Farley’s clones ran in. All 5 of them. “What happened to my ba?” The first one put both hands on his blond curls and a cloud of green sweat-powder rose.

His wife, my twin, touched his head and gasped. “Farley, I’ll—divorce you. You can marry--

I held Farley and screamed! “I don’t—he’s not dead! I didn’t die, so he’s not dead yet! Oh, Farley, honey, you have to live!”

Pirad shoved his cold arms under him and lifted. “I can try to reclone him again. King Challet asked for a clone. I can use him. He is willing.”

My twin jerked at his arm. “You can’t do that, if he’s alive!”

“I just tried to run stasis. It will not work. If I do not reclone him now, I will not be able to try again. Would you rather sacrifice your husband?”

I tried to think. What would Farley want? Would he sacrifice a life for his? No. No Zheien would do that. Only a Bisillip would do that! But, how am I still alive? Did that piece of alien technology infect both of us? On our tech level, terminals are biological. I’ve been sleeping beside him. I felt crazy! Farley wouldn’t do this. But I couldn’t open my mouth to say no.

I followed Pirad into a white portal. We dropped through the white sand of Alb Seer to Kirnonos’ Lab! That’s where they did recloning. Farley didn’t last long enough to be recloned in the old Rainbow.

Wasa Mai brought a recloning lab with him from Ishah. Pirad said all of them had these terminals. Wasa Mai, too?

A Zheien picked me up. Farley’s clone. “Ella, please, listen. Is my choice, to help my ba live again. He loves you. You love him.

“At times, there must be sacrifices, for the well of the thirteen galaxies Ry’nao holds in his hands. Farley knew things that Ry’nao must, to keep our galaxies safe. Hear you him?”

I heard that voice again.

“Does anyone else hear him besides you, Farley?”

Milly held my hand. “I hear him. He needs to know if Mican got any of that tech and gave it to someone else. If anything got out of that building before it was destroyed, we need to know.”

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“Did—what was that diplomat’s name? The one who died on D’gharr.”

“What? Nobody died on D’gharr!” Milly shook her head.

“The one who brought this to Farley!” I waved my necklace at her.

A hologram formed and floated along with us. That diplomat from Farley’s memories!

“I am Tanorsen, Leader Of Tanorsen Prov that bears my name. I am the Elder left when they destroyed the original facility, when Mican tried to take him. I lived as Zheien, but I am Laruu. I am recloning myself as Zheien to infiltrate the Fortress Of D’gharr. I have the telepathy of a Naisain, but it will not save me. I will attack Eriganh, and I will fail. But, I will bleed, and my body is a weapon. All who touch me will spread terminals, only among Kajarians. Their telepathy will feel strong, but will be permanently weaker. This is our weapon, to punish the Kajarians for misusing their superior abilities.

“I came from the Council Of The 6th. I have observed Mican, a Councillor who secretly helped Rentappenen. He is also of the 6th. They think by expunging him to the 5th, we are safe. I know we are not. So my people put a weapons facility on a world suitable for many species. When they come, they will also be weapons, until Rentappenen is no more. His followers will want revenge. So I am for the Kajarians. Your people must be for the Ty’nirrhans. If they are also defeated, there are no others strong enough to threaten the Thirteen. I think infighting among the Aryllans will destroy them also.

“If there are no other threats, my Gift is this necklace, to watch for those who would abuse power of higher levels. Show this message to Ry’nao. His genetics alone will open other Gifts, to help him in his stewardship. His diligence has earned this Gift.

“Farley, you must keep the necklace, because it will be tied to your genetics, and no one else can use it. Keep your people safe, and do not let Mican’s followers use our weapons facility. Pirad alone knows how to destroy it and keep peoples of the Padrisa safe. The war you know is only a battle in our war.

“I am the last of our people. Know that civilizations rise and fall. I hope the peoples of the Thirteen will be wiser than we were. We created weapons knowing they would end us, and we thought, somehow, we would use them for good. If you are to learn anything from us, know that weapons will be misused. Spend your time creating technologies to create, not to destroy. My clone will take this familiar form. He will live only long enough to deliver the necklace. Do not try to reclone him. Knowledge he has must die with him, Farley. Accept it. You work for peace, and Mican must not succeed.

“Only if you live can your people live, and he must die. You must live to use the necklace. More civilizations than yours are at stake. There is no one I can trust, Farley, with this power. Do not take foolish chances with your life. You are the only being in these thirteen galaxies who knows the secrets of the weapons facility, those that can save the Thirteen. Use this technology wisely. It is the only part of our world that is useful to Ry’nao. Guard it well.

“When Mican is dead, and he will die on Lisbaar, take the necklace to Ry’nao and he will tell you how to use it. Mican released poisons of our level on your world. Your people will die unless you save them.” The holo ended.

Pirad moaned as he walked. “He may not remember how to use it! I do not know enough! Kirnonos, help us!” We stepped into a white portal again.