“Go ahead, tell me,” he said, feigning interest.
“Over three centuries ago, the planet Earth, from where we humans originate, was steeped in war and poverty. It was a long period in which progress was limited... However, not everything was bad; some scientific and technological advances took place thanks to the wars.”
“And what are these advances you speak of?”
“Several... the greatest, without a doubt, has been the discovery of the wormholes, which are portals in space. Not only did they allow for the exploration of space to be possible, their uses were much broader than that. The human species used wormholes to convert planets, and moons, into inhabitable places, removing gases to diminish the atmospheric pressure, or adding them to increase it.”
“Portals in space? Our species never needed any such thing to conquer our... universe.”
“As I said before, this universe does not compare to yours. Where you are from, in order to travel to another planet, one would only require a ship that could travel at great speed. The distances are not so great, and there is not much to go to. This place, on the other hand, is immense. Even the light is slow when it comes to travelling through the universe.”
“What about these bodies? They seem fragile; why have you not been able to improve them?”
“We have done, but not as much as we would like. During the period I told you about, it drove several investigations. The wars facilitated the modifications in the humans. Pain and fear were eliminated in the soldiers, but that proved to be counterproductive. Those humans lost the capacity to empathise. They virtually became machines.”
“And what about that?”
“Many sectors began to refuse the modifications to humanity. In 2140, the wars ended, the rebellions ceased, and the victorious side, which two decades later would found The Galactic Union, took control of the Earth. Due to public pressure, laws were established that prohibited studies that would attempt to modify human nature, once more limiting the advance. After that, there were more problems. Experiments with intelligent machines that ended up badly, technology with hybrid humans that turned out to be unsafe, and other failures, forced the prohibition of any explorations. Nevertheless, it has been advanced in many other areas. Now, we do not fall ill so easily, we live very long lives, and we are capable of curing almost any bodily affliction. The human species is the most powerful in the galaxy.”
“Who makes the decisions here?” asked Thoryo.
“When the wars on Earth finished, the winning side got ready to create a system that would be capable of governing the whole planet. That was how The World Union was born, which came to control all the nations of the Earth. At the head were the World Leader and the High Council. When the conquest of planetary systems advanced, some people decided to claim the power that the Earth’s government had over the rest of the planets and colonies, and that is how The World Union became The Galactic Union.”
“Do the World Leader and the High Council still continue to have power?”
“Something like that. When The Galactic Union was on the cusp of being born, there was pressure for the one who had the power to be chosen by vote of the principal planetary systems belonging to The Galactic Union. Thus was created the post and title of Supreme Leader, which together with the High Council defines The Galactic Union Government.”
“Supreme Leader, eh? How many systems vote so that somebody becomes the Supreme Leader?”
“Only a few. The so-called primary systems... You seem very interested in the subject.”
“I’m only curious... Is the title of Supreme Leader for life?”
“No, a Supreme Leader can lose their power if the primary planetary systems so wish it. It only requires a vote. The first Supreme Leader was removed from his post after the things that occurred under his leadership.”
“What happens if a Leader ceases to live. Who substitutes them? A family member?”
Yavar knew that this man was only interested in power. These questions confirmed it. He did not see any problem in answering them; he did not believe the man would be capable of becoming a threat, and if he did, he was prepared to stop him.
“If a Supreme Leader dies, a substitute is chosen in a normal public vote. That is how the current Supreme Leader was chosen, just after the death of our Second Leader.”
Thoryo could detect a small change in Yavar; perhaps he had suffered from the death of the second Leader, or maybe it was something else. He did not want to ask; he was going to be as cautious as he could, and would only try to take advantage in the moment when he felt sure about it.
“Why did you search for me?”
“You already know that your universe is dying. Perhaps there is not much time left, therefore...” The notification of an incoming call in his eye device interrupted him. “...I’m sorry, it’s a call from that person I spoke to you about earlier. You know, the one who is carrying out a mission for me,” he said, making himself important.
“Go ahead, answer,” he said, annoyed.
It was Dasslak who was calling. He was about to share the results of his mission with his contractor. It may not be great news, but it was definitely the best that anybody would have been able to get.
“I’m listening,” said Yavar, accustomed to not naming Dasslak through a call.
“I found The Augur.”
“And what happened?” he asked, without much excitement.
“I was able to talk with him regarding everything I wanted, but in the end...” The Assassin hesitated for a moment, he sounded somewhat disappointed. “... It wasn’t possible for me to capture him.”
“Oh, come along now! Don’t feel so disillusioned, I knew you wouldn’t be able to do it.”
“That’s what I wanted to ask; why were you so sure of that?”
“Do you remember that location you got for me? You know, Boryan’s location,” he said, looking at Thoryo, who was still sitting in front of him.
“Of course!” replied Dasslak.
