First Journeys Chapter 14

Interlude: Lox Marshall

He had visited the Prison and convinced one of the administrative assistants working there that the indoor plants needed checking again. This was an easy and little psionic suggestion, and all that was needed, as he was the regular official contractor.

He could not visit the actual prison tract, but that was not needed. The prison guards were psionic shielded anyway, especially as there was a Psi talent in the cells at the moment. He watered the indoor trees in the attached offices and glanced at the field screens monitoring the prisoners, as all he needed was visual contact. The woman was his target and he planted a new wish in her mind. She wanted to hold flowers when she was executed. It was a harmless suggestion. That she would ask for Saran Lulus would guarantee they called him.

Interlude: Adam Smith

He had actually burned out the drive of his small but very fast Cobra Race ship, the damage was considerable to the brand new ship he just had purchased 8 hours ago, nevertheless, he had made it to Corri-Door with 3 hours to spare before the execution was to take place. He had virtually unlimited funds to complete his mission and all available data on Lox Marshall in his data brain. His left eyeball was actually a precision laser emitter and with it he could drill a fine and deadly hole in his mark without anyone noticing him doing it, but he had to find his mark first. His papers identified him as John Adams of Luna, and his CIT was no forgery but the real thing. Easily obtainable for a SII Black Ops enforcer, while the Citizen CIT implantation machines were made by the government, they used parts manufactured by SII- Biotronics Division.

He found tunnel 10 and the business easily enough. After torturing the pretty Office assistant with a Neuro active Poly scanner that was a crude Positronic alternative to a natural telepath, almost as good just not very gentle and not legal. But he only found that she indeed knew her boss had left, but she did not know where he went. So she had told the truth from the start. John shrugged, for that kind of bonus he would gladly kill his own mother, bless her heart. He had sprayed the body with a neat bio dissolver. While he was on his way down town, her body would dissolve, bones and all. In about ten minutes all evidence would be gone. However finding Lox was not that easy, even this early in the morning there was lots of foot traffic and there was the possibility Lox had disguised himself. He used his PDD to send a short burst message. The chances to find Lox in time had just climbed well past the 75 percent chance.

Hoods

When the alarm woke me I was surprised I had found sleep in the first place. Visiting the prisoners facing certain death had affected me more than I thought. I remembered images of a fading dream about Tyr and Egill accusing me of judging and killing without remorse. Dawn had assured me yesterday that it was her who would throw the switch. Still I had to be there. It was so she told me, the assistants task to put the blindfolding hoods over the delinquents faces and it would be me who would see their faces last.

I had a long cold shower and after putting on the executioners uniform, and girded the chain sword instead of the blaster. I simply did not want to use a weapon I had never tried before. I stepped out the small hotel room close to the Police department. The corridor was guarded by two police officers who acknowledged me with a nod. Their faces clearly showed, fear and disgust as they looked silently at me. Dawn appeared moments later from her room and said.” We still have time for breakfast; you are ready a little early.”

“I don’t think I can eat now!”

Her voice became softer.” Doing what we have to do is easier on a stomach that has something to do, trust me.”

We went together to her temporary office were breakfast was already served on a small table. Here behind closed doors she removed her hood and poured me a mug of coffee. “I cannot express how thankful I am that you are here. Even after all this time I don’t really get used to it and the main reason for the Assistant is moral support you know. So I am not totally alone when I have to do my work.”

I had no real response for that. I felt friendship and sympathy for Dawn, but not enough to make me feel less guilty. So I took the cup watched her eating with purpose and eagerness in her moves and said.” What will I have to do afterwards?”

“We both will take a break of two hours and then you can talk to a psych Support if you like. Some executioners do. I fill out the final paper work and we are done.”

“So it means I still might make it to the Academy in time?”

“It is not up to me but to the Chief Justice and I guess your admiral, but I could not see any reason to keep you any longer, unless of course you change your mind and want to pursue a career in the Justice or Correction department.”

