Master of Shadows, Chapter 1: Caedmon Starlight

At precisely seven o’clock Eagle City Time a gentle voice jarred Starman Alice Montaine awake. It took her a moment to realize that the female voice was actually Ahmanyan, and it took her another moment to realize it was being broadcast through the ship’s intercom system. The Raptor was still several thousand light-years from Ahmanya, but evidently the ship’s computer had been able to pick up a broadcast transmission from the planet.

“Good morning, citizens of Ahmanya! Today is October 23, 2205. The weather in Eagle City will be mostly sunny, with a slight chance of rain this afternoon. The high will be …”

Alice sat up in bed, rubbed her eyes, and yawned. “Hey, Rachel, what’s with that voice?”

“It is the morning wakeup call you requested,” the computer replied. “We are only an hour away from landing in Eagle City. You expressed a desire to be ready when I touched down but you showed no signs of waking up on your own. I therefore decided to intervene.”

“Efficient as always, I see,” Alice grumbled. “And at such an unearthly hour, too. If you ask me morning comes much too quickly these days. But how is it you happened to pick that particular station?”

“That broadcast is originating from the Eagle City Chronicle‘s primary broadcasting station. You worked there for six months before you were accepted at Starlight Academy. I thought you might enjoy the sounds of home.”

“Thanks,” Alice said appreciatively. “But I think at this hour what I’d enjoy even more is a little more sleep.”

Still grumbling, she quickly showered, put on her red Starman uniform, and then headed to the galley for a quick breakfast. Alice had been given the Raptor six years ago after she left Venus to begin her exploration of the outer reaches of the galaxy. During those six years Rachel had been her only companion, as she spent most of her time far beyond the reaches of even the most distant colony. Alice did not mind the solitude, but Rachel was constantly urging her to find someone to team up with. Her short blond hair, amber eyes, and tall stature made for an attractive picture, but Alice had always replied that she had better things to do with her time than get involved in romance. Rachel had only given up pestering her when Alice threatened to have her replaced with an electronic toaster.

Alice finally made it to the bridge a full hour after her unexpected wakeup call. She yawned as she settled into the captain’s chair and began studying the information displayed on the holoscreen.

“I’m tired,” she said.

“I am not surprised,” the computer replied. The holographic person projected by the ship’s computer looked at her and shook its head. “You have slept for only six hours over the past three days. I am surprised you can still function.”

“I didn’t have a choice!” Alice protested. “I had to get that report on my findings off to Starlight Enterprise as soon as possible. If I got there before my report did then my meeting would be pretty useless. Caedmon Starlight needs at least a little time to go over the data before I talk with him. I really should have sent it last week but I hadn’t finished my investigation yet.”

“I wish you would let me reschedule your appointment with him,” Rachel said gently. “I know he is a busy man but under the circumstances I do not think he would mind. It is not often that one of his Starmen come all the way to Luna to pay him a personal visit.”

Alice shook her head. “We don’t have the time, Rachel. You saw that third scar! Somebody else already knows what’s inside that chamber. If we don’t act now then we’re going to be in a world of hurt.”

“As you wish,” she replied.

Several minutes ticked by. Alice pulled up a task list on the holoscreen in front of her and frowned. “How are we doing on this checklist? Have you made all the necessary arrangements?”

“I believe so,” Rachel replied. The holographic figure walked over to the screen and began gesturing at the items on the list. “I have contacted Starlight Enterprise and explained that this ship is eighteen months overdue for its regularly scheduled maintenance. They have placed us at the top of their priority list. As soon as the ship lands at the David Foster Spaceport it will be handed over to a maintenance crew, which will begin the necessary repairs.”

Alice winced. “Has it really been that long?”

Rachel nodded. “They did request that we be more punctual next time, but I explained to them that exploring the unknown does not always go as planned. I have given them a complete list of all the systems that need their attention, and they promised me that they can have the ship repaired and restocked with supplies by the first of November.”

