Night had fallen, and a joyous orange glow lit the Drain. The raid teams had experienced success, bringing back supplies, raw materials, and even one set of Guardian weapons after a Hunter had failed to stop a joint glimmer extraction. The Captain stepped forward and raised the most impressive weapon high, a massive sniper rifle that gleamed in the lights of glowrods and torches. The assembled Eliksni cheered for the unexpected victory -they had only lost seven lives in the battle- and Captain Naksar proclaimed that extra ether would be distributed to the surviving victors.

Miriks sat with her kiks near the back of the assembled group, trying to appear supportive but not overly visible. Just because she had received help from Darxhis did not mean that she had to pretend to ignore all chances at favor. Tonight was a gathering, held once a week when minimal -but highly skilled- guards were posted to let everyone else have a chance to rest and regain ether.

Tamax was watching it all with wide eyes, admiring the Captain's shining armor, watching the Marauders and Vandals surrounding him, honoring him. Miriks felt unease at the kiko's admiration. She had tried to teach him the importance of more things than just prowess in battle and honor gained there, but she was not sure how well her teaching was being received.

She watched as the Servitor was summoned forward, Darxhis following several feet behind. The other Eliksni split and made a path for them, and Miriks lifted her head slightly, trying to get a better view over the taller Eliksni around her. Darxhis had cleaned up from his machinations earlier in the day, and was dressed in what appeared to be his finest garments; a fur-collar cape and gray robes that were reminiscent of a lower priest. Somehow, he knew the proper attire for an Archon's assistant, which was curious to her.

Kaltis hovered beside the Captain, who took the proffered ether hose. Filling the heavy cup from his belt, Captain Naksar drank deeply, the amount of ether visibly brightening him. Miriks judged him as not gluttonous; he needed a large amount to maintain his size and strength, and the amount he had taken was sufficient. After he had taken his draught, the Captain summoned first his two Lieutenants, only slightly smaller than he. Next came the Marauders and those who had survived the encounter with the guardian earlier that day. After that, it became a succession of authority and strength, and the crowd of Eliksni was allowed to sit as they waited for their turn.

Miriks pulled out the node and turned it over in her hands, anxiety returning. What was she to do now with this? She could not very well just leave it here, unless she hid it, but that would result in more destruction… Her idealism had always punished her before, and now, here, it seemed like it would catch up to her yet again. All this, to help Misraaks and his vision. But… she owed him this, and it wasn't his fault that he hadn't known of the Drain.

Liriks watched her and reached out questioningly. Miriks locked its functions and handed it to the kika, who took it with joyful distraction.

Miriks tried to distract herself. "Tamax, you are well?" she asked, and her son looked to her.

"Eia, mother." His small head turned to her, the short growths of red hair decorating his ridges pleasantly. She was glad at the chance to have cut it on Misraak's ketch.

"How do you feel from training?"

He looked away. "I am weak."

"You are young, kiko." She put a hand on his head in reassurance. "You kept getting up, and you will grow stronger in time, yes?"

"Eia." He looked downcast for a moment more, then brightened. "But a Marauder spoke to me! And let me see his lightbender!"

"Oh, truly?"

"Eia! He showed it to me, too, it was so hard to see him!"

"Well, I think he must have been impressed by your fighting, kiko."

Tamax blinked at that. Miriks closed two eyes, and he looked down abashedly. She felt a claw touch her shoulder, and turned.

"So, you are going to get in line, yes?"

Miriks blinked as the questioning figure sat next to her without invitation. It was another female, four-armed and dressed in dark clothing, her mouth hidden by an ether mask. A jagged scar left one of her right eyes dark, but the remaining ones were bright and observant. She kicked at some Dregs to make room for herself in Mirik's portion, and they turned, ready to protest. They then saw who it was, and apparently decided not to voice their objections, moving away quickly to make room for the smaller Eliksni. "Why not get in line?" she repeated, flipping her cloak behind her, showing a human-wrought revolving gunpowder weapon on her hip. "That would show initiative on your part, yes?"

Miriks found words. "Ah, no… I am waiting for an invitation, Eliksa."

"Why?"

The question was unexpected, and Miriks narrowed her eyes at the interrogative tone. The stranger hadn't even noted the formality shown to her! "Because I have three mouths potentially in need of ether, not just my own. Who are you, to ask me such things?"

The female laughed, a surprisingly strong sound. "You have light in you, Miriks of none. I accept your judgement. I am Sekris."

Miriks was more confused than before, but decided not to accept the sudden compliments. But the presence of another female was… welcome. "You know my name. Someone told you of me, yes?"

