Olde Phoenix Inn

USS California: Turtles, Crabs, and Pirates.


"Religion makes people do weird things," Xajja thought to himself.

He was a pirate, a mercenary, and would take a shot at anything that would turn over enough latinum to keep his ship flying. Today he was escorting religious nuts.

The Tabooists looked like humanoid turtles. They were natives of an obscure world in the Far Sector, across known space from the current location. One small planet didn't amount to much in the big game of galactic politics. But on the scale of normal people, they could generate a lot of money. The Tabooists spent their money pursuing their religious mission.

The notion of believing in invisible powerful gods that could do things for you struck Xajja as stupid. Life among the pirates taught a harsh, brutal lesson in pragmatism and cynicism. You could only trust money that was in your hand. You could only trust weapons you'd checked over yourself. Building a trustworthy crew took time and a jaundiced eye.

Xajja heard stories of starships encountering advanced beings and ancient gods. He wrote these off as hallucinations, space madness, and cover stories for more mundane forms of evil.

But the Tabooist latinum spent like anyone else’s.

"I'd like to speak with you in private," Captain Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click said.

"Sure," Xajja was pretty sure he knew what was coming.

They squeezed into Xajja's small office. The Orion Light Raider's name translated roughly to "Vampiric Rabbit" and was a sort of a joke. It was not built for the Crabs.

"What can I help you with?" Xajja asked. He carefully kept his tone neutral. The Anrandites were allies of the Orions. Xajja didn't like them. The Anrandites felt little motivation to abide by humanoid social niceties.

"It would behoove us to coordinate on our plans to betray and rob the Tabooists," The Anrandite said.

"I have no such plans," Xajja lied smoothly.

"I find this hard to believe. If the Tabooists are willing to spend this much latinum to recover this artifact it must be very valuable indeed."

"That's the point. If they're willing to spend this much now, they'll be willing to spend more the next time. We benefit more by maintaining a good relationship," Xajja said directly. It was an argument he'd made to himself.

"I am dubious that a long-term relationship with these Tabooists will benefit us more than robbing them immediately," Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click said.

Xajja said "We don't even know what the object of their search is. Let's find out and then plan accordingly."

"I fear you surrender too much initiative that way."

"And you're making too big a bet on cards you can't see."

Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click rubbed his large claws together thoughtfully for a moment "Agreed. An improvised betrayal is much more risky, but the Tabooists do not seem to have much tactical talent."

"Okay. Until we know what they're talking about, we play it straight." Xajja said.

Xajja and Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click exited the office. Ahmed Doulain, Xajja's XO looked at him with a question on his face.

"Business as usual," Xajja said.

"Business as usual," Doulain replied.

-*-

Brother Korralla, the leader of the Tabooist expedition read the encrypted message. It used high-end Ferengi encryption. It was new stuff. Xajja could not have broken it.

"The Federation has become aware of our prospect. They will send a ship along to scan it."

The Tabooists looked at each other downcast.

"You're not paying me enough to fight the Federation," Xajja said.

"Under no circumstances should you fight the Federation," Korralla said "This was never our intent. We understand if you wish to be elsewhere ahead of their arrival. I would ask that you give us as much time as possible until you're forced to flee."

Xajja nodded "We can do that. Do you know when they're due?"

"I do not."

Xajja nodded.

"I have an idea," Brother Gorollema said.

"What is it?" Korralla asked

"Perhaps I can engage with the Starfleet ship socially. Request a delay to allow us to scout our prospect."

"This is unlikely to succeed. The Ane are involved."

That deflated the Tabooists even more.

"Even so. The attempt has the following benefits. We will get a better idea of the timing of the Federation ship's arrival. It is unlikely they will ignore me. Proposing to resolve a problem via talk and earnest compromise plays to their preferences. I believe they will hear me out before declining to hold back. I can get us a few more minutes."

Korralla looked at Xajja "Are any of your ships in a position to engage with a Starfleet ship socially and not be arrested?"

Xajja nodded. As a gambit it had low risks. "Let me contact the Turquoise Bow and ask if they'd be willing to try this."

-*-

"They want to TALK to a Starfleet ship?" Captain Annara asked. She rubbed her chin, "They do love to talk, don't they."

"Do this one for me, and I'll preserve your cut. I'll owe you one."

Annara looked carefully at Xajja. He could see her wheels turning. The mission was already shot. All they were getting was the Tabooists pay. Which was adequate for playing star taxi.

"Alright, we'll go talk to the Federations. See how much time we can buy you. “

-*-

USS California, En route to the Sword Worlds, near the Barton-Jackson Sector

Haley Anderson played the piano. Her fingers flew over the keys, calling out Chopin’s Rondo a la Mazur.

Haley made minor mistakes, and they sounded to her like she’d dropped an anvil into the piano, but she kept going. As she went her shoulders and arms loosened up some and the rhythm came back to her.

She was out of practice and, to her, it showed.

Her goal was to lose herself in the flow of the music, to play the piece without thinking the piece.

After one too many errors, she gave up and just played through. The act of giving up on perfection, and surrendering to the moment made her playing better, but Haley didn’t hear that. She was thinking about returning to practicing her classic piano. Making a plan.

“Elmazelan to Captain,” The Aneilog’s voice came out of the air just over the sheet music.

Haley stopped playing. “Go ahead.”

“I have new orders from Admiral Taraban. The details are on their way via subspace. But he gave me the basics.”

“What’s going on?”

“We’re to head for a star system near the edge of Bendarri territory and search the inner system.”

“What are we looking for?”

“A potential Rishan artifact.”

“This justifies delaying our current mission?”

“Oh. You don’t know about the Rishans. I’ll brief you, Captain.”

“Okay. I’ll grab something to eat and then meet you in the Conference room.”

“Acknowledged, Captain. Elmazelan out.”

“Haley out.”

Blinking at the sheet music, Haley started over again. She was better this time but made errors that frustrated her.

Then having played the piece through, Haley stood up from the piano “Computer, end program.”

The piano and sheet music disappeared. Haley Anderson walked out of the Holodeck. Someday, she’d recover enough of her form to feel comfortable playing in front of people again.

-*-

Elmazelan was briefing the Command crew of the USS California

**The Rishans were a race active in the Galaxy between 100 and 30 thousand years ago. They wielded technology we don’t even begin to understand. They did stuff that looks like magic. They were careless, stupid, and destructive. Our long-term studies of records from the time, memories of Ane who were present, and material we’ve discovered since suggest they were so self-absorbed and self-obsessed that their actions and motives appeared random or even contradictory to outside observers.

They just couldn’t be bothered to explain themselves to anyone else.

They had a core territory - The ten thousand light-year pole. Some suggest they adopted this as a joke, but we’ve discovered no evidence one way or the other.**

The screen showed a map with a gently curved cylinder of space marked.

