Futuristic Thesis of God: Hubris

[Tice]

​

War threatens to destroy an already unstable, paranoid galaxy. The Milky Way is growing too crowded for the Iterion Empire, led by a bloodthirsty dictator bent on spreading their regime to each and every planet. Crime has a strong foothold in several star systems, fueled by people's desire for rebellion, greed, or protection. The other inhabitants of the galaxy form loose alliances with each other, hoping that combined force can stop the Iterion juggernaut before their way of life is destroyed. The Evuvian and Snendos factions, amicable for generations, are host to internal conflicts threatening to violently reform their peaceful ways. The remaining Terran factions are also loosely bound, far from friends, but sharing common enemies. The Federation, consisting of pure Terran populations, and The Coalition, acceptant of all races.

While war is a real and constant threat to the people, something darker brews. Some theorize that a more powerful race hides in the vastness of the galaxy, watching, studying, and kidnapping at will. Considered to be no more than stories of bogeyman, the idea is considered insane. Still, paranoia is a common trait in the era, and nothing is considered too far-fetched. The Golden Age of technology has passed, leaving behind weapons of war capable of changing and destroying lives at ease. With the mighty Iterion Empire at the crest of technological might, no military can hope to stop it. Only guile, cunning, and pure luck may stop the dictator before it is too late.

A desolate, squalid space station would be the start of something phenomenal...​

 

[Purity]

Veren Koss

The research station was but one of many countless stations established and maintained by the Trini dominion, warding away those that were not of the Trini through a subtle theta wave manipulation. Of course, this didn't work on every single species that could possibly come across one of such stations, and that was where the quantum tunneling drones came in. Any ship without the required technology would suddenly warp away to a different part of the vast darkness that is space.

Of course, that wasn't the only defense that these Trini structures had. Simply the one that created the least... complications.

As for the purpose of these research stations, it was to research whatever was prevalent and interesting at the time to any of the minds present. Perhaps a Trini in another part of the galaxy had a question to propose, a scientist on one of these stations might pick it up and proceed with the experimentation. Or perhaps an argument arose between two members of the station, a trial would immediately be underway to empirically settle the debated matter. Such is the fleeting nature of Trini science, if it can even be called science. But one thing was constant: each station had a research head. And that Trini in charge would determine the general direction of all procedures and processes undertaken in their facility.

This particular station had the designation of 24.172, if a written designation existed in the Trini consciousness. This could be read by a Trini through the circle visibly glowing on the extremely massive front wall. 24.172 was a series of interlocking cubes in an X formation built in the middle of an asteroid belt, surrounding a single large chunk of rock that could rival the size of a planet's moon. The only part visible to the naked eye was the marking designating 24.172. Everything else was a shimmering black, the flickering illusion created from an extremely dense energy field that surrounded the station.

A single black ship, in the shape of a sleek U or V pattern, silently approached and was swallowed up by the structure.


Veren was standing in a completely blank room, save for one wall being seemingly completely open to the void of space. In fact, he was standing in the dead center of the square room, something that he could often be found doing. Four small, levitating, silver devices were floating just above his shoulders, two over each, and were projecting a screen in front of him. Perhaps to any other species, it might've looked as if it was showing an incredible display of flashing lights and random bars of text, but to Veren and most other Trini, it was simply reading the news.

A section of the wall directly behind him just disappeared as another Trini walked through. She was in the exact same dress as Veren, save the differing insignia on her uniform. She was additionally wearing black boots and black gloves, both a flawless matte finish with no seams visible. If a Terran were to describe her, they'd describe her as having the perfect feminine figure, down to sharp eyes and uniformly tied hair. She stopped exactly two meter behind Veren

I've returned from my little excursion, Division Head. And I'm pleased to report that your orders have been carried out completely. 4653 has been completely sterilized. The screen in front of Veren flickered off, and the drones settled into place back on his shoulders.

No need for formalities, Kara. I'm sure you understand my position on how much time that wastes. My last speech continued for an intolerable 103.47 additional seconds just because of formalities. Kara blinked.

As one of your senior officers, I would like to gently remind you, without offense, that the reason a hierarchy is necessary in...

