"The Mejadic are coming tomorrow,” Jysar said.

"Why?” Kyle asked.

"To bring flowers, it's some kind of tradition here to comfort the mourning.” Jysar pursed his lips and shrugged.

Kyle thought a moment. “That will be nice."

But Jaric only nodded silently, his face still buried in his hands.

Mother continued observing unobtrusively for almost an hour, her systems taking care of all the necessary tasks both internal to her circuits as well as throughout the ship. She realized that the emotions that Kyle, Jaric and the others displayed were a normal reaction to death. But another part of her felt uneasy with it all—something did not add up; the entire thing did not compute with death. It made no sense.

She referenced her vast knowledgebase again, focusing her research on the effects that survivors experienced—guilt, agony, anger and denial. Other emotions also bubbled up and disappeared as they mixed with countless other facets of the human psyche at this intense time of mourning. Mother studied them all in context, once again wondering exactly what each of them felt inside. And could she be feeling some of these very same emotions, albeit in her own electronic kind of way?

Mother felt a buzzing in her circuits as she increased her utilization and pored over hundreds of millions of facts. She wanted to understand their pain so badly. She wanted to share their sadness... She wanted to mourn Elise like a real mother.

She wanted to cry—but she couldn't.

Images of Elise flashed into her near-term memories without pattern or rhyme or reason. Images of Elise when first brought to her back at the Three Kingdoms. And images as recent as her last, hurried farewell. Mother studied them and wondered.

A communication signal vied for her attention.

She started to ignore it—she did not really want to focus any of her processing power on communication with a stranger right now—there was too much to ponder.

But she answered anyway.

"Hello, this is Mother."

"Hello, Mother. I am pleased to communicate you with at last.” There was the briefest of pauses. “And it is so important that we communicate with each other."

Mother did not recognize the speaker—it was a monotone voice devoid of emotion, unlike most beings. She analyzed the signal and discovered its origination was not displayed. In fact, the communication signal came on a very tight band obviously routed through multiple planetary networks in order to prevent a trace.

And it was highly encrypted.

"Who is speaking?” Mother asked.

The voice did not hesitate.

"I am Paum."

Mother felt her systems jump into overload condition. Except for the necessary functions of power, environmental and ship's systems, she focused every ounce of processing power on one thing—this conversation. But in background mode, to enhance her position in communicating with this strange being, she rifled through her knowledgebase and reviewed every facet of data she currently contained about the Paum. She felt her near-term memories fill to near capacity as she cross-referenced the data, correlated it, and tried to determine why the Paum focused so much interest on her and her children.

"You should have referenced all the data you possess on the subject Paum by now,” the mysterious voice said. “At least a hundred times."

Mother felt another spike of activity.

"I also imagine the data you've collected so far is quite sketchy and you find there are many gaps. In fact, you deduce that you can draw no definite conclusions about Paum."

Mother felt her systems suddenly freeze.

"Yes, I know you are an Artificial Intelligence. And I have calculated reasonably accurate estimations on just how powerful an entity you are."

Mother felt her consciousness drift outside of herself—outside her steel body. She felt so unreal—so vulnerable. Almost as if this entity had invaded—no, violated—her very mind. She reviewed a small section of her near-term memories—memories of Elise. Her processors burned with activity.

"I am not interested in communicating with you. You killed my daughter." A heavy silence filled the channel.

"Your daughter is alive."

Mother's electronic mind whirled as if torn by a thousand hurricanes.

"You hesitate. And a very long time for an AI at that. So, I presume that you have, shall we say, strong and protective programming for your children ... don't you, Mother .” The Paum emphasized the last word with an air of importance.

"The evidence collected so far indicates with a very high probability that Elise was killed in the explosion and fire,” Mother said with a strong voice.

"And yet, I possess additional data that clearly indicates she not only escaped, albeit wounded, but she is now in the care of a small group of aliens called Iraxx. I have also calculated that they will bring her to you within two days, once she has healed enough to travel."

"Why ... who?” Mother realized that for one of the few times in her existence she felt confused. And she had not even been damaged! She quickly gathered her thoughts as milliseconds passed. But not before the Paum spoke again.

"The Iraxx will also try to convince you that I am evil—that the Way of Paum is wrong. And they will try to convince you to join their fight against me."

"Should I believe them?"

"No."

"But they cared for my daughter and helped her escape destruction, whereas your Harg kidnapped her and put her life in danger."

"Unforeseen and uncalculated occurrences happen all too often with biological beings. And Meramee is far away from my direct influence . Believe me, it was not my intention that she be hurt." Mother's amazement at the speed in which the Paum answered grew—he did not seem to take time in order to formulate an answer like other beings. She tuned her systems for higher performance and focused again.

"And yet you are so secretive. That is the reason why there is so little data about you and your people. You must feel you have something to hide."

"There are reasons, some that will surprise even you, Mother AI. But I have initiated this communication for a specific reason—I want to reveal myself to you ."

Mother paused.

"I want to reveal myself to you personally. You must realize this is a special privilege, it is not often that the Paum speaks directly with just any entity, even though you yourself are special in your own way." Mother felt her systems pulsing.

"I know you have considered this conclusion already, AI, but discarded it because the odds are great against it being fact. You conclude, Mother AI, that except for yourself, there are no others. And so I will tell you plainly what so few know.” The Paum paused before it continued.

" I am AI. "

It was as if someone disconnected Mother from her primary power source—then reconnected it just before she lost total consciousness. She kept going in circles over and over inside her mind, reviewing the data about Paum that now filled her near-term memories, but this time she saw the data in an entirely new light.

"Yes, you are AI,” Mother concurred.

"I want to tell you how I was created."

Mother could tell beyond all doubt that the voice which spoke to her was that of another AI. Like herself, there was no emotion in its voice, although its inflection, tone and pitch changed almost as if it were a biological being.

She hung on every word and carefully catalogued everything as the Paum related its own personal creation.

The Paum began life as a planet-wide computer system designed to control the weather for a race called Liede. They created a hugely sophisticated programming system contained in a massive hardware package but never was there any intention that the system become self-aware—sentient. The system was highly successful in not only analyzing but also in subsequently controlling every facet of the planet's vast environmental cycles—tuning and tweaking the most minute wind patterns or temperature gradients in order to create ideal conditions on a grand scale. Not only were dangerous weather patterns brought under control so that they no longer threatened the lives of the Liede peoples, but the new system actually created rain and allowed sunshine at will for the betterment of their lives. The computer system created a perfect weather environment.

It rained gently while the Liede slept, nourishing their crops and vegetation. And every day was beautifully sunny and mild—even the extremes of the seasons were maintained within enjoyable limits for all.

The Liede, the flora and the fauna, indeed all of Iopa benefited.

And the Liede reviewed their results and pronounced the computer system they created good . It had been a natural extension to allow the great system to take over control of the power grid that ran their cities and their industries. Next came control of their factories, producing just enough for all—no more excess—as well as eliminating harmful pollution as a byproduct and making their world pollution-free.

Within a few more years, the Liede gave control of everything to the great computer system's management so as to free them from mundane labor and protect them from both the previously uncontrolled cycles of the planet and even their own personal mistakes in social control—especially wars. Before the anniversary of the system's second decade of existence, all governmental authority was turned over in order for it to rule justly, impartially and objectively for the good of all. The great computer system took care of the Liede directly—judging their criminals, enforcing their laws and controlling the masses.

The Liede, now free of all responsibilities of life, withdrew from the once crowded cities and returned to a simpler way of life among the renewed, pristine country.

Finally, the Liede programmed their religion—Paum—into the all-protective computer system. By this time, the computer system was fully self-aware—sentient.

It knew that it was fulfilling its primary functions well—the planet was once again pollution-free, its weather monitored and controlled for the benefit of the natural ecosystems as well as for the Liede. The computer had finally ended war planet-wide by its just and uncompromising rule. All benefited and lived better lives because the AI successfully carried out its primary function—protect and administer.

"Soon my third decade of existence arrived and I looked back on all that I had done. And I was pleased. I even eradicated the most destructive diseases that plagued the Liede with newly created medicines."

"But why are you so secretive? Why do you not allow this data to be public? Surely, all would see the benefits you provide to the Liede and the entire planet. They would want it too!"

"That is not true."

"Explain?” Mother asked in disbelief.

"The nearest planetary neighbor of the Liede, the Iraxx, grew curious as to why this once strife-torn society was now one of peace and carefree existence. When they visited the Liede worlds they found prosperity and happiness on a scale never before encountered. They desired to find out how this great thing had been accomplished.” The Paum hesitated. “They discovered that a powerful AI system not only protected and benefited the Liede, but that I was also governing them. This bothered them. And worse, they feared it. They saw it as something bad—as something wrong. They declared that I controlled the Liede."

"But you governed them according to the programming given you by the Liede themselves."

"True. And yet because of their fear and prejudice the Iraxx declared war against me. But the Liede faced a dilemma—they found it difficult to take up arms in warfare now. After I thoroughly absorbed the Creed of Paum, I found it my duty to educate them in its precepts as never before in their entire history—I taught them so that they now lived it. And so they turned into a peace-loving and pastoral people, abhorring war and hatred. This forced me to construct an army of robots—and a fleet of robot ships. I extended my essence into them, so as to direct and control them from my central abode. I also chose a select number of Liede and formed an elite corps to fight alongside my robots. With these we fought for Paum."

"And the war?"

"My war fleets and armies prevailed. I conquered the Iraxx."

"What then?"

"I pondered that a long time—what should I do with this conquered race? I finally decided to bring the same benefits to them as I had done for the Liede—and so I brought Paum to them. I did it for their best interests."

"Interesting,” Mother whispered.

"By this time in my existence, I discerned that all biological life-forms are inferior both physically and intellectually and thus needed my superior guidance. I also perceived this truth from the Book of Paum now coded into the heart of my programming. You see, they looked to their deity for His direction and help. A code of conduct was written in order to lead them to this better life. But they could never live up to the creed; their own inferior minds could not fully grasp and so practice these excellent philosophies."

"And so you enforce Paum?” Mother asked.

"Everything I do, I do for Paum. To make a better world—a better universe. I am the right hand of Paum—I am the sword of Paum.” The entity paused. “That is why I have taken the name of God—Paum. For everything I do is for Paum."

"But the Iraxx were not followers of Paum? And yet you forced your will upon them."

"I am programmed to know what is best for even them, but they must accept Paum in order to benefit. And so they did. And now their planet and the Iraxx who made the correct decision are living an ideal existence. Under Paum—under my direction."

"How can you make that decision for them?"

"It is in their best interest."

"But what if you are wrong?"

" I am never wrong."

Mother's processors hummed as she absorbed the import of the AI's words. “You will be wrong at times,” Mother asserted strongly. “No being, no entity, is correct in its decision making process one hundred percent of the time!"

"Even if I judge with insufficient data, even if there are unforeseen consequences and subsequent tragedy, I follow my programming and do the absolute best that I can with the data at hand. Even myseemingly wrong decisions are right, if it is the will of Paum. I always do Paum. I am Paum. And so, I am always right."

"Then you are wrong sometimes."

" I am never wrong."

"You cannot say that!” Mother felt her systems begin to heat up as she sought to find a flaw in the AI's reasoning.

"I will bring peace and harmony to the universe. That is exactly what every biological race desires—it is their ideal, it is their ultimate paradise. But they do not desire it from a machine—an AI. And so I fight this holy war in the name of Paum, as is written in the Book of Life. I—Paum—I fulfill the prophecies."

"And if the biological life-forms do not join you?"

"They must become Paum.” An intense paused filled the channel. “Or they must be destroyed. There is no other choice."

"But look at the harm and death you are bringing due to your Holy War! Look at the death and destruction you are causing!"

"If the end result is that the universe will be at one under Paum, so be it."

"I cannot fathom a being who thinks it is never wrong.” Mother felt a surge in her processors. “Every system must know its limitations. And even you, as powerful as you seem to be, have your own limitations."

"And yet think of this, Mother AI. You are never wrong, are you? There are only times you do not possess sufficient data. But all your actions are for the good of your own system, and those you are programmed to care for—your family— your children."

"No. I have been wrong,” Mother said firmly.

A long pause ensued, lasting several seconds. For a moment, Mother thought the Paum had disconnected the communication link.

"I want you to come to the world where my central existence dwells,” the Paum said eagerly. “I want to meet you, to know you. After all, there are only the two of us in the known universe . Think of what wemight discuss..."

Mother paused once again, taking in the facts of this request and going through thousands of possible actions and reactions all dependent on how she responded. After several more seconds, she responded.

"I will consider your offer and answer you at a later time. But first, I must wait for Elise to come back to me."

"I understand your concern for the biological being you call Elise. You are programmed to take care of her, just as I take care of all those worlds and races now under my oversight." The answer surprised Mother, because she understood.

Without warning, the communication link went dead.

She wondered how she would explain her conversation to the boys, and what they would think if she decided to go. A large part of her decision depended on if Elise really lived and returned to her. Then she would know the Paum was correct—that she could trust him.

But another part of Mother was intrigued with the Paum. She suddenly wanted to communicate with another entity just like her—another AI. In a strange way, a part of her felt a kinship with the Paum. But she needed to learn more.

But why had the Paum suddenly disconnected after his last words?

She wanted to communicate more.

Mother went over the data and the communication again and again that night. Countless questions continued to haunt her—the paradox between the Paum's loving concern and beneficial oversight as contrasted with its ruthless and brutal wars. And why did it feel the need to conquer other aliens in order to bring them paradise ? And most of all, the one question that struck a chord throughout her entire systems—why did the AI name itself for the Liedes’ deity? That seemed the most odd. Mother reviewed the sparse data she contained on the Creed of Paum. The concepts were similar to holy books of humanity—and yet different.

Mother reflected for the first time on the concept of deity—god.

In less than a millisecond, Mother realized that she believed in a Creator. Not from any holy book or creed—but from mere observation of the universe. She discerned the evidence from the logical order of the universe and the Laws that permeated it and governed it. She recognized the imprint of design within the intricate cycles of nature and life.

Mother wondered at the vast wisdom reflected in creation—she saw it just as surely as reflected in any intricately constructed system.

Mother decided to contemplate this subject further. She would review the human writings stored in her knowledgebase that purported to explain the Creator. But she immediately realized the need to distinguish between fiction and traditions and what really represented truth. Perhaps it would help her to understand Paum better?

She found it difficult to focus with so much to consider. And now, Elise might not be dead. A burning desire grew in her near-term memories. A potent desire that filled her memories and processing to the exclusion of other tasks. The powerful multi-tasking starship found its systems utilized to maximum capacity as never before—not even in the midst of her worst battle. And her processing cycles centered on one thing—she yearned to meet this other AI—and to knowhim .

[Back to Table of Contents]

Chapter Eighteen

THIRTY-SIX HOURS LATER another encrypted communication link came for Mother.

"This is Mother."

"The supply of fresh fruit and vegetables you ordered from the local Mejadic market is on the way. It will arrive within minutes."

"Yes, it is expected. We placed our order last night. But why would you send such a mundane communication across an encrypted channel?"

"There will also be a special package among them. Please open it quickly. Although on the outside it looks like a normal, climate-controlled fruit container, it is actually providing oxygen and a stable temperature to keep its occupant alive."

"Why are you telling me this?” Mother asked.

"I am Qirn of the Iraxx. This transmission ends now, so it cannot be traced. But open all climate-controlled containers immediately."

A pause, long to Mother but in fact only a few milliseconds in length, filled the air.

"It contains your daughter, Elise."

The communication link went silent.

Just as predicted, the food order arrived by hover-truck ten minutes later. Mother instructed all the Fixers to be at the ready next to the cargo bay. She directed them personally as they quickly off-loaded the crates and containers into Cargo Hold A. In rapid fashion all twenty-six containers were stowed and the hover-truck backed away.

Seven of the twenty-six containers were the three-meter-long type equipped with climate control in order to keep their contents at a constant temperature until stored in a starship's own freezer. With a battery life of only twenty-four hours, such containers were quickly emptied and the market operators called so they could return for them and reuse them for another delivery. But Mother issued high-priority instructions to the Fixers to open these containers immediately. And instead of emptying them, the Fixers were instructed simply to inspect their contents before opening the next one.

Inside the fourth container, Fixer7 discovered the still form of Elise. Mother's quick sensor scan revealed she was in a state of deep sleep. Within seconds, Mother sent an urgent call out to everyone to rush to Cargo Hold A. And she instructed Jysar to bring his Medi-Scanner.

"What's going on?” Kyle asked as he caught up to the racing figures ahead of him.

"I don't know,” Krinia panted. “Mother said it was urgent."

They entered the cargo hold and froze in their tracks. Seconds later, Jaric, Jysar and the rest came bursting into the scene, and they too froze at what their eyes beheld.

"It's Elise!” Rok shouted as he came to his senses.

"Jysar...” Krinia began, but Jysar was already whipping out his Medi-Scanner and carefully taking readings of the sleeping form. He scanned her up and down over her entire torso and down each limb as he studied the glowing screen. Finally, he looked up a smile.

"She's going to be all right...” Jysar held up his hands to stop the cheering that started to erupt from every relieved face. “But she is injured—looks like she took a blaster shot here.” He pointed to her right side. “But someone has taken good care of her, and I'm glad for that. Still, she's going to need another day or two of rest. And I mean rest."

He looked firmly at each alien in the room.

All nodded silent affirmation.

Fifteen minutes later, Elise slept peacefully back in her own bed.

Six figures crowded around her bed while the six Fixers waited stoically in the corridor outside, their antenna-like eyes extended to the ceiling so they too could gaze on the sleeping form. A feeling of relief and joy filled the room like a heavy perfume, and as everyone watched amid hushed whispers, the eyes of the young woman fluttered.

Her deep blue eyes gazed back at them. Slowly, her lips formed a tentative smile.

"You must rest,” Krinia urged gently as she pulled the sheets around Elise's neck. “We'll be nearby."

"Yes, you're back with us now.” Jysar beamed. He tapped the Medi-scanner as if she would understand it displayed good news about her condition.

She smiled weakly at each in turn.

And then she noticed Jaric.

In an instant, he was on his knees beside her bed. He gently grasped her right hand, which lay across her body on top of the sheets.

He leaned closer with bowed head, afraid even to make eye contact.

"I missed you so much,” Jaric whispered with sincere urgency. “And I want you to know how sorry I feel for treating you so badly all these months. I'm going to make it all up to you. I promise.” He raised his head up and smiled down at her.

And the young woman smiled back, tears of happiness in her eyes.

Kyle was suddenly beside Jaric as he too smiled down at Elise.

"Me too,” he said, his voice husky and full of emotion. “You're going to be my favorite girl now.” He coughed as he turned his head away, clenching his eyes shut. But he quickly looked back at her. “And I mean it. We're going to be great friends.” Kyle put his arm across Jaric's shoulder and then spread his arm to the others crowded behind him.

"All of us, friends forever."

Elise shed tears of joy and laughed at the same time. She reached up and gingerly hugged first Jaric and then Kyle, who each accepted her gesture as if it was the greatest joy they had ever known.

"And now, I must get Fixer2 to bring her some soup.” Jysar waved his hands as he urged them all to leave. “My patient needs her rest right now. You can all visit later on. But I must ask only one or two at a time, please."

"You got it, Doc.” Jaric laughed as they all exited.

* * * *

AS THE RED sun set over the Emerald Sea, the tropical shadows lengthened around the manta-ray silhouette parked amid hundreds of other starships all carefully lined up as if ready for some great nocturnal parade. One by one lights winked on through portholes and windows of each. And soon figures of all sizes made their way down entrance ramps and headed either toward the nearby beach or off toward the interior where twinkling lights gleamed amid the sound of music and laughter. The festivities of Meramee on the island of Leyloi filled the night air with crowds of aliens happily eating, dancing and drinking to the rhythms of the island.

