Author's note:

It took way longer than I planned to update this story. I only meant to be gone a month or two at most, but after one new priority after another, it took at least three months.

If I don't upload again by the end of December, Merry Christmas to you and a Happy New Year.

Chapter 58: Wounds and Scars

During the nuhmryg epidemic, over 1,600 foxes lost their lives across the span of two months. The death toll had been unprecedented in Kezamat's history. It had certainly been worse than any other disease that swept her people throughout the centuries. The graves had taken many days to dig, and many hearts were torn from such widespread loss. The city's population before the outbreak had been just under 12,000.

Compared to then, the Aparoid Invasion had been much worse. Within two hours, 17 percent of the remaining populace had perished. The Aparoids had been directly involved in most cases. Their handiwork as swift and efficient as it was horrific. Not even wars between Cerinian territories resulted in so much bloodshed in such a short amount of time.

For Thalse and Nomar, the horrors of that day would haunt them for years to come. Thalse grieved for the soldiers he had lost, having known them all as good friends. Nomar, meanwhile, had to face the aftermath wrought upon the living: frightful scars, lost limbs, and psychological trauma that radiated from patients who twitched, trembled, and threw fearful glances at the sky without cease. Thankfully, enough lythans survived to shoulder the demand.

Many people suffered injuries from falling debris or the stampede of other fleeing citizens. However, the worst cases were the foxes who had been infected with the Aparoids' taint. Most of the victims died at the battle's end, though not all. Where infections had not progressed too far, some people survived and regained their senses. Still, the blight left terrible marks on them. It turned strong muscles into useless metal. It ruined people's nerves and motor skills, preventing them from returning to their farms and crafts. It also kept young and formerly healthy foxes stuck in their beds, requiring constant care from their families. All the victims still bore the discolouration in their skin caused by their affliction.

The worst aftereffect of them all waited below a set of cold, stone steps. Thalse held Nomar's hand as they descended into Kezamat's prison. Not many people were convicted of crimes worth incarceration. But those who were brought here were among the most dangerous Cerinians in the surrounding lands: murderers, brainwashers, and dark mages who twisted the practices of magic for sinister gains. Their newest addition earned their cell through a cruel turn of fate, however. Thalse pitied them as he and Nomar stopped outside a wall of iron bars.

Light from a grated window poured over the vixen curled atop the bed inside. Her pelt, darker than night, blended with the shadows. She raised her head slowly from her knees. A smile greeted Thalse and Nomar. Neither could decide whether the face was innocent or soul-chilling.

"Vice-captain Sharrde. Welcome back."

"Hello, Diony," Thalse said. "How do you feel today?"

The woman scratched her chin. "Still the same. My head is too quiet. I wish to hear my husband's mind again."

Nomar stepped forward. "Diony? My name is Nomar. I'm a master lythan. I'm here to help you."

Diony studied her for a moment. Her gaze drifted to Thalse then back. "I sense a strong link between you two. Are you the Vice-captain's ehn mate?"

An instinct urged Thalse to put himself between Nomar and the cell. However, Nomar's swift hand kept him in place. "Yes. He is my husband," she answered. "I understand that yours passed away after he was infected by the Aparoids. I'm sorry for your loss."

"Not true. Not true," Diony refuted. A faint growl agitated her voice. "There is no loss. The flesh is gone, but the soul lives on."

Nomar knew what to expect ahead of time. Still, her nerves flared a little. "Could you please tell me what you remember on the day of the attack?"

"There was no attack. Only kindness mistaken for one. But I will tell you what I recall." Diony shifted her position to face them more properly. "It began like any other day. I was home at our vineyard while Bacus, my husband, sold our wine in the market."

"The markets were among the first places that the Aparoids hit," Thalse noted.

Diony nodded. "They descended upon the city. The Great Aparoids bestowed their blessing to everyone in sight, including my Bacus."

"Blessing?" Nomar interrupted, trying to conceal the disgust that struck both her and Thalse. "Surely you noticed the Aparoids transfigure your husband and rob him of his free will?"

