The Unreachable Stars: Book #11 of The Human Chronicles Saga (27 page)

And yes, Humanity would be there to take the lead in that quest. They always did when it came to kicking ass.

But that was the price one paid for being the Supermen of the Galaxy.

Epilogue

“It won’t be easy, Arieel, but I’ll do everything I can.”

“I appreciate that, Admiral.” Adam could see Andy nearly melt when exposed to Arieel’s seductive smile. He knew she wasn’t doing it intentionally. When you were the most beautiful Prime female in the galaxy, sometimes it was  beyond your control.

“I have been in contact with the Order and they appear to be taking a very hard line regarding recent events,” Trimen said.

“But we did all this for the good of our people,” Arieel pleaded.

“I realize. Yet I feel there are other forces working against us, possibly against the Order itself. I can see a separation taking place soon between the religious elements of our society and those on the political side. There may not be a Speakership to return to.”

Adam knew Arieel had seen this coming for some time, but to hear it expressed by the First-Celebrant came as a blow. She had told him how much she despised politicians, and how she shuddered at the thought of them being in control of Formilian society. Yet she was wise enough to know that the same was being said about the religious class, though it had been that way for over two thousand years.

“So what do you want to do?” Tobias asked.

“I want to go home,” Arieel said, looking at Trimen. He nodded his agreement.

“Even if it means returning as just regular people, not part of the ruling class?”

“Yes. At least then we will be with others like ourselves.”

Adam cringed. That would definitely leave Lila out of the equation. There was no one like her…except Panur.

As if on cue, Adam suddenly felt an itching in his brain and a strange warmth that seemed to occupy the center of his skull. He looked at Arieel and saw in her eyes that she was experiencing the same sensation. As was Trimen.

Tobias noticed the sudden change in the three of them.

“What’s going on? Y’all look…weird.”

“It is Lila,” Arieel said. “She’s seeking an audience with us—with the three of us.”

“Should I leave?”

“That will not be necessary,” Trimen said, a frown creasing his forehead. “She’s speaking with us telepathically.”

“I thought—”

“It’s okay, Andy,” Adam said. “I’ll explain later.”
Lila, where are you?

I am near.

I was not aware you could link all our minds together,
Arieel said.

Neither was I, until now. There are so many things happening to me that I am just letting them come. I will analyze later.

So what’s up?
Adam asked, feeling awkward around his newly-discovered daughter, especially with her rumbling around in his head. He was embarrassed over what she might find there.

I have news for all of you. You will not welcome it.

Lila!

Please do not be alarmed, Mother. I believe you knew this was coming.

Do not do this!

I must. There is so much to learn.

What’s happening?
Adam asked.

She is leaving…with the mutant!

I, too, am a mutant, Mother.

Do not say that!

But it is true. And now I must explore this new reality with the only being who can relate.

Hell no! You’re not running off with that bastard!

It is done, Father. Even now we are leaving Castor.

What? How?
Adam stammered.

Panur feels entitled to the use of your starship, since it was he who made the improvements allowing you to survive this latest adventure.

“He’s taking the
Pegasus
!” Adam yelled aloud, causing Tobias to tumble back in his seat.

“Who’s taking the
Pegasus
?”

“That bastard Panur. And he has Lila with him.”

“Don’t take this wrong, Adam, but what about the portal detector?”

Tell him it is aboard the Crescent Star and that Panur has reconfigured the monitor to display more traditional data. He will be able to find all existing and future portals.

Adam held up his hand to stop Tobias from speaking
. Can you patch me through to Panur on this line?
he asked Lila.

I’m here, my friend.

You’re not my friend! Now bring back my ship…and my daughter.

She is as much still your daughter as the Queen is still my mother.

All three of the people in the telepathic link looked at each other with gaping mouths.

What was that last part?

I thought you would have realized that by now, especially you, Trimen. Yes, interspecies mating can—though rarely—result in mutations. It happened with Arieel and Adam, and it happened with my father and the Queen.

Please explain,
Trimen requested, while Adam was still speechless—
thoughtless
—with shock.

As some of you know, the Queen never leaves her chambers, but instead deposits prodigious quantities of eggs, which are then removed and processed. These eggs are fertilized by a corps of chosen Sol-Kor donors. These donors are a very rare and unique class of males capable of producing sperm.

How does this apply to you?

Quite directly, Adam Cain. When my world was first reached by the Sol-Kor, the flesh-eaters were much more primitive. They came in small starships and had to fight for their food back then. They even practiced cannibalism when no foreign food source was available. My people were very advanced biologically, and our brain matter was of superior quality, even better than Human, Klin, or Juirean. So there was an experiment conducted to see if this stock could be reproduced, even assimilated into the Sol-Kor breed. Males from my planet were forced to fertilize millions of Sol-Kor eggs in an attempt to create this new food crop. Many of the eggs were indeed fertilized and carried through full gestation, yet these products were of such a poor quality, often suffering severe physical and mental deformities. All except one.

You?
Arieel asked.

That’s correct. Although I was physically small compared to the Sol-Kor, my mental capacity manifested itself quite early, early enough for the Queen to recognize my potential. She took me under her guard, and that was five thousand years ago.

A light suddenly went off in Adam’s brain.
Wait a minute! You’re the son of the Queen, and the Queen is your mother?

That’s normally how these things work.

So all this bullshit about her torturing and tormenting you…

Was just that, Adam. Bullshit.

And immunity?

Oh, that’s true. The Queen does offer immunity to any race who returns me when I go off on one of my little junkets. But she never honors it. Once I’m back, it’s business as usual.

So what’s different now?

Lila.

Adam could feel both Arieel and Trimen cringe.

What do you mean?
Arieel asked.

She is the first creature I have ever found who shares a similar history as me—and I have looked during each of my adventures. In fact, that is the reason for my explorations. And now that I have found her, it is time for me—as the Humans say—to leave the nest.

Don’t even go there, you bastard!

That remains to be seen, my friend. We do not even know if we are biologically compatible. Yet together, intellectually, there is so much we can accomplish. And as we have discussed, if we are able to reproduce, then we could become the Adam and Eve of a new species, a species of immortal geniuses. You must see the lure of such an undertaking?

All I see is an egomaniac with a God-complex.

If the shoe fits, Adam Cain.

Knock off the Human-speak, you freak.

You’re just upset because I took your starship. I’m sure the admiral will provide you with another.

That’s not it.

That’s part of it.

Well, yeah, but not all.

You refer to the diamonds you have aboard.

Oh shit!
Adam thought—for all to hear. He’d forgotten about that.

I’m just playing with you, Adam. I transferred the crystals to the Crescent Star. Now, my friend, I know this is all very troubling for you.

To say the least. So what now?

Ah, that is the wonder of it all! I don’t know. Can you imagine how it is for me to not know the future? It’s exhilarating. But to more directly answer your question, we will be seeking a safe haven from which to conduct our experiments. It may be here, in your universe, or in another. That depends. And as far as us meeting again? There may indeed come a time, Adam Cain. As well, Lila may seek out contact with her mother. But until then, you need not worry about us. We are not a threat.

What about the Queen…your mother?
Arieel asked.

She will suffer, since I am the only one of her offspring who has survived nearly as long as she. I am the one constant in her life.  Yet you should all look at this in a positive light. I will no longer be available to build deadly weapons for the Sol-Kor. What you see is what you get. If you can defeat them now, you will defeat them for good.

Lila?

Yes, Mother.

Are you sure this is what you want?