by T. R. Harris
Chapter 1
“He is called Adam Cain.”
“A Grand-Master?”
“No, simply a player—yet they call them warriors in the Kac.”
Daric (416) was taken aback. “One individual…for of an entire galaxy? Surely he must be a game leader, commanding a team of considerable size?”
“A team has been mentioned, yet it is only comprised of a few, five others at the most.”
The information was conflicted. The language translators prevalent throughout the Kac Galaxy had been breached cycles ago, allowing the Nuor to decipher the information they were receiving with high confidence. Thousands of passive drones were constantly being sent through the Compressor, tasked with gaining even more data on the inhabitants of their neighboring island of stars. This data was then relayed to the jump point, and every three days sent back to Nuor for analysis. Already they knew much about the Kac, including tactics and strategies that would be employed once the invasion began.
Most of the information received was encouraging. As expected, there was an abundance of advanced life in the Kac Galaxy, yet with a complexity within their interactions that spoke of a community even more connected than that of the Suponac. There didn’t appear to be as many stellar empires as there were—or had been—within the Nuor’s home galaxy, but the ones they did detect were of a grander scale.
The probes had detected no less than five of these affiliations, including two major, although at the moment they appeared to be melding into one galaxy-wide unit. This opened up the possibility for major games, using fleets as players more than individual contests. This would provide the crewmembers aboard the Nuorean ships the opportunity to earn immunity points with each victory, although fewer than could be gained through single games.
The timetable for the invasion was planned around a major event taking place within the Kac. A majority of the advances species would be in attendance, making Daric’s job easier than if he had to journey to each individual planet to gather test subjects.
Daric welcomed the deadline. It gave him and his people a goal to reach, an opportunity to exploit.
He was ready, as were the Nuor.
Yet here was this creature, this Adam Cain. Daric refused to believe that a single creature could have the skill and ability to be rated the most-proficient player—warrior—out of thousands of advanced species. The diversity of lifeforms made it nearly impossible for an individual to gain such status. It was Daric’s primary responsibility to rate the advanced species of the Kac so immunity scores could be assigned for the upcoming contests, and no matter how high his individual challenge-factor may be, Adam Cain would be but a single event. Granted, the immunity points for such a game would be incredible, yet there would be no carry-over. Not unless his entire race was as such….
“He is a Human, is this correct?”
“Yes,” replied Data-Tech Gandish (316) Kallen-Noc. “His race maintains one of the stellar empires, however it is nowhere near the largest.”
“Why not? Is not his race proficient gamers?”
“Still unknown, yet in the case of Adam Cain, his name is mentioned among hundreds of races above all others, even though he is a Human. He is known through all of the Kac.”
“Place the Humans at the top of the list,” Daric commanded. “How many does that make?”
“Thirteen, so far,” Gandish replied. “It is a start.”
Daric took the databox from his subordinate. He read the names on the list: Human, Juirean, Formilian, Klin, Kracori, Silean, Rigorian, Castorian, Que’l, Belsonian, Dal’ish, Incus and Nac. And these were just the major species the probes had identified, even before his fleet arrived. Daric reflected for a moment. His own galaxy had many more advanced species, so he was sure others would be found once he made the jump.
He dismissed Gandish so he could absorb the information from the briefing before meeting with Team-Master Falon. In spite of this odd bit of information, Daric’s mission was coming into focus. He felt more sure, his prospects better defined.
In order to gain high immunity scores an alien race need not be the leader of an empire, merely a star-traveling species with a level of military strength making the games competitive. Each would be graded upon their challenge-factor, with appropriate immunity points awarded. It was Daric’s job to determine the challenge-factor. He would accomplish his task through a series of blind and visible contests, as well as staged military engagements.
The Nuor had been conducting such tests for thousands of years, yet only within their own galaxy. Now after all that time, many of their high-factor races had been vanquished, almost to the point where there were very few immunity contests left. For an ambitious Nuorean like Daric—as well as young Linoc (611)—this limited his potential.
Yet presented before him would be an entire galaxy full of unchallenged species, some of which—apparently—were comprised of great players. The potential for acquiring immunity points was unlimited.
If all went according to plan, Daric would return to his home galaxy with enough acquired immunity points to challenge any of the Qualifying-Masters, and without consequence for failure. He may even be able to advance further, to the Grand-Master level itself. That was his dream. Yet time now protected the current Grand-Masters. With so few immunity races in existence, their positions were secure—at least that was what they believed.
It had taken overwhelming effort and influence for the GM’s to agree to the Kac Incursion Project. Once underway, it would open up the Masters to a multitude of challenges, as hordes of Nuor returned from the Kac, overflowing with an abundance of immunity points. Yet the GM’s were growing old, many beyond challenge years. Without a turnover of new, younger Grand-Masters, their numbers would continue to diminish, until the very concept of the Master was antiquated and in need of modification.
Such modification would involve an entire re-writing of the rules, something most Nuor were not anxious to see. They appreciated the current structure of their civilization and would do whatever it took to preserve it.
