Chapter 10

Thought I'd upload one more installment before heading out on a much-anticipated vacation. Let's not dally and get right to it.

###

The emotional concussion from Volu's revelation about Bae had resulted in the Ettwanae going to her room to continue the discussion privately. Emerging some time later, she had talked to no one about the disclosure, but looked drained. Volu had remained equally silent on the subject. It was abundantly clear that Bae being Volu's mother had shaken the Eshaar'ne deeply.

A day after the shocking news, Warren retreated to the lower level when Aru decided to flare unexpectedly while attempting to spend some quiet time with Ettwanae. Never one to pass up an opportunity for rumination, he considered what he knew of the emotionally charged situation. Volu suffered with near total personal memory loss from her attempt at suicide many years earlier. Maybe she didn't even remember her mother. Bae attacked Volu during the foiled kidnapping of Warren from Earth. He had learned that Eshaar'ne do not harm each other, and until the Earth incident, that had been an unbreakable ethical code. Bae had not only broken their moral law, but also had done so against her own flesh and blood.

He imagined being Volu. You're facing a mortal enemy only to learn that she is your long-lost parent and possibly the only link to your forgotten past. Warren could understand the tug of war that must be tearing the Eshaar'ne apart. Anger. Betrayal. Shock. Desperate need to recapture her past. Want for love of a mother.

And how was the other Eshaar'ne handling the situation? They may never know.

The small group within Volu was feeling every one of the 56 hours to Ekkamm. Time crept by, filled with emotional tensions and trepidations. What would they encounter? Would they get any information? Were they being beyond foolhardy? What kind of Shozen facility was it? Were they heading willingly into a baited trap without escape?

Warren rolled his shoulders to work out the tension with limited results. He stretched wings full and held them wide in the openness of Volu's bay. A few slow, purposeful flaps followed by an equally slow drawing in, and he felt some of the muscles relax.

Looking around, it drove home how very low their stocks had run. Only a few small food tubs sat in one corner. Two thwarted resupply attempts and they faced meal after meal of monle – the bland, porridge-like substance Volu produced. He doubted the Shozen would offer them a substantial amount of goods, even if they turned out to be less an enemy than believed.

He sighed; then realized he did that a lot, yet cut himself slack. There was plenty to sigh about. The current situation, Aru's incessant nagging, worry over the recurring feral tendencies, the partial awakening of the nannites, a possibility – as improbable as it seemed – that the galaxy itself was in danger…so very much to promote sighs.

'At least it's only one galaxy being threatened this time, not the whole fucking universe!' he thought sarcastically, recalling the M'Kraan Crystal incident. If not for the Phoenix Force, all existence would have been snuffed out. 'Assuming that an unethical Eshaar'ne and abhorrent Shozen can be believed,' he reminded himself. 'That has yet to be proven.'

The lift from the upper level started down to reveal Flint.

"Hey, War."

He gave the kid a nod.

Flint scanned the nearly empty bay. "Things aren't any more upbeat down here. We're gonna starve unless we find some grub soon."

"We'll figure that out. First, Ekkamm." Warren pointed up. "No change topside?"

The red-haired head shook sadly. "Volu's moping means Twae's no better off." Eyebrows shot up. "Think she'll get over Bae being Mommy Dearest?"

Warren crossed his arms in habit. "Think that will depend on the answers to unasked questions."

"Has Twae said anything to you about Vo talking to Bae yet?"

"I don't know any more than you. Apparently, Volu is holding to the silent treatment."

"Serves her right!" the kid snapped, the green eyes flaring in loyal ire. "She's a traitor."

Warren wasn't certain that was entirely true, but time would tell, as the old saying went. He decided to change the subject. "I think it's time for another lesson."

Eagerness quickly replaced anger. "Yeah, man! Been awhile."

"Sorry about that."

Flint's self-defense lessons had taken a backseat in recent days. And Ettwanae's lessons? Aru had made giving her self-defense instruction impossible. Aggressive physical contact led to nothing except white-hot sexual urges. But Flint had taken quickly to the training. Youth, enthusiasm, and natural talent served the kid well, and his skill was progressing at a good pace despite the hit-or-miss nature of the lessons.

"Least with no food, we got plenty of room for sparring." The teen produced a silly grin.

Warren returned the favor. Leave it to Flint to find a bright side, especially when he was the beneficiary. Then Warren morphed his expression into one of predator eyeing prey.

