Gateways, Aer-ki Jyr [sci fi books to read .TXT] 📗

I prefer if they were able to protect themselves, but you’re not wrong on the large scale. However, there are smaller scale threats to Megaloids.

Not here. Though I have constructed several larger versions of defenders to watch over them. They are still in cocoon, but when they emerge they will be able to move as your ship does and carry one of your Uriti weapons, in small scale.

Oh? I thought you didn’t want to build any such things?

I may have knowledge of eons past, but I am still new to being a Jedein. I have seen your wisdom and am adjusting to our new place in the stars. In the cold, here, such weapons will be effective. So it is an adequate use of them, and my defenders can be where I cannot.

Are they full-sized Uriti?

They are not Uriti. I merely learned to replicate their weaponry, and have refined it to my purposes. When they are complete you may verify their effectiveness and temperament before allowing them to travel.

What’s the other large presence I am sensing here?

It is the reason I have summoned you. I have discovered a native to this nebula. It has been here for a very long time, hurting, damaged, and I am slowly healing it as my wards supply necessary building blocks. It is what we call a ‘Nightcrawler,’ for it is one of many races that originate in the dark places beyond galaxies.

Amir raised his eyebrows as he stared out the main viewscreen at the side of the glowing Jedein partially obscured by the nebula haze. I thought they couldn’t exist here?

Most cannot, but there are intermediary creatures that cannot stand the stars themselves, but hide in the dim places such as nebula. They exude almost no energy, but the small amount they do is toxic to those who can only live in the dark places. The Nightcrawlers must exist between the two realms, and have no place to call home. They are being purged where this one came from, and it is afraid of me. It has not seen another not of its kind that was not an enemy for a very long time.

How can you interact with it without damaging it?

Carefully. I must suppress my emissions to get close, but its structure is more like ours than the dark ones. I am learning its genetic song, enough to begin healing it. There is much unknown to me, but they are in great need. Have you seen others of their kind?

Not to my knowledge. How did it get here?

It has a way of moving unknown to me, but it is very slow acceleration in areas where we cannot go. It searched for sufficient darkness to hide in, and traveled near many stars…too many, before finding this place. It is badly damaged from the journey, but also from the purge.

The purge occurred beyond the galaxies?

It did. I cannot leave it now. I apologize for reneging on previous agreements.

I understand and agree, Amir said before he could go on. This takes priority.

I can also attend to the Hadarak in all their forms if you bring them here, but healing this one and learning its ways will take longer than the war.

But you know of others?

In legend only. I have no hard knowledge of their construction. When I understand more I wish to send scouts to other dark places in this galaxy. If more are hiding and injured, they need to be found and reconciled. They exist in groups, and being alone is as painful as its injuries.

Can you determine a basic entry vector for us to look?

Not you. Your sensors will sting it. I will crafted searchers when the time comes. But I need your permission for them to travel where they need to go. It will not be on your planets or in the bright areas. It will be in the darker ones.

You have my permission, but make us aware of them so we may escort them as needed. Can I speak with this Nightcrawler?

It does not know your language.

Neither did the Uriti when we found them. I’d like to get a sense of what it is, and allow it to know that I am not an enemy.

Then I will offer myself as a bridge. Prepare yourself.

Amir took a deep breath, knowing the level of telepathy that was coming would be intense. I am ready.

The Jedein tried to soften the blow, but there was only so much dampening one could do when interfacing with a mind that large, and it hit Amir like a freight train. Fortunately he had experience with this in the past, and he took the blows as he tried to adjust the alien mind that appeared much more fluid than expected.

He could feel the Jedein trying to adjust both sides of the telepathy towards its own, and as it started to succeed he felt a complete shift in the Nightcrawler, almost as if it changed from one frightened mindset into another totally opposite in personality.

Amir also felt it move, with its glowing Core accelerating towards his small ship and the Jedein, coming from the far side and pushing through nebula gasses and even the converted minions that were in its way. The Jedein twisted, warning it off as it defensively put its tendrils around Amir’s ship and pulled it in closer so it could not be attacked.

The Nightcrawler did not seem to care, and as Amir felt the Jedein speaking to it, he also felt an Essence surge charging to defend the Star Force ship if needed.

The telepathic bridge between them was cut…then the Nightcrawler connected directly to the scout ship’s entire crew, almost rendering him unconscious from the weight of it as the rest of his crew did pass out.