**They committed a terrible terrible crime against the Ane,** Elmazelan held up her hand. **I’m not supposed to look like this.**

The screen showed an Ane and an Aneilog, together.

“What?” Haley asked, “What did they do?”

**The most terrible device the Rishans ever made was the Race Maker. It could take life forms and remodel them in real time. Sculpt them like clay. The Rishans looked at my Ane ancestors and decided that since they weren’t shaped like Rishans, this was a problem. So they used a Race-Maker on the planet now known as Oz. Almost instant genetic engineering on us.**

Zymu, the Trill Science officer gasped and Dr Vitaniemi looked sick.

**Because of the nature of The All every Ane everywhere felt this happening. An entire species was tortured at once. Most of the Ane changed by the race maker died. About ninety percent of the Ane on Oz perished in horrifying agony.

This event is still one of the most traumatic things that ever happened to the Ane and one of the few events that involved every Ane alive at the time.**

**The survivors were us. Smaller, bipedal, with hands, without our teleportation.**

“So, Admiral Taraban suspects there might be Rishans in the target system?” Sian asked.

**No. The Rishans are long gone. But they left things behind. A Race Maker, it might have been the same one, that created a species called the Kliges’chee. They rampaged across a huge chunk of known space wreaking destruction and using the Race Maker.**

**There was also ZTA-1. A living planet. It broke orbit and chased a starship.**

“How big was this planet?” Liana Purdue the Chief Engineer asked.

**About the size of Earth.**

Everyone stared at her.

**The artifacts the Rishans left are stupidly dangerous. But we now have an ace up our sleeves. Federation sensors make Rishan Artifacts shut off. We don’t know why. But the effect is consistent. An active scan by a Federation ship shuts anything Rishan right down.**

“We don’t know why?” Captain Anderson asked

**We suspect interference from a being on a higher plane, but the evidence is scant. We’re working on narrowing this down.**

“So…” Sian said

**Word reached Admiral Taraban of a Rishan Artifact. He asked the nearest Federation Starship to go investigate and scan it. That’s us.**

“Alright, highlight what we know about the Rishans in the Archives, please. We’ll set course to BCS-54678-A and scan the hell out of it.” Haley said.

“What did these Rishans look like?” Zymu asked, “What do we know of their physiology?”

**At a certain point, they gained the ability to build custom bodies and switch them like we switch clothes. Towards the end of their reign of terror, they could change shape at will. But older Rishan artifacts and records show us what they looked like to start. They considered this their default form for their whole history.**

The screen showed an image of a hologram. A smiling blond-haired human man and woman reaching for the stars.

“They look… human,” Dr Vitaniemi said.

**Yes. Physically their default form is the same as the human. But their brains were never the same. They use telepathic interfaces on their devices, and prolonged contact with a Rishan artifact is almost guaranteed to drive most people insane.**

“Really? Dr. Vitaniemi asked.

**Yes, the Rishan devices seem to try to force minds into a Rishan mold. The results are not pretty.**

“Let’s get started. We can try to catch up with this as we go.” Anderson said.

The USS California changed course and drove towards the solar system marked BCS-54678-A.

-*-

Pirates of various species, Anrandite crabs and the Tabooists worked their way together through the maze

The trip into the middle of the maze was fun and difficult. The object was stored in a three-dimensional maze. It was filled with clever traps and distractions.

The problem is it was meant to be accessed, and the treasure at the center was meant to be taken and used by the maze owner. And that meant there had to be at least one non-fatal route through.

There were injured and dead. The pirates, the crabs, and the Tabboists paid for entry with blood.

Xajja breathed deeply. The challenge of cracking the thing was a rush. He'd been taking notes. The holo deck simulation of this alone would bring in Latinum for years.

They proceeded further into the ancient maze.

-*-

The small Orion ship hailed the USS California. “This is Brother Gorollema of the Tabooists. I request that you stop and communicate with me.”

“On screen,” Haley Anderson said

The screen showed the bridge of an Orion Light Raider type. The crew was a mix of Orions, Sword World folks and what looked like giant crabs.

The being speaking looked like a sad humanoid turtle “Greetings, Federation Starship. I am Brother Gorollema. I humbly request your mercy and forbearance. Please stop and talk with me.”

“This is Haley Anderson of the USS California. Brother Gorollema, we are on a mission.”

“I understand this. If you proceed, you will bring injury to myself and my siblings.”

“All stop,” Haley said. “Brother Gorollema, how will our mission injure you?”

“Would you be willing to speak with me in person?”

Haley considered it “I’ll give you an hour.”

“Bless you,”

The channel closed.

Haley turned to Elmazelan “Do you know this guy?”

Elmazelan felt angry **Not personally. The Tabooists are the turtle guys. They were created by the Rishan People Maker to safeguard Rishan artifacts left over when the Rishans left. They were created with an urge to find and safeguard Rishan artifacts. But not warp drives. They left those people with rocks and stones and an urge they could never fulfill staring at the night sky.**

“Did they beat us to the Rishan Artifact?”

**Does it matter? We have to shut it down.**

“There’s a lot I’m not getting here. I want to hear the guy out before we proceed.”

**And if they try to prevent us?**

Haley scoffed at the main screen “That little ship wouldn’t last five minutes. I seriously doubt there’ll be any shooting involved.”

-*-

Brother Gorollema, an Orion man, and one of the Crabs materialized in the transporter.

“Thank you for agreeing to hear me,” Brother Gollorema said “These are Bymura and Joe.”

“Please to meet you, Gentlemen,” Haley said “Welcome to the USS California.”

Bymura said “Thank you for not greeting us with suspicion and armed weapons, Captain. It’s nice to get a civilized greeting from Starfleet for once.”

Haley said “I think we all have things well in hand. There’s no reason for tensions right now. Please come this way, and we’ll hear your case.”

Brother Gollorema said “I would prefer to speak to you alone, Captain. Bymura and Joe are salvagers and scavengers. Businessmen. They are present for latinum and business opportunities. They are too practically minded to take my spiritual concerns seriously.”

Haley looked from Bymura, the Orion to Joe the Crab “Really?”

Bymura shrugged and grinned “I just wanted to look around, really. Joe here wants to see if he can scare up business or contacts.”

Joe’s voice was a commercial voder, mellifluous and generic “My government will pay almost to the point of excess for accurate and fresh information.”

Haley blinked “Really.”

Bymura shook his head ruefully “These Anrandites are not the most subtle guys you’ll ever meet, but their latinum spends, once you get it.”

“Your humanoid notions of social conventions are complex and mysterious to me. Sometimes a brazen, open approach can yield unexpected results,” Joe said.

