The shadow had been listening ever since the Cordice had rescued the first pair of humans following the destruction of the refugee fleet. The Cordice home ship was the shadow’s assignment. One by one it damaged their fail-safes and spoiled their soil and watched with satisfaction as the last of their colonies shriveled.
Its labors took years but it was patient. Its kind were masters at avoiding detection. But the shadow hadn’t managed its final act—the destruction of the simulation.
They believed they could hide from their fate among the dancing electrons within their computer banks. Fools. The shadow had infiltrated the rings but could go no further. The Cordice ship possessed security measures which proved unbeatable without the shadow showing its hand.
The Cordice couldn’t be allowed to warn their fellow survivors.
But along with the rescue of the humans came new opportunities.
The translator had been oblivious to the shadow’s presence ever since it decided to board her ship following her rendezvous with the Cordice. She had communication with other survivors and they were gathered at a place they called the Framework.
This concerned the shadow.
Even with the knowledge that more of its kind must have gained access to the Framework, the notion that the survivors might unite around the harvester’s potential meant it needed to act swiftly. The Cordice had recovered their advanced multipurpose construction vessel from one of their remote factories. The ship was versatile and powerful and would allow the Cordice to repair their home ship. With their cooperation, the others marooned within the human solar system could also accelerate their repairs.
They would hide. They would flee.
But then the shadow learned through the Dragoman that a minority believed that war with the “enemy” was a possibility. The Melded had initially been a lone voice among the refugees in their forlorn purpose.
The shadow took delight in this and could only hope to encourage such notions.
It had work to do. Observe. Disrupt. Inflame divisions. All in its duty to those who had demonstrated their superiority over its kind and to every other sentient who dared take to the stars.
The mothers and fathers of forbidden suns. The lords beyond. Those who waited. Those who watched from beyond the Wall.
The shadow loved them.
Its brood had performed adequately, destroying the primary fleet and giving their lives as a sacrifice to their masters.
It needed to gain access to the Framework so it could share what it had learned with any others of its kind. But for the moment it was curious what more it might discover about these humans as they journeyed to their home planet. Exploring the harvester proved a challenge. The door to the hallway was locked.
If it triggered the opening sensor, the shadow’s presence might be detected by the pilot. Unlike the conduits on the Cordice home ship, the harvester had no easy shortcuts.
But the pilot had provided Barrett with a toilet and a sink. The first connected to a waste reclamation system, the second to a water cistern. It followed the flow of fresh water. From the cistern the shadow wound its way to the catalyzer and sensors, which no doubt ensured the water’s consistency and potability for the human passengers.
The shadow re-formed in a small space below the floor of the ring. From there it could access the rest of the ship not under lockdown. It slipped through an accommodating hatchway and glided down the hall. Found the control room. Pondered why, if the ship was under remote operations, the human pilot bothered with rendering tactile instrument panels. But it wasn’t the pilot’s limitations that interested the shadow, but her strengths.
Although the pilot remained on board the Dragoman shuttle, the shadow understood that the second human passenger was the pilot’s sibling.
It found Jenna Vincent in the Cordice hospital bed asleep. It took a moment to examine her. Frail, like Barrett. A life easily snuffed. But the shadow had learned she had access to the harvester’s encryption. Her body, like that of the operator currently in control, was the key.
If the human Carmen Vincent was to be believed, the harvester would be returned to the Cordice once the passengers were brought back to their world. The shadow understood it had made the correct choice in coming aboard. It would gain a better understanding of the earthlings. While the scans of the planet revealed a culture with only a toehold in space, this could change quickly. The captured harvester might jump-start their own quest for the stars.
Troubling.
The others of its dark brood would need to learn everything about this world. The ones beyond the Wall had to be told. The shadow paused to apologize for the thought that they required anything from an insignificant creature like itself.
The shadow retreated to the far side of the room where Jenna Vincent slept. There it would wait, watch, and learn. Once it had taken in enough information, it would act.
If the harvester remained on Earth it would be destroyed. If Carmen Vincent recalled it and was true to her word and delivered it to the Framework, then the shadow would need to return there. Either way, the brood had a growing list of targets for eradication.
It would remain with Jenna Vincent for the moment until it knew the best course to take.
And as for the harvester pilot?
Carmen Vincent was bound for the Framework.
And while she remained out of reach of the shadow, it could count on its brood, who would do their duty. For once the harvester was no longer in the equation, the
