A few months later Andranovich and Lara returned to the Trig and took up their new jobs with the Galactic Federation. We all felt empty as their minds left the group's consciousness, but the house soon resumed it's previous routine. One bright Spring morning I walked into the conservatory, which had been built at the back of the house, in order to give us all additional living space. My thoughts were preoccupied with the latest data from the clinical trials of a new anti-cancer drug we were developing. It's chemical formulation was proving particularly difficult to adapt to human physiology and this problem had been on my mind for many days. The computer remote pad which displayed the latest figures floated into the room before me and my eyes were riveted to the screen.

Looking up I became aware of Susan and Gabkhan sitting on the couch. "Why don't you two get some fresh air. Andrew says that the heather is in full flower up on the mountain." They pathed to each other privately and stood to head for the door. As they did so I felt a searing pain in my temples.

They felt it as well and returned to see what was the matter. Helping me to my feet we were suddenly engulfed in a huge energy discharge. It both surrounded us and passed through us wrenching the fabric of our bodies into millions of pieces. We tried to call for help but it was useless, the alien teleporter had us in it's grip and slowly pulled us out of the space time continuum and into the void of hyperspace...

I regained consciousness some time later to find myself in a large dome. The walls shimmered with light and a strange jelly like creature lay across from me. Trying to call the others telepathically brought on severe pain in my head so I gave up and concentrated on figuring out where I was.

The walls were translucent and through them I could see a large room containing various pieces of equipment, this totally unfamiliar technology was obviously from a non Federation race.

(That is correct.) The blob of jelly had now risen to take on a roughly humanoid form.

There were no surface features discernible and it seemed likely that telepathy rather than verbal speech was their usual mode of communication.

(Where am I? What have you done with the others? We are Federation citizens you have no right to kidnap us like this.)

(We have every right.) Replied the alien. (We are the Valcrumny, your Federation disallowed our application for entrance and so we make it our job to discuss this lack of insight on their part with every other Federation species we encounter.)

The realisation began to dawn on me as it spoke. The Valcrumny were a race of scavengers who moved around the galaxy stealing technology and living off the neural energy of telepathic races. They were a parasite who had refused to change their ways and so had been denied entry to the Federation and banned from access to any Federation world.

(Yes.) It continued. (But this planet called Earth that you so unwisely chose to settle on is not a federation member. Closed worlds and every telepath on them are accessible to us quite legally.)

My mind flew into a turmoil, it was going to drain my neural energy and use the information it acquired to destroy all of us on Earth. I had to find a way out of here. The creature, sensing my plans for escape, oozed back into it's globular form and began to slide across the floor towards me. In a complete panic I tried to use telekinesis to force open the wall before me. This resulted in unbearable pain and being momentarily stunned it approached quite close to me. As it oozed across my foot the shoe I was wearing dissolved at it's acid like touch. I screamed and with all my strength leaped over it to land on the other side of the dome.

(Don't fight it, our inhibitor will prevent you from using your abilities to escape. Your fate and the fate of all those like you on this backward planet is assured. Just let it be over with as soon as possible and your discomfort will be much less.)

"Never!" I screamed and summoning all the psionic energy that I could, to break through the intense pain in my head, I directed a stream of energy at the wall of the dome. The translucent material began to give way and a small opening appeared. The creature neared me again and just as it was lifting itself up for one final pounce I dove through the opening.

As I landed I jumped up and scanned the room for a door. Then I noticed five more of the creatures approaching from around the other side of the dome. They held Gabkhan and Susan motionless in their grasp.

(It would be unwise of you to try anything like that again.) This came from a creature slightly larger than the others, I assumed that it was their leader.

(I am...Angerianaasusilicana of Manyarner.)

(We know exactly who you are Premier,) it seethed, (it surprises us that such an advanced creature as yourself would choose to live amongst such a fragile species as this.) It threw Susan and Gabkhan to the floor and I rushed over to assess their condition.

(Are they dead?)

(No not quite, but if you do not co-operate with us it can be arranged.)

(What exactly do you want with us?)

(That's better, a little compliance on your part will make this whole business much easier for you.) It turned to a piece of equipment nearby and a lighted panel increased in intensity. (Now that we are sure that you are the One, we will have to increase our inhibitors strength so that you cannot try and escape again. That containment dome was meant to be our strongest but we obviously underestimated the psionic energy at your disposal.)

