ã€ŠEIDOLON: Whispers of Eternityã€‹


 Book I - Chapter 01 - Memories of the Past, Echoes of the Present

    Winter going into spring was always a beautiful time in the northern territories. Forests of mountains, trees growing from rocky outcrops and half-melted beds of snow, the footprints of animals as they venture forth from their months-long hibernations. The sky was clear, the air crisp, and one young boy found himself looking up at it through a clearing in a pine grove. Babbling through the grove was a creek, gently falling against a path of rocks as it made its way down the mountain. The boy ¨C roughly 10 years old, and wearing thread-bare rags that had once been proper winter clothing ¨C picked up a wet stick as he approached the creek. Snow crunched under his boots as he lifted the stick high, admiring his prize, and with a few calculated smacks of the stick against the riverbed, delighted in the breaking of frosted crystal from the rocks. For a moment, he watched the loosened ice float away¡­until he realized he wasn¡¯t the only one there.

    Blue eyes watched in perfect stillness; there was a fox not too far away, its own black eyes looking straight back at him. The boy carefully put the stick down, trying not to make a sound. The sight of the fox was unusual; this close to a community meant the creek was a frequent destination for the local human population, and no fox in their right mind had any interest in that. Still, this one seemed indifferent to the child, and turned away to lap at the water for a little while longer. The boy made it three paces closer before the fox¡¯s ears suddenly went up, and it looked around in an unbidden panic.

    Then the cause for alarm became evident; three lightning-quick streaks of light darted across the sky. The fox was gone before the boy looked for it again, but the sound of nearby destruction left him with no recourse, and he started running up the footpath back the way he¡¯d come. His hood fell away from the jostling, revealing short blonde hair, but he had no time to stop and put it back. Ears quickly started to get a pink tint from the cold as he ran, ¡°Mom!? Mom!¡± He called out; a nearby explosive blast sent him sprawling for cover, hands over his head. Pebbles and dirt rained on him, but the boy got up again and carried on, flitting through the trees just off the path instead.

    As he arrived at the clearing of a small village ¨C more like a campsite that had been used for years, with a few tents interspersed between some longer-lived log cabins ¨C he saw what carnage had already been wrought. Two of the cabins were already destroyed and smoldering, people were running for their lives; death was coming from the sky.

    ¡°Gabe!?¡± A woman¡¯s voice called-out, and the boy lifted his head, ¡°Gabriel, what are you doing out in the open!?¡±

    ¡°I heard the attack from the creek! What¡¯s going on?¡±

    The woman had hair as golden as his own, and she carefully weaved through ruined tents and campfires to get to where her son was hiding behind a wood-pile. She hugged him tightly as she arrived, ¡°It must be those newcomers¡­ They drew the Fafnir straight to us¡­! We have to get away before they find us, too!¡±

    With renewed focus, they turned, but the pair couldn¡¯t even begin their retreat into the woods; they were stopped in their tracks by yet another explosion. The woman blocked as much as she could from her son, and took a graze to the forehead, blood trickling down across her brow. She hissed a breath, and touched her fingers to it, but there was no time to worry or complain about the sting; whatever was going on, they were being herded back into the open. But even that was cut-off in quick succession, as one of those ¡®so-called¡¯ Fafnir descended directly into the middle of the encampment. It bore the physique of a large man, with gilded, aerodynamic armor covering every inch of him; from his back were two arm-like projections, with solid-light panels that made it look like he had massive wings. The crowning difference between him and the following two Fafnir that descended nearby, was the elaborate ornamentation above and behind him, extending out from the wing-panels.

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s the Captain¡­!¡± The woman whispered, holding her son¡¯s head close in front of herself as she tried to pull him closer to a make-shift shelter; a small wooden shed with an open door, ¡°Why is the Captain on this mission!? He¡¯s never come out for these culls before¡­¡±

    ¡°We didn¡¯t do anything¡­¡± Gabriel complained fearfully, ¡°I don¡¯t understand¡­¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t, either¡­¡± She answered, and pulled the boy into the ground, hoping to avoid being seen.

    The Fafnir Captain scanned the area, then indicated to his subordinates to take a direction each. If they were speaking to one another, it was on a closed communication system, and could not be heard outside their helmets. The Captain stepped forward and went up the main steps of the community¡¯s largest cabin; what happened behind those doors could only be imagined. The two other Fafnir ¨C lacking the elaborate sigils above their own wings, but each sporting their own unique colors and wing-styles to differentiate each other at a glance ¨C stalked the rest of the campsite. Each hidden survivor that was found was butchered on sight; the Fafnir possessed weaponry embedded in the armor of their forearms, shooting a single pulse of raw energy that killed instantly.

    Gabriel clenched his eyes shut, but he could feel a subtle tingle in them beginning, ¡°Mom¡­mom, it¡¯s coming out¡­¡±

    ¡°Shh!¡± She pushed the boy¡¯s head down into the dead leaves and snow, ¡°You have to pretend to be dead already¡­maybe they¡¯ll leave us be¡­!¡±

    He could feel his heart pounding in his chest; the tingle in his eyes was getting worse. He pulled his hands up under his face to press his fingers against his eyelids, like that could do anything at all to offer relief. The crunch of footsteps was getting closer; two more people were slaughtered nearby¡­and then they stopped.

    The Fafnir soldier had found them.

    Gabriel felt his breath catch in his throat, and his body seemed paralyzed. His mother wouldn¡¯t even chance to breathe while the Fafnir was standing there. The wait seemed to go on forever ¨C why was that Knight just standing there? The sudden jerking of his mother¡¯s body wasn¡¯t normal¡­nor was the unusual subtle blasting-sound that preceded it. The Fafnir Knight still hadn¡¯t moved; it¡¯s as if it was waiting for something. Gabriel felt the warmth of liquid drip down against the back of his head, and his mother¡¯s frame seemed to relax. She exhaled a rattled, wet breath, then went still, and slumped slightly further off Gabriel¡¯s left side, until she fell completely still. Gabriel didn¡¯t know what else to do; his mother was dead beside him, and his ears were ringing.

    Armored feet shifted slightly as the Fafnir took aim a second time¡­then stopped and recoiled slightly. Unheard by the catatonic child, the Knight spoke to his team, ¡°Captain, you¡¯re going to want to see this¡­¡±

    The tingling had ceased; blue eyes were replaced with tendrils of golden light. Gabriel reached a trembling hand towards his mother¡¯s gaping, wide, lifeless eyes. It was only then that he saw the gore that had become the back of her head and neck; the miasma from his eyes flared even more in his duress. Tears fell down his cheeks though, and he bent down over the body, heedless of the blood that pooled underneath. He turned his left ear towards the woman¡¯s face, ¡°Breathe¡­please¡­breathe¡­¡± He begged quietly, hopeless as it was. Crimson stained that whole side of his face, and hair dragged through, leaving little trails of red on the woman¡¯s skin. Gabriel jerked upward again though when he heard ¨C and felt ¨C the sudden thud of the Fafnir Captain landing nearby.

    ¡°What is this?¡± The man asked, unheard by the stunned child.

    ¡°Sir¡­he¡¯s got the Limitless eyes. But he¡¯s¡­ He couldn¡¯t be more than 10 years old.¡± The first soldier explained, gesturing at the boy, ¡°This is unheard of. We have to call Lord Rylen.¡±

    There was a moment of hesitation, but then the Captain seemed to agree; the solid-light wings behind him abruptly shut off, dissolving into a shimmer of dust, and every glowing vein of light running through his armor faded. The man pulled his helmet off ¨C pale blonde hair and light green eyes were revealed to those terrified sights ¨C and he held his hand up to his left ear, ¡°Lord Rylen, this is Captain Rydell¡­we have a situation. Yessir. I¡¯ve made my nanotech available for you.¡±

    The sound of crystalline, shifting sands could be heard, as the ¡®nanotech¡¯ quickly reassembled; what manifested from it was the image of a whole new man; garbed in white and trimmed with grey, skin a dark lavender color, and pointed ears beside. Piercing orange eyes looked on with interest before a cascade of molten-silver hair, although the figure was turned side-faced to the boy, as though the interior of the camp was the most likely place of interest, ¡°What am I looking at, Captain?¡±Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Sir!¡± The Fafnir saluted with his free hand, then nudged his head to the figure¡¯s other side, ¡°This boy. He can¡¯t have more than a decade under him but he already has the affliction.¡±

    Rylen ¨C as he was known ¨C turned with a wide gaze, and beheld the image of the boy with those characteristic tendrils of golden-white light flaring from his eyes. Gabriel recoiled at the sight of that peculiar dark elf, more so when the man knelt down to one knee, and stared at him like a lab specimen, ¡°Fascinating. It¡¯s been some 370 years since I saw this happen.¡±

    ¡°What should we do with him, sir?¡±

    Rylen stood back up again, pondering for a moment; there was another sound of violence in the distance, and the second Fafnir gestured over a crest of trees. Rylen just nodded, then looked to the Captain, ¡°Carry on the mission as you are. I¡¯m going to call Xanarken here.¡±

    ¡°Sir!¡± He answered, and replaced his helmet, then took off into the air again without the grand visual spectacle of his solid-light wings.

    ¡°Xanarken, would you mind swapping-out with me to handle something?¡± Rylen said, seemingly to himself as he took a step back, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve just been notified that the target has been located, so I have to go deal with that. Just replace my mantle with yours and I¡¯ll catch up with you later. ¡­Oh, you¡¯ll know exactly what it is when you see it.¡±

    Gabriel listened in terrorized confusion, but just as Rylen¡¯s voice went silent, and those orange eyes descended on him again, they were suddenly replaced by a whole new man. Purple skin was replaced by a normal fleshy white tone, and molten silver hair shortened to a neat, dark-purple look. A clean face was replaced with a black goatee, and light-colored clothes were changed to dark greys and blacks. It was Xanarken who now stood in those footprints, and he looked down with violet irises to the sad sight before him.

    Xanarken looked away and around the scene he found himself in; he could see the image of that second Fafnir Knight disappearing beyond the tree-line, leaving nothing but carnage behind. Brows furrowed, ¡°Damn¡­ Rylen¡¯s really gotten into it eyeballs-deep this time.¡± He turned back to the child though, and bent down to get onto his knees in an effort to look less threatening. He reached his hand out, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for what happened here. I¡­know my brother gets a bit zealous when it comes to this area, but he went too far here today.¡± He started, though Gabriel wouldn¡¯t reciprocate, ¡°You don¡¯t have to keep your Limitless on, son. I¡¯m not going to hurt you.¡±

    ¡°¡­Th-they¡­killed my m-mom¡­¡± The boy finally spoke, his voice scratchy from fear and despair, miasma flickering like candle-flame from those terrified eyes, ¡°I d-don¡¯t¡­know what we did wrong¡­ Why did¡­they come¡­? Why did they k-kill my mom!?¡±

    ¡°There was someone here¡­¡± Xanarken started, keeping his gentle hand extended, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to say, but his Limitless ability made it possible for him to assume another person¡¯s image. He was a very bad man, and hurt a lot of people out in Kitez and Sargon. It was just¡­bad luck that we tracked him here, to where you live. The only way we could be sure to find him was to¡­do this¡­¡±

    ¡°My m-mom never¡­did anything wrong¡­ She d-didn¡¯t even¡­have the affliction h-herself¡­¡±

    ¡°Most people don¡¯t. It¡¯s a very rare gift; one that some people use to do evil things. Do you know what you can do, son?¡±

    Gabriel stared quietly for a moment, but that soft-spoken figure had a strange calming effect on him. The light in his eyes faded back to normal; his left eye, however, was now red, ¡°I¡­I can¡­cut through anything¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s really amazing. ¡­Why don¡¯t you come up from there? It¡¯s dangerous to stay here.¡± Xanarken suggested, and inched closer, offering his hand nearer, ¡°I can protect you.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t¡­leave my mom¡­¡±

    ¡°I know it¡¯s hard. But we can¡¯t leave you here by yourself. I¡¯d just¡­rather you come on your own.¡± The man said, and extended his fingers a bit more, ¡°Please¡­¡±

    Gabriel looked at those fingers, then to his mother¡¯s body, and to the fingers again. Reluctantly, and with a trembling arm, he reached, and touched his palm around those fingertips; they were cold, and felt like plastic, ¡°¡­You¡­don¡¯t feel right¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m an Eidolon, son. Do you know what an Eidolon is?¡± Xanarken pressed is thumb to those fingers reassuringly, and slowly stood back up again, but stayed bent over his knees so he wouldn¡¯t be too intimidating at his full height.

    ¡°N-no¡­¡±

    ¡°An Eidolon is someone who creates their body from the nanotech that floats in the air like dust.¡± He gestured around the area, though mostly towards the woods, ¡°Not that there¡¯s any nanotech here, mind you¡­ I believe the good Captain sacrificed his own to give myself and Lord Rylen a supply to manifest from. Rylen and I are leaders in the Luminary Council. There¡¯s four of us. We¡¯ve been helping people live here for a very long time.¡±

    ¡°The¡­L-Luminary¡­Council¡­? It¡¯s¡­supposed to be evil¡­!¡± Gabriel sucked in a scared breath and pulled his hand back, ¡°That other one i-is¡­definitely evil¡­!¡±

    ¡°Rylen Vor¡¯antiss is many things, but he¡¯s not evil. He¡¯s known as the Eidolon of the First and Sixth Wings of the Council. And I¡¯m Xanarken Tellan, Eidolon of the Fourth Wing. What¡¯s your name, son?¡±

    The boy shied slightly, and reached up to rub his eyes with bloodied hands, ¡°I¡¯m¡­G-Gabriel¡­Lugios¡­¡±

    ¡°Hello, Gabriel Lugios. I¡¯d like to take you somewhere safe. Will you come with me?¡±

    Bicolored eyes blinked in sadness, and Gabriel looked one more time to the body beside him, ¡°What about¡­my mom¡­? We¡¯re just¡­leaving her here?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going to be making a lot of new friends in a big hurry, Gabriel. We¡¯ll make sure that your mom is treated with dignity, and I¡¯ll make sure you can say goodbye¡­but we should go. I¡¯m going to call for a ship to come here to collect you, and I¡¯ll wait with you until it arrives, okay? You¡¯re not going to have to live like this anymore.¡±

    Hesitantly, but with a bit more coaxing, Gabriel reached again to take that hand, and Xanarken smiled.

    ¡°Easy does it,¡± The Eidolon reassured, then finally stood up fully, and looked around again. Thin lines of light danced across his eyes as he envisioned an interface before him, and with a few selections in the HUD¡¯s menus, he connected to a nearby SkyFortress, ¡°This is Xanarken; I need a retrieval on my location. No, the mission is still ongoing, this is separate. I have a boy and an adult woman¡¯s body to bring back to the Aegis. ¡­Yes, I will be waiting here.¡± He turned to the child clinging to his fingers, ¡°Okay, now we just stay here.¡±

    -22 Years Later-

    ¡°You honestly cannot be serious,¡± Gabriel complained, sitting in the pilot¡¯s seat of a small skiff. Hair had been allowed to grow long, but that red tint to its tips never faded, nor did the heterochromia. His gaze looked on impatiently at the image of his Eidolon on-screen, ¡°How in the actual, literal Hell did Captain Tarrock ¡®I can¡¯t stand that guy¡¯ Gallifey get pulled into this?¡±

    Xanarken took a deep breath, fingertips together, and he tilted his hands towards the screen as he finally spoke, ¡°I know you and him don¡¯t get along, but apparently the Empress called an Inquisition on her kid, and since you were dealing with him before already, it¡¯s only practical that you continue to do so.¡±

    ¡°But it¡¯s an Inquisition. Why don¡¯t you just ask Rylen to deal with it? It¡¯s First Wing stuff. This is out of our jurisdiction anyway.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve already tried that. Rylen¡¯s busy with something and told me to deal with it¡­so that¡¯s why you¡¯re dealing with it.¡±

    Gabriel smacked his head back against the head-rest, ¡°What a drag¡­ You can¡¯t just tell them to let the kid go?¡±

    A woman¡¯s voice chimed in from the side, ¡°Sir, when an Inquisition is happening, the whole SkyFortress goes on lockdown. Lord Xanarken can¡¯t reach them, nor form a mantle on-board, until the lockdown is lifted.¡±

    ¡°And thus, why you¡¯re going yourself,¡± Xanarken added, only to vanish from the screen entirely, and reform his mantle aboard the skiff ¡®in-person,¡¯ ¡°It¡¯ll be good experience for you and Dame Ren.¡±

    Feeling the weight of an elbow coming to rest above his head, Gabriel looked up, and spied the Eidolon looking back down on him from behind the seat. Eyes narrowed in annoyance, ¡°Fine. But just so it¡¯s on the record, everyone here knows Captain Gallifey is one of my biggest haters, and if shit hits the ceiling, it¡¯ll be because of him.¡±

    ¡°He doesn¡¯t hate you, Gabe. He just¡­¡±

    ¡°Loathes and detests the fact that I was born in - and taken from - the Exclusion Zone, and views me as nothing but a villain waiting for an opportunity?¡±

    Xanarken shrugged helplessly and smiled, ¡°Some people just have wrong opinions and you can¡¯t do much about it.¡±

    Listening but anxious, Ren busied herself with locating the aforementioned Captain¡¯s SkyFortress. From experience, she already knew it was the Bulwark, so there was no need for guesswork.

    Gabriel crossed his arms, ¡°Guess we¡¯ll just have to deal with the punches as they come. If there¡¯s no way to get hold of the ship ahead of time, then it¡¯s going to be a surprise for everyone.¡±

    ¡°Make sure you take Ren.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s physically already present on my skiff.¡±

    ¡°I mean on the mission, not just to the mission.¡± Xanarken sarcastically clarified, ¡°She¡¯s skilled in ways that you may find particularly helpful.¡±

    ¡°Mhm.¡± Gabriel mumbled, and began activating the ship¡¯s piloting interface.

    The Eidolon cast his eyes towards the largely-quiet cadet, ¡°He still hasn¡¯t read your file, has he?¡±

    Ren made a face and shook her head with an inhale, ¡°Sorry, sir¡­I don¡¯t think so.¡±

    Xanarken turned and abruptly knocked on the ¡®mediator¡¯s¡¯ head, ¡°Read her file.¡±

    ¡°Let me get started on this mission, dad!¡± The blonde protested, flailing his hands up as the Eidolon¡¯s mantle dissolved all around him. He sputtered and doubled-down, ¡°I hate it when he gets on me like that.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re being particularly cranky today, sir.¡± Ren noted carefully, ¡°You okay?¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m fine. Let¡¯s just get this over-with. I¡¯m sure the Princeling is causing those people a whole bunch of grief as it is.¡±

 Book I - Chapter 02 - The Afflicted Prince

    The skiff ¨C small enough for two people and some storage ¨C was red, the designated color of the Fourth Wing. Its Eidolon ¨C Xanarken Tellan ¨C had led it since the early days, some 350 years prior. With immortal and unageing mantles, made in their likeness with nanotechnology ¨C machines so small they accumulated in the air without notice ¨C the four were the foundational pillars of the Luminary Council.

    Originally six wings, the First ¨C headed by Rylen Vor¡¯antiss ¨C was responsible for military research and development; it had also, in part, taken over the duties of the Second Wing ¨C the Limitless and those who were afflicted with it - whose leader had been missing for centuries and was presumed dead. The Third Wing, led by a largely enigmatic man who rarely got directly involved with anything ¨C Arbelos Germain ¨C maintained the nanotechnology used by both the Council and its allies, colloquially referred to as the World Cloud. The Fourth Wing was primarily responsible for mediations within the world¡¯s allied nations, political negotiations, education, and community outreach; they were the friendly face of the Luminary Council, and the Wing most-likely to be encountered by the average person. The Fifth Wing, headed by the free-spirited Etienne Cisneros, was a behind-the-scenes operation that mostly dealt with terraforming, atmospheric integrity, flora, fauna, agriculture, cultivation, medicine, and other bio-sciences. Finally, the Sixth Wing ¨C also headed by Rylen ¨C was tasked with the planet¡¯s defense forces, and was the closest thing any named-entity on the world stage had to a standing army. Altogether, beneath their chosen label as the Luminary Council, the Eidolon were backed by a technological marvel referred to as the Seraphim System; hence, the six wings.

    The world itself ¨C Hadira ¨C was a rocky planet roughly 1.5 times the size of Earth, had been terraformed and colonized some 350 years prior, in an event mostly remembered with trepidation and suspicion. The calamity that brought the colony fleet down in the first place had, as many believed, been deliberately sabotaged by the would-have-been Eidolon of the Second Wing, had he not absconded and abandoned his duties right at the beginning. His name, no longer spoken and almost-nearly forgotten, was only ever mentioned as a footnote in ¡®basic histories¡¯ lessons, never to be repeated.

    The Eidolon themselves, however, were a source of stability in an ever-changing landscape; they claimed to be the original leaders of the colony fleet¡¯s command structure, but whether that was true, or if they had simply become a sophisticated Artificial Intelligence that used their names, could not be ascertained with any certainty. What could be known for certain though, was that Xanarken and Rylen ¨C who referred to one another as brothers, though they were not related ¨C were the primary guiding hands of the Council, and everything of significance or import went through them.

    Which is to say that, when the Prince and heir of the Empire of Sargon had suddenly become afflicted by the Limitless curse, the Council was the first thing prevailing heads considered reaching out to for help, in spite of the fact that Sargon had a contentious relationship with said Council, and had for some two decades. Its sister nation to the west, Kitez, was even more hostile towards it, and together, they formed a pair of hermit-nations that wanted nothing to do with the larger world alliance; the Hadiran Accord.

    ¡°¡­And that all basically changed the day Prince Iresha lit his dear old uncle on fire,¡± Gabriel explained, piloting his skiff ¨C Maeve ¨C through a torrential rainstorm, taking himself and his mediator mentee, Ren Nibasai, to the site of their next mission. The skiff had no true wind-shield, possessing instead a sophisticated array of display-panels on the inner shell of the hull. Gabriel could see everything around him in varying levels of detail ¨C topographical maps for the altitude, weather assessments, windspeed projections, and a main screen that showed whatever was actually directly ahead of it, with an overlay that showed him the safest route to take to their destination; the SkyFortress called The Bulwark, ¡°Since Sargon and Kitez were usually in lock-step with each other, the day the Sargonian Emperor reached out to us was kind of a kick in the guts to Kitez. They¡¯ve been somewhat at odds with each other ever since.¡±

    ¡°And that was two years ago.¡± Ren noted; she was a handful of years younger than Gabriel, with olive skin, bright green eyes, and long black hair that she preferred to keep up in a clip. As a cadet in the Fourth, her uniform-coat was shorter than his ¨C cutting off at the mid-thigh instead of the ankle ¨C but it still bore the same characteristic red coloring, blocked with dark grey, trimmed in silver, and held close to the body at the waist with a wide belt as her mentor¡¯s.

    ¡°Right.¡± Gabriel nodded, ¡°And Xanarken, genius that he is, decided that he¡¯d throw me at it. To his mind, it was a perfect fit ¨C I was a high-ranking mediator within the Fourth, and I was also afflicted by the Limitless, so I could teach the Prince how to control himself and I could get Sargon into the Luminary fold.¡±

    ¡°Seems to have worked, though,¡± Ren supposed, watching the screens as keenly as Maeve¡¯s pilot, ¡°Sargon may not have actually joined the Hadiran Accord, but they haven¡¯t been so friendly with the Council in decades. Who knew, we just needed a crisis to impact the royal family to get them to buckle?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d think so,¡± The blonde shrugged, ¡°Kitez took particular issue with the fact that I was the one sent to do the job. The Exclusion Zone is completely contained wi-¡°

    ¡°-within Kitez, and they claim the territory as their own.¡± Ren finished, getting a look, though she smiled, ¡°I¡¯m well-acquainted with the concept.¡±

    ¡°And they think I¡¯m supposed to be one of theirs.¡± Gabriel puffed, then went back to the displays, ¡°They consider my existence with the Council the be nothing less than kidnapping and brainwashing, even though Kitez itself doesn¡¯t govern the territory for shit and mostly leaves it feral.¡±

    ¡°Who can blame them? It¡¯s basically considered a massive haunted forest.¡±

    ¡°Mmh¡­¡±

    ¡°Dangerous people who don¡¯t want to be tracked or contacted go there, and use that huge swath of untouched wilderness as cover. And, for whatever reason, those who are afflicted tend to get more powerful for being there,¡± Ren explained, ¡°That¡¯s why they think you were born with the affliction, right?¡±

    ¡°So goes the rumor, anyway.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t believe it?¡±

    Gabriel shrugged, ¡°All I know is that I¡¯ve had it for as long as I can remember, and it¡¯s never done me a single favor. It¡¯s just followed me around, causing problems, like an albatross around my neck. If not for that, I probably wouldn¡¯t have the reputation that I do, and things would be a lot easier for everyone, especially Xanarken.¡±

    ¡°People distance themselves from things they don¡¯t understand. The expected thing is that, if someone¡¯s going to get the Limitless curse, it¡¯ll happen in young-adulthood. To be born with it is just¡­weird, to say the least.¡±

    Gabriel raised a brow at her, slouching over the middle armrest as he was, ¡°Thanks for that.¡±

    Ren waved her hands back and forth frantically, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that as a judgement of you as a person, sir! In fact, I¡­was always kind of inspired by your origins story. Your rise in the Council to being Lord Xanarken¡¯s second in command, after basically being found in the woods as a young kid, reminded me that anything is possible, no matter who you are or where you come from.¡±

    Gabriel was quiet for a moment after that, with nothing to listen to but the sound of the storm tip-tapping on the ship¡¯s hull. The Bulwark wasn¡¯t much further. With a long, slow blink, the blonde sighed and sat up a bit straighter in his seat, ¡°Prince Iresha developed an affinity to fire while at a family get-together in Trazad, the Sargonian capitol. His eyes suddenly lit up in that characteristic way, and so too did his uncle¡¯s clothes, leaving Prince Aamin badly burned on the left side, and with a permanent squint. The call for someone in the Council to come calm him down and get his affliction under control led to me becoming the bridge between the Sargonian Emperor and the Council. As such, mine was the most common face Prince Iresha saw for a while. He¡¯s probably not going to be too thrilled to see it again, since he didn¡¯t like my methods and resisted everything I said or did to begin with.¡±

    ¡°¡­Because you¡¯re from the Council or the Exclusion Zone?¡±

    ¡°Because he¡¯s a spoiled brat who doesn¡¯t like being told what to do.¡± He answered simply, ¡°And, I can guarantee it wasn¡¯t the Empress who made the call requesting this Inquisition.¡±

    Ren gave a serious look, ¡°What are you suggesting?¡±

    ¡°Empress Rani is cool-headed and loving. She was the one who pressed for the Council to help her son, and convinced the Emperor to join her in that request. She would never call for Rylen¡¯s special goon-squad to pick up her kid. It was, in all likelihood¡­¡±

    .

    ¡°¡­Prince Aamin, with all due respect, we cannot simply lock up your nephew because you feel aggrieved by him.¡± One of the Inquisitors said with an anonymizing synthesized voice; masked and mysterious, the Inquisitor division was specialized in the study of Limitless afflictions and their effects, and were the closest thing to a Second Wing as was possible without one truly existing. Their masks were eerie, leaving them featureless, with small, button-like circles in place of eyes, but in all the wrong places on their faces. They wore white cowls with pulled-over hoods, capes that resembled robes, and an otherwise-typical Luminary uniform underneath; they were akin to a monastic order, dedicated to their research, and wanted as few distinctions and distractions as possible. They were not, as the burned Prince had been told several times before, to be called upon to babysit an afflicted teenager, ¡°You must withdraw your petition before this gets out of hand.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    ¡°His power is uncontrolled! He¡¯s constantly trying to burn things!¡± Aamin protested, gesturing at the holding-cell where his teenaged nephew was being contained, ¡°His hair is starting to turn into flame when he gets going now! He¡¯s too dangerous to be allowed to stay in Sargon! If you people are worth half of what you claim, you¡¯ll take him to Agartha and guarantee his stability before sending him back!¡±

    The pair of Inquisitors, who had been sent in response to the petition, looked at one another, and one gave off an air of obvious annoyance; he spoke to the surrounding First Wing soldiers, ¡°Will someone tell Captain Gallifey to cancel the lock-down? This is a waste of our time.¡±

    ¡°What!? No!¡± Aamin protested; long black hair tumbled like thick porcupine-quills down his back, framing the burn-marred skin around the left side of his face. He wore the pale gold and black colors of the Sargonian imperial family, with a two-tiered set of extended shoulder-plates and a braided cape that dragged behind his ornately-decorated core, ¡°You can¡¯t ignore a request by the Empress herself! This is an outrage!¡±

    Empress Rani was a rather demure woman, typically rather confident, but overshadowed in the presence of her adamant and boisterous brother-in-law. She stood at the front of a brig-like cell by herself, a worried look on her face as she beheld the confines her son was kept in. Within that First Wing detainment bloc, three special rooms were crafted to restrain dangerous Limitless users, and one such was being used for the Prince. He was suspended above the ground in a series of slings, with a sensory-deprivation mask-like headset attached to his face. Designed to deprive chaotic elements from being able to ground themselves and lash-out, the mask covered both eyes and ears, and deprived the wearer of a sense of up and down, and denied them all external stimulus. Prince Iresha¡¯s head bobbled from the dizziness, but that never stopped him from being just as loud as his uncle about his situation. Rani, trapped between the two, had no idea what to do.

    .

    On the Bulwark¡¯s command-deck, Captain Gallifey was forwarded the request to stand down. Sporting medium-length grey-brown hair that curled inward at his ears, and some thick mutton-chops on either side of his face, he was dressed in the regalia of a Luminary Captain of the First Wing; silver pauldrons with the Council¡¯s six-winged crest engraved across the curve, and a long purple cape hanging from the back of them. The request had come at the same time as a particularly specific annoyance from outside, ¡°Cancel the lock-down, and then put the pest on the main-screen. I don¡¯t need him thinking that it happened because he showed up.¡±

    ¡°Yessir,¡± A nearby soldier acknowledged, and began the procedure.

    On the massive, wall-length screen that rounded the entire front-half of the bridge, the image of Gabriel¡¯s face appeared, and the Captain sneered slightly from his seat, ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t the illustrious Sir Gabriel Lugios, here to be a pain in my ass, no doubt.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be here either but Xanarken told me-¡°

    ¡°Lord Xanarken; have some manners. He may have raised you but he¡¯s still your Eidolon.¡±

    Gabriel narrowed his eyes, but continued as if he hadn¡¯t been interrupted, ¡°¡­to come pick up a kid you¡¯ve swept-up. Perhaps you know him. About 17 years old, black hair, eyes light up when he¡¯s pissy, kinda royal¡­has a thing about fire, I¡¯m told? Hopefully that sounds familiar, Captain.¡±

    Tarrock Gallifey stared in silence for a moment, but then stood up, and slid his arms behind his back, nested beneath the cape, ¡°You¡¯re in luck, Lugios-¡°

    ¡°Sir Lugios; have some manners. I out-rank you.¡±

    The Captain grit his teeth, ¡°The Inquisition is concluded, and we were going to take the Prince and his entourage back to his father anyway. If you¡¯re here, you can spare us the trouble of going all the way back to Trazad ourselves.¡± He dismissed the hail without another word, and turned to his crew again, ¡°Let him board, but make sure he has an escort to and from the holding cells.¡±

    The rear-deck of the massive, 1,300ft-long research-class SkyFortress flashed its warning-lights, and the hangar-bay doors began to rise. Gabriel just shook his head as he looked on, waiting for enough clearance to get through, ¡°The Inquisition is done, huh? That¡¯s not at all suspicious.¡±

    Ren watched the man, baffled, ¡°How do you get away with talking to - and about - high-ranking officers and leaders so casually, sir?¡±

    He shrugged, ¡°Guess it comes with being raised by an Eidolon. Let¡¯s just get it done. This has already interrupted our other next mission long enough.¡±

    ¡°¡­We have another next mission?¡± Ren echoed in confusion.

    Maeve glided forward, and the sound of the storm rapping on the hull quickly ceased as they entered the sheltered hangar. When it landed, both Knight and trainee hopped out, and were greeted by the escort ordered by the Captain. They saluted the mediator, and gestured for the pair to follow. They made it halfway into the bowels of the ship before alarm-lights started to flash in those halls, and a shudder could be felt in the floor.

    Ren looked to her mentor, ¡°¡­That doesn¡¯t feel right.¡±

    ¡°Yeeahhhh¡­¡± Gabriel agreed warily, ¡°We need to go faster.¡±

    The group hustled after that, and it became obvious that the alarms had been tripped because of their query. The brig was half-on-fire, smoldering from a bomb-like detonation. Two soldiers rushed by, their uniforms scorched, and both of them warned about ¡®the afflicted Prince¡¯ losing control. Gabriel¡¯s eyes widened with worry, but before he could get a word in edgewise, his trainee had already skipped past him.

    There were charred bodies on the ground; at least four, so burnt they could not be identified by looks alone. The cell that the fire had escaped from was blackened, and the figure inside¡­clearly enraged. Ren held a hand out, ¡°Your highness, stand down! We¡¯re not the enemy!¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t get to decide who the enemy is, Luminary bitch!¡± The teenager barked back, eyes flaring brightly with his afflictive light. His hair and shoulders were licked by flames, and as the fires trailed down his arms, Ren felt a shift in the air¡­and darted forward, directly into the small space.

    ¡°Ren, get out of there!¡± Gabriel yelled after her, only to be blown-back by another belch of flame from within that long, narrow prison. The lapels of his uniform were singed, and he pat his chest down to put out the flames before they could take-hold, ¡°Ren!¡±

    She moved faster than any person had the right to, using the nearby walls to leap past gluts of fire and torrents of heat. She tried twice to simply restrain the prince ¨C whose previous slings had been burnt to a crisp in the initial blast ¨C but both times, he simply created an inferno under her gloved hands and forced her to let go. There was no way she was going to truly hit him though, and instead, decided to leap up and over him - with a foot on the wall for leverage, then the other between his shoulder-blades - landed in front of him, slapped his forehead twice ¨C rather hard ¨C and sent him brow-first towards his own feet. Disoriented, he toppled forward, and Ren quickly grappled him, twisted, flipped him over himself, and put him chest-down on the floor, then sat on his back with his arms pressed to his upper back, ¡°Give it up, now!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a sovereign! You can¡¯t touch or talk to me like this!¡±

    ¡°Iresha, have you gone mental!? You killed four people out here!¡± Gabriel scolded, warily sticking his head around the corner of the cell¡¯s door.

    ¡°Lugios!?¡± The teen barked, and his eyes quickly lost their flare, and went back to their normal brown, ¡°What the Hell are you doing here!?¡±

    ¡°I was trying to take you home, but now I have to identify bodies, too!¡± The mediator answered irritably, ¡°What happened!?¡±

    Ren looked on at the Prince cautiously for a moment, but once she was satisfied his flames wouldn¡¯t immediately return if she let him go, she stood up, and pulled the teen to his feet. As he explained his sorry state, she dusted him off.

    ¡°I was trying to do the training sessions you gave me, so I can get a better handle on this damn curse,¡± Iresha started, ¡°But out of nowhere, I got slapped with that stupid sensory-deprivation helmet,¡± He gestured at the melted mass of plastic and circuitry that had landed on the floor near the wall, ¡°¡­and have no idea what happened or where I went after that. It¡¯s been hours! Where even am I right now?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re on SkyFortress Bulwark. Your mom apparently called for an Inquisition on you.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Iresha¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°There¡¯s no way. She would never¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what I thought, too.¡± Gabriel agreed, and stepped into the cell fully. He watched as Ren inspected the young Prince for damage, and crossed his arms lightly, ¡°Your uncle was involved though, and apparently he and your mom were both here for the proceedings.¡±

    ¡°¡­They were¡­?¡± The Prince gaped, ¡°¡­Where are they right now?¡±

    The mediator had his mouth open, but then closed it again and slouched, ¡°You know what? I have no idea. That¡¯s a great question.¡± He turned to the open hall, and the charred quartet of corpses, ¡°¡­Hopefully not nearby.¡±

    Iresha rushed out, and beheld the horror of his outburst. Some parts of the walls were still smoldering, and the smell of burnt flesh permeated the air. He held his arm up to his nose with worry and disgust, ¡°¡­How could this¡­have happened¡­?¡±

    ¡°You need to take your lessons to heart, your highness.¡± A synthesized voice answered; Iresha looked up and saw one ¨C then both ¨C of the Inquisitors who had come for him, ¡°Never use your affliction in anger, and be sure you know what you¡¯re using it on before you do.¡± The pair stepped fully into that open space, and saluted to the mediator before continuing, ¡°This was avoidable.¡±

    Gabriel felt a pit in his stomach, ¡°Do you two know who the victims are?¡±

    The second Inquisitor stepped around the first, and moved towards the middle of the room, then started pointing in a clockwise manner, ¡°Dame Violet Shire, Sir Kendrick Admund, Sir Kashi Sheridan, and¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t¡­¡± Iresha interrupted, as the Inquisitor pointed at the last blackened body. All eyes went up to the Prince, but there was a part of him who already knew who the last victim was; the distinctive melted outline of the Empress¡¯ imperial armor gave that away. There was a heavy weight in his stomach that pulled him down, until he collapsed to his knees, ¡°¡­I¡­didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡±

    Gabriel¡¯s brow furrowed, ¡°¡­Where¡¯s Prince Aamin?¡±

    .

    Imperial armor was little-more than kindling against explosive flame, and much of it had been cast aside, scattered in the floating fortress¡¯ corridors. Aamin banged against the walls in pain and frustration as he clawed for a way to one of the ship¡¯s many docking capsules; small escape-pod-like attachments that could be used to easily leave from - or ascend into - the ship. He collided roughly with the last wall, charred skin weeping, and he desperately felt-around for the button that would open the double-layer doors to let him through. When it finally did, he tumbled through, and slammed his fist onto the ¡®down¡¯ button.

    The two curved, rotating plastic doors closed again, and the pod started to move. Through the panel, Aamin could see the hazy outline of trees, and heard the torrent of rain. The mist from it made the curved door wet and splotchy, but it opened all the same, a few feet above the uneven rocky terrain. With frantic anguish, he tried to jump out, but immediately fell on the slippery ground as he landed. He gasped for breath as he stared up at the darkened shadow of the SkyFortress¡­and the growing glow from its rear engines as it prepared to set a new course.

    ¡°You¡­little shit¡­ You little¡­fucking shit¡­ You burned me again¡­!¡± He screamed out in anger; thunder cracked in answer, and lightning flashed across the sky soon after. Aamin¡¯s narrowed eyes clenched shut, but he finally rolled over and pushed himself up, ¡°I can¡¯t¡­stay in Sargon anymore¡­ This place¡­has gone mad¡­¡±

 Book I â€“ Chapter 03 â€“ The Fires of the Storm

    With the Fourth Wing¡¯s ¡®High Negotiator¡¯ on board, the somber flight back to Trazad felt like a post-mortem, and not even for the Empress. With time enough to do a little more investigating though, once the Prince was safely given a room to stay in, it was incumbent upon Gabriel to figure out what idiocy had led to the moment at hand.

    ¡°I want you to look at the petition,¡± he instructed his trainee, ¡°See if you can figure out how Aamin managed to convince the Empress to submit it, and then come here with him.¡±

    Ren looked at the nanotech data-nodule floating above the senior mediator¡¯s palm, and reached her own above it; the nodule glowed, then dissipated through her fingers, signaling that she now had access to whatever information was contained on it, ¡°Will do. What about you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to see how Iresha went from being suspended in the air with an SD-helm on, to being able to blow up half of the detainment bloc. He shouldn¡¯t have been able to.¡± He answered, ¡°We¡¯ll meet back somewhere in the middle and compare notes.¡±

    ¡°Yessir.¡±

    Gabriel watched as the younger woman stepped away, hands gesturing subtly as she accessed the data on her personal HUD. To Ren¡¯s eyes, she could see a digital overlay ahead of herself, and with the slightest finger-flick, she could zip through anything from the World Cloud¡¯s common web-based networks, to her own private archives - and in this case, the digital folder she¡¯d been given to look through. He turned back the other way once she was far enough, and followed one of the SkyFortress¡¯ security managers to their surveillance room.

    The first thing he was shown, just to get it out of the way, was the way Prince Aamin had scuttled out and gotten off-ship.

    ¡°We have what¡¯s left of the armor he discarded, if you wanted to give it back to the Emperor for some reason,¡± the soldier said.

    ¡°Thanks. Let¡¯s see that footage from the cells next.¡±

    ¡°Yessir.¡±

    The overhead displays changed, and new images manifested, showing the doors to those three special rooms, and the one with its door open, and an easy line-of-sight to where Prince Aamin was making his case. From another view, the younger Prince Iresha, suspended from the ceiling as part of his ¡®sensory-deprivation experience.¡¯ Finally, a third view, from the other end of the main hall, showing the entrance that the Empress was about to walk through.

    What Gabriel heard sounded like the desperate, pitiful pleading of a jealous man who¡¯d been cut from the line of succession by the existence of a first son. On the other hand, there was a hint of actual terror in the man¡¯s voice. He didn¡¯t say anything as the footage continued to play though. Empress Rani stood in front of the doorway, and both Gabriel and his attendant felt a nervous chill go down the back of their necks, since they knew what was coming. The how of it though was the question on everyone¡¯s minds; that would come up soon enough.

    Aamin had continued to push for the pair of Inquisitors to do more than they were willing, and as soon as they stepped out of the corridor to leave the brig, another soldier came in to replace them. With a fresh set of ears to hear his complaints, Aamin went right for him. Rani stepped back though as this new soldier said he was going to release the teen, and Aamin started struggling with him to prevent it, pleading and arguing that it was the wrong move. Rani tried to split the two up, but the soldier was more than capable of prying off the clammy fingers of a pampered royal himself, and went in through the open cell-door. Within, Iresha had no way of knowing what was going on or where he was. Gabriel put his left arm around himself, perched his right elbow on it, and set a finger to his lip; this was it. As soon as the soldier touched the teen, and the smallest bit of the SD-helmet was pulled out of place¡­the Prince would have been flooded with sensation. A second later, the inferno blasted out from him, and the cameras - inside the cell and immediately outside of it - were incinerated and went offline. The only thing left was the camera on the far end of the hall, showing Aamin flailing against the conflagration that had flash-friend his left side a second time. Somehow, he¡¯d managed to get just close-enough to the open cell-door that when the fire burst out, half of him was covered. Rani took the glut straight-on, as did the soldier who had gone into the room. The other two bodies were the guards who had been posted near the exit. Iresha had taken a few seconds to acclimate himself to his surroundings, but before he could do anything about them, Ren appeared and put him on the ground.

    Gabriel huffed a laugh to himself, and shook his head, ¡°She didn¡¯t even hesitate. I wonder where she learned moves like that?¡±

    The security manager gaped at him and tilted his head in confusion, ¡°¡­You really don¡¯t know?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure she was fun to spar against in bootcamp,¡± Gabriel dismissed, ¡°Who was it that went into the Prince¡¯s cell?¡±

    ¡°That was Sir Kashi Sheridan.¡±

    ¡°Do you know if he was trained in the use of SD-helmets?¡±

    ¡°Why do you ask?¡±

    The mediator took a step back from the screen, and moved his arms out so he could set his hands on his hips, ¡°It looks like he just yanked the thing off. You¡¯re not supposed to do that. Those helmets are disorienting in totality; to pry it off all of a sudden would cause a big shock to the system. There¡¯s a dial on the left ear-cup where you¡¯re supposed to gradually add sensation back into the wearer¡¯s awareness. By the look of what Sir Kashi did, he just released the seal, and got blown-up for it.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡±

    ¡°Whether it was simple negligence or not, I suppose that Knight will take with him into oblivion,¡± Gabriel continued, ¡°Maybe he was intimidated by the Inquisitors being there, and was too-quick to follow their directive to give the whole thing up. How old was he?¡±

    ¡°¡­I think he was 20, sir. He was a new face on board.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯ll bet that¡¯s what it was, then. Got spooked by the spooks.¡± Gabriel turned on a heel and started heading for the exit, ¡°Thanks for the footage. Make sure to archive a copy of it separately so the Sargonians can get theirs.¡±

    ¡°Yessir.¡±

    The mediator left the room with a contemplative affect, and completely didn¡¯t notice ¨C or perhaps expected, and didn¡¯t care ¨C when the manager shivered and had to reset himself after the encounter. Gabriel tapped his chin as he watched the pattern in the carpet go by under him, and before he knew it, he was in a conference room, and Ren was on the other side of a long table, ¡°Anything?¡±

    Green eyes lifted, and she nodded. With a wide, upward sweeping gesture, the images she could see on her personal HUD expanded to be visible to her mentor as well, floating in the air above the desk, ¡°Prince Aamin had submitted four previous petitions for the Inquisitors to come grab his nephew, but all of them were denied; he¡¯s not the boy¡¯s guardian and has no authority to release him. However, Empress Rani only submitted one ¨C after all those others ¨C and was approved immediately. From the look of it, and the fact that the wording is the exact same, Prince Aamin somehow pressured the Empress to submit the request on his behalf. It was sent directly to the First Wing, bypassing all of the Fourth Wing checks that were required.¡±

    ¡°How¡¯d they manage that trick?¡± Gabriel wondered, leaning onto the table with his fingertips down to hold him up, getting closer to the floating panel with the different petitions on display, ¡°Anyone in their right mind, especially the paper-pushers in the First, would know better than to forward this to the Inquisitor Division out of hand. Yeah, look¡­there isn¡¯t even a Fourth Wing approval on it.¡±

    ¡°I noticed. But to answer your question¡­it¡¯s because Empress Rani sent it directly to Captain Gallifey.¡±

    Gabriel¡¯s eyes widened, and he pushed back slightly to stare at his trainee over his shoulder, ¡°Th¡­ That- Argh! That¡¯s how they did it!¡±If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°Sir?¡±

    ¡°Gallifey has the authority to call the Inquisitors for any reason, and he knew perfectly well that the Sargonians were my project.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Ren¡¯s eyes crinkled slightly, ¡°¡­You don¡¯t actually think he did this because he should¡¯ve gone through you¡­do you? Who could have even known that would be an option?¡±

    That time, Gabriel paused and blinked, ¡°¡­What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve worked with Captain Gallifey before. He¡¯s fairly by-the-books, most of the time.¡±

    ¡°¡­Most of the time.¡± The blonde echoed dryly, only to feel his train of thought get derailed, and he pointed a finger at her, ¡°Wait, say that again?¡±

    ¡°Most of the time?¡±

    ¡°No, the part before that!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve worked with Captain Gallifey before?¡±

    ¡°Yes! That! Explain!¡±

    Ren stared in perplexed silence, then gestured in disbelief at the man, ¡°¡­You don¡¯t actually think this is my first post, do you?¡±

    ¡°What? No. ¡­You have a file, according to some. That means you had to be in the Council somewhere before now.¡± Gabriel crossed his arms defensively, and looked away.

    Ren just shook her head at him, ¡°You really should read it¡­ It would probably go a long way towards getting this whole thing rolling. You know¡­with my training.¡±

    ¡°I will, I will!¡± He grumbled and threw his hands up, ¡°But not this second!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve been partnered for four months, and you¡¯ve had full access for three of them¡­¡±

    ¡°I know¡­I just-¡°

    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± She sighed, disappointed, ¡°You probably have your reasons¡­sir. Anyway¡­¡± She looked back up at the display, ¡°My point was¡­the Captain here isn¡¯t the sort to just skirt the process because he doesn¡¯t like someone who¡¯s part of it. It¡¯s no different than how he answered your hail, even though he didn¡¯t want to.¡±

    ¡°Then what?¡±

    Ren considered her words carefully, ¡°¡­If what I suggest turns out to be true, then you have to agree to let me fly us to wherever our next mission takes us, and you have to read my file on the way.¡±

    Gabriel narrowed his eyes in thought, but then held his fist out, ¡°Fine, deal.¡±

    The dark-haired cadet smirked and bumped it with her own, then went back to her idea, ¡°Sargon may be your pet project, but the people involved are still the Imperial Royal Family. If Captain Gallifey was sent a request directly by the Empress, I imagine he¡¯d feel like he was hard-pressed to acquiesce to her without going through the normal channels, because she¡¯s a special case.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­that certainly is an excuse, isn¡¯t it.¡± He percolated on the notion, ¡°¡­It¡¯s definitely something he¡¯d say. Guess we¡¯ll find out when we get back.¡±

    .

    The storm had let-up by the time the Bulwark docked in Trazad, near enough to the palace for a royal skiff to pick up the Prince directly. It wasn¡¯t quite that simple, though; the Emperor himself ¨C Iresha the Elder - had come along with it, and he had some choice words for the gathered, ¡°Whose idiotic idea was this anyway!? I was led to believe that the Luminary Council was an enlightened organization, filled with people who have brains in their heads.¡±

    Gabriel drew in a quick, sharp breath, and steeled himself, then stepped forward with a passable bow, ¡°Your Majesty, this was all a big mi-¡°

    The older man, still possessing some of his youth¡¯s black hair, though most of it had turned to salt-and-pepper, stepped closer to the mediator and swung his arm out dismissively, ¡°If you say this was a misunderstanding, I will send you back to your master with your tail between your legs, boy!¡±

    Gabriel kept his mouth open for a second longer, but then shut it again and shrugged, ¡°As you like.¡±

    Ren felt her breath catch in her throat, How does he keep getting away with it!?

    ¡°Who!?¡± The Emperor barked again, looking around the hangar, past every one of his personal guards in attendance, and the First Wing Knights who had come to greet the vessel.

    ¡°The person you¡¯re probably looking for will be arriving shortly,¡± Gabriel noted, and took a careful step back, then gestured with one hand towards a doorway not too far to his right, ¡°I¡¯m sure he can tell you everything about why he carried out this mission.¡± He then took his place next to his trainee, and clasped his hands loosely behind his back. He wiggled one finger back there though, and Ren ¨C daring to look at him ¨C could see the little lights traveling across Gabriel¡¯s eyes; he was calling someone.

    As if on cue, the door swished open, and through it poured not only Captain Gallifey, but around 10 upper-rank soldiers of the ship, ¡°Your Majesty!¡± The Captain said in a rushed tone, ¡°We did not know you were coming yourself. I deeply apologize for the delay.¡±

    ¡°Where. Is. My. Family?¡±

    In the midst of the hustling group, the young Prince finally made himself known, pushing through and rushing for his father, but not without a rude gesture at the First Wing crew as he went. He then flung himself at his father, and held for a moment as the older man felt the relief flow through him. There was something about the way, not the fact, that his son was clinging to him though, and the Emperor felt a pang of concern.

    ¡°Where¡¯s your mother and uncle?¡±

    The Prince was tight-lipped, then.

    Anxious eyes lifted to the resident mediator ¡°Alright, Lugios...what happened?¡±

    Gabriel looked up, ¡°I can only tell you how it ended, your Majesty. The Captain would be the one to tell you how it started.¡±

    The Emperor turned and gawked expectantly at the purple-caped commander, ¡°Well?¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty,¡± Tarrock started nervously, ¡°A few days ago, I-¡°

    ¡°Wait!¡± Came a familiar voice.

    All eyes looked up, then over, as the mantle of the Fourth Eidolon quickly manifested nearby, and Xanarken started stepping closer before it was even completely formed, ¡°Eidolon of the Fourth on deck!¡± One of the officers announced, and the Luminary soldiers ¨C sans Gabriel, who stayed exactly as he was ¨C made their loud in-place single-foot stomps and stood at attention.

    ¡°I¡¯m aware of what happened,¡± Xanarken started, pausing before the Emperor and offered a bow, ¡°I think this would be best addressed with all concerned parties present.¡±

    ¡°Who else has to be here?¡±

    ¡°Me, no doubt.¡± Another disembodied voice spoke.

    The officer announced a second time, as that new mantle took shape after the last, ¡°Eidolon of the First and Sixth, on deck!¡±

    Another stomp and salute; again, though, Gabriel stayed as he was ¨C Ren smacked his arm for it, but he refused to budge.

    Those self-same orange eyes of Rylen Vor¡¯antiss looked around the area, and he paused to offer his greeting bow to the Emperor as he went by, but his focus was on the Captain. Once he was near enough to speak in a hushed voice, he asked pointedly, ¡°Care to tell me just what the Hell you were doing with the Emperor¡¯s kid?¡±

    Gabriel could only smile as he watched the older man sweat; Ren felt a little sorry for him.

    Captain Gallifey answered in an equally-quiet tone, ¡°Lord Rylen, the petition came directly from the Empress, I-¡°

    Ren was the one smiling then; they were close enough to hear. She nudged her mentor with an elbow, ¡°Gottem.¡±

    Gabriel turned his head and half-rolled his eyes, ¡°Mmmh¡­¡±

    Rylen turned back around again, and spoke on his Captain¡¯s behalf, ¡°Your Majesty, it would appear that the Captain was requested directly by Empress Rani to attend to her interests. He had every reason to believe it would be in bad form to deny her on account of¡­¡± He cast a glance over at the mediator, ¡°¡­bureaucracy.¡± He moved over towards Xanarken and stood beside him, hands clasped behind his back, ¡°He requested the services of my Inquisitor division on her behalf, knowing full well that they would not act in any way against the Prince. It was¡­something of a controlled show.¡±

    Xanarken made a face, and mumbled quietly to himself, ¡°Eloquent.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re saying your officer acted in full knowledge that it was a charade?¡± The Emperor questioned stiffly, ¡°You couldn¡¯t have just told her no?¡±

    ¡°The same petition had already been denied previously,¡± Captain Gallifey explained on his own behalf, then, ¡°But we deigned to take it more seriously when it came directly to me, from Her Highness herself. We explained the situation fully to her when she and the Princes came aboard, and she seemed to completely understand¡­she had no questions about it whatsoever, and was completely resigned to the decision, in fact. It was¡­Prince Aamin who pushed for the Inquisition to continue.¡±

    ¡°Then where in the world are they now?¡±

    Iresha could feel himself starting to sweat, but he refused to speak.

    ¡°I can take over from here, Captain,¡± Gabriel said, and stepped forward again, ¡°There was an accident in the detention bloc where the Prince was being held. As you know, Limitless users who have become dangerous to the public will be fitted with a sensory-deprivation helmet ¨C for their safety - to disorient them and prevent damage. There¡¯s a protocol that must be followed when removing it, however, and unfortunately, that was not done. The Prince was so swiftly assaulted with the sounds and sights of his situation that his affliction was set-off, and¡­¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡±

    Iresha looked up, still clinging, but with tears in his eyes now, terrified, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to, dad¡­I didn¡¯t know she was there¡­ I swear¡­!¡±

    The Emperor stood in stunned silence for several seconds. When he finally got his wits about him again, he blinked hard, shook his head, and swallowed a pained breath, ¡°¡­They¡¯re both¡­? Where is my brother¡­?¡±

    ¡°Prince Aamin abandoned ship shortly after the incident.¡± Gabriel explained, his words spoken in a more somber tone then; the entire deck was quiet, ¡°The Captain sent search party out for him, but in the storm, he managed to get away. With the severity of his new injuries though, we don¡¯t have much hope that he¡¯ll survive the night.¡±

    Emperor Iresha nodded grimly, and soon thereafter, turned towards the Captain of his personal guard, ¡°Send out another search. Maybe we¡¯ll have better luck now that the storm has ended.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty!¡± She saluted, and turned away to start sending out the orders.

    ¡°¡­And my wife. Where is she?¡± The Emperor turned to the Eidolon, ¡°Tell me there¡¯s something left of her for me to bury.¡±

    Xanarken and Rylen looked at one another, but the Fourth was the one to nod, ¡°There is, Your Majesty. We will make arrangements to transfer her to your people. You have the condolences of the entire Luminary Council. Anything you need¡­just ask.¡±

 Book I - Chapter 04 - A Cadet, a Void Scar, and a Fafnir Knight Walk into a Barâ€¦

    Maeve disembarked from the Bulwark just after sundown, and its only destination was a nearby hotel.  Landing it on the roof of the tall structure, the two ducked into the upper-level lobby, checked-in, got their actual physical keys, and started making their way down to their assigned rooms.

    Ren paused in front of her own door though, not quite ready to open it, and turned to her mentor, ¡°¡­Sir, if I can ask¡­:

    Gabriel paused and glanced back over his shoulder, then turned to look at her more evenly, ¡°Yeah, what¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°The way you talk to the Eidolon has always been a bit of an enigma to me, but today¡­it just seemed so brazen.  Don¡¯t you¡­see anything wrong with it?¡±

    He stared quizzically, but then offered a weak laugh, and scratched his chin, ¡°I guess it would come across as off-putting to people who aren¡¯t used to it¡­  But, I think Xanarken would probably check my temperature if I called him by any honorifics, and Rylen¡­well¡­  Him and Xanarken go back to the beginning, and view each other as perfect equals ¨C the yin to the other¡¯s yang, if you will.  If I don¡¯t call one by their lordly title, then surely I can¡¯t spare it for the other.¡±

    ¡°I know all that, but still¡­  At least, in such a formal setting, maybe it would be a good idea to fall in line a little bit?  Uhm¡­sir.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep it in mind.¡±

    Ren hesitated, not knowing really how to respond to that, so she just bobbed her head and cast the man one last side-eye before clicking the key into her door and pushed it open, ¡°Goodnight.¡±

    ¡°Night.¡±

    The door clicked shut, and Gabriel was left in the hall on his own.  He flipped the key around in his hand a few times, but then moved on, and went into the room next door.  Once inside, he tossed the key onto a door-side shelf, and snapped his fingers ¨C in an instant, the grey-and-red uniform jacket dissolved into dust and disappeared, leaving him with just the form-fitting dark-grey long-sleeve shirt, the pants, boots, and belt.  He pulled the tie from his long hair, drawing the full length of it over his shoulder, and fiddled idly with the blood-red tips as he fell back across the top of the large bed.

    She¡¯s lasted longer than most, he thought to himself, staring at the ceiling, I wonder if she¡¯s stuck with me or something.  Refusing to regard the Eidolon with their titles was usually enough to get trainees to request a transfer, since they all thought they¡¯d get in trouble by proxy of me¡­  But, she doesn¡¯t seem to have that on her mind at all.  ¡­Hmph, I¡¯ve never actually been scolded by anyone before like that either.  Good for her, I guess.

    He sat up again though, and lifted himself back towards the center of the bed.  With a toe behind each heel, he nudged his boots off, and sat cross-legged on the pillow-top as he brought up his nanotech HUD.  With a few ¡®clicks,¡¯ he located the dreaded file, and tapped to open it.  The initial parts of Ren¡¯s profile were things he already knew; her current status as a mediator trainee in the Fourth, that he was her mentor, that her home-skiff was Maeve, and things of that nature.  However, when he went to the next page, and saw ¡®Previous assignment¡¯ at the top, the first thing he saw was the profile photo of her wearing the purple variant of the Luminary soldier¡¯s uniform, and the first words he read were ¡®Sixth Wing.¡¯  With that, he immediately closed it, dismissed the HUD overlay, and got up again, ¡°Welp, that¡¯s enough reading for now.  Time for a shower, and then a very late night catching-up on all my shows.¡±

    .

    He was a sprawled, catatonic mess the next morning, when the sound of a knock on his door forced his eyes open to the haze of consciousness.  The towel from his showed was still half-wrapped around his hair, and the whole mess of it tumbled out at weird angles as he sat up.

    ¡°Sir Gabriel!  It¡¯s time to go, are you up!?¡± Ren¡¯s voice called from the hall, and she knocked again, ¡°Sir Gabriel!¡±

    One eye blinked at a time, and he looked at the clock on the nightstand, ¡°I think I slept for 45 minutes¡­¡± He said quietly, and fell back again to close his eyes, ¡°Just as¡­planned¡­¡±  When the knock came again, it was louder, and startled him out of his torpor.

    ¡°Sir Gabriel!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m up, I¡¯m up¡­!¡± He called back, and finally stretched, then hobbled off the side of the bed with a loose-fitting bathrobe clinging to one shoulder.  He cracked the door open and stared, circles under his eyes, ¡°Just¡­go get yourself breakfast or something.  I¡¯ll catch up.¡±

    Ren stared at him, mystified, and her face went red for the split-second she could see that half-naked torso, ¡°O-okay!  Sure!¡±  She didn¡¯t need anymore convincing after that, and all-but trotted away, trying not to look as flustered as she actually was.

    Gabriel snorted a quiet laugh to himself and then closed the door again.  When he was somewhat lucid again, he found himself on the rooftop with a foot on the step to get into his skiff.  For a moment, his sleepless mind couldn¡¯t tell where, when, or why he was there, but when he saw Ren quietly clapping her gloved hands together in the pilot¡¯s seat, he remembered, and pulled himself the rest of the way in.

    ¡°So, where¡¯s the next mission?¡± She asked eagerly, ¡°You never did give me the details.¡±

    ¡°In Kitez,¡± he answered simply, and slumped into the passenger seat on Ren¡¯s right, ¡°Thattaway.¡± He pointed roughly west-ish.

    Ren¡¯s left eye twitched, ¡°Ki-what?¡±

    ¡°Kitez.¡±

    ¡°I heard what you said!  What are we gonna do in Kitez!?¡±  She balked, ¡°...Sir!¡±

    ¡°Apparently this mission is actually more for you than for us; I¡¯m just kind of along for the ride, in case you need help or something.¡± Gabriel explained.  He lifted his hands up to within a few inches of his face, and flicked his index fingers forward to pass the sights on his personal HUD to Maeve¡¯s main-screen.  Thereupon, the face of a blonde-haired, green-eyed teenager, ¡°That¡¯s Knight-cadet Setharion something-something.  He had a mission from Rylen in Kitez ¨C and it¡¯s a big deal from what I¡¯m told - but what the details are on it, even I¡¯m not allowed to know until we get there.¡±

    Ren could only stare with a look of horror on her face, ¡°¡­Wh¡­  You¡¯re joking.  This can¡¯t be right.  This has nothing to do with the Fourth.  Ryl-¡­er, Lord Rylen should be sending someone in the First to get him, not us.¡±

    Gabriel snickered to himself as he raised his left hand, palm up, and turned-on Maeve¡¯s flight-systems in-so-doing.  He then leaned back in his seat and draped his right arm over his eyes, ¡°That¡¯s the spirit.  Wake me up when we get to the drop point.  It¡¯s listed on the thing somewhere.¡±

    Ren felt her heart sink into her stomach, but she gripped the flight-stick anyway.  With a few small adjustments to the way everything was set-up around her, including pulling said flight-stick around to be directly in front of herself instead of somewhat to the right side as Gabriel preferred it, she pulled back on it, and Maeve lifted off the ground.  She sighed quietly to herself, and looked one more time at that profile-photo on the display before she confirmed the spot they were expected to go to, and closed the brief.

    .

    Still in Trazad, the Bulwark oversaw the transfer of Empress Rani¡¯s remains to the Sargonians late in the night, and was now parked there.  It would not be allowed to leave again until after a memorial ceremony had taken place¡­which could take days.

    Aboard, in a large conference-room, with the iconography of the First Wing emblazoned on the far wall, Rylen manifested his mantle in front of a desk at the head of the space.  In the middle of the room, was a 20ft long, 6ft wide, oval-shaped black-glass-top conference table, with 15 different seats set around it, evenly spaced apart.  The floor beneath that table was brushed-chrome, and extended another 12in from the back of the seats, creating something of an island that distinguished it from the rest of the area.  Under other circumstances, the whole room would look very different, but in that moment¡­it was just the private meeting-space for two Eidolon.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    Xanarken manifested nearby soon after, ¡°They¡¯re on they¡¯re way as we speak.¡±

    ¡°Perfect.¡±

    ¡°I hope you¡¯re not doing this on the misguided belief that you can tempt Dame Ren back into your good graces.¡± Xanarken wondered suspiciously, ¡°She¡¯s holding-up pretty well with Gabe.¡±

    ¡°Would that I could,¡± Rylen answered, his vampiric-like fangs more obvious than normal as he gave the man an innocent smile, ¡°I merely want to reunite two long-lost friends.¡±

    ¡°Seth is going to chew her a new one when they get to him.¡± The Fourth noted, ¡°And Gabe¡¯s probably going to have some choice words, too.¡±

    ¡°How he feels about it isn¡¯t my concern.  He¡¯s had three months to read the Dame¡¯s file, so if this is a surprise to him, it¡¯s his own fault.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­I¡¯ve tried¡­  She¡¯s tried.¡±

    Rylen shook his head and reached over to pet the taller Eidolon¡¯s shoulder, ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll all be fine.  The Aegis is on standby at the border, and Captain Rydell doesn¡¯t have a hair-trigger.  He has a far more contemplative demeanor than his father, so he knows better than to start an international incident if anyone in the Conclave gets involved for some reason.¡±

    ¡°And thus, the true reason why you don¡¯t just send someone else,¡± Xanarken crossed his arms, ¡°I dare say you actually learned from the last time.¡±

    Rylen shrugged his shoulders up, held them there a moment, then released again, ¡°It was hard not to glean a lesson from back then.  Former-Captain Lequerion Rydell did kind of stick his foot in it.¡±

    ¡°He attacked one of Kitez¡¯s top generals, and it was the entire reason Kitez threw us ¨C and the World Cloud ¨C out.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been 22 years, and there¡¯s new leadership in Kitez.  After everything else they were mad about back then ¨C up to and including taking Gabriel out of there like we did - slicing a general¡¯s ear wasn¡¯t that big of a deal.¡±

    ¡°Drawing blood at a parlay is always a big deal.¡±

    Rylen turned on a heel to face his brother, ¡°That saying you like so much¡­speak softly and carry a big stick.  You¡¯re the ¡®speaking,¡¯ and I¡¯m the ¡®stick.¡¯  Consequences be damned, I still stand by Captain Rydell on that one.¡±

    Xanarken drew in a long breath, and shook his head as he exhaled ¨C not that his mantle actually did any breathing, but the gesture meant the same either way, ¡°At any rate, with Gabe and Dame Ren leaving Trazad right now, they should arrive on-site with Seth by mid-afternoon.  With any luck, the recent insanity with Prince Iresha hasn¡¯t ruffled any feathers in Kitez, and this will just be a simple grab-and-go mission like it was supposed to be beforehand.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯ll be fine.  Seth¡¯s in good hands.¡±

    .

    With Gabriel out-cold, Ren grudgingly piloted Maeve due-west, and leered at him past her shoulder, ¡°You knew full and bloody well that we won¡¯t have any access to the World Cloud once we cross the border, so you stayed up all damn night just to avoid reading my file, didn¡¯t you?  ¡­You¡¯re a sore loser, Gabriel Lugios.¡±

    The drop-site was just ahead, and Maeve landed¡­though not without a carefully-planned rough jostle at the very last second, which gave Gabriel quite the startle back to consciousness.

    Ren smiled innocently, ¡°Hope you had a nice nap, sir.  We¡¯re here.¡±

    The side-door opened, and Ren unbuckled so she could hop out first.  By the time Gabriel got his act together and followed, it was all he could do to avoid looking out of his depth, as he beheld the crowd of Sixth Wing soldiers all showing a rather unexpected amount of respect towards his trainee.  Salutes were crisp, and a path was cut from Maeve to the open door of a nearby small-town motel.  Gabriel scuttled-up to Ren¡¯s side, and asked in a quiet voice, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    Ren could only give an uneasy smile, ¡°¡­My reputation precedes me, it seems.¡±

    ¡°What reputation?¡±

    She stared at him, unblinking, but then turned around to start walking, an annoyed grumble set under her voice.  Gabriel reluctantly followed, and as before, by the time he¡¯d caught up, soldiers were at attention before the woman.

    ¡°Dame Ren Nibasai, welcome!¡± The officer in charge said; not quite a Captain, but rather, First Lieutenant; she bore a similar set of cape-laden pauldrons as an actual Captain, but they truncated at the ends of her shoulders, rather than extending a foot beyond each.

    Ren could only offer a well-meant-but-half-assed salute in return, but then gestured both hands in a downward motion, ¡°Please, you don¡¯t have to do all that.  I was demoted all the way down the chain when I left.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll never stop being where you came from, Commander.¡± The officer countered, but then gestured for her HUD to display for both new-arrivals to see.

    Gabriel grimaced, and whispered ¨C mostly to himself, ¡°Commander?¡±

    As before, Seth¡¯s visage displayed for all to see, but this time, a map was included, showing their current location a few miles out from the Sargon-Kitez border, and then zoomed out to show mostly Kitez.  The Exclusion Zone was a prominent feature of the north-eastern quarter of the hermit-nation, but was well-encapsulated on all sides, with a waterside border on its northern face where it went into a large bay.  Just south-east of the Exclusion Zone though, was a blotch of land that bordered it, and a pin was set into it.  The officer explained, ¡°This is land owned and managed by former-Magistrate Gavin Mallerd.  About a month ago, a Void Scar opened on his property, and in his generosity, sent a secret missive to Lord Rylen¡¯s Myrmidon division to notify them.  Long story short, Knight-cadet Setharion Rydell was commissioned to investigate.¡±

    ¡°Rydell¡­why does that sound so familiar?¡± Gabriel wondered to himself.

    ¡°His time in Kitez has expired, however,¡± The officer continued, ¡°And Lord Rylen has requested your assistance in bringing him home.¡±

    Ren sucked in a breath, and set her hands on her hips as she looked on at the map, ¡°¡­Figures.  Alright, well, sounds simple enough.  Nanotech goes offline, we walk in, we nab him, and walk out again?¡±

    ¡°In a manner of speaking.  Tensions in Kitez have been high these past two years, since Prince Iresha became afflicted.  Your nanotech will not be the only thing going down for this mission.  You¡¯ll be going undercover.¡± The officer explained, and stepped aside in that small motel room towards a closet, and opened the door, ¡°You have your choice of attire.  You¡¯ll have full use of the room to prepare.  In 20 minutes, you¡¯re departing for the Kitezan border.  A vehicular escort will take you to Judge Mallerd¡¯s homestead, drop you off, you¡¯ll make contact with cadet Setharion, spend the night there while he takes-down his equipment, and then come back in one of the vehicles the Judge has been provided with for this purpose.  Any questions?¡±

    Ren hesitated, but then lifted her head, ¡°How¡¯s he been?¡±

    ¡°He misses you.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­¡±

    ¡°Alright, everyone else out; Dame Ren and Sir Gabriel will come out when ready.¡±

    The three soldiers who were there with them saluted and stepped out, and the officer pulled the door closed behind her.  Ren could feel the stare from her mentor boring into the back of her head, but instead of facing it, she stepped off and went into the walk-in closet, looking for something acceptable to swap into.

    ¡°So that¡¯s it?¡± Gabriel asked dryly, ¡°You¡¯re just gonna go about your business like this didn¡¯t just confused the Hell out of me?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s to be confused about?  You were here for the whole brief.¡± She shot back, and pulled some black leggings with a half-skirt, grey sweater, and knee-high boots from the closet, ¡°I didn¡¯t hear anything more or less than you did.  ¡­Sir.¡±

    He just gestured at the whole room, ¡°Then why did everyone act like they¡¯re familiar with you?  And that you¡¯re familiar with our query?¡±

    She looked at him with a quirked brow, ¡°I¡¯m gonna let you stew on those questions while I go change.  Find something to wear while you ruminate on the obvious answer.¡±

    Gabriel just watched in disbelief as she came out, made a U-turn into the bathroom, and closed the door behind herself.  In annoyed frustration, he swung his arm out in front of himself and snapped his fingers to dissolve the uniform-jacket, and roughly stepped into that same closet, ¡°I hate not knowing stuff.¡±

    A short while later, Gabriel found his way back out of the room, now wearing a black suit with a red dress-shirt and black tie, and he busied himself with braiding his hair while they all waited for Ren to come out as well.  When she finally did, it was as if all hands were on deck again, and everyone was attentive to her movements.  A vehicle as already waiting for them, and the First Lieutenant who had briefed them went to open the door.

    Ren approached first, resolutely consigned to her fate now, and paused for that last task; she loaded her overlay, and shut-down her nanotech access.  A moment later, a small red dot flashed on each of her irises, and the officer confirmed it, ¡°Thank you, Commander.  Safe travels.¡±  She looked then to Gabriel, who grumbled and did the exact same thing before following his trainee in, ¡°Thank you as well, sir.¡±

    The door was closed, seatbelts were drawn, and within seconds, the vehicle was moving.  Gabriel could be nothing less than a sourpuss the entire half-hour ride to the Kitezan border.  The check-point was far-more popular than either Knight had expected, but it was their driver who explained, ¡°Folks with ties to both Kitez and Sargon have been spending the last two years trying to figure out which side of the border they wanted to be on.  Apparently, the trouble with Prince Iresha yesterday has helped many of them finally make that call.¡±

    ¡°Why would that suddenly matter?  He didn¡¯t just become afflicted then.¡± Ren wondered, looking between the two front seats.

    ¡°Because the prevailing worry is that the Emperor is going to send his son to the College at Agartha as a result of it.  That¡¯s a red-line for the Duchy.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­¡±

    ¡°The minute that boy goes to Agartha, the Kitezans feel he¡¯ll become a pawn for the Luminary Council.  He¡¯d be raised-up with our values and sentiments, and when he goes back home - and eventually becomes the Emperor himself - he¡¯ll be more sympathetic to our views.  Maybe even be the one to get Sargon into the Accord finally.¡± The driver continued, and inched the vehicle forward as those ahead pulled through, ¡°One can only hope¡­¡±

    ¡°Another worry for another day.  As long as they haven¡¯t shut the border down yet, our window of opportunity for getting Seth back is still open.¡±

    The driver smiled, ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡±

 Book I - Chapter 05 - You Never Stop Being Where You Came From

    Getting through the check-point was easy; the vehicle was Kitezan in make, their fake IDs were flawless, a special-made contact lens for Gabriel¡¯s solitary red eye covered that Limitless-given ¡®tell,¡¯ and with his ponytail braided and a hat placed, the red streaks in his hair were covered as well; it was the stone-cold shoulder that was unbearable.

    Ren could hardly stand it; Gabriel had been sulking in silence the entire trip so far.  Not knowing what else to do, she lifted her hands up and quickly slapped them down on her knees, ¡°What do you want me to say?¡±

    The mediator was busying his hands with the removal of that false-color contact lens, and after he dropped it in, he daintily screwed the cap back onto the little liquid-containing vial it had originally come from.  Now revealed again, the red eye was the one that turned to look at her, ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter.  It¡¯s in the file, it¡¯s in the file, the secret to world peace and immortality is in the damn file.¡±

    Ren glowered, ¡°It¡¯s not my fault you decided to neglect the most basic thing about being a mentor.¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t even allowed to look at the file for the first whole month you were assigned to me.  By the time I was, it seemed irrelevant.¡± He countered, a hand on his chest defensively, ¡°So if it¡¯s not irrelevant, then why don¡¯t you just tell me?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Both eyes were open then, ¡°No?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± She repeated, and sat back in her seat with her arms crossed, ¡°If you don¡¯t have enough respect for me to read a simple dossier, then I¡¯m not going to coddle you by telling you instead.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a respect thing-¡°

    ¡°Yes!  Yes, it is, Gabriel Lugios!¡± She harped, ¡°Are you that upset that I might¡¯ve been someone before you turned up?  You¡¯re so damn worried about how you think everyone hates you because of where you came from, that you¡¯ve become your own self-fulfilling prophecy.  You¡¯re cranky most of the time, and turn people away from you who might otherwise actually like you somehow.  I know you¡¯ve chased away every trainee you¡¯ve ever had; I also thought, when I heard I was going to be next, that Lord Rylen was trying to punish me for my transfer somehow with it.  And after everything I¡¯ve been through, and as hard as I¡¯ve tried, you still just see me as the latest cadet who you¡¯re trying to wash-out.¡±  She lambasted him in the most serious tone she¡¯d presented thus far, and there wasn¡¯t ¡®sir¡¯ to be heard in any of it, ¡°But I can¡¯t go back to where I used to be.  I¡¯m stuck with you until I get through the program, or my situation gets much worse than just dealing with your shitty attitude.  I told you before that I admired you, and I was trying to make the most of this second chance in the Council¡­  Well, that¡¯s just egg on my face, it seems.¡±  She crossed her arms and turned away, staring intently through the window at the passing countryside, ¡°Lord Rylen was right to think of this as a punishment.  ¡­Never meet your heroes.¡±

    Gabriel looked on in a complete daze.  He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, and it stopped every word he might have otherwise found the wit to say.  For once, he was at a loss, and he could only sit there in humbled silence.

    Three hours later, the vehicle finally pulled off the main road and onto a private drive-way.  Since the vehicle hovered, it made hardly any sound on the way in, barely giving off a quiet hiss as a formality so no one would walk out in front of it unawares.  The drive-way was a half-mile long, flanked by trees, and barely hid the sight of the mountain-range on the eastern horizon that marked the Sargonian border.  To the north-west, however, was another, smaller and closer mountain range; that one, however, was the southern-most edge of the Exclusion Zone.  Decorative trees eventually gave way to the home that would be their destination.

    Sprawling and rustic, it was a wide, two-floor mansion, with pillars of stacked stone holding up the second floor; the first floor, behind the pillars and wall-length glass, was easy to miss under the glory of the main house.  The property itself seemed to be set into a recess in the hills, with more stacked-stones around the perimeter to act like a decorative wall.  The vehicle came to rest in an alcove with two other similar cars, and Ren couldn¡¯t wait to get out.

    Boots tapped-down on the cobblestone landing, and Ren immediately started walking.  She slowed her pace only long enough to tap her knuckles on the driver¡¯s window and give a wave, ¡°Thanks for the ride.¡±

    ¡°Be safe, Commander.¡±

    She pressed her palm to the glass in farewell, and started moving with purpose.  The front door was a short walk away, but she was too bitter about the earlier rant she¡¯d thrown at her mentor to wait for him.  She could hear him get out, since she also heard the car-door close behind him, and the vehicle started to pull away as planned.  Ren rapped on the ornate glassy inlay, and took a step back.  Gabriel had made it as far as the patio before the door opened, and a tall, elderly man with long, wavy-curly white-grey hair answered.

    ¡°Dame Ren, I presume?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Judge.  And that¡¯s Gabriel in the back.¡± She answered, thumbing behind herself; the pointed lack of an honorific was noticed, ¡°We¡¯re here to let Seth know it¡¯s time to come home.¡±

    ¡°A few days sooner than expected, but I suppose it can¡¯t be helped.¡± The former Magistrate nodded, and gestured for the duo to come inside, ¡°Let me show you where you¡¯ll be staying tonight, and then I¡¯ll take you to Seth.  Are you hungry or thirsty?¡±

    Ren followed inside, and Gabriel sluggishly pulled-up the back.

    Just as soon as they¡¯d arrive, it felt like they were in another car, as Judge Mallerd drove them halfway across his property to a very particular location.  He parked a good distance away from it though; something about the destination had caused the grass to die in long, slithering tendrils from its epicenter.  Gabriel already had a bad feeling about it, but he seemed to be the only one, so he didn¡¯t say anything.  Grass crunched underfoot as they exited, and there was no doubt about it; they were in the presence of a Void Scar.

    Hovering about 2ft off the ground, the scar itself was roughly 8ft tall, 3-4ft wide, and warbled like the reflection of the moon on night-time waters.  No matter what direction one looked at it from, it always appeared to be open towards them, yawning and contracting in constant flux.  It gave off a subtle sound, too, like crackling wood combined with the distant whistle of ghostly birds.  At a distance, there were data panels floating in the air, taking constant real-time measurements of the scar, and further out, equipment tables¡­and a lot of burned, melted, and otherwise-vaporized sample-gathering tools.

    Ren looked around cautiously, and she gave the scar a wide berth, but she had a goal in mind and wasn¡¯t about to get distracted.  On the far end of the field, with his back to her, was the 17-year-old Knight-cadet of the First Wing; Setharion Rydell.  There wasn¡¯t a drop of obvious Luminary paraphernalia on him, with one exception; his glasses.  Cadets, and those who opted for them, were issued special glasses that would enable them to access the World Cloud.  In Seth¡¯s case, given the lack of a World Cloud in Kitez, he used a limited personal supply that had been brought with him in a series of spherical cannisters, which lay open and empty under one of the nearby tables.  At age 18, if desired, one could trade the glasses for a pair of permanently-interfacing nodule-like implants, which would be embedded under the skin superficial to the obliquus capitis superior muscles; one on each side of the base of the skull.  The size of a dried haricot bean, the nodules could be set and then forgotten about, linking directly into the user¡¯s neural pathways to give unparalleled, accurate control of their visual overlays.

    Ren rubbed the side of her neck nervously, but she supposed Seth could tell someone was watching him, and he suddenly turned around; long-coat and scarf whipped in the wind dramatically.  Those pale green eyes and upward-spikey pale-blonde hair were characteristic of the Rydells for the last several generations, and it did not skip Seth at all.  Those eyes were wide at the sight of her, and Ren could only swallow her pride - and a nervous lump in her throat.

    ¡°¡­Miss Ren¡­?¡± His voice was inaudible from the distance between them, and he knew it.  He quickly abandoned his work and followed a safe path around the Void Scar, walking at first, but then jogging, until he finally hit a sprint at the end to close the distance, ¡°Miss Ren!¡±

    ¡°Hey, Seth.¡±

    He all-but launched at her, only to stop dead in his tracks at the last second, and just stared at her.  Mystified at first, then disbelieving, then¡­angry, ¡°You ghosted me!¡±

    She lifted her arms to clasp them around herself, ¡°Sorry¡­¡±

    ¡°Four months!  You left four months ago!  Not one word!  Do you know how worried I was about you!?  I tried to call you so many times, but it was like you got a new number or something!  I had to find out what happened to you through peasant means!¡±

    Ren quirked a brow, ¡°What are peasant means?¡±

    ¡°You know my brother knows more than anyone about what¡¯s going on in the Council.  He should have been able to tell me where you went, but he was tight-lipped!  He was in such a sorry state after you left that it was like he wouldn¡¯t tell me!¡± Seth complained, ¡°Every time I brought it up, he¡¯d ask me not to!  So¡­peasant means had to be used!  I had to look you up myself!¡±

    She laughed quietly, ¡°Oh no.¡±

    Seth just stopped there though, and pulled his glasses off so he could rub his eyes on the back of one sleeve.  He drew in a long breath, but before he could continue, Ren had already closed the gap between them and wrapped her arms over his thin shoulders, ¡°I thought we were friends¡­¡±

    Ren felt those words like a kick to the chest, ¡°We are, Seth¡­but¡­things got so complicated in such a hurry¡­¡±

    ¡°What happened?  Why did you leave?¡± He looked up as he hugged her tightly back, ¡°Furion would never tell me¡­  No one would¡­¡±Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    She pet the teen¡¯s head, and pushed his bangs out of his eyes, ¡°Just a little old fashioned insubordination, I¡¯m afraid.¡±

    ¡°Heh?¡±

    Nearly all the way back at the car, Gabriel stayed behind with the Judge, watching the pair reunite from a distance too far to hear anything they said.  Gavin stepped up with a horse¡¯s-head cane in-hand, ¡°So you¡¯re the famous Sir Gabriel Lugios, hm?¡±

    ¡°Depends.  What kind of famous is he out here?¡± He asked stiffly.

    ¡°Kitez-born and bred, but spirited away to become an Eidolon¡¯s boy.  No one knew you existed until you were gone.  Isn¡¯t that strange.¡±

    ¡°Not really, considering where I got plucked from.¡± He nudged his head towards the forested hill-country in the distance, ¡°I didn¡¯t even really know there was an outside world until that day.  I¡¯d heard stories, obviously¡­but, nothing ever did justice to the sight of a real SkyFortress, or the ghosts who made their bodies from dust-sized machines.  There was also the small matter of being terrorized by winged death.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­you must mean the Fafnir Knights.¡± The Judge surmised, ¡°The ones who attacked your¡­community?  Village?¡±

    ¡°Rancid hovel.¡± Gabriel corrected, ¡°By comparison to everything else I¡¯ve seen since then.¡±

    ¡°Then how do you get along with Dame Ren so well?¡±

    He turned to gape at the older man, ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±

    ¡°¡­You know she¡¯s a Fafnir Knight, right?  One of the youngest Wing Commanders in history; gives the Captain himself a run for his money, and that¡¯s on a bad day.¡±

    Those bicolored eyes looked at Ren again, but in a new way, and Gabriel wasn¡¯t sure what to think about her anymore, ¡°¡­The Fafnir massacred everyone I ever knew that day, including my mom, as she tried to protect me from the same fate.¡±

    ¡°¡­You really didn¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°Well, I know she¡¯s not a Fafnir now¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­She isn¡¯t?  But¡­when?¡±

    Gabriel couldn¡¯t help but lower down until he sat on the dead grass, still bewildered, ¡°Dunno.  She got stuck with me about four months back.  I have a bad habit of not wanting to know anything about the people I have to train.  Makes it easier to let them go when they leave.  ¡­Now, I wish I knew less.¡±

    ¡°After more than twenty years, I¡¯d be shocked if any of the same soldiers were still active Fafnir now,¡± Judge Mallerd shrugged, ¡°Now I worry about saying anything in regards to Seth.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­let¡¯s not.  I don¡¯t want to hate him before I¡¯ve met him.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going to have a rough day regardless, I¡¯m afraid.  He¡¯s not even the only one here.¡±

    Gabriel looked up, leering from beneath the brim of his hat, ¡°Come again?¡±

    Gavin nudged his head over at one of the only trees in the nearby grassy plains, and as Gabriel looked, he noticed a single leg dangling ¨C and slowly waving back and forth - from behind one of the heavy branches, just-barely in that leafy canopy, ¡°That¡¯s Sir Issak Noardin, though he prefers to go by Ianori.  He¡¯s¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­Also a Fafnir Knight.¡± He grumbled, and crossed his arms, ¡°He wasn¡¯t in the brief.¡±

    ¡°I think he¡¯s here unofficially, as a favor to Seth¡¯s older brother.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t even begin to understand what the Hell is going on right now.¡± Gabriel slouched against his crossed knees.

