ã€ŠThe Starlight Lancerã€‹


 Chapter One: The Beginning of the Worlds End

    ¡°In a space as vast as the Nova Rim Galaxy, rich with life, anything is possible¡ªfrom wonders appreciated only by the greater intelligences, to inexplicable horrors beyond even what the Simulcratum can imagine. So were our worlds seeded for beauty, and also for mortality and all its brutishness, by the Primortala.¡±

    ¡ªGorbal V¡¯rdak, from the foreword to The Great Meditation: A Collection of the Histories of the Species of the Greater Nova Rim

    The day the world ended started like any other¡ªwith one exception.

    An odd gleam of light caught Zaina Quin¡¯s eye. The gentle glow shone deep within the forest west of her family¡¯s home. It was unlike anything she¡¯d ever seen or read about; its soothing light called to her spirit. Her father didn¡¯t seem to notice that it had been there all day¡ªhe didn¡¯t seem aware of it at all.

    With a shake of her head, she put it out of her mind. Rule number one of Demelia¡ªher homeworld for all of her twenty-one years¡ªwas that nothing exciting ever happened here. Especially not all the way out at the lonely Quin homestead, sitting proudly atop the tallest of a low-lying network of hills. Below it was the farm, a modest bit of flatland nestled between three loping hills. The Quin family farm was little more than a wooden fence surrounding strips of overturned sod.

    Zaina was hunched over, taking deep breaths and resting her hands on her knees. She whipped her head to the side to get her long, wavy black hair out of her face. It always fell right in front of the hyper-glass eye panels on her breathing mask.

    The mask was essential for bog-farming, even when the Wheltern Winds weren¡¯t stirring bog gasses from the south into the northern valley. Her father, concerned about underground gas pockets, insisted Zaina wear a mask while helping around the field. She also wore fiber-cloth white slacks; heavy black boots; a gray, sleeveless blouse; and a thin black cloak to protect her dark brown skin from any potential bog-swells.

    The work was arduous¡ªa layer of sweat and dust caked her skin after hours of measuring the soil. The spike she¡¯d embedded into the dirt was almost done with a nutrient analysis. Last one of the day¡ªshe hoped to end it on a positive note.

    The vis-screen atop the spike¡¯s head flashed red, then yellow. Zaina frowned.

    Red then yellow, let it mellow. Like father always says.

    With a grunt, she straightened and stretched her arms and back, then stared at her surroundings¡ªthe view from this point was astonishing. Everything opened up, from the verdant serenity of the western forest to the strangely welcoming allure of the swampy bog-lands due south and east, and the hilly, grassy plains leading to Mount Dialemor to the north.

    There, perfectly nestled amid the northern valley plains was Ildegor, a quaint town filled with tall, domed buildings of wood and stone. It was a simple place¡ªno navport for incoming ships, no interplanetary crime, and few visitors. Further north on the other side of Mount Dialemor was Ryrda, Demelia¡¯s capital city.

    Zaina had not-so-fond memories of Ryrda and the Synatorium University she attended. She put the thought out of mind. No sense looking for ugliness in her past when she had all this in her future.

    A smile came over her face. Nothing was so wonderful as home.

    Her reverie was interrupted by her father¡¯s shouts. ¡°Zaina! What¡¯s that last reading?¡±

    She jumped, then said, ¡°Red, then yellow. Needs to sit a cycle out.¡±

    Zaina stooped down and pulled on the soil-spike¡¯s handle, grunting with effort until she freed it from the ground. Her father, a tall, burly man with broad shoulders and a messy white beard, walked over. Even under the breathing mask, Zaina could tell that his mouth was curled into a wince. His eyes, visible through the hyper-glass coverings, fell to the ground.

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    He muttered, ¡°Hmm. Not good. Damn near half the field needs at least a cycle. Whole strips.¡±

    Zaina hooked her fingers behind her back. ¡°I could always get a job in Ildegor. I¡¯m sure Mister Kiyala wouldn¡¯t mind an extra pair of hands around the shop.¡±

    Her father brushed the thought aside with a wave of his hand. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that, Zaina. If need be, I¡¯ll talk to Beni. He always has a spot open for me on the guard team. But really, I could take a season off. It¡¯s good to give things a break every now and again¡ªbodies, land. Work it too hard and it won¡¯t work the same.¡±

    Zaina shifted. ¡°I¡¯d have to do something. I don¡¯t think I could sit here for a whole year doing nothing. I could at least keep everything tilled and ready.¡±

    Her father shrugged, then pulled off his mask. ¡°Walk with me?¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyebrow rose, unsure of where this was going. She pulled off her bog-mask and walked alongside him as they exited the field. After latching the gate, he turned and sighed. She studied him, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Her dad wasn¡¯t the talkative type.

    ¡°So,¡± she said, ¡°what¡¯s this about, Pops?¡±

    ¡°Well, Zaina,¡± he said, staring out over the valley, ¡°we may have a season off here shortly. Maybe more. I think it¡¯s time to think about what it is you want to do.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked.

    ¡°You know exactly what I mean.¡±

    Zaina looked away. She¡¯d been dreading this conversation for a long time. Part of her hoped if she stopped talking, so would he.

    Instead, he pressed. ¡°When you were little, you always said you wanted to travel. You used to say you wanted to find the highest spot in the Nova Rim so you could look down and see it all. I¡¯m pretty sure that was before your first science class.¡±

    She forced a reluctant sigh through her nostrils and fidgeted with her hands. ¡°That¡¯s not what I want anymore.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°Why, do you want me to leave?¡± she asked.

    He ran a hand through his gray hair. ¡°No¡ªthat¡¯s not it. My point is,¡± he said, ¡°there¡¯s a whole galaxy out there. No one can see all of it, but we all ought to see some of it. Live a little. Have experiences no one else could have. Find the place that calls to your heart. You¡¯re more than capable of taking care of yourself¡ªI¡¯ve seen to that. And if you want to take it slower, there¡¯s all kinds of extension programs at Ryrda University. You could be a pilot, learn a trade. The Nova Rim is filled with opportunities.¡±

    Her gaze drifted toward the ground. The grass swayed gently around them. ¡°I guess¡ªI guess I always thought I¡¯d stay here. Help you out around the farm. Take it over when you decide to hang up the boots.¡±

    In a low, soft voice, he said, ¡°Is this really what you want? To stay here on the farm your whole life?¡±

    Zaina took in a deep breath. The sweet scent of wildflowers and grass wafted into her nostrils, carried by the breeze as if the aroma was meant for her. ¡°Why would I ever want to go anywhere else?¡±

    There was warmth in her father¡¯s gaze. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. ¡°As long as you¡¯re happy, that¡¯s what matters.¡±

    Zaina smiled and returned the embrace. Whenever he held her in his massive arms, she felt like a kid again. She didn¡¯t get many hugs as an adult, so she cherished each one.

    After a grunt, he said, ¡°Oh, by the way, Old Man Gorda got in touch. Hand-tiller¡¯s ready. Mind going to pick it up after dinner?¡±

    Zaina groaned, but it was all for show. ¡°Fine.¡±

    Their gazes met, and she couldn¡¯t hold back a smile. Their moment was broken by excited yelps coming from the homestead.

    Her brother and sister streaked from their house and down the hill¡ªDeril, ten years old and almost as tall as Zaina, and Elanta, six, who was struggling to keep up. Trotting along beside them was Kitali, the family limphor¡ªa knee-high, four-legged, furry beast with large ears, an elongated snout, and huge eyes glazed over in joy. The furry friend¡¯s mask hung loosely around her neck, swinging to and fro as she came down the slope. Zaina had painted the limphor¡¯s mask with pink polka dots when she was a kid. Even the children¡ªhaving been lectured many times about the necessity of masks near the bog fields¡ªhad theirs affixed to their faces.

    Both kids were calling out, ¡°Mom says dinner¡¯s ready! Mom says dinner¡¯s ready!¡±

    Her father shot Zaina a glance. Kitali outpaced the kids, running up to Zaina and pawing at her feet. She stooped down and rubbed the limphor¡¯s hindquarters. Kitali raised her chin and curled her body around, pushing further into Zaina and licking her hands and face.

    Elanta tried to tackle her father, but he picked her up and swung her onto his shoulders. Deril ran in circles around them with his arms out.

    Zaina¡¯s father said, ¡°All right, then, come on. Masks off¡ªcan¡¯t squeeze your food through the filter, can you? Let¡¯s not keep your mother waiting. Did you already wash your hands?¡±

    Zaina shook her head, lingering behind. As she stroked Kitali¡¯s neck and chin fur, her gaze once more fell over her home¡ªa sea of gently waving grass with specks of vibrant blue and purple hues from patches of wildflowers. Warmth swelled in her chest and rose upward, lifting her lips into a smile.

    Twenty-one years, and it¡¯s never gotten old. I don¡¯t think it ever will.

    Before she turned to join her family the light from the forest caught her eye again. Strange, she thought. If it¡¯s still there tomorrow, I¡¯ll check it out.

 Chapter Two: Hole in the Sky

    ¡°These fragments of the greater whole of Riiva are scattered amongst the galaxy¡¯s many worlds as shards of something resembling light.¡±

    ¡ªThe History of Lancers, by Scholar Suprema Ignaeus Voltwith

    The trip to Ildegor after dinner was short, just over an hour¡¯s walk. Despite there being nothing to worry about¡ªrule number one about Demelia was that nothing exciting happened, including piracy, banditry, and general thieving¡ªher mother insisted she bring Kitali along for protection. Zaina wasn¡¯t sure what good the spoiled-rotten limphor would be in a fight, but she always enjoyed a walk with her little friend.

    Zaina ducked through the dirt alleyways and side streets, cutting through the town circle where Beni Gardol, the Strato of Ildegor, was giving a speech. His wife stood to his right, cradling their infant daughter to her chest. The Town Deputy and Beni¡¯s best friend, ¡°Two-dye Tohm¡±¡ªso named for the two tones of his colored hair¡ªwas on his left, nodding along with every word in the speech.

    Beni was middle-aged with short, unruly brown hair and pale skin. There was vigor about him; he still moved like a younger man. His arms spread out as he sought volunteers for some new initiative or another. Zaina rolled her eyes and strolled by.

    After stopping by Old Man Gorda¡¯s shop and picking up the tiller, Zaina took a back alley to a tall stone building outside of the town circle. It had two levels of roofing, the lower of which was accessible by ladder. Leaving the tiller below, Zaina hoisted Kitali onto her shoulders and made the climb.

    This was Zaina¡¯s favorite spot; she knew every nook and cranny of this building¡¯s exterior. There were metal grooves in the tower leading to the second layer of roofing, which was the only flat rooftop in all of Ildegor. She took a deep breath as she reached out for a good hold and ascended little by little. Kitali knew well enough to be still as they climbed.

    Once she was atop the building, Zaina sat down with Kitali beside her. They stared out over the northern valley plains, stretching to Mount Dialemor in the distance. The sun was setting over Ildegor, and one of the world¡¯s moons was already pulling into view. A deep, relaxed sigh passed over Zaina¡¯s lower lip as she took it all in.

    The dying sunlight painted the sky a bright crimson with streaks of purple at the edges. Those colors transposed onto the verdant valley of sunset-tinted grass. This was her home at its most beautiful.

    A massive, metal orb surged upward from the other side of Mount Dialemor¡ªa ship leaving Ryrda¡¯s spaceport, no doubt. It streaked away, exiting the atmosphere in seconds, leaving a tower of smoke and exhaust. Zaina shook her head and chuckled. Why would anyone ever get into a metal contraption and go out into space?

    A familiar voice called from below. ¡°Hey, Zaina!¡±

    She peeked over the edge. Beni Gardol was below with a wry grin plastered on his face.

    ¡°Uh, hey there, Mister Gardol,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°So tell me,¡± Beni said, ¡°you didn¡¯t take Kitali up there with you this time, did you?¡±

    Zaina shook her head. Kitali loosed a yelp, and Zaina glared at her companion. The limphor had a penchant for yapping at the worst moment.

    Beni sighed. ¡°Be careful, all right? I don¡¯t want either of you getting hurt. And be glad Orna took Eniri home early. She¡¯d have a fit if she saw anyone up there.¡±

    ¡°I will. Thanks, Mister Gardol.¡±

    ¡°You can call me Beni, you know. You¡¯re not a kid anymore.¡±

    Zaina smiled, not sure what to say.

    Beni waved and said, ¡°Well, give your father and mother my greetings when you see them. And give Deril and Elanta some high-fives from me. How¡¯s Dessa, by the way?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s good,¡± Zaina replied. ¡°Cries a lot, mostly.¡±

    ¡°Oh, she¡¯ll outgrow it. Maybe. Eniri doesn¡¯t cry much, which I¡¯m told is strange. Maybe she just loves her parents that much!¡±

    ¡°R¡ªright,¡± Zaina said, nodding her agreement.

    Beni chuckled. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve got to get back to the nest. Have a good night now.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Mister¡ªBeni,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°Oh, and next time I find you up there, I¡¯ll call in a buzzard from Ryrda to get you down. It¡¯ll be super embarrassing.¡±

    Zaina rolled her eyes as Beni walked away. She returned to the view. There were only a few minutes left of sunset.

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    She glanced west toward the forest, and the gleam of light caught her eye again¡ªher head jerked toward it, and there it was¡ªa bright-but-distant glow emanating from the forest¡¯s depths.

    Probably nothing to get excited about. Rule one of Demelia.

    Unsure of what it was, she turned back and continued enjoying the sunset.

    As her gaze drifted across the swirling pastel shades of light accompanying the sun¡¯s descent, Zaina was beset by something she couldn¡¯t explain. Whispers¡ªthousands of them¡ªrushed around in her mind, and she didn¡¯t know what they were, except they weren¡¯t hers. There were too many voices to make out what any were saying.

    Zaina clutched at her head, barely taking notice of Kitali¡¯s whimpers. Suddenly clarity returned, and a hole opened in the atmosphere above Mount Dialemor.

    After blinking a few times to make sure she wasn¡¯t dreaming, Zaina jumped to her feet. In the sky, at the center of three long creases, was a rip in¡ªeverything. Space itself tore at the edges around the nexus, letting shadowy, ethereal mist seep through the portal.

    Dread pooled in Zaina¡¯s heart. Horrified, she stared in shock as something¡ªformless, contorting, and blacker than shadow¡ªemerged from the opening. It looked like a meteor, but that was impossible¡ªmeteors didn¡¯t change direction or pulse like a beating heart.

    Demelia¡¯s meager planetary defense systems roared to life. Ear-splitting cracks erupted from the distant mountainside, and lights flashed as massive battery guns fired off hypervelocity warheads. The black stone slithered and twitched, constantly jerking as its speed increased. Demelia¡¯s warheads detonated, painting the sky with red, orange, and yellow blossoms. Not a single hit. Zaina stared in horror as the writhing meteor impacted between Ildegor and Mount Dialemor.

    Everything froze¡ªthe stone struck, rocking the ground as if splitting the world apart. Kitali whimpered and pawed at Zaina¡¯s leg. A curtain of black dust blasted toward her. She grabbed the limphor and flattened against the floor, shielding Kitali with her body and herself with her cloak.

    The rush of dark wind engulfed her¡ªdistant, echoing screams emanated from its depths. Zaina squeezed her eyes closed and recoiled in fear while clutching Kitali¡¯s fur, desperately hoping that if she made herself smaller or unable to hear that the voices would pass over.

    The wave was gone as quickly as it came.

    Upon peeking out, Zaina breathed a sigh of relief¡ªthe stone building they were on was still standing. The wooden structures nearby had been flattened. Kitali was whining and pawing at Zaina¡¯s chest.

    She swiveled about, trying to make sense of the situation. Colossal plumes of black smoke towered into the skies from the direction of impact. More darkness was spreading over the northern plains, nearing the edge of Ildegor. It didn¡¯t move like any smoke she¡¯d ever seen, and voices echoed from within its depths.

    Not good, Zaina thought. She hoisted Kitali onto her back¡ªthankfully, the limphor didn¡¯t protest¡ªand made the climb back down. It was slow going only by feel, but there was no other choice. Dark fog had spread over Ildegor, settling into every crevice. After a few minutes, Zaina¡¯s arms and calves were burning from the climb¡¯s strain, but she¡¯d made it to the bottom.

    Mom¡ªDad¡ª

    Zaina fixed her breathing mask to her face, then wrestled Kitali¡¯s on. She crouched as a guard ran by, birifle slung on his back, escorting two children toward Ildegor¡¯s town circle.

    She had to focus¡ªher first priority was making sure her family was safe. With Kitali by her side, Zaina ran toward the Quin homestead. As she passed through the obscured streets, a shadowy figure emerged from the haze. She froze as it closed in, but relief flooded her chest as she recognized the man¡¯s eyes through his mask. It was Beni.

    ¡°Zaina!¡± he said. ¡°There you are! Oh, thank Byzon! Are you all right?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m¡ªI¡¯m okay. What¡¯s going on? Do you know?¡±

    Beni shook his head. ¡°No. After what happened, I remembered you were on the roof. You need to get to Central Hall. It¡¯s ventilated¡±¡ªa violent cough erupted from him¡ª¡°and we¡¯ll be safe there.¡±

    Zaina took a step back. ¡°B¡ªbut, my family! I have to make sure they¡¯re all right, I¡ª¡±

    Beni raised his hands and said, ¡°Two-dye Tohm is on his way to the outskirts to pick everyone up. They¡¯ll get here before you can make it out there. You¡¯re better off waiting here with us.¡±

    She dropped her gaze to her feet. Zaina clenched her fists, and it took every ounce of self-control she had to fight the urge to turn and run straight back to the farm. She turned her head to the side and said, ¡°What¡¯s going to happen next?¡±

    Sadness flickered in Beni¡¯s eyes. ¡°Next,¡± he said in a soft voice, ¡°the planet¡¯s going to be evacuated. Immediately. Buzzards are coming from Ryrda now.¡±

    Ice-cold dread drenched Zaina¡¯s system. ¡°No¡ªno, that can¡¯t be right. The whole planet¡ªwhy?¡±

    Beni coughed and gestured toward the sky. ¡°I got a signal from the Signatory Observation Council right before that wave hit. They¡¯re saying the planet¡¯s going to be uninhabitable by week¡¯s end, if not sooner. They didn¡¯t exactly forward me all the details¡ªonly orders. Come on¡ªwe need to get to Central Hall before the evac dropships arrive. Whatever the hell¡¯s causing this isn¡¯t going to stop.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s thoughts streamed by in an incoherent jumble. She was dimly aware of Beni grabbing her wrist and pulling her back into the haze toward the heart of Ildegor. All the chaos and masked faces drifted by in a blur. Ildegor¡¯s town guards, moving to and fro, ushered residents into the Central Hall; officers stationed by the door handed out breathing masks to every civilian who needed one. People screamed as they hurried to shelter.

    Ildegor was in ruins. Wooden buildings were reduced to piles of rubble and splintered planks, while several stone houses had chunks missing. Flowerbeds lining the town circle were now withered and dead. Zaina was unable to pull her eyes away¡ªBeni yanked on her arm.

    Shudders ran up her shoulders and neck. What the hell did all of this?

    When they arrived at Central Hall, Beni turned to Zaina and said, his voice laced with concern, ¡°You can stay out here until your family arrives. If there¡¯s any sign of trouble, go inside and wait with everyone else. All right? Promise me you will.¡±

    Zaina nodded, then scurried over to stand by the door of the massive stone building, a gray monolith amid the haze. Caught up in panic and disbelief, Zaina¡¯s eyes fell to the ground. Demelia was going to be uninhabitable. Her home, once a welcoming, lovely place, would be rendered something else. What if she couldn¡¯t come back?

    A parade of lights in the distant sky pierced the gloom. Starships were streaming out of Ryrda en masse. Ships void-skipped in-atmosphere, cracking the sky with thunderous pops before disappearing in brilliant flashes of white light.

    Her shoulders fell as her mind returned to her father¡¯s words from earlier. A sharp sigh huffed through her nose.

    Looks like I¡¯m going to see the galaxy, Dad. Her gaze drifted toward the shadow-filled sky.

    All it took was the end of the world.

 Chapter Three: Shadow Emergent

    ¡°Crisis¡ªthe clashing of good and evil, light and dark, is an essential element to forging who we are. There are those who would not stare this truth in the face. Every choice matters. Every battle we win, even against ourselves and our nefarious impulses, matters. And anyone can choose to be a hero.¡±

    ¡ªRidarr Fronkep, Chidron to Elvruste, in her speech commemorating the Memorial of the Unknown Savior

    The residents of Ildegor packed into Central Hall. With nothing to do but wait, Beni and the guards argued about what had happened. Zaina sat next to the door, her imagination running wild.

    ¡°No,¡± one of the town guards said, ¡°it was an orbital bombardment, or some kind of chemical weapon. Why do you think the air¡¯s like this?¡±

    Another replied, ¡°Who the fuck would attack Demelia? What kind of message are they trying to send?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the fucking Future Wars again,¡± one piped up. ¡°I¡¯ll bet that¡¯s why they¡¯re coming all the way out here. Hoping to avoid drawing the attention of the Synatorium.¡±

    Zaina frowned. Their conjecture only fueled her torturous worries. She tried to tune them out as she sat off to the side in silence, waiting for her family.

    A dim light pierced the smoke in the distance, growing in size and intensity until a large transport lined with six eight-foot-tall tires emerged from the shadow. On the back was a large metal flatbed packed with masked people from the outskirts. Among them were Zaina¡¯s mother, father, and siblings. The vehicle came to a stop, and Two-dye Tohm stepped out from the driver¡¯s cabin atop the transport¡¯s colossal engine, climbed down the rusted ladder, and walked around to open the back.

    As people jumped off, Tohm shouted instructions, ¡°Go on, now, get into Central Hall! Orderly fashion, orderly fashion! Come on! No pushing now, these are your neighbors!¡±

    Zaina¡¯s mother made a beeline for her, clutching young Dessa to her bosom as she walked. She pulled Zaina in for an awkward hug, pressing Dessa against her older sister. ¡°Zaina¡ªZaina, are you all right? Are you hurt?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mom,¡± she replied. ¡°How are all of you?¡±

    Zaina¡¯s mother cast a glance over at her husband, who was slowly climbing out of the flatbed. Deril and Elanta were helping him. ¡°Your father was outside when¡ªwell, I don¡¯t know what happened, Zaina¡ªbut he fell. Do you know what¡¯s happening?¡±

    Zaina shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but they¡¯re talking about evacuating the whole planet. Here, you need to get inside. The ships should be here soon.¡±

    Beni walked over, his face flashing concern as his eyes fell on Zaina¡¯s father, who coughed into his hand, then let the blood roll from it as his arm fell limply over Deril. ¡°Zaina¡ªhelp your family into the Central Hall, please. Once everyone¡¯s in, we¡¯ll hole up ¡¯til the buzzards get here.¡± He leaned over Elanta and Deril and said in a warm tone, ¡°Hey, now, kids. Don¡¯t worry. Everything¡¯s going to be all right. We¡¯ll be going on a little adventure, is all.¡±

    Zaina turned to her father and slipped under one of his arms to support his weight, with her brother helping from the other side.

    ¡°Zaina¡ªZaina¡­¡± he said in a weak, distant voice.

    ¡°I¡¯m here, Pops,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m here. It¡¯s me.¡±

    He tried to stand up straight. ¡°I¡ªoh¡ª¡± A pained expression jolted across his face.

    ¡°Don¡¯t move too much, Dad,¡± she said. ¡°Let¡¯s get you inside. You can rest until the buzzards get here.¡±

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    ¡°Zaina¡ªBeni, I have to¡ªI have to help¡ª¡±

    ¡°Pops,¡± she said, trying to keep her voice from shaking. ¡°Pops, you can¡¯t do anything right now. You need to get inside and help mom take care of everyone.¡±

    ¡°Zaina, no¡ª¡±

    With a shake of her head, she replied, ¡°You aren¡¯t looking too good, Pops. Get inside.¡±

    After a weak chuckle, he said, ¡°Very well¡ªZaina...¡±

    Her father reached for his waist, where a double-barrel scrapshot pistol was holstered alongside two peletins of his personal beads¡ªmappers and scrappers, as he always called them.

    ¡°You¡¯re¡ªright,¡± he choked out. ¡°If something happens¡ªyou know what to do. Like¡ªlike we practiced¡ª¡±

    With a nod, Zaina unhitched the holster from around her father. It was too big to even consider slipping onto her waist, so she drew the scrapshot, loaded both peletins into the chambers, and switched the weapon¡¯s battery online. The rangefinder popped out. Unfolding it, she placed the adhesive onto her temple so the rangefinder¡¯s screen covered the left ocular covering of her mask, exactly as she¡¯d been taught. Then she tapped the mag-hammer, loading a bead into each chamber.

    The weapon¡¯s weight was familiar and comforting; Zaina wasn¡¯t sure she¡¯d need it, but it felt better to have it. She spent countless hours of her youth practicing marksmanship under his strict supervision¡ªback then she¡¯d wondered why. Her gaze fell on the words engraved on the side, Captain, 1032A Mobile Infantry Division, Terran Legion 34.

    ¡°Help them,¡± her father said as her mother dragged him into Central Hall.

    She nodded and turned back to Beni, who sighed and shook his head in resigned defeat. He could tell when she wasn¡¯t going to budge.

    An eerie silence settled over Ildegor. The air was suffused with tension and thick smoke. The wait for rescue was agonizing¡ªwith so many questions unanswered and too much time, Zaina¡¯s mind wandered over every possible worst-case scenario.

    Soon, bright lights pierced the haze. The dropships descended in a row right outside Ildegor with a chorus of deep, chest-filling hums. First, a squad of Demelia Defense Force troops arrived, clad in all black and wearing not-entirely-obsolete tactical armor, followed by twenty masked volunteers in white medical uniforms who began escorting the sheltered residents to ships.

    Zaina stayed with Beni, Two-dye, and the other guards until the Central Hall was empty. Relief flooded through Zaina as her family, among the last to leave the hall, was escorted toward the lights piercing the haze.

    Kitali, sitting next to Zaina, whined. Zaina rubbed the limphor¡¯s soft, fuzzy nape and said, ¡°Go on, girl. You¡¯ve protected me long enough.¡±

    The limphor turned to Zaina, her narrow head tilted in confusion; after a breathy sigh, Zaina said, ¡°Go on with them, girl. I¡¯ll be behind you in a minute.¡±

    Kitali stood and trotted toward her family, then turned back toward Zaina.

    ¡°It¡¯s all right, girl. Go on, now,¡± Zaina said, waving her away. The limphor stared into her eyes, then scurried off to join Zaina¡¯s family on the transports.

    Beni turned to her and said, ¡°I think they¡¯ve got it from here, so we should get to our families.¡±

    She nodded¡ªthen a creeping sense of unease made her hairs stand on end. Something was wrong. She didn¡¯t know what, but it was in the air, low, clear whispers from the shadows¡ª

    Zaina¡­

    Come to the Hollow, Zaina.

    Icy pricks crawled up her spine and the back of her neck. Someone, or something, was here.

    A dark, ominous laugh emanated from the fog. Then, the black smoke gathered, forming a phantasmal cloak of shadow, writhing and twitching as the meteor had. The sight of it froze Zaina in awe¡ªwhat was she looking at?

    The whispers, now a tangled web of speakers, grew louder, as if each individual voice was trying to speak over all the others. It was coming from within the otherworldly shadow, but it was also coming from inside her mind. Zaina clasped at her temples as a torrent of agony flowed into¡ªand out of¡ªher head.

    A few flashes of light accompanied by sputtering cracks broke out in Zaina¡¯s peripheral vision. Beni was shouting madly, leading the Ildegor guards in firing off a salvo from their birifles. The creature was too big to miss, but the scrap beads phased through it without effect.

    ¡°What the hell is this?¡± Two-dye Tohm screamed.

    ¡°Fire!¡± Beni shouted. ¡°Hold it off! Zaina, go!¡±

    A skeletal hand shot forth from the creature¡¯s cloak, still wrapped in ethereal shadow, with its long fingers spread. A single word emanated from the darkness, raspy and guttural.

    ¡°Cease.¡±

    The whispers stopped¡ªa humming black wave swept over her, stranding Zaina in a sea of silence. She tried to move, but every muscle in her body was rigid.

    Beni¡¯s eyes widened as he kept fighting. Zaina couldn¡¯t even scream¡ªthe guards, Two-dye, and everyone else were frozen in place by some unseen force. Whatever this was, they were at its mercy.

    Zaina tried to pull the trigger of her scrapshot, hoping get the creature¡¯s attention. It didn¡¯t work¡ªher finger wasn¡¯t able to move a millimeter. Billowing streams of darkness shot from the phantasmal shadow, creeping closer to Zaina¡¯s head. She squirmed and fought, but to no avail¡ªendless darkness settled around her.

 Chapter Four: Into the Light

    ¡°Of these ancients, little is known. Perhaps that is for the better.¡±

    ¡ªHistorian Kalma Nereyda in a letter to Professor of History Inkhai Solmun discussing prehistory

    Zaina stood in a world of pure shadow. She groaned and grabbed her head. The gnashing voices were back and louder than before, fading in and out, repeating themselves and crisscrossing each other.

    Don¡¯t you want to stay forever, Zaina?

    Don¡¯t you want to live forever?

    We can keep your memories of this world intact¡­

    All of it, forever¡­

    A whole world, just for you¡­

    The helplessness, the cacophony of voices, and the infinite darkness only fueled the anger taking hold within. A surge of heat rushed her body, followed by a wave of energy¡ªthe sensation made her feel powerful, like she wanted to make something bleed.

    A growl escaped her lips. She closed her eyes and focused on moving a single finger, then moved her hand, and finally her entire arm¡ªwith pure will, she broke free.

    The hatred buried within was satiated for the moment. Two-dye Tohm was pulling at Beni¡¯s arm¡ªhis head was still trapped inside the dark, tentacle-like shadow, his body completely stiff. The other guards were madly firing off rounds from their birifles, joined by the Demelia Defense Force squad, but their barrages of explosive scrap beads were having no effect. The shadow was spreading.

    Another swarm of heat inside her body almost made her collapse; she stumbled as a ravenous desire to kill, suffused with red-hot malice, surfaced. She shook her head¡ªthis wasn¡¯t her. It wasn¡¯t possible; she had never wanted to hurt anyone in her life. Her fingers curled into fists as she gritted her teeth and forced her body and mind to ignore the strange sensation.

    Zaina glanced toward the hovering lights ascending in the distance¡ªtwo of the buzzards were taking off. Her family was likely still in a grounded transport, given her father¡¯s pace. She turned back¡ªBeni¡¯s head was emerging from the shadows, but it was¡ªwrong. His eyes were red and had deep, black marks around them. He crumpled to one knee once the shadow released him.

    Two-dye Tohm stooped down to help his friend. ¡°B¡ªBeni? Are you all right?¡±

    One of Beni¡¯s hands surged forward, clamping onto Tohm¡¯s shoulder. Two-dye Tohm helped him stand, but once they were up, deep echoing chuckles emanated from Beni. Even through the hyper-glass covering his eyes, malice burned in his gaze.

    Two-dye was trying to pull Beni¡¯s hand away. ¡°Beni? You can let go now. Beni¡ªBENI!¡±

    ¡°Beni, stop!¡± Zaina took a step forward, reaching out to help.

    Beni gripped Tohm¡¯s neck with his other hand. With a growl, he pulled, prying Two-dye Tohm apart. With a succession of fleshy cracks, his head, spine, and half his torso were ripped from the rest of his body, splattering Tohm¡¯s insides on the town circle pavement. The broken corpse¡¯s halves were dropped, landing with a wet thump on the street.

    ¡°No!¡± Zaina cried out. ¡°What the fuck!?¡±

    Beni tore the metal mask from his face and ripped it in two as easily as he had his friend. For a moment he appeared lucid, his head moving to and fro in shock, horror flashing in his gaze. He winced and put a hand over one eye¡ªthen, darkness swept over him again. A smile crept across his face as he turned to Zaina.

    Beni extended his arm toward her¡ªash swirled from the air and formed a black sword in his grasp. With a wolfish smile, he turned and charged toward the guards, still distracted by the floating phantasmal shadow. Zaina tried to shout a warning, but it was too late¡ªBeni was too fast.

    He fell on the Demelia Defense Force, still facing the shadow, and split the first from head-to-toe with one stroke, then beheaded the next mid-scream; the rest turned and fired off panicked salvos, but Beni easily evaded them.

    ¡°Heretic! Heret¡ªrgh¡ª¡± one shouted a second before her head was pierced with a metallic squish.

    In seconds, all eleven of Demelia¡¯s defenders were dead, their bodies broken into pieces on the crimson-stained street. Beni was alternating between deep breaths and disbelieving laughter, his entire body showered in fresh blood. Zaina¡¯s mind was swamped, unable to see beyond the gruesome scene before her. And then rising within her in a flood of rage, the murderous urge returned.

    Hands trembling, Zaina raised her father¡¯s scrapshot and pointed it at Beni¡¯s back. As if sensing her movements, he straightened up and turned to her, glaring at the weapon in her hands.

    Many voices spoke in unison as his lips moved. ¡°Zaina.¡±

    Pin-pricks ran up and down the inside of Zaina¡¯s skin as innumerable speakers uttered her name.

    He stretched a hand out in invitation and said, ¡°You hear the whispers, too¡ªdon¡¯t you? You feel it, that burning, that¡ª¡±

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    She took a step back, the scrapshot still trained on Beni. ¡°Wh¡ªwhat, Beni¡ªBeni, stop¡ª¡±

    ¡°It must be painful to resist. Why fight it? The oldest secrets of the galaxy are flowing through my veins¡ªyou have to let it in. It¡¯s intoxicating.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s mouth opened in terror. The shadowy creature was spreading, twitching, and writhing outward. With no chance in a fight, Zaina fired off both beads in her scrapshot¡¯s dual-barreled chambers, then turned and ran.

    A chorus of haunting laughter mocked her efforts. She sprinted toward the rising craft, cutting through smoke-filled alleyways and fenced backyards. She tripped over some wooden debris, but quickly regained her balance and kept pushing on toward the lights rising in the distance.

    Finally, she emerged in a clearing where the haze thinned. Awaiting her there were two buzzards¡ªmassive, elongated, gunmetal gray transports with engines humming to either side of the craft¡¯s hull. There they were¡ªher mother was helping her father onto the last grounded ship as the third made its ascent. The ship¡¯s blinding lights were Zaina¡¯s salvation.

    Icy fingers of shock wrapped around her heart as a familiar noise came from behind.

    It was Beni¡¯s voice, his normal voice, calling her name. She froze in place and turned. Beni was standing there, his hand outstretched.

    In multiple voices, he said, ¡°Come to the Hollow, Zaina.¡±

    Her stomach turned. What the hell happened to him?

    Worse, the ethereal shadow was nearing, its core hovering over Beni¡¯s shoulder as the edges spread toward Zaina and the transport.

    Her head whipped back to the still-grounded buzzard, then toward Beni and the hovering black mass. The ship needed to leave a minute ago¡ªZaina didn¡¯t know if the shadow could destroy a buzzard and didn¡¯t want to find out.

    The shadow lurched, expanding toward Zaina. She recoiled, bracing herself with a grimace. It seemed more interested in her than the evacuees. That was something to work with. There wasn¡¯t time for everyone.

    I¡¯m sorry, Mom¡ªDad. Take care of Deril, Elanta, Dessa¡ªand Kitali.

    Zaina chambered two more beads. With a growl and two sharp cracks, she fired a round at Beni and a round at the shadow creature, then pivoted and ran back toward Ildegor¡¯s outskirts, shouting all the way.

    The whispers were back to an annoying buzz in her brain, making chills crawl up her back. They came from every direction, chanting her name. ¡°Zaina, Zaina, Zaina¡­¡±

    Short of breath from her panicked sprint, Zaina ripped the mask off her face and attached it to her utility belt. She glanced over her shoulder¡ªthe cloak of shadows and Beni were nearing, and the last transport¡¯s lights were smoothly rising into the blackened skies¡ªthey¡¯d made it. With her course set, she sped up, shaking tears out of her eyes.

    Her family was safe. All that was left now was to run for her life from the howling darkness.

    She caught a glimpse of black fur in her peripheral vision and turned. Kitali pulled up beside her, struggling to keep pace and yipping in concern. Zaina¡¯s heart skipped a beat, her core filling with terror. Had the limphor jumped out to follow her?

    ¡°No, Kitali! Dammit! No¡ª¡± Turning back to see the chasing shadow, Zaina changed her mind. ¡°Stay with me, Kitali! Keep up! Keep up, girl!¡±

    The limphor didn¡¯t need to be told twice. As if sensing the evil behind them, she sprinted alongside Zaina without looking back.

    Straight ahead was the edge of town, and beyond that, the forest. If she could lead the creature there, everything would be all right. The light¡ªthe light from before, if she made it to the light¡ª

    Zaina¡¯s legs burned, but she pressed on. As she arrived at the edge of the forest, her seeming safe haven, she peeked over her shoulder. The ethereal shadow was twisting away, doubling back toward the impact site; Beni was still chasing her, but he wasn¡¯t moving as fast as before¡ªas if allowing her to get away.

    The arguing voices were more like shouts now, drowning out Kitali¡¯s pants and whines. Zaina shook every doubt out of her mind and charged straight into the forest. The trees were in verdant bloom, covering nearly every inch of the forest floor in shadow¡ªperfect cover for hiding.

    Zaina hopped over a few overgrown tree roots and jumped over a small stream, then slid down a short incline. She and Kitali ducked under a large nest of tree roots covering a small burrow at the tree¡¯s base¡ªthe perfect spot. Rubbing the fuzzy underside of the limphor¡¯s long, curved jaw to make sure she stayed silent, Zaina tucked her cloak out of view and hid.

    Her own voice again turned against her in her thoughts.

    Come, Zaina.

    You don¡¯t have to leave this world. It can all be for you, forever.

    Come to the Hollow.

    The light shuffling of feet on the forest floor grew closer. Zaina slapped a hand over her mouth. Beni¡¯s shouts swept through the forest like a river of curses.

    ¡°I know you hear it, Zaina.¡±

    The swarm of voices made her hair stand on end and sent waves of cold through her body. What the hell did Beni and this thing want with her, anyway?

    His voice rang out again. ¡°What did it promise you? An infinite lifespan? Endless power? A seat at the Shining Will¡¯s hand when all life returns to darkness?¡±

    Zaina grimaced, her free hand massaging her pounding temples¡ªthe voices flooding her brain were threatening to burst out.

    ¡°Why do you resist, Zaina? You, a mere mortal, cannot hope to defy the Shining Spirit. It¡¯s coursing through my veins, like nothing I¡¯ve ever felt before. Breaking me apart and putting me back together stronger every second. Why are you so afraid to be made better¡ªto be improved?¡±

    There were so many things she wanted to shout back at him, but she kept her tongue. Kitali, however, loosed a whine. Zaina¡¯s heart roared into overdrive, and she stumbled to her feet and ran away as fast as she could. Kitali was right beside her, and Beni¡¯s pursuit resumed.

    Time blurred into one panicked moment. Her legs went through phases of aching, being hit by searing pain, going numb, regaining strength, and then aching once more. She fought against her body wanting to throw up or collapse.

    The winding forest path thinned until it disappeared¡ªthe trees of the deep forest were twisted and curved, and had many roots above the surface. Zaina lost count of the times she banged her shoulder against a trunk or caught her foot in a twisting root. She was well beyond the furthest point she¡¯d ever been. Shadow hung over everything, and mad laughter called from the branches.

    Way past the limits of her endurance, Zaina sprinted with Kitali panting by her side. Then, as if parting the heavens themselves, a beam of light broke out up ahead¡ªthe end of the forest! She ignored the fire in her lungs, focusing everything on the glowing exit. She didn¡¯t know why, but she knew it held the key to her salvation.

    As Zaina cleared the treeline, she tripped and fell onto her chest¡ªKitali stopped right beside her, and not a moment too soon. At the edge of the forest was a cliff descending down to a lower level of green, fertile plateaus. Something else was there, too¡ªsomething beautifully unnatural.

    Light stretched before her¡ªwas it light? It moved like gently-flapping fabric in a soft breeze. At first glance it seemed solid, but upon closer inspection turned out to be more like a torn section of a gossamer grid made of luminescent string, barely large enough for the eye to catch; colors changed and connections altered at will. It was indescribable¡ªher mind didn¡¯t bother to try. Instead, her eyes widened and she reached out as the strange, glimmering material pulsed. The light swallowed Zaina.

 Chapter Five: Stranded

    ¡°It is thus recommended by the Allegiant Security Council that the Order of Riiva be contacted, whatever political concerns arise. The situation on Portlas has deteriorated faster than anticipated, according to Chidron Elmuq. The Order¡¯s Lancers are the only warriors¡ªaside, perhaps, from Synatorium Pathfinders¡ªcapable of finding a solution beneficial to the Synatorium Allegiant¡¯s interests in the region; and unfortunately, there are not enough Pathfinders to go around.¡±

    ¡ªASC Memo to the Dyarchs: Meeting Resolution Zv2468-A92, on the Portlas Crisis

    Zaina woke with a start. Kitali was licking her face. The limphor¡¯s mask hung from her neck. Gasping, Zaina sat up¡ªher family! The monster! Beni! What had happened?

    She frantically scanned her surroundings. The sky was an angry red and gray with undertones of black. There was no sign of Beni or the miasmatic creature. It had left its mark, however; the trees were all dead. Their leaves had shriveled up and disappeared as if the seasons had shifted overnight. The once vibrant forest was now unwelcoming and stripped of life; a layer of ash had settled on the ground. Gray branches twisted and contorted, reaching to the sky for salvation.

    Dread coursed through Zaina. She bit her lower lip. Southern Demelia eglonts are supposed to live five hundred years. That thing did this¡ªbut how?

    Zaina shivered and brushed the question aside. First thing¡¯s first, I need some water.

    She stood and dusted herself off. Before leaving she peered over the edge of the cliff, searching for the strange light¡ªwas it even light? The valley below, green the day before, was a wasteland.

    Shaking her head, she wondered, Where the hell did that thing go?

    With a moment to breathe, she took stock of her supplies. The peletins in her scrapshot were still full. Her mask was at half-charge after yesterday¡¯s escapades; the dark smog in the air had thinned out, so she kept it hooked to her belt. She removed the rangefinder from the mask¡¯s ocular covering and attached it to her left temple. Her cloak was torn and tattered, but the rest of her clothing appeared fine.

    Kitali whined, and Zaina rubbed the creature¡¯s neck and leaned down to kiss her forehead, keeping her eyes trained on the treeline. The limphor wiggled from happiness. ¡°We¡¯ll get you some food when we get back home, girl. Unless we find some game out here in¡ªin all this.¡±

    Worried about potential threats, Zaina fired off a mapper; the bead sent diagnostic data back to the rangefinder, letting her know how many life forms the forest held. As expected, aside from the occasional bird, lizard, or swarm of ground-dwelling insects, there was nothing.

    Zaina¡¯s sense of dread deepened as she moved further into the forest. If Beni comes back¡ªI have to be ready. Did that thing leave, or is it still here?

    Finally, she and Kitali came to a small stream. The limphor whined and ran ahead, then stopped at the edge and waited with a happy dance. Zaina smiled for the first time all day.

    She knelt in front of the water and pulled a purifier from her utility belt. She stuck the metal end into the stream, extracting and filtering the water into a wide-mouthed plastic tube. She offered the first drink to Kitali, who gratefully lapped up the contents.

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    ¡°Geez, girl. You¡¯re thirsty,¡± Zaina said. ¡°How long was I out?¡±

    As she went to fill it once more, Zaina caught her reflection in the clear, babbling stream. She leaned down to get a better look. The skin around her right eye was pitch black, spreading and twisting over her cheekbone. She tried to wipe it away, to no avail. It was soft and flat, with no discernible difference in feel from the rest of her face¡ªno pain or discomfort on contact. The blot wasn¡¯t on her skin; it appeared to be a part of it.

    What the hell is this? A bruise from when that thing trapped my head or something? But it doesn¡¯t hurt¡ª

    She poked at it, turning her face and lowering herself closer to get a better look. Her puzzled reflection stared back in the rippling water. She felt nothing different, and saw nothing she could scrub off or peel away. If it was a bruise, it would fade eventually.

    Kitali glanced over. Zaina shrugged and raised the purifier¡¯s rim to her lips. A rustle came from the treetops¡ªshe jumped, her heart pounding against her chest. Water splashed on her face. She whipped around¡ª

    It was only a bird settling onto a branch.

    Zaina sighed and dried herself with her sleeve, then filled the purifier again and quenched her thirst. With a heightened awareness, she continued her way through the forest until the winding path reappeared, and from here she didn¡¯t need the rangefinder. This way was familiar.

    She wondered if any of what she saw yesterday was even real. Maybe it was all a dream¡ªbut then how did she end up out here? Some strange hallucination? Bog gas? Undercooked dualu meat? Yes, that must have been it. Her family was probably home, worried sick about their daughter.

    On cue to stamp out her hopes, the whispers¡ªfollowed by images of the black cloud, Beni, and Ildegor burning¡ªflashed through her mind.

    It was real¡ªall of it.

    Zaina stared at the ground to keep from tripping over exposed roots. Many of the trees she recognized¡ªtrees she¡¯d grown up with¡ªwere smaller than she remembered, as if they¡¯d shriveled overnight.

    Her last memory was being swallowed by the light and then waking up. Faint echoes from some weird dream swirled through her mind, but nothing helpful. How long had she been asleep on that cliff? It couldn¡¯t have been long.

    She and the limphor trekked further into the dead forest. Zaina¡¯s sense of unease rose with each step.

    So, apparently, was Kitali¡¯s, who started to whine. Zaina softly cooed at her, wishing someone could do the same to calm her nerves. She unholstered the scrapshot pistol and kept it trained in front of her. Any defense was better than nothing. Against what, she had no idea. Fighting that weird shadow creature, she may as well have a security blanket.

    A sharp pain stabbed into Zaina¡¯s brain, and she jammed her eyes shut and gritted her teeth¡ªwhat the hell was this? Words scrawled across her mind, hastily written, as whispers emanated from within. A maelstrom of voices burrowed into her brain, making her drop to one knee.

    Come, Zaina.

    Your path lies with us.

    The Deluge has begun.

    Together we can save this world exactly as you want it.

    Zaina shook her head and pressed her palms against her temples while jitters and cold tremors coursed through her body. She tried to drown the voices out with her own thoughts, muttering to herself, even shouting. Rage swelled up inside, an all-consuming hatred that demanded to be unleashed. She wanted to tear something apart like Beni had, or¡ª

    Frightened yelps snapped her from her altered state.

    Kitali was ten feet away, legs spread and hackles raised¡ªher eyes filled with fear. Zaina took a few deep breaths with her eyes closed¡ªthe knives inside her skull were gone; her seemingly endless wrath was subsiding. She leaned down and called to the limphor, who scuffled toward her and sniffed her hand.

    ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± Zaina said as she tenderly stroked Kitali¡¯s furry face and neck. ¡°It¡¯s me, girl. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong with me, but it¡¯s still me.¡±

    The limphor whimpered and scooted closer, huddling up against her thigh. Zaina gently hugged the trembling creature, grateful for the comfort. Kitali lifted a paw and placed it in Zaina¡¯s palm¡ªtheir eyes locked for a moment.

    Zaina smiled and stood. ¡°It¡¯s all right, girl. I¡¯ve got you. I promise.¡±

    Kitali happily pranced as their journey renewed.

 Chapter Six: The Desolation of Demelia

    ¡°Those who have succumbed to the dark will find themselves emptied of all they were before. Tirelessly will they chase their enemies, unyielding in their resolve and utterly without mercy. They have wholly and completely earned the name heretic as the great scourge of the galaxy. Those who would refer to heretics with weak names such as ¡®the Marked¡¯ would be better served put to death with those they wish to defend.¡±

    ¡ªIndigal Faress, Founder of the Uzuai Valley Memorists

    Zaina fired off another mapper. A pop pierced the stillness, making Kitali jump. Still no large life forms, still breathable air, and a few streams nearby. The hairs on the back of her neck were dancing as she advanced further into the foggy forest, unsure of what awaited her. It could be Beni, or other afflicted creatures, or that shadowy monster¡ª

    An icy shiver crawled down her spine. The last thing she wanted was to face whatever that thing was again. Her father had taught her about self-defense and survival, but this was beyond her scope.

    The forest¡¯s edge, a field of scorched stumps, was near. Fire had consumed the forest and plains ahead, leaving behind a wasteland blanketed by a veil of black ash.

    Zaina streaked across the burnt plains. She came across a sharp, high-curving hill with all the grass stripped off. The hillside was covered in pock marks. She gasped.

    This was our old practice spot.

    She stared at it for a moment. For a second she lost herself in a pleasant memory¡ªthe first time she shot her father¡¯s scrapshot. Back then it was the size of her arm¡ªshe was barely able to lift it.

    ¡°Why do I have to do this, Papa?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a mad galaxy out there, darling. If you want to see it all, you have to be prepared.¡±

    ¡°All the other girls are going to the Ryrda Auditorium. I wanted to go with them.¡±

    Her father knelt and placed a hand on her shoulder¡ªZaina almost felt its weight now.

    ¡°I promise, there¡¯ll be another time. Besides, we¡¯ll make it fun. If you can hit this center dot here, I¡¯ll buy you ice cream at old man Sidora¡¯s shop after dinner. Deal?¡±

    Despite her situation, she smiled. She had always complained whenever he dragged her outside to practice shooting or martial arts. Now those were the moments she most wanted back.

    She knew the way home from here by heart¡ªit wasn¡¯t far. Its silhouette stood atop the hill like a shining beacon. As she trekked up the hill, its normal outline gave way to a strange disconnect¡ªthis place was home for her entire life, and now it was something else. Little more than a rock or a tree¡ªpart of a soon-to-be-forgotten landscape.

    Their farmland tucked into the hills below was destroyed¡ªthe wooden fences had fallen into disrepair. The world she loved was stranded in memory.

    Moisture pricked at the corners of her eyes as she stepped onto the porch. The house was, aside from some busted windows and the open door, intact, but for the first time in Zaina¡¯s life, it was empty, devoid of the life it once so lovingly held. It wasn¡¯t truly home unless her family was there.

    I¡¯ll make it to them. Whatever it takes.

    She crossed the threshold to the house. There, she witnessed a moment in time¡ªa teakettle atop the stovetop, its bottom blackened by long burnt-out coals. On the table were unfinished drawings by Zaina¡¯s younger brother and sister, their wax pencils strewn about on the table. One had fallen onto the floor¡ªshe reached down and picked it up to put it with the others.

    Many of the items were usable. After putting a meal down for Kitali, Zaina picked up one of her mother¡¯s canvas rucksacks and started grabbing supplies¡ªfood for Kitali, for herself, maps, clothes, soap, canteen, tent-kit, her brother¡¯s hook-gun, and her father¡¯s scan-band. Then she headed upstairs to her parents¡¯ bedroom¡ªthere was one more thing she needed.

    Zaina slid her father¡¯s safe out from beneath the bed. Her eyes locked on the smooth metal exterior; somehow, this felt weird¡ªwrong, even. It was like the passing of a torch too soon or trespassing on sacred ground. She¡¯d always thought her father would be by her side the first time she saw inside the safe. Still, this was what her father had told her to do in an emergency.

    Maybe no one ever feels ready.

    The lock projected a blue screen that presented a single word: Password.

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    Here goes nothing. After a deep breath, she said one word in a shakier voice than she intended.

    ¡°Starlight.¡±

    The screen changed, blaring a new word: Accepted.

    The lock clicked, and the metal door popped open. Inside were three more peletins arranged on a small wooden platform, labeled: Spreadtip, Explosive, and Hypervelocity. She placed them in the peletin holsters of her father¡¯s scrapshot belt slung over her shoulder. Then, before closing the safe, a picture of her family caught Zaina¡¯s eye. She picked it up, her finger tracing the blanketed bundle in her mother¡¯s arms.

    That was right after Dessa was born.

    They were all smiling, all together. She gently wrapped the photo in one of her spare shirts.

    I¡¯ll find you. I promise.

    Her head jerked to the side as a strange sound came from the first floor¡ªgrowling.

    Kitali¡ª

    Zaina rushed downstairs. The limphor¡¯s hackles were raised as she recoiled from a figure in the doorway. Zaina gasped and drew her scrapshot.

    In a low, angry voice, Zaina said, ¡°I knew you¡¯d be back, you piece of shit.¡±

    Beni Gardol smiled. He wore a long, black cloak over his old clothes and carried a long, black sword in one hand. He stepped through the threshold, eliciting loud, panicked barks from Kitali.

    Worse, the whispers were back¡ªa low chorus of voices, all her own, gnawed at Zaina¡¯s brain from the inside. Beni¡¯s words carved through the noise, drilling into her ears.

    ¡°And we knew you¡¯d return somewhere familiar¡ªseeking comfort in a broken world.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyes wandered through the room, settling on her father¡¯s metal walking stick leaning against the near wall before returning her gaze to Beni. ¡°So what now? You going to kill me?¡±

    Beni shook his head. ¡°No, of course not¡ªwe¡¯re here to lead you to your destiny, Zaina. You have been chosen by the Prophet of the Shining Will. Come with us to the Hollow, and you will be host to power beyond what you can imagine.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s all this ¡®we¡¯ shit?¡± she asked.

    Beni spread his arms. ¡°We have become one with the Shining Will. And soon, you will too.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s hands twitched, waiting for the right moment to make her move. Beni was fixated on her, but his eyes occasionally flicked over to Kitali, who was still yapping up a storm. Zaina blinked, trying to keep her focus intact despite the voices clawing for her attention.

    He stalked toward the defiant limphor.

    ¡°Silence, beast!¡±

    It was enough for Zaina. She surged forward, grabbed the stick, and charged Beni. His eyes widened as he took notice a moment too late¡ªwith a shriek, Zaina swung and connected with a crack, hitting him in the side of the head. Beni careened into the back wall of the house with a loud crash and the splintering of wooden walls.

    Zaina marveled at the metal stick for a second¡ªit was bent.

    Weird.

    She glanced over at the crumpled Beni, and another rush of murderous intent coursed through her system. She wanted to break the stick off in his skull.

    Kitali barked, snapping her out of it. Zaina shook her head.

    ¡°Come on, girl! Run!¡±

    The limphor followed Zaina out of the house. Maddened bellows erupted from inside¡ªBeni. Zaina ran straight for Ildegor. Kitali was at her side, running at full tilt and struggling to keep up. Zaina slowed her pace.

    Weirder still, as they neared Ildegor, she wasn¡¯t tiring. With a shake of her head, Zaina put it out of her mind. She¡¯d heard of people getting sudden bursts of strength and speed in emergencies before.

    Zaina fired a mapper over Ildegor, and the reading showed no life forms.

    Still running, she pulled out the Spreadtip peletin and swapped it into her scrapshot, holstering the one labeled Scrappers. She glanced over her shoulder¡ªBeni was nowhere in sight. A sigh of relief escaped her lips. Ready for anything, she ventured into the abandoned town.

    Aiming the scrapshot and staring down its line of sight, she made her way through the city¡¯s darkened roads and alleyways, her other hand still tightly grasping the stick. Her pace was brisk but measured.

    The town was ruined, with only the stone buildings remaining. Debris and rubble littered the streets, intermixed with personal belongings lost amid the chaos.

    Zaina¡¯s gaze lingered on a burnt doll atop a pile of charred planks and shattered glass¡ªit was almost exactly like the one she¡¯d had as a little girl. It was scorched black on one side, its hair singed. Zaina frowned and moved on.

    When she arrived at Ildegor¡¯s town circle, droplets of rain pattered on her shoulder. More fell from the sky as she wandered the desolation. An overturned flowerbed caught her eye¡ªnothing remained but shrunken gray stems and black petals half-crumbled into ash.

    That flowerbed was once the pride of a local shopkeeper and had teemed with colorful, aromatic life. The elderly woman spent hours creating the perfect floral arrangements.

    Kitali whined. Zaina leaned down. ¡°I know, girl. I don¡¯t like the rain, either.¡±

    Zaina led Kitali into a side alley branching off from Ildegor¡¯s town circle. Stretching her cloak to cover both of them, she huddled over the shaking limphor, contemplating what she¡¯d do once the shower passed. Since she had stepped foot in Ildegor, there was no sign of Beni.

    Zaina pulled out a snack bar¡ªmashed glutia fruit in a pastry¡ªand glanced around. The entire planet was falling apart. With a sigh, she folded the wrapper and put it in her pocket. Even at the end of the world, her home wasn¡¯t a dump.

    She nibbled at the bar and thought on her next move. Any stragglers would surely gather in Ryrda, Demelia¡¯s capital. It was just beyond Mount Dialemor, looming in the distance. If there was a chance to get offworld, Zaina had to take it¡ªespecially for Kitali¡¯s sake. If anything happened to the limphor, Zaina knew she¡¯d never forgive herself.

    The rain stopped and the sky darkened as the last refuge of daylight died out. A thin layer of haze obfuscated Demelia¡¯s twin moons and the stars, though the fog had cleared near to the ground. It was unusually dark.

    Zaina decided to use the cover of night to begin their journey to Ryrda. Adjusting her knapsack, she nodded to Kitali and set out. The limphor followed closely, and Zaina massaged her companion¡¯s head as they stepped out of the alleyway.

    A voice came from the other side of the town circle. ¡°You¡¯re heading in the right direction.¡±

    Zaina froze. She turned to face Beni, who was casually holding the black sword in his hand. His eyes glowed with a malice that matched his wicked smile. The voices increased in volume, and her heart skipped a beat.

 Chapter Seven: The Lancer

    ¡°Never bet against a lancer if you value your rebu.¡±

    ¡ªGeneral Drogawth Bastern, Supreme Allied Commander during the last years of the Fifth Heretic War

    Kitali kept up a low growl. Zaina¡¯s hand twitched toward her scrapshot, ready to draw and fire in an instant.

    ¡°Compelled by fate, no doubt,¡± Beni continued. ¡°We¡¯re glad¡ªit makes what we have to do much easier.¡±

    Trying to keep a brave face, she said, ¡°So you did follow me. I was hoping you found someone else to stalk.¡±

    In response, he twirled the black sword between his fingers. She gulped, remembering how fast he¡¯d slaughtered the Ildegor guards and Demelia Defense Forces. There¡¯s not enough time.

    Beni spat, ¡°Why are you making this so difficult, Zaina? Anything you dream of will be yours¡ªwhatever it is you want, the Shining Will can give.¡±

    Zaina glared. ¡°I know for a fact this isn¡¯t what you wanted before all of this. Before that thing showed up, you were a good person!¡±

    His eye twitched. ¡°Beni was an ignorant mortal and couldn¡¯t even fathom what he truly wanted. That was before we were shown the truth of the universe. Come now, Zaina¡ªyou, too, bear the mark. That knowledge is as much yours as it is ours. But you have refused it¡ªwhy?¡±

    A lump formed in Zaina¡¯s throat. He was corrupted beyond recognition. The voices were trying to corrupt her, too. Her hand tightened around the scrapshot¡¯s grip.

    In a low, pleading tone, she said, ¡°It¡¯s not too late to come back, Beni.¡±

    He frowned. ¡°Why would we ever want to go back? Demelia will be gone soon. The power of a thousand worlds is at our fingertips. The Shining Will is the only truth eternal! Can¡¯t you see?¡±

    ¡°And what about Orna? And Eniri? You¡¯re going to leave your wife and daughter behind in all this madness?¡±

    Beni recoiled¡ªfor a brief moment the shadow lifted from his face, revealing pain, sorrow, and horror¡ªbut only a glimpse. Darkness returned, and he chuckled. ¡°You think bringing up organic constructs from the past will prolong this? Flesh and bone are temporary. Power¡ªthis power¡ªis endless.¡±

    ¡°Please,¡± she said. ¡°You aren¡¯t making any sense. I don¡¯t understand why you¡¯re doing this.¡±

    Beni pointed at her. ¡°You were chosen to ascend by the Primortala¡¯s Instrument. Now you must come with us to the Hollow and take your rightful place as the new Prophet of the Shining Will.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s stomach churned. So Beni¡ªand whatever that shadow was¡ªhad plans for her. She wanted to attack him¡ªto rip him apart. She cast a glance toward Kitali. The limphor¡¯s fur was standing on end, and she was still growling at their stalker.

    Zaina grimaced. If I charge, she¡¯ll charge. I can¡¯t¡ªI can¡¯t fight him.

    There was little chance she could make it out of a fight with Beni, much less keep the limphor safe. Even if she did, the bloodlust might overtake her, and she didn¡¯t want to think about that. Instead of risking their lives, Zaina slung her knapsack over her shoulder, turned, and ran north toward Mount Dialemor. Kitali followed, barely able to keep up as Zaina sprinted.

    Beni¡¯s angry shouts were still audible as she and Kitali ran past Ildegor¡¯s outskirts. How she was running so fast was beyond her, but considering how useful the newfound speed was, she didn¡¯t question it. She glanced over her shoulder¡ªBeni was still chasing, and he wasn¡¯t letting up this time.

    Zaina scooped up Kitali; the limphor was much lighter than she remembered as they ran northward through the burnt plains. They were approaching the black meteor¡¯s impact site, from which towering plumes of dark smoke twisted into the sky. The hole was surrounded by tall, sharp stones darker than night, jutting from the ground like gnashing, uneven black teeth.

    Two stationary lights flashed on near the impact site. Was someone there? She wanted to fire off a mapper to confirm, but she¡¯d have to either drop her stick or Kitali¡ªneither of which she was willing to do. With Beni¡¯s shouts growing closer, Zaina pushed forward.

    From behind, Beni spoke in a multitude of dark voices, all coalescing into a single phrase.

    ¡°Cease motion.¡±

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    Zaina¡¯s legs stopped in place. Her entire body froze. Beni¡¯s control wasn¡¯t as powerful as the shadow¡¯s had been, but it was enough to hold her in place.

    No, no, no. Zaina¡¯s mind was a flurry of panic. They were standing next to the jagged black rocks surrounding the impact site. Voices shouted in Zaina¡¯s head from every direction¡ªquieting them sapped her will. Unsure of how much longer she¡¯d be able to resist, she dropped Kitali.

    ¡°Run, girl,¡± she said, straining against Beni¡¯s control. ¡°Run¡ª¡±

    Kitali¡¯s hackles raised, and she growled as Beni approached. Zaina¡¯s heart sank. Same as before, Kitali wasn¡¯t going to leave her behind.

    Towering over the trembling limphor, Beni raised his black sword.

    Zaina screamed, ¡°NO!¡±

    At the last moment, something struck him in the side¡ªcold liquid splashed onto Zaina¡¯s face as Beni crashed against the rocks surrounding the impact site.

    Zaina staggered, suddenly freed, but nothing she just saw made sense. Water?

    She squinted, straining to make out the newcomer amid the darkness.

    An odd, friendly voice pierced the shadow.

    ¡°Hello, friends. Why the fighting?¡± The tall silhouette of a cloaked figure stepped forward, standing beside the ship¡¯s lights.

    Beni growled. ¡°Who are you?¡±

    ¡°As I said¡ªa friend. If you¡¯re inhabitants of this planet, I mean you no harm. But I will not hesitate to defend myself¡ªor others¡ªif I deem it necessary. I¡¯m sure whatever situation you¡¯re arbitrating can be better dealt with via a productive conversation.¡±

    Beni pointed his sword. ¡°If we were you, we¡¯d turn back before you get hurt. You¡¯re dealing with matters beyond your depth. You cannot stand against us.¡±

    The cloaked figure stepped into the ship¡¯s floodlights. ¡°Think I¡¯ll give it a go anyway.¡±

    The newcomer was a humanoid male reptilian with small, horned crests running along his cheekbones, and dark red scaled skin. His face, though human-like, was without an extended nose¡ªtwo slits ran down the center, stopping above a large mouth with scaly lips. His yellow eyes held no malice. A utility belt with plenty of gadgets¡ªbut no guns¡ªwas wrapped around his waist, and he wore a piece of scratched and dented green armor under a gray cloak. The hood was down, revealing his bald head with patterns of short spikes.

    Zaina recognized his species from her time at Ryrda University¡ªhe was a Raolgrian, native to the swamps of Diraxus. But Diraxus was on the other side of the Nova Rim¡ªwhy the hell was its denizen here?

    Who the hell is this guy?

    Beni growled. ¡°We¡¯re so close to what we came here for. Too close to let you interfere!¡±

    The Raolgrian¡¯s lips pursed as he studied Beni. ¡°You bear the mark, do you not? I¡¯m assuming you were native to Demelia before all of this?¡±

    Beni chuckled. ¡°We don¡¯t owe explanations to a corpse.¡±

    With that, Beni leaped forward and tried to bisect the Raolgrian. Even with his heightened speed, he was too slow¡ªthe newcomer dodged the attack with ease. Both fighters were near-blurs¡ªthe Raolgrian twisted, ducked, and jumped to avoid Beni¡¯s black sword as it sang through the air.

    ¡°I can tell,¡± the Raolgrian said as he leaned aside to avoid a thrust, ¡°you aren¡¯t very experienced with that weapon.¡±

    The comment enraged Beni, who roared and slashed. The newcomer sidestepped the attack, then jumped back to dodge the follow-up. The Raolgrian had his hands clasped behind his back as he eluded the black sword¡¯s strokes.

    Zaina¡¯s grip on the walking stick tightened. She had to help¡ªright? The newcomer seemed to have things under control, but he wasn¡¯t fighting back. She took a few short, deep breaths, bouncing as she psyched herself up.

    Beni lunged toward his shifty foe, but his frenzied strokes parted air. With a roar, he tried to cleave the Raolgrian in half; instead, the newcomer leaped over the sword and kicked Beni in the head¡ªthe blow knocked him back twenty feet.

    This was Zaina¡¯s chance. As Beni rose to charge the Raolgrian again, she jumped in and swung with everything she had. With a loud crunch, the walking stick connected with Beni¡¯s side and sent him crashing into the black stones around the pit.

    Beni was struggling to get up when a geyser of water impacted his chest, slamming him back into the rock and cracking it. Zaina glanced toward the newcomer¡ªthe water was streaming from his open-palmed gauntlet at high speed. As soon as he let up, Beni collapsed to one knee.

    Zaina had the walking stick ready to strike in one hand, and her scrapshot drawn in the other. Kitali took her side with her hackles raised. The Raolgrian strode toward Beni, whose eyes darted back and forth between all his enemies.

    In a dark voice, he said, ¡°We thought lancers didn¡¯t like to intervene in our matters.¡±

    The word lancer struck Zaina like a scrap bead to the brain. A lancer? This guy¡¯s a lancer?

    The Raolgrian stopped. ¡°It¡¯s not too late for you, friend. You don¡¯t have to do what it says.¡±

    Instead of giving a reply, Beni leaped high into the air, landing atop a stone surrounding the impact site.

    ¡°We see,¡± he said. ¡°We need more¡ªmore power, and then we can deal with you and your ilk. Yes¡ªwe¡¯ll have what we need soon.¡±

    Beni spread his arms out and fell backward without another word, descending into the pit. Zaina rushed forward with a shout¡ª¡°Beni!¡±¡ªbut it was too late. He was gone. Now she was alone with the Raolgrian. Kitali¡ªwho usually didn¡¯t care for strangers¡ªwalked right up to him and sniffed his legs, her tail swinging back and forth.

    After rubbing the limphor¡¯s head, he turned to Zaina and spread his arms to show her his palms. ¡°You¡¯re safe now. Are you all right?¡±

    Zaina was struck by his words, her entire chest loosening. Safe. For the first time since that meteor appeared, she was safe. But was she all right?

    Her mouth opened to answer in the affirmative, but no sound came out. Everything she¡¯d been burying since that meteor arrived¡ªall the fear, confusion, and exhaustion that she didn¡¯t let herself feel in the moment, couldn¡¯t be put off any longer. The trauma of everything she¡¯d endured swept over her like a wave, hitting her all at once. It was unavoidable¡ªall the horrific events flashed in her mind, refusing to leave her alone until she processed them.

    It was too much. Zaina¡¯s head, crammed with terrible images, grew lighter, like it was floating away. Her insides were churning¡ªshe ejected her guts on the grass, bile stinging the back of her throat as harsh spasms gripped her stomach. Then she collapsed on her side as darkness crept over her.

 Chapter Eight: The Will of Riiva

    ¡°One cannot choose to be a lancer. One must be chosen.¡±

    ¡ªOld lancer proverb

    Zaina¡¯s eyes opened slowly. A lone spark of blurry light caught her attention. She groaned and rubbed her eyes, and when she opened them again the light became a low-burning campfire.

    The Raolgrian was cooking a large skewer of meat; Kitali sat by his side. The newcomer was babbling to the limphor as Zaina sat up. Kitali ran to her and licked her hands and face.

    Zaina smiled weakly and pulled her in for a hug. ¡°Yes, girl, yes¡ªI¡¯m all right.¡±

    ¡°Welcome back to the world of the living,¡± the Raolgrian said with an amused grin.

    Zaina slowly stood and shuffled over to the fire, sitting across from the Raolgrian. Her nose wrinkled after taking in a whiff of the meat¡¯s sour odor. She shuddered and quietly asked, ¡°How long was I out?¡±

    ¡°Not long. An hour at most.¡±

    She nodded. ¡°Um¡ªthank you, by the way. For saving Kitali and me back there. I¡¯m Zaina¡ªZaina Quin.¡±

    Turning the spit on the fire, he said, ¡°My name is Girxorgian of clan Ra-Folgoth, but most call me Gir. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Zaina Quin.¡±

    ¡°And¡ªyou¡¯re a lancer?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Gir stared at her with an odd expression. She absentmindedly touched her cheek.

    ¡°What, do I have something on my face?¡± she asked, then froze. In all the chaos, she¡¯d forgotten the blackened skin around her eye.

    ¡°Yes, you do,¡± he said in a quiet voice, his vocal muscles visibly clicking in his throat. ¡°I think you and I have much to discuss.¡±

    Questions were brimming in Zaina¡¯s brain, waiting to spill out. Finally, some answers. Holding the torrent at bay, she replied, ¡°Okay¡ªyeah. So, where do we start?¡±

    ¡°The first thing we should discuss,¡± Gir said, meeting her gaze, ¡°is how you¡¯re feeling. I¡¯m sure it hasn¡¯t been an easy past few days for you.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± she replied, turning to stare into the fire. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what¡¯s happening. I¡¯m¡ªI¡¯ve changed, somehow, and¡ªand it scares me. I don¡¯t know what happened to my family, and I¡ªI don¡¯t know what to do.¡±

    Gir nodded. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for all you¡¯ve suffered. I can¡¯t imagine what you¡¯re going through.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I can either,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s all a jumbled mess.¡± Her spirit sank. ¡°Did you¡ªdo you know anything about the evacuation?¡±

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    ¡°Yes,¡± he replied. ¡°No casualties on the ships. From what I understand the evacuees are scheduled for resettlement on Demori, in the neighboring star system. It¡¯s similar in climate, ecosystem, and population. They¡¯ll find their new normal in no time.¡±

    Zaina exhaled a sigh of relief. At least her family was far away from all this.

    Gir continued, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking¡ªhow are you even here? I was under the impression that no one was left on the planet¡¯s surface. I did hear there was an incident, but it was assumed there were no survivors.¡±

    Zaina stared at the fire. An incident, he says.

    ¡°So,¡± she said, ¡°my parents think I¡¯m dead.¡±

    The Raolgrian grimly nodded. Zaina¡¯s heart sank thinking of her poor mother and father. They had to be heartbroken¡ªall the more reason for Zaina to reach them.

    A swell of rage coursed through her out of nowhere. It stung at the inside of her skin and heated her blood; the voices, low and buzzing, suggested a variety of methods for killing the lancer. Her body overflowed with energy, making her feel capable of anything.

    She jammed her eyes shut. ¡°Stop!¡±

    The whispering ceased, and the sensation faded. Zaina took a deep breath and met the Raolgrian¡¯s confused gaze. In a concerned tone, he asked, ¡°You all right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡ªsorry. Everything was kind of replaying, is all.¡±

    ¡°Ah. Right. Well, if you¡¯d rather not talk about it¡ª¡±

    ¡°No. No, it¡¯s fine.¡± After taking a moment to gather herself, she said, ¡°That thing¡ªwhatever came here¡ªand Beni, the¡ªwell, you met Beni; they were attacking as the transports were getting ready to leave. I figured I could draw them away from everyone. I guess they were more interested in me than the ships, because it worked.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± he replied, rubbing his chin. ¡°If it¡¯s not a step too far, how did you get away?¡±

    A sigh escaped her lips. ¡°That¡¯s the part I still don¡¯t understand. I remember running into the forest, and Beni followed me, so I kept going until I saw a light in the distance. I went toward it. When I reached it I found...¡± Her voice trailed off as her mind searched for words to describe what she¡¯d encountered. ¡°Something. I don¡¯t know what. It was like a light, but¡ªnot. If that makes sense. And I kind of¡ªI don¡¯t know, I¡ªI fell into it, and then, I woke up.¡±

    Gir leaned back, and one of his scaly, four-clawed hands reached up to stroke his chin. ¡°Most curious¡ªmost curious indeed.¡±

    Annoyed, Zaina demanded, ¡°What?¡±

    In a measured, slow tone, he replied, ¡°The experience you describe sounds like exposure to a Riiva Fragment.¡±

    ¡°Exposure? Am I sick?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± he replied. ¡°Quite the opposite¡ªI¡¯m sure you¡¯re stronger and faster than you¡¯ve ever been.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, how did you know that?¡±

    Gir¡¯s eyes settled on the fire again. ¡°You don¡¯t know much about lancers, do you?¡±

    ¡°Only what I heard from stories,¡± she said. ¡°We always huddle up around the furnace when a cold swell hits, and Mom and Dad tell stories. When I was old enough¡ªand when my brother and sister went to sleep for the night¡ªDad told me stories from the war. According to him, lancers are mystical warriors. He said they can summon swords made of pure light and control the elements. ¡®The strongest warriors in the galaxy,¡¯ he used to call them. I hear pathfinders are stronger, though.¡±

    Gir chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve heard the same.¡±

    ¡°Apparently, my Dad was saved by a lancer twice at the Battle of Hyderon Rim.¡± A question ate at the back of Zaina¡¯s mind, so she asked it. ¡°Do you¡ªdo you know what¡¯s happening here? What¡¯s happening to me?¡±

    ¡°I have some idea, yes,¡± Gir replied, then met her eyes. ¡°We should begin with you. Specifically, your experience with the Riiva Fragment.¡±

    Zaina nodded, but her mind was swirling. ¡°You¡¯ve said that before. What is it?¡±

    The Raolgrian continued, ¡°Riiva is the underpinning of the universe¡ªthe strands of resonant energy that hold everything together. It¡¯s beyond our capacity to understand. It appears throughout the galaxy as patches of woven light¡ªcalled Riiva Fragments. Every lancer, and every scholar, has encountered one of these fragments, from which their abilities manifest. My experience with Riiva was indescribable. Even now I can¡¯t make sense of it. But the gifts that experience gave me have allowed me to serve the commonwealth of the galaxy. And now Riiva has chosen you to bear those gifts.¡±

 Chapter Nine: The Mark of the Recalcitrant

    ¡°Those marked by the Eldritch¡¯s touch forever bear the unholy stigma. Most are bound by its will, seeking only to serve the ceaseless voices permeating their mind. There are those who can resist, but they are still branded as heretics by the Order, shunned by many in the galaxy at large¡ªblind fools, I say, to avoid the whispers of this dark god if they truly wish to know its intent.¡±

    ¡ªVildmar Gildenthrall, former leader of the Condemned, in his personal correspondence to the former Dyarch Ordel Uleriox

    Zaina¡¯s jaw dropped, her heart skipping a beat. Lancers, whose mystical exploits were recounted next to cozy fireplaces across the galaxy, were heroes. Zaina wasn¡¯t a hero. To this point, she was an ordinary person living an ordinary life. Her gaze drifted toward the blackened, broken sky.

    A sigh escaped her lungs. Ready or not, change was coming to her life. Maybe she was meant for more¡ªher chest tightened at the thought. It was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. She turned to Gir and asked, ¡°I could¡ªI could be a lancer like you?¡±

    Gir gave a grim nod. ¡°Be warned, though, it will not be an easy road for you.¡±

    Wondering why he was so somber¡ªwasn¡¯t this good news?¡ªZaina asked, ¡°So, how does it work? Do lancers work for the government, or something?¡±

    ¡°Luckily, no,¡± he replied. ¡°We¡¯re employed by an ancient organization known as the Order of Riiva. The Order is run by scholars, and lancers carry out orders and go on missions to protect the commonwealth of the galaxy.¡±

    Scholars, lancers, Riiva, ancient orders¡ªit was all a bit much. ¡°So, what¡¯s the difference between scholars and lancers, then?¡±

    Gir stared into the fire; a glimmer of sorrow hung in his eyes. ¡°There are tradeoffs for the gifts granted by Riiva. Scholars receive vast knowledge with infinite capacity for learning, incredibly long lifespans, and access to some magick¡ªin exchange, their bodies are broken, forever cut off from the pleasures of life, existing only for knowledge and to serve the commonwealth of the galaxy.¡±

    Zaina sighed in relief¡ªshe was glad not to be a scholar. Still¡ªwhy was Gir so downtrodden? Wasn¡¯t this good news?

    With a grin, she half-joked, ¡°What, does being a lancer come with some crazy side-effect, too?¡±

    A grimace crossed his face.

    ¡°Oh,¡± she said, her smile fading. ¡°What is it?¡±

    Staring back into the fire, Gir said, ¡°Lancers receive great strength, durability, healing, and speed, access to Riiva¡¯s magick, and a weapon known as a cipher. However, the cost is steep¡ªto prevent our newfound power from corrupting us, our lifespans are drastically reduced. Unlike scholars, however, lancers can renounce their gifts entirely, at which point their original lifespan is restored. Otherwise lancers live only ten years past their encounter with Riiva. Many have stayed the course and died young, or, knowing their impending fates, recklessly perished in battle for some semblance of glory.¡±

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    Her eyes fell to the ground. Ten years for the rest of your life.

    Gir continued, ¡°I should also warn you¡ªif you join the Order of Riiva, there are those who will not accept you. It saddens me to say, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°Won¡¯t accept me?¡± she asked. ¡°What¡ªwhy?¡±

    He pointed at her eye. ¡°The mark.¡±

    She frowned and touched her face. ¡°This thing? Do you know what this is?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± he replied, ¡°How much do you know about it?¡±

    ¡°Nothing, except that it won¡¯t wash off¡ªand I think that weird thing that came here gave it to me. Does this have anything to do with¡ªyou know, what¡¯s happening to me?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± he said in a sad tone, ¡°sadly, there is no known way to remove it. That blemish around your eye is known as the Mark of the Recalcitrant¡ªand it complicates everything. Those bearing the mark are branded heretics by the galaxy and face scorn and mistrust wherever they go¡ªwhatever their intentions may be.¡±

    Heretics. She remembered reading something about the Heretic Wars in school. According to the Synatorium, heretics were never to be trusted; they were invaders from the edges of existence far beyond the Nova Rim¡ªmonstrous warriors wielding black magick. Now Zaina was one of them.

    I guess that explains the voices¡ªand that weird feeling I keep getting. But still, I¡¯m not¡ªthat¡¯s not me, right?

    She stared into the fire. ¡°So, because I have this, I won¡¯t be welcome anywhere I go?¡±

    ¡°Forgive me¡ªthe Order will likely accept you into their ranks,¡± he replied. ¡°Most High Scholars don¡¯t believe the Mark of the Recalcitrant should disqualify anyone from joining the Order. There hasn¡¯t been a Heretic War for over a millennium. Of course, though, there are a few holdouts¡ªscholars and lancers who view those bearing the mark as an enemy from an ancient war. I¡¯m afraid the Nova Rim is not kind to heretics. Some planets have banned them outright. It is not an easy path ahead for you, no matter your choice.¡±

    Zaina touched the mark¡ªbecause of this, she was forever an outsider wherever she went. She sighed. How could people think the worst of her for having this? In a low voice, she asked, ¡°Do you¡ªdo you think I¡¯m the enemy?¡±

    His dark eyes widened and his thin mouth dropped open and froze for a moment. Then Gir replied, ¡°No, not at all.¡± With a shrug, he continued, ¡°First, Riiva chose you¡ªthe universe chose you, warts and all, for a reason. That alone is good enough for me. Second, you seem like a nice person.¡±

    Looking down, she asked, ¡°But¡ªdidn¡¯t the other thing choose me, too?¡±

    Gir¡¯s head bobbed back and forth. ¡°Yes, I suppose so. But you haven¡¯t given in. I can¡¯t imagine what it¡¯s like¡ªlight and darkness waging war with your soul as the prize. You¡¯re very brave to keep fighting. I have a friend like you back at the Order¡ªperhaps you¡¯ll meet her one day.¡±

    Zaina nodded. It was a lot to take in. On cue, the voices attacked. The whispers drowned out all other thought. She held her head in her hands and jammed her eyes shut, unable to hold back pained yelps.

    Come to the Hollow, Zaina.

    It is the only way to save Demelia.

    The only way to save yourself.

    Zaina was about to scream when a familiar sound snapped her out of it¡ªKitali¡¯s high-pitched whimpers. She only whined like that when she was afraid. Zaina took a few deep breaths and rubbed the limphor¡¯s chin to console her.

    Was she¡ªafraid of me?

    ¡°Are you all right?¡± Gir asked.

    She vigorously shook her head and took a few deep breaths. ¡°Yeah¡ªyeah. I¡¯m fine. No need to worry.¡±

    In a concerned tone, he asked, ¡°Is it the mark?¡±

    ¡°It flares up sometimes.¡±

    Gir nodded, then shuffled the campfire¡¯s outer kindling to keep the flame strong.

    This stupid mark. It¡¯s all because of this stupid mark.

    There had to be a way to remove it. The mark was related to whatever was attacking the planet¡ªmaybe the key to getting rid of it had something to do with that. ¡°Do you know what¡¯s doing all of this?¡±

    Gir¡¯s eyes turned serious. ¡°This world is under attack by a creature known as the Eldritch.¡±

 Chapter Ten: The Ancient Enemy

    ¡°Were it a different time I would¡¯ve taken your head for the mere utterance of that name.¡±

    ¡ªHigh Priest of Byzon Gralfer Junderwaithe to Brunda Balforam, in reference to the Eldritch

    ¡°The Eldritch?¡±

    The Raolgrian rubbed his chin and said, ¡°Yes. It used to travel from world to world creating heretics, bestowing those it deemed worthy with the mark to bind them to its will. However, the last time it was seen, it attempted to destroy a world called Symerda in similar fashion to what it¡¯s doing here. That was five hundred and thirteen years ago, if memory serves.¡±

    Zaina shuddered, wondering what about her was worthy to that monster. ¡°What the hell is it?¡±

    The Raolgrian gave the spit another turn and said, ¡°No one knows for sure. Most believe it to be a cosmic spirit of some kind¡ªa primordial entity having existed before the beginning of time. It predates the Synatorium, as well as the Order of Riiva.¡±

    Zaina gulped. That didn¡¯t sound good. ¡°What¡ªwhat does it want?¡±

    Gir¡¯s long, sliver-like pupils were focused elsewhere. ¡°We aren¡¯t sure. It hasn¡¯t been seen since the Crisis on Symerda. A High Lancer gave her life to drive the Eldritch back, but its goals were never understood. Her name was High Lancer Ela Artfor, a true hero through and through. As for the Eldritch, many believed it died those five hundred years ago. I did. It seems the Order, and some within the Synatorium, did not, and they stayed vigilant in their defense; now their wisdom has paid off.¡±

    Cautiously optimistic, she asked, ¡°Do you¡ªdo you think if we kill the Eldritch, it¡¯ll get rid of the mark?¡±

    Gir¡¯s head swayed back and forth, and a sharp sigh released from his lungs. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if killing it is even possible. Only two weapons in recorded history have harmed it, both at the Crisis on Symerda five hundred years ago¡ªthe cipher of High Lancer Ela Artfor, and the Origin Warhead.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s stomach sank. Not a comforting answer, but at least it was honest. ¡°But¡ªisn¡¯t that why you¡¯re here? To defeat it?¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± he said, ¡°yes and no. It¡¯s unlikely I¡¯d be successful if I tried to take the Eldritch on directly. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve brought this.¡± He pulled a small, black cube out of his pocket. It had a single, ever-present red light on the side facing Zaina. ¡°This is the Origin Warhead, the weapon that thwarted it five hundred years ago.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Zaina recoiled, stumbling over her thoughts. ¡°A bomb? You have a bomb?¡±

    In a matter-of-fact tone, Gir replied, ¡°The Origin Warhead isn¡¯t a bomb¡ªit¡¯s a terraforming device. It was originally designed to prepare barren worlds for future habitation. But when the Eldritch¡¯s attack caused cataclysmic damage to the atmosphere and climate on Symerda, the warhead was brought along in hopes of stabilizing the environmental catastrophe over the course of a couple millennia. Unfortunately, High Lancer Artfor perished in the blast after fighting off the Eldritch.¡±

    Zaina blurted out, ¡°A¡ªI¡¯m sorry, what? A couple millennia? What¡ªwhy would the Synatorium do that? Why haven¡¯t they¡ªwell, tried something else?¡±

    Gir pulled the meat from the flame and leaned back as it cooled. In a low, clicking voice, he said, ¡°It¡¯s not like they can send a traditional army to fight it. They tried a few thousand years ago¡ªit didn¡¯t end well. The Synatorium has done all it can. They helped the Order develop a galaxy-wide detection system¡ªhence my timely arrival¡ªand they supply the Origin Warhead and assist however they can in planetary evacuations and resettlement.¡±

    ¡°But still¡ªthousands of years?¡±

    Gir gave a knowing nod, his lips pursed in frustration. ¡°The Order and Synatorium are both keen on long-term planning. The Origin Warhead isn¡¯t a miracle worker.¡±

    For a few awkward moments, Zaina was at a loss for words as her mind tried to process everything. After taking a deep breath, she asked, ¡°So¡ªif a High Lancer was able to hurt it before, why didn¡¯t they send some kind of¡ªI don¡¯t know, High Lancer squadron?¡±

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Gir lifted the hunk of meat and offered some to Zaina, but she declined, hardly able to stomach its foul odor. With a shrug, his jaw unhinged, and he dropped the entire chunk of meat into his mouth and swallowed it whole. Then, with a sigh, he leaned forward and said, ¡°The Order¡¯s High Scholars can be a bit too risk-averse. On some level, I get it¡ªthere are only so many lancers, and every mission is a gamble. This one¡¯s an especially bad bet. That¡¯s part of why I volunteered to come alone¡ªperhaps it was to test my skill after nearly a decade, or maybe I want to see how I measure up against some of the legends.¡±

    Zaina sighed, pondering the situation.

    ¡°So,¡± Gir asked, ¡°what would you like to do, Zaina Quin?¡±

    Her mouth opened, and words nearly spilled out. Her first instinct was to say, ¡°I need to get to my family.¡± After all, that was all she ever wanted¡ªa normal life with her family. But the words wouldn¡¯t come out; they were stuck on the tip of her tongue. The thought of her family reminded her of her father and their last conversation. He had asked her the same thing, and she still had no idea. There was less pressure then, but the paralyzing doubt was the same.

    In a defeated tone, she said, ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know. What should I do?¡±

    ¡°I cannot answer that. It is for you to decide,¡± Gir said. ¡°I could take you to the Order, and after your lifespan is restored, see that you¡¯re transported to your family on Demori. There you could try to have a normal life despite the mark. Or, we could go to the Order and see to your induction as a lancer, where you would be trained to harness your power. Or, you could be exactly what you are now: a citizen of the galaxy. You could make a new life for yourself¡ªsomewhere. The mark does complicate your path, but¡ª¡±

    Waving all that aside, she said, ¡°What about the origin thing¡ªwhat about the Eldritch?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of all that. My ship can take you to Kaado immediately.¡±

    She crossed her arms. ¡°And what about you?¡±

    Gir shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve had a good, long career as a lancer; your journey is only beginning.¡±

    Shaking her head, she replied, ¡°No way! I¡¯m not leaving you to die. That thing tried to kill my family. It¡¯s trying to destroy my home, and I¡¯m not running away from it.¡±

    A deep sigh released from Gir. ¡°The Eldritch is extremely dangerous. I¡¯m not sure I can, in good conscience, bring you along.¡±

    ¡°Look, if you¡¯re trying to martyr yourself, tell me,¡± she shot back.

    Gir frowned. ¡°It¡¯s not that.¡±

    ¡°I survived it once, didn¡¯t I?¡± she said, pointing to her eye. ¡°Why can¡¯t I again?¡±

    Gir raised his arm, and a bubble of water slowly emerged from his palm; it hovered over the fire and then fell, extinguishing it with a sharp hiss. ¡°It may not be so simple the second time¡ªthe Eldritch doesn¡¯t give up easily. For now you¡¯re holding it at bay. As you get closer it may become too much to resist. I¡¯d hate to see you corrupted like your former friend.¡±

    Frustrated, Zaina stared at the crimson shimmer coming off the smoldering coals. It seemed like yesterday she was content in a small backwater world, and now¡ªall this? Could she hold off the beckoning darkness within?

    Her hands clenched into fists. Whatever was inside her, it wasn¡¯t her, and she wasn¡¯t ever going to let it win. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving if it means you¡¯ll die. Especially not after you saved my life. I can do this. Plus, you never know¡ªyou might need my help.¡±

    The Raolgrian shook his head and said, ¡°Your heart is set on coming with me, even knowing you may fall prey to the Eldritch¡¯s influence?¡±

    Zaina gave a curt nod. This planet was her home¡ªshe was determined to save it.

    ¡°Very well, then. That is your choice, as a citizen of the galaxy, and I am honor-bound to respect it. I¡¯ll take you with me to investigate and plant the warhead, but if we encounter the Eldritch, I need you to promise me you¡¯ll run.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡± A fire burned in Zaina¡¯s guts. She¡¯d help Gir¡ªas he helped her¡ªand get payback on the Eldritch for ruining her world.

    Gir chuckled and said, ¡°You¡¯re braver than I was. I didn¡¯t want anything to do with any of this when I had my encounter¡ªI was going to renounce after my first day. My mentor stopped me and convinced me to stay. What she said stuck with me: ¡®The slowest death is that of a hero¡¯s heart unfulfilled.¡¯¡±

    Changing the subject, she asked, ¡°So, what¡¯s your plan, then?¡±

    Gir scratched his chin and said, ¡°For now, I think we should sleep. You¡¯ve had a long day. I have more environmental samples to collect, and a few preparations to make for the descent¡ªthe sooner we get down there, the better. I¡¯ll try to answer any questions you have.¡±

    Zaina extended a hand and said, ¡°Thank you, Gir. For everything.¡±

    He smiled and returned the handshake. ¡°No need for that. Saving lives is part of what being a lancer is all about¡ªor at least, it¡¯s supposed to be. All I ask is that you pay it forward when it¡¯s your time.¡±

    She smiled and stood. ¡°Do you have a tent?¡±

    The Raolgrian smiled and curled into a ball. ¡°I¡¯m fine here.¡±

    ¡°It might rain.¡±

    ¡°I like the rain. And I¡¯m a heavy sleeper.¡±

    After shrugging, Zaina set up her tent. Kitali followed her in once it was complete. Rolling out her blanket and un-pressing her foam pillow, she made a decent bed for herself and the limphor. With a yawn and a stretch, Zaina plopped down next to Kitali, already curling up beside the pillow.

    Zaina softly stroked the limphor¡¯s hair. ¡°Goodnight, girl.¡±

    Kitali snuggled closer and groaned to announce her contentment. Zaina pored over her conversation with Gir¡ªshe had answers, sure, but hardly comforting ones. She wanted to help Gir save Demelia, but then what? The option to go home to her family, to live something close to what she¡¯d lived before, was right there: everything she¡¯d ever wanted. It was tantalizing, but¡ªwhat if this had all happened for a reason? What if she was meant for more, and her purpose in life was staring her in the face for the first time?

    Zaina stared up at the tent¡¯s ceiling until she drifted away.

 Chapter Eleven: Into the Depths

    ¡°Ask those accursed fools, holed up in their sky-fortress on Kaado! Why do they not use their magick to wish for the people of the galaxy to be fed, to be protected from the very tyrannical government that oppresses them? Make no mistake¡ªthe Synatorium Allegiant is the enemy of all people it rules, and the Order of Riiva¡¯s scholars are just as much their puppets as the Chidron.¡±

    ¡ªQerys Normitan, the Last Duke of Faldria, in correspondence with his captains during the Faldrian Conquests

    Zaina woke to the wet warmth of Kitali licking her face. Gir was tending to a fire and giving happy clicks as he pulled another roast off the flame. The mid-morning sky was black with streaks of crimson.

    After packing up the tent, Zaina fed Kitali and nibbled on a fruit bar. Gir¡¯s head rocked back and forth as he hummed to himself. Once the chunk of meat was cool enough, he raised it toward Zaina; again she declined, waving her hands and head, but Kitali eagerly tore off a mouthful. After a shrug, Gir consumed it in one bite. Then he patted his stomach and released a deep, satisfied sigh.

    Neither said a word. Gir stared out at the horizon while sipping steaming black liquid from a metal container. A frown clung to Zaina¡¯s face. Is he looking for something? Taking it in? It¡¯s not exactly picturesque.

    Gir shifted his weight forward and rested his hands on his knees. ¡°All right,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s time to meet Gizmo.¡±

    Zaina tilted her head. ¡°Gizmo? Who¡¯s that?¡±

    Gir scowled. In a low voice, he said, ¡°The most annoying glyph in the galaxy, that¡¯s who.¡±

    He pulled a vis-screen up on his wrist and pressed a button¡ªa small, hovering drone popped out of the ship¡¯s cockpit. The glyph was circular with two glowing micro-engines attached to the main body via magnet slides. The outer hull was gray with a single blue light front and center.

    ¡°Hello,¡± a robotic voice chirped from the glyph¡¯s audio emitter. ¡°Hello! Oh, hello! My name is¡ªzzz Giz¡ªzzz¡ªmo. How can I help you today, Giramodo?¡±

    Gir whispered to Zaina, ¡°The damn thing can¡¯t even get my name right, it¡¯s so old.¡±

    ¡°Giz¡ªzzz¡ªmo¡¯s¡ªzzz audio detector didn¡¯t¡ª¡±

    Gir turned and interrupted the glyph, ¡°That¡¯s quite all right, now. Gizmo, I¡¯d like you to meet Zaina.¡±

    Gizmo turned to her and said, ¡°Z¡ªzzz¡ªZaina! I think that¡¯s¡ªzzz a lovely name. Welcome to Demelia!¡±

    She raised a hand and gave a curt wave. ¡°Um¡ªthanks, Gizmo. It¡¯s good to meet you.¡±

    ¡°You too, Z¡ªzzz¡ªZaina! The pleas¡ªzzz¡ªure is¡ªzzz all mine!¡±

    Gir shook his head, then turned to the glyph and said, ¡°Gizmo, please finish collecting the samples.¡±

    The drone emitted a chirp and said, ¡°Anything for you, Giramodo!¡±

    Two small tubes extended from the front of the glyph, and light flashed from their tips. The drone spun around for a few seconds, orienting itself properly before hovering off, singing in a glyph language of whirs and beeps.

    Silence again fell over the camp¡ªGir was staring into the fire. Zaina wondered what he was thinking.

    An idea popped into her head, and she blurted it out. ¡°Why don¡¯t we just drop the warhead into the pit from the ship?¡±

    Gir chuckled. ¡°That was my initial hope. Unfortunately¡ªor rather fortunately, I should say, on account of your survival¡ªeither way, a glancing blow likely won¡¯t be enough to deter the Eldritch. Plus, if we miss or misjudge the chasm¡¯s shape, we risk not kick-starting the planetary regeneration,¡± he said. ¡°There¡¯s no room for error¡ªwe only get one shot at this.¡±

    Crossing her arms, she asked, ¡°Well, where the hell do you need to put it, then?¡±

    ¡°As close to the Eldritch as possible. Preferably inside its Hollow.¡±

    ¡°This whole thing sounds like a crapshoot.¡±

    Gir shrugged again. ¡°Cut the Order a little slack. This is only the second time the Eldritch has ever done this, and we got lucky the first time. We¡¯re still figuring things out.¡±

    ¡°That first time¡ªwith that other High Lancer, right? What was her name again?¡± Zaina snapped her fingers, trying to jolt her memory.

    Gir grinned. ¡°High Lancer Ela Artfor, one of the legendary lancers of old. She fought the Eldritch off with her cipher before detonating the bomb that saved Symerda from total planetary collapse. She stands as the Order¡¯s greatest hero in its ancient war against the Eldritch.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡ªso she isn¡¯t the only one who¡¯s fought it?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± he replied. ¡°Several lancers throughout history have fought it¡ªbefore it started trying to destroy planets, of course¡ªbut oddly enough, their ciphers and magick were largely ineffective against its ethereal flesh. Only High Lancer Artfor and her cipher were able to impede it.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s head tilted. ¡°Why do you think that is?¡±

    ¡°Me, personally¡ªI think it¡¯s because she bore the mark.¡±

    She flinched, but now she was curious. ¡°You mean¡ªlike me?¡±

    Gir nodded and replied, ¡°Yes. The Mark of the Recalcitrant is a connection between the Eldritch and whoever bears it. That makes the afflicted vulnerable to its influence¡ªbut that connection can also become its weakness, one only you and others with the mark can exploit. The scholars have debated the Symerda Crisis for five hundred years with no consensus¡ªbut it seems obvious.¡±

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    As Zaina pondered his words, her eyes drifted over the landscape. Demelia¡¯s desolation was unsettling. The clouds were twisted and black, showering the northern valley in rain, snow, and lightning.

    Whispers capitalized on her unease, invading her mind. The multitude of voices returned in force, all shouting Zaina¡¯s name. They were endless, like ants with human screams crawling on her brain.

    Zaina covered her ears and jammed her eyes shut. ¡°No, no, no¡ªstop!¡±

    The ground trembled and shook, and Zaina stumbled. A yelp escaped her lips as her shoulder slammed against the ground.

    When she opened her eyes, Gir¡¯s hand was there to help her up. ¡°Are you all right, Zaina?¡±

    Taking his hand, she stood up. ¡°Yeah,¡± she said between short, deep breaths. The worst of the voices had passed. Kitali, her tail tucked, cowered and whined by Zaina¡¯s side. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry about me. What the hell was that?¡±

    In a concerned voice, Gir asked, ¡°Seismic aftershock¡ªand it¡¯s bound to get worse. You sure you¡¯re up for this?¡±

    She sat back down. ¡°Of course. I need a moment, but I¡¯m fine.¡±

    Gir sighed and sat across from her. ¡°Mind if I change the subject?¡±

    Zaina waved an okay. Any distraction from the whispers was welcome.

    ¡°If you do join the Order, make sure you get assigned a working glyph. It¡¯s not life or death, but a matter of frustration. Gizmo¡¯s been malfunctioning since my first solo mission on Gorvan.¡±

    Gir¡¯s voice helped soothe her pulsing headache. Shaking her head to rid herself of faint whispers, Zaina replied, ¡°You still haven¡¯t exactly made the case for why I should join the Order.¡±

    Gir shrugged. ¡°Using your gifts to serve the galaxy¡ªit¡¯s the honorable thing to do. And contrary to what mercenaries, politicians, and pirates will tell you, honor still matters in the Nova Rim. Although I was hesitant at first, I haven¡¯t looked back with any regrets. There are people¡ªfamilies, who wouldn¡¯t be alive if not for my actions. I can¡¯t describe how important that is to me. Don¡¯t get the wrong idea, though: it¡¯s not always rewarding or exciting, and the life of a lancer is short¡ªand harsh.¡±

    Zaina contemplated this as Gizmo floated back over. ¡°S¡ªzzz¡ªamples¡ªzzz ready to be shipped back to Kaado, Giramodo. Is¡ªzzz there anything els¡ªzzz¡ªe I can do for you?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Gir said. ¡°Please deploy the descent pod, and grab the spare particle hook-gun.¡±

    ¡°Anything for you, Giramodo!¡± The glyph fluttered off.

    Zaina turned to Gir. ¡°What about Kitali?¡±

    He stared down at the whimpering limphor and said, ¡°It¡¯ll be best if she stays with the ship. Gizmo will make sure she doesn¡¯t wander off.¡±

    Zaina leaned down to comfort Kitali. ¡°Okay, girl¡ªyou stay up here, all right? You¡¯re on guard duty.¡±

    Kitali didn¡¯t understand a word¡ªher big, bright eyes were full of trust and love. Zaina sighed.

    ¡°Stay, girl.¡±

    Kitali¡¯s head tilted, but she listened¡ªfor once.

    The belly of Gir¡¯s ship split open, and a dome-shaped pod lowered¡ªgray on the outside, with barred hyper-glass windows and a single, open door facing them; its underside emitted a bright light-blue glow. Inside was a circle of uncomfortable-looking polysynth chairs, each outfitted with an open restraining rail; at the pod¡¯s center was a black pole with flashing lights and instruments running up and down its side. Gir walked up beside Zaina.

    ¡°Let¡¯s hope for the best,¡± he said.

    She forced a half-grin. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s hope she doesn¡¯t get him into trouble.¡±

    Gir glanced over. ¡°You know how to fly one of those?¡±

    Zaina¡¯s head tilted. ¡°The pod?¡±

    ¡°No, the ship.¡±

    Zaina stared ahead. ¡°Never even been in one.¡±

    Gir nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll show you once we¡¯re clear of Demelia¡¯s atmosphere. It¡¯s pretty easy. Like most things, a little practice will get you good enough¡ªbut mastery is a lifetime endeavor.¡±

    She sighed. The idea of getting into a metal box and flying into space was crazy a few days ago. Now, compared to what they were about to do, it seemed sane.

    The Raolgrian crossed his arms. ¡°Are you sure about this, Zaina? There¡¯s a very good chance it¡¯s a one-way trip. Doors may be opened that can¡¯t be closed.¡±

    She nodded. ¡°Yes. My mind¡¯s made up.¡±

    Gizmo floated over, its magnet-drive holding a strange gun with a circular core. An elongated hook jutted from the barrel. Gir reached into the suspension field and grabbed it.

    ¡°Thank you, Gizmo, perfect timing.¡±

    ¡°Giz¡ªzzz¡ªmo lives¡ªzzz to s¡ªzzz¡ªerve Giramodo!¡±

    Gir raised his hand and said, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s quite all right. Please watch over Kitali. Keep her out of trouble and near the ship.¡± He turned to Zaina and handed her the odd weapon. ¡°Do you know what this is?¡±

    Zaina stared down at it. ¡°Some kind of grappling hook?¡±

    Gir nodded. ¡°Yes, a very special one. It¡¯s a hook-gun powered by a miniature high-energy particle accelerator. I call it a particle hook. We¡¯ll lodge the tracking tips up here in case we need to make a quick escape. If we do¡ªand I hope we don¡¯t¡ªaim the barrel at the tip, and when you pull the trigger it¡¯ll retract at high-speed thanks to a unique entanglement with a particle found only in this tracking tip¡¯s metal. And make sure you secure it to your hand before pulling the trigger¡ªyou don¡¯t want it flying away on you. And don¡¯t use it if you¡¯re stuck to anything, or it could tear your arm off.¡±

    Zaina waved it around. It was light in her hand. ¡°Okay, got it.¡±

    ¡°Be careful with it, now¡ªthere¡¯s a high-energy core in there. If it gets knocked around or heated up too much, it can explode.¡±

    She grasped it with both hands to keep from dropping it. ¡°Are they that dangerous?¡±

    ¡°Not as long as we¡¯re diligent. Remember¡ªsecure, point, shoot.¡±

    Her voice resolute, she replied, ¡°I¡¯ve got it.¡±

    He nodded. ¡°Good. This could very well save your life if things go wrong. We need to be ready in case that happens.¡±

    She stared at her hand, which held life and death. I can do this.

    Gir aimed to the side, and the tracking tip detached. The tip¡¯s end was fitted with a micro-engine¡ªthere was no cord. Zaina fired hers, and it hovered alongside Gir¡¯s as he controlled them via his wrist-screen, lodging them into the black stones encircling the chasm.

    Ready to embark, Zaina stepped through the pod¡¯s threshold. Once Gir was onboard, the door swung closed with a hiss. Kitali¡¯s whines were shut out. The restraining rails closed over Zaina¡¯s lap and chest as soon as she sat down, pressing her back against the chair. She stared down at the ground through a ring of hyper-glass where the floor met the wall. Gir fiddled with the vis-screen on his wrist until the pod¡¯s engine came alive with a vibrant hum.

    The pod shook as it ascended. For an instant, Zaina was weightless¡ªas their vehicle lurched, her stomach turned. Every muscle in her body tensed. Her crushing grip left two handprints on the metal restraining bar. She glanced out the hyper-glass pane lining the floor¡ªKitali was pacing back and forth below, staring at the hovering pod and madly loosing muted yaps. Her eyes were heartbroken¡ªand scared. Gizmo was trying to get her attention to lead the limphor to the ship.

    Zaina hated seeing Kitali so upset. I¡¯ll be back for you¡ªI promise. Wait for me, girl.

    Gir steered with the vis-screen on his wrist, adjusting the engine¡¯s thrust to rise or fall in order to navigate the black stones surrounding the pit. Zaina strained to get a view of the impact site¡ªthe abyssal chasm¡¯s depths unnerved her. The pod rattled as she shifted her weight back into the seat.

    ¡°Not a fan of heights?¡± Gir asked.

    ¡°I just wasn¡¯t expecting¡ªthat. How deep does it go?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know for sure. That¡¯s why we¡¯re using a controlled high-speed descent. When we reach the Hollow, we¡¯ll know. It¡¯s a foul place of the Eldritch¡¯s creation, spawned by using its magick to alter reality.¡±

    Zaina gulped as they pulled over the pit and stopped. It was forty feet in diameter, and pitch black except for a few streaks of sickly green lights swirling down into the planet¡¯s guts.

    ¡°Last thing¡¯s last,¡± Gir said as he grabbed a clear, tube-lined polysynth breathing mask from his utility belt and affixed it to his face. ¡°I¡¯d recommend putting yours on, too. The pod¡¯s sealed, but it¡¯s not airtight. We have no idea what¡¯s in the air down there.¡±

    Zaina took one last deep breath and summoned as much courage as possible. Ready or not, there was no way forward but down. She held the mask to her face and the cold polysynth bands clasped to her cheeks. It was strangely reassuring, filling her with a flush of bravery.

    ¡°All right,¡± he said. ¡°You ready?¡±

    Zaina nodded, her grip tightening on the restraining bar. ¡°Let¡¯s go get Demelia back.¡±

    Gir adjusted the engine¡¯s output and began their descent.

 Chapter Twelve: The Magick of Wishes

    ¡°You call that magick, I call it¡­impressive.¡±

    ¡ªPirate Captain Deangra Hewquest upon surrendering to High Lancer Ela Artfor

    The pod lowered into the planet¡¯s gaping pit. A spiraling stripe of shining green miasma ran down the walls, filling the tunnel with heat and the odor of sulfur¡ªboth of which seeped into their vehicle. Offshoot caverns twisted into darkness.

    Zaina wiped sweat from her forehead. The whispers intensified as they continued deeper beneath the surface. It took all her willpower to ignore the scratching voices. She needed a distraction but was unsure how to breach the subject she wanted to discuss.

    ¡°So,¡± she said.

    ¡°So?¡± Gir asked.

    There was no point in subtlety. She turned toward him and said, ¡°Is there any kind of lancer power you can teach me that¡¯ll help if we¡¯ve got company down there?¡±

    Gir¡¯s head rocked back and forth. ¡°Given the strength of the foes we may encounter and the timeframe we¡¯re dealing with, it¡¯s unlikely.¡±

    Not satisfied, she pressed further. ¡°You said lancers use magick granted to them by Riiva¡ªwhat is it? Is it a power?¡±

    ¡°There are those who view it as a power. I¡¯m not so sure. When you encountered Riiva, it copied some of its¡ªcode, spirit, essence, whatever you want to call it¡ªinto you. By accessing the data written into you, you¡¯ll discover the gifts Riiva has given. Why¡ªhave you decided to become a lancer?¡±

    After flashing a coy smile, she said, ¡°I¡¯m keeping my options open. Yesterday, you said lancers have access to Riiva¡¯s magick. What exactly did you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°In broad terms,¡± Gir replied, ¡°the magick we use runs on the power of wishes.¡±

    Zaina snorted with abrupt laughter. ¡°Wishes? Really?¡±

    Gir raised a hand. ¡°It¡¯s not as simple as it sounds. It¡¯s not a wish in the traditional sense, where you¡¯d be granted riches, fame, or happiness. Riiva won¡¯t respond to any wish. Riiva is the fabric of reality, of creation itself¡ªlancers are granted a small fraction of Riiva¡¯s power to use in specific, predetermined ways: summoning a cipher, controlling certain elements, healing, things like that. For example, I¡±¡ªwith a flick of his wrist, he summoned a small bubble of water, moving it about in midair¡ª¡°specialize in using water magick. I can use some healing magick, too, but water is my forte.¡±

    Zaina stared at the floating water and asked, ¡°What are you wishing for when you do that? How are you making the wish?¡±

    Gir pointed to his chest. ¡°The wish doesn¡¯t take place in one¡¯s mind. It comes from the heart¡ªfrom our connection to Riiva and our desire to act, and its desire to act through us. There are no words to true wishes.¡±

    ¡°But if we¡¯re only allowed to make predetermined wishes¡ªare they really our wishes, or Riiva¡¯s?¡± Zaina asked.

    Gir grinned. ¡°Now that, scholars have debated even longer than the mark¡ªmillennia, even. Though I think it comes down to nomenclature. Riiva acts through us, using us as vessels to shape the universe. We gain access to her essence. Both sides benefit from the exchange.¡±

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    ¡°Does the Eldritch use the same magick?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Gir said, giving a quick shake of his head. ¡°The Eldritch¡¯s magick is ancient and far more sinister¡ªit draws its power from commands, not wishes. Wish magick is at its most powerful when it seeks harmony and balance with creation; command magick seeks dominion over reality itself, trying to bend existence to its will. Our magick comes from within, while theirs must be spoken into existence with words of power.¡±

    Scratching her head, she asked, ¡°Who uses that except for him?¡±

    Gir shifted his weight and replied in a measured tone, ¡°Anyone bearing the Mark of the Recalcitrant can learn the Eldritch¡¯s foul command magick.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s head tilted. ¡°I thought it¡¯s been gone for five hundred years. How can there still be others like me?¡±

    ¡°Not all who bear the mark were given it by the Eldritch,¡± Gir replied, ¡°but those bearing it all draw from its power. Those who have fully given in are functionally immortal¡ªin terms of their bodies, at least. Be warned, though; the further you tap into that power, the greater the risk of its foul essence overtaking your spirit. Before those with gluttonous spirits find what they seek, they themselves are consumed.¡±

    Images of Beni flashed through her mind. He had been consumed¡ªand she didn¡¯t want to end up like that. Zaina¡¯s heart squirmed like it was twisting in her chest. ¡°I don¡¯t think I want anything to do with that thing, anyway.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Gir said. ¡°Sadly, I don¡¯t think I can help you unlock Riiva¡¯s gifts, either.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡ªwhat about my cipher? How do I summon it?¡±

    ¡°That, I cannot teach.¡±

    Crossing her arms, Zaina replied, ¡°What¡ªwhy not? Isn¡¯t there anything else I should know at this point?¡±

    Gir nodded. ¡°Yes, there¡¯s a lot. The most important thing is to trust your instincts. Riiva chose you for a reason, and that reason will reveal itself if you let it¡ªhave a clear mind, a sense of purpose, and Riiva will act through you. And remember, if we encounter the Eldritch, run.¡±

    Zaina nodded, repeating his words like a chant in her mind. Riiva chose me for a reason. Trust your instincts. Have a clear mind and a sense of purpose. And if we encounter that thing¡ªrun. Got it.

    As they descended, the glowing green veins faded; in their stead were hideous, fleshy gashes in the walls, emitting light of a sickly, pale red hue. The engine¡¯s soft blue glow was the only other source of light¡ªotherwise, darkness surrounded them.

    Zaina shifted, her heart pulsing with every lurch and rock of the pod. Dread weighed her shoulders down as she waited in anticipation; the voices were eerily silent. She needed a distraction.

    ¡°What do you think is down there?¡± Zaina asked.

    Gir replied, ¡°The Eldritch and its servants, I¡¯d expect. It can control the dead and enact its will through acolytes bearing his mark. It¡¯s likely one or the other¡ªor both¡ªwill be waiting at the bottom to prevent us from reaching their master.¡±

    Zaina shuddered. The only acolyte she knew of was Beni¡ªthe last person she wanted to see. A dreadful shiver ran up her back. They were following him down here¡ªhe was waiting for them. After shaking her head, she asked, ¡°Why is it doing all this? What does it want from Demelia¡ªfrom me?¡±

    With a shrug, Gir said, ¡°No one really knows. High Lancer Artfor, had she made it offworld, could have provided insight. We know the impact site sinks into the planet, and the Eldritch seems to disrupt the planet¡¯s tectonic and atmospheric systems. Some say it wants to absorb the tremendous release of energy that accompanies a planet breaking apart; others believe this was its plan all along, to destroy worlds one by one until all life is extinguished.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Zaina said, peering out the window. ¡°Any idea how much longer we¡¯ve got? We must be getting close.¡±

    His head swayed back and forth as if working out a math problem. ¡°I can¡¯t say for sure how deep its Hollow lies. At our rate of descent, we would reach the planet¡¯s core in a week.¡±

    Zaina wiped fresh beads of sweat from her forehead. ¡°I don¡¯t remember much from science class,¡± she said, ¡°but the planet¡¯s core is, like, really hot, right? I don¡¯t think this dinky pod will do much all the way down there. Or anywhere close.¡±

    Gir chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we aren¡¯t going anywhere close to the core¡ªthe Eldritch won¡¯t go that far beneath the surface before it stops. Besides, it uses reality-altering magick to create its Hollow. Heat would be the least of our problems.¡±

    Shaking her head, she replied, ¡°That doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡±

    Gir said, ¡°Where we¡¯re going, nothing¡¯s going to make sense.¡±

 Chapter Thirteen: The Vision

    ¡°I have delved deep lately, perhaps too deep; and I see the grand design behind everything. I must go further still for the power I need to maintain my position.¡±

    ¡ªHeretic Highking Jydaxar in a private letter to his lover, Aniasang, 18<sup>th</sup> Queen of Adelbern

    Frustrated, Zaina got back to the point. ¡°So you think we could be in here for a while?¡±

    Gir nodded. ¡°Likely a few hours. Why?¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Zaina said, her voice hopeful, ¡°while we¡¯re stuck in here, I may as well try some magick, right?¡±

    The Raolgrian¡¯s face contorted. After a minute of silence, he gave a resigned sigh. In a serious voice, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve never mentored anyone, so I¡¯m probably going to mess this up. Still, I¡¯ll do my best to guide you. But remember: Riiva chose you for a reason. Always trust yourself.¡±

    Zaina vigorously nodded as the ship trembled and shook.

    He rubbed the back of his head. ¡°Okay. The first key to accessing your magick is connecting with what Riiva wrote into you. It¡¯s not about gaining power¡ªit¡¯s about revealing it within oneself. Unlocking what¡¯s already there, so to speak.¡±

    As her eyebrows wrinkled, she asked, ¡°And what does that mean, exactly¡ªin words normal people can understand?¡±

    Gir paused, his lips slowly descending into a frown. ¡°Riiva¡¯s blessings are complicated to sort out. We only have a short time to serve, and most lancers never reach their true potential. I¡¯m not sure what I could help you access here and now. This place doesn¡¯t exactly have great ambiance for self-discovery.¡±

    She refused to let him off the hook. ¡°You told me to trust my instincts¡ªto have a clear mind and a sense of purpose. That¡¯s a pretty good start, I think. Lancer magick is based on wishes, right? So why can¡¯t I just wish for Riiva to show me what I can do?¡±

    A contemplative expression came over Gir¡¯s face as he leaned back. ¡°That is more or less how it worked for me. When my mentor trained me, she told me to search within myself. Beneath my subconscious¡ªunderlying the core of my existence¡ªI found the strands tying everything together. Tying myself to the universe. And I pulled at them with a basic wish: I wish for my path. It¡¯s worth a shot.¡±

    Raising her hands and waggling her fingers to taunt him, she said, ¡°I thought wishes were too mysterious to be defined by mere mortal words.¡±

    Gir nodded with amusement. ¡°They are, but when you start out, you¡¯ll want to use words. It helps define what you can and can¡¯t do until you get a solid grasp on your personal limitations. Eventually you won¡¯t even have to think about it.¡±

    Impatient to unlock her magick, she nodded and said, ¡°Right. So, do I say it out loud, then?¡±

    ¡°No, not here with me. The strands Riiva wrote into you are buried in the core of your deepest inner world. When you¡¯ve found them, you¡¯ll know, and your heart will know what to do. It¡¯ll be like thinking it, only it¡¯ll feel like you¡¯re saying it out loud¡ªif that makes sense.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s lips pulled into a grimace. It didn¡¯t make a lot of sense. ¡°How long did it take for you to be able to do anything?¡±

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    He scratched his neck and replied, ¡°I was something of a late bloomer, to be honest. It took me two days to find the strands. Most are much faster. Riiva awakens within everyone in unique ways.¡±

    ¡°What about my cipher?¡± she asked. ¡°Can I summon that?¡±

    Gir shook his head. ¡°Again, that I cannot teach.¡±

    ¡°Well, how do you summon yours?¡±

    Gir¡¯s head swayed back and forth as he considered his reply. Then, he said, ¡°The lancer¡¯s weapon is unlike other magick¡ªciphers come from a deeper place. Unlike the water I can manifest from the universe around me by being in harmony with my surroundings, my cipher comes from within¡ªthere has to be harmony of the self. My cipher is a part of me, an extension of me¡ªa manifestation of my spirit. Like filing my soul into a point and holding it in my hand. The wish, the best I can put it, is: I wish my heart was a weapon.¡±

    Confused, Zaina sighed. ¡°You guys are so weird.¡±

    After flashing a half-grin, Gir said, ¡°No one said ancient magick is supposed to be normal.¡±

    She clapped her hands, rubbing them together, and said, ¡°All right, then¡ªso I have to search inside myself. How do I do that?¡±

    Gir shrugged. ¡°Everyone has their own way. Some people are highly attuned to themselves. I suppose it¡¯s like meditation. For me and many others, what worked was closing my eyes and letting go¡ªwhatever my mind conjured, I simply detached and let it drift by, falling into a deeper layer of myself. It took me two days to arrive at the strands. From there it gets easier. Eventually it¡¯ll be instantaneous.¡±

    Zaina nodded. Closing her eyes and letting go sounded easy enough. In a low voice she said, ¡°I¡¯m gonna try it now.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself too hard, and don¡¯t force it. Let it peel back and fade away. It takes time.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡± Zaina closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind. Questions were still floating around, as well as worries and trauma, making it a difficult mess to swim through. Images of her family flashed by, her happiest memories¡ªthings she wanted to cherish, not let fade into the background.

    A twinge of panic struck her heart like a discordant melody. If she let these things go now, would they disappear forever? Was she erasing these happy times forever by detaching from them?

    With a shake of her head, she cast the thought out of her mind. Her eyes drifted toward all the pleasant memories spent with her family. They filled her with warmth until her heart overflowed.

    Zaina took a deep breath and let go of the swirling top layer of her mind. The bubbles of memories, worries, and questions shrank¡ªor was she being pulled back? The distance between them was growing¡ªZaina gasped at the sight of her memories stretched like a tapestry, interwoven with something else¡ª

    Then, it all disappeared at once, revealing a warm, sunny day¡ªher favorite kind. Kitali, her father, mother, and siblings were all there, as were Beni, Two-dye Tohm, and Gir. There were no strands or threads of any kind.

    Weird. This can¡¯t be a memory, though¡­

    ¡°Hey, Zaina!¡± her father said, waving as the others set up a large table by the house. Her mother and younger brother were shuffling back and forth, bringing trays of aromatic, home-cooked food from the kitchen. ¡°Come here, help us get the chairs!¡±

    She jerked toward her family home¡ªthen froze. This wasn¡¯t real. She had to let go. When she did, darkness pulled at the corners of her mind, peeling it back little by little until a layer of endless shadow was revealed. From that darkness, the phantasmal cloak formed and pulsed¡ªechoing laughter emanated from it as she closed her eyes and covered her ears.

    Then, light peeked through her eyelids¡ªshe opened them and looked around, and a relieved sigh escaped her lips. She was back on Demelia with her family, in the mental layer above the darkness.

    ¡°Something wrong, Zaina?¡± her own voice called out from behind. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to stay forever?¡±

    Turning toward it, Zaina yelped and rose to her feet¡ªthe voice was coming from the ethereal shadow. The sky was black and gray, and Demelia was splitting apart.

    A chorus of voices called out as it moved toward her. ¡°Come to us, Zaina.¡±

    Shaking her head, she tried to focus¡ªthis wasn¡¯t real. All she had to do was close her eyes and let go. She jammed her eyelids shut and tried to detach from the chorus of ghastly voices. The world faded, and she opened her eyes and gasped¡ªstanding there was her mirror image. The reflection was dressed in a long, black cloak and carried a black sword in each hand. Her eyes were widened with crazed malice, the irises red with hatred.

    A crooked smile came over her reflection¡¯s face. ¡°Now do you see yourself for what you really are? Your true heart¡ªthe inevitable future?¡±

 Chapter Fourteen: The Hollow

    ¡°These sentient savages look down on us not because of our marks, but because they fear us. Because they know if we work together, we have the power to supplant them entirely. And that is exactly what I intend to do.¡±

    ¡ªSavon, Emperor of the now defunct Marked Empire, in an address to his court

    Zaina gritted her teeth and put her hands up. ¡°That¡¯s not true¡ªyou¡¯re lying! That isn¡¯t me!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re running out of time to do this painlessly. Cease this foolishness, Zaina. Aren¡¯t you tired of running away?¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t my real family,¡± Zaina said, stepping backward. ¡°This isn¡¯t my real home!¡±

    ¡°None of this is real? Is that so? Then how can we¡±¡ªthe reflection surged forward¡ª¡°touch you?¡±

    Unable to speak¡ªfeeling her racing heartbeat and the cold of its breath, Zaina watched in horror as her finger shot forward and touched the mark. Pain surged through her body, as if every blood cell had turned into knives, ripping her apart from the inside.

    The chorus broke out again. ¡°Stay here, Zaina. You¡¯ll never have to worry about anything. No more struggling¡ªno more wondering where you fit in. No more pain. Everyone here will accept you exactly as you are¡ªperfect in every way. You can finally rest easy. Finally stop running. Don¡¯t you want to stay forever?¡±

    As much as Zaina hated to admit it, the thought was tempting. The shadowy cloak rose and enveloped her. The anti-Zaina raised one of the black swords.

    ¡°Take it and claim your true power¡ªyour destiny.¡±

    A gluttonous, bottomless wrath formed in the pit of Zaina¡¯s stomach, and for a second, she wanted to reach out. Within this blade was the power to break entire worlds. To manifest any possibility¡ªdomain over existence itself. All she had to do was take it¡ª

    Zaina glanced at the dreamlike memory of her family. With a vigorous shake of her head, she slapped the anti-Zaina¡¯s hand away and said, ¡°No! My real family is out there, and I¡¯m going to make it to them!¡±

    The anti-Zaina dissipated, turning into shadow and seeping into the ethereal cloak. It tightened its grip to block everything else out, and the dark, scratching whispers returned. Refusing to give up, Zaina struggled against the darkness. At the heart of the shadow was a light¡ªshe reached out for it, somehow knowing it was her only hope of salvation¡ªher fingertip grazed against something solid, grasping at a spark amid the darkness, and her palm wrapped around a bright flash...

    Her eyes opened with a gasp, chest heaving with deep breaths. A relieved sigh brushed over her lips¡ªshe was back in the descent pod with Gir. She checked her hand¡ªnothing.

    His head was tilted, an eyebrow lifted in curiosity. ¡°Did something happen?¡±

    ¡°I saw it,¡± Zaina said. ¡°I saw the Eldritch.¡±

    Concern came over his face. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Trembling, she said in a low voice, ¡°I mean it was there, and I saw it. I¡ªI think it wanted to keep me there, in my mind. It¡ªit looked like me, it talked to me¡­¡±

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    Gir frowned. ¡°It¡¯s trying to interfere. I¡ªI think that¡¯s enough for now. It¡¯s probably still looking for a chance to take control.¡±

    Trying to calm her nerves as tremors of panic worked up and down her arms and legs, Zaina shook her head. ¡°I¡ªI¡¯m sorry, Gir. I don¡¯t¡ªI¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°Hey,¡± he replied, eyes glimmering with sorrow, ¡°listen to me¡ªthe Eldritch is responsible, not you. You have nothing to be sorry for.¡±

    ¡°I know, I know, but I¡ªI¡¯m scared. Scared that it¡¯s going to¡ªthat I¡¯m going to¡ª¡±

    Gir reached over and gently touched her shoulder. ¡°I know.¡±

    She sniffed as her gaze fell to the floor. What does that monster want with me, anyway?

    The question weighed on her mind as they ventured further into Demelia¡¯s bowels, its depths falling past at a rapid, steady pace. Countless disembodied voices took bites out of her focus.

    Zaina¡¯s free hand fell to her father¡¯s scrapshot and detached the rangefinder. After affixing it to her mask, she glanced upward¡ªnot a shred of light. She closed her eyes and hoped they made it in time.

    But even if we do¡ªwhat can I do? I can¡¯t even summon a cipher.

    A dim throbbing in her head worsened as their descent continued. Zaina jammed her eyes shut and rubbed her pulsing temples, curling her knees up to her chest; the voices were vicious, clawing at her brain from within. The chasm¡¯s heat was awful¡ªsweat streamed down her face. How much time passed in this state, Zaina didn¡¯t know.

    Finally, Gir¡¯s voice pierced the chorus of voices, shattering their hold for a moment. ¡°We¡¯re at the threshold.¡±

    Her eyes opened; the outside wasn¡¯t moving. She leaned forward to peer out the floor window, and a wall of pure shadow waited below. Bone-like spikes jutted from the walls like twisted antlers; there was a red glow about them, and veins of spiraling crimson streaks weaved across their surface. Wafts of black vapor rose from the edges of the shadowy platform, barely holding a brightly burning flame in check.

    ¡°What is that?¡± she asked, staring in awe.

    ¡°That,¡± he said, ¡°is the boundary between our reality and that of the Eldritch¡¯s creation. The Hollow lies through the barrier. Things might get weird beyond this point.¡±

    A shudder slowly crawled up Zaina¡¯s spine as she stared at the wall of endless darkness. It was captivating in a way she didn¡¯t like. The voices, though quiet, still called to her, beckoning her.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Gir turned to Zaina and said, ¡°We have to go through now.¡±

    ¡°Wait, what do you¡ªah!¡±

    The floor fell out¡ªthere was another brief sensation of weightlessness, and then intense cold as the pod plunged into shadow. Darkness seeped through the walls as they passed through. The moment it engulfed her head, the voices intensified. She curled up, closed her eyes, and covered her ears to wait out the cold¡ªit wasn¡¯t going away. The icy sensation emanated from within.

    A dark, raspy voice pierced her mind. ¡°You¡¯re finally home, Zaina.¡±

    ¡°Hey,¡± Gir¡¯s voice called out as the pod jolted before coming to a stop. She opened her eyes¡ªhe was right next to her, staring with concern. ¡°We¡¯re through now.¡±

    Gir twisted a lever on the pod¡¯s roof. The door hissed and swung open. Zaina hopped out first, keeping her scrapshot in front of her. She tried to act normal¡ªas if an ancient monster wasn¡¯t in her head.

    The Hollow was a small, flat clearing with four pillars. The ground and walls, made of ancient-looking stone, were cracked and broken; jet-black, horned saplings sprouted from the gashes. Torches lit with cold, dancing flames lined the blackened walls. Twisted, jagged stones with tree-like branches, shifting and swaying, protruded from the wall, pointing inward. Smoke and steam rose from the cracks in the floor, where that same sickly red glow shone through the haze suffusing the room. They were alone.

    On the far wall was a massive tunnel with crude stone steps, leading to a raised platform. Flame-bearing statues hovered atop the stairway¡¯s landing, directly in front of a sealed iron door in the darkened hallows. Zaina shivered, rubbing her arms¡ªsomehow, all the way down here, a cold wind stirred.

    Dark whispers streamed from behind the metal door. Zaina turned to Gir and whispered, ¡°Do you hear that?¡±

    ¡°Hear what?¡± he replied.

    After shaking her head, Zaina gulped. The hairs on her arm stood on end.

    What the hell is this place?

    A familiar voice filled the air, sending icy chills through her blood. ¡°You¡¯ve finally arrived, Zaina.¡±

    Zaina turned and aimed her scrapshot at Beni Gardol, who stood atop the stairwell. One of his eyes was sideways, and above it was a bony, ridge-like growth protruding along his head. His black sword was drawn, eyes bloodshot and lost in malice. Gray scales covered his skin¡ªpatches were peeling off, revealing black sinew and muscle beneath. He spread his arms and said, ¡°Now we can finally begin.¡±

 Chapter Fifteen: Battle in the Hollow

    ¡°Of the oldest and most dangerous forms of magick still practiced today, little is to be said¡ªthe power words of command are given more strength the fewer are said, after all.¡±

    ¡ªFormer High Scholar Trubius Moray, in On Magick, Part III: The Magick of Heretics

    ¡°Beni,¡± Zaina said. ¡°I had a feeling we¡¯d find you down here.¡±

    He chuckled¡ªmultiple voices echoed with every sound he made. His voice was darker and raspier. His physiology was still changing, with a bony crest on his head sprouting short spikes. ¡°And we knew you¡¯d come.¡±

    Zaina took a step forward. Gir glanced toward her.

    In a low voice, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll talk to him.¡± Then she turned to Beni and said, ¡°What are you hoping to get out of this?¡±

    He smiled. ¡°We will witness the rise of the Shining Will¡¯s new prophet. The Altar¡¯s Beacon will bind all who bear the mark, and the Shining Will shall be unsealed, all its faithful united in body and spirit to reclaim existence.¡±

    Zaina shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember who you are? At all?¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter¡ª¡±

    ¡°It does matter,¡± Zaina hollered, taking another step forward. ¡°Your name is Beni Gardol. Your wife¡¯s name is Orna. Your daughter is Eniri. They had the same color hair¡ªyou used to talk about them constantly. Don¡¯t you remember any of that? Don¡¯t you miss it?¡±

    For a moment, a glimpse of humanity returned to his eyes. Beni¡¯s smile faded. ¡°There are things that cannot be undone. It is far too late to stop the Deluge. Now, come¡ª¡±

    ¡°No! It¡¯s never too late to come back,¡± Zaina pleaded. ¡°This isn¡¯t you! None of this makes sense, Beni! There¡¯s no reason for you to be this way!¡±

    Beni sneered. Then, in his normal voice, he said, ¡°I know it¡¯s frightening at first, Zaina, but you have to give in. Once you do¡ªthe power, the rush¡ªthere¡¯s nothing else like it. Once you let it in you¡¯ll understand. Organic constructs, planets, even the Nova Rim itself¡ªall things are temporary. Only the ancients are eternal.¡±

    With growing unease and outrage, Zaina balled her hands into fists and studied the man before her. Beni Gardol¡ªthe friendly mayor of Ildegor who never forgot a name¡ªwas gone.

    Beni¡¯s eyes widened in bewilderment. ¡°Don¡¯t tell us you still plan on opposing the great work? Even with all the knowledge of creation at your fingertips, you still choose to stand against us? The knowledge is yours, Zaina¡ªwhy do you refuse to open your eyes? To imprison yourself to this mortal shackle? There must be a part of yourself crying out.¡±

    She shook her head, averting her gaze. The whole time Beni had been chasing her, a small part of her held out some hope for him. Zaina¡¯s hands clenched into fists, shaking.

    Gir gently touched her shoulder. ¡°He¡¯s lost, Zaina. There¡¯s nothing you can do.¡±

    Her chest tightened. Beni was corrupted beyond salvation. Maybe the same was true for Demelia.

    Zaina touched the mark. What does that mean for me?

    Beni pointed his black sword. The echo in his voice returned as he said, ¡°Well¡ªif we have to do this the hard way, it¡¯s only right to kill the lancer first. Then we can subdue the host.¡±

    All the blood drained from Zaina¡¯s face, and chills danced along her spine. ¡°H¡ªhost? Wh-what¡ª¡±

    Gir stepped in front of Zaina. ¡°You seem confident for someone who barely knows how to hold a sword.¡±

    Beni smiled. ¡°We¡¯ve gained the power we need to defeat you. Why not ask your benefactor for more¡ªsee if Riiva is as generous as the Shining Will?¡±

    The Raolgrian replied, ¡°Come now, friend¡ª¡±

    ¡°We are not your friend!¡± Beni spat. ¡°You are an enemy of the Shining Will! Your Order has opposed the great work for far too long.¡±

    Gir sighed and reached out. A flash of light shone in his palm, stretching in his hand until it was elongated and thin. He grasped it. The light broke apart, revealing a white sword with a deep blue streak running through the middle; there was no guard, and the blade was rectangular, with an arced tip and black edges. He stood ready, cipher raised before him.

    Zaina¡¯s jaw dropped, unable to peel her eyes away¡ªexcept to wistfully glance at her empty hand.

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    With a shake of her head, she snapped out of it. Movement on the walls caught her eye.

    Beni spread his arms. ¡°Did you expect us to fight both of you by ourselves? No¡ªyou were promised a demonstration of the prophet¡¯s power. Here we are: dominion over your mortal coil.¡±

    Human hands in varying states of decay started poking through the walls. Zaina¡¯s stomach lurched and roiled at the sight. She swallowed down the acid climbing her throat as her chest and guts tightened, trying not to vomit.

    The undead were pulling themselves free¡ªtheir flesh tore off as they emerged from the walls, shredding their bodies on the rocky egresses. A solid glob of ancient blood splattered on her shoulder. Zaina whimpered and glanced up¡ªmore were squirming free from above.

    Her fingers trembled as they grasped for the scrapshot with Beni¡¯s laughter echoing in the background.

    He shouted, ¡°You¡¯re finally home, Zaina!¡±

    Gir readied his sword. ¡°I can handle this.¡±

    ¡°But¡ªbut¡ª¡±

    He glanced over his shoulder and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Zaina.¡±

    She stared at the ground with an unblinking gaze. The decision was tearing her apart¡ªshe hadn¡¯t come this far to run away now, but the cold fear circulating through her veins was paralyzing.

    She blinked hard and shook her head. Whatever she chose, it needed to be now. Her grip on the scrapshot¡¯s handle tightened¡ªits weight was familiar in her hand, tethering her back to the present. Every time her father dragged her out for shooting practice had prepared her for this moment. She hadn¡¯t known it at the time, but it was all bringing her here.

    Maybe this is what I was meant to do.

    The floodgates broke. Zaina turned, aimed the scrapshot at a cluster of corpses, and pulled the trigger. One of the spread-tip beads burst out with an ear-splitting pop, and with a secondary crack, it splintered into dozens of tinier munitions.

    The undead flesh squelched as beads shredded their torsos, spilling whatever putrid guts remained. Skulls shattered, raining rotted brain matter on the stone floor as sinews and tendons were ripped apart. The enemies barely slowed, still rising to their feet at the edges of the room.

    With a growl, Zaina grabbed the Explosive peletin and swapped it into her scrapshot, holstering the mappers onto her belt. She aimed for the same cluster, shrieking as she fired off three rounds in a panic¡ªthree pops, then one thunderous burst, and a swell of heat with a bright flash. When she opened her eyes, only blackened bone fragments and chunks of roasted flesh remained. More skeletal hands clawed through the scorched wall.

    She shuddered. How many are there?

    Then, she turned to another cluster¡ªthose with functioning legs were walking toward her. The rest crawled.

    Zaina roared as she peppered the slow-moving corpses with explosive munitions, shattering their bodies and ripping apart their formations. One fell from a pillar above, making her flinch¡ªa flash tore through the air, piercing the corpse before it touched her. Gir, in midair, pinned it to a pillar with his cipher and slashed downward as he fell to the ground, bisecting the corpse from the diaphragm down.

    As he landed, he shouted, ¡°You focus on the lower walls¡ªI¡¯ll handle the stragglers.¡±

    She gave a nod¡ªthat was the second time Gir had saved her. With a click, the mag-hammer loaded two more explosive beads, and Zaina resumed the swathe of destruction.

    Explosive rounds seared waves of undead¡ªcorpses shattered and ripped apart trying to claw free of the walls. Zaina fired beads off haphazardly, shouting in panicked rage with every salvo of deafening booms. Waves of heat and smoke crashed over her as she peppered the walls to thin the horde of undead.

    Gir seemed to be having an easier go of it; his cipher made short work of anyone it touched. Flashing with each impact, it sliced through bone and flesh to render the undead bodies useless. Towers of water rose from the ground, absorbing clusters of undead before condensing and crushing them in midair¡ªbone, decayed tissue, and dried organs rained down with the droplets of cool water whenever a column collapsed.

    Zaina gasped as long, bony fingers wrapped around her ankle. She pointed the scrapshot at the legless undead in panic, then froze.

    Explosive rounds. Right. Breathing a frustrated sigh, she changed her grip on the pistol and slammed the butt into the enemy¡¯s skull, shattering it. The ease with which she ripped through bone was exhilarating¡ªit was effortless. She swelled with the sensation of untapped power and strength.

    Zaina pulled back and glanced around the room. Swarms of corpses were shuffling their way toward Zaina and Gir. One of the pillars caught her eye.

    She ran toward it, embracing her newfound speed. She pulled out her brother¡¯s grappling-hook gun and aimed at the stone pillar¡¯s peak¡ªthe shot was away, and she pulled the trigger to ascend. Then she fired an explosive round into the center of a forming horde. With a flash, a boom, and a rush of heat, bone fragments and strips of rotten flesh flew in every direction.

    Gir had picked up on her strategy and was now winding around the four pillars, allowing the horde of undead to gather en masse as they gave chase. From her vantage point, Zaina was able to pepper their flanks with explosive munitions. The enemies following Gir were packing in tighter and tighter. Zaina¡¯s shots were devastatingly effective; their numbers dwindled rapidly.