I sank to my knees as the pain in my head became intolerable again and blacked out beside Susan and Gabkhan's limp bodies.

Not understanding where I was, all that I knew was that it was very dark. I tried to open my eyes but could not feel them. Then I realised that I could not feel the presence of my physical body at all. This did not worry me, at least the pain was gone. Somewhere in the distance there was another being caught in the black void with me. I stretched out my awareness and although I am sure that distance was an illusion in this no-where place it seemed that a long way off someone was calling for help.

Reaching out I knew that the other beings were in fact Susan and Gabkhan, as soon as this fact reached my perception they too new of my presence. Their relief flooded into my mind, or at least I think it was my mind. Followed by hundreds of questions. What had happened? Where were we? Why was it so dark? Calming them both I relayed the encounter with the Valcrumny and how our physical bodies were probably still lying unconscious on the floor of the compartment in their ship.

(So why are we able to communicate?) Asked Gabkhan.

(The only possible explanation is that our biological link goes way beyond the usual form of telepathy. This is more than subvocal but subatomic, or inter-dimensional as well.)

(Let's assume for a moment that the Valcrumny are not aware that we can converse in this way that at least gives us breathing space while we figure out how to contact the others and get out of here.)

(Yes but they will not wait for long. There is no way that the Federation will strike a bargain with this race of parasites. You know how they are sticklers for rules and regulations about closed worlds.)

(So where does that leave us? I don't fancy having my neural energy devoured by a bunch of slime balls and I'm sure the others aren't close enough to rescue us.) Susan began to sound very alarmed.

(I've got an idea. Mother, you said that they lived off this energy as their major food supply. What if we had no neural energy left for them to take they would leave us alone.)

(Or more likely incinerate our bodies.) Added Susan.

(The idea has merit, if they thought that we were dead then they might just dump our bodies in space and go after more promising targets.)

(The only problem is, if our physical bodies are dead where do we go?)

The next part of this story is best told by Stephen himself as he can recall the details of the following few days better than I can.

We sensed Angie, Susan and Gabkhan being torn apart by the alien transporter beam from many miles away. When we materialised in the conservatory, there was nothing left of them, other than a scorch mark on the tiled floor, to register where they had stood. The most uncanny thing was the complete absence of their consciousness. I found this particularly difficult to deal with as Angie had been a part of myself for so many years that we almost thought as one single mind. The emptiness was overwhelming.

John, seeing how debilitated we were in the others absence, took charge of the situation and soon we were all standing in the lab looking at the view screen. Our message was relayed, straight into the chambers of the Federation Council.

"So they have demanded acceptance into the federation in return for her release." John was saying.

"That is correct and, as you are aware, the Manyarnern Premier is an important person to her own people but the authorities here do not recognise a religious leader as a significant enough position to warrant giving in to their demands or mounting a rescue mission. Our policies are very strict on this matter. Although she is a Federation operative she chose a life amongst the people of a closed world and must face the consequences of this decision. You may take this up with the Manyarnern Circle of Elders directly if you wish, we will happily boost you communicator signal to reach their home world." Replied Timus appologetically.

Cutting in on the exchange I let rip with some very colourful metaphors for what they could do with their policies of non interference in the matters of closed worlds.

John pulled me away from the viewer and calmed me down. (That won't help us to gain their co-operation will it!)

(Sorry.) I looked around at their worried faces, then turning back to the viewer. "Sorry Timus. I hope you can forgive my outburst."

"That is all right Stephen, we of the High Council will meditate until Angerianaasusilicana and her family are returned." At this the transmission was terminated from their end.

"So, it looks like we are on our own." Remarked Elizabeth with a shrug.

A quick discussion ensued and it was decided that our first course of action should be to take the Kalinar out of the atmosphere and scan for residual traces of the Valcrumny ship. Elizabeth left Eddy and Charlie in the care of Mike and the others with strict instuctions to protect themselves againt further Valcrumny incursions in any way they felt necessary. They were to hide themselves amongst the saps if they did not hear anything from us in a few days.

