Chapter 28

Thank you for your patience during my short hiatus! But playtime with friends is over and will get back on track. Speaking of having some fun, in this segment, Phai struggles with the implications of the Ekkamm attack while Warren and Ettwanae have some well-deserved playtime of their own!

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Phai didn't know what to do – an unnatural state for the woman who always knew her next move. The condition left her in a less than pleasant mood. With a thought, the three-dimensional representation of the master plan sprang up. Filled with all major and many minor events and goals, perhaps a clue would lie there as to when an infiltrator or change in allegiance occurred.

Scanning backward in time from the attacks on her and Sequi, Phai's frown only deepened when nothing revealed itself. Phai circled the holo-display as anxiety deepened. Several days had passed since the Ekkamm attack and resulting hasty departure and still no clue as to who was responsible.

Coup de main by a high-level betrayer was a worst-case scenario. Was that truly what she faced? Evidence was circumstantial, yet compelling. Only the Council of Elders knew the location of one another's residence. Guards and other minions had no idea whom they protected at those locations. Only Elders had been privy to where she'd relocated after the attack. Only her innermost circle knew the clones and the natural Esha'Aru pair were at Ekkamm. That the Eilu struck the secret installation while housing so many key players was either extraordinary coincidence or internal subterfuge. That they struck with such incredible precision when not a single shred of evidence suggested they had usurped Shozen cloaking technology was beyond chance.

No, the murder of Sequi, the attack against Phai herself, and the Ekkamm near disaster could only be linked to the work of someone at the very pinnacle of their Trient's leadership.

How could she determine if one of the Elders was actually working with or had been replaced by an Eilu operative? She also considered that someone close to the circle of power was corrupt – a right-hand tool…like Den-neer. However, anyone close to an Elder underwent regular telepathic scrutiny. An enemy operative would not escape detection, or would only if away for an extended period.

Only two Elders used personal aides, she and Sequi. Sequi was dead; she had nearly been. Coincidence? Perhaps. The Turzent and Commonwealth realms were arguably the most critical collectives in the Trient relative to their role in the final battle. To assassinate the Elders who led Shozen efforts in those two realms was strategically sound.

But the enemy was victorious on only one count. Her Council was weakened, but not broken. Then the strike against Ekkamm – a devastating blow, if successful. They may or may not have had time to replace the clones, but the loss of the natural Esha'Aru pair would have been irreparable. Killing even just one would be all that was required.

Analyzing the enemy's strikes was getting her nowhere. The Shozen leader riled in frustration. Uncovering external threats was a specialty she and her forerunners had honed over thousands of years. Doing so within the highest ranks of their own organization was untread ground.

Who had betrayed them?! The obvious list was short, but without something to point the way…

With a dramatic wave of an angry arm through the holo image, she left her shipboard office to traverse the silent corridor.

"You are troubled, Phai." Uulophar's tender voice permeated the air.

"Astute," Phai hissed sarcastically.

"Your condition was obvious from the moment you boarded."

"Then I do not hide my emotions as well as I believed."

The gentle chuckle was more telepathic than audible. "I know you well."

"Too well, perhaps." White eyebrows knitted together, but not from any true concern.

"May I assist in some manner?"

Phai considered if a sounding board would be beneficial. "I need to analyze a problem that I am far too close to. I need a more detached perspective."

"Then I offer my services. My builders were quite accomplished in endowing the skills required for such a situation."

Despite everything, that garnered a small smile. The AI entity was more than the sum of her parts. Uulophar's biotech-engineered brain was one of the Shozen's greatest achievements in their quest to replicate technology lost in the aftermath of the U'larr civilization collapse. Uulophar was sentient or at least sentient as Phai defined it. The ship was self-aware and of self-will. She did not simply run complex programs and algorithms – Uulophar performed creative thought, chose, and experienced emotions, albeit of limited range and depth.

