THE WEB OF ENTANGLEMENT PART TWO: ACOLYTES (VEX UNIVERSE CHRONICLES Book 2) by F.A. WHITTAKER

Author:F.A. WHITTAKER [WHITTAKER, F.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-10-09T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

A Matter of Sheer Lunacy

Norassa, First-Sovereign of the Naan Domain guided his sled toward the Domain’s central control matrix at the end of the long passageway leading from his personal domicile. He entered the cramped, dimly-lit room to see Second-Sovereigns Tarlan and Solkala in deep communion. He joined the telepathic link.

“The identification code matches exactly,” Tarlan declared with certainty. “It’s Almira’s personnel conveyance.”

“Yes, but what is she doing back here already?” Solkala countered.

“What are you debating, Second-Sovereigns?” Norassa asked.

“A coded signal has been received from Almira Kabala’s personnel conveyance in orbit requesting permission to land on the home world.” Tarlan said.

“Is there anything suspicious about the signal or the code?” Norassa enquired.

“No, First-Sovereign,” Tarlan replied. “Everything is in order . . . except that she avoided the staging area.”

“I don’t see the reason for concern. She is a ranking officer of the Monitor Corps after all and can therefore avoid the staging area if she wishes. Perhaps she must be in a hurry to get here. Let it land. I’m eager for news on the expedition.”

Norassa and the two second-sovereigns observed the large three-dimensional display hovering within the beam emitted by the image matrix at the center of the room as the conveyance passed through the planetary defense network. The compact spherical vessel then headed in toward the spaceport adjacent to the human habitat on the home world’s main landmass, separated from the much smaller Naan peninsular habitat by a small crescent-shaped bay.

“Advise the First-Consul of the Monitors of Almira’s premature return so that he can arrange to meet her,” Norassa said, contemporaneously accessing the Orb of Life to request the reason for Almira’s unscheduled appearance on the home world.

The Orb politely advised him that his access rights to information on Almira had been rescinded. Furthermore, no explanation was provided, and he knew better than to argue with the Orb.

“That’s very odd,” he said to Tarlan and Solkala through their three-way telepathic link. “The Orb won’t give me any information on Almira. How could that be? She’s just an ordinary human. Tell the First-Consul to send her here. I’ll get the information from her directly. How many humans are with her?”

“Three others, First-Sovereign,” Tarlan said.

“Because they are associated with her, the Orb won’t even tell me who they are.”

“Her crewmates, perhaps?” Solkala said.

“Perhaps,” Norassa said. “Have the First-Consul report to me immediately he’s met her.”

Norassa steered his sled to the corner of the room and waited to hear from the head of the Monitor Corps. He recognized that it would become increasingly difficult for him to run the Naan Domain if the Orb were to suddenly start going by the book. But only a Superior could order it to do so, and while he had been informed that one existed, he couldn’t imagine where that esteemed being was to be found. He knew that it was not among the Naan on the home world. The Saarti? Impossible. According to the historical records, none of them ever participated in the program.

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