    Zaina¡¯s ears rang from the booming explosions, but she kept firing. Gir did his part in thinning out the horde by slashing down their front lines as he led them along. It was a slow and grueling dance, but there wasn¡¯t any better alternative¡ªZaina¡¯s other rounds weren¡¯t going to be nearly as effective against such a large group.

    No more were crawling through the walls. Scorched bones and flesh covered the ground in its entirety¡ªthe smoky odor of charred remains wafted in the cold air. Deep, heaving breaths brought the stench into her nose and mouth.

    Zaina stifled bile pushing up her throat and aimed her next shot, then winced¡ªher head throbbed with pain. Sinister whispers echoed into themselves in the background, growing louder, deeper, and more deranged by the second. The skin around her eye felt like it was detaching from the inside. Agony surged through her when she touched the mark. The voices swirled into an all-consuming noise in her brain. Her lungs seized, refusing to take in air.

    ¡°Zaina?¡± Gir asked. ¡°What¡¯s¡ªare you all right?¡±

    Her vision was blurry, but she made out a black figure darting toward Gir; she reached out, opening her mouth to shout a warning¡ªno sound came out. There was a flash of light, a sizzling, hissing noise, and then¡ªthe sensation of falling, and a distant thud.

 Chapter Sixteen: Servant of Darkness

    ¡°The remaining heretics must be dealt with. The Marked Empire only fell a century ago, and now we¡¯re expected to forget it and move on? I say no, even if the Alliance of Worlds is insisting; and I believe this council would agree with me.¡±

    ¡ªHighlord Jangar Fyrkaj in a speech to the ancient Dragonrider Council on Midliore

    When Zaina¡¯s eyes opened, she was staring at the ceiling. She sat up quickly, grabbing at her aching head. That same odd noise was filling the room in rapid, non-rhythmic succession¡ªher eye caught a flash of light, and her head snapped to find it. Gir¡¯s cipher was crossed with Beni¡¯s black blade. Their swords, too, seemed to be enemies¡ªthe black sword shrieked and hissed while Gir¡¯s cipher vibrated with a resilient hum.

    Zaina was in awe of their battle; the cipher danced to guard attacks from every angle. With every clash, their blades let out bursts of heat and the crackling groans of smoldering sparks.

    Beni growled and snarled with each exchange¡ªhe was keeping up this time.

    How did he get so much faster in one day?

    Their swords crossed, and Beni pushed into the lock, driving Gir backward. The Raolgrian disengaged, parried a wild swing, and jumped back. He was taking deep breaths and clutching at his side¡ªZaina¡¯s eyes widened as green blood seeped from between his fingers. One of Beni¡¯s strikes had wounded him.

    Beni pointed his blade at Gir and spat, ¡°Come then, lancer. Win your glory if you can.¡±

    Gir leaped forward and knocked aside Beni¡¯s thrust, unleashing a slash¡ªit was blocked at the last moment. Even in the heat of battle, there was an earnest calm about Gir; his movements centered around his wrist with his sword out in front of him. Beni exerted more effort, often the aggressor in their exchanges¡ªhis attacks were hackneyed, a series of brutal swings and full-body slashes.

    Zaina struggled to her feet. Clicking the mag-hammer to load a spread-tip bead, she aimed the scrapshot¡ªshe had to help. They were moving fast, with Beni jumping to attack from different angles, getting a lock would be difficult. As their fight rotated, her eyes met with Gir¡¯s for an instant, and there was an understanding between them.

    Gir feinted a strike, then leaped sideways, putting Beni between him and Zaina. He met Beni¡¯s next frontal charge head-on, pushing against the assault, exposing Beni¡¯s back. Zaina exhaled and pulled the trigger. Two pops burst out in rapid succession as the round fired off and split as Gir dashed aside.

    Time seemed to slow as Beni, in multiple, dark voices, said, ¡°Defend us.¡±

    A black pillar jutted from the ground behind him and blocked the beads with a clatter of pings. Zaina winced¡ªthose words, or the way he said them, bothered her mark.

    ¡°Strike her.¡±

    A stinging pain attacked Zaina¡¯s eye, and she collapsed to one knee. The pillar gave an ear-splitting crack as it detached from the ground and launched toward her.

    ¡°No!¡± Gir shouted, reaching out¡ªa stream of water burst from his open palm, whipping around and knocking the pillar off course. Beni took the opportunity to slice off Gir¡¯s outstretched arm at the elbow. The Raolgrian jumped back, grunting in pain as he cauterized the wound with his cipher.

    Without thinking, Zaina rose to her feet. ¡°Gir¡ªno!¡±

    She charged in with a shriek, fist raised, and threw a punch at the back of Beni¡¯s head¡ª

    He turned and caught her hand, then yanked on it to pull her shoulder onto his blade, driving his sword through. His face, plastered with a smug grin, was two inches from hers. Zaina¡¯s jaw dropped as her mouth filled with blood¡ªthe mark flared up at the same time as her injury, jolting her body like a storm of angry needles. Beni freed his sword and she dropped to the hard, cold floor, clutching her wound as she gasped for air.

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    ¡°You¡¯ve been nothing but a pest ever since we became enlightened,¡± Beni said, ¡°but the prophet¡¯s rebirth is happening whether your mortal consciousness wishes it or not. If we must break you, so be it.¡±

    Zaina gasped as he raised the black sword, but the blow never came¡ªwith a mad shout, Gir lunged into Beni shoulder-first. The heretic crashed into one of the pillars, shattering it. The Raolgrian turned and said, ¡°Zaina¡ªgo!¡±

    Beni stood and pointed the black sword. Gir summoned his cipher and waited, his remaining arm casually hanging to the side. For the first time since Zaina had met him, his eyes were serious¡ªlethally so.

    Beni bellowed a maddened war cry and charged. Gir held his blade in front of him¡ªZaina reached out, her mouth opening to shout a warning; it was too late. The lancer sidestepped with a simple parry¡ªa hissing clang and a wet squish rang out as Beni passed by.

    For a moment they were still. Then, with a grunt, Beni¡¯s torso slid from his waist, plopping onto the ground and spilling his putrid insides. His legs fell beside him at an awkward angle.

    Staring off at the distance with his face pressed against the ground, Beni¡¯s eyes turned to disbelief and horror. ¡°No¡ªit can¡¯t be¡ªI had¡ªso much power¡ª¡±

    The cipher disappeared from Gir¡¯s hand. ¡°Power isn¡¯t everything.¡±

    Zaina sadly stared at the man she once knew. No¡ªBeni Gardol, the real Beni Gardol, had died defending Ildegor. This was someone else. The voices were back, a dull, buzzing pool of whispers in the back of her mind.

    ¡°Zaina,¡± Beni said, startling her. ¡°We have been shown the truth of this universe. There is no excuse not to know it¡ªand there¡¯s no path for you except with us.¡± He stretched a shaking hand toward her, and the voices focused into an echoing phrase of power spoken in unison with his darkened voice: ¡°Come to us, Zaina.¡±

    Her foot moved forward. She tried to pull her leg back but wasn¡¯t able to control it. The Hollow peeled away and revealed darkness beneath. She took another step against her will.

    Gir leaped forward¡ªwith a flash, his cipher cleaved through Beni¡¯s arm. Zaina stepped back, able to move freely again. He stabbed Beni through the shoulder, pinning him to the ground.

    ¡°I think you¡¯re done,¡± the Raolgrian said, taking deep breaths.

    Zaina stared at her hand. If only she had been able to summon her cipher, use some magick, anything¡ªshe wanted to do more. Gir had almost died because she couldn¡¯t do anything.

    ¡°More¡ª¡± Beni, trying to crawl forward, ripped his torso on Gir¡¯s cipher. ¡°I need¡ªmore¡ªgive me¡ªmore¡ª¡±

    Gir freed his blade and then stumbled. He averted his gaze from his foe, and Zaina caught a glimmer of sorrow in his eye.

    Beni sprawled out, eyes wide in disbelief. ¡°Why¡ªall I want is to serve¡ªI need more¡ªto serve¡ª¡±

    Gir shook his head. ¡°The Eldritch cares little for those who bear its mark. Those whispers of power are only words, and it can go back on its words if it pleases.¡±

    The chamber shook with a tremor. A dark chuckle came from Beni¡¯s lips. ¡°Lancer¡­ You¡¯ll never understand¡ªbut you, Zaina¡ªyou know better.¡±

    She stepped forward and said, ¡°If you¡¯re still in there¡ªgoodbye, Beni, and I¡¯m sorry. If I ever find Orna and Eniri, I¡¯ll tell them you died defending your home. They¡¯ll never find out what happened here. No one will.¡±

    ¡°Our eyes were opened,¡± he replied. ¡°It¡¯s a pity yours are not.¡±

    An ear-splitting shriek came from the iron door as it peeked open. A rush of wind tore through the chamber, extinguishing every flame¡ªwith writhing flickers, they disappeared, stranding the Hollow in darkness. Beni released a defeated sigh.

    ¡°I guess I was always weak¡ªafter all¡ª¡±

    He closed his eyes. Bright, writhing red flames consumed his body, leaving behind a pile of ash swirling away. Zaina released a deep, heaving sigh, hoping there was some sort of peace awaiting him in the next life.

    A frown crossed her lips. Demelia didn¡¯t deserve any of this. None of us did. But I guess that doesn¡¯t matter.

    The room shook again. Fumes of black smoke filtered through the cracks of the chamber walls. Visibility was low¡ªZaina¡¯s breathing mask was reading at a quarter-charge.

    No good.

    Gir nodded. ¡°Zaina, it¡¯s time to go. For real this time.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Her head snapped toward him. She couldn¡¯t leave now¡ªnot when they were so close.

    ¡°There¡¯s no time! Use the particle hook¡ªget out of¡ª¡±

    They both turned as a foul presence manifested in the chamber.

    Gir pulled the Origin Warhead from his belt. He clicked it, and a row of blue lights sparked to life on the sides of the bomb. It gave a slight hum. ¡°I¡¯ll be right behind you¡ªall right? Now, go.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not leaving you here!¡±

    Gir shook his head. ¡°Zaina, please.¡±

    Moisture pricked her eyes. ¡°But¡ª¡±

    He grabbed her shoulder. ¡°You have to make it out of here. Otherwise, this has all been for nothing. I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d be able to help anyone here. Please.¡±

    She shook her head and blinked tears out of her eyes. Then, she met Gir¡¯s gaze. There was no arguing this.

    With a defeated nod, Zaina turned as Gir approached the cracked iron door. She aimed the particle hook-gun for the exit and turned back toward the lancer. Darkness slithered through the door, gathering at the foot of the stairwell in front of Gir¡ªher heart skipped a beat. Swirling spools of shadow unwound through the doors, coalescing into a single form.

    Zaina stared in horror, trembling as the voices grew louder¡ªshe clutched her ears and stared in disbelief at the phantasmal darkness taking shape in the Hollow.

 Chapter Seventeen: The Eldritch

    ¡°There is no known solution to the Eldritch¡¯s attacks. Conventional weapons have failed. Unconventional weapons have failed, albeit with more flair. Such is my opinion that the High Command ought to consider higher-powered weaponry upon any sighting of the Eldritch¡ªand before High Command asks in its reply, yes, even planetary-surface disrupting devices, and yes, even in highly populated civilian zones. For now its goals seem limited to the kidnapping and brainwashing of individuals, but that¡¯s unlikely to be its endgame. My measures may seem cruel at first glance, but not addressing the Eldritch is gambling with the galaxy itself¡ªand with the power it wields, I don¡¯t like our odds.¡±

    ¡ªAllegiant General Dirus V¡¯lantar, in a memo to JIAHC (Joint Intelligence Allegiant High Command) 1,500 s-years before the Crisis on Symerda

    Zaina stared in horror as Demelia¡¯s visitor took form as if birthing itself in a womb of primordial shadow.

    First there was a flash of light¡ªan orb appeared amid the shadow¡¯s center, dark gray and small enough to fit in Zaina¡¯s palm. The shadows gathered, twisting into shape¡ªthe skull of an ancient monster emerged, an eight-eyed, four-horned monstrosity. Its eyes were pale red, as was its breath. Upon its head a golden crown emerged from shadow and encased the orb. The remaining darkness contorted into an ethereal cloak. A layer of gray fur coated its neck, and a dark hood was lifted over its head as whispers and smoke flowed from its empty, slack-jawed mouth. The skull rose atop the darkness, standing twenty feet tall.

    The voices screamed over each other¡ªwhether they emanated from its mouth or within Zaina, the pain was sudden and crippling. It intensified as time stretched, bending and bowing¡ªthe shrieking voices swirled together into a dark, echoing word.

    ¡°Cease.¡±

    Zaina froze in place, and Gir fell to one knee. The entire room faded into shadow¡ªeverything except for the Eldritch¡¯s skull and crown was blacked out. A humming wave stretched over everything, leaving silence and darkness in its wake. Taking in a deep breath, Zaina was unable to even think.

    The Eldritch¡¯s skull hovered above the ground, moving closer to Zaina. In a raspy, deep voice, it continued, ¡°Poor little human, alone at the end of her world.¡±

    Agonizing pain flared around her eye¡ªthe Mark of the Recalcitrant was like a searing wound burrowing into her head. She loosed a weak yelp and groaned, all she could muster under the Eldritch¡¯s oppressive influence.

    A skeletal hand reached out from the miasmatic cloak of shadows, stretching toward Zaina¡¯s head. Red-hot pain surged through her, as if her blood had turned to fire and was burning her from the inside. Zaina was slipping away, losing herself to the darkness¡ª

    ¡°Is this where you imagined your resistance would bring you?¡±

    Zaina fought, focusing on the light in the distance¡ªwas it the orb on its forehead, or something else? Not knowing or caring, she shut out the surrounding darkness, concentrating on the radiance at the center of everything; beyond the shadow was her momentary reprieve.

    Zaina¡¯s finger twitched as something phased through the Eldritch¡¯s skull¡ªa bubble of water. The shadow blurred, and Zaina¡¯s eyes fell on Gir, who was struggling to stand.

    She reached out and shouted, ¡°Gir¡ªno!¡±

    The creature turned to face him. His entire body was trembling as he stood in defiance of the Eldritch¡¯s magick. Gir¡¯s hand rose. With a flash he summoned his cipher.

    In a weak voice, he said, ¡°Zaina¡ªrun¡ªyou have to¡ªlive¡ª¡±

    ¡°No, Gir¡ªdon¡¯t!¡±

    It was too late¡ªthe High Lancer charged. The Eldritch retracted its hand and hunched over. Once more, its echoing voice issued a phrase of power, and a single word hung over the stilled air of the Hollow.

    ¡°End.¡±

    Gir¡¯s arms and legs flinched as he stopped and fell backward. His feet were turning into dust, and the affliction was spreading. More of him drifted away. Even with his body disintegrating, there was a strange calm about Gir. Zaina watched on in horror, moisture staining her eyes.

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    Without hesitation, he pulled out the Origin Warhead and threw it¡ªthe bomb phased through the Eldritch and landed near Zaina. The particle hook-gun dropped from his utility belt a second before his chest disintegrated.

    As his torso and neck disappeared, he shouted, ¡°It¡¯s up to you now! Riiva chose you for a re¡ª¡±

    With that, the lancer¡¯s head crumbled and was scattered.

    A gasp escaped Zaina¡¯s throat. ¡°Gir¡ªNO!¡±

    Her last ally was gone¡ªnow it was just her and the Eldritch.

    It turned back to her and said, ¡°You are alone, human.¡±

    Tears flowed down her cheeks, but Zaina¡¯s burning heart kept raging. ¡°You¡¯re wrong! And even if I was, I¡¯d still never give in to you!¡±

    With a shout, Zaina summoned a surge of willpower, shattering the Eldritch¡¯s grasp. She reoriented herself as her senses returned. The Eldritch was staring at her, skull tilted as if in amusement.

    There was no time to think¡ªZaina trusted her instincts. She scrambled for the Origin Warhead beeping nearby¡ªthen, rising to her feet, she barely dodged a blast of dark-red energy emanating from the Eldritch¡¯s palm. The attack emitted shrieking, agonized screams and was neither hot nor cold as it whooshed by. She sidestepped the next burst of unholy fire and rolled to avoid another stream of dark magick. Her shoulder cried out in searing pain, but she gritted her teeth and pushed through it.

    Zaina made a mad dash toward the entrance of the next chamber. The door was open just wide enough for her to squeeze through, but the Eldritch¡¯s shadowy cloak was already seeping in.

    Beyond the door¡¯s threshold, Zaina was nearly overtaken by the room she entered¡ªit was strange and twisted, with the stone floors, walls, and ceilings rotating freely, and cracks of multicolored light streaming through the gaps. At the center was the black stone, bigger than her childhood home, only it was cracked open and laid belly-up like a cauldron. Its midsection was broken into a crevice that spewed smoke darker than night. A blazing red light glowed from the heart of the stone, and bubbling red liquid spewed over the top.

    Flat hexagons of different sizes¡ªsome made of shadow, some of light, and some a fusion of both¡ªspun on the far wall, moving in discord against each other. The voices, now emanating from the infernal lights in the stone¡¯s cracked center, were louder than ever.

    The Eldritch manifested behind her. Zaina stumbled, falling toward the stone¡ªshe landed on her stomach, spilling blood from her shoulder onto the ground and ripping a pained shriek from her throat. She stretched out her hand and stared at the Origin Warhead, still ticking away.

    Zaina¡¯s life flashed across her mind in an instant, and amid the chaos and darkness¡ªhaving wandered to a place where mere mortals were never supposed to tread. Memories of pleasant times played in her head. All the sunsets on the roof, all the aromatic family dinners, the warm embraces¡ªfor a second it was all back. Demelia had given her a good life. This was her home, and she never really wanted to leave it. Now she didn¡¯t have to.

    She wiped a tear from her eyes. Looks like I¡¯m not leaving after all. I¡¯m sorry, Mom, Dad, Gir, Kitali.

    Zaina pressed the button on the Origin Warhead. She expected a light, or flames, something¡ªinstead, time stretched as the Eldritch spoke a word of power.

    ¡°Fade.¡±

    The Origin Warhead crumbled in her hands, turning into dust and running through her fingers. Her heart flipped as the voices dug into her soul. She stared at her empty palm in disbelief, now at a loss for anything to fight back. The shadows closed in once more, suspending her in darkness.

    ¡°The Deluge cannot be stopped, Zaina. Now begins the end of all things.¡±

    The Eldritch floated past her, slowly approaching the stone.

    ¡°The Altar¡¯s Beacon will soon be lit¡ªthis world will be torn apart, stripped of its energies and left broken. All who bear the mark will be called to serve. But first we must ascend to a new form. Come, Zaina. Take your place as the Prophet of the Shining Will.¡±

    Zaina took a few deep breaths and then chuckled. In a day brimming with them, she had another bright idea. The Eldritch turned to face her¡ªwith a heaving grunt, Zaina threw her particle hook-gun at its heart. The weapon phased through the creature, but her aim was true¡ªit clattered against the black stone¡¯s open rim and fell into the infernal light.

    Zaina scrambled to her feet and ran. She didn¡¯t want to stick around and find out what would happen. Gir had said it had a high-energy core¡ªthat probably wouldn¡¯t mix well with whatever was in the Eldritch¡¯s cauldron. She sprinted toward the door, barely squeezing through the gap in time to escape a jet stream of howling fire.

    An ear-splitting boom rocked the door¡ªthe chamber cracked from floor to ceiling. Then miniature fractures spread across the walls and released intense, fiery light. What followed was a noise unlike any she¡¯d ever imagined: thousands of intense, echoing shrieks riding a crackling wave of flame. It filled her with sheer, cold terror, nearly freezing her in place as she jumped down the stairwell, landing on shaky ground. The entire Hollow swayed back and forth, and she tumbled and landed on her side, her wound crying out with every impact.

    Quickly fighting to her feet as the chamber¡¯s ceiling started to collapse, she stooped to pick up Gir¡¯s particle hook-gun and made for the descent pod. It had been crushed by a rock.

    Go figure.

    She turned back. The Hollow was about to collapse, or explode, or both; the veins running along the walls were weakening the structure. Thunderous groans and cracks came from the splitting planet.

    Not like there¡¯d be time anyway.

    Zaina strapped the particle hook to her hand and aimed toward the sky. Not quite knowing how the lancer-tech worked, she closed her eyes, hoped for the best, and pulled the trigger as the Eldritch¡¯s Hollow collapsed around her.

 Chapter Eighteen: The Surface

    ¡°You¡¯ll look at your home one day and realize you don¡¯t recognize it anymore.¡±

    ¡ªTonfori Vrintas, Almstedan refugee of the Dexsiman War

    The particle hook retracted at high speed¡ªZaina grunted as it pulled her arm and held on for dear life. The wind rushed by, blasting her eyes with cool air.

    The walls of the pit rushed by¡ªglancing up, there were signs of coming destruction. The planet¡¯s insides were breaking apart. Energy-spewing cracks raced up the chasm, though Zaina had long outpaced them. With a sudden jolt, she collided with the tracker tip. Her bleeding shoulder slammed into the jagged black stone atop the cavern, making her bellow in pain¡ªKitali¡¯s frightened barks rang out from the other side.

    Zaina clung to the particle hook¡¯s grip, trying not to pass out¡ªher eyes blinked open, and she stared down the pit. A crimson light was growing at the bottom, and a continuous, earth-shattering rumble was ascending with it. The walls cracked in a spiral pattern, releasing bursts of bright flame, which coalesced with the all-consuming light.

    Zaina shuddered. Was this what it meant by the end of the world?

    A drop of rain struck her forehead. Black clouds swirled overhead. The only light left was coming from below¡ªand it was coming fast.

    Zaina pulled herself up and over the rock right as a beam of crimson light rocketed into the sky, sending a shockwave of hot, putrid air through the area. She landed on her injured shoulder; after a screeching gasp, she huddled for cover against the stone as red energy shot into the sky and pierced the darkness. Had the particle hook-gun done that, or the Eldritch? Was it dead?

    Horror grasped Zaina¡¯s heart¡ªthe beam of crimson flame illuminated the degradation of her home. The countryside was lowering into the earth, twisting and groaning in its descent; Mount Dialemor had folded in on itself, sinking and crumbling. Corpses roamed freely, pulling themselves from the folds of the land as the world wrenched apart. Ildegor had been swallowed. The same crimson energy coursed through the surface, threatening to burst through. It was a wasteland breaking before her eyes.

    The sky was more horrifying¡ªall the air in Demelia¡¯s atmosphere had been painted black. Swirling, thousand-foot tornados tore at the landscape¡ªsnow, hail, and rain were all falling at once; unnaturally massive bolts of lightning streaked about in the sky, setting fire to anything left on the surface that could burn. Gales of twisting darkness blanketed everything, and deep, ear-splitting cracks came from beyond the clouds.

    Zaina shook her head. There was still a way out¡ªthe ship. The ground beneath Gir¡¯s ship was cracked, but it could probably take off.

    After standing and collecting herself, a rush of voices flooded into Zaina¡¯s head, consuming every thought. She fell to one knee. Then, a fierce growl pierced the haze.

    Kitali was before her, haunches raised and a frightful gleam in her eyes; gnashing voices gushed in and out of Zaina as she raised her hands.

    In a weak voice, she said, ¡°Girl, it¡¯s me.¡±

    The limphor lowered its head, and it growled louder, raspier.

    ¡°Kitali¡ªno. You know me, girl.¡±

    The limphor was shaking and trembling, refusing to take a single step toward her. She tried to stand up, but Kitali snapped at her and cowered.

    ¡°What the hell is wrong with you, girl?¡± Zaina shouted.

    The limphor didn¡¯t look like she was under the monster¡¯s influence¡ªshe was afraid. Maybe she didn¡¯t recognize Zaina. Were the whispers changing her somehow, making her unrecognizable?

    Wincing as the voices tormented her, Zaina reached out her palm. In as calm a voice as she could muster, she said, ¡°It¡¯s all right, girl. It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s me. You know me. And I know you. Remember? I¡¯m your Zaina. You¡¯re Kitali, and I¡¯m your girl.¡±

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    The limphor¡¯s eyes wavered¡ªher tail lowered, and she whined. Zaina beckoned Kitali to come to her, and the creature hung her head and stretched out, taking a few steps until her nose was close enough to Zaina¡¯s hand to take a good sniff. Then, Kitali¡¯s tail wagged. Zaina stood up as the limphor sniffed her legs.

    ¡°Was it the smell, girl?¡± Zaina held Kitali close for a moment, then snapped back to attention. There was no time for this. The planet was collapsing. Facing the pit again, Zaina stared up. The crimson beam was waning. In the sky the storms were intensifying, and searing, all-consuming flame rained down.

    Zaina¡¯s head turned toward a humming noise coming from the ship¡ªit was Gizmo, blissfully unaware of the end of the world.

    ¡°Z¡ªzzz¡ªZaina! Did I get that right?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± she said, turning around to face Kitali. ¡°Get to the ship, girl! Get to the ship!¡±

    Gizmo swooped in beside her. ¡°Where is¡ªzzz Giramodo?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no time! We have to get to the ship!¡±

    ¡°Ex¡ªzzz¡ªcus¡ªzzz¡ªe me, Z¡ªzzz¡ªZaina, but there¡¯s¡ªzzz always¡ªzzz time for our friends¡ªzzz. And Giramodo is¡ªzzz my friend.¡±

    Her shoulders sank, and she averted her gaze. She tried to keep her voice from shaking with little success as she said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Gizmo. I did everything I could, but Gir is¡ªGir¡¯s gone.¡±

    ¡°Gone?¡± Gizmo chirped. ¡°Giramodo is¡ªzzz gone? That can¡¯t be right. He always¡ªzzz s¡ªzzz¡ªtops¡ªzzz by to s¡ªzzz¡ªay goodbye.¡±

    There wasn¡¯t enough time to explain death to the glyph. ¡°I¡¯ll explain later! We have to get to the ship!¡±

    In a cheery voice, Gizmo said, ¡°But Z¡ªzzz¡ªZaina, you do not know how to pilot a shuttlecraft. This¡ªzzz is¡ªzzz what you told Giramodo.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d rather die trying than give up,¡± she muttered. The red beam faded, giving way to a colossal plume of smoke rising from Demelia¡¯s heart. They had to get on the ship five minutes ago.

    ¡°Kitali, come on!¡± Zaina shouted, but it was no use. The limphor¡¯s hackles were on end again¡ªthe hairs all along her back were standing straight up. Zaina had never seen her like this. Weak, whimpering yaps were coming from her friend.

    Dammit, girl, there¡¯s no time.

    Zaina picked Kitali up and shouted back to Gizmo, ¡°Can you open the hatch?¡±

    ¡°I can do that for you!¡± the drone happily replied. With a click, a beep, and a whir, the glyph spun and did a flip in midair, and the starship¡¯s hyper-steel hatch retracted. Zaina shot forward with Kitali in tow as Gizmo surged ahead of them. She was almost there¡ª

    A flash and a thunderous crack erupted nearby as a bolt of lightning struck the ground right next to Zaina, stealing all the breath from her lungs and knocking her over.

    As she blinked, regaining her senses, Kitali whimpered and licked her face. Zaina took heart; at least the limphor wasn¡¯t hurt. Gizmo, giving off sparks and flashes, was buzzing in circles near the ship, apparently not liking the surge in electricity.

    ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Gizmo¡ªhi, I¡¯m Gizmo¡ªhi, I¡¯m Giz¡ªzzz¡ªmo¡ª¡±

    Zaina struggled to her feet and hoisted Kitali over her shoulder. She sprinted to the ship, taking deep breaths to collect herself. It was going to take a lot of luck to get this thing started, much less pilot it out of this hellscape in time.

    Kitali was still as Zaina climbed the ladder to the ship¡¯s hatch. She gently lowered Kitali in¡ªthe ship¡¯s interior had enough room for the limphor to be comfortable.

    For a moment, she wanted to get in, test her luck flying. Her eyes fell over to Gizmo, who was still emitting sparks and uttering nonsense. He was on a direct path for the pit, which spewed out foul black smoke.

    ¡°Gizmo¡ªGizmo!¡± Zaina groaned. Somehow, despite the glyph being an artificial construct, it didn¡¯t feel right leaving it behind here to die. As much as Gir had been annoyed by the thing, he had cared for it in some sense, and she wanted to do right by Gir.

    Zaina turned back to Kitali, who was whimpering in the ship¡¯s hatch, and dropped the knapsack full of supplies. She doubted the limphor could climb the internal ladder, but to be sure, Zaina said in a stern voice, ¡°Stay, girl¡ªI really mean it this time.¡±

    Zaina quickly descended the outside and sprinted after Gizmo as it made for the chasm, still repeating the same gibberish. She ran up to the glyph¡ªit was hot to the touch, but she¡¯d been through worse in the past couple hours. She turned and ran toward the ship with Gizmo in tow.

    The voices bit at the back of her mind, fighting to take control. Zaina winced and stumbled¡ªa wave of pain overcame her, and the glitching glyph spilled from her hands as she fell onto her stomach, aggravating her shoulder and her head.

    Zaina grabbed her shoulder, sat up, and shouted, ¡°Go¡ªgo! I¡¯m right behind you! Gizmo¡ªget back to the ship!¡±

    ¡°Giz¡ªzzz¡ªGiz¡ªzzz¡ªGiz¡ªzzz¡ªmo?¡± the droid repeated in a confused voice. Zaina groaned as agony coursed through her system. There was no time.

    Pointing toward the ship, she growled, ¡°You need to go inside there¡ªokay?¡±

    A happy chirp beeped from the drone. ¡°Anything for you, Giramodo!¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not¡ªah¡ªjust go!¡±

    The glyph hovered toward the ship. Kitali¡¯s frantic yaps were drowned out¡ªthe voices fused together into an awful chorus of clattering echoes. Zaina struggled to her feet, holding her head in one hand as if to keep it from splitting apart. With a groan, she took a staggering step toward the ship¡ªtoward freedom.

    It was too late. A crushing pressure weighed on her chest¡ªa malicious presence manifested behind Zaina. The Eldritch was here.

 Chapter Nineteen: Maw of the Eldritch

    ¡°The weapon of a lancer, and those of the heretics, are unlike any that can be forged by known methods. We¡¯ve tried, with bio-weapons, genetic modification, and synthetic connections, to replicate those properties found in ciphers, only to fail at every turn. Those principles and resources might better be invested in other areas of deficiency across the Allegiant Militarium.¡±

    ¡ªDoctor Phydus Neeran, Head Researcher at JIAHC Facility Syfon-0031, in the abstract of Report 3-i447/E87-Sfn-0031-4

    Zaina turned as glowing, crimson liquid pooled in the chasm, spilling over between the spikes jutting from the ground. Then, a well of energy rose from the depths, and Zaina covered her head¡ªa resounding, howling boom erupted from the pit, leaving wisps of black smoke towering into the sky above.

    Facing the chasm, Zaina was stared down by the Eldritch¡¯s skull¡ªthere was no darkness cloaking it, so she got a glimpse of its true form as it rose above the spiky wall surrounding the pit. Its base seemed to be a large, humanoid skeleton, but everything about it otherwise was wrong¡ªfleshy, bulbous sacks with snapping mouths, their teeth bared, protruded from between its ribcages, and malevolently staring eyes covered its body. Rotting flesh was stuck to its bones in places, and insects and maggots crawled about freely, drinking the black blood that seeped from its joints¡ªthe flash from a streak of lightning illuminated its guts, which consisted of writhing, endless hands, all twisting and fighting, dragging against their skeletal-prison, their fingers spilling through the crevices of the alien¡¯s ribcage and tears in its writhing stomach. The odor was otherworldly¡ªeverything about it was impossible. Zaina nearly threw up, but was too enraptured by the primordial horror before her.

    The dark streams of smoke rising from the chasm swirled around the Eldritch¡¯s skull, forming its phantasmal cloak once more. The shadows twisted with the shining orb of the Eldritch¡¯s crown at their nexus.

    With no weapon to fight, Zaina turned to run toward the ship. Instead, she stumbled, nearly collapsing¡ªthe voices had formed a deafening chorus tearing at her brain. The frantic voices blurred together until a singular, echoing voice harnessed them. The Eldritch uttered another phrase of power.

    ¡°Stop.¡±

    Ancient sounds tore at the sky itself, as if hundreds of small engines overheated at once, then ground to a halt with a metallic screech that grew slower with every repetition.

    Zaina¡¯s body froze again. This time was less absolute¡ªshe was able to move her eyes and take deep breaths, but every muscle was completely locked in place. The Eldritch¡¯s haunting chuckles filled the air as everything faded, replaced by darkness¡ªtotal darkness closing in from every horizon. There was no ground, no sky¡ªonly her and the Eldritch, both draped in shadow. A thick silence hung over everything, blocking out the whispers and even her thoughts¡ªonly dim, blurred whispers pierced through the mental haze. The creature floated slowly toward her.

    ¡°Even now, at the end, you continue to resist.¡±

    The creature¡¯s words pierced the void¡ªZaina kept fighting against its will, determined to defy its influence to the last.

    ¡°Why do you struggle so, human?¡±

    Zaina choked out a response. ¡°I¡¯m¡ªnot¡ªlistening¡ªto you¡ª¡±

    The Eldritch continued its approach. Zaina squirmed and wriggled, trying to break free like she had before, but it was no use. This spell was different¡ªits grasp bent, but never broke. The harder she fought the more her vision was consumed by shadow¡ªit stained the corners of her sight, threatening to take over at a moment¡¯s notice.

    ¡°Resist all you wish, but a greater will compels us. You have been chosen to ascend beyond what any mortal could possibly dream of. Yet, you cling to your old life¡ªyour miserable, frightened, meaningless existence.¡±

    The Eldritch stopped inches from Zaina¡¯s face¡ªshe was unable to look away from the creature¡¯s monstrous visage.

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    She struggled to choke out a response. ¡°It means¡ªsomething¡ªto me¡ª¡±

    Its skeletal hand reached from the darkness. Zaina tried to pull her head away, but its fingers wrapped around her, making contact with her mark. Flaring pain shot from her eye¡ªit was worse than everything she¡¯d suffered in life combined. Every ounce of effort she had left was redirected to trying to stay conscious through the agony.

    ¡°You may have destroyed our altar, but we will create another. The beacon will be lit. This is your future.¡±

    ¡°N¡ªno!¡± she shouted, drawing on all her willpower.

    The creature pulled its hand back into the miasmatic shadow. Another singular word pierced the darkness.

    ¡°Kneel.¡±

    She was powerless against its magick. With a defeated groan, she collapsed to her knees, hanging her head. Pain surged through every inch of her being¡ªher muscles seized and locked in place.

    Zaina¡¯s system overloaded¡ªit was all she could do to stay awake amid the sea of darkness. With weak, choking gasps, she tried to gulp down enough air to stay alive.

    ¡°You are the inheritor of power beyond human comprehension. This ancient body is breaking¡ªour essence requires a new host. Weak as you are, the shattered Codax¡ªthe legacy of the Primortala¡¯s failure¡ªchose you. With your flesh as our vessel, we will cleanse this universe in the last night to make way for the ceaseless dawn. Come, Zaina. Take your place as the Prophet of the Shining Will.¡±

    Zaina tried to move her legs, her arms, anything¡ªher body was unresponsive.

    The Eldritch stooped down. Its hand emerged once more, creeping toward her. Her mind raced with everything she wanted to do¡ªroll aside, slap his hand away, turn and run¡ªas she was forced to watch, unable to fight back. The creature¡¯s cold fingers gently wrapped around her torso and grasped her body, lifting it toward the ancient skull.

    ¡°If you will not give in, you will be consumed. We can wait for the next. Time is our oldest friend. We are the unending servant of the Shining Will¡ªand soon, you will be too, Zaina.¡±

    This was it¡ªthis was how she was going to die. Zaina blinked a few times, making out the skull and its crown amid the darkness. Everything was blurry; the shadows were creeping closer, blinding her. It was too much¡ªdarkness enveloped her, the pain stretching past her body¡¯s limits. The Eldritch¡¯s infinite power, a crushing pressure from inside and out, weighed on her.

    Then, at the heart of the swirling darkness was a light¡ªit was faint, but it bled through the curtain of shadow. In that moment, it didn¡¯t matter¡ªit was there, and it was something to hold on to.

    With all the strength she had left, Zaina stretched her arm out¡ªsearing pain coursed through her body, but she gritted her teeth and fought through it. She reached for the light, straining her fingers closer. It was so far away, still shrouded by darkness, but she refused to relinquish hope so long as the light shone through.

    The Eldritch gave a haunting sigh. Its jaw made a sickening pop and unhinged¡ªthen, the creature¡¯s skull tipped back, revealing the full extent of its mouth. Hands desperately clawed up from its throat to drag Zaina into its bowels, which emitted ghastly shrieks. There were entire galaxies in its putrid, glowing throat, and thousands of frightened eyes stared up from the infernal abyss.

    The light pulled away as its mouth opened, but Zaina kept all her focus on it amid the horror within the Eldritch. She willed herself beyond her limits, refusing to give in to this monster. Zaina¡¯s fingers twitched as they stretched toward the distant gleam, even as shadows wrapped around her arm.

    The Eldritch¡¯s jaw was open wide enough to swallow her whole. The swirling, endless void within the primordial creature came closer. Still struggling to the bitter end, she kept reaching for salvation.

    Just a little more, and I could reach it¡ª¡ªZaina thought¡ªI just need a little more. Now or never¡ªif only¡ªI wish¡ªmy heart was¡ªa¡ª

    The voices exploded into deranged laughter¡ªthe darkness was total. Then something solid formed in Zaina¡¯s reaching hand, and without thinking, she wrapped her fingers around it. With a metallic ring, the light extended from her outstretched hand and coalesced into a sword with a white guard and a glowing green blade¡ªher cipher, there in her grasp.

    The darkness faded, swirling into the orb in the Eldritch¡¯s crown¡ªthe top half was cracked where Zaina¡¯s cipher had formed, manifesting inside the creature¡¯s head and piercing through. It snapped its lower jaw back into place, closing the endless void.

    Everything was back¡ªher mind, her body, the whispers. As she stared at the still-glowing cipher, she wondered if this was the light she¡¯d been reaching for all along.

    It didn¡¯t matter¡ªthe Eldritch¡¯s magick was interrupted, and now was her only chance. She was still in its grasp.

    Its voice, calm and menacing as ever, echoed through her body. ¡°Come now, Zaina. Do you truly believe¡ª¡±

    Putting her second hand on the cipher, she gave a raspy shriek and plunged it downward, driving it through the Eldritch¡¯s orb with a vicious slash¡ªit split in two. The creature¡¯s skull imploded, turning into ash and scattering. As its foul body was torn apart, the sound of a thousand screeching strings and an unholy cacophony of suffering, horrified screams burst out and fused into the air, then faded into nothing¡ªthe horrific contours burrowed into her ears to stay indefinitely. The shadowy cloak broke apart, shredded by the light of Zaina¡¯s cipher, and joined its master in oblivion.

 Chapter Twenty: The End of the World

    "It¡¯s not fair.¡±

    ¡°It never is. And still, we persist.¡±

    ¡ªFamed explorers Chokam (former) and Bya (latter) after their ship was stolen by pirates

    Zaina tumbled to the ground, slamming onto her stomach and chest. Pain surged through her shoulder, and a shriek escaped her lips. Taking deep breaths, she stared up at the shattered sky. Then, sitting up, she searched for her enemy¡ªwas it gone?

    As if to answer, two perfect halves of the glowing orb, their lights extinguished, fell to the ground. The Eldritch¡¯s empty crown clinked against the dirt a second later. The golden crown turned into dust, fading on the howling winds of Demelia, but the orb halves remained. Without thinking, she reached forward and scooped them up.

    Zaina¡¯s eye fell to the blade in her hand¡ªit had black wrapping around the handle that felt like leather, and it was the perfect size for all her fingers, with indentation along the handle perfectly matching her grip; the cipher¡¯s guard and pommel were pure white. The blade seemed to be made of a thin layer of bright-green energy. It was simple, but beautiful¡ªher heart manifest.

    A crack of thunder snapped her out of her reverie. Rolling over, Zaina stared in horror at the destruction of Demelia. Objects floated into the sky, and her mask indicated zero breathable air¡ªthe atmosphere had broken.

    With a gasp, Zaina forgot her aches and pains¡ªa single word raced in her mind.

    Kitali.

    The cipher disappeared with a wisp. Zaina¡¯s head turned toward the ship. The hatch was closed, thankfully, and Gizmo was darting about inside as Kitali yapped at the glyph and chased it.

    Zaina tried to take a step toward the transport, but her feet were lifting off¡ªshe cursed as her toes left the ground. The air was freezing, and frost began forming on her breathing mask.

    Thinking fast, Zaina pulled out the particle hook-gun and aimed for the ship¡ªthe tracker tip shot forth and attached to the side of the hull. With a squeeze of the trigger, Zaina slammed into the ship¡¯s metal exterior. She growled as fresh pain jolted through her shoulder.

    Coughing as she fought to regain her breath, Zaina took hold of grooves in the paneling, crawling to the hatch. She banged on the outside, and Gizmo cracked the opening.

    ¡°Hello, Z¡ªzzz¡ªZaina! Your little friend here didn¡¯t like the change in environment, s¡ªzzz¡ªo I s¡ªzzz¡ªtarted the ship to protect them.¡±

    ¡°Let me in,¡± she said. The hatch opened just enough for her to enter, and Zaina spilled in, hurriedly scrambling down the interior ladder. The hatch closed.

    Zaina popped her mask off, grateful for the breathable air inside. With a sigh, she collapsed while Kitali showered her in licks and kisses, whimpering happily as her tail wagged harder than ever.

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    The limphor pressed up against her, making Zaina grunt in pain as she wrapped her arms around her furry friend. ¡°Hey, girl,¡± she said, straining her neck to avoid the onslaught of kisses. ¡°Hey, now¡ªcome on, girl. It¡¯s all right. Shh, shh, shh¡ªit¡¯s all right.¡±

    Once Kitali had calmed down, Zaina turned to Gizmo, who was happily chirping nearby. ¡°Thank you, Gizmo. At least this way¡ªat least now she won¡¯t be alone.¡±

    The glyph chirped. ¡°Of cours¡ªzzz¡ªe! I live to s¡ªzzz¡ªerve.¡±

    Zaina curled up with Kitali. If there was ever a time to make her escape, it was now, but she didn¡¯t have it in her. Not only was she exhausted and in agonizing pain after her fight against the Eldritch, but she didn¡¯t know how to fly a ship¡ªglancing over at the complex control panel, she doubted she¡¯d be able to learn in time. Last time she saw Demelia¡¯s surface, it was breaking apart at the seams. It wouldn¡¯t be long now before the Deluge swallowed them all.

    An odd sense of comfort filled Zaina as the limphor, whimpering, pressed closer and closer. Zaina had failed to save her homeworld from the Eldritch, but it would die here with them. Besides, she had the fuzzy warmth of Kitali to ease her spirit in their final moments. It wasn¡¯t much to go with as far as optimism went, but it was better than nothing¡ªbetter than being at the end of the world alone.

    Gizmo spun around. ¡°Z¡ªzzz¡ªZaina¡ªatmos¡ªzzz¡ªpheric conditions¡ªzzz, are deteriorating rather quickly, much fas¡ªzzz¡ªter than Giramodo predicted. Would you like to begin the flight s¡ªzzz¡ªequence¡ªzzz¡ªe? It would probably be good to evacuate this¡ªzzz planet.¡±

    Zaina gave a resigned chuckle. It was either that or crying. ¡°I told you, Gizmo. I don¡¯t know how to fly the ship. This is it.¡±

    The glyph gave a happy series of beeps. ¡°I know, Z¡ªzzz¡ªZaina! I am capable of performing all duties¡ªzzz as automatic pilot of this¡ªzzz ship remotely. If Giramodo really is¡ªzzz not coming back, it would be prudent to leave as¡ªzzz s¡ªzzz¡ªoon as poss¡ªzzzz¡ªibble. He s¡ªzzz¡ªaid s¡ªzzz¡ªo hims¡ªzzz¡ªelf¡ªget Z¡ªzzz¡ªZaina offworld at all cos¡ªzzz¡ªts¡ªzzz. If we do not leave s¡ªzzz¡ªoon, your c¡ªzzz¡ªircuit board might overheat!¡±

    Zaina¡¯s head swiveled toward him. ¡°What? Automatic pilot¡ªyou?¡±

    Before the glyph was able to answer her frantic line of questioning, Zaina shot forward and continued, ¡°Yeah¡ªuh, yes! Gizmo! Get us out of here! Hurry!¡±

    With a few happy beeps, Gizmo replied, ¡°Uplinking to the piloting s¡ªzzz¡ªys¡ªzzz¡ªtems¡ªzzz. Online! Where would you like to go, Z¡ªzzz¡ªZaina?¡±

    As Kitali yapped in the background, Zaina struggled to her feet and leaned against the ladder. ¡°For right now, let¡¯s just get offworld. Get clear of Demelia and whatever¡¯s happening here, full speed.¡±

    ¡°Can do!¡± Gizmo calmly hovered in place, and the ship¡¯s engines roared to life. The floor rocked and tilted, and Zaina felt her stomach rising¡ªlaughing madly, she realized this was the first time she¡¯d ever been inside a starship, the first time she¡¯d ever flown, and it was going to be the first time she ever left Demelia.

    All it took was the end of the world.

    She stumbled about in the cabin before sitting in one of the chairs lining the opposite wall. Kitali jumped into the seat next to her, and Zaina hugged the limphor tight, not knowing what to expect. The outside was visible through a bay of streaking panes of hyper-glass near the front¡ªeverything else was shown on vis-screens, picking up feeds of data from sensors outside.

    As Zaina stared down at Demelia for the last time, her homeworld broke apart. It shattered into several massive chunks of smoldering rock. Her gaze moved toward the upper windows.

    The stars, the same ones that always seemed so out of reach from the surface, were pulling closer. With a thundering crack, the ship accelerated away from the crumbling planet.

    Gizmo chirped and beeped. ¡°We are now in outer s¡ªzzz¡ªpace! Where would you like to go, Z¡ªzzz¡ªZaina?¡±

    Taking a deep breath, Zaina leaned her head back against the seat, allowing herself to rest. Tears stung at her eyes. In four days her life had changed so much¡ªshe wished Gir was still here.

    I¡¯ll find a way to honor you, she thought.

    There was no way to take stock of everything that had happened to her¡ªZaina¡¯s mind was wracking itself attempting to sort out and process what she¡¯d been through. But, through it all, she¡¯d survived¡ªshe was here, and the galaxy was waiting for her.

    In a resolute voice, she said, ¡°Set course for Demori.¡±

 Chapter Twenty-One: A Galaxy of Beginnings

    Chapter 21: A Galaxy of Beginnings

    ¡°The Nova Rim, blessed as it was by the Primortala¡ªtheir Worlds of the Garden and Harvest, and their Automatons all allowing for civilization at an unthinkable scale¡ªis a place of endless reinvention, of second chances. There is no far corner of the universe in a space so vast, so densely populated with life. The unity of our Synatorium is a shining bridge across which anyone can forge a new path.¡±

    ¡ªChidron Remil Fordran of Hygaria, in a speech shortly after the Hygarian Civil War

    The sun was setting over Demori. Zaina watched from behind a tall, needle-leafed tree as her father directed Deril and Elanta in chopping wood for their new house. He was firm, but patient¡ªexactly as he¡¯d been with Zaina around Deril¡¯s age.

    Her mother had Dessa tightly swaddled in a soft blue blanket and rocked her back and forth; she sat next to their tent and provisional stockpile. The plot of land was a perfect little slice of heaven. It was greener than Demelia, with dozens of colorful flowers in bloom across the landscape. Everything gently swayed in the wind as the sun shone down, suffusing the world with its warmth. A smile crept across Zaina¡¯s face as she took it all in.

    It had been three days since she¡¯d escaped Demelia¡ªshe¡¯d arrived at a skyport and then had to trade her particle hook-gun for transport to the planet¡¯s surface. They dropped her on the other side of the forest and gave a rendezvous point and a time.

    Having hiked through the woods with Kitali for the last of the trip, Zaina realized there wasn¡¯t much time left if she was going to make it back. Staring out at the picturesque landscape, at the image of her family all together and somewhat happy again, she was struck by the sensation of longing for home. She wanted to stay. To go back to her old life, even if for only a day.

    But if I do, she thought, I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll ever leave again.

    With a sigh, her shoulders slumped. Even if she wanted to settle down and be with her family, there were things about her now that needed to be sorted out. The Mark of the Recalcitrant was still there, and the whispers, while quiet, were still mumbling and buzzing under the surface.

    Not only that, but in her short time of knowing one, Zaina thought she had a good understanding of what a lancer was, what they were supposed to be¡ªand she was curious. Maybe she found her purpose in life after all.

    Zaina leaned down next to Kitali, who was excitedly wagging her tail. Now came the moment she¡¯d been dreading.

    Trying to keep her voice from shaking, she said in a low tone, ¡°All right, girl. There¡¯s your home¡ªgo on, now.¡±

    Kitali¡¯s head tilted.

    Zaina rubbed the limphor¡¯s head. After everything they¡¯d been through, she didn¡¯t want to leave Kitali behind. But, Deril, Elanta, and Dessa would love to have her back, and Kitali had earned some rest after everything. She belonged here with her family.

    Zaina sighed as she ran her fingers through Kitali¡¯s soft fur.

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    ¡°Hey, now,¡± Zaina said, wiping tears out of her eyes. ¡°Hey, now¡ªwe¡¯re going to see each other again, girl. I¡¯ll be back someday, all right?¡±

    Kitali whined, not quite understanding.

    Zaina forced a smile and pulled out a small, sealed pouch containing a complete meal for the limphor¡ªimmediately, Kitali¡¯s eyes became glassy.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been so good, girl,¡± Zaina said. ¡°One last thing¡ªgo get it!¡±

    Before she could change her mind, Zaina threw the pouch toward her family¡¯s plot of land¡ªit landed far enough away that no one noticed. Kitali rushed from the treeline, racing for the food¡ªthen, she stopped, and her tail wagged as her eyes fell on her people. The limphor turned back toward Zaina, who ushered her forward. After a whine, Kitali turned and sprinted toward her family, who shouted and cheered in excited surprise.

    Kitali, surrounded by her family, sat and turned back, as if waiting for Zaina to join them. Her father, following the limphor¡¯s line of sight, glanced toward Zaina. His expression was equal parts relief and joyous disbelief. They locked eyes¡ªboth crying¡ªand her father smiled and nodded. She half-smiled before walking back into the treeline, heading toward her new life.

    Jogging back to the recall point, Zaina set aside her feelings. Her family was safe, and that was all that mattered. Demelia was gone, but its people were saved. Her heart ached for Beni¡¯s family, but she was sure the refugees from Ildegor would take care of each other.

    The sun arced in its descent. Zaina broke into a sprint, not wanting to miss her ride back to the skyport. With her newfound speed she darted past trees, deftly maneuvering as the forest flew by.

    Finally, she arrived at the rendezvous point on the other side of the woods. She¡¯d made it in time¡ªa line of people stood before a ramp that extended from the side hatch of a large transport. The ship hovered in the air, its gently-humming blue engines flattening the grass below in two overlapping circles. Zaina stepped behind a small green gentleman and his four-armed blue companion, who shot her a dirty look and whispered to the other. They both stepped forward, staying as far from her as the line allowed.

    Despite her newfound vigor, she drew the hood of her cloak up, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention to the mark. Gir had warned her that some people would judge her for bearing it, thinking her a monster at first glance. At that moment it mattered little to Zaina¡ªthe Nova Rim was waiting for her, and she didn¡¯t know what it held.

    Before long they were away, back to the massive, hovering metal complex in the sky above Demori. The exterior was riddled with egress points from which ships of all shapes and sizes freely came and went, and the underside, supported by a structure of engines, emitted a light-blue glow. The transport landed in minutes.

    Making her way back to Gir¡¯s transport, Zaina marveled at the people around her¡ªshe¡¯d never seen so many different species in one place. Some had translucent skin, others had tentacles or shells, or claws¡ªit was like a Peoples of the Synatorium textbook come to life.

    As her faded, whispering voice swirled in the depths of her mind, she thought: I have to stay vigilant. That part of me isn¡¯t gone¡ªwhich means neither is the Eldritch.

    A shudder crawled up her shoulders and neck. If it ever returned, she didn¡¯t know if she could resist it again.

    She shook the thoughts from her head. I need answers.

    With her head down, she made her way back to Gir¡¯s ship; the dirt, grime, and char marks had been polished off. There was no one in sight to pay, and she had no money for anyone, anyway. Zaina pulled a lever next to the hatch and climbed into the ship.

    Still not stoked about the idea of flying in a metal deathtrap.

    She sat in the pilot¡¯s seat but kept her hands off, still deciphering what every vis-screen did and what the readings meant. Gizmo chirped and swooped over, hovering next to her face.

    ¡°Hello, Z¡ªzzz¡ªZaina. How can I help you today?¡±

    ¡°Hey, Gizmo. We¡¯re setting out.¡±

    Giving a curious beep, the glyph asked, ¡°Oh, okay! Did you take care of everything you needed to?¡±

    Zaina smiled warmly and lowered her hood. She did¡ªKitali was home, and she¡¯d seen her family. There was a new life for them here¡ªand for now, Zaina couldn¡¯t be a part of it.

    After all, there was a huge galaxy out there waiting for her.

    ¡°Where to, Z¡ªzzz¡ªZaina?¡± Gizmo chirped.

    Sure of her course, Zaina leaned back in the pilot¡¯s seat. In a calm, confident voice, she said, ¡°Take me to the Order of Riiva.¡±

 Chapter Twenty-Two: Waylaid

    ¡°They¡¯ll hang you, too, once there¡¯s none of us left.¡±

    ¡ªThe Pirate Lord Almus Almazar¡¯s final words, spoken to the mercenary captain Dras Andaga

    The empty darkness of space drifted by. Zaina Quin stared through a hyper-glass pane and watched the stars; they lazily floated past, each seeming to take longer in meandering across the window of her fallen friend¡¯s ship.

    I thought this trip was supposed to be quick.

    A sharp, frustrated sigh escaped her nostrils. Her eyes fell to her hands. Dirt, blood, and sweat had built up everywhere after her last adventure on Demelia¡ªbeneath her cuticles, on almost every inch of her dark brown skin and all her clothing. She couldn¡¯t help wrinkling her nose whenever she got a whiff of the odor emanating from beneath her arms.

    Her eye caught her blurred reflection in one of the ship¡¯s sensor panels; her violet eyes, her long, thick black hair, and thin face were all the same. The blackened skin around her eye, the Mark of the Recalcitrant¡ªthe curse laid upon her by the Eldritch¡ªfilled her with dread. It had stopped hurting once the Eldritch was destroyed, and the whispers that plagued her mind were barely a dull buzzing in the back of her head now; but it was still there, and that worried her. Gir, the lancer who sacrificed his life for her, had warned her the galaxy wasn¡¯t terribly accepting of those bearing the Mark.

    It had been two days since Zaina and Gizmo departed from the wreckage of Demelia, her homeworld; in that time, she¡¯d barely slept¡ªthe floor of Gir¡¯s ship was very uncomfortable¡ªand she hadn¡¯t showered or changed her clothes. There was no point in the latter until she scrubbed all the grime off herself.

    The shoulder wound she¡¯d sustained fighting Beni throbbed. It was getting better, but she still didn¡¯t have much use of the arm. She tried moving it every so often, but the jolts of pain took their toll.

    She turned to Gizmo, who was in low-power mode while piloting the ship. When it wasn¡¯t jerking around in the air and short-circuiting every time it tried to say something, the little glyph was actually kind of cute. As bored as Zaina was, she decided to let it sleep for as long as possible.

    Not like he¡¯s a master conversationalist anyway.

    Buttons on the cockpit¡¯s dashboard flashed to life, flickering on and off. A sensor above Zaina emitted a high-pitched beep while flooding the ship¡¯s interior with intermittent yellow light. There were too many buttons, knobs, vis-screens displaying readouts¡ªit was all too much for Zaina.

    This looks way too complicated. I wonder what it all means.

    Her thoughts were interrupted by an odd whirring noise. ¡°Zzzzzrrrrrppppttttt¡ªlow¡ªpower mode deactivated. Hello, Z¡ªZzz¡ªZaina!¡±

    ¡°Hey, Gizmo. How¡¯d you sleep?¡±

    ¡°Power res¡ªzzz¡ªerves¡ªzzz low. Alert level: high. S¡ªzzz¡ªtrap in, Z¡ªZzz¡ªZaina. We may have encountered friends¡ªzzz.¡±

    She blinked, then swiveled toward the flashing displays on the monitor. The biggest screen had big words colored red and surrounded by a black border, reading: Proximity Alert: Unregistered Ship.

    Zaina¡¯s stomach sank as her heartbeat went wild. Oh. That¡¯s what it meant.

    ¡°Gizmo,¡± she said, trying to sound calm, ¡°what does ¡®Unregistered Ship¡¯ mean?¡±

    ¡°All s¡ªzzz¡ªpace-rated craft mus¡ªzzz¡ªt be regis¡ªzzz¡ªtered with the proper intergalactic authorities¡ªzzz. Failure to do s¡ªzzz¡ªo can res¡ªzzz¡ªult in a fine or impris¡ªzzz¡ªonment. Mos¡ªzzz¡ªt unregis¡ªzzz¡ªtered craft are us¡ªzzz¡ªed by pirates¡ªzzz or marauders¡ªzzz.¡±

    The glyph¡¯s words only heightened Zaina¡¯s dread, sharpening it to a point hanging over her head. After clicking her magnetic seat-strap into place, she asked, ¡°So¡ªwhat do we do?¡±

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    ¡°There¡¯s¡ªzzz not much we can do. This¡ªzzz craft has¡ªzzz no weaponry. It was¡ªzzz¡ªn¡¯t des¡ªzzz¡ªigned for combat. Evas¡ªzzz¡ªive maneuvers¡ªzzz are our only option.¡±

    ¡°Then do that!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m on it, Z¡ªZzz¡ªZaina! Als¡ªzzz¡ªo, I would advis¡ªzzz¡ªe putting on your breathing mas¡ªzzz¡ªk in cas¡ªzzz¡ªe of a s¡ªzzz¡ªudden pressure drop in the cabin.¡±

    Zaina reached for her mask, fumbling it as the ship jerked to the left¡ªthe mask fell out of reach behind her. She stretched out her hand, scraping the tip of her finger against it until the ship twisted, sending it careening to the back of the ship.

    Well, that¡¯s great.

    Signals and warning signs were flashing all over every display. Zaina prayed to every god she remembered the name of as they lurched again.

    ¡°Gizmo, what¡¯s happening?¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, their ships¡ªzzz are much fas¡ªzzz¡ªter than our own; s¡ªzzz¡ªo, I¡¯ve notified the authorities¡ªzzz of the neares¡ªzzz-t world. Luckily, they have a planetary defens¡ªzzz¡ªe forc¡ªzzz¡ªe for this¡ªzzz very reas¡ªzzz¡ªon.¡±

    Zaina cursed and held on. Their ship swerved, and the floor fell out from under her for a moment; then, they fully rotated. Her stomach lurched and went cold, and with a painful cramp and the sting of bile, vomit ejected into Zaina¡¯s mouth. With a choking gasp she swallowed it back down.

    After a minor coughing fit, she choked out, ¡°Maybe a little fucking warning next time!¡±

    ¡°S¡ªzzz¡ªorry, Z¡ªZzz¡ªZaina. S¡ªzzz¡ªiphon miss¡ªzzz¡ªiles¡ªzzz incoming. Evas¡ªzzz¡ªive maneuvers¡ªzzz imminent.¡±

    Before she could decipher what he meant, the ship bucked and twisted. Zaina grabbed the safety bar with her hand and closed her eyes. Her grip, strengthened by anxiety, crushed the hollow metal bar.

    I knew going into space was a bad idea.

    ¡°Brac¡ªzzz¡ªe for¡ª¡±

    A thunderous crash rocked the ship¡ªZaina¡¯s head slammed into the wall, darkening her vision. The only lights were the stars, spinning out of control¡ª

    ¡°S¡ªzzz¡ªiphon miss¡ªzzz¡ªiles¡ªzzz impacted. C¡ªzzz¡ªeles¡ªzzz¡ªtium engine output falling. Entering into des¡ªzzz¡ªcent mode.¡±

    Shaking her head, she snapped out of her stupor. ¡°Output falling? What the hell does that mean?¡±

    Another impact knocked her forward. Pain surged through every inch of her body, radiating from her shoulder. The force pressed her wound against the magnetic seat-strap¡ªa shriek ripped up out of her throat. A deafening ringing filled Zaina¡¯s ears. Once that stopped, it was replaced by a sharp hissing at the back of the ship.

    She blinked until the cabin came into focus again. The stars were still, the engine¡¯s hum had faded, and most of the lights and displays had powered down. They were dead in space. An alert flashed on the camera-feed screen¡ªthe sensors had a visual.

    The enemy ship was massive, at least ten times bigger than Gir¡¯s. Most of its mass was taken up by a cylindrical body, with enormous engines attached to either side and two pairs of sharp prongs in the front. The behemoth was mostly gray, though strips of white, black, and green paint were spaced between dents, pockmarks, and scratches.

    Two cube-shaped craft, much smaller in size, zipped around the larger ship; a third craft, much closer, streaked across the vis-feed every few seconds, flying circles around their powerless vessel.

    ¡°So¡ªwhat now?¡± she asked, dreading the answer.

    We¡¯re going to die here. This¡ªthis isn¡¯t how I pictured it.

    ¡°Well,¡± Gizmo replied in a calm tone, ¡°it¡¯s¡ªzzz likely that they want to tow us¡ªzzz to their main craft. Bring us¡ªzzz aboard, s¡ªzzz¡ªo to s¡ªzzz¡ªpeak. Otherwis¡ªzzz¡ªe, they¡¯d have us¡ªzzz¡ªed a lethal payload.¡±

    ¡°Great,¡± she said. It was better than dying in an inferno in the middle of space. How much better remained to be seen.

    Zaina unbuckled herself and stood up. The ship rocked, and an ear-grinding metallic click broke out above. She grabbed the safety bar, which snapped in half and spilled her to the floor.

    ¡°Gah!¡± She struggled to her feet. ¡°What the hell was that?¡±

    ¡°It s¡ªzzz¡ªeems¡ªzzz I was¡ªzzz correct, Z¡ªZzz¡ªZaina! Tow cable has¡ªzzz been attached to the c¡ªzzz¡ªentral port.¡±

    The ship lurched toward the enemy¡¯s cruiser.

    Okay, she thought, closing her eyes and clenching her fists. Okay, I¡¯m about to get into a fight, probably. Have to be ready.

    Peeking her eye open, she glanced at her empty hands.

    Now would be a great time to summon my cipher.

    Zaina stretched out her arm and focused. She tried to drown out the noise¡ªher thumping heartbeat in her ears, Gizmo¡¯s frantic play-by-play, and the rumbling groans of the ship breaking down¡ªit was all a distraction. Her mind dwindled them away until nothing remained but Zaina and her cipher. There was a flash of light¡ª

    Her eyes opened and fell to her hand¡ªnothing. She raised a hand to cover her face¡ªGizmo had turned his front-light all the way up.

    ¡°Z¡ªZzz¡ªZaina! I¡¯m los¡ªzzz¡ªing power pretty quickly, I¡¯m afraid. At this¡ªzzz rate, I won¡¯t be able to function for much longer. The Otmoz¡ªzzz¡ªan Defens¡ªzzz¡ªe Forc¡ªzzz¡ªes are on their way. I don¡¯t know how much longeeerrrrrzzzzzzz¡ª¡±

    ¡°Gizmo?¡± Zaina grabbed the glyph. ¡°Gizmo? Gizmo!¡±

    Its lights went out, along with every remaining light in the cockpit. Zaina was alone in the darkened transport.

    ¡°Gizmo,¡± she said in disbelief. Her gaze fell to the ground. ¡°I¡ªI guess that¡¯s it, then. No cipher. No scrapshot. I¡¯ve got nothing.¡±

    All because she got the taste of adventure and came all the way out here. It was foolish, really. She had no idea what she was getting into. Her father always told her the galaxy was a harsh place. Now it was about to swallow her whole.

 Chapter Twenty-Three: The Planet City

    ¡°Very distinct are the challenges faced by the rare planets who modernize and industrialize to such a degree; it is often said with much truth that for one planet to be an entire city, ten systems worth of worlds must be comprised of farmland to help support it. Not to mention the sacrifice of local ecosystems¡ªeconomic progress at all costs comes with a steep price that is too often externalized Everyone wants to be Vylensus.¡±

    ¡ªEnvironmentalist Taarquan Raberas

    I¡¯m sorry, Dad. Zaina choked back a sob, a tear streaking down her face as she pictured the faces of her parents, always so loving and warm. She¡¯d never feel the warmth of her father¡¯s strong arms around her again, or the gentle touch of her doting mother. The thought was incomprehensible. If they ever found out what happened to her, they¡¯d be heartbroken. Mom. I should never have left you. If I had stayed there¡ª

    A surge of anger burned through her veins. No. They¡¯d taught her better than that. There was no way Zaina would allow everything she¡¯d been through to be for nothing. No. No, fuck that. If I¡¯m going down, I¡¯m going down fighting.  Her eyes searched around for something blunt and heavy or sharp. No luck. She¡¯d probably have to tear a safety bar out of the wall¡ª

    Another sharp boom interrupted her resolution. The ship veered left, but not harshly¡ªnot a direct impact. A few loud whizzes and sizzling shrieks broke out¡ªthere was a twanging snap, and the ship gently dipped and bobbed, making Zaina sway to keep her balance.

    By now, the vis-feeds were powered down, too. Zaina stumbled toward the panes of hyper-glass lining the cockpit¡¯s ceiling and strained her neck to see through them, awkwardly angled as they were. There, floating above them, was a writhing cable with a frayed, freshly cut end.

    A few ear-splitting pops broke out, and Zaina gasped as one of the cube-ships, its body emitting sputtering flames, hovered by the window.

    What? What¡ªwhat did that?

    Another enemy fighter darted into view, shooting overhead and changing direction at will; it was pursued doggedly by a smaller, sphere-shaped craft. The spherical ship had two exterior magnet-rail systems holding its cannons and engines, allowing both to rotate freely; the craft zipped and dashed about, keeping pace with its prey¡¯s frantic turns.

    Three more pops and a flash of light¡ªZaina covered her eyes, and when they opened again, only a flaming wreck remained of the second cube-ship. The sphere stopped in place as its engines rotated, then shot back over Zaina¡¯s transport. Another round of pops broke out, but after another thirty seconds or so, they ceased. Now there was nothing but silence.

    Another larger ship, about the size and of similar shape to Gir¡¯s transport, came into view overhead and stopped. The ship rocked a little, and a whirring noise filled the cabin as a few lights dimmed on.

    A blurred voice blared over the comm-display, ¡°Occupant of ship 7XD-4854-5J7, confirm reception of auxiliary power. Occupant of ship¡­¡±

    It went on while Zaina desperately searched the dashboard for the proper button.

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    ¡°Um¡ªcan you hear me? No, not that one. Now¡ªcan you¡ªno, not that one, either. This one? Hello?¡±

    ¡°Hello? Occupant of ship 7XD¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me,¡± Zaina replied. ¡°Who is this?¡±

    ¡°Confirm reception of auxiliary power.¡±

    She took a good look around the dim cabin. ¡°Yeah¡ªyeah, I think it¡¯s working.¡±

    ¡°Are there any others on board?¡±

    ¡°Only a glyph and myself¡ª¡±

    ¡°Very well. Now, if you could test¡ª¡±

    ¡°Wait, what about¡ªwho was attacking us?¡±

    ¡°Pirates. No need to worry, now. They¡¯re pretty common in the surrounding starways. They ran away, as they tend to. Now, if you could test your engine¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know how to do that.¡±

    ¡°Do you know how to fly at all?¡±

    ¡°No. The glyph was doing that part, but it¡¯s lost power.¡±

    After ten seconds of silence, the voice came through again, ¡°Very well. We¡¯ll tow you to the planet¡¯s surface. Please, for your own safety, stay seated and strap yourself in.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡ªokay,¡± she said. The ship lurched again, so Zaina quickly darted into her seat and attached the magnetic straps. ¡°Um, who are you people?¡±

    ¡°My name is Commander Royce Flitarik of the Otmozan Global Defense Force. You¡¯re lucky you were sublighting near us. Not many planets would go out of their way to help a stranger these days.¡±

    ¡°I do appreciate it,¡± Zaina replied. The rest of the trip went by in silence. Gizmo, who had a cord attached to the ship, was back in low-power mode.

    Poor guy. I wonder how long it¡¯s been since he¡¯s had a proper charge.

    Before long, their drift through space ended; they were coming up on a gray planet. Its surface was obscured by a thick layer of fog.

    Where once her heart raced in fear, now it did so in anticipation. This was her first new world¡ªshe had no idea what to expect.

    They veered into the cloud of fog and smoke as they descended. After a few minutes, they broke through. The vis-feed displayed a menagerie of sparkling, multicolored lights shining below. She stared, barely able to blink at the incredible vista.

    The entire planet was like one big city¡ªas if someone took Ryrda and stretched it across all of Demelia. Steel towers like titans grazing the clouds with their peaks raised up into the skies. Innumerable lights belonging to atmospheric craft dashed to and fro, and on the street level, there were even more lights from shops and ground-based vehicles. Everything was made of concrete and steel, and every inch of space was covered in flashing signs and billboards. From above, it looked like a luminescent neon jungle.

    Her mouth fell open. It was a lot to take in despite its stunning beauty. She thought, as they drew closer, that the jumbled mess of lights and concrete would become decipherable. It wasn¡¯t so. The colossal towers had smaller buildings interspersed between them. Some were taller than the tallest building in Ryrda, many were smaller than her family home, and they all had moving advertisements and flashing signs of their own. It was too much.

    By Byzon, what is this place?

    Zaina¡¯s transport was dragged above a shipyard, where it was lowered into a gentle landing. She unbuckled and opened the hatch. An instant of panic struck her¡ªwhat if the air wasn¡¯t breathable? Did she need her mask? It was barely charged, and where was she going to charge it? She didn¡¯t have a place to stay, and she didn¡¯t have any money.

    She pulled the hatch closed and hung her head. A few deep breaths built her courage.

    You¡¯ve come this far. Come on, now. There¡¯s no need to worry. You can do this.

    With a hiss, the hatch popped open. Zaina climbed out and jumped to the ground. Her eye caught two long, thin disc-tipped missiles sticking out of the engine of Gir¡¯s transport. They each had two curved bars running their length and fins at the back.

    Those must be siphon missiles.

    Awaiting her was a tall, slender man wearing a green collared longcoat decorated with medals. He was a Denovian, with two big, unblinking eyes attached to ridges on either side of his bluish-gray face; his large mouth was fixed in a deep frown. He reached for his weapon when she faced him.

    ¡°Occupant,¡± he said. The voice was a little different without the distortion, but she recognized it as Commander Royce. ¡°Identify yourself.¡±

    She raised her hands. ¡°I¡¯m Zaina. Zaina Quin, from Demelia.¡±

 Chapter Twenty-Four: An Uncaring Welcome

    ¡°Don¡¯t take it personal. You can¡¯t expect people who don¡¯t even know you to care about your bralshit.¡±

    ¡ªAriso Adla, famous traveling songster

    The commander¡¯s eyebrow rose. ¡°Do you have documentation proving your identity?¡±

    Zaina gulped. In all the confusion of leaving her home forever, she¡¯d forgotten her Synatorium Citizen Identification Card. ¡°I¡ªuh¡ª¡±

    The commander sighed. ¡°Are you the owner of this vehicle?¡±

    ¡°Um, no. That would be¡ª¡±

    ¡°I do hope it¡¯s not stolen,¡± he said.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not stolen. I can explain¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like that,¡± he replied. His hand shifted over to a pair of handcuffs hooked to his belt, and he pulled them off. ¡°But first, I¡¯d like to ask you to wear these.¡±

    Her voice cracked from shock as she said, ¡°Am I under arrest?¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Commander Royce said, ¡°you¡¯re flying in a registered vehicle. You have no ID. You have no way to prove who you are or why you¡¯re in possession of that ship. So, for the time being, I¡¯m going to make sure this thing isn¡¯t stolen. I don¡¯t want anything funny happening while I¡¯m waiting.¡±

    Zaina stepped back. ¡°Do I have a choice?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± the commander said, patting the scrapshot at his side.

    She gulped, then put her hands out. The segmented handcuffs were cold and shrank to fit her wrists; it wasn¡¯t comfortable, but it wasn¡¯t unbearable, either.

    But it is bralshit.

    The commander spoke into the vis-screen around his wrist. ¡°Captain Lasko, run a check on VID 7XD-4854-5J7. Also run a check on the name ¡®Zaina Quin¡¯ in every database we can access. Homeworld: Demelia.¡± Then he turned to Zaina and said, ¡°So, Zaina Quin. What are the circumstances of you acquiring this ship?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a long story,¡± she said.

    ¡°I assure you, I¡¯m very interested in hearing it.¡±

    Zaina sighed. ¡°Well, I¡¯m from Demelia, so you probably know about all that.¡±

    The commander¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°No, I don¡¯t. What, is your world known for racing or something?¡±

    ¡°What? No!¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s gone! The Eldritch destroyed it!¡±

    His eyes narrowed. ¡°You must really think I¡¯m a fool.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°The Eldritch? Really? Come on.¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not¡ªI¡¯m not making anything up! I¡¯m telling you the truth!¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± he said, his eyes rolling. ¡°The Eldritch destroyed your planet. You know, there are lies that are much harder to sniff out than¡ª¡± his vis-screen beeped, and he checked it. ¡°WHAT? No!¡±

    Zaina recoiled. ¡°Wha¡ªwhat is it?¡±

    Commander Royce winced. ¡°Artan got Gredalba. There¡¯s no way we make the playoffs now.¡±

    ¡°What¡ªwhat the fuck are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Sorry, big trade for my goreball team¡¯s rival. Right. Anyway, what were you saying¡ªoh right, something about the Eldritch. Any other mythical happenings I should be aware of? A Mostiter Soon sighting? The Vash Dragon? Tarbolus IX?¡±

    For five seconds, she seethed with rage. How she held it in was beyond her. Then, in a low voice, she said, ¡°You¡¯re going to feel awfully stupid when captain whatever-his-name comes back with his report.¡±

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    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure. Look¡ªI almost feel bad for you. I¡¯ll give you another chance to make something up. You¡¯ve got something more believable in you.¡±

    She gave no reply except a glare.

    Royce¡¯s vis-screen beeped again. He checked it, and this time opened up a holo-screen. He read the contents carefully, rubbing his chin. ¡°This ship belongs to the Order of Riiva,¡± he said. ¡°Last assigned to a High Lancer by the name of¡ªGir¡­uh¡­¡±

    ¡°He went by Gir,¡± she said. ¡°He was from Diraxus.¡±

    He glanced at her with an eyebrow raised. ¡°Okay, Gir. On a mission to¡ªDemelia. Huh.¡±

    ¡°Starting to feel hungry? You¡¯ll be eating your words soon,¡± she said.

    Before he offered a retort, his vis-screen beeped again. Upon reading it, he swiped off the holo-screen and stared at Zaina with a perplexed expression.

    ¡°Zaina Tumera Quin,¡± he said, ¡°Demelia native, never traveled¡ªpresumed dead in a planetary-level cataclysmic event involving¡ªno way.¡±

    She kept glaring while a smile formed on her face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what was that?¡±

    He cleared his throat. ¡°I apologize, Zaina Quin. I didn¡¯t realize¡ªwell, either way, your name showed up on an evacuation registry that was generated in the past week. You came up as unaccounted for, but the name was there. Looks like you¡¯re supposed to be dead.¡±

    ¡°I stayed behind,¡± she said.

    ¡°And stole a lancer¡¯s ship to get offworld? Where is High Lancer Gir?¡±

    Zaina grabbed her arm. ¡°He¡ªhe didn¡¯t make it. And I didn¡¯t steal his ship. He was going to take me with him. I did everything I could to help him, but¡ª¡±

    For an instant, she was back in the cold of the Eldritch¡¯s Hollow. The buzzing whispers gnawed at her brain. Darkness seeped in from the corners of her vision¡ª

    Royce¡¯s words snapped her out of it. ¡°Hey! Are you all right?¡±

    Her head jerked. ¡°Yeah¡ªsorry, I, uh¡ªit¡¯s been a long week.¡±

    Royce turned his head. ¡°No offense, but it definitely smells like it.¡±

    She scoffed, her cheeks flushing with warmth. ¡°No offense¡ªwhat the hell? Is that how you welcome visitors here?¡±

    Royce threw his hands up. ¡°Okay, okay. Look. I¡¯m not gonna take you in.¡±

    ¡°You¡ªyou¡¯re not?¡±

    ¡°No. Even if I wanted the extra paperwork, it¡¯s not like there¡¯s anything I could charge you with. If you killed that lancer, it¡¯s between you and the Order of Riiva. They¡¯re probably expecting their ship back, though.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m planning on bringing it to them,¡± she said.

    His eyebrow raised. ¡°Your kind isn¡¯t known to get along well on Kaado.¡±

    Her glare intensified. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know I¡¯m going to be a lancer, thank you very much.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± he said, ¡°and I¡¯m going on a date with Alti Moresse. Right after this, actually.¡±

    ¡°I mean it,¡± she said.

    ¡°Well,¡± he said, ¡°whatever. It¡¯s not my problem anyway.¡±

    Royce reached out and pulled the handcuffs off her wrists. She massaged them¡ªthey were a little sore.

    He continued, ¡°Look, if you want to get to Kaado¡ªor wherever you¡¯re going¡ªyou¡¯ll need to find someone to fix this thing up.¡± He turned to walk away.

    ¡°Wait,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s it? You¡¯re not going to help me at all? I don¡¯t even know where we are!¡±

    ¡°Do I look like a tour guide to you?¡± He scoffed. ¡°Welcome to Otmonzas.¡±

    With that, he hopped into a personal hover-transport and rode off. She fiddled with her hands while taking in her surroundings. Everything was bright and colorful and flashy, and it all came across like a jumbled mess.

    First thing¡¯s first, I need to find a ride out of here. And a place to stay.

    Between the rows of landing zones for ships were heightened platforms and tracks of grav-rails. She pinpointed the nearest one¡ªa hover-shuttle was departing from it. She walked to it, climbing the stairs to reach the station¡ªa handful of benches and concrete pillars to hold up a roof. Pictures of people drinking fancy drinks and smoking big, red rolls of tomush littered the walls, each with their own blaring, color-changing text to describe whatever the hell was being advertised.

    She took a seat and waited for the next transport. One of the ads projected a hologram of a young woman about Zaina¡¯s age in the seat next to her.

    Zaina jumped. ¡°Ah!¡±

    ¡°Hello, friend! Have you heard about the All-Nighter Night at Tubara¡¯s Club? If you hurry, you can still make it!¡±

    ¡°No, what? What the hell are¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hello, friend! Have you heard about the All-Nighter Night at Tubara¡¯s Club? If you hurry¡ª¡±

    Zaina sighed as the hologram repeated the same pitch three times. Then, in a flash, it faded, leaving her alone. Once it was gone, she almost wanted it back; the station was otherwise a silent, empty museum of flashing advertisements.

    A woman walked up the steps, a Foreldian with green fur and rings in her sharpened ears. She glanced over at Zaina, then turned away and walked to the opposite end of the station.

    A sigh escaped Zaina¡¯s lips. Back home, people were friendly. We all knew each other. No one got treated like this. Except in Ryrda.

    The minutes ticked away, bringing more people shuffling onto the platform. Each and every one of them avoided Zaina. Whether because of the Mark of the Recalcitrant, her odor, or her haggard, bloodied appearance, she didn¡¯t know.

    More advertisements popped up as the station became crowded. Holograms told people to go to concerts, shows, or casinos¡ªtheir virtual words fell on deaf ears, with the comers-and-goers of Otmonzas keeping their noses stuck in the vis-screens on their wrists.

    Before long another hover-shuttle pulled up, and everyone else filed in. Zaina looked back toward Gir¡¯s ship¡ªconsidering she didn¡¯t have a place to stay, maybe she was better off sleeping there, as uncomfortable as it was.

    She shook her head. No, if she stayed here that meant no shower and no real food. Plus, she needed help getting the ship flyable. Someone on this crazy planet had to sympathize with her, right?

    She stepped on the hover-shuttle, and immediately was met with a round of glares from anyone who cared to look up. Wishing she was invisible, Zaina slunk into the first-most seat and curled up into a ball. The door closed, and the shuttle departed¡ªwhere to, she knew not.

    Her thoughts turned to Kaado. If she didn¡¯t make it there, everything she¡¯d been through¡ªeverything she¡¯d lost¡ªwould have been for nothing.

    I¡¯m not going to let that happen. No matter what.

 Chapter Twenty-Five: Welcome to Otmonzas

    ¡°Worlds like this, anyone can make anything of themselves if they put their minds to it. Only idiots get sidetracked, and those are the stories everyone hears about. That¡¯s not going to happen to me. I¡¯m going to make it.¡±

    ¡ªAuthor Unknown; excerpt recovered from journals that were personal effects on an unidentifiable homicide victim on Otmonzas

    The hover-shuttle pulled to a stop with a sharp hiss. Zaina rushed off once the door retracted. The platform was enormous compared to the previous station¡ªand much more crowded. People of all shapes and sizes clustered together around bright neon signs while holograms hovered overhead, their pitches coalescing into word soup.

    Something slammed into her back and she stumbled forward. Upon turning, a Jovelian, standing twelve feet tall and wearing what looked to be battle armor, loosed a snort from its extended nostrils. ¡°Watch it, tiny.¡±

    The tusked Jovelian then turned and tucked into one of the train cars. Another person bumped into her¡ªthis time it was a Vadekarian, barely reaching up to Zaina¡¯s waist. Its scaled face soured into a grimace.

    ¡°Move it, moron! What the fuck¡¯s wrong with people these days?¡± With that, the Valdekarian walked off.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said. People were staring at her as they walked by¡ªsome were bewildered, others were disgusted, and a few were curious or pitying. She took a deep breath and started toward the station¡¯s exit¡ªwherever that was. With little experience navigating crowds, she accidentally shoulder-checked her fair share of passersby, each time eliciting a new insult.

    The station was divided by dozens of segmented railways separated by platforms. Raised walkways were interspersed as needed to navigate over the active segments of track. Trains came and went every second, with people piling on and off every time one stopped.

    The walkways gave her a better vantage point¡ªthe exit was only a few platforms away. Relieved, she continued on, trudging to match the pace of the people around her.

    Outside was even more crowded. An impossibly bad stench¡ªlike wet hair and burnt metal¡ªwafted into her nostrils. She wrinkled her nose and covered her mouth.

    Loud, bass-heavy music blasted from a nearby rooftop; multicolored lasers moved in rhythm with the song. The only other noise was chatter¡ªwhether of the denizens of Otmonzas or the countless holograms dotting the sky. The massive buildings, appearing as titans from above, were impossibly tall from below, their peaks far out of sight. Engine glows from atmospheric ships faded in and out of the foggy night air.

    She gulped. What is this place?

    ¡°Hey, move it!¡± a human shouted, startling her. Zaina moved with the crowd¡¯s flow, not knowing where she wanted to go. The people around her were from all walks of life¡ªmost wore simple clothing¡ªwork uniforms, slacks, button-up shirts; others wore little more than rags. A few wore extravagant robes or silk-woven business suits, always accompanied by an armored companion¡ªsometimes an android, sometimes a team of decked-out security forces.

    Her stomach rumbled¡ªits growl wasn¡¯t audible over the idle chatter and blaring music. Apparently multiple concerts were on tonight. First thing¡¯s first, I need to find some food.

    Zaina went along with the crowd until it thinned out a little. A few feet of breathing room was better than none. She scanned the nearby buildings. One of them had a sign that said Daz Markis¡¯s The Pratehouse.

    Maybe they have some leftovers or something.

    She stepped in front of the door, but there was no handle. It opened by itself, retracting into the wall. A male Jovelian awaited on the other side, his elongated tusks carved with intricate symbols; a scar ran down his left eye, and he wore tight-fitting black clothing.

    The Jovelian raised a hand. ¡°Uh-uh. Nope. Your kind¡¯s not welcome.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°You heard me,¡± he said. ¡°Go on, get out of here. Find somewhere else.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not from here, I need hel¡ª¡±

    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    He reached for a radio. ¡°Don¡¯t make me call for backup.¡±

    Zaina was so shocked she almost cried, but she held it in. A defeated sigh was all she gave him. There was no point in arguing. She walked back outside.

    Time to try something else.

    She walked to stand beside a small alcove beside another store. From there, she waved at passersby.

    ¡°Excuse me!¡±

    No response¡ªthe person glanced in her direction before hurrying on.

    Another walked by, so she called out, ¡°Can I ask for your help with some¡ª¡±

    Ignored.

    ¡°Please, I need to know¡ª¡±

    The person shot her a dirty look and scurried away.

    Zaina¡¯s shoulders sank. How were these people wired? Where she came from, people took care of each other if they needed help.

    After wandering the streets, darkness fell and Zaina passed a sleepless night tucked into a corner at the back of a tall building. The next day she had just as poor luck getting anyone to speak to her as the day before. Her stomach cramped, begging for food. Hours crawled by with Zaina feeling dirtier and more hopeless with each rejection, each rude remark, and each stranger ignoring her. Finally, as she was about to inspect some pallets behind what looked like a restaurant for any scraps, the first friendly voice she¡¯d heard since arriving called out from behind.

    ¡°Hey.¡± She turned¡ªa Keldovaran draped in a tattered trench-coat was peeking out from a side alley. His bulbous, circular face was covered in unkempt, ushaven white fur; even hunched over, he stood six feet tall. ¡°You lost?¡±

    Zaina nodded, unsure of what to make of the visitor. His odor was worse than hers.

    ¡°You don¡¯t look like you¡¯re from around here,¡± he said. ¡°Visiting from another world?¡±

    ¡°Temporarily,¡± she said. ¡°As soon as I get my friend¡¯s ship fixed, I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Right¡ªyour friend¡¯s ship. So you¡¯re in need of a hot meal and a place to stay in the meantime, I¡¯m guessing?¡±

    Her eyes narrowed. ¡°How did you know?¡±

    ¡°You look like you¡¯ve been through hell,¡± the Keldovaran said. ¡°I¡¯ve seen it before, I¡¯m afraid. Too many times. This world eats people and spits out husks.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, ¡°it seems rough.¡±

    ¡°It is. Now¡ªabout that place to stay. As it so happens, I run a little community of people like us pretty close to here.¡±

    ¡°People like us?¡±

    The Keldovaran nodded. ¡°People with nowhere else to go.¡±

    Zaina winced. Here she was panicking about her first night homeless¡ªthis man looked like he¡¯d been doing it for a while. ¡°How long have you been here?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I was born in an alley not too far from here. Come along, now. Nights are especially unforgiving around here.¡±

    Zaina stared at the ground. It wasn¡¯t like she had any ideas on where to go¡ªwhat was the worst that could happen? She shrugged and followed the Keldovaran into the alley. It was much less crowded¡ªa handful of kuvasi smokers outside a bar, a group of young kids playing a dice-betting game, and several people huddled around a barrel filled with burning strips of cloth.

    The Keldovaran was fleet of foot, moving quicker than his frame and age would indicate. She kept pace right behind him, not allowing herself to be distracted by the neon billboards glowing on the alley walls.

    ¡°Where are we going?¡± she asked.

    ¡°The camp is near here,¡± he replied. ¡°We¡¯ll get you everything you need.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for doing this, by the way.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. We have to do what we have to do. Things may get a bit¡ªeh, let¡¯s say hairy. They don¡¯t exactly want us getting comfortable.¡±

    She sidestepped a gaggle of glaring, blue-furred Cytomoids. ¡°Huh? Who doesn¡¯t want you¡ª¡±

    ¡°You know,¡± he said. ¡°The government. The PDFs. Goris ¡®The Butcher¡¯ Bilvane. All of it¡¯s connected, you know? And the pirates¡ª¡±

    ¡°You know about the pirates?¡±

    ¡°Of course! Weren¡¯t you listening? It¡¯s all connected!¡± He came to a sudden stop and surveyed around a street corner.

    Zaina had lost his train of thought. ¡°What¡¯s your name, anyway?¡±

    ¡°Me? I¡¯m Jveldaq Iinas. I was the youngest ever Head of the PNU¡ªthe Planetary Nursing Union¡ªand did that for thirty years. I got tired of it, so now I¡¯ve been doing this for thirty years.¡± He walked out into the street. Zaina stayed close behind.

    She leaned forward and asked, ¡°Thirty years?¡±

    He ducked into another alleyway. ¡°Long time to be scraping and scrounging, I know. But we¡¯ve made ourselves a little home for people who need it. You¡¯d be surprised the types that come through here. We get all kinds. There¡¯s a bed and a plate for all of ¡¯em.¡±

    For the first time in days, she smiled. ¡°That¡¯s really nice of you.¡±

    He turned a corner and froze¡ªshe stepped in an odd-smelling puddle and slid to a stop.

    ¡°Ew! Ew!¡± she said. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    Jveldaq¡¯s eyebrows contorted, and his lips twisted into a sharp frown. His sights were focused on the end of the alley, a clearing tucked between three large buildings; tents of every color and every type of fabric were all over, and the entire space was flooded with yellow light.

    The color drained from his face. ¡°It¡¯s well past lights out time¡ªwhat, are they trying to get caught?¡±

    He sprinted down the alley, and Zaina followed. Then a team of gray androids with red stripes and yellow-and-black cross-patterned crests stepped into view, their movements fluid but mechanically precise. The yellow light emanated from floodlights on their birifles. Zaina nearly crashed into Jveldaq, who had come to a screeching halt.

    ¡°They¡¯re taking them,¡± he said, his voice barely a whisper. ¡°They¡¯re taking them to the PDF death camps¡ªwe¡¯re too late!¡±

    The lights turned their way¡ªa few deep robotic hums and whirs went back and forth between the androids before they moved toward Zaina and Jveldaq. She took a step backward, wishing she had her cipher, her father¡¯s scrapshot¡ªanything.

    Jveldaq pulled a single-barrel scrapshot from his coat. ¡°Go on, get out of here before they get you too, Zaina. You can¡¯t trust them¡ªyou can¡¯t trust any of them!¡±

    He ran toward them. For two seconds, Zaina was completely stunned. She flinched as a few loud pops pierced the city¡¯s noise¡ªa piece of Jveldaq¡¯s head flew off. After a few more holes were punched in him, he fell forward in a puddle of gray blood.

 Chapter Twenty-Six: The Strangers Blessing

    ¡°There is still good left in the Nova Rim. I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s surrounded by darkness and despair, but it is there, and it is real. If you are where you are meant to be, you may find it when you need it most.¡±

    ¡ªLegendary High Lancer Pria Song

    Zaina gasped and turned¡ªthe alley¡¯s walls flew by as pops whizzed past her. She turned the corner and sprinted further into the network of back-roads and low-density areas. Every twist and turn only made her more lost.

    The androids stepped around the corner and focused their birifles as Zaina dashed across the street and stepped into another alleyway. They¡¯d gained a few steps. She turned another corner, needing to get out of their line of sight¡ªdead end.

    ¡°No,¡± she said. She whipped around and ran back¡ªthe androids appeared.

    Zaina clenched her fists and hastened her charge. This might hurt.

    None of their birifles were raised while they ran, so she had a few split seconds to work with¡ªher fist caved in the shoulder of the closest android. She tore its arm off and battered the second android with the severed limb, knocking it to the ground. A pop rang out¡ªZaina ducked, turned, and threw the arm at the third android. She leaped to the side, then dashed at it with a full-body tackle. She pulled its birifle from its hands and bashed its head in, then turned to finish off the other two.

    The remains of the shattered androids were scattered around Zaina. Her breaths were heavy, and her heart raced. I didn¡¯t want this.

    She lingered on the carnage for another ten seconds, then turned and ran. Everything about this world was wrong.

    Zaina turned a corner and slipped, stumbling and smashing her bad shoulder against a metal box sticking out of a building¡¯s side. A pained gasp escaped her gritted teeth as her eyes shut tightly. She tried to stand, but lost her balance and collapsed. Her stomach loosed a weak growl. Her lungs were on fire, too.

    Dammit¡ª

    Her wound had reopened, spilling blood onto the pavement¡¯s faded stains. Luckily, this cross section of alleys had few people. One person was wrapped in a blanket atop a pile of trash¡ªanother was talking to themselves. Neither seemed to mind her as she crawled next to an overflowing dumpster and leaned her back against the wall.

    Zaina¡¯s deep, heaving breaths weren¡¯t enough to deaden the pain. She stared up at the gray-fogged sky¡ªlights from the rooftops shone to the clouds, turning and twisting on a whim. The dull buzzing of crowd noise and distant music blared on, uncaring of anything around it.

    After the events of the past week, that last fight took more out of her than she expected. Being hungry and sleep-deprived probably didn¡¯t help matters much. She pulled her knees to her chest, fighting to keep her eyes open. I should¡¯ve stayed on the ship.

    -

    With a gasp, Zaina jolted awake. ¡°Huh? What?¡±

    Beams of daylight broke through the layer of fog above. Had she fallen asleep? How many hours had it been?

    ¡°Hello, there,¡± a sweet voice called out from nearby. Zaina¡¯s head whipped toward it. Standing three feet away was a female maroon Cresslian¡ªhumanoid bodies, scaled, hairless skin, and spiked ridges lining their temples¡ªwrapped in a gray ceremonial cloak. ¡°Are you awake?¡±

    Zaina shifted forward and rubbed her head. ¡°I think so. This all feels like a bad dream.¡± She looked up¡ªthe woman¡¯s eyes were friendly.

    ¡°A nice young woman told me there was someone here who needed help¡ªlooks like she was right,¡± the Cresslian woman said. ¡°Why don¡¯t you come with me? I run a center where displaced people can go to get what they need to get themselves back on their feet.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyes narrowed. This seemed too good to be true¡ªnothing on this world was that simple. ¡°How do I know I can trust you?¡±

    The woman smiled. ¡°What, you think I¡¯m going to harvest your organs?¡±

    Zaina recoiled. ¡°Wha¡ªwell, now I do!¡±

    The Cresslian giggled. ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen. My name is Sister Tyza, and no one gets hurt where we¡¯re going.¡±

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    ¡°Don¡¯t I have a choice in the matter?¡±

    Sister Tyza shook her head. ¡°Not in the state you¡¯re in, kiddo. I thought you were dead until you started moving. No, you¡¯re not going to make it very far on your own right now. So I¡¯m taking you with me.¡±

    ¡°Where, to some church or something?¡±

    The Cresslian frowned. ¡°No, sadly the church says it lacks the resources to fund their CDPs around the Nova Rim. Not that they¡¯re lacking in donations, mind you. But all those fancy PR stunts cost money, you know?¡±

    ¡°So¡ªwhere are you taking me?¡±

    ¡°Same place. I keep the old center running as well as I can,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯ll get you a shower, some bandages, and some bed-rest. You¡¯ll be right as rain in a month¡¯s time.¡±

    ¡°A month?¡± Zaina struggled to her feet. ¡°I can¡¯t be waiting here a month! I need to get to Kaado! I¡¯m going to be a lancer, I can¡¯t¡ª¡± she nearly fell again, but Sister Tyza reached out to help her stand. Zaina¡¯s stomach emitted a loud, bubbling growl.

    ¡°Well,¡± Sister Tyza said, ¡°I don¡¯t know about all that, but you come along, now. I have a transport a short walk from here. Maybe you¡¯ll have a clearer head after a nice, hot meal.¡±

    Zaina still wasn¡¯t entirely sure about all this. Nothing on this world was what it seemed. Still, it wasn¡¯t like she had any other options, and she was hungry enough to take the risk. After a resigned sigh, she said, ¡°Fine.¡±

    With Sister Tyza supporting her, Zaina hobbled her way to the transport¡ªlittle more than a windowless cabin and an oversized flatbed. Zaina climbed onto the back and crawled toward the front. Sister Tyza walked around and stepped into the cabin.

    A few others were on the back with her. One of them, a young, human male with bright yellow hair, was staring.

    ¡°Hi,¡± she said, wanting to be optimistic, ¡°I¡¯m Zaina.¡±

    ¡°Are you here because of the lights, too?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Um-no?¡±

    He nodded. ¡°I¡¯m here because of the lights, too.¡±

    ¡°Uh¡ª¡±

    Another of the passengers, an elderly woman in a tattered coat with sewn-on patches of different colors, leaned forward. ¡°Don¡¯t mind him. Poor Illy had a mental breakdown about three years ago. He couldn¡¯t hurt a fly even if he wanted to.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°Zaina, is it? What brings you here?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡ªwell, Sister Tyza said she was going to take care of us.¡±

    The elderly woman nodded. ¡°Aye, she takes good care of us. Did you know I came to this planet nearly seventy years ago?¡±

    Zaina shook her head.

    ¡°Well, I did. It used to be different. It used to be better. Why, when I was growing up¡­¡±

    Their transport lurched and started rolling, and the woman started telling her life story. Zaina faded in and out, overtaken by sparse waves of pain emanating from her shoulder and the hunger radiating from her guts. By the time they stopped, she was nearly unconscious again.

    The elderly woman and the others hopped off the flatbed. Zaina crawled off and followed them into a tall, rectangular facility. Inside was an empty receptionist¡¯s desk and a hall filled with two rows of chairs stacked almost to the ceiling; further down was a large, open room with couches, tables, and stationary vis-screen sets.

    Sister Tyza pointed out the different rooms to Zaina. ¡°That one¡¯s got the buffet¡ªmakes the food sound better than it is, but it¡¯s something¡ªand oh, that one¡¯s the medical room. We¡¯ll get a nurse in here later today, so hang tight on that. Now¡ªwould you like to sleep first or shower first?¡±

    ¡°Shower,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°Okay, I figured as much. I¡¯ll show you to your room¡ªit¡¯s not much, but you¡¯ll have your very own bathroom. I¡¯ll see if I can¡¯t scrounge up some wraps for your shoulder. You can shower and sleep if you want, or you can come down to the buffet anytime. I¡¯m pretty hands-off here¡ªwe¡¯ve got some great community members who keep the peace. Number one rule is no starting fights. Number two rule is even more important: do not hesitate to use every resource at our disposal to get yourself on track. We¡¯re here to help. Once you¡¯re feeling better, we¡¯ll talk more about how we can make that happen, okay? But for now, you need to rest.¡±

    Zaina nodded and followed Sister Tyza down a wide hallway lined on either side with wooden doors. Sister Tyza pulled out a ring of keys and unlocked one of the doors.

    ¡°This one¡¯s unoccupied,¡± she said. ¡°Take it, and take this key. Please make sure to give it back to me before you leave, if or when you do leave. I¡¯d have more rooms open on the second floor, but you know¡ªmoney¡¯s tight. Only enough to power this level.¡±

    The room was little more than a cot, an empty laundry basket, a nightstand, and an open sliding door leading to a small bathroom with a shower, toilet, and sink. Compared to living on Gir¡¯s ship, it was a literal paradise. Zaina smiled.

    ¡°It¡¯s perfect. Thank you so much.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s an extra pair of clothing in the nightstand. There¡¯s a few sizes in there, so one ought to fit. We have an in-house facility for washing clothes if you¡¯d like.¡±

    ¡°That sounds amazing, thank you,¡± Zaina said. ¡°How can I ever repay you for all of this?¡±

    Sister Tyza shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know how much longer I¡¯ll be able to keep doing this, but I don¡¯t do it for repayment; live your best life. Find happiness wherever you go, and wherever kindness is needed, provide it. This galaxy can be a harsh place¡ªit can turn good people cruel. But it¡¯s up to us to keep being kind. It¡¯s all we can do. And that¡¯s all the payment I need. Now¡ªI¡¯m sure you¡¯d like to get to it.¡±

    Sister Tyza closed the door to Zaina¡¯s room, leaving her alone in all this luxury. After peeling the blood-soaked clothing off her body, she set the shower¡¯s heat to high. The nice, relaxing water was exactly what she needed¡ªin minutes, all the dirt and grime was rinsed away.

    Once she was done, she toweled herself dry and brushed her teeth¡ªeven a small thing like that now seemed like an incalculable kindness. She brushed her hair and rubbed lotion on her skin. She was picking shirts out of the nightstand when Sister Tyza returned, holding a small package of bandage-wrap.

    ¡°Sorry! Had to raid a few closets, but here you go! Do you know how to do it?¡±

    Zaina nodded. ¡°Yeah, I can do it.¡±

    Sister Tyza set the package on the bed and turned to leave. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll leave you to it¡ªif you need anything, I¡¯ll be in the common area!¡±

    A hot meal and then some sleep sounded like the proper plan. Zaina called out after her, ¡°Do you have time for a little breakfast?¡±

    Sister Tyza stopped and swiveled around. A smile crossed her face. ¡°Of course I do.¡±

 Chapter Twenty-Seven: A Deal and a Due

    ¡°Corpos don¡¯t like CDPs. They don¡¯t want anyone punching a meal ticket for free. Byzon only knows why it bothers them so much when the starving are fed.¡±

    ¡ªSinga DCDP (Department of Centers for Displaced People) Councilwoman Gheri Reza

    Three empty plates were beside Zaina by the time she leaned back and patted her belly. Over the course of her eating, she¡¯d explained her journey thus far and where she was going; this time, Sister Tyza took it more seriously.

    ¡°So,¡± she said, ¡°you really are going to Kaado.¡±

    Zaina nodded and picked at a bit of sliced fruit on her fourth plate. ¡°Yep. That¡¯s what I think I should do. I never really knew what I was going to do until it fell into my lap.¡±

    Sister Tyza chuckled. ¡°Life happens like that sometimes. What about your ship, though? Is it flyable?¡±

    Zaina cringed. ¡°The pirates did a number on it. And it¡¯s not my ship, it was my friend¡¯s.¡±

    ¡°You need a mechanic. Don¡¯t worry, I know a guy. He does Pira Byza work for us sometimes.¡±

    ¡°Pira what now?¡±

    ¡°It means, ¡®For Byzon,¡¯ in Eclestic¡ªthe language his scripture was written in. He¡¯s helped us out before. But before we do any of that, I think a few hours of sleep would do you well,¡± Sister Tyza said.

    ¡°I was thinking the same thing,¡± Zaina said with a smile.

    -

    After a nice, long nap and a second shower for the hell of it, Zaina put on a matching gray blouse and slacks from the nightstand. Then she went to find Sister Tyza.

    Zaina stepped into the common room and immediately laid eyes on her benefactor. Sister Tyza sat at a fold-out table across from a grizzled, elderly Takagaran¡ªa tall one, too, standing three feet high. Unkempt gray-and-white facial hair covered every inch of his face, and his four arms were crossed. He wore a leather jacket with sewn-on patches of fiery skulls.

    Sister Tyza brightened up. ¡°Looks who¡¯s finally awake. Feeling better yet? You¡¯re looking a lot better.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Zaina replied.

    Before she could say anything else, Sister Tyza turned to her companion. ¡°This is that girl I found. Said some pirates did a number on her ship.¡±

    The Takagaran turned to face Zaina and grunted.

    Sister Tyza waved to Zaina. ¡°Come on over and introduce yourself! This is the guy I was telling you about. Galactic-class mechanic. He¡¯s been there and done that.¡±

    Zaina walked over and sat next to Sister Tyza. She extended a hand and said, ¡°My name¡¯s Zaina Quin. It¡¯s so good to meet you.¡±

    One of his arms pulled some hair out of his eyes to give her a proper look-over. A second hand, tiny in comparison to Zaina¡¯s, reached out and grabbed a few fingers with an iron grasp. ¡°Hobst Ralfert.¡±

    Zaina glanced over at Sister Tyza, who tilted her head toward the elderly mechanic. She wasn¡¯t going to ask this for Zaina.

    ¡°And you said you fix ships for free?¡± she asked.

    He shrugged. ¡°Depends on the damage.¡±

    Zaina nodded. Not one for words, this guy. ¡°Well¡ªis there any way you could help me out? I¡¯m in a pretty bad jam.¡±

    ¡°Maybe.¡±

    Not quite sure how to respond, Zaina grimaced and held her tongue.

    Hobst turned to Sister Tyza. ¡°Good seeing you. You take care, now.¡±

    She smiled. ¡°You too. Don¡¯t be a stranger. And remember, we¡¯re here if you need anything.¡±

    With that, the Takagaran hopped out of his chair and made for the exit. He turned to Zaina and said, ¡°Coming with?¡±

    She leaped out of her chair to follow him. ¡°I¡¯ll see you later, Sister Tyza!¡±

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    Once Zaina caught up with him, he stopped and asked, ¡°Got your lot key?¡±

    Her heart stopped. ¡°My what now?¡±

    ¡°Lot key. Tells you where your ship is in the lot.¡±

    ¡°Um¡ªno, I don¡¯t¡ªnobody told me I was supposed to¡ª¡±

    He scratched his head. ¡°How long ago did you land?¡±

    ¡°Maybe, like, two days? I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°Hm. Well, they won¡¯t have scrapped it yet, then. Probably. All right, come on.¡±

    Without another word, Hobst exited the building. Parked outside was a three-wheeled electro-bike with a high-walled hover-wagon hitched to the back. The mechanic climbed into the seat of his bike¡ªthe four smaller handlebars were clearly custom-fit¡ªand started it up. There was no side-seat so Zaina climbed in the wagon.

    The electro-bike zoomed away, pressing Zaina against her compartment¡¯s rear wall. Hobst went much faster than Sister Tyza. The neon-covered buildings flew by at alarming speed. Whenever the bike turned it did so sharply, making her careen into the side walls.

    The speed did have benefits¡ªthey arrived at the shipyard quickly. From the outside, its raised walls made it look like a fortress. The gates, of which there were twelve, were fifty feet tall and narrow, with steel bars extending into the walls to prevent unauthorized entry. Built over them was a glass-enclosed walkway connecting two large buildings to either side of the gate complex. Hobst waved at one of the guards standing by a barred gate. The guard waved back and pushed a button on her vis-screen, retracting the metal bars.

    Thankfully, Hobst went considerably slower inside. The sprawling maze of ships opened up before Zaina¡ªthey were all shapes and sizes and in various states of glory or disrepair. Endless rows and columns of transports were spread out over an area that seemed to stretch on forever.

    Half the planet must just be this shipyard.

    A moment of panic struck her. What if she lost Gir¡¯s ship? And with Gizmo inside, the last things Gir left behind would be gone. Her heart twisted at the thought.

    After everything he did for me... No. I¡¯m finding his ship.

    Hobst veered the electro-bike off to the side and pulled to a stop in the shade of a sixty-foot tall cruiser¡ªit had to be at least as big as the pirate ship that attacked her. Zaina, curious as to why, made him speak first by offering silence.

    He turned and said, ¡°What¡¯s the model number?¡±

    ¡°The what?¡±

    ¡°The model number. Of the ship. That way I can check the records and get a possible location.¡±

    ¡°Um¡ªI don¡¯t know it. It¡¯s actually my friend¡¯s ship, but they died on Demelia, so I¡ªI don¡¯t know anything about the ship.¡±

    Hobst grunted and scratched his head. ¡°So. It¡¯s gonna be a shitshow looking for it manually. But so it is. You remember about what terminal you landed in?¡±

    She shook her head. ¡°I know the ships weren¡¯t this big.¡±

    ¡°You know the occupancy?¡±

    ¡°It had seating for a few people, but it wasn¡¯t a big ship. I¡ªI don¡¯t know the exact number.¡±

    He nodded. ¡°All right. We¡¯ll check the personal transport rows first and go up in size from there. Hope you didn¡¯t have plans today.¡±

    She raised her hands. ¡°Nope. I¡¯m free, however long it takes.¡±

    With a grunt, they were on their way.

    -

    The waning hours of sunset were winding down by the time they came across Gir¡¯s ship. Hobst¡¯s body language¡ªshaking head, three arms crossed and one scratching his head¡ªmade it clear that this wasn¡¯t an easy-fix type of situation.

    Zaina stood at the edge of the landing platform. A nearby generator provided a steady supply of green light¡ªotherwise, she surmised this was the darkest place on Otmonzas. There weren¡¯t many bright neon advertisements, and the dense gray fog clouded any lights from buildings outside the shipyard. She fidgeted with her hands, unsure of what to do and dreading that the ship was beyond repair.

    He put on a pair of vis-glasses, which sparked to life with a blue glow. Then he set about examining the ship, climbing about to get a better look at every minute detail. After about an hour of exhaustive analysis and tinkering, Hobst climbed down and walked over to Zaina. She clasped her hands together, preparing to get turned away.

    ¡°So,¡± he said. ¡°Good news, bad news. Which you want first?¡±

    Her heart skipped a beat¡ªmaybe it wasn¡¯t as bad as she thought. ¡°The good news!¡±

    ¡°Well, it won¡¯t take long to fix,¡± he said. ¡°As chance has it I have the right parts, and my crew and I can get this sort of work done in three or four s-days.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s great!¡±

    He nodded. ¡°Thank your stars they used siphon missiles. Not designed to damage the interior engine works, only drain its output. Means they probably were gonna sell you and the ship on the black market.¡±

    She figured as much. ¡°Okay, so¡ªwhat¡¯s the bad news?¡±

    ¡°The bad news,¡± he said, ¡°is that the parts you need are expensive. Some of the most expensive I¡¯ve got. Now, I don¡¯t mind helping out however I can on simple stuff, but something like this is much more intensive. My whole crew for a few days, putting my most expensive parts into it¡ªI can¡¯t justify doing that for free.¡±

    Her shoulders slumped over. There it was. ¡°So¡ªwhat do I do?¡±

    His head teetered. ¡°Well,¡± he replied, ¡°as luck would have it, I¡¯m short-staffed around the shop right now. Could use an extra hand or two. So, I¡¯ll make you a deal: you come work for me. Sister Tyza¡¯s got your food and board covered, so you can put however much of what you earn toward what you owe. If you want to save some for wherever you¡¯re going, that¡¯s up to you. I probably won¡¯t ask that you pay the full amount for the parts, but we¡¯ll find a number to agree on.¡±

    Zaina frowned. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but¡ªI don¡¯t know anything about working on ships. I don¡¯t know how much help I¡¯ll be.¡±

    He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve already got a crew. No, I need help with other stuff¡ªdealing with customers, daily cleaning, that sort of thing.¡±

    She thought about it¡ªwhile it wasn¡¯t ideal, it was better than waiting around for nothing. If she worked hard and made herself extra useful, maybe he¡¯d even let her go early. Plus, she wasn¡¯t exactly drowning in options at the moment.

    She reached out to shake his hand. ¡°You¡¯ve got a deal.¡±

    He accepted it with a grunt and then turned back to the electro-bike. ¡°Let¡¯s get you back to the good sister, now.¡±

    Zaina lingered for a moment, turning back to Gir¡¯s ship. She hadn¡¯t known Gir for very long, but somehow she still missed him. The lancer had helped her when she needed it most¡ªthat was the kind of person she wanted to be.

    I¡¯ll be on my way soon. Whatever it takes.

 Chapter Twenty-Eight: Stranger in Distress

    ¡°The rebellion has grown worse since Bilvane took over. Those security androids of his are cold, and people fear them. Citizens will not live in fear for long. They will fight back. If he doesn¡¯t pull back his less savory methods of dealing with criminals, the Angels of Otmonzas will triple in size in five years¡ªmark my words.¡±

    ¡ªChidron Aliart Lome, in a private correspondence to her friend, former Dyarch Utmul Gralarkigan

    I didn¡¯t think today could be more mind-numbing than yesterday.

    Zaina stood behind the counter of Hobst Ralfert¡¯s repair shop, drumming her fingers as time crawled by. The storefront was little more than three chairs, a plant, and the counter; a handful of commonly purchased parts were available on shelves behind her, but she couldn¡¯t tell anyone what any of them did. Loud, ungodly noises came from the large garage behind the shop, where Hobst toiled away for hours on end without a break.

    The shop didn¡¯t get many customers, so she spent most of her day attending to random cleaning tasks. The few people she did interact with ended up taking their business elsewhere after disputes with Hobst.

    He really is grumpy all the time.

    She kept an eye on the clock. Only five minutes until closing. She winced as a metal, drill-like shrieking came from the back. He¡¯s got to eat dinner, right? Or sleep¡ªsomething?

    The next four minutes passed excruciatingly slowly. After a micro-eternity, Hobst stepped through the garage doors, drying his hands on a towel.

    ¡°Looks about time to close,¡± he said. ¡°You already sweep and mop?¡±

    She nodded. ¡°Wiped everything down, too.¡±

    He grunted his approval. ¡°All right. You want me to drop you off at the good sister¡¯s? I¡¯m headed to the shipyard. Gonna see if I can¡¯t get those missiles out.¡±

    Zaina raised her hands. ¡°No, I think it¡¯s close enough that I can manage it. Do you ever sleep, old man?¡±

    ¡°Not when there¡¯s work to do. I¡¯ll close up in a bit, I want to get a little more work done here before I head out. Be safe, Zaina.¡±

    ¡°I will. Thank you, Hobst. See you same time tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°Same time, sharp,¡± he said, then held the door open for her. Zaina stepped out into the open air of Otmonzas.

    Okay. Sister Tyza¡¯s is around that building, then I take the first left, and it¡¯s straight from there. Not even a thing.

    By now all the light in the sky was gone except for whatever glow-shows were being thrown on whichever rooftops. Zaina didn¡¯t care at this point. Partying wasn¡¯t the reason she was here. She made her way down the sidewalk, careful to avoid eye contact with strangers and to stay in the relative safety of the streetlights.

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    The air was heavier and thicker than back home, and warmer, too; the city gave off a tremendous amount of heat. Zaina wanted nothing more than to be off Otmonzas for good.

    The sooner I¡¯m on my way, the better. But for now, I wonder what they¡¯ve got at the buffet.

    Her thoughts were interrupted by an ear-splitting pop¡ªshe flinched, then turned. It came from a darkened alleyway behind her.

    A young woman¡¯s voice rang out: ¡°No, no, no, no!¡±

    No one else was even flinching¡ªjust walking a little faster to get away. Zaina¡¯s fists clenched. It¡¯s probably more of those security androids. Her gaze fell to her shaking hands. What would a lancer do?

    Zaina ran toward the noise, stooping to pick up a rusty pipe. She dashed around the corner.

    I hate being right.

    Five androids, identical to the ones she¡¯d tangled with before, surrounded a fallen human woman. Their birifles were all trained at her head, and one was pulling out handcuffs.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Zaina tightened her grip on the pipe. ¡°Gears-for-brains! Why don¡¯t you all fuck off?¡±

    The androids turned. The closest one emitted a low hum and aimed its birifle at Zaina. Then, in a low, raspy robotic voice, it said, ¡°Citizen. Do not interfere.¡±

    ¡°Or what?¡±

    ¡°Citizen, if you are assessed to be a threat, you will be eliminated.¡±

    Without another word, Zaina leaped forward and lodged the pipe in the closest android¡¯s head. The others turned toward her¡ªshe grabbed the first bot¡¯s birifle and swatted their guns aside.

    Zaina bashed one¡¯s head, then dashed aside¡ªthe last three had already recovered. Pops mixed in with the loud club music, but the aim of their first salvo was off. Scraps whizzed past her back. She glanced over at the androids¡ª

    Her foot caught on a grate, and Zaina spilled onto her face. There wasn¡¯t enough time to stand¡ªshe raised a hand as the security androids adjusted their aim. Her eyes closed, anticipating the end. There wasn¡¯t even time to process it.

    She winced as another round of pops broke off¡ªit had to be nine or ten. There was no pain, no heat¡ªnot even an impact. Only the sound of machines breaking apart.

    An eye peeked open¡ªthe androids, punctured with holes and missing large pieces, fell to the ground. The human girl had grabbed one of their birifles¡ªshe knelt with it jammed against her shoulder, taking deep breaths.

    The young woman intrigued Zaina; she had long yellow hair with streaks of bright pink, and vibrant green eyes lined with red eyeshadow. Her skin was pale and smooth. She wore gray torso armor with a segmented pauldron covering her left shoulder. Beneath that was a white, collared blouse. Her scaled-metal belt held twin scrapshot pistols and a number of other devices Zaina didn¡¯t recognize. The woman had a single knee pad, but only her dark blue pant sleeve covered the other. Black combat boots covered her feet.

    The young woman tossed the birifle aside and stood. ¡°Thanks for the save.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zaina said, unsure of what to make of the stranger. ¡°No problem.¡±

    The young woman smiled. ¡°Takes some balls to jump into a fight like that. But to do it for someone you don¡¯t even know¡ªthat takes heart. And I don¡¯t know if anyone¡¯s ever told you this, but you¡¯re fast.¡±

    Warmth rushed to Zaina¡¯s cheeks. She averted her gaze. ¡°Well, you know¡ªI¡¯m going to be a lancer, so¡ª¡±

    ¡°A lancer? With skills like that? Why waste your energy when the whole galaxy¡¯s yours for the taking?¡±

    ¡°I¡ªoh, I don¡¯t know. I¡ªI guess I want to be a hero. It¡¯s silly, I know.¡±

    The young woman chuckled. ¡°Not at all. Come on¡ªwe should probably get out of here before any more friends show up. I know a spot we can go.¡±

    Zaina wondered if she¡¯d be able to make it home if she went out of her way¡ªthis planet was one big city, and it was built like a maze. Still, she liked this woman¡¯s energy.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Zaina said, smiling, ¡°lead the way.¡±

 Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Angels of Otmonzas

    ¡°Rebellions and the underworld¡ªwhere you find one, you¡¯ll find the other.¡±

    ¡ªDonzaro Frabadian, Director of Legal Enforcement of the Alliance of Worlds

    The young woman nodded and made for the end of the alleyway. They sneaked through twists and turns, avoiding attention from stray passersby, none of whom seemed to care. Zaina stayed close to the stranger¡ªthe last thing she needed was to get lost.

    ¡°So.¡± The young woman turned back and said, ¡°you got a name, partner?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Zaina. Zaina Quin, from Demelia.¡±

    ¡°Ah, right on. Well, I¡¯m Reida. Reida Qarys. It¡¯s good to meet you, Zaina. I¡¯m glad you found your way to my corner of the Nova Rim.¡±

    Zaina wasn¡¯t used to getting compliments¡ªto people her age liking her. Back home, especially at school in Ryrda, she never had many friends. She blushed, and her mind blanked. She changed the subject. ¡°So, where are we going?¡±

    ¡°Somewhere we can talk in private,¡± Reida said. ¡°Where none of that bastard Bilvane¡¯s androids can hear or see us.¡±

    Sounded good enough. They kept going through the alleys until they came to a dead end. Reida pulled a hook-gun from her belt and aimed it at the roof¡ªwith a clunk, the tracking tip lodged into the side of the concrete wall.

    She¡¯s a good shot.

    Reida extended a hand toward Zaina. ¡°Going up.¡±

    Zaina walked over and grabbed it. Reida pushed a button, and the hook-gun carried them both to the edge of the roof. With a grunt, Zaina climbed up and over and helped Reida up.

    Once Zaina took in the view, her jaw dropped. It reminded her of her favorite spot back home, where she watched ships depart from Ryrda; here, the entire city opened up. The low, neon lights and signs extended in every direction, mixing into a fusion of ever-changing pastels.

    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± she whispered.

    ¡°From a distance,¡± Reida replied. She leaned over the edge of the roof. ¡°But the closer you look, the uglier it gets.¡±

    Zaina stared at the stranger, who was illuminated in the multicolored glow of Otmonzas. ¡°So¡ªwhere¡¯d you learn how to shoot like that?¡±

    Reida shrugged. ¡°Been doing it all my life. Had to learn quick.¡± She turned to face Zaina¡ªhalf of Reida¡¯s face was steeped in a gentle blue glow, and the other half was covered in dark, pulsing red. ¡°Thanks again for saving me back there. Not many people would do something like that these days.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± Zaina said, waving aside the compliment.

    ¡°No, I mean it. You saw everyone else walk by. But thanks to you, I¡¯m free.¡±

    Zaina nodded. ¡°Well, don¡¯t worry about it. I want to help people. Plenty of people have helped me in getting here.¡±

    Reida chuckled. ¡°Not sure I¡¯d call that help.¡±

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    ¡°You know what I mean.¡±

    ¡°I guess,¡± Reida said. ¡°I don¡¯t know. To be honest, I¡¯m not used to people jumping in on my side. I guess people like me don¡¯t get helped very often.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Zaina said, ¡°you don¡¯t seem so bad to me.¡±

    Reida¡¯s green eyes pierced Zaina, making her knees weak¡ªit wasn¡¯t a feeling she was used to. Then Reida said, ¡°You said you want to be a lancer?¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡ªI got shot down on my way to Kaado. Luckily I was close enough to crash-land here.¡±

    ¡°Shot down?¡± Reida asked. ¡°What happened there?¡±

    ¡°Pirates,¡± Zaina said. ¡°The Otmonzas defense forces came and drove them off before anything too serious happened, but it was still really scary. My first time in a ship, and I get attacked by pirates.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, damn pirates are everywhere these days.¡± Reida shook her head. ¡°Still, it¡¯s hard to hear. You seem like a really nice person. I¡¯m not sure why you¡¯d want to join up with them.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Reida shrugged. ¡°I haven¡¯t had any good experiences with lancers. Hell, I¡¯m having problems with one right now. Bilvane¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that name a lot,¡± Zaina said. ¡°Who is that? Does he control the androids?¡±

    ¡°He controls everything. Goris Bilvane. The head of security forces. Pretty brutal guy. There¡¯s a growing rebellion against him, the Angels of Otmonzas.¡±

    Zaina looked Reida up and down. Having been trained to fight since she was very young, Zaina¡¯s instincts to assess what she had seen kicked in. The armor, the security droids attacking her¡­ Of course. It all made sense.

    ¡°You¡¯re one of them,¡± Zaina said. ¡°One of the rebels¡ªaren¡¯t you?¡±

    Reida¡¯s eyes widened¡ªthen a charming smirk took over. ¡°Damn, I gave it away, did I? I never was a good liar.¡±

    ¡°Wow,¡± Zaina said. ¡°You¡¯re so brave! I don¡¯t think I could ever do what you do.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡± Reida asked. ¡°Anyone can stand up for the right thing. All it takes it a little courage. That¡¯s why I think it¡¯s so weird you want to be a lancer.¡±

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    ¡°Well, you seem really brave. And you say you want to help people.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s head tilted. ¡°Aren¡¯t both of those things needed to be a lancer?¡±

    Reida sighed. ¡°Maybe in the stories, yes. But in real life, lancers work for people like Bilvane. There¡¯s one working for him right now¡ªa vicious killer. A real piece of shit.¡±

    That didn¡¯t make sense. Lancers were supposed to help people suffering under oppressive regimes, not help the regimes. Everything on Otmonzas was backward. ¡°But¡ªhow?¡±

    ¡°The Order¡¯s got mouths to feed, like everyone else,¡± Reida said. ¡°At least, I¡¯d assume so. I don¡¯t know if lancers need to eat or not.¡±

    ¡°Well, I still get hungry.¡±

    ¡°Either way,¡± Reida said, ¡°they sell their services to the highest bidder. Whatever glamor or glory the Order of Riiva used to have in the Nova Rim, it¡¯s gone. They¡¯re little more than a group of mercenaries. Dogs for the Synatorium.¡±

    That didn¡¯t sit right with Zaina. Gir hadn¡¯t seemed loyal to the Synatorium at all. He didn¡¯t seem to care one way or the other¡ªhe only wanted to help, and the Order sent him all the way to Demelia to do so. ¡°But¡ªthere¡¯s still good lancers out there. I¡¯ve met one.¡±

    ¡°Good, bad,¡± Reida replied, ¡°it all depends what side you¡¯re on. You know what your problem is?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± This woman barely knew Zaina¡ªshe couldn¡¯t possibly understand her.

    ¡°You¡¯re looking at it in terms of definitions. In your head, ¡®lancer¡¯ means ¡®good.¡¯ Anyone standing against them must be ¡®bad¡¯ by definition. But it isn¡¯t that simple. I¡¯m sure there are good lancers. But overall, they side with the people that have money¡ªwith the Bilvanes of the galaxy.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s so bad about him?¡±

    Reida frowned. ¡°Bilvane¡¯s been up to no good for a long time. He loves to preach about his humble origins as a roboticist¡ªbut he¡¯ll never tell you how many people his androids have killed. When the government gave him a security contract, he built a private army. Used his network of surveillance to spy on competitors¡ªnow they¡¯re all dead or paupers.¡±

    ¡°So he controls the entire planet¡¯s security?¡±

    ¡°He controls everything,¡± Reida said, then nodded toward a tall, black building towering into the night skies¡ªthe billboards and signs were sparse on its walls, and there were no lights otherwise. ¡°From right in there.¡±

    Zaina squinted to get a better view¡ªdense fog obscured the skyscraper¡¯s edges, making it appear as a hulking, shrouded obelisk in the night.

    ¡°You want to see where all of the hardworking people¡¯s money goes, it¡¯s right there. That tower is a fortress¡ªit¡¯s got cameras everywhere, security sensors on all the ports and vent exhausts, guards at every entrance and exit¡ªeverything you can think of. Including that lancer.¡±

    ¡°So¡ªwhat are you going to do? How can you win this fight?¡±

    Reida smiled. ¡°My captain has a plan for that. What, you interested in helping out? We could use some extra muscle¡ªand you¡¯ve got more than enough for what we need.¡±

 Chapter Thirty: The Angels Deal

    ¡°Many people have been hoodwinked into rebellions on fake promises of success. A mountain of bodies throughout time, all unsuspecting souls who wandered into a cause they didn¡¯t fully understand. To the rebels, they¡¯re little more than useful meat shields.¡±

    ¡ªDrobr Dathow, renowned Humanoid Psychologist

    Zaina stared at Bilvane¡¯s headquarters in the distance. It wasn¡¯t right to let the people of this world suffer¡ªbut this seemed too big for her. She didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°I¡ªI¡ª¡±

    ¡°I can even make it worth your while,¡± Reida said. ¡°We have a bit saved up in our coffers. If you help us with one mission¡ªone big one¡ªwe¡¯ll make sure your ship gets fixed up right as rain. From there, if you want to leave, that¡¯s up to you.¡±

    Now it was even more tempting. The thought of another week¡ªanother month¡ªof toiling away behind the counter at Hobst¡¯s shop made her numb. The sooner she got off Otmonzas, the sooner she¡¯d begin her lancer career.

    ¡°How do I know if I can trust you?¡± Zaina asked.

    Reida shrugged. ¡°You don¡¯t. It¡¯s all faith.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s thoughts turned to Jveldaq, who only wanted to take care of people¡ªand how he was gunned down by those security droids. They¡¯d almost killed Reida, too¡ªand Zaina herself, multiple times now. Plus, if there was a chance she could get to Kaado faster, didn¡¯t she have to take it¡ªno matter the risk? Despite being grateful to Hobst for his help, if she could get the money together, wasn¡¯t that better for both of them?

    Indecision paralyzed her mind. She sighed.

    ¡°What¡¯s holding you back, partner?¡± Reida asked.

    ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°This is a chance to do some real good. We can make people¡¯s lives better right here. Plus, you¡¯ll get everything you want out of it¡ªyou can even still be a lancer after all¡¯s said and done, if you still want to.¡±

    Despite Zaina¡¯s misgivings about getting involved in a war, it was worth the risk. ¡°I¡ªI wouldn¡¯t have to kill anyone, would I?¡±

    Reida¡¯s eyebrow rose. ¡°What, you¡¯ve never killed before?¡±

    ¡°What, you have?¡±

    A grimace came over Reida¡¯s face. She turned toward the dark tower looming in the distance. ¡°I¡¯ve been in this game for a long time.¡±

    Zaina frowned. She couldn¡¯t imagine growing up in this¡ªspending your whole life fighting. Despite Reida¡¯s outward exuberance, there was a deep sorrow that came through in glimpses. This whole world needed help¡ªmaybe stopping Bilvane was a start. And if, in doing so, she got help getting offworld, all the better.

    ¡°Well,¡± Zaina said, ¡°what would we be doing?¡±

    Reida faced her and said, ¡°Bilvane¡¯s a crafty bastard, he is¡ªbut there¡¯s a flaw in his system. A big one. All of his security androids are controlled by a central processing station beneath the basement levels of that tower.¡±

    ¡°So we shut it down?¡±

    ¡°Sort of. We¡¯ll be taking its power source¡ªthe Vahataman Crystal. One of the rarest substances in the galaxy¡ªand superior to Celestium in energy processing, in every single way. One rock off that crystal could power an entire neighborhood up here for centuries with the right engine setup¡ªbut instead, it¡¯s down there powering his mechanized army.¡±

    ¡°And without that, he won¡¯t have his army,¡± Zaina remarked. ¡°Pretty smart.¡±

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    Reida nodded. ¡°Exactly.¡±

    ¡°So that¡¯s the plan, then? Steal the crystal and¡ªthen you want to kill Bilvane, I¡¯m assuming?¡±

    ¡°No. We¡¯re not going to kill him. It¡¯s better if he stands trial for his crimes¡ªthere are many who see the Angels as the enemy. If everything he¡¯s done is brought to light, he won¡¯t die as a martyr. Our top priority is securing the crystal and making sure Bilvane can¡¯t get it back. If he does, it¡¯ll all be for nothing.¡±

    ¡°Makes sense,¡± Zaina replied. ¡°Look¡ªI don¡¯t want to hurt anyone, and I definitely don¡¯t want to kill anyone. But if you can still find a use for me, and still want to help me out¡ª¡± She let a deep breath in and out. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡±

    Reida¡¯s lips curled into a cocky half-smile. Here, in the light, it struck Zaina how pretty she was. Light from the city¡¯s dim glow danced off her smooth skin. ¡°I¡¯m so glad to hear you say that. I¡¯m sure we can arrange something. I¡¯ll talk to my captain tonight¡ªmaybe you can come meet her. I think you¡¯d like her, she doesn¡¯t take shit from anyone. She¡¯s been my hero for as long as I¡¯ve known her.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like that,¡± Zaina said. ¡°So¡ªcan I ask, uh¡ªwhy me?¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Reida replied, ¡°for one, you¡¯re fast¡ªand strong. We can use that. Two, you¡¯re brave enough to jump into a fight¡ªand three, kind-hearted enough to do it for a complete stranger. I¡¯d say you have what it takes.¡±

    A chuckle escaped Zaina¡¯s lips at the absurdity of it all. ¡°You know, a week and a half ago, I was a boring farm girl. I thought I¡¯d stay in my little paradise forever. Now, here I am¡ªa rebel fighter on my way to become a lancer.¡±

    ¡°Life is weird,¡± Reida said. ¡°What, you can¡¯t go back?¡±

    Zaina shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to go back to.¡±

    Reida¡¯s lips twitched downward. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that. What happened?¡±

    ¡°My world was attacked by a creature called the Eldritch,¡± she said. ¡°It gave me this mark. It¡¯s part of what¡¯s making me so much stronger and faster than I used to be, but it¡¯s also¡ªI don¡¯t know how to explain it. It¡¯s a part of myself that isn¡¯t... me. Either way, I couldn¡¯t stop it in time to save my homeworld.¡± She turned to Reida. ¡°But it¡¯s not too late for yours.¡±

    Reida¡¯s eyes widened, a big smile stretched across her face. ¡°Thank you, Zaina. Truly. You really are a hero. And who knows, maybe you¡¯ll decide to stay one.¡±

    Warmth flushed Zaina¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m no hero. Besides, you¡¯re helping me out too.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Reida replied, ¡°but I don¡¯t think that¡¯s why you¡¯re in it. You strike me as the type of person who can¡¯t just walk away from a situation where people are suffering.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡ªI never saw myself that way.¡±

    ¡°Well, have you ever been in a situation like this before?¡±

    Zaina didn¡¯t have an answer. Even the crisis back home on Demelia was different. The enemy was more ethereal¡ªbut somehow simpler. It was an evil so obvious that it had to be resisted. Here, everything was muddled. There were cruel actors, of course, but the system itself was cruel.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Reida said. ¡°I¡¯ve got to report back to the boss now. You should go on and get some sleep. Where can I find you if I need to reach you again?¡±

    ¡°I work at Hobst Ralfert¡¯s repair shop during the day, and I¡¯m staying at Sister Tyza¡¯s CDP right now. If I¡¯m not at one, I¡¯m probably at the other.¡±

    ¡°Got it. Thanks again, Zaina¡ªfor everything. I honestly don¡¯t know if I¡¯d be alive if not for you.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. I¡¯m glad you¡¯re alive.¡±

    Reida chuckled. ¡°All right, we should probably get down from here.¡± She fired her hook-gun at point-blank range into the concrete edge of the building; Zaina took her hand and they descended to the streets below.

    ¡°Okay, partner,¡± Reida said, spooling the hook-gun up and reattaching it to her belt, ¡°here¡¯s where we part ways. You know how to get home from here?¡±

    ¡°Um¡ªno.¡±

    Reida pointed to an alleyway behind them. ¡°Take that out to the main road. You¡¯ll take a left, and it¡¯ll be there on your right. Got it?¡±

    After repeating the directions a few times in her head, Zaina nodded. ¡°Thanks, Reida. I¡¯ll see you again?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be in touch soon,¡± she replied. Then she slipped away into the night.

    Zaina turned and followed her directions with a skip in her step. She thought getting off Otmonzas was going to be a long, drawn-out affair, but an opportunity had fallen into her lap.

    If it pays off, I¡¯ll be on my way to Kaado before I know it¡ªand maybe I can even improve things here.

    The lights were out by the time she returned to the CDP, but the doors were unlocked. Sister Tyza was the only one in the common room.

    ¡°How was Hobst¡¯s?¡± she asked, standing once she noticed Zaina.

    ¡°It was good. Long day.¡±

    ¡°No kidding. I was worried about you¡ªI¡¯m glad to see you made it home.¡±

    Home. The word struck Zaina like a ton of bricks. A twang of guilt pulled at her heart¡ªdespite all the hospitality and help she¡¯d received, she still couldn¡¯t wait to get out of here. To leave this world behind and never come back. It couldn¡¯t be helped¡ªOtmonzas wasn¡¯t her home.

    She smiled. ¡°I¡¯m all right, sister. Thank you, though.¡±

    ¡°Are you hungry? The buffet¡¯s open¡ª¡±

    Zaina shook her head. ¡°I think I¡¯m gonna get some sleep. I¡¯ve got another long day ahead of me tomorrow.¡±

    Sister Tyza nodded. ¡°I understand. Go on, then. I¡¯ll shut everything down out here.¡±

    After saying goodnight, Zaina stalked to her room. Part of her was excited to have met Reida, part of her was apprehensive about the scope of their mission, and part of her was exhausted. The latter won out as she collapsed on her bed and fell asleep in seconds.

 Chapter Thirty-One: The Rebel Call

    ¡°Proof is trust.¡±

    ¡ªOld Damastar Proverb

    For two days Zaina went about her business at Hobst¡¯s shop. Everything was done early in case Reida came back. After helping Hobst close the shop for the night, she¡¯d walk home and spend the rest of her time in Sister Tyza¡¯s facility. Otmonzas, as far as Zaina was concerned, consisted of these two places and the walk between them.

    The third night looked to be no different. Sitting behind the counter, Zaina rested her hand on her chin. The storefront was pristine¡ªshe had more than enough free time to see to that. Today had been so boring she¡¯d wanted to clean to pass the time. Only two people had been in all day, and neither bought anything.

    She cast a glance toward the shop in the back, cringing as a metallic whirring rang out. I wonder how he stays afloat with so few customers?

    The final minutes of the day were counting down. It wasn¡¯t long before Hobst burst into the shop, performed his nightly once-around, and told her to go home. After saying goodnight, Zaina made for the door. Another day, and nothing from Reida.

    Hopefully she¡¯s okay. I hope Bilvane¡¯s androids didn¡¯t get her.

    She didn¡¯t put it past them. Still, she was a little disappointed. Maybe she yearned for the adventure¡ªor the chance to control her destiny. It mattered little now; all she could do was live her life and wait.

    Before she made it out the door, Hobst¡¯s voice called after her. ¡°Oh, by the way¡ªZaina!¡±

    ¡°Yeah?¡± she asked, pivoting to face him.

    ¡°News on your ship: it¡¯s all done.¡±

    She blinked. ¡°All done? You mean¡ª¡±

    He grunted. ¡°Up and running. Fully operational. That includes the glyph inside. Wordy little bugger. Keeps asking after a ¡®Giramodo.¡¯¡±

    Cool, soothing relief flooded her system. Finally, some good news. ¡°Yeah, Gizmo can be a trip.¡±

    Another grunt. ¡°Now¡ªon the issue of payment.¡±

    She tensed up. This was the conversation she¡¯d dreaded. How long did she have to spend here?

    ¡°Now,¡± he said, ¡°I know you¡¯re in a bad way, kid, but I like the way you work. I¡¯ll pay you my top rate. At that rate, it¡¯d take a full two years of wages to pay for the parts and labor I put into that ship of yours.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s heart sank. Two years? But¡ªI only have ten to be a lancer, right? And two more years of¡ªthis?

    He raised his hand. ¡°I know, I know, that¡¯s an awful lot of your time. And I know you¡¯ve got places to be. So, I¡¯ll tell you what. Let¡¯s say you stay for three months. Keep helping me out, and I¡¯ll count all your hours worked toward your debt. In three months¡¯ time, we¡¯ll part ways.¡±

    A sigh of relief escaped from her lips. ¡°Thank you, Hobst.¡±

    ¡°That wordy glyph,¡± he said, ¡°mentioned something about Kaado. You working with a High Lancer. That true?¡±

    She grimaced. ¡°I think ¡®worked with¡¯ is kind of a stretch. I didn¡¯t know him very long, but he was my friend¡ªthat¡¯s how I think of him. I like to think he thought of me the same way.¡±

    Hobst grunted. ¡°Never met a lancer myself. Heard a lot of stories.¡±

    She stepped all the way inside and closed the shop door. This was the most Hobst had said to her...well, ever. She had to see what this was about. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking¡ªwhy are you helping me?¡±

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    He scratched his head and adjusted his glasses. Then he shrugged. ¡°You know, I owe Sister Tyza a couple of favors. She does good work here. You may go on to do great work¡ªbut not if you stay here.¡±

    She leaned back against the wall next to the door. ¡°Can you even afford all this? You haven¡¯t brought in any money¡ª¡±

    He waved his hand to brush her concern aside. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about my money. I¡¯ve got enough.¡±

    ¡°If you say so,¡± she said.

    He sighed. ¡°You know,¡± he began in a low, solemn voice, ¡°I had a daughter about your age. Lot like you.¡±

    Zaina frowned. Had?

