that idea.

    Following a lengthy policy meeting, it had been decided that¡ªas Simon was the most powerfully endowed of the trio and possessed the greatest finesse for mental redaction¡ªhe would be the ideal candidate to make the attempt on their former hosts within the Healers Wing of the Guardian Headquarters. The human lackeys had served their purpose. Therefore, Simon would be the one best suited to triggering the aneurism¡¯s that would speed the onset of their deaths without arousing suspicion.

    As the foremost expert on psitronic crystals, Esther had been the obvious choice to carry out the assault on the hyper-jump portal stationed in high lunar orbit. The splinters fuelling the gate looked to be pieces recovered from old Kalliste¡¯s Sacred Flame generator, and she knew their operation with an intimacy bettered only by the accursed Overlord himself. Preliminary scans had already confirmed the shards as being housed within a formidable quantum matrix. Nevertheless, Esther was confident of being able to overcome the security restrictions without too much fuss.

    None of this fazed Yeung in the slightest. He knew all about the extraordinary origins of his accomplices, for they had been remarkably honest about their fall from grace and the repercussions their errors had caused. They had also been astonishingly frank about the thing that concerned them the most about this whole affair: the Crystal Chamber and its contents.

    A conundrum of an entirely different magnitude.

    It was disconcerting to imagine the existence of an artifact so extreme, so powerful, that it could absorb the energy of a sun and throw it back in a highly amplified and agitated state. It was even more perturbing to imagine anything capable of negating such a cosmically-charged dynamo. And yet, the Guardians had such a place, hidden away beneath the foundations of their base.

    What the Crystal Chamber was, exactly, and how it did what it did needed further investigation. So, while it was true Simon and Esther had crucial roles to play in this day¡¯s venture, it fell to the former warrior, Harry, to tackle what was felt to be the operation¡¯s most dangerous aspect.

    Even so, Yeung hadn¡¯t fully understood his associates¡¯ reservations about this part of the plan until Simon made a statement that shook the old man¡¯s world:

    ¡®. . . As Fallen, we are attuned to the presence of other superior manifestations of extrasensory sentience. While entombed below the ice, we were able to distinguish each occasion a human incarnated into a higher life form, for our ultrasenses had been left functional during the millennia of our internment. Something about the act of transcension calls to the embers of the divine flame still burning within us, you see. And that appalled us, for mankind was evolving before our astral eyes . . . and there was nothing we could do to gainsay it.

    You need to appreciate; when we arrived on this plane, our adversary foretold of the glorification of your race. How they¡ªhow you¡ªwould eventually become a force that would not only rival our darkened majesty, but surpass it. So, to discover the shards of the old psitronic crystal were being used to enhance the process . . . well. We knew our original goals would be doomed to failure, for in accelerating humanity¡¯s psychomaturation, it speeds the day of our demise. There will be no place for our kind here.

    And now this Overlord of madness possesses an even greater and far more powerful gemstone. Such potential is not only a threat to us, as Fallen, but to you too, my human friend, for it facilitates the genesis of insects into beings capable of challenging us. Soon there may be nowhere left to hide. . .¡¯

    Simon¡¯s admission made Yeung¡¯s blood run cold.

    With a haunted expression on his face, Yeung had turned to Harry and proclaimed, ¡°That Chamber and the abomination inside it must be destroyed, and it¡¯s up to you to bring us the intelligence we need to ensure that happens. Though I can¡¯t be with you in person, let me assure you, I will do everything in my power to ensure you succeed.¡±

    Addressing all three of his cohorts, he continued, ¡°Normally, it would be an easy matter for you to mesh minds and coordinate the timing of your advance, so you begin at the exact same moment at each venue. That isn¡¯t an option today. Nothing can be allowed to give away your locations, and especially not a stray thought from the binary psi-dents you still possess. Baring that in mind, I have devised a simple solution. . .¡±

    He ushered them closer together, and explained, ¡°This day also sees the inaugural test-firing of the Orbital Defense Grid now encircling the Earth. As the leading benefactor of that project, I¡ªalong with a number of other civilian and military dignitaries¡ªhave been invited aboard one of the Guardian space stations to witness its operation. From what I have been told, the exercise will entail the simultaneous activation of all ninety-six photon cannons, primed to a maximum of twenty percent capacity, to see how the network copes in handling such a distribution of power. Their targets will be a swarm of static and remote controlled marker buoys scattered throughout the system. Of particular note is the fact that some of those buoys have been positioned beyond the Moon¡¯s trajectory.

    ¡°As mental speech might give your positions away, your signal to go will be the very first beam to exceed lunar orbit. The instant that happens, I will ensure to trigger the false binary identities still seeded within one of the two remaining families on Earth. As you can imagine, this will prove most distracting for our overconfident moderators, thereby improving the odds in our favor.

    ¡°Think about it! Not only will the Guardians be controlling the targets that some very powerful weapons are shooting at, but they will also be keen to prevent inadvertent discharges from going astray. They will be focused, on edge, and committed to enforcing their safety protocols. Just the time for three of their most wanted to suddenly pop up out of the blue. They will react, my friends, and react decisively . . . only to find they¡¯re chasing ghosts. Think how unnerving that will be! How distracting. It will throw them off balance. When will you ever have a better opportunity to launch a simultaneous attack?¡±

    Yeung¡¯s outlining of his strategy improved the mood considerably, and they had all left the meeting energized and in a more positive frame of mind.

    Still, that was six hours ago now. Waiting for the off had given everyone the chance to brood on what might go wrong. Studying his friends, Yeung saw that their usually impervious shields were tinged with anxiety and seeds of doubt.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    This won¡¯t do . . . I¡¯d better give them that pep-talk I¡¯ve prepared!

    <h6>*</h6>

    Simon didn¡¯t dare hope . . . yet!

    His progress, though protracted, had been surprisingly incident free. Together with Esther and Harry, he had made his slow and painful way to the far side of the Sun over four hours ago. Once there, they had masked their transfiguration by blending their emissions to the thermonuclear reactions taking place all around them.

    It had worked like a charm.

    Once transformed, they meshed their essences to the billions of tons of energetic coronal matter being thrown out by the star every second, and allowed themselves to be swept toward their targets on the solar winds.

    Thus concealed, they had advanced upon the Moon.

    Because the hyper-jump gate had been positioned in high orbit above the Guardian Headquarters, Esther ensured her disguised plasma stream was directed toward the northern polar area.

    Simon and Harry¡¯s concerns lay within different areas of the faculty itself. Due to the constraints that would place on them, it had been decided they should approach by the safest, stealthiest means possible: through the actual lunar mantle.

    As Harry had to penetrate deep enough to secure the catacombs area, his leg of the mission would take the longest. Therefore, Simon lingered on the surface and contented himself by waiting to see how his counterparts fared.

    When nothing happened over the next thirty minutes, he was satisfied they had managed to remain undetected.

    Relaxing the natural cohesion binding his own nexus together, Simon allowed his molecules to become so dispersed, he could feel himself teetering on the brink of ultimate dissolution¡ªa dangerous but necessary ploy due to the proximity of so many transcended foes and an upgraded defense system that had been specifically tuned to their auras. Only once he had regained a degree of control did he allow himself to sink into the ground to begin traversing the mineral laden strata in a process that ended up devouring almost as much time as his journey from the Sun.

    But it had been well worth it, for he now found himself prowling along the subterranean threshold of the outer barrier. His rarified senses tested the energy field, and he tensed in anticipation, awaiting the dreaded response.

    He tried again, just to make sure. It doesn¡¯t see me?

    Casting the minutest of queries forward, Simon couldn¡¯t believe his luck. The shield flared intermittently under the unseen influence of work being carried out on it at this moment, elsewhere. Are they upgrading the system? Running diagnostics perhaps? Ha! Fortune favors the brave.

    As gently and as guardedly as possible, he cast his net wider. Scanning for the distinctive binary signatures he knew so well, while keeping a careful watch for danger.

    There!

    So that¡¯s where they¡¯re keeping them! Wait, they . . . they¡¯re all together?

    He thought it a gross display of negligence by the Guardians to put all their eggs in one basket. But then again, why wouldn¡¯t they? Their patients had been with them for over five years now. Five long and drawn-out years, spent gradually nursing them back to health.

    By all accounts, there¡¯s a possibility of them waking up soon. . .

    Or so they think.

    <h6>*</h6>

    Esther had been the epitome of cautiousness.

    As soon as she was within a thousand miles of the gate complex, she knew exactly where the crystals were housed. They reached out to establish a rapport that made her want to rush to their location and crush them to her ethereal bosom.

    But of course, she couldn¡¯t do that.

    Thank goodness they sing on a level few will ever realize fully.

    Not even the transcended lowlife of this plane would fully understand the reciprocity involved. Why would they? They were beneath her. Lesser beings, for all their unimaginable power! If they survived the coming cleansing, it would still take them an age to begin comprehending the intricacies of the myriad insights she had gained. Infantile insects!

    That being said, as the hours ticked by, her attention kept being drawn to the subliminal vibrations emanating from the invisible plane of the stable wormhole now anchored between the focusing collars of the gate. Something about their pitch kept tugging at long hidden memories. Memories she hadn¡¯t needed to make use of in an age.

    Avoiding the frequencies being broadcast by the psitronic power core, Esther turned instead to the energy animating those atoms making up the hyper-gate facility and the interplanetary medium itself to extend her complexus further than she had ever done before. What is that? It . . . it¡¯s sooo familiar. I¡¯ve got to get me a better look!

    Psitronic crystals were extremely rare. Although she was an expert in their use, she¡¯d never seen one formed, nor was she aware from where they came. Only their nemesis knew that. But what she did know for certain was that they contained eighteen, instead of the usual fourteen Bravaias Lattices found in normal gems. Their long range symmetry was so arcane, that they generated a dual polarity field. That field promulgated through spacetime, granting them access to an inordinate amount of power. A capability that was virtually limitless.

    Mulling things over helped Esther remember what it was that bugged her.

    Their twofold polarity creates a harmonic key that can push through temporal restrictions and into the fourth dimension! So that should mean. . .

    Cautiously, Esther extended her will and caressed the event horizon with the most refined probe she could muster. Though the sub-quantum oculus remained closed, the gray void blanketing the bridge between worlds rippled with unfathomable currents. Is . . . is that what I think it is?

    Snatching her mind back, she almost cried aloud in triumph. Yes! There¡¯s something at the other end! Something that houses a further pair of matching crystals. They¡¯re locking the geodesic tunnel in place.

    But where the hell does it lead to?

    <h6>*</h6>

    Muted and indiscernible from his surrounding, Harry allowed himself to coalesce just inside the reinforced doors leading down to the catacombs.

    By the time he¡¯d walked a few dozen yards, he was glad of the fact he had erred on the side of caution by choosing to manifest near to the surface entrance, for he could already perceive a strange elasticity pulling at his acuity.

    It felt as if invasive fingers were tugging at the plug of his psyche in an attempt to drain the stygian pool of his abilities. If successful, nothing but an agitated puddle of consciousness would remain. A most disconcerting experience. But he had to remember. By all accounts, this was a natural phenomenon here.

    Harry was surrounded on all sides by the unique rock formations that could only be found in this one location. The crusty black walls of the tunnel looked fragile, as if they¡¯d survived the onslaught of a dragon¡¯s breath and would now be forever brittle to the touch. However, that was only an optical illusion. Try as he might, Harry couldn¡¯t break any of the protruding flakes free.

    Despite the absence of artificial illumination, he also discovered he could see where he was going quite clearly. Veins of an iridescent magmalike substance seemed to be threaded in random patterns throughout the grain of the strata. Glowing dimly in the gloom, those seams flashed to a regular cadence. Each pulsation caused the glow to flare momentarily brighter, highlighting a stony heartbeat and spawning a sympathetic throb of pain that tested the integrity of his skull.

    Clenching his teeth against the pain, he wondered. What would have happened if I¡¯d try to jump in? Or phased directly to my target as I originally intended?

    Harry shivered. The picture his mind painted was as graphic as it was no doubt accurate. Little wonder then, that they bring their candidates here. It must act as a psychic suppressant until they¡¯re safely within the chamber itself. Very clever!

    Fortunately, the warrior in Harry appreciated this environment would even the playing field. And he¡¯d brought more than enough toys with him to gain the advantage in a hand-to-hand fight. Not that it¡¯ll come to that. This place is deserted.

    Carrying on for what seemed like an age, Harry eventually rounded a large protruding boulder and came to a standstill as the corridor widened out abruptly. Turning on the spot, he confirmed he¡¯d arrived at the edge of an open-ended cave filled with the same pulsing quartz deposits as was in the tunnel. In front of him stood a sophisticated robot sentry station, behind which, sat a chasm at least a hundred yards wide, and rooted in shadow.

    From where he was standing, the walls of the gorge appeared totally smooth and stretched off into the distance in either direction. Even a spider would have trouble clinging onto the sides of that.

    Peering across to the far wall, he espied another sentinel, positioned outside a set of impressively armored doors.

    Stumped, he retreated to the edge of the passageway and began to cogitate. C¡¯mon, Harry, think! There¡¯s got to be a way around this.

    Okay, what I¡¯ve learned will prove useful in providing intelligence to plan for a later attempt. But that will waste the golden opportunity we have today, to hit them hard from all three sides simultaneously. And of course, once Esther and Simon do their thing, they¡¯ll be sure to add goodness only knows how many new levels of security.

    No. I have to do something now!

    He paused to check his equipment. If it comes down to it, I¡¯m sure I could use the disruptor to take out the sentries. The anti-grav belt will get me across the chasm, no problem. But then there are the doors. You don¡¯t guard a place like that with a bit of shiny steel and spit.

    He eyed the antimatter grenades dubiously.

    Their size belied the strength of the devastation they could unleash. Even so, he¡¯d still have preferred to detonate all three within the chamber itself, instead of wasting one to get inside. Of course, if I do that . . . they¡¯ll come running!

    Harry studied the interior layout of the cavern as he tried to select a viable option to follow. His gaze returned to the strangely glowing rock face. But will that be a bad thing? The mineral deposits will force them to do just that. Run! And while they¡¯re huffing and puffing their way all the way down here, I can set the timers and use the short range matter transmitter to haul my sorry ass outta here. Once everything blows, the exposed psitronic crystal will amplify the energies unleashed, and take out a huge chunk of the lunar surface.

    He contemplated the band around his wrist. This thing will only get me as far as my insertion point on the surface. That¡¯s far enough in my book! Pursuing me will be the last thing on their minds while they¡¯re trying to save what¡¯s left of their precious base.

    Snorting in satisfaction, Harry sat down, leaned back against the wall and made himself comfortable. Now all I have to do is wait for the signal.

    With not much else to do, Harry resumed his run-through of the scenarios he might encounter in his head. In each one, he imagined a host of unexpected obstacles and what he would do to overcome them.

    Suddenly, he found himself thinking back to another subterranean chamber from long, long ago. A place in which his dreams had been shattered and where one of his dearest friends had been effaced forever from existence.

    An evil smile crept crossed his face.

    Well this time the shoe is on the other foot!

 Trident

    Simon Cooper had been waiting patiently and passing the time by silently drifting about the confines of extensive healing faculty and watching the students and staff at work. Alert for the beacon that would herald the attack, he¡¯d nonetheless become quite absorbed in several of the classes being conducted here, especially those concerning the manipulation of the mind; a subject very dear to his heart.

    However, try as he might, he hadn¡¯t been able to resist taking a peek at his targets. And who could blame him. His hosts were making things way too easy.

    All three had been grouped together within a purpose built chamber. Only, this wasn¡¯t like any treatment room he¡¯d ever seen before. There were no beds, no bank of distracting monitors, and no obtrusive racks of equipment. From what he could discern, the ward¡¯s only distinguishing feature was a special lens positioned in the exact center of the ceiling. Emitting a concentrated cone of light, it encompassed the subjects from the shoulders up in a soothing pearlescent balm that somehow suspended them horizontally in midair¡ªwith their heads almost touching in the manner of the spokes on a wheel. The atmosphere created was one of the utmost tranquility.

    It was only natural that he¡¯d wanted to take a closer look.

    He stared at the familiarity of what he still thought of as his own image for what seemed like an age. Robust and finely muscled, his body¡¯s self-rejuvenating capacity was obviously still working. His scrutiny only highlighted the benefits such a form had brought him, with all its inherent strength, vitality and durability.

    A pang of loss made him reminisce. How easy it would be, to just slip back in and let the fool reap the consequences of his own mortality. Then I could . . .?

    Simon was distracted by an abrupt burst of activity from out in the reception area. Scooting back into the corridor, he noticed someone had turned on a huge view screen above the main desk. Ah, I see. They¡¯re watching the live firing exercise. Excellent! That will help me coordinate my timing.

    He was about to drift toward that group, when three extremely powerful individuals walked into the lobby. He recognized the adult straightaway. It was the one they called the Lord Healer, someone he needed to treat with respect. Regardless, it was the two juveniles with her¡ªa boy and a girl¡ªthat caused him to do a double take!

    That they were human was clear. But something about their presence caused his defensive matrix to jitter uncontrollably.

    Adjusting his perspective, he saw why.

    They couldn¡¯t have been more than thirteen or fourteen years old at the most, yet they radiated with such overwhelming might that Simon was reminded of his Fallen kindred. Royal blue and golden bands of scintillating energy coiled in and around and through the silver-white core of their nimbuses. Like electric eels on acid, those bands sizzled and snapped with staggering efficacy, making it appear as if some monstrous leviathan had been restrained within them.

    He had only ever seen essences like that on fully mature, transcended entities.

    But they¡¯re children . . . human children!

    Simon was so taken aback, he was sure he must have misread their psi-dents. Scanning for a second time, he didn¡¯t realize he was gravitating toward them until it was too late to correct his error.

    The young boy suddenly stiffened, a spark of alarm igniting his aura in scarlet highlights.

    Turning, the child¡¯s gaze lashed back and forth several times before settling on the exact spot Simon now occupied.

    <h6>*</h6>

    Esther had been taking advantage of the long wait by relaxing.

    In a prime location, it was her responsibility to warn of any last minute hurdles. Not that she anticipated anything untoward happening. So far, their infiltration of the Guardian Headquarters had proceeded without a hitch and she expected it to continue that way. Soon, the amber beacon that would signal the start of the fun would cut across the path of the Moon. Then people would begin to die.

    Smiling within herself, she imagined the bedlam that would ensue. If only I could be there to watch.

    The Guardians will be all cozy, safely ensconced within their air-conditioned control rooms. Some will be busy, maneuvering their toys like a swarm of metal-bound asteroids; others will be keeping a watchful eye out for stray energy beams; all will be alert for possible danger and confident nothing will take them by surprise. . .

    . . .And then we will!

    At the designated time, Yeung would activate the microchips hidden among one of the unsuspecting families on Earth, and¡ªHey presto! The top three ethereal mug shots on the Guardians Most Wanted list would pop up and say ¡®hello.¡¯

    She had no doubt the freaks would be onto the signatures like a pair of alien face-huggers featured in a number of popular sci-fi films released around the turn of the twenty-first century. The totally bemused family would be traumatized beyond belief. After all, the sight of two of the most powerful Guardians in existence suddenly appearing in front of them¡ªtogether with an armed execution squad¡ªwould be enough to provoke an urgent change of underwear in all but the strongest of constitutions.

    In any event, while the Council¡¯s most problematic opponents were out of the equation, explaining their error and trying to deflect a burgeoning media storm, Esther and co would be granted a window in which to wreak havoc.

    First, Harry would detonate his grenades.

    The combination of antimatter and psitronic energy would generate a colossal explosion. Shielded or not, Esther was positive most of the facility would be consumed, either in the blast itself or the cave-in that followed. Hopefully, most of their antagonists would also die in that opening declaration of war . . . or be taken out of the equation at the very least.

    In any event, the margin for error was slim.

    That¡¯s why Simon had to act swiftly. They daren¡¯t hope the base¡¯s destruction would simply rid them of their former bodies. No! Simon had to do that in person, thereby depriving their enemies of the only source from which they might gain further intelligence in the future. And he¡¯d better be decisive about it!

    If he timed things right, it would look as if the disaster had triggered a fatal aneurism that was impossible to treat in time. A pity. She would have so loved to get her own figure back. Although it was only an avatar, she had worn it for such a long time she¡¯d gotten used to the advantages it had over these later, inferior models and bestowed a degree of freedom she sorely missed.

    Turning her attention back to the gateway and its delicious crystal shards, she ruminated over her final options. What am I going to do?

    She was still in two minds. Smash and grab, or in and out without any fuss?

    Then the inky backdrop ignited in a frenzied crisscross of light and afterimages as the orbiting photon cannons opened fire. One blazed a trail very near to her position.

    She was just about to begin her approach when a telepathic warning triggered her defenses. Simon¡¯s mind filled her consciousness with the image of a triangle. He screamed a single word: THREE!

    Reacting, Esther responded with a single pulse of reciprocal energy, expertly aimed back along the micro-thin bandwidth of his thought beam.

    Satisfied, she turned toward the gate collars and initiated her attack. Option A it is then!

    <h6>*</h6>

    The vibration drumming against Harry¡¯s wrist forced his eyelids open.

    Damn, I must have dropped off! Is it time already?

    A typical warrior, he had continued running through a wealth of complicated strategies in his head, trying to cater for every eventuality he might run into.

    Of course, the dim lighting; the steady heartbeat of the surrounding rock; and his purely intellectual efforts, created exactly the right ambience to ensure the opposite of what he¡¯d intended: it had lulled him off to sleep.

    But Harry wasn¡¯t too bothered. The alarm had woken him the moment the test began. The catacombs were still deserted. And the only real obstacles he¡¯d now have to overcome were those presented by the automated sentries.

    He yawned. Time to unleash a world of woe on the unsuspecting idiots above.

    Standing, Harry primed the disruptor to full capacity and started creeping forward. He didn¡¯t know what security protocols the sentinels were equipped with, so he thought it best to take them out quickly. It¡¯ll probably drain the weapon within three or four shots, but so what? It¡¯s not like I¡¯ll need it again.

    A small cleft between two boulders provided the perfect firing solution. Edging into position, he slowed his breathing and calmly took aim.

    No sooner had the target indicator flashed red than a crackling discharge burst from the crown of the nearest sentry. Arching across the intervening gap, it caught the disruptor full on, sheathing it in a network of livid lightning.

    Pain overloaded Harry¡¯s nerve receptors. Stunned, he fell heavily to the floor.

    A further concussion punched through the air an instant later as the weapon blew apart.

    For a moment, all went still.

    <h6>*</h6>

    The hairs on the back of Joshua¡¯s neck prickled.

    Hello? What¡¯s causing that?

    Spinning, he turned away from the screen and faced down the corridor toward the isolation units. Corrine and Becky seemed oblivious to the danger. But Joshua knew better. His intuitive skills were already far more sensitive than just about anyone else¡¯s, especially when something dire was about to happen nearby.

    As it was now.

    ¡°Bex! Corrine. . .¡± he began.

    Extending his refined perceptions, Joshua conducted a thorough interrogation of the lobby. His attention was drawn to one section of the hallway just outside Iso-3. Although it appeared nothing was there, he kept registering a sense of dread every time his astral sight swept across that area.

    His growing anxiety alerted others in the room to a possible threat.

    Pointing, Joshua continued, ¡°. . . there¡¯s something or someone over there.¡±

    People began fanning out instinctively. One or two brandished their plasma staffs. Corrine stepped forward a few paces, threw up a strong barrier and commenced a series of aggressive scans.

    ¡°I see it!¡± a voice called out.

    ¡°Over there! By ward three,¡± said another.

    A security klaxon activated, its two-tone warble cutting the air like a knife.

    Corrine¡¯s mental command brought everyone together: To me!

    Obeying instantly, over a dozen powerful minds moved to mesh in harmonic union, using the Lord Healer as their prime focus.

    Joshua added his potential to the swelling concerto, and received a sudden hit from his precognitive ability. ¡°The intruder¡¯s after the doppelgangers!¡±

    His farsight zeroed in on¡ªand then lit up¡ªthe precise spot where the trespasser was hovering. ¡°There! Quickly!¡±

    Corrine adjusted, splitting the focus of her summoning in two. A glitter web of fire surged toward the space Joshua had highlighted. At the same time, a potent foreboding manifested around the sleeping patients in the isolation bay.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    The net descended, crackling as it shrink-wrapped about an invisible form.

    Joshua¡¯s hopes surged, only to shatter almost immediately as Corrine¡¯s invocation fractured into a million tawny pieces. Everyone was treated to a glimpse of a roughly humanoid outline cocooned in frigid flames.

    It¡¯s got to be one of them! Joshua asserted.

    Becky¡¯s mind lifted above the din: Use the new program, Corrine! Use it now!

    A slight fluctuation interrupted the score as Corrine adjusted the harmonics of the mind-meld. Two seconds later, she signaled her readiness to proceed.

    The shield surrounding the iso-ward stiffened, reinforced by a titanic influx of energy. Then the screen right in front of them sparkled from top to bottom as the remaining latency boosted its strength. As one, the party advanced.

    Yoked as he was, Joshua felt the strain as the force field protecting the casualties bucked and rippled in response to a sustained assault. The tension was colossal, and kept mounting, higher and higher and higher. . .

    Corrine phased in the new defense.

    . . .And then it was gone, bursting, and releasing the pressure like a lanced blister.

    An undercurrent of hatred and frustration followed close behind.

    Realizing the creature was too exhausted to move for the moment; Joshua updated the Lord Healer and siphoned additional vitality through into her nexus. Becky followed suit.

    Corrine absorbed their gift, gratefully, and set about forging a lethal ball of plasma in the air in front of them. Addressing their unknown attacker both mentally and verbally, she said, ¡°As you can see, we now know how to neutralize your cowardly attacks. If you don¡¯t mind, just stay where you are for a moment and I¡¯ll be glad to give you a taste of your own medicine.¡±

    The air shimmered. From Joshua¡¯s conjoined perspective, it looked as if their assailant had attempted to teleport, only to encounter the hidden countermeasures now incorporated throughout the base.

    Smiling, Corrine called out, ¡°Surprised?¡±

    The entity recoiled, contracting and swelling in rapid succession and generating a necklace of rainbow lights in myriad places throughout its tincture. Its coronal luminance shifted, ramping up and down through the visible spectrum in ever increasing cycles. Soon, its brilliance was painful to behold.

    As Corrine brought the potential of her focus to bear, their unknown visitor solidified just long enough to release a blinding eruption that blanched the lobby area white. As the flare died, the entity projected a triangular symbol into the ether, and with a deafening roar, yelled the word: THREE!

    Before anyone could respond, it then collapsed in on itself and winked out of sight, evading the security measures with surprising alacrity.

    A pregnant pause followed, during which, everyone stared at each other in disbelief. Recovering first, Corrine began issuing orders. ¡°Sammie, liaise with control. Find out if this was isolated or if it¡¯s part of a larger attack. Helen, take your team and check the wards. Make sure patients and staff are all accounted for. Christos? You Marc and Sonia are to go through every store; every nook and cranny we have. Ensure no one¡¯s lurking where they shouldn¡¯t be. Use this defensive program. . .¡± (compressed psychic data) ¡°. . .and report back here once you¡¯ve finished. Stay sharp people.¡±

    Corrine caught her breath as a slight tremor ran through the structure beneath their feet and a swarm of mental updates began coming in from all around the base.

    ¡°It would appear we¡¯ve had other uninvited guests!¡± she grumbled.

    Looking toward Becky and Joshua, she broke the telepathic link, and sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s go check on our patients. It¡¯s thanks to your efforts they¡¯re still alive.¡±

    <h6>*</h6>

    Blazing streaks of plasma sizzled across the firmament as the test firing sequence eased into the next stage of the exercise. Esther barely acknowledged them.

    Three? What in hell does he mean by . . .?

    . . .Whoa!

    Twin energy spikes had focused on her exact coordinates, prompting the manifestation of an almost invisible lattice of power. The weave flexed once, and swooped down toward her.

    Goddamit! Unleashing a vicious counterstrike, she skipped to the far side of the gate. Was this a set-up all along?

    The chaos about her intensified as several of the nearer target buoys exploded, adding their death throes to an already dazzling backdrop. Esther blocked such distractions from her mind and did her best to concentrate.

    As she did so, she noticed the entanglement condensing around her former position. It solidified into a hoary cocoon, whereupon, two further beams stabbed out from the gate installation. Measuring their strength, Esther confirmed that, had she not been so sharp, her dreams of continued rebellion would now be over. It was a trap! But how did they know I was here?

    She felt a tingle as the seeker node of the targeting sequencers locked onto her for a second time. Shit! They¡¯ve definitely made us! But. . .

    . . .THREE! Of course. So that¡¯s what Simon meant!

    Abandoning any pretence for stealth, Esther jumped. She jumped again¡ªthen once more, desperately trying to stay ahead of the target locators. The fuckers have worked out how spot us when we¡¯re cloaked.

    She aborted her next maneuver at the last second and banked away sharply.

    A horrendous blast radiated outward from a point close to where she had intended to materialize. Had she teleported there, the concussion would have been sufficient to render her senseless.

    The AI sentinels are anticipating my moves.

    Thinking on her feet, Esther sought a viable solution.

    It came with surprising ease. I know! I¡¯ll incorporate Simon¡¯s suggestion into a straightforward escape plan.

    Slowing deliberately, Esther formed several jump points at once and flowed toward them, jinking from side to side as she did so. At the last possible second, she snapped back to her point of origin and phased in the opposite direction. Sure enough, the defensive guns responded by peppering the vicinity of her predicted arrival with a multitude of deadly discharges.

    Ha! Missed me suckers!

    Quick as a flash, Esther scooped her old EMU emitter from its place of concealment within her core and held it ready. Adopting a random flight path, she then formed another tau-field, but took her time crossing the plane of dissolution to ensure the Guardian sensors could register what she was doing. Having entered the matter stream, Esther used her telekinesis to fling the EMU ahead of her, along the chosen course. As it sailed away into the distance, she called forth her new tridentity and held it ready for activation.

    Now everything was in place.

    Esther waited for the instant the EMU exited the geodesic milieu and punched herself back through the lining of the hyperspace conduit at a tangent.

    A superb play on tactics.

    Emerging above the gateway generators, she watched as a lucent halo of light radiated outward from the maw of a massive explosion. Alas, she didn¡¯t have time to gloat. Meshing with the familiar aura of the crystal, Esther initiated a psitronic feedback loop, which blew out the gravity containment field and melted the vacuum shields.

    Within moments, the AI countermeasures were pinging her position.

    They were joined by more than a dozen orbital platforms.

    She held her ethereal breath. Now comes the moment of truth.

    Esther scooped the shards into her embrace and used them to amplify her power.

    A huge teleport nexus curled into being above her.

    The surrounding batteries locked on.

    And then. . .

    . . .nothing!

    Not daring to believe her luck, Esther completed her preparations by adding a pyramid element to her equations. It worked. They won¡¯t fire while I¡¯m meshed to the crystals for fear of the backwash taking out the base and gate collars.

    Feeling superior, she threw herself across the event horizon and made her escape, initializing her new persona as she went.

    The smug fa?ade soon dropped from her countenance. Oh no!

    What about Harry? Would he have heard Simon¡¯s warning down there?

    <h6>*</h6>

    Harry came-to with an avalanche raging inside his skull. Working his jaw from side to side, he fought to establish a degree of stability. Jesus! That hurt! How am I going to . . . eh?

    Three people were stood in a loose knot in front of the nearby sentinel.

    Oh fuck! Too shocked to do anything else but get to his feet and stare, he gave each one the once-over, just to make sure his scrambled wits weren¡¯t playing tricks on him. As if I¡¯d be that lucky!

    It was definitely the freaks¡ªand a third person who was vaguely familiar¡ªstaring right back at him.

    Wracking his brain, a sliver of clarity over the identity of the mystery man struggled to the fore. ¡°I remember you! You were some kind of shaman they discovered on an eastern continent . . . ooh, several millennia ago. Don¡¯t tell me . . . Aniless? Anilese Surinesh? Or something like that wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Close enough,¡± Anil replied, ¡°though you get to call me Lord Marshal. It¡¯s a title I was forced to inherit after the last holder¡ªa very dear friend of mine, by the way¡ªwas murdered by a bunch of cowardly scumbags.¡±

    Edging backward, Harry¡¯s fingers crept toward the teleport circlet about his wrist. He tried to mask what he was doing by scrutinizing an imaginary feature against the cavern¡¯s far wall and talking in a friendly fashion. ¡°Well, it¡¯s been really nice catching up. I¡¯d love to stay, but unfortunately, I have a pressing engagement elsewhere.¡±

    Harry slammed his palm against the activation button.

    Victoria beat him to it by making the barest of gestures. A powerful frond of astral lightning played across the bracelet¡¯s surface before working its way inside the circuitry.

    It began sparking and fizzing, and the telltale hum of an imminent overload gave Harry scant opportunity to act. Wresting the band free, he flung it into the chasm.

    Moments later, it exploded.

    Having spotted what Victoria had just done, Harry was perplexed. ¡°How did you do that? I thought this place subdued any form of metapsychic expression?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t leave just yet,¡± Victoria ignored the question completely. Her voice cut like razor wire. ¡°After all, we¡¯ve got such a lot of catching up to do.¡±

    That was all Harry could take. Turning on his heel, he sprinted for the corridor, kicking up a cloud of dust in his wake.

    He¡¯d only managed to take half a dozen steps before he was unceremoniously yanked backward by the scruff of his neck and mercilessly slammed into the dirt at Andrew¡¯s feet.

    Telekinesis could be a bitch in the wrong hands.

    Head ringing, Harry tried to blink the circling fireflies from his vision.

    Andrew stooped down beside him. Grabbing a fistful of clothing, he lifted Harry into the air and held him off the floor. His visage darkened. ¡°As you¡¯ve correctly surmised, we freaks have grown strong enough so we no longer seem to be affected by the unusual geology of this place. Good news for us. Bad news for you!¡±

    Harry refused to cower, and sneered, ¡°So, what are you going to¡ª¡±

    A brutal punch to the face broke his nose and silenced any further opportunity for defiance. Spinning through the air, he landed awkwardly. Winded and gasping for breath, he was only vaguely aware that Andrew was already upon him and dragging him back toward the robot sentry.

    Depositing him in front of Anil and Victoria, Andrew growled. ¡°You¡¯re probably wondering if I¡¯m going to kill you now . . .?¡±

    Spitting blood, Harry raised himself up and looked from face to face. He found no mercy there, whatsoever.

    ¡°. . . Well, I won¡¯t be,¡± Andrew continued. Nodding toward the Lord Marshal, he grinned, and exclaimed, ¡°But I can¡¯t speak for him.¡±

    Anil removed a blackened plasma staff from within a fold of his robes and held it reverentially before him. As his gaze wandered up and down the scorched metal of the casing, a gentler cast accentuated his features. But only for an instant.

    Intuitively, Harry guessed who that weapon once belonged to. Surprising himself, he chuckled, ¡°Karma works both ways, eh?¡±

    ¡°It certainly does, my friend.¡± Anil¡¯s hatred drenched every word in vitriol, ¡°though I don¡¯t imagine you¡¯ll find it funny for too much longer.¡±

    Snorting, Harry countered, ¡°You forget what I am . . . human. That device may inflict damage on this mortal frame, but it will be unable to harm what remains of my divinity.¡±

    Anil was clearly puzzled by that statement.

    Andrew was quick to intercede. ¡°Ah, you poor, unfortunate fool! What you are failing to take into account are the unique harmonics of this place.¡±

    Indicating the mineral formations scattered throughout the lunar strata, he stressed, ¡°We haven¡¯t quite fathomed why, yet! But here, unless you possess the puissance of a Primary Echelon entity, you¡¯re screwed! Something about the way the configuration of electrons within the atomic structure of the rocks combine with the prevalent solar winds creates a symbiotic dissonance, thereby mitigating the essences of both divine and transcended beings. Unless you¡¯re a freak like Victoria and me of course.¡±

    Harry felt his knees go weak. He now only had one option open to him. Oh well, who wants to live forever?

    Coughing up another coppery mouthful, he rose slowly to his feet. ¡°So I can die here, then? At least I won¡¯t perish alone.¡±

    Deftly, Harry activated all three of the antimatter devices on his belt.

    So swiftly that Harry wasn¡¯t quite sure he could trust his senses, Andrew stomped forward and made a clenching motion with his fingers. A sharp tug signified the moment the grenades were snatched away from Harry¡¯s waist and into his enemy¡¯s grasp.

    Andrew clasped his hands to his chest and turned away slightly, before wreathing himself in astral flame.

    A supernova blinded them, and the ground heaved in response to a colossal detonation. Harry and Anil were thrown to their backs. The subsequent pressure wave dislodged rocks and large chunks of the roof. A deluge of lethal shrapnel rained down from above, only to bounce off an invisible shield.

    As the light receded, Harry caught a momentary glimpse of an angelic apparition nearly twelve feet high, hovering before them.

    Then it was gone.

    Andrew remained; untouched, unblemished and whole.

    His psi-well had darkened to become a whirling maelstrom of abstract hunger that devoured all hope. He beckoned, and Harry flew into his outstretched hand like a magnetized lump of metal.

    Harry tried desperately to breathe past the fleshy bands of iron choking the life from him. Then Andrew unleashed the heat of his anger, directly into Harry¡¯s nervous system. The Fallen rebel screamed, writhing and kicking for all he was worth until the diabolical efflux abruptly cut off.

    Rasping and hacking, Harry was jostled roughly as Andrew adjusted his grip to hoist him even higher into the air. Trying to ease the pressure on his windpipe, Harry held on tightly to his abuser¡¯s wrists and squinted down, only to see his end pictured there.

    ¡°Father always said you were a coward,¡± Andrew snarled. His demeanor turned to stone. ¡°And now we know.¡±

    He didn¡¯t bother turning away when he gave the order. ¡°Anil . . . Do it!¡±

    <h6>*</h6>

    The Lord Marshal acted without hesitation.

    A thrumming sound accompanied the appearance of a glaring royal blue light that cut through the air in a dazzling arc; a brief hiss announced the moment the photonic blade bit into meat and sinew; a dull thud followed as a head hit the floor¡ªmouth still wide open in protestation against the grievance of untimely death.

    Andrew maintained his hold on the twitching torso and inhaled, gorging himself on Elysian dominion until the emaciated husk crumbled to ash in his hands.

    He noticed his sister watching him intently. She addressed him on his intimate mode: Andy, are you okay? You look swollen. Hell, you even feel different.

    Different? Smiling, Andrew took a moment to assess himself: Hmm! It was . . . it is strangely enlightening.

    What do you mean? Was the subsumption process successful?

    More than you realize! Vic, we can¡¯t, er. . . we can¡¯t really discuss it here. It would be better if we talked about it later.

    Likeminded in every way, Victoria didn¡¯t miss his hint regarding their present company: No problems! I¡¯ve got a sneaking suspicion I¡¯m gonna love what you have to say anyway, so I don¡¯t mind waiting.

    They broke contact, only to discover they hadn¡¯t been as discreet as they¡¯d thought.

    Anil stood to one side, casually tossing Earl Foster¡¯s plasma staff up and down in one hand and studying them closely. It was apparent he knew they were up to mischief.

    Things continued that way for a few minutes.

    Eventually, the Lord Marshal took a deep breath, and murmured, ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you¡¯d care to enlighten me, would you, on certain references that asshole alluded to before his death?¡±

    Both siblings remained silent.

    Anil pressed his point, ¡°In particular, I¡¯m keen to understand what he meant by the words, divinity, freak, and father. Oh, and not forgetting, Primary Echelon and the fact he referred to me as a human. As if I could be anything else. You can imagine, I¡¯m itching to hear what you have to say . . . just to see if it matches my suspicions.¡±

    When the twins still failed to reply, the Lord Marshal sheathed the baton, walked right up to them so that he could peer into the mirror image of their startling gray eyes, and whispered, ¡°You should know me well enough by now to realize I won¡¯t let this drop. My door is always open. Do drop by for a chat . . . when you¡¯re ready.¡±

 Aftermath

    As the preeminent VIP in attendance, Lei Yeung had been invited onto the command deck aboard GOS-2¡ªGuardian Observation Station 2¡ªto enjoy a birds-eye view of the Orbital Defense Grid in action.

    When the trial had gotten underway, he ensured to diligently watch out for the first of the salvos to be aimed at targets close to, and beyond the lunar orbit. Having then successfully initiated the false psi-dents, Yeung relaxed, confident in both his planning of the operation and the team¡¯s ability to execute their individual roles.

    However, working so closely with these exceptional individuals over the years, had obviously forged a bond between them. He hadn¡¯t realized this, of course, nor did he appreciate just how strong the link was, until an overwhelming absence impinged on his psyche, causing him to curse aloud.

    Fortunately, the other dignitaries hadn¡¯t noticed his momentary lapse of decorum. Or if they did, must have presumed he was expressing his wonder at the stunning display of power taking place outside.

    None of that mattered to Yeung. By assaying the source of the strange feeling of emptiness inside, he knew without a shred of a doubt that one of his Fallen friends was unaccounted for. But who? And are they simply hiding? Using the warped physics of the moon rock to block their presence from pursuers? Or have they encountered obstacles and teleported beyond the range of my augmented scans?

    Another thought struck him. If they have run into trouble, they might be stuck somewhere. Hidden, shielded, and waiting for the opportunity to flee?

    Speculating served no useful purpose. He only knew for certain that a cold talon of trepidation was clawing its way down his spine, seemingly intent on taking root. With growing unease, he returned home and put his vast intelligence network into action.

    The first indication something may have gone terribly wrong came from a surprising source: Angelika.

    Not three hours ago, she had contacted Yeung to ask if anything unusual was occurring.

    When he pressed her as to the reason for her query, Angelika informed him of the fact that her Inquisitor boyfriend, Jose Calderon, had suddenly been recalled to duty. Jose had fielded her questions by stating he was required to assist in the aftermath of an attempt against the Moon Base and one of its orbiting facilities. Angelika hadn¡¯t been able to gain any further information from Jose before he¡¯d left, but she had sensed an overwhelming impression of satisfaction and success emanating from his mind.

