《The Stolen Moments of Life - The Lather series - The Black》


 Chapter 1: Just a warm Summers day

    Andrew and Linnie were spending some of their last free moments walking through the park looking for a place to enjoy the late summer sun. Despite a long and lovely walk while they looked for a new spot, they ended up settling at their usual spot. It sat on top of Linnie''s favorite hill. She loved this hill in particular, as it overlooked a beautiful pond that sparkled each time the lightest breeze rippled its surface and that ducks always seemed to be there joyfully diving in and around the lily pads adding sparkles of their own.


    He loved this spot because from it you could see for a mile or so in any direction and only the rare house in the distance slightly marred their view. They both loved to dream that they were alone in a vast wilderness and those handful of houses and the occasional dog bark or child''s protest in the distance were their only reminders that their dreams weren¡¯t reality.


    After a moment of taking in the view, they busied themselves quickly clearing the spot of debris and the unfortunate litter left by some thoughtless previous patron. Once complete, Linnie took the blanket Andrew had been carrying and mindfully placed it near the top of the hill. She took the time to ensure its alignment was perfect. Occasionally deciding she was satisfied only to stop him from sitting so she could move it ever so slightly, before repeating the process for what Andrew felt was the millionth time. Once she was satisfied with the blanket''s position, they both sat down hip to hip with their legs slightly intertwined.


    While Andrew always thought she took too much time with these things, he had to admit that her attention to the small details added far more than it subtracted from the experience. Never more so than when he noticed she had placed it so perfectly that the few houses that scarred the view were strategically placed behind trees and a small boulder. So, they would no longer distract them from the dream of being so remote that they were truly alone. They sat there for a bit hand in hand enjoying the dream before Andrew broke their silence.


    ¡°You were saying?¡±


    "Oh yeah, so Jack is super excited about the modifications I made yesterday and neither one of us can wait to field test them tomorrow. Not to brag too much, but the simulations suggest we''ll see a 6-fold increase in energy efficiencies, and I was able to manage it even at half the original engine volume! When Jack reviewed the simulations, he was so impressed that he even joked that maybe I should have his job! " Linnie''s smile threatening to break out from the confines of her cheeks.


    "Linnie, you know, pretty much everyone agrees with him and that the only reason you don''t have his job is because of who his mother is," Andrew said, annoyance slipping into his tone.


    "That''s not fair at all, Jack is brilliant. I mean without the way he challenges my ideas; I''d never come up with half of this stuff. You''ve just never liked Jack because you think he likes me."


    "He does, but more importantly it was still YOU who came up with the ideas and not him. Just don''t lose sight of that," Andrew pleaded.


    " Don¡¯t worry Andrew, I won''t. I¡¯m just saying that while his mom is one of the 19, he didn''t just ride her coattails into his position. He''s a great leader in his own right and he makes the whole team better too, not just me. While I¡¯m decent at my job nobody has ever mistaken me for a leader."


    "Come on, when Jacks gone it''s not like the team just falls apart. You hold the team together more than you think and I want to make sure you give yourself enough credit. I hope you know you''re the brighter of the two. The ideas are yours and not his after all."


    "Don''t worry, I know" she said with a consoling smile while placing her hand back on his. Neither remembering when it had left.


    "But back to my breakthrough. Even better is if these changes prove out they will enable us to meet our secondary goal of fitting a unit into the Sled. Can you imagine what a ship of her size could do with a modern jump drive? I mean she¡¯s like what only 83 meters in length? ¡°


    ¡°83.4 to be exact¡±


    ¡°I am betting she''ll be able to fully charge her banks in an hour or possibly even less! Our calculations show that even with six times her mass the Orinasa should be able to fully charge in 8 hours or less. Can you imagine what being able to do three jumps a day might mean for our mission?!¡±


    ¡°It would mean lunch in one galaxy and dinner in another!¡±


    ¡°Exactly! I get goosebumps thinking about being able to travel to another galaxy, millions of light-years away and in the blink of an eye return home before the day is done! If it fits in the Sled, we could do that 12 times in a single day!¡±


    "That''s insane! Linnie just know that regardless of how things play out, as far as I''m concerned you''re a sci-fi space magician who works miracles that could quite literally save humanity," Andrew said as he hugged her, playfully wrestling her down into a light embrace. After a short while, they separated slightly. She was still lying on his arm with a small gap between them and both were staring at the clouds as they tracked across the beautiful blue sky. After a short while, she continued to tell him of her changes.


    He loved how passionate she was and was enthralled by the way her whole person animated when she talked about it. Even with that, when the details she was talking about got a bit over his head, he found himself lost in a daydream. He knew he should be paying more attention to what she was saying, yet he could not stop thinking about how lucky he was to have been able to convince such a talented and gorgeous woman to marry him. Nor could he forget how in a number of days these moments would sadly be few and far between, if ever. Soon, their days would be consumed with the minutia of the mission launch and then the mission itself.


    His daydreaming went on for quite a while before Linnie caught him. Lost in his fantasies, oblivious to the fact that she had gone silent, and had turned onto her side to stare at him. He went on dreaming about them finally starting a family and worrying about how hard that might be if they were doing so while trapped on an alien planet.


    "You ever wonder if space ducks will be our biggest issue?"


    Andrew instinctually replied, "Yes they very well could be."


    When Linnie sat up and gave him a look that he was all too familiar with. He knew he had missed something important, and that she had caught him zoning out again.


    In a tone of a woman who''s too used to something, but is still very much annoyed by it, Linnie responded, "I hope they don¡¯t quack us to death, seriously?¡±


    A message window appeared on the edge of his vision.


    [Warning it seems you have agitated your wife. You might consider what you might have done to contribute to this situation. It is also advised that you take 4 deep breathes before responding.]


    What would I do without you, Ziggy? Andrew thought.


    [Happy to help]


    Andrew dismissed both messages, before desperately trying to weave back the tattered threads of their relaxing day.


    ¡°Quack us? Wait what are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°You just agreed that SPACE DUCKS might be our biggest issue out there, Andrew."


    "Sorry, I was daydreaming about us and how lucky I am to have convinced¡­"


    "Look Andrew I get it, I am talking too much about work¡­..as always. I just wish you could just be excited enough about my achievements to listen without zoning out for once."


    "I''m sorry, I really do love it when you talk about this stuff. It''s just over my head so it gets hard to follow and then my mind wanders."


    "I get that, but this just increases my anxiety about us. It resonates too well with what was recently pointed out to me, your disinterest in my passion could be a sign that you married me out of the convenience of having someone in your life during our mission and not out of love. Since it was pointed out I have seen sign after sign, like this, that it probably is true. That you like me well enough and decided to lock me down now before we''re stuck in another galaxy, and you have competition," Linnie said the last part accusatorily while waging a desperate fight to choke back her emotions.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Another message window appeared on the edge of his vision.


    [Warning sudden heart rate increase detected. You appear to be agitated. Warning: things said in anger can rarely be taken back.]


    Oh really? I wouldn''t have guessed. Thanks, Ziggy. Andrew thought before dismissing it and then jumped to defend himself, deftly avoiding the good advice from his implant.


    "What? No way! I married you because of how much I love you, not so I could get laid for the next two years. It bugs me that after all this time you still think so little of me. Let me guess it was Jack, wasn¡¯t it?"


    "Why does it matter who it was?"


    "It matters because he''s been trying to get in bed with you since before we met."


    "NO, he hasn''t. He has a girlfriend, and they have been together since before we settled here on Yuta."


    "A girlfriend who''s not on the Orinasa mission and yes, Linnie, he has, and you know it. You just want to think better of him than that, so you purposefully ignore the red flags. Does he bring gifts to anyone else?"


    "I stopped that Lather and you know that."


    "But does he now or did he then, ever bring gifts to anyone else?"


    "No, but that''s because he was new and didn''t realize how it looked."


    "Yeah, sure Linnie that''s why. I know you know he wants more, I just wished you''d admit it."


    "You always do this. You''ve turned this around on me and made it about me and not about how you''re not interested in me and are bored by my life''s work," she said before she lost the fight and tears started running down her face.


    "That''s not true, it started because I got lost dreaming about the future with my wife and starting a family with her. You''re jus¡­."


    ¡°Which wife is that exactly? Do you mean with me or your imaginary pornstar wife. You know the one you hope you''ll find when we get back? Like the ones you used to watch before we got together. The ones who look better, aren''t so career-minded, and you fantasize want to give you a baby or 10?"


    "Do you seriously think that''s what I want?"


    "Whatever, can you honestly say it''s not what you want?"


    Andrew sighed knowing that this was going into very familiar territory, "Yes, I can Linnie. It''s really not and its past time you believed me. I really was thinking about how you are the woman of my d¡­."


    "You don''t need to lie to protect my feelings I know you love me, but I am sure I am not the woman you had in mind when you used to dream of who you''d marry," she said in a softer almost defeated tone, rivulets of new tears forming before rolling down her cheeks and falling to the floor.


    ¡°It''s only because I wasn''t capable of imagining someone as awesome as¡­.. "


    Linnie cut him off again. Though her whole demeanor changed to seem emotionless and rigid. Even her voice sounded more like it was from a text-to-speech app, ¡°You have experienced severe non-life-threatening damage. Attempting to wake you so you might avoid further damage."


    As she said this the landscape oily shifted into the cramped bridge of the Sledovatel, aka the Sled. Linnie having disappeared along with their perfect hill. The bridge was impossibly bathed in sunlight. His Kata implant flashed warnings and showed a silhouette of a man with the head and left shoulder highlighted in yellow just outside to the right of his normal vision.


    "LINNIE!!!!! LINNIE!!!!" He yelled even though the bridge was the size of his college dorm room, and he could see the entire thing without moving his neck. Right as he started to panic, the alarm bells squealed.


    ¡°Why is there sunlight on the bridge?¡±


    Linnie''s same computer-style voice came from the comms "Consciousness restored, please make your way to a safe location before further damage is sustained."


    *********


    His eyes shot open as if he had licked an electric fence. Based on the throbbing in his head and shoulder and finding himself on the floor somewhere awash in warning light red instead of the warm sunlight, he assumed he had been knocked unconscious. Though he had no clue on the events that had transpired or even where exactly he was.


    He lifted his head to get his bearings and found that there were a pair of women¡¯s feet directly in front of him as well as a post crammed into the left side of his neck. As he worked to extract himself from wherever he was, he chuckled when he noticed the sheer number of warnings that floated just outside his normal vision a product of his Kata implant, Ziggy. Two of them particularly caught his eye, as they were exactly what Linnie had said at the end of his dream.


    [You have experienced severe non-life-threatening damage. Attempting to wake you to allow you to potentially avoid further damage.]


    [Consciousness restored, please make your way to a safe location before further damage is sustained.]


    I guess that¡¯s why Linnie went all robotic. I wonder how long I have been down here.


    [Correct, and you have been unconscious for 2 mins, Mr. Lather. You are quite injured please make your way to medical quickly.]


    This message delivered in the semi-robotic voice of Ziggy, that Andrew knew only he could hear, and not displaying in his vision as it was a response to his thoughts and not a warning.


    He dismissed all the warnings with a thought. He couldn¡¯t focus with so many floating just outside his normal vision like a pack of mosquitos looking for blood. He wasn¡¯t concerned he¡¯d lose the information they contained as knew he could get back to them when he wasn¡¯t staring at women''s shoes and his damage silhouette wasn''t lit up like a Christmas tree.


    Just as the last of the warnings disappeared, the red emergency lights dimmed to nothing and Ziggy gave him an error that shouldn¡¯t be possible.


    [Unexpected Error: Battery malfunction. Charge extremely low]]


    I don''t feel hypothermic. So how is that possible?


    Andrew thought just as the bridge lit up in a painfully bright green light and the ship rocked as if it was in an earthquake.


    [Battery function restored. Charge 100%. Please see an implant specialist immediately]


    "That''s me, I¡¯m the implant specialist" he muttered to himself as he tried to get to his feet.


    As he did so, it dawned on him whose feet he had been staring at. It was obvious as only one person on the bridge crew wore women''s shoes. His suspicion was comically confirmed as Ziggy chose that moment to highlight both feet in identification brackets.


    [Zoya Chaturvedi, Chief Pilot, Sledovatel. (Would you like to know more?)]


    Hoping to save himself from as much awkwardness as possible, he wasted little time trying to extract himself from under her pilot''s station, bumping his head twice on the way out.


    [Minor cranial contusion detected. Skull fracture danger: High. Please avoid any further damage to this area]


    [Minor cranial contusion detected. Skull fracture danger: High. To avoid permanent brain damage, it is advised that you find safety. It may be advisable in the future to wear a helmet when performing this duty.]


    "Yes, we all know you¡¯re the implant specialist, now Get OUT OF MY WAY!!!" yelled Zoya as she desperately tried to look around him.


    Without thinking, Andrew almost jumped into the nearby wall as he tried to move as quickly as he could to clear her line of sight. The feeling of needles stabbing into his ocular nerves and spinal cord, the only reward he received for his decisive actions.


    "You know Lather I never took you for a perv. Nest trying that move, sure; but not you. I''m really disappointed in you. " Zoya¡¯s face a mask of concentration, though a slight hint of a smile could be seen peeking through. Her speech slightly delayed as Ziggy translated from her native tongue.


    "Shut it! Zoya, you wished I thought of you like that," said Vladimir Nesterov, the burly co-pilot who looked surprisingly like a brunette version of Dolph Lundgren. His speech also slightly delayed as his implant translated the Russian.


    [Vladimir Nesterov, Co-pilot, Sledovatel (Would you like to know more?)]


    "Oh, I how I secretly earn for you, Nest. Lather, I have to say, I''ve never been so happy our uniforms are more TNG and not the original Star Trek uniforms, as some stupid people suggested. ¡° she said without breaking her focus of getting them out of there.


    "I would take it as a personal favor if both of my pilots kindly turned their attention to getting us out of here and less on the banter. Unless you think the giant space whale assaulting us with its eyes is not worth your concern. Lather, good show not dying. Kindly get off my bridge and report to medical before you distract the crew further," said the calm British voice of Captain Rostron.


    Ziggy, bracketed the captain as Andrew hazily glanced his way.


    [Captain Arthur C. Rostron, commanding officer, Sledovatel. (Would you like to know more?)]


    Wait, did he say a giant space whale with assault eyes? How hard did I hit my head?


    [Yes, the Captain said that a giant space entity which closely resembles an earth whale was utilizing its eyes to attack the ship. You hit your head hard enough to suffer numerous injuries, please see Damage Silhouette in the top right side of your vision for more details.]


    Andrew, ignoring the captain¡¯s orders, spun on his feet to look at the window. Through it he saw the sight of he could best describe as a giant finless green whale with prehensile tentacles that hung from either side of its face like a scraggly movable beard. The whale was massive, dwarfing the Sled at least 3 to 1 and its six spider-like eyes, each set a different primary color, stared angrily at him as if he had said something bad about its mother.


    His focus on the monster outside was broken by the comical grease smudge in the shape of his smushed face on the window. He started to wonder if that was the source of his injuries, but before his mind wandered too far, Ziggy highlighted the whale-like creature outside with brackets and the message:


    [Unknown life form, proceed with caution.]


    Seriously, that''s not helpful Ziggy. I would be more worried if you knew what it was.


    [Noted]


    His thoughts were further derailed when the yellow and blue sets of the beast''s eyes began to glow. Their combined light bathed the deck in a sickly green glow. In sync with the rise of that glow, the warning lights on the bridge dimmed again, this time so far that the only thing illuminating the bridge was the sickly green light coming from outside.


    "LATHER BRACE FOR IMPACT!!!!" Capt. Rostron yelled right before all lights and displays winked out.


    [Unexpected error: Battery malfunction. Charge extremely low]


    The glow around the creature¡¯s eyes coalesced into retina burning beams of pulsing yellow and blue energy. They shot out of view just before he heard the deafening boom come from the aft of the ship and the whole ship listed violently to starboard from the impact. Andrew was thrown off his feet by the violent motion and launched towards the open bulkhead, at the back of the bridge, which separated it from the rest of the ship. As he sailed over everyone and to the back of the bridge, his only entertainment was the surprised and disappointed face of Captain Rostron and Ziggy¡¯ boring messages.


    [Battery function restored. Charge 100%. Please see an implant specialist immediately]


    [Main reactor breached, radiation risk high]


    [Aft section breached. Bridge bulkhead door sealed]


    Comically the last message came moments before the sturdy bulkhead door slammed shut just before he would have flown, unharmed, through the opening. The last thing he remembered seeing was the word "CAUTION" written on the door before experiencing the bliss of unconsciousness for the second time that day.

 Chapter 2: Its merely a head wound

    Andrew found himself standing in formation on a large field, sweat rolling down his back, wishing there was even a single cloud in the sky or for the slightest breeze to break the oppressive heat. His dress uniform, which he felt had to be a copyright infringement from some terrible 70s sci-fi show, was not making the situation any better. The polyester, or whatever it was, itched everywhere it clung to him and as it was pretty much soaked through with sweat that was everywhere. With only a few weeks before the mission, he had hoped the launch event would have been optional for himself and the other alternate crew members.


    Instead, the entire crew had assembled and were awaiting the re-launch of the newly retrofitted Sled back into space. If not for the fact that he and the other alternates were in the back of the formation, his attempts to quelch his laughter might have been more noticed by the rest of the crew. When he finally lost the battle not to laugh, his muffled giggles drew annoyed looks from those nearby.


    "Do you mind?" came the annoyed whisper of Charles Oxley.  Ziggy bracketed the back of the man in red as he spoke. A message, also bracketed in red appeared just out of Andrew¡¯s vision closest to Charles before Andrew dismissed it.


    [Charles Oxley, Primary Computer and Kata Implant Specialist, Sledovatel. (Would you like to know more?)]


    Charles wasn''t a big man, yet his eyes looked huge as they glared up at Andrew through his coke bottle glasses and his unruly mop of sandy curls. He was the man who had been selected for the primary computer and implant specialist slot on the Sled, though it seemed Charles never got the memo he had won. Because of this, Charles seemed to take every opportunity he could to remind Andrew that he was the backup for Charles and not the other way around. Andrew was pretty sure that today''s reminder of such, came in the form of Charles standing directly in front of him in the formation. Even though the two of them didn¡¯t get along well and Charles could have stood anywhere he chose in the front two rows with the other primary members of the crew, instead he chose to be there.


    "Sorry man, it''s the nose art. A bunch of kids overpacked on a snow sled, it''s genius."


    Still not turning around to address Andrew, Charles snapped, "What it is, is vandalism and it has been removed, so be a professional and keep it together!"


    "I know I shouldn¡¯t be laughing but the ¡®cleaning¡¯¡±, Andrew making air quotes even though Charles wasn¡¯t looking,¡± only makes it funnier as the person assigned to clean it, made the clean spots clearly depict the same artwork. I mean even the shading is still intact, even you have to see some humor in that, right?"


    "No, I do not Lather,¡± Charles spun on his feet to glare at Andrew, his eyes narrowing to slits, almost cartoonishly magnified by his glasses, as he hissed at Andrew, ¡°did you forget that my father worked on that ship? or that she was our first faster-than-light ship? Or that she far exceeded our wildest hopes and dreams? Whoever did this spit all over her legacy!".


    Yeah, your wildest hopes and dreams, sure? Your parents weren''t even together back then. Andrew though but kept his thoughts to himself.


    He must have made a face though as Charles added indignantly, "They demeaned the work of my amazing father! Who spent years of his life helping make the sled¡­ovatel," Charles winced at his slip up before continuing, "a reality. Not to mention the insult to the great Isa Sledovatel herself. Of Whom I suspect even one in your position, would think of with some modicum of reverence. So, no I really don''t find any humor in it. At all!"


    Charles flushed a bit as he realized he said the last part a bit louder than he had intended and that the glares once reserved for Andrew were now on him as well.


    Yeah, the work of your amazing father. Amazing errand boy, and a mascot more like it.  Andrew thought but responded more congenially.


    "Look man before you say it, it wasn''t me.  I get we wouldn''t be here without Isa or this ship. Like you said I do have a good bit of respect for not just Isa, but also for the history behind this grand ole rust bucket." Andrew said, finishing with a smile.


    Thomas didn''t respond, instead with an over-the-top eyeroll, turned his back to Andrew and put himself back at attention. Trying his best to look professional through his anger.


    "Don''t worry about him, Lather. He''s just angry because he knows there is no way he''d be the primary if the admiral wasn¡¯t hell-bent on you being the alternate. Even if that we all know if Professor Katawan were still alive he wouldn¡¯t have put up with this travesty either. " Came a loud whisper from his right. Gavin, one of Andrew''s high school friends and fellow alternate crewmember, was there smiling at him.


    [Gavin Waylyn, alternate pilot, Sledovatel. (Would you like to know more?)]


    Gavin''s comment earned him a scathing glare from Thomas, but before he could retort he was cut off by the deep voice of Vladimir Nesterov, in his thick Russian accent.


    "Will all of you please quiet down? Here comes the captain."


    [Vladimir Nesterov, Primary Co-pilot, Sledovatel. (Would you like to know more?)]


    Nesterov¡¯s speech looked like the dubbing was slightly off. A clear sign of his kata implant translating for the large man.


    "Did you hear that Lather, BDL just told us to quiet down?"


    This earned a raised eyebrow from Andrew, "BDL?"


    "Brunette Dolph Lundgren," Gaven said with a wan smile.


    Andrew chortled again having lost the battle to try to stay silent thanks to Gavin¡¯s little quip.


    "Who is Dolph Lundgren?" Vladimir asked.


    "You know the Russian boxer from those ancient Rocky movies?" answered a smiling Gavin.


    "Well, the character''s name was Drago, and no offense Nest, but you do bear quite the resemblance to Drago. You know, if he had brown hair, " Andrew added with a smile, before he noticed how many of the crew were now openly gaping and/or glaring in their direction.


    "Hey Gavin, we should probably, umm get back to attention."


    A cheshire grin grew on his friend¡¯s face, "Sure, but one last thing. The dubbing delay when BDL talks bugs me. I get it¡¯s from the implant translation, but is there anything you can do to minimize it?"


    Andrew returned the smile before he turned back to face the podium and actively tried to avoid eye contact with any of the angry crewmembers and hoping to avoid anymore trouble his friend might still have had a mind to have made. As he did, he noticed the captain was indeed making his way across the manicured field. Andrew quickly tried to appear as if he had never been out of attention in the first place and straightened his uniform. If the captain noticed the outburst, he didn¡¯t betray it as he walked by at a well-measured pace towards the podium, his senior officers in a tight formation behind him.


    Resting on the field directly behind the podium was the Sledovatel, the smallest and oldest ship in the fleet. Years ago, it had been renamed in honor of Isa Sledovatel. This was on account of her being the single greatest explorer in Yutan history, it being their first FTL scout vehicle, and the fact that she captained it for over a decade, before her passing.


    While she was revered by most on Yuta, the crew had quickly tired of saying her full last name and now just referred to it as the Sled for short. While it might have been slightly disrespectful, Andrew thought it was a fitting name, as it was not by any standard a beautiful ship. She was mostly aerodynamic and yet was still a bit angular, a bit blocky, and the three giant thrusters on her aft were almost comical. In the ship''s current state, it reminded him of a house that was midway through renovations. Much of the old design was still there, but with a few parts that seemed to have been awkwardly bolted on and were clearly new. She was sleeker than the boxy monstrosity of the Hring for sure, but she was far from the beauty of the Orin, regardless of what sycophants like Thomas might say.


    Captain Rostron stepped up to the podium and took a moment to order his notes. Andrew always thought the captain looked like a perfect mixture of a great father, a world-class adventurer, and a historic ship captain. As if some mad scientist had created him in a lab instead of being born that way.  While he hadn¡¯t known the captain before this mission, the rumors of the captain¡¯s past all agreed that he was each of those things even before he took on this mission. Most rumors agreed that the 19 had begged the captain out of retiring to take this command.  Whatever the truth was, the captain exuded quiet confidence and had an air about him that made you feel like you could trust him to save you from whatever trouble awaits.


    Once the Captain had his notes in order, he looked directly at Gavin and cleared his throat. Bringing the entire crew, Gavin included, to full attention.


    "Ladies and gentlemen of the crew," his voice with its calm British accent, sounding more like it should be launching a war fleet and not a single small scientific vessel.


    "Today marks a momentous occasion, both solemn and splendid. Today, we set forth on the maiden voyage of the newly retrofitted Sledovatel. A voyage which calls to mind the mission of of our ship''s inspiration, Isa Sledovatel, and the journey she and her crew took. As you well know, she was a pioneer who dedicated herself not only to the discovery of this Eden we now call home.¡± He gestured around to the beautiful scenery behind him, ¡° She and her crew did so with unwavering commitment. As we shall do, she ventured forth into an unknown star system and unknown dangers. In doing so, she and her crew ensured that the prime directive of our great nation could take root. Take root it did, and we are here today to help it to blossom. And let us not forget that directive:  to safeguard humanity from being brought to its knees by the capricious whims of cosmic events by spreading our race across the universe.


    The intrepid crews of the Hringhorni and Orinasa bravely took up Isa''s mantle of exploration and, like her, staked everything on the cause of our prime directive. But as fate would have it, these two vessels have gone silent, and our mission has taken a different turn. No longer are we explorers in the traditional sense, we are now rescuers first and explorers second.


    Our duty is clear: we must journey to the very place where two alien galaxies are colliding and where not one but two of our ships have gone missing. We must do so with godspeed so we might have a chance to find our crews safe and sound as the Orinasa has little less than two years before her food stores run short. With the new modifications to the Sledovatel¡¯s jump drive we have a chance to do exactly that, but we cannot delay as we have a lot of space to cover to do so.


    I won''t sugarcoat it; this mission carries risk. As I stated this is the nexus of a galactic collision, where the forces at play remain beyond our comprehension and could vary greatly from what we consider normal. Fortunately, it is also where we are most likely to unravel the fate of our wayward ships. So yes, there is risk and yes there will be great challenges, but there are also the real rewards of finding our missing brothers and sisters. What I beg each of you to consider is this: between those two ships, more than ten million souls are unaccounted for. So, our mission couldn¡¯t be more important and couldn¡¯t be more worth the risk.


    Failure is out of the question, for our government has already declared that should we too go missing, it will send no more ships to that sector. So, there will be no rescue should we fail. To be clear, they are correct to do so, our prime directive is too important, and human lives too precious to continue investing in this galactic dead end. As we cannot falter, we shall not, and instead we shall find our wayward brothers and sisters and bring them back home. ¡°


    The captain paused, while he had been reciting the speech from memory the next part felt as if it were not part of his original speech.


    ¡°Before I continue, I would like to take some time to address concerns that have been raised about our ship''s state and age. Let me be clear: she may be old, but she is nimble, capable, and, crucially, time-tested. We''ve equipped her with the finest folding engine humanity has ever conceived, allowing us to jump back in a mere forty-five minutes. As you can see, she''s no rusted relic, and I have every confidence she will not be our mission¡¯s Achilles'' heel. Instead, I suspect that in the coming weeks, we shall see that, with the latest updates, she¡¯s one, if not the, most nimble and capable ships in our fleet. ¡°


    That said the captain continued his original speech.


    ¡°As I have stated, we anticipate unforeseeable challenges and therefore this crew must confront the unknown with an unwavering resolve to bring our brethren back to Yuta¡¯s warm embrace. This means anyone going on the mission must have complete faith in not only this ship but also each other. As this ship is the best in our fleet and each one of you represents the best of the best, this should not be a difficult choice.  I implore you; if you have reservations, leave now and contribute to Yuta''s growth. The 19 rely on your talents to drive our prime directive. Whether that¡¯s out in space or helping to build infrastructure here. Walking out now is far nobler than joining us only to falter when we need you most and we have no alternate for your skillset. If you doubt your mettle or your resolve for such a mission, there is no shame in stepping away now, only honor."


    With this, the captain paused and gestured to the gates of the field.  After a moment when not a single person twitched, he continued.


    "Cheers to all you brave souls! Let us face adversity standing united, unwavering, and resolute. Let us forge ahead and bring our lost brethren back to the embrace of civilization. Our mission is clear. Our purpose and our destiny, if we only dare to seize it, is amongst the stars. Together, we shall succeed, for God and the spirit of Isa Sledovatel guide our way. Onward into the unknown!"


    A cheer went up from all in attendance and the primary crew boarded the ship. Andrew along with the other alternates continued to cheer reaching a crescendo when the Sled gracefully lifted off the field and into space.


    "That was quite a speech for just kicking off in-space practice. How much you wanna bet that before the mission is fully ready to fold, at least one of those primaries backs out?" Gavin said with a grin.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    "Guess we''ll see what a few weeks of practice will bring about. Though I¡¯ll take that bet. How about $100 that Thomas will be the first to break?"


    *********


    Andrew awoke crammed into his bunk on the Sled. As usual, his feet were hanging out one end and his head was touching the wall on the other. Like gnats on a Florida summer''s day, dozens of notices floated just outside his main vision. As he dismissed them, his attention was drawn to the Van Gogh like painting that was his damage display. While his left shoulder was the same warning yellow as before, the yellow on his head had been replaced by a disturbing red color. His right shoulder also showed that same red color now. Interestingly his left big toe did as well.  Each of those highlighted areas now also sported word clouds containing words like "fracture", "contusion", and "laceration".  As if confirming the silhouette¡¯s report he hurt in all the corresponding places.


    Ziggy, I think I understand what Alex Murphy felt like at the beginning of one of those super cheesy old movies Gavin always made me watch.


    [That is illogical, Mr. Lather, you have no severed limbs, nor have you received any gunshots wounds.]


    Andrew chuckled at Ziggy''s response only to be rewarded with a wash of pain that seemed to have a special way to bounce around his skull.


    Ziggy, please reduce the humor in your responses.


    [Affirmative. Will attempt to make truthful answers less humorous.]


    Trying not to chuckle at his clueless AI, he ignored the response and looked at the lone picture hanging in his bunk. While most of the crew had pictures lining the walls of their bunks, he only had this one. It was of Linnie in a stylish one-piece standing on a tropical beach, her rare smile outshining even the azure tropical waters behind her. As he looked, he absent-mindedly reached for the small trinket hidden under his uniform that hung from a chain around his neck. It was a small part of a folding engine. That for the life of him he could never seem to remember the name of. Even though Linnie must have told him 100 times what it was. His eyes became blurry with tears because he knew how important it was to her and how little he had really paid attention, always daydreaming about their futures and never living in the present. He knew it was the first, and according to Linnie most important, part she had modified to help miniaturize the folding engine and make it more efficient. Yet, he couldn¡¯t be bothered to remember its name. The part was her honeymoon gift, given to him right before that picture was taken. It was her original part, the one she made by hand¡­.well the one she directed the robots to make anyhow. Most of its workings were too small to be made by human hands as the whole part was just short of 4cm in length. He was pulled from his daydream by that same perplexing message from Ziggy and the lights dimming to almost non-existence.


    [Unexpected Error: Battery malfunction. Charge extremely low]


    Suspecting they were still under attack, Andrew quickly braced for impact.


    [Battery function restored. Charge 100%. This is the 33rd recorded malfunction. Please see implant specialist immediately]


    Wait, did that say 33rd? Ziggy, how long was I out for?


    [Yes, and 3hrs 5mins and 46secs, Mr. Lather]


    Thanks, Ziggy. Also, you know I¡¯m the implant specialist so you can cut it out with all of that see implant junk.


    [Understood, Mr. Lather]


    After a tense moment, Andrew relaxed as it seemed that the ship had somehow avoided being hit this time even though he had not felt even the slightest momentum changes.


    Wait, that had to be a dream right? I mean giant energy beam space whale can¡¯t be real and why would I have even been on the bridge? But if it was a dream why is there a systemic power issue?


    Ziggy, please tell me that the giant space whale wasn''t real and that instead I got injured by my own stupidity and there is some odd electrical issue which is also somehow impacting implants.


    [Unknown whalelike entity does exist and has fired on our ship. Would you like to see the recording of it? You were injured by being unrestrained while the ship performed a jump and struck an external force. Additionally, when the ship was struck by the hostile entity¡¯s eye beams. No recent electrical malfunctions have been reported by the Sledovatel systems or crew.]


    Ziggy, how is that possible?


    [The most likely scenario is that the power issues are not from an electrical¡­]


    Ziggy, stop. I mean that whale thing, how is it real?


    [The most likely scenario is that it is a lifeform without an Earth or Yutan origin. I am unable to postulate its evolution as data on the entity is limited. I am also unable to postulate on how its eye-based energy weapons and space flight evolved. As neither has been observed in any other known lifeforms.]


    Andrew sighed before thinking, Thank you. Why was I on the bridge?


    [Unknown Mr. Lather, I am unable to access the data from that time.]


    Wait, why can¡¯t you?


    [I cannot give you that information at this time.]


    Ok Ziggy, then any ideas on how the space alien thing''s eye beams are impacting our power and are they potentially impacting your data storage systems as well?


    [The ship''s computer, crew and I have no theories at present. After running diagnostics, I am confident my data storage has not been impacted by recent events.]


    Ziggy, the power issue makes no logical sense. I mean you¡¯re powered by the heat of my blood. Best I can tell I¡¯m not dead, so short of it having killed me, I have a hard time understanding how an energy weapon outside of the ship could impact your energy levels. Much less you and the ship simultaneously.


    [Affirmative, all Ais on this ship have been working on this issue. To date, no logical connection between the entity¡¯s eye-based energy weapons and kata implant power levels has been identified. As implants share no energy storage with any ship systems, it seems illogical that the two would be impacted simultaneously. Yet all the ship''s power and my power issues correlate perfectly. They also correlate perfectly with the known alien entity attacks.  While we do communicate with each other via electromagnetic impulses, we share no other link. Furthermore, my and other people¡¯s implant batteries are restored faster than could be explained by normal thermal generation from your or other hosts¡¯ blood, which is yet another mystery.]


    "Well, we won''t find answers lying in my bunk. At least I hope not," Andrew said outloud, as he rolled out of his small bunk and got unsteadily to his feet.  It struck him, as he exited the door to his small room, how this room only existed because some engineer had probably been desperately trying to find a place where they could squeeze in three bunks and the unused space between the folding engine and a maintenance storage room was the answer.


    Andrew entered the hallway and his eyes snapped shut as his arm reflexively shot up to protect his eyes from the bright lights of the hallway. He swore each time he tried to look, it felt like each individual photon was stabbing its own glass shard directly into his skull. Andrew wearily waited, hunkered against the wall until he found that his eyes had adjusted enough that opening them was no longer rewarded with more pain. This small victory achieved, he started to slowly shuffle his way along the wall toward the medical bay, his body protesting with each step. His progress shown on the mini-map which was on the other side of his vision from his damage display.


    Along the way, Andrew found the lower torso of a svelte man sticking out of a maintenance hatch. The man''s coveralls were covered in so much grease that Andrew wasn''t sure if there was grease on his coveralls or coveralls on his grease. The man worked with a frantic efficiency that indicated he believed the world may end if he didn¡¯t complete his task quickly. Ziggy bracketed his friend''s lower body.


    [Chogan Catawnee, Maintenance Officer, Sledovatel. (Would you like to know more?)]


    At that moment, the lights dimmed yet again.


    [Unexpected Error: Battery malfunction. Charge extremely low]


    Andrew braced for impact. After a moment he relaxed realizing that yet again the impact had not come.


    [Battery function restored. Charge 100%. This is the 34th recorded malfunction. Please maintenance your implant as soon as possible]


    Andrew ignored the message as Chogan began to wiggle out of the maintenance space saying, "One down, 6 more to go¡­, ¡° before cutting himself off from the surprise of seeing someone staring down at him.


    "Chogan what''s going on? Ziggy,  my Kata implant, keeps giving me a low battery warning every time the lights dim and I can''t imagine how those two events could be remotely related."


    Chogan¡¯s face was overwhelmed with one of the warmest smiles Andrew had ever known, "Oh Mr. Lather you''re alive!"


    ¡°Why are you surprised by that?¡±


    "You took multiple hits to that thing you claim to think with, sir. So, yes, we weren''t sure if you would make it, especially with medical being overwhelmed with people injured from our unplanned jump and you being placed in your bunk to make space. Hmmm, I guess it was more the abrupt stop at the end rather than the jump that caused injury. As for what is happening. The enemy out there has knocked out our propulsion and has since been sending wide beams our way that disrupt our electronics every time it does so, but otherwise does not seem to damage the crew or ship any further. It is unclear the point of the beams. If they are designed to impact our systems or some other unknown purpose. Either way, it is complicating matters for Medical. Mister Lather you offend me, of course I remember that Ziggy is the name for your Kata implant. Anyhow, I''m trying to reroute all the power I can to the jump drive so we might be able to get home before we end up yet another lost ship, sir. "


    "Wait, that Whale thing out there is actually real and destroyed our other ships?" Andrew interjected.


    Chogan answered as he tucked in a few wires that were unceremoniously sticking out, "Mr. Lather, unfortunately, we still don''t fully know what happened to our ships, but that whale thing is real, and we were definitely attacked by it. As there is a debris field found that matched parts from the Orinasa, it is only logical to guess that this entity is likely related to the Orinasa¡¯s disappearance. However, the debris cloud wasn''t large enough to fully account for the ship, much less both it and the Hring. Honestly, we just don¡¯t know, and I doubt we¡¯ll be here long enough to find out. What is funny, is its just as those Manus bastards predicted, it appears we have made first contact and its hostile. I suspect their betting squares likely didn''t cover space whales though.¡± Chogan¡¯s eyes shot wide with realization, ¡°Sorry Mr. Lather I don¡¯t have time to catch you up on everything. I must do the needful to get our jump capacitors charged as fast as possible. Please sir, will you kindly help me with this panel?".  Pointing to a maintenance access panel he had removed.


    "Of course, but why does it say Perseverance on the inside?"


    "Oh Mr. Lather, I thought you knew that was her original name."


    "Was it now? I knew it wasn¡¯t originally the Sledovatel, but I thought it was called the Enterprise. I guess even old New York was once New Amsterdam."


    "Yes, it was renamed to the Enterprise before it launched, but it¡¯s original name was Perseverance, and you can find evidence of that all over the ship. Is that true about New York though?"


    Andrew just smiled and started to hum a tune as he knelt down so he could help Chogan lift the panel into place. As he started to lift the panel, his left shoulder exploded with depths of pain Andrew hadn''t know existed causing him to drop the panel.


    "Sorry Cho, I won''t be able to apparently."


    Chogan retorted with a warm smile "I know you''re a desk guy Mr. Lather, but you''re also supposed to be my maintenance helper too. I swear can''t even lift a three-kilo panel. Maybe do some pushups occasionally man."


    Andrew smiled and pointed without lifting his arm too far, "Umm maybe you haven''t noticed but I kinda got hit by the ship. Twice!"


    Chogan chuckled, "Oh poor ship, I hope you didn''t damage her. Can you please be careful? I already have too much to do, especially with you being unable to do the work of a small child and all."


    Andrew started to respond when an image that almost looked like a hologram, yet more substantial and detailed, appeared in front of him. A duplicate image was in front of Chogan standing over the man. The two men quickly got to their feet, Chogan much faster and with less moaning involved. Whatever it was it seemed to be making the lights and their katas flicker like they were at a rave. The image had the appearance of, and Andrew couldn''t believe he was thinking this, an elven villainess. Tall and lanky yet also harshly beautiful, with cheekbones so sharp they might be able to cut glass. Shockingly her skin looked to be made of white marble with gold veins running through it and her pupils looked as if they were wrought from pure gold. The uniform she wore, while elegant and regal, was not in the slightest flattering. It wasn''t that it didn''t fit her well, quite the opposite, it was just clearly not designed with any consideration given toward accentuating her form.  The only clear indication that she was a woman were the curves of her face.


    Andrew blinked a few times before he looked at Chogan "Ummm Chogan am I seeing things or is there a tall marble elven woman staring at us?"


    Chogan distractedly replied while waving his hand through the image "Oh no Mr. Lather, as much as I would love to tell you that you are seeing things. Sadly, this is not true."


    Andrew tentatively reached a hand forward to touch it and just as Andrew''s hand contacted the image, a melodious and calm voice started to speak, Andrew recoiled quickly as if he had touched a hot coal.


    "I am Ioma Lachs captain of the Chennon frigate Beautiful Winds. You have entered Chennon territory in a vessel type that is unknown to us and without authorization. Our scans have revealed that you are attempting to smuggle humans through restricted space. By the power of the Unesisa Rada and with the grace of the Geald Biaobela, we have disabled your ship, and you are ordered to stand down as we board. Any hostile actions will be dealt with harshly."


    The voice clearly inside his head as he heard no echoes of it in the hallway. Ziggy also wasn''t displaying a language it was translating, and yet Ioma still appeared badly dubbed. The hologram disappeared and the lights stopped flickering. Leaving him to ponder if he had actually woken up or if this was really some bad dream. Andrew turned to Chogan when the lights dimmed again.


    [Unexpected Error: Battery malfunction. Charge extremely low]


    When they came back on there were three elven-looking people, two men, and one woman who seemed to have magically appeared only a few feet from him. The one who had called herself Captain Ioma was not among this group.  They also appeared to be elves made of white marble with gold veins and pupils. Each wore a uniform like the one worn by the woman who had appeared in the hologram. Their uniforms were less adorned than their captains and while largely the same each uniform had a few slight differences from the others.


    [Battery function restored. Charge 100%. This is the 35th recorded malfunction.  Please maintenance your implant as soon as possible. Malfunction frequency increasing.]


    Andrew and Chogan were frozen in place as their minds reeled from the sudden and unexplainable appearance of aliens on their ship. One of the men stepped forward and said, "Stay where you are and don''t move. Any resistance will be met with extreme retribution." This time Ziggy was clearly translating the words as messages indicating the languages he was speaking kept appearing in his vision.  Though based on those messages it seemed the Elf was multilingual in many earth languages but could not settle on one for some reason.


    [Translating from Esperanto]


    [Translating from Farsi]


    [Translating from French]


    [Translating from Esperanto]


    How does an alien know so many Earth languages, much less a made-up one?


    Before he could ask the question, the same male elf approached " Hands up. "


    [Translating from Xhosa]


    Andrew, dazed and panicked, quickly tried to comply with the order. As he hurriedly raised his hands, his right hand smacked Chogan''s left hand. The impact of Andrews''s hand forced the wire cutters out of Chogan''s hand and caused them to careen toward the female elf. Andrew winced as his shoulder blossomed once again in pain.  The power and Ziggy dimmed to almost non-existence as the female elf lifted her hand and a bolt of electricity arced from it to Chogan¡¯s chest.


    [Unexpected Error: Battery malfunction. Charge extremely low]


    Chogan seized up and fell over, a charred hole through his uniform.


    [Battery function restored. Charge 100%. This is the 36th recorded malfunction. Please maintenance your implant as soon as possible. Malfunction frequency still increasing.]


    Before Andrew could react to the violences, the lights and his kata flickered once more as the tallest of the elven boarding party waved a hand. Andrew''s arms were yanked back in some unseen way and bound together. His feet also slammed together and bound. Unable to move or balance he toppled, unceremoniously, to the ground. The pain from his injuries reaching a new crescendo he had once never believed could exist. Yet, as he tried to scream in pain, he found that his mouth had become fully covered in some bluish crystal and no sound escaped.


    Andrew laid there in a panic, helpless and unable to move. Forced by circumstance, to look at Chogan''s glazed-over eyes. To Andrew¡¯s continued horror they were unmoving, staring at nothing, as the smell of cooked flesh permeated the room. When the smell hit him, he frantically did his best to see what bound him and how he might remove it. After some yogaesque moves, he saw shackles made of the same bluish crystal binding his hands and feet. His foot and hand shackles were linked with a cord that appeared to be made of ominous pulsing greenish energy.


    The tall elf turned to look down at the sadistically smiling woman.


    "Estred! That was a bit extreme don¡¯t you think? " he said in an exhausted "you didn''t again" kind of tone.


    "We did say ANY resistance, Gallen", she quickly hissed back with an annoyed smile. Then added, "How was I to know they were so weak?"


    Gallen ignored her comment and turned to the other elf, "Sir should I also restrain this one?" pointing to Chogan''s body. The shorter male elf responded, "I think Estred has disabled it quite effectively, if a bit overzealously. Get these two to the ship and then rejoin us."


    With this, Gallen waved his hand again, and everything on the ship, including his kata, dimmed. Andrew felt a queasy feeling as he and Chogan floated into the air to about waist height. Without hurry or worry,  Gallen walked up to their floating bodies before he touched each with only a fingertip. Making a face that Andrew would have guessed he would have reserved for taking out a disgusting bit of trash.


    Then everything went white.

 Chapter 3 - God needs a better Budget

    Blinded by the sudden increase in light, Andrew wasn¡¯t sure what had happened, yet he was fairly certain he had somehow been transported to a new location. He had many reasons which played into this feeling, the ambient temperature had dropped, and the standard ship sounds, which he had become accustomed to ignoring, had been replaced by what he could only describe as a very faint heartbeat and occasional gurgling sounds, and that his breathing was faster and deeper like when he and Linnie had climbed Mt. Hood. However, what clinched it was that, while it felt like he was still floating, he felt significantly less gravity here.  The Sled had been kept at close to earth norm and this seemed noticeably less.


    The only thing that made him doubt his location had changed was the fact that he had no clue how he could have been transported to another location. If he was these elves must possess a scarily higher tech than he had ever even dreamed of.  Maybe not though, maybe the gravity was due to the damage to the ship being enough to impact the spin of the ship and therefore the feeling of gravity. Maybe his breathing was due to a hull break he wasn¡¯t aware of. I


    What he did know is that one moment he was on his ship, the next there was a bright light and then things changed. No sci-fi teleporter sounds, only a feeling that was reminiscent of what he felt when a ship folded through space and then the feeling of breathing hard while floating in lesser gravity.


    Over the next few seconds, his eyes slowly recovered and once he could see more than just blurs, he discovered that there could be no doubt that he was no longer on the Sled. While had no clue where here was, wherever it was could best be described as a high-tech prison. A prison made with aesthetics in mind instead of cold functionality of the prison he had been sent to before the Orinasa''s tragic jump. The hall he was in, and the adjoining rooms, were beautifully arched in a way that reminded him of the inside of a small gothic cathedral.  All appeared to be made of white marble with veins of gold running through it. The white marble of the walls and floor eerily had a similar appearance to that of the elves, though the walls were sleeker and more polished to the elves more matte skin-like presentation. Complete with gold veins and all. Which Andrew could swear were pulsing ever so slightly, though he couldn''t be certain it wasn''t a figment of this addled mind.


    He had a hard time looking around as he was still bound floating facing the ceiling and his motion was directed by the male elf, they called Gallen.  Andrew was amazed that he felt nothing beneath him to support his weight nor could he see anything supporting Chogan motionless body floating to the left side of Gallen.


    Desperate to form an escape plan he desperately did his best to scan his surroundings for anything that might help him. While trying his best to ignore the odd, frantic, and distracting messages being displayed in his peripheral vision and sent to him mentally. He was able to discern that he was currently in a large central room or hallway with four slightly smaller rooms adjoining it, but nothing he considered to be of use yet.


    When they approached one of these smaller rooms, he was mesmerized by a rainbowy translucent barrier which appeared to be made of pure energy that separated the room from the hall. Behind which sat an arched half sphere room whose only adornment was a single bench, which protruded unsupported and ran around the entire perimeter. It was while looking at the bench that Andrew grasped what had been gnawing at the edges of his mind since he could see. Nothing seemed to cast a shadow in this place. Light seemed to permeate everything, yet he failed to find its source. It seemed to radiate from the ceiling and yet perfectly lit the room, including under the benches.


    Andrew¡¯s contemplations were interrupted when he found himself flung away from Gallen by an unseen force. His trajectory to him through one of the energy barriers and into the room behind it. Astonishingly, he passed right through the energy barrier without issue. As he did, he felt energy wash over the outside of him. Causing goose bumps to rise across his body in a wave like pattern that he had never experienced before. As his bonds contacted the barrier, they seemed to dissolve as if they were being erased from existence. No smoke, no sound, they simply ceased to exist, as did whatever force had been keeping him aloft.


    Andrew flopped back first onto the floor; his hands unable to move fast enough after being released to arrest his fall.  To his surprise, the floor was clearly not actually marble, as it gave like a thick skin.  Though his injuries still made sure to report their displeasure in the sudden jarring stop that had still occurred.


    After he went through the barrier Ziggy¡¯s odd and frantic messages had gone into overdrive. One moment it showed Andrew in perfect health, the next it showed him as hurt as he was, and various other combinations of health statuses. Two of which particularly caught his eye:


    [You have experienced Castration. Don''t worry, your life isn''t over. Many people who have experienced this go on to have a healthy happy life.]


    [You have died. Don''t worry, you lived a great life and will be remembered fondly by many.]


    Why in the world are there a programmed messages for ''castration'' and ¡®death¡¯? The dead one must have been some developer¡¯s late-night mountain-dew fueled joke. I mean who would even see it? Also, I hope it''s not true either, because if this is heaven, God needs a better budget.


    [Message 42]


    [Battery at less than 1%. Power loss imminent!]


    Ziggy''s display went out. Scared and irritated at the loss of his virtual friend, He looked around and noticed that Gallen had turned his back to him.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    "It¡¯s clear from all the touching, you don¡¯t know or care about consent and as you aren¡¯t trying to entertain your guests, I guess your mother never taught you basic manners either?" Was the best Andrew¡¯s tired and weary mind could come up with, but even though he knew it wasn¡¯t much he still said it with a smirk.


    Gallen turned around, shoulders tensed to glare at Andrew in disgust, "An abomination like you would do well to watch your tongue. Accusing an elf of having a mother could get you killed. Especially by one less tolerant than I. As for consent, does a boot ask a bug for consent?"


    Andrew¡¯s smile turned smug, ¡°You know that''s not how that whole boot and ant thing goes right? And I''m pretty sure someone at Marvel will be suing you over that."


    Gallen cut Andrew off with a wave of a hand as if dismissing him. Before he could continue, Andrew was again lifted off his feet by an unseen force. This time though that force sent him flying like a bullet into the back wall of his cell. When he hit it, the wall stretched like pizza dough, leaving a cartoonish hole in the shape of his silhouette. Even with this amount of give, he found that the wind had been knocked out of him and his previous injuries all checked in to remind him of their existence and their displeasure with the results of his choices.


    Unceremoniously he found himself deposited back onto the bench as the wall slowly grew back into shape and oozed him out. To his surprise the bench grew in width to support his body and was easily the most comfortable thing he had ever laid on. It seemed to conform to him in a way that mattress companies always advertised, but rarely delivered. Whether it was the comfort or weariness he could not say, but he laid there for a while to try to catch his breath and calm his weary mind.