“I think I know just the person to introduce you to,” Haley said “Sian, I think Leeta would enjoy getting to know Joe.”

Sian, the Bolian XO of the California grinned “Yeah, I think so.”

“Gentlemen, please accompany Commander Irohthloh while I hear Brother Gollorema out.”

-*-

Elmazelan insisted on listening to Gollorema’s statement, as well.

“You proceed, in concert with the Ane, to seek out and neutralize the Rishan artifact in the system ahead,” Brother Gollorema said.

“Correct,”

“I am here to plead for a delay.”

“Why?”

Brother Gollorema steepled his hands together “My kind were born to seek out the relics of our creators. Finding one in working condition is akin to finding a letter from God. Generations of seeking, and we finally find what we crave. A window into the minds of our creators.”

**Rishan artifacts are dangerous. To your people as well as any other,** Elmazelan said sharply.

“Oh, indeed. The Rishans were quite mad. My siblings and I may well lose our sanity. We consider this a worthy effort regardless.”

Elmazelan said **Other people might get hurt.**

“With you nearby, I feel that any effect that got out of hand could be immediately suppressed. I simply ask you to wait until we commune with our creators in the only way we can.”

**We are upset with you Gollorema. Your people have gone behind our backs to seek this.**

“Of course we have. With your sensors neutralizing Rishan artifacts, it’s like discovering the ashes of a newly burned book of the bible, a book no one got to read before it was gone.”

**The Rishans are not worthy of such reverence. They were cruel and stupid.**

“Tabooists have debated this. Of course, the Rishans are terrible Gods. It may well be that we are in a terrible universe and they merely reflect the careless randomness of a universe that doesn’t even know or care that we’re here.”

**Why do you seek them out?**

“Because we are their children. We want to understand them. We want to know, for certain, just what was going on in their heads when they made us and left.”

**Nihilistic nonsense.**

“You enjoy a pretty Creator privilege. We noted, with some joy when your creator appeared to you a few years ago. It seemed like a lovely experience. It must be nice to have a Creator who’s not cruel and insane.”

**It is. Our creator is far better than the Rishans.**

“No doubt. But don’t you want to know your creator? To see what he sees? To understand his point of view? His point of view is embodied in you. You are, how your creator sees existence.”

“Wait, what, really? The God of the Ane actually showed up?” Haley asked.

“Oh, Yes. The scans of the Celestial Temple are lovely. I recommend them,” Gollorema said.

Haley squinted at Elmazelan. “Why didn’t the Creator undo the damage the People Maker did?”

Elmazelan glared at Haley but didn’t answer.

“I don’t understand any of this,” Haley said.

**You’re from a culture that has deliberately left your old religions behind. In discarding the old mostly fictional stories of creator gods you’ve separated yourselves from the notion of higher beings.**

“Mostly fictional?”

**Mostly.**

“So what’s the harm of letting these…. Tabooists commune with the Rishan artifact for a little bit before we go in and shut it down?”

**Do you really want to know?**

-*-

Bymura approached Grizishiri, the Green Orion Science officer “So it’s true? They’re letting Greens serve on Starfleet ships now?”

Grizishiri raised her eyebrow at the Orion visitor “Shhhh. Don’t give me away.”

“Full equality and everything?”

“Does that bother you?”

“Ummmm, I’m not sure, really.”

“Well, have a seat Space Cowboy. I’ll give you one answer for each one you give me.”

“Do they have Dr Pepper on this ship?”

-*-

“What do you want,” Leeta asked Joe

“Money. Power. Mates. What do you want?”

“I’m partial to knowing things,” Leeta said. Idly she considered changing her holographic representation to a sexy lady crab. While amusing it was too great a risk of giving offense, for now.

“Information is power. Why would I give you any power?”

“I suppose we could work out an exchange of information,” Leeta said.

“Hmmmm. Agreed.” Joe said.

“How do you find yourself out here?”

“My People are in alliance with the Orions to build ships and gain technology. We must advance our capabilities to compete on the galactic stage. What is the main weakness of this ship?”

Leeta considered it “Over any long term campaign, she’d use herself up too quickly. She needs a lot of logistical support. This type is not considered a successful experiment. So the ship we’re near belongs to your people?”

“Yes. We are called the Anrandites in your languages. My ship is an independent ship that seeks profit and advancement in non-linear ways. How many ships of this kind does the Federation have?”

“We have two of these Arbiter class ships. What is your mission?”

“The Tabooists, strange and fearful mix of humanoid and shell that they are, said they felt there could be ancient salvage in the BCS-54678-A System. What are this ship’s armaments?”

“We mount phasers and torpedoes. I can’t give you too much detail, you understand. Is there just your ship in this mission?”

“No. I should be vague, as well. There are two other ships. We were selected to stay back and attempt to delay you by social means. The other two have gone ahead. My understanding is that this means we have a superior claim to salvage by Federation rules.”

Leeta considered it. Time for agreeable fudging “I believe you’re correct there. We just want to make sure there’s nothing dangerous to your people there. Will your people allow us to scan the salvage before you haul it away?”

“We wouldn’t like that, no. We’ll zealously guard anything we think might give us an advantage in the future. Would your people fight for the material found in the system?”

“That wouldn’t be our first choice. We always prefer negotiation and diplomacy when possible.”

Joe clicked his claws thoughtfully “The Orions scoff at this. The Klingons consider it weak. But it’s clear. Diplomacy and negotiation leave military assets for use later. Your people are efficient. This is somewhat concerning to us.”

“We also believe in cooperation among species. We are not hoarding resources for later conflict.”

“This is a delusion. All species must compete for resources, space, and power. This is the nature of life and the universe. Although I suppose it helps that all you primates look alike. I understand that you even undertake interspecies breeding?”

“This has been known to happen.”

Joe crouched down and drew his legs and arms under his shell. “Uuuggghhhhh,” His voder said. Was that a gesture of disgust?

“It’s pretty unlikely between your people and any humanoids.”

Joe shuddered in his shell “Uuuuugggghhhhh,”

“If it helps, we can change the subject.”

“The Universe is cruel and perverse to populate our galaxy with so many humanoids.”

“You are not the first person to make this observation.”

“My people must assure their survival and gain enough power to resist conquest.”

“Alliances can help with that.”

“Alliances are war carried on by other means.”

“Are you winning your alliance with the Orions?”

“I can make no answer to this, for reasons of security.”

“Understood.”

“How much would your people charge me to sample selections from your replicator?”

“Nothing. Feel free.”

“This is delusional.”

“We consider the energy and mass well spent on improving our relationship with you.”

“Ah! Ah-hah. Still delusional, but understandable. I will take advantage of your generous attitude.”

“Please enjoy.”

