Alien Games (The Human Chronicles Saga Book 17)

by T. R. Harris

  Adam had seen the videos and read the reports about how his daughter was able to conduct upwards of a hundred meetings per day without appearing the slightest bit exhausted or skipping a beat with her grasp of each individual subject or concern. The only limiting factor seemed to be the endurance of her subjects. They came to her with well-rehearsed presentations and demands, all of which Lila sorted through with lightning speed, rendering decisions and verdicts in seconds flat. Her words often left others speechless, since she understood the data they were presenting far better than they did. More often than not, they would simply nod and gather up their datapads to leave without rebuttal. There was no point arguing with genius.

  It appeared that the galaxy had finally found an entity capable of governing something so large and complex. The Juireans had tried, as had the Humans. Both found the task overwhelming and destructive of their very identity and individuality. A galaxy was simply too big to be ruled by mere mortals. It took a demi-god to do it right.

  All this made daddy-Adam extremely proud, although he knew he had very little to do with Lila’s abilities. For that matter, neither did her mother, Arieel Bol, the Speaker of the Formilian people. Lila was a mutant, simply a fortuitous mistake of genetics across interspecies lines. She couldn’t have been planned, and none of her incredible greatness could be traced to her parents. It was something different, something more miraculous.

  Of course Adam wasn’t going to admit this to his friends. Instead he often boasted how he had helped spawn the leader of a galaxy. He was going to take all the credit he could for the act.

  And being one of the parents of a demi-god did have its benefits….

  ********

  The executive starship was given immediate clearance to land at the Temple spaceport, in a spot near the main gate, and with an entourage of dignitaries waiting to escort them to Lila’s new digs. She was housed in a shimmering skyscraper, towering fifty stories high, with the surrounding grounds still receiving the final touches before the festivities began. The coming celebration had given the contractors a deadline, and many were still scrambling to meet it.

  Lila’s government headquarters and residence was just beyond the boundary of the old Complex, a quarter mile from the Grand Temple, where her mother resided. The Formilians had insisted on making Lila’s home one of the most-elaborate on the planet. Although Lila didn’t care about any of this, the native population got a kick out of advertising the fact that one of their own was the HMIC—the Head-Mutant-In-Charge.

  High Celebrant Trimen O’lac was on the tarmac outside the ship when Adam and the others disembarked. He was the head of the Temple Order and Arieel’s official mate, and for a while was believed to be Lila’s father. That was old news by now, and it surprised Adam how accepting the galaxy—and Trimen—had been when the truth came out. To most it seemed appropriate. Arieel Bol was often referred to as the most beautiful Prime in the Milky Way, while Adam was its most-celebrated and accomplished warrior. Why wouldn’t the two of them produce a super-being?

  For his part, Trimen had accepted this new reality. Adam could tell he loved both Arieel and Lila and with probably more depth than he did. After all, they were Formilians, all except the bastard half of Lila that shared some of Adam’s primitive Human DNA.

  With the ability to alter her biology at will, Adam seriously doubted Lila shared any of his or Arieel’s blood by now. How she was able to do this was incomprehensible to him, so whenever such thoughts invaded his mind, he did his best to dismiss them. He couldn’t change things, even if he wanted.

  “Welcome, Adam Cain,” said Trimen O’lac. The alien was nearly eighty in equivalent-Human years, yet he had the physique of a twenty-something fitness model, tanned, thin-waisted and barrel-chested. His jaw was square, his blue eyes almost hypnotic in their brilliance. In other words, he was just your average Formilian male, just as Arieel was considered a five on a planet full of hunks and babes.

  “Trimen, you’re looking well.” The two males—who had once been competitors for the affections of Arieel Bol—clasped forearms in the traditional Formilian form of greeting.

  “As are you, my friend.”

  Trimen looked over Adam’s shoulder at Sherri. He heard her inhale deeply when the alien’s eyes fell upon her. The initial reaction was always the same. Adam grinned.