    Satisfaction over what? Yeung pondered. Oh God, I hope it¡¯s not linked to us!

    Soon after that, Yeung received a rather intriguing communiqu¨¦ from one of his Apostles in the Orient, Chang Xi.

    Xi revealed that a European family, holidaying in the area, had been the focus of a great deal of media attention at China¡¯s Great Wall. Apparently, they had been in one of the attraction¡¯s cafeterias, when an armed squad of Guardians arrived. The squad had surrounded the family and¡ªmuch to everyone¡¯s alarm¡ªhas stunned them without provocation. Once unconscious, each member was immobilized and subjected to some form of intrusive psychic examination.

    Whatever it was the Guardians were looking for wasn¡¯t revealed. In any event, they didn¡¯t find it. After apologizing profusely to the outraged parents concerned, and promising someone from the Conciliator¡¯s office would be in touch, they left empty handed.

    Videos of that confrontation were already circulating on the internet, and Xi had included several clips in his email for Yeung to study at his leisure.

    Yeung did so at length, uncovering details that revealed there was more to the story than originally met the eye.

    By now, the Lord Inquisitor and the Shadow Lord had gained something of a celebrity status among the populace. Although they shunned the limelight, it was common knowledge they were among the most powerful Guardians in existence. When Yeung sought clarification as to the ranks and descriptions of those Inquisitors attending the Great Wall, it was clear neither Lord had been there. Indeed, by examining some of the recordings Xi had provided in slow-motion, Yeung was able to confirm this was, in fact, true.

    That set alarm bells ringing in his mind. So why didn¡¯t they feel the need to respond on this occasion? The implications don¡¯t bear thinking about.

    He was still mulling that point over a few hours later, when Angelika called again to express her concerns:

    ¡°Lei, I know it¡¯s not my area, but do we have any candidates lined up for special projects with the Guardians in the near future? Something that might involve them going to other planets?¡±

    Yeung was forced to think for a moment before replying. He had been very cautious in his dealing with the Guardians in recent years. Anyone involved in joint special projects needed to be squeaky clean to get through the barrage of background checks required to clear them as suitable. And that was just to get a place on a shortlist of possibles! As such, he¡¯d been careful to include only a handful of sleeper agents across the board. All were highly trained, motivated, and loaded with nano and biotechnology to enhance their capabilities and render them impervious to scanning.

    Eventually, he¡¯d managed to recall something earmarked for future consideration.

    ¡°We do have a contingency now you mention it, Angelika. Nothing solid at this stage. It involves a list of Yeung Tec scientists and doctors specializing in botany, zoology, and certain life sciences. They haven¡¯t revealed what the candidates might be required for yet.

    ¡°Why do you ask?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Jose got back a few minutes ago, and then had to go straight to his command center at Mato Grosso. Before he left, he was muttering on about something. Whatever it was, it played on his mind enough for certain thoughts to spill over. I caught one phrase in particular I knew you¡¯d want to hear about. And I quote;

    ¡®. . . the damage to the hyper-gate will delay the off-world project by at least a month while they align the new focal anchors. . .¡¯

    ¡°As I say, those terms were too juicy not to pass on. So, I thought I¡¯d better let you know.¡±

    Puzzled, Yeung began deliberating. If there isn¡¯t a connection, I¡¯ll eat my hat.

    Out loud he replied, ¡°Thank you, Angelika. I¡¯ll get onto that later. . .

    ¡°By the way, your boyfriend sounds as if he¡¯s becoming a fount of knowledge. Getting along well, are you?¡±

    ¡°Oh, we are, Lei, believe me,¡± she chuckled, ¡°especially since Esther demonstrated how to recalibrate the Docilator to stimulate different emotions. I¡¯ve been playing, and think I¡¯m starting to strike the right balance. He¡¯s been very keen to share lately.¡±

    ¡°Excellent work! Keep it up. I¡¯ve got a feeling we may need his insights more often in the coming months.¡±

    Ending the call, Yeung tried to make sense out of what he¡¯d learned so far.

    The pieces of a rather complex jigsaw lay before him. Now all he had to do was start fitting them together as best he could while waiting for what was left of the team to make contact.

    <h6>*</h6>

    Yeung sat opposite his associates, brooding. Watching them struggling to come to terms with their loss appalled him, for he¡¯d never seen them so unsettled before.

    He¡¯d initially breathed a huge sigh of relief when¡ªjust fifteen minutes previously¡ªSimon finally made his appearance. However, that relief soon became disquieting, for his friend had remained slumped in his seat since then. Ashen, unmoving and numb.

    Esther had followed him in only five minutes ago. And, after throwing herself down on the opposite end of the couch to Simon, she too had turned to stone, a look of shocked disbelief fixing her features into a permanent frown.

    Yeung fussed about like a mother hen to begin with. Offering refreshments; showering them in reassurance; trying to get them comfy. Throughout it all, they remained completely unresponsive.

    Finally, Yeung reached the end of his patience. This is taking far too long! All sentiment aside, there¡¯s much I still need to understand. Their grief will have to wait for another, more appropriate time.

    ¡°Enough!¡± He roared, coming to his feet and slamming the flat of his hand against the table.

    Simon and Esther both jumped.

    ¡°For goodness sake, snap out of it! Evidently, something has happened to prevent Harry¡¯s return. Something serious. Are you going to tell me what that might be, so we can take appropriate action?¡±

    Esther was the first to respond. Turning crimson, her famous temper threatened to erupt. Surging from her seat, she flew forward, ready to fling accusations. ¡°How dare you. . .¡±

    ¡°How dare I?¡± Yeung retorted, shouting loudly across her.

    Marching straight up to the demigoddess, he faced her down. ¡°I dare, young lady, because in spite of all your power and antiquity, you keep forgetting yourself and the tenets you swore to uphold! You ought to be ashamed!¡±

    His boldness took the wind right out of her sails.

    But Yeung wasn¡¯t done. Jabbing her in the chest, he blustered, ¡°I only knew Harry for five years. Five short human years! That¡¯s nothing in comparison to you. But I¡¯m committed to our cause enough to be determined to do something about this . . . this, whatever it is, to honor his memory. We are at war. And like it or not, there are always casualties in war. Always! Or don¡¯t you think the rules apply to you?¡±

    Esther fumed, but managed to clamp her jaw shut. Visibly shaking from a mutiny of conflicting emotions, she stood there, flexing and clenching her fingers into fists until Simon came to her aid. He diffused the situation by grasping her firmly by the shoulders and ushering her back toward the sofa.

    Yeung followed, picking up a spare stool on the way.

    Once they had retaken their seats, he adopted a calmer tone. ¡°Right! Let¡¯s make an effort to cool the coals for a few minutes so we can make progress. Now tell me. What the hell happened to you out there?¡±

    He didn¡¯t take it to heart when Esther ignored him. Glancing Simon¡¯s way, she hissed, ¡°Did you feel it?¡±

    Tapping his breast, Simon nodded. ¡°Oh, I felt it alright. In here! The moment he . . . Even though he was still inside that . . . place. It. . .¡±

    More gently, Yeung repeated, ¡°Simon. What happened?¡±

    ¡°It was all going to plan.¡± Simon replied, his eyes wide and vacant. ¡°I was right there, in the hospital wing, waiting for the signal to start. Then those damned children walked in.¡±

    ¡°Children?¡±

    ¡°Yes, children . . . well, teenagers to be precise. They. . .¡± his brow furrowed. ¡°They were unlike anything I¡¯ve ever seen before!¡±

    Yeung was thrown slightly off balance. ¡°What do you mean? Were they¡¯re more freakish than the Lord Inquisitor and Shadow Lord?¡±

    ¡°No, no, no, they¡¯re nothing like them! These kids were fully human. It¡¯s just that they¡¯re . . . they¡¯re different in a way I¡¯ve never ever witnessed in all the countless eons I¡¯ve lived.¡±

    Pausing, Simon projected an image of two astounding psychic complexuses into the air between them. ¡°. . .See what I mean? They shouldn¡¯t be capable of retaining their purely biological foundations. But they have.¡±

    All three gazed in astonishment upon the monstrous potential each child possessed. A gargantuan capability that contradicted the fragile organic forms in which they were housed.

    Yeung had been doing his homework on such things. But what he saw confused him. Leaning toward Esther, he whispered, ¡°Esther, you¡¯re the expert in such matters. Am I right in assuming these youngsters should have transcended by now?¡±If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re quite correct.¡± She murmured, lost in the mesmerizing depths of the vision before them.

    ¡°Can you enlarge the image?¡± He pointed. ¡°In particular, I¡¯d like a close-up view of the quadrants, here, here, and . . . that one over there.¡±

    Esther did so. As the requested zones expanded, the brilliance of the cerebral tapestry threatened to overwhelm them. Suddenly, Esther whistled.

    ¡°What?¡± the men chorused in unison.

    Indicating the areas under scrutiny, Esther sought clarification herself. ¡°Yeung, you were talking about those sites that appear to have something that looks like a cluster of miniature black holes in them? The ones positioned at the junctures between the major power signifiers and the silver amplification nuclei?¡±

    ¡°Indeed I was. I¡¯m no specialist, but that doesn¡¯t seem to be a natural feature. I was wondering what function those dark spots would serve?¡±

    ¡°Nothing that I know of. Hang on. . .¡±

    Esther extended the picture even further. ¡°. . .Although I can discern they seem to be moderating the flow of transcendent energy in some way. I¡¯d have to conduct a more thorough examination to be sure, but . . . No! They couldn¡¯t have?¡±

    Turning to Simon, she asked, ¡°Tell me. Did they detect you before you had a chance to kill your targets?¡±

    Simon extinguished the projection. ¡°Yes, they bloody well did! Why?¡±

    Esther¡¯s irises flashed an iridescent ivory color. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not sure . . . but I¡¯ve got a sneaking suspicion you ran smack bang into the results of some form of advanced Mitigator experiment. It would work by delaying their transmogrification while allowing them to access their superior mentality.¡±

    Simon sounded mortified. ¡°But why on earth would they do a thing like that? It could spawn all sorts of mutagenic and psychogenic effects.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve no idea. I can only surmise they don¡¯t want transcendent, hormone-ridden, angst-prone adolescents running around, obliterating planets for the sheer hell of it. Whatever the reason, those kids have some of the most powerful attributes I¡¯ve ever seen.¡±

    Snorting, Simon replied, ¡°Tell me about it! My screens were maxed-out and my resolution was at its most refined. With the enrichment we¡¯ve undergone, I should have been indistinguishable from the surrounding environment. And yet the boy zeroed in on me as if I was standing there smothered in luminous paint and waving flags while standing under black lighting! No sooner had he made my location, than he also fathomed exactly why I was there. Imagine my joy when I discovered they were able to counter my efforts to zap both them, and our former hosts to a cinder! They were on the verge of capturing me until I thought to dump my binary psi-dent and initialize the new one.¡±

    ¡°I knew it!¡± Esther punched Simon in the arm and shook her head in gratitude. ¡°That¡¯s why you projected the triangle and the word three, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Yes! As powerful as we¡¯ve become, they¡¯d obviously developed some way to neutralize us, so I tried to think of a warning only we would understand without giving the extent of our presence away. It countered them quite nicely.¡±

    ¡°Quite nicely?¡± she cackled, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have been aware, but you were unmasked only seconds before I gave the signal to go. In that scant window, they were able to broadcast some form of alert and almost netted me alive. After what¡¯s happened to Harry, I doubt I¡¯d have stayed that way for long. You saved my ass up there!¡±

    Cutting in of the conversation, Yeung said, ¡°So, by implication, what you¡¯re saying is . . . because of his proximity to the Crystal Chamber, Harry would have been totally unaware of what was transpiring? There¡¯s no way a telepathic signal would have gotten through? And Esther wasn¡¯t in a position to update him either, via his teleport band.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Simon replied. ¡°Is there a point to all this?¡±

    Yeung then informed his Fallen counterparts of the incident at the Great Wall.

    Concluding his testimony, he expounded, ¡°This confirms my suspicions. Firstly, our foes have developed technology that not only inhibits your original altered psi-dents, but some of your enhancements too. That¡¯s why they felt it was safe to dispatch an Inquisitor Team without the freaks being present.

    ¡°Bearing that in mind, I feel confident in expressing my second misgiving. I strongly suspect the reason for their absence in China was that the twins were assigned to intercept whoever was sent to infiltrate the catacombs. In this case, Harry.¡±

    Simon¡¯s expression revealed he was unconvinced. ¡°How can you be so sure?¡±

    ¡°Just putting two and two together. Listen! Their tech works on you. We had ample evidence of that by the way you and Esther only just escaped by the skin of your teeth. But escape you did, using sheer brute strength and all the cunning and experience you¡¯ve no doubt accrued over the centuries.

    ¡°Buuut, where¡¯s the one place in the galaxy that the playing field is the same for everyone? Psychic or mundane. Transcended or not. We know the geology of the cave system acts as a deterrent in relation to metaphysical abilities, yes? It¡¯s why the Guardians take their transcension candidates there. The special conditions reduce the risk of catastrophic danger should an aspirant go novae. That¡¯s why we ensured to kit Harry out with so much gear. It should have given him the edge against just about anyone pitted against him.

    ¡°Now put yourself in his position: you¡¯re a trained warrior; you¡¯re armed; you¡¯re equipped with the latest gadgets to help you do your job in an environment that mutes psychic ability. That equipment will also aid you in getting away. So! Why did you die when all the odds were in your favor?¡±

    Esther¡¯s sharp intake of breath signified the point was well made. She spat, ¡°Because someone was there, waiting for me. Someone with the ability to nullify both my training and experience. Someone capable of countering my superior strength, and the advantages my weapons should have given me!

    ¡°Holy shit!¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing holy about it,¡± Yeung snapped. ¡°Although it does go partway to explaining how shitty it must have been for Harry to run into that someone you referred to, who obviously wasn¡¯t hampered by the attenuating vibes given off by the moon rocks.

    ¡°Do you get my point? Who do you know of who might have the capability to function within that kind of environment? I¡¯ve racked my brains and can only guess at three likely candidates.¡±

    Esther turned to Simon and they stared at each other, aghast.

    Simon was moved to express his misgivings. ¡°I confess, I¡¯ve often underestimated Adhem-un in the past. Even so, I¡¯ve got no doubt he¡¯d easily be able to work his diabolical schemes in such a place. He was Primary Echelon for goodness sake, third in might only to the Source and the First. But we¡¯ve had no sighting of him for months. So, if it wasn¡¯t him, that only leaves the¡ª¡±

    ¡°The twins!¡± Esther exclaimed, finishing his sentence for him. ¡°Goddamit! What are we going to do?¡±

    Leaping to his feet, Yeung announced, ¡°Do? What are we going to do? Why, my dear lady, we¡¯re going to strike back! We¡¯re going to hit them where it hurts. And what¡¯s more, we¡¯re going to do it when they least expect it.

    ¡°They probably think we¡¯ll be licking our wounds and feeling so sorry for ourselves that we¡¯ll go to ground like beaten animals. We are neither beaten nor animals. We will, however, bite back. Hard! Interested?¡±

    ¡°Of course we are,¡± Simon responded. ¡°But how do you propose we sink our teeth in where it hurts?¡±

    ¡°Well, if you¡¯re fishing for my opinion, I¡¯d probably start with those!¡± Yeung referred directly to a long cylindrical tube propped against the couch, ¡°From the way my sinuses are aching, am I correct in assuming those are the psitronic shards?¡±

    Glancing beside her, Esther nodded. ¡°Yes, they are. You have to be careful what stimulus you expose them to, or you could end up vaporizing a small city.¡±

    Yeung couldn¡¯t hide his delight. ¡°They could do that? Just those two pieces!¡±

    ¡°And more! That¡¯s why I was so long getting back. I had to ensure they were encased within a gravity sheath. Although I¡¯ve built up an affinity to them, others won¡¯t share that bond. They have to remain isolated from most forms of outside stimulation. Otherwise they could absorb it, amplify it, and release it in an undirected blast.¡±

    Moving to sit beside Esther, Yeung enquired, ¡°What did you actually use the original crystal for?¡±

    ¡°In Kalliste? It served as a power reserve, for both arcane and mundane sources. We¡¯d all regularly contribute, and then use its potential to assist us in performing things like terraforming operations, or atmosphere and weather modifications. It can also absorb the energy released during earthquakes, hurricanes and thunderstorms and so on. . .¡±

    ¡°And don¡¯t forget the Monolith Gates,¡± Simon added. ¡°Or the defensive wall.¡±

    ¡°. . . Oh yes,¡± Esther started to warm to her subject. ¡°The original Flame was configured to automatically maintain the shields around the entire island. We¡¯d positioned the capital above an active volcano, you see, at the convergence of three tectonic plates. Such an arrangement provided a constant source of agitated buoyancy for the crystal, allowing us to modify the flora and fauna throughout the region. As Simon said, it also allowed us to power the Monolith Gates.¡±

    ¡°Monolith Gates? What were they?¡± Yeung was genuinely fascinated by this all too rare glimpse into the real past of Earth¡¯s long hidden history.

    ¡°You¡¯d call them teleport portals, a much smaller version of what the Guardians have up in lunar orbit. It allowed our subjects virtually instantaneous travel between all the major metropolises of the Protectorate.¡± Esther¡¯s demeanor brightened as her account brought back memories of happier times. ¡°I designed them actually. You could say they were one of my more . . . popular efforts!¡±

    Cog¡¯s started turning in Yeung¡¯s head. ¡°Well, there you go! I think I know how we can proceed. Esther, can you tinker with these pieces safely?¡±

    ¡°I should be able to. Once I¡¯ve rearranged the lab. Why?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to put the remains of your former Flame to use, if I may.¡±

    When Esther didn¡¯t reply immediately, Yeung elaborated, ¡°You won¡¯t be aware of this, but while I was awaiting your return, I had a very interesting chat with Angelika. She¡¯s been fine-tuning the Docilator to get better results out of her current assignment, Jose Calderon. I¡¯ll have you know, you caused quite a panic, blowing out the generators. How did she say Jose put it; ¡®the damage to the hyper-gate will delay the off-world project by at least a month while they align the new focal anchors.¡¯ Tell me. When the Inquisitor was referring to the anchors, I take it he meant those crystals?¡±

    ¡°Yes, he did,¡± Esther replied. ¡°These particular shards were positioned here, at one end of a geodesic pathway, and their corresponding twins would have been placed at the opposite terminus. Their mated harmonics counter the effects of galactic drift and other such hazards by keeping the site of the two event horizons locked onto each other. Without anything to stabilize the materialization plane at this end, they¡¯ll have to replace the entire system.¡±

    ¡°Sooo, if I was thinking ahead and trying to establish a tactical advantage, would I be right in assuming a teleport bracelet powered by a fleck from one of those crystals would be far more effective than the ones we currently use?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±

    ¡°And would you have to use much of the shard to do that? Say, for a dozen or so bands.¡±

    Esther thought for a moment before replying. ¡°If I sliced carefully, I imagine I¡¯d only need to use about five to seven percent of a single piece . . . including wastage and polishing, maybe ten percent. That would give us sufficient punch to teleport the wearer around the Earth a number of times before it needed recharging.¡±

    Yeung¡¯s eyes narrowed as he worked things through to a conclusion in his head. The results were inspiring.

    He declared, ¡°In that case, I¡¯d like to offer a new set of proposals.¡±

    The maverick angels hunched forward in their seats.

    ¡°Please do!¡±

    ¡°By all means!¡±

    Yeung began, ¡°Simon. Esther. I suggest we formulate a fresh Trident strategy. Our new line of attack will involve three separate stages against a trio of major targets.

    ¡°The long-term phase will now concentrate on the hyper-jump gate. From what you¡¯ve told me, the fuel source for that system will have to be replaced, affording us an excellent opportunity to do two things: Firstly, the gaining of intelligence as to what lies on the far side of the event horizon; and secondly, the acquisition of the old crystal shards from wherever that may be.

    ¡°We don¡¯t have to rush with that stage. Part of my conversation with Angelika revealed the Guardians are planning a joint venture with civilian scientists in the near future anyway. Whatever the specifics are, they will involve zoologists, botanists, and certain life science experts and. . .¡±

    ¡°Colonization!¡± Simon stated flatly. ¡°It can¡¯t be anything else. Part of Adhem-un¡¯s original grand plan involved seeding humanity throughout the stars. I know him. He doesn¡¯t change once his set his sights on something. I¡¯ll bet my balls they¡¯ve already found a suitable planet.¡±

    ¡°I agree with your assessment,¡± Yeung replied. ¡°I was looking over the list of the candidates the Lord Marshal¡¯s office had me compile while I awaited your return. Needless to say, in view of our current . . . situation, I¡¯ll be making several adjustments to ensure the right people are in the right place to seize any opportunities that come our way. They will form a nucleus for phase two of our operations: Whatever¡¯s on the other side, I want in on it!

    ¡°I¡¯m hoping both of you will also put yourselves forward. You¡¯re both respected scientists. You¡¯re psychic. And as far as the world is concerned, you¡¯re squeaky clean pioneers working for Yeung Technologies. They would be fools to say no. Just imagine the hassle we can avoid by having you invited there, as opposed to sneaking you in!¡±

    Despite the serious atmosphere, both Simon and Esther were moved to smile at Yeung¡¯s audacity.

    In keeping with the mood, the old man admitted, ¡°Actually, I¡¯m trying to get myself on the list too! I know it¡¯s cheeky, but after all. My staff will provide the bulk of the initial teams sent there¡ªwherever there is¡ªand I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll extend me the courtesy of a little tour at least!¡±

    It worked. Everyone burst out laughing.

    Yeung concluded, ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re getting in the spirit of things, because we need to forge ahead with our primary objective. Los Angeles. All data has now been collated, and we can put the final stages of that scheme into operation with one additional bonus. The antimatter mines can now be upgraded with any surplus flakes left over from Esther¡¯s augmentation of the teleport bands. The extra energy they will add to the overall yield is sure to break the spine of the entire fault line.

    ¡°Once again, the Guardians will be exposed as unable to save those they profess to serve. Only this time, the casualty rate will be higher . . . especially with the distraction we have planned in Somalia.¡±

    Yeung could taste solidarity of purpose manifesting within the room. Walking across to stand in front of his friends, he stooped to place a hand on each of their shoulders. Quietly, he asserted, ¡°Never forget. We are at war! They won a skirmish today, and we were forced to take casualties. But we didn¡¯t just lie there waiting to be finished off. No! We¡¯ve regrouped, devised a new stratagem and we¡¯ll come back even stronger than before.

    ¡°Just imagine their horror as LA goes sliding into the sea. It won¡¯t be anywhere near as grand as the huge slide they¡¯ll take in the popularity polls, I can tell you. And of course, if we plan things well . . . we won¡¯t just screw things up for them here on Earth, will we? There¡¯s a whole new world out there for us to manipulate.¡±

    Yeung sauntered across to his private bar to pour three celebratory glasses of champagne. As he returned¡ªdrinks in hand¡ªhe could see both Simon and Esther were deep in animated, mental conversation.

    Something about their expressions and the rosy hues tingeing the outer layers of their auras moved him inquire, ¡°What¡¯s this? More good ideas to bring to the table?¡±

    ¡°Actually . . . yes!¡± Simon exclaimed. ¡°We¡¯ve been here so long that . . . well. We overlooked the fact that not all of us settled on Kalliste.¡±

    Yeung nearly tipped their drinks over as he placed them on the table. ¡°What? What do you mean by all of you?¡±

    ¡°The Fallen! Not everyone agreed or had the stomach to begin the vast undertaking that Adhem-un aspired to. I must apologize, but we¡¯ve been so wrapped up by what happened to us since the rebellion on our old home that we¡¯ve failed to consider the others like us still out there.¡±

    ¡°How many others are we talking about? And what do you mean by, out there?¡±

    Simon and Esther stared toward each other again. Mental images flashed back and forth. A few minutes later, Simon nodded and replied, ¡°We think there might be up to a dozen Lower Echelon members, and one or two Median stalwarts who¡¯d be willing to respond to the call. They expressed no desire to join us at the time because of certain leadership and policy issues. Basically, they chose to wander off among the stars instead. Now . . . who knows?¡±

    Yeung was stunned at the implications. All that power . . . ?

    Tentatively, he asked, ¡°And would they answer you after all this time? Could you even reach them?¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t got a clue.¡± Simon replied, shrugging. ¡°Space is so incredibly vast, they could be scattered far beyond our ability to reach.

    ¡°But it¡¯s got to be worth a try.¡±

 I Remember Now

    Can you appreciate now, why I roused you from you slumber? Gaia-le¡¯el enquired, profound hope and anxiety emanating in equal measure from her essence.

    She continued: This is the third such system I have nurtured upon this plane . . . though I do concede, it lays furthest out from the point of Original Causality.

    Aslan-di¡¯el looked on in delight, his senses ranging the length and breadth of the compact little star system. As he examined the structure of the masterpiece before him, he continued coaxing thousands upon thousands of eager responses from those life forms multiplying throughout the esoteric and biometric framework.

    Eventually he tired of play, and sighed: It is a truly amazing feat, Sister. And rewarding. You have managed to foment a matrix conducive to harmony in all its fragile nuances. But if what you say is true, then its very nature may be in jeopardy.

    It is, my Brother. I¡¯m sure of it!

    Ushering him closer, Gaia-le¡¯el replayed the incident again in their minds, allowing Aslan-di¡¯el to gauge the strength and character of the strange visitor who had chanced upon her work. She said: When I first encountered him traversing the mundane medium of hyper-space, I must admit I was misled. His essence burned with such fearful intensity, I was convinced it was Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem himself come to pay his respects at long last! But I am unworthy. Unfit to darken his grace with my depleted condition. So I led him here, thinking to show him the results of my latest efforts. Hoping to prove my hands have not been idle.

    But it wasn¡¯t him?

    Alas, no! She opened her cognizance wider and allowed her companion to savor the precise signature of the anomaly. Can you see why I was mistaken? His whal is so similar, he can only be a product of Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem and another of our genus. But that¡¯s a contradiction! Such a thing was never envisaged. Nor should it be possible. This aberration represents a huge risk!

    And yet . . . he exists. And he displays ascendancy reminiscent of his most worthy progenitors, Aslan-di¡¯el asserted with the clear-cut logic that made him so annoying at times like this.

    Before his sister¡¯s mood could darken, however, he added: Though I can appreciate why you hid yourself within fold space. You were surprised and frightened by the unexpected presence of a true power. For all that, I sense no overt malice within this entity. While it is evident he possesses a predisposition toward aggression, consider again how the strands responded to his skilled and tender caress. Savor the love and camaraderie in his invitation toward the life forms he so recently met. Revel in their enthusiastic rapport with him.

    While Gaia-le¡¯el appreciated her brother¡¯s point, she still trembled with a degree of underlying doubt.

    Aslan-di¡¯el concluded: And don¡¯t forget, Sister. Your sensory replay reveals some very positive aspects about his worth too. When he discovered the ethodesic tau grid, he curbed the urge to explore and maintained a respectful distance. His overt ruminations allowed you discern his appreciation for this gift, along with the fact he fully intends to conceal its existence from those who might taint its spirit. His first inclination is to use his strength to protect and nurture . . . while those in his care reach out to the stars to fulfill their destiny, as his mighty father envisaged.

    Reluctantly, Gaia-le¡¯el admitted: Yes! I remember now. I¡¯ve been alone so long. I sometimes forget events would unfold about me . . . whether or not I partook. You don¡¯t really think that time¡¯s upon us, do you?

    A feeling of open acceptance and fellowship flooded her soul.

    Aslan-di¡¯el replied: Upon us? No, I doubt that. As mighty as Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem was, not even he could bring about such a maturation so quickly. However, I do think we stand at the dawning of a new age. Unification may be approaching faster than any of us ever imagined, and the fiery key to such an auspicious revelation has been revealed.

    Then we have double the cause for celebration! Gaia-le¡¯el added, quietly.

    That reminded her of the reason she had summoned Aslan-di¡¯el in the first place. Skimming the outer fringes of her closest friend¡¯s aura, she was prompted to ask: Aslan, will any of the others bother to come do you think?

    I hope so, Gaia. I hope so. Jophiel, Ocean, and Yao-teth have lived in seclusion for so long now, they¡¯ve almost succumbed to eternal petrifaction. But fear not. They retain sufficient awareness to comprehend the call. Whether they actually heed it, is another matter.

    And what of Olinda, and Gazad-riel?

    Ah! Now they were keen to see the results of your handiwork. They still love the simple joy of discovering new things. I was hoping they would have been here by now. What say we travel the etho-net together to ascertain their whereabouts?

    Accepting the invitation, Gaia-le¡¯el followed Aslan-di¡¯el across the threshold, and for the first time in millennia, felt her anticipation sharpened by a whetstone of hope.

    <h6>*</h6>

    Do you see what I mean, Vic? Victoria had rarely seen Andrew so animated.

    His enthusiasm was in full flow: Isn¡¯t it wonderful? The sheer panorama of the project being undertaken here is breathtaking. Out of this world! Pun intended! It . . . It¡¯s. . .

    Magnificent! Victoria finished his sentence for him: This is something you could commit to. And truly lose yourself in.

    I know! If we didn¡¯t have to deal with all that crap back home, I would come to this exact spot, set out a deckchair, slap on the lotion and kick back for a few centuries. Heaven!

    Sparks erupted along the fringes of his astral corona, a sure sign his excitement was mounting: Listen to this! It¡¯ll blow your mind.

    Melding with his sister, Andrew sent out a far-spoken invitation. Within moments, the welcoming response of millions of sentient organisms thundered toward them, all of whom were eager to bask in the warmth of the illuminating sky-minds far above.

    Even more tellingly, a startling number of those responses were remarkably coherent. Formed in the guise of directed queries, they seemed to issue from those creatures of a more advanced disposition.

    They recognize me! Andrew exclaimed: See how heightened their perceptions are? I only touched them briefly on my previous visit. And yet they¡¯ve remembered my signature.

    So why aren¡¯t they hiding? Victoria teased: The poor things probably thought they¡¯d had a lucky escape last time. And now you¡¯re traumatizing them all over again.

    Victoria¡¯s attempt to wind her brother up was wasted, lost as he was to the delights before him. Damn! He¡¯s getting more and more like father every day!

    Sending a bolt of static electricity snapping along the filaments of Andrew¡¯s complexus, she complained: Hello! Earth calling Mister Pipe and Slippers! If you can¡¯t be bothered to play along with your sister¡¯s shenanigans anymore, I¡¯m gonna start thinking you don¡¯t love me.

    Sincere and intimate affection washed over her as Andrew retorted: Ah, is my widdle sister getting all insecure? I¡¯m your brother. Of course I wuv you. I don¡¯t want to, of course, but it¡¯s in the job description and forms a large part of the burden I am forced to bear. A particularly cumbersome and heavy one in my case, as I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll agree. After all, you¡¯re an immortal wuss who¡¯ll be there, plaguing my happiness for all eternity.

    That¡¯s more like it! Victoria jousted: Thank God I won¡¯t have to seek a legal separation from you just yet then. But fair warning. When I do and we get down to the nitty-gritty, I¡¯ll be seeking custody of the X-Box and anything else you¡¯ve got hidden away!

    Noooo! Andrew screamed in mock horror.

    They both erupted into a fit of giggles. However, something she¡¯d just said must have jogged Andrew¡¯s memory, for he muttered. Hidden? Hey! That reminds me . . . Do you wanna see something else just as impressive?

    As impressive as this? Victoria was unsure if her brother was being serious: No way!

    Oh yeah? Manipulating the texture of subspace, Andrew started to peel back the weave of reality to expose the quantum travel network cunningly spread across a subsidiary level of the local galactic medium: What do you think of that then?If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Victoria was stunned. So stunned she couldn¡¯t utter a single thought.

    Nevertheless, her instincts had already taken over. Ranging for light years in all directions, she commenced an analytical assessment of the Jovian construct surrounding her.

    Eventually, Victoria realized what it was she was looking: Bloody hell! Andrew, this is a massive and extremely sophisticated version of an X-Point web. Humanity has only just realized such conduits exist. Who assembled it?

    Damned if I know, Vic! But whoever it was, they displayed a refinement and level of understanding I¡¯ve only ever glimpsed within. . . ? Heads up!

    They were interrupted by a power spike of unimaginable proportions.

    Abruptly, a fourteen foot angelic apparition materialized before them, shining with a glory so bright, it threatened to rival the brilliance of the yellow-white main sequence star situated only ninety million miles away.

    Father! They cried out.

    Glad you could join us, Andrew declared. Sweeping his ethereal arms wide, he raved: Now you¡¯ll see exactly what I meant! I¡¯d like to have said I found it all by myself. But that couldn¡¯t be further from the truth.

    The twins waited to one side as the Overlord inspected the system from end to end.

    Victoria could tell by the gold and silver electrum skittering through their father¡¯s nexus that he fully understood the capacity of the enchanting vista just presented to him. Its very existence seemed to lift his heart and fill him with a profound sense of gratitude and pride. Odd? It¡¯s as if he¡¯s personally involved in some way?

    Andrew continued: This is why we called you here. It¡¯s a significant discovery and would be a marvelous aide to the outworking of our long-term strategy. But, as you can appreciate, mankind isn¡¯t ready for it yet. We need your input to ensure such a bequest isn¡¯t squandered.

    A smile crept over the mental fa?ade of the titan before them.

    Yes! I remember now. The Overlord was in a wistful mood: Well done. Very well done indeed! You¡¯ve uncovered something more important than you realize and . . .?

    Victoria detected the feather-light caress of a telepathic probe as it fluttered across them. Though he didn¡¯t let on, she was aware her father sensed it too, for it probed his anima using a bandwidth somewhat familiar to his existing intimate mode . . . though certain facets of its nature were far more complex and reeked of antiquity.

    Beside her, Andrew hissed: Sis! Did you feel that? It¡¯s back! The creature that led me here. But why would it reach out to dad first?

    The Overlord must have heard the exchange: Andrew. Victoria. May I ask for your forbearance? I¡¯ll explain later why this discovery is so vital. But first, I need to reacquaint myself with some old . . . friends.

    Comprehension flared throughout Andrew¡¯s nexus. Turning to his sister, he quickly opened a gateway, and said: C¡¯mon, Vic! Let¡¯s haul ass back to Moon Base. I¡¯ll help you excise the new fragments we need from the crystal. The sooner we get the Kalliste project back online, the better. I¡¯ll update you about . . . all this on the way!

    Victoria lingered at the hyperspatial crossover, comparing the traits and auras of both her father and brother. Yes . . . they¡¯re getting more and more alike every day. Of course, that¡¯s not a bad thing, especially if Andrew has to take over when. . . .

    She let the thought fade, and followed Andrew into the gray limbo of neverwhere.

    <h6>*</h6>

    The gentle background buzz of the interstellar milieu returned.

    As he waited, Adam let the extent of his awareness range out across the treasure that was the Veritasu System. It was a truly magnificent accomplishment, worthy of her finest deeds. Immersing himself within the neural link, he soon became lost in contemplation. It¡¯s been such a long time. And gratifying too, to discover not all of them have been idle.

    At last, Adam succumbed to temptation.

    Attuning his complexus, he generated a chord of stunning finesse and raw power, and channeled the stimulus of its pitch along one of the stronger ethereal stands issuing from the parent star. As the strand encountered each burgeoning world, their electromagnetic fields charged, blooming with peacock feathered tendrils of exuberance. Billions of soul-minds reacted, calling out in ecstasy and filling the ether with song. So haunting, so melodic was its theme, that for the first time in a long, long while, Adam was reminded of home.

    Oh that is good! He thought. Better than good. If only my brothers and sisters could be persuaded to end their self imposed exile, they¡¯d be such a help. Especially to Andrew as he comes to shoulder my obligation.

    Scrutinizing the X-Point web more closely, Adam discerned the faint traces of the intrusion that had alerted him to their presence. Although its originator was still too shy to approach, she had left the leading node of her probe peeping through the fabric between real and fold space. Ah-ha! I see what you¡¯re up to.

    Turning toward it, he softened his countenance and adopted a mental overlay he hadn¡¯t used in an age. Once transposed, he extended the mildest of invitations: Aren¡¯t you going to say ¡®hello¡¯ to an old friend who has missed your counsel as the ages passed?

    Gradually, the reality layers curled open.

    Five very powerful but anxious entities peered out. Their radiances remained dull, muted in fearful apprehension at the proximity of the onetime Destroyer.

    Following suit, Adam suppressed his own majesty and enfolded them within astral wings of solace: Yes, it is I, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem. Avenger no more, but servant of those who now stand at the cusp of ascension to the path of Unification.

    So it¡¯s true then? Gazad-riel spoke first: You did it? You actually did it! We didn¡¯t believe Aslan-di¡¯el or Gaia-le¡¯el when they informed us of their discovery. We thought them given to flights of fancy. But now we see the veracity of their assertions. . .

    Her voice faltered as her attention skipped from planet to planet in evident glee. Behind her, Ocean-az¡¯el and Olinda were likewise enraptured.

    Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem left them enjoying themselves and addressed Aslan-di¡¯el and Gaia-le¡¯el instead: I take it this is the first time they have ever beheld your artistry?

    Flaring mildly, Aslan-di¡¯el replied: As much as I¡¯d like to take the credit, this is all Gaia¡¯s doing. I¡¯ve managed to bring one such system to maturity. But this is her third! And in answer to your question, Ad¡¯hem, yes! It¡¯s the first time we¡¯ve managed to get them all together. A miracle in itself.

    What a pity. Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem¡¯s disappointment was evident: So much more could have been achieved by working together in unity.

    As we have determined, Gaia-le¡¯el responded at last, projecting the twin images of Andrew and Victoria into the void: Ad¡¯hem, we have all marked the potency of your offspring. When I stumbled upon your son, I thought I was in your presence. How is such a thing possible?

    Everyone had gathered around Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem to listen, eager to discover the truth behind the miracle presented by the twins¡¯ existence.

    Radiating cherished memories of pained separation and lost love, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem declared: We have much to discuss, Brothers and Sisters! And believe me, the miracle of their birth is the least of it. I¡¯ve always looked upon them as a gift. An affirmation that I was on the path toward redemption. That belief has kept me focused over the ages and brought great rewards . . . as well as heartache. Always, there was doubt in my heart. But not anymore. Not after I personally witnessed my dearest friend, Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel, re-ascend in glory!

    Shock radiated throughout the group.

    Forestalling their questions, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem opened his mind wide and shared the entire episode through, from beginning to end. Allowing them to experience the moment of Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel¡¯s triumph, moved them all to an incredulous silence.

    Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem whispered: Don¡¯t you remember Heimdhariel¡¯s words?

    . . . ¡®In your disgraced condition, you are forbidden to interact with those who are untainted. You are forbidden to reveal this judgment to any whose origin is not of the Host. Only the truly penitent may one day hope to achieve consolation. Go now and reflect on the actions that led to your just proscription¡¯. . .

    Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel led the way again. He showed it is possible to achieve consolation. And to get home!

    Hope bloomed afresh in their hearts, spawning predictable questions.

    In truth?

    Even for ones such as us?

    But we sought a self-imposed isolation? Would that be forgiven?

    Can it be?

    Then all is not lost!

    Quieting their urgency, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem concluded: As I said. We have much to discuss. Come! Join me once more, this time at the site of Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel¡¯s ultimate victory. I cannot think of a more fitting place to begin addressing your issues as we determine our futures. Or that of this realm¡¯s ascendancy!

    He turned to activate the nearest ethodesic oculus, and waited at the threshold, holding it open for any who had the fortitude to proceed.

    One by one, the small group of Fallen angels accepted the challenge.

    Though heartened, he knew this was but the first of many hurdles. Now all I have to do is convince them to continue on without me. I remember how reticent they can be. Having to contemplate an ¡®anomaly¡¯ as their leader is bound to throw them . . . especially as they¡¯ll be the ones guiding him to begin with!

    <h6>*</h6>

    As the slipstream generated by their exodus slowly swirled to a stop, another, as yet undiscovered layer of lower space cracked open.

    The entity within stayed hidden; content to watch and wait while it contemplated its next gambit.

    In due course, it judged it safe to act. Hardly daring to move, it reached through into the medium of normal space and tasted the echoes still freshly resonating along the arcane eddies left by the solar winds.

    Its palate was unsettled.

    The watcher had not ventured into this region of the universe since the time of Choice and Division, eons ago. It had only journeyed here then, thinking to spy on those who had decided to accept folly as their lot, and to chide them for their weakness of character.

    At that time, nothing of worth looked to have been accomplished, and the entity had rapidly tired of deriding those who should know better. Drifting away on intergalactic tides, it had undertaken its own form of penance: admitting its own part in the downfall and stewing in the bitter juices of its own regret.

    The ebb and flow of those currents had, inevitably, brought it back this way again. And what a homecoming it had been. Gaia-le¡¯el has brightened, gaining a degree of absolution from her own self imposed segregation. Who would have guessed? Her private penance has produced fruit after all. Imagine that! Preparing entire systems for higher life forms . . . if that¡¯s what you could ever call those vermin.

    And now she has help!

    The entity reflected for a while on those powers that had conjoined with Gaia-le¡¯el in mutual support. They were possessed of remarkable vigor. Especially the principal!

    Something about their leader brought back hints of a long forgotten existence.

    No! Shrinking back in fright, the entity flared, almost exposing its presence.

    I remember now. It¡¯s him . . . The Avenger! The Destroyer! But it¡¯s been . . . How could he have achieved so much? The boundary of realization has almost been fulfilled!

    Sealing the gap behind itself, the entity raced from the scene in a panic, overwhelming dismay now dominating its natural tendency for stealth. Do I tell the others? Should I tell the others? They¡¯ll want to . . . need to know what happen, assuredly? But do I have to be the one that does it? We venture this way so rarely, we¡¯ve become complacent as to what might be transpiring here.

    Dithering, the entity finally made a choice.