“Hmmm,” Alice muttered, frowning. She gently drummed her fingers on the arm of her chair. “I mean, I know seven days is a fantastic turnaround time, but I don’t really want to wait that long to go back and take care of whatever is in that chamber. Still, I suppose it will take time to get everything together. There’s no sense in running off before we have all the supplies we need. So, all in all, I guess we can wait long enough to get fully prepared.”

“Indeed,” the computer replied.

“Did you talk to them about the transporter?” Alice asked. “Is there anything that can be done to extend its range?”

“I did mention that to Starlight Enterprise. They referred me to someone at Stryker Transportation, who promised to send a technician out to look at the unit. My hardware is still state-of-the-art but they believe that installing some new software might help cut down on the interference and extend the range.”

“I sure hope so,” Alice said fervently. “I hate making you land just so I can beam underground. I’d feel a lot better if we could do that from planetary orbit, far away from that awful city. Having you on the surface is a security risk I’d rather not take.”

Rachel looked confused. “I would like to point out that the planet is uninhabited. I have not been able to find any signs of danger.”

“Trust me on this – that planet is not safe. That’s why the next time we go back I want to bring an army with me. It never hurts to err on the side of caution.”

A moment later the Raptor dropped out of hyperspace. Alice noticed that the planet Ahmanya immediately filled the viewscreen at the front of the bridge. As tired as she was she couldn’t help smiling as she gazed at the blue and green world. It’s been too long since I’ve been home, she thought.

Fifty years ago that planet had been quite different. At that time it was still named Mars and was a a mostly dry, barren, inhospitable place. However, that began to change after the Xenobot menace was defeated. With their ancient enemy gone the planet’s original inhabitants came out of hiding and began restoring their home to its former glory. In 2170 Earth formally gave control over the planet to the Ahmanyan race. The aliens in turn gave control of the largest human settlement on the planet, Eagle City, back to mankind.

The arrangement had worked out well. Over the next thirty years the High King of Ahmanya had worked with the elected mayor of Eagle City to finish the terraformation process. Today that multi-generational project was complete. Once again vast forests and deep blue oceans dotted the planet’s surface. The once-lifeless corpse had become a vibrant jewel.

“It looks so different from that other planet,” Alice said aloud. “That place is all darkness and shadows and evil. There’s nothing the least bit warm or inviting about it.”

“When are you going to give it a name?” Rachel asked. “As its rightful discoverer you are authorized to name it.”

“That’s true,” Alice said slowly. “To be honest I have been giving it some thought. What would you think about naming it Lemura?”

“That would be from the Latin, meaning a planet of phantoms,” Rachel replied. “Given your unjustified superstitions about the desert lights you discovered I think that name would be highly appropriate. Would you like me to officially register the name?”

“If you don’t mind,” Alice said.

“Of course. But just out of curiosity, what if I did mind?”

“Then I’d make you do it anyway.”

“Oh,” Rachel replied. “Well, that is good to know.”

Alice looked out the viewscreen and watched as the Raptor left planetary orbit and flew toward Eagle City. The sprawling metropolis was located in a giant crater and was home to millions of people. From the air the city was a breathtaking sight. To Alice, however, it was much more than just another ultramodern city on another alien planet. It was her home.

It was not long before Rachel landed the Raptor in the David Foster Spaceport. After the starship had settled into its designated parking space she spoke up. “Several parties are requesting permission to come aboard.”

“I’ll go take care of it,” Alice replied. She got up out of her chair and walked over to the airlock. After opening the doors she stepped outside.

As Rachel had reported, a small group of uniformed personnel were patiently waiting for her. At the front of the group was a tall, thin man with dark hair and a ready smile. He extended his hand. “Starman Montaine, welcome back to Eagle City. My name is Donnie McGinnis. We’re from Starlight Enterprise and are here to perform the routine maintenance you requested.”

Alice smiled and shook his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you! By all means, don’t let me get in your way. Go right ahead and do whatever you need to do. As you can see the Raptor is a little worse for wear. We’ve had a bit of excitement over the past few years.”

