“They can wait a minute,” she said briskly. “This news can’t. None of us are actually starving, that’s just the story to get us all into the safe room together ASAP without a Cradi nearby. Fathade was powered down when we discovered this, and we haven’t told her about it yet—we felt it was safer for her if we shared the news when she was back on the moon, just in case. She was okay in space, but like an asthmatic fighting an attack—she had to labor to breathe.”
“So, that means this news is hella stressful then, right?”
“Oh, definitely right. You know how the Cradi think that the Orange Scourge came from somewhere other than their system?”
“Yes,” Jeff said.
Camilla heaved a sigh. “They’re wrong. The spores are absolutely coming from Spehidon.”
CHAPTER 67
WE CAUGHT UP TO THE OTHERS. Fathade and Feoren said they’d meet us after we ate, so as per usual we had no Cradi in the safe room with us.
Had Amy, Denise, and Lizzie handle Jamie and Charlie, since we needed an immediate meeting and none of us wanted the kids involved. We point-blank told the civilian adults that they were also to keep the rest of the kids fed and with them. No one argued—the expressions on the away team’s faces now that there were no Cradi around didn’t welcome complaints.
In addition to the nine of our people who’d gone on the excursion, we had all the rest of the usual suspects, Jeff’s Cabinet, my available staff—since I valued both Vance and Mrs. Maurer’s input—and Hacker International. In other words, the usual vast number that was the reason we’d had to create the Large Situation Room in the White House.
Fortunately, the room could accommodate. We sat as close to each other as possible, though, so everyone could hear without anyone having to shout.
“Len spotted it,” Reader said, “Kyle convinced Fathade to power down and kept her distracted when she powered back up, and MJO was able to use his camera’s zoom to get some good shots, so good call on those three, Kitty.”
“I’m supposedly still the Head of Recruitment for Centaurion Division for a reason. But what did you guys find?”
“May I?” Oliver asked. Reader nodded. “We cruised the general solar area. This system is relatively isolated but we feel that we’re likely in the Norma Arm of the galaxy.”
“That tracks with their star charts,” Chuckie said.
“It’s always wise to verify,” Wruck said. “Just in case.”
“No argument.” Chuckie nodded to Oliver. “Go on, please.”
“Based on Crion’s position in the galaxy, Mister Wruck was able to determine that it’s indeed likely that a neutron wave from the star Mephistopheles destroyed hit Spehidon right before the Orange Scourge appeared.”
“So that tracks with what Fathade told us,” I said. “But it didn’t hit this world like it did Kreaving’s ship.”
Oliver nodded. “This is a moon. That the wave affected the Eknara as it did may have had some to do with where they were exploring, because they couldn’t move to avoid its direct path. The moon and planet have no ability to maneuver in that way, and they’re both large enough to not be affected like the Eknara was. If Cradus was on the opposite side of Spehidon from where the neutron wave hit, then it could have felt far fewer effects as well.”
“Okay, but Camilla said that the spores are from Spehidon. How?”
“The neutron wave likely affected Spehidon in some way. However, I captured pictures of the spores being ejected from the planet.”
“In all directions?” Jeff asked.
Oliver shook his head. “Only toward the moon.”
“You’re sure that it wasn’t just random?” Chuckie asked.
“Yes. The spores expelled toward the moon—it’s moved since we left, and the location from which the spores came changed as well, to match the moon’s location.”
“How often?” Chuckie asked.
“Every other day,” Reader said. “Len spotted it the moment we were closer to the planet. Believe me, it took a lot to keep Fathade from realizing this.”
“I know a lot about Cradus’ history now,” Kyle said. “She’s a great teacher, so there’s that.”
“If they’ve got part of a Superior in them, does that mean that the spores, the Orange Scourge, or whatever’s in Spehidon are sentient?” Or evil, which seemed possible, considering what it was doing to the moon.
“Doubtful,” Oliver said. “Not impossible, but it’s unlikely.”
“John?” Jeff turned to Wruck. “What do you think?”
“I think that we’re going to have to figure out how to evacuate this moon.”
Hochberg and Hamlin both nodded. “We agree with John,” Hochberg said. “The Distant Voyager may be able to accommodate them in some way to keep them alive until we can find another world they can thrive on.”
“Leaving them here is going to be akin to murder,” Hamlin added. “Fathade was very clear about what the Orange Scourge does to them.”
“So, we’re going to evacuate an entire race and just give up on their home world?” Jeff sounded upset, not that I could blame him.
“No,” I said. “We’re not.”
This got me the group’s attention. “How so?” Tim asked.
“I have several ideas, after wandering this moon for the past few days.” My brain nudged again. There was something about Cradus that was bothering me. “Kyle, have a question for you before I make any suggestions, though.”
“Shoot.”
“Did Fathade mention how they manipulate Cradus to do whatever they want?”
He looked thoughtful. “No, not really. She indicated that it was all via telepathy, not that she came out and said that, though.”
My brain shared that I’d read about things like this before.
“Okay.” Considered options. Considered something else. Dug into my purse, pulled out my phone, and opened my music up. Steely Dan’s “King of the World” was queued up. Nice to always have Algar on my wavelength. “Look, I need to go talk to the rabbits. So, let’s eat, because I can’t leave the room until everyone’s Moon Suits are back on.”
“That’s it?” Jeff asked. “You have ideas and the first one is to eat?”
“You’ve known me how long?”
“Good point.”
“I’m all for eating,” Reader said. “I know what tends to happen when Kitty says she knows what to do, and I prefer to roll on a full stomach.”
We ate quickly, with those of us who’d stayed on the moon telling the away team all about our vacation so far. “I don’t want to lose this world,” Jeff said when we were done. “It’s too special to give up on.”
“And we will not. I want everyone to go swimming—the mercury ocean is not to be missed. Everyone other than Richard and Paul, that is. I’d like them with me.”
Looked like a lot of people wanted to argue or ask me what I was up to. Put up the paw and was rewarded to see all those people grimace and stay quiet.
“I want to do this so that I don’t insult or terrify our hosts and don’t get people’s hopes up with unworkable ideas. And I want Richard and Paul with me for reasons I don’t plan to share yet.”
“Fine,” Jeff sighed. “Why ask why?”
“That’s the spirit!”
We got everyone’s Moon Suits on. No one delayed—everyone really loved going to the beach here.