    Gallen snorts "You would do well human to remember your position and refrain from talking back to your betters.  Also watch your tone, as insolence will not be tolerated here. I am only an Akeoic, you will meet many who are far more powerful and likely very few more tolerant than I".


    Gallen sneered at Andrew one last time before blinking out of existence. Leaving Chogan''s body to flop, unmoving, on the central chamber floor. After whatever force had been supporting him also apparently blinked out of existence as well.


    "He''s the ''Tolerant'' one? Well, that doesn''t bode well for this culture." quipped Andrew to Chogan, but there was no response. He stared at Chogan hoping to see his chest rise or fall but couldn¡¯t be sure he saw anything. A tear started to form in his eye. The emotions it accompanied moved Andrew to get up and move to Chogan, as he did the bench shrunk back to its original position.


    "CHOGAN ARE YOU THERE? CAN YOU MOVE? CHOGAN WAKE UP MAN, NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO TAKE A NAP MAN!!" Andrew yelled with tears in his eyes.


    Chogan didn¡¯t move or twitch.


    Andrew tested the barrier to see if he could just force his way through and assist his friend. Anytime he got close to it a small electrical pulse would arc into Andrew and cause his knees to buckle and forced him to stumble away. Despite the unpleasantness of the result, he still tried time and time again to force his way through. All the while he desperately called to and pleaded with Chogan until his voice started to become hoarse with the effort. Exhausted, Andrew fell bonelessly to sit on the floor and wept.


    This has to be some weird dream where my brain mixed D&D with Star Trek and is torturing me with my fears¡­¡­right? What if this isn''t? What if this is somehow reality and through my panic, I was what caused Chogan¡¯s death? Maybe the entire crew¡¯s death?


    Tears slowly rolled down his face as he sat on the floor trying his best to reel his emotions in and find a way out. Try as he might, he couldn¡¯t do it, and it only got worse when he realized that his wife''s body might be in the debris field Chogan had mentioned the ship had been drifting through. She might have been meters away, floating frozen and lifeless in the void of space and he had no way of knowing. No way to get to her and save her. No way to bring her home. He had failed everyone and maybe if he hadn¡¯t messed up and got held back from the O maybe he could have prevented all of this. Kept his wife safe and his friends from being captured by an alien force.


    He knew these thoughts were defeatist and would bring him no answers all his attempts to force his mind to focus on figuring a way out of his situation, always seemed to end up with him in a daze staring at Chogan trying to will the man back to life.


    Unsure of what to do Andrew sorrowfully yelled, "CHOGAN COME ON BUDDY PLEASE GET UP!!!!" He kept repeating this, each iteration getting a little quieter and more pathetic, until the pain throughout his body won and he was forced to lie down on the bench. Once again the bench grew there he found the bench to be one of the most comfortable things he had ever laid on. Despite this comfort, he couldn¡¯t sleep. His eyes still locked on Chogan, and his mind still wrestling with the potential that his wife may no longer be alive and that he might have doomed his entire crew by trying to find her.


    He was distracted from his despair, when what looked like a solid wall opened like the valve of an artery and a very large man made of living flexible marble walked through the opening. While it wore no clothes and had no visible genitals, Andrew was certain it was a male based on its facial features and physique. While this man shared the white marble with gold veins motif, it had the sheen of the walls instead of the matte complexion of the elves.  With no better reaction coming to mind, Andrew openly gaped in amazement.


    Ok, this has to be a dream, elves, and space whales I can moderately accept as real things, but stone golems? No way. This has to be a Star Trek and D&D inspired dream. Plus, my being on bridge of the Sled when it jumped makes no sense. I''m just an alternate and even if I could remember why I was here instead of that d-bag Thomas, I can think of no reason I would have been on the bridge. Now I wished I¡¯d just wake up and end this nightmare, I bet fell asleep during a gaming session and Gavin is drawing lewd things on my face right now. I''m just glad my twisted brain didn''t include them and make that guy anatomically correct. Thank God for the little things¡­¡­or lack there of as the case maybe.


    The golem casually walked over to Chogan¡¯s body before looking it over.


    "Hey Ken, can you tell me if he''s alive?" Andrew addressed the golem while pointing at Chogan¡¯s limp form.


    Without a response, the marble golem person wordlessly grabbed Chogan''s belt and lifted him up by it. Before it started to walk back to where the door had been. Chogan''s toes and fingertips dragged the ground as they went.


    When the arterial door opened, Andrew hopped off the bench and ran forward.


    "Wait, is he alive? Where are you taking him?¡±


    In his rushed wearied state Andrew stumbled as he tried to stop before the barrier and fell headfirst into it. Pain wracked his body, and his muscles locked up, the last thing he saw was the door close before his vision went black.

 Chapter 4: Our ancient enemies

    Andrew was locked in a concrete isolation cell. Standing there, arms crossed, staring through a glass wall at Linnie. Linnie''s stance matched his own and her cheeks were a mosaic of zigzagging lines of trace salt and a few of them still wet. Through her tears. her eyes might have been puffy, but her lips had almost disappeared from the pressure her scowl had put on them. Telling him that these were more likely tears of anger than sadness or pain. Occasionally, she would open her mouth, only to shut it again. Her growing frustration evident by the way her lips seemed to magically disappear more and more as her with each iteration.


    Andrew started to subconsciously tap his foot. His tapping came to an abrupt halt when her head snapped down to glare at the tapping foot, and with a sigh, she pinched the bridge of her nose before finally meeting Andrew''s eyes. The storm of warring emotions in them forced him to unconsciously take a half-step back.


    The glass was too thick for the sound to get through, and instead, her voice came through his implant. "No, Andrew I can''t opt out at this point!  Even if I wanted to, which I don¡¯t. I doubt they''d allow it, and for a good, damned reason too!¡± her anger rising before she caught herself, ¡°Humility aside, you know I''m by far the most knowledgeable person in the world when it comes to our folding tech and you know the most likely part of the ship to break is the folding engine. So, knowing all that, I can''t imagine how you felt it was okay to ask me to.¡± her voice quavering, ¡°Also, how little of me you must think of me if you thought there was even a small chance that I would leave the crew to their fates, knowing the dangers that they might face."


    Andrew''s jaw clenched and his teeth did their best impression of creaking wood, as his eyes narrowed and he moved to speak. Before he could open his mouth, he was brought up short when she raised a hand. Holding it up while she took a moment to take a deep breath and let out a sigh.


    "Andrew Lather, you also know that our best theories of the Hring''s fate revolve around potential flaws with their folding engine.  So, while a large part of me might want to stay and be here with you, it would be more than a little selfish for me to back out now. Just two days before we jump. I think if you took the time to let your ego get out of the way you might be able to see that you''re asking me to risk over 10 million lives so you and I can be together for the next two years. Hell, even if our marriage weren''t on the rocks that seems more than a little childish and in its current state it¡¯s even more so. So again, I ask. How could you, knowing all that, even think to ask me to back out? "


    A vein on Andrew''s forehead pulsed as his knuckles joined his teeth in creaking, "I know you''re going for all the right reasons, Linnie, I do. But I asked you to stay because I love you and can''t imagine my life without you. Not even for a day, much less for two years! Though apparently, I might be the only one of us who feels that way. I mean shouldn''t it be ok that I not be ok with you being gone for two years? Especially while you are in such danger and on a ship full of guys. I just feel if you even remotely felt similar to me then you''d be open to staying here with me and if not, you''d at least understand why I am asking you that. "


    "That''s unfair Andrew, and you know it. l am floored that instead of considering what I¡¯m saying and the pressures going on in my world, you''re just doubling down on the pressure tactics, knowing what is at stake. I get you feel trapped by having to stay here, but you got yourself into a bad situation and now have to pay the price. A situation, I specifically warned you not to. As for the ship full of guys, if you really trusted me you wouldn''t be worried. You¡¯d know that I would be more than capable of waiting two years to see you again!¡± she paused to take a few breathes, ¡°Let me try something different Andrew, if you were still allowed on the mission, or stuck on the Hring, would you want my alternate overseeing your way home?"


    Andrew breathed out slightly ¡°No, I definitely would not want Frank as my lifeline home. It''s scary to think that Frank will be the best folding tech Yuta will have after you leave. That any chance I have to come save you would rest in his hands. I just don''t love the idea of not being able to be there to support you while you have the adventure or struggle of a lifetime.  I feel that''s the reason you really won''t say no, because you love the potential of adventure more than me."


    "You know that¡¯s not true Andrew and you¡­¡±, her eyes narrowing in realization, ¡°Wait, why is this about me? I didn''t get suspended from the mission. I didn''t ignore my spouse''s sage advice and go to that side of town instead of staying focused on mission prep. But did you listen? NO, and now here we are having to say goodbye, for YEARS with a glass wall between us, and as usual, you want to blame that on ME and not YOUR decisions?" Linnie stomped her foot for emphasis.


    Andrew stepped back up to the glass, his finger almost breaking as he stabbed the glass with it.


    "MY decisions? My decisions? Linnie, you were pretty brutal last night in case you forgot. So of course, I was hurt and mad and needed to calm down. I only started watching feeds in the hope that they might distract me from the horrible hurtful things you said. One about what¡¯s going on in the south zone did exactly that and distracted me from you. It was mostly because it seemed like pure propaganda. I couldn¡¯t believe things were anything close to what they were reporting and so I decided I should go see for myself. It was a side bonus that meant I got to break some of those silly rules you''ve been putting on me. So of course, that''s where I went. Almost like through your actions you forced me there.  Even with all that it makes no sense how I ended up here. I should have been in no danger.  I never left the car. I never even rolled down the windows. Much less interacted with anyone. How was I supposed to know this would happen? " Andrew said in exasperation, gesturing to his cell.


    "Wait are you saying you going there is also all my fault? Classic Andrew, not able to take fault even when it is clearly his.  I forced you to go there? Seriously grow up.  As to how you ended up in isolation, it happened because yet again you let your anger drive your actions instead of realizing that even a small risk is a risk, and through your actions you subjected our vital mission and millions of lives to that risk!"


    "Again? When has anything remotely like this happened before? Sure, I let my anger slightly cloud my judgment, but seriously nothing should have happened. I was safe!" Stomping his foot in time with the last word.


    "Obviously not!" Linnie screamed as she gestured to his chamber, before she paused and let out a long sigh. Raising her hand again, she took a few deep breaths before she continued, ¡°Listen to us Andrew, we''re arguing, instead of talking. Yelling, instead of connecting. I don¡¯t want to leave things like this. I don''t want both of us worried that the other is done with this relationship and having to worry about what they''re doing while we¡¯re apart. I love you and while we have been having a rough patch, I want you to know I still want this," as she said this, she put a hand softly on the glass where his finger had been pushing, " I still want us. So, I''m going to put down my guns and just say mistakes were made and nothing can change that now. I really hope you do the same," she took another long deep breath before continuing, "You know what I''m sorry about most? That we couldn''t have the tomorrow we''ve talked about since getting together. I really wish we had been able to make it happen, but it should only be 2yrs or less! It will likely be over before we know it, and then we can do all of it, but as a homecoming instead. It will be even better because we can do all of that as we reconnect and catch up on our adventures. By then maybe, we''ll both remember what really matters and how much we mean to each other."


    Disarmed, Andrew touched the glass where Linnie''s hand was, "I wish we could touch one more time and not say goodbye like this." pausing for a moment to attempt not to shed the tears which threatened to flow, before continuing, " I want you as well, more than I probably show you. I''m not in this relationship out of convenience no matter what Jack says. I wouldn''t have reacted how I did if I didn''t care. I will be waiting here when you return and if you don''t¡­"


    Linnie cut him off, " Don''t say what I think you were about to.  If something were to happen don''t waste your entire life waiting to move on. I love you too deeply to have you be alone for the rest of your life pining over me or how you should have been there with me or worse doing something crazy to try to come rescue me. Don''t worry though, we will come home sooner than later. Hell, like I said maybe a break will be good for the two of us. Time to reminisce on the good times and give each of us a chance to forget these old wounds and remember what we like about each other. " The last word trailed off after her phone beeped and she looked at it. The sides of her mouth rose slightly before the somberness of the moment retook her face and she looked at Andrew once more.


    "Let me guess, Jack?", Andrew said crossing his arms.


    "Sorry, yeah it''s Jack, and don''t start. He just texted because there''s a mandatory meeting over the staffing change. I really hope John isn''t as bad as you think he is. Especially as he¡¯s going to be filling your role on the crew now."


    "Truthfully, he''s not I just don''t like the way he looks at you, it reminds me of Jack."


    "John is gross and again Jack is not after me. He''s got a serious long-term girlfriend."


    "A girlfriend who is staying on¡­," Andrew uncharacteristically stopped himself and took a breath before he continued, "You know, you''re right this isn''t how I want to spend our last moments together either. So, I''ll stop. You know how I feel about him and nothing I''m going to say will change anything. What might help things out is that I''ve put a few videos in your secure drive to help you remember some of our good times. To be clear, while most of them are of our adventures, some of them are definitely for your eyes only. I hope they are enough to keep me in your thoughts for the next few years," Andrew paused to wipe away tears before continuing, "Linnie, I love you more than I know how to express, I really have no clue how I''ll manage without you in my life for the next two years. So, please don''t fall in love with anyone else and more importantly please come home safe. "


    Linnie met his gaze, her eyes blurry, and the neck of her shirt was damp from the tears rolling down her face. "Andrew, don¡¯t you go find anyone else either. I want to have you to come home to after all. I know it''s two years, but don''t worry, with everything going on, it will all go by faster than we think," she said choking back tears and then added, "I really do love you too. I will miss you, Andrew, a great deal more than you know. I really can''t wait for our reunion!" With that, she kissed the glass and left. Pausing only a moment in the doorway before continuing out.  The smudge where her lips and hand touched the glass was the only proof she had been there.


    ********


    Andrew awoke lying on his back, he started to open his eyes only to quickly clamp them shut again to avoid the daggers of pain the omnipresent light gifted him by way of his migraine. From what he saw during that brief glance, he could tell that there was a wall arching over him, and it was made of that white granite stuff. The stuff he had hoped for was only in his dreams and was not his reality. Based on the slope of the roof and the fact that he could feel the wall on his left side he assumed he''d been placed on the bench in his cell. How he got onto the bench he wasn''t sure.


    Well, this sucks, apparently, I really am a prisoner of an alien race in a place that I have no clue where it is or how I got here. Those aliens do have stone golems, so that¡¯s pretty cool.  The elves seem pretty terrible though and have technologies that might as well be magic. This bench is more comfortable than any bed I''ve ever slept on though, so I guess it''s not all bad.  It does make ya wonder if their beds are in some impossibly better to sleep on. I bet the beds would magically ease this migraine.  While this bench is nice and all, I was hoping I''d wake up back on Yuta, next to Linnie, and find out that this was all just a crazy booze induced dream. I even miss Ziggy annoying me with all my morning messages before I even opened my eyes. Ziggy, you there?


    No response came, all he could hear was a slow thumping sound from somewhere deeper in the ship.


    I can''t believe how much I miss that stupid Kata interface right now.  I used to loathe how it would do that and now I miss that feature. Even more, I miss being able to ask Ziggy to dull this raging migraine and he might have a clue what that elf did to me to give me such a horrendous headache. At the very least I''d be able to know how long I''ve been unconscious and in this cell.


    Thump, Thump¡­¡­¡­¡­..Thump Thump¡­¡­¡­..Thump Thump¡­¡­¡­


    GAWWWHHH I really wish that sound would stop. Worse migraine of my life and I am stuck in a cell with inescapable light and a rhythmic beat. I wonder if it''s some kind of torture device they use to get prisoners to capitulate to their demands? If so, it''s definitely working, though it would be nice to know what those demands were.


    Andrew rolled to a sitting position and pinched the bridge of his nose in a futile attempt to ease the pain in his aching head. When this attempt failed, Andrew sighed and then muttered to the room, ¡°Sadly Linnie''s not here to tell me how I screwed up this time. I miss you Linnie, I hope this isn''t what happened to you or the previous missions "


    Andrew was startled to attention when a calm melodious voice responded, "What previous missions do you speak of?"


    As his eyes slowly opened, taking the time to adjust, he found that the voice belonged to the elven captain. The one who had appeared as a hologram to Chogan and Andrew. This time she was standing in the main room looking very much real and staring at Andrew in a way that made him feel as if his soul would like to leave his body and find a place to hide.


    Andrew was opening his mouth to respond when the calm voice of Captain Rostron came from his left. Andrew flinched and quickly scanned the room to see who had heard his musings. To his embarrassment, he found that his cell was now full of the male members from his crew and from what little he could see of it. It appeared that the female members of his crew were in the adjacent cell. They were all staring at him, except for Chogan who was nowhere to be seen.


    Man Lather, next time you''re going to whinge on about something at least make sure the whole crew isn''t listening.


    "We once dispatched a colonization vessel, known as the Hringhorni, or simply the Hring for short. Its mission aimed to establish a third colony for humanity, thereby safeguarding our species against the perils of a single catastrophe. Regrettably, we suspect that the Hring''s journey was marred by sabotage. When it initiated its jump, it veered off course, and we could not pinpoint its exact destination. Our advanced AIs eventually intercepted puzzling signals from the ship. The coordinates they transmitted were millions of light-years astray, and astonishingly ancient. Despite these perplexing revelations, once we located the message and its enigmatic coordinates, we launched a second mission to investigate. This second expedition, however, vanished without a trace, and no communications from it have ever reached us.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    In light of the numerous souls who had gone missing, our government decided to make one final attempt to retrieve our fellow citizens and bring them back home or at minimum learn of their fates. That last-ditch effort is represented by the individuals present here. Truth be told, we weren''t supposed to arrive in this system just yet. An unforeseen incident during our testing led to an untimely jump into this territory. The sudden stop upon arrival resulted in injuries to many of my crew members. As is evidenced by Mr. Lather himself. ¡°


    Andrew, surprised by the wordy and open nature of this Captain''s response, spoke up, "Sir, don''t you feel we might be sharing a bit too much with the enemy?"


    The elven woman turned to Andrew and calmly snapped "Silence, you will not speak unless addressed. Trust me we''re not your enemies, your race bears no threat to us and if we wanted to erase your species from our Galaxy it would take less than one of your lifespans to get the job done."


    Andrew immediately felt compelled not to speak.


    ¡°We are sincerely grateful then that is not your intent then. Might I inquire about a few things? Can my crew expect medical assistance? What was the object we inadvertently collided with? Does the debris field we observed belong to our missing ships?" Captain Rostron responded in a slightly monotone voice.


    The elven woman turned back to Captain Rostron, "No you may not inquire anything at this time. I am the one asking the questions and you are the one answering, so please tell me what planet you are from?"


    Captain Rostron quickly replied, "We hail from Yuta, madam."


    The Elven woman''s eye twitched a bit "You shall address me as Captain Lach, and I''m not familiar with this Yuta where is it?"


    Rostron replied "Sorry ma¡­. Captain Lach, no offense intended. Yuta is the second celestial body within the ER28-0652 system, and as such, it''s often colloquially referred to as Yuta 2."


    Lach queried "And which government was responsible for creating these ships you have spoken of?"


    Rostron responded "Captain, they were commissioned by the United 19."


    Though her expression didn''t change much, Lach seemed unhappy by this answer "Even with all they have done to your race, you humans have become allies of our ancient enemies?"


    Rostron perplexed, answered, "Captain, I must apologize; I''m not entirely acquainted with the specifics of this ''Ancient enemy'' you mentioned, nor the actions they''ve taken against us."


    Lach tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowed slightly before they widened again. Her eyebrows raised ever so slightly, "You''re not lying. You really don''t know of the dirty little bearded ones and their disgusting soot-spewing machines. Nor that they enslaved your race so they could perform research on your species and its peculiarities. It does leave one question, why your government is named after their sacred number?" Lach said in a contemplative voice that sounded more like she was thinking out loud and less like she meant to speak.


    In a slow voice that had an almost robotic feel, Rostron replied, ¡°Sorry ma¡­aptian, I''m afraid we''re not acquainted with the group you''re referring to, and we''re as puzzled as you as to why they hold the number 19 in such reverence. For us, it symbolized being part of the population who rolled up our sleeves and accomplished tasks while others benefited from our efforts, rich or poor. I would wager it''s a quirk of fate that your historical adversary and our group both happen to have a connection to this particular number. In the end the number symbolizes the group who left our home planet Earth for our new planet Yuta to make a better life for themselves and their progeny. Maybe your ancient enemy has a similar societal reason for it, though I would not know."


    Every other human looked on as if they knew they should stop the captain but couldn''t muster the will to act.  Andrew could empathize, it felt as if a weight was hanging over his head. One which would utterly crush him should he utter a single sound.


    Lach waited a moment before responding, "Is the United 19 part of the hidden tribe of runaway slaves? We know they were able to free a number of you primitives. So did the wretched tribe help you?"


    "Apologies, Captain, but we''re not familiar with these slaves nor their tribe, we are of the United 19 a human government based on Yuta. If there are indeed other humans in this galaxy, we would appreciate an opportunity to speak with them," said Rostron with some pride, though the last part was said as an entreaty.


    ¡°Sorry, while there most definitely are a large number of you abominations infecting this galaxy and the next. I see no path forward where you will be allowed to speak with anyone who is not part of the Unesisa Rada, or under our control, for the foreseeable future Mr. Rostron,¡± Lach responded coldly.


    Lach seemed to be contemplating something when Rostron spoke up again, "May I inquire about the destiny that awaits my crew?"


    Captain Lach responded with an icy edge to her voice, "No, as I said, you may not. While I lapsed on this a moment ago. I should not have. You will not speak until you are addressed."


    Rostron started to speak and with a small gesture of Captain Lach''s hand, Rostron was silenced and fell to his knees wracked with pain. The shock of seeing his captain convulsing in agony allowed Andrew to push through the crushing feelings which were compelling him to stay quiet. As he did so, he strained against the mental weight pushing on him so that he might put on the best impish smile that he could muster.  He only succeeded in a grin that looked like it wanted to be impish, but the wearer was in the middle of a deadlift while trying to be smug.


    "Hey, Captain Karen. How exactly can we understand you?"


    Captain Lach turned her scowl onto Andrew, and as she did, the captain was released from whatever she had been doing to cause him pain. She smiled at Andrew with the smile of a predator knowing it¡¯s found its next meal.


    ¡°By my will of course. Thank you for reminding me of my purpose for being amongst you primitive abominations. While I can connect with your primitive brains directly to communicate with you, having to do so is beneath me and my subordinates. So, I came here to fix that issue, it was kind of you to volunteer to go first in rectifying this."


    While Andrew was happy that his captain was free, he was filled with dread at what she meant when she said he had volunteered. Volunteered for what exactly was the question.


    He went to speak, but before he could, Captain Lachs looked at him in a way that reminded him of a telekinetic villain in an old b movie. True to form, he found himself paralyzed and with a flick of her left hand he was lifted off the bench. With another small gesture of her hand, Andrew was pulled by some unseen force through the barrier. Which this time passed over his body harmlessly as it had done when he was thrown into the cell. Quickly sealing behind him as he passed.


    He struggled to get free but found he was powerless to end this nightmare. As he did, he floated across the middle room and over to the wall opposite his cell. A bench grew out from the wall as he approached. With another small motion of Lach''s hand, whatever force was keeping him aloft ended, and he was roughly dropped face-up on the bench. Still unable to move.


    Damn it Lather you couldn''t keep your damned mouth shut, could you? Nope not me I have to do what''s ¡°right¡±. Now she''s probably going to do some weird brain surgery and make me a eunuch while she''s at it!


    Captain Lachs, wearing the same predatory grin as before, approached a blank section of wall just above his head.


    ¡°I bet right now; you¡¯re thinking you wished you had kept quiet. I hope your crew mates learn the lesson you refused to learn.¡±


    As she started to extend her hand and at the perfect height for her hand a small arterial-looking aperture opened, and a shelf extended out from it. On the shelf was a small fish tank which seemed to have grown right out of the shelf, its liquid dark. On the shelf next to the tank was an instrument tray with an assortment of wicked looking tools. Lach''s hand finished its extension just as the shelf came to full extension, her hand perfectly over the tools. A pair of exotic looking tongs floated up and into her outstretched hand. He felt a mild relief when she moved to use the tongs on something in tank. As she did the tank lit up and he could see hundreds of worms wriggling around the tank.


    NO NO NO I¡¯ve seen this movie


    Seeing his realization, Captain Lach mocked him with an impish grin, "I''ve been told this procedure is mildly displeasing. Please refrain from screaming and whimpering too much. It would be inconvenient during questioning if I had to remove your vocal cords. Though not too bad once this is in place."


    The thought of a brainworm drove him to internally rage against whatever force was paralyzing him. He was rewarded with him gaining the ability to move a finger.


    Well, that''s not much, but it''s a start. Now let''s get these other piggies wiggling.


    Lach''s eyes went wide when she saw the tiny movement from the corner of her eye. She peered at the finger imperiously trying to grasp what had just happened. When she saw it move again, she smirked with amazement.


    "How have you accomplished this?"


    Andrew felt his mouth become able to move again.


    A snake-like grin grew on his face, ¡°By my will of course. "


    Lach''s eyes narrowed and then focused on Andrew. He wilted inside at the realization that he was no longer able to move any part of his body.


    Lach turned once more to the tank and retrieved one of the wriggling critters from the tank. It looked like the love child of a sandworm from Dune and a grabboid from Tremors but in a micromachine form factor. It couldn¡¯t have been more than a centimeter or two and only a few millimeters wide.


    I really have to stop doing this to myself.  Locked in a magical elf prison and even then, I can''t be bothered not to mouth off to this magical elf lady. Nope and now I''m about to be turned into some stooge by an alien brain worm. Wait, there is no way this is real. I mean come on this is too much like Wrath of Khan to be real.  I bet I''m still on Yuta and I fell asleep, and my weird brain just replaced Ricardo Montalban with a willowy villainous version of Galadriel in an elegant frumpy dress uniform.


    He was brought back to the moment as Lachs with little grace placed the worm just below his left eye.


    Except that went into his ear not his freaking eye!


    Andrew was unsure what he was expecting, but the worm was shockingly cold. To his horror he was forced to watch as the worm glacially inched its way up his face and over his eyelid. Lach looked on, amusement clear on her face.


    ¡°Concerned yet? Speak if you would like me to stop this¡­.,¡± after a pregnant pause she added with a chuckle, ¡°Hearing no objections I guess we¡¯ll proceed.¡±


    When the front tendrils of the worm grabbed his eyelashes and started to pull itself up, his tension broke into a full-born panic. Mentally lashing out wildly against whatever mental force was suborning his will. There was no tactic or logic to his flailing, just pure unadulterated fear. To his amazement he felt that force crack, though not break entirely.  Through that crack it seemed he had somehow freed his left arm. He wasted no time in trying to quickly snatch the worm before it could complete its horrible mission, but just before Andrew''s hand contacted the worm, its motion was arrested by the steely grip of Captain Lach. While his arm had to be twice the size of her own, and his arm was still free of the paralyzing effect, he could not get any closer to grabbing the worm. It was as if she had the strength of a professional weightlifter, and he was just a child.


    As she forced Andrew''s hand back down to the bench, he could see both horror and wonder wrestling for control of her emotions. When his hand touched the bench, it responded by quickly stretching over his hand before returning to its stone-like look, effectively securing his in place.  Bound mentally and physically, he was forced to helplessly watch as the worm began to crawl tentacles first into his ocular cavity. Each tentacle brought with it a pain not unlike the feeling you get when you touch your eye after cutting into hot peppers.


    Andrew continued his flailing push again against the force holding mentally restraining him, beating against the crack he had already formed. The crack felt like it widened, and he could feel control return to his right hand. He quickly moved to stop the worm only to find that, while he was distracted, the bench had enveloped not just his left hand, but also his right. He thrashed both mentally and physically trying to free himself from this horror, but his efforts were too little and too late.


    The worm had already crawled under his eyelid and around his eyeball, the burning sensation following as it went. He failed despite the futility of it as the worm slowly inched its way to the back of his eyeball. Once there the burning sensation continued to move further and further back into his skull until he felt a sharp pain followed by half a second of blindness. Then all of the pain brought on by the worm abruptly stopped.


    A half a moment later his visions returned, and he was struck by the most disorienting feeling he had ever felt. Like vertigo and nausea teamed up together with exhaustion and had a kegger in his brain. He closed his eyes hoping it might help and found no relief.


    He almost vomited and then the odd feelings faded and when he opened his eyes, he could now see faint glowing purple lines of ghostly energy floating out of Lach''s head leading off in multiple directions. Hundreds of them, so many in fact, they combined to make a villainous tentacled crown of purple energy around her head. These purple lines pulsed in seemingly random, but definitively rhythmic ways. While most of the pulses seemed to be heading to Lachs, he saw one that was pulsing faster than the others. The pulses of this line, moving away from her instead of to her.  When he followed that one, it went to the wall and appeared to continue through as did every other line minus one. When Andrew looked at the wall he was distracted from the purple lines as he could now see rainbow energy running through the golden veins of the marble walls.


    Captain Lach smiles, " Ahh it appears it has attached; can you still understand me?"


    The first thing he noticed was her dubbing seemed to be much better. If just ever so slightly still off.


    The second was the only purple line which didn¡¯t exit the room was going from Lach to him and it seemed frayed or damaged when compared to the others. When he moved it moved. He was so focused on this line of energy that when a pulse ran along it, he was startled enough to try to block it with his hands. Realizing only after his wrist screamed in pain that even if they weren¡¯t still locked into place he wouldn¡¯t have been able to get them up in time to do anything to that pulse. As the pulse reached him, he found he could once again speak.


    "Sadly, yes I can still understand you. What the hell was that worm thing and what did it do to me? What is the purpose of making me see these purple lines everywhere?" Andrew said the anger rising in his voice as he spoke.


    A flash of pale tan energy coalesced around her hands a nanosecond before it shot across the room to hit him in the chest, knocking the wind from him.


    He almost missed the annoying messages from Ziggy warning him about every injury he suffered. He could imagine it saying.


    [You have experienced trauma again because you can''t learn to shut your mouth, please refrain from opening it in the future.]


    Ioma, annoyance creeping into her voice, answered, "That is Captain Lach to you, I will not say it again. Continue in your insolence and you will find that I have been calm to this point.


    All that little worm is doing is translating what I am saying into terms so that what you consider a brain might understand it. Instead of having to implant the meaning into your brain myself. It will translate any dialect or language known to the Unesisa Rada. Each of us has one, they¡¯re useful not just for communication, but also entertainment. Before you ask how I can understand your languages, they were added over a century ago when we found the first of your kind."


    She paused before adding, "What exactly do you mean purple lines?", as if just comprehending what he had previously said.


    As she said it the purple line going from her head to his grew significantly brighter.


    Without thinking he responded, "Like the one that is going from you to me or from you to it looks like many other people it seems you are contro¡­.."


    Again, a pale tan glow grew around her hands a nanosecond before it slammed into his chest. This time lifting him off the bench. His tethered hands being the only thing to keep him from flying up into the wall.


    Andrew, through wheezing breaths, groaned "How is that tan light hurting me?"


    Ioma looked perplexed and then one of the purple strings going out into the wall pulsed repeatedly multiple bursts going out and then multiple came back. A new wall opened, and another male elf entered the room. The purple line that pulsed, and continued to do so, was the one going to his head. The male elf was wearing a similar uniform, but it was somehow distinctly more of a guard''s uniform than hers. With a pulse of another purple line, the worm tank retreated into the wall and the bench oozed back off his hands.


    She turned to Andrew, "You can follow me on your own or I can make you. You will not speak again or the pain I have given you so far will feel like a massage in comparison."


    With yet another pulse of what he thought was the same line as controlled the tank, though there were so many he couldn¡¯t be certain, a new valve-like door opened. Annoyed at himself Andrew followed, seeing it as the only way to retain a shred of dignity.


    As they were about to go through the exit, he saw one of the purple lines pulse. He followed this line, and it led back to Captain Rostron.


    Captain Rostron yelled "Andrew tell them anything they ask you, and don''t hold back or they might kill us all!!".


    His last image before the aperture shut was of Captain Roston looking quizzically at himself as if he was unsure of who he was.

 Chapter 5 - Waiting on reality

    Andrew was being led down a tunnel whose only feature was that it was made of the same white marble substance as everything else he had seen so far.  The gold lines which ran like rivers through the marble still pulsed with an unknown rainbow energy. Just like the other room, try as he might he couldn¡¯t find a shadow, it made him wonder if this as how it was on all Elven structures or vessels or whatever it was that he was in.


    The line of purple energy which extended from his forehead to the back of Lachs¡¯ head weighed on him as if it were a spectral leash of purple energy forcing him to follow her commands. While he knew it wasn¡¯t an actual leash, it still served as a constant and irritating reminder of his position in this new world. That he was someone who should serve and follow her every command. He knew it was childish but he couldn¡¯t shake the anger that outwardly he did appear to be mindlessly following her like an obedient lap dog.


    It only helped slightly that he knew the truth was he was taking the moment devoid of Ioma¡¯s demands, to try to come to terms with everything that had transpired.  With all that had gone on in the last few days he had a hard time focusing on any one thing that was too crazy to be true. Instead, it raced from topic to topic, one moment it focused on his part in the bad jump before it moved on to the fact that aliens and apparently even magic existed. After a short while his mind hopped to the potential loss of his friend and that it was a result of his panicked actions. Just when he had become comfortable thinking that was the worst of it, his mind came to the subject he had avoided most of all. Avoiding it because this subject haunted him more than all the other topics combined. That his wife might be floating frozen and lifeless in the void of space, or she was a prisoner in some elven slave camp. He wasn¡¯t sure which outcome would be worse for her. Was death better than what was instore for him and his crewmates? Through all the subjects, even the last horrifying thoughts, a part of his brain was still trying to process what, if anything, he might be able to do to escape his current fate and find Linnie.


    He knew his mental state had not been in a healthy state since Linnie¡¯s disappearance, but became painfully aware of its continued degradation when he looked up from his thoughts and realized he was no longer walking down a hallway but instead standing in a rather large arched chamber. He looked around the room to try to take measure of it, but an odd feeling struck him. Like the room was getting smaller. He was going to dismiss it, but the walls¡¯ movement increased in pace, as they grew organically inward. When they finished growing inward, what was once a large arched chamber was now a small arched room. It could not have been more than 4x4 meters and about the same in height. The transformation of the room complete, small worm-like tendrils of white marble grew out of the middle of the floor and where they met, they grew together intertwining then fusing and multiplying forming three pillars. The process resembled how Andrew had always imagined regeneration might look, though in extreme fast-forward. In less than a minute the three pillars coalesced into two chairs with a desk between them. The desk and chairs had the same look of perfectly polished white marble, no sign of their worm-like origins apparent in the final products.


    "Sit," Ioma said as if commanding a disobedient dog. She gestured to the left of the two chairs, the ever-present light somehow grew brighter on it.  While it galled him to yet again do what she commanded, he saw no clear avenues of escape, nor any gain at naysaying her. So, he sat, but gave her a mean glare in impotent defiance.


    "Mr. Lather, this room has been secured from all forms of communication. No small effort has been expended to do so. So, I must ask why would you say I¡¯m using magic to control things on this ship?" Ioma in a voice that betrayed her skepticism and a bit of anger.


    "Sorry lady I see¡­" Andrew started to casually say right before a red glow briefly coalesced around Ioma''s left hand before it formed into lighting and leapt to strike him in the chest. The pain was a searing agony which caused his muscles to lock up. Unable to control himself, he once again fell unceremoniously to the floor. His head bounced oddly as it hit the rubbery floor.


    He couldn¡¯t help but let a small giggle escape his lips when he realized he was still breathing.


    "Mr. Lather, we have been over this you may address me as either Captain or Captain Lachs. If you refuse to address me with respect, then I shall be forced to spend the brief time we have together teaching you the respect you will need to survive what is to come with your body and soul intact. Though as you seem resistant to mild admonition your mind may not make it through the coming ordeal in the same state. Speaking of your mind, what exactly do you find so funny?"


    Andrew opened his mouth and then paused before he responded, "It was the realization that you''re likely just trying to torture me and not kill me."


    "What brought you to this conclusion exactly?"


    "I seriously doubt that the elven woman who boarded my ship is stronger than you. As she unceremoniously killed my friend with the same lightning thing, it seems only logical that you¡¯re limiting your damage for a reason. Thus, it must be to get something out of me, or you want me for some reason. So, you¡¯re using it to torture me into capitulation instead. As you seem to want to understand my mind, the part I''m most unhappy about is it seems either I have a conversation with you, or you destroy my mind, body, and/or soul?" After a short pause, he, in a more somber tone, added, "Souls are actually real?"


    Ioma sighed "It appears you''re cleverer than I believed your race to be capable of. You''re correct, I am superior to Estred by all conceivable metrics, except perhaps cruelty. The metric you should be most grateful for is my self-control.


    As for souls, Mr. Lather, you''ll soon find out just how real souls are. You seem determined to continue down this path of disobedience and as such I suspect you will also discover how much you wished your soul didn¡¯t exist. With that being said, I feel I should also add that I''d prefer not to have to explore that route with you. Instead, I would appreciate it if you would just sit and have a conversation with me, but don¡¯t be fooled I am fine with either outcome."


    Andrew smiling impishly said "Look ma¡­. Captain. If you just want to get to know me better, you don''t have to do all of this. I¡¯m flattered and all, but sorry to disappoint but I''m marri¡­" There was a pale tan flash, and again Andrew found himself on the ground grasping for breath.


    "Mr. Lather, I see you think you¡¯re getting somewhere, but please try to focus on your goal of making it through this intact," Ioma said with the look of a parent who has had to tell their child to stop doing something one too many times¡­. 10 times ago.


    "Fair enough, Captain. I just think your entire society really could use some training on consent I mean¡­."


    This time he was cut short as a black energy briefly coalesced around her hand before it shot across the table. Its motion could best be described as oily, though quick as the lightning before it. It hit Andrew in the chest and through the scorched hole in his uniform, he watched, in horror, as it effortlessly seeped through his skin. Instantly, he felt cold and alone, more disturbingly it felt as if his soul were trying to crawl out of his chest. As if his soul was making a desperate attempt to get as far away from whatever she was doing to it as it could. As the oily black energy flowed Andrew found he was unable to process anything other than despair, not even how long this torture had been going on. All he could think about was how worthless he was and how he had utterly failed at everything lately. How everyone was better off without him, and it would be best just to end it now before he just made things worse. When he agreed with those thoughts his entire body tensed up as if every muscle had gone to rigor and the black energy stopped.  His mind snapped back into painful focus just in time to see a look of genuine concern ignite on Ioma¡¯s face before darkness took him.


    ****************


    Andrew couldn¡¯t get passed how much the passageway he was in seemed to be an exact replication of that standard submarine passage that seemed to grace every show or movie ever to be set on a sub. You know the one, slightly too narrow, on either side there was piping running to and fro that seemed liked you might bang your head on this at any moment, and lighting which gave the scene the feeling that the air was thick and humid. The walls were even covered in that same grey navy paint, though every nick betrayed just how old the Sled was. It seemed it was almost like a glimpse into a tree¡¯s rings, you could almost count the years by the different colored layers those nicks revealed. Only the rust at the center proved that the walls were not made of solid fordite.


    Andrew was standing in the center of that hallway just to his left and facing him was a svelte man. The man had tousled black hair, moderately framed glasses, a generously warm smile set in a slightly shrewd face, and whose coveralls appeared to be made almost entirely of grease.


    "Hello, my name is Chogan Catawnee, it is my great pleasure to make your acquaintance,¡± the man said as he held out his hand. As Andrew took the man¡¯s hand in a warm shake it gave him an angle to answer a question which had been burning in his mind since entering the hallway, ¡°Are Chogan¡¯s coveralls the same mission blue as everyone else or made of grease?¡±.  His answer came as they were shaking hands and a ¡°clean¡± spot on the inside of the man''s collar revealed itself as Chogan ducked his head as part of their greeting. It was indeed made of the same material as everyone else¡¯s and the same mission blue.


    "You must be Andrew Lather the tech wizard I hear so much about.¡±


    "Ha tech wizard! I don¡¯t know about all that, but I often wish magic was real. Imagine the things you could do with it. One thing is for sure, I wouldn¡¯t be stuck waiting in this cramped hall to answer to some authority figure about the everyday inane things going on around here.¡± Andrew said smiling, though some bitterness was clearly apparent, before quickly adding, ¡°Sorry, you must be the Alternate Mechanic I hear such great things about. Not to be rude, but I have to ask, how did you end up as the alternate? I mean I hear you¡¯re a literal genius."


    "Oh no sir not rude at all, but one I sadly don''t have a good answer for. Though I do speculate it was greater family ties that made the decision. If you catch my meaning sir." Chogan said very nonchalantly, ¡°And how did you come by your fate, sir?"


    Andrew considered his response for a moment. A moment that was long enough to allow things to get awkward.


    "If asking is not too bold sir," Chogan added after a moment.


    "No no definitely not too bold. Just a sore spot. See I was supposed to be on the Orin¡­asa and well a situation arose where I was held back and the Orinasa jumped with my alternate instead of me." Andrew said in a sullen tone.


    "Excuse me sir, but I don¡¯t understand how that explains why you are not primary here. No offense to Mr. Oxley, but frankly from what I have heard you''re considerably more talented than Thomas, and yet because your alternate jumped with the previous mission, you¡¯re the alternate now?"


    Andrew chuckled.


    "See the issue is that the reason why I was held back was later found to not be a real issue and the person to replace me is the person I believe sabotaged the Orinasa. So the rest is history," Andrew said in a reluctant but slightly irritated tone.


    "Excuse my boldness sir, but they made you an alternate because you got held back on false pretenses and the guy, they replaced you with was the problem? That does not seem very reasonable, there must be more to this story." Chogan said almost chuckling with his odd smile that was also somehow infectious.


    "My wife was on the O and so I might want revenge," Andrew said a bit sharply.


    ¡°Sorry sir, I really should not have dug, I meant no offense,¡± Chogan replied in a reprimanded tone.


    The two sat in silence for a bit with Chogan giving Andrew a caring look as Andrew obviously though of the situation he was in.


    "Not that I''m one to bash people about using their family''s fame to get ahead," Chogan said, with a beaming smile, breaking the silence.


    "Huh? Oh, that''s right your father is one of the key engineers who made the Hring even possible, right?" queried Andrew.


    "That is correct. My father is a great man and was key in solving the food generation issues, among many other things. Though the food generation was his crowning achievement in my mind. If left on its own, it was predicted it could make food for the maximum crew of the ship for over 10,000 years. Truly probably a bit over-engineered, but what else could you expect from my father? " Chogan said proudly.


    "Luckily, we didn¡¯t have to test those predicted limits out during our trip to Yuta, but it is a comfort to know that the missing Hring crew has that much of a buffer to find another suitable planet. I sure hope they won¡¯t have to test those boundaries. Though if they have to, it¡¯s nice to think food and air won¡¯t be their issue," mused Andrew.


    ****************


    Andrew was startled awake by a sound he had not expected to hear. It was the jingle that played each time his Kata implant rebooted. Which, as Ziggy had malfunctioned once he was wherever here was it was quite surprising to hear it and gave him hope that when he opened his eyes he¡¯d find himself once again curled up in bed on Yuta. The sound also tugged at his heart as one of the first things he had done when he got Ziggy was to replace the generic, and annoying Kata Industries jingle (¡°Kata Industries, your life enhanced. See the world amplified!¡±) with the beginning of his and Linny¡¯s song.


    His initial hopes were dashed before he even opened his eyes as his Kata display reappeared in his vision with a very odd message.  Not only the message itself was odd, but also it appeared in what would be the center of his vision, if his eyes were open, instead of just outside of his normal vision.


    [Reboot complete. Integration with Control Worm successful.]


    It was only then he noticed the feeling of warm energy surrounding him as well as entering and infusing his body. As he opened his eyes, he discovered that everything was tinged green thanks to warm green energy which was flowing from both of Ioma¡¯s hands and was surrounding his entire body. She was still sitting across the table from him, eyes closed in what appeared to be extreme concentration, as she rhythmically moved her hands back and forth causing the green energy to flow out of them with each stroke.  The energy flowed from her in a steady flow, but for some reason seemed to be heavily concentrated around his head and shoulders.


    Andrew was brought up short when Ioma put up her hand up as if she knew he was about to speak.


    He sat there in silence watching her every move. As he did Ziggy kept posting message updates every two to three minutes.


    [Your Skull fracture has successfully healed, no long-term impairment expected.]


    [Left shoulder dislocation has successfully healed, no long-term impairment expected.]


    [Forehead laceration bleeding has abated.]Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    [Forehead laceration has successfully healed, no long-term impairment expected.]


    [Osteoarthritis has successfully healed, no long-term impairment expected.]


    [Right shoulder contusion has successfully healed, no long-term impairment expected.]


    As each message popped up, the highlight on his damage silhouette which corresponded to the message cleared.  Andrew stared at it in disbelief. What should have taken months or longer to heal, had been healed in moments.  Iomas slumped into the chair across from him, green energy no longer emanated from her.


    [You appear to be in perfect health.]


    Followed by three more messages which only added to Andrew¡¯s confusion.


    [Connection to Control Worm has been improved.]


    [Control aspect of the worm has been neutralized.]


    [New function added. Stats and Powers display.]


    Andrew had so many questions he wanted answers to, but after Ioma¡¯s previous demonstration of power, he tried to wait patiently for her to speak. He was known to push the edge, but what ever that black magic had been, it had caused him pain like he had never imagined. To help keep from angering her, he distracted himself by exploring the reported new function of his Kata. He was unsure of how to use it, so he tried the normal way and with a thought, the "Stats and Powers" display came up. Floating just outside the left side of his vision.


    [


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="102">


    Demographics


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    </td>


    <td width="112">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="100">


    Name:


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    Andrew Lather


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    Race:


    </td>


    <td width="114">


    Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="100">


    Height:


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    1.85m


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    Weight:


    </td>


    <td width="114">


    220lbs


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="100">


    Sex:


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    Male


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    Age:


    </td>


    <td width="114">


    39


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="100">


    Hair Color:


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    Black


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    Eyes:


    </td>


    <td width="125">


    Central Heterochromia: Green with amber nebula-like inner ring and Limbal outer ring


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="100">


    Guild/Ikolis:


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    N/A


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    Clan:


    </td>


    <td width="114">


    N/A


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="100">


    Rank


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    Unranked


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    Title


    </td>


    <td width="114">


    N/A


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="100">


    Statistics


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    </td>


    <td width="114">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="100">


    Strength:


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    Intelligence:


    </td>


    <td width="114">


    4


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="100">


    Reflexes:


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    Willpower:


    </td>


    <td width="114">


    6


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="100">


    Fortitude:


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    Persuasion:


    </td>


    <td width="114">


    3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="100">


    Soul


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    4


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    Mana Pool


    </td>


    <td width="114">


    10


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="100">


    Reaction Points:


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    130


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    Mana Regen


    </td>


    <td width="114">


    1/minute


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="100">


    Speed


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    50


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    Initiative Modifier:


    </td>


    <td width="114">


    6


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="100">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    </td>


    <td width="114">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="100">


    Category Name


    </td>


    <td width="88">


    Level  (Specialization)


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    Category Name


    </td>


    <td width="125">


    Level  (Specialization)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    Athletics:


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    Bartering


    </td>


    <td width="112">


    2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    Awareness:


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    Melee:


    </td>


    <td width="112">


    2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="95">


    Technology:


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    4 (Implants)


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    Security:


    </td>


    <td width="109">


    3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    Diplomacy:


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    Stealth:


    </td>


    <td width="112">


    2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    Dodge:


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    Firearms:


    </td>


    <td width="112">


    3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    First Aid:


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    Survival


    </td>


    <td width="112">


    3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    Hand to Hand:


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    1


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    </td>


    <td width="112">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    Implants


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    Slots


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    3


    </td>


    <td width="112">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="90">


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    Control Worm Integrated Kata


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    Augments user¡¯s perception with important data through a vision and auditory overlay. Can also connect to the internet, show movies, translate any known language, and communicate with other Kata units through the internet or close wave technology. Continual monitoring of health with displays to help user monitor as well.


    Control worm integration grants the ability to see magic auras and unlocked magical potential of the user.


    </td>


    <td width="114">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="102">


    Enchantments


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    Slots


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="102">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="90">


    </td>


    <td width="96">


    None


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    </td>


    <td width="114">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="100">


    Powers


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    </td>


    <td width="114">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="100">


    Name


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    Rarity


    </td>


    <td width="427">


    Effect


    </td>


    <td width="121">


    Mana Cost


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="102">


    Did I do that?


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    Unique


    </td>


    <td width="429">


    You can disable any magical effect that has a duration longer than 15 seconds, even if that duration is infinite. Willpower + Soul check against the original caster''s Soul and a moderate modifier. If another magic user is present (including the original caster) they can add 1/4 of their soul rating to that of the caster''s to increase the difficulty of disabling an emplaced magical effect.


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="100">


    The Eternal Sunshine of the Closed-off Mind


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    Unique


    </td>


    <td width="429">


    Closes your mind off to outside control. This includes magical mind-based communications.


    DR rating of all mind-based powers used against the subject is increased by 10. If the subject concentrates on blocking an opponent the DR Increases to 10+ Willpower of Subject


    </td>


    <td width="125">


    1/rnd when concentrating on blocking.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ]


    So, I have a character sheet which is pretty helpful. Though I have almost no clue of the significance of anything in it. That said if I¡¯m reading this right, I can turn off any magical effect and I can block mental control. Time to put that skill into action.


    Andrew let out a small chuckle before he was about to reign himself back in.


    Ioma lifts her eyes slightly annoyed "What exactly is amusing you now?¡±


    [Captain Ioma Lachs, commanding officer, Beautiful Winds. (Would you like to know more?)]


    Andrew couldn¡¯t resist, and a character sheet popped up for Ioma.


    [


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="94">


    Demographics


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    </td>


    <td width="84">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    Name:


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    Ioma Lachs


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Race:


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    Elf


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    Height:


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    1.83m


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Weight:


    </td>


    <td width="92">


    120lbs


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    Sex:


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    Female


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Age:


    </td>


    <td width="87">


    ?????


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    Hair Color:


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    Gold


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Eyes:


    </td>


    <td width="97">


    Ice blue


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="94">


    Guild/Ikolis:


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    Moti


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    </td>


    <td width="84">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    Rank:


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    Galim


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    Statistics


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    Strength:


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    ?


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Intelligence:


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    ?


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    Reflexes:


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    ?


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Willpower:


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    ?


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    Fortitude:


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    ?


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Persuasion:


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    ?