"Oh, the change was excruciating. Bacus thought he was being torn apart from the inside out at first," Diony said with a blissful sigh that contradicted her words. "But then we heard the Aparoids' voice in our minds. 'Do not be afraid,' they said. 'Submit, and you will all transcend into perfect beings.' And surely enough! When the pain receded, Bacus had been reborn! His body was stronger than ever before, and his thoughts had become like the Great Aparoids'."

Thalse pulled Nomar back as Diony rose to her feet, approaching them. "Do you now understand? The Aparoids are not monsters bent on destroying us. They are gods who offer us to become like them. The knowledge they possess, and the sheer number of other worlds they've enlightened before us. Their power is unmatched even by the Bright Father, Ilis."

Nomar stepped closer, careful in her tone and movements. "Diony… The Aparoids have deceived you. They were not gods. They could be destroyed just like any other living creature. They were not here to help us either. Hundreds of our people died because of them, your husband included."

"That is where you are wrong. I felt my beloved die in the flesh, but I know that his mind lives on inside the swarm. The swarm is immortal, and now so is he. So will I be when I join him. As we all will."

Grabbing hold of the bars, Diony beamed through them brightly. "Don't you see? Joining the Aparoids is the greatest honour we could ever aspire towards! Imagine sharing an ehn with countless others, all living as one mind. Think of how glorious that would be. Don't you wish to share the bond you two have with everyone else you know and love? The Great Aparoids will make that vision into reality! They will return one day and deliver our transcendence!"

Thalse could swallow no more. "Enough!" He took hold of Nomar's arm. "We're done here."

"It doesn't matter how many you destroy. The swarm will always endure!" Diony called after them. "They will return for us! And we will welcome them! Resisting will only lead to needless death!"

Thalse blocked out the noise, yet that madwoman's raving shook Nomar to her core. She did not resist as Thalse led her out of the cellblock and into the bright safety of the prison's lobby. Only there did he let go and turn to Nomar with gentle care and worry in his heart. "Are you alright?"

Shuddering, she expelled a terrible breath. "I've never seen anything like her case before. And to think there are a dozen more people in the same condition."

"Do you think you can help her?"

Nomar's thoughts churned, yet she shook her head. "I don't know. The way that people recover from brainwashing typically depends on the person and circumstances. But this Aparoidedation is the most intensive I've ever heard of. Adding the way that she lost her ehn mate on top of that… It could take Diony years to regain her sanity if she ever does at all. Even with therapy."

Thalse mumbled sombrely. "I imagine being locked away from society won't help her realise she's still one of us."

"It would be better if she could be around friends or family who are still alive," Nomar sighed. "But your first thoughts about her were right. She's too unstable right now. She might hurt herself or someone else if we let her go free."

She wandered away from Thalse, pinching between her eyes as a maelstrom ravaged through her mind. He watched bleak visions and sickening worries tear at her heart. Such moments arose whenever Nomar saw little to no hope for someone who needed her. She hid it well from others, but never from Thalse. He alone knew the burden their fates weighed on Nomar. He moved in close and pulled her into his arms.

"I'm sorry there's not more I can do to help," Thalse murmured.

Nomar buried her face into his neck. "I'm sorrier that she has to suffer like this after losing her husband to those monsters." Her inky thoughts began to turn. "I'm glad it wasn't one of us instead."

The idea repulsed Thalse. He held her tighter. "So am I."

There laid another reason Diony's madness unsettled Nomar so much. Many others suffered similar afflictions after the deaths of their ehn mates, whether it be from grief alone or the sudden and violent split of their psychic bonds. Dread of it hung in the corners of both Thalse and Nomar's minds. Despite that, they still forged their ehn more than 20 years ago, knowing that pain and sorrow awaited them in the end. The primary thing keeping their fear at bay was a promise that they made to each other: that if one of them perished too soon, the other would swear to live on for Krystal's sake. Their daughter would hurt enough from losing one parent. It wouldn't be fair on her to lose both so close together.

