Chapter 6: To Stand Defiant

Glimmer flew down the hallway and struggled to keep pace with the rapid clip Taline had set—wherever she was leading her, it was in a hurry. The other guard (Sentinel?), the one that hadn't taken Catra from the cell, didn't seem to struggle nearly as much as her despite the rifle strapped to their chest piece and the giant knife strapped to their leg over the armor. While this was the second time in a short period Glimmer traveled down this exact hallway, the context felt different. This time, she wasn't being manhandled in Horde Prime's wake on the way to a torture chamber, but was instead coming along to…help?

That's what Taline had told her, at least, and that's what Glimmer chose to focus on instead of her uncertainty over Catra's whereabouts. They piled into the elevator at the end of the hall, and no sooner had Taline selected the floor they needed to travel to did the sound of radio chatter echo out from the armor of the Sentinel next to her.

"TF 12 is reporting back, Ma'am," the Sentinel said, pressing a gloved hand to the side of their helmet. Despite the modulation, Glimmer could tell it was a woman underneath all that protection. "Still no return signal from the holdouts. Shall I order them to continue attempting contact?"

"No, I'll take care of it," Taline said. The elevator dropped them down and she tapped a few commands into a holographic screen built into a bracer on her arm before letting loose a sigh. "Didn't I tell you this was going to happen, Miri? Didn't I call it years ago that the Emperor was going to do this exact thing once Etheria finally showed up?"

"You did say so," Miri said. She and Taline must have had this conversation many times in the past, judging by her tone of voice. "I've never disagreed with you on it either. I'm just glad we got here before he decided on an orbital bombardment."

"Yeah well, even with that luck it might still be too late. The only people he hasn't conquered yet are refusing to even—yes, hello? Alan?" Taline shook the device on her wrist with an annoyed expression and brought it closer to her face, muttering about 'shitty connection.' "Hi, yes, it's Taline. No, it's okay, you don't need to keep pinging them, it's obvious they're ignoring us on purpose. Try and get a visual of what they're doing inside that castle of theirs—they've been holed up inside for hours since Prime's last wave."

Glimmer tried to make sense of what she overheard, and wished she could make out more of the person's response on the other line than just muffled comms chatter. This was the most information she had about her friends back on the surface since being beamed into the citadel in the first place, and it was frustrating how little she could glean from it.

"Yes, I realize there's likely plenty of wounded inside," Taline said. "But I won't risk sending down a landing party if they're just going to think it's another invasion force. I'm going to see the Emperor right now and ask about taking over the hologram emitters he's placed planet-side already. If they won't take our hails, we'll just project a message to them they can't turn off."

The sound of the other person's response murmured out against the whirring of the elevator as they shot through Prime's citadel. After a last brief exchange of words, Taline cut the line, and leaned against the far wall with arms crossed and a heavy sigh. Glimmer got the sense she was seeing a rarely-displayed side of her, looking so frustrated as she did, although that realization garnered no sympathy from her: overhearing that conversation put a new worry at the front of her mind.

"Did I just hear you say there are wounded?" Glimmer asked. "What's been going on down there?"

Taline regarded her out the corner of her eye. "Bright Moon is still holding out after the Emperor's latest attacks. The rest of the planet fell fast, but there's a group down there that's fought off two invasion forces of his now. Your people, I'm assuming?"

"All of Etheria but Bright Moon is conquered? But I can't have been away for much longer than a week at most." Glimmer remembered hearing something about final holdouts when Prime first talked to Taline during the interrogation, but she hadn't been paying attention on account of everything else going on. She gave a self-satisfied laugh and said, "Bright Moon is my kingdom. I'll take it as a point of pride that Adora and the others are still standing."

"Yes, well, capitulating fast is a good thing, if curbing casualties is of any concern to you. The longer they resist, the angrier the Emperor grows and the more people die. We'll have a hard enough time as it is convincing him to disengage after they thwarted him twice."

"And so that's where I come in? I'm to just 'stand there and look vaguely pathetic while you do the talking', was it? You didn't exactly mince words back at the cell." The idea of Glimmer's friends ultimately prevailing over Prime had never been brought up. Maybe that was fair, considering they were the only ones left after so little time at war.