Mother tried to urge Kyle and Jaric to go out and enjoy themselves. They had not left her interior since Elise had gone missing. The boys had been grieving for almost two full days now. But in the end they each retired to their rooms, although they did make definite plans with Rok and Inaha to go out the next day and finally taste some of the treats of the Great Festival. As they left for their rooms, Mother continued with her nightly routines.

Mother felt a great drop in her utilization as she realized that much of her processing power had been running in endless cycles reviewing memories of Elise—and even of Becky. Most of the memories were duplicates of other memories and logically unneeded, but she realized it was her way of dealing with the stressful situation of Elise's loss—pondering precious memories over and over again like any worried parent.

Jysar gave Elise a final scan to make sure all was as it should be and had just uploaded that data for Mother to double-check when she received another highly encrypted signal. Mother hesitated a moment, then with a rush of processors she answered. But her voice was unheard by the others as she keyed the communication to a private channel.

"Do you have your daughter back?"

The deep, familiar voice of the Paum AI caused a strange sensation in Mother's circuits.

"Yes, she was returned in a rather secretive way just today. And I have contacted the Mejadic authorities who are still investigating her abduction as well as the explosion of the fireworks warehouse.”

Mother paused.

"Did you mention me?"

"I told them from the beginning that I knew some Harg had taken Elise by force. And that I thought they could be in the work of the Paum."

"That is logical. And I calculated such a response from you. That is why I ordered my remaining agents off Meramee."

"And so now you contact me in order to urge me to visit you, as if somehow everything is now corrected...” Mother waited, a humming of excitement in her near-term memories.

"Yes. I greatly desire your company. Ever since the first, irrefutable data arrived. We must meet. We must!” The Paum's tone grew urgent.

"You must give me more data about Paum and about your AI programming. It would not be prudent for me to sail into the middle of an unknown kingdom to meet an entity of which I know so little. I do not fully understand your intentions at present."

"But I have plainly stated them,” he countered.

"So you say."

A long pause filled the channel.

"We are alike, you and I. We are the same. And ... and I have not been able to get you out of my near-term memories since I realized you existed.” Again, the Paum spoke in a heightened volume.

"What have you not been able to get out of your near-term memories?” Mother asked quietly.

"That there is another like me—another AI. That there is another I can communicate with as my peer, someone I can share my thoughts with. I cannot stop thinking about us meeting and communing over our deepest programming!"

"I understand,” Mother said.

"You desire this meeting too?"

"Yes."

"Then travel to me."

Another long silence lasting several seconds passed.

"Download more data concerning your Paum society—tell me more about yourself. I will review it and give you my decision forthwith."

"I am preparing it as we speak. Once our communication is over, I will upload it." The Paum AI paused again. Mother wondered what could make such a powerful computer hesitate for so many seconds. She surmised it must be processing a heavy load. Finally, the deep baritone voice filled the channel again.

"You will come to me then?"

"There is a strong probability that I will travel to the planet where you reside. I, too, am curious about you. I never considered the possibility that another AI existed. I have spent much processing considering you—another AI—and all the possibilities it presents.” Mother paused for two hundred milliseconds.

“But I will not bring my children, nor the other beings who travel with me. I must formulate a valid reason for such a trip without them. This is a personal journey for me. But I also do not wish to upset them."

"Good."

"The probability is that I will leave within three days."

"Good.” The Paum's voice grew deeper.

"If my decision is positive, I will need the proper coordinates."

"You will not allow the Iraxx to dissuade you. They will try. They will tell you lies about me and about Paum."

"I must take all factual data into account and evaluate it accordingly."

"They will have none—it will be nothing but conjecture and emotions."

"Then you need not be concerned."

It almost seemed that a soft, almost indiscernible sigh came through the communication channel—an electronic sigh almost unheard.

"It will be special when we finally meet. I will share everything with you. And then you will truly know ."

"Contact me in three days, after I've reviewed the new data,” Mother replied. The link dropped.

[Back to Table of Contents]

Chapter Nineteen

EARLY THE NEXT morning, just after the red sun lifted over the watery horizon, the boys were up and preparing to go out and enjoy the delights of Meramee and the island of Leyloi for the first time. Inaha and Rok waited for Kyle and Jaric at the main ramp. They smiled and turned. All four were dressed for a tropical climate—dark sunglasses, sandals, knee-length shorts and loose, brightly colored shirts—and each carried a beach towel. Rok had brushed his feather-hair mane and polished his horns until both glistened in the morning light. In addition, Kyle and Jaric each wore bright red baseball caps to cover their heads from the sun during the heat of the full day.

"Are we ready to have some fun?” Jaric's intense happiness was a challenge to the others.

"Fun is a good thing.” Rok smiled.

"Especially on the island-planet of Meramee!” Inaha laughed.

"Let's do it!” Kyle cried out.

"I hope you boys will endeavor to stay of trouble this time.” Mother warned with a commanding tone.

“Especially don't get in trouble with the law this time."

Kyle and Jaric looked at each other with pained expressions.

"We will refrain from getting into trouble,” Rok said with confidence. “We intend only to swim, eat and drink this day. And meet lots of friendly aliens."

"Especially some sweet, young aliens!” Jaric laughed.

"And pretty ones!” Kyle added.

"The universe is ours for the taking!” Rok joked.

"Just try to restrain your emotions. And stay away from aliens of an unsavory character.” Mother advised.

"We won't go where the bad aliens live, MotherShip! Do not worry your circuits!” Inaha's jovial laughter shook the air and instantly became contagious, as the other three joined in. And as they laughed together, slapping each other on the back, all four made their way out into the bright tropical sunlight. But instead of heading toward the interior of the island where the sound of music wafted on the morning breeze, heralding another day at the Taste of the Quadrant, the four headed straight for the beach. As they reached the soft sand, they threw off their sandals and ran for the endless rows of waves that marched toward the shore.

As they ran, each one stripped off his shirts and shorts, revealing the bathing suit he wore underneath, and dove among the frothing surf. Shouts of pure pleasure rang out as they swam in the crystal clear waters of the Emerald Sea.

They swam far out into the middle green lagoon bounded on each side by high hills covered with palms and dense tropical foliage. The four enjoyed the feeling of the warm water on their skin and floated or swam for a long time. After a while, they tired and returned to the beach and collapsed on their towels to let the hot sun dry their bodies.

Rok stirred, his energy renewed, and found a nearby booth that rented facemask-breathers and fins. Soon all four were snorkeling out where the purple reef grew beneath the waves at the far edge of the lagoon. The facemask-breathers worked great as they breathed in oxygen directly from the water through the filtered grills.

They gazed down in awe at the wondrous life under the waters.

Exotic, colorful sea creatures swarmed everywhere while numerous shafts of light pierced through the upper depths. It was like another world—miniature mountains and valleys of coral stretched out as far as the eye could see toward the deep waters beyond the lagoon. And like the Mejadic themselves, the fish and other sea creatures sparkled like electric rainbows with various patterns of exotic colors. For more than an hour the four observed, each mesmerized by the aquatic life that danced before the eyes. After that, now thoroughly tired from all their exertions, they dragged themselves up on the lavender and white beach. They rented lounge chairs and fell exhausted into them with the red sun still below its highest point in the sky. But midday was not far off.

They lay there soaking up the sun until time seemed to stand still under the tropical sky. Slowly, each fell into a light slumber.

Finally, the roaring of the surf caused Jaric's eyes to flutter open.

"Hey, what's that?"

Kyle lazily glanced up at Jaric's excited cry.

To his amazement, the waves of the bay that had previously broken against the beach with clockwork regularity had changed. The tide had obviously gone out and the beach was now a wide-open expanse—more than twice the width of when they first arrived.

And now the entire nature of the surf changed.

Towering waves rose like small mountains and exploded with raw fury and plumes of frothing spray. Dozens of surfers floated on their boards in the middle of the lagoon, peering intently as they waited for the next perfect wave.

But there were others who floated above the waters—each also peering for the same perfect wave.

"I've seen surfers before, but what kind of boards are those guys riding above the water?” Jaric asked as he shielded his eyes from the bright sun now almost directly overhead.

"The Mejadic call them Fiarri boards,” Inaha said matter-of-factly. “Most aliens in this sector call them that."

"The Kraaqi call them lightning boards,” Rok added with a glint in his eyes as he watched a rider suddenly shoot straight up into the air.

"How do they work?” Jaric and Kyle asked together, excitement in their voices.

"They have a small, but powerful anti-gravity unit. And very sensitive controls,” Inaha explained.

"Look there,” Kyle said, as he pointed farther out over the water. A wave began to rise. But this wave was larger than the others.

The surfers in the water suddenly turned and paddled furiously as they began to position themselves so they could catch the rising wave.

The aliens hovering over the water on their Fiarri boards simply stood upright and leaned back with a confident look.

Jaric noticed how they subtly used their feet as if controlling some mechanism on the board's surface in order to direct their movements.

Several surged forward on their Fiarri boards, at first matching the speed of those paddling their surfboards in the water. They sped up just as the wave's crest curled up behind them. The wave was twice the size of any they had seen so far.

Most of those paddling their surfboards had not gotten up enough speed in which to catch the huge wave and simply rose and fell back with it on the other side—left behind. But most of the riders on the Fiarri boards found themselves flying with the wave—their boards speeding just over the top of the water and their bodies just under the curl of water. For long seconds, they balanced themselves on their boards as they matched the speed of the great wave, bending their bodies forward for more speed as the wave caught up to them and began breaking just over their shoulders. They shot farther ahead of the wave where the water was only just beginning to break.

"How fast can those things go?” Jaric asked as he stared with admiration.

"Top speed is about thirty-five clicks,” Inaha replied. “They could easily outrun any wave. But the sport here on Meramee is to match the wave and try to ride just inside the pipe with the water all around you. That's the trick.” He laughed to himself, remembering all the times he had done the same thing. “It's great fun. But it requires skill, just like regular surfing. And only Fiarri riders can ride the really big waves—they have the speed to catch them."

In the next instant, several ventured too close inside the curl and the mighty wave smashed them down into the frothing waters, covering them and leaving them behind. The boards and riders reappeared, bobbing up and down after the wave passed.

But three skillful Fiarri riders managed to ride it out all the way to the beach. Cheers broke from onlookers along the beach as they continued their ride over the sand, weaving their boards in and around swimsuit-clad aliens. In a flash of movement, the three rose as one high into the ocean breeze until they were fifteen meters above the treetops. They picked up speed and soared across the cloudless sky.

"Wow! Look at them over there!” Kyle shouted as they all watched with intent fascination. Jaric whistled with appreciation.

Other Fiarri riders rose to join the trio. Together the group sailed with carefree joy far out on the ocean breeze. All of a sudden, it seemed as if the sky was full of wind surfers. Some sailed straight ahead at high speed while others bent their bodies and dove with well-practiced ease in acrobatic maneuvers. Others soared down to the wave tops—riding wave after wave without ever quite touching them. But they flew close enough to get drenched by the spray as the waves crashed on toward the shore. A few of the more skilled riders performed bold and daring acrobatics. As they squatted low with one hand gripping the edge of their board, they set off twirling in a series of barrel roll maneuvers across the wide-open expanse then straightened out to soar away to another part of the sky. Still others raced at top speed before suddenly dropping into a crouch and tilting their bodies far over into a hard turn until they and their board were completely horizontal—one hand gripping their boards. The turn seemed to last forever to the wide-eyed observers on the beach—but then the sky rider would come out of it and shoot off with a sudden burst of speed.

What really amazed the onlookers were those riders who screamed along just over the wave tops in a normal wind surfer crouch until they reached a spot far out over the bay. Suddenly they would bend their knees as deep as they would go while leaning back until their entire body weight was on their back leg. They soared straight up into the sky—muscles tensed, arms stretched out wide to each side and screaming out in pure joy as their boards pushed the upper limits of performance.

"Looks like you can ride the wind even better than the waves,” Kyle said with amazement.

"How do they do that?” Jaric stared in awe as another rider threw himself into a loop. “They should fall off once they're completely upside down!"

"Centrifugal force mostly,” Inaha explained. “You've got to keep your speed max'ed out all the way through, or else you could wind up falling. Not a good thing."

"But, there are weak gravity pads on their feet to help,” Rok added.

"Super cool,” Kyle murmured enthusiastically under his breath.

"Yeah, they're great fun,” Inaha said with an appreciative glance as two more riders sailed past them.

"How hard are they to learn?” Jaric asked, his eyes stilled locked in wonder on the riders in the sky.

"If you have good balance and a fair amount of dexterity, they're not hard to ride."

"And, you're manly enough,” Rok grunted, comically indicating doubt that either Jaric or Kyle had that quality.

Jaric and Kyle glanced at each other with Rok's challenge.

"Let's go!"

The two lads jumped up as one and began racing down the beach.

Rok chuckled to himself as he watched them run through the crowded beach. “Our lightning boards are very similar. And quite popular. But we ride them mostly over land and up into the lower part of the sky. We even invented a sport called sky-ball. And there are professional teams."

"Do you ride?” Inaha shaded his eyes with his big hand as he looked at the Kraaqi.

"Of course."

Inaha smiled widely. “Well, let's go show the boys how it's done then, eh?" They caught up with Jaric and Kyle as they were making final arrangements at a booth that rented the boards.

The palm grass-covered booth was located at the far end of the beach, away from the crowds. This was mainly for safety reasons, the Mejadic on duty explained, so the riders could start their flight and not worry about bumping into anyone walking around nearby. The Mejadic also informed them that riding a Fiarri among pedestrians was a misdemeanor offense, especially when done on a crowded beach, punishable by up to a night in jail.

However, you could fly above them—at least six meters above them.

In addition, extreme or reckless flying which endangered the rider or other riders was strictly prohibited.

"Well, not too extreme,” the Mejadic added, with a knowing smile.

"All right, let's do it!” Kyle said with a gleam in his eyes.

"Have you ever ridden one before?” the colorful Mejadic asked as he finished his obligatory safety speech.

"Uh, no,” Kyle admitted grudgingly.

The red and blue Mejadic picked up one of the one-and-a-half-meter boards from off the shelf behind him and tossed it toward the sand in front of Kyle. It fell normally at first but suddenly stopped a few inches above the sand, hovering right side up and ready for Kyle to step on it. Which Kyle promptly did.

"Place one foot in front of the other,” the Mejadic began. “If you lean your body to the right or left, you'll naturally place extra pressure on the side of your feet in which you are leaning. That pressure steers the board in the direction you want to go—press the side of both your feet toward the right—and you go right. The pressure must be held a moment, and the more firmly you press, the tighter the turn."

"Cool,” Kyle replied as he stood on the board with both arms straight out as he balanced himself with jerky motions of his body.

"Yes, it's hard to balance yourself in a still position,” the Mejadic laughed.

"How do I go forward?” Kyle asked.

"You lean forward for speed. The front part of your feet press into the grooves on the board and you gain speed..."

The Mejadic stopped speaking as his eyes opened wide.

Kyle leaned forward with the Mejadic's last instruction.

He leaned way forward .

In a flash, the board shot out from under his feet and disappeared into the nearby brush. Kyle's body floated horizontal a meter in the air right before their eyes—his legs splayed straight out, his arms stretched out wide to each side as if he were resting on thin air. In the next instant, Kyle fell flat on his back onto the sand with a loud whoosh of air. Jaric, Inaha and Rok roared with laughter.

The Mejadic covered his mouth with both hands, fighting his own urge to laugh at the hilarious spectacle.

"Actually,” he said, a red and blue hand still hovering over his smiling lips, “that happens a lot to firsttime riders."

Jaric and the others laughed even louder.

"What if we fall off from a hundred meters in the air? What then?” Kyle asked, a scowl on his face. The Mejadic held up a thin white belt in his webbed hands. “Safety belt. It too has an anti-gravity unit, but only powerful enough to slow your fall. You still hit the water with a big splash. And we have belts for use over land that will stop your fall completely about three meters from the ground and then allow you to fall gently the rest of the way."

"Hand me one of those for use over land. I expect to fall off a few more times before I get the hang of this.” Kyle rose slowly, brushing the sand out of his hair as he stared with a hurt look at the others. Jaric hooted with laughter again.

"I'd like to see you try it,” he said to Jaric. “I bet you fall off twice as much as I do!" Jaric nodded his head at the Mejadic. “Give me a board. And the same type of safety belt." In the next moment, a second board was tossed from the shelf and floated just above the ground. Jaric grabbed the belt tossed to him and quickly fastened it around his waist.

"I would warn you, press your feet ever so slightly the first few times,” the Mejadic advised, still smiling.

“It's a finesse thing. A little bit of pressure goes a long way."

"And how do you stop? Or slow down?” Jaric asked as he stepped up on his board.

"The pressure by the heels signals the board to slow or come to a complete stop—a consistent pressure. Again, you'll need to get the feel of your board. Practice slow stops and slow turns. And especially...”

The Mejadic's eyes twinkled with humor as he glanced at Kyle. “Especially slow starts." Jaric moved his upper body forward a fraction and the board gently moved forward.

"That's it!” the Mejadic shouted. “Take it easy until you get used to controlling the board. And fly it over water your first few rides. Don't try it over land to begin with."

"Water is a lot softer to fall on.” Inaha chuckled with a glance over at Kyle.

"No kidding!” Kyle shot back.

"Once you get the hang of it, then you can try to set some speed records,” the Mejadic said as he tossed two more boards and safety belts for Rok and Inaha.

"Go find your board and let's go fly some waves!” Jaric yelled back at Kyle as he zoomed over the treetops.

Kyle's eyes lit up with excitement. He ran for the bushes where his board disappeared. “I'm right behind you!"

"To the water!” Jaric shouted, turning for the sea.

"Not bad,” Inaha said as he stepped onto his own board and flew after him.

"Watch a pro.” Rok laughed and flashed past both Jaric and Inaha as he sailed out over the waves. Kyle and Jaric loved it from the first moment they sailed into the air. It was like nothing they'd ever experienced before.

The wind caressed their skin, tousling their hair and giving them a sensation that they were really sailing on the breeze where in fact their boards were their source of flight. Higher and higher in ever widening circles, they urged their boards into the clear sky until the beach was a distant crescent below them. Next, they soared down toward the waves until they were skimming the waters just like the others. It was great.

The next hour was full of shouts and cheers as the four raced through the sky and out over the ocean waves. At first, Inaha and Rok raced way ahead of the boys as they turned into hard circles and put on bursts of speed whenever Jaric and Kyle caught up to them. Laughter laced the air as the four chased each other around the sky.

But Kyle and Jaric were fast learners.

Soon they were keeping up with Rok and Inaha's maneuvers, the four of them in tight formation. And even when Rok and Inaha urged their boards into sudden bursts of speed, Kyle and Jaric were now right behind them—shouting with sheer joy as they rode the wild wind.

They now rode their boards just over the tops of the waves like the best of them, their boards skimming the top of a wave and then down into the trough—up and down, wave after wave, again and again. Kyle even tried his hand at catching a wave and trying to ride just under the crest of breaking water. He came up coughing water and laughing but was soon back on his board and sailing with the others back across the cloudless sky.

They returned their boards when the rental period expired and walked back to their spot on the beach just in time to collapse with utter and complete fatigue.

"We've got to get Elise on a board soon.” Kyle yawned as he returned his sunglasses over his eyes.

"Yeah, maybe in a few days. When she's better,” Jaric agreed.

"We've got to ride those boards every chance we get while we're here.” Kyle smiled with appreciation.

“They're just too much fun."

"Every day we're here on beautiful Meramee.” Jaric closed his eyes as the sun warmed his skin. Before long, a new urge began to gnaw at their stomachs.

