The Black

The tiles clicked on a dark hallway as it skittered through the halls of the Grand Unity building. It had no name. The inquisitorium had acquired it from its death row sentence. No choice was given to it as if portions of its brain were scooped out and replaced with compliance hardware... It was a face worse than death, as it was gone, yet doomed to roam the halls of power as little more than an automated courier. It used to be a Kri’klis’erklae an insect race from the earliest days of the Unity. It boasted six and like legs out of a curved thorax that served as both its legs foundations and a centaur like upper torso and foundation for its carpenter ant’s head. It has no arms as such. However, its front two legs had two small claws each that it used to manipulate its world around it.

The Kri’ ,as most just tended to call them, typically have a deep maroon color if they were healthy. This one’s carapace was a sickly black with hairline fractures creeping along its joints and ‘hip’ area of its thorax. Its abdomen was shriveled and gaunt, indicative of a Kri’ on the brink of starvation. The being would normally have stood proudly 1.5meters, but the normally rigid upper thorax stooped slightly as its weak exoskeletal walls were beginning to buckle from malnutrition. This courier drone would not last much longer. The wireless automaton reached the desired door and one of its forward legs touched the chime... the two massive doors opened. And it skittered through... it plugged a small data chip into the side of the desk leg it approached. No sooner had it done that, than a massive mechanical fist twice the size of a healthy Kri’ flattened the drone... there was surprisingly little in the way of spatter, as this drone was almost dead anyway and three quarters starved. The hand then swiped the carcass aside and the animatronic monstrosity straightened back up as it returned to its resting position on its seat. The face plate of the Golem of steel flickered occasionally as the information was digested internally. 20 ‘minutes’ went by until it moved one more. Reaching for a com console, a faint glow appeared from one finger as console buttons depressed on their own before the iron giant sat back once more. The com connected.

[unscheduled report, state business,] a very digital language barked out

[sector 65294 has resurfaced… contact confirmed... recommendation: summon Unity Tetrarcy] the golem rumbled it’s response like an avalanche speaking in binary.

[understood, grand inquisitor, expect response 2 ‘days’] the comm cut off.

The Metal Monstrosity checks its internal scanner scanners before uncharacteristically reaching up to its left temple and touched a panel. There was a hiss of a breaking seal as the entire face plate of the man of metal pivoted up and a pair of concerned beady eyes looked out. It leaned its engorged head back against its seat and slowly scratched its chin ‘so much for fairy tales’ it thought. Before a chime rang and the plate came back down on the Golem.

Time to go back to work.

Doc Icario stepped through the sliding door into the examination room to a warm, and very firm hug from his daughter.

“Oof, easy ‘little one’. Hello to you too.” he got out after she released him from a semi crushing embrace. Worry and anxiety creased her features as she sat back down on the bio bed. “I know. Let’s get started.” Icario said. Lyrian glared at him for a second, she had always been a bit more modest than your average Delmar. Getting a physical from her own father throughout her life had not helped. He struggled not to raise a surprised eyebrow as she disrobed tersely to her undergarments. She was still his slender daughter, but she rippled with new energy and power as the work she had put in so far made itself known under her skin.

She then did something very lyrian. She crawled up under the bio bed blanket and tossed the last two pieces of clothing out from under it before laying down fully on her back.

“Alright, let’s start with the scan” Icario said, tapping the controls in front of him.

He started with a deep detailed full body scan, followed by specialized scans for each of her bodies systems: nervous, endocrine, circulatory, pulmonary, ect. The individual scans took a total of an hour. Icario then handed her some hospital exercise clothes, left her to dress, went to set up the stationary running test on the ‘treadmill’ she met him and performed a standard distance based cardio test. How long can one go at a standardized speed. When Lyrian finally called it quits, the test had recorded a 18 km distance with very little in the way of strain, and a final failure distance of 25 km. ‘Gods, she is in better shape than most athletes.’ He returned her to her room to change and told her to meet him in his office for the final word.

A few minutes later she entered his office in her more normal clothes, breathing more normally than anyone, Delmar anyway, had any right to be after her run.

“So, what’s the word… Da?” She asked as he didnt immediately answer.

“Mac has done his homework; you are in the best shape of your life. He has you eating properly, so I’m not seeing signs of malnutrition. At this point you could probably flatten Tristen.” Icario said.

“So, I’m good to continue?” She asked carefully.