    Ren busied herself with helping to straighten-out Seth¡¯a coat and scarf again, and followed him over towards the base of that large tree.  Seth slapped his hands against the bark and looked up high into the boughs, ¡°Mr. Ianori!  You won¡¯t believe who Lord Rylen sent to come get us!¡±

    The man above snorted as he was startled out of a nap, ¡°Huh?  Wha?¡±

    ¡°Down below!¡±

    Sitting up, and with a carefully-balanced stretch, was a well-built man in his late-20s, with dark brown hair; shaved on the sides and fluffed backward on the top, with a sleek line was razored down to the skin just above his ears.  He wore the same dressed-down kind of ¡®ultra normal-mode¡¯ costume the others did, but after a satisfying yawn, he hopped down the 15ft from branch to ground, combat-boots hitting the dirt with a heavy thud.  When he stood upright again, he looked straight at that unexpected face, and as if on instinct, immediately saluted, ¡°Commander!¡±

    Ren shook her head, ¡°You know as well as I do that I¡¯m not.  Not anymore.¡±

    The salute faded, leaving just a man with a surprised-happy look on his face, ¡°I knew you hadn¡¯t abandoned us for good.  It¡¯s great to see you.¡±  Ianori reached both arms forward, and Ren gladly accepted the greeting hug.  Standing in the embrace of someone as tall as one would envision a fighting soldier would be, Ren¡¯s slim 5¡¯5¡± frame looked as diminutive as ever.  With a fond back-and-forth shake, Ianori eventually let her go, and held both her shoulders in his hands, ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe it¡¯s been so long.  Are you here to tell me to stop vying for your position?¡±

    ¡°Oh, is that why you¡¯re here?  Sucking up to Furio-¡­er¡­I mean, the Captain¡­so you can gun for a promotion?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re closer to the truth than you think.¡± He answered with a wry smile, ¡°And yet far from it.  The Captain¡¯s refused to accept applicants for the spot so far.  He only told me he¡¯d consider it if I came to watch-over his kid-brother.¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯ve been here with him all month?¡±

    ¡°Yup.¡± Ianori nodded, and ruffled the teen¡¯s head, ¡°When we heard that a Void Scar had opened out here, a thousand wild horses couldn¡¯t have kept this kid away.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!¡± Seth defended, ¡°This is the first one that¡¯s stayed open long enough for anyone to even get here to study it.  I¡¯ll probably never see another one like it.¡±

    Ren turned her sights to the warbling void-gate, ¡°Tell me about it.  This thing is practically a myth¡­and yet, there it is.¡±

    Seth clapped his hands excitedly, and skipped forward to get in front of the two Knights, ¡°Let me present, for your viewing pleasure¡­the source of the catastrophe that brought down the colony fleet 350 years ago¡­  The Void Scar!¡± He waved his hands at it for dramatic effect, then held a finger up studiously, ¡°As you know, humanity is not native to Hadira.  We came here some centuries ago and terraformed it to our needs.  But our arrival was not without consequence¡­  Dozens of ships appeared in these very skies, and were met with immediate catastrophe.  These void scars, void rifts, or void gates ¨C as they are all known - opened up en masse around that original space-faring caravan, wreaking havoc on navigation systems and pilots alike, as they all tried to find a way to safely land.  Many didn¡¯t make it.  Those that did, were scattered across the surface of this world, cut-off from one another for years.  We all know the basic tale of how each of those orphaned seed-ships were the origin of Hadira¡¯s fledgling nations¡­with each nation repurposing the name of their own ship to be the name of their colony.  Sol-System Colony Fortress Kitez¡­SSCF Sargon¡­SSCF Mayrain, et cetera.¡±

    Ianori nudged Ren with an elbow, ¡°I wonder how many people know that¡¯s the case these days.¡±

    ¡°Right?¡±

    Seth continued, ¡°But anyway though¡­my point was that, something about the warp-maneuver used by that original fleet created a chain-reaction that opened up tens ¨C maybe even hundreds ¨C of these rifts.  No one¡¯s sure how or why they ended up closing afterwards, but the prevailing theory is that they just kind of evaporated on their own after a while.¡±

    ¡°That would explain why these feral rifts have such a short half-life, and expire before anyone can typically get to them.¡± Ren noted, and stepped up beside her young friend, ¡°But that doesn¡¯t explain exactly what it is.  Is it¡­a black hole of some kind?  Nothing¡¯s being sucked into it¡­it¡¯s just there.¡±

    ¡°Nearest I can ascertain is that it¡¯s another dimension.¡± Seth answered, making a point to hold both his hands up malevolently and wiggle his fingers, as though he was telling a scary story, ¡°Black holes are different, because they¡¯re gravity wells.  Things get sucked in, but they¡¯re being crushed down infinitely into a single point, not being spat-out somewhere else.  After all, we¡¯ve never found an ejection-site for the back-end of a worm-hole, so there¡¯s no reason to believe they had one.  These things though¡­they¡¯re gateways to somewhere.  Notice how it¡¯s always open towards you no matter what direction you look at it from?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°It looks the same to everyone else at the same time, no matter how many people there are or angles it¡¯s being looked at.  And, you can put stuff into it¡­¡± Seth explained, and hopped over towards one of the nearby tables, and the disfigured instruments he had set out on top of them.  He lifted one up, and pointed at the contorted tip, where one could assume a sample-collection reservoir once existed, ¡°It looks melted, but there was never any heat-factor applied to it.  It¡¯s just¡­as if the known laws of physics don¡¯t apply on the other side.  Materials stop behaving the way we expect them to ¨C they get destabilized and chaotic ¨C but they still come out whole.  The weight is the same as prior to going in, the composition is maintained¡­there¡¯s no residue or anything on them, so it didn¡¯t bring anything back with it¡­  It just¡­went in, changed somehow, and came back in this new shape.  But¡­¡±  He put the long metal rod down again, and lifted up a tree-branch instead, ¡°¡­when something organic goes in, it comes out with this weird, almost chitinous covering on it.¡±  He flicked at a leaf with said substance stuck to it, ¡°I can¡¯t figure out what it is though.  It¡¯s nothing I¡¯ve ever seen before.  The organic material itself is changed, too, like it was being repurposed somehow, or¡­I dunno, assimilated?  Into something that dimension recognizes.¡±

    Ren quirked a brow, ¡°You sure you want to be touching it with your bare fingers?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing dangerous about it, so far as I¡¯ve gleaned.  This branch, and the weird stuff growing on it, is still recognized by my instruments as a ¡®carbon-based organic material,¡¯ just like the original.  It¡¯s like if you offered a Rubix-cube to someone on the other side of a door, they turned the faces on it, and gave it back.  It¡¯s still the same thing as before, it¡¯s just¡­changed.¡±  Seth shrugged though, and put the branch back on the table as well, ¡°What I was really hoping for was to have an afflicted person come out here and help me¡­  There¡¯s something between that rift and the Limitless that¡¯s connected¡­I just know it.¡±

    ¡°Why do you say that?¡± Ren wondered, casting a knowing look at her mentor way off in the distance.

    ¡°Because the warp-capabilities of the original colony fleet weren¡¯t an advanced technology that we lost in the crash-landing.  ¡­They were the featured-ability of one specific Limitless-afflicted guy ¨C Caeros - who guided the fleet, and brought it here.¡±

    The two Fafnir glanced at one another, then back at the proverbial mad-scientist in front of them, but Ren spoke again, ¡°That¡¯s not taught in basic histories¡­  Caeros sabotaged the fleet; that¡¯s why it crashed.¡±

    Seth waved his hands back and forth, ¡°Not so.  They say that history is written by the victors, not the victims¡­but in this case, the victims were the only ones left to tell the tale, so their bias leaked through in the retelling.  Caeros¡¯ mistake was fleeing the scene of the crime, so his side couldn¡¯t be told.¡±

    ¡°And how do you know this?¡±

    ¡°Because Lord Rylen told me himself.¡± He answered proudly, and leaned in closer, ¡°Caeros¡¯ full name is Caeros Vor¡¯antiss¡­he was Lord Rylen¡¯s son.¡±

    Both sets of eyes went wide, ¡°¡­Yikes.¡±

    ¡°The rifts didn¡¯t just open randomly because the fleet showed up.  Hadira isn¡¯t more-or-less prone to them than anywhere else.  The trick was that, in using his power to bring the aforementioned fleet here, it¡¯s like he tore open a hole in reality, and all these smaller gates opened up as a result.  Lord Rylen said that, from what he saw, the main void gate opened for them to pass through ¨C absorbing the fleet inside it, with the intent of releasing it at its destination ¨C but then bits of it started breaking off, like embers from one of those fireworks sparklers.¡±

    Ren looked dubiously at the rift, and narrowed her eyes, ¡°¡­Guess that explains why they sent him, too.¡±

    ¡°Sent who, too?¡± Seth asked, looking around.  He squinted through the afternoon sunlight at the two figures standing a distance away.  He recognized the former Magistrate, but the second was a mystery.

    ¡°Hang on.¡±

    Seth watched her go - walking with purpose - and turned to step closer to Ianori.  For a moment, he felt clueless, but then the realization hit him, ¡°O-oh my god, they sent Gabriel Lugios!?  I thought that was Miss Ren¡¯s driver!  Why would they send him here!?¡±

    Ianori could only shrug, ¡°I mean, they¡¯re supposed to be partnered or something¡­guess the bosses didn¡¯t wanna split them up?¡±

    ¡°But he¡¯s the High Negotiator!  He¡¯s second only to Lord Xanarken himself!  He¡¯s¡­he¡¯s too important to send here!¡±

    ¡°Not to mention controversial¡­¡± The Fafnir could only rub the stubble on his chin, ¡°Maybe the Commander¡¯s just making the best of the situation and it wasn¡¯t intended?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t just sent Gabriel Lugios into Kitez to pick someone up.¡±

    Ianori shrugged his shoulders up with a smirk, ¡°Guess we¡¯re going to find out.¡±

 Book I - Chapter 06 - The Indiscriminate Voice of the Void Sees All, Hears Allâ€¦Calls To Allâ€¦

    To see Ren coming towards him ¨C now as a known (even if former) Fafnir Knight Wing-Commander, rather than just a wee mediator trainee ¨C was quite the shift.  Gabriel felt compelled to rise up from his seat in the grass, and dusted himself off, as she got within speaking-distance.

    ¡°Are you done?¡± She asked pointedly.

    ¡°Done what?¡± Judge Mallerd wondered, ¡°We weren¡¯t doing anything important.¡±

    ¡°She means me.¡± The mediator corrected, ¡°And the answer is no.¡±

    ¡°Well then you can mope while you¡¯re helping.  You said that¡¯s what you were here to do, if needed.¡± She explained, and turned again to go the other way, though this time towards the rift.

    Gabriel drew in a sharp breath, ¡°That thing makes me uneasy.¡±

    ¡°It makes everyone uneasy,¡± Gavin replied with a skeptical smile, ¡°It¡¯s like it¡¯s watching us.  ¡­Well, go on then¡­the sooner you help, the sooner Seth can pack things in.¡±

    ¡°Silver linings.¡± Gabriel agreed, and squished his hat down a little firmer on his head as he started walking forward.

    The closer he got, the more unnerved the man became.  He bent his path around the thing so he could keep as much distance as he could without looking too-obviously bothered; the others were at least willing to meet him half-way, even if their eventual meeting was far less than what he expected.

    Seth was practically bouncing where he stood, itching to speak but worried he wasn¡¯t allowed.  When Ren saw it, she half-rolled her eyes, and gestured from her mentor to the cadet, ¡°Gabriel, this is Seth.  Seth, Gabriel.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s such an honor to meet you.¡± The teen spoke so fast, the words nearly blended together into a single thing.  He hopped forward another step closer, and thrust his hand out, ¡°Mr. Sir Gabriel Lugios, sir!¡±

    Gabe could only look for a moment in stunned confusion, No one¡¯s ever been this excited to meet me.  What¡¯s with this kid?  His sights glanced up slightly to get a better look at Ianori behind the cadet, but he looked away before it became too awkward that he hadn¡¯t reached back, and took Seth¡¯s hand to give it one shake, ¡°Pleasure.  ¡­So, what am I supposed to help with, exactly?¡±

    Seth¡¯s eyes practically sparkled, and he stepped around to get a bit closer to the rift, ¡°Oh!  I was telling Miss Ren about my theories about these void gates¡­and I¡¯m certain there¡¯s a connection between them and the Limitless affliction, like what you have.  I was hoping an afflicted person could help me run some tests¡­  If you¡¯re willing, I mean!  You don¡¯t have to if you don¡¯t want to!  I know you probably have a timetable to follow!¡±

    Gabriel watched the teen with interest, but then turned his sights towards the gate, and shrugged, ¡°¡­I mean, what could it hurt to take a few more minutes.¡±

    The teen couldn¡¯t contain his excitement, and quickly hustled to put his glasses back on.  With a few gestures, he summoned his data-panels closer to himself, and loaded up a few new windows on them.  One window was recording video of the scene, and Seth locked the sights of it onto Gabriel, so it would follow anywhere he went and capture everything he did or said.

    Ren stepped off to join Ianori at the peripheries, and was content to just watch for a little while.  With arms crossed, she shifted her weight to one foot, ¡°So, what do you think?  What a specimen, right?¡± She asked, somewhat dryly.

    Ianori puffed, ¡°You sound so impressed.  Did the reality not match the dream?¡±

    She sighed, ¡°In the beginning, I just thought he was kind of cocky¡­  No big deal; he¡¯s a high-ranking guy with a somewhat-infamous history, so he¡¯s probably got a big head about it.  Nothing I can¡¯t deal with.¡±

    ¡°But?¡±

    ¡°¡­But he never quit.¡± She answered, and lifted one hand towards the ¡®High Mediator¡¯ ahead of them, ¡°The times where he acted kind of normal were so few and far between, I wondered if he even knew he was capable.  He talks to the Eidolon on a first-name basis, for crying out loud!  My ears are still ringing from the first time I heard it.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that does sound a little sus.  Everyone always gives them the respect of their titles; it¡¯s almost like their names don¡¯t make sense without them.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly it!¡± Ren twisted and pointed at the man, ¡°You get it!¡±

    Ianori gave her a skeptical look, and hesitated to speak again for a moment.  But, he shook his head, and turned to face her directly, ¡°How are you really doing, Commander?¡± He asked suddenly, catching her off-guard, ¡°The circumstances of your sudden withdrawal from the Fafnir are still making our heads spin.  One day you were there ¨C the life of the party, so to speak ¨C and the next, you were just gone.  There¡¯s a gaping hole in the team that nothing will fill.  Every day goes by and we all still feel like you¡¯re just going to show up again, like you were just on extended leave¡­but then you never do, and we have to remember that you¡¯re really gone all over again.¡±

    Ren lowered her head, ¡°¡­I¡¯m¡­sorry.¡±

    Memories of that day flowed through her like a blazing wind, scorching and unrelenting, but only in scattered fragments.  She remembered the bodies ¨C too many of them ¨C but the thing that really stuck out was the debriefing between her Eidolon ¨C who she remembered clearly ¨C and her Captain ¨C who seemed like a stranger - after the fact.  The sound of the recording of what she said played overhead in that lonely room, as the footage of her last mission played before them.

    ¡°I can¡¯t do this!¡± She¡¯s cried out, ¡°They¡¯re just kids!  Stupid, stupid kids!  They don¡¯t know what they¡¯re doing!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not our place to be judge and jury, Dame Ren.¡± The Captain¡¯s voice answered through their comm.-system, ¡°We are merely the executioners.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m coming back to the Aegis¡­  Lord Rylen can take another look at this; it¡¯s not right, what he¡¯s asking us to do out here¡­  What-¡­wait, no, what are you doing!?¡±  She struggled against movements that weren¡¯t her own, ¡°FURION, STOP IT!  LET ME¡­GO!!¡±

    Ren shook her head to get the images and sounds out of her mind, but the memory of her pleading screams continued ¨C ignored ¨C until the deed was done, and she pinched the bridge of her nose, ¡°I don¡¯t want to think about it¡­¡±

    Ianori didn¡¯t need to be told twice, ¡°Sorry¡­¡± He supposed he could ask about other things instead then, ¡°So what about him, then?¡± He nudged his head out towards the senior mediator, ¡°His first experience with the Fafnir wasn¡¯t the greatest.  Finding out you were one must¡¯ve made him do a bit of a double-take.¡±

    ¡°¡­He actually doesn¡¯t know.¡± Ren explained, with a disbelieving tone in her voice, ¡°I¡¯m not sure if it was Lord Rylen¡¯s idea or Lord Xanarken¡¯s, but Gabriel wasn¡¯t even allowed access my file for the first month after I was partnered with him.  Maybe it was their idea of smoothing things over¡­to let him get to know me as a person first, before he found out what I was, but¡­in the end, he just never read it at all.¡±

    ¡°Poor form.¡±

    ¡°On that, we are of the same mind.¡±

    ¡°You could tell him.¡±

    ¡°And risk screwing up this otherwise beautiful relationship?¡± Her voice was dripping with sarcasm, ¡°Perish the thought.¡±

    ¡°Oh no, did he pick a fight with you?¡±

    ¡°No, he just¡­doesn¡¯t do anything at all.¡±

    Ianori could feel the unhappiness in her voice, and dared to broach the possibility, ¡°You could always ask to come back.¡±Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    ¡°What?  No way.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m serious.¡± He pressed, and put a hand on her nearest shoulder for emphasis, ¡°Everyone¡¯s been treating this transfer like it was some joke.  That you¡¯d blow off whatever steam you had about that last mission and then come back.  Even the Captain believes it¡­that¡¯s why he won¡¯t let anyone touch your post¡­¡±

    She looked away again, this time at the ground, and the weird patterns of dead grass that ran across it, ¡°¡­He needs to let me go.¡±

    ¡°Then you¡¯re going to have to do something to get what you need from that guy,¡± Ianori gestured out at Gabriel, ¡°Because it sounds to me like you put all your hopes in him, and he¡¯s profoundly let you down.¡±

    Ren had nothing to say to that; that truth hurt more when it was spoken out loud by someone outside her own head.

    ¡°¡­The Fafnir Knights are more than just a combat unit.  We¡¯re a family.  We all want to be there for you, to support you, and offer the soft landing when you come crashing back.  But we can¡¯t¡­if you choose to stay away.¡±

    With a sigh, Ren put her own hand to the back of the one still gently clasping her shoulder, and softly nudged it off, ¡°¡­I¡¯ll be fine.  I¡­just need to figure out how to get on a level with him.¡± She said, and turned to take a step away.  With nothing more to say on the matter, Ren went to check on Seth instead, and looked over his shoulder to the data panels he was watching, ¡°Any new insights?¡±

    ¡°For the moment, I¡¯m just confirming a baseline.  Seems like his perception of the rift is the same as ours.¡± He answered, but then switched his data-sets over and labeled it ¡®Limitless active.¡¯  He looked over and around the panel, ¡°Mr. Gabriel, if you would, activate your affliction and tell me if anything changes.¡±

    Gabriel hesitated for a moment, ¡°¡­Hold on.¡± He started, and both figures watched him quizzically, ¡°¡­Don¡¯t you hear it?¡±

    ¡°Hear what?¡± They both asked.

    ¡°You don¡¯t hear it whispering?¡± He turned to look back at them over his shoulder¡­his eyes already alite with that Limitless golden glow, ¡°It¡¯s getting louder.¡±

    Seth looked to Ren, then back again, ¡°It sounds the same as it always has, sir.  What¡¯s it whispering?  Did it start before or after you switched it on?¡±

    ¡°Switched it on?¡± He echoed, ¡°I didn¡¯t-  ¡­Oh, I feel it now.¡± Gabriel shook his head and hard-blinked a few times, then grabbed the end of his braid as he felt it starting to rise up behind him, ¡°For the record, I didn¡¯t do that myself¡­¡±  When he looked back at the rift though, there was something new that he saw; beyond it, high in the sky¡­a gargantuan vortex of shimmering light.  Gold coalesced with blue and purple, sparkling against the sky, directly above the north-western horizon, and the Exclusion Zone beneath it, ¡°Seth¡­?¡±

    ¡°Yessir?¡±

    ¡°What the Hell is that?¡± Gabriel pointed at the proverbial slow-moving cyclone.

    ¡°¡­A cloud?¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t see it¡­  You can¡¯t hear it¡­¡± He grumbled in nervous frustration, and felt his eyes drawn back towards the scar.  The whispers were getting louder ¨C pleading, insistent¡­begging ¨C and he could feel it calling him closer.  It was like a crowd of people all murmuring to one another, voices indiscernible, distilled to the sound of hisses and gasps.

    Then it all went quiet.

    Gabriel felt himself on the edge of oblivion; everything felt black, and all he could see were the tendrils of light that floated out of his own eyes like auroras.  Before he knew it, he was in a world of hurt, and he went from being on his feet to being thrown onto the hard, rocky ground.  An indescribably-loud roar filled the area ¨C burring down into his very core ¨C ripping, tearing, and gnashing at him like it was trying to eat him alive.

    Ren had yanked Seth all the way back to the tree, but Ianori had rushed forward instead, leaping to the mediator¡¯s aid before the worst could happen.  The rift seemed to be overflowing ¨C vomiting its own essence out like tongues of molten steel.  It splashed to the ground with a grotesque belch, and to discerning eyes, those vines of solid-fog started to reach out.  Smaller off-shoots sprung forward like fingers ¨C probing and seeking, then turning, sensing the preternatural power that lingered behind those unwillingly-glowing eyes.  The whispers became like urgent screams ¨C insistent, demanding ¨C and the mass made clear what it wanted.  Gabriel tried to reorient himself, but his proximity to the rift disoriented him¡­and having been shoved out of the way by a line-backer¡¯s tackle didn¡¯t help either.

    Ianori grounded himself and took one good look at the heaping, oozing pile of ichor, and turned to grab Gabriel and make a break for it¡­but suddenly found himself unable to do so.  Somehow, the mass had snapped forward and latched to his left ankle; those fingers groped relentlessly, and pulled itself further up his leg with unnatural speed.  It was like it knew it had something in its grasp, and lost control of its previously-patient ¡®seeking¡¯ behavior.

    The screams were now loud enough to be heard even by the non-gifted.  Seth¡¯s eyes drifted from the horror of the entire scene, to the way his data-panels were warping and shifting chaotically in the presence of the ¡®creature.¡¯  The nanotech dissolved in places and reformed in others, rippling like sand on a Chladni plate.  Not wanting to lose everything he¡¯d gained, Seth pried himself out of Ren¡¯s grip and ran for the containment-spheres under one of the nearby tables.  Ren quickly chased after him; she didn¡¯t have to guess why he¡¯d taken off, and put herself between him and the twisting gateway.  The panels dissolved entirely, and the disintegrated dust-cloud quickly coalesced and went into the pod.  When the light on top turned green, Seth looked to his friend, ¡°We have to get out of here!¡±

    ¡°Run for the car!  I¡¯m gonna get the others!¡±

    Seth knew better than to argue, and he grabbed the sphere and made a break for it.  Judge Mallerd had taken cover behind the vehicle, and lifted his head as soon as he heard Seth come around to pull him out of his fear, ¡°Mr. Gavin, we have to go!  Start the car!¡±

    ¡°R-right¡­!¡±

    Ren weaved and dodged as she made her way across that scorched ground; her first priority was getting her mentor further away, since he couldn¡¯t get away on his own.  Tendrils of that freakish miasma flapped around aimlessly as they sought-for and stuck to the trapped Fafnir¡¯s frame, ¡°Hold on, Ianori!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­fine¡­¡± He struggled; he snapped his arm to the right and freed it, only for that sentient liquid to snatch it back again with ferocity.

    Ren made it to where Gabriel had landed, and grabbed his shoulder with both hands to shake him to lucidity, ¡°You have to get up and run!  Get to the car!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­calling¡­ I have¡­to¡­¡±

    It was no use; Ren quickly pulled the man¡¯s arm over her shoulder and hoisted him up like he was no heavier than a child.  Two quick leaps and she had put enough distance between them and the rift to make a run for it.  The car was on and turning ahead of her, and Seth pushed the side-door open just as she arrived.  He ducked just in time for Ren to shove Gabriel into the middle row of seats, then took off again.

    Ianori was struggling with his last gasp; the mass had smothered every part of him except his forearms and right leg.  It pulled on him, hard, and just as Ren was within arm¡¯s reach¡­he was gone.  The gate had completely swallowed him.  There was nothing left but a small, basketball-sized swarm of wispy fog where the rift had spawned.

    Ren could feel the air get colder around it, and with a grunt she jumped back again to put some space, ¡°Ianori!!¡± She yelled out, ¡°IANORI!!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s¡­gone¡­?¡± Seth gasped, looking out through that still-open door.  He looked back to Gabriel as the man groaned with awareness; eyes were still glowing with that eerie light, and Seth noticed the way the end of that braided hair was trying to float up from behind where Gabriel had pinned the rest of it down.

    Gabriel shook his head though, and the glow faded away; he sat forward and pulled a hand over his face, ¡°My head is killing me¡­¡±  The hovering length of braid collapsed to the car-seat.

    ¡°Ianorriiiii!!¡± Ren¡¯s voice called out again.  She could feel a frantic tingle go down her spine, ¡°Shit¡­shit, shit¡­!  What the Hell was that?  What did it do to him!?¡±

    The orb grumbled and croaked, flashing slightly in its core like bottled lightning.  Then¡­it cracked.  The rift tore open all over again, shooting a bolt into the sky with a whistling scream, and spewed-forth a massive glob of unrecognizable flesh.  It oozed out of that gaping maw, leaving it to fall to the rocks and dead grass with a squishy, wet thud.

    Ren looked at it with horror and trepidation; the void gate closed-in on itself immediately after, and vanished with the most pitiful fizzling gasp.  What it left behind was anything-but.  She approached cautiously and crouched down beside it, starting to recognize the dimension and direction of limbs, ¡°¡­Ianori¡­!¡±

    Seth turned to the Magistrate, ¡°Sir, we have to get over there!¡±

    Reckless fingers ripped at the mess before her, but Ren had no time to think.  The ¡®skin¡¯ of it peeled away like thick spiderwebs, and soon-enough, she found what looked like the clothes of her former comrade.  That all changed when she got to where she knew the bare skin of his hands should¡¯ve been, and in its place was a discolored, bruise-like oily residue.  Uncovering further, Ren found that same oily detritus creeping up Ianori¡¯s neck, until it spread like veins under the surface of that now-pale-white skin.  Hair that had once been dark was now a shock of white, and sticky tendrils of that greasy-looking liquid combed through it, rising up from the back of the catatonic man¡¯s neck and head as it made its way further up.

    Gavin crept forward with their vehicle, but was wary of getting too much closer than he already was.  Seth craned his neck to see what was going on past Ren¡¯s back.  Gabriel fell forward against the side of the seat, and grabbed at the open door-panel so he wouldn¡¯t fall out, ¡°Ren¡­I think we gotta go¡­!¡±

    With a start, Ianori started coughing and gasping, and when he finally had enough air in his lungs to speak, only one word ¨C one sound ¨C came out of him.

    ¡°¡­Scyr¡­exian¡­¡±

    Ren echoed it in a hushed voice as she brushed the wet hair from her friend¡¯s darkened, closed eyes, ¡°Sai-re-shi-an¡­?  What does that mean¡­?¡±

    ¡°¡­Scyrexian¡­?¡± Gabriel said as well, and his tone changed, ¡°That¡¯s what the gate was whispering before it blew¡­¡±

    Gavin looked around through the various windows of the vehicle, ¡°We can¡¯t stay here.  That thing sent a signal visible to everyone within a hundred miles of this place¡­  I have no doubt someone is going to come inquiring about it, sooner rather than later.¡±

    ¡°We have to get him in the car and take him back with us!¡± Ren barked, ¡°I¡¯m not leaving him here like this!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not leaving anyone behind¡­¡± Gabriel retorted, and slid a foot out to press it firmly to the ground.  Ren was already up though, and had Ianori in her arms.  With wide eyes, Gabriel simply shimmied back inside the car to make room, ¡°¡­Ah¡­yeah, let¡¯s get him in and get going.¡±

 Book I - Chapter 07 - When An Immovable Object Encounters An Unstoppable Forceâ€¦

    To say that the local Magistrate¡¯s office was a beehive of activity would be an understatement.  Despite the late hour, there were still dozens of people in the lobby, waiting for their petitions to be heard.  However, as soon as 5 o¡¯clock appeared on the overhead digital display, things started shutting down in haste.

    ¡°The office of the honorable Magistrate Regulus Laurier is now closed.  If you have a ticket already, keep it and come again tomorrow morning.  We thank you for your patience and participation.¡± An overhead voice spoke, and a bell rang to finalize it.

    Disappointed petitioners started to disperse through the front door, and exhausted staffers closed-up their many stalls.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe how many people are wanting to immigrate all of a sudden¡­¡± One of them said to another, ¡°Everyone¡¯s really freaked out by what¡¯s going on in Sargon.¡±

    ¡°Do you think they¡¯d really let an afflicted guy become Emperor¡­?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m less worried about the afflicted part of it than I am about the Luminaries sticking their fingers into things¡­  Nothing screams ¡®conspiracy for world domination¡¯ like the A.I.s of a bunch of greedy dead guys carrying on the mission because they don¡¯t realize they¡¯re dead.¡±

    ¡°You think the Eidolon are A.I.s?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you?  No one can live that long, not without being put into stasis¡­and I¡¯d hardly call that living¡­¡±

    Chatter continued as doors were locked and the building emptied¡­all except for one lonely office in the back.  Within it, and through a door with the Magistrate¡¯s name engraved into a brushed brass plate, was that very Magistrate.  He was an older man, but not too far past his prime, with pale ochre skin, and salt-and-pepper spikey short hair.  Pale blue eyes looked at a thin, book-sized transparent plate, framed at the upper and lower edges with a pen-sized golden bar, making it look like an unfurled scroll.  Upon that plate were the holographic images of what had been seen by local authorities around 15 minutes earlier.

    The image of the distant sky, streaked with a lightning-like blast of energy that came from the ground, which exploded outward as if it had hit the underside of an invisible dome before fading again.  Regulus flicked the screen¡¯s bottom right edge, and the hologram flipped over on the glass, revealing a real-time map of the area with areas of interest flagged for easy identification.

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s one of the old guard,¡± he said quietly, recognizing the name ¡®Gavin Mallerd¡¯ where he was listed as the property owner, ¡°And it¡¯s not far from here at all.¡±  Regulus leaned back into his big leather reclining-chair, the thin screen held between his finger and thumb.  His other thumb tapped against his chin, elbow on the arm-rest¡­and made a decision.  With a click to the top right of the screen, the holographic lights disappeared, and the flat glass-like surface suddenly became flexible and rolled-up like a scroll.  Up-rose a special golden cylinder from the surface of the judge¡¯s desk, and in slid the consolidated screen.  The cylinder descended again, and with a click, and a subsequent pat of one palm against the lid, the message was gone, and Regulus stood up again, ¡°I suppose I can spare an evening for that delightful old man.  This strange phenomenon happened far too close to the Restricted Area for comfort anyway¡­¡±

    He shut the light off as he left, and took an elevator down in the bowels of the building.  What started as an underground parking garage became a hangar, and through a large steel roller-door was a huge, dark room.  Regulus lifted his hand up to the control panel on the far right side, and flicked for the lights to come on.  What he beheld within the familiar sight of a long-time and dependable friend.

    .

    Returning back to Gavin¡¯s homestead took less time than it did to get from there to the rift, and that urgency hadn¡¯t lifted when they arrived.  The oily residue on Ianori¡¯s skin had thickened, turning into something like a rubbery, candle-wax shell that fit as snugly as a glove.  He struggled against it, but it was largely a mental battle; he was delirious and mumbling, unresponsive to external stimuli, and didn¡¯t seem to be aware of what was around him.

    Ren combed her fingers through that eerily white hair, ¡°Ianori¡­  Hang on¡­¡±

    Seth could only hug his arms around the nanotech containment sphere he held on his lap, on the edge of tears for the stress.  He could feel the vehicle coming to a stop though, and looked up as Gavin bailed entirely, nearly stumbling for his haste.

    ¡°Take it and go!¡± The judge yelled, gesturing to the east, ¡°Never mind anything else!  You have to get back to Sargon immediately!¡±

    Gabriel didn¡¯t need to hear those words repeated, and he quickly hopped out of the middle row and into the driver¡¯s seat.  The vehicle was never shut off, so it was an easy thing to get moving again.  He pulled the door shut and adjusted the seat, then rolled the window down, ¡°Thanks for your help¡­and for the info.¡±

    ¡°GO!¡± Gavin slapped at the side of the car like it was the back-end of a horse, and Gabriel got a move on.  Gavin watched with nervous eyes as the car got back onto the drive-way, heading through and eventually disappearing behind the long rows of curated trees.  He turned his attention back to the sky though, and shifted towards the west, ¡°¡­You don¡¯t want to be anywhere near this place when he gets here¡­¡±

    .

    The city of Stoneface Bluffs was on the smaller side of things, but it was big enough for the purposes of the local Magistrate, and served as the base of operations to the district.  As such, it had its own small aerodrome, and taking off from it was the uniquely and easily-identifiable visage of the local flagship.  Shaped like a spinning-top, it was bulbous and round at the top, but tapered to a thinner point underneath.  Around its base were three tiers of concentric rings, one higher and wider than the one beneath it, acting as the main propulsion system.  Each ring glowed slightly on the inside, and as the ship began its careful ascent, the rings extended down below the ship, as if ¡®pushing¡¯ it up from the ground.  It turned around, and faced towards the east, revealing a massive, front-facing cyclopean light; the rings that surrounded it coiled and rotated, acting like its iris.

    On the command-deck, Regulus made his presence known, and he looked to the ship¡¯s captain, ¡°I take it you received the missive?¡±

    ¡°Yessir, we have a course plotted.¡±

    ¡°How soon can we be there?¡±

    ¡°Thirty minutes.¡±

    ¡°Make it 15.¡± The Magistrate explained, and reached up to press his fingers to the edges of a long split in his left ear, ¡°¡­I have an itch about this one.¡±

    ¡°Yessir!¡±

    .

    Seth could feel the nervous sweat slip down the back of his neck as the vehicle went coursing along that causeway, heading back towards the Sargonian border ¨C and in the distinctly opposite direction of a myriad number of cars they were passing - with a speed that made him almost as worried as the goings-on in the vehicle itself.  He hugged the containment sphere a bit tighter, only to twitch and look up sharply as he felt a hand on his shoulder.

    ¡°¡­Seth, I need you to reassign that nanotech supply to me.¡± Ren said quietly, ¡°I know it¡¯s a big ask¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s¡­it¡¯s all my data¡­  I¡­I can¡¯t just¡­  ¡­Why¡­?¡±

    She threaded her fingers through the dark hair at the back of her head, and pressed in for several seconds where she felt the two nodules embedded beneath her skin, ¡°Because Judge Mallerd was really adamant about sending us on our way in a big hurry.  And for a man who was as high in the ranks of the Kitezan Duchy as he was back in the day, and as cozy as he¡¯s been with the Council all this time¡­I have every reason to believe he¡¯s got good reason for it.¡±  A blue flashing light appeared on her irises as her access-nodes came back online, ¡°We may well have need to defend ourselves before the night is out.¡±

    ¡°Please, no¡­  Everything I¡¯ve collected for the last month is in here¡­¡± Seth pleaded, in spite of Ren¡¯s business-serious expression, and the sight of Ianori¡¯s corrupted frame right in front of him, ¡°Please, Miss Ren¡­no¡­¡±A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    ¡°If nothing happens, I¡¯ll just give it back, no harm, no foul.  But that data won¡¯t mean anything to you if we¡¯re all dead.¡± Ren countered, ¡°I need you to hand it over.¡±

    He could only choke back his tears as he clenched his eyes shut and hugged the sphere even tighter, but after a few more seconds of agonizing despair, he tapped the side-arm of his glasses.  His overlay became visible in those lenses once more, and with a few clicks and gestures, found Ren¡¯s name on the local network and granted her access.

    With no time to spare, Ren loaded-up her own interface, and started moving emergency protocols over onto the new mini-cloud.  The transfer-status bar appeared ¨C to her eyes ¨C over the sphere, and she reached over to pat the teen¡¯s head, ¡°If we¡¯re lucky, this will just be temporary.  If we¡¯re not¡­hopefully it¡¯ll be enough to buy us enough time.¡±

    Seth¡¯s tearful eyes looked on at her skeptically, but he nodded, ¡°¡­R-right¡­¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Gabriel suddenly asked, looking back at the trio through the rear-view mirror.

    ¡°Help is coming, but we¡¯ll be doing it a favor if we can meet it half-way.¡±

    He was surprised, ¡°¡­How does anyone already know we¡¯re in trouble?  We¡¯re completely cut-off out here.¡±

    ¡°Lucky for you, the answer to that question isn¡¯t in my file for you to have already known about,¡± She explained, and saw the transfer complete.  New windows opened to her sights, and she immediately activated the first protocol.  The nanotech orb opened, and that dust-like substance swarmed out, up, and all around her, ¡°Knight-Cadet Setharion Rydell is the younger brother of the Captain of the Fafnir Knights, and he would never let Seth come into Kitez without at least four layers of safeguards.  Two were formally with the Luminary Council ¨C the Aegis is parked on the border, and the fact that Council has sanctioned the activities here means they¡¯re keenly interested in the outcome.  The other two, are in the car with us.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Ianori was supposed to keep an eye on things¡­¡± Seth added dubiously, but then reached up to grab his now-useless glasses, ¡°And these¡­are a gift from Lord Rylen himself.  None of Lord Rylen¡¯s toys ever leave his hands without some way of being able to track them.¡±

    The nanotech finally coalesced into something tangible and recognizable, rippling across Ren¡¯s petite frame like water, then ice to follow, and finally, the metallic-looking temporary armor she had directed it to create.  Completed, it took the shape of a rudimentary version of the Fafnir power-suit, sans the capability of flight.  Ren inspected herself and flexed her fingers, ¡°¡­Sorry you had to find out this way.  Seth may be the Captain¡¯s little brother, but¡­before I transferred to the Fourth, I was the man¡¯s right hand.¡±

    Gabriel stared through that mirror for a few more seconds; the sight of that armor was enough to send a chill down his spine, and he swallowed a nervous breath, ¡°¡­I know.¡±

    Ren balked, and leaned to grab the shoulder of the front passenger seat, ¡°Wait, what?¡±

    ¡°When the old man I were on our own, and you came up to ask if I was done moping.¡± He answered, ¡°He¡¯d just accidentally told me who everyone was, including you.¡±

    There was an awkward pause, but Ren drew in a breath, ¡°I hope we¡¯ve gotten to know each other well enough that you¡¯re not upset at me.  It was never my intent to hide this from you.¡±

    ¡°No¡­not yours.¡± He answered, ¡°Just Rylen¡¯s.  He¡¯s probably going to think it¡¯s pretty funny when he founds out how I learned the truth.¡±  There was another lingering pause, and Gabriel gripped the steering-wheel a little tighter, ¡°¡­There¡¯s a few hours yet before we get to the border, even at this pace.  Maybe now would be a good time to let me know if there are any other helpful secrets that I should be aware of.¡±

    ¡°Nope, that¡¯s the big one.¡± She answered with a relieved sigh, ¡°Glad that¡¯s out in the open though.  Now I can stop pretending to be a Luminary baby.¡±

    ¡°Are you about to turn into a whole other person?¡± Gabriel wondered carefully, ¡°Was the face you put on before a lie, too?¡±

    ¡°Nope.¡± She twisted in her seat, and put a hand onto Ianori¡¯s chest, checking briefly to be sure the man was still breathing in his catatonic state.  That done, she turned all the way around and moved herself into the back seat with Seth, and perched her elbows onto the head-rest to start her watchful vigil on their rear, ¡°But I do take issue with it being characterized that way.  I never lied to you.¡±  She took a moment to cast a glance back at the man over her armor-plated shoulder, ¡°What about you?  Are you hiding anything by omission?¡±

    ¡°Tsh¡­  Only that I¡¯m useless in a fight.¡± He said, making fun at his own expense.

    Seth was the one to take issue then, ¡°You¡¯re a Limitless user though¡­  You should be able to do something that might help in a pinch¡­¡±

    Gabriel shrugged helplessly, ¡°Once upon a time, maybe¡­but what you saw earlier was the first time my affliction had activated in many years.  I¡­don¡¯t know how to use it anymore.¡±

    ¡°But you were put in charge of helping the Prince learn how to use his¡­¡± Seth pointed out, ¡°How could you do that if you don¡¯t-¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t mean like that; turning it on and off is like instinct.  You just¡­know, after a while.  It¡¯s the actual ability I supposedly have.  Being in the Fourth meant I never had to think about fighting, so after the formalities of going through boot like everyone else when I came of age, it never really came up.¡± The mediator confessed, embarrassed.  He pulled his left hand off the wheel and set his elbow on the window-panel, so he could rest his cheek against his knuckles, and sighed, ¡°Honestly, if I could¡¯ve gotten rid of my affliction entirely, I would¡¯ve gladly done it a long time ago.  Maybe people wouldn¡¯t have been so wary of me.  It wasn¡¯t enough that I was a kid from the Exclusion Zone, but a Limitless one, too?  I might as well have had a huge flashing ¡®shit on me¡¯ sign hanging above my head.  ¡­It¡¯s¡­not something I¡¯m proud of, and every damn day that goes by, when people see the red in my hair and this one red eye, it just¡­reminds them ¨C and me, by proxy ¨C that I''m an ¡®other¡¯.¡±

    Both (conscious) passengers went quiet, and glanced at one another.  Ren couldn¡¯t help but smile though, after a fashion, ¡°Well¡­that was certainly the realest you¡¯ve been since we met.  I dare say, I¡¯m proud of you.¡±

    Gabriel¡¯s face went red, and he gripped the wheel with both hands again, ¡°Sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have unloaded like that.¡±

    ¡°No, I think it was good for you.  Do it again.¡± Ren teased, and turned her eyes back out through the rear windows, ¡°What else have you been dying to tell people all these years?¡±

    He hesitated, but the nervous flutter in his chest told him to try anyway, ¡°¡­I¡­  I¡¯m¡­afraid of heights.¡±

    ¡°Wha?¡± Ren balked, but tried to keep focus on her post, ¡°How the Hell are you afraid of heights when you fly Maeve around all the time?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a reason it doesn¡¯t have real windshield, that you can see through.¡± He answered warily, his heart racing from the compounded embarrassment, ¡°I don¡¯t get palpitations when the view is on a screen.¡±

    That just made her choke on a stifled laugh, and she shook her head, ¡°That¡¯s incredible.¡± She hummed an amused sigh then, ¡°You know, it kind of feels like we got off on the wrong foot before.  Maybe we should pretend like we¡¯re meeting for the first time again.  ¡­Hi, I¡¯m Ren, formerly Wing Commander-One of the Sixth Wing¡¯s Fafnir division.  Nice to meet you, sir.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­you don¡¯t have to do the ¡®sir¡¯ stuff.¡± He answered, ¡°Gabriel is fine.¡±

    ¡°You sure?¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯ve been doing it all afternoon anyway¡­¡± He huffed a laugh of his own, ¡°After we¡¯re done in Kitez, going back to those formalities will feel weird.  I¡­think I¡¯d like it better if we dropped it.  And you, kid¡­¡±

    Seth flinched where he sat, having spent the last several exchanges just turning his eyes between each speaker, ¡°Y-yessir!  Mr. Gabriel, sir!¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do the ¡®mister,¡¯ either.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯ll never quit that,¡± Ren noted with a smirk, ¡°I¡¯ve known him since he was 9 years old, and nothing I¡¯ve done has ever gotten him to stop the ¡®miss Ren¡¯ stuff.  You¡¯re just gonna have to get used to that one.¡±

    ¡°I guess one of the two isn¡¯t all bad,¡± Gabriel surmised, and went back to focusing on the road, feeling much more relaxed than before, in spite of the circumstances.

    .

    The Magistrate¡¯s ship hovered ominously over Gavin¡¯s homestead, and from a de-boarding capsule that lowered from the base of the point, that self-same Magistrate stepped out, his grey uniform covered by a long, white, formal cloak.  Gavin stood out on the front patio, trying not to look nervous, but every hair on the back of his neck was on end to see the man who now approached him.

    ¡°Well, now¡­¡± Regulus began dryly, ¡°If it isn¡¯t the Honorable Gavin Mallerd.  A man of the Conclave from the days before the Council was banned from Kitez.¡±

    ¡°¡­General Regulus Lauriel, the proverbial warrior-monk who gave up his rank as a combat leader to go into politics and research instead.¡± Gavin answered, hands clasped over the horse¡¯s-head cane in front of him, ¡°Though I suppose ¡®gave up¡¯ is an incorrect description, since you were offered the option of doing that or being dismissed from your post outright.¡±  He narrowed his eyes a little bit, ¡°Taunting the Fafnir Captain to the point of violence during a time of negotiations was not the most brilliant move, I must say.¡±

    ¡°So says the Luminary sympathizer who was shamed into retiring outright.  Invaders and absconders aren¡¯t entitled to my kindness or civility.¡± Regulus countered, ¡°Let¡¯s get straight to the point though.  I received reports that there was a strange phenomenon witnessed on your property.  This close to the Restricted Zone, I¡¯ve taken interest.¡±

    ¡°Oh?  What kind of phenomenon?  Please, enlighten me.¡±

    Regulus paused on that thought, and looked around a little bit from where he stood.  From that vantage, the audio-piece that wrapped around and into his right ear was visible, and those pale blue eyes looked straight at the car parked nearby, ¡°Is that new?  I thought yours was a different color.¡±

    Gavin felt a suspicious chill go down his back like a rush of cold water, ¡°A man can¡¯t change cars when he likes?¡±

    There was another strange pause, but this time, Regulus withdrew his right arm from his cloak to reach up to the earpiece.  He touched a fingertip to it ¨C listening to something ¨C and then lowered it again.  He cast a few glances around the area one more time¡­and then lobbed a single pulse of pure energy straight through Gavin¡¯s chest.  The former Magistrate didn¡¯t even have time to look surprised before his lifeless body crumpled to the ground, and Regulus turned where he stood, cloak expanding widely around him; he held his finger to the earpiece again, ¡°Luminary equipment was confirmed on-site.  Mallerd¡¯s personal vehicle is missing.  It¡¯s been one hour since the phenomenon here was witnessed.  If they started their escape towards the Sargonian border immediately, then they¡¯re probably about a quarter of the way there now.  We¡¯re hunting Luminaries tonight.¡±

 Book I - Chapter 08 - The Point Of The Hunt Isnâ€™t Always To Killâ€¦Sometimes Itâ€™s To Have Fun

    Ianori could feel himself slipping between consciousness and oblivion.  His ears were ringing ¨C sounds around him were hollow and distant, as though he¡¯d hit his head ¨C but the most overwhelming sensation was that of the oily, writhing, slippery feeling coursing over and through his whole body.  In a word¡­it was as if something was flossing his very existence.  Body, mind, memories, spirit¡­all of it was laid bare before something infinite.

    And the whispers¡­  The whispers were without end¡­and in spite of them, Ianori never felt so alone.

    Though everything he could ¡®see¡¯ was black forever, there was definitely the sense that there was something there.  His very being felt like a drop of oil in a vast, abyssal ocean; present, but disparate from the whole, never capable of mixing.

    He thought he could speak, but his mouth wouldn¡¯t move, and in that dread, terrible moment¡­he realized he no longer had one.  He didn¡¯t even have a body anymore.  Yet somehow, he still felt like he was himself, and capable of reaching into the vast darkness that spread out before him in every direction.  The idea of extending his arm and hand came to mind, and he was sure he could feel that slippery expanse moving across his skin like fog across a morning lake.

    But then¡­excruciating pain coursed through him; fire and ice in his veins spread out from his heart and leaked through every inch of his core and limbs, up his neck, and finally, burst out of his eyes.

    Seth was the first to recoil at the sight of it; it was like expanding-foam had exploded forth from the Fafnir¡¯s very eye-sockets, except it was moving - billowing, even ¨C until it started spreading out and up, beside the man¡¯s temples.  The way it undulated was eerie; it wasn¡¯t exactly gaseous, but it didn¡¯t feel right to say it was liquid either.  It was just¡­a thick, soupy, blistering mist.  Dark in color, like coagulated blood, it oozed out of the place Ianori¡¯s eyes once sat, and ¡®boiled¡¯ its way up until the wispy tips of it dissipated to nothing again.  In a way, it reminded Seth of how the Limitless-eyes looked when they were activated, except¡­wrong.  Terribly wrong.

    ¡°M-Miss Ren¡­!¡±

    ¡°What?¡± She craned her head back to look over her shoulder-armor again, but spotted the problem without needing explanation, ¡°Ah shit!¡±

    Gabriel couldn¡¯t help but look back, but as soon as he did, the entire vehicle jerked from his unintended yank on the wheel in his shock.  It sent everyone tumbling, until he could get the car back under control ¨C and back onto the road.  No one had time for the apologies that followed, so he just grit his teeth and tried to keep his eyes on the road while the back-row¡¯s free hands tried to figure out what was going on.

    Ren squeezed herself through the two head-rests of the middle row, grabbed Ianori¡¯s arm ¨C the man had been thrown so hard by the sudden movement of the car that he¡¯d been flung into the footwell behind the driver¡¯s and front-passenger seats ¨C and heaved him back up onto the cushioned bench.  Seth had scrambled into the back row by then, not wanting to be near whatever it was that was infecting his friend.  Ren just gripped the man¡¯s face to turn it this way and that, ¡°What the Hell is this stuff coming out of his eyes¡­?¡± She asked worriedly, brow furrowed¡­then her eyes widened in shock.

    ¡°R..Re-en¡­h¡­he¡­lp¡­¡±

    ¡°Ianori!  Hang on!¡± She answered.

    Seth ducked-down and covered his head, ¡°Furion, please hurry¡­!¡±

    The distraction was the best possible cover ¨C and the worst possible moment ¨C for an ominous weight of malevolence to slide in over the fleeing vehicle.  It hovered above the roof, matching the car¡¯s speed perfectly; a hulking behemoth of metal and ferocity.  With a main body shaped like a thick hornet, it sported two massive arms from the ¡®shoulders¡¯ of its thorax, and two smaller ones underneath.  The ¡®head¡¯ was flat and elongated, reflecting the light of oncoming traffic on its black, glassy face.  Under its belly was an ¡®eye¡¯ similar to that which adorned the front of the district¡¯s flagship; this one, however, was an anti-gravity drive, keeping it elevated without the pesky need for disruptive thrusters.

    Something about the potential of that ¡®presence¡¯ sent a shiver down Gabriel¡¯s spine, and it pulled him back from the shock of Ianori¡¯s sudden comment.  He checked the mirrors and looked around, but nothing looked out of the ordinary; at that speed, there was no way for him to catch a glimpse of the people in the cars going the other direction.  If he could, he¡¯d have seen the shocked and impressed faces that watched the ¡®weapon¡¯ keeping pace just out of sight.

    Its pilot, however, was ready to reveal himself, and as soon as he was notified that the vehicle¡¯s digital stereo had been hijacked, he let his presence be known, ¡°This is Magistrate Regulus Laurier.  I am communicating to you via one-way audio interface; if you have anything to say for yourselves, save it for later, because I can¡¯t hear you.  You are driving a vehicle that doesn¡¯t belong to you, and are taking it in a direction that is, in a word, suspicious.  You have ten seconds to figure out how you want your stolen transport to stop moving.  Choose wisely.¡±

    To say that the trio were a bit surprised would be an understatement.  Gabriel white-knuckled the wheel, ¡°What do we do?¡±

    Ren took no chances, and immediately went for the side-door, ¡°You¡¯re gonna hear two bangs on the roof.  When you do, hit the brakes.¡± She ordered, and pulled the panel back.  Wind rushed in like a cyclone, and Ren whipped herself out and up with supernatural dexterity.  The door slammed shut behind her, and as she said, two bangs sounded; she crouched down on a knee, and slammed both hands ¨C palms down and forward ¨C into the metal near the rear window.  To her relief, Gabriel actually listened to her, and the car¡¯s back-end suddenly lifted as the entire thing veered to an audible halt.  The mechanized behemoth she¡¯d found flying above their car went flying out in front by a good distance before finally twisting to turn and look back, but just as it did¡­Ren launched right at it.  The car she¡¯d vaulted from banged-down so hard that the undercarriage smacked against the road with a crunch, only to bounce back up to its normal hovering-height with a bobble.

    ¡°What the fuck was that!?¡± Gabriel barked in surprise, catching the barest glimpse of the former Fafnir as she literally landed on the mecha¡¯s faceplate and yanked it back around its own neck like a calf at a rodeo.

    ¡°Explanations later, fleeing now, Mr. Gabriel!¡± Seth countered, ¡°She can handle herself!  Just drive!¡±

    The mediator grit his teeth and whipped the wheel around far to the right, and hit the accelerator again.  The car went off-road in a wide arc as he steered it around the Magistrate¡¯s mech-fighter and bounced back up to the road on its other side.

    By that point, the strain of the head-yank had forced the Magistrate to collide with two different vehicles that had stopped to try and avoid that very thing happening.  Within, Regulus¡¯ neuroptics let him ¡®see¡¯ the area around him in the shape of a dome of interlinked hexagons, giving him a panoramic view of his surroundings.  The twist was still forceful enough to make him drift, though.  He shook his head and swung the left big arm around to swat the Fafnir away; Ren just braced and let it hit her.  The arm bounced, came back again, and this time flew through empty air. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Both the mech and the Knight spun ¡®round as they each backed off; Ren landed down the road, opposite the direction the vehicle with her cohorts fled in.  Regulus twisted where his mech hovered and gave the woman a good look, ¡°You¡¯re looking awfully naked down there, with neither blades nor wings.  How do you intend to fight when two of your primary means are unavailable?¡± His voice boomed loudly from the mecha¡¯s face-plate.

    Ren just lifted her fists up, ¡°I¡¯m more than enough as I am.  Come try me.¡±

    ¡°I think not, little one.¡± He answered, much to her chagrin, ¡°That was a good show, though.  Very creative.¡±  The mech turned again and immediately lifted off, venturing high into the air and well-beyond where Ren was able to go in just a temporary suit.

    ¡°Wh-¡­hey!  Get back here!¡± She complained, and immediately started to give chase.  Fafnir were intended to fly though, not run, and while her pace was impressive anyway, it wasn¡¯t enough to catch up to a flight-capable war-machine.  She did, however, have a number of crash-stalled vehicles nearby, and she quickly made for one that was just up ahead.  Without a thought, she tore the driver¡¯s-side door clean off, ripped out the seat-belt strapped across the driver, and yanked him out after.  The other two passengers looked on in terror, and she gave them only two options as she climbed in, ¡°Get out or you¡¯re coming with me!¡±

    They bailed as she gunned it and spun the vehicle around on its axis to start heading in the other direction.

    Seth had an elbow on the back of the seat as he watched out the rear windshield, and saw the undeniable image of that Kitezan Magistrate¡¯s weapon coming after them again; the subtle blue-white glow underneath of it where the gravity-drive was propelling it was brighter then as it picked up speed, ¡°Mr. Gabriel, it¡¯s catching up!¡±

    ¡°Let me know when it¡¯s about to get onto us!  We¡¯re gonna do Ren¡¯s trick again!¡± He answered hastily, ¡°¡­With any luck, it¡¯s enough to let Ren catch up again.  There¡¯s no way he¡¯s beaten her already.¡±

    Those terrified green eyes trembled, but kept watch as asked, and just as that massive blue-and-black hornet was within 20ft, he yelled, ¡°NOW!¡±

    Brakes were hit a second time, and the mecha went careening forward, slamming into the concrete of the road where the car would¡¯ve been if it hadn¡¯t stopped.  Regulus gripped hard with those smaller arms on the bottom of the mech¡¯s chest, and used them to pivot himself around.  For a mercy, there weren¡¯t anymore cars coming from the east, and no one else was at risk of getting hurt.

    ¡°The number of times you can do that is finite, Luminary.¡± Regulus taunted, and lifted those clawed metal hands from the ragged pavement, ¡°Your next move should be surrender.¡±

    ¡°¡­I can talk us out of this,¡± Gabriel muttered to himself, only to find Seth panic from the back seat.

    ¡°We absolutely cannot talk to that guy!¡±

    ¡°¡­Eh?  Why not?  Talking is kind of my thing.¡±

    ¡°Because as soon as he sees me, he¡¯s going to kill all of us just for the fun of it!¡±

    ¡°Why you?¡±

    Seth looked a trifle-more than rattled, sweat beading on his skin, ¡°¡­Because Magistrate Regulus Laurier is the former general that my father attacked at the parlay 22 years ago!  He¡¯s going to recognize me!  I look just like him, give or take some years and facial-hair!¡±

    Gabriel gawked, and just as he turned in his seat to glare at the teen directly, his eyes went wide and turned forward again¡­just as the commandeered car zoomed past them¡­and immediately crashed into the mech¡¯s head.  Ren herself tapped-down not too far away, having bailed right before the moment of impact.

    She chanced a look at the duo in the first car, ¡°Are you two okay!?¡±

    ¡°Yeah!¡± He answered, but then jerked forward in alarm, ¡°Look out!¡±

    Regulus tore through the exploded wreckage, but instead of just casting the burning heap aside, he flung it straight at the escape-vehicle.  The two collided with one another, and Ren couldn¡¯t even breathe before the Magistrate came for her personally.  Both larger arms came down on her hard, and Ren¡¯s feet dug into the already-torn-up road.  It pushed back until she felt she¡¯d gotten enough purchase to brace, and then deflect.  Regulus crushed into the roadway as she let go and dove forward to roll away.  She had mere seconds, and she rushed for the side of Gavin¡¯s wrecked ¨C and flipped - car.

    The front had been completely caved-in, and Gabriel ¨C crumbled into the bottom of the front seat at a cruel angle - was as unconscious as Ianori, who himself was squashed between the front and middle rows of seats.  Seth had escaped the immediate impact, but that didn¡¯t stop him from getting hurt when the whole car had tumbled onto its left side.  Glass from the window had shattered on the road, and he¡¯d sustained a number of cuts to his head and face.

    ¡°Se-¡° She was already hit, as Regulus literally spun from the prior landing with the left big arm stretched wide to swing in an arc.  It hit her directly, and sent her flying into the off-road ravine.

    Satisfied that the escape-vehicle would no longer be escaping, the Magistrate turned his attention to the Fafnir, and watched her struggle to get up again, ¡°You¡¯re not going to win this fight.  Your best option is to give up and be taken into custody.  You¡¯re worth more to me as a hostage than a corpse.¡±

    Ren spat the grass and debris from her mouth, and pushed up with a painful grunt.  She clasped at her left side; the impact had broken a rib or two, she was sure.  Still, she lifted her hands into a fighting stance, ¡°You know I can¡¯t¡­do that.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t your life worth more to you than that?¡± Regulus was mystified, ¡°Surely you¡¯re not ready to throw it away just to delay what¡¯s going to happen anyway by a mere minute.¡±

    There was some tragic logic to it, but Ren hesitated anyway.  Her eyes scanned the eastern horizon; where was their help?  Furion, I swear¡­you may be the last person I want to see right now, but¡­for Seth¡¯s sake¡­you need you get your ass out here! She thought frantically.  She clenched her fists a little harder, but then relaxed her stance and held her hands up, ¡°¡­Fine¡­¡±

    The eerie face of the mecha looked on blankly for a moment, then the whole head tilted slightly like a confused dog.  The machination hovered forward a few feet, barely grazing the edge of the grass at the side of the road.  Both larger arms on top were poised and ready; in the ¡®palms¡¯ of their metal hands, two orbs of light glowed.  The smaller ones curled up close to that metallic chest like the retracted claws of a raptor.

    There was tense hesitation on both sides.  A light breeze blew through that late-afternoon air.  Smoke from the wreckage of the two vehicles billowed darkly into the sky.  One newly-arrived spectator slowed their vehicle a hundred feet down the concourse; of course, the driver stepped out with their phone to get some souvenir photos.

    A rush of flame belched-forth from the commandeered car as the interior caught fire, and that single sound made Regulus twitch.  Ren launched forward again, only to be grabbed by both of those spring-loaded smaller arms.  They gripped tight and slammed her down, hard, into the ground.  She exhaled a choked breath, and her head wobbled from the dizzying speed and weight of the double-impact.  Her head was spinning and her ears rang¡­and a blinding pain shot up from her left arm.  The mech¡¯s larger right arm had swung down with such force that crushed straight through her armor ¨C and every bone within 10 inches of her elbow ¨C and only stopped for the resistance posed by the ground itself.

    Then the left arm came up as well, and aimed to do the same thing again to Ren¡¯s right.

    Ren could feel herself fading; hitting her unprotected head on the hard dirt was enough to take her out of the fight, but the blood she was losing now didn¡¯t help.  She could hardly process the sight of that next attack coming¡­nor understand what it meant when there was a flash of light, and the arm that swung down was suddenly only half of it what it had been a moment before.  The ¡®forearm¡¯ of the extremity fell roughly to the gravel with a loud clang, useless.

    Regulus¡¯ whole mech shifted slightly from the abrupt change in its weight distribution, and the face of the thing turned to get a good look at the mechanical amputation it had just suffered.  It lifted its remaining limb up above itself again, blood trickling down from its hand.  Words didn¡¯t need to be spoken for Regulus to express confusion and surprise about that turn of events, but he cast his gaze towards the burning vehicles¡­and the sight of a formerly-unconscious blonde who had managed to stand inside the wreckage.

    Those bicolored eyes flared brightly with golden light, tails of it wavering gently out to each side. Behind him, the man¡¯s braid came unraveled as his Limitless effect came into full form, lifting his hair up to float above and behind him as if he had been suspended under water.  The hand he held out was bleeding from the injuries of the crash, and it trembled slightly for all kinds of reasons, but when the war-machine turned fully around to face him, that hand lifted up¡­as did the other, and he spoke a few quiet words, ¡°¡­Don¡¯t¡­hurt her anymore¡­  We¡­surren¡­der¡­¡±

 Book I - Chapter 09 - Nothing Is â€˜Too Farâ€™ When Lives Are On The Line

    Gabriel had no idea how long it had been when he came to again; all he knew was that his back was killing him, and he was hunched over, sitting on the floor somewhere, and his wrists were shackled to his ankles.  What was really bizarre though was realizing his head was pinned between someone¡¯s legs, right before he felt a sharp pain at the base of his skull.  Callous and uncaring, the knife prodded and sliced until it hit the little metal nanotech-nodule embedded in his skin.  Gabriel yelled and struggled as he felt that knife dig and twist, but fell still as he heard the distinct tink of that small bean-sized implant hit the cold, metal floor¡­only to happen again on the other side.  Another tink, and Gabriel was roughly released, back hitting the nearby wall before he slumped to his side.

    From that vantage, and with his vision clearing, Gabriel spotted the body of his partner nearby, no longer clad in that nanotech power-armor.  He couldn¡¯t see, however, that her own implants had already been extracted; at least, not until their assailant stepped out into the open, and moved around to pick up the nodules from where they¡¯d fallen to the floor around the both of them.  One at a time, they were lifted by deft, blood-covered fingers, and dropped into a small vial ¨C one for each pair.  A cap was twisted onto their tops, and Gabriel looked up to see the image of a man he didn¡¯t know.

    That medium-grey uniform, ochre skin, light-blue eyes, and salt-and-pepper hair were no clue.  But when the man spoke¡­he knew.

    ¡°M-Magistrate¡­Regulus¡­¡±

    ¡°And you must be Gabriel Lugios.¡± The older man answered, and crouched down onto a knee beside the downed mediator, holding the vial ¨C and the knife he¡¯d used - in his fingers, ¡°The boy who survived a Fafnir Massacre, only to spend every day of the rest of his so-called life seeing his own mother¡¯s blood in his reflection every morning.  Isn¡¯t that right, Lugios?  Your eye and those red streaks in your hair¡­all permanent reminders of the day she was murdered in front of you.  Limitless tells, etched into the memory of your very soul, for everyone around you to see and know you by.¡±

    ¡°You people¡­talk too much about me¡­  It¡¯s¡­weird¡­¡± Gabriel struggled to say; the pain in the back of his head was shocking, and he could feel the warm trickle of blood moving down his skin.

    Regulus watched him for a moment longer, but then rose back up to his full height, and jingle-jangled the nanotech nodules in the vial, admiring his catch, ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to have a set of these to study.  No one who has them is ever willing to give them up, though.  So, for that, I suppose I should thank you.  Now I have two pairs.¡±

    Gabriel sneered at the judge, ¡°Haven¡¯t you caused her¡­enough problems?¡±

    ¡°What do I care about the problems you Luminaries deal with?¡± Regulus shrugged, and reached up to scratch at the loose flap of his slashed ear, ¡°I¡¯m only disappointed by the fact that the youngest one of your party didn¡¯t have any.¡±

    ¡°You¡­know damn well that only adults¡­can get them¡­!  You were just¡­torturing him!¡± The mediator snarled, and tried to hoist himself back up to a seated position, though he only made it as far as propping himself up onto an elbow before he felt too dizzy and collapsed again with a grunt, ¡°¡­What kind of¡­twisted freak are you¡­?  He¡¯s¡­just a kid¡­¡±

    ¡°There were three mistakes you made today, Lugios.¡± Regulus explained as he headed back towards the barely-open cell door, ¡°The first was thinking I care about who any of you are, or how old any of you are; you¡¯re all Luminaries to me.  The second, though not in any particular order, was coming to Kitez under the expectation that you could just leave again; the Sargonian border is explicitly my district.  The third, was being in the company of a Fafnir and a Rydell; two kinds of people I hate more than anything in this world.¡±  He put his hand on the doorframe and pushed the panel open to make enough room to walk through, ¡°Your ultimate fate is up to the Duchy.  Take what comfort you can from that.¡±

    The door clanged shut again, and locked with a heavy click as the Magistrate took his leave.  Gabriel grunted in pain as he cringed there on the floor, and looked on towards Ren¡¯s still frame, past the ends of his feet and hands where they were stuck so close together.  He stared hatefully at the closed door, and muttered quietly under his breath, ¡°And your mistakes¡­were having a tragic lack of¡­imagination about what I can do¡­and not having access to¡­SD-helmets¡­¡±

    His eyes immediately flared with golden light, and that blood-sticky hair started to hover above him again, lifting up like wet seaweed.  He focused carefully on the shackles holding him in place, and as he saw lines of purple manifest around the segment that kept hands and feet together, he yanked hard, and found them split apart.  The pain in his back, from the strain of having been bent over that way for probably a few hours, was enough to make him gasp, and he spread himself out to stretch and catch his breath.  He could feel the vibration of the floating fortress beneath him; between that and the coolness of the metal floor, the pain soothed a little, and he went back to finish his task; he cut the anchors between each ankle and wrist, and freed all four of his limbs.  He clambered over to his side as he let his Limitless effects fade ¨C his hair flopped back down to normal beside him - and he rolled further again to get onto his hands and knees, though he kept low to the floor for the dizziness to fade.  As his head swam, he crawled over towards his partner.

    ¡°Ren¡­Ren please¡­be alive¡­¡± He whispered, and reached a hand out to clasp over her waist.  Fingers groped for purchase, and he was able to pull her closer, dragging her prone form across the ground until she was near enough that he could see her clearly.  To his surprise, the ragged, mangled stump above where her elbow used to be wasn¡¯t bleeding right then, and he realized, Her armor program must¡¯ve included an injury fail-safe¡­she¡¯s got nanotech plugging-up those severed blood vessels; nanotech that won¡¯t easily come away just because she doesn¡¯t control it anymore.  He sighed a breath of relief, and confirmed she still had a heartbeat, placing his fingers against the side of her neck and pressing deep to find her carotid.  It was thready ¨C weak ¨C but present.

    ¡°Mr. Gabriel¡­?¡± Came a quiet voice; the mediator lifted his head.

    ¡°Seth?¡±

    ¡°Oh thank goodness, you¡¯re still awake¡­¡± The teen answered, ¡°I¡¯m in the cell next to you¡­but I...I¡¯m afraid I fainted while the Magistrate was digging around¡­¡±

    Gabriel could tell the young cadet had been crying; his voice was tense and hoarse, ¡°There¡¯s no shame in it¡­  The scalp and face are really vascular, so they bleed a lot when cut¡­  We¡¯re all probably down a pint or two from this crap¡­¡±  He curled his right arm around the Fafnir¡¯s stomach and pulled her back, until he could sit against the wall dividing him from Seth¡¯s.  He pulled her up to lean against his front, and lifted his left knee up, propping her shredded limb against it.  Fingers went for the dark tie around his neck, and he pulled it free.

    ¡°Is Miss Ren there with you¡­?¡± Seth asked, sitting back against the wall from his own side, ¡°The way the judge talked¡­it sounded like¡­she was¡­¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s here, and alive.¡± Gabriel answered, and tightly tied the length of cloth around the downed woman¡¯s mid-bicep, ¡°I think the nanotech you gave her spared her from the worst of the blood-loss.  I¡¯m not¡­taking any chances though, so I¡¯m putting on a tourniquet.  ¡­Where the Hell is your brother?¡±

    Seth was startled to hear the question, ¡°S-Sorry, I¡­I don¡¯t know¡­  When the Magistrate took us from the car, my glasses got left behind¡­  Without them, the Fafnir have no easy way of being able to find us¡­¡±

    ¡°Shit¡­¡±

    .

    The crash-site had become a swarm of activity; yellow and red alert-lights flashed from several different vehicles ¨C police cars from the nearby town.  Traffic was backed up for half a mile, and people were honking in frustration.  One car at a time was allowed to go off-road to get around the site of the chaos, protecting the first responders. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    All that came to a screeching halt through, when, in the black of that night-time expanse of fields, a line of explosions boomed from forces unseen.  Every officer in the area had their sights set on it, and they didn¡¯t notice the descent ¨C and then ascent ¨C of a figure in the midst of the wreckage.

    Quiet swooshes of air gathered into the sky; against the dark of the night sky, they were impossible to see, but four figures found each other, and one held up the glasses that had been lost in the attack.

    ¡°Damn¡­¡± One of them said; a woman¡¯s voice, ¡°Captain, how do we find them now?¡±

    The hand that held those spectacles lifted them to press solemnly against the front of a draconic-looking helmet.  It held there for a moment before lowering again, and the man¡¯s voice spoke, ¡°¡­Lord Rylen, this is Captain Rydell.  We¡¯ve found the glasses, but Seth nor his escort are here.  We¡¯ll need to access the contingency after all.¡±

    There was a moment of quiet in the group; the third figure, quiet thus far, looked far below at the site of the crash.  It wasn¡¯t difficult to read the scorch marks and scars in the ground; there had been a battle there, ¡°Damnit, Ianori¡­what did you get yourself into?¡±  He looked to his lady-warrior companion, ¡°Wasn¡¯t Ren supposed to be out here, too?  How did this happen with both of them on point?¡±

    She could only shrug and lower her gaze, ¡°We know Seth left in a hurry, based on the location-pings from his glasses.  Maybe there wasn¡¯t enough nanotech on-hand to support the both of them.¡±

    The fourth warrior chimed in as well; another male voice, ¡°What the Hell could they have encountered out here to create that mess, though?¡±

    The Captain lifted his head, ¡°An old enemy.  I¡¯ve got the location.  Let¡¯s move out.¡±

    ¡°Sir!¡±

    .

    The flagship¡¯s cold-storage room was on one of the lower decks.  Within, four mortuary chambers were aligned together on one wall, and one was pulled out with a body on top; Ianori¡¯s.  With several more hours of time to ¡®pupate,¡¯ that oily, bruise-like residue on the man¡¯s skin had grown and expanded, becoming more like a chitinous covering over most of his body, just like the leaf Seth had shown before.  The substance had done more than that, though; the chitin was broken in places ¨C more specifically, in the areas where a body might expect to bend in order to move ¨C and the ichor that had traveled up behind his neck had pooled at the crown of his head¡­and started to create an array of horn-like projections.  Pale, corpse-like white skin was threaded with faint, dark veins, mostly at the level of the neck ¨C where the chitin surrendered to flesh ¨C and around the eyes.

    A field-medic looked the whole body over, holding up a scalpel, but realizing¡­there was no good place to use the instrument.  He turned away to a mayo-stand with several other tools upon it, and set the blade down in favor of an oscillating bone-saw.  When he turned around again though, bone-saw in hand¡­the corpse on the table had sat up.

    The tool was dropped, and the mayo-stand knocked over as the medic backed away in horrified surprise, ¡°Wh-what the Hell!?¡±

    Ianori looked at his transfigured hands; he turned them over once or twice, flexed his fingers, then beheld the rest of his ¡®new¡¯ body.  The ichor of coagulated blood-mist bubbled forth from his eyes again, and without a word, he twisted around on that cold metal slab, letting his legs drop off the edge to hang a few inches above the ground.  With a quick shove, he stepped down, and stood upright.

    ¡°Y-you¡¯re s-s-s-s-supp-pp-osed to be d-dead¡­!  Ho-how are you¡­!?¡± The medic cried out in fear.

    Those cold, miasma-spitting eyes turned towards the man.  With unnatural speed, his hand came up to clasp around the medic¡¯s throat, and pulled him forward, ¡°You don¡¯t have the sight.¡± Ianori said tepidly, and immediately cast the clinician aside, smashing his body against the wall with a bloody, crunchy splat, ¡°Useless.¡±

    Another figure ¨C a younger man ¨C stood in the doorway to the next room, staring in confusion and disgust.  He dropped a clear plastic tablet in his stupor, his whole body trembling, but in a moment of lucidity¡­he swung his arm around and smashed the glass on a fire-alarm, setting off the entire flagship¡¯s lights and sirens.

    Gabriel and Seth both looked up at the same time, and thought the same thing, ¡°¡­Did the Fafnir finally get here?¡±

    Regulus looked up as well, from the desk he sat in where he was cataloguing his prizes.  With hands now-clean, he stood up and grabbed the long white cloak from behind the door to the office, and stepped out quietly as he threw it over his shoulders.

    That lone remaining medical staffer fled the morgue in a panic, and every soldier who saw him run looked back the way he came in confusion¡­but only for a moment.  Ianori ¨C or what used to be Ianori ¨C stepped out calmly and quietly.  With those black-blood bubbling tendrils wisping from his eyes, the horns rising from his skull, the pale, veiny white skin of his face, and that nigh-black bio-similar scaling, he looked every inch the image of a demon.

    One soldier managed the constitution to stay and question him, ¡°Wh-what are you¡­!?  Who are you!?¡±

    He paused where he stood in that hall, lights flashing from the alarms on the walls, ¡°This body once called itself¡­Ianori.  And I am¡­Scyrexian.  So...perhaps, for now¡­Scyrexianori?¡± He had the temerity to smile, creepy as it was, ¡°And I am looking for someone with the sight.  This body is¡­inadequate.¡±

    Gun-like weapons were drawn by those terror-stricken guards, ¡°What¡¯s¡­the sight¡­?¡±

    Scyrexianori took several quick steps forward; too quick for the guards¡¯ liking, and they started shooting.  The pulses of energy that poured forth from their weapons struck their targets, but the impacts did little more than nudge the entity aside slightly as he continued to walk forward.  Semi-transparent liquid oozed out of the strikes that had gone through the weaker parts of that armor, and filled in the holes without bleeding.  Standing practically within the group now though, those bubbling eyes looked around and realized ¨C with disappointment ¨C that there was nothing of value in any of them, ¡°¡­It¡¯s something all of you yet lack.  ¡­Worthless.¡±

    The groans and splatter of those now-flayed bodies filled the hall, until only the sound of the alarm could be heard.  Blood pooled around Scyrexianori¡¯s feet, and he stepped forward, looking for the next potential target.

    ¡°¡­There was that one¡­  I could feel him¡­¡± The entity said to himself, ¡°¡­Where did he go¡­?¡±

    Gabriel struggled to stand, one hand against the wall as the other held Ren close to his chest.  When he turned, he could see the smear of blood where his jacket had left the imprint of his back, saturated as it was from where his head was still bleeding.  He grit his teeth, ¡°Seth¡­I need you to go towards the door in your cell.¡±

    ¡°O-okay¡­?¡± The teen whimpered, but did as told, huddling in a corner between the door and the wall.  He watched in confusion as cones of purple light ¨C muted and short like a blowtorch-flame ¨C manifested from the wall where he once sat.  The little projection moved across the wall in four long lines, until a big rectangular shape had been carved straight through it.

    With a kick, Gabriel forced the thin metal plate through, and it landed in the middle of the cell with an incredible bang.  He looked through the now-gaping hole, and turned to Seth, ¡°Come through to this side¡­  If it¡¯s the cavalry here to help us, it¡¯ll take them less time to get us out if we¡¯re all together.¡±

    Seth was amazed, taking off the edge of his pain and fear, and he came through the hole.  He marveled at the sight of it, and traced his fingers across the cut edges, ¡°¡­I¡­thought you didn¡¯t know what your power could do anymore?  This¡­is incredible¡­¡±

    Gabriel moved back towards the opposite wall, and put his hand against it to steady himself; the blood loss from the ¡®surgery¡¯ had left him feeling light-headed, and he had a terrible migraine.  With a barely-controlled thud, he smacked his shoulder against it, and slid back down to sit on the floor near to where Ren had once been left.  He had enough strength to pull her legs around to the side as he lowered down, and set her sideways against his chest then, ¡°I¡­think I¡¯m gonna drop¡­  M-more than this, I mean¡­¡±

    ¡°Mr. Gabriel!¡±

    Darkness crept in around the peripheries of his vision, and his ears started to ring in that high-pitched way that preceded unconsciousness.  Seth¡¯s voice, calling out his name, faded into a distant, hollow sound, and then washed away.

    A mile out still, the group of stealthy flying soldiers spotted the flagship; not only that, but the external pulsing flash of its warning lights.

    ¡°¡­Did they spot us?¡± The woman asked warily, ¡°There¡¯s no way¡­¡±

    ¡°Doubtful,¡± The Captain answered, ¡°I¡¯m going up to declare us to the bridge directly.  You three get inside by any means necessary and find our query.  If you do before I get them to surrender, notify me immediately.  I don¡¯t care how we get them back.¡±

    ¡°Sir!¡±

    ¡°Time to lock and load,¡± One of the other men said gleefully, and with a gesture, each Fafnir Knight came out of stealth-mode and burst fully into their glory; colored solid-light wings unfurled ¨C uniquely shaped to each warrior - and lines of energy throughout their armor came alive.

    Furion¡¯s armor stayed stealthed for a little while longer, and he broke away from the trio as he went up towards the top-level of the ship, seeking the ¡®eye¡¯ at the front.  When he beheld it, he stared straight into it, and revealed himself in an explosive display; white armor, trimmed in gold and black, with four massive wings ¨C transparent and faintly-glowing white, giving them an insect-like appearance, with feather-features at the tips.  As he rose up, he already had some certain choice words ready in his throat¡­but when he beheld the long line of windows above the ¡®eye¡¯ that he knew were the bridge, he choked on them instead.

    Those windows were impossible to see through, with all the blood and gore that had been splattered across the inside.

 Book I - Chapter 10 - Command Your Fear, Control Your Emotions, And Complete The Mission

    Furion hovered closer to those windows; it was eerie beyond measure how the ship continued to gently glide through those Kitezan skies with no one at the helm.  He pressed his hands against that thick, weathered glass, and tried to find anywhere at all that he could see inside through.  It took a moment, but there, on the far left side of the row, he finally spied within.

    It was as near to what Furion could imagine a blender for human bodies would look like.  Parts ¨C and piece of parts ¨C were scattered all over the deck.  The ship¡¯s commander - lower body still in his seat ¨C was, quite literally, sitting beside himself.

    And then he saw movement; feet turning to walk away in the dark, just out of sight of the ethereal haze that his solid-light wings created.  Furion¡¯s eyes went wide behind his helmet¡¯s protective mask.  He quickly pushed away from the hull and lifted a hand to his left ear, ¡°Guys, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re going to find in there, but it¡¯s not looking good so far.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re already in the hangar, sir.¡± One of the men answered; behind them, the bay doors had been torn apart to give them access.  The Magistrate¡¯s docked war-machine ¨C with its missing left forearm and the blood still sticky on its right ¨C loomed ominously at the head of the room.  All of them looked at those darkened streaks on the metal with dubious worry.

    ¡°Donivan, take point.  Ravan and Corbin, watch his back.¡± Furion continued, ¡°Something ¨C or someone - has literally ripped apart the command crew; the ship is getting by on auto-pilot, near as I can tell.  Stay on full alert and be cautious, but find Seth and the others now.  No sight-seeing.  I¡¯m going in through to top; I¡¯ll meet you there.¡±

    ¡°Yessir!¡± All three answered.

    Donivan Parker ¨C also known by his rank; Wing Commander Two ¨C withdrew his blades; stored like gun-holsters on his hips, and with a click, they expanded into laser-edged Falchions.  They hummed quietly, and he took one last long floating-jump to cross the breadth of the launch-deck and get to the nearest entrance into the vessel proper.  Ravan and Corbin followed closely after with their own weapons drawn ¨C Ravan with closely-held kukris and Corbin with a katana and wakizashi - and all three turned off the aesthetics of their wings as they passed through.

    High above, Furion also drew his blades - shaped like broadswords ¨C and drew in a sharp breath.  With a quick advance, and a wide slash from both weapons, he crashed straight-through the glass.  The bridge became a storm of shards and cold winds, and Furion finally got his first good look around the space.  There were at least seven victims ¨C or at least, heads ¨C around the deck; flight staff, navigation, the commander, communications, and perhaps the first mate.  Wings were shut-down and Furion made for the exit, chasing after the bloody footprints left on the floor.

    Of the 60-or-so staff on that flagship, a quarter of them had already fallen.  With no communications officer sending out orders, those who remained were confused and corralled.  Several tried to use the elevator to get down to the hangar and its escape-pods, but every click was met with an error-noise, and the chamber¡¯s auto-announcer repeated the same message, ¡°Unable to comply.  Hangar has decompressed.  Unable to comply.  Hangar has decompressed.¡±

    ¡°What the Hell is going on!?¡± Was the question on everyone¡¯s minds.

    ¡°There¡¯s another set of escape-pods on the weather deck,¡± One of them said, and clicked for the level below the bridge.  To their relief, the elevator accepted the request, and the doors slid closed.

    They would soon wish it hadn¡¯t.

    Several floors up, others were fleeing for their lives already, scrambling down stairwells when the elevators wouldn¡¯t come up fast enough.  Panic was setting in.  Rumors were starting to spread from those who had escaped the onslaught to those who were ignorant of it.

    ¡°There¡¯s a devil on the upper decks!  It killed the entire bridge crew!¡±

    ¡°No, that can¡¯t be right!  It¡¯s the Fafnir!  I saw them breaking into the hangar!  There must be more coming in through the top!¡±

    ¡°This wasn¡¯t a bloody Fafnir!¡±

    ¡°Where is the Magistrate!?¡±

    The elevator made a tragically futile stop at every floor on its ascent, and each time, those who were trapped outside frantically tried to get inside.  Half of them had no idea what was going on still, and could only assume the need to evacuate because of the fire-alarms themselves.  Those who remained oblivious took one look within that cramped carriage and abandoned it for the stairs.  Things got even more confusing when those from higher up were going the opposite direction.

    Finally, however, the elevator arrived on that requested floor, and unlike every other opening, the parting of those doors was met with¡­emptiness.  A dark hall lead out to a darker main deck, with only the occasional red pulse illuminating the way from the emergency lights.  Those who were pressed right up against the open gateway were suddenly hesitant to get out, but were unceremoniously shoved by those cramped further inside who were desperate for space and air.

    At the far end of the corridor, where the stairwell from the bridge-level emptied out onto the weather-deck, the sinister shape of a man appeared ¨C alone, and in no hurry like everyone else had been.  The red haze from the rotating hall-lights illuminated the figure in slow passes, and as that pale white face - and its unnaturally oozing eyes ¨C came into better view¡­the claustrophobic group started to panic.  The ones who¡¯d been shoved out desperately clambered to get back in, and those who were still inside it hit the close-door button like it wouldn¡¯t work without 20 reminders.  Error messages flooded the space as the door repeatedly tried to slide across but couldn¡¯t for the fighting of bodies trying to get in as others shoved them back out.

    Scyrexianori continued that haunting advance, and reached his right arm and hand forward, fingers extended; seeking.  Those who had given up trying to get onto the carriage fled into the opposite halls, trying to find some other way out.  Those stuck inside were regretting their choices.  Scyrexianori clawed at them like fish in a waterless barrel, until only one remained, and he grabbed that one by the throat, lifting him up against the rear wall until his feet dangled, ¡°I¡¯m looking for one of the men who was brought here with me.  He has the sight.  Where is he?¡±

    The soldier coughed and gasped, grabbing at that unnaturally powerful arm, ¡°Br-brig¡­  Down b-below¡­¡±

    ¡°What floor?¡±

    ¡°S-sub-basement¡­¡± The terrified man choked, and pulled for a breath, ¡°Sub-basement 2A¡­above¡­the hangar¡­¡±

    Scyrexianori dropped him, and for a mercy, gave the guard a chance to scramble out from underfoot - and leave the elevator - as those now-clawed fingers scanned the panel for the right level.  With the button clicked, the doors shuddered in their attempt to start closing.  Those coagulated eyes looked up just in time to see the Captain of the Fafnir Knights come into view at the end of the hall, having followed him down those same stairs.  The door was closing now though, and Scyrexianori turned to face the figure¡­and brought a finger up to his lips, ¡°Shh.¡±

    Furion gaped, but no matter how fast he was, it wasn¡¯t enough to get to that elevator before the panels shut in his face, ¡°¡­What the Hell was that?  Was it¡­Ianori?¡±  He took a few steps back and looked at the floor-indicator above the doorframe, seeing each lower number illuminate as it went down.  A nervous flutter went through his chest, and he reached up to the left side of his helmet again, ¡°Heads up, I think a bogey is coming straight for you.¡±

    ¡°A bogey?¡± Ravan answered, and looked to her fellows in confusion.

    ¡°It might be Ianori, but he¡¯s¡­changed.  Dramatically.  He looks possessed, and I think he¡¯s the reason everyone I¡¯ve encountered so far looks like they¡¯ve been put through a food processor.¡± Furion answered, ¡°He¡¯s coming down the elevator.¡±

    A loud bang suddenly could be heard from the end of an adjacent hall.  Their Captain¡¯s last words described something unheard of, but they couldn¡¯t even stop to imagine his meaning before another bang sounded, and another.  Immediately thinking that it might be Ianori himself, they rushed to the source of the sound.  Corbin passed in front of the mouth of a stairwell, and Ravan stayed behind the former corner; Donivan went out front, the blade in his right hand staying where it was as the left was sheathed and put back on his hip.  The stairs went up five steps before making the first half of a U-turn where it would normally continue up to the next level, but was barred by a locked emergency door.

    Bang¡­bang bang¡­ Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    The hollow echo of that metallic clanging reverberated through the corridor.  Corbin and Ravan both put a blade away and readied the pulsar-rifles on the back of their forearms instead.  Donivan looked back at them briefly, nodded, and reached his free hand towards the ¡®manual release¡¯ button on the right side of the doorway.

    BANG!!

    He tapped the pulsing red button, and it flashed green, releasing the door and revealing¡­a rather irate Magistrate.

    ¡°Fafnir!?¡± He barked in a rage.

    One laser-edged blade was at his throat, and Donivan glowered from behind his face-plate, ¡°You¡¯ll want to think very had about the next words that come out of your mouth, Laurier.¡±

    The judge just sneered behind a stiff smirk, hands out to the side; he could feel the tingle of the plasma against his skin, ¡°Well now¡­if it isn¡¯t one of the King¡¯s Men.  How is the old man doing these days anyway?¡±

    ¡°Happily retired and living the good life.¡± He answered, ¡°Where are our people?¡±

    Ravan and Corbin had both come out from behind their corners with their weaponized vambraces at the ready, and they listened carefully.  Ravan¡¯s left hand was free, and she reached up to send the message, ¡°Captain, we found the Magistrate.  You¡¯ll never guess who it is.¡±

    Furion paused where he stood, staring down the empty shaft where the elevator had once descended; he¡¯d ripped his way through the door to get in, ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter.  Make him take you to Seth.¡± He ordered, and took a step out into that vertical space.  The metallic arm-like appendages sticking out the back of his shoulders ¨C where the solid-light wings would manifest from ¨C glowed lightly at their junction-line, and allowed him to softly hover downward.

