Once again, Wruck expressed no derision for my asking the animals for ideas. “Please remember that whatever is sent has to travel more quickly than the blink of an eye or runs the very real risk of being disintegrated before reaching its target.”
The animals shared that they had nothing just yet, but they’d noodle on it, so to speak. Shared this with Wruck who, once again, took it in stride.
“You know, John, you might be the only adult aside from me who doesn’t think what we’re doing right now is crazy.”
“Oh, it is crazy. However, I’ve learned that your form of crazy works very well. And the thinking in the other room wasn’t getting us anywhere. Appealing to those who haven’t heard all the ideas already—both the good ones and the bad—seems wise, honestly. Plus, I’m sure that a few of the others would think this was a sound option, as well.”
“Possibly Richard, and he’s probably about it. Everyone else is supportive because they kind of have to be.”
Wruck chuckled. “Everyone loves the animals. They’re full members of the team.”
The animals sent a lot of love Wruck’s way. Other than SuperBun, who was still concentrating.
Finally, though, as My Chemical Romance sang “Mama,” SuperBun’s eyes opened. He shook himself in a way that was adorable. Then he heaved a huge bunny sigh.
“What did you get?” I asked him.
He’d gotten that there was indeed a very strong, sentient presence in the star. Female, based on her thoughts. She was distracted with the joining of her essence to the star, which was the only reason she hadn’t exerted power on the crews of the Eknara and Distant Voyager. And, in that sense, we didn’t matter. The moment she was one with the star she was going to engulf all the planets and life on them. She was gleefully looking forward to this.
“Can we stop her without destroying the star?”
Possibly, was SuperBun’s take on it. But it would take something powerful enough to hold the star together while expelling the parasitic telepath. Or something nonexplosive.
“We can call her Mama Mephs or the Anti-Mother. You guys pick.”
“Why Anti-Mother?” Wruck asked.
“Because Galactus is a dude and Galactusa sounds dumb. Plus, Galactus is, like, my least favorite comics villain of, possibly, all time, and while that sounds like a great moniker to assign, I just don’t have the love for it. Besides, Mama Mephs is basically the opposite of Mother. Mother wants to protect everyone. Anti-Mother wants to destroy them. And, for a comics comparison, the Anti-Monitor, while a lot like Galactus, is far cooler.”
“I like it,” Mother said. “I was not eavesdropping, but you said my name and I thought you needed assistance.”
“No worries. Have the others come up with any good ideas in our absence?”
“Sadly, no. They are all quite filled with despair.”
“Glad we left,” I said to Wruck.
Who nodded. “Mother, could you ensure that everyone stays there? We’re possibly making progress and I don’t believe we need input from anyone beyond those in the room with us.”
“Certainly, John. Would you like me to continue to listen or not?”
We looked at each other. “Up to you,” Wruck said.
“Um . . . you know what? Sure.”
“As you wish. I will not intrude unless you ask for me, the others come up with something helpful, or I feel that my input will assist.”
We gave our attention back to the animals. “SuperBun, did you get any feel for how long we have until Anti-Mother is going to be unstoppable?”
Not long, but long enough. However, SuperBun felt compelled to point out that we had no good ideas for what to send into the star nor how to get there safely.
My music changed to “Walkin’ on the Sun” by Smash Mouth. Considered this clue. “Are there people who can walk on or go into stars who we could appeal to for help?” I asked Wruck.
His turn to jerk. “There are. Any superconsciousness of enough power could do it. And I could alter myself into a form most likely to survive the star’s heat—there are some very rare beings who can enter a star.”
“I can’t pop up the numbers, but as far as I’ve ever heard, stars are like the definition of hottest things in the universe.”
“They are, but that doesn’t mean that beings can’t survive inside of them.”
“Oh, just like in the Narnia books.”
“If you say so. We have a Superior joining with a star—clearly survival is possible, at least for a few.”
“So we need a superconsciousness to help. Does it make me a bad person that I don’t want ACE to do this?”
“No, it does not,” Wruck said. “ACE resides in your daughter. You not wanting to risk ACE or Jamie shows good maternal instinct.”
“I don’t know if Sandy is close enough. We don’t know who’s hanging out in the dark nebula that the Eknara was near so there’s no guess if they’ll help us or not. Naomi’s not allowed to manifest as far as I know. Who does that leave us with?”
“Me.”
Only the person who said this wasn’t Wruck.
CHAPTER 81
WRUCK’S EYES OPENED WIDE and he stared at someone who was on my left, but just outside of my peripheral vision. My music changed to “Faith in Each Other” by INXS.
Turned to see who was speaking. They were somewhat formless, a collection of sparkling motes, like a living version of the Pantone Matching System. I’d only seen something like this once.
“Lilith?”
The motes spun. “Yes. It is . . . good to see you again, Kitty.”
“Um, really?”
“Really.”
“I, um, killed you. Sort of.”
“No. You saved me. You and Jareen and the others. You gave me to the galaxy and I was able to become much more than I ever could have been prior. I understand why ACE chose to stay as they originally made us. But I am grateful for the new life you gave me.”
“I’m glad it worked out. Um, why are you here?”
“I was called. I have seen what is inside this sun. An evil the likes of which I could never have achieved in my former existence. It must be stopped. This is my galaxy, just as it’s yours, and I must assist you or we will all be destroyed.”
“Wow, it’s like totally Old Home Week. But glad to have you on the team. What are your thoughts about getting into the sun?”
“I could manage it,” Lilith said slowly. “But I believe it would destroy me. However, I am willing to sacrifice if that is what’s needed.”
“Can’t express how much I don’t want people on our side dying if it’s at all possible. Besides, if you’re destroyed getting us in, how do we get out?”
“Us?” Wruck asked.
“Dude, I’m going, too. I’ll wrap up in as many sets of Drax body armor as possible and you can do whatever to shield me, but someone has to actually stop the Anti-Mother. Getting to her is just the first part. Stopping her? My first job with Centaurion Division was as a parasitic superbeing exterminator. I’ve trained for this.”