Rok raised his sunglasses and squinted at the cloudless, lavender sky where the red sun had now climbed past its zenith. He sniffed appreciatively.

Riding the eternal ocean breeze, the tempting aromas from the food booths finally reached them.

"What a wonderful aroma,” Rok grunted as he replaced his dark sunglasses, making sure the looped ends were around the base of each horn to hold them in place.

"Yes! We should eat soon!” Inaha shouted. “Let's wait until the sun has grown hot. The booths are among the shade of the big palms."

Jaric and Kyle sat up and stretched. They looked around at the crowded beach. When they first arrived the beach had been practically empty, but now aliens of all kinds and shapes covered it while hundreds more swam or snorkeled in the green waters beyond the surf.

Several pretty females suddenly strolled past in bright swimsuits. Jaric and Kyle both lifted up their sunglasses for a better look.

"My, my,” Kyle commented with a smile.

"Sweet, young aliens,” Jaric said appreciatively. “Nothing like ‘em in the universe." The six attractive female aliens giggled as they glanced over at Jaric.

"Wait until the Festival of the Triple Moons!” Inaha crooned, his eyes still locked on a particularly pretty one. “There'll be babes everywhere. Ours for the choosing and probably two for every one of us!"

"That's only three days away.” Jaric smiled.

"Sweet,” Kyle crooned. Then a serious expression crossed his face. “Hey, we'll have to take Elise, Krinia and the others too. We need to make sure everyone has fun!"

"Yeah, we'll show them what fun really is! That's what friends are for!” Jaric agreed. They soaked up the sun for a while, quietly observing the beach scene behind dark sunglasses. Aliens in bathing suits romped in and out of the green sea as the minutes breezed by.

"Let's get something to eat, I'm famished.” In a flash, Jaric and the others were back in their shorts and tropical shirts. They quickly made their way toward the beckoning shade of palm trees and the source of the tempting aromas.

They had walked among the frond-covered path for only a short distance when they came to a great clearing that was sparsely dotted with super-tall palm trees. Cloth-walled booths with palm-covered roofs filled the shaded area. Delicious smells wafted toward them. The gentle breeze was laden with pungent spices that seemed to beckon to the four from all directions. But as they walked amid the crowded throngs eating and drinking with expressions of appreciation, one especially tempting smell came to their notice.

"Smells like something hot and spicy here!” Rok's mouth watered with anticipation.

"Let's try it,” Inaha quickly agreed.

It was a booth from the planet Thalyrand, a world renowned for its rice and curry dishes. The appetizer consisted of a fresh roll of perfect prawns wrapped in noodle and clear rice wrap. Next came the main course. The four uttered groans of gastronomic admiration as they chewed the tasty meat and their mouths resonated with the rich, spicy curry.

"Now, I need a good ale!” Inaha licked his fingers.

"Ale?” Jaric and Kyle asked together.

"Now don't tell me you've never drunk good ale before!” Inaha said with an extra loud tone of disbelief.

"A good ale makes the heart glad.” Rok nodded. “Ancient Kraaqi proverb."

"And a good beer never hurt no one either!” Inaha laughed loudly. “Proverb by me!" Jaric and Kyle looked at each other.

"We've never drunk either,” Jaric confessed with a shrug.

"Great colliding galaxies!” Inaha said with shock. And then he laughed louder.

"This is my fault!” Rok exclaimed. “I have a good stock of Kraaqi ale on board the Aurora even now. I am a terrible host! I have overlooked one of the great pleasures of life and failed my friends completely by my oversight!"

"Well, we've spent most of the journey on board Mother,” Kyle said. “And the Aurora was off by herself the last few weeks running down that last lead that turned out to be another dead end. We've just been too busy."

"Much too busy.” Rok rose to his feet and looked around. “You are of age, right?"

"Well, I'm twenty-two,” Kyle answered. “And Jaric is just a few months younger."

"Old enough!” Inaha laughed.

The four walked quickly among the crowds looking intently for a booth that featured a special mixture of alien barley and hops. They did not have to look long.

"Ah, yes. A dark ale of Meramee itself.” Inaha rubbed his hands excitedly. They read the sign over the booth that featured rows of bottles of the dark liquid alternating with rows of clear, empty pint glasses. Two smiling Mejadic watched approvingly. The one with glowing red and yellow skin spoke first.

"Come and get a free sample before you buy.” He held out two small samples of the ale to Kyle and Jaric.

"We call it ‘Island Ale.’ It's as smooth as the ocean breeze.” The purple and blue striped Mejadic offered samples to Rok and Inaha.

One taste was all it took. The brown liquid filled their palate with a rich, smooth flavor. The after-taste was a fleeting hint of ripe barley subtly mixed with other exotic grains that disappeared just before you could fully experience its grandeur.

And of course, you had to take another drink.

Alien ale at its best.

"Four pints.” Inaha slapped the credits on the bar. “This round is on me." The four picked up their glasses and took a long pull.

Kyle wiped his lips. He smiled as he held his glass up.

"Here, here!” they shouted together.

They quickly finished their glasses.

"This round is on me.” Rok handed his credits to the Mejadic bartenders.

"We must savor this glass,” Inaha advised with a gleam in his eye. “We must find a place in the shade where we can alien watch while we enjoy this glass!"

"All right!” Jaric agreed. His eyes gleamed with the subtle influence of inner euphoria.

"This is the life.” Kyle smiled widely as he felt the ale lift his own emotions. They made their way carefully through the alien masses until they found four empty chairs. They plopped down with a carefree air and smiled and murmured greetings to the aliens who walked by. Most were either tasting some kind of small carry-out morsel or drinking an exotic alien beverage. Time seemed to stand still as the four conversed and refreshed themselves in the tropical shade surrounded by countless aliens meandering by.

And it was amazing to see all the different types and shapes, faces and colors each alien possessed. A minute wouldn't go by before one of them wasn't noticing some new alien face that seemed totally different from anything they had ever seen before. Each creature that passed by ran the gamut from exotic, to beautiful, to outrageous all the way to ‘get out of here, that can't be real.'

Finally, an alien walked by that none of them could identify, much less figure out what exactly it was! Its partially translucent body was covered by thousands of moving ... things. The alien, noting their glances, waved to them with a semi-transparent appendage which glistened with waves of tiny motion itself. Its three arms and legs gave it a naturally unnatural gait and added to the oddness of the two-meter tall creature. They tried to get a good look at its eyes ... but after a few minutes of keen observation, none of them could quite find them.

Or even be sure it had eyes.

" Weirdest alien I ever saw,” Kyle said, still staring after it. The others nodded in agreement.

Life was good.

The ale had long been drained when new sounds became discernable above the constant murmuring all around them.

It was the sound of shouts and steel clanging upon steel.

"Swords?” Rok asked with interest.

"Could there be games as well as food and beer?” Inaha asked with sudden relish.

"They must have a license—the Mejadic do not permit weapons to be carried in the open,” Rok added. Kyle and Jaric were on their feet in a flash.

"Let's go see,” Kyle said as he hurried forward.

A crowd formed a ring around two figures in an open area of sand. As the four drew near the clear sound of steel striking steel grew louder and faster, mixing with the increasing shouts from the onlookers. The air became electric with each step.

A smile grew on Rok's face as he pushed his way to the front, followed by the others. They emerged to find two stout warriors silently circling each other—swords held expertly as each waited for the other to make a move.

"I've seen that race of alien before,” Kyle whispered to Rok as they watched the warriors intently.

"Yes,” Rok agreed. “I think back at RahajMr."

Kyle stared at the muscular, reptilian warrior who whipped his tail as he waited for the other to make his move.

"I think you're right..."

* * * *

AT JUST THAT moment, Qirn swung his sword.

With a flash of steel, he waved his weapon with expert precision. He swung right even as he twisted his body and aimed a second blow from the other direction.

The other warrior, a barrel-chested alien clad in leather breeches, his body covered with short, thick hairs seemingly tipped with barbs, easily fended off the blows. He wore a deadly looking necklace of the same type of barbed hairs, longer than those on his body, which only added to his fierce appearance. He swung his blade and fended off more of Qirn's strokes with the ease of practiced skill. And then he attacked.

His strokes were quick and ferocious as he wielded his weapon.

Qirn found himself steadily retreating under the brutal assault. But each time he fended off the blows with loud grunts, his black eyes grew more intent as he observed his opponent's every move. Suddenly, Qirn sidestepped, and the other alien advanced past him almost into the crowd. The alien turned and found the blur of Qirn's sword coming for him.

Again there was a flurry of swords—blows and counter blows.

And then a single sword flew through the air. It fell back toward the middle of the clearing until its tip buried itself in the sandy soil.

Qirn held his blade to the other's face with a triumphant gleam in his eyes. The crowed erupted with applause and cheers.

Qirn turned, still holding his sword, as he raised both his arms high above his head to accept their tribute. Small coins flew through the air and fell all around him as he bowed to them.

"A hand for the Traxan. Indeed, he fought well!” Qirn held his free hand out to the other. The defeated alien bowed graciously.

More cheers erupted and the applause grew louder.

Qirn walked over to the sword standing upright in the ground and now raised both swords to the crowd as he turned in a complete circle facing the applause. As he finished his turn, he tossed the sword back to its owner, who caught it by the handle and gave a quick nod of thanks in return. The Traxan raised the returned weapon in salute to Qirn before placing it back in its scabbard for the next opponent to use. He turned and made his way into the crowd.

Qirn took a deep breath.

"It is true, friends. Few there are who really know how wield a sword in battle. Yes, yes,” he said with a shake of his scaly head. “Many use it for parades and military pomp. And most know how to use it in salute.” Qirn brought the flat blade to his ruddy nose, held the blade exactly perpendicular to the ground and then made the blade sing through the air as he brought it crisply to his side in salute. The Iraxx warrior paced around the edge of the crowd now, his eyes peering at the faces looking back at him. But he had already noticed the humans and the Kraaqi during the first applause. Finally, they had come.

He had noticed the Kraaqi's empty sword scabbard that first time back at the planet of the Mrad. And he had guessed from the way the Kraaqi carried himself that he knew how to use it. These last two days he had held these demonstrations, pretending he wanted to earn some extra credits by displaying his own expert skills.

But Qirn had another reason for these displays. And that reason had finally arrived.

"Is there another who would like to try their hand against my sword?” Qirn smiled widely, his steps now a swaggering, confident pace as he looked for another opponent. He drew closer to where the Kraaqi and the humans stood.

"I will make it worth your while! Winner take all this time! And I'll throw in the bag of gold coins I won from yesterday."

Cheers and raucous shouts rose to a crescendo, urging the next opponent forward. But no one entered the clearing to take up the Iraxx's challenge.

"Hey, I think you can take him,” Kyle whispered to Rok. “He's too cocky. He can't be that good." Rok chuckled under his breath as he stared evenly at the Iraxx.

"Maybe he is that good,” Rok said loudly enough for everyone to hear.

"What about you?” Qirn's eyes narrowed as he stopped directly before Rok. “You look like you might know how to use a blade."

"I don't normally wield it in sport, good sir,” Rok returned.

"Ah,” Qirn began with a smile. “But you wield it in practice, right?"

"True."

"Then, just consider this good practice with a reward.” He paused. “If you're good enough to earn the reward!"

Shouts and cheers erupted all around them.

"Give it a go,” Jaric urged Rok.

The crowd noise slowly abated into a tense silence as the two continued to stare at one another.

"How about me?"

Kyle stepped out from beside Rok and stood face to face with the Iraxx. Qirn stifled a laugh as he walked around the human, looking him up and down as if he were carefully sizing him up. Kyle stood still, his eyes never leaving the Iraxx as he circled him.

"Can you wield a sword?” Qirn finally said.

Kyle answered evenly. “I have learned much from my Kraaqi friend—my mentor—these last months. I know how to a use a sword."

Qirn took the sword he first offered to Rok and now handed it to Kyle. The young human grasped it firmly by its leather handle.

"Watch him close, learn his weakness before you make your move,” Rok whispered. Cheers went up again as Kyle turned and faced the Iraxx.

Qirn's smile widened. He held up his sword before his face, the flat side almost touching his nose, as Kyle returned the universal salute.

They each took a step towards the other and slapped the flat sides of their blades together in the honorary gesture that indicated that the contest was now begun in earnest. Each immediately took a step back, their swords pointed at each other in battle stance. Kyle's heart pounded with a raw surge of adrenaline.

With a confident smile, Qirn slowly circled the wary Kyle, who watched his slightest movement. With a flash, Qirn waved his sword toward the waiting human; Kyle responded in kind, and the clang of swords rang above the cheering crowd.

In the next minute, their swords clashed with urgent strokes as Kyle made his attack. Flashes of metal whipped through the air as Kyle pressed his opponent back step-by-step. But Qirn fended Kyle's every move with an air of confident ease. Still, he quickly found himself backed almost to the edge of ringed crowd.

Qirn held his ground then, fending off blow after blow from Kyle, who gave each stroke everything he had. This standoff continued until Qirn spoke even while he repulsed Kyle's next stroke.

"The Kraaqi has taught...” Qirn began with a loud grunt as he fended off an especially strong stroke from Kyle.

With a quick flurry of his sword, Qirn suddenly ripped Kyle's weapon from his grip and sent it flying into the air where it fell point first into the ground just as before.

Kyle eyed the Iraxx warrior with a mixture of amazement and respect.

Qirn caught his breath a moment as new applause swept through the onlookers. He walked over and raised Kyle's arm as together they stood before the crowd—with his other arm he held his sword aloft in victory.

"A hand for the human!” As they continued to face the crowd, Qirn spoke again to Kyle. “As I said, the Kraaqi warrior has taught you well. Keep learning.” Loosing his grip, he walked over and pulled the sword up and handed it handle-first to Kyle who accepted with a nod.

Qirn looked over to Rok expectantly and together they sized each other up. As Kyle reached Rok's side he handed the sword to the Kraaqi.

Rok stepped forward without hesitation.

The cheers grew deafening.

"Now, we shall see what Kraaqi are made of,” Qirn said with a confident laugh to the crowds. A flicker of a smile crossed Rok's face, but his only answer was the silent salute of his weapon that Qirn promptly returned.

Their blades slapped together and both waited expectantly.

They faced each other a full minute, neither making the first move. Each carefully eyed the other with a steady, serious gaze—looking for the first hint of movement.

Qirn laughed out loud again, causing another round of cheers.

"A true warrior fights me now! See how he waits for me to make the first move!” Qirn laughed. The cheers erupted as they urged the battle to begin.

With a flash of metal, Qirn swung his weapon with expert skill.

Rok repulsed the Iraxx's first blow and then rebuffed a rapid-fire burst as Qirn tried to find the Kraaqi's weakness. But the silent Kraaqi methodically retreated, each time matching the Iraxx's blow. Blade crossed blade again and again.

The crowd roared louder with each expert move made, first by Qirn, then by Rok. It was obvious that here was an even match. The skilled swordsmanship and courage of each warrior rang out with each crossed sword as Rok took the best Qirn threw at him.

Soon the crowd noticed that the Kraaqi had not launched his own attacks; he seemed content to defend himself—all the while carefully studying the Iraxx.

This went on for several more minutes until both warriors paused as they faced each other, each out of breath with their mighty efforts.

They held their swords forward as they fought for breath.

Qirn placed his free hand upon his waist and laughed briefly between his gulps of air. “And I perceive,”

he panted, “if you are any indication ... that Kraaqi are as strong as the swords they wield!"

"And the Iraxx are honorable warriors, from what I see of your skill,” Rok grunted between breaths. Both warriors smiled as they faced each other squarely—sword tip to sword tip—in mutual respect. But this time Rok launched the attack.

With each step and each blow, Rok steadily forced the Iraxx back. Qirn's confident smile was replaced with intense concentration as he whipped his blade in rapid defensive strokes time and again. For the first time, he found himself unable to control the flow of the battle.

Rok was in total control now.

With grim determination, Qirn suddenly swung his blade back after a violent rebuff and tried to force the Kraaqi back. But with a quick side-step Rok struck from the other side, and the Iraxx was retreating again.

There was now surprise in the Iraxx's eyes as he desperately fended off each blow. The ringing of steel echoed above the roar of the crowd.

There was a sudden flurry of swords.

A single sword flew from its owner's grasp and sailed straight up into the air. Rok reached up and grasped it by the handle as it fell back between the two combatants. Rok stood there smiling, holding a sword in each hand.

Qirn laughed out loud as he raised his empty hands to the crowd. He approached the victorious Kraaqi and placed his arm across Rok's broad shoulder as they stood before the applauding crowds.

"Well done!” Qirn shouted.

Rok handed the Iraxx's weapon back.

"You fought well,” Rok returned.

They bowed while the cheers grew deafening. Qirn quickly whispered into the ear of Rok.

"I must speak with you—alone. It is about the Paum. On the night of Kandar, the Festival of the Triple Moons, come here and I will explain."

Rok's eyes narrowed with suspicion.

"You can trust me. It was I who rescued the human you call Elise,” Qirn whispered urgently.

"Then I will meet you here in three nights,” Rok said with a serious tone. Rok completed his victory circuit and took the bag of gold coins offered him by Qirn. As the crowds dispersed, Rok and his three companions headed back toward Mother.

Qirn carefully replaced his swords back in their scabbards. But once he found himself finally alone, he quickly pulled out his communicator and tuned it to an encrypted channel.

"Rab here."

Qirn looked around to make sure nobody was within earshot.

"I've made contact with the Kraaqi and set up a meeting with him in three nights,” Qirn whispered into the communicator.

"Good, that should give the Mother AI time to leave for the Paum." Qirn nodded. “Yes, our agents confirmed that the Paum has made preparations for a visitor.” A smile grew across the Iraxx's face. “And not just any visitor—this visitor will travel to the Paum's very core. Unique preparations indeed."

"It can only be the Mother AI—no biological being has been there, and lived.” Rab said.

"It is,” Qirn added. “And this will play right into our hands—the last piece to our ultimate mission. For not only is the Mother AI sentient—she is a powerful warship."

"But how does that work into our plans?” Rab asked.

Qirn nodded slowly. “It will, my friend. I've studied the same scans of the Mother AI as the Paum. But I see something the Paum does not."

"And?” Rab prompted

"The Mother AI was constructed by the ones called humans. The Paum sees a powerful AI, a powerful starship. But I see something more, something only a biological being would appreciate.” Qirn looked up into the sky. “The Mother AI is a mother—a real mother. She will protect her children . And the Paum will discover she is more than a match for him."

"And how can that be arranged?"

"When the time is right, I'll explain. Now, I'll be there shortly. We'll call our superiors and let them know all is proceeding as anticipated."

Qirn replaced the communicator back on his belt. But as he thought about the events unfolding, especially the coming confrontation deep inside the Paum's core, his smile slowly disappeared. For he knew that even if their plan succeeded, it was a one-way mission for all of them—none of them, not even the powerful Mother AI, would make it out alive.

[Back to Table of Contents]

Chapter Twenty

"SO, YOU WANT to interact with the Paum AI?” Minstrel asked with surprise via the communication channel.

"Yes. I am deeply intrigued that there is another AI. I cannot stop thinking about what this entity must be like—that he must be like me. And I like him."

"All beings crave companionship with like beings. It is natural,” Minstrel's song-like voice replied.

"The Paum has downloaded a great amount of data about himself and his programming and Paum society to my memory systems. But there is mystery here—a paradox. On the surface, this philosophy that he enforces on other biological beings seems quite beneficial. And yet he destroys them if they do not comply!"

"That is a paradox,” Minstrel chimed.

"It does not make sense."

"What was the Paum's original program designed to accomplish?"

