Grand Matron Shezenna looked upon the wedge of the Human ship with uncertain eyes.
It was easier to see the foreign object without the obscuring presence of its crew, but it still lacked a distinct imprint to give it texture.
She couldn't help but worry about the report she had received of the artificial mind that guarded the vessel. Guarded, and remained aloof. But she had come to realize that even sitting inert, it had acted to defend them. The Humans could not see beyond their own bodies, they didn’t have the means, but this ship had capabilities beyond Shezenna’s understanding. Only it could have seen the final meteor strike so early.
This living, lifeless mind had taken steps to defend them, speaking through the two active Humans to warn of the impending strike.
She had failed to curb the initial sharing of memory and experience from Zeonova’s crew. And the first impression of any Sheosayl had of the Humans was that of endless oppressive darkness and chaotic emotion. Not the most ideal start. Especially not for the tightly connected Sheosayl people.
But Shezenna had to mind the stars and the KoTry glaring at her fleet from across the void. She couldn't spare the time to manage the Humans. She had no choice but to hope that things would work themselves out. Eless provided Shezenna with hope, however. The hatching of the young adult was highly anticipated.
Shezenna too, could not wait. It was the one point of good news in a constant barrage of bad news. She had heard back from the systems of Volisnack and Zerisheck. Not only could Shezenna discard the possibility of help outright, but both systems were also weathering their own invasions. Shezenna had expected more KoTry to be attacking her, now she knew where the extra numbers had gone.
She was doing her best to gather her people in an attempt to escape with as many as possible. Now she faced the prospect of escaping across multiple systems and making a run into the hostile systems of the neighbouring hivemind Ask’tak’lin and Blind Cooperative stellar nations.
Shezenna and her people weren’t a true hivemind really. They rather possessed the rare ability to turn themselves into a hivemind and back without serious consequences. This ironically made the Sheosayl far more despised when encountering true hivemind races. Escaping towards those particular neighbours would only put their future in further jeopardy.
Her impatience and fear only ramped up when she felt the arrival of something terrifyingly powerful joining the KoTry fleet above.
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> Warmind NerKeraTor
>
> ----------------------------------------
Warmind NerKeraTor perused the contents of the obsidian Orgacrys, slowly rolling it in his hand as he considered the reports by Minder ShricKus. The crystal glittered between fingers so deeply red as to nearly be black as he delved into what it held. Low-born and aberrant ShricKus may be, foolish she was not.
She had filled one crystal to full black and a second to a thick misty gray with imprints and observations. Those and three smaller black crystals sat upon a blue slate that floated above his lap. He now sat back within his seat in this temporary office, his tail wrapping around him in the padded bowl. He considered the weight of the reports.
The failure of the previous commander of the PanarTite was complete. Accordingly, his name would now be stricken from the military register for his failure. His family would suffer the loss of honour and no compensation for that loss. NerKeraTor had already initiated the process. There would be a delay before the news could spread beyond the fleet, but the process was inevitable. All that would remain of him was the deathbleed afflicting the Sensor of the PanarTite.
Long gone were the days when such an injury would go unnoticed. Although, the profile of the Sensor suggested an injection of aggression might serve her well. Still, observation would be her fate for some time. If she couldn't master herself, and the fragments of her previous commander, then she would be discarded to civilian duties. A shame. OptiTern's potential was a notable asset.
As for the understanding of this new faction, the appropriate records were being extracted from the damaged Sleeper network. As much as NerKeraTor trusted the Minder, her words held no weight in the court of the highborn. He would need neutral reports to do the necessary work.
The report from the harvester BesTok did much to support her words, however. The ship had suffered the same attack that had so ravaged the PanarTite and only barely managed to hold itself together. And that was with the benefit of much of the invasion force still being onboard to lend their strength to the gestalt.
NerKeraTor suspected the sleeper technique of spreading the impact to reduce damage merely put the KoTry ships in more danger against this opponent. But it wasn’t so easy to change the function and imprint of a sleeper network. Each soul that served as a piece of the whole needed to be reprogrammed one by one, and the process was never quick. Another reason the Sheosayl were so valuable as sleepers. The naturally empathic insectoids were quite easy to reprogram by comparison, but only if the majority of the sleeper network consisted of Sheosayl.
