Miriks rose slowly, her sore muscles straining. "I only?"

Darxhis nodded, and then she saw the worry. It was visible in his eyes, the tilt of his shoulders. "Eia, you only."

Miriks nodded and reached down to comfort Liriks with a touch on the head. "Do not worry, I'll be back soon."

Darxhis led her out of the crowds slowly, then started the walk up to where the Captain was standing beside the Servitor. Darxhis spoke, surprising her. "I am glad you met Sekris and Canikos, they will be able to assist you where I cannot. They are good friends, yes?"

"Darxhis, you don't… eia. They are."

"Is everything well?" He looked to her then, slowing to let her step beside him, a breach of tradition.

She spoke honestly. "I don't know. I will let you know when I learn so."

He nodded, and soon they were before the Captain. All other supplicants had already been dealt with, and the last of the dregs had draught. His lieutenants were away, presumably planning the next day's actions. She assumed a position of weakness, hunching slightly, hiding the new energy from Darxhis's secret gift of ether. Darxhis addressed the large Eliksni. "Captain Naksar, I bring you Miriks of No House."

He stood from his seat, a tangled throne of messily crafted metal. "Attend us, machinist." Darxhis bobbed a bow, and the huge Eliksni looked down at Miriks. He was at least three times her mass, and almost twice as tall. He reached back and slung the guardian rifle over his shoulder as a symbol of his power. "Eliksa, walk with me, if you would."

Miriks wondered briefly where they would walk before answering. "I would." He gestured towards the stairs leading to the rim of the sinkhole, and she nodded, making her way to them. The Captain walked beside her, Darxhis following.

He began without preamble. "How are you faring? The Drain is kind to you?"

"I am well, Captain, thank you."

"Your kiks as well?"

"Still bright."

He nodded. "Ah, that is good to hear. I hope they remain that way, yes?" Miriks remained silent; she knew the insinuation and where this was going. She would be grateful, but would not fill his pride by asking. The reached the rim and began to walk around the edge, the occasional guard looking down into it. "Well, Eliksa, there is reason for me to call you. You are small and weary, and your kiks as well. I have an offer for you, Miriks of None." He paused, and she stopped as well. They looked down in the Drain together, watching Eliksni converse and perform tasks.

"Eia, Captain?"

"Join Dusk. Serve in the Drain, and you and your kiks will be cared for. A half-dreg ether ration for them until they are Armed, and a full Vandal ration for you."

Miriks hid her shudder at the thought of docking her children's lower arms, just to prove obedience to this Captain. Misraaks had made it clear that the barbaric recent practices would have no place in the world he imagined. She did not reject the offer outright, however; that would be rude, and notwithstanding the new tradition, it was a fine offer for anyone other than she. "That is all the conditions?"

"Eia."

"No marriage to a superior?" She fixed him with all four eyes; a bold gaze. But it was an important question, to determine his character. Maybe he could be convinced as well.

The Captain laughed and closed his eyes, shifting slightly. "My, you are a wordy one." He met her gaze squarely. "No, I will not force you into a relationship, good Eliksa. But continued reproduction would be beneficial to all of us, do you not agree?" He looked down again, to his people. His eyes narrowed slightly, and his next words were somber. "We must stay as one, as much as we can. Or we will all fall together in the Dark."

She nodded slowly. "You are right. Thank you for the offer, Captain Naksar of Dusk. I will consider."

The Captain did not look away from the hole. "Consideration will cost you today's ration."

"I will survive. But my kiks?"

Naksar laughed again; despite his sobriety, he was in a much better mood then when she had first met him, and full of ether besides. "Darxhis, do you not agree that this one would be a fine trader, yes? She could be our representative to Spider's Syndicate."

Darxhis, surprised at the sudden attention, nodded. "Eia, her tongue is quite clever."

The Captain straightened. "Your kiks will be fed. Bring them to Kaltis, I wish to meet them there."

"Many thanks, Captain of Dusk." Miriks bowed, touching the space between her eyes, recognizing the dismissal. She respected his choice to conduct his business out of earshot of her kiks.

She turned to depart, and Darxhis met her gaze. He tilted his head, and she closed two of her eyes. He responded in like, happy that she seemed to be, then closed both eyes on one side of his head.

Miriks looked up with all four. The shameless rogue. She couldn't help the sparks of warmth in her chest as she walked back, however.

She went back to where the others sat, and Sekris looked up at her with wary curiosity from where she was playing a hand game with Liriks. "All well?"

"Eia."