"Now it's time to wipe that smile from your face," Warren said icily in friendly warning.

Flint's punishing lesson ate up another of the 56 hours.

###

Phai's holographic avatar on Bae's bridge was not happy.

"Den-neer! How could you believe leading them to Ekkamm was wise? If the Dark Ones follow you to that facility..." The Elder of Elders did not have to expound further.

"It is the safest place and a reason for them to remain settled for a while. Once the female sees-"

Phai waved a holo-hand dismissively at him, and he went instantly silent. "I understand the logic, but the risk! To have both our only viable natural pair and our most promising clones in the same facility? You cannot believe I would find that acceptable."

The reprimand that followed was scathing, and he took it without further defense of his actions. It was a huge risk, but his hand had been forced. If they'd lost track of the Eshaar'ne at Ita, he was not certain they could locate them again. Eshaar'ne were masters of stealth, even against other Eshaar'ne.

With time, he felt Phai would come to believe the risk was justifiable. Assuming, of course, the Dark Ones didn't find the facility as a result of his actions.

###

As per the plan, Volu held back from Ekkamm System. She did not allow her deep phase to lessen by entering further into the star's gravitational well until she confirmed as certainly as possible that there were no other ships in the region. Advanced Shozen technology may be able to hide them, or perhaps they had other Eshaar'ne ships who could disappear via phasing, but she did the best possible with what U'larr genetic engineers provided to confirm that was not the case.

Ekkamm was the sole planet orbiting its sun. Moving carefully toward their destination, the Eshaar'ne performed a preliminary planetary scan. Readings reported only unbreathable atmosphere and a barren surface. Shifting scan parameters, more was revealed – all was not as it first appeared. U'larr-designed bio-scanners detected what most traditional sensors likely would not – an inhabitable environment. However, even with her advanced technology, one area defied all attempts to penetrate.

She sent a signal to the other ship for the first time since their journey began.

"Bae, instruct the Shozen to offline defenses and shields. Energy reserves to weapons and weapons shielding is to be completely disengaged. Not a single item on that planet is to remain concealed. I am to have full access to their databanks. If my conditions are not met, I leave," she demanded harshly.

"Understood."

Within minutes, weapons were offline and shielding dropped one by one until Volu could detect not a single block. Continuously scanning for signs of ships, she edged closer to the planet, her protective phase further weakening from the increasing gravity. Weapons aimed at the single inhabited facility, she locked into geocentric orbit above it. Bae hovered some distance away. That was unacceptable. She did not trust the augmented Eshaar'ne.

"You will land near the facility," she ordered. Immediately, Bae began her planetside descent.

She scanned the underground facility Imperial ont by ont. Labs! An Etagllot facility, but she was not surprised. Bae had eluded to that fact, Volu realized in retrospect. If extreme caution was necessary before, it had become extreme-multifold.

Volu pressed on, searching for what Bae had promised. There, in the largest lab, what she sought. Confirmation! She was both elated and livid.

Taking time and using every ability in her arsenal to unearth threats, Volu detected defensive weapons, handheld phase guns and cannons, psychic dampening equipment of a design she had not encountered before, and shield generators with power supplies rivaling that of many cities, but all was as expected and somewhat less. She had anticipated more weaponry. It appeared the facility relied more on hiding than defensive might.

What she had not expected was the age of the facility. From all evidence, the outpost had existed for hundreds of years. Always a Shozen installation? If so, coincidence that it laid within The Barrens? That she doubted. Was it possible the Shozen had orchestrated events so that the neutral zone between the Turzent Empire and The System Commonwealth encompassed the facility, which predated both realms? She gave that scenario high probability.

Volu paused to bring her occupants up to speed before employing highly sophisticated data mining skills into play against the vulnerable computers. What she learned was shocking, yet not. Nothing the immoral, so-called U'larr descendants and their Etagllot minions could do would shock anymore.

Suddenly, she felt the other Eshaar'ne signaling.

"Speak."

"Volu, I know you despise me and why. Right now, though, we should put that aside and work together for the sake of this galaxy."

"Your assumption that we should work together is premature. Is that all you wished to bother me with?"

"No. With shields and weapons offline, we are completely vulnerable to discovery by the Eilu. Are you done?" The reply was cool.

