the tablet which produced another image. Recorded by Lilith and heavily modified, the image of the Tog ship was manipulated to look like it was taken from a telescope. Even with that, P'ing jerked like hse was poked with a kloth prod. “We were told by you that the Concordia abandoned starships eons ago. Why were we lied to?”
“This image is recent?”
“Days ago.”
The Tog removed hser own tablet, a narrower model with grooved edges to assist the three fingered species in holding it with a firm grip. Hser fingers tapped in rapid sequence and Minu burned to see what was going on. Then, quite suddenly, hser head jerked up to spear Minu with a powerful gaze. “You are being deceitful,” hse accused.
Minu swallowed and remained calm. This was a game of cards with stakes far higher than she was accustomed to. “I don’t know what you mean?”
“Don’t you?” P’ing spun hser tablet around for Minu. It was her time to look in surprise at an enhanced shot of the Kaatan, obviously taken from an extreme distance, in profile. The stars around it were blurred, suggesting great speed. “Does this clear your mind?”
“So we’re both holding back the facts.”
“Facts? Minu Groves of our Chosen, you and your people are playing in a game in which you do not understand the consequences.”
“How many species still have starships?”
“Many, but not all.”
“Why are we being lied to by our protectors, our benefactors? Humanity has treated you like our parents, and this is how you repay that trust?”
“It is the rules were are forced to operate under, they control us as much as you.”
“Then explain them to me.”
P’ing put away the tablet and lowered hser head. “I cannot.”
“Why are you spying on us from the edge of the solar system instead of just coming through the Portal or sending official inquiries?”
“I cannot say.”
“WHY?” she practically screamed, not believing that she was yelling at a Tog, especially P’ing.
“Because your time of Awakening has yet to arrive.”
Minu felt her anger become a living thing. In almost a decade as Chosen she’d come a long way in learning to control that seething monster living in a cage just down the hall from the little room. The occupant of the room, also quiet for some time, flippantly suggested she just let the damn thing out. She resisted the urge, but only just.
“Awakened. I’ve had that thrown in my face one too many times. By you, by the Squeen, and even by the damned computer. I know it means more than just allowing full access to the Concordian computer network. Will you either explain yourself, or tell me how to become ‘Awakened’ so I can finally get some fucking answers?”
“You should not wish for such a terrible thing.” Hser words made Minu shiver unconsciously.
“That tablet, this vessel we have seen pursuing our reconnaissance ship, they all point to the fact that you are deeply embroiled in events which are quickly spiraling out of control. The T’Chillen lay claim to the only surviving examples of starships made by the People, like that ship, and here is one spotted near the Bellatrix star system. Just as the tablet is another example of their lost technology, I further suspect many of your recent technological ‘discoveries’ that have made your fellow Humans much more successful and popular among the lesser species of the Concordia are similarly linked.
“And I now know where you obtained your medical codex, though I had secretly suspected as much from the beginning. Being a hominid is dangerous enough without all the rest of this. It all points to a fact that, were it to become public knowledge in the Concordia, would likely result in either complete societal collapse, or all out galactic war. And that is something which has not occurred in millions of years.” A shiver ran up hser back, starting at the horse-like rump and finishing between the shoulders.
Minu felt like she was drowning. Any such
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