“Yes, I don’t want to admit it but yes.” He admitted, “Do you have any questions for me?” He looked up from his console and noticed the sudden change of attitude. She looked down at her lap for a long moment.

“Da’….” She halted for a moment, gathering herself, “I want to know if I can have children, with Mac” she said just above a whisper.

Icario took a deep breath. Children, in Delmar culture, were sacred to the point the large families were almost expected. Lyrian was the youngest of 3. 3 children were average in Delmar culture, with many choosing to have as many as 7 or 8.

“Has he asked?” Icario questioned very softly.

“Not in words. But I can feel him when he interacts with the little ones... He wants to be a father eventually. He's tried to hide it, but he is not as good at that as he thinks he is.” she gave a small smile to her father.

“And you?” Icario asked, quickly putting his hands up in mock surrender at the lethal incredulity of his daughter’s glare. “Ok ok, I should know better, but I had to ask, as your doctor” she almost believed him.

“Well,” he continued, “truly as your doctor this time I need both of your genetic material to do the analysis. You are Delmar, but I’ll need some … *cough* from him as well.” Icario was quickly becoming uncomfortable.

“I can help there too,” lyrian said, blushing brightly. She pulled a small called vial out of her pocket, “I think this will work.”

Icario accepted the vial, and slid it into a bag, trying desperately not to think too much about it. “I guess you always were a doctor’s daughter. I’ll start the tests ‘little one’. You will know when I do.”

“Thank you Da’.” Lyrian gave him a more traditional show of affection and turned to leave, “I’m meeting Frie for lunch, care to join?”

“I’m still not caught up from passage yet. Another time” he replied, “have fun”.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mac was packing up after the demonstration and science experiments at the temporary rifle range. The Delmar research scientists were taking one of the rifles and a magazine of ammunition to do some testing back at their lab. He was mostly alone, taking in the beach and this strange new world as he slowly packed up his crate. The wind had died down from its earlier ocean breeze and the various flying fauna had returned not that the environment was no longer being violated by the supersonic sounds of gunfire. Mac paused just before closing the crate and leaned against the table he was working at just to take in the view.

His memory wandered to being a child and young teen with his father and uncle on the water. The Mackenzie clan had kept a sailing yacht. Great Uncle Mackenzie had commissioned her in the style of the ancient pilot boats of Bristol Bay, but with modern materials. The boat was 150 years old the last time Mac had been aboard her, as beautiful as the day she was new. She spent many a season up and down the east coast. One summer mac had been pulled out of school 3 days early to sail the whole summer down to the Caribbean and back. He was 12 at the time. His reverie was interrupted by a tug on his pants. He looked down to see a young Delmar of about three or four.

“Are you an Alien” he asked. His tail was curled around his hand, and he was playing nervously with the tuft at the end. ‘Little man is trying to be brave’ It Melted Mac and he knelt to face the little boy.

“I guess I am, I’m human. I’m also Helyon. My wife is Delmar.” Mac said kindly, smiling gently and being careful to not spook the kid by keeping the gesture Delmar safe “I’m Mac, what’s your name little man.” He ask gently.

“Lario, Lario Tilkmar” the kid said, “my Ma is.. my Ma is…” Lario started to get exceedingly nervous as he realized his mother wasn’t where he thought she was.

“Hey hey hey, its ok. Did you guys come by aircar?” Mac asked, Lario nodded. “Hey, so did I, Let’s see if we can find her.” Mac said. Quickly closing the crate and putting it in the trunk of Vito. “Do you know where you walked from?” Lario pointed toward a small building complex near the treeline, some kind of Café.

“Alright little man, hop in the front. Let’s head over and see if we can find her.” mac said. The kid lit up at the idea of riding in the car, Mac rolled down the windows down and started Vito. Mac had a good laugh as he hovered about a half meter off the sand and headed towards the café… Lario was in the front seat having the time of his life trying to keep time with “LowRider-War” on the shuffle. They arrived at the café and Mac shut down again. Lario, being a typical 4-year-old, clambered over the seat to come out of the same door as Mac. He picked the little man up and put him on his shoulders, “Now you got the view, where’s your mom.”

Lario grabbed a fist full of Mac’s hair. It had grown a bit during the research station adventure, and he hadn’t cut it since. The started walking to the café entrance when he heard a frantic female voice. “lari!!!! Lari!!!” A Delmar woman came running out of the store next door wearing a simple tank top and skirt with sandals.

