“Centurion Prime? A Nova Corps officer is here?” Rom was shocked again.
“There is a strong Xandaran presence in the Sol System, and they coordinate with us on any issues of system security. In particular, they’ve been very good about improving our ability to detect Skrull infiltrators, and I imagine your technology will only help that. I believe a mutual exchange of sensor tech would be in everyone’s interests?”
“Galador’s Energy Analysis technology is extremely good at penetrating Wraith Veils,” he noted proudly, yet curiously.
“Xandar has become really quite good at doing the same for Skrulls. If you’re willing to look at some Terran ingenuity, I’ll introduce you to some Bane technomagic I think you’ll really like.”
“I look forwards to seeing this!” he agreed happily.
------
Comet, Centurion Lygaete in his blue and golds and official red cloak, and Centurion Cherise in her red and gold uniform were all waiting for Rom as the cyborg Spaceknight disembarked from his craft. The towering cyborg with the liquid metal body and armored chassis took a moment to explain what was needed for maintenance of his craft to the hangar crew before walking over to join us.
“Spaceknight Rom of Galador, welcome to LaGrange Station, Terra’s primary spaceport and system hub.” Comet held out her hand, and took his mitten-like armored hand firmly. “I am Director Carol Danvers, callsign Comet. I believe you’ve been chatting with Dynamo. This is Centurion Prime Lygaete of Xandar.”
The smiling Centurion also took the Galadoran’s hand in a firm grip. “The reputation of your people precedes you, sir!”
“As does yours, Centurion. It is good to meet an Xandaran in such a distant place. I confess to my news being limited, and I express my remorse about your recent losses to the Skrulls. I was told your homeworld’s defense was the very definition of valor!”
The Centurion gave me a knowing look. “It could be said that right now Xandar is far more dangerous than it has been for a thousand years or more, Spaceknight. But we may talk later.” He pivoted. “This is Ultra Corpsman Centurion Cherise, one of the most senior of the Terran Ultra Corps.” The red and Ultraspecs definitely set the Ultra Corps apart from the blue and bucket helm of the Nova Corps. “I have served with her, and she has my full confidence. If you need to undertake a scan of her, she has already agreed to submit.”
“I have been told of your travails, Centurion,” the Spaceknight nodded his robotic head somberly at her. “Yet this is something I must needs do. My apologies for any slight upon your honor.”
“I am fully aware of what I am, and what we are, Spaceknight. Please, do what you need to do,” the feather-haired and Specced Centurion replied forthrightly, clearly not offended.
The towering Spaceknight held forth his hands, and a metal and crystalline device appeared out of some hammerspace repository in his grip, a very sophisticated sensor on a stick, as it were.
It activated instantly, playing over her up and down. I studied the energies being used with great interest, marking down all the types and frequencies, and some very original modulations thereof in the psi-bands.
By the shift in his head, he seemed somewhat surprised that there was no reaction from the rest of us in the play of light from his Analyzer. “There is no reaction in the visible light spectrum?” he inquired of us, looking back and forth.
“Nope.” “No.” “Can’t see anything odd, Spaceknight!” was the triple reply.
“Very interesting. The Analyzer reports that many of the dark energies have been purged from the Centurion, and the Aural interactions are all wrong. Even the shadow that is transmitted to my eyes is ephemeral. I can see that this is an alternate form of Centurion Cerise, but she does not register as a Wraith.” He paused significantly as the Analyzer disappeared. “Also, the power of the Core within you lives up to its reputation!”
“The Ultraforce and Novaforce are indeed strong,” Comet confirmed. “Also, Spaceknight, the Interdiction upon this station was turned off locally so you could wield your Analyzer, and will now be reinstated for security purposes. Is there anything you need to Summon before we do so?”
“I will not need my Translator, and I should not require my Neutralizer. If there should be conflict, I will suffice with the means I have been given.”
“I recommend a good pair of Morphing Weapons for such occasion, Spaceknight!” I advised cheerfully. “Let’s give you a quick tour of the station here, and then get you over to the conference room in Paragon’s lab. We’ll get you read in on the full situation with the Skrulls and Wraiths, our defenses against them, and see if we can’t cut your quest against them down some.”
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“That would be one of my fondest wishes, Guardian Dynamo!” the Spaceknight replied in an electronically fervent voice.
------
Hours of meetings, history with Skrulls and Wraiths, and exchanging of information later...
“Yes, these advancements can easily be added into the existing satellite network. When added to the current sensors, the overlap should enhance the sensitivity of both of them. Deep Skrull infiltrators should be readily exposed, as well as Dire Wraiths,” Paragon murmured, giving me a glance.
“Concurring. The photonic conversion is completely optional, so we don’t need to reveal them to everyone around unless we want to. However, it still won’t penetrate most buildings, so it is totally dependent on them actually going outside at some point, and so maintaining a 24/7 monitoring is basically required.”
