by Reg Franklin
Wasn't it?
Part III - Opening Salvo
The Prelt...how do I describe them? Apologetic, certainly. Zath and Lami were, at least; I can't say the same about Aster, you could feel the anger coming from him. When they made their gesture of contrition, I always got the impression that he was simply doing it because Zath and Lami were.
I would speak with Lami once before everything went to hell, and asked her what was the source of Aster’s anger. She told me that the Prelt were bred to serve various castes: Zath to the diplomatic/governing caste, she and Quordex to the scientific, and Aster to the very small military caste.
The Prelt are pacifists to a point, but will defend themselves if provoked. They have rules such as never starting a fight. Which is the true source of their shame regarding Quordex and the Vandleifdulus: that Quordex is an aberration that believes himself above regular Prelt morality, and that the Vandles will attack without provocation beyond the Lavnabren’s hatred of all life.
The fact they were so willing to unleash the Vandles against the Salk’art shows how truly desperate they were. And it makes me very glad that a species that could provoke a race of pacifists to create something like the Vandleifdulus is no longer in our region of space.
God help us all if the Salk'art ever return. Because I can only imagine what Paul might create to fight them.
-Jennifer Safyo
15.
“This is your complete analysis?” Stragdoc gazed over the data tablet while Simon Peters fidgeted.
“Yes, sir. The specimens show no sign of evolutionary growth.”
“Yes, but I already knew that.” Stragdoc slid the tablet back across the conference table. “What I wanted to know is if they could be controlled.”
Peters picked up the tablet. “Unfortunately sir, there’s no way of knowing without a live specimen. Perhaps if you and Lord Truk had kept one ali-”
Peters didn't get to complete his thought. Thrown across the room, the wind was knocked out of him as he hit the wall.
“I’m sorry, what were you saying?” Peters looked up to see the Emperor still seated, expression still neutral, but murder in his eyes.
“Simply, that,” Peters gasped in a lungful of air. “If we encounter the species again, I would need a live sample to determine how it may be adapted for your use. Sir.”
Stragdoc strode over to where Peters lay. “Choose your words more carefully next time, doctor.” Simon found himself hauled to his feet, the Emperor dusting something off his lab coat. “Now, your report indicates anomalies in the creatures’ blood?”
Peters nodded. “Yes sir! I'm still running cellular cultures to determine the full makeup of the things’ blood, but it appears to be based on a radioactive element, akin to how our hemoglobin is iron-based.” Peters grabbed the tablet from where it had fallen, checking it for damage, the engraved intertwined Greek characters on the back shining in the light. “This blood is possibly one of the deadliest carcinogens I’ve ever seen.” He drew the Emperor’s attention to a brief test he’d run, exposing a small diluted sample of the blood to one of his small hordes of the descendants of the lab animals he had packed aboard the Talon.
“Analysis of the animal showed it rapidly developed multiple aggressive cancers, killing it in hours. Painfully as well.”
Stragdoc read the page, tapping a finger against his chin. “Has it been exposed to Alphite physiology, yet?”
Peters shook his head. “Not without your approval, sir.”
“I shall arrange something. Keep this information classified until instructed otherwise. Your lab techs are to only know this is a biological compound we are experimenting with.” Stragdoc resumed his seat. Murder was no longer in his eyes; it had been replaced by what could only be described as a jolly sort of madness. The three words he now spoke were not unexpected, but chilling, nonetheless:
“Weaponize it, Simon.”
---
Callixta paced nervously in her chambers. It had been days since the assault on Derverstand, but the memory of her vision remained vivid. After viewing footage recovered of the initial attack, she had confirmed that these Vandleifdulus creatures were indeed the same she had seen in her precognitive state.
It had been acknowledged among the ruling council that the attack had been an exploratory assault, testing defenses. With the strike force eliminated, they could expect a full-blown invasion next. The fleet was on high alert, weapons manufacturing had been ordered to triple their output, and the Neuromancers had seen Praxus take over combat training.
Had the humans been tested as well? Callixta paused, considering making contact with the agent she’d placed, but ruled it out. He was scheduled to report soon, no point in possibly blowing his cover prematu-
A barren wasteland, the ground stained with orange blood. Michel was there, straining to make contact. Callixta smiled, reaching an astral hand to him. “Michel. I am here.”
Michel kneeled before her translucent form. “My Empress. I was discovered. The humans’ pet witch has abandoned me on this world.”
Callixta’s hand stroked her agent’s head. “I see. Were you at least able to widen the rift between the government and military?”
“The witch undid my work.” Michel admitted.
Callixta withdrew her hand. “Then you have failed. Were I my husband, I would execute you for your failure, Michel.”
He looked up at her fearfully.
“I am not as merciful.” Callixtra plunged her astral hand into Michel’s skull, and severed his optic nerves. Michel screamed in both horror and pain.
