The robots charge at Carol, but the wildcat has a plan. As she nears the robots, she unclips the disc from her belt and hurls it high over them. As the disc arcs through the air, Carol engages with the first few robots, slicing two of them open with ease before the third stalls her advance. Not wishing to be surrounded, Carol allows herself to be pushed backwards, luring the squad forwards.

The sound of the disc landing behind the robots is missed by the squad, but Carol's oversized ears pick it up easily. With a smirk, she splits two more robots open, then hits the button on her teleporter. Half a second later, she vanishes and reappears behind the squad. Before the robots can react, Carol slices six of them open, reducing the squad to two‑thirds its original size.

Unfortunately, the wildcat cannot repeat the trick: the remaining twenty robots quickly surround her, giving her no time to eject the spent crystals and slot fresh ones in place. Carol fights valiantly, taking out a further four robots, but the sheer effort is taking its toll, and eventually, the robots pin her to the deck.

Realising she's failed, Carol closes her eyes and waits for‑

A shockwave rolls over the wildcat, smashing the robots aside.

A moment later, Carol opens her eyes to see the robots that had pinned her have been wrecked and scattered across the room. And standing over her is a very angry cerulean dragon. "Oh, if it isn't Deus Ex Merga," the wildcat sneers. "Come to finish the job?"

"Get up," Merga commands.

Carol pushes herself to her feet, then raises her sword and points it at Merga. "You won't beat me."

"Put that away."

"No."

"Please put it away."

Carol pauses a moment. Please? Why is she suddenly being so polite? "Why should I?"

"Because you were right. Mostly."

Carol lowers her sword but doesn't sheath it. "Make it good."

"The Bakunawa is awake, yet I am not at the helm," Merga explains simply.

Called it. "Told you she'd betray you," Carol smirks, finally sheathing the sword. "Pity she didn't kill you."

"If she had, you'd have been killed by those robots," Merga reminds.

Carol's smirk vanishes. "It's not every day one owes one's life to one's enemy," she comments.

"It's not every day that one has an enemy in common with one's enemy," Merga comments in return.

"If you think I'm going to help you retake the Bakunawa, you're insane," Carol informs.

"I did you a favour," Merga states. "Is it not honourable to return it?"

"Not when the result of returning it may bring about the end of all so‑called 'impure' dragons, including my best friend," Carol counters. "How did she wrest control, out of interest?"

"Mind control serum," Merga explains.

"Stop bullshitting me."

"I was injected with something and lost my free will. Find another explanation."

Carol thinks for a few moments. "OK, I'll let you have that one," she accepts. "For now."

Merga shakes her head in disappointment. "Strange how someone who was once forced to fight a friend doubts the effects of such substances."

It takes a moment for Carol to work out what Merga is describing. Shade! "More reason to kill you now!" she barks, drawing her sword again.

"Relax," Merga assures. "The serum has worn off: it was only a small dose."

"The Shade Virus doesn't just disappear, y'know," Carol growls. "Just ask Milla."

"Unless I'm mistaken, you know two who have been infected, yet no longer show any traces of the virus," Merga replies.

Carol's eyes narrow in suspicion. "How do you know about that?"

"Corazon mentioned it once I was in her thrall," Merga explains. "Seems she decided she'd earned the right to gloat."

"What colour did your eyes go?"

"I do not know."

"Did you mutate?"

"No."

No hesitation in her answers. This may be crazy, but I'm going to give her benefit of the doubt for now. Carol sheathes her sword again. "OK."

"You'll help me then?" Merga asks.

"You will help me take down Corazon," Carol instructs. "Once she is defeated, you will surrender."

"I will not surrender," Merga replies.

"You won't have a choice."

"You sound just like her."

"The difference is, I show mercy."

"Prove it."

"You're still alive."

For the first time, Merga smiles. It's subtle, but it's there, and there's genuine warmth to it. "If I surrender, what will become of me?"

"You'll be tried for your crimes and sentenced accordingly," Carol informs. "Luckily for you, your charge list consists of a sole crime, and I get the feeling the Magister will be in a lenient mood."

"Kidnapping the Royal Magister is a very serious crime."

"So is helping plan a racist genocide."

"Good point." Merga thinks hard for a few moments.

"You met Sash then," Carol guesses, noticing the streaks of coagulated blood scattered over the dragon's body and face.

"She is a surprisingly formidable foe," Merga admits. "Bloodthirsty too."

"There's a reason Lilac's scared of her," Carol replies.

A thought occurs to Merga. "You're not expecting to get off here alive, are you?"

Carol simply shrugs.

"Death doesn't scare you?" Merga asks.

"It scares the shit outta me," Carol corrects. "But the sort of life I lead, I don't expect to live very long. I'd be surprised if I make it to twenty."

Merga raises a curious eyebrow. "How old are you now?"

"Fourteen."

Merga blinks in surprise. "I didn't realise you were so young."

Carol simply shrugs.

"I'll help you take down Corazon," Merga decides. "But I won't surrender afterwards."

"Even though it's in your best interests to do so."

"How come?"

"Once Corazon is defeated, the Bakunawa will have to be destroyed," Carol explains. "No one person should have access to that level of power. Plus, while serving your sentence, you'll be able to learn about your own kind. Given enough time, you'll come to realise you've lived a life‑long lie. And when you do, Lilac will be there to help you find your true place in the world."

"Even though I tried to kill her three times."

"She loves to help people."

"I still won't surrender."

"That doesn't surprise me."

"I will help you though."

"Thanks."

"And once Corazon is defeated, the Bakunawa will be mine, as is my right."

"And I'll stop you taking it."

Merga remains silent for a moment. "I admire your tenacity and nobility," she smiles, again with genuine warmth. "Therefore, I make the following offer: once Corazon is defeated, we will have an honourable duel, where the victor is the first to draw blood. If I win, I claim the Bakunawa."

"And if I win?"

"I will do the honourable thing and surrender unconditionally."

Carol thinks a moment. Eh, better than nothing. "Offer accepted."

"Excellent. Shall we proceed?"

"Thought you'd never ask," Carol smiles back.

In the cockpit, Corazon watches the entire exchange with interest, her anger building invisibly within her, only speaking once the exchange is over. "Greasemonkey, why is Merga now betraying me?"

There is no answer.

"Greasemonkey, show yourself immediately."

There is still no answer.

Corazon sighs in disappointment. Guess I'm doing this alone then. Still, it's not like I need him anymore anyway. Corazon engages the Bakunawa's autopilot and checks her pistol's ammo. Empty, and I have no more ammunition. No matter: I don't need it anyway. Leaving her pistol behind, Corazon leaves the cockpit. I should have been an only child.