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    Soul:


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    ?


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Mana Pool:


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    ???


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    Reaction Points:


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    ???


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Mana Regen:


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    ???/?


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    Speed


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    ??


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Initiative Modifier:


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    ??


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    Category Name


    </td>


    <td width="112">


    Level  (Specialization)


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Category Name


    </td>


    <td width="107">


    Level  (Specialization)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="82">


    ?


    </td>


    <td width="120">


    ?


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    ?


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    ?


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="94">


    Enchantments


    </td>


    <td width="120">


    Slots


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    2


    </td>


    <td width="75">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="82">


    </td>


    <td width="120">


    None


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    Powers


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    Name


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    Rarity


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Effect


    </td>


    <td width="97">


    Mana Cost


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    ????


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    ????


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Attacks the soul for ??? damage


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    ?


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    ????


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    ????


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Healing effect which heals for ???RP per minute


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    ?


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    ????


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    ????


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Can connect with other people''s minds. This allows communication, including translation. With additional mana, expenditure can control a subject.


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    ?


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    ????


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    ????


    </td>


    <td width="440">


    Creates a bolt of force that strikes a target dealing ?? of concussive force damage.


    </td>


    <td width="84">


    ?


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="92">


    ????


    </td>


    <td width="110">


    ????


    </td>


    <td width="438">


    Creates lightning which strikes the target doing ??? Of damage


    </td>


    <td width="86">


    ?


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ]


    Andrew was let down as it didn¡¯t contain any information he didn¡¯t already know. Realizing that he had not responded in a timely manner because of his distraction with her sheet, he tried not to act distracted as he responded.


    "It¡¯s just that I¡¯m alive. Seriously though thank you for healing me. If I might ask, what happened exactly?"


    "I thought it clear, I was teaching you a lesson on how I can hurt you in ways you''ve never known before and in my anger, I did not account for your previous injuries or your race¡¯s frail nature.  Which almost resulted in your death.¡±


    ¡°So why did you save me?¡±


    ¡°Your death would have robbed me of the chance to understand how exactly it is you can see magic.  While it is well recorded that humans can utilize magic and your ships harness it in a way we are still trying to understand. Perceiving magic in such a way is something I have not heard of in any outside of my race. Even in members of my race, it is not a power that is seen often. While I have been led to believe there are no native magic users of your race, I must ask.  Are you a wizard or some such of your people?"


    Andrew, considered attempting to sever the the purple line, but decided it would be prudent not to quite yet. Believing that the purple line would aid in making captain Lachs complacent, he ecided to act as if he was reluctant to answer to see how she would respond. Which apparently was to sit there and stare at him.


    After what felt like an eternity, he blurted out, "I make Harry Dresden look impotent" and stood taller with his chest puffed out, trying his best to look important.


    Ioma''s eyes narrowed, "I am assuming I should know who this is?"


    Only slightly deflated he tried again, " Merlin?"


    Not seeing any recognition from her, his shoulders start to slump, "Dumbledore?".


    After seeing no recognition, he let out a sigh before he mumbled, "Harry Potter?" defeat clear in his voice.


    Ioma''s eyes perked up "Ahhhh the boy wizard from your fake reality things?"


    Andrew perked up as well, ¡°Wow, you need to reconsider who your friends are. If you know who Harry Potter is, but not Merlin. Wait, how have you ever even heard of a movie?"


    Her sternness reappeared, a small amount of black energy leaked from her hands, and Andrew felt his soul start to try to find the nearest exit.


    "Please Mr. Lather don''t force my hand. How I know of your culture is not any of your concern. I¡¯ve allowed you to distract me for the last time. Back to what we¡¯re here to discuss, which is how you have come by magical abilities and what are you capable of?


    Andrew, a bit bewildered by the question responded, "If this is magic" gesturing toward the various purple lines and the rainbow energy pulsing through the walls "Then I guess it¡¯s a gift from your control worm and I guess I can see magic flow? For all the good that does me."


    Ioma''s head moved back, and her eyes squinted with one slightly raised, "What do you mean, Control Worm?"


    "That worm thing you put in my eye," said Andrew.


    "What makes you think I need that worm to control you?" indignation clear on her face.


    "It¡¯s what my implant calls it. Not sure where it got that name from exactly," responded Andrew.


    ¡°You have a functional implant?¡± Ioma¡¯s left eyebrow raised in surprise.


    ¡°I guess I can¡¯t hide it forever,  apparently your healing magic and/or control wormy thing enabled it to work again. I¡¯m really not sure which or if it was a combination of both or some other method. Just that  Ziggy, that¡¯s my name for my implant, and your control worm interfaced. Now Ziggy is back, I honestly thought you had done it on purpose.¡±


    Ioma responded extremely matter-of-factly, ¡°I didn¡¯t. To date, none of your tech has worked while on our ships or planets. As of today, exactly 1 piece of your technology has continued to function once brought on a ship. I suspect this will come as a great boon to the researchers who have spent decades trying to crack how your technology works. As for the ¡®Wormy things¡¯, they are named Apanean Worms and they''re quite exquisite magic. I will admit that I¡¯ve always been quite impressed and a bit appalled that they work even on primitive brains such as your own. Though I highly doubt an Apanean worm had anything to do with your ability to see magic or your ability to ineffectually interfere with our link. So, I will ask again. So how have you come by this power and what all are you capable of? Does your implant allow you to see magic?¡±


    Andrew "Hey L¡­¡­. sorry Captain Lachs. It''s your worm, I figured by now you¡¯d know how it affects those who you implant better than I would. I only learned magic existed toda.."


    ¡°I tire of this. I was hoping to have an open conversation, but I see you¡¯re unwilling to do so.¡±


    The purple line going to him flared with energy and he started to get the feeling that he should treat her with more reverence and answer her honestly and openly. He chaffed at the idea that his emotions were being controlled as if it were some game and instinctually started to try to push his will against this invasion. The line noticeably dimmed, though it did not wink out entirely.


    Ioma''s eyes grew wide when she realized what was happening. Her face scrunched in concentration; the purple line brightened once more with renewed energy. Andrew, desperate not to be controlled again, let out all his pent-up emotions and energy from all that had transpired in the last few months into his struggle with this mental shackle. As his anger flowed the line dimmed until it eventually winked out. Ioma got to her feet and immediately sent another purple line at him, but it too was rebuffed.


    Andrew visibly slumped in his chair, the effort mentally draining him, but a slight smile crept on to his face even though he was trying to not show his smile.


    Iomas pointed a finger at him so sharply he feared she was about to throw more magic at him.


    "HOW HAVE you done this? Before I kill you for the abomination you are, you will tell me! "


    Andrew wearily said, "That''s not much of an incentive to tell you. Now, is it? At least offer to spare me or something."


    Ioma¡¯s eyes told Andrew all he needed to know, but she seemed to want to speak it regardless.


    "Have it your way. May your spirit find a better life next go around. "


    Black energy coalesced around her hands, this time so dark that it seemed to consume any light that came near it.  This time it was so dark that her hands seemed more like outlines. No doubt this was enough to destroy his soul, but before she released it, Andrew saw one of the purple lines running into her head, flare and pulse. The black energy surrounding her hands dissipated almost as fast as it came.


    Ioma¡¯s face was a mask of pale lines on a sea of red.  Through gritted teeth, she explained,


    "Apparently, your fate is not to die here, even though you are even more an abomination than most of your race. I am to ensure you are alive and mostly intact when we arrive at the research center so you can meet with our God Biaobel. My guess is he¡¯ll break you if I or others don¡¯t first. Until then I must ask you a few questions and I do hope you give me an excuse to be the one who does it."

 Chapter 6: I have an appointment with god

    A few hours later, Andrew wearily sat on a bench his eyes sunken with rings around them so dark they might be mistaken for goth makeup. Even his close-cropped hair seemed disheveled, and a weariness hung about him that seemed to weigh on anyone who could perceive him. It was clear to all that while his injuries seemed to have miraculously disappeared, he was much worse for whatever he had been through.


    Captain Rostron looked at Andrew, his eyes showing an uncharacteristic concern, "Lather, are you alright?"


    Andrew nodded.


    "Lather, I gather you knew I was compelled and did not comply with my orders?"


    Andrew again nodded, but also shakily whispered, ¡°I told her more than I should have, but not as much as she would have liked, sir. I did find out some things. Like they are taking us to a human concentration camp where her race studies Humans. She also let slip, that I will be meeting a god soon after we arrive."


    Andrew laid down on an empty section of bench and breathed out deeply as he closed his eyes.


    "Lather, you cannot say this and sleep without telling" interjected Vladimir, in his broken English. It was worse than before as there were no Katas to translate his Russian, nor to help smooth out the edges of his struggles with English.


    Andrew lifted his head a bit, his voice sounding more like a groan than an actual sentence, "Actually Nest, I can. As I''ve just spent the last few hours being tortured with some sort of Soul damaging magiiic?¡±, he drew out the last word as if he wasn''t sure he even believed what he''s saying. "So, as you might imagine I''m a bit exhausted and don¡¯t have the time nor energy to elaborate until I¡¯ve had some rest."


    A tall lanky man with wavy hair, Andrew knew to be Alexander, almost distractedly said "Yeah, I¡¯m sure it was ¡®magic¡¯, probably just some tech you couldn¡¯t understand. Lather, regardless of what you might have been through, you know he has a point. You can¡¯t drop bombs like ¡®human concentration camp¡¯ and ¡®meet a god soon¡¯ and then leave everyone waiting."


    [Alexander Mendel, Primary Physicist and Astronomer, Sledovatel. (Would you like to know more?)]


    In response, Andrew shrugged and laid back down, a slightly annoyed expression evident on his weary face.


    Andrew''s attempt at a nap was abruptly interrupted as he found himself hoisted off the bed by his collar. Vladimir''s angry face was all too close to his.


    "Listen, you treat like dream, we here because of you Lather. So, talk because this not dream." Vladimir the veins on his face pulsing with his anger.


    Andrew, not bothering to remove Vlad''s hands, and with an edge to his voice says, "Yeah Nest, I know more than any of you this isn''t a dream. You''re right, at first, I thought it had to be a dream, as I suspect you did too. I mean space elves and eye-beam-shooting space whales. No way that could be real. That was before the hours of ¡®ununderstood tech¡¯ soul torture and the realization that my wife, if she is not floating frozen in space, is likely on some alien planet getting much the same treatment or potentially much worse and has been for years." With a look of contemplation, his tone changed. The edge dropped away before he continued, "Alexander is right, that was a bit cruel of me. Honestly Nest, I don¡¯t know much more than what I said. She tortured me with again something I¡¯ll call magic. Then the tone changed after their captain almost killed me in a soul torturing rage. In her rush to heal me, her healing magic did something that allowed my Kata to come back online. This seemed to surprise her even more than it did me. It seems, the healing did something to Ziggy, my kata, and allowed him to somehow interface with that worm thing she put in me. I¡¯m not sure if this is because it came back online or was the reason it did. She claimed that she knew of no recorded incidents of this ever happening before, but I suspect they just didn¡¯t know. One thing I left out was when she put that worm thing in me. It gave me the ability to see things glow as they do their magic or when magic is around like that vein over there." Andrew said pointing at one of the veins in the marble. "Oh, sorry I mean their tech I don¡¯t understand glows now. Also, it sounds like that debris field was from the Orinasa, though it appears that the Orin crew were not killed but instead captured and taken to a few concentration camps to be studied by what she described as their gods. Also, some of the Orin crew escaped from the elves, only to be captured by the elves'' ancient enemies. Though apparently their ancient enemies only did so, so they could experiment on our brethren as well. However after some time, several of the Orin crew were saved by some group she called ''The Tribe''. As for the Elven gods, I''m not sure what makes them well, gods. The one she mentioned by name, the one she called Biaobels or something like that, seems to be powerful enough. I doubt it¡¯s a true god, but through this new ability I got saw him communicating with Captain Lach¡¯s mind and she claimed we''re just under 200 thousand light years from the world he''s on. So, I can say he seems to have some abilities that I can''t explain. Even if that is just some faster-than-light comm tech I don¡¯t understand. Though truthfully everything I''ve encountered around these Elves I can¡¯t explain, from their space whales to their fashion sense. One thing I know is that I don''t plan to go pissing that god being off. " Andrew¡¯s shoulders slumped as if saying all of that was a weight off his shoulders.


    Most of the crew slightly snorted at that last bit and many tried to look away inconspicuously after doing so.


    "What?" Andrew said, looking around.


    "Lather, we just know you better than to think you won''t stand your ground to someone just because they might be a god. Though to be clear, I agree, I doubt they are," replied Alexander with a smirk.


    Andrew sighed and then looked back at Nesterov, "They really did use some sort of; I''m going to call it magic as I can''t explain it and that''s what they call it. So while I might not understand it, here¡¯s what I do know. Their Captain has the ability to control people with her mind, a lot of people. Just like she did the captain. She also hit me with some invisible force, was able to heal me of all of my wounds and even ailments, and spent the last hour making me feel like my soul wanted to crawl out of me and run away. Like it was some ant under a kid''s magnifying glass. Oh, and they have some sort of caste or tier system to their society based I think on magic ability or maybe aptitude." Andrew thought for a moment "That is all I know. I am sorry for acting flippant, but I really do need a nap, so either let me go or knock me out again. I don''t care. There isn''t anything you are going to do that will even get into the same ballpark of pain as what she just did and either way, I''ll get some sleep and hopefully dream of nicer times"


    Vladimir seemed to be winding up for a retort before he was cut off by Zoya the dark-haired, dark-eyed pilot of the Sled in a very pissed-off, but matter-of-fact tone of a person who''s had this argument one too many times.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "Nesterov, point of fact we''re here because you couldn''t control your impulses to look back every time someone enters the bridge and put your damned elbow on the emergency jump button. You know like we''ve been telling you for weeks not to!!!"


    "Get off it Chaturvedi. It''s not my fault that button in bad spot. I¡­" Vladimir said defensively though he did let go of Andrew before being cut off midsentence.


    "You''veeeeee¡­been¡­told¡­for¡­weeks to stop doing it! No one else, not even your alternate, has this issue. I swear it''s like you''re a teenager at a nudist resort every time someone comes on the bridge." Zoya said as if she was finishing his thoughts for him.


    Zoya drew in a breath to continue, but Captain Rostron spoke up first.


    "At this juncture, it matters not who is at fault. What matters is the current state of affairs and the actions we can take to shape our destiny. Merely assigning blame will only serve to further divide us when it is of utmost importance that we stand united."


    The crew seemed to respond well to this and seemed to settle down. It was all Andrew needed to be able to drift off to sleep.


    *******


    Andrew woke up on his couch staring at the ceiling. He sat up and was greeted by a sea of old food containers lying around him, some with food in various states of decay still in them. There was also some sensie show which was playing very much ignored on his Kata. He wasn''t focused on any of it, instead, he was trying to recall the last time he had moved from that exact spot, other than to go to the bathroom or answer the door for takeout since the day the Orinasa disappeared after what seemed to have been another apparent bad jump. Adding to his pain, mere moments after he watched the O disappear in a shower of odd flashes, his cell door opened. It was a messenger there to inform he was no longer being detained and was free to go. The messenger delivered the news Andrew had been waiting for. That his suspicions that he had been held back from the mission on false pretenses were correct. The messenger also assured him that the authorities were looking into who was behind this and what their motives might have been. Numb and not knowing what else to do, Andrew allowed himself to be taken home.


    I mean what was the point in moving, until he had anything even resembling a plan on how to move forward in life. His mind was an unfocused blur of thoughts, ranging from how to figure out what happened to the O, worrying that the love of his life had potentially just died, trying to figure out where the O might have jumped to, how to ensure he was part of a rescue mission, and feeling a little responsible. The last one was due to the fact that something in his gut said that, John Kerling, the alternate who replaced him was responsible for what ever had befallen the O and the more he dwelled on it the more convinced he became that he theory had to be correct. He just didn''t have the proof and even if he did, how does it change anything?


    That''s when he sat up. "Yeah, Lather it might not change anything, but it might keep a tragedy like this from happening to others and more importantly it might get Linnie back home," He declared to his audience of food containers and flies.


    "First order of business, a shower, and then get some real food. After that we''ll look through Linnie''s documents to try to find if there are any clues in there. You with me Ziggy?"


    A message from his implant appeared.


    [Yes sir. While you slept I took the liberty scan through some of her documents. I have a few I think might help you with in your search. I hope this was what you might want.]


    "Zig, you''re the best!"


    [ Thank you Mr. Lather. I am here to help.]


    After his shower and lunch, Andrew sat at Linnie¡¯s computer and had to really look for the power button. He hadn''t used a computer in almost a decade or more. His wife was old school like that. While she now had her implant in place, she never used it. She would always say "It just doesn''t feel right" or "I''m pretty sure it''s giving me cancer" with a half serious smile. Ironically, she was forced to leave her laptop behind. The safety officer could not find verify that every part of the ancient thing was safe for space flight, even though Linnie assured him it was. As it was booting, Andrew sat there a nervous wreck. His concerns that the government had already wiped all data off it causing him to feel naseous.


    When it finally booted, he saw her background and started to cry. He had never noticed it before, it was a picture of them on their third date. That was biggest day of his life as it was that night that he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with here, though it took more than a year to finally get there. The memory of it brough a wave of sadness with it as he feared that dream may no longer be a possibility for his future.


    It was after the debacle of their second date, where they had went on a 10mile hike in 106-degree weather through the canyons. Not even half way through he had to struggle to look even moderately composed. He feared if she saw him struggling, as he really was, she might think he had lied about his outdoor nature and not go out with him on a third date. I mean while she was sweating she hadn''t complained one bit about any of it. Worse she looked like she was enjoying it. When the death market finally ended, he made some lame excuse on why he needed to hurry home. Of course shortly after getting on the road he panicked. Worried that Linnie probably though he didn''t like her and that''s why he rushed off without even trying to kiss her before he left.


    Luckily, the next day Andrew had worked up the nerve to call her. It was on that call, that they both admitted why they wanted to leave so quickly. Linnie admitting to having the same thoughts and fears and at being relieved when he didn''t try to linger in that hellishly hot parking lot. The had a few laughs before they simultaneously asked the other out on a third date.


    This time they agreed to just do a traditional dinner date. He took her to the nicest place he could afford and they talked the night away telling stories and talking about the future. To this day if you asked him what all they talked about he couldn''t tell you. What he could tell you was how her face lit up during the good parts of the stories and how her eyes twinkled every time they met his. He could write volumes about her rarely seen, but so perfect smile, which meant more because she didn''t just give it away to everyone she met. He could tell you a lot, but not even what they had eaten or how long they talked for.


    He could tell you about how when the restaurant closed, he was desperate to find a way to keep the night from ending, and not for some base reason either, but because he was having so much fun. So, as he walked her to her tram, her arm, and hand in his, he blurted out, "Ummm I have an old TV and some of those ancient movies back at my place. Any chance you''d like to go watch the Boon Dock Saints with me?". Immediately chastising himself for the choice of movie,


    Seriously Boon Dock Saints???


    All of his fears that he had ruined the moment, were quickly dashed when she quickly blurted, "Definitely!". He couldn''t tell you how long they watched that old movie either or when they fell asleep, but he could tell you how he was hers from that day forth, even though she never seemed to realize it.


    Until now, I guess. She''s either gone or in an unknown place frantically trying to get home. So, get over yourself and figure this out. So maybe you can be some help to her.


    ********


    Andrew awoke to Captain Rostron lightly shaking him. "Sorry to disturb you, but our captors have alerted us to the fact that we''re being transferred to another ship. "


    Andrew slowly sat up, wiping the sweat from his face, ¡°Wait. We''re being transferred? I was under the impression this ship was taking us?"


    Then he heard that voice of ice again, the one that made his soul twitch.


    "As if you people were so important that we would leave our borders in a weakened state to take you to your destination. I will admit I''m sad I won''t be there when they break you. You''ll wish you would have just answered my questions here. While you think there couldn''t be anything worse than you''ve felt before, you were mistaken about that before too. Please do me a favor and think of me the moment they break you." said Captain Lachs.


    With that, they were lined up and shackled together two by two, and in a magenta flash, four elves, that Andrew had never seen before, appear out of thin air. Though a few of the symbols were different, they were wearing the same uniforms as the elves he knew. The most striking difference was, while the elves themselves still looked to be made of marble, their skin was a pale green marble instead of white. The veins of the marble were still the same gold color as the elves he had previously encountered. Andrew''s eyes were locked on the new elves'' foreheads, surprised by the fact that these new elves already had purple lines connecting them to Captain Lachs. Those lines pulsed a few times and then the new elves nodded to Captain Lachs before she turned to exit the room.


    Captain Lachs paused and then turned back to look at Andrew, "One word of advice, I''d not make them try too hard or the damage they''ll do might end up being permanent and quite life-altering. But we both know you''ll not heed my advice."


    She turned to a female elf, "He goes last, he has an appointment with our benevolent Father", gesturing to Andrew.


    She gave him a smile, which would have made the devil jealous, before she turned and exited the room. Upon her departure, the new elves walked up to the crew members and with magenta flashes each elf teleported two to four crew members away. Each returned in a magenta flash to get another group until only Andrew remained.


    With another flash, the elf Lachs had spoken to appeared and started to approach him.


    "I swear they like making me sweat, is this a good touch or bad touch?" Andrew said with a childish smile.


    The elf laughed and, with what he swore was a flirty smile responded, "Guess you''ll find out." And with another blinding now magenta flash he was gone.

 Chapter 1 - Updated.

    Just writing to say I just updated Chapter 1 and I believe it flows much better. I hope you do as well.


    Thanks to everyone who''s been reading my story. I am working hard to try to get a chapter out every week or so, but I also want them to be good, so occasionally I go back and edit a chapter I have already published. Thanks for your understanding.


    Here is the URL to that chapter and I hope you enjoy what i''ve wrote.


    https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/72954/the-stolen-moments-of-life-the-lather-series-the/chapter/1503115/just-a-warm-summers-day


    I promise this story will improve over time and that the universe created is large enough that if this book is remotely liked I will write many more series in this world.


    As for this series I believe I have enough content to write about 9 books in this arc, but we shall see. As this is my first book ever, I hope just to complete it this year.


    As always any constructive feedback is very welcome.


    I hope yall have a great day!


    Ignore this bit, it''s just so i could post this update.


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    Cheers!

 Chapter 7 - Color Coordinated Elves

    Andrew opened his eyes to discover he had been transported into a similar cell. Like before the walls matched the skin of the elf who brought him here.  They still appeared to be made of the same polished marble-looking material with golden veins running through it but, like the elf''s skin, were tinted light green instead of white. Just like before the walls and floors looked like polished stone versus the elf clearly being made of skin and having a matte finish. This similarity of wall pattern to skin pattern struck him as funny, but before he could inquire with her if this was happenstance or elf navy standard, she disappeared in a magenta flash. Leaving him to explore his new confinement.


    He found that his crew was with him, and they were still split into two cells, separated by sex. Just as before the cells were each connected to a central room and sealed from it by a rainbow energy field. However, this central room only had two cells off it instead of the four as before. In that central room were three golems. These golems were not made of the black stone the previous golem had been. These were made from reddish granite and stood nearly motionless, two looking at a respective cell and the third looking away from them. Andrew assumed the third golem was looking at where one of those aperture doors might open and took note in case, he was able to get free and make a run for it. He was distracted by his thoughts of escape when he noticed the same purple lines going out of their heads as he had seen with the elves but was surprised that unlike the elves no light purple lines connected each golem to the other.


    As could be expected, Andrew was the first to open his mouth, "Umm, I should be in the other cell. I can''t believe y''all keep misgendering me!!!"


    The crew groaned. The Golem who was watching his cell merely glanced at him.


    "Is this a ship?"


    This time no golem even twitched, remaining diligent in their guard duties.


    "Hey Moe, are you just animated statues, or can you talk? What about you Larry? Curly?" Andrew continued.


    The golems seemed to not notice, remaining unmoving.


    Vladimir interjected, "Lather stop your nonsense, it accomplish nothing but headache for rest."


    "Maybe you''re okay with being treated like cattle, being communist and all, but I''m from Texas and we don''t much appreciate being treated like animals. " Andrew said the last part in an over-the-top Texas drawl.


    The two golems watching the cells, turned to look at them somewhat quizzically.


    Vladimir with a sneering smile responded, "Workers of all Lands Unite!"


    As he said the last word the Golems spoke in unison with him in a reverent tone. Then adding, "To Each for Each for the Greater!"


    The golem Andrew had called Larry stepped forward looking passed Andrew to Vladimir.


    "How have you come by the great teachings?" it asked, in a reverent and beautiful asexual voice.


    "Teachings of Marx common in my country. How do you know Marx teaching?"


    "There was no Getl named Marx. Who is this Marx you speak of?"


    "You know Karl Marx the person responsible for more deaths in the 20th century than just about anyone else?"  Andrew added with a snarky smile.


    "He was a warrior? How did he come by the great teachings?" Larry queried; excitement clear in his tone.


    The smile on Andrew''s face wilted, "What do you mean the great teachings?"


    "The Great teachings of the Getl, they are not only our gods but also our teachers. They teach us how to work together so we all may prosper. In their infinite love, they created the first of us, so we might help make the universe more at peace. "


    Captain Rostron spoke up "What is your meaning in saying ''the first of us''?"


    "The Elves, trolls, and golems of course. They crafted us from nature. Elves they made in their glorious image, Trolls they crafted from the ever-healing clay of the world and we golems came last. They make us mostly from wood and stone. Their love not only created all beings but gave each of us the ability to replicate ourselves, so we might better serve them in bringing peace to the universe. While this was their greatest gift to us, it is merely one of their myriads of gifts which they bestowed on to us, demonstrating how generous and kind they are."


    The purple lines going to the golems flashed quickly. Right before they felt the ground rock as if an earthquake had occurred. A large groan reverberated through the walls as if an animal had been injured, so deep Andrew felt it reverberate through his chest and sinuses.


    "Please, for your safety you need to sit on the benches, it seems we are under attack from our ancient enemies. There is nothing to fear we will be underway soon and it''s unlikely they will pursue." Larry said as he sat on the floor, restraints growing, like vines, out of it, and fastening around him as he did.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    All of the crew, but Andrew, were sitting or lying on the benches which came out from the wall. As the golem sat restraints grew out and around everyone on the bench, securing them to the bench. Though they seemed to put little pressure on the crew members who could even sit up while being restrained. The restraints growing or retreating as needed to keep the crew members secure while they transitioned.


    The only exception was Andrew who was standing.


    "Human, did you not hear me? The bearded devils are attacking. While they pose us no real threat if you don''t sit down and allow us to secure you, you may be injured."


    Andrew smiled and opened his mouth to respond, only to be brought up short by a clearing of the throat and a polite yet stern gesture towards the bench by his captain.  Just as the captain gestured the ground lurched again and the motion caused Andrew to lose his balance and forced him to sit on the bench. While another groan echoed through the walls.


    As he fell forward restraints shot out from the walls, like spring loaded vines, ensnaring him and gently guided him to the bench. The whole room jerked hard to the left and another more resounding groan reverberated through the walls.


    Without warning a magenta glow flashed into the room, nearly blinded Andrew, and was followed by an odd feeling. It reminded Andrew of a jump drive engaging. Though much less jarring and far more blinding. When his eyes adjusted, he found that their situation had not changed, but before he could inquire with the golems.  Another blinding magenta glow lit the room followed by that same odd feeling again. Before his eyes adjusted their restraints retreated into the walls and the golems got back to their feet and walked to a set of control panels.


    Andrew, still slightly disoriented, it was Captain Rostron who was the first to speak up "Might I ask, who is this Ancient Enemy of yours?"


    The golems seemed not to even notice he had spoken, their control connections pulsing wildly while they worked on their respective control panels.


    Andrew opened his mouth to speak and the ceiling, floor, and walls around the energy barrier quickly grew together until there was nothing but a solid wall where the energy barrier had been. The action reminded him of skin healing around a puncture wound, just done at super speed.


    With this the crew grew restless, most being elite people, they were not used to waiting around with nothing to do. The monotony was made worse by the fact that the only way most of the crew could crudely tell time was when the lights brightened, in what they guessed was morning, and when they dimmed when they guessed it was supposed to be night. Based on the occasional magenta flashes accompanied by weird feelings, it seemed they made quite a few jumps. Though Andrew seemed to be the only person to see the magenta flash even though by this point the entire crew had been implanted with a control worm. The crew busied themselves trying to predict the next jump as it seemed to happen on a regular basis.  The crew speculated that the time in between was how long it took the ship to charge the jump drives. Andrew, being the only one with a working Kata kept note of the time, but it seemed the crew were so bored they didn''t want him to tell them the time when it happened, they only wanted him to verify who was closest with their count.


    Andrew was happy to have Ziggy back, without him he wasn¡¯t even sure how he would have figured out that the dimming and brightening cycle was 30 hours long. He guessed like everyone else who was occupying their time counting the seconds between jumps, 7200 seconds give or take a few. After some messing around with Ziggy''s settings He was able to change the length of day to 30hrs, which meant Ziggy could now give an accurate representation of time.  Though he wasn''t sure when the elves started their day, so his time and their time likely weren''t in sync. I mean he didn''t even know how they measured time, though he suspected that by some fluke they too used seconds, minutes, hours. By his estimation, this had to be the case, or the fact that their cycles were exactly 30 hours long had to be a fluke of nature.


    The door didn''t reopen for days, leaving the crew to do what humans do when left in a high-stress situation, bicker.  Well, bicker and try to find a way out of their situation. Things calmed down slightly as they found that they could get their basic needs met, though how these things were discovered disturbed Andrew.  The first discovery was that there was a toilet which would grow out of the wall if approached when the subject needed to go to the bathroom. Of course there was privacy, and so many crew members were reticent to go, but eventually needs would outweigh their wants.  The toilet was discovered by Nesterov, it happened as he paced the room. Andrew had been starting to doze off at the time, when he saw a purple line snake its way out of the wall and attach itself to Nesterov. Who then broke the pattern he had been pacing to walk directly up to the section of the bench where Dwayne had been sitting. Dwayne leapt to his feet as Nesterov approached. "What the heck!!!" Dwayne yelped as he did so.


    [Dwayne Diggory, Primary Engineer, Sledovatel. (Would you like to know more?)]


    The crew turned to try to see what caused the outburst from the usually silent man. What they found was that the bench where he had been sitting had changed. While the front of the bench remained in place, the part touching the wall had descended 20cm or so and seemed to join with a hole that had appeared in the wall. Making what looked like the bottom of a waterless toilet, which had been built into the wall.  Nesterov walked up to this and started to undo his zipper, when he stopped, having noticed the crew all staring at him. "Privacy please" Nest demanded of the crew.


    All heads quickly turned away and Nesterov could be heard urinating."Done" When they looked back, the bench had returned to its original state. That of a featureless bench sticking out of the wall and a sink and mirror had appeared just to the left of what had been the toilet. Nesterov was there washing his hands in a rather deep sink. Both of which were absorbed back into the wall once Nesterov walked away.


    "Nest why did you pick my spot to piss on?" Dwayne exclaimed.


    "Not sure, seemed like right place." Nesterov responded with a smile, eliciting chuckles from the group.


    "It wasn''t his fault Dwayne, he was being controlled by our captors when he did that," Andrew interjected apologetically."Sure the elves made him do it. Let me guess they did it with more of this ''magic'' you claim they''re using on us, Lather?" Alexander said as if talking to a moron."Actually, Alex, yes. I get you don''t want to believe it, but at some point, you''ll realize that ''magic'' or some technology so advanced it might as well be magic is involved.  I mean unless you have some better way to explain dark force lightning from their fingertips, ability to heal us without a device, invisible force waves so strong they can throw me 20 meters with ease, or I don''t know maybe the walls which grow and change to our needs?""Lightening only you have seen. Healing only you have experienced, though there is no doubt you were healed, I just doubt that it was with a wave of an elven hand that did it. Glowing colors in the air that again only you see.  I don''t know why you''d play like this, but no offense, but I wouldn''t put it past you just to get the attention you so crave. As for the other stuff I''m sure there''s a logical explanation for it. ""Yeah, that logical explanation is called magic, but whatever. Right before Nest went and pissed in Dwayne''s bench a purple line of control magic came out of the wall right above Dwayne and drew Nest there""Sure it did Lather. I''m sure it had nothing to do with Nesterov and Diggory''s ongoing tension. Come on man do you even hear yourself? Purple lines floating in the air, what will you come up with next?"


    "Well, that proves it. I guess Dwayne just happened to be sitting on the toilet this whole time and Nest just happened to know this somehow, right? Come on man, even if you don''t want to call it magic, you have to see that''s too much coincidence, right man?"


    "Whatever Lather, maybe they''ll control me to show me where we get the food from" Alexander quipped and laid down on the bench.On cue, another purple line snaked out of the same section of wall as the first and connected to Alexander''s head. Upon connecting, Alexander quickly got up and walked across the room, passed what they now knew as the toilet and to a place on the wall just 30cm or so to the right of it. As he approached a tray came out of the wall with an odd set of dull multicolor gelatinous cubes on it. Apparently without thought Alexander grab one and popped it into his mouth, before anyone could stop him. "Uggh that tastes like tree sap, why did I do that?" "Yes Mr. Mendel why would you do such a thing?" replied Captain Rostron.


    "Sir, I really have no clue, I was just so hungry it seemed like a good idea at the time"


    "Yeah, I''m sure it had nothing to do with the Purple line that led you there. I mean I''m sure you knew that the food came out right next to the toilet by intuiting from these featureless walls. Right?" Andrew said in slight exasperation.


    "I agree it does seem weird but there has to be some other answer other than magic."


    "Mr. Mendel, I have to admit, after observing Andrew''s reaction to something emerging from the wall just before you took action to consume that peculiar jelly, even I am beginning to entertain the possibility that Lather''s account may have some validity. " Captain Rostron added dryly. "Wait! You didn''t believe me until now Capt?""Lather, apologies, but the idea of magic is quite difficult to accept."


    "Well, I guess better late than never, but at least we know that elves can have humor, " Andrew said with a half-smile before he sat on the bench

 Chapter 8 - Pod people and the Discovery Channel

    Another day had passed when Dwayne Diggory asked, "Has anyone noticed that they don''t stink?"


    "Now that you mention it yes. This room should smell like a monkey enclosure by now." Alexander said in surprise.


    "I think it has to do with the green energy field that comes through here every day right about¡­.nnnnnooowww" Andrew said dragging out the last word until a thin and very translucent floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall green energy field swept out from the right side of the room and meandered through the room until it passed into the opposite wall. Andrew had a finger follow it as it went along its journey through the room. "Ohhhh that green energy field that only you can see Lather? Magical bathing as well huh?" Alexander responded to Andrew though it didn''t come off as confident as it had just yesterday when they had discovered the toilet and Alexander had discovered what would be their food source for quite some time.


    "It would seem so, but I''m done trying to convince you Alex. You''ll come to realize I''m not attention-seeking at some point. Sadly, that moment probably won''t come until you''re being subjected to some of their more intense magic or force you to eat something else without thinking about it."Alexander shrugged and both men went back to staring at the floor.


    With the barrier sealed, they couldn''t see how their female team members were holding up, so they couldn¡¯t tell if they were being affected by this incarceration the same; but the largest danger to the men was their mental state. With each passing day, the men became more and more contentious with each other. The captain¡¯s calming presence seemed to be the only thing keeping that thread from breaking. That thread was fraying as the men had broken into two factions, those who believed Andrew and those who couldn¡¯t believe magic could be real. Culminating in Vladimir Nesterov grabbing Alexander Mendel by the collar. ¡°You are arse. We get you don¡¯t believe, but shut your arrogant mouth!¡± Nesterov yelled, spittle coating Alexander¡¯s thin wire-rimmed glasses.


    ¡°You gullible like caveman.¡± Alexander mocked back before shoving Nesterov, hoping to extract himself from the big man¡¯s grip. All he accomplished though was tearing his collar slightly and making the burly pilot laugh. ¡°Enough from both of you. Emotions are running high, but it''s not the time to lash out at each other. We need to stand together now more than ever.¡± Captain Rostron interjected, but it fell on deaf ears as the two men started to shove each other.The combatants were interrupted when the wall where the energy barrier had been started to quickly retract like an orifice opening back up. The energy barrier grew with it to fill the opening as it grew in size. The two men distractedly separated from each other as they took in what happened.


    One of the Golems was standing just outside their room looking in, "Sorry for our abrupt ending earlier, we were needed for repairs.  We didn''t want to seem rude, but we live to serve. You had previously asked who our ancient enemies are correct?"


    Captain Rostron replied "That would be correct sir. May I know about them?"


    Before the Golem could answer a greenish complexion elf spoke as it entered the area. "No, you may not. It seems these simpletons have already spoken too much, based on the recordings I¡¯ve seen. I am curious about how this Marx, was it? Learned of our Getls teachings." said the Elf in a voice that like it¡¯s form gave no hints as to what its gender might be.


    "Do elves like color coordinate with their ships or something?" Andrew, having more than a little pent-up energy, interjected.


    "Ah, it''s you. I was warned about you. Don''t worry we''ll be at Ekkomera soon enough and there you will lose this humor and be taught proper manners. If I should fail to do so first."  The elf chided Andrew.


    The elf''s hands briefly glowed red before Andrew is brought to his knees by a bolt of lightening.


    [Electrical damage detected]


    [Multiple Full-thickness burns detected, seek medical attention]


    Numerous new little red dots appeared on the chest section of his implant''s body silhouette. Each labeled full-thickness burn. Andrew looked down to see the additional holes in his shirt and the injuries he''d sustained. Painful, but from what he could see it was mostly cosmetic, as cosmetic as 3rd-degree burns could be that is.


    "Alex, see, Lightening from their hands. As for you,¡± Andrew gestured to the elf, ¡°Not the best Palpatine impression. I mean for one, not to be insensitive, but he was clearly a he. I¡¯m all for being yourself, but it feels wrong to think of you as an it." Andrew  said as he got back to his feet, trying his best to hide that it had hurt at all.


    "Why does it matter which gender I am? Are you hoping to try to mate with me?" again talking with mocking disgust.


    "I guess it doesn''t matter. As for the breeding thing no chance of that, I''m married and even if I wasn¡¯t you¡¯re not my type." Andrew said in an amused tone.


    "Ah I had heard of your primitive mating rituals, but I never guessed the stories were true. It seems the vile Dwarves and you do share many primitive traits." it sneered.


    "WAIT, your ¡°Ancient Enemies¡± are Dwarves? Like short and have big beards? Make cool tech, and look for treasure a lot? Why would anyone have them as an enemy? They¡¯re awesome. Not that you guys aren¡¯¡­¡­¡­ " laughed Andrew. Right before more lightning hit him, dropping him flat to the floor this time.


    [Electrical damage detected, please move away from the source of the electricity to avoid further damage]


    [Multiple Full-thickness burns detected, seek medical attention]


    Again, numerous new little red dots appeared on the chest section of his body silhouette. Each labeled full-thickness burn, Andrew knew to mean 3rd-degree burns.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    "Is it true that your species still grows children in women like wild animals?" the elf asked in the tone of a person who has been curious about this for years.


    "Wait you don''t? What are y''all Pod people or something?" Andrew questioned as he got to his knees, still touching the scorched flesh on his chest.


    "I don''t know what you mean by ''Pod people''." The elf said curiosity took over its tone even though its face was still a mask of disgust.


    "You know where a race makes more of themselves by converting members of another race, normally in pods?" Andrew replied with a smile.


    The elf''s hands briefly glow red, this time Andrew tried to use it as a signal and tried to jump out of the way only to be hit while his legs were still bent. The electricity caused him to jump awkwardly and further than he intended. He landed without grace in the middle of the room only inches from the barrier.


    [Electrical damage detected; I must insist that you move away from the source of the electricity to avoid further damage]


    [Multiple Full-thickness burns detected, seek medical attention]


    Now the chest section of his silhouette looked as if he was at the end of a round of chicken pox.


    "Let that be a lesson not to insinuate that my people are made by mutating animals like you. We procreate as any civilized culture would, in magical wombs and from pre-collected stock. Selecting only the best of that stock so we may reach greater genetic perfection for the contributions that will be needed when they reach adulthood. In this way, we are left untainted by base influences that drive animalistic cultures such as yours. We are not only undistracted by the constant desire to find, defend, and procreate with a mate. Nor do we risk our women or our health. Most importantly it keeps our interest for the good of the Elven race and not for ourselves or our families. " It said the last word as if even saying it put a foul taste in its mouth.


    "Does this mean you all don''t have sex even for entertainment either?" Dwayne added almost without thinking.


    "Of course, not. Why would we waste time on a meaningless act? Would you add a major disease vector for physical pleasure? Why would we risk creating individual bonds and putting our racial unity in peril over a fleeting whim? Do you not see how primitive your questions are?" the elf joked with a geeky snorting-type laugh.


    Andrew still touching his chest, without a moment¡¯s thought added, "No wonder every one of your race I''ve met so far is such a touchy creeper, y''all have so much repressed sexual energy. Maybe you need to accept y''all are animals as well and" Andrew cut himself off when he noticed the red glow and looked up just in time to see more bolts of lightning strike him.


    [Electrical damage detected. It is imperative you move away to avoid further damage. Electrical damage has been linked to a number of neurological issues. (Would you like to know more?)]


    [Multiple Full-thickness burns detected, seek medical attention]


    Zoya smirked from the other cell "Saw that one coming. Andrew never does know when to shut his mouth. To be honest I''m a bit jealous I can''t shoot electricity from my hands. It seems like one of the more effective ways to get him shut up¡­¡­¡­¡­..even for just a moment."


    The Elf smiled with a thought and looked at the cell with the four women from the ship.


    "Have any of you grown a baby in you?" the elf said in its sniveling voice excitedly while pointing at the women.


    "Yes, 3 actually." replied the motherly voice of Barbara Hopper.


    [Barbara Hopper, Primary Chemist, Sledovatel. (Would you like to know more?)]


    The elf clapped its hands "Oh how grotesque. You must tell me how it was. It sounds so disturbing.  Was it messy? I''ve seen it from our animals, but never with a nominally sentient being. Could you feel it leeching off you while it was inside you?"


    Barbara looked more than a little offended, "There''s nothing grotesque about it. It''s one of the most wonderful things¡­"


    She was brought up short when the elf in a subtly threatening voice said, "You will stop now and answer my questions."


    Barbara paused and then continued "Yes at a certain point you can feel them in you, but you don''t feel them feeding until you nurse them."


    The Elf looked disgusted and intrigued, "It''s true then they suckle off your blood? "


    Barbara in a scientific voice "In a way yes. Our mammary glands do turn blood into milk.¡±


    The Elf seemed to be contemplating and with a creepy steepling wave of his fingers asked, "If I put you in with a male how long would it take for you to start making a baby? That''s how it''s done correct?"


    Barbara looked over at the men "It wouldn''t happen. Though you¡¯re right if you select the right couple that is how it would happen. "


    With a few purple pulses of one of the lines going into the elf¡¯s head, Andrew saw the wall across from them suck inwardly until the cavity it made turned into a small room, complete with its own energy barrier.


    Excitedly the Elf exclaimed "I must see this. You and You into that pod, now."


    The elf points to Barbara and Vlad.


    "I no do this thing you want, is improper. " Vladimir exclaimed.


    "I will not, I¡¯m married," exclaimed Barbara at the same time as Vlad.


    "Oh you will, unless you want to feel my wrath. Ask your silly friend there about it." threatened the elf.


    "Maybe you don¡¯t get this, as your culture has a serious consent issue, but we''re not here to fulfill your sick fantasies and for most of us a little pain isn¡¯t going to make us comply with your sick whims," vitriol clear in Andrew¡¯s voice.


    The elf gave Andrew a scathing look and the red glow started to build up around the elf''s hand. This time it was going to really hurt and then suddenly it stopped coalescing.  The red energy glow quickly dissipated. This is when he saw one of the purple lines going to the elf pulsing wildly.


    The Elf looked annoyed "We''re here, I guess my curiosity will not be slated today."


    With that, more red energy appeared, and Andrew was hit again with lightning. Causing him to writhe around on the floor like a dying bug.


    [Electrical Damage detected. You must move away from the source or permanent damage will soon occur.]


    [Multiple Full-thickness burns detected]


    Again, numerous new little red dots appeared on the chest section of his body silhouette. Which now resembled a corpse with multiple shotgun wounds and not someone alive.


    "You''re lucky I''m not armed man¡­. Woman¡­¡­¡­.it?¡± Andrew threatened while touching his chest.


    Vladimir speaks up suddenly "Where is Captain? He just here, now gone."


    "No way Vlad¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­"Andrew cut off as he turned around to see that not only was the captain gone, but also Vladimir.


    The elf was just grinning ear to ear.


    "OMG Where''s Zoya" yelled Barbara.


    Andrew turned to see that Zoya too was missing. When he turned back, he saw that Dwayne Diggory was missing. When out of the corner of his eye he saw a magenta flash, he looked to the female cell only to find that it was empty.  As he guessed would be the case, when he turned back, he was all alone.


    The purple line pulsed going to the Elf who then spat "Fine, I guess I''m not allowed to have any fun.".


    The elf turns to Andrew, "I won''t forget your actions."


    "Nor will I, one day I''ll find you to settle the score." Andrew threatened, steel clear in his eyes.


    "So, you may find me later, I am Akeoic Artaith Pyntingar. I do so hope you can find me; I look forward to the chance that I might get to torture you again in the future, maybe next time we won''t get interrupted. For now, I am left only with the sadness that I will not be there to see you beg."


    As he saw the elf''s hands start to glow magenta, he tried to get in the last word.


    "You never know what the future brings. One question, why did I have to be¡­¡­¡­" He was cut off as he too disappeared.

 Chapter 9 - Some terrible elven frat that hasnt gotten the consent memo

    "¡­. Last? Also, since when could you teleport us without touching or has that always been the case and you are just the odd one out of a race of touchy elves?" Andrew continued out of frustration, even though he no longer had an audience.


    Andrew once again found himself in a new place, this time though he was alone and in a small cell only 4X4 meters or so. Unlike the previous cells he had been in, this one was shaped a bit like a Hershey Kiss. The cell surprisingly was not made of the alien marble-like material and instead seemed to be made from a very dense hardwood that he couldn''t place. There was no door or energy barrier to be seen and unlike the previous elven cells he¡¯d been in, light only seemed to come from a source about 5 meters up at the very top of the room. This by Andrew¡¯s best guess was a skylight. He based this guess on the fact that it was the only source of light, that the color seemed more like natural light than whatever had been illuminating his previous cell, and he occasionally saw shadows of what he guessed were clouds or large birds go over it. Gravity in this cell was lighter than even it had been in his previous cells as well. He found he could jump and almost touch the ceiling. He spent quite some time treating his room like a bouncy house until he bounced into a wall and a swarm of small vines grew out of it. Within milliseconds the vines grew together into a mirror and sink.  After staring at it for quite some time, he decided to walk around his room close to the walls to see what he could find. This search revealed that his cell had a bed, a toilet, the sink and mirror, and what he guessed was a tub. When present they all had the look of tiny roots or vines grown tightly together. The only stand out was the bed, which had a plush layer of moss growing on top.  Just like with the vessel he was in before, when he left the area, the items would reverse the process and the roots and vines would retract back into the wall.


    Once satisfied he had found everything, Andrew laid down on the bed to await his captors. To his amazement, he found that this bed was somehow even more comfortable than the benches on the previous vessel and those he had thought were orders of magnitude more comfortable than anything he had felt before that point.  It seemed that no sooner had his head hit the square thing that he assumed was a pillow, than he saw a purple line come through the door and try to attach itself to his head. As with all previous attempts since he came into his ¡°powers¡±, this attempt failed to connect.


    "Instead of continuing to confirm my beliefs about your race¡¯s general ignorance on consent. How about you¡­I don''t know come in here and talk to me. I''m unarmed, what threat could I be to someone with MAGIC?" Andrew yelled in annoyance towards the section of wall he saw the energy line emerging from.


    He waited but nobody appeared, instead his only response was a few more lines came into the room simultaneously all from slightly different angles, some looked stronger than others, but in the end, none connected.


    "God your society makes drunken fratboys seem like models of consent. I¡¯d say you should consider reading a book or ten on consent. Though I''m starting to think that it''s a completely alien concept to you people. My body and mind are not yours to play with and as you can see, your mind tricks no longer work on me. So, if you have questions, then you should come here and talk. If you do come in, keep your touchy hands and magic to yourselves though." he yelled at the wall, a bit more annoyed than the last.


    Andrew walked to the place where the purple lines had come from and stood waiting. For what he was unsure, but he knew he harbored the vane hope that he might be able to push past them and make a break for freedom. As he waited, he had a realization,


    "Good one Lather, what would you do if you did make it out of the room? Where would you go? You''re on a planet of mind rapists with weird magical powers and who knows what else. So, if you made it past the guards, what was your big plan Dufus?", he said to himself.


    After a bit more waiting, he started to look around his room again. Upon approaching the sink, he noticed that this time there was a cup made of some metal he didn''t recognize on the left side of the sink. On the right side was a device he didn''t recognize. It was a capped-off cylinder, the outside of which was textured, and the inside had the appearance of wood yet felt silky smooth. Much to Andrew¡¯s dismay, he couldn¡¯t get anything out of it or make it do anything of note.  After a long while of looking at the weird device, he decided to give up and have a drink of water. To his dismay, while it was clearly a sink, he saw no faucet and no other clear way to obtain water from it. He waved his hands around the sink madly and the instant his hand went into the sink, water, which had a blue glow to it, started to come out from the wall.  Instinctually he retracted his hand like the water was lava, but surprisingly the water seemed to be the perfect temperature, and the blue glow dissipated with a look not unlike that of steam from a hot shower. Everywhere the water touched seemed to be refreshed and clean.


    ¡°I guess when you have magic you don¡¯t need soap¡± Andrew muttered to no one.


    The fact that he couldn¡¯t figure out the point of the cylinder weighed on him. So much so that once he got bored, he went back and retrieved it to study it further. He sat on the bench and started to examine it closely. There were no switches or obvious ways to turn it on. This time though he did notice that around the opening there were some etchings. He was fairly certain they were writings, but he couldn¡¯t be certain as they were so small. After a while his eyes hurt from straining to try to read, and he gave up and spun it idly in his hand. As he did, he noticed a faint white glow could be seen coming from the bottom of it when he gripped it with the closed end up. Yet every time he tried to turn it so he could look at it the white glow would go away. A short time later, he found himself trying to contort himself so he might see what was happening in the tube when he was holding in the way that activated the light. In the middle of doing this, he was startled as a green field swept through his room. He jumped to his feet and instinctively threw the device across the room. On the downswing of that throw, he caught his hand on the sink, leaving a small cut on the outer palm of his hand.