"I accept your offer. That Hercjell and the clones are the only other individuals aboard has nothing to do with my choice," Phai complimented the artificial being.

Phai was regretting the decision to take the Etagllot scientist and clones onto her ship before departing Ekkamm, despite knowing it was best. N'Adiaera and N'Ollein were as children on a grand adventure, but also quickly becoming bored with the monotony of space travel. Hercjell was arrogant before – being chosen as the only researcher to travel with the pinnacle of Etagllot power apparently had strengthened the woman's inflated belief in her worth.

Turning into a small room designed as a place for relaxation and contemplation, Phai was grateful for the self-indulgence that led to its creation. Floor to ceiling windows span the breadth of the exterior hull wall to frame the stars. The rest of the sanctuary was a lush garden with plants and flowers and strategically placed carved bench that invited lingering repose. She sat and gazed out. They traveled thousands of times the speed of light, yet the vastness of space resulted in only the closest of stars creeping slowly across the field of black.

Uulophar remained silent as Phai reviewed what they knew of the Eilu attacks on her and Sequi, purposefully not revealing where suspicions led. The AI asked pointed questions concerning actions by the Elders and Den-neer and queried Phai on the Etagllot at Ekkamm.

Once Phai had answered the ship's background queries, the AI went quiet for many moments. Phai rose to stroll through the small conservatory.

"Will you indulge more questions, Phai?"

"Of course."

"Who suggested you retreat to Ekkamm?"

"Elder Ary."

"You know this firsthand – not as told by another."

"I do. Ary confirmed in our subsequent Council meeting."

"Do you believe it was a good choice?"

"A reasonable choice."

"Reasonable to have our only functioning clones, our only natural Esha'Aru pair, and the Elder of Elders in a single location?"

Phai frowned. "Den-neer made the decision to bring Warren and Ettwanae to Ekkamm."

"After they were attacked within the Barrens. An attack that would drive him to seek sanctuary quickly, particularly with an injured Eshaar'ne."

"The Eilu nearly killed Volu and her passengers in that attack."

"Nearly. They did not. Den-neer and Bae arrived on the scene to save them, just as you and the Council had planned in the event of an attack. Under the circumstances, Den-neer made the only logical choice – convince Volu to follow him to Ekkamm."

"You are suggesting steering them to Ekkamm was a contingency plan."

"That is what I would plan should the quarry escape. Lead them to a known location for a second attempt."

Phai continued to walk, nodding her agreement. If she'd planned an ambush, she'd have alternate outcome strategies. "I'm agreeing with your conjecture. If the Eilu could maneuver our critical components into one location, then a single, successful strike would eliminate many problems simultaneously."

"And perhaps even ensure their ultimate victory."

"You are saying Warren, Ettwanae, and I were herded to Ekkamm."

"It is a viable theory."

"I did not proceed directly to Ekkamm – that would have caused them to adjust their plans."

"But you eventually arrived. Then all they had to do was attack when it would be too late to recover from the lost."

"Which is now."

"You know better than I on the timing, Elder."

"We have a probable strategy, but questions remain. Why only two attack ships? And who is our betrayer? Ary?"

"If he suggested Ekkamm, he is a prime suspect."

Phai was dubious as she paused to admire a particularly exotic flower. She gentle touched its thick, iridescent petals. "Ary can be difficult and often too conservative and hesitant, but he seems too obvious."

"The Eilu are indeed too clever for obviousness. Yet I ask myself, is that relevant at this late stage? Had the plan been successful, we would not be having this discussion. In the aftermath of your death, would anyone on the Council question Ary's allegiance? If they did, what would it matter? The enemy would have us in disarray, critical keys to stopping the Dark Coming would be destroyed, and Eilu victory in this Trient all but assured."

