Shii Kim was the male, the adept of darkness, so dark he appeared to be a black hole in reality, shaped like a person. His counterpart, Fell Wilde, was his exact opposite. The adept of light, she was so dazzling that she shimmered with a bright white light, even when she veiled her Cosmic powers, so as not to blind people with her brilliant glare.
Naero did her best not to look at High Master Vane directly, his glowing red head, covered in roving eyes–glowing and pulsing with crimson anger within his deep, dark gray hood.
Since the tragic loss of his most favored adept, Mitsubishi Hashiko, Naero knew that Vane blamed and despised her, and openly sought any excuse to destroy her. She knew very well that his vote was already set against her.
The events on Janosha had only fueled that fire of hatred, despite the fact that Naero had also saved him from being taken prisoner by their foes. Vane was not only vindictive, but he was also convinced that she was a Cosmic monster, from a family that spawned such monsters.
Naero nearly missed Intel Strategist General Thadian Ingersol, another ideological foe, seated among Vane’s people with a few other, sour-looking military officers. How appropriate that some of her enemies should side together.
Next, in the center of the assembly, stood High Master Tree of Order Wisdom, in long, sweeping blue robes of many hues. If Vane’s Cosmic aura was openly scarlet, Tree’s Cosmic aura was silver-blue.
High Master Tree was tall, and his face defied any description of age. Stable, serene, secure and calm, as one might expect in the High Master of Order. Yet to Naero, his piercing eyes flashed blazing blue at times.
She needed to remember, that all of the Three Wisdoms of The Mystic Harmony could be very dangerous, each in their own way.
Strange. High Master Tree only had one prime adept present as his bodyguard. Naero wondered where the other one was–the male.
The female looked familiar somehow. Perhaps Naero had seen her in a dream in the past. Naero did not know her name, but the tall, slender young woman pulsed with bright blue energy, not unlike Shalaen. Everything about the prime adept seemed to be a shade of blue, so it was difficult to determine skin, hair, or eye color.
High Master Tree stepped back slightly, and Naero was stunned to see–in place of the Prime Male adept on the left–Admirals Klyne and Sleak, her aunt, who was very pregnant by now, and due within the next few weeks.
It bothered Naero that even steel-hearted Aunt Sleak looked nervous, and smiled at her niece only slightly. The same number of Order adepts, about twelve, sat behind High Master Tree and his guests.
The last group on the left represented Change Wisdom. High Master Jo grinned and laughed and could not seem to stand still. He looked to be a boy of about ten years old. Small, slender, golden-haired, fair skin, and glowing, golden eyes. Naked, except for what looked to be a clean white loincloth of some fashion.
It wasn’t surprising that his Cosmic aura was bright, shimmering gold. He joked and poked fun at his guests, and the dozen High Change adepts behind him. Most of his followers were much like him, small, energetic, and jovial. They seemed quick to laugh and spoke back and forth almost incessantly.
High Master Jo’s female and male prime adepts flanked him on either side, keeping watch all around them. They were on duty as bodyguards, a fact that had hit very close to home since the well-coordinated enemy attacks on all three Spacer Mystic Homeworlds.
Attacks that had nearly succeeded.
The female prime adept was named Tessa Fae, and she had mastered shifting. Her Spacer form was that of a dark brunette of medium height, with jet black skin and dark brown eyes. Yet even as she stood on guard, she casually shifted form from one dangerous creature–back to her own form–and then on to the next: an enormous, Durian purple tigress, a huge, sinuous Zhimori shockpython, a powerful Gythanian rockhulk. She shifted forms without effort.
Naero had heard about her counterpart as well, the male named Den Kurtz. He did not seem to have what most would call an actual physical body. Naero spotted red-violet eyes flickering within a hazy, indeterminate form, a shapeless miasma or haze of Cosmic energy that was almost completely amorphous.
Even Om noted it.
That one is very close to becoming an energy being, Naero. He is as close to being such as possible, and yet still be said to possess a physical form.