Consider it remembered and ignored. I'm glad you did well on your mission. Dismissed until further notice.

Kara broke in professionalism for a brief moment to convey some exasperation to Veren. She then promptly left the room. The drones rose out of their places again, but then, after stalling for a brief moment, retracted. Veren turned his head slightly to the side.

If you wanted to be courteous, the least you could've done is triggered one alarm. Sesler'ther.

 

[Tice]

"Sesler'ther, what is it like?"

Raina, you understand that I refuse to read your mind.

"Is that humor? That's bold for you. You can't help but do so, I know."

Regardless, what did you want to ask of me.

"You did it again. I taught you how to make your statements sound like a question, no? It'll be helpful if you wanna stick around instead of hiding for the rest of our lives."

It's a minute detail. I would rather have you tell me what you meant to ask.

She laughed at this, turning away for a moment to look out a small window beside the table which she sat at. Sesler'ther's eye for detail pulled apart everything in the room in milliseconds, especially Raina. Her laugh was unique, and the Trini tended to dwell on memories of it, unnatural for him to do. Then, she grew a bit solemn, looking at her empty plate for a moment before looking back up to him.

"What is it like to know that I'll die? It has to be different than knowing my mother will die, or things like that. Doesn't everyone eventually leave you?"

Everyone I know at the time, yes.
There was a pause in the one way telepathic conversation between the two, if a brief one.
Including yourself.

While not at the same capacity as Sesler, Raina was smart, enough to pick up on the pause in Sesler's thoughts that they shared. She was incapable of responding to them, but was able to take them in. They always felt...heavy, like the pure force of Sesler's mind was just trying to escape into her's. Somehow, it was the most intimate thing that they shared.

"I...I shouldn't have asked. I imagine it must be hard for you."

You were curious and sought answers. I responded honestly, with no deception. There is no challenge to losing others. There's no input from me required.

"That's not what I meant. It's hard on you. I know you're not quite human, and I'll never understand just how you think, but I know that in the time we spent together that you've gained some qualities that are similar to my emotions and feelings. Losing friends is supposed to be hard on the mind, regardless of what you are. You're immortal, I'm not."

I understand what you meant to say. Perhaps I wanted to avoid the matter. Regardless, it is an issue that should be discussed. Yes, Raina, I know that you will eventually die, and there is nothing I can do about it. I cannot quite express the feeling in words, nor do I understand it, but it is not a positive emotion. The Trini were not built to process the loss of others, but over time I have seemed to have grown an attachment to intangible things such as this. I am an alien to both mankind and the Trini now. I killed a lot of my own species to protect yours and kept you alive during the genocide, but in some way knowing that you will die no matter what makes all of our activities seem in vain. Is that why your species is so much more prone to take risks without calculation, or expose themselves to danger? Knowing that dying of time is worse than any other pain?

"I guess that's right. I want to spend all the time I have with you, Sesler'ther. I want to give you memories, as those seem to be the only thing you cannot lose."

We share many.

"The status quo isn't enough. There's no more danger in our lives, so let's explore a little. You can discover everything Earth has to offer."

Raina, the slightest of memories can be examined in detail to occupy me for centuries. You have given me your life to share until death. I will try to learn more about how you think and attempt to emulate it.

"No, Sesler, you're unique. Never change."

The Trini scarcely dreamed. Their memories were exact and didn't need analysis in their sleep like mortals did. Sesler'ther also didn't have the same complex emotions as the modern Trini, but found himself mirroring them all the same. He awoke like a machine, rising from the ground of his shuttle in a methodical manner, as though every move was precalculated. He had no reflex or instinct in his steps. Everything was consciously noted and performed. A mental schedule put him at the perfect time to begin spaceflight again. A small adjustment to the current thruster settings, calculated by centuries of spaceflight, allowed him to bring himself close to 24.172 at the time he had earlier designated. Veren would be inside, likely alone, which suited the both of them well. Sesler'ther's ship was equipped as any other research vessel, so he didn't need to calculate any chances of being warped to another point of the galaxy. The facility was another colossal construction by the modern Trini, acting as a multi-role structure for the intelligent race. It was impossible to detect with his eyes, but with the proper detection systems, it was clear to see.

