Chapter 12
Greetings, readers! Many thanks to my story followers from all corners of the globe. Let's see what's happening on Ekkamm and elsewhere.
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"You are certain nothing unusual is amiss in our Empire, General?"
Gtar-Cro was frowning, which was surprising since the man was adept at keeping emotion from his face. "Only the typical problems and hotspots. Actually, the lack of serious troubles is somewhat unusual. Our realm is more peaceful than I've seen in some time. We continue to investigate the black ships, but sightings and intel are extremely rare."
Something pricked Ztar's intuitive sense at the mention of the mystery ships. "Those ships, what more have you learned?"
"So little that we would question the validity of the few sightings and reports if not for what we witnessed at Neu. I'm afraid, my Emperor, I have little to offer you."
"Keep probing, Gtar-Cro. I want to know who is sneaking around our territory. That they had a facility on Neu makes me extremely uncomfortable."
"As it does me. I know you erased from my memory how that installation was destroyed. Is there any possibility knowing that would help in our investigation?"
Ztar shook his head. It still felt wrong and almost a betrayal of his loyal friend and top Military Intelligence general, but it was the only way to keep his promise to Archangel. "No, it would not. My apologies again for the necessity of that action, old friend."
Gtar-Cro leaned back in his ready room chair aboard MI's flagship, the Tre'endt. "As you said, it was a necessity, and I trust you completely. Had to ask."
Ztar stayed quiet for several long moments, wishing the vague nagging would either take recognizable form or dissipate. "Remain vigilant, General."
As Gtar-Cro's holographic image evaporated, Ztar stood with a huff of frustration. He did not wish to worry the mother of his child, and he'd already talked with Sukja about the feelings, but he felt the need to reach out to someone else.
'Archangel, how I wish you were here. Where are you right now? What are you facing? Are you any closer to your goal?'
Perhaps he'd send a message to his wayward Court member. Whether the Human returned the comm immediately or some time later, Ztar knew the man would respond if at all possible. It would be good to touch base again for more than one reason.
'Yes, this Emperor needs to talk with his former companion and friend.'
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Ettwanae was shocked and didn't know how to take Phai's announcement. "You have images of my mother?"
Phai smiled almost sweetly. "I can do better than that. She is here." A flick of the hand indicated the woman's surroundings.
"She's with you?"
"T'Qilla is on Ekkamm in the same facility as you."
For a moment, the words didn't register. 'She is here. As in here?' Ettwanae pulled stunned attention from Phai to Warren, and then Flint. Their expressions revealed shock.
Her eyes leapt back to Shozen. "But I-" Her voice faltered. "Mother…is here?!"
"What the hell are you sayin'?!"
Flint's voice jarred Ettwanae in its heated tone.
Warren rose sharply to his feet and looked the Shozen hard in the eyes. "If this is anything less than what you're implying…"
Her someday soulbound's warning was menacing as his hand came to rest on her shoulder, followed by a reassuring squeeze.
"I am not that cruel despite what you may think of me. T'Qilla is on Ekkamm, alive…but not well."
Ettwanae would have stood, but she was certain she could not. Her legs were in no better shape than her swirling head. "What's wrong with her?"
"She is dying, Ettwanae. Ru'zha."
The word was like a sledgehammer to the chest, knocking wind from lungs. "Goddess, no. No!" She felt faint. The room tilted.
Warren leaned down, his face next her hers. "Take a long, deep breath. We'll figure this out. Right now, focus on breathing steady and slow."
/ My Poda. / The voice floated within her mind. / I am here. Listen to Warren. Steady yourself. Take time to absorb. /
/ She's not lying? Mother is here? /
/ Phai speaks truthfully that they have an Eshaaru, and while I believe it is T'Qilla, I cannot tell you unequivocally that it is your mother. She is in a stasis pod. Her ru'zha is slowed, but not stopped. /
Ettwanae suddenly knew why Volu had really brought them to Ekkamm. / You knew about this! /
A mental sigh followed. / Yes, my Poda. I would not have risked so much for less. I did not tell you for fear it was Shozen trickery to lure us here. To offer you such hope only to have it crushed would have been too painful. /
For a moment, anger flared that Volu had kept something so crucial to herself, but it was quickly overtaken by knowing Volu had acted out of love. / I understand, but I wish you had told me. You could have warned me it might be a trick or not Mother…I would have been able to handle it. /
/ Perhaps. /
Ettwanae let it go. Her mother was the only important matter at hand. / If you believe it is Mother, then it is. What do I do next? /
The mental equivalent of a gentle smile filled her mind. / Demand to see her. / Volu paused, and Ettwanae was afraid of what was coming next. / But, my Poda, T'Qilla is very close… /
The Eshaar'ne did not have to finish the thought. Her mother was close to death. 'Dear goddess, don't let this be!' she prayed. 'Not after searching so long. Maybe the Shozen can help – their technology…?'
