UNC023E

**STORIES**

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**Research on board.**

The next day, after getting up early, as anticipated and having breakfast, Professor Weust  asked them.

- What would you like to do today?

-Maybe take a walk. - Peter proposed. –

"I'm still tired. I'd rather stay here. Kira said. –

"Well, we will go out and you can rest. - Gordón commented. –

-It's still early, we can wait a bit. - They were proposed their host. -

-I could take the opportunity to continue with yesterday's story. If you like. - Kira asked him. –

And as his companions nodded with evident desire that it be so, the old man picked up the thread, and after reviewing that War of which he spoke to them the previous afternoon, he continued.

-No, it was not beautiful what was left of the Earth in the year two thousand two hundred. He then knew another Middle Ages, barbaric where the law of the strongest prevailed. Then little, little by little came the third rebirth, you know the first, that of the Greeks, Pericles, Socrates, Pythagoras, Protagoras, the measured man of all things. – Monochorded those examples to continue. – The second was two thousand years later with Vinci's Quattrocento, Buonarroti... I don't remember this one's first name, Oh yeah! Michelangelo. – He signed up for himself. –

The boys couldn't help but smile. His friend was the same as the master teacher, he tended to get lost in countless details and to abstract himself so much that he gave the impression of talking to himself more than telling anyone. Although at last he returned to the thread of his story.

A thousand years later, in the twenty-fifth century, we met the third Renaissance. Man is no longer an instrument managed by the powerful. The right to life and happiness is inalienable, weapons have been declared outside the law for the absurd expenses they caused. The use of resources has been severely regulated and the same form of government has been achieved for the entire Earth.

Peter nodded listening to that. Too bad there were always other bellicose civilizations! The memory of Cassiopeia came to his mind. Unfortunately an unarmed Earth would have been destroyed without the intervention of his companions and himself. He put it that way.

If the Earth had remained isolated from other cultures in the Universe, that utopia of having no weapons could have been maintained.

"Yes, indeed my young friend. - Arnold admitted, alleging. – The bad thing is that there is always someone who wants to take advantage of such situations. And however peaceful and just a society may be, it would be at the mercy of others much less culturally developed, but with weapons to impose their interests.

"It's very sad that it has to be like this. – Terció Kira. –

-Well, if we were the perfect universe we would be out of work. - Gordon said yes, with an unmistakable tone of humor. –

- Of course. – Declared his host resuming his narration once again. - Using the technical advances engendered by the war we begin to communicate with other galaxies. He is already safe. We establish contact with Omega and its allies in the confederation. The rules are well defined, no pillage between the planets. Our space trains will not take away from the uninhabited worlds more than some metals and water.

"Water?" – Peter was surprised.

Like his friends, not in vain the Earth was also called the blue planet. That was because more than seventy percent of its surface was covered with oceans. But Weust  insisted.

-Yes, water, it became one of the elements that was most scarce.

- And since then everything is going well? - Inquired Kira. –

- Well, you see, not quite, the Earth has yet known quite a few alarms. One of them was computer science, which had a decisive, even disturbing, place in our lives. Computers regulated leisure, culture, marriages, deaths, even pairings.

That sounded to the boys to what happened on the planet Leto, when they had to go to quell that mutiny of the androids. Apparently the Earth went through that too. Kira also recalled that Yener had told her that Yumlaiance was always reluctant to hand over too much power to machines and artificial intelligence.

I didn't get to know if your world went through that same crisis. It may be a common pattern in every advanced civilization that reaches that degree of development. - The girl said to herself.-

However, he continued to listen carefully to what his host told them.

-Until one day people couldn't take it anymore. And, he undertook it in a revolt against computer control. Many computers and databases were destroyed. A lot of information and many amenities were lost, but it was for the better. People had to try again and empathy and human values were put ahead of cold statistics.

-That's the right thing to do. - Gordon passed. –

- And did Earth have to face any other great threat? - Peter wanted to know. -

- Oh yes! One of the most serious, perhaps the most serious, was climate control. Arnold told them. – Meteorology was mastered with satellites, obtaining at will sun, clouds, snow, hail ... or rain. One day the northern group then in power wanted to punish the southern opposition group, depriving them of sunlight, rain and other such jokes. But the Earth is a small planet, and its ecological system forms a whole. - Affirmed to reveal. – Faced with the catastrophes that this caused, the sorcerer's apprentices were removed from power. We had received a great lesson, it was necessary to end that game. Humanity had to remain human or perish irretrievably.

-Master, there have always been and will be crazy people who dream of great struggles and conquests. Kira commented as she petted one of those dogs next to her. -

"Yes, I know, but those must be set aside so that they cannot do harm. - Replied his interlocutor. -I will explain, we are trying, we have returned to simple things, made to human measure, a bit like in the twentieth century. Alas, if men had been somewhat smarter. It was at that time that everything began to get out of hand...