“What sort of fish does your replicator have?”

-*-

The first thing Haley noticed was that the Ane were two minds in one. One was a pretty normal-ish person mind. The Ane priorities and preferences were slightly different, but you could understand them if you took a moment to think about it.

There was another mind in every Ane mind. An observer. Neutral, clear-minded. It rode above the normal-person mind, and acted as a sort of black box. A recorder of experiences otherwise too painful or emotional for clear thought.

Normally the Ane barely noticed this bifurcation in their minds. Now it was on full display

The next thing that Haley noticed was that the Ane were much more tightly bound to and aware of their bodies than humans were.

This was part of a different survival strategy. Humans could get damaged, get scarred, lose body parts, and still consider themselves to be themselves. They could integrate replacements, and include these in their sense of self. Humans were built as units in a war of attrition.

The Ane were NOT. Ane might not survive being mangled as well as a human might. Their sense of self was very strong and very bound into their physicality.

Lots of Federation medicine did not work on the Ane, their own hyperactive sense of integration would resist outside changes. But they had their own methods of healing.

Haley could vaguely see The All. A Telepathic space where literally All the Ane could go. No Ane was ever very far from any other, mentally

Haley perceived bright orange cones marking off the space.

**For your own safety,** Elmazelan said **Humans can fall in and get seriously hurt.**

A memory came from The All

Some distance away, Billions of Ane screamed.

Something from outside grabbed a planet full of Ane and changed them without warning or permission.

They instinctively fought the change and were overwhelmed.

It physically hurt, to a degree few had felt before. But that wasn’t the main problem.

It ruined the sense of self and aggressive self-integration, leaving Ane disconnected and flailing. Some forgot how to breathe. Some, feeling such despair at their sudden change simply gave up and fled into death.

The Ane mated in bond groups. When one member of a bond group dies, this could take other members of the group with them. The Ane had social mechanisms for handling how they chose to greet the ends of their lives.

But with every Ane under attack, in pain, disarticulated on a cellular level, no one’s mental defenses were in great shape.

Ane died and took their whole families with them.

And every Ane everywhere got to ride along and feel the whole thing with them.

And quietly each Ane’s observer mind watched it happen in exquisite detail.

**Very few of us visit this memory. Only the most determined get close.** Elmazelan explained.

Haley could mentally see a number of Ane watching her carefully. They were her life-guards. “Thank you!” She said to them.

**Is this wise, Elmazelan?** One elder Ane questioned.

**She asked.** Elmazelan said, simply.

The Ane looked at the memory sadly **Such horror. Such loss. But Elmazelan, you have hands. Your people make things. It doesn’t undo the pain. We really enjoy this about the Aneilogs. The memories of Aneilog craftsmen are popular.**

**We must make sure nothing like this ever happens again. We must neutralize all Rishan artifacts.**

Haley was impressed. Trillions of Ane across the Galaxy, some in places Starfleet had not yet been, agreed in overwhelming numbers.

**NEVER AGAIN**

-*-

Haley found herself in the conference room of the USS California, her head spinning.

She blinked and looked at her own hands. She experienced herself. In some ways, it was entirely new.

Sian asked, “Captain, are you okay?”

Haley blinked “I saw…. I saw… They were there, and they still are there. I saw the attack by the people maker.”

Sian said, "I don't understand."

Dr. Vitaniemi said "I'll be right back," she left the conference room.

Haley turned to Gollorema "I'm sorry, I can't wait. We have to go."

Gollorema looked crestfallen "I understand Captain. Thank you for hearing me out, anyway."

Haley said, "Sian, take us to the system, best speed."

Sian looked at her and then nodded sharply "On it, Captain."

"Will we return our visitors to their ship?" Grelka asked.

"Time for that later. Make sure they’re comfortable until we've secured the situation."

The command staff left the Conference room to be about their business.

"I'm sorry," Haley said to Gollorema

"The incident with the people maker is extremely disturbing. I don't blame you."

"You saw it?"

"Oh yes. The Ane were gracious enough to share it with us."

"And you still pursue Rishan Artifacts? You still pursue contact with the Rishans?"

"I must. As unpleasant as they are, they created us."

Haley shook her head. Her memory of the experience was growing more faint.

**They aren't worth it, Gollorema,** Elmazelan said.

"For anyone else, I agree. The Rishans are far too dangerous."

Elmazelan shook her head.

Dr. Vitaniemi returned with a medical tricorder to scan Haley.

-*-

Xajja, Doulain, and Sheerola stood behind the Anrandites and the Tabooists.

In the center of the maze, floating above a dias was a glowing red crystal. It was about the size of a Xajja's fist. Something about it was disquieting.

The Tabooists approached within two meters and went to their knees staring at the gem.

"What is this thing?" Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click asked, "What is it for?"

"We have no idea. It's Rishan. It's speaking to us. Can you not hear it?" Korralla said.

"All of this effort, and two of my people killed, and you don't know what this is?" Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click's voder was mild and even. But it was pretty clear he was outraged.

"This is the first time we've seen it. How would we know?"

Xajja turned towards Dulain and nodded ever so slightly.

Doulain and Sheerola nodded back. Go time.

Xajja brought his wrist-mounted communicator up to his face and opened a channel to his whole crew. "This is Xajja. Continue business as usual."

"Aye, Business as usual."

Then Xajja reached down and drew his disruptor "Whatever it is, it's ours now."

Dulain and Sheerola matched him.

It was disturbing to see the Tabooists and Anrandites have the same defensive reaction. They turned their backs to the attack, showing their shells.

"NO! NO, NO, NO, NO!" Korralla bellowed "YOU DON'T KNOW HOW THE ARTIFACT WILL REACT!"

But Xajja was already shooting the Anrandites.

Their disruptor bolts hit the Anrandites and hurt them. Xajja could see burned holes in their exo skeletons. They made a shrill hissing noise. Their voders tried to reproduce it "aaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

But the Anrandites reached around their bodies and shot back with disruptors mounted to their claws.

Dulain was hit, and with a surprised gurgle, he went down.

Xajja and Sheerola skittered back into the entryway and sought cover.

Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click shot the door controls.

The blast door that took every trick Xajja and his crew had to open slid back down over the entrance.

The Anrandites and the Tabooists were trapped in the vault with the gem. Maybe forever.

Xajja found himself having to work through some anger at that point.

-*-

Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click dragged himself across the floor.

"Your injuries are severe, let us try to help you," Korralla said.

"Stay back," The Anrandite waved his disruptor in their general direction "Soon, I'll die. But first, I will hold the treasure for which I have given my shell and my ichor."

"I do not recommend touching it."

"I am sick of your mystical bullshit," the Voder translated.

Another Anrandite's voder said, placidly "I am completely fine with alien first aid. Please help me."