"And then, the entire thing exploded!" Tamax gasped on cue, and Canikos's eyes glinted in pleasure. "We had little time to get out before they descended on us, but Sekris is still too skilled of a pilot for her own good; so with all four of us piled on the Pike, we narrowly evaded the next bunch of dropships."

Tamax lifted a hand eagerly, and Canikos gestured in the affirmative. The kiko took the chance eagerly. "And the Hive can teleport, yes? Why did they not get in your way?"

Canikos lifted a finger with barely a pause. "Ah, you are correct, Tamax, but you forget! Their infernal witches must know where you are going to intercept you! And I," A lightning-fast punch came from Sekris at this point, and Canikos went on without pause, "We! Were much too smart, and they had no time to pursue us when their entire store of crystals was going up in voidflames."

Tamax watched his every movement with wide eyes, and Miriks broke in. "That sounds like a good place to stop, yes? Kiks, the Captain has offered you both some ether, and you are going to accept it."

"Aw, mother!" Tamax keened, but Liriks looked up in confusion.

She started slowly. "Did we not-"

"Liriks, Tamax, come now, no time for questions, the Captain is waiting."

"We get to meet the Captain!?" Tamax leapt to his feet.

Miriks almost laughed at Canikos's face; he looked a little put out. "He's not that impressive," he grumbled.

Sekris closed her eyes and leaned against him. "Quiet, my foolish one. He is far more impressive than you. But I picked you, yes? Remember."

He sighed and put an arm around her. "Remembered, my bright one."

Miriks made her gaze leave them and took her kiks' hands, and together they ascended up the slope. Darxhis and the Captain waited for them, and Liriks brightened upon seeing the slim machinist. She stayed quiet, however. Tamax's mouth was open upon seeing the Captain again.

Naksar crouched in order not to strain the small Eliksni's necks, eyes bright upon seeing them. "Ah, small ones, it is a pleasure to see you again."

Miriks nudged them gently. Miriks went first, surprisingly, her small voice high but thankfully without fear. "Thank you, Dusk Captain. For being nice to mother, yes."

Tamax jumped in after her. "Eia, thank you, Captain for, uhm, letting us stay."

Naksar chuckled. "I am glad, and honored by your presence. It has been a while since we have hosted kiks in the Drain. Please, what are your names, if that is permitted?"

The kiks looked to Miriks, who nodded. Names were important, but he had asked directly, and it would be rude to refuse someone of his station. They gave their names shortly, and Naksar responded with grace. He was obviously taken with them, as many males often were, and Miriks reflected on the ratio of danger to usefulness having kiks with her was. Of course, the potential of losing them always outweighed everything else, but she had escaped several situations of potential danger from other Eliksni with her kiks in tow.

But she had only known one other species to spare young ones.

After a quick conversation, Naksar allowed them their ether, Liriks not doing the best job of hiding her recent energization, but the Captain did not comment. Darxhis poured a small ration for them, which they took gratefully, drinking quickly.

"There, small ones, I hope that helps. You must have been wanting, so long in the wilds," Naksar stated.

"No, not really," Tamax said, considering. "Mother takes good care, and besides-"

"There are other generous Eliksni," Miriks finished for him, as graciously as she could. "We were quite fortunate. Now, kiks, I am sure the Captain has need of his own time, and you both need rest, yes?"

"Ah… not truly," Liriks said, peering up at Miriks, and Captain Naksar laughed.

"Ah, truth from the mouth of kiks," he said, shaking his large head. "I remember the saying." He tilted his head to Miriks. "Unfortunately, you are correct. But as well it was a honor speaking to you again, and remember your consideration well." She bowed to him, and he spoke to Darxhis shortly before striding away.

Miriks faced the problem at hand -two kiks- and put her arms on her hips. "It was not meant as a question, kika. You will sleep soon."

"But it was? A question?" Tamax replied, eyes scrunching in confusion.

"Yes, Tamax is right, and I don't want rest," Liriks rejoined with the authority of a child after all apparent formality has ended. "And I want to say hello to Darxhis."

Miriks looked up with all four eyes. "Oh, all right. Say good night, rather, but hurry."

Miriks scurried over to where the slim Eliksni stood. "Good night, Darxhis." She wrapped her small arms around his leg, and he seemed frozen in shock. He shook his head and knelt, gently disengaging her from his limb.

"Good night, little kella." He returned the embrace, her small form enfolded in his arms. He let her go, holding her shoulders with two of his arms. "Now, listen to your mother, yes? Rest is needed, especially after…" He closed two eyes. "So much ether."