“It turns out that in that place there was not just Boryan. I found some very interesting things there. One of them is a seer. You know, like The Augur... only much less powerful. He told me how your mission would go.”
“What?” asked the assassin, startled. “A seer? If Voill had something like that, why would he be needing The Augur?”
“I understand it may seem strange, but if you had been able to see him, you would understand that his power does not compare in the least bit to that of The Augur...”
“But he was capable of predicting that I would fail?”
“Yes. Some hours before you called from Ranore, I spoke with him. He was able to predict everything that would happen to me in the following hours. He told me that you would call with the report of the mission, telling me that you had failed in trying to capture The Augur.”
“His power sounds fairly interesting.”
“It is. Unfortunately, it is very limited. He is only capable of predicting events that are not very far in the future.”
"Now that I think about it, I think that your old master mentioned something about that to me," said the assassin. He revealed that he had a seer, but that he had proven to be of little use."
"I understand why he said that. Those sorts of predictions are not of much use. I would have to walk around with the seer all the time for him to be truly useful. But I have something... or rather I have someone... that your old master did not have. I think I will be able to augment his power; we’ll see yet what comes out of all of this.”
“Is it necessary for me to inform you of anything else, or did he tell you everything that I would find?”
“I only know that you did not uncover much about Bornew. Is that right?”
“Yes. The Augur said many things that I did not come to understand. The most detailed of which was that I will continue searching for Bornew, and eventually will be able to find him. Of course, according to him, a few years will pass before that happens... Oh! By
the way, he also said that he is a convergence.”
“Bornew? A convergence?”
“So it seems. And that isn’t all; he claimed that upon having stolen that robot, he had offset enormous changes in the destiny of the universe."
After hearing that notice, Yavar was profoundly shaken for a second; now he truly was concerned about finding Bornew. What was bothering him was regarding a threat for The Union, and without a doubt it was necessary to catch him.
“Do you plan on continuing with the search?"
"Perhaps," replied Dasslak, after a short pause. "I'm somewhat curious about the place in which The Augur said that I would find him... It intrigues me to know why he will be there. Even so, you already know that I will only search for him if you pay me for it, otherwise I have no real motivation to do it."
"What place is that?"
"Forget it, that isn't important... You can read the report I'm sending right this moment. In it, I give you all the information regarding the task you entrusted me with."
"Excellent... I really hope you can carry on with the search."
Whilst Yavar had been talking, Thoryo Dy Oba had been feigning disinterest, but listening attentively, to everything he said. Indeed, it had nothing to do with the Doryo, it was obvious that Yavar did not look at them as a priority. The old monarch was looking at him increasingly more as an enemy.
"We'll talk about this in a few weeks," responded Dasslak, "first I have to take care of a personal matter.”
“All right... You completed the task, you found The Augur, and you found out what we wanted. In spite of the fact that we don't know much about Bornew, we already have a few things to start us off. The seer I acquired can help us improve our options."
"Need I remind you that The Union doesn't interest me?"
"I understand... I'm very satisfied, so much so that I will include a bonus. I can leave a package with payment in any location in space, just give me some coordinates."
"That will not be necessary. This payment can be electronic.”
“Eh?” exclaimed Yavar, surprised. “Electronic? Have I heard you right?"
"I had to use one of my accounts to make a payment to Alpha, so I will have to get rid of that account anyway. You can transfer the payment there. I attach the details in the report."
"You had to use one of your accounts? That must have annoyed you," he said to him, somewhat cheerful.
"I'll get my own back yet.”
“Oooh! My most heartfelt condolences to them..." he said, and let out a guffaw. "...When you finish with your business, call me to carry on with the matter of Bornew.”
“I will do.”
The call ended. In the report that Dasslak had sent to Yavar was detailed everything that The Augur had said about Bornew; including what he had said about Voill’s son, who in reality turned out to be a body inhabited by a being from another universe. The only thing he decided to omit was everything regarding what was said of himself and the anomalies. He did not want to share that information until he was sure of what it meant.
Yavar had a lot to think about; several weeks on since the hijacking of S4-07, he was no closer to deciphering who Denn Bornew was. What were his motives? Was he a real threat to The Union? What changes to destiny had he triggered? He wanted to read the report immediately, but he was prevented by Thoryo.
"What's all that you were talking about?"
"Union things. My post obliges me to monitor security, and that person is helping me to find someone who poses a threat to our interests."
"Our?"
"Those of The Galactic Union," replied Yavar, who was progressively noticing how threatening the man was beginning to seem.
"You were going to talk to me about your purpose in this place. I am referring to the part that came from the same universe as me."
Yavar decided to be direct. He did not want the situation to get out of control. He made the decision to be as categorical as possible with Thoryo; only that way would the man understand his situation.
