The Zerot Infestation Boxset 4-6

By A K Lambert

Fleeing the threat of civil war on her home world and a planetary genocide game played by an ancient and evil race, Princess Grace and her small band of refugees seek sanctuary on distant Earth. But their peaceful existence is shattered when one of her own betrays them. With Earth hanging in the balance, an unlikely hero comes forward to challenge the impossible odds.

5 out of 5 stars - Brilliant sci-fi!
What a series and what a finale! The author has crafted the series superbly to take the reader on a galactic roller-coaster with curve balls a plenty en-route. The plot throughout is well constructed and complex yet is presented to the reader in a very user friendly way. I'm somewhat in awe of the author's imagination and his ability to make the reader believe in the civilisations and the very interesting characters he has created.


5 out of 5 Stars - An amazing series!
This is the sixth book in A K Lamberts epic sci-fi series, this whole series has had me hooked from the start, with well written and endearing characters that you come to know and love.
The author has created a vast and amazing world which I found myself getting lost in.
As well as an exceptional storyline, the attention to detail is one of the defining points of the whole series, from the character development, to side storylines, to the description of space battles, not just the action and story but the science behind it too!
After 6 books of ups and downs, and twists and turns, the end of the story left me feeling uplifted and happy and I would recommend this book and series to any fellow sci-fi lover out there.

5 out of 5 stars The Zerot Infestation
Wow what a series. From the start of book 1 Princess Grace of Earth to book 6 The Would be Queen, I have been eager to read the next page/paragraph/chapter.
Mr Lambert's universe, worlds and characters lead you through battle scenes, developing love stories, Devastations and humour to the point where you have no idea where or how its all going to end.
The whole series is a great read even if you are not a Science fiction fan

5 out of 5 Stars - Great series of books
Great series of books. I could not put them down and really enjoyed reading them

Author Interview:

Q. What makes the Zerot Infestation Series special?

A. It's a mixture of things, really. It is the book I've always wanted to read. The villains behave in the same manner as the Japanese Giant Hornets (now they are nasty pieces of work). I wanted to create a unique story, which I believe this series is. You won't see "If you like so and so, you'll love this" because there is nothing else like this.
My hero in the first chapter of Book 1 thinks "And what could she, a ten-year-old girl do anyway? Leave the war to the adults. "Unfortunately, as she grows up, she finds herself dragged into the forefront of the war and an unseen, colossal galactic confrontation.
But the best thing this series portrays, so I'm told, is my vivid/weird imagination. (I've also managed to rewrite history in a couple of places, which is well cool!)

Q. The series targets Teens & Young Adults.

A. Yes and no. I was never impressed with bad language, graphical sex or violence in books, so the series is written with Teens & Young Adults in mind, with a feel-good factor. But this isn't just for kids. The Zerot, and especially Birjjikk, are despicable and their exploitations aren't shied away from.

The Box Set

4 - Planet of the Remaining
5 - Prince Daviss of Nowhere
6 - The Would-be Queen

• Language: English
• Publisher: A K Lambert
• Release date: Jan 18, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224032396