    I¡¯ll wait! They¡¯ll only blame me for the bad news anyway, so I might as well find out what else has been going on in our absence before I submit myself to their ire.

 On Shaky Ground

    Stability can be a fragile thing.

    And the residents of Los Angeles know that only too well. This second most populous city of the United States is a vast conurbation. Spread over a five hundred and fifteen square mile area of the Californian coastal region, it ranges from the Santa Anna Mountains in the south, to the Santa Monica Mountains in the north-west, and on toward the San Gabriel Mountain Range in the east.

    Prime real-estate in all its many guises.

    Or it would be, was it not for the fact Los Angeles is situated on an area of geological instability, known around the world as the Pacific Ring of Fire.

    The dense granite of the North American continent forms a convergent boundary with the lighter, basalt laden mantle of the Pacific Ocean. Moving at a rate of one and a half inches every year, the two plates grind past each other in a north/south direction, generating frictional energy spawning over ten thousand earthquakes annually.

    While most of these tremors are minor in nature, the potential for a disaster of major proportions is very real and ever-present. Indeed, talk has abounded for decades regarding an event labeled, ¡°The Big One,¡± where it is believed Los Angeles will suffer catastrophe at the hands of Mother Nature and at last be pulled down into the sea along with vast stretches of her coastline, thereby changing the world atlas forever.

    An unstable future, if ever there was one.

    The 2042 census of the year before assessed the population of the Greater Metropolitan area in excess of twenty-eight million souls. No wonder then, that the Council had set their sights on the inherent vulnerabilities of this area: all that land; all those homes and commercial properties; so many people and the resources they provided. Each statistic a juicy bull¡¯s-eye for the Council to target and exploit.

    As day dawned on the bright and sunny morning that was May<sup> </sup>1st, 2043¡ªnot one of those residents would ever suspect the work being undertaken just a few miles beneath their feet. Work that sought to manipulate the fragile stasis that struggled to coexist in this, one of the most seismically active, yet heavily urbanized regions of the world.

    And little could anyone guess that, by the end of this day, that task would be completed. . .

    . . .And pressure would begin to rise.

    <h6>*</h6>

    Jade Heung sat across the desk from her friend of the last one hundred and thirty years and waited patiently for him to come to a decision.

    His superbly analytical mind was one of the finest she¡¯d ever come across. Always cautious, he would absorb the details of everything happening about or presented to him, assess its value, and¡ªbased on the pertinent factors involved¡ªchoose the wisest course to follow. When he¡¯d been recommended for the post of Lord Marshal by Andrew and Victoria only five years ago, everyone knew they would be in safe hands. His duties required a great deal of forethought and prudence. And Anil Suresh was exactly the right man for the job.

    Jade had no doubt he¡¯d arrive at the right conclusion on this occasion.

    As Lord Evaluator, Jade was the de-facto operational head of the Guardians. Although she reported directly to Anil, it was she who made the day to day decisions that affected the lives and deployment of the people under her command. The only time she had to specifically seek Anil¡¯s guidance or blessing was at times such as this, when outside dynamics might impact the integrity of their procedures.

    Finishing the paper report, Anil placed the document on the desk before him and frowned, apparently still deep in thought.

    Eventually, he murmured, ¡°And you say he made the request personally?¡±

    Jade was gratified to see the Lord Marshal seemed to share her reservations. ¡°Yes! I was quite surprised myself.¡±

    ¡°Directly to your office? As opposed to going through Vladimir¡¯s department?¡±

    ¡°You can see why I wanted your thoughts. The offer is . . . commendable, if a little provocative, in a tongue-in-cheek kind of way.¡±

    ¡°Indeed!¡± Anil¡¯s eyes narrowed even further. ¡°Do you suspect an ulterior motive?¡±

    It wasn¡¯t really a question. Jade knew she was on the right track.

    ¡°I always suspect an ulterior motive, Anil. You know me. And in Lei Yeung¡¯s case? He¡¯s the world¡¯s greatest industrialist. His companies are so diverse they lead the field in just about every branch of advanced robotic and technological research there is. And there isn¡¯t an experimental or fringe project in existence he doesn¡¯t either know about or have some degree of influence over.

    ¡°Baring in mind the past he left behind not so long ago, it was inevitable he¡¯d have his feelers out and somehow discover the existence of Kalliste. I mean . . . wasn¡¯t his one of the few conglomerates we asked to compile a directory of suitable botanists and zoologists and the like, for possible joint endeavors in the future?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right,¡± Anil admitted. ¡°And I don¡¯t suppose it requires a brain surgeon to work out that a list of experts in such disciplines wouldn¡¯t be needed by us unless we were considering the exploration of someplace exotic. Of course, the very public blow-out of the hyper-gate¡¯s generators would draw attention to the fact that¡ªsomeplace¡ªis most likely a theatre very different than here on Earth.¡±

    ¡°Precisely!¡± Jade added in support. ¡°To someone like Yeung, it would stand out like the searchlight on top of the Eiffel Tower. He¡¯s not stupid! He knows were preparing something behind the scenes. It¡¯s a wonder he didn¡¯t offer his services before he left GOS-2.¡±

    Tapping the file before him, Anil said, ¡°So! From the way you word your report, I take it you would prefer we didn¡¯t take him up on his kind offer?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. As innovative as his researchers are, I think we¡¯d be putting ourselves on shaky ground incorporating their technology into our own. Don¡¯t get me wrong, it¡¯s a course we may look on more favorably in the future. But for now? I think it wise to . . .  delay such a relationship.¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯ll get no objections from me. Though I can¡¯t promise you¡¯ll get the same reaction from Yeung himself.¡±

    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t handle,¡± Jade replied. ¡°At any rate, you¡¯re bound to come out of it smelling of roses when he counters with a fresh list of candidates for the mission itself. You do know he¡¯ll try to sneak a few of his spies in? He never passes up an opportunity to get in first on new ventures so he can see what tech there is to retrograde.¡±

    The Lord Marshal didn¡¯t appear at all surprised. Reclining back into his chair, his demeanor took on the look of a cobra, waiting to strike. ¡°Oh yes, Jade. I¡¯m well aware of that. In fact, I¡¯m counting on it.¡±Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    <h6>*</h6>

    When it came to putting on the pressure, Angelika Papadakos was an expert.

    Not just the overt¡ªin your face¡ªshouting and screaming kind of pressure that so many couples endured all too often nowadays. No! She was adept at the other, sometimes much more powerful influence that can be exerted by just keeping quiet and letting your actions and expressions do the talking for you . . . known the world over as sulking.

    Angelika had been sulking for over a week now. It had taken that long to provoke Jose Calderon into any form of meaningful reaction.

    ¡°For goodness sake, Angie! Are you going to tell me what¡¯s wrong or not? I can¡¯t stand this . . . such a heavy atmosphere all the time. It feels like I¡¯m trying to walk uphill in lead boots. I¡¯ve got my new assignment to prepare for at Gateway Station, and I can¡¯t concentrate while you¡¯re moping around the house like this, all day every day.¡±

    Throwing herself down on the couch in a somewhat overdramatic fashion, Angelika drew her legs up to her breast and crossed her arms tightly across her knees. Then, after ensuring Jose was watching, she made a point of acting as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders, complaining, ¡°It¡¯s alright for you. At least you¡¯ve got an assignment to prepare for. I¡¯m on the verge of getting fired!¡±

    She let her statement hang, and made haste to add a barely audible sob.

    Jose¡¯s hand was on the bedroom door handle. He checked his stride and turned toward her. ¡°What? You¡¯re going to lose your job?¡±

    Rushing back to her side, he protested, ¡°Why? How? What have you done?¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything!¡± Angelika whined reluctantly. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, my position doesn¡¯t have the perks yours does when it comes to everyone looking out for each other. Yeung Industries may present a benevolent face to the public, but it¡¯s a dog-eat-dog shit pit on the inside, let me tell you. How else do you think the boss man has managed to avoid the sharks circling him in recent years? You come up with the goods . . . or you¡¯re out!¡±

    Putting his arm around her, Jose cooed, ¡°So what happened, baby?¡±

    His concern provided the all-important psychological key Angelika needed to exploit his feelings. Uttering a prolonged sigh, she launched into her well-rehearsed spiel. ¡°It was my own fault really. I¡¯ve always managed to stay one step ahead of the others. And I thought I¡¯d hit on a great idea by suggesting we approach your lot after the terrorist attack on the gate installation. It would have. . .¡±

    ¡°My lot?¡± Jose interrupted. ¡°You mean the Guardians?¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡± Angelika mumbled, snuggling into his embrace. ¡°That complex must be very important for you to have focused your repair efforts on it so vigorously. But look at the consequences. Instead of being together as we planned, you¡¯ve been reassigned there to beef up security. Now I¡¯m going to be stuck here in Brazil all alone. And what¡¯s worse, we won¡¯t even be able to keep in touch if I¡¯m dismissed, because I¡¯ll lose all my company executive travel privileges.¡±

    She made brief eye contact and exerted her womanly charms. It helped disarm his natural defenses a little. Skimming his mind, she then searched for those inclinations ripe for exploitation.

    Jose was still clearly baffled by her veiled reference to the jump gate station. ¡°Hang on a second, Angelika. What exactly on you going on about?¡±

    Meeting his gaze directly, she sniffled, ¡°You know how Yeung Industries leads the world when it comes to groundbreaking technologies, yes?¡±

    ¡°Yes . . . go on.¡±

    ¡°Well, all I did was suggest that it might be worthwhile making overtures to your Lord Evaluator and offering the assistance of some of our best scientists to help rebuild your facility. Obviously, we¡¯re way behind your technical achievements, but such collaboration would build a rapport and pave the way for closer cooperation in the future.¡±

    Jose shrugged. ¡°I take it Yeung didn¡¯t like you using your initiative in that way?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just it, Jose,¡± Angelika cried. ¡°He loved the idea, and put in a call directly to your Lord Heung, along with a written proposal containing a list of those specialists he wanted to include in the off world phase of the program.¡±

    ¡°So why are you at risk of getting the chop?¡±

    ¡°Because they turned him down!¡± she wailed.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°The thing is, he¡¯s Chinese¡ªand a public figure to boot¡ªso honor plays a crucial role in his life. He feels I made a fool of him by tarnishing his pristine professional profile. End result? My head¡¯s on the block!¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious?¡± Jose gasped, his face a jumble of mixed emotions. ¡°So you propose a great idea. He gives it credence. Acts on it. But because we turn him down, you get the blame?¡±

    Angelika didn¡¯t answer. Instead, she strengthened her shields and allowed him to see the beginnings of a trembling bottom lip, before burying her head against his chest.

    ¡°But that¡¯s so unfair!¡± Jose growled, a burning knot of outrage darkening the hue of his aura. ¡°Surely there must be something you can do?¡±

    Again, she made no reply, being content to allow the strained silence do all the work.

    Throughout it all, Jose stroked her hair. The physical intimacy of that act allowed her to better sense his resolve as it stiffened.

    Quietly, he probed, ¡°Angelika? Are you sure there isn¡¯t anything you can do to regain his favor? Anything at all?¡±

    Fighting back her tears¡ªand the sudden image of a crocodile, quickly suppressed¡ªAngelika produced a hankie from her sleeve and blew her nose loudly. She went through the charade of appearing thoughtful for a few seconds, before replying, ¡°Jose. I can¡¯t think of a single thing that would help right now. I really can¡¯t. I mean, it¡¯s not like I can influence which of his scientists gets preferential consideration or anything like that . . . so I¡¯m screwed! He¡¯s going to nail me to the wall, and not lose a moment¡¯s sleep over it.¡±

    Jose responded by sitting bolt upright. ¡°Why would it matter to him who got picked? Won¡¯t it be enough that so many of his staff are going anyway?¡±

    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s just it, love! To a man of Yeung¡¯s culture, the appearance of control is everything. He needs to be seen exercising influence.¡± She lowered her voice. ¡°And to tell the truth, not all of them are any good at retrograding tech. That¡¯s how Yeung has managed to stay ahead all these years. His scavengers¡ªas he calls them¡ªare not only brilliant, but some of them are absolute geniuses at taking stuff they¡¯ve never seen before and retrofitting them for new applications.¡±

    She smiled up at her man, grateful for the support he was so willing to give, and continued, ¡°I know some might think his tactics a little underhanded. But look at the good he¡¯s done with his achievements to date. The whole of mankind has benefitted. I suppose that¡¯s why he¡¯s so furious. He¡¯s fully committed himself to helping society catch up to the Guardians, and will look on their rebuttal as an unnecessary stumbling block.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Yes, really! Don¡¯t you see? His public image is paramount. He¡¯s grown quite accustomed to being seen as the champion of the people, and this off world project would have helped cement his standing for years to come. By turning him down and excluding many of those he¡¯s recommended for next month¡¯s induction phase . . . well, he¡¯ll consider it as a deliberate insult and might withdraw his backing from some of the other schemes he¡¯s involved in. Not that it will matter to me. I won¡¯t have a job.¡±

    Jose froze and went unusually quiet. Once again, Angelika had to work hard to maintain an outwardly passive demeanor.

    Tentatively, she whispered, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, baby? Have I upset you?¡±

    His fingers began stroking her hair again. After a moment or two, he said, ¡°What would happen if you managed to get those names added back to the list?¡±

    Angelika started. ¡°What!¡±

    ¡°I said, what would happen if you were able to get Yeung¡¯s first draft picks back on the Kalliste Project?¡±

    Raising her head so she could look him directly in the eye, she spluttered, ¡°Jose, if . . . you . . . if you could do that, it would save my ass! Even better, it would mean we could still see each other without a crapload of hassle. Why? What are you actually saying?¡±

    ¡°Leave it to me, babe. I¡¯m walking on shaky ground even contemplating something like this, but I won¡¯t let them stab you in the back.¡± In answer to her unspoken question, he explained, ¡°Let¡¯s just say, part of my new job involves the vetting of those candidates who¡¯ll make the final string. I can¡¯t make any promises, but I¡¯ll do my damndest to make sure any problems are ironed out. For you and them. Okay?¡±

    ¡°Oh, Jose!¡± Angelika crooned. ¡°I knew you would know what to do.¡±

    Brightening considerably, Angelika played her ace card. Jumping up, she took him by the hand and pulled him toward the bedroom. ¡°C¡¯mon, handsome. I want to say ¡®thank you¡¯ properly.¡±

    <h6>*</h6>

    Two hours later found Angelika alone in the apartment, Jose having departed for his new posting only thirty minutes previously. She had plenty of time to kill before completing her chores for the day and decided that now would be an ideal opportunity to share the news.

    Retrieving her encrypted Yeung Tec laptop from under the bed, she placed a secure call and waited for the sat-link to connect.

    A few seconds later, and the stoic image of her leader filled the screen.

    ¡°Well?¡± he asked, his expression remaining guardedly neutral.

    ¡°Everything went perfectly. Just like you said it would,¡± she replied. ¡°You¡¯d better tell our pin-ups to pack their bags. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll be going on an unexpected journey in the very near future . . . a journey to someplace called, Kalliste!¡±

 Acorns

    Cairns, Australia ¨C May 10, 2043

    A frustrated sigh escaped Victoria¡¯s lips as the speaker came to the end of his speech and made the necessary introductions.

    Vladimir Arihkin, Lord Conciliator of the Guardians, reached across and placed his hand over hers to give it a slight squeeze. Telepathically, he teased: Ah, the joys of being a public icon! Now stop dawdling and get up there.

    Applying an inappropriate amount of telekinetic force to her backside, he propelled a grinning Lord Inquisitor from her seat and off toward the dais.

    To those looking on, Victoria appeared to be embracing the occasion with gusto. No one heard her giggle, nor did they pick up on her thinly veiled threat to do all sorts of despicable things to her colleague the first chance she got.

    On reaching her assigned position, all one hundred students and their expectant families disappeared amid the glare of a starburst explosion of light erupting from the battery of press and TV cameras filling the back of the hall.

    Blinking rapidly, Victoria used the interruption to gather her thoughts, and an expectant hush fell over the assembly. Once her sight had cleared, she was able to glance down upon the first ever class to graduate from the Global Marshals Service Induction Course. Inclining her head, she began, ¡°A proverb once said, ¡®Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.¡¯ And here before us today, we see evidence of that fact. . .¡±

    She anticipated the mood perfectly, and held herself in check while a smattering of applause welcomed her opening remark.

    ¡°. . .Some might say this is just the beginning. The start of something new! However, let¡¯s not forget the fact that, for this event to be able to take place, a great many hurdles had to be overcome. The Psychic Law and Order Bill went a long way to preparing the ground for your arrival. That statute provided a wonderful set of guidelines through which your rights and privileges as metapsychic citizens were protected. It also afforded you something else that otherwise would not¡ªindeed, could not¡ªhave been extended. A choice!

    ¡°Many of you have capabilities sufficient to join the ranks of the Guardians. A worthy goal, as I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll all agree. . .¡±

    Light handclapping and a number of intermittent flashes from the surrounding cameras interrupted the flow of her monologue.

    ¡°. . .However, in the past, had you not opted to follow our calling, you would have faced a life of uncertainty. A life of doubt and perhaps anxiety as your abilities burgeoned amid a climate of fear and suspicion. Well, no more!¡±

    Indicating the gathered VIPs behind her¡ªwhich included a number of representatives from some of the world¡¯s top law enforcement and correctional agencies¡ªshe added, ¡°Because of that legislation, you are now free to choose a different way to give something back. A way that allows you to harness your wonderful gifts, and put them to use in a manner that not only feels right to you, but also allows you to serve in your neighborhoods as one of their most valuable assets.¡±

    Victoria let her words hang to emphasize a well made point.

    She continued, ¡°I suppose we could say, the sapling that was the Psychic Law and Order Bill was planted in fertile soil. It sprouted. It flourished and spread its boughs, growing into the mighty edifice now shedding acorns of its own.¡±

    Sweeping her hand across the one hundred graduates, she asked the audience, ¡°Do you think these acorns will be as fruitful?¡±

    The resultant ovation was thunderous and sustained, and Victoria was forced to wait patiently for a few minutes before the approbation died down.

    Eventually, she was able to declare, ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear it! Because I agree.

    ¡°As I mentioned, just to make it this far, our candidates had to overcome a great many hurdles. Obstacles involving rigorous background checks; a whole battery of psychological, physical, and psychic reviews; an exhaustive three month training program where they¡¯ve been pushed to the limit, learning about all the laws, procedures and skills they will need to fulfill their roles. And don¡¯t forget, they will have to act as ambassadors for the psychic community as well. Think of them as living conduits, connecting the multitude of existing legal bodies with the Guardians. You¡¯ll be in good hands, though, for each and every single officer here today, has received the specialized and unique schooling required to qualify them to save life and property. To prevent, investigate, and detect crime. To bring offenders to justice and ensure the security of our communities are upheld in one of the most rapidly progressive eras in history.

    ¡°Are you glad they¡¯ve made the grade?¡±

    This time, the audience¡¯s praise threatened to drown out her closing comments. Reverting to the declaratory mode, Victoria artificially amplified her voice so it could be clearly heard over the din: ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, honored guests! It gives me great pleasure to present to you, the Class of 2043. Say ¡®hello¡¯ to the trailblazers of the new Global Marshals Service. May the seeds they sow reap a rich harvest!¡±

    Unbelievably, the crowd¡¯s response ramped so high, it almost lifted the roof.

    Bowing to the graduates, Victoria stepped away, gave a brief wave, and began returning to her seat. Not bad for a beginner. Although I¡¯m glad my part is done! Imagine having to do this repeatedly.

    Chief Instructor, Grand Master Rhee Oliviano, started making her way to the platform. Passing Victoria, she winked and mind-whispered: Careful! If you make too much of an impact first time out, they¡¯ll want you to preside at every graduation. And they¡¯ll expect you to better your previous performance on every occasion.

    Good point! Victoria acknowledged: Don¡¯t ever invite me again. If you do, I swear I¡¯ll turn up drunk and dressed in a tutu.

    Grand Master Oliviano masked her intentions from the audience by halting her advance, turning to face the Lord Inquisitor directly, and joining in the applause with them. Arching her eyebrows, she replied: It¡¯s a definite booking then! Do you realize how many people would pay to see that?

    Vladimir made no bones about the fact he had eavesdropped on their conversation. Before Victoria was able to think of a comeback, he chipped in: Well, I¡¯m game if you are. I¡¯m from Russia, don¡¯t forget. Ballet is in our blood and I look damned good for my age in tights! Will I get a discount for block bookings?

    <h6>*</h6>

    Simon Cooper switched off the television and sat in silence for a while, silently reflecting on what he¡¯d just witnessed.

    The Global Marshals ceremony had been televised live and beamed around the world, so everyone from the participating countries involved in the project could join in the celebrations.

    Thankfully, Yeung and Esther had left straight after the broadcast. They would be busy for some time, preparing¡ªamong other things¡ªa final briefing package and training schedule for the one Apostle and three sleeper agents who had miraculously found themselves added to the register for the forthcoming exodus to Kalliste at the end of the month. Simon and Esther were also on that same list, but had been exempted any last minute schooling because of their special statuses and their involvement in other schemes.

    One such scheme involved the Marshals Service itself. Yeung was keen to explore the possibility of getting someone inside, especially in light of recent information from their hottest source, Jose Calderon.

    Calderon, under the misapprehension that Angelika was walking on thin ice and close to losing her job, had begun feeding her a steady stream of useful tidbits to pass onto her boss. In fact, the latest snippet concerned the possible vulnerability of one of the four new Marshals who had been posted to Kalliste on assignment.

    Because of that tasty morsel, work was currently in progress to prepare a specially encoded micro-Docillator, which Yeung intended to have implanted into the Marshal at the soonest opportunity.

    Thankfully, the procedure didn¡¯t require Simon¡¯s input.

    He didn¡¯t mind, and was glad of the break. Recent events had troubled him, as they¡¯d reminded him of an invitation he¡¯d been obliged to accept a long time ago:

    . . .Listen, everyone, listen!

    These humans require our help. They need to be nurtured, guided. Are you so blinded by ignorance that you can¡¯t perceive their potential? Yes, they are fleshly. Nonetheless, they contain a spark of the divine flame within them. When it matures¡ªthousands upon thousands of their cycles from now into the future¡ªwill they not bring glory to the Source in their own unique way. . .

    The scope of that undertaking had daunted Simon.

    It was to be such a huge undertaking. Too great a task, for too few of us!

    Snorting, he admitted, and yet, here we are! All these thousands of years later and Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem¡¯s vision of the future is coming to fruition. But of course, it would. His sight was virtually infallible, and he was among the most skilled of our kind at wielding such power. And to be honest, we were still upset at our failure. Both Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem and Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel were convenient targets to vent our bitter disappointment on. Their eagerness to begin reparations immediately was bound to stir up contention.

    He smiled to himself as he came to a startling realization. We were just afraid of them being right, while the shock of our ostracism was so fresh . . . Stubborn fools!

    The divine echo certainly is maturing within humans. And at an alarming rate too! They¡¯ve already begun to surpass our glory in some ways, especially those freaks of his. And what about the potency of the children I ran into on the Moon? So young, so intoxicating, and already possessed of a dominion that would command the respect of our lower brethren! Who would have imagined?

    Could that be why they exiles have failed to reply? Have they been keeping a sneaky eye on things and become so daunted by what they¡¯ve observed that they fear to act?

    More recent words came to mind:

    ¡°Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    Freaky bitch was right about one thing, Simon conceded. Grand results can be achieved from humble beginnings! I ought to keep trying. They can¡¯t all still be sulking.

    <h6>*</h6>

    Anil Suresh didn¡¯t need his arsenal of abilities to know that Marty Mays and Sharon Dyer were excited. It showed in the way that neither of them could sit still.

    They had been watching the graduation ceremony with their families and friends at Sharon¡¯s apartment in Fort Worth, Texas. As the Lord Inquisitor completed her rousing speech, Marty¡¯s wife, Jinga, had offered a personal observation:

    ¡°In a way, it¡¯s a shame the new service can only enlist those with ESP into their ranks. Just think of the skills they¡¯re missing out on by having to overlook trained investigators like Uncle Mike . . . or Melanie, next door to us back home.¡±

    Turning to Marty, she¡¯d added, ¡°She¡¯s been a cop down at your old precinct for seven years now . . . and a darn good one by all accounts. And yet, all that experience would be wasted in the face of a psychic fugitive.¡±

    By all accounts, everyone had thought her remarks quite insightful and carried on watching TV, reflecting on the unfairness of the real world. All except Sharon, that is, who pondered the weight of those words in greater depth.

    So taken was Sharon by what she¡¯d heard that when the get-together came to an end, she had taken Marty aside and discussed the seeds of an idea with him. He came on board immediately and ended up placing a call to Guardian Command on Earth.

    The result? Here they were, just two hours later, seated in the Lord Marshal¡¯s office on Moon Base, animatedly debating the ease with which they might be able to adapt one of the current projects, if Sharon¡¯s proposal was well received.

    ¡°It¡¯s a damned good suggestion, Sharon,¡± Anil admitted. ¡°But do you really think you¡¯ll be able to devise a suitable modifier that will work on a normal brain?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t see why not,¡± she replied modestly, ¡°especially if we ensure to keep things simple to begin with.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by simple?¡±

    ¡°Well, if you¡¯re okay with the concept, we don¡¯t have to start by trying to boost non-operants into all bells ringing, mental ninjas, just yet! Baby steps will do. Remember, these guys will already be trained responders. Experienced detectives or ex-military types in many cases. The majority of them should have the focus required to operate a simple enhancer. Most humans have the capacity for telepathy hardwired into their psyches anyway. So, if we concentrate on boosting that latency, we need only incorporate basic hardware into the first-gen chips, along with tech that will ensure to flip most of opponents they¡¯ll encounter.¡±

    ¡°Flip their opponents?¡± The term had thrown Anil completely.

    ¡°Yes, we already have the N-Gater technology under wraps. I¡¯m talking of a milder version of that to mitigate, or reverse the powers of a psychic criminal.¡±

    ¡°Mitigate criminals?¡± Anil gasped, clearly surprised. ¡°I thought you were talking about enhancing the capabilities of those Marshals who were normal?¡±

    ¡°We are . . . eventually,¡± Marty cut in. ¡°But we don¡¯t really want to be doing that straight away. Remember, we¡¯re contemplating energizing a mundane human cerebrum beyond its archetypal limits. That¡¯s going to take all sorts of planning and studies and fine-tuning, before we dare put anything inside the heads of those who volunteer. We don¡¯t want to lobotomize our stooges, do we? So, to begin with, we need only concentrate on augmenting the dormant ability inherent in all humans¡ªtelepathy¡ªwhile artificially negating the distinct advantages a gifted criminal might hold over them!¡±

    ¡°I see!¡± Anil replied. As the import of what they were actually deliberating sank in, he couldn¡¯t help but start running through a catalogue of possible applications in his mind. ¡°But that . . . that¡¯s brilliant!¡±

    ¡°I thought you might like it.¡± Marty drawled, his Cheshire Cat grin filling the room, ¡°That¡¯s why we hauled our asses all this way in double-quick time.¡±

    ¡°And thank you for doing so,¡± Anil stressed. ¡°I appreciate the gesture. But we¡¯re still going to have to run a whole battery of tests on our guinea pigs. Boosting an atrophied or undeveloped area of the brain could have all sorts of unforeseen side effects in some people. Needless to say, once we¡¯ve determined the procedure is safe, it will be a relatively straightforward matter to incorporate a . . . what can we call them? Nullifier into their badges. Or teleport wristbands. We can always progress to sub-dermal implants at a later stage.¡±

    Quietly, Sharon emphasized, ¡°If we start with the N-Gater models we developed for your Guardians, it will give us a massive jumpstart. It¡¯ll be a simple matter to retrograde them with suitable targeting nodes, you see, and we could have the first prototypes ready before the end of the month. Is that okay?¡±

    Anil burst out laughing. ¡°Are you kidding? That would be marvelous. But don¡¯t rush. Get it right from the outset. Can you imagine how the law enforcement community will react to news like this?¡±

    They all agreed . . . they could!

    Strolling across to his personal cabinet, Anil removed a bottle of quality cabernet sauvignon and several glasses. Smiling, he said, ¡°I keep this for special occasions. Something I believe is upon us right now.¡±

    He returned to his guests and poured a generous amount of the dark ruby liquid into each glass. ¡°Very well done, you two! I feel a great deal of good will come of this one, little idea. As a friend of mine might say . . .

    ¡°A toast. To acorns . . . may they grow big and strong!¡±

    <h6>*</h6>

    Five, four, three, two, one . . . Go!

    The starship exited the gateway portal, its atoms coalescing as it settled once more into the familiar milieu of normal space. No sooner had it manifested, than it passed through the encircling circumference of the first hunter-seeker array. The crisscrossed sensors there formed a translucent web of energy that penetrated metal, alloys and artificial polymers alike.

    Within the blink of an eye, a scan of all decks was completed. Two bogeys within the cargo hold had been tagged immediately and were now flashing like neon red beacons.

    Still decelerating, the craft entered the gravity net of the secondary defensive ring. As it did so, eight blue-white shafts of concentrated light stabbed out. Instantly focusing upon the highlighted anomalies, the photonic octet locked on and intensified, vaporizing both targets.

    How long did that take? Naomi asked.

    Just over five seconds, Ben replied, his hands skimming across the controls of the portable console before him: That¡¯s much more like it!

    Hull integrity?

    Ben quickly brought up the required information: Intact. At last! It looks as if we¡¯ve solved the amplitude glitch. The beams are now reaching prime focus only one half of an inch from their objective.

    Naomi studied the readouts herself. Hmmmh. Much better than last time.

    But it still needs improving. Ben obviously liked to work from the same page.

    Of course! The sneaky bastards won¡¯t do us the favor of sitting in the middle of the cargo bay if they decide to pay us a visit. They¡¯ll hide in a cooling duct, or in the walls, or something like that.

    So we¡¯re aiming for microns then?

    That¡¯ll do to start with! Naomi murmured, still absorbed by the computations.

    She caught Ben¡¯s frown of exasperation, and emphasized: Hey, remember who we¡¯re dealing with. From the way those assholes have been testing the waters they¡¯re obviously on a fishing expedition. If they dare poke their noses our way, I want to make sure they know from the outset the rules are different here. We¡¯re the sharks, and in our ocean, they can expect to end up as nothing more than bloody chunks of chum.

    Ben seemed a little put out: Naomi, I¡¯d love to oblige. But the cost of all that gear?

    She waved his objections away: Then don¡¯t sweat it! One of the perks of being the Adjutant Marshal is that it carries even more weight than my High Grand Master Class status. We may only have eight targeting scanners and eight actual emitters to play with, but if you need our latest state-of-the-art quantum compressors, you¡¯ve got them . . . and damned the expense! I could sign the requisition order today.

    No kidding? Ben¡¯s face lit up. How soon could you actually get them here?

    If I ask Captain Melonavich to take my request through on the next test run, perhaps later tonight. Maybe tomorrow morning. Why? When could you have them incorporated into the firing sequencers?

    For all eight emitters? Twenty-four Earth Standard Hours. Ben¡¯s expression then became mischievous: Of course, it¡¯ll be faster if I have a bit of help.

    A bit of help! Naomi replied, slapping him heartily on the back: Anything that keeps me out of the office is more than welcome. Hell, if you insist we paint the whole thing pink and green with a toothbrush to improve efficiency, I¡¯m your girl. . .

    She caught her breath and giggled as Ben started drifting away from her side.

    . . .Whoops, sorry! I forgot to hold you in place there.

    Ben glanced at his surrounds, his aura betraying only mild anxiety. He¡¯d gotten quite used to hanging in the vacuum of space while they worked.

    The new N-Gater Array had been gravity-locked just beyond the wake boundary generated by an incoming wormhole. Comprised of two collars¡ªa scanning ring and separate, larger targeting bracket¡ªset ten miles apart, the array had been strategically positioned to allow for the completion of a thorough scan and the formulation of an acceptable firing solution prior to any of the travelers aboard an arriving vessel being able to recover their wits following the jump.

    As such, its deployment was proving a most suitable use of limited resources.

    Nonetheless, it required multiple equations and repeated adjustments to get things right. Therefore, Ben and Naomi had found it much easier to work from within the confines of a force field, rather than skipping in and out of a shuttle umpteen times a day. By using this method, they had forged ahead, talking only half the anticipated time to get the grid fine-tuned and running within acceptable parameters.

    Naomi continued: Of course I¡¯ll lend a hand, Ben! It¡¯ll mean we can have the system fully integrated and operational before our first arrivals next week. There¡¯s no way I¡¯d have been able to relax when I leave for my ceremony unless I knew this place was in safe hands.

    Ben interrupted his calculations to look directly at Naomi: I¡¯d forgotten you were leaving next week. Damn, time flies, eh? Are you getting nervous?

    To be honest, I haven¡¯t given it much thought. This place has kept me so busy that it¡¯s distracted me from what the MitaCom program is actually doing. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I do feel the changes. Especially when I get a power spike and the restraints kick in. But most of the time, I get these weird . . . echoes. It¡¯s as if things just outside the range of my perception are trying to say hello.

    Ah, I understand! Ben replied. Although you transcend and become ¨¹ber-powerful, you still retain an alpha attribute bias. Your ultrasenses must be ramping up exponentially?

    Oh, they are, Ben, believe me. But I can cope with that. No! It¡¯s my damned cognitive function that¡¯s freaking me out at the moment. You know the way I can soak up the details of everything around me, compartmentalize it, and zap out what I need, when I need it? Well, Adam . . . er, I mean, the Overlord, warned me to keep a leash on it for a while. Because I¡¯m so wired, he feels I might break through into some form of hyper-cognitized state. One in which I¡¯m so finely attuned to my surroundings that it will border on precognition.

    Wow! Ben replied: Some people have all the luck! I¡¯d love to be a mover and shaker instead of a quiet little mouse, scuttling around in the background all the time.

    Mouse! Naomi retorted: Quiet? That¡¯s not what Shadow Master Sabena Japura told me yesterday! I¡¯ll have you know, we bumped into each other at the spa, and from the way she kept going on about you . . . I think you must have a secret identity tucked away under your belt.

    Ben¡¯s cheeks reddened, only to mottle with an odd lilac tinge because of the UV filters blended through Naomi¡¯s shielding.

    She breezed ahead without mercy: How did she put it? Oh, yes, something about what an ¡®inventive and imaginative¡¯ lover you are and how you¡¯ve obviously. . .

    Okay, that¡¯s enough! Ben insisted, curtly: Change the subject. You know I don¡¯t like talking about my private life.

    Exuding an air of mock innocence, Naomi protested: What? I¡¯m not just any old stranger you know. I set the two of you up for goodness sake, and was just letting you know what your girlfriend thinks. To her, you are anything but a mouse.

    She sniffed, smirked, and added: The bee¡¯s knees actually. Or did she say stallion?

    Outraged, Ben was about to protest when Naomi abruptly changed tack: Anyway, I thought you were delighted with the way things are going? She gave him a quick dig in the ribs: C¡¯mon . . . spill the beans.

    Although embarrassed, Ben couldn¡¯t stop a huge grin from spreading across his face: Of course I am. He admitted: She¡¯s wonderful! Smart, intelligent, and stimulating company.

    Aaand? Naomi pressed.

    And what? Ben countered, apparently stumped by Naomi¡¯s insistence.

    Naomi stared at him incredulously, until she realized he was serious: Oh for goodness sake. Men!

    Grunting, she expounded a dose of womanly wisdom: As well as being an intellectual Einstein, Tesla and Hawking rolled into one, Sabena¡¯s a knockout! Everyone thinks so. It might be a good idea to let her hear you acknowledge that fact? Knowing people think you¡¯re attractive is one thing, but hearing the man of your dreams tell you how beautiful you are . . . well, that¡¯s another thing entirely!

    Oooh! Ben¡¯s face colored again, a deeper shade this time.

    Reveling in his discomfort, Naomi had to laugh to herself. He¡¯ll learn. Slowly and painfully . . . but it¡¯ll sink in eventually.

    Outwardly, she teased him more gently: I¡¯ve got a very special feeling about you two, you know. Very special indeed! Such a quiet, inconspicuous beginning. Where will this hot, torrid love affair lead, eh?

    Naomi!

    What? I told you, I¡¯ve already got the dress picked out for your wedding.

    NAOMI!

    Do you know, Sabena confided she wants a large family? Eight or nine kids at least! Do you think you¡¯ll make a good dad to that many children?

 The Calm Before

    Tears of mirth rolled down Joshua Drake¡¯s cheeks as he yanked the heavy length of cord back and forth. Before him, only several feet away, a snarling, spitting, five hundred pound cyclone of claws, fangs and bristle was doing its best to tear the offering to shreds.

    Howling with glee, Joshua cried, ¡°There¡¯s a good lad! Go on, then. Bite it! Fight it! Teach it some respect!¡±

    To the horror of some of the new arrivals looking on, the diminutive adolescent then took a running dive into the fray. Within moments, he had disappeared, swallowed into a whirling dervish of slashing talons and snapping incisors.

    The cacophony of roaring and growling cut off, and suddenly, everything went still. In the ensuing silence, the form of the youngster could be seen, lying atop a very broad, furry spotted stomach. Two huge paws¡ªfar bigger than the boy¡¯s skull¡ªheld him firmly in place, while massive jaws chewed on his throat, neck and the crown of his head. Remarkably, the child¡¯s only injuries were a reddening of the skin around his exposed face and arms.

    Joshua reached up and began scratching behind one of the beast¡¯s ears. The massive creature beneath him closed its corresponding eye, bared its teeth in a lopsided grin and flopped heavily onto its side. As the deep and resonant rumbling of its pleasure grew louder and louder, so did the child¡¯s laughter. Soon, their disparate vocalizations had woven together, swelling in the ether to form a crude form of harmonic union.

    ¡°Takes your breath away, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± replied Sam Lee, one of the latest technical specialists to arrive on Kalliste. Morbidly fascinated by the interaction between teenager and predator, he had to drag his gaze away from the spectacle before him. Turning to the voice, he mumbled, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what did you say?¡±

    Waving toward the unbelievably playful Veran, Deputy Marshal Anatt Yasin repeated, ¡°That! After your welcome briefing, it must take your breath away to discover these beasts can actually bond to humans like this. String has been the boy¡¯s pet for over five years now.¡±

    ¡°Pet!¡± Gasped the startled scientist. ¡°That thing is a pet?¡±

    ¡°Oh yes. And guard dog too . . . of sorts. Just wait until you see what the Adjutant Marshal has! Although I¡¯d highly recommend you not go sticking your hand¡ªor any other body part you value, for that matter¡ªanywhere near the Quincha¡¯s mouth. You¡¯ll likely never see it again.¡±

    Several bystanders who had overheard the conversation started to back away dubiously, unsure as to whether the Guardian commander was joking or not. Anatt herself tried to keep a straight face. She managed rather well until she made the mistake of glancing back toward the unrehearsed entertainment.

    Joshua had managed to free himself and stand up. Having placed one of his hands into the bulbous thigh pocket of his combat trousers, he was now jumping from side to side and backward and forward, while jerking his elbow in the opposite direction every time he moved. As he did so, he hissed a series of challenges.

    ¡°Where is it? What is it?¡±

    ¡°Seek it out! Chomp it to bits!¡±

    The huge predator looked like an overinflated kitten on steroids: eyes black as pitch; paws stretched out wide in front of it; backside high and proud; tail stiff as a flag; fur charged with static. String trembled on the verge of executing a killer pounce in response to every twitch Joshua made.

    The scene was . . . ridiculous!

    Exercising supreme self-control, Anatt called out, ¡°Josh! When you¡¯ve finished getting reacquainted, haul your ass over to my office. Find Bex and bring her along as well. We¡¯ve got to go through the details of your survival training program before the next batch of arrivals get here. And don¡¯t be too long, I¡¯ve also got to find time to say goodbye to Naomi. She¡¯s leaving on the Damocles within the hour.¡±

    Will do! Joshua replied, not shifting his attention from the canny hunter in front of him, who had just launched itself into the air.

    From the telepathic emanations flying to and fro between them, Anatt could discern String had tired of waiting for his master to remove his hand and show him what was in his pocket. Now he was going to do it for him.

    That¡¯ll hurt, she mused. Lucky for him String loves him so much? Ah yes. . .

    That thought jogged her memory regarding an important issue: Oh, and Josh. Make sure you explain to String that your survival training week is just that. An opportunity to show us how your skills have progressed. He is not¡ªunder any circumstances¡ªto follow you. Nor can he hunt for you . . . Is that clear?

    Of course! Joshua replied indignantly.

    I know you¡¯ve been apart for a while. But it¡¯s only going to be for seven days, so you won¡¯t die! Then you¡¯ll have the whole of summer to enjoy before you have to return for Induction. Okay?

    No problem!

    Anatt gave an inward sigh of satisfaction as she saw Joshua call a halt to the games.

    The moment he squatted down in a cross-legged position, the cat to follow suit. In String¡¯s case, he sat bolt upright, like a giant version of an Egyptian hieroglyph, staring at his master. Anatt couldn¡¯t help but smile as she noticed the similar pose each adopted, with their heads kinked over to the same side.

    A mental conversation was obviously underway.

    Good lads! She thought.

    Seeing the interaction between the pair reminded Anatt of the warm affections of her own pet Guppa, Felix. I think I¡¯ll go find him, and see what he¡¯s left in my boots for me today!

    <h6>*</h6>

    Andrew and Victoria crossed the geodesic boundary at a rush, eager to see why their father had called them all the way out here, to the one place in the entire universe that now filled them with pangs of regret.

    Adam had been spending longer and longer away from his duties over the past five years, preparing for his transubstantiation. To help facilitate the change into another creation entirely, it had been necessary to construct a cosmic gravity well; a dark matter artifice that would reproduce the exact conditions experienced by a super massive giant star during its death throes.

    No easy feat.

    But ease of transition didn¡¯t come into it, for Adam was aware that to stand any chance of taking his oldest friend¡¯s place as the anchor to this galaxy, he would need to build up an excess of power and sufficient elemental density to guarantee the subsequent mass-to-speed-of-collapse compression ratio curved spacetime enough to spawn a fully-fledged rotating black hole.