    Corbin tilted his head slightly towards his cohort, and smiled warily, ¡°You know you don¡¯t have to actually activate anything to speak to the team, right?  Touching the side of your helmet is so old-school.¡±

    ¡°Ssht.  I like doing it¡­and so does the Captain.¡± She puffed, and stepped out into the open, now speaking on the external channel so the Magistrate could hear her, ¡°The Rydells send their regards.  Where¡¯s this ship¡¯s detainment bloc?¡±

    Regulus just chuffed a mocking breath, ¡°What would be the point of telling you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take your ear clean off and finish what Captain Lequerion started if you don¡¯t.¡± Donivan threatened, and turned the blade over to lift its edge underneath the man¡¯s jawline, ¡°I somehow doubt he¡¯d mind a souvenir as grim as this.  He might even think it funny.¡±

    He just grit his teeth defiantly.

    Furion found the top of the elevator sooner than he expected; the labels on the inner walls of the shaft told him it had stopped on a floor above the hangar for some reason.  He touched his toes down to the top of the carriage and listened for anything going on inside it; hearing nothing, he jumped up slightly¡­and came down again with such force that it jettisoned the elevator out of its stop-locks and sent it careening down to the last floor below it with a violent crash.  In so doing, he revealed the open doorway to Sub-basement 2A, and quickly hovered down towards it, stepping gingerly back to the ground as he regained his bearings.

    The trio of Fafnir on the lower level looked around warily as they heard, and felt, the impact.  Even Seth stumbled slightly for how close the collision was to the holding cells.  Regulus stared onward intensely, daring the Knight to do literally anything to him¡­and called the man¡¯s bluff.

    Donivan scoffed in frustration, ¡°Corbin, detain him.  Ravan, with me.¡±

    ¡°Yessir!¡±

    Corbin caught the Magistrate as the Wing Commander¡¯s shove sent him stumbling forward, and the two Fafnir went up through the other half of the stairwell¡¯s U-turn to the next floor.  At the top of the ascent, they were greeted with the most convenient of walls; it boasted a sign, explaining what was on what floor, and where they were standing for context.  Ravan scanned it quickly, and pointed down the left corridor.

    ¡°So, where¡¯s the rest of your crew anyway?¡± Corbin wondered, the wakizashi pressed against the judge¡¯s throat, ¡°Alarms are going off, and you seem to be the only one trying to come down this way.¡±

    Regulus was as silent as the grave though, and reveled in the Fafnir¡¯s frustration.

    Those bloody footprints had started to fade, as most of the blood had already been left on the floor on the way down.  But, what few specks were left created a clear path; the entity was heading for the brig.  Furion picked up his pace; he passed the morgue on his left, and finally, the detainment room, further down and on the right.  His worry had gotten the better of him, and he didn¡¯t bother to check the corner before he barged in; what he found deepened his concern.

    Scyrexianori stood in front of the first cell; fingers pawing at the frame in an effort to find a way through.  Those bubbling, empty eyes looked his way in surprise, but then, familiarity, ¡°Ah¡­Captain.¡±

    ¡°¡­Ianori¡­?¡± The man asked skeptically, ¡°Seth?¡± He asked louder.

    ¡°Furion!¡± He answered quickly, and ran up to pound on the inside of the metal door, ¡°Get us out of here!  Miss Ren and Mr. Gabriel need help!¡±

    It occurred to the Fafnir that his kid brother had no idea what was stalking outside the room, ¡°¡­Hang on a minute.  We¡¯ve got company.¡±

    Ravan and Donivan finally caught up, seeing their Captain at the end of the long hall where they¡¯d arrived from the other direction.  They took two steps closer before stopping, as they witnessed their commanding officer shoved back from the doorway with such speed that he bounced off the wall behind himself and collapsed to his knees in surprise, ¡°CAPTAIN!!¡±

    Scyrexianori just sneered down at the man, hands still ahead of himself from the battering-ram he¡¯d turned them into.  He grabbed the blade-hilt that Furion had dropped from the impact, and looked at the curious edge, then at the sealed metal door.  With a quick stab, the blade¡¯s tip touched to the cold steel, and was shimmied into the thin gap between panel and frame.  It fizzled and sparked, resisting the press as Scyrexianori shoved it cruelly through.

    Seth backed up with a start as he saw the light come through, ¡°¡­Furion¡­?¡±  The edge had nearly grazed him for how recklessly it had been thrust.

    ¡°GET AWAY FROM THE DOOR!¡± Donivan¡¯s voice yelled; Seth was certain the command was for him, and he ducked all the way to the back corner where Gabriel and Ren still lay prone and unconscious from their injuries.  The conundrum was the sound of a brawl taking place beyond his sights.  The loud banging continued for what felt like forever¡­but then finally ended with the sound of the second cell-door being pried open.

    Seth beheld, in horror, as the image of a man who was once his friend, was shoved so hard into the room next-door that he collapsed to the floor and slid with a clang to the back wall.  The fact that he could see it though ¨C through the hole Gabriel had made before ¨C was enough to put him into a panic, especially when he heard that telltale sound of the door¡¯s panel confirming it had locked, and Scyrexianori lifted his head.  Those coagulated, bloated tendrils of oily-bloody ink flared, and veins of red fire coursed through them; Scyrexianori looked directly at him¡­and started moving towards the gap menacingly.  Seth screamed and rushed for the door again, banging loudly, ¡°GET US OUT OF HERE GET US OUT FURION THE ROOMS ARE CONNECTED GET US OUT!!¡±

    All three Fafnir were shocked, and Furion went for the door¡¯s control panel.  It was an easy enough thing to figure out how to get the lock to release, but getting it to open when his plasma-blade had been used to try and get through it by force was another thing entirely.  With his brother¡¯s panic increasing with every passing second, Furion yanked the blade out, threw it aside, snatched Ravan¡¯s kukri right out of her hand, jammed it into the space his sword had once occupied, and used it to safely release the lock without the chance of stabbing his brother in the process.  When the door finally gave and Furion could pull it open, Donivan was in first, and hit the terrifying entity hard enough to make that horned head bounce off the floor with a nauseating crack.  That seemed to be enough to end things for the moment, and Furion went in as well, crouching down as his brother came rushing at him with arms extended.  Seth clung to that white and gold armor like he¡¯d never seen anything with such appreciation before, and Furion hugged him back.  Ravan recovered their discarded weaponry while she kept an eye out.

    It didn¡¯t escape Furion¡¯s notice that Seth¡¯s clothing was saturated with blood, nor that said blood came from Seth¡¯s own flesh.  Past the teen¡¯s shoulder though, he spotted the slumped-over bodies of their two other targets; his heart sank.  He pulled back and looked up at the blonde, ¡°Let¡¯s get the Hell out of here.  Ravan!¡±

    ¡°Sir!¡± She came in, and Donivan went closer to the door to make sure it stayed open.

    ¡°Take Seth and get out of here.  Donivan, grab Sir Gabriel.¡± Furion ordered, and let his brother go to be hefted-up by the Knight.  He lurched forward to carefully grab Ren in his own arms, and lifted her out of the way so the Wing Commander could grab the final body.

    ¡°What about Ianori?¡± Donivan wondered, looking at the downed figure hanging halfway between the rooms.

    Furion looked down briefly, but when he saw that Scyrexianori was starting to recover, he shook his head, ¡°We can¡¯t risk taking him back in whatever the fuck state that is.  We¡¯ll seal the room and negotiate for his release later.  Move out!¡±

    ¡°Sir!¡± He affirmed, and immediately went to a knee to grab the unconscious mediator.  As he carefully stepped out after his Captain, he turned to shove the door closed again with a foot.  Furion leaned slightly back so Ren would tilt against his shoulder, and used a free arm to blast the gap in the door a few times, effectively welding it shut.

    That all done, the last two Fafnir dipped.

    Ravan followed their original path down through the corridor and the U-turn stairwell.  As she found and passed Corin, she barked at him to abandon his post with the Magistrate and make a break for it.  Corbin followed after her immediately, leaving the defiant judge to collapse against the wall from the shove.  Donivan and Furion followed after her ¨C and Furion caught a fleeting glimpse of the man in that microsecond it took to pass him by.  Out through the last exit, Donivan guided his commander towards the hole that they¡¯d torn through the docking-bay door, and in a flash¡­all four were finally outside, with wings bursting back into sight as they took off high into the night sky.

    Gabriel could feel himself starting to come-to, but his head swam too thickly to do anything but see directly above.  He couldn¡¯t even feel how cold the air was, nor the sting of that altitude.  He somehow knew he was high up, but his mind was too clouded and sedate from the blood-loss to process it, and he just closed his eyes again, and slipped back into oblivion.

    That couldn¡¯t just be the end of it though.  Regulus clambered for the ladder to get up into his mecha, and as quickly as he could get himself linked to his neuroptics, he commanded the metal behemoth to ram through the retractable hangar door.  The Fafnir were already a good distance away, but Regulus took aim with that one remaining big arm, the ¡®palm¡¯ lighting-up quickly.  He shot off an array of energy-pulses, each one trailing the fleeing Knights like a missile¡­but each was futile in its pursuit.  There was too much distance¡­and all Regulus could do was sneer at their escape.

    He now had other problems to deal with¡­and most of them, he wasn¡¯t even aware of yet.

 Book I â€“ Chapter 11 â€“ To Get Ahead, You Must Slow Down; If You Rush, You Will Be Lost

    For the second time in as many days, Gabriel found himself waking up with no idea how much time had passed.  This time, for a mercy, his head wasn¡¯t stuck between a strange man¡¯s legs¡­he was comfortably in a bed, in a dimly lit room, and was surrounded by the pleasant, familiar hum of a Luminary SkyFortress.  He heard the gentle tap of a book being set down nearby, then saw the shadow of a well-known outline.

    ¡°¡­Watching over me while I sleep, huh, Xanarken?¡± He mused tiredly; his head still hurt, but at least it was relegated to just the back of it, where he could only presume he¡¯d had some kind of reconstructive surgery in the interim.

    ¡°I guess I can¡¯t help myself.  You had me really worried.¡± The Eidolon answered, and moved closer to sit on the edge of the bed.  He reached over and pet that blonde-haired head, ¡°After everything settled down, Seth couldn¡¯t stop gushing about how cool he thinks you are.  Apparently, you left quite the impression.¡±

    ¡°How¡¯s Ren?  Did she¡­  Did she make it?¡± Gabriel deflected.

    ¡°She¡¯s doing fine.¡± Xanarken answered, and turned where he sat so he could more-easily see his mediator, ¡°Seth is heartbroken that all his data is gone, but he¡¯d gladly trade it all over again to help save her life.  And your tie helped, a little bit.¡± He huffed a quiet chuckle.

    ¡°So, I was right¡­  That¡¯s a relief.¡± Gabriel leaned back into his pillows, but after a deep breath, he wiggled to rise up onto his elbows, and then sat back against the head of the bed, ¡°What about the Fafnir guy that was in Kitez with him?¡±

    ¡°Sir Issak?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t he go by something else?¡±

    ¡°Ah, right...Ianori, I believe.¡± The Eidolon recalled, ¡°Captain Rydell made the decision to leave him behind.  There¡¯s¡­something peculiar that happened to him, and it was decided that bringing him back to the Aegis ¨C and, moreover, the process of doing so ¨C was too dangerous.¡±

    Gabriel¡¯s gaze turned down in contemplation; the memory of the void scar tearing open the sky, and the sight of Ianori¡¯s body being hurled out as if in a spider¡¯s cocoon, was suddenly fresh in his mind¡­and so was the vortex he saw beyond it, ¡°There was so much going on out there in such a big hurry, it¡¯s hard to remember all the details¡­  One moment, Seth is asking to borrow my affliction to do some research, and the next, all Hell had broken loose.¡±

    ¡°I believe it.¡±

    ¡°I wish I could easily describe what it was that I saw.  The Exclusion Zone was right there¡­  Getting so close to the scar made my affliction activate on its own, and it was like a whole other world was being revealed to me.  There was this enormous cyclone of energy writhing and twisting around in the sky above the Zone¡­  It¡¯s like I could literally see the reason for why that place is so screwed up.¡± Gabriel explained, ¡°¡­What¡¯s really out there?¡±

    ¡°Who knows?¡± The Eidolon shrugged, ¡°This world still holds many secrets.  We¡¯ve only been here 350 years¡­we¡¯ll be uncovering its mysteries for many centuries more.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­¡±

    ¡°How are you feeling right now?  You want to take a walk?¡±

    He looked up, and nodded, ¡°Yeah.¡±

    The medical ward of the Aegis was a spectacle of modern technology; not entirely unexpected for the home-base of the Luminary Council¡¯s most prestigious and elite warriors, but still impressive.  Wearing his standard-issue patient costume, Gabriel followed beside his Eidolon, feeling the odd sensation of the ¡®grippy¡¯ texture under the bottoms of his slippers as they made their way down the long, brightly-lit hall.  Xanarken led him straight out of the medical ward though and into an adjacent section; the stasis-hold room.

    Within, there were 15 total cryo-pods, capable of sustaining the lives of every Fafnir ¨C and their Captain ¨C should they all somehow go down at the same time.  They were lined-up in two rows of seven, with the final pod perpendicular to ¨C and between ¨C the feet of the last set, up against the wall.  Gabriel assumed that would be the one for Captain Rydell if it came to that, but Xanarken guided him right up to it, and within, he saw the hibernating visage of his trainee.

    That shattered left arm had already been debrided and prepared, and looked now as though it had been purposefully and deliberately amputated, with clean-cut edges that followed the contour of the major muscles there.  The whole unfortunate stump was capped with a negative-pressure dressing, keeping it ¨C for lack of better terms ¨C vacuum-sealed until her coming surgery.

    ¡°Without going into too much gruesome detail, the reconstructive surgeons here are just waiting for the last bits of her new arm to be finalized, then they¡¯ll get right to the transplant.  Once that¡¯s done, they¡¯ll wake her up, and with any luck, she¡¯ll come to.¡±

    Gabriel set his hands onto the glossy surface of the pod; it was cool to the touch, and fogged around his warm skin, leaving the imprint of his palms and fingers when he lifted them back again.  He let out a sigh, ¡°¡­She fought so hard.  I had no idea she had that kind of strength in her.¡±

    ¡°Fafnir Knights aren¡¯t just specially-trained fighters with super-suits.  They¡¯re¡­enhanced, through gene editing, to make them stronger, faster, more durable¡­and every other thing you can think of that would make them perfect spec-ops combat soldiers.¡± The Eidolon explained, ¡°They would be formidable even without their armor.¡±

    ¡°How does the nanotech suit compare to the real one?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s roughly 30% of the full potential.  A lot of the oomph comes from its flight capabilities and plasma-based bladed weaponry.  The nanotech version simply doesn¡¯t have the ability to replicate that.  It¡¯s basically the equivalent of a powered-down armor.¡±

    Gabriel turned to look at Xanarken with a stunned expression, then back to Ren, ¡°¡­She did all that with only 30% of the armor¡¯s potential?  Sheesh¡­  She¡¯s really strong¡­¡±

    ¡°What exactly happened?  Gabe¡­¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t Seth tell you everything?¡±

    ¡°He speaks with the experience of a 17-year-old First Wing cadet.  I need the report of a Knight-Mediator of the Fourth Wing.  What happened?¡±

    Gabriel went quiet as he thought back on it all, and crossed his arms as he considered his words, ¡°¡­Then you basically know the details of the void scar situation itself.  After all that, the former Magistrate we were going to stay with told us to flee in his car, since we were all already in it.¡± He looked up, drew a breath, and then went back to Ren¡¯s pod, and put his fingertips on the edge of it, ¡°We got a good distance away, but Ren still felt like we were in trouble.  Rightly so, I guess.  She had Seth transfer his personal nanotech supply over to her, and used it to make that temporary armor.  I¡­can¡¯t remember the other Magistrate¡¯s name ¨C Regulus something-something ¨C but he had this crazy-looking four-armed mecha that he used to catch up with us.  It was so quiet, I had no idea it was right on top of us until Ren got up on top of the car and told me to hit the brakes, and the whole damn thing went flying out from overhead and went up the highway.  Regulus tried to get us to stop and surrender without a fuss, but Ren wouldn¡¯t have it.  She launched at him with a speed and ferocity I didn¡¯t know the human body could produce.¡±

    Xanarken huffed a laugh, ¡°Rylen is quite proud of them.¡±

    ¡°I can see why¡­¡± Gabriel looked at the Eidolon, and directly into those vivid purple-blue eyes, ¡°She took that whole thing on by herself so the rest of us could get away.  We were trying so hard to put-off the inevitable, giving the Fafnir time to find us¡­but, in the end, the Magistrate overpowered her, and he caught us¡­  All I could do was pitifully agree to our surrender¡­¡±

    ¡°You all came out of there alive, so you did your job.¡±

    ¡°Ianori didn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s alive¡­after a fashion.¡±

    ¡°¡­Hmph.¡±

    Xanarken reached a hand up to set on the mediator¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Gabe, against a man like Regulus, coming out alive was probably the best-case scenario.  People say he was ousted from his position as Kitez¡¯s top general back when the kerfuffle with the former Fafnir Captain happened, but the truth is¡­he wanted to move into the Conclave of Magistrates, because he knew he could be given authority over the entire Kitez-Sargon border.  As angry as Kitez was about everything back then, he was ¨C in his mind ¨C right to seek that post, because now¡­he has supporters that all feel the same way he does.¡±

    ¡°You mean the Duchess.¡±

    ¡°And half the current Conclave.¡±

    ¡°So, then what do we do to get Ianori back?¡± Gabriel wondered, and turned around to lean against the pod, arms crossed, ¡°Regulus has a singular hatred for the Fafnir.  He¡¯ll be hard-pressed to give a captive one back to us.¡±

    ¡°It kind of depends on how Captain Rydell¡¯s report goes over.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Let me show you.¡± He suggested, and lifted his hands to manifest a data-nodule; it coalesced over the Eidolon¡¯s palm the same way it had over Gabriel¡¯s own when he gave restricted information to Ren during their previous mission.  Gabe held his hand out to receive it, only to pull back again reluctantly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry; you¡¯ve got your beans back.  There was no point waiting.  You¡¯re online and everything¡¯s already been transferred to the new I.D.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­¡± He stammered, and reached out again.  To his relief, the data moved over as expected, and Xanarken spread both of his hands out in an arc.  From the gesture, a video-panel opened between them, flashing ¡®Sensitive Data ¨C Do Not Share Without Authorization¡¯ on the top left.  Thereupon, Gabriel witnessed the last few minutes of the rescue mission from Captain Rydell¡¯s perspective; pertinently, the conflict that took place between the three present Fafnir¡­and their former ally.

    Eyes went wide in confusion and horror, ¡°What the¡­Hell happened to him?  What even is that?¡±

    ¡°Seth told us about how inorganic material became twisted when he put it into the void scar, but organic material came out changed.  This¡­appears to be what happens when a living person goes in, rather than just a tree branch.¡± Xanarken answered, watching as well, ¡°From what those three said about the way it fought¡­it had the strength and skill of a Fafnir, but there was something wrong about it.  A kind of uncanny valley situation, like something else was wearing Ianori¡¯s skin, and used his skills, but¡­oddly.¡±

    ¡°He was catatonic from the moment he came flying out of the rift,¡± Gabe elaborated, ¡°When I got too near to it, I could hear it whispering, like hundreds of people all speaking in a hushed tone at once.  Lots of hissing-sounds.  Ianori was making those same sounds, if he spoke at all¡­but one word seemed prescient; Scyrexian.¡±  He looked away from the panel; the Fafnir had triple-teamed the transfigured man and shoved him into the second cell, and he thought that was essentially the end of it, ¡°Towards the end of our escape-attempt, that creepy ooze was coming out of his eyes, and he asked Ren to help him¡­but after that, all the shit with the Magistrate happened, and I didn¡¯t see Ianori again.  Being in the void gate changed him.  I¡­feel like something might have come back with him.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what we¡¯re thinking as well.¡±

    ¡°What do we do¡­?¡± He wondered, seeing the last parts of the clip unfold; Furion had grabbed Ren, and was following Donivan down to the launch-bay for their final departure.  He puffed an annoyed breath as he spied the visage of the Magistrate for a split-second before the footage ended, and the video-panel closed, ¡°How do we get him back?  How do we even help that?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Gabriel?¡± A familiar voice sounded; both men looked towards the door, and spotted Seth there ¨C wearing the simple grey uniform of a Knight-Cadet with the white coat of the First Wing¡¯s scholar division, and had a pair of glasses again, ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡±This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Gabe pushed off the pod and turned towards the approaching teen, ¡°Yeah, I¡­  Ah, never mind¡­how are you holding up?¡±

    Seth didn¡¯t shy away from formalities ¨C or the presence of the Eidolon ¨C and threw his arms around Gabriel¡¯s torso.  Arms went up in surprise, and Gabe looked at the Fourth, only for Xanarken to smile and do nothing to save him.  Seth squeezed tight for several seconds before finally letting go, and looked up, ¡°I¡­I¡¯m doing okay.  Nightmares, mostly, but I¡¯m getting help for that.  What about you?  From what I was told, Magistrate Regulus really did a number on you.¡±

    ¡°Compared to you?  After you were so worried about him finding out you¡¯re a Rydell?¡±

    Seth nodded, but took a step back, ¡°Well, I did faint¡­probably a couple times¡­  I don¡¯t think he had any fun with me, so he didn¡¯t bother for long.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­  I guess that makes sense.¡± Gabe pulled his arms around himself again, ¡°I¡¯ve only been up for a half hour or so.  Haven¡¯t had much time to find things to complain about yet.  Xanarken was bringing me up to sp-¡°

    ¡°OH MY GOSH I¡¯M SO SORRY, LORD XANARKEN SIR!¡± Seth suddenly blurted, and was bowing frantically towards the Eidolon.

    Gabriel mentally staggered, ¡°¡­eed?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m not going to scold you for ignoring me.¡± Xanarken mused, and pet the teen¡¯s head, ¡°I¡¯m much more relaxed than my brother.¡±

    Those green eyes lifted, practically sparkling, ¡°Are you really brothers!?  For real-real!?¡±

    The Eidolon chuckled, ¡°Not by blood, but¡­in every other way, yes.¡±

    ¡°Seth, you really shouldn¡¯t be asking the Eidolon such personal questions; it¡¯s inappropriate.¡± Furion¡¯s voice was suddenly added to the mix, and the Captain ¨C in his full normal regalia, with the wide silver pauldrons and cape of his rank, and the dark blue colors of the Sixth - approached with a polite head-bob towards each of the men, ¡°Lord Xanarken.  Sir Gabriel.¡±  He then clasped his brother¡¯s shoulders in his hands and pulled the teen back a few paces, ¡°Sorry about that.  He¡¯s excitable.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± Xanarken shrugged with a wry smile, ¡°Right?¡±  He turned to his second.

    ¡°I don¡¯t either.  It¡¯s kind of refreshing.¡± Gabriel agreed, then hesitated to go on.  He couldn¡¯t help but look at the two brothers ¨C Seth was barely Ren¡¯s height at 5¡¯5¡±, but Furion was almost a foot taller, towering over the teen.  They looked nearly the same otherwise; those jade-green eyes, the pale blonde hair and light complexion, though Furion kept his bangs even longer than Gabriel himself did, and kept a long skinny ponytail out the back, under the rest of that short, upward-spiking do.  Gabriel shook his head lightly to regain his train of thought, and looked at Seth again, ¡°¡­As I was saying, Xanarken was getting me caught-up on what happened.  I just¡­saw the footage of the rescue.  I never thought the words would be coming from my mouth, given my unfortunate first encounter with the Fafnir Knights all those years ago, but¡­  Thank you, Captain Rydell.  You and your Fafnir saved us, and for that, I¡¯m grateful.¡±

    Furion was surprised ¨C the mediator was nothing like who he thought the man would be ¨C but nodded, ¡°¡­Yessir.¡±

    Gabriel turned back towards the pod, ¡°I had only just found out who Ren really was a few minutes before she was forced to reveal it anyway.  She¡­made me reconsider what I thought about the Fafnir.¡±

    The way Gabe had his hands on the edge of the pod made a tense pit grow in Furion¡¯s chest, and he stepped around his brother to go onto the pod¡¯s opposite side, ¡°¡­She was always one of the best.  She earned every accolade that came with the rank of Wing Commander One, and deserved every ounce of respect it gave her.  I¡¯m surprised she waited until the 11<sup>th</sup> hour to tell you.  ¡­Sir.¡±

    Gabe was confused by the subtle tension, but dismissed it as post-trauma-brain hypersensitivity, ¡°Well, that was mostly my fault¡­  I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t have a good history with getting to know my trainees very well.  I¡¯ll have to change that when she wakes up and comes back to things.¡±  He looked at Ren¡¯s face again, ¡°I suppose I owe her that much after she put her life on the line to give us time.¡±

    Xanarken stepped up beside his mediator then, and tapped the back of the man¡¯s shoulder with the front of his own as he leaned in, ¡°We still have much more to get caught-up on, Gabe.  Let¡¯s not hover over the poor woman.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­yeah, sure.¡±  He turned towards the two Rydells, ¡°Thanks again.  Excuse us.¡±

    ¡°Sir.¡±

    ¡°¡­Mr. Gabriel¡­!¡± Seth blurted as the pair got to the door.  Gabe looked back, and the teen took a step closer, ¡°Would it be okay if I¡­sent you a friend request?  You don¡¯t have to accept it if you don¡¯t want to, of course!¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s alright, go ahead.¡±

    ¡°Really, sir!?¡± Seth was practically gushing; tears welled in his eyes from the happiness.

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget what I said about the formalities.¡± Gabe waved as he turned, and followed Xanarken out, ¡°See you later.¡±

    The young blonde squirmed where he stood, and immediately pulled up his overlay to do just that.  Once the request had been sent, he gestured both hands downward to hide the HUD and looked back at his older brother, ¡°Whew, I¡¯m so relieved¡­  I¡¯ve been working up the courage to ask him that this whole time¡­¡±

    Furion quirked a brow, ¡°You¡¯re not just trying to hook him into your research again, are you?  I think he¡¯s a bit out of your league to have on speed-dial.¡±

    Seth¡¯s face went red, but he waved his hands back and forth adamantly, ¡°N-no, that¡¯s not it at all!  I actually like him!  You know, as a person!¡±

    ¡°Hm¡­  You¡¯d be one of the few.¡± The Captain turned towards the cryo-pod, and used his gloved fingers to rub away the foggy fingerprints that the mediator had left on the lid, ¡°Still can¡¯t believe this situation¡­¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s not to believe¡­?¡± Seth asked, and joined his brother in looking on solemnly at his friend, ¡°She went toe-to-toe with a giant war-robot.  I¡¯m more surprised that she lived.¡±

    Furion¡¯s eyes drifted towards the door again, but then came back, ¡°Sir Gabriel doesn¡¯t have a great reputation for being¡­personable, to say the least.¡± He explained, ¡°You¡¯d do yourself a favor by not getting too close.  He probably doesn¡¯t share your enthusiasm for friendship.¡±

    Seth could feel himself deflating where he stood, ¡°That¡¯s so mean¡­!  You¡¯ve barely ever even been in the same room as him before, but you have such cruel things to say!¡±

    ¡°We live in different worlds.¡± Furion finished, ¡°Just be careful.  There¡¯s a reason he was chosen as Ren¡¯s safety-net when she left.¡±

    .

    The eyes of every soldier and support-staffer in the Aegis¡¯ mess hall was wide and stunned as the Eidolon of the Fourth Wing went through the lines like any other grunt, but, the man was following his proverbial son around, and had to hover.  He did, however, find the gawping to be a bit funny, ¡°I¡¯m probably ruining everyone¡¯s day by being here.¡±

    ¡°Ruining?¡± Gabriel echoed as he grabbed an assortment of snacks from the options on offer, and set them each on a plastic tray, ¡°You probably made their day.  How often do folks in the lower ranks get to stare at an Eidolon up close?¡±

    ¡°I am quite disruptive, though.  Everyone feels like they have to stop what they¡¯re doing to salute as I go by.¡±

    ¡°You did decide to follow me instead of just letting me meet you back in my room.¡± The blonde retorted, ¡°Dare I wonder if you don¡¯t sometimes enjoy mingling among the commoners with me.¡±

    ¡°Maybe I could be less conspicuous.¡± Xanarken mused, and began to dissolve his mantle right there in the grub-line.

    Gabriel balked, ¡°What, no, where are you going!?  You can¡¯t just leave me here like this!¡±  He complained, watching that nanotech dust fade into the air.  The Eidolon¡¯s voice lingered as he laughed, only for a new mantle to manifest; this time, however, it was shaped like a cat ¨C a big, grey and white Himalayan - and it sat gingerly on the mediator¡¯s shoulder.  Gabriel sighed loudly, and leaned his head to squish against the odd-feeling fake-fluff, ¡°This doesn¡¯t help at all.  No one is going to believe that I just have a random-ass cat aboard a SkyFortress, never mind that I can keep balanced on my damn shoulder.¡±

    Xanarken rubbed his fuzzy body against the man¡¯s head, as any cat-like creature might do when being affectionate, ¡°I¡¯m enjoying myself.  Don¡¯t ruin it.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re so annoying sometimes.¡±

    Purr purr purr¡­

    And¡­another cat appeared, manifesting on Gabriel¡¯s other shoulder; this one was a Russian blue, with bright orange eyes.

    Gabriel groaned, ¡°Jeezus, not you too.¡±

    Purr purr purr¡­  The new cat licked a paw and wiped its ear patiently.

    ¡°I¡¯m being ganged-up on.  I need an adult.¡±

    The looks he got from those who¡¯d seen the whole thing happen made it clear that no such adult would be coming.

    Every step back to his room ¨C with a plastic tray of food in his hands, fuzzy slippers on his feet, and a pair of felines perched on top of him ¨C was torture.  It was even worse when the door finally closed behind him and both Eidolon started laughing at his expense, and even fist-bumped at one another as they reformed in their usual affect.  Gabriel just set the tray down on the small table opposite his bed, and roughly sat down, ¡°Yeah, yeah¡­have a good laugh.  Not like anyone was going to try and make small-talk with me anyway.¡±

    ¡°That is entirely your fault, Gabe.¡± Xanarken pointed out, and moved to retake the cushy seat he¡¯d been in with his book earlier.

    Rylen, of course, leaned against the back-rest of it, and crossed his arms with an amused look on his face, ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s never not funny when we do that.¡±

    ¡°How does anyone take either of you seriously when you pull pranks like that?¡± Gabriel pointed a fork at them as he unwrapped it from the cloth napkin-roll.

    ¡°What, am I not allowed to join in the teasing of my proverbial nephew?¡± Rylen looked sarcastically hurt, and pressed a hand to his chest.

    ¡°No one believes you¡¯re my uncle for a second when you look like a weird vampiric dark elf, Rylen.¡±

    The First Eidolon stared for a moment, then snapped his fingers, and his dark visage transformed into a peachy-pale variant of himself, lacking the pointy ears and teeth, and with simple grey hair instead of that molten silver, ¡°Better?¡±

    Gabriel looked up at him and immediately wretched, heaving off the side of his chair to catch his breath, then looked back again, ¡°No, absolutely not, go back.  That¡¯s horrifying.¡±

    Rylen shrugged up his shoulders with a puff of a laugh, and retook his normal image, ¡°Suit yourself.  I am only trying to be accommodating.¡±

    Gabe could only mutter a few curses under his breath as he went back to look at the food he¡¯d brought back.

    ¡°Anyway¡­it¡¯s good to see you awake again,¡± The First Eidolon continued, ¡°Xanarken told me you woke up and that he showed you how the mission ended.  I am deathly curious though¡­¡±  He spread his hands out and loaded the same video-panel that had been shown before, but he wound-back the footage to far earlier in the mission.  There was a moment ¨C from Donivan¡¯s point of view ¨C where the Magistrate¡¯s mecha was visible, and Rylen zoomed-in on the amputated metal arm, ¡°Explain.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Gabriel stared, a mouthful in his cheek.

    ¡°Dame Ren didn¡¯t have access to any of her former arsenal while using that temporary armor.  How, then, pray tell, did any of you come into possession of a weapon that could cut clean-through solid metal?  Moreover¡­¡±  He fast-forwarded through Donivan¡¯s recording until near the end, after the fight with Scyrexianori, and to the moment he had burst into the trio¡¯s cell to punch the entity into unconsciousness through a rather unusual hole in the wall, ¡°That.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Gabriel asked again; Xanarken looked worried, ¡°So I used my affliction to try and help?  What¡¯s the big deal?¡±

    Rylen dissolved the panel, and crossed his arms, only to gesture at the mediator with one hand before wedging it back between arm and ribs, ¡°You were never able to get a good handle on your abilities even when you had J¡¯ard around trying to help you focus.  You know as well as the rest of us how dangerous it is.  In your efforts to save Dame Ren, you could¡¯ve just as easily killed her yourself.¡±

    The blonde went quiet; his appetite was already lost, and he set the fork down, all that food now wasted, ¡°I couldn¡¯t just sit back and do nothing¡­¡±

    Xanarken nudged his brother with an elbow lightly, ¡°Rylen, you don¡¯t have to come down on him like a brick¡­  He just woke up.  This could¡¯ve waited.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve used it in years¡­  Give me a break¡­¡± Gabriel protested, ¡°And it¡¯ll probably be another several years before it happens again¡­  I can¡¯t just keep it stamped-down forever.  It comes out now and then when things get crazy, whether I like it or not.¡±

    ¡°All the more reason not to use it on purpose when you feel the urge.¡± Rylen countered, and stared at that despondent look on Gabe¡¯s face, ¡°Look, I know you meant well, and in the end, you did do some good¡­  But as someone who was born with this condition, the potential for it to get out of control is just¡­  It¡¯s too high.  It¡¯s too much of a risk.  You were already out there helping with a feral void gate¡­we don¡¯t need you accidentally opening a bunch of your own.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve literally never been able to-¡°

    ¡°Rylen, seriously-¡° Xanarken interrupted, ¡°He¡¯s not Caeros.  It¡¯s not the same thing.  He doesn¡¯t even have the ability to open gateways¡­it¡¯s just, separating things.  In this case¡­it was an arm from the body of a mecha, or a section of a wall.¡±

    Gabriel had fallen quiet.

    Rylen could feel a shiver go down his spine, ¡°I hate it when I hear that name.  It always gives me the creeps.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not responsible for what happened that day.¡± Xanarken continued, his voice calmer again, ¡°You¡¯ve been carrying around that guilt for over three centuries.  It¡¯s done, and in the past.  Just¡­let it go.¡±

    The First stayed silent for a few seconds, but then sucked in a breath and pushed off the arm-rest, ¡°You know as well as I do that I can¡¯t.  I was the one who pushed Caeros to use his power to take us off-world, and it¡¯s my fault we ended up here, stranded, with no idea where we are.¡±

    ¡°It hasn¡¯t been all bad.  We¡¯ve adapted, and overcome¡­we¡¯re doing well here, in spite of the circumstances of our arrival.¡± Xanarken countered, ¡°Besides¡­if not for what happened back then, we¡¯d have been dead a long time ago, and we wouldn¡¯t have been able to witness the civilization that¡¯s grown from our efforts.  Take the good with the bad¡­and try not to make Gabe take on the burden of your guilty conscience because you¡¯re worried he¡¯ll create a second calamity.¡±

    ¡°Fine¡­¡± Rylen grumbled, and turned those orange eyes to the sullen mediator, ¡°Tomorrow, the Duchy¡¯s flagship will be arriving on the border.  Xanarken is taking point on the talks.  You should be there to observe and offer counsel about what happened, in case the Kitezans try to twist the truth.  Whatever happens, and no matter how well or badly it goes, I¡¯ve no doubt that our contentious relationship with Kitez will change forever afterwards.  Hopefully, it won¡¯t be a complete disaster.  ¡­Until then.¡±

    The Eidolon dissolved his mantle without another moment¡¯s hesitation, leaving Xanarken alone with his chosen son, ¡°¡­So much for being able to take my time easing into that topic.¡± He looked over at that dour expression, ¡°Try not to be offended by him.  He¡¯s just¡­paranoid about such things.¡±

    ¡°I wish I understood better why he¡¯s so scared.  You¡¯ve told me what you remember, but it just¡­always sounded like it was an accident.  That the disaster, and the fleet crashing afterwards, were unintended.  I can¡¯t get rid of this curse that I have¡­  Why can¡¯t someone just help me learn how to control it better?  You said Caeros was basically inventing the wheel as he developed his skills.  It doesn¡¯t have to be that way with me¡­¡± Gabriel lamented, ¡°I don¡¯t want to have to keep pushing people away because of him¡­¡±

    Xanarken sighed as he pushed up from the cushy chair, and stepped closer to pat Gabriel¡¯s shoulder, ¡°¡­You would¡¯ve just¡­had to have been there.¡±

 Book I - Chapter 12 â€“ Every System Has Its Order, And Knows Its Own Limits

    With the mood ruined for the rest of the night, Gabriel took his time poring over the reports from the mission¡­and, for a change, the profiles of those who had manufactured them.

    <table width="630">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="166">

    Rank

    </td>

    <td width="116">

    Name/Age/Sex

    </td>

    <td width="80">

    Ethnicity

    </td>

    <td width="268">

    Status

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="166">

    Knight-Captain

    </td>

    <td width="116">

    Furion Rydell

    (38/M)

    </td>

    <td width="80">

    Caucasian

    </td>

    <td width="268">

    Fafnir (19 years)

    Wing Commander One (9 years)

    Captain (10 years [LCSF Aegis])

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="166">

    Knight-Fafnir

    (Wing Commander)

    </td>

    <td width="116">

    Donivan Parker

    (52/M)

    </td>

    <td width="80">

    Hispanic

    </td>

    <td width="268">

    Fafnir (24 years)

    Wing Commander Two (15 years)

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="166">

    Knight-Fafnir

    </td>

    <td width="116">

    Ravan Damien

    (35/F)

    </td>

    <td width="80">

    Asian

    </td>

    <td width="268">

    Fafnir (15 years)

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="166">

    Knight-Fafnir

    </td>

    <td width="116">

    Corbin D¡¯Shay

    (37/M)

    </td>

    <td width="80">

    Black

    </td>

    <td width="268">

    Fafnir (14 years)

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Then, of course, were the names of those who were considered ¡®victims¡¯ or ¡®targets¡¯ of the mission.

    <table width="630">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="166">

    Rank

    </td>

    <td width="116">

    Name/Age/Sex

    </td>

    <td width="80">

    Ethnicity

    </td>

    <td width="268">

    Status

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="166">

    Knight-Mediator

    </td>

    <td width="116">

    Gabriel Lugios

    (32/M)

    </td>

    <td width="80">

    Caucasian

    </td>

    <td width="268">

    Mediator (12 years)

    High Negotiator (4 years)

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="166">

    Knight-Fafnir

    </td>

    <td width="116">

    Issak Noardin

    (29/M)

    </td>

    <td width="80">

    Middle

    Eastern

    </td>

    <td width="268">

    Fafnir (8 years)

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="166">

    Knight-Mediator

    (Trainee)

    </td>

    <td width="116">

    Ren Nibasai

    (28/F)

    </td>

    <td width="80">

    Middle

    Eastern

    </td>

    <td width="268">

    No status

    Formerly: Knight-Fafnir (9 years)

    Wing Commander One (7 years)

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="166">

    Knight-Cadet

    </td>

    <td width="116">

    Setharion Rydell

    (17/M)

    </td>

    <td width="80">

    Caucasian

    </td>

    <td width="268">

    No status

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    It hadn¡¯t escaped the mediator¡¯s notice that Ren and Furion had both entered into the division straight out of boot-camp, and had become Wing Commanders within two years of arriving, although Furion had already been Captain for a minute when Ren signed-on.  He rubbed his chin curiously, ¡°Captains are typically responsible for scouting talent for special agencies.  I guess Captain Rydell would¡¯ve been the one to find and recruit her.  And this Wing Commander guy was there when shit went south with Kitez 22 years ago¡­¡±

    It took well into the early hours of the morning to sift through and assess what each Fafnir Knight had seen on that ship, but it was the Captain¡¯s perspective that was the most concerning.  Every inch of corridor that the lower-ranks had seen looked normal, just¡­devoid of personnel, likely having vacated after the alarms were signaled.  The Captain, however, was stuck with the unenviable task of wading through the things that had likely set-off the alarm in the first place, as it had already been triggered before the Fafnir arrived on scene.

    ¡°Whatever got into Ianori in that rift¡­¡± Gabriel said to himself, pausing on a moment where Furion had a clear view of the man¡¯s new face, ¡°¡­It¡¯s evil.¡±

    Rap tap tap¡­

    He lifted his head; someone had knocked on his door.  He checked his HUD for the time; it was 02:41am, ¡°Who on Hadira would be up this late at my door?  Xanarken would never bother knocking¡­he hardly warns me as it is.¡± He wondered as he got up and walked over.  When he clicked the side-panel to see the image of who was there, he was only half-surprised that it was¡­  ¡°Seth..?¡±

    The teen looked worried but sheepish, ¡°Sorry, Mr. Gabriel¡­I¡­couldn¡¯t sleep.  I thought maybe¡­you wouldn¡¯t be able to either.¡±

    Gabriel shook his head, but then stepped out of the way and gestured in.  He watched Seth pass in front of him and then let the door slide shut again, ¡°Nightmares still?¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± He answered, and turned around as he backed into one of the two chairs at the small table, ¡°Every time I close my eyes, I can see Mr. Ianori¡­trying to come through that wall at us¡­¡±  He could see that same moment right then in his mind¡¯s eye, and shuddered, ¡°¡­I know you weren¡¯t awake for it, but¡­I didn¡¯t know who else to go to.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m curious why you didn¡¯t go look for your brother.¡±

    ¡°Furion is burning the midnight-oil with the Eidolon,¡± Seth answered, ¡°Preparing for tomorrow¡­  Er¡­later today?¡±

    ¡°I take your meaning.¡± Gabriel went back to sit on the bed, one leg dangling off the side as the other curled-up under him, and he crossed his arms, ¡°How¡¯s the back of your head?  I know you said it wasn¡¯t as bad as mine, but you still bled-out.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­I have some stitches, but I¡¯m okay.¡± The teen explained, lifting his right hand to touch at the one side, feeling the thickness of those fibers where they were different from his hair, ¡°What about you?¡±

    ¡°¡­Getting there.  Doesn¡¯t hurt if left alone, but¡­hard to sleep.  Can¡¯t get comfortable.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­¡±

    ¡°Xanarken gave me the final report from the rescue mission, and I saw everything I missed¡­  More than that, honestly¡­  More than I would¡¯ve wanted.¡± Gabriel continued, ¡°Trying to explain what happened is going to take a lot of work.  The words ¡®we have no idea¡¯ will be doing a lot of heavy-lifting tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°What happened to Mr. Ianori?¡± Seth asked, his brow furrowed with despair, ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to process what I saw at the end, when my brother and the others finally got to us¡­  They had to fight through him to get the door open.  Whatever it was, it was enough that ¨C for the first time in¡­well, ever, as far as I¡¯m aware ¨C a Fafnir was left behind on purpose.¡±

    ¡°I have no idea.  Whatever yanked him into the void gate seems to have come back with him.¡± Gabriel shrugged helplessly, ¡°That word he kept muttering¡­Scyrexian¡­  That must be what it is, or what it calls itself, or something to that effect.  That¡¯s what I heard the gate whispering before it went nuts, too.¡±

    ¡°Scyrexian¡­¡± Seth repeated, and went quiet in thought.  He shook his head though, ¡°I¡­I¡¯ve been wanting to ask you.  About what you experienced by the scar, when you said your Limitless activated without you.  ¡­I¡­think I¡¯m past the point of ever possibly getting the affliction myself, so I¡¯m perpetually stuck on the wrong side of a wall that I need to get through to understand this stuff.  But you could¡­¡±

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want it.¡± The mediator countered, ¡°It¡¯s not worth it.¡±

    ¡°But-¡°

    ¡°Trust me.¡±

    Seth deflated, ¡°That¡¯s so unfair¡­  For as long as I can remember, I¡¯ve been fascinated by it ¨C and the void scars.  Ever since that first time I heard about the way the colony fleet came down, and Caeros¡¯ involvement...I¡¯ve known there was something to it.  I¡¯ve been given so much more than I could¡¯ve ever asked for in my pursuit of learning more, but¡­not having the affliction myself is a massive handicap.  You saw and heard things I couldn¡¯t pick up on a single sensor.  You can¡¯t fathom how frustrating that is to know¡­¡±

    Gabriel slouched slightly, ¡°¡­Sorry, it¡¯s¡­¡± He shook his head and looked away, ¡°It¡¯s a sensitive issue for me.¡±

    ¡°Is there more to it?  ¡­Than the obvious?¡± The teen wondered, ¡°¡­Sorry, if that¡¯s asking too much¡­¡±

    The mediator considered those words for a moment.  The conversation with the Eidolon a few hours earlier was still fresh, and the way Rylen had gone off his curated rails at the end still made Gabriel¡¯s heart race anxiously.  He pressed his fingers to his chest, and spread them out against the shirt a few times to soothe it, ¡°¡­When I was really young, I couldn¡¯t control it at all.  My eyes would light up whenever I got too excited or scared, and¡­the number of times I accidentally split something in half was enough to drive my mother and I away from the village we¡¯d started in.  When the Fafnir found us, we were transients, passing through this camp, where people went when they had no where else to go.  Xanarken told me that a dangerous Limitless-user was tracked to there, but he had the ability to mask who he was, so he kept getting away.  He¡¯d apparently caused so much damage ¨C and each time, fled back to the Exclusion Zone ¨C that they were at their wits end.  Everyone was a target until he was taken out.  Everyone except me, I guess¡­since this guy couldn¡¯t change his height.  But¡­my mother¡­¡±

    Seth lowered his gaze quietly.

    ¡°I hated the Council for a long time after.  Xanarken had to ask for help with me because of it, and this guy named J¡¯ard came in¡­  To this day, I¡¯m not even sure if he was afflicted himself, or if he was just a really thorough and physical child-psychologist, but he put me through the ringer¡­¡±

    ¡°J¡¯ard¡­¡± Seth echoed, ¡°That¡­sounds familiar for some reas-¡­ Oh!  I know!¡±

    ¡°You know?¡±

    ¡°J¡¯ard Qiste!  He¡¯s a First Winger!¡± The teen lit-up, glad to finally know something helpful, ¡°He used to be one of Lord Rylen¡¯s Inquisitors ¨C learning about the Limitless and how to counteract it; they¡¯re the ones who developed the sensory-deprivation helmets ¨C but he felt his calling somewhere else.  He became a tracker, of a sort, finding people with the affliction who were trying to hide it, to make sure they were on the registry.  He was unpopularly effective; became known as a home-wrecker.¡±

    ¡°¡­Okay?¡±

    ¡°He claimed that his purpose in life was ¡®helping people find their way,¡¯ but those who didn¡¯t appreciate his methods countered it by saying he helped people ¡®find their way onto the lists.¡¯¡± Seth continued, and looked up as he crossed his arms, and tapped one elbow with a finger, ¡°His methods were rather popular with Lord Rylen though.  I don¡¯t even know how many afflicted people he tracked down in the end, but¡­because he was so good at it, he also developed a knack for being able to talk panicked afflicted down from their shock of being found.  Like being able to calm a raging mustang, he just¡­found a way to work between the cracks of peoples¡¯ psyches, and reasoned them into submission.¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    Gabriel made a face and grumbled slightly, ¡°¡­Yeah, that sounds like what he did to me.  Xanarken basically left me with the guy for a whole year before coming back.  By then, I was a completely different kid, and Xanarken took me under his own wing from then on.¡±

    Seth smiled, ¡°People still speculate wildly on why he did that.¡±

    The mediator guffawed, ¡°I still speculate wildly on why he did that.¡±

    The teen huffed a laugh, ¡°The whims of the Eidolon are an enigma.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ve never told anyone that story,¡± Gabriel noted quietly, and Seth buttoned-up again as well, ¡°Granted, I think you¡¯re the first person to ever just talk to me.  In every other case, it¡¯s always business¡­¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, pathetic as that sounds.  I don¡¯t make or keep friends easily.  For a guy whose job it is to make nice with folks, I tend to keep them at arm¡¯s length.¡± He hefted his dangling leg up onto the bed and cross the two together there, ¡°What I am and where I¡¯m from makes people dubious of me.¡±

    ¡°I think you¡¯re pretty cool.¡± Seth pointed at himself.

    Gabriel just huffed, ¡°Trauma-bonding at its best.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m serious!  I mean, granted¡­you were in a bad mood when we first met, and Miss Ren asked you to help me by doing something you didn¡¯t want to do¡­and then we got chased by a blood-crazed Magistrate, and we were in prison together for a bit¡­but¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, trauma-bonding.¡±

    ¡°Augh¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­Well, I guess it¡¯s fine.¡± Gabriel followed, and drew those green eyes back onto himself, ¡°Maybe something better can come out of it.¡±

    ¡°¡­You mean it?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± He shrugged, ¡°Come over here.  I¡¯ll give you something you want.¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡±

    Gabriel lowered his face briefly, and reached behind himself to pull the tie out of his hair.  When he lifted his eyes again¡­that golden-white light started to pour out of them.

    Seth was immediately on his feet and all-but jumped onto the foot of the bed, staring in shock, ¡°I-I don¡¯t have my glasses!  You can¡¯t do this to me when I¡¯m not ready!¡±

    That glow intensified, growing from a simple mist emitted from brightly-illuminated irises, to the coalescing tails of light that extended out to the side, then up, fading away at the tapered ends, ¡°Just a taste of things to come.  Consider it a thanks, for keeping me grounded in that cell.  I dunno if I would¡¯ve managed half as well if I only had Ren¡¯s unconscious body to keep me company.¡±  Behind him, his loosened hair hovered upwards, floating and coalescing slowly, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s time I tried to learn more about it myself.  We can do it together.¡±

    Seth was amazed, looking at every visible effect of that affliction.  He even sat up on his knees and poked at that floating length of hair, ¡°It¡­it¡¯s like oil, in this state¡­¡± He threaded his fingers through it like a comb, though when he sat back down, he realized his fingers were now wet, and he saw red on them, ¡°¡­What¡¯s¡­this?¡±

    Gabriel gave a gentle sigh, ¡°The only part of my affliction that I can¡¯t consciously get rid of.  It¡¯s¡­a tell, from the moment my mom died.  When the Fafnir killed her, her blood got into my eye and hair¡­and it¡¯s just¡­stayed that way, ever since, like a shadow that walks beside me.¡±

    ¡°Sheesh¡­¡± The teen turned his hand over, observing the red smears on his skin, ¡°¡­All this time, I thought you did it with nanotech as a fashion statement.  I should¡¯ve immediately realized that wasn¡¯t the case when I saw you in Kitez, and you still had it.¡±

    ¡°I guess I could do the opposite though¡­and use nanotech to hide it.¡± The mediator commented, ¡°At this point, I feel like it would be disrespectful to my mom¡¯s memory if I did, though.  I see the red as a reminder of how far I¡¯ve come, and to never forget where I started.¡±

    Seth rubbed his fingertips together, ¡°¡­It¡¯s drying-out¡­and tacky, like real blood would be.  I¡­wonder what it would look like under a microscope.¡±

    ¡°Prince Iresha has a similar thing happen with his affliction; his hair sometimes turns to fire when he really gets going.¡± Gabriel noted, and closed his eyes to shake the effect away; the glowing tails warbling from his eyes dissipated, and his hair went down to fall behind his back; completely dry, in its normal state, it was as if the tips of his hair had been dyed long ago, ¡°There¡¯ll be time enough to figure all that out later.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s so cool.  I¡¯m so jealous.¡±

    ¡°Take that excitement back to bed, kid, and get some sleep.  I need to do the same.  I have to work tomorrow.¡±

    .

    Just as Rylen had stated, the Kitezans had arrived the following day, roughly around noon.  With the border between Sargon and Kitez being through the middle of a mountain-range, ships were made to zig-zag on their way through¡­and those on the western half were careful to keep a certain distance.

    ¡°Eidolon of the First, Sixth, and Fourth, on deck!¡±

    The bridge-crew stood and showed their respect, then went back to their stations.  Rylen led the way to the middle of the command level, with Xanarken close behind; Captain Rydell stood nearby, behind and to his Eidolon¡¯s left.  Gabriel was the last to arrive, and stood behind and to the right of his own Eidolon. Tensions were high as the Aegis¡¯ main-screen showed the arrival of more and more ships, flanking the Duchy¡¯s primary.  Several of those ships were the same shape and image as the Magistrate¡¯s vessel, and everyone who saw them knew that half the Conclave had arrived.

    Gabriel sucked in a deep breath, ¡°All this because of a rescue¡­¡±

    ¡°If only it was so simple,¡± Xanarken spoke quietly in answer.

    Within a few minutes ¨C and after the entire Kitezan fleet could be seen ¨C the Duchy¡¯s flagship flashed its forward lights, indicating they were ready to proceed.  Xanarken nodded to the communications chief, and the forward screen shifted to a new display.  Upon it was the visage of a woman; wild, fire-red hair cascaded behind an antlered crown, which came down on either side to frame her decorated face.  Small metallic chimes hung from the rear-facing brow tine on each side, jingling softly with any subtle movement.  Her skin was painted white, and a reddish-magenta hue went around her eyes; she looked every bit as fierce as she did regal.

    ¡°Funny that we should meet on such an auspicious occasion, Eidolon.¡± The Duchess started, ¡°Such a shame that we can¡¯t meet in person, as we once would.¡±  Her eyes went conspicuously towards Furion, ¡°You have with you a lineage known for its¡­outbursts.¡±

    Gabriel side-eyed the Captain, looking for a reaction, but Furion was resolute and barely blinked.

    ¡°Duchess Far¡¯nah.  We haven¡¯t had the pleasure of meeting.¡± Xanarken answered, and stepped forward on that elevated deck, ¡°Will your husband be joining us?¡±

    ¡°My beloved has deferred the negotiations to me.  He lacks the¡­political constitution necessary to be under such pressure.  A gentle soul, he is.¡± She answered.

    In the background, off the screen, Duke Mardu felt a bead of sweat roll down the back of his neck.  He looked rather plain by comparison to his wife; a simple man with boring brown hair, not even styled into anything, and with a face full of stubble.  Beside him, however, was a man who looked quite a bit more interesting; long black hair cut at mid-back in a straight line, slicked back and away from his face¡­half of which was covered by a chrome-metal mask.  It obscured his right eye, most of his cheek ¨C nearly down to the jawline ¨C the side of his nose, and went up to round-out above the hairline of his brow.  On the other side, past the alcove where Far¡¯nah was being depicted, was Magistrate Regulus.  On both sides were a number of other Magistrates of the Conclave; many wore their long white cowls, but some went without.

    Ahead of the Duchess was a screen of their own, with the image of the Aegis¡¯ deck on display, and primarily, Xanarken himself, out in front and center.  The Eidolon just set his hands, relaxed, behind his back, ¡°Very well.  Let¡¯s get on with it then.  I¡¯ll even let you go first.¡±

    ¡°How gracious, considering you¡¯ve invaded our country.¡± She retorted, ¡°Again.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps we should go first then.  We were, after all, invited.¡± Xanarken countered, ¡°Approximately one month ago, retired Magistrate Gavin Mallerd sent a request through the First Wing for an agent of the Inquisition to investigate a spontaneous void rift, which had opened on his property sometime before.  Not wanting to compromise the identities of those anonymous soldiers, Lord Rylen sent Setharion Rydell instead, with a single Fafnir Knight ¨C without armor ¨C to accompany him.  For the duration of that month, he worked quietly and peacefully, without any interaction with anyone outside of the Honorable Gavin Mallerd¡¯s homestead.  Without the ability to communicate with Seth or Sir Ianori, a mediator and his trainee were later sent to bring them home.  At that time, Magistrate Regulus Laurier took it upon himself to track, trap, imprison, and torture them, and then evaded us in our effort to get them back.  We were eventually able to bring most of them home¡­but you retain one Fafnir Knight who was regrettably left behind.  And now we¡¯re here, ready to negotiate in good faith for his safe return¡­and you have chosen to bring an armada.¡±

    ¡°After your Fafnir Knights massacred nearly everyone aboard the Magistrate¡¯s ship, we would be fools not to.¡± Far¡¯nah parried, ¡°We now find ourselves seated outside the Fafnir¡¯s home fortress; what¡¯s to say they won¡¯t simply come and try to do the same to us again?¡±

    ¡°My Knights caused no such damage aboard that ship,¡± Rylen chimed-in, ¡°In fact, the only encounter they even had was with the Magistrate himself, and we have the footage to prove he was alive and unharmed when they left.  Whatever casualties you want to lay at their feet, had already been casualties before they arrived.¡±

    ¡°Oh, really?  Then who¡¯s this?¡± The Duchess waved at the screen, and upon it displayed the image of Scyrexianori; security footage from his initial attack on the first person he saw upon awakening, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this is the Fafnir Knight you also ended up leaving behind.  The one you now want back.¡±

    Rylen gestured defiantly, ¡°Whatever that is, it isn¡¯t one of mine.¡±

    Xanarken held his arm out to calm his brother¡¯s temper, ¡°It¡¯s Sir Ianori¡¯s body, but you can clearly see from your own sources that he was extremely dead.  Enough-so that one of your surgeons was going to do an autopsy on him.¡±

    ¡°Believed dead isn¡¯t the same as confirmed dead.  All I see, from our own sources, is a man rising up and committing murder.¡± The Duchess scoffed.

    Gabriel stepped closer and whispered to the Fourth, ¡°Are we really going to have to bear responsibility for what Scyrexian did while using Ianori¡¯s body?¡±

    ¡°I think so. Blaming an unknown force that Sir Ianori encountered in an extra dimensional rift will sound more insane than the suggestion that he rose from the dead.¡± He answered, then turned back to the main-screen, ¡°And where is he now, then?¡±

    ¡°Confirmed dead.¡±

    Furion grit his teeth, ¡°That¡¯s not the state we left him in.¡±

    ¡°We know for a fact that Sir Ianori was locked in the brig when the Fafnir Knights evacuated.  He was quite alive at that time.  Are you admitting that you murdered him?¡± Xanarken pressed, ¡°This will be a very different conversation in that case.¡±

    ¡°How do we kill someone whom you said was already dead?¡±

    ¡°Where is Sir Ianori?  Return his body and we may yet part without hostilities.¡± Xanarken warned, ¡°As it stands, Seth and Sir Ianori were guests within your borders.¡±

    ¡°The two who followed were not.  Moreover, for late former Magistrate Mallerd had no authority to send that invitation.  So, all four were within our borders illegally, and given the nature of your¡­organization¡­is tantamount to an invasion.¡±

    ¡°¡¯Late Magistrate?¡¯¡± Gabriel echoed, and sneered slightly, ¡°Regulus killed him.  After we left.  That¡¯s the only way.¡±

    ¡°It seems we¡¯re at an impasse,¡± The Duchess pulled back their attention, ¡°We have something you want¡­and every way of proving that your man slaughtered an entire crew in cold blood, repeating the sins of the past.  Imagine what the Hadiran Accord would think if we reached out and showed them what you¡¯ve done?¡±

    ¡°If you joined them this wouldn¡¯t even be an issue,¡± The Fourth replied, ¡°These constant petty squabbles between us only occur because Kitez won¡¯t fall in line with the others.¡±

    ¡°Fall in line?¡± Far¡¯nah balked, then laughed, and leaned forward in her seat, hands white-knuckling the arm-rests, ¡°Your Lordship, Kitez is a sovereign nation.  We don¡¯t owe you our obeisance.  You show no respect for our borders nor our laws.  You incur into our territories without regard for the damage you do.  You should be on your knees, begging us for leniency.¡±

    Rylen scoffed, and stepped closer to his fellow, ¡°This is going nowhere.  We could just deploy the Fafnir and finish them.  Kitez can be ours within the day, and we¡¯ll be done with this stupidity once and for all.¡±

    Xanarken just shook his head, ¡°The Accord would never accept such a hostile take-over.  We risk fracturing it apart by being violent.¡±  He turned back to the Duchess, ¡°Name your price for Sir Ianori¡¯s return.¡±

    Far¡¯nah sat back in her throne again, ¡°¡­Recognition.  Formal and irrefutable recognition.  The way you recognize the Empire of Sargon.¡±

    Rylen visibly rolled his eyes, ¡°Kitez is nothing but a rogue colony.¡± He argued loudly, ¡°One that¡¯s gotten a really big head, and too big for its britches.¡±

    ¡°So, you admit it then!¡± The Duchess rose to her feet then, the chimes on her crown singing, ¡°You don¡¯t recognize the validity of any nation on the face of this world.  You¡¯re just paying lip-service where it benefits you to keep everyone under your thumb!¡±

    Xanarken¡¯s expression tensed; the more Rylen ran his mouth, the fewer options he had.  But, there was some truth in what the First Eidolon said, and the Fourth retook command of the talk, ¡°It¡¯s not lip-service, Duchess.  It¡¯s peace.  It¡¯s equity.  These colonies can call themselves whatever they want as long as they all play nice and stay in their lanes.¡±

    ¡°¡­Tsh, under the thumb of the Luminary Council.¡± She scowled.

    ¡°Under a thumb or with a boot on your neck.  The choice is yours.¡±

    ¡°Kitez will never bow to you.¡±

    Xanarken had finally lost his patience, ¡°This child¡­¡±

    Understanding what that tone meant, Rylen couldn¡¯t help but smirk, and looked back out at the screen; there was about to be a spectacle, and he was in the first row.

    ¡°Under the authority vested to me as the Eidolon of the Fourth Wing of the Luminary Council, I, Xanarken Tellan, hereby disable the World Cloud border-barrier protocol with Colony-territory: Kitez.¡± Xanarken announced loudly, much to the chagrin and surprise of everyone on the Kitezan side.

    Furion sat back in his Captain¡¯s seat, ¡°I need all shields up, and all weapons at the ready.  This is all hands on deck.  Ship-wide alert.¡±

    ¡°Sir!¡±

    Lights flickered on Xanarken¡¯s eyes, and to his sights, he could envision the gaping hole in the coverage of the World Cloud.  He zoomed-in on the spot the Aegis was parked, and raised a finger out in front of himself.  As he moved his arm forward, his finger dragged the perimeter forward¡­creating an inward bulge in the restrictive edge of the World Cloud¡¯s permissible existence.  With a flicker, the invisible wall that contained the nanotechnology of the Council was broken, and the shimmer of all those microscopic particles flooded forward.

    The Kitezan fleet was visibly alarmed, but there was nothing they could do.  Within a few seconds, their entire position was reconstituted within the World Cloud¡¯s boundary, and every inch of them was surrounded by that imperceivable dust.

    Far¡¯nah could feel her heart pounding; the entire Conclave looked anxious and afraid.  Even Regulus wasn¡¯t sure what to do.  The lights in the room darkened, and from those new shadows, the visage of Xanarken himself manifested.  He stepped forward with an eerie, smooth grace, and brought a blade to Far¡¯nah¡¯s throat.

    He looked past her shoulder, to the throne behind her, and held perfectly still, ¡°The only reason Kitez still exists is because the Luminary Council allows it.  I could kill every single person in your fleet, right here, and right now.  Two clicks, and the World Cloud suddenly doesn¡¯t have the programming to avoid being breathed in¡­and you know what can happen to a person when the lungs suddenly fill-up with debris.¡±

    Far¡¯nah¡¯s eyes ¨C and whole body ¨C trembled.  She could feel the edge of the knife against her skin; even made of nanomachines, it had a razor-sharp blade.

    ¡°If Sir Ianori is truly dead this time, then you can keep his body.  That will be my gift to you¡­as an apology for the incursion into your ¡®territory.¡¯¡± Xanarken continued quietly, ¡°But you will withdraw without another word.  You will take your fleet back to Oceanside, and disperse however you want across that antiquated Hellscape you claim to call a country¡­and this will not¡­happen¡­again.  Do we understand one another?¡±

    She hesitated, but then timidly nodded; sweat beaded under her crown¡¯s jeweled fore-band, and slipped down the side of her face, taking a trail of red hue down her cheek and neck.

    ¡°Then give the order.¡±

    The Duchess ¨C and every terrified set of eyes watching helplessly from every angle ¨C raised her right hand for their attention, ¡°W-we¡­we¡¯re leaving.  All ships, turn around immediately.  Return to the capitol.  B-by order of the Duchy.¡±

    The command was disseminated throughout the armada, and ¨C one by one ¨C the ships started to turn around.  At the last, the Duchy¡¯s flagship finally did the same, and once Xanarken was sure that it had arrived at the new perimeter of the World Cloud, he let his blade dissolve and took a step back, ¡°It was a pleasure meeting you, Duchess Far¡¯nah.¡±  He looked towards her husband, ¡°Duke Mardu.  Magistrates.¡± He looked directly at that here-to-fore quiet masked figure, ¡°Latheroux.¡±

    The border barrier passed through the ship, and Xanarken¡¯s mantle exploded into nothingness.  He remanifested aboard the bridge of the Aegis beside his brother, and let out a sigh, ¡°I¡¯m restoring the barrier to its prior position.  Aegis crew, stand down.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yessir.¡± Furion acknowledged.

    Rylen snorted a laugh as the main-screen changed over from the negotiations window to just the sight of the fleet retreating, ¡°What¡¯d you say to her?  I love it when you get this way.¡±

    ¡°¡­I merely reminded her of her place.¡±

    Gabriel got a shiver down his spine to hear it, ¡°¡­Jeeze¡­¡±

 Book I â€“ Chapter 13 â€“ Not Every Defeat Is A Loss; Sometimes Itâ€™s A Calculated Retreat

    The sight of the retreating Kitezan fleet was something to behold as it was, from the bridge of the Aegis, but from the ground, it was confusing.  Squinting eyes looked up into the noon-day sky, and saw the shimmer of the World Cloud get pushed back to its former position in real-time.  With his heart pounding ¨C and half his body bandaged - former-Prince Aamin watched in horror as the armada left mere minutes after arriving.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing for it, your Majesty,¡± Someone said from a distance, ¡°They¡¯re gone.¡±

    ¡°Why are we even moping about it?¡± Another voice asked; there were two men off in the distance, each one shaking their heads, ¡°It was a fluke that we were even in the area for this.  There was no chance they were going to see you down here.¡±

    ¡°I have to get into Kitez¡­¡± Aamin muttered to himself pitifully.

    ¡°We¡¯ll just keep going for the border check-point,¡± The first man said, and hiked his backpack up a bit higher onto his shoulders, ¡°Announce yourself to them as planned and they¡¯ll send a Magistrate to hear your bid for asylum.¡±

    ¡°We could just walk in.  It¡¯s not like anyone could stop us going through the rest of the mountains.¡±

    ¡°It would take us days to cross; it¡¯ll take us one day to get to the nearest checkpoint.  We¡¯re going north.¡±

    .

    ¡°I WANT EVERY MAGISTRATE IN THIS ROOM IN AN HOUR.¡± Far¡¯nah yelled, bursting into the Duchy¡¯s capitol throne room.  Regulus was already with her, having never parted from her side since the border conflict, but others were further down the hall, contemplating their next move.  Far¡¯nah flipped around on a heel, and looked at them all urgently, ¡°WELL!?  EVERY.  MAGISTRATE.¡±

    ¡°Dear, they¡¯ve just been on a 3-day crisis-tour.  They¡¯re exhausted.¡± Duke Mardu said, his hands went gently forward to caress her arms soothingly, ¡°Let them have the day.  The danger is over¡­¡±

    ¡°They can¡¯t keep getting away with this!¡± She protested, and lifted her own hands to cup her palms around her husband¡¯s face, ¡°They¡¯ve already taken your childhood friend from you¡­  They can¡¯t be allowed to take anymore¡­¡±

    ¡°Iresha is a man with his own problems,¡± Mardu countered, and pet the back of those hands, kissing one palm affectionately, ¡°When his son manifested the affliction, it was a death-sentence for his Empire.  With no one in Sargon qualified or capable of helping the young Prince¡­it was only a matter of time before he was forced to call in the Eidolon.¡±

    ¡°But what about our empire?¡± Far¡¯nah wondered, ¡°We don¡¯t even have a son.  Or a daughter.  When we¡¯re gone, there¡¯s no telling what will happen to Kitez¡­¡±

    ¡°Antagonizing the Eidolon into attacking us will only hasten that tragic future.¡±

    That just made her shake with anger, ¡°They¡¯re a cancer, Mardu¡­  We¡¯re the only place they haven¡¯t metastasized into¡­¡±

    ¡°Just get some rest for now.  In an hour, the Conclave will be gathered, and we can discuss what to do next.  We have enough to talk about with all the people coming from Sargon who are seeking refugee status here¡­  Let¡¯s tend to their needs before we feed our own egos.¡±

    Far¡¯nah felt a pain in her chest, and pulled away.  She looked at the man with a sense of being betrayed, ¡°¡­When did you become so soft?  It¡¯s a tragedy that the Duchy¡¯s line will end with¡­with this¡­¡±

    Mardu could only look on helplessly as his wife stormed off, and slammed yet another door behind herself as she fled into an antechamber to the throne-room.  Three Magistrates all crowded around the man in somber silence, Regulus included, though one stepped forward and in front of the others, ¡°I¡¯ll talk to her.  She heeds my counsel.¡±

    One of the youngest Magistrates of the New Conclave, Judge Oberoi had risen quickly, making a name for himself with a keen eye for truth and lies.  Side-swept pale brown hair went past his shoulders, over white-cloaked shoulders, and grey-blue eyes looked up at that closed door.  He gently tapped his delicate fingers on the enameled wood, ¡°My Lady, it¡¯s me.¡±  He waited for a little while, then knocked again, ¡°My Lady¡­¡±

    ¡°Come in¡­¡±

    He smiled and clicked the door open, and disappeared within.

    Regulus grumbled quietly at the sight, but turned to leave, ¡°I¡¯ll be back for the meeting.  Your Grace.¡± He bowed his head towards the Duke, and stepped away.  With the other Magistrates also vacating for the time being, Mardu was all-but left alone in that huge room.

    Passing Regulus on his way out, the masked enigma came in, ¡°Your Grace¡­are you okay?  You said you¡¯d wanted to speak to the Eidolon, but at the last moment, you froze.¡±

    Mardu nodded in shame, ¡°¡­What do you do when your own wife scares you?¡± He asked, ¡°Latheroux¡­  I¡¯m a boat adrift in a sea of anti-Luminary sentiment¡­  I fear that if I speak my mind, I¡¯ll be cast down, and out¡­  Far¡¯nah hasn¡¯t listened to me in years.  The Conclave has largely taken her side.  I¡¯m the only one left who still believes we can come to a mutually-beneficial path forward with the Council¡­  We¡­we can do like Sargon, and let them in without them dominating our leadership.  Emperor Iresha still-¡°

    ¡°Your Grace, the Emperor is about to find himself in a very unfortunate situation.¡± Latheroux answered, ¡°His son¡¯s affliction has put his back to the wall.  It¡¯s only a matter of time before the Eidolon broach the idea of sending the Prince to the College at Agartha, where he can be better trained in the control over his curse.  However, we both know that by sending him there, he will become indoctrinated to the Council¡¯s side.  Before long, he will become Emperor of Sargon after his father, and Sargon will be lost entirely.  Kitez is the only place left that stands on its own two feet.  ¡­You still have time to decide a succession, if you aren¡¯t able to produce an heir.¡±

    Mardu could only nod.

    Within the antechamber, Judge Oberoi followed behind the Duchess quietly, and she draped herself across a long reclining couch, ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know what to do with him.¡± She lamented, and brought her hands up to cover her eyes, ¡°When my parents, the former Duchy, were still in power¡­I thought taking a meek and mild husband would please them.  That it would assuage their worries that a man would step into the court they gave to me, and try to take control for himself.  Sadly, he neither seeks command, nor supports me in mine.  He just¡­languishes, with no opinions whatsoever.¡±

    Judge Oberoi stepped closer, and moved his cloak aside so he could sit at the end of that same couch, ¡°Your Grace, most nations are ruled by a single sovereign¡­or President, or Prime Minister, as the case may be.  The Emperor now has no spouse at all.  You need not stress over doing this alone.¡±

    ¡°I want to see the Luminary Council burn to ash¡­¡± She said grimly, and lowered her hands to her sides.  She then pushed up to an elbow, then sat fully up, with the sound of those chimes clinking softly around her.  She reached forward and pressed a palm to that pale skin, ¡°¡­You¡¯re so young, Honorable Judge Oberoi.  In another life, you¡­might¡¯ve been my son.  Alas, I can only settle for you as my tragic confidant¡­¡±

    ¡°In private company, you can call me Tallus, my Lady.¡± He answered, and reached up to softly pull her fingers from his cheek.  He kissed those soft knuckles, and held there for a moment¡­only for his eyes to open, glowing with an eerie light.  He lowered the woman¡¯s hand to his chin, and smiled, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to fear.¡±

    She didn¡¯t seem to be bothered by the sight; it was as if she couldn¡¯t see it at all, ¡°You¡¯re just going to talk me down from my ambitions again, aren¡¯t you?  Tallus¡­¡±

    That soft smile widened slightly, and the luminous projections drifted forward, until the golden-white glimmer went into the Duchess¡¯ own eyes.  She seemed to breathe it in ¨C like an intoxicating smoke ¨C and seemed sedate for it.  Tallus strengthened that connection though, ¡°We can¡¯t goad the Eidolon into a fight.  There¡¯s far too much at risk if they take any excuse to come here by force.  You must show restraint.  The lion that stalks beyond the bars ¨C but never enters - is as safe as one that isn¡¯t there at all.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll¡­try¡­¡±

    .

    Four days later¡­

    The slow, rhythmic sound of a bedside monitor was the first thing Ren became aware of when lucidity returned to her.  She slowly opened her eyes ¨C the room was hazy ¨C and she turned her head on the pillow below.  To the right, there was a big circular window, showing the midday countryside from high up in the sky; high enough that clouds passed by within arm¡¯s reach.  She turned again, to the left, and the first thing she saw was the elevated angle of her arm.  There was a blue, gel-like wrap around it, from armpit to wrist, but where she could see her hand sticking out the end, it didn¡¯t seem right.  She couldn¡¯t feel it. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    ¡°Ren?¡±

    ¡°H-huh¡­uhh¡­¡±

    Gabriel was the first to rise from the small table in the corner, near the door; Seth was the next.  The two came to either side of the bedside, and each looked down on that hazy face, ¡°Ren, take it slow¡­¡±

    ¡°Wh¡­where¡­¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re on the Aegis, Miss Ren.  They got us out.¡± Seth explained, and cupped both of his hands around her forearm and thumb on the right side, careful of the IV lines and where they connected to the back of her hand, ¡°We¡¯re safe.¡±

    Ren¡¯s eyes closed again with a mixture of relief and anxiety, but she turned her attention to her mentor on the left side, ¡°What¡­happened¡­?¡±

    He smiled, ¡°You¡¯re on the good drugs, Ren.  Don¡¯t think about it yet.  We can talk about it when you¡¯re out of bed.¡±

    ¡°I¡­can¡¯t¡­  I can¡¯t feel my hand¡­¡± She mumbled, ¡°It¡¯s¡­so cold¡­¡±

    Gabriel took a step back towards the corner and grabbed one of the pair of chairs, swung it around to bedside and set it backwards before him, then sat.  With his left elbow on the mattress, he threaded his fingers through her grip, and cupped the right over the back of it, ¡°Now?¡±

    She all-but hissed from the surprise, ¡°Wh-why¡­does it look like that?  That¡¯s¡­not my hand¡­¡±

    ¡°Do you remember fighting that Magistrate?¡±

    ¡°Mhm¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, unfortunately¡­you lost that one.  He got your left arm for the trouble.  The one I¡¯m holding onto now is¡­from the selective cloning program.  They basically grew a new one for you over the last few days.  You had surgery to attach it yesterday.¡± Gabriel explained, and rubbed his thumb back and forth softly over her own, ¡°It¡¯ll be a while before it¡¯s semi-functional, but¡­it¡¯s good to know that you¡¯re getting some sensation out of it already.  That¡¯s a good sign.¡±

    ¡°The others are going to be thrilled to know you¡¯re finally awake,¡± Seth commented, and gave that un-mangled arm a happy squeeze, ¡°Everyone¡¯s been so worried.¡±

    ¡°Who¡­came for us¡­?¡±

    ¡°My brother, Miss Ravan, Mr. Corbin, and Commander Donivan.¡± The teen answered easily, ¡°But we¡­I mean, they¡­had to leave Mr. Ianori behind.¡±

    ¡°What?  No¡­!¡± She actually tried to push up onto her elbow to hear it, but Gabriel was quickly up and leaned forward to brace her shoulder, nearly knocking the chair out from under himself in so doing.

    ¡°Easy, Ren¡­you¡¯re not gonna have a good time if you try to get up too fast.¡± He warned, and pulled his hand back again to grab the thin metal crest of the chair to set it right again, ¡°Seth, you wanna get the doc?¡±

    ¡°Yeah!¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡± Ren countered, and Seth stopped at the corner of the bed, gaping back in confusion, ¡°¡­No¡­¡± She said again.

    ¡°Miss Ren?¡±

    ¡°Just¡­someone¡­get me up.¡±

    Gabriel shook his head, ¡°Probably not a good idea.¡±

    She just glowered at him, ¡°UP.  NOW.¡±

    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡± He quickly changed his tune and was back on his feet to do exactly that.  Using a length of the bedsheet to fashion a sling ¨C with the rest of it hanging over her shoulder to cover her exposed back through the hospital gown ¨C Ren hobbled her way through the door.  Gabriel stayed under her right arm, bent over though it made him given how much taller he was.  Once they were out in the hall though, Gabriel gave up on that posture and stood up straight, letting the woman¡¯s arm go down behind and around his back instead, ¡°Hook your thumb into my belt or something.  I¡¯ll steady you this way instead.¡±  He kept his right hand over hers, and set his left behind her to clasp around her ribs, ¡°Easy¡­¡±

    ¡°Where do you want to go, exactly¡­?¡± Seth wondered skeptically.

    ¡°Anywhere else¡­¡± She answered, struggling against gravity to stay on her feet.  Her head swam a little, but she refused to give in, ¡°I can¡¯t stand the beeping¡­¡±

    Ren¡¯s escape-attempt hadn¡¯t gone unnoticed, and medical staff was already putting out alerts to those who might want to have certain updates.  The trio didn¡¯t make it a hundred feet down the long hall before Fafnir Knights started showing up.

    ¡°Ren¡­?¡± That was Ravan¡¯s voice ¨C dark olive skin with bright brown eyes, black hair, and a red streak through it on the left side - and Seth waved at her excitedly, ¡°Shit, what are you doing out of bed?¡±

    ¡°I¡­I gotta get outta here¡­¡± The Fourth trainee answered warily, ¡°Before¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­Ren!¡±

    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±

    ¡°Ugh?¡± Gabriel repeated, ¡°What¡¯s ¡®ugh¡¯?¡±

    That would be Captain Rydell, who ¨C along with Donivan and one other ¨C came out of the same nearby elevator just down the hall from them.  Furion came rushing around them and went out in front, eyes darting every which way at the sight of her ¨C and the man who dared to hold onto her.  All three Fafnir side-eyed their commander knowingly, but said nothing, except Ravan.

    She stepped out between them with her hands up in front of the frigid man carefully, ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a perfectly reasonable explanation for this-¡°

    ¡°Uhh¡­¡± Ren groaned and her head dipped; everything went tits-up after that.

    Gabriel was quick to steady her descent, but as soon as he had her head against his shoulder, he hefted her legs up over his right arm, and looked at the gathered, ¡°She doesn¡¯t want to be in a room with all the monitors.  Can she go somewhere else?  Does she still have her own quarters on this ship?¡±

    Furion practically short-circuited from the sight of it, and all of Ravan¡¯s efforts to stall him seemed for nought; he went straight through her and stepped directly up to the mediator, eyes dark, ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?  Sir.¡±  He nearly choked on the word.

    ¡°What?¡± Gabriel answered back nonchalantly, ¡°She insisted on getting up.  I dunno if you¡¯ve ever been on the receiving end of an order from her, but I just was, and I¡¯m not gonna argue back.  So, I helped her up¡­then I started to feel her going down, and now we¡¯re here.  ¡­Does she still have a room or not?¡±

    Donivan could all-but feel his Captain¡¯s blood-pressure rising, and moved to diffuse the situation; he was a well-built older man with silver running over both ears, a complexion on the russet side, and thin, dark brown eyes.  He stepped forward on Furion¡¯s left, ¡°I can show you, sir.  Come on this way.¡±

    Gabriel stepped around as well and followed the eldest Fafnir towards the elevator they¡¯d all just come from, leaving Furion, Ravan and their third ¨C Jense Dmitry, a man a bit younger than his Captain, with slicked-back sandy-brown hair, and blue eyes ¨C to stand in confusion in the corridor.  The two of them looked to Furion though, and he could only bristle in silent rage.

    ¡°¡­They¡¯ve been through a lot, sir¡­I¡¯m sure it¡¯s nothing¡­¡± Ravan attempted, ¡°What was he going to do otherwise, let her collapse?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re insinuating, Dame.¡± Furion said stiffly, ¡°I¡¯m glad he caught her.  It was the right thing to do.  ¡­Back to your posts.¡±

    Jense and Ravan watched him go in the other direction, and Jense spoke out the corner of his mouth, ¡°It¡¯s like he still thinks no one knows.¡±

    ¡°Worst kept secret on the ship, honestly.¡± She agreed, ¡°But what does he mean by ¡®posts¡¯?  We don¡¯t have ¡®posts.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Training simulators, then?  I was gonna go play some racket-ball, myself.  Wanna come?¡±

    ¡°Oh, yeah.  Sure.  ¡­Why are we still whispering?¡±

    .

    Donivan opened the door to those 4-months-vacant quarters, but Seth was the first one to venture inside.  There was a certain smell about the place, for having been closed-off as long as it had, but it looked like it had been abandoned in a hurry.  Fafnir-Knight rooms were like small apartments, equipped with their own bedroom, living-space, kitchen, bathroom, and all the other essentials of living onboard a SkyFortress for months at a time.

    When Gabriel finally walked in, he was surprised at the space, ¡°¡­So this was your home away from home before.¡±

    ¡°This must¡¯ve been how she left it the morning of that last mission,¡± Donivan surmised, ¡°There¡¯s still a cup in the sink from her last coffee.  ¡­And she never did bother making her bed.¡±

    ¡°No one¡¯s been in here for all that time?¡± The mediator wondered, looking around to acclimate himself, and soon followed Seth into the bedroom, ¡°At all?¡±

    ¡°I guess we were worried that if we did, someone would make us clean it out.¡± The Wing Commander answered.  He watched quietly as Seth pushed all the blankets aside, and Gabriel set the former Fafnir into her own bed.  Blankets were pulled back overtop of her, and Gabriel set a hand on the woman¡¯s head briefly before moving with Seth to leave the room again, and shut off the light as he went.  Donivan made his way to the small kitchenette and put the singular coffee cup into the dishwasher, then grabbed for the nearest microfiber towel to wipe the counters and sink down.

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep an ear out for her if you want to go back to whatever you were doing, Commander.¡± Gabriel answered, ¡°Thanks for showing the way.¡±

    ¡°¡­Are you sure you want to stay here?¡± The older man asked skeptically, ¡°The Captain may want¡­to¡­¡±

    ¡°If Captain Rydell wants to visit, far be it from me to stop him, but I won¡¯t leave her alone in this condition.  Anyone else who wants to stay can, too.¡±

    ¡°¡­Right.¡± Donivan nodded, and gave a salute before taking his leave, ¡°Sir.¡±

    ¡°Miss Ren will probably be starving when she wakes up again!¡± Seth chimed in, and followed behind the Wing Commander, ¡°I¡¯ll go get some stuff and bring it back!¡±

    ¡°Good idea.¡± Gabriel agreed, and watched quietly as the pair left the room.  Left alone then, all he could do was take a slower look around.  He knew, from years of being in the Council himself, that Knights¡¯ quarters didn¡¯t leave a lot of room to be personal or creative; furniture was bolted-down to prevent it from moving in case of turbulence or a crash; floorplans were largely the same between SkyFortresses, only varying for the rank of the soldier or officer who lived in each space.  As a Fafnir, they were considered above the level of every other soldier in the Council¡¯s militarized forces, except Captain, for which they had their own anyway.

    A throw-blanket was left hanging halfway off the couch, and Gabriel went over to pick it up, fold it over an arm, and then set it on the cushions.  He straightened out a few pillows, then sat down, and for lack of knowing what else to do, reached for the front left corner of the coffee table, and tapped an embedded touch-activated power button.  The television ahead of him came to life, and displayed that it was waiting for a connection.  He pulled up his overlay and offered his own.  Just as he was about to settle into the idea that he was going to have time to loaf around, he saw the flash of a light in the other room, then heard the sound of the shower coming on, ¡°¡­Ren?¡± He called curiously.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± She answered back, though her voice was obviously tired, ¡°¡­I just¡­need to get the smell of it all off me.  I¡¯ll come out soon.¡±

    ¡°¡­Okay, but¡­holler if you¡¯re gonna go down?  Or something?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    It didn¡¯t sound overtly confident, but Gabriel was willing to accept it¡­for now.

 Book I â€“ Chapter 14 â€“ Memories Can Be Viewed Through Rose-Tinted Glassesâ€¦Or Black

    He could only sit still for two minutes before anxiety made him stand, and Gabriel went through the door of the bedroom to stand by the bathroom, and knocked, ¡°Hey, I¡¯m gonna sit out here until you¡¯re done...¡±

    There wasn¡¯t an answer.

    ¡°Ren?¡±

    Still nothing.

    He sucked in a breath, held it for a moment, and then pushed slightly on the partly-open door, ¡°I¡¯m coming in; last chance to say something¡­¡±

    She couldn¡¯t anyway.  He spotted her through the frosted-glass shower door, sitting against it with her head bent down.

    ¡°Ren!¡± There wasn¡¯t time to worry about modesty; he quickly rushed over and pulled the door open, catching her and going to a knee before she could fall out and onto the floor.  Dubious of the gel-sleeved arm pressed between her and himself, he did his best to prop her back up again and gently pat her face, ¡°Ren?  Are you there?¡±

    She managed a slow blink, and her eyes turned towards him, but it took her a moment longer before she had her wits again, and she forced herself to sit upright with her own strength, ¡°Sorry, I¡­didn¡¯t even feel it coming¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re doing too much.  You¡¯ve been awake for less than an hour and you¡¯ve already tried to make a break for it.  Why do I get the distinct feeling that you¡¯re running from something?¡± He asked cautiously.