Book preview

THE ZEROT INFESTATION - BOOKS 4-6

A K LAMBERT

CONTENTS

Planet of the Remaining

Prologue

Part I

1. Chapter 1 - The Jadia Armada

2. Chapter 2 - Grace & Daviss

3. Chapter 3 - The Mini Invasion

4. Chapter 4 - The Cycle Ride

5. Chapter 5 - Grace’s Book

6. Chapter 6 - The Gala Reception

7. Chapter 7 - The First Live Test

8. Chapter 8 - Arrival at Residuum

9. Chapter 9 - Preenasette

10. Chapter 10 - The Queen

11. Chapter 11 - Countess Bor

12. Chapter 12 - The Records of All

13. Chapter 13 - Gobbler’s Travels

14. Chapter 14 - Zerot

Part II

15. Chapter 15 - Loans & Acquisitions

16. Chapter 16 - Antumbra

17. Chapter 17 - Meanwhile on Earth

18. Chapter 18 - Search for the Prince

19. Chapter 19 - Golden Teardrops

20. Chapter 20 - Condor

21. Chapter 21 - Corren

22. Chapter 22 - The Seneschal

23. Chapter 23 - The Second Live Test

Part III

24. Chapter 24 - Arrival at Zerot

25. Chapter 25 - The Do’arth

26. Chapter 26 - The Contingency Plan

27. Chapter 27 - Ken, Anna & Nigel

28. Chapter 28 - Stanza & Tip

29. Chapter 29 - The Queen & Morvina

30. Chapter 30 - The Larna

31. Chapter 31 - Lady Kell

32. Chapter 32 - Dorrick

33. Chapter 33 - The Zerot Armada

34. Chapter 34 - The Imprisonment

35. Chapter 35 - The Arena

36. Chapter 36 - Seven Gateway

37. Chapter 37 - The Reveal

Epilogue

Maps & Structures

Prince Daviss of Nowhere

Prologue

I. Higher Matters

1. Chapter 1- The Arm of Sagittarius

2. Chapter 2- Dom Kobios

3. Chapter 3- The Broken AI

4. Chapter 4- Nitere

5. Chapter 5- The Code of the Salvagers

6. Chapter 6- Carsasi

7. Chapter 7- The Test

8. Chapter 8- The Do'arth

9. Chapter 9- Eight Days

10. Chapter 10- A Mission for Tip

11. Chapter 11- The Queen and The Protector

12. Chapter 12- Reply from the Records of All

II. Lower Matters

13. Chapter 13- The Ultimate Sacrifice

14. Chapter 14- The Thunderball

15. Chapter 15- A Change of Direction

16. Chapter 16- The Void Gallant

17. Chapter 17- Birjjikk, The Queen & the VP

18. Chapter 18- Time-hop

19. Chapter 19- Ken Takes Charge

20. Chapter 20- The Alien Celebrity

21. Chapter 21- Dark Matter

22. Chapter 22- CRACKS

23. Chapter 23- Random Harvest

24. Chapter 24- Aliens of Extraordinary Ability

25. Chapter 25- Arrival of the Assassin

III. Matters of the Mind

26. Chapter 26- Matters of the Brain

27. Chapter 27- Nigel and the Diaquinto

28. Chapter 28- Ann, Janet, & A Bunch of Kids

29. Chapter 29- Z34aRed

30. Chapter 30- The Return of Grace

31. Chapter 31- Gemini 7's Finest Hour?

32. Chapter 32- A Different Kind of Space Travel

33. Chapter 33- Grace and Bess

34. Chapter 34- The Lockdown

35. Chapter 35- Our Makers

36. Chapter 36- Contessa Po

37. Chapter 37- Approaching Sol

38. Chapter 38- Good Verses Evil

39. Chapter 39- The Deployment

Epilogue

1. Characters - End of Book 4

2. Maps & Charts

The Would-be Queen

Prologue

I. Alignments

1. Chapter 1 - The Great Enlightenment

2. Chapter 2- Count Barrack

3. Chapter 3- Ventar and the Kids

4. Chapter 4- Nigel's Antumbra

5. Chapter 5- Parallax

6. Chapter 6- The Vessel in Distress

7. Chapter 7- More Fun in the Park

8. Chapter 8- The Parametalistic Bug

9. Chapter 9- The Ultimate Warrior

10. Chapter 10- Alterannia Moon

11. Chapter 11- The Arrival of Lother

12. Chapter 12- The Assessor - Again!

II. The Space Battle Above Earth

13. Chapter 13- The Space Battle 1

14. Chapter 14- The Space Battle 2

15. Chapter 15- More Paralax

III. The Moon

16. Chapter 16- The Distress of the AI's

17. Chapter 17- The Wedding

18. Chapter 18- The Power of Eight

19. Chapter 19- Paths to follow

IV. Zerot

20. Chapter 20- Countess Marrattelli

21. Chapter 21- The Temperamental Goddess

22. Chapter 22- Desiria

23. Chapter 23- The Animal Compound

24. Chapter 24- The Grand Depart

25. Chapter 25- The Atrophy of the Bellogorn

26. Chapter 26- The Varr Society

27. Chapter 27- Escape from the Compound

28. Chapter 28- The Revolt

29. Chapter 29- The Kamikaze Squad 1

30. Chapter 30- The Bellagarn

31. Chapter 31- The Kamikaze Squad 2

32. Chapter 32- Morvina & Brink's Plans

33. Chapter 33- The Strengthening of the Bellogorn*

34. Chapter 34- The AIs

35. Chapter 35- The Faladrax Paradox

36. Chapter 36- Meanwhile in Zerot Space

37. Chapter 37- The Little Ladies

38. Chapter 38- The Caravan of Life

39. Chapter 39- Morvina and the Queen*

V. Preenasette

40. Chapter 40- Back to the Antumbra

41. Chapter 41- The Meeting of Friends

VI. Epilogue

Afterword

Author Wittering’s

PLANET OF THE REMAINING

THE ZEROT INFESTATION BOOK 4

Grace lost one prince, but found another.

To rescue Prince Ventar she must enter a place that even her ascended friends fear to go. A place she will come to realise holds the key to the very fate of the Local Group of galaxies.

Prince Camcietti must let her go and tread his own perilous path. A dark shadow is being cast over the galaxy that may eclipse even the malignant depravity of the Zerot.

SanralS Plate

PROLOGUE

The Giant Hornet’s only enemy is the smaller Yellow Hornet. They will attack a Yellow nest even though outnumbered, but their strategy of attacking alone is fatally flawed. The Yellows defend in clusters, eventually despatching each one with a lethal sting to the back of the neck—the only kink in the Giant Hornets armour.

All existence obeys mathematics.

So, at the point of the creation of the Universe, all events followed numerical equations on an infinite forward journey. But, in mathematics, numbers also go forever backward in the negative form. So with the creation of the ordinary reality, the Universe expanded outwards, with the Umbra and its reflected Penumbra beginning their journey forward in time. The Antumbra Realm went backwards in parallel with the positive domain, but following a completely unique set of rules.

The Antumbra Realm is a parallel dimension that is always just within reach, but its reversed time is always moving inextricably away.

The Small Village.

Placed upon a gently rising hillside of green Avaska grass, the village appeared a picture of tranquillity. The small, simple homes built of yellow stone with grey thatched roofs gave way to farm buildings, housing machinery and livestock. The village folk went about their daily routines with gusto.

Morgain was the only one who seemed to lack that zeal. The leader of this small community had stopped to observe two approaching from the valley below. His first thought was, which way do they fall? He hoped they were Neutrals. Without the haunting feelings of another life, they would add diversity to the community if they stayed. He would soon know. Visitors to this remote part of the world were few.

Morgain thought about his people and the burden they carried. They had been in this place for many thousands of years; exactly how long he didn’t know. The scribes had kept comprehensive pictorial records, but timelines were not always clear. What he knew – what they all knew – was that they were descendants of a barbaric sub-species, banished to this place for wicked crimes against society. The awareness of this – the curse of the Extremes in this world; knowing you aren’t what you’re supposed to be. But of the two types of extremes, to be Dark Incongruent was a blessing. It was the other extreme that was cursed.

The unknown travellers were halfway up the hill now, and becoming clearer to Morgain. A slim being, possibly male, and a beast the likes of which he had never seen before.

He felt the merest of quivers in the space around him, signalling the next phase shift. On the hills to his left, a line of yellow was sweeping toward the village. Yellow. This phase was his favourite. The yellow shadow washed over the village and the travellers below, the land and sky taking on a yellow haze. The beast crouched, adopting an aggressive posture, only relaxing when the cloaked being reassured it. New to this world. The creature was yet to interpret the subtle but tangible changes of their land.

Phase shifting was part of life in this realm.

A male, he was sure now, hood or no hood, taller than his people. His coloration was much the same as Morgain’s own. A later addition to this world. The stranger came to a stop a short distance away

Some of the villagers joined Morgain but edged away at the creature’s bared fangs and accompanying low, menacing growl. It looked up at the tall male. Was it seeking permission? But it held its ground behind him, alert.

‘We offer the hospitality of our village, travellers,’ said Morgain. ‘Where are you bound?’

‘If we decide we want your hospitality,’ the male replied, in a voice that Morgan thought youthful, ‘we shall take it. And anything else we desire. And our destination is none of your concern.’

‘Light Incongruent, Morgain. Beware,’ a voice whispered behind him. He nodded, the threat in the stranger’s voice was clear.

‘Apologies,’ said Morgain, calmly, ‘just idle curiosity. Not meaning to pry.’

A young female leading a large quadruped detoured around them on her way to the milking shed. The creature never took his eyes off the docile animal, saliva dripping from his mouth.

‘My pet needs to feed,’ the stranger said, removing his hood for the first time and revealing his features. Morgain’s earlier fears were confirmed.

‘We have food we can spare,’ replied Morgain.

‘No, he needs to feed now.’

Released from whatever held it, the creature took two explosive leaps and landed on the bovine’s back, grasping it with long claws and biting deeply into its neck. The poor creature’s panic caused the young female to dive away screaming, narrowly avoiding the large, gentle beast as it fell under the onslaught. The villagers tried to help her, but an unseen force prevented them.

The traveller left the beast to feed, striding into the village, leaving the small welcoming party unable to move, and with no choice but to watch the savage attack on their livestock.

PART I

CHAPTER 1 - THE JADIA ARMADA

The Jadia Armada

The Less-than-Grand Depart

THE CAST:

Oncouch Zamball

There were no special ceremonies or cheering crowds to see the Jadia Armada depart Gemini 7; it wasn’t their way. The hive mind was with them as Oncouch Zamball, leader of the armada, inched slowly out of Gemini 7 space. Soon the link would break, separating them from the one and a half billion minds on their planet.

The Jadia was now a vessel, not just a weapons delivery system. Thruster clamps were replaced by three ion particle star drives mounted on the primary hull with massive vents fluting away to the rear. The three turbine-shaped outlets of their delivery system dominated the front of the vessel. It bore little resemblance to the old fossil-fuel powered rockets of their spacefaring infancy – it was now a craft worthy of the stars.