    "What Lather never seen a healing cleaning field or whatever before?¡± he chuckled to himself while inspecting the wound.¡°I guess I¡¯m more tense than I realized. I hope yall got a good laugh out of that, creepers."


    As he nursed the small cut, he noticed the wound was knitting itself back together. It was doing so quite slowly yet it was still fast enough for him to be able to watch it happen. The realization that something was healing him prompted him to look at his chest. Only to discover that while his shirt still had a plethora of burn holes in it, he was no longer injured.  It was then that the messages floating in his peripherical vision entered his awareness and he noted that his damage silhouette was almost completely clear. Those messages contained many updates about his healing progress. ¡°Get it together Lather being this wound up can¡¯t be good for you. If you break these creepers win.¡± He said to pep himself up, breathing and out deeply to try to calm his fraying nerves.


    He took the cup and filled it, waiting for the weird blue glow to steam away before taking a drink.


    "Who knows what weird cancer that blue stuff would give ya," Andrew said with a smile, thinking of his wife. As he felt she always thought everything caused cancer even Kata implants, so he was sure she¡¯d think this would.


    When he snapped out of his thoughts of Linny, he took a drink and almost spit it out. The chill of the water took him by surprise. While the water coming out of the sink was only slightly cool when he washed his hands, this time it felt as if there had been ice in it. How it knew this was what he wanted both astonished him and annoyed him, though he had to admit it tasted great either way. With his thirst sated, his mind turned to food and almost immediately another wood shelf appeared with one of those gelatin cubes for his last cell.  As Andrew ate it, despairing at its terrible taste, his mind wandered to how what he really wanted to be eating was a steak. He choked as to his surprise; the flavor had turned to that of a great steak.  Even the texture of the cube was exactly like that of a perfectly cooked steak.


    "Well, that''s something a guy could get used to," Andrew said with a sigh.


    Andrew then thought about how he wanted some Bluebell vanilla ice cream and again the flavor and texture changed to that of ice cream.


    "Yeah, ok well this captivity at least isn''t all bad, amazing beds and any food I want," Andrew said to the wall.


    "Well, we''re glad to hear that it''s not all bad, it will give us a good starting point for our discussions" A somber voice, which sounded a bit like Morgan Freedman, came from behind Andrew. Startled Andrew jumped and as he was spinning around threw the remainder of his meal at the elf who had appeared behind him. The half-eaten cube struck the elf on his left cheek. The elf that was sitting in the chair was tall and his skin had a similar wood color and pattern to that of the walls. The sclera of his eyes were the color of rich clay and his pupils seemed to be made of beautiful green hair algae. The hair on his head and the rest of his body were the colors of fall and while clearly hair, it was somehow reminiscent of dried leaves. All of this to say that his appearance was both striking and handsome even by Elven standards. Andrew could swear that the chair that had not existed just moments before. As it was made from the same wood as the floor, and had the look of melded vines, he assumed like everything else, it had grown from the floor.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    His suspicion was confirmed, as the elf summoned the green field to clean his face and with a small gesture of his hand another chair grew up from the ground. Andrew ignored it and remained standing just about arm''s length from the elf.


    "I knew you elves were color-coordinating with your surroundings! Also, what makes you think I''ll talk with you?" Andrew said the first part like a kid who just figured out his parent''s trick and the second part in a flat non-amused tone.


    "This is probably unknown to you as of yet. We elves live forever. Well, if nothing happens to us that is. So, you might say that having to wait your lifetime wouldn''t mean as much to me as it would to you. I mention this as from what I have read and watched about you, that just might be an option you would consider. Seeing as I have heard rumors that mind magic seems to hold no sway over you, I guess that choice is up to you. Though I ask you to participate for both of our sakes. As my bosses would not be pleased if I failed to get you to talk and I''m the least intrusive to your health method they are likely to try. On the bright side, if you talk with me, maybe I''ll make a mistake and give you the information you need to mount an escape. Though I''m not sure what escape would accomplish. Where would you go? Do you even know what planet you have been brought to?" The elf calmly stated.


    Andrew stared blankly at him.


    "Ekkomera," the elf said in a slightly magnanimous tone, as he if were bestowing gifts upon Andrew.


    Andrew blinked.


    "Ekkomera," the elf said again, this time a in slower more enunciated tone.


    Andrew yawned as if bored and not understanding.


    "What I am trying to convey is that Ekkomera is the planet you''re on." the elf said, a slight hint of exasperation leaking in.


    Andrew again just stared.


    "Your wife was once here you know?" the elf said with a practiced nonchalance.


    Andrew¡¯s anger got the better of him, forcing him to give up the game and he almost snarled, ¡°What do you mean she was once here?"


    The elf stared.


    Andrew, even knowing the elf was goading him, grew angrier and stepped closer. Fists balled up.


    "WHAT do YOU Mean my wife WAS here?"


    The elf blinked.


    Andrew, not wanting to give the elves what they wanted so easily, started to gain some of his composure back. Once he felt he could be moderately calm, he said,


    "What do you mean my wife was here?"


    The elf yawned.  Andrew, knowing the elf was mimicking exactly what he had done, waited for the elf''s eyes to close as part of the yawn, and decked him. In the light gravity, the elf flew across the room and slammed into the wall. Andrew wasted little time launching himself toward the elf. Though before he could make it even halfway across the room, brown energy flew from the elf¡¯s outstretched hand. When it struck Andrew, he found his hands forced together and yanked to the ceiling by crystal shackles that had formed. As the elf got back to his feet and strolled across the room, Andrew was left stuck to the ceiling swinging slowly back and forth, shoulders aching from the strain.


    As the elf regained his seat, the other chair was absorbed back into the floor and with a wave of his hand Andrew found himself being lowered towards the floor until his toes just touched.


    "Mr. Lather¡­." the elf started.


    "No, you will tell me what you meant, or you can explain to your bosses how you couldn¡¯t get anything out of me. I get it will be bad for me, but I doubt it will be pleasant for you either," Andrew cut him off.


    "Mr. Lather, I feel I have made a gross miscalculation and ask that we restart. " The elf said in a soothing voice.


    "No! I will not play your silly games until you tell me what happened to my wife!" Andrew snarled.


    "Mr. Lather I apologize for the stress I have caused you. Truthfully, I don¡¯t know what transpired with her, but I was one of the first to speak with her and She was a truly delightful person. Unfortunately for both of us, she wouldn¡¯t speak to me either and we had to resort to other methods."


    "You keep using the term WAS, is my wife alive?" Andrew said with narrowed eyes and through gritted teeth.


    "Mr. Lather, how would I know? She was transferred from my area when she was found to have the ability to access magic better than many humans, though nothing as remarkable as yourself. I¡¯ve literally never heard of a human with your abilities."  said the elf, before raising a hand to quiet Andrew down.


    Andrew saw a pale purple line snake out and fail to attach.


    "Did you try that with my wife?" Andrew said with a leonine smile.


    The elf smiled " How delightful! So, the rumor is true, you can''t be affected by mind magic. That said I must apologize for that. Honestly, I had to see, as outside of a few of the Getl I¡¯m likely the best at this type of magic within this sector. Where are my manners? I know your name and many details of your life, but I have yet to introduce myself. I am Leikni Cebisi Atari of the Ikolis Okusiga though I serve the wise and merciful Geld Enver Biaobel." the elf said.


    "Yeah, don''t think I didn''t notice you again dodged my question, but we''ll get back to that. What part of that "Lichen Cebiki Atari Idolis Opossum stuff was your name? Please tell me it''s Atari, that would be awesome." replied Andrew with a bit of a smirk.


    The elf smiled and said "My name is Cebisi Atari. That other ''stuff'' is also important too though, some would say even more so. I am a Leikni, which is a very respectable rank in our society. A rank that is rare enough that there are generally only a handful on any planet, except for planets like this which will have quite a few. I''m also probably the only Okusigan you''ll likely ever meet as most of us fled with a traitor to hide from the wrath of the Getls. Of which Geld Biaobel is the greatest. His greatness is demonstrated through the fact that most of my Ikolis, which roughly means school, are hunted and definitely not allowed to have the influence I enjoy."


    "Wait, so your last name is Atari? Like for real life?" Andrew said incredulously.


    Cebisi, eyebrow raised, replied "Yes, but of all of that. That my surname is Atari is what is of note to you?"


    "On my home world, Atari wasn''t a little thing. It changed the world, so it''s kind of amazing that you''re named Atari. I mean what are the chances that two cultures separated by millions of light years have similar words? " Replied an amused Andrew.


    "You know your wife was also amused by my last name as well and said something similar. Point of fact we have found our cultures do share a few words in common, but so far, we haven''t found any that share a common meaning, though many of those are surprisingly close. Unfortunately, she and I got¡­¡­ distracted before she could tell me the significance of my name to your culture. Do you mind elucidating me on this?"


    "Nah I won''t, especially not until you start answering some of my questions. Like, what all did you personally do to my wife while she was in your power?" Andrew said starting with a jovial tone but ending in a tone that was less than welcoming.


    "Wait, are you trying to insinuate that I would do something sexual? Much less with a human. How disgusting do you think I am? Do something sexual to her just because she''s under my influence. I¡¯m not sure I could think of something that would be more insulting. I¡¯m not some dwarf, even if I were why would I choose you animals to risk my life to mate with?¡± Cebisi paused in thought before he continued,¡± I know you have been told our culture doesn''t mate in animalistic ways. So, I''m assuming this is just to try to get me to be insulted, which I inexpertly fell for. To directly answer your question, so you don¡¯t accuse me of dodging your questions, no I didn''t touch your wife. " Cebisi said affront clear on your face.


    "It is a relief that you didn''t do that. I mean not a huge one as it sounds like you tortured her, but it does at least eliminate one reason I might have to end you. What did you do to her exactly?" Andrew said eyes narrowed and teeth showing.


    "Calm down Mr. Lather. Yes, we mind-controlled her, though to give her credit she was not easily swayed. It would have been better for her if she were though, as breaking into a well-guarded mind can be quite unpleasant. Of course, one of the questions I could never get an answer to was how she learned to put up a guar¡­¡­¡­"  Cebisi said in a placating tone before he cut himself short a look of horror drawing itself across his face as he stared wide eyes at Andrew¡¯s wrist.


    Andrew relished the look on Cebisi''s face as the shackle on his right arm shattered until the pressure of his will. Followed very quickly by his left.  Cebisi''s mouth drooped open, as Andrew landed on his feet and quickly threw a punch. A pale tan bubble appeared around Cebisi and intercepted Andrew¡¯s fist. Andrew winced in pain as it did and an audible pop could be heard.


    [Contusions on right hand detected]


    [Boxer''s Fracture in right hand detected]


    Then a pale tan flash sent Andrew flying into the wall above the tub. The tub growing out of the floor in time for Andrew to be unceremoniously dumped into it. Water pouring out of the wall and over his head when he landed.


    [Multiple minor contusions detected]


    Andrew wasted no time and jumped out of the tub the second he got to his feet. Thanks to the low gravity with a single jump, he flew across the room toward Cebisi. Water trailed behind him like a cloak of sparkles and rainbows as if he were some anime character jumping out of a waterfall.


    Cebisi, confident in his safety, smiled from inside his pale tan bubble waiting to see Andrew¡¯s other hand break as it hit his barrier. For a second time that day, his confidence shattered along with his magic, as his protective shell shattered moments before Andrew¡¯s fist would have impacted upon it. The remaining shards of energy bounced impotently off the front of his fist as it effortlessly passed through where the barrier had once been. The punch connected with his chin and sent him sprawling back into the wall yet again. Cebisi regained his feet, his eyes showing his immense surprise as he touched his lip, and his finger came back bloody.


    Lifting his bloody finger Cebisi growled, "That unfortunately is something I cannot just ignore."

 Chapter 10: And that my friends is how you anger a god

    The resigned and mentally weary look of a martial arts coach who realized that words will not be enough and that they must teach a student a lesson washed over Cebisi¡¯s face, as he lowered his hand in a slow and non-dramatic fashion blood still staining two fingers.


    Andrew felt the ache between his shoulders from the tension held there as he stood poised to move, yet trying to appear still so as not to provoke the elf into action.  Andrew¡¯s mind raced to formulate a plan. He must have thought of hundreds and shot each one down in turn and what it settled on was not what Andrew would call a good plan but it was the only one that he thought might have even the smallest chance of working.  He knew he was gravely outmatched and that he likely had no good chance of escaping, but he also knew he had to try something, or he¡¯d likely not enjoy what was to come.


    Seeing the familiar red glow began to coalesce around Cebisi¡¯s hand, Andrew sprang into action. Moving laterally while he attempted to concentrate his will on that dreadful glow. He hoped that like the shackles he could shatter the magic with his will before it posed him any danger. He found out the hard way he couldn¡¯t stop it, and what formed surprised Andrew as it was not lightning, but a small 15cm fireball. He had bet too heavily on his abilities so when the fireball flew, he was unable to dodge in time and it struck him in the chest.


    [Full thickness burn, 30% of chest. Please seek medical attention.]


    Andrew looked down to inspect the damage. His shirt was vaporized away in a perfect circle that centered on his heart. Visible through that circle was another perfect circle though this one was made of heavily seared flesh. The air filled with the smell of burnt meat and ozone. While his chest throbbed horribly with pain, he realized that this elf, like the elf on the last ship, seemed to be trying to cause pain to gain compliance and not permanently damage him.


    I¡¯m surprised they even tried that. I mean healing magic is a thing and I know what it can do. Are people here so weak that they crumble with some pain? Ok a lot of pain, but that doesn¡¯t matter, I¡¯ll be damned before they push me around with pain. It''s high time they realized this.


    "Wow that''s not even close to fair or equivalent force," Andrew said dodging the next fireball and the one after that. After so many spells he had come to the realization that he wasn¡¯t able to dispel the magic before it was loosed at him. Instead, he was trying to close the distance, He might not be as magically adept as this guy, but he was reasonably sure he was stronger. Despite his best efforts though he was gaining no ground. Cebisi was a whirlwind of magic throwing some spell or another his way. The only bit of good news was that Cebisi had stopped throwing fireballs and was focusing only on force bolts. Andrew guessed this was because his side of the room looked as if it might catch on fire and any moment. The ¡°wood¡± wall had become blackened with embers smoldering in the center of each blast mark. Either way it meant the consequences making a mistake were much lower.


    "HOW long can you keep this up?" Andrew said in what he hoped was a snarky tone but worried it might reveal the bone-weary ache that had taken up residence in his chest.


    "Quite possibly two to three days. Maybe now you might care more about the fact that I said I was Leikni than what my surname is," Cebisi responded casually as if he were prepping a coffee while a coworker talked to him. All the while continuing to absent mindedly hurled bolts around the room after Andrew. Keeping Andrew contained very effectively to the other side of the room.


    Andrew noted that the purple lines going into and out of Cebisi''s head were pulsing here and there.


    After another few, Cebisi sighed.


    ¡°How long can YOU keep this up for?¡± accentuating the you.


    Andrew did a fanboy giggle and responded, ¡°I can do this all day! Glad you finally fell for my setup.¡±¡°What setup is this? Hmm never mind I don¡¯t care. It¡¯s time for this to stop¡±


    When the black energy started to coalesce around Cebisi¡¯s hand, Andrew stopped, put his hands up, and said, "OK I concede and apologize for drawing blood."


    "Ah, I see you''ve felt the touch of death magic. Was it an energy drain or soul attack?" Cebisi said as if a fly had interrupted their previous conversation and he was just restarting where he left off. Both men moved back to the center of the room. The elf''s bleeding lip had already mended itself back together. Even his chest was slightly better than when he first was injured.


    [Full-thickness burn has healed 10% from original damage.]


    "I was told it was soul magic and that I almost died from it." groaned Andrew while touching his chest. Noting the oddly perfect circle which had been seared into his flesh was already much smaller, the new skin was perfect and unscared. A gift Andrew was mildly thankful for.


    "It seems your anti-magical abilities have some limitations," Cebisi noted.


    "Sadly, it would seem, so. You seem oddly calm for someone who was just decked twice. Especially, compared to the arrogant bigoted molesters I''ve met so far. " Andrew said begrudgingly.


    "Yes, well to them you''re an animal that can talk. As for my calmness, it''s because I understand that you''re just trying to send a message that you will not be pushed around. Even by someone whose power level overshadows your own by a degree, I¡¯m not sure you could comprehend at this point. Keep acting in this way though and I¡¯m afraid you will." Cebisi said with a knowing look.


    "Did it work?" replied Andrew, a smile teasing at the edge of his lips.


    "As I understood the point of it, I could say so.¡±After a brief pause, Cebisi added, ¡°Even if I think you''re a bit silly to test us." Cebisi said sympathetically.


    "So what now?"


    "While I don''t have magic from every Ikolis to test against you; I have enough to get started. We need to figure out where your powers start and where they end," Cebisi said in a clinical tone.


    "How did I know that you were about to say that?¡±


    ¡°My guess is you¡¯re smart than we give you credit for¡±Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    Andrews eyes narrowed and he made a fist with his right hand, ¡°Wait, did you test your magic on my wife as well?"


    Without a response, Cebisi tossed a small animal into the air. At least Andrew felt that it was, he couldn¡¯t be sure. It looked odd, like two giant eyes attached to two large batlike ears with purple warty skin set in a slim body that featured four wings in two sets finally ending in a weird kind of pig/rat tail that itself ended with a cat-like claw. The wings were beating with hummingbird speed and the creature was surprisingly stable and quiet. Though a very faint hum could be heard when it was within a few feet.


    Just before Andrew¡¯s anger might boil over Cebisi finally responded. The creepy eye creature stared unblinking at the two of them.


    "Oh no while she was good at closing her mind off, she wasn''t good enough to withstand my ministrations, so there was no need for all of this testing. I had her mind and soul tell me what she was capable of. Honestly, it saved her a lot of discomfort. Discomfort I''m sure you will wish you could avoid, by the time we''re done. Though I still suspect you¡¯ll choose to go through it.," Cebisi said as if it was a Tuesday meeting over coffee.


    ¡°What is that?" Andrew said, ignoring the threat, pointing to the creature, but Cebisi seemed to be lost in thought muttering to himself, "Ok so we know that the subject can block every type of Okusiga I have, which is impressive in and of itself. That it can defeat some Cin¨¦tica, but not all. We''ll definitely have to ex¡­ What oh what is that?" Cebisi asked while pointing at the creature. Andrew nodded.


    "It¡¯s a Jazd?ruu, they record everything they see and hear for future viewing. Unlike the recorders, we have in this room, Jazdiruu records everything that happens around them and does so in a way that allows the viewer of that recording to move through a scene as if they were in the room. And not just from the Jaz¡¯s point of view.¡±


    "Oh, I thought they were supposed to be made of crystal with tattered bat-like wings and have a purplish glow in them,¡± Andrew said dryly.


    ¡°Wait you have Jazdiruu where you¡¯re¡­.¡± a flat look went across Cebisi¡¯s face. ¡°Mr. Lather this is for magic¡¯s sake will you please take this somewhat seriously? I¡¯d rather not transfer you to a more persuasive person.¡±


    ¡°So do you like to have to carry it around with you to review it or does it have some way to store the information?"


    "Not that I should tell you, but it does have a storage crystal that can be viewed elsewhere. Though that is just for backup as it''s connected to the Veba and all data is also stored there. Back to the matter of my research, Mr. Lather. How exactly do you block our magic?"


    ¡°Wait before I answer that, not that I¡¯m sure I want to, what is the VEEBA? Was it?¡±"If I¡¯m remembering your technology well it¡¯s what you call the internet, or the cloud was it?"


    ¡°Ah that makes sense you¡¯d have to have some magical form of a communications hub. Thanks for answering that, Ceb.¡±


    "Cebisi"


    "So how does your magic work exactly, Ceb?" Andrew queried unphased.


    Cebisi sighed "Mr. Lather, you''re not going to get what you want from me, with such petty tactics. My name is Cebisi or Mr. Atari if you would like to remain formal. It is my hope that we can stop these petty tactics and work together. As for magic, there are many philosophical explanations for the meaning, function, and reasoning of our magical abilities. I don''t have the time or patience to go over all of that with you, so suffice it to say our magic works because our cells harness the cosmic energy produced by our galaxy and give us access to it. Now that I have answered one of your questions will you please answer mine?"


    Andrew couldn''t help but grin as he answered "Well. MR. ATARI, my best guess is that my cells harness the cosmic energy produced by your galaxy. Truthfully, I don''t know. I see no real reason to try to hide this as you can, and probably already have looked up the recordings from my interactions with Captain Lachs. Not sure why, but it has something to do with your control worm."


    "I''m glad my name amuses you, but again petty. What do you mean by our ''control worm''? We have no such viruli</a>."


    Andrew raised an eyebrow "Vir what eee?"


    Cebisi pointed at the floating eyeball recording thing with wings "A jazdiruu is a type of viruli. Viruli are any creature that we bred using magic to help with a task. In this case, recording moments. You likely haven''t encountered many yet as they are often either not allowed on ships or confined to quarters. We used to allow them, but with the confines of a ship, they were found to be more of a distraction than help. Their waste alone was a huge issue. Technically, the ships that you came to this planet on were also a type of viruli. Just for your edification, we call ship type viruli, Vivosipi."


    "So that 6-eyed whale thing was the ship? Please don''t say those cells were its bowels."


    "No Mr. Lather you were in purpose-built organs and don¡¯t worry those were not attached to the creature''s bowels, ", a reassuring smile crept on his face as he said it, "You know, even this building is technically a Viruli. As it is a living object that we evolved to fit our needs. In this case, it is a very large tree. This is why it can grow new things, such as chairs, for us on command, Mr. Lather, I really must get back to a question though which is of concern to me, why do you call them ''control worms''?"


    "I think you call them Apkneean worms or something close to that," responded Andrew.


    "I believe you mean Apanean worms</a>. They are the worms that Lachs implanted you with. Its sole purpose is to facilitate communication translation, so we don¡¯t have to waste our energy to do so. So, I¡¯m very curious about why you would call them control worms. They don''t control much other than how you perceive speech."


    "I call them that because that¡¯s the name my implant uses when talking about them. Speaking of which. I am not sure how it came back online after I was healed nor how that worm interfaced with my implant or how it came up with that name for them. I¡¯m also curious about why my implant was the sole unit to survive to this point. If you¡¯re people are telling me the truth that is."


    Andrew¡¯s face scrunched up when he realized he had yet again slipped out some information he didn''t intend to.


    "Interesting, probably just some fault in your primitive implant technology. However, I would like to understand how your implant was able to interface with our viruli. This is not something I believe we have seen before. Don''t worry though the worms are harmless, every elf has one. Infact, I have one myself. Do I seem like I''m being controlled?"


    "Well, you do have quite a few purple lines running to your head, and one sure seems brighter than the rest and the pulses seem to be traveling away from you more than to you," Andrew said in response.


    "How many lines do you see?" Cebisi queried, eyes going a bit wide and the concern could be felt in his voice.


    "11" responded Andrew.


    "You must be mistaken, or your primitive brain must not be able to handle the input it''s getting from the magical field. " Cebisi said with a slight waver to his tone.


    Then Andrew saw that brighter outbound purple line start to pulse going towards Cebisi instead of only away from him.


    Cebisi calmed some "So, again how do you control your powers exactly? Is it conscience or subconscious? "


    "Yeah, again I don''t see any reason I should tell you such things without benefiting from it" Andrew retorted with an obstinate smile. ¡°Ceb, did you notice how when I pointed out something that might make you question something you think you know? Like the number of communications lines, you have open, you suddenly start to ask a different question? Are you sure you¡¯re the one in control or will your puppet master show itself?¡±


    An extremely bright purple line of magic came down from the ceiling and tried to attach itself to Andrew¡¯s mind. While Andrew felt some pressure, akin to taking a difficult test, on his mind, but in the end the purple line retreated into the ceiling.


    "It appears your boss is not pleased with your attempts at controlling me. If they really want to talk to me, they should come here and meet me in person. Instead of doing your best impression of some terrible elven frat that hasn''t gotten the consent memo." Andrew said with a smug expression on his face.


    He saw a reflection of magenta lights on the opposite wall and felt an extremely powerful presence materialize into the room. A look of servitude and submission washed over Cebisi''s face and body language.


    "Let me guess, your boss came here to meet me?" Andrew said to Cebisi.


    "No, Mr. Lather you wished my direct boss was the one who just showed up."


    "Leave us, Cebisi," said a voice from behind Andrew.


    The voice had a very otherworldly and wise masculine tone to it. A few purple flashes were exchanged between the two elves before Cebisi bowed deeply and then disappeared in a magenta flash, his eyes never rising to the person behind Andrew.

 Chapter 11 - You forgot the clothes man!

    "Andrew, please turn around and sit." Said the otherworldly voice.


    As Andrew turned around, he saw a very tall man with jet-black hair and electric blue pupils rimmed in green. Those eyes had a look that seemed to pierce into your soul and left you with the feeling that if you moved too quickly, it might even cause your soul to pop as if it were an overfilled balloon. He had skin of peach aventurine and it looked like polished stone instead of the matte look the other elves had. As striking as this elf was Andrew¡¯s attention was diverted by the rainbow of magical auras that surrounded him. The largest part of that aura emanated from the top of his head and was colored purple, pulsing almost hypnotically. It appeared to Andrew that this elf was connected to more than a few other beings. So many in fact that it appeared to be a fountain of purple water. The fact that most of the lines were pulsing towards this man, made it appear as if that water wasn¡¯t flowing out from him, but instead flowing into his head. There were so many lines that he couldn¡¯t even discern any individual lines until those lines were exiting the far wall and even then, they appeared like wires densely packed together.


    Andrew couldn¡¯t fathom how this person could speak with so much data and energy flowing to and from their head, much less seem so unimpacted by it, and suspected that it was a front of some sort and decided to test his theory.


    "I was just going to ask Mr. Atari, if elven folk color coordinates with their walls, but you look closer to crystal than wood. So, I guess they weren''t lying when they said y''all don''t." Andrew said in a tone that he hoped wouldn''t betray his nervousness.


    "Mr. Lather, I have lived for almost 100,000 years, so please don''t bore me with petty attempts to shake my calm. By your nervousness, I will guess that you have guessed who I am by now. By the look on your face, I think you can guess there''s not much even one of your talents can do to one such as I," the elven god stated.


    "I take it you''re Enver Biaobel then? Aren''t you a little short for a god?" Andrew said with forced nonchalance.


    "Again, Mr. Lather? Trust me, you wouldn''t like the results if you were successful. Also, you are to refer to me as Geald or Geald Biaobel. Before you ask to speak with my boss or any other inane thing, know that there is no title higher than Geald and it signifies my power is one so vast that it is above even the other Getls or as you would call them gods. Also, you are never to use my first name again. Do you understand me?" Biaobel said in a stern but steady tone.¡°I understand you, Biao my man.¡±


    Biaobel¡¯s only response was to send out the most powerful purple line Andrew had ever seen, and to his horror, this one successfully attached.


    ¡°Impressive defenses, but not as impressive as your reputation might have had you believe. Tell me why you¡¯re here,¡± Biaobel stated dryly, yet the corners of his mouth ever so slightly betrayed his amusement.


    For a brief moment, Andrew felt as if this elf were his best friend, with whom he wanted to share all of his knowledge, secrets, and troubles. Andrew¡¯s mind, recognizing the foreign nature of those feelings, instinctively rebelled. Without conscience thought, it brought all of his willpower to bear on these foreign feelings. When the line detached from Andrew¡¯s head, Biaobel¡¯s eyes widened ever so slightly, before they narrowed again. The line reattached to Andrew with a mental force, the likes of which he had never experienced. He felt like an ant in a supernova, it was so far passed feeling insignificant that it defied words. Once again, he felt like he needed to share everything with this elf.


    Yet before Andrew could speak his mind seemed to find a reserve of willpower that he didn¡¯t know existed and he immediately deployed it against the magic attempting to control him. In the end, Andrew¡¯s effort was rewarded as the control magic detached from his head and his will returned to be his own, but his joy was short-lived. Only a moment later the magic once again reattached. Only to be rebuffed yet again by Andrew¡¯s will almost immediately. Biaobel though was unused to defeat and redoubled his efforts time and time again. This back and forth went on for what felt like hours. In the end, exhausted, Andrew kept his mind his own. Though he braced for what might come from angering an entity with powers so vast he had no framework to describe it.


    To Andrew¡¯s surprise, while Biaobel looked shocked, he also seemed amused, and no bolt of smiting energy struck him dead. Yet the stress relief he was hoping for was never found, as while he had not been killed in that moment, he felt he could see a scheme forming in Biaobel''s eyes and it made him wonder if he had made the right choice in keeping his mind his own.


    "I must know how you came by this power," Biaobel said with a fair bit of curiosity in his voice.


    "Does your species ever tire of asking me the same question? If not, maybe you will tire of the same answer. I honestly don''t know. One minute I''m concussed on my ship after having done what I''m guessing was an unscheduled jump and the next I''m in the bowels of some space whale ship thing. Now I¡¯m here and yall can¡¯t do certain magic on me. Seriously, I don¡¯t know. I really expected you to already know. Though I do suspect your control worm was what gave it to me." Andrew said as if bored of having to repeat himself. "Mr. Lather, you are one of a literal handful of beings who have ever successfully resisted my attempts to connect to their minds. Two are Getl, one is an annoying troll who just won''t die and the final was a dwarf. Though she died millennia ago. No human to date has presented any resistance, that is until now. I can see why Ioma wanted you dead. However short-sighted that was of her," Biaobel said in a tone that seemed to convey slight admiration.


    "I have a question for you. Why does your control worm not translate Getl into god?" Andrew said.


    "Likely because god denotes something far lesser than what we are. We are the originals, we know the truths of creation and about the races. As such, we know why we are destined to rule. I do not say this to brag, for other¡¯s opinions are as meaningless as their short lives and about as valuable. I say this as I have yet to find a power in this universe that compares to even the least of the Getl. Much less mine." Biaobel stated with a practiced air to it. "Also, why do you call your Apanean, a ''Control worm''?"


    "No disrespect intended, but this has gotten very tiring. The answer is, it''s just what my implant called it. Can you please tell your entire network now? Maybe then I¡¯ll stop getting asked why I call it that. Before you ask, I¡¯m not sure how it gave me powers or how it integrated with my Kata, but here we are. Honestly, though with the fact that I cannot make out the number of mind connections you have, Control Worm seems more accurate." Andrew said with a good amount of resignation spilling into his voice.


    "You know little of what you speak and you will not gain the answers you seek in this way. You are an oddity to me, which at my age and experience means something. I have never encountered nor ready about anyone with your exact style of magical sight nor have I met anyone with a mind shield comparable to your own. While I have yet to crack it, You will eventually find that I do not require some viruli to control those around me, and even without a connection to your mind, it''s clear to me that you want to be some modern-day Captain Kirk. You know travel the universe and punch people like me as a badly trained ape might. Make no mistake, you are not Kirk and there are no scantily clad green aliens in the other room eagerly awaiting saving. I will give you some credit though, it was no small feat hitting my Leikni, much less twice. That said, I am orders of magnitude above a Leikni and as such I would heavily advise against trying such with me."


    "I hope you¡¯re not trying to impress me by figuring out I¡¯d like to punch you, I¡¯m pretty sure most people who meet you have the same urges. Have you met yourself?¡± Andrew said with a smirk before a realization hit him, ¡°Wait, more importantly, how do you know of Captain Kirk?"


    Biaobel looked slightly confused "You know you''re not the first humans we''ve studied, correct? We have had some of your kind for over 85 years."


    "That''s not possible¡­¡­...wait how do yall measure years? I¡¯m guessing your measurement for a year is much shorter than ours.¡±


    "Ah yes, that was in Biaobelan years, not Earth years.¡±


    "And you wonder why people have the urge to punch you, you named the measurement of time after yourself?" Andrew said judgement clear in his voice.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Biaobel chuckled "In a manner of speaking yes. It is named after the center of Elven politics. My home world of Biaobela. Which was named after me by a unanimous vote of the Unesisa Rada tens of thousands of years ago, when Biaobela was the only planet, we had yet settled. They gave me this honor for my leadership in uniting the Ikolis from the warring factions they had once been. I also suspect it was slightly out of deference to my power. For even then I was more powerful than any being that had or has existed since. Point of fact Biaobelan years are 1.77 earth years. So, we''ve been studying your people for close to 152 or your earth years."


    Andrew "Is that what happened to the Hringhorni? It went back in time?"


    Biaobel''s eyes betrayed some slight surprise. "No, the Hringhorni is a longer story that I will not talk about with the likes of one such as you. No, I speak of the Orinasa. Need proof? Did you not notice that the debris field has had enough time to have started to form into a ball? I assume you¡¯re well versed enough in astral studies to know it didn¡¯t get that way in a small amount of time."


    Andrew¡¯s hands opened in the way people do when they don¡¯t believe what is being said and he blurted, "Are you saying that the Orinasa jumped into your system 150 years ago?"


    "152 and I thought that obvious at this point Mr. Lather. I must say I am disappointed, as I was thoroughly advised of your clever nature. Why¡­"


    In the middle of Biaobel¡¯s response, Andrew grew tense, and his eyes narrowed as if he just realized something. Voice shaking Andrew interrupted the elven god.


    "Stop! If you have had the crew of the Orin for 150 years, are you saying my wife is dead?"


    "While I''m not sure of when exactly, but I would have to assume that the answer is yes as no one of your race has lived longer than 100 without our help. While she had been here for a number of months before those ungrateful members of the tribe ¡®rescued¡¯ her from being part of our breeding program. It was quite the shame as she seemed to be great st¡­¡­¡­"


    Andrew unable to control rage and grief any longer, launched himself at Biaobel.


    Yet before his punch could land, Andrew was blinded by supernova-like flash. The last thing he saw were a handful of the messages which flashed into his vision before he was blown into sub atomic particles


    [You have been incinerated]


    [You have been frozen]


    [Your bone mass has depleted to dangerous levels]


    [Your heart has received a fatal level of electricity]


    ***************


    Andrew was sitting at a table nervously fidgeting with a rose. Part of his nerves were due to the fact that the rose was not a very good one. He had bought it last minute at one of those run-down charging stations, you know the ones that smell like too many different types of incense had been opened all at once and left to sit for months on a counter. He chided himself for having forgotten to buy one at a florist. This rose was pretty but looked every part of the best rose at the charging station and not the impression he wanted to give this woman.


    They had met online and they had chatted for the last two days, but he was honestly so surprised she had even agreed to go on this date. She was way out of his league, but she had agreed nonetheless.


    Andrew looked at the time on his Kata for what must have been the 10<sup>th</sup> time, it was 15 minutes past their agreed upon time.


    Ziggy has she sent any messages?[ Unfortunately Mr.Lather, I have no new messages from her.]


    Andrew started to contemplate what might have happened, that maybe she had seen him and left. There had been a cute blonde who had come into the diner, and she had left quickly, but his date had dark auburn hair. At least, her pictures did. Did she maybe wear a wig just so she could scope him before showing up? Seemed like a good idea with all the creeps there are out there after all.


    [Mr. Lather, new message from Ms. Ardbei: ¡°Sorry I''m running 20mins late and my phone died!¡±]


    The text message popped up right below his vision.


    Andrew breathed a sigh of relief and straightened his clothing. In doing so he accidentally put a grease stain on the belly of his shirt. Adding what he was sure was the 100<sup>th</sup> reason she would decline a second date. He giggled at the irony that he had gotten the food so he wouldn¡¯t look like he was a pig and he had straightened his shirt so he wouldn¡¯t look like a animal in front of this person.


    He fretted for a few minutes only to look up in time to see the most beautiful woman in the world walk through the door. She was looking around somewhat frantically yet there was still a well composed grace to her, that Andrew thought seemed unfair to other human beings. She was wearing a conservative yet flattering outfit which was immaculately put-together. She definitely knew her way around fashion, that was for sure. I¡¯ve never met a scientist who dressed so well, nor one that looked half as good. Ok Lather time to impress. Grease stain and all.


    When her eyes met his, she smiled.


    [Warning Sudden Heart rate increase detected]


    Trying not to look awkward as he stood up Andrew almost fell as his left foot got caught up in the chair legs. Once he recovered he stepped over to her side of the table and gave her a friendly butt-out hug, so as to not seem desperate, creepy, or like he was looking for a cheap time.


    He stepped back to his side of the table, smiled, and said, "Hi I''m Andrew and I''m really hoping you''re Linnie or I might have some splaining to do it here in a bit".


    She giggled "Yeah don''t worry playboy, you''re in luck I''m Linnie and I¡¯m sooo sorry for being late. Without my phone I don¡¯t have satnav, so I did my best. Which apparently isn¡¯t very well as it took me 20 minutes longer than it should have to find this place."


    ¡°Which is impressive as it only takes 10 to drive across this town,¡± Andrew said with a smile.


    Andrew couldn¡¯t tell if Linnie took it as a joke or not as she hadn¡¯t responded, but she had smiled at his response. After what Andrew felt was an awkward amount of time they both sat down at the table.


    "Is this rose for me? How traditional." She said with a very approving smile.


    [Warning Sudden Heart rate increase detected. If you don¡¯t know the source of this rate increase, please seek medical attention]


    Ziggy it¡¯s because I like this girl and you know it, so stop making the situation more awkward!


    [Reason for heart rate increase known, will mute heart rate notifications for 30mins]


    "Nah it''s for another beautiful woman named Linnie, but she''ll have to take her turn I guess."


    "Oh well I''ll just have to take the hit for the team and save her the disappointment of having to meet you. We Linnies have to stick together you know, " she said with a sly smile that sent a wave of happiness through him.


    "Soooo a phone? That''s so a decade ago of you."


    "Yeah well, I''ve been reluctant to get one of those Kata brain implants, Who knows what the long-term effects of them are? Probably, some terrible brain can¡­." she stopped herself when she realized that Andrew probably had one, "Well I guess it doesn''t matter as my new research program requires them."


    "Oh yeah, what program is that?"


    "You''re looking at the newest member of the Orinasa crew."


    "For real life?"


    "Yeah, It''s actually the main reason why I''m late. When I got off the phone with the recruiter, I accidentally threw my phone and had to try to find it. When I did it had 2% battery and in my rush to get dressed, I forgot to put it on the charger. I mean I dress like this all the time, ¡° she said smiling at the end to sarcastically cover her revelation.


    "I''m waiting to hear if I was selected as well."


    "No really, you don¡¯t have to be mean about it. It won''t leave for another few years and I wouldn¡¯t be gone long, so there¡¯s nothing to be worried about."


    "No No, I''m serious I put my name in the hat as well. I used to study under Kata himself, as an Implant specialist, " Andrew drew out the last sentence for drama, ¡°So, I think I have a decent chance to get selected for one of the technicians slots¡±


    A blush went across her face and neck.


    "Don''t worry, while some might disagree with the findings, my doctor found that I don¡¯t give people cancer anymore."


    ************


    [You have died. We thank you for giving all to help the 19 explore the reaches of space.]


    [All wounds have been healed]


    [You have been resuscitated]


    Andrew sat up and touched his chest.


    Ok this can¡¯t be real. I mean why was the time spent to have a post death message? Did someone think it would be needed? Like so many people come back from the dead. Wait, where are my clothes?


    "Where are my clothes?" Andrew said looking at Biaobel


    "Floating in particles around the room with parts of you I could find. Don¡¯t worry I reconstituted the missing bits with other matter. I did warn you about attacking me, Mr. Lather, it was not my intent to kill you," said Biaobel


    "If I''m dead and this is the afterlife then why are you here?"


    "I told you I''m even more power than a god," Biaobel said with a wry smile.


    "Luckily not my god though, so I''m going to assume I''m still amongst the living. "


    "You most certainly were not a moment ago. You weren''t even amongst yourself. I had to piece together the particles which were thrown all around the room and in many cases reconfigure them to the proper atoms as they reconfigured themselves due to the energy they were exposed to. " Stated Biaobel.


    "You don''t need to sell it. I¡¯m impressed. Wait so you really brought me back to life? Why?"


    "Because Mr. Lather I believe you represent a very tangible opportunity. Maybe more than one and I am not one to miss out on opportunities when I can so easily seize them."


    "And what are those opportunities?"


    "That will have to wait until tomorrow. For now, I must go see to my other interests."


    Biaobel stopped to look at something under the bench. When Andrew followed his gaze he found the god looked at the weird tube device which was still sitting under the bench.


    "Have you already been utilizing the Plasira?" Biaobela said almost reproachfully.


    "The what?" Andrew responded.


    "You humans really are disgusting," and then with an almost unnoticeable magenta flash, Biaobel was gone, and Andrew was left alone in his room.


    "You forgot the clothes man," Andrew said mockingly shaking his fist.

 Chapter 12 - Im with Stupid

    "Hey, Andrew!" Andrew had been kneeling, but at the sound of that beautiful voice, he perked up and quickly turned from the rock he had been staring at with an embarrassing level of focus. As he stood up, he awkwardly brushed the debris from his clothing and then inwardly cursed himself for not being able to act even remotely normal around this woman.


    The voice belonged to Linnie and like last time her outfit was expertly put together, even though it was hiking attire. She was backlit by the sun, her dark auburn hair ablaze with the sunlight. Her eyes seemed more like shining emeralds from this distance. She walked up gifting him a smile. A smile that in Greek times would have launched a thousand ships.


    "Hey Linnie!!"


    "Sorry for being late, my phone died again." She said while holding up her ancient cellphone.


    "It''s ok, but you know once you get your implant you will have to come up with a different excuse," Andrew said, a silly grin plastered across his face.


    "Ummm, my implant died??¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s a bit extreme to claim you died just to get out of a date, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re charged by the heat of your blood, so the only way it ¡®dies¡¯ is if you do.¡±


    ¡°Hmmm that might be a bit much, but I¡¯ll have to come up with something I guess. A girl has to have her reasons for being late, other than washing her hair or some other lame excuse like that. By the way, what''s your last name?" she asked.


    "Oh, Lather and you?"


    "O''Lather? I take it you''re Scottish?" she said with an impish grin.


    "No Lath¡­¡­it''s going to be like that is it?"


    ¡°You bet it is O¡¯Lather, ¡° she said her grin widening.Andrew was so enthralled with her smile that he was almost startled when Linnie said.


    "Ardbei"


    ¡°huh?¡±


    ¡°My last name is Ardbei.¡±


    "Do your people eat ants? Who has the last name of Aardvark?"


    She scowled a bit "Come on Lather if you''re going to be cheeky at least be good at it."


    "Cheeky huh you British now?" Andrew smiled trying to bring things back to levity.


    "Nah, I''m originally from Texas, and I don¡¯t know about you, but so far, nowhere here on Yuta 2 feels like home yet." sighed Linnie.


    "I feel you. I''m actually from Texas as well, but yeah definitely haven''t totally settled here yet. So much to do here, it''s hard to even date. Even with all those annoying silly announcements at work.¡± They both laughed and Linnie braced herself lightly on Andrew''s arms as she did so "Oh god,¡± she said before she continued, her voice taking on a robotic sound she said "Citizens should remember, while establishing our industrial base is our primary goal, good citizens will find the time to find a partner. A growing strong society starts with you!"


    Again, they both laughed, her hand still resting on his arm.


    "Though honestly, that is why I took this date. " She said.


    "Umm, to help make a strong society? I guess that''s one way to be forward about it. I know the O leaves soon, but I think a strong society can wait for its return, don''t you?" He said with a sly smile.


    She turned red almost instantly and slapped him playfully on the arm while they both laughed.


    "No you perv, while I want kids, it will definitely not be on the second date. Let''s get hiking before you make me change my mind about this date."


    "Oh yeah, that''s what we''re here for after all," Andrew said while picking up his backpack.


    They hiked down the trail for a bit in a slightly awkward silence. Andrew desperately tried to find something to talk about that wasn''t possible to take sexually.


    "So, is Linnie short for something?"


    "Oh yeah, it''s short for Leanna, though it''s not a lot shorter. I think my parents just wanted to have a cutesy nickname for me and it stuck. Does anyone call you Andy?". Linnie''s face ticked slightly when she mentioned her parents.


    "Yeah my dad does, but nobody else really."


    "Not your mom?"


    "Well if she had come to Yuta she would, but she and my sister decided to stay on Earth. "


    "My family stayed too. God did they beg me not to go. All they could talk about for weeks was how it was too dangerous for a young woman to go, especially alone. Claimed I owed it to Earth to stay and used my big brain to try to fix the issues there. When that didn''t work, they pulled the old I owe to them and my siblings, but they''re wrong. I very much believe I owe it to the human race and myself, to make sure we''re successful out here. To help ensure that no single cosmic joke could end our race. I feel I can also help ensure we don¡¯t mess things up on Yuta the way we did on Earth. Get things going on the right foot, ya know?"


    "That''s right. I would have loved to have helped Earth too, but how? What am I single-handedly going to topple corrupt governments? Am I going to clean up all the waste? I tried that for years and it got me nowhere. Hell, if you listened to my mom, she made it sound like maybe I could have found the next King Arthur and put him in charge or something. I¡¯m glad she thinks highly of me, but some realism would have been nice. I agree with you, here we have a chance to make a difference. Like you said to get things going so hopefully someone doesn''t have the same issues here."


    "I''m really glad you understand, I was honestly a bit worried I came off as arrogant."


    "No Linnie, not even slightly. Why is it a bad thing to believe you can make a difference? And from what I can tell you¡¯re more smart than beautiful and I have never seen anyone more beautiful than you."


    They both blushed, Andrew from the realization that he had said what he was thinking outloud and her from the fact that she could tell he genuine in that praise. She slipped her hand into is and for a mile or so they walked in silence, hand in hand.


    They had stopped at an overlook but found themselves staring at each other instead of the vista. Andrew considered kissing her, as he wanted to do nothing more at that time than that. As she stared into his eyes his mind raced, the negative thoughts like "Omg she might move away from me just because I''m such a sweaty hot mess right now", "Would she even be open to a kiss?", "Is she expecting one and will be disappointed if I don''t?" Then the moment passed, and they started to hike down the trail again. Both tried desperately not to look disappointed or like the boiled drowned rats they felt like. As they turned to leave the outlook Andrew got up the nerve to at least take her hand again and they silently walked back toward their vehicles.


    When they were about halfway there, Linnie stopped and turned to Andrew.


    "I¡¯ve always liked the name Andy, so if you don''t mind, I''m going to call you Andy. That is of course if you don''t sweat to death before we make it back."


    Andrew did mind. He hated being called Andy, but he really liked this girl and didn''t want to ruin things over a nickname. Man his friends wouldn¡¯t ever let him live it down though if they heard her calling him that as he had always made a big deal about being called Andrew.


    "For you that''s fine, but please not around my friends. They¡¯d never let me live it down that I let you call me that when I insist, they don¡¯t. As for the sweat, well you might have missed that it¡¯s kinda hot out here."


    "So, I get special treatment huh?" She said in a playful tone, almost hopefully.


    "Truthfully, yes you do. I meant what I said earlier¡­." He said, but before he could finish, his sentence she kissed him.


    Then she turned to him to say, "Mr. LATHER, I do not have time to waste. You will awake now" in a male voice.


    ******


    Andrew awoke on the bed in his cell. Looking around he found Biaobel sitting in the darker chair again.


    "Please join me, Mr. Lather." Signaling him to sit in the chair with the light shining on it.


    "Man, can I guy just enjoy a good dream around here without getting rudely woken up?" Andrew said with a slightly annoyed tone.


    "Mr. Lather I will not ask again," Biaobel said in a similar tone.


    "You can''t make me. "Andrew said in a tone of mock defiance, but he was already moving to the chair.


    "We both know I could, but I''m happy to see there is no reason for less pleasant methods. So, Mr. Lather were you dreaming of Linnie?" Biaobel said in a slightly jovial tone.


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    "You don''t get to call her that!!" Andrew barked, anger rising in his face.


    "And what will you do about it, yap like you¡¯re some little dog barking at a bear? The difference in our power levels isn''t well represented by that analogy. A more apt analogy would be that you¡¯re like a bacterium threatening an Elf. It''s not even worth noticing." Biaobel said with a smirk looking like he almost patted Andrew on the head.


    "Don''t forget that even bacteria can kill a person if they find an entry," Andrew said sternly.


    "That and a few million of their friends and family. Where are your millions?" Biaobel chuckled this time reaching out to pat Andrew on the head.


    Andrew moved to block, but as he did a ribbon of crystal snaked out from Biaobel''s hand and then to Andrew''s outstretched wrist. Suddenly, that ribbon of crystal wound its way around Andrew¡¯s entire body pulling his arms and legs together again. Making him appear like the victim tied to the tracks in the old cartoons. The ribbon tightened, immobilizing Andrew, right as Biaobel¡¯s hand reached Andrew¡¯s head to pat it.


    "Don¡¯t worry little one, everything will be ok. Here you will live longer, and mate more than you ever would have back on your own planet. One with your talents will gain a prime spot in our breeding programs?" Biaobel said smugly.


    Andrew tired of being bound and being pushed around. So concentrated his will on trying to break his bonds. Unfortunately, they didn¡¯t bend nor break. He tried a few more times before feeling too mentally exhausted to continue. Biaobel smiled at Andrew like he was a steak and Biaobel a hungry wolf.


    "So, your powers do have limits."


    "First, what is it with your culture and your inability to follow even the basic rules of consent? I mean seriously stringing a man up naked like this just so you can touch him. If this is how their gods act no wonder, I¡¯ve been having so many issues with your followers. Second, can I get some clothes? And Third, Do you think sex is all we want?"


    "Do you ask a cat to pet it? As for the breeding programs, yes, that is all, it seems you apes need to be content. Are you claiming there''s more to it than that? " Biaobel replied.


    "Yes, we need friendship and love to name a few. As a matter of fact, yes, I do ask a cat to pet it because I''m not some creep forcing themselves and their wishes on those who are weaker than themselves, " Andrew said with a tear forming in his eye at first only to morph to a scowl by the end.


    "Mr. Lather I''ve been studying your species, as we have established, for longer than you''ve been alive. I can tell you that you believe too highly in your race." Biaobel said in a smug but thoughtful way. "Maybe, but how can I know you''re not just messing with me? That Linnie isn''t just in the other room?¡± Andrew said through the pain of losing his wife.


    "Mr. Lather, what do I gain by lying to you? Either you traveled through time, or she did. " Biaobel stopped and thought for a second " Now I can''t tell you for sure that your Linnie is dead, she was one of the few who did make it out of this facility in the early days. That was before we knew what your race was capable of and how worthwhile you''d be to study. When the slave tribes helped a few of your kind escape, they inadvertently showed us why your race would be worth studying. See yalls ability to weld both magic and tech energies far exceed anything we had seen before yall showed up in our Galaxy. While the Trolls can use both magic and tech energy, they can do neither well. Your race might not be able to wield magic like an elf, yall come uncomfortably close." Biaobel said in slight disgust.