“When the search for you was planned, there was no intention of taking you back. The universe you come from is dying. It is very small, and there is no other place to go to. What your brother was intending was to bring everybody here.”
“Everybody?”
“Everybody. Your entire race. He wanted to come to this place and conquer it for himself. Just like he did there. Lektura was sent here to create a machine that would make it possible to connect both universes, and thus bring all of the Doryo; but your brother has no idea of the power that The Galactic Union has. To attempt to come to this place to begin a war would mean the extinction of your species. Even with the advanced technology that your brother has, it could not in any way guarantee his victory. He does not know it, but I do. We were lucky that the being that came from your universe inhabited this body.”
“To what are you referring?”
“A war is not necessary. I am about to finish the creation of a machine that will allow us to communicate with your universe, and you will help me to convince your brother to come here peacefully. That is the reason why I searched for you so zealously, Mr Thoryo. Knowing that in the other universe there are people plotting to come to this place to cause problems, should assure that that would not happen.”
Thoryo Dy Oba now understood it; this man was not really his ally. He wanted to use him for his own plans.
“What is it you’re planning to do?” he asked, intrigued.
“I will help even the very last Doryo to establish themselves throughout The Union. They will live in the same way that many species co-exist amongst them currently. If your brother accepts, I will help to organise the whole thing. I don’t know if they will have sent more people here. They could be trying to construct that machine to connect the two universes. We must act quickly. When your brother agrees to come in peace, we can create a portal that will bring them as individual beings to this universe. They will live, distributed throughout various planets and colonies. That way we will avoid the war, and the certain destruction of the Doryo.”
That statement had been the worst insult that Thoryo had ever heard in his life. To him, his species was infinitely superior, but Yavar was speaking about them as if they were ants waiting to be squashed.
“Do you think my brother will accept this?”
“He will have to be grateful; I am prepared to offer life to your whole species. It is the best deal he will have. I am a servant of The Galactic Union, and my interest is its development. He will have no other option than to accept my terms... To tell the truth, I would not even move a finger to contact you if I did not know that there could be more of your own in this place.
Thoryo Dy Oba remained silent for a moment. Everything that Yavar had said confirmed his suspicions. He would still continue to be a prisoner; the only thing that had changed was his captor. His current state was not at all favourable. After a few uncomfortable seconds without a response, Yavar spoke again:
“Look,” he said in a friendlier tone, “I don’t want you to feel as if I’m imposing anything on you. My mentor had to die just so that I could liberate you, I am not your enemy.”
Yavar was trying to calm his guest, he did not care about lying regarding having wanted Voill Conner dead. His prime motivation had definitely not been to get the location of the being from another universe; it was rather more the case that Voill was just in his way. Thanks to his death, he had advanced to a position that would make him one of the most powerful people in the galaxy. He was definitely an ambitious person.
It was not the first time he had managed to advance at the cost of the death of other people. He had won his entry to the council, thanks to an assassination; the assassination of the second Leader of The Galactic Union. He, from outside the council, and Voill from within, had both planned it in concert, contracting the best assassin in the galaxy to achieve it. So professional was his work, that still nobody was capable of even guessing as to who had been the caus
e of that horrible event.
Yavar Aflir was one the most dangerous people alive; not even his old friend and mentor had been immune to his ambitions. Unfortunately for him, he was now facing a great danger.
“Very well,” said Thoryo, “contact my brother. I will do what you say. I will convince him to come in peace.”
He was lying; he would try to gain the confidence of his new captor, it was the only thing he could do for the moment. The Augur was right; Voill should have killed his son. He never should have been born. Inside of him there lived a dangerous being. Now it was Yavar who was committing the mistake of letting him live. That being would be the cause of a great suffering.
“That is an excellent decision, Mr Thoryo,” said Yavar, smiling. “You’ll see that I will treat you well. We must leave for Earth as soon as possible. I want to introduce you to a little girl whom I am very proud of.”
Chapter IXX
Encounter
Somebody was heading towards them. Could it be Neil? The memory of his recurring dream came to Denn, who was not able to conceal his feelings; it was obvious to the robot the nervousness that his friend was feeling. One second later, all of that appeared to vanish.
“It’s okay,” Denn now seemed very sure of himself, “I suppose the time has come,” he said, and he tried to get up to walk directly to the place that C0-UN1 had said somebody was coming from.
“Wait, Denn,” said the robot, taking him by his arm. “Don’t be rash.”
“What’s the point? It seems we won’t be able to hold it off any longer.”
“Please! Wait! There’s something...” The robot fell silent as Denn looked at him, anxious.
“What’s happening?”
“I know him... It’s... It’s Qein!”
“Qein?” asked Denn, without getting a response. The robot got up immediately and began to run, making his way towards the young Qein, who was walking little over a kilometre away in their direction.
Convergence: Genesis Page 26