Passing the asteroid belt we set the ships sensory attuner to search for an ionic trail left by a ship as it engaged it's Hyperlight drive. After three hours of fruitless scanning we realised that it was pointless and prepared for the journey back home. Kohlarn sat at the Kalinar's controls while John and I peered at the scanner display desperate for the weakest of signals that could lead us to our missing loved ones.

Without warning a ship popped out of hyperspace in front of us forcing Kohlarn to make an avoidance manoeuvre. "Where the hell did that come from?"

The communicator buzzed and John went over to answer. The screen filled with the image of a race I had never seen before. They were reptilian in appearance with tufts of brightly coloured hair jutting from their jaws. "I am commander of the scout ship Xzchruzch, we were requested to assist you by the Manyarnern Circle of Elders. May I transfer myself and my first officer over to your vessel so that we can discuss this situation further?"

He looked at each of the others in turn and we nodded agreement. "Yes by all means commander."

Almost before he finished sending the message two of these huge creatures materialised beside me. They were at least fourteen feet tall and had to bow down to prevent their heads banging against the ceiling of the compartment.

"We are humbled in the presence of the joining partner of the One. May we please sit down?"

I motioned to the group of chairs around the table in the back of the room, it was obvious that their huge bulk would not fit into these human sized seats. Instead they squatted down on the floor and we all followed suit.

Taking the initiative John opened the questioning. "Have you come to help us rescue the One from the Valcrumny?"

"We are, unfortunately, a race of philosophers and clerics not equipped for battle." Said the commander apologetically. "We are chroniclers of the Manyarnern history and have followed the progress of the One ever since her presence was detected in this time line. When the news spread of her fate at the hands of the Valcrumny we sought out the circle of elders and were requested to rendezvous with you at this location."

"How on Earth did you know where to find us?" This was Kohlarn. "We told no one of our plans, let alone those snivelling do nothings at the Federation."

The commander lifted his long arm, which was actually more like a flipper than a human appendage and slapped Kohlarn on the shoulder. "Oh dear, you do not seem to understand the nature of our race. When I said we were chroniclers of Manyarnern history I meant not only the past but the future history as well."

At this Elizabeth gave a gentle sigh and took up the conversation. "So you knew that this was going to happen and that we would be here searching at this time. I don't suppose that you also know the location of the Valcrumny ship?"

"Or how we can rescue the others?" I added.

"Yes we do know the position of the vessel that you seek, and the Circle of Elders has instructed us to tell you. As for the other information, we see a number of possible outcomes of this days events and cannot help you any further without badly disrupting the time line. The One is the only Manyarnern being who lives in this indeterminate temporal state. Usually we can chronicle each individuals history with certainty but for her we cannot say."

"So if I understand this right, you can tell us where they have taken Angie, Gabkhan and Susan but not what the outcome of our rescue operation will be?"

"Your summary of the situation is accurate and if you allow me to transfer the information into your biotronic unit we will be on our way. There is no point in us delaying you in further discussion." He lifted his heavy bulk up from the floor and crossed to the computer terminal. A small black box appeared in his hand and he held it against the unit.

The first officer, who had said nothing during our discussion, turned towards me. "May your senses be enlightened and your dreams be fulfilled." Bowing deeply they both vanished along with their ship.

John and I checked the trajectory that had been entered into the biotronic computer. "This will bring us out at a star in the constallation known as Tucana by Earth astronomers, about 78 light years away." He said reading off the data."We don't know what to expect when we get there, so hold on to you hats it may be a rough journey."

I punched the execute button on the Hyperlight drive and we instantaneously jumped into hyperspace. The journey took about four hours. This gave us some time to consider what to do when we arrived.

Elizabeth, who sat beside the biotronic unit while we discussed our options, suddenly noticed the large amounts of additional information which had been down loaded into one of the files. Selecting it for viewing she discovered a huge data base containing all of the Federation's store of knowledge on the Valcrumny.

"The crafty old devil." She motioned to us to look at the screen.

"Wow! it details every encounter the Federation has ever had with this race. Our reptilian friend must have bent a few rules to pass this lot on to us without their knowledge."

We avidly read the data file.

