Crow: The Fulcrum (Crow Series, Book 4)

By Michael J. Vanecek

He entered hell to save the love of his life. He endured the hatred of a thousand worlds to prove her innocence. But could he save her from an evil goddess intent on rewriting reality?

Little had changed in the months that Steven Crow and his wife were ensconced in the hellish Maelstrom. The alien society that spanned thousands of worlds still saw him as a monster, and her as the foolish one who bonded with a monster. But one major fact has recently come to light. Without the two of them, the ancient alien society would never have existed.

Steven returns in the middle of a simmering war between the alien society that barely tolerated him, and an evil goddess that was utterly infatuated with him. His return becomes the spark that lights the fires of open conflict, with Earth stuck in the middle.

With the explosion of war coming from every direction, Steven Crow struggles to keep those he loves safe, and races against time to solve the problem the evil goddess has become, even entering her lair to face her head on.

Yet how can one defeat a timeless entity who predates the universe, one who knows what his true, devastating nature is, one who knows how precariously reality is teetering on the edge of oblivion?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael J. Vanecek
• Release date: May 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9780996083355

Michael J. Vanecek

Michael J. Vanecek grew up in a household of avid readers. He would often find himself lost in his growing library, and when not reading, he would frequently draw what he saw in his head from what he read.To compliment his reading obsession, he has an avid imagination and sometimes distracting tendency to daydream, much to the consternation of his teachers and parents.His childhood circle of friends mirrored his tendencies and provided a developmental springboard for his creative tendencies, including art, videography and creating sophisticated realities and stories.He is an avid student of life and is enthusiastically enthralled by all things from science to art. This is reflected in the stories that he writes.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Desolation.

As far as the eye could see.

Steven looked into the sky at the malevolent swath of brilliance that had obliterated the night. The Maelstrom was coming. Soon it would consume everything. The entire universe.

But Steven expected it. Welcomed it. The clean slate it brought. His antagonist was right. She told him he would reinvent reality. He was born for that purpose. For this universe, he was the Destroyer. For the next, the Savior. All he had to do was to accept it. Embrace it. Become it.

He returned his attention to the surrounding rubble. Cities had been blasted to wreckage, dust, and ashes. Now they were nothing more than little islands in a roiling ocean of magma. Their occupants had ruthlessly tested his compassion and tempted his wrath. He in turn had visited upon them the recompense for the torments he was forced to endure at their hands. Not just this world. All of them.

The throne belonged to him. The rights to existence was his. And he was claiming it.

He kneeled down and plunged his hand into the lava that lapped on the shore of his little island, then pulled it back, letting the liquid pass through his chromed fingers. Justice.

They had hunted him like an animal. Chased him across the universe in their bloodlust. Now their ashes mingled with the molten remains of this planet, soon to be utterly obliterated by the unraveling of the fabric of space.

Steven was determined to witness the final moments of existence there. To see the Maelstrom wash over the planet, wiping away the devastation into oblivion. Time and space would cease to exist. Physics would be erased. The universe would be ripe for a phase change into a new reality, one according to his own design.

Who is Asherah?

Steven spun around, startled and ready to destroy again. But it was her. The goddess who had opened his eyes. Aliya. All life had forsaken him, betrayed him, but she never turned her back on him.

She sauntered over to him, walking across the lava as her sultry hips swayed with each footstep, a stark contrast to the death and destruction around her. Who is she?

The question was irrelevant. Steven scowled and returned his attention to the results of his handiwork. His countenance chromed over briefly and he glanced at his hands. He was no longer beholden to the physics of this reality. He was beyond it. Like the Elder. Like the Younger. Of what importance was anything else? Anyone else?

Steven?

An Elf. Steven glanced sharply at Aliya. No one.

Did he just lie to her? For what purpose? He was the Destroyer. He owed no one.

I found her. Aliya put her arm around his waist and pulled him close. I was going to give her to you. Your Eve.

Steven glanced at her. He could tell she was attempting to woo him. Lull him into complacency with her seductive presence. Her beauty and power were intoxicating. A luminescent goddess who glowed with the brilliance of a thousand stars, and yet he was still able to admire her, touch her, savor her touch.

However, there was only one thing he wanted from her. Where are my parents?

~ ~ ~

The scream seemed to penetrate his consciousness both from within and from without. Steven opened his eyes to see a frantic, furry Elf girl shaking him. Asherah. He put his hands up to ward her off but she batted them away and lay on him, sobbing.

Blinking, he pushed her off and rolled over, retching. His head throbbed and the tree house shuddered under his knees. Asherah tried to grab him again and Steven intercepted her hand, holding her wrist as he glared at her. He rose to a crouch, lifting her arm up as he struggled to control an overwhelming rage.

Steven, Asherah whispered as she wept.

He was angry at her. He had lied to his goddess about her, and he didn’t know why.

Asherah gasped, glancing at his grip on her wrist. It’s a dream, Steven. Please.

Dream? Steven let go of her wrist as he looked around, confused. He was in the common room of Asherah’s family tree house. On Syagria, home planet of the Elves. The Elves that had been asleep were now all awake and on their feet, staring at him and appearing more than a little terrified. He looked at Asherah and squinted. His life-mate returned his gaze, concern and fear filling her countenance. Then he shook his head. No. It wasn’t a dream.

Steven, Asherah cried, then she caught her breath, seeing his thoughts.

He sat back down on the floor heavily and put his head in his hands as reality flooded back in. He cried out loudly as he tried to fend off the tendrils of resentment and fury. The monster within that terrified him, that threatened to consume him. After a moment, he looked at his hands. Fur. Skin. Normal. No chrome anywhere.

She’s trying to reach me. He took in a shuddering breath. Through this thing she put in my head. He whacked his temple angrily. The fury in his vision was genuine. His life had been pure agony at the hands of both Terrans and the Cooperative. His loved ones tormented. Innocents murdered. He shook his head as he tried to quell the surge of resentment. She knows about what has happened to me. It’s like she’s trying to feed it. Magnify it.

He looked up, alarmed. She knows about you.

Asherah nodded, wiping her nose. I saw.

You saw? I didn’t see you.