    Andrew and Victoria had been intrigued by his work. However, having been forced to shoulder the increasing burden of their father¡¯s chaotic schedule, they rarely had the time to intrude on what he had come to view as his private sanctum.

    Regardless, all such things were forgotten the moment the twins coalesced.

    Adam was waiting for them. All fourteen feet of him in overwhelmingly glorious brilliance. But he wasn¡¯t alone!

    Their excitement gave way to alarm.

    What the hell? Andrew automatically began scanning their father¡¯s companions. Five transcended beings he had never met before.

    His immediate impression was of a variance that somehow tasted at odds with the usual energies generated by higher intellects: Do you see that, Vic? They¡¯re not . . . they¡¯re not actually ascendant!

    Troubled, Andrew glided in front of his sister and glanced toward his father. The fact Adam was completely at ease in the company of these mysterious strangers did little to calm his nerves. Victoria must have felt the same, for her screens slammed into place.

    Ignoring their reactions, the quintet gravitated forward, clearly impatient to make their acquaintance.

    Cautiously, the entities reached out, their queries remaining both guarded and yet insistent. Andrew tensed slightly as gentle probes flowed around the extremities of his form. Using his passive compliance as an impetus, they moved onto Victoria.

    When no objections were forthcoming, those probes became more daring and personal, almost enthusiastic in their seeming desire to uncover and examine new and vital stimuli.

    Father! Andrew called out, boldly, keeping his tone level: Who are your friends? And without being rude . . . what are they?

    The mental overlay of a warm and loving smile filled the twins¡¯ perceptions.

    You tell me, son, Adam replied, simultaneously signaling for forbearance from the unknown group: What do you think they are?

    Andrew studied his father¡¯s associates again, and discerned the presence of his mystery watcher. Helloooo? So what¡¯s the connection?

    Keeping his discovery to himself, he reflexively projected benevolence and reassurance their way before increasing the refinement of his interrogation: Please excuse me. I mean no harm. It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve never met anyone like you before.

    As he spoke, Andrew reached out surreptitiously to link with his sister so she could share in his analysis.

    Each of the five entities was possessed of a similar potency. Instead of being roughly humanoid in shape, they flared and arced through myriad abstract shapes and designs. Intuition told him that this was completely normal for them, and that they were used to adopting whatever configuration suited their purpose at any given time.

    Their substance was also confounding. Between ten to eleven feet in height, width or circumference¡ªdependent upon their mood¡ªtheir astral brilliance did not seem to match their potential. What was more, they radiated an otherworldly, semi-translucent composition, as if none of them truly belong in this reality.

    To Andrew¡¯s senses, it appeared as if they were somehow mere representations of what they once were; shadows of their former selves who now epitomized an unnaturally modified structure.

    For a second time, Andrew received an inkling they had somehow descended into their present constitution as opposed to ascending into it.

    Unbidden, a flash of insight sharpened his acuity. A thrill surged through his complexus, staining his nimbus scarlet.

    What? What¡¯s wrong? Victoria demanded, forming an instant screen about them. The subspace medium thrummed as she began drawing energy.

    Andrew rushed to cool her ardor: No harm, sis! No harm. Hang on a second . . . I¡¯ve got a hunch.

    Addressing the entities, he asked a question that aptly certified his suspicions: Have any of you ever worn human form?

    Sentiments of fellowship, and the delight of long-held secrets uncovered pattered around him like raindrops through a canopy of thick foliage. The refreshing shower was drowned out almost immediately by a stronger wave of heartfelt approval from his father.

    One of the egos trilled: I tried it once. . .

    Andrew received a hit regarding a masculine identity: Aslan-di¡¯el.

    . . .It was most . . . edifying. But very restrictive. I don¡¯t know how you manage to endure such a limited biological template.

    Moving closer, Aslan-di¡¯el breathed: But then again, I perceive it is part of who you are. And what makes you so unique. Yes?

    The blatant examination continued unabashed, despite Victoria¡¯s increasing attempts to hold it at bay. Somehow, the intuitive, and nonthreatening fascination of all five entities combined aided them in disarming most of her defenses.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    Andy? She gasped: How are they doing that?

    Aslan-di¡¯el moved to placate them both: Forgive our audaciousness, but we have never met individuals with such unusual complexi. You should not exist. Yet, here you are!

    Sending to his sister along her intimate mode, Andrew advised: Drop your shields, Vic. Just relax and let them in to take a look.

    To Aslan-di¡¯el, he replied: Shouldn¡¯t exist? That¡¯s a bit rich, coming from a real life angel in the flesh . . . or should I say, in the essence?

    Former angel, Aslan-di¡¯el emphasized, a tinge of regret clouding his glittering overlay: I do not deserve such a designation now. My former prestige among the Lower Echelon was forsaken when I became tainted by Tartarus.

    The Fallen crowded around, their eagerness giving way to rare excitement as they realized the incongruous pair before them was granting unprecedented access.

    Submitting to the imposition, Victoria glanced Andrew¡¯s way. In turn, Andrew looked to his father for advice as to how best deal with the situation.

    Adam radiated patience. They complied.

    The process was surprisingly invasive, and soon, they felt as if every facet of their lives and existence had been picked out and held up to scrutiny.

    Nevertheless, the experience appeared to be a two-way thing. In no time at all, the twins had discovered all they needed to know about Aslan-di¡¯el, Gaia-le¡¯el, Gazad-riel, Ocean-az¡¯el, and Olinda.

    It was an astounding revelation.

    Although darkened, the group retained many memories of the higher realm. An existence that was so vast, and so exceedingly different, that neither Andrew nor Victoria were equipped to fully understand what they saw. Living, breathing paradoxes they may be, but the twins had been born human before maturing into their exalted hybrid states. Therefore, they had no point of reference upon which to make sense of many of the visions they were privileged to partake in.

    Even so, not everything remained beyond their comprehension.

    Through the Fallen, Andrew and Victoria were able to distinguish who these creatures had been and what they were capable of in their natural condition. Miraculously, they had also beheld the grandeur of their father, and witnessed for the first time the astounding role he played as part of the Celestial Host.

    Calmly, Adam said: You begin to understand, at last, why I must return. Not only does that sphere call to the very core of my soul, but every second I¡¯m away, the risk I represent increases. For this realm and all life in it! If I succumb to darkness, the end of all things may yet occur.

    Father! They gasped in unison.

    Speaking directly to the Fallen, Adam said: Have you measured them?

    Ocean-az¡¯el brightened in response: As eldest of the five, I stand as spokesperson. They have indeed been assessed, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem. Though still adolescents, we find them adequate. We are prepared to follow where they lead. Upon maturation, Andrew will provide the bridge to Unification, as foreseen.

    As foreseen. Adam intoned.

    Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem? Victoria quizzed.

    A name, title and designation I bore a very long time ago, my Daughter. And one I hope to be worthy of again one day.

    Andrew was choc full of questions. Heroically, he managed to strangle most of them down: So you did anticipate our existence all those eons ago? The influence we would exert? The difference our lives would bring to the outworking of your purposes?

    Actually, Son, no! Adam replied: As I¡¯ve mentioned to you both previously, you were a complete surprise. A blessing that caught us all off guard. We were Fallen. Alien to this level of existence despite the changes wrought upon us. Physical conception should not have been possible. Think about it! Could you imagine what would happen if fallen angels were allowed to engender a super race?

    So, what was it you foresaw so clearly?

    Unification! For some reason, that particular probability strand outshone all the others. I didn¡¯t understand why until your mother fell pregnant. Your existence had been closed to me until the moment of your conception. Only then was the full majesty of your influence revealed, for something never before comprehended had been produced. A gift that bridged the divide between worlds! Between realms! You were to be a conduit in the service of the Prime Causality to His eternal praise.

    Adam¡¯s explanation only caused further confusion.

    Victoria pressed for clarification: But what is Unification? You¡¯ve only ever alluded to it before. What is it exactly?

    So quietly, his answer verged on silence, Adam replied: It is a symposium of the Most High with His creation. The present realization of the future¡¯s past. A Diaspora of purity to the furthest reaches of the cosmos. . .

    Then to everyone present, he continued more loudly: The rest will be revealed when the time is right. To divulge such matters now, and without the proper precautions would involve too great a risk.

    Indicating the gathered Fallen, he expounded: My kindred have each been entrusted with a portion of the causational probability matrix¡ªa theotet¡ªthat will eventually engender the final phase of maturation. When the time comes, look to them. Their combined wisdom and guidance will provide you with the final key. Act decisively, for humankind will be counting on you!

    Despite the stabilizing influence of their link, the twins were left floundering.

    Even so, Andrew retained the presence of mind to detect a subtle undertone in his father¡¯s thoughts: You speak as if you¡¯ll be leaving us soon?

    I will be. Adam affirmed: And here¡¯s the rub. I can¡¯t tell you exactly when that will be. For all my precognitive finesse, I . . . I find my destiny growing more and more. . .

    What? Tell us!

    . . .The closer I step to destiny¡¯s door, the more insubstantial my future becomes.

    The twins strengthened the bond meshing them together, desperate not to let their emotions run away with them.

    Noting their discomfort, Gaia-le¡¯el was spurred to offer a welcome distraction: If I may? I am the entity whose construct you so recently visited. I understand you were moved by the tranquility of its nature?

    Yes we were, Victoria responded, answering for both Andrew and herself: It was an amazing feat. You must be very proud.

    Gaia-le¡¯el glowed a vibrant peachy-burgundy color at the compliment: You are most kind. It provides much satisfaction, knowing I support the future goals Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem has . . . er, Adam, has foreseen. However, it is a work in progress. I have two other systems that are much closer to maturation. They would provide a welcome respite from your concerns while you come to terms with the implications of these latest . . . I believe you use the term, bombshells?

    Thank you, Victoria replied: That would be wonderful. I think we¡¯ll both need time to adjust to all . . . all this!

    That is good. Perhaps I could also persuade you to travel there by the ethodesic tau network your brother espied? We constructed it shortly after our arrival on this plane. It is an exhilarating way to travel the intergalactic medium, for it removes the necessity for continued concentration and allows time for personal reflection. You will discover the process to be a little slower than teleportation, but really, who cares when there is no requirement to rush?

    Taking their reticence as a sign to proceed, Gaia-le¡¯el summoned an inlet tributary. Then, after enfolding the traumatized siblings within the weave of her ancient nexus, she ushered them gently toward the entrance: Allow me to be your guide as we journey ahead and prepare a welcome. The others will follow shortly. Though keen to build a rapport, they wish to ensure you are both afforded a period of personal reflection to absorb the implications of what you have been told.

    Recovering from his shock, Andrew¡¯s retort was a little sharper than he¡¯d have liked: Thank you, Gaia-le¡¯el. That¡¯s very kind. But to be honest, I don¡¯t think an eternity of reflection would help us prepare adequately for what we¡¯ve got to deal with!

    <h6>*</h6>

    In truth, the act of translocation was over almost as soon as it began. And yet for the travelers, that instant seemed to stretch on for an eternity.

    One second, they had been rushing toward the shimmering gray curtain of the gateway, and the next, a multicolored void folded in on them from a million different points of the compass at once. Reality spun on a dime, and then a disconcerting feeling of being stretched and contracted at the same time catapulted them forward across the event horizon.

    The pain of a thousand needles exploding behind their eyeballs signaled the moment they crossed between thresholds. A fresh blinding light sent their senses reeling despite the protective filters. Before they could recover, each soul experienced the sensation of a swarm of insects skittering across their skin. Then it was over.

    A better sense of perspective returned as the imposing bulk of Kalliste blocked out the nearby star¡¯s intensity. Only then did the passengers aboard the G.S.S. Damocles start to relax, their temporary discomfort all but forgotten.

    The contrast was startling.

    As the craft decelerated, the bright disc of a nearby heavenly body curved toward them as if on a collision course. Its minty-silver whorls clashed starkly with the clouds still visible along the horizon of the planet below. Veering away at the last moment, the Damocles swept in the direction of a huge facility, cunningly positioned between the orbits of Kalliste¡¯s two moons.

    Nicknamed the Gauntlet, Star Base Solaris 1, did indeed look like a heraldic hand, looming out of the darkness to snatch at unwary travelers and drag them away into the depths of space. As they bore down on it, passengers craned their necks out of the viewports to see if the fingers of that armored glove might actually move to snare them as they came to a stop between two of the outstretched digits.

    Of course, they didn¡¯t. The only sign of activity came from duel bubble pods placed atop stanchions positioned at the extremity of each spoke. Glowing faintly, those bubbles emitted hazy tractors beams which latched onto the ship and slowly¡ªinch by torturous inch¡ªmaneuvered the Damocles into her berth. Once frozen in position, telescopic airlock ports extended from the base to form a hard seal.

    The captain¡¯s voice issued from overhead speakers. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, we are now completing the docking procedure with Solaris One. Please remain seated until the red lights above your seats have been extinguished. This will signify that a mutual gravity field has been established and that it is safe to proceed. Also, I would ask you to remember, ambient conditions aboard the star base are similar to those found on Kalliste itself. Barometric pressure will be almost half as much as you are used to, and the variant mix of atmospheric gases may cause some of you to become a little nauseous to begin with. If you experience any discomfort, please ensure to notify your section heads. Thank you for flying aboard the Damocles. Enjoy your stay.¡±

    No sooner had the announcement ended, than the red lights went out and the cabin interior exploded into a frenzy of activity as the new arrivals rushed to collect their belongings. All that is, except for three!

    Lei Yeung made a show of appearing frail, keeping his head bowed and gaze averted. Nonetheless, his mind was much more active, and engaged in tense conversation: What can you sense?

    His female companion replied first: The old shards are close by. Although the newer ones overshadow their potential by several orders of magnitude, I retain sufficient familiarity with them to be able to home-in on their precise locations.

    And?

    Esther concentrated, closing her eyes to the other passengers as if she too was struggling to deal with a headache. A heartbeat later, a grin broke her countenance.

    Aaand? Yeung repeated.

    One is being kept planet-side. It looks as if they¡¯re preparing to incorporate it into their local travel pad network, much as we did on old Kalliste.

    What about its counterpart?

    Oh, that¡¯s much closer, my friend. Turning in her seat until she faced toward the central hub of the base, Esther continued: It¡¯s about half a mile that way! She focused more precisely, adding: And judging from all the activity down by the core, it will shortly form an essential part of Solaris One¡¯s defensive grid.

    Addressing their final traveling companion, Yeung asked: Simon?

    Simon Cooper blinked as if waking from a nap, shook his head, then delivered his summary: There are only five entities we need to worry about. One will be leaving shortly when this vessel completes its return voyage. The timing of our arrival is fortuitous. The hour of her expansion draws near. Just as well! She holds a . . . a most dreadful capacity. Thankfully, that will be one less hurdle to overcome when our schemes manifest. . .

    . . .From what I can determine, another one is newly transcended, though she is remarkably stable for a newborn. No doubt, we have our nemeses¡¯ arcane machinations to thank for that! She¡¯s in the planetary mesosphere as we speak, employing her elemental alpha attributes to assist in ongoing atmospheric modifications.

    Who are the others? Yeung pressed.

    Those damned kids and the bitch from hell!

    Yeung stifled a snigger at the rather apt description of the Deputy Marshal: Their presence here is unfortunate, but don¡¯t worry. From what Jose has told us, the children will be otherwise engaged when we first get down there, due to their preparations for the forthcoming semester at the Academy. With all the coming and going that will necessitate, they will be separated for most of the time and out of our hair. But, if an opportunity presents itself, you might need to consider the boy. His perceptiveness displays a highly developed precognitive sensitivity. Such ability must not be allowed to mature. Agreed?

    Agreed! Simon and Esther confirmed in unison.

    That only leaves the Hell-Queen! She is someone we must tiptoe very carefully around. Providentially, your new psi-dents appear to be effective, otherwise I have no doubt we¡¯d have all been fried where we sit. I will be keeping Her Highness busy, don¡¯t you worry. My VIP status allows me to make a nuisance of myself, so I¡¯ll demand quite a lot of her attention over the next week, to ensure she¡¯s in totally the wrong place at exactly the right time. Both of you should be able to complete your assigned tasks with the minimum of fuss.

    So, you don¡¯t envisage any of the transcended clowns presenting a problem? Esther inquired: Despite the upgrades added to their psyches.

    No! Our countermeasures are proving more than up to the task. In any event, I had the foresight to list you as Yeung Tec CEOs from different divisions. You are both established scientists and renowned experts in your fields. As such, that will grant you a great deal of flexibility to move around here unencumbered by protocol. If you see an area you¡¯d like to offer your particular expertise on, I¡¯m sure it will be gratefully received by Guardian and civilian staff alike. Especially the normals! Although, if I may suggest? Simon, concentrate your particular efforts ground-side. You¡¯re a known shape-shifter, so no one will bat an eyelid if you want to disappear off to study the wildlife. It will afford an excellent opportunity to dispose of the child.

    Esther. You might like to offer your skills with the installation of the new defensive grid? No doubt some will view that as . . . unusual. So be helpful¡ªvery helpful where the civilian staff are concerned. If they see you as a problem fixer, word will soon spread and our hosts will be more inclined to accept your kind suggestions in other areas.

    Sounds like a plan! She chirped merrily.

    Just then, a Guardian Master entered the compartment and walked along the aisle toward them. ¡°Is everything alright? Most of the other passengers have left and I noticed you were still in your seats.¡±

    ¡°Perfectly alright, young fellow,¡± Yeung replied, waving away the Guardian¡¯s query. ¡°I¡¯m just an old man who forgets that, sometimes, I need to take it easy. The experience of such a big jump made me feel rather unsettled for a while there, but my aides have fixed me up quite nicely.¡±

    The Guardian¡¯s eyes narrowed: Ah, you¡¯re Lei Yeung, the philanthropist! Welcome to Kalliste and Solaris One. Your reputation precedes you. Once you¡¯ve settled in, Deputy Marshal Yasin has extended an invitation to dine with her tonight. Nodding toward Simon and Esther, he added: Your assistants included. She would be fascinated to see what you think of the place, and open to any ideas that might improve efficiency.

    Rolling his eyes, the Guardian joked: She sooo loves her efficiency!

    So I have heard, Yeung replied, smiling: A woman after my own heart! Please inform your Deputy Marshal we look forward to meeting with her later tonight. But first, would you be so kind as to direct us where to go?

    Certainly! Follow me, and I¡¯ll take you to your rooms personally. Glancing back, the Guardian added: Tell you what! I¡¯m off duty in an hour. If you fancy an unofficial tour of the base before dinner, just give me a call, and I¡¯ll show you around.

    Yeung struggled to keep a straight face: You know, we just might take you up on that offer . . . If we¡¯re not too tired of course.

 Snowball

    Indian Ocean, twenty miles outside of Somalian waters ¨C June 8, 2043

    Ali Omar Biixi watched silently as his White Sails gathered about him, their skiffs forming a patchwork squadron of indistinct bobbing shapes in the predawn darkness.

    He had received notification only a few minutes ago to begin assembling his men in preparation. That simple message had been delivered by way of an encoded text to one of the three mobile scroll phones originally left aboard their stunning gift.

    Sometimes, Ali forgot that his world had changed. But the sleek profile of the motor launch¡ªhidden away under tarpaulin sheets back at their home jetty¡ªalways brought back to him how high the stakes now were. That craft was worth a small fortune, as indeed were its contents. And yet they¡¯d been freely given by an unknown benefactor who wanted a favor in return. A favor that might cost us more than we are willing to give!

    Ali was decidedly unsettled.

    I¡¯ve already seen how cold our employer can be. That poor lackey who delivered the offer and the vessel itself into our hands was forced to commit suicide. It was a shocking display of control. And I have no doubt that if we fail to achieve our objective, a similar fate awaits us all.

    The depth of cruelty displayed that day often caused Ali to ponder just who their sponsor¡¯s actual targets were and what they could possibly have done to warrant such retribution. They must have huge resources and a vast intelligence system to pull something like this off. How else would they have found out about Assad and what he can do . . .?

    . . .And how long have they been watching us?

    Yes. Such things had troubled Ali repeatedly over the intervening weeks, and he was fervently beginning to wish they¡¯d just taken the weapons and left well alone.

    But it was too late now. He¡¯d received the first of three sets of instructions, then watched incredulously as the phone sparked and fizzed, before disintegrated in his hand, succumbing to the hidden Trojans encoded into its software. Still keen to protect their anonymity, eh? I wonder how far they¡¯ll go to ensure every single loose end is cut once this is all over.

    A chill ran down his spine. Ali felt he already knew the answer to that question. We were foolish to accept this offer. I realize that now. Already the consequences are beginning to tighten about us like a noose.

    He glanced at his watch. Only two hours left until sunrise.

    An odd time to have us assemble? Unless they expect Assad to do all the work! I¡¯d better gather the elders and start selecting my final team. Oh! And then get the second scroll phone. I dread to think what would happen if we ran afoul of the schedule.

    As he headed astern, Ali was graced with an afterthought that exemplified why he had been nicknamed¡ªThe Sage. Calling one of his oldest advisors to his side, he said, ¡°Sylvester? Join me on the command boat, will you? I have a special task for you. And you alone!¡±

    For the next twenty minutes, Ali laid out the details of what he wanted his friend of over twenty years to do. Once finished, he immediately sent him on his way to prepare. At least I can ensure Assad gets out of there if things get too hairy. I¡¯ve got a bad feeling about this, and there¡¯s no way I¡¯ll let him end up paying for my mistakes.

    <h6>*</h6>

    Naomi couldn¡¯t believe she was here again so soon.

    It was the second time in just five years that she had entered the catacombs. On the previous occasion, she¡¯d fulfilled the role of Supporter for her mentor, Anatt Yasin, on her magnification to near godhood. An event filled with all sorts of surprises and startling revelations!

    Today, Naomi would find out for herself what it was like to transcend, for she was the principal candidate and the hour of reckoning was at hand.

    Who would have imagined it, eh?

    Naomi smiled as soon as she uttered the thought, for she knew the answer to that particular question now: The Overlord!

    Only, he¡¯d done much more than just imagine it.

    Somehow, he had been aware all along of Naomi¡¯s latent capability for transcension and how it had been stunted by trial and circumstance; strangled of the nurture it needed to bloom. If left as it was¡ªfestering at the center of her psyche¡ªit would have eventually atrophied entirely, denying her the opportunity of achieving her full potential, or indeed, perceiving the empyrean reality of true meta existence. So, in a cunning display of strategy, he guaranteed her inclusion in another aspirant¡¯s ceremony. In doing so, Naomi¡¯s withered psi-well received the necessary stimulus it needed, supercharging it back to vibrant life.

    And the rest is legendary! Even if I do say so myself.

    Naomi took in the details of her environment as the party descended. The corridor was just as she remembered: the same ruddy glow, pulsing to the arcane heartbeat of the ancient rock about them; the same sense of anticipation, building with every step she took; the same feeling of giddy detachment the farther she went, as the unique strata muted her power and dulled her growing urgency.

    Looking deep within her soul, Naomi saw a tiny oxyacetylene nova burn through one of the mental constraints that had kept her expanding nexus at bay for so long. It was failing. The dam had sprung its first leak, and soon, the pressure would exceed its capacity to withhold the raging storm.

    Leading the way, Victoria lengthened her stride, as if acknowledging the sudden change.

    Naomi was grateful Victoria was acting as the Shepherd today. She felt an affinity¡ªboth to the woman herself, and her family¡ªlike no other. And from Naomi¡¯s point of view, having Victoria there would make the forthcoming experience that much easier to bear, especially as her chosen Supporter had stood aside at the last moment.

    For some reason, Corrine Jackson had reneged on her promise, and Naomi could only guess why. She had been replaced by none other than the Lord Marshal.

    Naomi didn¡¯t know much about him. But she would¡ªand soon! The shared intimacy of what was to come would grant him some insightful memories . . . as well as one or two eye-popping disclosures once he witnessed what was in Victoria¡¯s mind. What will he make of their history? Or the fact that I knew? I can¡¯t wait to find out.

    Further consideration of the matter was forgotten as Naomi became alarmingly aware of the raging beast within her. Having experienced its first taste of freedom, it wanted more.

    Beating against the bulwark of her barriers, it roared, demanding instant gratification and release.

    Naomi could feel it wouldn¡¯t be denied for much longer. Evidently, so did Victoria, for she quickened her pace again.

    Despite the growing urgency, Naomi had a funny thought. Hey! I wonder if I¡¯ll ever walk this way again, as Shepherd next time. Has anyone ever fulfilled all three roles before? Is it even allowed?

    <h6>*</h6>

    As far as onlookers were aware, Angelika Papadakos and her team looked like any other group of people about to set off on a day¡¯s hike along the trails of the Santa Anna Mountains. Four ordinary couples dressed in windcheaters, each person was laden down by a rucksack packed with the necessary gear to keep them safe from the elements and any unforeseen predators they might encounter.

    However, closer inspection of their equipment and the two vehicles they had arrived in would have raised more than a few eyebrows.

    In amongst the backpacks, tents, and camping gear, each truck carried four strange looking cylinders. Battleship gray pipes that seemed to fold in and out of sight the more you stared at them. Alongside each device, was a collection of metallic, bracket-style clamps with glowing crystals positioned around their outer circumferences. Those gems flared and pulsed at irregular intervals in response to the strange acoustic emanations radiating from within the cylinders themselves.

    Standing around their vehicles, the party appeared to be idly chatting as they waited for the parking lot to empty of other visitors. And indeed, that was the case, for once the morning rush had left and the dust had settled, they suddenly adopted a more urgent air.

    Throwing back the tarp in the rearmost truck, Angelika removed one of the pipes with its attachments, and said, ¡°I know you¡¯ve been briefed, but I¡¯m going to run through the sequence one final time before we go anyway . . . So listen in!¡±

    Placing the cylinder on the ground, she directed their attention to a control pad incorporated into the casing halfway along its length, and continued, ¡°Once we teleport to the site of each asperity, you have to attach three collar-mines to every tube. It shouldn¡¯t be difficult, as each clamp has a magnetic seal. When you¡¯ve completed that task, depress the green button here. That arms the mines. Sixty seconds after activation, it will also deploy a gravity bubble encompassing a one mile radius from its own proximity. That will prevent any earthquakes from manifesting before we¡¯re ready to trigger them.

    ¡°At this point, the device will also begin emitting hypersonic waves that will increase tectonic instability exponentially. Because those waves propagate through the subspace medium, they will hamper your ability to teleport, so it¡¯s essential you¡¯ve finished prepping the apparatus before then!

    ¡°To avoid getting royally screwed, press the amber button, here, ten seconds after you flip the green switch. Doing so will channel the ensuing energy build-up directly into the crystal chambers. You don¡¯t want to be anywhere near them when that happens, so¡ªimmediately after you¡¯ve activated the amber button¡ªtake a deep breath and do the same with the red one. That will scramble the receivers to their preprogrammed frequencies, and initiate the release of antimatter particles into the explosive gel.¡±

    Angelika made eye contact with every member of her team and started counting down on the fingers of one hand. ¡°To recap: teleport on site and attach your collars; press the green button and wait ten seconds; press the amber button; then finally, hit the red one and hightail it outta there.

    ¡°Are there any questions?¡±

    None were forthcoming.

    ¡°Good! You all know the drill. Timon? You and Electra are to proceed to the coordinates within the Santa Monica Mountains. Emily, you¡¯ve got Mike. Position your cylinders within the designated sites here in the Santa Anna range. The rest of you, you¡¯re with me up in San Gabriel.¡±

    Nobody spoke as she handed out a tube and selection of clamps to each person.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°Are you ready? On my mark! Three, two, one . . . Mark!¡±

    An instant later, and they were gone, little realizing how far-reaching the consequences of their actions would be.

    <h6>*</h6>

    Esther was enjoying herself immensely, and it showed.

    Over the past week, she had made firm friends in at least six different departments. But in all honesty, that wasn¡¯t surprising! Not only had Esther been keen to show an interest in other people¡¯s work, but she had also thrown herself into the ethic of this new world from the outset by fully immersing herself in station life.

    For all that, it took an amazing stroke of luck to boost events along.

    On her very first day, Esther had been engrossed in the welcome tour, when she noticed several Guardian and civilian technicians crowded around a power relay unit situated in the main utility tunnel leading to one of the outer docking arms. Evidently, this particular panel kept fritzing out on a regular basis. Though it wasn¡¯t essential to routine operations, it was nevertheless causing a great deal of aggravation to maintenance crews, who were growing tired of returning to this same junction again and again.

    Always inquisitive, Esther had paused to watch them at work.

    They proved to be very thorough, stripping and replacing the integrated Quad- RAM assembly a number of times in an effort to find a solution. However, as painstakingly methodical as they were, she espied they made one simple error. Their increasing frustration had blinkered them into treating the symptoms as opposed to looking for the cause!

    Sidling over to them, she suggested they might find their guilty gremlins by looking outside the station.

    Intrigued by her statement, the Guardian leading the team did just that, and a detailed survey of the environs in close proximity to the star base revealed the cause of the recurring problem.

    Solaris 1 had been constructed in a location where the gravitational influence of Kalliste and her two moons, Callistran, and Theron, combined to form a void pocket. A phenomenon equivalent to the Doldrums experienced at sea. While this afforded an ideal reception area for incoming vessels free of strong tidal shears, there had been an unforeseen side-effect. Three bubbles¡ªhard to detect¡ªhad formed within that zone, very similar in effect to a Null Vortex. Nothing would work in them. Even worse, from time to time, fluctuating gravity compressions caused those bubbles to swell and burst. When they did, they sprayed zero matter into the interstellar medium.

    Fortunately, the bubbles were very small, encompassing an area only several yards in diameter. But such was the pressure released when they ruptured, that null particles ended up being sprayed for nearly half a mile in every direction.

    As serendipity would have it, the leading edge of this particular docking arm was just within the fallout radius of one such anomaly. Thus the continuing dilemma! No matter how many times the relays were replaced, they would be rendered inoperable almost immediately.

    Thanks to Esther¡¯s prompting, scanners had subsequently been adjusted to detect this incredibly rare occurrence, and all three hotspots were soon located, mapped, and marked by repulsor buoys. Station thrusters were then deployed to gently nudge the base to a new position free of the residual dispersion zone.

    Watching the process from beginning to end, Esther had also recorded how long it took to move Solaris 1 into her new mooring. Ninety minutes!

    There, at last, was the golden opportunity she¡¯d been waiting for. One that would allow her to make her play. But she didn¡¯t rush, deeming it better to wait for the Deputy Marshal to broach the subject.

    She didn¡¯t have to wait long.

    At dinner in Anatt Yasin¡¯s private quarters later that evening, the small gathering had only just finished their entr¨¦e when the commander turned to speak directly to her:

    ¡°You made quite an impression this afternoon, Esther. First day here, and already you swatted a bug in the works that had my technicians scratching their heads for months. How did you cotton on to the idea of where to look?¡±

    Esther ensured to make light of the matter. ¡°I wish I could say it¡¯s because I¡¯m a top-notch ultrasensor with superlative scanning skills. But the truth is far more mundane. I¡¯m quite sensitive to the presence of most kinds of energy, you see. And what with this entire system being full of weird and wonderful new sensations, it¡¯s been a delight to savor virtually everything I come across. So, when I saw the maintenance gang working on the relay assembly, I automatically reached out to sample the vibes. Only there weren¡¯t any! All I got was . . . how can I say . . . a speckled egg smattering of aftertastes? That gave me a clue the problem must be down to locale in some way.¡±

    ¡°Fortunate for us you were on hand to spot it, yes?¡±

    ¡°I may be a scientist,¡± Esther replied, offhandedly¡ªextending the bait, ¡°but I tend to look at things from a different perspective. It¡¯s why Mister Yeung uses me as a problem avoider, as opposed to problem solver.¡±

    ¡°Oh really?¡± Anatt replied, ¡°So tell me. What situations have you observed around our little facility that might need . . . avoiding then?¡±

    Esther struggled to conceal her elation behind stygian barricades. ¡°Well, I know it¡¯s not really my place. . .¡±

    ¡°Go on!¡±Anatt urged, ¡°Speak your mind. I encourage the free expression of ideas.¡±

    ¡°. . .Okay then. It¡¯s just that I noticed it took an awful long time to move Solaris out from the affected area. That highlights an Achilles'' heel which needs to be addressed.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°This is still a relatively new setup, right? And while you Guardians have been here for some years now, you can¡¯t escape the fact that¡ªwhen it comes to the evolving rhythms of a solar system¡ªthings tend to work on a more grandiose scale. Natural cycles, for instance, can¡¯t be measured in decades. They take centuries to assess. Or even a millennia.

    ¡°That reminded me of the Abaddon affair. It was an out of the blue semi-regular occurrence separated by hundreds of thousands of years that nearly wiped us out. This star system is bigger. Its asteroid belt is way more extensive and the outer supergiant planets are almost as big as our Sun. What¡¯s to say something like that might not happen here?¡±

    ¡°So what are you suggesting exactly?¡±

    ¡°As I mentioned, I have a . . . an affinity to different forms of energy. The moment I arrived, I sensed a huge source of dynamism within this facility you aren¡¯t even using yet. And here¡¯s the thing. Though it¡¯s nowhere near as strong as what you have powering the hyper gate, I can tell they¡¯re related in some way. With so much potential at your disposal, I don¡¯t know why you¡¯ve not considered using it more effectively.¡±

    ¡°Define . . . more effectively.¡± Anatt stressed, leaning toward her across the table.

    Shrugging as though unconcerned, Esther started reeling in her catch. ¡°Well . . . look how long it took to move Solaris One to her new berth. Just imagine dragging your feet like that with Son of Abaddon bearing down on you. I know you have some pretty nifty armaments and shielding deployed about the base, but don¡¯t kid yourself. Abaddon proved how easy it is to get your ass handed to you on a plate. It would be criminal for that to happen here, when it could so easily be averted.¡±

    ¡°Averted?¡± The Deputy Marshal¡¯s eyes began to glow. ¡°How would you do that?¡±

    ¡°Simple! I don¡¯t know the ins and outs of your gate system, but the physicist in me tells me you must employ some form of corresponding anchoring beacon at both ends of the wormhole to counter the effects of galactic drift, right?¡±

    ¡°Riiight.¡±

    ¡°Well, seeing as you have a similar¡ªif weaker source¡ªhere on Solaris One. Why don¡¯t you have one of your strategists determine two or three alternate locations the base could occupy during an emergency, and establish new docking sites there? Then, if the need arose, you could just teleport the entire facility to a safer harbor in a fraction of the time!

    ¡°Obviously, you¡¯d have to establish a whole new set of jump protocols. You know. Alert procedures, security bulkhead lockdowns, duty of care . . . oh, and not forgetting the provision of regular drills to hone response and mustering times at the appropriate assembly points. It¡¯d be a lot of work, but well worth the effort.¡±

    By now, the whole of Anatt Yasin¡¯s aura had become infused with a coral colored effervescence.

    ¡°That is an excellent idea, Esther. With my ace fixer away at the moment, I could do with someone like you around. It¡¯s such a pity that you¡¯re only here on a temporary permit. What I could. . . ¡±

    The Deputy Marshal sucked in through her teeth. ¡°. . .Tell you what, meet me on the main operations deck at nine tomorrow morning¡ªK-Time¡ªand I¡¯ll introduce you to a few section heads who I know are itching to pick your brains. Deal?¡±

    ¡°Deal!¡± Esther readily agreed, shaking on it.

    That had been a week ago now!

    Since then, Esther had been invited to tour the Medi-Labs, Environmental Control, the Habitat Center, and the Defensive Armaments Complex. In each case, she made sure to suggest one or two radical ideas that improved operating efficiency many times over. Correspondingly, Esther was pleasantly surprised to discover how candidly exercising her creative talents for once, had proven so invigorating.

    Rose tinted spectacles aside, she never lost sight of her objective.

    It¡¯s a shame I¡¯m enjoying myself so much. I¡¯m almost going to regret blowing these fuckers to kingdom come the first chance I get!

    Then, just this very morning, another breakthrough occurred. Grand Master Hiro Nagasaki had called at her suite to see if she would be interested in delaying her scheduled departure for Helion City, to help him out on an important project.

    As it transpired, Grand master Nagasaki was the chief engineer of Solaris 1, and had been tasked to install a new upgraded power cell into the main reactor, one that would grant the base greater offensive and defensive capabilities. Having heard of Esther¡¯s knack for thinking outside of the box, he was hoping she¡¯d be willing to add her insight to the proceedings.

    Needless to say, Esther didn¡¯t need long to think about her answer.

    <h6>*</h6>

    Simon Cooper was not a happy man.

    A pity, seeing as the day¡ªindeed, the entire week¡ªhad started off far better than anyone could have anticipated!

    Deputy Marshal Yasin had been greatly impressed by Esther¡¯s innovative ideas. So much so, that she¡¯d virtually rolled out the red carpet to the entire Yeung Technologies team. Esther had received invitations from just about every primary section there was on board the space station. Yeung had been wined and dined and shown around all the main settlements on each of the three major landmasses of Kalliste. And Simon himself had been extended the exceptional courtesy of being allowed ground-side before his induction phase was anywhere near complete.

    Of course, his own official profile had helped.

    Yeung had ensured his Fallen comrades were properly registered and legally certified under the auspices of the Psychic Law & Order Bill. Because of that, Simon was listed as possessing a marked proficiency when it came to hiking, field craft, and extreme survival training. Additionally, his extrasensory assay revealed strong telepathic, telekinetic, and shape-shifting abilities. This combination of expertise and talent had vouchsafed his speedy decent into the jungles of Viridian, where he was allowed to indulge in his love of naturalism in all its ecological glory.

    Or so it was assumed!

    On his first few guided forays, Simon was careful only to display those features of his psi-well the examiners expected. They were, after all, inherently particular to the real Simon Cooper.

    His ruse had worked like a dream.

    Because Viridian contained the least deadly predators of all three continents, Simon was quickly deemed suitable for limited trips on his own. His knowledge, skill level in the field, and abilities appeared more than sufficient to keep him out of trouble. The addition of a teleport band¡ªsimilar in function to the rings employed by some Guardians¡ªmeant both the Inquisitors and Marshals felt he would be unlikely to encounter anything he couldn¡¯t deal with. As such, he had been set free to roam as he wanted three days ago.

    Great news. . .

    Except that it wasn¡¯t!

    Simon immediately set about his mission, confident that it would be brought to a speedy conclusion thanks to two Mimic Drones¡ªsophisticated pieced of hardware that duplicated a wide range of bio-signs. Originally designed by Esther to throw Guardian Inquisitors off their trail, they had decided this would be a prime opportunity to put them to another use.

    One had been fashioned into the likeness a large wasp. Highly mobile, it was capable of covering two hundred square miles of terrain before needing to be recharged. In this environment, it was perfect for his needs.

    The other was tailored to be incorporated into an individual¡¯s complexus, so they registered as an alternate form of life entirely.

    Programming the wasp with his own psi-dentity, Simon set it loose, then disabled his teleport band and shed his human form. Over the next forty-eight hours, the wasp covered twenty miles a day at an average speed of two miles per hour. To anyone checking, it would look as if he had been enjoying a stress free ramble through his idea of arboreal heaven.

    In reality, Simon was on an entirely different continent, pursuing his target through the southwestern jungles of Nerada!

    At that stage, all was going well. Joshua Drake was all alone, and one of several youngsters completing a Guardian survival course that required them to live off the land without the slightest recourse to their psychic abilities.

    To ensure fair play, the area was heavily scanned by orbiting satellites.

    Simon had macrospatial translated into the vicinity to avoid registering on those sensors, and maintained an indistinct form until the second Mimic Drone was activated. This one emitted the life-signs of a Hoopy, a large apelike creature indigenous to the whole of southern Nerada. Known for its ability to move quickly through the canopy, Simon thought it the perfect disguise to allow him to move swiftly and without drawing attention.

    Thus it was¡ªwith at least a three day window ahead of him¡ªSimon was confident he would be able to complete his mission and get away without being detected.

    That was two and a half days ago!

    At first, Simon was amazed at the tenacity and stamina of the thirteen-year-old human child. Now he was just plain annoyed.

    What is it with this kid? Is he some additional freak Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem cooked up in a laboratory to torment me? Two and a half days I¡¯ve been chasing him. Two and a half friggerty days! Toiling, sweating, and heaving myself through some of the most insane vegetation imaginable. And the little bastard¡¯s still managing to stay ahead of me.

    No. Simon was not a happy man.

    The child had proven unusually resilient. What¡¯s more, Simon had the damndest feeling he was being watched.

    Or followed.

    Or both.

    And yet, every time he stopped to scope the steaming sea of silver-blue foliage stretching off into the distance, there was never anything there.

    But the sensation refused to go away.

    Get a grip! He¡¯s just one human teenager caged to his limited flesh. No match for one of my caliber. The sooner I get this done, the sooner I can get out of this hellhole.

    Casting yet another anxious glance behind, Simon abandoned his backpack and quickened his pace. One way or another, he was determined to bring this issue to a close!

 Gathering Pace

    Despite the fact they were billions of miles apart, the image on the CDS screen was crystal clear. Esther was a little put out, for she still hadn¡¯t managed to fathom how the Guardians could do that yet. The hyper-gate portal itself was closed, but somehow their hosts were managing to relay a super compressed info-packet through the geodetic curvature of hyper-space without any evidence of signal degradation.

    Impressive! I wonder what toys I¡¯d be playing with now . . . or even have been responsible for inventing had I played along with Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem¡¯s schemes.

    Alas, she didn¡¯t have time for wallowing over what might have been. Her boss needed the latest mission update . . . and she was the bearer of glad tidings.¡±

    ¡°Hello, Esther,¡± Yeung began, ¡°I take it all is well?¡±

    ¡°Very well, thank you, Sir,¡± she fawned, for the benefit of those who might be listening in. ¡°Today I¡¯ve been invited to the initialization of the new power core. The base commander has been kind enough to implement some of my recommendations and quite a crowd will be gathering, by all accounts, to see if they actually work.¡±

    Yeung¡¯s gaze intensified. ¡°And do you think things will go as planned?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve got every confidence things will go exactly as planned.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± Yeung replied, the gentlest of smiles softening his demeanor. ¡°It looks as if I¡¯ll have a busy day myself.¡±

    Esther got the hint.