Entering the facility was an arduous task of avoiding invisible motion sensors, thermal readers, recording cameras, heartbeat detectors, and various other devices that would send the facility into a lockdown state, or at the very least, put Sesler'ther back on a list. The Trini's security systems were highly advanced, but Sesler was old enough to watch them be designed and constructed. Then again, he was old enough to watch it all be built. If he didn't see it, he learned of it at some point in time.

Veren was peculiar in that he did not outright avoid Sesler'ther, nor did Sesler do the same to him. Before entering the observation bubble, Sesler'ther stopped, his mind piercing a private telepathic communication between two Trini. It was a difficult task to breach such discussions, but his intrusion wouldn't be detected. That, he was certain of. He briefly wondered if he had, in fact, triggered a security system, or if he was expected by more than Veren. Already his hand grasped a weapon buried within his thin, fibrous clothing. It was not tense, but merely there. He removed his hand from it soon, after the two voices disconnected, to which Sesler'ther could clearly hear the footsteps of a woman leaving the room. He waited a few moments, then entered through the wall, his hand lightly tapping the hidden button on the wall before.

Sesler's mind was fragmented into millions of pieces over the millenniums, all of them serving a specific task. His telepathic thoughts, naturally stronger than most modern Trini, were therefore not quite as powerful on the mind as they used to be. As such, it no longer seemed as though he was trying to break the brain of his conversation partner as it once was when he communicated purely with the mind.

I prefer to avoid the consequences that breaching security entails. I never come to you with small-scale matters, though that is subjective. I understand that the Trini have been studying the Iterion Empire in depth for some time. There's also reports of a greater threat, although I will get to that later. You answered my contact, so it is possible that you have something to relay to me first. Is it of importance, and what is my role in the issue. It may have something to do with what I bring.

 

[Purity]

Veren Koss

Veren nodded and turned around. He sat down, and two black chairs appeared about as abruptly as the wall had disappeared when Kara had entered the room previously. They seemed to be completely solid forms, appearing as a cube attached to the ground with a rectangular prism for the back, but it conformed around Veren's body as he sat down.

I feel a need to specify one thing first. The Iterion Empire is being scrutinized and evaluated because it encroaches on certain planets which we have experimentation ongoing, also because some believe that the discord it sows impedes the progress of many civilizations, however I believe that there are multiple machinations present here that even High Council doesn't have control over. You likely knew all this already, but I'm starting with this because I require your stance on the entire matter.

Of course, I can already tell by your presence that you are far older than I originally anticipated. As such, we likely no longer think quite the same way, so perhaps we should start with my standpoint.

A single drone detached from Veren's shoulder and lifted into the air. It began to project a map of the portion of the galaxy the Iterion Empire controlled, with countless dots of varying sizes and color almost flooding the entire image.

My goal, and thus by extension, the goal of this research station, is always the betterment of the Trini race. But just between the two of us, I'll say that I no longer believe that this improvement will come from our own race. With that in mind, as you can see on this map in front of you, I've decided to take matters into my own hands. No one else has this map available to them, as this is a projection that's pieced together from my thoughts. Now, if you've committed this memory...

The map blinked out of existence and the drone clipped back into place.

The Trini may have by far the most powerful cognitive functions, and arguably a similarly advanced form, but I wish to use the Iterion Empire and the conflicts it germinates to create the ultimate physical specimen for study. That is where I need your help.

 

[Tice]

Sesler noted the presence of the chairs as he had entered, eyes quickly darting to the dark forms for a moment before returning to Veren's gaze. Sesler'ther chose to stand. While his mind was focused on the conversation between him and Koss, he also surveyed the room, looking for more hidden contraptions such as the chair. Another piece of his mind monitored subsets of cognitive thought that managed his breathing, heart rate, and cell production. Now in rest, his heart beat at a mere 40 beats a minute.