“How long will it take to implement these changes?” Rom asked formally. “I confess to not being an engineer, and your technology is unfamiliar.”
“Minutes, actually, if I zip out there and do it personally.” I glanced at Doc Bronze, and he nodded approval. “We probably don’t need you to prosecute attacks on them, although you are free to help if you desire. However, I would say that your greater priority now is to head back to your homeworld.”
“What?” His electronic eyes blinked at me. “What do you mean?”
“I have Cosmic Awareness. Do you know what that means?” I informed him calmly.
“I... no, I do not,” the Spaceknight admitted.
“Think of it as clairvoyance of nigh-infinite range and scale. I can focus down to the movements of subatomic structure and the spread of radiant energy, the shifting of gravity and the flow of time.” I flipped up a holo of energy fields, and then abruptly began to draw back, and back, and back. “I can see the appearance of an entire galaxy in real time, not subject to the restrictions of lightspeed, and even look at the entire universe at once, even if not in very much detail due to the restrictions of having a finite mind.” He stared as endless galaxies in the holo, becoming mere points of light in the vastness of Eternity.
“Generally, I must know of something to focus on it. Much that I see is by following trails through time and space from one object to another, going backwards through time until such things intersect, and then moving forwards to the present.
“I have thus watched your entire past for the last two centuries, and your noble battles and pursuit of the Dire Wraiths. Your unflinching standard of honor and behavior is most commendable. However, you have forgotten some basics of military behavior in your commitment to your quest, or perhaps you thought that they would be taken care of without you.”
“What are you speaking of?” he asked, uneasiness apparent in his voice.
“Two idioms. One, no one can remain vigilant forever. Two, idle hands are the devil’s playthings.” I faced him, drifting up off the ground so he didn’t have to look down at me. “You and your fellow Spaceknights were from a generation that was baptized in fire and horror. You saw the evil of the Dire Wraiths first hand, and you committed to ending it forever, such that you pursued them out into the stars to do so.
“And you left Galador behind, Spaceknight.”
His eyes flickered in sudden agitation. “Has something happened to Galador, Guardian?” he said urgently.
“Something IS happening, and it is going to blow up very soon.
“When you departed Galador, you left your world undefended behind you, Rom. Galador rapidly brought forth a new generation of Spaceknights to defend themselves in your absence... and then, nothing came.
“Nothing has come for two hundred years, Spaceknight.”
He rocked back. “And that... has become the problem?”
“Yes. Without an enemy to define their heroism and give value to their sacrifice, the second generation of Spaceknights has begun falling from the noble virtues they gave up their lives for. They want to be rewarded with something for what they have done.
“On the other side, the people of Galador have not seen that generation of Spaceknights do anything to prove that they have earned such rewards, not understanding the pain all Spaceknights go through at having lost their bodies and being thought of nothing more than engines of combat.
“Into this weak point, the Dire Wraiths have come whispering back, fanning the flames and ready to bring devastation to Galador anew.
“You and your fellow Knights should have returned home long ago, Rom. You should have cycled in the new generation and led them out into the stars to see the evil of the Dire Wraiths and understand what their sacrifice was for, and that it was worthy, and so are they.
“They are falling, Rom, and you need to go back and save their souls, and confront the evil stealing into the shadows of Galador.”
“By the Living Flame,” his electronic voice whispered. “Is this all true, Guardian Dynamo?”
I nodded once. “What is more... your fallen comrade Terminax has survived the judgement of the Living Flame, and he is working with the Dire Wraiths to take revenge upon the Spaceknight Order.” I paused significantly. “You should recall your entire Order if possible, but I think you will need help.
“We would consider it a point of honor if our Corps and the High Guard could aid Galador in its moment of need, in the spirit of which you came to ours.” I offered my hand to him.
“I,” he hesitated for a moment, then drew himself upright, and his mittened metal hand took mine, “I would be grateful for any aid we could gain against our foe, Guardian Dynamo!”
“Good things should happen to good people, Rom,” I smiled to him, patting his metal shoulder. “Doc, can you help the spaceknight with the coms system? I will undertake the upgrades to the scansats while he alerts his fellows, and when I return, we can be about gathering them up.”
“You... can gather my fellows?” Rom almost gasped.
I tapped my temple. “I know where ALL of them are, Spaceknight.”
“Will you require a ship, Dynamo?” Lygaete asked me formally.
“While I could gather up the individuals by chain-Portaling, Centurion, it would be foolish for them to leave behind their various vessels as they reassemble. A Novaship would take care of the problem.”
“I will have the Starholder standing by to assist you. It should come off-mission in six hours.” It had the most Terrans aboard as crew, and was basically the ship all the revised technology was tested out on before being passed on to the mainline Nova Corps vessels. Right now it was in the Expessox system mauling a Skrull ship repair facility with extreme prejudice.