The Eshaar'ne briefly toyed with saying no just to prolong the Shozen's discomfort, but she had learned all she could. Attracting Dark Ones was not in anyone's best interest. "Yes. I will land beyond the facility. They may raise scan blocking and camouflage shields only. Psy-damps, weapons, and weapons shields are to remain disengaged. My occupants will make their own way inside and will be armed. If I detect weapons upon any person other than them, I will eliminate the threat instantly."

"Understood."

"And I and only I will decide when to tell my Other about what the Shozen have. Is that also clearly understood?"

"Clearly."

With the Shozen's compliance, Volu slowly descended through the thin but fully life-supporting atmosphere. Ekkamm was a typical mix of land mass and water, arid and green regions, flatlands and mountains. The facility plunged deeply into a low-lying mountain and was a fortress. She settled on a rise not far from the massive door that marked its main entrance – large enough to accommodate shuttles and small spacefaring vessels, such as an Eshaar'ne. Surprisingly, she found only one other exit – a small door that led to a walled garden…a curious feature given the nature of the facility.

The Eshaar'ne shuddered internally. They were approaching the point of no return.

###

Warren and his shipmates gathered in the bay. Weapons were distributed, as were handheld scanners. Warren's PI would act as a secondary link to Volu should the Others' mental connection be lost.

"Are you certain you want to stay here?" he asked the Alcab.

Gatebi pushed the thick bangs back from her face. Everyone knew she hated how her thick orange mane looked when it got too long, and it was getting longer by the week. "Yes. Someone should stay with Volu and I am the logical choice. Flint has been training, Ettwanae is far stronger than me, and you…well, you've been fighting most of your life. I'm ill prepared for what we might face and would be a liability. No, I'm staying."

"Logical, as always," Warren complimented. "Volu, I think she would be best utilized on the bridge and working in tandem with you. Gatebi, you'll serve as our comm contact while Ettwanae and Volu stay in touch telepathically."

"A sound plan, Warren," the ship agreed.

"And remember our mission – the location of Etxan'Ir. Anything else is bonus, but not the goal. Clear?" Affirmative gestures all around. "I don't plan to dally any longer than it takes to get that information. Their offer to lead us to Etxan'Ir is a backup only. I want those coordinates first and foremost."

"What worries me is what they want of us," the Eshaaru voiced what everyone was thinking.

The air stiffened as Volu responded. "Our safety from the Dark Ones is what Bae states, and nothing more."

"I find that hard to swallow – anyone else with me?" Flint asked as he scanned faces.

"Yes. There's something they want from us. I'd bet half my wealth on that," Warren voiced with confidence, as he nestled the scanner into a pocket. A weapon in hand was much more reassuring. "I don't think we've gotten the whole story."

"Agreed, Warren. I sense Bae has not revealed all she knows."

He checked the power level of the phase gun. "As you mentioned earlier – the story is a little too impersonal…sanitized." Warren's thinking wandered back to the discussion with Gtar-Cro and how the Shozen sanitized the memories of their lower level minions and briefly wondered if the same had been done to Bae.

Warren shook his head all over again at what Bae had revealed – the vast Etagllot organization was a tool of the Shozen and the Shozen were actually the U'larr. Although faint echoes of their former god-like selves, they were descendants nonetheless…or so went the claim.

"And we're about to enter both an Etagllot facility and a Shozen stronghold. I don't think I need to tell you extreme caution and vigilance is required."

Ettwanae and Flint shook their heads vigorously.

"Ya don't, War. That's clear to the extreme in my head. Now if I can just convince my body go into that hellhole."

"I freely admit to being scared, Warren," Ettwanae offered quietly, her strained voice and quivering wing tips echoed her apprehension.

"If it helps, Twae, I am, too." The teen gave his friend's forearm a quick squeeze.

"That makes three of us, but we need to control the fear and keep our heads." He took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly to steady his own twitching nerves. "Looks like we're as ready as we can be to enter the dragon's lair. Volu, if you'd open the hatch…"

"Hope this dragon don't breathe fire," the teen offered as the bay door dilated wide.

###

Phai insisted on being holo-witness as the arrival unfolded. The string of demands from the Eshaar'ne Volu set the Elder's mouth into a tight line, but she ordered Etagllot security to acquiesce on every count, placing the facility in grave danger of detection. With an enemy as powerful as the Eilu, one had to assume they had eyes everywhere. The powerful, white-haired woman relaxed only partially after scanner and shields were back online and the fortress entrance once again masked as solid mountainside. Enemy forces could still be lurking undetected.