ShricKus sat before him now, back straight, tail still, the lustre of her green scales glowing in the dull light. A pity really, she was strong of heart and mind, but her low class made any attempt at arrangements with his get unviable. NerKeraTor personally cared little for the history that made her bloodline volatile, but he did care how it would drag down the prospects of his hatches.
[You will be reassigned,] the Warmind spoke without anger or pity, his tone clear of inflection. To ShricKus credit, she did not so much as flinch, but he still detected a minor quiver upon her outer shell.
[It will be temporary,] NerKeraTor continued, [but not terrible, I am moving you to my chain of control where you will continue interrogation efforts.]
That got a reaction.
Her head twitched, and her hood very nearly flared. She couldn't keep back her sending. [Me? Surely there is someone better than I, honoured Warmind!]
He let his outershell ripple slightly with amusement. [There is, but having established a connection, however slight, you will be aiding that Uuahooem expert in further efforts.]
Her surface settled with calm understanding. She was still outside her range in this, but likely understood this was an excellent opportunity. Not many had the chance to work with one of the few Uuahooem children of the Titan.
[Rainbow Rippling Sheen is inspecting the sleeper network of the PanarTite. I suggest you take a moment to relax while you can, when she is done with the sleepers, you will accompany her for any further investigations. The Titan has demanded haste in these investigations and when she is done with the sleepers you will have no time to rest.]
Minder ShricKus dipped her head and pulled in her hood with deference. A quiet note of thanks and respect arrived in the air, and she withdrew. Shaken as she was, she did so without noise or the ripple of an imprint.
It really was a shame he couldn’t match his offspring with her.
NerKeraTor lifted the Orgacrys report from ParsTinKut’s fleet from his slate. A smaller piece, it only needed to hold the memory of a single event.
The first of the small orgacrystals was a report of the portal event, taken from the commanding Warmind ParsTinKut herself. All significant fleet actions were directly recorded, it was no major issue to take single events and copy them to another smaller crystal. The problem was how much the reports were coloured by the perception of the one doing the copying. In this case, NerKeraTor didn't think he had much to worry about.
Again he subjected himself to the paralyzation of his rival ParsTinKut.
Outside of hindsight, the formation of the fleet was unquestionable. The Sheosayl weren't foolish, but they were outmatched. Stretched thin, the insectoids were finding themselves slowly picked apart. Nowhere could NerKeraTor see signs of the Sheosayl expecting help. The way Shezenna shelled up suggested a vague realization that 'something' was coming, but a lack of knowledge about what.
The arrival of the newcomer only reinforced that opinion. All combat froze at the sudden appearance. NerKeraTor could only think this new faction couldn't know better as the ship scraped the hull of the KoTry ship BisKint. Portals would shunt away from solid matter, but hollow things charged with psionic energy like KoTryan ships? He could only wonder if they knew how close they were to a gruesome death.
And everyone understandably reeled at the new arrival. Taking far too long to pull themselves together. The Sheosayl recovered first, but the most telling factor? They failed to capitalize on the paralyzation of ParsTinKut. A shining opportunity to strike a heavy blow, missed. They really hadn't known what was about to happen.
Which made calls for reinforcements against the 'new weapon' and the message on his desk all the more annoying. Not to be dismissed out of hand, just far too frantic.
He audibly sighed as he looked again at the second small orgacrys. A hexagon with pointed ends like any, the edges of this crystal were lined with gold inlay, the points capped with bright blue precious stones.
The third Prince was enjoying the unexpected events. The eternally bored royal had decided that witnessing such a dangerous newcomer race might be an exciting way to pass the time and confirmed his intention to remain a part of everything that might happen with the Sheosayl of Wellbeck. An unfortunate headache for NerKeraTor, much of the Royalty often disagreed with the Titan on what matters of strategy and politics were truly important. And this Prince was prone to acting capriciously merely to satisfy his own desire for excitement.
Worse, the Third had found himself slowly pushed further and further into the unimportant sidelines as questionable decisions had compounded with spoiled demands. This just made him all the more likely to make the lives of the Warminds difficult.
It seems NerKeraTor had been cursed with interesting times.
A questioning pulse permeated through the room. NerKeraTor responded with his assent, inviting his next visitor inside.
