PEGASUS (FARSIDE SAGA: BOOK TWO)

Deep down in the recesses of Capitol Prime, through the stone maze work of corridors in its cold dungeon, sat a lone cloaked figure squatting in a shadowy corner. He pulled the cloak further over his head and sat motionless as he watched the pink and purplish fleshy looking orb bob its way past him. It's tentacles brushing against the cold walls as it made its way down the passage. Once out of sight, the figure continued in the opposite direction.

"One is in the lower chambers now." He said into his mic.

"Damn, too soon. The Ancients are in a Z'Ri so they should be protected...but just in case, eliminate it before it becomes a threat, but do not be seen. It is very imperative they do not discover who you are, especially an Ancient." The voice responded.

"I know I know. I was afraid you were going to say that." The figure said as he stopped and turned back.

Looking back down the hall, he let out a heavy sigh, then took off at a dead run. The seams in his metallic hands lit up blue as two shiny long blades extended from the top of his wrist. Just as he regained sight of the orb, a shimmer of air quickly formed and blocked his path. He slid to a stop and watched it push itself towards the orb.

The orb seemed to turn in its direction as it lashed out a few tentacles, but they only disappeared in the shimmer. It tried to pull back but couldn't as it lashed out more tentacles. The shimmer quickly engulfed the orb as it continued down the path unwavering.

Just as he thought it was over, by some strange trick of nature, a thin blue bolt of lightning silently struck the ground in front of him. A bright blue figure stood in the middle of the smoldering scorch mark left in its wake.

"A Watcher?!" The cloaked figure said in both curiosity and excitement. He was about to kneel when a bright blue hand lightly lifted his chin.

"You don't have to do that. I'm not a Watcher." It said softly. Removing its hand, it stood back, looking the figure up and down.

"Almost didn't think I'd find you." It said.

"I'm sorry...who are you?" The cloaked figure asked.

"All in due time. Right now you are needed elsewhere." The blue figure said.

"What abo....?" He started, feeling a strong urge to trust the figure.

"Don't worry about them. They'll be okay." It interrupted.

"What happened to the orb?" He asked.

"It's still there, just out of phase...for the moment. Tough little bastards. Hard to kill but they can be. We must hurry though, eventually, it'll find its way out. Then it'll be too late." It said as it put its arm around his shoulder. He wanted to tell him that he could easily kill it. You'd just have to be quick enough to get past the tentacles, but before he knew it, they both disappeared in a silent bolt of lightning. A thin plume of smoke dissipating in its wake.

"Mike...Mike...Miike!! The voice hollered in the earpiece that was left behind.

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"Come in" Jason called out when his door chimed. Danny turned off the holoscreen just as Pelik and Udar entered and stood inside the doorway. Udar was holding a piece of a flat red crystallise out to the captain.

"You might wanna look at this." He said as Jason walked up. Udar placed it in the palm of his hand.

"It's a data chip. We were told to bring it to the leaders of Earth, but kinda forgot in all the mess. So, since it doesn't look like we're heading that way any time soon, you'll have to do." Udar explained.

"Also..." He turned his head and looked at Pelik.

"I have received a transmission from the surface." Pelik said.

Jason had forgotten about the planet in all the commotion and wondered if any peacekeepers where left there looking for help or what not. Danny scanned for any signals but found none.

"How?" He asked.

Pelik and Udar look at Danny, confused.

"The signal I mean." Danny clarified.

"Oh, it's a psionic signal. You wouldn't be able to detect it with your scanners." Pelik said. Danny almost said that he could but decided to hold that information to himself.

"Psionic?" Jason asked.

"It's a biological..." Pelik started before the captain raised his hand.

"I'm sorry, I know what it is. Just surprised that you use the same term." He said.

"You have a psionic inducer implant?" Pelik asked, surprised the humans had advanced enough to exhibit psionic properties.

