A/N: Quite a predicament our heroes are in. Do they escape? Do Gtar-Cro and Den-neer come storming in? Read on to find out, of course.

Chapter 32

General Gtar-Cro's unease was intensifying. Archangel and his companions had been in the mysterious fortress for nearly half a standard hour. Without sensors that could penetrate inside, they were blind to what was transpiring. 'I've been a fool!' he raged to himself. 'Should have stopped them from entering.' Yet Ztar said to defend but clearly nothing about interfering, hence he'd gone against his better judgment and simply watched as the trio proceeded into the shrouded building. Now the General was in a quandary. How long to wait before taking action? What if the Human was already dead? He cringed at the thought of the Emperor's reaction to that outcome.

He made his decision, trusting instincts that rarely had led him astray. It may give away Archangel's presence, but likely not. Any beings advanced enough to build a structure and ship that neutered the Empire's most advanced scanners would know they had company. Turning to Viis, he followed the chain of command and quietly issued his orders to the woman who commanded Tre'endt's crew.

"Comm, send a message to the occupants of that installation on all channels. Give them five minutes to produce Archangel or we fire. Arm weapons to stress the seriousness of our demand."

"Yes, Captain!"

###

His life flashed through his mind in reverse. When he first saw Ettwanae, his return to Earth after Sat'rey, Ztar's face filled with love and longing, his 'death' from the Wynnar-Qxani virus, his near fatal plunge from the Sat'rey heavens, the terrorist rapes, the horrible moment he was told he was being turned over to the alien emperor to save Earth. The memories were growing darker and more traumatic, but he couldn't stop the onslaught. Betsy's gaping wounds from Sabretooth, the horrors of Apocalypse's lab, the agony when his white wings were savagely crushed and harpooned in the Morlock tunnels. Pain-filled images came at an ever-increasing speed, slamming into his awareness even as consciousness ebbed. Jean's sacrifice in the shuttle, Candy's life leaving her body, the deaths of his mother and father; Callisto's capture of him and the inflicted humiliations; the frightening day when his wings began to emerge. He cried out in emotional pain that was nearly as intense as the physical.

Warren Worthington III sank to his knees.

###

The room swirled and breathing was difficult. 'Empathic connection.' Ztar didn't question how that could be – how across the light-years, something that shouldn't be possible, was. All he knew was Archangel was in grave peril. Staggering across his chambers to where the PI sat on the countertop, he reached out but his shaking hand failed him and the device fell to the floor.

'Gods of Sat'rey, help me!' he pleaded in desperation that grew with each pounding heartbeat. On the floor himself in an instant, he snatched up the PI and yelled the single command to connect him with the one person who could save the man he loved.

"Gtar-Cro!"

###

Volu jerked with such intensity that Flint and Gatebi jumped.

'My Poda!' she screamed out with her mind. Only silence answered.

###

Bae had detected Aru discharge and Den-neer was within moments of initiating contact with the Tre'endt when the ship spoke.

"The imperial cruiser is now targeting weapons."

Den-neer started in his seat. Only moments earlier, the cruiser had armed weapons. "What's happening down there that they are reacting to?" he asked tersely.

"Nothing that I can explain. Their sensors should not be able to detect the Aru readings I am. However, the cruiser received a highly-encrypted message moments ago."

Den-neer was instantly angry. "And you failed to inform me?"

"You did not ask to be informed of communications to and from their ship."

Den-neer barely held his ire in check. "Likely, it's from the Emperor or another high-level official," he said more to himself than to her. "Somebody knows something we don't. Bae, move in. If they fire on the citadel, you are to do likewise, but only if it appears their weapons are ineffective and only on my order. And I want to know now what that message said," he snarled. The Eshaaru continued to do only what she was explicitly commanded to do – nothing more. He had known that; thus, her omission was actually his own fault through oversight. It would not happen again.

"Do you wish me to contact the other Eshaar'ne?"

The question surprised him – a contradiction in the Eshaar'ne's behavior, but he'd contemplate the whys later. "No. We will hold that option in reserve."