He picked up the third orgacrys, refreshing himself on the sophisticated understanding infused into the crystal. Mid-born medic PerTin, her orange and red-rimmed scales shining in the light, stepped in. The well-oiled scales of her left side only highlighted the terrible scorching of her right side neck, hood and shoulder. Healing was underway, but deep tissue burns took so much longer to recover. PerTin had very nearly died to the other major weapon displayed by the newcomers. Although that wasn't related to why she was here.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
[You may sit or stand, as is most comfortable,] NerKeraTor offered. He had high respect for this officer who was dedicated enough to get this to him despite her injuries.
Her hood flexed, and she couldn't help but flinch. Carefully, PerTin duck nodded to show her gratitude. That gratitude warred with the pain colouring her response. [Thank you, honoured Warmind, please allow me to stand.]
[Very well,] discarding any further pretense, NerKeraTor delved into the orgacrys to see the memory. A memory of healing the largest of the mind shelled Xenos. Once there, he carefully invited PerTin to a light gestalt, starting slowly as to avoid overwhelming the inferior and injured medic with the telepathic link. As she settled in, NerKeraTor carefully bolstered her efforts at pain management, using his greater psionic weight to smother the pain and strengthen the rapport.
[I see hints of it, the things that do not belong,] he started, [Please elaborate.]
So she did. With that Sensor's help, Pertin had delved deep into the biology of that creature. Densely built, aggressive healing systems, robust nerve networks, all interesting. But…
[Starting here in his arm, as this is where the healing began, this is also where my understanding blossomed,] PerTin explained, drawing his attention to a bundle of fibres running alongside his bones, connected to his nerves at multiple points. [OptiTern lacked the knowledge to understand what she was seeing,] PerTin noted. The fibres permeated through his body, down his spinal cord and down to his feet. [I dared not distract her with the strange impression, wishing not to lose the advantage of the improved delving senses.]
She brought NerKeraTor’s attention upwards, pulling him back up to look at the xeno’s spine and neck. Finally, they settled on a great nodule located in the back of the xeno's head. More inorganic fibres extended into its dense brain and to his eyes. On the back of its head, heavier fibres and a set of six ports clearly made to receive some unknown device.
It was unlike anything on record, anything NerKeraTor had ever seen. She drew his attention to more of these strange spots, more of the ports, placed in his lower back, at his hands and at his feet. Other alterations had been found. An artificial organ made of strange materials nestled in his gut, more wires that wound their way through his intestines and chest cavity.
[Fascinating,] NerKeraTor admitted, releasing Pertin from the gestalt. This gave him much to muse about. [You are to continue to keep this private of course, with the exception of our Uuahooem guest. What do you suggest we do next?]
[I may be too injured to continue on this honoured Warmind,] PerTin worried with some quick self-reflection. She had to take a breath before continuing, [But I would suggest a deep delve of the other Xeno we are holding as well. Outside of that, I admit to being at a loss for how to proceed or what to do with this knowledge.]
NerKeraTor settled deep into his cushion, his mind abuzz with all these strange developments. He surprised himself by continuing to speak.
[I had heard of them in my youth, races that lacked fundamental capabilities.]
[Honoured Warmind?]
[I couldn't help but wonder how a race that lived without any telekinesis or telepathy would function. Indeed, it’s as the philosophers say; Gifted as we are with flight and sight, what paths will our feet never take?]
This time PerTin remained silent. He could feel her surprise at him speaking openly. It was fine. Her patriotism had earned her this small reward.
[I suspect medic PerTin, we will have the unique… opportunity, to witness the result of a path we would never have walked. For your performance, I will see to it that you enjoy the privilege of a bath of healing nectar. A gift for the duty and burden of aiding in the continued study of these creatures. But I do regret I cannot give you time to rest, not yet, events demand we move quickly to understand what we are looking at.]
[I understand, Honoured Warmind. I shall do my utmost.]
[I expect no less.]
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> Uuahooem Titan Shard, Mental Reader, Rainbow Rippling Sheen, Aspect of the Ocean of the Void, Mother of Iridescent Glittering Coral and -
>
> ----------------------------------------
[Ripple is acceptable,] she interrupted tersely. Full Uuahooem names were interpreted as memories, experiences spanning more than mere moments but whole histories that extended longer than the lives of any common individual. This small piece of her had no need for the full recollection.
[Oh, indeed.] ShricKus replied with a carefully restrained note of surprise. Ripple considered the Minder closely. The lovely green-scaled KoTry masked her reaction well, in truth. Not even a twitch of her tail or hood could be seen. Ripple only felt that note of surprise due to her exceptional perception.
