Symarion: Call of the Void.

Shifting Allegiance.

Sol System, aboard Vanguard Station.

Roland looked out through one of the view-ports of Vanguard station, watching how the Queen of Hearts and her two escorting Brawlers set out for the maintenance bay. A necessity after the record time they made heading for sole.

Six and a half days, when usually it would have taken near two weeks to reach Sol from Oldran. But that would have involved longer drift phases to preserve fuel. They didn’t bother to do that this time around, not after those worm creatures actually showed up in Lanwer.

Roland had to order Jacob to ignore the distress calls from the Patrol fleet in Lanwer then, even had to pull mission rank on him, which made him feel a little sorry for once.

Jacob and his crew were efficient to a degree that demanded respect, and he truly respected that man, which was a rarity for him. It made him nearly wish that they could cooperate in the future, though he was not sure that was still a possibility with the current events.

Briefly looking back at the reception area, where Karlo’s secretary idly typed away at some info screen, Roland understood that things might be about to change. The Undercover mission was still officially going on, but the attack by these alien creatures was likely to put a stop to it.

From the chatter of some fleets on the way here, he could gather that aside from Salim and Lanwer, there where four more systems that had been attacked. And given the short time-frame and the pace of information flow through the various systems, it was highly likely that there were more systems that had been, or still are under attack by them.

Honestly, he would not be surprised if the Intelligence division was not even aware of Salim and Lanwer yet.

The information flow was quite fast through the Phase lanes, but with the exception of some of the core systems, which had communication nodes stationed near the phase points, most systems still relied on couriers.

Those were extremely fast ships, often automated to deliver communications through the Phase lane, as very few systems had a means to keep a communication node close to the phase point. And establishing an orbital network within a system’s outermost orbit was, expensive, and not something younger sectors bothered investing in.

“ General Luggan ? Admiral Parker is awaiting you. “ The secretary finally announced, causing Roland to straighten his uniform before he turned around to approach Karlo’s office.

“ Thank you. “ Roland responded as he made his way past the secretary.

He found himself longing for an actual shower right then, Vorden ships were quite utilitarian when it came to such comforts.

And in all honesty, that was not the only comfort that he was missing. A Good nights sleep, what he wouldn’t give for that. Ever since that first series of visions, he’s been having one every night.

Longer and more detailed in what it described, as it felt less cramped into a brief moment, but it was actively draining his psychic energy, and he did not at all feel the effect a good nights sleep should grant him.

He sighed as he approached the door to Karlo’s office, briefly knocking while he recalled last nights vision. He was aboard a massive space-faring vessel, with a name that loosely translated into, No hope.

In it, both Kadim, and that black being were present as well. But this time, the one in black was half a cyborg, and the captain of that ship. He was collecting species, saving them, and, escaping from something.

It was one variation of these visions where, the one he could perceive as the opposite side to his viewpoint, was actively trying to save and protect. It made Roland nearly wonder if it was one of those failure visions again.

It did lack the final announcement of that woman though, and in that variation, Kadim, actively pretended to be the ships AI, which later turned out to be a complete fabrication on Kadim’s part.

It actually had him wonder about the conclusion of that tale, as there was no definite ending, no grand, act of good or evil.

It was more an experience of survival against some beings that he not had gotten to face or truly know. But it did reaffirm his wonder about what the purpose of these visions were, there seemed to be no rhyme or reason to them.

Was someone trying to, condition him ? But then why suddenly switch things up like that ?

Most of those had a viewpoint where the black being was decidedly monstrous. So, if that trend would have went on, he would have thought the one giving him those visions, to try and sharpen him against that being.

Showing him a different outcome however, that theory started to crumble. And if this was an attempt at conditioning, then who was the black one in this, current version ?

“ Come in. “ Karlo called out from within the office, and Roland sighed once again, opening the door to step into the Admirals office.

Once Roland took a step forward though, the world suddenly shifted.

At first, he was stepping into the office, with Karlo already looking expectedly towards him. But then he was suddenly within a black room, illuminated through the soft white glow that came from the walls edges.

“ The hell ? “ He uttered, turning around as he initially felt that, perhaps, he had stepped into the wrong room. But the door was now gone, and in it’s place was just another obsidian like black wall.

“ I admit, I have forgotten how narrow-minded short-lived beings are. “ He heard the voice of a young woman. And turning around, he suddenly faced the young elfish looking, ghostly girl that had been part of near every vision he has been seeing since Salim.