The Kac Incursion Project was the most ambitious the Nuor had ever attempted. It involved over thirty Blood-Teams for construction and execution, as well as the scientific expertise of the entire race. Even then, it took over two hundred cycles to reach the point where they were today—on the verge of invading the Kac Galaxy.
And Daric (416) Kallen-Noc would lead that invasion.
********
Daric met Team-Master Falon (219) Kallen-Noc on the station’s observation deck. When he arrived, the other Nuor in the room left, leaving Daric and his Master to speak in private.
They spent a moment in silence gazing out at the massive tubular construction hovering in space, and dwarfing the station by a factor a thousand. It was the largest artificial structure ever built, a giant gravity generator capable of compressing space over a distance of nearly three million light-cycles. It took three days to recharge the generators before making a jump, and since its completion, it had been singularly tasked with transporting information between the neighboring galaxies.
In seven days, it would be transporting more than just data.
“I witnessed your challenge,” Falon began with a grin. “It was obvious you let it go on longer than was necessary.”
Daric turned his attention from the spectacular view to his senior blood-kin. “Not too obvious, I hope,” Daric stated. “I did not want the young Kallen-Noc to lose respect among his peers. I see promise in him.” He wouldn’t tell the Team-Master how his young opponent had out-played him. That was something Daric would have to deal with on his own.
The smile vanished from Falon’s face. “Then he should not have challenged within his own Blood-Team.”
“I told him as much, among other things. Hopefully the scar he will carry for the rest of his life will be a reminder that it is best to bide one’s time for the proper opportunity. It is all part of basic game strategy.”
“Do they not teach t
hat in school any longer?”
“To a degree, yet the most-ambitious will always seek ways around the rules. For these individuals, they will either succeed or fail. There will be no middle ground for them.”
“You hope he succeeds?”
“He is of the Blood-Team, and I admired his tenacity so much that I added him to the invasion fleet. I figure after our foray into the Kac, there will be a substantial shift within the GM hierarchy, and we will need all the players on our Team we can retain.”
Falon eyed his subordinate with amusement. “You still have the fire, I see. If not for your mission to the Kac, I would fear a challenge coming my way. My immunity points make me a potential target for many among us, you included.”
Daric laughed. “There are other ways of reaching the Qualifying-Masters without challenging within my own Blood-Team, especially now with the Kac. It will be target-rich, full of glorious games.”
“I regret that I am within three cycles of losing my challenge privileges, otherwise I would be going with you. And now the time is growing near.”
“I leave tomorrow for the Compressor point back to Nuor. There I will meet my fleet. Yet be comforted, Team-Master, you will see me again a few days later.”
Falon nodded. “Indeed, yet as only a streak of light within a computer simulation as you pass the station on your way to the Kac. Is your strategy developing as planned?”
“Yes. The conference we have been monitoring is on schedule. It is an opportunity to jump stages that must not be lost. The impact on the Kac will be substantial, setting up contests far in advance of our earlier projections.”
“This is good news. Again, I envy your opportunity.”
“I must report a curious bit of information I received only moments ago.”
Falon frowned. “What information?”
“Have you ever heard of a single alien gaining the rank of top player within a galaxy?”
“I have not, yet our experience is only within the Suponac. As much as I can recall, no individual being has been scored as such, even among the Nuor. Some of the Grand-Masters would come close, yet no single GM has acquired such a distinction. Is that the case within the Kac?”
“Yes, a creature named Adam Cain.”
“Is this a monster of some sort, ninety shoulders high and with breath of fire?”
Daric laughed, not out of humor but concern. “That is not the case. The images of his race show them to be of similar size and structure as us.”
“A master tactician then, using intelligence and strategy to overcome other deficiencies.”
“His race does not control the largest of the empires in the Kac, so I cannot speak to his intelligence, yet you may be correct. I am anxious to learn the truth.”
The gold eyes of Falon bore into his younger blood relative. “I smell fear within you, Daric. That disturbs me.”
“It is not true fear, rather apprehension. One should never underestimate an opponent.”
Falon’s eyes grew wide. “You plan on challenging this creature yourself!” He took a step back. “Take care, my friend. Not all creatures can be defeated in a standard combat challenge. You may require team assistance, especially against such a formidable foe.”
“Then he will be allowed a team of his own.”
“Those are the rules. Does he have one to call upon?”
Daric nodded. “I have been told so, a small one.”
“Then when the time comes, choose your players carefully. First-level immunity challenges are not like team challenges. They are to the death.”
Daric scowled. “That I know, Falon. I have participated in my share of death contests in the past.”
Falon placed a hand on Daric’s shoulder. “As I am aware, and that is why you command the invasion fleet. Yet this is a new galaxy. With all other past death challenges, we have known the opposing alien species intimately. You will not have that advantage in the Kac. You will learn as the game progresses.”
Daric stood straighter and smiled. “That is what makes this contest so exciting. It will be a true test of the individual, as well as of the race. It is why the games were designed in the beginning. I welcome the challenge.”
