Josh, you are a complete imbecile!
The forty-four-year-old lawyer admonished himself as he cycled his Essence for healing. His body was sprawled out on the Leviathan VIP suite's common room floor. He was half-conscious and trying to breathe while choking out both a mouth and full sinuses of clotted blood. Josh's mind couldn't help but drift back to how he had ended up in this position...
...After Jishin had given them Alysa's report, he had held out his hand, and Zurui had put a black, one-piece crew jumper in it. The pirate captain grinned, and the gleaming stones woven into his beard tinkled as he looked down at Josh's well-traveled chlamys and then back up. "...y'Eminence?"
Josh wrinkled his brow for a second in failed understanding, then looked down at himself. His expression became one of absent-minded gratitude.
Message received: I will not let my ‘battle kilt’ embarrass the Brigantine and her crew in front of their childhood hero.
Grabbing the onesie with the golden emblem of command on the left breast, he quickly changed inside the shuttle's privy. Passing Sen, he eyed his still pristine saffron robes the man wore. God's, he’s bombed with three nukes, buried under a Mt. Everest-sized pile of rubble, and the thing’s still not even wrinkled!
Sen smiled slyly. ~Don't worry, brother. Our training will increase your battlefield awareness... Though, I am afraid you won't be thanking me for it as we start. Perhaps not until a long time after we've finished... If ever... ~
Josh rolled his eyes. ~Oh boy... I can't wait...~
The shuttle continued past the limits of the primary Noha system. Fifteen minutes later the system's star was only a small sphere shading everything in shadows. The shuttle slowed as they arrived at a small ice-covered planet ringed in a wide rocky ellipse.
Jishin, in tour-guide fashion, directed their attention to the massive field of jagged-edged boulders that spun on random axes. "Not 'n our lifetimes, but there were once two moons that orbited here." He chuckled, adding, "Needless to say, they didn't get along... A lot like me and my precious wife... Massive world-breaking collisions leadin’ to what can only be described as a beautiful mess. Stars, I miss ‘er!” Everyone chuckled while Jishin smiled in reflective thought out the viewport.
Josh’s science mind told him the shattered moons’ debris was dragged by the centric gravitational acceleration of the planet's iron core. It would ultimately be sent hurtling out of the planet’s grasp or pulled down as burning meteors to wreak havoc on the icy surface below... But for now... It was a thing of beauty to behold! Everyone in the shuttle agreed and fought for headspace through the front viewer.
Jishin continued, “...The randomness of the rocks' movements makes for top-notch long-range scan avoidance as well. Mind ya, our scouts found none of these capital ships on our nearby system patrols." Jishin pointed with his index finger at various locations out the big window, where Josh could see towers attached to the central disks of ships very similar to their own Brigantine. And now that Josh had seen one, he saw a lot more. There were at least fifty ships out there hidden amongst the planetoids of the asteroid field. More than thirty had disk platforms wider than the Brigantine. Some were very much larger. Way beyond city size and verging on state size.
As the shuttle continued to skirt the terrain torus’ edge, the Noha system’s sun cleared the plant's meniscus. Its distance-thinned light reflected off the armor-plated hull of a truly enormous ship sitting quietly nearby. And until now, completely unnoticed by Josh. Surprised with his own obtuseness, Josh couldn’t stop his first thought. Kinda like missing an elephant sitting at a bus stop because it’s behind an open newspaper... Sen is right... I do need field awareness training...
Sen offered a small smile. ~Recognizing your limitations are the first steps to overcoming them.~
Quiet chuckle. ~The training will never end will it Sen?~
Sen’s muffled guffaw came with a pained look. ~It hasn’t for me and I’m over three million earth years old... But you at least, haven’t been sent back to the beginning of your Path!~
Josh’s eyes were wide with realization as he gave a sympathetic pat hand on the shoulder. ~Thanks for the reality check brother... Awareness training it is!~
If Kotei Stuado's Man of War was the state of California, this ship verged on the size and dimensions of the Central Mexican Plateau. Like the Hegemon-4, Josh noted the tiny light specks flying around it on patrols and waiting in queues to board its various hangar bays.
