That decision has to be yours, SuperStar said. The Anti-Mother is evil, yes, but without her, this system would never have been saved. Because Yoko Ono was dying, but as SuperStar, we will live for a very long time.
“So, from evil comes good,” White said. “It’s fitting.”
“What happens now?” Kreaving asked, before any of my family or friends could say anything else.
Now, SuperStar said, we’re moving.
“Um, excuse me?”
I’m taking this system to Spehidon and Cradus. We will become a binary system and Spehidon will have people.
“You can do that?”
Yes. Solar systems move all the time. Some move more than others. Some are drawn into other systems. This happens with galaxies, too. We’re powerful enough to move of our own accord and we know where we’re going—part of Cradus and Spehidon resides inside of us now. We belong together.
“But the native people live on top of planets. They aren’t the kind that can live within a gas giant.”
Right now, no, they aren’t. But they are evolving. What was taken to be feathers is the beginning of their transition into more ethereal forms. They will become beautiful birdlike creatures who will need what Spehidon can offer them, because as they evolve they are draining their planets and, once fully evolved, will have no planets left.
Lilith showed me the atomic makeup of the natives. They were definitely changing and, since she was inside of me, could tell that they were evolving in a way that would indeed make them more like the Vrierst than like any of us. “Won’t that take a long time, though?”
Maybe. But time is different for suns, planets, and moons. Spehidon and Cradus are overjoyed that we are coming to join them.
“You’ve talked to them?”
Yes. For my mind now they are not all that far away. And, as I said, they are a part of us.
“Wow. Um, can we head off before you move the entire neighborhood? We have that other stop we need to make, if you remember.”
I remember. We will wait until you leave. And, as Cradus and Spehidon told you, you will always have a home with us, if you choose it or need it.
Sniffled. “My little bunny’s all grown up.”
SuperStar laughed. Yes, I suppose I am. Or just born. It depends on your perspective.
“Everything does.” Heaved a sigh. “I’m going to miss snuggling you.”
That’s why you have Peter. We’ll always have Nazez and Yoko Ono.
“We will, won’t we?” Blinked my eyes a lot. Probably they were just watering because they’d gotten dry from being inside the sun.
CHAPTER 86
THE POSITIVES OF SUPERSTAR having given everyone the knowledge of what happened was that Wruck and I didn’t need to spend time with explanations and, more importantly, arguments. The fact that we had to make a fast getaway now didn’t hurt, either.
The decision was made to get the crew of the Eknara home first, then figure out where the hell Ixtha was. Decided I had things to do that required privacy, so bowed out of the discussion and the determination of where Ignotforsta was in comparison to where we were.
Went to our rooms. Thankfully, no one was there. Looked just like we’d left it what was really only a short time ago, though it felt like weeks. “You want out now?” I asked Lilith.
It’s probably wise. Will the others try to use a trap on me?
“I won’t allow it. They saw you help, I think we’re good.”
You should sit or lie down.
“Don’t worry, I remember.” Lay down on the bed. “Are you zooming off the moment you’re out or are you sticking around?”
That depends.
“Just in case you take off, then, first off, can you tell us where Ignotforsta is and/or the fastest path to get there? And secondly, when you first entered me and I saw everything, I thought I saw a solar system that was floating outside of the galaxy, all by itself.”
I can and you did.
“Will you help us get the right coordinates for Ignotforsta? And what’s up with that system?”
I will remain and tell you about it when you wake up.
“Promise?”
Yes.
“Holding you to it.” Then I relaxed and closed my eyes.
Felt Lilith leaving me, filtering herself out of my mind and body. It felt like a loss but also exhilarating at the same time. It was a lot to take, though, and I was lying down because the normal reaction to birthing a superconsciousness or a demigod was to do what I did—pass out.
As before, when I’d transferred ACE from Brian to me and then from me to Gower, saw things. These things were different, though.
Saw the solar system I’d spotted and asked Lilith about. One big sun with what looked like only two viable planets, though there were a lot of moons and dwarf planets present. The two big planets were separated by an impressive asteroid belt. One planet was blue and green and looked a lot like Earth only at least four times bigger. The other was red and orange and resembled Mars, only it looked very much alive.
This system was floating away from the Milky Way, out there in the blackness between galaxies, the No Man’s Land of Space. It looked lost and lonely.
“You did well.”
Looked around. Once again I was sitting next to Mephistopheles.
“Yeah? Thanks. You telling me you had faith in me really mattered. Thank you for that.”
“Of course. And it was and remains true. I was touched that you told my mother we were Best Friends Forever.”
“I’m just hella relieved I managed to scratch that clue out.”
He smiled at me. As usual, creepy and sweet at the same time. “I knew you would.”
“What do we do with her?”
“I find it interesting that all of you are struggling with the decision.”
“Dude, it’s one thing when you’re in the middle of the life-or-death fight. It’s another when you’ve captured your enemy.”
“My mother would counsel killing a captured enemy.”
“Which is why we’re thinking about it. I honestly don’t know what to do. It’s why I’m asking you for your counsel about it.”
“As SuperStar said, that decision remains yours. The humane choice is sometimes hard to determine.”
That definitely felt like a statement preggers with hidden meaning. “Is keeping her in a cage more humane than killing her? I mean, we can’t let her go. She didn’t come across as redeemable.”
“And yet you just worked with someone you would have said was irredeemable a few years ago.”
“I guess, though ACE told us Lilith was scattered and one with the galaxy, which is different from letting loose a powerful parasite bent on total galactic domination.”
“This is true.”
Groaned. “You’re not helping.”
“You always need less help than you think you do.”
“Yeah? I’m pretty sure that I need more help than you all want to tell me I do.” Was certain, for example, that my Suicide Squad had had a lot of help from a source that liked to pretend he wasn’t getting involved.
“I believe you all have a saying—God helps those who help themselves.”
“Yeah, we do.”
“Then you had to take action or God would not have helped.”
“Is that the story being passed around in Powers That Be Land? Impressive spin.”