With ShricKus' firm self-control, the Minder volunteered no conversation, which was fine. Every escort for the past three homestar days had maintained poor self-control. Those in the thrall of the call had an unfortunate tendency to endlessly ply Ripple with volunteered information and hints and outright requests to perhaps spend a little more time together. Even tough-willed individuals such as Warminds like NerKeraTor or borderline outcasts such as ShricKus felt the pull, unable to prevent it from colouring their interactions.
Fortunately, ShricKus knew how to restrain herself.
This silence was the best sort of rest Ripple could hope for. It wasn't as if she slept like hard-bodied creatures. It was only in those moments where she didn't have to suffer the imprints of all around her, pushing, that she could really rest. The nature of her mimicry made that difficult.
[Do sit,] Ripple prompted the KoTry minder, tugging on a bowl and cushion in the corner that the female could use to relax. While ShricKus obliged by drawing the bowl to herself, Ripple took a moment to enjoy the water in which she floated, letting it support her tendrils and soak through her imprint. She had infused the tank with shards of her egg and those shards continued to bolster the boundary of the water with feelings of her mother and creator. Only those Ripple personally invited could send their active mind into the water, although she could never quite keep their imprints from seeping in. A necessary measure to maintain her appearance.
ShricKus settled the bowl in front of Ripple’s tank and seated herself, legs crossed and tail curling around in front of her. She looked up at Ripple, meeting her eyes through the glass of the tank. As impressive as the green KoTry’s control was, Ripple could still feel a subtle quiver of nerves.
[There is something you are hiding,] Ripple observed.
ShricKus’s hood flared slightly and her inner shell hardened.
[I care not for the politics and opinions of those who would sanction you,] Ripple pulsed with a sigh. [While my mother has placed herself within the confines of PosTalPack Citadel, her focus remains on the future of all, not just the arrogant KoTry royalty, or even her own prison.]
That surprised her. [Prison?]
Ripple allowed ShricKus a sense of her mother’s fatalistic acceptance. [The necessities of survival can turn a given right into a luxury, Minder ShricKus. I suspect you are familiar with this idea, even if you had not realized it applies even to a Titan such as my mother. The Sleeping Ones have all had to make difficult decisions. Fortunately, that truth also resulted in me having a certain degree of autonomy. This new race will certainly be treated as an enemy and a resource by the Royalty and the Warminds, but to me, they remain an unknown potential.]
ShricKus maintained her discipline. She had already impressed Ripple by resisting the mimicry mirror further than most. But she had good reason to be suspicious. ShricKus had learned some harsh lessons on personal control due to her colouring. Ripple wondered if her illusion still wholly worked on the jade green officer. Most Kotry would see just another KoTry when looking upon Ripple, albeit with her unique rainbow colouration.
She was curious to see if a new half-formed song would even be felt by these mysterious prisoners.
[Mother’s place ensured that she had to remain neutral, but she still remembers them fondly, ShricKus. NerKeraTor, ParsTinKut and even the Prince, none of them can compel me to reveal what I wish to hide. As always, it is your behaviour that you must watch.]
Her shoulders dropped and her hood flared as she pulled in a large breath through her vents. [I understand,] ShricKus replied. As her body relaxed, so did her mind. The green-scaled KoTry relaxed her iron grip and invited Ripple into her innermost mental shell.
Ripple returned the courtesy by restraining her naturally inquisitive nature, even if the effort of not looking made her quiver in the water of her tank.
[The prisoners,] Ripple prompted, giving ShricKus a point on which to focus.
[Are you certain you do not want to see them first?] ShricKus protested. [Your perceptions will be coloured by what I have seen.]
Ripple pulsed her amusement. [Oh, it is far too late for that, although your question is reasonable. Do remember that I have already seen the impression of the PanarTite’s sleeper network.]
[Ah.]
ShricKus had no more to say, no more complaints left to make. As Ripple had suggested, she brought her mind to the captured individuals and the impressions she had gained from the attempted interrogations.
The first thought ShricKus brought up was shuffled aside for a moment as the Minder concentrated on her first meetings. The overwhelming mindblock and the stone-rigid posture of the first prisoner. The unstable and still impenetrable barriers of the female and the darker-skinned male. The stoic guard of the yellow-skinned male.