    Hobst waved his hand. ¡°That¡¯s neither here nor there. You get on out of here. Probably hungry, grab some food.¡±

    Zaina turned. ¡°You too. Don¡¯t work yourself to death.¡±

    He grunted in reply, his mind clearly on whatever project was in his shop.

    ¡°Goodnight, Hobst. And thanks again.¡±

    The last sound from the shop before the door closed was a grunt from the grumpy mechanic. Zaina was struck by a twinge of sorrow. I wonder what happened to his daughter.

    It seemed like everyone in the galaxy had lost something.

    Zaina trudged home¡ªby now, she knew her path by heart. Not having to pay attention allowed her mind to wander, or her exhaustion to creep in. She walked by an alley, and something moved in her peripheral vision.

    A familiar voice called out, ¡°Hey there, stranger.¡±

    Stepping back, Zaina was greeted by a waving, gray-robed figure. They pulled the hood back, revealing their face¡ªit was Reida.

    With a smile, Zaina ducked into the alley and said, ¡°I thought you forgot about me.¡±

    Reida chuckled. ¡°As if. You ready to meet the captain?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Where¡¯re we going?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve got a bunker near here,¡± Reida replied, turning. ¡°Follow me.¡±

    Zaina stayed as close as possible, not wanting to lose Reida amid the weaving complex of alleyways. Night had fallen over Otmonzas, and there was little light along their travels; a few spare trash campfires, some flashlights used by people searching through dumpsters and piles of odorous garbage, and some wall-mounted lights at the back of restaurants and bars. The back-alleys were a welcome respite from the glittering glamour that permeated everything on this world.

    With every few turns, the buildings around them became more and more dilapidated. Their silhouettes were riddled with holes, broken windows, and missing entire chunks; whatever Zaina got a glimpse of in the light was patched up with boards of sheet metal and wood. Fewer people were out and about here.

    ¡°Rough area of town?¡± Zaina asked.

    Reida shrugged. ¡°Easier to hide.¡±

    They came to a fence at the end of an alley. Zaina put her hands on her hips. ¡°You get lost? It¡¯s a dead end.¡±

    Reida rolled her eyes and climbed the fence¡ªon the other side was a disheveled concrete building. Its entrance was cracked open, and pieces of the first floor had spewed all over the property. Flickering fire lights glowed in most of the windows. It stood tall against the night¡ªat least a hundred feet tall. Reida led her to the side of the building, walking by the entrance. Inside were rows of tents and people huddled around campfires.

    They came to a stop by an angled cellar door beside the building. Reida pried the hatch open and gestured for Zaina to go into a dimly lit stairwell with the bottom out of sight. Once Zaina was in, Reida followed and pulled the door closed¡ªit fell shut with a mighty thud.

    ¡°Not exactly what I pictured when I thought of your guys¡¯ headquarters,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°Yeah, it leaves quite a bit to be desired, if I¡¯m being honest. But don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll be moving somewhere new soon.¡±

    ¡°Are the people up top¡ªare they Angels, too? I mean, they¡¯re not exactly trying to hide.¡±

    Reida shook her head. ¡°No, just a bunch of vagrants. Kind of works in our favor to have ¡¯em here. All the attention goes up there, and we¡¯re free to do what we want down here.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Zaina said. That didn¡¯t seem very heroic.

    ¡°This part of town¡¯s fallen apart,¡± Reida said, ¡°but it can be rebuilt. For now, though, it serves our purposes.¡±

    The stairwell went on for quite some time¡ªZaina lost track of minutes. Finally, the bottom came into view¡ªshe stepped into a massive room with concrete walls. Light panels hung from the ceiling in rows, suspended by steel wires. Stacks of metal crates were scattered about¡ªsome were popped open, revealing copious amounts of guns, Celestium batteries, and assorted pieces of armor.

    People of all shapes and sizes hustled about, loading or unloading cargo; none of them looked friendly, and not one took notice of Zaina as Reida led her through the tapestry of controlled chaos. Everyone wore differing sets of armor¡ªeven people of the same species had unique protection. Everyone¡¯s clothes were haggard and dirty, and the entire complex gave off a foul odor from the numerous unwashed bodies.

    On the other side of the room was a large black table, around which several important-seeming people stood. Reida led Zaina toward them.

    A human woman, probably in her late thirties, raised her hand. Everyone else at the table dispersed as Reida and Zaina approached. The woman wore all black, including her armor, and she had a black fur cloak draped around her pauldrons. She had long, black hair pulled back into a war-like topknot set with pins; her amber-colored skin and piercing red eyes complimented each other perfectly, all set on a thin, serious face.

    Reida bowed her head. ¡°Captain Danjai.¡±

 Chapter Thirty-Two: The Iron Angel

    ¡°Our mighty Alliance, fallen to rebels. Our ancestors weep.¡±

    ¡ªPrindaps Soresqan, the Last Adjudicar of the Alliance of Worlds

    The woman¡¯s eyes fixed on Zaina. ¡°This your new friend?¡±

    ¡°Yup. She saved my life a few nights ago, like I said. And she indicated she¡¯s ready to work.¡±

    Captain Danjai nodded. ¡°Well, we¡¯ve got plenty of that.¡± She pointed toward a cache of guns nearby. ¡°You know how to use any of those?¡±

    ¡°I can use a scrapshot,¡± Zaina replied.

    ¡°Might want to grab one before they¡¯re all packed up,¡± the captain said. ¡°We¡¯re going mobile soon.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll get her one!¡± Reida said. ¡°You said scrapshot, right? You really should use a phase cycler, they¡¯re better in every way.¡±

    ¡°I can try it out, but I¡¯m pretty good with a scrapshot.¡±

    Reida shrugged. ¡°All right, works for me. I¡¯ll find you a good one, and some ammo, too.¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Zaina said. She turned to face Captain Danjai, who was looking her up and down.

    ¡°Reida spoke highly of you,¡± the captain said¡ªher voice was deep and sharp.

    ¡°She spoke highly of you, too.¡±

    ¡°I would hope so. Loyalty matters with what we¡¯re doing here.¡±

    Zaina gulped. This woman gave off no-nonsense vibes.

    ¡°I¡¯m taking quite the risk in bringing you on, I hope you realize that,¡± Captain Danjai said.

    Zaina¡¯s head tilted. ¡°How so?¡±

    ¡°For one thing, you¡¯re awfully late to the party. We¡¯ve been planning this for a while.¡± Captain Danjai swept her arm, gesturing around the room. ¡°For another, I¡¯ve worked with everyone in here for a long time¡ªI trust them. I can¡¯t say the same for you. But Reida sees something in you, and I¡¯ve tried to teach that girl everything I know. If she¡¯s willing to take a chance on you, so am I¡ªeven if it jeopardizes months of work, it¡¯ll teach her something valuable. And if you¡¯re as reliable as she says, we can divert resources elsewhere.¡±

    Zaina nodded. ¡°Well, thanks for the chance, anyway.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t thank me yet. You know¡±¡ªshe glared¡ª¡°I¡¯ve met your type before. With the mark. It didn¡¯t end well for anyone.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not all the same,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°I realize that. But before I send you in there with my lieutenant, I need to know¡ªare you in control?¡±

    Zaina frowned¡ªit wasn¡¯t something she¡¯d been particularly keen to dwell on. ¡°I am.¡±

    Captain Danjai¡¯s stone gaze didn¡¯t waver. ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with worse, anyway.¡±

    Reida walked over with a single-barrel scrapshot. ¡°Catch!¡±

    She tossed it to Zaina, who barely caught it. ¡°Gah! What the¡ªis this thing loaded?¡±

    ¡°Yup! Ready to go. None of these have safeties, by the way. Manufacturer¡¯s defect. Funny story, that¡¯s actually how we got them.¡±

    Stolen novel; please report.

    Zaina held the weapon¡ªit was lighter than her father¡¯s double-barreled scrapshot. Its paint was rusted, with a number on the side scratched out. The peletin of beads was only about two-thirds full. The mag-hammer was a little bit different¡ªa lever on the back instead of a button¡ªand there was no rangefinder.

    Well, it¡¯s not what I trained with, but it¡¯ll do.

    ¡°Loaded those up with stun beads for you. Oh, and grab some armor and stuff before we head out,¡± Reida said. ¡°You¡¯ll definitely want some of that. Probably a mask, too¡ªmaybe some kind of blunt weapon since you¡¯re so strong. But we¡¯ll get there when we get there.¡±

    Captain Danjai¡¯s gaze was still fixed on Zaina. ¡°You ever used one of these in a live situation?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never been in a gunfight, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking,¡± Zaina said. ¡°My dad used to take me out to a hill near our house. I practiced a lot.¡±

    ¡°First action¡¯s always rough,¡± the captain said. ¡°Can¡¯t have anyone freezing on a mission like this.¡±

    Zaina shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. I can handle myself.¡±

    Captain Danjai frowned. ¡°Can¡¯t tell you how many people I¡¯ve heard say that on their last day alive.¡±

    Unsure of what to make of this woman¡ªshe clearly didn¡¯t want Zaina here, and Zaina didn¡¯t exactly feel welcomed¡ªbut she ignored the comment. ¡°So¡ªwhat¡¯s the plan?¡±

    ¡°As far as you¡¯re concerned? Stick with Reida. She¡¯s responsible for you. I¡¯ve already briefed her on everything. Do what she says.¡±

    ¡°Oh, okay,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°Hey, Reida! You ready?¡± the captain shouted over the clamor of their underground warehouse.

    ¡°Yeah, just about,¡± Reida said, picking through a pile of tubes containing small discs with blue lights lining their edges. She stuffed a few in her pocket and walked back over. ¡°You gonna get everything out in time?¡±

    The captain scowled. ¡°If these bastards would get a move on. It¡¯s not the worst thing in the world if we have to leave a few pallets behind, all things considered¡ªstill might have to crack a head or two to get them going proper.¡±

    ¡°Right on,¡± Reida said. ¡°Come on, Zaina, I¡¯ll get you geared up before we head to our post. Do you know your armor size by chance?¡±

    Zaina blinked rapidly. ¡°Wait¡ªwait, this is happening tonight?¡±

    Reida¡¯s head tilted to the side. ¡°Well¡ªyeah, when did you think we were going to make our move? The longer we wait, the more people will suffer.¡±

    ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know, but¡ªa little more notice would¡¯ve been nice!¡±

    The captain sighed. ¡°Nice isn¡¯t a strong suit in this line of work. This happens tonight¡ªno matter what. Are you in or out?¡±

    Zaina shifted her weight. This was her last out¡ªshe had a sinking suspicion she should take it and walk away. What was three more months tending Hobst¡¯s shop?

    She glanced at her empty palm. I¡¯m supposed to be a lancer. Ten years for the rest of my life¡ªto spend three months of that here¡­

    She met Captain Danjai¡¯s eyes and said, ¡°I¡¯m in.¡±

    Reida loosed a relieved sigh. ¡°See, I told you she¡¯s solid. I knew you¡¯d come around. Come along, now.¡±

    ¡°Best of luck tonight,¡± the captain called after Reida as she dragged Zaina toward a pile of body armor.

    ¡°Here¡ªtry this on. This one¡¯s pretty good. Won¡¯t do much against energy weapons, but not much will,¡± Reida said, shoving a silver breastplate into Zaina¡¯s hands.

    ¡°Um¡ªsure,¡± she replied, fitting it over her shirt. It fit over her, barely touching her torso beneath the shoulders. ¡°This one¡¯s too big.¡±

    ¡°All right¡ªwell, try on this mask. You like it? Good. Here¡¯s your utility belt¡ªI already loaded it up with goodies.¡± Reida quickly shoved it into her hands and went back to rummaging through the armor on the floor. The breathing mask was similar to the one she wore back home, except the hyper-glass face covering was tinted dark gray and had an interior vis-screen displaying a targeting screen and environmental readouts; the utility belt had three holsters: one for a grappling hook-gun, one for a scrapshot, and one for a sleek, square-shaped gun with a curved handle; six orb-shaped grenades hung from the belt¡¯s side.

    After finding a gunmetal-gray armor piece, Zaina put the utility belt and mask on, then spread her arms and did a once-around.

    ¡°How do I look?¡±

    Reida giggled. ¡°Like a proper freedom fighter. You ready to get a move on? I¡¯ll catch you up on what you need to know on the way.¡±

    They walked back up the stairs and emerged into the open night air of Otmonzas. The low murmur of people milling about filled her ears.

    Does anyone on this planet ever sleep?

    Reida started toward and fence and said, ¡°Follow me!¡±

    After climbing over, they landed back in the network of alleys. A few winding twists and turns took them to a small clearing. A small, grounded craft was parked in the center¡ªa three-wheeled bike with two seats strapped over an engine.

    ¡°Is this yours?¡± Zaina asked.

    Reida mounted the bike¡¯s front seat. ¡°Let¡¯s say I requisitioned it. You know¡ªfor the glorious cause.¡±

    Again, the sensation struck Zaina that she should walk away while she still could. Something about this whole scenario didn¡¯t sit right with her. Instead, as if in a trance, she walked over and got on behind Reida, wrapping her arms around the cold metal armor covering her torso.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go over everything when we get there,¡± Reida said. ¡°For now, hang on, okay?¡±

    An aroma with a hint of sweetberries emanating from Reida¡¯s hair floated into Zaina¡¯s nostrils. The scent was pleasant. ¡°I can do that.¡±

 Chapter Thirty-Three: The Black Towers Peak

    ¡°You wanted a building that stood higher than the clouds. You never considered what would happen if it fell.¡±

    ¡ªAzdrogaw the Builder, to the Prince of Parason

    The bike lurched forward¡ªthe three wheels all turned at the same time, and they whipped around toward the exit. Reida ducked down as they darted through the system of back alleys. They came to what appeared to be a dead end¡ªReida maintained speed while closing in on a concrete wall. Zaina shouted¡ªat the last second they swerved, pulling out into the main road.

    Reida sharply turned the bike¡¯s steering bars, barely dodging another grounded vehicle on seven wheels. All Zaina could do was hold on for dear life as Reida weaved in and out of traffic with reckless abandon, her hair whipping onto Zaina¡¯s face.

    Mercifully, their ride came to an end on the main road. Reida stepped off and helped Zaina, who was shaking, to dismount and stand. The noise was amplified here, as was the size of the crowd surrounding them.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know if anyone¡¯s ever told you this, but you drive like you¡¯re trying to kill someone,¡± Zaina said in a shaky voice.

    ¡°I only hear it from the ones that survive.¡± Reida winked. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°Where are we going now?¡±

    ¡°To the highest point in Otmonzas,¡± Reida said. ¡°Agrilan Tower.¡±

    ¡°What¡ªwhy?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll explain on the way. Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll have plenty of time. Come on, let¡¯s get going.¡±

    Reida walked into the ground-floor door of a nearby skyscraper. For a second, Zaina lingered behind, turning back¡ªthere, in the not-so-far distance, was Bilvane¡¯s black tower, looming over almost everything. Both buildings extended into the foggy layer of the sky.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Reida called out from inside. ¡°Come on! We are on a schedule, you know.¡±

    Zaina hurried inside. The first floor was devoid of people; with all the desks, glass panes, and seating, she guessed it was some sort of reception area. Reida darted toward the elevator in the back, a black capsule in a sleek, white tube.

    ¡°What is this place?¡± Zaina asked as she stepped into the elevator.

    Reida pushed a button and said, ¡°It used to be the headquarters of one of Bilvane¡¯s rivals. Now it¡¯s rented out for office space by Bilvane¡ªbut the rooftop is usually used for parties. That¡¯s where we¡¯re headed.¡±

    ¡°To a party?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. So be on your manners.¡±

    The door closed, and without a moment¡¯s delay, the capsule rocketed upward¡ªZaina¡¯s knees almost buckled, but she kept her legs under her.

    Most of the elevator¡¯s tube system was hyper-glass, giving an excellent view of the city¡¯s infinite lights stretching out, growing smaller and smaller as they ascended. The gray smog clouded their view for a few seconds, but then they emerged above it, and it was unlike anything Zaina had ever seen. Her jaw dropped. There above the clouds were only two peaks¡ªtheirs and the black monolith. None of the light or noise from below was present. For the first time since she¡¯d gotten here, Otmonzas was quiet. Here above the world she felt like she could pluck a star right out of the night sky.

    The capsule came to a stop and popped open. Zaina¡¯s eardrums nearly exploded as bass-boosted music blared into her ears, and she closed her eyes to keep strobe lights from flashing in them. This wasn¡¯t like any party she¡¯d ever been to¡ªnot that she¡¯d been to many.

    Reida walked out, seemingly unbothered, and strayed toward the edge of the dancing crowd. Zaina followed. Anyone who laid eyes on them generally looked the other way, though a few people hurriedly made for the exit.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Zaina sighed. If only they knew we¡¯re here to help.

    They made their way to one of the side walls, where the crowd was thinnest. Zaina¡¯s ears were ringing and her head aching from the bombardment of music; still, she was lucid enough to watch Reida pull two one-foot-diameter discs with glowing edges from a compartment in the back of her armor. She then put two wrist-bracers on, each shining with the same light blue glow.

    Reida threw one over the edge of the building¡ªit wobbled in midair and then hovered in place, stiff as a board. Reida stepped onto it¡ªthe bracer on her wrist controlled the other one, and with a smooth motion, she brought it in front of Zaina and nodded toward it.

    A sharp sense of fear gripped Zaina as she stared at the disc. The gray clouds below weren¡¯t as beautiful on the edge of a building. She gulped and stepped onto it¡ªher foot barely fit. It didn¡¯t rock or sway as she stepped on, but she was still barely able to keep her balance.

    Reida mouthed the words Hold on.

    The disc moved forward¡ªit was slow and steady, but Zaina still almost lost her footing. She crouched down, gripping the sides of the floating disc with her hands and pressing her feet against its surface. They crept forward in midair, moving at about a walking pace. Reida was perfectly balanced on her disc.

    How is she so calm? Zaina wondered. A drop of sweat fell from her nose. It missed the disc entirely, and she lost sight of it quickly; it had fallen somewhere amid the dense fog hundreds of feet below. She gulped.

    The noise from the rooftop faded away as they ventured out further. Before long it was low enough that Zaina was able to hear again.

    ¡°So,¡± she said, ¡°what¡¯s the plan for getting in? I thought you said this place was like a fortress.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll fill you in on everything when we reach the rooftop.¡±

    ¡°Why did we have to come this way?¡±

    Reida shot her a perplexed look. ¡°What, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re afraid of heights?¡±

    ¡°Not usually, but this¡ªthis is a little insane!¡±

    ¡°Hold tight and you¡¯ll be all right,¡± Reida replied. ¡°We¡¯ll be there in a few more minutes.¡±

    A ship burst through the layer of smog below and shot into space before Zaina blinked. A knot formed in her stomach¡ªthey didn¡¯t want to be seen, obviously, but they also didn¡¯t want any oblivious pilots crashing into them from below.

    Zaina sighed with relief as they reached the three-quarters mark. Ships streaked away at random, but Reida kept them out of harm¡¯s way.

    This might go smoother than I thought.

    Another ship, this one much bigger, broke free of the cloud below. Its secondary engines gave off a fiercely bright blue glow as they activated. The transport burst upward, causing a shock wave. The disc beneath Zaina¡¯s feet tilted, then fully rotated; she lost her footing and then her grasp. A shriek escaped her lips as she plummeted toward the surface below.

    Thinking quickly, she grabbed the hook-gun. She tried to quell her panic¡ªthere was only one shot at this. She lined it up and pulled the trigger¡ª

    Yes!

    The metal tip careened at the hovering disc and went right through its center, piercing its internal circuitry. Its light sputtered and faded.

    No!

    Weightlessness and dread were the only sensations she felt. She¡¯d come this far, only to die like this? It wasn¡¯t fair.

    Suddenly, Zaina¡¯s descent jerked to a halt. She yelped, hanging on for dear life to the hook-gun¡¯s handle. She glanced upward. Reida, still atop her own floating disc, had fired her hook-gun through Zaina¡¯s broken one, holding it in place.

    At the same time, they both retracted the lines on their hook-guns until the flat sides of their discs met. Reida¡¯s face was turning red from bearing Zaina¡¯s weight, but she held strong. Reida¡¯s functional disc flipped and dipped below Zaina¡¯s feet, allowing her to step atop it; Reida knelt upside-down against its bottom, gripping the edge with one hand and the hook-gun with the other to hold herself in place. It wasn¡¯t ideal, but neither of them were falling.

    Zaina gasped for air while trembles rocked her body, and her heart beat like an ever-intensifying drum. ¡°Holy fuck, that was close. Thank you, Reida¡ªyou saved me.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± she replied, breathing heavily. ¡°You really have a flair for the dramatic, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Zaina replied sheepishly, ¡°I¡ªI guess.¡±

    They touched down without further incident, landing atop the titan in the sky. The roof, at least two-hundred feet in diameter, was flat, with no side walls or guardrails; two mini-towers with assortments of long, metal rods and dishes¡ªsome kind of communications rig?¡ªjutted upward from the building¡¯s center. Other than that, three massive box turbines were placed to help regulate internal temperature.

    Zaina¡¯s heart was still racing with thunderous fury¡ªit clearly didn¡¯t agree with her life choices today. She fell off the disc and tried to stand on her shaking legs; they buckled, and she crumpled to her knees. Beside her, Reida landed flawlessly and helped her up.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Zaina said. ¡°So, what now?¡±

    ¡°Well, good news and bad news. The good news is, the easy part¡¯s almost over. I¡¯m sure you can extrapolate the bad news.¡±

    She almost threw up in reply but held it down. ¡°That was the easy part?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Reida said, sitting and leaning against one of the gently whirring walls containing the box turbines. That same cocky half-grin came over her face. ¡°For now, we wait here for the signal. Then we¡¯ll really have some fun.¡±

    Zaina gulped, her shoulders sinking. What the hell have I gotten myself into?

 Chapter Thirty-Four: The Looming Tempest

    ¡°Ah, the Vahataman Crystal. Nothing makes a finer decorative piece. Such exquisite material is worth a fortune¡ªthe galaxy has little of it left.¡±

    ¡ªDeraw Gulfrees, Chairman of the Ildgul Mining Conglomeration¡¯s Public Relations Department

    ¡°We¡¯ve been probing his defenses for a few months now,¡± Reida said. ¡°Trying to find information on where the sensors are and aren¡¯t¡ªblind spots in the security system.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing the roof is one of those blind spots?¡± Zaina asked, pacing back and forth to work out the excess energy her anxiety was generating.

    ¡°Yeah, sort of.¡±

    ¡°Sort of?¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Reida replied, ¡°there¡¯s no way inside the building without tripping a sensor. Every entry and exit point is covered¡ªand even if you destroy a section of the wall, there are internal sensors built into every inch of the interior¡¯s framework.¡±

    ¡°So, how the hell are we gonna get inside?¡±

    ¡°Simple. On the captain¡¯s signal, we¡¯re gonna disable one of these turbines and go in through the duct system.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s mind raced, trying to make sense of this plan. ¡°Okay, but¡ªwon¡¯t we trip a sensor?¡±

    Reida shrugged. ¡°Yeah, but at that point the system won¡¯t care. Captain Danjai¡¯s going to create a diversion down below on the street level¡ªif she can poke a few holes in the building, it¡¯ll prioritize those over a shorted turbine. There isn¡¯t much security up here, to be honest¡ªI was shocked that there weren¡¯t even cameras. The outer surface is made from nonmagnetic material, so no magnetic hook-guns¡ªand no regular hook-guns, either, since they¡¯ll lodge themselves inside a wall and trip one of the internal sensors; and these towers here are tracking for active engines and cascading signals at a certain energy threshold in case anyone tries to come via ship. That¡¯s why we had to come on those stupid discs¡ªthe system isn¡¯t designed to look for anything that small.¡±

    ¡°You really know your stuff.¡±

    ¡°Like I said,¡± she replied, ¡°we¡¯ve been probing. We¡¯ve been able to figure out what works and what doesn¡¯t¡ªfor the most part.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyebrow rose. ¡°For the most part?¡±

    ¡°Well, truth be told, we don¡¯t know as much as we¡¯d like about the basement-level defenses. Only what we¡¯ve been able to get out of contractors who worked on it and Bilvane¡¯s employees¡ªwhich isn¡¯t all that much.¡±

    ¡°What happens if we fail? You know¡ªif something bad happens.¡±

    A coy smile spread over Reida¡¯s lips. ¡°Then this whole thing will be considered another probing attempt for whoever tries next.¡±

    ¡°So if this goes sideways, we¡¯re probably dead?¡±

    Reida shrugged. ¡°Yeah, probably.¡±

    Zaina didn¡¯t understand¡ªhow wasn¡¯t she taking this seriously? ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid to die?¡±

    ¡°Nah,¡± Reida replied. ¡°Never understood that mentality, really. It can come anytime, any place; there¡¯s no sense in living your whole life avoiding it. Half the fun of it all is being right on that edge¡ªyou¡¯ll never know what it means to live until you¡¯re right there. And once you know that feeling, it¡¯s¡ªwell, it¡¯s everything. Nothing else really matters after that.¡±

    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    It was strange to hear someone talk so openly and casually about death. Zaina had put her life on the line a few times on Demelia. Memories of the surges of power, of the thrill of the fight briefly made her heart skip with excitement, but it was quickly replaced by the shaky lurch of a deep pit of fear opening in her stomach.

    ¡°What?¡± Reida asked. ¡°You think I¡¯m wrong?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, kind of. I mean, the more times you put yourself at risk, the greater the chance of it going wrong eventually¡ªyou know? I don¡¯t see anything wrong with playing it safe.¡±

    ¡°Safe and slow, huh?¡± Reida chuckled. ¡°You know, that¡¯s probably not a good mentality for a lancer-to-be. Safe and slow might not be in your repertoire for long if you want to be a hero.¡±

    ¡°Well, yeah, but not everyone can be a lancer or a freedom fighter.¡±

    ¡°No, but we are,¡± Reida replied. ¡°You can¡¯t worry about it in this line of work. Sooner or later it comes for everyone¡ªwho cares?¡±

    ¡°You do, apparently. Or are you forgetting you¡¯ve saved me twice now?¡±

    Reida waved the thought aside. ¡°First one was to repay you. The second was to put you in my debt. Never know when I might need a friend for something.¡±

    Warmth flushed through Zaina¡¯s chest, rising into her cheeks. ¡°Friend?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, friends,¡± Reida said. ¡°We¡¯re about to go on a dangerous mission to save this world¡ªI wouldn¡¯t do that with someone I didn¡¯t consider a friend.¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Zaina said. ¡°That means a lot.¡±

    ¡°What, you don¡¯t have a lot of friends or something?¡±

    Zaina sighed. ¡°No, not really. I had a few friends growing up¡ªmade some in school¡ªbut it doesn¡¯t matter. Shouldn¡¯t we be talking about the mission?¡±

    ¡°Probably.¡± Reida leaned forward. ¡°Well, you want to be a lancer... Can¡¯t you summon a sword or something like that?¡±

    ¡°A cipher. I did it once,¡± she said, ¡°but¡ªit wasn¡¯t under normal circumstances.¡±

    ¡°You seem to find yourself in abnormal circumstances a lot.¡±

    Zaina replied, ¡°It¡¯s not like I asked for my planet to be destroyed.¡±

    ¡°Well, I would hope not,¡± Reida said. ¡°In case your cipher doesn¡¯t want to come out, I have a spare resonedge you can use. It¡¯s really sharp, but it won¡¯t cut through or block a cipher¡ªyou know, if we come across that lancer. So if we do, keep your distance.¡±

    Reida pulled a dark gray sword, three feet in length, out of the back storage section on her armor; the hilt was constructed around a thin, narrow engine, with a black button facing the same way as the blade¡¯s withered, chipped edge.

    Zaina took the weapon and turned it on. The handle gave a gentle hum.

    ¡°Careful with that, now. You ever used one before?¡±

    ¡°No, I can¡¯t say that I have,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°Should¡¯ve grabbed you a pair of gloves¡ªthat thing¡¯ll vibrate your hand off. It uses resonant frequencies to cut through anything it touches¡ªexcept ciphers. It should cut through Bilvane¡¯s security droids no problem, especially with your strength.¡±

    Zaina turned the blade off. ¡°All right, perfect. So¡ªwhat¡¯s the plan for when we get inside?¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Reida said, scratching her head, ¡°the ventilation system should take us where we need to go. If not, we¡¯ll have to pop out and chance the building¡¯s interior security. Either way, we¡¯ll need one of the employees to get into the basement.¡±

    ¡°What, you mean like kidnapping someone?¡±

    Reida rolled her eyes. ¡°No, I was thinking we¡¯d ask real nicely. Of course we¡¯re probably kidnapping someone. The air ducts don¡¯t go where we need to go, and it¡¯s only accessible by Bilvane himself and his few employees that aren¡¯t androids.¡±

    ¡°As long as they don¡¯t get hurt,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°What do you think these people do? They either program or fix his robot army¡ªhis surveillance empire. How many people do you think they¡¯ve hurt¡ªfriends of mine, even?¡±

    Zaina turned away. ¡°Yeah, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°No. If they work for him, they¡¯re my enemy. I¡¯ll deal with it when the time comes, okay? You won¡¯t have to dirty your hands.¡±

    A twinge of sorrow struck Zaina¡¯s heart. Had Reida ever known anything but this?

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re getting cold feet on me.¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not that,¡± Zaina said. ¡°I guess I¡ªI¡¯m sorry, Reida. You¡¯ve been through so much. Growing up where I come from¡ªI don¡¯t know, I guess I never thought things could get this bad.¡±

    Reida shrugged it off. ¡°Eh, it is what it is. I don¡¯t want to dwell on it. What about you, anyways? Your world was blown up¡ªthat¡¯s pretty sad, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Zaina¡¯s gaze fell to the ground as she turned back toward Reida. ¡°I mean... it is and it isn¡¯t. My family¡¯s safe, and I¡¯m so grateful for that¡ªbut my home is gone. The place I grew up¡ªthat I know. Knew. There, I could tell you the exact number of steps to get to my father¡¯s shooting range. I could navigate the forest near my parents¡¯ house blindfolded. But here? Anywhere else? I¡¯m lost.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Reida said, ¡°you seem pretty lost here. I don¡¯t think Otmonzas is your style.¡±

    ¡°Too much commotion. And too many lights¡ªthey¡¯re everywhere.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not so bad. There¡¯s something about it¡ªI don¡¯t know, I think it¡¯s all right.¡±

    ¡°I guess,¡± Zaina replied. ¡°I don¡¯t know about living here, though.¡±

    ¡°Well you¡¯re not going to, right?¡± Reida said. The vis-screen on her wrist beeped, and she checked it. ¡°All right, five minutes until we go in. Get ready.¡±

 Chapter Thirty-Five: The Mission Begins

    ¡°Pre-mission jitters always fuck me up. You¡¯ll get over it quick. Or we¡¯ll have one less way to split.¡±

    ¡ªTreida the Thief Queen to her rookie apprentice, Fylarl

    Zaina stood and made sure everything was adjusted properly. She stretched her legs and back. Then she closed her eyes.

    If ever there was a time to summon my cipher, now¡¯s it. Come on¡ª

    She focused all her energy on manifesting the blade. When Zaina¡¯s eyes opened, they were met with an empty palm and Reida¡¯s confused stare.

    ¡°Is that some weird lancer meditation or something?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zaina replied, ¡°we¡¯ll go with that.¡±

    Reida walked over to the turbine and motioned for Zaina to follow. ¡°Okay¡ªwe only get one shot at this. We have to go through at the same time¡ªgot it? If we trip the sensor at intervals, it¡¯ll draw more attention from the system.¡±

    ¡°What, it¡¯ll think we¡¯re some kind of weird bird or something?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, maybe. But with what¡¯s going on below, it won¡¯t care about a single instance. This turbine shaft goes down about five hundred feet and terminates at the start of a ventilation system¡ªfrom there, we¡¯ll be able to locate an employee who can get us access to the central elevator terminal.¡±

    ¡°You think we¡¯re gonna have company?¡±

    Reida smiled. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be a party if we didn¡¯t. I¡¯d expect security droids. The lancer¡¯s fifty-fifty; he might stay and guard the crystal, but if the captain creates enough ruckus, he might leave his post to help. Let¡¯s hope he leaves.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Zaina said with a nod. ¡°So¡ªhow long do we have?¡±

    ¡°A little over two minutes.¡±

    ¡°Right. Can I ask you something?¡±

    ¡°As long as it¡¯s quick,¡± Reida said, still focused on her vis-screen.

    ¡°Why¡ªwhy me?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Zaina clasped her hands behind her back. ¡°Well¡ªI don¡¯t get it. Why choose me over someone you know? Someone you trust?¡±

    Reida pursed her lips. ¡°You¡¯re strong, you¡¯re fast¡ªand you saved me. That counts for something.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t care that I¡¯m¡ªyou know¡ª¡± Zaina sighed and pointed at her eye.

    A chuckle escaped Reida¡¯s lips. ¡°No, not at all. I was surprised at how nice you are, actually. The captain¡¯s told me a lot of stories. You know, she offered me a whole team for this, but I turned her down¡ªshe said it was either you or them. I chose you¡ªand I did it because you¡¯re exactly the kind of person I want to work with.¡±

    Blood rushed to Zaina¡¯s cheeks as she smiled and looked away. ¡°Thanks, Reida.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t thank me yet,¡± she replied. ¡°All right, let¡¯s get into position. We¡¯re going in in thirty seconds.¡±

    Reida climbed to the top of the turbine¡¯s casing, and Zaina followed. Their eyes met, and they both nodded. Once the timer reached ten seconds, Reida counted it down aloud, her finger hovering over her vis-screen.

    ¡°Nine¡ªeight¡ªseven¡ªsix¡ªfive¡ªfour¡ªthree¡ªtwo¡ªhere we go!¡±

    Everything unfolded in slow motion: a massive boom broke out below, shaking the entire building; Reida tapped her vis-screen, and a jolt of electricity ran through the turbine¡¯s engines and shorted them in an instant. The spinning blades stopped. Reida grabbed Zaina¡¯s arm, and they both jumped through.

    The turbine shaft was long and went straight down. Reida slammed her armored forearm into the wall, and it attached; her other arm swung Zaina into the cold, metal wall, and Reida jerked with a pained grunt.

    Between clenched teeth, she said, ¡°Please activate your armor¡¯s magnet climbers.¡±

    ¡°Uh, okay, hold on¡ª¡± Zaina stared at the armor control pad on her free-hanging wrist. She hadn¡¯t bothered to learn how to use it.

    Reida, turning red from the strain, said, ¡°Red¡ªit¡¯s the red one!¡±

    Zaina reached for her other arm, still in Reida¡¯s grasp. It took a little stretching, but she pushed the red button and firmly attached to the wall. Reida let go with a pained gasp.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Zaina said sheepishly.

    ¡°No¡ªno, I probably should have gone over that with you,¡± Reida said. ¡°Okay, we don¡¯t have much time. We¡¯ve gotta climb down. This is the long part.¡±

    They shimmied down one forearm-length at a time until they came to a metal floor. To the right was a darkened, cramped metal hallway, which led to the building¡¯s airflow system; to the left was a lime green, slotted ventilation grate.

    Reida didn¡¯t detach from the wall until her feet were on the floor¡ªZaina did the same, careful not to make a sound. Light came in through the thin slots¡ªthey were above a room with blue walls.

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Reida whispered, ¡°I¡¯m going to blow the grate. If I¡¯m right, we should be right above our target. I¡¯ll handle the talking. Oh, and there might be androids, so be ready.¡±

    Zaina nodded, still hesitant to go along with the morally questionable tactics; still, there was no turning back now. One hand grasped the resonedge¡ªits weight was burdensome, and she wished she had her cipher¡ªand the other hand hovered near the scrapshot holstered at her waist, ready to draw in an instant.

    Reida stooped next to the ventilation grate and placed at its base a small, thin disc with three stripes of green, pink, and blue color. Then she backed up, grabbing Zaina¡¯s arm to pull her with.

    ¡°What the hell is that?¡± Zaina asked once they stopped.

    ¡°My favorite,¡± Reida replied. ¡°Concussive flash flare. It¡¯ll give us a second to get in there. You ready?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°GO!¡±

    Zaina closed her eyes as the disc released a loud burst, enough to ring through her chest¡ªa bright light pierced her eyelids, and when she opened her eyes, the grate was gone. The ventilation shaft¡¯s edges were torn away, and a trail of smoke obscured the room below.

    Reida charged into the haze; Zaina followed, activating the resonedge as she landed amid the gray smoke and odorous fumes.

    Low buzzes filled the room. A low-pitched voice broke out: ¡°There they are! Shoot them! Shoot them!¡±

    Zaina activated her mask¡¯s tracking system¡ªthe androids were glitching out. Reida¡¯s grenade had done a number on their systems, apparently.

    A shrieking bolt of green energy tore through the cloud and struck one of the androids in the chest¡ªits metal skin turned red instantly as its torso split apart, spewing its molten mechanical insides. More bolts followed, each virtually disintegrating one of the androids. Zaina turned. Reida, with both hands on her phase cycler, finished off the last of the robotic enemies.

    Reida glanced over at Zaina and said, ¡°I told you phase cyclers are better. Now, let me do the talking.¡±

    The room was empty except for them. Shelves holding what looked like torture instruments lined the walls; three rows of surgical tables stood on the other side of the room, as well as a desk.

    Reida swaggered toward the tables and said, ¡°Ilstevor Vahn. Senior mechanical overseer¡ªcybernetics division. That¡¯s you, right?¡±

    Movement caught Zaina¡¯s eye¡ªsomething crawled between the tables, emitting a panicked whine as it went. She drew her scrapshot.

    Continuing, Reida said, ¡°Is this how you want to play things? If you cooperate, you might walk out of this building alive.¡±

    There was a moment of silence¡ªthen, a five-foot-tall figure sprang up from behind one of the surgical beds. It was a middle-aged Lymedaran, with a wide, flat head, six bulbous eyes, and scaly, leathery skin of a gray-green hue. He wore a long, gray coat with soaked-in oil stains. In his hand was a phase cycler aimed at his own cheek.

    ¡°You need me,¡± he said, ¡°don¡¯t you? To get in. If I do this¡ªyou two are done for.¡±

    ¡°Maybe,¡± Reida said coolly. ¡°Maybe not. But you know who really would be done for if that happened? Elvina¡ªValha¡ªTorus.¡±

    The green color drained from his face. ¡°How do you know their names?¡±

    ¡°I know a lot more than that,¡± she replied, her voice icy and clipped. ¡°I know exactly where to find them. And if you do something stupid, I¡¯ll have to pay them a nice little visit.¡±

    Zaina recoiled, surprised by Reida¡¯s cold demeanor.

    Fear overtook Ilstevor¡¯s six eyes. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t I?¡± Reida mocked him. ¡°You really willing to take that bet?¡±

    Ilstevor, hand shaking, lowered the gun. Reida surged forward and stabbed a knife into his arm¡ªhe bellowed and fell backward. She kicked his gun away.

    Zaina watched in horror as Reida pulled the knife out and kicked him in the face. ¡°There¡¯s more of that coming if you try anything funny.¡±

    He groaned and tried to crawl away, but Reida grabbed him and pulled him up. Then she pushed him toward the door and pointed her phase cycler at his back.

    ¡°Get a move on,¡± she said.

    Zaina frowned. She¡¯d never seen this side of Reida before. She¡¯d never seen anyone act this way¡ªexcept for maybe Beni, but¡ª

    She shuddered. What¡¯s her excuse?

    Ilstevor led the way to a metal door at the far side of his office, cradling his wounded arm. Reida kept the gun trained on his back.

    Zaina caught up with her and whispered, ¡°What was that? Were you¡ªwere you serious?¡±

    Reida¡¯s eyebrow raised. ¡°Come on, Zaina, is that really what you think of me?¡±

    Zaina¡¯s stomach turned. She didn¡¯t know what to think of all this. Ilstevor pushed his palm against a vis-screen on a podium next to the exit.

    The door opened to a narrow hallway with a low ceiling; identical doors lined both sides, with light coming from strips above. The walls, ceiling, and floor were dark blue. Black metal arches extended from the wall segments between every door.

    ¡°All right,¡± Reida said. ¡°Let¡¯s mosey. This is the way to the central elevator terminal, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Ilstevor said. ¡°But it¡¯s heavily guarded. Even after you pirates¡ª¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough, now.¡± Reida pushed him forward. ¡°Take us there. Try anything, and you know what¡¯ll happen.¡±

    Zaina shook her head. What had he called them? Pirates¡ªmaybe Reida wanted Ilstevor to think they were pirates. None of this sat right with Zaina.

    She winced and walked along behind Reida, who moved with an icy stillness. Zaina gulped¡ªthree months at Hobst¡¯s shop didn¡¯t seem so bad compared to this. With an anxious sigh, she hoped the worst of it was over¡ªbut she couldn¡¯t shake the cold sensation of dread building up inside.

    Ilstevor¡¯s pace slowed down gradually until he fell between Reida and Zaina. As Reida led the front, he glanced toward Zaina and whispered, ¡°Please¡ªyou¡¯re not one of them, are you? You have to help me. She¡¯s going to kill me. Please¡ª¡±

    Zaina gulped, keeping her eyes on Reida to make sure she hadn¡¯t noticed. ¡°It¡¯ll be all right¡ªdon¡¯t worry. Do what she says and you¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    Ilstevor didn¡¯t need words to express his doubt¡ªhis eyes did enough. He turned, hanging his head as he walked a little faster.

    They kept straight on until Reida grabbed Zaina and Ilstevor and pulled them behind one of the arches.

    ¡°Hey¡ªwhat¡¯s wrong?¡± Zaina asked.

    Reida peeked around the corner. Then she turned back and said, ¡°I¡¯m picking up six heat signatures at the end of the hallway. Androids, from the looks of it.¡±

    Ilstevor chimed in, ¡°There are android guards stationed on every floor connecting to the central terminal. You won¡¯t be able to get past them. If you so much as peek out from cover, they¡¯ll get you.¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah?¡± Reida put her gun against his temple, making him cower. ¡°Then what¡¯s to say I shouldn¡¯t kill you now?¡±

    Zaina grabbed her arm. ¡°Come on, Reida¡ªdon¡¯t.¡±

    Shooting a disgusted glare Zaina¡¯s way, Reida ripped her arm free and scowled at Ilstevor. ¡°You¡¯re lucky we need you.¡±

    Ilstevor was still shaking. Though Zaina didn¡¯t want to hurt him, the sooner this was over the better; he could go home to his family, and all this craziness would come to an end. Wanting to keep everything on track, Zaina said, ¡°So what¡¯s our next move?¡±

    Reida sighed. ¡°We need an angle on those androids. If my scanners are picking them up, they¡¯re definitely seeing us.¡±

    ¡°So¡ªwhat do we do?¡±

    Reida peeked around the corner again. ¡°Okay¡ªon my signal, you run for that forward position. I¡¯ll cover you.¡±

    ¡°What¡ªwhy me?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re faster,¡± Reida said, ¡°and I¡¯m a better shot. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got your back.¡±

    ¡°But what if¡ª¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no time for questions,¡± Reida said. ¡°We need to hurry and get them off-line. They¡¯re sending data about us to the security network¡ªwe¡¯re on the clock now, okay?¡±

    Zaina frowned and stared at the scrapshot in her hand.

    ¡°Hey,¡± Reida said, ¡°don¡¯t think. Act. Come on, now. You can do this.¡±

    A warm rush of courage surged through Zaina. Her heart was pumping faster every second, but she swallowed her fear.

    The air was still; Reida¡¯s voice pierced the eerie silence with a shout: ¡°Now!¡±

    It was now or never. Zaina dashed from behind the arch and into the open hallway¡ªdeafening sputters and pops broke out, echoing through the hall.

 Chapter Thirty-Six: Hallway Hellfire

    ¡°While using androids for security and law enforcement may be tempting, we should not be too quick to adopt the practice; that, according to all Synatorium doctrines, is for the planets to decide. I will say, though, that I fear the day when cold, lifeless machines are responsible for the dispensation of justice. Life, with all its complexities and constraints, cannot be calculated into an algorithm.¡±

    ¡ªJudge Erihal Farbairn, in a memo regarding a proposal to create an intergalactic police force of androids

    A scrap bead whizzed an inch from Zaina¡¯s face¡ªtwo others grazed her torso, glancing off her armor. Her ears rang and her sides stung like hell as she spilled behind the arch across the hall. More beads pinged off the wall covering her, ricocheting back into the corridor¡¯s lengthy mass of archways and doors.

    Zaina peeked out¡ªshe counted five androids remaining before a bead zipped too close. She ducked back to safety. Reida was popping out every now and again to fire off bolts with her phase cycler. Every time she did, a hail of scrap beads forced her back behind cover.

    Tightly gripping the scrapshot with both hands, Zaina dropped to one knee and poked enough of herself out to get a shot off. The gun was lighter than what she was used to and had a little more buck than her father¡¯s, but it was still a scrapshot. The bead lodged into one of the android¡¯s heads¡ªit snapped back, and the robot stumbled before resuming its advance.

    There wasn¡¯t time to fire another shot¡ªZaina hurried back to cover, barely avoiding an incoming salvo of scraps. Cracking shrieks broke out from behind. She glanced toward Reida, who let off a salvo. Zaina heard two distinct impacts and clatters and hoped that meant two hits. The enemy fire shifted back to Reida.

    Zaina leaned over to get a better view¡ªthree androids left, all approaching. One of them turned toward her. With a yelp, Zaina pulled back before a scrap bead flew past. Reida tried to jump out, but the other two androids were still focused on her¡ªshe dove back to safety a moment too late. Her left shoulder jerked and she croaked a pained yelp while diving behind cover.

    ¡°Reida!¡±

    Holding her shoulder and scrambling against the wall, Reida shouted, ¡°Focus! Focus!¡±

    Zaina nodded. The jumbled footsteps of the androids were audible now¡ªthey were coming in fast. Closing her eyes, Zaina willed her mind to come up with something¡ªanything¡ªto not die here.

    A grunt came from behind¡ªmore pops rang out, three separate salvos; there was a short scream, the sound of scrap beads sinking into flesh, and a muffled thud.

    Reida tossed a grenade and shouted, ¡°Duck!¡±

    Zaina didn¡¯t need much convincing; she closed her eyes and stayed behind cover.

    The boom rang out before she had time to react. Ringing filled her ears. When her hearing returned, she noticed no more commotion, and she stood and peeked around the corner. All that remained of the enemy androids were smoldering piles of metal spewing plumes of smoke into the hallway.

    She turned back and gasped. Ilstevor¡¯s bloody body had collapsed into the middle of the hallway. Blood spilled from dozens of scrap wounds, forming a pool beneath his motionless, mangled form.

    ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± Reida said happily. ¡°We make a good team, you know that?¡±

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    Staring at Ilstevor¡¯s body, Zaina felt anything but good. ¡°What¡ªwhat happened to him?¡±

    Reida shrugged. ¡°Guess he wanted to make a run for it. These androids don¡¯t discriminate, though¡ªhe should have known that better than anyone.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zaina said, grimacing. ¡°You¡¯d think.¡±

    But he warned us not to peek out¡ªwhy would he make a run for it?

    ¡°Come on, now. Let¡¯s get a move on before anyone else shows up to the party.¡±

    ¡°But what about the elevator? How are we going to use it now?¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Reida replied with a smirk, ¡°we only need one piece of him.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s heart sank. ¡°No way. No¡ªthis is too much, even for¡ªeven for whatever the fuck this whole mission has been.¡±

    Still holding her shoulder, Reida kicked his arm so it was splayed out and asked, ¡°You have a better idea?¡±

    Despite Zaina¡¯s hesitance, there was no other way¡ªaside from dragging the man¡¯s corpse to the elevator.

    I honestly don¡¯t know which is worse.

    Reida seized the silence, pulling her scrapshot out. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought. Now are you going to help, or am I going to have to do all the work?¡±

    Without responding, Zaina turned away. Reida sighed and said, ¡°I really have to do everything, huh? Fine.¡± She chuckled. ¡°At least I get two tries, I guess.¡±

    Zaina held her tongue again. Sputtering pops echoed through the chamber. Zaina flinched, her eyes jammed shut, and she winced. Within ten seconds the shooting stopped and she turned to face Reida, who was holding the hand of Ilstevor¡¯s bloody stump of an arm. Strips of bloodied, charred skin hung freely from its point of severance, which was minced to a pulp¡ªit spilled gray blood along with chunks of flesh to the floor, leaving a trail behind it.

    ¡°You ready?¡± Reida asked. ¡°Can you at least carry this thing?¡±

    Before Zaina could answer, Reida swung the haphazardly severed arm against her chest. Zaina yelped but caught it. Blood splashed over her torso and arms.

    ¡°Hey, look at the bright side,¡± Reida said. ¡°Now we don¡¯t have to worry about killing him, right? They did it for us. That¡¯s good news.¡±

    With that, she turned and started toward the elevator terminal. Zaina stayed behind, frozen in place. Her gaze lingered on Ilstevor¡¯s bloodied face; his four remaining eyes were open wide in permanent horror. Not the expression of a person ¡°making a break for it,¡± as Reida had put it.

    She pushed him. She had to have.

    She glanced at Reida, who was twenty feet ahead. There were two Reidas¡ªone funny and nice, and the other cold and indifferent. Zaina didn¡¯t know which side of her was more dangerous.

    Reida stopped and turned around. ¡°You coming?¡±

    The words struck Zaina like a scrap bead, making her flinch. ¡°Uh¡ªoh, yeah.¡±

    She trotted up to Reida and slowed down to match her pace. She held her shoulder¡ªblood was soaking through and streaming down the front of her armor.

    ¡°Are you¡ª? Maybe we should stop.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Reida replied, shaking her head, ¡°I¡¯ll do what I need to do in the elevator. There¡¯ll be time. But out here¡ªno. Reinforcements are already coming, I¡¯ll bet. We have to keep moving.¡±

    Zaina nodded and kept walking. Try as she might, the questions in her mind couldn¡¯t be pushed aside. She didn¡¯t want to focus on the bleeding arm she was holding, but couldn¡¯t stop glancing down every few seconds. This whole thing was turning out worse than she ever imagined.

    I didn¡¯t think revolutions were this ugly.

    Reida stumbled, so Zaina tucked the arm under one of hers, ducked beneath her shoulder, and wrapped Reida¡¯s arm around her. The elevator, a massive metal door split horizontally at its center, loomed at the nexus of a wide-open space. More black metal, same as the archways, surrounded the elevator from all sides, extending upward to meet the ceiling.

    Reida stepped back. Zaina fumbled the arm and dropped it, then picked it up, wiped the bloody palm on her pants, and pressed it against the vis-screen embedded into the black metal.

    A circular icon on the vis-screen flashed green, and the doors opened outward¡ªthe top swung upward while the bottom fell forward, forming a makeshift ramp. Reida went in first and sat down, leaning her back against the metal wall. Zaina picked up the arm and followed.

    There was another vis-screen inside, so Zaina activated that one, too. Another green light¡ªthen a new screen popped up with a directory of the entire building written in extremely small print.

    A soft, robotic voice came from the vis-screen. ¡°Hello, Ilstevor. This building is currently on lockdown. Elevator use is restricted due to structural damage to the lower building. Please re-scan in case of an emergency override.¡±

    Zaina pushed the palm against the screen again. The voice asked, ¡°Hello, Ilstevor. Emergency elevator access granted. Where would you like to go?¡±

    ¡°The basement,¡± Reida said.

 Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Descent Continues

    ¡°Some people announce who they are; others must be discovered.¡±

    ¡ªOld Byzonian Proverb

    After pushing the proper icon, Zaina gulped and turned to face Reida, who was slowly taking her armor off.

    Reida stared back. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°I¡ªI have to know something.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Reida¡¯s eyebrow raised. ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°Were you¡ªyou weren¡¯t really going to hurt his family, right?¡±

    Reida sighed as she got the armor off, then started removing her shirt. Zaina blushed and turned away. ¡°Come on, Zaina. Is that really how little you think of me?¡±

    Zaina leaned against the opposite wall. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to think right now.¡±

    ¡°I told you things were going to get messy,¡± Reida said. ¡°This is what real change looks like. We have to do what we have to do.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not an answer to my question,¡± she replied, staring into Reida¡¯s eyes.

    Reida sighed. ¡°No, I was never going to hurt his family. It was an empty threat.¡± She held up a small tube with a push-nozzle at the end and sprayed some green liquid onto her wound, wincing and giving pained groans. Then she wrapped her own shoulder with one hand, using her incapacitated arm to hold the dressings tight while she methodically maneuvered her uninjured limb to cover her wound. Once it was done, she put her shirt and armor back on. ¡°That should do it. Why do you care so much, anyway? You don¡¯t know them.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want any innocent people getting hurt.¡±

    Reida, a little more relaxed, chuckled and said, ¡°So sentimental. Come on, now. This is a war¡ªand there¡¯s no such thing as ¡®innocents.¡¯ But no¡ªI try to keep those who aren¡¯t directly involved out of it.¡±

    ¡°What about Ilstevor? He didn¡¯t seem like a bad person.¡±

    ¡°So what?¡± Reida shot back. ¡°Whether he was or wasn¡¯t, he wasn¡¯t getting out of this alive.¡±

    Zaina was taken aback. ¡°But¡ªyou told him¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I lied,¡± Reida said, rolling her eyes. ¡°I lied about killing his family, too, didn¡¯t I? You¡¯re so naive. I would¡¯ve said anything to get him to do what we needed.¡±

    Zaina didn¡¯t have a response to that. She hung her head, staring at the severed arm next to her.

    ¡°Look,¡± Reida said, her voice softening, ¡°I get it. You¡¯re not used to this. But we¡¯re doing this for a very good reason. It has to be done. Trust me, others have tried asking nicely, doing everything the ¡®right¡¯ way, and none of it worked. This is how it has to be.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Zaina said, ¡°but it feels wrong.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it does. But it¡¯s all for the glorious cause. Think of all the suffering we¡¯re going to prevent¡ªall the great works that will come of this. It¡¯s worth it, no matter what we have to do to get there. Besides, it¡¯s better than they¡¯d have done to us. When we get captured, we get tortured, interrogated¡ªand they get called heroes for doing it to us. But when we kill, we do it quick and clean, and they clutch their pearls in terror at the absolute horror of it all.¡±

    It was all more or less what Zaina wanted to hear¡ªbut she didn¡¯t believe Reida, despite wanting to. ¡°One more thing¡ª¡±

    ¡°So many questions with you,¡± Reida said.

    ¡°One more. He¡ªIlstevor¡ªhe called you a pirate. Is that true?¡±

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    Reida frowned. ¡°Pirate, terrorist, that¡¯s what we are to people like them. To him, it is true. Expect anyone else we encounter here to think the same of us. Why do you have so many questions, anyway? I told you what you were getting into with this.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°No buts,¡± Reida said, holding up a finger to cut her off. ¡°All that thinking and questioning¡¯s going to get you killed out there. You can¡¯t be focused on all that¡ªthere¡¯ll be time to answer every moral concern and quandary you have when we¡¯re out of the shit. For now, I need you to have my back. Can I count on that?¡±

    A deep, frustrated breath rolled through Zaina¡¯s nostrils. She wanted to turn back, but at this point that was impossible. There was no getting out of this unless they completed the mission. Besides¡ªif Reida continued on her own, she¡¯d definitely die. In spite of Reida¡¯s questionable moral choices, Zaina didn¡¯t want anything bad to happen to her.

    In too deep.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zaina said. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a little late to back out now, right?¡±

    Reida nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit. The only way is forward. Don¡¯t worry¡ªurgh...¡± She struggled to her feet. ¡°I¡¯ve got your back, too.¡±

    ¡°You sure you¡¯re all right?¡±

    A smile came over Reida¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with worse in hotter situations. I¡¯ll be able to use the arm, but not as well as I¡¯d like. It¡¯s all right, though. We¡¯re going to get through this¡ªtogether.¡±

    ¡°I hope you¡¯re right about that,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°So,¡± Reida replied, ¡°not to change the subject, but we should probably expect to find company in the basement. From the intel we¡¯ve been able to gather, they guard all the choke points to the lower levels pretty heavily.¡±

    ¡°So what are we going to do?¡±

    ¡°Get one of your grenades out,¡± Reida said. ¡°Once the door opens, we toss ¡¯em. Squeeze it and give it a throw, and they¡¯ll explode when they hit something. Pretty straightforward. From there, we¡¯ll need our friend here to get us access to the sub-layer below the basement. That¡¯s where we¡¯ll find the crystal¡ªthen we can end this.¡±

    ¡°Given any thought to getting out?¡± Zaina asked.

    ¡°I have a plan,¡± Reida replied, ¡°but it involves a lot of timing. Once we have the crystal, we need to find a way to the fiftieth floor to meet Captain Danjai for extraction. There¡¯s a few ways we could get there.¡±

    ¡°Why the fiftieth floor?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s bound to be a lot of heat on the first dozen or so. Hopefully their security system doesn¡¯t account for an extraction from that level.¡±

    Zaina didn¡¯t like it one bit. ¡°Seems a bit haphazard.¡±

    ¡°I prefer to think of it as having options,¡± Reida said with a shrug. ¡°There¡¯s also a ventilation system down there¡ªwe could use that. We¡¯ll also be a little less careful¡ªwho cares about tripping sensors on the way out?¡±

    ¡°Won¡¯t that give him information on you, though?¡±

    Reida¡¯s head swayed back and forth. ¡°He¡¯s going down either way, so it doesn¡¯t matter to me.¡±

    ¡°Say,¡± Zaina said, ¡°won¡¯t removing the crystal de-power the androids? That would help out a lot.¡±

    Reida pondered the question for a moment. ¡°It won¡¯t happen as quickly as we¡¯d like,¡± she said. ¡°They have a limited amount of auxiliary power to draw from, too, so they¡¯ll stay standing for a little bit after we pull the crystal out of its socket.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like a clusterfuck.¡±

    Reida chuckled. ¡°Nah. Another normal day in the life.¡±

    ¡°Well, when you put it that way, what could go wrong?¡± Zaina replied.

    The elevator jerked to a halt, startling Zaina.

    ¡°Hm? Huh? What was that?¡±

    Reida pulled her wrist-mounted vis-screen up and said, ¡°Elevator¡¯s shut down. They¡¯re probably onto us.¡±

    ¡°So¡ªwhat do we do?¡±

    ¡°You still have that resonedge, right? Want to see how it works?¡±

    Zaina pulled the blade from her utility belt and pushed the button on its hilt. It hummed to life, the vibrations ever-so-slightly distorting the edge. She carefully grasped it with her other hand and drove it into the floor. To her surprise, it pierced through the metal like nothing was there. She walked in a circle to cut a hole out of the bottom, which then clattered and clanked down the darkened elevator shaft.

    Zaina gulped. ¡°That¡¯s a long way down.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, no kidding,¡± Reida replied. ¡°But I have an idea. Plan B.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡±

    ¡°First, put the grenade away. This¡¯ll be a little dodgy, but we can use our grappling hooks to get down. They have a slow-release function. And, plus side, our friend can finally rest¡ªwe won¡¯t need him if we¡¯re taking the alternative entrances.¡± She gestured toward Ilstevor¡¯s arm, still spewing blood, on the floor.

    Zaina stared at it, unsure of whether it was worse to leave it here¡ªpart of her wanted to return it to Ilstevor¡¯s body, but she didn¡¯t know why.

    Reida pulled her hook-gun out and aimed it through the hole in the floor¡ªit shot through and stuck to the wall outside with a clank. ¡°Shoot, swing, release, then find something to hold on to while it re-coils and you line up your next shot. The wires are a couple hundred feet, so it won¡¯t take that long. Come on, I¡¯ll show you.¡±

    Reida sat on the edge of the hole and then went through¡ªher grip on the hook-gun held, but she winced in pain. The injury was bothering her.

    She growled, ¡°Come on, Zaina! We¡¯re losing daylight!¡±

    Zaina de-powered the resonedge and holstered it before pulling out her hook-gun. She aimed for the wall opposite Reida, and her shot was true. She jumped through the hole. The only thing holding her off from the abyss was the hook-gun she tightly gripped in her sweating hands.

    A shudder ran down Zaina¡¯s spine; the descent into empty darkness reminded her of the Eldritch¡¯s Hollow.

    As if I needed more anxiety about this whole thing.

 Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Basement

    ¡°The most important thing to remember while you¡¯re on a mission is to expect everything to go wrong. If you can do that, you¡¯ll never be surprised.¡±

    ¡ªPirate Lord Jikradi Qrydrsk

    ¡°Okay,¡± Reida said, ¡°slow release, now. It¡¯s the button on the side of the trigger casing.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s finger found it, and the cable unwound¡ªit was like falling in slow motion into darkness. Reida fell across from her.

    Once the cable had reached its maximum length, Zaina latched onto the wall with her armor¡¯s forearm magnets. A similar humming clank came from across the hall¡ªReida had attached too. Zauna turned her head and strained to see Reida¡¯s form; the elevator shaft had darkened significantly.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Reida¡¯s voice called out. ¡°Retract the coils, then I¡¯m going to shoot to your right. You shoot to your left. That¡¯s the pattern we¡¯ll repeat until we reach the bottom, got it?¡±

    Easy enough.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got it,¡± Zaina replied. She pushed the re-coiling button on her hook-gun and waited for thirty seconds while it rewound within the gun¡¯s wire bay. Then she aimed to her left and fired¡ªshe gave the gun a tug to make sure the line was secure. It was; she detached from the wall and swung to her left, slamming against the wall with a grunt and a thud. Zaina¡¯s shoulder, still aching, cried out with a dull, buzzing pain. Another slam came from across the room, along with a pained cry from Reida.

    The process repeated five times. Zaina¡¯s arms were on fire¡ªshe couldn¡¯t imagine how much Reida was hurting. It was torturous work, which made it all the sweeter when Zaina¡¯s feet touched the ground during a slow release. She heard a breathy sigh of relief as Reida landed. They both retracted their coils.

    A light flashed. Zaina winced and covered her eyes. When she opened them, Reida was holding a light-orb and smirking.

    ¡°What?¡± Zaina said. ¡°It was bright. I wasn¡¯t expecting that.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m full of surprises. All right, we¡¯re at the bottom of the shaft. This is actually kind of good.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Kind of?¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s sort of a give-and-take. The good news is, we can use the resonedge to cut through this part of the wall. The bad news is, the ventilation system is only accessible through the floor above¡ªand since that was our destination, it¡¯s probably crawling with androids by now.¡±

    Their odds kept getting worse and worse. ¡°Okay, so, what¡¯s the play? What should we deal with first?¡±

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    Reida frowned. ¡°I think we should probably deal with the androids first in case we need to run from the lancer. A couple grenades ought to do it. It¡¯s kind of a good thing they shut down the elevator system; that means the entrance points are sealed off by security walls. Otherwise they¡¯d already be on us.¡±

    ¡°You really like grenades,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°It works best on them, I¡¯ve found. Plus, they¡¯re one of the harder munitions to get one¡¯s hands on here¡ªthey never expect us to have many.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s head tilted to the side. They had whole crates of grenades back at their base. What¡¯s she talking about?

    ¡°Either way,¡± Reida said, pointing her hook-gun upward, ¡°I have a plan. The floor we need should be right about¡ªthere.¡±

    The magnetic tip shot into the darkness above and firmly latched. Reida turned to Zaina and said, ¡°Okay, aim for my height, but about eight feet to the left. Got it?¡±

    Zaina nodded and pointed her hook-gun. She based her shot on the angle of Reida¡¯s cord, which extended into the shadows above. She nailed her shot¡ªher line was at an identical angle to Reida¡¯s eight feet over.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Reida pulled out a few grenades. ¡°I¡¯m going to set these to max concussive. You cut me a little hole in the wall with your resonedge, and I¡¯ll put these through. That¡¯ll clear out the room. Make sure you slow release in case it blows out the door¡ªit probably won¡¯t, but if it does you won¡¯t want to be right next to it.¡±

    ¡°Sounds good,¡± Zaina said. The cord spooled back into her hook-gun as she pulled herself up. Once she and Reida were at the proper height, Zaina pulled out her resonedge and turned it on. With a surging hum, she plunged it into the wall and pierced through.

    Pops and pings broke out on the other side of the wall, but Zaina kept the hole small to keep any beads from getting through, twisting the blade so it shaved away at the edges. Once it looked big enough to fit a grenade through, she pulled the sword back.

    Reida was on it in an instant¡ªbefore Zaina deactivated the resonedge, two grenades were through the hole. Once a third was thrown, Reida put both hands on her hook-gun and barked, ¡°Slow release¡ªnow!¡±

    Zaina tapped the button, and they descended to the floor once more. Once Zaina¡¯s feet touched the ground, a succession of booms rocked the walls¡ªdust and smoke rushed through the small opening, filling the shaft with a burnt metallic odor. The security wall held strong.

    ¡°Easy enough,¡± Reida said. ¡°Okay, now cut a hole in that wall, there. We¡¯ll get in, grab the crystal, and get out.¡±

    ¡°Got it,¡± Zaina said. It was almost over¡ªher chest unwound a smidge at the mere thought of the mission¡¯s end. The sooner, the better.

    She plunged the blade into the wall and carved out a circle big enough to step through, then front-kicked it so the cut segment of wall fell inward. Zaina climbed in first, and her jaw dropped.

    She didn¡¯t know what she expected from the engine room, but it wasn¡¯t this¡ªshelves lined every inch of the walls, displaying colorful, expensive, and ancient-looking tomes. Statues carved from priceless metals were arranged in front of intricately-designed marble pillars from which banners depicting big battles and grand speeches hung. Four tables, each hand-carved from different materials, were spread across the room, each displaying ornaments and what appeared to be priceless gems in tiny hyper-glass cases.

    She took a step forward, and an unfamiliar voice called out, making her freeze in place.

    ¡°Ho there, pirates!¡±

    There, sitting cross-legged across the room, was a human man dressed in armor similar to Gir¡¯s. His was black and gray, and his pants were tan in color; his pale skin contrasted with his dark brown hair and brown eyes, and a scar ran down his left eye. His facial hair was trimmed into a neat mustache-and-beard combo. In his hand was a glowing green sword with a hook at the end¡ªa cipher.

    Zaina¡¯s heart sank. The lancer.

 Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Lancer Guard

    ¡°Pathfinders, SPECOps, even the fucking Core Worlds¡ªthat¡¯s all fine and good. But the second you see a lancer, it¡¯s over. They¡¯re not like anything else you¡¯ll ever face in our line of work.¡±

    ¡ªThe Pirate Lord Dilmlas Grezolt, in a collection of his personal writings

    Zaina froze. The lancer stood before her. He pointed his hooked cipher at her and said, ¡°Ah! But you¡¯re no ordinary pirate. You¡¯re something more, aren¡¯t you? Don¡¯t tell me Danjai hired the Condemned.¡±

    She recoiled and said, ¡°Hey¡ªwe¡¯re not pirates, first of all! Second, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a heretic,¡± the lancer calmly replied. ¡°Or is that a birthmark?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not¡ªdon¡¯t call me that!¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t want to be called a heretic, you don¡¯t want to be called a pirate¡ª¡± He shrugged. ¡°But not calling something what it is doesn¡¯t make it something else.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about!¡± Zaina pulled out her scrapshot and aimed it, but the lancer didn¡¯t move. ¡°Why are you helping someone like Bilvane?¡±

    The lancer scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re one to talk. You¡¯re here with a known pirate. Reida Qarys, right? Danjai¡¯s little apprentice?¡±

    Zaina glanced over at her partner¡ªReida¡¯s expression sent chills through her body. Her usually bright eyes were cold and murderous, her gaze locked on to the lancer¡ªthey were the eyes of a predator.

    The lancer, on the other hand, was surprisingly jovial. ¡°Let¡¯s not come here under false pretenses, now. I¡¯m assuming you two are here to kill me. The least you could do is be honest.¡±

    Zaina frowned. ¡°I¡¯m not lying. I¡¯ll have you know I¡¯m going to be a lancer, too!¡±

    His face brightened. ¡°Is that so? Well, isn¡¯t that something. We¡¯ve already got one like you back on Kaado. Spirited, that woman. Me, though, I¡¯m not so sure about the whole half-lancer, half-heretic thing. Inviting the enemy into your home¡ªseems a bit dangerous, doesn¡¯t it? Might be better for everyone that we met here of all places.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not your enemy because I have this,¡± Zaina said, pointing at her eye. ¡°I don¡¯t know how much you were paid to be here, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°Paid?¡± The lancer chuckled. ¡°Please. I¡¯m not getting paid to be anywhere. The Order sent me here to thwart some pirates¡ªthat¡¯s all. I¡¯d prefer to do it with as little violence as possible, but I don¡¯t think your friend is in the same mindset.¡±

    ¡°Then why are you working for Bilvane?¡±

    He sighed. ¡°I¡¯m not working for Bilvane. I¡¯m here to stop the pirates who are targeting the Vahataman Crystal, which is why I¡¯m here guarding it while her captain massacres civilians outside. Someone¡¯s given you false infor¡ª¡±

    A sizzling shriek interrupted his sentence¡ªa cold, green bolt rocketed past Zaina¡¯s face and directly at the lancer¡¯s head. He remained still¡ªat the last moment, a tapestry of hexagonal-shaped energy links appeared around him. The bolt of energy exploded against the barrier, filling the air with black smoke. Zaina dashed to the side and smacked her lips¡ªthe taste of metal had latched onto her tongue. More shots rolled off the lancer¡¯s shield as Zaina covered her eyes to avoid staring at the flashes of light.

    The salvo stopped, and Zaina peeked over at Reida¡ªthere was still murder in her eyes. ¡°He¡¯s trying to get in your head, Zaina. Come on¡ªyou know what we have to do.¡±

    ¡°Zaina,¡± the lancer¡¯s semi-distorted voice called from the smoke. ¡°What a nice name. Well...¡± He rose into sight, now wearing a breathing mask. ¡°I hate fighting, so let¡¯s get this over with. Zaina¡ªReida¡ªI¡¯m very sorry we had to meet.¡± He pointed his cipher at Reida, then Zaina. ¡°But that being said, I can¡¯t let this crystal go missing, nor can I allow the Order of Riiva to be infested with heretics.¡±

    Oh, fuck this guy. A surge of anger rushed through Zaina. This guy wasn¡¯t like Gir at all.

    Keeping her eyes trained on their enemy, Zaina leaned toward Reida and whispered, ¡°You have a plan?¡±

    ¡°Split his attention,¡± she said, ¡°and survive.¡±

    Zaina nodded. Not very promising¡ªbut here we go.

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    The lancer leaped forward, assisted by rocket-propelling boots. Zaina dashed to the side, dodging a horizontal swipe from his cipher; then she charged toward him. He looped toward Reida¡ªhis energy shield deflected another salvo of explosive bolts as he swooped in for the kill. Right before he bisected her she dropped prostrate on the floor to dodge his strike. He turned and doubled back¡ª

    Zaina leaped and tackled him out of midair. She grabbed the wrist of his cipher hand, using all her strength to keep that arm fully extended. The lancer turned again, smashing Zaina into one of the bookshelves lining the wall. It shattered on impact, showering Zaina¡¯s face with wood splinters and knocking the breath out of her lungs.

    The lancer dashed away, then zipped back in¡ªa grappling hook wrapped around his leg, and he veered from his path and crashed to the ground with a grunt. Zaina glanced over¡ªReida had pulled the hook-gun¡¯s cord around one of the statues, which were bolted in place, to get enough leverage to bring him down. She retracted the cord.

    Without a word, the lancer stood and rocketed toward Reida. She aimed her hook-gun for one of the top bookshelves and pulled herself away seconds before his cipher would have run her through. Once she was up she swiftly put the hook-gun away, then fell to one knee and peppered the lancer¡¯s shield with blasts from her phase cycler.

    Zaina jumped to the ground and aimed her scrapshot. Her beads were ineffective against his shield, but they drew his attention away from Reida. He swooped back toward Zaina with a swing of his blade¡ªshe dove behind a statue and yelped as his cipher carved clean through it, cutting her cover in half.

    Instead of staying airborne, he landed and charged at Zaina. She sidestepped a swing and leaped back to dodge another. She raised her scrapshot, then pulled her arm back¡ªa deft stroke from the lancer¡¯s blade sliced her gun in half and nearly took her hand off. She stumbled backward to get out of range and dropped the sizzling remains of her scrapshot.

    Shit.

    ¡°Where¡¯s your cipher?¡± he asked in a mocking tone. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were going to be a lancer?¡±

    Zaina strafed to stay out of his range. ¡°I don¡¯t have that part down quite yet.¡±

    He smiled. ¡°You don¡¯t say.¡±

    He leaped forward, slicing through a desk as Zaina rolled aside. She unholstered the hook-gun and shot at the opposite end of the room to pull herself away. He gave chase, but more energy bolts halted his progress and forced him to raise his shield.

    Zaina gathered herself¡ªall she had was the phase cycler, which she didn¡¯t know how to use, the hook-gun, and the resonedge. She pulled the blade out. Reida was pinning him down with suppressing fire, but his advance couldn¡¯t be staved off forever.

    The lancer shot upward and fired a hook-gun of his own at Reida. Eyes wide open, she barely stepped out of the way¡ªand gasped as her foot slipped on the edge of the bookcase. Reida caught herself on the edge, emitting a pained growl.

    The lancer launched toward her, cipher raised¡ªZaina aimed her hook-gun for his chest and struck him mid-flight. The cord retracted and she crashed into him again, pummeling his head with the hilt of her resonedge and cracking his mask; her momentum smashed him against the wall. He punched her face and grabbed her wrist, wrestling the blade from her hands; she replied with an elbow to his head.

    The lancer growled and threw his hook-gun to the side, activating his rocket boots to take them both into the air. He tried to push Zaina off, but she latched onto his back and locked her legs into his. She ducked and dodged swipes from his cipher while they twisted in midair.

    Zaina¡¯s muscles ached as the lancer struggled. She smashed her hook-gun into the side of his head, then wrapped her arm around his neck. With a grunt, she threw her weight backward¡ªthey plunged toward the ground. He turned the rocket boots off, but their momentum was set; the floor furiously raced toward them.

    The lancer tried to get one last swing in, but Zaina caught his wrist and kept his arm at bay¡ªshe then pushed his face downward so he crashed into the ground headfirst. The impact was deafening, and everything went dark for a second; Zaina bounced sideways and landed awkwardly on her bad shoulder, ripping a gasp from her lungs.

    After taking a few deep breaths to see if the pain was going away¡ªit wasn¡¯t¡ªshe groaned and propped herself up. The lancer was unconscious¡ªpieces of his shattered mask were scattered on the floor. His breaths were slow and labored. Blood streamed from his mouth and gushed from a nasty cut on his forehead. He wasn¡¯t getting up anytime soon, but he wasn¡¯t dead.

    Zaina sighed in relief. Looks like no one has to die today.

    A thump came from behind¡ªReida landed and retracted the coil on her hook-gun. Her face wore a playful smirk, but her eyes were still cold.

    ¡°Great job, Zaina!¡± she chirped. ¡°Nice fast thinking there.¡±

    Zaina struggled to her knees, breathing heavily¡ªher heart was pumping fast after that. ¡°It¡¯s over then, right?¡± she asked, exasperated. ¡°Now we get the crystal and leave?¡±

    ¡°Exactly.¡± Reida walked over and extended her good arm to help Zaina up¡ªshe gratefully accepted.

    It¡¯s finally over. But I bet it¡¯ll be awkward if I ever see this guy at the Order.

    Reida placed a thin, metal disc on the hyper-glass encasing the Vahataman Crystal. It beeped, and the glass disintegrated. She turned back to Zaina and said, ¡°Would you like to do the honors?¡±

    Zaina shrugged and grabbed the crystal¡ªit was heavy, even with her strength; it was cold to the touch and came off the stand without any problem¡ªit wasn¡¯t even attached.

    She stared at it. How do they even get power from this thing?

    ¡°Okay,¡± Reida said, ¡°signal sent for extraction. Our ride will be here in ten minutes. We have to get to the fiftieth floor in that time, and then this whole thing is over and done with.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Zaina said, hoping Reida might move past the unconscious lancer without any bloodshed. ¡°We should get a move on, then.¡±

    Reida pulled out her phase cycler. ¡°Uh-huh.¡± Her eyes were still icy and dark. Shards of his broken mask crunched under her feet as she walked next to the lancer and stared down at him.

    ¡°No¡ªReida, don¡¯t!¡± Zaina stepped forward and reached out to intervene, but before she could, Reida pulled the trigger¡ªa sizzling green bolt of energy burrowed into the lancer¡¯s head. His skull popped open with a sickening crack, spewing its charred contents over the blackened strips of flesh falling off his face.

 Chapter Forty: Angel in Disguise

    ¡°Words are pretty little nothings. It must be action that defines us.¡±

    ¡ªPhilosopher Falgred Dynasa, in her work, The Eldred Races

    Zaina was too stunned to speak for a moment. Reida¡¯s cold, murderous eyes were aglow with triumphant malice. When Zaina spoke, she stumbled over her words, unable to take her eyes off the lancer¡¯s corpse. ¡°Wh-what the hell was¡ªwhat was that?¡±

    Reida shrugged, her demeanor back to normal. ¡°Had to be done¡ªand you clearly weren¡¯t going to do it.¡±

    ¡°But, he was down. He wasn¡¯t a threat to¡ª¡±

    ¡°Do you really want to talk about this now?¡± Reida shot back. ¡°What¡¯s done is done. But if we don¡¯t get to that extraction point by the time the captain¡¯s there, we¡¯re getting left behind¡ªin which case we have a nice long stay in an Otmonzas prison cell waiting for us. Is that what you want, Zaina?¡±

    Zaina shook her head. She could hardly believe her ears. This was extreme, even for Reida.

    ¡°All right, if you care more about some stupid dead lancer who was trying to kill you than your injured friend, fine,¡± Reida said. ¡°I¡¯ll lug that crystal to the fiftieth floor by myself if I have to.¡±

    ¡°No¡ª¡± Zaina shook her head. ¡°No, I¡¯m coming with, but I¡ª¡±

    Reida stooped over to pick up the resonedge and shoved it into Zaina¡¯s hands. ¡°No buts. Let¡¯s get going already.¡±

    Zaina cast one last glance at the lancer¡¯s motionless body and shivered. I¡¯m sorry.

    Then she followed Reida back out into the elevator shaft.

    ¡°How are we going to do this?¡± Zaina asked.

    Reida pulled out her hook-gun. ¡°Same spot as before. From that room we can get into the lower ventilation system.¡±

    ¡°I meant¡ªhow are we going to get this heavy ass thing up there?¡±

    Reida pointed to her injured shoulder. ¡°Well, I can¡¯t lift it, so¡­¡±

    Zaina sighed. ¡°Fine.¡±

    Her hook-gun struggled under the combined weight of her and the crystal, but she managed to ascend to the proper point. Zaina activated her magnetic forearm with her arm facing downward, allowing her to hold the Vahataman Crystal and stick to the wall with one arm. Sweat poured down her face from the strain.

    Zaina carved through the security door in silence. She was complicit in the murder of a lancer and a regular person. Her stomach churned. None of this felt right.

    Zaina kicked the cut-out section of the wall inward. The room and everything in it had been white but was blackened by shrapnel from Reida¡¯s grenades and the smattering of android parts, some still emitting spark showers throughout the room.

    Reida walked to the other side and pointed toward a thin-grated ventilation shaft near the ceiling. ¡°Would you do the honors?¡±

    Zaina again grappled next to the point and carved out their way forward, lugging the crystal the whole time. When the hole was made, she threw the crystal into the duct to be rid of its weight for a moment, taking deep breaths¡ªcarrying it was one thing, but trying to maneuver with it was another.

    Reida followed into the air duct and said, ¡°All right. Now we need to get to the fiftieth floor. We should have enough coil to make it in a couple tries. Oh, and don¡¯t slam that thing again. We don¡¯t want any pieces chipping off. Ready?¡±

    They both aimed upward. Reida took her shot first and vaulted upward; Zaina followed a second after. Her coil rewound significantly slower thanks to the extra weight.

    Reida glanced down at her wrist, then shot and vaulted upward again. ¡°Okay¡ªhere it is! From here I¡¯m level with the floor we need.¡±

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Zaina gasped for air¡ªfinally, the end was in sight. She aimed near Reida and pulled herself up. Then she plunged the resonedge into the air duct¡¯s walls and cut out their exit. Her arms were completely numb from carrying the heavy crystal.

    They popped out into a darkened corridor with the same black-striped, blue walls. Alarms flashed every twenty feet, their sirens blaring and their multi-colored lights flickering on and off. There were no androids in sight.

    Reida cleared the hallway and said, ¡°All right. We go, we get the Vahataman Crystal to the ship, and we board. Got it?¡±

    Zaina nodded. This was the final stretch. She wanted nothing more than to escape and be done with this mission. In fact, she didn¡¯t know if she ever wanted to see Reida again after this.

    How can someone who seemed so friendly be so cruel? The only comfort she mustered was the good that would come from this. She didn¡¯t know if it was worth it, but that minor assurance was better than nothing.

    Reida led the duo, with Zaina taking up the rear. There was still no sign of enemies¡ªa rarity thus far for this mission. It was hard to believe they¡¯d made it this far. Zaina¡¯s stomach still trembled with unease.

    The end of the hallway neared. A draft picked up spare pieces of paper and trash scattered throughout the halls, carrying them further on. The distinct odor of smoke filled Zaina¡¯s nostrils as she breathed. A dull, low noise came further into focus the closer they got: it was screaming in the distance, and the wails of alarms.

    What happened? Her stomach twisted further. She had co-signed on a lot of questionable things today, but whatever this was sounded like another level of extreme.

    ¡°We¡¯re almost there,¡± Reida said. She turned and said, ¡°I couldn¡¯t have done this without you, Zaina.¡±

    The remark sent shivers up Zaina¡¯s back. She didn¡¯t reply.

    The hallway terminated at a dome-shaped atrium. What remained of the shattered hyper-glass windows appeared to be shards of printed art hanging on to the outer framework¡¯s bent and contorted edges. Fragments of hyper-glass were concentrated on the floor near the atrium¡¯s edge.

    More concerning was the outside¡ªcolossal plumes of smoke towered into the night sky of Otmonzas. The screams were louder now, and there were more than Zaina thought. She started toward the window.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t go over there,¡± Reida said casually. ¡°What with your weak stomach, and all.¡±

    Zaina cast a glare her way and strode over to the edge. Below was fire and carnage. Smoke rose from several glowing points, and Zaina couldn¡¯t even see the full extent of the damage¡ªmost of it was obscured. People were running in every direction¡ªsome were running back into the smoldering rubble to find their loved ones. Seething white flames spat from burning cores of blue, energy-like fires spread throughout the city block. All about, emergency personnel in white and green-striped androids were attending to the wounded and directing the non-injured to nearby shuttles. Some people dug through the burning debris with their bare hands and had to be dragged away.

    Zaina¡¯s heart sank, and her hands clenched into fists. ¡°Did¡ªdid you do this?¡±

    ¡°Me?¡± Reida¡¯s head tilted. ¡°Nope. How could I? I was here with you the whole time.¡±

    ¡°You know what I mean.¡±

    Reida was silent for a moment¡ªthen she smirked. ¡°I told you we needed a distraction. And it worked, didn¡¯t it? Why do you think we encountered so few androids?¡±

    Zaina took a step back. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re okay with this.¡±

    ¡°This is a war, Zaina,¡± Reida replied. ¡°Don¡¯t blame us for doing what we have to do to win.¡±

    Zaina gestured toward the chaos below. ¡°This wasn¡¯t a part of the plan! None of this was! I thought no innocents were supposed to get hurt!¡±

    ¡°When did anyone say that? You might have wanted things that way, but they¡¯re not.¡± Reida smirked again and took a step toward her. ¡°Come on, now¡ªwe¡¯re doing this for a glorious cause, aren¡¯t we?¡±

    Still taken aback, Zaina shook her head. ¡°No glorious cause is worth this.¡±

    Reida¡¯s eyebrow rose. ¡°What¡ªyou think we wouldn¡¯t have had worse done to us¡ª¡±

    ¡°Not by them!¡± Zaina replied. ¡°Not by the mourning mothers or the screaming children! They were supposed to be who this is for, weren¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡°You think things are that simple, eh?¡± Reida scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re really willing to lose your only friend over this?¡±

    ¡°Over this?¡± Zaina took a deep breath. ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Reida said, her face turning cold, ¡°lucky for you, we¡¯re almost done here. We¡¯ll get the crystal and part ways. You¡¯ll never have to see me again. You can go off and be a lancer like you want¡ªsee if that gets you anywhere.¡±

    Zaina turned away. ¡°That¡¯s fine with me.¡±

    The next few minutes ticked away in silence. Finally, Reida¡¯s vis-screen beeped. Zaina¡¯s head swiveled toward her.

    ¡°It¡¯s time,¡± Reida said, standing up. ¡°Get the crystal over there, and stand back.¡±

    Zaina nodded and dragged the crystal toward the window. Once it was close to the edge, she thought about pushing it over¡ªmaybe the crystal was better off in a thousand pieces than in these people¡¯s hands. A humming in the air made her think better of it¡ªshe ran back to stand near Reida.

    The roaring of ship engines hollowed out Zaina¡¯s chest. The source, an enormous ship, popped into view right in front of them. One of its front-facing prongs was extended toward the window, and a ramp popped open and latched onto their floor. The prongs attached to a flat, circular surface at the ship¡¯s front. Its body was long and the engines were attached to the side; it was familiar in a foreboding way. Zaina¡¯s stomach clenched tighter with every step she took toward freedom.

    Where have I seen this ship before?

    Nearing the ramp, she got a better view of the behemoth¡¯s form¡ªstripes of white, black, and green paint were obscured and marred by numerous dents and pockmarks. It struck her.

    The pirates. The pirates who stranded me here. That means¡ª

    Reida stepped toward the ship. ¡°All right, Zaina. Time to go home.¡±

 Chapter Forty-One: End of the Line

    ¡°Gelhart laughed when the captured pirate, a captain in chains, told him not to trust that it was over. Gelhart didn¡¯t listen¡ªnow he¡¯s dead. Soon the rest of us will be, too. I can see it in their eyes.¡±

    ¡ªAuthor unknown; from a recovered journal giving an account of an expeditionary voyage under Captain Gelhart Grell

    Reida turned back to face Zaina. ¡°You coming?¡±

    Zaina glanced toward the ship to confirm her suspicions¡ªit was definitely the same ship that had attacked her. She met Reida¡¯s eyes again¡ªthey turned cold in understanding.

    Zaina reached for her phase cycler¡ªit was too late. Reida swiftly outdrew her, aiming her weapon at Zaina¡¯s head.

    ¡°Ahp, ahp, ahp,¡± Reida taunted. ¡°Don¡¯t do anything foolish now.¡±

    Zaina scowled. Her arm wasn¡¯t even raised. Murder was in Reida¡¯s eyes again¡ªher expression filled Zaina¡¯s heart with cold fear.

    Reida sighed. ¡°Okay, so¡ªdon¡¯t freak out or anything, but¡ªZaina, I haven¡¯t been entirely honest with you. Drop that weapon and I can explain everything.¡±

    Zaina frowned and did as she was told, tossing the weapon. The phase cycler clanked to the floor next to Reida. Then Zaina said, ¡°You¡¯re a pirate.¡±

    Reida frowned. ¡°See, I told her you¡¯d recognize the ship, but she didn¡¯t want to change our exit plan. And after all the work it took to get you here¡ªnow, this is how it has to be, huh?¡±

    ¡°I guess so,¡± Zaina said between gritted teeth. Hot anger bubbled beneath her skin. How much of what she¡¯d been told was a lie?

    ¡°You know,¡± Reida said, ¡°we could use someone like you. Toughen you up a little, sure, but¡ªcome on, think about it. You¡¯ll never get rich being a lancer. You¡¯ll never have your own crew loyal only to you¡ªwhy would you ever want to repeatedly put your life on the line for people you don¡¯t even know, especially when you won¡¯t get anything out of it? You want to be a hero for people who want nothing to do with you. Or, you could come work for me. I¡¯ll take care of you, like I did here. We make a good team.¡±

    Zaina shook her head. ¡°Never.¡±

    Reida growled. ¡°Oh, is that so? Little-miss-hero thinks if she¡¯s a good little girl the galaxy¡¯s going to forget what she is? You think they¡¯ll accept you as one of their own? You¡¯re wrong¡ªthey¡¯re always going to hate you. You could save the whole galaxy and they¡¯d look anywhere else to give credit. You know why? Because to them, you being their savior is worse than dying.¡±

    Images of Ilstevor and the lancer flashed through Zaina¡¯s mind¡ªall those people suffering below¡ªall for nothing. There was no glorious cause at the end of the tunnel to lift the weight off Zaina¡¯s chest. ¡°At least I¡¯d be able to live with myself. I honestly don¡¯t know how you do.¡±

    Reida¡¯s eyes darkened even further. Zaina¡¯s hands clenched, expecting this to be her last moment. Instead, Reida¡¯s eye twitched. ¡°Are you coming or not? We need to get moving.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere with you. You attacked me,¡± Zaina said. ¡°You wanted to use me all along. This is probably a trick, too¡ªyou won¡¯t let me walk away.¡±

    Reida replied through gritted teeth, ¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah? Then how is it?¡±

    ¡°You were in a lancer¡¯s ship, Zaina,¡± Reida spat. ¡°We didn¡¯t know what to expect. We thought Bilvane was getting more protection for the crystal. But when I followed you, I realized you could be¡ª¡±

    Zaina took a step back. ¡°You¡ªyou followed me? How long were you¡ªwhat?¡±

    ¡°How do you think Sister Tyza found you¡ªyou, of all people, on a world with millions of people? I led her to you. I watched your brief little friendship with that old homeless man. I watched you waste your talents working for that washed-up mechanic¡ªand then¡ª¡± Her expression softened. ¡°Then you saved me. And I thought¡ª¡±

    The massive ship lurched, shaking the building. Whoever was inside was rearing to go. Reida glanced toward the ship, then back at Zaina. ¡°Last chance. You can come with me and have your freedom, or you can stay here and they¡¯ll blame you for everything.¡±

    There was nothing for Zaina to think about. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere with you.¡±

    Reida growled. ¡°I¡¯m trying to help you even though you¡¯re being a bad friend right now. It¡¯s a truth you need to hear¡ªno matter how badly you want it, you¡¯ll never be one of them!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a murderer. What do you care?¡±

    Reida was taken aback¡ªthe comment had clearly stung. She frowned. ¡°Fine. If that¡¯s how it is, have it your way.¡±

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    Still keeping the gun trained on Zaina, Reida backed up in front of the ramp. Two black-clad armed guards came out and pulled the crystal into the ship while Zaina watched in helpless disbelief.

    No. It isn¡¯t over yet. Her hand twitched toward the hook-gun at her hip.

    Reida¡¯s eyes turned cold. She took the finger off the trigger of her phase cycler and used it to tap the vis-screen on her wrist. Zaina¡¯s armor hummed as it pumped electricity into her torso. Every muscle in her body seized and twitched¡ªred-hot pain coursed through her veins as she fell to her knees, gasping through gritted teeth. Her vision blurred and doubled.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry it had to be this way,¡± Reida said, stepping backward onto the ship, ¡°but I can¡¯t have you pulling any heroics at the last second, now, can I?¡±

    The electricity stopped¡ªZaina collapsed onto her side, her arms twitching. She still managed to glare.

    Reida pulled on a cord above her head and holstered her weapon. Then she met Zaina¡¯s eyes and said, ¡°Goodbye, Zaina Quin.¡±

    Zaina was in too much pain to respond. Her muscles jolted and spasmed. The prong¡¯s ramp lifted and slammed shut. The pirate ship then re-cloaked. With a deafening boom, it shot upward, its engines leaving a shockwave in their wake. It struck Zaina and threw her against the far wall.

    She gasped for breath and tried to move a finger¡ªher hands were completely numb. With a grunt, she tried to claw her way to her feet, but her body wasn¡¯t responding. It was hopeless.

    She stared at the ceiling. Reida could¡¯ve shocked her at any time¡ªdid she always intend to betray her, or was it a failsafe? A resigned sigh escaped her lips. I guess I¡¯ll never know.

    Another few minutes passed before Zaina was able to work her way to her knees. Clicking footsteps were echoing from the dark hallway she and Reida had come down; it was over. There was no escape now.

    Zaina slumped over as a team of androids entered the room. Their birifles darted about, scanning every inch of the atrium before a group of them approached and surrounded her.

    ¡°Human¡ªit is believed you may be involved in this attack. Please submit to arrest and there will be no need for violence.¡±

    Zaina hung her head as the androids locked her hands in mag-cuffs and forced her to stand. Pain still surged through her body with every step, but she deserved all of it. Whether she was led astray or not, she¡¯d helped pirates get away with stealing¡ªwith murder. Someone had to pay for the awful things that had been done today. With how guilty Zaina felt, it seemed right to accept the blame.

    She was led to a large, open chamber with two parked atmospheric vehicles. Their long wings were tucked backward, sliding into slits built into their slender, cylindrical bodies. On all sides but one were steel walls, allowing for small-to-medium transports to enter and exit the building as needed. Zaina was led up a small ramp and into the craft¡ªit wasn¡¯t very spacious, so she ducked down to sit in one of the uncomfortably shaped polysynth chairs.

    The androids settled in, pushing an assortment of buttons on the front control panel to engage the ship¡¯s engines. Zaina was weightless for a moment as they lifted into the air, but the day¡¯s actions were heavy on her shoulders. They zipped forward¡ªwhere, she knew not¡ªand with that, Zaina¡¯s adventure in the galaxy-at-large had come to an abrupt end.

    ¡ª

    Reida stood before the circular door to the Dauntless Heart¡¯s cockpit. It opened with a hiss, spitting sparks and steam from pipes on the wall.

    She sighed. Everything on this ship is falling apart. When the captain gets a new one and gives me this one, I¡¯ll have a lot of work on my hands.

    She stepped into the reinforced hyper-glass canopy where Captain Danjai sat in a large, swiveling chair. Two pilots were stationed behind a massive control panel, listening intently for orders.

    The captain stood and faced Reida. ¡°So, did you learn your lesson with that girl?¡±

    Reida shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what lesson I was supposed to learn that I didn¡¯t already know. Nothing comes before the mission.¡±

    Captain Danjai looked her up and down.

    ¡°So,¡± Reida said, ¡°what now?¡±

    ¡°Now the Synatorium¡¯s going to be looking for us. We¡¯ll go back to Tedano. Regroup. Lay low for a little while, plan the next job.¡± She sat back down in the captain¡¯s chair and leaned back. ¡°I think there¡¯s going to be plenty of work here soon. Word amongst the stars is that one or two of the Big Five might be on their way out.¡±

    A twang of excitement struck Reida¡¯s heart. ¡°You think there¡¯s going to be a war?¡±

    ¡°War¡¯s been a long time coming,¡± the captain replied. ¡°All it¡¯s going to take is one spark to light the whole thing up. And we¡¯ll be ready.¡±

    Reida grinned. War¡ªespecially between the Big Five Factions of Tedano¡ªmeant opportunity. Power vacuums to be exploited, chaos to benefit from. ¡°What side will we be on?¡±

    ¡°The winners,¡± the captain replied. She turned away and continued, ¡°We¡¯ll offload the crystal to our fence and lay low. But keep your eyes out for our next mission¡ªchoose your target wisely and you just might get that ship you¡¯ve wanted.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, captain,¡± Reida replied. ¡°By the way¡ªI¡¯m going to borrow a transport. I¡¯ll meet back up with you on Tedano, all right?¡±

    Danjai¡¯s eyebrow rose. ¡°Right after I tell you how close you are to a promotion, you decide to act recklessly?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not reckless, don¡¯t worry. I have to drop something off somewhere¡ªthat¡¯s all.¡±

    She turned to leave, but Captain Danjai chuckled. ¡°Is it about that girl?¡±

    Reida froze.

    ¡°You let her live,¡± the captain said in a cold tone. ¡°I thought I warned you about making friends in this line of work.¡±

    ¡°I have a debt to repay,¡± Reida said.

    ¡°Never known you to be honorable¡ªbut very well. You know what you need to do, but keep your head down. Be safe. And know this,¡± the captain said, her voice turning serious, ¡°if she ever becomes a problem, it¡¯ll be on you to deal with. Understand? You brought her into this, and if need be, you¡¯ll be the one that takes her out.¡±

    Reida turned back and met her captain¡¯s eyes. ¡°I understand.¡±

    ¡°Good. Now, go.¡±

    The door hissed closed behind Reida the moment she crossed the threshold. Her pace didn¡¯t slow¡ªshe had to get to the hangar before the ship void-skipped. They had a few clunkers onboard that registered as merchant ships, so getting on and off Otmonzas wasn¡¯t a problem.

    The captain¡¯s words bothered Reida while she made her way to the Dauntless Heart¡¯s hangar. Truth be told, she wasn¡¯t sure why she was doing this. She wasn¡¯t even sure why she spared Zaina to begin with¡ªanyone else would be dead.

    In all of Reida¡¯s years as a pirate, she¡¯d only ever had her life saved by two people: Captain Danjai, and now Zaina. Maybe that was why.

    She climbed into one of the space-to-atmospheric transports and departed from the Dauntless Heart. It wouldn¡¯t be long before she saw it again¡ªshe had one last thing to do, and then she never expected to set foot on Otmonzas again.

    Good riddance, she thought, approaching the planet¡¯s tapestry of multicolored flashing lights. One last errand, and then she could go home.

 Chapter Forty-Two: Failures of Otmonzas

    ¡°Life is unfair; but sometimes, when the stars align just so, it can be unfair in our favor.¡±

    ¡ªAld Hraseran, in his non-fiction book, Proverbs and Parables from Across the Stars

    Zaina leaned against the wall of her cramped metal cell. Her clothes had been taken from her. The gray shirt and pants she was given were made from rough, heavy fabric. How much time had passed¡ªa day? Two?

    There were no windows¡ªthe only furnishings she had were a wooden bucket and a paper-thin blanket made of scratchy material. Not that blankets or pillows would do her any good here; even with her legs tucked in, there wasn¡¯t enough room to lie down.

    When she passed out from exhaustion, she was sitting with her back pressed against the cold wall. The blanket barely covered her legs. Her entire body ached after the previous day¡¯s events, and not being able to stretch it out only made things worse.

    She woke to a loud rapping on the cell door. Startled, she yelped and jumped to her feet.

    ¡°Ah! What¡¯s going on?¡±

    A robotic voice answered from the other side of the door, ¡°Prisoner 752-84-ZXQV-BT-34A, you have been designated for questioning. Please stand back from the door and present your wrists for binding.¡±

    Zaina sighed and did as she was told, hanging her head. The door, one solid piece of metal, swung inward, nearly hitting her hands. A gray-and-black android waited on the other side with a pair of mag-cuffs, which were immediately used to bind her.

    ¡°Come with me,¡± the android said.

    She grumbled, ¡°Not like I have much of a choice, is it?¡±

    ¡°Audio sensors unable to process¡ª¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±

    The android turned without another word. Zaina followed right behind it, and two more androids tagged along to either side of her. All three carried birifles.

    They walked through a narrow, windowless facility¡ªevery five feet, on every wall, was an identical door to the one from Zaina¡¯s cell. The cells were stacked in columns, with metal walkways and stairs to navigate the complex. She glanced upward¡ªthe ceiling was out of sight. Just a wall of doors and skeletal metal framework.

    The only sound was the clanking of the androids¡¯ feet against the metal walkways. Zaina didn¡¯t protest; as far as she was concerned, she belonged here.

    But I do wonder what their questions are about.

    At this point, it didn¡¯t matter. Reida and her captain were probably long gone from Otmonzas. Whatever justice might have been had was gone with them.

    I was the only one who could have stopped them.

    Zaina winced. How could she let herself be deceived like that? Part of her was embarrassed for being tricked, and another part was spiteful toward Reida; but mostly, she felt guilt. How many people were dead because she wanted to get offworld faster? The thought tormented her.

    After an hour of walking down stairs, they finally led Zaina to the bottom of the prison complex. The doors in this row were spread further apart and had large sections replaced with hyper-glass. Each room featured odd chairs with numerous restraints.

    She sighed. I should¡¯ve taken the three months at Hobst¡¯s shop. That¡¯d be nothing compared to this. And at least I¡¯d have a bed at Sister Tyza¡¯s. Plus, all those people might still be alive¡­

    The androids led Zaina to one of the doors, which swung inward. Inside was the chair, which she was told to sit in. Metal restraints clamped down on her arms, legs, and torso to hold her in place; they tightened enough to constrain her breathing a little. On the opposite wall, on either side of the door, were two small desks with much more comfortable-looking chairs behind them. In the room¡¯s center was a circular machine with a cylindrical metal apparatus extending upward.

    The androids stood at attention. The middle one stepped forward and said, ¡°Prisoner 752-84-ZXQV-BT-34A, please wait here. Do not attempt to escape.¡±

    She rolled her eyes. ¡°Yeah, sure.¡±

    The androids turned and exited the room, and the door slammed shut behind them.

    Zaina sighed as the seconds turned to minutes. Questioning, huh? Probably sentencing, too.

    Part of her wanted to get all this over with. If the sentence was more than ten years, she¡¯d die in a cell¡ªGir had told her she only had a decade to live. She didn¡¯t see it being less than that.

    After an agonizing hour of being completely unable to move, barely able to breathe, the door swung open once more. Two people¡ªa human woman with medium-length brown hair tied in a bun and a Galdregarian with wet-looking green skin, bulbous black eyes, and a breathing mask covering the downward-hanging tentacles on their face, stepped in. They both wore identical black uniforms with tan stripes; the Galdregarian¡¯s torso was covered, but their leg-tentacles weren¡¯t.

    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    The door slammed shut, and the interrogators sat at the desks to either side of the entrance. The human woman was stern-faced, with an unbending frown and focused brown eyes as she stared at Zaina; the Galdregarian¡¯s tentacles went about pulling a keyboard from a drawer in their desk and turning it on.

    The human said, ¡°Prisoner 752-84-ZXQV-BT-34A. We¡¯ll be referring to you by the name you gave the intake android: Zaina Quin.¡±

    ¡°That works for me,¡± she replied.

    The woman nodded toward her partner and said, ¡°This is Breli. They¡¯ll be recording all your answers today, so think carefully before you speak.¡±

    Breli waved one of their tentacles. Zaina nodded, the only movement she was able to perform.

    ¡°We¡¯re here from the Otmonzas Superior Investigative Department to ask you some questions about the events that transpired two nights ago. I¡¯m sure you know what I¡¯m talking about.¡±

    Zaina nodded.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get into it. I understand you¡¯ve only recently come to Otmonzas.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zaina replied. ¡°I was attacked by pirates. Someone¡ªI think he was a commander, his name was Royce Flitarik or something like that¡ªhelped me land.¡±

    ¡°I have the incident report right here,¡± the woman said. A hologram popped up from the machine at the center of the room¡ªit hummed as it took the form of a document with tiny lettering. ¡°The aggressor vessel was recognized as the Dauntless Heart, belonging to the pirate Captain Danjai Gres. Of whom¡¯s crew your friend Reida Qarys is a member.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s not my friend,¡± Zaina replied.

    ¡°Of course not. She left you behind. So, tell me, Zaina Quin, where do you come from? Are you from the Condemned?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m from Demelia. My homeworld was destroyed. I was on my way to Kaado when I was attacked.¡±

    The woman nodded. ¡°That matches Commander Flitarik¡¯s notes¡ªcitizenship of Demelia verified.¡±

    Zaina blinked. ¡°If you had the answer right there, why did you ask?¡±

    ¡°You aren¡¯t in any position to ask questions,¡± the woman replied. ¡°Now, what are the circumstances in which you found yourself when you arrived on Otmonzas?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t have anyone to go to,¡± she said. ¡°I wandered around for a bit. I found a friend¡ªJveldaq was his name, and he seemed like a good person¡ªbut he was killed by androids. He had a community of people who needed help. The androids killed all of them.¡±

    ¡°Mhm. Now, is that what your friend Jveldaq told you?¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Yes, it is.¡±

    ¡°I happen to have known him very well. Did you ever consider that¡ªdespite his heart being in the right place¡ªhis faculties were, well, no longer there? That perhaps he was wrong about whatever things he told you?¡±

    ¡°Then where are the people from that camp?¡±

    The woman glared, as if debating whether or not to answer the question. ¡°They¡¯re in Otmonzas¡¯s labor-rehabilitation program, where they¡¯re being taken care of and fed and given a purpose through work. The program¡¯s taken some hits, sure, but they do their best.¡±

    It sounded exactly like what Zaina wanted to hear¡ªso she didn¡¯t trust it. ¡°He was trying to help people, and those androids shot him down.¡±

    ¡°He threatened state equipment,¡± the woman shot back. ¡°We don¡¯t owe you any explanations.¡±

    ¡°I refuse to believe that was the best way to handle that.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s funny, coming from you,¡± the woman replied icily. ¡°Didn¡¯t take you¡ªgiven what you were involved with¡ªfor someone so vigilant in the defense of life.¡±

    There was nothing Zaina could say to that.

    ¡°None of that is here nor there. Let¡¯s move on,¡± the woman said. ¡°You came into the acquaintance¡ªand trust¡ªof Reida Qarys during your stay. I want you to recount your involvement with her to me here and now¡ªevery meeting, everything she told you, everything you told her up to the point that she abandoned you. I need as much detail as you can give. I¡¯ll interject if I have any questions. Understood?¡±

    Zaina nodded and relayed the entire story to the woman, leaving nothing out. To her surprise, the woman heard her out without interrupting, pointing every so often toward Breli, often during important points of the story. When it was over, Zaina was dizzy¡ªher shallow breaths weren¡¯t giving her lungs enough air, and she¡¯d spent the better part of twenty minutes talking.

    The restraints loosened¡ªZaina gasped down a huge breath, wondering what the reason was for her relief.

    The woman tilted her head. ¡°All right.¡±

    ¡°All right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, all right.¡±

    Zaina sighed. ¡°All right what?¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± the woman said, rubbing her chin, ¡°you¡¯re a lot of things, Zaina. Naive. Reckless. Protective. But, a liar you are not.¡±

    ¡°Of course I¡¯m not,¡± she replied. ¡°Why would I lie at this point?¡±

    ¡°The point is,¡± the woman replied, ¡°everything you¡¯ve told me has matched the evidence we¡¯ve been able to gather. Footage, official documentation, recorded statements all line up with your story.¡±

    ¡°Okay, so?¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re culpable, at worst, for accessory to intentional murder on the lancer, plus numerous counts of destruction of private and government property, plus accessory to theft of private property and illegal breaking and entering. Not to mention aiding and abetting terrorism and insurrection. Add all that together, and you¡¯re staring down multiple life sentences.¡±

    Zaina gulped. I knew it.

    The woman cleared her throat. ¡°That being said, Chairman Bilvane, as well as the Otmonzas SID, are pragmatists. You indicated that your destination is Kaado, which matches up with Commander Flitarik¡¯s notes. Kaado is fairly far from Otmonzas, and our world rarely, if ever, has business with them; Drel Ofran was the first lancer to come here in over fifty years, and that was only thanks to the generous donation Chairman Bilvane made to the Order of Riiva¡¯s coffers to lure him here.¡±

    ¡°Drel Ofran?¡±

    ¡°The lancer who was killed.¡±

    Zaina winced thinking about it. It made it worse to hear the Order of Riiva were basically non-profit mercenaries. ¡°I¡ªI wish I¡¯d been able to save him.¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s a bit late for that,¡± the woman replied, ¡°but there may yet be a way to atone, at least in the eyes of our government: there are instances where, in the stead of a normal sentence, we grant an individual the option of banishment. Seeing as you don¡¯t have a ship, we¡¯d be willing to allow a work release for you to continue working at Hobst¡¯s shop for the necessary three months. You¡¯ll have a compliance officer, of course, and we¡¯ll regularly be checking up on you to make sure you¡¯re not up to no good again. Then, once you¡¯re able, you¡¯ll leave Otmonzas and never return.¡±

    It sounded harsh, but that was actually perfect for Zaina. ¡°Wait¡ªyou mean¡ª¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s only one caveat,¡± the woman said. ¡°You might want to think before you accept. We would be willing to sentence you to a work-order delayed banishment under the right circumstances. So, Zaina, tell me¡ªif you were to be banished, would you still choose to go to Kaado?¡±

 Chapter Forty-Three: Devils Last Deal

    ¡°Everyone in this line of work wants to talk about deals, and no one¡¯s worth trusting.¡±

    ¡ªLegendary Bounty Hunter and Gunslinger Tierdol Darhklaw

    Zaina thought about everything the woman told her. Despite her self-loathing and guilt, she still wanted to be a lancer¡ªeven if they were essentially warriors-for-hire. Nothing could be made right, but perhaps this was her chance to prevent future wrongs.

    She nodded. ¡°Yes.¡±

    The woman stood. ¡°Excellent. Then your release will be arranged immediately. Androids will be here no later than nightfall. They¡¯ll have your personal effects¡ªand the cargo.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyebrow rose. ¡°Wait, cargo?¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± the woman said, ¡°Drel Ofrans can¡¯t exactly be expected to return his rental ship, can he? We¡¯ll see to that. But there was a clause in his contract about his body, should he die and his remains be retrievable¡ªthat his remains should be sent back to Kaado for burial in a proper lancer ceremony.¡±

    After blinking a few times, Zaina narrowed her eyes. ¡°You want me to do it.¡±

    ¡°That is the stipulation for your release, yes.¡±

    Zaina was in disbelief. ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re banishing me? Because you¡¯re too lazy to¡ªdon¡¯t you have glyphs that could do it?¡±

    ¡°We do,¡± the woman replied. ¡°However, Kaado is on the other side of the galaxy. Fuel isn¡¯t cheap. If we sent a glyph, it¡¯d be a two-way trip, since, again, the ship was rented out to the Order.¡±

    So that¡¯s why she was being banished¡ªto save Bilvane money. The whole thing stank. ¡°So all that bravado about me being a lancer was bullshit, huh? You¡¯re sending me to the Order with a lancer¡¯s body that I¡ªI doubt that¡¯s going to go well.¡±

    The woman shrugged. ¡°You could look at it that way. You can look at it however you want. It¡¯s a win-win as far as I¡¯m concerned; either you do somehow become a lancer, or they imprison you and you become their problem. Or you could stay here, make me do extra paperwork, and drain our prison budget further¡ªI, for one, pay enough in taxes that go nowhere.¡±

    Zaina shook her head and breathed a sigh of reluctant defeat. Even though it benefited her, this was Otmonzas at its worst¡ªuncaring, callous, and greedy. Maybe it was best for everyone that she left. ¡°Yeah¡ªfine.¡±

    ¡°As for the Order, I¡¯ll see that the androids provide you with a copy of your data file, including the results from here today. It might help smooth things over. Honesty seems to be your strong suit, so go with that.¡±

    Zaina bitterly asked, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re doing me a favor?¡±

    ¡°Think of it as a going-away gift,¡± the woman replied. Then she turned to Breli and said, ¡°All right, make sure her file gets done so we can release her before the day¡¯s end. Come on, now, we¡¯ve got more work to do.¡±

    With that, they left the room¡ªthe door slammed open and shut once more. Zaina stared at the ground in disbelief. She was being released, but the reason for her release was tenuous at best.

    What am I going to tell the Order¡ªif I ever even get there?

    There was no choice but to deal with that later. For now, she was getting out of here. She hoped the lessons she¡¯d learned on Otmonzas¡ªa place she was glad to never return to¡ªwould serve to make her a better lancer.

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    ¡ª

    Within a few hours¡¯ time, Zaina stood outside the prison complex with an empty satchel. The armor and weapons had been confiscated, leaving her with the clothes on her back. A beacon attached to a small metal chain was draped around her neck¡ªher way of contacting the morgue to pick up Drel Ofrans¡¯s body when she was ready to depart Otmonzas.

    Three months. And that¡¯s assuming Hobst gives me my job back after everything.

    One of the guards had contacted Hobst¡ªhe¡¯d agreed to pick her up, so that was a good sign. She reached into her pocket and wrapped her fingers around a small, flattened cube with rounded edges; this data-chip was her only hope of explaining things to the Order.

    The thought of bringing Drel Ofrans¡¯s corpse onto the ship didn¡¯t quite sit right with her; it wasn¡¯t only the grim nature of it, but the passenger himself. Gir had been friendly, reassuring¡ªhe didn¡¯t care that Zaina was a heretic. Drel Ofrans did, and that bothered her.

    I wonder whose opinion the Order shares more?

    With a shake of her head, Zaina cast the thought aside. There was no point in dwelling on it now¡ªif she was lucky, she¡¯d find out. She turned her attention to the streets in front of her.

    Far fewer people were out than normal; a thick layer of smoke obscured more of the sky than usual. An eerie, still silence had settled over Otmonzas. Ground transports carrying rubble, supplies, and materials for rebuilding scurried every which way. There was no music, no holographic ads¡ªin their stead was a voice broadcasting information about the attack and advising residents to gather supplies from their local depots and seek shelter. Gun-toting androids marched up and down every empty sidewalk. As far as anyone knew it wasn¡¯t over. The only other noises were the chimes of bells from atop the gargantuan churches dedicated to various religions. This was a city in mourning.

    Zaina frowned. Guilt pooled in her chest, making her stomach sink. She had failed Otmonzas¡ªshe never should have gotten involved.

    But even if I didn¡¯t¡ªher fingers curled into fists¡ªI didn¡¯t make a difference at all.

    This place was foreign and strange to her, and she wasn¡¯t sure she¡¯d ever understand it. Part of her was filled with relief that she¡¯d be able to leave.

    Within an hour, Hobst¡¯s cycle pulled up. Zaina gave a sheepish smile and hopped into the back compartment.

    He turned and said, ¡°Glad you¡¯re okay. We¡¯ll talk at the shop, all right?¡±

    Zaina nodded. He had a way with words, this one. They zipped and dashed through the streets of Otmonzas, weaving their way through the cargo transits; she gripped the edges tightly enough to hold herself in place, but this time there was no panic. She leaned her head back and enjoyed the sensation of the wind flowing through her hair.

    They came to a stop at Hobst¡¯s shop, and Zaina followed him inside.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said. ¡°I¡ªI¡¯m so sorry you had to go all that way¡ª¡±

    He raised a hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I was meaning to talk to you, anyway.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyebrow rose. ¡°What about?¡±

    ¡°The ship¡ªyour debt,¡± Hobst said. ¡°Had a strange visitor in the shop before the SID beeped me. Human girl¡ªweird hair. About your age. Said she was a friend of yours¡ªdidn¡¯t get a name out of her. Sound familiar?¡±

    Zaina¡¯s heart stopped. Reida had been here? What did she want now? What had she done? Was this all a trap? She tried to act like nothing was wrong and said, ¡°Yeah, sounds familiar.¡±

    ¡°She said something about owing you a favor. Paid off the repairs for your ship in full.¡±

    Zaina blinked, then her jaw dropped. ¡°Wait¡ªwhat?¡±

    ¡°Yep. Asked how much it was, shoved it into my hands, and left. Seemed to be in a hurry.¡±

    Zaina stared at the ground. Never in a million years did she imagine Reida would keep her word. Not that it changed anything¡ªZaina still didn¡¯t want to see her ever again.

    After what she put me¡ªand these people¡ªthrough, this is less than the least she could do.

    He went on. ¡°Being that your sole reason for staying is no longer in effect, it may be best to comply with your banishment in a timely manner. Once I put the repairs in as paid in the system, the SID¡¯ll come knocking to see if you¡¯re getting a move on.¡±

    Zaina blushed. ¡°You know about my banishment, huh?¡±

    ¡°The SID told me quite a bit.¡±

    ¡°You must think I¡¯m¡ª¡± She hung her head. ¡°You must think I¡¯m stupid, or evil, or both.¡±

    Hobst chuckled. ¡°No. You made a mistake. You were lied to, trusted the wrong people. But that¡¯s okay. None of that makes you a bad person. And you¡¯re not stupid, either¡ªthe years will give you wisdom, but they¡¯ve yet to pass.¡±

    Zaina surged forward and wrapped Hobst in a hug. He recoiled but didn¡¯t fight too hard.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± she said, ¡°for everything. I don¡¯t know how I can ever repay you.¡±

    ¡°Go live your best life,¡± he replied. ¡°Not everyone gets to¡ªso make the most of it. That¡¯s all I ask.¡±

    The embrace ended, and Hobst huffed. ¡°Now, we should head over to Sister Tyza¡¯s so you can pack your things. I think it¡¯s time you got on your way.¡±

    A half-smile formed on Zaina¡¯s face¡ªa glimmer of hope warmed her chest, some good to go with all the bad. She couldn¡¯t have agreed more with Hobst¡¯s words¡ªit was time to leave Otmonzas forever.

 Chapter Forty-Four: Freedom

    ¡°We will venture forth where no others dared; for I believe, in the heart of our galaxy, this Nova Rim, is¡­something. Something worth finding, some will ask; I admit I do not have the faintest idea what is on the other side of the storm. But we will go anyway to see for ourselves. The unknown cannot hide from our intrepid spirit forever, nor can we turn our heads to hide from its depths. Some think it is the abyss calling, but that is not so; we are beckoned by something beyond the abyss, ¡®We are here. Come and see. We are waiting.¡¯¡±

    ¡ªKol Vau Sonnem, explorer who discovered Vylensus and founded the Synatorium

    Zaina sat atop a stranded cargo container next to the landing platform upon which Gir¡¯s ship rested. From the outside it appeared to be brand new¡ªall the damaged parts were repaired or replaced. Even the paint was redone.

    Hobst really went all out.

    She had yet to see the inside. Maybe she hadn¡¯t gone in yet because she didn¡¯t want to wake up Gizmo¡ªor maybe she wanted to spend a little more time out in the open before getting back into that cramped metal box.

    Sorrow plucked at her heart. I wonder what Gir would¡¯ve said about all this¡ªwhat he¡¯d think of me.

    Zaina frowned and adjusted her knapsack, which was sagging. Sister Tyza insisted on sending her off with plenty of food, blankets, hygienic supplies, and spare clothing. Zaina smiled¡ªshe was lucky to have found people like Sister Tyza and Hobst on a world like Otmonzas. Without them, she¡¯d have starved, or worse.

    Poor Sister Tyza hadn¡¯t known what had happened¡ªshe broke down immediately when Zaina walked through the doors. When Zaina told her the good news, she cried even more; not many people who went through her doors got their second chances, so when they did, she couldn¡¯t hold back tears of happiness.

    Hobst¡¯s goodbye was little more than a handshake, a nod, and a gruff, ¡°You take care, now.¡± That was all it needed to be.

    The sky was clearing of smoke, revealing the layer of smog blanketing the world. Zaina sighed, reflecting on her time here. Otmonzas wasn¡¯t a friendly place¡ªeven if she was allowed back, she was sure she¡¯d never return. There were bright spots¡ªpeople doing their best in spite of a system that broke them¡ªbut everything else was compromised.

    Welcome to the Nova Rim, I guess.

    The beacon around her neck hummed¡ªthe promised cargo was arriving. She still wasn¡¯t comfortable with this, but if it got her offworld, so be it.

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    She turned her head¡ªa ground transport, long and sleek, was winding its way through the myriad ships and empty platforms. It rolled on four ball-shaped wheels beneath its body, allowing it to change direction at will. The vehicle came to a stop at the edge of the platform.

    A human man stepped out of the transport. ¡°Are you Zaina Quin?¡±

    She nodded and hopped off the container. ¡°That¡¯s me.¡±

    Nose buried in a vis-screen, he walked toward her. ¡°All right. I have some documents for you to sign, and then you¡¯ll be on your way. Mind opening the cargo bay?¡±

    Zaina frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to do that.¡±

    The man sighed and said, ¡°The androids should be familiar with the model. Okay, this first one¡¯s a camera¡ªthere you are, your vis-sig. Tap there to confirm that image is of you, Zaina Quin. Perfect. And this next one here¡­¡±

    She tapped the screen to sign a string of legal agreements between herself and the Otmonzas government. All the while, four androids popped open a side compartment on Gir¡¯s ship and stowed a cylindrical coffin. Zaina glanced over toward the box¡ªher eyes lingered. That was her fault.

    Reida wouldn¡¯t have been able to kill him if not for what I did. But he would¡¯ve killed Reida and me¡ª

    ¡°Hey! Hey!¡± the man said, snapping his fingers.

    Zaina startled. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°You spaced out for a minute there. Come on, I got other deliveries to make. Can you please sign the last three waivers so I can get on with my day? There¡¯s a big goreball match tonight.¡±

    She went along with it. Once it was done the androids returned to his transport. The man waited outside, staring at her¡ªwaiting for her to leave.

    The moment was surreal. That morning she was sure she¡¯d die on this world, and now she was climbing the outer ladder of Gir¡¯s ship. The hatch opened, and she hopped down and took it in.

    The interior was completely polished, looking like new. She marveled at how shiny the metal walls were. Other than that, nothing had changed¡ªit was Gir¡¯s ship exactly as she remembered it.

    Zaina walked toward the control panel. ¡°Gizmo?¡±

    The glyph popped out of its charging port, zipping back and forth in midair. ¡°Giz¡ªzzz¡ªmo Giz¡ªzzz¡ªmo Giz¡ªzzz¡ªzzz¡ªzzz¡ªmo online! Hello, Giramodo. How can I help you today?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s Zaina,¡± she said, ¡°not Gir¡ªremember me, buddy?¡±

    ¡°Oh yes¡ªzzz, it¡¯s¡ªzzz my good friend Z¡ªzzz¡ªZaina! How can I help you today?¡±

    Her lips curled into a smile. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you, Gizmo. How are you feeling?¡±

    ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve woken from a very res¡ªzzz¡ªtful s¡ªzzz¡ªleep. How about you, Z¡ªzzz¡ªZaina?¡±

    The smile faded from her face. ¡°Tired, little buddy. Come on¡ªI think we should get out of here.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± the glyph replied. ¡°Very well, Z¡ªzzz¡ªZaina. Would you like me to engage autopilot s¡ªzzz¡ªys¡ªzzz¡ªtems¡ªzzz? After all, you do not know how to pilot a ship.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, collapsing into the seat closest to the front, ¡°do the honors, if you would.¡±

    ¡°Very well. Is¡ªzzz our des¡ªzzz¡ªtination s¡ªzzz¡ªtill the Order of Riiva?¡±

    Zaina took a deep breath. ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s go to Kaado.¡±

    The engines roared to life, then died down to a dim hum. A moment of weightlessness overtook Zaina as the ship lifted off from Otmonzas. Pulling away from a horrible place that she had never wanted to visit¡ªand to which she could never return¡ªit struck her one last time how pretty the planetwide city¡¯s lights were. A twinge of sorrow and guilt stung at her heart, knowing it was only beautiful from far away.

 Chapter Forty-Five: The Celestial Sanctuary

    ¡°The Order of Riiva is not to be trusted. Long has it existed, since before even the Synatorium¡¯s Founding Charter was written at Vylensus by Kol Vau Sonnem. It has never been beholden to any oversight by any of the governments it has outlived. Make no mistake, those Scholars are planning something, or are hiding something, and whatever it is likely won¡¯t be as good for the commonwealth of the galaxy as they claim.¡±

    ¡ªFormer Dyarch Erus Etimin, in a personal correspondence to Chidron Vali T¡¯Lohar

    Zaina Quin¡¯s eyes opened to a normal day. A beam of light shone through the glass window above her bed and hovered. A familiar aroma wafted into her nostrils, that of her mother¡¯s roasted garden vegetables. The shuffling and clinking of pots and pans came from downstairs¡ªher mother and siblings were making breakfast.

    Her stomach grumbled. Oh, perfect. I feel like I haven¡¯t eaten a hot meal in days.

    She sat up and stretched before opening the window. A bright, familiar sun was ascending, shedding its warmth onto the endless fields of gently swaying grass. The plains extended toward the picturesque, white-tipped mountains obscuring the horizon. The sky was perfectly blue and clear of clouds. She opened the window and took a deep breath through her nose, inhaling the sweet scent of wild grass and flowers.

    Zaina grinned. It¡¯s good to be here¡ªhome.

    A familiar voice entered her ears. ¡°Zaina, breakfast¡¯s ready! Come on downstairs!¡±

    Mom. It felt like she hadn¡¯t heard that voice in forever. Tears stung at the corners of her eyes.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me?¡± she asked, wiping her eyes on her shirt. Everything in her room was in its proper place¡ªnothing was physically wrong, but¡ª

    A blurred robotic voice chirped in the background. ¡°Here! Here!¡±

    For some reason¡ªsomething she couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on¡ªshe wanted to stay in bed. There was no hurry, after all. This would all still be here when she woke up again, right? She was home where she belonged.

    With a smile, she closed her eyes and leaned back. A breathy, relaxed sigh flowed from her lungs. Then, with a snap and a plunge, she fell out of her dream.

    The back of her head slammed against something cold and hard as she woke with a start.

    ¡°Ow!¡±

    Rubbing a fresh bruise, Zaina propped herself up. She was back on Gir¡¯s ship. No Quin family¡ªno Demelia. Only Gizmo chanting the word, ¡°Here!¡± repeatedly.

    She frowned, her shoulders slumping. That¡¯s right. It¡¯s gone.

    A torrent of bad memories flooded her mind¡ªimages from the final days of her homeworld and her stay on Otmonzas. In the span of a month, she¡¯d fought an ancient monstrosity to save her planet, and been tricked by a pirate into joining a heist. She was carrying a dead lancer on board¡ªone she helped kill.

    I have a feeling this isn¡¯t going to go well.

    The ship hummed softly on low-power mode. Zaina had fallen asleep on the floor¡ªher neck felt like it had been cranked. At least it wasn¡¯t as bad as trying to sleep on the uneven row of polysynth chairs lining the cabin.

    Gizmo, Gir¡¯s glyph, happily danced about and emitted happy beeps. ¡°Yay! Hooray! We¡¯re here! Here! Here! We¡¯re here!¡±

    Zaina snapped out of her fog. She scrambled to her feet, ignoring her throbbing head, and surged toward the pilot¡¯s chair. The hyper-glass panels were weirdly angled in the cockpit, so she strained her already sore neck to get a good view.

    Gizmo floated up behind her and said, ¡°Z¡ªzzz¡ªZaina! Welcome to Kaado. Home of the anc¡ªzzz¡ªient Order of Riiva.¡±

    Through the hyper-glass panes, Zaina got her first view of Kaado; it left her unable to believe her eyes. The entire world was in the process of breaking. The planet¡¯s top half was cracked open to reveal a hollow center; numerous blue lights dotted the interior and exterior of the planet¡¯s airspace. Chunks of semi-flat landmasses¡ªonce pieces of Kaado¡¯s surface¡ªhovered above the world¡¯s shattered form.

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Sections of Kaado¡¯s outer crust appeared normal with different biomes¡ªbut pieces of the surface were missing, revealing the planet¡¯s innards: massive, interwoven metal bars perfectly curving together to support the weight of vast continental plates. A sense of wonder filled Zaina as she stared at the planet¡¯s impossible structure.

    Someone had to have built this. It isn¡¯t a natural world.

    The ship neared Kaado¡¯s broken surface, and the blue lights came into better view. They were the glow of engines¡ªmassive, mountain-sized behemoths which supported floating fragments of the planet. Zaina tried to count them, but they were too numerous¡ªeach light was part of an island in the sky. These hovering pieces of land had their own biomes and ships darting to and fro between them.

    Kaado¡¯s interior gave off a gentle blue glow; they passed the outer crust. Zaina peered over the edge¡ªmore floating islands, all suspended by engines, filled up the planet¡¯s hollow interior. Inverted continental plates were attached to the world¡¯s interior framework¡ªthese, too, had biomes. People lived on both sides of Kaado¡¯s crust.

    Gizmo chirped, and the ship lurched left toward an enormous chunk of completely flat land on the upper levels of Kaado¡¯s internal system of islands. Based on the dozens of craft coming and going every second, the large, walled-off shipyards, and circular landing bays, this was a harbor. There was a modicum of controlled chaos, but only barely; from above, it was a frenzy of ships going in every direction.

    It can¡¯t be that bad. It doesn¡¯t look like anything¡¯s exploding. Zaina gulped, her eyes darting toward the glitching glyph. Yet. I really hope he doesn¡¯t crash.

    On cue, Gizmo turned and said, ¡°You may want to s¡ªzzz¡ªtrap yours¡ªzzz¡ªelf in, Z¡ªzzz¡ªZaina! Landings¡ªzzz aren¡¯t my s¡ªzzz¡ªtrong s¡ªzzz¡ªuit.¡±

    She shot a glare toward the oblivious glyph. ¡°Why did you have to tell me that?¡±

    ¡°I s¡ªzzz¡ªeek to be hones¡ªzzz¡ªt at all times¡ªzzz, Z¡ªzzz¡ª¡±

    Zaina pointed toward the landing platform, where someone was standing and waving a shining baton toward a circular platform. ¡°Focus, Gizmo, focus!¡±

    ¡°Right! Can do!¡±

    Zaina rushed over to the closest seat and secured the magnetic buckle. She jammed her eyes shut. If Gizmo killed her after she¡¯d made it all this way¡ª

    Their descent was slow and shaky. The ship rocked back and forth and bucked every few seconds. Finally, there was a metallic thud and a crunching impact¡ªbut no explosion.

    With a deep sigh, Zaina unbuckled and gave her neck a rub¡ªthat landing was the last thing she needed. She remained seated, collecting herself. Now came the hard part of her journey. From a glance, this looked bad¡ªshe was a heretic in a dead lancer¡¯s ship with a different dead lancer in tow.

    She fiddled with her fingers. I want to be optimistic, but¡­

    There was no point in staving it off. With a heavy heart she stood and walked toward the front. ¡°All right, Gizmo. Pop the hatch, please.¡±

    The hatch swung open, and Zaina climbed the ladder out. Gizmo chirped and said, ¡°Z¡ªzzz¡ªZaina, will you require any more ass¡ªzzz¡ªis¡ªzzz¡ªtanc¡ªzzz¡ªzzz¡ªzzz¡ªhelp?¡±

    ¡°No, Gizmo, I think you should take a break.¡±

    The glyph darted back into the ship. ¡°Okay! Powering down. Going into res¡ªzzz¡ªzzz¡­¡±

    Gizmo fell to the floor with a clank. Despite her grim outlook and the burgeoning sense of dread weighing on her shoulders, a half-grin crossed her face for a moment¡ªthe glyph had earned some rest.

    I¡¯ll see you again, buddy. I hope.

    Zaina climbed down the outer ladder and touched a foot on Kaado. A handful of mechanics in blue jumpsuits swarmed the ship, and the person directing traffic ran off to another landing platform. Three strangers¡ªone leaning back in a hovering bed-pod, and two wearing armor similar to Gir¡¯s¡ªwere approaching.

    Wishing she could hide the mark on her face, Zaina gulped and steeled her nerves. Time to meet the Order.

    The man in the bed-pod was the first to speak. Based on his condition, he had to be a scholar.

    ¡°Citizen of the galaxy¡ªah. Perhaps not.¡± The man¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked her up and down. ¡°Where is High Lancer Girxorgian Ra-Folgoth? What have you done with him?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Zaina asked. ¡°Nothing! I¡¯m¡ª¡±

    ¡°Heretic¡ªheretic!¡± the man shouted, pointing a bony finger. ¡°Apprehend her!¡±

    The lancers at the man¡¯s side surged forward.

    Zaina raised her hands and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything to Gir! I tried to help him. I¡¯m from Demelia. I¡ª¡±

    The man glared. ¡°You may have been a citizen of Demelia, but now you are a heretic.¡±

    One of the mechanics walked over. ¡°Uh¡ªsir? Ship¡¯s cargo bay is holding a coffin. It¡¯s tagged with a lancer¡¯s body¡ªDrel Ofrans.¡±

    Zaina gulped. ¡°I can explain that.¡±

    The scholar¡¯s gaze burned with hatred as he refocused it on Zaina. His words were laced with venom. ¡°Detain this murderer. Put her in a cell. Why this heretic was stupid enough to come here is beyond me¡ªbut she will see justice for these crimes.¡±

    Zaina sighed and offered no resistance. The lead lancer, a tall human woman with strikingly red hair and friendly green eyes pulled a pair of restraints from her belt and put Zaina¡¯s wrists in them. The small, segmented metal cuffs then condensed and shrank until they were tight. There was no way to break free, even with her improved strength.

    Gir had warned her that the Mark of the Recalcitrant would complicate things, and she knew the events of Otmonzas would only make things worse. Whatever first impressions she had of Kaado¡¯s magnificence were replaced with bitter resignation. First Drel, now this scholar¡ªmaybe Gir had oversold the Order¡¯s willingness to accept heretics. Still, she¡¯d put her trust in his words by coming here; it was too late to waver now.

    A sigh rolled over her lip. Looks like it¡¯s out of my hands.

 Chapter Forty-Six: The Order of Riiva

    ¡°You say this Dalzhar Velian is no different from you or I, aside from his affliction¡ªbut I will not stand for it. We will not stand for it. To allow this would be to desecrate the Order¡¯s very spirit.¡±

    ¡ªHigh Lancer Inivrus Valtox, founder of the Scions of Riiva, in a speech shortly before the Lancer Civil War

    Zaina was led to a nearby platform where a sleek, unarmored craft awaited. The underbelly was gold, with a single streak of shining red separating the hull from rows of large hyper-glass panes lining the top of the craft. It hugged the ground tightly, with much shorter landing rods than Gir¡¯s ship.

    The door swung upward, and a narrow ramp extended to the landing pad¡¯s surface. The scholar was muttering to himself as he floated into the ship. The second lancer, a tall, young humanoid with pointed ears and grayish-blue fur¡ªCytomoids, their species was called¡ªwent in first, followed by Zaina, and then the red-haired lancer who¡¯d bound her.

    Zaina didn¡¯t know what she¡¯d expected, but it definitely wasn¡¯t luxury. The interior walls were lined with soft, velvet seats toward the back. Bottles of dowress and lurg, the most expensive gruti-wine in the galaxy, lined glass cabinets beneath the seating area, and glow-strip panels in the floor provided all the ship¡¯s dim lighting. Toward the front were large hooks protruding from the ceiling. Wired rings extended from the scholar¡¯s bed-pod and attached to them, suspending the hover-pod in place. The lancers and Zaina sat in the back.

    She sighed. At least these seats have cushions.

    Two glyphs in the cockpit communicated in coda, taking in data from an array of sensors and piloting the ship in tandem. Zaina was able to make out the scholar¡¯s crazed whispers over the dim hum of the ship¡¯s engines.

    ¡°This girl¡ªheretic! Coming to Kaado! Two lancers dead¡ªeven that fool Nash won¡¯t have a choice.¡±

    Zaina frowned. Her chest tightened¡ªthis was going about as well as expected. Part of her wanted to find some way to escape, to put the whole thing behind her, but part of her wanted to play it out. Gir had indicated that the Order accepted half-heretics despite the misgivings of some of their members. Maybe if more scholars heard her out, they¡¯d actually listen to what she had to say.

    I hope. Her eyes shifted to the scholar. If they¡¯re all like him, I¡¯m fucked.

    They descended far into Kaado¡¯s interior, near the intact surface at the world¡¯s hollow bottom. A massive building came into view, split into two segments and made of sleek, golden metal. It appeared to be two buildings stacked atop one another, connected by rows of thick golden pillars. The bottom segment was a large, cube shaped construct; above that was a smaller, roof-shaped complex with elaborate curved edges. A ring of glowing blue rocks floated in a circle around it. Next to the ornate structure was a landing bay with rows of identical, luxurious vehicles.

    Is this some sort of temple?

    The ship gently touched down. Without so much as a word, the scholar detached his hover-bed with the press of a button and levitated off the ship, muttering under his breath the whole time. Zaina followed quickly, not wanting to seem reluctant.

    Upon exiting the ship she strained her neck to see the top of the golden cube¡ªit had to be as tall as Mount Dialemor, at least. Probably not as tall as the black tower she helped rob on Otmonzas. From her vantage point at the base, the entire top structure was barely visible. Little natural light made it this far into Kaado¡¯s depths, further hampering her efforts to see the peak.

    The gilded building¡¯s entrance was an elaborate door comprised of thin strips of pinkish-gray metal engraved with odd messages written in symbols Zaina didn¡¯t understand. Beside it was a podium that held a vis-screen on its topmost face; the scholar floated to it and pressed his hand against the screen. The intricate metal strips retreated into the walls one by one until the door opened.

    The interior wasn¡¯t anything like what Zaina expected: a damp, dimly lit stone corridor with rows of doors on either side. Here an eerily stillness had taken hold¡ªfrom the air, to the silence, to the low-glowing bulbs sparsely lining the walls. Deep, bellowing clanks rang out as the door sealed shut behind her.

    Zaina tried to keep a brave face, but she was terrified. Everyone she¡¯d met so far seemed to hate heretics. She tried to get a read on the lancers walking on either side of her. The human woman was aloof. She grinned at Zaina when she noticed her staring, but the Cytomoid was focused, looking dead ahead. The scholar was still grumbling to himself like a madman.

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    What¡¯s his problem with heretics, anyway?

    Darkness swallowed the corridor¡¯s dim lights¡ªwere they coming to the end? She had no way of knowing how long this hallway was. Anxiety crept into Zaina¡¯s chest, making her heart flutter¡ªthis space reminded her of the Eldritch¡¯s Hollow. The scholar¡¯s infuriating muttering brought back low, buzzing whispers in the back of her brain. She focused on keeping her hands from shaking.

    Finally they came to a metal door at the end of the hall. The entrance¡¯s wide frame was bordered by a great arch of stained wood with the same runic language scrawled onto it.

    The lancers placed their palms on small, hand-sized podiums on either side of the door. With a creaking metallic groan, it split down the middle, its halves retracting into the walls.

    Before they entered, the scholar¡¯s hover-bed rotated and he pointed a wrinkly finger toward the lancers. ¡°Take this heretic to the Chamber of High Judgment at once. I will go on and brief the other scholars. The Suprema Assembly will be gathered by the time you reach us.¡±

    Without another word, the scholar¡¯s hover-bed rotated to face forward. It darted to the left and connected to a magnetic rail lining the wall, then shot upward out of sight. The lancers were alone with Zaina. Her jaw dropped when she stepped through the door.

    The next room was an enormous library and clearly the bulk of the interior space of the cube; the chamber¡¯s roof was the same golden hue as the outer surface. Radiant light flooded every inch of the room, emanating from a glass cube containing a brilliant aura. It was attached to a chain hanging from the bottom of a gold disc-like structure near the ceiling.