The Trini would do best not to share this information. The population would not allow to stay idle knowing that the Iterions act outside Council control. It is rather interesting that the Trini remain passive on this issue as of yet, seeing as how your kind knows the threat they carry. A common trait of the Trini is their overestimation of their own ability. It led to their genocide once before. As for my age, I will mention that later. It is connected to my issue at hand.

Sesler'ther watched the drone fly up, analyzing its construction and purpose as the map was created and saved to his mind at a glance. The Trini had lost the ability to project mental images telepathically. He had yet to see if it was possible for him to do so with others, even if they may not have the ability to do so back. Terrans are capable of telepathic communication with him - although Raina never lived to learn how - so it may be a possibility.

The Trini scarcely admit their own flaws, Veren. For your safety, do not mention this to other researchers. The map is a helpful tool for our purposes. It is well that you have it.

He found himself stating facts that both of them already knew. Somehow, Sesler'ther assumed an almost human-like intelligence with Veren. His interactions with Trini were scarce.

Regardless, I did memorize this map. As a sign of this, Sesler'ther sent the image to Veren, his mind focusing as one entity for a brief moment to do so. Yet your race always desires perfection. I can support your hypothesis that the Iterion wars will bring the peak physical creature to light. The humans - Terrans, as they call themselves now - are perhaps quicker than the Trini to experiment with genetics in warlike scenarios. There is limitations to Trini simulations that can only be solved with war. Something your kind avoids well. Now, what is it that you need of me.

 

[Purity]

Veren Koss

Veren warded off the thought of the complete map from Sesler.

No, I'd rather not have the image in my head. The only reason I transmitted it through projection is because even in my head, the map is in pieces. The drone focuses it for me, but yes, as you've said I've been very careful with my own preparations.

Veren had noted Sesler surveying the room briefly, so Veren nodded and lifted his hand. A black sphere appeared, and began to contort and spiral into various shapes.

This room is the best we have to offer on nanotechnology. Each individual bot is outfitted with a full quantum drive, along with various other applications that allow for a near infinite number of possibilities. Unfortunately, we can't keep them coherent that far from the signal yet, so this has yet to see applications in the field. So, yes, this room could potentially house a number of lethal devices, but they're open to any Trini mind. You may try it, if you wish.

The shape in his hand reformed into a uniform sphere and dissolved.

But back to the matter at hand. You no longer think of yourself as fully Trini, it seems. That's precisely the type of person that I needed for this job. There is something that our species as a whole lacks, and I, being Trini as well, cannot fathom this like any other Trini. Perhaps, being an observer, you could enlighten us, but for now there's no need for it. You alone can force the Iterion's hand into using their ultimatum. Which, if I understand correctly...

At this point, Veren broke eye contact with Sesler and looked out the seemingly open wall towards the bright constellations and colorful nebulae of space.

...has something to do with a multi-dimensional gate. Another universe. Something that, so far, only our distant ancestors have ever managed.

 

[Tice]

Sesler'ther had a directive going into the room. Things he wanted to learn, ask, and put out to be done. A mental checklist kept him in line, but it gave him room to observe and learn outside that tight schedule. The in-depth nanotech could be very useful in the future; Sesler'ther knew his mind was dangerous and weaponizing that could be critical later on. He silently watched, delivering no thought communication for a short duration as he watched the sphere, imagining millions of possible shapes it may be. The Trini never stopped advancing, even when put to the very edge. He knew very well that he was different than them, but also similar in many ways. He pursued knowledge with a deathly thirst, and found that isolating himself from others was not going to help him with that. There was also...a conscience, something Raina had once taught him. Something he gained during his years on Earth.

I expected you to have such a dossier of actions to take. I am not wrong in that assumption. It is also my turn to specify something as well. I am fully Trini. Just a different kind of Trini than your kind knows. It has something to do with my age that you had detected earlier. As for inter-dimensional travel, I'm aware of its existence and use. More on that, then.

Sesler'ther cut the communication for a moment, a void suddenly filling his mind where Veren's presence once was. He took a view at the open wall, preventing his mind from attempting to find pattern or reason in the galaxies and stars and simply look at the universe.

