Chasing Nyrlkas The Entity Chronicles Bk 3

By Cooper Hill

Chasing Nyrlkas
Holth, the famous bio-med has been found and restored to health and the Universe. But a new challenge awaits the Entity-I converted as Commanders Srin, Kate, Eli, Holth and Honey accept their next mission, to save the Nyrlkas of ancient legend.
But how can anything so adorable, engaging, and cuddly cause so much trouble or be so untrustworthy? How do these symbiotes change from particle to wave and back, disappearing at will? How do you rescue or even contain quantum light packets of intelligent energy?
With a planet rapidly destabilizing, a simple Keiratus rescue and relocation mission erupts into chaos as the Nyrlkas wreak havoc at every turn, running amuck and spreading 'too much joy'.
Meanwhile an Anomaly pierces the fabric of space-time, swallowing one of Srin's Command ships. The ship reappears but with four additional life forms aboard, and enthralled, two mid-young Nyrlkas steal an Explorer vessel and disappear into unknown shunts with the 'liberated' new life forms on 'an heroic adventure'.
The chase is on as Srin and Kate and their Command ships track the young Nyrlkas through one catastrophic shunt after another, and three planets in their path will never be the same.
Insurrection back at the Hub, an onboard spy, and an aggressive deadly parasite spark even more bedlam in Chasing Nyrlkas. Who will survive?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cooper Hill
• Release date: Oct 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9781942984887

Cooper Hill

Cooper Hill walked out of the dust in a semi-arid desert seeking a wider Universe beyond the beyond. She has worked in surgery as a scrub tech/circulator, a flower shop, chemical plant, bronze foundry, and for 20+ years was a successful bronze artist and writer of prose, showing and selling in venues and galleries across the greater Southwest. In mid-careers, Cooper and her husband took a two and a half year sabbatical with Peace Corps, to work in Burundi, East Africa, where she earned the JFK Volunteer of the Year Services Award (as her second-self, A. Pauwels). She has written a non-fiction book, Turtle Tushies in the Land of Banana Beer, A Peace Corps Memoir, about their adventures in teaching fish-farming among a heart-warming people. Cooper loves the solitude and process of creative writing. She has completed six dystopian future-fiction/sci-fi action-adventure and space opera novels, replete with strong female protagonists, side-kicks, heroines, heroes and an abundant and appropriate number of villains. She enjoys writing/reading, friends, ballroom dancing, painting, sculpting, travel, kayaking and good movies. Cooper currently greets the sun each morning with her fun-loving Mom. They reside on a beautiful tree-covered hill above a quiet valley.

Book preview

Chasing Nyrlkas

The Entity Chronicles: Book 3

by

Cooper Hill

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2019 Cooper Hill

License Notes: Thank you for downloading this ebook. It is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and remains the copyrighted property of the author and may not be re-sold, redistributed or copied for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Prologue----Sven and the Firebird

Chapter 1---Answer found in arm the third

Chapter 2---The Hub

Chapter 3---Insurrection

Chapter 4---Kate and the Guranian Commonfold

Chapter 5---Isolation on Aditi

Chapter 6---Bing and Bob

Chapter 7---Space Station One

Chapter 8---Holth the Lost

Chapter 9---Mind Movies

Chapter 10--Melding and Blending, the Crinthora

Chapter 11--Spit and sputter, float or fly

Chapter 12--The Joining

Chapter 13--Nyrlkas--The Mission

Chapter 14--Symbiotes

Chapter 15--A Hole in Space

Chapter 16--Invasion

Chapter 17--The Anomaly

Chapter 18--Pi and Tau--Pretty Holth

Chapter 19--The Ruse

Chapter 20--Disappearing

Chapter 21--Tractor Beams

Chapter 22--Nyrlkas run amuck

Chapter 23--Taken!

Chapter 24--Rules of the Game

Chapter 25--The Tapeinos

Chapter 26--Spies, Traitors and Tracking the Nyrlkas

Chapter 27--The Mystery

Chapter 28--Rangs

Chapter 29--Cocoons

Chapter 30--Infection!

Chapter 31--The Npangi

Chapter 32--Creelees

Chapter 33--Chasing Nyrlkas

Chapter 34--Cloak and Dagger

Chapter 35--The Parasite

Chapter 36--Revelations and Deceit

Chapter 37--The Orniclees

Chapter 38--The Darken

Chapter 39--Conversion

Chapter 40--Pesky Nyrlkas

Chapter 41--Primordial soup

Chapter 42--A question of sentience

Chapter 43--The Chitterings of Arc and Chord

Table of Contents (cont.)