Galactic Police Security file 2598/294 The Valcrumny Overview : A parasitic race formed of a gelatinous sack surrounding an extremely flexible circulatory system which acts as skeletal support. Lacking DNA they are composed mostly of sulphurous compounds which, if they come into direct contact with humanoid cellular tissue, are highly corrosive in nature. Capable of sustaining themselves in any atmospheric conditions their preferred environment is oxygen rich with above 80 percent humidity.

Their diet consists totally of absorbed neural energy from other species which they convert through a highly complex thermo-molecular transfusion into useable materials.

Hermaphrodite in nature, they reproduce in ten yearly cycles using a budding technique similar to other single celled organisms.

Originating on a planet in the Gama Haploid system they developed space faring capabilities two centuries ago. Veracious in their appetite for neural energy they have wiped out all other forms of life on their home world. Through the acquisition of knowledge, from other races they have encountered, they have moved off world to seek suitable energy supplies in the local area. The range of their activities has recently expanded through the appropriation of Hyperlight technology.

Their vessels are formed of a tetrahedral structure reinforced by Tritanium composites. They are impregnable to all laser and blaster fire below three thousand megahertz.

The creatures themselves are also unaffected by hand held stunner or laser weapons and can absorb the energy discharge then regurgitate it towards the operator of the weapon. Close combat techniques using wide bladed instruments are recommended during aggressive encounters.

They have a sophisticated hierarchical nature to their society and show total allegiance to their leaders. This is imposed by direct thought transference from one creature to the other. They have no sensory organs and perceive their environment through empathic scanning of the surroundings then modelling representations of the environment in a ganglionic area resembling a brain.

They are particularly sensitive to the transmissions of other telepathic races and seek out such peoples as a favoured source of nutrition.

Prior to their application for entry into the Galactic Federation they were offered alternative sustainable energy sources in order to overcome their apparent need to seek out and destroy telepathic races. This offer was refused out right by their leader and their application was denied.

Since this event they have repeatedly encroached upon Federation worlds and have been directly responsible for many terrorist acts throughout this quadrant of the galaxy. The most notable transgression into Federation space was the mining of the Trig where near total destruction of the humanoid sphere resulted in the loss of thousands of lives.

This security Officer's recommendation is avoidance at all costs and covert monitoring of their activities with possible future retaliatory action to prevent further encounters.

The file contained many other references to diplomatic and military encounters with these creatures but that is all I can remember now. I have to admit that it scarred me to death.

Elizabeth broke the stony silence which had descended on the room. "Well that's a lot of help, we don't have a blaster on this ship even if we were capable of using it."

"And neither do we have any wide bladed swords. That is, if we could get close enough to the bloody things without being detected, to use them. And I don't fancy having my skin dissolved while they suck out my neural energy. It's just hopeless." Said Kohlarn sinking back into his seat.

"That description reminds me of Jedikiah, his natural form was like a blob of jelly. Do you remember Liz?"

"Yes. When we returned him to the rehabilitation centre on Repos Four I thought we had seen the last of his kind." She shuddered.

"Well, humans base android design on their own physiology." Said John. "Why shouldn't another race model a robot on themselves. Perhaps the Cyclops bought him from this race."

"If these things are shape shifters as well we don't stand any chance against a whole race of them." I remarked.

"So you are going to give up before we even try." Shouted John. "What do we tell the others? We thought that it was too great a risk and didn't even attempt a rescue."

"John's right." Added Liz "Commander what's his name would not have given us this information unless he knew we had a fighting chance. No matter what the odds I'm going to figure out some way onto their ship and try to rescue Angie and the kids."

Despite all this fighting talk I had a tight little knot of fear growing in the pit of my stomach.

We popped out of hyperspace at the co-ordinates pre-programmed by our reptilian friends and it was soon apparent that we were on the far side of a small moon which orbited the Valcrumny home world. This gave just enough of an angle around the planetoid to scan for their ship and still hide our arrival.

"The most important thing from now on," ordered John, "is that we use no telepathy or telekinesis what so ever. All communication must be verbal. The data files suggested that they have no hearing or sight, let's hope that it's correct as it seems to be our only advantage."

"We will not be able to teleport onto their ship either, so how are we going to get close to them?" Asked Kohlarn.

I had been considering this problem for the last half hour and could not suggest anything more than the obvious. "We simply walk over and climb in through any available port hole or landing ramp."