I couldn’t dreamscape with you. But I watched. Asherah shivered, rubbing her furry arms. I thought, I thought…

She cannot inspire an incident from me, Asherah. Steven put his hand on hers. No more earthquakes. No more burning. She isn’t strong enough. Not anymore.

But, the Maelstrom? Asherah turned her hand over and grabbed his.

Steven thought for a moment. She doesn’t know about Vanessa. He looked up. Who else would be powerful enough but me?

Asherah cried furiously. You wouldn’t. Please tell me. You were so cold, so…

Steven pursed his lips as he regarded her solemnly. Am I cold now?

Asherah shook her head, trying to stem the tears. You scared me. What you did. The death. The… you, you enjoyed it.

I lied to her. I took over. Even in the deepest of dreams, she cannot overpower me.

Steven looked around at the nervous Elves in the room and slumped. I want to go home.

Asherah followed his gaze around the room. Steven. This is your home. Here. On Syagria.

Not yet. Steven looked at her sadly as he reached up and wiped the moist fur on her cheeks. Not even close.

~ ~ ~

She opened her eyes and looked around. It seemed like she had just lain down to go to sleep.

It had been a long day of classes and teeth. But it was a fulfilling day. Her dental Guildmaster was extremely proud of her. Of course, Angela couldn’t tell if that was coming from a perspective of condescension, proud that a Terran could actually hold a drill correctly, or if it was genuine. The Ordan were notoriously difficult to read. But for her, any non-human was hard to read, especially since their context was still such a mystery to her.

Angela rubbed her eyes and sighed. Her mind was racing. She wasn’t surprised she was still awake. Adapting to a whole new universe has been exhausting. Steven brought her and her brother there when they became targets of bad people on Terra, for which she was enormously thankful. Even so, it was exhausting.

As she rolled over, she realized she was on Syagria. But she couldn’t remember going there. She thought she had returned to Endard to hang with her Selkie friends and the Terran family that had taken her in and showed her the ropes of Cooperative life. Tessa and Ryan, parents of Brandon, Steven’s best friend, had celebrated their daughter Lisa’s birthday, and it seemed like the entire village attended their private little party. Angela smiled, remembering the Williams’s exasperation since Tessa had prepared just enough dinner for the few of them. But true to form in the Cooperative, no one lacked for food. They never do.

Angela looked around, confused. She was so sure she went to sleep on Endard. The party was dragging on and she had to get up early, so she left them and lay down in the common room there. Sleeping mats had already been laid out.

But she couldn’t deny that she was now in a common room of a tree house on Syagria. She sometimes visited an effervescent Elf named Ted’rel there. He was a bit immature for her tastes, but there was something about him she found irresistible. Even so, he was still not eating out of her hand, though he continuously tried. While everyone’s plates were common to those at the table and eaten from by anyone, only lovers ate out of each other’s hands.

Angela sat up, not tired anymore. It was actually pretty bright outside. Double full moons. She stood up and walked out of the common room onto the deck. But, something didn’t seem to fit. Angela turned around and looked back into the common room. There were numerous sleeping mats on the floor, but she was the only one there.

Scratching her head, she walked around the deck, looking at the other tree houses in the Syagrian village. No one was out there that evening. Even the neighboring tree houses were silent.

Hello? Angela called out. Things were starting to feel creepy to her. She would often walk out in the cool of the night and even then there was always some activity happening. Elves were constantly coming and going. To them, night was just a slightly dimmer version of day. But now there was no activity at all.

I used to imagine people. But they just weren’t real, a voice behind her said.

Angela spun around, startled, then gaped.

A stunning Elvish woman stood on the deck looking at the Temple in the distance. Her fur glistened in the moonlight. Angela resisted reaching out to touch her. The Elf sighed. They looked real and felt real. Like the tree we’re standing on. But they just had no soul.

Vanessa? Are you out? Angela stopped. She slumped a little. I’m in, aren’t I?

She looked around again. It all felt so real. But it was the Maelstrom, and she was in a vision again, visiting Steven and Asherah’s daughter. She had been imprisoned there for eons. Angela sighed and looked back at her. Asherah had not even delivered her daughter yet. She was several months away, even. But there she was, standing before her, a grown woman who was immensely ancient, far older even than anyone else in the Cooperative.

You’re the first real person I’ve seen in a very long time, Vanessa smiled.

The Younger? Angela looked around. Vanessa had rescued the Selkie deviant child and tended to her until she attained sanity. Now she was also an impossibly ancient goddess, who most of the Cooperative treated like a myth similar to Santa Claus.

She left about a thousand years ago. Perhaps longer, Vanessa said sadly. I loved her so much. She was like a child to me. My little Selkie daughter. But she had a destiny to fulfill. A Cooperative to create.

Angela grimaced. Time was a bit wonky in the Maelstrom. Flexible even. But this was a vision. She wasn’t actually there. This was happening in real time for her. Where did she go? Angela asked, looking around.

The beginning, Vanessa said. She had no anchor for any other point. She walked over to Angela and caressed her cheek in the traditional Elvish greeting, blessing her with memories of her days before the Maelstrom. Then she gently grabbed her hand and looked at it. Even with her extreme age, she still moved with all the determined grace of a young Elf, and her touch was soft and warm. Her fur tickled Angela’s hand a little, and she looked down at it as Vanessa seemed to be transfixed by her fingers. She didn’t look old. But Elves never did. For that matter, no one in the Cooperative looked their age.

Still, a thousand years without someone to talk to and with no physical contact was torture to an Elf, since they were characteristically extremely gregarious. Angela sighed, feeling sorry for Vanessa. Vanessa grinned, shaking her head. Don’t feel sorry for me, dear Angela. I made a choice and I’m living with it.

Angela nodded, then knitted her eyebrows, quizzical. The beginning?

She witnessed the Cataclysm. When all the gates died. And she rebuilt them as well as she could. Without her, there would be no Cooperative. But it just wasn’t the same. Vanessa glanced at Angela, remembering where she was from. And she was excluded from Terra, too. The Forbidden Planet.

Angela gulped. She never understood why Earth was considered the Forbidden Planet by the Cooperative. She suspected few‌ of her new, exotic friends remembered why either.