"There's more, obviously," Taline said. "But let's focus on the first step to start, okay? As much as I'm sure you hope your friends can succeed against him, I'm sorry to say they won't. The goal is to deescalate both sides."

"He started it!" Righteous anger boiled over in Glimmer's mind, and she rounded on Taline with wide, aggressive gestures. "He kidnapped Catra and I, then laid waste to the rest of the planet. People are dead—my friends are dead—because he just showed up and started killing!"

"And more will die if we don't work together, me with the Emperor and you with your friends on the surface. Horde Prime is a prideful son of a bitch. Need proof? Just look at how he promised me he'd keep everyone safe before I arrived and then continued torturing your friend. Being rebuffed twice will only make him push harder and kill more. But he gets distracted by displays of weakness. If you stand there looking scared and slightly out of your element, he'll take that as a sign of victory and I'll be able to more effectively massage him into doing what we need."

"Coming to the table for a ceasefire?"

"Now you're catching on. The problem is, your friends down below are justifiably pissed off and ignoring any attempt my team makes at contacting them. Horde Prime agreeing to hold off won't matter at all if we send a peaceful landing party down and the people of Bright Moon attack out of an assumption it's a hostile force. The Emperor will just push a third assault. One more ruthless than the others because he'd take that as them spitting on his hand when trying to show mercy."

"I can help," Glimmer said. "You mentioned getting some hologram emitters? If we can project a message to them, I can record it. They'd be more likely to listen if it's me telling them to come out and talk."

"Good." Some of the tension in Taline's stance smoothed away. She almost looked relieved. "That's exactly what I had in mind."

"I want something in return though," Glimmer said, refusing to back down when both Taline's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "I want a guarantee no one else gets hurt. If I help you with this, my friends remain safe, and everyone who needs it gets immediate medical attention."

"Done."

Glimmer blinked in surprise, somewhat confused. "Done? That's it? That easy?"

"That easy." Taline nodded. "This invasion wasn't supposed to happen in the first place. The Emperor wasn't supposed to come anywhere near your planet when it finally emerged." The irritated creases in Taline's brow returned, deeper this time. "I was supposed to make first contact with your world. Peaceful first contact. Maybe I haven't been clear about this so far, and if that's the case then I'm sorry. But I want as much death and destruction in this as you do. None. We're both on the same side here."

Glimmer wasn't sure she'd go that far, but she'd take what she could get. If Taline wanted her help to bring hostilities to an end, especially in a fight where her side was so horridly outmatched, then she'd do what she could to help. Even if that meant keeping her mouth shut and pretending to look beaten.

A perverse sense of amusement washed over her then as she realized there had been more similarity between her and Catra than she initially acknowledged. Prime wouldn't have come if she hadn't activated the Heart and pulled Etheria out of Despondos in the first place. They both were 'doing what they could' to right their wrongs, in a sense. Glimmer's mind wandered to Catra, and she hoped she was doing better in the infirmary.

The elevator pulled to a halt and the doors swished. She, Taline, and the Sentinel Miri stepped out into Horde Prime's massive throne room where the second Sentinel, the one who had taken Catra away, was already there waiting for them. Did he really bring Catra to the infirmary that quickly? Together, the four of them approached the Emperor, surrounded by intelligence screens and lounging on his throne at the far end of the chamber.

"Lord Prime," Taline said, taking a knee when they reached the first step of the dais. She nudged Glimmer, who hurried to follow her example. "Have you considered my request? I would like to use the projectors you installed on the planet's surface."

Prime inspected his nails, leaning back with one leg crossed over the other on his throne. Two clone guards holding staves stood on either side, and Salas stood inside on Prime's left with his hands held behind his back. He looked strangely clammy and worn out, more so than when she last saw him up in the interrogation room. It was almost as if someone had stretched him too thin, too quickly.

One of Prime's extra eyes turned to look at them. "I have considered," he said. "And I don't feel sufficiently convinced I should give them to you. I'm not about to hand over my equipment when you have the resources to install your own projectors. You were adamant about this world being under your jurisdiction, Taline. A good commander solves their own problems."

Glimmer couldn't believe how petty the Emperor had become compared to the almost nightmarish figure from their prior meeting. It almost made her feel bad for Taline, having to navigate the situation. She redoubled her efforts to look sufficiently cowed in his presence.