“Sorry Dawn, but that is not me. I rather go back to Nilfeheim and scrub Nubhir skins.”

She finished her breakfast and then, before she put her hood back on she said.” It is not uncommon that you might feel the need to throw up. If possible do not lift the hood doing it.”

I made a sour face and put on the hood” I keep that in mind, even though the thing has the perfect shape to catch it.”

She actually found that funny and laughed while we left the room and went to the waiting flyer.

Interlude: Lox

Lox lingered by the flower and souvenir stand, he had delivered flowers to it just the day before. The man running it, was an actually a friend of his even though they were officially competitors. Ill Dum Kau of Terran descent was a florist and had ordered extra stock with Lox to give him a share on the expected business. Ill came out of his store holding a PDD and asked.” Do you have any Pink Lulu Roses left?”

Lox feigned surprise.” Yes as a matter of fact I do have some.”

“One of the delinquents, a woman from Corri-Gas wanted to hold a bunch while she gets hanged and they granted her this wish. I don’t have any pink ones left and no one answers the PDD in your shop!“.

He was lucky and got a cab right away. He wondered why Liona would not answer calls, she was usually so dependable. If she went to the hanging without asking he would fire her!

He found the door to the shop unlocked and a strange sickening sweet smell hung in the air, but he had little time to be curious about smells. Only at the edge of his conscious he noticed the almost perfectly human shaped wet looking shadow on the floor behind the counter that slowly disappeared. The Kermac spy was way to agitated to really notice. He took a big bunch of Lulus out of the stasis storage and another mini beamer from a hidden compartment in his and rushed back.

Interlude: John

It was almost hopeless to find Lox in all this! He would probably sit somewhere aiming a long range beamer at the scaffold. John Adams would have loved to complete the mission. The bonus was astronomic; still all the money could not help him find Lox now.

Interlude: Lox

Lox approached the barrier and one of the beefy police officers in full armor was actually a neighbor of his who lived in a house just 3 tunnel recesses down from his in Tunnel recess Dwelling in tunnel 9. He had often talked to that police officer since he took great pride in his little front lawn and not only was a regular customer but also asked Lox for plant and flower advice. The cop’s name was Trevor Burke. Lox was certain he would not even need Psionic suggestions here, not that he would want to try. The suit was not a new model but could still have Psi shielding.

Burke looked impressive in the massive blue battle armor holding a shock baton in the right hand. He had his helmet visor open and the baton was deactivated. Despite the crowds the Police seemed relaxed and it was clear they did not expect any trouble. There actually were eight protesters with signs and they were heckled by the crowd and posed no security problem. Trevor raised the huge hand of the battle armor.” Oh good morning Mr. Marshall! Say what pretty pink flowers! What are those?”

“Good morning Mr. Burke. These are Lulu Roses from Sares. I am supposed to deliver these to the female delinquent.”

Burke looked at his helmet read out and said.” Yes that is confirmed. Burke opened the gate and said.” My wife loves all things pink. Would they grow under Tunnel light?”

Lox could not believe he just made it inside the barrier with weapons. The spy in him laughed at the lax security and the stupid police man, but his Lox Marshall identity had become way more than just a disguise and a cover. He begun to think like a Union citizen and he felt sorry for betraying the police man who was a good neighbor and invited him to BBQ’s more than once. He could have become friends with the officer. Marshall was after all well respected and had a solid clientele who would never order anything plant related from GalNet and always come to him. He answered with a guilty consciousness. “I don’t think they would, they are expensive for a reason and grow only on Sares Planets as far as I know.”

Burke tried to shrug inside the armor and pointed with his chin towards a black limo landing on the other side of the scaffold. “There they come, the slaughterers. It can’t be long now and the circus will start.”

Hoods

Our flyer landed before the scaffold in the now crowded park and Dawn said. “You know everything you have to do, right?”

