More than a century had passed since Si's last "seclusion." On a cosmic scale, that was not a long time at all, and compared to the hundred-thousand-year deadline permitted by the Lord of the Spiritual Realm, it was but a drop in the ocean.
As before, Perpetuity commanded the species in battle. The Mann Empire's resistance continued. Though they could not defeat Perpetuity, they could use Spiritual Realm jumps and near-light-speed displacement to wear down the Successor swarms. Having mastered planetary displacement technology, the Mann Empire was no longer as easily devastated by Perpetuity and the others as it had been in the past.
Just as Perpetuity was growing weary from dealing with the Mann Empire's guerrilla warfare, a radio transmission reached it.
"Perpetuity, it's been a long time."
"Si? You're out? Where are you?"
Recognizing the sender of the radio transmission, Perpetuity surveyed its surroundings.
Based on the propagation of the radio signal, Perpetuity could tell that the message had come from somewhere very close by, yet it could not see Si anywhere around it.
"I'm right beside you," Si replied.
"I can't see you. Have you mastered invisibility technology?"
Perpetuity continued searching. It was currently in space, with no obstacles whatsoever around it. Even after adjusting the sensitivity of its various detection organs to their absolute limits, it still found nothing.
Si replied, "To you, I'm far too small now."
"We've brought 'progress' back for the species. Leave everything that remains to us, whether it's the Spiritual Realm or bringing Will and the others back..."
Perpetuity did not entirely agree. Their strategic deployments around the galactic cores of the various river systems had yet to be completed. In Perpetuity's view, launching a final battle against the Spiritual Realm now was still too early.
"You intend to confront the