The Archangel Chronicles part Eight: Fumbling Through Delirium

I believe the Ultimate has evolved, become its own creature with it’s own will. I believe what it did to me was an attempt at making something like itself. Procreation. I don’t know why, or even if, it happened that way, but I know I went beyond, somehow.

"Beyond," she said. "That’s what I wished to do when I returned to my people. I joined the exploration corps, went beyond in my own way."

"I’m glad," he said. "I’m glad you found something worth everything you could give it. I worried about that after you left. I worried you would go the way of so may others, just give up and die."

"How could you have imagined I would be so weak?" She seemed genuinely affronted.

"I don’t know," Ully confessed. "I may have been one of them, the weak ones."

"Do not think everyone is like you, Ulysses. There are other things to live for than the light you so often speak of. I believe it is an honorable thing to remain an Alph. To be unmelded."

"Siouean, I never said . . ."

"There are many things you have never said. I’m glad you have found your way of going beyond. I am glad to see you. But it is still difficult for me." With that she stood and walked out of the garden, leaving Ully alone, his clothes absorbing the mist and drops of water running into his eyes.

* * *

Sleep finally came to Daniel early in the morning. After leaving Ghan, he washed for hours to remove the cold, moist film that had seeped through his clothing while he wore the Ghiril suit. It felt odd to move without the weight of the stone on him. Strangely, it did not bring a sensation of freedom to his movements. Rather, he found he missed it.

It was a brilliant bit of engineering, which he could not even begin to understand. He hoped the Union’s Potiphar program would never have a chance to examine it. The military applications were clear to him, and would also be the first thoughts to occur to Union techs.

He tried to raise Ysenia once he was back in his room, but that proved impossible as some wall blocked him from the system. Had Ully sectioned him off so he couldn’t communicate? He really didn’t want to report, he only wanted to see her, talk to her. So, he set the message on auto, hoping it would get through whenever the wall came down. The red light woke him, accompanied by her voice. "Daniel."

He opened his eyes, found her in the air above him. He had a wicked thought that she was really there, laying on top of him.

"Daniel, are you all right?" She asked.

"Yes," he said groggily. He sat up, tried to clear his mind.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." He nodded again. "I’m all right. It’s just been a long, strange night."

"What happened? I couldn’t raise you."

"I know. I have news, too. But I mostly . . ." He stared at her, longing to kiss those narrowed eyes. "I wanted to see you. I miss you."

She relaxed. "I miss you too. I don’t like it when you’re just gone like that. All the times before—your other missions—I’ve always known what’s happening to you."

"I know, 'Sen.," he said. This one’s different in every possible way." At her worried look, he blinked. "They know about me."

"They know? How? Why would you tell them?"

"I didn’t. They just knew. This zed . . . he’s more than a zed somehow. I can’t get around him."