“Yes I think I got it. After the guards have placed the prisoners I go down the line and place the hoods over their heads. You go after me and set the noose. Then I proceed to the other end and you go down to the panel and press the button after the Chief Justice has made his final speech. I then throw up preferably inside the dress. You wait till they are dead, release their bodies and we can go.”

She nodded “Yes that is it. Are you ready?”

“I don’t think I have a choice, so yes I am.”

We left the flyer and I followed her through a gate in the barrier opened by a police man and up the stairs of the scaffold. From up there I could see that the park and the surrounding buildings were full of people both human and not. I had never seen so many people in one place and they all stared at me at least so it appeared to me. I wondered why so many would get up so early to see someone die, especially disturbing were the media crowd. Between two buildings in the distance a big field screen flickered into existence and showed a close up of the scaffold and us.

Interlude: Lox

Lox watched the dark red robed executioners getting out of the limo. He said to Burke.” Those are women!”

“They must have ice in their veins. I could not do it. I don’t think I could kill anyone in cold blood like this!”

Both Executioners walked close by and the Kermac spy could only see their eyes for a moment before they mounted the stairs. He shivered involuntarily and actually for the first time in his life prayed and hoped there was a Whispering Spirit. Then he said.” You are a police man. You carry a gun!”

“I never raised my blaster against anyone in anger. I am a police man, not a soldier. I don’t mind using my fists, the shock baton or restraining fields and that’s all we ever have to do here on Corri-Door. That poison murderess is the first capital crime we had in years and in the entire system and she didn’t resist arrest. Oh I am all for capital punishment don’t get me wrong! There are over 7 Million permanent residents living in this system and lots of traffic coming through and we have very little capital crimes, so the idea behind it seems to work fine. I think that Saresii mind bender sure earned it and I have no patience for Califerm dealers but I am not so sure the Dai deserve it.” He holstered his Shock baton and whispered.” I just think they should do it in a little chamber away from this entire county fair atmosphere. I know they voted it in and even my lovely peaceful wife has voted for it and she had herself a spot reserved right over there on Peerson’s Roof. I bet she and her friends sitting up there right now waiting for the hanging.”

Hoods

Now a dark blue police van with hover bike escort and a platoon of marines in destroyer suits behind it, landed. It was the prisoners. Police men and robots dragged twenty shackled individuals up the steps.

The Califerm thief struggled against the police men’s grip, the woman’s feet collapsed as she went up the stairs. The Crowd had hollered obscenities at the Dai but now, except for the murmured comments of the news casters. I noticed a civilian holding a big bunch of flowers right next to a police officer in crowd control gear talking to each other and Dawn said.” That is just a local flower dealer. The woman requested flowers in the last minute and I allowed it.”

Interlude: Chief Justice

Chief Justice V’Thensnhk like almost everyone else in the Justice General Building on Pluribus was glued before the big field screen watching the events unfolding on Corri-Door. He was Klack but despite the great biological differences to humans, he had a very similar range of feelings. He regretted the fact to deputize and draft such a young human, he know it was actually quite unfair and unjust. He always wanted to be a real Judge, unbiased or influenced by anything but the law. He didn’t like to be pressured by the Union Department of State, but it was done. It seemed the young human worked well together with their best but sometimes difficult Chief executioner who always wanted everything perfect.

His PDD glared red and he immediately answered this Priority One call. It came from the State department and it was the representative of the Ult who currently held the chair of this ministry.” We just have received credible intelligence that one or more Kermac Agents will try to sabotage the Execution. Can you delay the Execution and get everyone to safety? We are trying to get assets to deal with this to Corri-Door within two three hours.”

“First you use every political trick in the book to speed things up and now you want it delayed? Have you looked at the broadcast lately? It will be over in an hour or so. There is police and they should be able to handle any Terrorists. I will tell them to be on the look out! Why don’t you go over to the Kermac who are still here on Pluribus and tell them to call back their assassins? You can tell them that the Justice Department will not stand idle and arrest them if they commit crimes on Union ground. Ordering a murder is certainly a hanging offense!”

