Triot was screaming at the techs as more and more systems went offline. “Get the redundant systems up! If she gets loose we are all dead!” Several men were running around trying to bring dead systems back up.

“We’ve the entire system that holds it isolated, containment is holding steady.” Several techs told Triot.

“Make sure, we need as much power as we can get. It is far more cunning than you think. I want all destruct protocols in place if it starts to escape I want it dead!” Triot was shouting above the alarms.

Thantas was looking at all the leads that led to her body. Sam’s ministrations had weakened several though one of the major ones was now disconnected. Smiling she felt that well over half of the commands they were feeding her were now gone. Searching further she saw that the bomb that was attached to her was still in play. Hmmm she thought, might ‘speak’ to Sam about that. He had after all promised to free her.

[Thellus, Drivas if you are ready I will start your advancement. I am afraid that I cannot exclude all the pain, though it will be nothing compared to what they have done to you.] Thantas told both the women.

Drivas was startled a moment then answered. [We are ready; if we are to set things right then we will need this.]

Thantas knew she had to start as soon as possible. While most of the station was down they wouldn’t monitor her as closely. [Alright I’ll start on you Thellus; afterward you will need to man the ship while Drivas recovers.]

[Yes Thantas, I thank you for the chance to grow.] Thellus replied.

[Don’t thank me yet, this is dangerous even with all the power you already have. When I finish you will be equal to the other fifth level. You Drivas will become the strongest after Sam then me.]

[I thank you also Thantas, a chance to do what is right appeals to me greatly.] Drivas told Thantas

[As I told Thellus, don’t thank me yet. This will be painful as it usually is though, the pain will be as negligible as I can make it.] Thantas advised Drivas.

[If this works then I don’t think that will matter.] Drivas replied.

Sam was floating back toward the throng of grays when Queen Triada’s thoughts came to him. [You have done much to free them and us from the clutches of IP. For that we all thank you.]

Sam stopped a moment floating well above the ground. [You know, you could have just asked me. With all the knowledge you have of my people did you really think that I would refuse? My god, you can feel what and who I am, did you really think that I was that shallow?]

Sam felt the Queen slightly withdraw, a tinge of fear in her thoughts. [We apologize to you Sam. It has been a very long time since we met a being that was as trustworthy as you. With the loss of all triads that has become a thing of the distant past.]

Sam was nodding as the Queen informed him of these facts. [I hope that you find me to be more a friend than an enemy. I think it would facilitate us working together better in the future.]

Sam felt the Queen’s thoughts relax, [I and many others would like that Sam. The fact that you have re-established two triads…]

[Well one for certain, though the second seems to be dependent upon those here now. I’m not so certain that my actions have instilled a lot of confidence for them in me. Many still appear to be more fearful than much else.] A worried Sam told the Queen.

[You have done far more than you realize Sam, when you saved all the females. A great many turned more in your favor. I believe that I and the few elders should be able to convince them.] The Queen replied.

Sam nodded as he landed to talk to the elder. Sam was there for quite a while before he lifted disappearing into the sky. Sighing as he made orbit, he started to look for signs of Mellos Thymp again. Shaking his head he opened another worm hole to follow the weak trail.

______________________________________________

On the new IP home world the medical facility was doing all they could to save the seventh council. Finally the body stopped responding as the cerebral activity dropped to zero. The IP doctor nodded as he switched off the machine; documenting everything he opened a channel. “Sixth council, the body has stopped it’s function. All cerebral activity recorded standing by for you.”

A brief silence then an older male’s voice responded. “You have performed well doctor, a courier will arrive shortly. They will acquire the record; no one is to interfere under penalty of death.”

The doctor nodded, “it is understood. All has been made ready for your courier.”

“Very good, I’d hate to lose as fine of a doctor as you.” The voice replied then the line went dead.

The sixth council nodded to the male in dark clothing then blinked when the male seemed to vanish. Only waiting a few minutes the darkly clothed male reappeared holding a small blinking black box then one finger up. Smiling the council turned to enter the council chamber.

“All hail brothers of the collective.” The older man said as he took his seat. Reaching out he handed the blinking black box to the first council.

“I take it you have made arrangements? It has been a hundred solar units (years) since this was necessary. With the appearance of two triads all seven of the council is needed. With this new seventh starting out we will be weaker for a time. No more triads can be allowed to reform.” The number one council told the sixth.

“Although he was never the best among us he was still necessary for us to maintain the power we wield. It also appears that the Cliveastone out there now, might be a relation to the one that we receive the serum from.” The older male stated.

There was a collective gasp from all present. “By all that is holy,” came the excited voice of the second council. “If that is true, the serum that could come from it would be far more reaching.”

The rest of the councils were nodding as they awaited the candidate for the seventh council’s position. A few moments later the same younger version of the older male that had expired in the medical center arrived.

“Ah good! You are right on time.” The first council said as the young male was seized and strapped to a chair in the center of the room. “If you survive this then you will ascend to the seventh council’s position.”

