Ancient Thought by Viola Grace (literature books to read txt) 📗

“For a ticket to the stars? Yes. It just remains to be seen if the Alliance and the Imperium wish to have the Hirn back from the edge of extinction. If they pick up the bill, the recruiters on Terra will get to work finding compatible volunteers.”

Mathla resumed control. “I can’t believe that women would just trade their bodies for something new or difficult to acquire.”

“I have met women in my life that traded the use of their bodies for a sandwich and a shower.” Libby shrugged. “You can’t judge someone’s actions if you have never known their need.”

“True. So, are you going to put out a general invitation to the ancients? You would be able to get them here and converse with them in a comfortable and controlled atmosphere.”

“That sounds nice. How are the novices from the Hirn incident coming along?”

“No mood swings or rages. They seem to be eager to make up for time lost to lack of focus.”

“Good. Aloth?”

“Weirdly, he has decided to go through novice training.”

Libby smiled. “Good. Seeking out any kind of education and regimen is a good idea.”

“It is no worse than the banishment suggestion.”

Libby watched as the vapour and smoke cloud finished its extrusion, and it started to move around the building itself. Gardens took form on the upper level, and luscious bedding and drapes filled the windows below.

She was getting her house and her privacy, so perhaps she would be able soon to lure Yelfon into an overnight stay. She might have had to work for the last two weeks, but it didn’t mean that her dreams hadn’t created all kinds of things she wanted to try with him.

She missed him, but she understood that he had his tasks, and she had hers. They could meet in between.

Mathla smiled. “He is building a connection to my gardens and a connection to the plains. Not all of the ancients wish to speak with the monks. They find them creepy. They also do not care for the monks to enter their territory, so this is sort of an office, study centre, and home for you. You will be able to do all of your necessary tasks there.”

“What about food?”

“A dispensing unit is being arranged. You will have complete autonomy but are requested to forward the memories to us.” Mathla smiled. “Your strange brand of memories and marketing has enabled you to find locations that wish to take on the thoughts of the ancients, and they are working to analyze not only the weather but the stellar patterns that are found in them.”

“It comes down to most of the ancients not being particularly special aside from their longevity. They have seen so many things, and the significance was not always there for them at the time, so getting them into a more casual atmosphere and letting them gently recall the moments is going to be more fruitful.”

“That is what Yelfon said. He is also interested in being in contact with his people if they are interested.” Mathla sighed. “I wonder where he got that idea?”

“His people and mine are getting along very well. In fact, most of the ancients here with surviving descendants have one of my people in the most recent generation. Even Oshuan.”

“Her people are egg layers. How is that possible?”

“Her people are egg layers with a space-faring history. They have already learned how to mix and mingle with softies.” She smiled. “I believe egg donors are involved.”

“So, your people are screwing their way into every species?”

Libby smiled. “No, we have been invited. Our genetic structure makes us easy to manipulate into forms such as this. That makes us desirable to have a controlled introduction to their species—fast-breeding, sturdy, and easy to manipulate. If you have a colony, we are a good bet to help spread out the population. We cover worlds.”

Mathla-Luon snorted. “Well, I ask that you keep your reproduction here to a minimum, beyond what you have begun.”

“I passed my fertile years three decades ago.”

“Ah, but they reset you nearly six decades back. So. How are your cycles? Zanicon told me that they had not subdued your system, but if you like, he can drop some shots and supplies off on his way by in ten months.”

Libby pressed her hand over her belly and guessed that if she was carrying, it would have to have started only three weeks earlier. Her brain panicked for a moment, and then, she breathed to calm herself. She couldn’t give birth to an ancient. They occurred randomly in nature and only at the beginning of a species.

Immortals were separate beings that happened in populations, but they weren’t the ancients; it was a very different situation. An immortal could appear at any time and was generally forced to leave their settlement when their status began to be obvious. Ancients happened in primitive societies, immortals occurred in scientifically advanced societies.

It was inexact as few folk would confess to being ageless, but there were vid records, paintings, and historical records to show researchers the way. That was what this project was; it was to draw a series of heavy lines between the past and the present.

The tumble of smoke and mist emerged on the rooftop, morphed into Yelfon. He smiled at her and bowed.

She looked to Mathla as she inclined her head to Yelfon. “Do they know what they are? What they truly are?”

Mathla shrugged. “I don’t know, and I will never tell them. The soul of a people is something to be treasured. As long as the Dremarai flourish, you will have Yelfon.” Mathla smiled.

“Then, we had better make sure that the Dremarai flourish.” She patted Mathla’s hand and walked down the staircase to Yelfon.

He stood, wearing flowing black trousers and a black belt with gold trim and not much else. “What do you think?”

She smiled. “It is stunning. It is everything I wanted.”

“You aren’t looking at the building.” He smiled.

She walked up to him and slid her hands