And after that last reflection, Weust  got up proposing to his guests.

-It's about time we took a walk. I propose to go to Earth orbit. I want to show you something.

- The what? Gordon asked. -

-You will see it right away. - He said his contertulio. –

And both Peter and himself followed his guidance. Kira insisted on preferring to stay than rest. I would take a short walk around the house in the company of those nice puppies. His friends were indeed taken to Port Doppler and there, after boarding a small shuttle, they climbed to geostationary orbit, touring it, Arnold told them.

"Now I'm going to show you all this. The belt. – He commented when Gordon pointed him out on the screen. – You will see it very soon, on the way back you can see it. And I will tell you many things about him. - He promised and then continued to explain. – But see that first. - Pointed in the direction of a group of huge bag-like shapes floating in space. - They are our reservoirs of water from the uninhabited planets. It is transported in high-strength plastic containers. That is not a problem because they already know that in space weight does not count. It is ice water, of course, you know that in space it is frozen, after being necessary it is transported to the atmosphere and a few meters from the ground it melts becoming water ready to be used.

-Very ingenious. - Peter stated who admitted. – We were very intrigued when we saw those deposits for the first time.

We are now thirty-five thousand eight hundred and sixty kilometers from Earth. Do you know what this means? - Arnold asked them. -

- Yes. - Gordon answered immediately. - They explained them to us very well when they came, the real distance in which everything seems motionless in relation to the planet.

-Exactly my young friend. - Approved by your interlocutor. – Which explains many things. Radio telescopes are always in operation even when they barely capture anything new anymore. What they are seeing on the surface of one of them that allows to send signals at a distance of one hundred trillion kilometers. Which means only ten thousand light years, nothing, a tear in the ocean, you have to take into account the focal length and width of the target naturally... otherwise it would not be feasible. - He revealed to them as the boys could see a huge silver-colored surface with a curved shape. –

And once again that man was lost in an endless rant of data and technicalities that made his listeners look at themselves with patient resignation.

-And that, professor. What is that object? - Gordon wanted to know when he spotted a large rectangular and white structure that floated a few kilometers from them. -

-Ah, that. You see, in the twenty-first century, wealthy people wanted to be buried in space to feel closer to heaven. It was a business that went very well until the space was filled with coffins. Then they all had to be gathered together forming floating cemeteries. What they're seeing is one of them, a rest and distraction center for space station personnel. - He explained to them, when the shuttle passed near a structure with three plates with a pair of them connected one on top of the other by two cylinders.

- And that kind of hat? Gordon asked. -

-It is a solar energy reflector. - Weustreplied. - All life depends on the sun, the energy, formerly the oil that was used as fuel, for the sun permanently develops a force of two hundred and fifty trillion horsepower. And how was that used until the twentieth century one? I ask, well, to toast your skin, just that.

Young people were starting to feel bored. It was one thing to receive some explanation and another to be enduring a lecture, but I couldn't tell your kind guide that.

"Professor, look. There he is. - Gordon pointed out, eager to find something more entertaining. -

-Yes, it is the space cemetery of mechanical waste that they were so interested in seeing. – Their interlocutor confirmed to them. – Already in the year nineteen seventy there were four hundred objects in the sky. That will give them an idea of what happened next. It took a catastrophe for the world to become aware of the danger, as always. It is curious, men need catastrophes to understand, it would seem that reason is not far-sighted. – He sentenced by calling the attention of his interlocutors to a particular point of that space cemetery. – See, vein that, that's what I wanted to refer to.

He pointed to the remains of a large spacecraft that appeared to have been intended for cargo and told them.

-One day a ship was returning to Earth on autopilot, travel was not then what it is today. The staff was in hibernation. And he found a small ship adrift, abandoned, it is not known why. There was a terrible shock, so it was decided to clean the space of that hodgepodge and group everything there.

For once the professor was silent and allowed the public address of the ship to explain how they passed before some specific remains of that place.

-Before you gentlemen, the famous cruiser Invincible, the one who fought victoriously against the enemy in the war of two thousand one hundred and thirteen.

And they finally made it to the orbiting space station. Their shuttle passed nearby and they could contemplate all that quite closely. The professor told them as they saw through the large windows countless people in spacesuits swarming through the remains of the nearby cemetery of ships.

-As you can see this is a very frequented place. Pilgrimage point, museum, recreation center, amusement park even. - He added pointing to another nearby complex. - There are shows of all genres, races, music and many other things, what. Like? - He was interested. -

Both boys nodded, making a noise of approval.

