Free The Unreachable Stars: Book #11 of The Human Chronicles Saga by T.R. Harris

reason we’re being sought is all a big plot on the part of the Sol-Kor to get him back.”
    There was a single table and two chairs in the small room. Adam and Kaylor took seats while Panur, and a very nervous-looking Jym, sat on the bed. Adam then proceeded to lay out the entire story of Panur, the Sol-Kor, and the situation they now found themselves in. It took a full hour. He left out the part about the portal detector. The details of that would only poison his presentation. He would leave that up to Panur.
    When Adam was done, Kaylor and Jym sat staring at the small, pale alien, mesmerized and in awe.
    “You are five thousand standard years old? I find that amazing,” Kaylor said.
    “Yes, it is a unique and fortunate event. It has allowed me the time and opportunity to gain an incredible body of knowledge.”
    “And you have used this knowledge to build portals to other universes, as well as advanced weaponry and propulsion systems?” said Jym, all his prior concerns vanished.
    “That is correct.” Panur sent a tight-lipped grin Jym’s way. “I understand from Adam that you are quite a technological wizard yourself. I would welcome our interaction.”
    Adam saw Jym literally gush from the compliment, having to clean spittle from his short snout afterwards. He had never seen such a show of hero-worship from the tiny bear-like alien before, and he felt a combination of both trepidation and respect for how easily Panur had been able to manipulate the always-nervous and skeptical Jym’s emotions, winning him over to his side with a single remark. That Panur had sized up Jym in a matter of seconds was what worried Adam the most. Manipulation was second-nature to the mutant, and now he wondered how much he had been manipulated, now and in the past…
    “We would be more than willing to assist you in sheltering Panur,” Kaylor said for the two of them. Jym nodded emphatically. And then Kaylor frowned, setting the inch long appendages hanging from his ears to swinging. “Yet I see where our efforts will be in vain. With such forces out looking for him, he will be eventually found.”
    Adam leaned back in the rickety chair. “Kaylor’s right,” he said to Panur. “Unless I can convince the entire galaxy that the Sol-Kor offer of immunity is bogus, the search will go on for as long as they’re invading our galaxy.”
    “I assume bogus means false,” Kaylor said when the translation bug could find no reference for the strange word. “Unless the Humans—and others—can drive the Sol-Kor from the galaxy, this is a losing proposition.”
    “I may have a solution,” Panur stated, and before any of the others could raise the question, he continued: “I’m working on a plan. It is not complete as of yet, but with an adequate amount of time, it could be the answer we seek.”
    “Is that why you need the starships?” Kaylor asked, turning to Adam. “I have arranged for Angar to meet us later this night. He chose the location.”
    “Yes, that is why I need the ships,” Panur answered, looking at Adam with a frown.
    “I told them about the diamonds,” he confessed. “They needed to know.”
    “Did you tell them where they are to be acquired?”
    “That I have not.”
    “What is it we do not know?” Jym asked, the tip of his black nose now lifting up and down.
    “I will tell you later, my friend,” Panur said with a closed-lip smile. He stood up from the bed and walked to a far corner, where he sat down cross-legged and leaning against the wall. “Now I need time to work. You may continue to converse, I will not be disturbed.” Then the face of the pale alien went blank and his mouth fell open slightly. His large, dark eyes remained open, staring unblinking into the room.
    Kaylor and Jym looked to Adam. “He’s visualizing the solution. It’s how he works,” Adam explained. “When he’s done, it will simply be a matter of assembling the parts for the device he’s designing.”
    “What sort of