    There was hesitation in her reply, and in the end, she deflected it entirely, ¡°¡­Where¡­did I lose my arm?  Where did it break, I mean?¡±

    He blinked at that, but sighed and shook his head lightly before he pulled back a bit ¨C out of the spray that had gotten all over his pants ¨C and softly set a finger to a spot about two inches above her elbow, ¡°This is where the stump ended¡­but from what I saw once we were here, the docs took it a bit further up, and cut the skin into sectional flaps.¡±  He drew a rough outline of the vertical zig-zag that went half the rest of the way to the deltoid, ¡°I got to see how the selective cloning folks crafted your replacement.  It¡¯s¡­really incredible, actually.  They basically 3D printed it from harvested cells, starting with the bones, and-¡°

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna be sick-¡° She interrupted, and dipped to her right side, slapping her hand on the wet shower-tile to catch herself.  She hadn¡¯t eaten real food in days though, so all she could do was spit-up bile, ¡°How miserable¡­¡±

    ¡°You could do worse.¡±

    ¡°I know it¡¯s an awkward imposition, but¡­could you help me finish?  I just¡­want to wash my hair¡­but every time I lift up my good arm, I get light-headed¡­¡±

    He was surprised at the request, ¡°¡­You really want me to?  Last time we spoke, you were on my case about being a sourpuss.¡±

    She set the back of her head to the frosted-glass behind herself, and managed a wry smile as she closed her eyes to the oncoming water, ¡°I recall saying I was also proud of you for being honest, and we got reacquainted.¡±  She opened one green eye to her left, ¡°Or did I make that up from wishful thinking?¡±

    Gabriel swallowed a nervous lump in his throat, but he shook his head, ¡°No, that definitely happened¡­  You¡¯ll be happy to know that I¡¯ve even made one whole friend over these last several days.¡±

    ¡°Big progress¡­¡± She smiled and closed that eye again, and drudged-up the strength to lean forward and wrap her right arm around her upturned knees.  Water cascaded over her then, saturating her dark, thick hair, and after a moment¡­that water gave away the last bits of bloody residue from where her ¡®beans¡¯ had been so callously extracted.  She was confused by the sight of that red run-off, ¡°¡­What¡¯s¡­that?¡±

    ¡°Your arm wasn¡¯t the only thing you lost.¡± He answered, and reached through the spray to find a bottle of shampoo on a hanging shower-caddy.  He set it down beside himself as he continued to explain, and pulled off the long, grey, fingerless-gloves of his uniform, ¡°The Magistrate you fought seems to be a bit of a sadist, and he¡­took all our nano-nodules out, too.  Everything¡¯s been put back since then, and you can access the World Cloud again anytime you want, but¡­the nurse-assistants could only do so much with dry shampoo while you were bedridden.  This would be the last of the evidence that anything happened.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡± She mumbled, and made sure to close her eyes completely as she felt the cold squish of shampoo-gel on top of her head.  She¡¯d seen Gabriel roll back his sleeves, and simply resigned to let him do what he had to, lathering the shampoo until every inch of her hair was covered in white foam.  The gentle jostle of that work was a small comfort, and the warmth of the water soothed her frayed nerves, ¡°¡­You¡¯ve¡­met the Captain, then¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but I wasn¡¯t really aware of it until after we were already back, and Xanarken had taken me to come see you.  The Captain and Seth showed up together with the same idea.¡±  Gabriel answered, and stood up briefly so he could reach for the hand-held shower-head, and clicked the switch so water would rush through it instead of the overhead one.  Once he was sure any cold water left behind from the last four months had sprayed out, he took it to Ren¡¯s hair, and rinsed thoroughly, ¡°They¡¯re the spitting image of each other, give or take a few years.  Heh, the Captain¡¯s old enough to be Seth¡¯s own father.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­  Furio-¡­er¡­the Captain has been a Fafnir longer than Seth¡¯s been alive.¡±

    ¡°First-name basis with a superior officer, eh?  Scandalous.¡± He teased.

    Ren buried her face against her knees, ¡°It¡­was nothing.¡±

    That was an obvious lie, but Gabriel wasn¡¯t ready to push her on it, so he just made a mental note and shelved it for the time being.  He switched the spray-head back around and went looking for the conditioner next.  The bottle was nearly empty - and he had to shake it just-so to dislodge that old paste from the bottom and get it to the nib - then squeezed several times to get what he could out of it, and went back to that massaging movement, ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know if now¡¯s the right time to say so, but¡­I¡¯m sorry¡­that I wasn¡¯t more helpful back there.¡±

    She turned her face towards him, but couldn¡¯t open her eyes for risk of the run-off, ¡°¡­You¡¯re¡­sorry?  Why?¡±  She asked skeptically.  The spray switched-over again, and he washed out the conditioner, leaving that dark hair smooth and silky, ¡°¡­Gabriel.¡±

    ¡°So much of my work requires me to be unapologetic in everything I say or do.  It all has to be calculated, deliberate¡­intended, no matter the outcome.¡± He attempted to explain, ¡°So¡­¡¯sorry¡¯ isn¡¯t a word that comes out of me often.  ¡­But I¡¯ve had a lot of time to think over these past several days, and no excuse to avoid reading your file anymore¡­so, I did, and¡­I¡¯m sorry.  ¡­For¡­how I treated you these past four months.¡±

    The water cut-off, and Ren rubbed the left-overs from her face.  She did her best to squeeze the rest from her hair with her one good arm, and waited for Gabriel to return with a towel or two.  A big one went over her back and shoulders, and the other carefully collected her head.  Gabriel clearly had experience managing long wet hair and knew how to wrap it up to keep the towel in place ¨C pulling the furthest two corners of the towel back around to tie around the front of her head like a turban - then offered what assistance he could to get her back to her feet again.  It was an awkward shuffle to get her back to her bed, but he managed, and with some guidance, found a big t-shirt and some sweatpants for her to put on.  Ren couldn¡¯t help but shake her head and huff a laugh as he helped get one foot into each pant-leg, ¡°You have nothing¡­to be sorry for.¡± She tried to explain, and hooked her right arm over his shoulder as he stood up.  He lifted her with him so he could get the waistband up around her hips.  From that angle, there was a moment where they were rather closely face-to-face, ¡°¡­You¡¯re a good guy, Gabriel.  When you¡­let yourself be.¡±

    His face went red, and quickly put some ¡®professional¡¯ distance, ¡°Thanks.¡±  It was easier to get out to the living-room at that point.  Gabriel guided her over to her couch, and helped guide her down to sit, minding her left arm in particular, ¡°Seth should be back soon with something for you to eat.¡±

    ¡°What are you running from?¡± She suddenly asked, which threw him off, ¡°Gabriel Lugios.¡±

    ¡°¡­Why do you ask?  That¡¯s a weird question.¡±

    ¡°Because¡­for a guy whose job it is to talk a lot, you¡¯re suspiciously mum about yourself.¡± She explained meekly, and reached a hand around to curl her fingers around the gel-sleeve, feeling for whatever might lurk beneath it, out of sight.

    He hesitated to speak again, and sat on the couch at the opposite end to her.  He set his elbows onto his damp knees, and tapped his fingertips together as he thought, ¡°¡­I¡­feel like I could¡¯ve done more to help, if I hadn¡¯t spent my whole life running from what I am.¡± He answered vaguely, ¡°Rylen has so thoroughly convinced me that my affliction is too dangerous to be allowed to breathe, that I¡¯ve become ashamed of it, and avoid acknowledging it as much as I can.  But I can¡¯t help this nagging feeling that if¡­I was more adept with its use, I could¡¯ve done more to stop Regulus before he hurt you as badly as he did.  But then, I find myself in this weird situation where I remember¡­I¡¯m on the Aegis!  In the company of a caste of elite warriors whose entire business ¨C and reason for existing ¨C is for the elimination of dangerous Limitless users¡­and in that moment, I¡¯m right back where I started; face-down in the snow, with my mom using her body to protect me from a Fafnir who has a weapon trained on us.¡±

    Ren¡¯s brow furrowed with every word, and she looked aside, ¡°¡­I¡­feel really stupid suddenly.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not stupid¡­¡±

    ¡°All this time, I thought that by joining the Fafnir, I was doing the world a favor, hunting down the beastly creatures whose diabolical abuse of their power were what caused that mission to deploy to begin with¡­¡± Ren shook her head, and curled her right arm up over the back of the couch, resting her fingers against her chin and lip, ¡°The circumstances that¡­led to us getting partnered¡­  It¡¯s all starting to feel like a joke at both our expense.¡±

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s turn the joke around then.¡± Gabriel suggested, drawing those evergreen eyes back his way, ¡°Everyone¡¯s expecting this partnership to fail.  That I¡¯ll do everything I can do drive you away, like I¡¯ve done with everyone else.  What if we actually make it work?¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    ¡°¡­You mean it?¡±

    ¡°Sure.  I owe those two jackass Eidolon a payback anyway.¡±

    Ren¡¯s eye twitched, ¡°¡­Those two what.¡±

    .

    Regulus¡¯ district flagship was slated for decommissioning after the slaughter that took-place on its decks, and the Magistrate oversaw the service that recognized the deaths of many of his staff.  He was still in those funeral blacks when he made his way back to Stoneface Bluffs, borrowing the use of a much smaller skiff in place of the former.  He was taken past his home-office though, and flown far past the city¡¯s northern edge, towards an old-growth forest¡­where a research and development facility was based.

    Further west than the late Gavin Mallerd¡¯s homestead, the forest was situated at the southernmost tip of the Exclusion Zone, which expanded far to the north, through the mountains, and all the way to the open waters of the bay that capped it.  A hangar near a waterfall opened wide, and the small skiff went within its dark confines.  Regulus disembarked directly into the presence of his mech, stored in a corner, with a number of technicians working to restore it.  The severed arm had been retrieved from the causeway, and repairs were taking place to both ends of the clean break.  With nought to do there for the time being, the Magistrate continued on and into the belly of the facility.

    Waiting for him on the next floor up were a pair of lab-rats ¨C working there were technicians, researchers, scientists, and the like ¨C and three others whom he didn¡¯t recognize.  Regulus went right up to his people though, ¡°How¡¯s it doing?¡±

    The first to speak was an elder ¨C tall, thin, and balding for the most part, save a few wisps of hair around the sides and back of his head.  He stepped forward with a large FlexiGlas tablet in his hands, pressed casually to his chest; he didn¡¯t need to look at it to know what to say, ¡°The transport was uneventful.  Whatever the Fafnir did to it was enough to render it into a passive state, but¡­it does appear to be recovering.¡±

    ¡°Even after getting clobbered in the head as hard as it did?¡±

    ¡°Correct.¡± The older man nodded, twisting slightly into a nod for emphasis, ¡°The things this creature is doing to acclimate are quite remarkable, and it shows no signs of slowing down¡­  As it restores itself from the damage it sustained, it¡¯s continuing to evolve further.  It even appears to be growing a pair of rudimentary wings.¡±

    ¡°Set a time.  I want to hear about all of it.¡±

    Another body-moving nod was given, and the thin-man stepped back into the gaggle.

    Regulus turned his attention to a mousy young woman in the middle of the group, all-but lost in the forest of taller figures, ¡°Kourin, I have something for you.¡±

    Her hair was practically white, with subtle lavender streaks, which she held back in a thick ponytail, wrapped by a braid that arose from behind each ear.  She stepped through to the front, and adjusted the frameless-glasses sitting on her nose, ¡°Yessir?¡±

    The Magistrate withdrew two glass vials from the inside pocket of his long black coat, and put one into each of her expecting hands, ¡°These came from two Knights of the Luminary Council.  We¡¯ve been waiting a long time for this opportunity; do whatever you can to reverse-engineer them.  After what happened at the border, we urgently need a way to safeguard against the World Cloud.  We also secured two entire nanotech containment pods; they should be arriving in the next day or two..¡±

    She gripped her fingers around them, and jangled the nodules around carefully, then nodded, ¡°Of course.¡±

    ¡°And that wraps-up what I needed from the people I was expecting to see.  What are the rest of you here for?¡± Regulus wondered as he turned his eyes to the remaining three figures; none of them wore the characteristic research jackets that Kourin or the thin-man had.  They looked more¡­governmental.

    ¡°Your Honor, we come from the border office at Soothton.  We bring with us an urgent petition from¡­¡± A worried-looking older woman started, then looked to her cohorts for a moment of support before continuing, ¡°It¡¯s Prince Aamin.¡±

    ¡°Aamin?  He¡¯s alive?¡± Regulus was surprised, ¡°What does he want?¡±

    ¡°Safe-passage to Oceanside.¡± She answered, ¡°And political asylum.  We¡¯re all here because we have¡­concerns¡­about that.¡±

    The Magistrate nodded, and turned away in thought for a moment, ¡°With the way things are in Sargon¡­I can both understand and empathize with the Prince¡¯s plight.¡±  He turned to the envoys again, ¡°I¡¯m confused why you¡¯re here instead of at the main office in town though.  As you can see, this is hardly the place for political talks.¡±

    ¡°We went there originally, but we were directed to come here.  They¡­said you were taking an extended leave from your ministerial duties after what happened on your ship.  To focus on another project.¡± The older woman answered.

    The second of the three envoys spoke after her; a darkly man with long, slick black hair, ¡°We don¡¯t believe that your substitutes are well-suited to this task.  Prince Aamin cannot simply be processed through the machinery of the immigration system.  This is sensitive.¡±

    ¡°And what do you have to say?¡± Regulus turned his eyes to the last of the trio.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to deliver the report on his physical and mental health.¡± He answered, and offered over a closed FlexiGlas scroll, ¡°I believe his current¡­mania, should be taken into consideration when you decide how you want to proceed with him.  He stated that he attempted to call an Inquisition onto his nephew, but in the ensuing disaster, his sister was burned to death, and he himself barely escaped.  The upper left half of him was ¨C for lack of a better description ¨C baked.  He was given first-aid by some sympathizers in Sargon, but he will need more specialized care if we accept him into the country.  Treating his condition alone could be a diplomatic incident.  I recommend we send him back to the Emperor.  He could be a liability to us.¡±

    ¡°¡­Agreed.  And yet¡­¡± Regulus flipped the scroll end-over-end in his hand a few times before grasping it, ¡°This could also be an opportunity.¡±

    .

    With a few days of recovery under her, Ren felt compelled to don her Fourth uniform once again.  Unlike a recovering active Fafnir, she had no pressing need to focus on the physical side of things; her mind worked as well as any other¡¯s, and she was bored.  With that grey and red jacket manifesting around the material layers of the costume, she looked at herself in a full-length mirror in her room.  Her lips pursed as she made a face at herself ¨C her long hair was down to her lower back in that condition, and with only one working arm, she couldn¡¯t put it up.  She went back to her bed to grab her sling ¨C put it on ¨C and found a brush, her clip, and a hair-tie, then left.

    She may not be interested in training at the moment, but she did know where some of her closest friends would be hanging out, since it was incumbent upon them to do so.  She sought for one particular Knight though, and it felt like she found every single person on the team before finding her.

    ¡°R-Ren!  What are you doing at this end of the ship¡­?¡± Ravan wondered quickly, and came rushing over to her at the side of a boxing ring.  She pulled off the foam helmet and gloves, and wiped her brow on her forearm, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be with Lugios or something?¡±

    ¡°I need help that I don¡¯t want to bother him with,¡± Ren answered, and held up her hair-things, ¡°You know how I like it.¡±

    Ravan blinked at her, but turned towards Corbin ¨C a lithe black man with a short-cut beard around his jaw, and long, grey-dappled dreadlocks pulled back behind his head ¨C and gave a shrug, ¡°I¡¯m being summoned.  Sorry!¡±

    Corbin shrugged and shook his head as he laughed and trotted over to lean over the ropes at rink-side ¨C Ravan had already slipped through them to get back to the ground, ¡°You must be feeling pretty good now if you¡¯re braving the dangers of this place to find someone.¡±

    Ren looked up with a wary smile, ¡°I think the Captain¡¯s avoiding everything right now.  Ever since he caught us in the hall, I haven¡¯t heard word or whisper of him.  All the better for both of us, probably, cuz I don¡¯t know if I could stop myself from clobbering him if I saw him now.¡±

    Corbin shook his head, ¡°Careful what you say, lady-friend.  You¡¯re in the Fourth now.¡±

    ¡°I know¡­¡±

    ¡°C¡¯mon then, Ren, I¡¯ll get cleaned up and back to ultra-normal mode, then I¡¯ll help you with your hair.  Don¡¯t wanna get all my sweat on you already.¡±

    ¡°I appreciate that.¡± Ren laughed.

    While Ravan showered, dried, dressed, and made her way back, Ren went through a newsfeed of current events on the World Cloud.  One article that made her stop was the one describing the announcement of a week of mourning in Sargon, in the aftermath of the Empress¡¯ death.  Not mentioned was Prince Aamin¡¯s fate; she knew he had escaped the Bulwark, but supposed no one found him afterwards.

    They probably think he¡¯s dead, but don¡¯t want to say anything without a body to confirm, she thought.  She glanced up though when she spotted a shadow coming up on her right side.

    In her regular Sixth Wing uniform, Ravan was decked with the usual design of dark grey trimmed in silver, but the blocked-in colored section ¨C a strip down the back that wrapped halfway around the front of the chest, and went down to the bottom of those long coat-tails ¨C was blue.  Ravan kept a towel around her shoulders to keep the uniform dry, and rubbed the end of her wet hair in it, ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever get used to you wearing red.  It¡¯s¡­weird.¡±

    ¡°I know, right?¡± Ren sighed and smiled, but offered up her instruments, and turned to put her back to the Knight where she sat on that locker-room bench, ¡°It¡¯s weird enough for me being here again¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve been scarce since you woke up,¡± Ravan commented, and threw a leg over the back of the bench before she sat as well.  She took hold of the offered brush and got to work, ¡°Was starting to think you were avoiding us.¡±

    ¡°I did just get a factory-reset on my left arm,¡± Ren countered, ¡°I¡¯ve been doing therapy.¡±

    ¡°Mhm, 24 hours a day?  For three days straight?¡±

    ¡°Fine, fine¡­  I¡¯ve slightly been avoiding.¡±

    ¡°Care to explain?¡±

    Ren went quiet for a moment, ¡°¡­You know full well why.¡±

    ¡°I feel like if you gave him a chance to talk to you, you wouldn¡¯t hate him as much as you did when you left.¡± Ravan pointed out, ¡°And to this day, no one knows what happened between you two that made it turn out that way.  Insubordination only describes so much when we all knew-¡°

    ¡°You can¡¯t say it out loud like that.¡± Ren turned and looked over her right shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s bad enough that you know.¡±

    ¡°You two weren¡¯t exactly the subtle sort,¡± Ravan raised her brows, ¡°I honestly think the Captain himself is the only one still in denial about how widespread that info was.  At least, on the team, I mean.¡±

    Ren could only sigh and lower her head; Ravan went back to her task.  She felt most of her hair get twisted-up and clipped loosely, then felt the deft tugs of fingers on a thinner segment over where she¡¯d recently had her stitches removed, ¡°¡­I came down now because I knew he wouldn¡¯t be there.¡± She started again, ¡°When he feels hard-done-by, he tends to want to work-out alone, late at night.  When I hadn¡¯t seen him lurking about since I woke up, I knew¡­¡±

    ¡°So, you¡¯re just going to spend the next little while avoiding one another?¡± Ravan wondered, finishing the first of a few braids she had a mind to thread, and went to pull-free the next length of black hair, ¡°It¡¯s been four and a half months¡­  Surely you¡¯ve both cooled down since then.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know that I¡¯m allowed to talk about what actually happened on that last mission, now that I¡¯ve been demoted to a rank that doesn¡¯t even have permission to know about it in the first place.¡± Ren sighed, and reached up to pinch the bridge of her nose, ¡°But it¡¯s still fresh for me.  It¡¯s refreshed since being on board.  I¡­  I mean, as soon as Lord Rylen gives us permission to deboard, we¡¯ll be on our way.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re really just gonna leave again¡­?¡± Ravan wondered carefully, finishing the second braid, and adjusted the clip so she could do the same again on the other side, ¡°Seth told us about how you guys reunited in Kitez.  He was absolutely devastated by your leaving.  It was like¡­you¡¯d died or something.  You just stopped talking to everyone.  It hurt all of us¡­¡±

    ¡°Sorry¡­¡± Ren answered sullenly, ¡°I couldn¡¯t face you guys after the trouble I¡¯d gotten myself into.  I considered it a miracle that the worst punishment I ended up facing was being demoted and transferred.  I was facing a Court Martial. I lost everything¡­and I didn¡¯t want to drag all of you down with me.  Misery spreads¡­¡±

    Ravan finished the last braid, and pulled the clip back out.  She stood up to get a better vantage as she tied the whole ponytail together at the base of the woman¡¯s head, lifted it up, put the clip back in, and let all that Persian black hair fall into place.  With a few adjustments to the braids so they¡¯d be even on each side, Ravan was satisfied with her work, and put her hands down on Ren¡¯s shoulders, ¡°¡­We were sisters.  I could understand not wanting to talk to Seth because of his proximity to his brother, but¡­me, too?¡±

    Ren reached back to make a tiny adjustment to the placement of the clip, so it settled better against her scalp, and lifted her left leg back over the bench to see her friend better.  She set her hand against the woman¡¯s knee as Ravan sat again, ¡°I promise, I won¡¯t fall out of touch again.  I¡¯ll be better this time.¡±

    Hazel eyes looked on suspiciously, but Ravan eventually relented, and nodded, leaning in to hug her friend, ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to it¡­¡±

 Book I â€“ Chapter 15 â€“ Nothing Is Ever What It Seems

    Denied.  User credentials invalid.

    Ren made a face as she looked at the access screen on her HUD; she knew the attempt was likely futile, but she had to try.  Ahead of her on the weather-deck, she watched Seth getting to do his first formal Limitless investigation on his very first willing test-subject; High Negotiator of the Fourth Wing, Gabriel Lugios.  She turned her eyes to her overlay again, and tried putting in her old password one more time¡­only to get the same message.

    Denied.  User credentials invalid.

    They really did cut me out, she thought grimly, and her brows crinkled in disappointment.  She waved her hand to hide the entire overlay under her sights, and pushed to sit up a bit higher on the long couch she¡¯d been slouching on.  She looked at the squeeze-ball in the loose grip of her new hand, and sighed, Practically speaking, I can only hold this thing up because my fingers naturally curl that direction¡­  It¡¯s gonna be a long road to get this thing functional.

    Seth handed Gabriel an empty ceramic cup, ¡°Can you split this?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± He answered; eyes had been alight for a little while already, and his hair floated up as it typically did.  He focused on the cup, and the little lines of purple light manifested through the vertical center, with the finger-loop on the right side where he held it.  With a fizzle, the cup was now two halves, and he handed them back.

    Seth immediately took the two pieces and inspected the break line, then set the two halves together, ¡°¡­Wow¡­it¡¯s really a perfect split.¡±

    Gabriel just stared like that was the most obvious thing anyone could¡¯ve said, and glanced over at Ren with a shrug, ¡°I mean¡­it¡¯s what it do.¡±

    ¡°No, I mean¡­look how well the pieces fit back together.  You can¡¯t even see the seam-line anymore.  If I didn¡¯t know they were two pieces, I¡¯d think I could fill it with liquid.¡± Seth explained, ¡°Normally when something is cut, there¡¯s an amount of material that¡¯s lost where the break happens.  Like when you cut through wood, and all the saw-dust comes out from the friction.  But this?  This is incredible¡­  I¡¯d have to look at it with instrumentation but, to my primitive ape-eyes, it looks¡­as if the very molecules that make-up the edges were just nudged apart from one another, with nothing missing between them.¡±

    ¡°Neat.¡±

    ¡°Dame Ren?¡±

    The voice was like a dagger through the air; Gabriel¡¯s afflictive light vanished quickly, and his hair dropped behind his back.  Seth looked up normally.  Ren could feel her heart in her throat.  She turned her head slightly first, then her whole upper body¡­and spotted Furion there in the middle of the atrium.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Seth said cheerfully, and held up the two halves of the cup, ¡°Look at what Mr. Gabriel¡¯s Limitless thing can do!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s nice.¡± Furion answered, and turned side-face, gesturing back the way he¡¯d come, ¡°Dame Ren.  A moment.¡±

    Gabriel¡¯s eyes went from the Captain to his trainee, and she gave him a pleading look, but he could only shrug; he had no excuse that could get her out of it.  They were clearly not doing anything important.  With a long sigh, Ren stood up, and reluctantly shuffled her way around the length of that long sectional to follow after her former commander.

    Her heart pounded strongly enough that she thought it could be seen through her jacket, and she set her good hand over it in an attempt to calm it down.  Before she knew it though, that awkward silent procession had ended in the Captain¡¯s office, and that familiar space made her breath catch in her throat.  She finally managed to speak though, ¡°¡­What¡¯s all this about?  What do you want all of a sudden?¡±

    ¡°Your credentials were noted as trying to access sensitive Sixth Wing files; more specifically, Fafnir files.¡± He answered calmly, and stood beside his desk, ¡°As an official with an interest in who is accessing that data, I was alerted to the attempt.¡±

    ¡°¡¯Attempt¡¯ being the operative word.  I couldn¡¯t get in.  Can I go?  Captain Rydell, sir.¡±

    Furion hesitated to answer for a moment, but then shook his head, and dropped the whole fa?ade, ¡°Ren, I¡­  What are you trying to do?  What are you looking for all of a sudden?¡±

    She narrowed her eyes at him, ¡°Why do you care?¡±

    ¡°Because if you need the access, I can give it to you.¡± He explained, ¡°I just need to know what you¡¯re looking up.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want your help,¡± She said bitterly, and turned to start going towards the door again, ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡±

    She paused with her hand only an inch above the door-panel.

    Furion took a careful step closer, ¡°¡­Why are you still so angry, after all this time?  I thought-¡°

    ¡°You thought nothing.¡± She barked, and turned on a heel to point at him, ¡°After what you did to me ¨C after what you made me do ¨C how can you even ask that question?¡±

    The stunned look on his face was unexpected, ¡°¡­You still don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°Know what.¡±

    He turned his gaze away, ¡°I thought you¡¯d realize¡­after¡­¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about!?¡±

    Furion clenched his eyes and shook his head, but then gestured upwards with both hands, and put his HUD on display for Ren to see.  He turned it and shoved the images above his desk, and made them bigger and easier to see.

    Ren just glowered at him, ¡°Whatever you want me to see, I¡¯m not going to be able to.  It¡¯ll just be a blank canvas to my rank.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fixing that, too.¡± He answered simply; and as he spoke, he was already doing so.  He found Ren¡¯s dossier in the Council¡¯s personnel database, and reactivated her Fafnir rank, ¡°There¡­  You¡¯re one of us again.¡±

    ¡°What-¡° She balked as her uniform regained its blue hue, and the coat-tails elongated to her heels.

    ¡°That last mission isn¡¯t what you think it was.¡± He continued, and sifted through the mission date-logs, going back until he found that infamous date.  There were two entries; one from Ren¡¯s armor and one from the ship¡¯s log.  The important one was Ren¡¯s, and he loaded the video of her perspective to the display.  The first thing it showed was her last few seconds in the Aegis¡¯ launch-bay before she took off into the skies, and since that was irrelevant, he fast-forwarded through it until she¡¯d arrived at the actual mission site.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to see this again,¡± Ren commented, ¡°I already remember it too vividly.¡±

    Furion gestured back at her to wait again, ¡°It¡¯s not what you think.  What you saw wasn¡¯t right.  Just¡­give me five minutes.  I¡¯ll explain everything.  Please don¡¯t make me issue that request as an order¡­¡±

    She rolled her eyes, but stood, ¡°Fine.¡±

    Furion took a step back and watched the footage unfold as he knew it to be.  The first-person view from Ren¡¯s armor gave a clear image; there was a warehouse, and it was already sunset, giving the area a red haze and deep shadows.

    ¡°Wing optics going off.¡± Ren¡¯s voice spoke, and the subtle glow on the door from behind her ceased.  Her armored hand went forward on the panel, and she pushed it in.  Dark-vision manifested, and the warehouse¡¯s interior was easy to see.

    ¡°Everything¡¯s looking really good so far.  Targets are still where they were prior.  You can proceed.¡± It was Furion¡¯s voice that time.

    Ren¡¯s sights showed how she¡¯d hovered up a series of metal ladders, and took to the upper level.  There was a door at the end of a dark corridor, illuminated for the occupancy, but put-to.  She crept closer, quietly, until she was right outside.  Voices could be heard; whoever was behind the door was speaking quietly.

    Hearing them already made Ren upset, ¡°That¡¯s not what happened.  You¡¯ve distorted the audio.¡±

    ¡°Nothing¡¯s been altered.  This is the raw footage from the mission, logged and archived as it always is.¡± Furion corrected, despite Ren¡¯s angry expression, ¡°Just watch.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going in on three¡­two¡­¡± Ren¡¯s voice sounded, and the footage showed her right arm up with the vambrace-pistol at the ready.  With a breath, she took a step back, kicked the door in, held her arm up¡­and stalled, ¡°What¡­what is this?¡±

    ¡°STOP IT.¡± Ren yelled, stepping angrily forward as Furion paused the feed, ¡°That¡¯s not what was there.  Those are grown-ass men.  You sent me in there to kill children.  This footage has been doctored.¡±

    ¡°I promise you, it hasn¡¯t been.¡± Furion countered, ¡°This is what I saw the entire time.  When you started talking about kids, it made no sense.  Then all their eyes lit up and it was like you had no idea.  You just froze, and backed out of the room, arguing that Lord Rylen should take another look and try again.  I had no choice.  They were going to kill you.¡± He pleaded for reason to be given a chance, gesturing at the paused video.  A few clicks forward in the timeline and, as he¡¯d described, all four rough-looking men got up from their meeting table and activated their afflictive eyes.  He clicked to play normally again, and showed ¡®Ren¡¯ using that energy weapon on all four in quick succession, even as she was screaming for him to stop and resisting every forced movement.  He stopped the video then, and they were left in quiet, ¡°¡­In emergency situations, when a Fafnir has been rendered unconscious or compromised, the Captain can commandeer their armor in an effort to get them to safety or...to¡­complete the mission.  It¡¯s part of a fail-safe system that makes certain our weaponry will never be used wrongly.  The Fafnir¡­are too powerful to be allowed full, unfettered autonomy in the field.  In this case, as we found out later¡­there was a fifth target.  One we were all blind to.¡±

    ¡°¡­What¡­do you mean?¡±

    ¡°It was a trap, Ren.¡± He answered, ¡°They knew we were coming for them.  The fifth man ¨C one it took us two months to find after this ¨C used his power to put a sort of¡­glamour on them.  To you, he made them look like kids¡­but to me?  Watching remotely, on a digital video feed?  I saw exactly what it was.  As soon as your words about the mission didn¡¯t match what was happening, I knew you were in trouble¡­and I activated the fail-safe.  I took them out as planned, and then brought you back.¡±

    Ren was dumbstruck; she could hardly blink for the shock of it, ¡°¡­There¡¯s¡­no way¡­  I¡­I know what I¡­saw¡­  What I felt¡­¡±

    ¡°I know how real it felt to you, Ren¡­¡± Furion continued, ¡°You were so angry at me for what I did, but nothing I ¨C or even Lord Rylen ¨C said to you made any difference.  You just¡­you wouldn¡¯t listen to anyone.  The glamour was so absolute that it¡¯s like it changed your perception of what we were saying, and what you saw, even after you were back here¡­¡±  He dared to step closer, cautiously and slowly, ¡°We knew that you couldn¡¯t go back out there, so we¡­were forced to put you into detainment.  I was certain that once we got the guy who cast the glamour, you¡¯d finally be released¡­but when we did, and you didn¡¯t reach out¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­Who¡­how?¡±

    ¡°The fifth man?¡± Furion echoed, ¡°His name was Tobias Greenwich.  He was a nobody before, just a thief, but¡­he spent a few years in the Exclusion Zone, and came back¡­far more powerful than we could handle at the time.  He started selling his glamours to the non-afflicted, and in the end, the only reason we actually got him was because he got arrogant about how powerful he¡¯d suddenly become.  Given what happened with you, Lord Rylen approved a remote-viewing mission later, and I effectively piloted Donivan¡¯s armor from here, since he couldn¡¯t trust what he saw with his own eyes.  Two prior stealth missions failed because the glamour turned out to be an aura, and impacted anyone who got too close¡­it didn¡¯t matter how quick or surgical we were.  So¡­we blinded Donivan¡¯s feed from start to finish that last time, so he¡¯d never have to witness whatever glamour was being used to try and stop him.¡±

    Ren looked down; she felt frozen.  Furion inched closer.

    ¡°We couldn¡¯t just keep you locked-away while we figured out how to stop this guy though,¡± He continued, ¡°So Lord Rylen came up with the idea of transferring you out to a non-combat position.  Lord Xanarken had a mediator with a bad history with the Fafnir and a penchant for driving partners away, and they agreed to put you with him on the belief that, once we got Tobias, the glamour would fall from your eyes and you¡¯d realize what you saw was false.  But you never came back.¡±

    ¡°¡­You all threatened me with a Court Martial!¡±

    ¡°You were never under threat of a Court Martial!¡± Furion pleaded, ¡°You just heard what you feared to hear!  Your whole life¡¯s ambition was to become a Fafnir, and the whole reason that dream started was because of a kid who¡¯d gotten targeted with a Fafnir¡¯s aim¡­  In retrospect, it makes perfect sense why you¡¯d think what you did.  That glamour worked so well because it fed on the fears of the people who walked into it.  Why do you think your room was left alone?  Why do you think I never let anyone take your position?  You¡¯re still Wing Commander.  The rank-change in the system was just a formality until the mission was over¡­!¡±

    Ren could feel her whole body shaking slightly.

    ¡°¡­The proof that it¡¯s over is in the fact that you could see the mission footage for what it really was, instead of seeing what you remembered while that glamour was active.  We tried to show it to you before; to convince you it was a ruse, but you¡­still saw those kids.¡± Furion went on; he was within arm¡¯s reach then.  He drew a careful breath, and took one more step closer, and dared to reach for her right shoulder, ¡°Nothing really worked out the way we thought it would¡­  You were too clever by half to fall for whatever Sir Gabriel threw at you that drove everyone else away.  The mission to go get Seth back?  ¡­That was Lord Rylen trying to reach you in a way that he thought might finally work, since you hadn¡¯t listened to anyone else.¡±

    ¡°¡­We all nearly died on that mission¡­¡±

    ¡°That whole thing went so incredibly wrong¡­  You should know that we¡¯d never put anyone ¨C especially a cadet ¨C in danger, if we had any reason to believe it would go south like that.  I sent Ianori to keep an eye on him, and even that felt like overkill; I had to agree to let him try out for your spot just to get him to go, knowing he¡¯d never get it.  Everything until those last moments went exactly as we expected it would, and from what I¡¯m understanding, it would¡¯ve continued that way if not for the void scar¡¯s behavior.¡± He explained, and when she didn¡¯t react to the feel of his touch, he stood straighter and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, ¡°¡­These last four months have been Hell without you¡­knowing how upset you were with me, and knowing there was nothing I could say or do that would convince you¡­  Please, Ren¡­  We put everything we had into getting Tobias so you¡¯d be free.  It¡¯s time to come home¡­¡±

    Tall as he was, when Ren turned her head, she could hear his heartbeat, ear against his chest.  The pain in her own was overwhelming though, ¡°¡­It¡­was all a lie¡­  None¡­  None of it was real, not a shred of it¡­¡±

    ¡°None of it¡­¡± He repeated.

    Her vision started to warble as tears filled her eyes.  Confusion swam in her head, conflicting with every emotion she¡¯d wrestled with over the last four months.  But that hug¡­it was so familiar, so warm¡­  Her left arm was pinned between them in her sling, but her right¡­she lifted it and wrapped it around the man¡¯s waist.  She could feel the relief melt through his whole body when she did it, and he hugged a little tighter, which just made her cry.

    Not that Furion was immune from that kind of thing; a few tears fell from his eyes as well.  When Ren felt them fall to her shoulder, she even looked up at him, those intense green eyes looking all the brighter for his newfound ¨C refound ¨C ease.  In a moment he¡¯d been hoping for, for four months, three weeks, and five days¡­he leaned in and gave his apology kiss.

 Book I â€“ Chapter 16 â€“ Even The Best Laid Plansâ€¦

    The Captain¡¯s quarters were nearly double the size of any other soldier¡¯s, and a good deal more luxurious.  But, the primary thing Ren noticed in the dark of that early-morning wake-up, was the feeling of those familiar sheets, in that familiar King-size bed, and the heat of a familiar naked body in front of her.  The room was still dark ¨C she¡¯d awoken on her own, much to her chagrin ¨C but she held close to that broad back she¡¯d been the big-spoon to for most of the night.

    She wanted to go back to sleep again.  She turned slightly, and lifted her right hand to slide against the warmth of the slumbering man¡¯s side, wedging it a bit further under his prone arm so she could feel his chest, and buried her face between his shoulder and the pillow.  She was sure she spent 30 minutes that way before giving up.

    Her guilty conscience wouldn¡¯t let her rest.

    Carefully, she peeled herself off the Captain¡¯s frame, making sure not to wake him as she twisted off the side of the bed.  She used her overlay to brighten the room just-enough to her sights to find the material pieces of her uniform, put everything back on again, and quietly left through the door attached to his office.  Once the door had quietly hissed to a close behind her, she drew in a long breath, and reactivated her Fourth uniform jacket.

    I¡¯m sorry, Furion¡­  Tonight was¡­lovely, but¡­I¡¯m¡­not ready yet.  I have unfinished business.

    It was 03:28am, and nearly no one was awake.  The ship¡¯s overnight skeleton-crew was located elsewhere, and that meant Ren had a clear path back to her own room.  Once inside, she threw herself onto her couch, kicked her boots off, pulled the throw-blanket over her crossed legs, and pulled up that same login screen as she¡¯d attempted the day before.  Just before clicking to submit her information though, she hesitated¡­and reset her uniform to the blues of the Sixth, ¡°Don¡¯t need him being woken up to my trying this again with the wrong permissions¡­¡±  That done, access was granted as it always had been, and she went digging into the way-back archives.  Years back, 10, 20¡­22¡­

    She didn¡¯t know the exact date of that ill-fated mission into the Exclusion Zone, but she did know that Captain Lequerion Rydell was one of the people who¡¯d been a participant, so she was able to exclude a vast majority of the year¡¯s logs.  The Captain rarely went out on grunt-missions himself, but this was a special case.  Once she¡¯d found it, she could see the crew that had been on-site.

    In a way, it was a relief to realize it was Wing Team One that had been there; Donivan had been part of Wing Team Two for as long as he had been a Fafnir, which was why he was Wing Commander Two in the present day.  On the other hand, it meant that it was her own squad ¨C even if it was her predecessors ¨C who¡¯d been responsible for the attack.  The Commander immediately prior to Furion¡¯s own promotion had been the one to lead it, and it was only a three-year gap before Furion became a Fafnir at all.

    Ren leaned back against the couch-cushions, and looked up at the ceiling.  For a while, she was just grateful for that distinction; it meant no one on the current Fafnir team was involved in the massacre that upended her mentor¡¯s life.  But, the video-logs for those who had been were right there, and she wrestled with whether or not she wanted to witness it.  She knew the former Captain had been there at the critical moment; only the Captain has a one-way line directly to the Eidolon, and she knew that both the First and the Fourth had been pulled to that location that day.  She hovered a finger over the archived footage of Captain Lequerion¡¯s perspective.

    ¡­I feel like I owe it to Gabe to know who did all this to him, she thought, and with a quick breath, she clicked it.  On her overlay, she witnessed the entire mission from start to finish.  It took two hours.  They tore through three different encampments before they finally found their man¡­and Gabriel had been found in the second.  It was surreal to see that Limitless glow from the eyes of a child so young, but there it was¡­proof beyond dispute.  No wonder they called Lord Rylen on him¡­  He¡¯s the definition of what he worries about, and why the Fafnir exist at all.  But¡­Gabe was just a kid¡­  I guess Lord Rylen has the same problem with pedicide as I do.  Glad he¡¯s got some scruples¡­

    She lowered down to her right side, and gestured with her fingers to the app that controlled the room¡¯s brightness.  Lowering them down to near-darkness, she closed her eyes, and used what remained of the morning to get a little more sleep.

    Then the distinctive, soft bing-bong from her door sounded, and she woke up again, hair messy and sticking in every direction.  With a palpitation, she realized she¡¯d left her clip in Furion¡¯s room, and for an instant, she forgot her left arm was in a state; she tried to use that hand to re-brighten the room, but felt a resistance¡­and had to pause.  With a grumble, she pushed herself back up to sit normally, used her working hand to gesture at her HUD, and finally went over to the door.  The only thing that stopped her then was the fact that she had to look down a little bit to activate the side-panel to get a preview of who she was about to see, and out the corner of her eye, she saw she still had her blues on.  She quickly shook her head, restored her reds, ran her fingers through her hair, and skipped the preview.

    ¡°Ah!  Oh.  You¡¯re actually here.¡± Gabriel¡¯s voice was surprised to see her, ¡°That¡¯s great; you weren¡¯t answering my messages.¡±

    She blinked at him in a haze, ¡°You sent messages?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡± He stared awkwardly, ¡°When you never came back from that little meeting with the Captain, I tried to check on you.¡±

    ¡°Wha?¡± Ren was still confused, ¡°Hang on.¡±  She turned slightly and saw on her overlay that her DND status was still active.  Once she disabled it, she saw the notifications, ¡°Oh.  Sorry.  My do not disturb goes on around 20:00 hours and I only get messages from the folks I¡¯ve put on the push-through list.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not on the list?¡± He teased cautiously.

    ¡°You¡¯ve never messaged me before.  I guess it didn¡¯t occur to me to add you to it.¡±

    He could feel his left eye twitch slightly, ¡°¡­Right.¡±  That awkward feeling only increased when Ren stepped into his bubble and hugged him, ¡°Oh.  Uhm.  Yes.  Hi¡­hello.  Good morning.¡±

    ¡°I have something for you.  Come inside for a minute.¡± She suggested, and stepped back to clear the way.

    Skeptical, Gabriel went within, and the door hissed close behind them, ¡°What¡¯s going on¡­?¡±

    ¡°The reason Fu-¡­er¡­Captain Rydell came for me yesterday-¡°

    ¡°You can drop the pretenses.  I get it; first-name basis.¡±

    She made a face at him, ¡°I don¡¯t want you thinking I¡¯m a hypocrite.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t.¡±

    Her brows crinkled, and she shook her head, ¡°¡­He came because he got-wind of my attempts to access the Fafnir archives.  He¡­gave me everything back.  My status, my rank¡­everything¡­¡±

    A weird pit grew in the mediator¡¯s stomach, but he managed a nod, ¡°¡­I see¡­¡±

    Ren clicked her fingers and the red on her uniform changed once-more to royal blue; the tails of her coat extended down.  They stood now as equals, not mentor and student, and she cast a worried look at him, ¡°I don¡¯t¡­know how much longer I¡¯m going to be allowed to work with you.  It won¡¯t go beyond Lord Rylen¡¯s notice that my clearance levels have gone up, and I have no doubt whatsoever that Furion will spill the beans about it pretty-much-immediately¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­Right¡­¡± He looked clearly disappointed.

    ¡°But before I get to all that¡­the thing I have for you.¡± She diverted, and with her one good hand, manufactured a data-node to hover above her palm.  She offered it to him, ¡°¡­I¡­don¡¯t do this because I want you to think about having a ¡®get revenge on the Fafnir who ruined your life¡¯ arc.  They were just doing their job, finishing a mission, and getting a really bad guy out of the way.  You were an unfortunate consequence of that, and I¡¯m sure if you talked to him about it, this man would have regrets about what happened that day.¡± She nudged her palm up for emphasis, ¡°If you want to know who it was ¨C to see his face ¨C I found out who actually pulled the trigger on your mom.¡±

    Gabriel stared at that glimmering orb of data; the temptation was real, but after a few moments of consideration, he took a step back, ¡°¡­No¡­¡±

    Ren stayed put, wordless.

    ¡°I may still have some feelings about what happened back then, but...I¡¯ve mostly put it behind me.  I¡­don¡¯t want to go back to being that angry kid that Xanarken sent away.¡± He explained, and stepped forward only to close Ren¡¯s fingers so the nodule would go away, ¡°But¡­thank you, Ren.  I do appreciate it.¡±

    Those green eyes watched carefully, but Ren understood, and nodded, ¡°You can always change your mind later.¡±

    Gabriel held there for a moment longer, but eventually let the woman¡¯s hand go, and crossed his arms, ¡°¡­I guess the state of things means that, to get access to that information I just rejected, you got yourself suckered back into the Fafnir.  So, in a sad way, ultimately, it was still me who sent you away in the end.¡±This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    ¡°Gabe¡­¡± She stepped forward and put a hand on his arm, ¡°It¡­turns out that¡¯s all a bit more complicated than that.  Furion didn¡¯t exactly hold up that information like a carrot on a stick, or propose some ultimatum; forcing me accept this uniform back in exchange for the access.  He said he would¡¯ve given it to me either way, he just wanted to know what I was looking for.

    ¡°But?¡±

    ¡°He begged me for five minutes of my time, and showed me that¡­everything I thought I knew for these last several months¡­was a lie.¡± She explained, and rubbed her thumb there soothingly, though it still hurt to have to retell the story, ¡°Apparently, on my last mission, I walked into a Limitless trap, and nothing I saw was real.  I got myself all worked-up about a mirage.  The transfer out, being partnered with you¡­it was¡­all just Furion and Lord Rylen finding some way to placate me until they figured out how to fix things, so I wouldn¡¯t have to rot in a cell that whole time instead.¡±

    ¡°¡­So that was the joke.¡±

    ¡°Seems so¡­¡±

    ¡°And the Captain¡¯s the only one who knows so far that you¡¯ve been restored.¡±

    ¡°¡­For now, yeah.¡± She nodded, ¡°When he wakes up though, it¡¯s anyone¡¯s guess.¡±

    ¡°Okay¡­¡±

    ¡°So¡­in the meantime, you wanna get something to eat?  As far as the official record goes, I¡¯m still with you.¡± She suggested, and gestured to change her uniform-colors back to red again, and set the length to her knees as before, ¡°I¡¯ve more-or-less been up for a few hours already.  I¡¯m starving.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yeah, sure.¡±

    .

    When Furion finally awoke, he wasn¡¯t entirely surprised that Ren was already gone.  Still, he was disappointed anyway, and reached up to rub his face with both hands, ¡°Back to this same routine already¡­  Sneaking out before the night-crew switches out for the morning¡­  Sorry to do this to you again, Ren¡­¡±

    He got himself ready for the day and waded out into his office, yawning as he crossed the threshold of private quarters to public space.  He barely had a chance to sit down and put in a request for coffee before his Eidolon manifested in front of him, and he immediately bolted up again to salute, ¡°Lord Rylen, sir!¡±

    ¡°At ease, Captain.¡± Rylen waved a hand dismissively, and walked up to the front of the desk, a bit of a spring in his step, ¡°I saw that you worked your magic.  Great job!¡±

    ¡°My¡­what?¡±

    ¡°Dame Ren!¡± He answered easily, ¡°I may or may not have been checking her dossier once or twice a day to see if there were any changes since she was brought aboard the Aegis¡­  Lo and behold, it was updated late last night!  So, how did it go?  What did you say?¡±

    Furion shook his head to clear the mental whiplash, ¡°¡­Sir, I just¡­showed her what happened.  I had to restore her rank so she could see the footage on my display.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡± The dark-elf-looking Eidolon seemed confused and had a disappointed edge in his voice, ¡°So she¡¯s not back?¡±

    ¡°Oh, no, she definitely is, sir.  We just need to get Lord Xanarken to release her.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s easy, then.¡± Rylen was all-smiles again, and put out a request for his brother to come.  When it went unanswered, however, he grumbled, ¡°It must be too early, still.  He¡¯s asleep.¡±  He waved his hands, ¡°I¡¯ll get back to this when he¡¯s up.  You¡¯ve done the Fafnir a great service, Captain.  It¡¯s good to have the whole team back together again.¡±

    ¡°¡­Sir, about that.¡± Furion interjected, and the First hesitated to dissolve his mantle, ¡°What about Sir Ianori?  Is he dead or is he¡­just gone?  Do we need to arrange a memorial service for him?  Alert his next of kin¡­?¡±

    Rylen hesitated, and put a finger on his chin for a moment, ¡°¡­Hold off on all that for now.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been a week, sir.¡±

    ¡°Mhm?¡±

    Furion balked internally, but on the outside, he just looked on, and lowered his eyes, ¡°Yessir.¡±

    .

    ¡°¡­You¡¯re kidding me.¡± Ren whispered, a tray with breakfast balancing on her good hand.  She looked inside Gabriel¡¯s temporary room ¨C the same one he¡¯d awoken in after the incident ¨C and spotted the Himalayan snoozing on his bed, ¡°That¡¯s Lord Xanarken?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.  When I called them ¡®jackass Eidolon,¡¯ it¡¯s cuz him and Rylen sometimes prank me by showing up as cats, and it¡¯s really embarrassing.¡± Gabriel answered.

    The duo moved inside quietly and closed the door, careful to avoid waking up the feline.  Ren could hardly keep a straight face; the whole thing was extremely entertaining, ¡°What kind of cat does Lord Rylen turn into?¡±

    ¡°This grey short-haired thing.  You can tell it¡¯s them though because they keep their same eyes with either mantle.¡± He set his own tray down, and moved to crouch at the side of the bed, eyeballing the creature just over the edge of the blankets.  Ren followed-suit on the other side.  Gabriel¡¯s eyes got a mischievous look to them, ¡°I¡¯m gonna wake him up.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!  This is adorable!¡±

    The XanarCat just stretched in that moment, elongated those fuzzy legs, and spread its toe-beans widely before rolling slightly onto its back, one paw carefully set over its eyes.

    Ren squealed quietly with delight.

    That¡¯s when Gabriel pounced; he stood up fully, grabbed the cat with both hands around its fluffy chest, and hoisted it up, with those salad-tongs it claimed as arms sticking straight out ahead of itself, ¡°Xanarken.¡±  No response, so Gabriel swayed the creature from side to side, turning its lower half into a pendulum, ¡°Xaaaanakareeeeeeen.¡±

    Ren smacked her forehead, ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re doing this to him.  He was so peaceful.¡±

    One purple eye opened, closed again, then both opened halfway, and the voice of the Eidolon spoke from that unmoving mouth, ¡°Why are you like this?¡±

    ¡°We have a problem.  You were right there.  You have the answer to the problem.¡± The mediator answered, and allowed the fuzzbucket to hop back down to the bed-spread.

    That¡¯s when Xanarken finally noticed Ren there, and he lifted his head, that dark triangular nose wiggling slightly as if the cat was actually sniffing at her.  Its vivid purple eyes gave away the truth of its identity ¨C if the fact that it spoke already wasn¡¯t enough ¨C but Ren still couldn¡¯t help herself, and took that glance as an invitation to pet it.  To her delight, the XanarCat actually leaned into the scritches, and rubbed up against her where she was closest to the edge of the bed.

    Gabriel just crossed his arms, ¡°You¡¯re enjoying that way too much.¡±

    They both gawked at him though, neither sure which one of them he was referring to, and continued with the pets right after.

    The mediator just waved his hands at them and went to sit down before his breakfast got cold(er.)

    ¡°This is the second greatest day of my entire life.¡± Ren cooed, and actually got up onto the foot of the bed to sit cross-legged with the Himalayan.  When the XanarCat got into her lap to lay down though, that topped the charts, ¡°BEST DAY EVER.¡±

    ¡°Maybe I should make her High Negotiator.  She appreciates me.¡± Xanarken taunted, paws making biscuits against the blanket in front of Ren¡¯s crossed ankles.

    ¡°That¡¯s kind of what we came to talk to you about,¡± Gabriel noted as he unpacked and uncovered his fare.

    Xanarken lifted his head, ¡°¡­You want her to take your job?¡±

    ¡°What?  No.  But¡­she wants to finish the program.¡±

    ¡°¡­That was the intent?¡±

    ¡°Change of plans.¡± Ren explained, even as she rubbed her fingers between the cat¡¯s ears, ¡°Last night, I found out the truth about my last mission.  Captain Rydell has taken my understanding of those circumstances to mean that I want to go back to the Fafnir right away.  But¡­Gabe and I have made some breakthroughs lately, and I¡­want to finish-out my training with him first.¡±

    The XanarCat listened contentedly, but when Ren got to the end of that statement, his eyes went wide.  His whole body fluffed-up like he had gotten startled, and in a quick shift, dissolved his cat-mantle and reformed a few feet away as his normal self¡­with an absolutely flabbergasted look on his face.  He wasn¡¯t sure who to look at, and just repeatedly changed directions before finally settling on the blonde, ¡°First name basis?  She¡¯s using a nickname on you, even?¡±  He lifted a hand to his brow, and threaded his fingers through his hair, ¡°What sorcery is this?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s seen me naked, too.¡± She taunted.

    Gabriel¡¯s face went bright red, ¡°Don¡¯t make it weird.¡± He gawked at his Eidolon, ¡°She collapsed in her shower the other night!  I had no other options.  Also,¡± He pointed a fork around the Eidolon, at his trainee, ¡°You are suddenly getting extremely comfortable around the Eidolon of the Fourth.¡±

    ¡°He just sat in my lap and I rubbed his head.  How can I call him sir again so soon after?¡±

    Xanarken thumbed at her, ¡°She¡¯s got a point, you know.¡±

    ¡°Are you gonna eat this stuff or not?¡±

    ¡°Fine, fine¡­¡± She chuckled and pushed off the edge of the bed to go sit down properly.

    In passing the Eidolon on her way, Xanarken followed her with his confused gaze, and backed-up against the end of the bed, sitting on the footboard, ¡°I¡­am equal parts curious and confused.  What happened?  Why are you two so chummy suddenly?¡±

    ¡°She scolded me in Kitez for being a hard-ass for the last four months and, for a change, I actually listened.¡± Gabriel answered, explaining it in its most distilled form, ¡°Having her put her life on the line to save Seth and I also helped.¡±

    ¡°I actually really like him, too.  Well, now, anyway.¡± Ren added, ¡°It¡¯s crazy how much more personable he is when he¡¯s not trying to act emotionally constipated.¡± Xanarken snorted a laugh but Gabriel just stared at her with an offended look on his face, ¡°Since we¡¯re on the same page though, I feel like it would be a waste if I just left and went back.  So¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­If you have any power at all over whether she stays or goes, we¡¯re asking you to stop the transfer until she graduates.¡± Gabriel finished.

    Xanarken stared at them for a good long while, a thousand things going through his head at once.  But, in the end, he smacked his hands down onto his thighs as he stood back up again, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do what I can.  I can¡¯t make any guarantees, but¡­I¡¯ve stalled him for two months already, what¡¯s a few more.¡±

    Gabriel nearly choked, ¡°Say what!?  Two months!?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± The Eidolon asked nonchalantly, ¡°She told you what happened, right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah?¡±

    ¡°Well, after the Fafnir got the guy who put the glamour on her in the first place, Rylen started looking to get his toy back.  But, because she¡¯s in the Fourth now, he couldn¡¯t just snatch her out of my hands.  I thought she was a good influence on you, so I made him back down for a while.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t stop the Captain from snatching her himself.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Ren flipped her colors again, ¡°Part of me finding out what happened included restoring my rank so I could see the footage.¡±

    ¡°¡­Ah.  That changes things.¡±

    ¡°Explain?¡± Gabriel mumbled.

    ¡°As Eidolon, we have an agreement between one another that we won¡¯t step on each other¡¯s toes when it comes to what we each do with our own Wings.  We mind our own business.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡±

    ¡°So that was the only thing stopping Rylen from doing exactly what the good Captain just did.  Captain Rydell was under no such understanding, and he just voided the agreement.  She¡¯s a member of both Wings now, and if Rylen wants to pull her for something, he need only say so.  I have to work with him on it¡­I can¡¯t just say no anymore.¡±

    Gabriel put his fork down, ¡°¡­So that¡¯s what it was.  Rylen was playing the long-game.  He knew that this whole mission into Kitez would put Ren into swiping-distance of the Fafnir, and counted on that contact making her pine for the old days.  It was just to his benefit that it led us all to being stuck on the Aegis in the end.¡±

    ¡°I told him ahead of your deployment that he shouldn¡¯t count on it.¡± Xanarken sighed, ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m glad you two are getting along and want to finish the program.  Nothing wrong with expanding that skillset.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, sir.¡±

    The Eidolon gave a little wave before dissolving his mantle, and left the two on their own to finish eating.  Gabriel lifted a fist, and Ren bumped it with her own; mission accomplished.

 Book I â€“ Chapter 17 â€“ Satisfaction And Disappointment Must Come In Equal Measure

    ¡°No?¡± Rylen was stunned, ¡°What do you mean, no?¡±

    Furion was surprised as well.

    The Fourth Eidolon wouldn¡¯t budget though, ¡°I told you two months ago that I wanted to keep her with Gabe until she went through the whole program.  It¡¯s a six-month mentorship.  He¡¯s finally on-board and they¡¯re actually getting on well now.  I¡¯m not just saying no because I was asked to say no, either; I¡¯m asking you to let her stay for his sake, too.  As a favor to me.¡±

    ¡°You were asked to say no.¡± Rylen echoed in disbelief, ¡°¡­Is that why you wouldn¡¯t answer my call this morning?¡±

    ¡°You called this morning?¡±

    ¡°Yes!  Yes, I did!  From this very spot!¡± He gestured at the floor of Furion¡¯s office, ¡°The Captain watched me do it!¡±

    ¡°Oh.  It must¡¯ve been when I was sleeping.  Gabe was the one who woke me up, and he did so specifically to pose that request.  Him and Ren kind-of double-teamed me.¡±

    Furion¡¯s eyes widened a bit, She was in on this?  He lowered his gaze a bit to look away, I thought she was ready to come back¡­  The way we spent the night¡­  When he looked up again, Xanarken had already taken his leave, and Rylen was left alone there looking sour.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s certainly putting a damper on things.¡±

    ¡°Sir?¡±

    Rylen turned in annoyance, ¡°If he won¡¯t release her, we can¡¯t announce that she¡¯s coming back yet.  In fact, until he does, we can¡¯t say anything about it.  I can borrow her for missions if I want, but given the whole ship is about to go on leave, there¡¯s nothing to borrow her for.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re about to go on leave, sir?¡± Furion was doubly-surprised, ¡°It wasn¡¯t scheduled for another month.  We have that other mission coming up in two days that we were getting ready for¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m rearranging the schedule.¡± The Eidolon stated simply, ¡°Your leave and Dame Ren¡¯s recovery will happen at the same time.  Then, with any luck, she¡¯ll have had enough rest-and-recovery time that I won¡¯t be seen as a monster for asking to use her in the field for that mission.  That said¡­¡±

    Furion felt a whirl in his stomach; there were opportunities now.  He could hardly wait to get dismissed.

    ¡°¡­Three days ago, Xanarken finally had some success with the Emperor of Sargon.  Apparently, that little kerfuffle on the border with Kitez got back to him and he was sufficiently spooked about the direction Kitez is taking itself in.  He¡¯s agreed to send his son to the College at Agartha.  The transfer will happen in four weeks.  Since all these pieces are conveniently falling into place right now, the Aegis will dock in Trazad for that scheduled leave, you¡¯ll get your two weeks off, we¡¯ll all be crossing into the south for the new mission, and when we¡¯re back, you¡¯ll be escorting the Prince to Agartha.¡±

    ¡°¡­The Emperor is worried about the direction Kitez is going in?¡± Furion repeated, ¡°Sending his son to Agartha will be sending a really strong message about what side of this argument Sargon is on.¡±

    ¡°I know!¡± Rylen clapped his fingers together excitedly, ¡°One step closer to bringing Sargon into the Hadiran Accord.  Then we¡¯ll be down to just one reluctant hold-out.  It¡¯s taken 300 years to correct course¡­but we¡¯ll finally be on the verge of achieving what we set out to do when we left Earth¡­  A single united world; no more childish colonial squabbling, no more primitive territorial disputes or saber-rattling political disagreements¡­  Just Hadira.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll refrain from congratulating you too early, but¡­I¡¯ll thank you for moving up our leave, sir.  It¡¯s much appreciated.¡±

    ¡°Oh, and one more thing¡­¡±

    ¡°Sir?¡±

    ¡°If your brother is mentally recovered from what happened in Kitez, he¡¯s welcome to come with us.¡± The Eidolon explained, a certain gleam in his eyes, ¡°It¡¯s not a feral void scar, but¡­it¡¯s a bit closer to the truth.  I¡¯ll leave it to you if you want to offer him the opportunity though.¡±

    ¡°Yessir.  Thank you for your discretion.¡±

    .

    Seth, meanwhile, was looking over the slides from his last sample-gathering foray with his test subject, and marveled at the results, ¡°¡­It¡¯s¡­it¡¯s really blood cells.  But¡­how?  The dry un-activated ones are just coming up as red hair, like it grew out of his head that way.¡±

    The weather-deck was something of an unofficial meeting space for when the Fafnir had nothing better to do.  Though Seth was physically present there, he was so engrossed with his research results that he hardly noticed anyone else around him.  Ren looked over at him as she and Gabriel came on-deck, and shook her head, ¡°Nose-deep in his books.  Typical.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s always been that way?¡± Gabriel wondered, coming through just behind her.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± She answered, ¡°One thing about the Fafnir that¡¯s different from other units, is that¡­the ladies who get accepted have to undergo continuous hormone therapies, so missions don¡¯t run the risk of being interrupted by unfortunately-timed cycles or¡­well, you know, such things.  The menfolk, however, don¡¯t have that problem, so they are left alone.  The Rydell family has been running this ship for generations, and in large part, it¡¯s considered to be because Rydell men are passing on artificially-enhanced genetics.  To that end, they¡¯re breeding out nigh-legendary warriors and scholars left and right¡­  I don¡¯t wanna take away from Seth¡¯s clear genius, but¡­there¡¯s likely a reason he has it, beyond just luck of the draw.  His and Furion¡¯s father was a once-a-generation kind of Knight.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­  Yeah, I saw that the Captain got into the unit pretty much straight out of boot.¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°¡­So did you, though.¡±

    She turned her head quickly at him, ¡°¡­Wow, you really did read the file.¡±

    Gabriel just puffed and crossed his arms, ¡°Not the point I was trying to make but, yes, I read it.¡±

    She huffed a quiet laugh, ¡°I get it.  To answer your question; yes, I did get recruited straight out of boot-camp.  Thank you for noticing.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t hear you bragging about the Nibasai lineage though.¡±

    ¡°I was the lucky one.  But, I¡¯ll have you know¡­I got in as early as I did because I beat Furion up when we first met.¡± She said, and started walking towards some of the gathered, leaving her mentor a bit baffled.

    He blinked a few times, ¡°Wait, what?  Whoa, whoa, whoa¡­Ren, you can¡¯t leave me hanging on that!¡± He skipped to catch up to her, ¡°You have to elaborate.  I have so many questions.¡±

    Ren snorted a laugh, ¡°Put a pin in it.  Right now, I¡¯m going to train you how to be social.¡± She pat her palm against his chest reassuringly and stepped away again, right into the middle of a group of ¨C what looked like ¨C literally every Fafnir on the Aegis, ¡°Well now, isn¡¯t this a proverbial den of thieves.¡± She commented, getting their attention, ¡°I thought I¡¯d see one or two of you up here, but¡­everyone?¡±

    ¡°Ren!¡± Was the consensus-response to her being there, and the group shifted from their own circle to suddenly absorb her into it.  Everyone had something to say, and she couldn¡¯t respond to everyone at the same time, but she did revel in the attention.

    Gabriel just stared in awe, ¡°¡­They sucked her in like a white-blood-cell finding a pathogen¡­¡± He tried to stand on his toes and see around some of their heads, ¡°¡­She¡¯s literally the shortest person in there.  I can¡¯t even see her now.¡±

    ¡°Gaaaaaabe!¡± Her voice rang out though, and to his surprise, the group between them parted, revealing her in their midst.  Everyone around was at least a head taller than she was, which made it even more strange to know that she could probably take every one of them.  She lifted her hand towards him though to beckon him in, ¡°Everyone?  This is my mentor, Gabriel Lugios.  Don¡¯t let his reputation deceive you¡­he¡¯s actually a really nice person.¡±

    Gabriel could feel the blood drain from his face, and he felt sweaty all over with all those eyes on him, ¡°Uh¡­hi.¡± He raised a hand.

    ¡°Now, my understanding is that he¡¯s only really met a handful of you since we were brought aboard, but no one¡¯s actually introduced themselves.¡± Ren went on, and as the gathered moved forward to absorb the mediator into their midst just like they¡¯d done with Ren before him, she started listing people off in a clockwise circle, ¡°Jense Dmitry, Bianca Felipe, Corbin D¡¯Shay, Annashi Dessaw, Michael Remmy, Sammy Einhardt¡­¡± She turned around to point at those behind her, ¡°Ravan Damien, Gareth Fitzroy, Michelle Napple, Donivan Parker, Xandra Cephyr, and last but not least¡­Alexander Rogers.  Not present currently of course is the Captain, whom you already know.¡±

    To Gabriel¡¯s great assistance, as soon as he knew he was going to get singled-out, he had opened an app within his HUD that he had regularly used when meeting dignitaries and other important groups of people.  Every time Ren named someone and pointed at them, his overlay singled that person out and labeled them, making it far easier to look impressive with his supposedly-mystifying recall later.  Once the introductions were done though, he immediately realized the kind of microscope he was suddenly under, ¡°¡­Welp¡­¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Does he hate us?¡± Was the first question asked once the circle had been completed; it had been Xandra.

    ¡°Eh?  No.¡± Ren answered on his behalf.

    ¡°Then how come he hasn¡¯t talked to any of us this whole time?¡±

    ¡°He-¡°

    ¡°No, Ren, it¡¯s fine.¡± Gabriel interrupted, ¡°You don¡¯t have to make excuses for me.¡±

    Ren shrugged and stepped aside to let him have the floor.

    ¡°I¡¯ve, admittedly, been focusing on what I know rather than delving into what I don¡¯t.¡± He explained, ¡°This is your home.  Ren¡¯s home.  Since she was hurt, my singular focus has been on her recovery.  I¡¯ve¡­also been commandeered by a certain cadet who isn¡¯t paying attention to anything happening around him.¡± He said louder, looking past the crowd to see if Seth heard him.  The teen did, but all he did was wave before going back to his data.  Gabriel sighed, but the group at least laughed, ¡°He¡¯s ravenous.¡±

    ¡°Welcome to the club, he does the same thing to all of us.¡± Jense said, and suddenly, the whole room seemed more relaxed.

    ¡°So why is everyone up here at once anyway?¡± Ren wondered, ¡°What¡¯s the occasion?¡±

    ¡°The Captain told us to come up here.¡± Donivan answered, ¡°He should be down here any minute.  You sure you want to be here for that?¡±

    Ren stared for a moment ¨C that relaxed aura shifted to tension ¨C but when she shrugged, it moved to confusion instead, ¡°¡­It¡¯s fine.  We talked last night.¡±  Everyone sighed with relief.

    And just as well that they did, because mere seconds later, the man himself arrived, ¡°Captain on deck!¡±

    The Fafnir moved out into two rows ¨C presumably into each of their Wing Groups ¨C and saluted.  Ren was awkwardly left in the middle of it like a dog that got caught-up in a marathon.  Gabriel found himself with the Captain directly behind him, and he flinched when he realized, then finally stepped out of the way.  Of course, being who he was, under the now-formal conditions of the situation, Furion couldn¡¯t get to his own soldiers before saluting the No. 2 of the Fourth Wing.  With that all done, Ren stepped up through the middle of them and gave Furion something of a knowing look before she veered off around Donivan to join her mentor off to the side.  Furion¡¯s eyes followed her for a moment, but he was there for a purpose, so he had to get right to it.

    ¡°Thanks everyone for coming up on such short notice; I won¡¯t keep you long.¡± He started, ¡°As you all know, the Aegis has been undergoing preparations for a mission in the southern hemisphere.  We were supposed to leave in two days¡¯ time.  Things have changed.¡±

    No reactions just yet.

    ¡°¡­Our shore leave has been moved up, and the mission moved out.¡±

    That made people twitch a little.

    ¡°I know many of you had plans with family and friends already arranged for next month, and I do apologize for this.  However, Lord Xanarken had made inroads with the Emperor of Sargon, and Lord Rylen has given the Aegis¡¯ crew the distinct honor of participating in the result of that.¡±

    Gabriel was the one making a face then, ¡°What¡¯s going on?  What¡¯s he been doing without me?¡±

    ¡°In four weeks, Prince Iresha the Younger will be getting on a Sargonian flagship to be taken to the College at Agartha.  As such, the new timeline of our deployment is as such: starting tomorrow, when we arrive in Trazad, we will begin our two weeks of shore leave.  Immediately after that, we¡¯ll be launching from Trazad onto our previously-scheduled mission into the south.  Upon completion of that assignment, we¡¯ll be returning to Trazad to escort the Imperial flagship to Agartha.  Questions?¡±

    Corbin spoke for all of them, ¡°¡­You called us up here to tell us something that you¡¯re just going to send as a ship-wide message to everyone else?  Did you want to see the disappointment in our eyes personally?¡±

    Furion could feel his cheek twitch slightly, ¡°Nothing nearly so ghoulish.  Unfortunately, I had something else I was going to tell you that was team-only, but¡­that¡¯s been put on the back-burner for now.¡±

    Gabriel and Ren both knew exactly what that meant, and stayed quiet.  Ren stepped in a bit closer and brushed her shoulder against his arm, acknowledging that very thing in her own way, linking them together in their knowing silence.

    ¡°Oh¡­¡±

    ¡°Anything else?¡±

    Crickets.

    ¡°Dismissed.¡±

    ¡°Sir!¡± They all saluted again, and dispersed.

    Ravan, Jense, and Corbin all stuck together though, and Ravan made her way towards her semi-exiled friend, ¡°Ren, if we¡¯re all being kicked off the ship tomorrow, you should come hang out with us.¡±

    She was surprised the woman would speak so loudly about solo-time in front of her partner, but when she looked back to find the blonde, he¡¯d already walked away and seemed to be focused on something.  Her brow crinkled, but she turned back to her friends, ¡°Yeah, that¡¯d be nice actually.¡±

    ¡°¡­What¡¯s his deal?¡± Corbin wondered, ¡°He just wandered away and started talking to himself.¡±

    ¡°Oh, he¡¯s not talking to himself.¡± Ren defended, and turned back to look at where Gabriel had gone-off to again, ¡°¡­He¡¯s talking to Lord Xanarken.¡±  She turned back again, ¡°So, what are you guys planning?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a really great restaurant in the city that I¡¯ve been dying to go back to,¡° Jense explained, ¡°It was the first thing I thought of when the Captain told us where we¡¯d be docking.¡±

    ¡°He literally never shuts up about it,¡± Ravan laughed; Corbin nodded enthusiastically in agreement, ¡°To get some relief, we promised to go with him if we ever got the chance.  You should come suffer with us.¡±

    Jense guffawed, ¡°You guys make it sound like I¡¯m going to torture you.  It¡¯s a restaurant.¡±

    ¡°But it¡¯s with you.¡±

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s so mean.¡± He complained, and grabbed the two with an arm over each head, pulling them both down to be more on a level with their short friend, ¡°You see what they do to me when you¡¯re not here?  I get picked-on maliciously.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve survived so far.¡± Ren laughed.  By then, however, it was becoming painfully obvious that someone else was waiting for her, ¡°I think I¡¯m missing an appointment right now though.  I¡¯ll catch you guys later.¡±

    Ravan wiggled to look over Jense¡¯s arm where he maintained his head-lock on her, and spotted their Captain waiting patiently off to the side.  She turned back and pulled a hand up to cover her mouth, ¡°Ohoho.¡±

    ¡°Honestly, get.¡± Ren shooed them all off, waving her good arm after them as they went.  At that same time though, Gabriel was coming back to her as well, ¡°What happened?  What¡¯d he say?¡±

    ¡°The Emperor sprung it on him.¡± He answered, ¡°He couldn¡¯t go into much detail while I¡¯m here.  Wants me somewhere more private.¡±

    ¡°Do you need to go?¡±

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s Prince-related stuff, so¡­yeah.  You can come if you want, but I¡¯m not gonna make you do work-things while you¡¯re on recovery.¡±

    ¡°¡­I mean, I¡¯m in-uniform, so¡­¡±

    ¡°Ehhh¡­  This is an in-progress project.  A lot of the finer details will probably be lost in the mess of not knowing what was said before.  Let¡¯s put a pin in this one.  We¡¯d be better-off starting something else fresh.¡±

    Ren scoffed, ¡°Revenge for me leaving you hanging earlier?  Rude.¡±

    He laughed though, ¡°Your story is far more juicy than mine.  I can assure you, there¡¯s nothing about this that will entertain you half so much as that would entertain me.¡±  He looked past her shoulder to the still-waiting Captain, ¡°I think you have more important things to deal with right now though.  I won¡¯t make him wait any longer.¡±

    ¡°So willing to split my time already?¡±

    ¡°I suppose I should expect to get used to it.  He¡¯s already swallowed his pride to disappoint the crowd when he could¡¯ve just blurted out what he wanted to say.  I¡¯ll give the man his moment.¡±  He gave her good shoulder a gentle squeeze, ¡°Cya later.¡±

    ¡°Cya later, Gabe.¡± She answered, and returned the gesture as he turned to go.  Now that everyone else had scattered, Ren finally turned on her heel to treat with the final contender, and bowed her head slightly as she made her way over to him, ¡°¡­I feel like I probably owe you an explanation.¡±

    ¡°Owe me?¡± Furion echoed, ¡°¡­Nah.  I¡¯d like one, but¡­in the end, Fourth Wing business is none of mine.  Lord Xanarken¡¯s word on the matter is all I¡¯m entitled to.¡±

    ¡°You could always ask me, though.¡± She teased, and stepped into the cover of the Captain¡¯s wide cape.  Though he had his hands clasped loosely behind his own back as they walked, his uniform¡¯s pauldrons made his real-estate footprint rather large, and she all-but vanished within it if anyone were to spy the man from behind, ¡°I¡¯d tell you.¡±

    ¡°Alright¡­  I¡¯ll bite.  Why¡¯d you do it?¡± He glanced down at her, ¡°After last night, I was pretty-much convinced you were ready to abandon the diverted path and come back to the one you¡¯d carved for yourself.  The one we¡¯ve been carving together for the last¡­what, eight years?¡±

    ¡°Has it really been that long?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid so.¡± He answered, ¡°It would¡¯ve been all nine but you played hard to get.¡±

    ¡°Sir, I was a good new recruit and didn¡¯t want to do the wrong thing.¡± Ren puffed, ¡°Wasn¡¯t it enough that I put you on the ground with my butt the first time we met?  You could wait a year for me to get used to being here before you put the moves on me.¡±

    Furion nearly tripped over his own feet to hear it, ¡°Why would you phrase it that way?¡±

    ¡°Was any of it untrue?¡± She laughed.

    ¡°¡­Technically, no.¡±

    Ren beamed proudly, ¡°Well, there you go.¡±

    ¡°Anyway¡­  My point is that¡­is this mediator thing really that important?  It was never on your radar before, but now you actually want to go through the whole thing?¡± Furion wondered, as they walked together along the weather-deck¡¯s massive 20ft floor-to-ceiling windows; they could see the entire upper hull of the Aegis from there, and the bridge above it, ¡°What are you going to use mediation skills on in our line of work?¡±

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s not about the mediation, to be honest.¡± She answered, ¡°It¡¯s about him.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡±

    Ren nodded, and made a point to tunnel her way under his cape, and around his back, to get onto his left side.  Once there, she reached up with her good arm to hook her fingers around his elbow, ¡°Around half an hour after we first met-up with Seth, everything went to shit.  Ianori went down right away, Seth was terrified, and Gabriel¡­?  Well, he stepped up.  He had just learned what I used to be, and instead of holding it against me and making our escape difficult, he listened to me.  He followed my directions in the heat of the moment without question or need for explanation.  Now¡­I¡¯m not saying that it made a difference to our fate in the end, but it impressed me.  I saw something in him that I hadn¡¯t in the entire four months we¡¯d been together to that point.  I want to foster that¡­make him better for it.  Even if nothing he teaches me will matter once I¡¯m back here, giving him the room and opportunity to be a teacher will help him be a better mediator.¡±

    Furion guffawed, ¡°¡­You have a crush on him, don¡¯t you?¡±

    She puffed a laugh, ¡°Maybe a little bit.  He is, after all, a foundational reason why I ever got into the Fafnir to begin with.  Now that I¡¯ve finally cracked the ice with him a bit¡­I¡¯m starting to see the person I always hoped he¡¯d be.  You¡¯ve waited this long for me to come back¡­what¡¯s a little while longer?  Let me fangirl a little.  Distance makes the heart grow fonder, right?¡±

    Furion could only shake his head and sigh, ¡°The insane amount of jealousy I have right now is indescribable.  We finally got back on the same page last night after all this time where you actually hated me.  I¡­don¡¯t want to let you go already.¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re going on leave for two weeks.¡± Ren noted, and gave him a bit of a sultry look, ¡°That¡¯s a lot of nights where we could be getting caught up on lost time.  Let¡¯s make the most of it.  When Gabe and I inevitably shove-off again, it¡¯ll just be a countdown to when I¡¯m back permanently.  Maybe by then I¡¯ll even be able to use both hands again.¡±

    That made the Captain smirk, but he shook his head anyway, ¡°I¡¯ve really missed you.  Your smile, your eyes, your cutting sarcasm¡­  These next two weeks couldn¡¯t have come at a better time.¡± He said quietly, and looked around over his shoulders briefly before he nudged Ren out in front of himself, putting her back towards the windows.  With hardly anyone paying attention, and Seth still lost in the mire of his own research, Furion lifted one gloved hand to his lips and bit down on the tip of one finger to pull the glove away.  He cupped his palm to her cheek, and the warmth of feeling her lean into it sent a tingle through the whole of him.  He dared the public spectacle, grabbed the glove with his free hand, and leaned down to steal a kiss.  He could feel her grinning, and stole another before he stood up straight again, ¡°Can I come by later tonight?¡±

    ¡°Please do.  Then you can be the one sneaking out before dawn.¡±

    ¡°All things in balance.¡±

 Book I â€“ Chapter 18 â€“ A Single Thread Can Split Into May Frayed Ends

    The basement-levels of the Kitezan R&D facility were as ominous as they were dark; when the lights cracked on, they didn¡¯t help make it feel any more welcoming.  Entirely lacking the stylistic attention of the upper levels, it was damp, the walls were unpolished concrete-stone, pipes were visible, and there was a room.  One, specific, strange room.  Once through two different levels of security-doors, in the middle, one would find a space that was built like a prison-cube, with thick glass walls, a thicker metal skeleton, and a single door that wouldn¡¯t budge for anything except the proper access.

    Kourin pushed her rimless glasses up her nose a little, and ¨C with the thin man - escorted Magistrate Regulus around to the viewing-hall; hidden behind one-way glass, he could see a rather intimidating and monstrous figure sitting inside, still as water.

    ¡°It can¡¯t hear through these walls?¡± He wondered, ¡°You¡¯re certain.¡±

    ¡°If it can, it hasn¡¯t responded to anything, no matter how jarring or loud.¡± She answered, and nudged her face in the direction of a communications button on the right vertical edge of the cell, ¡°It¡¯s quite the chatterbox though when you talk to it.¡±

    Regulus¡¯ eyes examined every inch of the entity; what had originally been brought in as a dead Fafnir with a thin purple shell of resin-like armor covering its body, bloodless white skin, and the beginnings of rudimentary horns, had now grown to include a much-more refined-looking exterior, multiple ridged and twisting horns, and ¨C most confusing of all ¨C wings. Bat-like and folded neatly behind its back, though only sporting a maximum-potential wingspan of 6ft by that point, they had only continued to grow since first sprouting like little horns from the corpse¡¯s shoulder-blades.

    The Magistrate crossed his arms anxiously, ¡°Someone mind explaining why it¡¯s taking that shape, of all things?¡±

    ¡°He was once a Fafnir Knight, sir.¡± Kourin answered, ¡°It appears to be manufacturing an exterior that resembles their armor. It might be a reflex based on the Knight¡¯s memory and identity. The way it fought against its former allies makes us believe that, while the man himself is quite dead, the creature using his body is tapping into his knowledge and experience to make sense of its surroundings. This is further demonstrated by how the entity referred to Captain Rydell as¡­well, Captain, only to then attack him without hesitation.¡±

    ¡°So, this thing has turned a Fafnir Knight into a combat-muppet.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s our guess, yessir.¡±

    ¡°Do we know anything else? You said it liked talking. What¡¯s it said?¡±

    The thin man loaded up some information on his FlexiGlas scroll, and turned it around to show the judge. Upon its screen was the face of a member of the flagship¡¯s crew, ¡°To start¡­this man encountered the entity while trying to get to the escape-pods. It spoke to him, after massacring every other soldier who¡¯d met it along the way, and asked if he knew where the other prisoners were located.¡±

    ¡°To help them get out?¡±

    ¡°No sir, it was looking for the man with ¡®the sight.¡¯ It had been mumbling to itself about that issue while tearing through the ship. It apparently got frustrated enough with its lack of success to ask someone.¡±

    Regulus rubbed a finger against his chin, ¡°Lugios¡­ It wanted someone who was afflicted.¡±

    ¡°Considering they were right down the hall from one another to start with, it¡¯s clear that ¨C at least in the state it began in then - its senses are limited to that of a normal human.¡± Kourin added, ¡°It went all the way up to the bridge, killed the flight-crew, and then went all the way back down in search of this person with ¡®the sight.¡¯ We just¡­have no idea what it would¡¯ve done had it reached him.¡±

    ¡°¡­It tore through my crew like a glass tornado and somehow, in spite of all that carnage, I managed to miss it entirely.¡± Regulus shook his head in disbelief, ¡°What blind, stupid na?vet¨¦ I possessed to think that the Fafnir were my only concern that entire time.¡±

    Kourin and her fellow were quiet.

    Regulus looked around the edges of that front glass-wall, and reached to open the intercom into the cell, ¡°What do you want? Why did you kill everyone?¡±

    Scyrexianori slowly lifted its head, an eerie, subtle smile on its lips, ¡°I didn¡¯t kill everyone. I let that one man go.¡±

    Baffled, Regulus clicked the button a second time, ¡°Why though?¡±

    ¡°We had an understanding, and he gave me what I wanted, so I gave him what he wanted; to escape with his life.¡±

    ¡°What are you?¡± Regulus asked warily, ¡°Where did you even come from?¡±

    Scyrexianori lifted its head a bit further; the aura of bloody mist trailing from his eyes was relatively calm compared to the week before, ¡°I have found myself in the unfortunate situation where I am trapped inside a dead, blind body.¡± It explained simply, ¡°I seek someone with the sight to liberate me.¡±

    ¡°And how did you get trapped, exactly¡­?¡±

    ¡°The void rift, as you call it. This unfortunate man fell inside. In my effort to expel him, part of me came back with him. I¡¯m trying to return.¡± It answered¡­and started to rise. The pair of researchers outside took a few steps back, but Regulus held his ground. Those fledgling wings cracked like knuckles as they expanded and folded back in again, and with a grand slap of one hand against the glass, the miasma trickling from its eyes gushed out with ferocity enough to send a shockwave out¡­

    ¡­and knocked Kourin straight back into the rear wall with a shriek, eyes flaring with golden-white light. Her glasses shattered from the impact of falling from her nose, and she cringed, clasping at her face from the sting, ¡°Damn it, what the Hell was that¡­!?¡±

    The Magistrate took a step back to check on her, a hand on her shoulder, ¡°What just happened? What did it do to you?¡±

    ¡°It¡­felt like it was flexing¡­?¡± She answered warily, and as she shook her head, the tails of light faded, and her eyes went back to normal, ¡°¡­What a weird sensation¡­ It¡¯s like¡­it pushed my soul back, and it yanked my body with it.¡±

    Regulus rose back up to his feet and looked at the smirking entity on the other side of the glass ¨C it had, conveniently, subdued its own optic inflection by then, ¡°I don¡¯t want you down here again until we understand more about what this thing wants and intends to do. Just focus on the implants I gave you.¡±

    ¡°¡­Y-yessir¡­¡±

    .

    Seth had completely worn himself out with his nonstop delving. When Gabriel found him, he was passed-out cold on the couch he¡¯d parked on earlier in the day. With no sight of Ren, there was only one person left to bother, and the responsibility of being the botheree fell to the Rydell teen.

    ¡°Hey.¡± It started with a poke. Poke poke poke. ¡°Hey.¡±

    ¡°Mrphmr¡­¡±

    ¡°Seth.¡±

    One eye blearily opened; the hazy image of the mediator came in and out of focus, ¡°¡­Mr¡­Gabriel?¡±

    ¡°I have an important mission for you.¡±

    ¡°Hwehh..?¡±

    Gabriel hopped over the back of the couch to get in front of it, and sat beside the teen, ¡°I just got done talking with the boss-man. There¡¯s a lot of big, really important moving parts in Sargon right now. But I need you for a very special job.¡±

    Seth looked at him skeptically, and adjusted his glasses as he sat up again, ¡°¡­Why do I feel like this is gonna be a big ask?¡±

    ¡°I agreed to yours. You owe me.¡±

    ¡°Ugh¡­fine. What is it?¡±

    ¡°Prince Iresha is going to the College at Agartha in a month. You also happen to be a student there, and it¡¯s my understanding that Rylen effectively plucked you from a classroom to send you to Kitez.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yeah¡­?¡±Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    Gabriel leaned against the pillows and curled his arm back around to press his knuckles to his cheek, looking rather casual, ¡°You¡¯ve been gone for five weeks, and that makes you at least one week late back to campus.¡±

    Seth¡¯s brow crinkled, and he pulled the glasses off his face to rub his eyes, ¡°Lord Rylen made an arrangement with the College to let me do my classes remotely while I was gone. He put in for an extension given¡­well, how it went.¡±

    ¡°Not where I was going, but cool.¡± Gabriel waved his other hand at the teen, ¡°What I mean is that, given present circumstances, you¡¯re going to be dropped-off in Trazad tomorrow when the Aegis docks. That means you¡¯re conveniently going to be in the general vicinity of said Prince. I need you to become his best friend.¡±

    That made Seth reach forward to put the palm of his hand against the mediator¡¯s forehead, ¡°Are you okay? Sick? You sound insane.¡±

    Gabriel blew twice against the limb to push him back again, ¡°I¡¯m entirely within my head. I¡¯m being serious. He¡¯s royalty in Sargon; you¡¯re royalty within the Council. He¡¯s a Limitless user; you¡¯re in the market for such things. He¡¯s going to need a support system as he leaves the nest for the first time, and you both happen to be going to same direction at roughly the same time. It¡¯s perfect!¡±

    ¡°¡­I guess, but¡­?¡±

    ¡°But what?¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be kind of rude to expect him to be a guinnea-pig? He¡¯s a Prince¡­¡±

    Gabriel laughed and flicked the teen¡¯s brow, ¡°That¡¯s why you become besties first, ya goof. You don¡¯t just walk up like yes, greetings, your royalest of highnesses, I¡¯m Seth; present yourself for examination.¡± He put on a rather dramatic and dazzling display for emphasis, including a sarcastic seated curtsey at the end.