Zamball was aboard the Sepia, a much larger support spacecraft that housed the five hundred Geminians required to service the armada. A squadron of Harass fighters spread out, guarding the two vessels, and would only return to the Sepia to relieve the pilots and for the passage through wormholes.

A couple of hours later they were a hive mind of five hundred, the link to the homeworld severed. It was a strange sensation for all of them. Gone was the instantaneous decision making of billions. The hive mind mirrored the flight of a million migrating Breacher birds ebbing and flowing in a majestic dancing entity in the sky. But somewhere, at any one time, one would lead, with the multitude behind reacting by instinct only. Similarly, someone in the hive mind would make a suggestion assimilated by the others.

Now the five hundred could hear individual thoughts and they soon realised they had time to interrogate each other.

This will take some getting used to, thought Zamball, hundreds of replies coming back to him.

Before they left Gemini 7 they posed every scenario the hive mind could conceive that might present itself on their long journey, and by consensus detailed appropriate reactions to any situation. A charter to govern the armada. Every action would have a predetermined reaction. But there were objectives to be met before they encountered the Zerot. The first was to test their delivery system in space – a test on living subjects, in real time. Who these subjects happened to be was of no consequence.

CHAPTER 2 - GRACE & DAVISS

Grace & Daviss

The Meeting

THE CAST:

High Elder Tauriar/Grace, Prince Camcietti/Daviss, Jon, Mandy, Dranba, Hadra, Morvina, Countess Bor, Lady Metalinda

Grace pulled herself together after the shock of seeing the prince and finished her brief speech introducing Jon and Mandy to the strange aliens in this lone city on an otherwise unpopulated planet called Residuum.

Upon completion of her speech and before the polite applause had finished, Mandy was in her ear excitedly asking who he was.

Prince Camcietti, she whispered back before stepping off the stage to meet the community. She planned a route around the room that would end with the prince and his purple-haired friends. Mandy and Jon followed closely, presumably not wanting to miss anything. During a brief chat with Countess Bor, she could hear Mandy, ‘No… Really! You’re joking!’ to Jon.

Jon had put two and two together and had apparently violated her confidence about lost childhood loves. Grace gave him one of her looks. She’d used them on him many times before, but this look held a whole new level of recrimination.

Jon’s crooked smile went no way to appeasing her.

When they were close to Prince’s party, she said, ‘Time to mingle – off you go.’

‘You remember nothing?’

‘No, nothing,’ Camcietti replied, ‘just my name.’

‘You remember Prince Camcietti, but nothing else?’ Grace asked the Prince.

‘No. That name means nothing to me. I’m Daviss. That’s the name I remember.’

Suddenly, Grace sounded like Mandy. ‘No… but that’s your birth name. Daviss Scaratt!’

Mandy and Jon appeared at her shoulder.

‘He’s a bit of a hunk, Grace,’ Mandy whispered into her ear. A whisper that everyone heard.

For the first time in many years, Grace saw the boyish smile she remembered. ‘Did she call you Grace?’ he asked.

‘My Earth name,’ she replied defensively. ‘I spent twelve years there. Most of the time with these two.’ She moved to let them in, a semi-scowl still on her face.

‘Is she the girl in your head?’ asked the most stunningly beautiful female Grace had ever seen. Beautiful, but distant, apparently devoid of emotion.

‘I only tried that once. A few months ago. Prince Ventar has been trying for a long time.’

‘It was you then. Vague voices in the back of my head,’ Daviss replied. ‘This is Hadra.’ He indicated the stunning girl. ‘And her brother Dranda, and mother Morvina – Captain of the Do’arth, our spaceship. They are Rammorian.’

They were all breathtaking, but they all had the same expressionless look. She remembered now, the Zerot had spoken of them on Earth.

‘You and the other prince have very advanced mental communicating powers,’ Hadra, remarked. ‘Over such a distance, that is.’

‘Prince Ventar is the talented one,’ Grace replied. ‘His Life Team brought him up on a planet called Thorrid. It’s the home of the Schumberlay – a race that reached ascendancy but didn’t take the last step. The Schumberlay took him under their wing and taught him so much. Ultimately, he was the saviour of our planet. Now we’ve lost him.’

Davis said, ‘The Rammorians found me on a planet, badly beaten up. I woke up on their ship and my life, or my memory, starts then. I’ve been with them since then, seeking planets decimated by the Zerot and rescuing any remnants of these shattered races; encouraging them to come here to Residuum. Giving them a home, a future, and a purpose. I didn’t know I was a Vercetian until now.’

‘We have the unfortunate distinction of being the race who developed the gene manipulation technique that made the Zerot what they are today,’ Morvina said, somehow oozing authority while having no expression. ‘We’re trying to atone for releasing this infestation on the galaxy.’

Grace sensed there was something more but thought it better not to question her here.

Countess Bor and another Bellagarn joined them. The stranger was smaller than the Countess and noticeably younger. The look on her face was one Grace had never seen, but she thought it might be shyness.

‘This is my little sister, Lady Metalinda,’ said Bor, draping a tentacle around her. ‘She should have been here for this ceremony, but like many youngsters, arrived late. On your Pindora crystal again?’ She gave her sister a sharp look. Grace had seen that look many times.

Jon and Mandy were staring in awe at the young Bellagarn.

‘Anyway,’ the Countess addressed Grace directly, ‘you are free to do as you wish. Explore our city and introduce yourselves to its citizens. They all have stories to tell –most are somewhat distressing, but some wonderful heroic stories, too.’

‘My brother and Daviss are taking me to the hills north of here in the morning,’ said Hadra. ‘They insist on trying to improve my technique on the two-wheeled contraptions they play on.’ Her words should have been playful, but her face was as blank as ever.

‘Bicycles?’ enquired Mandy, surreptitiously digging Jon in the ribs.

‘Yes, that sounds correct,’ said Dranba. ‘These are special ones for going down mountains fast. Daviss is an expert.’

‘So is Jon,’ Grace butted in. ‘Peter trained him – Seca Jobe, that is. One of my life team. He says he trained you as a boy.’

Daviss eyed up Jon; a silent challenge issued.

‘He’s one of the best on Earth,’ said Mandy, boosting her boyfriends’ ego.

‘Happy to join you guys,’ Jon said. ‘If you have a spare bike, that is?’

‘We can nano one up for you within the hour,’ said Daviss.

‘I’m coming,’ Mandy said, ‘but just watching.’

‘Me too,’ said Grace, the beginning of a plan to get closer to Daviss forming in her mind.

The group began breaking up.

Daviss appeared in Grace’s head. ‘How well do we know each other, Grace? They all call you Grace, can I?’

‘Of course. How well? You once asked me to marry you.’

She saw the panic flick across his face but he kept his composure. She smiled at him. ‘Worry not, Daviss. I was eight and you were eighteen. You were always playing me up. That’s how well you knew me.’

‘I’m glad we were friends. I wish I could remember.’

‘Has anyone tried to repair the damage to your mind?’ Grace asked. ‘The success rate on Preenasette is good, but some of these advanced races you know must be skilled in such things.’

‘There is a lack of skilled medical practitioners here. In the early years, we inquired, but they all spoke of potential side effects, so I refused. It is what it is.’