###

The trio flew to the main entrance of the subterranean facility; Ettwanae carrying Flint and Warren keeping a tight grip on his phase gun and sharp eyes scanning for danger. As they landed several yards away, a soft clunk of mechanism announced visitors were expected.

"Hey, guys?" Flint exclaimed looking nervously up and sideways as the massively large and thick hangar-like portal glided aside almost silently. "Why do I feel like the gates ta hell are openin' for us?"

Warren and Ettwanae traded worried looks, but remained silent. He glanced backward to where Volu rested on a knoll. The Eshaar'ne was phased as much as Ekkamm's gravity field allowed and thus invisible to the eye and shielded from all but the most advanced scanners.

Separating was a calculated risk. Volu had wanted everyone to go inside together where she could defend them, but Warren argued against it. By remaining outside, Volu could make a run for it and signal Ztar for assistance if the Shozen betrayed them. In the end, Volu conceded the logic. Despite her distrust of the Turzent ruler, the one thing she did believe was the man would do anything to protect Warren. By default, Ettwanae would be included in any rescue effort. They had agreed that loss of communication would trigger Volu's rapid departure and immediate SOS to the Emperor.

Bae hovered off to side at a distance. She was identical to Volu. Eshaar'ne reminded Warren of an overgrown Manta Ray right down to the whip-like tail. The main difference was the bulbous mid-section housing the living quarters and storage bays. They also lacked the pincher-like appendages on their head.

Suddenly, the tail rose up from behind Bae like a scorpion's, the oval disk attached to the tip weaving slightly side to side. Warren knew the disk was the main sensor array. Was the creature scanning them closely or something else?

"Earth to Warren." Flint's verbal nudge ended wonderings. "Door's open."

The threesome peered down a long, softly illuminated tunnel. Brighter light shone at the end, and Warren could see people walking around in what looked like a hangar area. One shuttle was visible as well as part of what looked to be a larger cargo transport.

Warren touched his PI. "Gatebi, can you hear me?"

"Clearly."

"Volu, our hosts know to keep this channel free of interference?"

"I have warned them."

Warren smiled slightly at the wording of the Eshaar'ne's reply. He could imagine what a tough negotiator she had been in laying out the terms of their visit. Warren learned early on that you don't mess with Volu.

"Then," he began, checking his weapon again, "let's go."

As they entered the tunnel, sounds began to float to them – mechanical, metallic, a few voices, and the gentle hum of ventilation. Many yards in, Ettwanae tugged on his sleeve.

"Volu says Bae is heading in behind us, but will keep her distance."

He nodded acknowledgement. That wasn't unexpected as the other Eshaar'ne had permission to follow. Warren remained uncertain of the wisdom of allowing it, but he understood the logic – if Volu needed to make a run for it, she'd had a head start against the hangared Eshaar'ne.

As they passed the halfway point, light from the outside was eclipsed, followed by a subtle shift in the air pressure detected by hypersensitive wing nerves. Warren turned. Bae's form filled the end of the tunnel. To fit, she had curled the pectoral fins upward. He hadn't known Eshaar'ne could do that.

Facing forward once again, he continued down the tunnel as Bae held back. Another change in air pressure signaled the hangar door was closing. As soon as it was sealed, Warren raised eyebrows at Ettwanae.

"I'm still in contact with Volu."

A quick check with Gatebi confirmed their comms likewise worked. Glancing at Flint, Warren could see tension in the teen's features.

"You okay?" he whispered.

Flint shot a quick glance backward, then to Warren. "I'd feel a helluva lot better with that door open."

"Then we'll demand they-"

The teen cut him off. "No, it's fine. Don't want to do nothin' to attract the Dark Ones, ya know?"

Ettwanae drew closer. "He's right, Warren. Having the door open may be enough for them to detect this facility."

A minute later, they emerged into the hangar, and the relatively low ceiling of the tunnel gave way to almost dizzying heights of the bay.

Flint looked around, his jaw slack. "God, that has to be 15 stories up!"

Warren wasn't so much interested in the hangar's impressive size as he was wondering where the greeting party was. "I find it odd there's no one here to meet us."

Ettwanae looked around as well. "It is strange."

"Guests…" a feminine voice announced from behind, causing the trio to jump. "If you allow me to pass, I will land, and my occupant will escort you."

It was Bae.