“They are under diplomatic immunity and we don’t have official proof they did anything anyway. This is a matter of state and not Justice Department!”

The Klack got angry.” All of a sudden it is a matter of state? ” The Ant being whistled in highest agitation. “The rule of law applies to anyone and everything and no one is excluded. Union constitution does not acknowledge political motivations. There is no law on the books that allows foreign nationals to commit crimes. It is the very reason we are able to prosecute and hang the Dai! I am the first who will call this execution off if you can show me Diplomatic Immunity is anywhere in our law books. I will personally call for a mistrial and let the Dai go if you insist on diplomatic Immunity!” The Judge was not done and his antennae wiggled furious. “I won’t be bullied anymore. If you have a political problem address the assembly and if the Assembly decides to act and they make a law, then we of the Justice Department will enforce it. We are the Union we are not Kermac or whatever prim civ you like us to be!”

Interlude: Lox

The delinquents had their hands locked in shackles on their backs and Lox found it easier than he expected to slip a mini blaster into the hands of one of the Dai Than and give him psionic instructions. It took only a few thoughts and the Dai did not need much Psionic persuasion to take the weapon.

Interlude: Smith

Adam Smith finally saw the Lox Marshall, standing right by a police man behind the barriers. Too far for his laser eye so he had to get closer. He was almost there, three more meters and the distance was perfect. A fat woman stepped into his way and he was tempted to burn another hole her in that big butt. A heavy hand suddenly dropped on his shoulder and he reacted in the fast trained way of a master assassin, turning around releasing the long thing mono blade from his left underarm sheath and breaking the tough blade against the torso of a Paladin Battle robot. . The robot crushed much of his shoulder bone and placed a force field cocoon around Adam. The Undercover Union Investigator spoke in his wrist com.” Assassin apprehended and neutralized.”

Adam Smith could not allow to be interrogated and with a sequence of eye blinks he activated a little device below his heart and it released fast spreading green Spore foam.

Hoods

The Delinquents had been placed under the nooses their feet currently held by form fields firmly attaching their feet. The bald headed flower dealer was allowed to approach the woman who was the only one who had her hands tied in the front. He handed her the flowers and walked off. Dawn who stood by the Stairs nodded to him and turned away. The bald headed harmless looking man suddenly held a weapon in his hand aimed it at Dawn and fired!”

Dawn stumbled back. The third Dai’s hands were suddenly free holding a little weapon. Out of reflex my hand reached for my knife I, but the cursed hood covered it. My hands touched only fabric. The Dai fired at me but he must have missed, I felt no pain or anything. I reacted more out of instinct and the chain sword drew as easy as Mördaren, the blade grew and with the teeth on the sword went with a whining snap supersonic,however the Dai before me did not move. I turned to face the next enemy, whatever just happened, it was already over. Marines and Battle robots secured the scaffold and Dawn got up on her feet! There was a dark spot on her dress where the blaster had hit her, but no hole. All the Delinquents looked like statues stiff and unmoving.

Police had arrested the Bald headed man and led him away. Dawn nodded to the local Judge and said.” The Execution will commence.”

Then she came over and said.” Are you alright?”

“Yes I am but what happened?”

“An attempt to sabotage the Execution. I recieved a warning about it, mere moments ago.” She touched the blackened spot on her chest.” Our robes are more than fabric, it is microscopic fine Ultronit foam loops covered with velvet. It takes more than a Class III Line blaster to burn through that. It looks like you didn’t even feel the thermo blast that hit you.” She pointed out a small blackened spot right above my heart.

She then motioned to the prisoners.” Stasis contour fields they can’t move a muscle. Your intervention with the sword was quite spectacular and fast, but not necessary. ” Dawn handed me a stack of black hoods. ” Put those over their heads, don’t even ask if they want it or not, so we can get this over with!”