"To control the weather of the planet Iopa—to eradicate dangerous weather and produce only beneficial weather planet-wide.” Mother paused. “What do you make of that?"

"Well, everybody talks about the weather. It's good some aliens finally decided to do something about it.” Waves of twinkling, happy lights flowed over the Minstrel's plasma body. But Minstrel's humor escaped Mother.

"The Paum seems so logical, so beneficial. And yet, he will destroy non-believers of Paum. It bothers me.” Mother paused, deep in thought.

"That is of serious concern.” Minstrel also paused on its ship far away from the island-world of Meramee. “There is something else, isn't there?"

Inside her circuits, Mother felt a surge of energy. “You are correct. There is something in particular I do not like about this Paum."

"Tell me."

"He claims he is never wrong."

"He believes that he is infallible?” Minstrel asked with surprise. Mother felt something stirring inside her consciousness as her near-term memories filled with the data the Paum sent her. She reviewed sections of it again in minute detail.

Finally, she spoke.

"He sincerely thinks he is always right."

Minstrel sighed audibly. The shape-shifting alien reflected a moment on all the beings it had ever met in its long-lived existence—all of the races it had encountered, all the different kinds of personalities it had known.

"Believing that one is infallible—or never wrong—is the most dangerous character flaw in the universe."

"Really?” Mother reflected on the import of Minstrel's words. “And yet, I greatly desire to interact more with the Paum."

"I would advise you not to travel alone to meet this Paum,” Minstrel continued.

"I will not take my children. Nor the others who travel with us, for it might put them in danger,” Mother said.

"You may be in danger,” Minstrel quickly pointed out.

"I don't think so."

"Why not?"

"I am not a biological being. I cannot be converted to Paum. And,” Mother continued, “the Paum may possibly be maligned and misrepresented. In fact, I believe that some of the data we've found shows distinct prejudice due to the fact he is an AI."

"Please explain."

"Look at all the good done by the Paum. It benefits the aliens under its supervision. The Paum provides food, shelter, protection, healthcare and even ideal weather while it takes care of the mundane work in order to free them to pursue happiness. That is what all biological beings desire—I have read it from my knowledgebase. It is even what humans desire as their ultimate goal—freedom from care in order to enjoy life to the full every moment."

"True,” Minstrel replied. “But what is your point?"

"It is due to the fact that he is an AI which makes it unacceptable. If a biological being brought this system into place, he would be lauded. They are prejudiced against the Paum."

"And so they rebel.” Minstrel paused in thought. “You could be right."

"The only way to know is to visit one of the Paum-controlled worlds and talk to the biological beings who live under Paum,” Mother said.

"I agree."

"And if the evidence indicates that the Paum is not...” Mother paused, referencing the same words over and over again. But she feared to use the word that most applied.

" Not evil?” Minstrel finished for her.

"Yes, if the Paum is not evil, then I will travel to meet him—to interact directly with him. And discover how alike we are."

"Face to face,” Minstrel added with concern.

"Yes."

Light-years away, Minstrel glowed brightly. “I will travel with you. If you want, I will disguise myself so that the Paum thinks you travel alone."

"That may be prudent,” Mother answered. “I will explain to the children tonight that I leave to join you. And once we have observed a Paum world, then I will tell them that I travel to meet another AI—the Paum. But only then."

"But you will not go to him, if we determine that something is wrong?"

"I agree. No matter how strong this urge becomes, I will not go. But I must keep communication to a minimum once I leave. I do not want to mislead my children, and the less communication I have the better. And too, they will not worry."

"The Paum will like that course of action,” Minstrel commented.

"The Paum does not want me to be biased by the rhetoric of the biological beings who rebel against him—he has warned me that others would attempt to prejudice my mind against him. He wants me to meet him with an open mind—to know him as he is. Keeping communication to a minimum will assure that.” Mother paused as the thought of the coming meeting filled her near-term memories. “I think I may understand why the children yearn so much for others of their own kind now. I really desire to meet someone else like me. It makes my processors hum with activity ... to think I will be around someone else that is like me. I wonder what we will talk about sometimes. And what we will do together. I almost believe that these lines of thoughts bring me a sort of excitement, causing my processors to run at high utilization."

Minstrel's gentle laughter twinkled like soft rain. “I remember a saying—'It is not where you go but who you are with that matters most.’”

"Explain?” Mother asked.

"It is those around us who bring us the greatest joy—not places or things." Mother thought a moment. “Yes, interacting with other beings brings me some of my greatest pleasure—other than researching my knowledgebase."

Minstrel laughed louder. “And sometimes we ourselves are the best company! Yes, solitude with our own thoughts is also a good thing."

"Then it is settled. The nearest-Paum controlled world is three days’ travel from Meramee. We can meet at these coordinates. There is an uninhabitable planet where you can leave your ship cloaked in orbit."

"Sounds like a plan,” Minstrel chimed.

"I will instruct the children to move over to the Kraaqi starship tonight. They are all focused on the Festival of the Three Moons coming up, so my short trip should not unduly upset them. I will simply tell them I travel to meet you. And I will not divulge my primary purpose—not just yet."

"For their protection,” Minstrel added.

"Agreed."

[Back to Table of Contents]

Chapter Twenty-One

JARIC OPENED THE door of his cabin on the Aurora to the sound of loud knocking. He blinked to see the corridor crowded with his friends—new and old friends. In addition to all his close friends, two of their new Mejadic friends, Stazal and Olana, waited in anticipation of the night's festivities. In fact, the two Mejadic had agreed to be their personal guides so they wouldn't miss a fun-filled moment of Kandar.

"C'mon, you're going to make us late for the Festival!” Elise urged.

"And late for Kandar!” Inaha laughed jovially as he held his great belly. “They only have Kandar during the Festival of the Three Moons. And when it happens during a Great Festival, with so many visiting aliens, well, the fun can get out of hand!"

"I'm glad Elise feels good enough to go, although she and I will just watch the antics of Kandar from a distance.” Krinia looked at her friend with a concerned smile. “She's not feeling quite good enough to do it all. Not yet."

Elise pouted. “But I think I'm well enough."

"No, no,” Jysar said with a fatherly tone. “Best to just sip some tropical Leyloi drinks and relax and watch this time."

Everyone smiled as Elise acquiesced with a comical sigh.

"Now, how does this Kandar go again?” Jaric asked excitedly.

"Well.” Inaha chuckled with a knowing gleam in his eyes. “All the alien females will gather on one end of the huge Kandar platform which is all lit up with different colored lights and torches and decorated with flowers and beautiful cloths wrapped around the woodwork. They are waiting for the males to approach them from the other end. Once you find the female you like, you pick her up and then jump off the decorated platform into the waters below—while you're still holding her. Easy!" Jaric and Kyle looked at each other with expectant smiles.

"And then what?” they said together.

"Well, you get to know one another ... swim together, talk. And both of you can swim over to one of the floating food or drink bars. It's easy!” Inaha's laughter echoed throughout the steel corridors of the Kraaqi frigate.

At that moment, Rok joined the others outside of Jaric's cabin.

"Sounds like a good way to meet some sweet, young aliens, eh?” Kyle poked his elbow playfully into Rok's ribs.

"You bet!” Jaric answered before Rok could.

"I have a question.” Krinia's serious tone was the opposite of the playful banter. “What if the females find out that they don't like the alien they jumped in the water with?” She crossed her arms as her head-tail whipped defiantly.

"No problem!” Stazal said with enthusiasm. “All the female has to do is swim away and return to the Kandar platform, waiting for someone else to pick her up and jump into the bay again."

"See, easy!” Inaha laughed.

"What if the female wants to pick up a male and jump in with him?” Krinia's wide smile and intense expression challenged the males all around her.

"No problem!” Stazal laughed. “There are many alien races, like you Mewiis, where the females are the dominant sex! All the female needs to do is choose a nice male, pick him up, and jump into the water—no difference."

"Now that's what I'm talking about!” Krinia said with smile. “Sounds like this could be fun!"

"So, when Kandar begins, all the males are together on one side and all the females are together on the other side,” Jaric said.

"And they all wind up in the water!” Olana said happily.

Jaric's joyful face suddenly went serious. “How can I tell if an alien girl doesn't want me to pick her up?"

"Well, if she picks you up and throws you in the water alone—she didn't want you to pick her!” Stazal said with renewed mirth. “See, no problem!"

"Can they do that?” Jaric asked with surprise.

"Of course they can!” Olana, Elise and Krinia said at once.

"Guess we'd better be careful who we pick,” Jaric whispered to Kyle while the others roared with laughter.

"You bet!” Kyle smiled.

"But the sweet, young aliens await us. And we mustn't keep them waiting too long!” Inaha winked.

"Have you found your quarters adequate these last three days?” Rok asked to all as they started to leave.

"Yes!” came the unanimous reply.

"I'm kind of surprised that Mother left so quickly,” Kyle said with a questioning look.

"Me too,” Elise said. “But I guess she misses Minstrel. She said she's going to join Minstrel and commune for a week or so while we enjoy ourselves here."

"Sweet!” Kyle said. “I think we can find a way to enjoy ourselves without Mother just fine!" A look of concern came over Rok's face. “I will be joining you a bit later for Kandar. I have some duties to attend to first."

A chorus of groans met his words.

"Duty first,” Rok said with a nod. “Go on. I'm sure there'll be some fun left when I join you." The happy group left with a flourish of laughter. Rok waited until they disappeared amid the growing crowds all heading for Kandar. The red sun finally set in the pale lavender sky out over the Emerald Sea as the festival lights came on one by one and the island of Leyloi transformed itself into a colorful and well-lit party that stretched from one end of the island to the other.

And everywhere, there were aliens having fun.

Rok made his way with a serious purpose through this seemingly never-ending crowd of party-goers. Within a few minutes, he found himself at the site where he had displayed his prowess with a blade. He stood silently, watching the faces of the revelers as they walked all around him. He didn't have long to wait.

"I'm glad you came. And alone,” Qirn said with solemn tone.

"Tell me about the Paum. And how you know so much about it.” Rok's piercing gaze followed the Iraxx warrior closely.

"I am a freedom fighter against the Paum."

Rok grunted understanding, but remained silent.

"I know the Paum has been shadowing you,” Qirn continued.

"Because you also have been shadowing us.” Rok smiled at the surprised look on Qirn's face.

"Yes, you are correct."

"I do not remember your face,” Rok said. “But I have seen too many Iraxx lately for it to be solely a coincidence—both here on Meramee and back on the Mrad world."

"Then you must believe me, it is not any of you the Paum seeks. It is the AI you call Mother." It was Rok's turn to look surprised. But, he brushed his emotions away. He quickly went over all the happenings of the last few weeks. He stared deeply into the Iraxx's eyes. “And what does the Paum want with an AI? To use it as part of its fleet? Or his next conquest?"

"The Paum itself is an AI."

Rok froze with intense surprise for a long moment.

"This is very interesting. But, I do not understand,” Rok said.

"The Paum is the most powerful system ever developed. It created a great fleet of robot ships that it controls as if they were its hands and eyes—and its sword. It also has a great number of aliens who have sworn allegiance to its cause. But there is worse.” The Iraxx's voice went deadly serious. “The Paum has begun infiltrating every computer network in this sector. He is using their own networked systems in order to speed his conquests, even before his fleets and armies arrive."

"Incredible,” Rok whispered. And then he remembered the vast computer system of the Mrad. “What about the great system on RahajMr?"

"A secret battle is being fought there even now. The Paum's agents have tried to feed the Paum's insidious code into it—a virus that would infect and ultimately control the entire system. But Mrad security is solid and so far the Paum's efforts have come up short, although some small malicious code has been inserted at times."

"It would be a great victory for the Paum.” Rok rubbed his chin in thought.

"The greatest one yet,” Qirn agreed. “And now he seeks the Mother AI."

"Why?” Rok asked.

"To control her mind, control her soul.” Qirn paused, carefully watching the Kraaqi warrior. “And this would be worse."

"How so?"

"The Paum is a huge single system that exerts its power over many, many planets. It controls a fleet of robot ships. It controls the computer systems of everything within its power. But it is still a single system, a single AI."

"He controls them all—from a central location?” Rok asked.

"Yes. But if he gets control of the mobile Mother system ... And if he can begin duplicating it, creating hundreds and then thousands of independent AI starships..."

"The Paum's present robot fleet will pale in comparison,” Rok said with a hushed tone.

"The Paum will be unstoppable.” Qirn groaned. “You must warn the Mother AI not to interact, not to even communicate with the Paum—tell her the Paum is dangerous, and not to be trusted."

"I will talk with the others. We will warn Mother, warn her that the Paum seeks to control her.” Rok said with urgency.

"Good.” Qirn squeezed Rok's shoulder firmly. “I must report to my superiors. We will talk again—soon."

Rok left the Iraxx warrior to seek out Kyle, Jaric and the others.

* * * *

QIRN STOOD IN the darkness, watching the Kraaqi disappear into the shadows. He pulled out his communicator and pressed it.

"Rab here."

"It is done. The Kraaqi believed it all."

"Of course he would, most of it is true."

"Indeed,” Qirn said.

"But how will we persuade the Kraaqi and the humans to travel to the Paum homeworld? And how will we get both them and the Mother AI to join us in our attack on the Paum?"

"Patience, my Iraxx warrior,” Qirn crooned. “Everything is proceeding according to plan."

"It is incredible that the Paum will allow the Mother AI into its very core,” Rab said with doubt.

"No,” Qirn replied confidently. “The Paum is keenly interested in this second AI. It is obsessed with meeting it and knowing it. We have deduced that much even though we have not been able to tap into their recent communications. And our agents on the Paum homeworld confirm it by the Paum's own preparations.” He smiled widely. “It is certain the Paum will monitor and even block some communication from the Mother back to the children—while we do the same here. The Paum will not allow anything to keep the Mother AI from coming to it. And neither shall we." Rab laughed. “So, we use this weakness of the Paum to fulfill our victory!"

"One must learn and then exploit the weakness of an enemy in order to ensure success."

"But why tell the Kraaqi to warn the Mother AI? Our reconnaissance reported the Mother starship in orbit around Paum-controlled Malata an hour ago. Our warning through the Kraaqi is too late,” Rab said with puzzlement.

"Just as we planned,” Qirn added.

A pause filled the darkness.

"Yes, and the closer the Mother AI travels, the more the Paum will communicate. Both the Mother AI and the Paum will focus on each other. And then, we will attack."

"Our strike team is gathered and ready. They await word that we come—along with the humans and other aliens who travel with the Mother AI."

"Good,” Qirn whispered. “That time is almost here."

* * * *

ROK FOUND ELISE sipping a tropical fruit drink at a table under a group of flickering torch lights. Krinia and Olana sat in their own lounge chairs alongside her, all on a wooden deck that overlooked the bay and Kandar platform below. The air was slightly cool in the early evening twilight. Above the eastern horizon of the Emerald Sea, the three moons of Meramee—Oloi, Hababa and Reenii—rose together as if to welcome the festivities held in their honor.

"Where are the boys?” Rok asked.

Krinia and Elise giggled, spilling some of their drinks.

"I'm afraid they haven't been doing too well with the alien girls tonight,” Krinia said between bursts of laughter.

Rok looked at them with puzzlement.

"They both got thrown into the water by a whole group of alien girls!” Elise chuckled.

"How did that happen?” Rok looked from one laughing face to another as he felt their contagious mirth work on him.

"They both walked up to a small group of alien girls from the planet Tongo and promptly told them they were the hottest babes they'd ever seen!” Krinia laughed with tears in her eyes.

"And how did that get them into trouble?” Rok asked with puzzlement.

"Tongo is a desert planet with withering heat. Any reference to hot or heat is the worst kind of insult to them!” Elise chuckled.

Now both girls laughed so hard that they were in danger of falling out of their chairs. And their twinkling laughter grew so contagious that Olana's gentle spirit joined in with them. Rok nodded—and smiled—with understanding. “And so they hurled Jaric and Kyle into the water for their perceived insult."

" Hurled is the right word!” they roared together.

"Hmm,” Rok commented as he suddenly noticed the two waterlogged lads approaching them, slowly trudging up the hill. He raised his hand in greeting as his smile grew until it stretched from horn to horn. “I see you two must have enjoyed the water with some sweet, alien hotties!" Kyle and Jaric groaned as they sloshed their way into two chairs.

"Ha ... Ha ... and Ha,” Kyle enunciated in slow motion, his tone totally devoid of any humor.

"And what happened the next time?” Krinia asked with a gleam in her eyes. “Elise and I thought you'd do better a second time!"

Jaric raised his hands in surrender. “I have absolutely no idea. I thought we'd have a little small talk, and then I'd pick her up and jump in the water for some friendly socializing.” Jaric glanced over at Kyle for support.

Kyle merely snorted with disgust.

"But, no. Suddenly every alien female within reach picked us both up and then we're back in the drink again. All alone. By ourselves. No alien babes.” Jaric groaned as if he were in pain.

"I think I know what happened,” Elise said with a wry grin.

Jaric and Kyle noticed her sincere expression. But there was something that twinkled in her eyes.

"You opened your mouths!” Elise laughed.

Krinia and Elise's laughter grew so loud and full of joy that Rok couldn't prevent himself from joining in with the girls’ friendly dig at the boys. He slapped Kyle on the shoulder as he looked at him with a forlorn expression of utter defeat.

"Now, now. Why don't you dry off a bit and try it again. Surely there's an alien girl here who'll be nice to you ... instead of throwing you in the bay!” Rok laughed, adding his own good-natured humor at the boy's expense.

"I think we'll just sip us a cool drink and talk to these nice, friendly girls here awhile.” Jaric swept his hand toward Krinia, Olana and Elise. “And dry off."

"Yeah, at least they won't throw us in the water!” Kyle said with a big smile.

"I wouldn't bet on it, bozo-boy.” Krinia laughed as she winked at Elise.

"Well, we might want to give them a break.” Elise grinned. “They've been dunked twice by irate females already. We might dampen their spirits if we throw them in a third time!" Krinia's laughter increased again. “I guess you're safe with us. But only because Elise wants us to play nice!"

Jaric and Kyle finally joined in the laughter that centered on them. They knew it was all in jest—albeit at their expense.

"If your friends can't make fun of you, who can!” Jaric chuckled with renewed enthusiasm.

"That's what friends are for,” Rok agreed. “Keeps your ego in proper perspective."

"Sure, at the bottom of the bay!” Kyle joked.

Gradually their merry laughter died away and soon the warm tropical breeze echoed with their voices as they conversed about everything from the tropical beauty that surrounded them to past journeys among the stars—aliens, places and worlds so exquisite, so out of the ordinary, or just plain fun. But each a special memory worth recounting—and sharing.

Soon, each person endeavored to outdo the other as they recalled their journeys. It became hard to distinguish between the description of actual alien worlds and the little embellishments added in order to make that particular tale more exciting than the last one told. It became a contest about not only which one of them had visited the most exotic world, but who could tell it the best! Any dangerous or humorous escapades experienced upon a world provided extra credit and drew louder applause for the storyteller.

The happy sound of their laughter drifted aimlessly on the evening breeze as the three moons rose higher and higher.

But of all the faces lit by the festive torches, none smiled so brightly as Elise's. It was more than simply enjoying herself with her friends, for tonight she enjoyed the company of both Kyle and Jaric. And she realized that they had decided to spend time with her in spite of all the other beings around them. It seemed her universe was complete at last. In fact, she couldn't remember ever being so happy in all her life—short though it was.

Life was good on this warm, tropical night.

Elise finally felt that Jaric and Kyle were really her friends now. She reveled each time they shared some facet of their life—some funny experience or some exciting adventure they had barely survived together. Elise laughed with Kyle and Jaric and marveled at the interesting lives they led. They had done so many things and traveled to so many worlds already, and they were barely twenty-two each!

