Two envoys stood before Fentrax, each representing a different species. He had demanded their civilizations’ submission.

“What happens if we refuse?” one asked.

Fentrax let the silence lengthen. He had heard that question on countless worlds. He knew what people began to imagine while they waited for his answer.

He opened his hand, forcing Mindshade to unfold beside him. Between the creature’s pale strands, an inhabited world appeared: immense living structures drifting through the atmosphere of a violet giant, their surfaces opening to the light of neighboring suns.

“One of many that answer to me.”

The first envoy stepped around the vision for a closer look. Mindshade began to turn toward the approaching figure, then stopped so abruptly that a tremor passed through the suspended world.

The envoy looked from the trembling creature to Fentrax’s open hand.

“Let it move.”

Fentrax allowed Mindshade’s head to turn. Its body remained stretched around the vision, every strand held in place.

“There.”

“You’re still holding it,” the second envoy said.

Now both were watching his hand.

At his feet, the captive Murdisheen shifted. One glowing claw brushed the ground, leaving a shallow absence where solid matter had been.

Fentrax let the envoys look at the mark.

“Your worlds are still untouched.”

The first envoy stepped back. The other drew a breath and held it. Fentrax watched them, allowing the silence to deepen. They had their own people to think of now.

Within Mindshade’s strands, the distant civilization went on living. Small figures crossed the sunlit surfaces of the floating structures.

“Do they know you’re showing them to us?” the second envoy asked.

“They know what is required of them.”

This time, neither looked at the vision.

For a long moment, the two stood apart. Then the second envoy extended an open hand. The first looked down at it before reaching for it.

Fentrax felt the fear in both of them. It had not diminished when their hands met.

“We haven’t agreed,” the first envoy said.

Fentrax lowered his hand. The violet world tore into strips of light, and Murdisheen moved forward.

The envoys could now see each other through the place where an entire civilization had seemed to flourish.

Fentrax waited for them to reconsider.

Neither let go of the other’s hand.