"Those Aparoids are vile," Nomar seethed through gritted fangs. "I hope the gods banish them to the deepest pits of anguish."

"Krystal and the others sent them well on their way," Thalse assured her.

"Do you think there might be more left?"

"I hope not. However, we'll need to be prepared in case there are. The council will likely discuss the matter once we've cleaned up after the battle."

Nomar sighed. "I suppose they'll want to know whether we can call upon the spirits more readily in future. I'm not sure how I'll be able to answer them."

Thalse offered a dry chuckle. "The spirits are as free as the wind. If they can't be convinced to guard Kezamat, the council will simply have to accept that." His humour died quickly. "No. What we really need is a means for our soldiers to fight such beasts without being torn apart. We lost too many in the battle."

Touching his cheek, Nomar funnelled soothing emotions into him. "At least there are many who want to join the city guard now."

"Replacement soldiers are good. But being able to keep them alive would put my mind at ease."

"Perhaps Doctor Andross can offer some advice. He has experience with arming troops, and he hasn't led us astray yet."

Thalse frowned reluctantly. It seemed that everyone now sought the doctor's counsel on their problems. Thalse loathed to add to that burden with matters that he really should address himself. Then again, what solution could he devise that would protect his warriors' lives against more monsters? Thalse's confidence waned again. "Perhaps if I cross paths with him, I'll ask."

Nomar wished to encourage him, but another mind then reached out to her. They immediately recognised Randorn. "Sister, I'm sorry if this is a bad time. But I need you back at the shrine."

Thalse and Nomar looked to each other. Their time together was over. "It's alright, Randorn," she sighed. "I'll be there soon."

"I might as well get back to work as well," Thalse shrugged.

He walked her as far as their paths aligned. Then at the final fork, Nomar turned and kissed him. "I'll see you at home later."

"Yes," Thalse replied. "Take care."

Nomar touched his arm. "Everything will be alright, Thalse. Just give it time and do your best. That's all any of us can do."

Thalse nodded. "Don't you worry too much about Diony and the other survivors. One day they'll come back to their senses. We'll make sure they're cared for until then."

For that, Nomar gave a smile. Then she turned and made her way towards the shrine. Yet as Thalse headed towards his own destination, Nomar felt as close as ever in his thoughts. He cherished their link – cradled their bond – for it was his greatest treasure. He would never allow anyone or anything to desecrate it, whether they be man, woman, or damned machine.

Broken. Destroyed. Gone. Years of hard work and discovery taken away in only the span of an hour. Andross looked around his laboratory – his home – and saw furniture crumpled against the walls, flasks and glass instruments shattered all over the floor, and the few pieces of electronic equipment he possessed stolen or gutted for who knew what purpose. The Aparoids had been thorough. They hardly left him crumbs to come back to once the dust settled. Even the radio was gone. The one from McCloud's Arwing too.

The worst blow they dealt was to his precious rocket. Andross hadn't had time to check on it during the battle, but later inspection sank his heart. The Aparoids left their mark on it as well. Claw marks through the chassis; the fuel tanks ruptured and drained; and the handful of engine components Andross had finished were now missing. If they had looked for longer than a second, they would have seen that the rocket was far from useable. There was nothing the Cerinians could have done to threaten them with. Alas, the Aparoids did not take any chances.

Thus, with the ruins of his second life's work all around him, Andross hung his head in his palms atop one table that somehow survived the wreckage. Hundreds of discoveries. Thousands of ideas. All lost except for those on the hard drives that he and Thene saved. Though with no working computers left to access their data, what was the point?

They were effectively back at square one. No rocket. No radio. No way off this cursed planet. They had been so close. So close to leaving this backwater world behind for good. It ended up all for naught! Andross dug his nails painfully into his palms.

How many times was he to be denied his goals? How many setbacks must he suffer? How many times must his blood, sweat, and tears amount to nothing despite the countless hours he sacrificed? How much more could he endure? Andross looked deep within and found himself too tired to even think about it.