"Not exactly. It's a natural occurrence that very few humans developed. As a whole, we know very little to nothing about it. Some even fear it. Those that do have the ability either go into hiding or disguise it as something else. Anyway, what's going on with the surface?" Jason asked.

"Seems someone wants to meet you." Pelik said.

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"It seems we may have a helping hand. He's on his way now." a green armored figure said. He turned from the energy shielded window towards the four other occupants.

"Do you really think he can be the one? You remember what happened the last time." one of the four said.

"If you all hadn't exiled him he would've been." the first one said, suddenly angry at the second for bringing it up.

"We didn't exile him Gremlet, he left on his own." the other shot back.

"Yeah after you chewed him out for destroying your Op tower." Gremlet said just as equally.

"Do you know how long I've worked on that project? How much we sacrificed to just let it go?" The other said, his anger etching a bit further.

"And you wouldn't be alive now to be mad about it....neither of you." Gremlet said, almost spitting the last words out as he stared all of them in their silvery eyes.

"Look, all I'm saying is don't let a good deed go to waste this time." Gremlet said as he closed his eyes and calmed down.

The others turned their heads in shame as they slowly made their way to their seats.

Picking up on Pelik's telepathy, Gremlet turned towards the window as the room slightly darkened. He looked up and saw a greyish sleek arrowhead looking ship descending beyond the treeline. He knew that couldn't be the reason for the slight dimness, and it was too soon for night to start falling. He looked further up. He had to squint a little to see past the thinning clouds. What he thought was twinkling stars in the graying sky turned out to be the bottom of a massive ship hovering above them. The edge of the ship allowing just enough sun to show that its still daytime. Beyond that, the ship stretched past the horizon. His jaw dropped as the others got up and joined him.

"Who is it?" one of them asked in both amazement and fear.

"It's our helping hand," Gremlet said, obviously impressed.

"and that's not even the half of it." he said as he turned towards the others.

They looked at him confused, then back at the massive ship, wondering who or what they could be. They heard the faint whine of a teleporter, then the sound of feet shuffling towards the open archway. Two green and tan armored figures emerged from around the corner. They appeared to be helping someone taller lean against the wall on the other side. Two more green armored figures emerged, spotted the five members of the High Council, and stood rigid with their fist to their chest. That caused the other two to look around and do the same once they saw the five. A small thud came from the other side of the wall followed by a wretching sound. The one on the end looked towards the sound, then down on the ground and shuttered.

"You said there would be SOME side effects, not all of them." a groggy deep voice said after a few seconds. A little bit more shuffling followed by a small soft grunt, and two tall figures stepped out and leaned on the opening frame. The taller of the two wiping his mouth as he turned and looked at the five standing in the room.

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Had it not been for the nausea he was feeling in his stomach, Jason would've burst out laughing at the surprised look on the High Council's faces when he turned to see what the Velcronians where looking at. At the same time, he became slightly annoyed at the reactions they've been getting since arriving. If it wasn't for the fact that he gets a good mental laugh out of most, and since taking this mission, he needed a good laugh, he almost would've wished they were hostile.

The four Velcronian's helmets shifted back and the translucent covering evaporated, revealing their silvery eyed, brown-skinned faces.

Vanessa, lost in a sudden realization and trying not to pass out again, looked at the captain, then at the four Velcronians, and finally at the High Council members before looking back at the captain.

"You know, you almost look like a taller version of them." she said in an almost drunken state. She noticed the white on the captain's head almost matched the Velcronians except theirs looked like porcupine needles laying down, Vira's being the longest. Four of the five members also had a facial goatee like the captain, but only one of them came to its chest. Their brown skin color matched perfectly except the Velcronian's were more translucent like that of a glow board. The only obvious difference besides the hair were their silver eyes and the light strip for a mouth. Put glasses on them and they could almost pass as somebody's kid with bad skin and a wig on.

All nine of them and the captain slowly turned their heads and looked at her, which almost made her regret even speaking, then at each other and themselves.

