The Veterans of the Psychic Wars Volume 2

By R Thomas McPherson

The Veterans of the Psychic Wars Volume 2 is the final three installments of the adventures of Captain McNair. A reluctant hero that finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. His adventures take him to strange new worlds, where the game of galactic conquest continues. Once again, he finds himself caught in the middle, trying to survive. Will he be able to complete the mission?

Find out in The Veterans of the Psychic Wars.

This is a 3-in-1 book that covers the second trilogy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: New Atlantic Industries
• Release date: Dec 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215663424

Book preview

Book 4

War Drums

Chapter 1 Reflection

The future is set in circular patterns. A grand cycle of events that repeats itself. Moons orbit planets. Planets move around suns. The suns move around galaxies. Galaxies around the universe. And in this grand procession, our lives are so short that we can barely see the meaning of events in which we are a part, much less see the events unfold from beginning to end.

One question baffled McNair. Was this the first time around, or had it all happened before? He wasn't sure which answer would frighten him more. There were few things more frightening than the future unknown and unseen. Sometimes the most frightening future is the one you know and can't escape. The fate that you can see coming but can't avoid.

Time. Captain McNair could not shake the perception that he was running out of time. He stood on the observation deck of Space Station One and stared into space. The nanobots and the medical program in his neural interface kept his body as young as it was in his twenties. Forty years later, he was healthy and free of pain. Still, he was starting to feel the burden of time.

He was locked in his private thoughts and battling personal demons. He was used up, and he knew it. Still, he had to continue the fight. He was responsible for saving the galaxy from the evil menace known as the Trehim.

At times like this, McNair wished that he had told Shepard No when he asked McNair to find that boatload of Sims. That's what started it all. It seemed like a lifetime had passed, but only four years ago. The thought rolled around in his mind like a marble in a bowl.

He had lost so much in such a short period. The last four years had been particularly taxing, starting with the loss of Preacher. When the Pacifica Trehim made herself known, McNair lost David, also known as Preacher. Preacher was McNair's best friend and first officer. While the chip in Preacher's head was recovered, David was never the same. He had been given the position of Artificial Intelligence, AI for short, in Space Station One. He was still contributing but seemed to have lost something in the translation.

McNair observed that a spark of life never fully translated onto the crystal chip known as the Lazarus Chip. The chip in McNair's head had been active for almost sixteen years but didn't have the feeling or passion that McNair had.

Now, that is not totally true, said Lazarus.

McNair let the comment pass without a remark. Lazarus had feelings, but they were like McNair's cold, distant echo. He was sure that Lazarus would lose the feelings once he died, just like Marlen's chip did.

Shepard had gone to great lengths to recover Marlen's chip on Braxis and build him a research and development station. It had been online for the past four months. Some fantastic things had come out, but nothing genuinely innovative. It was as if the creative part of the personality was left behind.

On the other hand, Betty, the AI on his ship, was highly logical, so her adaptation was not far from her true personality. Maybe that's why she had no personality disorders like so many others from the first project.

It was when they got out into space that things started going bad. McNair had assumed that the Trehim on Pacifica was the only one. He was wrong. With the encounter of other races, McNair discovered that there were four other Trehim out in the galaxy. They were engaged in a galactic game of conquest.

Like so many times before, McNair had been caught in the middle. In trying to figure out what was going on, he was directed to the Temple of the Ancients. Beings of pure energy, known as the Aireoth, asked McNair to recapture the Trehim. And the battle began.

In the first significant engagement of the war, Carrie was taken. Carrie Montoya was one of two women McNair loved.

It was a strange relationship. The two women, Carrie and Lisa, had agreed to share McNair. This was a fact McNair could never understand. He was not interested in romance and didn't consider himself handsome. So why were women attracted to him? Still, he had to admit; it had worked.

With Carrie gone, McNair pushed Lisa away. But they got back together in time, and McNair was grateful for her being there. He wanted to protect her, but as Lisa pointed out, he could not guarantee that he wouldn't die, so all they could do was live for the moment.

The second battle was for Braxis. It was a key location for this area of space. It may have been some backwater outpost to the Caltarie, but it was the front line for Pacifica. Shepard said, We must keep them off our front hatch.

It had been four months since they had taken Braxis. The galactic game of conflict was on pause while everyone reconsidered their strategies. McNair had ordered scouts into the battle zones given to him by Lomar. The Galaxy was at peace for the moment.