What was the point anymore? The rocket would take years to rebuild a third time, assuming they could re-establish communication with the outside. Then the Cornerian Army would have whatever measures in place to capture him on sight. Any promise of a head start was only as good as the paper it was written on, burning inside a drum of rubbish in some desolate alleyway. His family would not welcome him home. There'd be no opportunity for him and Ashley to pick up where life had torn them apart. All Andross that had to look forward to was either a life sentence in a cold cell or a one-way journey to an execution chamber. Was any of that worth breaking his back just to be knocked down again at the final stretch?

Maybe this was a sign. Maybe this was simply the way things needed to be. Was life on Cerinia so terrible? Frankly, it wasn't. Andross could go wherever he pleased, provided that direction wasn't upward. The people here were friendly. He also had a home with a loving mate who brought him comfort. What more did any man truly need? Maybe all that Andross needed to do was stay where he was. Wouldn't that be the easiest solution to all his problems?

"I thought I'd find you here."

Andross finally lifted his head as McCloud walked in through the busted doorframe. His fur was shaved away in places and covered in thick bandages in others. He swung his gaze around the room. "Damn. It's worse than I remember. Sorry about your house."

Andross sighed. He didn't have the energy for this right now. "Your concern is appreciated," he grumbled.

"I'm being sincere. Seriously, a lot of other people lost their homes too, and it sucks. Makes me glad that the Aparoids didn't touch mine." Glass and debris crunched under McCloud's sandals. "I saw the state of the rocket. You doing okay?"

Andross scoffed at the ridiculousness confronting him. "Imagine! You of all people coming to me for a welfare check."

McCloud chuckled. "I know. I'm surprised too." He eyed a space in the dust where Andross's lightning machine had once been. "Can you rebuild everything?"

"Given enough time, I could. But considering how well all my other plans in life have panned out, I hardly see it worth the effort right now."

Several irksome expressions flashed across McCloud's face. First, it was shock. Then pity. Followed by apprehension. Finally, remarkably, came a bright grin. "I know what you need."

What was that fool thinking now? "Enlighten me," Andross grumbled.

Walking around him, McCloud entered the kitchen and began rummaging through the cupboards as though he owned the place. "Thought I once saw it somewhere around… Here!"

From the top shelf, McCloud pulled out a bottle of whiskey. Andross's frown deepened. "Help yourself, why don't you…"

"I do plan to help. But not just myself." McCloud then gathered two glasses and filled them with ice from the thankfully unharmed freezer. After pouring a generous amount into each, he set one of the glasses in front of Andross whilst holding the other in his hand. "There you go. One Androssian whiskey on the rocks, sourced from the finest Kezamat grains."

Andross lifted his sceptical scowl to him. "I seriously doubt that a drink will undo all the damage done to my lab."

"Maybe not, but it might make you feel a bit better at least." McCloud sampled his own beverage, smacking his lips. "You know, if you ever get tired of being an evil scientist, you should open up a brewery or something."

A tempting idea in Andross's current mindset. He indulged McCloud. The whiskey offered a pleasing burn to distract him from his thoughts.

"So, what do we need to get back on track?" McCloud asked.

"You still want to escape this planet after the Aparoids tore apart our only option?"

"You mean you don't?" McCloud frowned incredulously. "I've still got friends and family to get back to. I'm not going to let some mechanical bugs discourage me from that."

Andross admired his perseverance but only sighed. "It almost seems like the planet is determined to never let us leave. First, the beacon failed. Then the Aparoids came. What will be waiting for us next if we try again?"

McCloud's frown deepened as he looked at him long and hard. "Don't tell me you're finally giving up."

"What point is there?" Andross challenged softly. "There was never anything good waiting for me outside of Cerinia like you have. It now starts to feel like the effort is far exceeding the reward."

As expected, trepidation grew across McCloud's face again. Andross expected him to flare in rage, feeling betrayed as his last hope died in front of his eyes. Yet perhaps that was taking longer to build. "But… that can't be true. What about your daughter?"

"Better off without me."

"Your grandson?"