Vanessa sighed. We used to not need Gatekeepers or Temples before the Cataclysm. We would just go wherever we wanted. She hooked Angela’s arm and walked over to the edge of the deck, looking down at the ground far below. At least, that’s what she told me. She leaned forward, closer to her. Before the Cataclysm, everyone was a Gatekeeper. But more. Like me. There were no Fractures.

How did she know? She’s been… she was here all of her life. Angela looked around. There was no connection to the real universe there. Everything she saw and touched was a product of Vanessa’s memories and imagination, and perhaps some of her own too.

Vanessa looked at her blankly for a moment. Oh, no. She told me before I… before this happened.

Angela frowned. Time was weird in the Maelstrom. Steven and Asherah have only been back a few days. I saw the Younger with you then, too. When they were here. How can it be a thousand years already?

There’s no time in the Maelstrom. No space. No points of reference. Our perceptions of time are vastly different, Vanessa said absentmindedly as she looked down. You’re new.

What? Angela looked around, then back at her.

Vanessa turned to look at her. I don’t remember you. I remember everyone else. But not you. I have Mom and Dad’s memories from before. I was over a hundred years old before this. She waved at the surrounding scene. But in all that time, there was no you. Not in their memories and not… I never knew you. You’re new. And yet, you were in their memories when they were here, a couple of days ago, as you say. Vanessa smiled sadly, wishing it had truly only been a couple of days.

Angela looked at her, confused. Vanessa sighed, then looked back down at the ground far below. Angela followed her gaze. What she saw dazzled her. The ground had melted away, revealing a vast web made of light. She looked up and around, suddenly surrounded by it as the deck seemed to fade away. It was organic and seemed to be alive, pulsing and throbbing all around her. It reminded Angela of a vast cluster of neurons. She smiled. She had to learn that little tidbit of physiology for her work too, even though she was just carving on teeth.

It was different, however, and she finally recognized it. It was the Fracture they were looking at, through which all gates were formed. The fabric of space itself. Vanessa was a deviant Gatekeeper like her father, and that was how they saw the universe when they closed their eyes and reached out.

Vanessa nodded, confirming her musings, and Angela realized she was still holding her hand, still seeing her memories and thoughts. Vanessa reached up and poked one of the neurons and it went dark suddenly. Then those around it went dark, and the effect cascaded. She cocked her head and looked at Angela curiously. Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you had never been born?

~ ~ ~

Sir. We have progress on Shawn’s team.

Jacob pulled his head out of the hatch of a drone and looked at the technician expectantly.

We’re still working out the details on their primary language, but we are picking up mentions of the prisoners in their communications.

Just what mentions? Jacob wiped his hands off with a rag and pulled himself out from under the drone, his interest piqued. While he enjoyed tinkering with the alien technology their intrepid agent Laurence had brought back to them, Jacob still had to maintain his role as commander of the West Coast division of the Order.

Logistics. Sir, from what we’ve been able to gather, they never left Earth.

They’re still here? Jacob raised his eyebrows, holding his hand out.

The technician handed him his tablet. Requisition requests for food. But with a specific ration for a hundred and twenty men. He pointed. And here is a movement schedule. They seem to have been moving them every few weeks.

Where on Earth could they keep a contingent of our soldiers captive? Jacob scrolled through the report. Especially our soldiers? No one has ever been able to lock us down like this before.

We’re just getting bits and pieces, sir. But we think they may be sequestered in a cargo ship. The technician scrolled the report up a little. Past movements seem to land on port cities. See? There, and there.

What would an advanced alien civilization be doing using cargo ships? Jacob gaped. He glanced at his drone. They have spectacular technology that we’re just barely reverse engineering.

Did you get it to hover yet?

Jacob nodded. Way past that. We’re working on propulsion now.

The technician nodded. Closing the gap.

Jacob sighed. Has Laurence completed the concordance yet?

Yes, sir. We’re revising it now. Their language is complicated. But without it, this would be useless. He pointed at the tablet.

They don’t even encrypt their data?

Some seems to be. Actually, most. This stuff appears to be like a laundry list or something. Non-critical.

Moving prisoners of war is non-critical? Jacob blinked. I’d hate to see what they deem critical.

Critical?

Jacob looked over his shoulder, and sighed. A bouncy redhead was strolling towards them and Jacob immediately felt a flush of hormones as he watched her body move with her steps. Blinking, he held his arm up and looked at his dermal patch. Katy, this is ridiculous.

You only thought you had it beat. Katy giggled as she walked past him and put a hand on the fuselage of the drone. You got news?

We’re narrowing down on Shawn’s team. Jacob’s eyes watered. Katy was stunning to look at to begin with, but with her judicious and malicious use of pheromones, it was nearly impossible to keep his thoughts organized. He fidgeted as her dress stretched seductively over her body while she bent over to inspect the underside of the drone. I asked you to stop using that.

And I told you to beat it. Katy stood up and adjusted her dress, making Jacob’s heart jump. Your patch isn’t working, is it?

Jacob shook his head, trying to keep his eyes away from her bodacious bosom.

Have you tried picturing George Washington in a thong? Katy smirked.

Funny. Why?

You’re my favorite guinea pig. Katy raised her eyebrows. No one has control like you do.

Not working out so well right now. You do know constant exposure to that is hazardous, right?

Then beat it. Katy smiled. Shawn?

We’re cracking further into their communications. Laurence’s stolen technology has allowed us to jump forward spectacularly. He handed the tablet to Katy, who pursed her lips as she perused the data. Jacob had to tear his eyes away from those succulent lips. He stared at wires hanging out of a hatch on the drone and tried to catalog the steps he had to complete.

You might want to send your technician away before he has a cardiac arrest.

Jacob glanced over. Dismissed. The technician was likewise doing his best to avoid looking at her and was sweating profusely. I said, dismissed.

Of course, sir, the technician croaked, then almost ran off.

See? You have better control. Katy winked at Jacob. He rolled his eyes.

We have not figured out their cerebral stimulation user interface yet. Still depending on Laurence’s alien computer for everything. Nor have we figured out their distributed, quantum computing. Jacob scowled, trying to geek his way through his throbbing hormones. Their network appears to be based on quantum entanglement. Very advanced stuff.

Cerebral stimulation. Sounds kinky, Katy giggled.

Jacob scowled. That’s what the white alien that visited us called it. We have figured out how to use it. But not how to replicate it.