"Well, let's see it, do you want?" - Arnold proposed to them. –

Peter and Gordon were now looking with their mouths open at everything there.

-I repeat it, young people. – He said his contertulio. – The sun gives us enormous energy, it is the maximum source of life. Everything they see exists because of him. – Asserted to indicate the pilot android. – Follow the direction of the ring.

-Yes teacher. - The robot replied. -

Ene moment Peter saw something and pointed it out to his partner.

-Look. - He asked. –

They were approaching the solar power belt. The teacher told them.

- Can you imagine what would happen if that enormous energy instead of expanding was concentrated on a single point? "And unexpectedly, from speaking in a high tone he went on to whisper. - It's a secret, but to our saviors I can tell you. Well, a new threat, like the one from which thanks to you we have escaped would be impossible because... any metal even the most resistant would melt as a simple plastic on contact with the powerful rays. An entire planet could be volatilized, reduced to stardust. A weapon that would put the Earth safe from any aggression. – He sentenced with an enthusiastic tone. - We would be invulnerable!

The boys immediately understood the repercussions of that, and Peter asked.

And wouldn't they feel any scruples about using that force?

- Well, well, it would just be defensive. You know that our intentions are not bellicose. - Arnold replied who instantly reflected admitting. – But he is right to always start by saying that. However, our experiments have never been positive. There have been incidents, there is talk of sabotage, but I do not believe it. Who can know our secret plans? – He asked rhetorically. -

-The agents of Cassiopeia, for sure. - Peter replied without hesitation. – Think about it, if those weapons could have worked in front of his damn rocket... – And then the young man asked. - Do you know if there are men from Cassiopeia here?

- In space? Yes. Of course there are some, but they are technicians safe from suspicion.

The boys allowed themselves to doubt that. Although it was not at all strange that, due to the regime of Tirelius, many citizens of Cassiopeia had fled their world seeking to live on democratic planets. On Earth as in Omega there was a good representation of them. Unfortunately now with the broken relations and the pre-war state that existed between the Confederacy and Cassiopeia, either of them was under suspicion. AT least in Peter and Gordon's opinion.

- How can you know? - Peter inquired. –

-We have a lot of experience, never trust the people of Cassiopeia. - Gordon added. –

- Is surveillance exercised over them? - Peter wanted to know. –

Although just at that moment they observed something very strange, several astronauts with earth police emblems surrounded a drifting body.

- Look at those men! - Gordon emphasized pointing out that scene that they could see through the windows of his shuttle. – Something happens there.

-Yes, let's see. - Peter said. –

And after docking the ship carrying them at a nearby mooring, the three put on their spacesuits and left. It was Peter who came next to those men before and asked.

- What happens?

The guy who seemed to be in charge snapped at them with little contemplation.

-Police, here you have nothing to do, go back where you have come.

However, it was to recognize Arnold and apologize immediately.

"Sorry, Professor Weust. I have not recognized him.  "He excused himself heartily. -

Of course, as a member of the advisory board of the land government, Arnold enjoyed considerable authority and prestige. Being as he was a good man, he did not take that badly and allowed that officer to tell them what happened.

"Come gentlemen, you have killed one of our comrades. He has apparently been thrown out of his vehicle.

- Was he going alone? - Peter wanted to know. –

-Yes, surveillance by the sector.

- Has your vehicle been located? - Peter inquired. –

- Yes, keep spinning empty. You will be here in ten minutes. - that officer replied. -

-It is scheduled. - Peter deduced by indicating the professor and Gordon. - Come on! No time to waste

They were boarded again by their shuttle. They went out with her to intercept that vehicle.

"You stay in the ship, professor. We will be back right away. - Peter asked Weust.–

The boys came out armed with their spacesuits and Peter pointed to his friend.

"You out there and I over here. It can't be far away.

However, before they could separate and search they heard a voice coming to their transmitters admitting.

"You're right, I'm here.

Looking they discovered a guy inside a spacesuit that was pointed at them with a laser rifle, he had features of being Cassiopeia. Before the boys could replicate, this individual approached them and without stopping pointing his gun at them, he said.

-You are a nosy boy, without a doubt curiosity is the biggest defect of all young people.  A lack of prudence that you have to be willing to pay.

Gordon tensed up on guard, although it would be of little use to him before a rifle. Peter for his part chose to try to strike up a conversation and buy some time.

-Okay, okay, but first explain to me. Why have you killed him? - Inquired trying to contemporize. –

-I have no problem saying it since you are going to die. – He replied with joy his interlocutor who went on to narrate to them. – That policeman surprised me when he was doing a little job of sabotage. The usual, he wanted to stop me and take me to his vehicle, we fought and he lost his scarf. He took too much air, his constitution was not very robust, that's all. After taking their vehicle, I made a small turn so that they lost my track and returned here leaving the vehicle abandoned.