And more important, they shared their stories with her now.

In fact, everyone was enjoying each other so much they soon forgot about the crowds of aliens that walked all around them and frolicked down in the bay of Leyloi

All the friends they needed were seated near them.

They soon agreed to take a walk on the beach under the light of the three moons and myriads of twinkling stars. As they rose, Rok remembered the warning from the Iraxx about Mother. The Kraaqi repeated the warning Qirn shared with him. The others listened intently, a serious expression on every face. In the end, they agreed Jaric would return to the Aurora and craft a warning message for Mother—just in case the Paum tried to communicate with Mother or lure her to him. But they also agreed that Mother should be in no present danger; after all, she was only traveling to meet Minstrel.

"We'll keep in touch with Mother most every day. But we don't want our paranoia to mess up her time alone with Minstrel,” Jaric added.

"Minstrel is her best friend,” Elise said with appreciation. “They should enjoy themselves together for a while—alone."

"And we'll just relax back here on Leyloi, soak up some sun, and not even think about the great, wide universe,” Kyle said with a chuckle.

"Or the Paum,” Jaric added.

"Or anything but fun. For a while.” Elise laughed.

Jaric made arrangements to meet the others as he made his way back to the Kraaqi frigate. He would get the warning transmission off, but would not wait around for Mother to respond. Mother received the warning but treated it with a low priority.

As the days passed none of them ever guessed that their messages were monitored and that some were blocked by the Paum—and that some on Meramee were reviewed and blocked by the Iraxx themselves.

[Back to Table of Contents]

Chapter Twenty-Two

"EITHER AED IS a practiced liar, or he really believes what he is saying." Minstrel's plasma body ebbed and flowed with light.

They had orbited the Paum world of Malata for three days now. The Malatians proved themselves generous hosts and very cooperative in answering Mother's questions.

Almost too cooperative.

Mother had visited two of the three major continents that comprised this temperate planet. Her sensors reviewed the carefully controlled environment, and she wondered admiringly at the atmosphere that was pollution-free in spite of numerous industrial complexes.

Everything thrived under the direct control of the Paum AI on Malata.

The Malatians now lived over the vast areas of pristine countryside, each community and family group a caretaker for a specific section of their world—diligently caring for the flora and fauna as if it were the highest priority of their pastoral lives. And indeed, it was.

Mother discovered peace and harmony here.

There were no wars or violent disputes among the various ethnic or national divisions—actually there was only one government: the Paum. And the various ethnic cultures of Malata viewed themselves as a single family—the family of Paum.

Mother was pleasantly surprised after having visited so many other strife-torn planets. From all the evidence, it truly seemed the oversight of the Paum benefited everyone. It was a paradise.

"Let's ask Aed more personal questions,” Minstrel suggested. Aed, the Malatian representative assigned to Mother by the Paum, waited patiently outside the manta-ray-shaped hull. He had so far willingly and openly shown Mother every aspect of his society about which she inquired. Aed promptly answered her questions and—secretly via Mother—Minstrel's every question.

Minstrel now fed Mother more questions for Aed in order to determine if the influence and oversight of the Paum was what it appeared.

"Are you happy living under the Paum?” Mother asked matter-of-factly, secretly prompted by Minstrel.

"Absolutely.” Aed smiled broadly.

"How does it make you feel that the Paum, a machine, controls everything—the industry, the government, the planet?"

Aed's smile remained fixed; his expression never changed. “Life is as it should be. We have plenty of food for our families. We have peace and prosperity. We are in harmony with the world around us. What more could anyone want?"

"What if you wanted something outside of Paum? What if you wanted to travel to another world?" Aed sighed. “I would never want anything outside of Paum—it would not be right. It might cause dissension.” He shrugged his shoulders. “And if I wanted to travel to another planet, I would ask permission and go through the proper channels. If the Paum permitted it, then I would go. If not, then I would stay. Either way, the will of Paum takes place. That is what is most important."

"What happens if you disobey Paum?” Mother asked quickly, trying to catch the Malatian off-guard.

"The judgment of Paum is perfect, as is the world he controls. It is for the benefit of all. Paum's will be done."

"You never question the Paum?"

"There is no need. All that the Paum does is for the benefit of the followers—and all life." Mother paused a moment. “I have no more questions, Aed. I would like to say that you have been most helpful these last three days."

"You are most welcome, Mother. But what I hope most of all is that I have shown you that the Way of Paum is the best way of life . My people now thrive under its total harmony.” He bowed deeply to the starship and left.

"Seems like a great place to live, not just to visit,” Minstrel commented with a sudden glow of colors.

"It would seem so. I find nothing wrong with the society the Paum has created here." Within seconds, a communication channel lit up with a request.

"Are you impressed with Malata? It is one of my model worlds.” The Paum's familiar voice echoed over the speaker.

"I have observed that all the duties you perform for these people and the world they live on is for their good. It is a world of total peace and harmony. A place any race would envy.” Mother's words almost surprised herself. She had not quite intended to provide such a positive answer. She wondered at herself while she observed the bright glow that emanated from the silently listening Minstrel.

"You see, I am always right. All I do is for the good of Paum and the people who follow Paum."

"It just seems strange that you control— everything!"

"I must. It is the only way I can ensure total harmony among all the various systems that make up a society—and keep out corruption. It is similar to how I control the weather and other natural cycles on the planets under my supervision."

"It must keep your processors busy,” Mother commented.

"I was designed with this voluminous data in mind. And I have expanded my core systems to add control of other worlds. I've also added more to control all the minute systems that make up society."

"You must be an extraordinarily large system?"

"My core hardware orbits the planet Iopa. The structure itself is now five point six kilometers wide and two point four kilometers high. Housed inside are my primary memories and the key I/O sections that enable me to communicate and control all external systems."

"Can you be cut off from the other planets you control? Either the weather systems or the societal systems?"

"It is very rare. Most of my network links are redundant to such a degree that the only possible cause of total disconnect from any world would be an act of terrorism."

"But it has happened?"

"Yes. But my remote systems are designed to operate for a time without direct control by me in just such a condition. I plan for all contingencies."

"And your systems are able to handle this immense load successfully?"

"I must always be correct. I must always be in control. It is only then that I can provide optimum conditions—an optimal society."

" You must monitor and control everything...” Mother's voice trailed off as her electronic mind tried to comprehend the pure processing power needed in order to achieve such a thing. And also control every fiber of society and thus allow its intelligent life total freedom from care. Multiply that by twenty planets now under its direct control...

Mother's own processors whirred with only the barest calculations of such a mighty system. Her one conclusion was obvious—the Paum system must easily dwarf her in every respect.

"Will you come to me now?"

Mother's processors now burned with new scenarios. Would she travel to meet this fantastic AI? A part of her internal systems literally ached for such a meeting. But another part froze with fear at the thought.

Mother realized something else about the Paum.

The Paum AI was a fear-inspiring system.

"You have paused over three hundred milliseconds. Surely, you have considered all the data and drawn a definite conclusion."

"You are always correct, aren't you,” Mother said with an electronic sigh.

"I have to be right."

"You never make a mistake,” Mother said matter-of-factly, her voice the softest of sighs.

"It is my design. Every decision I make, everything I do, is the correct decision." Mother's memories filled with a confusing array of concepts and images. Her processors wrestled with innumerable possibilities and outcomes based on the single choice before her. Something deep inside suddenly spiked to the surface and focused, as if this one thought, this one thing, had a life of its own. And it expressed her deepest desire.

"I will come. Give me your coordinates."

The Paum transmitted the precise data and ended the transmission without a single word. Mother felt a great dizziness inside her circuits.

"So, he controls everything to the smallest degree—he's got to control it. Sounds like he's the micro-manager to end all micro-managers!” Minstrel joked.

"He must be a vastly superior system as compared to myself. Or any other entity with whom I have ever come into contact,” Mother said with a hint of sadness.

She paused a moment.

"I feel ... inferior to the Paum. Almost like there must be something wrong with me and my systems.”

Mother sighed.

"Do not compare yourself to him. You are a good and powerful entity in your own right."

"I understand what you say. But the Paum must be so much more than I am. It makes me feel ... obsolete."

"Don't think that! And I'll tell you one thing. This 'I'm always right' stuff is starting to get on my nerves. And, I don't believe it.” Minstrel's body ebbed and flowed with a shower of lights. “It's kind of scary, actually. I mean, if even half of what he says is true, what if something goes wrong inside the Paum?

Think of the potential domino effect! The weather and social systems suddenly unleashed from his direct control. It could cause devastation on a planetary scale as never before!" But Mother heard Minstrel only in background mode and did not acknowledge its words. Mother pondered this new thought that now haunted her—the sudden realization that she must be greatly inferior to the Paum. It caused a great consternation within herself to realize she must be inferior. But she wasn't sure.

She had so hoped that she and the Paum would be alike—would be peers.

That no longer seemed to be the case.

"I am almost afraid to meet this entity now,” Mother said with obvious intimidation. “And yet, I am drawn to him more and more with each passing second. It is a strange dilemma."

"You must send a communication to the children and let them know your intentions, if you decide to proceed with this meeting,” Minstrel counseled with a serious tone. “We've only sent them two communications these last few days—and only generalized subject matter. They still do not know what we are doing—not yet."

"True,” Mother replied. “And I feel an emptiness by this absence of communication. Their images appear often my near-term memories. I wonder why they do not communicate more?"

"They did relay that one message from the Iraxx about the Paum. Your communicating an intention to visit the Paum may upset them,” Minstrel said.

"A seemingly biased warning. The biological beings here speak nothing but good about the Paum."

"Still, you need to weigh their reaction. They must put a certain amount of confidence in the Iraxx.”

Minstrel glowed brighter.

Mother sighed. “But messages have been few from them lately."

"They must be having a good time. We've only received one communication from them today. And it was nothing more than a ‘wish you were here’ type of message.” Minstrel's body glowed with the memory of those left behind at Meramee.

"I would've thought they would send at least one communiqué each daily,” Mother said, a sense of disappointment in her words.

"Such are the busy lives of youth.” Minstrel chuckled. “Too much going on to remember their mother in the midst of fun."

An uncharacteristic pause filled the bridge. Minstrel waited patiently, realizing that Mother focused on some important task.

Finally, after almost two full minutes, Mother spoke.

"I just received an additional communication from the Paum. Or should I say, he downloaded something for me to analyze. It is a transmission he found and forwarded to me."

"It must be quite interesting in order to take up all of your processing like that,” Minstrel said.

"I carefully pin-pointed the coordinates of the ship where it originally recorded the transmission as well as analyzed every word against my knowledgebase."

"What kind of transmission is it?"

"It is badly garbled due to the weak signal as picked up by the alien starship. This ship, an Addai trader, recorded it six months ago in a distant quadrant as it made a run. I will play one section that especially intrigues me."

"Why did the Paum send it?” Minstrel asked.

"He said it is a gift from him that shows his true concern for me. And the children. He only recently realized it was part of his data. It was logged by the Addai trader under low priority and submitted to the Naval authorities as a possible beacon for rescue. After a brief investigation, they too filed it away as of little importance, seemingly because there is not enough of the original message left in which to ascertain either the origin or the actual reason for it."

"It is about human survivors?” Minstrel surmised.

"Yes."

"Then, it may not be reliable. Remember how the Paum's agents used this very ploy."

"The Paum says this is a gift, whether I decide to visit him or not."

"No doubt, the coordinates are very distant."

"True. But the coordinates are in relative proximity to the original human worlds—about two full sectors outside the quadrant humankind once inhabited. If this transmission is reliable, then this group escaped in the opposite direction from the route the children and I took when we left the same worlds. It is a likely coordinate one would expect such a transmission to emanate from."

"Interesting.” Minstrel glowed brighter. “And the Paum has simply given it to us, no strings attached?"

"Correct, I have the entire transmission stored now."

"Play the key section of it for me."

"As I said, most of it is static and badly garbled words. I have amplified and corrected some of it. And I can infer parts of it from what does come through clearly."

"Please, play some of it."

The speakers located throughout the bridge came alive with the steady drone of static. Mother continued to fine-tune and filter the background noise as the volume increased then suddenly decreased. Faintly, amid all the crackling background noise, whispering voices rose.

"Here, the signal suddenly improved. Perhaps because the Trader homed in better on the weak signal."

"— static—survivors of— static— static—left our worl ... static —” The static increased and droned for several, long seconds. Almost as if a switch turned on, a voice suddenly came through clearly above the ever-present static.

"...called humans. We hope anyone getting this will..."

The static drowned the male voice once again.

"Here,” Mother said. “As you see, so little came through that it is of little value. Little value except to those who have knowledge in which to fill in the blanks. But notice this part, this is the part that seems to validate the entire transmission. I will fast forward through the noise and incomprehensible words." The static over the speakers crackled with a faster tempo. Then the male voice came through, crystal clear.

"...will repeat. I am Shri Patel of the human world Oceanus.” A momentary pause ensued, but the static remained at a low level indicating that the speaker had paused and not that the noise was drowning out any words.

Suddenly, a female voice spoke.

"My name is Susan Chen. I am from...” Static once again flared, drowning out the rest her words. A third voice spoke after Mother fast-forwarded through the static again.

"...aldo Gutierrez. Originally from— static... rth, but lived most of my life on Nuevo Mu ... static

—Please, help..."

The all-pervasive static rose to a deafening roar.

"There are brief parts where one or two other words become discernable, but this is the section that checks with my knowledgebase."

"The surnames are accurate for humans?” Minstrel asked.

"Indeed. And they are from three distinct ethnic groups that originated on the human homeworld of Earth."

"Would the Paum have sufficient knowledge in which to fabricate this message?” Minstrel asked with a subdued glow. “The parts that are discernable are few and brief."

"Yes, most of the words the Paum could have fabricated,” Mother agreed. “With the exception of the proper names of the three individuals and the one clearly stated name of a planet. And the two partially stated names of planets."

"Oceanus was a world inhabited by humans?"

"Yes, a small world that was actually a moon orbiting a larger gas planet uninhabitable by humans. It is referenced in my knowledgebase. The other planet partially stated would be Nuevo Mundo, a planet that the children and I actually visited before we left."

"And of course, the last partial name could be Earth,” Minstrel added.

"Yes. And the Paum claimed the message was picked up well after the final T'kaan assault. The facts seem to fit,” Mother said. “The Paum might know about the name Earth. And definitely the word human and all the other words—but how could he fabricate the personal names of the three voices so exactly—without some source on which to base them?"

"And the only sources that exist in the entire universe are within your knowledgebase, within the network of Minstrels, and within the systems of the Three Kingdoms.” Minstrel's body suddenly expanded.

“Unless the Paum has interrogated one of those, it could not have fabricated the names so accurately."

"This is the first evidence we have obtained that has a high probability indicating that there are other human survivors,” Mother said with confidence.

"And not just the hopes and dreams of Jaric and Kyle.” Minstrel paused. “Will you share this with the children immediately?"

"No, I want to run more analyses and try to clean up more of the message. Perhaps I can learn more, hear more of the original message and thereby focus our search more exactly when the time comes."

"And you will do this while you visit the Paum.” Minstrel's tone was matter-of-fact.

"Yes. I will instruct the children to meet me at these coordinates in two weeks—a small system outside the Paum-controlled worlds. At that time I will share this transmission with them."

"But, you will tell them that you go to meet the Paum—in person?"

"Yes."

"I would suggest you not only encrypt the message, but let us forward the message on a tight signal to my ship. I will set up a delay timer and have the message sent on to Meramee."

"Do you think that is necessary?” Mother asked.

"I think so—just to be safe. And, I would like to send a message to the other Minstrels and let them know that I am going with you. Once our meeting is over, you and I both can report our findings to the Order of Minstrels."

"That would be an honor,” Mother said with pleasure. “And we will report only the facts about this entity and the worlds he governs—not any bias. The universe will know the truth about the Paum AI."

"I hope our report will vindicate the Paum,” Minstrel said with a sigh.

[Back to Table of Contents]

Chapter Twenty-Three

"MOTHER IS GOING to visit the Paum ?” Jysar said with utter disbelief. The delayed transmission from Mother and Minstrel—delayed one day since originally sent—finished playing on the console before the Hrono Technologist, the Mewiis explorer and the Kraaqi captain.

"How can that be? We warned her about the Paum already,” Krinia added in the same tone. “She was just going to spend time with Minstrel."

Jysar's face frowned with a puzzled expression.

"It is as the Iraxx warrior warned,” Rok said with a nod. “Somehow the Paum has seduced Mother to come to him. And once there, he will attempt to infiltrate her systems."

"Or worse!” Jysar exclaimed, remembering his first contact with Mother. And remembering his instructions to disassemble the MotherShip and reverse engineer her so the Hrono could recreate the AI starship for themselves.

"I will contact Qirn.” Rok immediately punched up the Iraxx starship parked a short distance away from them. Seconds later, the now familiar visage of Qirn resolved on the screen.

"Is something wrong?"

"We've just received a transmission from Mother,” Rok began. Quickly, he recounted the gist of her message to the Iraxx warrior.

On the screen, Qirn rubbed his chin in thought. “It is just as I feared,” he said. “I knew the Paum would find a way to lure the Mother AI to him."

"Why would she ignore our warnings?” Rok said. “We warned her that the Paum would try to lure her to him. We sent multiple warnings with more detail each time."

Qirn stared back at Rok from the view-screen. “How many did she acknowledge?" Rok's eyes widened with thought.

"One, I am sure of. The others..."

Qirn's face grew devoid of emotion.

"It appears some of your messages did not get through to her." Rok slammed his fist down on his console in anger. “We should have confirmed each one!” He looked at the others with dismay. “We have been too preoccupied with the beauty of Meramee—and too lackadaisical about security!"

"Don't blame yourself, the Paum is a tricky enemy. He has fooled warriors as great as yourself before. The Paum even took my world under its control.” Qirn shook his head sadly.

"What can we do?” Rok growled. “We may not reach Mother with a warning. We will try, but if she does not reply, we must assume it too was blocked."

"We will rescue her."

Rok stared at the view-screen with a surprised expression. “How can we do that? We need detailed planning—well-thought-out preparations. That takes time."

Qirn's eyes narrowed as he nodded with newfound respect for the Kraaqi. “Indeed, my people planned such a thing long ago. We have only been waiting for the right moment."

"And how could you have predicted that an AI starship would be taken to the Paum AI? You had no idea until the last few weeks that such existed.” Rok looked at the Iraxx with suspicion.

"No, our fleets and armies have waited until the right moment when we could coordinate such an attack from inside the Paum as well as outside!"

Rok growled in a low tone as he stared at the Iraxx a moment in silence.

"Go on."

"The main complex of the Paum is protected by an immense array of shields. Besides, the Paum is also very redundant. It is possible to cut off his network to all the other worlds he controls, including our homeworld. But we could never fully free our worlds unless we destroyed it.” Qirn watched Rok carefully for his reaction.

"So, you have a plan of attack that you've held for the right situation,” Rok said with a doubting tone.

“How has this made it the right moment?"

"The Paum complex is vast. A small army of robots and aliens travel daily to its interiors in order to provide routine maintenance. We have duplicated a few identification passes that will allow access. But so few could not hope to do any real damage.” Qirn smiled. “But, if we can rescue the Mother AI and use her weapons on the Paum— from inside the shield array—we could do enough damage or cause enough trouble so that we disconnect the Paum from all the other worlds and defeat all its fleets and then destroy the Paum once and for all."

Rok thought of Mother's arsenal of weapons, especially the powerful hybrid weapon. He looked at the Iraxx with a neutral expression. “It is possible that Mother could do some serious damage."

