Point Zero by Aer-ki Jyr (christmas read aloud TXT) 📕

“But what if the newbs can’t handle our level of…fury? What if our avatars are too advanced and we cause damage that way? You said before that legends would have a person come back changed and then they would mate with a regular to produce enhanced offspring. That had to water down the power level mightily. You’re not talking about that here. You’re wanting two enhanced people to reproduce a fully enhanced offspring. Might that be a source of trouble?”

“No,” Wilson said firmly, shocking everyone still awake. “Not a problem at all. In fact it’s more of a blessing…assuming you know how to train properly. The other Master Trainers and I can handle it. Don’t worry about that.”

“Why are you so sure?” Morgan asked.

“You guys didn’t become Archons on your own,” he reminded them. “I did a lot of pushing, as did the Black Knight. I know what people need in order to grow, and I’ve done it with more races than I can count. It won’t be a problem. I promise you that.”

Morgan put a hand on her head. “Maybe I’m just loopy, but it still worries me. Can we wait on the breeding stuff until we all get clear heads?”

“We’re talking decades from now, Morgan,” Paul reminded her.

“Right,” she said. “Sorry, that was stupid. My head feels so tight I can’t think straight. I’m going back to my bed,” she said, standing and walking out of her row as others moved out of the way, though she didn’t make it very far out the door when a soft ‘thud’ was heard just down the hallway.

“Like I said, Furyans,” Paul reiterated. “We never know when to stop pushing and just sit still, but that’s what we have to do now. We’re not taking any actions with race crafting until after we’re through this and see what we have to work with, though we’ll continue brainstorming throughout. I’ll grab Morgan, those of you strong enough get the others and everyone head back to bed. You can do your thinking there and we can collaborate via message board. But the key is to rest and let this happen, and eat a lot,” he said, hopping off the platform and walking past the others.

“Paul, I want you and Wilson in my office later today,” Davis said, pointing his finger towards the back of the amphitheater. “But I want you there now.”

Cal-com stood up when he realized he was the one being pointed out. “As you wish, Director.”

“Unlike the rest of you, I still have the Zak’de’ron removal to coordinate. Originally I wanted you involved, but not now. The rest of us ‘normals’ will handle it. You guys just chill out.”

“And me?” Kara asked.

“Keep using Essence and training. We don’t want you transforming and having your siphon silenced.”

Kara cringed. “No. Definitely not. You think it would?”

“Until we know why Paul lost some stuff, and how your Vorch’nas would react, and even if you are able to since you didn’t go Saiyan…too many variables right now, and we’ve got a lot to work on. If you can change, delay it indefinitely. Please.”

“No problem. You want help with the Zak’de’ron angle?” she asked as the room cleared with Cal-com waiting at the exit for Davis.

“No. I want you to stick with Paul and vet him inside and out. If there’s any hint of manipulation by this Azoro, find it.”

“And if he can remote control his body, I’m the only one who has a chance of stopping him now that he’s buffed up?”

“I hope it’s not that bad, but I want you with him even if everything is fine. He’s gone through a lot of change, and the others aren’t in a position to help much right now. Just make sure Paul is on solid footing. If he is the key to our future, we can’t afford any newb mistakes.”

“Paul is hardly a newb, even in an upgraded body.”

“Did you see how he walked out?”

“A little wobbly.”

“It’s not his same body, Kara. It’s a new one built off the old. Everything is out of sync physically. Care to guess how he is mentally?”

“Right. I get to be his stabilizing girlfriend,” she said, heading out.

“Is that a complaint?” Davis asked to her back.

Kara glanced over her shoulder but continued to walk. “Depends how much training time I lose…”

4

April 29, 154931

Black Widow System (Home One Kingdom)

Low Stellar Orbit

Menchi was the Kiritak overseer of a Star Forge-class mining station, though not one of the larger ones. His was a Mark 219, meaning it was used primarily as a refueling outpost. It would draw material up out of the red/orange star that occupied half of the sky outside and convert it into reactor fuel for warships and starships, but not for civilian consumption.

There were a few tankers that would show up here occasionally, but mostly it was individual ships passing through to refill their reserves, most of which would last 3 years, even under heavy travel. Many ships would not need refill for more than a decade, so a stop by a refueling station was a rarity for starship captains.

Despite being in friendly territory, a Sentinel defense station had been paired with the Star Forge, given the fact that it was designed to ward off the star’s relentless burning and not enemy attack. The Sentinel was higher up in orbit, outside the star’s atmosphere, while the Star Forge was down in it, making the horizon glow and leaving even a hazy light when looking away from the star. Down here there weren’t many enemies that could reach them for attack, and the most direct assault would be from above…which was where the Sentinel was sitting.

Star Force starships could brave the star’s burn for short periods of time, so they had no trouble