And as he looked at his imminent victims, that sabotator recognized them by adding.

-But of course, you are the ones of Omega. Truth? The saviors of the Earth! Ha ha! Yes, yes, what luck!, how happy the boss is going to get! – He exclaimed to urge his contertulios. - Pray your prayers, little friends.

Gordon and Peter had no doubt which boss he was referring to. This proved without a doubt that the Tiñoso had infiltrated agents everywhere. And that guy, letting himself be lifted  by his suit, sentenced.

-Now I'm going to count to three.

Presumably he wanted to create some distance so as not to be affected by the shots he was going to fire at them. That's when the boys saw that vehicle arrive, which was approaching from the sabotador's back.

- Beware!, a ship is approaching - Peter wanted to warn him. –

But his interlocutor was lying to laugh, mocking that warning to sentence.

-Not tricks to me, little pigeon. How lucky I was to find you...!

He could not complete the sentence, the police vehicle that had traced the full orbit hit him in the head breaking his scarf. That evildoer could only scream briefly before being launched beyond orbit and dying immediately from being exposed to the deadly conditions of space. Gordon and Peter couldn't do anything.

-We must immediately inform the ground authorities. - Gordon said. –

Kira had suffered a startle, she was sitting in a comfortable armchair, in the company of Edna. That old woman had been telling him things about the Earth, about the region they were in and then went on to reveal some recipes from which she prepared. The girl was smiling. Despite her way of being so strict, her contertulia was a good woman. But suddenly he let out an exclamation. He had sensed that his friends were in danger. But fortunately everything happened in an instant.

- Are you okay, little girl? - He wanted to know that woman. –

"Yes, well...," she sighed, trying to answer. - It's that...

-You are still very fatigued. You must rest more to recover. - Ethel intervened, freeing her from having to give an explanation.

"I just hope they're okay. - The girl said. -

-Of course they will be. - The old woman affirmed, sentencing. – Surely Professor Weust  will be boring you with all those things he has full of data that does not interest anyone but him.

Kira laughed, possibly so. However, what she had perceived came to frighten her. Now instead she was calm, it was as if it had only been a possibility that had been ruled out.

"I hope that when they return they will tell me how they have done. - He wanted. –

In addition, she was fascinated by the Earth, she had slept very deeply since she arrived, perhaps it was due to the great exhaustion she dragged and her injuries after the accident she had with the Space Flea and the stress of that condemned rocket. But that wasn't all. She had had dreams in which she was transported to another time and place.

-The bad thing is that when I wake up I barely remember anything. It's as if a haze envelops everything. - He meditated. –

What she did present was that those dreams had to do with herself, giving her the key to who she was.

"I love my family very much, but I always knew I was adopted. Despite how united I feel to them, I do not share the blood of the Carrións. – I thought not without a certain dose of sadness. –

Anyway, the love he felt for his parents and for his uncles, for his cousin Elisa, was total, sincere and unconditional. They had always been there for her.

-I know that my parents adopted me when they were just newlyweds and came to Earth to know the home of their ancestors. And I also know that I was picked up in a kind of hospital. Maybe I could do it. - It was said. –

He may not have had time, and not too many energies yet. I also didn't want to complicate Peter and Gordon in that.

-For a few days you have on vacation, being able to forget about missions or threats, I do not want you to worry about this. - Decided. –

Although he was far from imagining that precisely his friends were now testifying before the police of the Earth. Together with Professor Weust,once they alerted the authorities they showed up at the scene. Soon they recovered the body of the dead sabotador. Meanwhile, the boys and their guide were taken inside the space station. Peter informed the police chief.

-That guy worked for Cassiopeia, he must have been from tirelius' secret service.

-It's impossible, we check all credentials. Only technicians with years of work are admitted here. - Your interlocutor replied. –

"Well, believe it or not, there you have the evidence. - Gordon added. –

That man, with spout hair and matching mustache nodded. It was clear that the bodies of the murdered policeman and that of that sabotador they had in the morgue were not lying. And that everything owed.

If so, we have a major security breach. I will give a part as soon as possible so that our intelligence services redouble surveillance. Thank you very much, you have been invaluable. And I apologize for all the inconveniences you must have suffered. – He declared. -

Peter and Gordon looked at each other to smile with complicity. It was to some extent fun! That man had defined as inconvenient that an agent of Cassiopeia had been about to kill them.

-Well, they are gajes of the trade, we are already accustomed. - Gordon smiled once again. –

"If you don't mind, Commissioner Henderson. - Peter asked that guy because that's what he called himself. – I wish you could send a report to Omega. Any kind of exchange of information between their police and ours I think would be beneficial when it comes to discovering what plans the Cassiopeia may have.