    Holding up a data crystal, she said, ¡°These are my latest reports. You¡¯ll be pleased to hear I may have secured future contracts for terraforming operations, though they will have to wait for existing settlements to begin expanding into virgin territory.¡±

    ¡°Excellent. Excellent! And was the proposal for the subsurface processing plant as popular as we¡¯d anticipated?¡±

    ¡°I believe that was the clincher, Sir. Anatt assured me that once we¡¯ve provided detailed schematics of the various facilities we have on offer, an official and legally binding agreement will be forthcoming. She knows our safety specs are second-to-none, so if we live up to our end of the bargain, it¡¯s a done deal.¡±

    The steely glint returned to Yeung¡¯s eyes. ¡°I do so love to hear the words done and deal in the same sentence.¡±

    Once again, Esther picked up on Yeung¡¯s inference.

    She added, ¡°Well, I hope to send similar sentiments your way soon. I don¡¯t know how things are your end, Sir, but I¡¯ve got some hefty calculations to complete before the thirty-two hundred hours deadline. So I¡¯m going to have to crack on and. . . ?¡±

    ¡°Thirty-two hundred hours?¡± Yeung interrupted. ¡°Pah! It¡¯s difficult enough as it is for an old man to get his head around the twenty-four hour clock, yet alone the vagaries of a thirty-nine hour day. When do I need to be ready here?¡±

    ¡°Hang on a second, Sir. . .¡± Esther replied, seemingly off balance from the unexpected question. ¡°. . .That works out as eleven. . . No! Wait a minute. Forget eleven! That will be ten o¡¯clock in the evening, tomorrow. GMT of course. So don¡¯t forget to factor in any adjustments you need to make because of your location at that time.¡±

    ¡°You see?¡± Yeung crowed, ¡°If you can¡¯t get your young and active mind around it, how do you expect a gentleman of my advanced years to understand all this nonsense? Just let me know how it goes when you¡¯ve completed what you need to do. I have a feeling I might be a little tied up myself.¡±

    ¡°Will do, Sir!¡±

    Signing off, Esther couldn¡¯t believe how smoothly the exchange had gone.

    Not only had she managed to update Yeung on her anticipated time of action, but he had confirmed the operation was a go and that he would coordinate events on his side of the gate.

    Now all she had to do was catch a hold of Simon.

    For some reason, he was still mincing about down on the surface when he should have been back on the star base hours ago. How long does it take to kill a little boy?

    Mind you, it gives me a chance to work out how the Guardians get their damned signals to penetrate the infinity curvature of a closed event horizon. Once I crack it, I might be able to open us a back door to escape through for when things start getting hairy!

    <h6>*</h6>

    Now over an hour in, the party was in full swing. Music played. Some people sang along or accompanied the more vocal aspirants on improvised instruments. Others danced. A few were content to just sit there and watch the world go by.

    The mood was vibrant and relaxed. And well it should be. A huge bonfire had been arranged in the middle clearing of the village. Wild pig was roasting over charcoal, and Ethiopian gin was in plentiful supply.

    Assad was festooned in garlands and rice beads, and from where Ali was sitting with the elders, appeared to be thoroughly enjoying his sixteenth birthday party.

    At this moment, Assad was leading a group of his best friends toward the gift his mother and father had brought to memorialize the occasion: a brand new, shiny, black Nissan Trailbuster SUV.

    When he wasn¡¯t fishing, Assad was like any other boy his age. Boasting about cars and girls. He¡¯d learned to drive not long after he had mastered skippering a boat, so it was only natural he¡¯d want to prove his prowess both on and off the water. Ali actively encouraged his son to be adept at both. It was a sign of their wealth and success.

    But girls? They were another matter entirely. And a distraction!

    While many people in other poverty stricken villages eked out a living from barely standing tin huts, such destitution was not evident here. Ali looked after his kinfolk. Comfortable, well fed and happy men were better motivated. They acted more professionally. And the White Sails were known for their expertise in capturing prizes no one else could.

    This community had proper, brick built homes, with electricity and internet connections. Running water too! They were prosperous. But that had its downside, especially on occasions like this when outsiders were welcome to attend public events.

    The aforementioned distractions.

    Neighboring hijab-clad girls lined the perimeter of the fire pit area. Most had their shining, flame-lit eyes fixed on Assad. Until he peered their way, that is. Then they would act all coy and stare down at the ground.

    Regardless of their behavior, it was known they viewed pirates as lucrative marriage mates in much the same way as they had once looked on Somali¡¯s tribal leaders and warlords. It was all about one-upmanship. Especially in the marriage stakes, where a girl could secure financial security for their families, if they caught the fancy of the right boy.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Assad, as son to a clan chief¡ªand the White Sails Clan at that¡ªwas the fish all mothers wanted their daughters to land.

    Ali jumped, his deliberations interrupted by an urgent drumming sensation against his chest. Where . . . ?

    It took him a moment to realize the mobile scroll phone within the inner pocket of his jacket had just this second received a text. Removing the offending item, he activated the screen and was stunned to find it wasn¡¯t another mystery false alarm.

    A set of longitudinal and latitudinal references blinked back at him.

    Beneath them was a time and date. But . . . but that¡¯s during the early hours of tomorrow morning! Why do our benefactors insist on being as disruptive as possible? They had us running around like flies on a carcass the other week. And for what? A piddly test run! Just to see how quickly we could mobilize and deploy. I had hoped to have fulfilled our end of the bargain by now so we could be free of them.

    Ali knew the local waters like the back of his hand. The coordinates he had just received lay quite a distance outside their usual hunting grounds. To get there undetected would require them to leave within the hour.

    Just in time too, it seems.

    On this occasion, the heavy cloud of disruption looked to have a silver lining.

    A particularly attractive young woman from a neighboring village was growing bolder. Making eyes at his son, she refused to lower her gaze and was flashing her winsome smile to stunning effect.

    Assad had noticed and was starting to posture like a bantam rooster.

    Shame!

    He could see Assad obviously liked the girl. But she was from a poor family with no real influence. And her conduct in public showed she was definitely not the right material as far as his son was concerned.

    Shouting across the celebrations, Ali began to call his men together.

    Thank goodness we¡¯ll have something to do that will keep him distracted for a while. Once we get back, I¡¯ll make arrangements to have him formally introduced to someone more . . . suitable.

    He won¡¯t be happy, but at least it will keep the vultures at bay.

    <h6>*</h6>

    As transcensions went, this one would go down in history!

    Four days they¡¯d been here now. Four inextricably long, drawn out, relentless days, where the principle remained suspended, teetering at the cusp of dissolution. And still they waited for the esoteric flare that would signal the onset of the final blitz. A blazing assault that would at last rip through the only remaining barrier preventing the girl¡¯s swollen nexus from reigning free.

    A veteran of more than two dozen ceremonies, Victoria had always known the occasion would be unlike anything she¡¯d ever witnessed before.

    Naomi¡¯s herculean underlying capabilities had been coaxed back into wakefulness some five years ago, after she had been exposed to the primary stimulus of a transmutation in progress. The Overlord had personally applied the orphic shackles of the MitaCom program to Naomi¡¯s complexus shortly thereafter. In doing so, he ensured she would be able to manage the enhanced rate of her altered evolution.

    And evolve she had.

    Somehow, the MitaCom sequence had muted the immensely destructive elements of Naomi¡¯s burgeoning talents, while siphoning through tantalizing aspects of her emerging hyper-well. Because of this, she had been able to expand way beyond the point at which her flesh would have atomized.

    An incredible feat.

    But Naomi was a remarkable human being, and everyone had been excited to see how her stupendous ability to accurately compartmentalize multiple events at once might factor into her transformation.

    It was official.

    There was no might about it, and Victoria was stunned by the implications.

    The intimacy of the process engendered the sharing of some very personal, extremely powerful memories. That aspect had begun over ninety hours previously. At first, Victoria had been curious as to how Anil would react when a number of his suspicions regarding her origins, together with her relationship to Andrew and the Overlord, were finally highlighted.

    She needn¡¯t have worried.

    Though he was initially alarmed, Anil¡¯s scrutiny soon found something else much more interesting to dwell on, for it didn¡¯t take long for Naomi¡¯s supercharged senses to begin reliving the moment of Anatt Yasin¡¯s transcension anew.

    Together, they shared the other woman¡¯s agony as she was repeatedly gripped by violent seizures; were burnt from head to toe by phantom gouts of tremendous energy radiating from every pore of the Deputy Marshal¡¯s body; endured the abject misery of being turned inside out as the trigger point was breached. A progression every candidate had been forced to endure for centuries.

    Until now!

    Oh, the convulsions were there alright. Vicious throes that would have snapped the spine of just about anyone else Victoria knew. But along with them¡ªas every torturous wave of suffering smashed over Naomi¡¯s consciousness¡ªsomething else had grown too.

    An almost inhuman capacity for self awareness and control!

    Usually, by this stage of the process, aspirants had expanded beyond their mortal constraints, and the slightest distraction could send them hurtling over the precipice. That¡¯s when the risk of an augmented metapsychic blowout¡ªotherwise known as going nova¡ªwas at its highest. The Shepherd would, therefore, be heavily engaged, mitigating the effects of the pain and struggling to keep the subject focused on the path to enlightenment.

    Sharing the experience, the Supporter would likewise be exercising the utmost caution. Their role involved trying to remind the candidate of whom they were and preventing them from casting off the last vestiges of their humanity.

    But that wasn¡¯t happening here.

    Naomi was guiding herself. And, by yanking back on the reins of devastating chaos, she was not only anchoring her sanity, but appeared to be forcing the hyper-energized surges erupting from her core to do her creative bidding.

    Victoria and Anil were nigh on redundant.

    Addressing Anil on his intimate mode, Victoria made a suggestion: I don¡¯t need to tell you . . . this is unprecedented. What say we take advantage of the situation and try to meld with her? I can¡¯t promise it¡¯ll work, but if it does, it will mean we can share the experience on a level nobody thought was possible?

    I don¡¯t think there¡¯ll be any doubt it will work, Victoria! Anil replied, his plexus glittering with gold and scarlet highlights: Look!

    Incredulously, they turned their attention back to their charge.

    Despite the cosmic forces ravaging her soul, Naomi was fully cognizant of her surroundings. It was clear she had also listened in on her friends¡¯ supposedly private conversation and was indicating it would be a great idea for them to link with her.

    Fuck me! Victoria blurted out: You . . . you¡¯re in complete control! Naomi? Are you alright?

    Staring directly at them through eyes that shone like miniature neutron stars, Naomi ignored the query and repeated her unprecedented invitation aloud: Come! Behold the future!

    Victoria and Anil responded. Engaging in harmonic union, they rushed to be part of history in the making.

    <h6>*</h6>

    Simon Cooper fought the urge to scream at the top of his lungs!

    While the Mimic Drone had done its job admirably, the same couldn¡¯t be said for his strategy. The infernal child he was after had seen to that.

    In his current apelike form, Simon had become accustomed to hard work and sustained effort. And yet, no matter how hard he tried, he hadn¡¯t been able to close the gap. The boy was tireless. Hardly stopping, Joshua Drake had forged through the confusing wilderness as if its mere existence gave him some form of perverted boost. An added impetus as invigorating to his spirit as it was an anathema to Simon¡¯s temper.

    How the hell can the little shit move so quickly through this . . . this bewildering maze of vegetated spaghetti? It¡¯s not like he¡¯s native to this environment? Bollocking hell! I¡¯m sure he must have found out I¡¯m following him and is doing it just to annoy me!

    Glancing skyward through a rare gap in the canopy, Simon checked again for signs of surveillance. And how long will my luck hold out?

    As if on cue, Simon felt a slight tremble behind his eyeballs. He grunted and froze, fearing his masquerade had been discovered. A second later, he relaxed. Esther?

    Gasping for breath, it took him a moment to digest the implications of the encoded one-way message. Already? Damn . . . I¡¯d better get shifting! Especially if I want to make the escape window she¡¯s managed to prize open.

    Risking a stronger scan, Simon discerned his quarry two miles ahead. The youngster had just made a kill and appeared to be in the process of setting up camp to prepare his catch. Well hoo¡ªfucking¡ªray! Thank you.

    Hardly daring to breathe, he checked again.

    Sure enough, Joshua looked intent on settling in to enjoy his first proper meal of the week. Ha! Perhaps he is only human after all.

    Simon started forward, summoning his potential with every swing of his arms. So, let¡¯s make this quick and clean. No theatrics. Just get in there, kill the boy and dispose of his body. As I do so, I¡¯ll send the signal to detonate the wasp back in Viridian. That will draw attention away from here. Unlike the brat, they¡¯ll still be monitoring my welfare. How sad that I should meet a sudden and mysterious end while exploring the darkest depths of a dangerous new world . . .

    . . .Though in reality, my name will be just one of a lengthy list in tomorrow¡¯s obituaries by the time Esther has finished. All in all, a good day to die then!

    That gave him pause for thought.

    I hope Yeung remembered to arrange a suitable new identity for me. I¡¯ve become quite accustomed to being Simon Cooper. The prestige attached to his name allowed me a great deal of latitude that will be hard to match.

 Cloud Burst

    The fogbank drifted forward like an irresistible tide, gleaming softly, silver and gray in the moonlight. A tsunami wall, made from mist and mystery instead of the irresistible force of millions of cubic tons of water.

    To the sentries posed aboard the Winters Gale¡ªa container ship registered out of France¡ªit prowled toward them like a herald of doom. So unusual was the phenomenon on these waters, that some rushed below to get camcorders, cameras, or any other recording device they could lay their hands on. And then for the next thirty minutes, they watched silently, mute observers to the veil crawling ominously past them and on toward the Strait of Hormuz.

    Soon, interest waned among the crew, and the swirling brume was left to its own devices. An entry was made in the log; other shipping entering the Gulf of Oman from the Red Sea was alerted to the possible dangers for smaller vessels; and business went on as usual.

    Or so it seemed.

    Ensconced deep within that miasma was a group of people on a very special mission. Most of them were clustered aboard a brand new, UK registered motor launch. For the moment, its powerful engines were idle, and the craft drifted gently along, just another piece of flotsam being taken where the current willed.

    Had anyone had been in a position to measure the composition of the cloud, they would have noted something remarkable. For no matter where that boat drifted, the mist followed. In fact, it remained most concentrated around the motor launch itself, as if determined to conceal its existence from the outside world.

    But that wasn¡¯t really surprising, as that¡¯s exactly what the fogbank was designed to do! And the person responsible for its existence¡ªsixteen-year-old Assad Ali Omar¡ªwas determined to keep things that way.

    The boy¡¯s father, Ali Omar Biixi, said, ¡°How are you managing, Son? Are you sure you don¡¯t need to rest?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m okay for the moment,¡± Assad replied, ¡°though I may take a break soon. I don¡¯t want to wreck myself before the main phase of our mission gets underway.¡±

    Checking the radar, Ali noted only a handful of ships within a ten mile radius of their position. Acceding to their circumstances, he advised, ¡°If I was you, I¡¯d ease off a little bit. You¡¯ve been generating our curtain for over an hour now. We¡¯re running silent and without lights anyway. If anyone gets too close I¡¯ll give you a heads-up so you can thicken the stew around us. Okay?¡±

    ¡°Okay, Father.¡±

    Nodding in satisfaction, Ali returned his attention to the navigational display and tried to keep himself occupied.

    His crew was handpicked and reliable. They were all veteran sailors, and could be trusted to remain alert. And if things got hairy, Ali knew he could depend on them to keep their heads while they got the hell out of there. Nobody was interested in playing the hero.

    But the waiting? That was unbearable.

    For what must have been the twentieth time in the space of a few minutes, he fingered the mobile scroll phone in his pocket. C¡¯mon. Call us, damn you! Let¡¯s get this done so we can get on with our lives again.

    Of course, his plea went unanswered. And soon, the gentle lapping of the waves against the hull began to rock everyone into a waking sleep.

    <h6>*</h6>

    Grand Master Hiro Nagasaki was just as nervous as everybody else as the gathered throng waited for the clock to tick down to thirty-two hundred hours.

    Whether that was due to the volume of VIPs in attendance, or the fact he¡¯d let an outsider influence the heart of the edifice it was his responsibility to care for, Esther didn¡¯t know. Either way, he was unable to remain still and chitchat for long, preferring instead to paraded stiffly round the main engineering deck, inspecting¡ªand then re-inspecting¡ªthe readouts from all thirteen primary stations.

    Over the past few days, his team had been hard at work, busily incorporating Esther¡¯s suggestions into the reactor¡¯s relay injection ports. A move that would improve power distribution by a stunning thirty-three percent. Now the moment had arrived, they were all keen to begin the startup sequence that would bring the star base fully online.

    It had been agony for Esther.

    She was so close to the crystal shard, she was almost salivating.

    What made it worse was the fact she couldn¡¯t just relax and reach out to taste the harmonic vibrations the damned thing was giving off. If she dared indulge herself¡ªas everyone else was doing¡ªthe relic would recognize her signature and flare in response, announcing her true identity to the whole world.

    And she didn¡¯t want it to flare out . . . well, not just yet.

    Her gaze kept straying to the countdown. Twenty minutes to go. Just twenty more minutes! Then they¡¯ll discover what my little suggestions can really do.

    <h6>*</h6>

    Angelika Papadakos could hardly contain her excitement.

    The Council¡¯s rehashed agenda was coming together rather nicely, and the latest twist was an absolute gem she was still trying to get her head around. If it worked, it would boost their designs for future expansion, while weakening the viability of those few companies still powerful enough to be classed as opposition.

    Even better, Angelika herself would be expected to play an increasingly important role in an ever flowering empire.

    However, she couldn¡¯t afford to let her feelings distract her. She was here to do a job, and an essential part of that entailed her remaining awake and alert.

    Surveying her surroundings, she found the space within the orbital firing platform to be remarkably well proportioned. I suppose they planned it this way to allow free access for maintenance crews and the installation of regular upgrades. I know from experience. You can¡¯t always rely on automated AI solutions for everything.

    She smiled. Still, I bet they never dreamed anyone would put the room to this use . . . Even if it is one of our own ghost models!

    Angelika was careful not to touch a thing. Hovering scant inches off the deck, she adjusted the scanners with her telekinesis and zoomed in on the western coast of the USA. With consummate skill, she then jiggled with the focus until the mountainous region surrounding the greater Los Angeles area came into view. Refining the beam even further, she finally concentrated on the Earth¡¯s mantle in several different areas.

    The result of her earlier work was a pleasure to behold.

    Thanks to the hypersonic wave emitters, tectonic stresses had increased a thousandfold in the vicinity of each asperity. Fortunately, the crystal fragments continued to absorb the modular stresses generated by those emanations at a corresponding rate, effectively masking the deadly buildup.

    Nevertheless, her instruments indicated that once she sent the command cipher to drop the temporal sheath around each cylinder, the outcome would be devastating.

    The release of ultra-amplified seismic potential¡ªcombined with the simultaneous detonation of the antimatter mines¡ªwould create huge voids in the Earth¡¯s crust. And once the psitronic crystals had magnified the resultant blasts, the spine of the San Gabriel Mountains would be shattered, dropping a huge segment of the North American lithosphere onto the much more fragile Pacific Plate.

    If their calculations were correct, a region that included Pasadena and San Fernando to the northeast; Santa Monica and North Ridge to the northwest; Long Beach; and all the way down to Palos Verdes and Garden Grove in the south, would be lost to the sea.

    It would be glorious!

    No motive equals no warning. And no warning means they won¡¯t have time to prepare a response. There¡¯s no way they¡¯ll be able to prevent a catastrophe.

    Checking her instruments one last time, Angelika shivered with delight. C¡¯mon Yeung! Send me the damn signal. Let¡¯s get this show on the road!

    <h6>*</h6>

    As stealthily as he could, Simon Cooper crept toward his prey.

    Leaving nothing to chance, he remained heavily shielded, and completely invisible. Only yards from his target, he could almost taste the sweetness of his impending victory. Gotcha, you little bastard!

    Joshua Drake was stretched out upon a thin insulate strip. Using his arms as a pillow, he had a survival blanket wrapped tightly around his slight form, and for the first time in days, he was actually napping while his food roasted on a hastily contrived but sturdy spit.

    Now he was closer, Simon could see some sort of adhesive patch attached to the boy¡¯s forehead. He didn¡¯t know what it was exactly, but guessed it to be some kind of recording or measuring device to ensure the child didn¡¯t cheat by employing his abilities.

    Not that there¡¯d been the slightest hint of that. Mummy¡¯s darling angel!

    Inching forward, the hiker that had been a part of Simon Cooper¡¯s extended persona bestowed a gruff acknowledgement of the youngster¡¯s achievements. Joshua was an accomplished hunter and survivalist. Not only had he managed to navigate the dense jungle with consummate ease, but he¡¯d also gotten a healthy fire going, in spite of the dank, humid conditions so prevalent throughout the region.

    Pity he¡¯ll never get the opportunity to enjoy his kill. Law of the jungle and all that. Quite poignant really. . .

    Simon came to a stop, his almost victory now only a few paces from him.

    Then the damned creepy feeling returned with a vengeance.

    Not daring to move, Simon concentrated on diffusing his aura to dissipate any signal he might inadvertently be emitting. It would slow him down fractionally, but if he delivered an adequately powerful psychic shock the moment he blew the drone, Guardian sensors might not realize what had happened. In the confusion, they may even think the energy spike was an esoteric burst from their prodigy as he died in a tragic accident. Which won¡¯t be far from the truth. I¡¯ll just break his neck and make it look like he fell from one of the branches.

    Simon was about to resume his advance, when Joshua declared, ¡°I know you¡¯re there. So you might as well stop hiding and come out.¡±

    What the fuck?

    Adopting a musical lilt, Joshua teased, ¡°Come out, come out, wherever you are!¡±

    You aggravating little . . . Enraged, Simon began to coalesce.

    ¡°String! You do realize you¡¯re going to. . .¡± The words choked off in Joshua¡¯s craw.

    A mighty roar ripped through the undergrowth to Simon¡¯s right. Its resonance caused the hairs on the back of his neck to rise instantly. Before he could turn, some form of extrasensory banshee tore through his mind, rooting him to the spot. Disoriented, Simon was smashed to the floor by the crushing impact of a five hundred pound sledgehammer made from sinew and flesh. The blur of dappled markings dominated his sight as he hit the ground and instinctively rolled. It was only the fact that his atoms had not fully merged again, that saved him.

    Scrabbling to his feet, Simon was confronted by a prehistoric nightmare.

    A huge saber-toothed predator bore down on him, blocking the child from sight. The massive muscles of its chest and forelegs rippled with every movement. A deep thud echoed off into the bushes in response to each measured step. Bristling with rage, it made no attempt to employ its uncanny stealth any more. A gaze that burned like acid bore into him, its impact a tangible kick to the guts.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    The creature¡¯s upper lip curled back as it growled, revealing a further row of razored teeth, each bigger than his own hand. A second telepathic howl threatened to drive Simon to his knees.

    In slow-motion, the beast flattened its ears and hunched down. Its hind quarters started to tremble as it gathered the potential to spring the intervening gap.

    For the first time, Simon was able to unclog his wits sufficiently to comprehend Joshua Drake was shouting. ¡°No, String! Away!¡±

    St . . . ing n . . . you ar . . .!

    Oddly enough, he could barely hear the boy¡¯s echoing psychic plea.

    Strange. Are we being scanned?

    Pained frustration crossed Joshua Drake¡¯s face. Hesitating, he ripped the pad from his head. Too late, his mind bellowed: STRING, I SAID NO!

    Snarling with a fury that would have welded lesser beings in place, the mountainous feline launched itself forward. Daggerlike talons arced toward Simon¡¯s throat.

    But Simon wasn¡¯t a lesser being.

    He was of the Fallen.

    As the Veran sent him sprawling to the leaf-strewn carpet once more, Simon delivered a devastating reflex surge of uncontrolled energy. A sizzling snap crackled through the air and the breath was snatched from his lungs.

    He lay there, dazed for a moment, before recognizing the smell of burnt flesh and mewling whimpers of pain.

    STRING!

    The thought was loud and clear this time. Its tone laced with barely contained passion.

    ¡°Oh no! String! Not you . . . please, not you!¡± the boy¡¯s physical voice pleaded, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you listen?¡±

    Simon shook his sensibilities clear and looked up.

    Across the burnt and blackened body of the beast, his gaze met that of the human child. A child barely thirteen years of age. A thirteen year old whose grief-marred visage gradually set into a mask of pure hatred. His pupils expanded into two wells of darkest pitch. Something stirred in the darkness.

    Horrified, Simon scrambled backward. By all that¡¯s unholy!

    Joshua surged to his feet, hands raised, fingers hooked into claws. Power¡ªunbridled and unrestrained¡ªanswered his call, flooding into his body from the very fiber of the causational matter strands about them.

    Simon hastened to summon his transfiguration program as death manifested in the ether about him.

    He only just made it.

    Even so, it cost him.

    A swirling vortex of single-minded loathing squeezed in on him from all side and commenced tearing what remained of his physical form to pieces. Thinking his natural glory would bring some respite, Simon was appalled to discover the terrible shredding sensation continued unabated.

    He had no choice.

    Beaming the self destruct sequence toward his Mimic Drone, Simon initiated an emergency teleport and fled the scene.

    Behind him, a final scream rang out into the heavens.

    NOOOOOO!

    <h6>*</h6>

    Pea souper!

    Ali had never heard the term before, but he liked it. It conveyed a certain impression that really summed up what Assad¡¯s fogbank was all about.

    Thirty minutes ago, a British tanker had sailed majestically by. As most modern shipping did nowadays, it relied on its instruments to navigate safely. The pirates¡¯ much smaller craft had been tossed about like a cork. But, because Ali¡¯s crew was professional to the last man, they had managed to maintain a complete silence and the larger vessel passed without even realizing the White Sails were there.

    It had been alarming to watch the two inch thick, steel plated hull steam by and listen to the rhythmic thrum of her submerged rotors. However, thanks to the way sound travels over water, it was calm enough for Ali to be able to hear that phrase, uttered by an opposing crewmember who was obviously a native of London. . .

    ¡°. . .Bloody hell, Mike! It¡¯s a real pea souper out there. Any thicker and we¡¯d have to use an icebreaker to carve our way through. . .¡±

    Whoever Mike was, he had laughed at the comment. But all too soon, both he and his shipmates had faded away into the night, unaware of the brief respite they had provided for those strangers concealed in the gloom only yards below them.

    The lull didn¡¯t last for long.

    They were only eight miles offshore from Yemen, and almost upon their goal. This close to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, traffic on the commercial lanes was much heavier and the White Sails had to maintain a high level of concentration to ensure they wouldn¡¯t get run down by the much larger vessels now surrounding them.

    Then¡ªthrough an unexpected gap in the mist¡ªtheir objective appeared, only fifty yards ahead: the Savage Wind, a nuclear container ship out of Tokyo, which looked to be at anchor after clearing the straits.

    Excellent! Ali thought. This will make our task so much easier. What a stroke of luck.

    Gathering his men in a tight formation around him, he summarized the details of their plan one last time. ¡°We are now approaching the target under cover of darkness and Assad¡¯s ability. Remember, while blanketed by his shadow, their radar, radios, and other navigational aids will be rendered useless. Sadly, we are still vulnerable to an actual collision, so we need to remain alert and move swiftly.

    ¡°Jagpal, prepare each appliance carefully. I want them up on deck by the time we pull alongside. Samuel, hand out the nine millimeters and AK47s. Don¡¯t forget! As per our instructions, we are to use silenced pistols to remove any obstacles in our way. The only time we will revert to the machineguns is if we are discovered and have to shoot our way out.

    ¡°Team one, headed by myself, will head down to the cargo hold. Team two, under Jagpal, will keep the way clear for a rapid exit. If we proceed with caution, we should get in, out and away without incident. They¡¯ll never know we were here. However . . . Teman? If you do hear fighting, put a rocket through her starboard side toward the bow. That will keep them nicely occupied down at the other end while we jump ship and make for the north coast.

    ¡°Questions?¡±

    There were none.

    Ali excused himself and sent a brief text message to Sylvester, who was standing by in a fast skiff at the very edge of the fogbank. Once completed, he joined the others and made ready.

    It only took a few minutes to close the distance, and soon, they were lowering tires over the side and preparing to board.

    An eerie silence descended. To Ali, it felt as if the sea had chosen to inhale and hold its breath. Scanning the access points, he spotted an ungated walkway and loading balcony only twenty feet above them. That will do!

    He turned to Samuel, and whispered, ¡°Rubber tools only!¡±

    Nodding, Samuel picked up a length of knotted rope with a triple-headed grapnel arrangement on the end, and moved onto the forward deck. After judging the distance, he played out a length of line. He then commenced swinging the weighted end back and forth, gently at first and then with greater vigor. Once he had sufficient momentum, he stepped forward and heaved the fluke into the air. It sailed over the edge of the balcony, and a dull thud¡ªas loud as thunder in their ears¡ªechoed out into the night.

    Everyone went still.

    By the time a few minutes had passed without any form of challenge or other response, it was clear they had not been detected.

    Pulling the lead taunt, Samuel hefted additional loops over both his shoulders and made room to leap up. Barefoot, he swiftly climbed the rope and disappeared over the ledge. Moments later, three further lines were dropped.

    One by one, both teams scrambled onto the ship. Once the last man was aboard, two nylon nets were lowered back down onto the yacht. The remaining White Sails made haste to wrap the nuclear devices inside several layers of hessian sacking, whereupon they were placed within the nets and hauled up onto the balcony.

    Pausing only to get their bearings, team two made their way forward and fanned out across the deck. Taking up their positions, they melted into the shadows, went still and ceased to exist.

    Team one gathered around their bundles and began carrying them toward the Above Deck Machine Room. Situated at the stern, this compartment provided a separate control center away from the main bridge. Although most of it was situated down below¡ªsandwiched between the equipment rooms and main engineering¡ªAli knew the area would provide access to the service elevator. Something they would need to facilitate the speedy completion of their task.

    So far, they¡¯d been aboard for less than five minutes and hadn¡¯t seen anyone. While a little odd, Ali wasn¡¯t complaining. Their task was fraught with enough danger as it was. And with Assad in tow, he was grateful for the lucky streak they were enjoying.

    Even so, the further they descended into the bowels of the vessel, the more things didn¡¯t add up. A nuclear container ship would usually be very well guarded. Crewmembers would normally be patrolling about everywhere, no matter the time of day or night.

    But this place was a floating ghost town!

    Ali radioed through to Jagpal on the upper deck. He frowned to discover nobody on team two had witnessed any sign of life either. Just as unsettling was the fact that Jagpal had kept observations on the pilot house, radio room, and battery room with binoculars. And they seemed to be deserted as well! I don¡¯t like this. The sooner we dump these damned things and get out of here, the safer I¡¯ll feel.

    Eventually, after fifteen minutes of sweat, toil, and tension, Ali arrived outside the main cargo doors. Ominously, they were unlocked.

    The first to peep inside, Samuel gasped. ¡°Sage, take a look at this!¡±

    Pushing him aside, Ali stepped through.

    Here was no storage area crammed full of decommissioned nuclear apparatus and fuel rods. Instead, Ali found himself gawping at a hold so empty, it echoed to the sounds of their whispers and wary footfalls.

    Silent alarms bells sounded in his head.

    Signaling to his men, Ali pointed out two locations, and said, ¡°Position the devices there and . . . there. Arm them and let¡¯s get out of here.¡±

    Next, he lifted the radio to his lips, and hissed, ¡°Jagpal? Get your team moving. We¡¯re leaving . . . now!

    ¡°Teman? We¡¯re on the way. Have the boat ready to go, and tell Sylvester to start making his way to the secondary rendezvous point. Oh, and Teman . . . I want at least three rocket launchers primed and ready for use, for when we get back onboard.¡±

    As quietly as possible, Ali and his men began to run.

    That¡¯s when the power went out!

    <h6>*</h6>

    Esther was too stunned to move.

    The Solaris1 main alert klaxon had just tripped, and for a second, everyone stared at each other in mute astonishment.

    At first, Esther assumed her calculations must have been faulty. Without thinking, she started to scan the modified core where the new Prime Synthesis Reactor was situated. As she did so, some of the assembled Guardians began teleporting away, presumably to man their emergency stations. Others hurried toward adjacent terminals.

    Checking the matrix, Esther could see the merging of arcane energies appeared to be stable and well within acceptable parameters. Puzzled, she turned to Grand Master Nagasaki, and said, ¡°Everything is as it should be. Is this supposed . . .?¡±

    A fleeting thought pattern¡ªhot with panic¡ª seared across her perceptions: Get us out of here!

    Simon? What the hell?

    She glanced at the clock: You¡¯re five minutes too soon! What are . . .?

    Fuck the timing. Move or die!

    Without a second thought, Esther reacted, unleashing a sizzling halo of energy that sent everyone near her crashing to the floor. Taken by surprise, Guardians and civilian technicians alike writhed in agony, struggling to counter the effects of the neural charge burning its way along their nervous systems.

    She didn¡¯t wait to see how many people she had managed to incapacitate. Spotting the nearest Engineering Command Terminal, she reached out and blended to it.

    Designed to serve as a second bridge in the event of a disaster, the panel allowed override access to all principal star base functions. Meshing with that system, Esther entered the codes she had obtained from Jose Calderon prior to departure and ordered a purge of the new defense protocols.

    A background hum lifted above the din and the entire grid began shutting down.

    Esther took advantage of the ensuing confusion by activating the hyper-jump gate. I think it¡¯s time I wasn¡¯t here. But first. . .

    Dropping her shields, she leaped into the air, summoning her transcension program as she went. For good measure, she let fly with a pair of supercharged lightning bolts. One fried the primary computers, preventing the cancellation of her instructions. The second¡ªaimed as it was at the main engine room viewport¡ªpierced the triple layered polycarbonate resin with ease, shattering its integrity.

    Already hard-pressed, the remaining Guardians and gifted scientists now had to contend with hurricane force winds and a rapidly depleting oxygen supply.

    Esther couldn¡¯t have cared less. By acting so openly, she had allowed the crystal fragment to recognize her presence. As it chimed to life, she synchronized her aura to its multifaceted exuberance, and triggered a discordant feedback loop. The gravity sheath holding the psitronic fragment in place blew out, sending an overload cascade coursing through the Quad-RAM interface link. Faster than the eye could follow, the shard flew from its mounting bracket and into her grasp, emitting a corresponding effusion of blinding light as it did so.

    A further distracting flash signaled the activation of the back door she had positioned within the hyper-gate¡¯s event horizon. Extending her astral sight, Esther watched in relief as Simon crossed the geodesic plane.

    Reaching out to his dissipating essence, she yelled: Tell Yeung to go now! I¡¯m just going to finish up here before. . .

    YEUNG? A mighty voice imposed.

    A chill coursed through Esther¡¯s complexus. Shit! It¡¯s her.

    Too late, she jumped toward the still open pathway.

    So swiftly that she didn¡¯t comprehend what was happening at first, the escape window slammed shut in her face. Then the gate itself was barricaded off behind a fiercely potent wall of energy.

    Esther turned to face her antagonist.

    An angelic apparition flared into existence before her. At almost eleven feet in height, it exceeded Esther¡¯s strength and spectral brilliance. More frighteningly, the psyche generating that majesty displayed an immutable determination that smacked of unwavering devotion to duty . . . and Esther¡¯s death.

    This was not an entity to face off against.

    Psychic talons started squeezing in on Esther¡¯s position.

    Anatt Yasin¡¯s aura darkened as she repeated herself: What was that you said about notifying Yeung?

    Esther was desperate. Trying to distract her adversary while she thought of a solution, she teased: Such a pity! We could have been friends you know . . . in another life.

    No form of recognition or response was forthcoming. Instead, Esther felt her defenses being tested. Then they started to crumble. Alarmed, she increased the strength of her shields, and phased in her integrated MiMi unit.

    The bear trap intensity of Anatt Yasin¡¯s grip eased for a split-second, before adapting and returning with a vengeance.

    Slivers of pain exploded, deep within Esther¡¯s soul. An icy dominion insinuated itself across her will. The Lord Marshal¡¯s mind grated: I asked you where you were going. And why Yeung would be so interested?

    Esther was shocked. Fuck, they¡¯ve overcome the implant! But how is that pos. . .

    Not wanting to hang around to find out, she reacted intuitively. Bringing the amplified power of the crystal to bear, she loosened the jaws of the trap for long enough to activate an escape pod. A heartbeat later, and the waiting pyramid layers sucked her into a bewildering morass of intertwined and replicated pathways and dead-end conduits.

    She was free.

    Goddamn it, that was close!

    Checking the integrity of her tunnels, Esther relaxed a little. Not only were they guaranteed to confound any pursuit the Deputy Lord Marshal might decide to send after her, but, they were also laced with a number of booby-traps.

    At this moment, Esther was fervently wishing her opponent would chase her.

    It would be immensely gratifying to watch the bitch manifest on top of the photon sphere of a black hole. Talk about ¡®surprise sweetie!¡¯

    Pity I¡¯ve only got two ambushes like that.

    Then she snorted as a profound thought crossed her mind.

    Mind you, knowing her the way I do now . . . she¡¯d probably chew the damned thing out and sentence it to fatigue duties for even daring to try!

    Shame, I really did like her!

 Falling Apart

    No sooner had Simon Cooper coalesced into real space, than he instantly re-teleported to the far side of the Sun. As he did so, he uttered a single, far-spoken word on the declamatory mode: NOW!

    Using the corona of the star to mask his presence, Simon then activated three pyramid pods. However, instead of entering the tunnels, he merely scattered a quantity of false psi-dent chips about his close proximity.

    All but one was sucked into the vortices, leaving a plethora of false trails throughout the subspace medium. The remaining ident, Simon projected on a sub-light collision course with Mars. Let their base there think they have a fugitive in their sights. I¡¯ll be long gone and getting familiar with my new tridentity by the time they discover their error.

    Lingering to ensure his atomic structure exactly matched the rest of the chromosphere about him, Simon held himself in place until a particularly large prominence curled up through the photosphere from the convection zone below.

    Giving the plasma ribbon a final push, he guaranteed its liberty, and blended to its essence as it started a sedate journey toward Earth. I can¡¯t believe how quickly that all fell apart at the seams. I hope the rest of the stages run more smoothly. . .

    . . .Because if they don¡¯t, we¡¯ll seriously need to reevaluate our policies.

    <h6>*</h6>

    Ali glanced at his watch repeatedly as his team pounded along the passageways, all pretence for stealth long gone. It had been a shock to discover they were on board a modern-day version of the Mary Celeste, and the situation felt more and more like a trap the longer they were here.

    One hour!

    That¡¯s all they had left. Just one brief portion of the day before the huge container ship was blown out of the water and all hell broke loose.

    And what a hell it would be.

    Ali was no expert in such matters. Far from it. Nonetheless, had been doing his homework in the weeks since knowledge of what they were transporting on behalf of their mystery benefactor had sunk in.

    The devices were low yield. That much he did know. When they detonated, the initial fireball would only irradiate an area up to a measly one mile radius from the epicenter, so there was little chance of anyone from the White Sails being harmed straight away. From what he remembered, the resultant ionization would be harmful to living tissue; in particular, the chemical bonds holding the atoms of the body together. Though devastating, that type of radiation was short-lived. So, if they were far enough away when the bombs exploded, they wouldn¡¯t be harmed.

    IF we¡¯re far enough away! Distance will be crucial to survival.

    What worried Ali the most was the consequences of the accompanying shockwave. His research had shown that, no matter the yield, the pressure flow generated by the deposition of such a large amount of energy would be tremendously destructive.

    And this one would be travelling across water!

    However, he¡¯d had an idea how to moderate the danger if anything went wrong and they were caught out in the open.

    The motor launch had a top speed of forty knots. It was also equipped with the latest vacuum-seal hatchways and self righting mechanisms. If he could put enough distance¡ªand intervening shipping¡ªbetween them and the initial blast, he was confident they wouldn¡¯t capsize or suffer from the effects of fallout. They¡¯d also be close enough to land to break out the life rafts if needs be. And once ashore, their waiting fleet of vehicles would whisk them away from the scene of a terrible crime and on to the safety of their own homes.

    Home! God, that feels so far away at the moment.

    Reaching the top deck, Ali¡¯s line of thought was interrupted. Too many of his men were milling about in confusion. His commanding voice soon gave them a sense of much needed focus. ¡°What are you waiting for? Go! Go! Go! Get out of here. Just jump over the side.¡±

    His men didn¡¯t need telling twice.

    Slinging their weapons, they raced for the railings. Pausing to check the whereabouts of their own craft, they adjusted their grips and vaulted.

    Coming to a halt himself, Ali raised his radio. There¡¯s no need for Sylvester to hang around when he¡¯s in a more vulnerable skiff. I¡¯ll send him on his way and we can meet up back in our own territorial waters.

    Depressing the switch, he was just about to talk when a high-pitched whine drowned out any chance to speak. The sound cut through the still of the night like a knife. Yanking the earpiece away from his head, his blood ran cold. Was that a microwave burst?

    Ali wasn¡¯t about to stand around and find out. Stepping up onto the railing, he leaped forward. . .

    Down in the hold, the digital displays on the one kiloton bombs stuttered to a standstill at fifty-four minutes and six seconds. The timer went dead as the inner workings of the CPU adjusted to a fresh set of commands just received from an orbiting satellite.

    When they blinked back on, the readout flashed once, the numerals reappeared, and the countdown resumed . . . only this time, the numbers tumbled in a maniacal freefall.

    Two seconds later, they reached zero.

    . . .Back topside, Ali couldn¡¯t understand why he was still sailing through the air. Shouldn¡¯t I have hit the sea by now?

