“You know who’s doing it?” Eik asked, eyes wide. “Who? Who is it?”

Mikla raised his hands to calm him down. “As certain as I can realistically be, yes. Have you heard of the Gohkamorians?”

“Of course I haven’t. I’ve barely heard about you.”

Mikla chuckled. “Right. Dumb question… Anyway, they’re actually also part of the Nidafjeld Alliance. New members, relatively speaking.”

Eik frowned. “I thought it was forbidden to initiate hostilities with a newly inducted civilization like ours. Why are they allowed?”

Mikla squinted up at the sun as he thought. “First off, you’re not quite right. It is not technically forbidden, but it’s certainly frowned upon. Eradicating a new civilization, however, is most certainly forbidden, but there are several legal loopholes if they don’t go that far. And it’s not like they’re advertising about it either. I had to dig quite a bit to actually link them to the specific alien species you’ve been attacked by, to be frank.”

“So there’s nothing we can do?” Eik questioned, knuckles white with frustration.

“Legally it can be difficult because they can claim ignorance. No one can truly prove who opened those fractures. They could also claim that it was a purely exploratory venture that simply got out of hand—by accident of course.”

“For nine years?"

"Yeah, well..."

"Of course…” Eik rolled his eyes.

Mikla scratched his chin. “Look, I imagine this is not going to sound like much of a solution to you, but once the Awakened of your Earth grow more powerful it’s not going to be sustainable for the Gohkamorians to keep sending monsters. If you can bite the sour apple until then, it will get better. If they try to send Awakened directly to your world, the Alliance will step in swiftly and with severity.”

For the first time since coming back Eik looked around the place he had landed. This time they had gone directly to the inner premises of the Alliance headquarters by the look of it. They stood in the shade of a large, luscious fruit tree with bulbous, yellow fruit hanging heavily on every branch, physically weighing down the limbs.

“Can I…?” Eik asked and reached for one of the low-hanging ones that looked especially ripe.

“Eat one? Yeah, yeah, go ahead. They’re quite delicious.”

Eik bit into it. It was sweet like a pear with the sour notes of an orange. He would definitely bring back some seed to plant in his garden.

Mikla followed him to a bench near a small pond where they sat down. “I just don’t get why they’re allowed to send monsters over without rest. They’ve killed so many of us.” Eik’s voice was quivering.

Mikla gave him a look of sympathy. “I’m not sure you quite comprehend the scale of the Nidafjeld Alliance, Eik. I don’t like it either, to be clear, but keeping an organization of this size and breadth even moderately coherent and intact requires us to give certain… concessions.”

“Like allowing your members to harass and murder potential new civilizations with no way to fight back?”

Mikla’s weak smile was answer enough.

“So what can we even do now that we know that it’s the… Gohkamorians?”

The Alliance representative’s weak smile morphed into an expression of guilt-ridden hesitation. “Well, you’ve got B-rankers already, right?”

“Yeah, but only a few.”

“Once more of your Awakened of high rank begin to reach B-rank, it’ll get easier. Remember, the stronger a being stepping through a fracture is, the more energy and control is required to power and maintain it. And when the distance spans universes it's even more taxing,” Mikla explained.

“Is that why you had to get someone else to open the fracture and send us on that rescue mission?” Eik asked.

“Yes, that’s exactly right! And the Gohkamorians are no different. They can only send so much through the portals. Because I had to let Atla through as well I could only do it a few times back then.”

“And because continuously sending monsters in the B-rank and above is too costly, you expect them to stop once we begin to beat them with few to no losses?” Eik finished.

Mikla nodded. “Pretty much, yeah. They’re probably trying to make you less competitive in the lower ranks of the Alliance by weakening you from the beginning. Kill off as many potential threats as possible before they get a chance to grow, essentially.”

Eik’s stomach turned as flames of fury were stoked. Profound Toxin flowed out unbidden and enveloped the fruit he was holding, turning the crunchy, juicy flesh black and dead in a few seconds. Mikla leapt back to the tree and got him another. Eik thanked him as the toxin retreated back into his body.

“But, Eik, to put it simply, any more than what they’re doing now would be a misuse of resources that could be better spent elsewhere. Fracture specialists aren’t exactly common, you know, and they are very useful in all aspects of civilization, from combat to transport.”