###

Darkness and agony engulfed him. Warren surrendered to it with a deep exhale, slipping away, leaving physical pain behind. His heart faltered, breathing stopped. A tunnel dilated away before him, a pinpoint of light in the distance. Consciousness moved toward that point, slowly at first, then gaining speed. But the light was so far away…so distant…he could gain no ground on it. Suddenly, Ztar's face sailed through the blackness beside him, serene and calm. 'Our connection' his soul knew. For a brief instant, Warren panicked wondering if the Turzent would survive his death. 'He will,' something/someone informed. Reassured, he reached an incorporeal hand to touch the man who had become quite dear to him. The image faded and the light point began growing.

###

Volu rose into the air that rippled with the power of her weaponry coming alive. 'I am coming, my Other!' She would not fail. She would not lose another joining. If she died in the attempt, so be it. Nothing mattered but saving her precious Poda.

Flint and Gatebi exchanged worried looks as they realized the ship was on the move and Volu did not respond to their inquiries.

###

"The Eshaar'ne is rising and her weapons are fully active."

Den-neer's hands curled into fists. "The Eshaaru are dying."

"Yes."

It was exactly what Den-neer and Phai had feared, but also planned for. Yet plan as they may, if they were too late or could not breach the citadel's shields, the Eshaaru were lost. "Stand ready to fire weapons."

###

Suddenly, screams of a different kind filled the chamber…shrieking, ear piercing wails that cut to the soul. Icy hands of death dropped away. Darkness evaporated and the tunnel became so brilliant that anyone looking upon it with physical eyes would have been blinded. Warren's plunge toward death slowed, stopped, then reversed and consciousness raced through the tunnel of light in the opposite direction.

Warren sucked in a deep, ragged breath of life as his eyes fluttered open. He was lying on his belly, his body shaking violently in its weakness and pain. Through near unconsciousness, he saw flickering lights pushing back the blackness. As the Dark Ones scrambled trying to escape the luminosity, he saw them…Booettu slaves with brightly burning torches held out ahead of them, their faces wrapped in rags, slits allowing sight. Was this the rebellion?

Seconds ticked off as the Booettus held the Dark Ones at bay. Healing factor kicked into overdrive searching for something physical to heal. The familiar whizzing sensation filled Warren's rising consciousness, but he was not physically injured and the mutant ability had nothing to repair. Strength, though, began to return and pain abate. Fighting to regain full consciousness, he lifted his head and chest to scan the room for her. Between the many pairs of shuffling legs, both Booettu and Dark Ones, he spotted her. Lying on the floor on her back, wings spread around her, Ettwanae was still as death. Her chest did not rise and fall. His heart nearly stopped.

"Ettwanae!" he cried in a choked voice. Gathering what strength his body could muster, he crawled to her as Booettu pressed back the shadows. 'Oh, god, please, no. Please let her be alive, please!' Gathering her unmoving body into his arms, he cradled her and cooed her name. "Ettwanae, please," he begged, checking for a pulse. Then her eyelids fluttered and she took a ragged breath. 'Thank god!'

"Warren?" the weak question came as she struggled to open her eyes.

Other screams began to mingle with the nerve-shattering cries of the Dark Ones. He looked around – two of the slaves had been grabbed from behind, black arms entwining them as they struggled futilely. The words floated through his head amidst the mental cobwebs. "The being cringed in the light of my luminary and its inky blackness backed away." But their lumas were rendered inoperable by the Dark Ones. Would the torches be enough?

Warren struggled to regain his ability to think as the tide began turning against the brave Booettus, their brief uprising was being squelched. One by one, torches were being extinguished. Resignation brought tears – they were trapped and without weapons, no way to defend themselves. Defeated. All would perish in the dark lair. More Booettus screamed as their lifeforce was stolen. A single, sickening laughter reverberated through the rocky chamber.

###

"Phase cannons at your command, Captain."

Captain Viis stood next to General Gtar-Cro, their eyes jointly locked onto the holo image of the black citadel floating at the front of the Tre'endt's bridge. She had no idea whether or not their phase weapon would penetrate the shields their sensors could not. The Emperor said Archangel was dying. How the man knew from his distant location on Sat'rey was hard to fathom, but she did not question…his telepathic prowess was unmatched as far as she knew. Viis opened her mouth to issue the order-

"Captain!" the Tre'endt's tactical officer called out urgently. "The Hydeera signature is moving and may have activated weapons, but sensors are uncertain as to what the readings indicate. If weapons, the power signature is nothing we've seen before."

###

'Where there is life, there is hope.' Xavier's words from the past whispered in his mind. As Warren watched the bravery of the Booettu, a tear trailed down his cheek. "Where's the hope here?" he questioned his old friend and mentor.