Chapter 44--The Skyxics

Chapter 45--Implosion!

Chapter 46--Gone with the Light

Chapter 47--The Spider Cage

Chapter 48--Escape!

Chapter 49--Return of the Nyrlkas

Chapter 50--Death threats

Glossary of Time and Measurements in Kate's world

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About Cooper Hill

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Endnotes--Sample Chapters The Spidy Chronicles

Prologue--The Spidy Chronicles

Chapter 1--The Spidy Chronicles

Chapter 2--The Spidy Chronicles

Chasing Nyrlkas

Prologue

Sven and the Firebird

A sweet-sung melody filtered into Sven Yohst's dream as Kate O'Shaughnessy Lightfeather appeared slowly out of a star-lit, ink-black sky and handed something to him. She smiled, her honey-gold hair streaming behind her, waved goodbye then turned away, swallowed up in a blue mist.

Space Station Commander Yohst looked down at the object. It glowed the cherry fire of life in his large palm and it filled him with a hope and longing he hadn't known since he'd lived on Earth and seen the Ruby Bird called the Phoenix consumed in flames.

The fire began to grow and sing, its voice rising stronger with each five-note harmony. The song wove in and out the realms of consciousness, imparting its message.

"Mortal tongue cannot tell

The 'why' of life in which I dwell.

Reborn, Rebirthed,

Ruby Fire once more protects the Earth.

But now risen--I find the Yrang in mortal pain.

Brought him here midst fire and rain.

Ebony life you must maintain,

Pure of heart, deserves no pain.

Tis my doing he fights with death,

No fault has he. But soon--bereft

Of life will fly to soar and join me up on high,

Lest you aid him. Help is nigh.

So waste not time,

Awaken now.

And learn from him the when and how.

A path to follow, a choice you've heard,

Answer found in arm the third."

As the song of the Firebird faded, Sven drifted toward wakefulness. A final warning floated through the fog of sleep, but he couldn't tell if it also was from the Phoenix or something concocted by his own mind, though he didn't tend toward prose.

"Beware of lunar words and ways,

Danger lurks midst colony bays.

A killer, treacherous, one you trust,

Men lay dying in the dust."

Sven Yohst sat bolt upright, the messages searing into his mind as from hot metal pressed on skin. But as the clarity that sometimes comes just upon awakening fought off the amnesia of consciousness, years of discipline fastened on to at least one answer.

No time to waste or wait! Yohst vaulted from the bunk, bounding and pushing out the portal of his space station quarters toward medical, stark naked.

Chapter 1

Answer found in arm the third

Former earth-bound Enforcer for the Mother Company, now a 'rebel Star-Seeker' and the current Space-Station-One Commander, Sven Yohst pushed into medical, bare-buck naked as the day he was born, a message and warning from the resurrected Phoenix seared into his memory, galvanizing him from troubled sleep into action.

Commander! What is it? What's wrong? the night duty med-tech exclaimed, backing up in fear as Yohst burst in on the run.

Get Commander Lena down here now, and a small surgical and electronics team! Yohst snapped. He started for Holth's medical capsule, then suddenly felt the cold deck beneath his feet and looked down to realize he wore no clothes or boots. He bounded calmly to the white storage de-con closet, pulled out a de-con suit complete with weighted and insulated booties, stepped quickly in and zipped it up, reprimanding himself for the oversight.

Within minutes, Yohst had his team assembled and explained what he needed.

Lena looked at him in disbelief. You want to do what?

Please, just do it, Lena. Trust me, Yohst said, as the team set up a scanner over a small area on Holth's third and fourth arms.

* * *

Sven, how could we have missed this? Lena exclaimed in dismay minutes later.

Never mind that for now. Doctor, can you get it out intact without doing further harm to Holth?

Yes, I believe we can, the surgeon said. I may have to take some tissue with the chip, if that's what it is, as it's embedded deeply, but--yes, we can get it out. My only concern is introducing pathogens and infection to his system where there were none.

If we don't act now, we risk losing him anyway, so do it. Now. De-con parameters. And Ensign Courtney, you contact John Reins immediately 'down-Earth', Yohst said. Wake him up if you have to and have his staff standing by to help you preserve and analyze this--without breaking it--we're looking for a way to initiate a signal beacon from it to Kate and her people--for a rescue. And remind him, we only have this one--there won't be any second chances.