Wrenching his arms and legs the younger male started to curse and shout obscenities. “What is this? I thought I would be taking his place!?”

The first council leaned down as he whispered in the younger male’s ear. “Oh you will, first you need to be the one that we have worked with for the last five centuries.” Holding up a black blinking box, the older male smiled. “Then HE can regain his place.”

Handing the box to a tech the first council sat to wait with the others. Attaching the box the tech nodded that all was ready. “We hope that you survive the transfer, and aging.” All the councils said as an apparatus on the wall started to hum to life. Then the younger male’s eyes went large as a current started to flow through the box.

All six males that were seated started to smile with sadistic glee as the screams of the young male filled the room. Ah! They all thought the delicious sounds of torture. How they all missed the old days before the rules, when just killing a whole planet was a more satisfying victory.

For almost an hour they laughed like children at the torturous screams, groans and sobbing of the one strapped in the chair. Finally the apparatus shut down as several techs re-entered the room to check on the one strapped in.

The techs moved rapidly around the room as they hovered around the now older looking male. Conducting several tests they nodded to the waiting council.

“He appears to be alive; all readings indicate that the transfer was successful. Nothing more can be known ’til he is conscious again.” A lead tech said to which the first council waved the techs out of the room.

A few moments later an older doctor slowly made his way into the room. Looking at the six other males in the room he nodded. Bending over the now older looking male strapped into the chair the doctor pulled several small machines from his pocket.

In a voice that was far stronger than his advanced years suggested, the doctor spoke for the first time. “It appears that the transfer was successful.” Shaking his head the doctor looked at the other six there. “You need to take far better care. Sooner or later this may not be as feasible as it was five hundred years ago. All of you have at least two times now.”

All six of the males in the room sighed; it was the same thing each time. They weren’t ready to give up as easily as the doctor was. They intended to never give up, to fight as long as they could. A groaning from the male in the chair drew all their attention.

The doctor turned back to the male in the chair as he took out another apparatus. “So council seven, feel like resuming your duties?”

The man in the chair stared at the older male doctor for a few minutes. Staring harder he shook his head a few times to seemingly clear it. “Where in the hell am I?” Then he tried to rise finding that he was strapped down. “Ah! I see I guess I killed another host. A shame the last was very strong.” Turning to the other six a sadistic smile crossed his lips. “I hope that you recorded the delicious sounds of the host dying.”

The other six smiled evil and malicious. “All was recorded; the machine that has the emotions was used this time. You should get the full effect. I have to say that the death of this one was so satisfying!”

“Ah good! I will need the fear and pain to grow back in strength. Afterward we have to discuss plans to rid the universe of the last of the Cliveastones. This one is far beyond those that we eliminated five centuries ago.”

Several of the other six gasp at this news. “You think he knows of our existence?”

“No, though the one we draw the serum from does. She was there when half of our race was eliminated. It seems a justice that one of the ones that destroyed us sustains us.” Here the strapped down male laughed as did the others there.

“I still think that you need to take far better care. If you continue to go through them much more, then even our superior science might not be able to restore you.” The old doctor told the seven.

“With all the advances these primitives had made, you’ve not been able to advance it more?” The third council spoke up.

“No, as I said these primitives are only half as advanced as we were when our planet was destroyed. The Cliveastones were the only ones that were on an equal footing as us. Thankfully we got them before they got the rest of us.” The doctor replied.

The doctor had turned to go when the male strapped down called out. “Do you have any suggestions for the other two Cliveastones out there?”

“The other two? I was only aware of this Sam and that pitiful excuse Mellos Thymp that has been a nuisance for the past few solar years.” The doctor replied his interest suddenly peaked.

“Yes, there’s another female on the first gray corner triad world. The thing is she was half immune to the gas AFTER she had been in contact with this Sam.” The seventh council revealed. This of course drew more gasps from all there.

The doctor’s mouth was hanging open. “There were rumors five centuries ago that they had developed immunity to the gas. If this is true and this Sam has it, then I’d say that we have an extremely LARGE problem.” The doctor was in thought for a few more minutes then he started to shake his head. “If this female was affected then suddenly had a partial immunity to the gas, then it is obvious he has it. It also appears that he has developed the osmosis technique.”

“I thought you said that it wasn’t possible!? That we were the only race that had that ability.” The third council spoke up.

“I had thought that also, though it appears that the Cliveastones have it also.” The doctor was deep in thought a few more moments then snapped his fingers. “The conclave offensive! Many went missing during that failed raid on them.” Here the doctor turned to the first council. “As I remember your and my mates were lost in that.”

The first council growled as he reached out a hand in the direction of the doctor. The doctor’s eyes went wide then he made a back handing motion. The first council flew backwards crumpling against the wall.

“I am far stronger than any of you, last of us or not I will terminate you. Remember that before you attempt to do that again.” The doctor hissed as the first council regained his seat.

All six councils bowed to the doctor, “we will not forget lord doctor.”