I know you’ll figure it out. You always do. Katy batted her eyes at him.

I need more manpower to locate Shawn’s men. Jacob wiped his brow. He was starting to sweat now. Katy, this is too much. Please dial it back.

Katy pouted. Instantly, Jacob felt better, and he almost fell over. Katy grabbed him and held him on his feet. I am going to want to look at the tech you have managing that. It’s potent.

Of course it is. Katy smirked. I need you to at least narrow down the side of the globe where his team may be located.

You saw the cargo ship sequestration theory? Jacob took his tablet back from her. Katy nodded. He shook his head. I’ve seen the giant ships they have over there. Laurence brought back a treasure trove of intelligence, and it is just terrifying. Why would they limit themselves by keeping our men here, on a boat?

They probably feared contamination. Katy looked at him, serious. That is a question we will have to answer when we recover our men.

Chapter 2

Aradia? Do you have any idea just how jarring this is?

Aradia looked through her virtual computer displays. Shawn?

Shawn stood on the deck of a Cooperative cargo carrier, looking out at what appeared to be a perfectly normal ocean. Only, there was a ringed planet overhead, faded by the bright blue sky. He shook his head. I’ve been here for months and still haven’t gotten used to it.

Understandable. You Terrans have been hopelessly stranded on your planet.

Is it so hopeless? Shawn looked at the Keratian woman. She was bordering on petite. Brilliant white hair and skin. Even her irises were white. But as slender and vulnerable as she appeared, he knew from experience how formidable she was. And ancient. He sighed and returned his gaze to the planet overhead. For six hundred years, we were bred to resist you. Aliens were bad. And it was all a ruse. This is what we’ve missed out on.

Were there no conflict, you would not know we existed, Aradia stated matter-of-factly. Your world is still considered the Forbidden Planet.

You never answered why.

We do not exactly remember why. But legend has it that there is a guardian of Terra that is exceptionally jealous of our presence.

You’re there now. Your friends are there.

They are hardly our friends. Aradia scowled, looking at him. They murdered millions when they destroyed Rholling.

Millions. On one world that was completely wiped. We’re pushing past seven billion back home.

Aradia shook her head and returned her attention to her work. Your men seem to have adjusted well.

That’s what they were bred to do. Shawn looked down over the railing to watch dog-sized dragons dive into the water and surface with fish. It was a regular feeding frenzy as oceanic predators had forced a school of fish up close to the surface. We were also bred to hate aliens.

And now you are the alien, Aradia smirked. Is self-loathing in your genetics?

Shawn laughed and shook his head. He watched a shuttle pass overhead and land on the deck of the ship. We’ll want to inspect the shipping containers before we relocate them. Don’t want to introduce any invasive species.

Of course not. There’s already one there.

Shawn grinned. I’ll miss your humor, Aradia.

Aradia closed her displays down. I will need you to update the profiles of the board members when you return. Knowing their psychological makeup will speed up the rehabilitation process.

Can you really do to them what you did for us? They run the Order.

Removing the implants is the hardest part. Each one will then receive custom care to introduce them to our culture and to the deception of their circumstances. When we are done, they will answer to you. Aradia stood up and pressed her hand on a shipping container, trying to shift it to line up with the rest. It dented easily. She shook her head. Your technology is amazingly flimsy.

I would much rather have a few of yours. Shawn pointed to other massive containers on the ship’s deck. Self-propelled? I hear the stuff you have in space is even more robust.

That would hardly fit in with the illusion we are attempting to create, Aradia said as she opened the door of the container and removed the dent with her palm. I am amazed that your species has become as prolific as it has with such crude technology.

We haven’t been industrialized for a hundred thousand years yet. Give us time, Shawn snarked. He sighed. I don’t want us to be Forbidden anymore.

That may not be our choice. Aradia crossed her arms. A massive Teles’trike dragon landed on one of the shipping containers to consume one of the smaller dragons.

Shawn held his arms towards it. We don’t have anything comparable.

Not anymore. Aradia looked up at the massive creature. It eyed them warily as it finished its meal, then took to the air with a massive gust that nearly knocked Shawn over.

I want to see Steven before we leave. Shawn stepped to the side as one of his men carried chains into one of the shipping containers.

Aradia scowled at him. Such a meeting is not advisable.

Hey, if it wasn’t for him and his albino friend exposing Katy, we would not be having this discussion. Shawn crossed his arms, obstinate.

Indeed. You would still be at the mercy of a little Elf girl bringing you flowers.

Shawn grinned. She was cute. He rubbed his temple. We have been obsessed with him. As if he was the only way we could engineer ourselves to be able to fight you.

I trust you know that is futile, right?

My people are expertly resourceful. Our mantra is that nothing is futility. Shawn grinned proudly. Aradia leveled a cool glare at him, but he stood his ground.

I’ll see what I can do, Aradia said, noncommittal.

Hey, we’re going back to Terra to redirect the Order against the actual enemy. Humor me, at least.

I said I’ll see what I can do. Aradia glared at him.

Okay. At least stress on him the importance of not going after Jacob. Or Laurence. Just back off and leave them to me. Shawn crossed his arms.

I am aware of the mission parameters. He will be informed. She looked past him. She’s here. Get your men ready.

Shawn looked over his shoulder. A young woman with colorful tattoos and straight, black hair looked around, appearing a little lost. She held a large satchel in front of her. Over here. You’re the dentist?

That is Angela. One of Steven’s rescues from Terra, Aradia said dryly.

He does seem to collect people, Shawn smirked.

Angela smiled, ignoring their conversation. I’m here to make your teeth look bad.

Shawn grinned. Good luck.

Several months at sea with little hygienic care and a spotty diet. You know the purpose, Aradia said as Shawn walked over to the closest shipping container.

Blah, blah, blah. It’s not permanent, is it? He glanced at Angela. She shook her head. He nodded. We’ll set up shop in here then. How long do you think it will take?

A little less than a week to get all of your men, Angela said as she put her bag down by the door of the container.

Well. Let’s get the ball rolling. Make our pearly whites look muddy brown, Shawn grinned as he sat on a box. He squinted. That’s not a tattoo, is it?

Angela looked at her arm. No. That one is a birthmark. My twin brother has one too. Identical.