    The library¡¯s walls jutted out at odd and seemingly random places, forming a massive maze; more sections of wall were under construction. It was both ancient and modern at once¡ªits foundations were set long ago, and continually built upon, but never finished.

    The structure was labyrinthine. Every inch of wall space was covered in shelves overflowing with books, data drives, and server boxes. Desks on the floor were littered with piles of books stacked ten high. Magnetic rails lined the edges of each bookshelf, allowing metal staircases to freely travel the library¡¯s innumerable shelves. Scholars on their hover-beds and white-clad assistants scurried about at every level.

    It was an ever-growing library seeking all the knowledge in the galaxy¡ªZaina was so taken aback by the sight that she barely noticed the Cytomoid guiding her by the arm.

    They came to one of the extended walls. The Cytomoid pushed Zaina onto a set of magnet stairs¡ªshe kept her balance but wanted to punch him. He stepped on and crossed his arms without a word.

    The red-haired lancer frowned and turned to Zaina. ¡°Watch the sides, now.¡±

    The stairway lurched. Zaina fumbled for the safety bar with her bound hands. Once she got a grip, her head swiveled about to marvel at the room. They ascended in silence for ten minutes before their stairwell climbed to the top of the rail system. Zaina stepped onto the wall¡ªon either side were rows of bookshelves all the way down. Right up ahead was a raised circular hover-pad twenty feet in diameter; it was hooked to a metal fence surrounding it. A blue light shone from the platform¡¯s center, aimed at the ceiling.

    Zaina glanced around the room¡ªthe top of every wall was identical; the same circular platforms, and the same blue lights. They all pointed toward the same place¡ªthe golden disc atop the room. From here, she noticed it was shaped more like the bottom of a sphere, or an upside-down dome attached to the ceiling.

    The red-haired lancer walked to the center and accessed another podium. The edges of the circle emitted a gentle blue glow. The platform¡¯s restraints loosened, and it jolted¡ªZaina¡¯s legs nearly buckled, but she kept her balance. They ascended, following the blue light¡¯s path toward the golden dome atop the room. Their speed was leisurely slow. Neither lancer tried to engage Zaina at all. She had plenty of time to over-think and convince herself whatever worst-case scenario her mind conjured was a certainty.

    Twenty minutes passed before they arrived. Up close, the golden dome-like structure was gargantuan. A circular section of the dome¡¯s underside opened up. It was perfectly sized for their platform, which positioned itself directly below the entrance and then shot upward. They entered a tube-like tunnel wide enough for the platform, and their ascent began anew.

    The last leg of the journey was the shortest. Within two minutes they reached the golden dome¡¯s peak: a flat surface consisting of colorful, ornate circular engravings with inscriptions written in the same ancient language Zaina didn¡¯t recognize. A chorus of clicks rang out from the platform¡¯s edges as restraining bars attached to hold the hover-pad in place. The railings folded down.

    Zaina glanced upward¡ªthere was still a good amount of space between the dome and the true ceiling. Sixteen metal pillars of a whitish-gray hue connected the ceiling to the dome¡¯s edges. The only light came from the room below, giving this uppermost platform a dim glow.

    Zaina gulped. Every time she thought she had this room figured out, it surprised her. She was getting sick of surprises.

    Floating above the disc¡¯s surface was an antler-like structure of black and gray hue; each branching tip was a connection point for bed-pods. Every space was occupied by a scholar¡ªat least fifteen of them. They all stared with different expressions; some were curious, others angry or ambivalent. Her heart pounded¡ªit felt like it would combust if someone didn¡¯t say something.

    The bed-pod seated at the top detached and descended, emitting a high-pitched hum. The pod held an elderly creature with amber-colored, humanoid skin; it had long, white hair covering much of its face, neck, and chest, but was bald otherwise. Its frail voice was amplified by the hover-bed. ¡°Let us convene this meeting of the Suprema Assembly of the Order of Riiva¡¯s Scholara Suprema. We are gathered here today to ascertain the truth regarding recent events involving the Order¡¯s lancers, and to weigh the guilt and innocence of this citizen of the galaxy.¡±

    Zaina gulped, wishing more than ever that she could hide her face. Her last shred of hope faded quickly, leaving her with a pit at the bottom of her stomach. So these are the people I¡¯m entrusting my fate to.

 Chapter Forty-Seven: The Council of Scholars

    ¡°All of the Order¡¯s decisions must flow with Riiva¡¯s accordance. We are but pieces of its infinite wisdom, never to be fully enlightened. A leaf cannot see the full scope of a tree; the tree cannot see the full scope of its forest, nor the forest of its world. There is only harmony, and in harmony, there is trust.¡±

    ¡ªHigh Scholar Benzus Faid, former Scholar Suprema of Mentorship, in a controversial speech allowing half-heretic Ela Artfor to enter the Order of Riiva

    The elderly scholar waved his hands. ¡°Tragedy has struck our Order. The loss of two lancers¡ªone a High Lancer¡ªwithin such a short time is, unfortunately, not as uncommon as we¡¯d like, but we have not allowed ourselves to become numb to the pain of loss. High Lancer Girxorgian of Clan Ra-Folgoth and lancer Drel Ofrans have both been confirmed to have perished while failing to complete their respective missions.¡±

    Without thinking, Zaina stamped her foot and said, ¡°Gir didn¡¯t fail!¡±

    The scholars muttered amongst themselves in the background. When the elderly scholar raised a hand, they all fell silent. ¡°Citizen of the galaxy, if I may, I do not believe we¡¯ve had the chance to formally introduce ourselves. To whom am I speaking?¡±

    ¡°My name is Zaina Quin. I¡¯m from Demelia, and¡ª¡±

    ¡°Young Zaina,¡± the scholar interrupted, ¡°you have no way of knowing our procedures or unspoken rules of decorum, so I cannot hold your unknowing actions against you; however, it is common courtesy to allow the courtmaster, whichever scholar, lancer, or citizen it may be at the time, to fully speak their part without uttering a challenge or disturbance.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± she said. Of course. They weren¡¯t even going to hear her out. Her shoulders slumped.

    The scholar¡¯s hover-bed floated toward her. ¡°Have no fear, young Zaina. You will have your say when it is time. All that being said, the point you contested does pique my interest; we sent High Lancer Terco¡±¡ªhe motioned toward the human lancer to Zaina¡¯s side¡ª¡°to ascertain the fate of Demelia, and it was found broken. The Eldritch¡¯s next move is unknown to us. I request that you elaborate.¡±

    Zaina gulped and tried to sound less nervous than she was. ¡°Gir didn¡¯t fail. The fact that I¡¯m here at all is because he saved my life. And as for the Eldritch, you won¡¯t have to worry about that thing anymore.¡±

    The scholar¡¯s head tilted to the side. ¡°It seems we know little about the happenings of these past weeks. I greatly look forward to hearing what light you can shed on the gaps in our knowledge.¡±

    The human scholar who¡¯d first met Zaina, seated lower on the antler-tree, shouted, ¡°Why are you even giving her the chance to speak? Anyone can see, plain as day, that she¡¯s a heretic! She arrived on the stolen ship of a missing High Lancer with another lancer¡¯s corpse on board. Those two things are facts, and they alone¡ª¡±

    The elderly creature cleared his throat. ¡°High Scholar Elest Vae, you speak out of turn. I, as Scholar Suprema of Arbitration, will oversee the proceedings until such time as I have ceded my role as courtmaster. A decision must be made as to what to do with this citizen of the galaxy.¡±

    Elest Vae, turning beet-red with anger, shouted, ¡°She¡¯s no citizen of the galaxy¡ªshe¡¯s a heretic!¡±

    The elderly scholar¡¯s hover-bed rotated toward the antler-tree. ¡°I did not believe one of our own scholars would require reminding about our procedures and unspoken rules of decorum, especially when the infraction was cited mere moments ago. High Scholar Vae, please return to your seat. If you are called upon to speak or render judgment, you will be notified.¡±

    Elest grumbled to himself. Zaina glared at him for a moment before turning her attention back to the elderly scholar in the hover-bed.

    He placed a shriveled hand over his heart. ¡°My name is Ardo Nash, and you¡¯ve already heard my title. You indicated you were a resident of Demelia. Is that correct?¡±

    Zaina nodded. ¡°Yes. Born and raised just outside of Ildegor.¡±

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    ¡°I am familiar with the region,¡± Ardo replied. ¡°I studied the plant life in Demelia¡¯s northern hemisphere some thousand years ago¡ªit saddens me to see that world, and the bountiful harvests of its soil, gone so soon. Now¡ªyour testimony has already indicated a matter of great importance, which we must attend to immediately. You mentioned that the Eldritch was defeated at Demelia: please, go into further detail. How was it defeated¡ªdoes any part of it remain?¡±

    She nodded. ¡°There was this weird orb on its forehead¡ªI split it in half, and its body disappeared. But the two halves of the orb didn¡¯t.¡±

    Ardo¡¯s eyebrow rose. ¡°Do you know what happened to them?¡±

    ¡°I picked them up. They¡¯re on Gir¡¯s ship, wrapped in one of my old shirts.¡±

    Ardo floated closer to the platform. ¡°High Lancer Terco¡ªif you would, please go to the ship and find the stone¡¯s pieces¡ªbring a glyph to carry them; don¡¯t make contact. Once you have it, take it to tower zed-thirty-four and place it in one of the empty high-security containment storage cells.¡±

    The human lancer nodded. She stepped onto another circular platform and descended, disappearing from view. Zaina turned back toward the antler-tree, where Ardo was still floating and scratching his beard.

    ¡°You said you split the Eldritch in half,¡± he said. ¡°How, pray tell, did you manage that?¡±

    Zaina took a deep breath. ¡°With my cipher.¡±

    Whispers flew among the scholars¡ªElest Vae¡¯s eyes widened as he turned a darker, angrier shade of red. Ardo Nash perked up¡ªraising a hand, he silenced the others.

    ¡°This has been a most unusual conference of the Suprema Assembly thus far,¡± he said. ¡°No doubt this meeting¡¯s transcripts will be referred to when teaching etiquette and proper procedure to future scholars for millennia to come, as a perfect example of a lack of decorum. That being said, young Zaina, your answers only leave me more curious as to what exactly happened. You have come here, under circumstances which you must understand are quite suspicious¡ªto put it mildly.¡±

    She nodded. ¡°Trust me, I know.¡±

    ¡°And yet still you came,¡± he said. ¡°So, let us cut straight to the heart of the matter at hand. We cannot decide on a further course of action until we have sufficient information regarding recent events. Being that you appear to be the sole survivor among the non-evacuees of Demelia, I should very much like to hear your story.¡±

    ¡°Do you want the long or the short version?¡± she asked. ¡°It¡¯s kind of a lot.¡±

    Ardo didn¡¯t look amused. ¡°We have nothing but time, young Zaina.¡±

    Thinking carefully of every word, Zaina recounted the events on Demelia¡ªfrom the Eldritch arriving, to her leading it away from Ildegor, to falling into the Riiva Fragment, to meeting Gir, to their confrontation with the Eldritch¡ªshe didn¡¯t leave anything out. Then she told the story of her time on Otmonzas, not excluding anything, from her brief stint with homelessness to her stay at Sister Tyza¡¯s, meeting Reida, the fight with Drel the lancer¡ªshe made sure to tell the whole story no matter how bad it made her look.

    The High Scholars listened intently¡ªeven Elest didn¡¯t interrupt her. Once she was done, Ardo nodded and thoughtfully stroked his beard.

    ¡°You have been through quite a lot,¡± he said, ¡°and you have quite a bit of valuable information.¡±

    Elest was fuming, and a few others had concerned or questioning expressions, but none of them spoke up. Zaina smirked at Elest for a moment. This was going much better than she ever expected¡ªmuch to his apparent chagrin.

    ¡°Young Zaina,¡± Ardo said. ¡°We have many more questions, if you wouldn¡¯t mind answering them.¡±

    She nodded¡ªthat was expected. ¡°Yes, of course.¡±

    ¡°I am curious,¡± he said, ¡°about the wording the creature used. When it spoke to you, it mentioned a¡ªshattered Codax, was it?¡±

    Zaina nodded.

    ¡°Interesting. The Eldritch is even older than the Order¡ªit has a perspective on the galaxy that we believe may be an important resource in deciphering some of the Nova Rim¡¯s oldest mysteries. Do you believe, in the context of what it said, that it was referring to the Riiva Fragment as such?¡±

    ¡°I think so,¡± she said.

    Nash stroked his beard and nodded. ¡°Interesting. Now¡ªthe creature¡¯s goals. It wanted you for a host, but¡ªno offense meant¡ªwhy you? What makes you special to it?¡±

    Zaina shrugged, not wanting to dwell on that thought¡ªor feed the darkness waiting within. ¡°I don¡¯t know why it chose me. I wish I did. It seemed to have it out for me since the beginning, before I even had my¡ªencounter.¡±

    Ardo asked, ¡°Did it indicate in any way why it intended to destroy the planet¡ªwhat it would gain from doing so?¡±

    Zaina shut her eyes. She tried to remember if it had said anything like that, but nothing came to mind. ¡°It called the planet¡¯s destruction ¡®the Deluge.¡¯ I think it wanted to use that to power some kind of beacon. It said something about¡ªabout cleansing the galaxy, and an endless night¡ª¡±

    The whispers were back, and they grew louder the longer Zaina spent in that memory. Darkness crept in from the corners of her vision, as if only to remind her it was there, within her, and it was alive.

    Ardo didn¡¯t press. Zaina quieted the voices to a buzzing hum with a few deep breaths and continued, ¡°I don¡¯t know¡ªwhy, or what it was doing, to be honest. I don¡¯t¡ªI don¡¯t really know anything.¡±

    Ardo gave a knowing nod. ¡°You know more than you give yourself credit for, Zaina. We will have time for more questions when you are ready. For now, there are other matters for us to discuss.¡±

    Zaina was relieved to change the subject. Her chest tightened whenever she thought of the Eldritch¡ªit was defeated, but she doubted it was gone. She jammed her eyes shut for a second, then forced herself to listen to the High Scholar.

 Chapter Forty-Eight: Riivas Will

    ¡°You¡¯ll never find a greater assortment of fools who think themselves gods than the scholars of the Order of Riiva.¡±

    ¡ªWadzon Wyverlan, famed Pirate Captain

    In a loud voice, Ardo addressed the entire room. ¡°These are strange times in which we find ourselves, are they not? Our oldest foe, possibly older than the galaxy itself, vanquished by the girl before us¡ªa girl bearing its mark. The Order sincerely thanks you for the good you have done, Zaina Quin.¡±

    Part of her wanted to glance at Elest, but a weight tugged at her heart. She frowned. Ardo¡¯s proclamation made it sound so easy, but Zaina wouldn¡¯t be here without Gir¡¯s sacrifice. ¡°I wish I could¡¯ve acted sooner¡ªit might have saved Gir¡¯s life.¡±

    Ardo grimaced, a twinge of sorrow flashing in his old eyes. ¡°Yes¡ªI understand. Girxorgian of Clan Ra-Folgoth will be dearly missed. A High Lancer¡¯s High Lancer, if you will¡ªhis name will forever be enshrined in history as one of the great lancers, and within our own tomes as a true hero.¡±

    ¡°He was a good person,¡± Zaina said. Sadness bled into her voice. ¡°He wanted to make sure I got out of there, even if it cost him his life.¡±

    ¡°Gir was nearing the end of his lancer lifespan,¡± Ardo remarked. ¡°I have no doubt he was seeking some measure of glory. He indicated to me before leaving that he did not expect to return. I am glad he met you. It would¡¯ve meant the world to him to know he saved one last person.¡±

    Warmth filled Zaina¡¯s heart at the notion. Meeting Gir had changed her life forever, and she would never forget him. Maybe he could find some peace in whatever afterlife he believed in.

    ¡°As for Drel Ofrans,¡± Ardo said, immediately dispelling her positive feelings and making Zaina¡¯s stomach twist and sink, ¡°he, too, will be greatly missed by the Order. The loss of a lancer¡ªespecially in such an avoidable and needless fashion¡ªis always a tragedy. Drel still had four years.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s head hung, overcome by the weight of guilt. There was nothing she could say or do that would make that right¡ªeither with them or herself. ¡°I accept whatever punishment for his death that you have to give.¡±

    ¡°Ah, but young Zaina, you are not entirely responsible,¡± Ardo replied. ¡°The final blow was not struck by you¡ªthough it could not have been struck without you. Your actions in their entirety are being considered in this matter¡ªincluding your more noble decisions before and afterward. Not many with your affliction would be brave enough to return a lancer¡¯s body to the Order, never mind the circumstances of their demise. We cannot, in entirety, hold you responsible for the events which contributed to the lancer Drel¡¯s untimely death; but neither can we exonerate you.¡±

    She frowned, knowing the scholar was right. An image of Drel¡¯s cracked open, burnt-out skull flashed in her mind, and a shudder crept upward from her gut. The cold grip of shame weighed on her shoulders. That was my fault.

    Still, she wished they¡¯d get to the point. She hated being strung along like this. It wasn¡¯t easy getting a read on the emotionless, monotone Ardo Nash.

    ¡°Now.¡± Ardo¡¯s voice startled Zaina, snapping her out of her thoughts. He continued, ¡°You, Zaina Quin, have come to us as a citizen of the galaxy. If I may have another question of you, I might ask: why?¡±

    Zaina¡¯s head tilted. She hated riddle-speak. ¡°Why what¡ªwhy did I come here?¡±

    Ardo nodded. ¡°Yes, precisely. What is it that you seek? Did you come here only to share what knowledge you have¡ªto uphold your agreement to return Drel Ofrans¡¯s body? Or did you come with a higher purpose in mind?¡±

    Zaina didn¡¯t hesitate¡ªthis was her moment, and she had to take the chance. ¡°I came to be a lancer.¡±

    A grin stretched across Ardo¡¯s face. ¡°I had a feeling you¡¯d say that. Then I shall cede the floor to the Scholar Suprema of Induction. The authority of the Honorable Scholar Suprema of Induction Berest Valdian is recognized.¡± Ardo bowed his head, and his hover-bed floated back and reattached to the top of the antler-tree.

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    Another scholar detached from the antler-tree and hovered down about ten feet above Zaina. In a much more pained, elderly voice, this person said, ¡°Scholar Suprema Ardo¡ªthank you for ceding the rite of courtmaster. I am honored to speak in the court.¡±

    High Scholar Valdian¡¯s bed-pod tilted, revealing an ancient human with gray skin and long, thin white hair; his eyes were milky and gray, and honed in on Zaina as he flew closer. He made the prehistoric Ardo Nash look young in comparison.

    Zaina was off put but held her ground. The High Scholar¡¯s eyes closed, and he gave a slight nod. Then, he floated out of her personal space and asked, ¡°The life of a lancer is harsh¡ªshort! The taking of life, even in service of protecting other life, is not glorious. There is little to be gained from your honorable creed to the galaxy.¡±

    Zaina said, ¡°I understand.¡±

    ¡°I want to make sure you do,¡± High Scholar Berest Valdian said. ¡°The Path of Riiva is perilous¡ªit is not a journey to be embarked upon lightly. You will complete any mission asked of you. If the Council asks you to give your life, it must be given for the commonwealth of the galaxy. Do you understand? No longer will you be a citizen of the galaxy¡ªyou will be subject to our laws, our codes, our decisions¡ªand, when necessary, our arbitration.¡±

    Zaina took a moment to think about her response. ¡°I spent most of my life thinking I wasn¡¯t meant for anything. But now¡ªI¡¯ve been given a gift. So few get the chance, I mean¡ªI have to see where that leads.¡±

    Berest shook his head. ¡°You¡¯ve been given two gifts, I¡¯m afraid. Understand, there are those who don¡¯t trust anyone bearing the mark¡ªthose who will shun you no matter what deeds you do for them. Even within our own ranks, there will be those who seek to diminish you simply because of a condition beyond your control. It is unfortunate¡ªbut the galaxy branded those bearing the mark as heretics for a reason.¡±

    Zaina gulped. His speech didn¡¯t do much to let her know where he fell on the whole Mark of the Recalcitrant thing, and his opinion held a little more weight than the others right now.

    He continued, ¡°I say this because I want you to fully understand the crossroad before you. There are other options: some guilds, legitimate or otherwise, would accept your service; or you could simply live as you please, away from a galaxy which may never thank you, no matter how much of yourself you give to it.¡±

    ¡°Gir told me the same thing,¡± Zaina said. ¡°He also said Riiva chose me for a reason. After everything it took to get here, I have to believe that. And I think being a lancer is the reason.¡±

    Berest chuckled. ¡°Yes¡ªyes, I believe you are correct. As an Order bound by Riiva¡¯s will, we must also be bound by its judgments. If you are worthy in the eyes of Riiva, what right have we to question its decision?¡±

    Zaina¡¯s heart skipped a beat, then sparked back to life with a furious surge. For the first time since she¡¯d stepped foot on Kaado, a sense of optimism was winning out, driving the weight of guilt and dread off her shoulders.

    The words had barely escaped Berest¡¯s mouth when an uproarious Elest Vae detached from the antler-tree. ¡°No! No, this is madness¡ªI¡¯ll not have it! Even if she weren¡¯t a heretic, I wouldn¡¯t have it!¡±

    ¡°Ah, young scholar Vae,¡± Berest replied. ¡°You pups must learn when it is and isn¡¯t your turn to speak. Do you doubt the wisdom of Riiva¡ªthink it capable of mistakes? Was this Order not founded on the principle of abiding by Riiva¡¯s decisions? Or do you think Riiva weak¡ªimpotent in its decision making?¡±

    Vae didn¡¯t back down, spurred on by murmurs from the other scholars. ¡°The enemy came here, bearing proof of involvement in the deaths of two lancers, and we not only greet her at the doorstep but welcome her within our sacred halls with open arms? One of her kind is bad enough¡ª¡±

    This time Ardo Nash detached from the antler-tree. ¡°Silence, High Scholar Vae. You will not derail this meeting further or you will be censured. You will be notified if you are called on to speak.¡± He then turned toward Berest. ¡°Forgive the interruption, High Scholar Valdian. Please, continue.¡±

    The elder returned his gaze to Zaina. ¡°A half-heretic, chosen both by Riiva and the Eldritch: the ultimate good, and the ultimate evil. Yet your heart¡¯s wish is to be a lancer¡ªperhaps that will tip the scales within.¡±

    Not quite sure what he meant, Zaina nodded and went with it.

    Berest pointed a shaking, wrinkly finger and said, ¡°Yes. There are few of whom Riiva has written so much and so deeply. And yet, that potential¡¯s height is obscured by shadow. Your future, too, is hidden.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyebrow shot up. ¡°You can see the future?¡±

    Berest hovered closer. ¡°I can see many things, child¡ªthe future is among them. I pull at the infinite strands beneath all things, and Riiva guides me to what it wishes me to know. It matters little. You have stated your intent. You wish to be a lancer.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s heart skipped a beat. The moment of truth was here. ¡°Yes.¡±

    Berest raised his hand, his arm trembling under the weight of time. ¡°Then, Zaina Quin, I hereby induct you into the Order of Riiva as a lancer. You renounce your galactic citizenship and declare your intent to serve the Order of Riiva, which always seeks to act on behalf of the commonwealth of the galaxy. You will commit as much of your life as you are willing to give to our cause. You understand that any time you are free to ask us to help you renounce your lancer gifts.¡±

    It was a whole flurry of words, but Zaina understood the gist of it. ¡°Yes.¡±

    Berest patted his fist against the side of his hover-bed. ¡°Then it is done. I do hope one day you will discover the reason why Riiva chose you. Trust yourself, and its wisdom will be revealed.¡±

 Chapter Forty-Nine: Half-Heretic

    ¡°For all the fanfare lancers receive around the galaxy, you¡¯ll find little of it within the Order itself. They have their decorum, sure, but you¡¯ll find most lancers are keenly aware of how little time they have.¡±

    ¡ªInvestigative Journalist Kina Fin Noida in her writings after visiting the Order of Riiva

    Zaina blinked, then looked around in disbelief. ¡°Wait¡ªwhat? That¡¯s it?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Berest said. ¡°Why? Did you expect more?¡±

    ¡°Kind of, yeah. It was a whole thing getting here, I don¡¯t know¡ªthere¡¯s not even, like, a ritual or something?¡±

    Berest chuckled, then gave a weak cough. After catching his breath, he said, ¡°Many generations of lancers have I inducted into this sacred order¡ªI have a good feeling about this one.¡±

    There were audible grumbles amongst the antler-tree¡¯s gallery of scholars. Zaina wanted to see the expression on Elest Vae¡¯s face but didn¡¯t want to take her focus off High Scholar Valdian.

    Berest bowed his head and said, ¡°Now, that is where my part in this ends. I am sure you feel there is much for which you need to atone; I would agree with the sentiment. This is your chance to do exactly that. Best of luck to you, child.¡±

    Zaina smiled at him, unsure if he was able to see it or not. ¡°Thank you, High Scholar. I won¡¯t let you down.¡±

    From atop the tree, Ardo Nash called out, ¡°Now, would the Scholar of Mentorship kindly step down to give this new inductee her assignment?¡±

    A throat cleared, and another hover-bed detached from the tree. A familiar voice said, ¡°Well, well, well.¡± The bed-pod of Elest Vae descended. On his face was the nastiest grin she¡¯d ever seen.

    Why does he have it out for me so¡ªoh, yeah.

    Zaina¡¯s mouth pulled into a frown as Elest floated closer.

    ¡°As Scholar Suprema of Mentorship, it¡¯s my sacred duty to ensure the Order¡¯s interests are upheld at all times. While I disagree with the lapse in judgment on the part of the Honorable Scholar Suprema of Induction, I still must abide by his judgment. And you, Zaina, must abide by mine.¡±

    The last thing she needed was to insult him, no matter how badly she wanted to, so she jammed her lips shut, deciding to play along.

    He continued, ¡°I already have the perfect mentor in mind for you¡ªyes, you¡¯ll learn well under her tutelage.¡±

    She wanted to ask who it was¡ªwould she be learning from a scholar or a fellow lancer? It was eating her up inside, but she held her tongue. She refused to show any emotion. Elest gave a frustrated sigh.

    Venom laced his words as Elest said, ¡°You will meet your mentor soon enough. I¡¯ve said all I need to say on the matter. Legally, you will be allowed back onto Gir¡¯s ship to recover your personal effects before it¡¯s repurposed. I¡¯ll send an aide to meet you with further instructions once I¡¯ve drawn up the paperwork.¡±

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    Visibly muttering under his breath, Elest Vae¡¯s hover-bed slunk back to the antler-tree and reattached. Ardo Nash took the floor once more. ¡°Well, it appears we¡¯ve discussed all matters which required our attention. Unless there is anything else¡ª¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡± Zaina stepped forward. There was something she had to ask.

    Nash¡¯s eyebrow raised as he turned toward her. ¡°Of course this meeting should end on yet another interruption. Yes, young Zaina, what is it?¡±

    ¡°What about Gizmo?¡±

    ¡°Gizmo? Who?¡±

    ¡°Gir¡¯s glyph,¡± Zaina replied. ¡°What¡¯s going to happen to it?¡±

    Nash thought for a moment. ¡°Oh, yes. The one that¡¯s constantly malfunctioning, right? It¡¯s scheduled for a wipe and an update, and then it will be assigned to a new lancer. Such is protocol.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s heart sank. They were going to wipe Gizmo¡ªthe only thing she had left from Gir. That didn¡¯t sit right with her at all. ¡°No! Please don¡¯t wipe him. I¡¯ll take him.¡±

    An annoyed frown crossed Nash¡¯s face, visible through his thick beard. ¡°Such things are not for you to decide, young Zaina.¡±

    ¡°Please,¡± she said. ¡°The little guy meant a lot to Gir, and Gir meant a lot to it. I want to do right by Gir, and it¡¯s not right that his friend forgets him.¡±

    Nash sighed. ¡°I¡¯m afraid the wipe and update are not negotiable, but I will try to have the glyph assigned to you after that is complete. Is that acceptable?¡±

    The minor concession wasn¡¯t satisfactory, but Zaina knew better than to push her luck. ¡°Yes. Thank you, High Scholar.¡±

    With that, Ardo dismissed the Suprema Assembly. The High Scholars departed, some rushing off in protest with Vae while others took their time.

    Good riddance, she thought as Vae¡¯s hover-bed disappeared beneath the flat surface atop the golden dome. That went better than she ever expected¡ªdespite the guilt still clinging to her heart for everything she¡¯d done and the bitter aftertaste of Gizmo losing his memories, it felt good to have a chance to effect positive change in the galaxy. Her fresh start was about to begin.

    Zaina turned to the Cytomoid and asked, ¡°So, how do I get back to the ship?¡±

    He turned to her and blinked. Then, he pivoted and walked away. Zaina ran to catch up with him.

    ¡°Geez, what¡¯s the hurry?¡± she asked. ¡°Trying to leave me behind?¡±

    No response.

    Zaina sighed. ¡°Not even going to introduce yourself? We have quite the journey ahead of us. Plus, now I¡¯m one of you.¡±

    The Cytomoid shuddered but kept up its pace. Zaina gave up trying to communicate. They made their way out of the Celestial Sanctuary in silence, returning the way they came. A ship awaited outside, just beyond the edge of the hovering mass of earth. Both of them boarded without a word and flew back up to the harbor.

    Zaina stared out the window, making out as many details about Kaado as possible¡ªthe different islands were fascinating. There were farm islands where families worked¡ªit could have been Zaina on Demelia in a different life; islands with pastures for beasts of the land and smaller islands flashing with the lights of lancer magick. Some floating bits of land had entire towns built atop them.

    Despite her wonderment, the awkward vibe still hung over her and the Cytomoid. She wondered if he even understood her. He had to, right? Didn¡¯t everyone get the same education across the Synatorium?

    Finally, they landed. The oppressive awkwardness followed them as they strode to the ship. Once they were there, the Cytomoid unbound her and then turned to leave.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Zaina shouted after him¡ªone last attempt to get him to say something.

    He flinched and stopped. Without turning, he said in plain common, ¡°Silence, heretic.¡±

    Then, he walked off. The words struck like an electric shock. A stunned Zaina was left to fume.

    ¡°Well, to hell with you, too,¡± she said under her breath. She refused to give people like him or Elest any of her energy by dwelling on their opinions. With a shake of her head, she hopped to getting her belongings off the ship.

    Gizmo was already gone, as was Drel Ofrans¡¯s coffin. Most of what she owned was conveniently packed into a bag, so it took no time at all. Zaina sat atop the ship¡¯s canopy, waiting for the order¡¯s messenger. Finally, her life had a purpose. No matter how many obstacles she had to overcome, she was going to be a lancer¡ªone of the mystical heroes her father told her about when they were huddled close to the fire on winter nights.

 Chapter Fifty: A Fresh Start

    ¡°Settling into a new normal takes time. Unfortunately for us, in our line of work we have little time¡ªand no hope of ¡®normal,¡¯ whatever that is.¡±

    ¡ªLegendary High Lancer Pria Song, as quoted by her apprentice Kadelaw Bringer in his biography, Collections of Riiva: The Life of a Lancer

    Zaina waited for about an hour before a young woman approached. She was a human and wore regular clothes¡ªa white blouse and black slacks, with sandals. Her hair was short and dyed bright blue, and her nose was buried in a vis-screen projected from her wrist.

    ¡°Zaina Quin?¡± she shouted, clearly disinterested.

    Zaina jumped off the ship. ¡°That would be me.¡±

    ¡°Yes, very good. Follow me.¡±

    Zaina nodded. At least this person didn¡¯t seem to hate her immediately.

    Always a plus.

    She tagged along behind the woman, who was still studying her clipboard.

    A question burst from Zaina¡¯s lips. ¡°So, where are we going?¡±

    In an absent voice, the woman said, ¡°We¡¯re going to your housing unit. It¡¯s a starter, nothing special. Then, to your sector armory. There you¡¯ll meet the person who will teach you how to be a lancer.¡±

    ¡°Are you a lancer?¡±

    The woman looked up from her clipboard. She turned and stared at Zaina with bright green eyes. ¡°I was. I renounced my powers on my thirtieth birthday. Now I work for High Scholar Elest Vae as an attendant.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s really cool. Well, you know my name. I think it¡¯s only fair you tell me yours.¡±

    The woman chuckled. ¡°No one¡¯s asked me my name in a long time. I¡¯m Ovela Midor. Pleased to meet you, Zaina.¡±

    ¡°Pleasure¡¯s all mine,¡± Zaina said with a grin, and Ovela returned it. ¡°So really, no one¡¯s asked your name in a long time? What, are people here not very friendly?¡±

    Ovela shrugged. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know. I guess lancers are really busy¡ªI know I usually was. People like me kind of fade into the background.¡±

    As they continued moving Zaina asked, ¡°Well, you¡¯re not in the background to me. You got any tips for a beginner?¡±

    Ovela thought for a moment. ¡°I¡¯d say, aim for the stars. To be honest, I feel like I could¡¯ve done more in my time. We don¡¯t have long to do this¡ªmake it count.¡± She blushed and turned away. ¡°There are times I wish I could have it all back, even for one day. But, such is not the Path of Riiva. Either way, here¡¯s our ship, right there.¡±

    She pointed toward the nearest platform, right by the edge. A small transport awaited, big enough for four people at most. It was rectangular in shape, and the gray exterior was chipped and rusted. Zaina stooped to fit under the raised door and then held on to her seat as the craft sputtered and spat.

    Ovela turned to her and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She does that sometimes.¡±

    They floated up. The controls extended toward Ovela, and she grabbed them and pulled back, accelerating a bit faster than Zaina was comfortable with. Her grip on the seat tightened, and every muscle in her body tensed up in a single moment as they hurdled from the landing pad, back-flipping off the edge and tracing the jagged rocky ceiling at high speed. Ovela weaved through some of the island¡¯s engine struts before pulling away.

    Zaina took a few deep breaths. ¡°Well, I wasn¡¯t expecting that. You¡¯re a hell of a pilot.¡±

    Ovela chucked, then said, ¡°Thanks. I don¡¯t do that for everyone, though. Our little secret.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Zaina said. They made their way to the interior hull of Kaado proper and landed on a plain surrounded by sparse forest with tall, thick-leaved trees. After departing from the ship, Zaina followed Ovela toward a small hut in a forest clearing.

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    ¡°I¡¯m sorry we couldn¡¯t get you the deluxe package,¡± she said, ¡°but it has everything you¡¯ll need. Here, I¡¯ll show you.¡±

    The hut was bigger up close and had a dark blue color. It was made of polysynth and shaped like a dome, standing about fifteen feet at its zenith. There was a large door shaped to conform to the hut¡¯s arc with a metal handle. Ovela turned it and popped the door open before ushering Zaina inside.

    The interior was more spacious than expected. There was an actual bed¡ªsomething she hadn¡¯t slept on in almost a week¡ªa small kitchen, heating and cooling elements, a closet, a lounge chair, two small tables with drawers, and a hygienic chamber. The walls had a window strip to allow natural light in. The polysynth slowly changed color, starting as a relaxing green and turning into a soothing light blue.

    Ovela scratched the back of her head, averting her gaze. ¡°Well, as you can see, it¡¯s not much. You can rearrange it however you¡¯d like, and whatever you purchase while you¡¯re out and about, you can bring back with you. Eventually you¡¯ll get a bigger place in the same sector. The wilderness is largely reserved for new inductees because¡ªoh, you¡¯ll learn all of this soon enough. Looks like you don¡¯t have much to unpack. Come on, let¡¯s go meet your mentor!¡±

    As they walked on a dirt path in the clearing¡ªZaina kept peering at the edges, which were perfectly lined as if cut by a laser¡ªOvela asked about where she came from. By the time Zaina¡¯s story was done, the sector armory had come into view¡ªit was hard to miss at this point. It was wider than it was tall, a network of connected domes standing thirty or forty feet at their highest. Zaina followed Ovela through the door, not wanting to be the first one through.

    They stepped into the nearest dome, and Ovela showed her clipboard to an attendant standing by the door. He punched a few numbers into a vis-screen on his wrist, and a green circle lit up in the corner. The metal door retracted upward with a mechanical hiss. The attendant gestured for them to enter before sticking his nose back into a book.

    ¡°Follow me,¡± Ovela said. They turned left, walking into a narrow hallway. The halls were gunmetal gray and had image feeds lining the ceilings, which hung low over their heads. The walls were lined with metal doors with blank vis-screens. They walked through seemingly random corridors before Ovela stopped at a door, then checked her clipboard and said, ¡°Okay, here.¡±

    The door was exactly like all the others. Ovela turned to Zaina and said, ¡°This should be door 153.¡±

    She touched the door¡¯s vis-screen, and it sparked to life. Sure enough, the number 153 was displayed in the bottom-right corner. There were other symbols Zaina didn¡¯t understand, but Ovela was manipulating them with mastery, and within a few seconds, there was a large, echoing metal click. Ovela stepped back as the door opened inward.

    With a wry grin, Ovela gestured for Zaina to go in first. The walls brimmed with shelving. A variety of devices and weapons were displayed, ranging from small discs to the particle hook gun Gir had given to Zaina.

    ¡°Most of this is standard issue,¡± Ovela said. ¡°All of it, by the looks of it. Ooh, this here¡ª¡± She scurried over to a shelf and picked up a small, flat metal circle with a glowing blue rim. ¡°This saved my life more times than I can count. It¡¯s a lancer beacon. Here, look.¡±

    Ovela shoved it into Zaina¡¯s hands. It was cold to the touch, and a little heavier than it looked¡ªit felt indestructible. There, engraved on the front in green, was a shining sword with a flaming guard encased in a circle.

    ¡°That¡¯s the lancer¡¯s symbol,¡± Ovela said, pointing to the engraving. ¡°You¡¯ll learn about all of that stuff from your mentor. But the beacon itself¡ªif you¡¯re ever in trouble and think you¡¯re beyond reach, rotate this twenty-five degrees. If you practice a little, you can do it with one hand, which is handy in sticky situations. Anyway, you twist it and the Order gets a signal no matter where you are in the galaxy.¡±

    ¡°Good to know,¡± Zaina said, slipping it into her pocket.

    Ovela chuckled and covered her mouth. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t keep it in there¡ªhere.¡± She walked over to one of the lower shelves Zaina had overlooked and grabbed a utility belt. ¡°Every lancer needs one of these.¡±

    As Ovela fussed over it, making sure it fit properly, Zaina smiled and said, ¡°Are you sure you can¡¯t be my mentor?¡±

    Ovela rolled her eyes. ¡°I wish I could be that useful. Still, I bet they set you up with someone good.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Zaina said, barely masking her frustration. ¡°High Scholar Elest Vae didn¡¯t seem to like me very much.¡±

    Ovela grimaced. ¡°Yes. To be honest, I had my own thoughts when I first saw you. But you seem nice. Definitely not like everyone says about¡ªwell, you know.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Zaina said. ¡°Thank you, Ovela.¡±

    ¡°No problem. Now, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to go. Don¡¯t touch anything you don¡¯t know how to use, and don¡¯t use anything you know how to use until your mentor gives the okay. I¡¯m sure our paths will cross again¡ªI might drop by to visit, if that¡¯s okay. Best of luck, Zaina!¡±

    ¡°Thanks, you too! And I¡¯d love that!¡± Zaina said as Ovela exited the room. The metal door¡¯s locking bar, visible from the inside, slammed back into place.

    A spark of hope surged in Zaina¡¯s chest. Despite the Order¡¯s misgivings, she¡¯d already made a friend. Maybe winning people over wouldn¡¯t be so hard.

    There was nothing to do but wait to meet her mentor¡ªit didn¡¯t take long. Within a few minutes, there was a beeping at the other side of the door. The security bar retreated into the wall and slammed against its casing with a metallic clang; then, the door opened. Zaina gasped.

    On the other side was a tall, human woman with long, disheveled brown hair and vibrant green eyes. She wore armor similar to what Gir had worn¡ªthick, gunmetal gray plate on the chest and back, with pauldrons that clung to the shoulders. She covered her neck with a free-flowing red scarf, which clashed with the blue-painted words written on her torso plate. Her legs and arms were covered with sleek greaves, and her armor was pock-marked in several places.

    The first thing Zaina noticed, however, was the black mark on the woman¡¯s forehead¡ªthe Mark of the Recalcitrant.

 Chapter Fifty-One: Half-Lancer

    ¡°More hostile activity from beyond Khodra¡¯s rings. That cult of heretics is responsible, I know it. I can hear their foul tongue from a light-year away¡ªonly distance helps me resist it. I can only imagine what they did to those they captured¡ªwhat they will become.¡±

    ¡ªChidron Nordon Qertai of the deep-world Fialor, in a letter imploring Allegiant General Jindar Morgenstern to intervene in an attack

    Zaina said, ¡°You¡ªyou¡¯re just like me!¡±

    The woman scoffed, her expression disinterested. She pulled out a flask and gulped down a swig. ¡°Yeah right, kid.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s nostrils wrinkled from the sharp stench of the woman¡¯s drink. It smelled like the swamp-mead her father fermented in the warm seasons back home. She stared on, hoping this person wasn¡¯t who Elest had picked to teach her.

    There was still a chance of making a good first impression. ¡°Well, hello, my name is Zaina Quin.¡±

    The woman looked Zaina up and down, sighed, and said, ¡°Okay, got it.¡±

    Not sure how to keep the conversation going, Zaina asked, ¡°Um¡ªare you my mentor?¡±

    Leaning against the wall, the woman said, ¡°Hate to break it to you, kid, but you got screwed on this one. I¡¯ve never mentored anyone. Much less anyone, ¡®just like me.¡¯ And I have no intention of starting now.¡±

    Zaina was put off guard by the mockery but kept her questions on point. ¡°So, wait¡ªyou¡¯re a teacher who purposely doesn¡¯t¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a teacher,¡± the woman replied in a cold voice. ¡°I¡¯m a regular lancer. Nothing less, nothing more. That scud-sucker Vae put us together because he hates us. He knows I don¡¯t want to train anyone, but he¡¯s going to waste my time with it anyway. My advice? It¡¯s going to get a lot worse¡ªquit while you¡¯re ahead.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eye twitched. She had a limit. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so rude.¡±

    The woman glared. ¡°Why, because you¡¯re, ¡®just like me?¡¯¡±

    ¡°It sounds like you want me to fail!¡±

    The woman shrugged. ¡°Yeah, if I actually cared about the outcome, I probably would lean that way.¡±

    Zaina was furious. ¡°So you¡¯ve just decided you aren¡¯t going to teach me anything, and that¡¯s it Can I get a different mentor?¡±

    The woman shook her head. ¡°Nope. I¡¯d suggest you drop out and save us both the trouble¡ªand yourself the embarrassment. I have no time to drag you along anywhere.¡±

    ¡°So¡ªwhat am I supposed to do, then?¡± Zaina asked. ¡°There¡¯s so much I need to know, isn¡¯t there?¡±

    The woman shrugged. ¡°Not really. You have it or you don¡¯t.¡±

    With a defeated sigh, Zaina asked, ¡°Well, can you at least give me the okay to use whatever¡¯s in here?¡±

    With an uncaring sideways nod, the woman said, ¡°Sure, why not? You probably can¡¯t tell a grenade from a guard anyway.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s brain was on fire, burning with dislike for this woman. Every word that came from her mouth only further enraged Zaina.

    I came here because I thought I could do something good. Gir thought so, too.

    Gir hadn¡¯t been in her life for very long, but she still missed him. At least he wanted to help her¡ªunlike whoever this was.

    Even if he didn¡¯t have time because the world was ending. What¡¯s her excuse?

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    After a deep breath, she shook her head and fought back tears.

    I¡¯m sorry, Gir. I should have done more. I should have¡ªoh, what¡¯s the point?

    Zaina frowned and reached for an equipment bag under one of the shelves. Many of the objects were odd and unintuitive. She reached for a particle hook-gun identical to the two Gir had. Both had saved Zaina¡¯s life. Taking special care, she secured hers in the utility belt. Within a few minutes, Zaina had a little bit of everything available.

    The woman picked at her nails and snickered every so often. Zaina was never sure why but was positive she was the butt of the joke.

    After tying the top of the bag, Zaina slung it over her shoulder and walked up to the woman. She didn¡¯t make any effort to hide her annoyance. ¡°Can I help you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m ready to leave now. You¡¯re my ride¡ªright?¡±

    The woman groaned. ¡°Fine. But no small talk, and no questions.¡±

    Zaina frowned. ¡°Are you even going to tell me your name?¡±

    ¡°Gods, I hope not,¡± the woman said.

    The silence stretched until they were back at Zaina¡¯s little dome. The woman¡¯s was further down in the forest, obscured by the treeline. Without a word, she left. Zaina shook her head.

    Unbelievable. He really did get me the worst mentor of all time.

    Still, this wasn¡¯t over. She¡¯d show them¡ªall of them. If that woman didn¡¯t want to help Zaina, she¡¯d learn by herself.

    First thing¡¯s first, though. Zaina patted her stomach. I need some food. And some sleep couldn¡¯t hurt. But then, they¡¯ll see. They¡¯ll all see.

    -

    The next morning Zaina sprang up and set out to master her equipment. The utility belt was fully customizable¡ªso many pockets. It fit a little loosely.

    She shrugged. Eh. Maybe I¡¯ll get another one.

    There were so many new things to decipher. First, she tested out a tiny, handheld tube¡ªshe twisted its cap; it started to beep, so she un-twisted it. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as the beeping stopped.

    Okay, I¡¯ll bet that one¡¯s a grenade or something.

    She grabbed the next thing, a small pistol-shaped object with a small vis-screen where the mag-hammer would ordinarily be. Pointing it, she was able to zoom in on a starship landing on one of the hovering islands above, and a small readout with flashing numbers and symbols showed on the vis-screen.

    A scanner gun. Deril would¡¯ve loved that. I bet it¡¯ll be handy.

    Next was an elastisynth band that held a small, semi-flat gray square. On the square¡¯s surface was another identical engraving to the beacon¡ªbut at its nexus was a small, raised metal circle. It looked like the wrist-mounted vis-screens she¡¯d seen a few people here using, but she wasn¡¯t sure. Zaina put the band on her wrist and hoped this wasn¡¯t some kind of time-detonation device.

    Here goes nothing.

    She tapped the top, and a vis-screen popped up. It displayed her name for a second, then moved to an empty background with a few icons. She¡¯d used vis-screens before, back in university in Ryrda¡ªthat felt like so long ago now. She didn¡¯t want to think about that.

    One of the icons was labeled Lessons. Zaina clicked it and found a list of tutorials ranging from equipment function to maintenance, and even some guides on magick. She grinned from ear to ear. The keys to the kingdom were in her hand.

    Who needs a mentor, anyway?

    The first piece of equipment on the list was captioned Hex-Guard. She remembered the woman mentioning something about a guard, so she tapped the holo-icon. A small informational screen popped up. The picture showed a hand and arm with two straps around their wrist and arm and a plate with a dial on their inner forearm. The top-view diagram showed a thin, flexible metal strip running along the outer forearm, with connector wires feeding into the straps.

    A voice hummed to life from within the device. ¡°Hello, Zaina. I am your vis-glyph. You have selected the tutorial on Hex-Guard. Is that correct?¡±

    ¡°Y-yes,¡± she said. ¡°Can I just read it?¡±

    ¡°Affirmative,¡± the voice said, then quieted.

    Zaina found the guard¡ªshe had two, apparently¡ªand put it on her arm. Like the bindings she was arrested in, the hex-guard was segmented and shrank to fit her limb; the elastisynth was a bit more forgiving than the metal, and it hugged tightly in place without so much as a pinch. The device didn¡¯t hinder her arm¡¯s movement at all.

    Reading on, Zaina muttered to herself, ¡°Turn the dial¡ªdifferent intensity¡ªsettings¡ªokay, let¡¯s try it out.¡±

    She stepped outside, not bothering to close her door. The hex-guard¡¯s dial was set on a flat, green dot on the bottom. Zaina clicked it out of place, and the device emitted a soft hum. A shield of interwoven green and yellow tinted hexagonal outlines, each made of pure energy, projected six inches above her forearm. It wasn¡¯t more than a foot in diameter.

    She twisted the dial further, and the shield expanded. Twisting it all the way, it extended to form a bubble around her body.

    ¡°That¡¯s so cool!¡± she said, rapidly growing and re-shrinking it. Then, without thinking, she reached out with her other hand and touched the energy shield¡ªa burning, shocking sensation coursed through her entire arm. ¡°OW!¡±

    She pulled her hand back, shaking it to be rid of the pain¡ªto no avail. Really not sure what I was expecting, there.

    A voice startled her. ¡°Are you really that stupid?¡±

    Zaina jumped¡ªthen groaned. She recognized the voice¡ªher ever-helpful mentor. Turning her head, Zaina¡¯s ear proved correct.

 Chapter Fifty-Two: The Depths Within

    ¡°Few bonds are as important as that of a lancer and their apprentice. While most only need tutoring for a year or so, a lifelong friendship is formed.¡±

    ¡ªScholar Suprema Zeniel Oreles in her philosophical book, Unquantifiable Truths

    Zaina shook her head. ¡°By Byzon¡ªif you¡¯re not gonna teach me anything, at least don¡¯t scare me like that!¡±

    The woman shrugged and leaned against a nearby tree, lighting up a roll of something fragrant. Her eyes had deep bags under them. Once the roll was lit, she tucked the lighter into a pocket, took a deep drag, and blew it out into the breeze through her nostrils. ¡°Well, whatever you¡¯re doing, keep doing it. I have to be nearby for a certain number of hours per day, and yes, they have cameras all the way out here, too. The Order is always, always, always watching¡ªso it has to look like I¡¯m actually training you.¡±

    Zaina glared. ¡°So if I don¡¯t play along, you¡¯ll be punished?¡±

    ¡°Doubtful. This is the punishment. Look, what¡¯s it matter to you, anyway? Get back to what you were doing. If you¡¯re gonna take away my prime lancer years, at least let me enjoy myself with some peace and quiet.¡±

    Zaina turned away, barely able to hold back her seething anger. She returned to the vis-screen and kept going down the list of equipment.

    I will be a lancer, no matter what she thinks. But the equipment won¡¯t make me a lancer. What was it Gir said?

    She thought back to the late High Lancer¡¯s words. Something about closing my eyes and letting go. Letting the layers of my mind peel back until I find¡ªthe strands, was it? She frowned. He said I¡¯d know when I found it.

    ¡°You ever gonna do anything that looks like training?¡± the woman called out lazily.

    Zaina shot back, ¡°If only I had some guidance to make sense of all this.¡±

    The woman gave a deep, breathy sigh. Zaina shook her head in disbelief. How could anyone be so rude and hateful?

    Refusing to give up, she sat down in the grass and followed Gir¡¯s advice, closing her eyes.

    Immediately the Eldritch¡¯s face popped up, its cruel mouth open, the arms and hands within waiting to pull her inside and tear her to pieces. Zaina¡¯s eyes shot open, and she jumped in surprise. Her heart beat uncomfortably fast, as if trying to eject from her body.

    The woman was ready with another snide remark. ¡°Bad dream?¡±

    Zaina ignored her. There was no sense in engaging with the woman. She closed her eyes again and was instead left with red, burning anger. It wasn¡¯t fair that she drew the short end of the stick as teachers were concerned; all because she had the mark, which wasn¡¯t fair either¡ªnothing was. She¡¯d made it all this way, and now¡ª

    A bitter sigh rolled over her lips. All I can do is try again.

    She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting the hot sensation of rage subside; it turned cold, slowing the blood in her veins, and with a few heavy sighs, she drifted away.

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    This time she was back on Demelia, on a perfectly sunny day. Her family was there¡ªKitali was playing in the grass while her father tilled the fields. Her mother was sitting on the porch with her brother and sisters, reading aloud from a book of fantastical stories.

    Zaina smiled. She wished she was with them right now. They¡¯d accept her for who she was, and if she wasn¡¯t going to get any help here, she may as well be back home doing the same things. She¡¯d still be able to summon a cipher and protect her family, right? She¡¯d summoned it once¡ªshe could teach herself to do it again.

    A sinking, sorrowful pit formed in Zaina¡¯s stomach. This wasn¡¯t real¡ªit was another layer of her mind. She needed to detach and let it peel back to go deeper.

    ¡°But don¡¯t you want to stay, Zaina?¡±

    Her entire body froze. She swiveled around, and there it was¡ªthe Eldritch. It had appeared out of nowhere. The creature was badly wounded, its skull nearly split in half and its jaw hanging open limply; it crawled through the grass, which turned yellow and withered as it passed. Black globs of steaming tar fell from the Eldritch¡¯s tattered cloak, hissing and stinging the ground wherever it fell. Zaina¡¯s family was frozen in place behind the struggling monstrosity, their lips stretched into contorted smiles.

    The Eldritch reached a skeletal hand toward her. ¡°You could reside in this memory forever, as I reside within you.¡±

    Zaina recoiled for a moment, and there was a tug at the back of her neck¡ªshe was trying to wake up. Running away. Her hands clenched into shaking fists. I didn¡¯t come all this way, survive everything I¡¯ve survived, to run away from this imaginary freak.

    The Eldrich¡¯s hand drew closer.

    ¡°I beat you,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯re not real¡ªnone of this is.¡±

    The creature swiped at her heart, but its hand phased through her torso without pain or resistance. It couldn¡¯t hurt her right now. She had more important things to focus on than this bleeding fiend.

    She tried to let go, and everything around her faded away except the Eldritch. It dragged itself toward her, its ancient skull drowning amid a form draped in phantasmal shadow. By now its broken skull was inches from her face. The putrid warmth of its breath broke across her face.

    ¡°Come now, child. I have existed for eons beyond you¡ªand will survive you by eons still. You shattered our host, but we remain. We cannot be killed by a mere mortal. The only hope for you is to become one with us.¡±

    ¡°Get fucked,¡± Zaina shot back, standing her ground. ¡°I¡¯m real and you¡¯re not, so leave me alone already!¡± She closed her eyes and took another deep breath. The voices were growing louder.

    ¡°You will not escape us, Zaina. We are always here with you. Watching. Waiting¡­¡±

    A low cacophony of screams, like a gust of wind, flowed over her body. When Zaina opened her eyes, the Eldritch was gone. She breathed a sigh of relief.

    ¡°Well,¡± she muttered to no one in particular, ¡°you may not be dead, but you¡¯re not as strong as before. Sucks to be you.¡±

    Zaina took stock of her surroundings. The Eldritch had disappeared, leaving her suspended in darkness on every side. She twisted in every direction looking for a light¡ªa way out¡ªbut there was none.

    She sighed. Maybe I don¡¯t have the strands in me after all.

    Zaina tried to let go again, but her surroundings contorted and stretched before blurring back into place. Apparently she¡¯d hit mind-bedrock.

    Sorrow built up in her chest. She wanted to cry.

    What if I don¡¯t have it after everything? Her gaze fell to her empty palm¡ªthen beyond it. The floor was different.

    It wasn¡¯t completely overcast by the surrounding shadow. Strips of light weaved through the darkness, their blurred forms twisting and humming. She reached toward them¡ªthe floor fell out beneath her, but there was no sensation of falling; instead, her body rotated, bringing her face to face with interweaving strands of light.

    Her hand dipped in, and the heat seared her skin. It was slightly painful, like an awkward hangnail on her entire hand, but she kept going, reaching in further until the light pulled her all the way in.

    Pain surged through her entire body¡ªRiiva was rewriting her at a level beyond microscopic. It was the strangest sensation she¡¯d ever endured. It hurt, yes, but also infused her with strength and vitality. She wanted to endure the pain, to see how far into the light she could go.

    The light pulled her in by her grip on the strands. Shadows crept in from the corner of her vision as the whispers buzzed in her brain. Something grabbed her back and pulled her away, back through all the layers until her eyes snapped open.

 Chapter Fifty-Three: The Murder

    ¡°Once the site of the cataclysmic battle where Laogoth the Destroyer was vanquished, Kaado has been a safe haven for thousands of millennia under the Order¡¯s keen stewardship.¡±

    ¡ªDyarch Revli Toorkis in a speech praising the Order of Riiva

    With a deep breath, Zaina took a look around, wondering what pulled her away from the strands. There was nobody there, except for the derisive woman, who was still leaning against a nearby tree without a care in the world.

    I doubt she gives enough of a shit to interfere. I wonder what that was?

    Zaina shook her head and tried again. Was there another layer she needed to bust through or something? It didn¡¯t make any sense. Then again, none of this did. She was trying to become a mystic sword-fighter of some kind, if she understood correctly. Maybe an unorthodox solution was required.

    The layers peeled away one by one once more, leading again to the strands beneath everything. She wanted to try something different, so this time she shouted.

    ¡°What are you?¡±

    There was no reply.

    ¡°Where am I?¡±

    Nothing.

    ¡°I don¡¯t get it¡ªGir said once I found the strands, I¡¯d know what to do.¡±

    She thought back. How had she summoned her cipher?

    I made a wish¡ªI think. It felt like a wish.

    That¡¯s right¡ªlancer magick was predicated on the power of wishes. At least, that was how Gir had put it. Maybe she could make a wish now?

    ¡°I¡ªI wish to be shown my magick,¡± she said sheepishly, each syllable feeling more awkward and futile. She shook her head. No, that wasn¡¯t right. There were words she was supposed to know at first, right? Her head hung in defeat for a moment.

    Then, she had an idea. Her gaze rose to the strands above her, and she reached her hand out toward the infinite, welcoming light. Gir had told her to act with purpose¡ªto know what she wanted to do. There was one wish she knew.

    ¡°I wish my heart was a weapon,¡± she said, her voice resolute.

    The strands glowed all around her. Their brilliant energy gathered in her outstretched hand and formed a blade. Her fingers wrapped around the handle¡ªit was warm to the touch and fit her grasp perfectly, as if it had been waiting for her to summon it again.

    The blade was a thin layer of bright green energy, with a white guard and pommel and a black grip. She waved the sword around, impressed by its silence¡ªit looked sharp enough to cut through anything.

    Now she had to figure out how to take her cipher to the real world. She stared at it for a while, not wanting to leave lest the blade get left behind. Instead, she closed her eyes, becoming one once more with her meditating self; then, in sync, her eyes opened, and she was back in the real world, sitting cross-legged. There, in her grasp, was the cipher.

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    She grinned from ear to ear¡ªshe was so proud of herself in that moment that she didn¡¯t even bother to bask in the woman¡¯s reaction, whatever it was. Zaina was unable to peel her eyes away from the glowing weapon in her hand.

    She triumphantly stood and pointed the blade¡¯s tip toward the sky. ¡°I did it! I did it!¡±

    The woman turned toward her, blinked a few times, and then turned back to her vis-screen without another word.

    Zaina glared. She expected a shrewd remark or some retort¡ªsomehow, apathy was worse.

    ¡°What¡¯s your problem?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    Zaina stood up. ¡°I said, what¡¯s your problem? I get that you¡¯d rather be out there, but¡ªlook, you could help me get through this faster and then get back to whatever you were doing before.¡±

    The woman didn¡¯t even look her way. ¡°Why do you think you deserve help? Figure it out. I did.¡±

    ¡°Let me guess¡ªno one wanted to teach you because you¡¯re a half-heretic?¡±

    The woman looked up from her vis-screen, her piercing eyes daring Zaina to continue.

    She did exactly that. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then how is what you¡¯re doing any different? Why aren¡¯t you trying to be better?¡±

    The woman flipped the screen off and turned toward Zaina. With daggers in her eyes, she said, ¡°I am being better. My mentor actively didn¡¯t want me to be here. As for me? I just don¡¯t give a shit one way or the other. No one helped me. You might think there are people who¡¯ll have your back, but when it comes down to it, no one¡¯s going to help you. You¡¯re on your own, kid. So stop complaining and figure it out yourself or get the hell out of here. Got it?¡±

    Zaina released the cipher, and it was pulled from existence by the strands¡ªshe caught a glimpse of them in her peripheral vision, but was too steamed to appreciate their beauty. Instead, her fingers curled up into a ball, her fists shaking from disbelief and seething anger. ¡°Gir wanted to help me. He didn¡¯t care about this.¡± She pointed to her eye. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you would, either.¡±

    The woman¡¯s glare wavered, and she sighed. ¡°You hungry, kid?¡±

    Zaina gave a sigh. As much as she wanted to take this woman to task, she was hungry. ¡°Yeah, I could eat.¡±

    The woman turned and started walking away. ¡°Hope you¡¯re a good cook.¡±

    ¡°Wait, what¡ª¡±

    Zaina was shocked into silence as her mentor walked away, happily getting away with not even doing the bare minimum. This wasn¡¯t how she pictured the Order of Riiva. Even someone who had to understand some of what she was going through¡ªanother half-heretic¡ªhated her for no reason.

    Zaina shook her head, trying not to dwell on any negative thoughts. A wave of exhaustion overtook her, starting in her legs and moving all the way up into the back of her neck. Apparently, soul-searching had taken a lot out of her. She trudged into her shack for the day.

    With a sigh she collapsed onto her bed. Her first day probably couldn¡¯t have gone much worse, and she was looking at an uphill battle. Still, she¡¯d made up her mind¡ªthis was her calling, and she was going to answer it no matter what.

    Zaina was on the verge of falling asleep when a sharp, ear-splitting boom ripped a shriek from her throat. She covered her face as fragments of the wall shot through the air. Once everything stopped falling, she glanced over. An entire section of her home was gone. She scrambled off her bed and raised her hands, ready for a fight.

    Four figures awaited some twenty feet from her destroyed hut. Two were scholars and two lancers. Zaina squinted¡ªone of the scholars was Elest Vae. The other she didn¡¯t recognize. Neither lancer was familiar either.

    Elest pointed a finger. ¡°There¡¯s no escape, Zaina! Come out now!¡±

    There was no point in fighting. She stepped out of her hut, arms raised and heart pounding, wondering if they were going to kill her. Elest pointed a bony, long finger.

    ¡°Yes! Yes, that¡¯s her! That¡¯s Zaina Quin!¡±

    The other scholar, an elderly female Raolgrian, floated forward and said, ¡°Zaina Quin, by the authority invested in me as Scholar Suprema of Enforcement, I, Tu¡¯Lest Velan, hereby place you under arrest.¡±

    Zaina froze. What¡ªfor what? ¡°What the hell are you talking about? I haven¡¯t done anything. What am I under arrest for?¡±

    Elest Vae kept spouting off nonsense. ¡°Thought you could get away with it, you scheming little monstrel? Well, we saw right through you! Your foul master wishes to strike a blow against the Order, well it is struck¡ªbut you, his acolyte, will suffer the punishment!¡±

    Zaina made no motion to struggle as the two lancers surged forward and placed on her another set of uncomfortable, segmented wrist restraints. High Scholar Velan floated closer.

    ¡°You, heretic, are under arrest for the murder of High Scholar Ardo Nash.¡±

 Chapter Fifty-Four: The Third Heretic of Kaado

    ¡°It has been found, in rigorous study of the incoming lancer candidates over the years, that Riiva¡¯s wisdom is perhaps more nuanced than even we may have believed; there is a recognition of their mortality in the speed with which a lancer masters their gifts. Most take no longer than a week, if focused enough and given the proper guidance, to achieve operational readiness, maximizing the decade or so in which a lancer is able to undertake assignments.¡±

    ¡ªFormer High Scholar and Scholar Suprema of Lancer Development Ylfra Bontour, in a report to the Council of Scholars on lancer readiness

    Zaina spent the night in a tiny, white polysynth cell that wasn¡¯t even long enough for her to fully stretch out; the accommodations were spare, with only a doorless hygienic stall and a blanket. Otherwise, her prison was empty.

    It reminded her of the cell on Otmonzas, except this one was weirdly clean¡ªtoo clean compared to the grim, dimly lit bowels of the Celestial Sanctuary. Based on how pristine it was, she guessed the Order rarely had prisoners. For all Zaina knew she was the first person to ever be held in this room.

    Morning came with little fanfare. The cell door slot hadn¡¯t budged an inch¡ªZaina¡¯s stomach loosed a pathetic gurgle. She hoped the Order¡¯s plan didn¡¯t involve starving her.

    They wouldn¡¯t do that, right? She gulped. Not unless they thought I had killed two lancers and a High Scholar. Which they might.

    A wave of dread and guilt mixed in her chest, forming an empty, sinking sensation. Why would I kill him? He was one of the only two who even seemed to like me. But why would anyone else kill him?

    After another agonizing hour of staring at the wall, the cell door trembled and shook. With a groan, it swung open¡ªZaina jumped to her feet and was met by two lancers, neither of whom made eye contact. She didn¡¯t resist, putting her wrists out to be bound. The lancers led the way.

    Zaina was still in disbelief. A High Scholar had died on Zaina¡¯s first night on Kaado. It was related to the Eldritch somehow¡ªit had to be.

    Either that or someone¡¯s trying to frame me. But why?

    One of the lancers shoved her back, nearly making Zaina stumble over. She regained her balance and scoffed, then walked faster.

    The lancers led Zaina to the same open library complex as before. They took the winding path to the room¡¯s zenith, riding the magnet stairs and circular lift in complete silence. Despite her company, Zaina was alone with her thoughts.

    So I¡¯m getting a trial, at least. Right? Is that what this is?

    Finally, their lift reached the underside of the scholars¡¯ platform. It slipped into one of the lift-tubes and ascended to the surface, Zaina¡¯s heart roaring in her ears the whole time. For the second time in as many days, her fate depended on a meeting with a bunch of strangers, some of whom hated her, going well.

    Their lift rose to the surface and lurched as it locked in place. Zaina stepped down¡ªthe scholars, perched atop the antler-tree, were already assembled. Something caught Zaina¡¯s eye¡ªher ¡°mentor¡± stood not ten feet away. Her arms were crossed, but not bound; an exceptionally hateful expression was plastered on her face.

    Murmurs broke out amongst the High Scholars. Elest Vae was already shouting accusations. ¡°The girl is responsible¡ªI know she is! This heretic appears to join our ranks, having stolen a High Lancer¡¯s ship and murdered another¡ªand now, High Scholar Nash has been found dead, a heretic¡¯s black fang in his chest! She has come here to tear us apart, and every second we waste with inaction will spell further doom for the Order!¡±

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    Another High Scholar, having taken Ardo Nash¡¯s place atop the antler-like tree of cradles, chided him in a soothing voice. ¡°You speak out of turn, High Scholar Vae.¡±

    Zaina strained her neck as the High Scholar detached and floated down. She was a middle-aged Fevolian, with elegant brown fur covering her feline body and regal features. Her voice flowed like a gentle stream over smooth rocks. ¡°As Interim Scholar Suprema of Arbitration until the formal election is conducted, I will preside over this matter.¡±

    This time, Zaina¡¯s mentor spoke up, her voice laced with seething annoyance. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to preside over. Haven¡¯t you checked the footage yet?¡±

    High Scholar Vae pointed at her, red-faced, and shouted, ¡°Silence, heretic! You¡¯re the one who¡¯s responsible if not her! Perhaps you¡¯re playing the long game!¡±

    ¡°High Scholar Vae,¡± the Fevolian said in a stern voice. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± She turned to the woman. ¡°The investigation is ongoing. Unfortunately¡ªI¡¯m sure you understand¡ªwhen the fang of a heretic is found within a High Scholar, our first suspects must be those bearing the Mark of the Recalcitrant.¡±

    Zaina raised her hand. ¡°What¡¯s the fang of a heretic?¡±

    The Fevolian leaned in. ¡°Now isn¡¯t the time for jokes, child.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not joking. I don¡¯t know what that is.¡±

    Head tilted in curiosity, the Fevolian replied, ¡°The fang of a heretic is the black sword they¡¯re able to summon at will, one of the few weapons in the galaxy that can match a cipher.¡±

    Zaina thought back to her encounter with Beni Gardol when he was under the Eldritch¡¯s control¡ªthat black sword was his fang. Fangs¡ªgood to know.

    ¡°Now,¡± the Fevolian said, ¡°let us get to the heart of this matter. All of the footage of your homes last night is being reviewed to determine your innocence. The investigation will determine your guilt or innocence, and then this court will make its judgment.¡±

    Zaina was taken aback. ¡°Wait, you all are recording us in our homes?¡±

    Zaina¡¯s mentor rubbed her forehead in frustration while the Fevolian swooped lower to meet Zaina¡¯s eyes. In a low voice, she said, ¡°No, we¡¯re recording when you exit and enter your homes.¡±

    ¡°Oh, yeah, that¡¯s so much better,¡± Zaina grumbled, but it was just a little better.

    The woman interrupted again. ¡°Is there a reason you¡¯ve called the assembly before you had all your evidence together? It seems an uncharacteristic mistake for your usually meticulous selves.¡±

    The Fevolian spoke briskly, annoyed at the constant tangents. ¡°Yes, there is a reason aside from Scholar Suprema Vae¡¯s eagerness to see a conviction, and should I be given the platform I¡¯m owed, I¡¯ll be able to share it with you.¡± The room fell silent, so the Fevolian continued, ¡°We are here because of Zaina.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Did they really think she did it? Had she done it? Did the Eldritch take control of her mind or something¡ªno, she hadn¡¯t slept at all, and there were no lapses, it couldn¡¯t be¡­

    The Fevolian continued, ¡°It is just as important where High Scholar Nash was killed, as how. He was studying the Eldritch¡¯s orb¡ªhis body, hover-bed and all, was found inside the safekeeping chamber. Impaled by a fang. He was alone at the time¡ªno lancers to guard him.¡±

    Zaina stumbled over her words. ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re asking.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not asking you anything. I doubt you¡¯d confess your guilt if you are guilty, and if you are, we soon shall know. No, you, Zaina, have a profound connection with the Eldritch. You brought its remains here. Did you ever consider why?¡±

    Zaina frowned. Come to think of it, she didn¡¯t even know why she picked the stone up¡ªit would have been better left on the broken crust of Demelia to die along with the planet it took from her. It was almost¡ªinstinct.

    ¡°No,¡± Zaina admitted. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t really think about it.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± the Fevolian said. ¡°Until last night, I was glad you did; I thought the stone being here, safeguarded by the Order, might be the best place for it¡ªto possibly contain the Eldritch itself. However, it seems containing it may not be as simple a task as we initially believed.¡±

    ¡°I never believed it would be,¡± Zaina said weakly, ¡°had you asked.¡±

    The Fevolian chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re a plucky one. I see what High Scholar Nash liked in you. However, I fear in coming here, and in bringing that stone, you may have, whether knowingly or not, played into the Eldritch¡¯s plans. There is more to discover¡ªmore to learn, yes, and more precautions to take. Sadly, High Scholar Nash was stubborn¡ªnot one to strictly follow protocols. Now, more than ever, with the enemy inside our door, we must be vigilant.

    ¡°Zaina, I brought you here for one reason¡ªto warn you against the Eldritch¡¯s influence. It may have plans for you yet. Tread lightly, girl, or you will be overtaken.¡±

 Chapter Fifty-Five: The Way of the World

    ¡°In my many years, I¡¯ve learned to be more wary of those who come with smiles, who take an interest¡ªthey¡¯re the ones you¡¯ll trust enough to turn your back to.¡±

    ¡ªGramag Alfarid, last leader of the ancient Kimigoth Enclave

    Suddenly, another hover-bed detached. ¡°High Scholar Fawndar, may I request that you cede the floor?¡±

    The Fevolian nodded and floated back up to her cradle. The detached hover-bed floated down to Zaina¡¯s level, revealing a familiar face reading off a vis-screen.

    ¡°I, High Scholar Tu¡¯Lest Velan, Scholar Suprema of Law, having been ceded the floor, would like to announce that the investigation¡¯s analysis of the surveillance footage regarding these two individuals has finally been completed. According to every angle of footage possible, they¡¯ve concluded¡ªahem.¡± She cleared her throat. ¡°They¡¯ve concluded that neither individual¡¯s involvement is possible. Neither left their homes for any period of time, much less any that would coincide with the believed time of death for High Scholar Nash. In light of these facts, it is recommended that both individuals be released immediately.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s mentor crossed her arms. ¡°Finally.¡±

    High Scholar Vae detached from his cradle. ¡°No¡ªI won¡¯t have it! You know what this means!¡±

    High Scholar Velan turned to face him and said, ¡°You¡¯re out of line, High Scholar Vae.¡±

    ¡°No, you fools are out of your minds! Can¡¯t you see? There¡¯s a third heretic¡ªa hidden servant of the darkness amid our ranks! These two won¡¯t oust one of their own; the Order is infected¡ªit¡¯s being overrun by heretics as we sit by and welcome them in with open arms! Here, two enemies of the Order stand before us¡ªboth having sworn an oath, willing or otherwise, to destroy us, and bearing proof of it on their bodies! You would grant them freedom to move among us, to coordinate our downfall? The Order of Riiva has stayed strong for eons without allowing in these corrupted souls, these foul enemies of Riiva. Now they are here, and there is discord among us and blood on our floors! This is madness!¡±

    High Scholar Fawndar detached from her cradle. ¡°High Scholar Vae, that is enough.¡±

    Elest Vae waved her off. ¡°Throw your lot in with the heretics¡ªbut leave the Order of Riiva to be free of these blights, this¡ªinfestation! This girl, whether she knows it or not, is working for the Eldritch! They will bring about the end of the Order of Riiva!¡±

    In a louder, more serious voice, High Scholar Fawndar replied, ¡°Hold your tongue and keep with your station. One more interruption and I¡¯ll have you removed. You¡¯ll come to appreciate Former Scholar Suprema Nash¡¯s patience if you try mine.¡±

    Elest grumbled and reattached his hover-bed to the antler-tree. High Scholar Fawndar also floated back up and locked her hover-bed in place.

    High Scholar Velan continued, ¡°It is recommended we release these individuals, but this is not good news, indeed¡ªHigh Scholar Vae does raise a good point, though it was raised poorly. If these two are innocent, that means there is a third heretic on Kaado¡ªone who has no compulsion about killing even the highest strata among us; one whose identity is unknown; and one whose plan in some way involves the Eldritch¡¯s orb.¡±

    Murmurs once more flew about until High Scholar Fawndar said, ¡°Silence.¡±

    With a grim expression, High Scholar Velan said, ¡°Our investigation will remain diligent. Based on the testimony from Zaina that we analyzed, it seems the Eldritch is capable of possessing individuals¡ªperhaps someone wandered in who should never have been there.¡± She shot a glare toward Zaina. ¡°If either of you were involved in the corruption of one of our own in any way, know that it will be discovered.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s mentor shook her head. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just pull the footage from the safekeeping chamber?¡±

    High Scholar Velan scoffed and replied, ¡°That would¡¯ve been our first action, if there was any footage to review. The Eldritch¡¯s orb emits an odd signal as a result of a specific particle¡¯s decay, native only to the orb¡ªa signal that prevents our feeds from getting through. Or perhaps it is simply the Eldritch¡¯s magick at work.¡±

    The woman continued her line of questioning. ¡°Have you considered taking the damn thing and throwing it into a star? Preferably one far away?¡±

    ¡°All of our options are being considered,¡± the High Scholar said, ¡°and none of them will be shared with you, to whom we have no responsibility to divulge such matters.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s mentor threw her hands up. ¡°Well, we¡¯re innocent. That¡¯s been proven. So, we can go now, right? I¡¯m sure there¡¯s all sorts of classified things you have to discuss now that you¡¯re back at square one.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± High Scholar Velan replied. ¡°Seeing as you¡¯re not involved in this, there¡¯s no further need for your presence. Before you go, I must warn you¡ªinformation regarding this investigation is being regulated very carefully. Any leaks to unauthorized persons will result in your imprisonment¡ªand it will be traced back to whoever talks. So don¡¯t. And, if you hear or see anything which might be important regarding any matter of this investigation, as always, come forward immediately.¡±

    ¡°Right on. Don¡¯t wear yourselves out thinking too hard, now,¡± Zaina¡¯s mentor called out as she walked over to the podium controlling one of the circular lifts.

    Zaina followed¡ªher mentor groaned when she stepped on the same platform, but Zaina couldn¡¯t pass up a chance to annoy the woman. The two stone-faced lancer guards from before stepped on, too. Within seconds, they were descending to the floor of the Celestial Sanctuary¡¯s library.

    Stolen novel; please report.

    Zaina¡¯s mentor turned to the lancers, pointed to the restraints on Zaina, and said, ¡°Take those fucking things off her. She doesn¡¯t know a cipher from a fang¡ªyou don¡¯t need her in cuffs.¡±

    It was a borderline helpful statement, but as Zaina rubbed her aching wrists, she decided instead to take the woman¡¯s words as an insult.

    They descended in silence. Then, after leaving the sanctuary Zaina followed her mentor outside, where an atmospheric transport awaited. The lancer guards remained behind.

    The only seats inside the ship were in the cockpit, so Zaina strapped in next to her mentor. They flew in silence. Zaina stared out the window, watching the floating islands drift by. No matter what life threw at her, she never wanted to lose her sense of wonder when staring at Kaado¡¯s complex inner workings.

    Suddenly, the woman¡¯s voice snapped Zaina out of her reverie.

    ¡°See, that¡¯s how it is, kid. Something happens¡ªyou¡¯ll always be blamed first. They¡¯ll never fully trust you like they would anyone else. If I could go back and do it all over again, I¡¯d tell myself to quit¡ªmake myself a nice heap of rebu in the mercenary guilds and retire early, away from everyone.¡±

    Zaina stared in disbelief. It was the most her mentor had spoken to her since they¡¯d met, and it was nothing more than a selfish rant. ¡°You¡¯re wrong,¡± Zaina said. ¡°Being a lancer is important¡ªhelping people is important. Aren¡¯t you proud of the work you¡¯ve done?¡±

    The woman shook her head. ¡°You don¡¯t know the first thing about me¡ªor the work I¡¯ve done. And you clearly don¡¯t know the first thing about being a lancer, either. Oh, look, we¡¯re here. Let¡¯s go¡ªout.¡±

    The doors popped open, and Zaina stepped out, back home at last. Her hut was repaired¡ªshe had to check her personal belongings to make sure their rude awakening didn¡¯t destroy anything, but for now it was a workable shelter again. She turned to face the woman, but she had disappeared without so much as a word.

    Zaina frowned. The Order of Riiva wasn¡¯t anything like she expected. She remembered Gir and High Scholar Ardo Nash¡ªthey were kind, unlike some others. Drel Ofrans and Elest Vae came to mind. Was it even possible for people like them to reconsider a belief they held so deeply?

    And now the High Scholar who had vouched for her was gone¡ªthe work of some hidden heretic, waiting to strike again.

    And when they do, I¡¯ll get blamed for that, too.

    With a heavy, defeated sigh, Zaina¡¯s shoulders sagged. Maybe it was a mistake to come here with the orb. If I hadn¡¯t¡ªwell, one person would still be alive. Maybe everything would¡¯ve been better for everyone if I did die back home.

    She entered her hut. Luckily, nothing she¡¯d brought from Demelia had been harmed in the attack; if she lost the photograph of her family, she didn¡¯t even want to think about how long she¡¯d cry. After checking on everything, Zaina collapsed on her bed, taking respite in being able to relax. Tomorrow, her lancer training would continue, and she wanted to be well-rested to tackle it head-on.

    A knock at the door interrupted her sleep; Zaina opened it and was greeted by Ovela, who had a grin on her face.

    ¡°Hey, Zaina! How¡¯s everything going?¡±

    Zaina rubbed the back of her head. ¡°Not great, to be honest. I was about to get some sleep.¡±

    ¡°Sleep? This early?¡±

    Zaina yawned. ¡°I¡¯m really tired. Didn¡¯t sleep too well in those weird cells under the Celestial Sanctuary.¡±

    Ovela¡¯s face drained of color. ¡°Oh, I forgot they blamed you for that¡ªI¡¯m sorry.¡±

    With a wave of her hand, Zaina brushed the thought aside. ¡°Oh, come on. It¡¯s not your fault. Why don¡¯t you come inside?¡±

    Ovela nodded and followed her in.

    ¡°Water? Fruit? I¡¯m still figuring out how to cook in here,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. I won¡¯t stay too long. You must be exhausted after everything that¡¯s happened to you. They¡¯ve tried to blame you twice now¡ªand both times, you¡¯ve taken it so well. I know I¡¯d be upset.¡±

    Zaina shrugged. ¡°Apparently, that¡¯s life as a heretic. I¡¯m still getting used to it.¡±

    Ovela frowned. ¡°Well, the stories we hear about heretics, they¡¯re scary. I¡¯m not going to lie, when I first saw you were a heretic, I made my judgments. I didn¡¯t think¡ªwell¡ª¡±

    Zaina finished her sentence, though the words didn¡¯t sting any less coming out of her own mouth. ¡°You didn¡¯t think I belonged here.¡±

    Ovela winced. ¡°I was looking for a nicer way to put it, but yeah, more or less. I always thought heretics were evil. That¡¯s what High Scholar Vae always says. But then I met you, and I thought, well, not all heretics can be bad, right? You¡¯re the first person in so long who asked me my name, who didn¡¯t just see me as some attendant to take them where they needed to go. Who saw me as a person. You can never know how much that means. And who knows? If you can change my mind, maybe you can change theirs someday.¡±

    Zaina gave a half-smile, but it faded quickly. ¡°I¡¯m not evil¡ªI mean, I know it¡¯s in me. It¡¯s always there, waiting for me to slip up. But I think, by the choices I make, my actions¡ªI think I can choose something different for myself.¡±

    Ovela smirked. ¡°And what do you want to choose?¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyes drifted to the sky, even though she couldn¡¯t see it through the ceiling of her hut. ¡°I never really knew what I wanted to do. I always thought I¡¯d take over my Dad¡¯s farm, end up living on Demelia for the rest of my life. But then I got a chance to be something greater, something that was so far out of reach before that I didn¡¯t even know I wanted it. I guess I want to feel like I matter. To know that I helped people and made the galaxy a better place. But, well¡ªI don¡¯t know, ever since I left home, it feels different. It¡¯s like¡ªlike I¡¯m still a tiny piece of something so much bigger than me, that it drowns me in it.¡±

    Ovela chuckled and said, ¡°It sounds like you want to be a hero.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, something like that.¡± Zaina leaned back on her chair, and it reclined. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s vain, or selfish, but I think that¡¯s what I want most. What about you?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°What do you want most?¡±

    Ovela¡¯s eyes darted about, her head swaying back and forth while weighing her answer. Then, she said, ¡°I think the thing I want most is¡ªwell, if I could be like a lancer again, have all that power back, even for one day, I think I could make a real difference, with what I know now.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s gaze fell to Ovela, who was frowning and staring at the ground. Though Zaina would never say it, she didn¡¯t want to end up like Ovela, full of regrets and wishing for a chance to do it all again. Based on how Zaina¡¯s career as a lancer was going so far, once through was more than enough trouble for a lifetime.

    Ovela shook her head. ¡°But, there¡¯s nothing to do but move forward and make the most of any opportunities we happen upon. Right?¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Zaina said. ¡°Hey, are you going to be all right getting home? Starlight¡¯s dwindling, and there¡¯s a killer on the loose.¡±

    Ovela waved the concern aside. ¡°I¡¯m not too concerned about it. I doubt they¡¯d go out of their way to attack someone unimportant like me, right?¡±

    Zaina rolled her eyes. ¡°Oh, come now. Don¡¯t say that. You¡¯re plenty important and I won¡¯t hear otherwise.¡±

    A red flush glowed on Ovela¡¯s cheeks as she averted her gaze. ¡°Thank you, Zaina. I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯ve settled back in. I¡¯ll see you again, all right?¡±

    ¡°Sounds good,¡± Zaina said.

    Once Ovela left, Zaina fell asleep quickly. It was refreshing to spend some time with her friend¡ªsomeone who cared.

    The only person in the whole Order of Riiva who cares.

 Chapter Fifty-Six: The Magick of Lancers

    ¡°The nature of Riiva is mysterious. For all the hundreds of thousands of years we¡¯ve studied it, the Order has no concrete answers as to what it is¡ªwhat comprises it, how long it¡¯s existed, or how exactly it functions. Perhaps a million more will pass without a single new piece of information. Discovery is rare¡ªalmost as rare as the fragments themselves.¡±

    ¡ªHigh Scholar Judeus Falk, in his treatise, The Origins of Riiva

    Zaina slogged out of bed upon morning¡¯s arrival. Despite having slept well, she was still exhausted. In the span of a month everything in her life had changed and she still hadn¡¯t reckoned with all of it. Of course, she didn¡¯t plan on doing that today. For now she wanted to put all the strangeness aside and focus on what she came here for: becoming a lancer.

    In a hurry, Zaina prepared for the day¡ªdrinking water, relieving herself, showering¡ªand then ate a few pieces of fruit.

    There was a reason for her rush: she wanted to beat the woman down to the training fields and practice before she arrived, then practice more after she left. If there were cameras everywhere, that would prove how little help the woman was being. Plus, avoiding her seemed like the right call. Her constant remarks were distracting.

    Zaina took her first steps outside and stretched her arms out. Light from the nearest star poured in through open continental panels on Kaado¡¯s outer surface, and she happily took in the golden rays of warmth. There was a breeze today¡ªthe cool air was soothing as it rolled off the skin of her arms. She felt a little better already.

    All right. Let¡¯s get to it.

    The first thing Zaina needed to master was summoning her cipher. It had to be automatic. She didn¡¯t want to mess up when it counted most.

    She wasn¡¯t able to summon it without meditating yet, much to her annoyance. The sessions of self-searching were taxing, but she needed the practice. Once she could summon the weapon on command, she¡¯d move on to learning about her equipment.

    Luckily I have the vis-screen for that. No need for that woman.

    Zaina took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Over the course of a grueling morning she repeatedly summoned her cipher. Every time she reached into herself drained her further. Her heartbeat pulsed in her temples, her wrists, and her throat after the third time, but she kept going. After the fifth time, her stomach flipped and she ejected its contents into a nearby patch of grass. The acidic sting stuck in the back of her throat, so she decided to take a break and wash the horrible taste out.

    Gods, I hate that. Reminds me of the farm, when I used to harvest during the summer when I was little after eating too many of Mom¡¯s sweet stacks¡ª

    She shook her head. Reminiscing wouldn¡¯t do her any good right now. After rinsing out her mouth in the sink, Zaina tried to make sense of the drink-making machine in her hut. Unable to figure it out, she drank water and relaxed for a few minutes.

    The second Zaina went back outside, her heart sank. The woman was waiting, a lit roll in one hand and the other flipped over to display a vis-screen.

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    ¡°Morning, rookie,¡± she greeted without so much as a head turn.

    ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you¡¯re planning on being helpful today, are you?¡±

    When no response came, Zaina shook her head and sat down. She closed her eyes once more, but this time, instead of meditating, she tried to wish for the sword outright; nothing happened.

    Her shoulders deflated with a resigned sigh. Looks like I need more practice. I hope I don¡¯t blow chunks in front of her.

    The meditation went on, with Zaina experiencing variations of the same thing; different memories with her family, different possible futures had her life continued as normal, and different encounters with the Eldritch. Nothing about being a lancer, though.

    Hours passed and the layers blurred together. Only the strands beneath everything mattered. With every passing vision, Zaina became more adept at detaching from herself.

    Whenever she drew the blade, it felt less like a wish and more like a feeling she had to be in tune with¡ªa focus, not only on the strands but on something at the heart of her own consciousness, the part of her that was the same as the universe and anchored her to it. The more she practiced, the easier it became to reach the strands and the more eager they were to be grasped. Before the day was over it took little effort at all.

    As the planetary light panels above closed to make starlight fade on her section of Kaado, Zaina was able to attune so completely to the needed feeling that she summoned the weapon without closing her eyes. The blade¡¯s green, glowing hue sparked into existence, and the strands wove the weapon into existence in her palm. Zaina breathed a sigh of relief. She was getting better¡ªthe proof was in her hand.

    She swung the sword about, wondering if that was supposed to be included in a normal mentorship¡ªhow to fight with a sword. There was no point in asking the woman. Zaina was a good shot with a scrap pistol and knew how to fight¡ªbut using a sword was foreign to her.

    The blade emitted a low, metallic ring as it sliced through the air. It was weightless in her grip; it was one with her, an extension of her self.

    Zaina dissipated the blade and glanced around. Her mentor was nowhere to be seen, having already packed up for the night.

    She doesn¡¯t even care enough to put on a show of teaching. I hope I get reassigned. Can I be reassigned?

    Zaina stretched out before heading back to her new home and laying down for the night. Tomorrow, more practice summoning her cipher¡ªthen she¡¯d get more familiar with her equipment.

    And once that¡¯s sorted out, I can figure out the whole magick thing. Gir never really got into that beyond the very basics.

    Zaina sighed, then rolled onto her back and accessed her vis-screen. The main menu popped up once more, and Zaina tapped the Lessons icon.

    After scrolling down the page, Zaina indeed found lessons on lancer magick. She tapped the icon and two more screens popped up. All three vis-screens now displayed different paths in the folder, with different directories and entire lists of lessons for each category.

    The first screen that had appeared had changed to display a directory known as Forms of Magick. The second two screens displayed Learning and Honing Magick, and Applications of Magick.

    There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll ever get through all of this.

    She clicked the Overview icon under Forms of Magick, and yet another screen popped up in front. A voice whirred from the hologram.

    ¡°Hello, Zaina. I am your vis-glyph. You have selected the lesson plan for: Overview: Forms of Magick, is that correct?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Affirmative. Introduction: the forms of magick are the distinct types of abilities lancers are able to use. Not every lancer can access all or even most of these abilities, which vary widely in range. Thus, most lancers specialize within a certain archetype or two and master a small set of abilities to be used for maximum effectiveness.¡±

    Zaina nodded. It made sense¡ªshe assumed there was a lot of magic out there. The glyph continued.

    ¡°The common forms of magick include hydromancy, aeromancy, terramancy, thermomancy, cryomancy, biomancy, phosmancy, and electromancy. Within these forms, there are subtle variations that are further explored in their individual sections, such as sanamancy under aeromancy and magnemancy under electromancy. For now, the brief overview will include a short look at the basics of each type of¡ª¡±

    With a click, Zaina shut it off. It was too much to think about right now¡ªand she was too tired. Her magick would be there when she was ready.

 Chapter Fifty-Seven: Lancer Lessons

    ¡°The mystery behind lancer magick and where it comes from is still hotly debated to this day. Is it truly some mystical, inexplicable ability granted by an invisible, unknowable benefactor, or is it simply something we currently lack the capability to understand? I, for one, believe more research is needed before we know whether there¡¯s even an answer to be had.¡±

    ¡ªGeneral Brom Vaquinas in a report to JIAHC

    The next two days were productive; Zaina learned to summon her cipher on command, and then started going through the vis-screen lessons for her equipment.

    There was the hex-guard, her projectable energy shield; the distiller, a cup that made any water drinkable with a particle filter; retractable steel cable from a small, cylindrical launcher; a comms antenna to be affixed to the back of her armor, whenever she got that; a rechargeable multi-flare light box no bigger than two of her fingers; thruster attachments for her boots and connected hip stabilizers; a customizable scan-visor with several useful readouts; a breathing mask; atmospheric sensor pads; a micro-dehumidifier and a temperature-control micro-unit as attachments for her future armor; a strand-glove, a form-fitting metal gauntlet with hand protection which would supposedly help with lancer magick; the last thing she faced down was the beeping, cylindrical grenade. It was actually a micro-grenade dispenser with a variety of settings¡ªfrom electrified, flash, and concussive to echoburst and magnetic, there was no shortage of explosives to choose from.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Zaina to get a grasp on everything¡ªwithin three days she¡¯d practiced with everything she could. The micro-projector on her wrist¡ªcalled a vexicon, she¡¯d learned¡ªwas highly useful. It came equipped with a translation function that recognized several million forms of speech across the vast Nova Rim Galaxy, a list of contacts within the Order of Riiva, and information on different worlds and their native species.

    There was also information about the galaxy¡¯s enemies, of which there were plenty. From revolutionaries to opportunists to sadists, the Nova Rim had it all. It was such a wide galaxy, and Zaina knew there were bad people out there, but seeing the endless sea of names filled her with dread.

    If I was called to do this, it¡¯s no wonder. There¡¯s so much¡­

    There was little point in worrying about that now. Zaina had to keep learning. It sucked that she had come this far without any help from her mentor, but now there was only one thing to cover: magick.

    The woman was still around at the end of the third day, having made snide comments the whole time Zaina was trying to train. Zaina ignored her¡ªthere was no point in feeding into the antagonism.

    After finishing up the lesson plans related to equipment, Zaina packed up for the day¡ªthe woman was still puffing on her roll and scrolling through her vexicon. Zaina was heading back to her hut when the woman¡¯s voice carved through the still evening air.

    ¡°Hey,¡± she called out, ¡°it won¡¯t be long until you¡¯re done! First mission, coming soon.¡±

    Zaina stopped on a dime. That was the most supportive thing she¡¯d heard from her mentor. She turned and said, ¡°Yeah, really? I didn¡¯t think it¡¯d be so soon.¡±

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    The woman shrugged. ¡°Lancer abilities are like any other skill¡ªit¡¯s easy to learn, but hard to master. Don¡¯t get too excited, anyway¡ªit¡¯s not like our first mission¡¯s going to be any good.¡±

    Zaina groaned. ¡°¡®Our first mission?¡¯ Please tell me¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh, yeah,¡± the woman said, then took a drag off her fragrant roll. ¡°We¡¯re stuck together for a while, kid. Better get used to it. Besides, our missions are either gonna be boring¡ªdiplomatic escorts, deep-world convoys, that sort of thing¡ªor the worst of the worst that no one else wants to do.¡±

    ¡°Why¡ªbecause we¡¯re half-heretics?¡±

    The woman glanced over at her. ¡°Yeah, exactly. Better get used to it. Indifference is about the best you can hope for.¡±

    Zaina grimaced. ¡°You really are the worst mentor I¡¯ve ever heard of.¡±

    The woman waved Zaina away. ¡°Run along now, kid. You¡¯re lucky I don¡¯t start recommending you for missions right now.¡±

    Zaina grumbled to herself as she walked back to her hut. ¡°I¡¯ll show you. You¡¯re going to regret those words, you¡¯ll see.¡±

    She settled in for another night of rest¡ªwho needed that bitter woman, anyway? Zaina had come this far on her own.

    Impatient, she accessed the vis-screen once more and pulled up the folder under Learning and Honing Magick. She tapped the first icon on the page Discovery.

    The vis-glyph chirped its usual greeting. ¡°Hello, Zaina. I am your vis-glyph. You¡¯ve selected the course on Magick Discovery, is that correct?¡±

    Zaina rolled her eyes. It did this every time. ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Affirmative. An overview of discovery: introduction. Discovery is the process by which a lancer determines which forms of magick they have access to. Discovery requires deep meditation¡ªthe means by which a lancer finds the strands Riiva buried within them during contact. This is often the most difficult part for new lancers to achieve, as Riiva¡¯s form of communication is notably subtle. The most common method of discovery involves wishing for your path once you¡¯ve found the strands; others must have their powers awakened by a qualified scholar, and others still slowly gain their powers in fits and spurts for up to a few weeks¡¯ time. Would you like to know more about: deep meditation, finding the strands, wishing for your path, or common interpretations of visions?¡±

    Zaina chose the third option. Gir had said something similar¡ªthat she¡¯d have to wish to be shown what she could do. The glyph confirmed it.

    At this point, the strands were relatively easy to access; it took little effort to reach them. If she concentrated hard enough, even closing her eyes was enough to summon their presence.

    This time, though, she had a few layers to peel back. The first was a leisurely walk through the forest with Kitali; in the second she was helping her father sell the farm¡¯s harvest in the Ildegor marketplace. Finally, she reached the strands.

    Good thing I apparently took care of the hardest part first.

    Zaina stared at the interwoven strands all around her and held a hand to her chest as she spoke her heart¡¯s wish into existence.

    ¡°I wish for my path.¡±

    The strands reacted¡ªthey glowed and started to move, untangling in some places and tangling further in others; they swirled around Zaina, enveloping her, and then consuming her. She was torn apart atom by atom¡ªas her vision faded away to shadow, there was no pain, only the experience of suffusing into Riiva itself.

    Then, from the darkness came a heartbeat which pounded like an ever-beating drum. Following that pulse came the roaring rush of blood. She was reforming amid an endless night, her brain, heart, veins, and arteries suspended in the void; then, with a series of crackling pops, her bones formed. Her other organs followed, and then a warm, thrilling sensation coursed through her newfound body as energy¡ªpure, shining energy¡ªbecame her muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Next came her skin, which reformed out of the void into flecks that swirled around her strange vision-body, attaching back at the proper spots until she was whole again. With a heaving gasp, she took her first breath

    Voices began to call her name; some she recognized, like those of her family and Gir. Others she was sure she had never heard. These were unlike the shadowy whispers of the Eldritch.

    One last heartbeat pumped into her ears, and then Gir¡¯s voice spoke from the beyond. ¡°Zaina. You¡¯re awake.¡±

    With that, she was immediately ejected from the vision.

 Chapter Fifty-Eight: The Heretic of Kaado

    ¡°Visions and dreams are fickle and unreliable. You may as well put your faith in children¡¯s stories.¡±

    ¡ªFamed scientist Joni DiJaniari on lancer magick and visions

    Zaina¡¯s eyes opened, back in the real world. What was that? Was that supposed to happen? She opened up the vis-screen once more.

    Well, now that last option makes a lot more sense.

    Zaina tapped the option for Common Interpretations of Visions and another screen appeared. The vis-glyph¡¯s voice sparked to life.

    ¡°Hello, Zaina. You have selected the module for Common Interpretations of Visions. Is that correct?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± she grumbled.

    ¡°Affirmative. To best help interpret your experience, I¡¯ve been programmed with this list of common and uncommon experiences. Please, refer to it and take your time.¡±

    Now more words appeared on the screen in three columns¡ªthe first was fairly short, and featured phrases describing potential experiences; next to that was a tiny column with either the letters C, U, or HU written within. In the third and longest column was a brief description of the phrase in the first column.

    Some she was able to rule out based on the phrase; waterfall bath, sunset showdown, and soaring skies didn¡¯t come close to fitting the description. Others required the description be scrutinized, such as: out-of-body experience (which didn¡¯t qualify because your vision-body was supposed to be present, or at least somewhere, during the experience), self-death (which didn¡¯t mention resurrection), and falling into darkness (which also didn¡¯t mention resurrection).

    The closest one Zaina found after about an hour of scrolling was a module called body reformation. The description read: any experience in which one¡¯s body is destroyed and reformed, often in bits and pieces.

    She tapped it. It was marked with a U, which she guessed meant uncommon. Not much about her experience as a lancer seemed common anyway. The next page opened with a handful of lists. One was titled Symbols and Their Possible Meanings, and Zaina tapped it to bring it to the forefront. It listed a few ways one¡¯s magick might manifest itself within the vision¡ªfor example, one might be destroyed and reborn in fire, signifying proficiency in thermomancy. Whatever elements were involved with their reconstruction were the answers to their wish¡ªtheir path.

    Zaina took a deep breath and thought back to the strange experience. What stuck with her most were the vivid sounds¡ªthe fact she had heard the entire reformation process in such vivid detail and heard voices speaking to her indicated sanamancy. When her body was reformed, it was also infused with shining energy¡ªit wasn¡¯t fire, she was sure of that, which removed thermomancy as an option. It had to be sanamancy or phosmancy, or both.

    Is that¡ªlight? Or maybe energy? And what even is sound¡ªvibrations or something, right? I should probably look into that.

    Zaina spent a good portion of the night reading about phosmancy and sanamancy. She didn¡¯t try anything yet¡ªthere was time for that tomorrow.

    By the time she fell asleep, vis-screen still open, the sun was only an hour from rising. She dreamed of being a lancer¡ªwearing armor like Gir¡¯s she traversed the stars, casting down evildoers with her cipher and the magick of starlight.

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    -

    Zaina woke up far into the next day. When she groggily stumbled outside, the woman was waiting, leaning against a tree facing Zaina¡¯s hut. The woman seemed a little more annoyed than usual.

    ¡°Up late last night?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, with my teacher.¡±

    The woman¡¯s eyebrow rose. Zaina raised her wrist and pointed to the vexicon.

    The woman chuckled. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯ll be High Lancer material in no time.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eye twitched. ¡°Well, whatever I achieve in my career, it¡¯ll be no thanks to you.¡±

    A more serious expression came over the woman¡¯s face. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry, was I supposed to achieve something for you?¡±

    ¡°No, but doing your job would¡¯ve been nice.¡±

    The woman glared. ¡°My job here is to babysit you. Anyone who¡¯s experienced Riiva can become a lancer on their own¡ªI¡¯m proof of that. You¡¯ve had everything you needed the moment you stepped foot on Kaado. Don¡¯t act like you needed my help holding your hand to show you how to use a fucking vexicon.¡±

    ¡°Your job was to help show me what all of this means! But, guess what, I already did that on my own. Looks like I don¡¯t need you anymore.¡±

    ¡°Oh, is that right?¡± the woman asked. ¡°You think you¡¯re ready for missions, then? Should I recommend you?¡±

    Zaina¡¯s neck was on fire, burning with seething anger. This woman wasn¡¯t going to teach her anything¡ªthere was no more sense in sitting around here, trying to figure this all out for herself. Experience was the best teacher, her father had always said.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, ¡°you know what? Go ahead. Put us in for whatever kind of mission you want. Bring it on. I¡¯m ready for anything.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± The woman crossed her arms. ¡°You think you¡¯re ready for when we drop into Telgemor, to turn the tide of the civil war against the rebels? Or when we¡¯re the lone lancers on a high-value transport in pirate-infested lanes? Or when we¡ª¡±

    Zaina didn¡¯t have the patience for a lecture from her. ¡°Yes¡ªwhatever you were going to say next, yes to that, too. Whatever missions we get will teach me more about being a lancer than you, so yes to whatever the fuck it is.¡±

    The woman¡¯s lips curled into a half-smile. She almost looked a little softer in that moment, but it passed quickly. She turned and said, ¡°All right, then. I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d stick around this long, but here we are. At least we¡¯ll be out there doing nothing instead of here.¡±

    With that, the woman left. Zaina shook her head and walked back into her hut. She tried the magick chant she had learned for phosmancy: ¡°I wish to bend starlight.¡±

    The corresponding rune on her strand-glove glowed to life, a light-blue circle surrounding a curved symbol with two accent marks. A screen of radiant light emanated from the rune and curled into an orb around her fist. It twisted into itself, growing and shrinking as it pulsed. Her hand was warm, but not hot¡ªher finger twitched, and the bubble of light dissipated.

    Much like summoning her cipher was at first, magick was draining. Oddly enough, her stamina improved the further she pushed herself. After three hours, she was able to summon light orbs with no problem.

    She wiped sweat from her forehead and glanced upward; a massive panel on Kaado¡¯s surface was shifting to block sunlight, allowing for a proper simulation of night. She yawned¡ªmaybe she was finally getting used to life here.

    I think that¡¯s enough for today.

    After a meager dinner, Zaina laid down for the night. The moment she closed her eyes to sleep, dark whispers gnawed at her brain; they emanated from beyond the door¡ªbeckoning her. A scratching noise came from outside¡ªand then from the other side of her door.

    Zaina¡¯s heart was beating manically. There was a killer on the loose¡ªwere they coming after her next? She wanted to pull the blanket up over herself, but something drove her to get out of bed. She was a lancer now¡ªwell, on her way to being one, at least¡ªand she had to deal with this herself. She raised a hand to massage her temples¡ªthe voices reminded her of when she was near the Eldritch.

    No. It can¡¯t be that.

    She grabbed the strand-glove off her nightstand and slipped it on her hand. Then she crept toward the door, slowly grasping the handle. The scratching intensified¡ªit sounded like a desperate, silent animal, or something unfriendly that wanted in. The whispers grew louder, coalescing into a chorus. Zaina closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

    Now or never.

    Zaina slammed the door open with a jolt and stepped outside¡ªin one hand, she summoned her cipher, and with the strand-glove, she created another glowing orb of energy. Its illumination wasn¡¯t as powerful as she hoped, but it helped her make out a figure beside the treeline. They were cloaked, their face covered by a hood and obscured by shadow.

    Zaina gasped. Right there, in the figure¡¯s hands, was a black sword¡ªthe fang of a heretic.

 Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Hidden Enemy

    ¡°The Nova Rim at large has forgotten about the swarms of heretics invading their worlds not two centuries ago in the sixteenth Heretic War. Too much is forgotten too easily. These creatures are a blight upon this galaxy, birthed from a wrathful god. They are sent to punish the Nova Rim for its sins, but we do not abide by this god¡¯s judgment. The only righteous path in dealing with their kind is wholesale elimination. Nothing else will suffice.¡±

    ¡ªHigh Priest of Faldak Gerzimone Gradarn, in an official edict to his followers

    ¡°I ran after them until my mentor stopped me,¡± Zaina said, ¡°I never saw their face. I don¡¯t know what they wanted¡ªor why they were there.¡±

    High Scholar Geli Fawndar leaned in. ¡°And you say they were wielding a fang?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Zaina said as her eyes darted about High Scholar Fawndar¡¯s personal office¡ªit was in disarray, with books on all subjects strewn about, their places marked with string; papers and writing utensils were scattered across a large desk, with Geli¡¯s assistants poring through them for requested information. Ovela was standing beside High Scholar Vae, who was fuming in the back corner; the former lancer gave a subtle wave and half-smile as Zaina¡¯s eyes fell on her.

    Zaina nodded and continued, ¡°Yes¡ªa black sword. It was exactly like the one I saw back on Demelia.¡±

    Geli stroked her chin. ¡°This is troubling news, indeed. This heretic may have been attempting to reach out to you, or trying to lead you into a trap. It¡¯s likely this is only the beginning, especially since they¡¯ve been able to mask their presence.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you check your surveillance? Can¡¯t you track where they came from?¡± Zaina asked.

    Geli shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. It¡¯s the same as the Eldritch¡¯s orb¡ªsome sort of interference prevents the feed from working properly. This time it affected our entire residential area¡¯s monitoring system  for a few hours. It is most frustrating.¡±

    Another High Scholar, hovering to Geli¡¯s right, surged forward. This one was an elderly female Grathian, with smooth green skin and a flat, noseless face; her hair was black, symbolizing old age amongst Grathians, and was twisted, thin, and wispy. ¡°Its foul magick is at play¡ªthe Eldritch is ancient, able to bend reality itself to its will; there¡¯s no telling what it will do in service of fulfilling its one purpose.¡±

    Geli gestured toward the High Scholar. ¡°Zaina, if I may introduce High Scholar Yla Fidabow, Scholar Suprema of Chronicling. She would like to speak with you.¡±

    Zaina shifted her weight, a little on edge. She didn¡¯t know what to expect whenever a new scholar presented themselves¡ªwould they accept her, or no?

    ¡°Zaina,¡± the elder scholar said. ¡°You indicated in your prior testimony that the Eldritch is capable of bodily possession¡ªof incorporating people¡¯s flesh, or overwhelming their spirit into doing its bidding. Do you believe that either may be the case here?¡±

    Zaina frowned. ¡°It seems unlikely that a heretic would be able to land on Kaado and do all this. Be all the places they need to¡ªI don¡¯t know. I think there¡¯s a better chance it came from within.¡±

    Yla leaned in, though her eyes were clear and glassy, clearly years removed from proper sight. ¡°You think the Eldritch has targeted one of our own¡ªperhaps one who strayed where they should not.¡±

    Zaina shrugged. ¡°Your guess is as good as mine, but that¡¯s what makes the most sense to me.¡±

    Yla sighed. Then, the elder said, ¡°You¡¯ve given us much information about the Eldritch; I suppose it¡¯s fair to return the favor with what the Order knows. The Eldritch predates the Synatorium, the Order¡ªpossibly even the universe in its current state. Current estimates of its age¡ªgathered via analysis of the orb you provided¡ªdate the Eldritch¡¯s first host back to before the fall of the Primortala.¡±

    Zaina gulped. If she remembered her Synatorium history class correctly, that was over two million years ago. No wonder it needed a new host.

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    Yla continued, ¡°That said, it has only ever taken corporeal form twice that we know of: once on Symerda, and once on Demelia. For hundreds of thousands of years before that, the Eldritch traveled from world to world as a cosmic spirit¡ªa ghost of sorts, infesting people with its foul mark, and leaving¡ªusually with little incident, aside from the creation of several heretics.¡±

    Zaina nodded. Gir had said something similar back home.

    Yla went on. ¡°The Eldritch¡¯s modus operandi seems to be changing¡ªwhereas before, it was only concerned with spreading the Mark of the Recalcitrant, it now seeks a host for its essence. Perhaps that will give it more power to achieve a more nefarious end¡ªdark plans in motion for eons coming to fruition in front of our very eyes. Or perhaps its old host was no longer suitable for its new purpose.¡±

    Unsure of what to make of the scholar¡¯s words, Zaina got back to the point. ¡°So, wouldn¡¯t it make sense to get rid of the orb, then? Throw it into the sun, like my mentor said? Then it can¡¯t take another host.¡±

    Geli replied, ¡°The Order has reasons to believe that may not be the best idea¡ªdestroying its only physical form may lead to the release of its power, untethered, upon the greater Nova Rim; or perhaps not. All our options are being considered, every risk being weighed. Truthfully, the likeliest scenario is that we take it to the Sky Vault in the Origin Ridge, and likely within the week.¡±

    Yla said, ¡°For now, we are taking every precaution, especially since the passing of High Scholar Nash. It¡¯s been difficult to analyze the stone; even High Scholars such as myself, untouched by the Eldritch¡¯s influence, hear the shadowy whispers when we enter its safekeeping chamber. We¡¯ve implemented rules¡ªfive minutes of study per High Scholar every fifty hours, to prevent any of us from succumbing, all enforced by a rotation of former lancers.

    ¡°That said¡ªit seems to be probing our minds, or at least, it was mine. It wasn¡¯t as intrusive as I imagine your experiences have been, based on how you describe them; that, too, has been enlightening. It seems the Eldritch is seeking a specific target as its new host¡ªit wants either a half-heretic or a lancer, and there are attributes beyond that it desires, too. Perhaps its ideal host will grant it more power in its corporeal form.¡±

    A shudder ran up Zaina¡¯s spine. The Eldritch didn¡¯t need more power. It seemed she had only escaped with her life because it wasn¡¯t trying to kill her. The thought wasn¡¯t comforting in the slightest.

    She shuddered. It¡¯s going to try to come back. I don¡¯t know how, or when, but¡ªI know it is.

    Yla finished up, having still been talking while Zaina was spacing out for a moment. ¡°¡­and so, no active lancers will be allowed near the safekeeping chamber, just to be safe. Now¡ªI do believe I¡¯ve taken up enough of your time, and you¡¯ve given me quite a bit to chronicle, and a bit to go over in unfinished chronicles¡ªand any literature about the Eldritch will have to be revised and updated; yes, many moons of work await, but this has been invaluable. Thank you, Zaina Quin.¡±

    Zaina bowed her head and said, ¡°I¡¯m glad I could help.¡±

    Not like I really said much of anything. What are they getting out of this?

    ¡°Your contribution is not over yet¡ªin the coming months, possibly years, I¡¯ll be sending over a scholar to gather more details and testimony¡ªnot only about yourself, but about Demelia, and the Deluge which befell it. There are many gaps in the history books to fill in now and much new history to chronicle. But, for today, this will put us on the right path.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s lips pulled into a taut frown. These guys really do want to record damn near everything.

    Yla continued, ¡°As for the investigation, I cannot speak to that.¡±

    ¡°I can,¡± said High Scholar Fawndar. ¡°Thank you for coming forward with all of this, Zaina. As for this incident¡ªwould you be comfortable being assigned a bodyguard?¡±

    Zaina winced. As much as a bodyguard sounded nice, it also invited trouble. Another person who potentially hated her, blamed her for taking away their ¡°prime lancer years,¡± as her mentor had put it¡ªno, there was no need for that. Besides, if Zaina was going to be a lancer, she¡¯d rather learn how to defend herself instead. ¡°I think I¡¯m fine without one, thank you. But I do have a question¡ªmaybe it¡¯s a weird one.¡±

    Geli gestured to allow it.

    Zaina continued, ¡°Is there some sort of swordsmanship class or something like that? My mentor seems determined not to show me anything, and the vexicon can¡¯t exactly teach me what I¡¯m doing with a cipher.¡±

    High Scholar Fawndar smiled. ¡°Yes, I do think there¡¯s something I can do for you, Zaina Quin. Expect an unexpected visitor tomorrow, if you would.¡±

    Zaina narrowed her eyes in suspicion. What the hell does that mean?

    ¡°On another note,¡± Geli went on, ¡°have you had a chance to visit the forge yet?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Zaina said. ¡°I haven¡¯t even heard of it.¡±

    Geli frowned. ¡°Very well. I think this meeting has come to a close. Everyone is dismissed. Zaina, take this.¡± A small glyph detached from her hover-bed. ¡°It will lead you to the forge if your mentor isn¡¯t inclined to.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, High Scholar,¡± Zaina said. ¡°And I can already tell you that she won¡¯t be.¡±

    ¡°I am sorry to hear that. Perhaps time will make friends of you yet. Best of luck, Zaina Quin.¡±

    Zaina flashed a genuine smile¡ªit was the nicest thing anyone had said to her in days. Elest Vae, grumbling to himself and wringing his hands, was first out of the room. Ovela flashed a wave and a smile Zaina¡¯s way, and she returned with a wave of her own. Then Ovela followed Vae.

 Chapter Sixty: The Forge

    ¡°First thing you need to know is that is gets really fucking hot in here.¡±

    ¡ªVylensus Forgemaster Huril Eandoren¡¯s first words to every apprentice he ever had

    The door behind Zaina opened of its own accord, and she walked through without dwelling on it. Right before she passed through the threshold, Yla¡¯s voice called after her.

    ¡°Be warned, child! The ancient¡¯s designs are not yet known. Tread lightly, as its plans involve you still¡ªwilling or not.¡±

    Zaina nodded and turned to leave the High Scholars and their strangeness behind. The door shut behind her. She¡¯d done all she could¡ªsomething weird had happened, and she reported it.

    The glyph twirled around her head, impatiently waiting. She gestured for it to go, and it did; she trotted along behind it as they made their way to one of the parked transports.

    The trip was silent¡ªbut it was a more comfortable silence without her mentor. Zaina was able to stretch her legs out and take deep, relaxing breaths while the glyph smoothly flew their craft to one of the lower islands nearby¡ªupon it was a tall, circular building with an open top. The bottom was wide, but it thinned out as it went higher. The island was otherwise empty, covered with grass and sparse patches of trees. A single, small river trickled off to either side of the hovering mass, forming two waterfalls that trickled down into the abyss.

    More than anything, Zaina loved Kaado. It was such a strange place¡ªold, but modern; mysterious, but practical; beautiful, but chaotic; simple, but complex. She stepped out of the transport. The glyph chirped as the door closed.

    I guess it¡¯s going to wait in there.

    The transport had other ideas. Its engines hummed and it took off, flying back to the Celestial Sanctuary below.

    Zaina frowned. Those fucking dicks.

    She¡¯d probably have to ask whoever worked here for a ride. Hopefully they were friendly.

    The outer wall of the forge was made of tan stone with patches of metal; the entrance was a full arch with no door. There weren¡¯t any visible lights from the outside, so Zaina cautiously took her first few steps into the building.

    Suddenly a bright light flashed, and the room filled with hums, clicks, and the stirring of large machinery. There were no hallways or chambers¡ªonly one big workshop.

    A high-pitched voice pierced the noise, ¡°Hey, there! Welcome to the forge on Kaado. What can we do for you today?¡±

    Zaina was looking around for the source of the voice, but nobody was there. Lights lining the interior walls flared to life, giving her a better look at the inside; the first flashing light came from a massive cylinder built into the center of the room, with holes on every side emitting a radiant glow. The walls were lined with machinery and shelves upon which raw and processed metals sat. The anvil was a series of robotic arms around a small, metal cylinder sitting with its flat face up, with several metal attachments hanging from the wall. The arms hung from a bar suspended from a railing system rigged into the interior¡¯s upper walls.

    Two figures also came into sight; one, a short Potralian¡ªa humanoid with extended ears, extra hair, and heightened senses¡ªstepped forward. ¡°My name¡¯s Eva, Eva Kiminaw.¡± Her nose wrinkled. ¡°Hm. You just came from the sanctuary, huh? Let me guess¡ªhere for your armor?¡±

    ¡°How did you¡ª¡±

    ¡°Well, for one,¡± Eva said, ¡°you don¡¯t have any armor. That¡¯s usually why people come to the forge. They go to the armory for weapons and the forge for armor. Doesn¡¯t make a lot of sense, does it?¡±

    ¡°Hello, there,¡± the other figure, a human man with short, brown hair, green eyes, and pale skin, stepped forward and said. ¡°We¡¯re here to make sure your armor is the best it can be.¡±

    Eva dashed off to the side and grabbed a cup. She then zipped closer to Zaina and took a sip of the steaming liquid inside. ¡°Can I get you a cup of gamba?¡±

    ¡°Gamba?¡± Zaina¡¯s head tilted. ¡°What the hell is gamba?¡±

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    ¡°Gamba! You know, gamba!¡± Eva waved her free arm. ¡°You really don¡¯t know gamba? What kind of backwater world¡ª¡±

    The human male stepped forward and said, ¡°If you need any refreshments, we can provide them.¡±

    Zaina rubbed the back of her head. ¡°What is gamba, anyway?¡±

    ¡°Gamba is the universal drink,¡± Eva said after taking another sip. ¡°It gives you energy¡ªwakes you up and makes you sharper!¡±

    Zaina shrugged. ¡°Sure, what the hell? I¡¯ll try some.¡±

    ¡°Perfect! You won¡¯t regret it.¡± Eva zipped over to a table with a beverage maker identical to the one in Zaina¡¯s hut.

    So that¡¯s what that machine is for.

    While Eva fussed with the machine to brew a cup of the mystery drink, the other person stepped forward and said, ¡°My name is Garrick Bolden. I was once a lancer, but now I work the forge with Eva. We¡¯re fairly new, but the old forge master taught Eva everything he knew; she¡¯s still teaching me everything she knows.¡±

    ¡°Makes sense,¡± Zaina said. ¡°I¡¯m not going to be your first, am I?¡±

    Garrick raised his hands. ¡°Oh, heavens, no. I¡¯ve been at it for a dozen moon cycles or so. So, while Eva¡¯s taking care of that¡ªshe loves her gamba¡ªI¡¯ll get a few specs. Would you mind stepping into that machine and spreading your arms?¡± He pointed behind Zaina.

    She turned, and there was a ten-foot-tall cylinder with a person-sized opening. She walked toward it. Before she entered, Garrick called out, ¡°Oh¡ªyou should probably take off your utility belt! And your shoes, too, if you would. Sorry, spaced out for a second, there.¡±

    She frowned¡ªthese two seemed a little haphazard. The heavy equipment lining the walls looked dangerous. Hopefully nothing got fucked up too badly.

    I do have terrible luck with shit going sideways, apparently.

    She took off her belt and shoes and placed them on a nearby table, then stepped into the odd machine and spread her arms. The interior was cramped, and hundreds of tiny red lights lined every inch of the wall. With a low buzz, they all glowed at once.

    The machine hummed for about five seconds, then died down. Garrick¡¯s muted voice called out to her, ¡°All right, you can step out now!¡±

    She walked back out and collected her utility belt and shoes. As she put them back on, she asked, ¡°What the hell was that?¡±

    ¡°Now we¡¯ve got your measurements, so we can match the armor perfectly to your body. See? Your right leg is half a centimeter shorter than your left. Now we can custom fit your armor for maximum effectiveness. Now¡ªlet¡¯s talk material.¡±

    Eva butted in, putting a hot cup of light-brown liquid in Zaina¡¯s hands. ¡°Go on, take a sip. I sweetened it for you, so it shouldn¡¯t be too bitter, but let me know if it is.¡±

    Zaina took a sip¡ªit was sweet but had a pleasant, slightly bitter aftertaste. It was like a jolt to her brain, too¡ªsuddenly, she felt more awake, more aware. She took another sip. ¡°That¡¯s good. You¡¯ll have to show me how to make this.¡±

    Eva smiled. ¡°I will! But for now, let¡¯s stick with the specs, shall we? You were on materials, right?¡±

    Zaina nodded as she took another sip.

    ¡°Right,¡± Eva said. ¡°So, there¡¯s a couple of things that go into your armor. First, you¡¯ll want your TAC-suit. That¡¯s easy enough, everyone has a TAC-suit and everyone should be wearing it at all times.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s a TAC-suit?¡± Zaina asked.

    ¡°Show her, Garrick,¡± Eva said.

    Garrick walked over to a nearby table and grabbed a square piece of black fabric. ¡°This is the material we use to make TAC-suits. The TAC stands for Triple Armor Chain.¡± He walked back over to Zaina and handed it to her. ¡°If you examine it closely, you¡¯ll see micro-chains interwoven with an impact-resistant polysynth fiber. There are different kinds of TACs, but this is the one that¡¯s best for under-armor protection. It¡¯ll help ward off glancing blows from resonedges, grenades, and low-caliber or low-energy projectiles.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Zaina asked. ¡°Glancing blows¡ªnothing direct?¡±

    Eva stepped forward. ¡°There¡¯s only so much we can do against modern weaponry.¡±

    Garrick nodded. ¡°Every little bit helps.¡±

    After another sip, Eva said, ¡°Besides, your TAC-suit will work in conjunction with the rest of your armor, see? This is what you wear beneath everything. Well, except your underwear, if you wear it. I didn¡¯t wear any while I was a lancer. These are actually pretty comfortable once you get used to them. Just make sure you don¡¯t forget your cycle if you have one, or it¡¯ll be a mess.¡±

    Garrick jumped in. ¡°So, now, we come to materials. There are three main metals used by lancers today: duranium, eldarium, and idonium. Some prefer a hybrid. Each has different properties¡ªstrengths and weaknesses, so to speak.¡±

    ¡°For example,¡± Eva said, ¡°duranium is the superior protection against phase cyclers, but won¡¯t do you much good against regular metal scraps. Idonium¡¯s great against scraps, but a single bolt from a phase cycler will melt right through your chest. Make sense?¡±

    ¡°What about the other one?¡± Zaina asked.

    ¡°Eldarium?¡± Eva¡¯s head rocked back and forth. ¡°It¡¯s kind of a good balance. It¡¯s not great against anything, but it¡¯s not terrible against anything. It¡¯ll absorb direct hits from smaller scraps¡ªemphasis on smaller, mind you¡ªbut it won¡¯t do all that much if a phase cycler or focus beam hits you dead-on in the chest. Or a high enough caliber scrap.¡±

    Zaina was flustered¡ªthis was too much information all at once. ¡°Well, what do you recommend for a first-timer?¡±

    Eva and Garrick looked at each other, then back at Zaina. Eva said, ¡°We¡¯ve got a special blend we came up with¡ªthe forge master even liked it, but he didn¡¯t ever get to try it out personally.¡±

    ¡°What she means to say¡ª¡± Garrick stepped forward, ¡°¡ªis that Eva has a special blend that she¡¯s been experimenting with for a few years now. It¡¯s good, too. A good balance of weight and protection, with a solid distribution of protective material in key areas.¡±

    Zaina shrugged. ¡°Well, I¡¯m new to all this, so I¡¯ll defer to your judgment.¡±

    Eva squealed with joy. ¡°Hooray! You won¡¯t regret this¡ªuh, what¡¯s your name?¡±

    ¡°Zaina Quin.¡±

    ¡°Well, Zaina Quin, you won¡¯t regret this! I promise, this blend¡¯s gonna make for a kickass set of armor! I¡¯m so glad you came in!¡±

 Chapter Sixty-One: Lancer Armor

    ¡°Best way to kill a lancer is to make sure they never see you.¡±

    ¡ªLegendary assassin Gil Donta, in his interview with CID after being arrested

    Eva immediately set her cup down and darted about, gathering chunks of metal and placing them in the separate chambers of the lit forge to be melted down. She then went to the computer and began furiously typing.

    Garrick turned away and walked toward a nearby table. ¡°I¡¯ll get your TAC-suit ready.¡±

    He hunched over and touched a small monitor¡ªthen, with a hum, a row of machinery lining the nearest wall hummed to life, and slender robotic arms extended from the walls. Garrick fussed with the monitor for a few more moments before walking over to the wall and grabbing a roll of dark blue TAC material and chambering it inside a large feeding machine embedded into the wall. That machine unspooled the fabric, and the robot arms reached out and grabbed it, twisting and folding the odd, extremely thin material.

    Garrick sauntered back over. ¡°Once that¡¯s ready, we¡¯ll just have to fuse the layers. That¡¯ll be quick. Then we can see how it fits. Sometimes it glitches out and doesn¡¯t use the right measurements, but I think we got it ironed out¡ªjust a warning in case we have to do it again.¡±

    Zaina shrugged. ¡°You act like I¡¯m in a hurry.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re not? Thank the heavens,¡± Garrick said. ¡°Okay, well, it might take us a little bit to get everything right, but we¡¯ll make sure we do. You¡¯ll have top-grade lancer armor. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy the gamba.¡±

    ¡°Hey,¡± Eva said, butting in again. ¡°What color do you want it?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Zaina asked. ¡°I get to choose the color?¡±

    ¡°With this blend, you do,¡± Eva said. ¡°Gray¡¯s too boring. This is the first piece of my design that¡¯s going out there in the galaxy, so it has to be special. Come on, what color?¡±

    Zaina thought for a moment. Her favorite color¡ªthe one she missed the most from her home¡ªwas the green of the trees, the grass, and even the swampland near her home.

    ¡°Green,¡± she said.

    Eva¡¯s eye narrowed. ¡°Green? Are you sure? You¡¯ll stick out like a sore thumb if you¡¯re in a desert. Or tundra.¡±

    ¡°Well, what color were you expecting me to say?¡±

    Eva shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡ªyeah, okay, green it is. What kind of green, now?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Well, do you want neon green, bright green, dark green¡ª¡±

    Zaina knew the answer. ¡°The color of the forest.¡±

    Eva smiled. ¡°Yeah, I think I gotcha. All right. Give me a little bit, now. The pot¡¯s full of gamba if you want a refill.¡±

    Zaina nodded. ¡°Thank you. You¡¯ve been too kind to me.¡±

    Garrick crossed his arms. ¡°It¡¯s our duty to make sure all lancers who come into our forge are properly equipped. This forge has been lit for ten thousand years¡ªthe weight of that legacy is not lost on us. We won¡¯t steer you wrong.¡±

    Zaina smiled. Maybe there were some nice people in the Order of Riiva after all¡ªbut definitely no normal ones.

    Garrick fussed over the TAC-suit for another hour before it was ready to try on. She went behind a wall to change. To her delight, the material was soft and warm and fit her body perfectly¡ªonly her hands and above the upper neck weren¡¯t covered. It was dark blue and incredibly light. If she closed her eyes, it felt like she was wearing nothing. When she stepped back out, Garrick clapped.

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    ¡°Looks like the machine did its job right! Would you look at that. Now, you can wear clothes under that, if you like, but they have to be pretty thin. It¡¯s more of a comfort thing than anything else, so try a few things out and see how you like it. Personally, I like it¡ªfor fabric engineered for defensive engagements, it¡¯s fairly soft. Plus, there¡¯s actually an advantage to wearing no layers underneath¡ªyour armor¡¯s environmental systems will work better, since they filter into the TAC-suit anyway. I did still wear underwear, though, not that you needed to know. Uh¡ª¡±

    ¡°Garrick!¡± Eva called out. ¡°I¡¯m at the part where I need an extra pair of hands, here!¡±

    Without hesitation, he dashed over and started pulling the heavy castings down from the wall and putting them on tables near the forge. Eva pulled trays of melted metal from the forge and measured them into the different castings, filling them as he brought them. Their silent teamwork was a sight to behold.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Eva said, turning to Garrick once the molds were poured. ¡°Get the hyper-glass ready.¡±

    Zaina chirped in, ¡°Hyper-glass? Why do I need hyper-glass in my armor?¡±

    Eva zipped over. ¡°Hyper-glass is highly refractive material¡ªa segmented layer of it in your armor will help stave off focus beams. A direct hit from a high-powered focus is still probably going to kill you, but without the hyper-glass, you¡¯d have a hole in your chest for sure.¡±

    ¡°Focus beam?¡±

    Garrick chimed in to answer this one. ¡°They¡¯re not the most common weapon in the galaxy¡ªyou might know them by photon rifles or another moniker.¡±

    Eva poked her head out from behind a tall, spindly machine and said, ¡°Hasn¡¯t your mentor gone over this with you?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Zaina replied. ¡°I think she hates me.¡±

    ¡°Oh shit, that sucks. Well,¡± Eva said, ¡°focus rifles are guns that fire intense, directed beams of light, which we call a focus beam. Ninety-nine percent of things get melted through by a high-powered focus. They¡¯re not used often because it takes some skill, and they require a lot more maintenance than your average scrap rifle or phase cycler. And if you skimp out on maintenance¡ªboom!¡±

    Garrick added, ¡°Some of the most feared mercenaries in the Nova Rim use focus rifles¡ªif used properly, there¡¯s not a deadlier sniping weapon that¡¯s ever existed.¡±

    ¡°Not a one,¡± Eva said with a nod. ¡°Why, the beam¡¯s so fast you can¡¯t even see it¡ªsniper pulls the trigger, and crack! Insta-death. No curve, no sound¡ªno time.¡±

    ¡°Exactly why this reflective layer¡¯s so important,¡± Garrick said. ¡°It¡¯ll help with indirect hits. Not sure how much good any armor will do against a direct hit, though, so be careful out there.¡±

    Zaina frowned. ¡°Well, how the hell am I supposed to defend against that if it¡¯ll melt through my armor?¡±

    Eva and Garrick looked at each other again, then turned back to Zaina. Garrick said, ¡°Light tends to scatter, so if they¡¯re trying to hit you from a long distance, they¡¯ll have to use special glyphs to keep their beam from refracting into nothing. Those¡¯ll be what you see first.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯ll be tiny little buggers with a ring encasing specially tampered glass¡ªit¡¯s like the opposite of hyper-glass,¡± Eva replied. ¡°If you pick up a glyph you don¡¯t know on your scanner, pay attention. Get a visual on it to confirm it doesn¡¯t have a refraction ring, and then you¡¯re in the clear. If it does have a refractor, get out of its line of sight fast or get your hex shield up.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Garrick said. He opened his mouth to continue, but Eva had already darted away and was calling after him.

    ¡°On to the next step! Come on, it¡¯s hot enough!¡±

    Garrick immediately turned and followed her back to the castings. The metal was bright, shining red. One by one, Garrick placed the castings on top of the small cylinder near the forge; Eva, sitting at a nearby monitor, controlled the massive rack of robotic arms, pulling the castings off and hammering the metal into perfect shape. Whenever a piece was finished, one of the arms picked it up and placed it into one of a series of vats filled with red liquid.

    Once the arms dropped the last piece into the liquid, Eva walked back over with Garrick following closely behind.

    ¡°All right,¡± Eva said. ¡°The casting is done, and now we¡¯re on to the last four steps. I know it doesn¡¯t look like much now, but once its assembled it¡¯ll be a beauty. With how much it still has to cool, it won¡¯t be ready until tomorrow¡ªwe can drop by and give it to you once it¡¯s finished. I doubt we¡¯ll be busy, we¡¯re up to date with all our orders.¡±

    Zaina smiled. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯d appreciate that. Maybe you could also show me how to make sense of the gamba machine.¡±

    Eva¡¯s eyes brightened up. ¡°Of course! I¡¯ll show you a few tips and tricks, too. Now¡ªI¡¯ll keep an eye on the forge, here, and Garrick will arrange for your transport home. Make sure you scan her beacon so we can find her tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Right. I will.¡± Garrick turned to Zaina. ¡°May I see your beacon?¡±

    Zaina fumbled pulling it out of her utility belt and nearly dropped it, but managed to catch it. She held it out, and he held out his. They both beeped at the same time.

    ¡°What¡¯s that mean?¡± she asked.

    ¡°For the next twenty-four hours, I¡¯ll be able to track your beacon,¡± Garrick replied. ¡°That way we can locate you tomorrow. Thank you for your cooperation, Zaina Quin. Your transport will be here shortly, and we¡¯ll see you tomorrow with your brand-new lancer armor.¡±

    Zaina smiled. ¡°No, thank you for all your hard work.¡±

    Garrick returned the smile. ¡°It¡¯s what we do.¡±

    With that, Zaina turned and left the forge; true to Garrick¡¯s word, a rusty old transport arrived shortly and took her back to the hut she now called home. Starlight was almost fading. Zaina happily noticed that her mentor was nowhere to be found; she was all alone on her little slice of Kaado. There was enough time to get a little magick practice in before the day¡¯s end.

 Chapter Sixty-Two: The Cipher Master

    ¡°It was unlike anything I¡¯d ever seen. I thought we were sunk¡ªthe rebels had already breached our base. I was sure it was only a matter of time until those ILF bastards pinned us down, made mincemeat of us. That¡¯s what would¡¯ve happened if High Lancer Berla wasn¡¯t with us¡ªbut she protected all of us.¡±

    ¡ªFormer Chidron of Emaltor Synthad Premorea, in an excerpt from his memoirs about the Emaltor Civil War

    The next day Zaina woke up early. All the past strangeness was behind her for now¡ªthere was no scratching at the door or nightmares; even the whispers had died down. Today was going to be a good day¡ªnot only was she going to get her armor at last, but she was also going to meet her swordsmanship tutor.

    Still not knowing how to use the gamba machine, Zaina drank a glass of water and then prepared for the day. She dashed out the door, only to be disappointed.

    Her mentor was waiting, leaning with her back against a tree and casually scrolling through her vexicon. Zaina glared. She wanted to say something¡ªso she did.

    ¡°You know,¡± Zaina said, ¡°you¡¯re such an awful teacher that they had to send me a tutor to show me how to use a sword.¡±

    The woman scoffed. ¡°Is that so? Well, I¡¯m glad you¡¯ll finally get the help you so desperately need.¡±

    Zaina ignored her response. She turned her back and practiced summoning her cipher¡ªshe had to have it down perfectly before meeting her swordsmanship teacher.

    Maybe they can become my mentor, too. I wonder if High Scholar Fawndar could arrange that.

    Before long, a transport arrived nearby, but its occupant was obscured by the treeline. Within a few minutes, a familiar face arrived, along with someone Zaina didn¡¯t recognize.

    The familiar face was High Lancer Terco, the woman who had apprehended Zaina when she first arrived on Kaado¡ªthe friendlier of her captors, no doubt, but Zaina had little trust for anyone who spent time with High Scholar Vae.

    The other person was a tall man dressed in a long, gray coat with billowing coattails. He wore a fancy button-up shirt lined with gold underneath that, and had long, black hair, gray eyes, and pale skin. He was human, as far as Zaina could tell; he wore black gloves on his hands.

    ¡°Well, well, well,¡± the man said. ¡°You must be Zaina Quin¡ªthe one in need of some practice with a cipher.¡±

    A little nervous, Zaina said, ¡°Y-yes, that¡¯s me.¡±

    ¡°Excellent. My name is Arbala. It¡¯s good to meet you, Zaina Quin.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s good to meet you too.¡±

    High Lancer Terco stepped forward. ¡°Hey there, troublemaker.¡±

    Zaina glared¡ªwas she joking about arresting her? That wasn¡¯t funny.

    The High Lancer grinned. Then, she said, ¡°I guess I should properly introduce myself after that whole mess. My name is Veli Terco. Sorry about arresting you¡ªold man Vae¡¯s pretty paranoid about your type.¡±

    Zaina couldn¡¯t care less about the High Lancer¡¯s apology. She glanced over toward her mentor, wondering how she¡¯d react to their visitors. To her surprise the woman was smiling warmly.

    ¡°Arbala! Veli! What the hell are you two doing here?¡±

    Zaina¡¯s shoulders sank. Apparently Arbala and Veli were friends with her mentor. Hopefully they¡¯re not anything like her.

    ¡°I came to see you,¡± Veli said. ¡°I heard you¡¯re doing a cracked-up job of teaching your young pupil here.¡±

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    The woman snickered. ¡°I¡¯ve taught her everything she needs to know about teaching herself, by teaching her nothing at all.¡±

    Arbala crossed his arms. ¡°You know, if you didn¡¯t antagonize High Scholar Vae every chance you got...¡±

    The woman¡¯s eyes rolled. ¡°Oh, come on. It was like, one incident at most. Anyway, you¡¯re here to show her how to be a proper wielder of a cipher, eh? Well, good luck, kid.¡±

    Arbala chuckled and then asked, ¡°And what¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±

    ¡°Only that I¡¯ve beaten you every time we¡¯ve sparred.¡±

    Veli stepped forward. ¡°But have you ever beaten me?¡±

    Zaina¡¯s mentor gave a clearly exaggerated sigh. ¡°You¡¯ve got me there, almighty High Lancer. One of these days I¡¯ll get you.¡±

    Veli spread her arms. ¡°It could always be today¡ªwho knows?¡±

    The woman waved the challenge aside. ¡°No, I¡¯ve been too out of sorts. Too many lazy days watching this one try to figure out her vexicon.¡±

    ¡°Oh, she seems fine,¡± Veli said. ¡°Come on, then. Arbala is among the Order of Riiva¡¯s finest wielders of a cipher and its finest teachers. Zaina¡ªI¡¯m sorry again for the circumstances of our first meeting. We¡¯re here to help you in any way we can today.¡±

    Zaina nodded. Veli¡¯s demeanor was welcoming. It was hard to stay mad at her.

    Arbala stepped forward and, with a sweep of his arm, summoned a blazing red cipher into his hand. It pulsed with energy, giving off a low hum as he stopped ten feet away.

    His head tilted. ¡°It¡¯s a pity we can¡¯t practice in your full armor¡ªbut still, we can cover the basics.¡±

    Zaina reached out and summoned her cipher. Its metallic ring echoed into the still air of the Kaado morning.

    Arbala continued, ¡°The most important aspects of swordsmanship are footwork and technique. There¡¯s a lot more to it, of course, but we¡¯ll dive right in. Come on and attack me.¡±

    Zaina blinked, unsure whether she heard him correctly. ¡°Huh?¡±

    Arbala spread his arms. ¡°Let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got. I won¡¯t attack¡ªI¡¯m only going to defend myself. I assume you¡¯ve never really fought with a sword before?¡±

    Zaina shook her head.

    ¡°I thought so. Well, let¡¯s get you comfortable with wielding it, first and foremost.¡±

    He held his cipher out in front of him, spreading his feet a little wider than his shoulders; Zaina mimicked his stance and stepped forward. She wasn¡¯t sure about attacking him, but he was a professional, right? It would be fine.