Ettwanae met his eyes when he spoke, her eyes watery as well. "I love you," she offered softly.

Then something clicked in his brain and he felt his eyes widen with inspiration. Looking down into the angelic face, he worried she was not yet strong enough, but what did they have to lose? More screams echoed through the chamber and his blood ran as ice.

"Ettwanae, we need to join like we did when we healed Volu. Can you do that?"

She nodded, the spark of understanding glinting in her eyes.

"Quickly. We need to make a lot of light as fast as possible." Shaking from both weakness and growing hope, he prepared himself. 'If only the Booettu can hold off the Dark Ones a little longer...'

Ettwanae closed her eyes and grew very still. For what seemed like an eternity, nothing happened. He forced himself to ignore the screams, shouts, and chaos surrounding them, as the woman clutched in his arms started to glow from beneath her skin, softly at first, then with rapidly increasing intensity. Golden luminescence spread beyond her body to encompass his. A sudden tug on something not physical, same as he felt when they healed Volu, caused him to jerk. Then the drawing sensation from that nameless part deep inside him quickly followed. He sat in fascination as his own skin began to radiate the same golden aura as energy flowed from him to Ettwanae. Brighter and brighter. Her wings shone with brilliance so intense he had to squeeze shut his eyes, but it really didn't help.

Surrendering to the pull, Warren let her take whatever was needed as Ettwanae absorbed and converted his channeled Source into healing energy and released it. The glow grew brighter by the second. The room whirled around him in a wild and surreal blend of cries, shouts, fighting, and throbbing sensation.

New screams. Howls. Shrill shrieks. It was deafening. The Source poured through Ettwanae. She shuddered violently. More. And still more. Pain drove Warren to moan and sway. He gripped Ettwanae closely to him, burying her face into his chest. He forced himself to ignore the pain and focused on conjuring the passionate energy he'd shared with Ztar so many times. Now was not the time to hold back. Power surged in a tidal wave through his quaking body. Wings spread wide of their own accord as light pulsed under skin and feathers with physical drumming until it exploded from him. He screamed at the release.

###

Volu pulled up short to hover at the edge of the citadel valley. The energy burst was unmistakable – Source. One or both Eshaaru were alive! In the next moment, she praised Ozshi'wanae…the energy signature confirmed it was being filtered through Ettwanae. Within moments, the energy readings morphed and a new signature joined Ettwanae's. Warren lived as well!

###

"Captain Viis, something is happening down there! I have readings the computers don't recognize. Some form of energy is coming from the citadel, bypassing their shields."

"A weapon?" Viis asked her bridge crew.

"If it is, it's not a focused weapon – the readings are too dispersed," the tactical officer responded.

The Captain and the General exchanged questioning looks.

"Hold fire," Gtar-Cro made the call.

###

Nothing existed but blinding brilliance and surging power. It encompassed everything. No one could escape. Booettu and Dark One alike wilted under its sun-like intensity. Bursting through the chamber door, still it grew. Shafts of light pierced the walls of the keeping chamber like hot blades through butter, flooding the surrounding rooms. Dark Ones ran, scattering in a vain attempt to outrun what was impossible to elude. They dropped where it touched them, screaming their deaths.

Warren's awareness of the physical and self left him. He was one with the Light. Consciousness expanded and he watched with detachment as the soulless fell and shriveled in their tracks. Farther and farther Light reached. The citadel became a blinding death trap for the black, empty shells. Shrieking erupted in an ever-expanding circle throughout the fortress as brilliance cut through wall after wall. Everywhere Light's touch penetrated, death followed.

There were others present – bright and innocent souls that needed protection and healing. Those he shielded and Light spared them. Then he merged with those souls to sooth their conflictions and brought them peace. Another, gentler force embraced the innocents and restored their encasements. All was as it should be.

###

Far above, the Tre'endt's bridge crew sat spellbound as the first ray sliced through the fortress's outer wall. More and more blinding light rays erupted, creating an early dawn on the mountainside.

"By the gods!" Gtar-Cro exclaimed.