She really was cold as ice and any affection I had for her before died that moment.

She released the contour fields after the Marines had scanned the prisoners for weapons and I had the sorry task putting the black hoods over their heads. Most of them did not look at me, but the young Dai stared right into my eyes and even though he acted toufh and stoic, I saw the fear and the silent plea for mercy. My hands trembled as I pulled the black fabric over his face. The Califerm thief was shaking and tears streamed down his face. “I didn’t even know what was in the bag!” He bubbered.“I don’t want to die!” I think I was crying too as I pulled the hood over his head. The woman seemed not even aware what was happening, now that I her saw her close up, she was quite beautiful. Her lips formed words, as she looked at me. Perhaps a prayer or a plead for mercy, I was glad I did not hear what she said. Her face too disapeared behind the black fabric.

Dawn came after me and placed the nooses made of memory metal. She touched a control on the cuff of her glove and the memory metal cables stiffened.

The local Judge instead of reading the charges or the names simply nodded and the crossbar shot up, the nineteen dangled and I could not look away as much as I wanted. Most of them died silently and fast. The green lights flickered for a few seconds and turned red. The light of the califerm thief however stayed green moments, the thief kicked and spasm, then he went limb. The third Dai who and fired the weapon still gargled and his legs tried to find ground. The light stayed green and I could not say how long it took but I prayed to every God I knew to have mercy and turn that last light red. It stayed green for what seemed an eternity. The Crowd had made a collective sigh as the bar went up, but now there was utter silence. Only now Dawn pressed another contact on her glove, In heard the buzzing crackle of electricity, blue sparks crackled around the memory metal noose, one last violent kick the Dai Than stopped moving and the light went red.

The trap doors opened, the bar lowered and the memory metal robes released the bodies sliding directly into the tilted coffins below. The Scaffold was empty, except for a bunch of pink flowers looking strangely out of place.

She motioned me with a wink and I followed her. The crowd was still silent and the first spectators started to leave. Dawn in a normal tone as if she would order coffee said.” That went rather well, except all the complications.” I somehow knew she had that Dai suffer longer by setting the noose differently or something like that and I felt like an accomplice.

I was glad I could take off the robe and mask when we had returned to the small hotel and I took a long shower, but I felt as dirty when I left it as when I stepped in. I didn’t press the button, no, but I was still there and no spectator. It was a situation as unfair as can be and yet I did do nothing.

The Klack Justice had thanked me and I was dismissed. Dawn wanted to celebrate or have dinner or something I did not ask details and I did not care about what else she wanted. I had used an Auto dresser and was Eric once again and had sneaked out the back door of the hotel. A crowd of media people had gathered before the hotel, but no one was particular interested in me. It suited me fine as I just had to get away and went straight to the Gray Lines counter. I did not want to know details of the attack or who was behind it, or be asked to stick around, maybe to hang a little bald headed man. “Robot I want the next bus out of here, preferably to Arsenal Gate but if the service is still interrupted I take whatever bus leaves earliest.”

“You can take the Greylines Wind spiel 923 Gate twelve. It will leave in 21 minutes to Arsenal Gate. Flight restrictions have been removed.”

It turned out my ticket was still good and I would be on time at Arsenal.

Interlude: Assembly

The Elly announced their wishes for member ship and Algear leaned back into his seat and said.“Do you think the Elly will serve some sort of interesting food?”

Egill shrugged. “I would assume they do.”

The Narth delegate stapled his fingers and said.” Food the very idea is very interesting and I shall look forward to see you both eat the gelatinous Pulse-Stink maggots the Elly prefer.”

Egill turned to the Narth.“You just made a joke right? There is no such thing as a Gelatinous Pulse Stink Maggot, or is there?”