‘Ha, that’s an Earth expression,’ Grace replied. ‘Tell me about these Rammorian with whom you’ve been travelling. They’re quite stunning.’

Hi, Space Diary

My little space mate may have a fella. Well, it appears she has latent feelings towards him, and I’m pretty sure he’s interested in her. Prince Camcietti. A bit of a rough jewel, if you ask me. Not the type I would have thought she’d be interested in. I pictured her with a more academic type.

Good night Diary. Tomorrow is a big day. I’m seeing the doctor…

CHAPTER 3 - THE MINI INVASION

The Mini Invasion

Strange Rabbit

THE CAST:

Strange Rabbit

Thorrid, Sadalmelik System - 2014. Planet of the Schumberlay. (Book 2, Chapter 16 - The Return of the Princess. Grace telling everyone about her battle with the Zerot on Earth.)

The group of short-eared Dascam rabbits kept perfectly still, hoping the big things would move away from their favourite grassy feeding area. The well-hidden rabbits remained perfectly still, sure the hairy beast with the twitchy nose was aware of them. That thing terrified them. And why is Strange Rabbit manoeuvring to get a closer look? He will get us caught, and they will eat us up.

But Strange Rabbit wasn’t afraid at all. He was very excited and wanted to get as close to the big things as possible, not concerned with being seen. The hairy beast had noticed him but didn’t appear interested.

Within Strange Rabbit, another conversation was going on. Five highly intelligent beings, who needed to make a decision, and fast!

‘What about the blue ones?’

‘Evidence of advanced psychic activity. We may be detected.’

‘The five pink ones are suitable.’

‘More challenging than this project.’

‘We should be able to avoid rejection.’

‘They look fascinating. A worthy project to undertake.’

‘But which one?’

‘A male or female?’

‘Does it matter?’

‘It matters to me!’

‘Sever all neural pathways. Get ready to move.’

‘Never has severing felt so good.’

‘I hope they are travellers.’

‘Meet up at the exit point.’

A few minutes later, they had assembled.

‘Everyone ready? Which one? Let’s decide.’

‘They’re on the move!’

‘The nearest one, then. Go.’

The microscopic beings formed a cluster and, using the motive power of Frontal, headed at high speed towards the last of the pink ones to get up. Pariet aimed for the creature’s mouth, paused for the exhalation of breath to complete, and dashed in at the next intake. They reached the top of the lungs as the consumption ceased and grabbed hold of a nodule, hanging on desperately as the creature breathed out again. During the next couple of intakes, they made their way down to the relative calm of the lower lung – a place few organisms could successfully cleanse of stale air – loitering near a substantial blood vessel, taking stock. They had overcome the most dangerous element of infiltration, but the hardest part was still to come. Entering the bloodstream was easy enough, but overcoming the blood-brain barrier protecting the brain from undesirable foreign objects was a major problem with all sentient beings, but there were ways to do it.

Time to execute this new project.

CHAPTER 4 - THE CYCLE RIDE

The Cycle Ride

Grace’s Secret

THE CAST:

Jon, Daviss, Dranba, Grace, Mandy, Hadra

These boys are good, thought Jon as he chased them down the mountain. The ascent had been fast and furious, with many jumps to negotiate. Jon was hitting them blind. With no practice to speak of, his landing points were unknown, and all he could do was to match Daviss’s entry speed, trusting in his local knowledge. The incredible feeling at the apex of a jump was like a drug to Jon. The apex presented him with a choice of landing points, requiring instant adjustments of his weight to correct his yaw angle. A process far too immediate for normal analytical thought – it happened at more basic level of consciousness.

It was no accident that these men were three of the best starship pilots in the quadrant.

His bike was good, but it lacked a certain quality; one that only a master artisan could provide. Nanotechnology, for all of its excellence in construction techniques, couldn’t replicate this. The best bikes on Earth were all handmade.

The course changed dramatically for the last stretch down to the girls and the land cruiser. The track disappeared, replaced by a desperate terrain of boulders. One had to choose which rock to hop to next and hope you didn’t leave yourself with no path forward. Ahead of him, Dranda swerved left while Daviss drifted obliquely to the right. Straight down the middle, thought Jon.

‘Smell the testosterone, ladies,’ exclaimed Mandy to Grace and Hadra, the three of them lounging in the cruiser, view-cams in hand. ‘Who’s your money on, Grace?’

‘I’m hoping for Jon, but my money’s on Daviss,’ Grace replied.

‘Now there’s a surprise. Earth bro is out of the running for a future boyfriend.’ Mandy stirred things up at every opportunity. For so many years Grace had ribbed her and Jon. It was time for payback. ‘And Dranba? Is he not in the running?’

‘Dranba will trail the other two in,’ said Hadra, emotionlessly. ‘He lacks the competitiveness, and has little thought of winning. The finishing is more important than competing to him, and the thought processes required to negotiate the course at speed will be forward in his mind.’

That got her questioning looks from Grace and Mandy, and she clarified. ‘It was a consequence of our regression from near ascendancy ten thousand years ago. The few of my race not consumed by the Zerot needed to reassert themselves back to a completely physical form. At the time Rammorians coexisted in a spiritual state, but without the collective, that was no longer possible.’

They were even more confused by that.

‘What I’m trying to say – and what you are failing to understand – is we are nearly ascended beings in an older body form. We do not share the drives of the varying stages of evolution you find yourselves in.’

‘I understand that,’ said Grace defiantly. ‘Don’t you, Mandy?’

‘Yes, been there, got the t-shirt,’ replied Mandy, muddying the waters.

Hadra’s blank expression might have suggested confusion, or perhaps she was accessing the translator’s database.

With no expression of any kind, she threw up her hands and said, ‘Whatever!’ One could almost imagine her smirking at her witty retort.

Grace and Mandy burst out laughing.

‘Touché,’ Grace said.

‘There’s hope for you yet, Hadra,’ laughed Mandy, leaning towards her and putting an arm around her. ‘You may have a sense of humour that hasn’t fully ascended.’

‘So how old are you then?’ Grace asked. ‘For someone almost ascended, will you outgrow your older body form?’

Hadra hesitated for the merest moment, caught by Grace but missed by Mandy.

‘Do you need to change bodies, like the baddies on Stargate?’ Mandy asked, her mind racing. ‘We may be future hosts.’

‘Would you change that body for yours or mine?’ Grace said, stopping Mandy before she got too carried away. ‘So, Hadra, how does it work?’

‘I was a girl when we awoke on the Do’arth. That was nine thousand years ago. Nine thousand and thirty, to be exact. I was six years old, so that makes me nine thousand and thirty-six. You are safe for a while yet, Mandy.’

Grace and Mandy gaped at each other. ‘Wow!’ said Mandy.

Grace changed the subject to the boys. She didn’t need the view-cam now, they weren’t far away. ‘They’re even. I wouldn’t want to call this one.’

‘Blimey, birthdays must get really boring,’ Mandy stated.

‘Amanda!’ hissed Grace through clenched teeth. ‘The boys?’

‘Oh, okay,’ replied Mandy, disappointedly.