Sekris leaned in conspiratorially, eyes sparkling with amusement. "My husband. He is close to the Captain." Miriks nodded, and Sekris looked over the kiks with several evaluating eyes. Liriks was still playing with the node and took no notice, but Tamax watched her in return, wary. "They are healthy. Living kiks are a good thing to have, nowadays." She looked up at Miriks, and her gaze was suddenly sober. "For they are all too rare. You do a good work."

"I… I try." Miriks shoved back the old pains, showing nothing with her eyes or arms. She sought a change in subject. "Why haven't I seen you earlier, Eliksa? Are there other females?"

"I was out with the war party," Sekris stated casually. "There are a few, but one is late-bearing and hidden, the others usually do not leave her recently. And please, do not call me Eliksa, that is for the others."

It was strange, but not unheard of for a female to reject the title, and Miriks took it in stride. "You are a warrior with your husband?" Miriks asked, tilting her head in curiosity. This retook Tamax's attention, and he noticed the gun on Sekris's hip with widened eyes.

"Eia, he is a Marauder, I am a Vandal. He will be a Captain one day."

Tamax cut in excitedly. "Did you get to fight the Guardian?"

Sekris sighed and tossed her head. "No, today was not my lucky day." Tamax shrunk slightly, but she wasn't done. "Ah, why so quick to cast down eyes, kiko? Where do you think I got this?" Sekris drew the revolver, spinning it artfully in her hand. "A foolish Titan tried to kill my husband. He forgot about me." Sekris engaged a safety measure and handed it grip-first to the kiko. Miriks did not object despite the spike of fear. Before he had died, Vanox had taught their son how to use arcarms, and human guns were not all that different in function.

"A Guardian weapon." The pride was evident in Sekris's voice. "Ancient and reliable. Kills whatever you point it at. I took down a Cabal Centurion with its help, once." Tamax looked over it, holding the firearm reverently in both hands.

"It's… heavy." Tamax obviously couldn't find the right words.

Sekris laughed, and gestured for the gun. The kiko gave it back reluctantly. "Human weapons are always heavy. That's why they last so long. Maybe if you stay I'll let you shoot it sometime." She looked to Miriks. "If your mother allows, of course."

Miriks nodded at the consideration; she had started to worry. Tamax turned to Miriks quickly, not asking the question that had been implied. "I do not know, kiko." She carefully refrained from saying any more, but Sekris noted her words, and lack of them. Miriks would have to face her directly, before she spoke to someone else. But how, when Tamax was watching?

"Wife!" The cry came, and Miriks looked to see a tall figure approaching from the central area. It was a Marauder, a large figure with rough but functional armor, eyes glowing bright with renewed ether. Who Miriks assumed was Sekris's husband gestured grandly at the warrior female. "I see you've found someone else to interrogate." Sekris closed all of her eyes in exasperation, and the Marauder addressed Miriks, still stepping over Dregs and Vandals who made way for him. "Miriks of none! You are settling in well enough, yes?"

"Eia, Marauder," she replied, uncertain, but adding, "And do not worry, I have taken interrogation before. This is not so bad."

He stepped up beside them, folding himself into the available space that Sekris had cleared for him. The Marauder reached out, almost hitting a nearby Eliksni, and Sekris let herself be pulled into an embrace, looking at the ceiling with all four eyes. "Canikos, you're ethersick."

He laughed as she shoved him away light-heartedly. "You have objections to that state? Did not think so!" Canikos turned to Miriks. "I am glad to hear that you are well! You are a mystery to my Captain, but if my wife likes you then I shall suspend judgement." Miriks nodded at that, studying him, closing two eyes unconsciously at his friendly manner.

Canikos noted Tamax's wide eyes, which had been staring at him for the past minute. "Hello, kiko, we meet again! You are well?"

Tamax attempted an affirmative and failed, looking between the Marauder and Miriks. "Mother, that, that, that-"

"Is the Eliksni that spoke to you?" she responded softly, touching his small shoulder to calm him. "Eia, it is a small settlement we are in, yes?" He nodded, blinking as his young mind struggled between inborn shyness and insatiable curiosity. Miriks spoke directly to Canikos. "Thank you for allowing my son's admiration."

He closed two eyes, a surprisingly open expression. "It is an honor to me. I hope one day for kiks of my own." He looked at Sekris pointedly, and she struck him lightly with a lower arm. "Ah!" He rubbed his arm in exaggerated pain, and she used the opening to punch him again in the ribs.

"Patience does not become you," she chided as Miriks laughed.

Sekris caught a glimpse of the pain of remembrance that Miriks shoved back. The Eliksa touched her husband's shoulder, and spoke softly to him. He seemed surprised, but nodded.

He looked back at Tamax, leaning forward. "Kiko, have you ever seen a Hive Knight?"

Tamax shook his head, ready to devour whatever tale the Marauder had planned to tell him.