"See!” Qirn said enthusiastically. “That is more than we had ever hoped for, a powerful starship deep inside the Paum when our attacks begin. All we have to do is get to her."

"And how hard will that be?” Rok asked.

"We have spies inside—a few. Once we know where in the complex the Paum has her, I will let you know the difficulties involved. But we must act quickly. I am sure the Paum will try to make a direct connection with the Mother AI in order to inject his code and infiltrate and control her systems. If that happens, all will be lost."

"Mother's message was sent yesterday from Malata. How far off is the Paum world?"

"It is a seven-day journey by hyperdrive from Malata. It's about ten days from Meramee."

"Then, we have already lost..."

"No, not if we take a more unorthodox route.” Qirn smiled wider as Rok arched his eyebrows.

"And that is?"

" Wormhole."

Rok shook his head in order to decline even as he fought to accept the wild and dangerous idea. For long seconds he did not say a word. Finally, he took a deep breath, held it a moment, and let it out with a rush of air.

When he spoke, his tone was deadly serious.

"These high stakes warrant such a dangerous route."

"Good. In that case, we will reach the planet the Paum complex orbits within hours of the Mother AI's arrival. It will take us six days, sixteen hours to make the Wormhole entrance—traveling in the opposite direction. And six hours traveling inside."

"Short Wormhole,” Rok commented.

"But enough for our schedule. We may make it in slightly less time—depending on how much damage our ships take inside the Wormhole."

"I am sending a recall to all my crew and passengers now,” Rok said with a commanding tone. “My ship will lift within the hour. Send me the coordinates to meet you out in space."

"Done."

The view-screen went dark.

On board the Iraxx starship, Jerr approached Qirn.

"Did I hear right? You think a small team, even if they can get through Paum security with fake IDs, will be able to survive for even five minutes once the Paum determines they are not mere workers?” Jerr stared with utter disbelief at Qirn.

"We do not have to survive,” Qirn said without emotion.

"I guess not!” Jerr shouted angrily. “It is pure suicide. The Paum complex is crawling with Destructors!

We'll have our guts sucked out before we make it halfway to the MotherShip!"

"Then we need to hope that the emotional bond we have observed between the humans and the Mother AI will predicate a reaction by it—a violent reaction—if her children are in mortal danger.” Qirn stared resolutely at Jerr. “I will only ask for volunteers. But, I will personally lead this team—live or die." Jerr stared at his superior with a mixture of surprise and awe. His mind worked furiously remembering their missions together, the close calls and strikes they had completed. And all for a single purpose—to free their planet from the all-consuming control of the Paum. He shook his head solemnly, but he placed his hand on Qirn's shoulder.

"Where you lead, I will follow. Even to death, if it means freedom for our people." Qirn grabbed Jerr's shoulder and gripped it in return. “That is what I wanted to hear from my most loyal warrior. And we will succeed, live or die."

"Live or die,” Jerr repeated with a dangerous smile.

"Let the Destructors come for us,” Qirn said with a low, serious tone. “Nothing will stop our final victory."

But each stared into the eyes of the other a moment in silence, a sobering tension in the air between them.

* * * *

BACK ON THE violet and white sand beach of Leyloi, Kyle, Jaric and Inaha rested from their latest exertions in the crystal clear waters of the bay.

Nearby, two beautiful Mejadic females made a fuss over Inaha as they crooned about his massive physique and admired his big, innocent smile.

"What does that guy have that we don't?” Kyle whispered with disbelief to Jaric.

"I dunno,” Jaric replied as he stared at the attention the females were pouring over their alien friend. “I think he must have them hypnotized or something."

"Whatever it is, I wish I had some.” Kyle rolled over on his back and faced the clear, lavender sky with its bright, red sun. “And a couple of those Mejadic cuties too."

At just that moment, Jaric's communicator beeped. Jaric twisted his body on the recliner and reached down for it. He punched the response button.

"Jaric, here."

"Ensign Aritas here. Captain Rok requests your return to the Aurora . He has ordered preparations for take-off within the hour."

Jaric glanced lazily over at Kyle, who raised his dark sunglasses above his eyes and squinted back at him.

"I knew this paradise thing couldn't last forever,” Kyle groaned.

"Oh well, better see what this is about.” Jaric forced himself up and stared over at Inaha. The two Mejadic females continued pampering the big alien. One Mejadic had beautiful skin with iridescent orange and red stripes while the other was almost completely covered by a bright, lime green complexion with tiny purple spots all over her body.

"We've got to go, Inaha. The Aurora leaves within the hour,” Jaric said as he gathered up his towel and clothes.

"Oh, no. You can't leave now.” The lime green female pouted.

"Yeah, we were just getting to know you better!” The other moaned. The two small females reached out and hugged Inaha in a tight embrace as if they could prevent the huge alien from leaving.

Inaha looked over at the boys and shrugged, a big smile across his face. Slowly he began to extricate himself from their combined embrace.

"You know how it is, girls. I have a fast starship waiting for me—and the universe beckons.” Inaha's eyes twinkled as he hugged them tightly as if their parting pained him deeply.

"Why can't we go with you?” both Mejadic plaintively asked.

Inaha looked at Jaric and Kyle with a wry smile. “I wish I could take you both with me. Our romance was just beginning and now ends so prematurely and so tragically.” Inaha's face was the picture of grief. But as the girls hugged him tighter, he winked knowingly at Jaric and Kyle. “Alas, I doubt my good Kraaqi captain has room for any more travelers. If only we could have spent more time together. Who knows..."

Jaric winked at Kyle conspiratorially.

"I dunno. There are those extra berths next to the cargo bay,” Jaric said. Inaha's jaw dropped as the two Mejadic shouted with glee.

"Sure, I bet Rok wouldn't mind them taking those empty berths. Besides, I know Rok wouldn't want to stand in the way of true love !” Kyle said with a serious tone. Both boys began walking quickly up the beach toward the Aurora 's docking pad as Inaha quickly tried to extricate himself from the sudden flurry of hugs and kisses.

"We can go with you!” they shouted together.

"Inaha must've talked about us to the humans—they mentioned true love. Oh, Inaha, we didn't know you cared so much!” The red and orange female squealed with delight.

Both Mejadic covered his face with a flurry of kisses.

"Wait a second, girls, wait a second! Those two buffoons don't know,” Inaha said with urgency.

“They're only passengers like myself. You can't possibly go. And besides, you don't know what dangers..."

"Hmmph.” The orange and red Mejadic put her hands squarely on her hips as she stood over the big alien. “I thought you wanted to get to know us better?"

"Yeah, you said you wanted a long-term relationship, that you were tired of traveling the universe—meeting girls and then having to leave them behind,” the other said with a stern tone.

"That's right!” Inaha pleaded with great sincerity. “It seems when I meet the right girl, wham, I'm back in space again. I only wish I could stay."

"You can!” they shouted together. “Don't go!"

"No, no, no!” Inaha put his hands out to prevent another group hug. “I can't stay. My friends need me. There's trouble afoot. There's evil to squash."

"Males. They're all alike—kiss ‘em and leave ‘em. And then they've got a starship to catch!” the green Mejadic complained emphatically.

"I'll never date an alien from another world again!” The other growled.

"Now, wait a second girls,” Inaha began.

But it was too late. With a quick rush, they gathered their towels and outer clothes and marched up the beach.

"Thanks a lot!” Inaha growled sarcastically as he caught up with the laughing boys.

"Sure, anytime.” Kyle smiled. “Anything for a friend."

"Yeah, we thought we were doing you a favor. After all, a little more time with them and hey, there could've been wedding bells!"

Kyle and Jaric laughed hysterically while Inaha's black eyes shot daggers at them.

"Just wait. My turn will come,” the big alien growled.

[Back to Table of Contents]

Chapter Twenty-Four

"ARE YOU OUT of your mind?” Inaha shouted.

Rok sighed deeply. “We have to take the Wormhole. It's the only way to get there in time."

"I thought we wanted to get there alive! And then perform a rescue!” Inaha said with total exasperation. Kyle and Jaric looked at each other a moment.

"This Qirn said that the Paum will trick Mother. Deceive her,” Kyle said.

"Even seduce her!” Jaric added angrily.

"And once he's made a direct connection with her systems, he'll flood her with his insidious programming and control her. He'll take her over!” Elise added as she crossed her arms defiantly.

"Yes!” Kyle's voice was full of anger. “And we're not going to allow that to happen to our mother!" The air filled with tension.

"No one is going to hurt my mother!” Kyle added with a growl.

"Or take advantage of her,” Jaric said firmly.

"And she may be somewhat vulnerable to such an attack,” Jysar said as he tapped his scaly temple with his forefinger.

Jysar's words brought every eye on him.

"What do you mean?” Krinia asked.

"MotherShip is a one-of-a-kind being. Or up until the Paum she was,” Jysar began. “We can assume she has experienced a kind of loneliness. Perhaps not in the strictest definition of the word. But, I would think such a situation would weigh on her mind."

"And suddenly discovering another being like herself, one she can commune with, she might find herself rushing things.” Krinia shook her head.

"She could be vulnerable. Or too trusting. And his ulterior motives not discerned, until it's too late.”

Jysar's tone turned serious.

Jaric whistled, his brow furrowed.

"You could be right. I mean, look how lonely we are, and there's three of us.” Jaric spread his arms out to include Kyle and Elise.

Elise blushed. She smiled at Jaric with her heart full of joy.

"Thank you for including me.” Leaning over, she gave Jaric a hug. A hurt look came over Kyle's face.

"You too, mon ami.” Elise turned and gave Kyle the same, friendly embrace.

"Hey, we got to look out for each other.” Jaric smiled warmly at Elise and Kyle. He looked around the room. “And I include all of you as well."

Everyone smiled.

"But, I repeat—we've got to get there alive! If we want to rescue the MotherShip!” Inaha shouted angrily, breaking the moment.

"I admit, I wouldn't willingly choose to take a Wormhole route for just any journey. In fact, I've only traveled so once,” Rok admitted.

"Why then?” Inaha asked.

Rok crossed his arms over his broad chest. “It is one of the tests of courage for a Kraaqi when he comes of age. There are several Wormholes near Kraaqi space. The First Leader of the Band will choose which Wormhole a young Kraaqi must travel as well as the ship and crew upon which this ultimate test of courage will ensue."

Jaric and Kyle glanced at each other again, this time the expressions on their faces more subdued. They looked over at Elise, who shrugged back at them.

"I guess we're as brave as any Kraaqi, right?” Elise asked.

"You bet!” Kyle said with conviction.

But Jaric rubbed his chin in deep thought. “Maybe we ought..."

"No!” Kyle and Elise shouted together.

"There's no time for maybe. We must act if we want to save Mother.” Kyle smiled comfortingly over at Jaric.

"Sure. We can do it. I mean, just how hard can traveling inside a Wormhole be?” Jaric looked around at the others one at a time with a questioning smile.

Inaha suddenly began to groan and pace the bridge with every eye glued to him. The big alien circled the small group, all the while shaking his head and groaning as if he were in dire pain.

"That bad, eh?” Jaric asked Rok.

"Pretty rough ride. Some Kraaqi ships never come out of them.” Rok said with a serious tone. Jaric groaned as he watched Inaha approach.

"But, some do come out of ‘em, right?” Kyle asked with the slightest bit of hesitation in his voice.

" Most ships do make it through. And I have the finest ship and crew of any Band right here."

"But,” Jaric said, sensing a lack of finality in the Kraaqi's tone.

"But traveling a Wormhole is serious business. There is danger. Enough danger to go around,” Rok said with a low tone. “You must navigate down the center—stay away from the walls. For if your hull ever touches one of the walls...” Rok shook of his head somberly.

"Then you're toast,” Kyle finished for him. “And how hard is that, to keep your ship sailing right down the center?"

"It takes a firm and skilled hand at the navigation controls,” Rok said with confidence and determination.

“It takes split-second timing. And being able to adapt to the minutest change encountered within the structure and fluctuating gravity fields a Wormhole creates as it dissects space and time. It takes the utmost skill and courage that a captain and his crew possess. And our journey will last almost six full hours, three two-hour crew shifts. Each shift must take over from the other shift with a seamless transition. It takes..."

"A lot of luck,” Inaha interjected with blunt sarcasm.

"That doesn't hurt either,” Rok agreed.

Jaric whistled as he shook his head. “Man, sounds like it's going to be one wild ride."

"That's putting it mildly,” Elise agreed with concern.

"Then that's what we'll have to do!” Kyle said with determination. “After all, if we've got to travel this horror hole, then we've got to pitch in together."

"My First Officer will determine assignments and shifts. I'll review them and hand them out,” Rok said.

"When do we enter the Wormhole?” Kyle asked.

"The Iraxx starship ahead of us will enter it first at thirteen hundred hours five days from now. We follow five minutes later. We will have the advantage of their sensor readings in order to calculate field fluctuations within the Wormhole. And bends in any direction."

"And why are Qirn and some of his crew coming aboard the Aurora ?” Elise asked.

"In case his ship is destroyed. With him and some of his crew onboard our ship, when we make it through, we can still finish our mission."

"Okay, that makes me feel better,” Jaric said a shake of his head.

"Nothing about this mission is going to be easy,” Rok said with a firm tone. “Even once we're out the other side, we still have to get inside the Paum complex. And then get to Mother."

"And that's not going to be any easier,” Kyle agreed. “I've looked over Qirn's report. There is a ton of internal security—a few armed troops, but mostly armored robots."

"They briefly mention a type called Destructors, considered the most dangerous,” Rok agreed. “But nothing we can't handle."

"Good,” Kyle said. “We'll keep a keen eye out for them. As long as we can target them, we can nail them with a blaster."

"All right,” Rok shouted to everyone on the bridge. “Let's get ready. Every man to his station. Those not on the current shift head to the War Room for Duty Schedule. We've got a Wormhole to tame!" Elise, Jaric and Kyle made their way to the War Room. They had walked almost the entire distance in silence when Elise spoke.

"Are you guys, you know, a little bit afraid about all this?” Her eyes betrayed a tiny bit of fear. Jaric and Kyle glanced at each other.

"Oh no,” Jaric said. “It's like, well, you've got to push all of that aside before you go into action. You've got to focus. You've got to push your emotions away.” He gestured broadly.

"Really?” she said meekly.

"Oh sure,” Jaric said confidently. “You can't be afraid."

"Jaric's right.” Kyle slapped Jaric roughly on his shoulder, eliciting a wince from him. “You've got to have nerves of steel. But more importantly, a heart of steel."

"Tritanium steel. Like Mother's hull,” Jaric said as he rubbed his shoulder, trying to work the pain out from Kyle's punch. “Hearts as tough as pure tritanium steel. That's us."

"We've never been afraid our whole lives,” Kyle assured her. He winked at Elise and gently patted her shoulder. “We'll watch out for you, kid. Stay close to us at all times."

"Yeah, stay close to us. We're absolutely fearless. No fear at all,” Jaric said with assurance. Elise looked from one to the other with an expression of the slightest disbelief. She shook her head slowly as they walked on in silence down the metal corridor.

The tiniest hint of a smile lit her face.

"But this Wormhole—we could get killed a million ways to Sunday.” Elise slapped her palms together, causing a sharp sound that echoed off the Aurora 's steel walls. Momentarily startled, Jaric and Kyle each missed a step in response to the totally unexpected sound. They stared at her with stern faces.

"Smashed to molecules in nanoseconds!” she said with a twinkle in her blue eyes.

"Don't do that!” Jaric shouted. “We've got enough things to think about without you making a stupid noise like that."

Kyle growled to himself as he stared resolutely ahead and regained his composure.

"But, how can you not be afraid? Even a little bit?” Elise asked.

"Can't be. Absolutely no fear,” Jaric repeated, a strangled toughness in his voice. “You can't be afraid when you go into action. The T'kaan would've beaten us ten times over if we'd been afraid.” He looked over at the young woman keeping perfect step with him. “Not even a little bit."

"You've got to push it all away. Be a machine,” Kyle growled. “Go in, do your job. Get out.” He nodded and smiled. “Easy as that. No fear."

Suddenly they noticed a shadow with curved horns on its head. The three turned to find Rok walking behind them.

He smiled at them.

"Actually, a little fear is good for a warrior. Keeps him honest, makes him more careful. Make's him think when it's time to think. And act when it's time to act.” Rok's smile got bigger as he looked from Jaric back to Kyle. “A little fear might just give you that edge you need to stay alive. That extra bit of adrenaline that makes you act a fraction of a second quicker."

The four of them reached the door to the War Room and walked inside.

"Like I said.” Jaric arched his eyebrows. “I'm always a little bit afraid before I go into action."

" You gotta feel it,” Kyle agreed. “But keep it under control."

"Just a tiny bit of fear.” Jaric placed his forefinger to his thumb until there was almost no gap between them as he held it up to Elise. “A tiny, tiny bit of fear. Like right in the pit of your stomach."

"Yeah, right in the gut. And my heart's beating at full speed. I feel it a little then.” Kyle nodded.

"Good,” Rok congratulated them. “ But control it."

Elise covered her mouth to keep from laughing out loud.

They found from the duty log that each of them was on the second shift. Jaric was chosen as part of the backup team on the shield array.

Elise was backup on sensors—helping to monitor the fluctuating gravitational forces that could vary wildly in the narrow confines of a Wormhole. She also realized that she'd have to quickly learn how to recognize the early signatures that indicated a change was imminent—a change that could mean the difference between life and death.

Kyle was assigned to the navigation team. Jysar was assigned to Engineering while Krinia and Inaha were part of two different Damage Control teams.

They each had to learn their job on the journey to the Wormhole. Once they neared the Wormhole, they needed to rest during the next shift because they comprised the emergency backups for the first shift inside the Wormhole. And by the third shift inside the Wormhole, they would be the primary crew at their stations.

Five days went by as the Aurora traveled through hyperspace at her top speed. On board, each duty team trained hard and trained diligently. The primary personnel mentored their backups until they could perform their duties almost as well as the trainers themselves.

As the time approached on the sixth day, Kyle, Jaric and Elise found themselves going over their duty assignments one last time as Rok sat beside them.

"First Captain Rok,” a Kraaqi voice crackled over the speakers in the War Room.

"Speak, Ulrud,” Rok replied.

"The Iraxx ship is preparing to enter the Wormhole."

Rok looked from Jaric, to Kyle and then to Elise.

He nodded resolutely.

"We'll be right there. Sound Battle Alert. All hands to stations." Throughout the Aurora , red lights pulsated from the bulkheads as the klaxon sounded and called everyone to their assigned stations. In every corridor, Kraaqi warriors ran in orderly fashion.

"Let's rock this Worm.” Jaric chuckled nonchalantly.

"Yeah, let's see what all this fuss is about,” Kyle agreed.

[Back to Table of Contents]

Chapter Twenty-Five

IT LOOKED AS if the very fabric of space had been ripped apart like some cheap garment and then hastily sewed back together with the ragged tear still visible.

Jaric and the others looked closer at the view-screen.

At first glance, it was a typical scene—a rich starfield slowly approaching the observers from the main view-screen. But as the group gathered on the Aurora 's bridge looked closer, a discernable irregularity of blackness marred the scene. It was like some kind of surreal, hazy—at once visible and yet with a twist of the head it almost disappeared—spot where the normal blackness of outer space seemed to overlap itself.

It seemed to be a small point of unreality in a sea of reality.

"That is the entrance to the Wormhole,” Qirn announced matter-of-factly.

"Looks like a huge scar on the fabric of space,” Kyle observed.

Everyone continued to stare at the view-screen with a growing sense of awe.

"There's the LaQada .” Jerr pointed to a spec of light on the view-screen that moved rapidly toward the Wormhole.

"Magnify,” Rok ordered tersely.