McNair thought about the first time he met Fleet Captain Lomar. He was trying to find a way to bring Ashanty out of a fear-induced coma. A mind from the Order of Braxis had made contact from 600 light-years distance. McNair figured that if a telepath was that powerful, they should be able to help Ashanty. And they did. As he left to return to Pacifica, McNair swam into Lomar for the first time.

Lomar had destroyed his jump ship and left McNair stranded. Then Lomar tried to kill McNair, and only a timely rescue by Admiral Shepard kept McNair and the crew alive.

When he thought about Shepard, McNair wanted to kick himself for not seeing the signs. It still baffled him that he didn’t notice that a Trehim had taken control of Shepard's body. In hindsight, it was clear that Shepard had sent small signals to alert McNair that something was wrong, but most of the signs had been dismissed by McNair as stress or the burden of war.

Shepard had tried to make McNair feel better by saying that the Trehim were masters of deception. Lisa added that if it hadn't been for the little things, she would have never believed the news when Hobbson told her of the Trehim.

None of that made McNair feel any better. The thing that relieved the stress over the situation was that Ashanty had known about Shepard. Not only did she know, but she knew that it would be handled at the proper time and place. McNair was sure that Ashanty had manipulated events so that he could capture the Trehim. In the right place and at the right time. It always came back to time. Something he never felt he had enough of. Time.

McNair remembered the surprise on Clairemont's face when Ashanty whispered something to him. Then she told McNair that Clairemont would be an excellent addition to the crew. She knew that Clairemont was an Aireoth and that he should stay close to McNair. At the time, McNair had stopped trying to figure out the most powerful mind in this section of the galaxy. It all made sense now. It was Clairemont that led them to the Aireoth home. McNair had to feel sorry for him. Clairemont had sacrificed his life and freedom to imprison the Trehim that had taken over Shepard.

As he stared out into space, McNair wanted to escape that thought. He was standing on the observation deck of Space Station One. The idea came to him that the vast emptiness was not as empty as the human race first thought. Strangely, the space-faring races were much the same size and shape. They had two arms, two legs, and opposable thumbs. For some reason, that struck McNair as odd. Carrie had told him once that on 'Earth that Was,' there were many forms of intelligent life. The whales were more intelligent than man, but man was more destructive.

Maybe that was the key. The Trehim McNair spoke to said that she had altered the DNA of the human race. This alteration may have caused all the pieces in this galactic game to look alike. It seemed like the genetic line of each dominant race came from different animals, but the basic DNA was the same. The Aireoth has said that they had seeded many worlds. Few had grown, and fewer had passed into the primary civilization stage.

Now the time had come for the children of the Aireoth to play nice together. If only they could put the Trehim back in their prisons.

That was one of the indisputable facts of McNair's life. The Aireoth had chosen him for the task of recapturing the Trehim. He could not evade it. The longer he put it off, the more people would die in this endless conflict. At times, it seemed like he had the burdens of the Galaxy on his back. That's when Ashanty would show up and make it seem like nothing more than a simple task to be completed; however, the job was neither simple nor complete.

McNair looked out into the vast space as his thoughts led him from one place to another. A sudden flicker of light caught his attention. At first, McNair thought it was a jump window of some incoming ship. No, that couldn't be right. The jump window was a bright gold light. This light had a subdued green shimmer. Any time McNair saw green, the first thing he thought of was the Aireoth. But that couldn't be right either. Beings of energy didn't need jump windows or any mechanical assistance. In another half second, a ship emerged. It was hard to tell what it looked like because it was a very dark brown with bright green lines. As best as McNair could make out, it was shaped like a cone with a squid on top. Its tentacles squirmed as it moved. The ship was not moving in a typical flight pattern. It looked as if it was tumbling out of control.

McNair watched as three more ships jumped in and started firing on the first. Three things happened at once. First, the Battle-station alert started to sound. Next, adrenaline flooded McNair's system, which activated the neural interface, and time seemed to slow. Last was the realization that the ship under attack was heading for the observation deck. For the first time, McNair realized that he was not alone.

Clear the deck! shouted McNair, but the order was unnecessary. Two young couples and three stargazers were seeking solitude, much like McNair. Everyone had seen what was happening and was already heading for the exits. For some reason, he felt it was necessary to ensure everyone got to safety.

McNair was pleased to see a squad of Fox class ships engaging the hostile vessels. All the while, the first ship was tumbling through space at McNair. He could do nothing but watch in morbid fascination as it headed for a collision. His trance was broken seconds before the ship rammed into the transparent aluminum.