Shawn regarded her thoughtfully. Angela fidgeted as she finished getting her gear ready. What?

Oh, nothing. Angela Lee, right? Your brother is Dirk?

Angela stood up, looking at him curiously.

Shawn nodded to her other tattoos. A change in topic might be in order. Going native, much?

I like how the Selkies look. How did you know my full name? And my brother’s?

Shawn shrugged. Well, we’ve been here for a few months. Must have picked it up somewhere.

Angela looked at Aradia, then at Shawn, frowning. Right. That must be it. She pulled out a mouthpiece and looked at Shawn expectantly. He opened his mouth, and she placed the device over his teeth. Bite down.

Shawn bit as the device conformed itself to his teeth. He felt a slight hum in his skull as it got to work distressing his teeth.

She leaned close to him as the device activated. If you guys have been crapping on me and my brother all these years back on Terra, you may lose more than your teeth. Angela glared at Shawn angrily.

Shawn tried to look innocent.

~ ~ ~

Lohet looked out of the limousine window as they passed through the gates of the meeting location. He glanced at the burly guard that served as his escort. The guard did not return his glance. Shaking his head, he looked forward as the car pulled into a garage that was flanked by a squad of heavily armed soldiers. Lohet deduced it was a military compound, but wasn’t sure what its purpose was.

Sir. The guard opened the door and stepped out, waiting for him. Lohet followed him out and stood up, appraising the scene. Another limousine was parked on the other side of the garage.

This way, sir. The guard curtly motioned him to follow.

Lohet glanced impassively at the heavy contingent of soldiers standing by the entrance into the adjoining office complex as they walked by. He could sense their nervousness. For many, perhaps all, this was the first time for them to see a Keratian. Lohet kept his canines hidden when he smiled politely at them.

The halls were immaculate. Floors that gleamed under Lohet’s feet, portraits on the wall of various commanders and politicians, and the smell of cleaning solution made for a crisp ambiance. Guards stood by each door as they walked by, all heavily armed and wearing body armor. Lohet got the impression that the guards were not the normal accouterment to this particular office complex, given how sorely they stood out from the overall decor.

They finally arrived at a large office, this time guarded by a pair of black-suited individuals. One mumbled something under his breath, then nodded. The other opened the door, allowing them to enter without breaking step.

A graying man stood up from his desk and circled it, smiling broadly. It is a pleasure to meet you again, Lohet. Did I say that right? Low Het?

Secretary Stern, I find the clandestine nature of this meeting perplexing, Lohet said, ignoring the attempt at small talk.

Well, when the President wants to meet someone in secret, certain measures have to be taken. He held his hand out to a couch.

Lohet held his arms out and his black cloak unraveled and turned to vapor that seemed to seep back into his pores, and he adjusted his utilitarian clothing. The Secretary’s eyes opened wide when he witnessed that. Lohet smirked.

I will never get used to that, Stern said. He looked past Lohet. Ah, he’s here.

Lohet turned around to see a middle-aged man walking in, carrying an air of self-importance around him. As soon as the man beheld the alien, that air vanished.

President Seibert, may I introduce you to Commander Lohet of the Terran Division of Cooperative Defense Forces?

Wow. Just, wow. A pleasure, I’m sure, Seibert said, holding a hand out.

Lohet took it, and the President almost flinched.

Like shaking hands with a bronze statue. He looked at his hand when he pulled it back.

Our physiology does not produce surplus heat, Lohet explained. He glanced at a photographer who was busy capturing images.

Just ignore him. His job is to document pretty much everything I do. Seibert leaned forward. Sometimes I have to lock the door to the bathroom. He grinned.

Lohet raised an eyebrow, then returned the grin politely. I was informed that the Secretary wanted to discuss our mission in greater detail?

Down to business. I like that. Yes, we all wish to come to a greater understanding of the threat you have described to us, Seibert nodded. Given the sensitive nature of it, we decided to host the preliminary pre-discussion here. He glanced at his photographer and nodded. The photographer captured one more image then left the room quietly.

Seibert and Stern went to neighboring chairs and looked at Lohet, gesturing. He joined them, sitting down on a couch facing them.

Seibert pulled out a tablet. I had hoped Aradia could have joined us today. Lovely gal. I really want a face-to-face with her. She’s your commander, right?

Yes. She is otherwise detained, Lohet said coolly.

No problem. This is just an informal meeting after all, Seibert grinned. Wow. When I was inaugurated last month, I would never have expected to actually meet… He hesitated. Is it okay to call you an alien? I don’t want to offend you.

Lohet grinned. Your terminology is sufficient. He leaned forward. We do not see each other as aliens, however. Just different expressions of life.

Profound. I’ll have to… I’m going to use that. Seibert jotted something down on his tablet. Different expressions of life.

You wished to discuss the parameters of our mission? Lohet glanced at Stern.

Yes. Well, more. You see, while you have kindly provided us with copious amounts of intelligence of a… he glanced at his notes, Sadari infiltration, the only infiltration we have actually been able to confirm is, well, yours.

By permission.

When you got caught.

We negotiated...

Yes, and what were we supposed to get in return?

Lohet remained silent, eyeing both of them.

Look. This doesn’t have to be an argument. We’re just discussing, right? Seibert held his hands out. We just want more. Something tangible. Something the people can trust.

What do you suggest? Lohet asked dryly.

Seibert smiled widely. I know you guys have frowned on it in the past, but what we are really interested in is a trade deal.

We do not desire…

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Earth doesn’t have anything you’re really interested in. Seibert leaned forward. But our goodwill could go a long way, right?

The devastation the Sadari could bring to you…

Then let us be devastated. I mean, why is it your business anyway? Seibert looked at Stern. Right?

The business is that the Sadari are not interested in Terra either. You represent little more than a beachhead in their war against us.

And where is this invasion force? Seibert raised his eyebrows. Okay, listen, he looked at his tablet, then turned it around, this is the invasion force we have seen. Recognize it? Our F-22 pilots took a few pictures when you so graciously recovered their aircraft to... Endard? Is that what you call the planet? He looked at the image. Those are a lot of huge, mean-looking spaceships. Just, a lot. I mean, if this got out, it would really scare the public.

