The Spectrum Force Volume One, Heather Ray [epub ebook reader txt] 📗

looked back.

"So, High Father," Spectra said, turning to Luminus, "what is your plan?"

"I rely on the hope that Pinhi Mactier has retained some knowledge of the Outskirts," he confessed, sitting down heavily, "We are fortunate to have saved one of the handful of Fespins to have any knowledge of the Outskirts. If he does recall which living planets exist there, then we must send forces to defend them. And they cannot be technological... at all."

"A purely magical army?" Rayah asked, her eyes wide, "That is impossible! We do not have the resources!"

"An army is out of the question," Luminus admitted, "but perhaps a White Stone will do."

All six councilmembers stared at the High Father with amazement.

"We only have two White Stones, and they are the greatest foci of magical might we have at our disposal," Gehtre remarked, "Can we afford to send one all the way to the Outskirts? How will that affect our main forces?"

"It shouldn't," Ityan answered, "We only use one White Stone presently, and it is the power source of the Star Riders. We've kept the second as a secret weapon, in case the Denebians force our hand."

"And now they have," Spectra said, "Perhaps we should create another team of Star Riders, to defend the Outskirts?"

Luminus then rose to his feet again, and stepped away from the bench. He moved to the staircase leading to the floor. "We cannot decide anything until Mactier awakens. Once we have discerned what he knows, we will be better able to plan our best strategy."
Chapter Four

Three Days Later...

Spectra sighed quietly, leaning her heavy head against the wall. She forced her weary eyes open, and stared blindly at the status screen connected to the prone Fespin archivist.

He was still steady, but unconscious.

She released a yawn of exhaustion, and glanced at the timer on the wall. The bar of light was only one-half full, meaning her shift was only half over. Luminus had decided to have one trusted citizen watch over Mactier carefully, to make sure he was alive, and to get as much information as possible out of him once he awoke. After all, there was no way to be certain whether he'd survive for long.

Suddenly, a low hum proceeded from the mediboard. Spectra glanced up, and gasped with excitement as the energy signals slowly rose.

In her excitement, she released a telepathic shout to Luminus. *He's waking up!!*

A half-second later, a sphere of white energy appeared in the room, and expanded until Luminus emerged. Once the light faded, he stepped toward the medical bed.

"Thank the gods," he sighed, standing opposite Spectra. They watched as the middle-aged Fespin slowly opened his solid black eyes. He blinked several times in confusion, before he suddenly shivered with realization.

"Where am I?" he demanded, waving his long arms in panic. Spectra and Luminus stepped back cautiously.

"You are in Lumina City," she said gently, "You are safe."

"Lumina City..." he repeated, "With the Council?"

Spectra leaned into his field of vision, and smiled. "Indeed. I am Councilmember Spectra, and this is High Father Luminus."

"We are most pleased to meet you, Archivist Pinhi Mactier."

Pinhi smiled weakly, rising to a sitting position. "What... day is it. What happened to Fesp?"

The calming smiles of Spectra and Luminus faded. "I'm afraid Fesp has been destroyed," Luminus revealed, gently yet directly, "Phaedra has declared it a member of the Empire, and has already begun constructing a palace. We believe she plans on leaving a magistrate, to plow all the remaining people into submission and drain the life of the planet while she continues to lead the expansion fleet."

Pinhi trembled slightly, swallowing hard. "My home..."

"I understand your distress," Spectra sympathized, "but now is not the time for grief. We need information on the Outskirts."

Pinhi's brow furrowed, as he forced his grieved thoughts from his consciousness. "The Outskirts? Why?"

"We have reason to believe Phaedra will attack the Outskirts as her next move," Luminus explained. "If she manages to create a powerful base there, then she can launch her armies from two fronts, surrounding us and further straining our defenses. We must do whatever possible to stop her."

"Yes... I did study the scrolls regarding the Outskirts," Pinhi admitted, "I do not recall very much, but of this I am certain: there is only one planet in that sector with any life at all."

Spectra's lips parted in surprise. "Only one... in that entire sector? How can that be?"

Pinhi shook his head. "It seems that life grew rather accidentally there. Recall that the further one strays from the center of the galaxy, the younger the star systems. In any event, the Outskirts are a veritable wasteland, with the exception of one planet in the Sol system."

"Does it harbor intelligent life?" Spectra inquired.