    His world turned white and rushed beyond his ability to comprehend.

    Then blackness took him.

    <h6>*</h6>

    From her position in high orbit, Angelika was hoping to have seen more of an imposing light-bloom from the Gulf of Aden. That side of the Earth was still hours away from dawn, so it should have been dark enough to see the blinding intensity of the thermonuclear exhalation in all its rampant glory. Hmmm, what an anticlimax! Not like it is on the TV at all. . .

    . . .Mind you, it doesn¡¯t have to be a Hollywood spectacular. The ton of plutonium powder we scattered through the deck lining will contaminate enough of the Red and Arabian Seas to ensure the Strait remains closed to shipping for quite a while. Somehow, I can¡¯t see them making their daily quota of three billion barrels of oil tomorrow!

    Musing she might be, but Angelika was still intent on her mission. Part of her subconscious scanned the horizon continually for any sign of the cloaked and shielded Guardian Observation Stations she knew patrolled these environs. I wonder how long it will take them to react? Best I wasn¡¯t here to find out!

    She teleported to a second, Council controlled firing platform¡ªthis one situated over North America¡ªand counted slowly to ten in her head. Then she initiated another set of microwave bursts aimed at multiple sites across the Los Angeles basin.

    Angelika held her breath a studied the topography of the region carefully, wondering what telltale signs she might spot first.

    Esther had told her that the half gram of antimatter incorporated into each of the three collars around the seismic charges contained the equivalent power of two Hiroshima bombs. That energy¡ªcombined with the amplification provided by the psitronic crystal shavings¡ªwas bound to be spectacular.

    This time, she wasn¡¯t disappointed.

    From her position high above, it looked as if a handful of invisible gravel had been cast into a cityscape pond, with Downtown Los Angeles at its center. A rabid throng of closely packed ripples radiated inward, through the Earth¡¯s crust, to form an inverted U-shaped distortion. Those shockwaves condensed, massing together until everything went suddenly still. Then they exploded outward again at an even more frenzied rate.

    As the surge dissipated, the strata at eight distinct points throughout the region started bulging upward. Protruding higher and higher into the heavens, each prominence continued swelling until a gigantic bubble had formed. Glowing yellow hot at their cores, they lifted millions of tons of rock and soil with them. Angelika was reminded of an image she¡¯d once seen in which a demon worked to inflate the bellows of Hades, inundating the damned in fire and brimstone. Something the unsuspecting populace was about to experience for real.

    But not quite yet!

    Amazingly, the inner furnaces to each bubble winked out at the same moment. To Angelika, it seemed as if someone had flicked a light switch off . . . only to flick it back on again an instant later.

    And when they did. . .

    Even though she was three hundred miles up, Angelika was forced to shield her eyes as a silver-white brilliance ripped its way through the surface tension governing each blazing globule. That brilliance vaporized water, earth and rock alike; ignited subsurface gasses, and bathed the entire west coast in the purifying glare of a false sunrise.

    Now that was impressive!

    Preparing herself for a hasty departure, Angelika risked one final peek. She sighed with deep satisfaction as an enormous horseshoe-shaped ring of land began to sag alarmingly. As it did so, a huge deformation bucked the natural flow of the waves only twenty miles out into the Pacific Ocean. Extending past Malibu in the north and down to Oceanside in the south, it created the impression that a giant baby had just thrown a tantrum and slapped the flat of its hand into the sea.

    The result? A rising cliff of cobalt blue potential.

    Glancing at her watch, Angelika checked the time. Ah, it¡¯s a little early, but never mind. The whole basin is coming apart. Excellent! I¡¯d better get out of here. . .

    . . .Hmmm, I wonder how things are going for the others?

    <h6>*</h6>

    Naomi Cruz approached the threshold between existence and oblivion. The nearer she got, the more the causational probability nodes governing universal stability quivered, strumming in the manner of strings on a celestial harp.

    Reduced temporarily to the sidelines, her Shepherd and Supporter watched with bated breath, eager with an anticipation laced with concern that the ordeal would¡ªat last¡ªbe entering its final phase.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    But still Naomi delayed.

    Already expanded beyond the constraints of human mortality, she wished to understand her emerging level of existence with a clarity that defied reason. Therefore, she lingered still. Tasting, sampling, savoring, and devouring. Analyzing a core essence that still only hinted at the sovereignty hidden within. And was rewarded. . .

    . . .New experiences¡ªas old as creation¡ªrediscovered from the dawn of time. Neither this way nor that, for myriad panoramas are presented all at once in a cavalcade of variegated splendor.

    I see! She gasps, fascinated by what now lay open to scrutiny.

    And there, at the edge of reason . . . the whispers linger.

    Howling like demons in the silence of the night, they guide her, indicating the path to absolution if only she could find the courage to take that first step.

    She does so, and fires scorch the hearth of her doubt with bitter frigidity.

    Come and be cleansed! They exclaim: Purge your newly grown mind free of the insubstantial and impotent to discover the solidity of purpose to be savored in a single thought.

    She takes another hesitant pace forward.

    A crystal is grasped.

    Unprecedented! The watchers chorus.

    Why is my life of consequence as ephemeral as smoke in the wind?

    How could I have missed the liquescence of the cosmic all as it flows between all and nothing¡ªnothing¡ªnothing . . .?

    Adjusting to a more expansive scope, Naomi began to see how galaxies forded the interstellar currents in graceful, rhythmic patterns too vast to assimilate in one go. Myriad heartbeats joined at every level, pulsing in ecstasy. They spanned the universe; some here, some there; some near, and some so very, very far away.

    Others observed her ascension. They are powerful and so different to the natural order of this sphere. And yet, they ring with intimate familiarity. Why? Where are these entities from?

    We are here to assist. They call: Free from petrifaction, we respond . . . as we should have all those eons ago.

    Naomi¡¯s heart fluttered. If I could only remember who they are. . .

    . . .Are these even my memories?

    Answers abounded, hidden in plain sight within multifaceted simplicity.

    Look there and learn!

    The soaring majesty contained within the nucleus of a dying atom; the awesome clarity revealed by an aberration of physics. Black as darkest night, it swallowed all within its field of gravity, yet creates as it destroys; the expansive cycle of all or nothing.

    And there, at the beginning and end of it all, the intricacies of the Maestro Supreme stand revealed in exquisite detail.

    Look closer!

    Creation sings. The bass tenor of its refrain glittered like stars through the fabric of existence, a lullaby to those ears able to discern it.

    Dust motes dance to a never-ending waltz, their steps unfathomable to all but the few who still hold back . . . afraid to take to the floor for fear of failure or rejection.

    A zillion choices splinter within the convexity of a crystalline lattice.

    I have but one. . .

    . . .Do¡ªor do not!

    The bittersweet taste of humanity gained and lost as the decision to proceed is finally taken.

    I do! Cognizance recognized.

    What other way is there, but to advance?

    A psychic barrier pierced; an overwhelming surge of release; an explosion of awareness; neural pathways, so freshly sensitized, energize in a flaring nebula of sights, sounds and sensations.

    Supercharging, the metamorphosis takes on a life of its own. I swell. I grow. I change and become what I was destined to be. Who I was destined to be! I grasp and take hold of hypothetical realities.

    Noises now have taste. Taste gives off color. Those colors blend together into a bouquet of fragrances, fragrances that ring with a solidarity of purpose. Compartmentalized reason intertwines and binds to the elasticity of a thousand outcomes.

    Oblique transparency resounds with limitless knowledge.

    Do you hear?

    A single tone pierces the silence and she beholds the moment of creation. Its power, its majesty, encapsulated within a subatomic particle. Each is a universe in its own right. Carried on solar winds, the seeds disperse, spreading knowledge and the essence of life. A symphony of titanic bliss, they also conceal the truth from those too proud to search for it. . .

    . . .And I am but a single note in the eternal score.

    My dazzling mind is now super-energized, far, far beyond that which I thought possible. To a place where the very superficies of actuality extend further invitations.

    Naomi shuddered as her expanding neural pathways diversified again.

    Time shifted. See? I now exist here and there. Elsewhere and everywhere. Pulsing with a psychoenergetic concordance that spans the unknown.

    The flesh that shackles her is cast off. I soar at last, reaching out as I was meant to do. I shine and magnify into my true state. The crystal before me is but an artifact. A tool and conduit through which my will reigns supreme!

    NAOMI?

    Other minds are quick to express concern.

    One is lesser, yet wise. The other is a paradox of humility and greatness, encompassing a level of efficacy as yet undetermined!

    Naomi, are you there? They call in union, the blending a masterpiece of harmonic transition. Although redundant, they offer valuable instruction: Remember we are here. We know you still comprehend your identity. Do not succumb to oblivion.

    Oblivion? But I soar, godlike among lesser. . .

    A part of her fought against that whim. NO! I MUST NEVER THINK THAT WAY!

    . . .Among less evolved beings. Those who have yet to take the step.

    A valid state of symmetry is acknowledged.

    Accepting it, the aspirant comprehends there are many options open to her. I see more! Much more! And they all call to me, beckoning as they tease. An enticing vastness, blinding in its brilliance. . .

    . . .and so intoxicating!

    COME!

    They would lure me away if I let them.

    COME, LOSE YOURSELF!

    The gravity of their determination . . . is. . .

    BE WITH US!

    Yet I must decline.

    YOUR LOSS WILL BE PROFOUND¡ªFOUND¡ªFOUND. . .

    Somehow, Naomi anchored her will on the side of prudence: Who are you, really that urges me so? Why do you seek such haste when I understand my place in the grand scheme of things? Balance must be recognized. Striven for and earned.

    The meaning behind the multitudinal crystalline possibility lattices before Naomi suddenly made sense. As she accepted their clarity, the crushing weight of responsibility descended upon her ethereal shoulders. I am to be a guide for those who need to grow and understand their place in the temporal scheme of things.

    Relief flooded the ether.

    I pass the test and remain . . . Naomi. But I see . . . I see sooo many things all at once.

    An amber note rang out, a minim, pure and resolute:

    In answer, a hyper-gate activates and an ancient enemy once thought contained appears. Warping the fabric of space and time, he mind-shouts one word: NOW!

    The Creator of All observes from above/elsewhere/everywhere. Naomi¡¯s arrival is noticed and incomprehensible joy blossoms throughout the Higher Ether.

    The Father of us here watches from afar. His delight at the fruition of long held plans is also evident.

    He calls in welcome: So, here you are at last, little mind sister! You are a treasure to behold. Don¡¯t forget, I¡¯ll soon be very different to what I am now. But don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be keeping an eye on things in a different way.

    Different way?

    You¡¯ll see. All you need to do now is allow your own sense of right and wrong to guide you. You will be a beacon in the dark, and a harbor from the storms to come¡ªcome¡ªcome. . .

    The vastness of his intellect receded, abruptly intent upon another purpose.

    Others intruded. Naomi?

    Reality flexed as a rarified mind adjusted into a superior level of understanding.

    Victoria?

    The presence morphed into an ethereal duality: Yes, it¡¯s me. You do realize. . .?

    WAIT!

    Though distracted, Naomi¡¯s grasp of a thousand simultaneous happenings crashed upon the shores of her expanded awareness. Consequence and subsequence clarified within a whirling nub of lucidity.

    Another tone of equal measure and length thrummed in the ether:

    I see . . . No! I hear elusive signals, covertly sent. They herald an impending doom!

    The staggering potential within two simple atoms is suddenly exposed in horrific glory. The unlimited scope of their originator is revealed by the staggering might unleashed at their destruction. Splitting, they throw back the night, and a sea boils.

    Almost instantly, the scrutiny of higher minds¡ªsome enhanced by incredibly sophisticated technology¡ªwashes over the scene of devastation. Familiar alarms are activated. Those sworn to protect and serve, responded with haste.

    As they do so, multiple scenarios play out to their conclusion in her mind. Observing those outcomes, the most suitable resolution presents itself.

    Contemplating such a course is dangerous¡ªdangerous¡ªdangerous. . .

    Turning her attention toward the crystal, Naomi accessed a course never before attempted by one still emerging.

    Yet how could I not try!

    Realizing what was being contemplated, the Shepherd expressed her doubts: Naomi, what are you thinking?

    Ignoring her, Naomi chose to proceed.

    Meshing her will to an obverse plane of the crystal, Naomi¡¯s intent became dominant. Concentrating, she sent a surge of ultra-magnified psitronic energy toward the Earth and Observation Station 5. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit above the Sudan, the facility was only just dispatching an Alpha Response Team to the Gulf of Aden.

    HOLD! She called, confident in her certainty.

    Despite the muting presence of the lunar rocks, they heard.

    DIVERT OUR RESOURCES TO THE SURVIVING CASUALTIES IN THE GULF. I WILL HANDLE THE FALLOUT AND SUPPRESS THE TIDAL WAVES.

    Altering the fabric of her corpus once more, Naomi brought two more lattices of the crystal to bear.

    Indescribable pain lanced through her sensibilities, almost shattering her sanity. No! I must remain in control. . .

    Easier said than done, for it felt as if her mind was rupturing, expanding too far, too swiftly into dimensions that did not concern her . . . yet! Goddamit! I¡¯m coming apart. But I can¡¯t stop now. I must . . . I must. . .

    I am here Naomi!

    An older, wiser and stronger presence suddenly manifested beside her.

    Victoria reined back the urgency of her hail: Have conviction! You are new. The crystal is capable of fracturing reality and draining you to the point of nullity. Until you¡¯ve gained a degree of expertise, be more cautious. . .

    . . .Let me help you . . . Thus!

    Together they combined, and bent the warped eso-physics of the gem to their will.

    A binary rainbow shimmered down onto the Gulf of Aden. Flickering across the expanding doughnut shaped wave front, it lingered for a second or two as it blended to the harmonic amplitude of the charging water. Then the frequency altered.

    For all its potential, the tsunami dropped impotently into the sea, like a vast wall of ice breaking free of its parent shelf.

    Glittering flakes appeared, high in the atmosphere. Washing through the area, they saturated clouds and air alike with a sparkling radiance. Crystalline implosions resounded in one place after another as that radiance burst into inflammable flames, consuming the irradiated particles as they went. In the blink of an eye, all that was left was a fine residue of pearlescent ash. Those flakes fell into the waters, disappeared in puffs of smoke, leaving no trace of the invisible pall of death that would have rained its lethal mixture onto a helpless populace.

    Incredibly, all this is accomplished in less than nine seconds!

    A surge of pride coursed through Naomi¡¯s complexus, echoed by a chorus of ¡°well dones¡± from elsewhere.

    Then Naomi discerned an even more pressing danger!

    A deeper, more resonant golden ambiance reverberated through her soul:

    The fidelity of the timeline staggers as eight colossal blasts tear at the very foundation of space and time on the opposite side of the planet. Matter is annihilated, ceasing to exist, as an unbelievably enormous quantity of energy is unleashed.

    Augmented hyper-senses zoom in to investigate.

    Stunned, Naomi watches as ultra-amplified waves of seismic devastation radiate outward from the Los Angeles region. Huge voids appear beneath the mantle. The two contending crustal plates recoil as a catastrophic paroxysm runs riot. Unable to withstand the unprecedented loss of trillions of cubic tons of supporting strata, hills, valleys and plains collapse. Some deflate into the voids, while others succumb to the inrushing sea. Given its head, tectonic tension¡ªheld in abeyance for decades¡ªsnaps free in a meteoric retort.

    Islands, shoreline, and mountains far and wide tremble on the brink of ruin.

    NO!

    Coming back to herself for a moment, Naomi cast Victoria free, and then braced herself against the deluge of a million different bytes of data storming against her super-energized, hyper-cognitive perceptions.

    Enhanced beyond imagination, Naomi used the psitronic totem to guide her as she compressed that information overload into a constructive, useable tool.

    In less than a nanosecond, Naomi had compartmentalized every facet of the unfolding drama, and accurately assessed the impact this apocalypse would cause:

    The spine of the Los Angeles district had been shattered. A huge chunk of the North American continent was now crushing down on it. The entire volume of the nine and a half thousand mile wide Pacific Ocean rushed to take advantage of the imbalance.

    Desolation on an unprecedented scale was about to unfold.

    Unless I do something about it . . . no matter the cost!

    Comprehension of the deficit in Guardian resources came to her in an instant. As did a congregation of viable solutions.

    One was selected.

    Naomi¡¯s flexing consciousness snaked even closer to survey the west coast of the United States from top to bottom, confirming what needed to be done.

    From this distance, it would be an immense task.

    It would require her full attention and the combined efforts of her Shepherd, her Supporter, and the very special assets only available to her devoted family. . .

    Inevitably, it would also necessitate the employment of the crystal itself. From here, within the arcane dampening field of a chamber designed to prevent the very thing she was contemplating. And that was what would cost her the most!

    Accepting the enormity of the repercussions, Naomi stepped into the crystal!

 Aftershock

    Esther surrendered herself to the confusion that was the pyramid protocol. Bitter experience had taught her a long time ago, never to try and anticipate which of the multiple arcs the path would follow. To do so would only make her nauseous.

    And it was easy to see why. Every few seconds, the sequence ensured to cycle through a manifestation process. On each occasion, Esther¡¯s molecular template was replicated and projected onward, toward three new entry thresholds. Two would be phantoms, and would quickly dissipate as the patterns dematerialized. The other¡ªthe true path¡ªwould pitch her forward along an increasingly radical course. Using this method assured she quickly became lost among the numerous trajectories each phase generated.

    But there was a price to pay.

    Traversing the temporal cambers in such a manner produced an intense rush, making Esther feel like a competitor in the Luge events held at the Winter Olympics. I wonder if Simon managed to tip Yeung off? I¡¯d hate to think we¡¯d gone to all that trouble for nothing. Well, not for nothing!

    The psitronic crystal sang warmly, deep within her complexus, happy to be at rest within a familiar environment. I can do all sorts of damage with this little baby.

    Without warning, the crystal flared, and began emitting a highly concordant tone.

    I¡¯m happy to see you too! She thought.

    The timbre deepened, and then swelled alarmingly as if welcoming a long lost friend. I said I¡¯m happy to see you . . . ? What are yo¡ª?

    Before Esther could finish her thought, the conduit along which she was traveling deformed, twisting her violently off course. Whoa! What the hell is happening?

    Careening wildly from side to side, she was forced to boost her esoteric stabilizing program by more than fifty percent to regain a degree of control. As her balance returned to something near normal, she focused her will, initiating an emergency exit portal.

    Her ordeal was far from over. No sooner had she brought her potential to bear, than a gauntlet of arcane might punched through the surrounding quantum matrix and ruptured the temporal sheath encasing her. The fist flared wide, wrapped itself around the shard within her complexus and wrenched hard, hauling Esther to a standstill.

    Next, an indecipherable surge pulsed through the many-fingered net, triggering her re-materialization, and dragging her back through the tunnel¡¯s lining into normal space. Expecting a fight, Esther surrounded herself with as strong a shield as she could muster and started scanning her immediate surroundings.

    For a moment, she hung in the vacuum, confused. There . . . there¡¯s nobody here?

    Brightness enfolded her in a blanket of diffuse sparkling light. However, that illumination was muted and distant. Although coming from billions upon billions of suns, they were so far away they appeared as nothing more than pinpricks, peppered across a sheet of card. To reach them, she would have to traverse an immense abyss.

    Adjusting her perspective, Esther comprehended just how large that abyss was. I¡¯m at the center of a galaxy. A huge kick-ass galaxy!

    Something about it rang with such familiarity it tugged at ancient recollections.

    Then realization hit her. Hang on! That means I should be right on top of a singularity? Dread followed, hot on its heels. Oh fuck, no!

    Oh fuck, yes! An overwhelmingly powerful presence cut in out of nowhere: You failed to appreciate just how intimate my connection to the crystal would be, didn¡¯t you?

    Effulgence erupted about her, and Esther found herself surrounded by faces from the distant past . . . and one that she¡¯d seen much more recently.

    You! Her mind gasped, utter astonishment preventing her from processing the revelation clearly.

    On impulse, Esther attempted to call on the support of the psitronic crystal to strengthen her defenses. Her efforts were in vain. The shard flew from her grasp and blazed into life, burning more intensely than she thought could ever be possible.

    And as magnificent as that sight was, it was lost against the dazzling radiance of the individual embracing it.

    I missed you too, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem crooned: You never called. You never wrote. What was I supposed to think?

    It took Esther a moment to realize he was addressing her, not the crystal. If she supposed Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem¡¯s humor might be indicative of a more tolerant demeanor, her hopes were crushed when she espied the barely restrained blackness at his core. I¡¯m screwed!

    They¡¯d all known it would happen if he stayed too long on this sphere of reality.

    Generated to unleash divine destruction upon those who dared to oppose the Prime Source, the true Angel of the Abyss was as deadly as he was immutable. Only one creature of a higher magnitude had ever been engendered. The Archangel. And he wasn¡¯t here to help.

    In this realm, untendered by the calming, restorative effects of Ultimate Bliss, the dreadful disposition of Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem¡¯s cardinal attribute was breaking down the walls of his dogged persistence and rigid devotion to duty.

    Gradually, but inevitably, the Destroyer was breaking free.

    Esther¡¯s spectral brilliance faltered. Horrified, she asked: Will you kill me now?

    Soon! He replied, his inflection devoid of emotion. An all-pervading chill closed in about her: It¡¯s what I was made to do, after all. Anyone who violates His decrees without remorse must be eradicated.

    Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem¡¯s consciousness entered hers with appalling ease, despite the bewildering array of precautions she¡¯s added to her psi-well over millennia.

    That act alone brought home a terrible truth to Esther.

    All those years ago, they¡¯d made their plans . . . she and her cohorts. Conniving. Maneuvering. Plotting. Scheming. They thought he¡¯d gone soft. Lost his ability or resolve to act as the centuries passed slowly by.

    How wrong they¡¯d been.

    Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem had remained faithful. Determining to offer no resistance, he¡¯d let them choose their own path¡ªtheir own destiny¡ªwithout an ounce of coercion from him. In doing so, they¡¯d sealed their own doom.

    Esther knew Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem could read it plainly now, as his psyche swarmed through the bleakest recesses of her ego. Digesting the depth of her depravity, he witnessed the lengths she would gleefully go to, to extend the suffering of those she had always view as lowly insects.

    Trying to divert his attention, she argued: It¡¯s never been about His statutes! You¡¯ve always sought . . . sought to . . . AAARGH!

    Undiluted pain coursed through her complexus. All of it driven by a relentless wave of malice that scorched her neural pathways to the cusp of termination.

    Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem severed the flow of his attack abruptly: You forget yourself . . . Sister. I have never sought or welcomed the pedestal upon which my feet have been set. And although Fallen, I was humble enough to listen to Heimdhariel¡¯s admonition from the outset. As was Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel. You were there. Do you not remember Heimdhariel¡¯s words?

    ¡®. . .In your disgraced condition, you are forbidden to interact with those who are untainted. You are forbidden to reveal this judgment to any whose origin is not of the Host. Only the truly penitent may one day hope to achieve consolation. Go now and reflect on the actions that led to your just proscription. . .¡¯

    Did you choose to suppress this fact?

    Esther had no answer.

    The Destroyer continued: Heimdhariel¡¯s departing warning contained a source of hope for those who were not overly consumed by narcissism and the bitterness of their own failure. The Prime Source has no reason to resort to deception. Indeed, he would be incapable of such treachery. No! By excising our corruption from the heavenly realm, he also grafted a new goal for us to work toward. An eventual return home.

    Home! Esther spat, her anger overcoming her fear: Are you mad? Do you ever think that could possibly happen?

    As soon as she uttered those words, Esther thought she might have pushed her luck too far and braced herself against an instant, deathly reprisal.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    Amazingly, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem remained an oasis of calm. After a moment or two had passed, he asked: Tell me . . . Sister. Have you been so intent upon your course to self destruction that you failed to notice the absence of your brother, Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel? He who was the eldest and wisest of all to Fall. Are you seriously telling me that you¡ªone of our most adept artificer¡¯s of the Median Echelon¡ªfailed to notice he is no longer with us?

    Esther faltered. Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel?

    Casting her mind far and wide, she expanded her astral sight in a search for Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel¡¯s distinct signature. Distance wouldn¡¯t really matter to one of his office, as his nexus was extremely conspicuous and would have seeded the universe, wherever he chose to go. For one of her talents, it would be an easy matter to discern the resonance of his passage.

    The only location she detected any such echo was here, at the place he had selected to begin his labors, so very long ago.

    Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem edged closer and opened the vault of his memories to her: We had only just arrived on this plane. Because of my more . . . aggressive nature, I looked ahead, millions of years into the future. To me, that was the only way I could envisage a work worthy enough to qualify for my reunification. Our dear brother thought differently. I must admit, he threw me with his very unique and innovative idea. Replaying a part of the conversation between them, Esther heard Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel¡¯s voice begin:

    ¡®. . .Oh, don¡¯t worry too much. I wouldn¡¯t leave you completely alone with such a monumental task ahead of you. I¡¯ll wait until after the intervention has been initialized before I begin my own personal penance . . . I was thinking here would be as good a place as any?

    What? You intend to fulfill the function of a singularity?

    It will be a sound place to start. Who knows? It might even work! If you read between the lines, I think Heimdhariel was trying to give us a hope as we were cast down. . .

    . . . I¡¯d like to think so anyway. . .¡¯

    Esther was moved. Moved and confused. She whispered: So he did it? He actually did it? He . . . He did return, didn¡¯t he?

    Affirming her suspicions, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem replayed the moment Andrew had assisted him in his closest friend¡¯s restoration to the Higher Plane.

    As she watched, Esther¡¯s emotions threatened to run away with her. She pined aloud: Home. . .

    As the awesome scene faded, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem concluded: Do you see now, with eyes unveiled? Had you not been so set upon the road to ruin, you would have tasted his absence. Discerned the reasons¡ªeven interred as you were¡ªand known the path to penitence was inveterate.

    So it is possible? It¡¯s real! We can go home?

    Not you . . . not now! Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem stated bluntly, darkening even further.

    A ripple passed through his essence. More gently, he stressed: I act as I was purposed to do. But I will allow you time to say your goodbyes.

    He gravitated away slightly.

    Overflowing with sorrow and regret, the softer radiances of Aslan-di¡¯el, Gaia-le¡¯el, Gazad-riel, Ocean-az¡¯el, and Olinda crowded around Esther. Using Esther¡¯s given name, Olinda addressed her: You have become eclipsed, Hestan-eal. Despite the expansion we perceive within your psi-well. I always hoped you would . . . would. . .

    Join us! Aslan-di¡¯el stressed Olinda¡¯s point: Or at the very least, we¡¯d hoped you would offer us the benefits of your Higher genesis. We could have realized wonders beyond imagining.

    You were a Median! Gazad-riel added: You could have accomplished so much good in support of Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem. Or simply declined to intercede in the way we all did at first. Pity! We will miss the grace of your presence upon this circle once it has been extinguished.

    Dryly, Esther indicated her waiting executioner and countered: Oh, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find he makes good use of my energies. You know the way he is. How he¡¯ll undoubtedly act. Every time he does, just think of me!

    Oh, but I won¡¯t! Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem interrupted: I do not desire or need anything from you. I will, however, ensure to make an example of you as I make certain the twins are enhanced by your vitality . . . and the knowledge you think is hidden within your nexus.

    And how will you manage that for them from here? Esther gasped: Unless you¡¯ve got them hidden away nearby. You can¡¯t preserve my ess . . . I mean. That¡¯s impossible!

    How far you have fallen! His certainty cut Esther¡¯s protestations short: Looking inward, you forget the capacity of those older, wiser, and far stronger than yourself. Even here in Tartarus, I am not without finesse.

    Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem surged toward her and abruptly paused just beyond the limits of her threshold. Esther tensed, waiting for the blast of arcane majesty that would send her reeling into oblivion.

    It never came.

    Mystified, she watched as one delicate strand of Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem¡¯s tincture continued to flow forward. It wavered for a moment, like seaweed caught in an invisible current, apparently searching for something. Then it suddenly stabbed out, and Esther felt herself impaled upon an excruciating blade of ice.

    Pierced to the core, she froze, screaming.

    Unbelievably, the pain cut off only almost immediately as Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem unexpectedly withdrew. What?

    His visage held no mercy: Like I said, I need to send a message. Simply destroying you here, now, would defeat my purpose.

    Signaling the others, he turned and began leading the group away, dismissing her as if she was of no further consequence.

    Is he sparing me? Letting me go so that his infernal offspring have the sport of hunting me down?  Esther was about to ask what was going on, when she sensed it.

    Something had changed. Something deep inside.

    One moment, she was whole. Complete and intact. The next, she encountered a sudden empty hollowness spreading through the breadth of her form. A kernel of her soul cracked open and started bleeding, filling her psi-well with ichor. She moved to cauterize the wound, only to discover her efforts compounded the issue. No!

    A numbing cold leeched from her psychic nexus. Radiating outward, it encompassed her in a halo of brittle frigidity. Escalating, it sank to the very center of her complexus whereupon it began to weave an arcane network of power.

    Waves of concentric energy throbbed inward, each more powerful than the one before. Pressure mounted. Within a short period of time, Esther could feel her identity slewing away from the crux of her existence.

    A hyperspatial gateway opened right on top of her, swallowing her whole.

    Esther was then compressed through a geodesic stream, the likes of which shouldn¡¯t have been possible. Not here. Not in this sphere.

    What have I done!

    Moments later, she emerged someplace else entirely.

    <h6>*</h6>

    Stripped of her magnified authority, Esther crashed to the floor in human form in front of a very startled group of people. Bleeding and broken, she rolled over on the ground and tried to get her ruined body to breathe. Jeeesus! I can¡¯t . . . What the . . . ?

    It took a few moments for Esther to realize that the roiling, seething, mass of energy spitting and flaring in the air above her was her former transcended essence. In some unfathomable way, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem had ripped it from her and managed to keep it intact.

    A pair of smaller gateways opened. Before she could fully comprehend what was happening, her psi-well was divided into two distinct parts and spirited away.

    And still the torment continued.

    Coming out of their collective shock, Lei Yeung, Simon Cooper, and Angelika Papadakos rushed toward her. Esther barely acknowledged they were there. She was too appalled. I¡¯m on Earth? He jumped me all that distance in one go? How?

    Finding her voice, at last, she began to scream.

    Ineffable misery coursed through her nervous system. It seemed to Esther that her atoms had been set ablaze. Nothing she could do would ease the mounting torment.

    Her suffering took on a new twist as an irresistible compulsion seized what was left of her will. Irrespective of the pain, she was forced to sit bolt upright and remain motionless while she repeated a message implanted into her consciousness just before Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem had discarded her like refuse.

    Between sobs of agony, she hissed: ¡°You¡ªall of you¡ªare undone. Surrender now and your punishment will be more lenient. That I promise. Resist and the twins will be relentless in ensuring your fate becomes an example others whisper in fear for all eternity!¡±

    Suddenly free, Esther sagged back to the floor. The burning increased. Horrified, she watched aghast as her arms and legs began dissolving.

    ¡°Who has done this to you?¡± Yeung gasped, alarm etched clearly across his features.

    I must . . . I must warn. . . Ignoring him, Esther turned her head while she still could.

    Fixing Simon with a look of utter hopelessness, she burbled and sputtered one last, garbled sentence before her molecules were obliterated.

    <h6>*</h6>

    ¡°What was that? What the fuck did she say?¡± Sobbed Angelika, her face mottled to an unhealthy gray by fear and revulsion. Glancing repeatedly between her two companions, she was clearly impatient for someone to answer.

    Yeung was too overcome by shock to help. Something else was on his mind. Just loud enough for the others to hear, he mumbled, ¡°Did you see how she crumbled to dust? It must have been agonizing? But . . . how did she manage to teleport while so badly injured?¡±

    ¡°She didn¡¯t!¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Yeung and Angelika spoke in unison.

    ¡°I said, she didn¡¯t teleport,¡± Simon repeated. ¡°He did it!¡±

    Simon had stumbled backward as Esther died. Even in the subdued light of the office, Yeung could see his Fallen associate had lost his composure entirely. Ashen and sweating profusely, Simon kept staring at the corners of the room as if he expected to be jumped at any second. And no matter how much Yeung tried, Simon wouldn¡¯t be rushed.

    Under the circumstances, that was totally unacceptable.

    SIMON! Yeung projected: Take a breath and tell us! We need your insight. We need to know how to respond, and quickly. If it¡¯s frightened you this badly, then it must be serious. So break it down if you can . . . what did she say and how will it affect us?

    Making a huge effort to remain calm and set an example, Yeung motioned toward the nearest couch.

    Mercifully, Simon obeyed. Flopping down heavily in the seat at one end, he ran his fingers through his sodden mop of hair, cleared his throat, and said, ¡°She only uttered a brief phrase, but those words will spell the end of us . . . unless some miracle prevents it.¡±

    ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake!¡± Angelika seemed on the verge of throttling someone. ¡°What? What did she say?¡±

    ¡°¡®The Destroyer has returned!¡¯¡±

    Without knowing why, Yeung suppressed a shiver.

    ¡°Simon,¡± Yeung said, fighting the urge to let that name or title dominate him, ¡°Why has that got you so scared? Who or what is this Destroyer?¡±

    Simon was so traumatized by the events that had just occurred, that¡ªregardless of the repercussions, irrespective of whatever pursuit might be coming their way¡ªhe spent the next twenty minutes explaining to them exactly who the Destroyer was, and why, unless they were very lucky, it was likely they¡¯d all soon be dead.

    By the time Simon had finished his tale, Yeung¡¯s heart was beating so wildly in his chest, that he thought it might induce a coronary.

    Recalling his wits, he found Angelika¡¯s gaze boring into him. ¡°Ghost protocol?¡± She murmured.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that will suffice on this occasion, my dear, especially with what we¡¯ve done to the west coast of America and out in the Arabian Sea.¡± Yeung shrugged his shoulders in resignation. ¡°No! The only chance we have now lies with Specter. Fortunately, Esther wasn¡¯t as deeply involved in the project as she thought.¡±

    He sighed, deeply. ¡°See to it, would you? There¡¯s a lot to do in a very short space of time.¡±

    Angelika nodded once. As she turned to leave, she checked her stride. Over her shoulder, she called out, ¡°And the new psidentities?¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes! Would you have your young man join us at the lab? Better do it now, before everything really begins to hit the fan.¡±

 The Fan

    The instant stretched on into the flux, a sacrosanct tapestry of mutable rigidity.

    Naomi watched as eighteen versions of herself became immersed within the psitronic crystal¡¯s multifaceted core. Her perspicuity was fully charged now, and folding in and out of existence to the boundless cadence of a cosmos wide pulse.

    Reality fractured as, somehow, her awareness spiked. And for the first time in her life, she felt truly alive. Hyper-cognition flared through myriad concepts, its whetted keenness expanding to fill each lattice of the sixteen-foot monstrosity with a host of prospects. Prospects she began to enact simultaneously, in a way only she could hope to control.

    In one, her mind brought up a full sensory replay of another transcension she had witnessed. That of her mentor, Anatt Yasin, five years previously. Just before the process began, Naomi had been conversing with the Shadow Lord, Andrew. An exchange she was extremely mindful of now.

    In an instant, she lived that episode again:

    ¡°What is that thing?¡±

    ¡°That, my inquisitive friend, is a psitronic crystal. You could say it¡¯s the heart and soul of the place. It¡¯s an extremely rare phenomenon that actually absorbs most of the forms of energy you can think of, including psychic manipulation, before converting it into a highly agitated expressive state.¡±

    ¡°Is it dangerous?¡±

    ¡°In the wrong hands, certainly! Once activated, it¡¯s capable of draining the sum from anything within its sphere of influence. Dependent upon the amplitude and wavelength it adopts, it can also emit that potential as an augmented coherent force. That¡¯s why we have to be so careful and match our extrasensory harmonics to the specifics of its uniquely ordered structure. We¡¯d be screwed otherwise.

    Naomi had glared at the translucent paradigm, unsettled to be near something capable of sucking the life out of her without effort.

    Noting her discomfort, Andrew moved to reassure her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Naomi, we¡¯ve used them for a long, long time now. This beauty is brand new and a welcome replacement for the remains of the old one that was destroyed thousands of years ago. In fact, we used several of the old shards recently to clear up the fallout left over from the meteorite strikes.¡±

    ¡°Clear up the . . . ? Are you saying this . . . this King Kong of an engagement ring is capable of decontaminating the area of a nuclear blast?¡±

    ¡°Of course it is. Radiation, electromagnetism, heat; all the things emitted by such explosions are just different states energy. So we simply adjust the pitch of absorption in one of the prismic focal nodes and it will feed on whatever particles are present, be they saturating the air, water, rocks, soil, and so on. Useful, eh?¡±

    Oh yes, she thought. Very useful indeed! Especially as his mind also revealed the artifact was thirty-two times stronger than their previous one.

    Coaxing another lattice to life, Naomi used the infinite propensity offered by its bipolar template to enhance her own stupendous ultrasenses. She knew the Gulf of Aden was already in good hands, so concentrated instead on the Los Angeles Basin.

    The clarity afforded by the crystal¡¯s framework sent an esoteric thrill through her soul. Ethereal or not, this is awesome!

    For a moment, she flirted with the idea as to how easy it would be to lose herself among the endlessly replicating horizons on offer.

    Get a grip, Naomi! She chided.

    And trust yourself! An ancient mind echoed.

    Nanoseconds had passed from the strangely complex detonations. An unusual kinetic wave led the impacting vortices, its mad charge threatening to trigger further seismic calamities along the already shattered backbone of the San Andreas Fault.

    Other occluding stress lines networking the area also bucked furiously. And little wonder. Each and every asperity beneath the mantle had disappeared, consumed in the same blast that had vaporized billions of tones of rock and soil. All the tension that had accumulated during hundreds of years of continental occlusion simply vanished, released at the exact same juncture. Now, the devastating energy surge had nothing to impede its charge, as could be seen by the way the whole western seaboard was beginning to deflate like a punctured airbag.

    Nothing would prevent a catastrophe. Unless. . .

    Projecting her hyperquaitance along that probability strand, Naomi followed as the beginnings of a highly compacted, secondary kinematic wave smashed outward. Its onslaught signaled the subsidence of vast tracts of land, and the inrush of trillions of tons of seawater.

    Naomi decided on a response instantly. Snapping back to the present, she flexed her mind, and activated four further aspects of the gem. I need to issue an augmented blanket call and put each and every single Guardian on duty on notice to stand by. . .

    Here it goes!

    Reining her stupendous vision back a notch, Naomi tuned one substratal feature of the crystal into the precise frequencies employed by the cerebro-energetically enhanced SEPs scanners and transporters aboard all those ships and stations currently orbiting both the Earth and Moon. By amplifying their resolution far beyond spec, she would ensure her compatriots retained the capability to assess the unfolding situation with perfect clarity.

    She did the same for the three dreadnaughts and the North American Disaster Command Carrier already powering their way to the scene.

    Taxing herself further, Naomi then manipulated another of the obverse angles to analyze the exact nature of the damage in each specific location. Progressing that time-strand in particular, she calculated the degree of control it would require to hold events in stasis while an evacuation was conducted. Yes! I see it!

    Next, her ego activated a further facet of the crystal to call her transcended brothers and sisters to attention. Apprising them of her intentions, she at last meshed with the final lattice.

    Naomi¡¯s spirit shrieked as her mind was beset by forces that threatened to tear the fidelity of her reasoning apart. Her percipience was consumed in that instant, seemingly bursting open and recoiling all at once.

    Trust yourself . . . breathed a nearby source of support, wise in its understanding.

    Don¡¯t think . . . feel! Advised another, from far, far away.

    She did as both instructed.

    Surrendering herself to the celestial calamity brutalizing her soul, Naomi stepped through the pain and into the eye of the storm. Abruptly, everything stopped spinning. Time and space and possibility congealed into a focused knot of will and purpose.

    Her will.

    Her purpose.

    Naomi expanded in response to the unadulterated plangency rushing to suffuse her complexus with limitless dominion. It molded to her psyche, becoming part of who she was. Filled to overflowing, her senses magnified like a lens, sharpening with a lucidity that went beyond all possibility.

    Time paused and the universe took a deep, deep breath.

    At this range, the task would test her commitment to the limit. Distance is but a state of illusion.

    The sheer scope of the undertaking should be impossible. The size of the task is irrelevant. Failure is not an option.

    Dynamic potential coalesced in the ether about her, its composition resonant and vibrant. All at once, everything fell into place.

    A full second had passed since the blasts.

    Do¡ªor do not!

    Initiating her grand plan, Naomi seized the boundless well of choral latency ringing throughout the heavens, and imbued it with the capacity of every transcended mind standing at the ready.

    As each distinct character was added, the aerial consonant altered, amplifying with a sweetness that was as hypnotic as it was thrilling. Naomi¡¯s acuity flowed as never before. Refining and adjusting. Sampling and approving. Doing everything she could to synchronize their mergence to the pace of the upwelling now blossoming through every facet of her orchestral construct.

    A maestro incarnate, she succeeded with flair.

    Her speed and finesse belied comprehension. Before onlookers were aware of what had happened, every consciousness at her disposal had been woven into a magnum opus of harmonic unity.

    Without warning, the congruence swelled toward a crescendo. It seemed unlikely the pitch could withstand the influx of any further vitality. But it did.

    Expanding ardently, the timbre somehow adjusted to a new, unique, multi-faceted tempo and the Moon became encompassed by a lucent halo of power. The melodic coefficient built, swelling higher and higher, allowing the sizzling band of ecstasy to wind tighter and tighter about the pyretic sentience controlling it. A febrile awareness that was now able utilize the awesome sovereignty at her command with intuitive dexterity.

    By now, two seconds had passed since the coordinated antimatter detonations. Naomi could taste the distinctive flavor of their concussions, even from her current locale.

    Calling on the declamatory mode, her mind addressed the rest of the Guardians: THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN LIFE TAKES PRIORITY. PROPERTY CAN BE RECLAIMED LATER.

    As she spoke, she unleashed a triple arc of blazing plasma.