"He's done well enough without my influence."

"Your army?"

Andross almost scoffed. Was the list of connections he had in this universe truly that short? "It's been close to a decade since I last saw any of my followers. I imagine that many of them have moved on with their lives. My nephew, Andrew, surely would have done a poor job at maintaining their forces."

At last, McCloud snapped, spreading his arms wide. "So, that's it? After everything that's happened, this is what finally beats you for good?" Andross did not answer. "Honestly, that's pretty disappointing."

"Excuse me?"

"I can't believe it! The Cornerian Government used you as a scapegoat and left you to die on Venom. You somehow survived that, built an army, and declared war to get revenge. Then after I stopped you, you came back from the actual dead and wound up stuck all the way out here."

McCloud paused to wet his throat. "Since then, you've built a new lab from the ground-up, stopped an epidemic, and made a working rocket that – granted – crashed soon after launching. And now you're suddenly throwing in the towel? What happened to the real Simon Andross who could do anything he wanted out of spite?"

"I've been fighting for much longer than you have, boy," Andross growled. "I've firmly had enough of starting over from nothing."

"Alright. Maybe that's fair. But starting over is what you're good at. You're like an angry, little cockroach that people just can't get rid of. It's what makes you so…" McCloud swirled his glass whilst he thought of the best word. "Infuriating."

Andross leaned back in his chair. His frown deepened even further. "Thank you. Your words are truly inspiring."

McCloud shrugged. "I mean it. You are the hardest son of a bitch I've ever tried to stop. Nothing ever seems to keep you down for long. But now some Aparoids come along and smash everything you've built here, and you're just going to take it? Are you really just going to let them win like that?"

Take it? Like how he took it when Corneria tossed him into Venom's toxic wastelands? Andross's fist clenched.

"And the rocket?" McCloud went on. "I thought you were going to be the first man to ever fly off Cerinia. Are you just going to give up and let some other schmuck take that title from you instead?"

Andross gnashed his teeth. "They'd never succeed."

"Well, they can try if you're not going to beat them first. Could you really accept someone taking the glory for something you could have easily done before them?"

"Of course not!" The words flew from Andross's lips before he could even think.

McCloud smirked. "Then are you going to pick yourself up and finish what you started before they do?"

This time, Andross pondered his response first. He looked inside and felt a swirling indignation scorch his guts. He sighed exasperatedly. "Damn it… I know what you're trying to do, McCloud. But… you raise a good point. I've never backed down from a challenge before, and I've made too much headway to give up one on a scale like this." Besides, Thene had been looking forward to experiencing advanced civilisation. She'd be furious with him if he went back on his promise now.

"There you go." McCloud smiled and raised his glass. "You're the smartest guy in the Lylat System, and a persistent arsehole to boot. If anyone can get us both off this planet, I know it's you, Andross."

With a smirk, Andross lifted his own drink. "And you are the most insufferable bastard I've ever met in my long life. But I thank you." Their glasses rang on contact. Draining his, Andross shook his head. He then began to ponder their next move. "I'll need to find a way to replace the lab's radio. Then I'll be able to inform Corneria and Novellon about recent events."

"Like I said earlier, the Aparoids didn't touch my house, so I've still got my radio setup," McCloud replied. "You can borrow it until we can rebuild yours here."

Andross nodded. "I'd appreciate that."

McCloud's expression fell soon after. "Speaking of… Do you think the Aparoids are really gone? Did we get them all?"

That would be the best outcome. However, it felt overly idealistic. "I don't know," Andross admitted. "I'd like to send scouts to hunt down any stragglers, but I'm concerned about their chance of surviving an encounter. If there are Aparoids still on Cerinia, we need to better prepare for them."

"Any ideas for that? I'm thinking that since the arethanite worked so well on them, we could probably arm our soldiers with it."

"I had the same thoughts," Andross nodded. "However, I doubt our supply will be enough. We might then consider asking Star Fox to send down more dust from the arethansphere. It would be quicker than searching for more down here."

