Annihilation: Book 06 - Demon's Sacrifice (3 page)

“What will be your target?”

“Why the current tool, of course.”

“What about their ability to handle a universe?”

“They’ll do both during the trial.”

“Don’t eliminate the current tool until you’re sure.”

“I won’t. I’ll only take a nibble out of their numbers.”

“Yeah, but a nibble for you is huge.”

The Red Being smiled and shrugged.

Tag, Danielle, and Melanie finished watching the recording of the meeting and Tag asked, “I see why you’ve asked us to come.”

“I need to know what your sense of danger says about this information.”

“We have some time. I’m not sure how much, but I think we have a few years before we are threatened directly. What are you planning?”

“To use that time wisely and to try and come up with instruments that will protect the Realm.”

Melanie, who was starting to gain weight, said, “You are going to make a trip, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am, love. Our descendents will not face this kind of uncertain future if I can do anything about it.”

Melanie took his hand, “Should I go with you?”

“No, one of us needs to be here.”

Danielle smiled, “I think he’s right. The Realm needs to know that our rulers are available.”

Matt looked at Danielle and she immediately said, “No, we will not become the Realm’s rulers again. This is for you to handle.”

“I was just thinking that it would free us up to work on it directly.”

“It would also frighten the Realm too much to make that change. They have accepted you and love you now. It would only hurt our leadership if we did that.”

“Then are you prepared to work on it directly?”

Danielle looked at Tag, “That’s something I will need to discuss with Tag but my initial response is no. Our time has come and gone. Our talents are nowhere near a strong as your generation.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, Danielle. We are what we’ve become because of you.”

Melanie smiled, “Danielle’s right; you will have to accept your role as our King in this venture.”

Matt sighed, “I’ll be back as soon as possible.”

Melanie hugged him tightly, “Tell them hello for me.”

“I will.”

“Al, have you got a minute?”

“Anytime, Magic.”

“I need to make a trip and I was wondering if you would take me.”

“Where are you going?”

“To see a brother.”

“I’ll be right there.”

Matt watched his display as he moved toward the planet of the Reg.

“Looks like things have changed since our last visit.”

“They have indeed, Al. The cities are glowing much brighter and the city on the southern continent was dark on our last visit. Look at it now.” The city was glowing brightly and could be seen from the distance of the first moon. As they entered orbit, Three Reg appeared on their bridge.

“Why have you come to see us, Brother?”

“Do you know about the dark galaxy?”

The First Reg looked in Matt’s mind and then looked at the other two. After a moment it turned and thought, “Yes, we know about them.”

“So the beings we surmised do exist.”

“Yes, they do, and they are all you fear them to be.”

“I know your ideals but I need to know what you can tell me about them.”

The Second Reg looked at Matt, “They are older than our civilization and have been killing as long as they have existed. The dark galaxy, as you call it, is their home. They fear that another race of beings will come that will remove them from creation. They now spend their long existence looking across all universes and dimensions to prevent that race from coming into existence.”

“What caused them to have that fear?”

“They think that if they can be created then they can be destroyed. They fear the force that created them.”

“Why would they fear it?”

“Because they decided not to follow the spirit of that force; they decided to rebel and do as they pleased. Knowing the power of the creating force, they decided to prevent the creation of another race that could defeat them.”

“Is this creative force a conscious entity?”

“That’s a question we have pondered our entire existence and are still no closer to an answer. However, it does not take a conscious entity to remove things that are foreign to a system. Your bodies eliminate waste that would poison you, stars go nova to remove mass that has been burned, some of your shellfish build a layer of protection around foreign things in them and a pearl is the product. Don’t look so surprised, we have been examining your planet for quite awhile. Everywhere creation has natural defenses against things that can harm it. Some of these defenses produce things that are beautiful. Those beings are right; the creative force will seek to remove them.”

“Why have they not come and destroyed you?”

“They cannot see us. We are beings of psychic power and they are blind to its color.”

Al said, “But surely they can see your cities and ships.”

“Yes, but all they see is glowing rock and inorganic matter. They have trillions of universes and dimensions to watch and all of their sensory devices look for organic material. We do not appear on their searches, yet”

“Why do you say, “yet”?”

“The green creatures know about us. If they collect the information they have gathered, they will learn that they could not harm us and they will investigate.”

“You don’t show up on their searches, but we do.”

“Yes, you do.”

Matt was silent while he pondered what he learned.

The Third Reg thought, “They have not taken direct action against those races they detect. They have created tools to do that for them so they do not normally watch their sensors. If they find us they will take direct action. It is also time for them to be creating a new tool for their designs.”

“What can we do to protect ourselves from them?”

“If they see you, nothing will protect you. Fortunately, you are hidden in the trillions their sensors watch. We have thought about how to protect ourselves and also our universe. We cannot take life but some of our Eldest have come back to the present and have discussed the possibility of saving life without taking life.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“We can defend ourselves and not violate our principles. We know the green creatures know of our existence and if the red beings take their information they will learn of us. If they are building a new tool, then our time of being hidden is short. We can remove us from their sensors. We are looking at that possibility at this moment.”