The Tabooists moved to try and do ... something.

Korralla stayed and watched Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click avidly.

The injured crab grabbed the crystal.

-*-

As the USS California sped towards the BCS-54678-A system, Grelka, the Klingon Ops officer said "Power surge from the system, Captain. It matches Rishan power signatures."

"Step up active scanning,"

"We're out of active sensor range, Captain. We'll be within range in 15 minutes."

"Steady as she goes."

A few minutes later "A subspace broadcast, Captain. It's powerful and broadcast in the open."

"On screen."

The screen showed a giant crab in space above a class L world.

"I am Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click!" The space crab shouted, his name sounding like clicks "I am above! I am beyond! I am a Mega Crab! I am a Super Crab! I am Ultra Crab! I am the Crab of Destiny!"

He held an Orion light raider in his claw. He was as big as the starship. From off screen green disruptor beams lanced out and failed to penetrate the Ultra Crab.

The Crab Grabbed the Orion ship with his other claw and twisted. The ship started to give. Escape pods began flying off the Orion ship. It sent out a distress call "Structural Integrity failing! Beam us off! BEAM US OFF!!"

The Orion ship failed, twisting sickeningly before exploding into a cloud of debris and gas.

Ultra crab waded through the explosion and laughed "Mortal weapons can no longer hurt me! The Horrid Math has changed! I'll smash the humanoids and put them in their place! Confined to planetside! Ready for OUR MENU!"

The remaining Orion ship wheeled and fled at maximum warp, right past the USS California.

"Get me within sensor range, please," Haley said.

"I see all!" Ultra Crab yelled "I see the Federation ship coming my way! Good! You will be the first to fall! You sick Earth Humans with your delusions of cooperation and friendship! Your endless prattling about morals and ethics! You will be the first to fall to ULTRA CRAB!"

"Get Joe and Gollorema up here. Elmazelan, do you have any idea what's happening?"

Elmazelan squinted and tilted her head **As near as I can figure, Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click is surrounded by some sort of Rishan energy construct, that’s responding to his mental commands. But from what he's saying, he seems to have lost track of the difference between himself and the technology.**

Haley looked at Elmazelan. She'd reproduced the crab's name perfectly. "You're sure our sensors will shut this down?"

**They've shut down every other Risharn Artifact so far.**

"Captain, the Crab's signal is very strong and unencrypted. Everyone in the sector is hearing him in real-time."

"Oh, good. We all get the Villain monolog."

“The other Orion ship is hailing, Sir.”

“On screen,”

An Orion woman in a well tailored ship’s suit with tasteful captain’s markings said “This is the Turquoise Bow. This is too rich for our blood, Starfleet.”

Haley looked at the Orion Captain “Understood. Circle around and see if you can pick up survivors once we kick this guy’s ass.”

Annrana looked dubious “You think you can take him?”

Haley rolled her head to try and loosen up her neck muscles “Watch us.”

-*-

"He said the Horrid Math had changed. What math did he mean?" Haley asked Joe

Joe fiddled with his claws for a moment "We're not supposed to discuss this with outsiders."

"He broadcast it all over the sector in the open. By this afternoon, Earth and Qo'noS will hear him saying it."

"It's you. Humans. Humanoids. There are too many of you. No matter what we Anrandites do, we will never overcome your sheer numbers. We fear we must ultimately perish in a contest we never had a chance of success in, to begin with."

"You think Humans are going to kill your people?"

"Perhaps not actively, although this is always a possibility. You do not need to commit a deliberate genocide against us. You will passively overwhelm and out-compete us."

"We're pretty intent on making space for our friends."

"Delusion. The universe is harsh. All life is a contest for resources and space. It can be no other way."

"I hope you're wrong."

"I share this delusion."

"So what did he mean when he said it had changed?"

"I suppose that he feels he can overcome all the humanoid races with his own claws."

"Talk about delusional!"

"Indeed."

"Captain, coming out of warp now."

"Red alert," Haley said "As soon we're in normal space, hit him with every scan we have."

-*-

The USS California dropped out of warp at medium range from the Ultra Crab. Her sensors lit up and painted the creature.

The Ultra-Crab flickered and wavered.

"NO!" Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click shouted "I Deny! I Resist!" His form solidified. "Your cheat code has failed against me!"

"Arm all weapons, and begin attack pattern delta," Haley said. Plans always failed, you recovered quickly and got back in your game.

**Oh, Shit** Elmazelan said to The All. Millions of Ane were watching things play out through her eyes.

The crew of the California, well drilled and practiced, got to work.

Biff Bookman, the civilian contractor captain’s yeoman was placing damage control and first aid gear in selected spots on the bridge. "Never consume any power field bigger than your own head," Biff said.

Haley nodded "Good advice, Hail Click.... The Ultra Crab"

"On screen, Captain."

"Attention, crab person. You're in the grips of very dangerous technology. Stand down. We're ready to assist you in disengaging from it."

"DELUSION!" Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click Bellowed "YOU WANT ME TO TAKE MY CLAWS OFF THE ONE WEAPON THAT SCARES YOU. MY SPECIES WILL ADVANCE OVER THE RUINS OF YOUR CIVILIZATION!"

The Ultra-crab moved with terrible speed. He seemed to be swimming through space. In an instant, he grabbed for the USS California.

On the bridge, they heard a huge metallic booming noise, lights flicked and sparks flew. The ship seemed to lean heavily to port.

"Ventral and dorsal shields down to eighty percent!" Grelka bellowed "Light hull damage top and bottom!"

The shields resisted the gigantic claw and the California tumbled away from the ultra-crab

"All weapons, fire at will! Helm, Evasive maneuvers!" Haley called.

The USS California lashed out with enhanced phasers and torpedoes, the space between the Ultra-Crab and the starship turned into something resembling a Fourth of July celebration

Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click screamed as the phasers tore into his virtual body. The California heeled over in the other direction as she tried to escape

"Now! While he's hurt, scan him again!"

"Unsuccessful, Captain, He's reflecting all sensor energy!"

Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click swiped at the California with a giant claw but missed as the ship spun away.

Seeing the Channel still open Gollorema said "Captain Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click, where are my siblings?"

"THEY.... THEY WERE DELICIOUS!" Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click replied, "I HAVE GAINED A TASTE FOR MY OPPRESSORS, BUT THE TABOOISTS WERE NATURALLY TASTY."

"Cut the Channel. Fall back, let's see if we can do this fight out of claw range," Haley said.

The California fell back.

"Come around to 310, mark 15, half impulse," Haley said "Weapons, stand by for an alpha strike."

"Aye, Captain."

As the Federation ship turned her nose back to the Ultra-Crab, Haley could see areas on his shell that looked like damage, that were quickly regenerating. "We can hurt him, but he's regenerating."

