“It’s the word “reasonably” that bothers me. Are you absolutely sure? You know how the Elders insist on certainty.”
“This tool is designed to handle weapons and is more vicious than any tool I’ve ever made. They will kill large groups instead of one-on-one like the current tool and unlike the current tool, these don’t have to be compelled to kill; they enjoy it. They have also been designed to handle that unresolved issue and their technology will be more advanced.” The being thought a moment, “Perhaps you’re right. I’ll produce a sample large enough to trial.”
“What will be your target?”
“Why the current tool, of course.”
“What about their ability to handle a universe?”
“They’ll do both during the trial.”
“Don’t eliminate the current tool until you’re sure.”
“I won’t. I’ll only take a nibble out of their numbers.”
“Yeah, but a nibble for you is huge.”
The Red Being smiled and shrugged.
Tag, Danielle, and Melanie finished watching the recording of the meeting and Tag asked, “I see why you’ve asked us to come.”
“I need to know what your sense of danger says about this information.”
“We have some time. I’m not sure how much, but I think we have a few years before we are threatened directly. What are you planning?”
“To use that time wisely and to try and come up with instruments that will protect the Realm.”
Melanie, who was starting to gain weight, said, “You are going to make a trip, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I am, love. Our descendents will not face this kind of uncertain future if I can do anything about it.”
Melanie took his hand, “Should I go with you?”
“No, one of us needs to be here.”
Danielle smiled, “I think he’s right. The Realm needs to know that our rulers are available.”
Matt looked at Danielle and she immediately said, “No, we will not become the Realm’s rulers again. This is for you to handle.”
“I was just thinking that it would free us up to work on it directly.”
“It would also frighten the Realm too much to make that change. They have accepted you and love you now. It would only hurt our leadership if we did that.”
“Then are you prepared to work on it directly?”
Danielle looked at Tag, “That’s something I will need to discuss with Tag but my initial response is no. Our time has come and gone. Our talents are nowhere near a strong as your generation.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, Danielle. We are what we’ve become because of you.”
Melanie smiled, “Danielle’s right; you will have to accept your role as our King in this venture.”
Matt sighed, “I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
Melanie hugged him tightly, “Tell them hello for me.”
“I will.”
“Al, have you got a minute?”
“Anytime, Magic.”
“I need to make a trip and I was wondering if you would take me.”
“Where are you going?”
“To see a brother.”
“I’ll be right there.”
Matt watched his display as he moved toward the planet of the Reg.
“Looks like things have changed since our last visit.”
“They have indeed, Al. The cities are glowing much brighter and the city on the southern continent was dark on our last visit. Look at it now.” The city was glowing brightly and could be seen from the distance of the first moon. As they entered orbit, Three Reg appeared on their bridge.
“Why have you come to see us, Brother?”
“Do you know about the dark galaxy?”
The First Reg looked in Matt’s mind and then looked at the other two. After a moment it turned and thought, “Yes, we know about them.”
“So the beings we surmised do exist.”
“Yes, they do, and they are all you fear them to be.”
“I know your ideals but I need to know what you can tell me about them.”
The Second Reg looked at Matt, “They are older than our civilization and have been killing as long as they have existed. The dark galaxy, as you call it, is their home. They fear that another race of beings will come that will remove them from creation. They now spend their long existence looking across all universes and dimensions to prevent that race from coming into existence.”
“What caused them to have that fear?”
“They think that if they can be created then they can be destroyed. They fear the force that created them.”
“Why would they fear it?”
“Because they decided not to follow the spirit of that force; they decided to rebel and do as they pleased. Knowing the power of the creating force, they decided to prevent the creation of another race that could defeat them.”
“Is this creative force a conscious entity?”
“That’s a question we have pondered our entire existence and are still no closer to an answer. However, it does not take a conscious entity to remove things that are foreign to a system. Your bodies eliminate waste that would poison you, stars go nova to remove mass that has been burned, some of your shellfish build a layer of protection around foreign things in them and a pearl is the product. Don’t look so surprised, we have been examining your planet for quite awhile. Everywhere creation has natural defenses against things that can harm it. Some of these defenses produce things that are beautiful. Those beings are right; the creative force will seek to remove them.”
“Why have they not come and destroyed you?”
“They cannot see us. We are beings of psychic power and they are blind to its color.”
Al said, “But surely they can see your cities and ships.”
“Yes, but all they see is glowing rock and inorganic matter. They have trillions of universes and dimensions to watch and all of their sensory devices look for organic material. We do not appear on their searches, yet”
“Why do you say, “yet”?”
“The green creatures know about us. If they collect the information they have gathered, they will learn that they could not harm us and they will investigate.”
“You don’t show up on their searches, but we do.”
“Yes, you do.”
Matt was silent while he pondered what he learned.
The Third Reg thought, “They have not taken direct action against those races they detect. They have created tools to do that for them so they do not normally watch their sensors. If they find us they will take direct action. It is also time for them to be creating a new tool for their designs.”
“What can we do to protect ourselves from them?”
“If they see you, nothing will protect you. Fortunately, you are hidden in the trillions their sensors watch. We have thought about how to protect ourselves and also our universe. We cannot take life but some of our Eldest have come back to the present and have discussed the possibility of saving life without taking life.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“We can defend ourselves and not violate our principles. We know the green creatures know of our existence and if the red beings take their information they will learn of us. If they are building a new tool, then our time of being hidden is short. We can remove us from their sensors. We are looking at that possibility at this moment.”
“How would you do that?”
“We will move this universe into another dimension and place a psychic barrier around it that would prevent their being able to see us and be a barrier to them entering.”
“Wouldn’t their galaxy still be in our universe?”
“No, we would move to a dimension where they are not currently present and bar them from entering.”
Matt thought about the scope of the Reg’s abilities to be able to accomplish what they described, “Then we would have to turn our backs on all the civilizations they will kill in the future.”
“Our Eldest said you would feel that way; however, you, like us, are beings that possess psychic powers. You will be able to leave and return to this universe by the use of those powers. You will need a psychic drive but you are not far from developing one.”