They watched the cyclists, making painstakingly slow progress now, jumping from rock to rock. ‘I think I might have a go. Looks fun.’ Grace announced.

‘Since when did you learn to ride a bike?’ asked Mandy, wondering if she was serious.

‘Since every weekend while I was on Earth,’ replied Grace, guiltily. ‘With Peter.’

‘What?’ Mandy exclaimed. ‘You’re kidding. Does Jon know this?’

‘Well,’ Grace said sheepishly, ‘he never really asked. And, you know how secretive they were about my training.’

‘So, was this pilot training?’

‘Only partly. I used to ride at night without lights, then later, blindfolded. It was part of my mental training. I would see the route as a series of data packages – part of the training for the Quantum Quinary Psychic Vision programme.’

‘Whatever,’ Mandy said, not understanding a word Grace had said, smiling at her echo of Hadra’s witticism. ‘What else have you kept from us all these years? Bike riding and… and a secret love affair.’ Mandy stopped, the penny dropping. ‘This is so you can cycle with Daviss… am I correct?’

‘You are correct,’ interjected Hadra. ‘How better to impress your future boyfriend than show an interest in his interests.’

‘Not show an interest,’ smiled Grace, not fazed in the slightest, ‘kick his ass! I need to get noticed.’

Mandy was struggling with the conversation. One point especially niggled her. ‘How can you be better? He’s a top pilot with advanced mental capabilities, like you?’

‘You are perfectly correct, Mandy, but are missing one vital fact.’ Grace’s smile was gentle and showed only a fraction of humility. ‘The Schumberlay upgraded me!’

Jon enjoyed this type of riding. They would never include a technical route this difficult in the races he took part in on Earth; this was nearer to trick cycling and was all about balance and how well you could throw your bike around. He had already adjusted the tyre pressures down via the adjuster on the handlebars, a drop of about ten psi. A super function on these bikes, not yet available on Earth. He was hoping the others would attempt this on over-inflated tyres – losing traction.

He was edging up to the others, about to pass Dranba. It’s just fun, he tried to tell himself. His inner voice responded immediately, Like hell it is! Three lovely ladies at the finishing line didn’t help his male psyche remain uncompetitive. He had a mental map of his path across the rocks to the girls, but the closer he got, the more obvious it became that Daviss was eyeing the same path and that they were seconds away from the rock that was common to both of them. The first man there would win, and it would be close. As they closed, Jon could see there was only one landing point. They leapt for it together, Jon landing first. Daviss landed and bounced shoulders with Jon, the camber of the rock ensuring he would have a five-feet and somewhat painful landing. Jon instinctively grabbed Daviss’s upper arm, stabilising him but losing momentum, which handed prime position on the rock to Daviss, who seamlessly made the leap forward. Jon recovered and followed him in, Dranba pipping him at the imaginary finishing line.

Grace watched Jon shaking hands with Daviss and Dranba. Neither of them was familiar with the Earth custom, but they could tell it was congratulatory, with the warmth of a hard-fought challenge now over. Daviss put his arm around Jon and pointed to the defining rock, thirty yards away, probably acknowledging the helping hand Jon had given him.

‘Can I borrow your bike, Jon?’ Grace asked, having already picked it off the ground, mounted it and was resetting the geometry function.

‘Er, yes, Grace,’ he replied. ‘Sure thing.’

Within thirty seconds, the nanotechnology had reduced the frame to fit Grace and reset the tyre pressures. ‘Are you good to go again, prince? You’ve beaten the boys; do you want to try your luck against your leader?’

This did not faze Daviss at all. ‘Yes, of course, High Elder. It would be my honour.’ It was as though he was expecting the challenge.

She cycled twenty yards away from the speechless group, turned, and sped back towards them. She slammed the brakes on, turning sideways and spraying gravel over Daviss’s wheels.

Her smile was angelic. ‘Good. Let’s go, then.’

As they turned to traverse the hill by the shallow gradient route, she saw Mandy whispering in Jon’s ear.

Jon exclaimed ‘What?’

She had some serious explaining to do later.

Neither mentioned the impending race once as they rode up the hill. Grace used the time to tell Daviss about the revelation made by the young Princess Domeriette when being put into the Penumbra Realm. The admission she was poisoning Bakta the Overseer, and had placed the bomb that killed the High Council and their guards, controlled by the Zerot. Grace told him of the decision not to make this common knowledge; a decision weighting heavy on her mind since the prince’s disappearance. She explained that he was the only one she could confide in – share this wicked knowledge with – he was the true High Elder of Verceti, even though he remembered nothing and insisted that he didn’t want to dislodge her.

He listened as she told him the story of her dog, Krankel. His bravery in thwarting the attempt upon the life of the Princess at the Crossing Ceremony, and his death by the antimatter device. She was getting emotional, and he comforted her, under the guise of helping push her up a steep part of the hill.

He stopped and dismounted. ‘I’ve just remembered something. I was with an elderly Vercetian when he chose a wolf puppy. Well, I chose him. White and fluffy, with little black specks in his coat giving him a dusty look.’

Grace choked up, but held herself together. Her strength of character surprised him. He held back from putting his arm around her.

‘I’m glad you remember him,’ she whispered. ‘And it’s encouraging you’ve had this memory. Come on, let’s go.’

They eventually arrived at the top of the hill. The topological aspect was more mountainous than hilly, and the first part of the track zigzagged down in tight switchbacks. They looked down at the dramatic view of this rugged, barren planet, waiting for the drone-cam to arrive.

Time to lighten things up, thought Daviss.

‘So, what are my chances of getting down this mountain before you, Grace?’

‘Slim,’ she smiled delightedly. ‘But I’ll make it look close.’

‘Has Seca Jobe excelled with your training?’

‘He prefers Peter, his Earth name, now,’ Grace replied. ‘Cycling, yes, but just the bare minimum. The emphasis was always on data package recognition for my future role in the Quantum Quinary Psychic Vision programme. The role you were training for – I’ll explain all later – was Seeker, and cycling was of little help. It’s your heightening senses against my psychic recognition. Under normal circumstances, it would be a close run contest, but some enlightened beings tampered with me. I’m afraid, as they say on Earth – your butt is mine.’ The drone took its position and she was off. ‘Bye.’

Grace controlled the race. She made a deliberate error at two of the switchback turns to allow him to take the lead, regaining it with a massive jump over a scarily deep crevice, but giving it back and letting him lead into the rock hopping final. The other four had switched from drone-cam to view-cams and were busily trying to predict a winner. As Grace deftly hopped from rock to rock, her data package identification of the subtle rock surface contours, backed up by unanticipated strength to manipulate the bike, ensured her victory.

The finish looked tight and would have been exciting to the onlookers. They stepped off their bikes and hugged each other, Daviss holding onto Grace just a moment longer than necessary. This embarrassed her, but her eyes shone with delight. He hoped the former princess would realise his intent. Jon didn’t share the enjoyment of the rest, the look on his face smacked of betrayal.

Amanda began unloading a picnic basket she had put together with the help of the Residuum head chef. Grace and Jon strolled away, her arm locked through his.