“So I’ve heard,” Donnie replied, grinning. “I promise we’ll take good care of your ship.” He motioned to the small army that was following him and they quickly filed into the airlock.

After they were gone Alice saw that that was still one more person left outside – a tall, red-headed person in his early 20’s. He was carrying a small black briefcase. “And you are?” Alice asked.

“My name is Farmer – Ben Farmer,” he said, approaching the Starman. He took out a holographic ID card and handed it to her. “I was sent here by Stryker Transportation to see about upgrading the software on your transporter. I’ve been told you would like to improve its performance.”

“That would be wonderful! Please go right in – Rachel will explain what’s been happening.”

“And Rachel is…?”

“Oh – sorry! She’s the ship’s computer.”

“Of course,” Ben replied. “My apologies. Not many ships have artificial intelligence. It’s a pretty expensive upgrade.”

“True, but oh is it ever useful out in deep space! I don’t know how I would get along without her.”

Ben nodded and went on inside the ship. After checking in with Rachel and making sure that everything was in order she flagged down an electric vehicle and took it to the main terminal. As she rode to the terminal she noticed that people around her were stopping what they were doing to glance in her direction. They’ve probably never seen a Starman before, she thought idly. There’s less than a thousand of us in the whole galaxy and we almost never come home.

Alice stood in the terminal for a minute while she tried to decide where to go next. When she checked the time she was surprised at how early it was. Why, it’s not even nine o’clock yet! It’s way too early to go to Amundsen City. I think I’ll go pay my sister a visit. I’ve got time.

The Starman walked downstairs and over to the nearest subway station, which she rode to the heart of Eagle City. Once there she got off at the Goddard Road station, walked back up to the surface, and briskly jogged down the street.

As the morning broadcast had predicted, today was a beautiful day. The sun shone brilliantly overhead, illuminating a deep blue sky. The streets of the city were bustling with activity. Everywhere Alice looked she could see crowds of humans and Ahmanyans going about their business. The sight brought back many memories. Alice had been born in Eagle City and spent her whole life there before going off to become a Starman. It’s so good to be back, she thought happily.

Alice briskly made her way down the street and was soon standing in front of a small building made out of smooth red bricks. A worn sign overhead proclaimed it to be the Forgotten Treasures Bookstore. Alice smiled, opened the front door, and stepped inside. Immediately she was surrounded by the sights and smells of old books. This place is just packed with old books – exactly like I remember it! The walls and floorspace were filled with bookshelves, and even more battered volumes were stacked on every piece of available furniture. Here and there were a few large, overstuffed chairs. It hasn’t changed a bit, she thought to herself.

Her thoughts were interrupted by excited squeal behind her. As she turned around she saw her sister Amanda running toward her. “Oh, Alice! Alice Alice Alice. It’s so good to see you! I haven’t seen my little sister in ages. Ages!”

“It’s good to see you too,” Alice replied, hugging her sister. Amanda Montaine was ten years older than Alice. She had no other siblings, and the two had been very close while growing up together.

“Say, is that gray hair I see?” Alice asked, teasing her sister.

Amanda simply shook her head. “Just you wait! I’m not the only person in this family getting old. Do you realize that you’re almost 30? And that’s a third of the way to 90! You’ll be older than Richard Starlight soon.”

Alice laughed. “Thanks for making me feel better about the passage of time. It is good to see you again, though. It really is. And I can’t believe you actually bought this bookstore! Whatever possessed you to abandon your career and sell old books for a living?”

“Oh, that’s right!” Amanda plopped down into an overstuffed chair and grinned. “I’d forgotten that the last time you were here I was still working at Applied Sciences. Well, sis, it’s really not hard to explain. After spending fifteen years mutating yeast strains for the cause of science I decided I’d had quite enough. As nifty as that was, I figured there had to be more to life than bacteria cultures. I remembered all the good times we had here as young hoodlums and decided to give it a shot.”

