Miriks sat, turning over the node in her hand. The small metal device was made up of two circles adjoining each other, blue and orange light sharing space within. It was silent, meaning that she was still safe, for now, but the internal tracker stated that two of its kind had already been found. It stored the data that Misraaks had believed so important. It was the true reason she had come here, but she had told none that.

She had not expected that it would be a secret.

Miriks looked over to where Tamax was sparring with a Dreg. The knives were blunted, of course, but he needed the exertion. The small Eliksni darted back and forth, trying his hardest to touch his larger opponent with his twin blades, but the Dreg was fast and much stronger. Miriks watched as he pushed the small one to the ground without much effort. The ring of other Eliksni watching alternatively mocked and encouraged the young one, spurring him to get back up again. And like she had taught him, Tamax rose, a snarl on his lips.

She could only teach him so much about being a male, now that Vanox was dead.

Miriks looked over to her daughter, and all four eyes widened. "Liriks! Rocks are not for eating, yes!? Get that out of your mouth!"

She spat it reluctantly out and gazed up at Miriks with a gaze she knew all too well. "But mother… I think I'm empty."

"Eliksni shouldn't fill themselves with rocks, that is for filthy Hive," Miriks continued, unwilling to pause her scolding. But the true reply, the one her daughter would not hear, beat at the inside of her. She was empty too. Miriks had no ether to give her kiks.

She signed and looked around, wondering at a solution. Luckily, the next ether distribution was tonight, but it was up to the Captain's mercy as to how much she and her kiks received. They did not serve him, and provided no useful purpose. Tradition required that only the useful deserve nourishment. What might he do, to make them useful?

Or more specifically, what would he have her do, to be useful?

Miriks shoved the node in her pocket and stood, shaking off her fears. "Come, kika, let's walk, no?"

"Eia, mother." Liriks raised herself up, but upon taking a step fell to the ground.

"Kika!" Miriks leaned down and picked the small Eliksni up. "What is wrong?" Then she realized how light her daughter was, and how dark her eyes.

"Nothing, I tripped, yes."

"No." Miriks berated herself. She had fed Tamax last, yes, but she had been sure Liriks's dose would have lasted longer... Desperation rising in her, Miriks looked around. The Servitor. Maybe it was leaky? Having no other clear course of action, she strode to the spherical machine, her daughter making no further excuse.

The Servitor was facing away from them, its visual ascertainment device casting purple light on the far wall of the hole. It was as tall as she was, and wide besides.

As she approached it, Miriks realize that the machine was not alone. It was floating near the ground, and several of its armor plates had been removed, to let someone reach inside it. And someone was! She saw an Eliksni, head and shoulders into the machine, an array of tools and parts arranged around it. Her eyes widened, and she paused. Was that a wire rifle, disassembled on the ground?

Then the male extricated himself. He ducked under the Servitor's shell and looked at her, eyes sparkling. "Hello, Miriks of none and unnamed kika! How have you fared?" It was Darxhis, the not-dreg. But instead of war garb, his chest and arms were bare, spotted with grease and pieces of glowing blue light that had to be ether, and his head was free of helmet or mask, showing short ridges of black hair.

He, along with several higher-ranking Eliksni, had attempted to speak with her further the night before. She had rebuffed them without ceremony, although he seemed to be cheerful enough now.

Miriks was startled into a reply. "Oh, I am well, yes. What… what are you doing?"

"Modifying the Servitor. Kaltis does not mind." Darxhis removed himself completely from beneath the machine, placing a hand on it proudly. Liriks, still in her arms, looked at the Vandal curiously.

"No, I mean… Is that not the place of an Archon to modify a Servitor?"

Darxhis shrugged. "Captain Naksar doesn't have an Archon." He looked at her, closing two eyes in cheeky contentment. "He has a Darxhis."

Miriks didn't answer immediately, instead looked closer at the Servitor. She noted that it was in quite good condition, and even seemed to be polished. "Well, I cannot deny necessity," she acceded. "And it is quite well-looking."

"Eia." He seemed pleased at those words. "Why did you approach me? To converse regarding my superior mechanical prowess, yes?"

"Ah… no."

Liriks giggled weakly, and Miriks looked down at her daughter with narrowed eyes.

Darxhis shrugged, looking mildly disappointed, but the sparkle was still in his eyes. "That is understandable. You had only just known of me." He lay down under the Servitor and pulled it closer to him, one of his smaller arms taking a tool and handing it to the waiting stronger limb, where he resumed his work.

Miriks raised her eyes to the rocky ceiling. "No, Darxhis…" She sighed, placing aside her annoyance. "I seek your help."

That brought his interest. Darxhis slid sideways, looking up at her in confusion. "Is anything wrong?"

