CHAPTER 1
Tension and hopeful expectations crackled as the inhabitants of Edom gathered for an open forum to discuss their fate. Suddenly the lights blacked out, igniting nervous rumblings and restless shuffling.
"What happened?" several people asked at once.
"Please stay calm," an authoritative female voice said in the dark.
The lights flickered back to life. Gilda Coomra, Emissary to the Triune, entered the shelter in the center of town, which had been constructed under the guidance of Chairman Nebrino Montaro. The structure had no walls so the public could sit and listen to the council conduct its business. All decisions made here impacted Edom's entire population.
"Good evening, Counselor Montaro." She nodded in a show of respect.
"Emissary." Nebrino returned the physical greeting.
Both took seats at the council table, waiting for other representatives to arrive.
Farnin Halmic stepped onto the platform and took a seat. Although he had initially refused the honor of spearheading the colony's project to rebuild Edom's power infrastructure, he soon discovered he was the most knowledgeable on plasma distribution systems.
Scientist and former negotiator Jesson Coomra, Gilda's husband, also took a seat at the council table. Scientist Emseb Dosser sat down next to Jesson. The two Scientists represented Edom's growing Science Community. Once enemies, the two scientists were now friends, both passionately vocal.
Chief gardener Lecher Dunwell, in charge of planting and harvesting, entered the open forum and took a seat on the platform, trailed by a small, six-legged, four-eyed ball of fur, the acting Alpha lushkin. Lecher also served as the intermediary to the lushkin population living inside the Reformation Facility.
Spectators recoiled at the sight of the hairy little creature. Lushkins and humans had once used each other as a food source on the harsh world of Crixto before it was transformed into Eda. The acting Alpha ignored the crowd's reactions and positioned itself on a chair next to Lecher.
Gilda had planned to summon a member of Eda's Elite Force to the open forum, but The Baron was busy safeguarding Rylaxon, working alongside the Warriors, Myia and Ravun. Former Commander Ikarus was assisting Guardian Sentinel on Sigro. The only one who wasn't currently engaged in combat was Dalsia Molbe, leader of a squad of Vam in Wynabrite City.
The Emissary pulled a fist to her chest. Seconds later, an orb of light flew down from solid rock which blanketed the city. The light stopped at the large table, bursting into a shower of lights. Less than a second later, Dalsia, the Red Champion, materialized from floating sparkles.
"I hate traveling that way," the Vam complained. "It feels like I'm at the far end of the universe, moving between places and spaces."
"To a point, you were," Gilda explained. "Orb travel creates a bubble, of sorts, outside of space and time. As you travelled here, you viewed the universe through a distorted perspective of standing outside looking in."
Emseb could not hold his tongue. "More super-science dribble?"
"Careful," Jesson counseled his friend. "She could easily show you first-hand."
Gilda looked knowingly at the elder skeptic. It wasn't the first time she and Emseb had butted heads about the nature of science. Super-science was beyond hyper-science, the discipline in which Emseb and his fellow Scientists practiced. Only Jesson understood super-science because of his wife.
Dalsia took a chair next to the lushkin. It turned to her, revealing its fangs and hissed.
The Vam exposed her own fangs. "I do bite back."
"Down you two," Lecher scolded. "You're closely related. No family squabbles."
Dalsia growled at Lecher. "Do not insult me, human!" She kept her eyes on the acting Alpha.
The lushkin relaxed when he was sure Dalsia meant him no harm.
"Thank you for coming, Dalsia," Gilda said. "I know you've been busy in Wynabrite City."
The Vam smiled, "As if I had a choice."
"Have you found a plasma converter?"
"Celnar Four, north of the City, had one. But Sly and his Vampeer troops trashed practically everything they didn't haul away."
"Bring me the unit," Farnin said. "I might be able to get it working. But Edom needs a larger converter."
"Meantime," Nebrino added, "we could use small units to help supplement existing power."
"Unfortunately, there's not enough energy," Farnin countered. "We need to reline the crystal chamber before we can drive any plasma converter. And that requires the highest quality crystals."
"I'll have a team pull the converter from Celnar Four," Dalsia stated, "and send it through the teleporter."
Emseb interjected, "I didn't think those things worked on nonliving matter."
"They transport whatever we need them to," Gilda responded.
"Whatever. It's a bunch of fecal to me."
"Mr. Dosser, since you're determined to interrupt these proceedings, maybe you can update us on the genetically-enhanced plasbags, the food for Vam on Eda?"
"Plasoids!" Emseb corrected. "Plasbag was too unoriginal. I opted for something more technical. They've been renamed plasoids."
This man is your friend? Gilda thought to Jesson.
I'm learning to tolerate him, Jesson replied silently.
"Except for the name change," Gilda said, "what other changes have been made?"
Emseb glared at the Emissary. "I'm a Particle Physicist, Mrs. Coomra, not a Geneticist."
"No further progress has been made," Jesson broke the escalating tension.
Gilda looked at Farnin. "Could you use a Particle Physicist?"
Emseb stood. "I do know about plasma theory and practical applications. I could help align the crystals."
Farnin stuck out his bottom lip in thought. "I'm familiar with the process, but it's always better to have someone who's qualified to ensure a clean reaction wave."
Gilda's eyebrows rose. "Fine. Emseb, you're being reassigned to Farnin's group." She looked lovingly at her husband. "Sorry, Love. Looks like you're on your own again."
"The only one qualified to help me," Jesson declared, "is Agnus Hall. Too bad we can't get her here."
"I'll inquire of the Triune," Gilda offered. "Maybe we can."
The huge illuminated orbs over the city fluctuated; anxious spectators gasped.
Gilda rose. "Everyone, get home as quickly as you can before we lose the light again!"
The forum attendees swiftly and safely vacated the area. The orbs of light flickered again.
"This is the third time this week," Nebrino complained.
"The thermal bars are not efficient in cooler weather," Farnin replied. "We need those crystals, and quick."
The Orbs flashed then went dark. The whole cavern turned pitch black.
Dalsia closed her eyes, and with a thought, activated her innate night vision. When she opened them again, she could see as plain as day.
The lushkin closed his smaller, upper set of eyes and opened its larger, lower ones.
Extending her hand, Gilda produced an orb of light, efficiently lighting the forum. Dalsia and the lushkin quickly hid their faces, reverting back to normal vision.
Emseb stared at the circular luminance. "That's amazing! How did you do that?"
Behind Gilda Servants Four, clothed in a yellow robe, Five, garbed in...