Very fascinating. I wonder what his Cosmic abilities are, Om?
I’m guessing he can manipulate various states of matter and energy almost at will. That would make him a very formidable opponent. Yet, the fact that he still retains a physical form would still make him vulnerable, and to energy attacks as well. Every strength and advantage has an inherent weakness and disadvantage.
Naero noted three or four elders from the Clans seated on either side of High Master Jo, who seemed to be carrying on several conversations all at once. Naero did not recognize any of the elders.
More plasteel panels in the tent dome above them were pweaked clear to open wide. A bell somewhere behind the assembly rang out clearly, chiming slow; the same tone sounded three times.
Naero, Jan, Shalaen, and Gaviok found themselves ringed with a circle of light before the Three High Masters.
High Master Tree rose up and spoke first.
“High Adept Naero Amashin Maeris,” he said sternly. “You stand before us with many grave concerns about you and your Cosmic abilities. Who are these others with you, and why have they come?”
Naero bowed her eyes slightly. “I greatly appreciate being able speak my case before the High Masters. This is my younger brother, Janner Maeris Ramsey, and these other two are my friends and allies. They can also use Cosmic energy, and seek your counsel and wisdom, and they are here on my behalf as well.”
“This is very irregular, High Adept Maeris. It is not up to you, in your situation to bring witnesses or others to support your case. The deliberation of the Mystics is not for outsiders.”
Naero shifted her feet slightly. “My apologies. Impudence was not my intent. Please hear me out. There are important reasons why I brought each of them with me. May I explain?”
She could tell Master Tree was about to adhere to the rules–whatever they were–and refuse.
Master Jo jumped in. “Please, my fellow High Masters. These matters are already incredibly irregular. You cannot deny that all of us sense something important about each of these others. Let us bend the rules this once, at least, and listen briefly as to why they have come. We may yet hear things of great interest to us and the Three Wisdoms.”
Thank you, Naero said silently.
That gave Master Vane a chance to bluster. “Why are we even bothering with this at all? Adept Maeris is guilty of many crimes, she is a clear threat that needs to be–”
Master Tree clearly resisted the strong urge to roll his eyes. “Very well, we will hear these brief reasons. Please do not leap ahead of us, High Master Vane. We have not even begun to discuss the issues at hand that we come to discuss, let alone reached a point where we can pass a fair and reasoned verdict on them. We know your opinions all too well by now. You have been badgering us with them for many days. You, too, will have your turn, and your say.”
Tree turned back to Naero. “Speak, High Adept Maeris.”
“High Masters, first let me say this: I agree that there are many serious problems involved with my not being able to control my Mystic abilities, yet. That is exactly why I came to the Mystics for testing and help. And instead, I was forced to survive a long, brutal training period, with the most difficult of the High Masters, taking the most difficult Mystic path, learning Chaos Wisdom first, with trainers who were clearly hostile to me and my efforts. They did everything to cause me to fail. And now, High Master Vane has made it very clear that he still wants to see me destroyed.”
Silence.
“She has a point,” Master Jo said.
“Oh, please,” Master Vane said. “What whining drivel. Of course she’s going to say all that.”
&nbs
p; Master Jo raised both hands and blinked.
“Yet, excuse me. I thought we were going to hear from you about why these other three persons are with you? Please proceed with that.”
“Excuse me, High Masters. I was getting to that next, after my introductory statement. My brother Jan needs to be tested and trained by the Mystics, as well. He was just rescued from the enemy, and is showing definite signs of developing his own Cosmic abilities, similar to mine–and with similar…difficulties.”
All three High Masters briefly sucked in a breath, and took careful note of that.
“Great,” Master Vane said. “Another Maeris monster. Why should we be surprised that they keep spawning?”
Aunt Sleak cleared her throat, shot the Chaos Master her battle smile of steel, and rested both hands on her swollen stomach.
Vane could only snort and look away.
“Let her speak,” Master Tree said.