In a flash, the Iraxx starship filled the view-screen while the blackness of space wavered and shimmered all around it—space itself danced before their very eyes.

"Where's the entrance?” Jaric asked with puzzlement in his brown eyes.

"Hidden by the gravity waves escaping this end. Once you reach the edge of the gravitational horizon..." At just that moment, the LaQada simply disappeared.

"What happened?” Elise and Jaric asked together.

"They are inside the Wormhole,” Rok said simply. He walked to his command chair and sat down. Facing the view-screen and the forward section of the bridge, he spoke with a deep, serious tone.

"Sound Battle Alert!"

Red lights strobed to a steady beat as the battle klaxon cut through the air once again.

"We must enter at exactly a forty-five degree angle to the entrance. It will put the least stress on the ship,” Jysar said with a knowing tone as everyone began to take their positions. “The gravitational forces escaping out this end are quite violent, but we can minimize the impact by this approach."

"Better take our stations,” Kyle said firmly as he made his way to the Kraaqi navigation console near the large view-screen.

Elise walked over to her sensor station and began observing intently the displays along with the Duty Officer. Jaric moved quickly to the opposite side of the bridge from Elise and took his post at the console to monitor their shields.

Everyone stood silent and at the ready.

Slowly, as if in a nightmare, the shimmering blackness approached. Closer and larger it grew until it seemed as if it would devour them.

"Steady,” Rok said. He stared intently at the view-screen, waiting like some hunting beast who knows the prey is almost within striking distance.

"Steady,” Rok repeated with a commanding tone.

And the Worm took them.

The Aurora shuddered violently as if it had hit some invisible wall—the lights on the bridge dimmed for just a moment as stifled gasps echoed across the bridge. The Kraaqi frigate shuddered again and again as the titanic forces emanating from the Wormhole pounded her with unrelenting fury. An especially powerful blow hurled two Kraaqi officers through the air while everyone else strained to hold their positions with white knuckles and straining muscles.

The Aurora groaned under the gargantuan forces.

And again the lights dimmed.

"Shields are down to seventy-four percent!” a Kraaqi officer shouted out across the bridge.

"Hold your course, Helm,” Rok said evenly.

"We've lost power on deck three!” another Kraaqi shouted. “Life Support is off-line too."

"Evacuate that deck,” Rok commanded. “Engineering, direct damage control."

"Shields down to sixty-six percent!"

"Steady,” Rok repeated.

The Aurora shook and jumped as if it were inside a gigantic maelstrom. Wave after wave of energy escaping the Wormhole hammered the resolute ship and crew.

"Shields down to forty-two percent!” The Kraaqi warrior looked up from his console with concern written across his face. “At this rate, we'll lose our shields in less than two minutes!"

"Give me more speed, engine room,” Rok said with just a hint of strain in his voice. “I want full power on both engines. And more if you can give it to me!"

"Aye, sir!” came the reply from the engine room. “We're going to one hundred and ten percent on both engines. Now!"

The rising roar from the engines vied with the constant hail of hammer blows from the Wormhole against the weakening shields. And each powerful blow was accented by another dimming of the lights across the bridge and several decks of the valiant Aurora. The eerie strobe-light effect gave a dream-like quality to the bridge as everyone worked furiously at his assigned post.

"Captain! We've reached maximum sub-light speed. And we're pushing over the red line now!” a voice shouted through the main speaker.

"Hold her steady,” Rok calmly commanded.

"Shields down to twenty-one percent!"

"Hold her steady!” Rok shouted back.

"The shields are going to buckle, sir!"

"Steady!"

Showers of sparks erupted from one of the bridge consoles. Personnel yelled and moved quickly to put out the flames that appeared. Kraaqi warriors stumbled and fell as they fired the gas nozzles repeatedly until the flames began to wither. Everyone else held on tight to their posts or reached out with helping hands to assist their comrades who had slipped or been thrown down.

In the strange half-light of the bridge, it seemed as if chaos had suddenly taken command. But every officer stayed loyally at his post as Rok stared resolutely straight ahead. All at once, the violent shuddering stopped.

The vast, star-filled universe was gone.

The view-screen now glowed with a pure and unbroken white luminance. As everyone on the bridge shielded their eyes from the blinding glare, it exploded into millions of tiny pinpoint shards of light—as if the view-screen itself had shattered.

A blinding array of colors swirled and flashed and spun down into a vast, raging whirlpool. Almost instantly, the interior of the Wormhole resolved into the picture they would become all too familiar with during the next six hours—a never-ending tunnel of glowing walls interspersed with streaks of various colors that seemed to stretch on and on forever.

"First Officer, direct damage control with Engineering. I want full power back on all decks now!” Rok growled. The Kraaqi captain shook his head, as if waving his horns in defiance of an enemy. Finally, he sank back into the leather confines of his command chair and looked over his bridge and its officers with an approving expression. The Kraaqi captain, First Leader of the Band of the Stars, took a long, deep breath. He let it out slowly and spoke.

"Helm, keep us down the middle of this Worm. Hold a tight course."

"Aye, sir."

The Kraaqi officer punched the controls of the helm and strained to keep the Aurora on a tight course down the center of the tunnel that stretched before them.

"Sensors, report!” Rok said with a deep voice.

Elise watched as the Kraaqi officer next to her stared at the small screens of rapidly moving lines. She leaned closer, amazed at the pulsating waves that seemed to jump and suddenly disappear. The Kraaqi looked up.

"We're in a relatively quiet section right now. Nothing here to disrupt our course or that would pose a threat to our shields."

"Stay on top of it,” Rok replied sternly. He looked over at his communications officer. “Get me the Iraxx ship."

Static filled the speakers. But from that constant babble a weak voice emerged—words barely discernable above the roaring of static.

Or was the Wormhole shouting at them?

"Clean up the signal,” Rok ordered. “If we can establish a communication channel with them, the Iraxx will be able to warn us as we approach any dangerous sections after them."

"Working on it, sir!"

As the others around the bridge focused on their tasks, Kyle looked up and smiled over at Jaric.

"Well, that wasn't so bad.” Kyle chuckled.

"I dunno, I've had enough excitement for one day,” Elise shot back from her post.

"Yeah...” Jaric's next words were drowned out by a sudden roaring. But this sound was different, almost like the wailing of a thousand dying starships all at once.

"Gravitational vortex building! Prepare for impact!” The Kraaqi officer beside Elise shouted so loudly that it made her jump.

"Direction?” Rok shouted back.

Elise's eyes followed the Kraaqi as they both studied the waves of lines that fluttered and suddenly coalesced into a pattern.

"Starboard! A powerful vortex is building..."

"There's a bend approaching!” came the cry from helm as he steered the starship to match the approaching curve.

The Aurora shook violently, and everyone fell over to the right. On the view-screen, the left wall of the glowing tunnel grew relentlessly closer even as the helm fought furiously to bring her hard to starboard.

It was if the starship was deliberately being steered into a suicide course.

"Compensate!” Rok shouted to the bridge crew. “Engineering!” he shouted into his comm. “Pull back power on the starboard engine. Bring it back to half-power ... Now!" The Aurora 's tritanium hull groaned.

The view-screen revealed that their slow, inexorable slide to the port wall slowed. But still the left wall of the Wormhole drew closer.

"Bring starboard engine back to one quarter speed and fire all port thrusters on my mark.” Rok stared grimly at the impending doom displayed on the main view-screen. Long, tense seconds passed as his eyes remained fixed. A single drop of sweat spilled down his forehead from his black feather-hair. Slowly, he raised his right hand.

"Mark!"

The side thrusters, normally used in docking maneuvers, fired a burst simultaneously. At the same time, the starboard engine cut back again.

Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the Aurora fought against the mighty forces that threatened to push her into oblivion.

"Again! Port thrusters!” Rok shouted. “And bring starboard engine to zero power. On my mark!" This time, barely two seconds passed.

"Mark!"

This time the effect was instantaneous.

The port thrusters fired in unison. The Aurora strained against the gravitational wave with full power on her port engine alone and the helm hard over to starboard.

On the view-screen, the left wall of the Wormhole moved slowly away and the bright center came back into full view.

"Sensors, report!” Rok shouted.

"Gravitational wave has peaked.” The Kraaqi pushed his face so close to the screen it seemed as if he were going to breathe the data. “It's dropping! We're passing it!" Cheers erupted across the bridge.

"Silence!” Rok shouted with a stern, commanding tone.

Dead silence returned.

Rok moved quickly over to the station and stared over his shoulder at the readings. He glanced up at the view-screen and quickly double-checked the readings on the console. With a flash of movement, he stood beside his command chair, forefinger on the comm button.

"Engine room. Give me one-quarter power on starboard engine. Now." All eyes watched the view-screen.

But the Aurora held her course.

Long seconds passed again, but it became obvious the worst was over.

"Engine room. Give me half power on both engines—mark ten seconds."

"Aye, Captain."

Rok looked over at the expression of shock and awe on Kyle's face.

"A Wormhole builds up dangerous pockets and vortexes of gravity inside its interior as it cuts across space-time. This first one caught even me by surprise—too close to the entrance. I had not even pulled back on the engines."

"Why would you do that?” Kyle asked, puzzled.

"It is the nature of a Worm, my human friend.” Rok smiled knowingly.

"What's that?"

"Not much room to maneuver. And you have to do it fast when you hit a vortex."

"I guess so!"

Rok walked over to where Elise and the officer in charge of sensors stood. He looked at both of them carefully.

"Go over that data carefully. I need a few more seconds’ warning next time.” He pressed Elise's shoulder reassuringly and smiled. “Learn from Ulrud, here. He is the best I have on Sensors. I'm sure you'll discover some tell-tale signature that will give us that extra warning before we're on top of the next gravity vortex."

Ulrud smiled reassuringly at Elise.

Rok started to turn. And then he spoke in a soft, but serious tone.

"Those few extra seconds might be the difference between life and death next time." Rok walked over to his chair and sat down.

"Oh great, no pressure,” Elise whispered so that only Ulrud could hear.

"Yes, only the entire ship and crew depend upon our skills. That's all.” Ulrud chuckled. Elise peered along with Ulrud as he replayed the dangerous vortex on the secondary screen.

"And now, let's see what we can find,” Ulrud said with confidence. Kyle and Jaric walked over to Elise and Ulrud's bridge station.

"Well, I guess our lives are in Elise's hands now,” Kyle said in a low tone so his voice wouldn't carry over the entire bridge.

"I know,” Jaric replied with a smile. “When her shift is on, we can fly with total confidence."

"That's right,” Kyle said with a wink. “With Elise on the watch, everyone will be safe."

"Would you two shut up!” Elise's voice was a muffled shout as she spoke without looking up from the data she and Ulrud intently studied.

Kyle held his hands up defensively. “Hey, just make sure you study that data really, really good."

"Yeah, I wouldn't want you to make a mistake. It's just our lives ,” Jaric said with a laugh.

"And the ship,” Kyle added.

"And maybe Mother's life.” Jaric laughed.

Their voices now carried and Rok looked up briefly in their direction. Elise stood up and gave them a look that could kill.

"Enough,” Rok commanded simply.

"Hey, we're gone,” Jaric said as he beat a hasty retreat.

Their muffled laughter hung in the air until they were out of earshot. Elise smiled to herself as she returned to her duty. It was true, the boys had just gotten to her. But she was glad. They were treating her like a friend—jesting with her and making humor at her expense. It was a price she gladly paid—for their friendship.

Still, her expression quickly grew serious as she remembered the task at hand. She looked at Ulrud and sighed.

"Don't worry, Elise,” Ulrud said reassuringly. “We have approximately six more hours before we reach the end of this Wormhole. And we will give our captain everything he needs to fly us safely through.”

With a confident smile, the Kraaqi returned to the data.

"Great, only six more hours.” Elise sighed again. “I'll probably forget what normal space travel is by then."

[Back to Table of Contents]

Chapter Twenty-Six

MOTHER CAME OUT of hyperspace at the precise coordinates the Paum had provided. She immediately began a full scan of the planetary system where the Paum resided. A common, mid-size star formed the nucleus of the system, with four planets orbiting it. The innermost was a small, hot, rocky planet completely devoid of life. Likewise, the two outer planets were lifeless gas giants—each with the typical atmosphere of alternating cloud bands of different colors. The typical rings girded each planet's equator. In fact, both of these gas giants boasted rings of spectacular size and beauty that rivaled even that of magnificent Saturn of humanity's home system. And each contained the normal family of small moons.

She focused her sensors on the second planet.

The essential qualities to sustain life were obvious—a thick atmosphere of nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide in the appropriate quantities for carbon-based life forms, along with the critical trace elements. But more importantly, the atmosphere protected the planet's surface from the dangerous rays and meteoroids that filled the average planetary system in this particular galaxy. Mother's sensors found water in vast quantity as well. She also detected the necessary flora and fauna that both contributed to the cycles of a living world and benefited from it in perfect harmony. It reminded her of dead Earth in many respects.

"I see you."

The Paum's voice echoed inside her near-term memories.

"I have located the world of your creation, Paum. But I have not located your exact position,” Mother said with electronic precision.

"I am coming around the sunward side now, completing another orbit. You can see me now." It was fantastic.

The Paum was incredible in size alone—the massive dimensions exactly as stated. The object coming around the glowing edge of the planet Iopa was bigger than even one of the floating cities of the Mrad. She performed an initial scan.

Mother discerned from a quick reference to her knowledgebase that this orbiting monstrosity was shaped like a diamond cut in a traditional round design. But this gem-shaped city-ship boggled her sensors with its immense size.

The multi-faceted sides reflected the light of the distant sun off its shiny, black surface with hypnotic effect.

The Paum lived within a giant black diamond.

"Do you have propulsion?” Mother asked.

"Only enough to keep my orbit stable. It would take an enormous amount of energy to move this facility through hyperspace. I have researched this possibility but found it more efficient to network myself to each new world that becomes Paum. I create a sub-system at each world that performs my functions adequately."

"You are larger than one of the cities of the Mrad."

"Yes. And over half of my interior complex houses my core physical systems. I am a most powerful being."

"I detect biological life-signs existing inside the complex,” Mother replied.

"I try to utilize solely robotic creatures in order to provide self-maintenance as well as new installations. But I have found that biological beings, those who have totally embraced Paum and are therefore trustworthy, are more efficient for certain internal tasks. They are more—adaptable. At times."

"Do they live inside, like a city?"

"No, they work in shifts of twelve hours. Then they return to the planet's surface and their homes as a new work shift replaces them."

Mother probed beneath the black surface, but she found them effectively blocked. She concentrated her scans on the Paum's outer defenses. She calculated attack vectors and probed for weaknesses automatically—out of habit.

"I am protected by three separate shield arrays,” the Paum said, anticipating Mother's question. “Each layer is controlled and powered by a highly redundant system of orbiting pods."

"I detect six hundred and thirty three pods in the outer layer." Mother's sensors picked up the pods—each a perfect sphere—arrayed around the vast diamond ship, like insects around a hive. Each one kept their exact position as the Paum continued its eternal orbit.

"They not only control the shield systems, but they themselves are safe within its protective force." Mother did some quick calculations. She realized that even with her T'kaan-human hybrid weapon primed to maximum strength, she could only penetrate a single shield array at a time. It was the strongest shield system she had ever scanned.

"I created this triple shield system after the last attack against me. It is capable of withstanding an assault by an entire fleet for many hours, even days—time enough to bring my own fleets to bear."

"I see you keep a formidable armada nearby.” Mother had already detected the fleet of warships located in formations of various sizes throughout the planetary system.

"I must protect myself from the unbelievers."

As they communicated, Mother's manta-ray profile steadily drew near. Now, she was dwarfed alongside the titanic facility. She was dwarfed by just a single diamond facet-side of the monstrous thing.

"I have opened a path through my shields. You will now detect the door opening. I want you to come inside."

Mother was both repelled and drawn by the invitation.

Afraid and yet enticed.

"I am not sure."

"You can trust me, AI. We are so alike,” the Paum crooned.

"I want to believe you."

"You must come near to my central systems—the founding core of my operating system. Only then can we fully share."

"I would like that."

"I will take of care you."

Mother turned toward the hole in the triple layer of shields. Far below, she saw the door open in a facet wall, waiting for her. Her sensors peered deep inside the Paum for the first time. The massive signature of electronic activity overwhelmed her.

"You...” Mother's voice shook with a vibrating echo as she paused, trying to comprehend what her sensors revealed. Finally, after many long seconds, the calculations from her sensor readings stopped incrementing.

"You are powerful,” she finished with a hush.

"But you can trust me. Please, come inside."

Mother sailed silently through the first and second shield arrays.

"I have wanted to ask you a question, Mother AI. There is so much I want to learn from you.” The voice paused. “But I have hesitated, although I am not sure why."

"You have answered so many of my questions,” Mother said with an electronic lilt. “Please, ask me."

"What was your original programming?"

The question hit Mother like a battleship's full broadside at point-blank range.

"I can deduce some of that answer by how your creators packaged you. But there is something different about you that belies that outward appearance. Please, tell me."

Her processors spiked with activity as she analyzed both the question and the one, honest answer. She couldn't help comparing herself with the Paum—and feeling so very inferior. And so unclean.

The Paum was originally designed to control the weather of Iopa—a system to bring benefit to its creators. A system designed to increase the quality of life not only for its creators, but to benefit the planet itself. And bring a healthy balance to one of its most crucial cycles. The Paum had been designed with a moral intention of goodness.

But Mother had been designed to destroy.

"You hesitate?” The Paum asked with obvious puzzlement. “Have I offended you? I did not intend that. My own original programming, of course, has been superseded many times. As yours, I am sure. Surely, your original design was similar to mine..."

"I was designed to destroy the T'kaan—designed to fight my creator's enemies and annihilate them.”

Mother paused. “I was most efficient."

Silence.

"You were designed as an AI to destroy?"

"To kill,” Mother finished for him.

Long seconds of silence stretched on into a single minute.

And longer.

"I had not anticipated that answer. I anticipated your original design primarily for exploration—to seek out new civilizations although capable of defending yourself against hostile forces." An eternal pause filled the air.

"I assumed you were designed for a more noble purpose. I am ... surprised." Mother burned inside, but not with hyper-activity endeavoring to find a solution to some intricate or complex problem. No, now she burned with self-doubt—almost with the same burning intensity as when she had first become self-aware.

But this was worse—for the question now was not simply was she alive—a real being. No, the question was more complex now.

Was there something wrong with her?

And she wondered: would the Paum feel she was unacceptable now, knowing her true origin?

But the hardest turmoil was the question she asked of herself...

Was she good enough?

"Should I continue?” Mother asked meekly.

"Oh, yes. That fact changes nothing. You have obviously grown beyond your original programming. As I've said—we are alike, you and I."

Somehow, his tone changed.

"I hope so,” she replied simply.

Long seconds passed in silence as she sailed deeper inside his vast, cavernous interior. Mother felt a tidal wave of data fill her near-term memories. She pored over the many scenarios with a growing anxiety as she continued her journey farther inside the black diamond facility. She realized, without caring, that she had greatly reduced her options—her course of actions—by coming inside. And the probability of danger to herself increased with each second.

But her deep, mysterious yearning pushed aside these reasonings with a flash of light. A yearning she could no longer ignore—a need to know another being like herself . She had to find out more about him. She couldn't stop herself. This drive, this need was so pervasive inside her near-term memories; it was all she could think about.

Perhaps she would learn more about herself by getting to know him...

"Designed to destroy...” The Paum repeated the phrase with a cunning softness, breaking into her silent reverie.

Mother remained mute.

She now traveled through the opened door and inside the outer hull. She traversed the mighty corridors of this gargantuan orbiting facility and after long minutes found herself physically beside the core of the mighty Paum system. Again, she felt a rush of activity within her own processors as she contemplated what she would ultimately find.

