Invaders from the Infinite · Chapter
XX: Destruction explained
Arcot receives a message from Zezdon Fentes revealing that Thett's base is near the center of the galaxy.
What happens
Arcot receives a message from Zezdon Fentes revealing that Thett's base is near the center of the galaxy. The crew names their ship 'Thought' and travels to Ortol, where they find Thett's messengers have arrived. A bizarre battle ensues as Arcot, influenced by Zezdon Fentes' mental mediumship, projects the Thessians' own horror-ideas against them, causing chaos and destruction among the Thessian fleet.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Climax.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because it presents the emotional and psychological peak of the heroes’…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- The Nature of Power and Responsibility
Arcot's use of mental horror-ideas demonstrates the immense power of thought and the responsibility required to wield it, as seen when the crew names their ship 'Thought' and Arcot later questions his own actions.
- Unity Against a Common Enemy
The alliance of Earth, Ortol, and Talso works together to locate and confront Thett's forces, highlighting cooperation against a shared threat.
- Exploration and the Unknown
The crew ventures to the center of the galaxy to find Thett's base, facing unknown horrors and using innovative tactics to overcome them.
Characters to notice
- Arcot
Receives message from Zezdon Fentes, names the ship 'Thought', and uses mental horror-ideas to defeat the Thessians.
- Zezdon Fentes
Discovers Thett's base location and acts as a medium, imprinting Thessian horror-ideas onto Arcot's mind.
- Morey
Comments on the mental power of the Thessians and participates in naming the ship.
- Wade
Suggests christening the ship 'Thought' with its name emblazoned on it.
- Torlos
Asks about the name of the machine, prompting the naming discussion.
- Zezdon Afthen
Reassures the crew about Thessian mental abilities and suggests sending Fentes down in a shell.
Key passages
“The swiftest thing that ever was Thought ! The most irresistible thing, thought , for nothing can stop its progress. The most destructive thing, thought . Thought, the greatest constructor, the greatest destroyer, the product of mind, and producer of powers, the greatest of powers. Thought is controlled by the mind. Let us call it Thought !”
Arcot proposes naming the ship 'Thought' because it embodies the swiftness, irresistibility, and dual creative-destructive power of the mind.
This moment emphasizes the theme of the nature of power and responsibility, as the crew acknowledges the immense potential of their vessel.
“Lord, Arcot! Why in the Universe did you do that—and how did you conceive those horrors?”
Morey asks Arcot why he used such terrifying mental projections and how he imagined them.
This highlights Arcot's unconscious use of the Thessians' own fears, facilitated by Zezdon Fentes' mental mediumship.
