“Why we wanted to meet was indeed about the energy forms,” Si said.

  He decided to break the silence.

  “We received news that the forms reappeared on reclaimed Moon Three. People will be evacuated,” he added.

  “We were there.” Taj looked at Luna as she nodded.

  “You can say we met there for the first time,” Si said, smirking. “Quite an interesting dance you performed, Luna An.”

  Luna snorted.

  “Better use Luna only; I would rather not be discovered so silly, right, Silly?” she asked.

  “Look how neat. You can shorten Silly to Si; what a coincidence that my name is—” Si didn’t finish, as he caught Lukai’s serious gaze. “We want to set up the trap.”

  “O?” Taj sounded curious, but he didn’t say anything more.

  Si then continued. “As you said. We observed that those forms are energies. They are not biological forms. They are attracted to Crystals’ users mostly. Unfortunately, natural energy users are also attacked, but it happens after all artificial energy users are destroyed. The last to vanish is other biological life,” Si said, then looked at Taj; he wanted him to continue, and he waved his blurry hand.

  “We couldn’t figure it out for years; it was impossible to easily go to the destroyed places. These forms’ remains were still there, and people were afraid. After we found a way to fight back and won in the 166 ACD battle, so many Shadows died; it was difficult to research these forms better. Only later, when we created an alliance with the OFF, we combined resources, and our scientists finally started to make important discoveries.”

  Si stopped talking to take a breath.

  “So, yes, these energy forms who attacked us—are pure energy formations. They are being released. How they are released and controlled, we are not yet sure. You said that through Gates; did I understand correctly that the Gate helps to control them? We are not sure; this we would like to check, among others, thanks to our trap idea.”

  He suddenly stopped and glanced at Lukai.

  “I confirm.” Lukai spoke up for the first time. “To say everything without hiding, we have suspicions about who the creators might be or who is releasing it.”

  “Do I guess correctly that the OFF organization might be involved?” Taj asked, making Lukai speechless.

  “Taj, I need to say it again; it is invaluable you are here with us. Clar were brilliant! I mean, you are still,” Si said.

  Luna loudly snorted. “Let’s be honest here; it is Taj that figured it out; I am Clar, but I am apparently not without the reason the last one.”

  “Luna?” Taj looked at her with an intense expression.

  “Right, apologies. What I mean is that we discussed the news with Taj; he is aware of recent events, and he has his guesses. I also, whenever I could, went to the reclaimed places. We encountered those remains not once. Taj has ideas on how I could use my features. I mean my two energies. We tried it a few times,” Luna said.

  Lukai made a sign—he wanted to speak.

  “I confirm,” he said. “We observed the suspicious behavior of the OFF Leader and other copartners of mine. Unio seems clear; they have no reason to target themselves first, as Crystals’ users die first. The OFF has Crystals' ban built in the program. I can say our members started to turn very radical. It could be a motive. We don’t have any proof,” Lukai added.

  “I see.” Taj concentrated on Lukai. “Do you have a possibility to check your members' movements and compare them with the energy usage peaks from Gates you have, both officially and unofficially, at the OFF camps?”

  “I can do it. Do I understand it correctly? Do you assume that the forms were released using our own Gates?” Lukai asked, surprised.

  “I started to think that the Gates net is the only possibility. What else could it be? What else has access to such a huge amount of energy? These forms cannot be created from thin air. What controls them is a separate thing, but from what they are formed, it has to be a huge energy source. There is nothing else than Gates. It is my guess, of course,” Taj said.

  “We all think it could be possible; if there is someone that finally invented and used the wave opposite to Shadows, we thought it could be it then—” Si started to speak, but he was interrupted.

  “No. It is not about the positive wave.” Taj stated.

  “The positive wave? Back then, you already knew about waves, and you called it like this?” Si asked.

  Lukai didn’t comment.

  “We didn’t call it waves because we hadn’t discovered the waves’ science then. But we discovered Shadows’ split. You, Shadows future Lord, should know who was the first Shadow, no? Back then we called it negative split, destruction energy, and assumed there needed to be a counter opposite energy split. I am certain these forms were not an effect of the other energy wave,” Taj said.

  “How come? How would you know?” Si asked.

  “I decided not to share this information,” Taj answered.

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  “Why?” Si asked first, as if he sensed a peak of emotion in Lukai and decided to interrupt him.

  “You are not ready for it,” Taj added.

  After he said that, the silence felt awkward. Si could tell that Lukai was starting to get nervous.

  “Taj, we won’t ask about details, but please explain, without these details, what you would recommend. To have it clear. We are here not to interrogate, as I said before. We also won’t harm Luna; we won’t take you with force from her, as I do not see it possible to take any information out of you. If you would rather not share, then you won’t. Just, not to lose perspective, we need to define these forms, find the attackers—find out who is responsible, and punish them. We need to stop them from killing innocent people.” Si stated.

  “I appreciate it. I will help however I can, of course,” Taj said calmly.

  Luna took her breath, as until now, she looked as if she had stopped breathing. Lukai also relaxed.

  Si noticed it all.

  “Taj, could you then elaborate?” he asked.

  “What I was able to check when Luna and I encountered these remains during our travels was that they are artificial energy creations. They are Crystals’ energy. But they are infused with negative natural energy—you call it Shadow. What I mean is, they are not destructive at the beginning. They are energy forms of small power that can be increased. This is why I assumed they needed a huge energy source to grow, and the Gates net seemed the best choice. Then, when they were released in a neutral state, not destructive, as Gates were not damaged, I think they were infused with a destructive Shadow split. It is my assumption. Should I continue?” Taj asked.

  Si looked at Lukai and nodded.