As the ship lined up Haley said "All weapons, Alpha Strike, Fire!"

The California channeled maximum power through her weapons systems, maybe a touch more, pushing their luck.

As the weapons fired Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click swept a claw around. A third claw appeared out of nowhere right next to the ship and mimicked the movement, slamming into the California.

Another huge booming noise and suddenly the ship seemed to jump about a half a meter to starboard, throwing everyone into whatever was to port. The California then seemed to lean way over. Again lights flickered and sparks flew. It was a much worse hit this time.

Haley found herself hanging off the left hand armrest of her command chair, as she struggled to regain her seat.

“Stations!” Haley yelled

Her crew struggled to get back to their stations.

“Injury reports coming in from all over the ship!” Grelka said

“Damage to the port forward quarter, our port forward phasers and torpedoes are out, Captain,” Landan, the Chief Tactical Officer said.

“Helm swing us to port and keep a good shield towards him, and increase our separation,” Haley said, surprise and anger warred in her. Smashed in the face. By Ultra Crab.

The main screen showed Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click, curled up into a ball, tumbling.

Looking at the scale markers on the screen Haley asked “Is he… Is he smaller?”

Zymu, the Trill Science Officer said “It would seem so, Captain. I am noticing interesting things about his power level.”

Haley didn’t notice the predatory gleam in her eyes “Helm aim our starboard forward weapons at that crab.”

“No! Not yet!” Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click said “I have vengeance to complete!”

Swimming lop-sidedly the damaged crab moved through space again, and then flashed into warp, breaking the speed of light with swimming crab legs made of Rishan energy.

“Helm! Pursue!” Haley said.

“Follow that crab?”

“I was hoping not to say it on the log, but yes, follow that crab.”

The USS California turned and went to warp after Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click.

-*-

The graph on the screen showed and wavy line with sharp downward spikes. “This was the energy level I was reading from … Ultra Crab.”

“Do those…”

“Yes, the dips in power reflect when he was getting hit by weapons. Resisting and regenerating costs him energy. The bad news is that his power level is growing.”

“How fast?”

“Geometrically.”

“That means if we don’t get him by this evening, we never will,” Landan said.

“Is there any way to bypass his scan reflection? We almost had him right at the start.”

Elmazelan said **I don’t know. I’ll work on that.”

“Please do. Where is he heading?”

The Orion ship marked “The Ironic Vampiric Rabbit” is on a direct heading for a blue super giant. Our records record nothing of interest in that system. Ultra-Crab is on a direct intercept course.”

“Let’s ask our guests.”

-*-

Xajja looked down the teeth of a heavy raider. He stood no chance against that. But he stood still less chance against Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click.

“Explain this to me again,” Snarled an older, more grizzled Orion captain.

“We were on a salvage run, nothing too remarkable and then the Anrandite Captain turned into a monster. He killed everyone. We shot and shot, but nothing quite worked. We fell back and used explosives and radiation and everything we could think of, but he just kept coming. He got bigger and bigger and our weapons worked less and less. He tore the Outside Straight apart with…. His bare claws!” Xajja was not adapting to this very well. His world-view was broken and it was hindering his thinking.

“We all saw the broadcast,” the Senior Orion said. “Patently some Federation horse shit. But explain why you’re leading two Federation ships HERE.”

“Two…?”


Xajja looked at his long-range scans

“Oh, God! That’s not a Federation ship! THAT’S HIM!”

Sheerola stood up “Honored sir! Get me off this damned ship! Please!”

Three more of Xajja’s bridge crew stood and said the same thing.

“You all stay right fucking there. Vampiric Rabbit, you’re in the first defensive line. If you try to flee, I’ll destroy you myself.”

Xajja felt the Senior Orion Captain didn’t understand the situation “But… but…. HE’S A GIANT CRAB!” It came out much screechier than he wanted it to.

“We’re going to destroy these two Federation ships, capture a few survivors and then we’ll get the real story. Then it’ll be YOUR TURN.” The Senior Orion snarled.

Xajja blinked and tried to absorb what was happening.

“There’s a place for cowards and weasels in the Orion Pirates,” The Senior Orion Captain said, “That’s between me and the first photon torpedo volley. Fight like Klingons. I mean to torture you all when this is done.”

The channel closed.

Xajja looked around. His crew wasn’t a crew anymore. It was the waiting room for hell and everyone was looking for their own escape hatch.

Suddenly a lot of what the Tabooists were saying made sense.

-*-

They found Bymura hauling injured crew people into and out of sickbay,

“You’re helping?” Landan saked.

“I don’t know if you noticed this, but I am breathing the air currently contained inside this hull. I’d like the air to stay with me until I leave. For now I have vested interest in this ship surviving… whatever’s going on.”

“Come with me, please.”

Landan led Bymura over to a view screen in a hallway. He showed Bymura the blue giant star everyone was rushing towards. “What’s in this system?”

Bymura looked shocked for a moment and then recovered his composure. “I have no idea. I’ve never been there. And I guarantee you this. If you ask Joe, he’ll agree that there’s nothing there and neither of us has ever been there.”

Landan nodded “Okay. Noted.”

“You guys can drop me off any time. Throw me into an escape pod and I’ll just be on my way.”

Landan looked at Bymura carefully. Bymura rethought his opinions of how tough and crazy humans could be.

“Keep helping. I want to keep the air inside the hull, too.”

-*-

“There is an Orion Pirate Base on a moon of a gas giant that orbits this star.” Joe said. “It is well defended as such things go. Occasionally Syndicate Enforcement ships come and go from there. The Strange ecosystem on this moon produces drugs that are lucrative for the Syndicate.”

“So he’s retreating for back up?”

“Inaccurate. The Syndicate will murder him for revealing the base to you.”

“Then why did he go there?”

“I do not know.”

A Security officer asked, “Are you in danger for telling us this?”

“I did not and will never use my real name on this ship.”

“Please don’t,” Landan said.

-*-

Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click Came out of warp and swam towards the moon the gas giant.

He could see the defense satellites, mines, and ground based guns of the pirate base. In his life as a mortal he’d missed one-third of the defensive armaments when he reported back to Anrandite intelligence. All of that was about to become irrelevant.

He could see the Ironic Vampiric Rabbit In low orbit, surrounded by three cruisers.

He could also see the dozen other ships cloaked nearby. Not clearly. But he could see they were there.

Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click swam to a point just outside the range of the weapons of the visible ships and defense sats.

-*-

The Senior Orion Captain glared at his sensors officer “What in the hell are you talking about?”

“There’s nothing Federation about that thing, Sir. I’ve never seen energy readings like this. I can’t tell how he’s moving through space or seeing anything. This is a Giant Energy Crab.”