He looked up. Oh, the images are still classified. And we didn’t mean to spy. Our aircraft takes these automatically. And by the way, thank you for returning them and our pilots unharmed. We really do appreciate that.

Lohet scowled.

Okay, you’re not happy. I want you to be happy. I empathize with you. Seibert held up his hands. I want our people to empathize with you too. I mean, if anything leaked out, it’s all you. We have zero to leak about the Sadari. This huge mothership you say is floating around out there. The armada of… golem ships? You can’t translate that to a more creative name? He crossed his legs and sat back. We have invested a pretty penny auditing our own personnel and security. But, nada. We want an assurance that you are friendly.

We do not have an economy into which a trade deal could be inserted, Lohet said.

Oh, come now. Everyone has an economy. You have to eat, right? Someone grows it, someone ships it, someone cooks it, and you eat it.

Lohet sighed. He was not interested in arguing economics with the U.S. President.

Listen. This is just an informal talk. Normally we’d be out golfing or something. You golf?

Lohet shook his head.

Try it sometime. But no, really. I just wanted to get a feel for you. And wanted to share our concerns. I like you, Mr. Lohet. I look at you and see someone I can respect. The President pursed his lips. You know what would really help? You know, get this discussion moving in a positive direction?

Lohet looked at him expectantly.

A good old-fashioned field trip. Seibert held his hands up. A tour. You can do that, right? I’ll get some delegates together, send them with you, and you show them around. Let them see your society, talk to your people. He looked at the Secretary. That’d be a good ice-breaker, right?

The Secretary nodded.

Lohet looked down, thoughtful. The cooperation of the Terrans was preferable to antagonism. Our mission is global, Mr. President, Lohet said slowly. He looked back up. It’s not a U.S. mission.

You guys are on U.S. soil. Right? Seibert uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. But I get what you’re saying. I really do. And it just so happens that several of my global peers have expressed the same interest. What if I collected together an international party of delegates for the tour? Would you consider it then?

Lohet sighed, leaning back. He knew the tour was nothing more than a pretense to gauge market opportunities. But conflict with Terrans would confound their mission against the Sadari. He rubbed his brow. He was a Chaser, not a politician. Hunting and killing deviants and golems was so much easier than this.

~ ~ ~

Steven ate his breakfast in silence. All the other Elves at the table were subdued, barely whispering. It was a stark contrast to what Steven had been used to. Normally meals were noisy, even boisterous. Food often flew across the table. Someone normally played one of the dizzying number of musical instruments Elves were fond of.

But now, Steven felt like he was at a funeral wake. Only a handful of Elves took food from his plate, or left morsels he would like. He scowled and left the table, most of his food uneaten. Asherah grabbed a piece of fruit and chased after him.

Here. She held the fruit out stubbornly.

Steven stopped and sighed. Glancing at her, he took a nibble out of the fruit while she held it. She beamed and took a bigger bite. Steven shrugged. I’m sorry. He shook his head, I'm just... I can’t blame them, you know? He looked back at the common room entrance. A couple of Elves stood there looking at them. Because of me, they lost their hero, Orin. They lost Penipe’s tree.

You healed the tree.

Lost a Temple.

Which you also healed.

Lorei almost died. Steven thought of her injuries and wiped his eyes, his heart aching for her. I never meant for her to get hurt. Not like that.

Asherah put her arm around his waist as they approached the edge of the platform. Steven stopped, looking down at the forest floor far below. But his mind was elsewhere. Your mother got shot.

Asherah pushed him off the edge.

She casually finished the fruit, and licked her fingers, then jumped off after him.

What? Where are we going? Steven hung from a branch.

Our tree. Asherah swung past him without another word.

Steven had to push it to keep up as she all but flew through the trees, propelled along by compliant branches and her climbing expertise. Are you angry?

Asherah didn’t respond, and Steven couldn’t sense it through their bond. She was blocking him. They quickly passed to the outskirts of the tree house village and arrived at a clearing created by the demise of a giant tree. In the center, a sapling grew. She dropped to the ground and circled the sapling, then sat down, facing it.

Steven dropped to the ground and walked up behind her. He looked up at the sapling, amazed at how fast it was growing.

You’re giving me a list of all the bad things that have happened. Asherah looked up at him. My mother was shot because of me. I was exiled because I saved her. And I gave up hope when everything, she stopped, wiping her eyes. You know what that reminds me of? She pointed at the tree.

Steven sat down next to her and folded his hands in his lap.

You never gave up. You never stopped believing in me. You were so certain that we would be together again that you planted our seed. Our seed, Steven. You made it grow. That is hope. She wiped her cheeks and looked at the tree. We were so happy when we collected the seed and when we were Blessed. We were confident in the future we had. She put her hand on her tummy. The three of us.

Asherah...

You made this happen. Against all odds. Against all challenges. You endured because you saw us. You saw our future. She shook her head. You even braved the Maelstrom to find me because of that hope.

Steven looked at his hands.

Steven. I need you to find your hope again. Please. For us.

I know all that here. Steven pointed to his head. But this, he put his hand over his chest, it’s broken. He chewed his lip as he returned his attention to the tree. How can we raise our daughter, and give her the life she deserves, when… He shook his head. They’re all still afraid of me. People were hurt. Lives destroyed. Because of that fear.

They need time, Steven. Asherah leaned against him. Just… keep being yourself.

Steven laughed sadly. When I’m myself, things get broken. Big things.

Yeah, but you fix them, too. She grabbed his hand. Don’t forget Senin. You fixed a planet, Steven. The Faeries have their home back now.

Steven shrugged. It didn’t…

Don’t you dare say it didn’t seem that hard. Asherah squinted at him, wiping her cheek again as she shook her head. That’s just… She put her head on his shoulder. It was a big thing to the Faeries.

I would have thought the Cooperative would have, you know, seen that and realized I’m not a monster.

Old prejudices take time to die, Steven, Asherah said softly.

Chapter 3

The crate seemed to appear from nowhere in the quiet nighttime meadow, hovering noiselessly. What appeared to be a young girl sat on it, as if piloting it, while a brilliantly white man pushed carefully from behind the crate. She pointed, and the course was corrected.

They approached what appeared like a tree with a massively bloated trunk. There was an entrance in the trunk, exposing a modest cavity large enough for them to enter. A man leaned on the entrance, moving out of the way as the crate was pushed into the cavity. The girl gave the man a coquettish glance as they passed by.