“They will heal in time.” Callixta’s voice called to him in the darkness. “Until then, you shall have to hope that the planetoid you have been left on has no natural predators.”
Callixta returned to herself. While her oracular abilities had only just returned, she had become adept in the past century at sending mental projections. This one had simply occurred due to Michel’s psychic call to her.
She cursed the man for his failure, and cursed the killer of her child. She calmed herself. Safyo would pay soon enough.
“Everything all right, darling?” Her beloved’s voice behind her.
Callixta turned and smiled. “It will be, soon enough.” She pressed her body to his, wrapping her arms around his back. “I was so worried when I heard you’d gone after the aliens. You have no idea how happy I am that you're okay.”
Stragdoc pressed his lips to her forehead. “I can probably guess.”
Callixta’s arms tightened. “What happens next?”
“Next I tour the fleet, ensure it's battle ready. Numenor will not fall, I promise you that.”
“Will we be ready? The fires, and that face…”
Paul, her darling Paul, took her hand. “Come. You need to see something.”
---
Callixta recoiled from the viewport into Codex’s cell. “That’s him.” She snarled. “He’ll oversee the burning of Derverstand.”
Inside, the being that called itself Codex stared at the severed head in the room with increasing agitation. Were these Alphites immune to the blood toxins? Were they faster? Did their mental talents give them an edge?
I need their cells. Quordex thought. If I can graft their life chain to that of the Vandleifdulus…
+FATHER+
The thought tore into Quordex’s mind, staggering him. Contact with his daughter was never pleasant.
+FATHER YOUR RETURN DID NOT OCCUR AND I GROW IMPATIENT SCOUT GROUPS HAVE DISAPPEARED AND I WILL UNLEASH MY CHILDREN NOW FATHER+
Quordex returned to his feet unsteadily. No darling child we are not ready t-
+THE TIME IS NOW FATHER I WILL BE REVENGED ON THE UNIVERSE YOU CONTINUE TO LIVE ONLY BY MY WILL FATHER AND YOU WILL REMEMBER THAT THE WILL OF LAVNABREN IS THE WILL OF THE VOID THAT I WILL USHER US ALL INTO FATHER+
“What in the worlds…” Stragdoc whispered as his captive fell again. He reached out with his mind to see what ailed Codex.
Paul Stragdoc, master psionicist, collapsed under the crushing weight of the Lavnabren’s will, blood streaming from his ears and eyes.
Callixta screamed in horror, throwing open the cell door, thinking that Codex was to blame.
+MORE IMPURITY I WILL KILL YOU WITH YOUR MATE AN THE VOID WILL TAKE YOU BOTH FOR THE VOID IS BLESSED AND WE ARE ONE WITH THE VOID+
Callixta almost joined her husband in unconsciousness. But, still thinking that the figure shackled to the wall before her was somehow responsible, she grabbed him telekinetically. “Stop it before I split your head open! Now!”
+RELEASE FATHER YOU VILE THING YOU ARE NOT WORTHY TO TOUCH HIM YOU AWFUL DISGUSTING THI-+
Gritting her teeth, Callixta smashed Quordex’s head against the wall. Once. Then twice. And then five more times, until the back of his head split like an egg and he sank to the floor.
The ancient weight pressing against her mind lessened, as the point of contact died. Only then did Callixta collapse to the floor herself.
And at the center of the galaxy, in orbit around the V’elj, the Lavnabren screamed to her children to begin the purge now.
16.
“There must be something to be done!” West raged before the body of Henry Pickman, who still floated in suspended animation.
The Prelt shook her head. +Infected tissue would need to be excised, and at the rate it spread, the excision will kill him just as surely as the infection will.+ Tla-mi-Nga, or Lami as she allowed herself to be called blinked her orange eyes slowly. They were dimmed, which West took to be an expression of sorrow or remorse. For the Prelt, it seemed that the eyes truly were the windows to the soul. Every emotion seemed to affect both color and intensity of the glow.
“What about radiation treatment? We used to kill cancers on our world through directed high intensity radiation.” Lami’s eyes brightened momentarily, before dimming again.
+How terrible for the patient! However, we would need to release P’k-mn from his stasis to perform the procedure, which would allow the infection to spread further out of control.+ The color of her eyes deepened to a pale red. +Quordex must be made to pay for his crimes. To do this to a sentient being, any living thing, is an abomination!+
West sighed, sat in a chair. “Indeed it is, my new friend.”
+Friend?+ Lami cocked her head. +Forgiveness, your language and syntax are still a thing I am learning. Friend is what?+
“Oh, it means an acquaintance you enjoy the company of.” West stretched in his seat.
Lami’s eyes brightened. +You refer to a mate perhaps?+
West froze in shock. “Uh, well, uh, no, I mean our mates can also be our friends and…” He stared as the alien’s eyes brightened further and she began making a coughing sound. “You’re playing with me, aren’t you?”