-You are absolutely right. But it's not in my power to send that information. I register your request and will send it to my superiors with my recommendation that this be done.

-And, in addition, I do not think that they will deny that swim to the heroes who have saved our planet, don't you think commissioner? - Arnold intervened. –

- Of course. - He agreed to this one which he added with visible concern. – Now they will escort them back to Earth, we will be extremely safe so that nothing bad happens to them.

-Rest assured, we know how to take care of ourselves. - Gordon assured. –

-I don't think it's too much protection. - Arnold estimated, alleging. - Keep in mind that, in fact, you are heroes for the entire planet Earth, and its guests. If something bad happened to you, we could never forgive ourselves.

- That being the case. - Peter compromised. -

And indeed, when they returned to the shuttle they were escorted by a couple of police ships that landed near them in the astroport. Afterwards, a couple of ground security vehicles accompanied them on the flight back to the professor's house. Upon landing near it, those ships moved away. It was almost late when they came back.

"Wow, it's almost time for dinner, guys.

-It has been a very busy day. - Peter said. –

"Well, I'm starving. Gordon said. –

When knocking on the door it was Kira who opened them. The girl smiled at the see, although she immediately changed her face getting serious to want to know.

- What happened to you?

And it did not take long to feel that something was not right, and for that he did not need his gifts but to observe Peter's expression.

-Now we tell you. - Admitted this one. –

"Well, you know, nothing we're not used to. - Third Gordon with a more jovial tint. –

Ethel then arrived carrying a large soup to communicate.

-In ten minutes dinner will be served, young people.

-Very good. - Arnold said. –

And once that old lady made her way to the dining room, Peter said.

-We tell you during dinner.

And the three of them went to sit at the table. The professor followed them a few moments later. Apparently he had news. Just as the boys were on their way to the dining room he received a call. While Ethel served them the soup (which this time was vegetable), Arnold commented, addressing Gordon in particular.

"News has come from Omega, they claim you, young friend. You must return within three days.

- Wow, what bad luck! - The question was regretted. –

-I get the impression that they have relied on medical examinations, given that Peter and Kira have been granted a few more days here. - Commented the professor. –

- Do you see it? Pegas of being an oak. - Peter smiled, patting his friend's back. -

"Well, I'll take advantage of the little vacation time I have left. - Gordon resolved without letting that take away his voracious appetite in the slightest. –

So they all had dinner and at the end, after a one-hour talk, enjoying the contemplation of the starry sky and the freshness of the night breeze at the entrance of the house, Gordon and Arnold decided to go to sleep.

-The truth, I'm dying of sleep. - Gordon claimed to be yawning ostensibly as he raised his arms. –

Her friends smiled funny wishing her good niches, also Ethel had gone to bed. Once they were left alone, Peter and Kira delighted in watching the evening show.

-It's a strange feeling. To be seeing the sky and the stars without navigating between them. – The boy commented. -

-For once it is refreshing. - His partner affirmed. -

- How are you? Are you recovering? - He was interested. –

-Yes, between ethel's care and rest I go better, I almost feel like new. The bad thing is that, if I could, I would spend the day sleeping, eating and walking around here. - The young woman laughed. -

"Well, don't get too used to the good life. That in a week we will have to return to Omega. - he reminded him. –

Yes, Gordon has only three more days, we were given four complimentary days for the injuries we have.

-If I tell you the truth. My arm has been perfect for a long time. - Peter smiled mischievously. –

Kira nodded, she already knew it all too well. The fact was that the two thought the same thing. They wanted to stay on Earth for a long time, but they were not unaware that they had important obligations to attend to. And although none wished to comment openly so as not to spoil that pleasant moment, they were not at all optimistic about the future of the Confederation with Cassiopeia. There was a good chance that a war would break out. So, they talked about all the things they had been able to see on that beautiful planet and after an hour they went to sleep.

"Rest, Kira. - He wanted her to give her an affectionate kiss on the forehead. –

The girl sighed, perhaps there, with all that peace and the bucolic atmosphere Peter decided to show his feelings towards her.  However, the young man conducted himself  within the framework of prudence, without surpassing the barrier of friendship and companionship.

"Well, I may have to take some steps as well. - The girl thought as she got into bed. –

Far away, on their way back to Yumlaiance, the flotilla kept trying and  figuring out what was going on. Those mysterious interferences and their detection devices indicated the possibility that they were not alone in that sector.