"Humph!" was all Gremlet said before looking back up.

He absentmindedly waved his hand dismissing the salute as he still continued to stare at the humans. He received a mental throat clearing that brought him back to reality.

"Umm yes," Gremlet said, blinking his eyes as he walked up.

"Welcome. I am High Council member Gremlet." he said as he reached for the captain's hand. After shaking it, he turned towards the other four.

"This is High Council members Keen, Lern, Arius, and Gerla." he said their names from left to right, each slightly bowing their heads in turn.

Jason slowly pushed off the wall, introduce himself and Vanessa, then stumbled. Pelik, Udar, and Gremlet reached to catch him and help him balance back on the wall.

"I take it this is your first time in a teleporter." Gremlet said as he reached in a pocket that had formed on his armored left leg. He pulled out two test tube looking bottles filled with a yellowish orange liquid. He shook them both vigorously, then passed them to Jason.

"This should help." he said as Jason took the bottles, passing one to Vanessa. They both simultaneously drained the contents. Not that he had bad intentions, but Gremlet was amazed at how quickly they took it without question. Instantly, much to everyone's relief, they both perked up, no longer feeling any of the side effects. Jason worked his tongue around savoring a taste he couldn't quite put his finger on, then it hit him.

"It tastes like orange juice." he said.

"It is, with a slight alteration of course." Gremlet said.

Jason, confused, looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Come, take a seat, rest." Gremlet said as he stepped to the side and extended his arm towards the gold-trimmed ivory looking table and chairs.

The table and chairs seemed like they grew from the floor to form an ornamented dinette set for twelve, complete with a small ivory white tree-like centerpiece. The whole room was ivory white, except for the strange markings engraved in gold between the six embedded pillars lining both side walls. Although the room was not large, it still held the eleven occupants comfortably as they made their way to their seats.

"You see," Gremlet started as everyone sat down.

"We used to visit Earth during the Trade Routes to the outworlds. That's how we got the seeds to grow our own oranges, amongst a few other things. Also some of your livestock and sea life. We had a few of your insect species, but they began crossbreeding with our own and became a terrible nuisance, so we had to get rid of them. I believe there was a Ronald Reagan in charge of your planet then. Before he lost his leadership, he told us the next leader might not be so understanding. When the next leader came, a few scout ships were sent but never returned. We sent a Pelaxian in as an Ambassador and to let us know when we could come back. He got Intel and told us what happened to the scouts, so we stop coming altogether. He also said that the human race as a whole may be misguided but there are quite a few that are exceptions. Pelik here tells me that you and your crew are one of the exceptions." he said with a smile as he nodded towards Pelik before continuing.

"The Pelaxian...John, I believe his Earth name was, wanted to stay behind and study them. He believed that in due time humankind would come to light. I'm hoping this is that time." He said as he looked at Jason.

Jason knew Gremlet was just trying to assure himself that Jason was safe, but he almost sensed it as a warning.

"Unfortunately, umm...do I call you High Council Gremlet?" Jason asked, trying not to sound rude.

Gremlet liked the way it sounded but wasn't going to subject the human to it.

"You can just call me Gremlet." he said instead.

"Thank you," Jason said, glad he didn't have to repeat that every time.

"but unfortunately, although there are more and more who are becoming open minded to extraterrestrial life, humankind has yet to reach that point, but we are getting close. I apologize on our behalf for the scouts and regret to tell you that the same thing would probably still happen to this day if the wrong people saw you. Forgive them though. They've been brainwashed into believing you guys coming there doing the same thing to them." Jason said truthfully with the same hidden message.

Gremlet, catching it and knowing that some of his earlier patrol units abducted humans for experimenting when they were first discovered, but was outlawed after First Contact.

"No apologies necessary. It was a long time ago before you." Gremlet said as he leaned back and let out a sigh. Jason wondered how they made the sound of breathing without any orifices.