When Flint, Warren, and Ettwanae stepped aside, the Eshaar'ne glided silently by and chose a spot to settle. Her bay door dilated open to reveal a single cloaked figure. A hood shadowed most of the face, leaving only a hint of features discernable. Ettwanae's hand immediately gripped Warren's with bruising force.

"It's him!" Her voice was almost unrecognizable.

They had known the unnamed kidnapper was Bae's occupant, but seeing him sent an emotional shockwave through the teen and Eshaaru.

"Welcome to Ekkamm," the man greeted as he stepped onto the hangar floor, but did not approach. Was he giving them time to settle emotionally? "We have never been properly introduced. My name is Den-neer. You have nothing to fear from us."

Ettwanae's trembling telegraphed. Flint was pale as a ghost. Preparing mentally to face your nemesis was one thing; reality was quite another matter.

Flint jerked his phase gun up to take double-handed aim. The Shozen never flinched. "Bastard! I should blast ya right here!"

Warren placed a gentle hand on teen's slightly shaking the arm. "Easy, Flint. That won't get us anything."

Fiery eyes snapped quickly to Warren, then back to the target. "Except payback! You know what this asshole did."

"Let's get what we want first. Don't risk the mission," Warren reminded calmly.

Ettwanae, her grip on Warren not loosening, leaned toward the teen. "He's right, Flint. Mission first, revenge later," she whispered.

For a moment, Flint wasn't buying it, but then the weapon lowered. "Okay – focus on the mission…for now. But I'm killing that son of a bitch later," he vowed.

Warren wanted to tell Flint once you've gone the way of killing, there's no turning back; no ridding yourself of the bloodstains. That little talk would have to wait. Nailing the cloaked menace with hard eyes, he retook control of the situation.

"As you have seen, you are not exactly a welcomed sight. Perhaps someone else is better suited to act as escort," Warren suggested frostily to the unmoving figure.

Icy blue eyes held Warren's azure glare. "Those are the orders. You will not be allowed to wander unaccompanied. Your choice – me or leave."

Warren felt his companions' eyes on him as well, waiting for their mission leader's decision. "Proceed."

Without another word, the man whirled away from them, the long, midnight blue cloak swirling, and headed toward a large doorway at one end of the hangar that obviously led deeper into the mountain fortress.

Warren paced their group at a good speed, but not hurried. He wanted time to take in their surroundings in the event a hasty retreat was required. That apparently did not sit well with their guide as impatience radiated from the man as he waited at the entrance.

Warren brought them to a halt several feet from Den-neer. "Who is giving the orders here?"

"For your visit, the Elder of Elders herself – Phai. I am to bring you to her."

"What's an Elder of Elders?"

"The pinnacle of Shozen leadership in this Trient." Den-neer cocked his head as if amused. "You have come for information and if you follow me, you will receive it. Standing here gains you…," the cloaked head shook once, emphasized with an unturned hand. "nothing but delay."

Den-neer's feigned ruefulness grated Warren. "Then lead the way to this Phai," he commanded in a terse tenor that was far from insincere. "And if any doors close behind us…" Warren sighed deeply and slowly shook his head to mirror Den-neer's attitude. "Sadly, you'll be the first to pay the consequences." He served his warning with equally contrived remorse and a contradicting wiggle of the phase gun.

Without so much as a raised eyebrow, their guide proceeded down the left corridor. Bright lights revealed polished rock on all sides, its soft gleam highlighting veins of mineral deposits, some of which sparkled as they passed by. The smooth surfaces were occasionally broken by closed doors that were craved from the walls within they rested, veining and rock patterns uninterrupted. The look was seamless. Devoid of adornment or any softening touches, the aesthetics were cold and sterile.

"Stay back," he quietly told Flint and Ettwanae, then without waiting for acknowledgement or protest, he quickened his steps to fall along side Den-neer.

"Care to share the real reason we've been led here?" When Warren had asked the same of Volu, she was oddly evasive on the finer points.

Den-neer reached up and dropped the cloak hood. To Warren's Earth perspective, the face seemed a patchwork of contrasting features. Jet-black hair, ice-blue eyes, rusty brown skin, delicate-looking bone structure forming the triangular head, a prominent nose, thin lips, and no obvious ears. Warren tried to place the species, but could not.

"As Bae informed your Eshaar'ne, you are a Dark Ones target. Ekkamm offers you the best chance of eluding their hunting parties. And you wish to know the location of Etxan'Ir. Elder Phai alone is authorized to share the information."