This was met by much ridicule but eventually they agreed that it was the only possible solution.

"As we know that they cannot see or hear our approach and we are small enough not to register on the ships scanners we might just pull it off." Agreed John.

Kolarn looked at each of us in turn. "But how are we going to fight these things, none of you can kill?"

"And you think you can?" John snapped back, the tension showing in his voice.

"Yes. I don't believe that the prime inhibition affects me. After all I'm only half human. If I could make a weapon that would be a help. Elizabeth, are there any knives in the Galley?"

"Only small ones but I suppose we could fashion some sort of blade from the metal casings in the storage compartment."

We set about this task, using a laser pencil to carefully cut a sword like slice of metal from one of the containers. Elizabeth then suggested that we use bandages from the first aid kit to form a sort of handle and grip on one end. When finished the sword did not look much but when swung loosely in two hands they had the feel of a machete or small sabre.

John set us down just over the horizon from the Valcrumny ship. Approaching at a shallow angle before dipping down into a dust filled crater on the barren moon. Dressing in A.E. suits Kohlarn fastened the make-shift weapon to his waist band and we prepared for the long trek ahead.

The plan was to scout around the area and make a slow approach to the alien ship. Then we would split into two teams. John and Liz were to search for the others. While Kohlarn and I found some way of tapping into the vessel's computer network and causing some sort of distraction.

"I have an idea of the sort of distraction which should get their attention." I said into the radio mike of my suit as we struggled to climb over the rubble strewn landscape. "If I can tap into the protocols for their scanners I can fool them into thinking that an entire Federation fleet was approaching at high speed. This might give them the incentive to give the others up. We can then Jaunt onto the bridge as Federation representatives and take Angie and the kids back with us."

"It sounds as feasible a plan as any other. But how convinced are you that you can understand this totally unknown technology well enough not to give us away completely, just offering them more telepathic neural energy for their dinner?"

"Oh John, ye of little faith, trust me." In fact I was not at all convinced that Kohlarn and I would be able to pull off such an amazing feat. Thankfully heavily shielding as we were none of the others realised that my bravado was down to desperation rather than rational thought.

After what felt like many hours we approached an outcrop of rock just in front of the Valcrumny ship's landing site. Keeping low we peered over the edge at the scene below us. I could make out three lime green blobs of jelly moving back and forth over the ground around the base of what must have been an entrance ramp. As they did so a trail of acid was etching large grooves into the rock surface. A smaller blob slithered down the ramp and joined in their unnatural dance.

"What the hell are they doing?" I asked.

"That is hardly our business as long as they are occupied long enough for us to slip past and up that ramp. See as they reach the furthest part of the groove they pause for a few seconds before returning. I'm sure that we can run out from behind that support leg and make it up the ramp before they come back." John seemed completely at ease when giving instructions and I suddenly imagined him in a sergeant majors uniform drilling a straggly bunch of army recruits.

A few minutes later, after circling around the back of the craft, we approached the supporting leg of the ship. It was about five feet in diameter and stretched up above us to seamlessly join with the underbelly of the vessel. Crouching down I could just see the Valcrumny patrol moving up and down in front of the ramp. Although we knew that the creatures could not see or here anything, being this close impressed upon us the need for extreme caution.

The valcrumny slithered to the far end of what was now a deeply grooved trench and there they paused. John gave us a silent signal and one by one we stepped out from our hiding place and carefully made our way up the ramp into the huge ship. I was first inside and noticed that it was quite dark, I could just make out two more Valcrumny waiting at the top of the ramp. There was a small gap between them and holding my breath I stepped through and moved to the far side of the entrance way.

Elizabeth who had followed me in, saw the gap close and just stepped through in time. Together we stood panting heavily our backs pressed against the slimy walls as our eyes became accustomed to the darkness. John and Kohlarn had reached the top of the ramp and were clearly visible now, silhouetted against the gentle reflected glow of the moons surface. Seeing that their path was blocked they began to creep around the two creatures.

There was a hissing sound beside me and an inner bulkhead door slid open. The two waiting blobs passed inches in front of us as they entered the main part of the ship. This gave John and Kohlarn the chance to move across and join us, and seeing that the inner door had remained open we also went inside.