  “These attacks were directed at destroying Crystals’ users, but something had gone wrong. I think it was because the first attack destroyed everything; the second and a few smaller ones were stopped at some point when the destruction became too great. You Shadows won the battle—no offense, but you wouldn’t have, if it hadn’t been stopped. You won because whoever controlled it would rather not have erased all Shadows from existence. However, I am not certain,” Taj added.

  “Do you know how it is controlled? You did mention something about it?” Si asked.

  What Taj had said wasn’t very surprising; they even talked about it with Lukai. That they suspected the OFF Leader and radical members was not without a reason. And they also noticed that the attacks were aimed at artificial energy mostly. Who had motives was obvious.

  Why couldn’t Unio see it? It was still astonishing.

  “Correct. It seems you are not aware. The ones that control it found something we did back in the day. They learned to use it in a way I wasn’t aware was possible. Yet, they managed. This is also why I am sure the positive wave has not been discovered. It would work differently. What I see used here is, as I said, artificial energy, Shadows split, and an old invention that shouldn’t be used this way. Is it understandable?” Taj asked.

  “So, yes, and no. I am not sure what kind of invention you have in mind. You say someone found and learned to use it?” Si asked.

  “Correct,” Taj said.

  “What was the invention?” Si probed if Taj would say. But he was silent. Then, surprisingly, Lukai signaled he wanted to speak.

  “I am now certain it is the OFF that is involved. Taj, do I understand correctly that it could be about navigation?” Lukai asked.

  Si gasped upon hearing it. He had been aware of this one, the missing knowledge about how the spaceships were controlled, but it was so far-fetched that he somehow hadn’t considered it seriously.

  “Correct.” Taj said only this.

  It was enough for Lukai, though.

  “It is the OFF then. We got the old materials from Elder Anders. There was a case. Although I am not aware of what was inside—I was only allowed to read some notes—it was mentioned. All of it went missing not long before the first attack happened.”

  “O, really? That explains a lot. How unfortunate,” Taj said, and after a moment he added, “What about the trap idea?”

  “We prepared a vast number of Crystals. Warehouses are scattered, mostly on Planets Two, Three, and Four, far away. We want to transport them using Gates to one spot on Moon Three to create an enormous Crystals’ energy emanation. We will share information about a Crystalers’ big gathering there to show the attackers this as an easy target. We wish to lure these attackers to one spot. In the center of the trap, I wanted to assess my new weapon, something similar to what you did recently. And this one I wanted to discuss in detail today.”

  “I think I get your idea. I wonder if it will be enough to attract them, but it is surely worth trying.” Taj sounded curious.

  “Do you think it could work with only Shadows energy? I used both of my energies?” Luna asked slowly; she was visibly thinking about how it could work.

  Luna remained silent throughout. Si noticed she wasn’t very surprised, so she had communicated with Taj quite honestly; he had already told her his ideas. It was a good sign.

  “In fact, I already evaluated it a bit. I can create something different that you can do, but I assume what I can do is even more powerful,” Si said, feeling content. “It is different. In your case, your energies collide. Do I think correctly?”

  Luna and Taj, they both nodded.

  “So, I did my experiments; I have a huge Shadows energy, and I created—” Si didn’t finish his words when Taj interrupted.

  “I assume that what you want to achieve when forcing two Shadows waves is to absorb?”

  “Not exactly! Two Shadows waves collide to create an energy black hole! Or a vacuum, or something of the sort.” Si was excited.

  “That’s neat!” Taj also looked excited. “Do I assume correctly you know the parts of Elements’ invention?”

  “Yes, I am aware of the concept of energy space and surroundings. This I want to use, in the space around, to create the energy black hole. Not to absorb, but to suck in these forms’ energy. What are my chances?” Si asked.

  “It could work.” Taj said.

  “Wait, what? You will go alone and create what?” Luna said nervously, as if she had only now grasped the idea.

  “Luna, he has a point to make it work and survive. And I can sense he is decided,” Taj said to her.

  “So, can we train somewhere before? I want to discuss in detail and also show what I did,” Si asked them both.

  “Let’s go to the OFF; there are arenas, and it will be convenient.” Lukai interrupted. “It also will help me to observe who from the OFF is interested; I aim to track them. Shadows I do not suspect.”

  “Good,” Taj said, and Luna nodded.

  Si was glad. They solved it and planned to work together.

  So, tomorrow? And after, let’s decide when to set up the trap exactly. I need to inform Domini; we also need to prepare the news,” he added.

  Again, all was confirmed.

  Then Si remembered something: “Taj, how did you catch me?”

  “I got hold of your energy core and split,” he answered shortly.

  “How is it even possible? How does one do it?” Lukai was the first to ask.

  “I notice your energy and then your split; I can grab them and then do whatever I want,” Taj explained.

  “You can do anything with my core or my wave? Truly?” Si was delighted. “How interesting, the old knowledge!”

  Taj didn’t comment on it.

  “Can we learn it?” Lukai asked.

  “No.” It was the answer.

  “Why? Do you think we are not ready? Aren’t you created to help, pass knowledge; aren’t you created for this?” Lukai sounded pushy, so Si waved his hand to disperse the tension.

  But Taj answered. “No.”

  “What, if not to pass the knowledge, what or who are you?” Lukai insisted.

  “O? I am a dancer,” Taj said, his blurry face stone-cold.

  Hearing it, Luna laughed and reached over to Taj, giving him a little flick on the forehead.

  “Let’s not try to have it all in one meeting,” Si tried to ease Lukai. “Tomorrow, the OFF arenas? In the morning?”

  “Define morning,” Taj said, more at ease. “As my student here is a sleepyhead.”