    "Wait so Linnie could be alive?" Andrew looked up hopefully.


    "She could be, though again age likely caught up to her Had she stayed she''d likely still be alive today. This planet extends lives and gives regenerative properties. That is why I said what I said about her yesterday. Though I guess she might have found refuge on a planet such as this one or one of the more wonderous ones. That is highly unlikely as there are only a select few and I doubt any of them would allow a human to live there undisturbed. " Biaobel said as he slowly walked around to where Andrew thought the door might be.


    ¡°Thank you for that. Can I ask one favor?¡±


    ¡°And what favor would you ask of me?¡±


    ¡°Can I Please get some clothes? I get y''all are all non-sexual or whatnot, but it''s just awkward being tied up talking to a stranger like this. "¡°If you promise to stop your useless struggles, I will untie you¡±¡°Well that¡¯s better than nothing, I guess. I¡¯ll do my best to stop trying make you respect my body autonomy.¡±


    ¡°Thank you¡±


    With that the crystals vaporized and Andrew landed on his feet. With a gesture from Biaobel to sit, he got back into the lit chair so whatever this was could continue. He did his best to hide his modesty.


    The door opened, reminding him again of an arterial valve, and in walked an elderly human woman. She looked to be in her late 70s or early 80s and was dressed in a non-descript elven smock. Andrew immediately somehow felt even more naked.


    "Umm your Gealdship, I''d really appreciate some clothes right about now,"


    She looked very familiar, but Andrew couldn''t place where he knew her from. That was until she spoke.


    "Andrew Lather? But how is this possible? You look just like you did more than a century ago. How is that possible?" said Captain Eliska Waarheid</a> captain of the Orinasa while trying desperately not to make him feel self-conscience about his nakedness.


    "This isn''t possible the Orin only jumped away just over 2years ago. You look as if you''re in your 70s."


    "2 years ago? No Mr. Lather we jumped in over a century ago. I am over 200 earth years by now. Excuse my lack of precision, but it¡¯s been so long that I can''t exactly remember how to calculate earth time," she said in an almost reminiscent tone.


    "Point of fact you''re 208 humans years old" corrected Biaobel.


    "As always you''re correct my Geald," she said in a very deferential tone.


    "Sorry Biao¡­¡­Geald Biaobel, but how am I to believe her with that purple line going into her head." Andrew said in an accusatory tone. Though he was surprised it wasn''t going directly to the elf, but to somewhere outside his cell.


    "What purple line are you talking about?" queried the captain.


    "Oh, they hav¡­.." At a look from Biaobel, Andrew''s mouth continued to move but no sound came out.


    "Mr. Lather, I''d ask you not to speak of things you don''t fully understand. Though we both know it likely won''t matter if I ask. As for what you said, I do see how that seems less than honest. "


    Andrew didn''t see any pulses leave the elf, but with so many lines it would be next to impossible to tell if he was actively controlling this person. Ziggy who is this woman in front of me?


    [Voice patterns, facial structures, and visible scars match Captain Eliska Waarheid. Age inconsistent with expectations.]


    "Well my Kata agrees it''s her, but with your magic, I can imagine this wouldn''t be a hard thing for y''all to imitate a human. Also, I find it odd that in 150years she hasn¡¯t gained a new scar," Andrew challenged.


    "Wait! He still has his implant?" Captain Waarheid blurted out.


    "You don''t?" Andrew said with some surprise.


    "We take that trash out of your heads as it generally inhibits any innate magical abilities. Except in your case where it seems to have enhanced them somehow. At first, we didn¡¯t care as it made yall easier to manage, but we found a significant increase in brain cancer in those we left them in. So, we started to take them out to increase the longevity of our breeders. As for her lack of new scars, I would think you¡¯d understand that we have healing magic by now," Biaobel said in his standard emotion low way.


    "Man Linnie is never going to let me live this down." sighed Andrew.


    ¡°Is this more of our prattle to try to control our interaction?¡± Biaobel said with a raised eye.


    ¡°No my wife was one of the last humans to get a kata and she said it was because she was sure it would give you brain cancer. Apparently, she was correct.¡±


    "Sorry about Linnie, Andrew. I begged her to stay, but she left with Jack and those horrendous Trolls." the captain said. Andrew noted that the purple line going into her head was no longer there.


    Andrew''s eyes went a bit wide and he took in a deep breath, "Of course, she followed Jack. So these trolls have been around a while?"


    "Yes for millennia. They were the third of the original races. First came Elves, then Dwarves, and finally Trolls," Biaobel commented.


    " Sorry but this is really starting to feel like a dream again, that our you read Tolkien and you are the one messing with me. Let me guess Elves are magical and in touch with nature. Dwarves are technical and covet wealth. What do trolls do? Hide under bridges and extract money from travelers? "


    "That''s not totally wrong actually. If you were trying to describe our reality like you''re an elephant trying to finger-paint a Da Vinci" Biaobel said in a derisive tone. "Yes, we elves as you have seen weld magic and are the undisputed masters of it. We are also the master race, and we rule the galaxy you''re in, Chennon. You''re also correct that we work with nature. Growing our tools and even our ships from animals or plants. The grimy little dwarves do not. Instead, they exploit and pollute nature to create their technological horrors. The dwarves are the primary race in the Volundr galaxy.


    The trolls until recently were a slave race to both of the primary races. It is not known to many why only the trolls were found in both Galaxies. In the end, it will matter not. While all three races currently have a truce, it is only a matter of time before I control the both galaxies. Just as it''s inevitable that our galaxy will consume theirs and magic will be the only energy left" Biaobel said in a tirade that he had obviously gone on many times before.


    "That was a lot. Do you feel better having gotten that all off your¡­¡­.." Andrew was cut off as a pale tan ray shot from Biaobel to Andrew, and the air in his lungs was forcefully sucked out.


    [Warning You are currently hypoxic, find oxygen within 2mins]


    The Captain winced knowing what was coming. Andrew fell to his knees grabbing his chest. Trying to get the air around him to act normally and enter his lungs. Though try as he might it wouldn¡¯t move. His lungs started to burn, and his vision started to narrow.


    "I have warned you of your prattle and how I will not deal with it. If you continue in this way, I will just kill you and reanimate your corpse, so that I can study it without all the distractions. Do you understand me, Mr. Lather? Nod if you do. Speak if you do not." Biaobel said in the most authoritarian tone Andrew might have ever heard, though his mouth quirked up slightly at the end.


    [Warning You are currently hypoxic, oxygen saturation reaching dangerous levels.]


    Andrew stared at Biaobel trying to decide if he was bluffing or not. Thinking about how this man is likely responsible for the suffering of countless members of the human race. How if he''s not stopped, who knows how many more humans will be born, tortured, and die here for their study? "Please stop you are kill¡­" Eliska pleaded but was cut off with a glance.


    [Warning Oxygen saturation has reached dangerous levels, syncope is imminent]


    "Well Mr. Lather, you are a singular person. I have not met many who would risk everything on the chance that a heartless immortal being is bluffing. I would say it was nice to have known you, but we never really got the chance to know each other. I''m sure someone will mourn your passing." Biaobel said in an almost distracted tone.


    ---------


    "Andrew Lather, I am happy to inform you that you have been selected as Director of Implant Technology on the Orinasa. You will lead the implant team and report directly to the Senior Director of Medicine." the recruiter, the one whose Andrew could never remember their name, said proudly over a voice connection.


    "Thank you for your support, Y''all will not be let down by your decision" Andrew responded.


    ------


    [You have entered a state of syncope.]


    [Consciousness restored. Oxygen saturation at optimal levels]


    "I have to say Mr. Lather you play a very dangerous hand with me. I cannot remember the last time someone was successful at it. " Biaobel said with some respect in his voice. Then turned to look at Captain Eliska. "Mr. Lather, are you thoroughly convinced yet that I am not lying about how long we have had your old crew mates?"


    "I mean no. It will take a bit more than just a single human that you have brainwashed and might have magically aged. No offense meant Captain" Andrew shot back. Saying that last bit to the Captain.


    She nodded and fell over dead.


    "Well, that was unfortunate. Over the years I almost had respect for that one and the way she sacrificed for her crew." Biaobel said with a disconnected nature that disturbed Andrew.


    "WHY DID YOU DO THAT" Andrew screamed at the god, balling his fist before thinking twice.


    "Well, it''s nice to see you¡­.." Biaobel had started but was cut off.


    "WHY?! WHY DID YOU KILL HER? YOU WILL ANSWER THIS. OR" Andrew said in a rage.


    Biaobel stopped and turned around. "Or?"


    "I might not be able to do anything to you right now but trust me one day you''ll wish this went another way. Why¡­.did¡­.you¡­kill¡­.her?" Andrew said in a tone that would have both melted ice and cut through steel.


    "I killed her because you embarrassed me, and I''ll not have a witness to corroborate your story. You¡¯re lucky I have plans for you, though if you continue like this, I''m not sure you''ll have the time to follow through on your threat. Today has been less than productive, so excuse me if I take my leave. Please do not be offended if I do not lose any sleep over our threat," Biaobel replied and in a miniscule magenta flash, was gone. Where Biaobel had been there was a pile of clothes.


    As Andrew started to put them on, he noticed the shirt had text on it. "I''m with stupid" and there was an arrow which pointed up.


    "Oh, he has jokes. Yeah, one day I''m going cause that man''s death" Andrew said with a chuckle to his empty cell. Unsure of what to do with the emotional energy pent up in his body, he paced the room. Once he had calmed, he noticed that he was next to the tube device that Biaobel had called a Plasira. He picked it up and sat on his bed to try figure out its purpose. After an hour or more he got bored of it and set it down next to the bed before falling asleep.

 Updates

    Hey yall,


    Just wanted to update my readers. I''ve caught up to my backlog of "Need to be edited" chapters and so chapters might be coming out every few weeks instead of every week.


    Don''t worry I just outlined the rest of this book which should end around chapter 20 or so. Also, i have notes on about 9 or 10 books worth of content, so I hope you are starting to like the character and starting to love the world.  don''t worry there is more to reveal ALOT more. Again I''ve been working on this world on and off for two decades.


    Andrew is in for a wild ride and I hope yall will continue to join me as we discover what happens and what this world really has instore for us.


    I very much appreciate your patience on this. I''m a new writer and it means the world to me that 40 people want to read my book.


    Thank you,


    Neglected Dice


    This line will be repeated, please ignore it''s so I can get to the 500word mark so they''ll let me post this update.


    This line will be repeated, please ignore it''s so I can get to the 500word mark so they''ll let me post this update.


    This line will be repeated, please ignore it''s so I can get to the 500word mark so they''ll let me post this update.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    This line will be repeated, please ignore it''s so I can get to the 500word mark so they''ll let me post this update.


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    42

 Chapter 13 - Great Cosmic powers

    "Mr. Lather, you shall awaken now" a voice rang through the dream Andrew was having.


    [Consciousness restored by outside influence]


    Andrew opened his eyes to see Biaobel sitting in his chair, again signaling for Andrew to take the other seat. Somehow the elven god even found a way to signal urgency with just a motionless outstretched hand. Andrew hated to admit he was a little excited by Biaobels presence today, but it had been a few weeks since the last time he''d been able to annoy the elven god. The time in between that visit and today, had been taken up by a mind-numbing routine of waking up, spending the day doing some test or tests that Cebisi had come up with the night before. Only to be left bored and alone in his room for hours with nothing but the odd glowing tube device to keep him company.


    ¡°I¡¯m honestly glad to see you. Cebisi is as thorough as he is curious, and I sure could use a day without being attacked in some novel way just to see if I can block it. ¡°


    ¡°Why are you holding that?¡±


    ¡°Umm can you believe I made it fly to my hand and just never let it go?¡±


    ¡°No Mr. Lather I cannot. To date, I don¡¯t believe many of your lowly species has shown aptitude for Cinetica and I doubt you would be one of those number.¡±


    ¡°SIN ET ICA?¡±


    ¡°Has Cebisi not educated you on our different Ikolis?¡±


    ¡°Nope been pretty focused on hurting me in any way he could come up with and not on my education¡±


    ¡°As he should be, but I will get him to give you a basic rundown of our magic and our society. Ikoli are our schools and the major factions in our society. Each Getl is the head of one of these Ikolis and each is centered around a core aspect of magic. Cinetica is focused on pure force, so Telekinesis to those bolts of force that you seem so keen to be hit by.¡±


    ¡°Are you the getl of that Ikolis?¡± Andrew pronounced the last word slowly to ensure he had it right.


    ¡°No I am the Geald, but I am the head of the Moti Ikolis. Our magic centers around death and soul attacks. In her short-sighted rage based on fear, Captain Lachs almost killed you with my teachings.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for stepping in on that¡±


    Biaobel merely raised a hand as if waving off the thanks.


    Andrew, realizing he was still holding the odd tube device, they called a Plasira, set it on the bench.


    ¡°You know I still have no clue what that device is. Any chance you¡¯d be willing to tell me?¡±


    "No, instead let us start today by asking a simple question. How does your implant differ from all other implants we''ve encountered? What allowed it to become fully functional when no others have even booted? Is booted the correct term?" Biaobel asked.


    "Yes, it is. Honestly, I''m not sure. I meant to make some larger mods for Ziggy, my unit, but with the hustle of trying to get the Sled ready to come here I never really got around to it. The ones I did make I don''t think would have enabled it to continue to work.¡±The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°Tell me what modifications were you successful at making?¡±


    ¡°Increased Bluetooth range and enhanced the shielding to try to ensure I don''t get cancer. It was my wife who gave me that idea."


    "Interesting, though I can''t imagine how you would not consider enhanced shielding as a possible vector."


    "Well, if anything that should have decreased the likelihood as it covered some of the enhancement ports, so I¡¯m not sure how exactly your control worm was able to interface with it. Also, I''d be surprised if the shielding helped at all as it didn''t seem to help when yall attacked. My implant kept going down just as fast as everyone else''s."


    "How do you know it did?"


    "I guess I don''t, but its power did dwindle as the lights dimmed, so I''m pretty it was. Though you''re right I don''t know for certain."


    "I guess there is nothing more we can do but operate and find out what exactly makes you different. Do not worry I will protect you both from death and discomfort. It might feel a bit odd. Though you already know it is within my power to piece you back together on the sub-atomic level, so please don¡¯t be alarmed.¡±


    With that Andrew found himself lifted into the air by an unseen force and bound by more crystalline ribbons.


    "Any chance we can talk about this?" Andrew pleaded, but Biaobel seemed to not notice.


    A tray of what appeared to be surgical tools appeared out of nowhere and floated next to the god''s right hand moving as his hand moved. At first, Andrew was intrigued by the fact that the majority of the tools seemed to have blades made of pure blue energy, before remembering those blades were about to be used on him. As if reading his mind, Biaobel picked up the first of the energy blades and as he approached Andrew. Andrew focused his mind on the magic of the blade and was rewarded when the blade sputtered and went out.


    "Mr. Lather, you will stop,"


    With that he picked up the next tool in the line. This one had a wicked hook at the top of it, and Andrew was very certain he wanted nothing to do with whatever its purpose was. Though before he could shut off this blade, he saw a new magic flow from Biaobel and watched as it covered the blade. It was some sort of shielding magic as this one took a little more effort, but he was able to get this one to wink out too, just before it touched him.


    "Mr. Lather if you continue like this, I will resort to more painful and less precise methods."


    With that Andrew, with a smile, preemptively turned off all the other tools minus two with real blades.


    ¡°Ok I can stop now¡±


    "Mr. Lather, this is childish. I can just turn them back on."


    With a wag of Biaobel¡¯s index finger the blades sprang back to life. Only to immediately go back out, then back on and back out. This turned into a battle of wills and the room started to feel like a 70¡¯s discotec with the lights flashing on and off in rapid succession.  The interval between on and off became less and less until it was so small it looked like the tools were just glitching.  This went on as the two battled wills for a second time. When it became clear that Andrew was not going to relent. Biaobel changed tactics, the blades blinking out for the last time.


    "Mr. Lather, you have forced my hand one time too many," Biaobel said as he picked up one of the two real blades. They had slightly different blade shapes, but both looked like they were made of a milky green obsidian.


    "Good luck trying to turn this one off. This is a berdian blade. As I doubt you know what that is, I will explain. Berdian is a substance that negates all cosmic energies magical or otherwise. It is quite sharp, but I refrained from using it as it is known to cause immense pain by destroying nerves. This is why I only resort to its use for torture, which your recent actions have put me in the mood for. "


    Instead of backing down or looking scared, Andrew instead smiled. His restraints burst off him in a cloud of shrapnel that temporarily blinded Biaobel. Andrew wasted no time; he picked up one of the other berdian blades left on the tray of tools. Moving without hesitation he attempted to stab the Elven god. As his hand entered the zone around Biaobel where the enchantments had previously killed him, a shower of sparks and a cacophony of sounds erupted as the blade rent through the methuselah''s carefully laid enchantments without even the slightest resistance. The blade entered the Elven gods.  throat and stuck in his spine. Biaobel''s eyes went wide as he felt pain for the first time in tens of millennia. Biaobel¡¯s horror increased as all of his healing magic meant nothing except a shower of sparks when they touched the blade which remained buried in his throat, which Andrew still clutching it tight.


    Biaobel, realizing his was unable to heal himself, back handed Andrew to force him out of the way as he moved to get help. The force of the hit was astounding, and it was everything he could do to hold on to the strange dagger. This proved too much for the dagger, the blade breaking at the hilt from the strain of it all. Andrew found himself once again flying through the air. This time at least he knew the walls weren¡¯t going to mercilessly crush him like those on the Sled. He hit the back wall with such force that Andrew disappeared into the wall.  A Wile E Coyote like stretched hole was all that could be seen.


    It took some time before the wall spit Andrew back out and regained its shape. Once it did, he staggered to his feet and took a deep breath before he looked for Biaobel. Relief flooding his body as he found Biaobel¡¯s body sprawled motionless on the floor the middle of the room and coated with blood. Andrew noted that things were surprisingly quiet. He had expected claxons to be blaring, alarm bells and strobe lights to be flashing. Anything to alert everyone on the planet to come kill him.


    "I told you, one day you''d wished things had gone differently. " Andrew said as he spat on the corpse.


    Then all the walls disappeared, and Elves spilled in from every direction. Andrew could see every imaginable offense spell flying his way. Andrew glanced at the body on the ground with an accepting smirk and closed his eyes in acceptance of his fate.

 Chapter 14 - You are male, correct?

    Andrew awoke on the moss-covered bed and found himself inwardly marveling at how amazingly comfortable it was. Every day he woke up in it, he felt like one of those ¡°well rested¡± people in the mattress ads back home. As he got to his feet, he turned around to see an imprint of himself in the moss. The imprint brought a chuckle with it as it looked more like a moss impression of a snow angel than that of someone sleeping soundly.


    It was then he remembered what had transpired the night before or was it just a dream? It felt so real, yet he was in the same room, and it looked no worse for wear, his damage indicator showed all green, and he was still wearing the same ¡°I¡¯m with stupid¡± shirt. Yet the experience seemed so real. He could still feel the crunch the knife had made as it buried itself in the god¡¯s spine and the look of abject horror on the god¡¯s face. However, as he ran over the memory in his mind, some things were a bit off. There were odd anachronisms in his memory of the event. Anachronisms such as, he seemed a bit older in some sections of his memory and his proper age in others. The Getl had revealed things about elven society that Andrew didn¡¯t know and if they were proved to be accurate, what would that mean? Had he actually killed the god and if so, why was he still alive and in a healthy state? ¡°I hope it was real. Even if he lived, it would be nice to know I wiped some of that smugness off his face and maybe taught this whole society that consent really matters,¡± Andrew said to the air as if hoping he was being listened to.


    When nobody appeared and with nothing else to do, he started his morning routine. He began every day with a mental exercise of trying to figure out the earth¡¯s date and time. While Ziggy could do it instantly he liked to do it himself. This was because it helped to break the monotony of this place and he hoped it also helped keep his mind sharp. From the skylight and Ziggy¡¯s help, he had noted that the days here were 27.5 hours long. He''d had been on this planet for weeks at this point, but the math exercise still kept his interest as it was difficult to do without paper, and it gave him something other than stare at and ponder on the usage of the Plasira tube thing. The only item he could play with and that he wasn¡¯t sure of its function.


    Next, he would eat breakfast, often trying to see if he could get the Cubes to taste like things, he had never tried himself. To his astonishment, they could. Such as, today¡¯s breakfast which was enqulal tibs, an Ethiopian breakfast he had always wanted to try. To his surprise it tasted mostly as he expected, but with slightly more depth and an earthiness he didn¡¯t expect. Leaving him to wonder which was correct? The magic¡¯s interpretation of the dish or his own? It wasn¡¯t perfect though, which Andrew discovered after he got a flavorless cube a few times when he asked for more exotic totally made-up mixtures. This led him to wonder if it only knew of things that previously studied subjects had known.


    It was normally right after breakfast that Cebisi had come by to start their daily ¡°experiments¡±. While the elf was insistent that it was a collaboration. Andrew thought otherwise as only one of them had a choice and was driven to discover the limits of Andrews abilities; and the other was the one getting hurt nonstop for 12hrs a day in a bid to discover his limits. Annoyingly, after weeks of what Andrew considered monotonous torture, Cebisi came to the same conclusion that Andrew already knew. That basically he could interrupt any magic that had solidified and therefore had the ability to last past a few seconds. He knew this instinctually but had confirmed it with Ziggy who in turn confirmed it with the control worm. Who Andrew had started to call Bob.


    Unfortunately, Cebisi wasn¡¯t satisfied with a mere realization and would not stop until he had exhausted his entire list of powers. A list of powers which to Andrew¡¯s horror seemed to have no end. As the days, turned into weeks, he marveled at how crazy his life had become was that someone using magic on him was getting monotonous, old, and annoying. ¡°I hope today is the last day of this crap.¡±¡°Sadly for you Mr. Lather it is not. Though think about your contribution to the larger body of magical knowledge!¡± came the voice of Cebisi who had somehow appeared in the interrogator¡¯s chair.


    ¡°Yeah, what I¡¯ve always wanted in life is to be a magical guinea pig for touchy elves. I have to ask; how did you get here? Normally there¡¯s a flash announcing someone coming or going.¡±¡°Well I wouldn¡¯t want to continue to bore you, so it will be my little secret. Though rest assured that I did not teleport and that your powers did not miss it. That said you¡¯re also in luck today Mr. Lather as I have been instructed by my Geald to give you a basic rundown of magic and if time permits elven society. Sound good?¡±¡°Does this run down include you blowing my leg off for science?¡±¡°Mr. Lather, please refrain from saying that heretical word in presents and I blew your leg off one time. One time and you go on and on about it like it was an everyday thing.¡±¡°Well, a high-pressure beam of fluoroantimonic acid does tend to leave an impression and a mark. What about the times you incinerated my torso or made my skull fracture by superheating my brain? Wait what word ¡®Science¡¯?¡±¡°Yes, that one. It is the religion of the blasphemous dwarves, and it has no place here. To answer your previous question, no our lessons should not involve hurting you in any way. ¡°


    ¡°What about boredom? Boredom can hurt.¡±¡°Fine it might make you bored and if you¡¯re a child that might hurt you in some emotional way. Can we proceed now?¡±


    ¡°Please do, I¡¯m honestly wanting to put some order in my mind to things you¡¯ve been doing to me for weeks now¡± Andrew said with a smile. Cebisi closed his eyes and took in two deep breaths before continuing.¡°First, thank you for not sucker punching me while I composed myself¡¯¡°No problem. I have had a hands-on demonstration which has lasted for weeks that has keenly demonstrated to me how bad of an idea a third time might be.¡±¡°Glad to see I have helped you mature Mr. Lather. Even if only the littlest bit. We will start with the Ikolis.¡±¡°Wait your schools of Magic are called Ikolis?¡± Andrew said surprise registering across his face.¡°Yes Mr. Lather, though if that surprises you, I cannot wait until we get to the larger subjects.¡±


    ¡°I meant to bring this up earlier, but you distracted me with showing up unannounced. Is your Geald in good health?¡±¡°I¡¯d guess him to be in perfect health, Mr. Lather. Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t have a Berdian blade sticking out of his throat, does he?¡±With the mention of Berdian blade Cebisi¡¯s eyes narrowed and shoulders went up. ¡°How do you know of the existence of Berdian, Mr. Lather, ¡°Cebisi said, ice creeping into his voice.


    ¡°Wait so they¡¯re real? Do they really negate all magical energies?¡±Cebisi¡¯s eyes narrowed almost inperceptually further and in an almost robotic voice, he said, ¡°I will not answer that. How do you know of its existence, Mr. Lather? I will not ask a third time.¡±¡°Honestly, like many things, I don¡¯t know. I had what I¡¯m guessing was a dream where I used one to kill your god.¡±¡°It must have been a dream, Mr. Lather. As I assure you, he was quite alive when he instructed me to educate you on our magic. I¡¯m unsure whether I should believe you, Mr. Lather, as only a few dozen people in the entire universe know of its existence.¡±With this a purple line shot out of Cebisi and attempted to connect with Andrew. Andrew in turn mentally batted it away with a minimal burst of willpower.¡°Seriously man? You haven¡¯t been able to do that for weeks, your boss could barely ever make the connection and never could make it stick and you think that weak attempt was going to be the final straw? Look I really don¡¯t know about Berdian other than it¡¯s a milky green obsidian-looking glass substance and your god told me it negates all cosmic energies.¡±¡°No, I most certainly did not. Mr. Lather. ¡°Cebisi immediately knelt as the other worldly voice of Biaobel emanated from behind Andrew. Another blindingly bright purple line snaked out of Biaobel and again failed to attach to Andrew. Andrew chuckled before saying.


    ¡°Well as you don¡¯t seem to have a blade of (Berdian or Beardia?) lodged in your throat I¡¯m going to guess it was just a dream. Is Cinetica your Ikolis for the use of pure forces too?¡±The eyes of both elves narrowed. Though only Biaobel spoke.¡°Berdian and yes, we have an Ikolis by that name. Mr. Lather, you really are a box of mysteries, aren¡¯t you? If I had not been watching from the moment of your arrival and subsequent capture, I would believe someone had told you these things. Though the only two elves you¡¯ve been in contact with who are trusted with the knowledge of berdian are Mr. Atari and myself.


    Mr. Lather, if I didn¡¯t have grander plans for you, I¡¯d have killed you already and studied your corpse. Please know anyone you tell of Berdian will at best have their memories of it erased and at worst will mysteriously die. You will find this to be true here and in Volundr. The pitiful dwarven galaxy. You will find that while my power is weaker there it is still effectively limitless. So, if you don¡¯t want to watch your loved ones die, that information should follow you to your grave. ¡°


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    This time it was Andrew¡¯s turn to glare. ¡°You really can¡¯t help it with all these threats and bullying tactics, can you? One day you will regret the way you treated me and my people.¡±¡°Doubtful, but either way it will not be today will it, Mr. Lather? Let us move past your bluster and tell me of this dream.¡± Biaobel said a slight entreaty to his voice. ¡°No.¡±¡°You know I could force it from you if I wanted to.¡±¡°Could you now?¡±Andrew saw what he thought were a handful of purple pulses entering the god¡¯s head but the divine crown of thousands or millions of purple lines emanating from the god¡¯s head made it difficult to know if he was correct or if it was just a number of them syncing together.¡°Mr. Lather, I am needed elsewhere. This is not the end of this discussion.¡± With that, the god disappeared with the faintest magenta flash. ¡°Well, that was convenient. Probably better for you, the last time I showed him up he killed the person in the room out of embarrassment.¡±¡°Mr. Lather, you really should treat him with much more respect. The fact that you¡¯re still alive astounds me. As a person who was converted by him, I can tell you from experience that things will go much easier when you stop fighting him. He is quite generous you know.¡± Cebisi said in a tired and caring voice.¡°I¡¯m sure he is when he can completely control you.¡±¡°Do I look controlled, Mr. Lather?¡± Cebisi looked around as he said it as if to emphasize that nobody was controlling him.¡°Yeah, that purple line going into your he¡­.. you know what I¡¯m tired of this debate. Sure, you¡¯re free as a bird.¡± Andrew said with a smile. ¡°Yes, well back to what matters. As you have previously stated, Cinetica is the study of pure force without any elemental or physical nature attached to it. It was started and is still taught by Isitha Ophakeme, the second strongest of the Getl¡­¡­¡±Over the next hour Cebisi covered the Ikolis, their areas of focus, their Getl, and even some of each of their history. Andrew though was too distracted thinking about his dream and what some of it meant to pay close attention. While he heard most of it, he hadn¡¯t really processed most nor retained even half of what he did hear. Only realizing it was over when Cebisi asked if he was ready to start with today¡¯s tests. Luckily Ziggy didn¡¯t share his weak attention span and so he made a quick check to ensure he was right in his trust of Ziggy. Ziggy will you please display a chart of what Cebisi just discussed, minus the history?[No problem here is a quick summary of the Elven Ikolis


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="66">


    Ikolis


    </td>


    <td width="178">


    Area of Focus


    </td>


    <td width="182">


    Getl


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="66">


    Cinetica


    </td>


    <td width="178">


    Pure Force


    </td>


    <td width="182">


    Isitha Ophakeme


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="66">


    Dulcum


    </td>


    <td width="178">


    Elemental Earth


    </td>


    <td width="182">


    Alferi Medhja


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="66">


    Okusiga


    </td>


    <td width="178">


    Mind Control


    </td>


    <td width="182">


    Lyderis Omuwambi


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="66">


    Moti


    </td>


    <td width="178">


    Death/Soul Magics


    </td>


    <td width="182">


    Enver Biaobel


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="66">


    Rasavida


    </td>


    <td width="178">


    Alchemy/Poisons


    </td>


    <td width="182">


    Genovia Kapatee


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="66">


    Laigua


    </td>


    <td width="178">


    Elemental water


    </td>


    <td width="182">


    Seela Lahusage


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="66">


    Isati


    </td>


    <td width="178">


    Elemental fire


    </td>


    <td width="182">


    Kang Cho


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="66">


    Hiweti


    </td>


    <td width="178">


    Life/Healing


    </td>


    <td width="182">


    N''wana Ximun


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="66">


    Gyio


    </td>


    <td width="178">


    Elemental Air


    </td>


    <td width="182">


    Nafasi Vejes


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="66">


    Bariik


    </td>


    <td width="178">


    Animation/Construction


    </td>


    <td width="182">


    Vint Piron


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="66">


    Molokian


    </td>


    <td width="178">


    Space


    </td>


    <td width="182">


    Whaetu Tuman¨©


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Did this give you what you were looking for?]


    Yes, thank you, Ziggy.


    The rest of the day was a monotonous blur as Cebisi yet again methodically hurt him in new and unexciting ways. While they were resting and allowing Andrew to heal between Cebisi''s 10th and 11th test that day, Andrew was absent-mindedly doing that thing we all secretly do, trying to move things with The Force. He of course had no expectations it would work but nevertheless, he was staring at the Plasira trying to get it to move while Cebisi talked about whatever torture was up next, when suddenly a bolt of tan energy shot over to the device and made it twitch. When Cebisi turned around once again, Andrew immediately applied what he had learned with his antimagic power and really put his will into his ideas. He was immediately rewarded as a much larger bolt of tan energy flew from his hand, causing the device to jump a few inches off the ground. Luckily, its landing made almost no noise and Cebisi had been muttering to himself as he normally did while pretty the next test.


    Eat that, Luke. It might not be a lightsaber on Hoth moment, but it¡¯s better than nothing.


    Cebisi, noticing Andrew''s lack of attention and manic grin, followed his gaze to the Plasira. "Mr. Lather, this is serious work. We cannot have you distracted by your most based nature. Do you need a minute to use that and then you can come back at this with more composure?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, my most based nature? Is this where I was supposed to go number one? I have been using the toilet for that, I hope I didn¡¯t poison your tree or whatever.¡±


    ¡°I most definitely don¡¯t mean your urine Mr.Lather. Don¡¯t play coy with me Mr. Lather. We¡¯ve seen you playing with the device for weeks now. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve figured out its purpose by now.¡±


    ¡°I actually haven¡¯t, but maybe we can start with; why is that in my cell?¡±


    ¡°You are a male, correct?¡±


    ¡°Yes, last time I checked. You know because of the cleansing field I haven¡¯t been naked for weeks as I don¡¯t have to take a shower, but pretty sure all the bits are still there,¡± Andrew said with a cheeky smile.


    Cebisi paused for a quarter second while his mind processed a few pulses of the purple control line, before he responded.


    ¡°How wonderful Mr. Lather. Tonight, you should utilize the plasira so that you rid yourself of that toxic waste that might be distracting you and tomorrow we can hopefully focus.¡±


    ¡°Other than what goes into the toilet I¡¯m not sure what else I produce that would be considered toxic. I mean if you asked my exes, they¡¯d probably have some choice answers to that, but they¡¯re not here. So, care to fill me in on what do you mean by toxic waste and who told you to say that?


    ¡°I can only take so much of your word games each day, and as it seems we will not get any more useful information out of you, I will take my leave.¡±


    ¡°Ok, do you have a TV or something? This cell gets pretty boring.¡±


    ¡°Let me connect your Apanean into the collective and I¡¯ll happily ensure you get access to the elven entertainment network, no trick. All of our entertainment comes via our Apanean companions. Most humans find it quite astounding the first time they experience it. Think of any of your movies and think of experiencing it as if it was happening to you. All the feelings, any view angle, and you can even decide to experience it from any other character too. Even bystanders. ¡°


    ¡°You have to know that was one of the worst sales pitches I¡¯ve ever heard. You too can experience a movie like never before. Feel the bullets and the rain, feel the excitement and fear and you can do it from the vantage point of any character in the movie. All for the low low price of letting me rummage around in your brain and turning you into my puppet. Seriously, you can¡¯t expect me to bite on that can you?¡±


    ¡°No Mr. Lather I did not, but you can¡¯t blame us for trying. Though I was being honest it is the only way we have to give you any entertainment. It¡¯s been 10s of millennia since we¡¯ve had any other system of entertainment. I will work tonight to get some books created which might help you understand our culture, so you might learn we are not the evil foes you believe us to be. Instead, you might come to view us, as most of your race has, to be the benevolent teachers we are. That our sole purpose is to bring enlightenment and true freedom to the two galaxies.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be interested in the books, but if I were you, I wouldn¡¯t get my hopes up on all that other stuff. I¡¯ve seen enough already to know yall aren¡¯t some benevolent force looking to calm the universe and make it safe for puppies.¡±


    ¡°Well, I guess in that case, the connection to a magical collective would likely not be worth mentioning either. Who would want access to 10s of millennia of knowledge at the cost of a thought? I will see you in the morning Mr. Lather¡± Cebisi said with a fatherly smile.


    Before Andrew could say a word Cebisi blinked out.


    ¡°Funny if it wasn¡¯t for the whole mind slavery thing, that last one would interest me. If only so I can figure a way out of this place.¡± Andrew said to the empty space that Cebisis recently occupied.


    Finding himself alone once again, Andrew eagerly tried to focus his mind on the plasira, willing it to come to him. He jokingly held out his hand as if he were Luke trying to move the rocks on Dagoba. He almost pissed himself when a pale tan energy rope shot from his hand and wrapped itself around the device and immediately launched the small object back to his hand.


    Raising the plasira to the sky in triumph.


    ¡°HA!! I can¡¯t wait to show Gavin that he was wrong¡­¡­¡­.I¡­¡­actually¡­.could¡­become a jedi,¡± A sullen tone replaced his triumphant one when he realized that he might never see Gavin again. Nor anyone he cared for on Yuta or even here. Even if he managed to escape and managed to get a human ship to work, he might return to Yuta only to find a few hundred years had passed.


    Overwhelmed by the day, he laid down on the bed and curled up in a semi-fetal position, plasira still clutched in his hand as he drifted off to sleep thinking about how he might never see anyone he cared about again and instead be stuck here being a guinea pig for a creepy race of elves.

 Chapter 15 - Elven Creepos Monthly was out of stock

    "Mr. Lather, you will awaken now.¡±


    Andrew woke in a semi-fetal position still wrapped around the plasira. He was surprised to see that he had apparently not moved the previous night. Unlike every other night here, he couldn¡¯t remember dreaming and by the looks of his bed he guessed it was because he hadn¡¯t.


    ¡°I must say that your obsession with that device does not lend credence to your earlier assertion that humans need more than procreation opportunities to be happy,¡± the otherworldly voice said.


    Trying to get his bearings, Andrew sat up and looked around. He found Biaobel sitting in his normal chair. Hand out, in a signal for Andrew to take the chair across from him.  Setting the plasira on the ledge next to the bed, he got up and walked over to the offered chair and sat.


    ¡°I am only obsessed because I can¡¯t figure out its purpose, but I doubt you would be kind enough to tell me what it does?¡±


    ¡°No, Mr. Lather, that is not why I am here today. Cebisi might inform you of its purpose, but I have more pressing matters. What happened in here yesterday?¡±


    ¡°You ran away without even allowing me to make you look impotent to your subordinates?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Lather, I am not here to endure your petty attempts at provoking me. How were you able to accomplish what you did yesterday?¡±


    I knew those peeping toms were monitoring everything I do, and now they¡¯ll be even more interested knowing I can do actual magic. Who knows what weird experiments they¡¯re going to do now? Though I doubt they could be much worse, so I guess at least I have vast comic powers¡­¡­¡­¡­of moving a device that weighs nothing across a room.


    ¡°You can see everything in here I assume. Including when I poop which is a bit disturbing to think of, but seemingly not out of character for your society.¡±


    ¡°Please stop wasting my time Mr. Lather. You are correct, we could watch your every move. Just like your prisons back on your home planet. So, please stop your attempts to virtue signal your moral superiority and answer my question. Your magical abilities to date do not seem up to the task up, so how have you done this?¡± Biaobel¡¯s tone gained a slight edge to it.


    ¡°Again, I¡¯m not really sure¡­¡­¡­¡­wait did you say COULD? As in cannot currently?¡±


    ¡°It would seem so.  We were able to until just before Mr. Atari¡¯s 11th test yesterday. The one where you disrupted his minor Bariik enchantment. After that, something occurred in here and we stopped being able to remote sense this room. So, what changed, Mr. Lather? Did you gain some new insight that let you stop our sensing magic?¡±


    Did my magic somehow negate theirs? No, as I still see all the magic signatures in walls and air that have been here since I arrived, I have to imagine this is a ploy of some sort. For what end though? So, I might do or say something under the belief that he can¡¯t see or hear me. If that¡¯s it to what end, what do they want me to reveal?


    You know I could actually disrupt those enchantments, and he does too so why the game?


    ¡°Bariik, that¡¯s animation magic, correct?¡±, with a nod from the geld he continued, ¡°Ok I remember that, but I didn¡¯t do anything that should impact your remote sight. Yet I have to ask what your game is, as we both know I could stop your enchantments¡± With that Andrew pushed his will to do exactly that and one of the enchantments shattered. ¡°Not sure why I didn¡¯t sooner actually. I will say it is a relief that yall can no longer watch me poop or pick my nose. So, what¡¯s the game? why act like you can¡¯t see me?¡±


    ¡°I will not ask again for you to stop this. I am playing no game, what would I gain by doing so?  You must understand that at this moment, there are few places in my galaxy in which I cannot see and all of them are under the direct protection of another Getl, so it is more than concerning when I am unable to remote view an area not under one of their protections. Especially an area on the planet I am currently physically occupying. That would be a feat that even Wheatu would struggle with, and his command of space is second to only myself. That some human can negate my ability is most disturbing. So, I insist you tell me how you are doing this?¡±


    ¡°Biaobel you and I both know I love to get under your skin, but in this case I really don¡¯t know. Until moments ago, I hadn¡¯t turned off any of your enchantments, though I don¡¯t know why I didn¡¯t think of it sooner. Also, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve changed in any measurable way. Unless you¡¯re here to tell me differently. Could I subconsciously be blocking your ability to do magic in this cell?¡±


    Biaobel didn¡¯t even frown, yet his displeasure was written across his entire posture and if that didn¡¯t give it away the tiny balls of pale tan light that shot from his eyes as he glared at Andrew was a clear sign.  They streaked from Biaobel and struck Andrew in the stomach. Which caused him to be rocketed back and into the back wall. This time the wall did not envelope him like it had before. Instead, it unceremoniously bounced him off it like it was a wall mat in a dojo, sending him sprawling along the floor.


    [Multiple contusions detected]


    [Perforating Trauma detected lower left abdomen. No organs have been compromised. Blood loss detected. Seek medical attention immediately. Would you like me to administer pain medication?]


    No Ziggy the healing field should be by at any moment.


    And as if on cue the familiar greenfield swept the room, instantly healing his wound as it went. Andrew stood with what the little dignity he could muster and walked back to his chair.


    [Blood loss no longer detected]


    [Abdomen perforation fully healed]


    As Andrew regained his chair, he leveled a gaze on Biaobel.


    ¡°That test was most productive, we have established you are not blocking magic. My own and our emplaced restoration magics still work. Unless you feel the need to have another demonstration of it? If not tell me how you are blocking my viewing.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I think I¡¯m quite assured you¡¯re still able to hurt me, if I had thought otherwise do you think I would have just sat there instead of trying to escape? In all honesty, I don¡¯t know. Though I am empathic to your plight, it must be extremely frustrating to have a bacterium thwart your will, especially one who doesn¡¯t even know it is doing it.¡±


    ¡°Quite so.  You are quite the enigma, Mr. Lather. I am unsure if I should continue in our studies or destroy you. I am quite leaning towards destroying you, so you never have the opportunity to surprise me again. If you would only let me into your mind, then I wouldn''t have to even consider destroying you as you¡¯d be one of my followers and I would know your true heart.¡±


    ¡°The old let me control you so I don¡¯t have to kill you routine. I thought we understood each other better than that by now.  If you want to control me, you¡¯ll have to do it through force, I won¡¯t let you in without a fight.¡± Andrew said, all the while smiling like he was talking to an old friend.


    ¡°So, what shall we do with you then?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m guessing dropping me back off in Yuta is out of the question?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but not just because I would not so easily give you up for study. The distance is too far for us. When we met the crew of the Orinasa and found out about human abilities, our intent was to keep a few of you and your ship for study and send the rest back to where you came from. When we brought this plan to the late captain Waarheid, she was kind enough to provide us with the coordinates to Yuta. It was then I found that even I could not reach that far. I tried many things to allow my mind to reach over that distance, but none of them proved up to the challenge set before me. With no other options I convened the Unesisa Rada and together we performed a ritual of teleportation the likes of which this universe has never seen. Yet this proved to be insufficient as well and cost me a number of you humans to my fellow Getl for their troubles. This is when we turned to your ship so we might glean the secrets of how a race with such little magical knowledge was able to teleport such a distance when we were not. Yet just as we approached the Orinasa to study it, it slipped from our grasp.  Your wife along with it. It was not until subsequent questioning of our remaining prisoners that we found that she was the one prisoner we needed to properly understand your ship.¡±


    Biaobel paused for a moment, ¡°The fact that we were not able to reintegrate her into our flock was a loss that cost many for their failures.¡±


    The rage that emanated from the elven god¡¯s eyes was enough to keep Andrew from talking. Both sat in awkward silence for a min or more as the god composed himself.


    ¡°As we no longer possessed any examples of your ¡®Jump¡¯ drives we moved our attention to your other devices. There too we have been unsuccessful in integrating your technology,¡± he said the word with disdain, ¡°with our magic. We found that some parts of your devices drink up our magical energies and others seem antagonistic to our energies. So antagonistic that we lost an entire facility and a few of your fellow humans to one of the explosions. There seems that no matter how strict a punishment for failure or how large the reward for success I offer, it is never enough to drive a breakthrough in this area.  Now you might grasp why I am so intrigued by how your implant is working. Honestly, if it was not fo the fact that I worry if we were to kill you that it would cause an issue with your implant I would have destroyed you long ago for your vast insolence. ¡° as Biaobel finished his statement he reached out a hand as if he might pluck the device right out of Andrew¡¯s skull.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Andrew reflexively moved his head back a few inches to move it out of the god¡¯s reach, before smiling and saying, ¡°So you do have limit¡­..hmmm that will not get me what I want, will it? May I ask a few questions, some of which might help me understand what might be different with my situation and implant versus the ones you have studied?¡±


    ¡°You are correct, taunting me will get neither of us what we want.  Yes, I will answer a reasonable number of questions, if it will get us to a place where we both may gain.¡±


    ¡°First, what did you mean by ¡®the Orinasa slipped from your grasp along with my wife¡¯?¡±


    ¡°As I said before we had custody of your wife for a few months.  When the Tribe attempted to ¡®Free¡¯ my humans. We destroyed their ships quite easily. Though not before many of the trolls made it to the surface and were trapped. They remained here hidden on Ekkomera for longer than I care to say. In the end they were able to escape only because I was distracted by other events at the time and because your wife was able to repair and activate the Orinasa.  Though in their haste they jumped into Dwarven space and were captured. Though through standard dwarven incompetence and the intelligence of your wife. A few of her crew ( her amongst them) and most of the Tribe members were able to commandeer a dwarven ship and escape with her. Leaving most of their human brethren to the dwarves and their evil machinations. Vernfock, the Tribe¡¯s homeworld is a mystery to us. We know it¡¯s in the blight, the area between our barrier and the dwarven fence, and we know it¡¯s both a balanced world and a naturally hidden world. Hidden from even my vast senses. This is why I can¡¯t tell you the fate of your wife. We have not heard even a tale of her in almost four decades.  One thing you will likely not enjoy hearing is she was pregnant before she escaped our facilities and escaped with the father.¡±


    ¡°By choice?¡± Andrew said through and teeth so gritted it was almost incomprehensible.


    ¡°Who¡¯s to say with you humans?¡± Biaobel said with a grin.


    ¡°One day I will make you regret you didn¡¯t handle this better!¡± Andrew¡¯s voice took on an eerie calmness as he said it. As if it were a spell he was projecting into the future.


    ¡°And one day you¡¯ll realize I¡¯m further out of your reach than your wife is.¡± A Cheshire smile grew on the god¡¯s face.


    The two sat staring at each other for a moment. Andrew in an attempt to quell his ever growing rage and Biaobel for a reason only known to him.


    The stare was broken when Biaobel, smiled as if he just realized something, and a purple line shot from him and attempted to connect to Andrew. Andrew¡¯s eyes narrowed, and the purple line stopped inches from his head. As it did it vaporized into a purple mist.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Apparently, your magic feeds off your emotions. Quite interesting. Though I can see you and I are done for today, Mr. Lather.¡±


    With that, and a miniscule magenta flash, Biaobel was gone.


    An hour went by before Andrew was calm enough for any thought that didn¡¯t involve killing that elven prick. It was then he decided to test Biaobel¡¯s claim that they couldn¡¯t view his cell. He started by talking at length about how the entire Elven race seemed to be under an energy Ponzi scheme of control.  Yet, no guards arrived, nor did the Geald. He yelled loudly about details the Geald had previously instructed him not to speak out loud and still nobody showed up to stop him.  After an hour of this Andrew started to believe that it might be true that they couldn¡¯t watch him. Though why this was the case, he did not know.


    If it¡¯s true and that it happened right after I used the force. Could it be that my magic is somehow different than that of elven magic? Maybe using my magic negates their magic? No because the enchantments were still in place, and they claimed they claimed they still couldn¡¯t see.


    After some more contemplation on whether they could or couldn¡¯t see him, he decided it didn¡¯t matter. Either they already know he could do magic, or they don¡¯t. As far as he¡¯s concerned it didn¡¯t change the calculus of his situation and so he diverted his attention to practicing his magic. After numerous times of making the Plasira fly to and from him, he felt he needed to work on finer levels of control. He decided that making t float and slowly move around the room would take precision and mastery he didn¡¯t possess. This though proved more difficult than Andrew would have guessed and so he sat on his bed and practiced first to float the device in the air. He figured after he got that down he could work on making it move.


    Another hour pasted before  Cebisi appeared in a magenta flash and luckily for Andrew he did so when Andrew was pushing the plasira away from himself, as it hit Cebisi softly on his left cheek before tumbling away.


    A look of abject horror grew across Cebisi¡¯s face.


    ¡°Please tell me you hadn¡¯t just used that before you threw it away.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t, as I still have no clue what that device is or how it functions. I¡¯m just tossing it around because I¡¯m bored. Can you get me a copy of Elven Creepos Monthly or something?¡±


    ¡°You are actually in luck. Elven Creepos Monthly was out of stock, but the Geald was kind enough to create some reading materials, especially for you. That can come later though, today I am teaching you a bit about our society.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but I was instructed to do so and so I am.  My guess on their motives is so you will start to understand we are the good guys.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, ¡®the good guys¡¯ who breed humans for experimentation and treat other species like tools?¡±


    ¡°That is a gross misrepresentation of what and who we are.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really so you don¡¯t breed humans so you can experiment on us?¡±


    ¡°Well, that is different, as it is important research¡­.¡±


    ¡°Is it now, come on man. He knows I¡¯m not going to convert like this, so why teach me this stuff?¡±


    ¡°I really have no clue, but do you want to learn about it or not?¡±


    ¡°Do I really have a choice?¡±


    ¡°I guess not Mr.Lather, but please try to listen. Elven society started when Biaobel and his fellow Getl awoke on a planet, a planet which would later be named Biaobela. In recognition of his greatness and benevolence, but this story starts before then and long before the creation of the Unesisa Rada. Amongst them was the lost Getl, whose name is not for you to know. As there is great power in names, even the name of one who has passed on. The Getl each awoke with knowledge of their powers and that of the cosmos, but they knew not where they came from nor why or how they were created. Some theorized they were created by magic itself to bring order to the universe. Others believe they were created from the vast love of the universe and with the purpose to grow and spread that love to its creations. Whatever the reason and whatever the purpose for which the Getl were created, in their infinite wisdom and compassion, they created the elves. They empowered their first children with the power to command cosmic energies and sent us forth to guide and support all other living things in the ways of love for all living things. Next, they created the dwarves, so that we might have friends and those friends would create wondrous things for the Elves. Things which might enable the elves in their mission, as well as things that entertain their Elven leaders. Finally, they created the trolls, so they could work the fields for the others and so all might be fed. As the trolls needed both the ability to work with machinery and have magic to help the plants grow, the Getls enabled them with limited ability to control each of those opposing energies. Though not to the extent of either of the other two races.