I cannot force the Iterion Empire to use their hidden technology alone. I acknowledge my own inabilities; I need people, including yourself. I have no cybernetic augmentation to give a physical edge in combat. I may mentally be a great adversary, but some challenges require pure physical might. That, and I only have two hands. I have exhausted all of my distractions, so I will be clear. I am a Trini entirely, with no biological augmentation. You know that a creature may adapt, but only their species can evolve. As such, I have adapted, but haven't evolved. I am a predecessor to the modern Trini. I am the first Trini to have ever entered this universe using inter-dimensional travel that I experimented with, designed, and used to escape a dying universe where the Trini first existed. I am 6,439 mortal Earth years aged, and 11,234 Trini-Home, my original universe, years aged. I know that the Trini did not evolve their emotions heavily, but you are capable of surprise as a defensive mechanism. Know that I do not lie to you, nor am I capable of exaggerating. I have seen empires larger than the Iterions fall, species begin and die within my lifespan, and was the sole executor of billions of Trini depending on how you look at the situation where I left my universe alone, with no way for other Trini to escape like I did. Yet they did, or you would not be here. I killed Trini indirectly, but also directly, defending the human race from subjugation under my Trini superiors for reasons I have yet to understand. This is a basic synopsis of the first hundred years of my life. The Trini have since disappeared and began the species anew. The thing your species - and mine - lacks is risk. Study the humans as much as possible, but it is impossible to grasp exactly what drives them. They are not immortal like us, and fine death by old age intolerable. They crave domination as a survival instinct, even if it could lead to the wholesale destruction of their kind. Where we calculate the probabilities of certain events, they take action. The Trini are unpredictable and seemingly omniscient to other races, as I've been told. From what I've learned, we follow a set pattern in life, albeit difficult to decipher.

Sesler stopped, turning to look at Veren directly. Sesler'ther's mind was active like a lit fire, images accompanying his thoughts as he scoured his memories in detail. The smallest pieces of information came to light as he did so, like a well-packed archive being unopened.

I know you told me that there was no need for this. I argue that this is something for you to think over for yourself before listening to anything else I have to say. I did not intend to fill your mind with any images if I did; recounting memories from several millennia ago is a process that requires me to extract all details, even imagery. Never, in any scenario, tell any other Trini what I have told you now. The Trini will examine me to death. There is a very large threat, one that I came here in mind to discuss. But the Iterion Empire is our very immediate concern. It is up to you whether you want to learn about such a thing now, or if you would rather give information on what you had gathered about the Iterion Empire. Do not dwell on me; that was information to explain myself better. Talk about what you know that I do not, rather than on things we both know.

 

[Purity]

Veren Koss

Veren was seemingly thoughtless for a moment as well, as he stroked his chin with his right hand. Then he began to nod slowly.

I see now. You may be a predecessor to what the Trini currently consider as the "modern race", but I believe that you're far more as well. This war that will wage eventually will bring out the physical form we need to further my research, but the perfect mental state...

He turned to face Sesler once more, face unreadable as typical of a Trini. However, his mind was buzzing with what felt like... anticipation? Realization? It was a very powerful feeling, as if he was on the verge of receiving the perfect present, but was just a bit too far from it.

You say that there is a large threat. Assuming you mean to the Trini race, the High Council is currently trying to suppress information on something that I learned from an associate of mine: the Trini from several other universes have gone silent. If you have any specifics about what could be behind such genocide, any at all, then consider me intrigued. But as for what I know, the Iterion Empire is mainly a human dominion, which I believe is a species that you're exceedingly familiar with. They're a conquest based empire, and thus must continue to expand until they inevitably anger every other faction in this galaxy. That is when the war comes in, and it's already beginning to happen. If such a case arises where the Iterion Empire wins, they may eventually locate our race as well, in which case I believe it's of popular opinion amidst the Trini to simply destroy all sentient life and start over. Otherwise, in the far more likely event that the Iterion Empire collapses, they activate their last option and possibly invite whatever has silenced the other universes into our own universe. The problem is that there's only a 78.49% chance that the Iterion Empire loses. I can't afford that, so my goal is to make absolute certain that they lose. To that effect, we would need some... pieces on the board, if you will.