“Also,” Naero said. “I’m sure that Intel has informed you all about our dangerous, outcast brother Danner, who the enemy is using to produce great quantities of Darkforce energy for them, Janner’s twin. If Jan learned to defend himself and his mind, Danner would not be able to take over Jan’s mind and body, again. And let me tell you, from experience. Danner has more powers and abilities than Jan and I put together. Plus, he is completely insane and amoral, and he can also absorb the Cosmic and Psyonic abilities of others. What if the enemy turned him loose as a weapon?”
The High Masters considered all that she said.
“Regardless of what you may think about me and my situation, my brother is a loyal Spacer who has committed no crime, and done nothing wrong. He deserves your help. Once he has been fully healed and trained, he might even be able to help the Mystics and Spacer Intel track down his twin and our enemies. And, as soon as he recovers from his ordeal, I’m certain he will have vital intel and insights to offer concerning his experience with the Darkforce generators, and the secrets of the enemy research labs.”
High Master Tree looked at Jan. “Janner Maeris Ramsey. Do you wish to be tested by the Spacer Mystics?”
“I do. But with one condition. I have been tortured by our enemies for a long while, and I will still need some time yet to recover from that. But I also need to learn to defend my mind against our foes. I would appreciate the help of the Mystics.”
Master Vane rose to his feet. “I would be happy to be the first to train this Maeris whelp, just as I have all the others.”
“No!” Naero and Jan said together.
“Perhaps that is where we went wrong with them,” Master Jo suggested.
“Perhaps,” Master Tree said. “But with the outcast, he trained completely with both of us, in the other two Wisdoms, before he was sent to High Master Vane.”
Vane grunted. “You two fools know very well what went wrong. You let the outcast interact with the alien artifact located on Janosha, thinking that we could control what happened thereafter.”
“Do not speak of that,” Master Tree said sternly.
Vane ignored him. “I told you it was folly, and it blew up in all of our faces. It nearly destroyed us all, and unleashed the first of these Maeris abominations on our universe! And now you are prepared to repeat that disaster all over again on this world.”
“Ridiculous,” Master Tree said. “We have taken every precaution.”
Master Joe added. “We have no intention of repeating anything. And you had a direct hand in those past events as well. Do not deny it.”
“I did nothing.”
“If only that were so,” Master Jo said.
Master Tree turned back to Naero. “Very well, High Adept. If your brother is willing to join us, we will assist him in any way that we can. In honor of Clan Maeris, I will personally begin his journey with training in Order Wisdom. As soon as he is able, he can begin with me and my adepts.”
Naero bowed her eyes slightly again. “My Clan and I thank you, High Master. I could not ask for more consideration.”
“And I thank you,” Janner said. Then he stepped back.
“Very well. And these other two? Clearly, neither of them are Spacers, yet they remain very intriguing.”
“High Masters, this is Shalaen Kinmal, daughter of Mining Consortium leader Nevano Kinmal–and now a fully evolved Yattai.”
All three took note of another, important, new revelation.
“How is this possible?” Master Tree said.
Master Jo sounded confused. “We thought she was only half-Yattai?”
Shalaen stepped forward, shoulder to shoulder with Naero. “Greetings, High Masters. May I speak?”
“Please do.”
“Intel had informed me before, that the Spacer Mystics have been attempting to contact my people, the Yattai, for more than three centuries. Since the Mystics were formed, they have done so without success.”
“That is true,” Master Jo said. “The Yattai keep to themselves, in their own alternate reality, a universe adjacent to our own. Yet they have ignored every attempt by us and other interdimensional entities to contact or interact with them in any way.”