She took a deep, shaky draw of air and exhaled. Warren hovered close, and she loved him for it. Her protector. Her warrior. "I think I can stand." His steady, strong hands immediately assisted her effort.
Casting eyes to lock onto Phai's, she made her demand. "Take me to her. I want to see my mother."
"Immediately. Den-neer will escort you. I will meet you there." Phai's holo image winked out so abruptly, Ettwanae jumped.
The trio turned as the double doors parted open, slowly revealing a cloaked figure.
In a daze, Ettwanae approached Den-neer – the man she'd thought her mortal enemy was responsible for the reunion about to take place. She'd overhead Den-neer and Warren's supposedly private conversation in the hall. Being in her kidnapper's debt was a difficult to comprehend.
She glanced at Warren – he looked concern and maybe dubious. What was he thinking? 'I don't even know what to think. So much to take in – two days ago and now. My mother here? Must be a dream!' Then she took in a sharp breath. "What of my father? T'Azrued? Do you know what became of him?"
Her chest tightened in anticipation of the confirmation she did not wish ear. Trembles shook her unexpectedly, and Warren's arm instantly wrapped around her waist, though she barely felt it.
Den-neer raised his hands and slowly dropped the cloak hood. The expression on the hard features softened. "Regrettably, he committed ru'zha not long after leaving you and your mother."
Anger flared. "How do you know that?!" she snapped, surprising herself in the forcefulness of her tone. Her father had left them as decoy because someone was chasing them – the old recordings were very clear. But was it Dark Ones or Shozen?
Den-neer eyes looked distant for a few seconds; much as she was told she looked when in mental contact with Volu. She knew Den-neer was telepathic from when he'd kidnapped her. Who was he 'talking' to?
"T'Azrued was taken by the Etagllot in a last ditch effort to safeguard him from the Dark Ones that hunted your parents. Information from that time is sketchy, but he did not believe what our operatives told him and mistook them for the enemy. Despite the scientists' best efforts, he could not be saved."
"My father would do that – he left to save us." Tears welled up and her chest hurt. In the memory node, her mother said she'd felt their soulbinding break, but she'd held to hope against all odds. She turned a crumbling face to Warren. "Mother said he had died, but…I wanted to believe it was just too dangerous for him to return – that he was somehow alive and-" Then her throat drew too tight to speak. Warren pulled her in and she buried her face in his strong chest. Sobs did not come, only quiet tears.
With Flint shuffling back and forth uneasily and Warren holding her silently, Ettwanae sucked in a couple of deep breaths to rein in the emotions. 'Focus on Mother,' she told herself. Pushing slowly back from Warren, it hadn't sunk in yet that T'Qilla was nearby. It was surreal and unbelievable. It was time for it to become real.
She turned to Den-neer. "I'm sorry. We can go now."
The Shozen operative turned and continued down the hallway. They passed by the hangar entrance, rounded a corner, and walked for what seemed like forever through sterile corridors to finally stop at an unmarked security door. Ettwanae's heart was racing. Den-neer palmed the control pad and the entry opened. What greeted them was a large laboratory, complete with examine tables, computer displays, various equipment, and several workers. They all looked up from whatever they were doing as the foursome entered. Phai's holo-image was standing midway into the room.
"Everyone out, except Hercjell," Phai ordered.
She felt Warren instantly stiffen, and he remained stock still as the scientists did as told quickly and silently, most giving Ettwanae and Warren examining looks that unnerved her, and she grabbed Warren's hand.
"We'll be okay," he whispered reassuringly, but his eyes were fixed firmly on the female scientist ordered to stay. Warren had told them about when the Etagllot kidnapped him and the Emperor. She recalled that a woman by the name of Hercjell had been in charge. If so, the situation was not a good one. His grip tightened around her hand. Rapidly escalating tension made nerves zing.
"al'Verta Hercjell." Warren's tone made the name seem vulgar, but the short alien appeared unfazed.
"Archangel. Very good to have you in my lab again." The scientist's malignant tone made it clear the greeting had nothing to do with hospitality.
