Annihilation: Book 06 - Demon's Sacrifice (2 page)

N
ine months after the Coronation and Matt’s and Melanie’s wedding, Anglo, Destiny, Sprig, Twig, Newton, Edison, and Einstein sat in the map room at Castle Gardner and Sprig asked, “Why did you want to meet me here?”

Destiny looked at the three young spiders and said to Sprig, “My children asked me a question and it caused me to become concerned.”

“What question, Destiny?”

“Newton wanted to know how our common ancestor became a merciless killer when none of us are that way after the compulsions were removed.”

Sprig thought a moment and said, “It is a rather dramatic change in personality.” The room was silent as Sprig digested the information. Sprig suddenly felt a wave of fear, “Either she was injected with compulsions that made her become what she is or the creature she bit was like that and she absorbed it from the bite. If the compulsions were deliberately placed in her, then another species exists that intentionally destroys intelligent life.”

“That’s what we think. However, it is not genetic or we would also have them built into us, which makes us lean toward another species. Every Nest Mother has acted the same since my species became intelligent. The males have to have the compulsions downloaded into them for them to work; this is an artificial mechanism.”

“How many Nest Mothers have there been since the original?”

“Twenty.”

Sprig thought a moment and said, “If the compulsions are not genetic, then how do the new Nest Mothers receive the compulsions?”

Newton said, “It is our belief that they are put in each new Nest Mother by the species that originally gave us intelligence.”

Sprig was shocked at the implications of the small spider’s statement.

Destiny saw that Sprig understood and said, “We have also discovered something that worries us.”

Edison took the map room’s controller in his front legs and moved the cursor toward the far left end of the map. It finally stopped on a dark galaxy that was as far away from the closest galaxy on the edge of the universe as that galaxy was from the center. Anglo looked at the dark galaxy and asked, “What is that?”

Einstein said, “Whatever it is, it is impossible for it to exist here.”

Sprig looked at the little spider, “Why do you say that?”

Einstein nodded to Edison and Edison pressed the controller. All of the galaxies of the universe began moving quickly together until they all formed one giant ball of light. The far galaxy was now near where the former edge of the universe was located. Sprig immediately understood. “It’s too far away to have been part of the blast that started this universe.” Einstein nodded. “But if nothing existed before that blast, how can that galaxy exist?”

Newton answered, “It can’t; it defies everything we know about celestial mechanics, which leads us to believe that it might be part of a different dimension which overlaps our universe at the edge. We also believe that whoever put the compulsions in our Nest Mothers must be there.” Newton turned from the map and looked at those around the table, “My species is nothing more than a tool for them. If you kill the current Nest Mother as you plan, what do you think they will do?”

Sprig looked at the galaxy that was older than the universe and knew the intelligence there was ancient before this universe was created. He felt fear, “I don’t know.”

Destiny looked at the dark galaxy, “We know what these creatures think of other life forms.”

Sprig looked at Destiny, “What do you mean?”

“They took an ancestor of mine, gave it intelligence, the capacity of storing a huge amount of information to use to make them more deadly and then sent it out to kill all intelligent life in every universe. I can only believe that they did this because they were either too lazy to take the time to do it themselves or considered other life forms so far beneath them that they did not warrant their attention. I think they knew intelligent life would evolve naturally and become highly advanced civilizations if left alone so they created a tool to prevent it. They also placed compulsions in my species so they could exterminate all of us quickly if they so chose. All it would take is to make the Nest Mother order the males to consume their children. They would then release a compulsion in the Nest Mother to kill herself and my species would be eliminated.” Destiny turned and looked at Sprig, “What would you do if you discovered one of your tools had malfunctioned?”

Sprig shrugged, “I would repair it or replace it.”

“I don’t think they know about us being here helping you, yet. The Nest Mother is still functioning and I suspect the families are still harvesting universes. I’m concerned about what would happen if the Nest Mother was removed and the families eliminated. The beings that did this might be somewhat annoyed at our impertinence for breaking one of their tools. I think their reaction would be catastrophic to those that were guilty of interfering with their plans.”

Einstein added, “I have looked at all the information available about what happens when a new Nest Mother replaces the old one. The data from the last change shows a New Female that appears somewhat nervous but not vicious at the start of the ceremony. However, I have seen a change in her when she assumes her place on the nest.”

Destiny turned his head upside down, “What have you seen?”

Einstein narrated as he started a video, “This information comes from our ships storage banks.” The display came on and everyone watched as the new Nest Mother moved onto the nest and placed her back two legs into two receptacles. She immediately dropped onto her abdomen and her demeanor changed radically. Her fangs dripped venom and then she put the rest of her legs into the other receptacles. Einstein said as the video was running, “I believe that it is those first two receptacles that downloaded the compulsions into her. I initially thought that the beings must come every time a Nest Mother is replaced but this is so much easier. Their little project will run with little or no attention needed by the creators. This might be a good thing if they seldom check on their creations.”

Sprig’s leaves turned light brown and he turned to the little spider, “Why, do you think the beings that did this are in a galaxy in our universe?”