Same answer as Volu gave. "What if we had decided not to follow you?"

"Then in your Eshaar'ne's weakened condition, Dark Ones would have been upon her like a keekwaii swarm, and you would have perished."

"Why do I get the feeling you and the Shozen wouldn't have allowed that to happen? Seems like an amazing coincidence that you were at Ita exactly when needed."

"You are partially correct. We would have attempted to protect you, but there is only so much a single Eshaar'ne, even an augmented one, can do against many Dark Ones. Assuming, of course, we could have located you."

He shot the alien an accusatory glare. "You found Ettwanae and kidnapped her. You found me on Earth and nearly did likewise. You were at Ita. That's a damn good track record of tracing your targets. Better than the Dark Ones, it seems."

Den-neer spared him a sideways glance. "It's meaningless to test me, Warren Worthington nee Archangel. You are the target of an ancient and powerful enemy. That truth is undeniable."

"We'll see how much of your truth I end up buying. Your attempt to kidnap me from Earth makes you a personal enemy. For some reason, I have trouble believing kidnappers speak truthfully."

Den-neer laughed unexpectedly, though it was a quiet, private laugh meant for just them. "Then you are more narrow-minded than I would have believed given your background. Actions you perceive as abhorrent can be the reverse from a broader vantage point. Limiting yourself to only what you deem moral behavior is a contradiction for one such as you."

Warren riled, but then the last statement piqued his curiosity enough to offset the instant irritation. "Explain what you mean by one such as me?"

Den-neer turned his head, and the pointy-tooth grin told Warren that he was likely not going to learn more.

"Phai has your answers. I am but a lowly escort."

Warren snorted. "Hardly that."

"Hmmm, true most days." They were within steps of a pair of impressively large doors. "But today, an escort. I received quite the stern reprimand for bringing you here." The dark chuckle that followed made the hairs on the back of Warren's neck stand on end.

"Looking for sympathy?"

"My roundabout way of warning that Phai is not a happy Elder. She may be…terse. But she has grudgingly accepted that having you here is safer than having you wandering out there." The man raised his chin upward.

Warren figured he had time for one more question – one to perhaps satisfy his curiosity. "I've read about the most of the known species, but I cannot place you. May I ask your race?"

Echoes of footsteps ended as they came to a stop at end of the corridor and the large, double-doors began to move silently aside. It was then that Warren realized no footfalls had come from Den-neer.

"Oh, I'm a little of this and a bit of that," he answered smoothly, stepping aside to allow the threesome to pass.

The slowly parting entry gradually revealed a smaller than expected room given the grandiose entrance. It appeared to be an austere office with desk and chair, table and several seats, but little else. Not until the doors were nearly fully retracted did the room's occupant become visible standing to one side.

A stunning woman he presumed was Phai stood a good two inches taller than Warren. She wore an unadorned, ankle-length dress in the palest of blues. Slinky material clung tightly without being sleazy in any way to gracefully fall away from her body at the hips. White, softly iridescent skin covered a lithe and fully Humanesque form. The hands clearly had six long fingers and a thumb. Pure white hair fell to the knees like a veil with blue-tinged shadings. Her face was delicate and again, very Human in structure with two eyes, a nose, and mouth. But what captured attention most were the eyes that stood out in sharp contrast against the pale skin – intensely blue orbs that were nearly identical to his and Ettwanae's. But where Ettwanae's eyes were warm and welcoming, Phai's were cold and calculating.

"Leave us, Den-neer," the woman ordered in a flat tone, and the cloaked man melted away.

Warren and company hesitated outside the threshold, which seemed to irritate the Shozen, and she firmly waved to enter.

"Come, I do not harm those I protect." It was a command. Then she swirled and headed deeper within the office. "Your guns won't work here," she informed without even looking back at them.

Flint and Ettwanae glanced to each other and then Warren in surprise. That was a concern. He touched a finger to his temple and Ettwanae nodded to confirm she was still in contact with Volu. Flint activated the PI and Gatebi's reassuring voice came through.

"Disabling our weapons is a breach of our terms, Phai."

She swung back around. "I don't believe it is. Your Eshaar'ne was clear about you being allowed to carry weapons. She did not say they needed to be functional."

Touché!

"You're playing games already."

"No, I'm demonstrating that you are ill-equipped for the game in which you are naïve participants. A potentially deadly mistake. Given your background, I expected better."