With time seeming to move slowly, McNair felt he had plenty of time to escape the impact area and get to the exit. He was wrong. His body was not moving as fast as his mind.

There was a blood-curdling crash as the ship’s cone penetrated the viewport. The ship was wedged into the observation deck, and McNair watched, not knowing what would happen next. McNair was sure it would not be good whatever was about to happen.

The ship had a technology that he had never seen before. The green rings around the cone were pulsing in a slow rhythmic fashion, much like the beating of a heart, and it seemed to be getting slower.

An alarm started to sound as a hissing sound became louder. McNair knew he should leave the area but was fascinated by the ship. The pressure doors were beginning to drop. The doors came down in direct proportion to the air leak. If there were a vast gaping hole in the hull, the doors would fall in a fraction of a second, but in this case, McNair knew he had a few minutes, and curiosity held him in place.

It seemed like there was a growth around the cone shape. The more McNair looked at it, the more he realized that the green pulse came from one solid piece. He became sure that it was wood that wrapped the ship. The wood had splintered in many places, and sap was oozing out of the breaks.

Cautiously, McNair moved in closer. As he did, the pulsing slowed to a stop, and a moment later, McNair heard a clicking sound. It made him think of an explosive bolt arming. A sudden panic filled McNair as he turned and ran.

The hatch blew, and the explosive force knocked McNair to the deck. Picking himself up off the deck, McNair went to the ship to see the life form inside. It had green scales similar to the Agawee, but the features differed significantly. The face was almost human, but it had scales instead of skin. Where there should be hair were small thorn-like protrusions. It had four horns. Two came from the side of its head, and the other two came from the top. All four are curved back above the scalp protecting the head from damage.

The flight suit looked made of the same vine-like wood outside the ship. The ship itself was showing signs of shorting out. Sparks and flashes were starting to go off everywhere. McNair didn't know if it would be okay to move the pilot, but he was sure what would happen if he didn't push it. He was beginning to feel the air pressure drop. He was running out of time.

Contact Shepard, said McNair to Lazarus, And have him override the door. Then get Dr. Ginsa up here. Tell him I have someone that could use his help. The conversation was not wording so much as thought transmitted through the neural interface.

Shepard wants to know whom you rescued?

As McNair went to pull the occupant out of the capsule, it seemed like the ship was alive. The tendrils pulled back and allowed McNair to take the alien. As he stood, McNair looked back at the boat and was surprised to see that the tentacles were grabbing onto the wreckage of the impact zone. It reminded him of an animal hanging on for dear life, trying to keep from being blown out into space. The ship was losing the battle.

Without another thought, McNair turned and ran for the exit with his burden. He could see the door slowly descending. His message was not received, or Shepard had not had enough time to act and keep the door open. It was likely the latter, as he had only made the request five seconds ago.

McNair could see what he had to do. Pushing himself as hard as possible, he ran and hit the deck, sliding. McNair made it under the door with his passenger intact, only centimeters to spare.

By the time he stopped sliding, the door was closed. He heard a loud rumbling on the other side of the door that was now sealed. McNair somehow knew that the ship had let go now that its passenger was safe.

McNair set the alien on the deck and went to look out the viewport. The ship was floating away. He was surprised to see it turn brown and shrivel. As he watched it float away, Lazarus said, Shepard is glad you made it out alive, but he was not about to risk the station for one man, not even you.

Now that the danger had passed, McNair could look at things objectively. Had the positions been reversed, McNair would have done the same thing Shepard had done. Good, I'm glad to see that personal feelings are not clouding his judgment, said McNair as he watched the ship get smaller and smaller until he could make out no discernible details. Then he turned his attention to the person on the deck.

Stand by; Ginsa’s medical team is on the way, said Lazarus.

Two arms, two legs, and hands with opposable thumbs. This was another pawn in the galactic game. The real question was who sent them and why. Who were the attacking ships, and why weren't they getting along?

McNair thought about that for a moment. Something had always bothered him about this war. Every race the humans had encountered had met at least one other race once they went out to the stars. The human race had been among the stars for centuries before discovering any other race. Why had it taken humans so long? Perhaps because Earth was on the outer edge of the galaxy?

It seemed like the board game of chess. Different pieces were designated for other things. The Telon was a repair and support race for the Banith, much like the Croth were for the Caltarie. Humans had no one as support. What bothered McNair the most was who would be dominant if they encountered other races.

