Page 16 of Advance and Retreat (Dark Empire #6)

“Could be it’s further in its dimension than its offshoots,” Kila mused.

“Possibly.”

Piras considered Mereta’s features. He did indeed have the demeanor of someone who was listening and concentrating on a sound in his environment. There was more too.

Piras’ mother, who’d been smothering when it came to her only child, had been devastated when it had appeared he’d become a traitor against the Kalquorian Empire during its recent civil war.

It had been months before she’d learned he was actually a double agent, playing an ally to those who’d turned on the empire.

His role had meant sending loyal Kalquorians to their deaths, which had led to him and his clan being exiled for five years following the war since so many wanted an eye for an eye.

Calna had struggled mightily during that time, and Piras often wondered if her frantic worrying over him had contributed to the illness preceding her death.

While the upheaval of Piras’ supposed treachery then banishment had been in play, Calna had sought refuge in Dramok Mereta’s spiritual teachings.

Prior to his acceptance of becoming the Galactic Council’s leader, the priest had broken from Kalquor’s Temple of Life to spread his own views of spirituality.

Seeking answers to soothe her anguish, Calna had become a disciple of Mereta.

When Piras had managed clandestine visits, she’d quoted him extensively.

When she died, the priest had officiated at her funeral.

As a result of Mereta’s connection to Calna and his appointment to the highest office of the GC, Piras knew the man’s face well.

Though he didn’t subscribe to any faith, he’d never known Mereta to display any demeanor but utter tranquility.

The secretary-general exuded peace, even through the news vids Piras most often saw him on.

It would be shockingly obvious to anyone who caught a glimpse of the secretary-general now that he was not himself.

Piras couldn’t see the Dark in charge of Mereta, but he’d have known at a glance it held him prisoner.

His fellow Dramok’s features were a mask of grim brutality, making him nearly unrecognizable.

Kila’s low whistle pulled Piras from his musings. “Are you seeing the information on his computer monitors? The All’s past attempts were a joke compared to this.”

Hope nodded. “It’s going for a multi-prong attack on Kalquor. Disease, Tragooms, the military units of the worlds it’s taken control of...full assault on all levels. I’m sure there’s more, but I’m getting only half the story. Ah, they seem to be done. Discussion’s stopped.”

Mereta’s attitude of listening had evaporated. He switched off a couple of the floating holo-vids and scowled in concentration at the two remaining.

“Mereta’s rider has the answers we need.” Piras said, eager to move on to the next step. “We’ve found him. Now, how do we get to him?”

* * * *

K alquor

Cassidy eyed her subject as the Dark squirmed in the tight confines of its containment.

No variations of the Dark Death virus had affected it thus far.

Nor had the Kalquorian equivalent, RCN-16.

She and Egilka were nearly to the point of performing biopsies.

Despite her intense dislike of the Darks and her ability to cause them agony and near-death through forcing them into her dimension, she didn’t look forward to hacking pieces off them.

No matter how homicidal the All was, it seemed barbaric to maim the Darks.

Unfortunately, she and Egilka had found no means of sedation or anaesthetizing them.

At least the coming necessity of such savagery gave her some comfort she hadn’t been completely reduced to sociopathic hatred of the enemy.

She sent the nano in to inject the subject in her last attempt to infect it with the final variant of RCN-16. After the Dark finished its outraged squeals and the nano had been retrieved, she eased the fatal gravity in the containment to a safer, more comfortable level.

Has the All really obliterated all sentients in your home dimension?

Still twitching from its latest foray into her atmosphere, the Dark sounded almost gleeful in its reply. Of course they were destroyed. Separates are abominations, too low to exist. They didn’t deserve to share being alongside the All.

Except for the Other. Why have you allowed it to continue existing?

Seething anger erupted. The Other is a coward.

Why do you say that?

It keeps itself unseeable. When it does show up, it doesn’t use its own face. It makes a mockery of the All!

Cassidy winced at the vicious rage pouring in her skull. It isn’t a lower lifeform than the All then, is it? If you can’t harm it?

It is an abomination! It is not the All! It should die! The Dark Egilka worked on at his station joined in the furious denouncements. Since it was pinned motionless by its shrunken containment, the emperor, rapt in concentration as he worked on it, failed to note its agitation.

“Like children, aren’t they?” a low, feminine voice asked Cassidy. “Nasty attitudes, but does one erase their children when they misbehave?”

Cassidy jerked her attention to the figure who’d appeared beside her. She gaped to see herself standing there, looking at her in detached interest.