Warren turned his head sharply to Phai. "What's she doing here?"
"Head Researcher Hercjell is currently ensuring E5 remains alive for as long as possible, amongst other duties." Then the Shozen turned to the Etagllot. "What is her condition?"
"Her deterioration rate continues. Lifeforce readings are approaching critical levels. Physical manifestations reflecting that decline have begun despite the stasis field." The voice was devoid of emotion.
"And her prognosis?"
"The subject's decline will likely accelerate. Stasis will extend her life for only another few weeks at best. However, after the lifeforce is depleted, we can keep the body alive nearly definitely once no longer hampered by that stricture."
Ettwanae shivered. The woman was a monster! "How can you talk about her like that?!"
"E5 loses her primary value without lifeforce, and that is to be sustained by whatever means necessary," Phai ordered Hercjell as if Ettwanae had not spoken.
"Understood, Prime Director. We are doing everything possible with current technology. I remain confident that my team will succeed before termination occurs. We are very close. Perhaps, though, you have brought us additional resources should E5 expire prematurely?" The rapacious smile oozing across Hercjell's face as she examined them made Ettwanae's skin crawl.
Flint was suddenly next to Warren, his ashen face saying it all. Had they indeed been lead into a sugarcoated trap? Ettwanae sensed Warren's other hand easing toward his weapon. But hadn't Phai said they wouldn't work?
"Phai, you had better explain yourself. And I want this…woman out of my sight."
Hercjell tsked. "Such hostility. Only doing my job, Archangel. I must admit, you and Ztar caused me difficulties with your escape, but nothing I could not remedy. Ztar was quite impressive that day, as were you. Two against so many. A miraculous escape actually. I never heard the results of the investigation, but always suspected you had inside help. Migiun was my guess. Wonder whatever happened to her?"
The woman's cold leer chilled Ettwanae to the bone. She admired Warren's refrain as he ignored the Etagllot and addressed Phai. "Deal with your stooge."
Without needing to be told, Hercjell started toward the still open door, but halted before existing. She turned back and locked eyes with Warren. "Know this, Archangel of the Royal Court of Ztar – whatever happens here is more important than our animosity. I may not be privileged with the big picture, but that does not mean I'm not aware there is one. You've apparently found favor with those that do. Do not waste the opportunity." With that, she quickly disappeared, and the door slid shut.
Ettwanae was surprised – what had been said to the Etagllot before they entered? They'd likely never know. Hercjell wasn't important. Her mother was the only thing Ettwanae cared about. Anger that the Etagllot were using her even as she lay dying burned like hot coals in her belly to embolden.
"If that woman has harmed Mother, I will kill her, and you won't be able to stop me! What are you doing with her? I thought you cared about us? You lied!" she snarled, wings spreading reflectively.
Phai stepped slowly in her direction. "No, Ettwanae, I did not lie. You are safe. However, I must present cold detachment as the Etagllot's Prime Director because we require the same of them. Without it, they would not be as efficient, and efficiency is crucial when time is not your ally."
Scorn radiated from Warren. "You didn't answer the other question. What is the Etagllot using T'Qilla for? And why the drama with Hercjell? You're playing games, Phai, and I don't like games that use people."
Phai crossed her arms and a frown formed. "The 'drama' as you call it was to prove to Ettwanae that our 'stooges' are doing all they can to keep her mother alive, albeit for our own purposes. The end result is the same – T'Qilla is alive only because of our efforts to save her. As for her purpose, she is a calibration tool. We need to tune the channeling bionites to the correct energy frequency so they can access Source."
Ettwanae was done talking. "Where is she? I want to see her."
Holo-Phai swept an arm toward the back of the room and a large tubular object resting on a low platform. The bottom half of the stasis pod was metallic, but the upper portion was clear. A body rested inside, though mostly hidden from view. Ettwanae froze in place as her heart felt like it would explode from her chest.
"Go." The woman's command was firm, but gentle.
She released Warren's hand and took a step. With legs that threatened to buckle, Ettwanae continued forward, awareness narrowing to only the silver pod. Step by step, she drew closer. As more of the pod's occupant was revealed, keen eyes examined each new detail. Female form draped in a silken blanket of whispery blue. Perfect facial profile. Ivory skin. Closed eyes. Long, full lashes brushing the tops of cheeks. Rich rose-gold hair encircled the head in thick waves. Snow-white wings. Splendor made flesh.
