The Final Prophecy by Greg Keyes Read Free Book Online

on the record, we worked strictly by the protocols. And yet, often the protocols were not suitable. They were not sufficiently flexible for what needed to be done. Some of us—did what was necessary. Later I was assigned here, to Yuuzhan’tar, where so
much
went wrong. The strange itching plague—well. The masters there were very orthodox. I saw the shortcomings of that. At the same time, I saw evidence of the infidels’ ability to adapt, to change their abominable technology not just in small ways, but in large ones. I determined that in time, because of this, they must ultimately triumph unless we did the same. So I practiced heresy.”
    “And were discovered. You would have been sacrificed to the gods if I had not had you brought here.”
    “I serve my people,” Ahsi Yim said. “The protocols do not. I would die for that.”
    “So would I,” Nen Yim said. “And so I risk both of our lives once more. Do you understand?”
    Ahsi Yim did not blink. “Yes.”
    “You may have heard that the Supreme Overlord brought me something to examine.”
    “Yes.” Eagerness showed in Ahsi Yim’s eyes.
    “It is a ship,” Nen Yim said, “a ship based on a biotechnology much like ours. The phenotype is radically different, but the genotype is similar. More similar than anything in this galaxy thus far. And the protocols have in them certain weapons that seem designed peculiarly well to deal with it. Shimrra claims the gods must have anticipated our need. What do you think?”
    Again, that long moment of consideration, but this time accompanied by an excited writhing of tendrils on her headdress.
    “I think that is not true,” Ahsi said softly. “The protocols have not changed in hundreds, perhaps thousands of years. They have not ‘anticipated’ anything else in this galaxy. Why should they anticipate this?”
    “Perhaps nothing else here required the intervention of the gods.”
    Ahsi made a dismissive motion. “There is much here we could have used the help of the gods with. The
Jeedai
, for instance. And yet there is nothing in the protocols that even hints of them.”
    Nen Yim nodded. “I grant I believe as you do. Then what explanation do you offer?”
    “Our ancestors met this technology in the past. We battled against it, and the weapons from that battle remain in the Qang qahsa.”
    “And yet no record of any such event exists.”
    Ahsi Yim smiled faintly. “Even the Qang qahsa can be made to forget. More recent events have been elided. Have you ever tried to learn of Shimrra’s ascension to Supreme Overlord?”
    “Yes,” Nen Yim replied.
    “The record of
that
seems implausibly thin.”
    Nen Yim shrugged. “I agree that records can be erased. But why erase knowledge of a threat?”
    “You think this ship a threat?”
    “Oh, yes. Shall I tell you a tale?”
    “I would be honored.”
    “I have in my possession the personal qahsa of Ekh’m Val, the commander who brought this ship to Lord Shimrra. He was sent years ago to explore the galaxy. He came across a planet named Zonama Sekot.”
    Ahsi Yim’s eyes narrowed.
    “What? This means something to you?”
    “No,” she said. “But the name disturbs me.”
    Nen Yim nodded agreement. “Ekh’m Val said the planet itself was alive, its life-forms symbiotic, as if shaped to live together.”
    “They shape life as we do?”
    “They shape life, yes. Not as we do. And the sentient race there is nothing like Yuuzhan Vong—indeed, from the records, I think they must be a race native to this galaxy—Ferroans.”
    “Then I retract my earlier statement. Our ancestors can hardly have met this world before.”
    “It seems unlikely. And yet, at the same time, it seems the only possible answer to the puzzle.”
    “What happened to Commander Val?”
    “He was attacked and repelled, but he managed to capture the ship before leaving the system.”
    “And the planet?”
    “Shimrra claims it has been destroyed.”
    “You do not believe him?”
    “No.