Yes, Sir, right away, the slender former vid-star, now E-tech said, and pushed off to make it so, her wide brown eyes filled with excitement at having a part in saving this poor being.

* * *

Some time later, while the E-team worked on Holth's medical chip, Lena stood, looking out the small portal at 'space', watching the lunar surface come and go as the station spun slowly past it. She leaned back into Sven her head topping out just under his chin, enjoying the feel of his arms around her, grateful for the rare stolen moments with him and grateful too, that the alien Kate, had found a way to bring him aboard the space station. She sighed, never tiring of the view of space.

How did you know, Sven? she asked, unable to hold back her curiosity any longer, that it was there?

The bird is back, he said, simply.

Oh. My! she let out a quiet breath, her voice trailing off to a whisper. The Phoenix? Tonight?

"Yes. And there's more. It says we have a traitor, and maybe more than one, on the moon base that's a threat to us all. It said,

"Beware of lunar words and ways,

Danger lurks midst colony bays.

A killer, treacherous, one you trust,

Men lay dying in the dust."

Oh, Sven. Franny's down there! How will you stop them? she asked, alarmed.

Yohst hugged her in appreciation for her sharp mind, for her ability to cut to the essentials immediately, no frills or chit-chat. Not why, or how the traitor hat got there, but how could he or she be stopped.

There's a question, now isn't it? he agreed, thinking she'd have made a fine military strategist--if she weren't already their top scientist on board. I'm sorry to say I suspect two in our fold. But first, I have to ferret them out, find proof--and to do that I need your help.

Chapter 2

The Hub

Mutants--every one! They need to be eliminated before they infect the entire Keiratus, the tall figure said, his long stride eating up the shadows in this isolated park at the Hub, the dark ankle-length, deeply hooded cloak concealing both his body and face.

Yes, yes, his older companion soothed, matching the long strides with effort, his own cloak fluttering a bit, revealing some of his Guranian features to the ever-present monitors. I understand and agree. But we must recruit more like-minded citizens before we act. Attack from all fronts--politically, economically and system-wide at once, not piece-meal. Come, let us return to the tavern for some refreshment and determine our first course of action.

* * *

Our future is uncertain, the elder Ona said to the assembled roundtable, disturbed at deep level, "more than it has been in over a millennia. Visions continue to appear with threats of unrest from many quarters. And in spite of all that our Stla II crew endured and have done to serve and protect the Keiratus from the NAWL, still fear of them grows the longer they are in the restorers, rumors of them being mutants and no longer human are rampant.

What do we do, the youngest Ona asked, her smooth brow wrinkling, looking more each decat that passed like her aged and wizened elders.

What can we do? the elder answered, but wait.

* * *

Kate watched the countdown display on her restorer, grateful for the technology, but ready to never be in one again---ever.

As bells chimed softly for their release, the four Entity-I's emerged into the white and silver medical quarantine room from their bio-restorers healthy, whole and Undivided-with-the-Entity, with each other, and nearly one in mind and heart. The sentient onboard, Honey, was immediately transferred to an autonomous, temporary robotic floating bio-box, an RBB, akin to an RFL, but with her as the mind and controller.

Welcome back, Commanders, the chief bio-team officer addressed them, unable to keep the tremor from her voice as she and her team held hands to hearts in salute--in reverence and thanks for the group's recent sacrifices.

Srin, Kate and Eli returned the gesture, while Honey--hovering beside them--flashed a salute on her temporary housing screen.

Unable to give them time to adjust, the bio-team leader motioned them outside the quarantine room, I'm sorry to rush you Commanders, but the Ona request an urgent audience with you for your reports as soon as you have changed and refreshed yourselves, and before you attend to any other matters.

* * *

On the tram escorting them to the Ona's sanctuary, Srin assessed his companions, relishing the renewed connection through Entity-I. They all looked healthy and refreshed, younger even, and how did that work? Kate's skin literally glowed with vitality, her long deep gold hair pinned up into an ornate braided top-knot, making her appear even taller and slimmer. Eli's long lean body and soft blue-leather skin--that seemed somehow a deeper blue--also looked the picture of health, his blue-green eyes shining with his patent curiosity. And Honey, though her mind was confined to the RBB, emitted a vibration of peace that was somehow comforting--now that was interesting--did the Commander of the Keiratus need comforting? He caught Kate staring at him and raised a dark green brow. Yes? He asked silently.