Sekris used her opening to move closer to Miriks. She leaned back on two arms, the other two folded over her chest, pretending to watch the procession. Miriks prepared herself for more questions, and was not disappointed. Sekris's next words were soft, not meant to carry. "You are not truly houseless, I think."

Miriks eyed her. "Why do you think that?"

"Why else would you leave a place that had been safe enough to grow these so far?" She gestured to the kiks. "Your old home was ended, but now you have found another." Sekris looked to her lazily. "Your weapons and health testifies to that, no? But for some reason… you are here instead." Miriks did not reply. "But you also are not planning on staying?"

"You see well despite that missing eye," Miriks stated, letting her caution show.

"You are here for more reasons than haven, yes?"

"Did your Captain send you?" The words came out harsher than intended, and Liriks looked up from her play with the node for a moment. Finding only a pair of blank faces looking down at her, the kika went back to her gnawing.

Sekris looked down, contrite. "No, Miriks, I am curious. I also traveled once through these forests alone, seeking shelter and help. Forgive my forward-facing, I am used to dealing with males. I want to know of you."

Miriks regarded her with new eyes. Could she trust Sekris with the truth? She spoke slowly. "Words, female to female? You will not reveal my story?"

This seemed to excite the warrior, the usage of kika wordings. "I will not. On my cannon, I promise."

Miriks prepared herself with a breath, then began. "You are right. I am not houseless. I was born into the House of Stone, when the Kell was alive and its Ketch intact. I was raised on stories of the Before, of the Great Machine and its Light, and I enjoyed my blessed life. But when I was still immature, the Demon King Oryx crushed my house and killed Chelchis, He Who Stood Before the Maw." She stopped for the moment of silence required to honor the fallen Kell, and Sekris observed it. Then she continued. "We were scattered throughout the system beyond hope of rejoining, and I lived among Winter for a time. I met a good male there and together we had three kiks."

Sekris blinked and glanced at Liriks and Tamax, wondering. Miriks touched Sekris's arm, and she looked back at her. "The Vex came upon us, and we were not strong enough to repel them. My husband and smallest kika were killed."

Sekris's eyes fell and closed in sadness. "I am sorry. I cannot imagine." Miriks nodded, accepting the sympathy, but Sekris spoke again before she could resume. "How did you and these survive, then?"

"In time. For now, let me say it was a hardship alone on Venus. Despite the changes made for survivability, it was harsh. And then… I met an Eliksni that said he would help me. Desperate for life, I accepted."

Miriks took a breath, remembering that day. She remembered putting aside her fear, all her reservation, just to keep her kiks alive. She would have done anything. She still would. "But… this Eliksni surprised me. He did not want anything of my body, or as a warrior for his glory. Rather, he wanted someone to listen to him. So, on the journey to Earth, I did. I heard his stories, his desires, the things he wished for all Eliksni. And I listened, believed him." Miriks looked down, remembering his words. "They were not politics. They were not empty words of hope and peace, but of a journey of humility, hardship, and pain." She looked back to Sekris, whose eyes were wide and attentive. "They were words of Light." There was a pause, as the word that had once meant something to all Eliksni conveyed itself between them. From where he told his story, Canikos glanced over to them to gauge the mood. He looked away and resumed his tale.

Miriks pressed forward. "I joined him. I joined the House of Light."

"The House of Light…" Sekris repeated, feeling the words in her mouth. "I have not heard of that house. What are those things that this Eliksni believes?"

Miriks began thinking of how best to reply, but her attention was pulled away by the sound of something being dropped and the squeak of a kika. "Liriks, what is it?"

"It made a sound!"

Miriks turned sharply to the young Eliksni, gaze intent. "What?" She snatched the node from where Liriks had dropped it, causing the kika to shrink back at Miriks's speed. She inspected the node, Sekris looking on in puzzlement, and found the cause. The fourth node had been found. There was only one in between where the seekers were now and where she was. Miriks shivered. She did not want to be here when the seekers arrived.

But then, she remembered Sekris, Canikos, and Darxhis. They were good Eliksni, surprisingly kind and potentially open. She did not want them to be here either, and now, Miriks realized that it was about more than just her and her kiks safety.

Sekris noted her rising panic. "You are well, yes? Miriks, what is that device?" Concern tinged the younger female's words, and Miriks forced herself to calm. She had time. The last node had been on Nessus, almost the entire system away from where they were now. She just had to make a plan.

She was about to speak again when another voice came first, familiar. "Miriks of none." She turned, surprised at the formal statement, and found Darxhis standing before them. He was solemn, eyes lowered, a great difference from the bright and happy machinist she had met earlier. At his appearance, Canikos paused, and Tamax looked to his mother with worry in his eyes. "Captain Naksar requests your presence."