-As much as we have tried, we cannot detect anything that confirms it, sir. - Reported Major Soren Keris,a middle-aged woman, with dark hair with brown eyes and sights, when she addressed Yener. -

"In such a case, I will speak in person with Commodore Cresat. - This one answered. –

When contacting his superior from the privacy of his office, Cresat could not clarify anything either. Yener commented on him trying to make himself heard amid a lot of interference.

Commodore, apparently they are disturbances produced by a large mass of metal. It could be a nearby asteroid belt, although according to our navigational charts there should be none in the vicinity of our position. Either that, or...

-Or a huge fleet of ships. Isn't it, Colonel? - Completed his superior. –

- Yes sir, that's the way it is. – He recognized the questioner going on to consult. - What should we do? Do we send some fighter patrols? Unmanned exploration ships?

-Negative, Colonel Rant. We must stay the course, not deviate from the trajectory or suffer any delay. In addition, being an asteroid belt would be a waste of time. And if it were the other option, such a large fleet would be tremendously superior in number to ours. We would have no chance.

"If I were from Cassiopeia they would have no reason to attack us. We are not their enemies. - Yener said. –

"Colonel, don't be naïve. Imagine that Cassiopeia has assembled a fleet of such proportions to attack Omega by surprise. The last thing they would want is for that element of surprise to be lost. They could destroy us here, where our communications suffer so much interference that we are hardly able to converse between the ships of this formation, let alone send a message home. No, we're much better off ignoring whatever that is. - Cresat ruled. –

"At your command, I will pass it on to Commander Daet. Officially it is a group of previously unmapped asteroids. - The young man replied. –

Cresat nodded approvingly, ending the call. Yener then left his office and gave that version to his friend.

- Asteroid belt? - Larus was shocked. -

-Whatever it is, it is not our business, the orders are to stay the course home and not to delay.

-I think it's perfect. - Approved by your interlocutor. –

And although, on the one hand, Yener did not like to have to run away in that way without at least trying to find out what was happening, on the other he understood perfectly that they did not have to take unnecessary risks, less when they had foreigners on board. He immediately thought of Gina.

It is much more sensible not to endanger her or anyone who travels in our flotilla. - It was said. –

And because of his little that was little he began to have a bad feeling about it. Something told him that it was better to forget about anything.

-It is not our business. At least not yet. Or so I sense. - He said a concern that was difficult for him to ignore. -

Yener and anyone else could assume little in their small formation of ships that, at a distance closer than they thought, a huge fleet composed of hundreds of ships had in fact gathered. They were performing a mixture between a military parade and some maneuvers to the amazement and delight of the consul Naboth. He could not help but express his interlocutor, that albino-haired android admiral who was his host.

- Wonderful, this is magnificent without a doubt! - The stunned and impressed consul exclaimed. –

As you can see, we are growing and developing. The technology they provided us with has been improved and expanded. You can inform your general.

"Imposing, I have no other word. – He had to admit his interlocutor who immediately wanted to know. - When will they be ready?

-We still need to do some tests, take certain precautions, and carry out experiments to check if everything fits the schedule, but believe me, Mr. Consul, we will inform you periodically and when we are ready you will be the first to know.

"Very well, I trust you. - Nabothsentenced. - I must return to Cassiopeia to inform my superior.

-I wish you a good trip. - The admiral replied. –

Cassiopeia's envoy walked away, though he stopped a few steps later and turned to his contertulio sighed to lament.

"It's a pity they couldn't make that girl speak. It is certainly exceptional. With his gifts nothing in the universe would resist us.

His interlocutor did not answer, Naboth  turned once again away and definitively to board the ship that had taken him there. When that android admiral left, he received a statement from one of his subordinates.

-Speak captain. - He asked him with that monochord and metallic voice of his. –

-Admiral, at least a dozen ships have been detected, three of them are large. They are at a distance of about a Parsec. - He was informed by that other android, with brown hair. –

- Have they ruled which planet they are from? - The admiral wanted to know. –

- All indications point to yumlaincer. What are the instructions? - Inquired the officer. –

-Let them go. They do not pose a threat and the probability that we have been detected and identified is less than one percent. In this particular area of space and with our disruptive magnetic field, it will be impossible for you to identify us. - The admiral declared. –

I estimate that there will be a twenty-two percent chance that they have sent some manned ship and eighty-six percent that they will send some probe to investigate. - His subordinate replied. –

-The probe can be canceled, and the manned craft is high unlikely, it could be lost. They must be suffering difficulties and even failures in communication at very close distances. They will not risk a human crew to investigate what they will clearly believe may be a cluster of asteroids or a concentration of gases near a star. - The Admiral sentenced, ordering immediately. - In any case, it is irrelevant, we have already fulfilled the mission that brought us here, to show the consul of Cassiopeia the current state of our fleet. We returned to the base.