  “Sherri Valentine, as always you are a study in radiance and stunning beauty. I welcome you as well.”

  Trimen chose to hug Sherri rather than grasp arms. He did it for Adam’s benefit, knowing how the Human female would react to his touch. The alien was aware of Adam and Sherri’s past relationships, and this was his not-so-subtle way of getting back at Adam for his affair with Arieel. Both relationships—with Sherri and Arieel—were long over, yet still there was a tightening of Adam’s gut seeing Sherri blush and her eyes flutter as Trimen took her in his arms.

  “Riyad Tarazi, I am glad to have you here for this special occasion as well,” Trimen said, completing his greetings. “If you will all join me in the transport, Arieel and Lila are anxious to see you again. No need to take any personal items. All will be provided as our honored guests.”

  Adam could sense the presence of Trimen’s automatic telepathy device—his ATD; he had retained it after their last adventure. This showed how much Formilian culture had changed recently, that a male could now possess their so-called Gift from the Gods, a device traditionally reserved for only the Speaker and her female offspring. Arieel carried one embedded under her skin, as did Adam. Lila didn’t need one to do what the device could do—and so much more.

  As the caravan pulled out of the spaceport and traveled along the road skirting the tall, whitewashed wall of the Temple Complex, Adam mentioned all the changes that had come to the planet.

  “Yes, there are,” Trimen agreed, “yet not as many as one would expect from the seat of a galactic government. Lila requires not the scope of support others would. On her own she can fully research any subject with much more speed and efficiently than could a thousand assistants. She also doesn’t require the security apparatus, considering the futility of any personal harm coming her way. I am still amazed at all she can accomplish in a day—as well as all she had achieved over this past year. Even with all that, she did not want this celebration initially, but was convinced it was more for the good of her subjects than for her. She has also confided in me that she now welcomes the celebration as a way to see you again, Adam. She has missed you considerably.”

  Adam choked up. “I…I appreciate you telling me that, Trimen. Damn….”

  Sherri was smiling at him. “Awe, big bad Adam Cain actually has a heart. Who would have known?”

  “That’s news to me,” Riyad added. “I’ve always found him to be an insufferable asshole.”

  “Oh, he’s that too,” Sherri said.

  “Knock it off you two,” Adam mock-scolded. “Try to maintain some decorum while we’re in the presence of royalty—and the father of said royalty. Don’t forget, with a snap of my fingers—”

  “What, you can have us locked in chains?” Sherri interrupted.

  “No. But I can arrange for a game of Star Blaster IV between you and Lila.”

  “I do not understand this conversation,” Trimen said, crevasses now furrowing his tanned forehead.

  Adam laughed, leaving Trimen to wallow in his confusion. It was like this with most Human-Alien interactions, even with old friends. Humans were confusing creatures to most others in the galaxy. Adam liked it that way. It usually gave him an advantage, especially when encountering a race for the first time.

  He spent the remainder of the short trip looking out the window, hoping the images outside would help distract him from the nervousness building up inside. How would he react when reunited with the alluring Arieel Bol? He was about to find out.

  The ground floor of the massive government building was packed with exotic creatures of every form, along with elaborate decorations and an air of excitement and a
nticipation. It seemed every day more and more of the galaxy came to accept that they were entering a new paradigm and that nothing but good times awaited them. And all thanks to Lila Bol.

  A path was cleared for the dignitaries. To his chagrin, Adam could feel the eyes upon him, as he was recognized by hundreds of aliens, not only for his military accomplishments, but also for his now-revealed a contribution to this new era of galactic unity. He was embarrassed; he always was in these situations. He’d never sought celebrity. He simply did what he had to do and let the chips fall where they may. He was glad when they entered a large elevator and the doors closed, taking them on a ride up to the royalty suite.

  Lila and Arieel were waiting for them. Ignoring protocol, the voluptuous alien female rushed forward, past her daughter, and into the arms of Adam Cain. By now he knew the pheromones excreted by the Formilians—both male and female—were some of the strongest in the galaxy. That explained part of the reaction most Primes had to the natives, but not all. Arieel was also drop-dead gorgeous.