It made sense. It was a harsh truth to hear that waiting it out would be the best they could hope for, but it made sense. “I appreciate the effort you’ve put in to find this information for us. Thank you very much.”

“It was no issue. I’m glad I could help.”

"But why did you give this information to me instead of the leadership of Forest?"

Mikla tilted his head. "I'm not really sure if Atla would appreciate me saying this, but she thinks you're very special. More so than even I think she should. She said she saw something in you."

"And that's why you picked me to be the go-between rather than some established figure on Earth?"

"No, Atla was looking for certain qualities from the beginning, although I don't think she expected to find you so quickly. After your training fight when you first visited she suddenly became significantly more focused on nurturing you."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"What do you mean?" Eik asked as he chewed on the fruit.

"Well, to be honest, we were actually planning on involving the leadership of Forest much more than this. It's protocol to at least quickly establish proper contact with the governing body of a new civilization if there is one."

"But you didn't with ours."

"We're still very early in the process, but we haven't much yet, no. That was her decision. I like you, Eik, but I don't think she should have handled it like that."

"Why didn't she?"

"That's... I'm not sure. As I said, she sees something in you that she's not willing to elaborate on. And the higher ups in the alliance are not going to like it when they find out, by the way. When Atla realized that you've made a few enemies with some prominent figures in Forest she basically decided to slow down our integration in favor of focusing on you."

"That all sounds like... not such a good idea on her part."

"I would say it's not, but she says it's going to yield the best result in the end, so..."

"You're not going to oppose her?"

"No, it's not my place."

Eik took another bite of the yellow fruit as he got up and stuck his fingers into the pond to feel the temperature of the water. The surface of the water was dark, almost opaque, but he figured Mikla would have stopped him by now if it was dangerous. “Say, those guys, the Gohkamorians…”

“What about them?”

“What are they like?” Eik asked.

“Warlike. Physically, they’re about your height plus a half. Their heads are long, hairless ovals with six eyes. They appear quite dumb, but they’re not. I also doubt you’re the first new civilization they’ve done this to.”

Something bit him on the finger, water splashing up his sleeve, and made Eik tear his hand out as if shocked by electricity. Mikla was clearly holding back laughter. Eik rejoined him on the bench, deciding to simply ignore that little episode.

“Did you suspect them of being the culprits of the attacks on Earth from the beginning?”

Mikla shook his head. “No, I’d only seen Gohkamorians a few times. The cosmos is larger than you can imagine and so is the Alliance. And despite their bellicose nature they’re actually quite reclusive, as it turns out.”

“Then how did you find out it was them?”

“Records. We have a lot of records. About anything and anyone.”

“About us?” Eik asked.

An amused snort was all he got in response.

“Are they powerful?”

“In relation to the Nidafjeld Alliance at large and the prime civilizations? Not remotely, no. Compared to your Earth? Yes.”

Eik’s mouth became a thin line as he swallowed that. “You said they were quite reclusive. How likely are we to encounter them?”

“Not very, I would guess. You'll probably encounter individuals but they know not to send an actual force against another member of the Alliance. At least if you remain a member.”—Mikla paused as a thought struck him—“Although you will probably run into a delegation of them during the championships, but I doubt they will make any overt moves against you there either.”

“Championships?” Eik asked.

“Atla didn’t tell you?”

Eik shook his head.

Mikla smiled. “She’ll probably come for a little visit soon, then.”

They went to pluck another fruit. “So what are the championships?”

“It’s a tournament where members of the Alliance can display their prowess without engaging in actual large conflicts or war. It’s also another way to maintain coherence within the organization.”

“We can’t possibly compete though,” Eik said with a frown and bit into another fruit, the juices running down his chin. “We’re new.”

“There are divisions according to strength, so don’t worry about it,” Mikla assured him.

“When is it?”

Mikla pulled out a little notebook from his pocket and checked it. “In… two months, plus a week.”

“Two months?” Eik exclaimed, spitting half-chewed bits of orange pear all over the grass.

“And one week, yes.”

Eik let himself fall onto the grass with a weary sigh. He lifted a hand. It was trembling uncontrollably. “I’m going crazy, Mikla.”

The fracture specialist took a seat in the grass next to him, signaling wordlessly for him to continue.

“I feel like the fate of the whole world is teetering on my shoulders. That any misstep I make is to the detriment of all of human kind.”