Veren went back to his chair and sat down, opting to lean back slightly.

That is all. You are far more familiar with the human race, and I tend to leave those with expertise in certain areas that I lack to do what I am unfamiliar with. And in the thousand and five hundred or so other cases I've formulated, there are other fail-safes that I've set the base groundwork for across certain sectors of the galaxy. I would ideally finish them myself, but the Council obviously makes sure I'm meeting certain requirements. I can't be missing for long. These two jobs of mine, the formation of a team and the finalization of several other projects, are what I need assistance with.

 

[Tice]

Sesler'ther never abandoned the small pursuits of the Trini mind, however averse he may have grown over the thousands of years of his life to it. He found himself looking out the window with a bit of fondness, finding the room a delicate surprise to entertain his mind. Seeing the universe in a secure, soundless environment wasn't something he got to do often. He could have stood there for days on end without moving if matters weren't more important.

I was aware that the Council knew of this threat, and just as they, I do not have a name for it. I am surprised to know that you have learned of it as well. We are discussing the same multi-dimensional danger. But there is little we can do about such a thing with what we have where we are. As so, I won't disclose anything that isn't related to the Iterion Empire until they are destroyed and their final weapon is used.

While Sesler knew that bringing the threat to their universe was immensely, indisputably dangerous to the galaxy's way of life, he also knew that it would come at some point. It would be better for him to eliminate a belligerent human threat so that he may unite the galaxy into one defensive alliance. No matter what his and Koss's plan would be, they were facing hard odds. Under-equipped, under-manned, and relying on unscrupulous individuals to get illegal work done would be a very hard challenge for Sesler'ther. This would, at the very least, hone Sesler into a more dangerous individual for the inevitable final reckoning. If the High Council ever opposed direct intervention against the warring factions, Sesler would have to eliminate them as well.

I understand what you want me to do. You believe rightly in that I can gather a group of individuals, ones who already oppose the Iterions, to take down the Empire so that they might eventually deploy their last weapon and bring our true threat to us. The challenge lies in the formation of such a task force; I have no wealth to offer these potential agents, nor will they care for selflessly risking their lives for a perceived greater good. I can find a solution for this problem. I am more interested in your other projects.

Sesler'ther moved away from the window as he finished speaking, now idly meddling with the black sphere Veren had earlier showed him. Millions of items could be displayed on such a thing, but he could isolate none. As such, it randomly stretched and contracted with no real goal. How long do we have until you are expected elsewhere, Veren? It would not be beneficial for me or you to be found colluding together. The High Council must never know of this direct intervention. They won't allow it on pain of death.

 

[Purity]

Veren Koss

I know far more than what the High Council deems appropriate for a standard Trini to know. After all, I did know about you. Nevertheless, you’re correct. We should move on to discuss other, more pending topics.

Perhaps the greatest problem at present was within the unknown, and as someone who’d purposefully switched into the field of the acquisition of knowledge, it irked Veren slightly. Sesler’ther likely knew far more than Veren did, and even having all that information in front of him Veren wasn’t allowed to ask. No matter. He didn’t want to tread on Sesler’ther’s life at all, and in any case, Veren would learn such things in time. Patience was something he was very much used to.

Veren mentally conveyed dismissal.

Regardless of whether you have a solution, I do have a plethora of rather convincing items at your disposal should you need them. I may not be able to assist you after this meeting, but that does not mean I won’t remain at your service. All my resources will be available to you, at least as much as I can clandestinely offer. And as for the other projects…

A multitude of shapes appeared around Veren. They were helixes of different lengths and widths, each one having chromosomes highlighted in certain fashions and each one unique.

I’ve not had long to cultivate my projects. After all, I myself haven’t been in this science until fairly recently, only several decades or so. Most of my projects are manipulations of DNA and biological amalgamations that I’ve tried to hone certain features in. Others are experimental weapons and defense systems by my colleagues. Every single one of them require activation or finishing in some form. Some will likely be volatile, others will be more… cooperative. At any rate, those will be self-intuitive to someone of your caliber when you get to them, so now our primary concern is the High Council.