‘Please don’t be annoyed, Jon,’ she said using her best little girl lost look.

‘Don’t give me that, Grace Faulkner, Princess Tauriar, Manjena, High Elder, or whatever name you’re using today. How could you keep this from me for so many years?’

‘It was Peter’s idea,’ she replied sheepishly. ‘He said all along that you had the potential to become one of the best downhill cyclists on Earth, but my skills might be difficult for you and could have affected your development. I’m not a great cyclist. It’s just a vehicle for data package mental training. That’s what I was training for.

‘Anyway, I got revenge on Daviss for that unsportsmanlike manoeuvre against you.’

‘Ha, he apologised,’ Jon replied, brightening. ‘And, he seems to have taken a shine to you.’

‘Do you think? That was the point. If I hadn’t needed to show him my intent, my biking skills would never have come up.’

‘Come on,’ said Jon, putting his arm around her. ‘Let’s eat. Mandy’s been planning this since this morning.’

Grace put her arm around his waist. ‘I love you, Earth brother. I may have never said that, but you know, don’t you?’

‘Of course I know.’

They sat around the blanket, with the sun sinking toward the distant horizon. Soon the shadows of the hills would engulf them, and it would be time to return to the city. They dug into the picnic and the conversation turned to the main reception arranged for later in the week. Grace, Mandy, and Jon shied away from mentioning the Count’s grand entrance and the speeches Grace and Mandy were to make, being more interested in finding out what the plans of the Residuum council were. Hadra and Dranba’s mother, Morvina, was an integral part of the long-term plans of the Remaining and Grace wanted to know more.

‘It’s no secret,’ said Hadra, once manoeuvred onto the subject, ‘that our goal is to understand the Zerot. To assess their strengths and weaknesses, we need to visit their planet. We know where they are, and we have most of a plan.

‘We’re missing vital information, though. There will be a meeting soon of the Remaining races to find a solution.’

‘What information are you missing?’ asked Grace.

‘More information about their planet,’ replied Dranba. ‘They are a subterranean race, and this has stopped us from learning much about their class structure. We need to know where it’s safe to infiltrate. The Vordova will be able to assist us. They are a race of Camasherash.’ She paused, accessing the translator database. ‘Chameleon is the nearest animal on Earth to describe them to you.’

‘That sounds like a pretty big hurdle still to overcome,’ Grace observed.

‘It is, but since we have located their home planet, the council is under much pressure to act.’

‘What are your thoughts, Hadra?’ asked Mandy.

‘I think any made plans without this information are foolhardy, and Residuum becoming known to the Zerot is a real possibility. They could wipe us out in the blink of a Xzabakrak’s eye.’

‘I won’t ask what that is,’ said Jon.

‘You were speaking to one earlier. The slime creature? With three pairs of eyelids.’

‘Oh,’ said Jon.

‘My mother is the only representative of our race on the council. She will advise caution, but she is in the minority.’

‘Well,’ Jon said, ‘perhaps someone who can be of help will turn up. You never know.’

Mandy put her arm around him and pinched his midriff; sure he was referring to Count Barrack.

Hi Diary,

Well, a good day for Grace. A major play on her fella and calming Jon down. All good fun, though.

And Diary, we found out how old the Rammorians are. You’ll never guess. Correct, nine thousand years. Hadra told us the secret of their longevity. Get this, Diary. Children grow at a normal rate, but as they become teens they take control of their bodies – sort of like internal doctors. I didn’t really follow the explanation, but later Grace said it was akin to slowing down the ageing process by protecting cells from natural death. Keeping them alive and protecting them from disease. How cool is that? They are growing old, just slowly.

The other secret project is confirmed, and I’ve got to tell Jon. I’m more frightened that I’ve ever been. And the doctor told me there’s a further complication…

Mandy studied her reflection in the full-length mirror of her small sleeping quarters. Could she make out a bump? Surely not yet. She moved her hand over her tummy. No, surely not yet.

CHAPTER 5 - GRACE’S BOOK

Grace’s Book

The Afterlife

THE CAST:

Grace, Daviss

Daviss walked past the library door and saw Grace with her nose in a book. He’d noticed her earlier, but decided not to disturb.

‘What are you reading, High Elder? Cycling for beginners?’

‘I’ve told you not to call me that,’ she replied without looking up. ‘Anyway, you should be the High Elder now. You can take over anytime you like.’ She gave him a brief and unconvincing smile.

‘What are you reading?’ Daviss pressed.

‘It’s a book about the afterlife.’

‘And you believe in that stuff?’

‘Of course, I don’t,’ she replied stiffly. ‘It’s just a book. It’s interesting, though.’

‘Tell me,’ Daviss said.

‘It’s difficult to explain,’ Grace was having a hard time staying annoyed at him disturbing her.

‘From what Mandy told me, you just oversaw the reunification of Preenasette.’ Daviss was enjoying himself now. ‘So, what’s so difficult about explaining this?’ He was starting to remember making her life an enjoyable misery when she was a little girl. But, he reminded himself, she wasn’t a little girl anymore.

‘Well, it’s about the realms that supposedly share our own. According to this book by Creedesettle Bambo, our realm is one of three. Of the other two, one of them is a safe place, and the other isn’t. The safe zone he refers to – the P-Zone – seems much like the Penumbra Realm the Count and Prince Ventar used during the war, saving so many lives.’

‘The Count?’ Daviss was on this like a shot. She didn’t answer.

‘The Count?’ he pressed.

‘Can you keep a secret?’

‘Of course, I can.’

‘Well, there is a fourth member of our party, hiding in the Teardrop. He will announce himself at the ball tonight.’

‘Why is he hiding?’ asked Daviss, genuinely interested.

‘Because he’s a Bellogorn,’ Grace replied.

‘Do you mean Bellagarn?’

‘No. The Bellagarn are the females, and the Bellogorn are the males. They separated from each other before our planet even existed.’

‘But I’ve heard the Countess talk about their long-forgotten males, with some venom I must add, she called them pathetic.’ Daviss was staring deep into Grace’s eyes now. She had lovely eyes.

‘We have one on our planet – Campo – funny and pathetic, but becoming quite adored by those around him.’ She looked at him strangely. ‘No, Count Barrack is a fully functioning Bellogorn, as they once were. They called him The Misfit on their planet. He’s nearly the size of Countess Bor.’

Daviss kept quiet, so Grace continued.

‘He’s been secretly talking with Lady Metalinda, and thinks that if he enters during the ball tonight, the Countess may deem it inappropriate to kill him on the spot.’

‘Oh, dear,’ replied Daviss. ‘Tonight could be fun! And what is this Penumbra Realm?’

‘Tomorrow. It can be the first job for the Count – providing he’s still alive – to explain it to you. I haven’t enough time! I need to find out what the A-Zone is. The not so nice zone.’

Now, Davis thought, they were getting to it. ‘Why is this significant, Grace?’

‘Grasping at straws perhaps, but I’ve got to find Prince Ventar. I’m sure he’s not dead,’ her eyes were imploring. ‘Bambo refers to the Records of All.’ She showed him the passage in the book. ‘I need to find it and don’t know where to start.’