"Just so long as they don't end up trapped here with us in the process," McCloud cautioned. Yes, it wouldn't benefit them if their primary contact in outer space crashed onto the surface as well.

Andross rose from his chair. "There's something else. Follow me."

He led McCloud to a safe in a hidden corner of the lab. It had thankfully gone unnoticed by the Aparoids and protected Andross's most valuable research papers about Cerinia. Now it housed something even more precious. Andross removed the artefact from the vault and laid it out for McCloud to see. The smooth, oblong device caught the light with its deep navy exterior. A trio of lime-green hexagons covered much of its surface area on top. Its design was simple yet elegant, appealing to Andross's sense of wonder.

"What is it?" McCloud asked.

"I've only heard rumours about them, but I believe that this is an Aparoid's core memory. Effectively its brain. To my knowledge, no one has ever gotten hold of one intact and lived long enough to reveal its secrets."

McCloud took an involuntary step back. "Is it dangerous?"

"On its own? No. Though I doubt the Aparoids would want anyone learning too much about them, so it's likely that they simply hunted the missing cores down and slaughtered whoever possessed one."

Hearing that renewed McCloud's curiosity. He leaned closer to tap the machine with one claw. "So… Is it intact, or is it busted? I thought all the Aparoids got fried when we blasted them with arethanite magic."

"If any other Aparoids had core memories, they probably were damaged that way. However, the one this came from was taken out by an earth spirit, and the core is still very much functional. It's just dormant right now without a body and power source."

"Is it useful to us somehow?"

Andross sighed and shook his head. "I'd have hoped to extract whatever information was on here for further study. It's possible that the core can tell us what the Aparoids' weakness is or what their plans here are. It might even reveal the location of the Aparoids' home world, which could give the rest of the galaxy a chance to wipe them out. Unfortunately, I don't have the tools to do anything with this."

For a prolonged moment, McCloud scratched between his ears, pacing on the spot. "Could you maybe build a computer using the Aparoids as parts?"

Andross smirked. The tod was finally coming up with interesting ideas on his own. "While that might work, I don't think it would be wise. Connecting the core memory to Aparoid parts might cause it to revive as a new specimen. There's a risk we'd end up destroying the core if we had to defend ourselves." Though, Andross reflected, it would be tempting to rebuild an Aparoid to understand how they worked. If only he could construct a cage strong enough to contain one.

"So, what can we do?" McCloud then asked.

Andross pondered the answer. "If we could get the core off-world, I could study it with proper equipment." Perhaps he could use the core as a bargaining chip with Corneria instead; trade the information within for his freedom. Andross eyed McCloud. Best not to voice that train of thought to him. "Until then, it's only good to use as a paperweight."

McCloud threw his head back and groaned. "That's annoying."

"You're telling me," Andross huffed. "The blasted thing is probably going to keep me up all night wondering what's on it."

"Try not to lose too much sleep." McCloud then crossed his arms, adopting a thoughtful look. "So, we have an Aparoid brain that we can't use, a rocket that needs repairing, and a radio we have to replace. I can fetch the one from home now so you can call for help."

It would be a long journey to walk from there and back, Andross predicted. "Don't trouble yourself. If Thene calls, I'll ask her to pick it up on her way home. Otherwise, I'll send for it in the morning. Replacing the radio isn't that urgent."

"Suit yourself," McCloud shrugged. "I'd better get going anyway. Krystal is volunteering at the shelters tonight, and I promised I'd pick up some ingredients for the meals they're making." He turned his back to leave. "See ya, Andross."

"Farewell," Andross replied. He then returned his attention to the core memory. So many mysteries. So little opportunity to explore them. One day, he promised himself. Until then, he locked the core back into the safe. His thoughts then shifted to the rocket and the long list of repairs it needed.

Perhaps, more than anything, his desire to crack the core memory's secrets was what now drove him to resume his efforts on the ship. He couldn't ignore its allure. Nor could he be content with leaving its truths unknown while they dangled under his nose. He needed to know. He needed to solve the puzzle. If he had to build 100 spaceships to unlock the answers, Andross would.