"My lord, that would take time we simply do not have," Taline said. "The rebels in the castle refuse to answer my hails. I fear they are planning something while I am trying to call an end to the hostilities."

"Planning something, you say?" The Emperor's eyes lit up with glee. "A counterattack perhaps?"

"It's possible, but I can't be certain as of yet." Taline stood, and Glimmer followed her, hugging one arm close to her body with the other. "My men are working on getting us eyes inside their stronghold as we speak."

"That may be amusing to see play out," Prime said. "Nothing about their technology indicates they would pose a threat to me all the way up here. Now I'm especially tempted to withhold the projectors from you, if only to see what they come up with."

"My lord, I implore you to remember why we are here on Etheria in the first place." Taline took the first step up the dais to the throne. The clone guards on either side strode forward, pointing their staves at her. She didn't so much as look at them. "There is no time for detours and no time to play games like this. Our analysts' projections are generous, but we still have no idea the level of complexity we are about to encounter researching the Heart.

"Ignominite took three months to discover, and Imperial R&D continues to make advancements with it to this day. The Barrier and its algorithm took three years to implement, and no progress whatsoever has been made trying to perfect it despite eight years of trying. We may have plenty of time or barely enough at all, but if the Barrier fails before we have the weapon then everything is lost. We cannot afford distractions, no matter how tempting."

Horde Prime narrowed his eyes at them and sat forward, uncrossing his legs. If he looked disinterested and bored earlier, he looked downright furious now. Glimmer had no idea what Taline was talking about, but she could tell whatever point she made had struck a nerve with Prime. She half expected him to refuse to help out of spite. This was her cue.

"Lord Prime, please," Glimmer said, taking a tentative step forward. When all eyes turned on her, she swallowed and bowed low. "I may be a young Queen, but I am no fool. I recognize that we are thoroughly beaten." She chanced a glance up. Taline and even Salas seemed surprised she spoke up at all, but Prime looked pleased.

"You have already conquered Etheria," she said. "Even if my own subjects haven't yet caught on to that fact. And if it's indeed Adora that you talked to when you first reached out, then there's no doubt in my mind she is planning a counter attack. As queen it's my responsibility to look out for the safety of my people, and I know there will be nothing left of them if they go down that path. Please sir. Let Taline use your projectors. Let them see that I am safe and let us negotiate a ceasefire, I beg you."

Horde Prime studied her through narrowed eyes. Glimmer could practically see him turning her words over in his head, and despite the look of drunk satisfaction on his face, she feared she hadn't done enough—that he'd still refuse, even after she groveled. It was Salas that, after stepping up to whisper something in his ear, made him nod.

"Very well," he said. "I am not a cruel ruler. I see potential when an opponent recognizes they are beaten and asks for mercy, and I too wish to avoid unnecessary bloodshed where possible. I will grant you access to the projectors, Taline. Record your message on the communications bridge, and I will inform my Relay Master that he is to transmit whatever you give him."

"Thank you, my lord," Taline said with another quick bow. "Hail the Horde. Hail Horde Prime." She grabbed Glimmer by the arm and the four of retreated back toward the elevators. "That was perfect," she said when they arrived, mashing the 'call' button on the elevator panel. "What you just did there? That was exactly what we needed."

"I helped you, just like you asked," Glimmer said, frowning. "You'd better hold up your end of the deal. What do we do now?"

"Now we get to the communications bridge like he said. You'll record a message telling everyone that you are safe and that they are to come out of the castle and surrender. We'll be able to land safely, make their surrender official, and begin our research right away."

"Hold on a minute," Glimmer said, crossing her arms and taking a step back. "Surrender? That's not what we agreed on."

"We agreed on safety for your friends and medical attention to those who needed it. How do you think we're going to keep anyone safe if they don't surrender?"

"I thought we were going to negotiate a ceasefire. Surrender is too much."

The elevator dinged and the doors opened, but no one stepped inside. Taline shot Glimmer a withering glare.

"Do you seriously expect the Emperor to sit there on his throne and not execute every single one of your people in front of your eyes if they refuse to submit to him? What did you think was going to happen? That we'd stop the fighting and you could negotiate him into leaving you alone? He came here and conquered your planet in a week, you said so yourself."