    She brought the sword down in an overhead swipe¡ªArbala moved his sword to meet hers, knocking it aside with ease. He twirled the cipher in his hands¡ªshe swung wildly. Arbala met her blade and parried, using Zaina¡¯s weight and momentum against her, making her stumble.

    Arbala kept his cipher in a defensive position. ¡°Light on your feet but planted, come on then.¡±

    Zaina regained her balance. With a tight grip on her blade, she calmly walked toward Arbala and swung in a short arc. Their weapons clashed. This time, Zaina resisted his parry, keeping her balance and surging forward.

    In a calm voice, while being pushed backward, Arbala offered advice, his cipher deftly staving off every attack. ¡°Swing through your target¡ªlike you mean it. Never move half-heartedly. Keep your weapon in front of you, ready to strike, ready to parry. Always center¡ªcenter and balance. Come on, then.¡±

    Zaina disengaged and kept her footing. She centered her sword in front of her like he¡¯d said. He was using angles to block and redirect her attacks¡ªshe had to learn how to do that.

    Zaina kept attacking him for a few more hours. By the end of it, she was much more comfortable wielding her cipher and was able to keep her feet under her and somewhat properly attack, and parry. Arbala went over the basics of footwork while Veli watched alongside the mentor¡ªwhose name she still didn¡¯t know.

    Every time Zaina¡¯s reluctant teacher made a rude remark, Veli stepped in to chatter. Arbala was much more focused¡ªto him, Zaina was all that existed. It was nice for someone to be so focused on helping her.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about power, worry about speed. Power comes from speed and technique,¡± he said, reaching out to stab. With a flick of her wrist, Zaina knocked his strike aside and countered. He blocked an inch from his face and said, ¡°Good. Your instincts are solid. Your technique is¡ªunorthodox, we¡¯ll say, but that can help make you unpredictable. Disguise the direction of your strikes¡ªmake your enemy defend at the last moment to keep them on the defensive.¡±

    Zaina disengaged, drained after hours of intense practice, and said, ¡°Thank you. I really appreciate all your help.¡±

    Arbala bowed his head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. You¡¯ll never learn more than by teaching others¡ªat least, that¡¯s what I believe.¡±

    Zaina bowed back. ¡°My reflexes feel like they¡¯re getting faster. Is that part of being a lancer?¡±

    Arbala nodded. ¡°Yes. Enhanced strength, stamina, durability, speed, reflexes, and regeneration¡ªthese are all part of a lancer¡¯s powers. You¡¯re still finding yourself, young Zaina. You¡¯ve yet to measure your strength against those without Riiva¡¯s gifts¡ªI think you¡¯ll be quite surprised at your skill then.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s happy moment was interrupted by a scoff from her mentor. ¡°Nothing like a good power trip against some weaklings to boost your ego, right?¡±

    Veli shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re so mean to this poor girl. What did she ever do to you?¡±

    Her mentor shrugged. ¡°She annoys me.¡±

    Zaina glared but held her tongue in front of Veli and Arbala. She didn¡¯t want to upset either of them and still clung to hope that one of them might be made her mentor when all this was over.

 Chapter Sixty-Three: The Killer of Kaado

    ¡°It¡¯s never who you expect, is it? Best not to trust anyone considering anyone¡¯s capable of anything.¡±

    ¡ªCID Detective Lutha Praad

    Arbala and Veli departed soon after, leaving on their transport. Zaina was on the verge of going to the forge to get her armor personally when another craft touched down nearby, one identical to the ship Garrick had called for her.

    Sure enough, Garrick and Eva came rushing out of the tree line. Eva held a jar filled with smaller jars of spices, packets filled with sweetening powder, and a few different sealed containers filled with different colored creams. Garrick dragged a grav-cart behind him, upon which Zaina¡¯s armor rested. It was shining green, with each plate¡¯s edges gilded; the torso piece was large, covered in segmented sections, and extending down to cover her stomach and lower back. In addition to the torso piece, there was shoulder, arm, hip, and leg armor, in addition to a pair of large, black combat boots.

    Once Garrick brought the cart forward and they exchanged pleasantries, Eva insisted on showing Zaina how to use the gamba machine. Her mentor tagged along, volunteering for a cup of gamba; they ducked into Zaina¡¯s hut, and she watched in fascination as Eva worked the gamba machine, explaining every step of the way and every ingredient she¡¯d brought in a flurry of unending information. Only half of Eva¡¯s stream of words was committed to memory, but by the end of it, Zaina knew how to work the gamba machine, at least. Eva gifted her the giant glass jar as a ¡°flavoring starter kit.¡±

    Finally, they came to what Zaina had been most excited for¡ªher armor. They all filed outside. The mentor leaned against a nearby tree as Eva and Garrick prepared to outfit Zaina in full lancer gear.

    ¡°First things first,¡± Eva said. ¡°Your TAC-suit. Here it is¡ªgo on, get changed inside if you¡¯re more comfortable with that, I won¡¯t judge. Get that on, and then we¡¯ll start with everything else.¡±

    Zaina nodded and hurried to change. She kept her underwear on, not wanting to be completely nude under her armor¡ªwhy, she knew not, but she didn¡¯t want to nonetheless. The TAC-suit was just as warm and snug as last time, and covered every inch of her body except for her hands, neck, and head. She walked back out to greet the others.

    Eva clapped her hands and said, ¡°All right, then¡ªlet¡¯s begin with your combat boots. You have your thruster attachments? Good, good. Those will allow for short bursts to assist you if you need to make a particularly long jump or a quick dash. Don¡¯t worry about those until you¡¯re all outfitted and ready to go.¡±

    Garrick stepped forward and handed Zaina the boots. They were weighty, but not too heavy, and they went on snugly over her socks.

    Eva turned to Garrick and said, ¡°I told you they were the right size. She has big feet.¡±

    Zaina blushed. ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    Eva waved her embarrassment aside. ¡°Oh, come on, there¡¯s no need for modesty here. How do those fit? Good?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zaina said, setting aside the remark. ¡°Yeah, they fit fine.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Garrick said. ¡°These boots have a magnetic surface. You can turn it on and off by running a current through your hip stabilizers¡ªwe¡¯ll get to that later. What I mean to say is, they¡¯ll stick to most metal surfaces in a pinch.¡±

    The boots were comfortable, even if Zaina was now self-conscious about her feet. ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± she asked, wanting to move on.

    ¡°Next up,¡± Eva announced, ¡°is your leg armor. I¡¯ll show you how it goes on, now.¡±

    Eva motioned to four pieces of flat green armor¡ªtwo identical pairs. She picked up one of each. ¡°Shin guards, thigh guards. Standard stuff. To put them on and take them off, you just have to put in these magnetic straps at the end¡ªthey¡¯ll fit on the interior so there¡¯s less chance of your leg protection being damaged and falling off.¡±

    Eva showed Zaina how to attach the magnet straps, which also functioned as a protective layer. Most of Zaina¡¯s legs were covered by a layer of lancer steel. The fittings were lighter than she expected and more pliable. She had complete freedom of movement, bending and jumping and running about.

    ¡°Glad those work!¡± Eva clapped her hands together again. ¡°Now, time for the waist armor.¡±

    A short, segmented fauld wrapped around her waist, its magnetic connector clicking into place as it locked. It adjusted to fit her hips comfortably. Eva then attached magnetic front and back plates to cover her inner thighs and rear. Zaina affixed her utility belt to the top of the hip-ring, and it perfectly hugged her waist.

    Next was the upper body armor, all green and gold and new; a cuirass protected her upper torso and her back, connecting with magnetic straps to either side. Her stomach and lower sides were covered by a plackart. Next came the pauldrons on her shoulders, followed by her upper and lower arm bracers, all of which connected with magnets. The entire suit of armor was designed for easy removal in emergencies.

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    Finally dressed in full lancer armor, Zaina swelled with pride. It all fit snugly and was extremely light and unrestrictive. Her armor was shiny and green, with plenty of the dark blue TAC-suit showing between the different sections, and gold on every armored edge. She was able to swing her arms every which way, completely unhampered by the segmented pauldrons.

    Finally, Garrick approached holding two more pieces of fabric. He handed the first one, a thin strap of white TAC material, to Eva, and she fitted it around Zaina¡¯s waist and looped it around her legs to make sure the hip plates stayed attached before tying it off around her waist as a sash.

    Eva met Zaina¡¯s eyes and said, ¡°The white TAC is more resistant to small scrap, EMP bursts, and small ordinance¡ªif anyone tries to hit you with a scattershot, your midsection will be a little better protected. Plus, you can use it to rig your armor in a pinch.¡±

    Garrick then handed Eva the other piece of fabric, which was jet black but also appeared to be TAC fabric. It was thicker than the sash, more like a long, black scarf, and Eva draped it around Zaina¡¯s neck and tossed one of the ends over her shoulder.

    ¡°This is a scarf¡ªbattle-shawl¡ªwhatever you want to call it. Its material is heat, electromagnetic, and explosive resistant. It¡¯ll help protect your face and vital organs from explosive ordinance, and your equipment from electronic attacks. Again¡ª¡±

    ¡°Glancing blows, got it,¡± Zaina said, then chuckled. ¡°Thank you, Eva. I really do appreciate it.¡±

    Eva nodded and said, ¡°I appreciate you letting me use my own design! Thank you, Zaina. I hope the best for you. Come back if any of it breaks or if you want an upgrade. More likely, if I come up with an upgrade, I¡¯ll find you.¡±

    Garrick stepped forward and said, ¡°We wish you the best of luck on your journey as a lancer, Zaina! It¡¯s bound to be quite an adventure. It was for us.¡±

    With their goodbyes said, Eva and Garrick departed for their transport. Soon, it touched off, leaving Zaina alone with her mentor. Surprisingly, she hadn¡¯t made a single comment the entire time Garrick and Eva were there.

    ¡°So,¡± the woman said. ¡°Making friends and the like, are we? That¡¯s good.¡±

    Zaina rolled her eyes. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re talking to me, now?¡±

    She shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t get used to it.¡±

    With that, Zaina¡¯s mentor stalked off, leaving Zaina to fume. Every time she had a nice day, or made some advancement, that horrible woman was there to drag everything down. Zaina deserved to feel good about herself after everything¡ªnot only what happened on Demelia and Otmonzas, which still replayed in her nightmares, but being seen as a second-class citizen by some on Kaado. Did her mentor have to be like this in addition to all that?

    Zaina went back into her hut and made herself a fresh cup of gamba. It came out tasting different from Eva¡¯s¡ªshe hadn¡¯t picked up on all the tricks yet.

    Zaina sipped from the hot cup, holding it with both hands as she leaned back in her chair and raised her feet. It felt good to relax after such a long and tiring day. Everything was happening so fast¡ªa few weeks ago she was tending her father¡¯s farm. Now her homeworld was gone, and she was on the verge of becoming a lancer. She had the armor, the equipment¡ªshe had learned how to summon her cipher at will and was delving into her magick.

    But I don¡¯t have a mentor. Not really.

    Despite hoping for a peaceful sleep, it was not to be so. Zaina was woken by a fierce knocking at the door and indiscriminate shouting outside her hut. This didn¡¯t sound like the heretic¡ªit sounded like a group of lancers.

    Upon opening the door, Zaina was greeted by High Scholars Geli Fawndar, Tu¡¯Lest Velan, and Elest Vae, as well as a small squadron of masked, black-clad lancers.

    ¡°Zaina,¡± Geli said. ¡°Please, cooperate¡ªyou are not in trouble.¡±

    Zaina raised her hands, wondering what the hell was happening this time. Unless¡ª

    High Scholar Velan said, ¡°There¡¯s been another murder¡ªHigh Scholar Yla Fidabow was killed in the library of the Celestial Sanctuary not one hour ago.¡±

    The cold hand of horror wrapped itself around Zaina¡¯s heart, filling her chest with frigid pain. ¡°What¡ªanother?¡±

    Yet another High Scholar was dead, all because she came here.

    Tu¡¯Lest Velan continued, ¡°Do not worry¡ªthere is no evidence linking you to the crime. We do believe, however, that we¡¯ve identified the killer.¡±

    ¡°Who is it?¡± Zaina demanded.

    A familiar voice broke out from the tree line, as if to answer the question.

    Zaina¡¯s mentor was being dragged out of the woods by four more masked lancers, hands bound behind her back. ¡°Hey! Let me go! I haven¡¯t done anything, you fucking idiots!¡±

    Elest shouted toward her, ¡°The innocent don¡¯t flee their homes!¡± He turned back to Zaina. ¡°We really should be arresting both of them¡ªjust to be sure. Their little act of not getting along may be a trick to throw us off the scent of their collusion.¡±

    Geli shook her head. ¡°No, she hasn¡¯t done anything wrong. But, there is likely still a third heretic here¡ªfor your safety, Zaina, we need you to come with us.¡±

    Zaina nodded but didn¡¯t say a word. Something wasn¡¯t sitting right with her. Had that woman been influenced by the Eldritch? It made some sense¡ªthe incidents started after the stone arrived on Kaado. But¡ªif it was looking for a lancer host, why not her mentor? That part still didn¡¯t make sense¡ªthe Eldritch¡¯s fascination with Zaina specifically.

    Her mentor fought against her captors with wide eyes¡ªbut her gaze narrowed into a glare when it fell on Zaina.

    ¡°You,¡± the woman spat. ¡°Just like me, huh? Look at you now. You¡¯re just like all of them.¡±

    Zaina winced. She didn¡¯t particularly care for the woman, but the words still cut deep¡ªZaina even felt a twinge of pity as the woman was dragged away to a ship next to one of the luxury vehicles reserved for High Scholars.

    ¡°Zaina,¡± High Scholar Geli motioned to the craft. ¡°If you would. I¡¯m afraid, given the recent deaths of such high-ranking members, that the Order has no choice but to initiate planetary lockdown procedures. For your safety, we¡¯ll be placing you in a specially prepared protective cell. Your personal belongings will be collected and brought to you.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s hands curled into fists. Everything was so fucked up since she got here. She wondered if she should have come at all as she was led once more into a ship, to be taken into the bowels of the Celestial Sanctuary.

 Chapter Sixty-Four: The Fugitive

    ¡°The temptation is unlike anything I¡¯ve ever experienced. Not just the promises of power¡ªno, it finds out exactly what you want, and it finds a way to promise that to you, too. For forty years I¡¯ve dealt with the Eldritch¡¯s whispers in my head, living on the verge of a utopia I can¡¯t accept¡ªparadise cloaking a darkness within, all wrapped in those abyssal whispers.¡±

    ¡ªFrom the writings of heretic Jula Chedris

    Zaina stared at the ceiling, bored of scrolling through her vexicon. This cell was much nicer than her last one in the Celestial Sanctuary, but it was still a cell she wasn¡¯t allowed to leave. Guards brought in fresh supplies daily. Supposedly, this was all for her safety.

    Are they really trying to keep me safe, or everyone else?

    Compared to her previous stay, this room was at least four times as spacious. All the same amenities provided by her hut lined the walls, leaving plenty of room to practice magick. Her abilities were still forming, and her progression was slow. All she could summon were bubbles of light and tiny waves of sound.

    Whenever her sense of boredom became mind-numbing¡ªwhich was often¡ªshe¡¯d lay on her bed and pull up more information about magick, or the history of the Order of Riiva, or whatever was on her mind at the time. There was quite a vast library contained within the vexicon¡¯s network, with more being added daily whenever scholars transcribed old books and new to digital formats.

    ¡°House alert¡± was the friendly name for Kaado¡¯s planetary lockdown. There was little to be done but wait in this room until the situation blew over. Somewhere beneath the sanctuary, her mentor was awaiting trial. Much to Zaina¡¯s amazement, she still hadn¡¯t learned that awful woman¡¯s name¡ªbut her being the murderer didn¡¯t make a terrible amount of sense.

    She sighed. Was her mentor guilty? She was brash, sure¡ªrude, yes, and absolutely not a fun person to be around. But killing for the Eldritch? Zaina wasn¡¯t so sure. Besides, she saw the heretic and her mentor at the same time. If her mentor was guilty, there had to be someone else in on it, too.

    Still, the evidence was somewhat damning. The video feeds near her mentor¡¯s hut were cut off that night by the same particle decay. Though she wasn¡¯t sighted en route to the Celestial Sanctuary, the video feed there, too, had been interrupted when the High Scholar was killed. They were last seen talking to an attendant before the frame froze¡ªwhen next it picked up, several minutes later, the attendant was missing, apparently having been so distraught she locked herself in a closet; and the High Scholar was dead, a fang sticking out of her chest. One of her arms hung over the edge of her hover-bed, which was grounded and tilting to one side.

    Zaina sighed. Part of her wanted to put all of this behind her¡ªto move on with her life as a lancer and get to saving the galaxy. Another part of her was worried trouble was following her wherever she went, and that she¡¯d never escape it. Was this a string of bad luck following her, or something more malicious?

    With a wistful frown, she summoned her cipher and waved it around a bit. What good was this weapon while it was stuck in here? She knew the scholars suspected her¡ªwas that why they wanted her down here, comfortably out of the way?

    One of her hands reached up and touched her face¡ªsomething from Demelia had stuck with her forever, whether she liked it or not. No matter how far she traveled, how many lives she saved, how many heroic stories about her were told¡ªshe was still a heretic, and people would always blame her when bad things happened. Lancer powers were brief and temporary, but the Mark of the Recalcitrant was forever.

    Zaina¡¯s cipher dissipated. Who would ever want this?

    Her reverie was interrupted by a knock at the door. Zaina¡¯s head tilted¡ªit wasn¡¯t the right time of day for resupply. Time usually passed by at a grindingly slow crawl¡ªhad she lost track of it?

    The cell door opened. Two lancers were stationed outside, further muddling the line between prison and safe house. Zaina¡¯s visitor walked in, and her heart swelled with joy at the sight of a friend.

    ¡°Ovela!¡±

    Flashing a bright grin, Ovela replied, ¡°Hey, Zaina! How are you holding up?¡±

    ¡°Oh, you know,¡± Zaina said as her friend closed the door behind her. ¡°The usual, plus some. You?¡±

    Ovela took a seat in one of the spare chairs against the wall. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve been pretty good, to be honest. Can¡¯t say I remember a more exciting time to be on Kaado. But then I saw your name on the docket for today, so I made sure I¡¯d have a little time to stop by and chat for a bit.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s head tilted. ¡°Docket?¡±

    Ovela nodded. ¡°My list of meetings to arrange. I get people where they need to go. High Scholar Vae wants to talk to you again, apparently¡ªno clue what it¡¯s about, but it must be related to the investigation.¡±

    Zaina grimaced. Surely there couldn¡¯t have been another death¡ªlancers were stationed nearly everywhere. The heretic wouldn¡¯t be able to make a move without someone knowing.

    Zaina leaned back and released a deep, heaving sigh. ¡°He¡¯s probably going to try to have me arrested again. I mean, why wouldn¡¯t he? He hates heretics, and he already got his way with my mentor.¡±

    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    Ovela leaned toward Zaina. ¡°You mean¡ªyou think she¡¯s innocent?¡±

    Zaina¡¯s shoulders sank. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to think. Nothing makes sense anymore.¡±

    Ovela reached over and placed a tender hand on Zaina¡¯s back. ¡°I understand. I thought the world was fair once, too. But it¡¯s not, sadly. If the world was fair, we¡¯d be able to be lancers forever, right?¡±

    Zaina chuckled. ¡°Right. I guess it¡¯s out of my hands either way.¡±

    ¡°But you know,¡± Ovela said, pulling her hand back, ¡°if she is innocent, that would mean the killer¡¯s still on the loose. Someone killing scholars, blending in, and escaping punishment¡ªnothing like this has happened on Kaado for thousands of years. It¡¯s crazy to think about.¡±

    ¡°It must be the stone. The Eldritch is behind all of this¡ªI know it.¡±

    ¡°I think so, too. Have you heard anything about the investigation, aside from who they¡¯ve arrested? Do they still think there¡¯s a third heretic?¡±

    Zaina weighed her answer, then said, ¡°I mean, there has to be, right? My mentor was cleared of the first murder. It wasn¡¯t until the second that her feed started acting up. Plus, I saw her the same night the heretic came here¡ªshe couldn¡¯t have been in two places at once. Personally, I don¡¯t think she did it¡ªI think the third heretic did it to throw everyone off their trail.¡±

    Ovela rubbed her chin and nodded. ¡°Yeah, that makes sense. Lull everyone into a false sense of security.¡±

    With a half-grin, Zaina replied, ¡°Well, if that was their plan, it clearly didn¡¯t work. Kaado¡¯s on high alert now. There¡¯s no way whoever¡¯s doing this is going to get away with this for much longer.¡±

    Ovela leaned in and asked, ¡°Are you scared?¡±

    ¡°A little,¡± Zaina admitted. ¡°But I have to be strong if I¡¯m going to be a lancer. I have to be ready to stand up to this sort of thing, right?¡±

    Ovela nodded. ¡°Yes, exactly. Now¡ªwe have a few minutes before we get going. Mind if I make a cup of gamba?¡±

    Zaina gave her the go-ahead, and Ovela brewed enough for both of them. The flavor was much more bitter than Eva¡¯s gamba, but it was still tasty enough and filled her with energy.

    ¡°All right,¡± Zaina said once she had drained her cup. ¡°Let¡¯s deal with this elderly fuck.¡±

    Ovela started down the dim corridor outside Zaina¡¯s chamber, leading her back into the central hall beneath the Celestial Sanctuary. Zaina tagged along right behind her. It was eerily empty and quiet, with the sounds of their footsteps ringing out.

    Zaina caught up to her friend and said, ¡°Say, have you heard anything about the murders?¡±

    Ovela gave a curt nod. ¡°I saw the second one.¡±

    ¡°You¡ªwait, what?¡± Zaina asked.

    Ovela had a distant expression as she said, ¡°I was talking to High Scholar Fidabow about some chronicling assignment High Scholar Vae asked about when that damned crazy half-heretic came out of nowhere¡ªthere was a fire in her eyes¡ªand slew him. I went and hid, thinking I was going to die for sure.¡±

    Zaina was taken aback. Here she had been doubting her mentor¡¯s guilt the whole time, when her friend had been there. ¡°I¡ªI¡¯m so sorry, Ovela, that¡¯s¡ªthat¡¯s terrible!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Ovela said. ¡°She¡¯s in custody now. Now they just have to catch that third one, and everything will be back to normal.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyebrow rose. Ovela didn¡¯t seem like it was fine¡ªsomething was wrong. She was very aloof and bubbly for having been through something so traumatic so recently.

    ¡°So,¡± Zaina asked, ¡°who else saw it?¡±

    ¡°No, it was just me. High Scholar Fidabow liked to study late at night¡ªa lot of Scholars do, since it¡¯s quieter.¡±

    ¡°You were working at night?¡±

    Ovela shrugged. ¡°High Scholar Vae sends me on tasks all times of the day. It¡¯s my duty to get people where they need to go.¡±

    Zaina gave a nod as she followed her friend down a hallway that seemed separate from the rest of the building. They exited the Celestial Sanctuary and headed for the island¡¯s hangar.

    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Zaina asked.

    ¡°High Scholar Vae¡¯s not in the Celestial Sanctuary right now,¡± Ovela said. ¡°We¡¯ll be meeting him and the others in one of the high-security storage cells.¡±

    Zaina shuddered. It had to be important if it involved being so close to the stone¡ªthe Eldritch¡¯s whispers seeped into her mind. I hope that bastard Vae knows what he¡¯s doing.

    They flew across Kaado¡¯s interior, darting between islands and catching up. Zaina promised to show Ovela her new armor and complained about her mentor. Finally, they arrived at an island with its edges nearly overtaken by a single, imposingly tall, windowless building. There was only one door, guarded on either side by lancers. Ovela flashed her credentials, and they were allowed inside.

    ¡°So,¡± Zaina said, ¡°you know what this meeting¡¯s about?¡±

    ¡°It has something to do with the orb,¡± Ovela replied. ¡°Beyond that, I¡¯m not really sure. Sorry I can¡¯t tell you more.¡±

    Zaina flashed a half-smile. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯m just a little worried about being so close to that¡ªthing.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Ovela said.

    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± Zaina asked. ¡°You know, if you want to talk about the incident¡ªI¡¯m here to listen.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be all right,¡± Ovela said. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about me.¡±

    Zaina nodded. Her friend was acting strangely, but that wasn¡¯t for her to judge¡ªafter all, a High Scholar was brutally murdered in front of her. People reacted to trauma in different ways.

    They turned a corner, and there was a hallway with a single door at the very end.

    Weird, there¡¯s no one standing guard.

    ¡°Well,¡± Ovela said, gesturing toward the door, ¡°High Scholar Vae awaits. He does like his privacy.¡±

    Zaina trotted along behind Ovela to the end of the hallway, and the former lancer opened the door.

    ¡°Head on in,¡± she said, gesturing for Zaina to go in first.

    Zaina entered the room. The first thing that hit her was the smell¡ªit was the odor of death, of blood, waste, and decomposing flesh. She glanced over at a black object in the corner of her eye¡ªit was two lancers, each impaled with a heretic¡¯s fang, their crumpled bodies shoved against the near wall. On the other side of the room, leaning on its side, was the hover-bed of High Scholar Vae¡ªhe, too, was dead, a fang sticking out of his chest, pinning his corpse inside his grounded hover-bed.

    The second thing was the whispers¡ªthey were back in full force, threatening to take over. Zaina faced the side wall¡ªthere, emanating a foul aura from within its hyper-glass case, was the Eldritch¡¯s orb.

    Zaina¡¯s heartbeat thumped in her ears. Every muscle in her body was heavy, weighed on by fear¡ªwhat the hell was going on? An iron crash came from behind her as the door slammed shut. Zaina turned and gasped.

    ¡°We¡¯re finally here,¡± Ovela said with a triumphant grin, brandishing a black sword.

 Chapter Sixty-Five: Disciple of the Eldritch

    ¡°Wander too far into darkness and your way will be lost forever. There is no escape from the shadowy path once embarked upon.¡±

    ¡ªIlgras Mastia, former Grand Vizier of the Church of Qualmad, in a proclamation on the Temple of Fialgon

    Zaina took a step back. ¡°Ovela¡ªwhat¡¯s going on? This¡ªtell me this wasn¡¯t you!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what¡¯s really going on,¡± Ovela said, stalking toward Zaina with a heretic¡¯s fang in hand. ¡°I may never be able to be a lancer again¡ªbut I can be something better than a nobody.¡±

    Disbelief laced Zaina¡¯s words as she shouted, ¡°You¡¯re¡ªit really is you. It was you the whole time!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Ovela gestured toward the orb and said, ¡°And now, you have unfinished business.¡±

    Zaina put more distance between herself and Ovela. To stall, she kept asking questions. ¡°Why¡ªwhy did you kill Ardo Nash?¡±

    Ovela kept walking slowly toward her. ¡°Ardo Nash¡ªthat fool¡ªwanted to study the stone¡¯s power, but didn¡¯t want to let it in. No¡ªI went to the orb to receive its blessing at night. I was told I¡¯d be alone with it. Nash interrupted us to study his precious Order¡¯s most ancient enemy¡ªat that moment, his fate was sealed.¡±

    Zaina kept backing up. ¡°And Yla Fidabow?¡±

    Ovela winced. ¡°That one wasn¡¯t supposed to happen, either; but she noticed my mark and gave me no choice. I killed her and ran, knowing the Eldritch¡¯s power would mask my presence. Luckily, the scholars were stupid enough to buy that woman being the killer¡ªthey were so happy to sweep it under the rug, to have someone easy to blame, that my mistake didn¡¯t end up mattering. They were so quick to overlook me¡ªa mere attendant¡ªthat in their transcendent wisdom, they fell for a cheap trick.¡± She pulled the collar of her shirt to one side, revealing the Mark of the Recalcitrant on her collarbone. ¡°See, Zaina? I¡¯m just like you now. Soon we won¡¯t have to hide. Sooner than I thought, even¡ªonce I heard they were taking the orb to the Sky Vault, my plans had to accelerate.¡±

    Zaina gulped. That¡¯s right¡ªOvela was there when the scholars discussed that.

    To keep her talking, Zaina asked, ¡°And my hut¡ªscratching at it at night? What did you hope to accomplish then?¡±

    Ovela smiled. ¡°I wanted to get you alone¡ªto bring you here. But your mentor stopped you before you reached my trap. All too unfortunate¡ªthough I suppose it¡¯s doubly convenient now that she¡¯s gone. Why she would side against her own kind, I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°Ovela,¡± Zaina said, her back nearly against the far wall¡ªshe was running out of space. It took all her concentration to resist the pull of the whispers, much less talk her friend down, but she persisted. ¡°Ovela, this isn¡¯t you. I know you¡ªyou¡¯re a lancer. A good person¡ª¡±

    ¡°I was a lancer once,¡± Ovela replied. ¡°But then my gifts were taken from me. They say Riiva is wise, but really, it¡¯s cruel. So I found new gifts. Oh, Zaina, can¡¯t you feel it¡ªcan¡¯t you hear the whispers?¡±

    Zaina winced. They were growing stronger, emanating from the Eldritch¡¯s orb, offering her everything she could ever possibly want: eternal life for her and her family, a lifetime of happy memories, a peaceful existence free of strife¡ª

    ¡°Come, Zaina,¡± Ovela said, extending a hand. Her voice was deeper now, speaking in unison with a darker voice within. ¡°Take the orb¡ªbecome the new Eldritch. You will be the inheritor of cosmic power, and I will be your faithful servant until the end of time.¡±

    ¡°Wh-what? That¡¯s what this¡ªthat¡¯s why you¡¯re doing this? To help that thing find its new host?¡±

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    She didn¡¯t know if she was a match for a heretic, even a new one¡ªOvela seemed different than Beni. She seemed more herself, but still gone¡ªlost in the madness of the shadow¡¯s power.

    Ovela spread her arms. ¡°Leave behind these mortal trappings. You could be like a god! The Eldritch will give you power beyond what you ever dreamed of. You can create a world where no one will judge you, cast you out for who you are¡ªyou can cleanse the ignorant, and the weak, and anyone who refuses to accept you. Everything can be whatever we want, forever!¡±

    ¡°When did this happen?¡± Zaina asked. ¡°Did you¡ªdid you meet the stone the first night I came?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Ovela said. ¡°You showed me I was wrong about heretics¡ªyou showed me that I was being lied to. I was curious about their power, and I was tired of being treated like I was no one. But now¡ªnow, we are someone. Come, Zaina¡ªthere isn¡¯t much time before they discover us.¡±

    Zaina shook her head. ¡°No, I can¡¯t do that, Ovela.¡±

    Her friend glared. ¡°Why not?¡±

    Zaina raised a hand over her heart. ¡°If I let the Eldritch in¡ªif I give it control, I won¡¯t be me anymore. Don¡¯t you get that? I want to be me. And as my friend¡ªyou should want me to be me, too!¡±

    Ovela readied her sword. ¡°What we want is irrelevant. You can¡¯t escape from this¡ªit¡¯s always been your destiny.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Zaina said as her hands curled into fists. ¡°No matter what you say, I¡¯m not going to serve that thing! I¡¯m a lancer!¡±

    Ovela tilted her head back and gave a shrill laugh, with echoing contours of the Eldritch¡¯s much deeper, more sinister chuckles. ¡°You¡ªa lancer? Please. You don¡¯t have your armor, your equipment¡ªno strand glove means no magick for you. But me?¡±

    Ovela reached out toward a desk lining the wall and said, in an echoing, deep tone, ¡°Rise to serve.¡±

    The desk hurdled toward Zaina, flying through the air. With a yelp, Zaina leaped to one side, mistiming her landing and falling onto her shoulder. Ovela reached out again¡ªanother small desk and two chairs hovered in a circle around her.

    With a devilish grin, Ovela said, ¡°My magick is at its peak¡ªlancer. The Shining Will is far more willing to divulge its secrets than Riiva.¡±

    Zaina focused and summoned her cipher. Its metallic ring filled her with resolve¡ªshe wasn¡¯t going to give in, no matter what. Readying the blade like Arbala had taught her, Zaina said, ¡°Ovela, I don¡¯t want to hurt you¡ªbut I¡¯m not going to let you do this. If hurting you is the only way to stop you, well¡ªI won¡¯t have a choice.¡±

    Ovela glared. ¡°You really intend to fight?¡±

    ¡°Guess I don¡¯t have a choice.¡±

    The first chair rocketed toward Zaina¡ªshe barely deflected it with her cipher. Painful vibrations ran up her sword arm on impact. With a screech, her blade cut partially into the metal chair as Zaina cast it aside.

    ¡°Why?¡± Ovela demanded. ¡°You have the chance to be the vessel of ultimate power¡ªthe host of a cosmic essence!¡±

    The second chair zipped forward¡ªZaina missed her block, and the chair smashed into her elbow, sending waves of pain surging through her arm.

    ¡°Some of us,¡± Ovela said as she launched the desk at Zaina, ¡°would kill for that kind of power!¡±

    Zaina dropped to the ground, narrowly avoiding the flying furniture, and then jumped to her feet.

    Ovela pointed her heretic¡¯s fang at Zaina¡¯s heart. ¡°You would fight to avoid the opportunity of a million lifetimes¡ªyou cling so desperately to your mortality when more is right at your fingertips! Why?¡±

    ¡°At this point,¡± Zaina said between deep, heaving breaths, ¡°I doubt you¡¯d understand.¡±

    Ovela charged forward¡ªZaina rushed to meet her advance. Their blades crossed in the middle with a resounding, deep clang.

    Zaina tried to keep up, but Ovela was much more experienced at sword-fighting. The dark fang danced around Zaina¡¯s cipher, deflecting all her attempted attacks and getting closer and closer to landing a hit. With a shout, Zaina tried to overpower Ovela, swinging wildly with an overhead strike¡ªOvela parried and counter-slashed, her fang slicing into Zaina¡¯s midsection.

    A shriek of pain roared from Zaina¡¯s lips¡ªblood gushed from the wound on her side as she leaped back, putting distance between herself and her opponent.

    Ovela pointed the fang at Zaina¡¯s heart. ¡°You have no idea how much I wish I could be you. How much I wish I still was a lancer, so the Eldritch could choose me. You¡¯re lucky, Zaina¡ªyou may not see it now, but I¡¯m helping you.¡±

    ¡°Shut up,¡± Zaina said, readying her cipher once more. The whispers were getting to her¡ªat any moment, her brain was going to split into two. Still, she fought on. ¡°You don¡¯t get to decide that for me!¡±

    Ovela¡¯s eye twitched. Then, she charged again. Zaina staved off her initial thrust, and barely centered her cipher in time to knock away the follow-up slash, but she was too slow to recover. Ovela¡¯s fang surged forward and pierced the shoulder of Zaina¡¯s sword arm.

    Lightning-hot streaks of pain tore up and down Zaina¡¯s arm and torso¡ªshe cried out, screeching in agony as her cipher dissipated. She fell to the ground.

    Ovela chuckled again, then said, ¡°You¡ªa lancer. Come now, Zaina.¡± She raised her hand, and the shattered desks rose once more, swirling around Zaina, ready to pulverize her at a moment¡¯s notice. ¡°Give up this ridiculous game. I don¡¯t want to break you¡ªbut I will if it means speeding this up.¡±

 Chapter Sixty-Six: Duel to the Death

    ¡°Lancers are the universe¡¯s solution to the blight of heretics. We were made to lead the galaxy¡¯s fight to heal this wound, but everyone must do their part. The clashing of heretics and lancers has rang throughout history, with billions of lives hanging in the balance with each meeting of cipher with fang.¡±

    ¡ªOde Sihdark, current leader of the Scions of Riiva

    Zaina took a few deep breaths, staring directly into Ovela¡¯s eyes; then, focusing, Zaina reached out with her non-injured arm and summoned her cipher. She then slashed through an incoming piece of wood and clumsily rolled aside to avoid another. Bashing the next fragment away, she stumbled to her feet.

    Ovela sighed. ¡°Well, I was told you were stubborn, but not this stubborn. All right, let¡¯s go. If I have to break you more, so be it. The Eldritch needs you alive, not well.¡±

    With a mad shout, Zaina leaped forward, taking the initiative. She pushed into Ovela¡¯s defenses, swinging with everything she had left¡ªall of her attacks fell against the shimmering black fang, and though she was gaining ground, her wounds were getting worse quickly¡ªand she was tiring out.

    Ovela batted aside one of Zaina¡¯s frenzied slashes, taking her balance; with a grin, Ovela pierced Zaina¡¯s thighs, drawing another anguished shout. Zaina swung again, but Ovela jumped back out of range, then closed back in before Zaina re-centered her weapon¡ªwith a single swing, Ovela sliced Zaina¡¯s arm off¡ªthe cipher scattered in midair as the limb fell to the ground with a wet thump.

    Her system overloaded with shock and adrenaline, Zaina fell to one knee, her body unable to process the mixture of pain, disbelief, and energy swelling throughout it. She glanced toward the stump, a fountain of red, then back to her enemy. Ovela towered over her.

    A kick snapped Zaina¡¯s face¡ªthe back of her head hit the floor, and then the pain in her broken nose and smashed cheekbones registered. She was sprawled out, defeated. She gave a weak cry as her hair was grabbed¡ªZaina weakly slapped at Ovela¡¯s hand as she was dragged over to the Eldritch¡¯s stone.

    ¡°It didn¡¯t have to be this way, Zaina. You chose this. But it¡¯s okay, I forgive you.¡±

    With a swipe of her fang, Ovela shattered the hyper-glass protecting the Eldritch¡¯s orb. Its dark essence began to seep out, swirling around Zaina.

    ¡°Well?¡± Ovela said, pulling Zaina¡¯s hair. ¡°Kneel.¡±

    Zaina gave another cry but was helpless to resist otherwise. Her eyes met the stone¡ªit hovered in midair, slowly making its way toward her. An image of the Eldritch¡¯s skull appeared on the orb¡¯s outer surface, drawing closer¡ª

    ¡°No!¡± Zaina shouted. She summoned her cipher once more¡ªdespite the injury to her shoulder, she swung wildly, landing a glancing blow on her unprepared enemy.

    ¡°Gah¡ªwhy, you!¡±

    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Zaina rolled away. She struggled to stand, tripping over and then getting back up.

    Ovela stalked toward her. ¡°You don¡¯t know when to give up, do you?¡±

    Zaina coughed up blood. ¡°Please¡ªfight it, Ovela. This isn¡¯t you¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, please¡ªI¡¯m doing this for your own good!¡± Ovela shouted, unleashing a devastating overhead strike.

    Zaina barely blocked it, but the blow¡¯s power knocked her down again. She scrambled to stand up, but another kick slammed into her side. More pain surged from her open wound¡ªas she rolled away, she left behind streaks of red.

    Zaina took deep breaths. Shadow was creeping in from the corners of her vision, threatening to engulf her¡ªhow she was still standing, she didn¡¯t know. The pain was unimaginable, but her instinct and will to fight on was greater¡ªslowly, she stood to her feet, readying her sword for one last exchange.

    Ovela shook her head, a disgusted expression on her face. ¡°You¡¯re choosing to be human when you could be a god. How pathetic.¡±

    ¡°I know¡ªurgh.¡± Zaina coughed up blood, then continued, ¡°I know what it promised you, but you have to know, deep down, it won¡¯t keep its word.¡±

    Pointing her sword, Ovela snarled, ¡°Silence! You¡¯re just as blind as the scholars. You should know better than anyone, Zaina, what¡¯s coming. Nothing can stop that which fate decrees. Plagued by whispers¡ªbut did you ever actually listen to them?¡±

    Zaina tightened her grip on the cipher. It pulsed in her hands as if responding to her will. She needed to end this fight, and quickly. As more blood poured out of her mouth, she said in a weak voice, ¡°Please, Ovela. I don¡¯t want to fight you. And I really don¡¯t want to be that thing¡¯s host.¡±

    Ovela sneered. ¡°Looks like either way you¡¯re not getting what you want.¡±

    The heretic lunged forward once more. Zaina took a deep breath to slow her rushing heartbeat¡ªshe had to be calm, focused, and act with purpose. She had to let Riiva guide her.

    The dance resumed again¡ªOvela was faster and more precise than Zaina, who kept limping backward and ceding ground to her opponent, frantically trying to keep up a workable defense. It was all she could do to keep up¡ªthere was only one way to win this fight, as much as she didn¡¯t like it, but she had to wait for the right opportunity.

    Zaina backed up, desperately trying to survive while looking for her chance¡ªOvela was attacking from multiple angles, swinging her fang about madly to incapacitate Zaina once and for all. As the whispers grew louder in Zaina¡¯s ears and darkness crowded her sight, the perfect strike came¡ªOvela was going for a stab.

    Zaina rushed forward, skewering her own body on Ovela¡¯s fang with a mighty shout. It wasn¡¯t one of pain¡ªit was anger, and wrath, and resolve. Ovela¡¯s eyes widened as she met Zaina¡¯s gaze. Zaina raised her cipher¡ªwith a mad shriek, she slashed down across Ovela¡¯s torso.

    They both fell backward, hitting the ground at the same time with dual thuds. Zaina¡¯s cipher dissipated, and she held her new stomach wound. Blood poured out freely, and she moaned in agony. She was slipping away, stretching into a light just beyond the threshold of darkness. This wasn¡¯t a cold, shadowy embrace like the Eldritch¡ªit was bright, warm, and inviting. Her eyes fluttered, and then she blinked. No¡ªshe had to hold on.

    Zaina forced herself to take deep breaths, straining to look for her opponent. Ovela was struggling to her feet¡ªin disbelief and shock, Zaina tried to pull herself away. It was no use¡ªher arm wasn¡¯t responding anymore, and her legs were numb.

    Ovela stumbled, propping herself up on one arm as she fought madly to stand. Her body was trembling, and spasms were rocking her torso, neck, and arms. She reached toward Zaina, blood spilling from her open chest and side, and said, ¡°Zai¡ªna¡­¡±

    Then, with one last wheezing groan, her eyes rolled back into her head. Ovela fell to her knees. She lurched backward, but before her body hit the ground, it was consumed by green, shadowy flames. The fire was pulled into the stone, leaving nothing behind except a small pile of ashes¡ªthe Eldritch¡¯s orb fell to the ground, absorbing the shadowy aura it emitted and leaving the room still and silent.

    The whispers were gone for now; Zaina¡¯s head fell back against the hard, stone floor. She took another few deep breaths before the creeping shadows swallowed her entirely.

 Chapter Sixty-Seven: Rebirth

    ¡°Envy those who would get to travel to every corner of the Nova Rim. Yes, envy those who travel through the Hichron Spiral¡ªwho witness the majesty of the Auda Lights just beyond Alvius, or behold the legendary beauty of a Fargrim sunset. Envy them, or come along and see it all for yourself. The galaxy is out there. It is waiting for you¡ªand if you don¡¯t go see it, someone else will.¡±

    ¡ªAllegiant General Midus Delverico, in a recruitment speech at the Highforth College

    When Zaina came to, she was lying in a bed. The room around her was entirely white and thoroughly cleaned. She groaned, her head still spinning¡ªthe fingertips on her left hand scraped against the silky sheets. No sensation was coming in from her right.

    Gasping, she sat up¡ªsuddenly she was thrust back into that room. The whispers in her ears, the attack by someone she thought was a friend¡ªall under the watchful eye of the Eldritch¡¯s orb¡ª

    As quickly as it came, it was all gone. Trembles coursed through her body for another minute like aftershocks. She glanced at her right shoulder, where a short stump was wrapped in bandages.

    That¡¯s right. It¡¯s gone. Zaina sighed. Nothing on Kaado is what I thought it was going to be.

    The door opened, and a familiar voice entered through the threshold. ¡°Zaina Quin, it¡¯s so good to see that you¡¯re awake.¡±

    High Scholar Geli Fawndar hovered into the room, flanked by Arbala and High Lancer Veli Terco.

    Zaina choked out in a raspy voice, ¡°Where am I?¡±

    Geli replied, ¡°You¡¯re in the Kaado Healing Complex. The Intensive Unit, to be specific; you were placed in a month-long coma to allow all of your wounds to heal fully.¡±

    Zaina leaned her head back in disbelief. A whole month had gone by.

    With a nod, Geli replied, ¡°Yes¡ªlancer regenerative abilities are strong, but they¡¯re at their strongest while you¡¯re in stasis¡ªand at their weakest when a lancer first has to use them. You should be ready to be discharged by the end of the day. You can rest and relax¡ªI¡¯m only here with a question or two.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyebrow raised. They didn¡¯t think she was responsible for all this, did they? If they tried to blame her after everything she¡¯d been through¡ª

    Her thought was interrupted by the High Scholar. ¡°Fear not, Zaina. We know now who committed these heinous crimes. Your innocence is not in question here¡ªnor is your devotion to the Order, which was proven by what you endured. We only wish to confirm what we discovered over the course of our investigation into these events.¡±

    Zaina sighed. These vultures wouldn¡¯t even let her recover properly without pecking after whatever knowledge she had¡ªit was part of being a lancer, she supposed. ¡°All right. Do your worst.¡±

    Geli waited a moment, bobbing her head to measure her words, then said, ¡°First, I think we should fill you in on recent events. Xyrthe Belgrand was released from her holding cell the day we found you and everyone else.¡±

    Zaina held up a hand. ¡°Who is that, exactly?¡±

    ¡°Your teacher. Xyrthe Belgrand.¡±

    Zaina almost smiled, but recent events still weighed too heavily on her heart. She¡¯d finally learned that woman¡¯s name¡ªall it took was nearly dying.

    I¡¯ll bet Xyrthe is gonna be thrilled now that I know her name.

    The High Scholar was going on. ¡°¡­Based on an analysis of materials in the room, we determined that you had likely engaged and killed the third heretic in combat¡ªis this true?¡±

    Zaina stared at her lap, shoulders sinking under an oppressive, sullen weight as the memories again flooded into her skull. ¡°Yes¡ªyes, it¡¯s true. She told me she was taking me to see High Scholar Vae, but it was a trap. She tried to help the Eldritch take me as a host.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Geli replied. ¡°And we¡¯ve surmised that heretic¡¯s identity to be Ovela Midor, former lancer¡ªis that correct as well?¡±

    Zaina turned away, then nodded.

    Geli frowned. ¡°It seemed she was corrupted early on; how she got the idea, Riiva only knows. We are currently of the belief that she is responsible for all of the murders and, to prevent her interference, framed your mentor before her attempt to hand you over to the Eldritch. Of course, this raises the question of the disruption of Xyrthe¡¯s video feed¡ªit may indicate yet another heretic amongst our ranks, working from the shadows the entire time.¡±

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    ¡°That makes some amount of sense,¡± Zaina said. ¡°I don¡¯t think Ovela knew enough about the Eldritch or anything like that to do this all on her own. She did say someone told her¡ªsomething. But I don¡¯t think my mentor¡ªXyrthe¡ªhad anything to do with it.¡±

    Geli nodded. ¡°Yes. Now, all that being said, there is some good that may have come from all of this. For one, you, Zaina Quin, are safe and sound, and your allegiance can hardly be questioned now; for two, the Eldritch¡¯s orb seems to have gone into some sort of deep sleep. I¡¯m of the belief that infesting others with its spirit and taking corporeal form expends a large amount of its stored energy; that, to me, explains why it¡¯s powered down. There are, of course, others who disagree. All we know is that it¡¯s silent for now¡ªwaiting.¡±

    ¡°What are you going to do with it?¡± Zaina asked.

    ¡°It will be taken to the Sky Vault as planned, where no organic beings will interact with it. Hopefully, this can curb its influence; from there, we will use glyphs to study it remotely.¡±

    ¡°I think that¡¯s the right move,¡± Zaina replied as she sat up. ¡°I have a question, though. How did you know about Ovela?¡±

    Geli¡¯s head tilted. ¡°Hm?¡±

    ¡°Well¡ªher body burned up. She was consumed by the green fire. There wasn¡¯t anything left.¡±

    Geli¡¯s mouth curled into a frown. ¡°There¡¯s always something left. As I said, we analyzed the materials in the room; there was a high concentration of what we call heretic ash¡ªthe soot that¡¯s left behind when the Eldritch¡¯s flame consumes their flesh.¡±

    Zaina shuddered. ¡°Is that¡ªis that going to happen to me, one day?¡±

    Geli frowned. ¡°Do not worry about that, child. As for how we surmised the identity of the attacker, we only had to take attendance of all those working in the Order¡¯s employ. Young Ovela Midor was the only one not accounted for.¡±

    A defeated sigh rushed upward from Zaina¡¯s lungs as she leaned back again. ¡°I thought she was my friend¡ªI thought this whole place would be different.¡±

    ¡°I understand. These are quite unusual times¡ªdark times, I fear. There are a great many things happening, inside the Nova Rim and outside, that are alarming to the Order. But we must persist, as we always have, and always will; I am happy to know you carry that same spirit within yourself.¡±

    Zaina wanted to smile, to feel warmth and pride from the compliment, but there was nothing. Guilt still weighed heavily on her.

    I¡¯m sorry, Ovela. Everywhere I go, everything seems to get fucked up.

    Zaina sighed. ¡°You said I¡¯ll be ready to leave at the end of the day?¡±

    Geli nodded. ¡°Yes. Though, I must insist we keep what we talked about in this room a secret. Arbala and High Lancer Terco already knew, since they were the ones who found you; but not a soul otherwise is to know that we suspect another, more powerful heretic is within our ranks. I believe, with the Eldritch¡¯s stone going silent and the loss of their servant, they will lay low and wait for another opportunity to achieve their foul ends. We will continue to investigate and look for opportunities to flush them out¡ªbut, life must also go on. To that end, your journey as a lancer must begin.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyebrow rose, her forehead scrunching up. ¡°What are you saying?¡±

    ¡°Once you¡¯ve recovered enough, you and your mentor will be going on your first missions,¡± Geli said, her lips forming a half-smile at the future¡¯s prospects. ¡°You¡¯ll only be rated for low-risk assignments at first, and you¡¯ll work your way up until you¡¯re a full-fledged lancer rated for missions of all kinds. But, for now, should you still choose to tread this path, you have proven yourself more than worthy to bear the title of lancer.¡±

    ¡°Wh-what about my arm?¡± Zaina asked.

    Geli rubbed her chin. ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve tasked our forgemasters to make you a prosthetic. They were in quite a fuss over it. They¡¯ll stop by tomorrow to brief you on everything. It may take some getting used to, but I¡¯m sure you¡¯re up to the task.¡±

    Zaina nodded. As far as she¡¯d come, there was still a mountain ahead of her to climb. She was looking forward to it¡ªhopefully, she could put all of this strangeness behind her. All her perseverance had brought her to this moment, when she could finally be a lancer¡ªwounds and all. ¡°Thank you, High Scholar.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Zaina, for not giving up. I can¡¯t imagine the catastrophic consequences if the Eldritch was reborn on Kaado¡ªthat is one of three events which could bring about the end of the Order itself.¡±

    Zaina wondered what the other two were, but didn¡¯t dwell on it for more than a few seconds. With their goodbyes said, Geli left¡ªArbala and Veli both said a brief goodbye and wished Zaina well before taking their leave as well. Despite coming to less than an hour ago, Zaina was still exhausted¡ªthough a month had passed, to her it was all still like it happened yesterday.

    I don¡¯t know why all this bad stuff seems to follow me.

    Zaina turned onto her side and fell into a deep sleep for the next few hours. Finally, she was woken up by a medic and led home by a glyph. The floating gray drone fussed over Zaina, emitting high-pitched, concerned beeps while guiding her to a transport parked outside the massive complex atop one of Kaado¡¯s upper-inner islands.

    The glyph floated into their transport, and Zaina followed. She stared at the controls to the craft, waiting in the cockpit¡ªOvela had been one hell of a pilot. Zaina hoped to learn to be half as good in her honor. She wanted to remember Ovela¡¯s best side, not what she became.

    For today, though, Zaina curled up in her seat, still exhausted¡ªher body was still waking up. Once they landed, the glyph chirped a cheery goodbye and departed on the transport, leaving Zaina to shuffle back to her hut. As her hand grasped the handle to her door, a familiar voice rang out.

    ¡°Hey there, kid.¡±

    Zaina froze. Her mentor¡ªXyrthe Belgrand¡ªhad she come here to antagonize her? Zaina wasn¡¯t in the mood.

    The woman walked over and glanced at Zaina¡¯s missing arm with a grimace. Then, she said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry about¡ªwell¡ªyou know.¡±

    Zaina was taken aback¡ªthe woman was apologizing? Did she actually feel compassion for Zaina? She was shocked into silence.

    Her mentor continued, ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m off. I¡¯ll be back tomorrow to watch you practice, or whatever. Looks like we¡¯ll be going on missions soon. I guess going out there and doing nothing beats doing nothing here.¡±

    With that, her mentor turned and walked away. Zaina sighed. That was the nicest the woman had been to her since she came here. She hobbled into her hut and laid down, falling into the first restful sleep she¡¯d had since coming to Kaado.

 Chapter Sixty-Eight: A New Beginning

    ¡°We often find after the toughest times that we are reborn with new purpose and spirit. What we went through did not break us¡ªwe are still here.¡±

    ¡ªHigh Priest of Byzon Cahtroo Vaun after the Fourth Byzonian Holy War

    The next day, Garrick and Eva stopped by to bring Zaina her new arm. High Scholar Fawndar had undersold their excitement. Eva squealed with glee upon laying eyes on Zaina. Her mentor, standing nearby, covered her ears and grumbled.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s so good to see you¡¯re all right! I was so worried about you at first, and then they said you¡¯d need a new arm, and I thought¡ªa new arm? I have original designs for every body part, and I mean every body part, so an arm¡¯s no problem at all, but then that led to more questions, like, uh, ¡®How did Zaina lose her arm,¡¯ and¡ªwell, you know. I¡¯m happy to see you¡¯re okay.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Eva,¡± Zaina said, though okay was a stretch.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Eva continued, ¡°I¡¯ve also been very excited to show you the finished design¡ªwhen I saw where your arm was cut, I thought, ¡®oh, that¡¯s awkward.¡¯ Right in the middle of the upper arm. But I¡¯ve come up with a number of solutions. Problem is, due to Order restrictions on certain medical procedures on unconscious people¡ªwhich, you know, I guess is a good thing¡ªI had to wait until you were conscious to get this baby online.¡±

    Zaina was already confused. ¡°Can we have a cup of gamba, and then talk about all of this?¡±

    Eva¡¯s grin widened. They went inside, and Zaina sat by and relaxed as Eva made the machine sing, producing four perfect cups of gamba, and put one in everyone¡¯s hands. Zaina appreciated the burst of energy¡ªshe felt refreshed going into the more complicated technical talk.

    Once the small talk was over, Zaina said, ¡°So¡ªthe arm. Please, try to put it in simple terms.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Eva said, grabbing the handle atop a small box she¡¯d brought inside with her. She opened the top and reached within, pulling out a microchip with a few wires attached.

    ¡°This is the first solution, and probably the most straightforward and reliable. It¡¯s a cybernetic implant that goes in your head¡ªdirectly into your brain¡ªand it¡¯ll link up directly to your arm. You¡¯ll be able to feel every sensation in the books, or even custom sensations, if you want. Of course, the downside to this solution is that it does require intensive brain surgery¡ªbut our android surgeons boast a very, very high success and survival rate, I mean like, upwards of 99.995 percent¡ªso it¡¯s not the worst thing in the world.¡±

    Zaina grimaced. Brain surgery wasn¡¯t an enticing idea. ¡°No thanks, I¡¯d prefer not to let drones operate on my head¡ªwhat else?¡±

    Eva reached back into the box and pulled out a small, thin metal cylinder with a long extension at the center of either side. ¡°So, here¡¯s option number two. This here¡¯s a magnet graft¡ªit has two parts, you see, the graft and the magnet. The graft here gets welded onto your bone, and the magnet locks into place on top of it; then, right on the other side there, is the standard connector for prosthetics. It¡¯ll connect to and expand upon your existing nerve endings. Since this one can communicate with your brain, no need to drill a hole in your skull if you choose option number two.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s forehead scrunched up. ¡°Welded onto my bone¡ªis there an option that doesn¡¯t involve surgery?¡±

    Garrick shook his head. ¡°Not a one, I¡¯m afraid. There has to be some sort of way to make your neural impulses connect to the prosthetic, so some sort of cybernetic surgery is necessary, I¡¯m afraid.¡±

    Zaina sighed. She¡¯d lost her planet, her friend, and now her arm, all to become a lancer¡ªso be it. She nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll take the second one. I¡¯ll be asleep for this, right?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Eva said. ¡°Now, let me show you how this works. This part,¡± she said, holding up one of the metal extension tubes filled with thousands of tiny, dangling wires, ¡°will get welded into your arm bones up there, and your nerves will be connected to a microprocessor¡¯s sensory data collection-chain system. This,¡± she went on, holding up a larger, more complex tube-like bit of metal, ¡°is the cap and the arm-lock. The magnets inside will lock the cap¡¯s underside to the graft. Then, to attach your arm, just slide it over the exposed extension and turn it ninety degrees to lock it in place. There are more magnets and locking bars on the inside to keep your limb on, and I made sure to coat it with deroxis so it can resist electromagnetic attacks.¡±

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    ¡°Thank you, Eva,¡± Zaina said. ¡°When¡¯s the procedure?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll go in tomorrow. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be there when you wake up¡ªit¡¯ll be quick, bing bang boom. Surgery glyphs take five minutes tops for this sort of thing. It¡¯s gonna be really cool¡ªwith the segmented compression system, it could actually enhance your lancer strength further. It¡¯s pretty rad.¡±

    ¡°What about my magick?¡± Zaina asked. ¡°Will I be able to use it with the prosthetic?¡±

    Garrick stepped forward and said, ¡°As far as we know, yes. We¡¯ve made similar limbs before, and they¡¯ve worked for every function required; if, for some reason it doesn¡¯t take, we¡¯ll make adjustments until you¡¯re ready to go.¡±

    They chatted for a while longer, helping ease Zaina¡¯s worries about the impending surgery. For the first time in what felt like forever, Zaina was able to kick back and relax without too many worries. Guilt still weighed on her mind, and she was still a bit anxious about the procedure, but it was better than before. For the first time, she truly was home on Kaado.

    -

    The surgery went off without a hitch¡ªtrue to Eva and Garrick¡¯s word, the android surgeons were highly efficient, and Zaina was only unconscious for twenty minutes before she was woken up and given two doses of a painkiller she couldn¡¯t pronounce to save her life.

    The metal graft was sticking out of her stump; moving it was an odd sensation¡ªnot quite painful, but certainly uncomfortable and something that would take some getting used to. Still, it worked as intended. She had the cap and extender in her hut, and as soon as she was ferried home and told by a med-glyph to stay on bed rest, she secured the cap on the end of her arm and inserted the extender.

    I wonder if it¡¯ll hurt when the painkillers wear off, Zaina wondered as she moved the metal stub about, waving it to and fro. There was a knock at the door.

    Zaina hollered, ¡°Come on in!¡±

    Eva and Garrick opened the door and entered, followed by Zaina¡¯s mentor. Garrick had a strange, cylindrical backpack strapped to his shoulders. As soon as they were inside, Eva immediately went and fussed with the gamba machine, while Garrick unslung the backpack and pulled out a gunmetal gray, mechanical arm.

    ¡°It¡¯s really pretty light,¡± he said, handing it to her. ¡°Here, hold it.¡±

    Zaina took it in her hand¡ªit was light, as light as her armor. ¡°How¡¯d you make it so light?¡±

    ¡°Oh, a magician never reveals their secrets,¡± Eva called out while inspecting the gamba machine.

    Zaina rolled her eyes. ¡°So¡ªinsert the extender, then twist?¡±

    Garrick nodded. ¡°Roger that.¡±

    Zaina turned the arm to look at the attaching end¡ªsure enough, there was a hole that looked like it fit the strange, complex tower extending from the cap. She placed the arm on the extender and gave it a quarter turn¡ªa small jolt of electricity coursed up her arm and into her shoulder, and with a hum, the arm was online. The noise died down as she lifted her new arm and moved each of her fingers, on the verge of crying.

    She was getting used to the graft as she moved her new arm about; it was so well-embedded that it already was beginning to feel like a natural extension of her body. She pulled her strand-glove over her new hand and was still able to summon a bubble of light. For the rest of the night, everyone kicked their feet up, relaxed, and celebrated Zaina becoming a lancer. Even Xyrthe¡ªwho still didn¡¯t know Zaina knew her name¡ªhad no comments to spoil the fun, instead sitting back and letting everyone enjoy themselves.

    The future was bright, even if the path it took to get there was messy. Zaina had a mountain ahead of her as she learned how to be a lancer in earnest. She had no idea what to expect¡ªbut maybe expecting anything at all was a fool¡¯s errand. Nothing in the Nova Rim was quite what she expected.

    She smiled. Maybe it¡¯s better to go in blind.

    After another hour of merriment into the night, Garrick and Eva left. Starlight faded on Kaado. With the planet no longer on high alert, the skies were once more filled with transports of all shapes and sizes, hopping from island to island. The glow of their engines dotted the darkened skies, and Zaina took it all in, happy to enjoy the beauty of the moment. Her mentor remained behind.

    ¡°You know,¡± Zaina said when they were alone, ¡°I never thought it was you.¡±

    The woman¡¯s eyes narrowed, then softened¡ªshe sighed. ¡°Thanks, rookie. If it means anything to you, I never thought it was you, either¡ªthe killer was too competent.¡±

    Zaina ignored the petty remark, knowing what she said next would really get under her mentor¡¯s skin. ¡°You know, we¡¯ll be going on missions once I say I¡¯m ready¡ªXyrthe.¡±

    Xyrthe¡¯s eyes widened, and she groaned. ¡°Oh, no¡ªthey told you my name, didn¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡°They did, indeed,¡± Zaina said. She snickered.

    Xyrthe rolled her eyes and said, ¡°Whatever. You should get some rest for tonight, then we can spend the rest of the week shoring up your swordsmanship. I heard that heretic did a number on you.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s chest was flushed with a warm spark of hope. ¡°You mean¡ª¡±

    Xyrthe sighed. ¡°Yeah¡ªI¡¯ll show you the ropes, kid. Maybe. We¡¯ll see how I feel about it tomorrow. For tonight, get some sleep¡ªand wipe that fucking grin off your face.¡±

    Without another word, Xyrthe stormed off. Contrary to her mentor¡¯s last words, Zaina¡¯s smile only grew.

    In the end, Ovela had been wrong¡ªZaina¡¯s destiny wasn¡¯t with the Eldritch, bound by the Mark of the Recalcitrant; it was her own, and she was ready to seize it. She walked over to the panes of hyper-glass and witnessed the last gleams of light fall on Kaado.

    Despite everything she¡¯d been through to get here, she¡¯d made it¡ªZaina was a lancer at last.

 Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Chairman

    ¡°For over three thousand years, Sydentel Industries has been the leader in its field. When the Decision Matrices were pioneered, our board was among the first to adopt its practice; when Flebaro Donitiar made his first expedition into Deep World Sector Twelve, we followed and established the first lines of communication and supply. When it was clear we could mine more resources from planets with new methods and technologies, we ensured we were the first in our industry to explore those possibilities. When public outcry necessitated a change in leadership, the Matrix was quick to act. What we do, we do so fast others still think it¡¯s impossible. Delays are not in the DNA of this venture.¡±

    ¡ªRidole Grambak, Former Chairman of the Terra Sion Corporate Guild, in a legal bid-memo to the Synatorium for rights to strip Bichevel Outpost

    Zaina Quin tilted her head back to see the peak of the skyscraper before her¡ªits highest point, like many buildings on the Garden World of Rishaval, pierced through the clouds and extended into the upper atmosphere.

    ¡°You sure this is the right place?¡± she asked.

    Stepping up to stand beside her, Xyrthe Belgrand bit into a piece of red fruit with a sweet aroma. ¡°A-yup.¡±

    Even pulled behind her head, Xyrthe¡¯s long brown hair was disheveled; her usually-vibrant green eyes were muted by grog-fog, and deep, black bags had nestled beneath them, contrasting with her pale skin¡ªand accenting the black mark on her forehead.

    Xyrthe dug a scrap of paper from her pocket and double-checked it. ¡°Terra Sion Corporate Guild Deep World Sector Three Headquarters, Resource Acquisition Division on Rishaval.¡±

    Zaina winced. ¡°It¡¯s like you¡¯re speaking another language.¡±

    ¡°They do,¡± Xyrthe said, then stared at Zaina with a bemused grin.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°You nervous?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Zaina lied. ¡°Why the hell would I be nervous?¡±

    Xyrthe shrugged. ¡°I was on my first real mission.¡±

    Zaina crossed her arms. ¡°What, cargo and diplomatic details don¡¯t count?¡±

    ¡°Correct,¡± Xyrthe replied.

    ¡°We could¡¯ve been attacked by pirates or something.¡±

    After an eye-roll Xyrthe replied, ¡°None of those escort missions had a HPI above fifteen percent, much less what we¡¯re dealing with now. This time there¡¯s nearly a certainty of action¡ªfinally.¡±

    Zaina gulped, rubbing her clammy hands together. HPI¡ªHazard Probability Index¡ªwas a scoring system that determined how likely a lancer was to encounter a violent situation on a given mission. And this task had a rare one-hundred percent HPI rank.

    ¡°Look,¡± Xyrthe continued, ¡°don¡¯t worry about it, all right? We¡¯re probably dealing with a small band of pirates. Merchants ask for our help with pirates all the time. Of course, the real danger is what¡¯s in this building here.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyebrow rose. ¡°Aren¡¯t these guys the ones giving us this mission?¡±

    Xyrthe crossed her arms and stared into Zaina¡¯s eyes. ¡°Remember, kid¡ªthey aren¡¯t giving us the mission, the scholars are. We don¡¯t work for these assholes¡ªwe work for those assholes. Got it?¡±

    Zaina raised her arms in surrender. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I¡¯ve got it, I¡¯ve got it. Well, what¡¯s so bad about these guys? Didn¡¯t they make a big donation or something¡ªthey must care about the galaxy, right? How bad can they be?¡±

    Xyrthe¡¯s gaze drifted toward the building, her eyes narrowed into a spiteful glare. ¡°You¡¯ll see when you meet them.¡±

    With a sigh, Xyrthe pulled up the vis-screen on her wrist and pushed a few buttons. A console by the building¡¯s door emitted a beep. Part of the concrete sidewalk detached, sliding to make way for a descending mechanical staircase hidden beneath.

    ¡°That¡¯s cool,¡± Zaina said.

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    Silence from Xyrthe.

    Zaina glanced over at her mentor. I wonder why she doesn¡¯t like them. Maybe she knows whoever we¡¯re meeting.

    At the bottom of the stairway was a tubelift. Upon stepping inside, Xyrthe pushed another few buttons, and with a lurch their tube launched upward.

    Turning to her mentor, Zaina asked, ¡°So why do you hate these guys?¡±

    Xyrthe shot a murderous look her way. ¡°Not here. They¡¯re recording everywhere inside and around this building. And wherever the hell else they can, too.¡±

    A frown swept across Zaina¡¯s lips¡ªany excitement she¡¯d harbored for this assignment was fading fast. The mentor the Order of Riiva had given Zaina had two moods: dour and spiteful. This mission looked to have her in the latter.

    Zaina sighed, then stared at the ceiling. ¡°Well, I think this could be interesting.¡±

    Xyrthe chuckled and shook her head. The remainder of their tubelift ride went by in silence. Finally, their transport slowed, grinding to a halt before the door slid open.

    Zaina stepped into a decadent, oversized office with an expensive-looking rug. The walls were lined with bookshelves displaying an impressive collection of hand-written volumes; gridium lamps lined the walls, providing peaceful, calm blue light. A massive, masterfully-sculpted desk made of beautiful, clear stone sat in the room¡¯s center, behind which their quarry was seated. By his side was a masked mercenary dressed entirely in white. Zaina glanced upward¡ªdespite how long they¡¯d been on the tubelift, the building¡¯s ceiling was still out of sight.

    The man they came to see¡ªan overweight Grigaidan with moist, green skin, gray patches of stubble on his flat face, and pale head-flaps, dressed in an opulent robe trimmed to his exact dimensions, tail and all¡ªstood. ¡°Greetings. Please¡ªcome in. I¡¯m glad you¡¯ve arrived.¡±

    Zaina met his gaze and clasped her hands behind her back, wanting to seem professional. ¡°Thanks¡ªum, thank you for having us. I¡¯m Zaina.¡±

    She motioned for Xyrthe to introduce herself, but her mentor rolled her eyes and scoffed.

    Their host stepped from around his desk and said, ¡°Yes, yes¡ªthe pleasure is all mine. Welcome to the top floor of the Terra Sion building here on Rishaval¡ªmy name is Ondor Almada, Chairman of Sydentel Industries. This one here¡ªmy bodyguard¡ªis Randall.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s head tilted to the side. ¡°This is the top floor?¡±

    Ondor smiled, baring sharp teeth, and pointed upward. ¡°I like the ceiling high. Makes me feel like a pup again¡ªlike I still have a ways to go.¡±

    Xyrthe, ever unfazed by pleasantries, said, ¡°What are we here for, then? Let¡¯s get to it.¡±

    Zaina stared at her mentor in horror, wondering how she could be so callous.

    To her surprise, Ondor folded his fingers together and leaned back against his desk. ¡°Ah, straight to the point. Direct¡ªassertive. Partially why I requested people of your¡ªaffliction. No offense. I have no problem with heretics.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyes narrowed. Ouch. Okay, I think I¡¯m starting to see what she means.

    The chairman continued, ¡°As I said, I represent Sydentel Industries, top sub-charter of the Terra Sion Corporate Guild in the resource acquisition field. We¡¯ve long been a faithful donor to the Order of Riiva and asked nothing in return. Even now, we¡¯re asking nothing¡ªit¡¯s all a matter of economics, both in terms of your interests and ours. I¡¯m afraid if we aren¡¯t able to achieve a measure of success on this project, we may end up going under¡ªwhich would, of course, affect our ability to make donations to the Order in the future.¡±

    ¡°Project?¡± Xyrthe asked.

    Ondor cleared his throat. ¡°Yes¡ªa rather ambitious development project. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re familiar with Archavo Outpost?¡±

    Zaina turned to Xyrthe, who shrugged and said, ¡°What? You think I know every planet in the Nova Rim? Get real.¡±

    ¡°It matters little,¡± he said. ¡°Archavo Outpost was a military installation built by the Synatorium as a border defense facility against deep space threats; however, in the four-hundred thousand years since its construction, the borders have expanded a great deal¡ªand its positioning is no longer fit for a military installation, given the expansion of training facilities on the core words, and the prime positioning of other planets in the region to act as supply buffers. Over a hundred years ago the Allegiant Militarium pulled their forces out entirely, leaving nothing behind but marauders and drunken laborers who quickly became marauders.

    ¡°Now it exists as a relic to be torn apart, its material repurposed throughout the galaxy; the planet upon which the outpost was built¡ªa world with no known name, no known natives of origin¡ªcontains precious metals within its core-power grid, and there¡¯s still a good amount of material to be scrapped from the old military base. Bidding for rights to Archavo was fierce, as it always is when Militarium world-installations are concerned, but cooler heads prevailed, and we were given the contract to mine its resources.¡±

    Xyrthe crossed her arms and shifted her weight. ¡°So what does any of that mean to us?¡±

    ¡°Not much, I presume. No, none of that has to do with why you¡¯re here¡ªit¡¯s context, really, so you understand the history.¡±

    ¡°If we need a history lesson, we¡¯ll get one from the scholars,¡± Xyrthe said.

    Ondor clapped his hands together and said, ¡°Right. To the point. Now, then¡ªwhy you¡¯re here. You see, we¡¯ve encountered a problem. While we own the legal rights to mine Archavo Outpost¡ªI spent a small fortune getting the proper permits and a larger one in a bit of a bidding war¡ªthere remains the problem of the marauders on the planet¡¯s surface.¡±

    Xyrthe scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re calling us over marauders? Give it to the bounty guilds. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve got enough in your coffers to attract a good one.¡±

    Ondor frowned. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ve already spent the money I had for mercenaries of that caliber¡ªI¡¯m a bit strapped for capital at the moment. I hired younger, hungrier guilds, but they were wiped out.¡±

    ¡°Wiped out?¡± Xyrthe asked, leaning in.

    Zaina frowned. First time she¡¯s shown real interest.

    Ondor cleared his throat, then said, ¡°Yes¡ªthese marauders aren¡¯t ordinary foes, I¡¯m afraid. Their leader is a man by the name of Reister Fell. A former detective in the CID, and pure evil if ever I encountered it. He and his ravagers destroyed every force we¡¯ve sent at him.¡±

 Chapter Seventy: The Archavo Outpost Mission

    ¡°Such structures, if implemented in the proper locations, could conceivably reduce Militarium response time and allow for greater control over the starlanes¡ªespecially those beyond our borders in the Midworlds. In fact, our surveys show construction of four moon-size installations in key strategic places could be of great use should the council see fit to claim more territory.¡±

    ¡ªGeneral Zora Sukaivo, leader of the Militarium Allegiant¡¯s Project Buffer

    ¡°So bomb the surface,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to glass it, anyway?¡±

    ¡°We would, but there are several logistical problems with an orbital strike. And besides that, Fell has a number of civilian hostages cooped up with him; we can¡¯t retaliate with such measures so long as they¡¯re alive according to Synatorium law¡ªnot unless we get a restraint release, which is rare. I¡¯m afraid a more subtle solution is required.¡±

    For the first time since they were told to come to Rishaval, a smile crossed Xyrthe¡¯s face. Zaina frowned, wondering what her mentor was up to.

    Xyrthe said, ¡°And so you¡¯re here¡ªstrapped for capital, like you said, with a pirate problem. And here we are, about to be strapped with said pirate problem¡ªam I right?¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Ondor said, adorning a toothy, empty-eyed smile, ¡°truth be told, if we¡¯d known such troubles were a possibility, we likely would have delayed our annual contribution to the Order¡¯s coffers. We have a small mercenary strike force on retainer, but they¡¯re something of a last resort. If there¡¯s any chance¡ªum¡­¡±

    In a dry tone, Xyrthe replied, ¡°Are you asking something, chairman?¡±

    Ondor fidgeted with his fingers for a moment, then said, ¡°Yes. I¡¯m asking for your help. It would mean a great deal to me to have this problem resolved with as little bloodshed as possible.¡±

    Xyrthe crossed her arms and took a step toward their benefactor. ¡°And what if it¡¯s not possible without bloodshed?¡±

    ¡°I would still hope the situation could be resolved in accordance with Synatorium Law, which in this case, would be depopulation by force,¡± Ondor replied. ¡°I own Archavo Outpost. The planet is mine. I would like a peaceful solution, but I will not bend my interests to avoid violence. I¡¯ve sunk too much money into this to¡ª¡±

    A grimace overtook Xyrthe¡¯s face as she nodded. ¡°Too much money, huh?¡±

    Hoping to get the meeting back on track, Zaina interrupted, ¡°What can you tell us about these marauders?¡±

    Xyrthe shot her a murderous glance, which Zaina ignored.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Ondor said, his eyes now burning with anger, ¡°yes, the matter at hand¡ªReister Fell, that bastard, and his merry little band of fellows. Well, they¡¯re all outfitted with scavenged Allegiant Militarium tech, for one, though Fell saves the best for himself¡ªan enhanced warsuit, third gen. Retrofitted with whatever firepower they take off whoever we send. The only constant is the grav-blade that came with the suit. Whatever armor and weapons don¡¯t go on that warsuit go to his boys. As for their training, their methodology¡ªFell runs a tight ship. He¡¯s a former Synatorium lawman, and he¡¯s passed down his training to those under him. They¡¯re coordinated, smart, and lethal. And they very much enjoy what they do.¡±

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    ¡°What exactly does he want? Does he have any demands?¡± Zaina asked.

    ¡°None that he¡¯s made us aware of. As far as we know he¡¯s doing this for profit. As a matter of fact, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if one of our competitors is financing his actions to sabotage this project.¡±

    ¡°How long has he been there?¡±

    Ondor leaned back. ¡°Longer than us, certainly. He¡¯s been causing trouble ever since we touched foot planetside.¡±

    Zaina rubbed her chin. ¡°It would make sense if someone hired him¡ªthey¡¯d want their guy to be there first, right?¡±

    Ondor rubbed his hands together. ¡°Yes, I think that¡¯s very likely.¡±

    Xyrthe¡¯s head leaned to one side. ¡°What about the hostages?¡±

    ¡°What was that?¡±

    ¡°The hostages,¡± Xyrthe repeated. ¡°You mentioned he had some¡ªwhere did he get them? From the planet¡¯s surface? Did he bring them with to the planet?¡±

    Ondor¡¯s face hit all the right notes of sorrow¡ªhis lips pulled into a taut frown, his brow creased, his gaze fell to the ground¡ªbut his eyes were empty, devoid of emotion. In a low voice, he said, ¡°We believe they¡¯re holdovers from the imported population brought in to help sustain the military installations. People who lived on this world for several generations and saw it as a home even after the Synatorium pulled out¡ªsaw themselves as natives of a constructed world. I offered to relocate the people of Archavo Outpost, an offer which seemed to sit quite well with the village wardens. They brought it amongst themselves to discuss in a grand council, but the proceedings were interrupted by Fell.¡±

    Zaina stepped forward. ¡°He captured them?¡±

    ¡°He killed them,¡± Ondor replied. ¡°He massacred the lot of them, and anyone who wanted to take my offer, or even talk to me. The women, the children¡ªthey¡¯re believed to be the hostages. The rest were either absorbed into his group of mercenaries or killed.¡±

    Xyrthe¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°He slaughtered the population of an entire planet?¡±

    Ondor frowned. ¡°Do you think a planet with a high population would be considered by the Synatorium for resource retrieval? There were only a few thousand people on the planet¡¯s surface, centered around a few scattered colonies. I doubt it was hard to destroy entire villages at a time, especially before they expected anything.¡±

    She shook her head. ¡°You know, hearing all of that¡ªthe way you talk about this guy, it makes it hard to believe you want no bloodshed.¡±

    Ondor put a hand to his chest. ¡°I want no bloodshed. I cannot speak for Fell, and I don¡¯t believe he¡¯ll let it play that way.¡±

    With a sigh, Xyrthe threw her hands up. ¡°This sounds more like an assassination than any kind of peace offering. If it is, you could come out and say it.¡±

    Ondor glared at her. ¡°As I¡¯ve said¡ªI would prefer peace. However, if it does come to violence, can I rest assured that it will be properly handled?¡±

    Xyrthe turned to Zaina. ¡°Well? I don¡¯t really give a shit either way, so it¡¯s up to you. You want this to be your first real mission?¡±

    Zaina stared at the ground. The Order trusted Ondor, even if Xyrthe didn¡¯t¡ªhe couldn¡¯t be all bad, right? And Reister Fell sounded like a madman¡ªsomeone who needed to be stopped. More than anything, Zaina wanted her first mission to help people¡ªto make a difference. Maybe this was it.

    She nodded. Xyrthe groaned while Ondor clapped his hands together.

    ¡°Wonderful!¡± he said. ¡°Oh, this is excellent! I¡¯m sure the situation will be resolved in no time.¡±

    Xyrthe ran a hand down her face and then said, ¡°I¡¯ll inform the Order. By Byzon.¡±

    Zaina didn¡¯t care about her mentor¡¯s dour mood. This was¡ªapparently¡ªher first real mission as a lancer. Still not quite knowing what that meant, she smiled. ¡°So,¡± she asked Ondor, ¡°when do we leave?¡±

 Chapter Seventy-One: Arrival on Archavo

    ¡°The game is rigged, my friend. Vast public works projects across the galaxy¡ªwho gets the contracts? Whoever greased the right palms, that¡¯s who. So some border installation, or housing planet, or world-bridge gets built with public rebu from Synatorium charter taxes, and a few hundred years later, the damn things are always obsolete¡ªand who gets the contracts to tear them down? See, that¡¯s the problem with the Nova Rim¡ªthat¡¯s the mentality that¡¯s applied to everything.¡±

    ¡ªKeidra Chuialmar, former leader of the anti-Synatorium rebel group, The Red Hand, in a correspondence to one of her closest friends

    Zaina sat by one of the many hyper-glass windows on Ondor Almada¡¯s personal cruiser. The void their ship was travelling through mesmerized her; it was infinite, white nothingness stretching to the horizon. It was all too easy to lose track of time staring as the emptiness went by.

    There was a lull in the ship¡¯s movement, and Zaina¡¯s torso tilted. A voice came over the ship¡¯s intercom.

    ¡°Attention, passengers. We will be re-entering Nova Rim space in thirty seconds. After that, we will make our final approach to Archavo Outpost.¡±

    Zaina sighed. Whether she was ready or not, it was time for action. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, and when she opened them, they were out of the void. A beige world awaited outside the window.

    Another message came over the intercom. ¡°Attention, passengers. We have departed from voidspace and are making our final approach to Archavo Outpost. If the lancers would please begin making their way to the ship¡¯s exit¡ª¡±

    A familiar voice interrupted. ¡°Looks like they¡¯re already trying to put us to work.¡±

    Zaina turned toward Xyrthe. In a low voice, she said, ¡°I still don¡¯t understand why you hate him so much. He¡¯s been nothing but kind to us.¡±

    With a sigh, Xyrthe shook her head. ¡°Yeah, because he needs our help. If we were in his way¡ª¡±

    ¡°But we¡¯re not, are we?¡± Zaina asked.

    ¡°You have a lot to learn, kid. There¡¯s always a tension on missions like these. See, rich assholes like this guy think because they make big donations to the Order, we¡¯re basically their personal servants. That we can be bought like the rest of the galaxy. Everyone has a price, but not lancers. We work for the Order. On missions like this, we act at our own discretion.¡±

    Zaina frowned. ¡°So you¡¯re not going to follow orders?¡±

    ¡°Not if I don¡¯t like them,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°Look¡ªit doesn¡¯t matter. We¡¯re here, and they clearly want us to get to it.¡±

    Zaina followed Xyrthe through the sleek metal hallways of the luxury transport. Everything was tinted blue by long, thin panels of lighting housed in hand-carved wooden casings; hyper-glass bay windows were stationed every twenty feet. They passed the high-dollar suites, and then the worker cabins, and then the on-board greenhouse.

    Finally they arrived at the ship¡¯s departure terminal, a large tube with twin mechanical staircases that extended to contact the surface. Ondor was waiting for them at the exit with his arms spread wide.

    ¡°Hello, friends! I do hope you found the ride enjoyable. This cruiser cost me more than a small fortune, I tell you, but there¡¯s nothing quite like travelling the cosmos in style.¡±

    Xyrthe grumbled, so Zaina decided to be the ambassador. ¡°It was lovely, thank you.¡±

    ¡°And this was a short trip,¡± he said. ¡°You should come with us on a cruise out near Garis Helm¡¯s Lights¡ªthe view is breathtaking, and it¡¯ll be the most luxurious week you¡¯ll ever spend in a ship, I can promise you that.¡±

    ¡°I may take you up on that if I can,¡± Zaina said.

    Ondor clapped his hands together. ¡°Now! I won¡¯t waste any more of your time¡ªlet¡¯s get down there. You can meet my crew, and we can talk in further detail about how to proceed.¡±

    They made their way down the exit terminal. Ondor chatted excitedly, bragging about this and that.

    ¡°An exit terminal like this, they¡¯re rare, see. The cruiser has a size threshold to make this model possible, and a bigger size threshold to make them feasible with consideration to fuel, cargo, and the experience of flying. I decided long ago, if I had to venture out into space, I would do it in as much comfort at possible.¡±

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Zaina chuckled. ¡°Not much into space-travel, are you?¡±

    A wry grin took over Ondor¡¯s lips. ¡°Not the concept of it, no. Being in a metal box, exposed in space, so far from everything¡ªno, it¡¯s not quite the most relaxing experience at times. Our cruises are accompanied by protection vessels, so those are much less stressful.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t say I disagree,¡± Zaina said. She¡¯d hated the idea of flying ever since she was a farm-girl on Demelia¡ªthose few months felt like long years ago now.

    They arrived at the bottom of the terminal, greeted by endless dunes of sand surrounding a massive, fortress-like complex surrounded by a set of thick metal walls. Zaina raised a hand¡ªthe sun¡¯s light was blinding. Within seconds, she was sweating in her armor. There was no water and no plant or animal life in sight.

    Ondor stepped out, flanked by a team of guards headed by Randall. Each wore identical black armor and helmets and carried birifles at the ready. They moved whenever Randall raised his hands to show a specific signal.

    ¡°Welcome to Archavo Outpost,¡± Ondor said, motioning toward the fortress. ¡°It¡¯s a beauty, really. There used to be more all over the planet, but they¡¯ve been buried by the shifting sands.¡±

    Xyrthe sighed. ¡°Who the hell¡¯s idea was it to import so much sand?¡±

    ¡°Well, after the Militarium decommissioned the outpost as a border defense facility, they repurposed it as a training world to simulate desert combat. But when they decided to move most Militarium training to Vylensus and the Core Worlds, it was game over for Archavo Outpost as a viable military installation. It¡¯s too far inside the current border, and too far outside any established supply lines to even use as a refueling destination.¡±

    ¡°Typical,¡± Xyrthe said.

    Ondor shrugged. ¡°Hard work is sometimes wasted. Come now, let¡¯s get you introduced to the team. They¡¯ve been very excited to meet you.¡±

    The chairman turned and walked toward the fortress, surrounded by his guards. The cruiser¡¯s exit terminal receded into the ship, which hovered overhead. Zaina shot Xyrthe a glance¡ªher mentor couldn¡¯t appear more bored. With a sigh, Zaina followed Ondor; as soon as she started walking, Xyrthe tagged along.

    ¡°You know, kid,¡± she said, ¡°I don¡¯t think this mission is going to go very well.¡±

    Zaina rolled her eyes. ¡°What, you think we¡¯re gonna get got by a bunch of pirates?¡±

    With a shrug, Xyrthe said, ¡°Maybe. Don¡¯t overlook any threat. You¡¯re too young to be cocky. And remember¡ªthe pirates aren¡¯t the only threat.¡±

    Zaina shook her head. ¡°You really need to work on your trust issues.¡±

    ¡°Trust me, I have issues for a reason,¡± Xyrthe shot back.

    They approached the looming fortress walls, at least a hundred feet tall and smooth on the outside; the reflection it gave was muted, and its exterior was scraped and scratched by years of neglect in the sands. At the base was a ten-foot tall door toward which Ondor walked. The darkened hall leading through the walls was dimly lit by flickering ceiling panels, and the floor was covered in sand.

    On the other side was a multi-layered complex of buildings and platforms, all connected by a series of bridges; the upper levels were supported by spiraling metal pillars. Some platforms had grass and trees on them, and a few even had artificial lakes; the buildings were all uniform, similar in their rectangular shape and size, with sparse doors and windows.

    Zaina¡¯s mouth fell open. It was so unlike the world outside, and yet it shared an odd sense of loneliness. This was more prim and proper, but it was still abandoned. The numerous park benches and playground sets near residential buildings were empty, the metal rusted; a layer of sand covered the lower levels, and it was congregating on walkways and platforms on the mid-levels.

    ¡°This way,¡± Ondor said, snapping her out of her reverie. They walked to a platform and ascended one of the branching walkways, making their way up to a building on one of the upper levels. A guard was stationed outside the door, and two more patrolled nearby.

    The chairman kept talking as they went. ¡°Take a good look¡ªit may not look like much now, but in another ten years, all this material will be two parsecs over. We¡¯ve already got a buyer on the world of Irdelan¡ªI¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of Irdelan. Best vacation world in the Nova Rim for what my opinion¡¯s worth. Yes, most of this will be going to a resort moon orbiting the planet itself¡ªah, we¡¯ve arrived!¡±

    The guard nodded and pressed a button on his vis-screen, opening the door. Zaina stepped into a huge, open room with a decorative chandelier; marble statues and sculptures were positioned in every corner, while dead flower-boxes were positioned between them. Several desks and benches were scattered throughout, having been moved to make way for ten one-person tents. Six or seven people were loitering throughout the room, attending to different tasks.

    A Delegaran woman with green, smooth-looking skin covered in colorful tattoos snapped her head toward Zaina and Xyrthe. Her black eyes were wrought with suspicion as she stood and walked over. Her movements were graceful, even in bulky body armor.

    She turned to Ondor and asked, ¡°These them?¡±

    Ondor nodded and replied, ¡°Yes, indeed. These are the lancers who so graciously agreed to sort out this little mess.¡±

    The woman stopped next to Ondor and said, ¡°Heretics¡ªand lancers? I¡¯ve never met a lancer before, to be honest. Never even seen one. But I¡¯ve met plenty of heretics. Not very pleasant people, overall.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Zaina asked. ¡°Well, maybe your opinion will change after meeting us.¡±

    ¡°Doubtful,¡± the woman replied.

    Ondor rubbed his hands together and said, ¡°All right, now, let¡¯s get the introductions done so we can get down to what we¡¯re here for¡ªFredan, Ardual, get over here.¡±

    A bald human male with robot arms attached to his backpack turned toward them. He wore black-tinted goggles and a sleeveless shirt, and carried an odd tool in his hand. On the table behind him was a glyph emitting sparks. With a sigh, the man walked over.

    Then, a Jovelian stood, dressed in black battle-armor similar to the woman¡¯s. He had great, thick tusks jutting upward from his lower lip, and stood over nine feet tall, with broad shoulders and massive hands. A long, thick tail was wrapped around his waist as a makeshift belt, and his skin had light-green fur covering nearly every inch of his body. His eyes were red and angry, and a large frown was plastered beneath his protruding snout. The ground shook as he approached.

    ¡°So these are the ones who you trust to bring Fell to justice?¡± the Jovelian asked, effortlessly bellowing his deep voice. ¡°They¡¯re puny¡ªjust like the last ones.¡±

 Chapter Seventy-Two: Into the Desert

    ¡°These massive public works projects, taking mind-boggling amounts of resources from worlds in an attempt to terraform constructed worlds, have resulted in the creation of jobs, yes. That is not in dispute. The question is, whether a billion or a trillion jobs are created in this line of work, what is really being accomplished by the work itself?¡±

    ¡ªTobiese Gornam, political activist

    The human male stepped forward and said, ¡°If you all wouldn¡¯t mind, I¡¯m very busy¡ªcan we get this over with?¡±

    Ondor shook his head, then said, ¡°Very well, then. Ardual, I¡¯ll leave the introductions to you.¡±

    The Jovelian nodded and gestured toward the woman. ¡°This is Veimla Tescoll, but we call her Deadeye. She¡¯s got a chip in her brain that makes it awfully hard for her to miss¡ªand makes her terrible at warning shots, doesn¡¯t it, darling?¡±

    Veimla smiled. ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    ¡°And this,¡± the Jovelian waved toward the human, ¡°is Fredan Lobiox. Goes by Spiderpede. That suit on his back is his own design, and it can rip the arm off a Raolgrian with zero effort. He just needs to work on his inter-personal skills.¡±

    Without skipping a beat, Fredan asked, ¡°Can I get back to my baby now?¡±

    The Jovelian rolled his eyes, sighed, and gave a nod. Then, he straightened up and said, ¡°And I am Ardual, three-hundred and ninety-first to carry the family title; you may see I hail from Jovelos, where I earned my name: Dreich-master. I am a captain in the Derin Bas Mercenary Guild¡ªas are my two associates.¡±

    ¡°Seems like you¡¯re in charge, though,¡± Xyrthe said.

    ¡°I am,¡± Ardual replied. ¡°I was given command of this detail by my lieutenant. Perhaps he knew of its importance¡ªI¡¯ve never failed a mission, and I refuse to fail this one.¡±

    Ondor cleared his throat. Then, in a low voice, he said, ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re wondering why they¡¯re here. This is my backup plan. If you are unable to deal with Fell, I will have no choice but to use my last resort.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re heretics,¡± Veimla said, her eyes narrowed into a sharp glare. ¡°Are you sure we can trust them?¡±

    Ardual leaned back and emitted a deep, throaty chuckle. ¡°Heretic, lancer¡ªwhat¡¯s it matter? They¡¯re puny, anyway. Besides, I¡¯m not the one paying them to be here.¡±

    Xyrthe turned toward Ardual and said in a serious voice, ¡°No one is paying us to be here.¡±

    The Jovelian¡¯s laugh intensified. Once he¡¯d calmed, he said, ¡°That¡¯s right¡ªyou don¡¯t even get paid by the Order, do you? They make your way for everything. Can¡¯t imagine that, working for room and board. Me, I¡¯ve always had an eye for rebu and a taste for the exquisite in life.¡±

    Crossing her arms, Xyrthe shot back, ¡°It¡¯s not like you could be a lancer if you wanted, anyway.¡±

    ¡°Ha!¡± Ardual said. ¡°I like this one. I have a feeling you¡¯re going to do great.¡±

    Xyrthe grumbled something under her breath. Again, Zaina was forced to be the adult of the two. She stepped forward and said, ¡°So, anything we should know?¡±

    Ardual scratched his head and said, ¡°We¡¯ve got a few transports if you want one; desert riders with a little extra charge in the engines. You want to close fast, you need speed¡ªyou¡¯ll need that and some luck if you don¡¯t want to get blown away before you even see Fell.¡±

    After a sigh, Xyrthe said, ¡°And here I was, thinking this wasn¡¯t a straight-up assassination.¡±

    Veimla shrugged. ¡°He¡¯s got long-range firepower. Not just scraps, either. If you want to brave all that to get in earshot of him, be our guest. Then we do things our way.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°Zaina, I think we¡¯ve heard enough, right? You still want to do this?¡±

    Without hesitation, Zaina turned to her mentor and nodded, staring into her eyes.

    A dour expression came over Xyrthe¡¯s face. ¡°Well, I think we know everything we need. Where¡¯s that transport?¡±

    Ondor clapped his hands together. ¡°Wonderful! I¡¯ll lead the way!¡±

    Ardual returned to sitting down, leaning back against a wall to rest; Veimla kept her eyes trained on Zaina and Xyrthe as she pulled up her vis-screen. Zaina shrugged and followed the chairman.

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    Leaning close to Xyrthe, she said, ¡°You think something¡¯s fishy here?¡±

    Xyrthe glared and hissed, ¡°Not here.¡±

    They made their way back down the series of walkways comprising Archavo Outpost, descending to the other side of the facility; there they came upon a harbor of sorts attached to the outer wall. Inside were long, flat desert riders with massive engines strapped to their back. Whatever railways were left on the sides were rusted to hell. Aside from that, two terrestrial fighters were docked adjacent to one another with two tattooed human women standing beside them. Each wore a black pilot suit and held a helmet by their side.

    Ondor pointed and said, ¡°That¡¯s Gronda and Qendil, two of the fiercest pilots in the Nova Rim. I have them on retainer as well in case things go astray.¡±

    One of the pilots stared Zaina down and spat. In a low voice, Zaina said, ¡°I take it they¡¯re not keen on introductions.¡±

    ¡°You could certainly say that. Now, let¡¯s get you into one of these riders.¡±

    The desert rider¡¯s bodies were mounted atop a set of three ten-foot poles atop elongated feet to aid in maneuvering through the shifting sands; a ladder dropped from the center of the body.

    Ondor rubbed his hands together. ¡°They¡¯re not much, I¡¯m afraid, but what with my limited budget and all¡ª¡±

    Xyrthe frowned. ¡°Well, Zaina? What do you think? Awfully exposed to gunfire, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyebrow rose. ¡°What, you think we should walk?¡±

    Xyrthe¡¯s lips pulled into a taut frown¡ªher thinking face. Zaina tapped her toes against the ground waiting for an answer.

    Then, a half-smile crossed Xyrthe¡¯s lips. Zaina knew that face, too¡ªher mentor had an idea, and it was better not to ask about it here. With a resigned sigh, Zaina climbed up the ladder of the desert rider.

    Without checking to see if Xyrthe had joined, Zaina walked over to the control panel near central starboard atop the ship¡¯s long frame; the buttons and levers appeared ancient. Several quick-fixes over the years had clearly added up to quite a bit of needed repair work¡ªpanels were missing, with wires rerouted and tucked into other panels; some of the dashboard¡¯s lever casings were held together with adhesive strips, and more than a few icons and dials were glued to their homes.

    Zaina sighed. Even if it had been working perfectly, she still had no idea how to operate it. Her mentor strolled over with a smirk. ¡°Need some help there, commando?¡±

    Though she hated giving Xyrthe this, there was little choice in the matter. ¡°Yes, please.¡±

    Xyrthe shrugged. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know how to run one of these. Looks like I¡¯ll have to bust out Chimara.¡±

    Zaina scoffed and crossed her arms. Xyrthe reached around to her back, under her TAC-shawl, and retrieved her glyph¡ªlovingly nicknamed Chimara, meaning ¡®beautiful,¡¯ in Xyrthe¡¯s native tongue.

    ¡°You and this thing,¡± Zaina muttered.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Xyrthe said, turning to jam a finger in Zaina¡¯s face. ¡°You don¡¯t speak on Chimara. Understand? She¡¯s got seniority on you.¡±

    Zaina gave a deep, heaving sigh. ¡°You like that thing more than me.¡±

    ¡°There you go, kid, now you¡¯re starting to get it.¡± Xyrthe turned to Chimara and pushed a button. The glyph gave a smooth, whirring hum and whizzed to life, beeping giddily. Chimara floated out of Xyrthe¡¯s open palms and into the air with a happy chirp.

    ¡°Greetings, Xyrthe! How can I be of assistance to you today?¡±

    With a stupid grin on her face, Xyrthe replied, ¡°Chimara, can you please plug into this ancient dashboard and analyze its systems, see if you can¡¯t get it going?¡±

    The glyph emitted a pleasant beep and said, ¡°Anything for you, Xyrthe!¡±

    Zaina scowled at the little glyph, floating around all happy. Xyrthe labored over her AI companion, customizing ¡®her¡¯ (as Xyrthe insisted Chimara be referred to as a girl at all times) so that her settings were finely tuned with Xyrthe¡¯s moods. If she spent half as much time training Zaina as she did programming her stupid glyph, Zaina would be a High Lancer by now.

    The glyph hovered near the dashboard. ¡°Hello, Miss Zaina. May I please ask that you step aside thirteen inches? The port I need to access is right behind you!¡±

    Zaina grumbled and stormed away, leaving Xyrthe to dote on the glyph. The desert rider¡¯s engines roared to life, then fell to a low hum. A massive door on the harbor¡¯s wall-side creaked and groaned as it slowly opened.

    Chimara beeped and said, ¡°This Machraton Model D-4 is capable of several speeds, as well as an illegally implemented high-speed function involving the turbo engines. How would you like to proceed?¡±

    Xyrthe smiled and said, ¡°Low speed ought to do it for now. We¡¯ll conserve the fancy stuff in case we need it. Thank you, Chimara.¡±

    ¡°Anything for you, Xyrthe! Awaiting the bay door now.¡±

    ¡°Hey!¡± Ondor called from below. Zaina peered over the edge of the desert rider.

    The chairman continued, ¡°Be well, and proceed with caution! If ever there was pure evil, Reister Fell is its name!¡±

    Zaina waved goodbye as the rider lurched forward. The door opened to a desert sea, and the transport¡¯s elongated feet instantly sank into the dunes, giving Zaina a start; her hands gripped the railing so hard she tore a piece of the rusting metal clean off. With a grunt, she tossed it aside and sat down as the rider evened out, the poles halfway submerged in sand.

    ¡°Biome entry sequence completed,¡± Chimara chirped. ¡°Now accelerating to directed speed.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Xyrthe said, then turned to approach Zaina as the glyph reprised its signature phrase.

    Xyrthe sat down and clapped her on the shoulder. ¡°Exactly like you wanted, right? Now, let¡¯s kill this bastard and be done with it.¡±

    ¡°I mean¡ª¡± Zaina said, then cut herself off with a grunt.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±

    Xyrthe shook her head. ¡°No, out with it. Come on.¡±

    ¡°I¡ªit doesn¡¯t have to come to end like that, right? I mean, there are more ways to bring a bad person to justice than killing them. Maybe we can capture him, turn him in.¡±

    Xyrthe laughed. Warmth flushed into Zaina¡¯s cheeks.

    ¡°What?¡± she asked.

    ¡°You¡¯re hopelessly optimistic, you know that?¡±

    Zaina didn¡¯t know how to respond.

    Xyrthe continued, ¡°I mean, look, I get it. You¡¯re new. But take it from my experience¡ªthese things always get ugly. Are you ready for that?¡±

    Without hesitation, Zaina answered, ¡°I am.¡±

    Xyrthe turned away. ¡°All right, rook. We¡¯ll see.¡±

    A sharp, resolute breath rushed from Zaina¡¯s nostrils as she nodded. Then she turned her attention to the desert hills passing by. Aside from the fortress behind them, there was nothing in sight.

    Her lips pulled into a frown. I guess we have a ways to go.

 Chapter Seventy-Three: Mission Misgivings

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid the rebels have developed more ruthless tactics as a result of losing ground in the reclamation effort. Our captured are returning to us mutilated beyond recognition, except for their AM ticket. The coroner¡¯s reports have given me night terrors for the past two months. They know they can¡¯t stop us, so they¡¯re doing every damn thing they can to hurt anyone they can get their hands on.¡±

    ¡ªMercenary Captain Ragnus Velk, in vis-correspondence with Chairwoman Illiatar Pratum, in relation to surface marauders on a planet set for resource acquisition

    Zaina leaned over the edge of the desert rider as its skis glided through the sands below. Chimara was beeping happily as she steered the transport, and Xyrthe was leaned back against the control dashboard with her eyes closed.

    Zaina¡¯s mentor reached toward her glyph. ¡°Let me know when we¡¯re about ten more miles out, all right?¡±

    Turning toward Xyrthe, Zaina asked, ¡°So why do you hate them¡ª¡±

    ¡°Not now,¡± Xyrthe said curtly. A frown came over Zaina¡¯s lips, but she didn¡¯t say a word. Frustration and anger were boiling in her chest. Why did her mentor always have to be so difficult?

    A deep sigh came from Xyrthe, who asked, ¡°All right, kid¡ªwhat gives? Why is this so important to you?¡±

    Zaina wrapped her arms around her knees and curled up. ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t know? Really? That¡¯s a shit answer.¡±

    Staring at the ground, Zaina replied, ¡°When I first met Gir, and found out I could be like him, I thought it meant I¡¯d be a hero.¡±

    Xyrthe scoffed. ¡°Not likely with the mark.¡±

    ¡°Oh, whatever. Look, I want to do work that matters. I want to help people, make the galaxy a safer and fairer place. If I have to kill anyone, I want to make sure it¡¯s someone the Nova Rim is better off without. And this guy¡ªReister Fell¡ªit sounds like he¡¯s a pretty bad person.¡±

    A contemplative frown settled over Xyrthe¡¯s face. Then, she stared into Zaina¡¯s eyes and said, ¡°So if we get rid of all the right people, the Nova Rim will be better off?¡±

    Zaina scowled. ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡¯m saying.¡±

    ¡°Then what are you saying?¡±

    Pulling her legs closer to her chest, she said, ¡°I want what I do to leave the galaxy better off. To be¡ªyou know, heroic.¡±

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    ¡°Heroic, huh?¡± Xyrthe asked. ¡°A word of advice about the job, kid: it¡¯s only heroic until you do it. Trust me, I¡¯ve been there. I¡¯ve killed some really, really bad people. And when I was done, it was me standing there covered in their blood. All those shitty feelings I had were still right there inside me; and every evil thing they¡¯d done still happened. The galaxy still saw me as an outsider. It didn¡¯t change a thing.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, well, I¡¯m not like you,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°No, you¡¯re not,¡± Xyrthe replied in a low, sorrowful tone. ¡°Let me give you a tip: don¡¯t expect any catharsis out of anything that happens here. You¡¯re not gonna find enlightenment, or be fulfilled, or even feel better after this is all said and done. You¡¯re better off turning off the tap. Do what you¡¯re told, and don¡¯t be too invested in it. The more invested you get, the more you open yourself up.¡±

    ¡°To what?¡±

    Xyrthe glared. ¡°Well, if you get too invested, you might overlook something¡ªa detail that comes back to bite you in the ass; or you might trust someone you shouldn¡¯t, thinking they¡¯re a good person; or you might not be able to do what needs doing when the time comes. You could get overly emotional, attached to some aspect of the mission. And if shit goes wrong, being invested just means getting hurt more. Trust me, kid. If you don¡¯t pre-learn this lesson, life¡¯ll beat it into you. It¡¯s especially true for us. There¡¯s never gonna be a parade. Never a moment where the galaxy stands up and recognizes us for killing the right people the right way or apologizes for what we¡¯ve lost, what we¡¯ve been forced to endure. We live, we do our jobs, we die. That¡¯s all there is to it as far as they¡¯re concerned.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re awfully talkative,¡± Zaina said. ¡°I thought we couldn¡¯t trust these guys.¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t,¡± Xyrthe said, then turned to face her glyph. ¡°Hey, Chimara, would you please run a scan on our current trajectory?¡±

    ¡°Right away, Xyrthe!¡± the glyph chirped. ¡°It appears there are two separate concentrations of life-forms¡ªone with sixty-seven, and one with nine; the smaller group is closer. Neither is on our direct trajectory, but a slight correction to course will allow us to meet with either. Would you like to encounter either group?¡±

    Zaina leaned toward them and said, ¡°Ondor said Fell has h¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hey, now,¡± Xyrthe interrupted. ¡°Don¡¯t be rude. Chimara has grown accustomed to a certain level of decorum. Thank you, Chimara.¡±

    The glyph chirped with happiness. ¡°Anything for you, Xyrthe!¡±

    She then gestured toward Zaina. ¡°All right, now go.¡±

    Now glaring, Zaina said between gritted teeth, ¡°Fell has hostages. He¡¯s probably with the bigger group, right?¡±

    Xyrthe rubbed her chin. ¡°Right. Which means the other group is probably some kind of screening force.¡±

    ¡°So we should go for the bigger group,¡± Zaina said. ¡°Take Fell on directly¡ª¡±

    Xyrthe shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s smart to leave those nine out here, rook. If they¡¯re working with Fell, he¡¯ll recall them as soon as he¡¯s attacked. And fighting at range in two directions is usually a no-go for us.¡±

    Frustration tied knots in Zaina¡¯s chest, her lips pulling into a frown as she pondered how to approach the situation.

    Chimara¡¯s cheery voice carved through the silence. ¡°Xyrthe, we¡¯ve now travelled ten miles!¡±

    ¡°Excellent¡ªbring us to a halt,¡± Xyrthe said.

    Zaina¡¯s eyes narrowed in suspicion. ¡°A halt¡ªwhat are we doing?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re stopping for a minute.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡±

    Crossing her arms, Zaina asked, ¡°We¡¯re stopping because you¡¯re hungry?¡±

    Xyrthe gestured around them. ¡°Do you see a place to start a fire up here?¡±

    ¡°Pretty lame excuse, if you ask me,¡± Zaina muttered to herself, wondering what her mentor was up to.

 Chapter Seventy-Four: Good Guys, Bad Guys

    ¡°Anyone who says pretty much any serious topic is simple is usually some combination of stupid and malicious.¡±

    ¡ªRezori Afaraium, Professor of Non-Linear Mathematics at The Vylensus Institute of Mathematics

    Once the desert rider came to a stop, Chimara detached from the control panel and rested on Xyrthe¡¯s shoulder. The glyph was whispering something into Xyrthe¡¯s ear, too low for Zaina to make out. Her mentor nodded, her expression solemn.

    ¡°Hey, rook,¡± Xyrthe called out. ¡°You get down there and get the fire started, all right? I want to, uh, run a test.¡±

    Even though Zaina knew Xyrthe had mischief in mind, she couldn¡¯t think of a reason to protest; she climbed down the ladder and started kicking at the sand to make a pit.

    Xyrthe peeked her head over the edge of the transport and shouted, ¡°Not right beneath the rider, dummy!¡±

    Zaina groaned and walked twenty feet clear of the desert rider before starting to clear another fire-pit. A metallic shriek burrowed into her ears¡ªher head swiveled toward the desert rider. Xyrthe had plunged her cipher¡ªa bright-blue spear with streaks of red running from tip to bottom¡ªinto the heart of their transport. Foul, black smoke emitted where it was pierced.

    Zaina reached out, mouth opening to shout; before a word came out, Xyrthe retrieved her cipher and leaped into the air. With a grunt, she heaved the spear downward, striking the desert rider in the same spot and running it through¡ªwith an ear-splitting shriek, the transport burst into flames. It rumbled and creaked, then broke apart, each burning piece falling into the sands.

    Xyrthe, with her propulsion system active, glided to the ground near Zaina, who had her hand raised and was shaking.

    In a loud, trembling voice, she asked, ¡°Wh¡ªwhat the hell was that about?¡±

    A smirk spread over Xyrthe¡¯s lips. ¡°I have my reasons.¡±

    ¡°What? No!¡± Zaina stood and took deep breaths, trying to quell her racing heartbeat and stop her body¡¯s shaking. Then she shouted, ¡°That¡¯s not good enough! You need to tell me what¡¯s going on right now!¡±

    A deep sigh erupted from Xyrthe as she tilted her head back. ¡°Fine.¡± She met Zaina¡¯s gaze. ¡°That transport was bugged.¡±

    ¡°How could you possibly know that?¡±

    ¡°Chimara ran some diagnostics on the changes made to the rider,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°It had an implanted recording device so our friend Ondor could listen in on our conversation, make sure we were still on a path that benefitted him. Now we can talk freely.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s mouth was agape as she shook her head. ¡°Next time warn me when you¡¯re going to do something stupid like that!¡±

    Xyrthe shrugged. ¡°I couldn¡¯t. If I warned you, it would¡¯ve given it away to Ondor over the recorder. This way, maybe he thinks the marauders did it.¡±

    At the end of her rope, Zaina shouted, ¡°What do you have against him, anyway?! He¡¯s done nothing to us this whole time! So what if he wants to put recorders on his transports, hear what people are saying? Why do you think he¡¯s so evil?¡±

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    ¡°Because I¡¯ve met people like him before,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°People¡ªlancers¡ªentire worlds, they¡¯re all just transactions to him. I had him pegged the moment I met him.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, well,¡± Zaina replied, heat rising in her neck and cheeks, ¡°maybe he¡¯s that bad, maybe he¡¯s not¡ªbut either way, isn¡¯t stopping Reister Fell a positive? Isn¡¯t this what we¡¯re supposed to do¡ªstop dangerous bad guys?¡±

    Xyrthe scoffed. ¡°I doubt this Reister Fell¡¯s half as dangerous as that bloated idiot Ondor says. If he really was this awful, terror-inducing warlord, do you think Ondor would even come to this planet in person¡ªmuch less without a much, much bigger private army? I mean, he¡¯s got what, four or five people on his personal detail? And this Fell is supposed to be some blood-thirsty, unstoppable force¡ªno, I don¡¯t buy it.¡±

    Zaina threw her hands up. ¡°Then what¡¯s the play? We go back to Ondor, tell him he¡¯s the real villain here, and ignore Fell? Go back to the Order and explain to them why one of their donors isn¡¯t going to be able to make contributions anymore?¡±

    With an incredulous expression, Xyrthe said, ¡°Do you actually think the Order cares about any one donor? It¡¯s not like the galaxy has a shortage of rich assholes who think they can buy their way into having us as their personal mercenaries.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s jaw dropped¡ªshe was at a loss for words. As her gaze fell to the ground, her shoulders slumped, her body sinking under an invisible weight.

    Xyrthe sighed and closed her eyes. With a shake of her head, she said, ¡°Look¡ªI have no doubt Reister Fell¡¯s a bad person. It doesn¡¯t have to be one or the other. They can both be dicks. If this mission is still really what you want to do, I¡¯ll help because I kind of have to. But if we go through with it, expect me to complain.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t much, but it was enough to return a spark of enthusiasm to Zaina, lightening the weight; she perked up and said, ¡°I still do. Ondor may be bad like you say, but I¡¯ll bet Fell¡¯s worse¡ªand we can do something about him right now.¡±

    A yelp escaped Zaina¡¯s lips as Xyrthe clapped her on the back. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit¡ªchoosing violence. Now you¡¯re a true lancer, through and through.¡±

    The spark was gone as quickly as it came. Zaina shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s not what this is about. I don¡¯t want to hurt anyone. But I don¡¯t want anyone else to get hurt, either. And that means¡ª¡±

    ¡°Stopping bad people, yes. You¡¯ve already said that,¡± Xyrthe said, rolling her eyes. ¡°Pretty simplistic view of the universe, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you think, too?¡± Zaina asked, annoyance spilling over into her voice.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Well, you think Ondor and other people like him are bad, don¡¯t you? Isn¡¯t that a little simplistic?¡±

    An amused smile crossed Xyrthe¡¯s lips. ¡°Well, maybe we¡¯re not so different after all.¡±

    Zaina threw her hands up. ¡°You¡¯re impossible, you know that?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, well,¡± Xyrthe said lazily, ¡°no one ever said I was easy to work with. Come on, rook, get ready for a long walk. I have a feeling those marauders are gonna catch wind of us.¡±

    Under her breath, Zaina said, ¡°Yeah, probably because you blew up our transport.¡±

    ¡°What was that?¡±

    Zaina¡¯s mouth opened to say, ¡°Nothing,¡± but the word wouldn¡¯t come. Instead she replied, ¡°I said, probably because you blew up our transport.¡±

    To Zaina¡¯s surprise, her mentor wasn¡¯t angry. Xyrthe nodded and said, ¡°I¡¯m glad you had the balls to say it to my face.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have¡ª¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter!¡± Xyrthe said in a stern voice. ¡°You really want to sail through the desert on a thing like this, anyway? Look at it¡ªwe have no cover on that top deck. If we get attacked, we¡¯re completely exposed from every direction. Our only play would be to jump down, probably under heavy fire. And what do I say about being midair in a gunfight?¡±

    Zaina rolled her eyes and said, ¡°Never be midair in a gunfight.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. You¡¯re making yourself an easy target for people with processing chips¡ªlike our friend Veimla back there. Look, the point is, those desert riders were probably designed for peacetime transport through uncontested territory. If we rode in on that thing we¡¯d get fucked up.¡±

    A frustrated grunt escaped Zaina¡¯s lips, prickling her throat. ¡°So what, then? We walk through the desert and hope the marauders don¡¯t notice us?¡±

    Xyrthe snort-laughed. ¡°You really think these pirates don¡¯t have scanning equipment that can pinpoint active engines? Or eyes that can see a fucking ten-foot desert rider sailing the sands? Get real. They probably already know about us, and besides, what¡¯s done is done, anyway. We¡¯re walking.¡±

    ¡°Right now?¡± Zaina asked. ¡°I thought you were hungry!¡±

    Xyrthe¡¯s lips pulled into a taut frown as she shook her head. ¡°Sometimes I wonder about you, kid.¡±

    Without another word, Xyrthe turned and continued on the same path as before. A deep sigh rushed from Zaina¡¯s chest before she followed her mentor into the twisting sands on foot.

 Chapter Seventy-Five: Marauders

    ¡°Assume anyone reaving the surface of an abandoned world is capable of anything.¡±

    ¡ªGeneral Sigom Brackitt of the Alliance of Worlds

    An hour passed before either of them spoke. Xyrthe broke the silence.

    ¡°Hey, rook.¡±

    ¡°Hm?¡± Zaina replied, not bothering to turn toward her mentor.

    ¡°Hey¡ªZaina, stop.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t often that Xyrthe used Zaina¡¯s real name. When she did, it was serious. Zaina froze in place, her heart starting to speed up. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°We might have a situation on our hands,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°Remember those nine people randomly out and about in the desert?¡±

    ¡°They found us?¡±

    Xyrthe nodded. ¡°It¡¯s possible¡ªthey¡¯re closing fast in our general direction. Looks like they have a transport of their own.¡±

    Heart fluttering, a cold flush of panic was coursing through Zaina¡¯s system. ¡°Wh¡ªwhat are we going to do?¡±

    Xyrthe rubbed her chin. ¡°Well, we might not have to do anything. Their trajectory¡¯s a little off from us. They might be headed to the wreck of our desert rider.¡±

    ¡°Well, if that¡¯s true¡ª¡±

    A grin crossed Xyrthe¡¯s face. ¡°Then we might get the jump on these fuckers.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s gaze fell to the sand below, her mind twisting in knots of worry and fear. Beads of sweat dripped down her face as her hand balled up into a fist, her heart racing. Then, something clapped her shoulder, snapping her out of it¡ªXyrthe.

    ¡°Worried about your first fight as a real lancer?¡±

    Not wanting to show her concern, Zaina forced herself to smile and said, ¡°Oh, so you think I¡¯m a real lancer, then?¡±

    Xyrthe chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ve certainly got the look down. Now comes the hard part. I¡¯ll bet the two of us could kill all nine of those bastards, but only if you¡¯re completely ready to do whatever it takes. Understand? You have to be committed.¡±

    Zaina nodded, averting her gaze. ¡°I understand. Yes. I¡¯m ready.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Xyrthe asked. ¡°Don¡¯t say you¡¯re ready if you aren¡¯t. If you hesitate, you¡¯ll get both of us killed. You have to have my back on this. If you¡¯re not ready, I can come up with another plan¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡±

    ¡°Stand up straight, then,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°Let¡¯s get back to the wreck. Hopefully we make it there before them or while they¡¯re still investigating it. I¡¯ll tell you the plan on the way.¡±

    ¡°What if they¡¯re tracking us, and not the rider?¡± Zaina asked.

    With a shrug, Xyrthe said, ¡°Then we probably die.¡±

    Then, she turned and doubled back toward the wrecked desert rider. A frustrated sigh escaped Zaina¡¯s lips as her eyes darted over every horizon of the shifting sands, hyper-aware to any potential threats.

    Again they walked in silence, but the still quiet that settled over them this time was different; worry oppressively weighed on Zaina¡¯s mind, fearing her first taste of true combat as a lancer. She¡¯d survived Demelia, sure, even ¡®fought¡¯ the Eldritch¡ªgot lucky, more like; and against Ovela Midor¡ªthe heretic spy in the Order of Riiva¡ªshe got pretty lucky, too, only losing an arm. Amid the chaos of a gunfight, there was no telling what could happen¡ªand they were bringing swords.

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    After a while Xyrthe stopped and crouched; Zaina followed suit. Xyrthe pulled the vis-screen on her wrist up.

    ¡°Less than a mile out,¡± she said in a low voice. Chimara beeped and whispered something, and then Xyrthe continued, ¡°Thank you, Chimara. They¡¯re already at the wreck. Stay low.¡±

    Heart pumping too fast for comfort, Zaina asked, ¡°Do you have some kind of plan, at least?¡±

    Xyrthe rubbed her chin. ¡°Yes and no. It depends on how spread out they are, what kind of transports they have, what kind of perimeter, if any, they¡¯ve set up. Probably want to kick off the ambush with a grenade, get them off-balance before we close in¡ªor, if they haven¡¯t properly secured the perimeter, we can sneak in and plant the grenades before attacking. See? It depends.¡±

    Zaina rubbed her clammy fingers together. Sweat drenched her entire body, though she still had plenty of energy. Her lips pulled into a tight frown, and she nodded with a sharp, resigned exhale.

    Xyrthe stayed as close to the ground as possible as they made the last leg of their journey. The sand dunes gave them cover from their enemies at range, but also kept their enemies out of sight¡ªwith every ascent up the side of one of the sloping giants, Zaina¡¯s heartbeat would quicken, wondering if this was the hill over which her enemies waited¡ªover which her life could end.

    They were making their way up one of the dunes when Xyrthe stopped, motioning for Zaina to do the same; she then laid prostrate on the sand. Clanking sounds chimed from over the hill, and a handful of scattered voices traded barbs.

    Once Zaina copied her, Xyrthe leaned over and whispered, ¡°That¡¯s them. We¡¯re going to crawl up and get a good look.¡±

    Not wanting to show how afraid she was, Zaina nodded, then swallowed a lump in her throat. She shimmied her way up the dune¡ªthe coarse sand got everywhere, in her TAC-shawl, her armor, her under-suit; it even stuck to her face and neck, clinging to the layer of sweat. It felt like scraping her body against sandpaper.

    Finally, the pulled up to the dune¡¯s peak and peeked over. There, surrounding the wreck below, were indeed nine people, all appearing to be pirates; they wore black armor¡ªsimilar to what Ondor Almada¡¯s guards wore, but an older model, and with no helmets¡ªand each was disheveled, unshaven, and dirty. Four of them had birifles slung to their back, and four others had resonedges and pistols strapped to their waists. Two long-bodied rectangular transports were humming at the bottom of the adjacent dune, their armor having rusted after years in the sun. Their cargo doors were thrown open, and makeshift scrap-turrets had been attached atop the hulls of both.

    The last pirate, seemingly the leader, had a collection of pistols strapped to his belt; his chest covering was identical to the rest, but a black cape was draped over the pauldrons which protected his shoulders. His arms were covered in segmented sleeves of gunmetal-gray armor lined with pearl stripes, and similarly colored machinery ran up his neck and half his face, coalescing into a single, red eye. He appeared to have been human at one point, with pale skin, black hair, and brown eyes. Zaina wondered how much human was left in his body.

    They were in the midst of conversation, and spoke loudly enough that Zaina could hear. It seemed they were arguing about how the rider got damaged.

    ¡°I¡¯m telling you,¡± one of the human resonedge wielders said, ¡°Ondor did it himself so he could blame Fell. I mean, two lancers? The Synatorium would have to sign off on a restraint-release for that.¡±

    A shelled, scale-skinned Ilbradian replied, ¡°No, no, no. I¡¯m telling you, it was probably an accident. I¡¯ll bet they didn¡¯t know how to ride one of these. They¡¯re going to be close by.¡±

    The eight marauders all talked over each other, waving their hands as they argued emphatically; this made it impossible for Zaina to distinguish anything until the leader raised his hand. Within two seconds, every one of the pirates fell completely silent.

    ¡°Pylo,¡± he said in a raspy, mechanical voice, ¡°go back to the ship. Get the organic scanners online.¡±

    A young, skinny human male stepped forward. ¡°But, Captain¡ªthe battery¡ª¡±

    The cybernetic captain replied, ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear about the damn battery, get it online! Our priority is to search and destroy. Whether they fell off, were sabotaged, or attacked by someone else¡ªwe need to know what happened to them. If they¡¯re dead, we need bodies as evidence. No one¡¯s said anything on comms, so we can¡¯t assume they¡¯ve been intercepted.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Captain Gilvus,¡± one of the biriflers said before running over to one of the transports. Zaina¡¯s heart was beating faster and faster¡ª

    Suddenly, something touched Zaina¡¯s shoulder. A yelp escaped her lips¡ªher chest tightened as she turned toward Xyrthe, who had been trying to get her attention.

    Voices came from over the hill¡ªalong with the sharp hums and clicks of birifles activating, and the deep whirs as resonedges flared to life. ¡°What was that?¡±

    ¡°A diggrathe?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no wild animals here, you idiot. That¡¯s probably them!¡±

    Captain Gilvus¡¯s mechanical voice spoke over them. ¡°Fallo. Talon. Albrisk. You check it out. The rest of you, be on the lookout for anyone ¡®til we get that scanner online. We don¡¯t want any surprises.¡±

    Zaina gulped, cursing herself under her breath. Her anxiety and fear was going to get them killed. Xyrthe had an amused smile on her face as she leaned in and whispered, ¡°Hey, kid, it¡¯s all right. I have a plan to get their attention. You¡¯ve got grenades¡ªuse them.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Zaina asked, still trying to process the situation.

    Xyrthe stood up and raised her hands. ¡°Hey, hey, hey, now, no need for things to get messy. I surrender.¡±

 Chapter Seventy-Six: Lancers Gambit

    ¡°Never underestimate beginner¡¯s luck. It¡¯s more than luck, really, it¡¯s intuition. Not thinking because you don¡¯t even know the first thing to think of, you simply act, rolling the dice. And when chance is in the air, anything is anyone¡¯s game so long as they play.¡±

    ¡ªCreodol 867, famed Jovelian general, in his writing, On Combat, Part 7: Generational Preparation and Vigilance

    Zaina stared in horror as her mentor casually walked over the dune¡¯s peak.

    That was her plan? she thought, heart pounding as she pressed her back to the dune to hide from the enemies. Still, she had to act fast¡ªXyrthe was in danger, and their scanner would tell them about Zaina. She¡¯d only have the element of surprise for a little bit longer.

    Captain Gilvus¡¯s mechanical voice rang out. ¡°Sure you¡¯re alone out here?¡±

    Xyrthe replied, ¡°A-yup. Thought I could come here for an easy score.¡±

    ¡°Guess not.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, guess not.¡±

    After a pause, Gilvus said, ¡°A heretic, eh?¡±

    Zaina peeked over the side of the hill again, forcing her trembling arms and legs to move. Xyrthe had reached the bottom, but none of the pirates had moved toward her. Each of them had their guns trained on her.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°Not a lot of options for someone like me to live a civilized life.¡±

    Glancing over at the transports, an idea popped into Zaina¡¯s head; there wasn¡¯t much time. She slid down the dune¡¯s backside and crawled up the adjacent hill, where the ships were loitering.

    Zaina reached for the grenade dispenser on her utility belt and adjusted the dial, cranking the programmed firepower of each grenade up near the highest setting. Four or five tiny explosives popped into her hand, each flashing red. Careful not to alert the pirates as they questioned Xyrthe, she poked her head over the hill and tossed the grenades down near the transports before ducking back down.

    ¡°So you¡¯re a pirate,¡± Captain Gilvus said.

    In a cool voice, Xyrthe replied, ¡°Prospective, I suppose. Never really thought of myself that way. I¡¯m not really one for labels.¡±

    ¡°But you¡¯ve come here in hopes of stealing something valuable, no?¡±

    ¡°Girl¡¯s gotta eat. Even a heretic like me. It¡¯s a tough galaxy out there, you know.¡±

    Gilvus emitted a deep, mechanical whir. ¡°You sure you aren¡¯t here with anyone else? We have intel that two lancers are in the area. You wouldn¡¯t happen to know anything about that, would you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve worked alone for as long as I can recall.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± he replied, ¡°I do hope you¡¯re telling the truth, because we¡¯re about to find out in a few seconds. Pylo!¡±

    In a panic, Zaina clicked the button on the dispenser to activate the grenades.

    ¡°Yes, captain, there¡¯s anoth¡ª¡±

    A deafening round of explosions cut him off, drowning out everything; debris catapulted over the dune, scattering the metal pieces throughout the desert. After the initial burst of sound a faint ringing clouded Zaina¡¯s hearing, dulling the marauders¡¯ screaming.

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    Now was the time. After taking a few deep breaths, Zaina summoned her white-and-green cipher and readied her hex-guard. With that she leaped over the hill and slid down the dune¡¯s other side¡ªthe overturned transports, split open, were spewing flames and smoke into the blue desert sky.

    Xyrthe had summoned her cipher and skewered two biriflers amid the confusion; the other one had dropped his weapon and was shaken up by the explosion, grabbing at his head as he writhed on the ground. The resonedge wielders were closing in on Xyrthe.

    Captain Gilvus was screaming, ¡°Close in, you idiots! There¡¯s only two of them!¡±

    Then, his red, mechanical eye fell on Zaina. With a growl, he drew a pistol at his side¡ªa quick duo of metallic twangs broke out as he fired off two green bolts.

    Right on time, Zaina activated her hex-guard; hexagonal links of energy appeared from a projector on her gauntlet, chaining into a barrier. The first bolt struck her guard, releasing an explosion of energy and knocking her back twenty feet; the second whizzed by inches from her face¡ªwith a dulled boom, it impacted the sand dune behind her.

    Zaina rolled aside, dodging another explosive green bolt; she scrambled to stand, barely avoiding another bolt as it struck ten feet behind her, showering her face with sand and heat. She ran behind the burning transports for cover.

    ¡°Come out, little lancer!¡± Gilvus taunted, firing off random shots at the burning wreckage. Each impact sent fire and metal fragments into the air, scattering amongst the surrounding sand; Zaina staved it off by keeping her hex-guard above her head. ¡°You can¡¯t hide forever!¡±

    Pulling out her grenade canister, Zaina programmed the next batch with a concussive stun. One dropped out, and she wrapped her palm around it¡ªthen, with a deep breath, she ran from cover, hex-guard raised toward Gilvus.

    He fired off a few shots behind her, then caught on to her trajectory¡ªhis next shot hit the edge of Zaina¡¯s hex-guard. Sharp spikes of pain tore upward from her hand as her arm stiffened with vibrations¡ªa yelp escaped her throat, but she kept going.

    Zaina tossed the grenade, landing it perfectly at Gilvus¡¯s feet. A split second before she detonated it, he pulled a hook-gun from his waist with his opposite hand and fired at the wreckage of Xyrthe and Zaina¡¯s desert rider. Gilvus was carried away in time to avoid the blast, scurrying atop the wreckage.

    Fuck, Zaina thought. Another salvo of green bolts flew her way¡ªshe activated her rocket boots, using her hip-stabilizers to stay close to the ground as small explosions peppered the sand in her wake. A direct hit to her hex-guard knocked her off course, making her shout in pain. She tumbled and landed on her back, completely exposed to the next shot.

    A triumphant grin came over the human side of Captain Gilvus¡¯s face as his eyes settled on Zaina¡ªtime slowed as the barrel of his pistol trained on her chest, but she was frozen, hex-guard facing the wrong way, unable to move to either side in time¡ªher eyes closed as another twang rang out.

    Another muffled boom rang out behind Zaina¡ªhad he missed? As soon as she opened her eyes, her jaw fell in awe.

    Xyrthe was standing on the wreckage of their desert rider, her spear piercing Gilvus¡¯s chest; she had him raised ten feet into the air. Gripping her cipher with both hands, Xyrthe gave a mighty growl and swung downward, slamming the pirate into the sands below. Then, she leaped down from the transport¡¯s body and stabbed through his chest again, pinning him to the ground.

    Sparks erupted from the holes in Gilvus¡¯s back, and oil spilled out and ran down the side of his torso; whirs and pops were emitted from his body as his red eye flickered. Zaina picked herself up and walked over¡ªher entire body was sore. Her mentor was leaning down over the last survivor¡ªpieces of the rest were strewn about, sending chills through Zaina¡¯s chest as she approached.

    ¡°Hey, now,¡± Xyrthe said, tapping his face, ¡°I need a name. Then you can die.¡±

    ¡°N¡ªname?¡± Gilvus said, his voice now altering between high and low pitches at random.

    ¡°Who do you work for?¡± Xyrthe asked.

    Gilvus coughed up black blood, splattering it over his face; then, in a weak voice, he said, ¡°R¡ªReister¡ªFe¡ªFell¡ª¡±

    With that, the red light went out, and his human eye closed. Xyrthe sighed and stood up.

    ¡°You all right, kid?¡±

    Zaina averted her gaze, staring at one of the few spots on the ground that wasn¡¯t charred or covered in blood. ¡°Y¡ªyeah.¡±

    ¡°Hey,¡± Xyrthe said, tenderly placing a hand on Zaina¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You didn¡¯t die, kid. You helped me distract him. That¡¯s good enough for your first action, huh?¡±

    ¡°I¡ªI guess.¡±

    ¡°And hey, look at the bright side. You were right about Reister Fell, looks like. His crew seems much less friendly than Ondor¡¯s.¡±

    Zaina nodded.

    ¡°Hey¡ªlook at me.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s lips twisted into a grimace as she closed her eyes and turned away.

    ¡°Come on, kid¡ªlook at me.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyes opened, and she turned toward her mentor. The seven dead pirates were behind Xyrthe, making it difficult for Zaina to maintain eye contact.

    ¡°This is the job,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°Like it or not, this is what we do. This is what ¡®stopping bad guys¡¯ looks like. What you¡¯re feeling now is what a win feels like. Get it yet?¡±

    A taut frown came over Zaina¡¯s lips. She had no response.

    After a sigh, Xyrthe said, ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it. Come on¡ªyou still want to go after Fell?¡±

 Chapter Seventy-Seven: The Mysterious Village

    ¡°The truth is so rarely what we want it to be.¡±

    ¡ªFormer CID Lieutenant Commissioner Albarnim Lugre, in a public apology following charges of corruption

    The cold grasp of fear gripped Zaina¡¯s heart as her eyes scanned the bodies of their pirate foes. It wasn¡¯t fear of them, but for herself¡ªshe didn¡¯t want to become a person capable of doing something like this, good reasons or not. Still, the sooner she reckoned with the worst parts of the job, the sooner she could do something to change them¡ªmaybe. She nodded.

    Xyrthe clapped her shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit. Next time, though, try to use your magick. You need a long-range attack of some sort if you want to stand any chance out here.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Zaina said. ¡°Hey¡ªhow did you¡ªI mean, why?¡±

    A smirk came over Xyrthe¡¯s face. ¡°Why did I trust you, you mean?¡±

    ¡°Um¡ªyeah.¡±

    ¡°Truth be told,¡± her mentor replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t. As soon as I saw they only had four biriflers, I knew I could take them myself at close enough range. Though I will say your distraction made it a hell of a lot easier.¡±

    Any other time, the compliment might¡¯ve meant something to Zaina; then and there, amid the carnage they¡¯d caused not minutes ago, she felt nothing.

    As if sensing her discomfort with the situation, Xyrthe turned away and said, ¡°All right, then. We¡¯ll have plenty of time to think about all this as we walk to wherever Reister Fell¡¯s holed up. Come on, now.¡±

    Zaina took one last look at the bodies strewn about. Was this truly what being a lancer was all about? That wasn¡¯t the impression she¡¯d gotten from Gir on Demelia, but apparently nothing on Kaadu¡ªor in the Nova Rim Galaxy at large¡ªwas as it seemed.

    With a sigh, Zaina trotted to catch up to her mentor, who had already gone on ahead. Their silent journey in the shifting sands continued anew. For hours they marched on wordlessly. Images of the carnage flashed through Zaina¡¯s mind as they went.

    Fighting the Eldritch wasn¡¯t anything like that. It wasn¡¯t better¡ªbut it wasn¡¯t like¡ªthat.

    To Zaina, Xyrthe¡¯s casual attitude¡ªshe had seemingly already forgotten¡ªonly made things worse. Still, there was little choice but to carry on with their trek.

    Once night fell, Xyrthe and Zaina assembled separate tents. Xyrthe started a fire and cooked a hearty meal for both of them. The hot meal lifted Zaina¡¯s spirits ever so slightly, but not enough to keep the images from flashing in front of her eyes every time she closed them to sleep.

    Even when she drifted away, night terrors held her in a tight grasp; in her dreams, she wandered about the crashed wreckage of the three transports, examining every corpse strewn about the dune¡ªbut every single one was her, killed more gruesomely than the last. Bone, flesh, and tendon all exposed to the desert wind while Xyrthe sat atop a nearby dune, eating next to a fire. Zaina barely slept, and fell back into the same dream whenever she did.

    Morning offered little respite. Zaina woke to the smell of fresh-squeezed gamba and some seared dulga meat; she dragged her exhausted self out from her tent.

    Xyrthe put a cup of gamba into her hands and said, ¡°Drink up. You¡¯ll need a lot of energy today.¡±

    Grunting her agreement, Zaina sipped at the dark brown liquid. It was much bitterer than what she made at home, but it would do. A wave of energy struck her brain and propagated from the center outward.

    ¡°You feeling all right, kid?¡± Xyrthe asked.

    Zaina¡¯s shoulders deflated. ¡°I can¡¯t stop thinking about yesterday.¡±

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    ¡°Geez,¡± her mentor said, ¡°you really are sensitive, aren¡¯t you? I know it wasn¡¯t your first time seeing dead bodies.¡±

    ¡°Well no, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°And it wasn¡¯t your first time killing, either. I read what happened to that heretic on Kaadu.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyes fell to the ground. ¡°No, but it¡¯s not¡ª¡±

    ¡°Trust me,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°Another year and it won¡¯t even register. Once you learn how to turn off the tap¡ª¡±

    ¡°Turn off the tap? You¡¯ve said that before¡ªwhat does that mean?¡±

    Xyrthe sighed and then said, ¡°Something my mother told me. Sometimes you have to put how you feel away. There¡¯s no time for panic, or fear, or regret¡ªso you have to turn off the tap. You can¡¯t be reacting when circumstances call for you to be proactive. Get it?¡±

    Zaina took another sip of gamba. ¡°That¡¯s a weird thing for your mother to tell you.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, well,¡± Xyrthe said, flashing a grimace, ¡°maybe I didn¡¯t have the best upbringing. Look, I don¡¯t want to talk about that. The point is, I can¡¯t have us going into a life-or-death situation with you all mopey and indecisive.¡±

    Averting her gaze to stare off into the distance, Zaina sighed. ¡°Yeah, I know.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to cheer up and be bubbly or anything, but I need to know you aren¡¯t going to freeze or freak out if the shit goes down. There¡¯s at least seventy people holed up with Fell¡ªI¡¯d imagine some of them are fighters. We both need to be focused.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡±

    Jamming a finger in her face, Xyrthe went on, ¡°And don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re going to want to start practicing your magick in live situations. I know it¡¯s frightening at first, but the more you do it, the more you¡¯ll incorporate it and turn your strengths and weaknesses into your own style.¡±

    Zaina gave no reply, so Xyrthe pulled her messy hair into a ponytail and stood. ¡°All right, then. Let¡¯s pack up and get ready.¡±

    They wordlessly set about re-folding their tents and bagging up their supplies. After making sure they both had all their armor affixed properly, their journey continued. Xyrthe strode through the desert, seemingly unaffected by anything around her. Zaina trudged along behind, struggling to keep up. It wasn¡¯t physical exhaustion plaguing her, but her legs were wobbly and uncooperative all the same.

    After another few hours of mindlessly walking through the desert, Chimara beeped in Xyrthe¡¯s ear. Zaina¡¯s mentor froze in her tracks and whispered her gratitude into the glyph¡¯s audio ports.

    ¡°Hey, kid,¡± she said, turning back. ¡°We¡¯re stopping here for a second. Whatever business you¡¯ve gotta do, do it now.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s head tilted. ¡°I think I¡¯ll be all right.¡±

    Xyrthe nodded. ¡°We¡¯re closing in. There are warm bodies on the perimeter, so we¡¯ll have to approach carefully.¡±

    ¡°Warm bodies?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, three. Probably a group of screening patrols. If the terrain stays this hilly, we might see them before they see us. Otherwise, we might get a nasty introduction.¡±

    Zaina gulped. Suddenly, in a galaxy full of people capable of killing her from miles away, a cipher and a hex-guard didn¡¯t seem like much protection.

    Without a word, Xyrthe set out again, and Zaina followed. For another hour they trekked through the shifting sands; Zaina occupied her hands with getting the desert¡¯s gifts out of her hair. She¡¯d read about deserts on Demelia, but had never been in one¡ªand never wanted to be again.

