The point where the Stream was intersected by the layer of altered energy was marked by an abrupt slowing of the flow, though the energy in the Stream still moved much faster than the energy around it. Amerusén wondered if and howthe sluggish, dense energy of the bubble would affect the task of locating the Lost.

Extending his mind outwards, he searched for any sign of the Lost, though if he was honest, he had no idea what he was looking for. Finding nothing remotely resembling consciousness outside of the Amerusai, he returned to the Stream, the Amerusai following behind. The Stream carried them past growing numbers of nebulae, black holes, stars, and planets, the concept of each entering the Amerusai’s minds as mysteriously as the certainty the Lost could be saved had entered Amerusén’s.

Rikashe abruptly left the Stream, causing the others to stop and follow. Amerusén sighed and, telling the Amerusai to wait where they were, he chased after Rikashe. He was prone to going off alone and rarely gave his reasons for doing so. While that was perfectly acceptable out in the Universe, they had no idea what dangers awaited them in this bubble of altered energy.

Amerusén’s concern flowed through their telepathic connection. “Rikashe?”

The sensation of finding a barely noticeable difference in the energy on a nearby planet was Rikashe’s reply.

Amerusén indicated his understanding. “I would prefer it if you didn’t go anywhere on your own, at least not without telling me. We don’t know anything about this place yet.”

Extending his mind towards the planet Rikashe had indicated, one of eleven planets orbiting a single star. Amerusén searched for the anomaly Rikashe had shown him. Finding it, he relayed the information to the Amerusai.

On the planet’s surface they found Rikashe’s amorphous, cloud-like form hovering above a wide expanse of different shaped collections of energy. They looked at the scene that lay around them in awe and curiosity. Vast numbers of the individual collections of solidified energy were attached to the planet’s surface, while a smaller but no less substantial number of individual collections of energy moved between the static ones. The faint anomaly in the energy was coming from both the static and mobile energy collections. They pulsed with a muted version of the energy of the Déllir’s Essence.

“We’re going to have to think of names for these things.” The stray thought escaped before Amerusén could stop it and chuckles rippled through the Amerusai.

Life. The word and its concept echoed through the Amerusai’s minds.

They watched in fascination as the energy the planet received from its star began to fade. Thousands of distant stars became visible as the energy from the star thinned. Night. The word and concept entered their minds when full darkness had arrived, along with the concept of the planet rotating on its axis as it orbited its star, the energy returning in full force to bring day.

The Amerusai continued to watch in silence as the cycle of day and night repeated many times, observing and wondering at the often subtle effect the differing levels of light had on the static and mobile life. After many cycles of day and night, the conditions on the planet changed, the life changing with them.

Weather. Seasons. Life forms. Evolution. The word and their meanings introduced themselves into the collective consciousness of the Amerusai.

Confusion filled the Amerusai’s group connection each time an individual life form appeared to weaken and fade, the static life forms wilting, the mobile life forms becoming static, both releasing the Lost trapped within them. Death. They watched the newly freed Lost drift towards a Stream that passed through the planet. Many Streams passed through the planet, three heading away across the layer of altered energy, the rest not reaching beyond the atmosphere before looping back toward the surface. The streams widened at the top where they curved back towards the planet, the energy within the arch churning and swirling chaotically before re-entering the smooth, swift flow.

Amerusén tracked the progress of one of the Lost. It was inside a plump, elongated life form with six long, thin appendages protruding from its underside, and four long, wide, flat appendages protruding from its upper side. The four upper appendages were in pairs on either side of its back and moved up and down to propel the life form between the static life forms. The insect began struggling to keep itself airborne and dropped to the ground, trying to rise again to continue its task. The insect fell still and the Lost within it was expelled, moving slowly toward a nearby Stream. The Stream it entered was one of the majority that looped back toward the planet.

The Lost travelled swiftly to the arch where it got caught in the chaotic churning of the energy. Finding its way into the smooth flow on the opposite side of the arch the Lost travelled back to the surface, where it was ejected from the Stream and entered a life form encased in a weakly protective shell. Egg. The egg was one of many attached to one of the static life forms. Plant. The scene repeated over and over, the Lost perpetually returning to the surface and entering a new life form, unable to enter one of the three Streams leading away from the planet. Reincarnation.

Amerusén flinched at every mysterious, abrupt insertion of a word and its concept into his mind. Would he ever get used to it, or would it eventually end?

The Amerusai’s attention was focused solely on their leader, waiting for him to tell them what he wanted them to do. He needed a plan, but he had no idea where to begin.