-To order. – He answered his contertulio moving away from there. –

The admiral then turned to another of the androids who was sitting at the checkpoint he commanded and asked him.

-Colonel. Has the mimicry operation already begun?

"It's about to begin, Admiral. - The questioner answered. –

Actually, I already knew the answer to everything before I asked those questions. However, part of that operation was to come to understand the parameters of human action and that included imitating their ways of communicating.

-We must be very careful. - He indicated his subordinates. – The teacher would have wanted it that way. First we must understand, then, after acquiring sufficient knowledge, act.

And that said, that incredible concentration of ships passed into hyperspace abandoned that position as if they had never been there. Meanwhile, on the Cruise ship Dureor, Gina continued to study customs and other things of Yumlaiance culture. The young woman was in a recreation room, looking at her  holotablet  when Lieutenant Renar came over. Seeing her, Jilia went to greet her, not without thinking.

-Well, there is. I have to act as a caregiver. - And then he said with a kind tone. - Good day, ma'am. -

Gina seeing her smiled, waving in turn.

"Lieutenant, I'm glad to see you. But please, no lady, Gina. - He asked. –

The officer stood next to her, Gina was sitting and soon asked her interlocutor to do the same. Although he immediately snaw to comment.

"I hope I'm not entertaining her. If you have something to do...

"No, I'm in my free sexdanes. - Jilia lied. –

- Oh! I wouldn't want to bother then. - He hurriedly said Gina alleging. – Maybe you have stayed with someone.

- No, fear not. Menera is on duty and if I tell him the truth I was mortally bored. And please call me Jilia and don't be so formal. - The girl smiled and threw back part of her brown hair. –

Of course I hadn't done that to flirt with that Omega diplomat. Although he was blaning her blazenly lying. He was not in his spare time but fulfilling precisely the mission that Colonel Rant had entrusted him to watch over that blonde.

"Although I don't understand what you want me to protect her from being here. But orders are orders. In addition to being a simple and even pleasant job. And if I wasn't dating Menera!... - Thought Funny. –

To all that, Omega's girl commented.

"It is very good for me that you came, Jilia. You see, I was going over something about the history and culture of your world. I remember Yener, well, Colonel Rant. - Rectified something in a hurry. – He told me about that song to Maray. And there are other things I've read about Anlad that I haven't quite understood. There are parts written in a language that is not yumlaincer.

- Will you allow me to see it? - He asked his interlocutor. –

Gina gave him the holy tablet and Jilia immediately smiled to affirm.

-It's in Anladés. I can translate it for you if you want.

- Oh, yes, please! - Omega's young woman was excited. –

Jilia was amused by that, that girl was either really very innocent or took that with a childish illusion. Surely being from another planet he will be fascinated by the culture of Yumlaiance. He had nothing against it and so he read.

-Refers to the magiocracy  of  Esil. The most important city of Anlad during ancient times. It is now second only to Yastris, which is the capital and hometown of Menera and myself. - He explained. –

-Magiocracy?- What does that mean? - The stunned Gina wanted to know. -

-At that time the city of Esil  and much of the region of  Dessy that surrounds it was ruled by magicians. There was a council that ran the whole place. In this text it is mentioned that they guarded one of the gates of the Daziarn.

- What is that? - He wanted to know his contertulia. –

-Well, a myth. As a child they explained it to me at school, when we gave ancient culture. - Jilia told him, to detail. – It is supposed to be a kind of portal that guarded the passage to other worlds, other dimensions. It is said that there were such doors in other places. In Esil  it was used to throw inside the worst criminals and murderers who were doomed to spend eternity there. But as I told you, you shouldn't pay much attention. They are simple legends. – He sentenced smiling to say with a tone of complicity. – If we were bad as children they scared us by threatening that they could put us there. Either that or that a  Hialgasth  would come and eat us.

- A Hialgasth? - Gina repeated without understanding. – What is that?

A kind of evil spirit that could take on human form. - Jilia explained to him with a jovial tone. – Like a ghost, but corporeal.

-Wow, that's scary. - Affirmed his contertulia. –

"Especially the wizards of Esil  and the monks of Somer. Don't think of taking it as a joke in front of Colonel Rant!  - Jilia River. – To him and to those of his order these legends all seem true.

Gina nodded, to declare wishing to know with visible interest.

-Well, I don't know if they will be, but they are very interesting. And those magicians do spells and things like that?

-Well, some tricks. Being from Anlad I have sometimes attended some festivals and seen them in action. They do some demonstration, but in my opinion it's illusionism and a bit of telekinesis. – Jilia declared without giving it importance to add, yes, with a tone of confidence. - Do you know one thing? My girlfriend's sister wants to enter Esil'sorder. Even today it has a lot of prestige and entering is not easy. I hope he succeeds. Although the safest thing is that it can't. Certain conditions must be met and the entrance exams are hard.