“ Kadim, right ? “ He asked, just to make sure.

“ Indeed, daughter of Itwen. “ She responded, and then waved towards a black chair that simply materialized within the room.

“ So, I am guessing you have been the one that has been feeding me those, visions ? “ Roland asked, certain by now that she had no intention to harm him.

She clearly could have done so before. And this room, it was no psychic plane, it was entirely devoid of psychic energy, not even his own was present.

“ Memories, Lessons, Warnings. “ Kadim remarked, watching Roland closely as he refused to move from the spot.

“ For what purpose ? “ Roland asked, feeling like he was a caged animal, with a being that looked at him with the fascination of someone that was watching an ant struggle.

“ The short answer would be, to awaken your soul. But it appears there is a disconnect, one I was unable to predict. “ Kadim muttered, narrowing her gaze towards him, as though she was looking right through him.

“ A, what now ? “ Roland said as her words failed to make sense to him.

“ Your part of a repeating cycle. And what I have shown you, should have reawakened you to past cycles. But this universe, she did not just create it, she kept it severed from the usual plane.

All things considered, this, could actually work. “ Kadim uttered, and it felt like she was talking more to herself then to him.

“ Could you explain, in a way that I am able to understand ? “ Roland asked, feeling like this was making even less sense now.

Kadim would look at his eyes then, and it felt like she was looking right into his soul. And no matter how much he wanted to turn away, he found himself returning that intense stare of hers, like he was not even in command of his body.

“ You want power. You want the ability to stand apart from the Commonwealth, for them to be unable to end you, just because your different.

And you do not seem the slightest disturbed to stab anyone in the back to achieve that goal. One could even say, your enjoying the hunt. How very, like him. “ Kadim seemed to observe.

“ What are you ? And, who is he ? “ Roland demanded, somehow certain that, him, referred to that black entity.

“ Right now, I am a devil, and your at a crossroads. So, let us strike a deal. “ Kadim spoke with an unsettling smile, having found that she could actually use Roland’s driving hunger for more power.

Roland was taken aback by this, he was not familiar with what she was referring to. The deal bit he understood, but a devil ? That sounded like an unhealthy combination.

“ What-. “ He begun, but Kadim was quick to interrupt him.

“ Andrew Parker, he is alive. “ She spoke, which left Roland speechless for a moment as he first had to find the relevance that name implied.

“ The Admirals grandson ? “ He spoke after a few moments, finally understanding the connection she suggested.

“ Yes. You were planning to present the situation in Salim, as a Psyker warning you ahead of time. Just build on that.

Said Psyker informed you of the fact that the one that attacked the fleet in Vigal, and created the singularity in Saratoga, has his grandson. “ Kadim suggested.

“ Is he actually alive ? And who was that woman anyway ? “ Roland asked, having fallen for her lure as she seemed to have answers to those questions.

Answers that could threaten his fabricated story of that Ship in Vigal, to have been controlled by the Psyker he was trying to kill.

“ Yes he is, and she is a Nah’Rahan, the very first. “ She responded, and watched then silently as Roland’s mind worked to put the pieces together.

“ That, failed experiment ? “ He responded after a few moments, realizing the relevance of that particular vision with the Varduun.

“ The very same. The Siren are an offshoot of her kind, a cultural diversification if you will. “ She remarked.

“ She is a dangerous variable that should not be challenged, she has already broken through the barrier of the 6th dimension. While you humans barely started to scratch the 4th. “ Kadim warned, leaving much to be desired for Roland once more.

“ 4th ? You mean, time ? “ He asked, hoping for least a hint of clarification.

“ Hmm, different perspective I see. “ Kadim muttered to herself.

“ No, time in our perception, is the 7th. The 4th depends on your chosen path. For a Psyker, it is the mind. The 5th is the above, and the below. The 6th is the sideways.

7, is time itself, a constant that can not be changed, but that can be perceived if you shift your perspective. “ She elaborated.

“ Eh ? “ Roland uttered now, trying to wrap his head around what she just described.

“ Is that, really the question you should be asking right now though ?! “ Kadim tried to press on.

“ What do I get out of this ? “ Roland finally asked after he spend a moment to re-consider what Kadim had said so far.

Her brief description of dimensions was confusing at best, but there was an offer, so surely there was something for him to gain.

