String Theory_ Fusion (Book 2) - Kirsten Beyer [99]
“Are all of your crewmen so undisciplined?” she asked, adding a faint click of her tongue which Chakotay interpreted as disdain.
“They are not,” he replied quickly. “His actions were out of character and cause for great concern. We believed then, as now, that he might have received a telepathic communication from someone or something aboard the array.”
Assylia sighed deeply. Chakotay sensed regret.
“They called to him,” she said with emphasis. “They have led you all to your death.”
“They being the parasites that attacked your people?” Chakotay asked.
“No. They are not the parasites. I know of whom you are speaking. They may be the parasites’ keepers… I do not know. In the years that have passed since my people were annihilated I have sensed their presence. I have lived in constant awareness of them. Their pain is all-consuming. Their desires are insatiable. Like the parasites, they are of this place, but they are not the primary danger you are facing, nor is your crewman the first they have called to. He is merely the first that answered, and I assure you, you will die regretting his choice.”
“For the moment we appear to be safe,” Chakotay said simply. “Our sensors have detected thousands of creatures which we assume are the parasites you spoke of. We chose to try and free your consciousness from your ship in hopes that you might be able to tell us something more about them, as well as anything you might know about an object called the Key to Gremadia.”
Assylia’s eyes widened as a series of sharp clicks echoed through the room. “You have discovered the Key?” she asked with awe.
“It was given to us by your people,” he replied.
“That is impossible!” she stormed, rising from her seat and beginning to pace. “The Key was lost generations ago. And no Monorhan would have given you something which is so precious to us.”
With as much humility as possible, Chakotay explained their first encounter with the Monorhans and the lengths to which he and the crew had gone to save the planet from imminent destruction. His story ended with the presentation of the Key to Captain Janeway.
“They were fools,” Assylia stated flatly, once his story was done. “The Key has meaning only for my people, and those we left behind had no right…”
“Kaytok seemed sincere,” Chakotay interjected. “He believed he had seen a real vision of his grandfather, Gora.”
“Gora died, just like all the others,” Assylia said menacingly. “And the Key was not Kaytok’s to give.”
Chakotay silently wondered whether or not Assylia’s cooperation might hinge on the return of the Key to its rightful owners, but hesitated to offer it, even as a conciliatory gesture, until the potential Nacene connection could be verified. As far as their enemies went, Chakotay still believed that the Nacene posed a greater threat than Assylia for the time being.
“What is the Key’s significance?” he asked.
“That depends entirely upon who you ask,” she replied.
“At the moment, I’m asking you,” Chakotay said diplomatically.
“The Key was a gift from the Blessed All-Knowing Light to His true followers. The haran who discovered it was given wisdom beyond that of any Monorhan who had come before or since. Dagan was a prophet who told us the truth about our God.”
“What truth was that?”
“That the Blessed All-Knowing Light was not alone. That He did not create Monorha and fill it with life so that we could simply honor and revere His name. The All-Knowing Light created Monorha so that those who rose to life on its surface could join Him in His battle with those who oppose life and help Him overcome them.”
“As I understand your history, that was a difficult concept for most of your people to accept,” Chakotay offered.
“It was. The members of my tribe were ridiculed and then punished for holding to that belief. But the All-Knowing Light foresaw our struggle. He created a place for us between the stars where His true followers would find Him.”
“Gremadia?” Chakotay asked.
Assylia nodded.