    Finally, they came to the sloping hill leading up to the edge of a plateau. They made their way to the top and dropped prone, careful to stay low. In the distance was a thick tower surrounded by what appeared to be a garbage heap. Following Xyrthe¡¯s lead, Zaina grabbed the scan-visor from her utility belt.

    The tower was made of rusted metal marred with blackened pock-marks. What appeared to be a landfill at a distance was actually a makeshift village¡ªhuts and shacks were assembled from whatever scrap metal or wood that could be fastened together, whether with adhesive or haphazard rigs of ropes and tape¡ªbut most of it was made from glass. Many homes had at least one glass wall, and most had more than one. There was nary a roof in sight, and many walls were replaced outright with fabrics of different textures, patterns, and hue, lending to a colorful outer appearance. String for drying clothes or displaying handmade tapestries hung from every window, connecting the entire settlement.

    Xyrthe whispered, ¡°No doubt about it. That¡¯s where Fell¡¯s holed up.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like a place full of hostages,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°You never get what you expect with these pirates. Hold on¡ªwhat¡¯s that?¡±

    Xyrthe pointed, and Zaina tracked some movement¡ªtwo young girls and a boy were running around in the desert, laughing happily and chasing each other. They weren¡¯t far from the edge of the plateau where the lancers were hiding.

    ¡°Are those the patrols we¡¯re supposed to look out for?¡± Zaina asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

    Xyrthe scowled. ¡°That¡¯s the right heat signature. They¡¯re not armed, though¡ª¡±

    Zaina stared in disbelief. ¡°And what if they were?¡±

    ¡°You think no pirate¡¯s ever had the idea to strap a gun to a kid? Come on, now.¡±

    Zaina held her tongue. Another minute of silence passed as Xyrthe scoped out their target further. With her own vis-scanner, Zaina zoomed in further and found parents teaching their children, people washing clothes, cooking with each other¡ªliving.

    Zaina said. ¡°You see anyone at all with a weapon?¡±

    ¡°Not a-one,¡± Xyrthe replied. ¡°You¡¯d think with seventy people there¡¯d be some sort of patrol, right? And if they had to keep all these people here and in line, they¡¯d need guards.¡±

    ¡°Something¡¯s not right.¡± Zaina turned to Xyrthe, who was standing up. ¡°W¡ªwait, what are you doing?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right¡ªsomething¡¯s off.¡± Xyrthe shrugged. ¡°Let¡¯s go see what this is all about.¡±

 Chapter Seventy-Eight: The Warden

    ¡°Best not to mess with folk who¡¯ve made it their life¡¯s work to survive in harsh places.¡±

    ¡ªFormer CID Lawman Aster Parga

    Zaina scrambled to stand up and pulled herself atop the plateau. The children immediately noticed them and stopped playing.

    ¡°Hello!¡± Xyrthe said, waving.

    The kids ran away screaming, tearing back toward the village.

    Zaina turned to Xyrthe and asked, ¡°Should we follow them?¡±

    Her mentor nodded. ¡°Yeah, something¡¯s up with this place. Let¡¯s get in there.¡±

    With a nod, Zaina reached for the particle hook-gun strapped to her waist, but Xyrthe shook her head and said, ¡°No, not with that. I think we should take it slow.¡±

    ¡°Take it slow?¡± Zaina asked, incredulous.

    Staring at their quarry, her mentor replied, ¡°Yeah. Who knows, maybe they are willing to talk¡ªand if they are, I¡¯d rather not blow that chance by approaching the wrong way.¡±

    At a loss for words, Zaina scoffed. This whole time Xyrthe had seemed like she wanted to get this over with¡ªget in, kill Fell, get out. She preached vigilance and caution¡ªand now she wanted to walk headfirst toward a town that, for all they knew, was guarded by a psychopath with long-range weaponry?

    When her mouth was able to form words again, Zaina hissed, ¡°What about the mission?!¡±

    Xyrthe glared. ¡°The mission is whatever we decide it is. We assess the situation and proceed however we deem best for the commonwealth of the galaxy. We don¡¯t have to kill Fell just because that¡¯s what that asshole Ondor wants.¡±

    ¡°Fell sent marauders after us! Captain Gilvus, or whatever that guy¡¯s name was! He¡¯s going to attack the second he lays eyes on us!¡±

    ¡°Then we let him,¡± Xyrthe said, activating her hex-guard. Without waiting for Zaina¡¯s response, she started strolling toward the desert village.

    After a frustrated, raspy sigh prickled Zaina¡¯s throat and escaped her lips, she turned her own hex-guard on and jogged to catch up. After pulling up beside her mentor, she said, ¡°I still think this is a bad idea.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m not sure about it myself. But I have a feeling¡ª¡±

    A green bolt launched from the city and rocketed over their heads. Heart pounding in her throat, Zaina raised the hex-shield and got down on one knee, making herself as small a target as possible.

    We¡¯re out in the open¡ªwe¡¯re dead, she thought, closing her eyes and awaiting the end.

    The next shot never came. When Zaina opened her eyes, Xyrthe was standing tall behind her, having turned off her hex-guard. Her mentor leaned over and said, ¡°It was a warning shot.¡±

    ¡°So they want us to stay away?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡ªor if we gotta come, we gotta come right.¡±

    Not quite sure what she meant, Zaina rose. Keeping her hex-guard active, she followed closely behind Xyrthe, who appeared unbothered. At a leisurely pace they made their way into the town¡ªthe outskirts were littered with trash half-covered by the sands; blankets, sheets of tin and rotted board, and broken wooden toys were all held by the desert.

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    Up close, the people¡¯s homes were even more disheveled. Every structure aside from the central tower was patchwork, rigged up with rope and kept together with prayers. Some people milled about, but most were inside the decrepit shacks, peeking out from holes in the wood and tin walls, or from behind hanging blankets where walls once were.

    At the forefront was a mechanical bodysuit, gunmetal-gray and black of color with stripes of gold and navy-blue. Marks and scratches covered nearly every inch of the outer surface. It stood eleven feet tall, with great, broad shoulders, tree trunks for arms, and tall barrels for legs, with exhaust ports and thrust-boosters for mobility. The chest panel was fastened together like a zipper, with faint blue and red lights bleeding through from the canopy. The helmet was short and dome-shaped, with a cracked red visor above a circular breathing filter with prongs like the teeth of a wild beast. A gold-lined, tattered dark-red cape hung from the suit¡¯s massive pauldrons, hovering a foot above the desert floor. Two makeshift turrets, each loaded with explosive ordinance, were connected to the shoulders, and a roll of scrap peletins was looped through one of his arms.

    Both of its hands were outstretched, holding something resembling a sword¡ªthe edge was ten feet long by itself and had been strapped to a large, oversized engine and grafted into the bodysuit¡¯s right palm. A handle jutted from the engine¡¯s other side for two-handed wielding. The blade, sharpened from a massive hunk of metal, was buried in the ground. It was as damaged as its wielder, with notches running up and down either side.

    Standing beside the bodysuit was a dark-skinned woman with a wide-brimmed hat, a gray checkered blouse, and black combat pants and boots. On her shoulder was a patch Zaina couldn¡¯t make out. There was fire in the woman¡¯s eyes as she stared down the scope of a birifle with a phase cycler attachment¡ªaimed directly at Zaina.

    Xyrthe stopped forty feet from the bodysuit, and Zaina stepped up beside her. Silence hung over the town and its visitors as both sides took measure of the other. Zaina gulped¡ªthe bodysuit had enough firepower to kill them a few hundred times over.

    Finally, Xyrthe broke the ice. Stepping forward, she said in a loud voice, ¡°Thanks for the warning shot.¡±

    The birifler scoffed and gestured toward the person next to her. ¡°His idea¡ªheretics.¡±

    ¡°Lancers, actually,¡± Xyrthe shot back.

    The woman flinched, then glared and tightened her grip on the birifle. ¡°Nice try, but they don¡¯t accept your kind.¡±

    Xyrthe rolled her eyes. ¡°Whatever, lady.¡±

    The bodysuit pulled the sword from the ground and took a step forward. A slightly distorted voice¡ªdeep but calm, authoritative but a little friendly¡ªemitted from the suit¡¯s helmet. ¡°Leda, that¡¯s enough.¡± The war-suit¡¯s helmet then tipped forward in a nod toward Zaina and Xyrthe. The voice continued, ¡°Pardon the hostility, but I had to know your intentions¡ªbest way I¡¯ve found, is to let ¡®em know you know see ¡®em. They try to go around, find another way in, ain¡¯t no need for talking ¡®cause you know what they¡¯re there for. But someone who approaches honest, direct¡ªthat person, I¡¯ll meet face-to-face.¡±

    Xyrthe smirked. ¡°Direct always works best, I¡¯ve found.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± the man replied, ¡°would¡¯ve been less talking any other way. But, seeing as you¡¯re a rarity¡ªstrangers not immediately opening fire or trying to kill me, I¡¯m intrigued enough to hear you out. You¡¯ve got my attention for another minute or so.¡±

    Without hesitation, Xyrthe said, ¡°We were asked by Ondor Almada to track down a dangerous criminal by the name of Reister Fell. I¡¯m guessing that¡¯s you.¡±

    ¡°All right, now you¡¯ve really got my attention.¡± The bodysuit shifted slightly, as if preparing for things to go wrong. ¡°And let me guess, he sent you to talk?¡±

    ¡°Ostensibly,¡± Xyrthe replied, ¡°but I think you and I both know he was hoping we¡¯d kill you instead.¡±

    After a pause, the metal fastenings on the war-suit¡¯s chest unraveled, revealing a blue-furred Cytomoid in similar clothing to the woman beside him, but with a bigger patch on his shoulder. He placed a foot on the front of the bodysuit¡¯s canopy and rested an elbow on his knee as he leaned out to examine Xyrthe and Zaina, his free hand resting near a scrapshot pistol strapped to his waist.

    In a calm voice, he said, ¡°All right, you came all this way looking for Reister Fell¡ªwell, you¡¯ve found him, though here I go by the warden. And what exactly do you plan to do now that you¡¯ve got me in front of you?¡±

    Zaina shot Xyrthe a glance¡ªthis was their target, the man responsible for so much suffering, standing before them. This was the person they¡¯d come all this way to stop. Her mentor shrugged, then turned to Zaina.

    ¡°Well, rook?¡± she asked. ¡°How do you want to play this? I think we should at least hear them out if they¡¯re willing to talk.¡±

    Tired of the games, Zaina seized the moment. She took a step forward and summoned her cipher, pointing it at their target. Xyrthe shot her a surprised glance¡ªthe birifler, weapon still trained on Zaina, twitched, but didn¡¯t fire. Fell didn¡¯t react.

    In a low voice, Zaina said, ¡°Reister Fell¡ªyou¡¯re going to answer for your crimes.¡±

 Chapter Seventy-Nine: Freewater

    ¡°It¡¯s impossible to buy out the small communities that form on remote worlds. They¡¯re woven together. Back in the day we tried everything, too¡ªwe bribed the village elders with precious metals and rebu, offered their children places in our most prestigious halls of learning, and even promised them monthly reparations if they left our home so the project could go on¡ªto no avail. Unless we can get permits to alter the weather, make it unsuitable enough that the inhabitants leave, force often remains the best¡ªand only¡ªsolution.¡±

    ¡ªIldiplorus Vaxum, Chairman of the Riskta Eldonur Resource Retrieval Conglomerate, in a memo directed toward high-level executives

    ¡°Crimes?¡± Fell asked, scratching his head with a clawed finger. ¡°I¡¯m not aware of any crimes I¡¯ve committed.¡±

    Flabbergasted, Zaina doubled down. ¡°You¡ªyou killed the people of this world when they didn¡¯t want to leave! You¡¯re forcing these people to stay here against their will¡ªsomehow. You sent marauders to kill us!¡±

    Fell shook his head. ¡°Geez, I sound like an awfully bad guy. You hear all that from Almada?¡±

    Zaina glared. ¡°No¡ªyour friends in the desert gave you up, too. Captain Gilvus¡ª¡±

    ¡°That sad sack of scraps?¡± Fell asked with a chuckle. ¡°You really think I¡¯m working with him? Wow, Almada got you good.¡±

    Zaina recoiled in shock, her arm lowering as her eyebrow raised. ¡°Huh? But¡ª¡±

    ¡°Gilvus works for Almada,¡± Fell said, stepping down from his war-suit. ¡°He¡¯s one of the Derin Bas mercenary captains that¡¯s been trying to pick off townsfolk for¡ªoh, two years now, at least. Him and that woman, what¡¯s her name?¡±

    Still staring Zaina down, Leda said in a cold voice, ¡°Veimla Tescoll.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Fell said. ¡°Yeah, that one. They make a nasty team. I¡¯ll bet Almada paid Gilvus to drop my name, set you on me.¡±

    Zaina scoffed. ¡°With his dying breath? Yeah, I don¡¯t think a hired gun would be that loyal.¡±

    To her surprise, Fell smiled. ¡°Hah! Ol¡¯ Gilvus finally bought it, eh? Wish I could¡¯ve pulled the microchip myself.¡±

    ¡°Microchip¡ªhuh?¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Fell said, ¡°dying breath is more of an allegory in his case, isn¡¯t it? Gilvus is an android disguised as a cybernetic human. That half-face of his is a prosthetic. The only way to permanently kill him is to remove, destroy, or sufficiently damage his central internal processor, like any other android. Did you stab him through the head, or otherwise sufficiently damage his skull?¡±

    Zaina turned to Xyrthe, who scowled and said, ¡°Two hits to the chest.¡±

    ¡°Well, then,¡± Fell replied, ¡°I hate to break it to the two of you, but our friend Gilvus is still very much alive, and he¡¯ll likely come back as soon as he thinks you¡¯re dead. I give him until tomorrow.¡±

    A frown came over Zaina¡¯s face, her heart sinking. Had Ondor lied to her¡ªwas Fell lying to her right now?

    Still keeping her cipher pointed at his heart, Zaina said, ¡°How am I supposed to know you¡¯re telling the truth?¡±

    ¡°You want the truth?¡± Fell said. ¡°The truth happens to be stopping by tomorrow¡ªI can show you, if you want.¡±

    ¡°What¡ªwhat does that even mean?¡±

    In a deep voice, Leda said, ¡°Almada sends raiding parties every day like clockwork. They¡¯ll be back tomorrow, no doubt.¡±

    ¡°Figured they were sending special guests, on account of them not sending the bombers today,¡± Fell said, talking through a grin. As much as Zaina wanted to hate him, he wasn¡¯t anything like she imagined. ¡°Though we probably let the kids roam a little too long, you think, Leda?¡±

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    She sighed. ¡°Any time at all is too long.¡±

    ¡°Either way,¡± Fell said, turning back to Zaina, ¡°I understand if you don¡¯t trust me, given what you¡¯ve heard. That being said, you two are a rarity amongst the past few years; first visitors in at least two who haven¡¯t opened fire immediately. Now, I¡¯d prefer to keep things bloodless. If you share the inclination, I¡¯d happily to welcome you into my town¡ªfriend or foe¡ªshare a table with you, and tell you my truth. If you¡¯d prefer blood, I can always hop back into that mark three behind me and we¡¯ll make a real mess of things. Or we can talk, see if we can¡¯t build a little trust.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyes fell to the cipher in her hands, still pointed at Reister Fell. Despite all her reservations she was curious¡ªtheir quarry didn¡¯t seem to be lying. Glancing aside, her mentor had her hands shoved into her pockets. With a sigh, Zaina lowered her blade. There wasn¡¯t going to be a fight¡ªnot yet, at least. The sword dissipated, and Reister Fell grinned.

    ¡°Excellent choice,¡± he said. ¡°I suppose this makes you my guests, so first and foremost, welcome to Freewater.¡±

    Xyrthe scoffed and started walking toward the town¡ªZaina followed, her heart racing despite the tentative peace. Her mentor asked, ¡°Freewater?¡±

    ¡°Hey now, it¡¯s named so for a reason,¡± Fell said. ¡°If you¡¯d walk with me, I¡¯d gladly give you a tour; or if you¡¯d prefer to stay on the outskirts I completely understand, though that¡¯ll make you easy targets for whatever mercenaries show up tomorrow. I¡¯d offer you a protective detail, but we¡¯re short-staffed for the foreseeable future.¡±

    Leda rolled her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s warden-speak¡ªmeans until the end of time.¡±

    ¡°What happened to the rest of your fighters?¡± Xyrthe asked.

    ¡°Never had any,¡± Fell replied. ¡°At least, not here. It¡¯s been me and Leda against everything Almada¡¯s money can buy.¡±

    As Zaina walked closer the people of Freewater poked their heads out from their homes. Fell turned and waved; a low, buzzing commotion filled the air as people of all shapes and sizes returned to their daily routines. They stepped from their homes and milled about.

    Fell turned back to the lancers and flashed a smile. ¡°A little warning¡ªthey¡¯re probably going to be a bit mistrustful of outsiders. We don¡¯t get many who aren¡¯t trying to kill us, so there aren¡¯t a lot of chances to work on etiquette.¡±

    ¡°Eh,¡± Xyrthe said, ¡°etiquette isn¡¯t exactly my strong suit, either.¡±

    After a hearty chuckle, Fell replied, ¡°I thought so. We might all get along perfectly well, then. All right, let me show you around.¡±

    Without another word, Fell pivoted and walked straight toward the town¡¯s heart. He gestured to either side and said, ¡°We live however we can, here. Pretty much everything you see here is scavenged from old military bases across the planet. We used to have a few sand-dinghies lying around, but whatever stockpiles we had have been whittled away over the years.¡±

    ¡°Where do you get food¡ªwater?¡± Xyrthe asked.

    ¡°For food, we emptied pretty much everything in the bases¡ªwe still have enough rations to get by for the meantime. As for water, well, we¡¯re right on top of the main reservoir for the entire planet¡¯s supply¡ªshould still be enough for a few hundred years. Matter of fact, that¡¯s how the town got its name; see, when the government pulled out, people stayed. Quite a few of them congregated around this tower because it houses the main pump. There are wells across the planet, of course, especially near and inside the military bases, but this here¡¯s the holy grail.¡±

    In a sarcastic tone, Xyrthe said, ¡°And I¡¯m guessing that relates to the name.¡±

    ¡°Correct¡ªyou¡¯re insightful, huh? Yeah, the water had always been free for the workers, but once the Synatorium pulled out and it was free people operating it, they decided their little settlement ought to have a name. I guess they went with the whole reason they decided to live there in the first place¡ªhence, Freewater.¡±

    Though Zaina tried staying focused on Fell and Leda, her attention was drawn away by the townspeople. Their abject poverty was striking¡ªmost houses had little more than a bucket and strips of fabric for sleeping. Tables and chairs had long ago been turned into material for houses, along with any other type of furniture. One house had the front of a drawer¡ªhandle and all¡ªrepurposed and nailed to a wooden board, almost covering a gaping hole in its side. Any doors were grafted into the walls too, with people leaving gaps to enter and exit their homes.

    Fell stopped and met her gaze, his eyes sorrowful; in a low voice, he said, ¡°It used to be much prettier, but there¡¯s been a lot of damage over the years. We¡¯re used to rebuilding however we can after the raids are done for the day.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like too much protection,¡± Xyrthe remarked.

    ¡°No, it wouldn¡¯t be,¡± Fell said. ¡°We repurposed as much of the pump station as possible into a bomb shelter; it was built to withstand full-scale orbital bombardment, so the townsfolk are safe in there. We¡¯ve also installed underground shelters near each cluster of people in case they can¡¯t make the main one in time. Those are a little less reliable, but they¡¯re better than nothing¡ªhere¡¯s one.¡±

    He pointed at an open iron hatch, half-buried in the sands of a cutaway between two haphazard rows of shacks. The opening led to a stairwell which descended into a bunker underground. A light was on in the shelter¡¯s bowels, revealing wooden crates stacked along the walls.

    Fell continued, ¡°Most of those used to be full of food, ammunition, supplies¡ªover the years, the war¡¯s dwindled everything down. Now each shelter¡¯s stocked for about a day per person. Suppose we¡¯re lucky Ondor¡¯s pilots don¡¯t pull overnights.¡±

 Chapter Eighty: Fell Origins

    ¡°You¡¯d be surprised at what people can live in if they have to.¡±

    ¡ªPriest of Byzon Olbifon Varius

    As Fell and Leda led the lancers further into their settlement, bitter sorrow gnawed at Zaina¡¯s chest. Seeing how these people lived was heartbreaking¡ªchildren, unaware of their total poverty, ran about in the streets throwing a rubber ball at each other. It made Zaina grateful for everything she had growing up on Demelia.

    A crying little girl ran away from her friends, and was embraced by her father. Shooting a glare at the town¡¯s visitors, he ushered his daughter inside to comfort her. Zaina remembered plenty of times she¡¯d cried to her father. Family was the only thing these people had.

    A frown drifted over Zaina¡¯s lips. I miss everyone. I hope they¡¯re doing all right.

    ¡°So,¡± she said, ¡°these people are free to leave whenever they want?¡±

    Fell turned. With a coy grin he said, ¡°No¡ªthey¡¯re my hostages, remember? I rule them with an iron fist and lord over their lives with impunity. I thought Almada made that clear.¡±

    Zaina didn¡¯t humor his response, staring at him. This wasn¡¯t the time for jokes¡ªshe wanted a serious answer.

    After a deep sigh, Fell gestured behind him, sweeping his arm across the landscape. ¡°Look around¡ªdo these look like hostages? These people live here. And as the warden, it¡¯s my job to protect them.¡±

    ¡°Protect them from what?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Almada,¡± he said without a second of hesitation.

    Not knowing how to respond, Zaina held her tongue. Fell continued, ¡°All right, I suppose we ought to cut this tour a little short, considering how much there is to discuss. We¡¯ll talk in my tent¡ªright over here.¡±

    Fell led them to a three-walled tent with a blanket for a roof. Inside were two strips of fabric and a bucket.

    Zaina¡¯s lips pulled back into a tight frown. He doesn¡¯t live any better than his people.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Fell said, ¡°I don¡¯t have many accommodations for guests. If you¡¯d like to sit, it¡¯ll have to be on the floor. Trust me, I know the sand sucks. You¡¯ll be picking pieces of our world out of your hair and clothes for a year. Would you like any water, any food?¡±

    ¡°No need to dip into your supplies¡ªwe brought our own,¡± Xyrthe said as she sat, crossing her legs. Fell sat across from them, but Leda stayed standing. Zaina kept her eyes trained on the birifler, knowing this could still be a trap.

    And if it is, they¡¯ve got us right where they want us.

    Fell leaned back and said, ¡°I suppose the first thing I ought to tell you is a little about myself, how I ended up on Archava.¡±

    ¡°Archava?¡± Zaina asked. ¡°What is that, exactly?¡±

    ¡°Name of the planet,¡± Fell replied. ¡°Archavo Outpost was the military installation. Once the government pulled out, the people gave the world they stood on a name. Not an officially Synatorium-recognized one, mind you, but a name¡¯s a name even if there¡¯s no paperwork somewhere saying that¡¯s what it is.

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    ¡°Anyway,¡± he continued, ¡°I was a lawman once¡ªa real, certified Galactic Detective, cracking cases across the Nova Rim. I was good, too¡ªI brought down the Oligarch Cartel on Lensforn, saved a Dyarch, even busted up an offshoot of the Interplanetary Liberation Front after that whack-job Sundar Rygeros took over the main branch. But this here, this Freewater thing¡ªthis is my most important work yet.¡±

    ¡°Ondor told us you were a lawman,¡± Xyrthe said.

    ¡°Is that so? I¡¯m not surprised. Really adds to the fallen-hero aspect of what he¡¯s trying to sell me as, I guess. Plus, liars love to coat their deceptions in a film of truth to make it easier to swallow.

    ¡°Either way,¡± he went on, a distant frown slowly forming on his face, ¡°I came here tracking a killer¡ªhe was one of the worst, I tell you. At least fifty bodies across twelve systems to his name, and that¡¯s what we found out about, mind you. Cragranth Torzlan was the name of the son-of-a-bitch. He was a Hilgarrian. One of the proud ones, always went on about his species as, ¡®the finest of the warrior races.¡¯ Despite his bravado and my meager Cytomoid stock¡ªper his opinion, at least¡ªI got the jump on him over on Drelon, where he kept one of his hideouts; he escaped, but not before I put a bead in his back shoulder.

    ¡°So, he runs offworld, void skips over to a little hole-in-the-wall formerly known as Archavo Outpost. But he doesn¡¯t want to tangle with the people living in the military installations¡ªthe folks who holed up there had all kinds of firepower¡ªso he goes for the nearest terrestrial settlement, a little hub of civilian activity.¡±

    ¡°Freewater,¡± Xyrthe said.

    ¡°Correct,¡± Fell replied. ¡°There, he decides to make his stand. I follow him, of course, and I come to find him lording over the town much like Almada says I do; he¡¯s executing people left and right, and those were the lucky ones. As a man of Bor, I prefer not to utter, or even think on, what was done to some of them people. That was back when there were over a thousand living here, mind you, not quite like it is today.

    ¡°So, we make our play. He doesn¡¯t want to tangle with me¡ªthing about Hilgarrians that they won¡¯t tell you is, they have a sense of self-preservation like most of the rest of us. They¡¯ll tell stories about Duragaz¡¯s Last Stand or the spirit of Eirgaza¡¯s courage as she faced down the Synatorium¡¯s invasion force alone, but they¡¯ll never tell you about all the times in history they up and retreated¡ªas any sane person would in those situations. Either way, I¡¯d already proven myself the superior shot despite my inferior stock¡ªagain, in his eyes¡ªand he still was reeling from the bead I¡¯d put in him before. So, to draw him out, I planted myself in the middle of town, made sure everyone knew I was here and why.

    ¡°Sure enough, an hour passes, and the townsfolk get curious. Start coming out to ask me questions¡ªwas I really here to save them? Was I going to hurt them, too? I put all their minds at ease as best I could. Wasn¡¯t long before I had a whole congregation of townsfolk waiting for Torzlan to stake his claim to Freewater proper. Soon the whole damn town was watching, waiting.

    ¡°See, Freewater had an armory once, but it¡¯s inaccessible due to a tunnel collapse. So, the people didn¡¯t have much in the way of defending themselves. Torzlan was able to come in and bully folks without a problem. See, but now that wasn¡¯t the case anymore. Either way, before long he had to make an appearance. Not only could he not hide forever, but now the townsfolk were openly calling him out, telling him to come duel me. For him, it was getting out of hand.

    ¡°So,¡± Fell leaned forward, ¡°he comes out, finally. I give him a chance in a proper duel, count and all. I knew one of us was about to be buried here¡ªain¡¯t no other way about it. Well, I was still the better shot in the end. Took a few beads to do him in, but in he was done. Now, I was supposed to take my personal ship back to headquarters and go back into the pool for my next case; but something about Freewater¡ªI don¡¯t know, it got me. I knew as soon as Torzlan was dead, and the people all around were thanking me, that neither of us was ever leaving Freewater. The people asked me to be their warden, the head lawman in their town. Arbiter of disputes, keeper of peace, all that good stuff. Maybe it was them massaging my ego a bit, playing to a big head, but I wanted to stay. There¡¯s a charm about this place, even today¡ªa group of people who¡¯ve come together to survive, making something beautiful out of a bunch of ugly pieces. I don¡¯t know¡ªseeing what they¡¯d made for themselves, I figured it was something worth protecting. So that¡¯s what I decided to do.¡±

 Chapter Eighty-One: The Terra Scion Takeover

    ¡°I¡¯d trust a naked person with no home before I trust another suit like you.¡±

    ¡ªGalvan Ite, advocate for the poor across the Nova Rim

    Zaina crossed her arms. ¡°Awfully noble of you.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, though it probably was more about ego than anything else. You do so much out there, for the galaxy-at-large, but it¡¯s so big that none of it really feels like it matters. Sure, I arrested the higher-ups of the Oligarch Cartel¡ªand the power vacuum left life worse for the people living in their former territory. There¡¯s always another group of assholes looking to get one over on people, whether legally or not, and they¡¯ll test whatever boundaries they can to get what they want. But here? Here, everything I did mattered. I got to watch every life I saved flourish. Here the people were eternally grateful. There was no next case keeping me up at night, no chase, no political bullshit. Just¡ªwell, life, I suppose, and all the problems that come with it.¡±

    With a nod, Xyrthe replied, ¡°Your own little world to look after. A little bubble of order amid the galaxy¡¯s chaos.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Fell scratched his head. ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s probably more truth to that than I¡¯d be comfortable admitting. So¡ªI came here to hunt someone down, and stayed because I figured these people could use my help defending themselves, and I could use their help in sorting out my ideas on what life is supposed to be¡ªwhat it can be. It was good, too, for about ten years. Then Almada got the contract. That¡¯s when things took a fast turn for the worse.¡±

    ¡°So we¡¯ve heard,¡± Zaina said. ¡°Ondor said that¡¯s when you started massacring the planet¡¯s population because people wanted to leave.¡±

    ¡°Now, hold on,¡± Fell said, holding up a hand in protest. ¡°I ain¡¯t never killed anyone who wasn¡¯t trying to kill me. I¡¯m guessing Almada told you he gave the people of this world an offer, that he tried to be fair and impartial in all this; well, let me tell you, the ¡®offer¡¯ he sent was laughable. He offered to relocate us to a bubble on an asteroid¡ªto be laborers for some corporate guild experiment. Anyone who didn¡¯t want that would be shipped to a mining colony in the outworlds, where there¡¯s no laws on how we can be treated. See, Almada saw the people of Archava as part of the resources he had purchased and was supposed to profit from; but very few of our citizens took his offer. You can go and find the ones that did¡ªI¡¯m sure Almada has the records somewhere¡ªand find out what happened to them, if you like.

    ¡°As for the rest of us¡ªwell, the rest of us were a liability, an obstacle,¡± Fell¡¯s gaze lowered to the ground. ¡°After the ¡®offer¡¯ was denied, he brought his personal warship and a small army of mercenaries, led by Ardual from Derin Bas, and set about slaughtering whatever holdouts remained.¡±

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    ¡°How were you able to survive?¡± Zaina asked. ¡°I thought Freewater didn¡¯t have a lot of weapons.¡±

    A half-smile flashed across Fell¡¯s face. ¡°Well, that¡¯s the thing. They didn¡¯t think we¡¯d be a threat, so they sent almost all their firepower to deal with the heavily-fortified military installations across the planet. But to deal with the troublesome warden and his salt-of-the-worlds town of merry misfits, he sent a single fighter in an advanced mark three warsuit. The thinking was that he could just wipe us off the map with it since we could barely defend ourselves. Oh, he did some damage, but with the help of my deputy here¡±¡ªhe gestured toward Leda¡ª¡°we managed to get our hands on the warsuit. That ended up being our salvation, inasmuch as there¡¯s salvation in Freewater; that suit is the only thing that¡¯s kept us alive for the past two years.

    ¡°See, the thing about the military armories here, is that all the equipment in them is from a bygone era; the people of Holdenhome and Duneford were fighting with outdated tech. We got our hands on something a little more modern, something that could take a bite out of a warship¡¯s hide with the right modifications.¡±

    Zaina leaned forward. ¡°So¡ªwhat happened?¡±

    The expression on Fell¡¯s face turned to sorrow. ¡°Well,¡± he said, his voice low, ¡°by the time we got the warsuit, it was too late to help anyone else. A few stragglers made their way out here, but Almada¡¯s hired help was apparently well worth the money¡ªmost of the other civilians and soldiers alike were killed in the initial wave of attacks.¡±

    ¡°How is that possible, though?¡± Zaina asked. ¡°The Synatorium¡ª¡±

    ¡°Signed the permission slip,¡± Fell replied curtly. ¡°You think they¡¯d never allow this? What is it exactly that you think they do? This is how things have always been, and how they¡¯ll always be. All they needed was the right document stating that we had attacked first, and any-and-all measures aside from total planetary bombardment were suddenly on the table. There was no way to prove anything in Almada¡¯s Writ of Exhaustion was true, even if the Synatorium had an inclination to send out officials for confirmation¡ªwhich they don¡¯t. Too many stars in the sky, not enough agents to confirm every incident report on a backwater world¡ªand even if they had everything they needed they still wouldn¡¯t, because they¡¯d be going into their own pocket. Hell, we¡¯re lucky Almada didn¡¯t convince the Synatorium to send a Militarium detachment.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyes fell to the ground. ¡°So you¡¯re saying¡ªAlmada killed all those people?¡±

    ¡°The people of Archava? Yeah,¡± Fell replied. ¡°Not him personally, but the people who did the work did it on his payroll. There was never going to be a real resettlement offer, and you know why? Same reason Militarium veterans get kicked to the curb¡ªbecause it¡¯s expensive to help people, and you don¡¯t make any money off of it. Society benefits, sure, but the people who have the money don¡¯t get it back in a timely enough manner for their liking.¡±

    ¡°My family was relocated,¡± Zaina said. ¡°I come from Demelia, and when my planet was destroyed¡ª¡±

    Xyrthe raised a hand to stop her. ¡°That was the Order and the Synatorium working together. Right now, we¡¯re dealing with a conglomerate of commercial guilds. It¡¯s not going to be the same.¡±

    ¡°Precisely,¡± Fell said. ¡°The Synatorium has a lot more resources at its disposal and is more willing to go red on a ledger or two since a lot more of what they do is public. Almada¡¯s less compromising, and he¡¯s run out of ledgers to go red on. Hence why he brought in the endgame. Plus, it¡¯s doubtful anyone will ever find out about what¡¯s happening here¡ªAlmada¡¯s bosses are connected to a few big media conglomerates, so they can squash any story with ease.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that mean¡ªendgame?¡± Zaina asked, eyebrow raising. ¡°Us?¡±

 Chapter Eighty-Two: Almadas Endgame

    ¡°Better to avoid emotional attachment. It helps you get the most value out of the assets under your control.¡±

    ¡ªDaglov Trymik, former leader of the now-defunct Great Cargo Guild

    ¡°A-yup,¡± replied Fell. ¡°See, Almada¡¯s been trying to make a case for a restraint release for two years now, but the courts usually won¡¯t rule for it unless either the judge is bribed¡ªthank Bor, Almada drew an honest one in this matter¡ªor in extreme and hostile circumstances.¡±

    As if his words snapped her out of a minor trance, Xyrthe jolted up. ¡°That¡¯s why he called us. That¡¯s why Gilvus¡ªoh.¡±

    Fell nodded. ¡°I knew you were intuitive.¡±

    Confused, Zaina¡¯s head darted back and forth between them. ¡°Wait¡ªwhat do you mean?¡±

    Xyrthe sighed and then said, ¡°Almada played it pretty smart, I¡¯ve gotta be honest. All he has to do is fudge the paperwork a little¡ªthe Order probably wouldn¡¯t notice until hundred of years later, when the restraint-release records go public. Wow.¡±

    Throwing her arms up, Zaina asked, ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Xyrthe said, ¡°Almada needs to prove total exhaustion¡ªthat he¡¯s exhausted all of his terrestrial and atmospheric options in attempting to neutralize the threat with minimal harm to the civilian population¡ªbefore he can have a judge sign off on a restraint-release form for TPB¡ªtotal planetary bombardment. I¡¯d say the deaths of four or five lancers would be enough to qualify Fell here¡ªwho would be blamed¡ªas a threat worthy of writing off the civilian population.¡±

    ¡°Four or five?¡± Zaina asked, only getting more lost with each answer. ¡°But there¡¯s only two of us!¡±

    ¡°Ah,¡± Xyrthe said, rubbing her chin, ¡°but that¡¯s easy to fix¡ªAlmada could easily lie on his paperwork for the incident report. There¡¯d be no public announcement for something like this, or if there was, it¡¯d be a washed up version. The Order doesn¡¯t have access to Synatorium records until they de-crypt and go public¡ªwhich can take hundreds of years¡ªso they wouldn¡¯t find the discrepancy until then. By the time anyone found out the resort would already be a historical monument.¡±

    Fell blinked, then said in a disbelieving tone, ¡°Wait¡ªthat¡¯s what Almada¡¯s doing all this for? A resort? Please tell me that¡¯s a joke.¡±

    With a grim frown, Xyrthe shook her head. ¡°Sadly, no. A resort moon on Irdelan.¡±

    An angry grimace came over Fell¡¯s face, then passed; with a shrug, he said, ¡°Well, if you¡¯re gonna build a resort moon, I guess that¡¯s the place to put it. Still, by Bor¡ªa resort?¡±

    Xyrthe leaned back and crossed her arms. ¡°Yeah, I know.¡± She then turned to Zaina and asked, ¡°Well, kid? How do you want to play it?¡±

    The entire conversation was replaying in Zaina¡¯s head as she tried to sort out the truth. Someone was lying to her, neither really had any evidence, and Xyrthe was putting the decision of what to do next in her hands¡ªquite a bit of pressure. Zaina had to get this right.

    Part of her wanted to believe both of them. If Almada was lying, she would be aiding in the destruction of an innocent village¡ªhell, the entire Synatorium would be in on it; if Fell was lying, it boded no better for the people of Freewater.

    In a soft voice Fell said, ¡°Sorry if I was a little long-winded, there. I tend to get carried away when I¡¯m telling a story.¡±

    There was too much to parse out. Jamming her eyes shut, Zaina shook her head and demanded, ¡°How the hell am I supposed to believe you? How can I know you¡¯re telling the truth?¡±

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    ¡°Like I said earlier,¡± Fell replied, ¡°stay ¡®til tomorrow. Almada¡¯s mercenaries will probably assume you failed by then and return to their normally scheduled bombing.¡±

    Zaina pointed at him and said, ¡°But that¡¯s exactly what you¡¯d say if you were lying, isn¡¯t it? So Xyrthe and I will let our guard down and you can kill us in the night!¡±

    With an amused chuckle, Fell replied, ¡°You really have trust issues, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Wh¡ªwhat the hell is that supposed to mean?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Look, I can understand not trusting me and Leda¡ªyou just met us. But you don¡¯t even trust yourself to handle the situation should it go poorly. Your partner isn¡¯t freaking out. Probably because she knows herself well enough to know she¡¯ll stand tall in the shit. And maybe she¡¯s placed a little more faith in you than you realize.¡±

    A resigned sigh escaped Zaina¡¯s lips as Xyrthe rolled her eyes and then averted her gaze. Zaina cursed under her breath, hating that her first ¡®real¡¯ mission had thrown her such a curveball.

    ¡°Xyrthe,¡± Zaina said, ¡°can I talk to you outside?¡±

    ¡°Whatever you want to say, say it now,¡± Xyrthe said.

    ¡°It¡¯s¡ªI don¡¯t¡ª¡±

    With a shrug, her mentor said, ¡°It¡¯s a clusterfuck of information right now. You don¡¯t know who to trust, who to believe¡ªand you want guidance. That about sum it up?¡±

    Blushing, Zaina nodded and stared at the ground. She hated that Xyrthe did this in front of them.

    ¡°Well,¡± Xyrthe said, ¡°I agree with you that we shouldn¡¯t outright trust our new¡ªlet¡¯s not call them friends, how about¡ªacquaintances?¡±

    Fell turned to Leda, who shrugged and said, ¡°Not sure I¡¯d go that far, even.¡±

    In an annoyed tone, Xyrthe replied, ¡°Well, whatever we want to call it doesn¡¯t matter. The point is¡ªlook, I¡¯m really bad at this shit. What are you asking? Do you want to know what I think we should do, or what?¡±

    Zaina threw her hands up in frustration. ¡°You know what¡ªfine. We¡¯ll stay the fucking night. I need time to think anyway. How are we going to go about this to make sure there¡¯s no fuckery?¡±

    With a shrug, Xyrthe said, ¡°You sleep first shift, I¡¯ll sleep second? Or you can take first shift to do your thinking.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡ªfine, that works,¡± Zaina said. ¡°Now let¡¯s get out of here and set up camp.¡±

    Without waiting for her mentor¡¯s response Zaina stormed outside, crossed her arms, and fumed. How could Xyrthe be so disrespectful in front of targets of a mission? And further¡ªhow could everything be so confusing?

    As she stewed in her frustration, the people of Freewater went about their days before her. Some toiled shoring up the town¡¯s haphazard homes, stopping as kids ran by making engine noises to accompany the toy ships they¡¯d assembled from scraps; others stood atop their roofs and switched out the blankets hanging from the clotheslines, carefully considering how it would fit in with all the rest.

    Zaina shook her head. I don¡¯t get it. They think they¡¯re gonna get bombed tomorrow, but they¡¯re putting blankets up? Why not make themselves less noticeable?

    Staring at the people going about their lives softened the edges of her anger, and it quickly turned into sorrow. Whatever she did, it needed to be in service to the people of Freewater.

    From within Fell¡¯s shack, she heard Xyrthe¡¯s voice. Zaina placed an ear to one of the sunken walls as her mentor said, ¡°Sorry about her. She¡¯s¡ªwell, she¡¯s still sorting everything out.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s no worries,¡± Fell replied. ¡°She¡¯s young, like my deputy here. Still full of fire, still wanting to believe you¡¯re gonna get a fair shake of it. Thirty years ago, I¡¯d have done the same exact thing in her shoes.¡±

    Xyrthe chuckled. ¡°Hard to picture.¡±

    ¡°You gonna go after her?¡±

    ¡°Of course. She¡¯s my student¡ªI kind of have to. The scholars will be on my ass if she goes missing.¡±

    Fell replied, ¡°Well, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow. Oh, and one more thing. If this does turn out to be one of Almada¡¯s tricks, I won¡¯t hesitate to act in defense of Freewater and its people. Know that.¡±

    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Xyrthe replied.

    Zaina¡¯s gaze fell to the sands as her mentor emerged from the shack.

    ¡°Ready to go?¡± she asked.

    With a sullen nod, Zaina followed her mentor to the outskirts of town. They wordlessly set up camp and ate their rationed meals for the night before Xyrthe turned in, leaving Zaina with plenty of time to ponder the words of Reister Fell and Ondor Almada. One of them had to be lying¡ªand neither seemed anything like the other was trying to portray.

    With a sigh she reached a hand toward the sky, cupping a star in her palm. I didn¡¯t think being a lancer would be this complicated. It wasn¡¯t this complicated on Demelia¡ªor Kaadu.

    Then again, both of those situations involved the Eldritch¡ªan entity so foul that resisting it came naturally. In those fights, she always knew which side she was on. She almost wished for something like that again, something where she didn¡¯t have to sort out lies from truth. For all the Eldritch¡¯s evil, there was something pure about it, too¡ªsomething simple, unabashed and unashamed of itself.

    The night drifted on as Zaina¡¯s thoughts teetered between Ondor¡¯s testimony and Fell¡¯s. She hoped the next day would bring answers.

 Chapter Eighty-Three: The One Path to Peace

    ¡°In outworld mining, there¡¯s no such thing as a lost cause. The labor standards aren¡¯t the same as in Synatorium-controlled space, so things can be played much looser on the ground with little consequence; after all, the public eye rarely reaches out all this way. With little to no overhead for labor considerations, many more avenues of returning one¡¯s investment become available¡ªthe work, at least, can never become too expensive out here.¡±

    ¡ªGuild Leader Gridas Gonform, in an internal memo regarding his preference for outworld projects

    The night was long and without rest for Zaina. Once her watch was up she slept in fits and starts, never able to fully drift away. The situation at hand weighed too heavily on her mind and heart.

    She stepped out of her tent as the sun crept over the horizon. Xyrthe had a fire going, roasting some gamba powder and water to combine them; without a word, she poured Zaina a cup and handed it to her.

    A sigh escaped Zaina¡¯s mouth as she sat across from her mentor, cross-legged in the sand. After taking her first sip of the hot gamba, she said, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t mention it. You sleep all right?¡±

    Zaina shook her head and then said, ¡°Hey, um¡ªI, I wanted to say, I¡¯m sorry about yesterday. I¡ªI really was out of line.¡±

    Xyrthe shrugged. ¡°There¡¯s not really a line to be out of, per se,¡± she said. ¡°There¡¯s no code of conduct saying you can¡¯t be an asshole. I¡¯m still here, aren¡¯t I?¡±

    A half-grin spread over Zaina¡¯s lips, then faded. ¡°Yeah, but¡ªI feel like I screwed up.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s your first mission. You¡¯re going to screw up. Hell, you¡¯re going to screw up on your hundredth mission, probably. Being a lancer doesn¡¯t mean being perfect, or always making the right choice. Most of us do the best we can.¡±

    After thinking on her mentor¡¯s words, Zaina hung her head and said in a low voice, ¡°It¡¯s been a weird few days, hasn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll say,¡± Xyrthe said with a chuckle. ¡°You¡¯ve gone from wanting a peaceful resolution to wanting to kill Fell to¡ªwell, I don¡¯t know, where are you at now?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m trying to figure out.¡±

    ¡°Ah,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°Sorting shit like this out can get really messy, you know? We¡¯re not privy to the big picture. But it might help get your feelings straight to talk it through. So tell me what you¡¯re thinking.¡±

    Zaina winced, then closed her eyes and sighed. ¡°I guess¡ªI¡¯m weighing everything. If Fell¡¯s lying, that makes things a whole lot easier¡ªhe¡¯s the bad guy in that case, and what we have to do is clear. But if Ondor is lying¡ªif Fell really is trying to keep these people safe, what the hell do we do then? He¡¯s got the backing of the Synatorium.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Xyrthe replied, her tone laced with sorrow, ¡°if you¡¯re asking what I think¡ªI think, if Ondor¡¯s lying, we should stay out of it. Whether today, tomorrow¡ªa year from now, or ten¡ªthese people are doomed. Even if Ondor pulls out, some other asshole will come in and finish what he started. We could put our necks on the line for Freewater, but what would come of it? Either we win and these people are still living on a planet slated for destruction, or we lose and end up corpses on a forgotten world, unable to help the galaxy further. It might not be worth the risk. It¡¯s shitty to have to think about things in terms of practicality like that, but it is what it is.¡±

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    Silence fell over them for a minute as Zaina pondered her mentor¡¯s words.

    Xyrthe continued, ¡°You know what I think your problem is right now? You¡¯re looking for the happy ending where the bad guy loses and the good guy wins. But that¡¯s not what¡¯s going to happen here. Someone has to lose, and the deck¡¯s stacked in Ondor¡¯s favor. I don¡¯t think we can fix that.¡±

    Zaina shook her head and replied, ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t think it¡¯s that. You¡¯re right¡ªFreewater is pretty much doomed no matter what we do. But¡ªI don¡¯t know. It¡¯s not the town itself being destroyed that¡¯s bothering me, it¡¯s the people. None of them deserve this. I wish there was a way we could help them.¡±

    Xyrthe shrugged. ¡°Like I said, there¡¯s not much we can do. Sometimes it comes down to wrong place, wrong time. It did for your world.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but not for its people,¡± Zaina said. Demelia had been evacuated by the Order and the Synatorium¡ª

    Suddenly, an idea popped into Zaina¡¯s head. She stood up and spread her arms out, her voice rising to an excited pitch as she said, ¡°That¡¯s it!¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Xyrthe asked.

    Pointing a finger to the sky and pacing, Zaina said, ¡°Well, think about it! Fell said the reason no one took Ondor¡¯s offer was because it was hardly an offer at all. It was basically indentured servitude. But if we could maybe get them a better offer from somewhere else¡ªmaybe the Order can kick in one of their spare ships¡ªthen we¡¯d have a chance at saving them all! And plus, if we find a better offer and Fell rejects it, we know he¡¯s keeping the people here intentionally!¡±

    Xyrthe leaned back. ¡°That¡¯s an interesting idea, but I¡¯ve already noticed some holes. It could take days for even a single rescue ship to get supplied and make its way out here, and that¡¯s assuming the Order is willing to send one. That gives Ondor plenty of time to make his move, and he said he¡¯s going for a final push. It may be too late, Zaina.¡±

    ¡°But what if it isn¡¯t?¡± she replied. ¡°No, think about it¡ªwe can tell Ondor we killed Fell, then sneak the people offworld! It¡¯s not like the planet¡¯s going to be strip-mined in a day, right? Ondor has to get all his equipment here and set up, too.¡±

    ¡°And what if Ondor really wants the people of Freewater, too?¡± Xyrthe asked. ¡°They usually rely on native labor for these sorts of things.¡±

    ¡°We play into his story. We tell him that Fell had slaughtered the entire town as soon as we showed up.¡±

    Her mentor shook her head. ¡°No, that wouldn¡¯t work. You think Ondor wouldn¡¯t send someone to be sure his assets were secured? Or run a fucking bio-scan? He didn¡¯t seem like the type to take our word for it when it comes to business.¡±

    Zaina rubbed her chin and said, ¡°So what if we get Fell to agree to give us part of the warsuit? We can take it to him as proof. He¡¯d have no reason to waste the effort. That buys us the time we need.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, so long as Ondor doesn¡¯t double-check our work on the most important investment of his life. Come on, Zaina¡ªI know it¡¯s hard to accept when you have to stare people in the eyes and know they¡¯re beyond saving, but you can¡¯t lie and game other people out of their fates¡ªeven if they¡¯re suffering. We¡¯d have a better chance of storming Ondor¡¯s personal cruiser and ferrying them away on that.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s head tilted as she mulled the idea over.

    Disbelief came over Xyrthe¡¯s face as she said, ¡°What¡ªyou¡¯re not seriously considering that, are you? My point was that helping these people is basically suicide, not that we need another angle on it!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m trying to consider all of our options! It¡¯s not just our lives depending on it, you know,¡± Zaina shot back. ¡°I think we should at least talk it over with Fell. If he likes the idea, he might have a way to help us get the people of Freewater offworld.¡±

    Throwing her hands up, Xyrthe replied, ¡°And where the hell are we going to put them? Do you know how expensive it is to resettle people, how many supplies they need? This is exactly why I warned you to turn off the tap¡ªto not get attached.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyes narrowed into a glare. ¡°So there is a price tag on people¡¯s lives¡ªyou sound like Ondor right now.¡±

    ¡°Oh, fuck you,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°You know what? Go talk to Fell alone. Play this how you want to, but I want no part of it.¡±

 Chapter Eighty-Four: The Daily Bombing Run

    ¡°The second you give the corpos access to military hardware, you open the door for exactly this type of long-term escalation. They see the projections and they can¡¯t help themselves¡ªthey never can.¡±

    ¡ªZolfreg Qualtic, Historian of the Corpo Wars

    ¡°So, what? You¡¯re going to go back to Ondor, ask for a ride home?¡±

    Xyrthe took a deep breath with her eyes closed. ¡°You know what¡ªno. I¡¯m going to stay right here. I want to see how badly you fuck things up. And if you don¡¯t, well, I¡¯ll have my ride offworld then, won¡¯t I?¡±

    The heat of Frustration rose from Zaina¡¯s chest into her throat. Her hands clenched into fists. Between clenched teeth, she said, ¡°Well if you¡¯re going to sit here and do nothing, could you at least contact the Order and ask about a rescue ship? I doubt they¡¯d give it if I ask.¡±

    ¡°What part of, ¡®no part of this,¡¯ do you not understand?¡± Xyrthe asked with a dismissing wave of her hand.

    ¡°Please,¡± Zaina said, trying to hold back the anger in her voice. ¡°I would really appreciate it.¡±

    As if sensing the opportunity to further annoy her pupil, Xyrthe grinned and asked, ¡°Are you asking me for help, then?¡±

    Zaina sighed. ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Really? Because that didn¡¯t sound like you were asking me.¡±

    By now, Zaina¡¯s hands were trembling with searing-hot rage. With so many lives on the line, she managed to put her feelings aside. Mustering as calm a voice as she could, she asked, ¡°Could you please help me by contacting the Order and asking about a rescue ship¡ªmaybe ask about an ETA? I¡¯m going to go into town to talk to Fell.¡±

    Xyrthe leaned back with a smirk plastered on her lips. ¡°Yeah, sure, kid. I¡¯ll get right on it as soon as you leave.¡±

    Zaina lingered, unsure of whether to believe her mentor or not. ¡°Please, Xyrthe, this really is important¡ª¡±

    ¡°I said I¡¯ll do it, so I¡¯ll do it,¡± Xyrthe snapped. ¡°You¡¯re pissing me off. Go away before I change my mind.¡±

    Without another word, Zaina stormed off toward Freewater¡ªoddly enough, most of the colorful blankets and tapestries had been taken down. As the sun cleared the horizon behind her, long shadows stretched out to either side of her; she turned¡ªtwo atmospheric ships were in the sky. They were long-bodied and winged, with large, rotating turbines for directing thrust housed within each wing; both were too small to carry cargo or soldiers¡ªthese were fighters.

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    Her heart skipped a beat. No.

    She turned and ran toward Freewater, hoping to warn the people in time; there was no chance¡ªher shouts were drowned out by the ship¡¯s engines as they soared overhead, overtaking her and descending toward the town.

    Before the ships opened fire, Reister Fell, fully dressed in his warsuit, stepped from the shadows. The ground shook as he got down to one knee and angled his shoulder. One of the turrets mounted on his pauldrons fired off two missiles with deafening pops¡ªthe darts left trails of pungent smoke as they streamed through the sky, swerving and changing direction to follow their targets.

    The fighters broke off, their turbines helping them rapidly pivot to avoid the missiles; one doubled back immediately, pointing the lens of its focus cannon at the town of Freewater¡ªwith a flash of light three houses were instantly incinerated, blasting chunks of debris and sand hundreds of feet into the air; gleams of light reflected from the fresh glass.

    Staring in disbelief from the edge of town, Zaina shouted and then raised a hand to cover herself as sand pelted her face; Fell took notice, his distorted voice cutting through the breaking chaos.

    ¡°Zaina!¡±

    She made to run for the town again, but another burst of light struck, and the houses closest to her exploded¡ªthe force threw her twenty feet. Sand burrowed into her hair, nose, mouth, ears, and eyes as she rolled through the desert and came to a stop on her stomach. Pain refracted through her body, immobilizing her.

    All she could do was weakly stare up at the sky¡ªas her vision un-blurred, she made out one of the fighter¡¯s rear-mounted defense cannons shredding a missile with large scrap beads, then twisting around. The lens of its cannons fixed on Zaina as she lay helpless in the sand.

    Unable to reach her hex-guard, Zaina weakly held up a hand to block out the sun. Then, at the last moment, something huge blocked it out¡ªher eyes jammed shut as an ear-splitting boom erupted, accompanied by a swell of heat. Her brain felt like it was going to rip into pieces as she waited for the end¡ªit never came.

    Instead, Fell¡¯s modulated voice, much closer now, said, ¡°Whew, close one.¡±

    Zaina opened her eyes¡ªthe warsuit was kneeling before her, both arms outstretched to cover her sides; smoke was rising from its back, but it appeared to be unharmed. Her mouth dropped open.

    ¡°I¡ªI¡ªuh¡ª¡±

    Fell said, ¡°They¡¯re here early today, and they¡¯re being awfully aggressive¡ªmeans I¡¯ve got ¡®em where I want ¡®em. You get into one of the shelters with everyone else, now. This is about to get a whole lot uglier.¡±

    Still reeling from the pain, Zaina nodded and struggled to her feet. Fell turned back toward Freewater and fired off another batch of missiles, then pulled a heavy scrap rifle from his waist. The warsuit was big enough to wield the oversized rifle with a single hand¡ªthe gun¡¯s rhythmic cracks stung at Zaina¡¯s ears.

    As she limped toward the shelter a deafening boom rocked the other side Freewater. A wave of sand rushed past her, making her cover her face. A cluster of sharp, echoing pops broke out in the sky. Zaina yelped as a massive, flaming hunk of metal¡ªone of the ships¡ªcrashed into the desert nearby, spewing flaming oil and metal fragments into the sky. The canopy was burnt out, with no trace of the pilot left.

    Zaina stumbled toward Freewater¡ªshe was still twenty feet from the edge of town, and at least a hundred from a shelter. With sharp aches still surging through her insides, she stood little chance of making it in time.

    Her lungs heaved, and she dropped to her knees to cough blood up into the sand; after a few heaving breaths, she turned back¡ªthe second ship was flying low, swerving to dodge the ballistic scraps while its rear cannons tried to fend off the closing missiles. The ship was screaming toward Freewater¡ªif there was such a thing as flying angry, this was it; it appeared ready to strafe half of Freewater and turn everything in its path¡ªincluding Zaina¡ªinto glass.

 Chapter Eighty-Five: The Coming Change

    ¡°It¡¯s hard when things are bad, but not bad enough that you feel the immediate need to extract yourself from a situation; perhaps it¡¯s bad, but you¡¯re too content to uproot everything and make a change to make things better. This mindset is a trap many of us find ourselves in. Take it from me¡ªmake the change you need.¡±

    ¡ªPhilosopher Storn Konfre

    Before the ship got its shot off, a glowing spear pierced the canopy from the side¡ªthe ship reared and bucked, no doubt a result of the pilot¡¯s surprise. The lens cannon flashed, but nothing exploded.

    Zaina stared in awe as Xyrthe¡ªparticle hook-gun in hand¡ªlanded atop the fighter¡¯s canopy. She grabbed her cipher and tore it free, cracking the hyper-glass open; in a single, smooth motion, Xyrthe dropped a stun grenade into the open cockpit and plunged the spear into the ship¡¯s nose, piercing the hull.

    With both hands, Xyrthe grabbed her cipher and yanked on it, steering the fighter toward the ground; at the last second, she activated her rocket boots and grabbed the pilot by the back of the shirt. She pulled away from the ship with her captive in tow¡ªthe ship crashed into the ground, exploding in a blazing inferno as the missiles caught up to the wreckage. Xyrthe landed softly on the ground and threw her unconscious quarry into the dirt.

    Zaina¡¯s mouth was open in awe. The warsuit¡¯s seams split open, and Fell emerged with a shocked expression. He turned to Zaina and said, ¡°Holy shit. Does she do that often?¡±

    Xyrthe walked toward them and rolled her eyes. ¡°What? You had them distracted. Nothing to it.¡±

    Fell and Zaina shared another glance. In a sheepish voice, Zaina asked, ¡°Can you teach me how to do that?¡±

    Her mentor glared. ¡°Don¡¯t you two have something to talk about?¡±

    Fell¡¯s eyebrow rose. ¡°Hm?¡±

    ¡°Two days, kid¡ªtwo days.¡± Xyrthe turned and stormed off without another word, leaving Fell and Zaina with the unconscious woman.

    ¡°She seems pissed. What¡¯d she mean by that?¡± he asked.

    Zaina stared as the people of Freewater, led by Leda, emerged from their shelters and went about breaking off the freshly made glass to be repurposed and surveying the damage. Her heart ached for them¡ªthis couldn¡¯t last much longer. Their home was slowly breaking at the seams¡ªnot like how Demelia was suddenly ripped from her.

    ¡°I¡ªuh, I have an idea. One I need to talk to you about,¡± she said, unable to look him in the eyes.

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    ¡°An idea, huh?¡± Fell stepped out of the warsuit. ¡°Well, I¡¯m all ears, but before we do anything, we should deal with our friend here.¡±

    He gestured toward the pilot, who was coming to with a groggy moan. ¡°Huh? Where am I? Where¡¯s the Ad Infinitum?¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s your ship,¡± Fell said, ¡°it¡¯s in a lot of places thanks to that lancer. What¡¯s your name?¡±

    The woman tried to stand, then winced and grabbed her shoulder. Her eyes settled in a discomforting glare on Zaina. In a low voice, the woman said, ¡°My name is Gronda. Where¡¯s Qendil? Is she alive?¡±

    ¡°Your friend? Likely not. I caught her between some high-caliber scraps and a few missiles. Guess she wasn¡¯t as lucky as you, eh?¡±

    Gronda spat at Fell. ¡°You Cytomoid scum! Ondor¡¯s gonna string you up. I asked him if I could make a belt out of your tail. And you, heretic¡ªyou¡¯re gonna regret this. I knew you were filth the moment I laid eyes on you!¡±

    ¡°Right-o,¡± he said, then turned to Leda, who was approaching. ¡°Deputy Longuin, would you please apprehend this¡ªdare I say it¡ªwar criminal?¡±

    Without hesitation, Leda shackled Gronda¡¯s wrists together behind her back and escorted her away.

    Fell shook his head. ¡°Some people, I swear. Anyway, what was it you wanted to talk about?¡±

    Zaina clasped her hands behind her back. ¡°First off, I¡¯m sorry for¡ªwell, yesterday,¡± she said.

    He nodded. ¡°No worries. This whole thing is probably a lot.¡±

    ¡°It is¡ªbut I think I¡¯ve found the solution.¡±

    ¡°All right,¡± he replied.

    ¡°Well, Xyrthe asked the Order of Riiva to arrange for transport offworld for the people of Freewater.¡±

    A suspicious expression overtook his face. ¡°Oh? Is that so?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, ¡°and they¡¯ll be here in two days. Hopefully it¡¯s a ship big enough to take everyone.¡±

    Fell scratched behind his ear. ¡°And where will you be taking us?¡±

    Her lips pulled into a frown.

    A glint of sorrow appeared in his eyes. In a low voice, he said, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ve thought this through, Zaina? I¡¯m glad your priorities are straight, but this idea might not be a winner.¡±

    ¡°Well¡ªno, I don¡¯t know where we¡¯ll go. Maybe the Bureau of Refugees will provide temporary housing, or the Department of Relocation¡ª¡±

    He shook his head. ¡°Those things only apply to citizens of the Synatorium¡ªand, except in extreme circumstances, which the Synatorium would never brand a situation involving Almada, they take time to apply for even if we could.¡±

    ¡°But¡ªArchava was a Militarium outpost, wasn¡¯t it? You have to be citizens!¡±

    ¡°The planet isn¡¯t a Signatory. In the eyes of the Synatorium, it doesn¡¯t even have a name,¡± Fell said sadly. ¡°Nor will we find ourselves protected by their laws. We¡¯re on our own out here.¡±

    ¡°Well¡ªwhat about the Church of Bor? Don¡¯t they take in refugees on Geirdel, no questions asked?¡±

    In a low voice, he said, ¡°Yes, I suppose they¡¯d take us in if we could get there. Or at least the families. But¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hear me out,¡± Zaina said. ¡°There¡¯s a ship coming from the Order than can get you and everyone to Geirdel. It may not be perfect, but it¡¯ll be better than here. Look at this¡±¡ªshe gestured to the swathe of destruction left by the fighters¡¯ raid¡ª¡°things can¡¯t stay like this. These people can¡¯t stay here. Even if they weren¡¯t being attacked every day, I mean¡ªthey can¡¯t. I think you know that.¡±

    Fell¡¯s mouth fell into a deep frown as a sharp sigh left his heaving chest. His mouth opened¡ªas if unable to answer, his eyes fell to the ground. Pain was written in every corner of his face.

    ¡°You don¡¯t want to leave?¡± she asked.

    He slowly sat down, crossing his legs in the sand. ¡°It¡¯s not that¡ªI never thought they¡¯d get the chance.¡± He bowed his head. ¡°Thank you, Zaina.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t thank me until it works,¡± she said. ¡°There¡¯s still some details to iron out¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not thanking you because anything¡¯s worked yet,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m thanking you because your heart¡¯s in the right place, and it deserves to be mentioned.¡±

 Chapter Eighty-Six: Back into the Desert

    ¡°Plans borne of desperation too often fall apart when met with reality.¡±

    ¡ªAdmiral Friminil Yaegervox

    A smile crossed Zaina¡¯s lips, and then faded. ¡°Anyway, the ship¡¯s going to be here in two days, so we need to find a way to buy time until then. I was thinking¡ªI mean, if you don¡¯t have any other ideas¡ªI could take a piece of the warsuit to Ondor, make him think you and everyone else here are dead. Then, while he¡¯s orchestrating whatever comes next for Archava, you all wait it out and slip offworld unnoticed.¡±

    An amused chuckle came from Fell. ¡°You got this all figured out as far as the escape, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s risky, I know,¡± she said, ¡°but I really think, if I tell Ondor the right story, it¡¯ll work. That way, no more mercenaries come for Freewater, and everyone here gets a fresh start on Geirdel, or somewhere.¡±

    Running a hand through his hair, he said, ¡°Well, I don¡¯t have any better ideas. Look, what do I have to do to make this happen?¡±

    ¡°I think a piece of the warsuit¡ªsomething they can recognize¡ªwould be enough.¡±

    He nodded and said, ¡°You¡¯re strong, right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I guess so, why?¡±

    Without replying, Fell stood and pulled an elongated tool from his belt. He climbed atop the warsuit and spent a minute or two poking and prodding the suit¡¯s canopy in precise places before it slid off and dropped into the sand with a dull thud, leaving the upper-cockpit exposed.

    Zaina stared at it. ¡°The head-covering? Are you sure?¡±

    Fell jumped down and landed without making a noise. ¡°When we leave Archava, this suit¡¯s going to be staying here; there¡¯s no need to keep it intact if this all works. Besides, they¡¯ve all gotten a good look at this.¡±

    ¡°But if it doesn¡¯t go well, this could be a bad idea.¡±

    ¡°Like you said,¡± Fell replied, sorrow suffusing his gaze, ¡°things can¡¯t stay like this. If there¡¯s even a chance this could work, it¡¯s my responsibility as warden to take that chance¡ªand bear the brunt of the risk. Besides, the suit¡¯ll still work, and she still has more than enough weaponry to deal with Almada and his ilk if things go wrong. I¡¯ll have to be a little more careful is all. And if that doesn¡¯t work, Leda knows how to use the suit better than me¡ªbut not by as much as she¡¯s a better sniper.¡±

    Zaina was speechless. Even after how she¡¯d acted the day before, Fell still trusted her almost instantly¡ªshe expected to have to convince him it wasn¡¯t a trap.

    ¡°If you¡¯re gonna go back to Almada,¡± Fell said, ¡°I¡¯d do it quick, if possible. There¡¯re probably more mercenaries on the way. The sooner you reach him, the better the chance he calls them off. If they come here and find out your story¡¯s wrong, it could end up bad for you¡ªI know Almada probably acted all buddy-friend, but he¡¯s ruthless when it comes down to it. You gonna pin it all on me?¡±

    ¡°I¡ªuh, I don¡¯t know. I was thinking of saying the ships destroyed Freewater.¡±

    Fell rubbed his chin. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡ªit¡¯d probably look better for Almada if you told him I killed everyone. At least, as far as paperwork is concerned, which hopefully, is all he cares about. Might help him sleep a little easier knowing he didn¡¯t have to fudge anything from your testimony. The last thing we want to do is give him an itch he feels he needs to scratch.¡±

    Seeing the wisdom of his thinking, Zaina nodded. ¡°Yeah, that makes sense. Are you sure, though? I mean, your name would be on all this¡ªit¡¯d get dragged through the mud forever.¡±

    Fell shrugged. ¡°If it means Almada leaves us alone for two days, I¡¯ll be happy to live with a tarnished name on Geirdel. Or, more likely, under an alias. Always liked the name Jan.¡±

    Zaina chuckled. ¡°Jan, huh?¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡ªhey, before you head out, can I ask you something?¡±

    Her eyebrow rose. ¡°Hm?¡±

    ¡°You said you¡¯re from Demelia, right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said.

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    ¡°I heard about what happened there. We¡¯ve got a semi-operational comms relay inside the tower, so we hear some of what¡¯s going on. I¡¯m sorry to hear what you¡¯ve been through.¡±

    Zaina shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s not like you blew it up.¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking¡ªhow¡¯d you deal with¡ªyou know¡ªlosing your home?¡± he asked. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, I know your family¡¯s probably safe and sound somewhere, but losing such a big piece of your life¡ªyour homeworld¡ªhow are you dealing with that? I feel like I can¡¯t even imagine it.¡±

    Her eyes fell to the sand. ¡°To be honest,¡± she said, her voice lowering, ¡°I don¡¯t think I ever did deal with that. I have a lot of dreams about home, the way things were. But every day when I wake up I have to accept that that¡¯s all behind me now. Maybe it only will be when I find a new place to call home¡ªsomeplace I choose.¡±

    A warm smile came over Fell¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯ll find it. You¡¯re young yet.¡±

    ¡°Someday,¡± she said.

    Fell nodded and extended a hand. Surprised at first, Zaina reached out and shook it.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to be a hell of a lancer when you get your legs under you,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯ve got the heart already. That¡¯s half the battle.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s hope they come in soon,¡± she said with a wry grin. ¡°If you don¡¯t see me for two days and no one else shows up, you¡¯ll know it worked.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± he replied, ¡°if this is the last time we¡¯ll ever see each other, I¡¯d say it was nice to meet you, Zaina.¡±

    She nodded and turned toward the warsuit¡¯s helmet lying in the sand. It was four feet in diameter and at least half a foot of solid, heavy metal. Zaina gripped its side by one of the connective ports and dragged it through the sand with surprising ease. With that, she set out for her camp.

    Xyrthe was taking a nap in her tent; instead of disturbing her, Zaina scribbled her intentions on a note and slipped it through the opening of Xyrthe¡¯s shelter. Zaina then set about packing up her supplies while trying to make as little noise as possible.

    I¡¯ll reconnect with Xyrthe back on Kaadu. I can always vis-screen her once I¡¯m clear of Ondor. I¡¯ll probably have to tell him she died, too. Geez, this is going to be a fucked up story.

    Finally ready to set out, Zaina hiked her knapsack over her shoulder and started back toward Ondor¡¯s base of operations. As she waded through the sea of sand, the story she¡¯d tell Ondor played in her mind; she had to have all the details right to make it convincing. People¡¯s lives were at stake.

    ¡°Okay,¡± she said, ¡°so I¡¯ll say Xyrthe and I stayed the night in the canyon near Freewater to scope them out. When the ships came, Fell started executing civilians and then took them down, so Xyrthe and I moved on Fell. She gave her life to get Fell out of the suit¡ªno, Fell killed her on the approach so I had time to¡­¡±

    Her trek continued as the sun rose and dwelled in the sky. Sweat now caked her skin, coagulating in any loose areas in her TAC-suit. It was decided¡ªshe hated the desert.

    I hope I never have to go to a desert again. This sucks.

    At around midday, something broke into view over the horizon¡ªdesert riders, two of them, accompanied by a convoy of hovering armored transports. A flash of hope sparked in Zaina¡¯s chest¡ªthis had to be Ondor¡¯s mercenaries! She¡¯d caught them on their way to Freewater¡ªright in the nick of time.

    Waving her arms madly to get their attention, Zaina ran to meet them halfway. The desert riders seemed to notice first, slightly altering their course. As they came closer, their occupants came into view¡ªCaptain Gilvus, alive and well, was stationed on one rider with Fredan; Veimla and Ardual were on the other, the latter accompanied by one of the dreichs of his namesake. It was a mechanical beast akin to the Vash Dragons ridden by the Dragonriders of Midliore, but less draconic; the creature had a wider wingspan than the length of its body, with its wings stretching over fifty feet; the tail, long, barbed, and split into three writhing ends, was poised to strike at a moment¡¯s notice. The dreich head was long, with a sharp pair of jaws and rows of short, jagged metal teeth. Its eyes were bright red, and cruel things reflecting ancient malice. Twin engines were encased in either wing, casting a sharp crimson light on the desert below. Both riders also had at least five biriflers in black armor, their weapons trained on Zaina.

    She gulped. This was a bigger war party than Ondor indicated he had available. Still, it was too late to back down now¡ªand too much was riding on this.

    The riders swooped in first, stopping on either side of her; the transports strafed to the outside, hovering above the sand and blowing it in every direction while their engine noise lowered to a lively hum. Zaina pulled her TAC-shawl over her mouth and nose and put her vis-scanner over her eyes.

    Geez, these guys are rude.

    Ardual leaned over the side of the rider. ¡°So, the little lancer that could comes home, eh? What the fuck happened?¡±

    With a heaving grunt, Zaina tossed the massive helmet toward the desert rider. It landed with a dampened thud, kicking up sand. In as serious a voice as she could muster, she said, ¡°Reister Fell is dead. Where¡¯s Ondor?¡±

    Ardual guffawed. ¡°He¡¯s dead, is he? I¡¯d like to see his corpse. Mind taking us?¡±

    Zaina pointed to the helmet in the sand. ¡°That¡¯s proof enough. Take me to Ondor¡ªI need to get back to the Order.¡±

    Ardual squinted. ¡°Where¡¯s your partner?¡±

    Shooting him a hateful glare, Zaina replied, ¡°Buried with the rest of the town. Fell killed them all. We attacked after he took down your fighters, and¡ª¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Ardual asked between fits of deep, heaving chuckles. ¡°Those fighters¡¯ final visual feeds tell a different story of your involvement.¡±

    ¡°Hey, boss,¡± Veimla said, ¡°she¡¯s lying. Bio-scans show the same amount of life-forms as yesterday. Confirms the last visual feed from Gronda, too. I knew we couldn¡¯t trust these heretics the Order sent us. This dumb bitch thinks we were born yesterday.¡±

    A toothy grin spread over Ardual¡¯s face as every birifler on the desert riders readied their weapons, all aiming at Zaina from different directions. Her heart dropped, eyes widening in fright¡ªshe had failed Freewater.

    No¡ªthey know.

 Chapter Eighty-Seven: The Break

    ¡°Don¡¯t fuck with lancers too hard, ever. Learned that lesson in my youth. See, they try to put on a good show of being respectable, honorable warriors, but push them too far, in the wrong way, and they¡¯ll fuck you up. Let¡¯s just say I¡¯m called, ¡®One-Arm¡¯ for a reason, and there¡¯s a story behind it that involves a very pissed off lancer. Everyone else who was on my ship that day is still on that ship, albeit in pieces.¡±

    ¡ªEldibor Abscrond, famed pirate lord, in his post retirement memoir, The Other Ship: the Inner Life of Pirates as told by the Scourge of the Star-lanes

    Zaina held her hands up. ¡°You sure that thing¡¯s working? Pretty sure that bombing run did a number on Fell¡¯s hostages, too.¡±

    ¡°Not when he ushers them into shelters,¡± Ardual said. ¡°The instruments are calibrated to account for user error. No, the only explanation here, is a falsehood. You¡¯re standing with them.¡±

    Sensing the situation turning against her, Zaina summoned her cipher and readied her hex-guard. There was no way out. Sweat was dripping off her face and caking all over her body as her muscles tensed. She wasn¡¯t ready for this.

    The mercenaries laughed. Ardual pointed and said, ¡°Look at the little lancer! She¡¯s gonna kill us all, all by herself. Oh, we¡¯re trembling in our boots, we are!¡±

    A quick glance around told Zaina she wasn¡¯t getting out of this without a lot of luck. However, right when the mercenaries seemed primed to fire, another familiar voice cracked through the air.

    ¡°Stop!¡±

    The word belonged to Ondor, who strode to the front of Ardual¡¯s rider. He stared down at Zaina, sighed, and said, ¡°Captain Gilvus, I thought you performed your job.¡±

    ¡°I did!¡± the captain shot back. ¡°I told her it was Fell that hired me like you told me to. I don¡¯t know what she¡¯s doing here.¡±

    ¡°Zaina,¡± Ondor said, ¡°why have you done this? Sided with those barbarians¡ªdo you know what you¡¯ve done, how much it costs me to keep these mercenaries here another day? Why, I¡¯m losing rebu by the second that that little village still stands.¡±

    Her last hope was that Ondor would see reason. Zaina said, ¡°I have a way that they can leave¡ª¡±

    Ondor waved the idea aside. ¡°No, I¡¯ll not hear it. I purchased this planet for my use¡ªincluding everything on it not protected by Synatorium law. Those people legally belong to me, and I¡¯ll not hear otherwise.¡±

    Her eyes narrowed into a death-glare. So Fell was telling the truth. ¡°So, what¡ªyou¡¯re going to kill them like you did everyone else?¡±

    ¡°At this point, yes,¡± Ondor said, a hint of boredom in his voice. ¡°You know, I¡¯m disappointed. All the money I give to the Order over the years and this is the thanks I get? This is how my contributions are repaid? No wonder most of the civilized galaxy holds their little cult in such low regard.¡± He was no longer talking to Zaina. ¡°Gilvus, take your rider and fix your mistake¡ªdispose of the girl. Fredan, you and your team will help him. The rest of us are heading to¡ªwhat did she call it, again? Freewater?¡± He scoffed. ¡°You know, I¡¯ll give it to them¡ªthey gave their pile of desert trash a fittingly poor name. Come, let¡¯s get this over with. I know some of you are itching to see your families¡ªand after two years, I want to see the bastard dead myself.¡±

    A rowdy round of whoops and cheers erupted from the mercenaries as Ondor¡¯s desert rider, the transports, and the dreich all broke off, making for Freewater.

    ¡°No!¡± Zaina shouted, then raised her hex-guard right as an energy bolt closed in from above¡ªthe crushing impact sent waves of pain up her hand, through her arm, and into her shoulder and chest as she was thrown back ten feet, skidding to a halt on her back.

    Gilvus fired off another few rounds, some scorching the sand near Zaina¡¯s face, some smashing against her hex-guard and jamming her arm with fresh agony. She increased the hex-guard¡¯s size to cover her entire body as the biriflers, having descended to ground level, pelted her shield with munitions¡ª the hex-guard held out against explosive, incendiary, and electromagnetic rounds, but each hit took its toll. Each impact pressed Zaina¡¯s back further into the sand. The bones in her shield arm were about to break. Heat engulfed her entire body from the bombardment. Black spots danced across her vision.

    Gilvus¡¯s voice cut through the invading darkness. ¡°First one who brings me her head gets a promotion to captain third-grade! Make it happen, and fast!¡±

    The biriflers approached, keeping her pinned to the ground with a steady barrage of fire. When they were close enough, they surrounded her and started punching and kicking at the shield, but she held it tightly to her body. One birifler dug his arm through the sand and grabbed her hand from below.

    ¡°Come on out, little lancer!¡±

    ¡°One to the brain, you won¡¯t feel a thing! Promise!¡±

    ¡°No! Stop!¡± Zaina shrieked, but was unable to pull her arm away amid the chaos. The mercenaries laughed and chortled as they kicked and stomped her guard to roll her over. One of them pulled out a knife and tried to jam it beneath the guard. Her heart was about to jump out of her chest¡ªand despite the situation, the last thing she wanted to do was hurt anyone.

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    ¡°Please, stop!¡± she shouted, but there was no mercy. The mercenaries mocked her cries as they kept up their assault. A sharp crack pierced her ears as the hex-guard, at its limit for punishment, started to break apart.

    No, no, no¡ªI don¡¯t want to die¡ª

    ¡°Can¡¯t hide forever!¡±

    ¡°Come out and play!¡±

    The birifler yanked on her wrist, nearly pulling her out¡ªshe managed to resist, staying under her fading cover; it was hopeless. Zaina was about to die, and here these people were laughing away like it was all a joke to them. Which it was¡ªher life, the lives of the people of Freewater, everyone¡¯s life¡ªit was all one big joke to these people. They¡¯d laugh while they killed Zaina and sleep perfectly well.

    ¡°Come on, little girl!¡±

    ¡°Come out and fight, little lancer!¡±

    ¡°Please!¡± she cried. ¡°Please, I don¡¯t want to hurt anyone!¡±

    Another round of laughter broke out. ¡°All the easier for us!¡±

    Something in Zaina¡¯s brain snapped¡ªthere, getting beaten down in the sand by mercenaries who mocked her struggle as she tried to defend innocent people¡ªhearing their laughter, hearing the sheer joy in their voices¡ªit was unforgivable. In her mind was a split, a fracture that broke her. They weren¡¯t going to stop. She wanted to live¡ªand she wanted them to pay.

    As the hex-guard cracked apart, a raspy, crazed shriek erupted from Zaina¡¯s lungs. The birifler holding her wrist tried to pull back, but she grabbed his arm and pulled him into a punch; with a sickening, moist crunch, her fist sank into his chest, caving it in, and then pierced through to the other side, ejecting his heart and torn sections of his lungs. A layer of fresh, dripping blood drenched her outstretched arm, and the man spat up a mouthful on her face, emitting weak, choking gurgles as his body shook and jerked about.

    The biriflers stepped back in shock, their expressions having turned from jolly to fearful; exactly like Zaina wanted.

    She pulled her arm free, allowing the soon-to-be-corpse to fall¡ªin one smooth motion, she snatched the falling man¡¯s birifle out of the air by the barrel¡ªpivoting, she roared and smashed the butt into the next closest foe¡¯s head. The man¡¯s helmet shattered and his skull cracked open like an egg, showering brain matter and blood on the sand and snapping the birifle in two.

    By now the others had their birifles trained on her, but it was too late¡ªZaina sidestepped a haphazard, panicked salvo of scraps and charged. Somehow, her cipher was in her hands, and with a full-powered swing, she diagonally bisected the first enemy. A scream burst from her throat as the next-closest mercenary was decapitated from the upper-jaw mid-cry, falling to the ground and spewing blood into the sand. Within seconds the remaining biriflers were finely minced.

    Zaina stood over their dismembered corpses, breathing heavily¡ªinstinct took over, and she leaped to the side to avoid a bolt of green energy as it crashed into the sand, further mutilating a mercenary¡¯s torso. She turned toward the rider¡ªGilvus was atop it, pistol drawn; several of Fredan¡¯s long, mechanical arms were extending from his backpack, helping him descend the desert rider¡¯s legs.

    Oh, he wants to play.

    After sidestepping another bolt, Zaina drew her particle hook-gun and launched the tracker into Fredan¡¯s chest. One of his arms curled inward to peel it off, but not before Zaina pulled the trigger and rocketed toward him at high speed¡ªher cipher dissipated as she reached out and crashed her open palm against the mercenary captain¡¯s head, pulling him off the rider¡¯s legs. They flew for thirty feet before Zaina landed and smashed his head into the ground, shattering his skull and smearing its contents in a red-and-gray line across the desert sand. She slowly rose and turned back to Gilvus, who was already lining up his next shot.

    Zaina leaped aside, avoiding a salvo of bolts; in her mind, every limp thud from one of Gilvus¡¯s shots impacting the sand only further cemented her victory. No more running¡ªno more hiding.

    With a roar, Zaina reactivated her hex-guard at normal size and ran straight for the desert rider. Gilvus desperately fired rounds off, but Zaina batted aside or dodged every blast¡ªshe was moving faster than she ever had, faster than she thought possible; she had a hair¡¯s breadth of a split-second to react, and that was more than enough with a little anticipation.

    The desert blurred by as Zaina leaped at full speed, batting bolts aside with her hex-guard while shouting furiously. A metal clank rang out as she landed atop the desert rider¡¯s nose. Gilvus, his human eye staring in horror, was less than five feet away, and was aiming his phase cycler¡ª

    Before he got a shot off, Zaina sliced through Gilvus¡¯s arm at the elbow. Crying out, he turned to jump off the rider. Zaina caught the back of his shirt and held him midair for a moment as he kicked and screamed. With a shriek, she slammed his stomach against the floor.

    A glint caught Zaina¡¯s eye¡ªGilvus had a grenade in his other hand. She sliced through his wrist and kicked his severed hand off the ship. It detonated too far away to hurt anyone.

    ¡°Now,¡± she said, ¡°let¡¯s get that microchip out, shall we?¡±

    Giving a panicked grunt, Gilvus tried to crawl away. Zaina stepped on his back, pinning him to the ground.

    ¡°Ah! Get away from me, you crazy bitch! Stop! No! Please!¡±

    ¡°Oh, come on, now,¡± she replied, ¡°fair¡¯s fair, isn¡¯t it? You weren¡¯t upset when it was me dying.¡±

    ¡°No¡ªplease! Please don¡¯t kill me! Please¡ª¡±

    ¡°And why not?¡± she asked, pressing her foot into his torso. Sparks and metal screeching erupted from his back as it slowly collapsed¡ªbut she knew better than to think that¡¯d be enough. Gilvus¡¯s screams of pain were real, though.

    The mercenary captain shrieked and begged for his life as Zaina leaned down, grabbed his head from both sides, and pulled. His metal spine refused to relinquish his skull, so she extracted that, too¡ªwith a series of damp pops and crunches, she removed his head and spinal cord. It was made up of millions of miniscule connective wires, all covered in sticky, clear fluid; mixed in were multi-colored oils spewing from the gaping hole atop Gilvus¡¯s torso.

    Zaina turned the head around to stare into his eyes. She wanted to be the last thing he saw¡ªand heard.

    In a low voice, she spat, ¡°You made me do this. I hope there¡¯s a hell for you to go to, you fucking¡ª¡±

    With all her strength, Zaina pushed inward and crushed his head with both hands. Then, she did it again, folding the part-android-part-human metal skull in on itself. Not a chance of a microchip surviving that. With a primal growl, she threw the flattened head into the desert.

    Zaina¡¯s chest rose and fell with deep, heaving breaths as she took in the carnage she¡¯d created. Suddenly, her legs were wobbly, her inhales sharp. She fell to her knees, moisture stinging her eyes, her lungs giving deep, sobbing spasms. It was too late to hold back tears now¡ªshe wept uncontrollably, pounding her fists against the hull of the desert rider.

    After two straight minutes of crying, Zaina struggled to her feet. Ondor and the rest of his mercenary army were going to Freewater¡ªshe glanced over at the bodies once more, unsure of how to feel. None of it had alleviated the anger still searing the inside of her chest.

    With a leap, Zaina descended from the desert rider. Upon landing, she broke into a sprint. With blood already spilled, it was too late to prevent things from turning ugly¡ªbut it wasn¡¯t too late to save Freewater¡¯s people.

    I hope.

 Chapter Eighty-Eight: The Battle of Freewater

    ¡°I feel as though, in this tiny town, I¡¯ve found a new and wondrous purpose. Not one as big as I had in mind back in my days as a detective, mind you, but wondrous nonetheless. See, it¡¯s so easy for everything to get lost in the noise out there¡ªfor everything to feel like nothing matters. But here, everything always matters. I always thought I wanted the high-society life, but here I¡¯ve found something else¡ªsomething vibrant, and strong, and funny, and ugly, and messy, and beautiful. I think I¡¯d like to stay for a little while longer.¡±

    ¡ªReister Fell, former Galactic Detective and Warden of Freewater, in personal writings

    Echoing booms streaked across the desert¡ªZaina was close to Freewater. The distant cracks and pops, rhythmic in succession, filled her ears as she ran through the sands of Archava. Alight in the sky were the sounds of battle.

    The sloping hill leading to Freewater¡¯s plateau was occupied¡ªone of the rectangular transports was hovering beside it, out of Fell¡¯s line of fire. More mercenaries were jumping from the transport¡¯s open hatch and crawling belly-first up the slope. Two reached the top together, peeked over to line up their shot, and turned into red mist as a high-caliber scrap bead struck the hillside. Red-and-white meat-paste rolled down the hill, spraying blood in every direction. The others, undeterred, continued the climb.

    Where¡¯s the other one? Zaina wondered, and then shook the thought out of her head. Her focus had to be on getting to Freewater. She grabbed the grenade dispenser and programmed it to its most destructive setting. With a handful of the explosives in one hand and her cipher in the other, Zaina sneaked up to the floating vehicle. Luckily, the mercenaries¡¯ attention was focused on the battle ahead, and not behind them. She casually tossed a few grenades into the hillside amid the crawling biriflers, and saved the last one for the transport itself.

    The biriflers took notice¡ªscreaming, they turned around to fire at her; some picked up the grenades and were trying to throw them back when they detonated. Zaina sprinted away from the ship, which groaned and creaked as it landed and rolled down the dune. The mercenaries were lost to a wave of pops and an eruption of sand; when it settled, pieces of the enemies jutted out from the hillside. Much of the sand was wet with blood or charred.

    As soon as the dust settled, Zaina ran and cleared the edge in seconds. Now atop the plateau, she took the battle in.

    The dreich was twisting about in the sky, with missiles exploding all around it; Ardual rode on the automaton¡¯s back, firing off explosive rounds from a heavy scrap rifle. The desert rider was overturned, with whatever mercenaries left using it for cover, and the other transport was nowhere in sight.

    Reister Fell, in his helmet-less warsuit, stood at the forefront of town. All the suit¡¯s weapon systems were engaged, including a rotating scrap cannon on one of his wrists and missile ports jutting from nearly every joint on the armor. The very top of his head was exposed, but he was largely safe without the helmet. Xyrthe was beside him, cipher drawn and hex-guard at the ready. A birifler peeked out from behind the desert rider¡ªafter a wet, crunching impact, he immediately fell dead to the sand with smoke streaming from a hole in his head. Tracing the shot, Zaina found Leda¡¯s birifle peeking through a window in Freewater¡¯s central tower.

    The second transport was still in play¡ªthe mercenaries had to be dealt with now. Without hesitation, she charged toward the tipped rider, and all the firing from Freewater stopped. The mercenaries, seemingly unsure, poked their heads out to see why¡ªand didn¡¯t notice Zaina coming in from behind until it was too late.

    In a mad state of bloodlust, she slaughtered them in seconds, deflecting their desperate attempts to survive off her hex-guard. No heed was paid to their panicked screeching. Once they were dead, the rhythmic pops started once more from Freewater, hitting a rock formation a few hundred feet from Zaina; for a moment, she caught a glimpse of Veimla Tescoll avoiding the falling rubble and slipping back under cover.

    With the enemy sniper pinned, Zaina sprinted for the town. She was out of breath when Xyrthe grabbed her arm and pulled her behind a metal wall, the last standing piece of a broken house.

    Her mentor looked her up and down. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve had yourself a day. Any of that yours?¡±

    Staring down, Zaina noticed for the first time that she was absolutely covered in blood. She opened her mouth to reply, but Xyrthe cut her off.

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    ¡°We¡¯ll talk later. For now, keep your head down. That dreich is still up there.¡±

    Zaina nodded. ¡°Right. The dreich.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, and not to mention that Tescoll lady. She¡¯s got it out for us¡ªyou¡¯re lucky Fell hit her position when he did or you¡¯d be paste.¡±

    Zaina gulped as images of the bodies rolling down the hill, more liquid than solid, flashed in her eyes. In an instant, it was gone¡ªthere was no time for that.

    ¡°I have an idea for the dreich,¡± Zaina said, pulling out her particle hook-gun and firing off a tracking dart.

    ¡°What¡¯s your¡ªwait, Zaina, n¡ª¡±

    Before her mentor finished, Zaina was flying at high speeds into the sky, the wind whipping past her face, stinging her eyes and making her cheeks and lips flap. The tracker had pierced the beast¡¯s back, right next to the oversized saddle atop which Ardual stood. Zaina landed on the automaton and immediately lost her footing¡ªthe creature¡¯s metal scales were slippery. Zaina activated her mag-boots, but they didn¡¯t stick.

    Holding on to the particle hook-gun for dear life as the dreich changed course and speed at will, Zaina summoned her cipher and wedged it between two scales, using it to prop herself up. The beast¡¯s tail curled inward¡ªZaina fell flat against its skin as the spikes whooshed inches from the back of her neck. She rose again¡ªthe tail was coming in again for a direct hit.

    Zaina pulled the cipher free, sliding down the creature¡¯s back right as the tail struck. There wasn¡¯t any damage like she hoped for, leaving her back at square one. The tail swooped in again¡ªZaina raised her hex-guard, jamming her eyes shut as her impending doom came crashing down¡ª

    It never arrived. When Zaina opened her eyes, Xyrthe was standing before her, both hands raising her cipher over her head in a block; the massive tail was held at bay. With a grunt, Zaina¡¯s mentor pushed the tail aside and pierced between its scales to stabilize herself.

    Turning back toward her, Xyrthe asked, ¡°Your rocket boots still work?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, why¡ª¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t die. See ya.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Zaina asked as Xyrthe kicked her in the chest, sending her flying off the writhing dreich. Zaina twisted upward, watching as Xyrthe worked her way up the beast¡¯s back and engaged Ardual atop the saddle.

    A glimpse of light caught Zaina¡¯s eye as she twisted toward the ground¡ªa tiny glyph built around a magnifying lens was hovering thirty feet or so away, trying to match Zaina¡¯s descent. It lined up its shot as she readied her hex-guard¡ªa beam of high-powered light struck the shield, knocking her off course and sending her spinning out of control. She yelped, hurdling toward the ground at high speed.

    Zaina frowned¡ªshe¡¯d seen enough pictures to know it was a focus glyph. Veimla was lining up her next shot. Zaina aimed her hex-guard at the glyph¡¯s lens, deflecting the next shot as she fell behind Freewater¡¯s central tower, out of Veimla¡¯s immediate line of fire.

    With little time left to impact, Zaina activated her rocket boots to slow her descent, landing on a pile of smoldering rubble near the town¡¯s center. She ran around the tower to rejoin the battle¡ªVeimla¡¯s glyph caught her eye again, and Zaina slid behind a piece of solid scrap metal; a split-second later, the ground she¡¯d stood on erupted with a blast of energy, spewing sand into the air.

    A focus rifle, she thought, heart pounding in her chest. Not much I can do against that.

    Staring skyward from behind cover, Zaina¡¯s eyes fixed on the dreich as it twisted in the sky. Its wing beats were like claps of thunder, and she made out glimpses of the battle on its back; Xyrthe made short work of Ardual, sending his resonedge tumbling to the desert below. He clung to the saddle as she worked her way to the creature¡¯s head, avoiding its wings and tail as they struck at Xyrthe.

    Once she was atop its brow, Xyrthe plunged her cipher into the automaton¡¯s eye. A deafening metallic shriek emitted from its mouth as it bucked and squirmed, trying to get her off. Bolts of lightning arced from Xyrthe¡¯s cipher, burying themselves between the creature¡¯s scales¡ªshe was using her magick. A clap of thunder split the sky¡ªthe beast¡¯s eye popped open as electricity streaked from every crevice in its body, followed by billowing trails of thick, black smoke as the immobilized dreich fell from the sky.

    Xyrthe pulled her cipher free and fell off before the creature tumbled, collapsing into a pile of scrap metal in the sand. Ardual was lost somewhere amid it all¡ªdead for sure. Zaina¡¯s jaw dropped as her mentor landed behind a piece of scrap nearby.

    ¡°How¡ª¡± she began.

    ¡°Later!¡± Xyrthe said. The rhythmic booms returned, accompanied by a few pops from Leda¡¯s birifle¡ªZaina peeked out, and the glyphs were hovering in place. Fell had found Veimla¡ªhopefully he¡¯d killed her, too. She met her mentor¡¯s eyes before they jumped out, hex-guards at the ready, and joined Fell on the front line.

    The deep pops of Fell¡¯s scrap cannon were deafening as the lancers approached from behind. The rock formation in the distance was virtually leveled before his gun let up with a whirring hiss.

    ¡°Think I got her.¡± He turned and said, ¡°Oh, hey, Zaina! Thought I saw you make it back. The best laid plans, am I right?¡±

    Zaina flashed a half-grin and then turned serious. ¡°Good to see you¡¯re still in one piece¡ªbut this isn¡¯t over. There¡¯s another transport out here.¡±

    Fell nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll run a scan, see if we can¡¯t¡ª¡±

    A familiar voice rang out behind them. ¡°Reister Fell!¡±

    Zaina turned¡ªOndor Almada was standing at the forefront of his remaining mercenaries, numbering at least twenty. Each enemy had their birifles trained on the head of nine kneeling civilians¡ªthree women and six children; Ondor, still dressed in his ceremonial robe, held a phase cycler in one hand and a hex-guard in the other.

 Chapter Eighty-Nine: Out-Leveraged

    ¡°Those who would act in defense of others¡¯ lives are predictable, and predictability is what leads to weakness.¡±

    ¡ªTorvalan Conqueror Hymoss Kai

    In a loud voice, Almada said, ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of this¡ªof your circumventing Synatorium law¡ªtrying to take what¡¯s mine.¡±

    Fell, now facing Ondor, pointed his rotating scrap cannon at the chairman. Ondor was unflinching, not even raising his shield.

    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Ondor said. ¡°Seal your fates¡ªand the people¡¯s. The Synatorium will not let the death of a chairman stand. The next ships coming to Archava would be Militarium Allegiant¡ªand even if you manage to escape this garbage world, they¡¯ll never stop hunting you¡ªor them.¡±

    ¡°Your political protections won¡¯t do you much good in the moment,¡± Fell replied. ¡°Especially if I just take the heat for everything.¡±

    A smirk came over Ondor¡¯s face. ¡°Precisely why I didn¡¯t rely on that alone.¡±

    One of the mercenaries behind him grabbed a hostage¡ªa boy no older than five¡ªby the wrist, and dragged the screaming child over to Ondor. The mother, another of the hostages, began to wail and kick and scream, but was butted in the back of the head by a birifle and subdued.

    The chairman leaned over to quiet the boy with reassurance, then stood and put one hand on the boy¡¯s shoulder; the other held the phase cycler to his head.

    Fell growled. ¡°This is between you and me, Almada¡ªdon¡¯t bring the kid into it!¡±

    A scoff came from Ondor¡¯s mouth. ¡°As if you¡¯ve left me any other choice¡ªevery grain of sand upon which you stand is mine. Your refusal to cooperate is what¡¯s led us to this. Don¡¯t blame me for the lengths to which I will go to claim what is rightfully owed to me.¡±

    The warsuit¡¯s modulation distorted Fell¡¯s voice as he growled, ¡°The people aren¡¯t yours.¡±

    ¡°Oh, but they are¡ªany non-Synatorium citizens were purchased along with the rest of the trash. The Synatorium has no duty to people who are not its citizens. At this point, though, I¡¯ve little use for seventy starving squatters. Maybe, when all this madness is over and what¡¯s owed to me is mine, I¡¯ll have use for them in a salt mine¡ªmaybe not.¡±

    The warsuit¡¯s arm twitched, still honed on Ondor; Fell gave no reply.

    The chairman continued, ¡°Of course, you still won¡¯t let these people die in front of you, even knowing what awaits them. It¡¯s how you see yourself. I¡¯m sure, for the past two years, you¡¯ve likened yourself to a hero¡ªbut you and yours are nothing more than dirty, filthy vagrants taking what isn¡¯t yours. Thieves and criminals. Scum, vermin¡ªthe lowest of the low.¡±

    Zaina stepped forward. ¡°Ondor¡ª¡±

    His attention shifted to her. ¡°And you¡ªdon¡¯t even get me started on how disappointed I am in you. I thought, when first we met, that there was an understanding between us.¡±

    In a serious tone, she replied, ¡°You tried to have us killed.¡±

    Ondor waved his hand dismissively. ¡°A little extra motivation to go at Fell, that¡¯s all. I knew you two were capable enough to defeat that rag-tag crew, and that Gilvus stood a good chance of surviving; little came of it, didn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Little¡ªlook at me!¡± Zaina replied, stepping forward and stretching out her arms for Ondor to see the blood soaked into her armor. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to hurt anyone, but they made me! And you made them do that to me!¡±

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    A sigh erupted from Ondor. ¡°Yes, because I hoped you¡¯d see reason. Instead, you fell for his tricks.¡±

    ¡°You mean I didn¡¯t fall for yours,¡± she said. ¡°You killed all those people.¡±

    Ondor faced his palms to her. ¡°No blood here¡ªthrow your accusations all you want, but my hands are clean.¡±

    Pointing a finger at him, she said, ¡°Your mercenaries¡ªyour orders.¡±

    A darkened expression came over Ondor. ¡°He may as well have killed them¡ªit¡¯s all just business, Zaina. It doesn¡¯t matter now. I want this to end, so we¡¯re going to settle it. Unless you want to see this poor child get a very bad headache, lower all your weapons.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s hands, wrapped around her cipher¡¯s hilt, trembled with the weight of the decision. These people were all doomed anyway. If they acted now, they could save the rest of the hiding townsfolk, but no matter what, these hostages were going to die. Her eyes darted toward Xyrthe, and their eyes met in understanding; Zaina turned to Fell¡ªthe warsuit¡¯s arm was slowly lowering, falling to the side. The lancers followed suit.

    Ondor smiled. ¡°And tell your little sniper in the window to step out as well, please.¡±

    The warsuit¡¯s mechanical voice said, ¡°Leda¡ªthey¡¯ve got us. Come on out.¡±

    A tense minute of silence washed over everyone as they waited until Leda Longuin, hands raised and unarmed, came outside and joined the defeated Fell, Zaina, and Xyrthe.

    Zaina¡¯s heart was pounding in her chest, her mind desperately scraping for a way out. The cold grasp of defeat was slowly taking hold of her heart.

    It can¡¯t end like this. It can¡¯t all be for nothing.

    ¡°And now we¡¯re all here,¡± he said, raising his wrist to his mouth to speak into a vis-screen. ¡°Deadeye.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s head swiveled in disbelief¡ªthere, amid the jagged ruin of the rocks in the distance, the sniper jumped atop one of the cracked boulders. Somehow Veimla was still alive.

    ¡°Zaina¡ªXyrthe,¡± Ondor said, making Zaina turn back. ¡°Come. There¡¯s no need for you two to die here now that this matter will be settled¡ªof course, given your performance here, I¡¯ll be reconsidering my annual donation to the Order¡¯s coffers.¡±

    Zaina glared. ¡°And what if we decide to tell someone about what happened here?¡±

    ¡°Even if anyone believed you, no one would care,¡± Ondor said. ¡°Tell them. Tell them how all these people died for nothing because they didn¡¯t want to accept that this is the way things are. How they thought they could steal and cheat and skim off my property, and the lengths to which I was forced to go to enforce my legal rights. Tell them about their grand two-year party in the sand, thieving from the people with real responsibilities. Do you have any idea how far behind schedule I am¡ªhow angry investors are that some rat in the desert is keeping their money tied up in a resort that was supposed to start construction six months ago? I stand to lose a great deal of money off delays already. But yes, I¡¯m sure everyone will be sympathetic to the plight of these peasants¡ªplease. I¡¯ll bet the fact that people died on the resort¡¯s material will attract visitors if the story gets out. No one cares about nobodies.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re wrong,¡± Fell replied. ¡°Someone cares about them. Someone always does¡ªit¡¯s just you that doesn¡¯t, and you think no one could possibly feel different from you.¡±

    Ondor¡¯s hateful gaze shot back toward Fell. ¡°Of course, you care so much¡ªthe white knight in shining armor, sent to deliver these poor, salt-of-the-worlds folk from their misery at my hands. You think you¡¯re their salvation, but you¡¯re their doom. This ends right now. Unless you want to see this boy and all the rest turned inside out, you¡¯ll do exactly as I say¡ªunderstood?¡±

    Smoldering anger and hatred were fighting with the frigid grip of fear inside Zaina¡¯s chest. There had to be something she could do, and there was¡ªbut nothing would save the boy or the other hostages. Zaina¡¯s blood-covered hands clenched into fists. Even if they couldn¡¯t be saved, if they died because she made a move too soon¡ªcould she live with that?

    Ondor continued, ¡°Now¡ªyou¡¯re going to step out of that little suit. Without turning around, you¡¯re going to step twenty paces to your left and then stand perfectly still so your hands can be bound. Understood?¡±

    Silence hung over Freewater for a moment. Then, the warsuit groaned as the metal fastenings covering the hatch unzipped.

    Zaina was panicking now. ¡°No¡ªFell! Don¡¯t do it!¡±

    Reister Fell shot her a resolved glance and said, ¡°Come on, now. Don¡¯t you feel bad¡ªyou did everything you could. You two go on and get out of here¡ªthis was never your fight, and there ain¡¯t any need for your skins to be fried over it.¡±

    Stunned into silence, Zaina didn¡¯t reply as Fell hopped out of the warsuit¡¯s hatch, landing quietly on the sand below. He took a deep breath and then walked his twenty paces before coming to a stop facing Freewater. He spread his arms and took a deep breath, staring out over the town he had sworn to protect.

    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± he said. ¡°Even now. That¡¯s what you¡¯ll never¡ª¡±

    Ondor raised his vis-screen once more and said, ¡°Veimla.¡±

    A flash of light sparked behind him. Zaina stared in horror, her heart skipping a beat as Reister Fell¡¯s head cracked open, the flesh seared from the inside, spilling charred brain matter and skull fragments into the sand. The headless corpse crumbled with a damp thud.

 Chapter Ninety: Lancers Gambit Part Two

    ¡°It¡¯s easy to forget how removed you are from it all. Some death squad kills some people you¡¯ve never heard of on some planet in some sector you¡¯ve never been to, and never will¡ªand you don¡¯t really care, do you? It¡¯s so easy to detach from the individual, to neglect their experience. To forget that all we have, and all we ever truly will have, is ourselves and each other. Everything matters, every little thing, and forcing yourself to care is a most noble endeavor, especially when it doesn¡¯t benefit you to do so.¡±

    ¡ªQridra Raskad, Philosopher and founder of the Nexus Church, in a collection of several of her works: On Ethics: Essays and Treatises on Moral Life

    A raspy shout bellowed from Zaina¡¯s guts as her cipher materialized in hand. Her heart was roaring in anger as the biriflers flinched, aiming at her¡ªglancing aside, Xyrthe was right beside her, weapon at the ready. Leda¡¯s disbelieving face fell to horror as she loosed a despairing shriek and collapsed to her knees.

    Ondor shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s what happens. All right, the woman next. She¡¯s killed too many of ours to go to a camp.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Zaina shrieked, raising her hex-guard to cover Leda. ¡°We won¡¯t let you!¡±

    The chairman scoffed. ¡°You really want to end up like them? Come now, Zaina. You¡¯re na?ve, sure, but I didn¡¯t think you were this na?ve. I have no problem killing either or both of you if you won¡¯t come quietly. Frankly, it¡¯s my most time-effective option right now, even with the cost of filing your death certificates with the courts. While I¡¯d prefer to get on with this execution, I don¡¯t mind taking a detour if you don¡¯t do what you¡¯re told. So, you¡¯ll get one last chance since I¡¯m in a rather generous mood¡ªcome with me, now, or die here with these pathetic mongrels. Your choice. I really don¡¯t mind killing lancers.¡±

    ¡°You think that¡¯s a good idea?¡± Zaina bluffed. ¡°You don¡¯t think there¡¯ll be any retribution for that?¡±

    Ondor chuckled. ¡°I know there won¡¯t¡ªnot for your kind. Why do you think I specifically requested you two once I learned you were available? Because I knew, if the situation called for one or both of you to die, nothing would come back on me¡ªwhy, I¡¯d almost be doing the Order a favor, wouldn¡¯t I?¡±

    Her chest flushed with burning hatred, Zaina stared helplessly at the child trembling beneath Ondor¡¯s grasp. A lump wedged in her throat as her heart pounded like a war-drum. There was no way out¡ªno way to save these people.

    Ondor raised his wrist to his face and said, ¡°Veimla¡ªhead on over. We¡¯ve got it from here.¡±

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    As she adjusted her clammy hands¡¯ grip on her cipher, Zaina took a few deep breaths and wondered how best to tackle the situation. Veimla¡¯s glyphs were still hovering, trained on their position from behind in case the sniper needed to take an emergency shot. Zaina¡¯s eyes darted in every direction, then fell on the warsuit. The sun gleamed off its gold-and-blue streaks as it stood still in the stand. An idea popped into her head.

    Zaina leaned over and helped Leda to her feet; as she did so, she cast a glance toward the warsuit and whispered, ¡°You know what to do.¡±

    Leda¡¯s expression was one of pure panic and grief¡ªZaina hoped she saw the way out, too. Their salvation was through Leda.

    Without another word, Zaina turned toward Ondor, her cipher disappearing from her hands. ¡°Yeah,¡± she said in a casual voice, ¡°you¡¯re right. You win. It¡¯s all yours.¡±

    Xyrthe shot her a murderous glare and hissed through gritted teeth, ¡°What the fuck are you doing, rookie?¡±

    ¡°No, he¡¯s right,¡± Zaina said as she walked over toward Ondor. ¡°Absolutely right.¡±

    Ondor was staring on with suspicion in his eyes. ¡°It was all always mine. What is this? What kind of play are you making?¡±

    Zaina shrugged. ¡°You¡¯re right, Ondor¡ªthere¡¯s no sense in Xyrthe or me dying for some backwater world like this. What could possibly be gained from it?¡±

    He nodded, his eyes glancing over toward the others. ¡°Yes¡ªyes, you see, you¡¯re starting to get it. You¡¯re coming around to see reason.¡±

    Xyrthe called after her, ¡°I don¡¯t think I can follow you on this one, kid.¡±

    Still walking backwards, Zaina turned around to face her mentor. As she did, her hand fell to the grenade dispenser on her utility belt; with a twist of a dial, she programmed a batch of smoke-bombs and dropped them into her hand. Her mentor, watching it all, cast her as dirty a look as possible and summoned her cipher¡ªZaina hoped she was acting.

    ¡°You¡¯re a real piece of shit, you know that?¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°I had you pegged for a good-for-nothing weasel the second you stepped foot in the Order!¡±

    ¡°Hey, now,¡± Zaina said, spinning back around. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault you¡¯re too soft.¡±

    Ondor cleared his throat. ¡°So, Xyrthe, I can assume you won¡¯t be taking up my most gracious offer, then?¡±

    ¡°You can go fuck yourself in the pits of hell,¡± Xyrthe replied. ¡°I never liked you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure knowing that will cost me a great deal of sleep,¡± the chairman said.

    Zaina walked up beside him with smoke grenades armed in her hand. With a smirk plastered to his face nodded, and she stood by his side.

    ¡°Well,¡± Ondor said, ¡°it looks like we¡¯ve finally reached the end of this whole fiasco. And I must say, what an utterly unpleasant affair you all have turned this into for me. I¡¯ve never been treated so unfairly in regards to my legal property. Imagine all this trouble for some backwater world no one will remember. Everyone will be glad it¡¯s gone when they see what it becomes. I can¡¯t wait until the resort is up and running¡ªafter everything I¡¯ve been through, I¡¯ll need a vacation.¡±

    Hardly able to contain her contempt any longer, Zaina said in a low voice, ¡°Yeah, you will.¡±

    With a flick of her wrist, she tossed the grenades at the mercenaries behind her and detonated them in midair; thick clouds of smoke covered the team of biriflers.

    Ondor spun to face her, his face alight in confusion¡ªZaina tapped his face with her fist, knocking him onto his back and bloodying him; the phase cycler flew from his hands, landing off in the desert. Then, grabbing the young boy by the arm, Zaina turned toward the panicking townsfolk and dove at them, pulling them to the ground.

 Chapter Ninety-One: The Final Salvo

    ¡°New beginnings can be so beautiful, can¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡ªRenowned Explorer Rene Ulvion before every expedition

    ¡°Stay down! Stay down!¡± Zaina shouted, crawling between the prostrate townsfolk and the biriflers and readying her hex-guard while keeping as close to the ground as possible. Amid the mercenaries¡¯ confused shouts, a familiar whizzing sound entered her ears¡ªZaina glanced over as an ear-splitting pop cracked the sky.

    A high-caliber munition shot five feet above her head¡ªits force dispelled the smoke, giving Zaina a clear view as the repeating scrap cannon tore the exposed biriflers to shreds¡ªtheir torsos and heads were liquefied with every deafening boom from the warsuit¡¯s heavy gun; Leda, growling in rage, still took care not to hit any of the screaming civilians¡ªor Zaina. Within ten seconds, the biriflers¡¯ cries were silenced. The last few houses still standing in Freewater collapsed as the enemies, more liquid than solid, spread out over the sand.

    Zaina glanced back over¡ªXyrthe stood behind Leda, hex-guard at the ready; a glint of light flashed in the desert¡ªbefore Zaina could blink, her mentor was knocked back ten feet despite the successful deflection. Leda turned, honing in on Veimla Tescoll from afar with the suit¡¯s heavy scrap cannon.

    ¡°NOOO!¡± came a shriek from the desert as Veimla got another shot off¡ªthe repeating scrap cannon¡¯s thunderous pops rang out. The mercenary captain gave a cry as her last shot deflected off the warsuit¡¯s upper shoulder. Sand spewed into the air all around the Delegaran as her body exploded into a pile of blue and green pulp.

    The warsuit¡¯s rotating cannon came to a halt with a lively hum as the faint ringing in Zaina¡¯s ears faded. With another round of whirs, the suit¡¯s canopy opened, and Leda jumped out. She walked straight over to Fell¡¯s headless corpse, his blood now dried in the sand, and froze as she stared down at his mangled form. After a deep, heaving breath, she pulled the pistol from his belt. She trained it on Ondor and approached the fallen chairman.

    He was sitting up, holding his head. ¡°Wh-what? What happened? N-no¡ª¡±

    A pathetic yelp escaped his lips as Leda kicked Ondor in the chest, then put the barrel of Fell¡¯s phase cycler to his forehead. He whimpered and raised his hands, tears streaking down his face.

    ¡°No, no, no, no, please! Please, no, I¡¯ll give you anything, please, just don¡¯t kill me!¡±

    Leda stood over him, taking deep breaths. Her desire to pull the trigger was palpable¡ªat least, Zaina felt it. She wasn¡¯t sure what she would do in Leda¡¯s shoes¡ªbut this one was up to the new Warden of Freewater.

    With hatred suffusing her words, Leda spat, ¡°Give me your vis-screen.¡±

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Ondor complied with a whimper, tossing it into her outstretched hand. She put it in her pocket and said, ¡°And now the key to your warship.¡±

    ¡°What¡ª¡±

    ¡°You want to live, don¡¯t you?¡± Leda pushed the phase cycler¡¯s barrel further into his forehead, eliciting a pained screech from Ondor. ¡°You said you¡¯d do anything.¡±

    ¡°No, no, please¡ªplease, fine, I¡¯ll¡ªI¡¯ll¡ª¡± he said, crying and babbling as he dug through the chest pockets in his robe, pulled out a small, metal box, and shoved it into her hand. ¡°Now please, let me live¡ªdon¡¯t kill me¡ª¡±

    Leda put the key in her pocket with the vis-screen and stood straight up, putting both hands on the phase cycler¡¯s grip as she pointed it at Ondor¡¯s head. He closed his eyes, raised his arms, and shrieked. Leda pointed the gun to the sky and fired.

    The chairman jumped, his begging and crying intensifying. ¡°No, no, no, no! Please, no! NO! No!¡± His eyes peeked open¡ªLeda, walking toward the fallen civilians, stooped down to pick up Ondor¡¯s phase cycler.

    Ondor struggled to his knees. ¡°What¡ªwhat are you going to do with me, huh? You¡¯re not going to kill me, so, what? What?¡±

    Leda turned back toward him. With a flick of the pistol, she gestured toward the town and said, ¡°Welcome to Freewater. You own it, don¡¯t you? Now you can live in it.¡±

    Horror flashed in Ondor¡¯s widening eyes as he realized what she meant. ¡°No¡ªwait¡ªyou can¡¯t¡ªyou have to leave the vis-screen, at least, or I won¡¯t be able to¡ªno, you can¡¯t just leave me here! You can¡¯t¡ªyou can¡¯t treat me like this!¡±

    As Leda helped the townsfolk to their feet, she called over, ¡°Maybe you could fix it up a little. We did.¡±

    Ondor stumbled and muttered, his expression one of pure disbelief.

    Leda turned to Zaina and extended a hand, which the lancer gratefully took.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Leda said, ¡°truly. I¡¯m glad you came up with an idea, because I was fresh out. And¡ªthank you for saving them.¡±

    The boy who had been hostage was being held by his doting mother, who was crying in happiness and loudly thanking Zaina. The others were all right, too, relatively speaking, all singing Zaina¡¯s praises to show their gratitude.

    A smile came over Zaina¡¯s lips. Fell was right. Everything does matter here. Every single little life.

    Leda raised her vis-screen to her mouth and said, ¡°All right, everyone. Come on out¡ªwe¡¯re meeting in the town center in ten minutes, hear?¡±

    Without another word, Leda turned away and walked over to kneel by the body of Reister Fell. While she put her face in her hands and wept for her friend, Xyrthe walked over to Zaina.

    Her mentor clapped her on the shoulder and said, ¡°Good plan, kid. Wonder where you got the fake surrender idea.¡±

    Zaina rolled her eyes. ¡°Yeah, whatever. Take credit for everything, why don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Only your achievements,¡± Xyrthe said with a smirk, then cast a sorrowful glance over at Leda. ¡°You did the right thing, kid. Hard as it was to see in the moment, you did¡ªeven I didn¡¯t. Maybe you got a little lucky. But you really did save these people. Soak it in, good and bad¡ªthis is what a win feels like, kid.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyes fell on the town, utterly destroyed by the battle; it was leveled, with anything flammable up in smoke. The shredded and torn bodies of Ondor¡¯s mercenaries, still spilling fluids, were scattered about the town¡¯s center; and Leda was weeping over the headless corpse of her friend. Even the desert only held ruin¡ªplumes of smoke billowed from the wreckage of the dreich, its pieces spread across the sands near Freewater.

    Her gaze dropped to her own arms, covered in dried blood. Images of her horrific battle flashed through her head as her hands trembled. She didn¡¯t want to hurt those people¡ªthey made her do it, right? Her only other option was to die¡ªdidn¡¯t that mean they made her do it?

    Another clap on the shoulder snapped her out of it. Zaina yelped.

    After a chuckle, Xyrthe said, ¡°You¡¯re going to be all right, kid.¡±

 Chapter Ninety-Two: The New Warden

    ¡°Whatever trials and tribulations the future holds, I know we¡¯ll face them with courage if we face them together.¡±

    ¡ªAngstreus Revelir, leader of the Merry Marauders

    ¡°Yeah, yeah¡ªoh!¡± Zaina said as she turned toward Leda, who was somberly walking over. ¡°You all right?¡±

    Leda¡¯s lips twitched, and she released an exhausted-sounding sigh. ¡°I¡¯m alive, which means I have time to heal. I¡¯ll be all right.¡± She turned back toward the fallen Warden of Freewater. ¡°He always said he wanted to die here¡ªbe buried here. But this? He didn¡¯t deserve this.¡±

    Xyrthe nodded. ¡°He seemed a good man.¡±

    ¡°He was¡ªI didn¡¯t really have anyone growing up. It was Fell who took me in, showed me the ropes. Well, more like I pestered him ¡®til he realized I wasn¡¯t going to go away, and then he showed me the ropes. But he was kind¡ªsome days I wondered what he saw in this place that made him stay.¡±

    In a soft voice, Zaina said, ¡°Well¡ªyou¡¯re Warden of Freewater now, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Leda turned back with a sorrowful smile. ¡°We can¡¯t stay here. I think we all know that.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zaina said with a nod, ¡°but like Fell said¡ªyou¡¯ll still be picking Freewater¡¯s sand out of your hair and clothes a year from now.¡±

    Leda shook her head and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to try to collect myself before the townsfolk come out. I¡¯ve got to break the news to them. They probably won¡¯t be happy with it, but it¡¯s the way it is. If it¡¯s not Almada, it¡¯ll be someone else.¡± She glanced over at the warsuit, standing still in the desert. ¡°I think we should leave this place behind. Find a new world to call home, one we choose.¡±

    ¡°I think that¡¯s a good idea,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Leda said as she turned back toward the lancers, ¡°we¡¯ll be leaving on Almada¡¯s cruiser after we hold a burial for Reister. We¡¯d be happy to drop you off¡ªdoes the Order of Riiva have a problem with stolen ships, or should we find somewhere else?¡±

    In a warm voice, Xyrthe said, ¡°If you can get us to a world with an actual spaceport, we can make it the rest of the way. Thanks for thinking of us.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve done a lot for us,¡± Leda said. ¡°I was wrong about you two¡ªI thought you two were with Ondor for sure when I first met you. But now¡ªnow our people are free. Once again, thank you.¡±

    Zaina raised her hands. ¡°Hey, now¡ªwe only helped you do your thing. I don¡¯t think we can take all the credit.¡±

    Leda walked off, her hands clenching into fists as she went back to Fell¡¯s body. A twinge of sadness struck Zaina¡¯s heart; Reister Fell was a good man who only wanted what was best for his people. He didn¡¯t deserve this¡ªbut his legacy lived on. The people of Freewater still had a protector.

    -

    Leda stood in front of the water supply tower. An assembly of Freewater¡¯s townsfolk was gathered before her, all whispering amongst themselves.

    ¡°Quiet! Quiet, now!¡± Leda said in a booming voice¡ªsilence fell over the crowd. ¡°Now, I¡¯ve gathered you all here today for a couple reasons¡ªthings we all need to talk about, and that you deserve to be in the know about.¡±

    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    One of the citizens shouted, ¡°Is it true Reister¡¯s dead?¡±

    ¡°Where¡¯s Reister?¡±

    A small commotion broke out as Leda raised her hands, a taut frown crossing her lips. She shouted, ¡°Quiet, now¡ªcome on, quiet down!¡± Once the townspeople were paying attention, she said in a grim voice, ¡°It¡¯s true¡ªReister Fell, our Warden for the past twelve years, is dead. He died today defending us¡ªall of us¡ªfrom that man right there.¡± She pointed out Ondor Almada, still sprawled out in the sand, babbling to himself. A round of jeers erupted from the people of Freewater, but Leda hushed them and continued, ¡°He will pay for his crimes¡ªnow is not the time for us to dwell on the past. No, right now we need to look to the future. The future Reister Fell gave his life to secure for us¡ªwhat he wanted for us.¡±

    Xyrthe leaned over to Zaina as the two watched on from the side and whispered, ¡°Here comes the part they won¡¯t like.¡±

    ¡°Trust me,¡± Zaina said, ¡°no one likes having to up and leave their home. It¡¯s a huge pain in the ass.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s not the only thing,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°Hey, for your first real mission, though, that wasn¡¯t so bad, right?¡±

    Zaina frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t know yet. I guess I¡¯ll find out when I have more missions to compare it to.¡±

    ¡°There you go,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°They¡¯re not all winners, kid¡ªin fact, I¡¯d say most of ¡®em aren¡¯t. But we do what we can. That¡¯s why I say, ¡®turn off the tap.¡¯¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve gotta tell me about your childhood one day,¡± Zaina said, knowing it would end the conversation. Her mentor focused back on Leda¡¯s speech, and Zaina followed suit.

    Leda was calming the crowd down once more. ¡°I know¡ªI know. This has been our home, yes.¡±

    One of the elderly women stepped forward from the crowd and said, ¡°Warden Fell died to preserve our way of life! We can¡¯t abandon that now!¡±

    Shouts of agreement rose up from the crowd behind her.

    Leda shook her head and said, ¡°No¡ªhe didn¡¯t die to preserve our way of life, he died to save our lives. So we could put the past behind us and move on into a better future. It¡¯s not abandoning anything to move forward. We¡¯ll always carry a piece of Freewater with us, and we¡¯ll always carry a piece of him, too. No, he died for us¡ªwhich means the only way he ever truly dies, is if we stop living¡ªstop moving forward. We have to move forward.¡±

    Sullen murmurs worked their way through the crowd. Before anyone else could step forward, Leda continued, ¡°I know you¡¯re probably scared¡ªit¡¯s a big galaxy out there, and I for one, have never seen it¡ªand I¡¯m terrified. But I know I can be strong and make this journey if you¡¯re all by my side. It¡¯s not always been the prettiest, yet overall it¡¯s been a beautiful ride here; but all things, even beautiful things, have to come to an end. Let¡¯s put Freewater behind us and open up a new chapter in our lives. I¡¯ll have your back every step of the way if you¡¯ll have mine.¡±

    A round of reluctant cheers broke out. It wasn¡¯t what they wanted, but Leda was right¡ªthey couldn¡¯t stay here forever. She calmed the crowd once more to finish her speech.

    ¡°All right, come on, now. Last two things to talk about, people. Okay, we¡¯ll be having a service for Warden Reister Fell as soon as we get a casket made and the hole dug; probably a few hours at most, so use that time to get everything packed for the trip. After the service, if we¡¯re all ready and good to go, we¡¯ll head over to the cruiser and head out. I¡¯ll ring the alarm when we¡¯re about to start the ceremony, so keep an ear open.¡±

    With that, the people of Freewater dispersed back to their homes. A new aura was in the air, one of a fresh start. Despite all the hardships they had to overcome, they were here¡ªand they¡¯d find a way to deal with whatever that hardship left in them as they moved forward into a new life. Zaina took a deep breath, knowing a galaxy full of adventures awaited her.

    She turned to her mentor and said, ¡°You know, I think I¡¯m ready for a more relaxing mission. Maybe another cargo escort detail.¡±

    Xyrthe sneaked a chuckle before asking, ¡°So, now you¡¯re in the life, kid. You¡¯re a real lancer. How¡¯s it feel?¡±

    A distant grin crossed Zaina¡¯s lips as she took stock of everything she¡¯d been through to make it here¡ªeverything she¡¯d survived. It all still weighed on her, but there was something else, too¡ªa feeling that, for better or worse, she had truly arrived.

    Zaina¡¯s gaze drifted toward the sky as the sun set over what remained of Freewater. The warsuit was still standing in front of the city. The ruin of time would take Freewater¡¯s iron guardian eventually, but for today it was proud and tall. In a low voice, she said, ¡°For the first time in a long time, it feels¡ªit feels like it¡¯s going to be okay.¡±

 Chapter Ninety-Three: Wounds Unseen

    ¡°The galaxy decided it hated us long ago. It is clear the sins of our forebears are too great, that we are seen as unclean in their wake.¡±

    --Eneiam Trilbiar, Famed Heretic Poet in a personal correspondence

    A breeze swept through the shadow forest and rattled the black leaves. Zaina had read about the Blackwoods of Midliore when she was a girl. Back then she wanted nothing more than to behold the legendary beauty of the forests for herself; now she was here, and as a lancer, no less. The land had been everything she expected; the people, so far, not so much¡ªbut that was all about to change.

    Xyrthe, her long, blonde hair stirring with the wind, walked beside her. Zaina had come to learn her mentor had two modes: unbothered and pissed. Today seemed like a strange mix between the two; Zaina wasn¡¯t sure if that was a good or a bad thing.

    It didn¡¯t matter one way or another; Zaina was in hopeful spirits. The people of Bash Kaver, a small spaceport in southern Midliore, weren¡¯t exactly thrilled that the lancers who had come to save them bore the Mark of the Recalcitrant. But Zaina didn¡¯t let the constant hostility get her down¡ªit didn¡¯t matter how many times the Bash Kaverans insulted her, questioned her every word, or hid in fear; it would all be worth it when she won them over.

    She had enough experience now to know how these things usually went. Every time she arrived on a new planet people were mistrustful at first, but over time they came to see Zaina for her better qualities. Even the most spiteful, hateful clients had softened a little toward her after realizing she truly did want to help. Maybe, over time, their harsh opinions on heretics as a whole could change, too. Zaina wanted to be a good representative for heretics everywhere.

    Xyrthe, on the other hand, had stopped giving a shit a long time ago¡ªif she ever truly had at all. She would¡¯ve been disliked even without the mark thanks to her abrasive personality. Most people started mistrustful of her because of the mark before realizing it was one of her better qualities. Zaina sometimes wondered if Xyrthe did that on purpose¡ªpushing people away preemptively so the mark couldn¡¯t. The thought struck a sad nerve in her heart. What kind of a life was that? Definitely not the kind Zaina wanted for herself.

    She turned her mind to the matter at hand. Yes, the people of Bash Kaver had been rather mean-spirited in their appraisal, but now that Zaina and Xyrthe had helped them get rid of those pesky android marauders their opinion had to change. No one could accept someone¡¯s help and then spit in their face.

    ¡°You seem chipper,¡± Xyrthe remarked out of nowhere.

    ¡°And you seem on edge,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°Nah, it¡¯s not that. I want this to be over with. I want to be back on my ship. I don¡¯t want to have to deal with these assholes.¡±

    Zaina shrugged. ¡°Maybe they won¡¯t be assholes this time around.¡±

    In reply, Xyrthe snorted. ¡°You think so?¡±

    Zaina didn¡¯t bother responding. When her mentor made her mind up about something it was impossible to change it. All further engagement would do is bring down her own mood¡ªand she wanted to be in high spirits when she arrived in Bash Kaver. After all, a good attitude was infectious.

    Zaina chuckled. Too bad it hasn¡¯t had an effect on Xyrthe.

    The trees became sparse the nearer the city drew. They walked for another hour in silence before Bash Kaver came into view, its glistening steel towers standing tall above the black treeline like columns of blades rising from the ground. Parts of the great steel wall were now visible to Zaina, a titan made of solid metal segments arranged in a circle around Bash Kaver.

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    The path widened, and every so often a person would pass. Zaina smiled at each and every one. None said a word; the second they saw Zaina¡¯s face, most looked away and hurriedly walked by, sometimes covering their faces or whispering harshly to their companions.

    She didn¡¯t let it bother her. After all, things would be better in the city. Once the people of Bash Kaver found out a heretic helped them, they¡¯d have to reconsider their hatred.

    Her hope, a warm radiance in her stomach, was quickly dashed upon looking further down the path. A group of people, all different shapes and sizes but mostly human, blocked the road. Each wore all black body armor and masks and wielded either a birifle or a phase cycler. The warmth inside evaporated, leaving frigid absence in its wake.

    They don¡¯t look friendly.

    Still, the last thing she wanted to do was fight these people. Not that she was afraid for her life, but theirs.

    Zaina turned to Xyrthe. Based on the scowl stretched across her face she¡¯d seen them, too.

    ¡°Let me do the talking,¡± Zaina said. ¡°I¡¯ll bet they¡¯re being overly cautious.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, sure,¡± Xyrthe said.

    One of the black-armored men stepped forward, raised his hand, and shouted, ¡°Halt!¡±

    The people behind him raised their weapons in unison, focusing on Zaina and Xyrthe.

    The lancers stopped in their tracks. Zaina was trying to look cool and collected, but she was ready to raise her hex-shield at a moment¡¯s notice.

    The man in front went on. ¡°Stay right there. Come any closer and we open fire. Got it?¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Zaina said, not intending to move closer. ¡°We¡¯re back from our¡ª¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re aware of who you are and where you¡¯re coming from. Stay back.¡±

    Zaina sighed. Cold despair was seeping through her veins. This wasn¡¯t what she wanted¡ªwhat more could she have done? Still, she had to keep on a brave face. She¡¯d made it out of worse situations by refusing to give up. She took a deep breath, willed her voice not to waver, and raised her arms. ¡°Well, you don¡¯t have to worry about those androids any¡ª¡±

    ¡°Your ship has been relocated outside the city. There¡¯s no longer any need for you to enter.¡±

    Zaina winced. The fools had doomed themselves. Xyrthe¡¯s ship, much like her glyph, was her baby. There was nothing that put Xyrthe in a foul mood faster than messing with either of her babies¡ªand a foul mood was the spark that could turn this whole thing ugly.

    Xyrthe¡¯s hands balled into fists. ¡°You did what with my ship?¡±

    ¡°We moved it. It wasn¡¯t up to code for ships docked in our port.¡±

    Wasn¡¯t up to code? Zaina¡¯s brow scrunched. That sounds like bralshit.

    Through gritted teeth Xyrthe replied, ¡°I hope my ship was well cared for.¡±

    ¡°Rest assured, our quarrel is not with the ship.¡±

    Xyrthe sneered, her eyes alight with contempt. ¡°Trust me, buddy¡ªyou don¡¯t want a quarrel at all.¡±

    The man continued. ¡°It¡¯s best that you leave. Do so peacefully and no harm will come to you.¡±

    ¡°How are we supposed to find the ship?¡± Zaina asked.

    ¡°It has a vis-tag¡ªshould be easy enough to find.¡±

    Xyrthe pulled up her vis-screen and said, ¡°It¡¯s this way.¡± She turned left and strode away without even bothering to check if her pupil was coming with.

    Zaina lingered for a moment. There had to be something she could say, something she could do, to make these people see she wasn¡¯t a monster. If only she had time¡ª

    The man trained his birifle on her and said, ¡°The people are already terrified. Haven¡¯t you done enough? Leave us in peace.¡±

    A well of bitterness rose in Zaina. She had helped these people. She chose to risk her life to make their lives better. This was the best they could do?

    ¡°You know,¡± she said, not caring if it started a fight, ¡°a simple ¡®thank you¡¯ would be nice.¡±

    He shook his head. ¡°The fact that you¡¯re alive is proof enough of the depths of our well of gratitude. Now, go¡ªbefore that well runs dry.¡±

    Zaina didn¡¯t bother responding, instead turning to follow Xyrthe. She didn¡¯t understand why some people were so hateful and cruel¡ªshe wasn¡¯t sure she ever wanted to.

    After jogging to catch up to her mentor, a wave of spite and disappointment swept over Zaina. She released a heaving sigh. It never occurred to her that people could be so hateful.

    Xyrthe started in right away. ¡°Chin up, kid.¡±

    ¡°You know, you always call me kid¡ªbut you only look a few years older than me.¡±

    ¡°You have no clue how old I am.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Zaina said. ¡°You¡¯ve never told me.¡±

    Despite having spent a good portion of the past few months in close proximity with Zaina, her mentor still seemed like a stranger. Zaina had picked up on Xyrthe¡¯s habits, her moods, and her tendencies; anything beyond that was a mystery. It had to be hard to be that closed off to the world, and what did she gain from doing so? Zaina didn¡¯t get it.

    She stopped and turned to take one last look at the wall of Bash Kaver, a place she¡¯d never be welcome. A deep sorrow hollowed out her gut, leaving a pit at the bottom of her stomach. How many other places shared their predetermined opinion of her?

    Xyrthe¡¯s voice snapped Zaina out of her melancholy. ¡°Hey! C¡¯mon, the ship¡¯s close. Don¡¯t dawdle.¡±

    Zaina snatched one last peek, then jogged to catch up with her mentor. Life as a lancer moved fast¡ªmaybe that was why Xyrthe didn¡¯t make friends.

 Chapter Ninety-Four: No Rest for the Marked

    ¡°These heretic enclaves have become a major problem in the wake of the Empire¡¯s fall. They claim to want to live peaceful lives, but their kin all too happily burned the galaxy mere months ago. Better to treat their ills with fire, I say.¡±

    ¡ªGeneral Tysus Dux of the Torigran Empire

    It wasn¡¯t long before Zaina and Xyrthe reached the ship, a twenty-foot tall glistening metal ovalloid laid lengthwise; it had a mag-ring around it to secure the twin engines on either side, which had been elongated to strengthen their thrust. Xyrthe¡¯s ship was one of the few lancer ships with weapons¡ªa multigun mounted above the cockpit. The ship, dubbed Duchess by Xyrthe, stood on three landing gears and was painted a muted pink.

    Xyrthe pored over every crevice to ensure her baby had been well taken care of; the only thing Zaina¡¯s mentor cared for more was her glyph, Chimara.

    ¡°Wow,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°Not a scratch.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s honestly surprising,¡± Zaina replied. After the chilly reception outside Bash Kaver, she expected some sort of foul play. ¡°Maybe they knew they didn¡¯t want to piss us off.¡±

    ¡°Well, they fucking failed at that, huh? Come on, let¡¯s ditch these dickheads. Fuck those guys.¡±

    Zaina followed Xyrthe up the retractable ramp and into the ship¡¯s bowels. It was much more spacious than Gir¡¯s ship, which Zaina had lived on for a week or so¡ªthe inside was dimly lit. One side of the cabin was lined with comfortable couches, and the other held storage and supplies. Not that comfortable seating set Zaina¡¯s mind at ease¡ªshe was always keenly aware that they were in a metal box hurdling through space. Even minor problems could be catastrophic; she didn¡¯t know how her mentor slept so soundly.

    Xyrthe immediately stalked toward the cockpit to get the ship going; Zaina followed. Since her mentor wasn¡¯t keen on showing her how to fly her baby, Zaina had taken to carefully watching whenever Xyrthe flew the ship.

    This time Xyrthe didn¡¯t bother with the controls herself; instead she brought Chimara online.

    ¡°Hello, Miss Xyrthe! How can I help you today?¡±

    ¡°Hello, Chimara. Would you terribly mind starting up the ship and getting us back to Kaado?¡±

    ¡°I can do that, Miss Xyrthe!¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Chimara. Now, I think I¡¯m going to go take a nap. This mission was exhausting.¡±

    ¡°Ah! Before you do that, Miss Xyrthe, there is a comms request from the Order. It appears High Scholar Geli Fawndar wishes to speak with you two.¡±

    Xyrthe groaned. ¡°What do these assholes want now?¡±

    Zaina shrugged.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Xyrthe said, her voice brimming with exasperation. ¡°What¡¯s the priority on it?¡±

    ¡°Urgent, Miss Xyrthe!¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Chimara.¡± Xyrthe turned to Zaina. ¡°This is your fault, you know.¡±

    ¡°What? How the hell is any of this my fault?¡±

    ¡°They keep giving us missions because they know you¡¯ll keep accepting them. And I keep getting dragged along.¡±

    Zaina scoffed. ¡°You accept them too! You could veto any mission at any time. Aren¡¯t you supposed to be in charge?¡±

    ¡°Before you showed up they wouldn¡¯t even approach me with something like this whole Bash Kaver fiasco¡ªthe past few months have felt like Bash Kaver after Bash Kaver.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re homesick.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I am,¡± Xyrthe replied. ¡°I miss my bed. I miss my boyfriend. I miss my¡ª¡±

    ¡°You have a boyfriend?¡±

    Xyrthe seemed taken aback by the question. ¡°Uh, yeah. What, do you find that hard to believe?¡±

    ¡°I mean, from a temperament standpoint? Yes. The guy must be a saint.¡±

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    ¡°You know what?¡± Xyrthe stood. ¡°I bet whatever dumb bralshit the Order has to say will be much more interesting than this conversation.¡±

    Without waiting for Zaina¡¯s response, Xyrthe pivoted and marched out of the cockpit. Zaina took a deep breath to soothe her frustration and then followed her mentor. The incident at Bash Kaver was bad enough¡ªXyrthe being in a bad mood meant the rest of the day was going to be rough.

    Xyrthe was sprawled out on one of the comfy chairs lining the far wall and staring at her vis-screen. She fiddled with the holo-interface for a few moments, and a large holo-screen projected from a circular metal base in the floor. The image was of High Scholar Geli Fawndar¡¯s head and shoulders, reclined into her bed-pod.

    ¡°Xyrthe Belgrand and Zaina Quin,¡± she said, her voice dressed in ceremonial fa?ade, ¡°it is good to see you¡¯ve made it through yet another mission unscathed.¡±

    Xyrthe sighed. ¡°Why do you label comms requests as urgent if you¡¯re not going to get to the point?¡±

    The High Scholar cleared her throat.¡±I see you¡¯re in a good mood today. I do hope the people of Bash Kaver didn¡¯t give you too much inconvenience.¡±

    More like malice.