“ You want to grow your power, I can give you the tools, and you wont even have to hunt and kill other Psykers to do so. In fact, it may become quite the advantage for you to help other Psykers grow in the future.

Killing and plundering their powers is a comparatively slow path to grow your own Psykic ability. Surrounding yourself with other Psykers has a far greater effect, if in sufficient numbers. “ Kadim proposed.

“ And how is telling the Admiral about Andrew going to help you ? “ Roland asked.

“ By suggesting cooperation. Andrew is a latent Psyker, Siren’s are protecting Psykers. And despite his loyalty towards the Terran Commonwealth, I predict the Admiral to be even more Loyal to his own blood. “ Kadim responded.

“ You want me to suggest to him to betray the Commonwealth ? “ Roland asked, feeling uncomfortable with the idea as he did not see that happen so easily.

“ No, I want him to send you to the Siren. The Nah’Rahan first has his Grandson, and the Nah’Rahan's first and only Son currently resides on Eden. He is the ticket to get in contact with the First. “ Kadim explained.

Roland would consider her words, trying to sort out how her suggestion may work out. But he ended up finding a lot of flaws, considering the mention that this Nah’Rahan was supposedly so dangerous.

Surely her children, including the Siren’s, would be just as dangerous. That, or this was a lie designed for a different purpose entirely.

“ This does not add up. “ He finally stated.

“ Like the Admiral, Nimilia, as the first calls herself, is very fond of her children. And despite how it looks to some, she is outright protective to a degree.

There are things she does not want to share with them, such as their actual Origin. Even her firstborn, who currently resides on Eden, is unaware of the true relation of Varduun and Nah’Rahan.

To them, the Varduun are simply an enemy that seeks to eradicate all life, which, is not wrong. And her children grow weaker with every generation. “ Kadim explained, as though she had read his mind.

“ You want to blackmail her ? Through her Son ? “ Roland asked a bit surprised.

“ In a way. The black entity, as you keep referring to him. She has found a version of him, an unstable variation that has neither the same determination, nor the willpower of the original. Probably for the same reasons that prevented me from awakening you. But that means the game is reshuffled.

Nimilia already provided a means to balance his more, volatile nature. He still lacks purpose though.

Right now, he has begun to built a shell around himself, to protect that little paradise of his. But the universe is seldom so nice as to permit something like that to last.

And when he fails, he’ll revert right back to that Monster you seen him be.” Kadim explained to Roland.

“ So, If I am to understand this right, you expect me, to babysit him ? “ Roland asked, feeling as though he was finally grasping what she was trying to achieve.

“ Not quite, but yes.

The creatures in Salim, the Xa’Leen as we call them, they will cause massive damage to the Commonwealth, maybe even manage to eradicate it. And there are two more powers out there aware of the Commonwealth.

One of which is being held back by the Seltran, the other is still preparing, waiting to see how the war with the Xa’Leen turns out. They have been aware of them for a while, planning to come in and sweep up what remains.

And there are, in this galaxy alone, 124 wars going on. And some of the species out there are far more developed then your Commonwealth.

In part due to the fact that you humans neither have the technological advancement to breach the next barrier, nor do humans permit their natural evolutionary path to take them there.

Worse, you had a taste of what the Varduun can do, and they are expected to invade this universe in no more then ten of your years, possibly sooner. “ Kadim explained, painting a less then desirable picture.

“ So, what I am saying, is, I want you to chose, and assist the side with the greatest chance to keep you alive.

You been looking for immortality and power, but neither will do you any good if you are dead before you ever had the chance to reach it. “ She then suggested.

“ You, could have started with that one. “ Roland seemed to near protest then.

“ He is the very person you been trying to hunt down. But let me give you a warning. You would have been able to defeat him, you may even be able to do so now. But if you do, you release something that even the Varduun fear. “ Kadim warned quite sternly.

“ Well, that does not sound ominous at all. “ Roland said in half yest, though actually a bit worried about the implied prospect.

“ Wait, you said the Seltran are holding off aliens trying to attack the Commonwealth ? “ He asked then, snapping right back to that slice of information.

“ Yes. The Seltran are the opposite of everything the Commonwealth makes them out to be. When the Varduun come, they will likely waste their existence trying to protect your kind. “ Kadim stated blatantly.

“ Wait, and the Xa’Leen ? Why not help against them ? “ He asked.

“ Well, your not exactly giving them a chance right now. And defending themselves against two larger powers, even they would be too occupied.