    Seth just grumbled and rubbed the sting away, ¡°This is gonna take a lot of work¡­ Befriending a guy on request isn¡¯t easy. What if we don¡¯t get along?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s actually a lot easier than you¡¯d think, especially when both parties are introduced to one another with the expectation that becoming acquainted is the intent. He¡¯ll be getting coached by his father, no doubt, to be on his best behavior and learn how to court favor from critical potential allies. You could be that critical potential ally. Introduce him to the way we do things, make him feel welcome, et cetera.¡±

    ¡°I dunno¡­¡±

    ¡°Seth, it¡¯s a political partnership, not an arranged marriage.¡± Gabriel puffed, ¡°You two are close to the same age. You¡¯re bound to have better luck than I did. You¡¯re just there to guide him during downtime, not beat him into submission. Be someone he can relate to, and answer any of his questions.¡±

    ¡°¡­Fine.¡±

    Gabriel beamed, and as he pushed to stand up, he turned to ruffle the teen¡¯s hair with both hands, ¡°And that¡¯s how negotiations are done.¡± He said with an immature tone in his voice.

    Seth swatted him away, ¡°Feels like the back-end of a quid pro quo.¡±

    ¡°Eyyy you¡¯re learning!¡± The mediator laughed, ¡°Tell you what¡­ When we get to Trazad tomorrow, and the flood-gates are opened to let us out, I¡¯ll treat you to something nice. You wanted to spend some more time with Ren anyway, so it works out.¡±

    ¡°¡­I get to pick, then?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, naturally. Whatever you want.¡±

    Seth crossed his arms, ¡°You have to agree that it¡¯s not just resetting the quid ahead of another pro quo. This is purely voluntary on your part and comes with no strings.¡±

    ¡°No strings. Negotiator¡¯s honor.¡±

    .

    ¡°I can¡¯t decide between the BajaBlue and the RoseFire.¡± Ren grumbled, swiping left and then right and then left again as a nanotech augment on her hair-color swapped the black for a lava-lamp-effect of colors. On the one hand, was a dark blue veined with glowing green and seafoam, but on the other, it was a deep scarlet base with glowing orange, yellow, and pink; each had matching make-up to go with it. She pulled the wide neck of her T-shirt up a bit higher over one shoulder as she turned around, and faced towards where Furion was lounging back on her couch, a hot drink in his hand, ¡°Thoughts?¡±

    ¡°Are you going to a rave or dinner?¡± He mused into the sweet smell of coffee, whiskey, and sweetfoam.

    ¡°Aw c¡¯mon, I haven¡¯t gotten to have fun out in like¡­six months.¡± Ren whined piteously, ¡°But if I¡¯m being dragged into the quagmire of listening to Jense detail the pros and cons of every item on that menu, I¡¯m gonna look good while doing it.¡±

    ¡°You already look good though.¡± Furion retorted, and set his drink down as the woman sauntered closer with nought but that baggy T-shirt and a pair of boy-shorts clinging to her slim frame. He held a hand out and guided her closer, and she set her fingers onto his, until she lowered down to sit straddled over the middle of his lap, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You got oddly quiet over a hairdo.¡±

    Ren lowered her hand down to idly play with the strings hanging off the front of the man¡¯s grey shirt. After a moment, she waved that hand up dismissively and her vibrant new colors vanished, leaving her looking rather sadly normal again, ¡°¡­I¡¯m just¡­trying to distract from my handicap. I didn¡¯t know how frustrating it would be to be one-handed. The best microsurgeons in the world, and six hours of therapy every morning can¡¯t change how fast I heal¡­¡±

    Furion gave a sympathetic look, ¡°You¡¯ve been doing this for less than a week. You can¡¯t rush it.¡±

    ¡°I know¡­¡± She sighed, and after a moment of consideration, reached over to pull the sling over her head, and let her offending arm hang prone into their laps. Fingers reached around to rub into the gel-sleeve that had covered the entire thing, ¡°I still don¡¯t know what it looks like under here either.¡±

    ¡°Do you want to?¡±

    ¡°Would it be weird to say yes?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡±

    ¡°¡­You¡¯d actually let me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m right here with you. I can help you put it back. It was only above the elbow anyway.¡± He explained, and moved his hands from her waist, into the cushions underneath himself, so he could push to sit a bit higher. He pulled his right leg off the top of the table to put that foot on the floor, and gave a reassuring gentle pinch to her chin before he started to work at the sleeve.

    It was cool to the touch, and on the inside aspect, had a number of flat, circular pads, creating a low-level electrical field to help stimulate fusion of the reimplanted bone. The skin itself hardly looked marred, but for the subtle lines dividing her original arm from the paler new addition.

    Furion traced his fingertips gently along that divide, ¡°Hardly any swelling. These sleeves work wonders.¡±

    Ren sucked in a tense breath, and moved her own hand over his, and pressed the man¡¯s palm to that wounded arm, ¡°¡­Could I ever be useful again if I came back¡­? Lord Rylen and you have both gotten my hopes up, but it could take months to get my strength back, and probably longer to get all the sensation¡­ I can¡¯t be good at much with a bum left arm.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll be fine.¡± He answered easily, but he could see and feel her doubts. A thought occurred to him, ¡°¡­I know how much you hate to think about the fail-safe protocol, but¡­¡±

    ¡°But?¡± She asked dubiously.

    ¡°It works both ways. The system that lets a Captain take control of someone else¡¯s armor is the same system that gives each Knight enhanced strength and stamina. Even a powered-down suit still synchronizes with its wearer to give the-¡°

    ¡°¡­The 30% enhancement¡­¡± She finished, her brows crinkled as she considered it, ¡°¡­I thought it just worked by putting a boost behind each movement, not that it¡­¡±

    Furion shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s so much more than that. It¡¯s a perfectly-tuned exoskeleton. Your thoughts become commands for the armor, as if it was an extension of your own body. If you want to move your left hand like you used to¡­you can. Temporarily, anyway.¡±

    ¡°¡­Don¡¯t tease me like this¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not a tease. ¡­Let¡¯s go flying.¡±

    .

    The Aegis had two hangars; one for the usual needs of a flying fortress, but the other was a private launch-pad for the Fafnir themselves. Within, the walls were lined with docking-capsules, each one containing the power-armor of each individual Knight. Furion went around to the singular capsule at the head of the room, and in response to the presence of his nanotech ID, his own pod hissed, smoked, and its door rose up. Within was his own armor, facing the back of the pod, and opened at the back like an onion. From ankle to elbow, it was splayed and ready in its normal standing position. Before stepping into it though, Furion went with Ren to the next-nearest capsule; the docking-station for Wing Commander One. It still had her rank and name emblazoned on the door, and she dared to approach it, seeing that dormant light go green as it sensed her presence and began the opening protocol. It hissed, clicked, and smoke poured out from the broken seams¡­and moved out of the way, revealing that scarlet beast within.

    ¡°I never thought I¡¯d see it again¡­ But here it is¡­¡± She commented quietly, tears forming in her eyes as she reached a hand forward.

    ¡°If you¡¯re ready, just step inside.¡± Furion encouraged, standing-by beside her, a hand resting on the open door.

    Ren practically bounced on the balls of her feet with excitement, and quickly nudged her sneakers off, ¡°Quick, quick, stick my hair down the back of my T-shirt!¡± She insisted eagerly, moving the rest over her ears as he laughed and did as she asked. The need for a proper flight-suit was irrelevant for such an impromptu departure, and she stepped bare-footed into those well-known boots. Furion slipped in behind her just long enough to gently glide her left arm into the open gauntlet, and pet her back as he stepped out again and let the armor close around her. It clicked and folded itself around her ¨C and the helmet came down over her head - and with speed, it connected, and she stepped back.

    Primarily a deep, scarlet red, the armor was trimmed in gold and based on a field of black. Ren turned around and took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and let herself feel everything coming alive all around her. The wing-arms on her back flexed and stretched, and she looked down to her left side¡­and moved her arm.

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s¡­it¡¯s like I¡¯m not even hurt.¡± She commented breathlessly, turning her hand over several times and flexing every one of her fingers individually, making a fist, extending them, flapping the wrist, all as if it was all normal inside.

    Furion reached forward to take that hand and wrist into his palms, ¡°Careful, love. You¡¯re not recovered in there just yet. You can still do damage. Just take it easy and move slow.¡±

    ¡°Go get yours on! I can¡¯t stand it!¡± She laughed, and shooed him off with both arms.

    He was back with her merely seconds later, and kicked his feet out as he adjusted where it sat on him, ¡°Stay within the shield¡¯s boundaries and no one will be alerted that we¡¯ve left the ship. Shall we?¡±

    ¡°Wing optics engage.¡±

    Furion¡¯s bright white double-set flashed on, and Ren could see the subtle volcanic hue of her own dancing on the deck-floor, like lights shining through the surface of water. She didn¡¯t even give the man a chance to look her over properly before she took off, toes treading millimeters above the metal of the hangar as she blasted her way towards the exit. At the last second, she flipped over backwards and waved gleefully with both hands as she went careening off the edge and into the night sky, plummeting at breakneck speeds.

    ¡°R-Ren! The shield!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care! I need this! Let them all come if they want!¡±

    Furion shook his head but laughed anyway, and followed after her, tapping a toe down on the ledge as he stepped-off to join in the dive. To hear her whooping and hollering with such excitement was a dream, but he knew they had five minutes ¨C tops ¨C before everyone else would be blitzing off the ship after them. He knew the words ¡®Wing Commander One has departed¡¯ would be flashing on the monitors of the bridge, and every Fafnir aboard would get a stand-by alert, followed promptly by ¡®Captain has departed.¡¯ Ren leveled-out her dive until she was parallel with the waters of a massive fjord. Mist flew behind her as a wake rippled out, and she reached down to touch her fingers to the surface.

    This was bliss. This¡­was Heaven.

 Book I - Chapter 19 â€“ The Return To Oneâ€™s Roots Can Mean The Withering Of Branches

    The view from the top of a moving SkyFortress was always breathtaking, especially to one who thought she¡¯d never have the privilege of seeing it ever again. Ren reached up to unhook her helmet and pulled it away; long black hair spilled out almost immediately, caught-up in the whipping wind of that cold, high altitude. As Furion finally convinced the rest of the Fafnir Flock to disperse and go back to the hangar, she drew in a long, steady breath, and closed her eyes.

    ¡°It almost feels like you never left, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Furion wondered quietly as he pulled his own helmet off; long blonde bangs and that skinny ponytail came free quickly like hers had.

    Ren opened her eyes, looking at one of the sky¡¯s two moons, ¡°¡­I always felt like I could think more clearly up here. The air is so cold, and the wind so sharp¡­it¡¯s hard to think about anything else. A minute of empty-brain really puts things into perspective.¡± She answered, and turned slightly, those massive red wings tucked-in neatly behind her, ¡°There¡¯s something that¡¯s¡­been bothering me since you showed me the footage of my last mission.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    She had a rather sorry, guilty look on her face, and she shook her head, ¡°The way I threw eight years of us away in two minutes¡­¡± She started, and pulled her helmet in front of herself to hold it with both hands. She looked into that visor, and at the reflection of her own face thereupon, ¡°¡­How stupid it sounded that I ¨C someone whose job was defined by neutralizing dangerous Limitless threats ¨C would be so easily fooled by something that should¡¯ve made me stop and wonder. ¡­That Lord Rylen would send us to kill children¡­that you would press me through the mission like it didn¡¯t matter to you, either. Not just by your orders, or your refusal to listen to me¡­but by your take-over of my armor to force me to finish the mission anyway. To truly believe - for four months - that I really had their blood on my hands, and that you made me go through with that, despite my begging you to stop.¡±

    Furion listened carefully, but dared not interrupt. He kept half an eye out for any lingering streaks of light in the night-sky that might interrupt.

    ¡°Seeing the footage of what really happened, hearing the words that were really said¡­ Knowing now that two more missions went ahead to try and stop that guy before you thought to pilot Donivan remotely¡­and wondering what they saw? How could I have been the only one to not see through it?¡± Ren wondered, frustrated with herself, ¡°I held it against you so deeply that it made my stomach hurt to think of your face¡­ But¡­how could I have done that? I know you¡­ I know what it looks like to watch your split personalities; Furion and Captain Rydell are different in such obvious ways, but I never had any reason to believe that either of them would to do to me what I thought you¡¯d done that day.¡±

    ¡°Personal feelings between teammates - and in particular, Captain and subordinate - are never supposed to be part of the equation. We flout those rules by being together anyway...and that day, we paid the price for it.¡± Furion noted, and stepped closer to thread his armored fingers through her bangs, to brush them against her cheek, "Hearing you fighting against the fail-safe, yelling at me to stop¡­it gutted me.  I was trying to save your life, and you thought I was forcing you to commit atrocities.  I''ve never heard that kind of rage and fear in your voice before, and it''s haunted me every day since.  There were a lot of times where I went over the footage on my own, trying to figure out if there could''ve been some other way...but I''ve realized, and accepted, that it was a lost cause no matter what.  We didn''t know what you were walking into.  We couldn''t have been any better prepared than we were.¡±

    ¡°¡­Do you think I gave us away with how strongly I reacted?¡±

    ¡°If you did, it didn¡¯t matter to Lord Rylen at all, given he¡¯s been so keen to get you back this whole time.¡± Furion shrugged, ¡°I think we were all sympathetic to your situation, given how devastated you were by what you thought you saw. You don¡¯t know how hard it was though. If you hadn¡¯t given us away, I was certain I was going to in the aftermath. Those were a lot of late, painful nights¡­¡±

    Ren stepped closer and leaned into his side, one arm threading behind his back, ¡°¡­I¡¯m so sorry¡­ I don¡¯t know how you could ever forgive me for how I treated you¡­¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to forgive. I never blamed you.¡± He answered, and leaned down to kiss the top of her head, then turned to press his cheek there instead, ¡°You¡¯re the best thing that¡¯s ever happened to me, and the most important thing in my life. I wasn¡¯t going to give up on you. It was just a matter of time and grit, and now, it¡¯s in the past. While you¡¯re finishing-up your ¡®I can fix him¡¯ project, I¡¯ll be here, waiting for you to come home.¡±

    ¡°Man, I¡¯m getting all emotional again,¡± Ren puffed, trying not to cry all over. With her helmet snugly-held under her left arm, she pulled out in front of the man, and craned her head back to see his face. She slid her right hand up though, and cupped her palm to that pale face, ¡°Much as I thought I hated you, I¡­never stopped loving you. I missed you, I missed us¡­I even missed all those early mornings when one of us had to bail early to keep up appearances, much as I used to complain about them.¡±

    ¡°No one will be watching for the next two weeks.¡±

    ¡°And no one¡¯s watching now.¡± She teased, and stepped up onto her tippy-toes to meet those lips.

    .

    ¡°Prince Aamin wants refuge¡­?¡± Duchess Far¡¯nah was stumped to hear the words, ¡°I thought he died?¡±

    ¡°No, your Grace,¡± Regulus shook his head, ¡°He fled the Bulwark after the incident, and had apparently been hiding in the wilderness near the border ever since. There were some locals who helped him ¨C patched him up and guided him to the nearest check-point ¨C but once they arrived, they left him there. ¡­From the report I was given, he¡¯s needing additional care. How shall we proceed?¡±

    The throne room of the Duchy was a large space, floored and pillared in marble, with water flowing gently through elaborate channels. In the middle was a large, U-shaped stone table, with a larger stone pergola above it, laden with vines and a series of bright, sun-like lamps directly above that. It was a peaceful space, intended to illicit calm and careful thinking in the Conclave whenever the Magistrates all met together.

    Far¡¯nah sat back in her throne, to the right of her ¡®meek and mild¡¯ husband, and considered it, ¡°Bringing Iresha¡¯s dear brother here would be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, having a royal Sargonian hostage could tip the scales back in our favor. On the other, the Emperor may have no love left for Aamin, after the man¡¯s machinations led directly to the death of his wife.¡± She leaned from one side of her seat to the other, and in her husband¡¯s direction, ¡°Mardu? Thoughts?¡±

    Regulus sneered lightly, but stayed quiet.

    The Duke seemed almost surprised by the request for his input, ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know. Iresha and I haven¡¯t spoken in some time. I¡­don¡¯t know his mindset these days. If his son didn¡¯t have the affliction, maybe, but¡­we can¡¯t provide a viable alternative for him to remove the need for the Council.¡± He answered stiffly, fingers pinching timidly at the folds of clothing in his lap, ¡°¡­But¡­¡±

    ¡°But?¡±

    ¡°¡­I know he loved Rani dearly, and I¡¯m sure he¡¯s reeling from her death. If he knew we had the man who caused it, he¡­might be willing to do us a favor for his return.¡±

    ¡°How much is justice worth to your old friend?¡±

    ¡°¡­Please don¡¯t ask me to answer that¡­¡± Mardu lowered his head.

    Far¡¯nah¡¯s face was written with disappointment, and she sighed as she turned to towards the Magistrate, ¡°I agree to allow him entry. However, for the time being, I don¡¯t want it to be public knowledge. If he needs care, then he shall have it¡­no sense leaving him under the baking sun to rot when he could be useful later on. Where is he now?¡±

    ¡°He presented to the check-point at Soothton, your Grace. It¡¯s in the foothills below the border-mountains.¡± Regulus answered, ¡°He¡¯s in confinement there for the moment, but-¡°

    ¡°If the Emperor doesn¡¯t know his brother is alive still, there¡¯s a chance he may discover the truth of it before long. It would be too public to simply accept him through the normal way¡­¡± Far¡¯nah put a finger to her chin in thought, ¡°Is there a way to get him through unnoticed?¡±

    The Magistrate looked up slightly, ¡°¡­I think so, your Grace. Soothton was originally built on a fragmented section of a crashed colony ship. It would be dangerous for the exiled Prince to traverse its depths, but¡­for the sake of secrecy and spectacle, I could go there personally to refuse him entry, and quietly direct him to where the ruins open on the Sargonian side.¡±

    The Duchess stood up from her throne and came down the few steps that held it up, ¡°Could a burned man make it through? Do we even know the ruin is open and clear from one side to the other?¡±

    Regulus nodded, ¡°It¡¯s in my district. It¡¯s been a source of trouble for many years. It¡¯s absolutely labyrinthine below the surface, and it¡¯s been difficult to seal. These days, it¡¯s become fodder for thrill-seekers and explorers who continue to find paths through. I know the Kitezan half fairly well, but¡­the Prince would need to find his own way through from Sargon¡¯s. Given a day or two, I could meet him in the middle, and bring him through the rest of the way myself.¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    ¡°He can¡¯t be brought to Oceanside.¡± Far¡¯nah added, ¡°Not yet.¡±

    ¡°I have somewhere to keep him until you¡¯ve considered his request further.¡±

    ¡°Very good. Patch him up and keep me updated.¡± The Duchess set a hand on the man¡¯s shoulder as she passed, and took her leave through the front doors. When they opened to let her through, she found the masked face of Latheroux there waiting. She gave him something of a smarmy, objectionable look, but scoffed quietly and went by, ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know what he sees in you.¡± She mumbled, and carried on.

    As Latheroux lifted his head out of the polite bow he¡¯d given, he turned slightly to watch the woman go, then quietly made his way into the throne room where Regulus was just-then starting to leave as well. They passed one another on the far sides of the meeting table, and neither looked across. Latheroux came up towards the throne-platform then, and gave another polite bow, this time to the Duke, who had yet to leave his seat, ¡°Your Grace.¡±

    ¡°¡­Can you believe she asked me to reveal my own friend¡¯s weaknesses?¡± Mardu shook his head in disbelief, ¡°Iresha and I have known each other since we were kids, and things were far less complicated. What a mess we¡¯ve both inherited¡­¡±

    ¡°I have concerning news from Sargon, your Grace.¡± Latheroux continued, ¡°Concerning the heir.¡±

    ¡°How much worse could it possibly get?¡±

    ¡°My sources tell me that the Emperor has agreed to send the young Prince to Agartha after all.¡± The masked man answered, and lifted his head, that strange, white-eye on the mask peering ahead blankly, ¡°The clock is ticking, now¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­What can we do?¡± Mardu asked, and stood up to join the man on the base-level, ¡°I¡¯d offer my support, of course, but¡­¡±

    ¡°You have to find the courage to assert your authority as half the Duchy.¡± Latheroux replied, a hint of urgency in his voice, ¡°I know you have misgivings about doing so because you were brought into this family from beyond it, but you are still here, and you have power.¡± He stepped a bit closer to the Duke, the plain man¡¯s reflection warping on that chrome mask¡¯s surface, ¡°You are all that stands between Kitez and utter oblivion.¡±

    Mardu shook his head dismissively, and stepped away to follow his wife out of the room, only to pause near the pergola¡¯s side, ¡°Everyone is always so extreme around here. She would never actually start a war with the Council. That ridiculous show on the border was just that¡­a show. She knows as well as anyone that Kitez stands no chance against the Council and all of its allies. She would have to be plotting the world¡¯s least-believable suicide to believe that all-out war was her actual goal.¡±

    ¡°¡­Things have only gotten progressively worse since Sargon called the Council into their lives.¡± Latheroux warned, ¡°You know as well as I do that her compulsion to provoking the Eidolon has only grown. Her na?ve belief that Lord Xanarken would perpetually hold Lord Rylen in check is making her too bold. Sooner rather than later, she¡¯s going to say something that gives them both the excuse to stop being so unreasonably polite. They only need one acceptable excuse to present to the Hadiran Accord¡­and then no one will come to Kitez¡¯s defense.¡±

    The Duke hesitated, and clenched his eyes shut helplessly, ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do. I want the Council to be part of Kitez¡­ I want us to join the Accord. But it¡¯s not my call. It¡¯s not my birthright. I¡­I have to defer to Far¡¯nah.¡± He said with finality, and left the throne room in a fog of hopelessness.

    Left utterly alone in that large space, Latheroux could do nothing but listen quietly to the soft flow of water. He waited a moment, but then¡­tapped his heel down twice on that polished marble floor. The door to the antechamber opened, and Magistrate Oberoi stepped through, and approached with a knowing smile. Latheroux waited for the man to get close enough to speak in a hushed tone, ¡°¡­What did Regulus have to say? Why was this meeting kept so close to the chest?¡±

    Tallus stood side-face to the man¡¯s back, ¡°Prince Aamin has resurfaced. He¡¯s requesting refugee status from the border-town of Soothton. The Honorable Judge Regulus Laurier has a mind to help secret him into Kitez. Apparently, there¡¯s a system of pathways that cut through the foothills, connecting Sargon and Kitez underground. It¡¯s a ruined piece of the fleet.¡±

    Latheroux didn¡¯t budge, but he drew in a breath of acknowledgement, ¡°Mardu is getting beyond my control¡­ He yearns for the Hadiran Accord, and is starting to sound like he¡¯d be willing to let Far¡¯nah go to war to get in, and for the life of me, I can¡¯t fathom where Far¡¯nah herself gets the nerve to believe that¡¯s a good idea.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s a fanatic. She¡¯s resisting me. I can¡¯t hold onto her for much longer.¡±

    ¡°And if Prince Aamin is brought here, that could provoke certain feelings from the Emperor that we can do nothing to curtail from here. He would do himself what the Eidolon can¡¯t.¡±

    Tallus nodded and took a step around, putting them shoulder to shoulder, ¡°Kitez is slipping away. Protecting it is becoming precarious to our situation.¡±

    ¡°But it¡¯s not lost yet. Do something about Mardu. I¡¯ll deal with Aamin.¡±

    ¡°Cleverly-placed intel with your contact in Sargon? What are you going to do this time? Bait Rylen directly?¡± Tallus mused, and stepped around to leave.

    Latheroux watched the Magistrate carefully, ¡°No sense getting my own hands dirty if I can use the Council against itself instead.¡±

    Tallus waved as he disappeared beyond the pergola, ¡°It¡¯s always a pleasure reminding you who¡¯s really in charge here, Latheroux. Praise to the Duchess.¡±

    That unmasked eye flinched, but he smiled subtly to himself as he watched the man pass by the guards stationed at the doors. They both looked at Tallus with reverence, then back at himself with suspicion. He huffed quietly to himself, and stepped away to a different door at the side of the room.

    .

    It was just about noon when the Aegis finally arrived in Trazad, and it carefully descended until it was parked at the edge of the cliff overlooking the lake. With the Imperial palace at the crest of that cliff, it was a daunting sight to the population for a SkyFortress to be parked right next to it, making it look small, but given that the city wasn¡¯t designed with SkyFortress docking in mind, it was the only place that could accept a vessel of that size. And thus, with the lower half of the Aegis hidden beneath the edge of that cliff, it set itself to idle, and accepted the connecting-bridges that the Council had set-up for just that purpose.

    Most of the 4,000 members of the ship¡¯s crew vacated as quickly as they could, abandoning their nanotech uniform-jackets for more casual-wear as they filtered out into the city to start their shore-leave. One who was not yet among them was Ren, who was adamant about finishing that day¡¯s therapy session before doing anything else.

    In the medical wing, in the PT department, she had her left arm up on a table. The gel-sleeve had been completely removed, and the therapist working on the arm set the woman¡¯s elbow down. She took Ren¡¯s new hand into her own, held firm, and nodded, ¡°Go ahead when ready.¡±

    To the side, Gabriel and Seth were both anxiously waiting to see what would happen. Seth was practically on the edge of his seat.

    Ren closed her eyes, drew in a long, careful breath, and focused. It was her last trial of the day, and she was adamant about trying that one movement. When she thought she could hear screaming, she opened her eyes. The therapist¡¯s arm had been backed-down to the table-top, and Seth could hardly breathe for how impressed and surprised he was.

    ¡°Miss Ren how did you do that?! It hasn¡¯t even been a whole week yet!¡±

    She quickly breathed in a sigh of relief and made the effort to lift her arm back up the way it had come, and to her satisfaction, was able to do so, ¡°I knew it would help¡­¡±

    ¡°Knew what would help?¡± Gabriel wondered.

    ¡°Everyone¡¯s been so focused on making sure I start to use my hand that my full arm movement hasn¡¯t been checked. I might¡¯ve gone flying last night¡­and I might¡¯ve gotten a renewed sense of motion from it.¡± She smiled, ¡°When I saw that I could clench my fist today ¨C even if only loosely ¨C I knew the rest of my arm could probably do more than just flex.¡±

    Seth sat back fully in his chair with a huff, and a wry worried smile, ¡°I knew you couldn¡¯t stay away for long¡­¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that dangerous¡­?¡± Gabriel was the only one worried about the obvious, ¡°You¡¯re still on pain meds and all that¡­¡±

    ¡°Furion was with me the whole time,¡± She answered, and extended her arm to allow for a much-shorter gel-sleeve to be put around it. Just the upper arm and elbow then, leaving her entire forearm free to breathe, ¡°Although I didn¡¯t let him keep training-wheels on me the whole time.¡±

    Seth glowered, both brows up, ¡°You flew off without him right away, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    She just smirked and laughed, ¡°Maybe. Briefly.¡± She could see that scolding look on his face, and once the sleeve was set, she stood up, ¡°It was fine, Seth. Relax. We made it back in one piece, none the worse for wear.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not even worried about that. If anyone is going to be able to walk-off a traumatic arm amputation like it was nothing worse than stubbing your toe, it¡¯s you.¡± Seth pointed out, as he and Gabriel both rose to stand as well, ¡°But if you show that you¡¯re able to fly well already, maybe Lord Rylen will try to use you for something too soon¡­¡±

    Ren reached her recovering arm forward and rested it over Seth¡¯s shoulder, drawing him in to playfully muss-up his hair with the good hand, ¡°I appreciate the concern, but I am on recovery. It was just a joy-ride. Lord Rylen can¡¯t just yank me up by my roots like he enjoys doing to you.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t say that where he might be able to hear you¡­¡±

    ¡°So, Seth, where are we going?¡± Gabriel then asked, ¡°You¡¯ve had this whole time to think about it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m an easy date,¡± The teen answered, and pulled his long-coat a bit higher onto his shoulders, ¡°But I did save my appetite, so! We¡¯re going to this famous little caf¨¦ about 10 minutes from here.¡±

    Bicolored eyes looked over the Ren, ¡°You gonna change out of your reds at some point?¡±

    ¡°Heh?¡± Ren gawked, ¡°I mean, yeah, but¡­¡±

    ¡°But?¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ve already agreed to go out with Ravan, Jense, and Corbin, so¡­¡± She answered warily, ¡°I didn¡¯t know you two had made plans.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡± The pair replied, looking at one another in confusion for a moment, but then Seth shrugged his arms up, ¡°Well, I guess it can¡¯t be helped. We¡¯ll just catch up with you later.¡±

    ¡°Is that why you both came to hang-out for the end of the session?¡±

    They both nodded.

    ¡°And you both assumed I¡¯d be leaving with you after?¡±

    More nodding.

    She stared, ¡°¡­Well, that was kinda dumb. Assuming makes¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­an ass of u and me.¡± Gabriel finished, ¡°I know, but I had it on good authority that you might be free, so¡­¡±

    ¡°From working maybe, but this is my first break in four months. I haven¡¯t seen any of my friends in that whole time, either¡­so¡­¡± Ren explained, and nervously scratched the side of her jaw with one finger, ¡°Sorry?¡±

    ¡°No, no¡­it¡¯s fine¡­makes total sense.¡±

    The awkward silence could be felt like a frigid wind.

    Ren pointed towards the door, then waved as she backed-up towards it, ¡°Well, I¡¯m gonna go¡­change, and stuff. You know, to get ready. For the thing I planned to do. You two have a good time, okay? No sense veering off-course on account of me.¡± The door slid open behind her; she twirled to get through it and started walking off with urgency, giving one last wave and a guilty smile as she vanished beyond the walls.

    Gabriel stood there, baffled, but then reached up to rub the center of his chest, ¡°¡­I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯m offended or hurt.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Seth agreed.

 Book I â€“ Chapter 20 â€“ Chip Away The Ice Until The Flame Is Set Free

    For a ¡®simple date,¡¯ Seth sure did order a lot of food.  Gabriel just stared at the spread with crossed arms and a disbelieving look on his face, and watched as the teen sampled every little thing with zeal.  His own simple cup of coffee and a lunch croissant looked pitiful by comparison.

    ¡°You¡¯re really missing out, Mr. Gabriel,¡± Seth commented, inspecting a pecan tart before taking a bite, ¡°This place is famous for a reason.  Why paint yourself into a corner with just that?¡± He gestured at the solitary drink and morsel, ¡°Try some of this stuff!¡±

    ¡°¡­Guess my mind is somewhat elsewhere.¡± He answered, ¡°You go ahead and enjoy yourself.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?  You¡¯re not still upset that Miss Ren isn¡¯t with us, are you?¡±

    ¡°¡­And if I am?¡±

    ¡°Cut her some slack.  She¡¯s a week out from the worst injury she¡¯s ever gotten, and is back aboard the Aegis after being estranged from everyone she¡¯s known for just-about the last ten years.¡± Seth puffed, and wiped his mouth off with a cloth napkin before he reached for a glass of apple juice, ¡°For as long as she¡¯s allowed to be on recovery, I¡¯d say to let her do whatever she wants.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m saying she can¡¯t or shouldn¡¯t,¡± Gabriel retorted, ¡°Maybe I¡¯m being selfish.¡±

    Seth gave him a dry, sarcastic look, ¡°You¡¯ve had her all to yourself since the transfer.  No one could talk to her while she was gone.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t even know she had people who missed her,¡± The mediator replied, and sat back against the booth to slouch a little, arm extended against the edge of the table to keep one finger around the loop of the cup, ¡°She never said a word about having been from somewhere else.  As far as I knew, she really was just a new recruit, and it was just my turn again to take on a trainee.¡±

    ¡°Every trainee has a dossier.  You could¡¯ve just read it.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just the thing¡­  I normally didn¡¯t.  I was never that curious about the people who¡¯d had the misfortune of being assigned to me.  It obviously didn¡¯t take long for me to realize she knew more and had experience that fresh faces normally wouldn¡¯t, but when I went to check on how that might be, her file was actually locked-up.  Even to me.  Only the Eidolon could¡¯ve had the authority to restrict files like that.¡±

    Seth nibbled on pumpkin pie next, ¡°¡­And you didn¡¯t ask them?  Not even Lord Xanarken?¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡± Gabriel shook his head shamefully, ¡°He just told me to focus on her as a person, not as a profile.  I thought nothing of it, and carried on without the extra info like it no longer mattered.  By the time it was unsealed, I lacked the interest to follow-up on it.  I only learned the truth a few minutes after we met you.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yikes.¡± The teen visibly winced, ¡°Spend your formative years and whole adult life having a thing against the Fafnir and then suddenly you¡¯re swimming in them.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, to say the least.¡± He grumbled slightly, ¡°The trouble was realizing that it didn¡¯t even bother me that much when I found out.  It was one thing to have the Fafnir right in front of me all of a sudden¡­but it was Ren.  She went from being a mediator trainee ¨C the lowest rank for new people - to suddenly being a Sixth Wing veteran, and a Fafnir Knight, and a Wing Commander¡­?  By all accounts, the only thing separating us now is the Captain¡¯s rank.  I had to rethink the way I viewed her in a big hurry.  There was suddenly this vast reservoir of experience and history hiding behind what I thought was a puddle-deep exterior.  Part of me still has trouble adjusting¡­but another part of me¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­Yeah¡­?¡±

    Gabriel hesitated to continue, staring at those Rydell-green eyes, ¡°¡­What¡¯s the relationship between her and your brother, exactly?¡±

    Seth snorted in surprise, ¡°What kind of question is that?  He¡¯s her Captain.  She¡¯s his Lieutenant.  They¡¯re colleagues.¡±

    ¡°No, I mean¡­well, obviously, yes, but¡­they¡¯re on a first-name basis.  None of the other Fafnir would dare to refer to him as Furion so casually.¡±

    ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right, but¡­Miss Ren is a bit special.¡±

    Gabriel quirked a brow, ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m trying to get to the bottom of.  Special how?¡±

    Seth took another sip of his drink, ¡°In the Sixth, Miss Ren is practically a legend.¡± He started, thinking on how best to describe the woman, ¡°Just looking at her, you¡¯d never think she was a threat.  She¡¯s barely taller than I am, and doesn¡¯t even weigh as much.  She¡¯s¡­unassuming.¡±

    ¡°Uhuh?¡±

    ¡°But if you ever watched her fly ¨C watched her fight ¨C you¡¯d suddenly view her rather differently.  When I think of Miss Ren¡¯s abilities¡­it¡¯s like thinking of the difference between a Fafnir trainee and a full Knight.  If not for my brother, she would be Captain.  I hate to say it, but¡­she¡¯s even more skilled than he is.  It¡¯s practically supernatural.¡±

    ¡°So, you¡¯ve seen her move.¡± Gabriel surmised.

    Seth nodded, ¡°Every now and then, the Fafnir Knights put on promotional displays to curry interest and awe in our allies, and inspire the next generation of recruits.  For just such purposes, the Fafnir have these special nanotech weapons that they use to spar against each other.  The blades will bounce off one another, but will pass through their armor like a wave of ash.¡±  He set his elbows onto the table, and his chin into the palms of his hands, ¡°¡­Watching Miss Ren and Furion go at one another was just¡­surreal.  He may have power behind his swings, but she¡¯s so fast and tactical¡­¡±

    Gabriel watched that awe-struck description with quiet consideration.

    The teen went on, ¡°She was nicknamed The Oncoming Storm ¨C in the same way thunder precedes lightning, Miss Ren¡¯s sonic-booms would be the only precursor someone got to the blitz they were about to experience.  They¡¯ve had a few really close matches¡­  I think my brother¡¯s only beaten her one time though, and that was probably a fluke.  She just overwhelms him.  And that¡¯s not even to say she¡¯s just faster than him and wears him down little by little ¨C she¡¯s really strong, too.  She utterly obliterates anyone who stands in front of her.¡±

    ¡°How come she isn¡¯t Captain, then?¡±

    Seth shrugged, ¡°My brother earned the spot fair and square.  He hasn¡¯t done anything to deserve being removed from the position.  He¡¯s ten years older than she is though, so I guess we all just thought it was a matter of time before he eventually left and she took over from him.  She¡¯s always had an eye to be the first non-Rydell in a while to hold that position.  What you saw her do against the Magistrate on our way out of Kitez was just¡­  Ah, if she had her actual armor and her weapons¡­he would¡¯ve been dust.  With just the training-suit she was at a real disadvantage.¡±

    ¡°Still doesn¡¯t explain why they¡¯re so comfortable with one another.  ¡­You sure there isn¡¯t something more?¡±

    To say the teen guffawed would be an understatement, ¡°That¡¯s crazy, Mr. Gabriel.  My brother¡¯s too serious for anything like that.  He wouldn¡¯t risk his position for something personal, and I think Miss Ren probably feels the same.  They just have a really good working relationship, and my brother respects her a lot.¡±

    .

    Ren had a bare leg straight in the air, propped up against one broad pale shoulder.  She panted to catch her breath as she looked on with an amused grin, and tilted that leg against one certain blonde-haired head, ¡°That was fun¡­¡±

    Furion slid a hand from thigh to knee, and turned towards the limb to kiss a few times at that olive skin, ¡°Aren¡¯t you expected somewhere?¡± He wondered, and as he reached that bend, he pulled the leg off his shoulder to pull it back around his waist, and leaned in overtop of his partner, hands buried in the sheets, ¡°You¡¯re going to be late.¡±

    With considerable effort, Ren made a point to raise her left arm ¨C unaided ¨C to match the right where she¡¯d reached up to clasp her fingers around the nape of his neck, ¡°I¡¯m not expected for another half hour.¡±

    Gently, Furion pulled his right hand back, and slid his fingers deftly up the length of that unhoned flesh.  When he could pull those fingers free, he turned towards and kissed them, then her palm, wrist, and every few inches down into her shoulder, neck, and under her jaw.  She just laughed quietly against the tickle, and he wedged both arms under her back, lifting her up slightly towards himself.  With an awed look in his eyes, he just beheld her for a moment, then leaned down to touch the tip of his nose to hers, ¡°How long do you want me to wait before I send out your rescue call?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that.  I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll survive.¡± She mused, playing with his ponytail between her fingers behind his head, ¡°When will you be released from this terrible responsibility though?¡±

    ¡°Once the hand-off crew has arrived and they¡¯ve all signed-on,¡± He answered simply, and got a ¡®that¡¯s not what I asked¡¯ look in return.  He puffed a quiet laugh and rephrased, ¡°Roughly around 21:00.¡±This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll be sure to have escaped by then.¡±

    Giving plenty of time between their two departures, Ren left first, clad once more in her reds as she made her way down to her own room on the floor below.  With the progress she¡¯d made, it was far easier to get herself redressed than it had been on that first night.  It still wasn¡¯t a perfect process, but she was feeling a lot better about it.  Jeans were pulled on, a loose black T-shirt slipped overhead, and a cute little black leather jacket threaded over both arms.  She hesitated to leave immediately after though, looking at herself in the mirror as she reconsidered doing something fun with her hair.  In the end, BajaBlue and RoseFire were admittedly too much, but ElecTrix was rather subdued ¨C giving a yellow streak to just the tips ¨C and with that done, she finally reached for a black cap to top the whole aesthetic.

    As she got into the elevator to head to the departure deck, she got a message on her HUD that the other three were waiting on the southern dock, and she quickly veered to the left to head that way as she got out.  She found them exactly where she expected them to be; even after knowing the group for a number of years, it was always strange to see them out of uniform and in ¨C what might as well have been ¨C costume, by comparison.

    So many thoughts could¡¯ve been voiced, but the trio had conspired, and the first thing out of Ravan¡¯s mouth was representative of them all, ¡°¡­So, Commander, are you ready?¡±

    Ren balked, and shook her head, ¡°No, no-no, don¡¯t start with that.  It was a joyride.  It¡¯s not my fault that the Captain never delisted me.¡±

    The trio looked at one another with skeptical grins, and Corbin reached a well-dressed arm across the much-shorter woman¡¯s shoulders, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Commander, you can sit back on your laurels.  It was just an extended leave.  Everyone deserves a few months off after nine years of dedicated service.¡±

    All Ren could do was pull the lip of her cap down as her face went red, and the group led her over to where their ride was waiting.

    .

    ¡°To Ianori¡­¡± They all said, and raised their glasses above the center of their table.

    Ren took her sip and set the wine down, though she kept her fingertips on the flute¡¯s stem as she thought back on it all.  Those last few moments she¡¯d had her eyes on the man in that escape vehicle, and those last words he¡¯d spoken, ¡°¡­He asked me to help him, before we were stopped.  I hope there¡¯s still time for me to do something.¡±

    ¡°Do you really think the Kitezans have him somewhere?¡± Jense wondered, reaching for a chunk of hot bread in the communal basket, and broke it in half, ¡°The Captain¡¯s been sitting on the death notice for a week.  The only reason it hasn¡¯t been sent out is because Lord Rylen is stalling.¡±

    ¡°¡­He must believe that Ianori¡¯s still out there, too.¡± Ren surmised, ¡°Or at least doubts the idea of his death enough to want to wait.  No body, no confirmation.¡±

    ¡°Do you think he¡¯s working on a rescue mission?¡± Ravan wondered, taking the other half of the small steaming loaf, and grabbed for a knife to slather it with foamed butter, ¡°Maybe he knows where Ianori¡¯s being held.  It¡¯s just such a shitty situation that he can¡¯t even tell us yet.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone knows.¡± Ren shook her head, and reached for one of the other little loaves.  She pulled it back to grasp in her new hand, and grit her teeth as she used all her strength to clasp her fingers enough to twist the bread apart.  Corbin reached over to pet her forearm reassuringly in affirmation, and she offered him the other half, ¡°The Captain told me what he saw when you two and Commander Parker came after us.¡± She looked to both sides, where Ravan and Corbin sat on their own parts of their square table, ¡°How the whole ship was just¡­  How the entire crew had been torn apart.  He¡¯s glad that none of you ever came up the way he went down, so you didn¡¯t have to see what he did.¡±

    ¡°The debriefing was plenty,¡± Corbin agreed, ¡°We¡¯ve all been on plenty of gruesome calls, but I¡¯ve never seen anything like that.  I¡¯ll bet the Captain set his docking-pod¡¯s cleaning cycle two or three times before he let it sit.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t blame him¡­¡± Ren nodded, but then looked around the table again, ¡°Look, I¡­I know it¡¯s weird that I left.  And Seth told me that no one would explain to him why I left.  Ianori made it sound like there was only a hint of an explanation given to the rest of you.  Ravan knows I refused orders, but¡­is that really all?¡±

    The trio considered their words, and Corbin spoke first, ¡°The only one who knows for sure what happened ¨C other than the Captain, that is ¨C is Commander Parker himself.  Cap wouldn¡¯t let anyone else run interference, and the mission was completed with just them.¡±

    ¡°So both times¡­he had to¡­¡±

    ¡°Both times?¡± Ravan echoed curiously, ¡°What happened?  Are you allowed to tell us?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never been told I can¡¯t, so¡­technically?¡± She answered, and drew in a breath, ¡°I walked into a Limitless trap that made me believe something else was going on.  I fought against Captain Rydell¡¯s orders because I thought he was asking me to do something that he knew I wouldn¡¯t.  Then he took over my movements¡­he piloted my armor remotely, making me a puppet to what I thought was a terrible crime.  I think I clobbered him when I got back?  I¡¯m not even sure what¡¯s real about the aftermath now.¡±

    ¡°No, you definitely clobbered him,¡± Jense confirmed, ¡°He had a shiner for a while.¡±

    ¡°Aw man¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.  What else?¡±

    Ren sighed, and nibbled on a bit of that warm bread, ¡°From what I¡¯ve learned since, the Captain sent two more missions to find the guy who was responsible for the Limitless trap.  I¡¯m not sure how he was found, or¡­what the Commander saw when he went, but¡­it was the third mission where they decided to send him in blind, and the Captain would fight on his behalf.  The illusions only worked on whoever was there in-person.¡±

    ¡°That explains so much,¡± Corbin cupped a hand over his mouth, eyes looking back and forth in recollection, ¡°¡­Why Commander Parker was so banged-up after that one mission.  It must¡¯ve been that third one.¡±

    ¡°Banged-up?¡± Ren echoed.

    ¡°If Cap was playing at puppet-master, Commander Parker was nothing but cream-filling.  He was absolutely torn-up by whatever the Captain used his armor to do; combat movements on a body that isn¡¯t expecting it and can¡¯t roll with the punches.  It¡¯s a damn shame our armor doesn¡¯t come on unless we¡¯re in it.  I¡¯m sure they both would¡¯ve been happier if the Captain could¡¯ve sent his own armor on that last foray.¡±

    Ren could only nod, ¡°¡­Yeah, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re right on that.¡±

    ¡°In any case, Commander, we¡¯re glad you¡¯re back in the saddle.¡± Corbin added, and reached again for his wine; Ravan and Jense both followed suit, ¡°Here¡¯s to your recovery and the restoration of the team.¡±

    ¡°Wait, no, that¡¯s not what¡¯s happening right now-¡°

    -Clink-

    ¡°Ah jeeze¡­¡±

    .

    ¡°Wow, I get a whole room to myself?¡± Seth was amazed as Gabriel pushed the door in on the hotel room, ¡°And Lord Xanarken was the one who arranged it?  Personally!?¡±

    The mediator laughed, ¡°No, no, not personally, but he did give the directive for someone in the Fourth to do so on his behalf.  If you¡¯re going to be moonlighting with us to befriend the Princeling, we¡¯re going to take care of you.¡±

    ¡°This is way nicer than a cabin on the Aegis¡­¡± The teen stepped in and looked around happily, ¡°Thanks so much, Mr. Gabriel!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to it, then.  I¡¯m two doors down.  Ren¡¯s is the one between us.¡± He pointed to his left, ¡°I¡¯ll call her and let her know where we are.  If nothing else comes up tonight, then tomorrow morning we¡¯ll head up to the palace and you can meet your mission objective.¡±

    ¡°Whew, okay¡­right, okay, night!¡±

    ¡°Night.¡± Gabriel waved and pulled the door closed, then made his way down the hall.  As he clicked through his own door, he already had an outgoing call request to his trainee.  It went unanswered until he was all the way in, and as far as sitting back on the bed.

    ¡°Oh, hey!¡± She said, apparently out of breath for some reason, ¡°What¡¯s up, Gabe?¡±

    ¡°I was just calling to tell you where Xanarken has us boarding, and see how your night-out went.¡±

    ¡°Hang on, I¡¯ll switch over to video.¡± She puffed, and soon enough, her image was up on Gabriel¡¯s overlay.  She turned around so the cliffside was visible over the lake, and the bright glinting lights of the palace at the apex ¨C not to mention, the Aegis parked right beside it, ¡°Incredible view, right!?¡±

    ¡°Yep, that sure is a SkyFortress,¡± He answered, ¡°How come you¡¯re out of breath?  I thought you went to dinner.¡±

    ¡°Oh, yeah, I also did that, and it was good!¡± She laughed, ¡°After that, I left.  Now I¡¯m, well, running around town!  This place is pretty neat when you can just kick back and explore it a little.¡±

    ¡°On your own?¡±

    Ren gave a coy look, ¡°Are you worried about me, Gabriel Lugios?¡±

    He turned his head up and away, cheeks pink, ¡°¡­I¡¯m just saying¡­  You may be formidable, but people might still bother you.  You are, how do they describe it¡­¡± He lifted his hand and held his palms a few inches apart, and looked at them from a few different angles, ¡°¡­small.¡±

    That just made her laugh, ¡°I appreciate the apt description, but¡­I¡¯m fine.  I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡±

    He quirked a brow, ¡°I haven¡¯t even told you where we¡¯re staying yet.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s cuz it¡¯s where you¡¯re staying.  I¡¯m staying somewhere else.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    ¡°Oof, that¡¯s a face.¡± She commented, seeing the man¡¯s reaction in 4k on her overlay, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what.  Once you guys are done at the palace tomorrow, I¡¯ll make a point to come by.  After all, you did say there wasn¡¯t much point jumping into all that Imperial Sargonian stuff since I wasn¡¯t there two years ago when it started.¡±

    ¡°¡­I did say that¡­  But, that was before Seth joined the mission.¡±

    She turned her head quizzically, ¡°Why is Seth on the mission?¡± She asked, only to give a strange gesture, like someone nearby was trying to get her attention and she¡¯d dismissed their efforts.

    ¡°He is a conveniently teenager-shaped creature of the Luminary Council that also happens to be going to the College at Agartha.¡± Gabriel started, only to cross his arms as the disappointment sank in, ¡°I thought I¡¯d acquaint the two and see if Seth can¡¯t help be a bridge between the Council and the Imperials.  Someone the Prince¡¯s age who he could relate to.¡±

    Ren looked off-screen briefly, but then glanced back awkwardly, ¡°¡­I¡¯m¡­curious¡­why you¡¯re conscripting the Captain¡¯s younger brother for a Fourth Wing mission?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just a favor.  I don¡¯t know any other teenagers.  I mean, he¡¯s fine with it.  It gives him access to another Limitless user when I¡¯m not around.¡±

    ¡°So¡­he can study the Prince¡¯s affliction from a¡­First Wing perspective?¡±

    ¡°Something like that, I guess.  Yeah.¡± The mediator nodded, catching-on to the woman¡¯s odd behavior, ¡°Are you okay?  You seem distracted.¡±

    ¡°Oh, nope, everything¡¯s fine!  This was just a lot to learn all of a sudden.  Anyway, see you tomorrow afternoon!  Night!¡±

    ¡°Cya.¡± He answered; the overlay image closed.  With nothing but his thoughts to bother him then, he fell back against the bed and stared at the ceiling, ¡°¡­Yeah¡­¡±

    Ren quickly rushed forward the few steps she¡¯d taken back, and threaded her fingers through her partner¡¯s, ¡°You gonna be okay?¡±

    Furion grumbled, ¡°I don¡¯t appreciate him taking liberties with my brother.  Seth is not a Fourth Wing cadet for him to do with what he wants.¡±

    ¡°I know, I know¡­but Gabe¡¯s not entirely wrong in his thought process.  He¡¯s not going to be around all the time, once Seth goes back to school.  It makes perfect sense to swap-out with another Limitless user, and this one was just¡­really convenient.¡± She reassured, and rubbed her thumb back and forth on those tense digits.

    ¡°¡­Still.  If he was anyone else¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t let it ruin your night.  This is far less dangerous than the mission you were thinking of giving to Seth yourself.¡±

    ¡°¡­Maybe.¡± Furion shook his head, ¡°But at least we would¡¯ve all been there with him to keep him safe.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to keep Seth safe from Prince Iresha,¡± Ren teased, ¡°As long as he doesn¡¯t tie the guy up, suspend him from a ceiling, and put a weird helmet on him, anyway.  But, what are the odds of that happening twice, right?¡±

    ¡°You have a way with words.¡±

 Book I â€“ Chapter 21 â€“ Never Accept Anything At Face Value; There Is Always More To It Than You Think

    Ren had done her best to keep Furion¡¯s mind off his brother¡¯s situation, but she knew she hadn¡¯t been entirely successful when the night ended with a few fragments of clothing still on.  She awoke the next morning pressed once-again to the man¡¯s back though, with nothing but her T-shirt and underpants still clinging to her thin frame.  Her right arm was threaded under Furion¡¯s neck, and the other over the other side, fingers loosely woven together where they met at the ends of her reach.  She hugged closer to the back of the man¡¯s head, and snoozed for a few more minutes.  He lifted his head slightly to reposition, but that just opened up the left side of his neck¡­and opportunity presented itself.

    -Nip-

    The earlobe was hers, and as she breathed a quiet chuckle, the feel of it roused the Knight-Captain.  He mumbled and turned, but she just refocused her attention to new spot just under his ear, and nibbled a little more.

    ¡°Mmm¡­morning¡­¡± Furion whispered, and turned slightly more onto his back as he tilted his head away.

    She took every advantage, and walked her kisses from neck to cheek to nose to lips, and smiled against them, ¡°I¡¯m starving.  Apparently, there¡¯s a famous caf¨¦ that Seth went to yesterday¡­¡±

    ¡°Sounds promising.¡±

    And it was.  Maple-cinnamon coffee and crumble cake were just what the tummy needed, and on the morning patio with the sun rising over the city, it was a sight to behold as well.  Ren took a big swig of that coffee, and pulled back the mug with a blot of whipped cream on her nose.

    Furion couldn¡¯t help but reach over to wipe it away on his thumb, but he didn¡¯t let it go to waste, and took a taste for himself, ¡°Mmh¡­they even flavored the whip.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s good, right?¡± She asked as she set the cup down.  Furion had her left hand in his own, and gently rubbed his thumb back and forth over her fingers.  She managed to respond with a gentle squeeze, and he looked down at it.

    ¡°How¡¯s it feeling now?¡±

    ¡°Still as if I¡¯m wearing a thick glove,¡± She answered, ¡°But it¡¯s getting better every day.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll have it all back soon, I¡¯m sure of it.  You¡¯ve advanced by leaps and bounds since wearing your armor.  It¡¯s like you reminded yourself how to move, and it woke something up in this new limb.¡± He said, and lifted that hand to kiss her knuckles.

    And in the gap between them, a cat suddenly appeared.

    ¡°Oh, who¡¯s this?¡± The Captain wondered, and reached back around with his free hand to see if the creature was as friendly as it was fearless.  That dark nose sniffle-snuffled at his skin, and rubbed its head forward, inviting him to scritch its head.

    The entire time, it had its face turned away from Ren, but there was something about it that made her skeptical.  A tingle of a memory ¨C a phrase - entered her mind, ¡®This grey short-haired thing.¡¯  Suddenly, that face turned her way, and bright orange eyes looked directly at her.  She felt her soul leave her body, ¡®You can tell it¡¯s them though because they keep their same eyes with either mantle.¡¯

    And she screamed.

    And fell backwards out of her chair.

    ¡°Ren!?¡± Furion was up quickly and rushed to her side, but the cat just stayed on their table, and pawed its way over to the edge of it before sitting down to watch.  The Captain was on a knee at her side, and quickly went to help gather her back up to sit, ¡°Are you okay?  What the Hell was that for?  Did it bite you?¡±

    She could only point at the feline, ¡°Th-th-th¡­that¡¯s¡­that¡¯s Lord Rylen!¡± She whispered frantically, ¡°I¡¯m certain of it!¡±

    ¡°What?¡± He balked, only to look at the animal a second time.  Given it hadn¡¯t moved, and was looking on at them rather resolutely, and it did so with eyes that were unnaturally bright and wrongly-colored for a Russian Blue, Furion could only believe her words.  He wouldn¡¯t be the first to salute a cat though.

    ¡°Good morning, Captain.  Commander.¡±

    Both of them were up and saluting then, ¡°Sir!¡±

    Ren dared ask the obvious, ¡°H-How did you find us on our day off, sir!?  N-Neither of us are even using the World Cloud right now!¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you though?¡± The cat tilted its head, and Ren was suddenly rather aware that she still had the ElecTrix effect on her hair.  She deflated entirely.

    Several eyes were staring in their direction, confused about what was going on.

    The cat was undaunted though, ¡°Dame, I need you up aboard the Aegis as soon as you¡¯re able to get there.  In my meeting room.¡±

    ¡°Sir!¡±

    The grey-coated creature stepped off the table then and started to wander off, and as the two Knights watched it go¡­it dissolved into dust.  Their hearts were in their throats, and they each had a sense about what that directive was going to lead to.  Ren swallowed hard, ¡°¡­I¡¯m in really big trouble, aren¡¯t I¡­?¡±

    ¡°You won¡¯t be the only one if that¡¯s the case.¡±

    .

    Her heart pounded the entire way back to the ship.  Furion wouldn¡¯t let her go alone though and followed her all the way there, right up until he was stuck outside the doors to the Sixth Eidolon¡¯s private meeting room.  Aboard each ship, Rylen was provided with a similar space, so no matter where he was, he could have somewhere to call his own space, and within, he was already waiting¡­as his normal self, leaning against his desk, arms crossed.

    Ren felt like she couldn¡¯t breathe.  She felt her partner¡¯s hand on her back as she stepped forward, but she didn¡¯t dare look back at him, even for a last moment of reassurance.  She approached cautiously, but once she was far enough in, the door closed behind her with a hiss, and she offered whatever formality she could with another salute despite her dressed-down attire, ¡°¡­Sir.¡±

    Those self-same bright orange eyes examined her carefully, but when Rylen lifted his gaze and seemed almost pleased to see her, it suddenly became a very strange experience.  The Eidolon gestured for her to sit down at one of the many chairs lining an oval-shaped cut in the floor, ¡°Have a seat.  This is off the books, so there¡¯s no sense to stand on ceremony.¡±

    Ren dared to reach for the nearest spot, and turned the chair around so she could sit facing her superior.

    ¡°How¡¯s the recovery going?¡±

    ¡°Sir?¡±

    ¡°Your arm.  I¡¯m ashamed to admit I haven¡¯t come to see you sooner about it, but I didn¡¯t want to overwhelm you.  As it stands, you already had enough to deal with, waking up aboard the Aegis of all things.¡± He explained ¨C rather casually, ¡°I¡¯ve been kept apprised of your progress, but still¡­hearing it directly from you would always be preferred.¡±

    ¡°¡­Oh, um¡­it¡¯s been going well, sir.¡± She stammered, and looked at the pale image of her new palm, ¡°I have some decent range of motion now, but¡­it¡¯s still pretty weak.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll get that back soon enough.  I saw that you went flying yesterday night.  How¡¯d it go?¡±

    ¡°It was¡­nice, sir.¡± She answered ¨C the confusion of not having been asked about the situation she¡¯d been found in was slowly killing her, ¡°Can I ask why I¡¯m here¡­?¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes, let¡¯s dispense with this distraction and get right to the point.¡± Rylen clapped his hands and turned around.  He raised his arm, and above his desk formed the image of Magistrate Regulus, ¡°I believe you know this man.  Not by his face, however¡­but rather, by his signature weapon.¡± The image was swiped aside, and in its place was a rotating depiction of that blue, four-armed monstrosity of a war-machine, ¡°If you had a chance for a do-over, would you take it?¡±

    ¡°In my full gear?  In a heartbeat, sir.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s lovely to hear.¡± He clapped his hands again and turned back around, ¡°What if I told you¡­that I know where you can find him, and that he¡¯s going to be alone for a period of time?¡±

    ¡°¡­Sir?¡±

    Behind him, the visuals of a map appeared, and zoomed in on the mountains that divided Sargon from Kitez.  It moved a bit further north though, towards where the border-town of Soothton appeared, ¡°I came into possession of credible information that Magistrate Regulus is in this area.  I don¡¯t have a direct set of eyes that far into the mountains, but¡­my sources tell me they¡¯ve witnessed him there in person as recently as last night.  He¡¯s moved on to a little-known area north-east of the town that I know to be the site of an old colony shipwreck.  Or, part of one, anyway.  There are still so many ships we¡¯ve never found¡­but that section was from the SSCF Connington.  It had been long-buried by rock-slides and rain by the time we knew about it, and there was never anything worth salvaging from it¡­so it¡¯s just been there, rotting beneath the mountains.¡±

    ¡°Are you¡­suggesting I go there to confront him?  It¡¯s still so far inside Kitez though¡­¡±

    ¡°Those colony ships were 3,500ft long, nearly three times the length of a SkyFortress.  What crashed out there is enough to hide a passage from Kitez all the way into Sargon.¡± He waved his hand in front of the map and it showed a rough outline of where the Council knew the chunk of ship was buried, ¡°We don¡¯t have it mapped, but we do know that people have gone through and back.  Adventurers and such.  I think they call themselves cavers?¡±  He snapped his fingers then and the image completely vanished, taking the map with it and leaving nothing but the normal empty air above the desk.  The Eidolon approached, hands loosely held behind his back, ¡°Those ruins are dangerous.  Anything could happen down there, underground¡­in the dark.¡±If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Ren¡¯s heart thumped for all kinds of different reasons in that moment, and she rose back up to stand, ¡°Sir¡­I¡­¡±

    ¡°Do you want a chance to get back at him?  This offer won¡¯t last long.¡±

    ¡°Are you sanctioning a foray to murder a Kitezan Magistrate?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m suggesting no such thing.  But, sometimes Fafnir Knights explore dangerous places, and if an accident were to happen in the vicinity of a centuries-old buried relic, and it happened to kill a Kitezan Magistrate at the same time¡­who am I to blink twice at the happy coincidence?¡± The Eidolon had a sinister glint in his eyes, ¡°So?¡±  He expanded his hand in a circular motion, and beneath that little black jacket, Ren¡¯s blues manifested, ¡°What do you say?  Commander.¡±

    She hesitated to answer.  Her eyes went down, looking at nothing in particular as a thousand considerations went through her mind all at once.  The temptation was particularly strong, however¡­but she found herself with one other pressing inquiry, ¡°Sir¡­before I say anything, may I ask a question?¡±

    ¡°Certainly.¡±

    ¡°You¡­stumbled onto a sight between myself and the Captain that I was certain was going to see me removed from my post just now.  Yet, you¡¯re offering me a chance to seek personal justice against a man who chased, fought, and maimed me, before capturing and torturing three people who are very important to me.  ¡­Why¡­?¡± She blurted.

    ¡°Oh, the thing with you and Captain Ryell?  I¡¯ve known about that.¡±

    ¡°¡­Heh?¡±

    ¡°For roughly five years?  Something like that.  You two are not subtle.¡±

    ¡°¡­But it¡¯s¡­against regulations¡­  Either one of us could¡¯ve been stripped of our wings over it¡­¡±

    ¡°I appreciate you noticing that, Dame, however, the both of you are far too useful and skilled to cast aside simply for sharing affection for one another.  In fact, one might suggest you work even better together that way.  So, to my mind, as long as that continued, I would not make a fuss over it,¡± Rylen shrugged, ¡°And you two have apparently been going steady for quite a while longer than that; the entire team has been stronger for your partnership.  Practically a married couple, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡±

    Her face flushed, but she lowered her gaze anyway, ¡°¡­Sir¡­¡±

    ¡°Do you want to become Captain one day, Dame?¡±

    That got her attention right back, ¡°Yessir.¡±

    ¡°Then just keep doing a good job.  This mission is as much for your sake as it is for advancing my own ideologies in Kitez.  If you don¡¯t want to think about it in terms of it being a personal venture¡­you can call it an order from me.¡± He explained, ¡°But, I think you¡¯re the perfect person to carry it out, in this case.  I can send Captain Rydell if you feel you¡¯re not ready, though.  I¡¯m sure he¡¯d take great pleasure in flaying that man¡¯s hide from his body on your behalf.¡±

    Those words certainly changed the paradigm.  Ren felt her heartbeat in her ears, and she opened her mouth to answer, but¡­she didn¡¯t have a chance to respond before their ¡®talk¡¯ was interrupted by the Voice of the Fourth, ¡°Rylen, what in the literal Hell are you doing?¡±

    ¡°What?  I¡¯m just having a conversation with the Dame here.¡± Rylen gestured at Ren as Xanarken came stomping closer, ¡°We¡¯re getting caught-up on her recovery.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s had her profile set to her Fourth Wing designation since this morning.  Being in Trazad ¨C on recovery-leave, mind you ¨C there would be no reason to suddenly switch to the Sixth all of a sudden.  Color me surprised when I noticed that switch, and the conspicuous location where it happened.¡±

    Rylen glowered dryly, eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°How in the world did you even notice it that fast?¡±

    ¡°Gabriel and Seth are in the Sargonian Palace right now¡­without her.  I was trying to figure out where she was, since I was under the impression that she wanted to finish the mentorship program.¡± Xanarken explained.

    Ren just watched them going at each other, heart racing in her chest as she tried to figure out who she actually answered to then.

    ¡°According to some fairly high-ranking sources, Dame Ren is on recovery-leave.¡± Rylen shot back, and Xanarken threw his hands up in frustration, ¡°Like I said, I¡¯m just getting caught up with her.  She is, after all, half my responsibility again.¡±

    ¡°You would have no reason to make her come all the way up here just to check on her,¡± Xanarken pointed out, ¡°What is this really about?¡±  He looked to Ren, ¡°¡­What¡¯s he trying to drag you into while you¡¯re still healing?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to answer that.¡± Rylen advised.

    Ren was petrified; two Eidolon were giving her conflicting directives and she couldn¡¯t claim that either of them had any priority over her anymore.  Still, she trusted Xanarken, and she heaved a breath, ¡°He¡¯s not trying to rope me into anything, sir¡­he¡¯s just¡­offering me an opportunity.¡±

    ¡°¡­An opportunity?¡± Xanarken echoed, and Rylen was the one to toss his hands up in frustration then, ¡°Explain.¡±

    .

    Furion¡¯s heartbeat was in his throat the entire time that door was closed, and he just about coughed it up when that panel finally hissed and slid aside.  Out came Ren, and before he could whisper a peep, she snatched him by the hand and started walking in a hurry, ¡°Wait¡­Ren, what¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t tell you why, but I need to suit-up.  Now.¡±

    ¡°Can you at least tell me if we¡¯re in trouble?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not.  He¡¯s known for a long time.¡±

    Furion made a face, ¡°¡­That¡¯s both reassuring and mortifying at the same time.¡±

    ¡°I know, right?¡± She answered, and tapped the elevator ¡®up¡¯ button.  It wasn¡¯t just any regular elevator though; it was the Fafnir Launch-bay chute, and was one of many on the ship that gave the Knights a fast-track to the dock where their armor was stored.  It only took a few seconds for their ride to arrive, and they both quickly went in.  As the chamber began to move with speed, they both leaned into the inertia, and Ren sucked in a readying breath, ¡°¡­I¡¯m going on a mission.¡±

    ¡°In your condition?¡±

    ¡°I have to do this.  I¡¯ve gotten the blessings of both Lord Rylen and Lord Xanarken.  I may never get this chance again.¡± She explained, and the inertia faded, leaving the two to lurch slightly with the stop.  The door opened, and Ren stepped out; she immediately started to shrug out of her little black coat.

    It was only then that Furion actually realized she had been wearing the uniform-jacket of the Sixth underneath, ¡°I know you can¡¯t tell me what you¡¯re going to do, but can I at least escort you part of the way?  I can be on stand-by in case you run into trouble.¡±

    That was an easy thing to agree to, and she stepped closer to put a hand on his chest and stood up on her toes to kiss his cheek, ¡°I¡¯d like that.  I have one stop to make along the way before I deploy, per Lord Xanarken¡¯s conditions for his consent.¡±

    ¡°Understood.  Let¡¯s go.¡±

    .

    Gabriel stood back with the Emperor as the awkward meeting of teenagers carried on.  To his surprise, it was actually the Prince who¡¯d been the more open of the duo, and Seth ¨C despite his previously extroverted demeanor ¨C was more reserved.  The older man beside him noticed the same thing.

    ¡°I thought my son would be rather mum about all these changes,¡± The elder noted, arms crossed as he watched, ¡°Maybe the whole reason he was difficult was because he was alone.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯ll be good for him to go be with others his own age then.  I¡¯m glad Seth was open to the idea of coming here.¡± The mediator agreed, ¡°Seth probably needs more people around him his own age, too, anyway.¡±

    ¡°And you say he¡¯s some kind of¡­Limitless¡­prodigy¡­researcher sort of thing?¡±

    ¡°Something of the sort.¡±

    ¡°Psst.¡±

    Gabriel looked around in confusion, but when he heard the sound again, he realized where it was coming from, and spotted his Eidolon peeking through a barely-open door to a nearby hall.  He gave a ¡®what are you doing¡¯ sort of look, but when Xanarken responded with a ¡®come out here¡¯ kind of head-nudge, the mediator sighed, ¡°Excuse me, your majesty.¡± He gave a polite bob of his head, and stepped away.  With the door closed behind him then, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just message me to step out?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a situation,¡± The Eidolon deflected, ¡°Maeve is already in the city and ready.  I had it brought back here after you and Ren went into Kitez.  You¡¯re gonna need it.¡±

    ¡°¡­What¡¯s going on?¡±

    .

    ¡°¡­He¡¯s taking a lot longer to signal than I thought he would.¡± Ren grumbled, as she and Furion circled around in the sky like vultures, ¡°So much for my sense of urgency.¡±

    ¡°Did he tell you what he was making you wait for?¡±

    ¡°He had to get something ready.¡±

    ¡°¡­A weapon maybe?¡±

    ¡°A weapon?  From the Fourth?¡± Ren huffed a laugh, ¡°Could you imagine?¡±

    ¡°¡­You¡¯re right.  That was dumb.¡± Furion chuckled quietly, ¡°So¡­if Lord Rylen already knows about us, does that mean we don¡¯t have to hide it anymore?¡±

    ¡°You know, he didn¡¯t actually mention.¡± She grimaced, ¡°I didn¡¯t think to ask.  Seemed the wrong time.¡±

    ¡°Right¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s time,¡± Xanarken¡¯s voice suddenly sounded in her helmet, ¡°I¡¯ll ping my location on your HUD.¡±

    ¡°Yessir,¡± She answered, then turned to where Furion was flying nearby, ¡°That was him.  We¡¯re on.  ¡­And¡­I¡¯ve got it.  Follow me.¡±  She banked to the right, and Furion followed suit with a roll.  They dove until they could practically see the whites in the eyes of the people walking on the roads below, and veered between buildings and street lights until the opening to a skiff-harbor came into view.  Ren whiffed passed a tree as it bordered a clearing, and the sound of the branches rustling drew up two faces to watch her arrival.  Ren¡¯s brows crinkled behind her visor as she beheld not only the Eidolon she¡¯d expected, but the mediator she hadn¡¯t, and a skiff she didn¡¯t realize was in the city already.  She glided down to the launch-pad and tiptoed gracefully to a stop, ¡°¡­I¡­wasn¡¯t expecting you here, Gabe.¡±  She said skeptically as she pulled her helmet off.  Unlike when she was up on top of the Aegis, her hair was now kept neatly in place by the skullcap of her flight-suit.  That didn¡¯t last long, as she pulled the whole headpiece away, and her hair came tumbling loose anyway.

    ¡°This is what I was preparing,¡± Xanarken said simply, and gestured to his second, ¡°He¡¯s going with you.¡±

    ¡°¡­Heh?¡±

    Furion suddenly came crashing down nearby to her, leaving unfortunate cracks in the concrete with his landing.  He, however, left his helmet on, and instead of simply tucking his wings away ¨C or getting rid of the optics entirely, now that he was on the ground ¨C he spread them wide and high, in a slightly intimidating display.

    Ren swatted her hand back at him dismissively and whisper-barked to settle down, ¡°Not in front of Lord Xanarken.¡±

    ¡°This would be the perfect place to bring it up though.¡±

    ¡°Not right now!¡±

    Furion gruffly whipped his wings inward, and finally set them to idle-mode behind his back as he crossed his arms and turned his head away slightly.

    Ren made a face at him, but then stepped off and over towards the duo, ¡°So¡­what¡¯s¡­going on with this, exactly?  I thought this was a solo mission.  What am I going to do with¡­uh¡­a mediator?¡±

    ¡°Damn, I¡¯m right here.¡± Gabriel puffed.

    She just went in closer and reached out with both hands to pat his arms, ¡°You know I don¡¯t mean that in a bad way!  There¡¯s just¡­you know, a time and a place for talking.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t let the idea of him fool you, Dame.¡± Xanarken added, looking rather serious, ¡°There are two kinds of negotiations; the first is talking, the second is the big stick.  We are now entering ¡®big stick¡¯ territory.¡±

    She just looked on at the Eidolon with a flat, disparate smile, ¡°Lord Xanarken, sir, he¡¯s not a combat negotiator.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t have him fighting in mind,¡± The Eidolon answered, and stepped closer to her.  He set a hand on her shoulder and leaned in close to an ear, ¡°Just let him say a few words before you go in for the kill.  You may draw satisfaction from winning the fight, but he¡¯ll rest easier knowing he got off his chest what he would¡¯ve wanted to say if he had the chance before.  He knows not to get in your way once he¡¯s done.¡±

    ¡°Sir, with all due respect¡­if this place is as tight as Lord Rylen says, having a second person there may compromise the mission.  I can¡¯t guarantee a kill if I can¡¯t guarantee Gabe¡¯s safety first, and you know I¡¯ll prioritize his life over my own wants.¡±

    Xanarken gave her a deadly-grim look, ¡°If you don¡¯t get the kill, we¡¯ll have bigger problems on our hands than Gabe being scuffed-up.  This is an assassination.  Regulus won¡¯t stay quiet about it if you fail.  Just let Gabe say his piece and finish it; in this mission, failure is not an option.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yessir.¡±

    ¡°Now,¡± The Eidolon let her go again and leaned back up to his normal height, and looked on at the Captain, ¡°What¡¯s his major malfunction all of a sudden?¡±

    Gabriel could somehow tell those green eyes were staring daggers at him through that visor.

 Book I â€“ Chapter 22 â€“ â€˜All Roads May Lead To Romeâ€™ But There Are Many Twists And Bends Along The Way

    The Kitezan side of the ¡®Connington Fragment¡¯ was as dilapidated as one could expect for a ship that had been abandoned ¨C open ¨C to the elements for 350 years.  Large rocks had tumbled in front of the entrance, and grassy patches of dirt covered the top, while venturing off into the distance, one couldn¡¯t even tell it used to be a ship, save for one particular tower-like projection that had managed to escape the creeping moss of the mountains.  Still, Regulus hopped out of his war-machine to inspect a little closer first.

    There was enough of a gap for a body to fit through, but not nearly enough for his mecha.  From a waist-bound satchel he carried behind himself, he withdrew an item that resembled brass-knuckles, but with a switch on top for his thumb, the entire front of it glowed brightly in a wide, flat beam.  He barely fit himself through, but he looked around more easily then, and ventured a short ways inside.

    He approached the end of the initial, slanted, broken segment, and looked out into a proverbial metallic abyss, ¡°¡­At least it hasn¡¯t collapsed since I was here last.¡±

    Water dripped far off somewhere in that black expanse, creating an eerie echo.  What little Regulus could see with just his flashlight appeared to be the mangled section of an engine and whatever part of the ship it had been attached to.  The immediate drop was a collapsed section of multiple floors, where a massive rock had crashed its way through the hull and taken out every hollow deck below it, until finally coming to rest 10ft below the ledge the Magistrate stood on.  From that angle, the hole in the hull didn¡¯t let any light in, but it was big enough for his war-machine to get through.

    There wasn¡¯t much point scouting further though; the only way he was getting through there without climbing gear was in the mecha.

    On the Sargonian side, the pair of Knights weren¡¯t quite there yet.  Ren flew steadily just above and beside Maeve, still wearing a look of conflicted worry on her face.  She shook her head and sighed, but then waved her hand slightly ahead of herself to open a communications link to the skiff, ¡°Are you sure you want to come along for this, Gabe?¡±

    He glanced up at the top of the screen ¨C not quite able to see Ren there, but knowing she was just out of sight ¨C and shrugged, ¡°Xanarken told me what you were being sent to do, and he didn¡¯t want you to go alone.  You¡¯ll still get to do everything you wanted¡­I¡¯ll just be there as a second set of eyes to make sure you come back.¡±

    ¡°¡­I mean no offense, but if that was the case, it probably would¡¯ve been better for Furion to come with me instead.¡± She answered, ¡°Lord Rylen was ready to send him in my place if I didn¡¯t feel up to it, and I don¡¯t think anyone would¡¯ve tipped you off in that case.¡±

    ¡°Probably not.¡±

    The curtness with which he answered that reminded Ren of how the man used to behave, and she grumbled slightly, ¡°What exactly do you want to say to this guy that my fist in his colon won¡¯t say loud and clear already?¡±

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s some imagery I didn¡¯t need today,¡± He said quietly, mostly to himself, ¡°¡­He made some assumptions about me as he was tearing the implants out of the back of my head.  I want to counter them, so he dies knowing the truth.¡±

    ¡°Is there no way I can convince you to just tell me what those truths are and I can forward them care-of my aforementioned fist?¡±

    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t mean the same coming from someone else.¡± He explained, slouching a bit where he sat with one hand on the steer-stick, ¡°I get the distinct feeling you¡¯d rather I stay behind.¡±

    Ren abruptly landed on the roof of the skiff, and leaned over the roof to look upside-down into the view-field of the screen she knew was below that covered hull, ¡°Yes!  That is a fact!¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t get in the way though.¡±

    ¡°Gabe¡­  There are two kinds of people in the Council.  Lovers, and fighters.  You are, by your own admission, not the latter.¡± She argued, ¡°We have no idea what we¡¯re walking into.  This place is a 350-year-old ruin.  It could be a number of things, including a death-trap.  You don¡¯t even have armor on.  At least I can still get out if the place collapses.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s more to it than just your chance at revenge.¡± Gabriel retorted, looking up at that inverted image of the red Fafnir on his roof, ¡°I can¡¯t just stay back where it¡¯s safe.¡±

    Ren groaned and let go again, kicking-off to go back to her side-by-side flying, ¡°I¡¯m not even going to get revenge if I have to cover for you.¡± She muttered quietly to her muted mic.  She unmuted herself again, ¡°¡­Fine, if this is what you really want to do, I won¡¯t lock you into your own skiff.  But I can¡¯t let the Magistrate go once we intercept.  My reputation is on the line.  If I don¡¯t get him, it could cost me my shot at being Captain one day.¡±

    Gabriel could only scoff lightly at that, ¡°What, is Furion just going to resign if you succeed?¡±

    ¡°Huh?  No.  But he won¡¯t be Captain forever either.¡± She replied, ¡°Why are you so testy all of a sudden?  I¡¯m just watching out for you.¡±

    He bit his lips together for a moment, feeling a sting go straight through him, but he shook his head, ¡°What¡¯s the relationship between you and the Captain, exactly?  Seth told me some stuff but I think he doesn¡¯t see the whole picture.¡±

    Ren¡¯s brow pinched, ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject.¡±

    ¡°It is the subject.  You want to know why I¡¯m testy.¡±

    ¡°Are you jealous or something?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just a guy piecing together a puzzle that¡¯s gradually shown its pieces over the last week or so.¡± He answered stiffly, ¡°And what I¡¯m putting together is a bit sus.¡±

    She glowered at the skiff through her visor, ¡°So says the guy who refers to the Eidolon by their first names like he owes them no respect at all.  I told you I didn¡¯t want to be called a hypocrite for having a more-casual relationship with my Captain, the same way you do with your superiors.  You¡¯re holding it against me now, even after saying you didn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°That would be an argument if the Eidolon hadn¡¯t literally raised me; they¡¯re the closest thing to family I have these days.  As for thinking you¡¯re a hypocrite; I still don¡¯t.  I just want some honesty.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re being a real drag right now¡­¡±

    ¡°So?¡±

    Ren snarled quietly, ¡°¡­We have an intimate relationship.  Is that what you want me to say?¡±

    ¡°It would make a lot of sense if it was true.  Is it?¡±

    ¡°I suddenly find myself missing the guy who didn¡¯t care about his trainees.¡± She muttered, arms crossed, wings flapping a few times to get her some altitude.  Gabriel didn¡¯t respond to that comment though, and she took a moment to think.  She drew in a long breath, and exhaled slowly, ¡°¡­Look, the way you see the Eidolon as your family, I view the Fafnir as mine.  I¡¯ve been around all of them for ¨C essentially - the entire time I¡¯ve been a Fafnir Knight, with the only exceptions being Xandra, who¡¯s only been there half that time, and Bianca, who¡¯s barely out of her first year probationary period.  ¡­It¡¯s hard not to get close to them.¡±

    Gabriel listened carefully.  Every word spoken was a crucial detail¡­and so was every word avoided.

    ¡°Furion is¡­very important to me.¡± She continued quietly; the mountains were starting to loom, ¡°If you¡¯re going to hold it against me that we¡¯ve slept together, then¡­fine, that¡¯s your prerogative.  But nine years sharing the same SkyFortress tends to cause the lines of authority to blur now and then.  We all seek comfort and kindness where we can.  Maybe you should do the same once in a while.¡±

    Maeve climbed a little bit as the rugged foothills on the eastern side of the mountain-range started to push the trees higher into the air, putting it nearer to Ren again.  Gabriel waited a little while before finally uttering a single word, ¡°Thanks.¡±

    Another 30 minutes passed before they arrived on-site, at the buried eastern end of that ruined ship.  On the Sargonian side, more of it was visibly the remnant of a man-made structure, with the enormous circular exhaust-system towering over the skiff.  Maeve touched-down around 30ft away, on a flat-ish outcrop of rocks.

    Ren hovered several feet above the forest floor, staring into that black behemoth of metal and ruined technology, wings extended horizontally like a roof over where Gabriel finally arrived, ¡°Hard to believe something this huge was actually airborne once.¡±Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Gabriel quietly held his hand up; ambient nanotech of the World Cloud coalesced over his palm, creating a spinning orb that echoed light in short beams.  After a moment, he gestured it forward, and the orb floated into that gaping maw, not exactly illuminating the area, but rather, mapping it.  Anywhere the light touched, a solid structure was coded, and to Gabriel¡¯s eyes, he was starting to see what their path looked like.  He raised his hand up again after that, creating a data-nodule, ¡°Take it.  You¡¯ll be able to see inside.¡±

    ¡°When did you get a cartography algorithm?¡± She asked, floating down far enough to accept the link.

    ¡°Around two hours ago.¡± He answered, and started walking in, ¡°From my dad.¡±

    ¡°¡­Oh.¡±

    Gabriel¡¯s eyes were covered over with a green haze as he stepped further into that lightless space, and to his sights, his overlay started to show the fruits of that cartography algorithm¡¯s findings¡­as well as the beginnings of a recommended path through, ¡°There¡¯s gonna be choke-points.  I hope you¡¯re not claustrophobic.¡±

    ¡°I hope that was projection.¡± She puffed unseriously, and descended to walk behind him.  She cut-away the wing visuals and watched as her own overlay showed the same thing her mentor saw.  Before he could get too far ahead of her though, she lifted-off with one final boost-assisted hovering jump, and landed in front of their first narrow passageway.  It was a rough and ragged tear through the metal at the back of the ¡®cup¡¯ that formed the exhaust-system, and the entire section had been crushed inward.  She stuck her head through the hole, and looked around, seeing the long drop to where the ground had come up under the hull, ¡°Hope you brought a rope.¡± She mused, and dipped through, hovering in an open space between the throat of the exhaust, and the exterior of the ship.

    Gabriel stuck his head through next to behold the space, ¡°Mmh¡­sadly, no.¡±

    ¡°Good thing you have a flier with you then.¡± She answered, and offered her leg and a hand-hold, ¡°Come along.  I¡¯ll float you down.¡±

    There was a brief gawp of skepticism as he looked at the offered appendage, ¡°¡­Your left arm?¡±

    ¡°My armor is an exoskeleton.  My real arm may be, as I¡¯ve recently heard described, cream filling, but the shell is quite sturdy.  I could hold ten of you before worrying I might drop one.¡± She explained, and nudged her arm forward again.

    In a leap of faith, Gabriel stepped on that offered foot, and grasped the arm; just as Ren said she would, she slowly glided down to a smooth stop.  Once steady on his own feet again, Gabriel looked up and around at the carnage of the engine; the ravaged fuel lines, the ruptured tanks, and further in, the annihilated reactor that powered the whole thing.

    ¡°Amazing that this all predated the Council¡¯s anti-gravity drives,¡± Ren commented, ¡°Now-a-days we just ignore the laws of physics.  Back then, they had to fight against them.  How would something like this have ever gotten off the ground?¡±

    ¡°It was built in orbit.¡± Gabriel answered simply.

    ¡°¡­Oh.  Yeah, I guess that makes sense.¡±

    ¡°This space will take us halfway to the target.  Let¡¯s get on with it.¡±

    Ren hesitated where she stood, ¡°¡­It¡¯s him.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°The mapper.  It just¡­mapped the Magistrate¡¯s mech.¡± She explained, seeing the very image of that four-armed monster being plotted as though it was a part of the architecture.  She felt a rush of adrenaline go through her, and immediately took off.

    ¡°Wha?  Ren!  Wait!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll be safer back here!¡± She called back, voice fading into the hollow space of the ruined engine bloc.

    ¡°Ahhhh shit!¡± He grumbled, and started running.  He could see the glow of the Fafnir¡¯s blades coming to life, only to vanish again as Ren ducked through to the next compartment; the engineering decks.

    Centuries of debris, trash, dust, and - to Ren¡¯s surprise ¨C bones, littered the first room she went through.  She didn¡¯t wait long to look around though, and quickly passed by, following the path that most-quickly linked where she was to where she was going.  Her heart pounded ¨C raced ¨C and she felt her grip tighten around the blade-holds.  She took a stance; left blade forward, and right high, pointed straight ahead.

    He¡¯s right ahead¡­  He¡¯s right there!  I¡¯ll strike hard and finish this in the first blow!

    But there was nothing.  The widened hall was empty.  The map showed her directly inside the charted image of that sinister weapon¡­and it just wasn¡¯t there.  She looked back the way she¡¯d come; all she saw to prove anyone had been there was the long streak of her own foot-drags on the ground as she¡¯d come sliding in for the kill.

    She grit her teeth, Not good¡­  Where the Hell did he go?  She stayed quiet, weapons ready, but she felt a tingle down her spine, like someone was watching her.  The map could no longer be counted on; she needed to see in real time, ¡°Wing optics on.¡± She whispered, not having a hand free to use a gesture for the same function.  Those volcanic red wings flashed on ¨C long, finger-like feathers spread out wide - and with their glow, the surrounding 20ft of the corridor were suddenly bathed in a dull warm haze, as if a flare had been dropped at her feet.  Still nothing, though.  Wherever the mecha had gone, it had done so as quietly as a ghost.

    With careful steps, she moved forward; every shadow that moved with her threatened to offer cover.  She could hear her own blood rushing in her head, and her careful breaths.  She knew that no one outside could hear it themselves, but that didn¡¯t stop the anxiety of it anyway.

    A loud bang made her jump, and she darted, kicking off the wall and ceiling to get back the way she¡¯d come from¡­and towards the sound of the noise.  When she realized it was just Gabriel failing to climb the walls unaided, she growled, This was such a stupid idea!  Why would Lord Xanarken risk us both just so Gabriel can get the last word in!?

    The distraction meant she didn¡¯t see the looming image of that flat, elongated head where it followed her, itself sitting in a perpendicular corridor.  She was right in front of it, with the unfortunate fact of her back to it, and didn¡¯t see the grasping claws of the small-arms ready for her.

    Gabriel heard it though.  He could feel it in the metal underfoot, shuddering even as far away as he still was.  With considerable effort, he struggled his way up a mangled ladder, which ¨C so far as he could tell ¨C was originally supposed to face a different direction, and perhaps would¡¯ve only been safe to use in the first place if one had done so in zero-gravity.  More cashing and rumbling; it felt like the whole ship-fragment could be dislodged.