Who knows, said Lazarus, they may have left us alone because we are too aggressive. Remember what Clairemont said about the human race? They are mean, self-centered, and nasty until opposed by an outside force. That came from an Aireoth, so I'm sure he meant exactly what he said.

McNair thought about his motto. To achieve the objective no matter the cost. He had done some damn distasteful things in the name of his country. He then thought about how Pacifica came together as a planet once they discovered that the Trehim were on the loose in the galaxy.

No, humans would not be subjugated. But there was also something different about the human race. They had a need and desire to build communities. It was these communities that created the ‘us against them mindset.

Or was it? The Aireoth had said that they had tried to minimize the damage done by the Trehim. Was the goodness, beauty, and art from the Aireoth? The Greeks and Romans were builders as much as conquers. Even corporate America built with one hand while destroying with the other. The Corporate Wars did more for the colonization of new planets than any other event in human history. And now a new war, but what was the end game?"

Looking down at the deck, it was clear he needed to figure out who all the players were. Was this a friend or foe? With the angular face and thin body McNair wasn't sure if it was male or female or if it had any gender.

The adrenaline was starting to drain from his system, and time was beginning to resume its standard shape. It was just at that moment that the med techs arrived. The med techs were a new breed of doctor. Half doctor and half engineer, the med techs were brought into being to repair and heal the Technos. In this case, McNair hoped that they were good enough to heal the visitor.

As the med techs bent down to place the inert form on the antigravity gurney, McNair noticed that they were all wearing class 5 biohazard suits. Captain, you are required to put this on. From the look on her face and the sound of her voice, it was a woman. Yet it was hard to discover anything else in the bio-suit.

McNair took the suit without another word and started putting it on. When it came to medical matters, the youngest med tech could give him orders, and he would have to follow them. In McNair's opinion, it looked like they were very close to that situation.

This was a situation that he could neither avoid nor evade. Best to make the most of it. The young med-tech smiled at him and said, It could be worse. We could have made you strip off all your clothes. With the bio-suit covering some of her face, it was hard for McNair to tell if she was making a pass at him or just a joke. He decided to consider it a joke and leave it at that.

The med tech team worked together and moved the body to the anti-gravity unit. Once airborne, they sprinted down the corridor with it. McNair followed at a brisk pace. By the time they arrived at the nearest med lab, McNair had found Ginsa with a portable isolation lab already set up.

McNair thought it odd that Doctor Ginsa was standing in a space suit. The med tech team rushed into the isolation lab. To McNair's surprise, Ginsa grabbed him by the upper arm and half-pulled half-shoved McNair into the lab. As the med tech worked, McNair tried to stay out of the way, moving the body from the gurney to the table. As they left the chamber, the med techs were blasted with a decontamination shower that McNair hadn't noticed as he entered.

As the hatch was secured, Ginsa touched a control at the side of his neck. You can take that off now, McNair. There was a slight rumbling sound through the intercom as Ginsa spoke. I'm going to need you to be my hands in there.

Would you mind telling me what is happening? McNair needed to find out if he liked what was going on. He was convinced that he didn't.

You are under a class one quarantine. As Ginsa spoke, McNair noticed a bottle on the top shelf behind Ginsa burst. The liquid inside quickly vaporized and vanished in the vent. Ginsa must have noticed McNair's gaze and followed it. Damn! I forgot about that. That's not the first time I've lost booze to a vacuum. The tone in Ginsa's voice was light, but McNair was starting to become concerned.

McNair knew Ginsa well enough to know that something was wrong when he was being nice. Can you tell me why I'm being quarantined?

Again, there was a slight rumble in the sick bay. McNair could only assume that it was the return of air. Ginsa's following action only confirmed that supposition. Ginsa took off his helmet and set it down. He walked over to the wall panel and dropped any pretense of a reasonable bedside manner. Look, McNair, this is an unknown race, from an unknown planet, with an unknown ecological system. We have no idea what diseases, bacteria, or parasites this individual may have.

McNair snorted in disgust. We swim into a new alien race about once a month.

While that is true, no one has ever seen or knows anything about this race. Most galactic communities have passed sickness and antibodies back and forth for centuries. Ginsa picked up a small rust-colored box. You should have one of those in there. The black button on the side will turn it on.