Mikla stayed silent and let him speak.

“Tomorrow I’m being called into a meeting with the leadership of Forest, but it’s really just a facade to justify putting me on trial. They don’t like that you’re talking to me instead of to them. My friends and I are being harassed because people think we’re traitors.”

“Would you like us to put some pressure on them?” Mikla asked nonchalantly.

Eik narrowed his eyes in confusion. “What? What do you mean?”

“I’m asking if you’d like us to come and participate in this trial?” Mikla reiterated.

“You would… do that? Just because I asked you to?”

“Eik, you’re a very important person to us. Atla chose you because she sees something in you, and, as I said, she’s only grown more enthusiastic since she first brought you through, so you must have done something to impress her,” the man said.

“I can think of something, I guess.”

“I know that we’re not so easy to trust yet, but you have to understand that it’s as much in our interest to have Earth as a stable ally as it is for you to have us.”

Eik tilted his head, not understanding. “How so?”

Mikla scooched around to face Eik. “You get that you need allies like us to support you against stronger civilizations while you find your bearings, right?”

“Yeah, that makes sense.”

“Well, the Nidafjeld Alliance also needs to constantly expand its network as the inducted worlds of the Unified Mass multiply. We have a responsibility to our members to protect everyone against large forces. And to do that we need new worlds like yours to join us instead of someone else.”

“Like the Moon Shall Swallow cult?” Eik asked.

“Exactly like them, yes,” Mikla said. “With the Unified Mass constantly growing, we can’t afford to neglect expansion, and in order to expand we have to treat even the smallest and newest of worlds with the respect they deserve. That’s why I don’t doubt Atla would approve such support if you requested it.”

Eik stared down at the orange pear silently. “Can I get some time to consider it?”

“Of course. How about some food since you’re already here?” Mikla asked as they got up.

“You got any dirt duck in this palace?”

***

A loud knocking woke Eik from a restless slumber. With a racing heart he rolled out of bed, the tangle of covers carrying his cat Mis with him like a sailor caught in a tidal wave. Her complaint against the treatment was bolstered by the ample use of claws in her human’s thigh. Throughout it all, the pestilent knocking never ceased.

“Let go of me, you crazy cat!” he grumbled, but when he looked down at the bed she was already gone. He climbed down and went for the door as he pulled on a pair of shorts. Mis was sitting by the door, waiting impatiently for him. “That was fast…”

Eik opened the front door and Mis frightened an otherwise strict-looking lady clutching a clipboard when she sprinted through her legs. The woman was accompanied by a man and a woman whose attire and demeanor made it obvious that they were Awakened with combat experience.

“Yes?” he said, trying to blink the sleep away.

“Eik Magnasen?” the woman asked, composing herself.

“Sorry, but I don’t buy anything at the door, even if the product’s good,” he said and tried to close the door only for the man’s boot to come in between.

“We’re here to take you to the debrief.”

Eik arched an eyebrow. “Did they change the venue?”

“No.”

“Then why are you here? Mission Central is, like, super easy to find. I mean, we’ve all been there a bunch of times, right?”

The strict woman’s eye twitched almost imperceptibly while the two behind her exchanged looks. “Just come with us. Quietly if possible.” With her clipboard and a suit jacket with a pencil skirt, she looked like every secretary in every movie.

Eik leaned into his house and glanced at the clock. “It’s more than three hours until the meeting though,” he said. “Aren’t you a little early?”

“The meeting’s been moved forward.”

“To when?”

“Now.”

Eik thumbed his kitchen. “I haven’t had breakfast yet. Want some? I’ve got orange pear juice and I promise you haven’t had that before.”

“There’s a buffet on site,” the clipboard said.

“Really? I’m actually starting to look forward to this trial now.” He wasn't. Not even in the slightest. But he couldn't let that show.

“Let’s go.”

“I’m kind of commando in these shorts to be honest. I’ve got some underwear upstairs if you don’t mind.”

Clipboard looked like she wanted to punch him. “We’ll wait.”

“Alright. Don’t peek.” Eik closed the door and went to change. His heart was in his throat and he couldn’t get his breathing under control. He was hyperventilating and his stomach hurt, and he was tired of incessant blabbering being his response to nervousness. Those assholes were trying to rattle him. And it was working.