    Regulus might¡¯ve had claws on Ren, but she bucked in that grip like a wild animal, dragging the entire war-machine through those halls and banging it against every hard surface.  Unable to get her blades to cut through those smaller arms, she knew the clock was ticking on when the big ones would come into play, and keeping them out of the way was her primary goal.  And so far, her thrashing was doing just as intended; disorienting the mech¡¯s pilot too much to get habituated and launch a counter-attack.  Still, the moment she stopped, and he had a second to figure out what direction he was facing, both larger top-mounted arms swung around.

    Ren wouldn¡¯t fall for it though.  As soon as she saw that growing glow in those ¡®palms,¡¯ she fortified her stance and pushed forward ¨C hard.  Like a battering-ram, she pummeled the front of the mech¡¯s chest, and with the second thrust, drove both blades up into its ¡®neck.¡¯  Huge red wings flailed, then flapped down with purpose, and she leveraged the entire thing until it went ass-down and head-up¡­and up, and over itself, falling onto its back.  The corridor shook and rang-out, and Ren finally twisted free.  She had seconds; once she had a grip on the floor, she flipped her blades to face forward like a spear, and launched forward again.

    Regulus had only been able to flip halfway back to right-side-up when those plasma-swords impaled through the front of his ship.  They hadn¡¯t been able to get all the way to him though, and he grunted as Ren kept him still, ¡°¡­What¡¯s a Fafnir Knight doing all the way out here?¡± He asked, voice booming through that hall.

    With a grunt, Ren pushed forward again, shoving the whole machine back several feet in the process, ¡°Getting even.¡±

    ¡°Oho!  I recognize that grit¡­could it truly be?¡± The Magistrate answered, and with newfound vigor, flung the big arms forward, and forced Ren to jump back to avoid getting hit.  With the inertia, he was able to right the machine, and loomed over her in a defensive stance, ¡°But how in the world could we have possibly encountered one another under these circumstances?  Could it be that we¡¯re both here for the same reason?¡±

    ¡°I seriously doubt that.¡± She barreled forward again, blades at the ready to swing in a wide arc.

    Regulus was ready though; the smaller arms deflected every blow, redirecting them without ever letting a single strike find their mark.  Soon enough, the larger limbs joined the fray, swinging down like hammer-blows to block her way and push her back.  Those plasma-blades left score-marks in that thick metal, but couldn¡¯t cut through.

    And Ren knew exactly why; she¡¯d left her mentor behind, and now she had no idea where he was.  The corridor was taking more damage than the war-machine was, and neither were making any headway.  Ren backed off a bit and had both swords up, the white edges glowing in contrast to the eerie red hue from her wings, How do I finish this?  I can¡¯t get through his armor when I¡¯m only fighting at 50%¡­  Anything that¡¯s blue is solid metal, and the neck is too far away from the cockpit to reach him inside¡­  If I push too hard, this place will crumble¡­

    ¡°Back down, Judge.¡± Gabriel¡¯s voice suddenly echoed, and that flat elongated head perked up a little to look beyond its Fafnir opponent.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±

    Ren leapt backward, never letting her guard down, until she was sure she was close enough to the source of the voice that she could look.  What she saw made her eyes go wide.

    Not only did Gabriel have Aamin in his custody¡­but was holding him in thrall with the threat of his Limitless ability.  Eyes glowed eerily bright in that dark hall, and hair lifted, held down only by the tie behind his shoulders.  One hand held tightly to the back of Aamin¡¯s neck as he yanked the Prince out from a dilapidated utility-room, near to where Regulus¡¯ mecha had ambushed Ren earlier on.  The other was flat to the man¡¯s shoulder-blades, ¡°Back off.¡± He warned again, ¡°I know why you¡¯re here.  You won¡¯t be leaving with him.¡±

    ¡°And you will be?¡±

    ¡°That or I kill him.¡±

    Regulus hummed an amused breath to himself, ¡°You won¡¯t do it.  Your slavish need to absorb Sargon into the Hadiran Accord will stop you dead to rights.¡±

    ¡°Gabriel what the Hell are you doing?  How did you even find that guy?¡± Ren whispered, keeping her sights on the mecha barely-seen in that dark hall.

    ¡°He¡¯s the ultimate reason I¡¯m here.  Do whatever you want to the Magistrate¡­but whether Aamin lives or dies is up to me today.¡±

    ¡°You know I can¡¯t do that when you¡¯re here.  You¡¯re too close.¡± She retorted, ¡°This place is too fragile to fight the way I want.¡±

    ¡°What do you need to win?¡±

    ¡°Space.  Solitude.¡±

    ¡°I can only give you one of those.  Stall him for two minutes and I¡¯ll get clear.¡±

    Aamin wouldn¡¯t leave that unchallenged, ¡°He¡¯s going to try to leave!  Don¡¯t let him take me!¡±

    Gabriel bashed the burned Prince up against a wall, ¡°He may be right about me not actually killing you, but no one ever said anything about bringing you back with all your parts.¡±

 Book I â€“ Chapter 23 â€“ If You Know Youâ€™re Going To Ruin Something, And Do It Anyway...

    Ren still couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing.  A bead of sweat rolled down the side of her face, and she tightened her grip on the hilts of her blades.  As Gabriel started to step backward though, dragging Aamin with him, she flipped the blade in her left hand around to face the other direction, and took a different stance.

    She had one pressing question though, ¡°Didn¡¯t you have something you wanted to say to him before I take him out?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­right.¡± Gabriel realized, and looked past the burned Prince¡¯s shoulder, and through the large feathers of those solid-light wings, ¡°Hey dipshit!¡±

    Regulus didn¡¯t dignify the call with an answer.

    ¡°When you were trying to tell me what I saw in the mirror every morning, you mentioned that the red was a constant reminder of what happened.  But you were only half right.  Red also happens to be the color of the Fourth¡­so what I saw was foreshadowing.¡±

    That awkward silence spoke quite loudly, but not nearly so much as the response that eventually came.

    ¡°¡­Heh, okay.¡±

    Aamin grunted a laugh, and looked back over his shoulder, cringing against the pain of his burned skin where those fingers dug in, ¡°I don¡¯t think he cares about your childhood quandaries.¡±

    ¡°Stay out of it.¡±

    ¡°Why?  It¡¯s pathetic how badly that went over.¡±

    ¡°Because ¡®shut up,¡¯ that¡¯s why.¡±

    Regulus could only roll his eyes at the spectacle, ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of this¡­¡± He said to himself, and leaned in.  There were no control-sticks or steering-modules to hold onto; his neuroptics linked directly to the mech¡¯s movement systems.  With a thought, the large right arm swung forward, and Ren had three seconds to figure out what to do about that glowing warm-up in the midst of those claws.

    ¡°GET DOWN.¡±

    Blinding light filled the ravaged corridor, and a horrendous, guttural screech sounded.  The impact was enough to push Ren forward two feet, as she¡¯d flipped around and folded her wings together to form a shield.  She tried to dig-in to stop herself being pushed any further, but the unfortunate existence of two men who weren¡¯t supposed to be there put an extra hurdle on that.  Covering them meant she couldn¡¯t move.  Worst-still, she could smell the burning of metal and dirt all around her.

    The Magistrate pulled one over on her so fast, she could hardly blink.  The beam ceased, a battering-ram replaced it, she went flying forward with a loud clang ¨C bouncing off the walls in the process ¨C and one small metallic arm reached forward from the space Ren had previously been standing in.  Aamin was plucked from the shaken grip of the mediator who¡¯d apprehended him, like less than a grape off a vine.

    Gabriel had been so struck by the sudden barrage that it knocked the Limitless right out of his eyes, and he¡¯d crumpled to the floor with barely a hair¡¯s width between him and the Fafnir that had just been jettisoned by.  He was helpless before the imposing visage of that mechanical ¡®face¡¯ as it loomed over him.  Regulus didn¡¯t even have the temerity to mock him; it was just over.  Aamin was nabbed, and Regulus swung both overhead appendages down so hard that it broke whatever was left of the corridor that hadn¡¯t already been disintegrated by the ricocheted of his earlier attack off of Ren¡¯s wings.  The metal groaned from the stress of its support-struts being destroyed, and soon after, the floor collapsed, taking Gabriel with it in a storm of dust and debris.

    Aamin coughed, then gasped as he spotted Ren through the demolished terrain.  Staring back at them threateningly - where the ship¡¯s ancient bones had ripped apart so thoroughly that it left a gaping, twisted hole between them ¨C she flipped the second blade around as well, and made like she was going to leap through those treacherous gaps to attack yet again.  The Prince turned to his ¡®savior,¡¯ ¡°What are you waiting for!?¡±

    Regulus didn¡¯t budge though; he was hedging his bets, and wanted to watch.  Ren¡¯s head was spinning, and she staggered where she stood.  That was all the Magistrate needed to see to know that he¡¯d won.  He put the mech into reverse, and started backing out.  By the time Ren could see straight, the only thing she could see was the subtle heat-glow coming off the anti-gravity drive on the war-machine¡¯s undercarriage¡­and then it was gone, absorbed by the dark of that unlit hall.

    She grit her teeth and went to the edge of the collapsed section, ¡°Gabe!?¡± She called down, ¡°Are you dead!?¡±

    ¡°¡­N-no¡­¡± He grumbled in answer, buried in the rubble below.

    Ren groaned a loud sigh, sheathed her blades, and forced her way down, pushing panels and scrap out of the way until she¡¯d unburied her ball-and-chain.  Be he injured or not, she looked down at him with an air of disappointment and frustration, ¡°This is why I didn¡¯t want you here¡­¡± She said aloud¡­to a muted mic.

    Gabriel could feel the sentiment though, and avoided her gaze.  She kept it well-hidden behind that visor anyway, but he knew what was behind it.  As she helped push the bigger chunks of hallway off of him, he caught sight of something.  He flinched and backed-up, bumping into the Fafnir, but his eyes narrowed as he realized it wasn¡¯t the Magistrate¡¯s war-machine coming back to finish the job.

    It was a man.  Just a man¡­approaching through the undamaged section of a derelict colony ship that no one else should¡¯ve been in.

    ¡°Unbelievable¡­¡± The figure said, and stepped into the red glow of Ren¡¯s wings.  The half-baroque mask gleamed brightly, with that white eye emitting its own faint glow.  Both Knights stopped in their tracks to stare at him ¡°¡­I practically gift wrapped them for you.¡±

    Ren drew one hilt from her hip again, and extended the blade with a click, ¡°Back off, whoever the Hell you are.¡±

    Gabriel¡¯s eyes trembled at the sight of the man though, ¡°¡­I¡­recognize him¡­¡± He whispered, though his thoughts in that moment were decidedly not on the border confrontation; he hadn¡¯t seen that visage in the wings, not with the Duchess being the only one on-screen, ¡°¡­But¡­how?  You¡­disappeared 22 years ago¡­¡±

    Latheroux sneered at the pair, ¡°You don¡¯t deserve that answer.¡± He said flatly¡­and then dissolved into thin air.

    ¡°¡­A mantle!?¡± The pair both said, stunned and confused in equal measure.

    Nearby, but out of sight, a portable nanotech pod clicked open, and a haze of dust filtered inside.  It closed soon after, the green light shut off, and it went dormant.

    .

    It was evening when they finally limped back to Trazad.  Ren wouldn¡¯t follow Maeve back to the skiff-lot though, breaking off to ascend towards the Aegis instead.  Gabriel noted the drift easily enough, but he didn¡¯t call out to her over it; he was eyeballs-deep in it and he knew.  Instead, when he docked Maeve and sat back in his seat, he just looked up at that darkening sky and sighed.

    ¡°¡­I fucked it up, Xanarken.¡± He said aloud, ¡°Pretty badly.¡±

    As expected, the subtle shifting-sand-like sound of the Eidolon¡¯s mantle taking shape was easy to hear in the quiet of the empty ship.  Xanarken looked on with disappointment, ¡°¡­What happened.¡±

    ¡°They both got away.¡± He answered, ¡°It was too tight a space, and Ren couldn¡¯t fight like she wanted¡­  Not there, and definitely not with me around.  I tried to get Aamin out while they were going at it, like you said, but¡­I wager the Magistrate had made contact already, since they were right in the same vicinity.  Regulus fired on all three of us in the end¡­  Guess it didn¡¯t matter to him one way or the other if Aamin made it out alive.¡±

    The Fourth stepped closer and lowered to sit in the second seat, ¡°I see¡­¡±

    Gabriel tilted his head against the head-rest, looking over at the Eidolon with a dead shadow in his eyes, ¡°¡­You never did explain how you knew he was there.  I know how Rylen knew the Magistrate was there, but¡­even he didn¡¯t know about the Prince.¡±

    ¡°Aamin was spotted by the same people who spotted the judge later.  How and why and whether any part of those witness statements gets through the proper channels, I can¡¯t know for sure¡­  When passing information between people by word of mouth, things are bound to get lost or twisted.¡± He answered, ¡°When I realized Rylen didn¡¯t know, I willfully decided to keep that tidbit from him, and thus, from Ren.  I didn¡¯t want her thinking she had to worry about two people getting in her way.¡±

    ¡°¡­Cuz one wasn¡¯t already more than enough.¡±

    ¡°To be honest, I didn¡¯t care if Aamin came back alive or not.  If you managed to apprehend him, that was fine.  If Ren nipped him before you could, it was just as well.¡± Xanarken shrugged, and sat back with his fingers laced together over his lap, ¡°He was better off dead anyway.  He isn¡¯t missed.¡±

    Gabriel¡¯s eyes widened as his brow crinkled, ¡°¡­Do you know how weird it is sometimes when you start talking like Rylen?  Cuz honestly, it¡¯s a little bit scary, since you are always so serious about it.  Rylen just comes across like a chaos-gremlin and it makes him hard to read.¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    Xanarken was quiet for a moment, looking at the underside of the covered windshield, ¡°Sometimes, politics requires one to get their hands dirty.  Did you have to threaten Aamin to get him to move?¡±

    ¡°¡­Yeah?¡±

    ¡°Well, there you go.  You yourself were ready to end his life for the greater good.¡±

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s a little different if I do it.¡±

    ¡°Why?  You¡¯re my right hand.  Anything you say or do might as well have been said or done by me.¡±

    Gabriel gaped a little, ¡°That¡¯s not fair.  The difference between you and I is a gulf.  No one takes me that seriously.¡±

    ¡°They don¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°Of course not.  I know how people shiver when I leave the room.  At least, in the Council¡­¡±

    The Fourth tapped his thumb-tips together, ¡°Maybe they shiver because they¡¯re not used to a mere man acting like an Eidolon.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous.¡± Gabriel grumbled, ¡°Just like it¡¯s ridiculous who else was in that ruin.¡±

    ¡°¡­Who else?¡± Xanarken tilted his head towards the blonde, ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±

    The mediator sat forward and loaded-up Maeve¡¯s forward screen again, and copied his overlay onto it.  With a few searches, he brought up the profile of a certain familiar ¨C albeit different ¨C man¡¯s face, ¡°¡­This guy was there.  Somehow.¡±

    Xanarken¡¯s eyes narrowed as he read the name aloud, ¡°Latheroux d¡¯Arras, previously known for his anti-Luminary dissent, he started a riot at the Imperial Palace the day of Rylen¡¯s misbegotten trek into the Exclusion Zone 22 years ago.  In his effort to vilify the Council by saying we would incur into Sargon the same way, and kill innocents, he¡­was thought to have been killed himself in the ensuing violence.  His actions also lead directly to the death of the Empress; Iresha the Elder¡¯s mother.  Ironic.¡±

    ¡°Seems the ¡®thought to have been killed¡¯ can now be put to rest, since we now know where he is.  In Kitez, wearing a mask over the right side of his face like he¡¯s hiding whatever previously-believed-to-be-fatal injury is hidden beneath it.  He even made it sound like he was responsible for the Magistrate and Aamin being in the same place at the same time¡­and for making sure we were there to take them both out.  ¡­And for making sure Ren and I both knew we¡¯d fucked it up by failing to do so.¡± Gabriel continued, ¡°I think he was the source of the rumors.  That town is up in the mountains; it doesn¡¯t have a Sargonian side to spread rumors from.  It¡¯s just a lonely road up through the woods with a check-point guarded by the Kitezans.  He must¡¯ve come into the country to start talking.¡±

    The Eidolon nodded and put a hand around his goatee, smoothing out those nanotech-made hairs, ¡°¡­I see.  Sounds likely.  But why expose himself to you in that ruin?  How¡¯d he even get down there?  If you couldn¡¯t even get out because of the proximity to the fighting¡­¡±

    Gabriel was dangerously quiet on that part, but then shook his head and crossed his arms, ¡°¡­I dunno¡­  If he really orchestrated that whole encounter, maybe he turned up to see it play out.  He¡¯d hardly be the first person to venture in there.¡±

    ¡°I want you to keep that whole sad circumstance to yourself for now.  I¡¯ll tell Dame Ren to do the same.  Harboring Prince Aamin is a gamble for Kitez.  I don¡¯t know that they¡¯ll want to expose that they have him right away.¡±

    ¡°What about everything else?¡±

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    Gabriel leveled a dubious look, ¡°We sent a Fafnir Knight to kill the Magistrate, and he escaped to tell the tale.¡±

    ¡°Did either of you ever lose access to the World Cloud?  Did your uniform-jacket ever dissolve?  Did her wings disappear unintentionally?¡±

    ¡°No?¡±

    Xanarken shrugged, ¡°Then, as I see it, a Magistrate took a weapon of war across the Sargonian border.  It would be even worse for him if it turns out he struck the first blow.  If he says a word about it, the Luminary Council and the entire Hadiran Accord would be obliged to respond.  He won¡¯t say a word.¡±

    ¡°¡­Then what do I do now?¡±

    The Eidolon set his hands onto the arm-rests and pushed himself up, ¡°Enjoy your leave, Gabe.  In two weeks, you¡¯re going on an adventure into the southern hemisphere.¡±

    ¡°Huh?  Why?¡± The mediator was dumbfounded, ¡°We never even colonized down there.  It¡¯s just a wasteland of the original Hadiran landscape.  You don¡¯t need mediators down there.¡±

    ¡°No, but Seth needs a Limitless canary.¡± Xanarken answered, and pet the man¡¯s head, ¡°You¡¯re it, kid.¡±

    ¡°What!?¡± Gabriel swatted the arm out of his way and stood up as well, coming between the two seats with a grip on each head-rest, ¡°You¡¯re sending me on an Aegis mission!?  You can¡¯t do that¡­  After what just happened, I¡¯m the last person they¡¯ll want aboard.¡±

    ¡°Unfortunate, isn¡¯t it?¡± Xanarken looked at the man side-face, ¡°But since you decided to conscript Seth into your own designs for Prince Iresha, you ¨C maybe unintentionally ¨C got on Captain Rydell¡¯s bad side.  After you two left, he approached me with his grievances.  I happened to agree with your mindset about giving the Prince a friend, since it works towards our ultimate interests, and I didn¡¯t want to give that up.  So, I made a deal.¡±

    ¡°I feel like I¡¯m not going to like this.¡±

    ¡°The Aegis¡¯ mission in the south is to secure a newfound colony ship.  One that¡¯s largely intact.  We want the warp core.¡±

    Gabriel quirked a brow, ¡°¡­What would you need one of those for?  It¡¯s not like we can warp without a Caeros-level Limitless user.¡±

    ¡°Every SkyFortress in the Council has a warp core inside it.  They¡¯re not just the anchors Caeros used to keep the fleet together; they can be used for far more.  The more of them we have in our possession, the fewer of them are unaccounted for.¡±

    ¡°How many are still missing?¡±

    ¡°Seven.¡± He answered, and snapped his fingers, forcing the red uniform-jacket on Gabriel¡¯s figure to evaporate, ¡°Anyway, you¡¯re officially on leave.  I don¡¯t want to hear word or whisper about the Connington mission ever again.  You don¡¯t talk about it with me, with Ren, with your pillow at night, or anyone or anything else.  Understood?¡±

    Gabriel was stunned by the command, and looked down ¨C the absence of his reds made the power-difference between them rather clear ¨C and he nodded, ¡°¡­Yessir.¡±

    .

    The dual-moons were closer together in that nighttime sky than before, and they were all Ren could focus on as the icy-cold wind bellowed around her.  She sat on top of the Aegis, helmet off and hanging from one hand, black hair snapping all around her like the tails of an atonement whip.  If she had tears, they were blown off her cheeks before she could feel them fall.  She snuffled though, and rubbed her nose on the back of her armored glove.  She heard the well-known tap of boots on the hull behind her, and she turned her head towards her shoulder without looking over it.

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be up here if things went well,¡± Furion¡¯s voice sounded in her helmet, and she looked at the hollow dome in her grip where it echoed from.  Ren pulled her hair around and the flight-suit hood up again, then replaced the helm and heard the next question, ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°¡­Well, like you said¡­¡±

    The tone in her voice was utterly defeated, and he stepped closer, shutting off his wing-optics as he lowered down to sit beside her.  He slid his arm in behind her back, and pulled her closer to his left side, ¡°Have you had your debrief yet?¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­It all just went so horribly wrong.  And I knew that it would before we ever got there.  I¡­I told them, and you heard me, that sending Gabe with me was a bad idea.  That he¡¯d get in the way, even if he wasn¡¯t trying to.  Every move I made had to calculate the risk it posed to him, to the structural integrity of the site, to the outcome of the encounter¡­¡± She explained vaguely, and pulled her right arm free so she could thread it between Furion¡¯s knees.  She held onto the nearest one as she leaned forward against it, ¡°I had to limit the whole thing to just my melee weapons.  It was hopeless.  I couldn¡¯t cut through¡­  I¡­couldn¡¯t reach far enough¡­¡±

    ¡°I saw you two heading west.  There¡¯s only one reason you would need to go west right now.¡± Furion noted, ¡°Lord Rylen somehow set-up a rematch between you and the Magistrate, didn¡¯t he?¡±

    ¡°¡­I can neither confirm nor deny that.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll presume it then.¡± He continued, ¡°If you were worried about structural integrity, you were stuck fighting in close quarters.  ¡­And if you couldn¡¯t cut through, he was in his mech.¡± He gave her a little reassuring jostle, ¡°I think Lord Rylen underestimated how lethal that man is.  Regulus Laurier rose the ranks of Kitez¡¯s military structure with a famed, cool-headed tactical mind, ruthless effectiveness, and a singular-minded belief that talking was a waste of time.  The Fafnir aren¡¯t the only ones dealing with dangerously powerful Limitless users.  He was their answer to lacking us.¡±

    Ren turned her head slightly, and pressed her visor to the inside of her arm in an effort to look back at the man beside her, ¡°Did Lequerion ever fight him?¡±

    ¡°Yes.  One time.¡± Furion confirmed, ¡°A mission into the Exclusion Zone, earlier on to that final escalation, where the Kitezans had actually launched their own offensive.  They and my father¡¯s unit converged on the same place, and because of the ensuing conflict between them, the target escaped.  Again.  General Laurier never betrayed his calm veneer, but it was clear from the way that he fought that he was ready to take down the entire Wing to make up for it.  My father sent them away though, and faced the man alone.  Neither one of them won.  General Laurier was commanded to withdraw before a victor could be determined.  I remember¡­when I was promoted to Captain after my father¡¯s retirement, the one thing he warned me about as he passed that torch, was to watch out for that man.  Not a Limitless user, not to be careful if the Exclusion Zone ever became a problem for us again¡­but General Regulus Laurier.¡±

    ¡°¡­Wow¡­¡± She answered quietly.

    ¡°I wish I could say I¡¯m surprised you lost against him,¡± He continued, ¡°But even my father couldn¡¯t eke a victory from Laurier¡¯s hide.  It would probably take the both of us to take him out.¡±

    ¡°I had it all planned out¡­¡± Ren said, brow furrowed, ¡°I was going to cut those stupid arms off, and rip open that mech like a can¡­  I was going to make him tell me what he did with Ianori¡­and I was going to make him suffer for what he did to Seth and Gabe.  Then I was going to boil him alive in his own mech with both plasma cannons on full-bore.¡±

    ¡°¡­I know¡­¡±

    She lifted her hands and looked at the weapons mounted on the backs of both forearms, ¡°¡­I never got close enough.  Now I¡¯m just¡­too angry at Gabriel for getting in the way¡­and for throwing my chance at Captain into the wind.  He could¡¯ve refused to go.  I even told him that if Lord Rylen had sent you out there instead, he wouldn¡¯t have been sent along to babysit.  I just don¡¯t understand what any of them were thinking when they made the choice to send him anyway¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t think about it that way, love.¡± Furion reassured, and pulled her right hand closer to tap against the front of his visor, ¡°I¡¯m certain Lord Rylen was just as annoyed by Lord Xanarken¡¯s conditions as anyone.  It was an impossible handicap.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do now.¡± Ren added, and curled her fingers around the man¡¯s hand, ¡°I came up here to clear my head, but it¡¯s still just¡­so full of annoyance, frustration, and undignified blame¡­  If I see Gabe again before I calm down, I may say something unkind.  My whole plan to help him will be derailed if I fracture this relationship over something that wasn¡¯t entirely his idea.¡±

    Furion pondered for a moment, but then tapped a finger against his beloved¡¯s hand, ¡°Give me one second.  I have an idea.¡± He said, and sat up a bit straighter as he sent out a call.  It took a moment, but when the answer came, Ren listened closely to the one side of the conversation she could hear, ¡°Sir, requesting permission to debrief Commander Nibasai on her mission and to depart with our armor for the remainder of our leave.¡±

    Ren¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, ¡°¡­Lord Rylen¡­?¡±

    ¡°Yessir.  Understood.  Thank you, sir.  We¡¯ll be back for the mission.¡± He concluded, and pushed to stand up, offering his hands to lift Ren to her feet as well.  His wings burst to life again, and he spread them high and wide, ready, ¡°Let¡¯s go see the old man.  I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be happy to see you, and maybe give you some tips on what to do if you ever get another chance to fight Laurier again.¡±

    Her eyes lit up then, and she jumped at him to hang on in a hug, ¡°Thank you!¡±

    ¡°Alright then, soldier.  Let¡¯s get flying.  I¡¯ll debrief you on the way.¡±

    ¡°You have no idea how much I love you right now.¡±

 Book I â€“ Chapter 24 â€“ Consult And Abide By Experience, Or You Are Doomed To Repeat Mistakes

    The hangar-bay door next to the waterfall opened, and Regulus¡¯ mech flew through to land, with Aamin still in-hand.  It was dawn by then, and though the journey was as gentle as it could¡¯ve possibly been, it was still quite hard on that exiled Prince, and he shivered terribly when that clawed hand let him go.  Medics were already on stand-by though, and he was allowed to lay down on a hovering gurney.  His injuries and presumed-hypothermia were already being evaluated, and the four-armed metallic beast that brought him there floated away quietly to enter into its docking-stall.  Regulus pushed open the hatch above himself and climbed out, jumping down to the floor instead of taking the offered ladder.

    Aamin trembled from the cold, pale as snow, ¡°Y-you¡­could have¡­b-brought me s-s-s-somewhere else¡­f-first¡­¡±

    ¡°You aren¡¯t yet welcome anywhere else.  Be grateful for what you¡¯ve been given.¡± The Magistrate answered, ¡°This facility has everything you need for your treatment.  Burns, cold, starvation¡­whatever you¡¯ve endured.  We don¡¯t scorn you, but we need to know what kind of a liability you are to us before we reveal our hand.¡±  He turned to the medics and nodded, and they started to pull the Prince away.  Aamin had no energy to respond, and vanished into those underground halls without another word.  Regulus stepped away and lifted a hand to press the curved earpiece on his right side, ¡°I have him.  When appropriate, relay to the Duchess that he¡¯s secured and beginning recovery.  Everyone in the facility understands this is a top-level security situation and they are bound to keep their mouths shut, but make sure to remind them.  I¡¯m going to bed.¡±

    .

    Flying high above the clouds, cones of air deflected around the two Fafnir as they made their way far to the northeast.  Below them had passed the northern half of Sargon, the western coastal edge of neighboring Mayrain, and the southwestern sliver of New Uppsala.  The waters below them were the Bay of Breidablik, and far ahead, coming into sight on the horizon, were the shores of a large, private property with a house on its rocky beach.

    The sun was barely starting to rise that far east of Kitez, but rise it did, and Furion looked over to his beloved, ¡°I¡¯m sure at least my pops is up by now.  He never was a late-sleeper.¡± He explained, ¡°I haven¡¯t called ahead though.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s surprise them.¡±

    ¡°He loves surprises.¡±

    Ren snorted a quiet laugh, ¡°Exactly.  Dropping out of hypersonic now.¡± She mused, and started to slow down.  The cone of air ahead of her faded, and the waters below started to look like actual water rather than a blue streak.  Furion slowed down as well, further ahead, and waited for her to catch up before getting back up to speed again.  They both extended their wings to full-spread as the shoreline passed beneath them, and a half-minute later, they landed quietly at the house¡¯s front door.

    As a beach-front property sitting above some large rocks, the front half of it was suspended on silts, with floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the bay.  The edges of a temperate forest dotted the edges of the main homestead¡¯s borders, with short grass, more rocks, and a road that cut through it from the back.  Ren pulled her helmet off, and her flight-suit skullcap down, and shook her head before running her fingers through her hair to shake it loose; Furion did the same beside her.  Their wing-optics were cut, and the two approached the front door, and gave a simple ¡®let¡¯s not wake up mom¡¯ sort of knock.

    Ren stepped back and they waited.  A full minute later ¨C and nearly thinking she needed to knock again ¨C the door finally opened, and a large man opened the door.

    ¡°Who the Hell is-¡° Lequerion started, only to spot the two Fafnir in their full armor standing in front of him, ¡°¡­Oh no.¡±

    He was a half-inch taller than Furion, which meant he towered over Ren by nearly a foot, and he had to look down at her to see her there.  He was aged, and a bit more wrinkly than Furion, but his hair was identical to that of his sons¡¯ ¨C his bangs were short like Seth¡¯s, but that platinum-blonde color and upward-spikey contour at the back gave him away as definitely being their sire ¨C and those eyes¡­those teal-green eyes.  They were wide in disbelief as he beheld that petite woman on his doorstep, and without a word, he reached both arms over her shoulders to pull her into a worried hug.

    ¡°What are you two doing here?  What happened?¡± He asked in a worried tone, ¡°Furion, what¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, dad, nothing is wrong.  We¡¯re on leave.¡± The Captain answered, and let himself be pulled into the hug as well, stepping into the man¡¯s left shoulder, ¡°For another ten days.¡±

    Lequerion nodded with relief, ¡°Whew¡­okay, gave me a damned heart attack for a second.  How¡¯d you get away with taking your armor on leave with you, though?  For a split second I actually considered you might be on the run.¡±

    ¡°I just asked.¡±

    He snorted a laugh and shook his head as he let his son go, ¡°¡­Okay, fair enough.  Lord Rylen is full of surprises.¡± He held Ren a little bit longer though, and with both arms around her shoulders and one hand to cradle the back of her head, he rocked her back and forth fondly, ¡°Are you two married yet?  Have we finally gotten the Rydell name on you?¡±

    Ren blushed, but looked up those many inches, ¡°No sir.  Your son is still gainfully employed, so¡­¡±

    ¡°You two are killing us.¡± Lequerion sighed, ¡°I should have guessed though when you appeared at my door in your Fafnir get-up.  Did you get your job back?¡±

    ¡°Yessir.¡± She nodded, and reached up with her right hand to push some hair out of her eyes as she pulled out of the hug; Lequerion kept one arm over her shoulders though, resting it on the upward-idling mechanical limbs that gave her wings form, ¡°Just recently, actually.  I¡­I wanted to talk to you about something.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­yes, yes, please¡­¡± The older man gestured to the side of the house, and stepped out, pulling Ren beside him.  A large metal door raised with a gesture, revealing a garage with two vehicles inside, and Lequerion pointed within, ¡°You can dock here, then come inside.  I¡¯ll get something started for us to eat.  You¡¯re probably starving and exhausted if you flew here overnight.  Just keep your voices down; you know your mother and sister like to sleep in.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, dad.¡± Furion said, and stepped around them to join Ren in the garage.

    A few minutes later, the two found their way inside; the house was massive to behold already, but inside made it look even larger.  Warmly-lit by the rising sun, those balcony windows dimmed in a calculated way to prevent anyone in those water-facing rooms from being blinded as it ascended from the horizon.  Open-concept architecture allowed the eyes to see the entirety of the living-room, den, breakfast nook, kitchen, and dining room, and all its couches, tables, wall-mounted pictures, decorative bits and baubles, plants, and one snoozing cat to be easily seen.

    Ren smiled at the familiar sight, but Furion quietly got her attention before she could linger too long.  Lequerion was already in the kitchen assembling the things he intended to craft, and Ren followed her partner down a different hall, and into a guest-room.  They had been there many times before, and the room was well-prepared for the next time they arrived, bearing clothing and shoes for any occasion. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Furion pushed the door closed and stepped up behind his beloved, hands gently on her shoulders where she¡¯d started to peel away her flight-suit, ¡°You don¡¯t have to get straight to business if you¡¯d rather go to sleep.¡±

    ¡°How can I go to bed when your dad is making breakfast for us?¡± She looked back over her right shoulder.

    Furion just slid his arms forward and hugged her from behind, leaning down to kiss her neck, ¡°Eat first, then sleep.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine for now¡­thank you, though.¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    When they were done and changed, they came back out, and Lequerion had food ready.  The most comforting and traditional of home-cooked breakfasts was put on the counter for them, and a toaster on the back counter clicked.

    Furion pulled a chair out for his partner and let Ren sit first before joining her, and looked at the over-easy eggs and bacon on offer, ¡°Thanks, dad.¡±

    Toast was being buttered, and Lequerion turned around, ¡°Anytime, kid.  How are you two anyway?  You have to tell me every¡­thing¡­?¡± He suddenly saw the blue-gel band around Ren¡¯s left upper arm, and nearly dropped the toast in his surprise, ¡°¡­What¡­?¡±

    Ren lifted her head, then looked at the band, and sighed, ¡°¡­Sorry, I lost a fight.¡±

    ¡°You lost a fight.¡± He echoed, and came around the island to set the toast onto a smaller plate, then reached forward to set it in front of her, ¡°How in the world did that happen?¡±

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s why we came.  It¡­was then-General-now-Magistrate Laurier.¡±

    Those green eyes were still as calm waters, but Lequerion shook his head like he hadn¡¯t heard right, ¡°Come again?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the second time he got me in just over a week,¡± She answered, ¡°He¡­took my arm the first time.¡±

    ¡°In her defense, she only had the nanotech training-suit to work with, and from what we gleaned from Seth¡¯s footage, he¡¯s upgraded his war-machine quite a bit since he was last witnessed using it.¡± Furion explained, ¡°They were at a stalemate the second time they fought, and Ren was only using her blades, too.¡±

    Lequerion put two more slices of bread into the toaster before he came around the kitchen island, and approached on Ren¡¯s left side.  He reached forward to gently hold her limp left arm, and lifted it up, feeling it with a few careful pinches around it.  When he got to her hand, he turned it over a few times, inspecting every finger and wrinkle, before lifting it up to kiss her knuckles, ¡°It¡¯s thin and mushy.¡±

    She just laughed, although she could feel the tears in her eyes starting, and she tried to hide them by looking away.  Her voice was ready to crack though, and she snuffled, ¡°¡­I know¡­¡±

    The older man just pulled her back against his chest again and pet her head, ¡°You¡¯ll recover.  You¡¯re too tough to let this get you down.  It¡¯s just temporary setback.¡±  He said reassuringly.  Furion slid his hand over to give her right knee a gentle squeeze, and Lequerion let go as the toaster popped again.  The younger gestured at their food though, and they both dug in.  Lequerion set that new plate of toast in front of his son, then rinsed his hands off under the kitchen sink¡¯s running water, ¡°So¡­Laurier, huh.  What were you two up to that led you to be in his crosshairs?¡±

    ¡°Not us.  Just her.¡± Furion nudged his head towards the woman, ¡°Lord Rylen sent Seth onto a covert mission into Kitez, and sent Ren over to go get him.  It didn¡¯t go well.  Then he sent her on a mission to try again, but with her full regalia¡­unfortunately, it didn¡¯t go well the second time, either.¡±

    ¡°What about that Lugios kid?  Didn¡¯t you get stuck with him for a bit?¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­and he was there both times.¡± Ren nodded, and used her fork to pick at what was left of her breakfast, ¡°He was able to stop the man the first time; by surrendering us into his custody¡­but he got in the way when I tried again yesterday.¡±

    ¡°Damn¡­¡±

    ¡°To say the least.¡± Furion chimed in.

    ¡°If I get a third shot¡­I need a better angle.¡± She continued, ¡°Furion says you fought the man once before.  Any insight?¡±

    Lequerion tossed a hand-drying towel over his shoulder, and crossed his arms in thought, ¡°Honestly, the man fights as well as you.¡± He started, ¡°Just¡­utterly relentless and nonstop, using that adamant refusal to take a breath to overwhelm his enemies.  In melee, that mech of his can learn and adapt to any fighting style; if he can witness a strike coming, the A.I. on board can predict an outcome, and move the arms to counter it.  His offensive moves have to be self-motivated though, which is why the thing has four arms instead of just two.  The big ones are largely A.I.-piloted, but the smaller ones are all him.¡±

    ¡°¡­How do you know that?¡± Ren was surprised.

    ¡°I¡¯ve gone over the footage of my fight with him so many times, trying to figure out how he was able to stay toe-to-toe with me.  No mortal man should¡¯ve been able to.¡± Lequerion answered, ¡°Obviously, things might¡¯ve changed since back then, but¡­most people become masters of their style, and rarely change it, only incorporating new things into it that may be helpful, rather than switching entirely.¡±

    ¡°¡­He was using the big arms offensively against me.¡± She noted, ¡°The smaller ones were deflecting and parrying every blow.  I couldn¡¯t understand how he defended so perfectly.¡±

    ¡°He must¡¯ve learned from our fight, then.¡± Lequerion supposed, and set his hands onto the edge of the sink, ¡°Maybe he swaps A.I. between the two now.  You should study your own footage like I did.  See if you can spot the moment he switches.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right.  I will.¡±

    .

    It was two more hours before the rest of the household finally awoke, but by then, Ren had swapped places with the sentiment, and was thus unconscious.  On her left side in the gap between Furion¡¯s right and the back of a bracket-shaped couch, right arm draped over his stomach and head on his chest, she snoozed quietly.  When the first of two sets of footsteps came into the den, it was an older woman with a long, thick braid hanging behind her back, largely gone white by then with a subtle tint of orange streaking through it.  Grey eyes looked to her husband though, ¡°Morning, honey.  What¡¯s for breakfast?  I can smell you¡¯ve been cooking.¡± She greeted tiredly, and yawned against the back of her hand.

    Lequerion ¨C where he was lounging on the mirrored side of the bracket-couch - gently lifted a finger up to his lips in a gesture to be quiet, and nudged his head to the side she¡¯d passed-by.  His attempts to keep the room¡¯s volume to a minimum were dashed though when the excited giggling of a young girl filled the air, and the youngest member of the family skipped around gleefully.

    ¡°Fury fury!  Furion!¡± She cheered, and lunged at the man where he¡¯d had his head back against the pillows in a deep sleep.  He was jarred awake by the smack of a 4-year-old¡¯s hands against his cheeks, and while startled, he quickly realized there was no threat, ¡°Fuuuuuurion!¡± She cackled.

    Lequerion tried to get his daughter to come back in his direction, but she didn¡¯t hear him, too wrapped-up in the happy sight of her much-older brother.

    The older woman came to the rescue though, and lifted the child up from behind the couch to rest her against a hip, ¡°Suzu, you should be more mindful when people are tired.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, mom¡­also, hi.¡± Furion mumbled, eyes bleary, ¡°Sorry to drop in unannounced¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t you worry, baby.¡± She reached down to accept the greeting clasp of his left hand, ¡°But why don¡¯t you take her to bed?  If you¡¯re both this tired, you probably traveled here overnight, right?¡±

    ¡°They flew all the way here in their armor; can you believe it?¡± Lequerion explained, still shocked by it himself, ¡°Lord Rylen actually let them do it, too.¡±

    ¡°Oh wow,¡± Her brows went up in surprise, but she set her daughter down to shoo her towards the kitchen before leaning down to kiss the top of her oldest child¡¯s head, ¡°Please take her to bed.  We can catch-up when you¡¯re both rested.¡±

    Furion blinked hard a few times to wake up a little, but eventually nodded, and carefully moved to peel himself from Ren¡¯s slumbering form.  With care, he got up, scooped her into his arms, and walked her around the large couch and coffee-table.  He paused beside his mother before heading down that side-hall though, and bent his head down to touch his brow to hers, ¡°Thanks, mom.¡±

    ¡°Are you married yet?¡±

    He snorted a quiet laugh, ¡°I¡¯m still Captain.¡±

    ¡°She transferred out though, didn¡¯t she?  That means she¡¯s fair-game.¡±

    ¡°That was a temporary formality.  She¡¯s back with us again.  I¡¯ll explain later.¡±

    She made a face at him, but then turned to look at the sleepy Wing Commander passed-out against his shoulder.  She reached over to brush a few strands of hair from her face, and smiled, ¡°Well, I guess it¡¯s just as well.  I¡¯d have been quite upset if you did it without us.¡±

    ¡°Lord Rylen knows.¡± Furion noted, and glanced back at his father as well, who was making his way to the kitchen to cook-up round 2, ¡°And apparently, he has for quite some time.  I don¡¯t think we have to hide being ¡®us¡¯ anymore.¡±

    ¡°Well, don¡¯t get too bold.  You still have a team to lead, and so does she.  Now¡­go on and rest easy.  We¡¯ll chat later.  It¡¯s good to have you both home.¡±

 Book I â€“ Chapter 25 â€“ Voices From A Forgotten Past Are Like Faces In The Mist

    He supposed it wasn¡¯t that much of a surprise that Ren didn¡¯t come back the day after the mission, but after four days, it really stung.  Gabriel tempted the idea of reaching out to her, and had a finger on the ¡®contact¡¯ button on his overlay, but he hesitated, If she wanted to talk to me, she would¡¯ve done so already.  With a sigh, he swiped the whole HUD away and cleared his sights. He tried to manifest his uniform-jacket before leaving his hotel room, but got an error message for it, and he rolled his eyes, He¡¯s really gone that far to make me stay away from work.

    With that unfortunate turn of events, Gabriel grabbed some ultra-normal clothing and departed, looking like a civilian.  One foot outside the building and he realized¡­he had no idea what he was doing, or what to do, ¡°¡­I hate being on leave.¡±

    ¡°¡­Lugios?¡±

    The sound of his own name in that voice sent a shiver down his spine, and Gabriel turned his eyes towards it with trepidation.  It was like a sight out of another life; that bald head, that purple cloak, and those dark little eyes that looked friendly at first glance, but hid a dubious ¡®seen too much and done much worse¡¯ glint just below the surface.

    ¡°It really is you.  What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°¡­J¡¯ard¡­¡± He said simply, ¡°I¡¯d ask you the same thing, but I think I already know.¡±

    ¡°¡­You¡¯ve gotten so much taller since I last saw you.¡± The older man commented, and lifted a duffel-bag a bit higher onto his shoulder as he abandoned his intent to go inside and came the mediator¡¯s way instead, ¡°It¡¯s different seeing that in person than on the broadcasts about you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­been a really long time.¡± Gabriel answered, looking a bit nervous, ¡°I think I was 13 when last I saw you.  Where¡¯ve you been all this time?¡±

    The kindly-looking older man pointed back towards the doors, ¡°You busy?  That¡¯s a long story.  I¡¯d like to put my things away before getting into it.¡±

    Gabriel just looked at himself, extending his coat out where he had his hands in his pockets, ¡°Busy?  Nope.¡±

    ¡°Would you mind waiting in the lobby then?  I¡¯ll finish up real quick and come back down.¡±

    ¡°Sure¡­¡±

    If there was anything to be grateful for that people tended to avoid him, it was that he could sit in a public place and no one would bother him.  Xanarken¡¯s assessment that it¡¯s because he was ¡®a mere man acting like an Eidolon¡¯ seemed so far off-base, it made him scoff into his latt¨¦.  He managed to drain the entire thing at that coffee bar before J¡¯ard finally got back to him, and by then, he was ready to dip.  J¡¯ard had other ideas though, and ordered-up his own drink, forcing him to stick around.

    ¡°So, how¡¯ve you been?  I mean, I know what you¡¯ve been doing for the most part, but¡­it doesn¡¯t seem like your reputation has improved.¡± The older man teased.

    ¡°I¡¯ve sabotaged five different trainees and actually managed to piss off the last one, so¡­the same?¡± He answered grimly, and idly played with the empty ceramic cup in front of him, ¡°I thought we were going to talk about you though.¡±

    ¡°Hmph¡­  The more things change, the more they stay the same.¡± J¡¯ard shook his head, and thanked for barista for his efforts when his own drink was set before him, ¡°I taught you how to keep your affliction suppressed, but it seems I was never able to impart upon you any manners.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m not in the best mood.¡±

    ¡°I can tell.¡±

    Gabriel stared daggers at him past a shoulder, ¡°I¡¯m not on the clock.  I¡¯m not obliged to pretend right now.¡±

    ¡°I suppose that¡¯s fair.¡± J¡¯ard took a sip from that frothy drink, and savored its flavor for a moment, then set the cup down into the matching saucer, ¡°I¡¯ve been out and about in the world, working on Lord Rylen¡¯s behalf to root-out Limitless trouble, and pass along any credible information that your least-favorite band of flying nukes might have to monitor.¡± He started, and glanced back over at the blonde, ¡°My most recent big assignment was actually rather troublesome.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡±

    ¡°Mh.  A man by the name of Tobias Greenwich.¡± J¡¯ard began, thumbing the curve of the finger-loop, ¡°Gave Lord Rylen a lot of trouble, actually.  The man started as nothing more than a two-bit petty thief, using his affliction to steal jewelry.  He¡¯d disappeared off the radar for some time, and many thought he¡¯d simply moved on or cleaned-up his life¡­but then these much-bigger heists started happening, and no one could figure out what was going on.  Witness testimony didn¡¯t match what was captured on security feeds; people were seeing things that simply didn¡¯t exist, or couldn¡¯t see what actually was.  But¡­if there¡¯s anything commonly true about people who commit theft, even if the hauls are large, it¡¯s that most people involved are not terribly smart or loyal to one another.  Apprehended suspects all started saying the same name.  Eventually-¡°

    ¡°¡­The Fafnir were called in.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you know the story?¡±

    Gabriel grumbled slightly, ¡°I¡¯m sadly an extenuating circumstance of it.  The partner I pissed off was actually a lost Fafnir who became an unwitting victim of that Limitless effect.  It was potent enough to mess her up pretty bad.  For four months, in all.  But¡­now that he¡¯s gone, the charm¡¯s worn off, and she¡¯s all hunky-dory again.¡±

    J¡¯ard was a little surprised, ¡°¡­You sound oddly upset about that¡­?¡±

    The mediator just crossed his arms and leaned into them on the bar-top, ¡°Xanarken sent me with her on a sensitive mission earlier in the week.  Fafnir strategy and mine don¡¯t compliment each other.  To say I screwed it up would be an understatement¡­and she hasn¡¯t talked to me since.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯m told that I¡¯ll be going with the Aegis on yet another mission next week, so I can pirouette into yet another disaster of my own making, at all of their expense this time rather than just hers.¡±

    J¡¯ard coughed into his coffee, and gaped at him, ¡°You¡¯re going with the Aegis?¡±

    ¡°Per the orders of my Lord and God, Xanarken Tellan.¡± Gabriel answered dryly, and waved his right hand around, ¡°They only want me around for my affliction, of all things.  A crew whose whole purpose is eliminating people like me, is now asking me for a favor¡­  Or at least, their Captain is, since I touched something of his that he didn¡¯t appreciate.¡±

    ¡°When I saw that SkyFortress docked beside the palace, I was certain its presence was why I had been called in.  I didn¡¯t think there was a chance in Hell you¡¯d be caught dead around it.  ¡­But you¡¯re actually working with them.  With the Fafnir.¡± The older man summarized, baffled at his own words, ¡°¡­I have so many questions.  I don¡¯t even know where to start.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s there to really say?¡± Gabriel grumbled, and pushed up onto his elbows, staring at the residue at the bottom of his empty cup, ¡°My latest partner was only put with me because they expected it to be a short stay¡­either because the mud would fall off her eyes with the termination of that Tobias guy, or because I¡¯d drive her away like I did with everyone else.  She knows the truth now¡­but at this point, it¡¯s becoming a messy custody battle over who gets to use her at any given time.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡±

    ¡°She claims that, while she wants to go back at some point, she also wants to finish-out the program with me, so we both asked Xanarken to stall her transfer.  But, that was before I sabotaged her mission¡­now I wonder if she can even stand to look at me.¡± He continued, looking rather despondent about it.

    J¡¯ard looked the man up and down, ¡°Wait¡­go back.  She wants to finish the program¡­?  With you, specifically?¡±

    ¡°Damn, don¡¯t make it sound like such a bad idea.  I already feel terrible about it all.¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    ¡°Gabriel, listen to the words that have been coming out of your stupid, stupid face-hole for the last two minutes.  You got partnered with a Fafnir Knight, somehow became friendly enough with her to not drive her away ¨C such that ¡®we,¡¯ as in, ¡®you and her,¡¯ not the Royal ¡®we¡¯ ¨C actually asked Lord Xanarken to stop her from being sent back home early.  Don¡¯t you know what that means?¡±

    Gabriel gawked at him stiffly, ¡°I know exactly what that means!  Why do you think I¡¯m so damn cranky about her being mad at me!?¡±

    J¡¯ard waved his hands down for the mediator to lower his voice, looking around at the people who¡¯d turned in their direction, ¡°You need to figure out how to fix this, kid.  She¡¯s your only friend in the world and you¡¯ve stuck your foot in it.¡±

    ¡°Ugghhh¡­¡± He groaned, and slid his hands through his hair until he cupped his whole head between his palms, ¡°I don¡¯t even know what to say to her right now¡­  I thought about calling, but I haven¡¯t seen her in going-on four days.  Then I thought about asking Seth, but¡­well, he¡¯s the thing of Captain Rydell¡¯s that I touched, and I don¡¯t want to make that worse either.¡±

    ¡°What could you possibly need with Setharion Rydell¡­?¡±

    ¡°I had the audacity to suggest he become friends with Prince Iresha, since they¡¯re going to be at the College at Agartha together soon.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s 17 years old.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I know.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s a cadet.  You had no business asking him to do anything.¡±

    ¡°It was a trade.  He¡¯d do this ¨C for the sake of the entire Council ¨C and I¡¯d continue being his little Limitless specimen.  I¡¯d say he got off with the better deal.  Asking him to be friendly with another kid his age is hardly the end-of-days story you¡¯re making it seem to be.¡±

    J¡¯ard rubbed his head with a sigh, ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know that I would¡¯ve been called in if your ideas hadn¡¯t gotten you into trouble somehow.  It¡¯s been a while since I was asked to mentor a Limitless youth.  You must¡¯ve really stepped in it to get called-off the Prince Iresha case.¡±

    ¡°¡­I guess that means you¡¯re going with him to Agartha, too?¡±

    ¡°Indeed.  Per Captain Rydell¡¯s request.¡±

    Gabriel looked on despairingly, ¡°¡­Captain Rydell sure is flexing on me hard right now.¡±

    ¡°I think this is less of a flex than an alternative to putting the pressures of state-craft onto the shoulders of a teenager.  Setharion can still be the Prince¡¯s friend; it just won¡¯t be up to him to bridge the space between the Council and Sargon.¡± J¡¯ard redirected, and reached over to give a few light pats to the mediator¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°And here I was led to believe Xanarken agreed with me.¡±

    ¡°He did.  But only about the part about letting them be friends, per what I was told at my briefing.  Lord Xanarken plays the long-game; what appears to be a slight now may end up working out the same way in the end.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m supposed to be his right hand.  If that was the case, I¡¯d have thought he would tell me that himself.¡± Gabriel said quietly, and slipped off his bar-stool to begin his retreat, ¡°It was¡­an experience, seeing you again, J¡¯ard.  Good luck with Iresha.  He can be testy.¡±

    .

    Six days later¡­

    Furion stepped out of the garage with his full armor back on, helmet in his hands.  When he came out into the broad light of day, he spotted Ren floating a few feet off the ground with Suzu in her arms, flitting around as the little girl screamed with excitement.

    ¡°Higher!¡± The child demanded, only for Ren to laugh and flatly refuse.

    ¡°Your mama and papa would kill me dead if I did,¡± She explained, but then flipped-over mid-hover, and pulled the girl backwards to her chest.  Those little arms and legs extended far, and Ren let her at least feel like she was flying on her own, even if it was only a few inches higher off the ground than she was tall.

    Lequerion looked aside from his seat on the patio, spotting the shadow of his son coming towards them, ¡°Time went by so fast.  It¡¯s hard to believe your leave is already over.¡±

    Furion nodded, ¡°I¡¯m more surprised that neither of us got called back early.  Or called at all.  We actually got to enjoy our time out here for a change.¡±  He turned out towards Ren and his much-younger sister, ¡°Suzu is like a whole other kid every time we get to see her.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be strangers.  I know what your leave schedule looks like,¡± Lequerion teased, but stood up and followed his wife down those few steps to the driveway.  They all watched a moment longer as Ren played with the youngest Rydell, hovering on her back then, with those big red wings ¡®flapping¡¯ like she was doing a backstroke.  Suzu sat on her midsection, giggling up a storm.  Lequerion huffed a quiet laugh and shook his head, ¡°We¡¯re all going to miss you two terribly.  Ren!  Bring it in.¡±

    She perked her head up, and she held the little girl¡¯s waist a bit more securely for it.  When she saw the gesture to come closer, she quickly righted her posture and carried Suzu over her feet firmly on the ground.  Once there though, she hugged her one more time before setting her down, ¡°Time to go bye, Suzu.¡±

    ¡°Aww bye!?¡± She echoed, ¡°But I¡¯ll miss you!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll miss you, too.¡± Ren answered, and crouched down to nose the girl¡¯s forehead, ¡°You be good, okay?¡±

    Furion was the one to go down on a knee next, and the girl rushed to hug him, too.  When all their goodbyes were said and done though, the pair of Fafnir put their helms back into place, and took off into those clear skies.  The double sonic-boom cracked like thunder overhead¡­and they were gone.

    Wings were tucked close to their bodies and streamlined, with those domes of nanotech ahead of them creating a kind of slipstream to make flight easier.  Ren glanced up and over at her partner, ¡°This was a really great idea, seeing your family.  I think I needed it more than recovery-leave.¡±

    ¡°And you got what you wanted from it, hopefully?¡±

    ¡°That awaits to be seen.¡± She answered, ¡°Once we get back to the Aegis, I want to start looking at my archived footage.  I never thought I¡¯d find someone tougher to beat than you, but¡­that guy really got me.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t let it get you down.  You were fighting against him and a sophisticated A.I. system.  It was practically two against one.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not down.  Not anymore.¡± Ren countered, and shook her head, looking forward resolutely, ¡°My arm is ten times what it was when we got here.  If that contributed at all to my not being able to cut through that mech¡¯s shell, I won¡¯t let it happen again.  The next time I see him¡­I¡¯ll win.¡±

    Some few hours later, Trazad came into sight, and the Aegis with it over that alcove of a cliffside lake.  It was no surprise to see a number of the ship¡¯s crew already starting to filter back aboard¡­but seeing a pair of Eidolon waiting for them in the docking-bay certainly was.  They touched-down gingerly and pulled their helms off, and looked on curiously.

    ¡°Welcome back.  Sorry to ambush you like this.¡± Rylen began, ¡°You¡¯ve both had your nanotech off since you left, and we didn¡¯t want to interrupt.  But¡­this can¡¯t wait until you¡¯re both officially on duty again.¡±

    ¡°Sir?¡± Furion said warily.

    ¡°Regarding the mission Dame Ren was on prior to your departure.¡± Xanarken chimed in, and looked to the woman, ¡°Have you spoken to anyone about what you saw?¡±

    ¡°Only the Captain, sir.¡± She answered, ¡°And only because Lord Rylen gave consent for him to debrief me.  Has something happened?¡±

    ¡°No, not as yet.¡± The Eidolon shook his head, ¡°But this is your formal notice that the topic is strictly off-limits from here on out.  Captain?  A moment.¡±

    The two Knights exchanged glances, but Furion nodded and followed the Fourth, ¡°Yessir.¡±

    Rylen distracted Ren by following her over to her docking-pod and inquired after her arm, but once they were out of ear-shot, Xanarken got right to the point, and spoke quietly, ¡°What exactly did she tell you?  About the end of the encounter.¡±

    ¡°Sir?¡±

    ¡°After the Magistrate left.  What else was there?¡±

    ¡°She didn¡¯t say there was anything else, sir.¡±

    Xanarken stared closely for a moment, ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡±

    ¡°Other than digging Sir Gabriel out of the rubble, yessir.  Her pressing concern was the fact that the Magistrate outclassed her because she was¡­for lack of better terms, handicapped by the need to protect an asset.¡±

    The Fourth nodded, ¡°I see.¡±  He thought for a few seconds, but then lifted his head again, ¡°That¡¯s all very good then.  In unrelated news, I took care of that issue you brought to me before.  Rylen and I worked together on that case, and your brother has been relieved of the pressures that Gabriel had previously put him under.  In his place, Rylen has brought in J¡¯ard Qiste.  Seth is free to remain friends with the boy if he wants to, but he isn¡¯t under any obligation to do so if he chooses not to.  He can embark on the Aegis¡¯ next voyage unburdened by the belief that he¡¯s neglecting any of his duties.¡±

    Furion felt the relief pour through him like hot water, and he bowed his head gratefully, ¡°Thank you, Lord Xanarken.¡±

    The Eidolon nodded and stepped away again, swapping places with his cohort of the First and Sixth.  He stepped closer to Ren¡¯s pod just as she closed the door on the front of it and set it to its wash and sanitize maintenance cycle, ¡°Dame.  A moment of your time as well, if you would.¡±

    ¡°Yessir?¡±

    Those purple eyes drifted to make sure Rylen was speaking to his Captain before he said anything himself.  He spoke quietly, ¡°Did you tell anyone about Prince Aamin or the man who appeared after he and Magistrate Laurier escaped?¡±

    She swallowed a nervous breath, ¡°¡­No sir.¡±

    ¡°Are you certain?  You said the Captain had been given permission to debrief you.¡±

    ¡°He did.  About my mission.¡± She answered, ¡°And my mission decidedly left-out the names of whoever else you believe to have been there.  The Magistrate was my only target.  If you yourself wish to hear about anything else I witnessed, I will tell you and you alone, but as far as I¡¯m concerned, I saw and heard nothing else.  That was Sir Gabriel¡¯s directive.¡±

    ¡°He ordered you to stay quiet about it?¡±

    ¡°Yessir, and since he outranks my Captain, I wasn¡¯t obliged to disclose anything, even in the debrief.¡±

    ¡°Good.  And for what it¡¯s worth, I¡¯m sorry for crippling your effectiveness.  I thought Gabe would be more¡­careful, than he turned out to be.¡±

    Ren¡¯s brow furrowed, ¡°¡­He had his own mission to carry-out.  The fact that they both escaped was my fault.¡±

    Xanarken had no rebuttal to that, and the lack of a parry left Ren feeling like she had a hot coal in her stomach.  Still, the Eidolon had a little more to say, ¡°Rylen has requested that you accompany the Aegis on its next mission.  Since I have nothing more pressing for you to do, I¡¯ve agreed.  You¡¯ll be attending to Seth while he investigates the next target.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yessir.¡±

    ¡°Gabriel will also be there.¡± He continued, which made Ren¡¯s eye twitch slightly, ¡°To act as the advanced warning in case things are about to go south.¡±

    ¡°¡­Is there another void rift?  Is that what the Aegis is after down there?¡±

    ¡°Not exactly.  I¡¯ll have more details to present when this ship sets sail.  I expect you¡¯ll both be in attendance at the brief I give to the Fafnir.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re coming, too?¡± She was surprised at that, ¡°Sir?¡±

    ¡°I am.  I¡¯m always there when the wreckage of an intact colony ship is unearthed.¡±

 Book I â€“ Chapter 26 â€“ To Know The Truth Comes With A Heavy Price

    The pair of Eidolon finally took their leave ¨C satisfied with what each of them had laid the ambush for ¨C and the two Knights who¡¯d been left behind could only wait in quiet confusion at the whole thing.  Once Furion had put his armor into the docking-pod though, Ren could only ask one thing.

    ¡°That was weird, right?¡±

    ¡°Super weird.¡± He agreed easily, and reached his right hand out for hers.

    Her head was still swimming from the interaction, but she took the offer ¨C left hand much more sure of itself now - and followed into the elevator.  Just as the door closed, and she leaned against the back wall, she sucked in a breath and loaded her overlay, ¡°¡­Have you checked your messages yet?¡±

    ¡°I did when we came out of hypersonic.  Seth¡¯s already here.  I told him to meet us down at your room.¡±

    ¡°My room?¡±

    He gave a bit of a coy look, ¡°If Lord Rylen isn¡¯t bothered by us being together, then why make you stay there?  Just move up to the Captain¡¯s cabin and stay with me.  It¡¯ll be your room one day anyway, right?¡±

    Ren balked a little, ¡°¡­Seth¡­doesn¡¯t know about us though.  This¡¯ll be a shock to the system.¡±

    ¡°You really think he doesn¡¯t?¡±

    The elevator doors opened again a few floors lower into the ship, and the duo stepped out.  Ren clasped her thumb a little firmer around his, ¡°According to Gabe, anyway.  He was making inquiries apparently.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s nosey.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s a mediator.  Information is his currency.¡± She defended, ¡°Figuring out who people are to each other is base-level politicking.  I went from scorning you to spending all my time with you.  I¡¯m sure the whiplash was confusing.¡±

    The handful of people who¡¯d returned early, and were walking the halls of the upper barracks, turned in surprise to see that pair going by hand-in-hand.  None dared say a word about it though; some even heaved with relief that they were finally out with it.  The look they got from Seth, however, when he spotted them from where he¡¯d been camping at Ren¡¯s door for the last 30 minutes, was¡­something.

    ¡°What.  What is this.¡± He gestured at them.

    Ren waved, ¡°Hey.  This is my boyfriend.  You might know him.¡±

    ¡°Furion!¡± He puffed, ¡°How long!?¡±

    ¡°Eight years.¡±

    ¡°Eight years.¡± Seth loudly echoed, only to quickly pull his hands over his mouth and look around in embarrassed worry.  His face was red, but he quickly stomped up to them with a finger pointed at his brother¡¯s nose, and whispered adamantly, ¡°Eight years!  You¡¯ve hidden this from me for eight years.¡±

    ¡°Well, not just you, but¡­yeah.¡±

    ¡°To be fair, we did go to great lengths to hide it¡­from everyone.¡± Ren added, but since Seth was the same height as her, he could get his own face directly into hers.

    ¡°But it¡¯s me!¡± He whined, and grabbed her shoulders to shake her back and forth, ¡°Why!?  Now I just feel dumb and blind!  I already have a complex about not being able to see what¡¯s right in front of me, because I¡¯m not afflicted!  But you did this to me on purpose!  At least when Mr. Gabriel told me he could see more than I could, it was a surprise to both of us!¡±

    Ren let go of her partner¡¯s hand and reached both arms over the perturbed teen¡¯s shoulders, ¡°The only people we ever told were your parents.  The only ones who figured it out were Ravan and Corbin.  Most of the rest of the team suspected but didn¡¯t ask.¡±

    ¡°But why are you out about it now?  What changed¡­?¡± Seth asked; he was clearly upset about the deception.

    ¡°We found out Lord Rylen knew.¡± She explained, ¡°And he insinuated he wouldn¡¯t do anything about it as long as we continued being effective.  So¡­there¡¯s no point hiding it anymore.¡±

    ¡°Is that why my brother asked me to meet you guys here?¡±

    ¡°Not entirely,¡± Furion teased, and stepped off to open the door, ¡°We need more arms to carry her stuff.¡±

    Seth balked at him, but when he looked back at Ren, she just had a sneaky smile on her face.  He threw both arms up then, ¡°Lies and deceptions!  And now abuse!  I¡¯m being abused.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not being abused.¡± She huffed, and turned the teen around by his shoulders to nudge him inside, ¡°Big ol¡¯ drama baby¡­¡±

    .

    The Aegis loomed heavily overhead, even in spite of only the upper half of it being visible from the connecting bridges.  Gabriel stared at it dubiously, but then looked around to see how many people might be watching him board; he might¡¯ve had his braided hair tucked to the inside of the long-coat he had on, but he couldn¡¯t hide his bangs with anything more than a popped collar, and he knew he¡¯d stick out like a sore thumb.  He swallowed what little pride he had left and went through those open doors

    His overlay made it easy to find his way to the meager quarters that had been assigned to him, but when he found it, it was¡­significantly less than he was expecting.  The door slid open, and he beheld before him the smallest single-person room that the ship had; it was barely a bed, a desk, and a side-door that he prayed was a bathroom to himself.  It wasn¡¯t.  It was a shallow closet.  He slouched in the doorway and collapsed to his knees, ¡°I¡¯m being punished.  This is punishment.  This isn¡¯t even a Knight¡¯s room¡­it¡¯s just a crewman¡¯s.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Gaaaabrieeeelllll!¡±

    That voice was like a siren¡¯s call, and he lurched backwards to see down the hall, ¡°Seth?¡±

    The teen came rushing as quickly as he could, but slowed down as he got nearer, ¡°What are you doing down here?  This isn¡¯t even where your room was last time.¡±

    ¡°How did you even know to find me here then?¡±

    ¡°I set alert on the ship¡¯s manifest to tell me when you got here.  When it popped, it also told me your room assignment.  I¡­came to make sure you got here okay.¡±

    The mediator just blinked at him a few times, then grumbled to himself and pushed back up to his feet.  He dusted himself off and threw his carry-bag onto the cot-like bed within, ¡°Well, I¡¯ve arrived.¡±

    Seth¡¯s brow furrowed, and he stepped around to look past the man and into the walk-in-closet-sized space, ¡°¡­I can¡¯t let you stay here.¡±

    ¡°Sure you can.  This is what¡¯s been given to me.¡±

    ¡°No, I mean¡­  You¡¯re the second-highest ranking person in the Fourth Wing.  This has to be an oversight.  Um¡­¡± He considered what to do, but then shook his head, ¡°Just grab your bag and come with me.¡±

    ¡°Heh?¡± Gabriel stared, perplexed, but the teen nudged his head towards the elevators, and he huffed a sigh and grabbed his bag again.  The elevator took them up four stories, and Gabriel looked down at the teen skeptically, ¡°You know, I could¡¯ve sworn no one was going to be interested to see me.  I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re here at all, considering.¡±

    ¡°Considering what?¡± Those eyes looked on quizzically, ¡°Is something wrong?¡±

    Gabriel had no idea how to answer to that, so he feigned, ¡°¡­No.  You¡¯re probably right.  Just an oversight.¡±

    ¡°My brother always gives me one of the unused officer¡¯s quarters when I¡¯m on board.  You can stay with me until we can get you a room more appropriate for your station.¡± Seth explained, and led the way down a wider corridor than the one he¡¯d found Gabriel in.  The door in was at the end, and when the door opened to reveal the interior, Seth presented it with a gesture, ¡°Home away from home.¡±The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Gabriel stuck his head in to get a first impression, ¡°It¡¯s near as big as Ren¡¯s room.  It¡¯s a whole small apartment.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, Fafnir Knights are higher-up on the totem pole, so they get nicer digs.  Command on the Aegis is a bit different from other SkyFortresses.  Just like how you¡¯re ranked higher than a Captain in a unique Negotiator slot of the Fourth, the Fafnir are ranked higher than the regular officers, but below Captain.¡± Seth explained, and gestured the mediator to come in so he could close the door, ¡°The Fafnir are on the floor above us, and my brother¡¯s up above that, next door to his office.  There are roughly 250 officers aboard, and another 3,800 crew for everything the ship needs to do.  The Aegis is the Council¡¯s most combat-oriented vessel; it has the most guns of any ship, and of course, the Fafnir, and all need a lot of support.¡± He explained as Gabriel wandered around the space to explore, ¡°We¡¯ll be joined by the First Wing research vessels Fibonacci and Lucas.¡±

    That got Gabriel¡¯s attention, ¡°Those are Inquisition ships¡­Fibonacci specifically is a Myrmidon vessel.  Their whole order is made-up of afflicted.  Why did Xanarken need to send me when you¡¯re going to have access to all of them?¡±

    Seth shrugged, ¡°Probably because they can¡¯t take off their helmets, so no one can see if their eyes are lighting up.  The First does a lot of really dangerous work, and - especially since the development of the SD helmets - have become rather unpopular in certain circles.  Lord Rylen protects them by making sure no one knows who they are.  But, they¡¯re the ones who developed ¨C and continue to make improvements to ¨C our SkyFortress fleet, so they¡¯re coming with us on this mission.  The Myrmidon Corps is here because of-¡°

    ¡°¡­The warp core.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you know about it already?¡±

    ¡°Xanarken mentioned it briefly, the last time I talked to him¡­two weeks ago.¡± He mumbled, ¡°Anyway, thanks for the assist.  Where should I set-up camp?¡±

    .

    Ren¡¯s legs trembled slightly; pulses of intense sensation coursed through her.  Her knees came up and pinched together slightly as she tried to hold herself up, balled-up hands pressed to the front of the chest below her.  Sweat beaded on her hazel skin, but she managed a laugh anyway; larger hands slid up and down her thighs, and she lowered down until she could slump down into the blankets.  Not wanting to deny her partner though, she turned onto her side and pressed her back to his front, and relaxed into his movements until he, too, felt the same intensity.

    She felt the man¡¯s face press into her hair, and she reached one hand up to caress his cheek and ear, ¡°It¡¯s different¡­now that we know neither of us has to leave after¡­¡± She said between breaths.

    Furion drank in her scent for a moment longer, but then he wedged an arm under her waist ¨C and the other over it ¨C to pull her into a hug, ¡°Definitely¡­¡±

    ¡°And you¡¯re okay with me being up here now?¡± She wondered, turning to look back over a shoulder at him as he nestled his chin into the crook of her neck, ¡°Like¡­full-time?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, absolutely.¡± Furion answered easily, ¡°It¡¯s a big change, but I welcome it.¡±  He drew in another breath, exhaled, and pushed up onto his elbow in an effort to sit up.  Forearms perched on his upturned knees, and he glanced down at the woman still in the sheets.  With breath caught, he was able to speak more normally again, ¡°Lord Rylen told me you were going to be coming with us on the mission.  It¡¯ll be good to have you back with us like before.  Your team will be relieved to see you at your post.¡±

    Ren rolled onto her back, and lifted her arms up above her head.  One knee lifted under the blankets, and she rocked it slowly back and forth, ¡°¡­Kind of feels like I¡¯m not going back to the Fourth at all.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because the Fourth is coming with us.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­that¡¯s what Lord Xanarken said.¡± She affirmed, ¡°Do you already know the details of what¡¯s going to happen?  What we¡¯re going for?  I was told it was an intact colony ship.¡±

    Furion nodded.

    With hands on a podium, in a briefing room large enough for all of the Fafnir, some of the higher-level officers of the Aegis¡¯ crew, Inquisitors, Myrmidon, a Knight-cadet of the First, two Eidolon, and one uncomfortable mediator, Furion looked out at the crowd.  Multiple rows of theater-style seats went to the back wall, and nearly every one of them had a butt in them.  The room dimmed, and Furion looked back at a digital display above the stage he stood on.

    ¡°Th Aegis ¨C accompanying First Wing vessels Fibonacci and Lucas ¨C are on our way south, headed past the equator and into the lower hemisphere.  It¡¯s a voyage that will take us until tomorrow afternoon, but we¡¯re going¡­here.¡± He pointed at a cross-hair on a 3D projection of Hadira; the entire globe rotated and zoomed in on the location, ¡°About five weeks ago, a satellite scanning the area located a colony-class vessel wedged at the bottom of a canyon.  Against all odds, from what we¡¯ve been able to gather of it since, the ship is more-or-less in one piece.  There¡¯s one engine that was shorn-off the side and is lodged in a crevasse about a klick east.  We¡¯re not interested in it though.  As many of you may know, each SkyFortress in the Council¡¯s fleet is equipped with the warp core of one of these colony-class ships.  It augments our weapons, enhances our shields, and gives a boost to the engines that enable us to keep these things in the air.¡±

    The map shifted to show a schematic-level view of the colony ship, and zoomed-in on the center-rear, where a large chamber was located, containing a sphere.

    ¡°Getting this core means someone¡¯s getting a new ship.  But not just that; it brings one more core into the possession of the Council, rather than any nefarious parties which may use it against us.  Given that the fleet was in the care of the Eidolon before the events that brought the colony-fleet to Hadira, and had thus been entrusted with that care to endure even after, it makes logical sense that these warp cores rightfully belong to the Luminary Council that they founded.  But there¡¯s one particular detail about these cores that isn¡¯t widely known, and may not even be known by Sargon or Kitez, who are in possession of three altogether that we know of.¡±

    The imagery zoomed in on the core again, but instead of showing a schematic, it showed¡­a photo.

    ¡°This is the secret of the warp cores.  They weren¡¯t entirely mechanical designs.  They were chambers¡­for the Warp Magi whose job it was to channel to Limitless energy of the Progenitor Warp Talent known as Caeros.¡±

    Ren¡¯s eyes turned towards her Eidolon.

    ¡®Caeros¡¯ full name is Caeros Vor¡¯antiss¡­he was Lord Rylen¡¯s son.¡¯  The words echoed in her head.

    ¡°It¡¯s been 78 years since we found one of these cores, so none in this room save the Eidolon know what that moment was like.¡± Furion continued, displaying the individual faces of the three afflicted pioneers who¡¯d been tasked with sitting inside that spherical capsule, ¡°That ship is going to be littered with the victims of that accident.  These three, however, are of utmost importance.  From the reports created in the chaos of the fleet¡¯s crash-landing, void gates opened inside each of these cores, as well as outside and all around those ships.  As such¡­while the Fafnir were originally going to be there to provide extra muscle in the recovery effort, we are now also going to be providing security to the Inquisitors.  The report we got from Knight-Cadet Setharion Rydell ¨C from his mission into Kitez ¨C has given us all reason to reconsider the safety of being around these cores.  To that end, we also have afflicted mediator Gabriel Lugios here to act as a warning system; if things flare-up, so will his eyes, and we¡¯ll back off.  Moving on¡­¡±

    Gabriel snorted quietly to himself and slouched a little further in his seat, far off to the right side of the front row ¨C and finally back in his reds, Yeah, an oversight indeed¡­

    ¡°Now, we have no reason to believe that any of these void gates are still open anywhere.  In every core that¡¯s been recovered so far, the hatches were opened and bodies recovered without incident.  But, there¡¯s no reason to not be especially cautious.¡± Furion went on, ¡°This particular vessel is one of the most intact we¡¯ve found that didn¡¯t reconnect with the main fleet after the crash.  We know it¡¯s dormant, and there¡¯s no evidence that any attempt at colonization took place, so we¡¯re expecting a rather large tomb.  I expect everyone on this mission to treat this site with the reverence and respect it deserves.  These people were our family.  They could¡¯ve been our ancestors, under better circumstances.  They didn¡¯t deserve what happened to them.  ¡­Questions?¡±

    Crickets.

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll turn it over to Lord Xanarken.¡± Furion finished, and stepped aside to wait in the wings.

    The Fourth Eidolon stepped up, ¡°The information I¡¯m about to give to you is for the ears in this room only.  ¡­We believe this warp core is active.¡±

    Concerned murmurs rose throughout that space.

    ¡°When Cadet Setharion was working on the feral void gate in Kitez, there was an incident preceding his departure that gave us pause.  The gate not-only reached out at him and those others nearby¡­it also swallowed-whole Fafnir Knight Issak ¡®Ianori¡¯ Noardin.  When it spat him back out, however¡­he was changed.  Something came back with him.  Immediately before the gate evaporated though, it sent a burst of energy directly into the sky that could be seen from miles around¡­and was spotted by our orbital satellites.¡± He explained, and showed a short clip of that happening from the satellite¡¯s perspective¡­but then created a split-screen where the same clip was shown a second time, alongside a similar circumstance where the colony ship could be seen lighting-up from the inside, at the exact same time.

    Seth grabbed-hold of Ren¡¯s right arm, and she pet his knee reassuringly.

    Rylen stepped up beside his brother then, since authority over the Aegis was his to wield, ¡°All Fafnir Knights will be on stand-by while the Inquisitor Corps attempts to open the core.  Wing Team One, led by Commander Ren Nibasai, will be protecting Gabriel Lugios.  Wing Team Two, led by Commander Donivan Parker, will be protecting the Inquisitors.  If all goes as it has, like so many times before, those three Warp Magi will be extracted from the core, the core will be secured and removed, the bodies of those innocents who perished will be collected for proper burial in the north, and the ship will be demolished.¡±

    Seth couldn¡¯t help but raise his hand.

    Rylen looked his way, ¡°Yes, Cadet?¡±

    ¡°Sir¡­  Were there any other locations on Hadira where the activity-phenomenon was noted?¡±

    ¡°We simply have no way of knowing.  Even now, we lack the instrumentation necessary to detect this kind of thing.  We only saw it in these cases because we were already monitoring the areas.  Our best and only source of advanced notice that anything is happening¡­is in the eyes of the afflicted.¡± Those orange irises case their gaze over towards Gabriel, and he tried to make himself look as small as possible, ¡°Since you were unfortunate enough to lose all of your data in your attempt to escape Kitez, this is the next-best possible way for you to gain some of it back.  To that end, I hope this means there¡¯s still a void scar inside that core¡­although in all likelihood, it vanished at the same time yours did.  If you have any insight about what to look for though, my Myrmidon are at your disposal.  I highly encourage collaboration.¡±

 Book I â€“ Chapter 27 â€“ Instinct Is A Wonderful Thingâ€¦Most Of The Timeâ€¦

    With the briefing over and the dismissal order given, the lights came back on.  Ren ¨C with her blues on - set a hand on the arm-rests of her seat and pushed up ¨C albeit slowly.  Seth realized quickly that she was struggling on the one side, but just as he was about to step in and help, Ren shooed him away.

    ¡°I can do it¡­I just need a second¡­¡± She insisted, even as her left shoulder and elbow trembled with every inch.

    Being in the front row, the only person ahead of her who was watching was her Captain.  When she finally made it up to her feet though, and she heard the cheering and applause from behind her, too, her face went red and she spun around.

    Ravan lunged at her from over the row, and threw her arms over her shoulders, dragging her back into a hug, ¡°That was amazing!  How¡¯d you manage to get so strong in such a short amount of time!?¡±

    Ren just smiled behind her pink cheeks, ¡°Th-thanks¡­¡±

    One by one, more Knights from her team started to make their way out from the second and third rows.  Michelle, Alexander, Gareth, and Xandra, all came around to formally reunite with their Wing Commander, each one insisting on their own hugs, having to pry Ravan off of the woman, even as she hissed like a cat to keep Ren to herself.

    Ren laughed and pet her friend¡¯s arm, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡±

    Ravan finally withdrew her arms, and clambered her way over the back of the seats to get in front.  Once everyone else had gotten their hugs though, she slithered around Ren¡¯s thin frame again and pet her head affectionately, ¡°You were gone for two weeks without a word.  I¡¯m of a mind to not believe you.  But it¡¯s okay.  I forgive you.  You¡¯re here now.  Shhh¡­you¡¯re here now.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re being so weird,¡± Ren shook her head and smiled.  As the room emptied though, she caught a fleeting glimpse of Gabriel leaving, and saw the red of the uniform-jacket sway out of sight beyond the doorframe.  That just made her heart sink, and she looked away with a guilty conscience, I really need to talk to him at some point¡­  I just¡­don¡¯t know how to start that conversation.

    ¡°It¡¯s so good to see everyone back together again.¡± Rylen¡¯s voice cut through the fog like high-beams, ¡°Wing Team One was looking rather depleted there for a bit.¡±

    The six split apart with haste and all saluted, ¡°Sir!¡±

    ¡°At ease, no more of that for now.¡± He waved his hand at them, and they all took a more casual stance, ¡°Still¡­it¡¯s one man shy of a full team.¡±

    That made everyone go a little quiet.

    Rylen turned slightly as he sensed Furion coming down from the stage, ¡°Captain, we should talk later about filling-out the last spot.¡±

    ¡°Yessir¡­¡±

    ¡°Until then.¡± The Eidolon started walking off, his mantle dissolving into its own footsteps until he was completely gone.

    Ren looked disappointed, ¡°I know the Eidolon think Ianori¡¯s dead, but¡­are we really going to base that on what Kitez told us at that border exchange?¡±  She looked up at her Captain, ¡°You and the others said you locked him in a cell.¡±

    ¡°¡­What we locked-up wasn¡¯t him.¡± Furion shook his head.

    ¡°But he could still be in there somewhere.¡±

    Seth deflated where he stood, eyes on the floor as he wrapped his arms around himself.

    ¡°I wish we knew one way or another.¡± He answered, and reached to find her right hand.  He kissed her knuckles through her glove, ¡°Maybe one day we¡¯ll know.  I have to get to the bridge now though.  Once we¡¯re on cruise control, I¡¯ll come find you.¡±

    ¡°Okay...¡±

    All five of the remaining Fafnir stood behind Ren with incredulous looks on their breathless faces, watching their Captain leave ¨C with his brother hot on his heels.  Ravan and Xandra clung to one another, each one caught in a gasp.  All eyes went to their Commander, and she just took a single step forward before she spun around on a heel to face them.

    ¡°What?¡± She asked sweetly.

    The amount of excited yelling that suddenly poured out of that room was enough to get everyone in the hall to look at it in surprise¡­including Gabriel and Xanarken, who had been waiting for Seth.  Once the Captain had said his farewells to his brother, the teen came quietly shuffling towards the two Fourth Wingers, who¡¯d been loitering like lost birds.

    ¡°What was that all about?¡± The mediator wondered.

    Seth looked back at the door, then back at the questioner, and shrugged, ¡°They¡¯re like that.¡±

    ¡°¡­What about you?¡± Gabriel asked skeptically, ¡°Why are you like that?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°You look like you just got bad news.  I was in the room as long as you were though.  It was just a brief.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­  I¡­was reminded about Mr. Ianori just now.¡± He answered, and lifted a hand to hold the opposite arm, ¡°Lord Rylen just told my brother that they should talk later about filling that empty slot.  If that¡¯s the case, then¡­he must¡¯ve concluded that Mr. Ianori wasn¡¯t going to be coming home, and there wasn¡¯t any hope of recovering him, regardless of the state he was in when we last saw him.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­¡±

    ¡°I was asking Furion if that meant he¡¯d have to send out the death notices.  ¡­I feel a lot of guilt for how that mission went.¡±

    ¡°What happened wasn¡¯t your fault.¡± Gabriel reassured.

    Xanarken bent down slightly to look at the teen, ¡°Surviving a terrible situation when someone else didn¡¯t can be as bad as any other feeling of guilt.¡±

    Those green eyes lifted, ¡°¡­So you think he¡¯s really gone, too?  Sir¡­¡±

    ¡°I think what we saw what pretty telling.  What arose in his place was¡­something else entirely.  A cosmic parasite?  Some kind of¡­para-dimensional, mind-altering corruption?  We can¡¯t know¡­¡±

    ¡°Scyrexian¡­¡±

    None of them were allowed to linger on the thought though, as the last gaggle of Fafnir Knights finally made their way out of the briefing room.  The epicenter of all the noise and laughter though was, not unexpectedly, their reinstated Wing Commander, whom they ferried out and towards a nearby elevator-bay.

    Gabriel lifted his head as they passed, and for the briefest of moments ¨C before the door opened and the celebratory pack pushed Ren through ¨C their eyes met.  He lifted his head, but then she was gone, and all he was left with was a feeling like he¡¯d just been dunked in ice-cold water.  He pushed off the wall he¡¯d been leaning against and started to leave down the other way.

    ¡°Gabe?  Where are you going all of a sudden?¡± Xanarken wondered, ¡°I thought you wanted to ask me something.¡±

    ¡°It can wait.¡± He answered with a dismissive wave, ¡°It¡¯s waited two weeks already.  What¡¯s a little while longer.  It¡¯s not like we¡¯re going anywhere.¡±

    .

    He couldn¡¯t stand to go back to Seth¡¯s room.  He had no where else on the Aegis to go to, though, except that walk-in-closet-sized room he¡¯d been assigned.  And so, there he languished, staring at the ceiling on a mattress barely worthy of the description, with a thousand things going through his head¡­and yet, nothing at all.

    Frustrations were starting to get unbearable though, and he threw his arms forward to hoist himself up to sit normally.  He turned and put his feet on the cold floor, fingers gripped to the scratchy blanket under him.  Eyes narrowed¡­and he made up his mind.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    The elevator beeped and opened on the bridge level, and Gabriel stepped out.  There were only two directions to go; left, towards the bridge itself, and right, towards the Captain¡¯s office, his quarters, and the private meeting room that Rylen had set aside for himself on all of his SkyFortresses.  He went to the right, heart pounding in his chest.  His feet took him to the entrance of that office, but his hands stayed at his sides.

    Seth¡¯s earlier words echoed in his head, and he had every reason to believe that the good Captain wasn¡¯t alone.  He drew in a long breath, and pulled up his HUD, Unethical and highly discouraged, but¡­  He found an app called [Listen In] and loaded it, Desperate men don¡¯t make smart choices.

    A ring of light briefly circled around his right ear, and he set his back against the inner wall of the deep door-frame.  True to his suspicion, there were voices speaking on the other side of the closed panel, and he recognized the second immediately.

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m aware of that,¡± Rylen countered, conversation already underway, ¡°But she had every tool at her disposal, and the Magistrate still got away without a scratch.¡±

    ¡°She could¡¯ve killed Lord Xanarken¡¯s second in command if she cut loose.¡± Furion defended, ¡°That has to count for something.¡±

    ¡°Oh, it does, but I saw the footage of her POV.  She ditched Gabriel halfway through the exhaust system.  She had plenty of time and opportunity to take out that Magistrate before Gabriel got close enough to be a hinderance.¡± Rylen countered, pacing back and forth across the head of the room.  He looked out onto the passing countryside, ¡°She hesitated.  Whether to get a word in, or to be recognized first¡­doesn¡¯t matter.¡±

    ¡°If you saw the same footage I did while debriefing her, then you know half the encounter was scrambled.¡± Furion replied with a sigh, ¡°We don¡¯t know what happened after Gabriel made himself known to them.  Ren said he had his Limitless engaged at that point.  Maybe it impacted her sensors when she got too close.  It would explain why everything worked normally again once he shut it off.¡±

    Gabriel¡¯s brow crinkled, The POV footage was corrupted¡­?  But my affliction hasn¡¯t bothered anyone¡¯s data so far¡­  Seth¡¯s practically catalogued me at this point; not one peep about my Limitless frying his processes.