She backpedaled quickly. "It is nothing with me. But my kika is… she is empty." Liriks shrunk against her, shy at Darxhis's gaze.

He blinked all four eyes, slowly. "Can you not feed her?"

Miriks was resigned, now. She would show weakness, for her family. "I am empty."

Darxhis slid fully out from under the machine again, and sat up. His expression was blank, and his eyes did not move. She waited for his answer, fearing it, fists clenched. Would she be in his debt, after this? Or would he report her to his Captain, for unlawfully asking for ether?

He gestured for her to come closer, and stood. "Well, that sounds like something we'll have to fix, yes?" Darxhis touched the machine, and it rotated in the air, its huge purple eye turning to regard them.

Miriks blinked. He would help them so easily? Maybe he would ask something of her later? He continued, and she realized he was actually speaking to the Servitor.

"Yes, Kaltis, I know it is not time yet. But this good female and her kika need energy. You can help me, yes?" The Servitor hummed, a heart-shaking sound, but it sounded favorable. A small hose extended from its side, and Darxhis took it with a small bow. Miriks set down Liriks and they followed his lead.

The Servitor hummed again, yet more favorably, and Darxhis knelt, holding out the hose to Liriks. She approached hesitantly, but the prospect of food was more than her lack of confidence. He set the nozzle against a very small cup, and pressed the lever. A thick, rolling blue fluid emerged, shining with the inner light that brought life to all Eliksni. The condensed ether flowed into the cup until it was full, then Darxhis halted the flow. He then presented the cup to Liriks, who took it with the utmost care. She drank, making sure to lick every last drop out. Energy visibly filled the kika, causing her eyes to glow brighter and for an invisible weight to be lifted from her shoulders.

Miriks forced herself to speak, unable to hide the awe. "There, kika, be sure to thank the generous Eliksni." So generous, he had given the kika an entire dreg's portion! More than triple the generally allowed amount for a kik.

The small one touched her forehead and bowed to the Vandal. "Thank you, Vandal Darxhis of Dusk." Already, her voice was stronger, no waver at all, and Darxhis's eyes sparkled.

"My pleasure, little Kella."

Liriks giggled at the grandiose title, then spoke again, a rare thing. But then again, she was full of ether. "I am Liriks, yes." Then she turned to her mother. "Can I go watch Tamax?"

"Eia, stay in listen-sight. You have daggers?"

"Eia!" The kika ran off across the rocky ground to the circle where Tamax was witnessing a spar between two Wretches.

"She is very kind, your Liriks." He crossed his top arms, pleased to know the name. "Your son needs ether as well, no?"

"He was fed last, and should be fine for several days more, but Darxhis, will not your Captain be angry at the misuse of his ether?"

He snorted, amused. "You did not care of my Captain's wishes before you asked for ether."

She struggled for a reply a moment. "I did not know you would give so much!"

He laughed out loud, a pleasant chatter. "Captain Daksar does not monitor the ether stores, that is my task. He will not miss drops such as this." Without further ado, he filled the small cup again and held it out to her.

Miriks took it slowly, lowering her head to look up at Darxhis. He was two heads taller than she, very tall for a new Vandal. "Go on, drink, yes?" he prompted, and she did, not meeting his gaze. The ether ran down her throat, this purified form quickly suffusing every cell in her body with a burst of new energy. Miriks closed her eyes and let out an unwilling breath as her body relaxed, a slight mist of blue emerging from her mouth. It had been at least a month since she had so much in a single dose. It seemed centuries ago when she had received this much every week on the Ketch of Stone. Then had been a far better time.

Then Darxhis took the cup from her hand, and made to fill it again. She blinked and alerted herself, taking his arm. "No, you don't have to, Darxhis."

He looked at her in puzzlement. "Don't you need extra as a mother?"

"No, no, I am not bearing." He tilted his head at that, and she sighed, gently pushing his arm down. "And you have already given enough, yes?"

Darxhis blinked at that, then nodded. "If you say so, Miriks of none."

She let go of his hand, conscious of his proximity, and stepped back. "I had better watch my kiks."

"Make sure they don't kill anyone, yes?" Darxhis showed his teeth then, a thing she had never seen from an Eliksni, unless in threat, but this was different. It was not quite as terrifying as it looked on a human. She appreciated the meaning, however.

"It's only been two weeks since the last incident," she replied, surprising herself with coyness. "Fair luck with your modifications, Archon."

He laughed and returned the hose to the Servitor's side. "Kaltis appreciates the wishes. Sometimes he is nervous."

Miriks left him to his tampering, a new spring in her step. Yes, she had new ether. But it had also been a long time since she had participated in a conversation without significant weight. She hoped to have more.