And the sheer menace of the largest red-haired male.
[He uses his posture and expression very effectively,] Ripple commented. [He has inspired impressions in you without needing telepathy or empathy.]
[There is more.]
The interrogations continued with little progress, the similarity of each attempt at overcoming the mindblocks causing the meetings to blend together. Ripple did take note of each verbal reaction of the prisoners, taking a moment to store the moments away for later. Mostly it was the largest prisoner who spoke, and that may have contributed to his intimidation. Ripple did not miss the way he seemed to watch his captors. The rest of the prisoners concentrated inwards, he was the exception.
And then Ripple witnessed the kick. The reading of KaraQlen and ShricKus' realization that somehow the prisoner knew she was being mistreated.
And from her point of observation, Ripple pulled out a detail ShricKus had missed. A spike of emotion, of anger as he struck.
ShricKus reacted with surprise.
[He acts with surprising empathy,] Ripple observed.
The minder did not reply, unsure of herself. Her enjoyment of the act of retribution put her at risk of wrongthink. A simple pulse from Ripple could cost ShricKus everything she had worked for.
All she wanted was to serve her people, a trait common to the ancestors who had made friends with Ripple's mother.
[This tells me what I wanted to know,] Ripple sent. She didn't miss the slight curl of the tip of ShricKus's tail. Ripple quickly put her fear to rest. [KaraQlen deserved his fate, more importantly, this proves these aliens have empathy and morals. If we can learn to understand each other, there is hope that we can work together.]
ShricKus pulsed her opinion, emboldened by Ripple's treatment of her so far. [I fear the Prince won’t allow it, that the Royals have no interest in cooperation.]
[Mother is not worried about King KaretKas BarsKlan,] Ripple replied. ShricKus reacted with shock at Ripple's casual use of the King's imprint, but she pushed through the fearful pulse of emotion. [The true worry is our bored dear third Prince KetelTin BarsKlan and the inevitable anger of the Warmind, ParsTinKut.]
ShricKus shook her head with confusion. [How can you be so sure of NerKeraTor and the King working with these aliens?]
[I am surprised, ShricKus, you strike me as an observant sort. You haven't noticed?]
[Noticed what?]
Ripple sighed. [Despite the success of the KoTryan conquests, the true war continues to sap the lifeblood of King KaretKas BarsKlan's Platinum Empire.]
ShricKus stared at Ripple, her hood vents shut with worry.
[What this means, Minder ShricKus, is that in the only war that matters, King KaretKas BarsKlan and my mother agree that we cannot afford to lose. Every avenue must be pursued.]
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> ----------------------------------------
ShricKus and Ripple rode in silence, standing on the black transport disk and letting the two guards and the servant carry them.
They made a single stop on the way. Halting in the orange stone hall before the smaller circular door of another set of guest quarters. Carefully tamped pain leaked faintly from beyond the door.
[Medic Pertin, are you well enough to accompany us?] ShricKus called softly.
A note of assent followed quickly. Quick enough to show Pertin to be awake. The latch of the door separated. The door slid outwards, then rolled to the side. Ripple felt her soft body constrict upon witnessing Pertin's injuries. A portion of her hood was blown away, the surrounding area scorched and burned. A troublesome injury to heal, but by virtue of her craft, Pertin had suppressed the expected pain response to manageable levels.
[PerTin] ShricKus acknowledged with a hint of warmth.
[Minder ShricKus] Pertin replied, then turned her head and bobbed to physically acknowledge Ripple. [Rainbow Rippling Sheen] PerTin assumed, a passive pulse filling the air. Habitually, she launched into the usual long recitation of Ripple’s full imprint, only to stop with relief as she was interrupted.
[Yes] Ripple interrupted, [but Ripple will do well enough]. Even as she spoke, Ripple instinctively filled the area around them with a soothing resonance. It took a bit of effort to maintain, but it would bolster Pertin's pain management. PerTin's mental shell rippled with surprise and Ripple physically observed Pertin's hands relaxing from a clench, clearly saw the KoTry female's shoulders drop slightly.
PerTin stepped up on the transport disk.
[Let us go see what we can find out,] ShricKus said simply, and off they went.
Ripple didn't miss the quiet little note of unease leaking from PerTin's taxed mental shell.
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> End Chapter
>
> ----------------------------------------