“I guess that’s one way to ensure you never run out of things to read,” Alice teased. She walked over to the counter and picked up a thick volume with a bookmark halfway through the book. “Is this what you’re going through now?”

Amanda nodded. “Sure is! Project Orion is the ninth volume in the series. It’s quite good. There are a lot of great stories in that series – The Children of Neptune and The Door to Yesterday are two of my favorites. With stories like these I don’t have to leave Sol to explore alien planets! I can do it all from the comfort of my own home.”

Alice glanced at the author’s name on the spine. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of them.”

“They’re very old and quite hard to find,” Amanda explained. “It took me ages to track them down. I still don’t have the whole series but I’m working on it.”

“So how is your family doing?” Alice asked, as she handed the book back to her sister.

“They’re doing great! Tory and Alex are growing up so fast. Tory is going to be starting college next year and his younger brother isn’t far behind.”

“I just can’t believe it!” Alice replied. “It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long. Why, it seems like it’s only been a few months since I took you guys on that trip to the Farsight colony. We spent the whole week camping in the forest.”

“That was just after you had gotten the Raptor,” Amanda replied. “Those were good times. Speaking of your starship, how is Rachel doing these days?”

“Oh, she’s fine!” Alice replied. “Efficient as always – too efficient sometimes, if you ask me. That reminds me. Are we still on for dinner tonight?”

“More or less,” Amanda replied. “I’ll definitely be there, but as I told you last week my husband is out of town. The Dodd Foundation has sent him to Tau Ceti and he won’t be back for another week. Mom will be there, but Dad had to make an unexpected trip to Ganymede. He won’t be back for three days.”

“When did that happen?” Alice asked, surprised. “I talked to Mom just two days ago. She promised me Dad would be there!”

“I guess something came up,” Amanda replied sadly. “You know how it is. He’s a consultant, so he’s at the mercy of his clients. Sometimes things happen.”

Alice sighed. “I’m just tired of it, sis. Dad has always had somewhere else he had to be. He has never been there for us and it’s always the same old story. Even when I graduated from Starlight Academy he couldn’t be bothered to show up. I’ve tried everything to please him and it’s never enough. Amanda, I just discovered a lost planet of the First Races and he still can’t find the time to have dinner with his own daughter!”

“Alice,” her sister said warningly. “C’mon. We’ve had this discussion before. Your job doesn’t let you be at home much either.”

“I guess,” she said. “Maybe I’m just not the understanding type. But anyway, I’ve got to be going. I have to be on Luna soon for a meeting and I don’t want to be late. I’ll see you this afternoon ok?”

“All right,” Amanda replied. She gave her sister a hug. “Never forget that we love you, ok?”

“I love you too,” Alice replied. She left the bookstore and headed down the street.

It was only a short walk from the bookstore to the train station. Eagle City was such a popular destination that it had several train stations, but the largest one by far was the Grand Central Terminal in the heart of downtown. The maglev terminal was named after a train station that had once existed on Park Avenue in New York City, before the Collapse came and the city was destroyed in a nuclear war. The new station was built to look exactly like its namesake, complete with vintage 20th-century art and architecture.

Alice walked up to a glowing holoscreen inside the terminal and checked the arrival and departure times. She saw that there was a high-speed maglev train departing for Amundsen City in 20 minutes. After checking the departure platform and getting her electronic ticket she headed off to wait for the train to arrive.

In the 23rd century the solar system and many of the important extrasolar colonies were linked together by a network of high-speed maglev trains. An ordinary train could never cross interplanetary distances, so a series of wormholes was used to connect the various planetary rail networks. While on a planet the trains traveled on high-speed tracks, and when they needed to jump from one planet to another they simply went through a specially-constructed wormhole to jump to the next rail line. The system was so well designed that one could travel almost anywhere in a couple hours using only trains and the local subway system. Planes still existed, but people had become accustomed to the speed and luxuriousness of modern rail travel. Besides, at a top speed of four thousand miles per hour there were few planes that could match them for speed.