“MA! MA! I found an Alien!” Little Lari was bouncing on Mac’s shoulders now as Mac laughed and wandered over to the woman.

“I think I found someone you might know.” he said with a chuckle. Setting the excited little boy down into the arms of his mother’s arms.

“Lario Demitrius Tilkmar, did you go running off again!” She scolded the boy even as she hugged him tightly.

“Im sorry Ma’” Lari responded somberly.

She glared at her son in only the way a mother can, then turned to Mac, “Thank you, He loves the beach.” She sighed.

“I did too at his age, still do. I must admit, these beaches are pretty special.” Mac said.

“Mac let me fly in his car!!” Lari rally’d, “and he had music!!”

“He did, did he” she gave him a squeeze, “What do you say then?”

“Thank you, Mac!” Lari beamed, and Mac ruffled his hair.

“Stick closer to family little man, you got lucky this time.” Ma scolded gently, but his heart wasn’t in it. He looked at his mother, “I hope you have a better afternoon Ms...”

“Tairilir Tilkmar.” She said, “and Thank you.”

Mac waved to little Lari, then felt a tickle of amusement in the back of his mind. He turned to find Lyri standing with her hip against the half wall separating the walkway from the café seating. A strange wave of emotions hit him all at once from her. He decided to have a little fun and switched his gate. She bit her lip at him as he closed on her with utterly silent footsteps. he blew straight through her almost nonexistent public personal bubble, grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into him with a big kiss. Lyri stiffened just slightly in surprise, then melted into the lip lock, wrapping her arms around his neck. A snicker next to her brought them both back to reality as Frie just watched them.

“Oooh, steamy. Where do I get one.” she said and Lyri blushed. Mac just gave her a very human shit eating grin. That one threw her for a loop until he finally relented and closed his mouth for a less toothy version.

“Oh my, you two are intense.” she said as He joined them.

“Sorry,” Lyri responded as Mac stole a slice of tuber that was this planets version of a French fry and smiled.

“How’d it go with Doc?” he asked

“Clean bill of health, Da’ said I could probably fight Tristen and break him” She chuckled.

“Good, time to up the gravity then.” Mac said.

“Wait, what? What are you doing to my Lyrian.” came Frie’s worried voice?

“Mac is helping me get strong enough to visit his world” Lyri responded with a smile.

“Is that why you look like a Fary tale warrior?” Frie asked, clearly worried.

“We are taking it as it comes, not pushing her body too far to quickly, but yes. She is training to be able to survive my world’s gravity, and to survive Concord.” Mac responded this time, snagging another fry and dodging a playful swipe from Lyri. She gave him the barest flash of a fang, and Frie gasped a little at the show of aggression by her oldest friend and fellow flight college mate. Mac seemed completely unfazed and gave her a toothy grin then sat back in his chair and waved over a waiter.

“Delmar’s gravity is, like, second highest in the known galaxy” Fie said eyeing up Mac incredulously.

“I’m not from the known galaxy. Terra, my home, is 2.2 times Delmar’s Gravity” Mac said, before his pocket buzzed and he pulled out a small device that looked like a mini data pad, “Shit.” He said Darkly. Frie actually jumped a little, and Lyrian’s head snapped to him.

“What happened” Her tone was a blend of worry and seriousness.

“DDF found a spy satellite. It may have noticed our transmission. It definitely noticed the second Lighthouse. It had this emblem on it.” He leaned over and turned the screen to them.

“Fuck” Lyri Swore violently in English. Frie just stared at her friend. “That’s and Inquistorius satellite…” she said finally.

“Darclemus want to meet.” Mac said finally.

“Why? The Satellite?” Lyri asked. Mac shrugged as his food arrived,

“Let’s eat, we can go after. he didn’t give me a timeline. Just ‘this afternoon’” Mac said. Digging into his meal of chunks of grilled sea creature of some kind on a salad. He hadn’t asked for extra meat or protein. They compensated by cooking for themselves most days to correct their diet.

“So, what’s this I hear about you going back to school?” Lyri asked her friend to change the subject.

“Yea, I had fun being a shuttle pilot, but I want a Helm slot on a bigger ship. I’m finishing my Category certifications this year and to go out with the freighters as a Con certified.” Fie Explained. “I wanna get out there. I’ve spent so much time buzzing around at home.”

“Don’t be so sure, there are some wonderful advantages to staying at home.” Mac responded. Voice slightly pained.

“I say go for it! I was terrified to go. But I did, and I found him.” Lyri said. Giving Mac’s arm a squeeze.