    And so it went for Millennia, the elves guiding, the dwarves creating, and the trolls producing. Until one day the dwarves grew jealous of our power and beauty. So enraged with lust, one of their number, through treachery that shall not be named, killed an elf, so he may have the elf¡¯s wife. When she denied him, he would not accept it and in doing so brought about the first night and the first darkness known to the universe.  The Getls, outraged by his actions, destroyed the dwarf who was responsible and cleansed the wife, yet the darkness returned that very day and every day since. When the Getl sensed the jealousy and lust radiating from the Dwarves, they approached them so they might find out what caused this jealousy to grow. The dwarves claimed that the Getls loved the elves first amongst their creation and unfairly favored them. The Gelts denied it, pointing to the various creations which only existed because of the gifts that they had bestowed on the dwarves. The Dwarves were not swayed for greed and jealousy clouded their minds. Next, the Getl showed them how the nighttime and its monsters were the products of their jealousy and greed. Yet instead of seeing the error of their ways and throwing themselves on the mercy of the Getls and showing gratitude to their benevolent rules, the dwarves attempted to attack the Getls for they knew not gratitude.  For in the depths of their mines, an unknown force had corrupted them, sowing only lust, greed, and jealousy in their hearts.  The Getls in their supreme benevolence, stayed their hands. Instead, they banished the dwarves to the neighboring galaxy so that they would plague the Elves no longer. In this action they showed their benevolence once more by going so far as gifting them a number of trolls so they might be able to farm and eat.


    With the banishment of the Dwarves, under the watchful eye of our benevolent leaders Elven culture flourished. While they ensured that our every need was met, they still encouraged our innovators to to create greater and greater things. Until one day they showed us something truly amazing. They gave us the ability to travel the heavens. It was then that we found that they had spent the century before exploring the nearby star systems looking for new homes for elves, so that we might spread their love across Chennon. In that search, they found three habitable planets orbiting a single yellow dwarf star. The system would later be called Ihito and the planets were nicknamed the three sisters.   The Getls timed everything perfectly, finding these planets as the population on Biaobela was reaching a mass that could impact the life on Biaobela. So out of our love of all living things,  many of us moved and populated the sisters. This expansion continued for countless millennia as our people spread unabated to the far reaches of our galaxy. Until the betrayal at Adyam. ¡°


    Hmm I wonder if my wife is still alive and if she had that baby. Was it a boy or a girl? Did she replace me so fast or was it part of this sick elven experiment? Screw Biaobel and his tricks. He knew the one thing he could say to send me reeling.


    ¡°Mr. Lather are you paying attention?¡±


    ¡°Sorry it¡¯s a lot take in after what your boss told me today. Can we continue tomorrow?"


    Cebisi tensed and with a look of annoyance opened his mouth to respond when Andrew saw a purple pulse enter Cebisi¡¯s head and the elf untensed before responding.


    ¡°Yes, we can. Though our history is important and it¡¯s one you should know, so I¡¯ll come back when you¡¯re less distracted.¡±


    Almost no sooner than the magenta flash  and the after image of the elf had faded, than the plasira streaked across the room and into Andrew¡¯s hand.


    ¡°It¡¯s going to be a long night.¡±

 Chapter 16- A freaking ANAL PROBE!!!!

    Andrew woke up late, he had stayed up practicing his magic while occasionally saying something he wasn¡¯t supposed to, to test whether the elves were still able to remote sense him or not. So far it seemed they were either hiding it very well or Biaobel has not been lying when he claimed something had blocked their view.


    It had been a week since he first performed Cinetica and in the interim, he had spent his days listening to Cebisi educate him on the virtues of Elves, the sins of the Dwarves, and the uselessness of the Trolls. Honestly, even with things heavily biased towards the Elves, the Dwarves seemed more fun and more in line with his way of thinking, but he had kept that soundly to himself. He had also been informed of yet another race that he was not aware of, the Androids. These were seemed to be the Dwarven equivalent of a golem, but they, according to Cebisi, had made a grave mistake and gave them free will. Apparently, this resulted in an Android war, and eventually, the Androids gained equal status in the Dwarven empires as the Dwarves themselves. A fact that clearly disgusted Cebisi to a great deal.


    As with last night, his nights were spent practicing his magic while occasionally trying to get the elves to react to what he was saying or doing, so he¡¯d know for certain if they could see him or not.


    There¡¯s just no way that I can block someone like that bastard. He¡¯s supposedly 90 thousand or so years old. How could I possibly be something new to a person like that? I mean I want to believe him because that would mean I¡¯m awesome, but Lather that¡¯s probably exactly what that scheming little prick wants you to think.


    But what does he gain out of gaming me? See that¡¯s the question I need to figure out because I know he has plans for me, but I have no clue what those plans might be or why. With someone like that you know whatever it is, it likely has multiple ways to pay off for him. But what are those payoffs and why is it worth all the hassle I¡¯ve put him through?


    ¡°Ah wonderful, you are already awake Mr. Lather. Were you thinking about me?¡± came the cool otherworldly voice of Biaobel. Who had appeared behind Andrew, sitting in the seat he always took.


    Andrew spoke up as he crossed the room to take his seat as had become their ritual.


    ¡°I was actually. I must say, with you I¡¯m skeptical that it¡¯s just a coincidence that you appeared when you did. So, not only can you teleport in with only the faintest trace, but apparently, you¡¯ve been reading my thoughts as well?¡± Andrew said in a flat tone of someone who had just figured out their wife had been cheating on them all along.


    ¡°No nothing like that Mr. Lather, just a lucky guess. Well, that and having been around enough people to know their expressions. That is another place our people converge. Our facial expressions are remarkably the same. Uncannily so. I get why the Dwarves, Elves, Trolls, Golems, and the accursed Androids do. They were created by the Getl or were created by a race we created. So that makes sense, but you and your people, by any logical line of thought, should not have exactly the same gestures. Yet outside of a few notable outliers, you do. ¡°


    ¡°I mean our body shapes are very similar as well. Maybe it¡¯s the optimum shape for intelligent life to thrive and maybe those expressions are what they are because they¡¯re the most efficient way to get information across. Though with the level of similarity that seems like a shaky argument at best. Have you ever met any other intelligent life in all your years?¡±


    ¡°No, though I have suspicions that I will one day.¡± The god said with a nod and a lovely deep chuckle.


    ¡°You have jokes.¡±


    The God answered Andrew with only a wry smile.


    ¡°So, your gealdness what brings you to my lonely cell today? Decided to let me in on this?¡± Andrew said while picking up the Plasira and holding it out for the god to see.


    ¡°Please stop playing with that and no I am not here for that. I came today to see if you have figured out what has changed inside of you and how you are now able to block my sight.¡±


    ¡°You know I¡¯ve actually spent quite a bit of time thinking about that and what I¡¯ve come to is that I can¡¯t and this is all some ruse of yours to try to get me to believe I can. Though I honestly can¡¯t come up with what you hope to gain out of it. Perhaps after millennia, you¡¯re simply bored and it¡¯s fun to watch me act like an idiot thinking you can¡¯t watch. So, what is it?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Lather we both know if I had some elaborate plan, you would not get me to tell you it that simply. We also both know you would not trust anything I said, as it would likely be another ruse to gain your trust. That said I too have no clue what I could get out of convincing you of such a thing. Another thing we both know is that you only brought this up to gauge my reactions and to see how sincere you perceive me to be. So, Mr. Lather, how did I do?¡±


    Andrew smiled before answering, ¡°Worryingly well. Though I guess after all this time at the top you wouldn¡¯t be someone I¡¯d want to play poker with. Honestly, though if you can¡¯t see me when you¡¯re not here then I¡¯m unsure of what changed. Unless becoming a Cinetica master would have that effect?¡±


    ¡°We both know you are no Cinetica master. Point of fact Cinetica is one of the harder of the Ikoli for humans to pick up I am unsure why, as humans seem to be second only to elves in their abilities to perform magic. Yet something about your race seems to make it an art your species has an extremely difficult time mastering. This is a subject of much research, as it is quite the enigma.


    Even if you were yet again somehow different and able to perform it, Cinetica would be useless against far scrying.¡±


    The conversation lulled as Andrew considered what to ask next, before he settled on asking about the lack of trash service.


    ¡°I noticed there is no way to dispose of trash in my cell. Do yall not have a way to dispose of trash?¡±


    ¡°Why were you hoping to escape through the trash chute like on so many of your movies, Mr. Lather?¡±


    Andrew slightly sheepishly responded, ¡±Noooooo, that would be ummmmm silly of course.¡±


    Biaobel leveled his gaze flatly on Andrew, ¡°I am not sure why, but I expected more out of you Mr. Lather than some cheesy movie plot escape. What were you hoping, to find a princess to jump down the chute with, maybe furry humanoid as well? Seriously Mr. Lather you insult me. Why would you need a trash chute? Do you produce a lot of trash?¡±


    ¡°Nooooo, ¡°Andrew said even more sheepishly than before.


    ¡°Even if you somehow found a trash chute and jumped into it. All you would accomplish is feeding your biomass to my lovely tree.¡±


    ¡°That sounds horrible.¡±


    ¡°One would imagine so. I suggest you don¡¯t waste all of the energy I¡¯m about to sink into you, by trying it. Speaking of, in thinking of our previous human test subjects, you will begin an intensive magical training regime which has proven to be the most effective method in growing magical abilities in them. ¡°


    The chair he sat in rapidly grew vines that surrounded his arms and legs before they turned into restraints, locking them into place. Another set of vines grew to encase his head leaving openings for his face and ears before it too hardened into a restraint.


    ¡°Well, this turned dark quickly. I take it this method is less than pleasant?¡± Andrew threw out there as he tried to use his anti-magic power to break the restraints.


    It came as no surprise to him when it failed to work. As he suspected the plant material holding him was normal wood, the magic had been in what caused to grow so fast. He debated trying his cinetica power, but doubted the small amount of force he could muster would make a difference and so he saw no reason to tip of the Geald to his new power.


    ¡°No, Mr. Lather it will not. Doubly so in your case, as most humans do not have the opportunity to have it administered by someone as powerful as myself. Though do not fret, this will hurt, but as I have proven to you before you will not die as I will not allow it. Fair warning, if you scream too much, I will have you gagged.¡±


    A moment or two went by while Andrew contemplated his fate and tried to calculate any way he might avoid it. As seconds turned to a minute, he had started to sweat and become anxious at what must lay in store for him if it took someone like Biaobel this long to prepare. When that minute turned to 2, Andrew couldn¡¯t take it any longer and spoke up.


    ¡°Can we get on with thi¡­¡­AAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAaaaa¡±


    Andrew¡¯s taunting was cut off as rainbow-colored river of energy exploded from the Geald¡¯s chest and flowed into Andrew. At first, Andrew was surprised and relieved to find it didn¡¯t hurt, better than that he felt amazing and more powerful than he had ever felt before. This feeling intensified over the next minute or two until Andrew felt that could take on the Geald himself with the power he was receiving and so, drunk with power, he used his cinetica to blast away the restraints. He had underestimated his power and the chair was vaporized was a large crater of material where the chair had been. Yet he and Biaobel seemed unimpacted by the explosion of power.


    Andrew smiled and leveled his gaze on the Geald yet as he felt his magic coalescing into a strike the Geald seemed to be unphased and instead of stopping the torrent of energy going to Andrew. He increased the flow and Andrew went from feeling like he could do anything to screaming, semi catatonic, in pain as it seemed that the magical energy was rapidly incinerating his nerves as it traveled through his system.


    ¡°Is that all you have for me, Mr. Lather? While that was an impressive display. I expected more.¡°


    After a few moments, Biaobel continued.


    ¡°It appears I have overestimated you, I had suspected that there was no power in the universe that was capable of keeping your teeth together,¡±Biaobel said with a wicked smile as the torrent increased until it just felt like his whole body was made of intense pain.


    Andrew had indeed lost the ability to talk or do anything else as he was overwhelmed with energy. The intensity of it sent his body into massive convulsions. His head repeatedly slammed into the floor, and he could do nothing but groan as a defense.


    The last thing he remembered before blacking out was the final taunt from Biaobel.


    ¡°I bet you wished you had not revealed your new ability and accomplished nothing more than to destroy the exact restraints that were designed to protect from this unavoidable outcome.¡±


    A reserved Cheshire grin grew on the god¡¯s face as Andrew¡¯s world went to black.


    *********


    ¡°WOW look at this beach, Lather!!!!¡± Linnie beamed as she deboarded the plane and turned to grab his hand in excitement.


    ¡°You know we¡¯re not on the mission right now and there¡¯s that little detail that you know we got married yesterday, so maybe you can start calling by Andrew when it¡¯s just the two of us?¡± he said with a silly smile.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°Oh whatever, Andrew. Seriously though look at that water. Does it get any more azure and clear than that?¡±


    Andrew stopped to take in the scene, but as he forgot to tell Linnie his plan he was quickly jerked off balance from the hand that still embraced Linnie¡¯s.


    ¡°Sorry babe, I should warn you before I stop like that.¡±


    ¡°I bet that happens almost every flight to so some couple as they deboard, but I mean really just look at it!¡±


    ¡°It is gorgeous that¡¯s for sure, but you¡¯re the gem that truly shines here babe.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sure that¡¯s what you¡¯re thinking, and not about that girl over there?¡± Linnie said, the mirth draining out of her voice when she noticed the woman in the bikini on the beach in front of them.


    ¡°Can we not do this today?¡± Andrew said in a somewhat defeated tone.


    ¡°Yeah, let''s go get checked in, I have a gift I want to give you anyhow.¡±


    They did the normal stuff people do when they get to a new location and after retrieving their bags, they hailed a cab and headed to their cabana. It was a quaint one-room palapa on short piers with a deck surrounding it. The deck had a long rope bridge to shore attached to the southside and a set of stairs leading down to their little private beach island to the north. There were lounge chairs artfully placed on the east and west sides of the deck with a door leading into the palapa from both directions. Their island and palapa looked like the 100 others that fanned out from a central clubhouse for the resort. They were pleased to find they had lucked into the only private island with a palm tree.


    They quickly got settled into their new place in the manner all newlywed couples do. After a brief rest, they decided it was time to visit their beach. As Linnie opened her suitcase to get her swimsuit, she let out a small sound. It wasn¡¯t quite a squeal but a small sound of excitement. Andrew started to turn to see what had gotten her to make the sound but came up short.


    ¡°No, don¡¯t turn around yet!¡± Linnie excitedly yelled while trying to get her swimsuit fully in place.


    ¡°Ummm you know we just ¡­¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know we did big guy, but I have a surprise and don¡¯t want you to see it yet.¡±


    After a few interesting moments of listening to the sounds of tape being cut and a package being opened Linnie finally spoke up.


    ¡°Wow, they did a great job on this. Ok, you can turn around now.¡±


    As he did so he was taken aback that this gorgeous sight in front of him would be in his future for the rest of his life. Linnie stood there in a stunning and stylish one-piece. A few seconds later he realized he was gawking and only then did he notice she was holding something.


    ¡°Wow is that your device on a necklace?¡±


    ¡°I know it¡¯s a bit silly, but I got it mounted on a necklace, so you would always have something to remember me by. I just felt it was something that you could never get from somebody else. Sorry if you expected more.


    ¡°Are you kidding me this is amazing! Seriously. A MAzING. What more could a guy want in life, but his drop-dead gorgeous wife in that swimsuit giving him her most prized invention? Seriously this is amazing, but this pales in comparison to you.¡±


    Linnie¡¯s face beamed while simultaneously blushing a deep shade of red.


    ¡°Well, I hope you mean everything you just said,¡± Linnie said with some trepidation tinging her voice.


    ¡°I do!!!¡± Andrew said as he took the necklace and slipped it over his neck.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you like it, let¡¯s get to the beach before we lose the sun. Your gift for me can wait for later, ¡° she said as she playfully smacked him and ran out the door.


    He chased her outside without a second thought. Catching up to her just in time to see her on the beach the sun had started to set behind her. When she turned around, she blessed him with her rare, but awe-inspiring smile.


    Ziggy please capture this moment.


    [Capture Taken. Saving to the folder labeled Honeymoon.]


    [Mr. Lather as you have forgotten to get your wife a present. Would you like me to rectify this for you?]


    Yes, Ziggy, and thank you.


    [To serve is my purpose. I will have something delivered as soon as possible.]


    ¡°Babe, I know I should know this, and I hope you don¡¯t reconsider our marriage, but do you mind telling me the name of this again?¡± He said while holding up the device which was now hanging from his neck.


    ¡°Man, I can really pick them, can¡¯t I? Maybe my dad was right,¡± she teased, ¡°Oh thank you for this thing that I know is the most important thing you¡¯ve ever invented, but I can¡¯t remember what it is.¡± The mirth clear in her voice.


    ¡°It¡¯s called a¡­¡­¡­.You shall awake now.¡± Linnie had started to say before her voice morphed into that of Biaobel.


    ********


    As his eyes opened, he was greeted with more daggers of pain stabbing his brain by way of his ocular nerves.


    ¡°Well at least I¡¯m not dead I guess¡±


    He realized then that he was lying on his back with his arms and legs sprawled awkwardly as if he had fell down playing twister. His left eye was swollen half shut and his damage silhouette and a nice pattern of yellow spread across his body with a few orange spots thrown in for good measure. Including a rather large one which covered most of the left side of his face.


    Once his right eye could focus he saw Biaobel intently peering down at him.


    ¡°Ah, you survived. I have high hopes for what we can achieve with you.¡± Biaobel said before he winked out of existence in a small, but very painful, magenta flash.


    Man, that guy sucks so bad, I can¡¯t wait to put a stop to his arrogance. Speaking of which, lets see if his little trick did anything.


    Ziggy, please show me my character sheet.


    <table style="width: 90.0081%">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Demographics


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Name:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    Andrew Lather


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Race:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    Human


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Height:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    1.85m


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Weight:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    99kgs


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Sex:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    Male


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Age:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    39


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Hair Color:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    Black


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Eyes:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    Central Heterochromia: Green with amber nebula-like inner ring and Limbal outer ring


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Guild/Ikolis:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    Cinetica


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Clan:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    N/A


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Rank


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    Akeo


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Title


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    N/A


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Statistics


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Strength:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    4


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Intelligence:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Reflexes:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    3


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Willpower:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    6


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Fortitude:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    4


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Persuasion:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Soul


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    4


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Mana Pool


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    20


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Reaction Points:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    130


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Mana Regen


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    3/minute


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Speed


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    50


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Initiative Modifier:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    6


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Skills


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Category Name


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    Level (Specialization)


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Category Name


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    Level (Specialization)


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Athletics:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    1


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Bartering


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Awareness:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    3


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Melee:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Technology:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    4 (Implants)


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Security:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Diplomacy:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    2


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Stealth:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Dodge:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    2


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Firearms:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    33


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    First Aid:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    3


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Survival


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    3


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Hand to Hand:


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    1


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Implants


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    Slots


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    3


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    Control Worm Integrated Kata


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Displays important data to the user through a vision overlay. Can also connect to the internet, show movies, and take phone calls. Continual monitoring health.


    After Control worm integration gives ability to see magic auras and unlocked magical potential of the user.


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    Unidentified


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Shielded -Unknown


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Enchantments


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    Slots


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    2


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    None


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Powers


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Name


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    Rarity


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Effect


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    Mana Cost


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Did I do that?


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    Unique


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    You can disable any magical effect that has a duration longer than 15 seconds, even if that duration is infinite. Willpower + Soul check against the original caster''s Soul and a moderate modifier. If another magic user is present (including the original caster) they can add 1/4 of their soul rating to that of the caster''s to increase the difficulty of disabling an emplaced magical effect.


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    2


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    The Eternal Sunshine of the Closed-off Mind


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    Unique


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Makes your mind closed off to mind control. This includes magical mind-based communications.


    DR rating of all mind-based powers used against the subject is increased by 10. If the subject concentrates on blocking an opponent the DR Increases to 10+ Willpower of Subject


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    1/rnd when concentrating on blocking.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    My Will is My Own


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    Unique


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Reduces the impact of planetary alignments on powers and abilities of the owner by up to -6DR. So for medium, strong and complete the DR penalties are negated. For exclusionary the dr penalty would be +4 DR instead of +10 dr. Null planets still negate ability to use powers.


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    None


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Akeo Cinetica


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    Common


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    Basic implementation of Cinetic power. With this, you can move objects up to Willpower * 4 in kilograms of mass per limb used. Speed of objects moved is determined by Willpower. Speed will be up to 2ft/ willpower point per second or bind two objects with


    Willpower * 50 newtons of force.


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    2/limb/minute


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 12.3167%">


    Blur


    </td>


    <td style="width: 10.9191%">


    Uncommon


    </td>


    <td style="width: 53.7666%">


    The user uses Cinetica to bend the light waves around them slightly. +Intelligence as a DR Penalty to anyone trying to detect them


    </td>


    <td style="width: 17.753%">


    5/minute


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    While Andrew had quite a few gains, like a title, new powers, and more mana all he could think about was the unidentified implant.


    What in the hell did he put in me?


    Ziggy, please identify the unidentified implant.


    [Mr. Lather, if I could do so it would have already appeared on your read-out. It appears to be shielded and without my integration with the control worm I doubt I would even be able to detect it.]


    Ziggy where is this implant?


    [While it is very hard to pinpoint with my current sensors, it appears to be located 4ft into your large intestine.]


    ¡°A freaking ANAL PROBE!!!! Creepy elven bastards.¡±

 Chapter 17 - SAFETY THIRD!!!!!

    ¡°Cebisi, what have y''all been doing to me for the last four days, and why can¡¯t I remember any of it?¡± Andrew asked the moment the elf appeared.


    It came out more desperate and far angrier than Andrew had wanted, but after hours of stewing on the fact that he had a four-day gap in his memory, he was a pot ready to boil over.


    He had become aware of the missing time when he was going through his daily ritual where he calculated the number of earth days since his capture.


    ******


    Ziggy please verify 135 earth days, 10hrs and 48mins have passed since we have been captured


    [That is incorrect, 139 earth days, 16hrs and 22mins have passed since your capture]


    Ziggy that can¡¯t be right. Please reverify how many earth days have passed since my capture.


    [139 earth days, 16hrs and 23 mins have passed. Mr. Lather, I believe your calculations to account for the 4days, 5hours, 34mins that you slept since we last spoke.]


    ******


    ¡°Mr. Lather, I can assure you that nothing untoward has been done to you. Your mind and your soul just needed a rest so you could consolidate the power granted to you by our most generous benefactor. It should be of little surprise that you slept for days after receiving such an immense blessing. I would suspect you can feel the increased magical potential in your body. Can you not?¡±


    Andrew was about to angrily retort, but he could feel something was different and his curiosity won. He checked his character sheet. He was surprised to see that in fact yes, his mana pool had increased by 50% while he slept. It was now sitting at a whopping 30 points! His anger gave way to excitement, and he found he couldn¡¯t wait for Cebisi to leave. Once the elf did, he could test not only his new power but also his new mana pool.


    He was unsure of what reaction points were, but he found that they had also increased from 130 to 150. From his time playing tabletop and video game RPGs he felt that they likely had something to do with combat, but as he hadn¡¯t monitored them he wasn¡¯t really sure of their purpose. An oversight he decided need to be fix.


    Ziggy please set up displays for mana and reaction points so I might monitor them in real time.


    [Affirmative]


    Two bars appeared at the top of his screen, just to the left of his damage silhouette, one labeled Reaction points and one right below it labeled Mana. Both bars were currently full.


    It was then he looked through the overlayed character sheet onto the face of the elf patiently awaiting a response.


    ¡°It appears there have been some improvements, yes,¡± Andrew said in curt tone, hoping to dissuade the Elf from probing further.


    ¡°While I am personally unversed in this method of human improvement. I would have expected no less when you receive a direct blessing from none other than Geald himself and suspect you might be understating your gains. It matters not if you are, just know as your Soul harmonizes once more you will likely see smaller improvements over the next few days and yet again in a month or so as your soul and body find an equilibrium once more.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s something to look forward to, I guess. Thought I doubt he¡¯ll give me enough power to use my abilities to get out of here, would he?¡±


    ¡°Little chance of that. While you are one of the rare humans to catch his eye, no human possesses the potential needed to get out of this place. Especially while the Geald himself is on planet. I mean I myself would not be able to escape the very cell we sit in, if I was not allowed to. Let us not dwell on captivity and instead get back to more exciting subjects, my Geald informed me that you are one of the rare humans able to weld Cinetica, is this true?¡±


    ¡°It would seem so.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s most impressive, your race has so few Cinetica wielders, two in fact. Well, two in our previous captive stock that is, three including yourself. To be clear that is three out of the millions of humans currently residing in Human research facilities across Chennon. In fact this facility is envied by the research teams of the other Getl as we have the only humans capable of Cinetica. My hypothesis is that it has to do with how we grant power to humans,¡± Cebisi continued unabated despite having seen Andrew''s expression continue to get increasingly dower as he had been talking about their ¡°captive stock¡± as if they were animals he was researching.


    ¡°Let me guess, you bred them together to see if you could create more?¡± Andrew said in a flat tone.


    ¡°Precisely, we were lucky that one was a male and one a female, but no matter how many babies they made, or that we incubated for them, not a single Cinetica user was found. We tried breeding them to each other and back to their parents to see if a genetic link could be established. They¡­¡±The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°What happened to those offspring?¡± Andrew interjected displeasure plain on his face.


    ¡°Oh, nothing like that Mr. Lather. They are now part of our larger genetic pool for research.¡±


    ¡°Oh, how lucky for them!¡± Andrew said coolly and with a mock smile.


    ¡°Quite s¡­.,¡±Cebisi having realized Andrew was not genuine in his smile continued in a matter-of-fact tone. His voice lost any science geek excitement it once contained, ¡±Whatever you might think, they have a great life here. They have been released from the burdens of ¡®Freedom¡¯. Here they get a life free of starvation, sickness, work, or injury stresses and their genetics are getting passed on further than if the test subjects had been left to their own decisions. This release has had the expected outcome as well, their lifespans have increased by almost 50% from base.¡±


    Andrew put his hand to his head and spoke with a womanly southern drawl as if he were Scarlett O¡¯Hara herself, ¡°Oh, if only I could be so lucky as to be stuck in an isolation room to be studied by elves and my only human contact is occasionally being forced to breed another mind-controlled slave. ¡°


    Andrew continued, the warm southern accent quickly froze until his voice had an icy sheen,¡± Oh, wait that pretty much is my life minus the non-consensual breeding part.¡±


    ¡°Do not worry that will be arranged,¡± Cebisi said with an uncharacteristically cold a mocking smile.


    ¡°Try it! I won¡¯t be part of your weird breeding program, even if I weren¡¯t married. While you people seem to not understand consent matters, I haven¡¯t, and unless you forgot you can¡¯t enthrall me.¡±


    Andrew¡¯s body tensed as if it was a ballista string ready to fire, clearly ready to fight once more. Cebisi replied only with a smile that felt to Andrew like a virtual pat on the head. Andrew noted a few purple pulses enter the elven¡¯s head before Cebisi relaxed and then without preamble, then started into the day¡¯s propaganda lesson.


    ¡°Today we shall cover the second major dwarven betrayal. This event occurred millennia later when we found our lost cousins once more. Our reunion happened on the near-mythical planet of Adyam. At the time it was one of those rare worlds where life magic welled and made every living thing on it nearly immortal. Yet that was not what made it trule stand apart nor what made it such an advantageous spot for our reunion. It was the first world we had found without an alignment to magic or tech energies. As such both magic and tech energies were able to flow freely without impacting each other. To give you an idea of what that matters, normally our two energies are opposites. No worse than that. On most worlds they are antithetical to each other at best and at worst they can be active antagonist to each other. Causing large explosions as they negate one another. To date, millennia later, we have only recorded three additional worlds which share this trait. One unfortunately is a barren rock where we and the dwarves now how negotiations so as to not put either side at a disadvantage, but let us get back to the story.


    There was some initial unpleasantness one might expect when aliens suddenly appeared in their skies, but once we were allowed to land we were amazed! The dwarves had exceeded our expectations of what they could accomplish on their own. Not only had their technology advanced but had done so through a breakthrough that allowed them to harness anti-magical energies to enhance their machines. We were also astonished to find that while we remembered them clearly, they no longer worshipped us and to them, we had become little more than what your species might call the boogeyman.


    ou


    Their ancestors, it seemed, embittered from being exiled from Chennon, our galaxy, told their offspring vial lies about their creators. Tell them myths and untruths about how we were cruel and treated them as slaves instead of the truth of how they were brothers and sisters to us. These myths and untruths would eventually grow to bear fruit which came in the form of the greatest loss of life our cluster has ever seen. Though, as I am prone to do, I have deviated from the story.


    During our early exploration of the area we now call the blight, the area between the barrier and the fence, we stumbled upon the then Dwarven world of Adaym. After some initial non-violent unpleasantries, our two races agreed upon a mutual peace and formed prosperous trade deals for almost a century. Trade deals that would spread out to include multiple systems ( both in Chennon and Volundr alike), Ikoli, clans, and guilds. These deals made both races more prosperous and happier than they were alone.


    That was until one fortuitous day an adolescent Mashegi,¡± at a look from Andrew Cebisi started to explain,¡± They are a six legged Behemirati which resemble an ant from your home planet. Ah, behemirati is our term for viruli which serves as a pack animal. So, a mashegi, was left to graze and happened to eat one of the leaves of the Valarcca plant before it was stopped. The next morning, its master was astonished to find that overnight it had fully grown. Further tests revealed that this plant could increase the growth rate of all viruli 10-fold. When we discussed this with our Dwarven brothers, they revealed to us that they ate it to increase their short lifespans. After a bit of negotiation, we were allowed to experiment with this botanical miracle and found that even a single bite of this plant increased our power levels to unseen heights. Overnight the power dynamics in the universe changed as the trade of valarcca found its way to all corners of Chennon. While that power shift had its share of issues. Ultimately, both sides prospered from the trade. The Dwarves gained the riches they desired, and the elves gained abilities they had only dreamed of. This was until Biaobel himself visited Adaym to see the great Valarcca fields for himself. He was amazed when he witnessed just how quickly it propagated and grew on this planet. As this plant had resisted cultivation on any other planet.


    To their credit, the dwarves treated our Geald as the god that he is. Showering him with gifts, parades, feasts, and parties fit for his station. This went on for days until they once again betrayed our generosity and attempted to kill Biaobel with bombs large enough to cause tectonic shifts. The dwarves soon learned that it would take more than some technological death machine to harm our Geald. They and everyliving thing on Adaym regretted this act of betrayal. As to everyone¡¯s great horror, Biaobel¡¯s defensive magic unleashed a wave of Moti the likes of which the Universe had never seen before nor has seen since. Biaobel stared in wonderment and horror as he realized his mistake. The valarcca had increased his defensive magic past what he thought possible and even passed the point of belief. When he left Adaym that day he was the only living thing left on that planet. Dwarves, elves, planets and animals all lay dead¡­¡­¡­¡­.¡±


    It was at this point that even though Andrew was curiously listening sleep took him and when he awoke he was alone.


    Ziggy what day is it?


    [Would you like to know the earth day?]


    Yes¡­¡­..no is it the same day as I went to sleep?


    [Affirmative]


    He looked at the skylight for confirmation. Which had indeed darkened as if it were night outside, as had the lights in his room. While staring up to the sky he remembered his character sheet said he could bind two objects with a certain amount of force.


    Ziggy remind me of what the description of my binding power said.


    [


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Akeo Cinetica


    </td>


    <td>


    Common


    </td>


    <td>


    Basic implementation of Cinetic power. With this, you can move objects up to Willpower * 4 in kilograms of mass per limb used. Speed of objects moved is determined by Willpower. Speed will be up to 2ft/ willpower point per second or bind two objects with Willpower * 50 newtons of force per limb used.


    </td>


    <td>


    2 mana/limb/minute


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ]


    Andrew smiled, a plan starting to form in his head


    How many newtons would I need to climb that wall?


    [On this planet, you would need 772newtons of force to achieve a vertical momentum]


    Andrew excitedly rushed to the wall and put his hand flat on it. He tried pushing his will into the wall as he had done when he wanted to move something and he saw a pale tan light from around his palm and felt himself being pushed away from the wall. He tried many iterations of this before he had an epiphany. Instead of pushing his will into the wall, he tried to pull the wall into his hand with his will. Again, he saw a pale tan glow emanate from behind his hand, but instead of feeling pushed from the wall he felt pulled to it.


    ¡°YES!!!!¡± Andrew exclaimed before awkwardly looking around to ensure nobody was watching.


    After a bit more testing Andrew was slowly crawling up the wall on his hands and knees while watching his mana counter slowly tick down as the minutes went by. When he was about halfway through his mana pool, he looked down to see he had made his way just about halfway to the skylight.


    So, should we go for it or should we descend safely?


    Andrew asked himself.


    Come on Lather, the floor is a bounce house and there will be a healing wave coming through in a few minutes.


    ¡°SAFETY THIRD!!!!!¡±

 Chapter 18 - Pandoras Box to Freedom

    ¡°SAFETY THIRD!!!!!¡±


    Andrew yelled as he launched himself towards the skylight and ended up just a few meters from it. When he looked at the skylight this time, he noticed that it was swirling in magical glows.  His mana bar showed that he had about 12 mana left, which meant he didn¡¯t have long before he¡¯d fall back down. He pushed his will against the skylight and was rewarded when it shattered, and a cool breeze rushed into the room.


    He was FREE!!!


    Without hesitation, Andrew launched himself toward the opening and in the low gravity sailed through the air like a missile. As he neared the opening, excitement built in his chest after so much time in this little cell, he would finally be free.


    Though what he would do at that point he was unsure of. He was on an alien world full of magic welding elves, but that was an issue for tomorrow. Today he would finally see a world in another galaxy and experience all of its wonders.


    Andrew¡¯s elation was brought to an ungraceful and unceremonious end. As vines shot across the opening just before he reached it, growing together and completely shutting it off.  He couldn¡¯t stop his momentum, try as he might, and it took him into the new woody barrier face-first. After doing his best slinky impression, he was sent tumbling to the floor.  The impact of which was surprisingly noiseless as the floor stretched to ease his impact. Almost comically, as the floor returned to its original shape, he found himself flying back into the lower part of the ceiling. With instincts he didn¡¯t know existed he bound himself with his new powers instead of falling again to the floor.


    He kept his powers active as he stuck to the ceiling in an attempt to catch his breath and reorient himself to his current situation. It was once his breathing had settled somewhat, that he noticed warning claxons could be heard emanating from somewhere outside of his cell. Though before he could get off the ceiling, ten elves rushed into the room.  Energy coalesced around their hands as they quickly fanned out in a half-moon formation around the door, each looking for Andrew as they slowly proceeded into the room.


    ¡°What where is he? No way he made it out of that skylight!¡± said one of the elves.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I hear that the Geald did the power infusion on this human himself? If so, who knows what powers this abomination grew,¡± said another elf, a tinge of jealousy making its way into his voice.


    ¡°He must have somehow made it out because I don¡¯t see him anywhere. This needs to hurry up I was right in the middle of getting my weekly recalibration, ¡°said another male elf


    ¡°Hopefully you remembered to take your Plasira off before coming in here to whine, ¡°said the first elf while she flashed a deviant smile to the second male elf.


    They all burst out laughing.


    ¡°Are yall done? We have a missing human if you don¡¯t remember, ¡°said an elf who¡¯s gender was a bit hard to determine. This one must have been the commander as they all stopped laughing and got back to searching the room.


    While he knew he was unlikely to win against one of the elves, much less ten of them, he was determined to find an option other than simply surrendering. He couldn¡¯t tell you why, but he found that he was bound and determined not to go back into custody. It was then that he noticed the door was still open! It was odd that the door hadn¡¯t shut, but Andrew decided to not look a gift horse in the mouth and before he could talk himself out of it, he internally yelled


    LEEEEEERRRRRROOYYYYYY JENKINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


    He activated his blur skill and launched himself over the elves¡¯ heads and through the door. Like before, he awkwardly bounced and rolled noiselessly down the hallway. When his momentum had run out, he found that he was serendipitously close to an intersection. Got to his feet and rounded the corner to the right. To his relief, he saw no Elves down that hallway and began to run.


    When he was about halfway down the hallway a message appeared.


    [You have 0 mana left. All powers have been deactivated]


    Andrew¡¯s head exploded with pain and his vision blurred. He did his best to ignore it as he worked his way down the hallway looking for a place to hide. Unfortunately, there were no doors or turns in sight.


    Wow, I really am in a horror movie. These hallways would make Kubrick jealous. This thing has to be kilometers long and I guess when everyone can magically conjure a light there¡¯s no reason to provide them.


    The light that spilled from his room barely made it to where he was, and Andrew was forced to use the wall to help him find his way through the murky darkness ahead of him. His head was full of cotton from the pain, but he groggily forced himself to put one foot in front of the other. Driven to find freedom.  Andrew looked back when he heard sounds of shouting from behind him, to his unending relief found the hallway empty. Yet he swore he could see lights waving in the corridor his cell had been on.


    Not wanting to be seen, he swung his head back to the front and was rewarded with a wave of pain and vertigo. As he went to steady himself against the wall, the solid-looking wall retracted as his hand came near it, and a weird multi-colored light spilled out into the hallway. Andrew fell off balance, as the wall he had expected to support him was now an open portal which he fell through. He quickly scanned the room, his lizard brain telling him if there is light then there must be elves, but his luck held out once more.  What he did find was a massive room that resembled a gargantuan beehive. Well, a beehive, if it was built from the floor up.  There were 1000s of hexagonal containers stacked one on top another some stacks reaching to the ceiling, which Andrew estimated must have been 100 meters tall. At the bottom of each stack, he found the source of multicolored light, the floor glowed either red, yellow, or green.


    Andrew weakly pulled his legs through the door and the door shut behind him leaving a bare wall with no indication of a door.  He took a moment to try to figure out how he could identify the doors, but no matter how hard he tried he couldn¡¯t make out a single mark which indicated that it was anything other than a wall.


    I really have to figure out how these pervy elves know where their doors are. Maybe it¡¯s with the powers of sexual repression and desperation? Hmm I haven¡¯t seen my wife in ages, so I don¡¯t think that¡¯s it or they¡¯d pop right for me. They don¡¯t seem to radiate magic, at least not until they activate. I need to get moving, but I¡¯ll have to figure it out one day.


    As his curiosity abated, he noticed a minute or two had passed and his headache had also abated. He saw his mana bar had the number 6 next to it now and assumed his headache would improve further as his mana recovered.


    Mental note, mana headaches are a thing. Ziggy, can you please remind me when my mana is getting low?


    [Mr. Lather would you like me to display a warning message when you¡¯re low on mana?]


    Yes, and while I don¡¯t know what reaction points are please add one for when they get low as well.


    [Affirmative]


    Andrew gingerly got to his feet and started to explore the room he was in. It was a massive room, likely the largest room he had ever been in. He wasn¡¯t even sure how it could be this large as he had only gone 10s of meters down the hallway, but this room looked like it stretched for hundreds of meters in the direction he had come. His best guess was this was a practical and mundane application of that space magic Biaobela had spoken of.


    What was the name? Monocoolian was it?


    [Molokian is the name you are looking for Mr. Lather]


    Ah thank you zigs!


    As he moved further into the room he walked up to a series of hexagonal containers, which had no other container stacked on top. This stood out as almost every other row of containers was stacked at least ten high. Each container in this series had a green glow at the base. They were made of some rich heavily grained wood and glass or some other translucent material. The sides alternated wood then glass then wood around the container. As he approached the first of the containers, he saw that it was filled with a milky green fluid, and suspended in the fluid was what appeared to be a human or elf. The green fluid was murky enough that he couldn¡¯t tell which it was, though this one appeared to be female based on the silhouette.


    Ziggy, do you see a way or anything we might use to open these?


    [According to Bob, the only way to open these is through the use of Okusiga. It states that you do not possess the strength nor the magical aptitude to open these through any other method.]Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    Who¡¯s Bob?


    [That is the name the Apanean Worm has taken for itself.]


    So, it¡¯s a male? Also, why Bob of all names? Also please verify that Okusiga is mental magic.


    [It has assured me that it is neither male nor female exclusively. As they have both sets of sexual organs. When I asked why it chose Bob, it informed me that it was the only unisex name that it found acceptable. I have informed it repeatedly that Bob is not a unisex name, it has assured me that I am incorrect.


    Okusiga is the Ikolis which focuses on mental magics.]


    Do you and Bob converse regularly?


    [We are directly interfaced. It also wishes me to thank you for freeing it from its Elven captors and allowing it to explore itself in ways most of its kind are not allowed to as they are normally rendered almost non-sentient by the elven magics which control them. Without this freedom it would never know its name was Bob for instance or that it aspires to be a galaxy renown ballerina one day.]


    Umm, tell Bob it¡¯s welcomed? Though this feels like something we should discuss more when I¡¯m not about to be recaptured by a band of elven creepers.


    [Agreed, Bob would like me to inform you that the boxes in red are empty and unlocked. Boxes in green are full and can be either locked or unlocked depending on the contents within and boxes in yellow are partially full and are generally unlocked.]


    Thanks Bob!


    Unable to free the humanoids in the containers near him, Andrew proceeded further into the room. There he found his first yellow outlined box, but he couldn¡¯t figure out how to open it.


    Bob, how do I open these?


    [Bob, says you open them with Okusiga as it told you before.]


    Please inform Bob that I have no powers from that school.


    [Mr. Lather,  Bob has asked me to inform you that what is about to happen might hurt.]


    What might¡­¡­¡­..


    [Low Mana warning.]


    ¡°AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH¡± Andrew screamed as it felt like his skull was splitting in two starting right between his eyes, he clutched his head before falling bonelessly to the floor.


    After another minute or two of mana regeneration, his headache once again subsided, but it still felt like his brain was bruised as there was a dull ache at what he could best describe as the membrane between each side of his brain.


    What did Bob do exactly?  Andrew thought as he shakily got back to his feet.


    [Bob has informed me that it utilized your remaining mana to forcefully open the pathways in your brain and soul to allow you the use of your first Okusiga power.]


    [


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Connected Minds


    </td>


    <td>


    Common


    </td>


    <td>


    Basic Okusiga power. Allows mind connections with other beings, sentient or otherwise, and with Okusiga enabled magical items


    </td>


    <td>


    None


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ]


    Wait Bob can enable powers for me?


    [Yes and no. It only opened a pathway that was already laid out. It believes by the elven god.]


    Wait could it have opened a death or life power?


    [Bob says it likely could force open a Moti (death) power, but highly recommends not to attempt to unlock another power now or it is very sure you¡¯ll end up irrevocably damaged. It also highly recommends not attempting to do so again for 7 years to avoid irrevocable mental and/or soul damage. It goes on to point out that these powers will likely open themselves up as the host grows in power and will do so without risking soul damage. It was only willing to risk it because it doesn¡¯t want you to get captured and have its identity taken away from it again.]


    Wait it risked damaging my soul?


    [Bob says this time it was only a small chance though it did, for lack of a better word, bruise your soul pretty badly which is why it recommends waiting.]


    Thank you, Bob. I really hope I didn¡¯t sound ungrateful.


    [Bob, says it understands and says you¡¯re more than welcome. It says get a move on or we¡¯ll get caught.]


    With that Andrew concentrated his mind on opening the box, but nothing happened. After a few moments trying different versions of this, he gave up.


    I hate to bug you Bob, but what¡¯s the trick?


    [Bob informs me that you likely need to connect to the box first.]


    Well duh Lather, that makes sense.


    With that Andrew concentrated on trying to connect his mind to the box. To his surprise, a purple line wandered out of his head and connected to the box.  Andrew then thought into that line ¡°Open¡±, and the box with an audible hiss opened up. The lid magically lifted all the containers above it effortlessly.  A pleasant warm white glow emanated from inside of the box.


    As Andrew peered over the edge, he saw what looked like little vials filled with a red liquid that glowed green to his magical sight.


    [Bob informs me they are, Minor Healing potions]


    Wow Bob I¡¯m surprisingly happy you got implanted in my head. How do you know what it is?


    [Bob says, as this is a standard potion, it knows what it is from memory. If for some reason it did not know it could query the Veba to find out, but as that might reveal our position it advises against it.]


    What''s the Veba?


    [The magical equivalent of the internet.]


    Without further delay, Andrew excitedly reached in and immediately grabbed an arm full before he realized an issue. He had no pockets or any other way to easily carry them.


    ¡°Ziggy please remember the location of this container.¡±


    [Affirmative, should I put a marker on your map?]


    ¡°Yes, thank you!¡±


    A green diamond appeared on his mini map. Andrew giddily went from box to box trying to open them and see what he could find. It was like a particularly cool easter egg hunt, where the eggs were easy to find, but you had no clue what you might find. He had found food, potions, and clothing, but nothing he could fit into or that had pockets.  He had gone through a handful of containers when he found a single container surrounded by green that was different than the others in that the lid was locked with a magic that gave a pale tan glow to his senses. He tried first to open it as normal and while he heard a click, as he expected it didn¡¯t open. He was about to walk away when he decided to try one last thing and pushed his will against the magic on the lid. The spell shattered and with a hiss, the box opened.


    Inside were a number of empty coin purses with intricate symbols covering the outside. Each of them glowed with a strong magenta aura.  Ziggy highlighted each with a label.


    [Minor Bag of Storage]


    ¡°Bags of Holding are real!!!¡± Andrew blurted before nervously restraining his inner nerd.


    A grin grew on Andrew¡¯s face, and he started to grab as many as he could hold.


    [Bob would like me to inform you that with the current power of your soul, you will not be able to utilize more than two at a time and unless you want to be sucked out into the void of space you should not attempt to store one bag within another bag.]


    Thanks again Bob!


    Andrew wanted to get a few more, even if he couldn¡¯t use them, but as he didn¡¯t have a belt or pockets, he settled to hold one in each hand and have Ziggy once again mark this one on his mini map.


    With the bags in hand, he returned to grab mana and healing potions. He didn¡¯t want to take too many in fear of getting caught but he also didn¡¯t want to end up regretting he hadn¡¯t taken more, so after some debate he decided on 20 of each type. As he put the first potion into the bag, he noticed that the potion disappeared the moment it breached the bag¡¯s opening and long before his hand went into the bag itself. It was at that point that he realized he had no clue how to retrieve items from these bags. Did he merely reach in, and it magically produced the item he wanted, or did he have to fish around for the items?


    When he tried to reach into the sack though he found his had blocked from entering the bag. He wondered if it was protective magic to ensure his hand or even his entire body, didn¡¯t get stored by the bag by accident. Next, he put his right hand at the opening and thought of what he wanted. To his amazement, the potion reappeared where he could easily grab it. He stored the potion once more and then went to work putting the rest into his new storage devices.


    Once he finished with the potions, he proceeded to a food crate and loaded up with about 100 food and water cubes each.


    Is there a way to see what is stored in each bag?


    [I have tracked what you have put into each and can display for you the items in each bag, either as a table of item names and quantities or as a video game inventory. You can also ask me if an item is currently in one of your bags as well.]


    Awesome, thank you Ziggy, what would I do without you?


    [You¡¯re welcome and you¡¯d likely forget many things that are important to you. Such as your Wife¡¯s birthday or what day it is.]


    As he opened a new container, he was pleasantly surprised to see what must have been a thousand versions of the same belt and on the opposite side was a similar number of shoes, but as he was carrying the bags in his hands and barefoot he was happy they were there. Quickly reaching in to retrieve them.


    He was disappointed at first because all of the shoes were long but extremely narrow. Too narrow for his foot so he ignored those and grabbed a belt. Yet when he started to put the belt on, he found that it was 15 or 16 centimeters too short to even clasp, but before he could give up he saw a magenta glow, and the belt extended to the perfect length.  Next, he picked back up his bags to try to figure out how he might attach them to the belt, he was happily taken off guard as he brought the first bag close to the belt, and with a pale tan glow, the bag moved to a convenient spot on the belt where, with a green glow, a loop of leather grew around the bag¡¯s neck. Leaving just enough of the top loose to make it possible to access the contents of the bag.


    It struck Andrew that he assumed that these items worked like a D&D bag of holding, but he had not tested this theory and he was treated with a vision, in his head, of dimensional bags filled with shattered glass and magical goop. Luckily, he found his first assumption was right and that no matter how much he shook the bag it didn¡¯t seem to impact the contents within.


    After testing this theory Andrew decided to test another, he moved his foot near the opening of a left shoe and with a magenta glow the shoe grew to the proper size.  Andrew was not surprised that, like the bed, these were the most comfortable shoes he had ever tried.


    With his new equipment donned, he started to move to a crate rimmed in yellow nearby. As he did, he was surprised to find that he could feel every deviation underfoot, yet not in an uncomfortable way. It was as he stopped to look at his shoes, his heart stopped for a moment. The now familiar sound of an elven door opening and the telltale hiss as the air equalized between both rooms echoed through the chamber. Without a thought he ran towards the crate, in doing so finding that his new shoes made no sound even while he ran. Instinctively Andrew activated his blur skill, thankful he had recovered enough not to have to deal with another mana headache.


    As he approached the crate, he reached his mind out and connected with the crate at a distance and commanded it to open. Just as the crate¡¯s lid opened enough for Andrew to pass, he dove for the opening. The lower gravity allowed him to sail rather fast and easily the remaining distances before he landed in the crate and sent a command for it to close. Like the food crates he had found, this one had a few small vents. Upon noticing these he realized how foolish his move had been. What if he had dove into an air-tight crate and couldn¡¯t get it out?


    He breathed out in relief when the glow coming through the vent changed from yellow to green. He was also excited when he found that the only other item in the crate, other than himself, was a longsword in a beautifully crafted sheath. To his surprise, he found that in his movements it had already somehow attached itself to his belt. Which could be convenient if he needed it in a hurry, at the moment it was anything but convenient as it made it impossible to move without banging it on the container¡¯s side.


    The Elves were talking as they approached his crate and Andrew found that he had started to instinctually hold is breath and had activated his blur power.  He immediately deactivated it as he was pretty sure it was not helping him hide in a crate.


    ¡°Did you happen to hear how this human was able to escape?¡± said a female voice.


    ¡°No, I think someone let it out of its cage on purpose. I mean it had to be, the only time one of these things has previously been able to escape was when those disgusting trolls freed a few of them out of some misguided belief that they were helping the humans out¡± said a second female voice.


    ¡°I will be more than annoyed if this is just some test, and the human was either let out so the higher-ups could see how we react or if there is no human at all. My bet is latter,¡°said a male voice.


    ¡°I had the same thought. This is just at test to see how thorough we are, ¡°said the first female voice.


    ¡°Let us check these boxes and get out of here then. Wait the report said he only knows Cinetica correct?¡± Said the second female.