Shalaen nodded. “I am currently in your dimension, yet I also seek to make contact with my people. I want you to know that I could not have fully evolved into a complete Yattai, without the assistance and insight of my good friend, Naero Maeris. I owe her my life. Without her, I would be working for your enemies as one of their slaves. What’s more, you should also know that she has the power to transfer, quicken, and increase the Cosmic and psyonic abilities of others. Not only that, but she still carries within her the Kexxian Data Matrix, whatever Intel may think. Those two things alone, I think would make it necessary to dispense with these foolish designs to eliminate her. As I’ve said, Naero and I are very good friends, and she is an honorable person, who seeks to serve her people well. If any harm would come to her by the Mystics, then myself and my people–once I contact them–would be greatly alarmed and offended.”
“Is that a threat from the Yattai, or just yourself?” Master Vane asked.
Shalaen smiled sweetly. “Consider it a promise…from both. You are the ones who desire contact with us–not us with you.”
“Shalaen Kinmal, you and your father are our honored allies. You are here only as our guest. We are happy to work with you in any capacity, but any issues between the Mystics and High Adept Maeris will be resolved without your assistance or interference. We ask you to respect us and our ways.”
“I intend to, as long as they do not harm one who is as a sister to me.”
Master Tree finally looked to Gaviok. “And who is this being, where has he come from, and why is he here?”
Master Jo looked extremely interested and intrigued. “I do not recognize his species of insectoid as any of the cataloged sentients that we have yet encountered.”
Even Master Vane spoke up. “This creature’s Chaos energies are nearly limitless. They rival my own. I insist that we must study him and his kind thoroughly. I’ve never seen anything like him!”
Naero ignored Vane. “This is my good friend and ally, Gaviok. He and his people are from the Unknown Regions of the Gamma Quadrant. They can use Cosmic power, mostly in the form of raw Chaos energy. We could learn much from them and the other races that they know. And they also happen to be the enemies of our current enemies, and might be willing to join our Alliance of free sentients, united against such threats.”
Master Tree looked very pleased, so did Master Jo, both of them very eager. Even Master Vane looked enthralled. An entire race of Chaos Wisdom sentients? Vane could hardly control himself.
“Honored guest,” Master Tree said. “We look forward to getting to know you better, and establishing good relations between us and our peoples, for our mutual benefit.”
Gaviok bowed low and spoke with distinction. “As do I. I have great respect for Spacers and their allies. They are honorable peoples, and we all face terrible foes who mean us all great harm. That is clear. I want no
thing but good will and the highest cooperation between my people, our allies, and you and yours.”
“Splendid!” Master Jo said.
Gaviok suddenly swelled up with Chaos energy until he towered fifteen meters above them all.
Everyone was startled, and his voice boomed.
“Yet, let me say this. Naero is not only my friend and ally. She is as you would say–my Clan–my family. As if we came from the same nest. I would defend her with my own life, and so would the many zillions of my species–against any threat. If any harm would ever come to her, we would consider it a very serious matter, indeed–akin to an act of war–against our race and our allies.”
Gaviok had his say. He shrank back down to his regular size, shorter than Naero.
“And that is not a mere promise,” he added. “Consider it a direct and very real threat.”
High Master Tree clasped his hands calmly in front of himself and spoke with steady ease. “New friend and ally, Gaviok. We too wish for nothing but good will between us and any other sentients. Let us work together to resolve any troubling issues. But I repeat, the ways of the Spacer Mystics must remain our own, and will not be interfered with by outsiders, no matter who they are. Any who wish to be our allies and friends must accept and honor that.”
“Then let us seek honor, wisdom, and cooperation together, as sentients of good will should do. Yet my words stand, High Masters.”
Gaviok stepped back and spoke no more.
Tree finally turned to Naero. “It appears that you bring us both opportunities and further dilemmas and complications to deal with, High Adept Maeris. Will it always be thus with you?”
“Forgive me, High Masters,” she said. “It seems as if my life…has never taken easy and uncomplicated paths. But I always mean well. I always strive to do my best, and what is best for my people, whom–I love more than my life itself.”
Vane simply snorted in derision.
“Well-spoken,” Master Jo said. “But do you really mean that, Naero Amashin Maeris? Would you stake your life upon it?”
Spacer Clans Adventure 3: Naero's Fury Page 3