"One dominant species, called Human. They are very far from what I would call intelligent, though. They do have speech, and at our last update, which was nearly ten years ago, they did have very crude space travel. They only managed to visit their solitary moon, and with unmanned missions they explored some of the rest of their system."

"What do they have in terms of defenses?" Luminus asked.

"They are one of the most belligerent, self-destructive species I've seen! Their recent history is littered with wars, and they have tapped into the realm of nuclear energy, creating weapons. They have an arsenal capable of destroying their planet a hundred times over! Frankly, I don't think the Denebians need to waste their time. The Earthlings will destroy themselves."

Spectra frowned at the harsh comment, but it was easy to tell Pinhi was still disturbed over the loss of his extremely peaceful planet. "Nuclear energy? Then I assume they haven't uncovered the mystery of fusion."

"No, just fission, Councilmember."

She pursed her lips, as she began pacing alongside the bed. "Nuclear weaponry will be useless against the Denebians, even if they don't erect that Anti-Technology Field. If the bombs were used on the planet's surface, it would decimate Humanity. And it seems they don't have the technology to attack in space."

Luminus thought for a moment. "What is the name of the planet?"

"Earth."

"And is this 'Earth' near the star?"

"Indeed... it is the third planet from Sol."

"Then at least they receive enough daylight to hold back a full offensive. And, do you happen to recall how long it takes the Earth to revolve on its axis?"

"I believe... something akin to twenty-four hours."

Spectra smiled with a small measure of relief. "That would require Phaedra to decimate the forces of the darkened piece of Earth within a short span of time. But still... they are an Infant species."

"You say belligerent. Perhaps that can be used to our advantage. Humans are defensive?"

Pinhi practically scoffed. "As well as offensive

. They are extremely volatile beings, with powerful emotions. As far as strength goes, they have absolutely no magical ability. However, at our last examination there existed the possibility of the next stage of evolution, to create Parahumans with abilities beyond the others. But none have been confirmed to exist yet."

"Our best strategy is to create a team of these Earthlings, and furnish them with the White Stone."

Both Pinhi and Spectra recoiled at that recommendation.

"But Father..." Spectra stuttered, "they are an Infant species! We cannot give them that kind of power!"

"They are emotional and defensive," Luminus highlighted, "We presently know little about Earth, but Humans certainly would know more. Also, they are belligerent, making them adept at learning methods of war. They may not have developed higher technology or magical connections, but if given the proper tools and trained in their use, they may make excellent soldiers. After all, they would be fighting for their very lives, as well as those of their fellows. That is far better than fighting for another

species."

Spectra nodded slowly. "I volunteer to travel to Earth. I shall create a team of humans, and give them the White Stone fragments. With that magical power, they will defend Earth to their fullest extent."

Pinhi shook his head in amazement. "Well, if you do decide to go with Humans, you must find young ones. Humans only live about eighty years, and they reach their physical peak at age eighteen or so. They will be the most physically adept to the strain of using such powers. Also, they are the most open-minded subgroup, as they are in many cultures either participating in advanced education, or just starting their adult lives. They have less obligations as well."

"Thank you for the advice," Spectra stated, turning once again to Luminus, "I must make haste."

Luminus nodded. "Pinhi, can you program the navigation system of a Starglider 180 to pinpoint Earth from memory?"

In answer, he leapt off the bed with a spring of determination. "Easily, High Father. Thankfully, Fesp created a Hyperspace Portal in the Sol system, in the atmosphere of the largest planet. It should not take long to travel there, despite the long distance."

Spectra's expression hardened. "But Phaedra will know about the Portal too. Its existence is no doubt recorded in the record."

"Then let us waste no more time," Luminus decided.

Chapter Five

The Planet Fesp

The woman felt a rush of energy in her body, as she watched clouds of smoke billow from the engulfing flames into the sky.

The sun usually caused the atmosphere of this famed planet to light up in a glimmering lavender shade. However, the heavy smoke created a shield, blocking much of the sunlight from even reaching the steel-surfaced technological hub of the galaxy.

Sanguine lips stretched into a cold smile, slightly wrinkling her coal-gray skin and allowing razor sharp, ivory teeth to peak out from behind them. Blood red eyes stared through long ebony lashes, and absorbed the scene of destruction as if she could somehow gain nourishment from it.

She leaned casually against the tinted window of her new citadel, resting high on the planet, and