Stepping out into the yard, Andross looked up at the rocket and cracked his neck. "Whelp," he said to himself. "Let's see what we can do with her."

The scars were all around her city. Along the streets. Across the buildings. Upon the bodies and hearts of her people. Krystal walked along the battered roads, feeling her chest tighten with every mark of tragedy that she encountered. Every other step ached as she distributed her weight between her wounded leg and a crutch. Thank the gods that she'd been able to reknit the torn flesh and muscles with healing magic, repairing most of the damage. The rest afflicted bone and complex tissue that was best left to time's capable hands, much to her discomfort.

It hurt to open her mind. But open it Krystal did as she searched for poor souls who might be trapped under wreckage and had not yet been found. The numbers were far fewer than when the Jad and guard began their rescue efforts right after the battle. It might be that there was no one left waiting to be saved. Still, Krystal couldn't rest easy until she knew for sure.

The air was thick with dark emotions. It crawled with grief and sorrow; fear and uncertainty; anger and bitterness; as well as a deep void of hopelessness that almost robbed Krystal's will to take another step when she first felt it. So much loss. So much heartache. Krystal saw those suffering at the doorsteps of ruined homes and met their hollow eyes. The bag of foodstuffs that she brought to hand out was already empty. There were too many who needed her help, yet she had far too little to offer them. A massive stone of guilt dragged her heart into the depths, where the darkness and pressure swallowed it whole.

Thankfully, Krystal was not alone in her mission. Multiple shelters had been established throughout the city for those who'd been displaced. Volunteers gathered to offer what they could spare: food, old blankets and clothes, spare tools, even toys for children who needed something to comfort them when their whole worlds were turned upside down. Although each gesture might have been small on its own, they combined to make a visible difference to people's lives. That in itself gave Krystal reason to smile still.

She found no one needing rescue nearby. Krystal moved on to search elsewhere. Eventually, she stepped onto the street where she had slain her first Aparoid. Its hulking corpse remained further down. As Krystal walked, the memories washed fresh over her. She remembered the civilians who the Aparoid took hostage; the infected Cerinians robbed of their minds; the impossible choice she and the others had to make to save as many people as they could. What more could they have done? Krystal didn't know.

Drying her eyes, she pressed onward. Krystal then noticed someone kneeling beside the Aparoid. Concerned for their safety, she approached them swiftly. Her pace slowed when Krystal recognised Thene's pale hair draped over her shoulders. She seemed to be digging through a cavity carved into the Aparoid's husk.

"What are you doing?" Krystal blurted.

Thene showed no surprise when she turned to meet her gaze. "I'm dissecting the Aparoid. Is that an issue?"

Krystal shook the fuzz out from her head. "No. Not at all! But… Should you be moving around right now?"

Like Krystal, Thene's leg was heavily bandaged. A pair of crutches laid within arm's reach of her. Thene only gave her wound a cursory glance. "As long as I can move at all, I'd rather be here than resting."

Hearing that did not please Krystal. She'd heard at the shrine that Thene sustained two bone fractures that the lythans thought unwise to heal with magic. Yet Krystal decided that challenging her would gain nothing. "Are you hoping to learn something from this?"

"Simon told us that a major problem with the Aparoids is that no one knows much about them. So, by examining their remains, I hope to understand their physiology at least. I can learn their strengths; their weaknesses; how they can take over people's minds; and perhaps how they can fly despite being so heavy."

Krystal nodded in understanding. Well… She thought she understood, at least. "Have you learned anything so far?"

Thene sighed irritably. "Mostly that they're damned hard to cut open. I had to break off one of their claws to use as a pry bar." She held up the dismembered length of violet metal to show. Krystal glanced at the edges of the hole she made in the Aparoid's underbelly.

"Looks like it was tough work."

"I found I enjoyed tearing its flesh out," Thene replied. "These wretched creatures deserved what they got and worse."