“I guess I could say the same. I don’t think I end up here.” He smiled before stood up and tapped the console in the middle of the table, paying for the meal, “my treat for crashing the Girl’s date.” he said as they stood.

“Thanks, it was fun anyway. You’re good with kids” Frie said then gave Lyri a wink before they parted ways. Frie headed to the Tram station and Lyri followed Mac to where he had parked the Car.

20 minutes later they were setting down at The Hall and headed for Darclemus’ office.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

It was just after sundown on Termistrius Prime as 4 large metal bipedal monstrosities lumbered toward the Heart of Unity Politics. Ir’Cothal was the capital city of The Galactic Unity. Terminstrius Prime was an Eden world. It had one of the lowest gravity ratings in the entirety of known Unity space. History had swallowed the first race, most people believed it was a small of stature species called the Corth’Lithral, but they had not been seen in Millenia. The population of Ir’Corthal had been confined to their homes by Unity Decree Alert. The Tetrarcy was myth and Legend to most common Unity subjects. They had been called only 2 times in the last 1000 years. Many of the denizens of Ir’Cothal clamored at their windows to see the 30 ‘meter’ Metal beings as they lumbered, each towards one of the 4 massive doors built into the capital building in the city’s centre.

The ground shook as the 3 pillars of guidance and their champion marched into the capital building’s main tower as the doors closed behind them. Mystrius, Legaticar, and Aiericastum were the three of the Tetrarcy, the 4th metal being was their sword. The Head of the Inquisitorum, The Inquisitorius Maximar. Deep In the bowels of the monolith, the 4 men of Metal and fiber optic stood face to face, each ‘chin just cresting a pedal of a podium that stood between them. As one, all four faces hissed along the edges around the circumference of the front of their heads. Each face pivoted about a hinge located about where a human would have a hairline. Stares extended from the cavity at the chin, and 4 much smaller beings stepped out and trundled toward the center of the podium where chairs arose from the floor.

The Corth’Lithral were not quite as extinct as the greater galaxy would believe. In fact. There were exactly 4 of them left. Locked in Immortality and doomed to sterility. An enlarged head crowned a small lugubrious face punctuated with dead yet alert beady black irisless eyes. Their short legs pattered up to the seats as they held their longer arms bent at the elbow to prevent them from dragging their fingertips. These appendages were spindly. Indeed, they struggled to support the being’s weight even in one tenth of Terra’s gravity. Each being had no gender identifiers to speak of, even though three of them would have been female under DNA examination.

Each wore the same expression, the same slick transluscent skin that boardered on the edge of a greyish blue of an overcast day on the Moor’s of the British Isles.

There was no pretense, no fanfare, no pomp and circumstance. Straight to business

“Inquisitorious, you called us. We have seen the information parcels. Do we have confirmation through other means.” It was Mystrius the overall leader of the last of a dead race, and manipulators of Unity.

“Do I have DNA confirmation, No Mystrius. However, I have this. The Inquisitorius Maximar waved a hand over the hologram that appeared before him, flinging into the center of the room a picture of Concord, taken during her encounter with Convergent Dawn. The head investigator of Unity focused on the side of the predatory craft to the logo on the side of the ship.

“They appear to have kept their archaic propensity for imagery. We have records of this organization from before the cataclysm.” The inquisitorius finished his adjustments to reveal a clear picture of a pair of flags. One was of a world surrounded by a pair of golden fauna. The second was of a red and whit background with a blue square in the upper left corner filled with stylized celestial bodies.

Legaticar spoke next, “So the Archive seeding was successful, despite the inhospitability of the chosen soil.” He always had slightly more flourish in speech than the others. “Does that mean…”

“It is too early” Aiericastum cut him off, “we must not fall to desperation, not again. For now, we watch, we wait. We do nothing. Should we deem it safe, we will act. Considering the capabilities of that one craft, we would have to reveal ourselves in such a way we cannot afford to bring enough forces to bare to be certain of victory. Legaticar, I will pull the Thermians off the scent and away from Confederation borders. We need the Legal system to make some... convenient rulings quickly.” He finished with a slight nod. Mystrius nodded as well, followed by Legaticar.

“It is done.” Mystrius stated, unceremoniously closing the greatest hall of power in this part of the galaxy. Each being trundled back to their Golems.

‘Humanity survived; there may yet be a path.’ Thought Aiericastum, ‘there is much work to do’.