Concern now filled the eyes of Falon. “Then make sure you return to tell me tales of your alien games. I wish to experience your glory vicariously, not posthumously.”
Chapter 2
“I hate playing games!” Adam Cain exclaimed.
He was frustrated. Sherri had just dropped a building on his advanced squad and now his lead character was racing for his life along a path of shattered debris. Her forces were gaining, the end inevitable.
He pulled the virtual reality shield from his face, ending the game. “Why have these things become so damn complicated?” Adam lifted his hands, each fingertip and thumb capped by what looked like miniature latex condoms. Gone were the multi-function control consoles of yesteryear, replaced now by the ten tiny sensors. Every movement translated into an action within the game. Not only that, but each combination of fingers and thumbs meant something else. It wasn’t hard to move his fingers; the skill came from knowing what each of the thousand specific motions meant within the game.
This new generation of video game was all the rage, and Sherri Valentine was a natural at it. Adam had lost count of the number of games she’d won in a row. Now playing her was nothing but an incredible waste of time.
Adam pouted. “You were never this good before, so why now?”
Sherri grinned, her face animated, framed in a brilliant flow of wavy blond hair, her blues eyes bright and alive. She held up her hands and spread her fingers, each wearing the white rubber control sensors. She wiggled them. “It must be the six years of piano lessons I had growing up. The key is having separate left and right hand actions going on at the same time. You move in only one dimension. I can move in two…or more. Buddy, you ain’t got a chance against me.”
“No shit. But I still prefer the real thing, and not some made-up scenario with players doing things not even humanly possible.”
“And you’re very good at it, too, sweetie. Just in your games, real people die.”
“Not people, Sherri, aliens…mostly.”
She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I stand corrected. Yes, Adam Cain, you kill aliens…mostly.”
Riyad Tarazi grunted. “I hope you won’t be playing that game on Formil. That would be rude.”
Now Sherri pouted. “Even if I wanted to, it looks like no one will play with me anymore.”
Riyad had already learned his lesson about going up against Sherri Valentine in Star Blaster IV. Now it was Adam’s turn. He lasted half the time Riyad had before calling it quits.
“It’s your own fault,” Adam snapped. “You should have gone easier on us.”
Sherri snorted. “Gone easier on you? I was…dickhead!”
“Wonder how she’d do against Lila?” Riyad asked, a sinister tone to his voice.
Adam perked up. “Now that’s an idea. I’d like to see that too.”
“Apples to apples, guys. Let’s keep it fair. I ain’t playing no immortal alien mutant genius, even if she is your daughter, Mr. Cain.”
“She’s only half-alien.”
“Yeah, the better half.”
The trio was on their way to Formil to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Lila’s appointment as the leader of the Expansion. In all honestly, it hadn’t been an appointment; Lila simply took over. After Adam and his team crushed the Juirean command structure, a tremendous void was left in the galactic power structure. Lila, having grown impatient with all the wars and conflicts taking place, had had enough. She pronounced herself the boss, and then challenged anyone to oppose her. None did. By then the galaxy knew of her powers and seeming immortality, through an ability to spontaneously regenerate all the cells in her body. After the chaos of the Sol-Kor years and the Juireans’ desperate attempt to remain relevant, most of the galaxy welcomed the imposed stability Lil
a offered.
She turned out to be a just and thoughtful leader. Besides her immortality, she also carried the highest intellect in the Milky Way. Her decisions were more-deliberate and long-term than any before, and as a result, the galaxy was on the path to a time of peace and prosperity like never before.
To Adam, it was about time. He’d had his fill of heroics, and was now looking forward to some quiet leisure time with his friends and extended family.
They were traveling to Formil in a borrowed luxury-class starship, reserved for only the most-wealthy on Earth. Most of the attendees of the celebration were coming in commercial craft such as this. Since the waging of war was on its way out under Lila’s rule, showing up in a massive warship of one kind or another was considered very uncool.
As Adam and his friends entered the Formilian star system, they began to merge with the traffic pattern of thousands of other ships heading for the planet. It was time to put away the game and prepare for landing—even though the automatic pilot system was capable of doing it without Human assistance. Adam liked flying the advanced starship, so he took the controls anyway. Sherri slipped into the second seat, while Riyad sat in the plush owner’s seat, content to let the others do all the work.
The space around Formil was littered with starships, mainly from the minor races in the Expansion without landing privileges. A fleet of tiny atmospheric shuttles zipped between the vessels, gathering attendees for the ride to the surface.
The three Humans had direct landing clearance.
As they made their descent toward the capital city of Vull, where the Temple Complex was located, they could see the results of Lila’s new-found authority spreading across the landscape. The city had trebled in size in only a year as the seat of galactic government shifted to the planet. The Grand Temple was now lost in a forest of taller structures, many still under construction, housing the bureaucracy that went along with command. There were over eight thousand worlds in the Expansion, and nearly every one of them wanted their own presence close to Lila. The alien invasion of Formil was only just beginning.