###

Far below, first one villager, then another, and another were awakened by light streaming through their windows, but it was not the light of sunrise. Leaping out of bed, many eyes looked up to the home of their gods. Shafts of light shot out here and there from the sacred fortress with the intensity of the mid-day sun. Then rapidly the few shafts became many, streams of radiance shooting in all directions, illuminating the mountainside and the valley below. People cried out in fear. Some ran, afraid the rays would hit the village. But when a light beam struck, nothing happened. As it became apparent the barrage would do no harm, they watched transfixed as brilliance consumed the citadel until it became only a lucent ball more intense than Neu's sun, and they had to shield their eyes or turned away.

The blinding light faded just as the sun broke the horizon. Casting their eyes up, the villagers saw only rock and the bare mountain where the home of their gods once rested. Many dropped to their knees in disbelief. Some wept.

###

Warren was in his body once again with a suddenness that rocked him physically and mentally. He drew in a deep, shaky breath to steady himself, hoping to dispel the wooziness and mind-fog. For several seconds, he couldn't remember where he was, but then memory rushed back. 'Citadel. Dark Ones. Need light…' Something felt different about what they had done. It hadn't been like Volu's healing. It was… Warren fought for definition and recall. Fleeting images, ghost sensations – they were all that came to him.

Awareness that someone was on his lap came next, and he rubbed his eyes to clear his vision. It was Ettwanae. She was shaking like a leaf and had her eyes squeezed tight, but the Eshaaru was alive.

###

/ My Poda? / Volu's voice in Ettwanae's mind was more emotion than words.

/ I am here, my Other, / she sent back with loving feelings.

/ Praise Ozshi'wanae! I am coming. /

Ettwanae felt someone shift beneath her – it could only be Warren. Alive! / Hold your position until I call you. / She would not endanger her Other until she knew it was safe.

/ The Dark Ones are no more, my Poda, / the Eshaar'ne responded as if reading her mind.

/ Please, wait where you – I don't want to frighten the Booettus. /

Afraid to open her eyes, she kept them closed and prayed to Ozshi'wanae the courageous Booettus had not been harmed.

###

At first, there was only silence on the mountainside. Amber light of sunrise bathed them. Vision having cleared, Warren glanced around, his head spinning from the movement. What he saw stunned him. The citadel was no more – no rubble, no bodies of the Dark Ones, nothing. It was as if they and their mountain fortress never existed. The Booettus were sitting up and getting to their feet, rubbing their eyes or blinking and appeared to be in various degrees of shock and bewilderment, but unharmed. Taala was already walking amongst her people, checking on them, speaking softly.

"Ettwanae?" Warren asked gently. "Open your eyes. It's over."

Her face relaxed and eyelids gave way to reveal those incredible blue orbs. He smiled down.

"We're alive," she declared.

He smiled. "Yes."

"And we won."

"We did."

Her hand went to her chest to the find the amulet. Lifting it up with an unsteady hand, she checked the nodes. She let out a relieved sigh. "It's complete, Warren." Awe filled her voice as she gazed at the amulet, now with all three points filled. "We did it!" she proclaimed as she worked to sit up.

"Easy now. If you feel anything like I do, you're weak."

She positioned herself against his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist, cheek resting on his shoulder. They remained there, recovering, watching as the former slaves realized their freedom. It was quickly obvious that whatever adaptations the aliens had performed on the Booettus had been undone and they could stand in the rising sun without covering their eyes. The former slaves exchanged joyful hugs and heartwarming sounds of happiness lilted through the air. Warren was overcome with deep satisfaction at what they had accomplished, and he reveled in their elation.

"How did we do all this?" he wondered aloud, confused how light could annihilate a building, its contents, and the Dark Ones, yet leave the Neu natives untouched. No, not untouched. Healed.

"It was The Source. Perhaps Ozshi'wanae's own hand guided it and spared what was good."

"Maybe the new memory nodes will hold more answers."

"Perhaps," Ettwanae hoped with him, rubbing his back as she snuggled deeper into him.

She felt so perfect in his arms. Warren noticed there was no discomfort between them – no ache or need or longing, just soothing contentment. 'Is this what it will be like if we can bond?' He smelled her hair, scented lightly with sweat, but still nice. He stroked her wing splayed to the side, its silky texture sensual across his palm and fingertips. 'Wonderful,' he thought as peacefulness sank deep, maybe all the way to his soul. Warren sighed dreamily as they clung to one another. Then, subtly, the stirrings began. 'All good things come to an end,' and he shifted to ease her away.