As McNair did so, a metal frame came up around the head of the body and started to move from head to toe. A red light passed over the form, and as it did, a three-dimensional holographic image of its organs began to appear over the med bed. McNair knew how it worked. The scanner would move back and forth until it was stopped or until it had made a complete scan of the person down to the minute cell structure in the follicles. That is, if it had hair.

McNair thought he would try again before Ginsa ignored everything else but his data. What makes this one so special?

Three reasons. The ship it came in was biomechanical. We scanned it; it was very primitive compared to the Caltarie ships, but it was alive. Next, no one knows anything about this race, which always presents a danger. As Ginsa was speaking, he was not looking at McNair; he was looking at the monitors. Now it seemed that some bit of data caught his attention, and it blocked out all other thoughts.

This was the one thing about scientists that burned McNair's last circuit. Doc! he said, trying to get Ginsa's attention back on the conversation.

Huh? said Ginsa as he held the gaze on the monitor for a moment longer. Then he looked at McNair as if he was disturbing him.

The Third reason? McNair was hoping that Ginsa was not one of these people; you had to drag information out of them one fact at a time.

Ahh, yes. Because the Matriarch told me to do it. Ginsa returned to the monitor, effectively ending the conversation.

Somehow, McNair knew the answer before Ginsa ever spoke. Much was explained with that answer. Ashanty was as much at the heart of this situation as McNair. She was always many steps ahead of what was going on. The fact that New Atlantic ships intercepted the hostile forces shooting at their guest should have been his first clue. McNair was confident that this was a guest. He was right where Ashanty wanted him to be. If she didn't want him in this chamber, she would have called him out of the observation deck before the incident happened. But then, who would have been there to rescue the alien? Why not intercept the ship before it ever came close to the station? McNair's mind started shooting off in many different directions and coming back into little circles. It began to make his head hurt.

McNair is where he is, and it is what it is. That was that. Keep it simple, Jay, he said, not knowing why.

That's strange, said Ginsa. He went over to his desk and touched the com pad. This is Doctor Ginsa. I need someone from environmental down here right away. Without waiting for an answer, he returned to studying his reading.

McNair moved closer to the transparent wall and said, What's strange, Doc?

Without looking up, Ginsa said, Hmm? He was transfixed by the data he was getting. It seemed like it took a long moment before he realized someone was talking to him. Looking up, McNair could see that Ginsa was, again, upset by the interruption. It's strange because the oxygen content in the room is rising.

Why is that strange? McNair couldn't quite make the connection. He was sure it had something to do with biology, but he wasn’t sure what it was.

Ginsa squinted his left eye just a bit. McNair recognized that look. It was the one that Ginsa used to decide if McNair was attempting to be funny. That's right. I forgot whom I was talking to. Every carbon-based life form needs oxygen to live.

That's not entirely true, doctor, said Ashanty as she entered the med lab. Ginsa spun around to confront her. McNair wasn't sure if it was because she entered his med lab or if she had contradicted Ginsa. Before he could say anything, Ashanty continued, Isn't a plant a carbon-based life form?

What . . . Are you. . . He stood for a moment, then turned to his computer.

I'm confused, said McNair. Would someone here, I don't care who, please explain what is going on?

The smile on Ashanty's face told McNair that she knew the situation and that it was not dangerous. That is a plant, said Ashanty, pointing to the life form on the bed. Isn't that right, Doctor?

McNair was grappling with the concept. It was Lazarus that came up with the answer. Ashanty is not talking about an espionage agent but something that was put into the dirt.

In a rare moment of weakness, McNair had to agree. I guess we all see what we want to see.

Shepard standing by the hatch, brought McNair back to the present time. If it is a plant, do I have to water it? I never was any good at keeping plants alive. Shepard was smiling, and to McNair, this was a good sign. Shepard had made a joke. Ashanty laughed, McNair smiled, and it went right over Ginsa's head.

Ginsa looked thoughtful and said, Watering him wouldn't be a bad idea.

Him? said Shepard. His questioning tone brought Ginsa's attention to him.

There was a look of disapproval on Ginsa's face as he looked at Shepard. Yes, he is a plant, and yes, he is of the male variety.

At that moment, two people arrived in the med lab. McNair had never seen them before. One was tall and lean, while the other was short and round. The tall one had a toolbox in his hand. Ginsa seemed irritated with all the interruptions and yelled, What do you want!

The short one said, We have a service request. It said you needed us right away.

Ginsa changed in a heartbeat. In a calm tone, he said, Ha. Thank you for your quick response. The situation has been handled, and I no longer require your services. Thank you.