-You have to have confidence. - Gina said. –

-Yes, the truth is that I know her little, but she is an adorable girl. – Jilia opined who revealed. – And both she and Menera are descended from a heroine of our planet, Admiral Karen Bount. They are his great-granddaughters on his father's side.

- And what did that ancestor of yours do? - Gina wanted to know. –

Jilia sighed, she got the impression that she had been carried away by the relaxation of the moment. I didn't usually like to tell so many things, but that girl knew how to listen and didn't even realize she was talking too much. So, before proceeding, he asked him.

"Please, please do not tell Menera that I have told you all this. He doesn't like to be known. For her it's a lot of pressure. You can imagine. Anyone who finds out her kinship immediately compares her to Admiral Bount.

"Well, I can't compare it because I don't know what that admiral did. - Gina smiled. –

- Sure. You are right. - Admitted his interlocutor. - You see, it happened at least one of your omega centuries. As a captain, Karen Bount had to protect our border in quadrant two, the most exposed and dangerous. We call it the neutral zone. There we marked the dividing zone between our solar system and that of Nephraler.

-That name sounds familiar to me. Yener and Larus have spoken it once and whenever they have they seemed to be having a hard time. - Gina remembered. –

-Yes, no yumlaincer, nor anyone from the Quadruple Alliance likes nothing to have to pronounce it. - Jilia told him. – It is said that these Nephralers are descendants of the dark beings that many centuries ago invaded our worlds.

-That is another of your legends. Truth? - Inquired his contertulia. –

-As I mentioned before, it depends on who you ask. – Declared the narrator to continue. – In any case, they are a hostile civilization, we have barely been able to contact them and a hundred years since a group of combat ships that belonged to their system was detected. Then-Captain Karen Bount was patrolling that sector with her cruiser, the Galidar,when she intercepted them. He managed to plant some  sono  buoys on meteorites near his ship, and a pair of shuttles with plasma cannons. Making the Nephralers believe that he commanded a flotilla. His ruse went well because back then the detection technology was not as advanced as it is now. He fired some warning shots from those shuttles that were hidden among those asteroids. - Smiled to add funny. - Those silly Nephralers must have thought that half of our fleet was hidden there and turned around. Captain Bount went further, even being able to contact the commander of that flotilla and demand that he commit himself not to cross the neutral zone again. That guy accepted and that gave rise to a treaty the first to be signed with these people for more than two centuries then. It is still in force today. That earned Karen Bount the promotion to commodore, and years later she retired as an admiral.

-I understand why poor Menera finds this complicated. I can attest to feeling the same. My family is also extraordinary. – He declared, affirming proudly. - My mother president of the Omega confederation, my father the head of the space police and my brother one of the heroes who has saved the Earth. Tell me Jilia. How do you compete with that?

-The truth, I have no idea. And I'll tell you the same thing I tell my girlfriend's heavy every time she brings up that same topic. You are you, and you are worth a lot for yourself. You should not compare yourself to anyone. One must fight one's own battles.

After these words that smile and jovial mood was extinguished, Gina found it strange, perhaps that girl had remembered something. Out of discretion, he deemed it appropriate not to inquire into it. And he did say.

"I'm getting hungry, I think I'll go to the dining area. Do you want to come? - He offered. –

-I will be delighted. - Your interlocutor agreed. –

The truth is that Jilia felt quite comfortable with that girl. He realized perfectly that he did not share his inclinations, but that did not prevent them from being able to befriend.

I think I'm starting to realize what Colonel Rant has seen in it. Don't kid yourself Gina, the same thing happens to you as to Menera. You believe that you are not worthy of your family, but you are wrong, you are both exceptional. – The official brunette thought as she followed that girl to the dining room. –

Menera was about to conclude his shift, as a bridge officer he had seen those strange signs and was shocked. Although the slogan they gave him was, "don't ask." So, accepting Commander Daet's version that they had been major metallic asteroids, the young woman continued with her tasks.

"I'm looking forward to going see Jilia. I guess he will be taking care of attending to our guest. - She thought resigned. –

The truth is, that commission from Colonel Rant seemed absurd to him. If it was about helping that girl integrate and teaching her things about Yumlaiance, he didn't think his girlfriend was the most appropriate.

-Well, I can tell you the typical things that we all know. - It was said shrugging. –

Be that as it may, he would look for her as soon as he finished his day, and he barely had half a sexdanleft. And meanwhile, on Earth Gina's brother was still learning new things and living dangerous experiences together with his friends.

**ESPAÑOL**

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