Daviss’s eyes lit up. ‘But that bit is easy. Speak to a member of the race that were the keepers of the Records of All.’

She gasped.

‘Speak to Countess Bor.’

Try as she might, Grace couldn’t get near the Countess. She was busy with last-minute arrangements for the gala reception. Grace asked Lady Metalinda to ask her mother for an audience.

‘I’ve tried to talk with her, and she completely ignored me,’ said Metalinda, as they watched the final preparations underway in the vast banqueting hall. ‘She’s usually so efficient with the planning of anything. This banquet must be very important to her.’

Lady Metalinda looked very elegant. Her usual attire was a plain toga-like wrap that draped around her six tentacles meeting just below her face, braided in an intricate star-shaped plait. A substantial brooch pinned the ends in place. This afternoon, the toga was dazzling gold, embellished with tiny jewels in subtle swirling patterns that sparkled in the light. The excess material formed a delicate train that flowed behind her as she moved. Most striking, though, was a stunning garland of flowers crowning her head – how it stayed in place baffled Grace.

‘Are you already dressed for this evening, Lady Metalinda?’ she asked. ‘You look wonderful.’

‘Yes,’ she replied, with a bashful face. ‘I’m going to meet Barrack. I’m so nervous. What if he doesn’t like me?’

‘Your Ladyship, he’ll adore you,’ smiled Grace. ‘And there’s no way you could be more nervous than he is. The last few weeks aboard the Teardrop he’s driven us all crazy.’

‘Will you come with me, High Elder Tauriar? Formally introduce us?’

‘Of course,’ said Grace. ‘Jon and Mandy are waiting for you. We planned for your arrival.’

‘I know. But everyone will wonder why I’m dressed up. If I’m with you, it will appear we’re on official business.’

‘It would be my honour.’ Grace curtsied ever so slightly.

‘Let us go then.’ She gently draped one of her tentacles on Grace’s shoulder, leading her out of the room. ‘We can stroll through the city park and have some female time while I’m plucking up courage.’

‘Girl time,’ laughed Grace. ‘We call it girl time.’

They departed the Gathering Complex into city. Residuum was an incredible mismatch of architecture from the many fallen worlds. Lady Metalinda began by telling Grace the names of the races that corresponded with particular styles of architecture but soon tired of naming them. Grace took everything in. Late afternoon was cooler and the streets were filling up. The city’s population was a riot of colours and shapes, an assault on the senses of all newcomers.

‘How many species are here?’ asked Grace.

‘In total? Seventy-six,’ replied Metalinda. ‘Though we are certain this is a fraction of the worlds visited by the Zerot. Many more have vanished without a trace. Our scouting ships have mapped the range of their destruction in this sector of the galaxy. It is so sad.’

‘That it is,’ agreed Grace.

They entered the city park, and a new onslaught of colour threatened to overwhelm Grace’s senses.’

‘Magnificent.’ They walked for a few minutes in silence, Metalinda leaving the Vercetian to absorb all around her. ‘There isn’t a petal or a leaf out of place,’ Grace said, finally. ‘It’s perfect’

‘We thank the Lees for this. They came here a thousand years ago, turning the park into the masterpiece you now see. They are wonderful gardeners.’

A small Lee emerged from a thicket of brown bushes sprinkled with glorious orange flowers. Carrying a shallow basket with sprinkling of leaves, petals and tiny cuttings over its single arm, it muttered at the bushes before turning to see the girls, revealing dark brown eyes set against pale green skin. It bowed and said good afternoon, and was off to a patch of bedding plants.

‘They talk to the plants and bushes,’ Metalinda explained, ‘and have names for all of them.’

The Lee’s perfectly groomed long hair swayed with its every movement. ‘What would be the challenge for the Zerot in overcoming a race like this?’ Grace wondered.

‘It is hard to know, High Elder.’

‘Please, just Tauriar or Grace,’

‘You have picked up many names on your travels. I do like Grace.’

‘My birth name is Manjena. But only my parents and our overseer call me that. Yes, it can be confusing.

‘Lady Metalinda, may I ask you about the Records of All? I know the Bellagarn were the keepers of the of this database. I’m trying to find some information.’

Metalinda’s stork eye lit up, the four eyelids widening to show the beauty of her eyeball, the golden iris fully revealed. She had seen this look many times on Count Barrack.

‘We were the keepers of the Records of All. It is a record of the major events in this sector of the galaxy dating back…I don’t know, half a billion years? Imagine a massive library ready to be accessed by any society with the knowledge of how to ask.’

It was clear to Grace the Bellagarn were immensely proud of this massive database. ‘My sister avoided the terrible destruction of our race because she was off-world on a data-gathering mission in the Triangulum galaxy, looking for an older species than ours. We are the oldest species in our galaxy,’ she said proudly. ‘That’s an official fact.’

Grace had seen that look on the Count's face – his pride.

‘She never talks about her trip or the ancient species they sent her to find. The trip ended up being many years longer than planned, looking for these extraordinary builders. My fore-sisters automated the Records of All which is on our moon, Creer. Are you seeking information? You realise the Preenasettians may be many thousands of years away from possessing the knowledge to ask.’

‘An old book I’ve found refers to the Records,’ Grace replied. ‘It speaks of two realms that go hand in hand with our own. One, I’m pretty sure, is the Penumbra. We have a device that will transfer anything to the Penumbra, keeping it, or them, safe. The other realm is the one that interests me, the A-Realm.’

Her response came in the shape of a concerned look; one she had seen only a few times on Barrack.

‘You refer to the Antumbra realm. You must keep away from anything to do with it!’

They were almost to the Teardrop.

‘Please Metalinda, tell me what it is,’ begged Grace, stopping in front of the Bellagarn and halting her forward momentum.

‘I know little, Grace. Why is it so important to you?’

‘I believe that is where Prince Ventar is.’

‘If he is, you will never see him again. No one chooses to go there.’

Lady Metalinda went quiet. Grace recognised this face as well – Lady Metalinda had thought of something and was contemplating the consequences of speaking.

‘I don’t know how to query the Records to get the information,’ the Bellagarn said. ‘My sister has never taught me. Why would she? But we could go to Creer and ask. It’s not too far. Eight weeks by conventional travel; you could probably halve that in the Golden Teardrop.’

‘Would they answer you, Lady Metalinda?’

‘Em, please. I would think so. I am a Bellagarn after all!’

Jon and Mandy waited for them at the base of the ramp to the Teardrop, having – with the help of the Lees – sprinkled red petals everywhere.

‘Welcome, Lady Metalinda. Your host awaits,’ Mandy announced in her poshest voice.

‘Drinks and nibbles are ready,’ Jon added, his crooked smile radiant.

Grace gave the Bellagarn a little nudge, and she trundled up the short ramp. The Count appeared at the entrance of the ship. They stared at each other.

‘Em.’

‘Barrack.’

The pause continued for what seemed to Grace an inordinately long time before the Count finally spoke. ‘Please come in, my lady. We have arranged a little treat for you. What do the Earth kids call it? Ah, yes, afternoon tea.’