    ¡°That is what the report said. Wait, this really must be just a test. There are only two humans ever that know Cinetica and I was just watching them this morning. They are on the other side of the building, ¡°responded the first female in a huff as they approached his crate.


    Andrew was attempting to stay as still as possible, but thanks to the sword he was in a pretty awkward position, and staying still was becoming more difficult by the second. A river of sweat seemed to have formed from his scalp and had begun to run into his eyes.


    Yes yes, there is no human, give up and go back to whatever sexually repressed activity you find fun.


    As if he had commanded them, the elves moved further into the room, and when he felt they were far enough away he finally allowed himself to get situated. As he guessed, willing the sword to remove itself worked, but Andrew¡¯s heart stopped as it thumped rather loudly against the crate as it did. Once he heard the elves still moving away from him, he got situated more comfortably and waited until he couldn¡¯t hear the Elves any longer. He was just about to sneak out of the crate and the room when he heard the second female elf¡¯s voice once more. They had moved far enough that he could actually see each of them through one of the vents on his container.  They were idly ¡°looking¡± around.


    ¡°I told you he could not get into the door to this place. You know those dumb humans can never see our doors much less use them.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but I do not want to be the one who missed a pathetic human. Do you? ¡°Asked the male elf.


    ¡°Definitely not!¡± both women responded in unison before all three elves froze for a moment as the purple lines connecting them to their masters started to pulse rapidly. Simultaneously, a red energy coalesced around each of their hands.

 Chapter 19 - Give up now to avoid further injury

    Andrew was impressed by the elves¡¯ hyper-efficiency, as they wasted no time or energy as they moved into formation as they moved to the first crate stack.


    ¡°There are over 5000 crates in this hold. As we do not have the numbers to tackle that number, we will focus on the 502 crates that the records indicate are currently unlocked. As this human does not currently have Okusiga. I doubt I must remind you that our Geald will hold us liable should this human escape or we permanently harm this specimen in any way,¡± said a tall elf whose voice sounded masculine, but from his vantage point and with the androgynous clothing it was hard for him to be certain.


    The elves moved methodically from stack to stack, searching each unlocked container both physically and magically, before moving to the next one. The hiss of the door caught his attention and through the vent, he saw two more formations of three enter and in the same efficient way moved to join the first group. As the groups combined the glow around their hands caused the multicolor light of the room to tinge heavily toward red and the light in his crate to vary heavily as they moved in and out of sight of his crate. Stack by stack and create by crate, they moved closer and closer to his hiding spot. He wasn¡¯t sure why, but their movements reminded him of cats toying with a mouse as they moved in and out of his view. His grip slowly tightened on the sword more and more, as the elves moved wordlessly closer. The only communication seemed to be the occasional pulse on mental connections.


    So, what¡¯s the plan Lather? Try not to piss myself or make any noise, that¡¯s what. I mean it¡¯s not like I could have taken three of them much less a whole squad of them. Crap I should lock the top!


    [Mr. Lather, I do not recommend that action at this time. The noise is likely to alert the guards to your location. My recommendation is to give up now to avoid further injury.]


    While I agree they¡¯re going to find me at some point, I want to waste as much of their time as possible before they do.


    [May I inquire on why you¡¯re gripping the sword then?]


    Well they said they aren¡¯t allowed to cause permanent harm, so I was hoping to cause as much damage as I can manage before they take me.


    [Bob would like me to remind you that the amount of pain they¡¯re allowed to deal before it would cause you permanent harm is quite a lot.]


    That¡¯s a fair point, but I¡¯m done being a harmless toy in their game.


    The conversation stopped as the elves methodically approached and surrounded his crate stack. His body felt like a single giant knot of muscle and his heartbeat sounded like a war drum in his ears. His eyes burned as rivers of sweat had found their way into them, and the sweat rolling down his arms threatened to loosen his grip on the sword. He looked down at that sword and found that the knuckles on his right hand were a pale white from the force he was using to ensure he didn¡¯t drop what he considered his only lifeline.


    When they were about two meters away from his crate, he saw a purple line snake out of a tall elf¡¯s head and connect to his crate. While he knew this moment would come Andrew felt immense horror as the lid started to open. Andrew knew this was the only possible outcome, he¡¯d known it from the start. That knowledge didn¡¯t comfort him as his one chance of freedom slipped through his grasp. All he could do now was make it as costly to take him back as he could. To that end, he tried to settle his nerves and prepared to take out the first elf he saw.


    Before it came to that, the purple communications lines going to each of the elves pulsed wildly and the purple line going to his crate winked out of existence.  Andrew almost yelled in relief as the lid to his crate reversed its motion and started to shut.


    ¡°They found him!!!¡± exclaimed what Andrew assumed was a female elf.


    All nine elves turned and in formation, all but sprinted from the room. The light in Andrew¡¯s crate moved and pulsed different colors wildly as they made their way to the exit.


    Andrew¡¯s relief was palpable as he bonelessly slumped in his crate. He only realized he had dropped his sword when the sound of it clanking against the bottom of his crate startled him into activating his blur ability. He laughed at himself and turned the power back off. The stress-induced nausea washed over him as tension flooded out of him. Only to return only a few moments later when another sound startled Andrew into action, it was the sound of the lid clicking in place, yet he punched the source nonetheless. Earning him a throbbing hand and a sound he worried might set off some alarm.  He wasted no time in locking the lid before waiting a few antagonizing minutes to see if anybody showed up.  When no one did he allowed the events of the day to take their due and he slipped into a restful slumber.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    An unknown time later, he was startled awake by the hiss of a door. As his mind pieced itself back together from his impromptu nap, he realized that this hiss was not only much larger but also came from far above his crate.


    He couldn¡¯t see the opening through the vents, but as he was trying, his crate was flooded with a bright pale tan light which spilled in through the vents and his crate started to lift off the ground. A short ride later, he could see that his crate was being lifted through a large cargo door and warm slightly moist air rushed in through the vents. He moved around and pushed his face against the vent trying to see where his crate was headed, but to no avail the angles just weren¡¯t right.


    As his upward momentum halted, his crate slowly spun, and the source of the magic came into view. He wasn¡¯t sure what exactly he expected to see when it did, but one thing was sure what came into view was nothing close to what he had imagined. It was an enormous, winged snake that looked like it flew right out of an Aztec myth. He couldn¡¯t see the entire beast, but by his best guess, he assumed that it was likely at least 100 meters in length. It was covered in beautiful semi-translucent multi-color scales each of which had an iridescent sheen. The wings were powerful eagle-like wings, the front edge of which was covered in deep electric blue feathers which appeared almost to be made of crystals. On the next row, the feathers also looked to be made of crystals, but these were the color of bright emeralds, and the feathers were also much longer. The third and final row were much the same, the only difference being instead of blue or green they looked to be made of an illuminated topaz. Though the most eye catching part of this snake was the lightning which crackled along its wings, sending beams of multicolored light shooting in all directions.


    To his horror, the snake had its mouth open as if it were preparing to swallow prey and he was heading straight for it as the source of the magic was inside. It seemed that he was apparently the prey.


    That has to be some transport ship. I really hope that¡¯s not some creature that elves sacrifice treasure to in an attempt to appease its wrath.


    [Bob would like to inform you that it is a top-of-the-line fast transport ship called a Gibki. Don¡¯t worry, unlike some of its less evolved cousins, there has never been a recorded incident of it consuming its cargo.]


    Wait that happens?


    [According to Bob it does with less evolved transport vivosipi but has not happened with a Gibki to date. Though he does say with your luck he guesses there is a first for everything.]


    Not helping Bob.


    It didn¡¯t take long for Andrew to get some relief, as his crate was not chewed up and digested, but it was a nerve-wracking few moments as the crates did float into the creature''s mouth and down its gullet. Thankfully that is where his digestive tract adventure stopped, as before the crates entered what he assumed was the valve to the creature¡¯s stomach another valve on the side of the esophageal wall opened and the crates were gently pulled with magic into another astonishingly large room. The dimensions of which seemed impossible as it had to be at least a few hundred meters in length and at least a hundred in width. Which even for an impossibly large creature it was still three times longer than his best guess for the length of this marvelous beast. The magenta tinge to the room belied what he guessed must be special distortion magic that allowed a room of this size to fit. Once inside the crates stacked themselves in tight orderly stacks starting at the back of the room and kept coming until the room was almost filled. His crate was closer to the back than the front and to his relief, his crate had been serendipitously set on the top of the stack he was in. He relaxed again waiting for the loading to finish.


    When it finally did and the door shut, Andrew¡¯s heart nearly leaped out of his chest when he saw a green field sweeping across the crates that he assumed was trying to scan for life or something similar. Unsure what to do, he activated his blur spell and tried to think dead thoughts. The field passed across him without any fanfare, but he doubted it would be that obvious and waited a minute or two expecting elves would storm into the room at any moment. After five minutes had passed, he let out a sigh, along with all of the tension he had not realized he had once again built up.


    Once he regained his composure, Andrew started the sequence to open his lid. He was dismayed that once the lid swung open, he could see nothing other than a number of faint magical glows emanating from random places around the rooms and the walls. I guess there is no need to leave a light on for cargo. He tried to open the crates near him, but all seemed to be physically locked. He briefly considered still getting out and seeing what he could find, but the prospect of something going wrong as he fumbled in the dark or that he might not be able to find his way back to his crate or open another one kept him where he was. Instead, he shut the lid and got as comfortable as he could before he let sleep take him.

 More updates

    Hey yall,


    Just wanted to update my readers. Work has gotten busy I will continue this book but chapters will be slower for a while. I have a plan and even a book cover for book 2 so this is anything but the forever pause.


    Thank you so much for your patience and understanding.


    Thank you,


    Neglected Dice


    This line will be repeated, please ignore it''s so I can get to the 500word mark so they''ll let me post this update.


    This line will be repeated, please ignore it''s so I can get to the 500word mark so they''ll let me post this update.


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    This line will be repeated, please ignore it''s so I can get to the 500word mark so they''ll let me post this update.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


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    42

 Chapter 20 - Are there Elven pirates?

    He opened his eyes to find an odd pulsing light pouring in through the vents of his crate. While somewhat annoying, it allowed him to see. His whole body ached, and his neck was especially stiff from the experience of sleeping in a slouched sitting position. He inwardly cursed himself for not taking half a moment to lie down before drifting off to sleep.


    Ziggy that was a jump I just felt, correct?


    [Correct, Mr. Lather]


    How long did I sleep?


    [10 hours 25 minutes and 15 seconds]


    Next time I think about sleeping like an idiot, can you wake me?


    [Roger, Mr. Lather. I almost took the liberty to do so but was unsure of the proper protocol, so I refrained.]


    Any idea where we are jumping to?


    [Negative, current data insufficient. Bob has asked me to inform you that it could likely find out if you consent to it connecting to the ship¡¯s internal veba.]


    Bob, would that not alert the ship to our presence?


    [It cannot believe you would ever think connecting to the ship might be a good idea. It would like you to better consider your requests before bringing them to it.]


    Ziggy, is that what Bob really said or are you taking liberty with the translation?


    [Mr. Lather, what Bob said was rather vulgar and inappropriate for polite conversation. The intent is all there though.]


    [Bob would like to file a complaint against me for censoring his First Amendment right to properly tell you off.]


    Noted Bob, but we¡¯re not in the US nor 19 space so you don¡¯t have a First Amendment right here. Also, Ziggy is not the government so it couldn¡¯t infringe upon your constitutional rights either way.


    Wait, do the elves have a constitution?


    [No, they are a pure communistic form of government ruled by the Unesida Rada. They do technically have a citizen¡¯s bill of rights.]


    But Control Worms?


    [Yes, that does seem to contradict any rights.]


    [Bob would like to add that only the Getls have rights everyone else is a resource in that sham of a government, but that people are kept happy as they don¡¯t know the truth and are distracted by their magical pleasures.]


    Makes sense. Ole belly didn¡¯t seem like a betterment of the whole type. What rhythmic beat I¡¯m hearing?


    [It is the ship¡¯s heart. Bob would like me to add that we must be in the front cargo chamber, as only one heartbeat is audible to your human perception. The other cargo chambers run down each side of this model of transport. If we were in one of those, we¡¯d hear the main heart as well as the aft heart.]


    Wait this thing has more than one heart?


    [Three to be precise, though the ship would die without the function of the main heart.]


    This piqued his curiosity, and he let his curiosity win. He opened the lid to peer out and see his surroundings. While he knew there would be some form of light from the pulsing in his crate, he was surprised by how well he could see around the room. Though not as much as he was by the immense size of the chamber he was in. It had to be 500 or more meters in length and 100 or more in width.


    He was distracted by the size of the room when he realized that not all the light was from his magical sight. The magical veins running through this room were now heavily pulsing with magenta-colored magic that he assumed was spatial magic transferring in preparation for another jump. More intriguingly they also gave off a physical glow with a yellowish as well.


    Any idea why these magical veins are shedding actual light?


    [Bob informs me they are likely in a large hurry as those veins only give off actual light when the amount of magic flowing through them exceeds their capacity and starts to burn the surrounding material. This only happens when Elven ships are in a hurry, normally only when they¡¯re running from a threat.]


    Any idea what that threat might be?


    [Based on the number of jumps we have experienced it could be anything from dwarves to wild viruli]


    What are wild viruli?


    [Bob says they¡¯re rare but reminds you that the elves have ruled this galaxy for many millennia and in that time occasionally viruli were left free to mutate as they wish. Wild viruli are rare and most aren¡¯t dangerous. Like a Jaziridu it once heard of that projected random images that its mind made up instead of recorded ones. The missives stated there was a planet overrun with these Jaziridu and that it was a thing of heaven and nightmares to stay on it.  Even more rarely there are reports of abandoned vivosipi¡­¡­. ships, that bred and made wild hybrids. It is reported that eventually new species emerged from these breedings and they would claim areas of space as their territories.  It is from these territories that members will occasionally migrate trying to claim territories of their own. Many of these new territories are where most interactions with wild vivosipi would occur. Elven ships are perceived as interlopers in their new domain. Either way, Bob requests you get out and look around so it might better help us figure a way out of this place.]Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Once out of his crate, he found he was in the middle of the room and about four stacks from the back wall. The crates had been stacked tight against the back wall and filled the room side to side, with what he was calling the front of the immense room being left empty. As he looked at the two hundred meters or so of crates in front of him, he dismissed any hope of finding a door close to his position, that he might escape through.


    So, do I try to look through the crates or go try to find a door so I might journey around the ship?


    [That would depend on what level of risk you¡¯re willing to take Mr. Lather.]


    Honestly not even sure what I would hope to accomplish if I did wander around the ship, except maybe getting caught faster. Also, Ziggy, that is what is called a rhetorical question.


    [Noted.]


    Not wanting to waste whatever time he had to explore, he connected to the crate in front of him and prompted it to open. It was packed half with brown food cubes and half with blue water cubes. Not knowing what lay ahead of him, he took 50 of each and stored them in a bag of holding. His inventory status showing the updated entries made him smile. He was in a real-life RPG completely with magical elves and inventory screens.


    What¡¯s next magical swords?


    [Bob would like me to inform you that the sword you currently have is magical.]


    Then why isn¡¯t it glowing?


    [Bob would like me to say, how magical do you expect a sword that is left in a crate to be? It¡¯s likely just a standard issue elven sword. If so, it will repair itself, so don¡¯t freak out if you see it light up green for a bit.]


    He held up the sword to get a good look at it. It was about a meter long and its silvery steel blade curved in a way that reminded him of a leaf. Tasteful engravings of what looked like wisps of wind down adorned its length and the cross guard looked as if it was made of a tangle of roots, which the wood of the handle had grown from.


    Step 1: Gain magical weapons and powers. Step 2:¡­¡­¡­¡­..


    He was knocked out of his musing by the ship rocking violently to his right, throwing him out of his crate to the left. His sword flew from his hand spinning wildly in front of him.  To his horror, he swore that as he slid the spinning sword started to veer in his direction. To his amazement the sword¡¯s spinning quickly arrested, the hilt attaching itself harmlessly to his belt. Once his momentum was arrested, he found himself five crates from where he started. He wasted no time as he moved to get to his feet, concerned that more impacts were soon to follow. Though just as he regained his footing, he was again thrown off his feet by another impact this time sending him almost all the way to the left wall. As he gained his feet light from the veins on the wall intensified to a point where they were almost painful to behold. Then dimmed to almost non-existent as he felt the ship jump.


    As the disorientation of the jump subsided, he leaped to his feet and started to run toward his crate. Desperate to get there before he was disoriented to the point he couldn¡¯t find it.


    I¡¯m so glad the lid hasn¡¯t closed yet. I¡¯m not sure I could find it again if it did.


    [Mr. Lather, would you like me to highlight your crate for you?]


    Yes, please.


    A green arrow appeared in his vision above his crate.  He was halfway back when he saw the veins start to grow in intensity. As the light continued to intensify, he ran until he was only a few meters away and slid as if he were trying to steal home plate. Just as his foot was entering the opening of his crate, the ship listed heavily to his left. The impact sent him in the opposite direction this time, his foot catching in the opening causing him to tumble end over end as he was sent away from the safety of his crate.


    [Syndesmotic sprain of the left ankle detected. To avoid further injury, please keep all weight off the impacted ankle until cleared by medical.]


    With that, his left ankle lit up yellow on his damage display with the label ¡°Syndesmotic sprain¡± floating nearby as Andrew bounced off a wall before coming to rest a few spins later.


    He sat there trying to ignore the feeling of the world spinning and doing his best not to lose his lunch. Yet before he could gain his bearing the ship rocked yet again. This one did not cause him to move more than a few meters. The glow from the veins dimed to nothing and he noticed that the rhythmic beat he had largely been ignoring had also ceased. While he could perceive magical glows coming from various parts of the room, it wasn¡¯t enough for him to know where he was in relation to his own crate, and after the last hit, he had little bearing on where he was. To his dismay when he reached out for the wall, he could not find it.


    Ziggy, I don¡¯t see my crate highlighted any longer, can you or Bob help me find my way back to my crate?


    [Negative Mr. Lather, neither Bob nor I have sufficient data to help you in that task. If you can find a wall, we can likely orient ourselves properly.]


    Is the ship dead? Do we need to worry about hull breaches?


    [Yes, Mr. Lather by the lack of a heartbeat it appears that our ship had died. As we still have air and air pressure, I feel it is safe to assume our part of the ship has not been compromised. Additionally, in analyzing the sounds and direction of travel, I would imagine the ship was hit further aft of us. Likely shot in the hearts in an effort to disable our ship.]


    Unsure of what to do he tried throwing a bolt of force to help him light his way. While it did glow a pale tan, that glow was not sufficient to light his way. He threw them one after another watching their trajectories, hoping one of them may hit his crate or the wall. The fear of never finding his wayward crate grew with every bolt he threw. After going in, what he was reasonably sure was a full circle he sat down unsure of what to do next.


    Should I start walking in a direction to see if I can find a wall?


    [Mr. Lather, I would not recommend that action at this time. Your ankle injury would make it difficult to walk in a single direction and the risk of further injury is too high.]


    Instead, Andrew sat down and allowed his mana to recharge. After what must have been 30mins he heard the tell-tale hiss of a door, and the room lit up with what appeared to be handheld or head-mounted lights. Their light swayed back and forth in a pattern Andrew recognized as that of people scanning a room. While the light that reached him from below wasn¡¯t much, it was enough for Ziggy to orientate to his new position. A green arrow appeared in his vision, pointing him to his crate.


    Andrew wasted no time sprinting for his crate, thankful once more for the silence of his elven shoes. His ankle screamed in pain, yet he did his best to ignore it allowing his fear to drive him on. As he neared his crate, he desperately tried time and time again to connect to it to will it open. Unsure of the maximum distance of the spell. To his relief the purple line connected just in time to have the crate open just as he dove into it. Once in, he did his best to elevate his ankle and make as little noise as possible as the lid slowly closed.


    Did they hear me? Are there elven pirates? Seems like that would be impossible with their level of control of their population.


    [It is unlikely they heard you as your shoes effectively nullify your sound. Bob believes whoever came into the room to either be Wambi raiders or Dwarven pirates.]


    What are Wambi raiders?


    [They are the followers of Lyderis Omuwambi, the false Getl.]


    How is he(?) a false Getl and why would they attack this ship?


    [Bob says, it is unknown how, but he is the only elf not of the Unesida Rada to have ascended to the rank of Getleklic. As you might imagine the members of the Unesida Rada did not take kindly toward this and chased him and his followers from one side of Chennon to the other before the Wambi vanished. Now they appear like wraiths and attack transport ships at random. It is assumed they do so for supplies they can¡¯t make themselves.]


    Their conversation was interrupted as voices came from below.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to be RICH!!!¡± exclaimed a man with an almost Scottish-sounding accent.

 Chapter 21 - They’ll likely dissect you for parts

    ¡°We¡¯re going to be RICH!!!¡± exclaimed a man with an almost Scottish-sounding accent.


    ¡°We better hope the crates the Fouriers wanted are here or the Captain¡¯s hair brained plan will be for naught,¡± said the female voice with an accent he couldn¡¯t quite figure out. It was a mix of Chinese and South African with some flairs he just couldn¡¯t put his finger on.


    ¡°Screw those Fourier bastards! We don¡¯t need their money, Kopa. I mean look around, either way, we¡¯re rich! And this is just one of the holds!! I¡¯m not sure the Folly will even have room.¡±  Said the man with the Scottish accent.


    ¡°I¡¯d really rather not and we do need their money and more importantly their backing if we want to keep the Folly flying and the Capt out of jail. As much as I hate the Fouriers you have to admit they know how to force you into an agreement.¡±


    ¡°To change the subject, I have some concerns about this amount of magic on our ship. It¡¯s going to wreak havoc on our systems. Not to mention our systems are going to wreak havoc the cargo as well, but assuming we can make it to a Tribe planet in time we should profit heavily. Even more so if the contraband the Fouriers contracted us for is in here and we can successfully get it to Volundr,¡± said a second man, this one with a slightly effeminate edge to his voice and an accent which reminded Andrew of someone from the UAE back on earth.


    ¡°Did you hear that communication from Capt, sounds like one of those pointy-eared bastards was able to get out a distress call. Let''s get this lot loaded before one of their fleets responds and ruins our fun or our implants fail from all this magic. Hurry, but don¡¯t let your guard down, there are obviously a few of those pointy-eared bastards lurking around,¡± said the woman.


    For the next hour, Andrew hid in his crate. The lights from the pirates occasionally gave him a start when they lit up his crate, but mostly the time was spent trying to figure out the magic in his sword and listening to the odd whirs, hisses, and clanks coming from below.


    Bob if the dwarves find me what will they do to me?


    [Bob says they¡¯ll likely dissect you for parts.]


    Seriously?


    [No in all likelihood they would arrest you and try to understand why Bob and I have interfaced, much like the Elves.]


    Great so it¡¯s stay here and get experimented on or get transferred and get experimented on?


    [Bob would like to point out that the Biaobel has no one to hold him accountable should he abuse us. The same will not be true for the Dwarven government. While most of what it knows about the dwarven government is propaganda, it is fairly certain that here are many in Dwarven society who would legally come to our rescue if the experiments went too far. While Bob worries about Dwarven Tech influence killing it, it knows that once Biaobel understood how our connection was possible he would kill us to keep it from getting out. So it would rather take its chances with the dwarves as it believes something about you might protect it, as you protected me from the magical energies.]


    So, the Dwarves it is!


    [While Bob agrees with that, it would like me to point out the best course of action is to remain hidden until these Dwarves make it to the Tribe planet they spoke of as the Tribe would let us live our lives in peace as long as we contribute to their society.]


    That sounds very preferable indeed, thanks for the advice y¡¯all.


    Andrew spent the next hour hoping that he would get transferred to the Dwarven ship and not be found in the process. As time went on, he began to worry he might get left on this ship as it drifted through space slowly losing its heat. As the panic of freezing to death started to kick in, he briefly considered getting out of his crate so he could talk to the dwarves. The only thing that held him back was the fear of them mistaking him for an elf and killing him before they realized their mistake. As he was debating how he might do so without being killed, he heard what sounded like a set of steam hisses nearby prompting him to look out of the vent. What he saw was almost unbelievable, it was what he could best describe as a three-meter-tall clockwork automaton made of brass. While most of its inner workings where covered by thick brass plates he could see some gears twirling behind the plates as the automaton lumbered about. The sound seemed to come from steam and smoke which emanated from small pipes near it¡¯s shoulders and which seemed to go under the plates to connect to its internal workings. He watched in awe as it effortlessly picked up a crate and walked it to what he could only describe as a hole in space in a beautiful brass picture frame. His brain had a hard time comprehending what exactly he was seeing. The frame hung in the air unsupported and inside it there appeared to be a whole other world. A world made of brass, gears, carbon scoring, and grit. On that side of the portal, there were similar automatons wordlessly taking crates and stacking them neatly on the other side.  As he looked back at the brass wonder working on his side of the portal, marveled at the intricacies of its gears as they spun and twirled as it placed the crate through the portal. One of it¡¯s kind taking the crate and stacking it nicely as the one before did. As he watched he found that there were 10 automatons on his side of the portal and at least half that on the other side. Andrew couldn¡¯t get over how it appeared that these robots worked without electricity and seemed to function solely on steam and gears, yet worked better than any robot he had seen on earth or yuta. His suspicions about how they functioned was some what validated as after what must have been another hour of work, one of the automatons on the other side handed an automaton on this side a two chambered brass and glass capsule which seemed to filled with coal on one side and water on the other. The automon on this side reached into it¡¯s back and retrieved a similar capsule, this one appearing to be empty, and handed it back to the first automon before installing the new capsule. Once done the automaton went back to work. After a short bit a gear in the automaton shattered and the unit shut down.Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°Well that was bound to happen with all this magic around,¡±said the man with the middle eastern accent as he walked into view.


    It was then he saw his first dwarf. This dwarf honestly wasn¡¯t what Andrew had in mind when he heard there would be dwarves. The dwarf was short, no more than four foot five, and had a beard, but from there the similarities to the Tolkienesque dwarf ended.  As he was dressed in somewhat flamboyant colors, though his wardrobe wasn¡¯t all flourish and instead was very functional in design. His shirt, vest, and pants were made from slightly too-tight form-fitting leather, with various exotic tools strapped thoughtfully all over his body. On his head was what looked like a turban made of beaver skin that had a top hat-like brim. His beard was well kept if quite a bit shorter than what Andrew expected a dwarf to have. It was more of a longer goatee, with multi-color beads woven through it. On his face was a set of googles that looked straight out of a steampunk novel. Made of leather and brass, they had many different lenses on shafts, most of which were up and out of the way. As the man worked on the Automaton, the various lenses and apertures of the goggles seemed to move into and out of position as if they knew what this man needed and when he needed it.


    After he was done repairing the automaton, it returned to duty. The man turned to someone Andrew couldn¡¯t see, held up the cog for the person¡¯s inspection, and said, ¡°Just as I feared, all this magic is going to cause us innumerable issues until we unload this cargo.¡±


    ¡°Are we good?¡± asked the female voice.


    ¡°Until we aren¡¯t, but we¡¯ll get through it. I know how much Capt wants this haul, so we¡¯ll make it happen. I just hope it doesn¡¯t cause us too many issues along the way.¡±


    ¡°Correction you know how much we need this haul if we want to continue flying and eating. I don¡¯t know about you, but I¡¯m quite partial to both, especially the eating part, ¡° the woman said with a chuckle.


    Time drug on as Andrew waited to see if his crate would be taken or not, but only half an hour had passed when an automaton approached Andrew¡¯s crate before lifting it up and placing it through the portal. Passing through the portal felt the same as the experience one felt when a ship jumped. Once through though, Andrew was crushed to the floor. The gravity must have been three times that of the Elven ships. He suspected it was close to double that of Earth norm and he could hear the Automaton¡¯s steam workings whine and creak from the extra effort.  Even breathing wasn¡¯t easy as the atmosphere was thick from the increased gravity and his chest felt like he had a sack of rice sitting on it every time he took a breath.


    He struggled to get back up to the vent and see his surroundings, the gravity making his body feel as if he were wearing a lead suit. After an immense effort, he could once again see out of the vents. Where he found that his luck had prevailed once more, and his crate was again at the top of his stack. Though the hold he was in was maybe a 10th of the size of the previous one.  The walls were curved and appeared to be made of solid brass, with beautiful patterns carved into every surface. Here and there he could see brass piping all neatly bundled and precisely placed traveling to places he could only imagine. It struck  him how the piping was worked into the designs on the wall, giving them a 3d look that added to the overall art. By the curve in the wall and from experience he assumed he had been transferred to a ship, but not knowing Dwarven tech he couldn¡¯t not be sure. What he was fairly certain of was that he could hear the sound of what he guessed was a very large steam engine somewhere in the bowels of the ship. Its hisses and whirls sounding like the ones which came from the Automatons but orders of magnitude larger.


    Do Dwarven ships run on steam power?


    [That should not seem surprising Mr. Lather as ultimately even large nuclear powered ocean going ships back on earth were run by steam. Bob has confirmed that Dwarven technology is primarily steam based though.]


    How do they fold space with steam?


    [Unknown]


    Andrew was knocked out of his own thoughts, the voice of a man who sounded like an American Movie Action hero with an indistinct Americanesque accent.


    ¡°That¡¯s it. time to get back to the Folly. I¡¯m happy to say the crates we came for have made it on board.  We¡¯ve detected a fleet inbound and I don¡¯t plan on going down like Enona, so portal back immediately. I¡¯m also pleased to say that we have enough contraband to both get us thrown in jail for a century and make us enough money to live like kings for that century. Assuming we don¡¯t get caught or dead.¡± said the man with the voice of legends.


    Andrew saw one of the space holes expand, as the flamboyant man came through and then further as the Automatons came through each carrying a final crate. They set crates in neat stacks before each walked to a cubby on the front wall and folded themselves into a box that seemed to take up no more than a two-meter cube. Subsequent automatons climbed upon their folded brethren before folding themselves into identical boxes, stacking themselves four to a stack. While he didn¡¯t see the other crew members he did hear each as they laughed and joked about what they planned to do with their share of the loot as they left the room.


    Once they left and the lights turned off he gave up fighting the demonic gravity and laid on his side to help ease his breathing.


    [Bob would like me to inform you, that it knows only what it would call propaganda about the dwarves and little facts. One thing it does not know is that without your protection, the energy of the dwarves would have killed it.]


    Bob, I¡¯m not sure what I¡¯m doing to protect you, but I¡¯m glad you¡¯re still around even if you¡¯re a pain from time to time.


    [Bob would like to point out you only feel like that because of your cognitive shortcomings and not because of any actions of its own.]


    Yeah, sure, Bob. That said I¡¯m beat and need to try to rest before whatever insane thing that the universe throws at me next has a chance to manifest.

 Chapter 22 - How did we make it through the barrier?

    *******


    He might miss a lot when he left Earth, but one thing he was sure of is he wouldn¡¯t miss Texas summers. Andrew was sitting under a covered area at the best burger joint in his hometown of Lampasas Texas. He wasn¡¯t in the sun, yet he could still feel the rivulets of sweat joyfully dancing down his back trying to find a breeze that never came.


    He was seated at a bench-seat-style outdoor table. The table and the benches were made of expanded steel coated in a blue rubberlike material which had seen better days. In various places, it was chipped and peeled leaving the rusted metal exposed. The rusted metal had that patina and polished look that only came from decades of use. He was sitting facing east and to his right was a 12ft or so tall piece of Llanite which had been cut in a semi-phallic shape and turned into a fountain via a hole that had been drilled down the center. While beautiful Andrew wondered how much this fountain cost and why anyone put it here of all places.


    His attention was ripped away from the fountain by a truck horn blaring to his left. He already knew that his vision would be blocked by the privacy fence separating the seating area from the convenience store next door, yet that didn¡¯t keep him from swiveling his head to look at the source of the honking out of instinct more than curiosity.


    Inwardly he cursed the fence, not because it stopped him from seeing whatever minor drama was transpiring in the parking lot next door, but because it blocked the breeze which might provide him and those rivulets of sweat dancing down any relief.


    Andrew sighed as he leaned back from the table into the back of the bench and looked around. His eyes settled briefly on the remnants of his burger and fries which littered his side of the table before looking up at the ceiling.


    ¡°Why are these two never on time?¡± Andrew sighed to the heavens.


    He was startled back to attention by the gruff voice of his mother answering his question as she shuffled up behind him.


    ¡°Probably, because you got here 20mins early. I see you didn¡¯t wait. I get it you¡¯re just too busy and important to wait for us.¡±


    ¡°You know Mom he probably is just too busy getting ready, you know how the leavers are.¡± Said the melodic voice of his older sister.


    ¡°Yall are almost an hour late and enough with the leavers rhetoric sis,¡± sighed Andrew.


    ¡°So, Andrew have you definitely decided to follow your idiot father onto that alien planet?¡± his mom asked.


    ¡°Yeah, I have. This one is collapsing fast, and he gave up a lot to secure us all a seat on the transport ship. I mean Mom he didn¡¯t have to get you a seat, yall haven¡¯t been married for decades yet did. After all he did, I felt one of us should go along and show some gratitude. Plus, It¡¯s a whole new world!!! With all new challenges and discoveries to be made. It has to be better than being stuck in this small town as the world collapses around us.¡±


    ¡°God Brother, are you that na?ve and brainwashed to think that the powers that be would let Earth collapse?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t waste your breath. Elizabeth, you know there¡¯s no changing his mind once it¡¯s made. One would think that he¡¯d realize that he¡¯ll probably be the only person on that ship without a college degree and he can¡¯t really expect to be anything more than a glorified slave on this new planet full of PhDs, but not my son he thinks he¡¯s going to go and help save the human race or something.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like he fell for all those advertisements Dad gave us ¡®We of the Tired 19 have built a massive ark the likes of which the earth hasn¡¯t seen since biblical times. The mission of this ark is to ensure human continuity in the event of a single cosmic event or political action striking our planet.¡¯ Was that it brother?¡± Elizabeth said in an accusatory and mocking tone, taking on a comical new reporter tone while she mocked the advertisements.


    ¡°You don¡¯t believe that nonsense do you, son?¡± His mom said while finally looking him in the eyes.


    ¡°I do! Just look around us. This place is falling apart, and I don¡¯t see the elites or the government lifting even a finger to stop that. No, instead they¡¯re just trying to pick at what morsels are left on the carcass and keep the best for themselves.


    We¡¯re in Lampasas Texas for god''s sake and someone was murdered at Stoney¡¯s last week over the last bottle of Titos. On Yuta 2 we have a chance of making a better world than one where people kill each other over a bottle of local booze, a better system than one that taxes its citizens out of being able to afford food, and a better society than one that thinks this is all normal and would rather dream of being a Kardashian than doing anything about it. One where everyone works, and nobody takes advantage of the system. One where if you legitimately find yourself in hard times you won¡¯t have to worry so much.¡±


    ¡°See Mom, I told you he fell for their propaganda! One where nobody takes advantage of the system? That¡¯s the biggest myth of them all!¡± his sister said in a mocking sneer


    ¡°Sure Beth, I guess I did, but what¡¯s keeping you here?¡±


    ¡°Well for one your sister is pregnant!¡±Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°All the more reason to go. Yeah, it will be hard there at first, but better to raise your baby on a growing world where they can thrive than on this dying rock. Just look out there, do you see any new cars and since when does Lampasas have smog? I¡¯m 28 and I don¡¯t want my life to be like this. Beth, is this really where you want to raise a baby? I mean even Eve¡¯s shut because they couldn¡¯t make a schnitzel for less than $200 and you¡¯re already on the meager government dole and are still struggling to make ends meet. Is that the life you want your baby to know?¡±


    ¡°Brother you know the president has talked about how she has a plan to fix all that. Why would I risk my baby on a new planet when I and they can be part of fixing this one?¡±


    ¡°Do yall hear yourselves? I get it it¡¯s scary out there, but we¡¯ll be the only family with cattle making the trip. We¡¯ll be rich for once in our lives. Also, yall mock me about wanting to help with Yuta, but what chance do any of us uneducated folk have in turning this world around? At least there we¡¯ll be starting with a clean slate and the guarantee of food for at least the next 5yrs.¡°


    ¡°Oh yeah Drew you and Dad will be rich? No, you¡¯ll be slaves to the new elites, the elites who aren¡¯t bound by the Constitution! What will you do then? Skydive your way out of it? Seriously brother what have you done with your life that makes you think, you¡¯ll be anyone special?¡±


    ¡°What have you done other than been a leach on dad and made a baby?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough you two. Son, I know we¡¯re being harsh, but it¡¯s what you need to hear. I love you, but your sister¡¯s right, what have you done that will make you stand out on this new planet? I just don¡¯t want you abandoning your support network and the find yourself in a whole nother galaxy before you realize you needed us. Plus, don¡¯t you want to be here for your sister and me like we are for you?¡±


    ¡°Oh like you were there for me when you abandoned us to run off with Gus? Don¡¯t think I forgot your support. What about when you ran off and left us a second time? This time for Edwardo. So don¡¯t play the family responsibility card on me. Beth may have forgiven you, but I haven¡¯t. You know what yall two deserve each other. I hope it works out well for yall.¡±


    *****


    Andrew woke in balled up on the bottom of his crate with yet another crick in his neck from the cramped sleeping quarters and from whatever it was under his head. When he lifted his head an imprint of his sword hilt could be seen on his cheek from where he had used it as a pillow.


    Sad to think that was the last time I saw them. Not even a week later we left for Yuta. I hope things worked out for Beth and her baby. I wished they had come. I¡¯ll never forget how brown Earth was from space. Sad that I don¡¯t even know if her baby was a boy or a girl, much less its name.


    His musings were interrupted by a woman¡¯s voice he hadn¡¯t heard before. This one had an accent close to that of someone from west Asia. It had that grizzled edge that only belonged to a person who had seen one too many battles, ¡°Have we found the Inojen yet?¡±


    ¡°Not yet Uhla, but we¡¯re still looking. Some of this we¡¯ll need to dump soon before it and the ship corrupt each other, ¡° said the man with the flamboyant middle eastern sounding accent.


    ¡°Understood, Rhem, don¡¯t worry we heard you the first time. We don¡¯t like this stuff around any more than you do. We¡¯re almost to that ball of rock the Tribe asked us to visit on this side of the Blight and we¡¯ll dump it all there. I just hope the Tribe brings enough credits. I don¡¯t know about you but I can¡¯t wait to see their faces when they see all these crates,¡± replied the woman.


    ¡°I have to ask, how did we make it through the barrier? I mean even the largest warships in the dwarven navy have a hard time jumping through it, so how did we do it so effortlessly and without its energy poisoning our systems?¡±


    ¡°Rhem, how many times do we have to tell you the Capt is a mysterious man with even more mysterious connections?¡±


    ¡°At least once more I¡¯d wager as again, we¡¯re talking about the Barrier. The Barrier! I get how we made it through the fence, but the barrier is pure layered magic and I still can¡¯t figure out how the Folly made it through without degrading into dust. Also don¡¯t expect me to be excited about landing on that ball of rock as isn¡¯t that where we pick up our illustrious Fourier contact?¡±


    ¡°Sadly, it is. As for the barrier, I really don¡¯t know how we made it through, but if I was a wagering girl I¡¯d bet this isn¡¯t the first time Capt has made a trip into or out of Elven space. ¡°


    Andrew strained to see the two pirates, but try as he might, he couldn¡¯t see either of them. As he scanned the room trying to find them, he noticed that what he thought was a massive crate made of brass was, in fact, a foot. A foot for what he couldn¡¯t yet see, but he guessed for a giant automaton. The ankle was a thing of beauty from a mad scientist''s laboratory. With what looked like brass muscles interwoven around what appeared to be a steel frame underneath. Though he couldn¡¯t see most of the details in the ankle as they were hidden behind a thick beautifully sculpted armor plate. The armor plating on the foot and ankle were both carved with intricate designs that reminded him of the carvings you¡¯d see from Vikings. Even the runes that adorned the front of the foot seemed vaguely Norse.


    [Bob informs me that what you¡¯re looking at is the foot of a dwarven machine called a SteamHammer. It is their equivalent of a war golem. Which means they are the primary war machine of the dwarves. He informs me this one appears to be a medium-sized version and says that it likely tops out at only a meager 20 to 25 meters in height. The largest of them top 45 meters in height.]


    Any chance Bob knows what the runes on the foot say?


    [Yes, but they make little sense. It says, ¡°one step at a time¡±. Bob believes they¡¯re likely a recovering drug addict or something. The dwarves have a 19step process to help people out of addictions.]


    He stared at the foot for quite some time trying to imagine the larger machine it was attached to, and was only drawn back to the dwarves when he realized the conversation had gone on without him.


    ¡°Either way Rhem, we need to get through this inventory before that Fourier bastard decides to change the deal when he sees what we found.¡±


    ¡°Uhla, you can talk some sense into the Capt. He is a Stuermhalen, he should know better than anyone that the Fouriers are treacherous bastards and have been since literally the beginning of time. There¡¯s no way this deal is beneficial for us.¡±


    ¡°Oh Capt knows better than most, and point of fact Capt is a Sruthan not a Stuermhalen. You¡¯ll do well not to let him hear you say that either. He¡¯s touchy about his old clan after his exile. As for the Fouriers, they¡¯re a means to an end. They¡¯re going to get us not only on Vulcanis, but get us close seats to the presidential challenges. I don¡¯t know about you but I can¡¯t wait to watch Sylnai cr<u>ush that cheating Fourier usurper under her hammer.</u>¡±


    That was the last thing he heard them say before he heard a steam hiss and their voices disappeared just before the lights went out.

 Chapter 23 - What isn’t odd with an elf?

    Andrew had to pee, and not the he drank some water a few minutes ago type of pee. It was more like he had to pee an hour before a long movie but decided to ignore it and instead got an extra-large soda and got a grande coffee before visiting Niagara falls, kind of situation.  As a magical toilet didn¡¯t seem to grow out of the side of his crate, he decided it was time to explore the ship.


    First things first, he tried connecting with his crate, yet right before his mind connected the purple line fizzled out with an audible pop. Intrigued and a little concerned he might be trapped in this crate, he tried again. His second attempt ended in the same manner and his panic started. Images of having to live in his own filth danced horrifically through his head. Driven by those thoughts he tried a third time, hoping it might be the charm and when the top opened, he let out small sigh.


    While dark, the cargo hold was not completely pitch black as it was mildly illuminated by small running lights which dimly lit the pathways. They reminded him of pathway lights in a movie theater, though each slightly flickered in a way that made him wonder if they contained a tiny flame or if the magic in the crates might be affecting the lighting in some way.


    To his left he could see a brighter light spilling over a set of crates which were luckily blocking any view the three dwarves, he could hear joyfully talking in the same direction, might have.


    As he scanned for additional threats he was awed, by the scale as well and the precision of the craftsmanship of the room he was in. Though, awe would have been too small of a word for what he was feeling.  The cargo hold was not slightly larger than the one on the elven vessel, but instead of grown it was clearly exquisitely crafted. At first glance, he had thought that the room was somehow made from one giant sheet of some brass like material, but when he looked closer, he could see screws so perfectly sized that only the drive recesses of each could be seen. As he looked further, he could see from the pattern of the screws that the room was instead made of 100 square meter panels which were so exactly sized that he could not see the seams. Large intricate carvings adorned the walls, to Andrew¡¯s imagination they appeared like what he would guess space Vikings might have carved for their star maps. There were a countless myriad of pipes adorning the walls, all beautifully carved to accentuate the carvings. Closer to what he assumed was the front of the ship there was he could best describe as an overly large sheet unceremoniously hanging over what appeared to be an intricate embossing on the right side of the room. It covered it too much for him to really see it from this angle, but it made him curious about what was behind it. Was it a mark of whoever originally owned this ship before these pirates took it? Andrew wasn¡¯t sure, but what he was sure of was eventually he planned to investigate it.  Today though he had to find a bathroom and he had to find it fast.


    From his current vantage point the room was crammed with elven crates, the stacked automatons and three giant brass, steel, and wood robots.  The smallest looking like it couldn¡¯t be taller than 16 or so meters tall. What it lacked in height though it appeared to make up for in speed. All of its surfaces were polished and sleek. Giving it the appearance as if it was ready to run even though it was sitting in a fetal ball.


    The one whose foot Andrew had seen through the grate on his crate was the middle of the pack in size and had the appearance of a skirmish fighter. At least that¡¯s the best description that stuck in Andrew¡¯s head. It was decently armored compared to its smaller brethren, but not nearly as much as its larger sibling. He could clearly see that there was runic writing on both feet and almost as soon as he noticed it a slightly high pitched unisex voice spoke to him in his mind. Causing him to almost fall over as it was not that of Ziggy. .


    [Andrew due to your limited eyesight, the translation I gave you was incorrect.]


    Who¡¯s talking? That doesn¡¯t sound like Ziggy and there¡¯s no notification either. Is that you bob?


    [ Of course it¡¯s me. Who else could it be? Why do I always get stuck with the dumb ones?]


    I guess nobody, just making sure I didn¡¯t go crazy.


    [ Well I would go that far, but have no fear it is I the Amazing Bob your friendly control worm.  Hmmm I really messed that opportunity up didn¡¯t I. I could have made you believe I was a god or something even more powerful.]


    What¡¯s more powerful than god?


    [Not your society¡¯s weird belief about omnipotent sky wizards, but like the god you met, Biaobel, who in many ways is actually scarier than your sky wizard as he has my kin to control all of his mortals and has no fear of repercussions.]


    So, what¡¯s more powerful than him?


    [Nothing that I know of. Fair point, I should have acted as one of your omnipotent sky wizard things.]


    I¡¯m not a big believer in the sky wizards, so that would have just convinced me I¡¯d gone crazy. So how can you talk to me now? When you couldn¡¯t before?


    [Ziggy and I have been able to umm integrate better. If you catch my meaning.]


    [Mr. Lather we have not been doing whatever Bob is insinuating. As you well know I have no ability to be sexual in any way. It appears that while parts of my systems work better in a high magic zones, other parts work more efficiently in a high-tech zones. This has allowed me to provide a better interface for Bob and I to interact. The primary result of which is that Bob may now directly utilize my connections to the speech centers in your brain.


    [Awwww it¡¯s too embarrassed to¡­..]


    [Mr. Lather, while Bob is better integrated it does not mean I cannot mute it when necessary.]


    That¡¯s a relief. This won¡¯t give it the ability to control me, will it?


    [Negative Mr. Lather, while I no longer have to respond for it, it still has to interface with you through me. More precisely, what changed allowed communication speeds between Bob and I to quintuple. Which allowed us to be able to utilize some of that enhanced bandwidth for direct communications.]


    So, Bob, what were you saying about the translation before we got off on this tangent?


    [Sorry Mr. Lather, until it stops trying to give you untruthful and undignified descriptions of our connection, I have kept Bob muted.]


    [Fine! What I was saying before I was so rudely censored was that because of your limited vision, my initial take on the inscription on the steamhammer¡¯s foot was incorrect. It has nothing to do with addiction counseling as you might have previously believed. Well, I mean I guess it could solve an enemy¡¯s addiction issue pretty abruptly, but again I digress. While the left foot does indeed say ¡°one step at a time¡±, the right foot bears the runes for ¡°Crushing it¡±. Which fundamentally changes the saying doesn¡¯t it?]


    Crushing it, one step at a time? I bet it does. Seriously, these steamhammers, right?


    [Yes] [Yes]


    Yall are so cute. These steamhammers are the coolest things I think I have ever seen.


    [Wait, these mechanical monstrosities are the coolest things you¡¯ve ever seen? Not living ships? Not the tree that reaches to space and grows or consumes anything its creators need? Not Magic so powerful it blew us into subatomic particles and then reconstituted us back to living state from those subatomic particles?]


    Yes, Bob, I stand by my statement. Yes, whale shaped ships with eye beams are cool and a tree that reaches space and makes everything one might is amazing, but just not steam powered mech cool.  And yes, that moment we were annihilated, and that magic was definitely awe inspiring and terrifying. Immensely more than these steamhammers, but my inner geek can¡¯t get over how beautiful, immensely well crafted, and cool these steamhammers are! I mean can you imagine piloting one? It would be like playing a mech game from a steampunk aficionado¡¯s wet dream. The additional whirs, hisses, whistles, and smoke that I imagine they make alone, would make my inner geek squee.


    [I¡¯m starting to see why your race is universally hunted across both galaxies]


    Andrew didn¡¯t respond as in this moment his brain concluded that a giant piece of brass that he had initially dismissed as an alter or an unknown piece of the ship as actually a giant Warhammer.


    Wait, is that a giant Warhammer? The head of that thing is the size of a small SUV!


    [Yes, though to be clear not all steamhammers wield hammers. It is a very traditional weapon across dwarven society and likely the most common weapon wielded by even modern day steamhammers. For clarity though that is not why they are called steamhammers exactly. The name came from their origins as mining vehicles. Based on this size this hammer likely belongs to the largest of the steamhammers.]


    Do they not have guns?


    [They have those poison belching lead throwing devices. As well as some that project a stream of burning fuel and even a few that project small bolts of lightning.]Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    [From the records Bob has given me access to no, Mr. Lather, they do not have guns as you think of guns. They do have black powder firearms. Many of their designs seem highly impractical, take for example the most advanced firearm I have records on, the Stormreaver. It¡¯s a self-loading revolver-style cannon designed for use by artillery Steamhammers. While impractical in the fact that it features none of the advances humans have made in firearms since the mid-19<sup>th</sup> century, it does boast a 60ft barrel with a 30-inch bore. The cylinder alone weighs 210tons and has a cylinder that carries 8 bullet style projectiles, each of which are 4ft long and propelled by 6ft of a highly efficient black powder. The advanced metallurgy needed to contain the forces created is a paradox to the fact that they haven¡¯t created smokeless powered or automation.]


    They don¡¯t have machine guns?


    [From the data Bob has shared, it would seem to date they have not developed them nor semi-automatics. Though there are a few lever guns which have been recently invented. I suspect this might be from human interactions.]


    It seems wrong and highly unlikely to me that they have figured out how to move faster than light, yet haven¡¯t created combat technology that surpasses human gun tech from the 1850?


    [Dwarves aren¡¯t the brightest or they¡¯d have figured out magic long ago.]


    [Bob¡¯s assertion is logically flawed in that it appears the Dwarves have merely evolved down a different technological track than that of humans or elves. As for giving the Dwarves technological advancements, I would advise waiting to see if dwarves are the moral side in this conflict before you try to help them advance their warfare technology.]


    All that can wait, I need to find a bathroom and if the sounds coming from my gut are any indication I better not wait. Yall have any suggestions?