“All units close. When we’re in range, and I give the signal, delcoak and fire everything.”

-*-

All the Orion ships and everyone else in the sector heard Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click say

“Did you know space has currents in it? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!”

And he began to spin around.

-*-

USS California Bridge

“Spike in energy…. Major subspace disruption! It’s like a Tykens’ rift…. But much bigger and…”

“And what?”

“Swirlier!”

“Jesus christ.”

-*-

“Warp Drive offline! We’ll have to manually reset the warp coil positioning sensors!”


The Senior Orion Captain, named Kanah, held onto his chair and held onto his lunch… although this was in question. His cruiser seemed to sway as if in heavy seas, battered by huge waves.

In a starship the swaying and rolling was very bad. Resetting those sensors would take most of a day.

“All Units! Decloak and fire! Regroup at point Alpha!”

The shimmering light effects of the cloak disengaging was almost too much for Kanah. It was too much for one of his lieutenants who vomited on the deck.

“Helm, get me control of my ship back!”


“Working on it, Honored Sir!”

The Menacing Lover spun lazily around the giant space crab and fought to regain control.

“Redirect Warp energy to Impulse drives!”

“Aye Sir!”

They weren’t rotating fast enough to throw their aim off. Dozens of ships fired disruptor cannon at the Giant Space crab.

Kanah winced as a small pirate raider was blown into one of his enforcer ships. The small ship detonated, and the Enforcer cruiser spun away, severely damaged. There went a noticeable fraction of his fire power.

The defense satellites began opening up. They weren’t able to adjust for their tumble. Heavy disruptor beams flew every which way.

Kanah clung to his seat and growled orders. It was all he knew how to do. Inside, he was gibbering. He was losing a battle to a giant space crab that caused a space-vortex.

Where in the manual of grimly efficient space battles was that?

-*-

As the USS California dropped out of warp, the space vortex effect was fading. Orion ships scattered and fell back towards a point over their base.

Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click moved with sickening quickness and grabbed a pirate ship in his claws. He twisted it until it exploded.

“I AM INVINCIBLE!” Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click shouted.

“Oh, he shouldn’t have said that,” Biff said.

“Hail the Orions,” Haley said.

“The channel is open,”

“Attention Orions, This is the USS California, Let’s form up and concentrate our fire on one side of the crab.”

The screen cleared to show a golden Orion man with bristly black hair with some salt and pepper in it. He looked grim. He looked at Haley, and mentally seemed to throw his hands up “Okay, Sure. Call the shot, California.”

-*-

Xajja and his crew did their best to regain some control and even fired some of their disruptors at Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click, not that it had much effect.

Sheerola said “They’re distracted. We can run.”

“On impulse drives?”

Sheerola had forgotten that the space vortex disabled their warp drives “Oh.”

“And then go where?”

Sheerola didn’t like that thought process, either

Xajja said “Get us behind the Menacing Lover, if they lose shields, we can beam people over to them until…..”

Sheerola Looked at him, “Until what?”

“I don’t know!”

-*-

Some of the other pirates did flee, driving away from the battle at full impulse.

“I WANT XAJJA!” Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click bellowed in subspace.

“If we give him to you will you go?” Kanah asked

Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click stopped for a moment and considered it

“NO!” He giggled “I’M GOING TO DESTROY YOUR SHIPS AND EAT THE SURVIVORS!”

“Then what’s our motivation to give him to you?”

“ENOUGH TALKING! MORE SCREAMING!”

-*-

The California and the remains of the Orion fleet gathered and then fired on Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click.

“Boom and zoom! Don’t hold still for him to grab!” Haley said

The Orion ships began to form into strafing groups, always focusing on Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click’s starboard side.

They tore holes in Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click. His body was an energy construct and so didn’t bleed, but it had virtual organs and meat, all attached to his virtual exo-skeleton.

Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click struck back, with his virtual long-range claws, destroying and damaging ships.

-*-

“How are the numbers looking?” Haley asked.

“Too close to call, Captain. We’re getting into the yellow zone with our heat control.” Sian said.

“We can see his energy dwindle but it’s bouncing back faster,” Zymu said “I don’t like the looks of it.”

Haley breathed. They were too close to losing. She had to find some way to break things up.

Elmazelan said **What if we use probes to generate more different frequency scanner beams? We can give Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click more different things to try and resist.**

“Good idea. Try that.” Haley said.

**How many probes can I use?**

Haley looked at her “All of them.”

-*-

Beginning her next strafing pass, the USS California dumped all the probes she could.

As she closed with Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click, She activated the probe network to scan Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click with different flavors and frequencies of scanners.

Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click flickered again “NO! I WILL RESIST! I WILL OVERCOME!”

Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click spun horizontally, and whipped a claw around, and a third virtual claw appeared over the USS California smashing into her from above.

Seeing this Kanah yelled “They have something! Fire! Fire everything!”

The Orions threw everything they had at Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click

-*-

Haley found herself draped over Sians shoulder as he bellowed “OUT! OUT! OUT! EVERYONE WHO CAN, GET TO AUXILIARY CONTROL!”

She twisted to see. The Bridge of the California was much lower than it should be. Everything was broken and smashed. A good chunk of the bulkhead was missing, Haley looked at the stars through emergency forcefields. The air was cold.

Sian hoisted her over his shoulder and into the Turbo lift “Get the Captain to Sickbay!”

That woke Haley up some. Her head pounded and everything was fuzzy. But she knew one thing. She had to kick that motherfucking crab’s ass “Oh, HELL NO. Aux Con. Now.”

“Captain,” Sian said

“Get everyone off the bridge and meet me in Aux Con.”

Sian took a deep breath and nodded “Aye Captain.”

The Doors whooshed shut.

**Captain,** Elmazelan said, **It almost worked. We need heavier sensors.**

“I can’t conjure more Starfleet ships.”

**Maybe we can,**

Haley looked at Elmazelan. Then she began to laugh. “We’re going to kick that crabs ass with the power of Friendship!”

-*-

The Flicking, the distraction gave the Orions an opening and they took it. Pouring fire into Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click. He screamed as they tore into his body more and more.

Then Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click’s screams took on a more hysterical tone. “NO NO! I MUST! MY WILL MUST TRIMUPH! NOOOOOO!”

He began to glow and change.

-*-

Haley hailed the lead Orion ship. “Captain, Federation sensors can neutralize the energy that fucker is using.”

“Great! Tell us how to emulate your sensors!” Kanah said

“No! Federation Sensors!”

“What?”

“Somehow it can tell! I want your ships to join Starfleet for 15 minutes!”

Kanah looked at Haley “Are you okay? You’ve hit your head.”

“Yes, he got us pretty good. But this will work, I’m certain. Besides what do you lose if it doesn’t?”