    Travelling via the warped physics of the crystal, the first ribbon was able to reach the Earth at faster-than-light speed. Arriving less than a heartbeat after its inception, it saturated the whole of the western shoreline of North America in a golden rainbow of amplified psitronic light.

    Two things happened simultaneously:

    In her magnified condition, Naomi had easily been able to digest the precise frequencies of the crustal tremors and ocean borne tsunami. So, as had happened in the Gulf of Aden, the first thing she did was to rob them of the ravenous dynamo driving them along. Stripped of their power, they began bleeding away instantly.

    Moreover, because the Los Angeles area was now saturated with a multitude of residual psitronic flecks, Naomi had ensured to infuse the composition of the leading plasma strand with a very specific command structure. A command structure that Naomi now applied in a strategic masterstroke!

    As each fragment bloomed to life, negating breakers of augmented mirror energy radiated outward. In moments they had created a massive damlike structure within each of the voids. Soil liquefaction ceased; residual fracturing faded and died; continental flexing stabilized; the encroaching ocean flopped backward, spent, as conjoining energies abruptly harmonized.

    Frozen, the wounded lithosphere trembled on the brink of collapse.

    The following wave arrived to witness the success of its counterpart.

    As its potency irradiated the circuitry of the arriving emergency response ships, the capacitors within each craft immediately began charging, ramping way beyond their usual magnitudes¡ªa similar process to that also taking place aboard Guardian Observation Stations 1 and 2.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    A mile above the disaster, two distinct, gray vortices appeared, one slightly above the other. Tuning each maelstrom to the existing bipolar charge of the crystal, Naomi then initiated the next phase of her plan.

    The lower gyre shimmered, turned indigo blue, and started to sink toward the ground. Its sister fabrication rippled turquoise and disappeared. An instant later, its sea green expanse had manifested across the whole of the Great Basin, in the neighboring state of Nevada.

    Both curtains fluttered briefly, in tandem, before intensifying into fully primed, whirling energy fields.

    Without conscious thought, the matter transporters within those Guardian vessels and facilities that had been affected came back online, all of them now focused on ground zero.

    Remaining on the declamatory mode, Naomi called: I WILL BE RETURNING PRIMARY CONTROL TO YOU SHORTLY. WHEN I DO, STATION ONE . . . TARGET THOSE LIFE-SIGNS WITHIN THE PRIMARY FIELD AND WORK FROM NORTH TO SOUTH. STATION TWO . . . BEGIN YOUR SWEEP IN THE SOUTH AND HEAD NORTHWARD. CAPTAIN HUDSON? TAKE THE ODDESY AND YOUR RESPONSE GROUP DIRECTLY INTO THE CENTER OF L.A. THERE WILL BE NO NEED FOR ANY OF YOU TO MONITOR OUTBOUND TRAVELERS. THE VORTICES WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT FOR YOU. . .

    UNDERSTOOD?

    A handful of mental affirmations came back.

    Naomi then addressed her fellow transcended colleagues. Please strive to keep my persona intact. The more I employ the power of the crystal, the deeper I have to descend into its matrix. There is a very strong possibility my hold on reality will fragment. Under no circumstances allow that to happen. If I begin to lose containment, pull out what you can and destroy the rest! Do not allow me to go nova and endanger others.

    Another round of acknowledgements resounded in the ether.

    Finally, Naomi drew their attention toward the trailing arc of plasma. As big as the first two combined, it crackled and sparked with arcane exuberance: This beauty will arrive a few minutes after we complete the evacuation. You will see it encompasses a nucleic matter generation placebo within its core, suitable for tectonic adaptation.

    If I survive the extraction, I won¡¯t be in any fit state to help you. However, its template has been designed for manipulation by a transcended director. Decide amongst yourselves who will take point during the modifications. I would suggest either Andrew or Victoria. They have previous experience in this kind of thing, and stand a higher chance of success in generating lasting repairs.

    She called a halt to her instructions and inquired: Shall we begin?

    Diverting her multiplex levels of awareness back toward the scene, Naomi activated the matter vortices. It wasn¡¯t until the first beams began to bathe the panicking crowds and fleeing casualties in cerulean splendor, that the ingenuity behind Naomi¡¯s construct became apparent.

    Usually, Guardian transporters operated following a swift, but extremely complex process: Having locked onto a target, they would scan its physical structure at the sub-atomic level and break those readings down into their corresponding quantum patterns. That pattern would then be digitized, compressed, and transferred through subspace toward the target zone. On arrival at the zone, the incoming stream would be reassembled into a coherent matri-packet. Once sufficient integrity had accumulated, the focusing projectors would then generate an expansion and reconstruction field, within which a person would appear.

    Although the cycle took less than four seconds in its entirety, it was still far too long a procedure for the emergency evacuation of more than twenty million souls. So Naomi had done away with it.

    The vortices were the answer.

    Because of their dual polarity, they were, in effect, representative of the surfaces of a coin. Existing in two places at once, the event horizon on the blue¡ªheads¡ªside was located in the Los Angeles costal region. Its converse¡ªor green tails¡ªside was situated over the one hundred and eighty-four square mile area of the Great Nevada Basin.

    And the augmented transporter beams now acted as a key between the two geophysical points.

    No sooner did they register bio-signs, than they were phased through the unique subspace nihility away from danger and into a place of safety. In effect, they would disappear here in Los Angeles, only to instantly manifest there, in Nevada.

    Genius!

    But torturous.

    Naomi now had to endure a ferocious amount of distress to maintain the bridge¡¯s integrity. Woe assailed her from all sides; from within; from without; from everywhere and elsewhere. It bludgeoned her to near submission. Cruelly pierced her to the core. Amplified her agony a thousandfold. Throughout it all, Naomi teetered on the edge, her every molecule flaring at the brink of ultimate expression.

    The Overlord¡¯s voice intruded, anchoring her to the here and now: Impressive, Naomi! You acted intuitively, and seem to have an inventive, almost natural instinct for elucidation. Hopefully, you¡¯ll find this encouraging. . .

    An ultra-compressed psychic data stream followed.

    . . .I thought you might like to pass this latest information on to the others. Yet another of the thorns in our flesh will shortly be out of the way . . . After she¡¯s delivered a message for me. While I¡¯m sure the cancer won¡¯t have spread to all of their corporate and multinational assets, it would nevertheless be a course of prudence to ensure each and every single one of their executives are interrogated as a matter of urgency. The rest can be evaluated by marshals. I¡¯ve no doubt you¡¯ll foster the perfect tool to accomplish that task. In the meantime, I¡¯ll make sure Andrew, Victoria, Anil, and Anatt are aware of your broadened responsibilities.

    Naomi clutched at the stability of his voice: If I survive! She gasped.

    Oh you¡¯ll survive, Naomi. Believe me.

    The Overlord went quiet for a moment, as if deliberating on how much to reveal. Eventually, he continued: Just prepare yourself for the change. Transcension aside, you¡¯ll be very different from what you are now. So long as you can accept the regenesis for what it will accomplish, you will come to look on it for what it is. A unique gift!

    Regenesis? Alarm flared through Naomi¡¯s anima.

    It will take time for you to adjust. To adapt. But you will. And the future? Well. . .

    Again the pause.

    The future? Naomi pressed.

    Change is necessary, Naomi. Embrace it as I do, for you will become a guiding light once you¡¯ve managed to achieve a degree of equilibrium.

    A gold and silver doorway cracked open in her mind. Hinting at hidden revelations, it exuded an air of invitation. Fixated, she channeled her spiraling consciousnesses toward the stability it offered. But when the skittering tendrils of her thoughts touched it, it slammed shut, mocking her efforts to gain entry while continuing to gleam enticingly around the edges.

    Quickly, the Overlord interceded: As I said. That¡¯s for another time. For now, it would appear your designs are reaching fruition. Observe!

    Returning her attention to the rescue efforts, Naomi was startled to discover that, somehow, time had jumped. Guardian Alpha Response Teams were already converging on the hills and shoreline of Los Angeles. As she looked on, the last of the refugees were scooped away to the temporary staging area at Nevada. There, detachments from Sector Command¡ªsupported by details from the new Marshal¡¯s Bureau and dozens of crews from the EMS, Fire & Rescue and First Responders pool¡ªwere on hand to receive casualties and redirect them, either to disaster management pods or triage units.

    Further afield, Naomi could see elements of the National Guard had started to arrive and were already in the process of coordinating efforts with outside agencies.

    That . . . that¡¯s outstanding. But how long were we speaking?

    Ethereal laughter pattered about her.

    As you will discover, the Overlord explained: though our state of being is linear, it can be manipulated. Especially in such a place as this!

    Naomi paused to inspect the recursive plane she now inhabited. Slightly different versions of herself looped off in multiple directions at once; pictures within pictures, in a hyper-magnified version of the Droste effect.

    Referring to the puzzle, the Overlord said: What you need to appreciate is, these gems act as a bridge between multiple levels of existence. A window through time, thought and possibility. They exist both inside and outside of the normal planes of temporal reference. Although a paradox, their contradiction fastens the reality of each dimension in place. And if you¡¯re powerful enough . . . adept enough . . . well!

    Naomi gasped, her intuition firing on all cylinders: Are you saying it¡¯s possible to jump through time by manipulating the reality lattices?

    This time the Overlord¡¯s mirth pealed like thunder about her: Oh, Naomi! If only it were that simple. You¡¯re thinking along the right lines, but it¡¯s far more complex than that. We are very different to the crystal. It exists everywhere and everywhen at once. That¡¯s its natural state. From the moment of our generation¡ªor in your case, conception¡ªwe become locked in time. Bound, if you like, to a very specific orientation point. Thereafter, our natural state is linear, no matter how mighty we are or become. However, if we are strong enough, the crystal does allow us to see into the different plausibility outcomes. And, if we have the fortitude to immerse ourselves deeply enough within its milieu¡ªas you have done¡ªto skip forward a little in time. Just a little, though, otherwise we would become forever lost in hyperphasure. Do you follow?

    Reality span within the vaultlike halls of Naomi¡¯s parametric consciousness: Yes! Yes I do!

    A grounding recognition rippled through her. The fusion of multiple confluxes that streamed together into one continuous panacea of solutions: Don¡¯t think. FEEL!

    Comprehension flared: I am . . . I ammm. . .

    The Overlord finished her sentence for her: Awakening at last! As foreseen.

    Naomi went to reply, but suddenly found herself all alone again.

    For a split second, she lost focus and manifold realities crowded in on her. Panicking, she floundered in a lamellate sea where welcoming midnight currents vied with psychedelic energies, all of them urging her to embrace the chaos and surrender control.

    Voices at the edge of discernment called out to her.

    Hey, Naomi, over here!

    No, not that way!

    Ignore them . . . the true path lies this way.

    Naomi!

    I¡¯m warning you . . . if you listen to them, you¡¯re screwed!

    Don¡¯t you know who to trust?

    That¡¯s when she saw herself as she once was. Frangible, limited and human. Someone who had always been confident of her strengths and mindful of her weaknesses.

    But now?

    Expanding her perceptions to the disjointed incoherence each angled node brought, she nevertheless remained still and chose instead the calm of self-assurance.

    A grinding noise¡ªakin to pack ice tightening around the hull of a stranded vessel¡ªmoaned eerily about her, a resonance that coincided to the moment multiple layers of veracity set in place. The template condensed, solidifying with the rigidity of a diamond encrusted fretwork . . . and mental cohesion was achieved.

    Elation coursed through her being, along with the recognition of a familiar mind: Victoria?

    Feelings of relief flooded the ether: Naomi? Thank God for that! I was just about to initiate the failsafe.

    Naomi¡¯s awareness homed in on the Shepherd¡¯s aura where it hovered, near to the exterior facade of the crystal.

    Victoria sounded tense: We thought the shit was really going to hit the fan there. We lost you! You just . . . vanished. It was like you¡¯d never existed. I skimmed the planes of the nearest lattices, but you were gone! I wouldn¡¯t have been able to wait either, as the final plasma strand is approaching Earth and it¡¯s going to take all of us to achieve the choral purity required to activate tectonic regeneration. You didn¡¯t tell me before, but I take it you intend for the old crystal shards to transmute into the new mantle layers?

    An odd frigidity sprouted from the center of Naomi¡¯s complexus, distracting her.

    Naomi? Victoria called.

    Huh? Yes?

    I said, do you intend for the old crystal shards to transmute into the new mantle layers? Is it a self replicating design?

    Yes! Yes it is¡ªis¡ªis. . .

    Frosty petrifaction crackled outward, freezing her as it went.

    Naomi?

    <h6>*</h6>

    Victoria reeled as a sharp psychic burst arrowed into her mind. Forewarned, she reeled away from the psitronic crystal, yanking Anil along with her.

    The connection was severed just in time.

    Stunned, both Victoria and Anil watched as the crystal started to pulse. A rending shriek filled the air as myriad obsidian facets began rotating all at once. Twisting in on themselves, the facets splintered. A cloud of ebony icicles sprayed in every direction, creating a jingling fanfare as they burst apart against floor, walls and ceiling alike¡ªtheir tympanic demise masking the emergence of a whole new reticulum of prisms.

    As they burst forth, they heralded the appearance of a luminous coating of hoar-frost that radiated outward from Naomi¡¯s position in the manner of an invasive and virulent fungus. Mesmerized, Victoria could only stare as the growth infused Naomi¡¯s complexus, petrifying the newborn ascendant in the process.

    A grinding crack made her wince, after which, the Naomi-psitronic hybrid settled into position. Then¡ªhaving achieved what it must have felt was a suitable symmetry¡ªit emitted a final groan before the usual fairy-bell tinkling resumed.

    Less than a minute later, the mutated crystal commenced folding gently in and out of view again, as if nothing of consequence had taken place.

    What the hell? Anil hissed, unable to tear his senses away from the horror before him: Victoria! That can¡¯t be right. Can it? It . . . it¡¯s not . . . natural.

    Although now privy to the circumstances, Victoria also found herself utterly captivated by the morbidity of Naomi¡¯s evolution, and had to force herself to act. Time was short.

    Ushering her stunned colleague away from the center of the chamber, she teleported them both through the warped lunar strata and into high orbit: We¡¯ll study the ramifications later, Anil. And with a full team on hand, believe me. For now, we¡¯ve got to complete the meld in order to trigger the modifications down on Earth. Naomi gave me the program before she threw me out. Quite ingenious, really! You won¡¯t believe what it can do.

    Wryly, he admitted: Oh, I probably will. Today¡¯s been one long list of surprises . . . your heritage included! I¡¯d always suspected, of course. I¡¯m just trying to fathom why your father felt the need to keep it a secret from Earl and myself for so long.

    Victoria considered her friend of the last five and a half thousand years closely, and was prompted to reply: He kept things hidden from us too, don¡¯t forget! Both Andrew and I were quite freaked out to discover we¡¯re part human, part . . . God knows what¡ªpun intended! Makes days like today seem run of the mill, don¡¯t you think?

    Anil declined to answer, being content instead to ruminate privately while he kept an eye on events unfolding on Earth. As he did so, he orchestrated the prelude to the metapsychic concert that would allow their transcended counterparts to join them in harmonic union.

    Left alone, Victoria came to a poignant conclusion. Run of the mill? Who am I kidding? I¡¯ve got a feeling that the next twenty-four hours might teach us just how freaky our lives are going to be from now on!

 Fallen

    Psiedoni-jah raised his arms, flexed his fingers, and turned his hands over and over repeatedly. For some reason, he was captivated by the way his muscles and sinews tensed and rippled as he moved.

    He¡¯d never been vain. Nevertheless, as he stared into the full length mirror, he couldn¡¯t help but admire the thickness of his biceps and thighs. The cut of his chest and stomach. And he especially liked the way his olive skin seemed to enhance the definition of his finely-toned, brand-new physique.

    There wasn¡¯t an ounce of fat on him, despite the fact he was only slightly younger than his previous host. Jose Antonio Calderon¡¯s form is far the superior. The rigors of his early life and later activities amongst the Guardians have seen to that.

    And, as if that wasn¡¯t cause enough for celebration, there was a decidedly tasty layer of icing to this new cake: information!

    After fleeing to a subsidiary bunker, Psiedoni-jah had taken the time to intimately familiarize himself with every aspect of his new host. His childhood and upbringing; the struggle to control emerging abilities that set him apart; his descent into crime; the unexpected reprieve by the Guardians after falling into the clutches of the CIA.

    Yes, Psiedoni-jah had ensured to absorb every little facet and every little nuance he needed to become this man for the foreseeable future, as adopting his identity would entail immersing himself deeply within enemy territory.

    Even so, a usually straightforward process had been far more difficult to implement than he¡¯d anticipated!

    Powerful by human standards, Jose Calderon had been blessed with Grand Masterly Class abilities. Though far weaker than the parasitic entity now inhabiting his form, it was Calderon¡¯s self-healing faculty that had proved the most formidable barrier to overcome, as it kept acting as a metapsychic immunosuppressant, preventing Psiedoni-jah¡¯s own psyche from gaining full anatomical and neural control.

    Additionally, Calderon¡¯s time under the tutelage of the Guardians had added additional defensive layers to his ego that had been as ingenious as they were problematic to conquer.

    Thankfully, Psiedoni-jah had been able to use one of those embedded sequences¡ªthe MitaCom Program¡ªto his own advantage.

    Devised by his nemesis, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem, it accelerated both the learning and training curve of the recipient. It also allowed the psychoenergetic potential of each candidate to develop at a hyperbolic rate. And, by compartmentalizing each area of a student¡¯s consciousness, it allowed the aspirant to utilize their mundane and psychosomatic complexi twenty-four hours a day.

    Studying the archetype closely, Psiedoni-jah had been astonished to discover it also complimented mental synergy, even when the subject was sleeping. Seizing on that aspect, he had gradually stripped its layers from Calderon¡¯s mentality and added the matrix to his own psi-well.

    The results had been stunning!

    Interaction between his host¡¯s psietic and genetic heritage had been augmented, allowing Psiedoni-jah to graft his identity into the new complexus with remarkable alacrity. He could feel the bonding process even now¡ªburrowing deeper, spreading wider¡ªas the construct continued unfurling within him. An amazing experience!

    No wonder Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem has achieved so much in such a short space of time. He¡¯s accelerated mankind¡¯s psychomaturation thousands of years, and ruthlessly ensured they¡¯ve remained on the straight and narrow too!

    Psiedoni-jah was deeply impressed.

    Impressed and annoyed. What would we have achieved by working together? Gods! We¡¯d be so far. . .

    He left the thought unfinished.

    Once again I¡¯ve vastly underestimated him. And his bloody far-flung designs. He¡¯s a freaking genius to come up with this. No wonder he imagined such a thankless task would earn us all a reprieve.

    Then Psiedoni-jah remembered the fresh information contained within Esther¡¯s consciousness as she died right in front of him. And it¡¯s beginning to work too!

    He looked at himself in the mirror once more. How far I¡¯ve fallen. I was once a leading light among the Host and a force to be reckoned with. Now I¡¯m nothing but a shadow, reduced to hiding inside humans. And a Guardian at that.

    Hatred burned afresh within his heart. I may have to start all over again with the scraps off the table, but at least I can make use of our new intelligence. This Compressor Program has applications a transcended being can employ in other ways. And I¡¯ll make sure the data regarding their various procedures and protocols isn¡¯t wasted either. If I have to live among them, at least I can use what I learn to keep us all one step ahead of their damned investigations!

    Of course . . . there will have to be sacrifices. If I¡¯m going to get promoted to a position I can exploit, I¡¯ve got to be seen as someone who gets results . . . ?

    Glancing to one side, Psiedoni-jah noticed Angelika Papadakos leaning against his bedroom door, making no attempt whatsoever to mask her presence. From what he could determine from the outer layers of her mind, she had been checking him out. Ah, she still has an attachment to this form. Even if she was using him to serve our purposes.

    Psiedoni-jah had chosen to ignore such a basic avenue of release since his revival. Nonetheless, skimming Calderon¡¯s memories regarding such encounters proved to be rather pleasurable. Quite a surprise to say the least, especially as one part of his anatomy began responding to those recollections visibly. A completely involuntary act, as outrageous as it was uncontrollable. Wha . . . what the hell?

    Even worse, Angelika Papadakos must have noticed, for a predatory smile was creeping across her face at this very moment.

    Peeking out into the hallway, she checked to ensure they were alone. Entering quickly, she then shut the door and locked it before making her way toward him, shedding her clothes with every nubile step.

    His betraying body continued to react, subconsciously extending the most blatant of invitations.

    To his horror, Psiedoni-jah also perceived his heart rate increasing, along with the urge to act on his desires. Oh no, just when I thought I couldn¡¯t stoop any lower!

    <h6>*</h6>

    ¡°So, as you can see, Sir, each of our three primary Specter sites is now fully manned and operational. I thought it best to prioritize. Of the nine subsidiaries, four are already online and the rest will be linked into the grid before the end of next week.¡±

    Yeung glanced through the report¡¯s findings once again.

    His new chief of security, Nicholas Smith, was proving to be an extremely resourceful and reliable right-hand man. Yeung had delayed replacing Harry Bing after his untimely death. In no way was this an oversight or omission on Yeung¡¯s part. It was just that he honestly felt the addition of his three exceptional colleagues only five years previously would remove the need for such a position.

    How wrong I was! He snorted to himself. If only hindsight was a more . . . proactive member of the team, I could have avoided so much of the fuss we¡¯re now facing.

    ¡°Sir?¡± Nicholas queried, obviously assuming Yeung was reacting to something within the document before him. ¡°Is everything alright?¡±

    ¡°Oh! Sorry, Nicholas. I¡¯m merely reflecting on our drastic change in fortunes. As you know, I pride myself on planning ahead for every eventuality. But I must confess. I didn¡¯t see this coming. Not ever! I don¡¯t like being goosed without being asked nicely first. If I¡¯d made sure a dependable security chief was in place after Harry¡¯s . . . departure, we might have avoided the need for all this clandestine nonsense.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Sir. I pride myself on being thorough too. Hopefully you¡¯ll see that reflected in some of my adjustments.¡±

    ¡°Adjustments?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Sir. I always feel you can never have enough protection. I know our bunkers are equipped with the latest generation comforts and gadgetry your corporation . . . er, former corporation could provide. Even so, I felt it prudent to beef things up a little.¡±

    Yeung was growing rather fond his new chief. Placing the paperwork down, he directed that Nicholas should sit, and gave him his full attention. ¡°Do explain.¡±

    Taking a seat opposite, Nicholas paused to collect his thoughts. ¡°I won¡¯t bore you with every detail, Sir. The report will do that quite nicely. Nevertheless, there are certain factors both yourself and the Apostles will need to get up to speed with. For example; you¡¯re aware that each of our subterranean strongholds is fully armored and bristling with the most sophisticated weaponry and technology on the planet, yes? In theory, it makes each site extremely difficult to detect, let alone assault or enter.

    ¡°However, in light of recent events where the Guardians were able to employ some form of temporal gateway to evacuate the citizens of Los Angeles, I¡¯ve ensured to add spatial scramblers into the fabric of each structure.¡±

    ¡°Spatial scramblers!¡± Yeung spluttered, shocked, but delighted at the audacity of the maneuver. ¡°What? As in the floors and walls?¡±

    ¡°Yes! I¡¯m hoping to negate the effects of such a field if they were to ever try and infiltrate our complexes by similar means in the future. I have, of course, ensured to leave certain windows open within each center that will allow restricted movement about the faculty in question¡ªincluding ingress and egress¡ªby teleportation. Their exact positions differ from site to site and are, as a matter of necessity, a closely guarded secret privy only to those officers with the appropriate clearance.¡±

    ¡°And what happens to someone who tries to jump without the requisite information?¡±

    ¡°If they are naturally gifted, just a severe headache. They¡¯ll be forced to adjust their hyperspatial exit at the last second, you see. Not very nice, by all accounts. Buuut, if they use mechanical enhancers of any kind. . .¡±

    ¡°Like the Guardian T-rings or our bands?¡±

    ¡°. . .Precisely,¡± Nicholas replied. ¡°In that case, the fail-safes will scramble their molecular patterns and they¡¯ll materialize within the surrounding superstructure.¡±

    ¡°Ouch!¡± Yeung chuckled, smiling at the image in his mind. ¡°How embarrassing!¡±

    ¡°Ah, but that¡¯s not all there is to it, Sir! I also took the liberty of commandeering twelve of our latest generation Wave Readers. Esther¡¯s tinkering ensured the newer models contained the modifications for cognitive interrogation and thought control. While we were intending to rely on them as a means for gaining intelligence, I thought we might put them to better use, screening new or unexpected arrivals.¡±

    ¡°In what way?¡± Yeung asked, intrigued by the proposal.

    ¡°From today, the only way in or out of each bunker is via a designated reception point.¡± Indicating the report, Nicholas lowered his voice. ¡°While the pr¨¦cis you have in your possession highlights where each one is, no one else besides Sim . . . er, Guardian Calderon, Angelika, or you or I, is privy to that knowledge. Base captains only have access to those coordinates within their own command. As you can appreciate, this will enhance security in two ways:Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    ¡°Firstly, anyone seeking entrance will have to request permission. This gives on duty staff a heads-up, allowing them time to ring the area with all sorts of defensive and aggressive countermeasures. Secondly, when the inbound traveler does arrive, they will be subjected to the coercive matrix of the Wave Reader. Basically, we can ensure everyone is who they say they are, before we release them to walk about freely.¡±

    ¡°And what about me?¡± Yeung asked, his face suddenly turning to stone. ¡°I won¡¯t allow anyone access to my mind without permission.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s already taken care of.¡± Nicholas replied. Leaning forward, he handed Yeung a heavily encrypted info-crystal. ¡°This contains the security frequencies by which each Reader operates. You¡ªand anyone else you care to share these details with¡ªwill be able to move about unhindered and completely free from compulsion.

    ¡°Though . . . if you don¡¯t mind my suggesting, Sir, I¡¯d keep the list of privileged elites as low as possible.¡±

    ¡°This is a most welcome surprise, Nicholas. Here I was, thinking it would be all doom and gloom, and you¡¯ve managed to cheer an old man up in only seven days!¡±

    ¡°Not so old from where I¡¯m sitting . . . if you don¡¯t mind my saying so, Sir.¡±

    Yeung glanced to one side and caught his reflection in a nearby mirror. The effects of his implant were remarkable, even though he hadn¡¯t bothered going to extremes as some of his associates had done. Instead, Yeung had subsumed the essence of several unwilling and burdensome weak links to return his appearance to what he possessed when only fifty years old. Increasing musculature and height and darkening his hair had helped the transformation. Now, he looked more like a city businessman than the elderly leader of the global crime syndicate everyone loved to hate. One that had¡ªas far as the public were aware¡ªbeen busted wide open with all known assets frozen.

    If only they knew. He thought.

    Then he had an idea.

    ¡°Nicholas. You said the Specter protocols would be fully online by the end of the week, yes?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right Sir, the end of the week at the latest. Why?¡±

    ¡°Can you retarget more of our satellites to compliment these new measures? Say, an extra one on each of the bunkers?¡±

    Nicholas smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve already taken the liberty, Sir. That was the final point I was going to raise with you. Again, recent events have made me think more and more about the unexpected. Most of our personnel are nano-chipped anyway. If you don¡¯t mind getting everybody to update their chips, it will facilitate the inception of those upgrades.¡±

    ¡°Will it?¡± Yeung replied, delighted by the way his new chief was able to anticipate his requirements. ¡°In what way?¡±

    ¡°Well, I was thinking . . . The Guardians appear to be annoyingly adept at springing surprises. I thought we¡¯d return the compliment. With your permission, I¡¯d like to reposition at least eighty percent of our satellites in higher, variable orbits. That will be essential to lessen the risk of detection. The others can stay in situ and be targeted upon each of the Specter facilities; half a dozen capital cities of your choice; and a number of other public syndicates who might try to fill the holes the departure of Yeung Technologies has left.

    ¡°By tagging our people, the platforms will instantly be able to recognize friend from foe. So, if one or more of our complexes are compromised, we have the luxury of being able to choose how aggressively to react. Now¡ªbearing in mind the Guardian response will undoubtedly be swift and decisive¡ªI would strongly recommend we take a more hard line posture.¡±

    ¡°Define hard line,¡± Yeung countered, captivated by such radical thinking.

    ¡°Sir, if we are ever breached, it means anyone and everyone caught inside will be a liability. We can prevent that. If we install the proper programs from the word go, we can encode the nano-technology to initiate the emergency transport of appropriate key personnel, while ordering the nearest satellite to fire. Think about it. The site would be obliterated from orbit, preventing the Guardians from gaining vital intelligence. And we¡¯d get to take out an Inquisitor team.¡±

    Yeung couldn¡¯t hide his delight. ¡°Nicholas. I do like your thinking!

    ¡°Thank you, Sir. I know such a belligerent stance would prove costly initially, but it would make the Guardians think twice before rushing in again. The evident downside to such a strategy is that they would be all over the orbiting defense system like nappy rash on a baby¡¯s backside. That¡¯s why I recommend we move so many platforms in the first place. Do you see? They¡¯ll remain¡ªfor all intent and purpose¡ªnonexistent, while those in the spotlight and subject to seizure can target their payloads on whatever objectives we¡¯ve chosen, before we trigger the self-destruct protocols.

    ¡°Now, if we ensure to update those objectives on a weekly basis, it will allow us to maintain a close eye on anyone who might become a commercial thorn in the flesh, and provide a golden opportunity to liquidate them before the Guardians do any real damage. One way or another, we¡¯ll maintain a considerable influence on world markets.¡±

    Meeting his security manager¡¯s gaze directly, Yeung declared, ¡°Nicholas, I am very keen to adopt your suggestions. You don¡¯t have to keep calling me Sir anymore. You may address me as Lei. Though I prefer Yeung.

    ¡°I¡¯d like you to implement your suggestions immediately. Before the day is out, in fact.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Si . . . Mister Yeung,¡± Nicholas replied, standing up from his chair. ¡°I¡¯ll get right on it.¡±

    As his security chief left, Yeung had to admit. He was feeling rather smug. Despite our fall from grace, we have the ability to exert power in ways they never dreamed of. And better still, we can hit them back.

    His musings were interrupted by a newsflash abruptly displayed on several of the TV monitors adorning one of the walls. Each highlighted the various updates coming in from around the world regarding the terrorist attacks in the Gulf of Aden and Los Angeles.

    These latest reports were emphasizing how far investigators had got in discovering the identities of those responsible for the atrocities. Oh my! This doesn¡¯t look good!

    Snatching up a remote control, Yeung adjusted the sound on the largest screen and listened in. What he heard soured his mood immediately.

    Stunned, he then watched incredulously as the face of each and every single one of his Apostles appeared in turn, closely followed by an inordinate number of his top executives. In particular, those holding CEO rank. Damned! How the hell . . . ?

    Thankfully, the majority were represented by images showing their original profiles. But sadly, far too many contained a recent picture of his team following enhancement. Now this could pose a problem!

    The bulletin went into great detail about each of the people involved who were evidently, now top of Interpol¡¯s ¡°Most Wanted¡± list for a whole catalog of misdeeds. That list was stunning, ranging from transgressions against humanity and the environment; terrorism and organized crime; numerous breaches against white collar legislation; and straightforward intellectual property violations, corruption and embezzlement.

    Yeung was bemused to note his own identity remained conspicuously absent.

    He needn¡¯t have worried. They¡¯d saved him for last, and were offering him up for crucifixion as Public Enemy Number One.

    The devastating mind-ream performed on Esther prior to her death had obviously opened her up more extensively than they¡¯d realized. The release was now highlighting the fact that a combined Global Marshals Bureau-Inquisitor task force had been established with the sole purpose of hunting him down. If that wasn¡¯t bad enough, certain information had also come to light connecting him to Lord Marshal Foster¡¯s death, and a whole host of other assassinations¡ªboth before that incident and since. Once hailed as the world¡¯s leading light in progressive change, Yeung was now a marked man with a considerable price on his head.

    Too considerable for his liking. Especially as the reward appeared to be irrespective as to whether he was alive or not.

    P¨¬hu¨¤! He cursed silently in his native dialect. Thank goodness Sim . . . Jose will be able to help us stay one step ahead of justice. If we can just keep them focused on the bait we¡¯ve arranged, it¡¯ll keep the direct heat off us and ensure we can make the best of this mess.

    <h6>*</h6>

    A solitary figure sat quietly within the observation deck of the Guardian Command Carrier Odyssey. Silhouetted against the main viewport, it was clear this was a man with a great deal on his mind.

    Before him, a sheaf of documents and scattering of report crystals littered the desk. Slouched as he was in his chair, his fingers drummed against the armrest with a cadence that only seemed to exacerbate the fact he was carrying the weight of an entire world on his shoulders.

    A deep sigh escaped his lips.

    Adjusting his position, Andrew turned to gaze for a moment out of the window. He breathed again, marveling over the way the setting sun accentuated the golden and snow-white backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains against the Los Angeles skyline¡ªstill remarkably intact despite recent events. Reveling in the peace such a vista gave him; he allowed his eyes to lose focus and instead resorted to his stupendous farsight

    His astral vision roamed back and forth across the vast tract of land below him, forcing him to admit. We¡¯ve been lucky. . .

    . . .Very lucky!

    Naomi¡¯s reactions prevented a monumental loss of life and a colossal amount of damage. Her opening gambit was as appalling as it was daring. By employing the psitronic crystal¡¯s essence to simply leech away the titanic energies unleashed during the explosions, she reduced subsequent seismicity to manageable and survivable levels.

    Victoria had replayed that moment for Andrew, allowing him to savor the full nuance of the whole incident. His spine tingled with dread every time he considered it. Bold, ingenious . . . but oh so very dangerous! And her follow-up strategy¡ªto use the old crystal flecks to dam up the voids created below the earth¡¯s crust¡ªwas also inspired. That maneuver allowed us to evacuate over twenty-three million people with very few fatalities.

    He snorted. If you can call twenty-seven thousand deaths ¡®very few¡¯!

    Andrew¡¯s fists tightened in frustration at the thought of all those lost souls. Such a tragedy . . . but miniscule against what it could have been. Most of the casualties had been too close to the detonations for us to be able to save them or too close to the coastline when it dropped. I can hear their minds screaming out as they died, even now!

    Of course, he hadn¡¯t been able to leave things like that.

    Taking the lead, Andrew initiated the modification of the lithosphere, using the enhanced, self-replicating, tectonic placebo provided by Naomi.

    The woman of the hour was out of it by then, undergoing the unfathomable vicissitudes of her immersion into the psitronic lattices. Nevertheless, it had been a mighty work, reminiscent of the challenges he¡¯d undertaken so long ago. Only this time, his father hadn¡¯t been there to help. Andrew had undertaken the executive position himself, with Victoria providing prime focus.

    It had been a humbling experience to witness firsthand the degree of finesse required to inaugurate such an endeavor. But it was something he would have to get used to.

    Although they had only concentrated on the primary sites of the detonations, it still meant they¡¯d had to refashion over one hundred and fifty square miles of land. Billions of tons of sediment and rock, through several layers of the upper mantle had been expunged in the opening holocaust. Replacing it hadn¡¯t been easy, and it had taken nearly four hours of exhaustive, directed attention and application to regenerate a suitable matrix from which later, more permanent modifications could be undertaken.

    Even so, the zone had continued to flex alarmingly as it solidified and then settled into its new configuration, triggering the only earthquake to actually strike the region. Measuring nine-point-eight on the Richter scale, it had been allowed to propagate fully to test the integrity of the embryonic substrata.

    Andrew wasn¡¯t ashamed to admit he¡¯d held his breath for all of the two minutes it had taken for the tremors to subside. But he needn¡¯t have been so worried. Their psi-engineered terraforming template worked like a charm.

    Yes, most high-rise freeway networks lay in ruins. But already, extensive repairs were being undertaken to open the main arterial roads between Santa Ana and Santa Monica. Priority had also been vouchsafed to those access routes leading to and from the principal hospitals and welfare centers.

    Inevitably, there had also been major disruptions to the electricity, gas, and water supplies. Downed cables and burst pipelines had caused sporadic fires and flooding, especially in the industrialized centers. But it had been remarkably contained. Rolling power cuts had been instigated to help facilitate a gradual and structured return to normalcy, particularly in the commercial districts further inland that had survived with their basic infrastructures intact.

    Because of this, food and water shortages for those residents in outlying areas who had already been allowed to return home were being kept to a minimum. Current estimates indicated they would shortly be joined by over seventy percent of the rest of the population within the next ten to twenty days. The stragglers would remain¡ªhoused at the special reception centers that had been hastily constructed around the locales of Hamilton, Osceola, and Cherry Creek¡ªwithin the Great Basin National Park. Shrewdly pressed into service, those ghost towns afforded an already existing logistical foundation, which had helped aid work tremendously.

    Andrew was very grateful that the Lord Conciliator¡¯s department was already deep in discussion with the appropriate local government agencies, selecting the best¡ªand safest¡ªlocations for urban regeneration to be undertaken. At least it¡¯s another step in the right direction out of the shit-pit. Thank god we¡¯ve managed to turn the fan off!

    Sighing yet again over the magnitude of organizational juggling that would be required to revitalize this, the second largest urban agglomeration in the United States, Andrew decided it would be more productive to turn his attention to those concerns that needed immediate attention. The sooner I liaise with Anil regarding the reopening of Los Angeles International Airport, the sooner we can bring in the civilian and National Guard disaster relief teams. It should be safe for them to shadow our specialized units into the stricken area by now. Mind you, San Pedro Bay will still have to wait. It¡¯s under six feet of water anyway, so a week or so isn¡¯t going to make much difference. That will free us up for more . . . pressing matters.

    His mood darkened considerably and he found himself having to fight the urge to incinerate something. I think I¡¯ll get Victoria to refine her search for those fuck-wit cowards! Just like them to go crawling into their holes again. If I have my way, they won¡¯t live long enough to waste any court¡¯s time, let alone a specially convened Psi-Hearing! Perhaps I¡¯ll use the Procurator Wing to . . . No!

    Abruptly, he felt ashamed.

    Get a grip, dickhead! Naomi didn¡¯t make such a huge sacrifice so I could screw things up with a dose of caveman¡¯s mentality. What a great example to set, eh? Overlord Designate and I¡¯m only too ready to wipe them out without the fiasco of a trial. Hell, how did father manage to control himself all these years?

    He started!

    Father! Damned, I¡¯ve got so much on my plate it slipped my mind!

    Referring to his internal chronometer, Andrew realized he only had a few hours left before the big event.

    Feeling suddenly isolated, he muttered, ¡°I¡¯d better get a move on!¡±

 Acceptance

    Echoes within echoes trilled throughout Naomi¡¯s heightened sensibilities. How long has it been now? Minutes! Hours!

    Time had no meaning here, within the lost veracity of her novel existence. It fractured off in a slew of directions all at once. And not all of them were conventionally linear. Days could have passed, even weeks. Events might not have even happened yet. . .

    . . .Why oh why did I contemplate such a stupid course of action!

    You know why¡ªwhy¡ªwhy . . . a voice replied from among the refracted halls of her augmented perceptions.

    Who is that? Where are you? She replied, curious to discover as much as she could about her inimitable condition. Especially if someone or something was in here with her that might be able to help her find her way among the multitudinal byways surrounding her.

    Whatever it was proved elusive, and receded at an alarming rate. She set off in pursuit immediately, relishing the opportunity to explore her strange new world.

    As she went, Naomi found herself attuning to that milieu instinctively. On every occasion a thought entered her head or she acted on impulse, a euphonious tone chimed, meshing to the diverse fabric of her environment as if they had always been there.

    At first, Naomi found those tones distracting, for this experience was unlike anything she was used to. But then she remembered. It would be part and parcel of who she was now. If she chose to embrace it, doors of opportunity would open. How did Adam put it?

    . . .Oh you¡¯ll survive, Naomi. Believe me. . .

    . . .Just prepare yourself for the change. Transcension aside, you¡¯ll be very different from what you are now. So long as you can accept the regenesis for what it will accomplish, you will come to look on it for what it is. A unique gift!

    . . .Change is necessary, Naomi. Embrace it as I do, for you will become a guiding light once you¡¯ve managed to achieve a degree of equilibrium. . .

    So, rather than act from a purely human perspective, Naomi stopped listening and tried to savor the spirit of the experience instead.

    An electric buzz coursed through her being as variant music washed over her, bringing with it a concordance of polished clarity.

    . . .accept the regenesis for what it will accomplish. . .

    Abruptly, the odd frigidity that had gripped the center of her existence flared brightly. The gemlike facets petrifying her in place started to glow with an inner, deeper warmth, sending waves of pleasure undulating along her synapses. I¡¯ve been given a gift. It will require certain adjustments, but if I welcome them, support them, I¡¯ll be able to. . .

    A webbed tracery of dazzling contentment bifurcated throughout the prism of her soul, branching inward and outward, and every-which-way imaginable.

    . . .Thaw!

    Buds of super perception thrust up through the loam of her essentia. Flowering, they unfurled in a sudden onslaught that showered fresh seeds of hyper-cognition through her psyche. Charged beyond reckoning with psitronic energy, they burgeoned into something else entirely.

    The razor-sharp contours of her hybrid form rippled and flowed, crackling with a liquid radiance that infused her psi-well with ancient understanding.

    And a revelation!

    Well, well, well. This is going to be fun! An overwhelmingly powerful voice boomed within her consciousness.

    A chill of recognition radiated throughout Naomi¡¯s memories. YOU! But . . . how?

    Now, now, the entity chided: Don¡¯t start slipping backward after you¡¯ve come so far. You know who and what I am. Stop trying to think so hard. Just let yourself feel and enlightenment will flow.

    But you¡¯re dea . . . sorry! My apologies. You re-ascended! I saw it in Adam¡¯s mind.

    Making an effort to still her thoughts, Naomi let the limitless well of her inquisitiveness drain away. In this place, she knew everything and nothing. The height and the depth and the breadth encompassing the entire cosmos. . .

    . . .But not the familiarity of her own humanity.

    Feel it. The entity repeated.