Cycles. The word forced itself into his mind, but it different somehow, as if it had come from a different source to those before. It stirred thoughts of life and death, night and day, seasons and orbits. The conditions on the planet changed in cycles. A short cycle as it rotated on its axis. A long cycle as it moved around its star. The concept of the star moving through the universe as it orbited the centre of the galaxy blossomed in his mind.

He returned his attention to the life forms and Streams. Something clicked into place in his mind.

“Ara, Vorius, Etrae, Rikashe. Remain with me. Elern, Imeden, Delmuth, Gormar, Vulred, Tespen. Take your factions and follow the three Streams that head away from the planet. See where they lead and whether they connect to other planets.”

The named Amerusai Sent their understanding and gathered their factions.

“The rest of you, spread out and observe the life forms and Looped Streams. We need to learn everything we can about them.”

The Amerusai dispersed to carry out their tasks and, with little to do until the results of the observations are returned, Amerusén let his mind wander.

Amerusén had been the first to leave the hive mind of the Niraidam and had been alone for some time before another had joined him. Glad for the company, Amerusén had followed Ara until she had accepted his help. With a hardness and strength belief by her caring nature, she had helped him, too, far more than she realised. When Vorius had led the Niraidam, Ara had helped him cope with the crushing loneliness and overwhelming silence and they had become three.

Amerusén sighed at the memories. Vorius had become possessive and protective of them, and he had been difficult when Etrae had left the Niraidam. She had been so innocent and naïve when Amerusén had found her, she hadn’t realised how mean Vorius was being to her. Amerusén had been on the verge of putting an end to Vorius’ behaviour when Vorius had suddenly extended his possessive and protective nature to include Etrae.

Soft spoken and mild mannered, Etrae had teamed up with Ara to ease the transition for new Amerusai.

Emotion led and direct when dealing with others, and the most vocal in his suspicion of Rikashe, Vorius had shown great skill in steering the less altruistic among the Amerusai in the direction Amerusén wanted them to go.

The frequency with which Déllir led the Niraidam had increased and the four had soon become more than a hundred thousand. Ara, Vorius, and Etrae were the ones Amerusén trusted the most, and they had become known as his Inner Circle.

Amerusén kept Rikashe close for a different reason.

The observational reports trickled in, pulling Amerusén’s mind back to the present. The factions investigating the three Streams found they passed through several other stars and planets. Some of the planets were similar to the one they were on, others were vastly different in size and composition. Only the planets similar to the one Rikashe had led them to possessed the Looped Streams, though all planets were intersected by three streams. The three streams warped, twisted and coiled as the stars and planets moved but never broke. Several Streams intersected the Streams the Amerusai explored. The faction leaders sent a few dozen of their faction members down each intersection to investigate.

On the planet the life forms changed and adapted to the changing conditions, or died out, as the climate changed. Groups of Amerusai turned from observing the life forms to studying the Looped Streams, moving closer to them as they watched the Lost enter, trying to get a better view of the energy patterns and flows. Those nearing the Streams were torn from the group connection, pulled into the cycle of reincarnation by the force of the flow.

“Everyone off the planet! Avoid the Streams!”

The Amerusai hurried to obey Amerusén, gathering well beyond the arches of the Streams. Amerusén could feel the concern of those he had sent across the universe and urged them to return.

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Alone on the surface, Amerusén watched the Lost Amerusai travel through the arches and be expelled into life forms on their return to the surface. He watched the insects stop moving, the inert shells releasing the Lost, all the while fighting a growing sense of helplessness. He couldn’t tell the lost Amerusai apart from the lost Niraidam. The Lost were quickly captured by the Streams, but the dense shells of low frequency energy of the life forms could pass through them unaffected. Focusing on the nearest Stream, he became aware of a faint tugging that grew stronger the closer he got to it, a tugging he hadn’t noticed until he had begun looking for it.

The concern of the Amerusai over his proximity to the Stream broke through his concentration, his awareness of the pull of the Stream almost disappearing. Reassuring them he was safe and wouldn’t approach any closer, Amerusén drew in the sluggish energy creating a dense spherical shell, shocking himself. He hadn’t known he could manipulate the energy, let alone how to manipulate it. None of the Déllir, Amerusai or Niraidam, knew how to do it or that it was even possible.

The image of a lifeform, unlike any he had so far seen, appeared in his mind. He began shaping his cocoon of energy to match the image until he had a shell that possessed a head and four appendages protruding from a single body segment. The upper pair of appendages were shorter and thinner than the lower pair. He inspected his new shell. It glowed a soft white with the energy it was made of. Vessel. Body. Abdomen. Chest. Head. Arms. Hands. Legs. Feet. The names of the body parts entered his mind as he inspected each in turn.