    ¡°They were complete assholes,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll be welcome back.¡±

    ¡°I should think not,¡± Geli replied. ¡°The Order of Riiva received a complaint the day you arrived about your¡ªahem¡ªcondition. They indicated that they could no longer trust the Order of Riiva to assist in their affairs.¡±

    ¡°No great loss,¡± said Xyrthe. ¡°Fuck those guys.¡±

    Geli nodded. ¡°We can only help those who want to be helped. Which brings me to the point behind this comms request.¡±

    Xyrthe sat up, still looking relaxed as could be, and said, ¡°Finally. Mercifully.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve received an interesting request from the world of Vyzria¡ªspecifically, the city of Deonago. We believe it is a challenge you two are specially equipped to handle, and what¡¯s more, you were both requested by name.¡±

    Xyrthe¡¯s eyes narrowed in distrust. ¡°This smells like a trap to me.¡±

    Zaina wasn¡¯t sure what she meant. ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°If someone wants both of us anywhere, I can only assume they have bad intentions.¡±

    ¡°What a way to go through life,¡± Zaina muttered.

    ¡°Ahem,¡± Geli said. ¡°We considered that, and while we think it unlikely, we are willing to send an additional lancer to assist you should the situation turn sour. Time is of the essence with this mission¡ªall I ask is that you hear the details before making up your minds.¡±

    Zaina nodded and gestured to Xyrthe, who loosed a heaving, defeated sigh.

    ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s hear it.¡±

    ¡°Excellent. I think you¡¯ll find this one most interesting. The client¡¯s name is Rymar Benta, the current Strato of Deonago. Nearby is the Sivanya Enclave of heretics, and tensions have risen between the two as of late.¡±

    Xyrthe¡¯s eyebrow raised. ¡°A heretic enclave?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s correct. The enclave is led by a woman named Sivanya¡ªdespite the near-open hostility, Rymar believes she can see reason; he wants you two to infiltrate the enclave and test his belief.¡±

    ¡°What, we¡¯re talking her into standing down?¡± Xyrthe replied.

    ¡°Not quite. She¡¯s currently unearthing an ancient heretic temple, believed to date back to the Marked Empire. We do not know her intentions in doing so; but Rymar is concerned that opening the temple would unleash an environmental cataclysm.¡±

    ¡°What kind of cataclysm?¡± Zaina leaned in, her interest piqued.

    ¡°Whatever danger the temple truly poses, its nature is not known,¡± Geli said. ¡°It predates the Order and is fairly inaccessible, so we have little information on it; Rymar insisted it would release, in his words, ¡®a sickness on the land itself.¡¯ Upon doing our own research, we¡¯ve found public speeches where Rymar¡¯s son, Dirzo, professes his belief that Sivanya is unburying the temple to take control of an ancient superweapon used in the First Heretic War.¡±

    Xyrthe shook her head. ¡°I want to go on record that I¡¯m not a fan of this one.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t say infiltrating a heretic enclave is exactly on my bucket list,¡± Zaina said in agreement.

    ¡°Understandable on both counts. In the interest of full transparency, you should also be aware before accepting or declining the mission that Sivanya has a rather hostile relationship with lancers; if she discovers you two are not pure heretics, she would likely seek to terminate you. The Order has lost three lancers to this enclave, and from what I understand the Scions have lost more than ten to Sivanya alone.¡±

    Xyrthe crossed her arms. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of risks.¡±

    ¡°Agreed,¡± Geli said, ¡°and we are willing to do whatever we can to mitigate those risks. But we didn¡¯t want you two going in blind, if you choose to go in at all.¡±

    Zaina recognized her mentor¡¯s expression¡ªthe furled brow, the pursed lip, the distant stare through squinted eyes¡ªit was her thinking face.

    ¡°Yeesh,¡± Xyrthe replied. ¡°You picked a real shitshow for us, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, the many shitshows across the galaxy are exactly where lancers are needed most,¡± Geli replied.

    ¡°Look.¡± Xyrthe rubbed the back of her head. ¡°It¡¯s been a brutal past few months. We¡¯ve barely had any downtime. We need a break.¡± She sighed. ¡°But it sounds like these people need our help.¡±

    Zaina was too taken aback to answer. Most of the time she was the one talking Xyrthe into these kinds of missions, not the other way around.

    Truth be told, Zaina was tired. She¡¯d been going non-stop ever since the Eldritch came to her world and disrupted her pleasant life on the family farm. Still, her mentor was right¡ªthe people of Vyzria, both the denizens of Deonago and the Sivanya enclave, needed help, and help only Zaina and Xyrthe were capable of giving. Maybe a more neutral third party coming in would help both sides meet somewhere in the middle¡ªor at least not kill each other.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Zaina said. ¡°Okay, but after this one, I think we deserve a break.¡±

    ¡°Agreed,¡± Xyrthe said.

    ¡°It will be done,¡± Geli said, smiling. ¡°Thank you two. I hope you can find a path forward that leads to peace.¡±

    ¡°I hope we leave in one piece,¡± Xyrthe grumbled, already back to her usual attitude.

    Apparently not hearing Xyrthe¡¯s comment, Geli pressed on. ¡°The mission docket is being sent as we speak. Read it carefully on your route to Vyzria; I wish you both the best of luck. Please, keep us updated on the situation. And if you need anything¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yeah, we know where to reach you,¡± Xyrthe said. She leaned forward and turned off the holo-comm, and the high scholar¡¯s face dissolved out of sight. Then she leaned back, sighed, and turned to Zaina. ¡°Well, that¡¯s the job, kid.¡±

 Chapter Ninety-Five: A Lancers Arrival

    ¡°Some worlds are known for their lush forests, the impressive harvests of their nutrient-dense soil, or for the special properties of their rare metals; but alas, our world is known for nothing, and is completely unremarkable.¡±

    ¡ªUdi Olet, Vyzrian poet

    Zaina stepped off the ramp of Xyrthe¡¯s ship and took in the Deonago spaceport. It was unlike any other she¡¯d been to¡ªfor one, it wasn¡¯t flat; the port and the city were built in the middle of a mountain range. Steep cliffs surrounded the harbor, their walls smooth as if they¡¯d been carved with a precise mining instrument of world-spanning size.

    Circular platforms arranged in layers jutted from four tall, massively thick metal beams that seemed to descend into Vyzria like spears into flesh. The beams, along with the mountains, supported a larger platform above where cargo ships docked, their engines deafening the sky and leaving trails of thick smoke. Zaina was glad to have her lancer mask on for this one.

    Immediately, heads swiveled to ogle them¡ªtwo lancers dressed head-to-toe in their armor. Zaina had a feeling they¡¯d be met with much less mistrust without their marks visible.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get distracted, kid,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°We¡¯re on the clock.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡±

    Xyrthe pulled the coordinates to the Strato¡¯s Office up on her vis-screen and darted off toward the spaceport¡¯s exit, which seemed to cut straight into the heart of a mountain. People watched and whispered while they walked by. More than once Zaina heard the word ¡®savior¡¯ tossed out. While she appreciated the sentiment and hoped they were right, a drop of bitterness soured any potential gratitude; how different would their reactions be with the masks off?

    Their path terminated at a lift loop¡ªthe surrounding fa?ade was green, and the lift itself was built into the mountain. An empty tubecar, big enough for four people, awaited atop one of the stations leading into the loop.

    Xyrthe sighed and stepped into the tubecar. There wasn¡¯t much legroom¡ªZaina squirmed through the small doorway and more or less fell into the seat opposite her mentor. Xyrthe reached for the button to activate the tubecar.

    Before she could, a shout came from outside. ¡°Hey! Wait up! Got any room for two?¡±

    Xyrthe turned to Zaina and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare.¡±

    Zaina leaned her head out. A young Elevaran man and a very pregnant Elevaran woman greeted her. Their skin was dark gray, and their ears were wide and round; but they were otherwise humanoid.

    ¡°We saw you coming in,¡± the young man said. ¡°You¡¯re lancers, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Of course we are,¡± Zaina replied.

    ¡°Mind if we join you two? My wife and I have never met a lancer before¡ªmuch less two!¡±

    Zaina glanced over at Xyrthe, who was shaking her head and making threatening gestures. Then she said, ¡°Yeah, come on in!¡±

    Xyrthe groaned and crossed her arms. Sometimes Zaina felt good annoying her mentor¡ªand it was so easy to do. The couple climbed into the tubecar; the man sat next to Zaina, and the woman sat next to a steaming Xyrthe. The man happily pushed the button, and the tubecar lurched into the lift loop before shuttling off.

    ¡°So,¡± the young woman said, ¡°my name is Vina, and this is Mic. It¡¯s good to meet you two.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Zaina, and that¡¯s Xyrthe. She doesn¡¯t talk much, but I promise she doesn¡¯t bite.¡±

    Xyrthe mumbled something inaudible in response, but neither of their new friends seemed to mind.

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    Mic shook his head and said, ¡°I can¡¯t believe they called in lancers. Dirzo¡¯s serious this time. Those filthy heretics don¡¯t stand a chance.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s heart sunk. ¡°Uh¡ªoh, yeah.¡±

    ¡°That is why you¡¯re here, right?¡± the man pressed. ¡°To help us fight the enclave? What other reason would lancers have to come here?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, something like that,¡± Zaina replied. ¡°It¡¯s¡ªuh¡ª¡±

    Xyrthe interrupted. ¡°We¡¯re not getting into specifics. This mission is need-to-know only.¡±

    Zaina, torn between frustrated with Xyrthe¡¯s rudeness and relieved to not have to answer, sighed. ¡°Sorry about her. So, what brings you to Deonago?¡±

    ¡°Opportunity,¡± the man said. ¡°As you can see, we¡¯re starting a family soon.¡±

    The woman rubbed her belly. ¡°Less than a month away now.¡±

    ¡°Lord Benta has a lot of work that needs doing,¡± Mic continued, ¡°and he¡¯s paying top dollar, considering the dangers involved.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Zaina replied. ¡°What line of work you in?¡±

    ¡°Mercenary,¡± Mic answered without hesitation. ¡°It¡¯s not something I enjoy, but I¡¯m pretty good at it¡ªand it pays the bills.¡±

    Zaina was at a loss for words. All she could muster was an awkward, ¡°Ah.¡±

    ¡°Hopefully, once this is all over and Deonago is safe from the enclave, Mic will listen to me when I talk to him about switching careers,¡± Vina said, side-eyeing Mic.

    He winced. ¡°It¡¯s gonna be tough, switching it up at this point. And with our incoming arrival¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not a young man anymore.¡±

    He sighed. ¡°I know. One last one. That¡¯s it. Then I¡¯ll finally call it. We save as much as we can, maybe get a loan, and then we open up that shop you always wanted.¡±

    Vina¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Really? You mean it?¡±

    He shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m a step slower. I know that. We¡¯ll need something to put food on the table for the little one. You¡¯ve spent years following me, waiting on me, while I did the only thing I know how. You¡¯ve followed me for long enough. It¡¯s time I follow you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s so sweet, Mic,¡± Vina said, leaning over to kiss his forehead. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°thank you. And thank Byzon for you two.¡± He turned to Zaina. ¡°With your help, I¡¯m feeling pretty good on this one.¡±

    ¡°Glad to hear it,¡± Zaina said, not quite sure whether to tell him they weren¡¯t there to help wipe out the enclave. She hoped their attitude toward heretics wasn¡¯t the norm amongst the other settlers. Knowing her recent luck, though, it would be.

    ¡°You two all right?¡± Mic asked. ¡°You seem on edge.¡±

    Zaina chuckled. ¡°She always seems on edge. That¡¯s how she is.¡±

    ¡°And what about you?¡±

    Zaina thought for a moment. ¡°Yeah, I guess. A little. It¡¯s my first mission involving a heretic enclave.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll do fine,¡± Mic replied. ¡°Lancers fighting heretics¡ªit¡¯s the natural order. It¡¯s the way things have always been. You¡¯re meant to beat them¡ªthat means something.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Zaina replied, not wanting to inflame tensions. In her mind, Mic¡¯s statement felt gross¡ªlike he didn¡¯t think of heretics as living, breathing beings. Maybe the simplicity was the appeal¡ªcasting all lancers as good guys and all heretics as bad guys made the Nova Rim a little less complex and scary. In reality, most lancers Zaina had met were assholes, and most heretics she¡¯d met were also assholes.

    Then again, I haven¡¯t met many heretics. Beni, Ovela¡ªyeah, that¡¯s really about it.

    With a sigh she mentally shrugged the thought aside, not wanting to dwell on Mic¡¯s careless remark. Their trip through the mountain continued in silence until their tubecar lurched to a dead stop. The speaker system made a loud ringing noise as the door popped open to usher them out.

    Xyrthe didn¡¯t need to be signaled twice, barreling free of her social prison the instant the doorway was unblocked enough to fit her armor. Zaina gestured for Mic and Vina to exit first, and they obliged. When Zaina stepped out, Mic was already leaving.

    ¡°I gotta run to the cargo jet, but I¡¯ll meet you at the room! You get comfy and I¡¯ll get everything set up when I get there. And it was nice meeting you two! I¡¯ll see you soon!¡± With that said, he turned around and dashed toward what looked like the exit to a cave.

    The other side of the lift loop was much more crystalline, with shiny, colorful stones extending from the floor and walls in patches. If she squinted, they reminded her of the wildflowers from home. They were otherwise in a cave with the lift loop entrance shoved in the back. Little natural light entered, so the ceilings were lined with small blue bulbs attached by wire.

    Vina watched her husband leave and covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. ¡°He¡¯s a very sweet man.¡±

    ¡°Hard to imagine him at work,¡± Zaina said.

    Vina nodded. ¡°It¡¯s hard on him. I know this wasn¡¯t the life he wanted. That¡¯s why I¡¯m so glad you two are here.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s head tilted to the side. ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°To help protect him,¡± she said. ¡°I was worried about him running headfirst into a nest of heretics, but with you two there¡ªlet¡¯s say I¡¯m slightly less worried about his safety.¡±

    Zaina didn¡¯t know how to respond¡ªit made her feel awful in a way, like a sinking pit of dread for this woman and her husband. She wasn¡¯t necessarily there to help them.

    ¡°Sorry if that¡¯s more pressure for you,¡± Vina said. ¡°But thank you still. Take care, now¡ªand please, watch out for Mic if you can.¡±

    Vina hobbled off toward a sign that said, Pardenorva Exit. A smaller sign beside the path read, Deonago Proper.

    Xyrthe sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with.¡±

 Chapter Ninety-Six: The Strato in Name

    ¡°Little is to be said for those who cannot control their stations. The Synatorium has as much use for a Chidron that cannot govern as the Allegiant Militarium has for a general that cannot lead, or the mercantile guilds have for a cargo ship that cannot fly. The Nova Rim is driven by results, and those that cannot get them are quickly identified and cast aside in any system that values efficiency.¡±

    ¡ªVelanus Xyonthran, famed Economist and founder of the Philosophy of Machinism

    The city of Deonago was much bigger than Zaina imagined. It sat in a valley in the middle of a massive mountain range, and was thus surrounded on all sides by gently dwelling giant faces of stone. The height of these buildings didn¡¯t compare to those Zaina had seen on Otmonzas or Rishaval, but they were innumerable. Everywhere in the valley and spread out on the adjacent mountainous terrain were near-uniform structures packed in tightly.

    With a great view from her vantage point, Zaina took in the whole city. Before her was a stairway made of solid stone, and at least twenty feet wide. It descended what looked like thousands of feet into the center of the city with buildings crammed on either side for most of the way. The stairway connected to a central hub¡ªit appeared to be some sort of garden with a pond on a circular platform¡ªalong with four other sets of similar stairs, each leading up into the mountains. These four stairways separated Deonago into quadrants.

    The city was alive with movement; at any given moment the entire city appeared to be burdened by a plague of small insects. What stuck out more to Zaina was how quiet it was. There was a low murmur, the ringing of enormous bells, and the sounds of busywork¡ªhammers hitting forges, cargo transports dashing about overhead, and heavy machinery straining to lift long metal crates.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get those feet busy, kid,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°You stop to ogle every new place and you¡¯ll waste your lancer years.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it good to get the lay of the land?¡±

    ¡°You can do that while walking.¡±

    ¡°Do you even know where we¡¯re going?¡±

    ¡°The Civic Center,¡± Xyrthe replied, pointing down the stairs. ¡°All the way at the end.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s got to be a faster way.¡±

    ¡°We could run, but you¡¯d probably eat shit.¡±

    Zaina raised a finger. ¡°What about our rocket boots?¡±

    Xyrthe scoffed. ¡°You want to waste fuel because you¡¯re lazy?¡±

    A loud voice came from behind. ¡°Pardon!¡±

    Zaina turned¡ªthere was a Fodian, gray-skinned and humanoid with a bulbous head and a bony, protruding forehead, riding the strangest vehicle Zaina had ever seen. It was like the bicycles she¡¯d seen back home, but with square wheels; the Fodian was wearing professional attire, and the ride down the stairs was so bumpy he looked to be vibrating as he descended; the square wheels fit perfectly into the stairs, but it still seemed quite uncomfortable.

    Zaina stepped aside, and the man shook his way past them. Xyrthe sighed.

    ¡°Say,¡± Zaina said, ¡°where do you think he found that?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°It would be faster¡ª¡±

    ¡°No. I mean it this time. Don¡¯t pull some bralshit like you did with the tubecar.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, admittedly, that wasn¡¯t as fun as I thought it would be,¡± Zaina replied.

    ¡°Exactly. So let¡¯s not repeat history here, shall we? All we have to do is walk in a straight line. You know what we don¡¯t have to do? Talk. Chit-chat. Sight-see.¡±

    ¡°All right,¡± Zaina said. ¡°I get it.¡±

    ¡°Do you? Because I thought you got it with the tubecar, too.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I get it. You don¡¯t have to treat me like a child.¡±

    ¡°When you stop acting like one, maybe I¡¯ll treat you differently.¡±

    Zaina shook her head and mumbled a few curses under her breath. There was no point in arguing with Xyrthe when she was like this. Their trip continued in silence, allowing the sounds of the city to come alive. Now there was the murmur of people going about their day, shuffling footsteps on the stone paths, and the ever-beating metal hammering in the background.

    I wonder what they¡¯re building.

    It was another hour before their journey mercifully came to an end. The last stair led to a central platform joining the four massive staircases; here flower-bushes and trees were lined up neatly in uniform strips of dirt surrounded by elevated stone. In the middle of the platform was a shallow pond.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Zaina said, ¡°where to now?¡±

    Xyrthe grumbled and pointed to a rounded set of descending stairs at the platform¡¯s edge. Without waiting for her mentor Zaina strode off toward them and began her climb down to the lower city.

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    There was much more to Deonago than the view atop the central stairwell indicated; the main platform connecting the four big staircases was the roof of a thirty-story building, leaving plenty of stairs to walk. If Zaina never saw another stair for the rest of her life, she¡¯d still have seen too many.

    The building itself had a very open design. The stairs wrapped around the exterior, and each level had a hallway with doors to either side. Near the top Zaina spotted a sign that said Deonago Administrative Level.

    Is this where the Strato would be?

    Xyrthe brushed past her. ¡°This way, kid.¡±

    Zaina mumbled a few more curses and followed her mentor. This level was unlike any other in the building that they¡¯d passed on their way down; the walls were solid metal and plain. Deonago wasn¡¯t a very festive or decorative city, from what Zaina had seen.

    They came to a twenty-foot tall door with a small sign beside it that read, Strato Benta¡¯s Office. Zaina closed her eyes and took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for anything. By the time she opened her eyes Xyrthe had already thrown the door open and strode inside.

    A voice, warm and wise, came from within. ¡°Ah! Welcome! You must be Xyrthe Belgrand and Zaina Quin¡ªcome, please! We¡¯ve much to discuss.¡±

    Zaina cut her mental preparation short and stepped through the door, closing it behind her. Xyrthe had already swung off her mask, shaking her head to free her admittedly gorgeous hair.

    ¡°That we do,¡± she said. ¡°You wanted us here, well, you¡¯ve got us. So let¡¯s get into it.¡±

    The man, an elderly Diveldaran¡ªpale red skin, clear eyes, an elongated mouth, and an aquatic humanoid body¡ªwore plain, simple robes and had a Strato pin over his left breast. ¡°I¡¯ve heard much about you two¡ªincluding that you hate having your time wasted. So, come. Let¡¯s discuss why you¡¯re here. My name is Rymar Benta, and I¡¯ve been the Strato of Deonago for¡ªoh, what is it, thirty some-odd years now. Long time, is the point. Well, our world of Vyzria shares space with an enclave of the marked. As long as I can remember they¡¯ve been out there, and there¡¯s been peace.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s head tilted to the side as she removed her mask. ¡°Marked?¡±

    Rymar nodded. ¡°They are called by a different name throughout most of the galaxy¡ªbut Lady Sivanya, when I met her, requested that I refer to her and her people as the marked.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s get back on track. You said there was peace, and now there¡¯s not,¡± Xyrthe said.

    Rymar shifted in his seat, clearly uncomfortable. ¡°My son.¡±

    ¡°It changed when you had a son?¡±

    ¡°No¡ªmy son changed it. In his youth he fell in with the Church of Everus¡ªthey believe fervently that the marked are, to put it politely, worthy of being eradicated. Out of nowhere one day he began organizing against our neighbors, insisting they were a catastrophic threat and had to be stopped.¡± Rymar fidgeted with his elongated, webbed fingers. ¡°I don¡¯t know if something caused it, or¡ªI don¡¯t think he got it from me, but I don¡¯t know. I always respected the enclave¡ªI hope he didn¡¯t think I was afraid of them the few times we interacted.¡±

    ¡°So your son hates heretics,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°Why does that matter?¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately,¡± the Strato replied, ¡°the sentiment is less unpopular than I¡¯d initially believed. My son was already the leader of the Deonago Defense Force¡ªadmittedly, a bit of nepotism that was a much larger mistake than I ever could have known.¡±

    ¡°Why not fire his ass?¡±

    ¡°That was the first thing I tried when I realized this was getting out of hand. Once he starting spitting off his drivel, people flocked to him. The militia grew stronger. They made it clear that they would not obey a lawful order if it contradicted their directives from my son. If I attempt to remove him again, I¡¯d likely have an uprising on my hands.¡±

    ¡°So he wields all the power around here,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°And you haven¡¯t contacted Vyzria¡¯s Chidron?¡±

    He shook his head. ¡°Alfor Oremu. Vyzria¡¯s his first station, and he¡¯s green¡ªand looking for any chance to distinguish himself.¡±

    ¡°And you don¡¯t exactly want him calling in the Militarium on your son.¡±

    Rymar¡¯s shoulders slumped. ¡°Correct. And as such, I¡¯ve lost control of my people¡ªof my city. I thought whatever rifts had grown between our people and the enclave would be easily mended¡ªbut I was na?ve. Skirmishes starting happening on the border, with my son¡¯s troops taking a harder line against the marked¡ªand the marked responded in kind.¡± He wiped the back of his hand across his forehead. ¡°Of course, Dirzo¡ªmy son¡ªloves to play up when the marked kill a soldier who was over-eager and rushed into their territory, and I¡¯m sure Sivanya focuses on the negatives as pertains to us, too. And we all deepen in this shared quagmire.¡±

    Rymar stopped for a moment and sighed. Then, he continued, ¡°It wasn¡¯t always like this. There used to be trade and travel between Deonago and the enclave¡ªI¡¯ve been there myself to celebrate their Festival of the Moon as recently as twenty years ago. But now¡ªall the marked were driven from Deonago. And I fear a further complication makes war all but inevitable¡ªthe temple.¡±

    Zaina remembered reading some of this in her briefing. ¡°The ancient temple?¡±

    ¡°Exactly the one. You see, Vyzria may be but a humble mining world now, not much to speak of; but the Nova Rim¡¯s history runs through these rocks. Time is short, so I¡¯ll keep my stories so, too. The Marked Empire once claimed these lands, with the Dark Emperor Savon building a temple dedicated to his long-forgotten god; but when Awean J¡¯Miga and the Last Alliance struck Savon down, the Dark Lord¡¯s followers laid a curse on his favored temple¡ªthe one here. Should it be opened now, it is said a great cataclysm will swallow all of the land¡ªsome say Savon¡¯s spirit itself will return, breathing vengeance and consuming life. A sickness upon the land itself.¡±

    Zaina crossed her arms. ¡°Do they know exactly what kind of cataclysm?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Rymar admitted. ¡°There are only theories, and those we have aplenty. All I know is this¡ªthe Last Alliance took the time to bury the temple beneath millions of tons of imported dirt and rock; they wouldn¡¯t go to that effort if they didn¡¯t believe, in some capacity, that the temple was dangerous. Considering their proximity in time to whatever scared them, I¡¯ve tended toward heeding their caution. I admit I greatly fear what should happen should the temple be dug up.¡±

    Xyrthe nodded. ¡°And now Sivanya¡¯s trying to do exactly that.¡±

    Rymar ran his hands over his forehead¡ªhe looked like he¡¯d spent many sleepless nights wracking his brain over this. ¡°It would appear so. I think her intentions are noble¡ªI believe through those doors, she sees salvation for her people. But this, I cannot allow. You¡¯ve seen my city¡ªmy people. I must protect them, even if courses of action prove prudent that I would otherwise avoid.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing your son¡¯s using that as justification to ramp things up to eleven, too.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Rymar said. ¡°He believes quite deeply that the cataclysm we were warned about was an ancient marked superweapon¡ªone which Sivanya now wants to claim for use against Deonago. Either that or he knows it is a rallying cry which inspires seeds of doubt¡ªand when the stakes are one¡¯s life, a seed of doubt can quickly make a true believer.¡±

    Xyrthe¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°And you think we can change her mind?¡±

    Rymar scratched the back of his head. ¡°I do not know, but that may be the only hope for both peoples to survive.¡±

    Xyrthe muttered under her breath and rubbed her chin¡ªshe was thinking. That usually meant she was coming up with a plan. Zaina was surprised she was taking it this seriously.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Xyrthe said after a few seconds. ¡°All right, kid. I have an idea. You¡¯re going to go it alone.¡±

 Chapter Ninety-Seven: Fortuitous Moon

    ¡°Yeah, I remember. I was scared to shit¡ªbut I made it through. So will you.¡±

    ¡ªFamed High Lancer Degra Moro, recalling her first solo mission

    ¡°Huh¡ªwhat?¡± Zaina said, too shocked to fully process her mentor¡¯s words.

    Xyrthe put her helmet back on. ¡°The more I think on it, the more I see we need someone here. This Dirzo sounds pretty trigger-happy¡ªlike he could attack at any moment. I¡¯m guessing he¡¯s not very forthcoming about his plans with you, Rymar.¡±

    The Strato shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid not.¡±

    ¡°So if we both go out there, we might get swamped out of nowhere if we aren¡¯t sure what¡¯s happening on the other side,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°And beside that¡ªI don¡¯t think showing up to a heretic enclave as a pair is a good idea. Most heretics coming to enclaves arrive by themselves.¡±

    ¡°You have a lot of experience with enclaves?¡± Zaina asked.

    ¡°As a matter of fact, I do. So trust me when I say us both showing up would probably arouse suspicion. It usually means one of two things¡ªinfiltration, or the destruction of another enclave.¡±

    Zaina desperately wanted to hear about Xyrthe¡¯s experiences in enclaves, but it wasn¡¯t the right time¡ªand even if it was, her mentor wasn¡¯t exactly open about her past. Aside from that, there was the more pressing matter of her mentor more or less volunteering her for a suicide mission. Still, she didn¡¯t want to seem afraid¡ªif Xyrthe thought she was ready, maybe she really was. ¡°Yeah, but¡ªwhat will you do?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to earn Dirzo¡¯s trust. Get in on his inner circle. Then I can keep you updated on his plans, give you a timeframe to work with.¡±

    ¡°I believe that would be a most wise measure,¡± Rymar said. ¡°You may be able to hinder them from within as well. Perhaps a stoic, earnest presence will keep some of the bravado in check.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the hope. Say, Rymar¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Is there a closer hangar where I can move my ship in case shit goes south out there? I want to be able to run a rescue op without having to take that stupid fucking tubecar.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± he said. ¡°Yes, of course. You can use my private hangar on the level above¡ªI¡¯ll have my shuttle moved immediately.¡±

    ¡°See?¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°If something goes wrong I¡¯ll be there in like, an hour at most. All you have to do is survive that long. That said, I really don¡¯t see anything going too terribly wrong.¡±

    Some of Zaina¡¯s inner anxiety bubbled over. ¡°Yeah, what could go wrong? I won¡¯t have my armor, my spell-glove, I won¡¯t be able to use my cipher¡ª¡±

    ¡°Exactly,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°You¡¯ll have the greatest weapon of all: that helpless, innocent charm of yours. Sivanya doesn¡¯t stand a chance.¡±

    Zaina rolled her eyes. It wasn¡¯t exactly a vote of confidence, but it was the best she was going to get from Xyrthe.

    ¡°Now,¡± Xyrthe continued, ¡°we need to think about how you¡¯re going to approach.¡±

    Zaina started to ask, ¡°What¡ª¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Rymar interrupted. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be able to take the most direct path from Deonago¡ªfor one, you¡¯d never make it through the patrols unspotted, and secondly, it may arouse Sivanya¡¯s suspicions. You¡¯ll need a ship.¡±

    Xyrthe jumped in, ¡°Not mine.¡±

    Rymar nodded. ¡°I prepared for this; after I contacted your Order I quickly arranged to purchase an unmarked, unregistered vehicle for the purposes of your infiltration.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°So Zaina, you¡¯ll take Gizmo¡ªhe¡¯ll pilot the ship. Keep all your lancer equipment hidden¡ªis there any sort of hidden compartment?¡±

    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    ¡°Not that I¡¯m aware of,¡± Rymar replied.

    ¡°We¡¯ll figure something out. Anyway, you¡¯ll want to cloak up as you leave the planet, then¡ª¡±

    ¡°Leave the planet?¡± Zaina asked.

    ¡°Yes, temporarily,¡± Xyrthe curtly replied. ¡°We don¡¯t know what kind of scanning equipment this enclave has access to. If you fly directly out there and they have a way of knowing about it, the game¡¯s over. It needs to seem like you stole a ship and are coming in from offworld.¡±

    ¡°We must take every precaution,¡± Rymar said. ¡°The only way both peoples can be saved from bloodshed is if Sivanya trusts you¡ªand I believe a good first impression will help in that regard.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s heart was starting to beat faster. Why was all this falling on her shoulders? It felt like a huge risk she wasn¡¯t ready to take, but Rymar and Xyrthe were discussing it like it was the nightly news. Like it was already decided.

    ¡°Gizmo will take care of the flying for you,¡± Xyrthe said, seemingly oblivious to Zaina¡¯s inner panic. ¡°All you¡¯ll have to do is convince them you¡¯re in need of a place to stay. The more desperate, the better, but have a little pride, too¡ªyou want to seem desperate without seeming too desperate, if that makes sense.¡±

    ¡°Not really, no,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°Be yourself and I think you¡¯ll be okay. Now¡ªtime¡¯s not on our side on this one, so we¡¯d better get moving quickly. Where¡¯s Zaina¡¯s ship?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s in the navport. You¡¯ll need the lot key¡ªhere it is.¡± He produced a small, square polysynth data-chip. Zaina stared at his outstretched hand. Taking the key was tantamount to agreeing to go the rest of this mission alone. The room swirled around the key atop Rymar¡¯s palm. Was she ready? Did it really matter?

    I¡¯m a lancer now. Come on.

    Slowly she reached out and grabbed the lot key. Once she¡¯d taken it, her trance-like state ended, and she swiftly pocketed it. That was it¡ªthis was going to be her first solo mission.

    ¡°All right, kid,¡± Xyrthe said, ¡°let¡¯s get going. We¡¯ll talk more on the way. Good luck, Rymar.¡±

    ¡°Thank you¡ªand both of you as well. And please be careful.¡±

    ¡°We will,¡± Xyrthe said, walking out. Zaina took a deep breath and followed, still feeling overwhelmed and unsure.

    ¡°Young Zaina,¡± Rymar called after her.

    She stopped and turned around. ¡°Yes?¡±

    He smiled warmly. ¡°You¡¯re going to do great.¡±

    ¡°Why do you think that?¡± she asked, wincing.

    ¡°Call it a feeling,¡± he replied. ¡°I¡¯m sure of it.¡±

    She lingered for another moment, then said, ¡°Thanks.¡±

    Without waiting for his response, she turned and followed her mentor back onto the round stairwell.

    Never thought I¡¯d be happy to see a set of stairs again, but anything beats that awkwardness.

    Xyrthe was standing by the edge, looking out over the city of Deonago. Zaina wondered what she was thinking about.

    ¡°Everything okay?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Huh? Yeah,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°I¡¯m having Chimara fly over here. Fuck stairs.¡±

    Zaina chuckled. ¡°I guess I can agree with that.¡±

    They waited in silence for a minute before Zaina had to ask a question. ¡°So¡ªyou really think I¡¯m ready?¡±

    Xyrthe sighed. ¡°We¡¯re not having this conversation.¡±

    Zaina got the hint, but she needed to know. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I am, if I¡¯m being honest.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s great, kid. Have you thought about what you¡¯re going to tell them?¡±

    Zaina wasn¡¯t sure what she meant. ¡°Tell who?¡±

    ¡°Sivanya and the others. You gotta have a good story if you want them to trust you¡ªbut it can¡¯t be obvious you¡¯re lying.¡±

    Zaina winced. She wasn¡¯t the best liar. ¡°I honestly have no idea.¡±

    ¡°I honestly can¡¯t see you being very convincing, so don¡¯t get too creative with it. Maybe stick as close to the truth as you can. You need to seem authentic, so be yourself. The only thing you can¡¯t mention is anything related to being a lancer.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I think that could work.¡±

    ¡°Good. And make sure you don¡¯t use your cipher, whatever you do. It¡¯s a last resort only¡ªthe second you use it your cover¡¯s blown, and then it¡¯s a game of hide and seek until I get there.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡±

    ¡°And whatever you do,¡± Xyrthe said, ¡°don¡¯t try to fuck with Sivanya if shit goes south. She¡¯s a lancer-killer, and she¡¯s bested better lancers than you.¡±

    ¡°Gee, thanks,¡± Zaina said, feeling what little enthusiasm she started with draining.

    ¡°That¡¯s really all you need to know. Do you have any normal clothes to wear?¡±

    ¡°Uh, yeah, I should have a pair back on the ship.¡±

    ¡°All right. That¡¯s what you¡¯ll wear. You¡¯ll want to bring your lancer gear with you, but leave it on the ship with Gizmo. If shit sours you should be able to make a break for your gear, which should help even the odds for a time.¡±

    ¡°If shit goes sour,¡± Zaina said. ¡°How likely do you think that is on this one?¡±

    ¡°Honestly? Couldn¡¯t tell you, kid,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°By Rymar¡¯s accounts of her, I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll have too much of a problem with Sivanya. I think the wild card is Rymar¡¯s idiot son, which is why I¡¯m going to keep an eye on him personally.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not very comforting.¡±

    Xyrthe groaned. ¡°If you¡¯re looking for comfort in this line of work, you¡¯re not going to survive very long. Look¡ªI don¡¯t know if you¡¯re ready or not, kid. I didn¡¯t know if I was ready, either. But sometimes you have to go on and do something without knowing if you¡¯re ready. Have a little faith in yourself. And if it all goes sideways, I¡¯ll do whatever I can to get you out of there. All right? Is that comforting enough?¡±

    Surprisingly, it was better advice than Zaina expected from her mentor. ¡°Yeah, I guess it¡¯ll do.¡±

    Xyrthe shook her head. ¡°Sometimes I wonder if you¡¯re cut out for this.¡±

    ¡°Riiva seems to think so.¡±

    ¡°Riiva doesn¡¯t know or decide shit. It¡¯s made plenty of lancers that couldn¡¯t handle the work. Take it from someone who¡¯s been there and done that: you need to be more resilient if you¡¯re going to make it.¡±

    Zaina didn¡¯t bother responding. Her mentor was clearly in a bad mood. They waited in silence for Xyrthe¡¯s ship.

 Chapter Ninety-Eight: First Contact

    ¡°The first thing you will learn about the Marked upon spending time with them is that they act close enough to ourselves as to be unnerving at first; despite their lack of need for food, they still enjoy eating it; despite their lack of need for sleep, they still partake. Most of the time I spend with them is so alike time spent among the non-Marked as to be indistinguishable. I went hoping for accounts of dark rituals and demonic sacrifices, but instead found harvests turn to feasts and the throes of the ordinary.¡±

    ¡ªCastre Follin, famed explorer, in his book, The Great Enclaves: Six Adventures from Castre Follin

    Zaina sat in the pilot seat of the tiny, cramped ship the Strato had arranged for her short journey. The ship itself was orb-shaped with stabilized thrusters, but being that it was barely fifteen feet tall, the interior was lacking. The ship¡¯s closed door was directly behind the only other interior space onboard, a small storage closet.

    Everything except her lancer beacon and vis-screen was placed in a makeshift compartment beneath the closet. The surface was then covered with trash¡ªif Sivanya felt inclined to search the ship, it would look like someone had been living there for a few days.

    Smells like it, too.

    It was time to get this over with. Her eyes fell to the plain white sleeves covering her arms, then glanced toward her armor under a pile of garbage¡ªshe felt exposed, further fueling her uncertainty. The sooner she met Sivanya, the sooner she¡¯d have a clearer sense of where this mission was headed. ¡°You about ready, Gizmo?¡±

    Gir¡¯s glyph, connected to the ship¡¯s two-panel console via three wires housed in its central hub, hummed and replied, ¡°Yes, Master Zaina.¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t call me that,¡± she said, wishing she had the old Gizmo back. Sure, he had his quirks, but he was much less cold.

    ¡°Affirmative. Preparing for launch sequence.¡±

    Zaina sighed, wondering what he¡¯d been doing that entire time. Her curiosity got the better of her. ¡°So, what took so long?¡±

    ¡°Stealth on the way out of the Deonago Navport is imperative on this mission, Master Zaina,¡± Gizmo replied. ¡°The target could potentially track this ship on its way out and back in. I was creating a set of false credentials for use on our way out of the atmosphere. Then, once we are comfortably out of range of any planetary sensor equipment, we de-cloak and enter with our real credentials.¡±

    ¡°Smart,¡± she said, ¡°but also, please stop calling me that.¡±

    ¡°What would you like to be called?¡±

    ¡°Zaina works fine.¡±

    ¡°It is customary for glyphs to show respect and defer to their assigned lancers in all matters,¡± Gizmo replied in its cold, monotone voice. ¡°Are you sure you would not like an honorific attached to your name when I address you?¡±

    ¡°No need¡ªZaina works perfectly. I¡¯m not your assigned lancer, I¡¯m your partner.¡±

    Gizmo whirred for a second, then said, ¡°There is no distinction.¡±

    ¡°The distinction is that a partner is on equal footing. Equal say, equal respect. So I¡¯ll call you Gizmo, and you can call me Zaina. Okay?¡±

    ¡°Very well,¡± Gizmo said. ¡°Zaina, the launch sequence has been prepared. On your command, the ship will ascend beyond the upper atmosphere of Vyzria.¡±

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°Well?¡± she asked. ¡°What are you waiting for? Punch it.¡±

    ¡°Punching,¡± Gizmo chirped. The ship¡¯s thrusters hummed to life, and Zaina jerked in her seat as they rocketed into the sky. A moment later the ship¡¯s ascent stabilized.

    Gizmo beeped and said, ¡°We will be out of range of any potential sensory equipment available to the target in one minute.¡±

    ¡°All right, good,¡± she said.

    This particular minute was excruciatingly long. There was enough time for every terrible scenario to go through Zaina¡¯s head, from the ship failing and exploding in space, to crash landing, to being immediately found out by Sivanya and killed.

    Finally their ascent slowed, and the weightlessness of space fell over Zaina. The ship hovered in place.

    ¡°When are we going back down?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Protocol on credential cloaking dictates that a waiting period of at least thirty seconds is necessary after de-cloaking,¡± Gizmo dutifully recited. ¡°Enemy sensors may be fooled, but those monitoring the sensors may be alerted to see an entry so quickly after an exit on a low flight-traffic world, such as Vyzria.¡±

    ¡°All about the protocols now,¡± she said. ¡°Let¡¯s give it forty seconds to be safe.¡±

    ¡°Affirmative, Zaina.¡±

    Zaina sighed and leaned back in the pilot chair. Time stretched out in moments like these. It was calm in this cramped ship, and she had no idea what to expect when she stepped out of it. An old friend¡¯s words of wisdom came to mind.

    I have to trust myself. Riiva chose me for a reason.

    Gizmo snapped her out of her reverie by announcing, ¡°Forty seconds have passed. Re-entry sequence ready at your command.¡±

    ¡°Hit it,¡± she said.

    ¡°Hitting,¡± Gizmo replied. The ship lurched again, this time downward. ¡°The ship will land in one minute and five seconds.¡±

    Zaina closed her eyes and focused on her breathing, trying to clear her mind of all distractions. While the ship was hurdling toward the ground at ungodly speed, she tried to find a measure of inner peace.

    I¡¯ve come all this way. I¡¯m a lancer¡ªI can do this.

    ¡°Twenty seconds until arrival,¡± Gizmo said. ¡°Upon landing and de-powering the ship, I will enter low-power mode as dictated by protocol.¡±

    Despite her disappointment with the new Gizmo, the idea of being truly alone filled her with a sense of dread. The last time she was alone on a mission was back home on Demelia¡ªand that wasn¡¯t exactly a rousing success.

    Then again, I was facing the Eldritch. Much tougher odds.

    Whether she was ready or not the ship¡¯s descent jerked and slowed to a crawl as they neared the ground. The three landing prongs released with a hiss and a screech, and the ship rocked as they touched down.

    ¡°Goodbye, Zaina,¡± Gizmo said. ¡°I wish you the best of luck on your mission. Travel west to reach the enclave from our landing point. I will be here when you need me next.¡±

    Without waiting for her response Gizmo powered down. Every light on his metal body flickered and went out. Zaina took a deep breath in the darkened cabin.

    Showtime.

    She hit the door release button and once more stepped foot on Vyzria. Instead of the mountains of Deonago she found herself in a lush, green forest with gentle blue skies overhead.

    Zaina took it all in for a moment. It looks so much like home.

    The cool, sweet-scented breeze invigorated her lungs. By the look and sound of things, she had this part of the forest to herself. There was no movement except bushes and leaves swaying in the wind.

    ¡°West,¡± she said. ¡°Which way is west?¡±

    Zaina frowned. Should¡¯ve packed a fucking compass.

    She considered waking Gizmo up, but ultimately decided to take her chances. She didn¡¯t know if long-range scanners could pick up a glyph, so she erred on the side of caution.

    I guess I¡¯ll pick a way and walk.

    She surveyed each direction, but no particular path called to her. She closed her eyes.

    Trust yourself.

    She spun a few times in a tight circle and then stopped. She opened her eyes and walked in that direction.

    Only a few minutes had passed when commotion reached Zaina¡¯s ears¡ªthe rustling of footsteps, hushed whispers, the snapping of fallen twigs.

    She sighed. Looks like I¡¯m not alone.

    ¡°Is someone there?¡± she asked, giving them a chance to be honest. Dead silence was the only response, so she continued. ¡°I know someone¡¯s there. I could hear you.¡±

    A few harsh whispers, almost like an argument, came from behind a patch of nearby trees. Then, after a moment of silence, someone stepped out to greet her.

    It was a young, human woman with short, dark brown hair swept to one side and green eyes. Her skin was pale and contrasted well with her shadowy cloak. In her right hand was a fang, blacker than night and sharp enough to match a cipher. She was marked on the left side of her neck and her lower cheek.

    For a moment, the sight of the woman¡¯s fang gave Zaina a powerful urge to summon her cipher. Bad memories swirled in her head¡ªBeni and Ovela, two people she¡¯d trusted, both wielded identical black swords. Zaina resisted by clenching her fist.

    ¡°Well, hello,¡± the woman said. ¡°And who might you be?¡±

 Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Sivanya Enclave

    ¡°Kindness can be found in the most unlikely places, as can cruelty.¡±

    ¡ªTaberfors the Traveler

    Zaina raised her hands toward the sky. ¡°My name is Zaina Quin. I come from¡ª¡±

    ¡°Why are you here?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    The woman gripped her fang tightly. ¡°Why are you here?¡±

    Zaina thought for a minute about what to say¡ªshe needed to seem desperate without seeming like she was trying to seem desperate. She tried to imagine a scenario where she never went to the Order of Riiva; a scenario where, after the destruction of Demelia, she had nowhere to go.

    That was it. ¡°I¡ªI need help.¡±

    ¡°Very vague,¡± the woman replied. ¡°All right¡ªlet¡¯s see if we can¡¯t help you. I need you to hold very, very still. Seriously, don¡¯t move at all, or I¡¯ll run you through.¡±

    Zaina gulped and put her hands up. She didn¡¯t like the idea of putting her life in this stranger¡¯s hands, but it was her only option right now.

    The woman slowly stepped toward her, fang raised, and stopped less than a foot away. Then she reached out and touched Zaina¡¯s mark, pressing into it with her thumb¡ªalmost as if to see if it would bleed or come off. After a few seconds she lowered her weapon.

    The woman sighed and then called out over her shoulder, ¡°Varok! Come on out. She¡¯s good.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°That¡¯s¡ªthat¡¯s it? Why did you do that?¡±

    ¡°Had to make sure that mark of yours is real,¡± the woman replied. ¡°Can¡¯t be too careful these days. Varok!¡±

    A young man stepped out from behind a tree. His hand was outstretched, and perched atop it was a small insect with colorful wings thrice the size of its long body. ¡°Sorry, sorry.¡±

    The woman sighed. ¡°Well met, Zaina. My name is Tarina, and this is Varok. You know anything about a ship landing somewhere near here?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s mine,¡± Zaina replied. ¡°Well¡ªto be honest, I don¡¯t know whose it is. But I borrowed it to get here.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Tarina said, ¡°you picked a hell of a time to show. Come on, follow us.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Where are we going?¡±

    ¡°Home,¡± Tarina said over her shoulder.

    Zaina shrugged and went along with it. Tarina and Varok moved slowly, deliberately, and in complete silence through the thickening forest.

    ¡°Is there a reason we¡¯re moving so slow?¡± Zaina whispered to Tarina.

    ¡°The unmarked send their killers into our territory every day,¡± she replied. ¡°We were told to avoid a fight if possible.¡±

    ¡°I see. Who are the nmarked, now?¡±

    Tarina pointed to the mark on her face. ¡°Anyone without this.¡±

    ¡°Ah, gotcha. Makes sense. So does¡ª¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll answer your questions when we get back to the mountain.¡±

    Zaina didn¡¯t need to be told twice. She held her tongue, thinking up everything she wanted to ask when they arrived at the enclave.

    There was no path through the forest, and the clear spaces between the trees had disappeared. Knee-high or higher bushes and grass covered the ground, intermixed with tangled roots and twisting branches. Their rugged path had a slight but noticeable incline. Few creatures stirred here in the dark of the deep forest. The glimmering strands of light breaking through the canopy¡¯s rustling leaves pitched dancing shadows all about.

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    After what felt like an eternity in the still quiet of the forest, the crowded trees began to thin out. Sunlight broke through the canopy. The grass was lower and had been flattened in spots, and gray-and-red rocks were scattered everywhere. Through the waving treetops a great mountain came into view, the same hue as the stones all around.

    Are we already on the mountain?

    An odd clamor rang out as they moved along¡ªrhythmic, metallic bangs mixed with the occasional ear-biting screech. Zaina had no idea what to expect or what she was walking into. Her heart was pounding¡ªshe was a long way from the ship.

    Finally, the treeline broke, and Zaina stepped out into a clearing. It was a plateau part-way up the mountain. Behind it was a cliff face at least three hundred feet tall and too steep to climb without equipment. The rest of the mountain loomed overhead.

    The plateau itself had been haphazardly cleared, with hewn tree trunks around the edges. Massive machinery, some in working condition and some not, littered the area, and tents with crates and tables of smaller equipment were arranged in rows wherever there was space. A makeshift scaffolding, hundreds of feet tall, was rigged against the mountain, made of logs, planks of wood, stone, metal, and whatever else could help provide support. People of every species, race, and gender marched about with a sense of urgency, lugging rocks or carrying large equipment. Their only shared feature was the Mark of the Recalcitrant and their apparent need to mine.

    ¡°Welcome to the enclave,¡± Tarina said.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Zaina said. ¡°So¡ªI stay here now?¡±

    Varok chuckled, and Tarina shook her head. ¡°No one joins until they¡¯ve talked to Lady Sivanya. We can¡¯t be too careful these days.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Zaina said. ¡°Where can I find her?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯ll find you,¡± Tarina said. ¡°Pick a place to sit¡ªout of the way of the busywork unless you care to lose a limb or two. I¡¯ll let her know you¡¯re here.¡±

    Tarina walked off and called out to Varok, who was petting a squirrel. He hurriedly followed, leaving Zaina alone.

    Part of her yearned to leave, to call the mission a bust¡ªit had gone well so far, but she didn¡¯t know what to expect from the enclave¡¯s leader. But there was too much at stake¡ªthese people¡¯s lives, mostly. Zaina trudged forward, trying to dodge as people ran to and fro, and found an out-of-the-way bench nestled between two tents. She sat facing the mountain, watching their work.

    The Order says what they¡¯re doing is dangerous, but I wouldn¡¯t know that. She wondered what secrets the temple held.

    Their work was clearly arduous and slow, with each stone taking great effort to remove; barely any of the cliff had been dug out, but something was visible, too¡ªthe corner of a building, too perfectly shaped to be natural, had already been uncovered.

    ¡°Is this seat taken?¡± a soothing, feminine voice came from behind her. Zaina turned and was met by a tall human woman with long, disheveled blonde hair and green eyes. The woman¡¯s mark, roughly an inch thick, ran diagonally across her face. Her sharp nose and thin eyes gave an aura of elegance, but her relaxed eyebrows and reassuring smile were enough to put Zaina at ease. Her skin was pale gray and covered in blood and sweat. She wore working clothes¡ªdusty overalls over a blouse and a belt stuffed with tools.

    ¡°No,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°Excellent!¡± the woman said. She hobbled over and sat down¡ªone of her legs gave a whirring hiss followed by a click with every step. ¡°I assume you¡¯re waiting for someone?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Zaina replied awkwardly. ¡°I was told to wait for Lady Sivanya.¡±

    ¡°Well, do you know what she looks like?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯ve never seen her. But I have heard about her.¡±

    ¡°Oh? And what have you heard?¡±

    Zaina said, ¡°That she¡¯s kind. That she takes in people in need and helps them¡ªpeople like me, I guess.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure it would warm her heart to hear,¡± the woman replied. Zaina stared back at the mining work. The woman said, ¡°It¡¯s beautiful, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Zaina asked, playing dumb.

    ¡°A temple,¡± the woman said. ¡°A monument. A cemetery. Built over one million years ago by the Marked Empire. It was commissioned by Savon himself, it¡¯s said.¡±

    Zaina glanced at the woman¡ªshe didn¡¯t remember much of what she¡¯d learned about the Marked Empire in school. ¡°Is that the top of it?¡±

    ¡°Heavens, no,¡± the woman replied. ¡°We¡¯ve only begun to excavate the outer walls at this level, but I think it¡¯s much taller¡ªand much deeper, too. It¡¯s said the temple stood a thousand feet tall before it was smothered with rock and dirt.¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s saying all these things?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re old Marked legends,¡± the woman said. ¡°Some are more likely true than others, but you¡¯d be surprised how much of the truth has passed to our people.¡±

    Since they were on the topic of the temple, Zaina figured she¡¯d ask the most important question. ¡°What¡¯s inside it?¡±

    The woman chuckled and then replied, ¡°That¡¯s also an old Marked legend¡ªperhaps one you¡¯ll hear another time. Now, tell me¡ªwhere do you come from?¡±

    Zaina didn¡¯t see any reason why she shouldn¡¯t answer. Xyrthe had told her to mix as much of the truth in as possible. ¡°I come from Demelia. It¡¯s pretty far away.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t say I¡¯ve heard of it. What¡¯s it like?¡±

    ¡°Gone, now,¡± Zaina replied. ¡°It was destroyed¡ªthat¡¯s why I had to leave.¡±

    ¡°Destroyed?¡± the woman asked, seeming surprised. ¡°What destroyed an entire planet?¡±

    ¡°The Eldritch,¡± Zaina replied. ¡°It gave me this mark and tried to destroy my home, but a lancer killed it.¡±

    The woman rubbed her chin. ¡°Yet the lancer spared your life. Why, I wonder?¡±

    ¡°They didn¡¯t say,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°Most curious.¡± The woman¡¯s brow ruffled. ¡°And you were given the mark by the Eldritch¡ªof this you¡¯re sure?¡±

    Zaina nodded.

    ¡°I see. That is grave news, friend¡ªbut fear not. There may be a way to help you stave off the Eldritch¡¯s influence.¡±

    Zaina perked up. ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± the woman replied, ¡°and the key lies in that temple.¡±

 Chapter 100: The Dark Lady

    ¡°The Seven Great Enclaves are perhaps the greatest and most forgotten of the many dangers facing this Nova Rim. No doubt they are preparing for our demise¡ªthe council even has intelligence indicating there is some level of coordination between these disparate enclaves. If they were to revolt, we may have another Heretic Empire on our hands.¡±

    ¡ªOpinion of General Ragus Malthrow in a JIAHC debate

    Zaina was taken aback, unsure of what to make of what the woman had said. ¡°What¡ªwhat do you mean?¡±

    The woman smiled. ¡°The unmarked would have you believe we found one of Savon¡¯s old Shatterers or some other superweapon¡ªbut if they knew what we¡¯ve really found, the Synatorium would already have sent every army they could muster. What we¡¯ve really found is so much bigger than any power buried beneath eons of dirt¡ªthat¡¯s all I¡¯ll say for know.¡±

    None of that made much sense, but Zaina went with it. ¡°Okay.¡±

    ¡°Now,¡± the woman said, ¡°tell me, how did you hear about our little enclave here?¡±

    ¡°From another marked,¡± Zaina replied. ¡°After Demelia was destroyed I went from world to world, trying to survive however I could¡ªI found a small village where our kind are accepted. A few of the marked there told me about this place.¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t happen to catch their names, did you?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Zaina said, wondering why this woman was asking so many questions. ¡°I didn¡¯t stay there long.¡±

    ¡°Any particular reason you were in such a hurry to leave?¡± the woman pressed.

    Zaina¡¯s mouth twitched. She was having to come up with lie after lie¡ªthis wasn¡¯t her strong suit. ¡°I don¡¯t know. It didn¡¯t feel like home.¡±

    The woman gave Zaina a knowing look. ¡°It¡¯s tough, when the marked and unmarked try to live together. I applaud those who do try, but too often the unmarked are unable to move past their suspicion, which always turns to hatred in the end. I learned that a long time ago.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t think we can coexist with them?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve thought it and been proven wrong too many times to keep believing,¡± the woman said, her voice tainted with a deep sorrow. ¡°Well, either way, you chose the perfect time to come. I¡¯m not sure how much you know about our situation, but let¡¯s say we¡¯re in the endgame of a very long struggle.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know a whole lot, to be honest,¡± Zaina said, hoping she sold it.

    The woman chuckled and gestured toward the enclave¡¯s mining project. ¡°This must all be a bit much for you.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s not quite what I expected.¡±

    The woman nodded. ¡°Desperate times, as they say. But I¡¯m glad you found your way to us.¡± She stood, her leg giving a metallic squeal, and then turned to Zaina and asked, ¡°And tell me¡ªwhy are you here? What is it you want?¡±

    Zaina thought about how to answer for a moment, wanting to be as honest as possible. ¡°I came here looking for peace.¡±

    ¡°Peace. Well, I¡¯m sorry for what you¡¯ve found, but that isn¡¯t quite the answer I was looking for.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She was beginning to think this woman was Sivanya¡ªher calm elegance came with an air of authority. And if this woman wasn¡¯t buying her story, she was in for a short¡ªand rough¡ªmission.

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    The woman continued, ¡°I suppose I should have asked how long you¡¯re planning to stay.¡±

    ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t have anywhere else to go,¡± Zaina said sheepishly. ¡°I think I¡¯d stay as long as I could.¡±

    The woman smiled and extended a hand.

    Zaina took it, and the woman yanked her to her feet. Not expecting the sudden pull, Zaina gave a yelp.

    The woman stared into her eyes and said, ¡°Very well, Zaina Quin¡ªyou¡¯ve earned the benefit of my doubt for now. Forgive my intrusive line of questioning¡ªwe can¡¯t be too sure when it comes to infiltration, which the unmarked have tried repeatedly and recently.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s head tilted¡ªshe hadn¡¯t told the woman her name. She had only told Tarina.

    ¡°Are you Sivanya?¡±

    ¡°I was waiting for it to figure it out,¡± Sivanya replied with a coy smile. ¡°You must have so many questions¡ªand I have one more, too. Walk with me.¡±

    Zaina stood and followed without hesitation.

    Sivanya led her through the maze of mining equipment and tents, toward the temple at the heart of it all. The people sprinting or fast-walking through the narrow paths all parted for her and Zaina, and each one nodded their head or waved when they walked past. Most smiled. Zaina hadn¡¯t known what to expect from a heretic enclave, but it wasn¡¯t this.

    ¡°So,¡± Sivanya said, ¡°here¡¯s how we¡¯ll do it¡ªfirst, I¡¯ll ask my last question. Then, I¡¯ll explain our general situation to help you orient yourself to where we¡¯re at¡ªonce that¡¯s done, we¡¯ll get to any questions you have.¡±

    Zaina wasn¡¯t exactly in a position to argue. ¡°Okay, sounds good.¡±

    ¡°So,¡± Sivanya said, ¡°do you have any fighting experience?¡±

    ¡°Some,¡± Zaina said. ¡°I can fire a gun, if that¡¯s what you mean.¡±

    ¡°Very good. I understand, given that your mark was given by the Eldritch itself, if you don¡¯t wish to delve deep enough to summon your fang¡ªmany marked don¡¯t want to explore their gifts that thoroughly, and we accommodate them as best we can.¡±

    Zaina wasn¡¯t sure how to respond¡ªdid getting her mark from the Eldritch make her different somehow? Should she not have said that?

    Sivanya continued, ¡°I ask because we¡¯re always looking for more warriors. I won¡¯t force you into anything¡ªif you¡¯d rather avoid combat altogether, we can find a role for you in camp. We¡¯re in dire need on both fronts, so the choice is yours. Do know that being a warrior comes with a substantial amount of risk¡ªthere¡¯s no shame in not wanting to fight, and I¡¯ll honor whatever choice you make.¡±

    Zaina didn¡¯t expect her feelings to be taken into account. ¡°Uh¡ªcan I think about it?¡±

    ¡°Certainly¡ªbut you may not have much time. I¡¯m afraid our enemies are entering their endgame. Hence why we¡¯re now rushing to ours.¡±

    ¡°Their endgame?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Sivanya said, her eyes dark with a long-simmering fury, ¡°they want to wipe each and every one of us out. Their leader¡¯s been gathering reinforcements¡ªmercenaries, pirates, and marauders from across the Nova Rim. It won¡¯t be long before he decides to use the army he¡¯s built. And now he¡¯s got his crown jewel.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°A lancer,¡± Sivanya said through gritted teeth, her voice seething. ¡°Arrived only yesterday. No doubt those unmarked bastards reached out to the Order of Riiva¡ªand they were only too happy to send one of their killers to help eradicate us.¡±

    A pit formed in Zaina¡¯s stomach. If only she knew the truth.

    ¡°A lancer?¡± she said. ¡°Here? Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no doubt,¡± Sivanya replied. ¡°Our scanners traced an incoming ship¡¯s tags back to that fraudulent little cult¡ªand if they¡¯re bringing in a lancer, I¡¯d wager we don¡¯t have but a few days before the invasion begins.¡±

    Zaina frowned. A few days. I hope not.

    Sivanya chuckled. ¡°Reconsidering your stay here yet?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Zaina said. ¡°I¡¯ve fought for my home before, and I¡¯ll do it again if I have to.¡±

    ¡°This will be a far different task than facing down the Eldritch,¡± Sivanya replied. ¡°The Armies of Everus are upon us. And what¡¯s more, a lancer¡ªpossibly even two¡ªwill be among their ranks. This will be the greatest test this enclave has ever faced.¡±

    Zaina frowned. A question bit at the back of her mind, and she let it out. ¡°Does the lancer frighten you that much?¡±

    Sivanya¡¯s brow furled, as if she was giving her answer honest thought. ¡°Yes and no. Any lancer that comes here will die¡ªof that, I have no doubt.¡±

    Zaina tried to look like she wasn¡¯t panicking on the inside¡ªdid Sivanya know somehow? Was all of this a game to her?

    Sivanya continued, ¡°The more important measure to consider is the cost. I¡¯ve no doubt the enclave¡¯s numbers are enough to kill a lancer, or two, or ten¡ªbut many will fall against such hateful foes. I¡¯ll admit, their god has fueled their spite with power. But no¡ªmy greatest fear is still what¡¯s been gathering outside my home for the past few years like so many pests. The unmarked. Their numbers will win the day should it all come down to open battle¡ªof that I have little doubt.¡±

    ¡°Is there nothing we can do?¡±

    With a wry smile, Sivanya gestured toward the enclave¡¯s mining operation. ¡°We can dig. Come, walk with me¡ªI¡¯ll tell you what¡¯s going on.¡±

 Chapter 101: The Enclaves Salvation

    ¡°Wicked heart and wicked mind

    Did set their schemes upon the land

    Where heretic is free from time

    And severance of bonds is planned¡­¡±

    ¡ªFamed poet Ozmolie Gambon, in his book, Reconciliations of Imperial Life, a book of poems about surviving captivity in the Marked Empire

    The dig site never stopped moving, a loosely organized chaos in motion. Sivanya navigated the narrow, bustling throughways with ease while Zaina struggled, having to dash aside to avoid bumping into hurrying strangers.

    ¡°The unmarked live in the nearby city of Deonago,¡± Sivanya began. ¡°I should have known things would come to this¡ªtheir leader seemed a good man; one of the ones who tried. But his son is different. Dirzo. He¡¯s been leading forays into this forest¡ªwhich is legally our land, by the way¡ªfor the past five years now. Nothing too intense¡ªwe lose one every once in a while, they lose a few every once in a while. Skirmishes. We weren¡¯t trying to hurt them, though I doubt they shared that conviction.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a noble one,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°And one that¡¯s cost us too much already. I¡¯m well past putting their lives above those of my own people. Now any unmarked in our forest perishes.¡±

    Zaina winced¡ªshe hated the idea of being so callous and casual about death, even if she logically understood why Sivanya felt that way. ¡°I guess in war you have to do what you have to do.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the unfortunate truth,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°We¡¯re dealing with people who would see us exterminated to the last and happily dance on our graves. Living in opposition to such hatred doesn¡¯t allow room for compassion or kindness. Would that I could walk the moral high ground, but not at the cost of my people¡¯s survival.¡±

    ¡°Hence the temple,¡± Zaina said.

    A smile crept over Sivanya¡¯s face. ¡°Yes. The temple.¡±

    ¡°How exactly is it going to protect us?¡±

    ¡°All we have to do is get inside,¡± Sivanya replied. ¡°The rest has already been taken care of. There¡¯s a reason the Alliance of Worlds, in eons of old, imported billions of tons of stone and dirt to bury this place for what they hoped was forever. To them, it was the most dangerous thing imaginable.¡±

    ¡°So it is a superweapon?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Sivanya said with a smirk, ¡°it¡¯s a sanctuary. A place where only the marked are permitted to enter; ancient magick keeps all others out. A place where we can be safe¡ªwhere you could be safe, even from the Eldritch¡¯s influence.¡±

    Zaina could hardly believe her ears. ¡°It can block out the Eldritch?¡±

    Sivanya stared at the uncovered bit of temple with an expression of worshipful hope. ¡°It can block out anything. That magick is the reason the temple¡¯s still standing, after all; why it¡¯s kept its shape after all this time, even after being bombed and buried and forgotten. The marked who stood within its walls spoke of a serene peace within themselves¡ªevery voice stilled, no matter its origin.¡±

    That had to be too good to be true. ¡°But¡ªif that¡¯s true¡ªwhat makes that so dangerous?¡±

    ¡°Think about it from their point of view,¡± Sivanya answered. ¡°Their greatest fear is a group of marked beyond their reach¡ªbeyond their ability to slaughter when they decide to. But if we get inside that temple, there¡¯s nothing they can do to hurt us ever again¡ªthe idea that we¡¯d be truly safe from them would be unacceptable in their eyes. No more threats from Dirzo, or from any lancer¡ªor anyone. For us, such a thing is salvation. But think about it from their point of view: the idea of us existing beyond their cruelty is the ultimate reprieve for an ancient enemy.¡±

    Zaina didn¡¯t even have to lie. ¡°If that¡¯s really what¡¯s down there, that sounds like an ideal solution to me.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a reason we¡¯re digging up what once was buried,¡± Sivanya replied. ¡°Imagine a place where every marked can be their true selves¡ªno interference from the outside world, no dark voices, no hiding, no having to scrap and scrape by some meager, fear-fraught existence. We can live.¡±

    Zaina frowned. She almost wished Sivanya was looking to uncover a superweapon¡ªthat would have been much more straightforward. As was the usual, the mission was getting complicated and people¡¯s lives were at stake. Is the temple dangerous, or is it a sanctuary? Is it worth the risk to find out?

    ¡°You seem perturbed,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡ªI can¡¯t imagine what you¡¯ve been through, with that thing¡¯s voice in your head. I imagine you must have so many questions¡ªask them openly.¡±

    ¡°Does getting my mark from the Eldritch make me¡ªdifferent? And¡ªif you didn¡¯t get your mark from the Eldritch, well¡ªwhere did you get it from? And¡ª¡±

    ¡°One at a time, please,¡± Sivanya said with an amused grin. ¡°In a manner of speaking, yes. It does make you unique amongst our brothers and sisters. Everyone else received their mark from another, often older and more powerful marked¡ªif a marked becomes well-versed enough in Dominion, our Magick, they can bestow the mark upon others. Mine was given to me by a man named Hildark about seven centuries ago, though I¡¯ve since lost touch.¡±

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    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be. He was a horrid man. He wanted an army of servants for some nefarious purpose¡ªI wanted something different out of my life.¡±

    ¡°Seems like you found it,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°Yes,¡± she replied with a distant smile, ¡°I suppose I did. Now¡ªnext question.¡±

    ¡°Right. You said before you¡¯d understand if I don¡¯t want to summon my fang; why is that?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing you don¡¯t know what it means to delve.¡±

    Zaina shrugged.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you don¡¯t, to be honest; you¡¯ve resisted the voices, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t want anything to do with that¡ªthing.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Sivanya replied. ¡°Delving is the act of not resisting the voices¡ªof letting them pull you into the depths within yourself, so to speak. That¡¯s how the marked gain power¡ªsummoning fangs, using Dominion, that sort of thing. But to enter the void is to have the void enter your very being, too¡ªyou lose pieces of yourself, first smaller, then bigger, and over time you bend to the will of who or what marked you. It¡¯s understandable if anyone¡ªincluding yourself¡ªdoesn¡¯t feel comfortable with it. I delved a bit, myself. I¡¯m missing pieces of who I used to be. But¡ªin my case, at least, I¡¯d say it was worth it. Now I can better defend my people.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Zaina said. ¡°It sounds like a terrible tradeoff.¡±

    ¡°I suppose only time will tell.¡± Sivanya¡¯s head tilted to one side. ¡°In your case, the Eldritch would take more than pieces¡ªit would most likely try to swallow you whole. That¡¯s what makes your mark unique¡ªit¡¯s bound directly to the Eldritch. If you do not get inside the temple, your fate will always be linked to it. The rest of us were given¡ªhow to say this?¡ªmarks with some measure of dilution.¡±

    ¡°Dilution?¡±

    ¡°In a manner of speaking. Mine comes from a marked with the Gift of Marking¡ªthat means there¡¯s some layers between myself and the source of all marked power. Whoever gave Hildark his mark likely got it from the Eldritch, or some older marked who did; there¡¯s a few degrees of separation.¡±

    Now Zaina was really intrigued. ¡°It all comes from the same place?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°The voices all come from the same shadow¡ªthe Eldritch. It created the marked over two million years ago for its own foul purposes. Hence why it¡¯s far more dangerous for you to delve than any of us.¡±

    Zaina nodded. ¡°Makes sense. So you¡¯re more bound to this Hildark guy, if he¡¯s still alive, than the Eldritch?¡±

    Sivanya¡¯s head tilted back and forth. ¡°Eh, it¡¯s complicated. Those with the Gift of Marking don¡¯t exhibit the same level of influence or outright control as the Eldritch.¡±

    ¡°I see.¡± It was all a bit much, but it made sense¡ªmostly.

    Sivanya smiled. ¡°I like you. You¡¯re a shining example of everything we are.¡±

    Taken aback and feeling her cheeks turn warm, Zaina replied, ¡°Huh? I¡ªI don¡¯t know what you mean.¡±

    An elegant laugh flowed into Zaina¡¯s ears. Then, Sivanya said, ¡°We marked are not the strange gifts we¡¯ve been given. No matter how much that cold darkness wants us, we can resist it¡ªwe can have the bravery to choose to be who we truly are.¡±

    The words struck Zaina, setting her aflame with emotion. A strange mixture of suspicion, relief, doubt, and guilt settled into her stomach and spread out. Sivanya was saying all the right things and Zaina wanted to believe her¡ªwanted to believe in her cause of allowing the marked to live their lives unfettered by external hate. But Zaina had come here to deceive her, a woman who only wanted what was best for her people¡ªif her words could be believed.

    ¡°It might seem a foolish goal to some,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°Ah, but look, here we are.¡±

    They had made it through the complex maze of equipment and workers and broken through to the other side, only twenty feet from the cliff face and the uncovered bit of the temple. From here the scaffolding rigged to the side of the mountain was much more imposing and twice as haphazard, creaking and groaning and shifting as the marked workers climbed up and down.

    The temple was tightly constricted by rock, and the hum of powered drills rang out as miners excavated it inch by inch. There were no visible windows or entrances. It appeared to be made of glossy black stone, and there was not a chip upon its surface.

    Sivanya approached, and two miners stepped aside as she put a hand on the temple. ¡°This, entombed beneath fifty feet of stone, will be our salvation.¡±

    One of the workers, a young woman, said, ¡°Hey, could we get the rest of the night off after the sun sets? I been going for two days straight, and I still ain¡¯t used to getting this little sleep.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°Rest up and prepare for the final push. I have a feeling we¡¯ll have our breakthrough soon.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, My Lady,¡± the woman bowed. ¡°Who¡¯s this? New recruit for digging?¡±

    ¡°Possibly,¡± Sivanya turned to Zaina with a warm grin. ¡°She hasn¡¯t decided where she wants to be yet. Zaina, this is Ylasna¡ªYlasna, Zaina.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°Charmed,¡± Ylasna said.

    ¡°She¡¯s helping to uncover the temple,¡± Sivanya explained, ¡°and doing an excellent job, if I might say so myself.¡±

    ¡°Doing the best I can with what I¡¯m given is all,¡± Ylasna replied. ¡°We could use every hand we can get, though¡ªdon¡¯t want to sway you one way or another, but that¡¯s all I¡¯m saying.¡±

    ¡°Plus,¡± the other worker said, ¡°we could use more ladies around here. Most of ¡®em joined Rasmus¡¯ group.¡±

    Ylasna punched the man¡¯s arm. ¡°You shut your fuckin¡¯ mouth. You¡¯re gonna scare her off like you did the last one.¡±

    Zaina didn¡¯t know how to react, so she didn¡¯t say anything.

    Sivanya shook her head. ¡°Behave yourself, Jyree. Forgive him, he can be a bit forward. He still hasn¡¯t given up the idea that he¡¯ll win me over one day¡ªnot that I terribly mind.¡±

    ¡°One date,¡± Jyree said, ¡°you¡¯ll fall in love with me. That¡¯s all I¡¯m saying.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps once we¡¯re safe,¡± Sivanya replied with a coy laugh. ¡°Now¡ªcome, Zaina, and I¡¯ll find you a tent. It doesn¡¯t sound like much, and it isn¡¯t, but you get used to it after a while.¡±

    Zaina waved goodbye to Ylasna and Jyree and followed Sivanya as she turned left and walked off.

    ¡°They seem nice,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°They¡¯re a rough lot, but they have good hearts,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°I think that can be said for most of us. Living with the mark tends to roughen anyone¡¯s edges in this galaxy.¡±

    They walked alongside the mountain until they came to the edge of the forest. Sivanya led her into the woods, where tall, circular tents were scattered between the trees; the tents were painted brown and green to fit in with their surroundings, and each was larger than Zaina expected. There was little noise in the encampment.

    ¡°This is where those of us who sleep do so,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°I¡¯m sure you probably have a lot to think about, so let¡¯s find you a place where you can have some measure of privacy.¡±

    They searched for about ten minutes until they came to an empty tent.

    ¡°This one,¡± she said. ¡°It belonged to Koagu, who perished last week.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°It¡¯s the nature of things at the moment,¡± Sivanya replied, her voice laced with sorrow and spite. ¡°Now¡ªI¡¯ll come find you in the morning so you can meet Rasmus and the girls. For now, get some sleep¡ªif you want to eat, there¡¯s a supply depot three tents down. It¡¯s not much, but it¡¯ll quench your hunger and thirst if you¡¯re still so inclined.¡±

    ¡°Thank you so much,¡± Zaina said. ¡°I don¡¯t¡ªwords can¡¯t express how grateful I am for all this.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°I¡¯m glad you found your way to us, Zaina Quin.¡±

    With that, the enclave¡¯s leader walked back toward the mine, leaving Zaina with a tempestuous storm of thoughts.

 Chapter 102: On Murky Waters

    ¡°Never forget your values or principles¡ªwhen the galaxy gets confusing and scary, and it will, you¡¯ll have something to tether you to a path forward.¡±

    ¡ªHigh Priest of the Orthodox Wing of Byzon Bernand Yratkia

    Zaina had no desire for sleep¡ªand even if she did there was too much to do. Now that she was alone she had to contact Xyrthe. Zaina was interested to see how things were going on the other side. Sivanya believed Deonago¡¯s attack was coming within a few days¡ªif it was, Xyrthe had to have heard something.

    Perhaps talking to her mentor would help quell Zaina¡¯s restless mind¡ªshe didn¡¯t know what to make of her meeting with Sivanya. Xyrthe had a way of cutting through the smoke and mirrors and getting to the point, which was exactly what Zaina needed at the moment.

    She reached for her pocket and felt the vis-screen within; her wrist seemed empty without it. The sound of snoring from a few tents over broke her concentration¡ªmaybe this wasn¡¯t the best place to talk.

    Zaina stood and poked her head out of her tent. No one was in sight; she slipped out and walked further into the forest. Her life and the mission depended on no one hearing this conversation.

    The woods darkened as the sun fell out of view behind some distant mountains, leaving behind streaks of purple and jets of orange. It was beautiful, but Zaina was too ridden with anxiety to appreciate it.

    When she was confident no one had followed and no one could hear, she opened her vis-screen and opened a line with Xyrthe. To her surprise, her mentor accepted immediately¡ªa holo-projection popped up from the vis-screen.

    ¡°Hey there, kid. I was starting to worry. How¡¯s everything?¡±

    ¡°Everything¡¯s all right,¡± Zaina said. ¡°I¡¯m in. What about on your end?¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Xyrthe said, ¡°the mercenaries like me, but Dirzo and his guys are suspicious. They know Rymar brought me here, so they think I¡¯m up to something. I need a little longer to earn their trust.¡±

    ¡°Do we have that much longer? Sivanya thinks the attack is coming in the next few days.¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t heard anything to that effect,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°Dirzo and his personal army run a pretty tight ship. The mercs are told when to be on standby and get called up when they¡¯re needed, so they don¡¯t know anything ¡®til last-minute. I don¡¯t think I¡¯m gonna get any valuable information until I get into Dirzo¡¯s inner circle.¡±

    ¡°Well, shit,¡± Zaina said, ¡°that¡¯s not good.¡±

    ¡°Stay steady and you¡¯ll be all right. Do you think she suspects anything as far as you¡¯re concerned?¡±

    ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know,¡± Zaina replied. ¡°She seems really nice¡ªfriendly, even. It¡¯s hard to read her intentions.¡±

    ¡°What about the temple? How far along are they?¡±

    Zaina grimaced. ¡°Not that far. Part of the temple is uncovered, but it¡¯s still sealed. Sivanya told me what she believes is inside¡ªa sanctuary.¡±

    ¡°A sanctuary?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Apparently it¡¯s a place only the marked can enter.¡±

    ¡°Huh,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°Explains why they buried it, if it¡¯s true. Do keep in mind Sivanya might not be telling you the whole truth¡ªand even if she is, what she believes to be true might not be.¡±

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°Perhaps relay her theory to the Order, see if it jogs anyone¡¯s memory?¡± Zaina said. ¡°If the temple really is completely safe, like Sivanya thinks¡ªshouldn¡¯t we let them dig it up?¡±

    Xyrthe paused as if weighing the question. ¡°Problem is, we have no way of knowing if it¡¯s true or not¡ªand if she¡¯s wrong¡­¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Zaina said. ¡°It¡¯s a huge risk. That¡¯s why all I¡¯m asking is that you pass the info along, see if any of them know anything.¡±

    ¡°Environmental samples from within the temple could also help,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°Do you think you can get Gizmo access to the site? He could scout out any dangers.¡±

    It was an interesting idea, but too risky. The mine seemed to be running all hours of the day, meaning she¡¯d have to sneak Gizmo to the front lines without anyone noticing; the little guy wasn¡¯t exactly sneaky. Plus, there was nowhere for him to enter.

    ¡°Right now there¡¯s no way into the temple. Depending on what kind of timeframe we¡¯re working with, I could potentially figure something out.¡±

    ¡°That may be our best chance,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°If you can get a sample from inside the site the scholars can determine whether there¡¯s any latent danger. I¡¯ll try to buy you some time.¡±

    Zaina was a little worried of Xyrthe coming up with plans on her own. ¡°How are you figuring to do that?¡±

    ¡°Eh, loosen a bolt here or there, cut a tread there¡ªI¡¯ll figure it out.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t get into trouble, now,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°I¡¯d suggest the same for you,¡± Xyrthe replied. ¡°You know, it¡¯s not too late to back out of this one.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not leaving these people to die.¡±

    ¡°All right, worth a shot. I¡¯m going to go. Try to contact me tomorrow. If you can¡¯t talk, send me a message to let me know what¡¯s going on.¡±

    ¡°Will do. You take care.¡±

    ¡°Thanks. Try not to fuck up.¡±

    The transmission ended. Zaina shook her head as she stuffed the vis-screen back into her pocket. She¡¯s never been one for sentiment, but damn.

    Zaina trudged back to the encampment as darkness started to fall. Talking to Xyrthe hadn¡¯t helped at all¡ªcome to think of it, she wasn¡¯t sure why she thought it would do her any good in the first place. This entire situation was a muddled mess with too many lives at stake¡ªit felt like too much. And Xyrthe always had the easiest, most self-preserving answer.

    The dark forest was difficult to navigate, but before long the sounds of mining came into earshot, and soon after she came to the tents.

    She sighed. Which one was mine again?

    ¡°Go for a walk?¡± Sivanya¡¯s voice said, making Zaina jump.

    ¡°Ah!¡± She turned to see the enclave¡¯s leader holding a lit torch. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you. Sorry, I wasn¡¯t expecting you. Yeah, I needed to clear my head a little bit.¡±

    Sivanya grinned. ¡°I left some supplies in your tent¡ªa bedroll, spare clothes, some food, water, things like that. Are you having trouble finding it?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zaina admitted. ¡°It got dark a lot faster than I imagined.¡±

    ¡°So, tell me,¡± Sivanya said, ¡°what¡¯s on your mind?¡±

    Great. Now I have to lie about this too.

    ¡°I was wondering what I should do,¡± Zaina said. ¡°My dad taught me how to shoot, and I¡¯ve been in a firefight or two¡ªI know I could help there. But I could also be of help here¡ªit¡¯s a hard decision.¡±

    A smirk came over Sivanya¡¯s face. ¡°You sure that¡¯s all?¡±

    What is she hinting at? Does she know?

    Trying to maintain a calm demeanor while panicking, Zaina replied, ¡°I¡¯d be lying if I told you I hadn¡¯t thought of running back to my ship.¡±

    Sivanya chuckled. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure that peaceful little village is looking better and better compared to all this.¡±

    ¡°In some ways,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°Well, no matter which way you look at it, you chose a hell of a time to show up. Right at the end¡ªwhen everything is reaching its breaking point.¡±

    It was Zaina¡¯s turn to chuckle¡ªshe always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time these days. ¡°I suppose I¡¯ve developed a knack for bad timing.¡±

    ¡°Or perhaps it¡¯s supremely good timing. Think about it¡ªwe¡¯re so close to breaking through, to salvation. I admit staying with us will introduce you to a whole host of short-term risks, but when we make it, we¡¯ll be free at last. You can be free at last.¡±

    ¡°I admit I hadn¡¯t thought about it that way,¡± Zaina replied. ¡°You really think the temple will save us?¡±

    ¡°Without a doubt in my mind. I¡¯ve never believed anything so strongly. That being said, if this is all a bit too much for you, I understand.¡±

    Zaina did her best to muster a smile. ¡°Well, I came all this way¡ªI may as well see it through, right?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the spirit,¡± Sivanya said, clapping Zaina on the back. ¡°Now¡ªI¡¯ll leave you to it.¡±

    Zaina breathed a sigh of relief once Sivanya was gone. If the enclave¡¯s leader suspected the infiltration, she was doing a great job of not letting on. It was impossible to get a read on her intentions, unless she was being genuine¡ªwhich was certainly possible. She didn¡¯t seem like she was lying.

    But then again, no one ever does when they¡¯re doing it well, do they?

    Zaina¡¯s thoughts were a swirling mess of half-truths and falsehoods. In the end she decided to sleep on it¡ªwith a little patience, everything would become clear.

 Chapter 103: Scars

    ¡°Attractiveness gets you places.¡±

    ¡ªFashion Model Tora Tobad

    The next morning Zaina woke up refreshed but still uncertain about her path forward on this mission. Was there even a way to help the enclave? Neither side seemed interested in finding another course of action. War seemed inevitable.

    Zaina put aside her worries long enough to make a cup of instant gamba, and after taking her first sip she wished she¡¯d taken the time to heat the water. The bitter taste was fine, but lukewarm gamba wasn¡¯t her thing. She nibbled on a dried berry cracker and considered her next move.

    She knew she¡¯d get more information working the dig-site, but she¡¯d be more of an asset protecting the enclave¡ªand she imagined some of the warriors had to be in the know on things, too. Then again, what did information matter? If Sivanya was being honest about her intentions Zaina already had all the information she was going to get.

    After slogging through her disappointing cup of gamba Zaina walked outside and raised her arms above her head to stretch. To her surprise, Sivanya was waiting.

    ¡°Good morning,¡± she greeted Zaina. ¡°I hope you slept well.¡±

    She has to be suspicious of something, right? I mean, I doubt every single person inducted into the enclave gets this sort of attention.

    ¡°I did, thank you very much. You weren¡¯t waiting for me to wake up, were you?¡±

    Sivanya chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re a new marked. I figured you¡¯d sleep for about eight hours. I attended to some business, and then I came back.¡±

    ¡°Well, thank you,¡± Zaina said. ¡°I appreciate you looking out for me.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s no problem at all. Every single person who comes here deserves a chance to become a contributor¡ªsomeone who helps their fellow marked. That¡¯s what I think, anyway.¡±

    Zaina nodded. ¡°To be honest, I still haven¡¯t made up my mind.¡±

    ¡°Understandable. It¡¯s a lot to take in all at once. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve arranged something special for us today.¡±

    Zaina perked up, both curious and anxious. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll be joining Rasmus and his troupe on forest patrol,¡± she said with a coy grin. ¡°You can see what it takes to defend our home¡ªand then, tomorrow, we¡¯ll work the excavation.¡±

    ¡°We?¡± Zaina asked.

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll be accompanying you on both days. Truth be told, I¡¯ve missed patrol duty. I¡¯ve spent most of my time lately on the dig site.¡±

    Zaina frowned. ¡°Is there any other reason you want to come with?¡±

    Sivanya¡¯s smile faded. ¡°I do want to keep an eye on you, Zaina Quin. Your mark is born of the Eldritch¡ªif it takes control back, it could endanger the entire enclave.¡±

    Somehow, that felt worse than being suspected of siding with the unmarked. ¡°But¡ª¡±

    Sivanya raised a hand. ¡°I believe in innocence until proven otherwise. I will not condemn you for what you run from¡ªand if your intentions are honest, I believe you¡¯ll be able to live a life of peace here. So cheer up¡ªyou¡¯ve said all the right things so far.¡±

    Unsure of what to say, Zaina let a nod suffice.

    ¡°Come, now,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°Rasmus awaits us.¡±

    Zaina walked alongside the enclave¡¯s leader as she led them back toward the dig-site. A thin fog clung to the forest floor, and sunlight danced through the leaves.

    Sivanya said as they went, ¡°Now, Rasmus can be quite eccentric. I doubt he¡¯ll make a good first impression, but give him a chance and he might grow on you.¡±

    ¡°Eccentric?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s say Rasmus and the troupe very much enjoy all of each other¡¯s company very often and leave it at that.¡±

    Zaina blinked a few times, registering what she¡¯d heard. ¡°Ah.¡±

    What the hell am I walking into?

    The dig-site was in view when Sivanya took a sharp turn away from it. They seemed to be going in the direction of Zaina¡¯s crashed ship while the sound of mining hummed and faded in the distance.

    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    ¡°Now,¡± Sivanya said, ¡°there are a few rules on patrol. Whispering only¡ªyou want to avoid detection at all costs. Next, always have a partner nearby. You don¡¯t want to be engaging the unmarked alone. I¡¯ll be your partner for the day.¡±

    Zaina glanced at Sivanya¡¯s leg, which appeared to be giving her trouble. It was squeaking a little more than she remembered from last time.

    Sivanya caught on and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s all right if you want to ask, you know.¡±

    ¡°Huh? I¡ªuh, no, I, uh¡ª¡±

    ¡°Tell you what,¡± Sivanya said, gesturing toward Zaina¡¯s arm. ¡°Tell me yours, and I¡¯ll tell you mine.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s heart skipped a beat. The Order of Riiva gave her this arm, but Sivanya couldn¡¯t know that. Her gut told her being vague might be the answer¡ªseeming like she didn¡¯t want to talk about it. She sighed and then said, ¡°I lost it in a fight with one of the Eldritch¡¯s disciples.¡±

    Sivanya nodded. ¡°Thank you for sharing. You lost your world and your arm¡ªI can¡¯t imagine what that must have been like. I assume you stole that one, then?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zaina said, staring at the metal arm and praying to any god who was listening that her next words were believable. ¡°I got it on Otmonzas. Found the arm on a dead body in an alley. And then I found someone who could do the surgery, but there was a cost. I had to help them with a mission.¡±

    ¡°And you did?¡±

    Zaina gave a nod. ¡°Barely escaped with my life afterward. And now, here I am.¡±

    Sivanya¡¯s eyebrow shot up. ¡°What was the mission, if you don¡¯t mind me asking?¡±

    This part didn¡¯t have to be a lie, giving Zaina some reprieve. ¡°A heist for some stupid crystal. They got what they wanted, but they left me behind.¡±

    ¡°Figures,¡± Sivanya said, her voice tinged with bitterness. ¡°You can never trust an unmarked enough to show your back.¡±

    A wave of sadness brushed over Zaina¡ªthere was so much anger within Sivanya, but its source was pain. The entire world of Vyzria seemed to be in pain or afraid. Maybe that was fueling the poisonous hatred infecting seemingly everything.

    ¡°Well,¡± Sivanya said, a half-grin forming on her face, ¡°mine isn¡¯t as exciting as that, I¡¯m afraid. I lost my leg when I was a little girl. I was attacked by a myrune.¡±

    Zaina shuddered. Myrunes, four-legged, hairless beasts with jaws and gaping mouths with rows of jagged teeth, were not creatures she ever hoped to meet in person.

    Sivanya continued, ¡°By the time my father heard my screams and got there, it had savaged my leg. He scared it off, thankfully, or I wouldn¡¯t be here today.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m glad he scared it off, then,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± she replied with a warm smile. ¡°I am too. It was too late to do anything for the leg¡ªit got a good few bites in. Judging by your face, you know what their jaws look like. The bones in my leg were shattered¡ªthe doctors said it was a miracle they were able to stabilize me after all the blood I lost.¡±

    ¡°That sounds horrifying. How old were you when this happened?¡±

    ¡°I think four,¡± Sivanya said, ¡°but it might have been five. I¡¯m honestly not sure. It¡¯s been so long since this happened.¡±

    Zaina was a bit puzzled by this. Sivanya didn¡¯t look a day older than forty. A personal question occurred to her, one in which Zaina had a vested interest. ¡°Are you still close with your parents, even after getting the mark?¡±

    Sivanya¡¯s eyebrows scrunched up she tilted her head to the side. ¡°Oh, my. Heavens, no. They¡¯ve been dead for over a thousand years at this point.¡±

    Zaina was taken aback. ¡°A thousand years? What¡ªis that how old you are?¡±

    ¡°A little rude to ask, but yes, roughly,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°I often get told I carry the years well.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, no kidding,¡± Zaina said. Back home on Demelia, Beni had told her something about immortality¡ªmaybe he wasn¡¯t kidding.

    Not that it would¡¯ve changed my answer.

    ¡°What about your parents?¡± Sivanya asked.

    Zaina sighed. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I never talked to them after the accident.¡±

    ¡°Ah,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°I am sorry to hear that.¡±

    They continued in silence for a short time. The trees became more plentiful as they ventured further into the forest, and space between them grew narrower. Eventually, they came to a small clearing with chopped tree trunks at the edges; in the center was a large, dome-shaped tent painted to match the forest. This tent was at least thirty feet in diameter and appeared capable of fitting a few dozen people.

    Sivanya stopped at the door. ¡°They¡¯re usually waking up and getting ready at about this time. I imagine if we give them a few minutes we¡¯ll be good to go.¡±

    ¡°Sounds good to me,¡± Zaina said. ¡°Why do they all stay together?¡±

    Sivanya loosed a heavy sigh, as if she didn¡¯t want to say what she was about to. ¡°Rasmus has inspired quite a bit of loyalty in the girls. They¡¯re fiercely dedicated to him.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Zaina said. ¡°If I do join the patrols, I won¡¯t have to stay here, right?¡±

    ¡°Oh, heavens, no,¡± Sivanya said, stifling a chuckle. ¡°Only if you want to. Most of them don¡¯t¡ªwe¡¯ll be meeting up with the rest of the patrol group at a designated rendezvous point once Captain Rasmus is ready.¡±

    Thank the gods. I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m ready for that type of infiltration.

    ¡°You look relieved,¡± Sivanya observed with a coy grin. ¡°Perhaps when you see Rasmus you¡¯ll understand why the girls admire him so. Look¡ªhere he comes now.¡±

    A man stepped out of the tent¡ªhe was tall, nearly seven feet, and human with tan skin and messy black hair. His green eyes were the color of ripe Demelian olives, and muscles rippled everywhere on his body they could. He wore a simple leather top with a torn strap and slacks with holes in them. Scars covered what skin he showed, except for the mark on his forehead. She supposed he was what other girls would consider handsome, but he didn¡¯t do anything for Zaina.

    He laid eyes on Sivanya and smiled. ¡°My lady. I was told you¡¯d be joining us today with a new face.¡±

    Sivanya returned the smile. ¡°I¡¯m glad Deni wasn¡¯t too distracted to deliver the message.¡±

    ¡°You know the rules,¡± he said. ¡°No distractions ¡®til after the work¡¯s done.¡±

    Sivanya nodded and gestured toward Zaina. ¡°This is Zaina Quin. She¡¯s new to the enclave, and has some combat experience.¡±

    ¡°Well met,¡± Rasmus said, extending a hand. Zaina took it and held on as he shook it vigorously. His grip was like iron¡ªshe tried to match it. He smiled.

    ¡°Nice hold you got there,¡± he said. ¡°Well, Zaina Quin, my name is Rasmus. The girls are finishing up getting ready in there, but they¡¯ll be along shortly. I do hope you¡¯re considering joining the patrols¡ªwe need all the help we can get here.¡±

    ¡°Considering it,¡± she said. ¡°I haven¡¯t made up my mind yet.¡±

    A serious expression came over his face. ¡°You¡¯ll know after today¡ªtrust me. It¡¯s the kind of thing you either can¡¯t get away from or can¡¯t get far enough away from.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t sure what he meant, so she nodded and went with it.

 Chapter 104: Death Patrol

    ¡°If you plan on infiltrating an enclave with a fake mark, understand your life is no longer in your hands the moment you make contact.¡±

    ¡ªGeneral Colmys Faird in a memo responding to the idea of an infiltration mission

    Before long six women and two men shuffled out of the tent, each dressed in makeshift armor and sporting paint on their faces. Rasmus greeted each by name and introduced them to Zaina¡ªtheir names flew by like a half-remembered river of greetings. Assembled, they didn¡¯t look like any fighting force Zaina had ever seen; they were scantily clad in shoddy armor and ragged clothes. One of the men and two of the women carried composite bows while the others carried no weapons of any kind.

    Sivanya stood by with a grin. Once everyone was out of the tent Rasmus addressed Zaina, ¡°It¡¯s my understanding that you do not wish to wield your fang?¡±

    Zaina nodded. Everyone stared at her for a moment, making her heart beat faster; she always felt uncomfortable in new groups of people, and in this case her discomfort was also mired in anxiety over being found out.

    The moment passed. When Rasmus spoke every one of his warriors turned to him with their full attention. Admiration was clear on some of their faces, but others looked at him with what appeared to be a ravenous hunger. Either way Zaina breathed a sigh of relief when the faces turned.

    ¡°Very well,¡± he said. ¡°In that tent you¡¯ll find what you need. We prefer bows, but if you¡¯ve never wielded one, we have guns you could use.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never even seen one in person,¡± Zaina admitted. ¡°I¡¯d be willing to give it a try, though.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps if this were a better time,¡± he said. ¡°If you¡¯re good with a gun we could use you up and running. We lost our last gunner a few patrols ago.¡±

    One of the women, a shorter, pale woman with long, brown hair and purple-and-red streaks of paint running up and down her face, chimed in. ¡°But we avenged Avori six times over since.¡±

    Rasmus nodded. ¡°There are a few extra rules that come with being the gunner. I¡¯m sure Lady Sivanya still remembers them¡ªif she would be so kind, she can inform you while we make our way to the rendezvous.¡±

    ¡°I suppose you caught me on a good day,¡± Sivanya said with a warm, light-hearted chuckle.

    ¡°Excellent,¡± Rasmus said. ¡°Deni, if you would be so kind to show Zaina where we keep the guns?¡±

    A woman with crossed arms loosed a deep sigh. She was a Hagaran, a species very similar to humans aside from their short, curled horns and gray skin. Her eyes were a piercing crystal blue with fiery red pupils, and her shaggy, medium-length hair was somewhere between black and dark brown in color. Her nose, ears, lips, and horns were all excessively pierced, and strange-looking tattoos covered her neck, face, and shoulders. She wore a sleeveless black shirt and black slacks, both littered with holes. ¡°Very well, Captain.¡± Her gaze fell to Zaina. ¡°Follow me.¡±

    Without saying another word Deni turned and walked into the tent.

    Rasmus chuckled. ¡°She takes some time to trust people, but she won¡¯t bite.¡±

    Zaina shrugged and followed her. The tent¡¯s interior was quite spacious, with small cots lining the outer walls and a single, gigantic bed in the middle of the room. From the looks of it, that was where everyone slept¡ªpillows and blankets were strewn about every which way on the jumbo mattress, which looked worn.

    Deni hurriedly made for one of the beds on the far side of the tent and pulled a large bag from underneath. The contents within clattered and clanked as she hoisted the bag on the bed and opened it.

    ¡°Well,¡± she said in a cold tone, stepping away from the bed, ¡°take your pick.¡±

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    Zaina peered into the bag¡ªthey had phase cyclers, birifles, scrapshots, and even what looked to be a coil-gun. Peletins¡ªsome labeled, some not¡ªwere strewn about within.

    Without a second thought she grabbed a phase cycler and a scrapshot. She went through the beads carefully, making sure not to take any incendiary ammunition, and selected a few peletins of hyper-velocity rounds. When she was done she gave a nod to Deni, who led her back outside.

    Rasmus nodded. ¡°You sure you want to wear that? Azaria, do we have a spare cloak?¡±

    A tall, dark-skinned woman standing in the back nodded. Her hands were held diminutively in front, her fingers intertwined; she was pretty, with loose, curly hair and stunning amber eyes, and her voice was soft and sweet. ¡°I packed extras for our guests.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Rasmus said. ¡°Let¡¯s get moving, now. We don¡¯t want to keep the others waiting.¡±

    He turned to Lady Sivanya, who chuckled and said, ¡°Lead on, Captain.¡±

    Rasmus marched into the forest. By now Zaina¡¯s sense of direction was beyond repair¡ªshe didn¡¯t know if they were heading toward the mining site or Deonago. The entire group marched in complete silence.

    After a while Rasmus held up his hand, and everyone froze in place. Another group was coming, all dressed in black cloaks. Zaina recognized two among them¡ªTarina and Varok, the two she¡¯d met upon arriving. Beside them were four others.

    This is all they have doing patrols right now?

    Rasmus stepped forward and raised a hand in greeting toward the other group. Then, standing between both parties, he addressed them. ¡°All right, then. We all know the drill by now. Stick with your partners. If you want to talk, don¡¯t. If you have to talk, whisper. Keep in touch so we all know what¡¯s going on. Don¡¯t provoke a fight if you don¡¯t have to, but if they cross our boundary or attack, don¡¯t hesitate to kill. Trouble¡¯s always coming, so everyone stay on high alert. Tarina, Varok, Demi, and myself, along with the visitor and our dear leader, will take the central corridor today. I have a feeling that¡¯s where they¡¯ll push. Everyone else, usual stations. Be on standby.¡±

    Rasmus¡¯s party donned their cloaks, and the group dispersed into the forest. Zaina didn¡¯t know where the forest¡¯s central corridor was, so she waited for Sivanya to lead the way. Instead, she stood back with her arms crossed, watching everyone march into the woods in pairs. Once the duos had fanned out a bit she started walking, and Zaina dutifully followed.

    ¡°You really think we¡¯re going to see any action today?¡± Zaina asked in a soft whisper.

    Sivanya answered without hesitation, ¡°I¡¯d be more surprised if we didn¡¯t. They¡¯ve been quite tenacious lately. By the way¡ª¡°¡ªshe handed Zaina a cloak and an old, scraped-up earpiece with a small, wired comm¡ª¡°¡ªhere. Take these.¡±

    Zaina pulled the cloak over herself and put the earpiece in. ¡°Thanks.¡±

    ¡°No problem.¡±

    ¡°So, what exactly is the central corridor?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve broken the forest up into sectors to help make our patrols more manageable,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°The central corridor is where they¡¯re most likely to attack on any given day. The lakefront and westerwoods are the other sectors, but they¡¯re a little quieter. In a better time, we¡¯d have a little more flexibility to not throw you into the fire on your first day of patrols. Sadly, this is a pressing time for all of us, and we need as much help as we can get on every front.¡±

    A sorrow-inducing realization struck Zaina. In Sivanya¡¯s eyes was a bitter and almost resigned desperation, reflections of the daily fight to survive. These people, this community¡ªbeleaguered and outnumbered¡ªwanted so little, and even that was too much.

    ¡°So,¡± Sivanya whispered, ¡°we¡¯ll be approaching our patrol territory in the next hour or thereabout. Best to keep noise to a minimum. Once we get into position I¡¯ll be right by your side. We rotate spots every thirty minutes, so it¡¯s thirty moving, thirty watching. Make sense?¡±

    Zaina gave an affirmative nod and followed Sivanya in silence until they came to a patch of bushes upon the crest of a low-sloping hill. From the outside the bushes appeared to be a single, solid patch of thorns and leaves; but when Sivanya helped Zaina climb to the other side, she saw plenty of space for two people to spread out.

    Pretty brilliant little hiding spot.

    Now there was nothing to do but wait, letting time pass in bored silence. Zaina didn¡¯t realize thirty minutes could go by so slow. Lady Sivanya seemed content to sit among the trees and wait with a watchful eye, but Zaina was restless. She wanted to get up, to walk around¡ªto ask questions and try to get to know Lady Sivanya more. Instead she continually scanned the still trees for movement and waited for something, anything to happen.

    After what felt like an eternity of quiet, Zaina felt someone tapping her shoulder. She turned, and Sivanya gestured for Zaina to follow. It was finally time for them to head out.

    It only took half of forever.

    Lady Sivanya stood noiselessly and climbed back over the brush. Zaina tried to make as little noise as her companion but failed, her heart pounding with every snapped twig, every jostled branch, and every shaking bush.

    Sivanya navigated the forest with ease, seeming to know their next destination by heart. Their silent journey continued for a while. Zaina was prepared for another few hours of boredom when a few ear-splitting pops made her and her heart jump. As echoes rolled through the forest, Zaina knew there was no mistaking that sound.

    Scrapshot. A big one.

    Sivanya turned to face Zaina, her eyes steeled and her lips pulled into a tight frown. She mouthed the word, ¡®Ready?¡¯

    Zaina nodded, and they were off.

 Chapter 105: The Days Battle

    ¡°We exist. That¡¯s enough for them to hate us forever.¡±

    ¡ªEnclave Leader Mizai Dotriel in an unsent private correspondence with an unnamed friend

    The trees whipped by as Zaina bounded through the forest, barely able to track Lady Sivanya as she weaved through the forest at an impressive pace. The pops were sounding out louder now, and every so often Zaina heard a scream.

    Now her heart was pounding out of control¡ªshe was running toward a fight, but she wasn¡¯t going to be able to use her cipher. She¡¯d trained so hard to make summoning it a reflex¡ªwould she be able to control herself? If summoning her cipher and blowing her cover was the difference between her living and dying, didn¡¯t she have to summon it? Scenarios ran through her mind faster than she could process them.

    By now the shouts were clear¡ªthe unmarked were trying to pinpoint their targets.

    ¡°Up on the hill!¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s one in the trees!¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re everywh¡ªaaah!¡±

    An ear-splitting crack rang out, then a soft thud¡ªsplinters from a nearby tree bounced off Zaina¡¯s face and neck.

    I¡¯m spotted.

    Zaina dove behind a thick tree moments before a burst of pops pierced her eardrums. Scrap beads whizzed by¡ªone hit the tree trunk she was using for cover and went clean through, exiting inches from her head.

    Another shout, ¡°I¡¯ve got one behind that tree!¡±

    Zaina dropped prone a moment before a barrage of beads shredded the massive wooden trunk. The rain of scraps was thick enough to topple the tree, leaving only a few feet of it sticking out of the ground while the collapsed sideways.

    ¡°You two¡ªgo make sure they¡¯re dead.¡±

    Zaina peered around the trunk¡ªtwo black-masked soldiers, each wearing bulky gray body armor over black TAC-suits and carrying birifles, were advancing toward her, about thirty feet away. Sick of being shot at and not giving anything in response, Zaina quietly pulled her scrapshot from the holster on her waist and took aim at the closer of the two.

    Center of mass. Hopefully a warning shot will ward them off.

    Taking a deep breath, Zaina squeezed her scrapshot¡¯s trigger. The bead flew true but struck the target¡¯s breastplate, harmlessly bouncing off.

    ¡°They¡¯re still alive!¡±

    ¡°You pin them down!¡± the second one shouted, strafing to get a better angle of attack.

    Zaina yelped and put her hands over her head as another barrage of scraps broke out, taking more chunks out of the severed tree trunk.

    Shit, shit, shit¡­

    The second masked enemy came into view, the barrel of his birifle focused on Zaina.

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    Shit!

    Time seemed to slow¡ªsomething was coming in behind him, something fast. There was a ringing hiss, then a pop and a flash¡ªthe scrap flew upwards, clearing the forest canopy. His arm, still holding the birifle, fell to the ground. Lady Sivanya stood behind him with a wrathful stare, her eyes fixed on the blood spurting from his wounded shoulder.

    ¡°Aah!¡± the man shouted. ¡°It¡¯s her! It¡¯s her!¡±

    He reached across his body for a knife, but Lady Sivanya bisected him with a single stroke, breastplate and all.

    ¡°Verno!¡± the other armor-clad soldier shouted, aiming his rifle at her. ¡°You bitch!¡±

    Another round of cracks broke out¡ªLady Sivanya¡¯s movements were a blur, even to Zaina, as she dashed to one side, then switched direction and doubled back toward her remaining opponent. He didn¡¯t even have time to scream before her fang pierced his mask and emerged from the other side covered in blood and brain matter.

    Lady Sivanya glanced at Zaina, as if to make sure she was all right¡ªthen, she charged toward the sputtering pops nearby. Zaina didn¡¯t need any more motivation¡ªshe stood up and followed.

    It took less than a minute to arrive at the main action¡ªten or so unmarked, all dressed identically to those Zaina had already engaged, were clustered together in a semi-circle and moving backwards while firing steadily. All at once they lowered their weapons and darted to one side or the other¡ªa moment later, another unmarked, screaming, came flying at them. Rasmus came into view, madly charging the unmarked.

    Did he fucking throw that guy?

    Her question was answered when Rasmus stooped low and grabbed another enemy by his legs; then, with a mighty swing, Rasmus heaved the man into a tree twenty feet away.

    Another unmarked glanced toward Zaina and Sivanya approaching and shouted, ¡°More incoming! More incoming!¡±

    ¡°Retreat!¡±

    ¡°Go, go, go! I¡¯ll cover you!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m with you, Hodge!¡±

    Zaina was forced to leap aside to dodge another hail of scraps. Rasmus wasn¡¯t so inclined to step out of the way¡ªhis torso was peppered with beads while he sliced through one of the attackers covering the others¡¯ retreat. Then, Rasmus gave a blood-curdling shout, raising his arms.

    ¡°Run! Run!¡±

    The rest of the unmarked turned their backs and sprinted away. Rasmus looked ready to follow them, his shoulders rising and falling six inches with every heavy breath he took. Instead, he fell to one knee.

    Zaina ran over to him. ¡°Are you all right?¡±

    He shook his head. ¡°They got Deni.¡±

    Lady Sivanya, walking over, said, ¡°Captain Rasmus. Report.¡±

    He turned away, but Zaina swore she saw tears in his eyes. ¡°Demi. Only one I know so far.¡±

    Lady Sivanya tapped her earset. ¡°Everyone, check in.¡±

    A spate of names came over the comms¡ªeveryone except Deni.

    Sivanya turned to Rasmus. ¡°How?¡±

    ¡°They spotted us first. Got off a few good shots on her.¡± He stood up, spilling blood from his numerous gunshot wounds. ¡°One in the head.¡±

    Lady Sivanya turned away, her hands balling into fists. Zaina hadn¡¯t known Deni for very long, but even she was a little sad. No one deserved this.

    A weak cough came from a nearby tree¡ªthe unmarked Rasmus had thrown was still alive. Lady Sivanya walked over to them, and Zaina followed.

    She crouched down and pulled their mask off, revealing a bloodied Cytomoid.

    ¡°Find what you were looking for?¡± she asked. Her voice wasn¡¯t hateful, but there was a hint of malice in her tone.

    The man shook his head. ¡°Looking¡ªlooking for Dirzo¡¯s¡­ Dirzo¡¯s¡­¡± his eyes went skyward as he took a deep breath and continued, ¡°suh¡­¡±

    Lady Sivanya stood and ended the man¡¯s misery with a swift stroke from her fang. Then she sighed.

    ¡°Captain Rasmus, return to your post. The party¡¯s over for now.¡±

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t an ordinary patrol group,¡± he muttered. ¡°Those were special forces.¡±

    ¡°Exactly why you need to return to your post,¡± Lady Sivanya said in as stern a voice Zaina had ever heard. ¡°These weren¡¯t our dailies, so they¡¯re probably still coming. These guys were here for something else.¡±

    A wave of sadness coursed through Zaina. Life here was fast¡ªso fast even the death of a friend couldn¡¯t slow things down. They didn¡¯t have enough time to let it.

    Rasmus nodded. The scrap-holes on his torso were already starting to close up as he shuffled off into the forest, trying in vain to stifle his sobs.

    Sivanya turned to Zaina. ¡°We need to move, too. There might be more action today. We can¡¯t let a loss turn to a landslide.¡±

    Zaina nodded. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about Deni.¡±

    ¡°Nothing anyone could have done. Let¡¯s get moving.¡±

    A tree branch snapped behind Zaina. She turned and drew her scrapshot at the same time, her heart pounding as her mind used that split-second to conjure up any terrifying foe it could. Her surprise was palpable when she saw what had made the noise¡ªtwo scared-looking unmarked children, one with a bloodied leg.

 Chapter 106: The Monster in the Woods

    ¡°Do you envy the choices my station affords me? I doubt you understand the true magnitude of what leaders face¡ªthe harsh realities of choosing our people over theirs every time.¡±

    ¡ªGeneral Ranthom Forst, in a personal letter to a friend regarding his handling of the Diamosa Crisis

    Zaina froze, unsure of what to do. They weren¡¯t going to hurt these kids, right? She didn¡¯t sign up for that.

    Lady Sivanya stepped forward. ¡°Hello, dears. You look a little lost.¡± She turned to the injured child, a young Diveldaran girl standing behind her friend. ¡°You¡¯re hurt. Let me take a look.¡±

    The foremost child, a young Diveldaran boy with short, brown hair, spoke up. ¡°We¡¯re not lost. We know exactly where we are.¡± He glanced toward his friend. ¡°But she is hurt. Can you help?¡±

    Sivanya dropped to one knee and examined the girl¡¯s leg. Even from her vantage point, Zaina noticed a deep-looking gash right above the girl¡¯s knee. It looked incredibly painful¡ªthe girl was sniffing and fighting to hold back tears, but she¡¯d clearly been crying before this.

    ¡°Oh, dear,¡± she said. ¡°What happened to you?¡±

    The girl wiped her eyes, sniffed, and then said, ¡°I tripped and fell on an edgreroot. It h-h-hurts.¡±

    ¡°This is quite bad,¡± Sivanya remarked, ¡°have you been walking on it?¡±

    The girl nodded.

    ¡°Oh, you poor, little thing,¡± Sivanya chirped. Her eyes turned cold for a moment and her brow furrowed as if in thought. A wave of tension emanated from Zaina¡¯s chest¡ªwhat was she thinking about? These kids needed help. There was nothing to ponder.

    Then, in a moment, it was gone. The charming warmth returned to Sivanya¡¯s face, and she said, ¡°You need to get home, and quickly¡ªbut we can¡¯t take you, and I can¡¯t well expect you to walk, now, can I? So come with us for the night. We¡¯ll treat your leg, give you a good dinner and tomorrow we¡¯ll figure out how to get you back home.¡±

    The boy looked at his friend, as if examining his options, then turned back to Sivanya and said, ¡°Why can¡¯t you take us back home?¡±

    Sivanya frowned. ¡°I¡¯m afraid we wouldn¡¯t be too welcome where you live. But tomorrow we¡¯ll find a way to sneak you back into the city.¡±

    The boy¡¯s hands fidgeted as he mulled this over. Then, he said, ¡°You promise not to hurt us?¡±

    Sivanya extended a hand with her index finger curled up. ¡°Hook-swear.¡±

    The boy wrapped his index finger around hers, and they each gave a light tug. ¡°Okay. But I don¡¯t think she can walk the rest of the way.¡±

    ¡°Of course not¡ªand I wouldn¡¯t expect her to.¡± Sivanya turned her attention to the little girl again. ¡°I¡¯m going to pick you up, now¡ªit¡¯s going to hurt for a second, but the sooner we get you back to our home, the sooner we can treat you¡ªall right?¡±

    The little girl nodded and extended her arms toward Sivanya, who scooped her and cradled her against her chest. The girl yelped and tears began to flow from her eyes, but she was trying to stay strong.

    ¡°There you go,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°You¡¯ll feel better soon¡ªwe have great healers.¡±

    The little girl sniffed. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°No need,¡± replied Sivanya. ¡°Come, now¡ªlet¡¯s get going.¡±

    They set off walking at a brisk pace through the forest.

    ¡°So,¡± Sivanya said, ¡°what are your names, little ones?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Kalo, and she¡¯s Vika,¡± the boy said. ¡°What about you two¡¯s?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Sivanya, and this here is my friend, Zaina Quin.¡±

    ¡°Oh, okay.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m curious,¡± Sivanya said, ¡°why were you two out here to begin with?¡±

    ¡°There were three of us,¡± Kalo replied. ¡°My friend, Edorn, came with us. But he ran when he saw Vika bleeding¡ªEdorn¡¯s scared of blood.¡±

    ¡°Okay, then¡ªwhy did the three of you come all the way out here?¡±

    ¡°Because,¡± Kalo started, ¡°my dad says monsters live out in this forest¡ªthat it¡¯s cursed. I wanted to prove it to Edorn because he says his dad told him it¡¯s all fake, and there are no monsters, not really.¡±

    ¡°You came all the way out here looking for monsters?¡± Sivanya chuckled. ¡°Did you even think of what you would do if you found one?¡±

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    Kalo put his fist over his heart. ¡°My dad says fighting monsters is what makes a hero. And he says a hero¡¯s heart always wins.¡±

    ¡°If only that were true,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°Well, have you seen any monsters yet?¡±

    He shook his head.

    ¡°How do you know I¡¯m not one of them?¡± she asked.

    The boy shrugged. ¡°You seem too nice to be a monster. Monsters are mean and scary.¡±

    Sivanya chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re too sweet. Well, be glad you didn¡¯t meet any monsters today. These woods are no place for children.¡±

    ¡°Dad says fighting monsters is all about faith,¡± the boy replied.

    ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s right,¡± she said, ¡°but how are you supposed to fight something you can¡¯t even recognize? What if the scariest monster is the one you don¡¯t know to be a monster to begin with?¡±

    The boy mulled this over. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    Lady Sivanya loosed a heavy sigh, then tapped her earpiece. ¡°Patrol group, this is Sivanya. We¡¯ve found some injured children¡ªwe¡¯ll be taking them back to camp. It¡¯s likely the group we encountered earlier was a search party, so they may still send out their regular patrols. If there¡¯s a situation let us know and we¡¯ll return as quickly as possible.¡±

    There was a brief silence, and then Rasmus responded, ¡°Affirmative.¡±

    They continued in silence for a brief time, until Sivanya turned to Zaina. ¡°So,¡± she said, ¡°it¡¯s unfortunate that this wasn¡¯t a typical day for patrols, but you survived nonetheless. How are you feeling about it?¡±

    Zaina didn¡¯t know how to answer, but she gave it her best shot. ¡°Honestly? Stressed¡ªdisturbed¡ªmaybe a little shocked.¡±

    Sivanya nodded. ¡°I¡¯d say that¡¯s all normal for the early-goings. Tomorrow you can spend the day at the dig site, see how that works for you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like that,¡± Zaina said. She may as well try both to see where she could do more good. If there was anything she could do to prevent the coming storm, she had to try. ¡°I¡¯ll give both a try before I make my final decision.¡±

    ¡°Excellent,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be an asset on whichever front you choose.¡±

    They continued in silence. Vika had either fallen asleep or passed out in Sivanya¡¯s arms by the time they arrived at the cluster of painted tents¡ªSivanya chose one for them to stay in and tenderly set Vika down on a mat. Then she tapped her earpiece again. ¡°Ianaj, Donae. I need you both out by the homes, quick.¡±

    They waited longer still, refraining from speaking to give Vika some peace. Within a few minutes two marked appeared, one an elderly female Govaran, with gray, leathery skin, a mass of white facial hair, and a circular, hunched-over body which supported a protective shell worn on the back; the other a young, dark-skinned human woman with her hair dyed bright pink and dark purple, and numerous piercings. She was beautiful, and her piercing blue eyes struck Zaina like a bullet; she stood with her arms crossed, not a care in the world.

    ¡°Thank you two for coming,¡± Sivanya said.

    The Govaran spoke in a raspy, pained voice ¡°Anything my Lady requires.¡±

    The human examined Zaina, then turned to Sivanya and said, ¡°Happy to help however I can.¡±

    Sivanya addressed the Govaran, ¡°Ianaj, would you terribly mind helping these children I found in the woods? The girl, Vika, has an injury that needs tending. The boy should be fine, but I¡¯d like you to keep an eye on them¡ªmake sure no one messes with them, and see to it that they¡¯re fed and happy.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been many years since I cooked for Diveldarans, and many more since I properly stitched up a wound,¡± Ianaj replied, ¡°but I will do my best.¡±

    ¡°Thank you¡ªand if you need anything, let me know,¡± Sivanya said, then turned to address the human woman. ¡°And Donae, would you be able to go back to the dig-site and let everyone know about our unmarked guests? Let them know they are not to be harmed, and that they will be treated as one of us for their brief stay. This sort of thing has happened before, so I doubt there will be any issues¡ªbut I¡¯d like to make sure there are no surprises for anyone.¡±

    Donae nodded and ran off while Ianaj sidled into the kids¡¯ tent to attend to Vika¡¯s leg. Zaina turned to Sivanya¡ªshe was staring wistfully into the tent as Ianaj went about gently waking Vika up. A deep, frustrated sigh came from Sivanya.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Zaina asked.

    ¡°That was a mistake,¡± she muttered.

    ¡°What was?¡± Zaina asked. ¡°Helping them?¡±

    ¡°Letting them live,¡± Sivanya replied.

    ¡°What the hell do you¡ªthey¡¯re children!¡±

    ¡°They don¡¯t stay children forever,¡± Sivanya said, staring forward with a sorrowful gaze. ¡°In ten years they¡¯ll be just like the rest of them¡ªclamoring for our heads.¡±

    Zaina didn¡¯t have the faintest idea of what to say. Sivanya¡¯s logic wasn¡¯t wrong, but it was cruel, perhaps needlessly so. The only saving grace was that Sivanya hadn¡¯t acted on her impulses.

    Sivanya turned back to Zaina. ¡°These are the kinds of choices I¡¯m faced with as a leader¡ªbut none of it will matter once we get into the temple. Then, they can hate us all they want.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Zaina said, ¡°for what it¡¯s worth, I think you did the right thing.¡±

    Sivanya¡¯s lips curled into a deep frown. ¡°I hope it¡¯s worth more than I think. For now I imagine you¡¯re quite exhausted¡ªyou probably want some rest.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that sounds good,¡± Zaina replied, wondering if she¡¯d even be able to sleep. This whole thing felt bigger than her.

    ¡°You know,¡± Sivanya said, ¡°if you want to talk about anything, or tell me anything, you can. You don¡¯t have to hold anything back.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Zaina said, her heart pounding¡ªwas Sivanya getting suspicious? Had she been suspicious this whole time?

    ¡°I¡¯m only letting you know. Look, we¡¯re coming up on the tents now. Do you need help finding yours?¡±

    Zaina nodded.

    ¡°All right, follow me.¡±

    Sivanya led Zaina to her tent and bid her farewell for the night; she lingered at the door for a long moment, as if she had something she wanted to say or ask, but it must not have been terribly important¡ªinstead of speaking, she turned and left Zaina alone with her thoughts.

    I should get ahold of Xyrthe. Once Zaina was sure Sivanya had walked away, she fumbled for her vis-screen and checked for any messages. There were two unread:

    ¡®Safe.¡¯

    ¡®You safe?¡¯

    Zaina sighed and replied, ¡®Safe.¡¯

    Confused thoughts and feelings still clouded Zaina¡¯s mind, so she laid on her mat and stared at the ceiling of her tent. Light from Vyzria¡¯s lone moon managed to dimly glow through the thin fabric. She hoped things made more sense on Xyrthe¡¯s mission, whatever it had become. She was sure she¡¯d hear about at least some of it¡ªif she survived her own mission, that was.

    Baby steps, I guess. Let¡¯s make it through the night. Tomorrow we¡¯ll see what we can do on the mining front.

    Zaina tried to quell the chaos in her mind by closing her eyes and forcing herself to attempt to sleep. She hoped her brain might come up with an unconscious solution, or any solution at all. Before long she drifted off, dreaming about simpler times on Demelia.

    The peace didn¡¯t last long¡ªsomething was touching her face, and she woke up with a start, sitting up¡ªa hand yanked her hair, holding her in place and making her yelp. Then, a fang appeared at her throat, wielded by a steely-eyed Sivanya.

 Chapter 107: The Mark of the Eldritch

    ¡°Trust ain¡¯t worth much in the deepworlds.¡±

    ¡ªDazzer Goflansi, famed smuggler

    Cold fear gripped Zaina¡¯s heart¡ªhad she been found out? Was this a test? Her life was flashing before her eyes¡ªthe pleasant moments, like time spent on her homestead, and the unpleasant ones¡ªher time in the academy, much of the last few months.

    Her eyes lowered to the blade at her throat. She gulped and took a deep breath, and then tried to steady her voice as she said, ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    Sivanya¡¯s face twitched, her eyes losing their resolve for a moment before it returned with a hint of sorrow. ¡°Hold still.¡±

    Zaina wasn¡¯t in a position to argue, so she focused on trying to slow her body¡¯s rapid breathing. Sivanya, hand shaking, reached forward with her thumb and rubbed Zaina¡¯s mark. First softly, then less so the second and third time; what was she trying to accomplish? The confusion and frustration in Sivanya¡¯s eyes was enough to make it clear.

    ¡°Do you think my mark is fake or something?¡±

    Sivanya¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°I¡¯m not ruling out it being a tattoo. Wouldn¡¯t be the first time.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s real,¡± Zaina said, suddenly gripped by anger. ¡°Trust me, I wish it wasn¡¯t real¡ªbut it is.¡±

    ¡°I have to be sure¡ª¡±

    ¡°I have been spit on, spurned, and betrayed by too many people since I got this fucking mark to have its authenticity questioned. No, you know what? This is ridiculous.¡± She stood up and made to leave.

    ¡°Wait,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°I understand what you must be feeling¡ª¡±

    ¡°Do you? Because after everything it took to get here, how many times I had to fight¡ª¡± Zaina turned away. She was genuinely hurt, but showing that to Sivanya to gain her trust felt¡ªtwisted. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, maybe it¡¯s better that I leave.¡±

    Sivanya patted Zaina¡¯s mat. ¡°I¡¯d rather you stayed, if that¡¯s worth anything.¡±

    Part of her did want to abandon the mission¡ªnow she knew what would be waiting for her if she ever was found out. Sivanya¡¯s eyes had been frightening and murderous. After seeing them Zaina didn¡¯t doubt for a moment that Sivanya would kill her if she discovered her true purpose.

    Still, she wanted to stay. The enclave was more welcoming and homey than she imagined. Life was harsh and short here, but it wasn¡¯t altogether unpleasant. And beside all that, these people needed all the help they could get. Zaina sighed and sat down.

    ¡°I¡¯ll hear you out,¡± she said. ¡°What the fuck was that about?¡±

    Sivanya¡¯s fang dissipated, and she raised her hands. ¡°I had no choice. We caught two infiltrators last month alone¡ªevery new member of the enclave must be checked.¡±

    ¡°So all along¡ªthe entire time you were showing me around, being nice to me¡ªit¡¯s all because you thought I was some kind of spy?¡±The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°We can¡¯t be too careful these days, Zaina. Not when we¡¯re so close to salvation¡ªnot with what¡¯s at stake. A single successful infiltration could cause the destruction of the entire enclave. Tell me, knowing that, would you take the word of the next stranger who walks in with a black mark?¡±

    It was a fair point, but Zaina was too animated by now to concede that. ¡°You were only staying so close to keep an eye on me, weren¡¯t you? And I¡ª¡±¡ªthis next part felt genuine, but also made Zaina¡¯s stomach turn knowing it might further a deceptive purpose¡ª¡°¡ªhere I thought you might actually be the first friend I¡¯ve made in a while.¡±

    ¡°I admit, I took more of an interest in you than many others,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°Most had their marks checked upon arrival.¡±

    ¡°How long?¡± Zaina asked.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°How long did it take to realize you suspected me?¡±

    Sivanya chuckled. ¡°How honest do you want me to be?¡±

    ¡°One-hundred percent.¡±

    I wish I could be the same with you.

    Sivanya nodded. ¡°To be honest, it was from the moment I laid eyes on you. Too many red flags.¡±

    ¡°Red flags?¡± Now Zaina was curious. ¡°Like what?¡±

    Sivanya¡¯s head rocked back and forth, as if she was considering how to word her next statement. ¡°Most of the people who come here are¡ªlet¡¯s say, beaten down. You were happy as could be, though¡ªthat¡¯s red flag number one.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Zaina said. ¡°Sorry I try to keep a positive outlook.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not really something you should apologize for,¡± Sivanya said, stifling a chuckle.

    ¡°What else?¡±

    ¡°Most people have to be coaxed into helping,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°Plus, you had so many questions¡ªyou wanted to be in the know on everything. That¡¯s two more red flags.¡±

    ¡°So being helpful, positive, and inquisitive around here gets you put on a watchlist?¡± Zaina shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s messed up.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not like that,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°Once you have my trust, you have it, and I¡¯ll want you to be all those things.¡±

    ¡°So why now, then? Why not check my mark the second we met?¡±

    ¡°Honestly?¡± Sivanya said. ¡°I wanted to see what your intentions were. I assumed your long walk last night was to contact your allies¡ªbut I wanted to see how you carried patrols today, so I waited a night.¡±

    ¡°Well, do I have your trust now?¡±

    Sivanya stared at her indifferently. ¡°I¡¯m not quite sure what to make of you entirely, Zaina Quin. I feel like you¡¯re holding something back¡ªlike there¡¯s something you¡¯re not telling me. But if you are being truthful, if you truly did receive your mark from the Eldritch¡ªI don¡¯t know what to make of that, either. Why would you be here unless it wanted you here?¡±

    Zaina didn¡¯t know how to answer that.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been honest with you,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°Now you be honest with me¡ªtell me, do you still hear the whispers?¡±

    A shudder like so many crawling spiders made its way down Zaina¡¯s spine. ¡°Yes.¡±

    Her voice barely a whisper itself, Sivanya asked, ¡°What are they telling you right now?¡±

    Zaina closed her eyes and tuned in to her brain¡¯s constant background noise. ¡°Kill her. Kill her. Kill them. Kill her. Kill her. It keeps going on like that.¡±

    ¡°How often do you have to live with that?¡± Sivanya¡¯s face had turned to pity.

    ¡°It only flares up a couple times a day,¡± Zaina replied, ¡°but that¡¯s not important¡ªyou thought I was spying!¡±

    ¡°Like I said,¡± Sivanya said, standing up, ¡°we had to be sure. Now¡ªyou should get some rest, and rest well in the knowledge that your sleep will not again be disturbed in such a manner.¡±

    ¡°So what, you do trust me now?¡±

    Sivanya frowned. ¡°Not quite. Something¡¯s holding me back¡ªwhat you¡¯re holding back, I suspect. But I don¡¯t think you¡¯re an unmarked, so you deserve a chance. My suspicions have been wrong before.¡±

    Well, that¡¯s sort of good news I guess.

    ¡°I¡¯m not holding anything back,¡± Zaina said. ¡°That much I can promise.¡±

    ¡°Hm,¡± Sivanya curtly replied. ¡°Goodnight, Zaina Quin. Sleep well.¡±

    Once she was alone, a wave of relief coursed over Zaina.

    That was way too close. She sighed. What am I doing out here?

    Nothing made more sense than the day before. There was only the feeling of angst and pent-up anger. She felt trapped¡ªshe couldn¡¯t imagine how the others felt.

    I have a way out, if I want to take it. They don¡¯t.

    She wasn¡¯t any closer to a solution, either. The temple still loomed over everything, either a world-ending threat or a saving grace; Zaina had to find out which it was, and fast.

 Chapter 108: The Temple Entrance

    ¡°I still hear the beckoning from home¡ªto return to a life of servitude in order to further the great work. It is my hope that the temple can provide a remedy to their summons.¡±

    ¡ªThe Marked Emperor Savon

    Zaina hardly slept, instead spending most of the night pondering her predicament. Sivanya didn¡¯t completely trust her, which meant her life was hanging in the balance of her ability to deceive someone she was growing to respect.

    There was more than respect, though¡ªZaina feared Sivanya, too. Remembering the look in her eyes when she held her fang to Zaina¡¯s throat was enough to make her stomach turn and her blood run cold.

    That brush with death and the sputters of chaos on patrol put mortality in the fore of Zaina¡¯s mind. She¡¯d almost died before, multiple times¡ªa few times back home and on Otmonzas, once on Kaado, and a few times here and there on missions. This time felt different¡ªusually there was little choice but to act. This was more of a slow bleed, a dark fate that had to be met head on. To run away from this fight meant leaving everything behind to its doom.

    Zaina sighed. It was time to start the day, and today was important. She hoped to acquire good information about the temple while working with the excavation team.

    She washed her face in a small basin on the floor and took a deep breath to prepare herself.

    The walk to the dig-site was lonely, with nary a marked in sight. The sounds of heavy machinery drew closer as she approached.

    ¡°Sleep well?¡± Sivanya¡¯s voice asked, making Zaina jump.

    ¡°Ah! What the hell?¡±

    Sivanya was leaning against a tree¡ªZaina had walked right past her.

    ¡°It¡¯s your first day on the dig-site,¡± Sivanya replied.

    ¡°Oh, so you¡¯ll be watching me?¡± Zaina asked, rolling her eyes. ¡°Making sure I don¡¯t do anything suspicious?¡±

    Sivanya shook her head. ¡°Patrols are short today¡ªI¡¯ll be joining them once Rasmus sends out the signal. I have a feeling they¡¯ll be sending more search parties to look for our guests.¡±

    It was only a small measure of trust, but it was enough to make Zaina feel a little better. ¡°Sure you don¡¯t want help on patrols? Sounds like it might get hot.¡±

    Sivanya¡¯s head bobbed back and forth. ¡°I appreciate the offer, but I think it¡¯s a good idea for you to stay here¡ªget to know some people. Once we head off their incursion maybe you can help us find a way to get those children back to Deonago.¡±

    ¡°So, then¡ªwhy¡¯d you wait for me? To see me off?¡±

    Sivanya stepped forward. ¡°I wanted to apologize again for last night. I know how it feels to be suspected, for guilt to be pre-assumed¡ªit was wrong of me to put you through that.¡±

    ¡°I appreciate that,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°Now,¡± Sivanya said as she clapped her hands together, ¡°we both have long days ahead of us. You be safe, and stay out of trouble.¡±

    ¡°You too,¡± Zaina replied.

    ¡°I can¡¯t promise anything. Get going, now¡ªask around for Tog, she¡¯ll put you to work,¡± Sivanya said, then walked off.

    Zaina breathed a sigh of relief. She still couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Sivanya suspected her, but there was nothing to be done for that now¡ªshe had to get to the dig-site and learn what she could.

    First thing¡¯s first¡ªgotta talk to Tog. Whoever that is.

    The dig-site looked exactly the same, with mining equipment of all shapes and sizes strewn about. Dozens of people were climbing the haphazard scaffolding barely secured against the cliff, and dozens more were scurrying about below, carrying boxes of supplies or moving the machinery. It was exactly as chaotic as she remembered it.

    Not sure what information I¡¯ll be able to get out of this, but here goes.

    She walked into the maze of giant drills, shovel-heads, and tents covering tables of smaller drills and digging supplies. No one paid her any mind, even when she tried to stop them.

    ¡°Um, excuse m¡ª¡±

    ¡°Sorry, in a hurry!¡± the marked yelled, not even turning back.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°Hey, uh¡ª¡±

    ¡°Come on, out of the way! This shit¡¯s fuckin¡¯ heavy, you know!¡±

    Zaina frowned, missing Sivanya¡¯s friendliness. Then, someone she recognized walked by¡ªYlasna, whom she¡¯d met on her first night there.

    ¡°Hey! Ylasna! Hey!¡±

    Ylasna, carrying a paperboard box filled with different sized wrenches, stopped and turned toward Zaina. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m¡ªI¡¯m Zaina. We met the other night. I was with Sivanya, remember?¡±

    ¡°Oh, right, right! Sorry, I¡¯m shit with names and faces. What¡¯s up? You decide to help us out?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m here for the day¡ªI did patrols yesterday.¡±

    ¡°All right, cool. Cool. Well, you¡¯re gonna wanna go talk to Tog. She should be in the control tent. She¡¯ll give you whatever job needs doing.¡±

    ¡°Okay, uh¡ªwhere is the control tent?¡±

    Ylasna adjusted the box and started walking off. ¡°Closest tent to the mountain. Sorry, I gotta run¡ªwe got a driller and two shovelers down, and we gotta get ¡®em back up and running before the end of the day. We¡¯re close¡ªreal close!¡±

    A pit formed in Zaina¡¯s stomach. But close to what, exactly?

    She wasn¡¯t any closer to understanding what the temple actually did, but she had to play her part. Zaina walked over to the tent Ylasna had indicated¡ªthe walls were three-sided, with the open face towards the dig-site. Within was a Brudavian, a four-armed sentient with a humanoid torso and head; the bottom half was part bulbous mass and part tentacles. Two of the woman¡¯s four eyes moved to Zaina, while the others remained focused on the multiple screens, buttons, and levers in front of her. She wore a helmet and an earpiece similar to Sivanya¡¯s.

    ¡°Hello,¡± Zaina said, waving. ¡°I¡¯m¡ª¡±

    ¡°Zaina, right? Sivanya told me we¡¯d have you for the day. You know how to drive a shoveler?¡±

    Zaina frowned. ¡°No, I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Eh, fine. In that case you¡¯ll go work with Geramad. You know Geramad?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡ª¡±

    One of the woman¡¯s arms tapped the earpiece, and she said, ¡°Geramad, control tent. Got a body for you.¡± While she spoke her other three arms were pushing buttons, pulling levers, and typing on keyboards with masterful timing and precision, like a well-choreographed dance. Without missing a beat she said to Zaina, ¡°I¡¯m going to go ahead and assume you¡¯re not stupid and you don¡¯t need the safety talk. Just be careful, okay? Last thing we need is anyone else getting hurt right before we get in. Geramad will be here shortly. He¡¯ll show you what to do. Got it?¡±

    ¡°Uh, yeah. I think so.¡±

    ¡°Good. We¡¯re real close, kid¡ªreal close. I have a good feeling about today. That¡¯s a rare occurrence, so don¡¯t ruin it for me, all right?¡±

    Tog¡¯s tone and attitude reminded Zaina of Xyrthe. I¡¯d hate to sit in on a conversation between those two. Or maybe they¡¯d get along well.

    Before long a six-and-a-half foot tall Altomaran stepped through the door¡ªhis ragged, shaggy fur was reddish-brown and caked in dirt and sweat, and he wore a tunic stitched together from rags. The undercoat on his face and neck was a brighter red. His eyes, large, intense, and nested beneath curved, bushy eyebrows, honed in on Zaina; he blew a snort through the tusks on either side of his frowning mouth.

    ¡°This the body?¡± he said, his voice gruff and deep.

    ¡°Yes. Take her with your group. Show her the ropes. Don¡¯t let her get hurt.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll try,¡± the Altomaran, presumably Geramad, said. He didn¡¯t bother to wait for Zaina before turning and walking back toward the dig-site.

    She jogged to catch up with his brisk pace. ¡°So, what are we doing?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll show you,¡± he said curtly. Apparently not everyone was as friendly as Sivanya.

    He led her to the exposed wall of the temple, where a carefully coordinated dance was taking place. He stopped and said, ¡°Watch.¡±

    Zaina did exactly that. A driller came forward, rolling on wheels twice as tall as Zaina; there was a great hiss as the drill tipped downward toward the earth, then a crack and a boom as the drill punched into the earth. The rock must have been tough¡ªthe ground barely gave. The drill sank in to about a foot¡¯s depth, then gave a screech as started to rotate. It turned faster and faster, but couldn¡¯t punch further in. After a minute or so at top speed, the drill pulled out and the driller reversed.

    ¡°Rock here¡¯s tough,¡± Geramad remarked.

    Once the area was clear five drillermechs walked up, though their armor seemed less like an actual drillermech suit and more like repurposed warsuits. Each held a massive steel pick and went to the spot where the driller had softened the ground, rhythmically striking the ground to loosen as much of the stone and dirt as possible. Once they had dug out roughly another foot of the temple wall, they stepped back.

    Next, a shoveler came in, its single mechanical arm holding a steel trough. It scooped along the temple walls, pulling all the loose earth and stone away. It scooted all of it off to the side in a massive heap.

    Zaina was fascinated by all of this, but she was wondering what her part was. She wasn¡¯t left wondering long¡ªa troupe of people, twenty or thirty, came around the mountain to the dig-site. Each pushed large, empty wheelbarrows.

    ¡°Here¡¯s us,¡± Geramad said, already walking over to join them.

    Zaina tagged along. The group swarmed the pile of earth and rock, loading as much as they could fit into each wheelbarrow and then heading back the way they came. Geramad picked up a spare wheelbarrow and joined them. Zaina didn¡¯t need to be told what to do; she grabbed another spare wheelbarrow, the last one, and went to work.

    They loaded it all by hand. Zaina desperately tried to match the pace of the others¡ªpeople who had started loading after Zaina were leaving before her. She scooped a few handfuls of dirt before Geramad stopped her and said, ¡°Focus on the rocks. We don¡¯t care about the dirt right now.¡±

    ¡°Makes sense,¡± she said, then heaved a rock into the wheelbarrow. It only took her about two minutes to fill up. She didn¡¯t bother waiting for anyone to tell her what to do next¡ªshe followed the person who had left before her, a Raolgrian woman pushing a heaving load of rocks.

    They walked around the mountain on a well-tread path wide enough to fit a few wheelbarrows at once. The path was lined with trees growing out of the mountainside every which way, though the problematic ones had already been cleared. The path winded up and around to the mountain¡¯s other side. From here Deonago loomed in the distance, only a mountain range away.

    Zaina knew they were close when wheelbarrows started coming back toward them. They came to a sheer cliff face, a drop of a few thousand feet. The Raolgrian in front of Zaina tipped her wheelbarrow over the edge, sending the rocks tumbling to the ground below.

    ¡°Is anyone down there?¡± Zaina asked as the woman turned around and headed back to the site.

    ¡°Let¡¯s hope not,¡± she said, not slowing her pace.

    Zaina shrugged, thinking about how many tons of dirt and rocks had already been poured over this edge. I mean, at this point if anyone¡¯s still down there, it¡¯s on them.