The matrices of DNA around Veren swirled into each other, shrinking and disappearing.

I’m assuming you aren’t too fond of them, no? In any case, that allows me to speak freely. They’re all fools. Egotistical, ignorant, standoffish fools that I guarantee will cause the death of us all. I’ve done my best to stay in their good books, so that I’m ignored other than routine checks. So I have plenty of time. However, as I’ve mentioned before, I need clear reasons to go outside of this sector. That will limit my interactions with you going forward, which means that we must use the time we have now wisely.

 

[Tice]

Your resources will be used in some way soon. Be it for the creation of this currently imaginative task force or for the pursuit of your unfinished projects.

Sesler'ther observed the helices, finding their presentation easy to grasp. Veren's technology was very good at presenting information. Something he may need at some point in his recruitment. The projects on genetics gave him some insight into Veren's expertise. He was a scientist, not an operator. It would make sense, then, for Sesler'ther to orchestrate a covert operation beneath the High Council and use Veren as technical advice on the matter. Their communication will be strained, but Sesler could arrange another meeting. It would be needed at some point; Sesler's group were to antagonize the Iterion Empire into action, but other than that their future was bare.

Sesler could agree with Veren on the Council. However, he avoided mentioning that Sesler considered all modern Trini self-indulgent in some way. It was simply how they evolved over the millenniums. It was impossible to scale such a thing, leaving Sesler at a void where he did not give input. To him, holding strong opinions on another Trini was flawed; they had changed far too much for him to make an accurate assumption.

And our next step, Veren. I will assist you regardless, but I do need to know what our priorities are. After I create this task force, what should be done? I can force the Iterions to stop their war efforts and potentially release their unknown weapon, or I can begin to finish these miscellaneous projects you have. I only assume you mentioned them with the hope of me working on them. I cannot do both at the same time, unless I separate myself from the theoretical group during their missions and work with you instead. That is a possibility; however, results may be different without my direct involvement in the group's missions.

Sesler'ther's lack of age allowed him to always be spry, meaning that unlike humans, he would always be active in whatever he did. Finding a passive role may be necessary for him to do two tasks at the same time, but it would be fruitless to do so if him and Veren could not meet.

 

[Purity]

Veren Koss

The courses of action you mention are one and the same. The point is most of my specimen will keep the Iterion Empire on their toes. The rest of them are simply machines, that if sold to the right beings, could cause untold chaos in very selective sectors. Or you can pull the triggers yourself. It's mostly up to you. These projects are all "disguised", in a sense, as ancient works perhaps left behind by a different advanced civilization, so you could even use the beings you gather to explore them.

Veren's chair slowly spun to once more view the cosmos.

As for whether you work with them or choose to remain observant is up to circumstance, and so we'll leave that up to judgement. Unfortunately my time here is at a close. I'm expected elsewhere.

The chair he was sitting in disappeared altogether as he rose and walked to the door. As with most Trini occasions, there were no gestures of farewell or camaraderie. There was simply the knowledge of what must be done until the next time they crossed paths.

I'm assuming because you found a way in so easily that I don't need to show you out. In any other species, it might have been humor that Veren was conveying, but this was more of an acknowledgement of Sesler's skills as Veren stepped through the doorway of the room and vanished, not unlike the chair he had been sitting in seconds prior.

 

[Tice]

Intersystem travel was a great route of commerce for entrepreneurs along the Concourse, a giant stretch of underpopulated land between the different factions. The Iterions were far from the galactic highway, and the threat of combat was null. At the same time, the Concourse was akin to the romantic Terran wild west stories; lawless, unregulated, a sense of danger, and driven by alcohol. If you were travelling from the Terran factions to either the Evuvian or Snendos regions, you went through the Concourse. And if you were looking for unscrupulous work, the Concourse was the place to be. The entrepreneurs of the Concourse were an odd, hardy type; they were usually criminals themselves, but had a sense of suaveness to them.

