Hidden Empire - Kevin J. Anderson [10]
Normally, heat transport in a star was incredibly slow. Photons took a thousand years to radiate in a drunkard's walk outward from the core to the surface, impacting with gas molecules along the way, being absorbed and then re-emitted to collide with another gas atom.
"Oh, just watch," Serizawa said, "and you'll see what I mean."
***
The fascination of the news media waned within a few hours. The changes were slow, although the gigantic ball was indeed imploding. Detectors deep within the atmosphere showed the nuclear fires spreading outward like a tidal wave. When the wave reached the planetary surface, Oncier would begin to shine like a lightbulb.
The first flickers of lightning and fire began to show through gaps in storm systems. Pastel discolorations swirled about, displaying titanic upheavals deep below. Margaret's translation of Klikiss records had led to this spectacular event, but she didn't know whether to be proud or horrified at what she saw.
The Ildiran septa acknowledged the success of the Klikiss Torch. Dressed in formal uniform, the alien Adar Kori'nh shuttled over to the observation platform to watch the continuing stellar collapse. Margaret met the Adar with curiosity and trepidation, having never before spoken to an Ildiran.
"Your command of English is excellent, Adar. I wish I had such proficiency in languages," Margaret said.
"All Ildirans are bound by a common speech, but those of us likely to encounter humans have learned your common trade language. The Mage-Imperator requests it of us."
Taking advantage of the listener, Louis talked at great length with Kori'nh, describing their work on the Klikiss planets. "The Ildiran Empire has been in existence far longer than humans have explored space, Adar. Why is it then that your people have not sent prospectors or archaeologists to learn of this vanished race? Are you not curious?"
Kori'nh looked at him as if the question were disconcertingly strange. "Ildirans do not send out solo explorers. When we dispatch a colony of settlers, called a 'splinter,' it is a group large enough to continue our society. Solitude is a human trait that we find difficult to comprehend. I would never choose to be so far from other members of my race."
"My wife likes to be alone so much she often prefers to be in a different section of a dig even from myself." Louis smiled over at Margaret.
Embarrassed, she gave him a slight nod. "I believe, Louis, that Ildirans all share a faint telepathic link that binds them together. Not as a hive mind, but as a support system. Isn't that true, General?"
"We call it thism," Kori'nh said, "and it radiates from our Mage-Imperator. He is the knot that binds the threads of our race. If any individual strays too far from the others, that thread might snap. Perhaps humans see traveling alone as an advantage. Conversely, I pity your race for not living within the safety net of the thism." Kori'nh bowed, his expression unreadable.
A scattered murmur of surprised conversation drew them back to the window. A bright plume bubbled up from Oncier like a geyser of superheated gas. The event was unusual, though as it faded, so did the audience's interest. Within an hour, Margaret was the only one watching through the broad window. She found the roiling fury of Oncier hypnotic. The planet glowed now, spreading photons around the still-imploding world.
She stared at the planet's bright limb, a hazy curve against the backdrop of space opposite from the Ildiran warliners and the observation platform. Suddenly, several incredibly fast spherical objects streaked out like shotgun pellets. They emerged from deep within Oncier's clouds and soared off into open space. Within seconds, the dwindling dots disappeared into the distance.
Margaret gasped, but no one near her had seen the apparition. It couldn't possibly be a natural phenomenon...but how could it be anything else?
She turned, alarmed