The room spun wildly. A few feet from the pod, weak legs would no longer hold, and she dropped to knees. From behind, she barely heard Warren's concerned call and Phai ordering him to stay back. Crawling the rest of the way, her throat constricted – it was hard to breathe.
Three feet from the pod, she halted to gaze down into her own face. The woman she only knew from two messages and memory node recordings was there in the flesh; lying peacefully. Sleeping. Beautiful. Alive. She was alive.
'Goddess, is this real? Am I dreaming?'
She'd had many dreams of her parents since they recovered the amulet nodes. Wonderful dreams of reunion. Horrific dreams of finding her mother and father only to have them ripped away by faceless monsters.
"Mother?" she whispered, almost expecting T'Qilla's eyes to open and a smile to grace the flawless features. 'Can't be real. Is this some sort of cruel hoax?'
She turned back to seek Warren's reassuring presence. Den-neer was next to him; a long-fingered hand on his shoulder. Warren clearly wanted to come over, but the Shozen was holding him in place. Their eyes locked. He mouthed a single word – 'go.' Ettwanae turned back to look down into the face she'd watched so intensely innumerable times while replaying cherished nodes images over and over.
/ Volu? /
/ My Poda. /
/ If this isn't her, I won't be able to bear it. /
/ Do you think it is not? /
/ It looks like her. What if it's a trick? /
/ Trust your instincts. /
Ettwanae closed the gap. What were those instincts telling her? Could she trust them when she so desperately wanted the woman in the pod to be realization of a life-long dream?She placed a hand over the pod where the woman's hand rested to her side. "Mother, is that you?"
She took in every detail; examined each feature of the woman Phai claimed was her parent. The sleeping figure looked exactly like the T'Qilla in the memory node recordings, but the Shozen had advanced technology at their disposal. They had cloned Esha'Aru – could she be looking at one? Was it all a lie? An elaborate trap not yet fully sprung? How could she possibly confirm that it was truly T'Qilla?
Desperate for some way to know, she reached out with her mind to the Eshaaru as she did when communicating telepathically with Volu. Only silence greeted her.
"Mother, if that is you, please hear me. Tell me it's you," she whispered the plea while pushing the request out mentally. She was scared of being tricked; so afraid to believe, yet so desperate to. 'Ozshi'wanae, help me.' She closed her eyes and opened her heart. At first, she sensed nothing. Then a flicker of something. A feeling nudged. She felt/listened more intensely. Emotions began welling up from the emotional depths, barely perceptible at first; then in an accelerating cascade. Need. Longing. Hope. Recognition! Love.
Ettwanae collapsed over the pod. She knew. Sobs spilled from her soul. Tears flowed down the cool, transparent surface as she lay draped across the chamber holding what she'd longed to find her whole life and finally had.
"Mother!"
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The sight of a weeping Ettwanae sprawled across the stasis chamber, wings lovingly enveloping the length of the pod, tore at his heart. To find T'Qilla only to learn she was unconscious and near death was cruel beyond imagining.
Warren pulled against in Den-neer's hold, but was privately glad the operative had stopped him. Ettwanae deserved privacy. "It really is her mother? Because if it's not…" he growled the unspoken threat.
A white eyebrow cocked. "Yes."
He wrenched against the steel grip on his shoulder. Flint took a tentative step as if to assist, but Warren gave the kid a 'stay put' look.
"You can let go of me now," he snapped at Den-neer. As the wiry hand loosened, Warren shrugged it off and immediately stepped away to glare at Phai. "How long have you kept her like this? When did you capture her?"
Phai pulled her eyes from Warren to watch Ettwanae. "We saved her roughly 18 Turzent imperial years ago. T'Qilla would be dead if not for us. She and her Eshaar'ne had nearly succumbed to attack by the Dark Ones. So certain they were of capture, that T'Qilla had already begun ru'zha. Bae was near death herself."
"You couldn't tell 'em you was tryin, to help?" Flint asked.
Phai turned to the teen. "Once ru'zha begins, unconsciousness comes swiftly, although the dying can take hours…sometimes days. She was beyond hearing when our ship arrived. Unlike earlier attempts, with T'Qilla, we've had better success thanks to Etagllot scientists who perfected a unique stasis field that also slows lifeforce dispersion."
"But doesn't stop it."
Phai tilted her head in a manner that communicated regret. "That is correct, Warren. As Hercjell stated, T'Qilla is near death and at the limits of what we can do for her."