Einstein nodded and Newton answered, “That galaxy is in every universe we have harvested. It appears to exist outside the space-time continuum as we know it and coexists with every universe. We have also never attempted to harvest that galaxy. Evidently the compulsions also forbid us from going near it.” The display then showed picture after picture of the dark galaxy in many different universes. It was identical in every picture.

Sprig thought for a moment, “This information causes me to wonder just who is the real enemy.”

Destiny softly thought, “My species is being forced into the killing we have been doing. We are not naturally aggressive and have no choice but to kill intelligent life. Just as your species was forced to kill planets, Sprig; mine is being forced to kill universes. We have no control over our actions.”

“It also begs the question of why they made you collect all of the data from the civilizations you’ve destroyed. I suspect that they will collect that data at some point.”

“I have also considered that, Sprig. I don’t believe they need it or have any interest in it as ancient as they are; I believe they have us collect it to make ourselves a better tool for killing. That way we would not have to be modified over the millions of years of our existence; we would improve on our own until they release a new and better tool to carry out their designs. They might collect the information when they choose to eliminate us, but they could also just ignore it because of their billions year old technology. They don’t want a tool that requires any attention.”

“That is a truly frightening thought, Destiny.”

“We know how they operate. Have you not made newer and better technology over the long age of your species? Why would they be any different?”

“These suspected beings, if they do exist as you surmise, are so much older than us that they are billions of years ahead of us technologically.” Sprig thought a moment, “I don’t know if we could survive their attentions. They make the Captors look like infants.”

Destiny sighed, “It would give added weight to just staying in our universe and attempting to hide from their attention; however, we are here and if they see us….” He left the rest unsaid.

“What about the possibility of a new tool to replace your species. I suspect that tool will not be limited to just entering by the entry points and they would be coming in our future.”

“Perhaps, but it would give us time to try and develop weapons against them.”

“Destiny, this suspected race is billions of years ahead of us. It would take breakthroughs that you just can’t plan to happen.”

“That’s true, Sprig, but we have something they didn’t count on.”

“What is that?”

Destiny looked around the room and said, “Why, my children, of course and they have information stored from millions of years of taking it during our harvests.”

“Are you recording this meeting?”

Edison looked up, “Yes, I am.”

“Please send a copy of it to King Gardner for his viewing immediately.”

Suddenly they all heard mentally, “You don’t need to do that. I have been listening in on your discussion.” Matt appeared in the map room and approached the table. “This troubles me greatly. I’m not sure how we should move forward now that we know about that galaxy. I’m concerned about even going to look at it for fear that the beings there would sense us. I need you to come up with a plan on how we should begin preparing to counter what we suspect is happening.”

Destiny looked at Matt, “We can’t act hastily. We have to give my children some time to work on this. I suspect that they will come up with the best approach.”

Matt looked at the three waist high spiders, “I think you’re right; however, I want the brightest of the Algean adolescents to join them in their efforts. Please keep me informed about what progress you make. I also need your thoughts about what we should do about your species, Destiny. Should we just leave them alone to continue their killing? I really don’t want to do that, but I think you’re right about those beings being extremely angry if we eliminate their creation.”

Sprig leaned forward, “We will begin at once, Your Majesty.”

The Nest Mother didn’t want to send her families out to harvest for fear of being caught undefended if those strange beings attacked, but could not stop herself from sending them. “Why can’t I control myself?” she wondered. She thought about it and then inserted her legs into her receptacles and began looking at the oldest data she possessed. Something just wasn’t right. She was powerless against the forces forcing her to continue harvesting. She had never thought about not sending her family out in the past but now she discovered that she was unable to stop it. The more she tried to focus on the problem the more her rage tore her mind away from it. What was happening?

T
he red colored being sat and looked at his console. It noticed that the ship being constructed was interesting but wondered about whether it possessed the necessary technology to be an improvement over the last ones he designed. Designing its hull had taken much longer than he planned, but it had to be capable of so many things. As he watched he heard, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m trying to decide whether or not to give my new project dimensional capability.”

“I’m not sure that would be wise.”

“As long as we can eliminate them any time we choose, I don’t think it would pose a problem.”

“Even so, I prefer you limit them to universal drives.”

The being thought a moment, “Why are you concerned?”

“The uncertainty principle always applies to our creations and must be accounted for in our work.”

“It has never caused us trouble before.”

“Even more reason to be cautious. The probabilities increase with time.”

The red being thought a moment, “You’re right. I will act accordingly.”

“How much longer before they are ready to be released?”

“The initial group will soon be completed; most of the compulsions have already been applied.”

“Before you commit to the project you might want to send a sample of them out to see how they perform.”

“I’m reasonably certain they will be much more efficient that our current tools.”

“It’s the word “reasonably” that bothers me. Are you absolutely sure? You know how the Elders insist on certainty.”

“This tool is designed to handle weapons and is more vicious than any tool I’ve ever made. They will kill large groups instead of one-on-one like the current tool and unlike the current tool, these don’t have to be compelled to kill; they enjoy it. They have also been designed to handle that unresolved issue and their technology will be more advanced.” The being thought a moment, “Perhaps you’re right. I’ll produce a sample large enough to trial.”