    ¡°I think we can both take her reporting afterwards for what it was; she admitted she went on defense after she backed-up to his location.¡± Rylen shook his head, ¡°I had such high hopes¡­¡±

    ¡°Please, sir¡­don¡¯t take her out of consideration over this one mission.¡±

    ¡°This mission could cost us in Kitez, Captain, and she gave both Xanarken and I assurances that she would win.  If that Magistrate opens his mouth about the attempt¡­¡± Rylen had his left hand on his hip and the right over his mouth, ¡°¡­The upheaval it could cause in the Accord¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been two weeks though, and not a word.  I think they have reasons of their own to keep it under wraps.  I-¡±  Furion paused; the light on his door came on, implying someone was within knocking-distance of the metal.  He lifted his hand up in a ¡®hold on¡¯ gesture at his Eidolon, and nudged his head at the passageway.  Rylen took his meaning and buttoned-up, and Furion turned that same hand over to gesture at his visual overlay; it showed none-other than the mediator outside, waiting.  Furion¡¯s expression changed dramatically, ¡°I thank you for considering my words on Dame Ren¡¯s behalf.¡±

    The Eidolon nodded, ¡°We¡¯ll talk again tomorrow, after Xanarken and I swap over to the Cloud you¡¯re bringing across the equator.¡±

    ¡°Yessir.¡±

    Rylen¡¯s mantle dissolved to dust, and Furion was left alone in the room.  He looked up briefly, then took a stance with his hands clasped loosely behind his back, ¡°Open door.¡±

    The panel hissed across, startling the mediator and making the app send a jarring screech directly into his ear.  The feedback was enough to make him wince loudly, and he waved his hand across it to close it.  He shook his head and realized Furion was staring straight at him.

    ¡°You were listening.¡± The Captain said flatly, ¡°That was rude, and probably a crime.  Sir.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Gabriel answered dubiously, and slowly stepped into that large office, ¡°I was just waiting.  Figuring out how I wanted to set things straight with you.¡±

    Even without his Captain¡¯s regalia, Furion was already an intimidating figure.  At 6¡¯4¡± he was 4¡± taller than the mediator who¡¯d just stepped in front of him, and every bit the image of the elite warrior that the Fafnir Knights had cultivated for over two centuries.  Still, he was technically in a subordinate position compared to the Negotiator of the Fourth, and he kept his stance, ¡°Set things straight.¡± He echoed carefully.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been uniquely disrespectful,¡± Gabriel answered, staring back just as intensely, his bicolored red and blue eyes the complete opposite of Furion¡¯s teal green, ¡°Reporting my work to my Eidolon as though I was out of line with a simple request to Seth, then condemning me to a lodging space far below what my rank in the Council is entitled to.  I could accept the black-eye you¡¯d given me for asking a favor from your brother, but¡­to swing at the other when Xanarken had already addressed the matter ¨C personally ¨C is a slight I can¡¯t turn the other cheek to.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.  Sir.¡± The Captain answered, ¡°I don¡¯t personally assign living spaces to anyone aboard this vessel.  It¡¯s¡­a task far below my rank.¡± He lowered his face slightly, giving his expression a bit of a sinister undertone.

    ¡°You and I both know full and bloody well that no one on this ship other than you would even conceive to put an Eidolon¡¯s lieutenant into a room intended for the foremen of the lower decks.  I imagine you would¡¯ve thrown me directly into the communal bunks if you could have.  And, who knows?  Maybe you tried.¡± Gabriel accused, and took a judging step forward, finger pointed at the taller man, ¡°Why not just come clean about it?  Quit standing on ceremony.  You¡¯ve punished me plenty already.  At least be a man and tell it to my face.  I don¡¯t need any more misunderstandings if I¡¯m going to be asked to put my life on the line for Seth¡¯s experiments.¡±

    ¡°You want honesty?¡± The Captain asked daringly, and lifted his head back up.  It was him taking the step forward then, followed by another, until he was clearly closing the distance, ¡°The honest truth is I didn¡¯t have anything to do with your bunk options.  That was either Lord Rylen or Lord Xanarken¡­and after you so royally fucked up the first solo-mission Ren got after her return to the Fafnir¡­it¡¯s better than you supposedly deserved.¡±

    It was more than he expected, too; Gabriel was a bit surprised to hear the idea.

    Furion was close enough to make Gabriel take a step back, and his gaze was full of anger, ¡°Four¡­months.  Four months I had to endure knowing she was stuck with you.  After two, she should have come home, but Lord Xanarken thought she was having a good influence on you, and resisted Lord Rylen¡¯ attempts to transfer her back.¡± He was uncomfortably close then, and bent down to look into those bicolored eyes directly, ¡°And now she thinks she¡¯s having a good influence on you; views you like a broken toy that she can put back together.  I acquiesced to the will of the Eidolon, and kept my silence¡­I bent to the wishes of my Lieutenant, despite my reluctance to split her time.  But then¡­you had the audacity to put her at risk by insisting you go along with her on that mission into the Connington Fragment.  Your actions, your choices¡­have torn such an incredible rip through Ren¡¯s reputation that Lord Rylen is reconsidering whether she deserves to be considered for Captainship one day.  It¡¯ll take years for her to recover what you pissed into the wind.¡±

    Gabriel sneered, ¡°You don¡¯t know what the stakes of that mission were.¡± He growled quietly, knowing he was one step away from feeling the wall against his back, ¡°You don¡¯t have a damn clue what happened, either.¡±

    ¡°Enlighten me then, Gabriel Lugios.  Being ignorant doesn¡¯t make me a fool.¡±

    Something about the way Furion had spoken those last few words triggered a visceral reaction in Gabriel that he didn¡¯t know was possible.  He felt the stinging pain in the knuckles of his right hand before he realized he¡¯d even struck the man, followed by the subsequent jarring ricochet of pain through a wrist that hadn¡¯t hit anything in a decade.  He shook his forearm and hissed a breath, but then finally realized Furion¡¯s eyes were practically white from the surprise and anger.  Fists clenched and Gabriel lifted both hands up defensively, ¡°¡­I take enough shit from a population that treats my authority like a joke Xanarken keeps telling.  Saluting me to my face and then shitting in my footprints when I turn my back.  I¡¯m not taking shit from you too over a decision Xanarken made for me.¡±

    Furion had managed to right himself by then, but didn¡¯t dignify the strike with a soothing rub.  His jaw was going to hurt either way; weak throw or not, he¡¯d still gotten sucker-punched by a grown man.

    The mediator continued, not noticing the subtle golden glint flickering in his eyes, ¡°There¡¯s more to that mission than you know.  Stuff that ¨C I now realize - has been scrubbed from your archives¡­events I had to order Ren to never repeat or acknowledge, even to you¡­¡±

    ¡°Shut it down, Lugios.¡± Furion warned, seeing the sparks grow into those full tails of afflicted light.

    ¡°No.¡±

    The reaction was immediate and forceful.  In a blink, the horizontal plane was suddenly vertical.  The wall had rushed up behind and knocked the breath straight out of him.  So had the floor.  Having a knee on his neck hadn¡¯t helped, and that voice boomed again.

    ¡°SHUT IT DOWN.  NOW.¡±

    He could see the subtle warbling light reflecting off the Captain¡¯s eyes ¨C like a flickering candle-flame - and Gabriel realized.  His expression sunk ¨C he could feel his whole body go limp ¨C and that glow quickly faded.

    Furion pulled his knee off and crouched slightly, ¡°You are, quite frankly, the single-most self-destructive person I¡¯ve ever met.  Whatever misguided affection Ren has for you, I can¡¯t understand, but as long as you hold even the tiniest modicum of authority over her¡­you had better never hurt her.  Neither of the Eidolon will be able to save you from me if she¡¯s ever harmed while under your care.  Now get out.¡±

    Gabriel coughed to catch his breath, and pushed up onto an elbow as the Captain backed up to give him space.  Furion hadn¡¯t gone far though, and watched him very carefully.  With effort, the mediator clambered up to his feet and hobbled towards the door, clearing his throat as it slid open.  Not one more word was said, and the High Negotiator of the Fourth Wing could only limp back to the closet his own Eidolon ¨C he was convinced - had arranged for him to stay in.

    With his heart in his throat, Furion took a deep breath.  The door shifted closed again, and the office-space was quiet.  He looked at his gloved hands, eyes narrowed, ¡°¡­Idiot¡­  What were you thinking¡­¡±

 Book I â€“ Chapter 28 â€“ A Friend Who Savors Your Personal Dramas is a Friend Indeed

    Despite the colossal distraction that a live music performance ought to give ¨C the band itself, flashing lights, bass that could rattle one¡¯s teeth, and all the voices clamoring for audio real-estate in an effort to be heard over it all ¨C Ren found herself uniquely unable to be distracted.  After all, she already was, and there wasn¡¯t room for more amidst the swirl of a guilty conscience.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve seen you look like such a space cadet in years.¡± Ravan commented, lips on the edge of a wine glass filled with ros¨¦.

    Ren blinked to regain her grounding, ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Ah, there she is.¡±

    ¡°Sorry¡­¡± She sighed, and leaned back against the circular booth they¡¯d set-up in, the sight of dozens more Aegis crewmen having a good time all around them in one last hurrah as the SkyFortress shoved off, ¡°I guess I¡¯m in the middle of a certain kind of disagreement with Gabriel, and I feel a little bad about it now.¡±

    ¡°A disagreement?¡±

    ¡°We were sent on a joint mission with wildly different goals, and in the end¡­we both failed.¡± Ren answered vaguely, and reached forward to pick up her own drink, only to hold it under her nose without taking a sip at all, ¡°For the last two weeks, I¡¯ve been upset at him for what I saw as him getting in my way.  But after spotting him earlier¡­I wonder if I didn¡¯t heap the fault onto him unfairly.¡±

    ¡°That bad, huh?¡±

    Ren stared at the trickle of bubbles rising from the bottom of the flute, ¡°¡­I think so, yeah.  I just don¡¯t know what to say to him about it.  After Furion and I left-¡°

    Ravan¡¯s coy giggling at that name-drop was like an owl¡¯s hooting chirp.

    ¡°After the Captain and I left,¡± Ren corrected with a nudge of a knee against the woman¡¯s thigh, ¡°I put the whole thing on the backburner and focused on other things.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you did.¡± Ravan snickered, only to get swatted across the shoulder, and she burst out laughing, ¡°You can¡¯t take this from me!  It took years to get you to confirm that you and him were a thing!  Now he¡¯s just kissing your hand in front of everyone!?  Lord Rylen¡¯s mantle-dust was right there.  And Lord Xanarken was just outside!¡±

    ¡°I know, I know¡­¡± Ren shook her head with a guarded smile, ¡°Lord Rylen has apparently known for ages, and he kinda doesn¡¯t care¡­at least for now¡­¡±

    ¡°Where did you go?¡± Ravan asked, sliding an arm over her friend¡¯s shoulders to get closer to one ear, ¡°You have to tell me everything.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­I can¡¯t tell you everything, but I can tell you one thing.¡±

    ¡°Oh my lord please do.¡±

    Ren smirked, ¡°Papa Rydell is a good cook.¡±

    Ravan squealed so hard it made her fall backward against the booth seat, and nearly tumbled out onto the floor, only managing to stay put by virtue of still having her wine in-hand.  She eventually tired herself out and pulled herself back up to sit, ¡°You have no idea how much I envy you.¡±

    ¡°You should¡¯ve seen the look on his face when we showed up at their house with our armor.  He thought we were fugitives.¡± Ren added, and finally took a sip from her drink, ¡°And he¡¯s a smidge taller than Furion, too¡­so when he opened the door, he looked right over the top of my head, like I wasn¡¯t even there.  When he finally noticed me, I felt like I was a little kid asking for uppies.¡±

    ¡°Gods, could you imagine¡­asking for uppies from Captain Lequerion Rydell.  The man, the myth, the legend¡­¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t have to imagine. Furion has a kid-sister who¡¯s only four. There were a lot of uppies asked from everyone.¡±

    Ravan gasped, ¡°How does the Captain have a sister that young? He¡¯s old enough to be the girl¡¯s father himself¡­by a lot.¡±

    Ren nodded as she leaned in closer, ¡°Her name¡¯s Suzushion, but we just call her Suzu. She¡¯s adorable, but yeah, talk about popping one out late. Furion was already old enough to be Seth¡¯s dad, now this¡­¡±

    ¡°Do want any of your own, one day?¡±

    She hesitated to answer at first, but Ren shook her head, ¡°Not if I want to be Captain first. But it¡¯s fun living out the idea vicariously through Furion¡¯s siblings. Such is the privilege of being a man, I suppose. They can have all that stuff because it¡¯s not them having to do the heavy lifting.¡±

    ¡°Too true¡­¡± Ravan sighed into her glass, ¡°Oh well. ¡­Now that you¡¯ve publicly spilled the beans though, so to speak, you can finally answer that burning question of mine that you adamantly refused to all those years.¡±

    ¡°Which one? You had so many.¡± Ren puffed, ¡°I had to protect his honor.¡±

    ¡°Is he good?¡±

    Ren snorted a laugh, and stalled her answer with another sip of that pink wine, ¡°He¡¯s different from you, if that explains things well enough.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°I mean¡­I¡¯m still with him after all this time. It¡¯s not just for his dashing good looks.¡± She mused, and drained the last of her drink in two final gulps. With an exhale, she set the flute down, and twisted in her seat to directly face her friend, nose-to-nose, ¡°He¡¯s going to be busy for a while. You wanna have some fun? For old time¡¯s sake?¡±

    ¡°Has he truly never discouraged you from what you do?¡± Ravan wondered, a finger hooked to the V-split at the front of Ren¡¯s uniform-jacket.

    ¡°With you? No. He probably thinks it¡¯s hot. He barely blinked when I told him I had a small thing for Gabe.¡± Ren teased, and leaned in a bit closer to speak the words to Ravan¡¯s cheek, ¡°When Gabe isn¡¯t being a massive sourpuss, anyway.¡±

    ¡°You are a walking scandal waiting to happen.¡±

    ¡°And still waiting¡­and waiting¡­¡±

    ¡°Ah! Yes, a thousand times yes. I don¡¯t know how you survived a four-month drought from all this.¡± Ravan scooted out of the booth, and Ren followed.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been making up for lost time. Let¡¯s go quickly. The ros¨¦ is starting to hit me.¡± Ren offered - or requested; she wasn¡¯t sure anymore - a steadying elbow, and Ravan accepted as they went out through the room¡¯s double-doors.

    ¡°Maybe we should invite Sir Gabriel and show him how to lighten up.¡±

    ¡°Perish the thought. He¡¯d probably explode from the embarrassment.¡±

    That just made the both of them laugh, and Ren was finally able to stop swimming in her troubles.

    A few hours later, and without a word or whisper from Furion, Ren got dressed again and took her leave, and went to go find the man herself.  Checking the time, she realized that they would be crossing the equator soon, and on a different screen, a count-down to when the World Cloud would cease to be accessible.  Only 47 minutes left.  The elevator to the upper decks opened, and she made her way to the right.  The door to the Captain¡¯s office was the first one she passed, but she went by it, and bit her lip excitedly as she wondered if the door to the man¡¯s quarters would open without his say-so now.

    Sure enough, once she¡¯d stepped close enough, the door hissed and slid aside, and she giggled quietly to herself before she strode within.  The grin faded quickly though when she spotted the man she¡¯d been looking for, sitting in one of the lounge chairs in his small, personal library-nook, but with his back to the door, ¡°¡­Furion?¡± She asked quietly, though he didn¡¯t react.  Given his posture, it wasn¡¯t the most concerning thing, ¡°¡­Probably passed out¡­¡± She said quietly to herself, and approached on his left side.

    Ahead of him, he¡¯d had a leg propped-up on an ottoman, but on the drink-stand on his right was an empty finger of whiskey.  Standing right over the man though, Ren finally spotted the melted bag of ice he¡¯d propped between the left pauldron of his uniform and his cheek.  Her brow furrowed, and she leaned down over the arm-rest to run her fingers through his hair.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    It didn¡¯t take much to rouse him, and his eyes opened, then the rest of him went up with a start, ¡°Ren!¡±  The ice-pack fell from his shoulder and into his lap, ¡°Ah damnit¡­¡±

    ¡°What happened?  Why are you icing your face?  I figured you¡¯d be working late but¡­this is unexpected.¡±

    He grabbed the wet melted bag and tossed it onto the drink-stand, then pushed himself up a bit higher in his seat, ¡°Have we left the World Cloud yet?¡±

    ¡°Wow, you must be tired.  You still have your uniform-jacket on and you¡¯re asking that.¡±

    He just made a face her.

    ¡°Not for another 45 minutes.¡± She smiled, but slid her hand forward to brush the man¡¯s long bangs out of the way, and cupped her palm and thumb against that slightly-swollen jaw, ¡°¡­It¡¯s red¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll worry about blending it out later.¡± He slouched again, but that time he pointed the first two fingers of his right hand out and waved them down twice, making his uniform jacket, pauldrons, and cloak fade, and gave his back more room, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not nothing if you have to wear make-up.¡± She knelt beside that lounging chair and curled her fingers around the arm-rest, ¡°Someone did this do you.¡±

    Furion slid his hand under one of hers.  With both hands, he cupped hers, and looked at her straight in the eyes, ¡°I promise, it¡¯s nothing.  Whatever you think it is, it doesn¡¯t deserve the energy it takes to worry.  In 45 minutes, we¡¯ll be swapping to the Aegis¡¯ stock of nanotech, and by morning, you won¡¯t even know this blemish is there.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not even gonna tell me how it got there first?¡±

    ¡°Nope.¡± He leaned forward to nose her brow, but then stood up, and grabbed the empty glass, ¡°It¡¯s embarrassing.  You want something to drink?  I think I could go for one more.¡±

    .

    Two nanotech pods idled in Rylen¡¯s traveling office, and the following day, roughly around 13:30, Furion went in to activate them.  The light came on and flashed green on the first one, then the other, and the Captain took a step back.

    Rylen manifested first ¨C practically having been waiting for the moment ¨C and clapped is hands together once, ¡°Are we there already?  I can¡¯t wait!¡±

    Furion saluted, ¡°We¡¯re within range to deploy, sir.¡± He answered, then stood more casually¡­and gave a conspicuous head-tilt, ¡°¡­Special occasion?¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡± Rylen¡¯s hands fell to his sides in confusion, but then he realized his outfit was different.  He gaped down at himself, ¡°Oh¡­wow, I haven¡¯t worn this in decades.  Feels so retro.¡± He commented.  His normal attire of white touched by lavender was replaced by black trimmed in silver.  His molten-silver hair, formerly styled in a high ponytail, was now tied low behind his neck, and he couldn¡¯t help but laugh at himself, ¡°I was told once that this outfit was doing too much.  Oh well, too late to update it now.  Xanarken should be here in a minute.¡±

    ¡°Yessir.¡±

    The Eidolon stepped by with a bit of a spring in his step, and headed for the door, ¡°I¡¯ve completely cleared my schedule for the next three days for this.  I can¡¯t wait.¡±

    Passing on Furion¡¯s left, and not noticing a thing, the Captain knew his ¡®make-up¡¯ blending had done exactly as hoped, and the fist-shaped blemish on his jaw was invisible even to a man who¡¯d spent the last 300+ years living in a nanotech body.  Xanarken formed shortly thereafter, but he actually took a moment to look himself over, and was pleased to find he looked exactly the same as he normally did.  The look on Furion¡¯s face said plenty.

    ¡°My brother didn¡¯t come prepared, did he?¡±

    The Captain huffed a laugh, ¡°No sir.¡± He answered.  Xanarken nodded and started heading for the same door, but just as he¡¯d passed, Furion turned his head towards him, ¡°Can I ask you something, sir?¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡± The Eidolon paused to glance back.

    ¡°Apparently Sir Gabriel was put into a foreman¡¯s room, on the lower decks.  I can only assume it was yours or Lord Rylen¡¯s idea¡­and he appears to have gotten a rather strong message from it.  Do I have your consent to move him somewhere else?  ¡­To keep the peace.¡±

    Xanarken stared for a moment, but then snorted a laugh, ¡°I swear, Rylen can be so petty¡­  Yes, that¡¯s fine.  Thank you, Captain.¡± He shook his head again as he left the room, and whispered to himself curiously, ¡°Is that what Gabe wanted to ask me about yesterday?  ¡­Nah, he said it had waited 2 weeks already¡­it must be something else.¡±

    Furion nodded in acknowledgement, and followed the Eidolon out; as they walked, he pulled up the ship¡¯s manifest and reassigned the wayward mediator to a room on the upper decks.  At the far end of the hall, the wide doors to the bridge were already open where Rylen had gone through, and once the pair arrived to join him, they all beheld the eerie sight of that dead colony-ship stuck in the canyon it had crashed into.  Evidence of its passing was carved into those sloping rocky walls; the river below it had been blasted off-coarse and followed a new path, sending part of it coursing through the ship¡¯s hull and out the front end in a weird, faucet-like waterfall.

    Rylen¡¯s eyes lit-up to see it, even from the distance they still had between them, ¡°The SSCF Sterling Rose.  Long lost but found again at last¡­¡±

    ¡°Etienne would¡¯ve been interested in helping salvage this one.¡± Xanarken noted, ¡°Since it was one of the terraforming ships she lost.¡±

    ¡°She wouldn¡¯t have wanted to see all the death we¡¯re about to witness.¡± Rylen countered, ¡°We can let her know about it once the recovery effort is finished.¡±

    ¡°She is the Eidolon of the Fifth.  Her whole business is death¡­and the adamant need to stave it off.¡±

    ¡°Still.  These were her people, and there¡¯s nothing she could do but mourn for them after all this time.  I imagine it would¡¯ve felt different.¡± The First said, eyes forward, ¡°And given how it doesn¡¯t look like this vessel accomplished anything it was sent here to do¡­I can¡¯t fathom the kind of devastation we¡¯re going to find when we get on board.¡±

    ¡°And here you¡¯ve been so excited to get into it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m surprisingly adept at compartmentalizing things.¡± Rylen glanced back over his shoulder at the Fourth, ¡°Let me be enthusiastic for the good this mission will do.  I¡¯ll have plenty of time for somber reflection later.¡±

    Furion stepped closer to the front of the circular command-pad, ¡°Both Wing Teams are on stand-by.  If you¡¯re both ready, I¡¯ll send them out for preliminary scouting.¡±

    ¡°Go ahead, Captain.  Let¡¯s see what there is to see.¡±

    ¡°Commanders Nibasai and Parker, your feeds will be broadcasted on the bridge.  Let¡¯s get started.¡±

    ¡°Sir!¡±

    All 13 Fafnir filtered out, five following Ren and six after Donivan.  It took all of them to set up a perimeter around the massive vessel, and beyond them, forming a triangle around it with the Aegis, the two Inquisition ships positioned themselves as well.  Once everyone was where they needed to be, the Lucas and Fibonacci turned to face inward¡­and an eerie blue light came on at their bows.  The Fafnir all lifted their arms, and pointed their forearm-mounted plasma weapons away from themselves, at an angle towards the hull of the massive colony ship.  The same blue light manifested at the muzzles of those vambraces, and ¨C instead of a devastating blast ¨C a flare-like pulse shot out.  Those flares doubled the points of the perimeter, and then quadrupled, as more of them were sent into the air.  The blue lights hovered until all were in place, and all at once, sent thread-like projections out in each direction, connecting them in a net around the vessel.  Within those threads, ripple-like panels of energy went out, and the next moment, transformed into a dome.

    ¡°Hemisphere deployed.  Ready for biologics detection sequence.¡± Ren announced.

    The Inquisition ships¡¯ blue-lights started to pulse, not unlike a heartbeat, and iridescent color flowed over the dome and back again.  The sound it made echoed out like thumping, deep under water, and could be felt by each Fafnir where they idled for it to complete.

    .

    The appearance of the Kitezan royal flagship over Stoneface Bluffs was a sight to behold, flanked by two smaller escort ships as it moved towards the nearby docking port.  When it landed, a conspicuous convoy of vehicles departed to head a little ways further north.  When it arrived at the R&D facility it was bound for, Magistrate Regulus Laurier alone was there to greet them.

    Both the Duke and the Duchess exited that main vehicle then ¨C security detail surrounding them, keeping a careful vigil of their surroundings - and Far¡¯nah looked around curiously, ¡°It¡¯s a nice little place you¡¯ve got here.¡±

    ¡°I can assure you, your Grace, it¡¯s anything but small.¡± He answered, and gestured back towards its only obvious ground-floor entrance, ¡°Shall we?¡±

    The top-most sections of the facility looked rather more like a business office than a lab site, and seeing that royal procession go through was a little strange for those who worked there.  Elevators soon took them out of sight again though, and employees were just dumbstruck, looking at one another in confusion.

    One of those offices, however, was Kourin¡¯s.  She looked over ¨C with newly-repaired glasses ¨C distracted from her careful micro-dissection of one of the nanotech implants she¡¯d been entrusted with.  Once the guest-group was out of sight ¨C heading into an elevator ¨C she reached under her desk for a somewhat-hefty supply-box, and lifted it up on top.

    To the Duke and Duchess¡¯ eyes, the business office imagery gave way to something more akin to a hospital ward on the lower level.  At least, on the outset.  Mardu¡¯s eyes scanned the windowed walls, able to see into each alcove and room, where technicians in bulky clean-suits were working, ¡°¡­I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever considered that a Magistrate would be overseeing something like this.  Seems like a departure from the duties one would expect them to carry out.¡±

    ¡°Fear not, your Grace, this isn¡¯t entirely mine.¡± Regulus answered, ¡°I simply take advantage of what it does.  This facility has been instrumental in the design, construction, and maintenance of my Sovereign Shadow for many years.  The rest is owned and operated by various hospitals and data-labs in the region.¡±

    ¡°¡­Is that what you call it?¡± Far¡¯nah wondered skeptically.

    ¡°Pardon, your Grace?¡±

    ¡°¡­Sovereign Shadow?¡±

    ¡°Oh.  Yes, that¡¯s right.  Not many know it.  Just as well, though.¡± The Magistrate answered, ¡°The Prince is kept up ahead, where he¡¯s been getting treatment.¡±

    ¡°How¡¯s he responded?¡±

    ¡°Fairly well.  He¡¯s¡­more comfortable now than he was when he arrived.¡± He explained, and they came to the far end of a long, lonely hall.  He set his hand onto a scanner and a light on the door clicked over, then reached for the handle, only to pause and glance back at them, ¡°Be warned, he¡¯s been broiled on the same side twice.  Field-dressings did more to save his life, and keep him from dehydrating through his wounds, than it did to preserve his looks.  He¡¯s not pleasant to look at.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    Regulus waited for a skeptical a moment, but then pushed the door open.  What awaited inside was a startling sight; Aamin was propped-up on his bed, left side exposed to the air, with all the debrided burns exposed, covered only by a layer of special clear jelly.  While it made inspecting his injuries easier for those trained to assess them, it also made him a bit of a bloody spectacle, especially where his left eye ¨C as well as the cheek and lips below it - had been lost to the flame.

    Far¡¯nah took one look at him, and immediately looked away, a hand over her mouth in shock.

 Book I â€“ Chapter 29 â€“ Open The Doors And Let Loose The Demons Of Memory

    The scan was done, and the hemisphere fizzled and faded until it was completely gone from sight. The Fafnir glanced over at the Aegis, waiting for the order. A moment later, their Captain¡¯s voice spoke in their helms, ¡°All clear.¡±

    Wing Team One headed for the bow, while Wing Team Two went for the stern. In a well-choreographed plot, they all entered at critical points ¨C some via actual doorways, others through rips in the hull. Nothing at first glance looked particularly ominous, beyond the fact of it being a crashed ship. Given it was this crew of Fafnir¡¯s first foray into such a vessel, however, it was still new and peculiar.

    Ren touched-down inside a port-side rip in the thick hull, and tucked her wings in tensely. This ship was never meant as anything except a storage hauler. There are no passenger quarters, no cleaning, cooking, or entertainment facilities¡­ It¡¯s just one massive inventory transport, she thought as she passed by a number of enormous store-rooms. She stuck her head into each one at a time, keeping a plasma-blade at the ready in her right hand, and looked around at the ruination that met her.

    There was evidence of fires, that close to the exterior, and the giant slash that had been torn through the metal as it careened through the rock. But the storage racks were still largely where they¡¯d been installed all those centuries ago, and for the most part, were still sealed. The section Ren found herself in was, from the look of it, for ¡®immediate use¡¯ supplies, such as clothing and footwear. Massive 10¡¯x10¡¯x cube bins with clear Plexiglas faces revealed the sight of vacuum-packed pants and shirts, coats, sweaters, and the shattered remains of where the less-lucky sections had been torn up, and scattered their contents all over the place. Her mission wasn¡¯t to explore the personal effects of the colonists who never got to use them, however, and she continued to make her way deeper into the vessel.

    Her Wing Team saw similar things from their own paths; material supplies for construction, raw textiles, and the nigh-endless bins of plastic pellets, concrete-mix, and ¨C eventually ¨C metals, that could be used to 3D-print anything that was needed. The actual 3D-printers themselves were on the lower decks, with much of the heavier equipment that had been brought to begin colonizing; trucks, haulers, rovers, and assorted construction vehicles like backhoes, fork-lifts, excavators, cranes, loaders¡­all manner of things. Ravan was quite impressed with how much of the heavy-equipment had actually stayed bolted to their moorings; she hovered carefully through the rows, seeing only two machinations that had gone flying around like cannon-balls.

    Donivan¡¯s team bore witness to the more purpose-driven sections of the vessel, encountering atmosphere and oxygen generators, seed-vaults, and ¨C much to Corbin¡¯s chagrin ¨C the confines of the animal holding facilities. It was the first glimpse of how the colony fleet transported adult, living entities ¨C vacuum-packed biological envelopes for larger individuals, multipacks for the smaller ones that could be sealed together into something like a chicken-blister-pack ¨C and the systems that were used to hibernate, and oxygenate them, while they slept.

    ¡°This fleet was originally put together under the belief that it would take 92 years to arrive at our destination; Proxima Centauri Tau. It was the nearest star-system to Sol, and just over four light-years from Earth.¡± Rylen explained, as if narrating what both Ren and Donivan were showing them as they made their way into the belly of the beast, ¡°Technology had some so far in such a big hurry¡­ With the invention of the first car in 1885, we went from the horse-and-buggy to the moon in less than 100 years. A century after that, we had colonies on Luna and Mars. Another after that, and we set our sights on goals much-farther afield. A voyage that would have once taken 70,000 years was suddenly reduced to a single lifetime¡­and then Caeros appeared.¡±

    Hearing the name cut an awkward silence through the entire bridge-crew. Xanarken was the only one who hadn¡¯t reacted to hearing it.

    ¡°With his Limitless ability, the very real possibility of getting there in an afternoon was on the horizon.¡± Rylen continued cautiously, ¡°Perhaps, in our hubris, we rushed things a bit towards the end¡­ Everything he¡¯d shown us he was capable of¡­the initial missions to send probes and launch satellites, let them gather information for a year and then go back and retrieve the data¡­ It just kept being miraculous. Moving to another world became something the entire Earth looked forward to seeing¡­because everyone would know what happened within weeks, rather than generations. It was no longer a voyage of permanent goodbyes¡­it was just a trip, and people could expect to go back home if they wanted.¡±

    The Fafnir weren¡¯t in on the narration, as their focus was on the mission. They knew that the colony ship was designed to carry 75,000 human souls aboard, and it wouldn¡¯t be much farther before they start to arrive at those facilities.

    ¡°And so, we planned. We recruited. We loaded. And then¡­we launched¡­and almost immediately, everything around us became a nightmare straight out of an Eldritch horror-story.¡± Rylen carried on, seeing those haunting familiar corridors leading closer and closer to the dubious sights he knew were coming, ¡°All those hopes, those dreams¡­ All those brilliant minds, the talent, and skill¡­ We had everything. From the best-educated scientists and engineers to the humblest pioneers, we all went¡­¡±

    Wing Team Two was the first to encounter the human storage, and footage from Donivan¡¯s perspective displayed morbidly on the bridge¡¯s main screen. The three-high ¨C and a dozen-deep - stacks of cryo-pods went on as far as the eye could see, past the internal ribs of the ship, and on even further. Donivan hovered up within the hall-space, looking into the pods one at a time, seeing the mummified faces and desiccated skeletons of the people who had once had so much to look forward to.

    ¡°None of those lost souls had any idea what happened to them.¡± Rylen explained, his voice quieter, ¡°They all willingly entered into those preservation chambers. They were all tucked in, given their goodnights, and blissfully fell asleep to their favorite music. Their pods were towed inside, lifted, and suspended for the short voyage¡­the best way to transport a vast number of people and supplies without needing to provide living facilities along the way. So far as they were concerned, they were only supposed to be out for a few weeks ¨C or days - at most. Long enough for the fleet to get to P.C.Tau, land, and for the advance crew to confirm the best place to set-up shop. We would wake people up in shifts, so there would be time to build shelters and amenities, with each subsequent wave making things ready for the one the arise after them. We had plenty of topographical and environmental information, and we knew where we were going to disperse; Tau was a miracle-planet, hidden from view for so long because of its tilted orbit, discovered only because Caeros was able to bring us there in the flesh to scout it. It was damn-near perfect. It was¡­so much like Earth, it was hard to believe. ¡­And no one ever got to see it.¡±

    ¡°I remember well the confusion people had when the crash was over, and we started to take stock of our situation.¡± Xanarken commented, ¡°This planet was so alike to Tau that we hardly realized the difference at first. Then we looked up into the sky and saw only two moons ¨C Tau had four ¨C and real concern started to set-in. We didn¡¯t have data on this planet. We didn¡¯t know what kind of world it was¡­if it was already inhabited, what kind of flora or fauna might be here¡­what pathogens might be lying in wait. People were scared. Something about the calamity had cut our communications to the rest of the fleet. We were alone.¡±

    ¡°Indeed¡­ It took months to get situated and start sending search parties to seek out the other ships. We found Etienne¡¯s vessel, the SSCF Mayrain, first, largely because of how successful she¡¯d been at terraforming and utilizing the landscape around the ship. By far, her colony fared the best out of all of us in those first few years. Finally able to do more than scrape-by, we had the headspace to wonder where the Hell we were.¡± Rylen sighed quietly, the guilt of his involvement weighing heavily all over again, ¡°And Caeros couldn¡¯t - or, perhaps, wouldn¡¯t - figure out where he¡¯d brought us. With no hope of ever seeing or hearing from home again, and our fleet shattered, we made do, and carried on the mission on this world we named Hadira.¡±

    Ren arrived into the corridor as well then, but her view of it was quite a bit different from what the others saw. Perhaps the bow of the ship had suffered a far-more catastrophic consequence of the impact than the stern; pods were thrown about like kicked-over LEGO blocks, crushed and smashed into one another¡­bodies hanging out, torn apart.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    The crew on the bridge could only gasp in horror at the sight of it.

    Rylen¡¯s expression contorted, brow furrowed, ¡°¡­What a disaster.¡±

    ¡°¡­It looks like many of them tried to get out.¡± Furion noted warily, ¡°¡­What pain they must have endured.¡±

    ¡°They felt nothing, Captain. I can assure you of that.¡± Rylen countered, ¡°The process we used to put the passengers to sleep was the full first half of the cryo-hibernation process, lacking only the cold-storage aspect. The chemicals that knocked them out would not simply wear off if the power went out or the pods were opened prematurely. They had to be reversed on purpose, else the passengers would stay asleep for a full week. Three days without water is fatal. ¡­They died slowly, this is true, but without knowing it was happening.¡±

    It didn¡¯t make Furion feel much better about what he saw. The way so many of those pods had been tossed and cracked open made it look like those bodies had tried to escape, and had been aware of where they fell. He blinked hard a few times and shook his head, I¡¯m just seeing what I fear to see. It¡¯s not the truth. Lord Rylen has no need to pad what happened with comfortable lies on our account. Not in our line of business.

    Ren had to fly over the mess, going hundreds of feet through those narrow corridors before the destruction seemed to ebb, and the pods were maintained on their holsters again. She saw the signs that pointed the way towards the engineering deck, ¡°I¡¯m getting close to the warp core. We should see it momentarily.¡±

    Roughly half an hour later, the SSCF Sterling Rose was secured, and the Fibonacci approached more closely. Both it and the Aegis sent the first few skiffs of technologists and analysts to board. They had 13 paths to choose from at that point, and that made it easy to figure out which direction to go; Ren¡¯s was not among them.

    Furion had suited-up by then and gave a personal escort to the skiff that his brother ¨C and, incidentally, his ¡®canary¡¯ ¨C were using. They followed the path mapped by Jense, who¡¯d been able to get through the majority of the ship through the loading-dock near the stern. It went nearly all the way to the engineering decks, and the skiffs landed on a stable part of that metal flooring. Jense and Corbin both came back to meet them, and provided the next part of the escort through the bowels of that massive ship.

    ¡°This place is really creepy¡­¡± Seth commented as he stepped out the back of the little vessel. His brother¡¯s imposing form offered plenty of comfort though, and he stepped up beside him, ¡°You¡¯re sure there¡¯s no bodies along the way from this direction¡­?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all clear. The only thing you¡¯re going to see is dust and debris. No once-living thing will be seen.¡± Furion affirmed, and gestured forward to where the other two Knights were waiting. Neither of them had their weapons drawn, which gave a calmer air to the place; no one was expecting anything to pop out of the walls and shadows.

    Gabriel looked up and into those metal corridors, seeing the remains of that Earthian architecture. With 350 years of dust, abandonment, and exposure, it was rather grey, but hints of its original scant colors could be seen here and there. Wall-markings that had been painted in yellow or blue, safety perimeters on the ground, and the odd lighting fixture that had been out since the crash. It gave him the creeps as well, but in present company, he was less than interested in expressing as such.

    On the next skiff, the Eidolon disembarked, and Rylen looked up at those same walls with reverence. He looked back at his brother, ¡°It¡¯s been a while since we manually walked to a distant location.¡±

    Xanarken was a bit distracted by the atmosphere though, ¡°This place is remarkably intact for having been out here this long. If not for the stillness and quiet, you¡¯d think this place would be filled with life¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a particular kind of haunting, to be sure.¡± The First agreed, and turned to follow Seth and the Fafnir further within.

    Behind them followed the first Myrmidon crew, donning the same mysterious, face-less masks and cloaks as their Inquisitor cohorts, but with a few more technological attachments and equipment to drag along. Seth felt uneasy in their presence, and skipped forward to put a little more distance.

    Furion put a hand on his shoulder, ¡°I can take you back if you¡¯d rather not go in. Creepy as it all is, there¡¯s never been any trouble during these recovery efforts, and we¡¯ve found nothing untoward so far.¡±

    ¡°I¡­I¡¯m fine. I promise.¡± The teen answered, ¡°Maybe a bit out of place, but¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re one of the most gifted rising-stars in the First Wing, Cadet Setharion.¡± Rylen chimed-in, making the young blonde twitch from the surprise of those unexpected words, ¡°I want to give you every opportunity to gather information, in lieu of what you lost in Kitez.¡±

    ¡°Y-yessir¡­thank you.¡±

    Xanarken slowed his pace slightly until Gabriel was forced to catch up, then started walking alongside him, ¡°You¡¯ve been awfully quiet these past few days. I think I can count on one hand the number of sentences I¡¯ve heard.¡±

    The Eidolon was on the blue-eye side, and it turned to stare at him, ¡°You ghosted me for two weeks, but I¡¯m the one who¡¯s been quiet. Make it make sense.¡±

    The Fourth grimaced slightly, ¡°I suppose that is true.¡±

    Gabriel squinted an eye at him, ¡°¡­That¡¯s it? I suppose?¡±

    ¡°What else do you want me to say?¡±

    ¡°I dunno¡­sorry?¡± He grumbled, ¡°I¡¯ve been drawing the short stick with everyone except Seth lately. My back is killing me; I don¡¯t know how people sleep on those prison mats. I-¡°

    ¡°Ah¡­you didn¡¯t know?¡±

    ¡°Eh? Know what?¡±

    Xanarken nudged his head towards the four-winged Fafnir, walking around 30ft ahead of them, ¡°The Captain brought it to my attention that you had been erroneously put into a room on the lower deck.¡±

    ¡°Erroneously? I thought that was on purpose!¡±

    ¡°¡­Hmph, he wasn¡¯t kidding about you getting a message from the assignment.¡± The Eidolon stroked his goatee thoughtfully, ¡°If the message was from anyone, it was from Rylen. Probably punishment for what happened in the Connington Fragment.¡±

    Gabriel stared incredulously ¨C first at Xanarken, then at Rylen, then back again - and gestured both hands at the Fourth, ¡°I KNOW THAT!¡±

    Everyone stopped and stared back at the duo, but Xanarken shrugged, and waved them all forward again dismissively, ¡°I told the Captain he could put you somewhere else. I would¡¯ve thought you¡¯d noticed by now, or had been alerted or¡­well, something to that effect.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m practically a pariah on the Aegis. The only place I don¡¯t get the cold shoulder is in my room.¡±

    Another shrug, ¡°You¡¯re getting it from Ren? And Seth?¡±

    Garbriel just smacked his forehead with both hands, and pulled his lower eyelids down in frustration as those hands lowered on his face, ¡°¡­I¡¯m gonna throw myself out the back of this thing and let the waters carry me away¡­it would be less cruel¡­¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think leaving you to your own devices during your leave was going to be this much trouble.¡± Xanarken shook his head, and looked up as the hall¡¯s end came into sight, ¡°You¡¯re terrible at taking time off.¡±

    ¡°¡­Ya think?¡±

    .

    With the distraction going on in the higher levels, Kourin descended far into lower ones, carrying that box from her desk in her arms. Though Regulus had told her not to go down to that sub-basement until more was known¡­that didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t go there if she wanted. She put in her access codes, looked directly into the lens of a camera that she knew was there, and easily passed through the now-open door.

    The room had a number of storage racks for mechanical parts in the back section, with the containment box built on a make-shift platform, making it evident that ¡®containing hostile extra-dimensional parasites that like to talk a lot¡¯ was not, in fact, the originally-intended use for the space. The walls built around it were hastily-constructed, looking more like a theater-set from the outside, and the cube actually doing the containment was purpose-built as a secure blast-chamber. The evidence of it was set in the warning-signs, declaring the potential for hazards and shrapnel in the unlikely case that the chamber¡¯s strength failed.

    Kourin looked up at the cameras that had been set onto that set, and moved around them, closer to the wall, until she was near one of the supply-racks where the lights were conveniently off. She set the box down on the floor in the dark shadow of one of those shelving-units, and uncovered¡­a nanotech pod. She set a finger onto the top to turn it on, and stood upright to wait.

    It took a minute, and she checked her watch as she began to wonder if anything would happen, but finally, the mantle of Latheroux manifested there in that basement with her. He looked around quietly, scanning the area for any signs of life beyond their own, and glanced down at the small woman, ¡°You¡¯ve done well, Kourin.¡±

    ¡°Make it quick. They¡¯re up with the Prince right now. The Magistrate probably won¡¯t bring them down here, but I can¡¯t guarantee any of my colleagues won¡¯t wander through for their own purposes.¡± She warned, and gestured towards the ¡®staging¡¯ area.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s get to it.¡± He answered, and started to walk forward.

    Kourin pulled her glasses off and put them into the front left pocket of her lab-coat, and allowed that telltale light to glimmer from her eyes. Just as Latheroux was about to step into full view of the cameras, she gestured her hand down towards him, and his image faded from all sight. She waved her other hand down in front of her face and torso, and vanished as well.

    Invisible footsteps tapped on the steps that led onto the platform, and around the overlapping walls until Latheroux stepped into full view of that blasting box¡­and its matured contents, ¡°¡­So this is what you¡¯ve become.¡± He commented quietly, ¡°When I saw the footage from the Honorable Judge Laurier¡¯s ship, I was horrified.¡±

    ¡°He can¡¯t hear you unless you click the intercom button.¡± Kourin noted cautiously, and stepped around the man; though they were both imperceptible, she could see through her own cloaking technique, and beheld that dark-haired mantle as clear as day.

    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to talk to him yet.¡± Latheroux answered, ¡°Sometimes the idle chatter is just for atmosphere. Interesting things are afoot.¡±

 Book I â€“ Chapter 30 â€“ â€˜Hell In A Handbasket?â€™ More Like â€˜Satan In A Sphereâ€™

    No single ship in the colony fleet had ever been designed with any kind of style in mind, since there was never any need to provide creature-comfort to the unconscious cargo. That said, most of the place was built with largely raw, unpainted metal, and that made the large atrium that housed the warp core look rather dark and intimidating. The Fafnir had dropped flares around the perimeter of the room, giving it as much illumination as was humanly possible, but it did nothing to alleviate the depth of those shadows, or the way the flickering light made said shadows dance and writhe on the walls.

    Seth whined pitifully from behind Furion¡¯s back, sheltering under those faintly-glowing wings, ¡°This place has to be haunted. It has to be. There¡¯s no way something like this is entirely dead.¡±

    Furion snorted a quiet laugh behind his visor, but he dared not pry his brother from his hiding place, ¡°Maybe focus on what the Myrmidon are doing? Once upon a time, the Second Wing was supposed to be responsible for things like this. The incorporation and unity of Limitless power and technology. What they¡¯re doing ought to be your jam.¡±

    ¡°Their masks freak me out.¡± Seth whispered.

    ¡°Then what are you going to do here?¡± The Captain wondered, arms crossed, though he twisted slightly to look at the teen cringing behind him, ¡°The whole point was to give you a first-row seat to the cracking of the core.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. It¡¯ll be fine.¡± The teen answered, and tried to step out. The sight of the Myrmidon bent around the control console ¨C and the terrifying way the fluttering lights bounced off of them ¨C made them look like ghouls, and he immediately turned around with a squeak.

    Gabriel glanced over, and felt bad, but there wasn¡¯t much for it. He turned his eyes instead to the sight of the Fafnir waiting for the core to open. Though he couldn¡¯t see their faces through their visors, there was an obvious air of tension around the room. By all accounts, Rylen was the only one excited about what was going on, as the Eidolon watched with an anticipatory smile. Xanarken seemed entirely indifferent to the concept; perhaps he¡¯d seen it all too many times. After all, there were some 15 SkyFortresses in the Council¡¯s fleet, and there must have been a certain expectation with what would be happening.

    A temporary power-source would be used to unlock the core, the sealed door would be opened, three bodies would be removed, and the painstaking process of disassembling the sphere into more manageable pieces would begin. After three centuries, the sight of bodies probably didn¡¯t bother the Fourth anymore, or he¡¯d programmed himself to look stoic about it in spite of how he truly felt. Whatever the case, once they¡¯d arrived in that atrium, the Eidolon had simply crossed his arms and watched quietly, unmoving.

    Gabriel¡¯s eyes kept wandering over to Ren, but she seemed distracted by their surroundings, completely focused on her task. He couldn¡¯t tell if ¨C despite being assigned to protect him directly ¨C she was avoiding him, or she thought she could do her job from anywhere in the room. When the control panel was suddenly snapped shut, and the loud bang it made caused everyone nearby to jump, all focus was on the Myrmidon, and the unnerving digitized voice they spoke with to hide their true sound.

    ¡°We¡¯re ready. The power supply is connected.¡±

    Rylen nodded, ¡°Begin.¡±

    ¡°Yessir.¡±

    The portable generator was turned on, and within seconds, the console lit-up as well.

    ¡°Get in there, sport.¡± Rylen added, looking directly at Gabriel, ¡°Time to earn your keep.¡±

    The mediator gawked for a moment, but shook his head and stepped forward; it was time to play his only role. Seth peeked around Furion¡¯s crossed arms to watch him go, and his heart pounded in his chest. Wing Team Two idled closer to the mechanical sphere, all-but hovering over their Inquisitor charges. Wing Team One moved in closer to himself, and Ren began to walk over as well, restoring the solid-light panels of each of her massive red wings as she did so. They extended to their fullest span at first, then folded in behind her.

    Gabriel couldn¡¯t help but think back on the moment she¡¯d shielded him with them while they were under siege by the Warrior-Magistrate. He shook the memory away and blinked hard, pinching the bridge of his nose as he paused in place.

    ¡°Closer.¡± Rylen commanded.

    The mediator looked over at him, and took another wary step towards the sphere.

    ¡°Closer.¡±

    ¡°¡­Any closer and I¡¯ll have to buy it a drink.¡± Gabriel growled. It was a mild relief to hear at least some of the Fafnir chortle a laugh under their breath. He looked back up at the ominously large metallic orb, iron-clad and suspended on a short pedestal in the recessed floor, ¡°I was 15 feet away from the void gate in Kitez when my eyes lit-up. I¡¯m sure this is plenty close.¡±

    To Gabriel¡¯s chagrin ¨C after spending the last day and a half aboard the Fafnir¡¯s home-ship without getting anywhere near any of them ¨C he was suddenly surrounded rather closely on all sides. Ren had taken-point a few paces behind him, and both Ravan and Michelle had gotten to his sides. Between the three of them, they¡¯d practically created a solid-light corral around him, spreading their wings out to shield him from any direction.

    Then, to his shock and surprise, he felt a hand against his back, ¡°¡­Easy.¡±

    ¡°¡­You say that like it¡¯s possible.¡± He answered stiffly.

    ¡°We¡¯ll talk later.¡±

    That didn¡¯t make him feel better at all.

    ¡°We¡¯re opening the warp core now.¡± The Myrmidon at the control-panel said, voice crackling in that monotone way.

    Hearts went into everyone¡¯s throats. Rylen took an eager step closer. Xanarken stayed as he was, arms crossed, eyes intently ahead. Ren was the only one who had her finger on the proverbial trigger, keeping one hand on the hilt of a plasma-blade.

    The core hissed, and locks clicked. Everyone twitched to hear it¡­and all eyes went straight to Gabriel.

    .

    ¡°¡­I¡­I can¡¯t believe it.¡± Aamin commented, his one remaining eye looking at the hazy image of the Duchy. He recoiled into himself, and lifted an arm to cover what he knew quite-well was the horror of his visage, ¡°I¡¯m sorry you have to see me this way.¡±

    Far¡¯nah swallowed a nervous lump, and steeled herself before she turned to approach on the man¡¯s right side ¨C the one that didn¡¯t look like it had been irradiated and melted, ¡°My dear friend, you¡¯ve been through some harsh things recently.¡±

    ¡°¡­Too many¡­¡± He lowered his gaze, staring at the reddened, exposed sight of his left arm, ¡°I thought it was over when the Inquisitors finally agreed to take Iresha away, but¡­it was all a trick. They played me for a fool.¡±

    ¡°Sargon is a lost cause, I¡¯m afraid.¡± Far¡¯nah said, and pulled the good hand into her own and onto her lap to stroke it softly, ¡°You did everything you could. Your nephew¡¯s predicament sealed their fate. It¡¯s just us against the world, now.¡±

    ¡°Take me to Oceanside¡­I beg of you¡­¡± Aamin pleaded, ¡°Regulus has done everything he can for me here. I know I¡¯m just a secret project though. No one knows I¡¯m here. No one outside this room even has reason to believe I¡¯m still alive.¡±

    ¡°There are those who will always doubt.¡± Far¡¯nah noted, the chimes on her antlered crown jingling quietly, ¡°Without your body, they can never know for sure. For that reason, I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t bring you to Oceanside yet.¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Aamin looked utterly deflated, ¡°¡­How much longer do I have to wait to restart my life?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll be much longer.¡± She answered, thumb going slowly back and forth against the back of his hand, ¡°The young Prince is on the eve of being sent to Agartha; your brother has apparently felt the pressure to agree to that, and¡­well, after what happened to Rani, he no longer had the will to resist. The Eidolon are taking advantage of his pain.¡±

    ¡°¡­He¡¯s sending away his wife¡¯s murderer, more like.¡± Aamin stiffly corrected, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be able to look at his face either.¡±

    ¡°In either case, once the Prince has left, the pressure will be on for Iresha to join the Hadiran Accord. Everything we¡¯ve worked for all these years¡­the prosperity, the independence, and all of our pride¡­will be split apart. There are pieces in play on this grand chess-board that I seek to move, to ensure Kitez remains self-sufficient in this world. We will be the last vestige of a land uncorrupted by the Eidolon.¡± Far¡¯nah explained.¡±

    Aamin nodded sadly, ¡°¡­The home I loved is gone¡­ The people and places I knew, erased¡­ All because of that fucking kid¡­¡± He shook his head angrily, but then looked squarely at the Duchess, ¡°When is the Younger supposed to leave?¡±

    ¡°In a few weeks, from what we¡¯ve learned. Shortly before the Dawn of Ages celebration. Mardu¡¯s shadow retains ties to Sargon and occasionally gives us pertinent information.¡± She explained, and nudged her head back towards her quiet husband, waiting by the door with the Magistrate, ¡°I suppose it¡¯s one reason to keep him around, if for any.¡±

    ¡°¡­His shadow? You mean¡­that dissident?¡± Aamin asked skeptically, ¡°The one who started the riot at the palace?¡±

    ¡°The very same. You can understand my trepidation over keeping that one around.¡± Far¡¯nah affirmed, and reached forward to push a few strands of that long, stiff black hair over the man¡¯s right ear, ¡°He¡¯s kept a low profile though, thankfully, and he stays inside the Duchy¡¯s main residence. And, I suppose, as long as he maintains his belief that the Council should stay out of Sargon, then the fact that his riot got away from him can be¡­overlooked.¡±

    ¡°I¡­see¡­¡± Aamin lowered his gaze in understanding, ¡°¡­Can I have the honor of being one of your pieces?¡±

    She smiled, ¡°There is room yet for a trump-card on the board. For now, rest, recover, and regain your strength. You are far from ready to leave this place.¡±

    .

    In the sub-levels, far below the make-shift medical ward, Latheroux turned his eye towards the Limitless-user beside him, ¡°Before I engage with it, what¡¯s your report on the situation? What¡¯s this thing that¡¯s taken Sir Ianori?¡±

    Kourin narrowed her eyes slightly, ¡°You promised me an update from Oceanside first. I¡¯m adrift in this place¡­completely out of the loop. You and Tallus have been carrying on without me all this time. I made it possible for you to come here¡­now you owe me.¡±

    ¡°My apologies for that, Kourin.¡± Latheroux reached out to stroke that pale hair, and slid a finger under her chin, ¡°Your assessment is fair. ¡­Oceanside is faltering, in essence.¡±

    Her expression changed, ¡°They¡¯re slipping? But¡­how? Between you and Tallus, this should¡¯ve been a cake-walk¡­¡±

    ¡°Far¡¯nah is resisting Tallus¡¯ influence.¡± The masked man answered, and turned again to look at Scyrexianori ¨C dormant, or napping, he wasn¡¯t sure which, ¡°She so-desperately wants to attack the Council head-on that she¡¯s breaking through his charm. Every time he revisits the domination he once had over her, she re-convinces herself of her noble path. Mardu refuses to grow a spine and take responsibility for his half of the Duchy, even with Tallus and I pulling his strings. They¡¯re both¡­fanatical about the positions they¡¯ve taken. Tallus worries his control will eventually lose effectiveness altogether. We are desperate for a solution.¡±

    ¡°¡­Is that why you wanted to see this thing?¡± She wondered cautiously, ¡°You were so keen on the destruction it caused¡­¡±

    ¡°Not entirely. That was after I had already decided to find this Knight.¡± Latheroux shook his head, ¡°This creature came straight out of a void gate.¡±

    That got Kourin¡¯s interest, ¡°A void gate¡­!? No one told me there was a void gate active!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because the late Magistrate Gavin Mallerd found it first, and summoned the First here to study it. There was nothing I could do¡­and no point in getting your hopes up. But¡­this¡­¡± He gestured at Scyrexian, ¡°This changes everything.¡±

    ¡°What are you thinking?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll show you.¡± He answered, and reached the invisible hand at his side towards the intercom, ¡°Are you there? Sir Ianori.¡±

    With weeks to forge itself, Scyrexian had turned the former Fafnir into a weapon. Those pitiful stick-like bat-wings were now fully formed, and so large, their full extent could not be measured in the confines of the blasting box. The resin-like plating over his core and limbs was hardened and solid, with golden, jewel-like swellings across its chest, arms, and down its legs. Traces of that red-black miasma misted from those closed eyes, and at the sound of the voice, cracked open slightly, allowing a glut of it to escape, ¡°¡­I am here. But I am not Ianori. I am¡­more.¡±

    ¡°Fascinating¡­ It¡¯s just like you said.¡± Latheroux looked to Kourin, then back to the glass and re-clicked the comm-button, ¡°You go by Scyrexianori now, isn¡¯t that right?¡±

    ¡°That is correct. What do you want?¡±

    ¡°The devastation you caused on the Magistrate¡¯s ship. Was that random or calculated?¡±

    ¡°Nothing is random. Even chaos is structured, if you know how to read it.¡± Scyrexianori answered vaguely, ¡°I seek the one with the sight. Those other things were in my way. That¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°You let that one soldier go. I¡¯m told you explained it away as being a trade. Is that roughly correct?¡±

    ¡°All actions and intentions in balance. Favors for favors. I want to go back to where I¡¯m supposed to be¡­the information that soldier gave me led me to the tool I sought after. For that, I spared him. It¡¯s what he wanted, after all.¡±

    Latheroux pulled his hand back in consideration, a finger tapping his lip for a moment. He reached to click the button again, ¡°So if I scratch your back, you¡¯ll scratch mine.¡±

    ¡°If what you can offer me will get me to the man with the sight¡­I am amenable to negotiation.¡± Scyreixanori answered, and pushed up from that seat it had been in. Those massive wings flexed a little, the membranes between its many fingers stretching and retracting again with each movement. Scyrexianori approached the glass ¨C from its perspective, the glass was black - and put its hands upon it¡­then seemed to look through it, ¡°I can¡¯t see you from this side, but I can sense that you¡¯re there¡­¡±

    Kourin took several steps backward, and the masked man lifted his finger, ¡°¡­The last time it got close like that, it blasted a surge of force that sent me flying. I don¡¯t want it to do it again. Don¡¯t taunt it.¡±

    Latheorux let his finger hover, ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± He clicked again, ¡°You can sense the affliction, even from inside, when you don¡¯t know what¡¯s outside.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s faint. Not¡­adequate. But¡­enough.¡± It answered, moving around eerily, trying to sniff the power, ¡°I could reach out, and use it to escape this place.¡±

    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you, then?¡±

    ¡°¡­Something else has come up. I¡¯ve been waiting. Developing this body slowly. It¡¯s nearly ready to be of some use. I was soundly defeated by this host¡¯s former colleagues. If I am to find the sight-bearer, I need more strength.¡±

    Kourin moved up one step, ¡°It means Gabriel Lugios. For some reason, his affliction seems particularly tasty to it. He¡¯s the one that was born afflicted, right? That must be the difference between him and I.¡±

    ¡°Is that true? You want Gabriel?¡±

    Scyrexianori tilted its head slightly, then pulled back from the glass, ¡°I believe that¡¯s correct. That¡¯s what this host¡¯s memories confirm. Gabriel Lugios¡­¡± It said, burning the name into its own consciousness, ¡°He has a power deeper and more powerful than even he is aware of, like a child wading into the ocean, but only so far as to get his toes wet. If I can get him to remove me from this body¡­I can use his power to open another gateway. So long as he is alive at the time.¡±

    Latheroux¡¯s brow furrowed, ¡°Would he live through that?¡±

    ¡°What comes to me will leave the same way. The man you call Ianori all-but died when he fell through the rift. When I am able to get out of his body¡­he will surely complete that process. He does continue to cling by a very thin thread, however.¡±

    That one unmasked eye widened, ¡°You said something else had come up. What is that?¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡­have been discovered elsewhere.¡± It answered, as if distracted suddenly, ¡°They come.¡±

    .

    The warp core¡¯s single doorway slid out of the sphere¡¯s surface like a dislodged puzzle-piece. Everyone¡¯s attention was laser-focused. Finally¡­the seal was broken, and a visible shock-wave rippled out from under it. Half the Fafnir jumped to avoid it; the other half could do nothing but let it pass through them - harmlessly. Xanarken and Rylen, on the other hand, both saw the lower half of their mantles shatter into nanotech clumps. As they came back together again though, their eyes went to Ren, as she called out Gabriel¡¯s name.

    The shockwave had knocked him out cold where he stood, eyes coalescing with a snaking trail of light. He fell to his knees, held up only by Ren¡¯s quick reach forward.  Around him, the trio of Myrmidon collapsed as well.

    ¡°Gabe! What happened!? Wake up!¡±

    ¡°Everyone back up, now!¡± Furion yelled, grabbing Seth in a quick twist and took off for the nearby open hall.

    The Fafnir around him descended on their targets like a flock of crows, grabbing the three Myrmidon as they formed a defensive line for them to be taken behind. Rylen moved his mantle back as well, deforming and reforming 50ft away. Xanarken, however, held his ground, completely unmoved by the sights before him. Ren threaded her arms around Gabriel¡¯s torso and flapped those wings to lift off, and joined the others in that wide hall.

    The sphere seemed calm again though. The inside was exposed; dark and foreboding in that flickering flare-light. Like a maggot revealed by a cut in the flesh of a fruit, however¡­a figure flopped out, landing with a crispy thud against the metal floor beneath the doorway. The mummified remains of one of the trio of Warp Magi lay there, broken and withered by 350 years of being lost and forgotten. Its face, a husk of its living self, retained the expression of terror from its last living moments.

    But that wasn¡¯t the important part.

    There were three Warp Magi. That was one.

    The other two reached their hands forward from the dark, grasping at the edges of that now-open doorway¡­and bellowed the most ungodly groan-like shriek as their chitin-fused faces revealed themselves to the light.

 Book I â€“ Chapter 31 â€“ Look Into The Void, And It Looks Back; Reach Into The Void, And It Pulls Back

    ¡°Bianca!  Take Seth back to the skiffs!  Annashi, Sammy, Michael!  Take the Myrmidon!¡± Donivan yelled, both blades extending from his unsheathed hilts.  A flurry of wings moved and were gone, and Seth could only yell as his brother stepped out in front of those who remained, soon after to disappear entirely from his sights as he was carried away.

    ¡°Ren, take Gabriel out of here!¡± Furion ordered, his own blades flashing into being as he looked back at her over a shoulder, ¡°Go!¡±

    She grit her teeth, ¡°Sir!¡± She acknowledged, and did as bid, the red light of her wings trailing into the barely-lit hall they¡¯d all arrived in.

    ¡°What the Hell is Xanarken doing!?¡± Rylen yelled in confusion, gaping at the Fourth where he still had yet to move

    Those eyes finally widened though, brow furrowed as hair whipped around, ¡°¡­It¡¯s¡­are those¡­?¡± Xanarken uttered, ¡°¡­All this time¡­?¡±

    Rylen fluttered his mantle to reform by his brother, ¡°Have you been daydreaming!?  I know this is boring to you but you can¡¯t just AFK in the middle like tha-¡°

    The twisted Magi-twins had moved forward with alarming speed, one of their disfigured hands stabbing through the First with a singular rage.  It moaned despairingly, and yanked its arm back again just in time to lift all four up in defense against Furion¡¯s onslaught.

    Xanarken grabbed his brother¡¯s shattered mantle and pulled away with it, looking on at the fused entity in horror, ¡°¡­What the Hell did it do!?  Rylen!?¡± He turned to gape in confusion at that dark face, seeing alarms from the Eidolon System flashing on his overlay, ¡°RYLEN!!¡±

    Orange eyes fluttered slightly, ¡°¡­What¡­?¡±

    ¡°You got hit!¡± The Fourth answered as he continued to drag the man away.

    Rylen flailed to get free and stand on his own, looking at himself, ¡°¡­It¡­it went right through me.  I felt it.  I felt it.¡±

    ¡°Now¡¯s not the time!¡± Xanarken shoved the First away, narrowly avoiding the onslaught from the fused Magi as it ignored the Fafnir.  Coordinated as their moves were, the entity seemed not to care what the Knights did, using two of its four arms to shove them away with its disturbing reach; the other two reached for Rylen again, ¡°Drop out of here!  We¡¯re nothing but a distraction!¡±

    That got through to the First, and with a snarl, he dissipated before the next stabbing thrust could pierce his mantle a second time.

    Furion swung his right arm out towards the corridor, ¡°Wing Team Two, retreat!  Wing Team One, with me!¡±

    Ravan hesitated, but when the other four flashed by her, she turned on a heel and took off after them.  That left only Donivan, Jense, and Corbin to support their Captain.  Ravan twisted over backwards to catch the last glimpse of her teammates before they disappeared beyond her line of sight, ¡°Damnit¡­!¡±

    Rylen was the first to reform, catching up to where Ren and the others had brought their charges, and in annoyance, shut off the alarm from the Eidolon System.  Gabriel was still unconscious, eyes wide open with their wisps of light, ¡°What the Hell happened?¡±

    ¡°Your guess is as good as mine, sir.¡± She answered, ¡°He just reeled backward like he¡¯d been kicked in the forehead, and dropped. That pulse¡­it was like an EMP for afflicted¡­¡±  She looked over at the Myrmidon, ¡°¡­They haven¡¯t moved either.¡±

    Seth was all-but in tears, on the edge of a panic attack, ¡°Where¡¯s Furion!?  Why wasn¡¯t he right behind us!?¡±

    ¡°Everyone needs to get on board and back to the Aegis.¡± Rylen ordered, ¡°Ren!  Where¡¯s Xanarken!?  He vanished before I even thought to!¡±

    ¡°Seth, just get on the skiff!  Lord Rylen, he hasn¡¯t reformed here.¡± She answered, and hefted Gabriel¡¯s prone body in her arms, ¡°Maybe he went back to the Aegis right away?¡±

    The First grumbled with an exasperated sigh, ¡°Unbelievable¡­but not entirely without reason.¡±

    Seth was already half-through the side-door when the Fafnir brought all three Inquisitors in after him, and Annashi called back, ¡°Commander, lifting off in 15 seconds!¡±

    Ren looked back into the hazily-lit corridor.  She quickly hover-jumped to drop Gabriel off with the others, ¡°Get going.  I¡¯m going back!¡±

    ¡°Commander!¡±

    ¡°Just go!¡± Rylen ordered, and went to join the passengers; he had to stick an arm out to catch Seth so he wouldn¡¯t run by in turn.

    ¡°Miss Ren!¡±

    ¡°Focus on the task at hand, cadet.  We need to secure the casualties!¡±

    Red wings vanished into the dark, and the others could do nothing for her.  It was as if everything went into slow motion then; four Fafnir came into her sights, easy to spot in the dark by the glow of their wings.  The Magi-twins spotted her in the midst of them all.  In what probably took three total seconds, Ren lifted her right arm, and volleyed four pulses from her vambrace-cannon; they all hit their mark.  In response, explosive gluts of smoke filled the room on impact ¨C like dropping bread-dough into a pile of loose black flour ¨C and enshrouded the entire atrium in imperceptible smog.  Somewhere within that cloud, the twins split apart, ripping the seams of resin armor that linked them together, and one leapt forward.  It emerged from the fumes like a wraith, its guttural scream the only thing that told Ren it was coming before she saw claws within inches of her visor.  That, she was able to dodge; she rolled in mid-air, her armor leaving scratches and sparks in her wake where she slid along the metallic wall.  The entire door to the warp core, however, struck her directly, knocking her backward with a clang that made every Fafnir nearby shiver.  She, and the heavy iron-clad panel, crashed into the floor, until Ren skidded to a stop against a wall, and the door hit her a second time as it came down on top of her, pinning her into the wedge.

    In those same three seconds, Annashi had taken the controls and closed the skiff¡¯s doors, as the other Fafnir of Wing Team Two filtered outside to fly alongside.  It barely had enough time to turn around in the hangar before a blur of purple and red flung itself into the open space, and a massive tendril of oily ferocity grabbed one curved wing and dragged the whole skiff down.  Lights on those wings brightened in resistance, and struggled to get free, but was trapped against its strength.  Anchoring it to the ground was the split-off twin, wailing in a fury; one tendril grasped the skiff, and another forced itself between the metal panels of the floor, ignoring the existence of the rivets and solders that once held them together.

    Ravan had her daggers out and ready, and she flung herself at the source of the tether, slicing at it madly, but found her blades too short to penetrate far enough to reach the Magi embedded within ¨C she noticed quickly that said Magi was only one of the two, and worried for what had happened to the second.  She could see it, like a shadow under the water, but anywhere her plasma-knives struck, the miasma fizzled and boiled, but nothing more.  With nothing else, she turned her forearms in, and without hesitation, lobbed a volley of blasts into it from her vambraces at point-blank range, not yet knowing the polluted reaction the energy-pulses would have on contact with that miasma.

    She quickly learned, and for her efforts, Ravan took a battering-ram straight to the chest, and it thundered against her with such force that the impact sent her flying.  The last thing she saw before a big cut to black, was the sight of the rest of Wing Team Two closing-in to try their own hand at fighting the creature.

    In the corridor, Ren regained her bearings and grabbed the edge of the warp core¡¯s dislodged door.  With a heave, she pushed the panel off, and it rattled heavily against the floor as it came to rest.  She quickly got back up to her feet with a boost from her wings.  In one direction ¨C the one she¡¯d meant to go ¨C the remaining Magi was keeping four veteran Fafnir Knights occupied.  Down the other, was the entire rest of the team, the fleeing skiff they were meant to protect, and its weakened passengers.  Her ears were ringing, but as soon as she found balance enough to stand without the hover to assist, she heard ¨C and felt ¨C a terrible crash.  The entire warp core had been sent flying towards her; ripped from its pedestal, it hit the mouth of the corridor so hard that it became entwined with it, and was stuck in place, simultaneously sparing her from a likely doom, and blocking her way forward.  She ran up to the twisted sphere of metal anyway, and banged against its impossibly heavy exterior, ¡°FURION!¡±

    ¡°Protect the others!¡± He immediately ordered, ¡°You have noncombatants and novices on your side!  They¡¯re your first priority!¡±If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    There was sense in that, and by the sound of him, he wasn¡¯t (yet) hurt for that latest turn of events.  She buckled-down and took off, retreating back the way she¡¯d come, ¡°Yessir!¡±

    Within the core¡¯s atrium, the four Fafnir were at an impasse; the split twin was untouchable, even by those longer, heavier blade-types.  Worse still, there was a tentacle of miasma had had spawned ¨C one for each of them ¨C to defend against them.  All they could do for a moment was encircle it, weapons drawn and pointed at it, with the smoke Ren¡¯s earlier blaster-shot billowing around them, only-then beginning to clear.

    ¡°This thing appears to be fighting with a strategy¡­¡± Donivan commented on their private comms, ¡°It¡¯s doing just like Ianori did in Kitez.¡±

    ¡°But these Magi weren¡¯t fighters in life.¡± Furion countered, ¡°How is it able to push even one of us back, never mind all four?  And how is it so bloody strong?¡±

    ¡°Have we even landed a single hit against it yet?¡± Jense wondered, double-scythes pointed towards the floor on either side.

    Corbin huffed to catch his breath, his katanas poised, ¡°Don¡¯t think so, brother.¡±

    ¡°Shit¡­¡±

    Furion focused his sights on each of those twitching, beastly extensions; as long as none of them moved towards it, the creature seemed content to keep its defensive posture.  That gave the Captain a moment to really look at it, and to see the golden orbs ¨C barely visible beneath the oily, murky surface of that translucent skin ¨C moving like trapped air-bubbles within.

    Ren got back to the hangar in time to see the least-experienced member of the team ¨C Bianca - driven into retreat.  Michael, Sammy, Gareth, and Michelle had all been veteran Fafnir even when Ren first joined, but now they all had 15 years or more under their belts.  Such seasoned skill shouldn¡¯t be so easily knocked away¡­and yet, those four met the same resistance that their Captain and his support-team had.  Xandra ¨C a 4<sup>th</sup> year ¨C had been sent into the same heap as Ravan before her, and that only left Alexander ¨C a 12<sup>th</sup> year - to put himself between the fight, and the struggling ship, in defense of the latter.  Annashi was desperately trying to get the skiff out of harm¡¯s way, but all she could do was throttle it and go nowhere.

    Then¡­the creature spoke.

    In all three locations.

    .

    ¡°They¡¯re trying to take him from me¡­¡± Scyrexianori muttered to itself, ¡°I can¡¯t¡­reach¡­¡±

    Latheroux stepped closer to the glass, ¡°Who are you talking about?  Who¡¯s trying to take who from you?¡±

    Scyrexianori¡¯s eyes narrowed, struggling, ¡°So many¡­all at once¡­  I can¡¯t¡­focus¡­¡±

    .

    ¡°Hold!¡± Furion called, and fortified where he stood, both massive swords up in a defensive stance.  The others around him fell-back as well, huffing for breath behind their visors.

    ¡°Captain?¡± Donivan asked.

    ¡°Did it just¡­speak?¡±

    ¡°What do you want, Magi?¡± Furion dared, taking a step closer, though with his blades pointed down and away in an effort to appear slightly-less threatening.

    Donivan turned his visor away, ¡°Ren, this thing is talking to us in here.  See if you can-¡°

    ¡°The one out here is talking, too.¡± She interrupted; she¡¯d landed with the veterans, but stayed a short distance back, and out of their way, ¡°But¡­not to us, I don¡¯t think.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯d it say?¡±

    ¡°I think it¡¯s complained to itself that we¡¯re trying to take someone away from it.¡±

    Donivan looked to the Captain, ¡°Did you hear that?¡±

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s linked somehow.¡± Furion acknowledged, ¡°Did their physical fusion go deeper than that¡­?¡±

    The Magi before him seemed to writhe in frustration, ¡°Need¡­the seer¡­  Need¡­to end this quickly¡­¡±

    .

    ¡°End what quickly!?¡± Latheroux asked adamantly, ¡°Who are you dealing with!?  Where!?¡±

    ¡°Them¡­¡± Scyrexianori said in frustration, ¡°He¡¯s¡­fighting me with everything he has¡­  He won¡¯t¡­let me hurt them¡­¡±

    That one eye widened in shock, ¡°¡­You mean Sir Ianori.  You¡¯re fighting the Fafnir, aren¡¯t you?  Right this second¡­¡±

    Kourin was flummoxed, ¡°How is that possible?¡±

    .

    ¡°¡­The¡­Faf¡­nir¡­¡± The Magi in front of Ren croaked.  Each of those four Knights encircling the creature looked at one another, then glanced back at Ren herself¡­and all Hell broke loose all over again.

    Each of the twins launched a Hail Mary; four more tails of oily liquid burst forth from the beneath each of their feet.  They sprung with such speed and ferocity that each one struck its intended target before they had a chance to dodge.  The only one who¡¯d been spared¡­was the only nearby Knight who hadn¡¯t gotten close enough to stand within the soupy haze of smoke.

    Ren quickly launched into the air to avoid whatever corrective action might¡¯ve been taken once the creature realized she hadn¡¯t been snatched; she hovered, eyes darting left and right, trying to read the situation.  The only thing she could see was the singular appendage that was still exposed, and which yet grappled with the wing of the skiff.  The cracks in that wing were making its continued failure to flee dangerous; Annashi had gunned the thrusters so hard that the vessel could crash just from being let go.  That¡¯s when Ren spotted the golden orb ¨C barely visible in the dark and smog ¨C as a bit of it glinted within that oily length.  Several things came to a head at once then, and Ren looked at the skiff, ¡°Annashi!  Get ready for some defensive driving!  Alexander!  Get Xandra and Ravan out of here!¡±

    ¡°Ma¡¯am!¡±

    ¡°Wha!?¡± Annashi balked, ¡°CommandEWAHHH!!¡±  The skiff lurched violently, banging into the ceiling before she got hold of the controls and managed to steady it.  Only by virtue of Rylen¡¯s focus did the unconscious cargo not go flying; with effort, he and Seth had managed to get all three Myrmidon and their canary ¨C and Seth himself after - into a seat and bolted them down.  That didn¡¯t stop Rylen from being flung though; who needs a seatbelt when you don¡¯t have any breath to get knocked out of you.

    Ren had simply broken the wing off; the skiff would have to limp away, and she gave it a slap on the back end to send it on its way, ¡°Go!¡±

    .

    Scyrexianori¡¯s eyes widened in shock, ¡°¡­No¡­¡±

    .

    There was an opening.  Ren spotted it.  She could only-just-barely see the Magi, gaping up at the fleeing skiff with a look of anguish on its twisted face.  It tried to launch another fibrous ribbon while the skiff stumbled in-air, but Ren was quicker that time.  She put all her energy into the thrust of her wings, and threw herself at the entity with every ounce of strength in her body.  Plasma-blades were held together like a thick spear, and she thrust it forward.

    It was hard to see at first, but she could feel it.  Her blades had found purchase¡­and penetrated.  Wings rose high, and flapped down hard to clear the smoke; she could finally ¨C properly ¨C see her target.  Her charge had impaled both swords through the Magi¡¯s chest, and it gasped a wet grunt.  Black ichor dripped from the corners of its mouth, and it looked at her.  All five exposed protuberances writhed and released, quivering as they withered all around it until resorbing into themselves.

    .

    A queer smile curled at the edges of Scyrexianori¡¯s lips, ¡°¡­That one¡­is feisty¡­¡±

    .

    Ren took issue with the assessment, and with a vocal swing, both of those plasma-edged blades rose vertically.  With a wet shlep, they split through the neck and skull, and that possessed creature fell back dead.  Permanently dead.  Ren wasted no time, ¡°All of you, go help Annashi!  Make sure that skiff gets to the Aegis!  Carry it if you have to!¡±

    Grunts of acknowledgment answered, as the four Fafnir picked themselves up from the pits their armor had pressed into the metal panels they¡¯d been pinned to a moment before.  They watched their prodigious junior fly up and vanish into a third-floor corridor, but steeled themselves and left the other way.

    Ren bounced through those upper halls like a pinball, trying to find an alternate route into the warp core chamber.  It was almost a surprise when she actually did, and she kicked off that last wall to vault over the railings.  Not having the core in the way, she could see everything immediately, and what she saw was¡­unsettling.

    Flashes of that field in Kitez shot through her mind like thundercracks, when she bore witness to Ianori being smothered by those groping fingers from the void scar.  They were there again, smothering four more Knights ¨C her family, her friends.  With a determined rage, she yelled out, and barreled towards the epicenter of the horror.  From that vantage, both blades came together - tips pointing down - and she came down through the top of the second Magi¡¯s cranium with a singular fury.  The impact was so heavy, the Magi couldn¡¯t even bounce before Ren drove those blades through, right to the hilt.

    As before, those appendages withered, and their captives were released.  They¡¯d been pinned to the surrounding walls of that circular chamber, nearly suffocated, and they collapsed.  Ren caught her breath, heart racing, and she refused to let go until the ringing echo of the clang settled and went quiet.  She lifted her head, expecting the four to get up on their own¡­and was confused when none of them did, ¡°¡­Guys?¡±

    They were silent.  Ren¡¯s breath caught in her throat, and heart skipped a beat.  She let go of those blade-grips, leaving the Magi pinned through its skull, and she flung herself to her partner¡¯s side.

    ¡°Furion!?  Furion!¡± She yelled, still getting no response.  The visor of his helmet had been cracked, and she pawed shaking hands around the sides of it and under the jaw, until she found the release to pull it off.  Seeing the man¡¯s blue-tinted face made her seize, ¡°No¡­no no¡­!¡± She quickly moved to pry her own helmet off, though by the time it banged on the metal floor, Furion had started to cough and draw breath on his own again, much to her relief.  She bent down and pressed her brow to his, ¡°¡­Thank the Eidolon, you¡¯re okay¡­¡±

    ¡°Th-the others¡­¡± He gasped, and managed to lift his hand before dropping it again, ¡°The¡­a-air intake¡­plugged¡­¡±

    Ren set the man down gently but quickly, and left to go release the helms on the other three felled Knights.  When she got to Donivan at the last, she pulled him over towards their Captain, and went back to grab the other two as well.  Altogether, Ren watched them all regain themselves, and with a shuddered breath, collapsed to her knees before them, ¡°¡­I¡­I thought I lost you¡­¡±

    Furion had regained enough strength to lift his arm, and beckoned the woman closer.  She shuffled closer quickly, and got under that arm, hugging him tightly.  Another quick breath, and Furion pressed his cheek to the top of her head, ¡°What¡­happened?  How did you¡­?¡±

    It was all she could do to not burst into tears from the relief.

    ¡°Will anyone answer their damn comms!?¡± Rylen¡¯s voice faintly echoed from Ren¡¯s helmet, ¡°I need a status update!  The Aegis¡¯ forward cannon is trained on that ship and I¡¯ll have to pull the trigger if no one responds!¡±

    Ren frantically pulled back and scrambled for her helmet, sticking it on roughly, ¡°Don¡¯t fire!  Do not fire!¡±

    On that bridge, the entire crew let out a tense breath.  Even the Eidolon went through the motions, ¡°¡­Dame Ren¡­  What the Hell is going on?  Five of you are still in there and you¡¯re the only one to answer!¡±

    She could feel those tears hot on her face, and she bent her head down, ¡°¡­It¡¯s¡­it¡¯s over¡­  The Magi are down.  We need recovery¡­¡±

 Book I â€“ Chapter 32 â€“ Pieces Move Across A Chess-board, And A Cat is Looming With Paw Raised

    Scyrexianori twitched those big wings and took a step back from the black windows, then sat back on that lonely, solitary seat in the middle of the blasting-room. Elbows perched on knees, and those eyes closed again.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Latheroux demanded, ¡°Scyrexianori! What¡¯s happened!?¡±

    If the entity was going to answer at all, it didn¡¯t matter; Kourin grabbed his arm and pulled him back, ¡°Someone¡¯s coming.¡± She warned quietly, incandescent eyes looking over to where she¡¯d heard the main security-door open, ¡°Back up against the wall.¡±

    ¡°I think we¡¯re done here.¡± Latheroux said gruffly, and turned towards her as she continued her rearward shuffle. Hands went to her shoulders, and he leaned down to look at her squarely, ¡°Favors for favors. That¡¯s what it said. If it wants Gabriel, then we¡¯ll figure something out to make that happen, in exchange for what we want.¡±

    Kourin was stunned, leaning around him slightly to check if anyone was coming into the staging area with them, then looked back up at that masked face, ¡°You would actually sacrifice him for this¡­? What can that thing do for us that nothing and no one else could, after all this time that we¡¯ve been trying?¡±

    Latheroux nodded, ¡°Scyrexianori says Gabriel has a power far greater than anything he can conceive of. It wants him specifically so it can use that power to open a gate and go home. It¡­it might be strong enough to achieve our end-game, and if it needs Gabriel alive to do it ¨C and Gabriel comes out the other end no worse for wear ¨C then all the better. If that¡¯s the case, then all this political quibbling here in Kitez won¡¯t be necessary anymore, and we can leave it to rot.¡±

    Footsteps could be felt in the make-shift floor of that wooden stage, and Kourin made a face of concern, daring not speak another word, lest they both be heard.

    Latheroux wasn¡¯t ready to be so careful yet though, and whispered his final words directly into her ear, ¡°Find a way to make a deal with it. Trade it freedom for its assistance.¡±

    And he was gone, dissolved into the nanotech dust he¡¯d come from. The sight of it heading back towards the containment-pod was like a grey fog blowing across the floor, straight past the legs of ¨C and completely unnoticed by - the thin man as he came up to the glass.

    Kourin pressed her back into the corner of that little space, all-but holding her breath to keep from making a sound, Damnit¡­leaving me here like this¡­ She turned her sights towards Scyrexianori again, and listened to the thin man¡¯s futile attempts to get it to talk.

    ¡°Who were you speaking to just now? We saw your mouth moving on the live-feed.¡±

    No answer.

    ¡°Scyrexianori.¡± The man said more firmly, ¡°Respond.¡±

    Still nothing.

    ¡°Tight-lipped, eh? ¡­I knew we should have installed microphones inside this thing¡­¡± The man grumbled, and went over to the intercom button, ¡°Such hastily-built confinement, and all we can do is document sessions from out here¡­¡± He held out a finger over a nearby recording device, and hesitated, then pulled the hand back to press it lightly around his chin, ¡°Maybe I should call Kourin back down here. She got a rise out of it¡­¡±

    Kourin tiptoed along the wall and made her escape ¨C glancing back briefly with annoyance as her name was dropped - and headed back towards the box she¡¯d brought. She quickly sought for something to grab off the nearby shelves, put it into the box beside the re-hidden containment-pod, and dropped her cloaking-effect. Hidden in the shadow of that space, and without any cameras pointing in that direction, she simply lifted the box up again and made her way towards the exit, no-one-the-wiser for what she¡¯d done.

    .

    Rylen sat nearly motionless behind his desk, orange eyes staring daggers into some hapless part of the floor ahead of him, past the fingers he¡¯d laced together in front of his face. When he saw the alert on his overlay that Xanarken was incoming, he simply lifted the direction his eyes gazed, and waited for the man¡¯s mantle to form.

    A few seconds later, he did, and Xanarken walked closer as his body took shape, ¡°Have things finally calmed down?¡±

    ¡°Where have you been?¡±

    Xanarken paused, and quirked his head slightly, ¡°I went to check on your stasis-pod, back in Agartha. I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t.¡±

    Rylen sat back and averted his eyes, ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t want to hear it from Etienne right now.¡±

    ¡°Fair, but-¡°

    ¡°Is my body okay?¡±

    The Fourth breathed a sigh, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Etienne says that, whatever happened when the Magi struck your mantle, it created a kind of feedback that made your real self have a seizure. Not a big one, and it doesn¡¯t appear to have left any lasting damage, but¡­you might have a headache for a minute.¡±

    The First nodded, ¡°¡­Yeah.¡±

    Xanarken¡®s brow furrowed, and stepped around the desk. One hand went to his brother¡¯s shoulder, the other held to the front of the man¡¯s desk, ¡°Sorry I interrupted you earlier, when you were trying to say what it did. We have the luxury of time, now. So¡­please, tell me.¡±

    Rylen hesitated, and shook his head, ¡°¡­It reached through my chest, and felt as though it had taken-hold of my heart, squeezing until my mantle and mind broke.¡± He began cautiously, his voice giving away the very real fact that he ¨C the Eidolon of two different Wings ¨C was rattled, ¡°¡­I needed you, and you left me.¡± He shrugged his shoulder out from under the Fourth¡¯s palm.

    Purple eyes lifted, and Xanarken stood upright again, ¡°There was nothing I could do here. I left Gabriel behind, too, lest you forget. I thought the most useful thing I could do was make sure you could continue to function. This is your operation, your fortress, your Fafnir¡­Gabe and I are just here as guests.¡±

    ¡°¡­Even so¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± The Fourth said again, ¡°You know that everything I do is in service to you and this Council. I would never just leave you hanging like that.¡±

    ¡°¡­Fine¡­¡± Rylen finally relented, and his posture relaxed a little, ¡°You should know that Gabriel and the Myrmidon all woke up, if you didn¡¯t already.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t. Are they all okay?¡±

    ¡°That depends on the definition you¡¯re using.¡± The First answered vaguely, ¡°¡­Since they all did so screaming.¡±

    .

    Xanarken manifested on the officers¡¯ deck, outside the room that Furion had assigned to the mediator after their little chat. He reached a hand towards the door-buzzer button on the side-panel, and took a step back to wait. Even an Eidolon couldn¡¯t just appear in someone¡¯s private chambers. For half a moment, he started to wonder if Gabriel was even there, and took another step back to look around ¨C as if that would even do anything. Soon, however, the panel shifted aside, and a rather ragged-looking blonde ¨C with the entirety of a large downy blanket wrapped around him - stood there in the middle of it.

