For possibly the ten thousandth time it tried to analyze this new power arrayed against it. About the Guardian’s mental attitude it had no qualms. The Guardian-Machine had been and would be an implacable opponent until one of the two ancient enemies was destroyed.

But what of this new factor? Could it mayhap be persuaded into a realignment of forces for mutual benefit? With a galaxy at stake, the Vom was willing to share. Or could it at least be convinced to withdraw from an ancient and private conflict, leaving the way clear for the Vom’s victory?

The Vom reached out again and made contact. What it encountered on a non-combatant level was surprising. This second opponent had not even fully matured, had not mastered its own power! In its probing the Vom must take care not to stir latent abilities, hidden secrets, not to upset the balance of internal power. The potential here was frightening.

In fear the Vom nearly backed off. But after determining that the being could not read the sub-surface layers of Vom-thought, it returned to the contact, expanded it.

(curiously: dialogue on a Different plane)

WHO ARE YOU?

(picture contact nee verbal/concept sub-vocalization)

A TRANSPARENT ORCHID : SUNSPOTS ON LEAVES: STAMEN AND PETAL: SLOW FUSION

(rejoinder)

AND YOU, MONSTER?

(arrow-straight conceptualization)

GREAT VOID : VOIDNESS? : ANGRY VACUUM DARK EFFLUVIA : MALIGNANT MIASMA : CANCER MUSING : OLEAGINOUS OLLAPODRIDA

(pause)

WHY DO YOU FIGHT ME?

YOU ARE EVIL

(confusion/introspection/analysis)

EVIL? THERE IS NO EVIL

IT MAY BE SO. BUT THERE IS WHAT IS COMMONLY RATIONALIZED AS GOOD. YOU ARE CLEARLY NOT-GOOD. A GOOD-NEGATIVE YOU TRY TO RATIONALIZE EVIL. CHAOS!

(consideration/thought/tacking)

FIGHT ME NO MORE AND I WILL MAKE YOU MASTER OF HALF THE GALAXY.

THE GALAXY HAS TOO MANY MASTERS ALREADY. NO.

WHAT CAN I OFFER YOU?

YOUR DEATH.

(anger/arrogance/disbelief)

COMPLAISANT COMPLIANCE? SURRENDER? ACQUIESCE? INTRODUCE NEGATIVES INTO A SUPREME FUNCTIONARY NEGATIVITY? NEVER!

SEE? YOU MUST DIE (strange voice)

I CANNOT DIE : I WILL NOT DIE : I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DIE

THEN I MUST HELP YOU TO LEARN

The Vom terminated contact. With all its shadings and half-tones, the entire conversation had taken perhaps a few seconds.

The strange opponent possessed a self-confidence that conflicted with its lack of self-knowledge. Maybe, the Vom considered, it was fighting on too personal a level. Possibly an exterior demonstration would have some moral effect.

Using its fully matured mind for the first time beyond the battle, the Vom reached out . . .

On board the humanx flagship Zimbabwe, instruments died with suddenness and finality. The eerie blue-green of the local emergency lighting flickered on a moment later.

There was little panic in the nexus. After all, this was the nerve-center of the fleet. The personnel were the class of each rating. So there was no hysteria.

Things went otherwise on some other ships.

“Communications, all ships report status. Hold position, hold fire. Commodore, damage report. All hands to battle stations.”

The replies came thick and fast.