She giggled. "I've never been this full before! I could stay up for a week, yes."

"Wait, when did you get extra ether?" Tamax tilted his head, squinting slightly and crossing two arms.

"Come now, both of you," Miriks said as Darxhis stood.

"Wait!" Liriks cried, "I almost forgot!" To Miriks's enduring embarrassment, she ran over to where the Servitor floated, watching them all with its unchanging gaze. She hesitated, as she ought. It regarded her silently.

"Kika! What are you doing?" Miriks was beginning to lose her patience.

She turned back. "Can I say goodnight to Kaltis, too?" Her voice was smaller.

"Of course not, silly kisa!" Tamax's voice was loud, his annoyance coming out in condemnation of his smaller sister. "Now get back before mother becomes mad at us!"

"I wasn't asking you, kiso!" she barked back. Liriks immediately shed her hypothetical fangs and looked to Darxhis with wide eyes.

Miriks touched her forehead and stepped closer to the machinist. "Darxhis, I am so sorry, please forgive them-"

Darxhis laughed. "Do not be, this is an interesting question!" He walked to where Liriks stood, Miriks tailing behind, feeling like she was losing any control she might have had of the situation. He gestured to Tamax. "You too, kiko, come. I wish to speak with both of you. Tamax looked skeptical, but did not want to miss out on whatever this was. He sat beside his sister and the machinist.

Darxhis looked the kiks squarely in their eyes, one after the other. "By tradition? The answer is no. The Servitors are sacred, created in the image of the Great Machine, and those who are not sanctified cannot touch them upon desire, only need. Surely you know this, yes?"

"Eia…" Liriks looked down, disappointed, and Tamax nodded.

Darxhis sat beside her, stretching his lanky limbs out. "But, I think of it… differently. Surely, sanctification does not only come by a priest's blessing or by great deeds. Is it not when something is pure and undefiled also, when it is sanctified? And what is more pure than a good kik, who honors mother and the Light?" He tilted his head and looked to Tamax, and then Liriks. "Do you honor your mother? And the Light?"

Liriks, seeing her chance, nodded enthusiastically. "Oh, yes, yes I try!"

He considered her words, touching his chin with a smaller limb. "But you must have a witness, no?" He turned to Miriks, who watched with wide eyes. "What say you, mother of this kika?"

Miriks was so absolutely taken aback, she had no words for several seconds. What happened to that clever tongue he had mentioned earlier? "I… she is a good kika."

"Full of light?"

"...Eia. We all are, during first years. That is what my Archon taught."

Darxhis closed his eyes and looked to the kika. "Then I have no objection, little Liriks." He opened two of them coyly. "And I also don't think he will mind. He likes being with Eliksni, especially the little ones." Liriks closed two eyes, the remaining sparkling. She leapt up, and Darxhis stood as well, Tamax watching with wide eyes. Darxhis spoke to Kaltis, and the Servitor drifted closer to the ground with a curious hum. It lowered to Liriks's eye level, where she summarily hugged the large machine. Hugged was a generous term, as her arms did not reach a fourth of the machine's circumference.

It hummed again.

Darxhis laughed. "He is confused, but not objecting." He gestured to Tamax. "You too, if you desire."

Tamax stood slowly, hesitation visible in him. He looked to Darxhis, then to Miriks. She nodded and tilted her head. He approached the Servitor and rounded it, then after a pause, embraced it gingerly. Darxhis chuckled, and Miriks allowed herself a laugh as well, tension leaving her.

"Good night, Kaltis!" Liriks said happily.

After a moment came a very uncertain, "Good night, Servitor…"

Kaltis hummed in reply.

Miriks stepped forward, and the kiks came to her, Liriks looking down in the picture of perfect obedience, Tamax looking a bit uncertain about everything. "Thank you, Darxhis!" Liriks cried, and he nodded in return.

"Always welcome, kella."

Miriks looked to him, and his eyes were alight again with joy. "Thank you, Archon."

He laughed, and bowed to her. She looked away; she could feel her brows beginning to glow.

"Good night, House None. Sleep well."

When they were back on the main floor, while she was trying to get the kiks to sleep, Miriks tried to keep an eye on the Servitor and his attendant. Tradition dictated that the Archon took Last Draught, and Miriks watched carefully the aspiring machinist.

She did not see Darxhis take a portion.

This troubled Miriks, as she lay beside her kiks to sleep. Why was that? Had he taken it earlier? Surely he needed it to regain his arms. The answer came as she drifted away into dreams of Light. Darxhis had none for himself, because he had given his share to them.