For Sloan Maloo, business was a lifestyle. A stop at his outpost, which carries the same name as himself, would either rest you up, fill your stomach, or wet your throat. There's history to the old station, evident in its heavy, militaristic design and scorch scars on the outside surface. Sloan's a talker and a flatterer, but barely opens his mouth about anything serious. But, to most of his patrons, that's quite alright. Preferred, really. The space station had several floors to it, but the action was always on the large central floor. Personal crafts anchored themselves to the topmost deck, while larger carriers were positioned below the center. The central zone was packed almost entirely because of the bar, serving drinks and winks. The mob of people were also looking for something else; work. Requests were posted on a megaboard making up an entire wall of the station, then taken down whenever a contractor accepts one.

Anyone with some experience knew where the real work was, though; Sloan pointed you in the right direction, or you got talking. Sometimes, work finds you, if you're lucky or popular. For Sybal Zayenta, work was chased. Normally she would be scouting the board, looking for a paycheck, but at the moment was taking time for some personal recreation. She had taken a cushioned seat at the bar maybe half an hour ago and was still on her first drink. Sybal was a modest drinker; enough to keep her happy, but hardly enough to really trash her. Rhianne was around somewhere, and Sybal didn't want to get caught drunk. She avoided thinking about the young girl too much anymore. There was something off with her. But, there was something off with everyone if you looked at them hard enough.

Sloan's green eyes were on the lookout, picking up thirsty patrons with a look before quickly taking their orders. Managing an outpost was easy; plant your ass in the bar, and everyone was under watch. He had a few point men around the place with gaudy-looking handguns on them, but they never had to warm up the barrels before. The regulars got their drinks faster and usually a tip in the right direction from him if they were looking for work. Sybal was a sight for his sore eyes, her natural beauty a needed change of scenery from the battered, scarred, and alien faces that he served. Swinging his thick, padded body over, Sloan pushed his light hair to the right side of his skull before silently refilling Sybal's glass. Before she said anything, Sloan shot his words in. "This one's on me, lucky lady. You keeping an eye on that child of your's?" He was teasing, grinning a bit at the comment.

Sybal looked up from her topped off glass, pulling her small hands away from it. "She's around; and Rhianne definitely knows where I'm at. I'm not looking for work for a little while. Thinking about renting a room for the night, take a good shower for once in however many days. What do you have cooking tonight?"

The term 'tonight' loses a lot of meaning in space. Outposts tend to use it to mean when their working day was ending, or the nightly activities began. Sloan shot that iconic grin again, ready to enlighten her about his meals. "Premium beef from a Terran cattle farm. Someone payed me with their shipment instead of credits. Hell, I took it without a second thought. You're looking at some damn good steaks tonight, if you stick around. And you should, too. Mystery man's coming home today."

"And who's that?"

"That, my lady, is the owner of this station. Technically, it's in my name, but he's the one who put me on it. He's...an enigma. I wasn't joking about him being a mystery. He's human, or something close to it, but he's odd."

Sybal's curiosity was certainly peaked now, leaning in to grasp more of what the bartender was saying. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know how to describe it. Give him one look and you can tell he's something different. The way he talks, thinks, moves...all of it. The guy's the tallest thing I've ever seen, too. Maybe close to three meters. And his eyes have no color. Just white balls with little black dots in them. Scared the piss out of me the night I met him. Offered me a lot of money to start working up here. Barely shows up, always doing something. I don't think about it too much, honestly. Also has a staring problem, but I'm not gonna be the one to tell him that."

"Oh? Is he frightening?"

"God, I wish. The man shows nothing. Deadpan, like he's brain dead or something. But he's the opposite; I've seen him run calculations in his head that'd take the average guy days to understand, or estimate the size of this station by looking at it from a distance, or...well, you see what I mean. Just stick around and meet with him. Also, he's getting a group of people for something. Big pay, from what I know. Not just a few guys, either. Some of the best. Get your way to him, and he just might consider it. Don't bother lying, either; pretty sure the fucker can read minds or something."

Sloan seemed a little paranoid, or a touch crazy, but Sybal was insatiably curious about the outpost owner now that Sloan got her going. "And what is his name?"

"He goes by Sesler'ther, though I just call him Sesler. Doesn't seem to care, honestly. Formality isn't really a thing for him."