Josh pointed. "The Leviathan?"
Jishin looked on with obvious adoration. "Aye... Beauty aint she!"
With uniform dark hull plating over a solidly formed sleek design that combined speed and power, Josh had to agree.
Jishin ruminated, "...Shisoka's taking his fleet with him all those cycles ago was a blow we've yet to recover from. Near one-quarter of our capital ships, along with that irreplaceable treasure!"
Their shuttle went to the front of a line at the ship's forward section and entered the hangar. Alysa and Ishan were waiting for them upon arrival. Alysa, dressed in a crisp blue and silver Hegemon-4 jumper, stood next to a pile of scorched, heat-twisted metal that may have once been a space marine's wing frame. Based on its condition, she must have been cut and pried out of it by the space marine equivalent of the jaws of life.
She walked up and hugged them both. Then took a half step back and peaked her right eyebrow at Josh as she had with Symbal, her father. "Nukes again, Josh? And then a digi-stream of you streaking at the conflict site?"
Josh was suddenly overcome by a brief but powerful coughing fit. Then, somehow spontaneously came out of it and changed the subject by pointing to her destroyed battle kit. "From what I’ve heard, you haven't been able to stay completely out of trouble yourselves. Wanna tell us about it?"
Alysa sported a look that told Josh this topic would return as she spoke out of the side of her mouth, "Okay... Nukes and nudity shall be tabled for later harassment."
They walked back on board the shuttle. Josh put a hand each on Sen and Alysa's shoulders as he extended his mindscape to their minds. Instantly, they stood in a blank white landscape that stretched out into infinity. Alysa took a second to adjust but had obviously anticipated it.
All business, Josh started. "Sen, keep your mentation shield up, and let's be quick. Shisoka's way more powerful than us. He could mind jump us if he wanted. Alysa, what is your take on this parley."
Alysa's demeanor mirrored Josh's. "Two points. I think he legitimately wants to apologize for his son's actions." Shisoka is embarrassed by the attack on you both... As if... he intended to protect you somehow." She looked up at them with questioning eyes. But Josh had no explanations for her observation. And through their Bond, Sen didn't either. They simply shrugged their shoulders, indicating they should move on.
Alysa continued, "There is something else." Josh and Sen refocused on Alysa. "For an outlaw Clan of thieving renegades. They are very... polite and accommodating. Based purely on numbers and Cultivational strength, if they wanted us gone, we would be less than biofilm on space debris right now."
Josh swallowed. Alysa nodded to affirm her words. Sen smiled crookedly in agreement.
Alysa continued. "... Instead, they are treating us as honored guests. I think they planned or at least wanted to meet with you two. I think they are using Radin's attack as an opportunity to make sweet-suko out of paramons. Exactly what they want? I have no idea." Alysa raised her hands in surrender.
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"My last observation." Alysa's voice rose to indicate she was finishing. "There are an awful lot of Life Attunements here. Way more than would occur normally."
Josh looked up. "Interesting ...How many?"
Alysa tilted her head, "Like... everyone."
Thoughts spun in Josh's head at that. "Sen, what's your take?"
The shorter man scratched his chin as he considered. "I agree with Alysa. Something is going on behind the scenes concerning our invitation. I don't think it is nefarious. In a contest of any type, I don't even think we could escape from them. There is no point in trickery or subterfuge. Moreover, we feel the call of Karma drawing us here. We must proceed on this path."
By her raised eyebrows, this was news to Alysa. But clearly, not shocking. She had already told Josh that Sophie had mentioned more than once that coming to the Noha system was expected of them.
Josh shook his head and rolled his eyes in acceptance. ~It’s not a shocker that some surprises are waiting when things come to a head.~
Sad smile. ~You are right, brother.~
Josh turned back to Alysa. "All right. We are in the right place, with fewer obvious threats than usual. Let's stay in Wonderland and see how deep the rabbit hole goes."