With this new vessel, the tugging from the Stream stopped, but he couldn’t see them anymore. Shedding most of the energy contained in the vessel, he felt the pull of the Stream return along with its visibility. Drawing in and shedding energy, he experimented with the density of the vessel until the pull was barely noticeable, but he could still see the Stream. Summoning Vorius to the planet’s surface, Amerusén looked at him. Satisfied he could still see Vorius’ amorphous, cloud-like form, he turned back to the Stream and stepped into it. The pull of the energy flow barely increased, and he emerged, unharmed, on the other side.

Heaving a sigh of relief that he hadn’t been sucked into the cycle of reincarnation, Amerusén swept his gaze across the plains. What he saw was different now. He could still see the shimmering energy from which everything was made, but now it overlaid the colours and textures of the material universe. He focussed on a static lifeform in front of him. It was taller than many of the lifeforms surrounding him, reaching to just above his knees.

Plant. Flower. Roots. Stem. Leaves. Petals. The words entered the Amerusai’s minds as Amerusén shared his discoveries. The flower had a long spindly stem, with several pairs of leaves protruding from the upper part of its length. It was topped by a head of bright yellow petals.

Having found the perfect balance for his vessel between energy and matter, he reached out and brushed the petals with his fingertips. The vessel sent a wave of sensation into his mind. The petals were smooth, soft, and delicate.

Summoning the Amerusai to the surface, Amerusén instructed them to make their own vessels. The newly acquired ability to interact with matter fascinated them and their group connection was abuzz with excited chatter. As Amerusén had expected, one mid was missing from the clamour.

Sending out his mind, Amerusén located Rikashe on the edge of the plains where the ground began to rise to form the foothills of the mountains. Rikashe sat cross-legged on the ground, two Lost in front of him. Both Lost were outside of a lifeform, trapped in spherical shells. Amerusen stopped behind him, staring at the trapped Lost.

“Rikashe, did you make the vessels?”

“Réala.” Rikashe waved a hand at the nearest of the two Lost.

Amerusén sent understanding. Réala was one of the Amerusai that had been drawn into a Stream. “How and why did you trap these two?”

A memory of Rikashe creating a spherical vessel around each of the Lost as they drifted toward a Stream entered Amerusén’s mind.

“Réala has faint memories of the Amerusai.” Rikashe paused. “The other remembers only their last incarnation.”

“Let’s see if Réala’s memories can be drawn out and she can be returned to us. Can you hold the traps?”

Rikashe indicated he could maintain the traps and Amerusén forced a connection with Réala. The surface of her mind was consumed with the needs of a lifeform’s survival, feeding, breeding, and avoiding predators. Her last memory was of the insect being crushed beneath Rikashe’s foot.

Amerusén’s head snapped round to look at Rikashe. “You killed them?”

Rikashe shrugged. “I wanted to try something but none of the insects or plants in this area were dying. I helped these two reach the end of their cycles.”

Amerusén stared at Rikashe, unsettled by his apparent disregard for life, but unsure as to why it bothered him. Pushing the feeling of unease aside, he pushed deeper into Réala’s mind finding the faint memories of her having been one of his followers. Taking hold of the newest of those memories, the one of her being caught by the Stream, he carefully pulled it forward to the surface of her mind and held it in place until it took root. Repeating the process with each memory in reverse chronological order, he strengthened them, filling in the gaps with memories from the Amerusai’s collective minds, until Réala began remembering on her own.

Amerusén sat back and watched Réala return to them, wondering at where the knowledge of pulling memories forward and filling in the gaps had come from.

“Réala, do you think you will be able to create your own vessel?” Amerusén Sent her instructions on how to draw in energy and shape it.

She tried drawing energy in, then to shed it from the sphere surrounding her. She could do neither.

“We can only manipulate vessels we have created ourselves,” Rikashe said, releasing the energy from the sphere. “We can trap each other when we aren’t protected by a vessel.”

Unease settled over Amerusén’s mind. Was it an observation or a warning? Suspicion took root once again. Rikashe had said he had seen these material bubbles before, but had been in them? He pushed the thoughts aside for later consideration as Réala drew in the energy released from the sphere trap to make her own vessel. Certain she was now safe from the Looped Streams, Amerusén looked at the Lost still held by Rikashe.

“What did you intend to do with that one?”

Rikashe shrugged. “The same as I had intended to do with the one that turned out to be Réala, see if the Lost were able to manipulate vessels made by us.”