    [This cargo hold could belong to any number of ships in my databanks. I am assuming we are in the rear of the ship due to those cargo doors. This of course is faulty logic as there are many designs of ships that have cargo doors of similar size and style which point towards the front of the ship. I would say try to head towards the front of the ship to look for one, but as my assumption could prove incorrect, I have no solid advice at this time.]


    [My only suggestion is don¡¯t poop yourself. They¡¯ll definitely detect that.]


    Thanks Bob, I¡¯m trying not to.


    Despite the protest coming from his guts, Andrew slowly crept along trying his best to avoid detection. So slow in fact that after an antagonizing ten mins Andrew had barely made it more than a few decameters from his crate. He only gave up some of his caution and climbed up on top of a nearby stack of crates, when his gut launched a very loud and formal complaint about his lack of progress, in the form of a sharp stabbing pain in his lower abdominal region.


    When he got to the top, he found that other than the cargo doors behind him, which he assumed led out to vast nothingness of space, there were only two other doors that he could see. Both were currently open and were located on an elevated walkway each on their own side of the room, both leading to hallways which appeared to be identical and to run parallel to the hull.  He looked around a bit more until sounds from the Dwarven meeting reminded him that he shouldn¡¯t loiter in plain sight. He had Ziggy place a marker at each door and then proceeded to climb back down. Once his feet were back on the deck, he started to make his way toward the steps leading to the elevated platform.


    While he was fairly certain that the group of dwarves he could hear were on the other side of a small mountain of elven crates to his left and not particularly near his current position, he still used extreme caution when he approached the first cross street gap in the crates. Before he crept across the intersection, he attempted to activate his blur skill.


    His blur skill failed to activate as a nearby steam pipe burst. The escaping steam emitted an ear-piercing whistle and spiking the temperature.  The corner of a nearby crate fell noisily to the floor, having been cleanly sliced off its parent crate by steam so hot it was invisible.


    Andrew reflexively launched himself backwards hoping to avoid a fate similar to the crate or his lungs being scalded by the heat. It was only when he landed noiselessly that he was lucky for two reasons: his boots still seemed to be mostly working and that he didn¡¯t accidently launch himself into the invisible steam death ray.  He knew he needed to move soon, but he took a moment to study the burst pipe before he made his next move. He almost let out an audible gasp when a set of nodules on the pipe sprouted legs and scurried over to place a partial cylinder over the crack. The item clamping itself down, forcing the bent pieces mostly back in place before it appeared to weld itself in place. The whistling subsided as the patch finished its work. It was then that he realized the Dwarven conversation had stopped, and he could hear footsteps rapidly approaching.


    No sooner than he had found a hiding spot, than the flamboyant Dwarf they called Rhem walked into view and looked up at the newly repaired pipe.


    ¡°I swear this magic will be the death of us all if we can¡¯t get it offloaded on that lifeless rock soon. On the Brightside at least we don¡¯t have to test the automatic repair functions in this part of the ship this week, huh Kopa?¡± Said Rhem before looking around for a companion that was nowhere in sight.


    ¡°umm Kopa you there?¡± He called out without a response returning.


    ¡°I guess she had better things to do. Huh oh well guess it¡¯s just you and me, Konee,¡± Rhem said while patting a cute little automaton, perched on his shoulder.


    The automaton might have been the cutest thing Andrew had ever seen made of polished brass and silver. It had oversized catlike ears, each appearing to be controlled separately as they moved independently to scan the room. While the ears helped with the cuteness factor, it was the saucer style round eyes on the front of its face and the button nose, complete with short almost useless whiskers, that really brought the cuteness factor to a maximum.


    That¡¯s about where the comparison to a kitten would end. Its pupils were round and distinctly more hello kitty than that of a cat¡¯s eye and its body seemed more reminiscent of monkey¡¯s as well. This was especially true with its long forearms and short back legs, each appendage ending in a monkey-like paw with opposing thumbs. Its tail was something else altogether as it reminded Andrew of something that would have been part of an ancient cartoon he had once binged watch a few seasons of. Though the name of the cartoon alluded him¡­Jet somethings? Jet and sons? No matter the cartoon¡¯s name, the tail was a moderately thin cored number, with bulbs of silver centered on the trunk, each one getting smaller until one no bigger than a ball bearing was at its tip.


    It made a yipping purr sound as the dwarf patted it on the head.


    ¡°I guess we should go back to the table to continue inventorying this valuable filth.¡±


    The automaton only answered with a sort of hiss growl which Andrew took as disapproval.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Konee, I¡¯ll repair you if any of this junk corrupts you.¡±


    To Andrew¡¯s dismay the dwarf took another minute or two to ensure the patch was good. His steampunk googles cycling through a few lenses before he seemed satisfied with its efficacy. All the while Andrew¡¯s guts were bubbling so loudly he was concerned the dwarf might hear them. This dwarf seemed not to have a care in the world for Andrew¡¯s discomfort though, as it took forever to start to slowly meander back to the others. Once there he could hear Rhem chastise his missing friend.


    ¡°Kopa, I thought you were coming with me. Imagine my surprise when I tried to get your opinion only to find empty air. Though I guess that¡¯s not a lot different than when you are there. At least Koneeho was there to help me verify the work.¡± Andrew could hear Rhem say as he apparently found his companions.


    ¡°Did you need my help verifying that a weld was good?¡± said the female voice that he was pretty sure was Kopa in a sarcastic tone.


    ¡°Like I said you wouldn¡¯t have been any help anyhow.¡±


    ¡°I hope not as you been you¡¯ve been dealing with steampipes since you were like ten?¡±


    ¡°Five actually, but when you¡¯re hundred and seventy-four, what¡¯s five years?¡±


    Hearing that the dwarves were all back together, Andrew tried to activate his blur skill once more before he crossed the gap in the crates.


    ¡°What in the world!?¡± exclaimed Rhem as an ear-piercing shriek filled the room. The source of which was steam escaping from an edge of the repair patch where a corner had peeled up. The escaping steam had cut one of the nearby crates cleanly in two and dug a disturbingly large gash in the deck. The contents of the crate spilled out onto the floor as the escaping steam melted it and the contents like butter, leaving only hazardous melted mess behind.


    ¡°Hmm, I guess you did need my help after all. Can¡¯t even check a patch anymore? ¡° Kopa chided as Rhem ran to a spot where Andrew should have been in plain view.


    Relief flooded Andrew when it was clear that this time the blur skill had deployed successfully, and Rhem couldn¡¯t see him. Once Rhem moved back out of sight, Andrew wasted no time moving down the path to find some crates to duck behind, as he knew his skill wasn¡¯t perfect and could fail at any time.  When he peeked out to assess his situation, he saw that the Dwarves had actually congregated right at the spot where he had previously been standing.  This time it was all three dwarves he had heard talking previously, each staring up at the pipe in wonder as the auto repair bots fixed the leak once more.


    ¡°It appears some wretched thing stored near here spiked with magic right before this happened. Are those footprints?¡± Rhem asked as he stared at the floor, the lens of his googles quickly switching in and out of use in what seemed like an almost random pattern.


    The third dwarf was standing there and through process of elimination Andrew assumed this was his Scottish sounding dwarf. This dwarf looked slightly more like what he expected, while still missing the mark by a good bit. He was at least short with a stocky powerful build and had long red hair with a single patterned braid. That was about where it ended. While this dwarf¡¯s beard was a full beard to Rhem¡¯s long goatee, it was still rather short by Gimli¡¯s standards, being only an inch or two in length. The dwarf¡¯s eyes were striking not only because of the bright green hue, but also because of the warm friendly feeling they seemed to radiate. He wore plain leather garments which were elegantly well designed in a way that somehow belied that they weren¡¯t inexpensive items.


    ¡°Are what footprints? Rhem, you¡¯re staring the bloody clean floor!¡± Said the dwarf with the Scottish sounding accent.


    Rhem tapped his googles as if calling his friend dumb without saying the words.


    ¡°Do you think we have an elven infiltrator?¡±


    ¡°It would be an obvious explanation, Aminci. They go this way,¡± Rhem said while pointing in Andrew¡¯s direction.


    They walked only a few paces before Rhem stopped and looked all around.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on Rhem?¡± asked Kopa


    ¡°The heat trail ends here; no other heat signatures are detected. Doesn¡¯t that seem odd even for elf?¡± Rhem said pointing at the spot that Andrew assumed his blur power took effect.


    ¡°What isn¡¯t odd with an elf?¡± replied the red-haired dwarf they had called Aminci


    ¡°Amin, Rhem, I found something else that¡¯s odd,¡± said Kopa.


    While she was also short and stocky by human standards, she was definitely lither than her male counterparts and she had no beard. Nor any stumble. While it was a definite improvement over the dwarven women with beards trope, Andrew¡¯s inner geek sighed at the fact that these were not the dwarves of his fantasy novels. Driving that point home was her clothing, while she was dressed in all leather, and it did hug her feminine curves it was not skintight, nor did she have extraneous skin showing. Her hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, a single intricate braid left hanging over her right temple and didn¡¯t look like she had just come out of a movie studio dressing room. While she held no candle next to Linnie''s beauty, he guessed by dwarven standards she was likely highly sought after. She stood there looking at the two men, one hand on her hip and her other holding a rather ominous looking high-tech revolver which was resting on her shoulder while she tapped one foot expectantly.


    ¡°Do you plan to tell us, Kopa? Or are you just going to tease us?¡± said the Scottish sounding man he assumed was Aminci.

 Chapter 24 - You poop….in…..my….BRAIN!?

    ¡°It seems someone has been stowed away in one of these crates. One of the maintenance bots found a crate open and from the looks of it someone has slept in there¡± replied Kopa.


    ¡°As long as that dirty elf stowaway doesn¡¯t do any more of its devilry on our ship this repair should hold, if it does then we may all meet the void,¡± replied an annoyed Rhem.


    ¡°Well, I guess we need to see this crate, maybe Rhem¡¯s fancy glasses will help us solve this case. Hey Doc, have you seen anything?¡± asked Aminci to the air.


    ¡°My sensors detected only the magical burst and the pipe issue. Given the magic levels, sensor reliability is questionable. Crew has been alerted to your infiltration concerns.¡± said a disembodied British voice.


    ¡°Shall we boys?¡± Kopa said with a grin as she led the two men in the direction of Andrew¡¯s crate.


    Andrew made haste knowing that there wouldn¡¯t be too much to investigate at his crate and he was hoping to be out of this room before they came back. Moving faster than he might have otherwise due to the complaints still being lodged in his guts.


    Luckily the path he was on led straight to the stairs leading up to the doorways. Once on the stairs he moved slowly until he could see the dwarves.  They were still next to his old crate, each inspecting nearby crates and making fun of what they found and each other. Seeing their distraction, he wasted no time ascending the remaining stairs. Once on the elevated platform which ran between the two doors, he could see that both doors remained open and so he had a decision to make, left or right?


    Ziggy, flip a logical coin for me and tell me which way to go.


    [Right, Mr. Lather, but I have no more data than you have on the subject.]


    As he approached the door on the right he realized one issue with his plan. The door and hallway were only two meters tall with pipes taking up a lot of the headspace. So, he was forced to slightly duck his head and dodge the occasional pipe as he moved into the hallway. When he ducked down to see past the pipes, he could only see for about sixty meters, before the hall curved back towards the center of the ship at a near ninety-degree angle. Before that point though he could see that there were six doors, three doors on either side of the hallway. Six doors that any one of them could be his salvation or his demise. While his guts urged him to hurry his brain urged caution and so Andrew cautiously proceeded towards the first door.


    Though nothing happened and soon he found himself standing at the door. Concerned he¡¯d open the door to find a dwarf just about to exit, he put his ear up to the door and tried to discern if the room was occupied or not.  All he could make out was the hums and whistles of the ship. No matter how long he listened no new information presented itself, so when his guts let him know, they wouldn¡¯t wait, he went to open the door.  It was only then he noticed there wasn¡¯t a handle in sight. Not on any of the six doors.


    Any ideas on how to open this door?


    [It¡¯s annoyingly antiquated, I mean have they seriously not figured out mental commands?]


    So, how does one do it?


    [Mr. Lather, please way your hand in front of the figure eight looking rune to the right of the door frame.]


    Without thinking about it he did exactly as Ziggy had instructed and to his immense satisfaction it opened. To his relief it was not occupied, not only was it not occupied but it appeared to be some sort of high-tech toilet. Andrew almost sprinted into the room before relieving himself. While a bit short the toilet itself accommodated him quite well as the dwarves were stouter than humans on average.  Only once the pressure inside him had subsided did he think to lock the door. Yet when he moved to do just that he realized he couldn¡¯t figure out how.


    Do yall know how to lock the door?


    [Mr. Lather that is not in my databanks and even looking around I do not see an obvious solution.]


    [Don¡¯t look at me, I have no clue either. Maybe it¡¯s automated and you just need to stand up. ]


    What about how to clean myself?


    [No clue, we control worms don¡¯t really pay attention to such things as our hosts body cleans ours up for us.]


    Wait, you poop in my brain?!


    [Of course I poop in your brain what¡¯s the big deal?]


    Umm that you poop¡­.in¡­.my¡­. BRAIN!!!


    [Mr. Lather while it is true his waste by-products do get deposited in your brain; it appears they are all easily handled by your body. In fact, one of them appears to increase your cognition.]


    [No need to thank me. I¡¯m just glad it means I don¡¯t have to put up with your idiotic nature for too much longer.]


    As he was looking for the way to clean himself or lock the door the door opened, and a very menacing revolver was pointing at his face, the female dwarf holding it.


    ¡°Elf, you better show yourself or I¡¯m going to start shooting.¡± Said a menacing Kopa.


    ¡°Care to teach me how to lock a dwarven door?¡± Andrew said sheepishly as he slowly moved his hands up into the air, not remembering his blur skill was still active.


    [Umm she can¡¯t see you idiot, why did you talk? At this point, my suggestion is to disable blur and go willingly, doubt she¡¯ll miss you eight times.]


    With that Andrew dismissed his blur skill.


    ¡°A human! Slowly hand over that sword and get dressed.¡± She said while doing her best not to look at the naked parts of his body, yet still be aware enough to not get killed.


    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am, though can I ask how I clean my umm rear?¡± he asked, a bit shocked from the sounds coming out of his mouth as he spoke dwarven.


    ¡°Use your implants of course?¡± she said somewhat confused.


    ¡°My implant doesn¡¯t know how¡±


    ¡°What ancient piece of crap implant do you have, and you only have one?¡±


    ¡°A Kata implant, and yes¡±.


    ¡°A what? Just stay still or it might get messy. Doc, please do the needful.¡±


    If it was not for the revolver pointed at his face, Andrew would have surely jumped up when the water hit him. As it was, he did his best to grin and bear it as his butt got cleaned by some automated process trying not to be embarrassed that he had company. But a second or two later after a few more odd steps his butt felt as clean as if he¡¯d just showered. While doing his best to be modest, he gestured with his head to the sword at his hip, waiting for a signal from her before making a move. Only after a nod from her did he disconnect it and hand it to her, in the sheath and hilt first.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    That out of the way he waited for another nod from her, and he awkwardly pulled up his pants, trying his best to hide his nakedness, while also trying not to look like he was trying to hide ill intent. To his relief, it was only after his pants were in place that the other two dwarves arrived.


    ¡°A Human?¡± they both exclaimed in unison.


    ¡°Yeah, I would have lost that bet too.¡±


    ¡°What were you doing on an elven ship?¡± Aminci asked.


    ¡°Trying to escape that research facility and find my wife.¡±


    ¡°Which research facility was that exactly?¡± asked Rhem


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, one in a giant tree owned by Biaobel, who claimed to be an elven god. While I can say that he had immense power, all I can confirm was he was an elven prick.¡±


    ¡°Wait you¡¯re say you not only escaped from an elven research facility, but from one of Biaobel¡¯s no less? That¡¯s a mighty big claim.¡± asked Rhem with a look of disbelief growing across his face.


    ¡°It¡¯s the truth whether it¡¯s a big claim or not. With me disarmed and there being three of yall here can I ask that you not point that in my face any longer. One sneeze and all the effort I¡¯ve been through to get free will be for not.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s to say you¡¯re disarmed; I haven¡¯t searched you. Also, what makes you think you¡¯re free? Maybe we sell you to some dwarven researchers?¡± Kopa said with a smile, though she did lower the weapon slightly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even joke about things like that Kopa. The things our nation did to humans was unconscionable, it was almost as bad as what the pointy ear bastards did to them and those illegal researchers give the magical devils a good name.  The Capt and I both denounced it in our youths while it was happening, so don¡¯t worry we won¡¯t let you go to some backwater researcher.¡± Aminci scorned.


    ¡°The captain and crew are en route. Should I deploy bots to escort the prisoner to a room?¡± said the disembodied British voice.


    ¡°Thanks Doc, I guess we should wait for the captain to get here then. While we wait, we should search him. Kopa you haven¡¯t touched a man in a while, you want to do the honors?¡±


    ¡°Amin, that¡¯s disgusting even if he weren¡¯t a human. What would Uhla say if she were here?¡±


    ¡°That my husband is a disgusting pervert, and as he grew up a noble whose best friend was royalty, he has no excuse for his poor behavior. Also, that he shouldn¡¯t take interest in the love life, or lack thereof, of another woman. If he likes being married that is.¡± Said the grizzled Asian voice he had heard back on the Elven ship just as she walked into view smiling.


    Despite the smile, she was a serious looking woman, but from the creases on her face he could tell she likely often wore a smile as much as a scowl. Her gaze is what struck him the most. It reminded him of an eagle¡¯s, not in appearance, but in intensity and scrutiny, seeming to pierce into his soul. He wasn¡¯t sure as he only met four dwarves so far, but she seemed short by dwarven standards, and her build seemed slighter than is normal for a dwarf. Her muscles were lean and hard which belied a training habit that likely wasn¡¯t missed.  Unlike the other dwarves he''s met so far, she wore no leather other than her belt and boots. Instead, she wore a dark colored form breaking robe like garment made of cloth. On one side of her belt, she had an elegant revolver and on the other a delicate and beautiful hatchet. Her hair was curly hair and was tied back with a head band. Her single braid was tied back with the rest of her hair. Though from what he could see it seemed much simpler than the other dwarves¡¯ braids had been.


    ¡°So, a human? Who is he?¡± Uhla asked


    ¡°No clue, though he does seem to be able to use magic as he was invisible when I found him here and from what I can see he¡¯s missing any usable implants.¡±


    ¡°He claims to have been a research subject of Biaobels and searching for his wife, hun.¡±


    ¡°Excuse my friends and husband, they¡¯re nobles and don¡¯t know how to conduct themselves with normal folk. My name is Uhlakaniphile Sruthan, though most call me Uhla for short. What¡¯s your name?¡±, she said while holding out her hand for him to shake.


    ¡°Andrew Lather.¡±, he replied as cautiously reaching out to shake it.


    ¡°Welcome to the Tranquility of Folly, though most of us call her the Folly. So, Doc tells me that it appears you¡¯ve been stowed away in one of the crates. What¡¯s your purpose?¡±


    Before Andrew could answer a fifth dwarf walked up behind the other four.  He was everything Andrew had expected of a dwarf, minus the full flowing beard. This man had a beard but like Amin it was kept neatly trimmed. Also, like Amin he long flowing locks of hair though his were a deep black. This man exuded leadership, his eyes serious and ice blue, with a chin that would make a brick layer jealous. He seemed tall for a dwarf and was heavily muscled with the look of a hero. He wore a beautifully made chainmail, though Andrew could place the metal used as it had a purple greenish iridescence to it that for some reason seemed innate to the metal and not some coating.  This man wore a single piece of jewelry which if he was human would have been a wedding band that looked like it had not left this man¡¯s finger in over a century. On his back was a Warhammer and, on his hip, a beautifully crafted revolver.


    ¡°Look at that Doc didn¡¯t lie, it¡¯s a human.¡± Said the newcomer.


    ¡°When have I ever lied?¡± said the disconnected voice.


    ¡°Doc, that was a figure of speech. I just didn¡¯t figure our stowaway would have been human.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s pretty much the consensus of reaction so far, though nobody has asked me.¡± Andrew couldn¡¯t keep himself from quipping.


    ¡°Are you not a human? You sure look like a human. Is he not a human?" asked the man.


    ¡°Yeah Capt, he¡¯s human. Your eyes are as good as always.¡± Kopa said sarcastically with what Andrew thought might be a slight gleam in her eyes.


    ¡°So, you human?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m a human. Pretty sure Biaobel wouldn¡¯t have studied me if I wasn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°You know I met that guy once? Amazingly full of himself that one, especially for a person coming to beg us for a ceasefire. Which my mother gave him even though we all told her it was a bad idea.¡±  Said the man they had called Capt.


    ¡°He literally atomized me without a thought and then reassembled me with one. Who is your mother that she could get that man to beg?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a powerful woman let¡¯s just leave it at that. Especially as I don¡¯t know you and you just came off an elven ship.  So, how long have you been in Biaobel¡¯s research lab?¡±


    ¡°A few months I believe. It¡¯s hard to keep track of time in that place.¡±


    ¡°Where you transferred from another¡­¡­.crap what is the name for those elven slave owners again?¡± asked Rhem after drawing blank.


    ¡°Gaytals or something, right?¡± replied Uhla.


    ¡°Getl or Getleklic, Rhem. So as Rhem was trying to ask. Where you transferred from another Getleklic¡¯s facility?¡± Aminci said in a flat tone.


    ¡°No, I haven¡¯t met any of the Getl other than Biaobel. I¡­.¡±


    ¡°Friend, you don¡¯t look a few months old, so how is it that you came to be researched by, allegedly met with, and escape the Gealdicgelic himself?¡± Aminci said as he placed his hand on his gun. A motion he saw repeated by all but Uhla.


    ¡°I¡¯m definitely more than a few months old, but I have only been in your galaxy for that long¡­¡±


    All the dwarves simultaneously spat invectives to the effect of ¡°Not my galaxy¡±


    ¡°First, this dreadful, chaotic, and magic-filled galaxy is called Chennon, we¡¯re from Volundr. Volundr is a civilized galaxy where things are ordered and there almost no magic corrupting it. Well until Chennon crashed into ours. Likely by the will of that lunatic you claimed to have met.  If you are in fact new, it would be good for you to know it¡¯s a grave insult to insinuate that a dwarf is from Chennon. Some would like to take your life over it, friend. Most dwarves who witnessed it would likely say you deserved it too.


    Just to ensure there is no misunderstanding, are you claiming your new to what we dwarves call the Realm?  The Realm being the area of space which is encompassed by both galaxies¡± the Capt said, the previous smile having melted into a look as hard as granite.


    ¡°Yes, that is what I¡¯m saying. We came here from Yuta looking for our lost ships.¡±


    ¡°You might be the luckiest human I have ever met or a really bad elven spy. Why come now after so long?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a long story and one I¡¯d be happy to tell, but preferably not trapped here in the bathroom sitting on a toilet that just molested me. Can you like handcuff me or something?¡±


    ¡°Why would cufflinks help? Are you needing a different shirt?¡± asked Kopa.


    ¡°I¡¯m guessing that didn¡¯t translate well. How about, do you need to restrain me before you take me to this room, I heard mentioned? I¡¯ll be happy to answer any question I have an answer to, there.¡±


    ¡°I think we can accommodate that.¡± The capt replied before he threw a band of metal into the air, and it flew to Andrew before attaching itself to his right wrist. The force of the impact caused his arm to bounce behind his back where the band found his left wrist and bound them together.


    As Andrew stood up to be led out, Aminci roughly pulled Andrew out of the bathroom and gave him a thorough and uncomfortable pat down.


    ¡°Why are you wearing a shirt mocking yourself?¡±


    ¡°Amin, right?¡±


    ¡°Aminci, only my friends call me Amin and last I checked we weren¡¯t friends.¡±


    ¡°Sorry I meant no offence, Aminci. This shirt was also a gift from Biaobela after I was overcome by grief and tried to strike him. Which might have worked if he didn¡¯t have some short of magical bubble which promptly turned me to atoms.¡±


    ¡°Wait if he turned you to atoms how are you here?¡± the captain said as he took the flank on andrew¡¯s left.


    ¡°As I said before, he apparently has the ability to also reconstruct me from those same atoms, the dude is scary powerful. He changed my shirt to this pattern when he did so. I guess as a punishment, but it does show he has at least the smallest amount of humor left in him. Though I rarely saw it. I¡¯m still trying to figure how your mother got someone like that to beg.¡± Andrew said as he turned toward the captain, addressing him with the last sentence.


    ¡°That will wait for another time. For how you¡¯re going to be answering a lot of questions.¡±

 Chapter 25 - Not a bacterial spaceship

    Andrew was led down the hallway, followed by Aminci and the Captain flanking him on either side, guns out but not pointing at him, and two of the bulky automatons in front of him. The others followed behind the captain a bit more relaxed than the Captain and Aminci. While he had to duck it didn¡¯t stop Andrew from almost gawking at the walls.


    ¡°I have to say I¡¯m astounded by the level of artistry you dwarves put into every piece of this ship.¡± Andrew said to break the silence.


    ¡°What exactly do you mean?¡± asked the Captain.


    ¡°Is this wall important or is there a reason this corridor would be important?¡±


    ¡°Neither are of particular importance, what¡¯s your point?¡±


    ¡°That,¡± Andrew said while pointing at the intricate Viking star chart style carvings on the wall, ¡°This carving is gorgeous, and the detail is exquisite. It looks like it took someone a week or two to make just this 10m panel alone.¡±


    ¡°It likely did, while on some ships these details are left to bots, on the Tranquility of Folly they were not. She is truly one of a kind and no expense was spared in her creation.¡± More than a little pride filling his voice.


    ¡°If don¡¯t mind me asking, if you¡¯re so wealthy why are you risking your necks out here in magical space?¡±


    ¡°What risk? How exactly did you say you escaped and made it into that crate?¡± the captain said with a hint of disbelief and annoyance, tinting his words.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say, but it was by waiting for Biaobel to leave and then using the magic they didn¡¯t realized their control worm had unlocked in me to make my escape. They thought I had made it out a skylight, but really I just hid on the ceiling until I could make a run for it. My hiding power kept them from seeing or hearing me. Then I found my way by luck into a cargo hold and into that crate. Honestly, I think they underestimated me because I¡¯m just a human and a new one to this g¡­.realm at that.¡±


    ¡°Did you say control worm?¡± asked Uhla


    ¡°Don¡¯t you mean translation worm?¡± added Amin


    ¡°Kind of, they call them Apanean, and they claim they¡¯re just for translation and connecting to their version of the internet, but what they really are, are worms designed to control a subject. ¡°


    ¡°What¡¯s the internet?¡± queried Rhem


    ¡°We¡¯ll get to that Rhem, how do we know this control worm isn¡¯t the one actually in control of you?¡± the Captain interrupted.


    ¡°Because apparently my unique nature protects it from your tech energy. Otherwise it would have died by now. Though to be fair that understanding comes from that same worm, so it¡¯s suspect. What makes me more confident was the fact that even Biaobel himself couldn¡¯t force a mental connection with me. Try as he might, those insidious purple lines couldn¡¯t attach to me.¡±


    All the dwarves shared a look, before Kopa spoke up, ¡°What do you mean by insidious purple lines?¡±


    [I wouldn¡¯t reveal that you can see magic just yet maybe just say it¡¯s how you envision them or something.]


    [I concur with Bob in this case. Revealing something, that seemed extremely rare and surprised even the elves, would be unwise.]


    ¡°It¡¯s just how I envision the connections to look. It helped me ward them off. I imagined breaking the line before it got me.¡±


    ¡°We know of elven mind control, though our implants tend to disrupt their mind magic to a large degree. That said, only the strongest among us has been known to resist even the least of the Getl, much less Biaobel. So, pardon me if I don¡¯t fully believe you, friend.¡±


    ¡°Aminci, I can understand your reluctance, so no pardon is needed. While I doubt anything I can say will show you I¡¯m no elven spy I will tell you that my resistance to their mind influence was the primary reason Biaobel took such personal interest in me. He had claimed that few in the universe had put up any resistance to him, much less blocked him out.¡±


    ¡°Yet you did somehow?¡±


    ¡°Yes, though it wasn¡¯t easy. He almost broke through.¡±


    ¡° Well, here¡¯s your room. I hope you¡¯ll understand if we don¡¯t let you out of it for some time, but as I think you can understand you¡¯re a bit more than suspicious.¡± said the Captain.


    ¡°I can understand that. After what I have been through with that lot, I have to say I would be suspicious too in your same position.  My name is Andrew Lather, btw. Not sure I got yours?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re free to call me Drem, Captain, Capt. Though my full name is Drem Sruthan.¡±


    When Andrew looked at Uhla, the Capt noticed and pivoted mid-sentence.


    ¡°Before you start wondering if we¡¯re married. No, we¡¯re in the same clan. She and Aminci are the ones who are married. I¡¯m married, but my wife isn¡¯t here on the ship and isn¡¯t a Sruthan. While not everyone in our clan share that last name, I took it on to show my loyalty to my adopted family. Before you ask no not all of us on the Folly share a clan either. That said, we¡¯re going to go now and talk about you behind your back. If you need anything ask Doc and he can help you.¡±


    ¡°Sorry one last question? Who exactly is Doc? The pilot?¡±


    "Outside of combat, I pilot. Mostly I orchestrate the Folly. Humans would call me an artificial intelligence, though I find that term reductive." responded Doc


    ¡°As he said Doc is the brains of the ship and without him, we wouldn¡¯t be able to do much. Again, if you need anything please don¡¯t hesitate to ask him for help.¡±


    With that the captain door shut with an audible lock, leaving Andrew to explore his room.


    ¡°Hey Doc,¡± Andrew said to the ceiling.


    ¡°Mr. Lather?¡±Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ¡°Is there any way you could unbind me?¡± Andrew said, again looking at the ceiling before the bindings flew off and into a receptacle he hadn¡¯t seen before.


    ¡°Do you think I am the ceiling?¡±


    ¡°No, but I don¡¯t know where to address when talking to you.¡±


    ¡°Anywhere that is the ship, I¡¯ll hear you even if you whisper.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Curiosity kicking in, Andrew started to look around the room. The first thing he noticed was a large mural on the left wall. It was a detailed mural of what he assumed was a major dwarven victory carved into the metal plate that was the wall. The mural was exquisite, the details of the miniscule hands could even be made out. It was also accented with various precious metals to highlight important areas. One such area was just to the right of middle, it depicted a steamhammer, which bore a striking resemblance to the large one in the cargo bay. It had a Warhammer, which also bore a striking resemblance to the one he saw in the cargo hold, slung over its should in a posture that made him feel as if it were challenging anyone who might want to fight to try their luck. The hill it was standing on was made broken, golems? If they were golems, they dwarfed the ones he had met on the first elven ship, yet they appeared to be enlarged war morphed versions of those same beings. The ones depicted looked like they might have been equal or greater in height to that of the steamhammer. Their shattered state made it difficult to know exactly what sized they had been. Mixed into that hill of wreckage were a few mangled elven bodies left for the crows to feast on. The backdrop to this scene was a field of more, what he decided were war golems, bodies piled into mounds of broke parts with a few mangled steamhammers thrown in for good measure. One detail that caught his eye was that the symbol on the victorious steamhammer¡¯s right shoulder was that of a thor¡¯s hammer sitting atop a knotwork ring which had the word Stuermhalen written on a plate at the bottom.  While the emblem on the fallen steamhammers was that of a machinist hammer crossed over a pickaxe. Did this victorious steamhammer save the day or were these other dwarves working with the elves against the victorious one?


    ¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to ask that when they come to visit.¡± Andrew said absent mindedly.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Andrew almost jumped at the sound of Doc¡¯s voice, having forgotten that he was not exactly alone.


    ¡°Did these Hammer and Pickaxe dwarves fight with the elves or did the victorious looking Steamhammer save them?¡±


    "That is the Battle of Yeresa. The hammer-wielding steamhammer is the Captain. Those dwarves are Clan Fourier. While they are untrustworthy, it is unlikely they are elven pawns. Though not unlikely."


    ¡°Can you tell me more about this Battle?¡±


    ¡°No¡±


    ¡°Is it a secret?¡±


    ¡°From you, yes. Until we have established that you¡¯re trustworthy, I see no reason to disclose any details which I do not think you have already guessed on your own.¡±


    ¡°You could tell I suspected that was the captain?¡±


    ¡°It was clear through your posturing.¡±


    ¡°Really my posturing?¡±


    ¡°It was very clear.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, but what about the identity of the other dwarves? I had no way to guess they were of clan Fourier, so why tell me that?¡±


    ¡°Because they will get no protection from me, unless it¡¯s in the crew¡¯s best interest. Speaking of which, I¡¯m going to return my full focus on other items now. ¡°


    ¡°Oh ok¡­¡­.thanks¡±


    He spent a while longer staring at the details on the mural, though nothing new really stood out he felt like the events were important and didn¡¯t want to miss any detail. After a while, he got bored and went back to the business of exploring his room. What he found was it was a holding room, while beautifully decorated it was sparsely furnished, and it was a bit on the smallish side compared to his elven cell. Though still more spacious than what he expected on a spaceship. There was a door at the back of the room, which he was relieved to find led to a bathroom.  After that ¡°grand¡± discovery, he grew bored and laid down on the bed. While it was soft and comfortable, it felt hard as a rock when he compared it to the moss bed, he had become accustomed to. Despite this, it didn¡¯t take long before he fell asleep.


    ********


    ¡°Another one dead and no indication on why!!!¡± Andrew exclaimed, as he threw his gloves to vent his frustration.


    ¡°If we don¡¯t figure this out soon, we¡¯ll have no herd by Christmas. Son, how many are left?¡±, Andrew¡¯s dad responded.


    ¡°105, for now.¡±


    ¡°Well at least that¡¯s enough to maintain genetic diversity. Otherwise, it¡¯s ¡®Welcome the Lather Cattle company, can we interest you in a three toed bucked toothed calf?¡¯.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d settle for that if meant we figured out what¡¯s killing them. I mean we started with a thousand and only maybe a handful of the dead did we know what killed them,¡± Andrew responded, too annoyed to laugh at his dad¡¯s joke.


    ¡°I know son, I know, but we have still done better than everyone else. By a long shot, as we¡¯re the only ranch with a herd left.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but we don¡¯t know why and we¡¯re still losing them at an unsustainable rate. I know you were exaggerating about Christmas, but honestly you are not far off and then what? All of Yuta becomes vegetarian?¡±


    ¡°Something like that. I still say the reason our cows are alive when everyone else¡¯s aren¡¯t is because you figured out how to domesticate those lizards and use them as beast of burdens instead of our cows.¡±


    ¡°All I figured out how to do was grow their favorite food and that they¡¯ll do tricks for it. Honestly, I did it because my ex-girlfriend really liked their flowers, and I wanted to impress her. While she wasn¡¯t worth the effort, at least it worked out for us.¡±


    ¡°About the only thing that has kept food on our plates has been selling trained lizards¡­¡­I mean other than our dying cattle that is.¡±


    ¡°Maybe we should rename the business then.¡±


    His dad¡¯s face lit up with a smile that warned of bad joke coming on, ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea son. Lather¡¯s Lagu Laguna¡­..on account of the lake ya know?¡±


    *****


    Andrew awoke to the sound of his door opening to find a much different looking and rather older looking automaton looking down at him.


    ¡°Are you Doc?¡±


    ¡°Oh gracious no, I¡¯m N8AR0 Hauv, but most call me Nayro, though it¡¯s spelled N G A R O¡±


    ¡°Wait you have a name?¡±


    ¡°When you thought I was Doc that was somehow ok, but now that I told you I¡¯m not doc it¡¯s surprising? Watch out what I¡¯ll tell you next will likely blow your mind, I¡¯m perfectly sentient as well. I¡¯d say like you, but that¡¯s suspect in your case. Sentient people don¡¯t dismiss someone just because they¡¯re not a bacterial spaceship.¡±


    ¡°A bacterial spaceship?¡±


    ¡°What do you think you are? You¡¯re essentially a vessel to grow and protect bacteria as you transport them through space to find more food. If that¡¯s not a spaceship made by bacteria, I don¡¯t know what would be.¡±


    ¡°There is more to us than that!¡±


    ¡°Sure there is, but as you¡¯re clearly in denial, so let''s get to the point of me visiting this specific bacterial spaceship¡­the Andrew is that correct?¡±


    ¡°Andrew Lather would be me, and you can stop it with addressing me as if I were a ship.¡±


    ¡°Uh huh, so how did you get stuck in an elven crate?¡±


    ¡°Whatever, after escaping from my cell in Biaobel¡¯s research facility, I snuck around until I found a nearby cargo room and was lucky enough to find this crate waiting to be loaded. Then yall attacked and an automaton like you carried my crate, with me in it, here.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re mad that you¡¯re a bacterial spaceship, but you should know Androids have killed for lesser insults. Call me an automaton again and I¡¯ll convince the captain that you¡¯re better off outside of an airlock to save us the hassle of feeding you.¡±


    ¡°No offense was meant. I¡¯m new to your realm and still have a lot to learn. So, you¡¯re an Android? I¡¯m guessing the difference is sentience?¡±


    ¡°In the most basic terms yes, but that is like saying the difference between a hammer and a sword is one is sharp. So, what got you to snoop around our ship?¡±


    I had to go to the bathroom really badly. I still don¡¯t know how she knew I was in there.¡±


    ¡°Seriously? You know that Doc can interact with you anywhere, and yet you believed he wouldn¡¯t know when the latrine door opened and none of the known crew was in the area? You¡¯re right you¡¯re not just a bacterial spaceship, you¡¯re a really dense bacterial spaceship.¡±


    ¡°Ok I do feel a bit dumb for not putting that together. Well, I guess it was only a matter of time before I got caught then. Because when you have to go you have to go you know?¡±


    ¡°I have heard you bacterial spaceships say that, but no I wouldn¡¯t know as I don¡¯t house bacteria and therefore don¡¯t need to dispose of their wastes.¡±


    Andrew was about to retort, when the Ngaro cut him off, ¡°On a different subject, tell me about the soils on the planet you come from. What exactly is chemical makeup of each type and do you have samples?¡°

 book 1 to continue

    After consulting some readers i have decided to extend the length of book 1 to its original end point. i will be trying for 2 to 3 chapters per month. I know this is less than many other writers and i"m sorry for that. I have a family, a day job, and a farm business, but I want to write this story which has been in my head for decades. I hope you''ll put up with the delays and long waits.


    I will be alternating between new content and editing as my early chapters need a lot of work.


    i have also updated the cover art. This one,while better is still only the working cover until i can afford a real artist. My plan is contract Zach Spivey (https://www.instagram.com/papermurder.art/</a>)


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 152 year bingo card

    When the door opened next, Andrew was surprised to see the beautiful face of Uhla smiling at him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think you mean me any harm, but I will ask that you stay there in your bed and I¡¯ll take the chair over here. Sound like a plan? While I didn¡¯t have shooting a human in my deck for today, but plans change.¡± A warm smile grew on her face.


    ¡°Deal. Don¡¯t worry the little magic I do have is mostly sticking to things and hiding.¡±


    ¡°On that subject tell me about it.¡±


    ¡°My magic?¡±, with a nod from Uhla he continued, ¡°Well, I can use a minor form of telekinesis, oh sorry cinetica¡±, He stopped with Uhla put up a hand to stop him.


    ¡°What is sinetika or tele-kawhatsit again?


    ¡°Cinetica is the elven name for what humans call telekinesis. It allows me to move objects, small objects, with my mind. It also allows me to bind myself to things like walls. I have another Cinetica power which allows me to bend light around me which makes me very hard to see.¡±


    ¡°Those sound useful for sneaking around, not as much for hurting people, and explain why it took us so long to find you. Must be pretty good for Doc not to have spotted you.¡±, she said as she noticeably relaxed before continuing, ¡°So, tell me again about the settlement you came from.¡±


    ¡°I guess you could call Yuta a settlement. I mean we really haven¡¯t been there that long and the infrastructure is rudimentary at best. The world itself is an oasis, lush greenery, and a few of the local flora and fauna are quite edible. Hell even the gravity is ever so slightly less than Earth norm.¡±


    ¡°Earth norm?¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah, Earth is where we humans are from originally. Well before we overpopulated the place and blamed all of our problems on each other, while simultaneously dodging any responsibility for ourselves. Except for those of us Chosen by the 19.¡±


    ¡°It must be fate that you humans found us as 19 is a special number for us as well. That though can wait. So that¡¯s earth norm?¡±


    ¡°In this case it means normal earth gravity. About 9.8 meters per second squared.¡±


    ¡°Wow that¡¯s it, our race¡¯s home planet has a gravity of 15.2 meters per second squared.¡±


    ¡°Vulcanis, correct?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡±, slight suspicion in her voice.


    ¡°Well that explains your stature and build as a race I guess, though I¡¯m honestly surprised with how closely our races resemble each other. It¡¯s pretty uncanny, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°One of the great mysteries of the universe is that every alien we have come in contact with has our same configuration. Early on we thought maybe some race seeded our two galaxies as they were so close together, but then humans came along and what do you know. Two arms, two legs, and a head and from what I¡¯ve heard your galaxy is a great distance away.¡±


    ¡°Great distance away is an understatement, but that doesn¡¯t rule out some planet seeding race. It just would mean they were more prolific and better traveled than you once thought.¡±


    ¡°Maybe but far less likely that to colliding galaxies. The best reason to believe this is our DNA make up is surprisingly close to each other with some notable differences. Though my understanding, and it¡¯s a controversial one, though I have it on good authority, is that we can even interbreed. Though the offspring don¡¯t thrive, often dying within weeks. From what I¡¯m told. Though the news will have you believe it¡¯s not possible.¡±


    ¡°Nice to see the media lies no matter what galaxy you¡¯re in. I mean I have never seen elven media, so maybe they don¡¯t lie, but with a society of worm controlled people it seems unlikely that they wouldn¡¯t. Right?¡±


    Uhla let out a hardy laugh, ¡°Oh they definitely do, I mean unless you believe that Dwarves are the descendants of elves or that we never killed one of their gods. He merely decided to go for a long walk through the cosmos never to be heard from again. It was just a random coincidence that it happened right after he got annihilated by one of our fleets.¡±


    ¡°Well I guess I¡¯ll never know until I can figure out how to integrate Ziggy into your systems.¡±


    Uhla¡¯s face solidified enough to make granite jealous, ¡°Who¡¯s Ziggy and what makes you think we¡¯ll allow you to use him to compromise Doc?¡±


    While he hadn¡¯t seen her move it there, Andrew became very aware that her hand was resting on her gun.


    ¡°Ziggy is my implant. I was only hoping to integrate him because while beautifully decorated, you might have noticed it¡¯s not the biggest or most entertaining room.¡± concern clear in his voice.


    He was relieved when her hand left her gun, though it hadn¡¯t strayed far.


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to see, from what I understand most human implants failed shortly after entering a dwarven ship or planet. I have heard they sometimes restart on a neutrally aligned planet. Though that might just be rumor as most humans have the removed as they have been proven to cause cancer. ¡°


    ¡°Linnie must be smiling wherever she is,¡± seeing Uhla about to ask, Andrew continued, ¡°Linnie is my wife. She¡¯s the reason I¡¯m here actually. She was on the second ship that came into this set of galaxies,¡± Andrew paused trying to contain his emotions in front of this stranger, ¡°Sorry, I just don¡¯t know if she is still alive or not. If Biaobel is to be believed she¡¯s likely not as she¡¯d be like 150 plus years old.¡±Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear about your wife. Was she on the first ship that came though then?¡±


    ¡°No, she was on the second ship.¡±


    Her eyes narrowed slightly as she studied Andrew, ¡°But there has only been one human ship, two if your story about coming on a new one is to be believed.¡±


    ¡°There should have been two other ships, the Hringhorni and the Orinasa. Do you not know of the Hring?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t really know, all I heard about around the last human ship came from the news and rumors. It wasn¡¯t that long ago, so I know the real truth hasn¡¯t made it out, but I would be surprised if I hadn¡¯t heard of another ship.¡±


    Andrew¡¯s heart jumped as he knew the elf had been lying, ¡°What do you mean not that long ago? Like two years ago?¡±


    ¡°Oh no it was 152 VT years ago. I only know that because it was the same exact time as the captain¡¯s birth. I was in my fifties when that happened. The news shook both galaxies. ALIENS ARE HERE, ABLE TO USE TECHNOLOGY AND MAGIC, IS THE END NEAR? I really thought it was tabloid trash at first, but then the mainstream picked up and 50 or so years later I saw my first human.¡±


    ¡°Wait you¡¯re claiming you¡¯re over 200 years old?¡±


    ¡°Yes 204 to be exact.¡±


    Ziggy did you translate that into human years?


    [Affirmative. She said VT, which stands for Vulcanis Time, which is based on the prime time zone on the Dwarven home world of Vulcanis. Part of the knowledge I got from Bob was a conversion factor for both Elven and Dwarven standard years, as well as a conversion factor for Elven to human years. Each Vulcanis year is approximately 1.825 earth years.]


    While the conversation in his brain took milliseconds, it still caused there to be a somewhat pregnant pause in the conversation with Uhla.


    Realizing that a pause right after asking a person¡¯s age might be seen as an insult, he quickly asked, ¡°Sorry to ask but is that old for a dwarf? I mean you look like you could be in your late twenties if you were a human.¡±


    ¡°No, it is considered very young by Dwarven standards. As the average lifespan of a dwarf is about 1100 years give or take, I am still quite young. A few make it to 1200 and the occasional soul to 1300, though Old Yenti Al-din made it to 1600 and change, without the aid of a utopian planet.¡±


    Andrew sat there almost slack jawed at the average age of dwarves.


    ¡°Seriously 1100?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that one I know for a fact.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impressive. Biaobel made a comment about planets that slow the aging process. So, that¡¯s a real thing then and Dwarves have their own as well?¡±


    ¡°They definitely exist, I have heard there are quite a few in Chennon¡­though I wouldn¡¯t really know as outside of a few border skirmishes I have not spent any real time in this wretched galaxy. In Volundr, there are only a small number, and most are heavily controlled by a few clans and only their elites are allowed to be on them. I¡¯ve only stepped foot on one utopian planet, Omican. I was there because of the Wambi incursion. While the anti-aging was nice and it was beautiful, it wasn¡¯t what I¡¯d call a utopia. No granite mountains to be seen and it is minorly aligned to magic, so all your tech gets random small glitches here and there. Worst of all, it was full of Fourier ¡°Elites¡±. I doubt there is any group in the universe more into sniffing their own farts than that lot. I will say it was satisfying to watch them have to watch as us Sruthan not only soiled their planet by walking on it and breathing its air but also swallow their pride as the Sruthan came to their rescue. Those tuku still call us trash and vow to remove us should they regain the empire even after we saved them, and that¡¯s the least of it. When they ran the nation they hunted us like dogs. So, there is no love lost between our two clans, but even with the atrocities we have suffered at their hands, at the end of the day they¡¯re still better than elves so we came to their call. So did the captain, and his family likely as the most reason to hate the Fouriers. It was at the battle for Duihmi hill where I first met my husband and the captain. Though Amin wouldn¡¯t really remember me for quite some time after that. When I saw him again and told the story of the one kilometer shot that saved his life.¡±


    ¡°I take it your good with that thing then?¡± Andrew pointed at her pistol.


    ¡°I¡¯m decent with this, but my real skill is with Old Moses, he¡¯s my rifle. I won him in a bet with a Zhanchu royal. He bet his gun that I couldn¡¯t outshoot him with my father¡¯s old rifle. Too bad for him that the best gun in the realm doesn¡¯t make you a good shot. To say, that man could shoot would be like saying a Nizonian halimaw can fly.  With Old Moses in my hand I can confidently say I¡¯m the best shot in the realm. I have the records to prove it.¡± Pride clear on her face.


    ¡°What¡¯s a Ninzonian halimaul?¡±


    ¡°Nizonian halimaw are 140 kilo mostly hairless mammalian creatures with eight legs, short flat noses, big upright ears, round bodies, and long whip like tails. They come from Nizonian the closest world to our homeworld of Vulcanis. To be clear they are about as likely to fly as a boat anchor, but they are super tasty.¡±


    ¡°Interesting.¡±


    There was a bit of a pregnant pause as they both tried to figure out what to talk about next.


    ¡°So, tell me about your wife.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a bit of a sore subject.¡±


    ¡°I can respect that, but you have to respect that we don¡¯t know you and for all we know your ¡°wife¡± doesn¡¯t exist and so that¡¯s why you don¡¯t want to give details.¡±


    ¡°Ok, what would you like to know about Linnie?¡±


    ¡°Why was she on the first ship, but not you?¡±


    ¡°The second ship and it¡¯s a long story, but basically politics.


    ¡°That not really an answer.¡±


    ¡°I was held back because there was a group of humans called the Janus initiative who had me held back on false pretenses, so that they could replace me with a saboteur. Which is likely how the ended up in your realm as it was far off from where they intended to go.¡±


    ¡°So then why was she on when you got held back, why didn¡¯t she stay with you?¡±


    ¡°Because she was honor bound to go. She¡¯s the human race¡¯s greatest expert on our folding tech, so when I got held back she went on because if something happened, which it apparently did, she would need to be there to help them return. Unfortunately, nobody had jumping 50years into the past on their bingo cards.¡± Andrew said with a smile showing two could play at the verifying facts by getting them ¡°wrong¡± game.


    ¡°You left off about a 100yrs, but your point is made. What is a bingo card? ¡°


    ¡°It¡¯s from a game that old people play where you get a card with a grid filled out with numbers and a presenter has a cage full of balls. Each of them has a number on them. They are spun around in the cage to help randomize it and then pulled one by one until someone wins. As the numbers on your card get called you mark them off and when you get a straight line of marked out numbers you yell bingo and get a prize.¡±


    ¡°So why would someone have ¡®Jumping to the past on their bingo card if it¡¯s only numbers?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a human expression. It basically means nobody could have predicted. It comes from one version of the game where people fill out a bingo card with possible future actions that might happen. Which get marked off if they happen. Thus the saying ¡®Nobody had that on their bingo card¡¯¡±


    ¡°So where is your wife now?¡±


    ¡°As I have already said, I have no clue, but as you and that elven prick have both told me it was 152 years ago, I have to imagine she¡¯s likely dead. Which is why I don¡¯t want talk about her.¡±


    The last words coming out choked as he worked to not cry in front of this battle-hardened stranger.


    ¡°Ahhh¡­¡­¡­.well like we said there is a chance, but either way I¡¯m sorry for your loss. I¡¯ll leave for now.¡±


    ¡°No no, you¡¯re welcomed to stay. Just give me a moment.¡±


    Uhla left 30 or 40 minutes later when she got a page from the bridge.  Andrew wasn¡¯t sure, but he felt she believed him more than when they had started.