...stripped of his rank and position... because obviously that's what you do when someone kill's a nova's family. Such a minor crime isn't worthy of jail time.

Doug replied politely, "Physical, mental, and energy. Interesting. Physicality especially. I'd assumed you didn't have physical novas, I mean I didn't see any foot prints out in the dust outside. It's fun to fly, are there reasons for not going outside?"

Doug apparently had problems with the entire concept of lots of novas with flight running around but no one going outside to explore the landscape.

"There is no need to go outside," Rebeka stated matter of factly. "But this is not why you have come. I sense you have other motivations here than to learn about our culture and extracurricular activities. Please, speak your mind, ask what questions have brought you here." She studied Doug intently focusing on him as Raider simply stood by silently.

Doug nodded in agreement, she was right. Mentally he shrugged and then he said, "The big question is what are you going to do about the Earth now? Someone set off... I might as well call it a taint bomb. Every nova became an insane aberrant at the same time. I don't know if you did it, or if it was one of these exiles James talked about last time, but it probably doesn't matter now. Are you going to drop another rock? Can you reduce how hot the planet is?"

Raider frowned then thought to Doug, Ask straight questions that can't be ambiguous. Are you going to drop another rock, can be answered truthfully no, if they are planning to eliminate the population on the planet some other way. Have your people actively to do harm to the people on Earth. Are plans in play now that would bring about the elimination of Earth's current population. Do you plan to do so in the future? That kind of thing.

Raider was afraid these people would be tricky. Worse, he was afraid that by coming here he might have already blown their one chance at defense should the moonies prove murderous.

Doug nodded. Raider was right, he'd have to be more careful in how he worded things in the future.

Rebeka looked at the other two men for a moment before answering. She sounded concerned as she spoke, "So then the Earth is even more toxic? It was already considered uninhabitable due to the presence of radiation and tainted manipulation of the quantum field, but if we understand you..." She faltered looking somewhat uncertain, "Please, can you explain more clearly what you mean by this 'taint bomb'? And what you mean when you say 'less hot'?"

Doug leaned forward and said a little bitterly, "Hardly uninhabitable, before. Tens of millions of people, maybe more, multiple cities and civilizations. We were well on the way to rebuilding everything. And I mean, you've won. Your hack-eyed claims that every nova would become an aberrant have been made the reality."

"We traced the origin of the taint bomb back to the last known location of a man we believe was one of yours. Call him agent, or exile, or whatever, but he seemed too weak to be a nova and too smart to be a baseline. We would have looked into him more closely but someone made certain we were trapped in time so we couldn't. We were too late to stop him by more than a year and now he's dead and it's done. Well played." Doug nodded to the woman as though acknowledging a good chess move.

Doug continued coldly, "When we got back, we found that every single nova on the planet succumbed to aberrantancy at the same time. Worse, anyone who *might* have ever erupted into a nova erupted and also succumbed into aberrantancy. Every advanced civilization on the planet I'm aware of has fallen apart. Not a shock considering a significant percentage of the population went insane and started killing the rest."

"It's on going too. We don't use juice to use our powers any more, and we're mutating. Some faster than others, but we've lost two in two days. I figure the rest of us don't have much time. Weeks. Maybe months."

"So, again. Do you have a way to turn off whatever was done? And are you planning on exterminating what's left of humanity down on the planet by one of your rocks or something else?"

"We did not do this. The energies that you, and we, use are delicate and potent. Too much and the human body is simply not capable of channeling it without damage. If that continues the genetic and psychological changes you deem aberrancy are the result. After the war there was too much radiation and too much free quantum, even the most careful use of power would quicken the accumulation of genetic damage, what I think you call taint is nothing more than an overabundance of power and a insufficient capability to channel it." Rebeka was clearly off put by Doug's tone and yet he registered no dissembling, everything she was saying rang true.

"We have sought to cleanse the planet, to reduce this aura of energy such that we can safely return, that has been our goal all along. What you accuse us of would set back our return for decades or possibly hundreds of years.

"You assume the worst of us and yet you behave with ill manners and rough behaviour. You accuse us of seeking your destruction and yet you come bearing a weapon of the war with the apparent intent to bully or destroy us." She seemed riled up now and took a moment to visibly shake off the indignation.

"No we cannot reverse what has transpired, were we able to do so we would have returned to earth year ago instead of waiting in exile." She leaned forward herself and pointed at Doug, "It is your kind, who pursue personal power at the expense of humanity that are responsible. Not ours."

Doug replied flatly, "There's an old saying about relationships and trading agreements. 'You get what you give.'"

"So let's talk about weapons of war and attempts at destruction. Last time we were here you lied to us about the rock. Would you mind answering, truthfully this time, who dropped it and why?"

Raider listened and absorbed and considered. He was tempted to answer their accusation but decided it would be pointless. Perhaps later in the conversation would be time to defend their motives, if the moonies proved to be friendly rather than genocidal. Right this minute there was nothing on two worlds more important than the explanation they were about to give. Humanities fate might well rest on the answer.