Precisely on schedule the sleek maglev train pulled up to platform 9. Alice waited until its passengers disembarked and then she climbed on board. She settled down into her assigned seat and relaxed. Another ten minutes and I’ll be on Luna, she thought to herself.

Amundsen City was located on the south pole of Earth’s moon in Shackleton Crater. It was one of the oldest extraplanetary cities and until recently rivaled Eagle City for size. The sprawling metropolis was home to many of the solar system’s most important corporations.

The tallest building in Amundsen City was the Starlight Tower, the headquarters of Starlight Enterprise. At one time it was the tallest building in the solar system, but over the past fifty years it had been surpassed by structures on other planets. The enormous building was still an impressive sight, and the fact that it was almost 75 years old did nothing to dim its magnificence.

Caedmon Starlight’s office was located on the 121st floor of the Tower. At one point that office had belonged to his father Richard, but after he retired he turned it over to his son. For the past thirty years Caedmon had run his father’s company from that office, successfully managing the transition from an interplanetary business into an interstellar corporation. Under his wise leadership the company had maintained its position on the cutting edge of exploration and science.

His office was accessible only by two express elevators, and Alice approached them nervously. She had only met Caedmon twice before, and one of those occasions was in the ceremony where she officially became a Starman. While all Starmen worked for Starlight Enterprise and therefore reported directly to Caedmon, it was very unusual for them to pay him a personal visit in his private office.

After showing her credentials to the guards on the first floor they allowed her to board the elevator. She was soon speeding toward the top of the Tower. After the elevator doors opened she stepped into a small, luxurious waiting room.

In the waiting room was a beautiful wooden desk and a few ornate chairs. Pictures of distant colonies accented the walls, and the floor was covered by a plush red carpet. Behind the desk was Ellarine Starlight, Caedmon’s daughter. Ellarine acted as her father’s personal secretary and managed all of his appointments, but Alice knew that in reality she played a large role in running the company. Everyone knew that it would not be long before Caedmon retired and turned the company over to his daughter.

“Why hello, Starman Montaine,” Ellarine said brightly. “My father is expecting you. He’ll see you in just a moment.”

Alice nodded and nervously sat down in a chair to wait. I wonder how many other people have sat in this room through the years, she thought. I wonder if it’s exciting to keep the galaxy’s most important people fidgeting in your waiting room. She glanced over to a nearby table and saw the September and October issues of Swift Enterprises Monthly, a leading scientific publication. The cover story this month appeared to be about a new breed of nuclear-powered aircraft. At least they keep their subscriptions up-to-date. I hate it when I’m waiting in a doctor’s office and all they have to read are ten-year-old magazines.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Ellarine. “Caedmon Starlight will see you now.”

“Thanks,” Alice said. She walked through the double-doors behind Ellarine and stepped into his office.

Alice had heard a great deal about the famous Starlight office but had never been inside it before. She was not disappointed by what she saw. The pictures just don’t do it justice, she thought. The four walls of the spacious room were made of treated glass, impervious to the constant rain of micro-meteorites. Outside she could see the landscape of the moon stretching out for miles in all directions. In the distance she could just barely see the pass that led to the Field of Obsolescence.

Caedmon’s office was far more than just a fancy suite with a big desk. The 3000 square-foot room had a modern scientific laboratory, state-of-the-art communications equipment, and a fully-stocked resource library. In one corner of the room was a huge table that appeared to be made out of mahogany but was actually constructed from an amazing artificial substance. In another part of the room were large, detailed globes of Earth, the Moon, and Mars. Why, he’s even got the globe of Mercury! Didn’t a Xenobot spy hide in that very globe once?

Alice forced her attention back to Caedmon Starlight, who was seated behind his desk. When she walked into the room the head of Starlight Enterprise stood up, walked over to her, and shook her hand. “Starman Alice Montaine! It is a pleasure to see you again. I see you’ve been quite busy! Please, have a seat.”