Just admiring the deep green shining health of your feather-scales, Commander. We all appear to be fully restored, and glad I am to be free and whole again, and with that mutual sentiment they prepared to meet the Ona.

* * *

The Entity-I heroes spent their first decat after reemergence from the restorers at the Hub, half-orads with the Ona, exchanging knowledge gathered through their Entity-I's of their encounter with the Nawl, and the other half with Hub scientists painfully trying to reconstruct their last moments aboard the Stla II, not only for future defense against any such malevolent energy, but ultimately for any final traces of Holth and the lost onboard, Litlx.

The second and third decats were filled with endless ceremony, accolades and media interviews over their encounters with the FRAN and the NAWL, giving Hub and planet-bound citizens the chance to see, touch and honor their most favored protectors and heroes.

* * *

The Hub architecture and layout is really beautiful, Srin, Kate said as they took a rare ten haplo stroll alone in one of the many parks, neither of them sensing the hooded figure following and slowly pacing them some distance away in the shadows.

Srin looked up and glanced around them, realizing how much he took for granted. It WAS a beautiful center for the Keiratus, filled with green, blue, white, yellow and orange parks to accommodate the various races and their need for specific colors of the spectrum to stay healthy and whole. There were rest and refreshment stations everywhere, gleaming silver and white office and residential towers that stretched to the horizon, and one very large section for commercial enterprises and entertainment, a space where he and Kate mutually agreed not to spend any time--too crowded and noisy. While his favorite part was still the University and Research labs, he looked at the surroundings through Kate's eyes and saw its simple beauty, maybe for the first time.

Please, Srin, she apologized, tell me again how the noise and odor abatement works? I see all these beings moving about, see them talking and having fun, eating strange things, but rarely see, hear or smell anything other than a quiet background noise and a clean environment.

Srin grinned, his emerald teeth flashing in the sunlight and he launched into teaching mode as he pulled out his com to initiate a holo-projection, calling up a document and the Hub layout side-by-side.

It was a series of great discoveries, Kate, discoveries that have made life so much more pleasant as the Keiratus expanded, he said, pointing at the first illustration. "Frequency, vibration, particles and waves are at the base of it and an expansion on what I believe, at least rudimentarily--your people call Quantum Physics. Everything here is designed with specific combinations of frequencies, vibrations and waves that both reflect and absorb. Sound is absorbed to accommodate all the races and it is built into the architecture, the plants, groundscaping, and even the air through nano-tecture--so there is your quiet. Only direct close conversation is heard, even when crowded.

Odors were the hardest, as some races have extremely sensitive olfactory receptors. The Drachnas provided us with the solution. Drach has vast deposits of a clay-like substance called Mryxl that can be heated, molded, crushed and combined with--well, almost anything--the results are in the gleaming surfaces you see everywhere. It is a final surface application that absorbs and traps the odors then filters and releases clean air. The dynamic structure of the Myrxl molecule has so many facets and crevices that it only requires reapplication once every ten cycles or so.

See those sweepers up there?" he pointed out a squadron of r-f-l's hovering some thirty moblis in the air next to one of the silver towers.

Yes?

They are vacuuming off the old layer with a special releasing vapor-compound and another squadron will follow the orad after and apply a new one. Once you have noticed them, you will see them everywhere, in a continuous cycle of renewal for the Hub.

Kate's eyes had grown round and wide, impressed over and again with the Keiratus, the many races and their cooperation, knowing Earth could do the same if all their efforts were focused on creative genius like this instead of military repression and control. She shook off the rare melancholy with thoughts of her home planet, and smiled up at her intended.

Thank you, she said simply, and then delighted Srin by buying him a treat at one of the refreshment stations, a green-cicle, laughing as he popped the entire elongated frozen thing into his mouth at once, his cheeks pooching up in a wide grin like a child's, with green dribbles squirting out the sides as he relished the taste.

Kate dabbed at his chin with the cleansing cloth that came with the treat, still laughing.

I haven't had one of those in decats, Srin grinned wider. How did you know?

She smiled shyly, You are famous, Srin. I looked you up. Your media bio lists all of your favorite foods, activities, and much, much more.

Srin's brows lifted in surprise. He knew many of the larger details of his service were a matter of public record, but it had never occurred to him that he would have a media presence or bio with personal lists of anything. He wasn't sure he liked it. I didn't know, he said, a bit unsettled. Hmmm, I will have to look this up and see how much of it is accurate and how much fabrication.