Not fully understanding Josh's reference but getting the gist, Alysa and Sen nodded in agreement. Josh pulled his hands from their shoulders. The world pulled away in layers until all three were standing in the shuttle again, with the remaining three of their party just now sitting down to wait for a conversation that, subjectively for them, hadn’t taken any time.
Blink. ~Sen, leaving that place is always... strange... But our whole conversation must have only taken a second, ah micro or so...~
Puffing air from his cheeks, Sen replied. ~Yes, to the strangeness. And I agree with your assessment of the time dilation effect for our mental convergence. We should test it formally.~
Josh waved to RX, who had been in the back corner of the shuttle since landing. "Alysa, this—"
"This is RX..." She nodded to the mech’s dome and smiled, then bowed in respect. A clear indication she knew of the additional passenger that didn't need to be discussed here. "Sophie has mentioned you. I am pleased to finally meet you."
RX somehow straightened up in the confines of the shuttle and managed a graceful bow despite being over ten feet tall and made of tons of metal. "Sophie's sister, Lady Alysa. The pleasure is mine... I have heard of your incredible exploits!"
Alysa’s cheeks rose, fighting another smile as she blushed at the compliment. “They are nothing—"
Josh intervened with raised hands between them. "Okay, okay. Introductions made. Let's get to it." He side-glanced at RX. This robot is way too smooth with both of my daughters—And was that a Rico Suave tone modulation the mech was just using?
They exited the shuttle and Ishan and the rest of Alysa’s team boarded. Jishin kissed Staska’s forehead and pointed for her to get aboard as well. “But Ojin...” From the look on her face and her waving hands it was obvious that she thought there was no way Jishin could possibly survive on the Leviathan without her there to help him.
“Yojo... you were only promised to see the Leviathan... and you got to board her as well. Times are too uncertain for you to remain. And I have work t’do. Take the digi-stream of this beauty...” Jishin held his hands up to the Leviathan all around him, “...back to Amnaki and ask him how much he would trade to have been in the shoes on your feet.” Staska’s head drooped on her shoulders knowing she had been beaten this time. She stretched on her tiptoes to kiss Jishin’s cheek and ran up the gangway of the shuttle grinning. Jishin smiled as he watched her go.
Alysa told Josh that she had intended to leave as well. But Josh felt a twinge of wrongness at that. And Sen had also shaken his head. Josh spoke in Alysa's mind. "Not to weird you out, but me and Sen both believe you should stay. Besides, you are one of the Danshaku and should receive a formal apology from Shisoka along with us."
Alysa thinned her eyes like someone who had just seen a signpost up ahead that read The Twilight Zone. But she made no objections.
Feeling vulnerable, Josh pulled his mindscape back into a shield around his mental/spiritual center, and they all turned to a Talan officer who had been waiting a respectful distance while they concluded their farewells. Obviously, deciding the time was right, he approached them.
“Welcome to the Leviathan, I am Liaison Zandar.” The impeccably presented officer executed a tight, shallow bow to them all. Despite a height of only 5 feet 2 inches, he presented with an air of authority in his Kaizuko crew jumper of green and black with close-cropped, dark hair that grayed at his temples.
Jishin reasserted his fanboy status, leaning down to whisper in Josh’s ear “That the jumper is a mix of Shisoka's and Utsuki's original Clans’ traditional colors!” Josh couldn't help but chuckle at the helmsman's constant looking up and around like a person visiting Times Square for the first time.
The other thing that Josh noted about Zandar was the two types of Essence swirling through his Meridians. The indigo of Spacetime and the green of Life. Just as Alysa had said. Josh knew that Spacetime Attunement was common for many Kaizuko on their navy’s command tracks. Sen had told Josh it was no secret that the Kaizuko had control of the Nekusan nebula where the Tears of Nekusassu were obtained. Command of this resource was how they dominated the void shipping lanes in the sectors of the galaxy they resided. But, confirming what Alysa had told them, Josh also noticed that everyone in range of his Aural sight also sported Life Attunement in their Cores and Meridians. From the Void-Boss, Josh saw walking up and down the lanes of incoming transports with a digital click board in his hands, to the officers like Zandar, and the crews hurriedly attaching and detaching power and resource/waste umbilicals. All the way down to the janitorial staff cleaning up after the umbilicals had been detached. They all have Life attunements! Where are all the Life Attunements coming from?