Heavy silence enveloped the room, only broken by Ettwanae's soft sobs and murmurs. Warren looked to Flint when he sensed the teen wanted to say something. He gestured to go ahead.
The kid looked perplexed. "Bae was T'Qilla's Eshaar'ne, right? And Bae spilled that Vo is her daughter. Does she know who Volu's first Other was or how she lost her memory?"
Without taking her gaze from Ettwanae, Phai explained. "Bae has shared nothing of her daughter or her past. We've respected that decision, as it was irrelevant to our goals. The Council suspected that Volu is not whole in memory from her pattern of travel over the past two years. That kind of purge happens only from significant brain injury or in the end stages of ru'zha. From the external scars, we suspect she was attacked at least once by Dark Ones."
If they hadn't encountered the Dark Ones on Neu and at Ayni, it would be very tempting to write off the repeated blaming of the Dark Ones to diversionary tactics. Evidence continued mounting in Phai's favor, though Warren still loathed their use of the Etagllot and the atrocities done by that group under Shozen direction. The cause was noble, but the methodology was immoral.
Warren returned attention to Ettwanae. He wanted to take her in his arms, but not quite yet. She looked small and fragile, but he'd not intrude on Ettwanae's deeply personal and private moment too hastily. Empathy rushed in. What would it be like to hope to find a loved one your whole life only to be reunited at her deathbed?
"There is nothing that can be done to save T'Qilla?"
Obviously keen hearing had picked up Warren's softly-spoken question. Ettwanae's tear-stained face turned toward him and watery, crystalline-blue eyes sought his. 'I need you' was clearly written in those orbs. He moved quickly and knelt at her side. She immediately wrapped her arms around him in a fierce clutch.
"She's d-dying. There must be something we can do!"
Phai approached, Flint close on her heels.
"Maybe like you saved Warren, Twae," Flint suggested. "After Ayni – he was almost a goner, but you saved him. Why not your mother?"
Ettwanae drew in a sharp breath. "Will it work?" she asked looking up to Phai with intense hope.
The expression on the Shozen was not encouraging. "There is a significant difference in saving someone who is dying not by their own hand and restoring someone who is dying by choice. Ru'zha is highly effective because it is so difficult to halt. If the spirit is not willing…" and she shook her head.
Disbelief replaced hope. "But why wouldn't she want to live? I'm here now – we're safe."
"The last memory your mother has is of being attacked by a mortal and dreaded enemy. Time has halted for her, Ettwanae. In her mind, there have been no years, no rescue…you are a child on a far away world. She is still protecting you."
"I can talk to her. I know she's unconscious, but somehow she'll hear me! Please, we must try!" Tears were falling down the gold-kissed ivory skin once more.
The Shozen leader looked down at them, her face becoming expressionless.
"There is a way, isn't there?" Warren said more than asked, sensing the Shozen was holding out. Then he sensed something else. "What are the risks?"
Phai's features looked strained. "Ettwanae could do herself great harm by giving too much of her lifeforce. She could lapse into coma or die. And we would need to release T'Qilla from stasis. Being so close to death, she may die before we could begin the procedure." The avatar frowned. "We could lose both of you. Your mother would not want that, I am certain of it. She would want you to let her go if it meant you will live. I feel likewise – I do not wish to see you injured or worse."
"I think that's Ettwanae's decision!" Flint piped in.
"Not entirely. T'Qilla is in my care. You three are under my protection. I will not jeopardize two lives on a procedure with little chance of success."
Warren's gut twisted. He gently extricated himself from Ettwanae to stand. "Why, Phai? Flint is right – this is Ettwanae's decision. What's it to you if she tries? What aren't you telling us?"
A single eyebrow raised on the finely hewn face. "I simply do not wish to see any unnecessary deaths, Warren."
"Bullshit. What haven't you told us?"
Phai took another step closer to the pod and looked down at its occupant. "Every Esha'Aru is precious." Her gaze diverted to Ettwanae still on the floor. "There are so few of you. Any loss is another step toward extinction. You and Warren…if you are compatible…represent hope for your kind. Do not throw that away hastily."
Warning bells were still blaring for Warren. "There's more to it, Phai. Why do you need Ettwanae alive? Why did Den-neer really risk this whole installation to Eilu discovery and bring us here?"
Ettwanae scrambled to her feet. "I don't care about any of that! I'm going to do whatever it takes to save my mother." The wings snapped in emphasis. "You cannot stop me!"