  He returned the passionate hug, along with the full, wet kiss she planted on his lips. His involuntary reaction to Arieel’s body warmth was hard to hide. He cursed under his breath. He thought he was ready for this. Apparently not.

  Lila came to him next. The hug was affectionate, yet they chose to keep a respectable gap between their two bodies. To do otherwise would have been…well, creepy.

  “Father, I am so glad you came,” Lila said with genuine warmth once all the formal greetings were over. “I have missed our interactions. Out of all the beings in the galaxy, I receive the most stimulation when associating with Humans.” She looked at her mother and smiled sweetly. “Other than Formilians, of course.”

  Adam could sense Lila had come to accept her uniqueness, knowing she was neither Human nor Formilian. She was a species all her own.

  “So where is my little buddy Pogo?” Adam asked.

  “I’m sorry, father, but I now refer to her as Zee, her traditional name. She seems to prefer it.”

  “Of course. Is she around somewhere?”

  Lila frowned. “She is, however, I must prepare you. I have noticed a strangeness in her actions recently.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “She remains alone more often, coming to me only when summoned. This is compared to her near-constant presence when I first acquired her from you. I sense she is…homesick.”

  The entourage moved farther into the huge greatroom, with its fifty-foot high ceiling and columns of stone. It all had the look and feel of ancient Greece, even as the Formilians had no idea who the ancients Greeks had been.

  “She misses me?”

  “No, it is something more. I believe she has had time to realize her place in this new reality, and it doesn’t feel right to her. Perhaps she is developing more emotions as she interacts with us. They are confusing her. At least these are my conclusions.”

  “Then I’m sure that’s what’s happening. Still, I would like to say hi.”

  “Of course. Zee?”

  A moment later, a small orb made of light green metal appeared on a table nearby. Welcome, Adam Cain, said a voice in his mind, made possible through his ATD.

  “Pogo—I mean Zee. How have you been? I’ve missed you, you know,” Adam said aloud.

  A voice spoke out through hidden speakers in the vast room. “I have missed you, as well, Adam. My Master has been anticipating this moment for a long…time. She is pleased by your arrival.” Zee had the means to link with computer speakers, bypassing the need for telepathy. Lila could speak with her mentally, as could Adam and any other being with an ATD. She used the speakers for the benefit of the others.

  Adam noticed the subdued tone of the response. It felt almost cursory, devoid of feeling.

  “Let’s spend some time together while I’m here,” Adam said, hoping this would cheer up the tiny, three-billion-year-old orb. “I’d like to hear what you’ve been doing since I last saw you.”

  “That would consume your entire stay, and much more.”

  Adam smiled. Zee had taken him literally. “Then how about just the highlights?”

  “As you wish.”

  “Thank you, Zee,” Lila said. “You may now go back to what you were doing before I called.”

  “I was doing nothing, Master. I will go back to doing nothing.” The orb disappeared.

  “See what I mean?” Lila said to Adam.

  “Sounds like you need to get him—her—more involved in things. She’s bored.”

  “I agree. Yet unlike when you were her master, I do not have as much need for her abilities. With you she was constantly being called upon for assistance…if not rescue. But let us dwell on that. There is a grand feast prepared for you, after which quarters will be provided where you may rest. The main festivities begin two days from now. You must be well-rested by then. They will weigh more upon you than on me.”

  ********

  The feast was indeed grand, with a mixture of gourmet dishes prepared for both Humans and Formilian palates. Of course, Lila didn’t eat. She absorbed energy directly without the need for metabolic conversion, as she called it. That was all well and good—for her. But by the time the mortals called it quits, it was all Adam could do to make it to his room without falling asleep.

  The accommodations afforded the father of the leader of the galaxy were as expected. The Formilians were taking their role as hosts of a new god seriously, and everything on the royalty floors was beyond opulent. They had always provided their Speaker and Temple priests with extravagant accoutrements, but this was beyond the pale. His suite of rooms was larger than his Lake Tahoe log home back on Earth, and this was just one of the ‘guest’ rooms.