“To question one: If one made a joke then it was unintended. Narth is still very much in discussion as of what a joke might be. One can make a Joke without producing any material item, but would the act of making if successful not yield a product and usually making requires raw materials. What raw materials would a joke need?

“To question two: You are asking this following a false statement. Denying the existence of the maggots does not make them any less substantial. However one can assure you Gelatinous Pulse stink maggots do exist and are the larvae state of the Pulse stink fly. This particular life form defends itself against natural predators with a highly concentrated organic liquid that sprayed in small pulses from the life forms abdomen. According to Xeno biological research documents it is among the most offensive odors. One shall ask Narth to experience it!”

Algear said.“The raw materials of a joke are every day occurrences, retold often in an exaggerated state to bring the punch line across.”

“One does not understand why it would be necessary to retell an occurrence and alter it by adding substance. While it seems clear to the author of the dictionary I just consulted, what a punch line is. However it is not clear to Narth.” The Narth got up and bowed. I must seek now the state of solitude. I shall return once I no longer seek this state.”

He went to the door but was simply gone before he had reached it.

Egill shook his head.“He is amazing. I can’t wait for Tyr to talk to a Narth. I think he might be the only one able to understand them truly.”

“I feel like a child, less than a child when he speaks with such certainty and then his questions or his understanding of the most basic things of life make me wonder if the Narth have not evolved into a state that is neither life nor death but something else, a third state if you will.”

Egill rubbed his beard. “Tyr often said that the Universe is dual. Life and death, Dark and light, good and evil, black and white, male and female, yes but that the key to a different place is the third state and it is not a mixture of two concepts, but a complete separate new one. He tried to explain it to me by saying to imagine the moment before the Universe came to be, the moment before matter, energy and time. He says this is the third state. Of course I am only human and cannot imagine that.”

“It somehow sounds right and yet like you I can’t begin to understand or imagine such concepts. I had enough Assembly business for a while, why don’t you come with me to Saresii Prime One and we have a nice dinner and watch that Universal Wrestling Titans match. You know the Title belt is on the line and who knows if Terrible Tyrant will survive the Monster Pit Challenge!”

“You are supposed to be a refined, fine mannered sissy Saresii Elder arrogant, old and above such crude below primitive and pre arranged UWT shows. Did you not only an hour ago lecture the Pan Saran how high and mighty the Saresii are?”

“First of all it is a secret. No one in the Universe but you knows that the First Saresii of all loves watching UWT matches and drink a beer doing it. Secondly it was you who got me watching this mindless predictable repetitive junk and thirdly I did not lecture the Pan Saran. I let him partake on my great wisdom.”

“Predictable yes? Then why don’t you put twenty Credits on the Terrible Tyrant while I put twenty on the Awesome Avenger?”

GalNet Entry: UNI, the

The Universal Collective or more commonly known as the UNI were a community of star faring civilizations united under a common government. Not much is known about the Uni. Few known artifacts of this culture exist and these dated to be over two million years old. Some scholars believe their culture reached tremendous technological and sociological advancements considered to be Tech level 11 or 12 and to have spanned 250 million years, reaching its peak at about 10 million years ago and then declining sharply. The Uni vanished from the galactic stage at about 2 million years ago. It is generally believed they were of primarily humanoid shape and size and some scholars believe the Uni to have seeded Humanoid Life on planets in the upward sector and thus explaining the Human Mystery. Others reject this and claim it was the Pree who did the seeding. (While there is a definite DNA link between all human shaped species in the Upward sector, no scientific universally accepted explanation exists to expound this so called Human Mystery) The Saresii claim to have actual contact to the last Uni before they vanished or left. Most information about the Uni finds its origin in Saresii myths, legends and fairy tales. One popular myth is the legend of the Knights of Light and Order. A small elite group of Uni that survived until present times to guard a mythical treasure and bestow special gifts to individuals for being especially good and orderly.