Taala approached and kneeled. One by one, the Booettus gathered, genuflecting in a circle around them, faces beaming at their saviors. "Thank you," she said, eyes wide with wonder. "You have freed my people from the darkness. You are the true gods of Neu. You are Attarru!" Then she prostrated herself to them.

Warren was alarmed. Ettwanae turned to him, concern evident on her face. "No, Taala, we are not gods, or messengers of gods, or in any way connected with gods. Please, sit up." The woman hesitated. "Please, Taala." Slowly, the woman obeyed, her expression revealing confusion. "We have a special gift – that's all. And it is as much of a surprise to us as it is to you that the Dark Ones perished by it."

"But the legends of old – they tell us beings of light who will come and show us the way of goodness and life. You are of light!"

What the Neu legend said or didn't say, he had no way of knowing, but it seemed an extraordinary coincidence indeed. "Does your legend say the beings are gods?"

She looked from them to the others. Taala quickly translated Warren's question to others.

"No," an older Neu male answered. Warren recognized the voice – Neto's. "The words of the legend do not call them gods," he said with authority.

"We don't claim to be your Attarru, but if we fulfilled prophecy, then by your legend, we are not gods. Remember us only as travelers who were able to help and then left you to reclaim your lives and determine your own destiny." Taala again translated.

"The Dark Ones were false gods!" an elderly man said defiantly as he got to his feet. "They promised life and prosperity, yet gave only fear and anguish. We will not be lead astray again."

Warren felt it was best not to interfere with the emerging civilization any more than they and the Dark Ones already had. Still shaky, he struggled to stand. Several of the men jumped to their feet to help both him and Ettwanae rise.

"Thank you. We must leave now," Ettwanae explained.

One of the Booettu suddenly shouted and pointed to the sky. Everyone looked up. An uncloaked Volu was coming in for a landing.

"Don't be afraid. I called her. She is a friend." Ettwanae shared while Taala interpreted. "She was very worried," Ettwanae added with a warm smile to Warren.

With Volu settled on what once was the floor of the citadel, Warren and Ettwanae made their way unsteadily to her. Gatebi and Flint were waiting just inside the bay opening. Stepping into Volu, they turned back to the people they'd free from slavery.

"Thank you, friend Warren and friend Ettwanae. May peace fill your soul and be your constant companion," Taala called out her blessing.

"Thank you, friend Taala. Peace be with you and your people as well," Warren wished. As soon as Volu dilated the hatch closed, Gatebi and Flint were at their sides – Gatebi to Ettwanae and Flint to Warren.

"We did it!" Ettwanae exclaimed as Gatebi helped her to the floor. Holding out the completed amulet, she beamed despite her obvious fatigue. "It's whole!"

Gatebi smiled hugely and touched the amulet, tracing her finger over the colored gem-like memory nodes at each point of the circumcircled triangle. "It's even more beautiful now."

Warren realized just how depleted he felt and how pale Ettwanae was. "Need to sit," he told Flint who was still holding him up as a wave of nausea flopped his stomach.

"Congrats, guys!" Flint cuffed Warren on the shoulder as he slid down the wall to the safety of the bay deck. "Next time, though, I'm comin' along. Maybe then you wouldn't end up like this," he chastised with a sweep of his hand to the two conquering heroes parked on the floor. "We need ta hear all 'bout what the hell went on in there!"

"First, Flint, they need sustenance and then rest," Volu commanded. "Their bio-readings are weak."

With he and Ettwanae safely settled on the floor, the other two scurried to get food and drink. Gatebi and Flint, to Warren's amazement, sat quietly and allowed he and Ettwanae eat without interruption. 'Maybe we do look like death warmed over – pretty much how I feel,' he concluded.

Several minutes later, with monle and Ecanle bars consumed and washed down with a sugary juice for even more quick energy, he felt much stronger and Ettwanae's color had returned.

"Thanks, everyone," Warren said, swallowing the last of the nutrient bar.

Flint jumped off the crate he'd been sitting on, unable to keep quiet any longer. "You guys scared the shit outta us!" he exclaimed, arms gesturing wildly as if holding in the declaration the past minutes required a physical release of energy. "We thought the whole damn place was gonna blow and take ya with it. Crazy light show, things disintegrating…thought you was dead meat for sure!"

"Volu explained it was The Source and told us you would not be harmed by it," Gatebi quickly inserted as clarification.