The media has already been in contact with me, looking for more bits and tiddles, Kate said, shaking her head.

What? he asked, curious, When?

Yestorad. They wanted to know if you snore! she hooted, clutching her belly as she shook with laughter.

Oh, for Trin's sake, Srin growled at the thought of such privacy invasion, then paused, concerned, What did you tell them?

* * *

I hate them! Them and everything related to space! The hooded figure raged on, keeping his head down, eyes averted, barely recognizable as Guranian with the cloak pulled far forward to shadow his very recognizable features. Media-made heroes! Who even knows if the FRAN and the NAWL ever existed, or if they were just another ploy to steal funds from much-needed projects here, work that does the Kieratus real good, saves lives, grows better crops, cures diseases and makes every day life safer and better!

I know, my friend, I know, the stranger said again, allowing his companion's rage to grow to a usable state, giving him a gentle pat on the back. What they've done to you is unforgivable. Just know there are many more like you out here, that we have friends and like-thinking minds across the Keiratus ready to support us. We have only to lay out a plan for the downfall of the Ona and their mutated kind, and all will be well.

Maybe, the hooded one said in a surly voice.

Trust me. I am working on several campaigns that will shed doubt on the entire space exploration program. Soon those funds and efforts will be turned back to the planets where they belong. Come, now. We'll walk a bit, just to make certain we are not followed, then I'll introduce you to some more newcomers, outline our first steps toward freedom, the stranger encouraged, inserting as much fear and paranoia into the conversation as he dared.

Chapter 3

Insurrection

One last ceremony to endure, Kate, Srin said, stroking her face gently as they lay nestled together on the light grey sleep-platform, not wanting to leave this secure cocoon, yet looking forward to decats and cycles ahead with his betrothed.

Kate grinned back at him, Yes, but that means more food, Srin! Think of it, two entire decats and not one orange awful or bad reaction! Well, except for that Drachna delicacy--now that one I could do without again, forever, she said, scrunching her face up in distaste.

Ah, but you were ever-so-polite about it, Srin chuckled at the memory of Kate-growing-taller with her lips pinched tightly together to keep the rapidly swelling delicacy from spewing out and all over the young Senator who had offered the rare fungus. A quick trip to the trauma-center had put her right as rylx, but she had been given an anti-dote to carry with her for the future and a warning against ingesting strange fungi.

I wonder, Srin, what is the significance of those blue glowing orbs above his ears that popped out while we were being introduced? I couldn't find any reference to them among the Drachna archives. Is he a mutant?

Srin ducked his head, hiding a smile. It would seem, my dear Kate, that you have yet another admirer. The orbs are a physical trait reserved for private courtship, not displayed or discussed in public, and I am afraid, embarrassed our good Senator beyond measure. Top that off with poisoning you, and I had to intervene to prevent him being shipped off to some forlorn post at the far reaches of the Keiratus.

Kate's eyes grew huge, Oh, Srin, NO! I am so sorry, and thank you for seeing he was not punished. Hmmm. I wonder what caused it?

Srin roared with laughter, startling his mate. Trust you to have no sense of self in the matter and concerned only with the cause. Half the Keiratus is in love with you, my dear Kate--but I found you first, well, second, and glad I am that Eli did not have the good sense to keep you---and you are mine.

He grabbed her, tossing her into the air, making her squeal with laughter, then sobered as he caught her gently to him and said, It did raise an eye with Hub scientists, who were instantly off studying a bit of your physiology to see if pheromones were involved. If your people make it to membership in the Keiratus at some point, the Hub will want to know how to head off cross-cultural pheromone issues before they cause trouble.

Yes, of course they would be curious, Kate said. She cocked her head at the flash memory of Earth celibates, as she had been, attracting unwanted attention simply because it was forbidden--then released the memory at deep-level, acknowledging it had nothing to do with her 'here and now'.

It certainly will not do to have glowing blue orbs popping out in public places, she grinned, suddenly comfortable with having half her known universe liking and being attracted to her, but this time for what she deemed the right reasons, and she settled just a bit more into being this 'new' Kate, this new citizen in the Keiratus, at peace at a deeper level, knowing she had come home at last.

* * *

That was fun, Kate punched Eli and Srin each lightly on the shoulder as they left Professor Jorn Thrp's office, enjoying a half-orad of tossing around a potential new tweak on the spin drives. And you said he was difficult. I found him to be quite charming.