As the two men left the room, Ginsa turned back to his scanner. He is rebuilding himself. Ginsa sounded genuinely amazed. His recuperative powers are beyond astounding. Ashanty and Shepard looked at Ginsa like the tolerant parents of a curious child. He seemed more delighted with every layer the holograph displayed.

Chapter 2 Hope

What McNair knew or thought about botany had just left the airlock. The idea of a living plant, he corrected himself, a sentient plant, was not something he had ever considered. What freak of nature could have caused this to happen? There must have been some strange evolution that resulted in plants being able to separate themselves from the ground, think, and develop the ability to talk.

McNair remembered the first time he met an alien, the Croth ambassador from The Order of Braxis. They were a feline race. McNair didn't think a cat should be able to talk, either. McNair should reevaluate his beliefs. Much has changed, and much will continue to change.

He's coming around, said Ginsa with excitement.

The inert form was starting to move. He smacked his lips once and slowly opened his eyes. Without moving his head, he moved his eyes back and forth. He closed them as if wishing he had not seen what he had just seen. They opened again, and with a deep creaking voice like the sound of wood bending, he said, Oh no, animals.

Wow, said McNair sarcastically. That was the last thing I thought he was going to say. Maybe Thank You would have been the first thing.

Captain, said Shepard in a warning tone. McNair looked over at the Admiral, and Shepard was shaking his head in a disapproving manner. McNair had seen this before. It was Shepard's way of telling him to stop being a smart ass in public.

Do you know where you are? said Ginsa in a soft, calming voice.

In the wrong place, most likely.

McNair pointed at the visitor and looked back at Shepard. The gesture was as if to say he was being sarcastic, so why can't I? Shepard shook his head again.

Are you trying to repair me so you can torture me and then eat me?

No one is going to do any such thing. We are here to help you, not hurt you. There was almost a plea in Ginsa's voice. He wanted the guest to understand that he was not a prisoner. Can you tell me your name?

I could, but you would never be able to pronounce it. He looked around the room.

So what are we going to call you? McNair was starting to get a little irritated at the attitude.

For now, you can call me Jeb. The crooked smile on his face told McNair that this was some private joke.

At this point, McNair didn't care. At least, it was something to call him. Well, Jeb, I would like to know why I had to pull you from a ship that crashed into my station?

Jay! said Shepard. A warning tone in his voice told McNair he needed to stop what he was doing. Then Shepard changed his voice to a soft, calming one and said, Jeb, I am Admiral Shepard. I am the commanding officer of the combined military forces of the planet of Pacifica. I want to help you if I can.

How can I believe you? You are an animal. Jeb had a way of making the word animal sound like it was a nasty word.

For some reason he could not explain; this last statement brought anger to the surface. This animal pulled your sorry ass from the wreck and kept you alive.

Jeb turned to McNair and looked at him with disdain. You're just proving my point.

It went through his mind in half a second that he was the only one in the Isolation chamber with Jeb. His anger had risen to the point that he was ready to kill him. McNair moved forward with his hands raised, ready to strangle the plant in front of him.

Captain! The word was not loud, but it echoed across his mind like thunder and hit him like a physical impact. McNair was instantly stopped. Ashanty was now in control of the situation, and McNair found he was glad of it. She turned her attention towards Jeb. I am assuming that you have suffered greatly at the hands of those, not from the ground.

There was a look of suspicion in Jeb's eyes. What makes you say that?

So it is true the meat ones have been mistreating you. I want to say that it is not me. Whoever has done horrible things to you, that’s not me. The last three words echoed in McNair's mind. Ashanty's presence seemed to fill the whole room with calm. McNair could see that Jeb's attitude was beginning to change. At least now, he was willing to hear what she had to say.

Let's start to build some trust, shall we? Ashanty nodded her head, and Jeb did the same. Good, my name is Ashanty, and you are Jeb. I come from the planet, Pacifica. What planet do you come from?

A planet far, far away. Jeb seemed to be a little distrustful even now. McNair knew that he had to feel the power of her mind.

Okay, that is an acceptable answer. You want to keep the location of your home planet private for fear of attack. I can understand that. So let me ask this instead. What is the object of your quest?

Some things were just universal. Jeb looked like a kid with his hand in a cookie jar. I have no idea what you mean.

Sure you do. You speak our language. That means you have had contact with humans or have had contact with someone that has had contact with humans. Either way, you intended to enter this space area and needed to know this language. You have a fair grasp of how we speak, so you have been in this space area for quite some time or have been studying for a long while. To be far, far away from your home and your loved ones? That means something. As a result, it tells me that you have been searching for something.