"But what else was goin' on in there, we didn't know! Fuck, those Dark Ones coulda been killin' them!" Flint seemed determined to hang onto his interpretation of events as he glared at Gatebi.

Gatebi sighed at the Flint's drama. "No, we did not know exactly what was happening, but Volu understood the citadel was being destroyed by you – she told us we should wait a bit longer before doing what Flint was ranting…'haul ass over there and kick some Dark asses' if I remember the sentiment correctly. He was quite animated."

Warren could only laugh as he imagined the scene. Ettwanae joined in.

"Oh sure, you guys can laugh now, but you weren't seein' what we was. When Volu hovered us up high and we watched out the bay door – holy motherlode of shit!" Suddenly, his demeanor changed to impressed as his eyes darted between Warren and Ettwanae. "You two got some kickass power. We all felt it – some kinda, I don't know, shockwave or somethin'! Weird is all I can say. And then the way that citadel just like fuckin' vaporized?" His eyes widened at the memory. "Nothing left but you and the locals. Fuckin' amazing!"

Ettwanae shook her head. "It was not us, Flint. It was Ozshi'wanae. We simply channeled her power."

Flint leaned against his crate and crossed his arms. "Still fuckin' amazing."

Warren eased himself off the floor and offered a hand to Ettwanae to help her up. "To state the obvious, it's been a rough night. We all need to get some rest. First, Volu, would you lay in a course to Tchutchka Centrus? I have that business to take care of." Three pairs of eyes snapped his direction.

"Yes, Warren."

"What? Why? Are we going to see Tider again?" Ettwanae questioned, her eyes did not waiver from his.

"No, not Tider. I have an imperial matter that Ztar asked me to handle. It shouldn't take more than a day," he explained vaguely, hoping no one would press the issue. "Meanwhile, we all need to sleep. After that, we'll give you a play-by-play of what happened in the citadel," he added with a glance between Flint and Gatebi. "Then we need to figure out what the amulet can do for us now that it's complete." He hoped that would divert attention away from Tchutchka.

As everyone began moving toward the lift, Ettwanae pulled on his arm and he turned to met her face again.

"What is going on? What does Ztar want of you?"

Warren silently thanked Volu for the comnet blackout she insisted upon. "I'm sorry, but it's imperial business – part of my Court duties. Nothing to worry about."

Her face told him she was not convinced, but she didn't ask any more questions. A coolness in her attitude immediately followed, however. 'She's pissed,' he surmised. 'Probably telepathically asking Volu what she knows and why the quick agreement. Wonder what Volu is telling her?'

###

Ettwanae's irritation continued to build as she headed for her room. Dropping on her bed with a huff, she wondered about the Eshaar'ne's attitude. Volu was being unusually evasive to her mental queries. Leaning against the wall, she pulled out the amulet. It looked so perfect now; complete and whole. She didn't want to sleep – she wanted to dive into the memory nodes she'd been trying to find for two years. Yet she was afraid of what she'd learn. Afraid she'd find out her people were truly gone; that she was the last of their kind. Warren aside, of course, as he still denied he was Eshaaru. The thought of Warren swept her mind back to the Tchutchka issue.

"Volu, would you please tell me what you know about us returning to Tchutchka?" she demanded.

"Warren told me after his last comm to the Emperor that he was required to return there and so we are." Volu's voice was matter-of-fact, as if this sudden cooperation with the Imperial government was nothing unusual.

"But why? What does the Emperor want him to do? I know you know – you monitor everything."

"Warren requested his conversation with Emperor Ztar be private."

Ettwanae contemplated the statement. Eshaar'ne couldn't lie. Somehow, someway the U'larr built that into their genetic makeup. But you don't need to lie to lead someone to believe you're saying something you are not.

"Volu…" she said in an accusatory tone, rising irritability picking at her edges.

"Ettwanae, you need sleep. For now, we must trust Warren. Let him deal with what the Emperor requested and then we can continue on our search for Etxan'Ir."

She wanted to protest and argue, but she knew from experience that pressuring Volu would do no good. 'Let it go for now,' she told himself despite her darkening mood. Shifting mental gears, she rotated the amulet in her fingers examining the newly reunited nodes. The memory node of her parents' was a deep amethyst. The node resting in the Eshaaru history point was in an equally dark ruby red. The third held more magenta and the story of her lineage. They were beautiful and burned with an inner fire as she moved the amulet in the light.