Krystal agreed. She turned to the Aparoid's head and saw the crater that she left there. At the time, she simply reacted to the situation. It surprised Krystal how much damage she inflicted. Normally, she viewed killing another life as a sombre process reserved only when survival hung in the balance. Yet she felt none of the usual remorse. Knowing that the Aparoid perished by her hand… It merely curbed Krystal's anger towards it; satisfied her, like she had avenged the lives it had taken.

The bodies of the infected Cerinians had been cleared from the streets, but Krystal could see the bloodstains left behind in the dirt and gravel. Black, not red. The one man who Sabre buried… Had he survived, or had he perished along with the Aparoids? Krystal would need to inquire about that later. For now, the marks reminded her that those poor souls were gone. It pained her that she had an active hand in countless deaths. She used the arethanite's power to kill the infected. Some she had saved through the same act, but the dead greatly outweighed the living; and they weighed heavily in Krystal's heart.

"Do you think we could have saved those people?" she asked aloud. "The ones who the Aparoids took control of?"

Thene pulled away from the Aparoid's insides. Sitting quietly for a time, she gave her answer in a soft, low tone. "No. I don't believe so. We don't know how to reverse the Aparoidedation process. It might not even be possible. Eradicating them with the arethanite was the only option we had. We simply got lucky that some of the victims changed back because their transformations weren't complete."

She knew that in her heart. Yet hearing it didn't ease Krystal's guilt. She felt like she had given up on the people they wiped out; as though, by participating in Andross's plan, she decided that their lives weren't worth saving. It felt wrong. It went against Krystal's core beliefs. But what was done is done. Nothing could be changed. She had no choice but to accept her guilt and live with it. A curse forever upon her conscience.

"It won't happen again," Thene remarked.

Krystal snapped out of her thoughts. "Huh?"

"The victims who died. It's obvious that you're tearing yourself up over them. So, I'm telling you now that you won't be forced to make that choice again."

Krystal appreciated the sentiment, but… "How can you be sure?"

Thene turned to her slowly. A dangerous glare burned in her eyes. "Because we'll kill any Aparoids that show their faces before they ever get the chance to turn anyone else." Krystal could see that she meant every word.

"I'm surprised you wouldn't rather capture one alive to study."

Thene shook her head. "The Aparoids work by attacking other lifeforms and taking over their minds. If we hadn't destroyed them, that's the fate we all would have met. But I refuse to be anyone's thrall. So, I'll destroy anyone who threatens to take my free will away from me."

As selfish as always. Yet Krystal found comfort in Thene's response. It reassured her that even someone as dubious as her stood firmly against the Aparoids on principle. It meant that the Aparoids truly were a greater evil, and the Cerinians had been right to eradicate them. At least, that was what Krystal told herself to feel better.

"If you don't mind me voicing my thoughts," Thene went on, poking through the Aparoid's innards again. "After we leave this planet, I wouldn't mind searching for the Aparoids' home world. I'd quite like to destroy every last one of them."

That sounded ambitious. "How would you do that?" Krystal asked.

"As cruelly and completely as possible."

"I'm sure there would be others willing to help with that." Krystal had felt the sentiment float around Fox's mind as well. He never spoke openly about it, so she couldn't say whether he'd actually pursue the idea one day. For his safety, Krystal hoped that he wouldn't.

"You know, I think the Aparoids are the first thing that you and I ever agreed on," she said. "As harsh as it sounds, I think our world is better off without them."

Thene pondered her words. "Yes. It's interesting how a common threat can align different people's points of view."

Krystal nodded. It became difficult to know what to say next, though she soon realised perhaps nothing more needed to be said. She felt her attention pulled towards her search for survivors. Best to return to it. Thus, she bade Thene farewell and left with new thoughts racing through her mind.

The mention of a home world for the Aparoids gave grounds for concern. It meant that there were likely many more of the creatures out there in the universe. Killing them here did not eliminate the danger. Not completely. There might come a time where the Aparoids returned for another attempt to conquer Cerinia. So, Krystal needed to be ready for them.

They all needed to be ready.