Jeb lay there saying nothing. It was as if Ashanty was saying the words for him, but he still felt he was betraying his people.

Please tell me what it is, and I promise you the full resources of the Order of Braxis to help you. Ashanty could be very convincing when she wanted to be.

Why would you do that? Jeb seemed confused. Why would the meat help me?

A wise man once taught me that my responsibility is to help those who can't help themselves. To protect the weak and above all to do what is right.

I didn't believe there could be men like that among your kind. I want to meet him one day. Jeb seemed to be gathering more strength as the moments passed.

How about right now? Ashanty lifted her hand and pointed to McNair. He is the man standing next to you. He saved you because it was the right thing to do.

Jeb sat up on the table and put his head in his hands. He looked like McNair felt after a hard night of drinking. I guess I may have misjudged you.

You may have at that, said McNair. Now tell us what you are looking for.

Help. Jeb gave out a single chuckle. I'm looking for a way to save my world.

I think we have all heard the short answer, said McNair. Why don't you give us a little detail about what is going on and whom you are trying to save it from?

It's a race called the Soine. The meat ones have brutalized my people for almost three years. Jeb had seemed reluctant to talk, but now that he had started, it seemed like no going back. It all started a little over ten years ago. We had just learned to travel the stars.

What is the name of your people? said McNair.

The Isezon. Jeb looked slightly upset because McNair interrupted him. The Isezon as a race has colonized many planets. We made green growing plants wherever we went. We thought we were alone in space. Then we encountered the Soine. We had no reason to fear the animal race. There was an old oracle that made a prediction.

Oh, here we go, said McNair in slight disgust.

Jeb looked at him with a half-smile. It was a knowing look that said that he agreed with McNair. Whether that prediction came from common sense, bigotry, or a genuine ability, no one knows for sure.

What happened? said Ashanty.

I don't know, said Jeb. The Soine spread destruction wherever they went. They wiped out every world they touched. They discovered that we could heal them of most of their ills. Over time, they looked at us as a source of medicine, recreational drugs, and food.

That's horrible, said Ashanty. She would have added more, but Jeb cut her off.

They raped and pillaged our worlds. Jeb seemed to be looking at a scene that no one else could see. The once beautiful green worlds were laid to waste. Only the home world remains. We have been under constant attack for the last three months. They discovered that plants, our ancestors, and offshoots could heal the Soine people’s many ills. Our organs, similar to theirs in function, were far superior in regeneration. You cut off an arm, and it will grow back. The Soine discovered that our organs could heal them. The extracts and enzymes from our bodies could stop the growth of cancer cells and several other diseases, and they even found out that we could be used as recreational drugs.

That's just sick, said McNair. Jeb seemed to be repeating himself, but that was okay. He was finally letting go and telling them about it.

No, said Jeb, that's business. The Soine raped and pillaged our worlds. They addicted most of their population to drugs, and as a result, they are stripping the resources of our colonies. What took us ten years to build, they destroyed in less than a year. Only the home world stands. Due to the lack of drugs they have become addicted to, we have been under constant attack for the last three months.

McNair turned to look at Ashanty, Shepard, and Ginsa. Ginsa was growling. McNair could understand that. As a medical man, Ginsa found it appalling to use one race to benefit another. Ginsa's single purpose was to stop suffering, not cause it.

Ashanty had a rage on her face that almost made her look like her mother. McNair had a twinge of remorse mixed with an incredible feeling of pride. He knew that Ashanty was already willing to help. When she joined his crew McNair had taught her that defending the weak was her primary job. Ashanty took that lesson to heart when she became the Matriarch of the Order of Braxis.

Shepard, on the other hand, had a look of impassive neutrality. McNair knew the Admiral too well to believe he had no opinion. Shepard had powerful feelings about enslavement. Still, he was, first and foremost, a citizen of the New Atlantic Corporation, and as such, he never let his emotions show in a negotiation.

The Soine has a blockade around our planet. The Elder Tree thinks the Soine is trying to keep us from finding help. I think they are there to shoot us down when we try to leave and collect our bodies. I lost ten good men. They punched a hole through the blockade so I could get on this mission.

What kind of mission? said McNair, feeling like he was now getting to the heart of the matter.

Well, said Jeb, There was a prophecy that an unwilling agent would find a savior in our most desperate hour.