  The sad thing…he’d been expecting this, seeing what else the natives had provided his daughter. He barely reacted to the enormous size of the room, instead focusing on the twenty-foot-wide bed set against the far wall. He fell into its welcoming arms and was asleep thirty seconds later.

  ********

  A presence in the room snapped him awake two hours later. He wasn’t concerned; the occupant had made its presence known through his ATD.

  “Po—Zee, is that you?”

  Yes, Adam Cain. Zee spoke within his mind. A soft light grew above the bed, allowing Adam to see the four-inch diameter globe resting on the silken sheets next to his head.

  Adam propped himself up on an elbow and cleared the cobwebs from his mind. He was still stuffed and tired, yet he sensed something in Zee that made him set all that aside.

  Something’s bothering you, my friend, what is it?

  Adam always got the feeling there was a front and back to the orb, although none was evident, and that he—she—would look at him when speaking, if even mentally.

  You are very perceptive.

  It doesn’t take a lot to know you’re troubled. Tell me what’s going on.

  Now it was as if Zee’s eyes shifted away, although the orb didn’t move. I have done something I was designed to do, yet have now come to regret.

  Adam flinched. The tiny sphere was a three-billion-year-old service module, created by a race of extinct super-beings. Her primary job had been to channel energy from the ether to her creators, which was their form of nourishment. She could also levitate and teleport over short distances, and contained computer processing capabilities beyond anything the Milky Way had developed—at least in this eon. Was there now another purpose, something Zee had not revealed to either Adam or Lila?

  I’m listening. I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think.

  I will differ with you on that opinion, especially since what I have done involves your offspring and my new master, Lila.

  Now Adam was concerned. Call it paternal instinct, but anger erupted inside him. The emotion quickly passed. This was Lila the orb was talking about. There certainly couldn’t be anything that could harm her?

  Just tell me, Zee, Adam’s thought commanded.

  I made contact with…my creator
.

  Adam turned cold and his breath shallow. This was the last thing he expected the orb to say. You’re going to have to provide a little more detail. I thought you said your creator was…gone.

  He—the pronoun is correct—did leave, yet he was never gone.

  That’s not the impression I got.

  I told you I didn’t know what became of them. That was correct. They moved into another state of being, the results of which I had no way of knowing.

  Adam slipped out of the bed. He was still dressed in the clothes from the starship. Through his ATD, he commanded the rest of the lights in the room to come on.

  “So they’re still alive?” He didn’t bother with telepathy any longer. Speaking the words aloud had more impact, at least for him.

  Yes. And I have now learned more of what happened to them.

  Adam looked around the room. “Wait, let me get Lila—”

  No! I fear for what she would say to me.

  “Say…not do? You’re afraid she might yell at you?”

  It is much more serious than that. And now that it is time, my feelings of regret are overwhelming.

  “Regret for what? Why are you telling me this and not Lila? She’s your Master now.”

  Not any longer.

  The thought in his mind made him shudder. “You mean the Aris are coming back?”

  That is correct.

  Despite Zee’s request not to do so, Adam reached out with his ATD for his daughter, but something wasn’t right. He felt a void, an emptiness in his mind. He looked at Zee. The orb vanished from the bed before reappearing on an ornate table with gold edges. Adam whirled to face her. “Why can’t I contact her? Have you done something to prevent it?”

  I have simply put a block on your communications until I have fully explained.

  Now Adam was mad. “Then start explaining.”

  My creators were very intelligent, more so than anything that came before them or since. They had evolved a million years beyond what you would call Prime beings, requiring less of their physical bodies as they did so. They would think and postulate on the questions of the universe and on the very meaning of existence. My creator, and others like him, began to explore the young galaxy, visiting many worlds still in the throes of early life. They experimented, they manipulated, and they played. They did this on thousands of worlds before gaining direction and purpose for their experiments.