“Greetings, Adrian of the Empire,” the alien said. “My name is Hanaru. I will be conducting our business today.”
“Greetings,” Adrian said as he studied the alien. “Can I assume that you already know what information we seek?”
“It would be preferable if you state your need, as to avoid any misunderstandings,” Hanaru said.
“We seek any information about the race that calls itself Ra’a’zani, specifically the location of their worlds. Also anything about their technology, warship numbers, and so on,” Adrian said.
Hanaru’s big eyes blinked slowly. “Is that all?”
Adrian hesitated for a moment before adding one more thing. “We are also interested in knowing more about the Shara Daim. But that information is not as important as that about the Ra’a’zani.”
“Really? I would have thought that you would show more interest about the Shara Daim; they have a striking resemblance to you and your Nel race.”
“It is an interesting coincidence only,” Adrian lied.
Hanaru remained silent, and Adrian felt the same shiver again. Then he realized what was happening and slammed his defenses down on his mind. Hanaru’s eyes focused somehow more intently on him, and then he felt him reach out again with his mind.
“So, you are more like the Shara Daim than we realized,” Hanaru sent.
Adrian narrowed his eyes at the alien, and then reached out with his own mind.
“What do you mean?”
“There are very few races that possess these kinds of abilities. Your physical resemblance to them had intrigued us. We wanted to know if there was a connection.”
“We are not the same species,” Adrian sent.
“No, we have acquired samples, and your biological structure is different. But there are still irregularities; we wanted to make sure.”
Adrian remained silent and studied the alien. After a time, he continued.
“You wish to know about the Ra’a’zani?” Hanaru asked, and Adrian felt him use his telepathy. A moment later, a hologram appeared between them, showing the Milky Way galaxy. Then it started zooming in at the area of space they were now. Finally, it stopped and showed an area of space that he recognized. In front of him stretched the Empire’s territory. It wasn’t a complete map, though; it lacked the area that was former Consortium territory, and Sanctuary was missing a marker—only the nebula was shown.
“You know a lot about us,” Adrian commented.
“Knowledge is our purpose. Your rapid expansion has been noticed,” Hanaru responded. Then the map zoomed out, and a series of systems along the edge of the Orion spur lit up, about four hundred light years from Sol. “These are the remaining Ra’a’zani systems.”
“Remaining?” Adrian asked.
“The Ra’a’zani made the mistake of attacking a Shara Daim scientific outpost. The Shara Daim have been at war with them for some time, and have wiped out most of the Ra’a’zani clans. But those that remain are hidden; their territory is spread out, and the Shara Daim have not had any luck in locating the remainder on their own.”
Hearing that, Adrian felt a burden lift of his chest. They had been worried that the Ra’a’zani would be a threat. But if this was true, they were almost beaten. He needed to send a message to Tomas and see what their next step would be. Probably contacting the Shara Daim and getting them to help find the slaves—unless they already had, in which case, why hadn’t they returned them to Sol?
“Thank you for this information, but I doubt that you are just willing to give me this data,” Adrian sent.
“We wish something in return. An exchange of information. Your Empire is spreading anti-spinward, in an area we have little influence and knowledge about. We want safe passage for our exploration ships through your territory, and a sharing of information concerning any new powers you encounter in that area of space.”
Adrian looked at him, surprised. It was far less than what he had imagined, and within what Tomas had allowed Adrian to give.
“That can be arranged,” Adrian said. Hanaru took out a datachip and offered it to Adrian as the hologram disappeared. “That is all?” Adrian asked, referring to the comments about the Shara Daim, human, and Nel connection.
“The Shara Daim guard their secrets vehemently. We know enough to be sure that there is a connection between you. But in the grander scheme of things, it is insignificant, a scientific matter. Not one that threatens the Esari.” With that, Hanaru turned and left the room. Adrian looked at the closed door for a moment before turning and leaving the room. He exited the building and he and his people left.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Anessa exited her shuttle, followed by Do Sun Arikas and two Va Sun. All of them were wearing their Shur At, the weapons and protections that they wore in battle. The Shur At was not active, so it hung around their bodies like a simple garb. But with a thought, Anessa could turn it into armor that encased her body, could have it mold into powerful energy weapons. She had always believed it to be one of her people’s greatest inventions. But after she’d learned more about the device, she knew that it, like so many other technologies they possessed, had come from their ancestors.
Their shuttle had landed close to the Loksi headquarters; it took them only a few minutes to get to their destination. At the entrance, she turned to Do Sun.
“Do you have everything you need?” she asked.
“Yes, Dai Sha, I have the list,” Do Sun answered. While she talked to the Gatrey, he and the two Va Sun would arrange for supplies for their Legion. She wanted to end the Ra’a’zani as fast as possible; already her delay had started whispers from the other Dai Sha.
“Good, I’ll meet you back at the shuttle,” Anessa said, and entered the building as the three of them went the other way to meet with the trading guilds. She needed no guards; she was probably the strongest of the Dai Sha.
Once inside, she was led to an empty room, and as she entered, the doors on the other side opened and a Gatrey entered.
“Dai Sha. My name is Hanaru. It is an honor to speak with you in person,” he sent. Anessa fought back the impulse to squash him for his presumptuousness of speaking to her with the Sha. But she reined in herself. The Esari was powerful, and the Gatrey held great power in it, even though they liked to pretend that they were simple information brokers. They were the Esari’s spies and scouts.
“I am in need of information,” Anessa said, refusing to acknowledge him.
She felt him close off his welcoming aura. “How may we help the Shara Daim?”
“I seek the Ra’a’zani, the race we are at war with. The locations of their worlds,” Anessa sent.
“Well, that is interesting,” Hanaru said, and she caught a brief taste of amusement from him.
“What is interesting?” Anessa sent.
“You are the second person today to ask that information from me.”
Anessa frowned. “Who was the first?”
“We value the privacy of our clients very much,” he said. Anessa prepared to press him, when he added, “Although the person very much resembled a Shara Daim.”