Rikashe’s answer came too quickly and easily. A warning then. So he has been in these material universes before, but why will he not just say it? What he must know would be of immense aid, unless…

Amerusén extended his mind toward the Lost. As with Réala, the surface of its mind was occupied with survival. Digging deeper, he discovered there was nothing beneath the surface thoughts. Not a trace of a memory of being one of the Niraidam remained. He searched his own mind for any recognition of the essence of this individual, for anything he remembered about them from before he had left the Niraidam. Implanting the memories into the mind of the Lost, the memories flared to life briefly then faded, withering away and dying like a plant. Withdrawing from the mind of the Lost, Amerusén shook his head, no longer certain they could save the Lost and return them to the Niraidam.

“We just need to find another way,” came Ara’s voice in his mind, triggering Rikashe’s immediate withdrawal. “He doesn’t like me.”

“Don’t take it personally. He doesn’t like anyone.”

“He likes you.”

Amerusén looked at Rikashe who, having released the trapped Lost, sat cross-legged a hundred strides away studying a large leafy bush with branches covered in fine spines. “He tolerates my presence, but he doesn’t like it. I have no idea how long he was alone at the edge of Existence, or what effect it has had on his mind, but I do know he desires company while shying away from it. He just needs time.” Amerusén paused, turning his head to look at Ara. “And I haven’t tried to delve too deeply into his mind.”

Ara winced at the memories of those few that had tried. They had quickly lost the battle of wills, receiving an agonising introduction to the strength of Rikashe’s mind. From all accounts, only Amerusén was stronger than Rikashe. “Do you really believe he just needs time? Since we have been on this planet there are times I can’t hear you, especially after an interaction with Rikashe.”

“You heard what Rikashe and I discovered. When you inform the others, tell them not to kill the insects and plants to release the Lost. I have a feeling we’re going to need more lifeforms, not less.”

Ara Sent her understanding, along with her displeasure at the brushoff, and relayed the information to the rest of the Amerusai. They dispersed across the plains, searching for their lost friends.

Amerusén and Ara exchanged a sense of curiosity when Réala approached Rikashe. Rikashe showed no sign of acknowledging the presence of the newly rescued Amerusai.

“Accept the request, Rikashe. Let her thank you.”

Rikashe Sent annoyance and the shadow of something else, an emotion so weak and fleeting Amerusén identify it, but did as Amerusén instructed. Amerusén withdrew from Rikashe’s mind enough to mask his presence, but still allow him to listen to the conversation and intervene should either of them need him.

“Thank you for saving me,” Réala began. “I… Don’t… Don’t pay any attention to what the others say about you. They are jealous that you are part of the Inner Circle. They don’t think you have earned the right to a place among Amerusén’s most trusted.” She paused, unsure if Rikashe was listening, he sat there studying the bush not reacting. “I think they are wrong. If you hadn’t earned it, he wouldn’t keep you as close as he does. If not for you, I would still be trapped in that insect with no memory of who I am, and we wouldn’t know how to help the others. So, again, thank you.”

Beyond accepting the connection, Rikashe still hadn’t acknowledged Réala. Sadness flickered through her mind, while Rikashe kept his thoughts and feelings buried deep, not even a shadow of them reaching Amerusén. Losing hope that Rikashe would respond, Réala turned and walked away.

“You’re welcome… and thank you.”

Joy, gratitude, and relief flooded Réala’s mind as she stopped and faced Rikashe, who was still diligently studying the bush. Her happiness growing, she made her way to the nearest group of Amerusai.

Standing behind Rikashe, Amerusén placed a hand on his shoulder, allowing his pride and satisfaction to flow through their connection. Rikashe’s interaction with Réala could have been better, but it was an improvement on his previous interactions with others. Faint, fleeting emotions reached him from Rikashe’s mind. A shadow of happiness tinged with something else. Regret? Pain? Amerusén couldn’t be certain, the emotions weren’t clear and lasted for only an instant, as if they had momentarily escaped Rikashe’s control. The moment was ended by the arrival of Vorius and Etrae.

“We have work to do,” Amerusén whispered.

Nodding, Rikashe rose to his feet. “The plants no longer contain Lost.”

Amerusén relayed the information to Ara, Vorius, and Etrae, and studied the plants around the small group. As Rikashe had said, the dim spark that had been present in every plant when they had arrived on the planet had gone.

“Where did they all go? There aren’t enough insects to hold every one of the Lost, are there?” Etrae asked.

Rikashe faced the north, his mind focused on something on the far side of the towering mountains. The sun cresting the eastern horizon, Rikashe joined the group connection and began walking. “Follow me.”

Noticing Amerusén and his Inner Circle moving off, Réala hurried to catch up, frowning when Amerusén invited her to their group connection then instantly silenced her.

Shedding his vessel, Rikashe sped north over the mountains, the other five chasing him over a landscape that changed from mountains and fledgling forests to lakes, hills, rivers and marsh.