Antigrav module malfunctioning? The voice seemed to emanate from the shadows within the tree. A cloaked figure stepped into the bright moonlight and held his arms out. The blackness around him seemed to evaporate into a thinning vapor that exposed another brilliantly white man.

I didn’t wait for the module to be attached. The girl giggled and jumped off, keeping her hand on the crate.

Sirel, another Faerie could have brought this. He leaned over and looked at the crate as it settled to the ground. With a wave of the hand, the cover retracted, exposing several rows of black orbs hovering within.

Sirel patted the crate as she smiled sweetly at him. I know, Lohet. I did not want to wait. These are the latest developments.

Lohet waved his hand over the crate. A glowing interface seemed to appear around it. They’re already powered up.

Sirel walked by Lohet, poking him as she did. Electric sparks danced over his skin and he scowled at her as she moved one of the glowing displays.

I had them pre-initialized. She glanced at the entrance as the other man shifted and approached the crate.

We really need this here, he said pointing at the crate. Those probes. Antigrav. Other… stuff.

Sirel grinned. It is only a matter of time, Bob. If you guys would just stop quibbling over, she furrowed her eyebrows, intellectual rights? She looked at Lohet but he just shrugged.

You do know that Eyes Open has gone out of its way to ensure you guys can work without interference, right? Bob put his hands in his pockets. A little quid pro quo wouldn’t hurt.

You may want to have a discussion with your new president, then, Lohet grumbled as he pulled up displays to examine diagnostic information about the probes resting in the crate.

Well, it is a continuing job. Bob grinned. Someone new to break in every four years. We have a guy in there. But humoring Seibert with a tour wouldn’t be all that hard, right?

You know about that? Lohet raised an eyebrow, glancing at him.

Bob shrugged, holding his arms out. Eyes Open? He put his hands back in his pockets. We have people. Actually, I sent Roland to work at the White House. You know, since you guys didn’t end up killing him.

He was perfectly safe, Bob, Lohet said. As were Lynda and Melissa.

Yeah, Melissa is still recovering. Lynda is pining for Steven and is next to useless. We had to send them both back to Sanctuary for more treatment. Bob scowled.

Steven did everything he could to help them, and you know it. Sirel shot him an angry look. Little sparks of lightning shot off her skin into the surrounding tree, leaving tiny, smoking black spots. And while we are casting blame, you did have a Venda working for you, who had access to Steven.

Bob held his hands up. He’s gone. Missing. And we’ll let you know if we find him.

The diagnostics check out. Lohet waved his hands in the air to close the displays and pulled up a control display. Sirel pulled up a mission parameter display and readied the sensors.

So, just how do these get up there? Bob walked around the crate, looking at the probes. They were elongated, black orbs with no distinguishing marks on the exterior. He put his hand on one, then pulled it back sharply. It’s cold. And vibrating.

Lohet squinted at where he touched and wiped it with a cloth. The skin serves as the camera, which includes infrared. He stood back up. The vibrating you felt is not from the probe, but from the space around it.

Bob raised his eyebrows as he looked at his hand. He shined his flashlight on it to make sure there was no frostbite. I have people who would love to spend some time with your engineers.

Lohet grinned. As Sirel pointed out, we would be peers if…

Oh don’t give me that. You guys have had, what, over a hundred thousand years to develop this?

Be that as it may...

Can we launch these, please? Sirel looked at them through her holographic display. Lohet wants tangible proof to appease your president.

Lohet scowled at her, but returned his attention to his work. Sirel had programmed the search vectors while Lohet finished his inspection. The sensors have been upgraded to detect the cloaking? Lohet looked at Sirel.

Sirel nodded. It’s not perfect, but much better than what you had in the gunship.

Lohet looked at her sourly. We still managed to destroy the golem ships we were chasing.

The Faerie just giggled as she returned to her screens. All the probes levitated out of the crate and took up equidistant positions in the makeshift hangar. Bob moved out of the way as one bumped him.

A huge wolfman walked in and put a pack on the ground. He looked at them, giving them a toothy grunt.

Lohet glanced at him. Migalo. We're ready for a perimeter check.

From the pack, Migalo removed several scanners and walked outside to place them around the perimeter of the launch site. Lohet followed him out to supervise. Launching at night made it easier for them to see wayward intruders. Though they could already sense any life form in the forest for miles around, golems were notoriously difficult to detect even without their cloaking. At night it was easier to isolate their energy signature. Another Keratian grabbed the rest out of the pack and followed them out to finish securing the launch site.

Migalo returned to stand in the entrance and looked at the probes. He glanced around as Lohet followed him back in. The area is clear, Migalo grumbled. He grunted. Steven is not helping?

It is better that he stays away from Terra as much as possible for a while. Especially when we are sending probes up into Sadari occupied space.

He is not going to like that, Lohet, Migalo snarled.

Lohet looked at him. The longer I can keep him and the other Elves away, the better it will be for all of us. He’s just too vulnerable.

Migalo grunted. I don't want to be around when he finds out. He grinned at Lohet. I really don’t want to be around when Penipe finds out.

I can’t tell them everything because of their connection to Steven. But I know they would understand. Aradia has tasks to keep him busy and away from here. He looked up at the sky. I just hope the change happens quickly.

Migalo followed his gaze. The sky was clear, and out there in the mountains, the stars were brilliant. I hope you’re right, Lohet. It’s a big gamble putting everything on the shoulders of that kid.

Change? Bob walked over to them. He looked up at Migalo who stood up straight, towering over him. He tried his best not to show his fear of the massive wolfman.

When did you learn Common?

Bob tapped his temple. We are Evos, remember? A few of us in Eyes Open captured the new languages you gave Roland and gave it to the rest.

Lohet raised a brow, impressed. We are expecting a sort of metamorphosis with the kid that will render him infinitely more powerful and… Lohet hesitated.

So he’ll be an even bigger problem to deal with?

Has he been a problem? Migalo grumbled as he slouched back down. Last I saw, it was others that were being the problem.

Bob looked down, shaking his head. It is one thing having people with guns and bombs. But he can already do… He sighed and looked up. He even moved the Moon. Its orbit is over a mile closer now. And we are still cleaning up our coastal cities from his earthquake.