Phai's countenance grew firm. "You don't know how. Saving an Esha'Aru from ru'zha isn't something you do without training. If you try, you guarantee her death and yours."
"I know the ancient technique."
The disembodied voice filled every corner of the large laboratory, startling everyone, including Phai.
"Bae! What are you doing? How…?"
An odd sort of laughter reverberated off the sterile walls. "You forget what your ancestors created us for, Phai. My kind are masters of electronic breaking and entering."
Phai looked truly irate. "You had no right."
The air grew thick with tension.
"I have every right. My Other lies dying in your laboratory. Until now, I have been helpless to change that situation, but no longer. If her daughter wishes to make the attempt to save T'Qilla, I will teach her how. If you attempt to stop us, I will destroy every last Etagllot in this facility, including your precious Den-neer."
Phai visibly gathered herself. Anger disappeared, and a wry smirk moved across her face. "We have let the aphri into our den, haven't we?" Then the smile evaporated. "You realize, Bae, that if you follow through on your threat, you may very well seal the fate of this galaxy."
"Your plans have backup plans, Phai. I am not naïve to your ways. You have my Other. I want her back." The icy tone sent shivers through Warren's wings.
Phai's look drilled into Ettwanae's eyes. "You could die. Your mother will likely die. The procedure called Ura'maalei is very dangerous. The odds of success are slim. Do you understand?"
"My mother is dying anyway!" Fire danced in the crystalline-blue depths. She glanced quickly to Warren and then Flint. "I want to do this – I'm going to do this."
"Ettwanae, Ura'maalei is too dangerous." The warning was Volu's. Apparently, Bae wasn't the only security buster.
"My child disagrees with me, Ettwanae. However, the choice is yours – not hers," Bae countered.
Ettwanae crossed her arms in firm resolve. "Volu, if there's a way, I need to save Mother. Bae is right – it's my decision, and I chose to try."
Heavy silence fell, and then Ettwanae abruptly walked to a private corner. She had that far-away look, and the wings drew tight to the lithe frame. Warren could only guess as to the telepathic conversation raging. The Eshaaru was definitely arguing with Volu from expressions flickering across her face. And likely, Volu was quarrelling with Bae.
Flint was fidgety and began snooping around the lab, looking quite uncomfortable. Phai seemed frustrated that she wasn't calling the shots and strolled toward something unseen at her own location far away. The only sound in the room was the gentle hum of the air circulation system and Flint's nervous footfalls. Warren kneeled again at the side of the woman who was blissfully unaware of the turmoil she had caused. He saw much of Ettwanae in the still features – same nose and chin, same voluminous golden waves. Could T'Qilla be saved? And if she was, would she be joining their group or return to Bae? Would the Shozen allow it? Would any of them be allowed to leave? Could they stop them?
Warren's mind traveled to all they'd learned the past two days. The information dump was mind numbing in magnitude. Paradigms had been radically and permanently altered, if all was believed. Thus far, he found little to contradict what Bae and Phai revealed. Just the opposite. As they traveled to Ekkamm, Volu confirmed that unusual activity had been going on at the galactic core, including the sudden silencing of the Turzent Empire's close-in sensor buoy by a discharge of anti-matter from the supermassive black hole. Pieces of the puzzle were filling in, and the forming picture was not a pretty one.
His eyes trailed to the holo figure reviewing something at her distant desk. A deep frown marred the woman's otherwise flawless face. He attempted to put himself into her shoes. A member of the race that once ruled the galaxy, who nearly became extinct protecting it, that was desperately trying save it yet again. If true, he could not imagine shouldering that kind of responsibility. Oblivion of an entire galaxy was the price of failure. Trillions of lives hung in the balance. And that a supposedly single being in another dimension could accomplish that level of destruction…? Warren shook his head at concepts nearly impossible to grasp.
But why were the Shozen bearing the burden alone? Why were the young races, as Phai referred to everyone else, not privy and assisting? Why the cloak and dagger game? Important questions, but for later, he decided.
Phai suddenly sighed loudly and left her desk to join Warren near T'Qilla, agitation obvious. The frown hadn't left her brow. If Warren didn't know better, he'd say he could feel tension radiating from the Shozen.
"Someone speak. What is the decision?"
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Indeed, what is the decision? Lucky 13 will bring the answer to that question, as well as to some of Warren's as yet unasked ones. Our next installment is (I think) the longest chapter of the book, so be prepared to dive into the deep end.
See you soon for C13!