“Other than your own.”
The purple colored telepath laughed, “No, we don’t even like each other either but we know necessity forces us to work together.”
“Then how does your species ever procreate?”
“Raging hormones will make one do things they would never do otherwise.”
“I imagine that process would be interesting.”
“You have no idea. No one walks away without an injury.”
The Legend felt his disgust and looked away from the screen, “Why have you contacted me?”
“I’ve been asked by my leaders to inquire how much longer you’re going to delay your invasion.”
“You know we’re been building up our fleets to take on the enemy.”
“You can do that for the rest of eternity. At what point do you think you’ll be ready? Your fleets are almost more than you can support now. Do you plan to overwhelm your ability to provide them resources? How many is too many?”
“What are you insinuating?”
“You passed the point of being ready two years ago. Now you’re working to collapse your capability to feed your ships.”
“Why are you telling me this? I’m just one of many.”
“You’re the Senior Elder. I think all the others are waiting for you to make the decision.”
The Legend knew it was right. It remembered the Legend that went insane and his fear of that happening to him still held a high level of fear. “That won’t happen to you. You have enough warships to defend you. The other one didn’t.”
“I will not send my ships away and be left undefended.”
“Go with them and stay out of the battle. It’s time to make your move.”
“And you’re certain none of my tools will turn on me once I’m away from my planet?”
“My kind will kill any of them that even think about rebellion the moment the idea enters their mind. I can continue to bring more of my species in to command your largest warships but I don’t know how many of your tools you want to die to feed us. The daily toll now is quite high.”
The Legend felt disgust again but knew bargains with a demon carried a price. “I’ll notify the others to start provisioning their ships and be prepared to launch within twenty days.”
“Thank you, Great One.”
“You don’t mean it!”
“What?”
“Calling me ‘Great One.”
“Of course I do. I await your instructions.” The Legend wished he could see into that creatures mind but he didn’t have to do it to know it had just lied.
Hengel sat in his scout hiding behind a dark matter cloud and saw his computer logging the light reflecting out of the giant galaxy he was hanging above. He saw a message appearing on his monitor. He looked at the thoughts the young female scout intercepted and smiled, “Good work, Angalee.” He pressed a button on his panel and instantly appeared above Earth, “Michael.”
“Yes, Hengel.”
“They Legends are starting to form their fleets up to invade.”
“Do you know where they’re going?”
“Not yet. I should have that information by tomorrow.”
“Thanks, I’m issuing a war warning immediately. I need that information before I can make final plans.”
“You aren’t going to meet them in their cluster?”
“I may but I prefer to catch them away from their planets if I can make it happen.”
“I’ll go back and see if I can get you that piece of information.”
“Thanks, Hengel. By the way, I really miss Averel.”
“Our child is more than anyone else can handle. She’s forced to stay with him until he matures a little.”
“I know you’re proud of him.”
“I am but he can be a real pill to deal with. See you later.”
Michael shook his head. The Goran High Leader had told him that Goran children were never as problematic as Hengel and Averel’s baby. He wondered why but had too much to do to get ready for what was coming to really give time to think about it.
Hensel smiled. He wasn’t that bad. “Hensel! Stay out of the Commander’s mind!”
“Yes, Mother! You might want to contact him and tell him that the Legends are going to M-87.”
Averel sighed and knew that her baby was the payback for all of her previous sins. She looked at her seven year old, “Are you sure about that?”
“I am, Mother.”
“And you weren’t seen?”
“No, Mother.”
Averel blew out a breath and lifted her wrist unit. Michael always wore a thought blocker these days. Michael appeared and Averel said, “The Legends are going to M-87.” Michael’s eyes went wide and Averel said, “Contact Hengel and tell him Hensel saw it.”
“MOM!”
“You should have followed his instructions, son.”
“Thanks, Averel. I’ll let him know.”
Hengel received the message and sighed. What was it going to take? He decided to withdraw all the scouts from the Legends’ Cluster. There was no need to run the risk of their taking a scout and learning they were being watched. He had no doubt his son was right. He was just like his mother and could not restrain himself from looking at any and everything that captured his interest. He shook his head and decided that it was senseless to continue fighting this battle. He issued the recall orders and rode the light wave to Earth. They still lived there in the hope that Averel could return to work. It was time they knew when it was a lost cause. He took off his thought blocker and thought, “Love.”
“YES!”
“Calm down!”
“DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR SON HAS DONE?!”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“WHAT!!”
“We’re done fighting it.” There was a long moment of silence and Hengel said, “Could I have prevented you from looking at everyone’s mind around you?”
“Well…”
“Be honest.”
Averel sighed, “Probably not.”
“You know the ‘probably’ doesn’t belong in that answer. I hated it for a long time but I realized something about the time our son was born.”
“What is that?”
“How much good came out of your nosiness as well as how much happiness you gave to others. You were wise in what you revealed. I stood no chance in changing that part of you and our son has inherited that trait from you. I know he’s a good person and we need to allow him to grow naturally. We need to let him be who he is.”
“Father.”
“Yes, Hensel.”
“I’m sorry I’ve disappointed you and mother. I try not to look but I can’t do it. Even with a thought blocker, I still see other’s thoughts.”
Averel jerked her head around toward her son who was sitting in the corner, “You’ve never told us that!”
“I didn’t think it was important.”
“Hengel, can the vampires hear his thoughts and come here?”
“No, Mom, they can’t hear me.”
Both Hengel and Averel were silent. Hengel thought, “Are you sure about that?”
“I am.”
“I mean are you really sure!”
“Yes, Father, I’m certain!”
Hengel thought for a moment and said, “Hensel, I want you to take a look at that Legend that is leading the invasion and see if there’s something I should know.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“I’m sure.”
“Hengel, what are you doing?”
“Be patient with me, Averel!”
Hensel shrugged, “The only thing I didn’t mention was that he’s sending some of his ships to the planet where they first detected a Sentinel.”
“WHAT?!”
‘”Hey, all the Commander wanted to know is where they’re going to attack. That Legend is going to personally take a good look at the planet where the first one was seen.”