Nod. ~Sen. What is going on with all the Life Attunements here? They want us to see them, don't they?~
Acknowledging glance. ~Agreed, brother. But, other than for an unnecessary show of strength, I am uncertain as to why... or how they have so many.~
Zandar informed them that the formal parley would occur center ship in a ‘special area’ of the Leviathan’s superior skin, in half a standard solar rotation. “...his lord Shisoka has set the meeting to coincide with the azimuth of the local blue dwarf, Solaz. Until then, the Leviathan's guest quarters are available to you all for your rest and refreshment."
Josh did the mental conversion of 2.5 Earth days to the standard galactic rotation, getting thirty hours for half of one. It was a bit of a wait, but Josh also decided to make sweet-suco out of paramons, whatever they were. He could use the time to get a better handle on his Spacetime Attunement for his and Sen's sake. If things were going to go south as they usually did, increasing their Cultivation power base would be the most beneficial use of time. Josh also thought the thirty-hour window would be a good time for Alysa to Attune with her Tear of Nekusassu.
With a crisp, "Right this way," Zandar invited them to follow him to a passageway off the end of the cavernous hangar.
The group passed through a portal guarded by a pair of Talan, both with Spacetime and Life Attunements. The luxury of the accommodations was noticeable. Thick cream-colored carpets offset with tastefully backlit, dark wood carvings on elegant marble pedestals. Richly colored, original oil paintings of various environs of the void hung on the walls. Zandar led them through the short passageway to a suite with six spacious bedrooms directly off a well-furnished common area. The sleeping chambers were very similar to their staterooms on the Brigantine. The same convertible bathroom, furniture options, and permanently placed luxury items, like the synth-wood four-post bed Josh saw on sticking his head into one of the sleep rooms. There was also more high-end art on the walls and tabletops.
After showing them in, Zandar walked back to the entry portal. "I will be back to collect you in time for the ceremony. The bar is fully stocked, and the bio-fabricators have an independent AI system well-versed with all cuisines of the surrounding sectors. If you have any other needs, an attendant will wait at this door. As guests of the Talan Patriarch, tell them your needs, and they will be met." The liaison bowed formally at the waist, "Until the Azimuth." Then closed the door silently behind himself...
Jishin, Zurui, and RX retired to their own rooms. Alysa went to do the same, she needed time with Sophie. Josh didn't know the exact details of their bond. But he did know that the time they spent together was essential for them both. Still, Josh held up his hand and stopped her when she turned to go and sighed, “I know you need to spend time with Sophie, but things are starting to... get interesting. You and Sophie will be safest if you get the Spacetime Attunement under your belt before whatever is going to happen... happens—”
The Clone appeared between Joshua and Alysa. The room’s white walls and carpets were filled with cascading reflections of an infinite variety of blue hues. “That is correct, Joshua Elias Tanner...” Staring, the Clone eyed Josh like a scorpion about to climb in and share his sleeping bag. “...Are you presuming to be the one to shepherd them through the Attunement? Are you prepared to address and circumvent any of the myriad things that could go wrong to prevent optimal resolution of Balance’s harmonization of its Reality and their Karma?”
Caught by surprise at the challenge, Josh leaned back flat-footed and replied with his usual elegance. “Ahhh... I... um...”
Alysa, who had already dropped to one knee with her head bowed, mercifully interceded. “Greetings, Lord Clone. My sister also welcomes your arrival.”
The Clone turned to face Alysa fully and through her Sophie. He gave a slight bow that included his shoulders. “Greetings, Child of Karma. I will be watching over your joint Attunement. Please follow me.” They walked into an adjoining room and shut the door. And like that, Josh was left still sputtering and wondering where the wheels had fallen off.