Page 2 of Infiltration

“You see.” Commander Nezlo, stood, encased in their protective exosuit. It sealed the Alneusian aquatic resident in seawater. A shadow was inside and outside, somehow present in both places.

“I do.” His peripheral vision seemed more detailed than when he peered directly at the strange dark shapes clinging to his visitors. He had an impression of scaled skin, studded by many eyes. “Do I address sentient creatures or controlled parasites?”

“Parasites!” a Beonid shouted as expressions of rage filled their myriad faces.

“A better word failed to come to mind. Obviously, you are intelligent entities. What is your reason for coming here? For summoning me?”

“He sees us. He isn’t phased, but he sees us.” Nezlo’s bulbous eyes, murky in the water he peered from, riveted on him. “It is not good.”

Mereta was suddenly aware of movement at his feet. He glanced down to spy a bulbous shadow sporting multiple tentacles climbing his robe. A dart of instinctive shock jolted his chest, and he attempted to brush the creature off. His hand passed through it without any sensation of contact. Nor did he feel it tugging on his robes.

“I take this as an act of hostility,” he advised them as he continued to try to push the climbing creature away, as it continued to climb to his abdomen, then his chest. “I shall resist—”

It scurried up and over his shoulder. Then darkness rose, deleting Mereta’s sight and hearing.

But not his consciousness. He was in that place he knew so well, an inner space where peaceful bliss reigned.

It would seem I’ve been overtaken physically.He detected a note of fear threading the darkness and contemplated it until it faded.

Death comes to us all, sooner or later. The creature has my body. A portion of my brain as well, if they use me as they do the others to communicate. Ah, poor Tulbayn, they did this to you also. I shall consider this unforeseen situation and determine if there’s anything I can do about it.

I am one with All.

The All hear you.A distant call. The collected atoms of the All’s greatness in the conference room felt the separation keenly. They strengthened their bonds with each other, and the call was louder.You have control over this Mereta.

I do. A hesitation.I…there is a portion of its mind closed to this mote of All.

A shudder ran through the assembled. Separation was an abomination.

It sees us yet doesn’t enter between dimensions.

Another of the parts asked,shall we perform tests to discover the source of the interloper’s ability?

There was a lengthy pause.The Mereta is of too much importance as our emissary. You can maintain control over it? It is in a position of great power, beyond the reach of its own source. The All requires it do as we command.

I have possession. Only the small section eludes me…but it doesn’t prohibit me from the knowledge this unit(another shudder)contains.

It is good. By controlling this unit, we have access to the many species of this dimension. We will learn of them. We will stop them. They’ll pay for their desecration of our home.

It is good. I’ll first learn of those leaders we must control in this collection of units. Then we may destroy them.

After we have them destroy Kalquor, the poison source infecting our realm. Then the rest, so our home remains pure.

Death to the invaders and those who’d invade after them. Death to those in this dimension.

Their will was strong. The All was coming, and it would erase the Separate beings when it arrived, after they’d ensured the Separates posed no threat. The knowledge bolstered those who’d come before the All despite their aloneness, to ready for the erasure of the lesser species.

* * * *

Kalquor, Royal House

As Nobek Yuder readied to disembark the shuttle that had carried him home, the Imdiko attendant who’d seen to his comfort during the spaceflight bowed deeply.

“Welcome home to Kalquor, Imperial Father.”

Yuder managed a tight smile despite the outward show of respect. Perhaps the young man meant it. “Thank you, Imdiko Biba.”

Biba pressed a button, and the hatch opened. A ramp descended. A moment later, Yuder did as well. After three years of living in a Galactic Council prison, his stay broken briefly to attend his Imdiko clanmate’s funeral two years prior, he was a free man and restored to Kalquor.

---