Kanah squinted and ran the numbers in his head “Sure. Why not. I’m fighting a giant magical crab. How could more magic hurt? What do I do?”

Haley showed Kanah her right palm up near her face “Raise your right hand and repeat after me, ‘I’m Starfleet’!”

Kanah felt weird and creepy as he raised his right hand and said “I’m Starfleet.”

“Now scan that shit! Rotate scanner frequencies up and down as hard as you can!”

“You heard Admiral Haley. Scan that shit!”

-*-

At once, the glowing form imploded, leaving a human and an inert gem floating in space.

“Captain, there’s a human there, Life signs fading.”

“Can we beam him aboard?”

“Yes.”

“Grab him and the gem.”

The human form and the gem sparkled away ahead of more disruptor beams and torpedoes from the surviving Orions.

-*-

The bald, nude human flailed and screamed inarticulately. He seemed unable to coordinate his movements. He was strapped loosely into a sickbay bed.


Elmazelan approached him **Please remain calm.**

**What happened to me?** Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click cried inside his head **My body’s all weird! I can’t see or move or talk! What’s going on?**

**The Rishan gem fixed you. It made you human.**

Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click screamed hysterically, kicking his human feet and flailing his human hands.

-*-

Elmazelan handed the inert gem to Brother Gorollema. **Here. I hope it was worth it.**

Brother Gollorema sighed and looked at the dead gem. “No, of course not. I wish it had only been us.”

Elmazelan shook her head and left Gollorema’s quarters.

He placed the dead Rishan Artifact on his desk and stared reverently at it for a few minutes, and then continued his documentation. On replicated parchment, with replicated ink, He wrote down his experience of the event and what he could learn from the other witnesses. He was writing a new book in the holy scripture of the Tabooists. His words would be read for generations.

So he wrote slowly and carefully.

Eventually he became so tired, he had to sleep. A short snack of replicated snails and grubs from his homeworld and he laid down.

-*-

Gollorema dreamed.

He floated in space and a figure was before him. Three beings in one. A Human, an Ane and something else. A Living energy pattern?

**Gollorema, I must apologize.**

“For what, dream being?”

**I was short and preemptory with you. It’s a hazard of one of my selves. By being short-tempered I put your people in an impossible situation. I will now fix it. But first I wanted to show you something.**

“You did not put me in an impossible situation, dream being. You’re a dream and I have only just met you.”

The being grinned at him. **Come with me.**

They flew. Up and up and up, and still further up, at a speed that put the fastest warp to shame.

Gollorema saw the Federation and it’s environs. Thousands of stars. Trillions of people, somehow, he could see them all.

They went further still, until Gollorema saw the galaxy, with hundreds of thousands of stars and people without number all doing their people things. Some things were good some things were bad. Some people had a good time and some people suffered.

At the distance Gollorema was seeing, it formed into colors. Sparkles of color. Kindness was a wonderfully pleasing color.

At a distance, Gollorema could see other Galaxies with their oceans of people.

Gollorema could see beings. The Organians. The Metrons, The Harmon the Q. Something that looked like a terran Koala Bear.

And still higher they flew

Gollorema could see time. It flowed like a river. From the beginning and on and on and on to an impossibly distant end.

Gollorema could see far away down the time stream, there was party. All the beings. All of them from the tiniest to the biggest were there at the party at the end of time.

The large beings, the great ones, they cultivated their spots, they guided their areas, toward the great party. Gollorema gasped. Beings impossibly different spoke, and communicated. It was difficult and a struggle, but near the end of time, they formed a group, with the intention of creating time and the party at it’s end.

**Did you think the mortal races were the only ones who could form a Federation?** The Dream being asked. **Now the important parts. Come.**

They flew back down, down and down into the river of time. It was beautiful. All the different people and all the different things made and indescribably beautiful pattern.

And then back towards the area of space and time that Gollorema was familiar with.

The Dream being pointed out part of the beautiful tapestry of time, people and space.

Peering closer Gollorema realized what it was. The Tabooists. They were part of the Tapestry. Part of the great artwork of time and creation. His people. They were in the art. They were part of the great art work. They were the art.

This was not how Gollorema saw himself or his people.

**The universe wanted you here. The Universe thought Tabooists were a good idea and moved the Rishans to put you into the great tapestry. Gollorema, your people are not leftovers from powerful morons. You’re meant to be part of the flow.**

“Are the Rishans among the great party at the end?”

**Not the way you’re thinking. They broke themselves. They had to go remake themselves into something that you wouldn’t recognize. They wouldn’t recognize you. When you meet them at the great party, it will be as equals meeting for the first time. I am adopting you.**

“Are you the Universe?”

**Not yet. Not in this form. But in time I will be. And so will you.**

“I don’t understand.”

**That’s okay. Your people have time to figure it out.** The dream figure touched Gollorema. Gollorema felt something subtle change inside, but it would take time to figure out just how.

**When I was young I gave the Ane a mission. I will now give your people a similar mission. Find all Rishan Artifacts. Make them safe and get their stories. The artifacts will tell your people. In time I will ask what you have learned.**

“But we saw! All of time and space, you already know.”

The Dream Being smiled gently **You saw very well. Yes. I do see. But time and the mission on mortal scales are different. The mission is really there for people who need it to help give them shape. It’s not mandatory. Nothing for your people is mandatory anymore. If your people can add more kindness to the mix, I’d really enjoy that. I claim you just the same.**

“Thank you,” Gollorema said.

**I look forward to meeting you again at the Great Party.**

“And I, you.”

-*-

Gollorema jerked awake in his guest quarters on the USS California.

He felt wonderful. Rested. He got up and looked at the Parchment, the ink, the pen, and the Rishan Gem. He could hear it, ever so faintly. He picked it up. “Tell me your story,” He said to the gem.

It did.

-*-

“I’m not seeing anything,” Zymu said. The gem sat on a table in a science lab having the most detailed scanner on the USS California pointed at it “As far as I can see this thing is totally inert.”

**As it should be. Why did you ask?** Elmazelan said.

“That’s…” Gollorema considered his words thoughtfully “That’s going to be a long story to tell. We should set aside time when we can explore the subject in detail.”

**Okay?**

Gollorema took the Rishan gem and return to his quarters. He felt bad. The ship was damaged and many people were injured. But he couldn’t keep the grin off his face.

He replicated a new set of parchments and new ink and pen and began writing carefully. A newer new book in the Tabooist scriptiure.

-*-

As the USS California pulled into Deep Space Ten for repairs, an Orion light raider decloaked behind her. It was also damaged from the fight against Clickety-Clackety-Click-Click.

“This is the Ironic Vampiric Rabbit. We request Asylum.”

Apr 24, 2024