You have lived with the threat of global destruction from your nuclear weapons just fine. I think you’ll be okay, Sirel giggled. We need to get this started.

Lohet nodded. He looked into the tree-hangar. Status?

Vectors are programmed in, Sirel said. She moved a graphical representation of the solar system around until they were looking at just Terra. There’s a lot of junk out there, however. The Terrans have been very messy. She shook her head as she reset the planned trajectory for a couple of the probes. You almost have to do that on purpose.

I would suspect the Sadari, except the Terrans haven’t been any better on the ground, Lohet said, looking at Bob sideways. Sirel nodded, stepping back. The drones silently departed the dwelling, and she followed them outside and watched as they disappeared into the darkness. She pulled up displays for each of them and observed as they rapidly ascended into space. Bob leaned over to see them better.

Suddenly, with a bright flash, each of the displays went dark two or three at a time. In seconds, the entire flock of drones was out of contact. Lohet shook his head as he tried to pull up telemetry on each one. They’re gone. We don’t have anything.

They didn’t have time to collect much data. But we do have this. Sirel pointed to a replay of a video, slowed down significantly. Just before the flash they saw a Sadari golem ship. That class of spacecraft looked like a large flying crab that had no pilots. They were golems in their own right. The ship was the pilot.

Send the rest of the stream back to Endard for analysis. Perhaps one captured a look at the mothership before it was destroyed, Lohet said, frowning. He looked up at the night sky. We need eyes up there before we send up our gunships.

The Terrans send spacecraft up there routinely, Sirel said, grinning as she winked at Bob.

Bob opened his mouth to respond, but shut it. He shook his head after a moment. If you try to use our launches, you could make them targets. He looked up. We’d be blind.

You realize that the only reason why they are allowed up there is that they’re using commodity computer chips. Not your own.

We don’t have radiation shielded chips in our fab yet. We’re supposed to produce prototypes this year. He looked up. They’d suffer the same fate?

The Sadari will not tolerate anything up there that they cannot control or hide from, Lohet sighed as he looked down. We need a list of pending launches. The sooner, the better.

Bob nodded. We actually keep an updated global list. I’ll get that forwarded to you. What do you plan on doing?

They’ll each have an additional passenger. He looked at Sirel. Get with the Ordan and develop micro-probes we can attach to their launch vehicles. Lohet looked back up at the sky. He suspected the Ordan already had something they could use.

Sirel giggled. They’re already preparing a package for us. She liked anticipating the next step and pleasing Lohet. She flew out across the meadow and vanished when the gate transported her to Endard.

Lohet looked back into the sky. No reprisals. They are very confident in their position.

That could work to our advantage, Migalo grumbled as he followed Lohet’s gaze.

Reprisals? Bob looked up nervously. He had not considered that.

Lohet looked sideways at him, then returned his gaze to the heavens. They have enough arsenal to reduce the surface of this planet to lifeless dust and rubble in seconds. I was expecting a strike on our position.

And we’re just standing here? Bob looked around.

We have a pair of gunships cloaked overhead, Lohet grinned.

We’re inviting war with them, Bob said, exasperated.

There is already war, Bob, Migalo grumbled.

Sirel will need to bring in a team to deploy the new probes, Lohet said, thinking out loud. Migalo nodded.

More Faeries here. Great. You know, they like to zap me just to watch my fur puff out, Migalo growled.

I think the look becomes you, Migalo. Lohet looked at him sideways.

Makes me look like a Broman before shearing, Migalo snarled, but he couldn’t help but grin, too.

Bob looked at the two of them, incredulous.

~ ~ ~

Is this really necessary? Steven held up an arm.

His Elvish physician looked up at him, then continued his scans. We have extensive scans of you before the genetic transition and after the… He hesitated.

The golems got a hold of me and finished your job.

They were able to speed up the treatment significantly faster than we have found safe to do. He looked at the display that hung by his head, then resumed his detailed scan, slowly moving a metallic wand over Steven’s body. Now we want extensive scans to compare to that to see how months in the Maelstrom have affected you.

I don’t feel any different. Steven scratched his head.

You also had no wounds when you found yourself in the Maelstrom or left. However, by all indications, you had severe scorching and tissue damage before you went in.

Well. Yeah. I mean, yeah. But this thing is still in my head. Steven knocked on his skull. The Sadari mesh. Just followed along, as if nothing changed. Enos’rel, there has to be a way to remove it permanently.

We are well aware of that, Enos’rel said absentmindedly as he examined his readings. He looked up, noticing Steven’s curious look. It is integrated into your physiology. I can only surmise it returned with you because your physiology expected it to. He frowned as he sat back and manipulated the data, rotating the scan around to see it from different angles.

Asherah chortled, and Steven glanced over at her. One of his Terran rescues was tending to her. Renee, are you cleared to operate that scanner?

Renee made a face at him, then continued giggling with Asherah at the results of her scans. She once had a promising career as a surgeon back on Terra, before she got involved with his universe. Now she was consigned to, in her words, ‘tending alien boo-boos.’ Steven grinned as he looked at his own scans.

Asherah’s scans are remarkable, Renee said from the other side of the room. Steven looked over as she expanded the depiction of their fetus, hanging in the air as both she and Asherah seemed transfixed by it. Vanessa is impeccably healthy.

Steven smiled as he looked at the scan of their daughter. She’s like me, too. You know that, right? He glanced at Enos’rel.

There’s no genetic comparison that we have to determine that for her, Enos’rel said as he looked at his own scans. Like you, she’s truly unique. He glanced at Steven. To know that she is now keeping the Maelstrom from expanding and consuming the universe... He shook his head.

What what? Come again? Renee asked, perking up.

Have you ever put a droplet of soap in a dish of greasy water? Enos’rel continued scanning Steven. He looked thoughtful for a moment. Even Steven’s college classes hinted at the possibility of a, what’d you call it? A cosmic phase change?

Really? Just how far into my nugget are you digging? Steven scowled at him.

We have a Librarian coming today to archive the two of you again. Enos’rel lifted Steven’s foot to scan under his leg. We want to gather every aspect of your experience in the Maelstrom.

Every? Steven grimaced, glancing