Though, I guess once the Xa’Leen start to move in earnest, there wont be another choice but to make peace with the Seltran, even if only for a time. “ Kadim responded.

Roland remained silent then, allowing those words all to sink in. He could still not tell if there was an ulterior motive, some elaborate scheme he might be missing. But if what she said was true, then what would be the harm to relay that information she just gave him ?

“ Yeah. “ He mused to himself, considering that she outright offered him the easy solution, by suggesting going with his Psyker claim, warning him to retreat from Salim.

In that line, even if it turned out as false information, it was little more then a third party lead he would be following up on. Karlo was certain to jump this opportunity, and if things developed as she claimed, well.

But how to place all that info into the right light. The Nah’Rahan, and how dangerous she supposedly was, even a third party would not have such deep information readily available, and if, then it needed a plausible reason.

No, wait, wasn’t that readily available already ?

If what Kadim had claimed was true, then he would need other Psykers around himself. And if Karlo truly showed lenience towards Psykers, due to his own grandson being one, then could he not facilitate a closer relationship between himself and the Psykers union somehow ?

“ I see you already have your idea’s. So, perhaps it is time for your meeting with the Admiral then. “ Kadim interrupted him, again to make him feel as though she was reading his mind.

“ No, prediction. Human’s are pretty easy to understand. “ She spoke then with a smile, which made Roland shudder a little.

“ Yes, I think I know how to go about it. Is there a way to contact you ? “ He spoke then, after all, she promised to help him grow his power, and he suspected, hoped even, that it was more then just the suggestions she had made so far.

“ I will remain close by, no worries. Just see that you get to Eden with the Admiral’s blessings. I assure you, you wont regret it. “ Kadim promised, and then waved to release him from the room she had held him in.

“ Roland ? “ He could then hear Karlo speak.

“ Ah, sorry. “ Roland uttered, quickly trying to orient himself.

He was still holding onto the door, Karlo was still sitting there with that expectant gaze, and by his own standing position, he could summarize that only a moment must have passed while he was within that room with Kadim.

If anything, Karlo’s reaction would have been vastly different if Roland had stood there motionless for as long as it felt within that room.

“ I just got new information. And, I think I have news you will want to hear. “ Roland noted, closing the door behind himself.

“ My, my, my. “ Kadim could meanwhile hear, followed by a slow clapping.

“ Planning to steal my toys now, are you ?! “ The voice spoke, and Kadim could watch how Nimilia stepped through the wall, entering this domain without any invitation. And somehow that did not surprise Kadim anymore.

“ Let’s stop the pretense. You already accounted for me doing this, didn’t you ? “ Kadim insisted.

“ Hm, I like you. “ Nimilia said with a wide grin.

“ Very well, I play along. I leave him with my daughters. But you better not waste this opportunity. “ Nimilia proclaimed.

“ How did you do it ? “ Kadim would ask though.

“ Do what ? “ Nimilia responded, giving an uncomfortable attempt of looking cute and innocent at Kadim.

“ Sever their connection. It explains why Anthony remains stable. But, I can not see how you possibly could have separated them from the rest. “ Kadim insisted.

“ They are both failures. Anthony is to weak for Fate to even bother. And Roland, he never would have had the chance to encounter his version of Anthony. “ Nimilia admitted, which made Kadim’s eyes grew wider.

“ You did not ! “ Kadim protested.

“ Yes, I did. And, she will be so pissed when she realizes I outsmarted her at her own game. “ Nimilia said with glee.

“ Besides, they are what remains when she turns her attention to her next attempt. It is her own fault for not cleaning up after herself. “ She added then.

“ If she finds out-. “ Kadim wanted to protest, but is then interrupted by Nimilia.

“ I am counting on it. This has to end, once and for all. “ Nimilia claimed.

“ You are insane. “ Kadim insisted.

“ No, I am tired of running, of starting over. The Varduun have to go, your parents have to face their mistakes. And Fate, she has to return her throne to it’s rightful owner. “ Nimilia insisted.

“ You have not just come here to gloat, have you ? “ Kadim relented, feeling it pointless to argue with Nimilia.

“ No. Elijah is awake, and he is up to his usual mischief. He is currently after Kashir, and you know how well those two get along. “ Nimilia responded.

“ I’ll let my Sisters know. “ Kadim offered with the hint of a sigh.

“ Good girl. I’ll be seeing you around. “ Nimilia spoke, and Kadim found it more then just mildly annoying now.