"The reason I wanted to meet you was because when I sensed a Peacekeeper nearby, it turned out to be my kindred. Pelik here is what you would call my nephew." Gremlet said as he looked at Pelik.

"You never said you were related to a High Council member." Vira said, surprised.

"He was ordered not to." Gremlet said, catching everyone's attention.

"For his safety, of course. He told me the events since Outpost 3 and that he was in the company of humans. I had to see for myself. When I found out about that beast and then Shadow Walker being destroyed, I must ask a favor from you. I know not what you may want in return, but we can discuss that later." he said.

Curious and excited at the same time, Jason leaned in.

"How can I help you?" Jason asked, doing a good job at hiding his excitement.

"John was supposed to return a few days ago. He sent me a message saying he was here and that he had to do something first before he came to us. Just recently I lost contact with his psionic link and can't pick it up anywhere. I'm afraid he may be in danger. It's very important he is found, hopefully alive. He may be the only person who can tell us what's going on." Gremlet said. Another pocket formed on his chest plate and he pulled out a small glowing white marble.

"This is his psionic inducer code. You can use it to locate him if he's still in this galaxy. I would've done it myself but as you can see, I'm not equipped." he said the last as he indicated his solid green armor.

Pelik took the marble and passed it to Kurie, who placed it in a small slot that opened on his forearm. Jason wondered what he meant.

"Each of us are manufactured with retractable body armor." Pelik started as they waited for Kurie's suit to isolate the source code and start scanning.

"I'm sorry, did you say manufactured?" Vanessa asked.

"Yes. All positronic life forms are." Pelik said, looking at her as if it was common knowledge to humans.

"Wait, so you mean to tell me that you're a race of robots?" Jason asked, now curious himself.

'Magi is gonna love this one.' he thought.

"You make us sound so primitive," Gremlet said jokingly. "but yes. Not just us, but all of Farside. And no not all of us come from big factories. Some of us have small ones built inside." He said with a slight chuckle at his own joke.

"Some, like us, are positronic based. Others, such as the Kregorian that brought us here, are nanoparticle and A.I. based." Pelik said.

"In our case, we come from...the little factory," Vira chimed in.

"Our armor indicates our rank and status. Some are color-coded or have an insignia. Others have both. High Council members are solid green. Military personnel has the same green but tan accents. Kurie's in particular, indicates him as infantry, specifically a tracker unit. Mine is tech and radio ops. It gets a little complicated the further into it you go." Pelik finished.

Kurie's arm beeped and a holoscreen popped up. It showed a blueprint of the tower they were in. A yellow marker was placed in one of the upper rooms indicating Kurie's location. A white line traveled through the halls down the stairs and into the lower regions of the building where it ended at a red dot that was all but invisibly spread across the lower rooms.

"He's...here?" Gremlet said, almost shocked as he stood up.

"He's in the dungeons. Why would he be in the dungeons?" Lern asked, perplexed as they all made their way out the room behind Kurie.

"There's some kind of interference blocking the signal so I can't get an accurate lock until we get closer." Kurie said as he typed a few keys on his wrist.

The situation didn't feel right to the four Peacekeepers as their armor engaged and their weapons began to form. Jason and Vanessa felt the vibes as well as they pulled out the familiar silver EVO collar and a portable helmet out their pockets.

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Standing in the hallway, just out of phase, Mike and the blue figure watched as the room's occupants all left.

"Are the two tall ones humans?" Mike asked.

He recognized the species because he himself was human before the accident. Aside from that, he only remembered his name and was told that he was the last of his kind from Earth.

"Yes. They are the ones who will need your help, but you can't expose yourself to them, not yet. I only wanted you to see them for now. You'll meet soon enough." the blue figure said.

Mike thought he knew the dark-skinned human but couldn't remember where.

"For now, we'll just observe." the figure said as he escorted Mike behind the group.