Alice sat down in one of the chairs opposite the desk. She noticed that a printed copy of her report was lying on the top of the desk. It looks like he’s been reading my report, she thought, as she noticed some handwritten notes jotted in the margin of the page. And he’s been taking notes!

The head of Starlight Enterprise took his seat. He looked at Alice and smiled. “So how has everything been? Has the Raptor met your expectations? I understand you’ve been exploring some very remote parts of the galaxy.”

Alice nodded. “Um, yes, that’s true. I’ve been concentrating on exploring the most distant stars in our galaxy’s spiral arms. As far as I can tell no one else has ever done a detailed search of those sectors. The starship you’ve provided me has performed admirably. The AI unit in particular has been invaluable. I don’t know what I would have done without her.”

Caedmon glanced down to look at his desk. Only then did Alice realize that what she thought was a wooden desktop was actually a well-camouflaged holoscreen. Information was scrolling by in several places. From where she sat Alice couldn’t read the writing but it was clear Caedmon was keeping tabs on many projects simultaneously.

“It looks like your ship is being serviced as we speak,” he commented. “I’m glad you were able to find the time to get that done! Over the past five years you’ve done a lot of traveling. You give our hardware a good workout.”

“You could certainly say that, sir,” Alice agreed. “I’ve had a lot of ground to cover, but I think it has paid off. Lemura is exactly what I was hoping to find.”

“Ah, so you have named the planet!” Caedmon said approvingly. “I was going to ask you about that. So tell me a little bit more about this world you’ve discovered.”

Over the next half-hour Alice answered many questions about her most recent discovery. She described in detail the process she went through to find it, and what she had discovered beneath the city.

“I really believe this is the missing piece of history we’ve been looking for,” Alice concluded. “This city clearly predates the war between the Lucians and the First Races. I believe this is where the Lucians conducted their initial tests of the weapon they ultimately used to destroy their enemies.”

“Most historians would say that the First Races were victorious,” Caedmon commented, “but you make a compelling case for believing the contrary. Your theory states that while the Lucians were devastated, they ultimately won, and the reason the First Races have never returned is because they are no longer around.”

“Exactly,” Alice replied.

“So do you believe this ancient weapon still resides in that chamber?” Caedmon asked.

“Yes and no,” Alice replied slowly. “I don’t think it’s something like a gun or a missile that you just point and shoot. If the weapon was simply a piece of machinery then I think the Xenobots would have used it in their war against us. I think it’s far more likely that whatever is in that chamber is a life form of some kind. It might be a mechanical life form or it could be a biological one. But I think the Lucians built a monster to destroy their enemies – and that the monster then turned on them. Rather than destroy it, they imprisoned it in the very place where it was created.”

“That’s a very interesting theory,” Caedmon said slowly. “But haven’t you been trying to open this chamber? According to what you are telling me that sounds like a very dangerous thing to do.”

“I’ve been trying to find a way inside so I can destroy what it contains,” Alice explained. “And I’m not the only person trying to get inside, either. Someone else knows what is in there. Somebody is trying to let that monster loose.”

“The third scar,” Caedmon said quietly.

“Exactly,” Alice said. “But sir, we cannot let that happen. Whatever is locked away inside that room must never be allowed to escape. I believe that weapon destroyed the First Races at the height of their power. Imagine what it would do to a primitive civilization such as our own! We’ve got to act now, while it is still locked away.”

The head of Starlight Enterprise was quiet for a few moments. “So how do you propose we deal with this situation?”

Alice did not hesitate. “Mobilize Tharsos. It is without question the most powerful instrument of war that either us or the Ahmanyans possess. I have no doubt that it can summon enough power to vaporize the chamber. It would be a quick and simple operation.”

Caedmon smiled. “I’m afraid there is nothing quick or simple about mobilizing Tharsos, Alice. Yes, it is true that fifty years ago it was used in the war against the Xenobots. However, for decades now it has joined Phobos and Demos as moons of Ahmanya. The last time its star drive was activated was before you were born. The city within it, Olovanda, is home to almost a million people.”