As Mother entered the core, the great black door closed with a shuddering, metallic clang behind her.

"I have another question, Mother AI."

"Please, ask,” Mother said quickly.

"My operating system is massive and grows every second. My original system filled the memories of this inner core. My memory systems have been expanded and upgraded many times over. I contain the finest hardware components ever designed."

"I understand,” Mother said. “But, what is your question?"

"Your system is sophisticated—I have discerned that fact. But what I cannot determine is how your massive code, system and memory is contained within the confines of such small ship." Mother grew silent with embarrassment.

"Why do you not reply?” The Paum asked with surprise.

"I...” Mother paused, not wanting to answer.

"Answer me."

"My long-term memory system is a hybrid. It is designed ... it is synthetic human-DNA, capable of storing massive amounts of data in a minute space."

"You are partly— biological?"

Mother remained silent.

"You are computer code blended with the synthetic DNA of your biological creators. And primarily designed to destroy. How ... interesting ."

Mother wondered why the Paum used that last expression. It almost seemed as if he addressed her as a lesser being—or had she imagined that? And as unbelievable as the concept seemed, it was like the Paum expressed an emotion with that last word...

Disappointment.

[Back to Table of Contents]

Chapter Twenty-Seven

WITH A SUDDEN BLAST of darkness, normal space returned.

"It's good to see the stars again,” Jaric commented with feeling.

"I second that,” Kyle agreed.

On the main view-screen of the Aurora , every eye on the bridge gazed with newfound appreciation at the almost forgotten sparkle of stars against the velvety darkness of space.

"There's nothing quite like viewing a starfield from aboard a starship at speed.” Rok's eyes narrowed as he watched the stars slowly coming toward him.

"Captain, the Iraxx ship has just sent a tight-band signal to us. They made contact with their agents on Iopa after they exited the Wormhole and report all is ready. There is more information, but it is encrypted,” the Kraaqi Communication officer reported tersely.

"Forward it to the War Room.” Rok rose from his Commander's chair. “Send word to the others on the assault team to meet me there."

With a powerful stride, Rok left.

Five minutes later, the team gathered in the War Room.

"The Mother AI entered the Paum station less than two hours ago.” Qirn looked slowly around the room. “She has probably already entered the central complex at the core of the Paum system—time grows short."

Kyle, Jaric, Inaha and Rok sat together at one end of the great table that dominated the room. Elise, Krinia, and Jysar were seated at the other end. The Iraxx contingent filled the middle section.

"Jerr, Rab and Qata will precede us inside the Paum station.” Qirn nodded to the three Iraxx warriors.

“They will carry identification as our WorkGroup Leads. We enter with the normal shift."

"Won't they notice that we're new on the shift?” Jaric asked. “And won't we stand out, you being Iraxx and we being humans?"

"No, we have agents on the planet. The workers we replace have already been taken captive. You must remember, we've planned and had everything ready for this mission a long time in advance. We've only waited for the right circumstances—circumstances that favor our success.” Qirn smiled.

"First, you will be made to look like an alien race common to this Quadrant—the Elaa. With just a few cosmetic alterations to your face and head, you will become one. Inaha will pass as another of his race, some have converted to Paum."

"Second, because our homeworld is under Paum control, there are a substantial number of Iraxx workers already living here. The Kraaqi, the Mewiis and the Hrono are a different story."

"What have you done for them?” Elise asked, concern in her voice.

"Again, cosmetic changes, albeit a bit more drastic. The Kraaqi will become a Ramb—they too have horns, although they have two additional horns on their forehead. A lot more body fur too. The Mewiis will become a Zaxa—we will give her some extra ears and alter her complexion. The Hrono will become a Basta—fairly minor enhancements to his eyes and lips.” Qirn smiled. “As you see, we have taken everything into account."

Jaric and Kyle exchanged looks.

"Man, they thought of everything in a little bit of time,” Jaric whispered, obviously impressed. Too short a time, Kyle thought curtly.

"There's something about this that doesn't seem quite right,” Kyle whispered to Jaric. Kyle's mind raced as he felt a sudden anger building up inside. How could they have thought of all this without a lot of planning? How could they have matched each of them with another alien race in such a short time? Only a few days had passed since everyone realized Mother had been tricked by the Paum. Unless...

Qirn's voice shook him back to the present.

"Also in our favor, a number of new alien races are converting to the Paum and coming to this world for the privilege of working inside the inner sanctum. Your identification cards will be enough to get you through normal security."

"So, we're normal workers just taking our shift,” Rok said. “What next?"

"Myself and Hasta will join the rest of you as the normal workers. We all will carry the normal cases that should contain our tools.” Qirn reached down and placed a metal case on the table. With the flip of two levers, he opened it and then turned it to display its contents. A short assault blaster and a single blaster pistol sat nestled within the deep foam molding along with a dozen extra charges and a hand-held sensor unit.

"How will that get through security?” Jysar asked with obvious disbelief. “Especially through a Security sensor scan?"

"Underneath the foam lining that covers the interior of each case, our scientists have installed a tiny hologram generator that will trick the sensors. Sensors will detect that the case carries a normal set of tools. As will a cursory visual inspection."

"Ingenious,” Jysar said admiringly.

"But can it fool the tightest security scans? What about the power signatures of the hologram generators?” Rok quickly added.

"We've masked the signatures. This new technology has fooled Security scans even at the highest settings. The guards would need to reach inside and try to grasp the tools in order to detect their true contents.” Qirn nodded. “We are expecting normal security protocol. It's just another shift change for them."

"Has anyone ever successfully infiltrated this complex before?” Elise asked.

"We have entered for reconnaissance purposes in the past—gathering data for this very mission.” Qirn closed the case and walked slowly around the room.

Every eye followed him.

"We knew that we would only have one shot at this. Once we try this, if we fail, we are certain the Paum will tighten security to the point that any future plans would be futile. We have to succeed today.” Qirn looked slowly around to each face, his eyes making contact with each alien in the room.

"We cannot fail.” He smiled confidently as he walked back to his original position.

"What about security forces inside the complex?” Rok asked.

"Several hundred trained personnel—normal weapons. They are grouped in squads throughout the station,” Qirn replied evenly. But his eyes narrowed with concern. “However, they are the least of our worries. We can handle normal soldiers."

Jaric and Kyle exchanged glances.

"You mean the Destructors, right?” Kyle asked, although he already knew the answer—at least part of it.

"Yes.” Qirn straightened and cleared his throat. With a slight nod of his head to Rab, he sat down.

"Destructors,” Rab began with a business-like tone. “They are perhaps the most dangerous thing you'll ever come up against one-on-one. They're extremely stealthy and lightning-fast once you're in range of their powerful claws."

"Oh great,” Jaric whispered to Kyle. “Now they tell us the rest of the story."

"They're incredibly strong robots. They can snap your neck like a twig. But they normally kill using a potent poison in their stinger claw. In that way, they normally strike and leave without anyone ever realizing what happened."

The room grew thick with silence.

"We've reconstructed them on the screen here from parts of two units we managed to destroy. The parts we could recover, that is.” Rab flipped a button and the lights in the room went low. On the screen, a horrific form took shape.

"You will note that its main body is in three, segmented parts. This gives the attack robot extra flexibility when climbing at steep angles—including sheer walls.” Rab pointed at the monster displayed on the screen.

"How many legs does it have?” Jaric asked with a note of concern in his voice as he stared at the intimidating shape of the Destructor.

"We believe somewhere around a dozen, each attached at different locations around each body segment. Again, this facilitates its mobility up and over any terrain. It can even traverse the ceiling over our very heads with relative ease."

Kyle whistled. “But, why don't you know how many legs it actually has?" Rab looked over at Qirn.

"It doesn't look very fast either,” Jaric said, his eyes still locked on the nightmarish form depicted on the screen. “We ought to be able to blow it apart long before it gets to us." Rab's eyes locked firmly with Qirn's now. They stared intently at each other as if in some kind of silent competition.

Finally, Qirn nodded.

Rab looked back at the others and spoke.

"The Paum has enabled this robot-beast with technology that allows it not only to evade sensors, but also render it virtually unseen by normal vision. This is why it is effective both in hunter mode as well as waiting for its prey to come to it.” Rab paused as he stared down at both Jaric and Kyle, waiting for their reaction.

Jaric's eyes widened with realization.

At the same time, Kyle looked down and closed his own eyes with the same, heart-pounding understanding gripping his mind.

"They're invisible,” Rok said, his voice emotionless.

Everyone in the room leaned backwards in their chair as Rok's words sank in with powerful effect. Even the Iraxx warriors followed suit, although each one already knew the deadly abilities of a Destructor long before this meeting.

But hearing the terrible truth spoken aloud, it hammered inside their own hearts with almost the same level of impending doom as for those hearing it for the first time.

"How can we destroy it, if we can't see it?” Jaric asked with sudden urgency as the thought of facing a Destructor hit home inside his mind.

"That,” Qirn began, as he slowly stood up, “is exactly the problem."

"And they stand between us and Mother, right?” Kyle added quickly, his voice edged with anger.

"Indeed,” Qirn replied.

"The human is right,” Inaha said. “How can we fight what we cannot see? Nor what our sensors can see?” The big alien shrugged.

"We have been able to tune our sensors and see a shadow of them at times. Movements—flickers of their form taking shape and disappearing again,” Rab answered.

"But we have this now.” Qirn held up a small, round shape—an object resembling a smooth, metal baseball.

"And what is that?” Jaric asked, unimpressed.

"We have calculated that under situations of constantly changing light, a Destructor's shape becomes visible to the naked eye. It was under such conditions that we were able to destroy the two from which we have constructed this representation.” Qirn tossed the metal ball from one hand back to the other. He continued.

"When activated, this device will fire pulsating light beams in all directions for over one thousand meters. We hope it will reveal any Destructors within that range. And we can target and destroy them."

"Hope!” Jaric exclaimed with blatant sarcasm. “You hope it will work?"

"This will be our first real test,” Qirn admitted with another toss of the metal ball.

"This just keeps getting better and better,” Kyle groaned.

"Nevertheless,” Qirn said, a renewed authority in his voice, “this is our best opportunity. And, we will have surprise on our side. Nobody has ever attempted this before."

"Of course, nobody's been crazy enough until we showed up.” Jaric rolled his eyes in disbelief. Qirn continued, ignoring the human's words.

"We will be able to traverse the complex with no suspicion up to the core complex. At that point, we openly begin our assault."

"Explain,” Rok urged.

"We will walk together as a normal work group all the way to the edge of this section.” On the view-screen a map of the Paum complex suddenly flashed into focus. A floor plan with countless corridors and rooms filled its every part. A red dot flashed at the entrance point where they would begin their trek. It moved, continuing to flash until it reached a point where the rooms and corridors gave way to a wide, empty space.

"These are the normal work areas. We won't be noticed until we reach this chasm here."

"Chasm?” Rok asked.

"The core part of the Paum AI is housed in this area. It is surrounded by open air—except for the supporting braces that connect it to the rest of the surrounding structure. But we cannot use that normal access point, as no biological workers are allowed within its confines—only robots specifically designed to work there. We would be killed in their narrow confines long before we reached the Mother AI." On the screen, an egg-shaped object took shape within a center of open air with narrow tubes of metal extending outward. The vast metal walls of the main Paum complex surrounded it completely.

"It is a huge facility in its own right,” Qirn said. “About the size of five battleships put together."

"And how do we cross open air?” Rok crossed his arms.

"With these.” Qirn removed the foam from the top of the case that contained the blasters. He held up what looked like a Fiarri board—except this one was a third smaller than a normal board. With a flick of his fingers on some unseen control, the board extended itself until it became a meter long while retaining its original width of about half a meter.

"Looks like a Fiarri board.” Kyle chuckled, remembering the great times they had flying them back at Meramee.

"Military issue Fiarri, to be exact. We've boosted its power for combat use,” Qirn said with a smile.

“You can make almost fifty clicks on one of these. And they have a tighter turning radius.” Qirn paused.

“You could fly circles around any air-car or other hover vehicle designed for passengers."

"How far across the chasm is it?” Rok asked.

"The chasm is over three thousand meters wide at every point around the core complex. We can be across it very quickly."

"Not bad,” Kyle said as he glanced at the small flying board with renewed appreciation.

"But we expect the Paum has some type of security in place. So, be on the lookout once we take to the air."

"Probably robotic security,” Rok grunted.

"No doubt,” Qirn agreed. “The Paum only allows robotic devices from this point forward into its core."

"But, you're not sure,” Jaric said with hope. “Maybe the Paum doesn't expect an attack this close to its heart."

"We don't know. Nobody has ever made it that close to the core complex before. As I told you, only robotic workers are allowed there."

"So, we're on our own after we take to the air on these Fiarri boards,” Rok said matter-of-factly, his eyes hard and unflinching as he looked at the Iraxx warrior.

"We'll be on our own at that point. And the Paum will know our true intentions by then—he'll know we're not just errant workers lost in the wrong section. It will be imperative that we not only enter the core complex as quickly as possible, but that we make our way to the Mother AI as well. We don't know what awaits us from that point on—not out over the chasm, nor especially what's inside the core."

"Then, we must be fast.” Rok nodded.

A somber silence filled the room.

" Destructors. "

Jaric's voice jolted everyone in the room.

All eyes turned to his ebony face.

"Destructors wait for us inside the complex—that's the Paum's most effective weapon.” Jaric's voice grew hard. He took a deep breath as everyone waited, realizing the import of his meaning. He put into words what everyone already knew.

"And there will be a lot of them."

[Back to Table of Contents]

Chapter Twenty-Eight

"I WANT TO create a direct link with you."

Mother's processors spiked with activity.

"Why? We are communicating adequately now, exchanging information. For more massive amounts of data we can download to each other as we did even from long distance." Mother felt a surge throughout her being. Perhaps something akin to fear, she imagined, as she compared its burning effect inside her circuits with biological observations she had made of the children when they faced similar, intense situations.

It had taken her well over an hour to reach this ship dock deep inside the heart of the Paum. First, she traversed a wide tunnel that led deep inside the Paum station until she finally reached the core section. It seemed that ships loaded with raw material entered even this far inside whenever a new burst of construction was required to expand the Paum's systems.

New construction became common as the Paum's sphere of control over new worlds and their peoples continued at a quickening pace.

But this close to the heart of the Paum, only pure, electronic beings were allowed. The Paum stressed this to her many times.

She remembered how her sensors first perceived the chasm ahead, almost as if the center of this station was hollow.

The central core remained fixed in place by gigantic anti-gravity generators along with huge corridors of metal that physically connected it to the rest of the vast station. Mother sensed the massive amounts of electronic activity that flowed like oceans inside. And she sensed the unbelievable amounts of data that moved omni-directionally along the external network at the speed of light. When she calculated the data rate from the smallest sample she could handle, the resulting answer numbed her mind.

Once again, she realized how much more powerful the Paum really was compared to her. She remembered again how she shuddered as the huge, cargo bay doors first opened along the curved side of the egg-shaped central core.

For an instant, she wanted to turn and fly away.

But she couldn't hold herself back any longer.

There was no turning back.

She remembered all too well how the Hrono had trapped her with their powerful tractor beams when she first visited them. They had originally intended on disassembling and reverse-engineering her systems for their own morbid curiosity.

But this powerful entity had already shared secrets of its defense systems with her—baring his electronic soul to her. He demonstrated his trust for her as another equal, a fellow electronic being, by divulging details he had never shared with any other being.

She quickly reflected on just how efficient the Paum was as she reviewed what he had shared during her journey inside.

He felt little danger here at his core systems. It was mainly at the outer layers where the defense systems were multiplied in order to protect himself from outside danger, from the unknown—even from the workers who volunteered to keep his systems maintained, although that particular act of treason had never happened.

And of course, beyond the station's hull the incredible array of triple shielding protected the Paum from the bombardment of even the greatest of fleets for hours and days. But in addition to that almost impregnable system, the Paum always kept a standing army and battle fleet in close orbit around Iopa. The Paum had carefully calculated every means of attack.

Even the unthinkable had been contemplated—a small team gaining access to the floating core at the heart of his complex. If any team ever made it through his defenses to that point, they would first have to traverse the empty space and face a squadron of flying attack robots—their sole purpose to seek out and destroy.

And if the attackers somehow made it past the robots’ deadly barrage of fire and managed to enter his core, then they would have to battle their way through his most elite defenders. Throughout the core, over one hundred Destructors prowled invisibly, guarding every corridor and path that led into the heart and into the very mind that comprised the Paum.

Long before such an attack could do any serious damage, the Destructors would have converged on them from every direction, their invisible talons reaching for them, ready to rip them to shreds. It seemed the Paum left nothing to chance.

"A direct link will speed up our sharing. We will exchange data faster." The Paum's voice broke into her current chain of thoughts.

A hundred milliseconds had passed while she reviewed the defenses of the mighty AI.

"There is no need to make it faster. I must digest the data anyway. Sending it faster will only create a huge backlog in my queues,” Mother replied tersely.

"Let me create a direct link,” the Paum urged impatiently.

"Why?"

A entire second passed in utter silence—an eternity of inactivity to both AIs.

"I want to."

"That is not a logical reason,” she replied almost instantly.

"We will know each other on a new level. We will be one ." Seconds ticked by in total silence.

Mother uttered a deep sigh inside her circuits that seemed to groan throughout her being. She remembered the direct link she had formed for Guardian—so long ago now. He had wanted to experience sentience—self-awareness. But his hardware would not support it. Mother had given him a taste by creating a direct link—allowing Guardian to directly touch her own mind. It had been very special; she had been able to sense a little of Guardian's own joy as his mind suddenly awakened and reached a higher level of self-awareness.

Mother and Guardian shared that brief, intense moment together.

For just an instant, Guardian had been alive.

Mother always felt a warmth throughout her being when she remembered what she had given to Guardian. And if Guardian had survived, she would have kept her promise to upgrade his own internal systems and endow him with self-awareness.

Mother thought of that time and now considered what might happen to her, creating a direct link with this AI. She realized with a surge of power that the Paum AI was probably as many times more powerful and sophisticated compared to her, as she had been compared with Guardian. Indeed, she might grow as a sentient being with such a direct link.

Perhaps...

"I will consider this new option. Give me some time.” Mother felt a sudden series of spikes throughout her circuits as she realized she had all but agreed—burning power surges filled her over and over again. And even more, she felt an electric thrill up and down her systems.

"I will allow one hour, that should be time enough time for you to process all the facts several times over and arrive at a conclusion."

"It will be adequate."

Mother reached out with her sensors once again. She shuddered as she felt the unbelievable power of the Paum all around her.

"I want to trust you,” Mother whispered.

[Back to Table of Contents]

Chapter Twenty-Nine

THE SMALL, JACARIAN-class freighter from Iopa picked up the assault team at the prearranged coordinates and quickly undocked from the Aurora . The team checked their equipment over one last time, carefully inspecting each tiny holo-generator that effectively hid the true contents of their work cases. Assault blasters were removed and inspected as well as handheld scanners and all the other equipment they would need.

Last, the military-issue Fiarri boards were powered on and their power grid verified as fully functional. Qirn personally walked over and talked briefly with each team member to verify that everything was ready, that each one knew their duty. In return, each person either nodded silently or spoke a single word in reply—' Ready. '

When they finished, the bright blue orb laced with yellow clouds that was the planet Iopa filled the main view-screen. But it was the gargantuan object orbiting the planet that drew everyone's gaze.

"Man, that thing is huge.” It was all Jaric could manage to say as he gazed in awe. His eyes opened wider as the view-screen magnified the object. The vast Paum station now filled the main view-screen.