Lami’s coughing intensified. +Forgive me, J’n-T’hn. A small jest, to relieve the somber air here.+
West could only laugh.
+Besides of which, I do not believe our species are even capable of coupling!+ Lami put a hand to stabilize herself on a table as she coughed laughter harder.
West doubled over, he was laughing so hard. “Oh, oh I needed that. Thank you, Lami.”
+You are most welcome, J’n-T’hn. In darkness does humor find the best roots sometimes.+ Her eyes maintained their bright orange glow.
It really is a pretty shade. West thought, them chuckled. “Ok, what if we excised the visible portions of the cancers, then used radiation on the deepest ones while we have him opened up? In the stasis field there’s no danger of continuing growth, and we can attempt to…” He trailed off as Lami’s eyes paled.
+There may be no saving him using human science…+ Was that a hint of fear in her voice? +However...Prelt science…+
“Yes?”
Lami locked eyes with him. +There is a procedure we may attempt. However, I may no longer be welcomed home by my people. Zath would understand. Aster would order my execution for sharing these secrets. But I want to help you and P’k-mn. Because...you are my friend.+ She gestured to the stasis field as she spoke. +I may have to stay with humans until my lifespan ends as a consequence, but Quordex must not claim this man’s life.+
West swallowed. “I-I’ll need to clear it with the admiral, first. And...there’s one other thing I’d like to try.”
---
“Doctor. Come to finish our game?” Jennifer pleasantly greeted West at the entrance to her vessel. She’d politely declined the offer of guest quarters, preferring to remain on the Nadezhda.
“I wish I was. No, I needed to speak privately with you, Ms. Safyo.” West could barely meet her eyes. “Pickman’s dying.”
Jennifer sighed. “Even with the Prelt’s assistance?”
“That’s the thing: Lami apparently knows a way to save him. But whatever it is, she wouldn’t tell me, she’ll be exiled from her people for showing us. Might even face execution. So, I wanted to exhaust every possibility that I have available to me before I bring this to the admiral.”
Jennifer closed her eyes. “You want some blood.”
“Alphite conversion might be the only thing that saves him.” West nodded his head. “It’s just that Lami is my friend, and I would hate to see her do this to herself, cut herself off from her people…”
“Like I have?” Jennifer asked ruefully. She stood, fetched a bottle of water from a cupboard. “Let me ask you something, Johnathan. Let’s say I did, hypothetically. The Vandle are coming. There are going to be more people coming into contact with that blood of theirs. Do I give more blood to save them? Or does Pickman? If we survive this war, will Pickman and anyone else who’s been saved be hounded into isolation as humans beg to share this curse of eternal youth?” Her eyes moistened. “Were it only a matter of sharing a rare blood type, I’d give you as much as you needed. But...this...it’s a slippery slope. I need you to understand this, Johnathan.”
West nodded. “I do. Do I like it? Of course not. But understand it, yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, I shouldn’t have asked.” West smiled. “But I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t.”
“If whatever Lami has in mind puts her in danger, I’ll help protect her.” Jennifer promised.
“I appreciate that, Ms. Safyo. But let’s find out what exactly is so secret that she thinks Aster will want her dead for it.”
---
+The procedure for genetic replication is, in fact, rather simple. Your own science has seen the beginnings of the capabilities.+ Lami gestured to a screen displaying Earth’s history of cloning research. +However, it seems your species was content to simply let the replicate age naturally. We have ways to accelerate development up to the current age of the genetic original. Following this, it is a matter of transferring memory engrams from the original, to the replicate. A complex task, but not a dangerous one.+
“I’m sorry, she wants to clone Pickman and somehow copy his brain into the clone?” Chris was flabbergasted. “Have you both lost your minds?”
Lami didn’t seem to understand the expression, but West was quick to reply. “Not at all. Look, Admiral, you’ve seen how fast Vandle blood kills. We’ve ruled out all traditional treatments, what’s left is, well, unconventional to say the least…”
“Unconventional?? You mean illegal. After the disasters involved when they tried to resurrect the dodo and auk in the thirties, you want to risk this?” Chris was livid.
In 2032, scientists announced they were going to attempt to resurrect both the dodo bird and the great auk...and were successful. Except someone along the way forgot that these extinct animals had no resistance to modern diseases. Both the clones contracted a variety of avian flu, and their virtually non-existent immune systems allowed the virus to
rapidly mutate into a new, lethal strain.
And then it jumped to humans. Tens of thousands died before a vaccine was developed. In the aftermath, the United Nations passed a resolution instituting a global ban on cloning entire creatures (cloned skin and organs were permitted for medical emergencies).
West shook his head. “That danger doesn’t exist. We’re not cloning an extinct animal, but a dying man. Admiral, the Vandle are coming; We need every advantage we can get against them, and this technology is our only chance to save anyone contaminated by their blood.”
Chris rubbed his forehead. “If the council finds out I permitted this…”
“When we’re done, not even Pickman will know.” West promised.