Srin snorted and Eli's brow wrinkled up in puzzlement.

He WAS extremely solicitous of Kate, Commander, Eli said. In fact, I've never known him to be so gentle or kind---well, to anyone. Amazing.

More than that, Eli, Srin concurred, Have you ever seen him laugh? I thought he was going to wreck a vessel or have krylns when Kate started rhyming her questions like r-f-l 27.

Yes, she certainly had a strange impact on him. What do you suppose--

Hey! Kate exclaimed as their longer legs carried them far ahead, ignoring her. I'm right here you know. I can hear you, as she ran to catch up. "And I think he's delightful and challenging. So there," she said, sticking her chin out in defiance.

* * *

Eli Harflon, after spending his required two orads with family and among the Lorind, returned to the Hub and found himself seeking the company of the intriguing Trident Nona Parflon, quizzing her endlessly on what she'd found aboard the wreckage of the Stla II, and enlisting her help to look for any trace of Holth.

Would you care to join me at Strzxp's this evening? Eli asked the Trident, finally gaining courage to ask for time with her outside of work.

Nona flushed a deep blue, transmitting her silent YES and they left the lab through the rear exit to avoid the throngs and media waiting out front to get a glimpse of Eli, the Lorind-hero and friend of Commander's Srin and Kate.

* * *

In the deep shadows of a tavern known for catering to those with rougher tastes from the outer rim, four cloaked figures arrived within haplos of each other out of the pouring rain, easing around the edges of the rowdy crowd to make their way one at a time to a privacy booth at the rear, reserved under a borrowed name. Ordering drinks through the self-serve using disposable credits with no trace, the Guranian began the conversation, wasting no time getting to the point of their covenant.

What do we know about this new being---or her people? How do we know she is not some trick to infiltrate the Guranian hierarchy? And why did Srin Urptls not follow his first mate into death? How many times has that happened?

You are right. None in my memory, muttered the Drachna, wrinkling his nose at the head of foam on his Yrangian beer.

Those that are close to him say he has changed, even his features--that he's not the same at all--almost as if he's become an alien himself, the Guranian continued, warming to spreading the latest gossip and rumor. How can we be certain he is still fully Guranian and on the side of the Keiratus? And though they claim this new being, this alien, has proven herself with the FRAN and the NAWL encounters--who knows if that was all a holo-trick--perhaps using fabricated stories of her to keep funding high for space exploration, when it is needed more here on the planets! They've done it before, he said heatedly, repeating the age-old rumors and conflict of resource allocation between the 'spaced' and the 'planet-bound'.

Too right, the Orlyk intoned, his brow tentacles waving about in agitation. And what about this Lorind who was supposedly lost for a cycle, the one who brought that alien into our midst in the first place? How do we know he was not subverted as well? And strange isn't it, for that trio to be held in such sudden esteem by the Ona? Replacing eons of our own tried and true counsel with theirs? And if, as rumored, Srin Urptls is indeed transitioning to an Ona, why is he not invited to join the council instead of still spacing? What's wrong with him? It goes against tradition and it does not sit well. No, it does not bode well at all. We are no longer being represented on the Ona's council and there are new rumors that some of us may soon be stripped of title and transferred to the Outer Rim, he said glumly, knowing even as he spoke that this was, if not total fabrication, at best certainly wild exaggeration, as was the nature of his race. But maybe not, he rationalized, especially if they were all charged with treason.

What? the Guranian responded loudly, scale feathers bristling up into glistening emerald armor, causing some in the crowded tavern to glance over at his group. He noticed their attention and forced himself to calm, continuing in a lower voice. That is outrageous! We are not outlaws or rebels! We have done nothing wrong, only dedicated our lives to protecting the Keiratus and the Ona! This is not right. What is to become of our families, our status in community?

Agreed, said the Drachna. We must do something to expose these aliens, save the Keiratus and retake our rightfully earned place--but where do we start?

I may have a plan, but I need your input, the Guranian replied slyly, welcoming these newcomers into his fold of revolution, and for the next thirty haplos they huddled together to hash out the details.

Chapter 4

Kate and the Guranian Commonfold

Honey relished her time with Hub scientists and their treatment of her as fully human. They had enlisted thousands of scientists and techs across the Keiratus to explore the many discoveries and new fields of research her encounter with the NAWL had spawned, most unaware of her Entity-I integration