    ¡°Gabe¡­ Rylen told me you were up.¡±

    The red eye twitched slightly, but Gabriel took a step back and wordlessly gestured for the Eidolon to come in. The door hissed as it closed again, and Gabriel stepped over to the ¡®nest¡¯ he¡¯d made for himself on the corner-couch.

    ¡°He¡­also told me that it wasn¡¯t a pleasant awakening.¡± Xanarken added, trying to get the man to say something in answer.

    Gabriel sat back, and pulled his bare feet up onto the edge of the rectangular table, arms wrapped around his knees with the blanket around all of it, ¡°¡­I¡¯ve¡­never experiences that kind of darkness before¡­¡± He said quietly, and he lifted his right hand again briefly to see that it was still trembling, ¡°Endless, and all-consuming¡­¡±

    Xanarken stepped around the arm-rest and sat beside his mediator, an arm over those shoulders, ¡°Gabe¡­¡±

    ¡°There was something in that place¡­¡± He continued dubiously, ¡°It was¡­pawing at my mind, like it was trying to reach inside me¡­ I thought it would pull me apart, as though my soul was only held together by threads, sewn around the outside.¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    ¡°I looked over some of the footage before I came down,¡± The Eidolon said, and rubbed his hand back and forth in an effort to soothe, ¡°It came out of the warp core¡­and it¡­said your name.¡±

    ¡°Great¡­¡±

    ¡°It had a full-on conversation with itself, but to be honest, the way it paused and then continued, it¡¯s like it was somehow talking to someone. One thing that¡¯s for certain, though¡­is that the both of them were speaking in tandem. It spoke the exact same words at the exact same pace as its twin, even though they had split-up and were quite a distance away from one another.¡±

    ¡°That can only mean there¡¯s a third one somewhere.¡± Gabriel surmised, ¡°Or a fourth, or¡­who knows how many others. One of them was talking to someone.¡±

    ¡°That was my thought as well.¡±

    There was a tense silence as they both thought of the same name, and Gabriel looked down at his covered knees, ¡°Ianori.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yeah, probably.¡±

    ¡°So, he¡¯s not dead. Or, at least¡­not disposed of. Do you think it¡¯s them? Talking to him, somewhere?¡±

    ¡°Magistrate Regulus was the last one to see Sir Ianori. In all likelihood, if anyone knows that man¡¯s fate, it¡¯s him.¡± Xanarken answered, and pulled his hand back to rest his elbows over his knees, fingertips together as he looked over his shoulder, ¡°When Rylen and I talked about sending Ren into the Connington Fragment¡­one thing she was adamant about doing was asking the Magistrate what he¡¯d done with her friend. I don¡¯t think she ever got to.¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡± Gabriel shook his head, and buried his face against the blankets, ¡°¡­I screwed that up for her, too¡­¡±

    Xanarken¡¯s brow furrowed, ¡°¡­It is what it is.¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t been entirely forthcoming about what happened in there.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡± The Eidolon answered, ¡°I¡¯m the one who fried the archive. Rylen¡¯s been convinced that it was your affliction that caused the errors.¡±

    Gabriel was stunned, and lifted his head again, ¡°¡­Why didn¡¯t you call me on it?¡±

    ¡°I guess I was curious about why you¡¯d decided to omit it.¡± He answered, ¡°A Kitezan civilian, using a mantle like one of ours¡­ Even I¡¯m still trying to wrap my head around it. Given the effort it takes for us to use them, I can¡¯t even fathom how a regular guy was able to do it.¡±

    Bicolored eyes drifted, looking ahead at nothing in particular, ¡°¡­Nanotech is only supposed to be useful for visual augments, data transfers, and communications. If that Latheroux guy was even capable of knowing where the Magistrate and Aamin were going to be to start the rumor that brought us there¡­he¡¯s somehow got that mantle inside Kitez, close to the court.¡±

    ¡°Or he¡¯s got friends that are. You were all well-within the Sargonian side of the place. He could well have just been using the World Cloud.¡±

    ¡°We both know that¡¯s not true.¡±

    ¡°Which part?¡±

    ¡°About him using the World Cloud to make his mantle.¡± Gabriel explained, ¡°You would¡¯ve been able to figure who it was in that case.¡±

    Xanarken huffed a laugh, ¡°Not so.¡±

    ¡°How come?¡±

    ¡°Because tracking someone by their use of the World Cloud implies that the person using it is physically present doing so.¡± The Fourth answered, ¡°Like when Rylen tracked Ren down, to summon her to the Aegis for that mission. She had used the Cloud to turn her hair funny colors. The Eidolon can¡¯t be tracked that way¡­and neither can he.¡±

    ¡°But you could at least see that someone was using it there besides us, right¡­?¡±

    ¡°¡­No.¡±

    ¡°Then he¡¯s got his own supply somehow, too.¡± Gabriel sighed, ¡°It just gets better and better¡­ The Council is the only purveyor of nanotech on Hadira. If he¡¯s got a private source, he¡¯s somehow gotten it from us. The only Wings that have access to portable pods are the First and Sixth, like¡­when¡­¡±

    ¡°Like when what?¡±

    ¡°¡­Seth. He had three pods when we found him. He only brought one back, and gave its entire supply to Ren for her armor.¡± He answered, ¡°¡­Maybe it all stemmed from that? Latheroux or his proxies found the pods before the Magistrate could seize them?¡±

    Xanarken pressed his folded hands to his chin and nose, ¡°¡­Doesn¡¯t bode well either way. Half the reason we get away with using mantles at all is because of the protocols we have not to abuse them, the least of which being that we only manifest spontaneously in public places. Imagine him being able to appear anywhere, at any time¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been trying not to.¡±

    ¡°I have to think about this.¡± Xanarken shook his head, and pushed up to stand again, ¡°Keep it to yourself until further notice.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yeah. I know.¡±

    ¡°And be sure to thank the Captain at some point for fixing up your situation. If he hadn¡¯t mentioned it when he brought Rylen and I over, you¡¯d still be in the other room.¡±

    Gabriel¡¯s eyes flinched at the mention, and his right hand ¨C bruised from where he¡¯d walloped the man ¨C hurt all over again. He rubbed those knuckles secretly beneath the thick folds of the blanket, ¡°Only if you give Rylen shit on my behalf for putting me down there.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I think I know just the way.¡±

    .

    ¡°¡­Excuse you?¡± Rylen gawked awkwardly, ¡°You¡¯re going to have to say that again, cuz I¡¯m pretty sure it¡¯s way too early for jokes.¡±

    ¡°You heard me.¡± Xanarken crossed his arms, looking over the railing of the Fibonacci¡¯s hangar as the first of several transport-skiffs started to arrive. The image of the SSCF Sterling Rose loomed in the background, ¡°I think it would be a good idea, after what happened.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re nuts. You¡¯re certifiably nuts.¡± Rylen countered, ¡°Did Gabriel set you up for this? To ingratiate himself to me somehow as a person of higher importance than he is?¡±

    Xanarken shrugged, ¡°It wasn¡¯t his idea, but it did come out of a conversation we had last night about how you¡¯d meddled with his room assignment aboard the Aegis.¡±

    The dark Eidolon grumbled slightly, ¡°¡­He deserved it.¡±

    ¡°Sending him with Ren on that mission was my idea though, and you¡¯d never think to put me into a room like that.¡±

    Rylen gawked over his shoulder, ¡°Of course not, I¡¯d never think of putting you into any room. You don¡¯t use rooms.¡±

    ¡°Beside the point. You¡¯d never disrespect a fellow Eidolon like that.¡±

    ¡°He can¡¯t be an Eidolon. I forbid it.¡±

    ¡°Not immediately, but¡­¡± Xanarken corrected, ¡°¡­Just, a backup to one, in case what happened to you yesterday isn¡¯t a one-time thing.¡± He turned side-face to the First and grabbed the railing with both hands, then gestured to the transport-skiff as it unloaded the first of two very important bits of cargo, ¡°Given you¡¯re so adamant about bringing them back with us, when we don¡¯t even know if they¡¯re definitely finished. We all saw the footage of Ianori rising from the dead. They could be no different, given the time to recover.¡±

    Rylen gestured both hands at the sight, ¡°They¡¯re super-dead, Xanarken! Ren shot right back to the top of the list of potential next-Captains with her moves yesterday!¡± A third recycled stasis pod from the colony ship was deboarded from the skiff, containing the mummified body of the last Warp Magi. Rylen pinched the bridge of his nose, ¡°I can¡¯t just leave the bodies there anyway. It¡¯s protocol.¡±

    ¡°Protocol be damned, you don¡¯t know what they became, or what they¡¯re capable of. If they do recover from the would-be-fatal injuries Ren dealt them, there¡¯s no telling what damage they could do. Aren¡¯t you the least bit worried about how that thing literally reached into your soul and made you flinch?¡±

    The First grumbled, ¡°Of course I¡¯m worried. I didn¡¯t sleep because of it.¡±

    ¡°Then having contingencies in place ought to have been foremost on your mind.¡± Xanarken explained, ¡°Imagine if the Captain hadn¡¯t leapt-in right away. Imagine 5-10 more seconds of whatever it was doing to you¡­ You could¡¯ve had a grand mal, been put into a coma, or even killed. Then we¡¯d have three Wings without an Eidolon to lead them.¡±

    ¡°And your answer is to formalize a successor-role.¡± Rylen scoffed, ¡°I can¡¯t even process the idea. It¡¯s absolutely rat-fucking insane.¡±

    ¡°¡­Language?¡±

    The First massaged his fingers against his brow in frustration, then swatted his brother beside him with the left, ¡°The definition of Eidolon is Ghost. We are Eidolon because we are unmovable, impervious¡­immortal. The unfathomable suggestion that a mere man such as Gabriel Lugios can become one of us just blows my mind.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s practically learned everything there is about how to lead the Fourth if something ever happened to me.¡± Xanarken pointed out, ¡°Grew up following in my foot-steps, watching everything I¡¯ve said and done.¡±

    ¡°And yet no one trusts him half as much as they trust you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because he¡¯s not officially my successor; no one has to think of him as anything other than a mediator with a fancy title. If nothing ever happens that demands my stepping down, then he grows old and dies like everyone else, and I persevere as the Fourth in perpetuity.¡± He said simply, ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with being cautious. You should consider finding someone to take under your wing, like I did.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not interested in mentoring an heir that won¡¯t ever be needed.¡± The First refuted. There was a long pause then, as the two of them watched the stasis-pods containing the Warp Magi disappear beneath them, through a corridor on the lower floor. Looking down on top of them from that vantage, and seeing those twisted faces through the glass, made Rylen shake his head, ¡°We¡¯ve become akin to gods on this world, with this unexpected longevity. The tragedy that sowed the soil of the Luminary Council¡­ The blood that was spilled¡­ The secrets we¡¯ve kept. ¡­And those who don¡¯t think of us as gods don¡¯t even believe we¡¯re real anymore; that we¡¯re nothing more than artificial intelligences, loosely based on the men and women we used to be. Or that we uploaded our consciousnesses somehow, into a massive computer, and that the algorithms of our lived histories guide these mantles like puppets into the future, long after our physical deaths.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s only what people think outside the Council. Namely¡­in Kitez.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s still a popular sentiment in Sargon, too.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because-¡°

    ¡°I know, I know¡­you don¡¯t have to keep reminding me that they were sister-nations.¡± Rylen grumbled, ¡°¡­Honestly, it¡¯s so tiresome that these places continue to hold themselves up with such grandiose delusions of self-importance.¡±

    ¡°Every nation back on Earth started out exactly the same way. Why do you hold it against these colonies for doing the same thing?¡±

    ¡°Hmph. I really am no different than old King George.¡± Rylen scoffed at himself, ¡°My colony across the sea, whose independence I refuse to recognize because it seems like such a childish idea. They don¡¯t know what they¡¯re doing without me, I tell myself.¡±

    ¡°You could always just¡­you know, let them grow up like you would with a child. It¡¯s no fault of theirs that we stumbled into immortality. If not for us, these places really would be individual countries.¡±

    ¡°And they¡¯d probably have gone to war and destroyed one another by now, just like the Earth we left behind.¡± Rylen turned his gaze towards his brother, ¡°Do you think about it, ever? What might be left after the better part of four centuries?¡±

    ¡°¡­No. There¡¯s no point. We¡¯re never going to know.¡±

    ¡°Well, I do.¡± The First puffed, ¡°We and ours lived in our gleaming cities on a hill¡­ Privileged, sheltered, pampered¡­while most of the rest of that world suffered in a mire of desolation that we made.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re far too contented to heap the guilt of the entire human race upon your shoulders, brother.¡± Xanarken shook his head, ¡°First the Earth, and on to Hadira. When will you finally be satisfied?¡±

    ¡°When the Hadiran Accord is complete, and all of our wayward children are back with the family. I¡¯m tired of waiting for Kitez to see things my way.¡± He answered, and looked on grimly, that long silver hair waving in the winds of the open hangar, ¡°But¡­I can feel it in my bones, Xanarken¡­ Things are going to happen soon¡­and it¡¯ll give me exactly what I want.¡±

 Book I â€“ Chapter 33 â€“ Confront The Agonies That Bind You

    ¡°I don¡¯t like this.¡± Seth complained stiffly, ¡°At all.  I want that on the record.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s noted.¡± Rylen answered, ¡°Go on.¡±

    The teen groaned pitifully, and reached to grab the creepy helmet on the table before him.  He held it up in his hands, looking on that faceless face, with those button-like eyes just inside and below where the eyes would really be.  On the black of its base, two silver plates cascaded down from the brow to the cheeks, as if a pair of painted hands had come down from above and behind it, and covered those eyes, leaving the palm-prints behind.  He swallowed a knot in his throat, and turned the whole thing around so he could see inside the opening he¡¯d put his cranium through to wear it.

    ¡°It¡¯s like ripping off a bandage.¡± The Eidolon commented, ¡°You won¡¯t even know you¡¯re wearing it once it¡¯s on.¡±

    Seth could feel his heart pounding in his ears, and his hands trembled to pull the mask closer.  At the last, he rejected it, and fumbled at trying to put it back on the table, sending it flying off the back of it instead, ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry¡­I can¡¯t¡­¡±

    Rylen looked on, unimpressed, and crossed his arms, ¡°Why not?¡±

    The teen could feel the weight of that question, ¡°¡­S-sir¡­the Inquisition division¡­gives me the major creeps.¡± He explained, just as he¡¯d noted before, ¡°The masks scare me.  They¡¯re¡­not right.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re built to purpose.¡± The First countered, ¡°They give you access to databases and research systems that no one outside the corps can utilize.  They also anonymize you.  They also give you the option of putting something else over the masks, from your perspective.¡±

    ¡°¡­They do¡­?¡±

    Rylen deadpanned, ¡°No.  This is a serious division with serious researchers.¡±

    Seth deflated where he stood, ¡°Permission to leave, sir.¡±

    ¡°¡­Dismissed.¡± He answered with a sigh.  The young blonde bowed his head and turned, all but fleeing the office.  Rylen shook his head, and went to fetch the mask from where it had wound-up behind his desk, ¡°What do I do about this?¡± He asked aloud to the visage, ¡°The image of the Inquisitors is supposed to inspire unease¡­but not to the talent I¡¯m trying to recruit.¡±

    Seth bounced off the door to his brother¡¯s room before he had a chance to tap the panel and request for it to open, and once it did, he rushed inside, smacking his back against the still-closing panel as it shut behind him.  He slid down until he felt the floor under him, and tried to calm his shaking hands, gripping them around his upturned knees.  He practically jumped out of his skin when a call-request lit-up on his glasses, and he grasped one palm to his chest as he realized it was his brother, ¡°F-Furion!  It was awful!¡±

    ¡°It must¡¯ve been if you ran into my room for cover.  What happened?¡± The Captain¡¯s voice answered, a tiny image of him displayed on that glass overlay.

    ¡°I just can¡¯t do it with those stupid masks¡­!¡± Seth answered, ¡°Why¡¯d he have to make them so freakish!?  What point does it serve!?¡±

    ¡°Calm down, take a breath.¡± Furion advised; he stood in the hall just outside the Aegis¡¯ briefing room, ¡°Isn¡¯t Ren up there still?  She didn¡¯t have to come to the mission review.  Maybe you can blow off some of that anxiety with her.¡±

    Seth lifted his head, but as he looked around, it became painfully clear the room was devoid of life beyond his own, ¡°No, Miss Ren isn¡¯t here¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, call her.  I¡¯m stuck here for a while longer.  Half of us are in some kind of trouble over what happened.¡±

    ¡°¡­Trouble?  Why trouble?¡±

    ¡°Because we lost.¡± He answered, rather matter-of-factly, ¡°Ren single-handedly took down two targets that two-thirds of the team fell against.  We have a lot of things to go over.  ¡­I have to get back in there.  I¡¯ll call you later.¡±

    ¡°Okay¡­bye¡­¡±

    .

    Ren was two floors down and several compartments away, struggling with a ¡®should I¡¯ or ¡®shouldn¡¯t I¡¯ conundrum.  A handful of officers went by her, curiously looking at her odd behavior, but then one of them made-up Ren¡¯s mind for her, and waved her hand in front of the door-knocker pad on the frame leading into Gabriel¡¯s room.  The gasp Ren gusped was enough to spook her, and she quickly trotted over to the door before the man inside dismissed it as a ding-dong-ditch prank.  The officer who¡¯d triggered it just laughed and waved ¡®you¡¯re welcome.¡¯

    And the door opened¡­a little bit.

    ¡°Oh!  Hi.  Hey.¡± Ren stammered, looking at that tired face.

    Gabriel blinked¡­one eye at a time, ¡°¡­Hi.¡±

    Ren deadpanned at him, ¡°You look like butt.¡±

    ¡°I feel it.¡±

    ¡°This a bad time?¡±

    ¡°Probably.¡±

    ¡°Can I come in anyway?¡±

    He stared quizzically for a moment, but then pulled away from the sliver of the gap, and let it open the rest of the way, ¡°¡­Yeah, sure.¡±

    Blue coat-tails swayed as the reinstated Fafnir stepped through, ¡°I heard you¡¯d been stuck in one of the lower-deck rooms before.¡± She started, trying to break the ice, ¡°You must be relieved to get out of there.  Going from penthouse to hostel must¡¯ve been a culture-shock.¡±

    ¡°Rylen has a strange sense of humor.¡± He explained, the edges of a large quilt-like blanket hanging off of him, ¡°He¡¯s¡­kind of vindictive, though Xanarken tries to dress it up as being simple pettiness.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    ¡°Oh¡­¡± She answered, and watched the exhausted mediator shuffle by, one corner of the blanket dragging on the floor behind him.  He went back to the nest he¡¯d made on the corner-couch, and Ren looked around the room, ¡°¡­How are you holding up, after yesterday?¡±

    ¡°Trouble sleeping.¡± He answered, and gracelessly melted back into his spot.  The television was on ¨C and paused ¨C on some show or another, ¡°¡­Nightmares.¡±

    ¡°When you dropped, it was like you¡¯d been shot in the head by some sniper.¡± She said as she came around, ¡°Annashi said your eyes didn¡¯t stop the glowy Limitless thing until roughly the moment the Magi went down.¡±

    ¡°¡­Who?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­one of the¡­other Fafnir.  The one who flew the get-away ship.¡±

    ¡°Oh.  ¡­Right.¡±

    An awkward silence filled the room after that.  Ren wasn¡¯t sure how to get to what she¡¯d meant to discuss.  Gabriel looked so tired, he probably wouldn¡¯t remember having that conversation even if she did start it.

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry I fucked up your show.¡± He said in spite of her, face buried in his hands, ¡°To be totally honest¡­I¡¯ve been trying to figure out if there was anything I could¡¯ve done to fix it, but¡­I just keep coming back to how I just¡­shouldn¡¯t have been there in the first place.  The whole point of the mission was to either get Aamin out or make sure he didn¡¯t.  I could¡¯ve just asked you to do me a solid and roast the Magistrate extra-crispy¡­go hog-wild¡­and hoped the little shit got caught-up in the conflagration.  But¡­stupid me¡­  I massively underestimated how strong you were, and thought the better idea was to impose myself, as if I was actually helping keep an eye out for you.¡±

    ¡°¡­Gabe¡­¡± Ren said quietly.

    ¡°I¡¯ve long-prided myself on being successful because I knew stuff.¡± He continued, pinching the tips of his thumbs on either side of the curve of his nose, right between his eyes, index fingers pressed to his brow, ¡°But¡­the Fafnir were always my blind-spot.  I actively avoided knowing anything about them.  I never thought I¡¯d need to know anything, after all.  But that refusal to just¡­grow up, and get over myself, led to a perfect storm of problems.¡±

    ¡°¡­Can I just¡­stop you there¡­¡± She interrupted, and came up behind him, hands on the back of the couch, ¡°I won¡¯t lie to you; these last two weeks, I¡¯ve¡­had a hard time not blaming you for how that mission turned out.  I took off to clear my head, and when I got back, and saw you outside the briefing room¡­I suddenly realized how wrong it was to drop the whole thing on you like I had no role to play.  I held back¡­for a bunch of reasons¡­most of them selfish.  ¡­And, maybe I didn¡¯t think of it that way in the moment¡­or for a while after¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­Mhm¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­And I kind of still don¡¯t¡­¡±

    He turned to gawp at her over a shoulder, squinted eyes blinking slowly, ¡°¡­Mhm?¡±

    ¡°¡­Yeah, no, it was totally your fault.¡± She sighed, and crouched down so only her fingers and the top of her head were visible past the couch cushions, ¡°Sorry, Gabe.¡±

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s fine.¡± He turned forward again, and rubbed his face with one palm, trying to wake himself up a bit, ¡°I¡¯ve been nothing but a bump in the road for you this whole time.  There¡¯s no place for a mediator in the Fafnir club.¡±

    Ren rocked forward and planted her knees at the base of the couch, rising up a little to see over the back of it, ¡°You¡¯ve¡­unfortunately been thrown head-first into a world that doesn¡¯t value negotiations.¡± She agreed ¨C or admitted, she wasn¡¯t sure which, ¡°We don¡¯t ask questions around here.  We just¡­make problems go away with brute force.¡±

    ¡°¡­I know.  I¡¯ve¡­dipped my toes in that method lately myself.¡±

    Ren¡¯s brows lifted skeptically, ¡°Taking the Prince hostage for a minute with the threat of glowing eyeball-lights isn¡¯t exactly a brute force thing¡­¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t mean him.  I¡­meant the Captain.¡±

    ¡°¡­What.¡±

    Gabriel slipped his right arm out from under the thin blanket, and flexed his fingers a bit; his knuckles were a subtle brownish color compared to his usual pale affect, ¡°These past two weeks haven¡¯t been my best, and I guess I let it get to my head when I saw the room I¡¯d been assigned.  I¡­blamed him for it, like he¡¯d done it to me as punishment for the mission failure.¡±

    With a head-shake, Ren pushed herself up to stand, and heaved herself over the couch to join the man on the cushions.  She slouched back and crossed her arms, ¡°I could¡¯ve told you he¡¯d never do something like that, no matter how upset he was about it.  ¡­You¡¯re the one that put the shiner on his jaw, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    He huffed a laugh at his own expense, ¡°He barely budged.  I didn¡¯t even realize I¡¯d swung at him till I thought I¡¯d broken my whole hand for it.  I just¡­stopped thinking.¡±

    ¡°You threw-hands with the Captain of the Fafnir Knights, and walked away.¡± She tilted her head towards him, and leaned slightly in his direction, ¡°I don¡¯t know if I should be offended or proud.¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t be proud of that.  It was a really bad moment.¡± Gabriel shook his head, ¡°What¡¯s worse is that my affliction got away from me in the heat of the moment.¡±

    That made Ren¡¯s whole demeanor change, ¡°¡­Your eyes lit-up in the middle of that tussle?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°Gabriel Lugios, you are the luckiest man alive.¡±

    ¡°How do you figure that?  It seems to me like I¡¯m nothing but bad luck.¡±

    ¡°To any other Fafnir, seeing those eyes in a conflict-situation is a green-light to terminate the opponent.  We¡¯re trained from day one to not mess around with that stuff.  We can never be sure what form that power will take, and we never assume to know the fullest extent of it even if we¡¯ve seen it before.  You¡¯re lucky because you did it in front of Furion.  He¡¯s probably the only one who could¡¯ve ignored the instinct¡­especially given you were actively trying to fight him at the time.¡±

    Gabriel wasn¡¯t sure if he was hurt or confused, and he looked at her skeptically, ¡°You¡¯re saying that if it was you, you would¡¯ve put me down?¡±

    ¡°¡­Okay, maybe me and Furion.¡± She amended, ¡°¡­But I know you; that gives me an unfair advantage.¡±

    ¡°Do you, though?¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve kept you at arm¡¯s length this whole time.  Did everything I could to make your experience miserable.  I-¡°

    Ren held a finger up to her lips, and he went quiet, ¡°¡­And yet, here I am, trying to reach you.¡±

    He made a face, ¡°You¡¯re back in your blues and have the home-field advantage.  You¡¯re¡­like a whole different person from who you came to me as.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not untrue¡­  I am more comfortable here on the Aegis, especially since clearing the air with Furion¡­  But I don¡¯t intend to just move on from you because I¡¯m home again.¡± She explained, and twisted in her seat, resting her right elbow on the top of the nearest cushion, and curled that arm back to press her knuckles to one cheek, ¡°You¡¯re not the same person I met back then, either.  Who would you be if we went our separate ways now?¡±

    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t even know anymore.¡±

    Ren lifted her left arm, carefully extending her hand, and made a slow sweeping gesture over herself; her long blue jacket reforged itself into its shorter red variant, ¡°Once the Aegis gets back to Trazad, we can go back to doing stuff that¡¯s more your speed.  Just two mediators, going around solving problems the nice way.¡± She laughed quietly, and leaned into her shoulder.

    That look ¨C the casual aloofness of it, the way her hair cascaded over arm and pillow, that relaxed posture ¨C Gabriel felt his heart skip a few beats.  It was a weird feeling, and for a moment, he actually thought he was in pain, and he turned with a hand on his chest, ¡°¡­Oof¡­got a palpitation or two there¡­¡± He said as he cleared his throat.

    ¡°You¡¯ve worn yourself out so severely, you¡¯ll make yourself sick,¡± Ren commented, ¡°Why don¡¯t you try to get a few hours in?  I¡¯ll stick around, and keep the nightmares away.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that...¡±

    ¡°You know I¡¯m good for it.  Just put your show back on and let your worries go.¡±

    Those two-colored eyes stared at her ¨C confused, perplexed, baffled ¨C and he tilted his head slightly, ¡°¡­I¡­don¡¯t know what to do with this information.¡±

    She snorted a laugh, ¡°If you don¡¯t lay down and close your eyes willingly, I will sit on you.¡± She teased, and reached towards the coffee-table with her recovering arm; it didn¡¯t take much to simply tap a limp finger against a touch-screen button.  The volume of the broadcast returned, and Ren flopped back into her spot, ¡°Oh, I know this series.  You¡¯re way behind if this is the furthest you¡¯ve gotten.¡±

    ¡°¡­Y-yeah¡­¡±

 Book I â€“ Chapter 34 â€“ The Mentee Becomes The Mentor

    The waters off the coast of Oceanside were choppy and rough as the Duchy¡¯s flagship traveled above.  A large storm had come through from further west, and it was all rather nerve-wracking for the mild-hearted Duke Mardu.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, dearest,¡± Far¡¯nah tried to reassure, looking out the windows by her own seat, ¡°Where we¡¯re going isn¡¯t floating on the water.¡±

    ¡°Where are we going?  And why in such dismal conditions?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to show you something for some time, but was never really sure when or how to do it.¡± She explained vaguely, ¡°But I feel that the time has come to show you why I¡¯m so confident about our prospects against the Council.  To allay your worries that things are getting tense.¡±

    ¡°And that something is out in the middle of the open ocean?¡±

    ¡°Only 23 miles out.¡± She corrected, ¡°We should be able to see it soon.¡±

    What came into view shortly after, even through the whipping winds and rain, was a standing platform the size of a city block, and had buildings atop as well.  It stood like a small castle, with a wide courtyard for the flagship to land on.  An entourage went out to meet them, bringing with them a mobile shelter, and sallied it up directly against the ship¡¯s rear doors.

    ¡°Welcome, your Grace.¡± A woman at the head of the procession said, and gave a bow with an arm across her chest, ¡°If you like, we can go right away.¡±

    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s.¡± She nodded, and she ¨C as well as Mardu, and a meager number of Magistrates who¡¯d come with them ¨C stepped out onto the platform.  FlexiGlas walls prevented the gales from coming at them, but the open front let in a thin mist.  With everyone accounted for, they each took a hand-hold into their grips, and held on as the lightly-hovering gondola-like stage began to move forward.  Its three segments slithered forward like a toy-snake, and stopped only when it was centered over an area marked-off by yellow warning-paint.  All around that circular perimeter, warning lights flashed, and it began to descend.  Concrete and steel surrounds changed as the massive elevator-shaft lowered, switching to thick, transparent paneling.  Writhing waters hammered against it as they descended past the surface, and the rush quieted to a low, droning purr, vanishing altogether as the chute entered the black abyss.

    ¡°¡­I can¡¯t even begin to wonder what you¡¯re keeping down here.¡± Mardu said warily, nervously watching fish come up from below, and vanish above them, as they continued that long trek down.

    ¡°You¡¯ll see shortly.¡± Far¡¯nah beamed.  She glanced back at the gathered, ¡°You¡¯ll want to be facing this way, though.¡±  Eyes looked to her skeptically, and the FlexiGlas walls receded.  She turned her gaze upward, ¡°Cut the lights.  It¡¯ll be easier to see that way.¡±

    The chute¡¯s illumination shut off as well, and submerged them into near-total darkness.  What they could see ¨C coming up from the depths, some ways out ¨C initially looked like a cliff-side.  A fault-line, perhaps, that had risen to prominence on the sandy ocean floor.  But as it came closer, it started to look¡­smoother than rock.  Spotlights shone on it, and the behemoth sight came better into view as the elevator lowered down past the rim.

    Mardu was the first to realize what it was, ¡°¡­That¡¯s¡­a colony ship.¡±

    ¡°That is the SSCF Tuonela.¡± Far¡¯nah clarified, and turned around to present it to the group; besides Mardu, there were four Magistrates, all diehard supporters and eager to see the project ¨C Tallus was not among them, ¡°And we have been painstakingly refurbishing it for the last 17 years.¡±

    ¡°¡­If it¡¯s been here this whole time, that must have been a massive undertaking.¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t quite as bad as you think, dear.¡± She lifted her arms up proudly, ¡°This ship was designed to traverse the endless vacuum of space.  Crashing into the water was the worst it endured.  After all those years¡­it¡¯s perfectly serviceable.¡±

    ¡°But all the way down here?  At the bottom of the ocean?  How did you even¡­?¡± Mardu was mystified, staring up at the face of the ship; even with the spotlights, it was all they could see at that depth, ¡°What about the passengers and cargo?  The crew?¡±

    ¡°¡­They¡¯re all still here.¡± She answered, almost too easily, ¡°Unmoved, untouched.¡±

    Mardu looked on skeptically, ¡°¡­Why?  How?¡±

    ¡°Just come aboard.  You¡¯ll find out everything.¡± She held her hand out towards him, ¡°You won¡¯t be disappointed.  Come¡­and see for yourself why you have nothing to fear.¡±

    The elevator finally came to a stop, and a new tunnel opened before them, heading forward across the sandy bottom, and straight up to the ship.

    .

    With a few hours having passed, and one particular teenager being left dejected by the realization that literally everyone he knew was busy, Ren glanced over at the sleeping figure of her mentor.  Arms were wrapped around one of the couch-cushions, face buried into the underside of it, blanket overtop; it was the first real sleep he¡¯d had in several weeks.  Not wanting to bother him, but also desperately needing a drink, she carefully lifted herself up from the couch, wary not to make too much of a jostle in so doing.

    There wasn¡¯t too much of a difference between her own room and a lower officer¡¯s quarters ¨C at least in the kitchen area ¨C but since it was a borrowed space, there wasn¡¯t much in it beyond the barebones staples.  She tapped her chin with a finger as she beheld a fridge that only had water-bottles in it, ¡°¡­I could request service¡­  Not much point stocking-up if we¡¯re going to land back in Trazad soon.¡±

    ¡°¡­What are you looking for?¡± Gabriel¡¯s voice abruptly asked.

    Ren lifted her head, and shut the fridge, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re awake.  Was I that loud just now?¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡± He answered, head popped-up from where he¡¯d wedged it under the pillow, looking around blearily before he finally pushed himself up onto an elbow and rubbed his eyes, ¡°I think I was ready anyway¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re probably famished.  There¡¯s nothing in this place.¡± She commented, and came back around to the main room, ¡°I was just about to order something in when you spoke-up.¡±

    Gabriel pinched the bridge of his nose, and shook his head, ¡°I think I¡¯d rather take a walk¡­¡±

    With nowhere in particular to go, but a massive headache to manage, Ren dragged her hapless mentor towards the mess hall; coffee was on order.  She offered the second cup to him, since he kept his distance from the public concourse, and looked on at him skeptically, ¡°¡­You sure you slept?  The bags under your eyes could carry water.¡±

    ¡°I feel like I¡¯m in limbo.¡± He answered, and blew through the small hole in the lid before taking a sip, ¡°How do you describe getting the wind knocked out of you, but it¡¯s¡­not just physically disorienting.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re no the only one who took a hit back there, Gabe.  Maybe you should talk to the Myrmidon who were with you?¡± Ren suggested, ¡°They went down and woke up at the same time as you.¡±

    ¡°Pass¡­¡± He grumbled, and turned to start walking without aim.

    Ren made a face at him, but moved to catch up, holding her own cup with both hands, ¡°Why though?  You shared the same experience.  Maybe you can make sense of it if you get another perspective.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not looking for perspective.¡± Gabriel answered, ¡°I don¡¯t think they have it anyway.¡±

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s grim.¡± She shook her head, ¡°Well, if you have no particular destination in mind at the moment, then maybe we can go keep Seth company.  He¡¯s been camped outside the briefing room for hours.¡±

    ¡°Why there?¡±

    ¡°Members of the team who fought and fell to the Magi are in a forward-briefing to review what went wrong, and figure out what could have been done better.¡± She answered, and stepped up beside the man with a few fingers gently on one arm, ¡°Which basically means that everyone except Annashi and I is in there.¡±

    ¡°I know why Annashi wouldn¡¯t be, but¡­why not you?  And what do you mean, fell to the Magi?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m the one who finished the fight.¡± She answered, and nudged her head towards the elevators as she started to step forward, ¡°After you dropped, the warp core opened, and we found the three Warp Magi that we expected to find.  One was long-dead, practically mummified¡­the other two were fused together, with the same kind of screwy biological carapace-like armor that Ianori was developing on our way out of Kitez.  We have every reason to believe it¡¯s for the same reason; a rift opened in that engine, and it corrupted two of the bodies inside.  We just¡­have no idea how long ago it happened.¡±

    The elevator opened, and the pair stepped in, with Ren clicking the button for a higher deck.

    ¡°The difference between what it did to Ianori in the span of time between getting spat out of the rift, and the Magistrate catching-up to us¡­and what I later saw of what he did inside the Magistrate¡¯s ship¡­¡± She continued, ¡°Ianori couldn¡¯t do what those Magi did.  The extent of the transformation¡­the abilities it had¡­the things I saw squirming beneath the surface of its skin¡­¡± She shuddered slightly, ¡°Maybe that¡¯s just the difference between two hours and two weeks.  Or the better part of four centuries.¡±The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°I see¡­  Xanarken was a bit more sparing with those details.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯d he tell you?¡±

    ¡°When I was out, I felt a presence.  Xanarken said that presence came out of the core¡­said my name¡­spoke aloud as if talking to someone who wasn¡¯t there.¡± He explained, and the elevator opened again on a new floor, ¡°That¡¯s why I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any sense talking to the Myrmidon.  It didn¡¯t want them.  Whoever it was talking to¡­they wanted me.¡±

    ¡°Do you have any idea why?¡±

    ¡°Not in the least.¡± He said, and spotted their wayward third not much further ahead.

    ¡°And there¡¯s no chance that the presence you felt said anything to you, like it did to us?¡±

    Seth perked up when he spotted the red out the corner of his eye, and quickly came running their way, ¡°Miss Ren!  Mr. Gabriel!¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re still not out?¡± Ren was surprised, and let the teen use her as a stopping-block as he collided with her in a hug, ¡°It¡¯s been half a day already.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what the hold-up is¡­  I guess it was serious¡­¡±

    ¡°I mean, it was, but¡­¡± She answered, then pet the teen¡¯s arm and pulled back, ¡°Hang on, I¡¯ll sneak in and figure out what¡¯s going on.¡± She suggested, and tip-toed up to the door.  After a moment of consideration, she looked back at the mediator and pointed to her right, ¡°You should be over here, and just wait.¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡±

    She was already through the door before an answer could come, and Gabriel shook his head, and stepped over to where she¡¯d pointed.

    Seth inched closer with every minute that nothing happened, until he was practically up against the door all over again.  Just as he was about to put his ear to the panel, it abruptly slid aside, and the Fafnir who¡¯d been trapped within came flying out with a rather particular haste.  The lights hadn¡¯t even come on yet when half of them had already scattered to the wind, fleeing lest they be called back on second thought.

    Gabriel stepped closer to help lift the teen back upright, ¡°Stand your ground, kid.  When you¡¯re a full Knight, cowering won¡¯t be an option.¡±

    ¡°¡­I wasn¡¯t cowering¡­¡± The teen puffed, ¡°¡­Okay maybe a little bit.¡±

    Within, Ren looked rather proud of herself, and Furion ¨C exhausted as he was ¨C was slouched over a podium at the front of the room.  She tilted her head at Seth¡¯s entrance, ¡°Seems they needed saving a second time.¡± She mused, carefully noting that Gabriel was nowhere in sight.

    ¡°I thought it would never end¡­¡± Furion mumbled into his crossed arms, savoring the feeling of the woman¡¯s hands petting through his hair.  He looked up after a moment, spying her there ahead of him, ¡°After all that, we still couldn¡¯t figure out what anyone could¡¯ve done¡­differently¡­?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Ren smiled innocently, and crossed her own arms across the front of the podium, putting her nearly nose-to-nose with the Captain, ¡°You got quiet all of a sudden.¡±

    Those teal eyes looked aside to the colors going over her shoulders, then back again, ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell you were in red in the dark.¡±

    ¡°I am dual-committed.¡± She reminded, ¡°For a little while longer, anyway.  Now, I believe your brother has been rather patiently waiting for you.¡±

    Seth¡¯s eyes lit up with desperation, and he clasped his hands together in front of his chin, ¡°Please, I¡¯m begging.¡±

    Furion sighed and pushed himself up, stretching his arms forward to shake the stiffness out, ¡°Alright, alright¡­  That meeting with Lord Rylen must¡¯ve really unsettled you if you¡¯re willing to wait that whole time.¡± He stepped out from behind that lonely lectern and reached his right hand behind his partner¡¯s waist to pull her close, and leaned in to set a kiss to the side of her neck, ¡°You coming?¡±

    ¡°Not yet.  I¡¯m working on something.  I just came to save the two of you from yourselves.¡± She answered as she slid her half-empty coffee cup into the Captain¡¯s hands, and gestured towards the door as she started to walk towards it.  Once she was out though, she made a wide turn to the right, and shooed the two Rydells towards the elevators after the rest of the Fafnir, ¡°I¡¯ll catch up later tonight.  You two have fun.  It¡¯s been a long day.¡±

    Furion barely had time to watch her go as she stalled in one spot to wave them off, and Seth demanded his attention right away.  It was only when they were finally at the elevator bay that he was able to look back down the hall and spotted Ren walking the opposite direction with a different man.  Furion sucked in a breath and shook his head, ¡°¡­Sneaky.  What are you up to, Ren?¡±

    She glanced back over her shoulder just as Seth shoved his older brother through the doors.

    ¡°So, all that was just to give Seth someone to talk to?¡± Gabriel wondered, ¡°Had me worried there for a minute.¡±

    Ren nodded, ¡°They¡¯re very close.  Seth was brought into the world in an awkward time where both Furion and their father were Fafnir together, before Furion became Captain himself.  As a result, Seth spent a lot of time on the Aegis between deployments.  To say that he¡¯s like the little brother to everyone on the team would be an understatement¡­¡±

    ¡°Is that how you met him?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡± She looked over and smiled, hands loosely held behind her back, ¡°I think he was like¡­10 at the time.  I was still pretty new here at the time, and I actually thought he was Furion¡¯s kid at first, but¡­not so.¡±

    ¡°Is that relief I hear in your voice?¡±

    Ren scoffed teasingly, and put a hand against her chest, ¡°I¡¯m clutching my pearls.¡±

    ¡°Nice dodge.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve picked up a thing or two in my time.¡± She mused, ¡°So when are you going to tell me about yourself?¡±

    ¡°You basically already know the highlights.¡± Gabriel shrugged, ¡°What more is there to say?¡±

    ¡°You think so poorly of yourself.¡± Ren sighed, and nudged the man with an elbow, ¡°It¡¯s no wonder you think everyone else does, too.¡±

    ¡°Am I wrong about that?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a saying about how you should put out into the universe the energy you want to receive from it.  Somewhere along the path you¡¯ve led, someone made you think you were less than, and it seems to me like Lord Xanarken has tried to prop you up, either to prove you wrong or to give you the chance to prove them wrong.¡±  She paused and glanced at him, and rounded a corner towards a different elevator bay.  She clicked the down button and waited, shoulder against the wall, ¡°What happened?¡±

    Gabriel wasn¡¯t sure how to respond, and his brow crinkled in confusion, ¡°¡­You really think that?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve only been around you for a little while, but I¡¯ve seen the mask you put on when you face the world, and I¡¯ve seen what you look like when you take it off.  I won¡¯t lie; the masked version of you is a bit of a stiff.  But the real you?  The one that joked about buying the warp core a drink if you had to get any closer?  The one that helped me get out of the bottom of my shower?  That guy¡¯s decent.  I want to see more of him.¡±

    The elevator doors opened, and Ren tilted her head towards it as she stepped inside.  Gabriel followed after her, the words echoing in his head, ¡°It was Captain Gallifey.¡±

    That got her eyes to widen, ¡°¡­How so?¡±

    Seems like half a lifetime ago now; I hardly remember what things were like before that.¡± He started, looking up as he thought on it, ¡°I had just been out of boot for a few months.  Xanarken had set me up with a mediator mentor to get me started, like how you are with me now.  After nearly a decade with the Council, I was starting to feel like I¡¯d found my way, and then he ¨C Captain Gallifey, I mean ¨C tore me down.  There was this big incident with an afflicted girl; she¡¯d probably been¡­a year or two out from the onset, and had a rally poor grasp of how to control it.¡±

    The chamber opened again, and Ren led the way out, listening carefully.

    ¡°Everything she touched would crack and shatter, as if she was the very definition of cold.¡± He continued, not even sure where they were going, ¡°The Inquisitors had gotten her, and had brought her aboard the Bulwark.  They were having a hard time getting the SD Helmet on her, because every time she flailed and smacked it, the thing would just disintegrate.  It happened that my mentor and I were aboard for something else, and we caught wind of what was going on¡­  I saw the fear on that girl like a jacket.  No one was listening to her.  She was terrified and people were trying to submerge her into soundless darkness.  ¡­So I tried to help.  I lit all my shit up and tried to show her how to calm it down.  It was chaos¡­  People were yelling, she could hardly focus, I was yelling, trying to get her attention¡­and then Gallifey came in, firing on all cylinders.  He was such a flighty fucking tool¡­¡± Gabriel clenched his fists at the anger for it all, ¡°He accused us all of screwing around, pulled a gun, and just¡­shot her.¡±

    ¡°¡­How¡¯s he still Captain in that case?¡± Ren wondered, looking back at him with both skepticism and worry.

    ¡°Because he only shot her in the shoulder.  I was the one who killed her.¡±

    Ren had her hand out towards a door-panel, but paused, ¡°¡­What?¡±

    ¡°He scared the Hell out of me when he pulled the gun.  I lost focus on what I was trying to do and¡­she was right there.  I didn¡¯t even realize what I¡¯d done until the Inquisitors stuck the SD Helmet on me instead, and in those few seconds that it takes for it to form the seal, I heard Gallifey railing against me for what I¡¯d done.  He said it was proof of what I really was, and that Xanarken was an idiot for ever thinking I could be trusted.¡±

    ¡°I bet that went over well.¡±

    Gabriel lifted his head, about to answer, but found the words catch in his throat.  He hadn¡¯t even noticed the Aegis disappearing, nor the appearance of whatever this was; a huge, blank room, paneled in square tiles from floor to ceiling, and Ren there in the middle in with her Sixth Wing uniform on, ¡°¡­What is this¡­?  And why are you¡­?¡±

    ¡°In my blues again?¡± She finished, and held up her right hand to present the space, ¡°This is a specialized training room.  I needed my Sixth credentials to get into it.  In any case¡­your story just made it all the more clear that what I brought you here for was necessary.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t follow.¡±

    Ren bobbed her head, ¡°You¡¯ve got a bit of a complex surrounding your affliction.  You won¡¯t let it out unless pressured to do so, and it still has the capacity to come out when you don¡¯t want it to.  You¡¯ve got enough control over it to turn it on, cut something up, and shut it off again¡­but that seems to be the extent of it.  Do you even know what you¡¯re fully capable of?¡±

    Gabriel stared at her incredulously, ¡°¡­Weren¡¯t you listening?  The moral of the story is that I shouldn¡¯t use my affliction.  At all.¡±

    ¡°I think that¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong.  And where Captain Gallifey made his biggest mistake.¡± She shook her head, ¡°You¡¯ve had 32 years of opportunity to master your Limitless technique and yet you¡¯ve squandered it.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t squander anything.  I was enthusiastically encouraged to not do anything with it.  Not just by Gallifey¡¯s assessment of me¡­but because Rylen doesn¡¯t want me using it, either.¡± He corrected, and crossed his arms defensively, ¡°I¡¯m the only person other than Caeros to have been born with this curse.  He¡¯s¡­probably right about not wanting me to get used to using it, lest I create a calamity like Caeros did.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to transport a fleet of mile-long colony ships across the unknown emptiness of space and time.¡± She pointed out, ¡°I¡¯m asking you to show me what you¡¯ve got.  Just here, in this room.¡±

    He stared awkwardly, eyes darting one way, then the other, then back at Ren, and Gabriel held his coffee-cup a bit higher, ¡°¡­I¡­don¡¯t know what I¡¯ve got.¡±

    ¡°So, we¡¯re on the same page then.  We both know you can cut through stuff.  In my experience fighting Limitless users, that¡¯s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.¡± She explained, and turned around to gesture at the back wall.  Three of the massive 6¡¯x6¡¯ tiles hovered out of place, and came to a stop around her, floating a few feet off the ground.  She turned back to her mentor, ¡°Tell me how it works.  How do you see what it does, and how do you decide when to activate it?¡±

    ¡°¡­Right now?¡±

    ¡°Yup.¡± She smiled innocently, ¡°Light all your shit up.¡±

    Those eyes stared in confusion and wonder, and he blinked hard like he wasn¡¯t sure he was interpreting the situation right.  With a reticent pause, he shook his head, and reached back for the tie around his ponytail.  He pulled the length of it over his right shoulder, but then hesitated, ¡°Why are you suddenly so interested in this?¡±

    ¡°Cuz you said it got away from you while in a playing at fisticuffs with my Captain.¡± She answered simply, ¡°Not sure if you¡¯ve gleaned it yet, but I¡¯m rather fond of the man.  And since I¡¯m fond of you too, I¡¯d really prefer that neither of you ever end up in a situation where you end up using your gifts against each other in a potentially fatal way.  So¡­let¡¯s go, Gabriel Lugios.¡±

    Another palpitation, and he had to suck in a reassuring breath just to set his mind right.  He finally pulled the hair-tie away though, and stuffed it into the cuff of his long fingerless glove.  With a hard swallow, he closed his eyes¡­and lit it all up.

 Book I â€“ Chapter 35 â€“ Drink Deep Of The Truth Of The World, And Behold Its Wonders

    Seth could hardly breathe for how much he¡¯d eaten, and fell back into the cushions of his brother¡¯s substantive couch. Once he was certain said brother seemed enough at ease, he threw his arms forward to hoist himself back upright again, and stared at the man, both hands perched on his knees, ¡°What in the world took all damn day!?¡± He protested loudly, ¡°I thought it would be maybe two hours. You were in there for seven!¡±

    Furion stopped mid-dressing, one eye staring through the neck-hole of a pared-down regular T-shirt. He blinked, but then pulled the rest of it down over himself and gave a shrug, ¡°The crew is worried. We took the extra time. By the end of it, they were all frustrated that they couldn¡¯t do anything, and that Ren had to save literally everyone all on her own.¡±

    That made the teen eat his words a little, but since he was already full of food, there wasn¡¯t much room left, and the sentiment just came spilling back out again, ¡°I don¡¯t even know what happened. You sent me away like a gnat.¡±

    ¡°A gnat shaped like a cadet who is also shaped like my little brother. Yes, I sent you away, and I¡¯d do it again.¡± Furion countered, and sat across from his younger counterpart as he snagged one of the cherry tomato-halves left on Seth¡¯s plate, ¡°The way it turned out, I shouldn¡¯t have even let you come in the first place.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not like anyone could¡¯ve known it would be that way.¡±

    ¡°Lord Rylen probably had an inclination towards knowing.¡± Furion countered, and popped the tomato slice into his mouth, ¡°I guess hindsight is 20/20 though. Looking back on your misadventure into Kitez, and the fact that the Sterling Rose lit-up at the same time your void rift had, I should¡¯ve been the first person to say you couldn¡¯t come.¡±

    ¡°Aw¡­¡±

    ¡°And considering they had Lugios standing around waiting for something to go wrong¡­¡±

    ¡°Mr. Gabriel didn¡¯t want to be there either.¡± Seth argued, and crossed his arms, ¡°Something something not his job something.¡±

    ¡°Well, he¡¯s not wrong¡­¡±

    ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like him. Why are you suddenly sympathizing?¡±

    Furion leaned way back into the cushy-chair he¡¯d sat in, elbows up on the huge arm-rests, fingers laced together above his lap, ¡°¡­I¡¯m ambivalent towards him. I think I just disliked what he represented before, while Ren was gone.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ Because she got assigned to him.¡±

    The Captain nodded lightly.

    ¡°You know, it still peeves me that neither of you two ever told me you were a thing. I was there the entire time! And not one word! Not a peep!¡± Seth threw his arms up into the air in frustration, only then to follow after them and rise to stand, pacing around the large apartment, ¡°Do you know how weird it is to suddenly be exposed to you guys being all super-affectionate?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve been around us for the entire time we¡¯ve been together. How did you not notice?¡± The elder parried, the back of his head pivoting on the cushion as he watched Seth prowl around behind him, ¡°You were there the first time I brought her back home.¡±

    ¡°¡­I was twelve when you did that. I didn¡¯t think anything of it.¡±

    ¡°Well, there you have it. The blind eyes of a child simply weren¡¯t open to the possibilities. In any case¡­if you want the formal announcement, then yes, Ren and I are dating. And before you ask ¨C because I know you¡¯re going to - yes, mom and pops bother me about whether I¡¯ve proposed every time I visit.¡±

    ¡°¡­Have you?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. One of us would be forced off the team if I did. She knows it as well as I do.¡± He explained, and lifted his arms out in exasperation, ¡°And I¡¯m not ready to give up being Captain yet. Pops was Captain for close to 20 years. I¡¯m only halfway through.¡±

    ¡°So, you¡¯ll make her wait another decade?¡±

    Furion gave his brother quite the look, ¡°You make it sound like it¡¯s the worst thing to just continue as we have been. Ren loves being a Fafnir, and so do I. She¡¯s not hurting for the fact that we haven¡¯t tied the knot. Besides¡­my whole grand design is to propose to her the same day I announce my retirement. It just¡­may take a minute.¡± He explained. He could feel the eyes of offended scorn on the back of his head, and as he lifted up to turn around in that oversized chair, and set an elbow on the back, he spotted his brother glaring at him, ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°The clock is tic-¡°

    ¡°By the Eidolon, Seth, she¡¯ll kill your herself if she hears those words come out of your mouth.¡± Furion fussed, ¡°She does not want to hear about it.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°Because she¡¯s a Wing Commander of the Fafnir Knights! Do you think she busted her ass to get here because she wanted to find a man and drop out?¡± He explained, somewhat loudly, but then just laughed and sank into his seat again as he watched the expression on Seth¡¯s face shift, ¡°Just let her enjoy herself. She¡¯s far too good at what she does to be bogged down by the trappings of a marriage that even she isn¡¯t thinking about right now.¡±

    .

    ¡°Focus, damnit!¡± Ren commanded, standing back by the door as a nanotech amalgamation of a generic humanoid foe stood in the middle of the room.

    ¡°I¡¯m trying.¡± Gabriel grumbled, ¡°You¡¯re asking me to try to feel something that already isn¡¯t all that solid.¡±

    ¡°Well then try it on me.¡± She countered, and stepped by him to take the construct¡¯s place. She held her right hand out, ¡°Try and grab it.¡±

    With eyes glowing and hair floating, Gabriel just stared at her incredulously, ¡°You¡­are crazy. Why would you want me to try and use my ¡®cut through anything¡¯ affliction to hold your hand?¡±

    ¡°Cuz I don¡¯t think that¡¯s all it can do. Try it. You said that when you came to my defense against the Magistrate, you could feel the mech¡¯s arm before you severed it.¡± She explained, and waggled her hand up and down for emphasis, ¡°So, do everything short of cutting my hand off. See if you can¡¯t just feel it from where you are.¡±

    ¡°I think the theory you¡¯re working with would make more sense if you explained what you believe I¡¯m capable of.¡± Gabriel crossed his arms, ¡°Please, indulge me.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m still trying to parse it all, but¡­I think that you can connect two different physical locations together. Or distinguish them from one another. The fact that you don¡¯t have to be touching those locations yourself is a big part of that theory.¡± She answered, and started to pace back and forth, ¡°It¡¯s like that Tobias guy that messed with my head. He started out with the ability to just create basic illusions ¨C things he chose to make people see ¨C but in the end, after spending time in the Exclusion Zone, it evolved into a mirage that would show people things they imagined. For example¡­making me think my Captain was betraying my trust. That wasn¡¯t his idea.¡±

    ¡°¡­I thought it was seeing a room full of kids that got you.¡±

    ¡°Oh, it certainly didn¡¯t help. But it wasn¡¯t the kids themselves that convinced me the little turd wasn¡¯t coming up with those ideas on his own. The fail-safe protocol that allows a Captain to commandeer someone¡¯s armor wasn¡¯t even well-known on the team at the time. Tobias couldn¡¯t have known it would happen, and yet, in combination, it was a horror of my own making; far worse than any individual piece of that situation taken individually, and well beyond Tobias¡¯ limited imagination.¡± She said, and extended her arm, ¡°Now¡­again; try to take hold of my hand. Just¡­focus. Don¡¯t worry that you¡¯ll get spooked and hurt me by mistake. Nothing and no one can come into this room while it¡¯s in use, without a warning to me first.¡±

    Gabriel sucked in a nervous breath, ¡°¡­I hope you¡¯re right.¡± He said grimly.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t trust yourself, then trust me. I¡¯ll tell you what I¡¯m feeling as you figure it out; something a training dummy can¡¯t do.¡±

    Luminous eyes looked carefully at that right hand where it was propped-out between them, and Gabriel flexed his fingers a little before reaching out for it from his distant spot. There were easily ten paces between them, and her hand was rather dainty, but he could see the faint image of the telltale purple glow starting to manifest around it, ¡°¡­Anything yet?¡±A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    ¡°Not yet. I can see the light though.¡± She answered, and turned her head around the sight of it, ¡°Oh¡­that¡¯s neat.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s neat?¡±

    ¡°How to describe it¡­¡± Ren squinted her eyes slightly, ¡°It¡¯s like¡­a shimmering void-space? Where your hand would be but isn¡¯t. Wiggle your fingers.¡±

    ¡°¡­This is undignified.¡± Gabriel muttered.

    ¡°Just wiggled your damn fingers!¡± She puffed.

    Gabriel rolled his eyes slightly¡­and wiggled his damn fingers. When Ren started giggling stupidly, he looked back at her, ¡°What was that noise you just made?¡±

    ¡°It tickled.¡± She answered, and turned her hand to try and fit it into place better, ¡°Try to clasp down.¡±

    ¡°I think that¡¯s probably a bad idea.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re doing fine. Just try.¡±

    ¡°No it¡¯s cuz-¡°

    ¡°¡­What¡¯s all this?¡±

    Gabriel immediately released his affliction, long hair tumbling all around him, ¡°¡­Private, is what it is.¡±

    ¡°Lord Xanarken, sir!¡± Ren immediately saluted.

    ¡°Why are you in a Fafnir training simulation?¡± The Eidolon looked around, even as his mantle finished forming, ¡°And why does it seem like you had your Limitless going?¡±

    The younger mediator pulled the hair-tie from his glove, and hastily tied his ponytail back again, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just¡­theory-crafting.¡±

    ¡°You know Rylen would prefer that you don¡¯t.¡±

    Gabriel just shrugged, ¡°Sometimes I don¡¯t care what Rylen thinks?¡± He answered dryly, ¡°What do you want, coming here outta the blue like this? Not even knocking first.¡±

    ¡°I knocked.¡±

    ¡°You gave me half a second¡¯s advanced notice.¡± He retorted, ¡°This is supposed to be a guarded area where people can¡¯t just waltz in.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not just any people, and I didn¡¯t just waltz in.¡± Xanarken pointed at himself, ¡°I¡¯m an Eidolon, and that¡¯s why I¡¯m here.¡±

    ¡°¡­You don¡¯t have to define yourself.¡±

    ¡°No, I mean¡­uh, let me start that again.¡± The Fourth looked back behind himself to where Ren was still saluting, ¡°At ease, Dame. I need to borrow this one.¡±

    ¡°Just say whatever it is that you want to say.¡± Gabriel suggested, even if stiffly.

    ¡°If that¡¯s really what you want.¡± Xanarken turned to face forward again, ¡°You¡¯re getting a promotion.¡±

    ¡°¡­A what?¡± The two Knights said in tandem, and glanced at one another around the Eidolon in confusion. Gabriel stared quizzically at the man, ¡°There¡¯s no where further up for me to go.¡±

    ¡°There is if I say so.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what you said when you made me a High Negotiator, and it went over like a lead balloon. No one takes it seriously.¡±

    ¡°Well, they will when you¡¯re Vice Eidolon.¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    ¡°You sure you wanna do this in public?¡±

    His mind had already gone blank, and Gabriel looked at Ren again, then gestured his hands in a Time-Out motion, ¡°¡­Let¡­me roll this backward for a second. I told you before that I had something I wanted to say, but that could wait¡­now it seems it can¡¯t. I was already concerned about Ren being swiped right out of my hands by Rylen, now it seems like you¡¯re showing her the door yourself. What gives?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­is that what you were worried about?¡± Xanarken tilted his head slightly, ¡°Two weeks ago I would¡¯ve had a different answer for you. Today¡¯s a new day though.¡±

    ¡°What changed?¡±

    That confused the Fourth, and he twisted around towards the Fafnir behind him, ¡°Please come by Gabe so I can see the both of you.¡±

    She hopped out in front quickly, ¡°Sir!¡±

    ¡°Gabriel, tell me honestly¡­have you not gone over the mission review from the Sterling Rose?¡± Xanarken asked, a slight hint of frustration in his voice, ¡°I know you resented being a canary, but still.¡±

    ¡°How much more was there than what I¡¯ve been told?¡± Gabriel retorted, only to get a stumped look in return, ¡°¡­Okay, never mind¡­just assume I know nothing. What is it.¡±

    ¡°That creature in the warp core was able to hurt Rylen.¡±

    Both Knights looked surprised, but Ren glanced aside, remembering ¨C from Furion¡¯s POV footage - how the First¡¯s mantle had been obliterated by the Magi¡¯s strike, ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t realize¡­¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, was able to hurt Rylen?¡± Gabriel followed-up, and took a step closer, ¡°How the Hell does anything touch an Eidolon? You¡¯re not even real.¡±

    ¡°Feedback through his mantle, it seems. His true self had a seizure. It set off an alert throughout the whole system. Etienne¡¯s probably going to chew him a new one when we get back. He¡¯s refusing to reconnect to the World Cloud until we¡¯re across the equator again because of it.¡± The Fourth explained, ¡°And I¡¯ve decided that, since we¡¯ve taken for granted the fact that the Eidolon have thus-far been untouchable¡­the fact that Rylen was extremely touched all of a sudden means we should probably have contingencies in place, in case something like that happens again, and/or happens worse. That¡¯s where you becoming Vice Eidolon of the Fourth comes in. As a back-up to me.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t think right now.¡± Gabriel rubbed his palms against his face, ¡°How is this going to do anything but piss off every Captain in the Council? They already treat my current rank like it¡¯s a bad joke.¡±

    ¡°I went about implementing it poorly. That¡¯s my fault. This time will be different.¡± The Fourth explained, and started walking a slow circle around the duo, ¡°I¡¯m going to call a Conclave of Captains and explain it to them in terms that can¡¯t be questioned. I¡¯m hoping to set an example for Rylen so he decides to find a successor of his own, since he¡¯s refusing so far.¡±

    ¡°¡­Can¡¯t blame him. Setting up a successor-type of rank suggests the Eidolon can be changed out. That¡¯s¡­unthinkable.¡± Gabriel agreed, ¡°¡­It¡¯s weird agreeing with him. Did you know that? I got a chill just now.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, kid. I¡¯m in no way suggesting you actually prepare to take my place ¨C that would be rather hard, all things considered. I just think the right path forward is to have a Plan B, just in case. In fact, it would mean that on a lot of issues, you wouldn¡¯t even need to ask for my blessing on any given decision you want to make.¡±

    ¡°Then I can just say Ren stays with me until she finishes the program, however long that takes.¡±

    Ren stared back and forth between the two.

    ¡°Except that. Ren is a Sixth Wing asset. Even as a Vice Eidolon, you can¡¯t override what one of the others does within their own departments. That¡¯s a gentlemen¡¯s agreement that we¡¯ve always had, and you¡¯ll be expected to honor it.¡± Xanarken countered, ¡°Besides, you wouldn¡¯t be acting in your capacity as a mediator anymore. Mediators have an upper-ranking officer to report to. You no longer would.¡±

    ¡°I hardly did to begin with.¡±

    ¡°As said, you still reported to me before.¡±

    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t think this is a good idea.¡±

    ¡°Your reluctance is noted, but it¡¯s already a done deal. Expect your uniform to change when we get to Trazad. A new look to remind people that you have an actually-superior rank.¡±

    ¡°Xanarken no please, I¡¯m begging you, don¡¯t do this.¡± Gabriel protested, stepping closer, but his hand went straight through the mantle, its nanotech cloud dissolving around it like beads in water. He looked up at the Eidolon with an expression like he¡¯d been betrayed, ¡°¡­Please don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Like I said, it¡¯s already done. Telling you was just a courtesy.¡± The Fourth explained indifferently, ¡°Be ready to hit the ground running when we get back. Sargon is exclusively your responsibility now. I¡¯ll leave you to it, then; keep whatever you¡¯re doing here private. Rylen will give himself a coronary if he finds out.¡±

    Gabriel could only watch helplessly as the Eidolon¡¯s mantle vanished, collapsing like a column of dust in front of his eyes. He stared, numb, until his legs gave out from under him, and he lowered down slowly to his knees, ¡°¡­This can¡¯t be happening¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­Let¡¯s take a break.¡± Ren suggested, her own heart racing from just witnessing the whole interaction. She approached and set a hand on the man¡¯s shoulder, ¡°I think we¡¯ve achieved a lot already.¡±

    ¡°¡­A break¡­?¡± Those eyes looked back up at her, tired all over again, ¡°¡­He just¡­ I feel like I was just sentenced.¡±

    ¡°How much worse could it be than what you already do? A change of uniform and an official announcement from Lord Xanarken would just smooth-out the rough edges of a fact that¡¯s already been true for a long time.¡± Ren attempted, and crouched down beside him, ¡°You¡¯re already regarded as his right hand¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but people still had the ability to dismiss it as an unserious label. Not to mention, the Eidolon System¡­¡± He answered, and shook his head, ¡°Does this mean I¡¯m gonna get stuck in it?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? Stuck in what?¡±

    Gabriel drew in a breath, ¡°¡­Tell me what you honestly and truly believe the Eidolon are.¡±

    Ren tilted her head curiously, ¡°I¡­uh¡­ I don¡¯t think I ever really thought too deeply into it. I guess, in my mind¡¯s eye, they were like¡­brains floating in a liquid vat, half-fused with some kind of quantum-computer that blended them directly into the World Cloud, as if it was an extension of their very beings. That the Cloud rose-up directly from their psyches, and in essence, when we connect to it, we¡¯re connecting directly to them. Right up until the minute Lord Xanarken mentioned seizures¡­I never questioned it.¡±

    Gabriel shook his head ¡®no,¡¯ ¡°The Eidolon are the original leadership of the colony fleet that came here.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s common knowledge though.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but¡­it¡¯s still them. They¡¯re still alive, just like they were back then¡­ They still have their real bodies, installed into stasis-pods in perpetuity.¡±

    ¡°Okay?¡±

    ¡°I feel like I¡¯m not being articulate enough. Why is this not blowing your mind?¡±

    ¡°Maybe I¡¯m just too used to how things are. What¡¯s the mind-blowing thing you¡¯re trying to explain? You said they kept their bodies in stasis-pods. Doesn¡¯t that explain all of it?¡±

    ¡°Stasis-pods are all-or-nothing. To keep a body from aging and decaying, they have to be put into cryo-sleep. Literally frozen solid and rendered essentially-dead until awoken later. But the Eidolon are active¡­the stasis-pods aren¡¯t being used to preserve them; it¡¯s just a vector for convenience, keeping them hooked-up to the World Cloud so they can manifest as nanotech-people anywhere they want to be. They¡¯re¡­literally immortal.¡± He tried to rephrase, ¡°The idea of putting in a successorship to that is completely ridiculous. He might as well be suggesting a fetus take-charge of something. I¡¯m¡­I¡¯m nothing compared to that legacy¡­ What has he done¡­¡±

    ¡°So, the Eidolon System isn¡¯t what¡¯s keeping them alive¡­? And what do you mean by ¡®hooked up to the World Cloud¡¯? I thought they were the foundation of the World Cloud?¡±

    ¡°No¡­ The Eidolon System is just a private network attached to it¡­no different from the local matrices used by those containment-pods; the only people who can access them are those who are given invitations to join. The whole thing is¡­built on the bedrock of the Seraphim Engine.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the reason why we call it the Luminary Council¡­and why there are Six Wings in it¡­¡± He said tepidly, fists clenched between his knees, fingers cold against the hard floor, ¡°The progenitor of the whole thing¡­ If it wasn¡¯t bad enough that Rylen¡¯s son was the one who brought us to - and stranded us on - Hadira, then just wait till you find out this next bit¡­ His wife was the one who got sacrificed to make all this all work once we were here.¡±

    ¡°¡­His¡­wife?¡± She echoed, and slouched onto her own knees beside the man, ¡°The core of the World Cloud is a person¡­?  A sacrificed person?  As in¡­unwillingly?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen it myself. I don¡¯t even know where it¡¯s located; the chamber, I mean, where the Eidolon keep their pods, and the Seraphim Engine. But Xanarken has described it to me¡­and it¡¯s¡­something¡­¡±

 Book I â€“ Chapter 36 â€“ â€œStart Where You Are. Use What You Have. Do What You Can.â€

    Xanarken rematerialized near to his brother, and waited a moment for acknowledgement before speaking.  Rylen, however, already knew what the man was going to say, and chose to ignore him for a little while.  Data from the bodies of the Warp Magi was already being compiled and sent to him, and the information displayed for him on a series of flat, hovering panels above his desk.

    ¡°¡­I know you know I¡¯m here, Rylen.¡± Xanarken grumbled, ¡°Every time I tell the system to take me to your location, you get an alert that I¡¯m coming.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s only one thing you¡¯d have to say if you¡¯re back already, and I know what it is, so¡­well done?  If there¡¯s nothing else.¡±

    The Fourth stepped closer to that long desk and reached a finger through the displays, nudging them aside to give him a clear view of the First, ¡°Having someone else around to back you up isn¡¯t the worst idea.¡±

    ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else.¡± Rylen repeated, and stuck a finger onto two of the wayward panels in an attempt to slide them back to where they¡¯d just been, but Xanarken¡¯s hand stayed where it was, and the panels just deflected off of it like an air-hockey disc.  Rylen sighed impatiently, ¡°I¡¯m not interested!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not all.¡±

    ¡°Fine, what else?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m heading back north, and I¡¯m going to disconnect from the local Cloud.  There¡¯s nothing left for me to do here.  If you need the Fourth for anything, just ask Gabriel.¡±

    Those bright eyes stared at the Fourth¡¯s obstructive forearm for a moment longer, and Rylen attempted to nudge it away with a finger, but Xanarken refused.  In frustration, the First sat back roughly in his seat, ¡°If you¡¯re trying to make some point about treating Gabe like he¡¯s one of us, you¡¯re not going to succeed.  He¡¯s not, and I¡¯m not going to.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going to have to go through him from now on if you want anything to do with Sargon.¡±

    ¡°Why are you doing this?  You¡¯re not even the one who took the hit, but you¡¯re acting like an alarmist anyway.¡± The First crossed his arms impatiently, ¡°You¡¯re overreacting.  It was a one-time thing, and it only spooked us because it¡¯s only happened the one time ever.¡±

    ¡°Because the Magi were talking to someone who wasn¡¯t there with us.  There¡¯s someone else out there¡­and Gabe and I both think it was the Kitezans, who still have Sir Ianori¡¯s body in their custody.  He¡¯s still out there.  And you haven¡¯t even asked for help in recovering him.¡± Xanarken explained, both hands set down onto the desk as he leaned in through the panels to loom over his cohort, ¡°I sent the Duchess scrambling like a kicked dog, and you just sat back.  We should¡¯ve pressed for Ianori¡¯s release right away.¡±

    ¡°And in return, they want what neither of us is willing to give them.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what negotiations are for.¡± Xanarken argued, ¡°I thought the Fafnir meant more to you than this.  You¡¯ve done nothing but meddle with Dame Ren since she moved over¡­but you won¡¯t ask for my help to get Ianori back?¡±

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s not that simple.¡± Rylen shook his head, ¡°The official position of the Sixth is that Sir Ianori Noardin is dead.  In the coming days, between docking and leaving with the Prince again, Captain Rydell is going to go notify next of kin.  After what we saw Ianori¡¯s body do on that Magistrate¡¯s ship, it¡¯s evidently clear that whatever he¡¯s become since going to Kitez, it¡¯s not friendly towards it¡­or us.  ¡­And, I know where he is.¡±

    Xanarken¡¯s eyes widened, and he pulled back from the desk.  The panels hovered back to their spots, but Rylen shut them off and stood up, ¡°This whole time?¡±

    The First shook his head, ¡°No.¡± He answered simply, and came around the front to face his brother, ¡°Only since the Connington Fragment debacle.¡±

    ¡°Where is he?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a facility on the northern outskirts of a city called Stoneface Bluffs.  Magistrate Regulus¡¯ home-base.  We traced him back there after he left.¡±

    Xanarken tilted his head slightly, ¡°You did?¡±

    ¡°You think I just let one of my people go into a fight and not track her?¡± Rylen puffed, ¡°Your may have faith in Gabriel, but he¡¯s no fighter, and I wanted to be sure that if things clearly went south, I could send the Captain to back her up.¡±

    ¡°Things did go south though, and the Captain never left Trazad.¡±

    ¡°Dame Ren never cut loose.  Things didn¡¯t go south the way they needed to for me to know to send help.¡±

    ¡°What were you expecting him to do in such a short period of time if you kept him so far away?  It took Gabriel three hours to get to the Fragment.¡±

    ¡°His skiff isn¡¯t capable of hypersonic flight.  The Fafnir are.  Captain Rydell could¡¯ve been there in four minutes.¡±

    Xanarken threw his arms up and turned around in frustration.

    ¡°This is why you¡¯re responsible for the talking and I¡¯m responsible for the destroying.¡± Rylen reminded, ¡°Next time don¡¯t send a mediator to do a warrior¡¯s work.¡±

    ¡°¡­That wasn¡¯t the point.  How do you know Ianori¡¯s being held at the Magistrate¡¯s facility?¡±

    ¡°The Magistrate keeps returning there.  We¡¯ve even seen the Duchy arrive and leave recently.  What reason could they possibly have to go there if not to marvel at the sight of a captured ¨C albeit dead ¨C Fafnir?  It would be the most opportune time to gloat and preen over their so-called victory.¡±

    Stern purple eyes stared in confusion, There¡¯s no way he knows Aamin is there.  There¡¯s just no way.  ¡­Could he be hiding it from me, waiting to see if I slip and reveal it so he can lord it over me?  Those eyes narrowed slightly for a moment, but the Fourth shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m hoping this is where you explain why you haven¡¯t done anything to bring Ianori home; dead or not, ¡®no man left behind¡¯ has always been very important.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re waiting to see what happens.¡± Rylen explained, ¡°When I found out the Magi were talking aloud, and heard their words, my first thought was Ianori as well.  But because of what they were saying, it became clearer than ever that Ianori is gone, and that thing had taken over completely.  Non-combatant Warp Magi ¨C dead ones, mind you! ¨C fought with the experience of a fully-trained Fafnir Knight.  I¡¯m not going to bring that thing home until I¡¯m certain it won¡¯t do to us what it did to the Kitezans.  I couldn¡¯t live with myself if I invited it into our custody and it wiped-out the entire contingent tasked with keeping it secured.  So, for now¡­let them keep his body.  I¡¯ll eventually find out everything they know anyway.¡±

    ¡°You sound so sure of that.¡±

    ¡°You taught me well when you impressed upon me the need to play the long-game.  I always get what I want in the end.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going home.  If you decide to keep moping around here until you get back, then I¡¯ll see you in a couple days.¡± Xanarken grumbled, and dissolved without another word.

    .

    Ren had swapped back to her reds after the complete buzzkill that was the earlier interaction with the Eidolon of the Fourth; not necessarily because she agreed with what had been said, but as a show of solidarity.  Gabriel looked like he¡¯d been kicked in the chest, staring ahead absentmindedly.  The story he¡¯d told after the fact, however, still sat poorly, ¡°¡­I know the Eidolon System didn¡¯t start with the intention of being used the way that it is, but¡­I still can¡¯t help but wonder how it came to be like this.¡±

    The spacious areas of the weather deck made it an easy place to loiter, and the views made for an easy distraction.  Gabriel looked from the late-afternoon skies above to the badlands-like desolation below, then turned to Ren, ¡°It was originally sustained by the warp core of the SSCF Agartha.  How it went from that to the Seraphim Engine is¡­something Xanarken has thus-far refused to explain to me.  I suppose there¡¯s probably no small amount of scandal and/or grief involved with it.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t even imagine¡­¡± She said quietly, but then stepped closer, looking around briefly to make sure anyone else nearby was far enough away to be out of earshot, ¡°¡­How come Lord Xanarken talks to you the way he does?  When I first got here ¨C with you, I mean ¨C he talked you like a kindly father-figure.  The longer things go on¡­the more it seems like he¡¯s as much your Eidolon as Lord Rylen is mine.  There¡¯s¡­no warmth there half the time.¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    ¡°¡­The duality of Xanarken is something I¡¯ve had to learn to deal with.¡± He answered carefully, ¡°The way he can switch from being friendly to bossy is¡­something to behold.  I¡¯m not immune from the whiplash it creates.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the point of it though?  I could understand if you were anyone else, but¡­you¡¯re you.  Of all the people he shouldn¡¯t have to switch tones with¡­¡±

    Gabriel just shook his head, ¡°He does it when he knows I¡¯m going to refuse him.  Never forget that he¡¯s an Eidolon first¡­  Whatever personality quirks any of them have, they¡¯re both¡­ruthless, when it comes down to it.  One more reason I don¡¯t want to be where Xanarken is putting me.  I don¡¯t have it in me to be like that.  No one would accept it anyway¡­  The day I try to be anything more than aloof around people, they¡¯ll start to resent me.  ¡­More than normal.  Like, wretchedly resentful.¡±

    ¡°We need to talk to Furion.¡±

    ¡°WHAT.¡± He countered loudly; eyes went darting around as he panicked at having potentially been heard.  A few looks went his way, but Ren just waved happily and those faces went back to what they were doing before.  Gabriel smacked his forehead with one palm, ¡°You¡¯d be way better at this than I.¡±

    Ren just waved her hands in a downward motion, ¡°Just chill.  You¡¯re way too worked-up about it.¡±

    He sucked in a quick breath and started listing off excuses on his fingers, ¡°I treated you lousy for four months.¡±

    ¡°I never told him that.¡±

    ¡°I was literally chosen to be your mentor because everyone thought I¡¯d drive you away.¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t manage that one.¡±

    ¡°I blamed the Captain for my room situation and then I punched him in the mouth for it.  Not only that, but he¡¯s the one who fixed it for me in the end!  I can¡¯t face him.  Not like this.  It was deviously clever of you to guide him out of that briefing room so that he wouldn¡¯t see me, but now you¡¯re asking me to jump into the dragon¡¯s own mouth.¡±

    Ren crossed her arms, ¡°So just say sorry and thank you and we can get on with the reason I think we should talk to him.¡±

    ¡°Why do we need to talk to him?  He¡¯s not even Fourth Wing.¡± The mediator asked frantically.

    ¡°But he is a Captain.  He¡¯s exactly the person who would know what you should do differently to get people to stop rolling their eyes when you turn your back.¡±

    Gabriel slouched where he stood, ¡°¡­I already knew they did that, but for some reason it really stings when you say it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m calling him.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to have a stroke.¡±

    ¡°And here we are.¡± She gestured at the doorway to the Captain¡¯s office on the top deck, ¡°You¡¯ve probably had worse meetings than this anyway.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m being asked to do way too many things that I really don¡¯t want to do lately.¡±

    ¡°In.¡± Ren pointed through the now-open portal, ¡°It¡¯s for your own good.¡±

    ¡°My own good will make me jump off the back of this ship if you d-¡± He found himself being dragged inside since he wouldn¡¯t walk.  Ren only let him go once he was far enough away for the door to close, and by then, he was practically deposited into the middle of that unfortunately-familiar room.

    ¡°That.¡± Furion¡¯s voice spoke abruptly, ¡°That¡¯s the whole thing.  That right there.¡±

    Gabriel¡¯s eyes lifted to the visage of that intimidating figure, whom he was surprised to see wasn¡¯t decked in his full official regalia.  He¡­looked rather casual, leaning against the front of his desk with just the T-shirt and sweatpants he¡¯d changed into earlier, ¡°¡­What where¡­?¡±

    Ren approached her commander, ¡°You think you can fix it?¡±

    ¡°I can only offer insight.  What he does it with it is up to him.¡± He answered, those teal-green eyes leveling at the mediator, ¡°So?¡± He asked, but was only met with awkward silence.

    Ren sighed and went back again, ¡°Gabriel, I¡¯m begging you.  Listen to him.  You two got off on the wrong foot but that doesn¡¯t mean he isn¡¯t right.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t even know the question you posed to him.¡± He grumbled.

    She looked back over her shoulder, then forward again, ¡°I asked him what the consensus was between the ranking leadership on why they all view you with apparent disdain.  And, if he could make any recommendations for how to fix that.  You completely change your behavior around people you¡¯re supposed to mediate¡­think about why you can¡¯t do that with the Captains.  You can¡¯t even look this one in the eye and admit you made a mistake, and he¡¯s not the kind of person who¡¯s going to hold it against you!¡±

    Furion leaned slightly in Ren¡¯s direction and spoke quietly, ¡°I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s ready for this conversation.¡±

    ¡°Maybe not but he doesn¡¯t have much of a choice in the matter.¡± She explained, ¡°Lord Xanarken is raising him up into Council leadership.¡±

    ¡°¡­He¡¯s what?¡±

    ¡°Because of what happened with Lord Rylen.  He thinks he¡¯s a good idea to put in back-up Eidolon, and Gabe¡¯s the first one.  He wants Lord Rylen to find one, too.¡±

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s dire.¡± Furion uncrossed his arms and pushed off the edge of his desk, ¡°Not much for it, though.  If that¡¯s what he wants to do¡­¡± He looked directly at the mediator again, ¡°Do we have to start calling you Lord Gabriel then?¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t.¡± He answered hastily, hands flapping back and forth rapidly, ¡°I do not want this.¡±

    Both of the two Fafnir stared at him, unsure what more to do in the moment.

    Gabriel sagged helplessly, ¡°¡­Look, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± He finally said, ¡°For thinking wrongly that you were the reason I was assigned below-deck.  I wouldn¡¯t have thought twice about staying in that room if I didn¡¯t think it was payback for messing up Ren¡¯s mission.  And¡­then for hitting you after the fact¡­and for all the rest of it.¡±

    Ren breathed a sigh of relief, but didn¡¯t dare chime in.  Furion looked at her in surprise, but then shook his head with a shrug; he knew it wouldn¡¯t take long for her to figure it out.

    ¡°It was short-sighted of me and¡­not becoming of the mediator title I¡¯m supposed to represent.¡± Gabriel continued, ¡°I don¡¯t know why I got so tilted about it.¡±

    Furion was stunned by the whole thing, though he didn¡¯t show much of that surprise on his face.  He glanced over at Ren, who looked rather pleased with the whole thing.  With a long inhale, he nodded, ¡°Alright¡­well, I appreciate that.  So¡­where to begin then.¡±

    ¡°Is there any particular overarching theme that runs through the entire Captain population?¡± Ren wondered, ¡°If you had to pick one thing¡­¡±

    Furion nodded, ¡°That¡¯s easy.¡± He looked to the mediator, ¡°Permission to speak candidly.¡±

    Gabriel just gestured to get on with it.

    ¡°That.¡±

    ¡°That?¡± He answered warily, ¡°What do you mean, that?¡±

    ¡°You treat conversations with officers as if it¡¯s personal.¡± The Captain explained, ¡°You show no deference to rank or status, seniority, or experience.  Maybe you get away with it with Lord Xanarken, but it¡¯s not a trait he should¡¯ve allowed you to develop with others.  You need to show decorum.¡±

    ¡°¡­Decorum¡­?¡±

    ¡°When Lord Xanarken raised you up to High Negotiator, there was no particular announcement about it.  We all just¡­found out that you out-ranked us somehow, even though there was no specific reason for the rank to exist or why it was necessary to create it when he did.¡± Furion continued, ¡°But, abide it we did, since the rules in the Fourth Wing aren¡¯t for Lord Rylen to question or challenge.  If I had to guess¡­it was to cushion the trouble you no-doubt caused by being so casual.¡±

    Ren knew those words were coming, but it still left her a bit stunned, ¡°¡­Brutal.¡± She said quietly, but then stepped closer to the so-called High Negotiator, ¡°Maybe you don¡¯t remember how much I fussed at you over not using honorifics with the Eidolon, but I do remember how you excused it as being because Lord Xanarken was like a father to you.  But¡­that¡¯s him, and this¡­is everyone else.¡± She extended her arms up to gesture at herself and Furion, ¡°And given what he said earlier, I think he recognizes that things went awry with his previous attempt at raising you up.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going to be different this time?¡± Furion wondered, mostly to Ren.

    ¡°Lord Xanarken said he was going to call for a Conclave to tell all the Captains about the promotion.  He¡¯s also going to be forcing a new uniform onto Gabe, to show-off that he has status where no one saw it before.¡± She answered, ¡°The way his uniform-jacket looks now, he¡¯s on a level with us Fafnir, yet he outranks you as our Captain.¡±

    ¡°Right¡­¡± Furion curled one arm around himself and set the other hand around his chin, thinking on it all, ¡°It has made it confusing for people to see where he stands at a glance, especially since mediators aren¡¯t really ranked the same way as we are in the First and Sixth.  Every other mediator has a two-thirds jacket, and even at the very top, stands only as tall as a Chief petty officer.¡±  He looked at the Fourth-winger, ¡°What¡¯d Lord Xanarken tell you about why he made the higher rank?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Gabriel stammered, ¡°He said it was so I could help with bigger projects.  Six years ago, Kitez was making a big stink about something¡­  I don¡¯t remember what it was because, in hindsight, it probably had something to do with the Fafnir.  There was a lot of handwringing and hostility, and Rylen made the mistake of trying to do the Fourth¡¯s job out there.  Alone, apparently.  Xanarken was preoccupied with something else at the time, and when he found out, he was a little ticked off.  He tried to manage it alone for a bit, but with the whole Fourth Wing looking to him, it got overwhelming¡­so he created my new rank, and threw me into the thick of things to help relieve the pressure elsewhere.  Around 18 months later, the Sargonian Prince lit-up, and I was switched-over to dealing with him full-time instead.  Sargon as a whole has probably been¡­75% my job since.¡±

    Furion and Ren looked at one another, and the Captain reached to pull her in closer, a hand gently on her shoulder as he spoke quietly, ¡°Six years ago was our last excursion out there in the Exclusion Zone.  It was also your first big mission as Wing Commander.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t think what we did was enough to cause Lord Xanarken to make the High Negotiator rank, do you?  How could Kitez have taken up so much of his time?¡±

    ¡°It was enough to freeze our activities for a while.  Remember how sketchy things were?  We had a grand total of two missions for the whole next year after that, otherwise we just spent that whole time running P.R. tours.  I had to convince you it wasn¡¯t normally so boring around here.¡± Furion looked back over his shoulder at the mediator, then to Ren again, ¡°I didn¡¯t even know Lord Rylen was going it alone on the fallout.¡±

    ¡°He probably didn¡¯t want to drag us into it, not after what happened with your dad back in the day.¡± She surmised, then turned around again to look at Gabriel, ¡°Well, seems to me, we¡¯ve been working with one another far longer than any of us realized.  We cause a ruckus and you run interference.¡±

    ¡°¡­Maybe¡­¡±

    ¡°In any case¡­¡± Furion continued, ¡°If I had to make any kind of recommendation¡­it would be two things.¡±

    ¡°Okay?¡±

    ¡°First¡­no matter how high you rise, the officers of the Council are still leaders in their own right, so treat them with the proper respect and don¡¯t be so dismissively casual.  Maybe the Eidolon get away with it, but this is their organization.¡± The Captain started, watching the younger man for any resistance, ¡°And second¡­when you walk into a room, own it.  Don¡¯t slink around like a kid holding onto Lord Xanarken¡¯s apron.  If you want people to respect you, then earn it by setting the example.¡±

    Gabriel¡¯s brow crinkled slightly, and he lowered his gaze, ¡°¡­Right¡­¡±