Are we back to that again? said McNair with a sigh.

Captain! said Ashanty, stopping any more comments from McNair. So you are an unwilling agent? The direction of this line of questioning took McNair by surprise. The prophet and the savior needed to be questioned. The unwilling agent was understandable.

Yes, I am, said Jeb. I don't think such a savior exists. For all I know, my home world may have fallen while I'm on this fool’s errand.

So, the ships that were chasing you? said McNair.

Were Soine ships. Speaking of ships, how is my ship doing?

Dead, I'm afraid, said McNair. If it makes you feel any better, it gave its life to save yours. He spoke as gently as he could. He felt he was telling someone that his beloved pet had just died. And from what he had seen, it was probably not too far from the truth. Jeb's following words confirmed McNair's feelings.

Can you please retrieve him? I've raised him from a pod. It is our custom to plant our dead. I want to lay him to rest properly. Although I wouldn't expect you to understand.

You might be surprised, said Shepard. We bury, or plant as you say, our dead as a sign of respect.

Jeb looked over at Ashanty, who nodded to show that Shepard was telling the truth. Ginsa and McNair did likewise. Perhaps we are more alike than I originally thought, said Jeb.

McNair had the same thought. A new respect filled McNair. This was one of the strong trying to protect the weak. In that, McNair could find a kindred spirit.

I'll have someone attend to that at once, said Ashanty. In the meantime, I would like to know a little more about the Soine. If we are fighting a new enemy, I would like to know a little more about them.

There was a questioning look on Shepard's face. McNair was not surprised at all. He was expecting Ashanty to send him on another mission. One he would have to refuse politely.

Do we want to get involved in this? said Shepard. While he looked doubtful, he seemed willing to follow Ashanty's lead.

Yes, I want to get involved with this. Then she turned to McNair. These are unclaimed pieces.

Jeb looked confused and looked like he wasn't sure that he liked being called a piece. What are you talking about? he said as he swung his legs over the exam table. McNair rushed forward to keep him from falling.

Ashanty continued, We are discussing a war between good and evil. A galactic game of conquest of which you are a part. Captain, if you would.

Somehow McNair knew that Ashanty wanted him to start at the beginning. It all started with a mission to find a missing ship, McNair told the story of The Persephone's Pride and how it led to the war with the emperor and the discovery of the Trehim on Pacifica.

Ashanty continued the story with the attack on Space Station One, how that led to the discovery of the Order of Braxis, how the alliance was made, and how they took over a strategic refueling station on the planet Avena.

Shepard finished with the rescue of Lomar and the liberation of the planet Braxis. He also included how McNair had helped Shepard rid himself of one of the Trehim that had taken control of his body.

Jeb was silent for a moment. He was looking down as if his thoughts were turned inward. Suddenly, the most disturbing sound came from Jeb's body. It was in the lowest octave that McNair had ever heard. It was so intense that McNair could hardly listen to it, but the sound sent wave after wave of vibrations through his body.

The most surprising and genuinely unique thing was that Ashanty answered Jeb's call with a psychic vibration that made McNair's hair stand on end.

After a long duet of the most disturbing sound that McNair had ever heard, Jeb looked up at Ashanty and said, So you are the one?

No, said Ashanty as she pointed to McNair. He is the one that defeated them, not me.

Now you just stop for one damn minute, said McNair. I am nobody’s savior!

That's true, said Ashanty. She seemed to have a slight hint of anger in her voice. It was something like a mother tolerating a temper tantrum from a child.

Before McNair could go on a new tirade, Shepard asked, Now you got me wondering. What exactly is the prophecy that sent you on this quest?

From the beginning, it has been our custom to return to the ground once our bodies fail us. Mother earth keeps us alive, but the price is that we can no longer move around. I think, in your words, we become trees.

What has that got to do with the prophecies? said McNair.

Jeb no longer seemed to take offense at anything McNair was saying. I'll explain that in a moment. The older they get, the more they become connected to mother earth. At some point, they connect with the mother's mind.

They gain psychic abilities, said Ashanty to McNair helpfully.

Jeb seemed surprised that Ashanty understood. Yes. When we met the Soine, my people went to Tresid, the oldest living tree, and asked for her opinion. That's when she gave us the prophecy.

McNair was about to say something when Shepard cut him off. Do you have the exact wording of that prophecy?

Jeb looked over at McNair. "An unwilling agent will be sent to find the one that no mind can touch. He is