Irritability was easing and sleep beckoned seductively as she took full measure of her weariness. "I want to start working with the amulet as soon as I wake up."

"Yes, my Poda."

Stripping out of her clothes without ever leaving the bed, Ettwanae snuggled in deep and found herself falling into blissful sleep immediately.

###

Gtar-Cro could hardly believe what he'd seen. The energy release they witnessed had completely destroyed the fortress and its contents without a trace, yet Archangel, the Sat'rey female, and the Neu natives were unharmed. There was no sign of the black shuttle either. And as soon as the destruction of the facility was a foregone conclusion, the mysterious mothership had shot out of the Neu system.

Preliminary analysis of the sensor readings made the disbelief more profound. What it told him shouldn't be possible, but the science was undeniable. The question was who or what created a burst of lifeforce energy so powerful as to cause total yet selective destruction? Likely, someone still alive on the mountainside was responsible, but who? Unfortunately, scans of the survivors provided no answer.

The General exited the bridge and entered his ready room. This would be a fascinating comm to the anxiously waiting Emperor.

###

Volu detected something lying amongst the clothes tossed to the floor – a feather. Two lost feathers thus far. They could be explained away by other causes, such as stress, but that time of year was approaching. Most Eshaaru breezed through the annual molt according to her medical memories, but not Ettwanae; at least not the two molts during which Volu had known her. Other signs were also beginning to show themselves, such as elevating hormonal levels. If history repeated itself, uncomfortable times were ahead. Volu noted she must speak with Gatebi about ensuring enough of the right foods were in storage. If not, they'd take care of that business while on Tchutchka Centrus.

Another even more dire issue loomed. Volu nearly told Ettwanae and had considered telling Warren, but in the end, decided they had enough worries. The Turzent cruiser Volu detected in Neu orbit disturbed her on many levels. For a ship to appear at precisely the time of the citadel mission was beyond coincidence. If it had been any lesser ship, Volu would have dealt with it, but it was a heavily armed military flagship. Even her formidable weapon would be challenged to make a quick kill. No, she'd decided to let it be and give no signs she was aware of it. Let them be puzzled.

Coincidence aside, the timing could only mean one thing – someone betrayed them. Warren knew, but she had monitored all his communications and he never once mentioned Neu. Tider knew and may have told military intelligence either willingly or unwillingly. The information broker was the most likely source. Had Ztar ordered the ship to Neu to watch over his member of Court? Or did he have designs on Ettwanae? There was one more possibility…the only other time when someone could have learned of their destination – the alley attack and the mysterious savior. Murder by telekinesis fit what Warren and Ettwanae described. Volu knew of one pursuer who was likely telekinetic and telepathic. Warren had no significant natural mental shields, unlike Ettwanae. Was Neu taken from Warren's mind in the alley? Was Ettwanae and Warren's protector on Tchutchka actually the man who had kidnapped Ettwanae and attempted to take Warren? The thought was extremely disturbing.

Regardless of how the military cruiser had come to witness the event on Neu, it was equally troubling. Those aboard had seen too much. She sighed as best an Eshaar'ne could. Emperor Ztar not only knew of Ettwanae, but would soon learn what she and Warren could conjure together. And so would his formidable military – the ramifications were frightening.

The Eshaar'ne came to a decision. She'd keep the military's presence to herself. Warren professed Ztar could be trusted. The Emperor had been handed a two-fold opportunity to prove him right. Time would reveal whether or not Warren's faith was well placed.

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A/N: Thank you, faithful readers – the visitor counter sings your praises, but not nearly as much as an occasional review. But you have all chosen to be anonymous, and I respect that. Hope you have enjoyed the past couple chapters as the first story arc concludes.

With the amulet complete, the next big question is what will it reveal? Our intrepid crew is extremely anxious to know and next chapter, we'll all find out.

The other building story arc is the Tchut fiasco. And you didn't forget about Warren and Ettwanae's agreement to attempt to force a bonding after Neu, did you? That attempt takes on even greater significance in the wake of obtaining the nodes. As Soulbound begins the slow wrap up, many questions remain, Tchut comes to a head, a humorous revelation pops up along with familiar characters from the past, and several surprises are in store, including Warren faces decisions that will impact everyone aboard Volu.

Not to worry, though, still plenty of Soulbound coming your way.