He was entranced by the data coming in on the Dark he’d attempted to infect with the very virus its kind had used to attack Kalquorians.Based on older experiments carried out by the Bi’isils, the empire’s scientists had rallied to quickly develop a vaccine to fend off the deadly sickness.Egilka had been inoculated and had nothing to fear from the strain called RCN-16.A few thousand Kalquorians had died prior to the vaccine becoming available, but the outcome could have been much worse.
Earth II’s battle against its own virus, dramatically dubbed Dark Death, had proven more deadly to the humans on the planet and two colonies.Fortunately, researchers were making headway to treat those infected by the pathogen, and medical trials of a vaccine had begun.
Egilka’s effort to infect the Dark test subject with RCN-16 had met no success.A thorough researcher, he studied it minutely anyway and made extensive notes.He and Cassidy agreed that each defeat brought its own set of lessons and moved them closer to victory against their enemy.
I said release me, Separate!Unless you wish me to visit greater torments on the progeny you carry—
Cassidy’s subject broke off to telepathically howl as she brought it farther into her dimension, increasing its solidity.It quaked violently, its gelatinous mass flattening to the surface of the containment floor.When the howl became a piercing shriek, she returned it to the previous setting.A glance at her readings showed she’d caused it no significant harm.She’d learned just how far she could push its ability to recover from exposure to Kalquor’s gravity.
She wasn’t bothered by hurting it.She was bothered by how it didn’t upset her to hurt a living being.
It would kill every last sentient in this dimension, including my innocent child.Why should it trouble my conscience to punish it for threatening my baby?
It subsided to moans and voiced no further attempts at intimidation.
Egilka’s Dark decided to communicate in the wake of its fellow’s torture.Hurt us all you wish, Separate.Destroy us.The All continues.The All will send more, and we will be the same, for we are the All.There is no true loss.
She looked away from it to seemingly regard her own readings, but she flung a thought its way.I’ve heard you cry for the All at the brink of death.You sounded like any Separate screaming for its parent.
It paused.Then,it is painful to being cut off from myself.But it doesn’t change the fact that if a piece perishes, the All continues and is undiminished.If your child is erased, there is no one else like it.It is gone forever.
Cassidy kept her lips from curling at its smugness.If history has taught our dimension anything, it’s putting all your eggs in one basket has devastating results.When we find your weakness, we find the All’s.Just one little fatal flaw, and nothing of you is left.
I have no weakness Separates can exploit.I am the All.
You aren’t in any contact with the All.You’re a Separate yourself.Individual.Alone.
I am the All!You can’t take who I am from me!
I already have.Why else would you refer to yourself as “I”?
A com buzzed, distracting Cassidy from the Dark’s furious denials.Egilka huffed and irritably pulled his unit from his belt to check the frequency.
“Excuse me, Doctor.I need to take this,” he told her.He tapped a command to the containment holding his experimental subject, and its clamor in her skull ceased.
He left the lab, jabbering in Kalquorian, which Cassidy understood perfectly well.From the sound of it, he and his Dramok clanmate were arguing about the exploratory fleet Emperor Clajak had commissioned.
“You can’t give the Coydidakallour scientists,” he said before the door shut behind him and cut off Cassidy’s curious eavesdropping.
She chuckled, having heard a version of the debate earlier that day.So few scientific minds were signing up for the extended Coydidak exploration, Clajak had begun to dangle incentives to convince them to undertake what would be a permanent journey.Egilka was afraid they’d lose their best and brightest when the All’s victory wasn’t assured.
No, but it grows more probable every day it’ll finish us off.
She sighed and at last returned her Dark subject to its normal state.It disappeared from view, and its groans disappeared from her head.
She closed her eyes and basked in the quiet for a few seconds.Enjoying the silence, broken only by the hum of the various lab machines idling, Cassidy opted to tap her notes from her latest efforts on her keyboard rather than dictate to the computer.She paused occasionally to rub where the baby kicked.Her touch seemed to soothe the squirming that more often than not led to a little foot shoving painfully against her lower ribs.
She was unsure how long she’d been working when she grew aware of someone standing behind her.Uttering a gasp, she looked over her shoulder.
Egilka stood there.His gaze riveted on her floating holo screen, which displayed her notes.
“You startled me, my emperor.”She tried to heave in a breath, the depth of which was thwarted by the tiny body constricting her lungs.“I didn’t hear you return.”
“Your research is interesting,” he said.“This attempt to destroy the All by infecting its offshoots...fascinating.Tell me, is it your usual response to eradicate those you disagree with?”
She’d found Egilka could exhibit a quirky sense of humor.Even so, Cassidy eyed him uncertainly at the odd question before turning back to her notes.She wondered what she’d written to bring on the offbeat observation.“You of all people should know the answer to human interactions when it comes to other species.”
From the corner of her eye, she noted someone entering the lab.It was Egilka, returning to his seat and his lab specimen.He was speaking to his com.“Listen, Clajak, we can pick this up later.I have to get back to work so you don’t have a reason to strip the empire of its scientists.”