“How would you do that?”

“We will move this universe into another dimension and place a psychic barrier around it that would prevent their being able to see us and be a barrier to them entering.”

“Wouldn’t their galaxy still be in our universe?”

“No, we would move to a dimension where they are not currently present and bar them from entering.”

Matt thought about the scope of the Reg’s abilities to be able to accomplish what they described, “Then we would have to turn our backs on all the civilizations they will kill in the future.”

“Our Eldest said you would feel that way; however, you, like us, are beings that possess psychic powers. You will be able to leave and return to this universe by the use of those powers. You will need a psychic drive but you are not far from developing one.”

“The Spider’s children,” Matt thought.

“They are quite intelligent.”

“If our universe is moved as you are planning, would these beings miss it?”

“Oh, yes; and they will then put all of their attention to finding it and destroying it. However, if we don’t take this action they will find us in a shorter time frame.”

“Is there a possibility they will be able to find our universe?”

“Certainly there is that possibility; however, it would at least give more time to avoid destruction, which we see happening within two of your years if we do not act.”

Matt thought about Tag’s sense of no immediate danger, “Then you are going to do it.”

The First Reg thought, “Your insight has surprised us several times. Yes, it will be done in six of your months.”

“Then I must act quickly.”

The Second Reg turned toward Matt, “Yes you do. I think your plan has merit and is in keeping with the creative force’s design.”

“Thank you, Brothers.” The three Reg disappeared from the bridge.

Al, teleported to Ross, “What plan is he referring to, Matt?”

“I want to save some enemies.”

Al was surprised, “Really, after all they’ve done?”

“They were forced to it. We have to try.”

“For all the good it will do you; they will not cooperate with your efforts. And what about the ones that made them? Do we want to anger them?”

“We have to find a way around their resistance. You heard the Reg; they will be here in two years if nothing is done. What they left unsaid is that the presence of Destiny’s family is what will bring them. Do you think we can turn our backs on our new friends?”

“No, I’m not suggesting that we do but bringing more families here will only insure the anger of the tool maker.”

“I suspect that the presence of one spider or a million families of them will lead to the same result; they will teach us a lesson about interference and it won’t be pretty. It wouldn’t surprise me if they tried to make us one of their tools; that would be a lesson that’s in keeping with their character.”

“Don’t even think that way. I’d rather die first.”

“If those beings entered compulsions in you, you wouldn’t have a choice. You wouldn’t even be allowed the option of self-destruction. That’s why we have to try and save those spiders. At their core, they are a gentle species and deserve something better than their forced slavery. I also see enormous gifts for our Realm if we can save them. “

Al was silent and then said, “These creatures put all the other enemies the Realm has faced to shame. Do you think we can win?”

The Reg don’t know the answer to that question but at least they are helping us now. Without them we would have no chance at all. And Destiny is right about one thing, his children are amazing and I wouldn’t count us out just yet. There is also one other consideration you haven’t thought about.”

“What is that?”

“I know the history of our Realm and there is no way we should have survived the enemies we have overcome. I have seen the power of those with psychic abilities. What the Reg also left unsaid is that it is those abilities that come from the creative force that made us all conquering. If I were those beings, I would also fear angering that force. I almost believe that we are a creation that may have been created to face these killers.”

Al thought about that for a moment and said, “Well all righty then, bring them on. They haven’t had to face Fly Girl and she will kick their grumps if they tick her off.”

“Al, that’s not nice.”

“Matt, how does she always hear everything I say?”

Matt smiled and shook his head, “Love is like that, Al. She will always look after you to make sure you’re safe. Would you prefer that she not be there?”

“Never, Matt, she’s what gives me life.”

“Just like Melanie.” Matt looked at his board and said, “Please notify Tag, Danielle, Anglo, Destiny and his children as well as Sprig to meet me in the map room. I am teleporting there now and I appreciate you going with me to see the Reg.”

“I like them, Matt. I’ll go anytime you want.”

“Thanks, Al.” Matt disappeared.

And reappeared in the map room to find Tag and Anglo waiting for him, “That was quick. Were you here waiting on me?”

“No but we knew you were going to see that crystal race and we were waiting to see what you found out.”

Anglo looked at Matt and said, “Before we get started, I want to share a discovery with you.”

Tag and Matt looked at him and Tag said, “What discovery?”

“As you know we are still excavating the old cities on Earth that were destroyed during the third nuclear war.”

“Yeah, so what?”

“A chamber was recently uncovered that obviously belonged to a very wealthy man at the time before the war. He had installed a vault underground that was sealed with a vacuum and inside it we found huge sums of the money they used then but there was also a box of these.” Anglo took a small square box and broke the seal. “These are cigars that were made at that time and they are as fresh as the day that man purchased them.” Anglo handed Tag and Matt a cigar and used the old lighter that was also found in the vault to light them.