The head of Starlight Enterprise paused for a moment to gather his thoughts. “If we were to reactivate Tharsos we would need to temporarily relocate all of those people. It would not be wise to put their lives in danger by moving them into a war zone. If your theory is correct there is no telling what might happen when that chamber is destroyed. Moving all those people is not a trivial task, to say nothing of the effort that would be required to make sure Tharsos can still operate as a weapon of war. I would imagine there are many systems that need to be checked and reactivated.”

As Alice opened her mouth to reply Caedmon held up his hand. “There is one more thing to consider. Tharsos belongs to Ahmanya, not Starlight Enterprise. Any request to use it – and especially a request such as this – would have to be brought before the High King of that planet. I don’t know how he would respond. King Izmaka is not as young as he used to be, and I’m not either, for that matter.”

“So what are your thoughts, sir?” Alice asked.

Caedmon was silent for a few minutes. When he finally spoke he was slow and deliberate. “I think it is clear that you have made an important discovery – perhaps the most important one we’ve made since the fall of the Xenobots. You have presented some solid evidence that the First Races lost their war with the Lucians and that the weapon they used against them may still exist. If it does, that presents a compelling case to act. We must not allow that weapon to fall into the wrong hands and be used against us.”

“Exactly,” Alice said.

“However,” Caedmon continued, “I do not think, based solely on the evidence you have provided, that I could convince the Ahmanyans to mobilize Tharsos. It is not at all clear that the contents of that chamber are hazardous. You yourself have admitted that you have only theories as to what it might contain.”

“It’s impossible to see through that white metal!” Alice protested. “The only way to see what’s inside is to break through it, and I haven’t been able to do that. It’s very well-guarded.”

“But you have only tried for three months,” Caedmon pointed out, “and on your first expedition to Lemura you did not expect to encounter this obstacle. Surely you could find a way to see what is on the other side of that wall. If you can prove that the chamber does contain something that threatens all of civilization then I believe I could justify asking King Izmaka to re-activate Tharsos.”

“But what about the third scar?” Alice asked. “Someone else is already trying to get in!”

“It is not an easy thing to ask a million people to give up their home because of a tear in a wall on a planet they have never seen,” Caedmon pointed out. “I am not trying to minimize the danger, but I believe we need a lot more evidence before we can justify moving forward. And I have no doubts that you are fully capable of obtaining that evidence.”

“Yes, sir,” Alice said softly. I should have known this would happen, she thought to herself. I understand where he is coming from, but he hasn’t been there. He hasn’t seen what I’ve seen.

“You don’t have to do this alone, you know,” Caedmon said. “There are other Starmen that would be more than happy to lend their expertise. I’ve already sent a copy of your report to Joe Taylor. He’s been researching the First Races for years now and I have no doubt that he will be extremely excited about what you’ve found.”

“You mean the Joe Taylor?” Alice asked, surprised. “I didn’t realize he was still an active Starman. Didn’t he fight with David Foster in the war against the Xenobots?”

“That is correct,” Caedmon replied. “Of course, he was much younger back then, but he’s still a very busy man. He’s been spending most of his time the past few years studying the planet Larson’s Folly.”

“I’ve heard of that place,” Alice said, shuddering. “That’s one planet I hope I never visit. It sounds even worse than Lemura.”

Caedmon stood up, signaling that the meeting was over. “Please let me know if there is anything at all that I can do. The resources of Starlight Enterprise are at your disposal. All you have to do is ask.”

“Thanks,” Alice replied. She shook his hand and then headed back to the elevator. I just hope I can find my way into that chamber before our unseen competitor, she thought, as she rode the elevator back down to the surface. If I lose this race against time then the High King won’t have to worry about inconveniencing the residents of Olovanda. There won’t be any residents left – not in Olovanda or anywhere else. The First Races fought this evil and failed. Do we really think that we can do better than they did?