Hundreds of years of history, myths, legends and Damon's ancestors took awhile to process. Not only was he 'reading' all Damon's life, but the lives of those who came before him and they were all very clear. Occasionally, he'd run across a soul or two in this world who had some inkling of their previous existences and those of their ancestors, but not like this. They 'spoke' to him through something Damon called 'the Voice', but what was the most compelling thing of all was that he understood the bulk of their language. It was much like the first language they learned when they'd come here. Damon never flinched through the whole thing, and that was something in itself. He was perhaps the purest soul Nick had ever encountered albeit the soul of a warrior. There was no shame, no guilt, no fear in him. When Nick finally broke the connection, it was like letting go of a live-wire. Nick turned to Ruby. "You said you are half Malkathian Rochani and half Terran?" She nodded. "That means there is a great similarity in the genetics there." "Yes, they're very similar. His aren't. His are something else entirely. But the DNA of general population is only somewhat different from the DNA of Terrans in makeup. It's like there was something added to them that Terrans don't have." "Then I suspect that at least the Rochani Malkathians, if not all the Malkathians, were originally transplanted there from here by some unknown beings." He told her about the language and how he understood it for the most part. "If Merlinus could somehow run a cross-check on the elements that are different in their DNA against other galactic entities, we might find who did this." "If they're in the databases, yes! Yes, that could work. We do have a large DNA database, but it's a big galaxy you know." "Give it a try. In the meantime I can put Raq and Star on scrying into the location of the last Old One. They are our seers." "We brought something that might help...maybe," Ruby said. "It's a vitrified dragon's egg - one of only eight that have been found. Apparently most of them hatched simultaneously, but not all of them. The shells must have been very tough or nested in some substance that conducted the heat of the explosion to them and turned them to this 'glass'. I don't think I need to tell you how precious and valuable it is." Nick was delighted. "Wonderful! I assure you both, they will handle it with the greatest care. Now, Damon - I want you to go out and talk to my wife Lily and Lex in your language. Lex especially will be able to pick up on certain sounds and oddities and perhaps pinpoint where you originally came from and when." He put his hand on Damon's shoulder. "Damn, I thought I was a big boy," he laughed. "You make me feel small. I'm very much indebted to you for allowing me into your soul, Damon. Sincerely. You are one of a kind and I am honored and delighted to have met you. It gives me some hope for humanity. I thought beings like you were a fairy-tale. I will consider further what I've learned from you and your predecessors. If anything else occurs to me, I will most definitely let you and Ruby know." ***** Thanks so much for dropping by, your views and comments dear friends! Much appreciated, as is your own inspiring art! Cheers, Ray