With a sadistic smile on his face the doctor nodded then left the room.

_____________________________________________________

Drivas was watching over Thellus as the female had crumpled into a heap not long after Thantas started. Sighing Drivas could feel the increase that Thellus had made. She was almost as strong as Drivas was right now.

[She will be fine Drivas. She is a lot like you; she draws a great amount of strength from you. There is a reason for this that I will reveal sometime soon. ‘Til such time you are far stronger I am afraid the both of you are at risk.] Thantas told Drivas.

[Drivas?] A voice seemed to call out in Drivas’s head. [I seem to be having trouble waking up. I feel so weak from this. I hope that it isn’t this bad for you.]

[I will be fine Thellus; you need to regain your strength before you awaken. Rest now no more thought usage, Rest.] Drivas replied to Thellus.

[I’m sorry that we will have to hold off on my mind strengthening Thantas.] Drivas said as she again mopped Thellus’s forehead.

[You are far stronger than you think my dear Drivas. At present you are almost an equal to the other fifth level. Though I have to tell you your thought talk is far stronger than any other but me and Sam.] Thantas told Drivas.

Drivas could only stare ahead in shock, she was equally strong? When in the hell had she gotten that strong?

[Perhaps when the both of us are stronger we could help to release you? I would very much like to finally meet you.] Drivas said with sincerity.

[I also would like to meet the both of you. I am afraid though it would take far too long to strengthen the both of you for that. Sam has released part of what is holding me from my body. I am afraid that he is the only one that is strong enough to release me.] Thantas replied to Drivas.

[It is a shame, you have done so much for the both of us, and here we can do practically nothing for you. Thantas I feel closer to you than anyone except Thellus.] Drivas revealed to Thantas.

[I may hold you to that one day in the near future.] Thantas said to a shocked Drivas. [Sleep Drivas, the rest will help you to recover faster when I start on you.]

Drivas’s eyes remained wide at these words from the voice of the female she felt great kinship with. Then just as suddenly she felt the fog of sleep as it over took her.

_____________________________________________________

Sam was in the worm hole maybe another thirty minutes when he was suddenly spit out. Tumbling to a stop he looked around for what had interrupted his trip.

[Was this your doing Queen Triada?] Sam asked something was going on nearby though he was still a bit too far away to tell.

[No Sam, we trust you far more now, to do this anymore. It appears that you are in what the IP call the first sector.] The Queen advised Sam.

[The first sector? I thought that was what you were in.] Sam stated a little confused.

[No, we are in the last or seventh sector as the IP has labeled them. To explain there are seven sectors that our galaxy has been divided into by them. There are seven council members, a collective of the IP that oversee operations in each sector.] Queen Triada explained.

Sam paused a moment when he heard the Queen’s words. [Wait you said a collective? Where have I heard that before?] Sam thought as the Queen awaited Sam’s further thoughts. [I got it! It was before those disguised as the grays attacked. I felt strong thoughts stronger than yours but weak still to me.]

[May I see Sam?] The Queen asked. [Yes, I see. This was an old mind with power added. Did it attempt to harm you?]

[It tried though I pushed it out and back. It said: ‘So you are far stronger than we at first thought. It has been a very long amount of time since we brought the full power of the collective to bear. It will be good to have them in use again. It is unfortunate that you destroyed the weakest. We will… NO! What are you doing! STOP! AAAAAAAAAA!’ After that I felt the mind… uh stop?] Sam told the Queen.

[From all you said it was the council for this sector. What you felt was the mind receding so it could heal. It is obvious that the two triads weakened him so that you were able to defeat him. The sad thing is that the council will be back within a seven star period. Though for now we will be able to strengthen more.] The Queen’s thought replied.

[So these council’s, are the controlling force behind the IP,] Sam questioned.

[I’m afraid so, the fact that you defeated the weakest so easily holds great promise.] The Queen replied. [The world you see not far from you is the furthest out of the first sector corner worlds. I hope that you were able to repair the triad there as you did here.]

Sam could see a huge orange colored world a great distance away. He could also see what appeared to be a great contingent of IP ships around the planet. Rubbing his chin he thought he might have to go in differently this time. True he didn’t owe the IP assholes anything he still wanted to kill as few as possible.

Landing on a nearby moon Sam sat to think about it. The mere fact that Queen Triada seemed to be known so far and wide might also provide him with a little more leverage. Finally making up his mind Sam took off as fast as he could practically disappearing. A mere minute later he suddenly appeared outside the largest city on the planet.

Walking out he concentrated making his appearance change. Looking down he changed a few things to appear more like those native here. Moving on he was nearing the city when an IP patrol stopped him.

“Slave? What are you doing walking here? You should be at the mines or fields.” Sam nodded as he took off running back to the forest. A moment several heavily armed IP troops entered the forest near where he had. Sam shook his head well he thought so much for the element of surprise as he took out the first two who passed him. It’s going to be a long day he thought as he took another three that suddenly appeared.

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