Originally used by Saresii parents to promise their kids unsubstantial not nearer defined blessings by mythical beings if they kept their rooms and clothing tidy and did good things. This custom has spread to many union planets.

Interlude: The Call

The Grand Wizard of all had completed a journey of almost 30,000 light years and stood on the surface of the planet that once was Kar. It was here the five tribes had originated. Somewhere on this mostly lifeless planet must have been the place where the first Ker walked upright, made the first fire and killed the first Blue. Why the Ker and the other four tribes had chosen to leave this world was the Voice of the Universe that told the Ker to seek a place closer to the heart of the Galaxy. But the real reasons were shrouded in mysteries and legends. The Grand Wizard did not believe in gods or anything higher than himself. It was very conceivable to him that the Kermac itself were on their way to gain Godhood and of course the Grand Wizard would be the first among Gods. He paused in his approach to the Forbidden Caves and pulled his PDD.” Note to Secretary and to Communications Wizard. I the Grand Wizard of them All, more wise than anyone, blessed by Intellect beyond others understanding shall furthermore be addressed by adding the title: First living God conceived by the Universe soon to be Omni potent and solely worthy of worship.”

He was very pleased with that. He most likely just found the ultimate title. This could hardly be bested! Then he waved at his companions and said.” This place is very inspirational already. Upon our return it shall be against the law to have religions other than one that centers on me. The first Thrall species that erects a temple to honor me shall receive some nice reward, perhaps a new holiday or something like that.”

One of his companions, the usually so loyal Cultural Wizard said.” It might not be the wisest decision to prohibit religions. It was always considered a good practice to allow the thralls their own religions.”

“We Kermac Wizards are on the way to become gods. I am the one first among Gods! I am Wisdom incarnate and my decisions are no longer to be questioned! I shall forbid the worship of the Voice of the Universe as well, the Kermac serving us should not pray or call upon divine intervention from non existing idols but focus their energies and praise on us and of course dominantly on me!”

While the Cultural wizard already saw temples of great beauty erected in his name and statues with beautiful robes, it was the Communications Wizard who was certain the Grand Wizard finally went over the edge.

They were on a plateau high in the Jetda-Mountains of the Ningine Continent, in the valley below the barley visible ruins of Esscas the ancient capital. For two days a team of Plato slaves under the direction of two Hythagh engineers had dug and cleared sand, dirt and rocks away from a mountain side and uncovered the entrance to a cave network. The Grand Wizard had the Plato slaves shot, as they were not worthy to remain any longer on this sacred planet and in his presence and it was cheaper than transporting them back. The Hythagh would be allowed to live until he was sure there was nothing else that required work.

The Cultural wizard blabbered.” My priests will have red robes with white lace and cute little hats, and…”

The Grand Wizard ignored him as they entered the Caves and the Communications wizard completely accidently threw a rock telepathically against the arm of the Cultural Wizard who yelped in protest.

All three were carried in sedans by Hythagh slaves through a down winding corridor, but the ceiling became too low for the sedans and the three wizards faced the task of walking over uneven ground in a cold cave. The Cultural Wizard was not pleased at all.” Look at this! My shoes are getting dirty! This is unacceptable. We shall have the slaves carry us back and conceive another way of conveying us, or we should have them remove the mountains.”

No one answered him as the Grand wizard moved on. After an hour of walking the Cultural Wizard protested that he would not go another step and even the Communications Wizard had to admit that this was not very dignifying to walk behind light carrying Hythagh on their own feet and felt fatigued.

The Grand Wizard shot the Cultural Wizard with a weapon beam emitting from a finger ring and hissed to his other companion.” We are guaranteeing the survival and the dominance of our species, by doing what we are doing. Are you too of the opinion we should turn around?”

“Of course not!” The Communications Wizard said glancing at the body of the dead wizard. He followed the Grand wizard deeper into the mountain and his conviction that the Grand Wizard was insane was now confirmed. No Wizard had ever slain another.