    She did.

    Oh, oh . . .WOW!

    Distraction vied for dominance against delight; artifice with candor; composure amid a backdrop of bewilderment. And to cap it all, a bolt from the blue that she had known was there all along!

    Good humored approval thrummed in the ether as Naomi realized who it was she was actually talking to: You . . . you¡¯re an echo of your creator, and yet¡ªin a strange way¡ªyou¡¯re also him at the same time!

    Crudely put, little nestling. Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel replied, his joy bubbling over into an overt expression of fondness: But it will suffice. You¡ª?

    Hang on! Naomi cut in, a tangential connection flashing before her eyes: But that would mean . . . ?

    Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel paused, his satisfaction clearly evident as the younger mind cast her stupendous senses about; hunting, seeking, searching.

    Without warning, Naomi checked what she was doing: I¡¯m doing it again aren¡¯t I? She griped: Reacting like a human. I know he¡¯s hovering nearby, though. You two were so intimately involved in your transformation. A reflection of him or part of his essence will also live on here. You used his energies to get home and create this construct at the same time.

    An insubstantial sigh trembled along the lattices.

    Naomi stopped trying and simply . . . did!

    Otherworldly laughter reverberated about them.

    A different voice teased her: And the penny drops!

    Addressing Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel, Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem declared: Did I not say she was a treasure, my friend? Like Gregor before his passing, she is a rare gift among starlike minds.

    You did indeed, brother. Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel replied: I look forward to seeing how she tackles her present conundrum.

    Oh, I have no doubt once she grasps the distinction of her present condition, she will proceed as she always does. With speed and dedicated precision! I would love to . . . ?

    And she¡¯s actually present with you in the flesh! Naomi emphasized, indignantly: Esoterically speaking of course. Please don¡¯t carry on a conversation about me as if I wasn¡¯t here! Come to that, why are you here? Surely it¡¯s not to deliver a running commentary on my pathetic attempts . . . ?

    Further amusement strummed the energy fields about them as Naomi caught herself.

    She adopted a more calculating approach. Within moments, an intuitive timbre pulsed through her anima: Aha! You¡¯re like ¨¹ber AI constructs, here to instruct and guide me!

    It wasn¡¯t a question.

    She is sharp! Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel chuckled, astonishment radiating throughout his complexus.

    I told you! Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem countered, his astral veneer smoldering with self-satisfaction: That¡¯s why Andrew¡¯s so taken with her. How did he describe her to me again? Oh yes. ¡®She¡¯s a captivat. . .¡¯

    DON¡¯T START THAT AGAIN! Naomi¡¯s mind thundered. Otherwise, once I find out how to control this damned freaky medium, I¡¯ll make your lives a. . .

    . . .Andrew said what about me?

    It took a determined effort for Naomi not to get sidetracked.

    In the silence that followed, the inevitable compulsion to dig for further clarification built ever higher. Somehow, she controlled it. Asking would serve no useful purpose . . . yet. Regardless, I won¡¯t forget that little snippet in a hurry.

    Impenetrable walls slammed into place. Behind them, argent blooms of purpose and focus manifested, creating a labyrinth of dogged determination.

    Suddenly businesslike, Naomi said: As things are different here, you can¡¯t disagree there¡¯s no time like the nonexistent present to get on with it!

    Referring to the framework, she extended an invitation: Please, let¡¯s begin. The sooner I adjust to the new and improved me, the sooner we can all get on with something useful again, and. . .

    . . .And, if you can manage to control your banter for long enough, would you be so kind as to ask Anatt to look after Lucifer for a while? Oh! And don¡¯t forget my family. They¡¯ll need to know I won¡¯t be home for a while.

    Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel¡¯s thoughts rang with profound respect: But of course, Naomi. Appropriate steps have already been taken.

    Turning to Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem, Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel added: It appears our girl has accepted her path. A true star-mind indeed.

    The nimbus surrounding the former Overlord glittered fiercely as he savored the strength of spirit flourishing about them. He replied: More than that. If what I suspect is true, an essential aspect of the Pathfinder to Unification may have surfaced this day. I can feel it in my bones . . . excuse the turn of phrase!

    Pathfinder? Naomi had never heard that expression before. Somehow, she held her tongue and waited, for Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem had lapsed into silence, as if reminiscing on long lost memories.

    Nevertheless, Naomi increasing acuity allowed her to overhear a more distant aspect of the Overlord¡¯s mind. He was muttering to himself. If only I could get Andrew to accept the coming changes with as much fortitude and resilience! My true self would be a lot happier¡ªhappier¡ªhappier. . .Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    He seemed to recall where he was. Out loud, he suggested: Okay, let¡¯s get on with it and see what you¡¯re made of young lady.

    Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel¡¯s concern was evident: Before we do, have you determined the long-term occlusion quotient of our candidate?

    I did try, old friend. But Naomi continues to present something of a paradox. We should be looking at a protracted linear time span. Ten, perhaps twenty fleshly cycles at least. But every time I employ the probability lattices, the climax is confounded. I have a sneaking suspicion her ability to compartmentalize¡ªblended as it is now to her hyper-cognivity¡ªwill cut that period drastically. And all the more so if she grasps the multiverse theorem quickly.

    Then perhaps that would be the most appropriate place to start?

    Agreed!

    Coming together instantly, the two Fallen brothers of the Primary Echelon of Heaven combined. The bonded clarity of the harmonic symphony they produced was as exquisite as it was terrifying.

    A fanfare proclamation rang down on the child before them: PUT ASIDE YOUR MISCONCEPTIONS AND PRECONCEIVED IDEAS. JOIN US NOW, IN UNITY, SO THAT ILLUMINATION MAY BE GRANTED REGARDNG ORIGIN.

    IN THE BEGINNING. . .

    <h6>*</h6>

    Ambient illumination within the Crystal Chamber suddenly flamed with the majesty of a million suns. Once again, the myriad facets adorning this, the rarest expression of the universe¡¯s dominion made manifest, began rotating like a rabid blender. Its surface shattered, hurling a lethal fusillade against the tiles lining the interior walls.

    The unique resonance of the cavity amplified that barrage, fusing the sound together into an agonizing wash of brain bursting pain.

    A clarion call heralded the appearance of multiple ruptures along the exterior of the psitronic crystal. The ruptures deepened and widened. Burrowing inward, they created vents through which an ever-increasing volume of pressure escaped in shrill piercing whistles.

    Fresh prisms snapped to the surface along the eastern aspect of the construct, marking a noticeable separation from the main body of the gem. Then the radiance, threatening to blister the very fabric of the walls cut off, as if a switch had been thrown. Blinding white gave way to tranquil gloom, revealing a brand-new entity.

    Divided into two distinct parts, it now looked as if the old psitronic crystal had attempted to grow a malformed twin. Instead of the graceful lines and edges of a multi-faceted andradite garnet, however, this latest addition was roughly humanoid in shape. And while it had retained a razor-sharp profile, its contours were somehow fluidic in character, as if unsure as to the purpose of their own nature.

    Even more alarming was the fact that this new arrival had grown close to nine feet in height.

    Everything went still.

    Whatever was happening must have been conducive to proper balance, for the psitronic splicing recommenced its former arcane functioning.

    Music graced the ether, a tinkling sound reminiscent of glass flakes on blue ice. A legion of whispers exuded from all places at once. Each of the multi-faceted prisms resumed their playful dance, folding in and out of sight and offering tantalizing answers to unfathomable questions.

    Nonetheless, a stark difference was immediately apparent. The crystal appeared to have lost its subdermal luminescence.

    Dark, almost colorless layers sank into its jet-black depths, giving the impression that an ancient sentinel now stood guard, awaiting instructions that would never come.

    Time passed. . .

    Sadly, no one was there to witness the instant the gloom was thrown back by a declaration of argent purity.

    Over before it began, the sterling flare sizzled around the room, reflecting from thousands of different angles simultaneously. As it died, a resonating boom careened off the walls, shaking dust free from the ceiling.

    That dust eventually settled and serenity returned once more.

    Second ticked slowly by, evolving into minutes with regular monotony. . .

    Another coronal discharge broke free. As before, aftershocks propagated the enclosed environment, amplifying those energies involved as they muted their dreadful potency.

    A watchful stillness descended yet again.

    After an age¡ªin which the very orbit of the Moon seemed to stutter in anticipation¡ªatmospheric tension relaxed . . . only for a third eruption to split the night.

    This time, iridescent arcs of silver and purple lightning stabbed out. Humming and spitting as they played across the exotic tiles lining the chamber, they appeared much like fulgurous fingers, intent on searching out suitable targets to incinerate. Rebounding at last into the crystal, they commenced feeding an inner furnace hidden within the heart of the smaller segment.

    To someone looking on, it would have appeared a battle was taking place inside the artifact¡¯s core, for this latest discharge was much stronger than the ones preceding it.

    And those bystanders wouldn¡¯t have been far wrong.

    As each random outburst manifested, micro-fissures formed along the bluff forming the bridge between the two halves of the crystal. Little by little, bit by bit, those fissures grew larger and larger as the smaller section of the pairing struggled to separate itself from its larger cousin.

    And it was working.

    Oh, it would take an age¡ªcertainly¡ªbut the portent of what would eventually transpire was already etched in stone . . . a two million carat gemstone at that.

    <h6>*</h6>

    So! Have you prepared yourself sufficiently?

    Yes, Father, Andrew replied: As sufficiently as anyone can when they¡¯re contemplating a ¡®goodbye¡¯ that will last for all eternity.

    Opening himself fully, Andrew displayed the intricacies of each stage of the forthcoming procedure in the minutest detail.

    Checking the composition before him, Adam was surprised to find several adaptations had been added. Examining those revisions in particular¡ªand working them through to a conclusion¡ªhe was pleased to note they would enhance the overall process.

    Wryly, he acknowledged Andrew¡¯s skill, for it was clear that one day, his son would surpass him: Well done! That¡¯s an excellent set of adjustments. While they¡¯ll extend the pain quotient somewhat, it won¡¯t really matter, as I won¡¯t really be able to comprehend anything by that stage anyway. Physical sensations will cease once I reach critical mass . . . do you see? Everything will be phasing toward a self-sustaining accretion disc, Brilliant!

    Nearby, five blazing entities radiated their approval and support.

    Ignoring them, Andrew replied: Yes. Well. I had a good teacher. His shields slammed into place as an overwhelming surge of anguish threatened to crack his composure.

    The entities withdrew, moving farther away to allow father and son a degree of privacy in their final moments together.

    Encompassing his offspring within a halo of bolstering neural energies, Adam tried to keep the conversation flowing: And what about your sister? How is she managing?

    Keeping herself busy, as she always does when she wants to avoid thinking too deeply about things that upset her. As I¡¯d be doing . . . given half the chance.

    Ah, but those who lead don¡¯t always have that luxury, my Son. You¡¯ll come to appreciate that as the years go by.

    Go by without you, you mean! Andrew¡¯s riposte was blunt and laced with anguish. Breakers of unbearable sadness piled high against his barriers, breaching their integrity in one place after another with scarlet outbursts.

    The strength of the enfolding solace increased.

    Son. You know I need to return home. I have to. Now, more than ever! The darkness rises, and for everybody¡¯s sake, I have to keep to the path I¡¯ve foreseen. . .

    But Victoria and I weren¡¯t included within your vision. Andrew cut in: We¡¯re beyond your precognition. You say that one day we¡¯ll both exceed you. Isn¡¯t there anything we could do to stop . . . to prevent all this?

    An incorporeal hand reached out to silence him. The titanic intellect turned fully translucent, revealing at last the full travesty of what could occur if he was not very, very careful.

    The younger mentality was moved to silence.

    Eventually, Adam sighed: There is only one being outside of existence with the fortitude to quell the black fires of Tartarus within me. Only one has the capability to purify me, thereby transfiguring the shadow into light. There¡¯s only one place where it¡¯s truly safe for me to exist. . .

    He gestured to the vastness of the universe around them.

    . . .And it¡¯s not here.

    The inevitability of the situation finally pierced Andrew¡¯s to the core.

    Adam was keenly aware of his son¡¯s bitter hopelessness, and his aura dimmed slightly. Embracing Andrew more intimately, he moved to console him: You are entirely correct to say you were outside my temporal acuity. Both of you were. And you¡¯re both a wonderful blessing too. A priceless gift beyond the value of existence itself. Having you in my life has enriched it more than you will ever know. It¡¯s kept me focused on the goal I set myself and what needed to be done to achieve it. Believe me when I say, my grief is just as harsh as yours. Can¡¯t you see? I never envisaged having to leave my own flesh and blood behind. Were it not for the danger to this realm, I would gladly forsake my proper dwelling place in heaven for all eternity so I could remain by your side. Although I would eventually darken, and. . .

    And?

    As redoubtable as I am, removed from the Source, my tincture wanes with every passing millennium. Though it would take trillions of years, eventually all that would remain would be the reverberations of my memories as they scattered on cosmic tides.

    So there¡¯s nothing to be done?

    Of course there is, my Son. We can accept the hand we have been dealt with dignity and see how it plays out. We can only ever try to do our best. And who knows the consequence of boldness, eh?

    Boldness! What do you mean? Andrew countered, confused by his father¡¯s line of reasoning.

    One thing I do know for certain is that everything the Source does is motivated by his cardinal attributes. My just proscription took place because justice demanded it! It was also a course of wisdom, for it protected those who remained steadfast against our corrupting influence. You could say it prevented the rot from spreading. His power ensured we were removed to a place where our putrefaction would be contained. The thing is, that act was also motivated by love. Think about it. He would have been completely justified in casting us away to Tartarus and death and leaving it at that! But He didn¡¯t. He also made a way back for those humble enough to seek it. Remember, at the time, this was a much lower plane that seemed hell-bent on self-destruction. It would require a great deal of patience over a protracted period to lead its denizens away from the futility of their own dark desires. . .

    . . .But who would have the integrity to take on such a task? The acumen to plan it and see it through. Who would fight to overcome their own shortcomings, thereby ensuring their superior gifts were devoted toward an age of nurture? Don¡¯t forget, not all of the Fallen were truly repentant. Not all sought to exercise love toward those they viewed as lesser beings. Yes, we were all dealt the same hand. One of us has already played his cards masterfully and returned. Others . . . well. Others simply folded without trying.

    And me? Perhaps I tried too hard. But look at the results! Not only are a people who were doomed to failure now on the narrow path to elevation and Unification, but you and your sister are a wonderful surprise . . . An ace up the sleeve, you might say. He loves it when unexpected blessings pop up out of the blue. I can¡¯t wait to see how he reacts to the way you play.

    Signaling for a moment toward the waiting entities, Adam sent them an encrypted message. Four immediately jumped even farther away, and took up positions at pre-designated points within a vast, invisible quadrant. One moved closer to Andrew.

    Satisfied everyone was now where they needed to be, Adam commenced separating a heavily shielded portion of his own persona from within his psychic nexus.

    Tendrils of incredible might began flowing toward his son. As they neared the younger demigod, a burgeoning luminescence grew brighter and brighter until Andrew was surrounded by a helix of immense energy. Slowly, the dazzling radiance frittered away, leaving a flame of undeniable purity and clarity hanging in the void between them.

    Referring to it, Adam said: This is Phoenix. It is for you, and you alone, my firstborn joy. It contains the entire sum of the Divine Flame remaining to me. Will you accept the office of Overlord with all the obligations, responsibilities, and privileges that will entail? Do you swear to support others to the best of your ability, always putting their interests before your own? Do you promise to lead by example, to set the highest standards of service, sacrifice and honor? To always seek to temper justice with love, and power with wisdom? Will you agree to bear this burden alone, knowing that the future of everything you hold dear hangs upon your shoulders?

    Adam could see his son was still hesitant. After all, Andrew¡¯s acceptance would signify his acknowledgement that things would never be the same again. Fortunately, Adam knew exactly what was needed on such an auspicious occasion.

    An ethereal smile overlaid his complexus. More gently, he concluded: I guess what I¡¯m trying to say, is . . . Andrew! Will you play or will you fold?

    Andrew stared into the potent well of dominion before him, savoring its vitality with the full range of his exceptional talents; feeling the urgency of its invitation; listening to the vibrancy of its allure; tasting the unadulterated essence of magnificence incarnate.

    Adam followed closely, sensing his son¡¯s resolve stiffening as his unwavering devotion to life and duty was kindled anew. That¡¯s my boy!

    His awareness skipped to the five entities about them. He tried to gauge their reactions, but like him, the inner thoughts of Aslan-di¡¯el, Gaia-le¡¯el, Gazad-riel, Olinda, and Ocean-az¡¯el were all but walled off. The only discernible hint he was able to detect, was a feeling of eager expectation humming in the ether about them.

    Gradually, he became aware of the fact that Andrew¡¯s astral sight had come to rest solely upon him. Only now, his aura possessed a fierce glacial overtone.

    Adam sighed: Well, my Son? Do you accept the mantle of Overlord?

    Andrew¡¯s psyche radiated with unshakable confidence and hope.

    Blending with the fringes of his father¡¯s essence for one last time, he subsumed the Divine Flame into his own nexus, and thundered: I DO!

 Overlord

    Andrew fought to control himself against a relentless tide.

    Easier said than done. His psychic nexus ballooned alarmingly, reacting to a massive inundation of exotic energies beyond his ken. So urgent was that increase, he felt sure his complexus might burst at any moment.

    A bewildering jumble of thoughts, memories and pre-human existence crowded in on his consciousness, each one demanding an audience and eager to be understood. Bolts of lightning battled across the turbulent vista of his mind, increasing the confusion a thousandfold. Then¡ªjust as it seemed he would explode¡ªsome form of cognizance within the Phoenix recognized his genetic heritage and triggered an instant cessation to the onslaught.

    Spinning to a halt, Andrew steadied himself and discovered he was now nearly twelve million miles from his former position. Unconcerned for his own safety, he instantly threw his farsenses back toward where his father had been.

    Keep moving! An insistent voice whispered in his ear.

    Distracted, Andrew dawdled a little too long for comfort: Eh . . . what?

    I said keep moving. We need to be outside the forming gravity well before its influence bends spacetime too much, otherwise I fear we may become unwitting participants of the transmogrification about to take place. Once it starts, the process is remarkably rapid.

    Dragging his perceptions away from the coalescing core of ravenous hunger, Andrew recognized Aslan-di¡¯el¡¯s presence. He replied: Don¡¯t worry about me. I know the dangers involved only too well, having witnessed a star imploding into a black hole on several occasions. Anyway, the precautions you¡¯ve put in place should direct the energies to where they need to go. I¡¯m just . . . it¡¯s just that this. . .

    But as your father would say, this involves your own flesh and blood, Aslan-di¡¯el murmured, revealing an understanding of Andrew¡¯s predicament: Someone who we can plainly see means more to you than life itself. Personal involvement always makes objectivity much harder to accomplish.

    Andrew didn¡¯t reply. He was too absorbed in the obscure manifestation taking place before him.

    In their planning of the event, Andrew had been fully apprised of the fact that his father would need to generate sufficient mass to trigger a spiraling collapse. They didn¡¯t just need to create a black hole. They needed a supergiant. And in order to sustain the continuing development of the huge galaxy encompassing them, a rotating one at that. Such a feat required prodigious power.

    That fact troubled Andrew: Do you think we¡¯ve got the clout to kick-start this thing?

    Do not worry! Aslan-di¡¯el assured him: Your father was being quite literal when he referred to his gift of divine essence. For that¡¯s what he gave you. Uncorrupted tincture! He separated and retained the savagery of the Destroyer within himself. The rage of the Angel of the Abyss is a terrifying thing to behold . . . as we¡¯re all about to see.

    Apprehension caused Andrew¡¯s psyche to spark crimson: But the danger!

    You needn¡¯t be alarmed. All that ferocity will be directed toward the catalyst he prepared within his complexus. For with his own destruction will come rebirth. You have never witnessed the authority of his unrestrained wrath, Andrew. Brace yourself. The focal point approaches!

    Dismissing the urge for further questions, Andrew secured himself in position and scanned for the nearest cosmic chains, those dark matter ribbons he knew would be saturating the hidden strata of subspace. Attuning to each one, Andrew infused them with a gentle radiance that caused a glowing network of overlapping ley-lines to appear.

    Once the grid had stabilized, he expanded it with a thought so it encompassed the entire galactic hub.

    His father¡ªby now a roiling mass of self consuming energies¡ªoccupied a position at its very center. Andrew could already see the chains surrounding that point bulging as they deformed in the presence of merciless gravity.

    Signaling the others, Andrew then waited while Gaia-le¡¯el, Gazad-riel, Olinda, and Ocean-az¡¯el initiated the next phase of the plan. Situated as they were at equidistant points¡ªnorth, south, east and west¡ªtwenty million miles out from his father, each Fallen angel opened a geodesic arch to somewhere else.

    In Gaia-le¡¯el¡¯s case, that door led into subspace. No sooner had she cracked the seal than vast quantities of supercharged ions commenced pouring through at a tangent to Adam¡¯s position. At that exact same moment, Gazad-riel¡ªstationed across from Gaia-le¡¯el¡ªopened her own gateway bordering inner space. Subatomic particles, augmented way beyond their normal capacity, thundered through the gap. Joining the already existing matter stream, those particles exploded in a flurry of incongruent vitality.

    Once the flow had settled, Olinda and Ocean-az¡¯el acted in tandem, simultaneously unlocking their respective portals.

    The contrast was startling.

    Instead of a giddy rush, the obscure mediums of fold space and lower space merely oozed through. Exuding forward like giant amoebas, it looked as if the two outlandish masses might impede the frenzied charge of the primary tributary.

    Far from it!

    No sooner had the amplified rush careened into both walls of goo, than there was a mighty explosion of contradictory forces.

    Andrew held his ethereal breath.

    He needn¡¯t have worried. Their earlier equations proved to be exceedingly accurate and the ensuing firestorm blended together perfectly to form a vortex where hyper-dynamic vitality thundered along a shared orbit.

    As those disparate forces blended together in a frenzy of mutual destruction, their wildly fluctuating potential accelerated the process. Within seconds, a torus of kaleidoscopic passion bloomed into view.

    Andrew assessed the condition of his father. So far, so good.

    A massive ball of self-consuming, self-sustaining rage now occupied the center of the void. Growing larger by the second, it seethed with a ferocity un-tempered by heaven¡¯s grace for thousands upon thousands of years. And yet, somehow, Adam was still in control. Andrew could taste his unbending refusal to yield in the face of such vitriolic savagery. A feat as terrifying as it was awe-inspiring. Fully committed, the former Overlord remained devoted to a single goal: the gradual surrender of his remaining essence.

    The tumult magnified. Arcane convulsions spewed again and again from the heart of the stygian mass. In answer, more and more alien elements hammered or trickled through to challenge them. As the anarchy intensified, plasma spheres formed within the interstellar medium.

    Then he saw it.

    A portion of the matter stream was being drawn toward Adam¡¯s position.

    Here we go!

    Glancing around them, Andrew completed several lightning-fast calculations. His attention flicked back and forth repeatedly between the accelerating halo, the Fallen, and his father.

    Eventually, it was time to initiate the most dangerous phase of the plan. To Aslan-di¡¯el, he said: Stand by!

    Aslan-di¡¯el made ready, drawing power in order to open the final, decisive geodesic archway between realms.

    The others also joined their minds to the task, forming a six-fold conduit through which the anticipated effusion would pass, hopefully without causing harm.

    Adjusting his acuity slightly, Andrew targeted a point within Adam¡¯s rupturing threshold where pressure fluctuations were wreaking the most havoc. As those forces became more unbalanced, his father¡¯s composition started to rotate

    At last the moment was upon them.

    The accretion quotient ramped virulently; hydrostatic equilibrium trembled on the brink of extinction; atoms split, overcoming Adam¡¯s waning tolerance and shredding his essence.

    Silver-white brilliance flensed the heavens of darkness as a quasi-star erupted to life in heliacal splendor.

    A stunning creative blast followed, allowing Aslan-di¡¯el to tear open a fresh spatial rupture right on top of them. One leading into the bedlam of mirror space.

    Imploding-exploding inverse matter seared the already potent mix, devastating the normal laws of physics. All six ascendant beings combined to mitigate the stream, and once completed to Andrew¡¯s satisfaction, they teleported to a safe distance, whereupon they immediately united once more in preparation for the penultimate phase.

    As planned, the flood of converse materials caused the forming propagation field to swell alarmingly. Kinetic and thermal energy¡ªcombined with herculean gravity¡ªalso induced Adam¡¯s metapsychic complexus to mushroom exponentially.

    His threshold followed suit, inflating his tincture into an unstable proto-giant bursting with huge solar prominences.

    The indigo backdrop of space paled for a second time, swathed in a blue-white luminance far, far greater than Earth¡¯s own sun.

    And still the process unfurled.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    The never-ending cocktail of five different kinds of exotic matter created an environment in which the expanding tessellation grid would continue to engorge at a truly terrifying rate.

    Sure enough, before they realized what had happened, a supergiant manifested before them, a celestial conflagration blazing with the intensity of a million quasars.

    Adam had now achieved sufficient volume for the final stage to proceed.

    Wasting no time, Andrew appraised his father¡¯s progress.

    As predicted, the combination of amplified mass, together with unstable foreign exoparticles, had warped the newly forming electron-positron pairing within the spawning sun¡¯s core. Already, an unseen and irreversible process had begun. The first hint he received of the coming paradox was a stuttering within the blinding crown of the corona. From Andrew¡¯s perspective, it looked as if someone was rapidly flicking a switch on and off.

    He then experienced a sharp upsurge in pressure as a massive quantity of bizarrely charged material formed within the nexus of actuality. Incredibly dense in nature, its presence triggered the collapse they had been waiting for.

    Unlike a main sequence star, however, there was no blinding flash to herald an outpouring of rarified plasma. Instead, Andrew felt as if he was watching a balloon being sucked empty. The instant it started to deflated, he yelled: Now!

    The Fallen responded, investing him with power.

    As the fiery disc contracted, Andrew¡¯s potential swelled to godlike levels. Unleashing that capacity, he ensured to accelerate the rate of collapse.

    Shrinking smaller and smaller by the second, the blue-white intensity of the monstrosity dimmed. In no time at all, it darkened through indigo, magenta, red, and then mahogany. As it did so, his father¡¯s mass became ever denser.

    Completing a hyper-scan, Andrew breathed an esoteric sigh of relief.

    Tidal shearing was now approaching one hundred and eighty-six miles per second. Even better, the gravity well had started to spin about one of its axes of symmetry.

    As the light abruptly snapped off, Andrew thought, time for my embellishment!

    Again! He cried out.

    A further arc of rarified protons streamed out at the exact moment the black hole formed. Thrumming across the tabular of the event horizon, the filament covered the ergosphere in a skein of harmonizing nucleic forces.

    Working deftly, Andrew manipulated that skein, accomplishing two things simultaneously.

    Firstly, the angular momentum of the leviathan meshed to that of its dependent galaxy. Secondly¡ªin a bold move¡ªthe breach between normal and mirror space was torn open once more.

    A gout of immense vitality radiated downward, before curling in like a giant florescent halo. Reaching the edge of the photon sphere, it snapped back toward the now rotating singularity. Boosted by the colossal incursion of chaotic energies from the alternate universe, the enhanced source matter caused the anomaly to swell even more alarmingly than before.

    An invisible radius of unfathomable power coalesced in the ether before them. Within seconds it was the size of thousand suns. Then two thousand. Then four. Over and over the sum of its density increased. As it did so, molecular disintegration released vast amounts of thermal energy, X-rays and gamma-rays. Irradiated, localized cosmic chains glowed like neon signs, revealing the extent to which the spacetime continuum was being bent out of shape.

    Extending his senses, Andrew felt the giant galaxy about them shudder . . . and then the matrix of its new anchor established a mutual synchronization.

    Incalculable energies continued to build.

    The colossus now contained the mass of over one million suns.

    Initiating a cross tabular jump, Andrew positioned Aslan-di¡¯el and himself just outside the event horizon and began assessing the singularity as it swept by each time.

    Sending a head¡¯s up to his team, he prepared them for the climax of the procedure: Remember. We have to time the influx just right. Doing so will moderate the breach forever, and begin a feedback loop that will perpetually bleed every ounce of extra energy away from the gravity well. In effect, we¡¯ll create a self sustaining acceleration field! It will mean that, should my father¡¯s efforts be successful and he re-ascends in the far distant future, this galaxy will be able to survive on its own without a parent black hole.

    To himself, he added, as I now have to do. . .

    Profound respect proliferated toward him from five different sources.

    Strangling his self-pity, Andrew confirmed the ergosphere was now fully established. Tapping into its matrix, he strengthened the harmonic link between his friends, and commenced imbibing the resonance of the gravity well.

    The leviathan now had the mass of eight million suns.

    With adroit dexterity, Andrew deployed a cocoon of restrictive force about both axes of the maelstrom. In response, a magnifying nimbus of power started to synthesize along the event horizon.

    Time passed seemingly without end. Through it all, Andrew continued siphoning ever more quasi-matter through from nether space.

    At last, he deemed everything ready.

    Changing the timbre of the flow, he compressed the energy into a gigantic plasma ball and held it ready. The ebon sphere before them began generating a storm of increasingly violent shockwaves, invisible convulsions that propagated out into the vacuum, rocking them to the core.

    Andrew locked on to his target. Its plane of rotation was vast. The singularity now orbited a plane possessing the mass of over sixteen million stars and it took him almost a full minute to accurately project its course.

    When the moment arrived, he couldn¡¯t resist it. . .

    Goodbye, Father!

    With a heavy heart, Andrew unleashed the full fury of the blazing gobbet directly into the heart of the black hole.

    Accelerated as it was by the crush of gravity, the compacted nucleus of limitless power seemed to strike a point of nothingness before shredding into a corkscrew smear of coruscating light. Helpless to resist, the very fabric of spacetime warped.

    A thought somehow squeezed its way out of the charybdis: Thisssisss not goodbyeee. It¡¯sss just the beginning¡ªingg¡ªinggg. . .

    The forbidden area of the newly formed galactic anchor flexed, and all six titans were swept from their perches by a hurricane blast of tidal forces. Ten percent larger than its predecessor, the maw began to feed on those stars and other interplanetary bodies inhabiting the inner rim, for they were now within its sphere of influence.

    Opening his mind, Andrew invited the others to see the fruits of their labors.

    Will it hold? Ocean-az¡¯el asked.

    Andrew gauged their efforts. His answer quickly became apparent: Yes, it¡¯ll hold. All that material will help it . . . will help Father to mesh to his new charge and establish a gravity buffer between the dead zone and latest region of active feeding. Fortunately, nothing of consequence exists for several parsecs in any direction. The closest nurseries will remain far beyond its range, local stellar conditions will eventually stabilize, and the galaxy will survive intact. Life will come again . . . especially if we have anything to do with it.

    The sight before them was simply stunning.

    Majestic, both in scope and glory.

    Regardless, the Fallen obviously had something on their minds. Crowding closer, Gaia-le¡¯el was the first to speak: It falls to me to be your first guide.

    My guide?

    Yes . . . guide! She repeated: The flame you now hold is a sacred trust. It cannot exist outside of the Divine, for its eminence is as deadly as it is glorious. That you were accepted by the Phoenix is as remarkable as it is fear-inspiring, for in bonding to your psyche, it gives us a glimpse of the potential you possess. . .

    . . .Remember, such a thing was never envisaged by the Prime Source. Both you and your sister are a paradox. Unforeseen, you were never prepared for. Untested, who could know how you would stand in the unfolding of His purposes? Unexpected, who could fathom your hearts?

    Evaluating how he had felt when he assimilated the Flame, Andrew gasped: Are you saying this thing hasn¡¯t even fully activated yet?

    Gaia-le¡¯el moved closer: Andrew, how could it activate when it had not yet judged you worthy? Phoenix is a spark of the Divine One Himself. All of the Host possess such an agent . . . Fallen or no. By not destroying you, the Prime Source has bestowed an unprecedented privilege. For in doing so, he has revealed his acceptance of what you might one day become! Although your heart is clearly pure, you are of fleshly¡ªnay¡ªFallen heritage! The debased may not interact with the untainted. And yet, here you are . . . provisionally. Your actions may not only influence the outcome for your father, but in the end, the entire human race.

    Oh Shit! Andrew blasphemed, before recalling the distinguished origins of his present company.

    Amusement radiated throughout the vacuum around him.

    Gaia-le¡¯el continued: Knowing this, your father entrusted to us your higher education. Phoenix has been fashioned to activate in six stages. No doubt you have already witnessed the power of the first step as it bonded to your complexus. Each phase will augment the one before, as well as enhance your abilities many times over. And, as I¡¯m sure you¡¯re now aware, the process brings with it certain memories of his life . . . before.

    Her words touched a nerve.

    Wait a minute, Andrew interjected: I¡¯m aware of my father¡¯s previous standing. And I¡¯ve seen him reveal aspects of his might on a number of occasions over the millennia. But just how powerful was he? I mean, how much of his actual capacity did he ever actually use here, on the mundane plane?

    Andrew couldn¡¯t fail to notice how the Fallen kept glancing back and forth between themselves. Neither did he miss their repeated whispers. Something about their undercurrent only roused his suspicions further.

    WELL? He pressed.

    Aslan-di¡¯el floated forward: Andrew. Your father was contrite from the moment he was ousted from heaven. Once Fallen, he sealed his heart to the amplification Phoenix would have granted him. He felt unworthy to use that which is a reflection of the Most High. As such, over the tens of thousands of years since, he gradually ate himself away. Everything he achieved, everything he accomplished, was done without the Source¡¯s ingrained exuberance. He only ever used that essence which empowered the Destroyer within him, or which he managed to subsume from renegades.

    Indicating the awesome sight behind them, Aslan-di¡¯el emphasized: That¡¯s why he needed our help to build this! For as dread as you thought he was, he was only a shadow of what he used to be.

    A shadow! Andrew gasped incredulously.

    What you now hold within you contains the full grandeur of a Primary Echelon Angel. Out of the myriads of us, only seventy such beings were generated. And your father stood among the highest. By refusing to employ his former ardor, he hoped to demonstrate his penitent heart and secure a return through service to others. A dangerous gamble! For while this did indeed bring blessings¡ªof which you yourself are a superlative example¡ªit also doomed him to the eventual decay brought about by the workings of his core nature. He was the Angel of the Abyss, and woe betides any who were given into his hand. . .

    . . .Do you appreciate now why he felt the need to lock himself away, where he could do no harm? In seeking to demonstrate his repentance, he is protecting others as he serves them still! Of course, in doing so, he needed to ensure you also had sufficient guidance for each stage of your own . . . evolution.

    Andrew was moved to silence. Warily, he scrutinized the spark within him. The catalyst to unlimited potential. It gleamed and glittered within his complexus, as unfathomable as it was majestic.

    Old self-doubts came crowding back: And it thinks I¡¯m worthy? Me . . .?

    . . .Oh God, we¡¯re doomed!

    Gaia-le¡¯el came forward once more: That¡¯s why we are here to help you. Each of us possesses a different Cardinal attribute. Mine is love. Where better to begin as you step into uncharted territory? If you seek to exemplify such a quality from the start, your journey is sure to be accelerated. As such, I will be there to shepherd you until you make the First Degree yours to command.

    Joyfully, she linked to the fringes of Andrew¡¯s psi-well: Are you ready, young Star-mind? Overlord of the Guardians of Earth . . . and so much more.

    Alarm radiated throughout Andrew¡¯s entire being: Ready? Are you kidding? If we weren¡¯t already in transcended form, I¡¯d need to change my pants! Who could ever be ready for this?

    Then the weight of Gaia-le¡¯el¡¯s thoughts actually registered.

    Overlord? Me?

    Jeez, she¡¯s right!

    Steeling himself, Andrew struggled to fight down another flood of insecurity: I can¡¯t think this way anymore. I¡¯m . . . I¡¯ve . . . Oh God! We¡¯re truly screwed!

    Ignoring his protestations, Gaia-le¡¯el commenced bonding to Andrew¡¯s complexus and thereby, to the Phoenix within him, infusing both man and Flame with a subtle harmonic tone as she did so. Her entire being shivered in delight as the fabrication blazed brightly once more: So radiant, so full of potential. . .

    . . .Ooh! Let¡¯s see if your Divine name will be revealed to us from the outset!

    WHAT?

    Then they were consumed by the light.

 Epilogue

    Much, much later, the tiniest of ripples propagated the periphery between the new galactic hub and its enlarged forbidden zone.

    Because of the settling gravity waves, it was difficult to distinguish at first. However, as it grew in size and intensity, there could be no doubt. Someone¡ªor something¡ªwas trying to traverse that boundary unseen.

    With infinite slowness, a sublayer of lower space was manipulated, eventually becoming translucent enough to peer through. Apparently satisfied, the watcher then peeled back a final strand of actuality to reveal a small party of travelers.

    Bursting with pride, Charon boasted to his companions: See! Did I not say I would escort you safely through my domain?

    Your domain! Lucifian snapped: Don¡¯t forget we know what you are . . . worm! The lowest scum of the lowest tier. How fitting you make such an environment your home.

    Now, now, boys! Omigin-al chided. We didn¡¯t come all this way just to fight amongst ourselves, did we? After all, Charon has proven his worth twice over.

    Sister, has your IQ dropped sharply? Lucifian retorted: Just because he happened to notice the intrusion into lower space and wet himself, doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s doing us a favor. He probably wants us to do his dirty work for him to save exposing his butt to danger . . . again!

    Why don¡¯t we just take a look and see? Bael-zebad insisted, bluntly. He administered a vicious neural shock, silencing the rest of his brethren in an instant.

    As eldest and most powerful of those present, his will dominated. So much so, that he followed up his admonishment with another spiteful jolt, prolonging it for long enough to sear the outermost layer of their minds. Relishing in their suffering, he then dismissed their bickering and scrutinized the imposing anomaly spread out before them.

    Ancient enmity¡ªdeeply submerged¡ªradiated out of the void. Somehow, a profoundly altered consciousness was able to react to their presence.

    Jerking away, Bael-zebad almost gave way to panic. But then he seemed to realize the truth. Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem was so profoundly immersed within his new condition, he might as well not have existed.

    Turning to Charon, Bael-zebad intoned: Well, well, well, my irritating little friend. You were right. You did taste Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem¡¯s essence. But the Destroyer wasn¡¯t leading a hunt for the worthless likes of you. Oh no!

    He gestured to the unblinking pupil of destruction and crowed: This is all that remains of our former Angel of the Abyss. The fool is following in the footsteps of his closest lackey, Sariel-Jeh¡¯oel, by playing nursemaid to a dying star-whorl.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    Shock radiated throughout the rest of the group. Reacting as one, they tentatively extended their perceptions to test the waters.

    He¡¯s right. Do you see?

    Can it be true?

    Gods! At last!

    Beware! He recognizes our invasion into this plane and yet. . .

    . . .He can do nothing to prevent it!

    Lucifian expressed a valid thought: Brothers! Sister! If this is the case, what of Psiedoni-jah, Hadez¡¯ekiel, Arestartus and . . . ?

    Don¡¯t forget Hestan-eal! Omigin-al interrupted: I always liked her.

    . . .Whatever! Lucifian growled: We all know Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem forced their cooperation. They only went along with his crazy scheme to preserve themselves. But now the bully is gone, what of them and our other brothers and sisters? Surely some must remain?

    Fearing to hope, each looked to the other in expectation.

    We must inform Mae¡¯loch! Bael-zebad¡¯s suggestion was forced and laced with contempt: I have no doubt he¡¯ll know how to waste this opportunity.

    Ushering them toward the breach, Bael-zebad accosted Charon: And you! Make sure the portal is sealed tight. I don¡¯t want anyone knowing we were here who might be able to interfere with my plans. Understand?

    Outwardly, Charon was keen to comply: Of course, brother. You need not fear on that account.

    But Charon was privy to information the others knew nothing about. To himself, he thought. Though I can¡¯t say Psiedoni-jah will be happy with your aspirations. He knows of other dangers that lurk in the dark . . . and so do I.

    As they crowded into the geodesic pocket, Lucifian called to Bael-zebad: Brother. Mae¡¯loch may squander the opening presented this day. You know how he feared the Destroyer, and those who supported him. He may seize on any number of excuses in an effort to delay. . .

    Oh, don¡¯t worry, my Lower Echelon sibling! Bael-zebad cut in: If he is foolish enough to procrastinate, it will be his undoing. He may be of Median origin¡ªas was I¡ªbut he has allowed himself to petrify. His fire of old now lies cooling in the hearth. He will be no match for us combined. And with Sachael-Za-Ad¡¯hem out of the way, we can set our sights higher. Why should I stoop to being king of the underverse when this sphere now lays open to conquest?

    Embracing his companion in false camaraderie, Bael-zebad expounded: Think, Lucifian! None of the Higher Echelon remains. I would ensure the pathetic insects of this realm bent the knee to serve us, as we originally envisaged, for their benefactor now lies stagnating behind us. Spent and impotent.

    Lucifian¡¯s aura glittered like blood: I agree, Brother. Though, if I may suggest, a little more nosing by the worm wouldn¡¯t go amiss. I¡¯d hate to go storming in, and discover a legion arrayed against us.

    A legion of what? Bael-zebad replied, turning to glower at his Lieutenant: You delude yourself. These are mere humans we¡¯re talking about. They are ours for the taking, and nothing will stop us! As soon as I¡¯ve gathered all those who have the stomach for conflict, we will make our presence known.

    Listening in on the exchange, Charon fought to conceal his alarm.

    Lucifian voiced his reservations aloud: But that could take years! You know how slowly our kind reacts to change. Especially those still stagnating in solitude.

    Nevertheless! Once we have gathered in sufficient numbers, this realm will be ours! Mine! If the worm completes any snooping you feel is necessary by then, all well and good. But I have delayed long enough. The time of waiting is over . . . the time for action is at hand.

    As the breach finally closed, Charon¡¯s stray¡ªyet poignant thought, was lost among the background noise proliferating the ether. I somehow doubt the word ¡®action¡¯ will aptly describe what¡¯s coming!