"This isn't what we agreed to," Glimmer said, taking another step back. "I don't know what it is you need our planet for so badly, but you went straight from wanting to end hostilities and keep people safe to jumping right into your little research project the minute you got what you wanted."

"Glimmer, we don't have time to—"

"No, you don't have time to waste," Glimmer said. She didn't care that she was probably causing a scene near enough for the Emperor to notice. "How do I even know I can trust you? How do I know you aren't going to just throw us back to the wolves as soon as you have what you want? Did you even bring Catra to the infirmary like you said, or did this guy"—she jerked her thumb toward the larger of the two Sentinels still with them—"just dump her body out an airlock or something?"

The elevator doors closed without them aboard, the quiet hissing sound amplified against the silence Glimmer let hang over them after she finished speaking. Taline looked disgusted with her, and a small voice at the back of the head suggested to Glimmer that maybe she shouldn't be pushing the buttons of the only person that seemed to be on their side and giving her answers. Still, she refused to trust blindly, and there was at least one thing she believed could be reasonably used as leverage.

"You need to get the Heart working, right?" Glimmer asked. "You need it to fight whatever war is threatening your precious empire? Well, let me cut to the chase and let you in on a little secret. The Heart is defective."

Taline's look of disgust mellowed out into one of irritation and interest. "Go on," she said.

"The only way you can activate it is if you have all the princesses, my friends, channel their power into it at once. And even if you somehow managed to get them to cooperate with you, the planet blows up. It's unstable. I'm changing the terms of our agreement, since it's clear the Heart is the only thing you care about. You need to take me back down to the planet personally to talk to everyone. Either that, or you show me some other kind of proof you're going to keep your word and make sure my friends are safe if we surrender."

"And if I don't?"

"Then I don't lift a finger to help you any further than I already have."

Taline's eyes hardened and she squared her shoulders. A surge of adrenaline pumped through Glimmer's veins upon seeing that, and she responded in kind, ready for a fight.

"Fine," Taline said after a tense moment. "Have it your way. We don't have time to make a trip to the surface, so I'll go get your cellmate from the infirmary and prove to you she's better and that I didn't have her done away with. Is that enough for you?"

Glimmer was surprised and grateful things didn't escalate into violence, especially since she was certain she wouldn't come out the victor when Taline had two armored Sentinels at her side. She considered Taline's proposal, and ultimately decided that it would be proof enough. If she had actually taken care of Catra when she could have just as easily killed her and lied about it to secure Glimmer's cooperation, then that was probably enough to say she wouldn't abandon her friends once they disarmed themselves.

"Good," Taline said when Glimmer nodded at her. "You're going to head to the communications center like we originally planned, and I'll be along shortly thereafter with your friend." She turned to the Sentinels at her side and said, "Guard her. The clones and especially other officers may give her a hard time if I'm not there and we can't risk that. I don't care who you have to step between, make sure no harm comes to the queen for any reason. Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal clear, ma'am." Both Sentinels spoke and snapped off sharp salutes at the same time, and Taline turned back to address Glimmer.

"Follow their lead. This citadel is a monstrosity, but they'll know how to get you to communications. No detours."

"No detours," Glimmer agreed, nodding.

Taline stared at her a moment longer, as if looking for any sign of subterfuge. Seemingly finding none, she turned and took off at a quick march toward a set of doors farther away. Glimmer watched her exit after the guards posted there scrambled to get out of her way, then she turned to look at the Sentinels left behind to guard her. She still hadn't seen their faces, completely covered in body armor as they were.

"Shall we get going?" the taller of the two asked. "We'll take the elevator up and escort you to communications."

Glimmer thought back to the orders Taline gave them—thought about how oddly specific it was that Taline told them she didn't care who they needed to step between in order to keep her safe. An idea sprung to her in her quest to feel better in control over her predicament.

"You're Miri," she said, pointing to the smaller of the two, before gesturing to the larger. "But what's your name?"

"I am called Narre, Queen Glimmer," the other said.

"Well, Miri and Narre…Taline did give you a set of pretty specific orders. But I have something I want to try first."

The Sentinels glanced at each other. Glimmer took one look at the elevator the two of them were clearly hoping she would get aboard, pointedly turned away, and marched instead back toward the Emperor on his throne.