The distance traveled was a short one, as space journeys went. But in crossing it, they created murderous bedlam.
Below lay a roiling cauldron of fire and confusion, as millions of vast spacecraft fought desperately for survival. Already disordered by chaos waves, all the prim spiral traffic lanes were now completely unraveled, curling and splitting into myriad turbulent eddies. Engine resonances intersected and interfered, creating mutual-attraction fields, yanking vessels suddenly toward each other. When one giant ark veered to avoid a neighbor, that brought yet another hurtling toward explosive impact.
Eruptions seemed to coruscate up and down the densely packed funnel, converting what had formerly been sentient matter into white plasma flame.
As if intending to make matters worse, each of the titanic needles also lashed out during its brief voyage, using beams of fierce brightness to seize several dozen spacecraft, chosen apparently at random, dragging them like calves at the end of a lariat.
Among the unchosen, those who brushed accidentally against the tendrils were instantly vaporized.
Why? Lark asked, appalled by the sight. Why did they do it?
He was counting on Ling for an explanation, since she had once been a starfarer and had spent more time exploring the Transcendents’ Data Mesh. But on this occasion she was equally astonished and aghast.
I … cannot begin to guess.… Unless they already had their quota of candidates, and decided that any more would be superfluous.… Or else maybe the chaos waves are getting too strong, and they had to give up trying to send more nominees through to the next level.
He shook his head, dislodging one of the symbionts that had taken residence there recently, devouring his last hair follicles.
But that doesn’t explain the callous disregard for life! Those are sapient beings down there! Quadrillions of them! Every one was a member of some ancient race that had studied and improved itself diligently for ages just to get here.…
Ling took his arm and stroked it, pressing herself against him for the warm comfort it provided them both.
Even so, Lark, they were still like animals, compared to the Transcendents. Expendable. Especially if their destruction might serve a higher purpose.
He blinked several times.
Higher purpose? What purpose could possibly justify—
He cut off as a new presence began making itself known, groping toward them across the mental byways of the mesh. Soon, Lark recognized a familiar presence — one that had formerly been his teacher … then an enemy … and was now simply a friend.
“X,” the modified traeki, had been doing some independent exploration, and now wanted to report its findings.
The Jophur have despaired of ever returning to their clan, or accomplishing their mission. Moreover, they realize they have very little time. Soon, the macroentity that we now are part of — what you call “Mother”—will complete its conquest of the Polkjhy by breaking into the engineering section, where the former crew have made their last redoubt. When that happens, they will cease to be Jophur — at least by their own narrow definition.
Before that happens, they have decided to embark on a dramatic and conclusive course of action. A final act of vengeance.
Lark cast his mind outward, visualizing the once mighty battleship and its surroundings. Whether by luck or by dauntless piloting skill, Polkjhy had apparently succeeded in escaping the candidates’ swarm. Only tattered outskirts of the whirling disk lay between them and deep space — a starry night sky that rippled, every now and then, with shivering waves of chaos. The prospect of flight beckoned, now that a getaway path seemed clear. But Polkjhy’s remaining crew members knew it could never be. Mother would absorb them into the new hybrid existence, long before they reached the first transfer point. Assuming the t-point was still usable.
Engine noises rumbled through the liquid environment, carrying notes of deep resolve. Lark sensed Polkjhy’s trajectory — and realized it was aimed almost straight toward one of the gleaming needle-gateways!
Throughout all this struggle and confusion, the Jophur have kept tenaciously — even single-mindedly — to their original purpose. They never lost track of the Earthling ship.
It lies dead ahead, ensnared by the Transcendents in a webbery of light.
Casting his viewpoint outward, Lark verified that each great needle was now surrounded by clusters of captive starcraft, wrapping them in layer after layer of lambent windings. No reason or purpose for this strange activity could be learned by sifting the mesh, but soon Lark noticed that a faint resonance seemed to echo from one of the confined vessels.
Something familiar.
Ling joined his efforts and together they focused closer, until something clicked and the circuits abruptly filled with jagged sonic patterns.
A human voice, somber but grimly determined.
“… we repeat. This is not a destiny of our choosing. We are not legitimate members of the candidate swarm. Nor are we part of the retired life order. We have no business in the Embrace of Tides, nor do we wish to experience any form of transcendence at this time.
“Duty calls us back to Galaxy Two. Please let us go! We humbly request that you let us flee this doomed place, while there is still time.
“Again, we repeat. This is not a destiny of our choosing.…”
Lark felt the traeki’s mental touch, sharing thoughts that seemed to slither, like smooth rivulets of dripping wax.
How interesting. Apparently the Terrans have been selected to perform some honored task. Some chore or service deemed worthwhile by the highest overminds. Yet, they petition to escape this distinction, resuming their forlorn plight in a world of danger and sorrows!
Meanwhile, the remaining Jophur send Polkjhy charging ahead with hut one thought in mind — to deny the Earthlings any taste of a transcendence they have not earned!
A confrontation looms. One that should prove interesting to observe.
Lark appreciated the traeki’s sense of detachment, even though the most likely outcome was for Polkjhy to be swatted aside — vaporized — like some irritating gnat, by powers unimaginably more powerful.
He considered ways to avoid this undesired end.
I wonder if it might be possible for us to communicate with Streaker, via the mesh.
Ling nodded.
I don’t see why not. If only for a few moments.
Their traeki friend also agreed.
I/we have our/my own reasons to wish this. Let us work together, and strive to achieve that connection.
Harry
WHEN ONE OF THE BIG SOUTH POLE GALLERIES suddenly collapsed — blowing several thousand gasping tenants into deadly vacuum — the high officials in dominion over Kazzkark finally gave in to the inevitable. They issued the long-awaited directive.
Evacuate!
“My research — sifting through the oldest, most ambiguity-protected archives in the Great Library — indicates