They did reach the massive doors. The mechanism had been last used for over a thousand years, but the door opened flawlessly. These doors and what was beyond had not been made by the Ker or any of the other tribes. These doors and the shafts of forgotten Knowledge were left here by an advanced culture, active before the raise of the Kermac, the Universal Collective or more commonly known as the UNI. The doors were made of Dineutronuim, a substance the Kermac could not recreate, dent or damage in any way. Even here the Communications Wizard could not help thinking about the Union and the latest intelligence report he had seen about the rumor that the Union was experimenting with Tetra-neutron based materials. This made him think that the madness of the Grand Wizard was the only way for the Kermac to regain the lost ground.”

A cold breeze came from the now open doors and a voice both acoustic and mental overwhelmed all present, saying.” The master was defeated with the price of a Universe and must never be woken again! The Rule must never be broken!”

The message repeated and then the voice was silent. Not even the Saresii had, as far as the Kermac knew means to record a telepathic message that could be repeated with such force as to burn out the best psi shield generators, Kermac technology could produce.

The Grand Wizard ripped his smoking false beard of his chin and with it a little bit if skin. He was very proud of himself only to cry and scream for ten minutes, a lesser being would have died in withering pain! After he managed to collect himself and one of the Hythagh returned from the surface with first aid supplies they entered.

Behind the door where three shafts of 40 meters diameter in the metal floor. The lights the Hythagh had brought were not needed as small lamps in the tube like shafts had come on illuminating them straight down in regular rows. The shafts were so deep the light chains narrowed to one tiny glow in the far distance. The Communication Wizard felt dizzy looking down.

The Grand Wizard said.” Only one shaft can be accessed, if the wrong one is chosen we have to wait twenty years before it can be tried again and the one trying will not come out alive.”

“So how we going to do this?” The communications Wizard asked.

“Just like before, by trial and error!” The Grand wizard said and pushed the Communication Wizard over the edge. He found it quite astonishing how well the Comm Wizard could scream. His colleague fell but only for a perhaps two meters and then came back sitting on an almost invisible platform.

“Congratulations you have found the right one!” The Grand Wizard said and stepped on the platform as well and said with a loud voice.” I want to see the Crystal Tablets!”

The platform sacked away so fast his feet were in the air for at least two heart beats. He pointed his ring weapon at the Communication Wizard who was about to attack him with his bare hands. “I don’t need you anymore for the rest of this so behave or I kill you!”

Without their Psionic enhancers their powers were quite weak but both could now read the others thoughts and Einzvorsecz the Communication was amazed at the depth of the First Wizards megalomaniac ego.

The platform descended now for almost 10 minutes but slowed down now. Slow enough to see details of the shaft walls. There were nooks at even spaces of about ten hand spans wide and two hand spans high, there had to be billions of these.

The platform stopped and it was the bottom of the shaft. There were two slots exactly opposite of each other. The High Wizard took two round shimmering glass like discs out of each alcove. Each shimmered like a soap bubble and seemed to have about the same substance. They looked no bigger than Hymlah- cakes the Hythagh fried up everywhere they went.

Einzvorsecz could hear the Grand Wizard take a deep breath and then he said.” This is it, for the glory and dominance of the Kermac!” Then he placed the disc on top of each other. Einzvorsecz mind felt as if ripped out of his head and he was traveling without a body and without control faster than anything he could imagine across the galaxy, past the empty gulf …he could see now the local group of galaxies he could feel the Grand Wizard next to him but there was something else. A light barrier stopped their progress and words formed, not a voice, not thoughts but words itself. Worlds of no language or perhaps words understandable by all.” Are you the Callers?”

“Yes we are! We call!”

“The Call has been made. The ones that have come before will come again!”

“The Call is made to the Creator of the ones that have come before!”

“The Rule must not be broken!”

“We break it!”

“The Rule has been broken and the Call has been made!”

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