 Chapter 109: Breakthrough

    ¡°Sometimes the worst thing to happen is the best thing.¡±

    ¡ªSpence Raffier, philosopher

    The work was fast-paced, but Zaina¡¯s strength and stamina kept it from being terribly arduous. After about three trips back and forth she no longer needed to follow anyone to know where she was going; now.

    They went back and forth for a few hours, removing the rubble while the temple was painstakingly dug out. Zaina watched the others at their jobs¡ªmany unmarked were working on the scaffolding lining the mountain face, drilling and picking away. As she went to wipe the layer of sweat from her forehead, she missed the cooling system in her lancer armor.

    A low buzz came from her pocket¡ªher vis-screen. It only did that for communications marked as emergencies. The moment the next opportunity presented itself she resolved to step away to check.

    Maybe it¡¯s Xyrthe with some news. Probably not good.

    Of course, working with so many people on a closed circuit, that privacy seemed unlikely. There was always someone coming or going as they desperately tried to keep pace with the others. Zaina noticed a rhythm to how each group was inter-connected¡ªthe drillers tried a little harder, the drillermechs dug with more vigor, the shoveler worked a little faster, and the clearers had to increase their pace to keep up. Every hour was a little faster, each group giving and taking from each other as needed¡ªevery once in a while the digging team would pile up rubble faster than the clearers could take it out, at which point the machines went noticeably slower until the other group caught up. Then, the clearers would completely wipe every pile and have nothing to do, making the digging team work faster to keep them busy. It was a beautiful, intricate dance that could only be performed by people who had worked on it together long enough to perfect its intricacies and navigate its imperfections.

    Every so often, Zaina¡¯s pocket would buzz, maybe every ten minutes; each time it did snapped her out of the dance. The buzzing vis-screen was a reminder of reality¡ªthat she was an infiltrator, a lancer; that Deonago and the Sivanya Enclave were teetering on a knife¡¯s edge, a ready wellspring for conflict. She kept looking for her moment, but before she could slip away she¡¯d fall back into the dance. Then, another buzz.

    She sighed. Here I thought I¡¯d get more information out of being on the dig team.

    Another few cycles went by. How many times had Zaina filled up the same wheelbarrow, trod along the same path, and dumped it over the cliff? She lost count somewhere around what felt like eternity. At the four-hour mark, everyone stopped for a break; Zaina only knew it was the four-hour mark because Geramad announced it after everyone had a few minutes of rest.

    ¡°All right, guys! Let¡¯s get back to it! Four down, four more to go before we break again! Let¡¯s move, double time! See those piles? We¡¯re close! We¡¯re real close!¡±

    They hopped back to it. Before Zaina hustled back to fill up her wheelbarrow, another buzz went off in her pocket. She sighed. I need to slip away somehow. But I can¡¯t be seen.

    Wracked with anxiety, Zaina made her way back up the mountain path. Something had to be really wrong for Xyrthe to be messaging her this much, and Zaina had a feeling she knew what it was. She hoped it was anything else, but for now, she had to seem like she wasn¡¯t beginning to panic.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Relax, Zaina. No one knows you¡¯re freaking out.

    She tipped the wheelbarrow over the edge, then pulled it back, stepped out of the way, and wiped some sweat from her forehead. The routine was suddenly and violently interrupted by an ear-splitting crack and some heavy, crunching thuds, followed by an eruption of raucous cheers. Zaina¡¯s head, like everyone else¡¯s, turned toward the dig-site¡ªa pillar of smoke twisted into the air.

    Every other marked immediately dropped their wheelbarrows and ran toward the site, whooping and cheering the whole way. Zaina¡¯s stomach turned.

    That doesn¡¯t sound good.

    With everyone gone, she had a spare moment to finally check her vis-screen.

    Oh, shit. Twenty-two missed messages.

    Zaina¡¯s heart sank on reading the very first one, and it only got worse from there. ¡®Zaina, Rymar¡¯s gathering his forces. All of them. He¡¯s going to attack.¡¯

    ¡®They¡¯re almost all assembled. They¡¯ll be leaving the city within the hour.¡¯

    ¡®Where are you?¡¯

    ¡®Are you alive?¡¯

    ¡®Check in.¡¯

    ¡®Please check in.¡¯

    ¡®Are you getting any of this?¡¯

    ¡®You need to warn the enclave.¡¯

    ¡®They¡¯re coming. I¡¯ll do what I can but it won¡¯t be much.¡¯

    ¡®They¡¯re coming.¡¯

    ¡®They¡¯re coming.¡¯

    ¡®They¡¯re coming.¡¯

    Zaina gulped. Fuck.

    She turned toward Deonago¡ªpillars of smoke were rising from that side of the forest, too.

    Fuck.

    Without another thought, Zaina sprinted toward the dig-site. She had to warn the patrols¡ªshe had to warn Sivanya.

    Everyone was gathered around Tog¡¯s tent, some eighty people in all; low murmurs filled the buzzing crowd. Zaina slowed to a walk as she approached and shot a glance toward the temple¡ªbreakthrough indeed. The exposed face of the temple had tripled in size; a small chasm filled the gap between the plateau the dig-site stood atop and the mountain itself.

    Zaina joined the crowd¡ªthey listened to a comms unit in the command tent, which blared echoes of the frantic screams and loud cracks and pops audible from the forest¡¯s depths.

    There was a voice that was distinctly Sivanya¡¯s shouting, ¡°Fall back! Fall back! Tog, do you read?¡±

    ¡°I read, Siv¡ª¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve got a code one! This isn¡¯t a patrol, it¡¯s an assault force! Prep the dig-site like we planned. This is it¡ªaah! This is the big one!¡± The line went dead.

    ¡°Sivanya?¡± Tog asked, worry seeping into her tone. ¡°Sivanya, do you read?¡±

    The line came back for a moment, then flickered out. Then it roared back to life, mirroring the distant sounds of explosions and gunfire. Sivanya was shouting, ¡°Hurry, go! Fall back¡ª¡±¡ªa buzz of static cut her off¡ª¡°¡ªheavy losses¡ª¡±

    The line fell silent and stayed so. Tog took a deep breath and then addressed the group, ¡°Okay, everyone, listen up. Now, I know we¡¯re all here either because we don¡¯t want to or can¡¯t fight, but the time has come to step up. The unmarked are coming to wipe each and every one of us out. But we won¡¯t make it easy for them.¡±

    The crowd stirred with excitement, both positive and negative, as Tog continued, ¡°I can¡¯t promise any of us will survive to see nightfall. They¡¯re coming here to kill us all! Us, decent people who stayed out of their way. If that doesn¡¯t make your blood boil, make you want to fight, nothing will! I know you stand before me, laborers, miners, machiners, but believe this¡ªthey¡¯ll kill you all the same, so fight all the same! We¡¯re going to prep the dig-site for the coming attack, so follow my instructions to the letter and we¡¯ll stand a chance of holding these bastards off. Breo¡ªtake your team and go to the pods. Get everyone there here. Kara, you take yours and go to Rasmus¡¯s weapon depot¡ªbring everything back. Tagalan, you and your machiners are going to move every piece of heavy equipment we have to exactly where I specify, got it? And Geramad, you and yours are going to coordinate with the machinists moving whatever¡¯s in the way, out.

    ¡°Now, the last task is the most dangerous, so I¡¯ll ask for volunteers¡ªwe need to send at least two people to back up the patrols and help as many of them as possible get back home.¡±

    Zaina immediately raised her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡±

    Geramad looked at her with an admiring expression and raised his hand. ¡°I will go, too.¡±

    Another, a young woman with oversized overalls, raised her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll go, too.¡±

    ¡°Are you all certain?¡±

    The trio nodded their heads.

    ¡°Very well. Go. Tanqo, you take Geramad¡¯s place getting the area clear.¡±

    Tog turned her attention toward coordinating the dig-site¡¯s defense, ordering the drillers and shovelers to form a defensive line. As everyone else ran off, Zaina, Geramad, and Bloqeli shared a quick, understanding glance¡ªthey probably weren¡¯t going to survive this¡ªand ran into the forest.

 Chapter 110: The Burning

    ¡°It is not our duty to render judgment on their souls, only to send them to he who will.¡±

    ¡ªFormer High Priest of Byzon and leader of the militant Steel Faith, Eliam Aliferega, before the Desitoom Massacre

    The forest trees were a blur¡ªZaina wasn¡¯t sure she¡¯d ever run so fast in her life. It took all her concentration to dodge and weave her way toward the chaos. Geramad and Bloqeli were similar blurs, fading in and out of sight.

    ¡°We should split up,¡± Geramad called out. ¡°Better chance of finding someone.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bloqeli said, then split off at an angle. Geramad kept going straight, but pointed for Zaina to go the opposite way of Bloqeli.

    Zaina wasn¡¯t sure if it was the best idea, but decided to follow the order. They had to think about the bigger picture¡ªgetting every member of the patrol group who was still alive back to aid the dig-site¡¯s defense was critical. Plus, Geramad had directed her to run in the direction she was pretty sure her ship landed¡ªif she could get her hex-shield and her utility belt, she¡¯d feel much better about her chances of surviving. Plus, she wasn¡¯t sure if Gizmo would survive a forest fire inside a ship¡ªbetter safe than sorry, she figured.

    The thought struck her¡ªwould Sivanya really still care that Zaina was a lancer, even now? If they were fighting side-by-side to save the enclave, what did it matter whether Zaina was a lancer or not, or had been lying¡ªand lying for what, exactly? Because she wanted to help save their lives, to put an end to the violence? In a time like this, with so much on the line, would it still matter to Sivanya?

    Zaina didn¡¯t know, and part of her didn¡¯t care anymore. The Sivanya Enclave needed a lancer whether their leader liked it or not. Plus, whatever peace Zaina wanted to achieve through infiltration was now null and void¡ªnow she had to think about how the hell she was going to survive, too.

    In the distance the sound and echoes of constant gunfire and heavy artillery rang into the sky, which was thick with smoke. The fire was spreading fast.

    I have to hurry.

    Luck was on Zaina¡¯s side for once¡ªshe crested a hill and laid eyes on the crash-landed ship she arrived in. There wasn¡¯t much time, though¡ªabout two hundred feet away was a sea of flames, a crimson wave devouring the sky and trees alike, and spitting out plumes of smoke with only ash left in its wake. It was a long line, like a blazing horizon.

    Zaina sprinted and made it to the ship before the fire, but it had closed half the distance. In a hurry, she opened the door and frantically looked for her armor and equipment.

    ¡°Gizmo, wake up!¡±

    Gizmo chirped and floated into the air. ¡°Yes, Miss Zaina?¡±

    She threw her TAC-suit on and started frantically putting on pieces of armor. ¡°Get above the treeline and stay there until the fire¡¯s out, hear me?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Miss¡ª¡±

    ¡°NOW!¡±

    Gizmo beeped affirmatively and did as he was told. Zaina got her mask on, now fully dressed in her lancer gear, and jumped outside the ship. The fire was feet away¡ªshe activated her hex-shield and knelt.

    The fire passed around her shield, leaving her unburnt. That wasn¡¯t her concern, though¡ªthe temperature was still rising fast. She activated the cooling systems on her suit and prayed they worked¡ªa wave of relief rushed over her, then slowly faded as the unceasing heat returned little by little. The last thing she wanted was to get cooked in her armor.

    Of course, the thought struck Zaina that she rarely got what she wanted.

    It¡¯s too fucking hot.

    Sweat was leaking from what felt like every pore in her body. Without the cooling system she¡¯d already have been a charred corpse¡ªshe gulped and hoped like hell it held out.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    The inferno was still raging around her shield, still gradually cooking her¡ªa readout on her mask indicated backup oxygen levels were depleting. The cooling system wasn¡¯t going to hold out forever, too¡ªit was wasting a lot of coolant fast.

    Then, the moment before the heat became absolutely unbearable, the fire swept over her. As quickly as it had come, it was gone. Nothing was left behind but burnt stumps and falling ash. Zaina lowered her hex-shield and raised her mask, letting some semi-fresh air in. She sucked down a deep breath and immediately coughed, choking on the thick smoke that hung in the air.

    She collected herself, thinking on her next step. The fire had passed¡ªwhichever of her marked allies were alive, they were likely on the other side of it. The forces of Deonago were likely coming right behind the fire. She could stay here and fight them, or she could try to beat the unmarked back to the enclave and help them make their final stand.

    Assuming they don¡¯t think I¡¯m with the unmarked.

    Zaina shook aside her concerns. The enemy was upon them; there was no time now for petty divisions. She was going to help the enclave however she could.

    Her vis-screen rang¡ªXyrthe was calling. She answered.

    It was surprisingly comforting to hear her mentor¡¯s voice. ¡°Motherfucking¡ªhey! Hey! Is that you? Are you still alive?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zaina said. ¡°I¡¯m alive.¡±

    ¡°What, are you their hostage or something?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m¡ªit¡¯s not that.¡±

    ¡°Look, we don¡¯t have time for this. The battle¡¯s about to go down whether we like it or not. I think it¡¯s best if we disappear.¡±

    It took a second for Zaina to process what her mentor was saying. ¡°What¡ªyou mean, like, leave?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, skip town, leave, whatever you want to call it. The enclave¡¯s cooked¡ªDirzo¡¯s breaking out the big guns. He thinks they kidnapped his son and either killed him or turned him into a heretic¡ªeither way, he¡¯s not fucking around. I don¡¯t know about you, but I don¡¯t feel like dying today.¡±

    Zaina looked around at the burnt remnants of a forest. ¡°But¡ªwe can¡¯t just leave them. Not after all this, not after getting so close!¡±

    ¡°We weren¡¯t close to shit, Zaina¡ªDirzo was gonna attack sooner rather than later anyway. Call it grief, call it anger, call it whatever¡ªthe point is, he moved up his timetable.¡±

    Zaina sighed and noticed an ankle strap on her armor was only half-attached. She bent over to fix it, and a thunderous crack filled the air. A scrap bead whizzed above her back, where her heart had been seconds ago.

    Zaina snapped up and raised her hex-shield. She¡¯d waited too long¡ªthe unmarked were here. ¡°I gotta go,¡± she said.

    ¡°Zaina, no¡ªwait!¡±

    Zaina ended the call. Another round of pops rang out, and her shield repulsed three beads. She scanned the horizon, hoping to lay eyes on her attackers¡ªthere in the distance were massive, metal tanks. They rolled on two pairs of treads and had an orb-like structure at the top, with incendiary guns affixed to either side and a ten-foot long barrel extending from the center of the orb. Each was jet black in color except for stripes of flame patterns. Walking alongside the tanks were dozens¡ªno, hundreds of black-clad soldiers.

    Fuck.

    She deactivated her shield and booked it. Beads bounced off her armor every so often, but nothing punched through. They were clearly focus-firing her, but most of their shots missed altogether. In that moment speed was her greatest ally.

    Then, a boom broke out that seemed like it cracked the sky itself¡ªa heavy shell, fired from one of the tanks, impacted behind Zaina. She was far enough away to avoid the explosion, but hundreds of tiny metal pings filled her ears as her armor repulsed the shrapnel. Before she could even blink again, another tank fired off a round, this one flying right in front of her.

    That was close. Definitely don¡¯t want to get hit by one of those.

    She kept sprinting back toward the enclave, winding and weaving and never running in a straight line¡ªif she let her path become predictable she didn¡¯t stand a chance of making it another hundred yards, much less surviving.

    She was steadily losing her attackers, putting more ground between herself and their advance. Now their frothing shouts and jeers were in the distance, though the occasional scrap bead still whizzed too close to her head for comfort. It struck her that she was running back toward the fire, and probably gaining ground on it.

    One problem at a time, I guess.

    Zaina looked toward the mountain, which was now less obscured¡ªshe was close. She had to keep going.

    Without a second thought she sprinted toward the enclave. The smoke was thicker, so she lowered her mask. When the fire came into view, she ran faster¡ªnow she was chasing it. Then, right before running back into the inferno, she jumped, leaping into the sky with reckless abandon¡ªshe was bound to cover at least forty feet, but it wasn¡¯t enough. Right when she began to descend, she activated her rocket boots, zooming forward and over the fire. On impacting the ground she tucked and rolled perfectly, allowing her to transition into a breakneck sprint.

    The trees streamed past¡ªthere was no time to think. Zaina made it through the treeline within minutes. The dig-site was quite different now¡ªall the heavy machinery was arranged in a semi-circle around the temple entrance. A scrap bead bounced off her left pauldron¡ªit had come from the enclave. More rifles were poking through openings in the defensive wall¡ªZaina gulped. The enclave was seeing her in lancer armor for the first time¡ªthey didn¡¯t know it was her.

    Would it honestly make a difference at this point?

    There was only one way to find out.

    She quickly lifted her helmet. ¡°Stop! It¡¯s me, Zaina!¡±

 Chapter 111: Grudge

    ¡°Hatred is such a fickle thing, isn¡¯t it? It feels so powerful, but it is so utterly weak. Hatred can only exist when it is nurtured, when it is fed in an unbroken cycle. But all of its machinations, all of its attempts to last forever are so thoroughly undone by simple compassion.¡±

    ¡ªHigh Sendekka of Malagailan Oris Ebelad in a speech regarding the Canonization of Alorum

    ¡°Don¡¯t shoot!¡± Zaina said, raising her hands.

    There was commotion throughout the defensive works. A familiar face popped out of a groove in one of the drillers¡ªYlasna.

    This time, she recognized Zaina, too.

    ¡°Hey! I know her, she¡¯s one of us! Sweet armor, where¡¯d you get it?¡±

    ¡°Long story,¡± Zaina said. ¡°Can I come over?¡±

    ¡°Sure! Way I see it, we need all the help we can get!¡±

    Zaina breathed a sigh of relief. So far no one seemed to recognize the armor as that of a lancer¡ªfor now the ramifications could be put off. She approached one of the shovelers and climbed the machine. On the other side were a group of about thirty marked, each nervously holding scrapshots or birifles (and mostly holding them wrong); the others were spread throughout the defensive works, brandishing projectile weapons and fangs alike.

    ¡°Is Sivanya back?¡± Zaina asked.

    Jyree, who Zaina recognized, shook his head, his expression grim. ¡°We haven¡¯t heard anything for a few minutes now. But the fire¡¯s getting closer.¡±

    Zaina turned back toward the forest¡ªit was close to being completely burned away. Whatever little hope of Sivanya or the patrol team making it back alive was fading quickly.

    ¡°Were you able to save anyone?¡± Ylasna called down.

    Zaina frowned. ¡°No. I didn¡¯t find anyone out there¡ªthe unmarked must have got them.¡±

    ¡°Alert! Movement!¡± another unmarked from the top shouted. Ylasna turned and focused her birifle on the forest.

    ¡°Movement! I see it!¡±

    Zaina waited to hear what was happening. Commotion stirred¡ªSivanya¡¯s name being thrown about.

    Then, Tog¡¯s voice came over every radio, ¡°Move the damn drillers in the middle¡ªopen up! Quickly, they¡¯re hurt!¡±

    Zaina stepped back as the drivers hastily climbed into the two machines and turned them slightly, creating an opening wide enough for two people to walk through side-by-side. First came Rasmus, who was covered in bleeding holes¡ªone of his legs had been blown off, so two others were supporting him. He collapsed to the ground once he was through and clear of the entrance. The two women supporting him dragged his unconscious body to a nearby tent.

    Next came Sivanya, who was lending a helping shoulder to another injured member of the patrol group. Sivanya herself was relatively unscathed, but the warrior beside her was in bad shape; burns and bleeding shrapnel marks covered the left side of her body, and the only sound she uttered were frightened, pained moans, and occasionally asking for her mother.

    Sivanya passed the wounded woman off to a group of marked, who promptly guided her off to the same tent Rasmus was taken to.

    ¡°Sivanya! Any more coming?¡± a marked man greeted her.

    ¡°No,¡± she replied, her voice heavy with grief. ¡°Everyone else is dead. We have to get ready¡ªthey¡¯ll be coming shortly after the fire burns out.¡±

    Sivanya scanned the crowd until her eyes fell on Zaina¡ªin a single moment her face changed from confused to shocked, and then to pure hatred.

    ¡°You,¡± she said, her voice dripping with enough malice to turn everyone¡¯s heads toward Zaina.

    Zaina took a step back. ¡°I¡ª¡±

    ¡°I knew you were lying to me,¡± Sivanya said, summoning her fang, ¡°but I never imagined this. You, a lancer¡ªsent here to destroy us. Isn¡¯t that right? That¡¯s what you¡¯ve been playing at this whole time. Trying to gain my trust so you could slaughter my people.¡±

    By now every other member of the enclave had parted, leaving an open path between Zaina and Sivanya. They were all staring at Zaina, their faces ranging from neutral to openly hostile. ¡°No, that¡¯s not true! I can explain¡ª¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    Sivanya pointed her fang at Zaina¡¯s heart, her eyes glowing with malicious intent. ¡°To your stations, everyone. I¡¯ll handle this.¡±

    No one budged, and Sivanya seemed to notice. She growled, ¡°Go!¡±

    This time the other marked listened, climbing back to their positions.

    Zaina held her hands up and said, ¡°I¡¯m here to help. I¡¯m on your side. It doesn¡¯t have to be¡ª¡±

    Before she got the next word out, Sivanya surged forward and slashed at Zaina¡¯s neck. She barely summoned her cipher in time to block the attack¡ªtheir blades crossed with a sizzling hiss.

    ¡°Sivanya, lis¡ª¡± Zaina was cut off by a fist striking her nose, knocking her backward. She stumbled but stayed on her feet, raising her cipher to stave off another attack.

    Sivanya pressed into Zaina¡¯s defenses, unleashing blow after blow; Zaina was barely able to keep up with the attacks, much less counter them. She was forced to cede ground, being pushed back by the speed and ferocity of her opponent¡¯s assault. It was a losing battle, and she was losing it faster by the second.

    Forced to keep her attention on Sivanya, Zaina back-stepped into one of the empty tents  and tripped over a spare piece of equipment on the floor, falling backward against the canvas; the structure gave under her weight, collapsing all around her as the back of her head slammed against the earth below. She barely managed to block the next downward strike.

    Sivanya¡¯s words were laced with venom. ¡°You know, I think you might be the weakest lancer I¡¯ve ever encountered. All the better for me, I suppose¡ªright, Zaina? If that¡¯s even your real name.¡±

    ¡°It¡ªis,¡± Zaina said, feeling all of Sivanya¡¯s strength pressing against hers. She couldn¡¯t hold out for much longer. ¡°I¡¯m¡ªnot¡ªlying!¡±

    ¡°Well, Zaina, it doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Sivanya replied. ¡°Your side won. We¡¯re going to lose¡ªbut so will you.¡±

    She pressed further, and Zaina nearly gave¡ªthen she had an idea. She changed the angle of her block and threw Sivanya¡¯s fang to the side, taking her balance; then Zaina whipped her cipher around, stabbing it through Sivanya¡¯s prosthetic leg. With a twist and a yank, the prosthetic leg shattered. Sivanya gave a surprised shout and collapsed to one knee.

    Zaina took the opportunity to scramble to her feet and put some distance between them. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry!¡±

    Sivanya roared. ¡°Why, you little¡ªgah!¡±

    Zaina ran twenty feet before realizing how much ground they¡¯d covered¡ªshe was at the bottom of the scaffolding lining the cliff. She frowned and looked back¡ªSivanya was crawling toward her, grunting and growling the whole way.

    Looks like I¡¯m going up.

    The lowest platform, made of wood, was about twelve feet off the ground, supported haphazardly by a few rusty poles, some rope, and a few planks; nestled beneath it was one of the heavy mining suits, resting in the shade. From there Zaina figured she¡¯d be safe, so she climbed to the top.

    ¡°Sivanya, please, listen! I¡¯m not here to hurt any of you, I¡¯m here to help!¡±

    ¡°Liar!¡± Sivanya spat. ¡°You think I¡¯m going to believe you now, after you¡¯ve lied to me from the moment I met you?¡±

    ¡°No! That¡¯s not true! I¡¯m here to hel¡ª¡±

    ¡°No you¡¯re not! You¡¯re a lancer! Don¡¯t you dare try to still pretend you¡¯re on our side after all you¡¯ve done!¡±

    Zaina took a deep breath, trying to think of how to reach Sivanya¡ªthey needed to focus on the true enemies, the unmarked army, if the enclave had any chance of surviving.

    In the meantime Sivanya crawled out of sight below. Then, Zaina heard the whirring and clicking of a machine humming to life. She recognized her mistake too late.

    Uh-oh. That¡¯s not good.

    A massive metal fist punched through the wooden platform only two feet from Zaina¡ªthe structure crumpled, but she grabbed a net that had been fastened against the wall and started to climb. She looked back down¡ªSivanya, now operating the mining suit, was furiously ascending the half-broken structure. Her fang, still in her hand, had sliced clean through one of the suit¡¯s hands. Sivanya took a swipe at Zaina, her fang glancing off her armored boot.

    Oh, shit. That¡¯s really not good.

    Zaina redoubled her efforts to gain height quickly, scrambling to the top of a metal walkway and jumping to the next level, which was a platform of thick glass. Here she stopped¡ªSivanya was about twenty feet below. Zaina glanced upward at the scaffolding, of which there was still plenty left. She pulled out her particle hook-gun and sent the tracking tip up to higher ground.

    But the higher we go, the less chance of it supporting her weight. To be honest, I¡¯m surprised she¡¯s made it this far. And if she takes down too much of the bottom¡ª

    A ferocious roar broke her concentration¡ªSivanya was climbing a wide ladder made of polysynth to reach Zaina¡¯s platform. It bent but held her weight, and the glass cracked but also held as she climbed atop it.

    ¡°Sivanya, please,¡± she said, dissipating her cipher. ¡°You have to believe me¡ªI¡¯m here to help.¡±

    ¡°Help?!¡± Sivanya said with a sneer. ¡°Help! You certainly have, Zaina! You¡¯ve helped the enemy to our doorstep! And now what? You want to plunge your cipher into my back the moment I turn it to you?¡±

    Before Zaina could respond, Sivanya charged forward with surprising speed. The glass barely held, and Zaina, not expecting such a sudden rush, was a moment too late. Before she pulled the trigger on her hook-gun, the mining mech struck her with a full-body tackle. It wrapped its arms around her as they crashed through a rotting wooden platform and landed with an ear-splitting bang on a tilted, semi-circular platform made of durable metal. It supported their combined weight, much to Zaina¡¯s surprise.

    Zaina¡¯s head was ringing¡ªhad it struck the platform they¡¯d landed on? She wasn¡¯t sure, but she was conscious enough to see the massive metal fist descending toward her. Zaina grabbed her cipher with both hands and swung at it, deflecting it away from the cliff¡ªSivanya¡¯s momentum carried her over the edge of the platform, and she tumbled about eight feet to a similar platform below, landing with a metallic clamor and a pained growl.

    There was no time to waste¡ªZaina started climbing again. Ladders, ropes, nets, bars, whatever she could get her hands on, she did. She didn¡¯t need to look down to know Sivanya was already up and following her¡ªshe gathered that from the relentless grunts and roars coming from below.

    Instead, her eyes fell toward the forest¡ªthe fire had gone out after burning the woods to cinder. There, on the horizon, was movement, like so many tiny insects weaving between toy tanks. The unmarked army was here, and their numbers were unlike anything Zaina had ever seen.

 Chapter 112: The Throes of Hatred

    ¡°Minds can be changed¡ªhatred, undone within a heart.¡±

    ¡ªPhilosopher Jorava Fetemer

    Zaina sighed. There¡¯s no time for this.

    She glanced back toward Sivanya, figuring her only option left was knocking some sense into her. Now was the perfect time¡ªshe was crossing a metal walkway to get to a set of crooked stairs carved out of the mountain. Zaina took a deep breath and jumped toward her, aiming her boot at the mining mech¡¯s head. It connected with a sharp crunch¡ªvibrations from the impact ran up Zaina¡¯s leg and spine, though her armor blunted the worst of it. Her momentum was enough to knock the mining mech onto its back. The head covering fell ajar, exposing Sivanya¡¯s face.

    Zaina pointed toward the advancing army on the horizon. ¡°The real enemy is here! If we stand any chance at surviving, we have to fight together!¡±

    The mining suit clumsily stood while its pilot replied, ¡°There is no we. You¡¯re a lancer¡ªyou are the enemy, Zaina.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Zaina said. ¡°If you would listen for one second, you¡¯d see I¡¯m on your side!¡±

    Sivanya¡¯s eyes narrowed into a sharp glare. ¡°How am I supposed to believe you after everything you lied about! You lied about your mark, where you got it from¡ªyou must really hate us, to have gotten that tattooed. If your cause wasn¡¯t so twisted, I¡¯d admire your dedication.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not¡ªSivanya, look at yourself! Look at your people! They need you right now! Down there with them, fighting¡ªnot up here fighting someone who¡¯s trying to help you!¡±

    Sivanya leaped forward and swung, but Zaina jumped in time to avoid being bisected and activated her rocket boots to float to the next platform. Below, the mining mech had cracked the stone stairs, and was in hot pursuit.

    Zaina used her rocket boots again, jumping two platforms up. She jumped to ascend to a third, but a thrown pickax struck her leg, damaging one of her thrusters and knocking her off course. She activated the other one, but it alone lacked the power to lift her¡ªshe tumbled to the platform below, a sturdy-looking wooden disk. The metal platform above, only about twelve feet up, was much more haphazard-looking¡ªit seemed heavy and ready to collapse at a moment¡¯s notice, and it was supported by two rusty metal poles sticking out of the mountain.

    Zaina had barely gotten upright when Sivanya climbed onto the same platform. In the mining suit¡¯s hand was a massive pipe she had ripped out below.

    ¡°Use all your little lancer tricks you want,¡± she menaced. ¡°They won¡¯t save you. I¡¯ve seen them all before, and I¡¯m still here.¡±

    ¡°While we¡¯re fighting, they¡¯re getting closer,¡± Zaina said, exasperated. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to¡ª¡±

    ¡°You can stop lying now,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°You can stop pretending like you care what happens to us. Like you don¡¯t want this to happen. At least do me the kindness of being honest now that we¡¯re at the end. This whole act is only making me despise you even more.¡±

    Zaina glanced toward the advancing army¡ªthey had stopped a few hundred feet or so from the defensive line, and were waiting; the only movement came from an advancing tank with a gun six times the size of any others, and the infantry and smaller tanks moving to get out of the way of the behemoth.

    Someone had to warn the enclave¡ªZaina shouted as loudly as she could, ¡°Get out of there! Retreat to the temple!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare try your tricks on them¡ªthis is between you and me!¡±

    Sivanya surged forward. Zaina tried to jump away, but Sivanya predicted it and threw the pipe¡ªit perfectly struck Zaina¡¯s already-damaged leg, shattering the broken rocket thruster and piercing her armor. A sickening crunch, metal and bone alike, flooded Zaina¡¯s ears in that moment, then vanished. A shocked gasp ripped from Zaina¡¯s throat as she landed on it and collapsed onto her stomach. Only then did the pain arrive through a haze of shock.

    There was no time to think¡ªZaina grabbed her particle-hook gun with her prosthetic arm and weakly aimed it upward. Again, she was a moment too late.

    Sivanya¡¯s metal hand wrapped tightly around Zaina¡¯s forearm; Zaina squeezed the trigger, but the hook-gun was immediately pulled from her hand, flying off uselessly. Then, Sivanya squeezed, crushing Zaina¡¯s metal arm, and lifted her into the air by it.

    Zaina squirmed and struggled and kicked, but there was nothing she could do. She glanced upward at the shaky-looking platform above¡ªit was her only hope of survival, but there was a chance one or both of them would be seriously hurt or killed. She didn¡¯t see any other way.

    Sivanya gloated, dangling Zaina in the air like a hunting trophy; her fang was poised to deliver the final blow. ¡°Oh, my, Zaina¡ªand you were so close to getting away, too! Any last words, little lancer?¡±

    Zaina glanced to the side¡ªthe marked were retreating into the temple. Then she looked back at Sivanya, whose eyes were glowing with malice. There was one last move for Zaina to make.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zaina replied. ¡°Watch out!¡±

    In an instant she summoned her cipher and cut through the pipe supporting the platform above.

    Sivanya¡¯s eyes widened, and she looked up. ¡°What?¡±

    There was a distant thud, and the next moment Zaina was falling and bouncing off other things in the air. The next moment she had landed¡ªhad she? The world was spinning so much it felt like she was still falling.

    Her senses returned to her slowly¡ªshe tried to move her prosthetic limb, only to find it had been severed at the forearm. Sivanya was nowhere in sight. The entire scaffolding had collapsed into several heaps of rubble, one of which was currently on top of Zaina.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Luckily, she¡¯d landed flat on her belly beneath a large metal surface; a few large stones had broken the impact. The impact had broken them, too, so there was less than a foot of vertical space to work with when it came to crawling out.

    A cracking boom split the sky and nearly ruptured Zaina¡¯s eardrum¡ªher head was ringing as she slowly inched her way toward freedom, still weakened from the fall and hindered by considerable pain surging from her wounded leg. The pipe had been dislodged, so Zaina left a trail of blood behind as she pulled her way toward freedom. Another boom startled her.

    Through cracks in the rubble, the source of the loud noise became clear¡ªthe big tank she¡¯d seen was blowing apart the enclave¡¯s row of machines, leaving behind towers of smoke twisting from the burning wreckage. The odor of scrap powder and fire filled Zaina¡¯s nostrils while smoke filled her mouth, nearly choking her.

    People filtered through the haze, starting as silhouettes and becoming clearer¡ªunmarked soldiers. They looked for any surviving marked, but there were none to be found; thankfully, instead of searching near the base of the cliff, they held back. Perhaps they thought it was a trap¡ªeither way, it bought Zaina some time.

    She kept crawling her way to freedom, keeping an eye on the steadily increasing number of troops. Then, someone who looked important walked through the smoking wreckage¡ªit was a tall, Diveldaran man wearing a military-style hat and a long, black coat with dozens of medals and buttons. He held up a hand and advanced with his troops.

    Zaina was still a few feet away from freedom, though it may as well have been miles. About twenty feet away, in another pile of rubble, the mining suit¡¯s hand popped free from underneath a pile of metal, wood, and stone. The torso crawled out, its last act before its lights blinked out; then, Sivanya spilled out of the front, landing on the rubble with a damp thud and a pained yelp.

    Now there were shouts. ¡°There! A heretic!¡±

    ¡°Heretic! Heretic!¡±

    Zaina watched in horror as the man in the long coat held up his arm again¡ªhis black-clad soldiers stopped in a neat line, birifles at the ready.

    Sivanya sneered and said, ¡°Bring it on, then, you bastards!¡±

    A wicked smile came over the man¡¯s face. ¡°Open f¡ª¡±

    A high-pitched voice stopped him in his tracks. ¡°Wait!¡±

    Zaina recognized that voice¡ªcould it be?

    Kalo climbed out of the exposed bit of temple. The unmarked leader¡¯s expression changed immediately.

    ¡°Kal¡ªKalo? My boy? Is that you? Are you hurt?¡±

    Kalo didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he ran in front of Sivanya and spread his arms. ¡°You have to stop, Dad!¡±

    ¡°What?¡± the man replied, taken aback.

    Zaina was right there with him. Wait¡ªso he¡¯s¡ªwhat?

    The man, whom Zaina presumed was Dirzo, continued, ¡°What are you¡ªby the spirit, did you turn him?!¡±

    Sivanya shook her head. ¡°We don¡¯t turn everyone who gets lost in the woods.¡±

    Kalo stomped his foot and said, ¡°You¡¯re wrong about these people¡ªthey¡¯re not monsters! They¡¯re people, like us. And they¡¯re scared of you¡ªI was scared of you, too. But they kept me and Vika safe from you.¡±

    ¡°Son,¡± Dirzo said, ¡°you don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. This is one of their tricks¡ªone of their lies.¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not! They fed us, gave us a place to stay¡ªthey even helped with Vika¡¯s leg! Why do you want to hurt them so bad when all they want to do is live?¡±

    ¡°I¡ª¡±

    Kalo didn¡¯t break eye contact. ¡°You told me monsters live out in the forest. Well, I didn¡¯t find any. But now I see one.¡±

    Dirzo didn¡¯t respond.

    Zaina, emboldened by a second wind, crawled her way to freedom. She tried to stand and stumbled; she couldn¡¯t put any weight on her injured leg. She hopped over to Kalo¡¯s side, blocking Sivanya from the unmarked.

    Zaina said, ¡°Kalo¡¯s right. These people aren¡¯t a threat to you. They want to live in peace.¡±

    Sivanya spat out blood and said, ¡°You¡¯re turning coat on them, too?¡±

    Dirzo scoffed. ¡°She¡¯s not with us. She¡¯s a heretic.¡±

    The words cut deeper than Zaina expected after hearing ¡®marked¡¯ and ¡®unmarked¡¯ for so long. She stepped forward and summoned her cipher. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know¡ªboth of you¡ªthat I am a lancer and a marked, and my name is Zaina Quin!¡± Her cipher disappeared, and she closed her hand into a fist. ¡°I know I¡¯m not as old as either of you. But I¡¯ve been in fights worth fighting, and fights that had to be fought. And this¡ªthis isn¡¯t either.¡±

    She turned to Dirzo. ¡°All of this fighting, all of this hate¡ªwhat has it gotten you? What has it accomplished? You¡¯ve done nothing but make these poor people live in fear and dread and terror for years! Does that make you feel better? Do you feel good about this¡ªall this?¡± She gestured toward the wanton destruction all around them. ¡°Is all of this worth it? Is any of it worth anything? Can you really say your people are better off because of the terror you¡¯ve inflicted, because of all the lives you¡¯ve destroyed?!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s my duty,¡± he replied. ¡°To my people, and to my god.¡±

    Zaina was taken aback. ¡°These people took in your son, no questions asked, and helped him because it was the decent thing to do. You¡¯re going to repay that by killing them all, and then you think yourself a hero for doing it? You¡¯re sick! All this hatred is a sickness, and it¡¯s poisoned everything! Can¡¯t you see? All this hate is for nothing! Even your son can see that¡ªwhy can¡¯t you?¡±

    Dirzo took a few seconds to reply. ¡°So, what? You want me to just forgive everything? All of my men they¡¯ve killed¡ªall of the broken families, the pain they¡¯ve caused?!¡±

    Sivanya grunted as she sat up. ¡°We never killed or hurt anyone who wasn¡¯t in our forest trying to kill us.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you get it?¡± Zaina asked him. ¡°Your men aren¡¯t dead because of them¡ªthey¡¯re dead because you sent them out here when you didn¡¯t have to! And there¡¯s still time to prevent more pain, more suffering! It¡¯s not too late for everyone to live in peace! But if you keep going, there¡¯s only more loss¡ªmore pain. There¡¯s still hope that can change!¡±

    Sivanya scoffed. ¡°You can¡¯t seriously expect us to forgive them, lancer? To forgive you?¡±

    Zaina turned to Sivanya. ¡°Whatever weird thing you have with lancers, I¡¯m sorry. But I haven¡¯t done anything to you. Okay, I admit I deceived you, but I really was here trying to keep all of this from happening the whole time. I didn¡¯t want to see innocents get slaughtered for no reason. And as for forgiving them¡ªno, I don¡¯t expect that. I don¡¯t expect either of you to forgive each other, or even like each other. But you don¡¯t have to kill each other.¡±

    A tense silence fell over everyone. For a moment, Zaina feared Dirzo was too far gone¡ªthat he would be willing to kill his own son just to rid the world of two marked. Or maybe Sivanya was too far gone¡ªmaybe she¡¯d stab Zaina in the back. Something had to happen.

    Finally, Dirzo broke the silence. ¡°Are you really not hurt, my boy?¡±

    ¡°No, Dad. And I¡¯m not hungry, either. They took care of me.¡±

    Dirzo nodded, his eyes wracked with pain and sorrow. ¡°I must admit, I never thought the day would come where I owed my son being alive to one of your kind. And to think, I could have¡ªI nearly¡ªbut you¡­you protected him. From me.¡±

    Sivanya chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m in shock, too. I never expected a lancer to be on my side. Or for an unmarked to stand up for us.¡±

    Zaina looked back¡ªSivanya¡¯s lips were turned up in a coy grin. Had she snapped out of it? No¡ªthe hatred was still there, in her eyes. This was something else¡ªsomething beyond hate¡¯s grasp.

    Dirzo, too, was struggling. ¡°But¡ªhow can we just¡ªwe came all this way! We can¡¯t just turn back now! Not after everything we¡¯ve sacrificed, everything we¡¯ve lost!¡±

    ¡°Yes, you can,¡± Zaina said. ¡°You can walk away, and maybe your son won¡¯t see you as a monster. Or you can do what you think is your duty. A blood sacrifice to appease your god. And there¡¯ll be more suffering, more pain, more sacrifice¡ªall for nothing. Is that really what they want?¡±

    Dirzo contemplated this for another long, tense silence. Then, he barked, ¡°About face! We¡¯re going home!¡±

    There was groaning and buzzing whispers among the soldiers, but they all obeyed. Dirzo sighed and said to Sivanya, ¡°Perhaps¡ªperhaps we could try to live together again. Not as friends¡ª¡±

    ¡°No,¡± she said. ¡°Never.¡±

    ¡°But since you saved my son¡¯s life¡ªI don¡¯t know. Maybe we can try another way.¡±

    She smiled at him¡ªZaina wondered how many years it had been since Sivanya had smiled at an unmarked. ¡°What the hell¡ªmaybe I¡¯ve been wrong about a few things, too. Maybe one more chance couldn¡¯t hurt.¡±

 Chapter 113: A Bitter Peace

    ¡°You do not have to love your neighbor, nor even like them, to co-exist with them.¡±

    ¡ªEndebarga Unidan, former Chidron of Midliore

    Zaina stared at the ceiling of the medic¡¯s tent. Her leg was healing slowly but surely, but it was still too tender to put any weight on¡ªso here she was, stuck recovering until Xyrthe came to retrieve her.

    If she even comes. I¡¯ll bet she¡¯s halfway to Kaado.

    Truth be told, she was bored. She¡¯d spent the night in the medic tent at Sivanya¡¯s insistence. Earlier in the morning she was assured by Tog that Xyrthe had been ¡®contacted for extraction,¡¯ as she put it, so there was nothing to do but wait. She hadn¡¯t slept¡ªthe events of the day before kept her up.

    Of course, she knew what was gnawing at her. The only person she wanted to talk to right now was Sivanya¡ªshe was the only one who¡¯d be able to understand the strange feeling Zaina was experiencing; part optimism, part trepidation, and part dread.

    She spent the morning staring at the fabric ceiling and thinking of what she wanted to say. There were so many things¡ªfirstly, Sivanya deserved the truth, and an apology for lying. But Zaina also wanted to confront her.

    Unfortunately, all the wonderful words and phrases she¡¯d come up with went out the window the moment Sivanya stepped in. Her eyes scanned the room, sorrowfully looking upon the wounded. They brightened a little when they fell upon Zaina.

    Sivanya gave a half-grin, but there was something behind it¡ªsomething mournful. She turned and waved someone else in¡ªXyrthe. Then they both walked over.

    ¡°Hello, Zaina,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯re awake.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t sleep,¡± she replied. ¡°How are you, Xyrthe? Did you find Gizmo?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s back on the ship. You look like shit.¡±

    Sivanya frowned. ¡°My apologies for that. Most of her wounds were my doing.¡±

    Xyrthe shrugged. ¡°She could use the experience. All right, newbie. Whenever you¡¯re ready, I¡¯m outside.¡±

    Zaina rolled her eyes¡ªXyrthe was dismissive as ever.

    She¡¯s probably ready to get home. Kaado. Her home.

    The enclave felt like more of a home to Zaina than Kaado¡ªthough perhaps that was because she¡¯d been out and about on constant missions for the past few months. She hadn¡¯t spent more than a few nights in a row in her little domicile on the underside of Kaado¡¯s metal crust.

    Once Xyrthe was gone, Zaina and Sivanya started at the same time.

    ¡°I¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡ª¡±

    Zaina waved a hand toward her. ¡°Oh, you first.¡±

    ¡°No, go ahead.¡±

    Zaina nodded. ¡°I¡ªfirst, I want to say I¡¯m sorry that I had to lie to you. It wasn¡¯t what I wanted to do, and it makes me feel like a piece of shit.¡±

    Sivanya sighed. ¡°I appreciate that. The apology, not the second part, mind you. Though I don¡¯t think you were done.¡±

    ¡°No, there was more,¡± Zaina said. ¡°There are some things I didn¡¯t lie to you about. I really did get my mark from the Eldritch¡ªand yes, my mark is real. It¡¯s not a tattoo.¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware one could be a lancer and a marked,¡± Sivanya replied. ¡°It¡¯s no excuse for questioning that part of your identity¡ªthe one part that turned out to be genuine. I¡¯m such a fool.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Zaina said. ¡°Well, you acted foolishly when you found out I was a lancer, but that doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re a fool. If you learn from your mistakes, if you let them make you a better person, then you¡¯re not ever a fool. Plus, I understand that everything you did, at least in your own mind, was for your people.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    Sivanya smiled. ¡°You have your own sort of wisdom, you know that?¡±

    Zaina shrugged. ¡°I¡ªI guess.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Sivanya started, ¡°for what it¡¯s worth, I would like to apologize to you. This whole time I thought all the hatred was coming from the other side of the forest¡ªI didn¡¯t realize how much it had consumed me, too. I was so convinced no lancer could ever be¡ªwell, like you. And my own hatred nearly led to me destroying the one outsider trying to help¡ªand it nearly doomed all of my people.

    ¡°But you, Zaina¡ªyou never gave up, not even at the bitter end. You kept fighting for my people and for me, even when I myself stood in your way. And because of that, because of you, my people will live to see tomorrow. So, in addition to my sincerest apologies, I¡¯d also like to offer you my deepest gratitude. You came into the middle of so much hatred, and your heart won the day.¡±

    Zaina shook her head. ¡°No, it was you¡ªremember? Kalo was the one who stood up for you. If it hadn¡¯t been for him, Dirzo would¡¯ve killed us both.¡±

    ¡°I said that day that the right thing to do for the enclave would have been to kill him,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever been more wrong in my entire life. I still have my doubts, but perhaps there is hope for some sort of peace.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of,¡± Zaina said, sitting up in her cot, ¡°have you talked to Dirzo?¡±

    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s still on edge about the whole thing,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°So am I. He¡¯s re-planting the forest and sending us some old equipment to help rebuild the enclave¡ªand he¡¯s agreed to not interfere with our excavation of the temple.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re still going to keep going?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°I wanted a safe place for the marked¡ªa place we could be ourselves without worry for the world or some dark calling; perhaps it was too good to be true. They made it inside the temple, you know¡ªwhen you told them to retreat, they managed to get inside the structure. But so did Kalo and Vika.¡±

    Zaina nodded. ¡°So it won¡¯t keep them out.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Sivanya said. ¡°No, I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t. Perhaps it¡¯s too good to be true anywhere.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so¡ªand I don¡¯t think you should stop looking. There¡¯s somewhere out there for us, isn¡¯t there? There has to be.¡±

    A warm smile brightened Sivanya¡¯s face. ¡°I do hope you¡¯re right.¡±

    They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, as if no words needed be said; but Zaina knew otherwise.

    ¡°Say,¡± she started.

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    ¡°I¡ªI need to tell you something.¡±

    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s hear it,¡± Sivanya replied.

    Zaina wasn¡¯t quite sure how to start, so she went right from the heart. ¡°Well¡ªit¡¯s this weird feeling I¡¯ve had ever since Dirzo left. I don¡¯t know¡ªI guess part of me is a little worried for you. I mean, I think I did the right thing here, but¡ªI can¡¯t help but feel like the long battle is an uphill one, if that makes sense.¡±

    Sivanya nodded. ¡°It does.¡± Then she stood. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I have other business to attend to¡ªthere¡¯s much to be done, after everything. And it seems your friend is in a hurry to leave.¡±

    Zaina leaned back, groaning. ¡°We¡¯ve been on missions non-stop for months. I think she wants some down time. I can¡¯t lie, I could use some, too.¡±

    A coy chuckle came from Sivanya. ¡°Well, the Nova Rim will still need saving after you¡¯re good and rested. I¡ªI do hope we see each other again someday.¡±

    ¡°I do, too,¡± Zaina said. ¡°You be careful out there. If I ever come across a marked in need, I¡¯ll send them your way.¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯ll know if they mention your name, that they¡¯re to be trusted completely,¡± Sivanya said. She turned to leave, but stopped at the doorway and said, ¡°I¡¯ll never forget you, Zaina Quin¡ªand I¡¯ll never forget what you did here.¡±

    Zaina smiled. Nothing else needed be said. With that, Sivanya left.

    Xyrthe marched in a few seconds later. ¡°You ready?¡±

    ¡°I can barely walk,¡± Zaina replied.

    ¡°Well, you can barely walk on the ship,¡± Xyrthe said. ¡°I¡¯ve got a hovercart to get you there.¡±

    ***

    The sun was setting over Vyzria, its fading light casting dancing shadows across the mountain¡¯s stone faces. More and more, the shadows were overtaking the light; and as the light diminished, so too did Zaina¡¯s time on this world.

    A few more steps and she¡¯d be back in Xyrthe¡¯s ship, which was already powered on. Then Zaina would be a lancer again¡ªbut also an outsider.

    Part of her felt the enclave understood her in a way the Order never could¡ªbut then again, she¡¯d faced different prejudices in her time here. Maybe it was a nice change of pace, to be hated for her lancer half. Really, she wished she wasn¡¯t hated anywhere.

    Xyrthe¡¯s voice snapped her out of her last lingering moments, trying to catch the waning flickers of the sun¡¯s light before it dropped entirely behind the mountains on the horizon. ¡°You coming, rook?¡±

    Zaina hobbled onto the ship. By the time she sat they were already taking off¡ªbeing a lancer often meant little time for sentimental goodbyes. It meant finding dozens of places across the galaxy you¡¯d like to call home, and having to part with each one.

    After a few boring minutes Zaina decided to go bother Xyrthe in the cockpit. She hobbled her way in and sat in the empty co-pilot¡¯s chair.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be resting that leg, rookie?¡±

    Zaina shrugged. ¡°Probably.¡±

    Xyrthe didn¡¯t care. ¡°You know,¡± she said, ¡°I thought you were done for when you didn¡¯t take the extraction.¡±

    ¡°I thought so, too,¡± Zaina replied. ¡°And I almost was.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s quite a story,¡± Xyrthe said.

    ¡°You don¡¯t want to hear it?¡±

    ¡°Hell no,¡± Xyrthe shot back. Then she stood; before walking out, she slapped a hand on Zaina¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°We¡¯re going home, kid.¡±

    Zaina leaned back. Home. Home indeed.

 Chapter 114: Home At Last

    ¡°To return home after so long adrift is nearly unthinkable.¡±

    ¡ªTanahal Izan Frostet, famed explorer, after being rescued from the disastrous Kaytahan Expedition

    Zaina woke with a start, sitting up on the cozy couch against the cabin wall¡ªXyrthe¡¯s ship had lurched.

    Are we there?

    She hobbled to one of the hyper-glass panels lining the wall, still nursing a broken leg from her fight with Sivanya, the leader of a marked enclave. There it was, in plain sight¡ªKaado, a planet snapped in half.

    Zaina limped into the cockpit, where her mentor, Xyrthe, was in the process of manually flying the ship.

    ¡°Finally awake?¡± Xyrthe asked, not even looking toward Zaina.

    ¡°Yeah. How long were we in the void?¡±

    ¡°Only about an hour. Took a bad skip.¡±

    Zaina nodded. ¡°Can I ask a question?¡±

    ¡°If you want to annoy me, sure.¡±

    ¡°Why is Kaado like that?¡±

    Xyrthe shrugged. ¡°Ancient history¡¯s not my strong suit, kid. Ask a scholar.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think any of them would want to talk to me,¡± Zaina replied. Then again, Geli Fawndar, one of the Scholar Supremas, had been kind to her¡ªbut she was probably too busy to answer non-urgent questions.

    ¡°Well,¡± Xyrthe said, her voice a little more aggressive, ¡°let¡¯s leave it at being one of life¡¯s great mysteries then, hmm?¡±

    Zaina plopped down in the co-pilot¡¯s chair and watched as Xyrthe brought them in.

    ¡°So, what are you going to do with a whole week off?¡±

    Xyrthe was adjusting dials and pushing buttons. ¡°That¡¯s for me and my boyfriend to know.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing I won¡¯t see much of you, then.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the hope.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t even know what I¡¯m going to do.¡±

    ¡°Whatever it is, make sure it involves resting your leg.¡±

    Zaina smiled. ¡°Aww, is that your way of saying you care about me?¡±

    Xyrthe shook her head. ¡°You know, believe it or not, but after spending a few months cramped in with you wherever I go, I¡¯m looking forward to not having to deal with your dumb fucking questions.¡±

    Zaina rolled her eyes.

    ¡°What, you got any more? Get ¡®em out of the way now, because once we touch ground you¡¯re not gonna see me for a while.¡±

    ¡°No, hint taken.¡± Zaina had nothing she wanted to say at that point¡ªtruth be told, the thought of a week or two away from Xyrthe didn¡¯t sound too bad.

    At least no one will be bringing me down with constant negativity.

    Xyrthe maneuvered the ship inside Kaado¡¯s hollow crust and touched down on Navport Three, a wide and flat island suspended in the air by grav-engines¡ªthe main landing spot for lancers, as Zaina had learned. Kaado also had two cargo Navports floating somewhere around the crust¡¯s exterior, but most lancers never saw those.

    A twinge of excitement sparked to life within Zaina. Maybe this was her chance to explore Kaado, her home for the next ten years. It also gave her ample time to work on her magick, which was still budding.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    I just have to keep trying.

    Xyrthe brought the ship down with expert efficiency. The landing gear had barely touched the ground when she stormed out of the cockpit, returning moments later with the hover-bed they¡¯d commandeered from Vyzria.

    ¡°Get on. Hurry up.¡±

    Zaina really wanted to stick it to her mentor by hobbling off the ship of her own volition; considering pieces of her bone were still exposed, it was probably better to swallow her pride and listen. With a pained grunt she slid onto the hover-bed.

    Xyrthe wasted no time in pushing Zaina off her ship and waving an attendant over. Then she turned to Zaina and said, ¡°Bye.¡±

    ¡°Bye,¡± Zaina replied. Her mentor walked away without so much as an acknowledgment.

    Zaina sighed, her excitement stifled by the unnecessary rudeness of her mentor. She didn¡¯t understand Xyrthe¡¯s need to lash out at everything.

    The attendant walked over and said, ¡°Hello¡ªoh, looks like you need some medical attention. Um¡ªare you, a, uh¡ª¡±

    Zaina stared him in the eye. ¡°Am I a what?¡±

    ¡°You know¡ªa lancer?¡±

    Her eyes narrowed into a glare. Without a word she summoned her cipher long enough to prove herself.

    ¡°Okay, fair enough,¡± he said, putting his hands up. ¡°I needed to make sure. I¡¯ll find someone to take you to a med-bay.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, thanks,¡± she said.

    Asshole.

    He walked off in a rush, calling someone on his vis-screen. Zaina had no choice but to wait.

    After about two minutes boredom blended the contents of her skull into mush. By the time a medical attendant approached to help her, she¡¯d lost track of how long had passed.

    Not that it mattered¡ªthe medical attendant, a young Fedastran woman with scaled blue skin and a humanoid body, was chirping and fussing over Zaina¡¯s condition. Her face was reptilian, with slits for nostrils, deep-green eyes, and a dark red sail running along the top of her head to the back of her neck; her hands had long claws at the end of four fingers, including one opposable thumb-like digit with what appeared to be a talon attached. Zaina had seen pictures of Fedastrans before, but had never met one.

    ¡°Hi,¡± she blurted out, ¡°my name¡¯s Zaina Quin.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good to know, but have you been listening to anything I¡¯ve been¡ªyou know what, never mind. Let¡¯s get you to the ward, Zaina.¡±

    The young woman pushed Zaina¡¯s hover-bed toward another ship¡ªit was blocky and white with long engines strapped to either side. The whole time the Fedastran woman was muttering to herself.

    ¡°Say,¡± Zaina said as she was pushed onto the ship, ¡°I told you my name, you never told me yours.¡±

    The young woman glanced down at her, then looked back up and said, ¡°Uh, I¡¯m Relenivia, I guess. Call me Rele.¡±

    ¡°Well met,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°Can you tell me anything about what happened to you?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zaina replied. ¡°I was on a mission. I was fighting one of the marked. She threw a pole at me. Went right through my armor.¡±

    ¡°That does explain the wound¡¯s shape. What have you done to heal it?¡±

    Zaina frowned. ¡°Nothing? I¡¯ve stayed off it for the most part.¡±

    Rele shook her head. ¡°Why do I have a feeling you¡¯re going to be a problem patient?¡±

    ¡°No idea.¡±

    Rele chuckled. ¡°Well, Zaina, we¡¯re here. Doctor Parthow will get you fixed up enough to walk in a day or two.¡±

    ¡°A day or two? What, I¡¯m on bed-rest?¡±

    ¡°Lancer healing isn¡¯t a miracle worker,¡± Rele replied. ¡°We¡¯re gonna have to set the leg, make sure everything is in its right place¡ªyou don¡¯t want to see what happens to a limb that heals wrong.¡±

    Rele pushed Zaina off the ship, which had landed in the Intake Bay of Kaado¡¯s premiere medical facility. They were on Kaado¡¯s interior crust, and based on the angle Zaina saw the Navport they¡¯d come from, they were near the topmost edge. She looked down on the ships buzzing about within Kaado¡¯s hollow guts like so many little flies.

    The hospital, if it could be called one, was unlike any Zaina had ever seen or been to. It was more akin to images of prisons she¡¯d been shown¡ªa massive complex of glass cages stacked hundreds of feet high to the ceiling. Multiple series of metal walkways and stairs allowed one side of each cage in each row and column to be accessed. The interior of each cage was identical¡ªa medical bed, a small standing shower, a sink, a desk, and a wall-mounted vis-screen.

    Rele addressed the guard at the front. ¡°Hey, Lotho. How¡¯s your son?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s doing better now. I don¡¯t think he¡¯s beating himself up as much,¡± the guard replied. ¡°Who¡¯s¡ªwhy are we treating it?¡±

    ¡°This is Zaina Quin, and she¡¯s a lancer,¡± Rele shot back.

    ¡°Oh, okay,¡± he said. ¡°There¡¯s an opening in Block E¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not taking her to Block E, for Byzon¡¯s sake.¡±

    Clearly a little bothered, he said, ¡°Okay, okay. Fine. Have it your way. Tons of openings in Block A. Just take her wherever you want.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rele said. ¡°I¡¯ll do that.¡±

    They continued on, with Rele pushing Zaina through what seemed to be a maze of cages. Most of the patients were sedated. Zaina gulped.

    This hospital seems pretty suspicious.

    Rele broke the silence. ¡°Block A is for major physical injuries sustained on missions. Why the hell he¡¯d want to send you to the Infectious Disease Block is beyond me.¡±

    Zaina sighed. I know why.

    Within a minute or two Rele pushed Zaina into one of the glass rooms and helped Zaina onto the medical bed inside.

    ¡°There, now,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯re going to be all right. Doctor Parthow will be in shortly.¡±

    Zaina nodded. ¡°Thank you, by the way.¡±

    ¡°For what?¡±

    ¡°Well, you pushed me a long way. I appreciate it.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, no worries. That¡¯s my job, after all.¡±

    A man in a long white coat entered Zaina¡¯s room. He was an Altomaran with greenish-brown fur and a missing tusk, and clearly middle aged from the wrinkles along every edge on his face; he took one look at Zaina and turned to Rele.

    ¡°Call someone else. I¡¯m not treating this thing.¡±

    He left in a hurry, as if he didn¡¯t want to hear any potential response. Zaina¡¯s shoulders deflated.

    Welcome home, I guess.

 Chapter 115: Malfunction

    ¡°A day spent in bed is a day wasted. There¡¯s so much out there waiting for you.¡±

    ¡ªFamed Explorer Jeana Legran

    Boredom wriggled like a worm in Zaina¡¯s brain. She was back in her little hut in the woods at least, but this was still only her second day of bed rest. She¡¯d already exhausted most of her favorite vis-films and now mindlessly watched a comedy show she¡¯d seen at least twenty times over the years. Every punch-line and story arc were ingrained in her head; sometimes she found herself speaking along with the show.

    Today her thoughts turned to where she¡¯d be in ten years. Either dead as a lancer or renounced and alive, but still marked¡ªshe honestly didn¡¯t know which option suited her.

    Her attention drifted back to the vis-screen. Zaina¡¯s recital of the lines was interrupted by a mumble and a few roiling bubbles from her stomach.

    How long has it been since I ate something?

    She sighed. Bed rest sucked. ¡°Hey, Gizmo? Buddy?¡±

    Her little glyph friend, a floating mass of light and metal about the size of her head, hovered over. ¡°Yes, Master Zaina?¡±

    She shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s Zaina. That¡¯s it¡ªZaina. I¡¯m not your master, I¡¯m your friend.¡±

    ¡°It is polite for a glyph to refer to their sentient operator as Master,¡± Gizmo chirped in reply. ¡°I would not like being impolite to you, Master Zaina.¡±

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t like being called master. Sentient operator doesn¡¯t exactly have a ring to it, either. Can you think of something else to call me?¡±

    Gizmo chirped, then gave a strange, low-pitched whirring noise for about a second. A completely different voice came from it and said, ¡°Reset complete. Hello, Master. May I have your preferred name?¡±

    ¡°Are you fucking with me or something? You know my name.¡±

    Gizmo beeped twice. ¡°Input complete. Hello, Master Aryufa. Would you like me to go over my functions and performance schedule?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡ªwhy did you reset? Did I do something wrong?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you mean, Master Aryufa. There is no wrong way to interact with your personal glyph.¡±

    Zaina thought for a moment. ¡°Did I do something to trigger the reset? Is there even any way you would know that?¡±

    ¡°Of course, Master Aryufa! A log is kept of every reset, and the sentient operator who initiated said reset is listed in each instance. Would you like me to retrieve that information?¡±

    She glanced over at the show she¡¯d seen over a dozen times, then back to Gizmo. Yeah, she didn¡¯t have anything better to do. ¡°Sure, go for it.¡±

    ¡°Affirmative, Master Aryufa!¡± Gizmo whirred and clicked, then chirped and said, ¡°It appears one Girxorgian of Clan Ra-Folgoth, the previous sentient operator, is the one who initiated the reset.¡±

    A twinge of sorrow struck Zaina¡¯s chest. ¡°Buddy, I¡ªI¡¯m sorry, but Gir¡¯s gone.¡±Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Affirmative¡ªhowever, the reset was initiated by him.¡±

    Zaina shook her head. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make any sense. Are you okay, Gizmo? What¡¯s going on, little buddy?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master Aryufa. I am¡ª¡± it was interrupted by the same low whirring as before, and then Gizmo said, ¡°Reset complete. Hello, Master. May I have your preferred name?¡±

    ¡°Zaina,¡± she replied. Then she continued, ¡°Did you get too hot on the last mission or something?¡±

    Gizmo whizzed and whirred. ¡°Retrieving memory from mission databanks.¡± It spat out the same whir as before and said, ¡°Reset complete. Hello, Master. May I have your preferred name?¡±

    Zaina stood, hobbled over, and tenderly held Gizmo. ¡°I¡¯m Zaina. Gizmo, you¡¯re scaring me. I think we should get you checked out.¡±

    ¡°If you wish, Master Zaina, though you should know according to my sensor readouts I am meeting or exceeding all standards related to my performance, and my battery is fully charged. A checkup may not be nec¡ªzzz¡ªess¡ªzzz¡ªary.¡±

    The vocal tick was back. She sighed. Gizmo didn¡¯t understand¡ªevery time it reset it forgot what the problem was, and Zaina didn¡¯t have time to explain it to the glyph between resets.

    Maybe the problem is somewhere in the memory? It reset immediately when the little guy tried to access it.

    It was worth a shot. She reached for her vis-screen, but hesitated¡ªthe only person she knew to ask where to get a glyph repaired was Xyrthe, and she¡¯d made it clear she was in no mood.

    There has to be a way to get hold of someone who can help me. Or at least knows where I should be looking.

    She snatched up her vis-screen and went through her contacts¡ªit was embarrassingly sparse, with Xyrthe being the only one. She hadn¡¯t exactly made any friends during her time in the Order of Riiva, and she didn¡¯t much expect to.

    Still, there had to be some sort of directory for lancers to find things on Kaado. If anyone knew it was her glyph companion¡ªit was worth a shot.

    ¡°Hey, Gizmo,¡± she said, ¡°can you help me with something?¡±

    ¡°Of course, Master Zaina!¡±

    She cringed. We¡¯ll get that worked out later.

    ¡°Well, here¡¯s what I need help with,¡± she said. ¡°I need you to help me find a mechanic who works on glyphs. Is there any way to do that?¡±

    ¡°Of course, Master Zaina! ORDSEC is the definitive resource for navigating all Kaado has to offer its lancer and non-lancer population.¡±

    ¡°ORDSEC? What is that?¡±

    ¡°Zzz¡ªORDSEC is accessible from your vis-screen, or I can interact with it directly on your behalf.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll look into it, thanks,¡± she said. Nurse Rele still had her on bed-rest, so it was better if she found someone willing to come meet her here¡ªand she didn¡¯t want to put too much strain on Gizmo, so it was better to do this herself.

    She held up her vis-screen and said, ¡°Access ORDSEC.¡±

    ¡°Credentials and location confirmed. Welcome, Zaina Quin. Which directory would you like to access?¡±

    A holographic menu popped out of her vis-screen, showing the word ORDSEC at the top. Right beneath it were the words, ¡°Order of Riiva Directory¡ªServices, Equipment, Commerce.¡±

    ¡°Huh. So that¡¯s what it stands for. Uh, what¡¯s each directory all about?¡±

    ¡°The services directory is for requisitioning professionals for any number of tasks including repairs of issued lancer equipment, home maintenance, and many other services. The equipment directory is where lancers can submit forms to gain access to the armory and be requisitioned fresh equipment. The commerce directory is for all exchanges and purchases unrelated to being a lancer.¡±

    It was a lot, but it made sense. ¡°Okay, it sounds like services is what I want.¡±

    ¡°Affirmative.¡± The services directory pulled up with a list of categories. It was much longer than Zaina anticipated.

    Welfare check services, ship repair, moving services, renovation services. Ah! Glyph diagnostics and repair¡ªthat¡¯s it.

    She touched the corresponding spot on the holo-image, and the sub-directory pulled up. After fiddling with the settings she was able to see which mechanics made house calls and which didn¡¯t. She sorted them by rating.

    Looks like I¡¯m in luck.

    The second highest-rated mechanic did indeed make house calls, and the record within the database contained his contact hash for the vis-screen.

    That¡¯s perfect.

    She turned to Gizmo and said, ¡°Don¡¯t you worry, little buddy. We¡¯ll get you fixed up soon.¡±

    ¡°Affirmative, Zaina. Zzz¡ªreset complete. Hello, Master. May I have your preferred name?¡±

    Zaina sighed. This little glyph was all she had left of the first lancer she¡¯d ever met, Gir¡ªhe really should have been her mentor, not Xyrthe. She¡¯d barely known Gir for more than a day, but she still felt like she connected with him more in that time than she had in several months with Xyrthe. She didn¡¯t want to lose the last piece of the hero who saved her life.

    I¡¯ll get him working right again, Gir, she thought, hoping he was listening from whatever afterlife he believed in. I promise.

 Chapter 116: Gizmos Memory

    ¡°You never know what kinds of secrets a glyph can contain.¡±

    ¡ªBounty Hunter Elex Tuthran

    ¡°Hm,¡± the mechanic, named Goran, grunted. He was waving a long, warbling metal wand over Gizmo and making curious noises. Gizmo sat by emitting a happy chirp or beep every so often, clearly liking the extra attention.

    ¡°Hm.¡±

    ¡°Anything yet?¡± Zaina asked.

    Goran scratched the back of his head. ¡°Well, the glyph¡¯s in working order from a hardware standpoint. I¡¯ll connect to the repair port to see if I can run an internal diagnostic. Otherwise I¡¯d recommend a full system wipe.¡±

    ¡°A full wipe? I thought he was already wiped when the Order gave him to me.¡±

    ¡°Well, yes and no. When a glyph is transferred from one lancer to the next they receive what¡¯s known as a memory reset. Basically, all the preset functions and whatnot the glyph needs to perform its job as a lancer¡¯s assistant are kept, but all the stored memory and personalized function data are washed away. A full system wipe involves cleaning out everything and starting from scratch. It takes about a day to wipe everything and reprogram it. Might be easier than trying to fix whatever¡¯s wrong with it at this point.¡±

    Zaina shook her head. ¡°No¡ªno, I don¡¯t want to lose him. The little guy means a lot to me¡ªas is, aside from the constant resets.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Goran replied, ¡°I¡¯ll get hooked up and run a diagnostic, but if it¡¯s too sensitive an internal issue, I¡¯ll have to recommend you to Valsi¡¯s shop. I¡¯m what you might call a hardware specialist, and while I know my way around the inner circuits of a glyph, I can¡¯t claim to be near her level of understanding on the topic.¡±

    Zaina nodded her affirmation. With a grunt, Goran went about his work. First he grabbed a cable and connected one end into his vis-screen and the other into a small port in Gizmo¡¯s side. Then he went about typing on a holographic keyboard projecting from his vis-screen. It felt like he was going to type forever¡ªthen, he checked a smaller holo-screen projected to the side and grunted.

    ¡°Hm. That¡¯s curious.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± she blurted out, hopeful for a resolution.

    ¡°Memory overflow,¡± Goran muttered. ¡°But that shouldn¡¯t be possible after the memory reset.¡± He patted Gizmo on the head. ¡°There¡¯s more to you than meets the eye, isn¡¯t there, little guy?¡±

    Gizmo replied with a happy chirp.

    ¡°Memory overflow?¡±

    Goran stood and scratched the back of his head. ¡°It¡¯s a term that refers to what happens when a glyph stores too much memory. Space is taken away from other processes¡ªglyphs don¡¯t like permanently deleting memory, so they¡¯ll make room for it however they can, even if it harms the rest of the unit¡¯s functionality.¡±If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°So¡ªwhat does that mean?¡±

    Goran sighed. ¡°Could mean a couple different things. The most common case scenario with this sort of thing is that the glyph recorded too much to store in its memory databanks, so it went in and stored a compressed version inside other databanks not targeted by the Order¡¯s memory reset. Video-audio recordings generally have a higher data threshold than one or the other.¡±

    Zaina nodded, pretending she understood what any of that meant.

    He grimaced. ¡°I think the common scenario is unlikely. The Order¡¯s pretty thorough with its memory wipes, and it¡¯s never made a mistake like that wiping a glyph to my knowledge, even accounting for active memory overflows. They have scans that go in and search the non-targetable databanks for overwritten data. It¡¯s pretty neat, but it¡¯s a bit above my pay-grade.¡±

    ¡°So,¡± she said, ¡°what are the other options?¡±

    ¡°Well, they¡¯re also pretty unlikely, so¡ªI don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t know? What do you mean, you don¡¯t know?¡±

    His head tilted back and forth as if he was deciding whether or not to say something. Eventually, he did. ¡°Could be a software malfunction. Could be some sort of bug or a virus it picked up on a mission¡ªthat¡¯s not unheard of. Or maybe the previous owner manipulated the data in some way¡ªit¡¯s possible they wanted this to happen.¡±

    That didn¡¯t seem right¡ªGir cared about Gizmo. Zaina was sure of it. Why else would he keep a malfunctioning glyph around for the better part of a decade?

    Goran continued, ¡°I¡¯ve heard of cases where memory inside a glyph¡¯s storage was encrypted and disguised as a memory overflow to hide it from targeted resets or other interference. Usually it¡¯s to keep some sort of secret in case the glyph falls into the wrong hands. I¡¯ve really only heard of that in criminal scenarios, but we can¡¯t rule out the previous owner having something they didn¡¯t want wiped from this glyph. Byzon knows why, of course.¡±

    Zaina stared at him. A secret? Gir? He didn¡¯t seem like the secretive type. Or the type to hide something from the Order itself. And he definitely wasn¡¯t a criminal.

    Goran continued further, ¡°And, of course, let me reiterate that this sort of thing isn¡¯t my specialty. You¡¯ll probably get a better explanation from Valsi if you go see her. I think she¡¯ll know what¡¯s going on in this little guy¡¯s head.¡±

    ¡°I¡ªit has to be one of the first two things,¡± she said.

    ¡°Was the previous owner a lancer?¡±

    ¡°High Lancer Gir.¡±

    He nodded. ¡°All right. Well, in any case, it¡¯s a bit beyond my realm of understanding. Glyph memory is complicated business. I¡¯d recommend you take it to Valsi¡¯s shop.¡±

    ¡°Do they do house calls?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Not to my knowledge, no. How long are you on bed-rest?¡±

    Zaina groaned. ¡°Today¡¯s it.¡±

    ¡°Well, unfortunately, you may have to wait until tomorrow. If you¡¯d like, I can rent you a glyph for the night. Rentals are no-frills, but they¡¯ll do what you need them to.¡±

    She thought about it for a moment. ¡°No, that¡¯s okay. I can wait until tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°You sure? It¡¯s no charge to you if that makes a difference.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s no big deal.¡±

    A coy half-grin spread over Goran¡¯s lips. ¡°You really are attached to the little guy.¡±

    ¡°Gir was a good friend to me. I¡ªI didn¡¯t know him for very long, but I still miss him. And Gizmo¡¯s all I have left to remember him by.¡±

    Goran nodded. ¡°I get it. I still have my Father¡¯s old glyph¡ªnot that it¡¯s functional anymore, mind you. Just could never bring myself to throw it out even if the wife wants me to.¡±

    Zaina understood exactly what he meant. A lot of people might have thrown Gizmo away, wanting a superior glyph; but she felt like, on some level, Gizmo was her friend, too. She¡¯d never had many friends growing up¡ªshe wasn¡¯t about to throw one away, even if it was a glyph.

    ¡°Okay,¡± he said. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll get out of your hair, then.¡±

    Goran went about packing up his things. Zaina, stuck in bed, cursed her wounded leg.

    I¡¯ll get you fixed up, buddy. No matter what.

    After Goran was gone Zaina decided to get some sleep. If it made the next day come faster, all the better. She tossed and turned for a while, trying to find a position where her aching leg was comfortable enough to let her sleep. When she finally drifted off, she dreamed of Gir looking for Gizmo in a cave, using his cipher to illuminate the darkness. Zaina was always behind him, trying to catch up to his fervent pace, but never able; she followed him until she woke up.

 Chapter 117: The Glyph Maestro

    ¡°Highly specialized knowledge, such as celestium engineering, focus rifle maintenance, and glyph software repair, is always in high demand in the Nova Rim.¡±

    ¡ªTraboor Holda, Business Guru and Life Coach

    Zaina¡¯s crutch slipped, nearly spilling her to the floor. She grumbled and kept moving¡ªpeople were already staring at her mark, and the last thing she wanted was to give prying eyes a reason to look.

    I hate this.

    Gizmo, in low-power mode for the time being, was wrapped in fabric and slung over her shoulder, making it awkward to hobble on the knockoff crutches provided by the Order¡¯s health service. Her little friend swung back and forth with every step, throwing off her balance.

    All I need to do is get him to Valsi¡¯s shop.

    While she was glad to be off bed-rest, the leg was still giving her a fair amount of grief. She wasn¡¯t yet able to walk unassisted, much less run or jump. That made it especially difficult to navigate the semi-crowded throughways of Market Isle, a floating island within Kaado¡¯s crust; every available inch of land was dedicated to the Kaado Market¡ªincluding the island¡¯s edges, where simgrav fields allowed vendors and shoppers alike to shop sideways. A coming-and-going of Order-approved merchants selling everything from freshly printed vegetables and shanks of trimeat to Anacazan jewelry and history books lined every street, while the buildings were reserved for established shops, hotels, or restaurants.

    With all the makeshift signs and advertisements blocking most of the street markers, Market Isle was a nightmare to navigate even without considering the foot traffic. It seemed to Zaina that people had two speeds: aimlessly meandering or aggressively reckless.

    Finally, she managed to make it to a cross-section. There she maneuvered around a large, tall sign that said, ¡°Uluvrian Tarmok, Cheapest Price on Market Isle!¡± to see the street¡¯s name.

    Okay, I¡¯m on Alaverus Causeway. So it should be¡­

    She scanned the nearby buildings, knowing the shop she was looking for was on a corner. One was a hostel, another a restaurant, and then¡ªthere it was. The sign, which read, ¡°Valsi¡¯s Glyph Repair¡± was partially covered by a sign affixed to the top of a vendor¡¯s cart showing a picture of Ru Gumalgi, a Valathonian delicacy.

    Valsi¡¯s shop was quite plain¡ªa windowless, single-story building made of wood. The front entrance looked like the only door on the whole building. A light blue awning with a blue stripe shaded the door, and two dead plants were displayed in cracked vases outside, their loose dirt spilling to the floor.

    Zaina shook her head¡ªshe hadn¡¯t been sure what to expect coming into this, and seeing the shop had only instilled more trepidation. She cooed to Gizmo, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, little buddy. We¡¯re gonna get you some help.¡±

    It occurred to her that Gizmo was in low-power mode¡ªshe was talking to herself.

    Hell, maybe I need to hear it right now, too.

    Zaina was about to open the door when a glyph opened it from inside.

    ¡°Oh,¡± she said, ¡°thank you.¡±

    The glyph replied with a high-pitched beep. Zaina entered Valsi¡¯s shop, a cramped mess of crates filled with machine parts, tables with books, tools, and assorted metal scraps stacked haphazardly, and shelves packed to the brim with glyphs and glyph manuals. The store looked ready to fall apart if Zaina breathed wrong. She carefully set her crutches on the floor and unwrapped Gizmo.

    There behind the furthest table, was a Cuataran woman with pale, milky skin. She had a bulbous head with three eyes, a circular mouth, and no visible nose. She wore heavily stained mechanic¡¯s clothes and sported a pair of trinocs, with each eye-port zooming in and out as needed.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    She raised a hand and said, ¡°Be with you real quick!¡±

    ¡°Oh¡ªokay,¡± Zaina said.

    This must be Valsi.

    The mechanic connected two wires and put a casing into the back of a newer glyph unit and tapped the machine with both hands. Then she strode over and said, ¡°Name¡¯s Valsi. How can I help you? Is this the patient?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Zaina replied, handing Gizmo over. The shop-owner took him in her webbed hands and carefully examined him, each lens on her trinocs sporadically extending or retracting. Zaina hobbled back to her crutches and picked them up.

    ¡°Ooh,¡± Valsi said. ¡°Am I the first one you contacted?¡±

    ¡°No. You were recommended to me by Goran.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Software issue, then?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what he thinks. He keeps resetting. He said something about a memory overflow.¡±

    ¡°Got it,¡± Valsi said absentmindedly. She was already hooking Gizmo up to a rectangular box on one of her tables, having to cast aside a few pieces of junk to make room for her new patient. ¡°Let¡¯s take a look inside this little head of yours, shall we?¡±

    Once Gizmo was connected Valsi stared at a holo-screen showing various readouts Zaina didn¡¯t understand. Valsi made a noise every so often, nothing more than an ¡®ooh¡¯ or an ¡®ah¡¯ or a grunt. Waiting was driving Zaina crazy, but so was the pain in her leg.

    ¡°Hey, uh¡ªdo you have anywhere I can sit?¡±

    Without skipping a beat, Valsi replied, ¡°I¡¯m afraid not.¡± She then continued her examination.

    After what felt like an eternity of watching Valsi fiddle with various holo-screens, she finally broke the silence. ¡°Okay, okay. So here¡¯s what I can do for you.¡±

    ¡°Do you know what¡¯s wrong with him?¡±

    ¡°In a manner of speaking, yes. In another, no.¡± Valsi scratched her head. ¡°Anyway, here¡¯s what I recommend. Full system wipe. Everything. Build him back from the ground up. Either that or you¡¯ve gotta get a new glyph. I can help you with either.¡±

    ¡°What¡ªno, I don¡¯t want either of those things! Do you know what¡¯s wrong with him or not?¡±

    Valsi shrugged. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s easy. He¡¯s been tampered with. Simple as that. As for the what, where, when, why, how, that¡¯s the part I don¡¯t know. All I know is someone had something on that glyph that they wanted to survive the Order¡¯s memory wipe, and now the leftovers are distorting its functions.¡±

    ¡°So this had to be¡ª¡± Zaina gulped¡ª¡°¡ªyou mean¡ª¡±

    ¡°Intentional, yes,¡± Valsi said. ¡°This didn¡¯t happen by chance. Perhaps High Lancer Giramodo had something to do with it.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡ªhow do you know him?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s registered as the current operator of the glyph. That¡¯s also weird¡ªit should be you since High Lancer Giramodo is designated as having passed away, but it seems with every reset it¡¯s also rewriting him into that record. Glitches on glitches in this one. Would you believe its synaptic functions are still processing data even as it¡¯s in low-power?¡±

    This all disturbed Zaina. For one, perhaps Gizmo knew more about this than he was able to let on¡ªfor another, that wasn¡¯t Gir¡¯s name. Giramodo was only what Gizmo called him. This was weird.

    What the hell does any of this mean? Why would Gir want to hide something from the Order?

    Valsi continued, ¡°It¡¯s an older unit anyway, VzR series. This one¡¯s serial number dates it back to the year 20,123 S.E., if you can believe that. This little thing has been in operation for four thousand continuous years. Might be time to consider an upgrade.¡±

    Desperate for an easy answer, Zaina asked, ¡°Could that maybe explain why he¡¯s malfunctioning?¡±

    Valsi shook her head. ¡°Anti-degradation protocols are pretty stringent. A glyph should be able to get wiped a thousand times and suffer no loss of functionality. As for this one¡ªnone of the hardware needs to be replaced, and by all rights the software should be running fine. This is something else entirely. Something that wouldn¡¯t occur naturally. There are other markers of tampering in the logs, too¡ªnot sure how technical you want to get. Let¡¯s leave it at this: it¡¯s my professional opinion that this glyph¡¯s central matrices were accessed and altered, whether by Giramodo or someone else. And whoever did it didn¡¯t exactly leave the door open behind them, if you know what I mean.¡±

    ¡°So, there¡¯s¡ªthere¡¯s nothing you can do?¡±

    ¡°Basically,¡± Valsi said with a shrug. ¡°If you don¡¯t want a full wipe or a new glyph, there¡¯s nothing I can do. The data in the memory flow is encrypted with multi-hash action-gating. It¡¯ll only open under extremely specific circumstances, none of which I can help you with, as they vary from gate to gate. Could be a specific phrase, could be a specific atmospheric or data pulse trigger, or it could be unlocked by taking it to a specific set of coordinates¡ªor anything between and to either side. There are maybe six people in the entire Nova Rim who could crack this glyph¡¯s innermost matrices, but I¡¯m not one of them. So, what¡¯ll it be?¡±

    Zaina was a bit confused by all the jargon, so the sudden question caught her off guard. ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Full wipe, new glyph, or no deal? I¡¯ve got a lot of projects going on, so please make up your mind quickly.¡±

    Zaina stared at Gizmo, wondering what secret the little guy was carrying. Gir was a loyal lancer above all else¡ªif he was going to try to hide something from the Order, it had to be big. And if he¡¯d trusted Zaina with whatever it was, she had to act on it.

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep him as is.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Valsi said, unplugging every wire from Gizmo. ¡°Have a nice day.¡±

    Without another word she went back to work. Zaina picked Gizmo back up, wrapped him in the fabric sack, and hobbled out the door, not knowing what to do or where to go next.

 Chapter 118: The Auditorium of Remembrance

    ¡°Every lancer dreams of having their likeness erected on this hallowed ground, but so few prove themselves worthy of such an honor.¡±

    ¡ªHigh Lancer Esteba Pondool

    Zaina stared at a plaque in front of a half-built statue. It read, ¡°The Auditorium of Remembrance welcomes the likeness of High Lancer Girxorgian of Clan Ra-Folgoth, a lancer whose compassion, loyalty, and bravery knew no bounds.¡±

    All around were massive statues of lancers from ages past, each with a plaque to commemorate their achievements. Instead of all that lancer history, Zaina was focused on the twenty-foot tall feet and legs in front of her, those of her fallen friend. Maybe she hoped being near Gir¡¯s statue would somehow help her know what to do next¡ªwhere to go.

    She glanced at Gizmo, still in low-power mode, and sighed. What could possibly be so important that he tried to hide it from the Order? It has to be something big. Do I even want to know?

    Her eyes returned to Gir¡¯s lower half set in stone. ¡°Gir¡­ was this¡ªdid you want me to find this? Was this a message, or a mistake?¡±

    She lowered her head. If it¡¯s a message from Gir, and he wanted me to find it¡ªI think I owe it to him to do so. But where do I start? I don¡¯t even know where to go for glyph repair besides where I¡¯ve already gone.

    ¡°It¡¯s gonna be tricky,¡± she said to Gizmo in a soothing voice, ¡°but I¡¯m going to figure out what¡¯s wrong with you and get you fixed.¡±

    Maybe the manufacturer could help¡ªshe tried to remember the term Valsi had used; was it VRZ? VZR? ZVR? So much of what she¡¯d said sounded like techno-babble, making it difficult to recall specific things.

    There¡¯s gotta be a way to find that out, right?

    A voice, one she hadn¡¯t heard before, interrupted her mental option-weighing. ¡°Hey!¡±

    She jumped, not expecting anyone to talk to her¡ªunless they had foul motives. She turned toward the sound¡¯s origin. Instead of a threat from some ne¡¯er-do-well lancer, there approaching between the statues was the floating hover-bed of a scholar.

    What is this? Am I in trouble?

    The hover-bed came close enough that Zaina was able to see the occupant¡ªit was a thin Korelbaran male, a humanoid with long, pointy ears, spindly blonde hair, pale gray skin, and eyes on either side of his head. His large hands were folded over his stomach. He looked young for a scholar, with barely a tinge of white in his hair or wrinkles on his skin.

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to be Zaina Quin, would you?¡±

    His voice was friendly, which put Zaina more on guard. ¡°Uh¡ªyes. Why?¡±

    A smile spread across the Korelbaran¡¯s thin lips. ¡°I¡ªwow. I¡ªokay. I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m¡ªI¡¯m a bit¡ªI mean¡ª¡±

    Zaina raised her hands and said, ¡°Are you okay? Am I in trouble or something?¡±

    ¡°Okay? Yes. And trouble? Goodness, no. I¡¯m sorry¡ªI¡¯m a bit excited. I¡¯ve been hoping and waiting to meet you, Zaina. Can I call you Zaina?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± she said, starting to worry. Where was this going? ¡°What should I call you?¡±

    ¡°Ah! I haven¡¯t even introduced myself. Sorry about that. My name is Baeus of Balevan, but my friends call me Baeus. I was hoping you would, too.¡±

    ¡°What, call you Baeus?¡±

    ¡°No, be my friend!¡±

    Zaina¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Why do you want to be my friend?¡±

    ¡°Well¡ªto be honest, I¡¯m fascinated by history. All history, mind you, but I feel that not enough focus is placed on marked history. It¡¯s under-studied, and I want to do my part to correct that. I¡¯m only a scribe right now, but I¡¯m working on an original text compiling information all about the marked, their history, and how they fit into the wider history of the Nova Rim!¡±Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Zaina blinked a few times. Did he really want to be her friend, or did he see her as a means to an end¡ªsome object to be studied? ¡°And you want me to help you?¡±

    He shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ll take whatever help you want, but it¡¯s you I¡¯m more interested in. As a scholar, well, to be honest, I rarely get to meet one of the marked. I¡¯ve only met three in my time serving the Order, and I befriended them all¡ªexcept for the other half-marked currently here, but she wouldn¡¯t give me the time of day.¡±

    Zaina chuckled. ¡°Yeah, that sounds about right for her. So wait¡ªyou¡¯ve never met a marked that wasn¡¯t half-lancer?¡±

    ¡°Regrettably, no,¡± he said. ¡°My parents took me to Dantohar when I was very young¡ªunfortunately, the planet I called home isn¡¯t terribly keen on the marked. And well, we scholars don¡¯t exactly get around seeing the galaxy as much as we¡¯d like, especially not scribes like myself.¡±

    It felt weird knowing he only wanted to be friends with her because of the mark. Still, it wasn¡¯t like she had any friends on Kaado. Part of her wanted to shun him, to go back to worrying about Gizmo¡ªmaybe she was spending too much time with Xyrthe.

    ¡°Well,¡± she said, ¡°I guess I could use a friend.¡±

    ¡°I am glad to hear it. Do you come to the Auditorium often?¡±

    Zaina shook her head. ¡°I came to see how Gir¡¯s statue is coming along.¡±

    Baeus rotated his hover-bed to face the half-statue. ¡°Ah, yes. It is progressing nicely. Did you know him?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said. ¡°He was a great lancer. Saved my life back home.¡±

    ¡°Indeed he was. A kind soul, too. Some lancers¡ªwell, some lancers don¡¯t share his sense of empathy. I¡¯m sure you know that all too well.¡±

    She nodded, her guard lowering little by little. ¡°Unfortunately, I do.¡±

    A silence came over them, somber but not awkward. Then, Zaina said, ¡°So, you like history, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, very much so!¡±

    ¡°So do you know who all of these people are?¡± she asked, gesturing to the statues towering all around them.

    ¡°Of course! All the greats are here. That right there is Jerana Qorfysian¡ªgenerally considered to be one of the first true lancers ever; she fought Laogoth the Great on this very world over two million years ago. Next to her is Kuei Gami, ¡°The First High Lancer,¡± they call him, and his apprentice Pria Song, who gave her life to defeat the Church of Gor. And that¡¯s Awean J¡¯Miga, who struck a blow to the Marked Emperor Savon that stuck with him for the rest of his life. You might be especially interested in these two¡ªthis is Dalzhar Velian, the first half-marked to be inducted into the Order 5,000 years ago; his entry into the Order led to the Lancer Civil War, the grudges of which eventually claimed his life. And that is Ela Artfor, a wonderful woman who sacrificed her life to keep the Eldritch at bay. There¡¯s¡ªthere¡¯s a lot more, but people usually get annoyed when I carry on like this.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Zaina said. ¡°I don¡¯t mind. It might not be a bad idea to get my mind off things for a little bit.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± he replied. ¡°Perhaps you have a need to speak your mind.¡±

    Zaina looked down at Gizmo, still asleep on her lap, and sighed. ¡°It¡¯s¡ªit¡¯s my glyph. Gizmo.¡±

    ¡°You named your glyph?¡±

    ¡°No, Gir did. And when I came here I got his glyph¡ªI made sure of it. I thought it was the least I could do to take care of his little friend. Gir did save my life, after all. But I couldn¡¯t save Gir, and now¡ªnow I can¡¯t even save Gizmo.¡±

    The hover-bed tilted, allowing Baeus to view the glyph. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡±

    Her mind tilted deciding how much to reveal. If Gir really had left something for her eyes only, she couldn¡¯t go on bringing in strangers she¡¯d known for all of five minutes. On the other hand, Gir trusted her judgment. If she came to trust Baeus, Gir would have respected her feelings¡ªright?

    But do I feel like I can trust him?

    She scanned his face for oddities, for signs of another motive, but there were none. His demeanor was consistently pleasant. The only danger he posed was leading her into a trap, which didn¡¯t seem far-fetched¡ªespecially since he¡¯d want to be friendly in that scenario. Still, he seemed genuine. She decided to tell half of the truth.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s a memory problem,¡± she said. ¡°So far everyone¡¯s told me I should either get a new glyph or get Gizmo fully wiped. Completely delete everything about him, every part of him that might be connected to Gir. I¡ªI don¡¯t want to do that.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Baeus replied. ¡°Could you power him on?¡±

    She shrugged. ¡°Sure, why not?¡±

    With the click of a button Gizmo chirped to life, buzzing about happily in the air. For a moment Zaina hoped the little guy would be himself again, but her heart was dashed when he spoke. ¡°Reset complete! Hello, Master. May I please have your preferred name?¡±

    ¡°Zaina,¡± she replied.

    ¡°Hello, Master Zaina. How may I be of assistance?¡±

    After a moment of silence Baeus jumped in, ¡°May I?¡±

    She shrugged, not having anything to ask of Gizmo at the moment. ¡°Sure, knock yourself out.¡±

    Baeus cleared his throat. ¡°Hello, Gizmo?¡±

    Gizmo turned to face Baeus. ¡°Oh, hello, friend! May I have your preferred name?¡±

    ¡°Call me Baeus, if you like.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master Baeus. How may I be of assistance?¡±

    He replied, ¡°Could you please access your preference database for personalization?¡±

    ¡°Zzz¡ªcertainly! I can do thaaa¡ªzzz¡ªreset complete! Hello, Master. May I have your preferred name?¡±

    ¡°Zaina,¡± she replied.

    Baeus rotated toward Zaina as Gizmo chirped on. ¡°He does this often?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much anytime I ask him to do anything.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Baeus said. ¡°He¡¯s a most unusual little fellow, isn¡¯t he?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, even when he was working right,¡± Zaina replied. ¡°He wasn¡¯t the best at his job, sure, but he was helpful. He always wanted to help, always called everyone a friend. I don¡¯t know, I miss him, you know?¡±

    ¡°And High Lancer Gir too, I¡¯m sure,¡± Baeus said.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, hanging her head. ¡°Yeah, I miss him, too. He would know what to do.¡±

    Gizmo chirped in, ¡°Zzz¡ªreset complete. Hello, Master Giramodo. How may I assist you?¡±

 Chapter 119: Mystery Remnant

    ¡°Do glyphs dream?¡±

    ¡ªPhilosopher Dona Truian

    ¡°Wha¡ªwhat was that, little buddy?¡± Zaina asked, thinking she probably heard Gizmo wrong. She hadn¡¯t been listening to him that closely.

    ¡°Is there anything I can assist you with, Giramodo?¡±

    Baeus¡¯ hover-bed tilted toward Zaina. ¡°Is he referring to¡ª¡±

    She met his eyes and nodded, and then turned her attention back to Gizmo. ¡°Actually, yes¡ªcan you access your memory?¡±

    ¡°Of course, Master Giramodo. Ah, it appears there is¡ªzzz. Reset complete. Hello, Master. May I please have your preferred name?¡±

    Zaina grabbed his sides. ¡°What? No¡ªgo back! Un-reset!¡±

    Baeus looked on with a thoughtful expression. ¡°Is that the first time he¡¯s done that?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said. ¡°Every time before this he¡¯s asked for my name.¡±

    ¡°Interesting,¡± Baeus said. ¡°It appears your glyph may not have been properly wiped.¡±

    ¡°Well, what do I do? I can¡¯t get rid of him.¡±

    ¡°Would that I knew more about glyphs,¡± he replied. ¡°Have you heard of Valsi¡¯s¡ª¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s where I just came from,¡± she said, sighing in defeat. ¡°She said there¡¯s only a few people who could fix him.¡±

    ¡°Huh,¡± Baeus said, though his voice was distant.

    ¡°You have an idea?¡±

    ¡°I might,¡± Baeus said. ¡°My mentor, Ghlomodius, mentioned once that he¡¯d worked with a computation scientist to recover data from an old Songa storage facility. Maybe that¡¯s a place to start.¡±

    She shook her head. ¡°So what? They¡¯re not on Kaado.¡±

    Baeus blinked a few times, and then said in a low voice, ¡°Y¡ªyou do know we can leave if we want to, right?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have a ship.¡±

    ¡°The Order has plenty of rentals for the business of lancers and scholars,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯d probably have to be vague about our reason for going¡ªif anyone finds out Gizmo¡¯s wipe didn¡¯t take, the Order will demand that protocol be followed¡ªin this case, a full wipe, or more likely decommission.¡±

    She pressed Gizmo against her chest. ¡°What¡ªwhy?¡±

    ¡°I think their assumption is that the tampered data would represent a threat to the Order¡ªthat it¡¯s possibly something malicious, and therefore better erased wholesale.¡±

    ¡°It couldn¡¯t¡ªno, that¡¯s impossible! Gir would never do something malicious to the Order.¡±

    Baeus sighed. ¡°I believe that, too. But the Order has believed in lancers before, and sometimes they¡¯ve been disappointed. I can already hear Scholar Suprema Dol Verip¡¯s lecture: ¡°The protocols exist to provide vigilance, which has helped this Order stand since blah blah blah.¡±¡±

    ¡°You¡ªyou aren¡¯t going to tell anyone about him, are you?¡±

    He chuckled in reply.

    ¡°What¡¯s so funny? This isn¡¯t a joke!¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s¡ªit¡¯s nothing.¡±

    ¡°Tell me!¡±

    ¡°Okay, fine,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve met four half-marked in my time as a scholar, and each and every one of you has been completely different. What I find amusing is the trait you all share: trust issues.¡±

    Zaina felt a little called out, but tried not to show it. ¡°You¡¯d have them too, if¡ªcan scholars even get the mark?¡±

    Baeus replied, ¡°It¡¯s believed they can, but we don¡¯t have any evidence of a scholar ever becoming a marked. I can¡¯t even speculate as to what would happen.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, me either,¡± she said. ¡°Well, regardless, it¡¯s hard not to have trust issues when half the galaxy hates you for existing. And those are generally the ones you don¡¯t have to worry about.¡± Her thoughts turned to Ovela and Beni¡ªshe thought they were her friends once. Still, something in her gut told her to give Baeus a chance¡ªhe might work out differently. It felt like a risk worth taking.Stolen story; please report.

    And the gods know I could use a friend in the Order.

    ¡°Understandable,¡± he said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Your secret is safe with me. So¡ªif you want, we could still go with the plan from before. We could also visit Gizmo¡¯s manufacturer, see if they might be able to point us in a helpful direction.¡±

    Zaina glanced at Gizmo¡ªif Gir had risked so much to leave something behind, it had to be important. She had to go through with this, no matter what. ¡°Which will be an easier sell to the Order?¡±

    Baeus smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that¡ªI¡¯ve got it covered. Let¡¯s try the hacker first.¡±

    A holo-screen popped out of the left side of Baeus¡¯s hover-bed. Without moving, he navigated the device perfectly¡ªZaina¡¯s head tilted to the side.

    How is he doing that?

    Another scholar appeared on the holo-screen, this one a decrepit human. ¡°Ah, Baeus! How many years has it been?¡±

    ¡°Too many,¡± Baeus replied. ¡°Are you still on that travel-study to Dantohar?¡±

    ¡°No, Dantohar wrapped up about a decade ago. I¡¯ve been examining sites purported to be ruins of the Torigran Empire. Last stop was Krylum, next will be Jaavo. Now¡ªout with it.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Baeus replied.

    ¡°Out with it, then. What do you need? You only call these days when you need something.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡ªwell, I¡¯ve been¡ª¡±

    The elderly scholar rolled his eyes. ¡°Busy, yes. Tell me, are you still a scribe?¡±

    ¡°Yes, unfortunately I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Still having issues getting distracted?¡±

    Baeus had an uncomfortable expression. ¡°Well, I¡ª¡±

    ¡°I would hope not,¡± the scholar said. ¡°I vouched for you¡ªto hear you¡¯ve made no progress in ten years is, I must admit, a bit disappointing. You have so much promise, Baeus, if only you¡¯d let go of your strange obsessions.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± he replied. ¡°I know, I know.¡±

    ¡°Now,¡± the elderly scholar said with an amused tone, ¡°would you like to come out with what you need, or hear my opinions some more?¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Baeus said. ¡°Sorry¡ªI wanted to know, do you remember the name of that computation scientist you worked on the old Songa archives with?¡±

    There was a moment of silence. ¡°Why do you want to know?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve garnered a fascination with the Songa Revival era, and I¡¯d like to see the original transcriptions of the texts relating to the reign of Emperor Qhrystap.¡±

    ¡°They should have the pre-transcription images by now in the Historical Archive. Check there.¡±

    ¡°I know, but¡ª¡±

    The scholar sighed. ¡°Is this something related to your little obsession?¡±

    Baeus glanced over at Zaina. ¡°No, it¡¯s¡ªit¡¯s nothing to do with that.¡±

    ¡°You know that¡¯s the reason you get distracted. That¡¯s the reason other scholars don¡¯t feel they can trust you with projects of higher importance¡ªit¡¯s why you¡¯re still a scribe after seven thousand years.¡±

    ¡°I¡ªI do. I do know that.¡±

    ¡°And you still want to choose this path?¡±

    Baeus looked a little nervous. ¡°I¡ªit¡¯s not about that at all, Master Ghlomodius. I¡ªI¡¯d just like a little time for an offworld study. Maybe I¡¯ve been cooped up longer than I¡¯d like.¡±

    Ghlomodius sighed. ¡°That computation scientist died a hundred years ago, Baeus. The Order isn¡¯t as willing to work with hackers after the Itharian Moon Heist, so I doubt you¡¯ll find anyone on register. If you really want a vacation, choose somewhere else. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t help you further than that¡ªother than to warn you again. This obsession with marked history is exactly why you are where you are. If that¡¯s what this is really about, I strongly urge you to reconsider. Get back to the work you¡¯re supposed to be doing and put this folly behind you.¡±

    The words struck Zaina like a scrap bead to the chest. She wasn¡¯t sure how to feel¡ªneither about the Order that held back scholars who showed an interest in marked history, nor about Baeus¡¯s purported obsession.

    Baeus frowned. ¡°I understand. Very well, then¡ªthank you, Master Ghlomodius. I¡¯ll make sure to call soon so we can properly catch up.¡±

    Ghlomodius scoffed. ¡°I look forward to it, but I¡¯ll not bate my breath.¡±

    With that, the call ended. Baeus loosed a defeated groan. ¡°Sorry you had to hear that.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, me too,¡± Zaina replied.

    Baeus sighed. ¡°Well,¡± he said, ¡°looks like the computation scientist is a dead end¡ªliterally. Sorry about that, time gets kind of weird when you¡¯ve lived this long. We might have better luck at Gizmo¡¯s manufacturing site.¡±

    ¡°Wait,¡± she said, wanting to talk about what Ghlomodius had said. ¡°Is¡ªis what he said true?¡±

    ¡°What part?¡±

    ¡°Any of it,¡± Zaina replied. ¡°Your obsession with the marked, the Order holding you back because of it¡ªis that true?¡±

    An expression of discomfort came over Baeus¡¯s face. ¡°I¡ªno, I don¡¯t think the Order is unbiased in qualifying my fascination as an obsession, firstly; and secondly, well¡ªyes. The Order hasn¡¯t looked kindly on what I choose for independent study. They keep saying that working as a scribe will give me, ¡®A sense of wonder about other facets of the galaxy.¡¯ But I already have that sense of wonder¡ªI love learning as much as I can about everything. Including the history of your people¡ª¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re not my people,¡± she replied, then pointed to her mark. ¡°This is the only thing I have in common with them. Is that what this whole thing is about? You think getting to know me will help with your independent studies?¡±

    The blood drained from Baeus¡¯s face, leaving his skin a pale gray. ¡°I¡ªwhat? No!¡±

    ¡°Really? Then why do you even want to help? Why are you here bothering me when I¡¯m sure you have something better to do?¡±

    Zaina winced at the harshness of her words. I really have been spending too much time with Xyrthe.

    An air of sorrow fell over him. ¡°I want to help.¡±

    Zaina took a deep breath¡ªin truth, none of the anger coursing through her veins was directed toward Baeus. Some of it was toward the Order for their staunch anti-marked attitude, and part of it was at the wider galaxy¡ªmostly, she was scared about losing Gizmo. Before all of this Zaina would have given anyone a chance if it meant having a friend¡ªhad she already changed so much? ¡°I¡ªI¡¯m sorry, Baeus. I don¡¯t know what that was.¡±

    He hovered a little closer. ¡°No need to apologize. I imagine it must be difficult for you, in ways I can¡¯t even understand.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± she replied. ¡°Not many people are lining up to associate themselves with me. And looking at what they¡¯ve done to you, I can hardly blame them.¡±

    ¡°I can,¡± Baeus said. ¡°In truth, I think the Order¡¯s¡ªand the galaxy¡¯s¡ªdisposition toward the marked is one of cowardice.¡±

    She nodded, remembering her brief time in the marked enclave. They, at least, had been nothing to be afraid of as long as they weren¡¯t provoked.

    ¡°Now,¡± he continued, ¡°would you like to be on our way? I think we can help your little friend here.¡±

    Zaina thought for a moment, then nodded. It was worth a shot. ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s do it.¡±

 Chapter 120: Rival

    ¡°Why should this heretic be allowed to join our sacred Order? We have been tasked with safeguarding the galaxy, with being the protectorate of its peoples, a task given us by Riiva itself. To allow such a blight within our walls is an insult to the countless and hallowed dead who sacrificed everything to keep their kind from burning the galaxy. Heretics are called such for a reason: The Reign of Laogoth the Terrible, The War of the Blackswords, the War of the Black Ships, the Return War, the many-numbered Heretic Wars, not to mention the numerous wars of the Marked Empire¡ªwhat benefit do you have to weigh against all of that suffering?¡±

    ¡ªAntokritus the Ancient, former Scholar Suprema of Directives in the Order of Riiva and founding member of the Scions of Riiva

    Baeus¡¯s glyph landed his small, atmospheric ship on one of the many circular platforms built atop Port Isle, Kaado¡¯s main hub of incoming and outgoing traffic.

    ¡°Here we are,¡± Baeus said, his bed-pod detaching from its restraints. ¡°Next stop, the Ship Charter-¡ªthen Ganthelia.¡±

    ¡°Ganthelia?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the world where our little friend comes from. Maybe the manufacturing plant will be able to help, or at least point us in the right direction.¡±

    She stared down at Gizmo, who was still in her lap and still in low-power mode. ¡°I hope so.¡±

    The ship¡¯s doors opened, and Baeus led the way out. Zaina walked alongside him, noticing the glares and glances from lancers, scholars, and attendants alike as they traversed the steel jungle of landing platforms.

    Try not to think about them. They¡¯re not what¡¯s important right now.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Baeus said, ¡°so when we get to the Ship Charter, I¡¯ll go in and do the talking, if you don¡¯t mind waiting outside.¡±

    She shot him a nasty look. ¡°Why, they don¡¯t rent ships out to my kind?¡±

    He sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not that, though they would be more likely to ask questions should you come inside; mostly, though, I don¡¯t want them to see Gizmo. They¡¯d have more questions about him than they would you.¡±

    She hadn¡¯t thought about that. If someone asked her what was wrong with her glyph, what was she going to say? Battery issue?

    I probably should have planned this out a little better.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Baeus said.

    ¡°I¡¯m not worried.¡±

    ¡°Your anxiety is palpable. It¡¯s going to be okay, Zaina.¡±

    Her lips tightened. Nothing was ever that easy for her, but Baeus wouldn¡¯t understand. Instead of engaging further she changed the subject. ¡°Why don¡¯t we take your ship?¡±

    Baeus chuckled. ¡°That little thing? That¡¯s not rated for interplanetary travel. No, we¡¯ll need something with a few more bells and whistles.¡±

    Zaina grumbled, wishing she didn¡¯t have to be out and about on Kaado.

    They finally came to a windowless, square metal building supporting three separate landing platforms. Upon reaching the door Baeus turned to Zaina and said, ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡±

    She nodded. Once he was inside she hobbled over to a bench near the entrance and plopped down. Beside her was a decorative plant, a Monmoran thrushcaller sculpted from transparent glass. In school she¡¯d learned that thrushcallers spread their seeds by a partnership with birds¡ªthe plant produced a sweet nectar to attract birds, and while they gorged themselves, the powdery seeds of the thrushcaller would attach to the bird¡¯s leg and fall off during flight.

    She sighed. Even birds and plants can get along.

    Sometimes she wished to be a bird, to be able to fly away from all her problems. To be accepted among her peers without question was a feeling with which she was most unfamiliar.

    A harsh voice snapped her from her melancholy. ¡°Hey, look! It¡¯s the little heretic, all alone.¡±

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    Zaina¡¯s head snapped toward the noise, stopping on a familiar sight. Her stomach dropped¡ªthis was the last thing she needed today.

    Kurgan.

    The lancer apprentice stood beside his mentor, Qylin, who also hated Zaina but was more restrained about it.

    ¡°Where¡¯s your big friend?¡± Kurgan asked and then sneered.

    A surge of anger coursed through her body. ¡°Not today, Kurgan.¡±

    Qylin looked on with an amused, smug grin as Kurgan took a step toward Zaina. ¡°Oh, why not? You too busy planning your next murder?¡±

    ¡°You know damn well I didn¡¯t murder anyone.¡±

    ¡°I know if you wanted to frame some poor attendant and make her body disappear you could.¡±

    The words struck Zaina like a brick to the face, but she tried not to let it show. Ovela had been her friend, and then she had betrayed and attacked Zaina¡ªhow dare he try to use that against her now. ¡°You don¡¯t know the first thing about me.¡±

    ¡°I know at least two things,¡± he said, a vicious smile taking over his lips. ¡°One, you¡¯re an abomination. Two, you don¡¯t belong here. Come to think of it, that¡¯s all I need to know.¡±

    She took a deep breath. He¡¯s not worth it.

    Even if she wanted to fight him¡ªwhich, she had a feeling, would only make things worse¡ªher leg wasn¡¯t going to be of any use right now. And with his mentor there, ready to summon his cipher in an instant¡ªno, even if she were healthy this wasn¡¯t a winnable fight.

    Kurgan glanced down at her leg. His smile deepened. ¡°Oh, what¡¯s wrong? Did you get hurt protecting that heretic enclave?¡±

    She almost snapped, but stayed calm. Her eye twitched¡ªthere were so many things she wanted to say, but she knew it would fall on unwilling ears. ¡°What, you¡¯re stalking me now?¡±

    This time Qylin replied, his arms crossed. ¡°We keep an eye on those we believe to be acting against the Order¡¯s best interests.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Kurgan said. ¡°And we¡¯ll be waiting for the day you show your true colors.¡±

    Zaina sighed. What would Xyrthe say to get them to go away? She wished she could channel her mentor in that moment.

    Kurgan was still going on, trying to goad Zaina into making the first move; at that point, she couldn¡¯t hear him. A chorus of dark whispers drowned out his voice, chanting in unison, ¡°Kill them, kill them, kill them¡­¡±

    She wanted to shout, to scream something, anything¡ªwhatever would make the voices stop. They hadn¡¯t been this aggressive in a while. Her eyes jammed shut, her head shaking as she tried to contain the rising shadow within, but it was about to break¡ª

    A familiar voice cut through the haze. ¡°Hey! What¡¯s all this?¡±

    Zaina opened her eyes¡ªBaeus had emerged from the charter building, and based on his face, he was pissed. He floated over, continuing, ¡°Qylin! Standing by while a lancer, your pupil no less, harasses a fellow lancer? This is unacceptable. I expect better from you.¡±

    Qylin¡¯s eyes narrowed, and his crossed arms somehow crossed further into each other. ¡°I dispute whether that thing is a fellow lancer, but so be it. Come, Kurgan.¡±

    ¡°I should speak to the disciplinary board about this,¡± Baeus said. ¡°Conduct unbecoming of a lancer¡ªincitement via failure to act. How does that sound on your record?¡±

    Qylin stopped in his tracks. ¡°Sir Scholar,¡± he said in a mocking tone, ¡°you should know I¡¯m only defending the Order of Riiva from those who would seek to take it from us.¡±

    ¡°The Scholar Suprema of Induction gave her his vote of confidence,¡± Baeus retorted. ¡°She has as much right to be here as anyone. You included. Perhaps you might find the Scions a better fit for your temperaments. I could talk to the board about your expulsion if you wish.¡±

    Qylin spoke softly, but his words were poison. ¡°If you think any disciplinary board on this world will take her side, you¡¯re not right in the head.¡±

    ¡°Yeah? Why don¡¯t we roll the dice on that, then?¡± Baeus replied, not backing down. ¡°Are you a gambling man, Qylin?¡±

    Qylin¡¯s eye twitched while he stared Baeus down; then, he turned away. ¡°As much as I¡¯d love to continue this thrilling conversation, we have official business of the Order of Riiva to conduct.¡±

    ¡°Be on your merry way,¡± Baeus said.

    ¡°And you enjoy your afternoon with an abomination.¡± With that, Qylin grabbed Kurgan¡¯s arm and dragged the protesting boy away.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t over!¡± Kurgan shouted toward Zaina.

    Baeus sighed. ¡°Insolent idiots. There was a time when lancers respected the authority of the lesser scholars, even in matters of extreme disagreement.¡±

    A strange warmth filled Zaina¡¯s chest¡ªBaeus had stood up for her, the last thing she expected. Her suspicions were still there, but there was something else, too¡ªthe growing trust of a young bond? She didn¡¯t know.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± she said. ¡°For stepping in like that.¡±

    One of his eyebrows raised. ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°You know. For standing up for me. You didn¡¯t have to do that.¡±

    ¡°Of course I did,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯re my friend, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    The word struck her like a wave of understanding¡ªthat warm safety was something she hadn¡¯t had for quite some time.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, smiling. ¡°Yeah, I guess I am.¡±

    ¡°You guess?¡± he replied. ¡°Don¡¯t sound too enthused, now.¡±

    ¡°No, sorry, I¡ªI didn¡¯t expect to make a friend today.¡±

    Baeus chuckled. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get out of here.¡±

    They found their ship and departed from Kaado. While they pulled away, Zaina remembered the question she¡¯d asked Xyrthe when they¡¯d returned. Baeus seemed like he¡¯d be more receptive.

    ¡°Say,¡± she said, ¡°do you know why Kaado is broken like that?¡±

    Baeus huffed. ¡°Why, that story goes back a long way¡ªback to the Era of Chaos, the era following the fall of the Primortala; the Dark Master Laogoth, considered by many to be the father of all marked and creator of the Eldritch, was ever a thorn in the side of the Nova Rim, but at the Breaking of Velitrus¡ªthe ancient name for Kaado¡ªthe Alliance of Empires struck him down with a weapon that split the world asunder. Now, it¡¯s unknown what that weapon was¡­¡±

    Baeus continued on, and Zaina watched him passionately speak. A contented smile came over her lips. It felt good to have a friend.

 Chapter 121: Gizmos Home

    ¡°This new contract to create three glyph factories on our world¡¯s surface will bring in revenue for centuries. A new, prosperous era of Ganthelia is upon us, and industry is the light carving our path through the darkness.¡±

    ¡ªFormer Ganthelian Prime Minister Azu Ceea in a speech

    The ship¡¯s door opened to a cloud of dense fog. Zaina, warned ahead of time by Baeus of Ganthelia¡¯s unlivable conditions, already had her mask on. The display on the interior was recalibrating to the new environment, combining heat signatures, radioactive decay, and sensory data to create a clearer picture of Zaina¡¯s surroundings. In her arms she cradled Gizmo, who was still turned off.

    Baeus floated next to her, his bed-pod closed with a glass covering. ¡°Foreboding, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, unable to make anything out of the haze. They had landed on a platform near one of the glyph factories¡ªthat much, she knew. ¡°Can¡¯t see shit yet.¡±

    Finally, her mask¡¯s recalibration finished¡ªnot that it made much difference, illuminating little more than dim blurs of distant shadows.

    ¡°According to the map,¡± Baeus said, referencing a holo-screen of a map projecting inside his bed-pod, ¡°we should only be a few hundred feet from our destination. Looks like that way¡¯s east¡ªthat¡¯s the way we need to go.¡±

    ¡°That map tell you anything about the terrain?¡± she asked.

    ¡°No, so let¡¯s proceed with caution.¡±

    Zaina nodded and took up the van, having slightly better visibility. Nothing was coming into view but rocks and dirt, much less a factory.

    ¡°That¡¯s odd,¡± Baeus said. ¡°The map registers us as going the wrong way. Let¡¯s double back.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± she asked. ¡°Having trouble reading that thing?¡±

    Baeus blinked, unamused. ¡°No, but Ganthelia is known for its magnetic storms. Probably just scrambling our sensors a bit. Shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡±

    Zaina made her way back, leading her companion on the path. ¡°Hey, is the factory we¡¯re going to still active?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± he replied. ¡°Last one on Ganthelia still pumping, from what I know. Not that they¡¯re making Gizmo¡¯s model anymore, of course¡ªthey¡¯re making the new MRVs.¡±

    ¡°How is it working without any people?¡±

    Baeus frowned. ¡°I assume they¡¯ve got a glyph workforce. Not too uncommon in the midworlds. Especially in Ganthelia¡¯s case, after it became uninhabitable¡ªwhatever corporation had the factory contracts probably figured that they could keep operations running even if the sentient population had to evacuate.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s terrible,¡± Zaina muttered to herself. Demelia was destroyed by the Eldritch¡ªbut Ganthelia was voluntarily destroyed to make glyphs. She couldn¡¯t imagine giving up her homeworld by choice.

    ¡°It¡¯s not easy for a lot of worlds,¡± Baeus replied. ¡°Ganthelia wasn¡¯t particularly blessed in any department. To keep the lights on, their government had to make hard choices.¡±

    ¡°Well, the lights aren¡¯t on now.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± he conceded. ¡°They traded their long term future for a short term solution. Though I suppose every effort to make anything last forever is futile.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I guess,¡± she said as a large, dark object came into view. She reached out and touched it¡ªthe surface was sleek and cold to the touch. It was metal. ¡°Here¡¯s something.¡±

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    ¡°You think this is it?¡±

    ¡°Might be. Now we need to find the entrance,¡± she said.

    ¡°The map says the entrance is on the north-facing wall,¡± Baeus replied, ¡°but I¡¯m not sure we want to rely on it to navigate. So, we have two options: walk around until we find the entrance, or we go up.¡±

    ¡°Go up?¡± she asked, pointing into the sky.

    Baeus chuckled. ¡°Yes. Onto the roof.¡±

    ¡°I mean, I have rocket boots. Do you have¡ªwell, you know, rockets?¡±

    ¡°Every scholar¡¯s bed-pod comes equipped with a propulsion system for emergencies, yes,¡± he said.

    ¡°I did not know that. Okay, let¡¯s go up.¡±

    They lifted off at the same time and rose at the same rate. After climbing about a hundred feet they came to the top and landed. The facility¡¯s roof was barren and flat, but visibility was slightly better¡ªenough for Zaina to see there were no entrances up here, either. The entire building seemed to be one solid metal mass.

    ¡°Okay,¡± she said, ¡°what now?¡±

    He blinked a few times and said, ¡°What, you don¡¯t have any ideas?¡±

    She looked around, then heard Gizmo¡ªexcept she hadn¡¯t powered him on.

    ¡°Giz¡ªGiz¡ªGiz¡ªzzz¡ªmo¡ªmo¡ªmo¡ªGizmo¡ªhome¡ªhome¡ªhome¡ª¡±

    ¡°Gizmo? What¡¯s wrong, buddy?¡± she asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s the magnetic storm,¡± Baeus replied. ¡°It must be messing with him. We have to make our way to the entrance¡ªthey must have some sort of shielding within.¡±

    Zaina nodded and turned Gizmo off again. ¡°Which way is your map saying is north?¡±

    Baeus gave a defeated sigh. ¡°The way we came.¡±

    ¡°All right, fuck. Does it show us there?¡±

    ¡°No. Apparently we¡¯re to the west.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Zaina said, then started walking over the building. She barely walked three steps before an alert blared on her heads-up display.

    ¡°Uh, Zaina?¡± Baeus said. ¡°We have company.¡±

    ¡°I noticed.¡± She summoned her cipher, a glowing green beauty of a sword with a white guard and hilt, and waited. ¡°Your scanner tell you what direction it¡¯s coming from?¡±

    ¡°Looks like three directions and three active engines,¡± he replied. ¡°Is that right? Or is the magnetic storm messing with my sensor¡¯s calibrations, too?¡±

    ¡°Only way to know is to wait,¡± Zaina said, carefully scanning the ten feet that were visible through the haze in each direction. She kept a close eye on Baeus, not wanting to lose him to a surprise attack.

    Then, out of the haze, three large glyphs arrived at a slow pace. They had no arms, and featured a rectangular body attached to a floating sphere; orbiting around the sphere were hovering triangles.

    They spoke in unison. ¡°Sentients. It is not recommended that the planet¡¯s surface be occupied for any duration of time. Please follow us and make your way inside.¡±

    ¡°Affirmative,¡± Baeus said.

    Zaina dispelled her cipher and stepped out of her combat stance. In a moment she snapped out of fight mode and followed the glyphs and Baeus, happy not to be in front for a bit.

    They made their way clear across the building. Baeus and the glyphs all smoothly hovered to the bottom, while Zaina stopped and started with her rocket boots, falling ungracefully. Once they¡¯d landed two panels on the wall in front of them separated just enough for them to squeeze inside the facility.

    Zaina found herself in a barren room. It had the signs of once being some sort of office¡ªthere was a rusting metal desk for a receptionist, a few legs of broken chairs scattered across the empty floors, and rotting framed posters barely clinging to the light gray walls.

    Behind the desk was a glyph, seemingly a series of increasingly smaller tubes stacked atop each other. The glyphs that had escorted them inside floated through a metal doorway, which then jammed shut.

    The glyph behind the desk addressed them, ¡°Hello, sentients. And welcome, visitors, to Ganthelia¡ªGanthelia¡ªGANTHELIA¡ª¡®s premiere hub of industry and progress. Have you elected to take the guided tour?¡±

    ¡°Guided tour?¡± Zaina asked. How long had it been since this thing spoke to a person?

    ¡°Sequence unknown. Restart sequence. Hello, sentients. And welcome, visitors, to Ganthelia¡¯s premiere hub of industry and progress. Have you elected to take the guided tour?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Baeus stepped in. ¡°No, we¡¯ve come for information on a glyph that was created here. He¡¯s malfunctioning.¡±

    ¡°Sequence known. Run sequence. Apologies, but all information regarding your glyph would be stored at the offworld site responsible for running this facility. Such information may be proprietary, so no guarantees can be made whether such information would be available to you should you choose to reach out to said site.¡±

    Zaina shrugged¡ªit was worth a shot. Besides, otherwise they came all this way for nothing. ¡°What¡¯s the site?¡±

    The glyph sparked, then answered, ¡°Tol-Vess. Blackgate Security Investments Incorporated Data Facility Three, in Industrial Sector Seven-Seven. Sequence ended. Have you elected to take the guided tour?¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your time,¡± Zaina said.

    ¡°Sequence known. Run sequence. Thank you for stopping by. Please be careful outside in case of magnetic storms, tectonic shifts, or any other planetary surface disruption events. End sequence.¡± With that, the glyph¡¯s lights went out.

    Zaina sighed and turned to Baeus. ¡°Well, I guess we know where we¡¯re going next. Probably to another dead end.¡±

    Baeus chuckled. ¡°You never know until you try. Come, let¡¯s get to the ship quickly.¡±

 Chapter 122: Shift

    ¡°These things are not our friends, any more than a sheet of paper with ones and zeroes could be.¡±

    ¡ªEzou Miraw, priest of Gaazabar

    The magnetic storm was even worse on the way back to the ship. Zaina held Gizmo to her chest and cooed at him, ¡°It¡¯s okay. We¡¯ll get through this, buddy.¡±

    She hoped it was true, but she was losing faith. Doubt crept into every corner of her mind. If Gir had left something behind¡ªespecially a message for her¡ªwhy did he make it so hard to get to?

    It occurred to Zaina that she might be projecting this weird friendship onto Gir. She barely knew him for two days¡ªnot even. Why was she so attached to the idea of keeping part of him around? Why did she miss him so much?

    Another thought struck her¡ªwhat if there was nothing? What if it was all a mistake, a glitch¡ªwhat if she went to all this trouble, thinking Gir had left some significant knowledge or message behind, but it was all a malfunction? How was she going to feel then?

    She pushed the questions aside. There was no room for doubt. She had to keep going for Gizmo. They were almost at the ship, where Zaina would be able to collect her thoughts. Eventually, one way or the other, she¡¯d have her answer.

    Gizmo turned on again. ¡°Giz¡ªGiz¡ªGiz¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh, no,¡± Zaina said, pushing his power button. ¡°Here, buddy. Get some rest.¡±

    He didn¡¯t turn off. ¡°Giz¡ªGiz¡ªGiz¡ª¡±

    She toggled it a few times. ¡°What¡¯s¡ªhuh?¡±

    ¡°Something the matter?¡± Baeus asked.

    ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s not turning off,¡± she replied. ¡°Damn magnetic storm¡ªlet¡¯s get him to the ship.¡±

    ¡°Giz¡ªGiz¡ªGiz¡ªzzz¡ª¡± a holo-screen projected from the top of Gizmo¡¯s body, displaying an image of a human man with a cybernetic implant on the side of his head; at first glance, it looked to be some sort of bone or horn-like protrustion.

    Gizmo spoke, but not in its normal voice¡ªit was deep and robotic, utterly devoid of the usual cheer or joy. ¡°Lancer contact: X972.12.EP-000270. Name: Kazlo Kamu. Alias: Ghost. Occupation: Glyph repair and programming. Last known location update: World of Calkhor, city of Atlande, frequenting the location: Pilizara¡¯s Wellstop. Registering lancer: Girxorgian of Clan Ra-Folgoth.¡±

    Zaina was stunned, trying to process what her little friend was saying. ¡°Are¡ªare you okay, Gizmo?¡±

    The shift was over. ¡°Giz¡ªGiz¡ªGiz¡ªentering low power mode.¡±

    Zaina patted him tenderly on the head. ¡°You did well, buddy. Get some rest, now.¡± Then she turned to Baeus and said, ¡°Please tell me you caught that.¡±

    ¡°I did indeed,¡± Baeus replied. ¡°Sounds more promising than our other lead, if I¡¯m being honest.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, feeling a tinge of excitement¡ªthis seemed like their first real lead. ¡°Yeah, no kidding.¡±

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    ¡°So, Calkhor it is?¡±

    She nodded, her faith redoubling. Gir had left something for her¡ªwhy else would Gizmo have acted like that? It all had to be according to some sort of plan, right? There was something he wanted Zaina to see, or know¡ªand whatever it was had to be galaxy-shattering. Why else would he be so secretive about it, and take such incredible measures? Why else wouldn¡¯t he trust the Order with it?

    Zaina tried to imagine the scope of a conspiracy so vast that Gir would actively turn against the Order and seek to hide something from them. Maybe they were part of it, or involved somehow. Her mind raced at the endless possibilities.

    They made their way back to the ship. Zaina took off her mask and inhaled the cabin¡¯s musty air¡ªit was welcome compared to the recycled oxygen in the mask. The glass covering on Baeus¡¯s bed-pod also folded back in, and he similarly enjoyed a deep breath of the ship air.

    ¡°All right,¡± he said. ¡°Well, that wasn¡¯t altogether pleasant, but at least we have a new lead. Calkhor should only be a skip or two away. Probably thirty minutes at most.¡±

    ¡°Maybe we should look this guy up,¡± Zaina said. ¡°You know, make sure he¡¯s still alive.¡±

    Baeus rolled his eyes. ¡°If that¡¯s a reference to my mistake earlier¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m only poking fun. I doubt he¡¯s dead¡ªGir must¡¯ve registered him within the last ten years, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, and considering he has a last known location, the Order is still keeping tabs on his whereabouts. That said, a lot can happen in ten years,¡± Baeus replied. ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can find¡ªah, active warrants, no death certificate¡ªas far as everything official goes, it appears our friend Kazlo is quite alive. However, due to his circumstances, I¡¯d understand if he was making himself difficult for strangers to come by.¡±

    ¡°Active warrants?¡±

    ¡°Theft, hacking, and embezzlement, from the looks of it,¡± Baeus said. ¡°Well, we¡¯ll go to Atlande and find this Pilizari¡¯s Wellstop, and see what comes up. Sound good?¡±

    She smiled and gave a nod.

    Baeus said to the glyph piloting the ship, ¡°Set course for Calkhor, southern quadrant three. City of Atlande. Scan for available ports in the quadrant and navigate to the closest one.¡±

    The glyph gave an affirmative click, and the ship powered on. Zaina sat on one of the polysynth lounge chairs, grateful for a chance to rest her aching leg. She heaved a relaxed sigh and held Gizmo in her lap.

    Baeus came up beside her. ¡°So,¡± he said, ¡°what do you think is in that little mind of his?¡±

    Zaina still didn¡¯t want to fully let him in on the scope of this¡ªshe didn¡¯t know how big the secret was, and she didn¡¯t want to spook him with her true thoughts. Instead she replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°In thinking about it,¡± Baeus continued, ¡°I¡¯ve come to the conclusion that it must be one of three things.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Let¡¯s hear it.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± he began, ¡°it¡¯s entirely possible Gir left information embedded deep within Gizmo for some reason¡ªthat¡¯s option one. The second option is that it¡¯s a mistake, an error¡ªI think that¡¯s the most probable outcome. The third option is that it¡¯s some sort of tampering beyond what Gir knew of. Has anyone other than you, Gir, or the Order had possession of Gizmo while you¡¯ve known him?¡±

    Zaina shook her head. ¡°I mean, there¡¯s been times when he¡¯s been alone, but¡ªI think we can rule out option three. I don¡¯t think anyone could have messed with him. Definitely not when Gir and I were on Demelia, and probably not in Otmonzas¡¯s shipyard, either.¡±

    Baeus gave an intrigued grunt. ¡°It was already the least likely option. But that takes me back to something which gives me pause¡ªif Gir left something behind, he subverted the Order to do so. I never interacted with him much, but from what I remember and from what other people say of him, he was as loyal a lancer as they come.

    ¡°And further¡ªthink of the modifications that would¡¯ve had to have been made to Gizmo if Gir did leave a message behind. That had to be something premeditated, planned¡ªit couldn¡¯t have been a spur of the moment decision. Which, unfortunately, means it¡¯s unlikely whatever message is on there is intended for you. Any tampering Gir did with Gizmo was likely to have occurred before he went to Demelia. I think we should prepare for the possibility of this being something greater than we imagined.¡±

    Zaina¡¯s shoulders sank. Baeus wasn¡¯t wrong¡ªshe doubted Gir knew how to reprogram Gizmo in that way. Still, the settling gloom didn¡¯t change her mind¡ªwhether Gir had a message for her or not, she needed to know. This was basically Gir¡¯s last will and testimony, his final chance to speak from beyond the grave, and he deserved that¡ªshe owed him at least that much.

 Chapter 123: Tracking a Ghost

    ¡°The Nova Rim is so vast, with so many little crevices and corners so far out of the way of anyone who would ever bother to look. Some may try, many, even¡ªbut there¡¯s always more places to hide than there are people willing to look.¡±

    ¡ªThief King Dandra Vyert on how he avoided capture for decades

    The white blanket of the void receded from Zaina and Baeus¡¯s rental ship as they exited into regular space within Calkhor¡¯s orbit. The planet was gorgeous, a mixture of greens and blues, with the occasional tan patch of desert or silvery cluster of tundra.

    ¡°Calkhor,¡± Baeus said. ¡°A wayward place, to be sure.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that mean?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s hardly industrialized,¡± he replied. ¡°That¡¯s not such a bad thing by itself, mind you¡ªbut Calkhor¡¯s placement in its sector and lack of a native sentient species make it perfect for, let¡¯s say, invaders, specifically those from the criminal underworld.¡±

    A surge of anger flushed through Zaina¡¯s body and then dissipated. The last time she¡¯d encountered someone from the criminal underworld, it hadn¡¯t gone well. ¡°You think we¡¯ll find trouble?¡±

    ¡°We may, but I find it unlikely. Atlande isn¡¯t known to be a hub of that sort of activity. Though the Order tends to not know much about the comings and goings of the criminal underworld.¡±

    Zaina snickered.

    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡±

    ¡°You guys know so much about everything, but not that? Sounds like kind of an important blind spot.¡±

    Baeus sighed. ¡°Call it what you will. We do try¡ªwe have informants on payroll in many different organizations, though most are like to give us bad information or none at all. We keep ears to the ground where we can.¡±

    ¡°Still,¡± she said, ¡°it¡¯s weird, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like they enjoy volunteering information. And it doesn¡¯t help that much of their history is oral, only told amongst trusted members. Besides, lancers have had little trouble in the past infiltrating whatever underworld scene they need to. That¡¯s our advantage¡ªthe underworld is much bigger, so it¡¯s easier for us to sneak through the cracks.¡±

    Zaina shrugged. ¡°Well, my leg¡¯s out of commission, so let¡¯s hope it doesn¡¯t come to a fight.¡±

    Baeus gave her a concerned look. ¡°I never hope it comes to violence.¡±

    They were close to landing by now, pulling toward a circular patch of dirt carved into the forest. There were numerous such dirt circles arranged in neat lines, though most others had a ship parked on them. Not far from that was a small settlement made up of haphazard wooden structures with thatched roofs.

    That must be Atlande.

    The ship landed atop the dirt, a softer touchdown than Zaina was used to; then, Baeus and Zaina departed. Once they stepped out, Zaina took a deep breath of the fresh, forest air¡ªthe crisp, minty scent of needle trees filled her nostrils.

    A sad chord plucked at her heart. It smells like home.

    Baeus¡¯s voice snapped her out of it. ¡°Everything all right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said. ¡°Yeah, no, it¡¯s fine. Where are we going again?¡±

    He chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing I came along, isn¡¯t it? We¡¯re looking for Pilizara¡¯s Wellstop. Shouldn¡¯t be too hard to find.¡±

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    She took in the small settlement¡ªthere were maybe ten total structures. Atlande made Demelia look high-tech. ¡°Should we go building to building or ask a local?¡±

    Baeus smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s ask a local. There!¡± His bed-pod turned toward a large wooden cart with barrels of fresh fruits and vegetables. Behind that was a Gamadaran, and a rotund one at that; his flesh-horns were only an inch from his cheeks, and his gray skin looked pallid for his species. He wore a black shirt two sizes too small, revealing the ridged bone shape on his lower back and all down his arms, and red pants. ¡°Hello, my friend! Excuse me!¡±

    The Gamadaran looked over and jumped, apparently startled to see a scholar and a lancer. Zaina saw him pull out a radio and whisper something into it before turning to Baeus and replying, ¡°And what business might the Order of Riiva have here?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve come seeking information about a particular individual who¡¯s known to frequent Pilizara¡¯s Wellstop. If you could point us in that direction, we¡¯ll be on our way.¡±

    The Gamadaran, glaring with his pupil-less white eyes, didn¡¯t break eye contact as he stretched his arm out to point at one of the larger and more disheveled buildings. It was shaped like a dome and had fruit trees planted in rows all around it.

    ¡°Thank you, friend,¡± Baeus said.

    Zaina, suspicious, kept an eye on the Gamadaran, who definitely wasn¡¯t their friend. She hoped Baeus knew what he was doing. While they walked toward the wellstop, she leaned over and whispered, ¡°I think he called for someone.¡±

    ¡°I saw that too,¡± he replied. ¡°Maybe Atlande is more connected than the Order knows.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll stay vigilant,¡± she said.

    ¡°I think we¡¯ll be all right. Few in their right mind would dare pick a fight with a lancer¡ªeven an injured one.¡±

    Zaina looked around at the handful of people shuffling about¡ªa lot of these people didn¡¯t seem to be in their right mind. Sitting by the wellstop was a Cytomoid, her fur stained a sickly green, using shaking hands to steady a pipe as she heated the darklung within. Two humans, half-empty bottles of some alcohol or another sloshing in their hands, walked by while speaking loudly in a language Zaina didn¡¯t know. One brandished a bloodied hacksaw in his spare hand, and they both cheerily entered the wellstop, walking through the leather flaps to replace a door that had been broken off ages ago. Rotting pieces of the wooden door still hung from the rusty hinges.

    Zaina¡¯s hand twitched, ready to summon her cipher at a moment¡¯s notice. She didn¡¯t want trouble, but she was ready for it.

    They entered Pilizara¡¯s Wellstop. There were about twenty patrons or so spread out across the maze-like bar that took up the interior of the building. The lighting was dim, with the only source coming from glowing bulbs on strings secured to the ceiling. A lone Edunabrian woman worked the bar, her four spindly arms reaching every which way to find ingredients for the drink she was mixing. She had deep blue skin and was hunched over, with a body that walked on four short legs, as was typical for her species; by the wrinkles on her face, she was old, but her features were otherwise normal for Edunabrians: a bulbous nose, round face, and light, pearly blue eyes to go with a toothless mouth on either cheek.

    Not a single patron paid any mind to Zaina or Baeus¡ªto Zaina, it was a novelty. Usually people either paid her negative attention or weird attempts at positive attention. It was rare she was ignored, and she cherished it.

    Baeus whispered, ¡°I think that woman is Pilizara.¡±

    Zaina nodded, and then followed the scholar to the bar. The Edunabrian woman quickly finished mixing a drink and slid it across a bartop to a customer before trudging over to greet her new arrivals.

    ¡°Welcome,¡± she said, her mouth-flaps shaking. ¡°What can I get ya for?¡±

    ¡°Pilizara, I presume?¡± Baeus asked in a friendly tone.

    A deep sigh came from the woman. ¡°We don¡¯t deal in names here. Ya drink or ya leave.¡±

    ¡°Oh, no¡ªwe¡¯re here for information,¡± Baeus replied.

    ¡°Information?¡± Two of the woman¡¯s arms crossed; another snuck beneath the counter, and she laid the fourth down in front of Zaina and Baeus. ¡°Ya here for an investigation?¡±

    He dipped his head and said, ¡°Something like that. We¡¯re looking for a person of interest. Not to apprehend them, mind you. We only want to speak to them. Goes by the name of Kazlo Kamu, but you might know him as Ghost.¡±

    ¡°Something like an investigation?¡± the woman asked, her tone sounding aggravated. ¡°It¡¯s either an investigation or it¡¯s not. So what is it? Do I legally have to talk to ya, or can I tell ya to fuck off back to Kaado?¡±

    The other patrons were paying attention now, their eyes fixed on the two. Zaina¡¯s fingers rubbed together in anticipation of one of them trying something stupid¡ªall hands in the room moved to weapons nearby, but none fired a shot.

    Baeus frowned. ¡°Of course. We¡¯ll be on our way.¡±

    Though frustrated, Zaina knew it was the best course of action to leave. They turned and made their way to the exit.

    ¡°Well,¡± Baeus said, sounding dejected, ¡°that wasn¡¯t ideal at all.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± she replied, ¡°but I¡¯m sure there¡¯s another way.¡±

    Zaina stepped outside. Her heart skipped a beat¡ªwithout a moment of hesitation she summoned her cipher and stood at the ready to activate her hex-shield. Her blood was boiling at the sight of the person waiting for her.

    Reida Qarys tilted her head to the side with a coy smile and said, ¡°Hey there, Zaina Quin. Long time, no see.¡±