Warren cringed internally. She was right. While Volu negotiated the terms, he was leader and should have been more thorough in reviewing their conditions.

Then Phai gestured sharply. "Are you coming in or staying in the hall? Despite what Den-neer likely told you, my anger with him does not translate to you. Actually, his decision was logical given the circumstances."

Warren stepped inside the room. Flint and Ettwanae quickly followed very close at his heels.

"We are here for one thing, Phai, and then we will leave."

"One thing?" The woman's slight smile hinted of some warmth. "Ah, yes. Well then, I believe you will be pleased."

Suddenly, Phai's eyes looked off into the distance, and she seemed to be acknowledging to someone not in the room. Telepathy? Then Warren jerked. He scrutinized with eyes that made a hawk seem nearsighted.

"Where are you exactly?"

Two heads jerked toward him in surprise.

Phai's smile grew wider. "I was wondering how long it would take you to realize. The holo projection is quite convincing, is it not?" She seemed impressed with their own technological prowess. "I am on the world I've adopted as my home. It lies within The Systems Commonwealth."

"The Commonwealth?"

"Yes, Lanic Reilly."

The teen looked stunned. "You- you know my name?"

"Of course. Anyone who travels with an Esha'Aru is known to us. You and Gatebi Eudara are a rarity, Lanic. Or do you prefer Flint?"

"F-Flint is good," the obviously shaken teen stuttered.

"Very well. Flint, you and Gatebi are the first such fellow travelers to our knowledge." She turned to Ettwanae. "No other Esha'Aru would take in another species as you have. You are unusual, but likely because you were raised Sat'reyan. They always have been a welcoming and accepting people."

All color drained from Ettwanae's face. "But…" One word was all she could get out.

"Come and sit, please. We have much to discuss," Phai offered with a graceful sweep of a hand toward the table and chairs. The mood of the room had changed from begrudging acceptance to welcome. "Yes, I am becoming to believe my Den-neer's decision was the right one after all. The time for secrets has passed, and there is still much you do not know."

Warren wondered how much more there was to the fantastical story of the galaxy at risk of falling into eternal darkness. Before anyone sat, he wanted to clarify a point.

"Bae said someone would take us to Etxan'Ir. Is that going to happen?" he demanded.

"It will."

"We want the coordinates instead," he pressed.

Phai tilted her head and locked intensely blue eyes to his. "That was not part of the agreement."

"We changed our minds."

The woman sighed and then eased back to perch on something. A bit of desktop edge joined her holographic self. "Having those coordinates gains you little without the ability to gain access. As you are, the Sentinel will not allow you that."

"Because we're not soulbound?" Ettwanae jumped in.

"In part. Please…" Phai gestured toward the table again. "Sit. I have much to share before you fully understand that your demand isn't as simple as you believe."

Warren hesitated; therefore, Flint and Ettwanae did likewise.

Phai tried again. "You've come this far, why waver now? I'm offering you a chance to understand what few other beings in the galaxy know. That knowledge will raise you from naïve pawns and tools to game masters." At the raised eyebrows and opened mouths, Phai continued. "That is what you've felt like, isn't it? Tider told you there's a game afoot. What he doesn't know is the prize for winning or losing that game. You have already learned more at Ita than he or anyone else even imagine. Why not hear the rest? Why not come away with far more than just Etxan'Ir's location…more than you can imagine even with your newfound knowledge?"

Warren looked to his shipmates. "She's offering bonus stuff, not what we came for. How do you feel about that?" he questioned quietly.

Ettwanae's expression already gave him the answer. "I want to know, Warren. She's right – we've come this far. I'm still in contact with Volu. Flint?" The teen checked, Gatebi acknowledged and gave the all-clear on suspicious activity. "We may not get the chance again. We should see if we can find out if they are lying about the Dark Coming."

Flint nodded. "I'm with Twae, as much as I want outta here. This place feels like a tomb, but I wanna know if we're all heading to oblivion." The green eyes darkened. "If we are, I might want ta talk to Mom before, ya know?"

Warren reassuringly gripped the teen's shoulder. "Then we have consensus." He dropped his hand. "We listen, but we won't let them off the hook for Etxan'Ir." Two heads nodded in approval. He turned back to the Shozen female. "We accept your offer, but you will give us the coordinates for Etxan'Ir."

The Shozen smiled. "Agreed, although after you hear what I have to say, I believe you will wish to postpone travel for a while."

###

See you mid February!