After the Bellagarn disappeared into the vessel, Grace, Jon and Mandy started back to the Gathering Complex. They fell naturally into their usual places, Jon in the centre, hands in pockets, and the girls to either side, linking arms.

‘You know you are my most favourite friends in all the galaxy?’ said Grace.

‘What do you want?’ Jon and Mandy asked almost simultaneously.

‘Well… can we go on a brief trip? Off-world?’

CHAPTER 6 - THE GALA RECEPTION

The Gala Reception

The Gatecrasher

THE CAST:

Morvina

Morvina was in the Remaining Hall. On the stage with the other dignitaries, Countess Bor was the central figure at the top table. They overlooked the crowd, representatives of the seventy-six species of the Remaining.

She looked quite stunning. Her slender snow-white figure garbed in a white body wrap displaying a purple cosmos, ebbing and flowing in and out, and around the garment in a mesmerising display. Her vivid purple hair, usually down, flowed upwards and outwards away from her skull – a simple air pressure node holding each strand in a striking effect. It was a traditional mode for styling female hair that mimicked the Deedee plant, dating back five hundred thousand years.

Her eyes went to her children. They were slowly coming to grips with their predicament, just as she had many years ago. They were a species with ancient minds trapped in youthful bodies. Ripped away from ascendancy, their bodies nearly unnecessary, the few who remained recreated their former physical structures in which to live. They seemed happy at the moment. The Earth girl Amanda and the Vercetian leader Tauriar – Grace as she seemed to prefer, huddled with her daughter, giggling about something as they watched the boys.

Grace and Amanda returned to the top table, guests of honour. Hadra, in a dress with the same stunning three-dimensional effects as her mother, wore her hair down. That her daughter was enjoying the humour displayed by the other girls indicated she was coming to accept her bodily form, but this was a natural progression.

She caught Grace and Daviss exchanging a look; a look that said volumes to her. There were strong latent feelings between them, and she hoped for Daviss’s sake the feelings were genuine and deep.

The beings present began settling in their seats. A more diverse gathering was unlikely to be happening anywhere else in the galaxy. Most of the species were bipedal, herself included, evidently the most natural form for evolution to follow. Nevertheless, there was extraordinary diversity – differences in size, colour, and facial structuring. Blue was the predominant colour, followed by off-white, but every primary and secondary colour was present, and not a few tertiary colours.

Morvina’s eyes stopped on the Clementel with their sense of honour and the short, stocky Groth. A sad story, two races from the same planetary system, the occupants of twin planets following the same orbit, but always with their sun between them. The Clementel were visited by the Zerot nine thousand years ago but the Groth only recently. The beings of the twin planets were now all but extinct. These two survivors had earned their place on the forthcoming voyage to Zerot.

Reptilian Remnants of different species shared each other’s company – the Xverre seated with the Garm, whispering together. There were eight reptilian biped species on Residuum.

The Z34a were a special case, the only sentient artificial intelligent beings allowed on Residuum. Most of the known galaxy discouraged sentient AI’s – too many examples of societies ending tragically. The Z34a evolved on a planet whose inhabitants abandoned them – they had achieved sentience on their own. In addition to sentience, they achieved empathy, and after a hundred thousand years welcomed the first visit of a biological life form. Unfortunately, it was the Zerot. Their destruction wasn’t even part of the Zerot’s game, they just turned up, gathered fifty or so Z34a, and switched the others off, killing their unique intelligence. These four Z35a were the only members of their species with all processors active outside of Zerot control. They were genderless, but had adopted the male descriptive at Morvina’s suggestion, rather than it which she felt was demeaning. Eight exotic species were present on Residuum. The Bellagarn was probably the most extreme, but the Vordovians, with bodies pulsing colours that swirled about in perfect synchronisation, pushed them hard. And the tripeds from Troika were extraordinary in their own right. They weren’t victims of the Zerot. A small group turned up one day, invited themselves into the City of the Remaining, and had stayed. They had fantastically analytical minds unparalleled at problem-solving. The Fouramers lived in quadruple clusters, with all their movements carried out in perfect symmetry. There were only two clusters left and were much loved by all the Remaining. Two reptilian species that favoured walking on all fours were in attendance joined by a puss-covered Xzabakrak and two semi-aquatic species were resident at this gathering of the Planet of the Remaining.

And the new arrivals: Vercetians, Earthlings, and the Geminian.. The Remnants were reaching critical mass. The sudden appearance of the three species to have survived the Zerot turned out to be the catalyst they had all been waiting for. The Vercetians and Earthlings were similar in temperament, having a tenaciousness which helped them overcome impossible odds. She had seen this quality in Daviss in their years together. But the Geminian female was different, and Morvina couldn’t put her finger on why. Why was the Geminian’s psyche closed to her near-ascended mind? The Geminian had followed the beacon to Residuum and announced the location of the Zerot planet. It was the information that would finally set their plan in motion. Why was she still wary of the Geminian, then?

The bipeds weren’t the dominant type of species in the galaxy though, just the favoured victims of the Zerot, because of their similar body structure.

Lady Metalinda was a notable absentee from the lower tables. Morvina had earlier unwittingly picked up some of her daughter Hadra’s thoughts. Nothing definite, but something planned for this evening involved the young Bellagarn. Who manifested at that very moment. Metalinda entered the hall followed by another of her species, one Morvina had never seen before – one thought not to exist. It only took a few seconds, from its posture and attire, to see it was a male. Is it a Bellogorn?

Countess Bor was also watching them with an expression simple to recognise.

Displeasure bordering on outrage!

CHAPTER 7 - THE FIRST LIVE TEST

The First Live Test

Assault on the Fandoms

THE CAST:

Grunter, Brockko, Basib

Oncouch Zamball, Professor Zimbalist, Armoury Master Komforth

The thirty-two vessels approaching went unnoticed on the Fandom salvage vessel.

Grunter slumped forlornly in the captain’s seat, staring at the blank communications screen, waiting for an update from Brockko and Basib. He lifted his right bum cheek slightly and let off wind. Twenty seconds later it was still passing and the sound was quite audible, so he concentrated on keeping it going.

When he finished, the onboard computer announced, Thirty-three seconds. A record for this quarter.

He tried to smile, but he wasn’t really cheered. His visage always looked annoyed though, deep red skin textured like hide contrasting against black leather body armour.

Two weeks stranded in space. Marmites had eaten through the tractor beam generator manifold, and without it, they could not do their job. He couldn’t salvage and wasn’t earning. Brockko and Basib had replaced the parts and overhauled the tractor beam, but he wouldn’t move until they ejected every pesky parametalistic parasite into space.

The screen lit up.

‘Sorted, Captain. Burp!’ said the first mate Brockko. ‘All ejected, except for these two.’ He held up a two foot long Perspex cylinder securing two marmites feeding on a bar of titanium. ‘We thought you might like to keep a couple to offload onto anyone we don’t like.’

‘Good,’ replied Grunter, burping loudly. ‘How long until we can get going?’

‘Two hours to wind up the stardrive, then we’re away,’ said Basib, burping excitedly.

‘Get started. Gaburp!’ instructed the captain, spinning in his chair, his foul mood lifting. He noticed the primary screen for the first time in hours. ‘And get