With a sinking sensation, Phai realized the ship was correct. Continuing her meandering, she reflected back on all the objections, protests, and roadblock arguments Ary had thrown up during his tenure. If he was truly their saboteur, had he been replaced or corrupted recently or years ago? Were their plans to stop the Dark Coming threatened? What other acts of subterfuge were already in play? Phai wanted to feel ill, yet she only had conjecture and circumstantial evidence.

Another question crept in like a thief. Could she trust any of her remaining Council?

"And if it is someone else or more than one?"

"Do you suspect others?"

Phai shook her head slowly. Much was becoming clear. "No. While Ary sent an urgent message about the Eilu attack on the Council, he did not break through security to alert me personally as one would expect. Ary directed me to Ekkamm. Ary offered his sector, Parma-Sentois, for the Etagllot after Ztar's first war against them. Then, it was within the Par-Sen Alliance that they were nearly snuffed out again – at a critical stage."

The Elder of Elders' reached out to touch an ancient stone carving she'd placed in the garden during Uulophar's outfitting. The artifact was believed to depict an U'larr, and looked much like Taer. It was priceless.

Uulophar remained quiet as Phai reflected on past behaviors of their prime suspect. "It was Ary who most vehemently denied Archangel's potential. Ary's voice was the one often raised in criticism of our most valuable tools, including Tider and Den-neer. His censure of them often perplexed me, but now…"

Dropping a hand to the short, stone wall that formed a half-circle around the U'larr statue, she gripped its edge. If they truly had an Eilu agent in their midst, all was in jeopardy. How much damage had a false Ary caused? Her grip tightened on the stone. Much. Thoughts of assassination attempts on the balance of her Council sent waves of dread through her. Images of unrevealed damage to their plans whirled up into mild panic.

She needed to act. She required information. Phai had to know how far any infiltration had gone. But there was so little time.

Her principal concern was their greatest vulnerability – interstellar communications. Unlike the U'larr of old, the young races were not inherently telepathic. No mental network bridged the vast distances of the galaxy. If the betrayer was able to sabotage communications, there would be no way to rally the masses to offer up with Aru and all would be lost.

Anger rose. Powerful fingers squeezed dense stone and suddenly it exploded into pieces and dust in her crushing grip, startling Phai. Examining the crumbled rock in her hand, she shuttered.

"If Ary is Eilu, all our plans could be as this," she proclaimed, holding it up for Uulophar's internal sensors to see.

"If," the ship emphasized.

Uulophar was unfortunately correct. Without proof, the betrayer could be anyone on the Council or one of the few highly-trusted right hands. Whom could she trust? What must she do to safeguard all their plans at this late stage?

Time and distance were her enemies as never before. No other Elder could travel to confront Ary in person in the time remaining – assuming she knew which Elder to trust. The date of the final battle was set. Phai needed to act immediately. The threat must be neutralized.

Phai made her decisions.

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Shortly after breakfast on the twenty-first travel day, Volu received word from Bae that they'd be making a quick stop at the nearby planet. Both Warren and Ettwanae sighed in relief. Confinement had reached the gnawing stage.

The planet's gravity and atmosphere were close to Earth's, Warren learned from Volu, but the landscape was unlike anything on his homeworld. The Etagllot escort cruiser they had picked up along the way remained in orbit as guard, while Uulophar, Bae, and Volu landed on a massive plain reminiscent of the Serengeti, although far more featureless and covered in knee-high, purple-hued grass-like foliage. From the endless expanse jutted tall, copper-brown mesas akin to Devil's Tower in eastern Wyoming, except the alien monoliths dwarfed America's famous volcanic remnant. The stark landscape took one's breath away in the truest sense of the cliché.

The Esha'Aru clones N'Adiaera, the female, and the male named N'Ollein had gleefully burst from Bae like children at recess. Warren had grasped Ettwanae's hand as they stood in the shadow of Volu watching the clones take wing. She was smiling wistfully at the child-like enthusiasm of the winged pair playing tag in Trais's yellow-green sky.

Warren thought back on the previous 22 days...days first filled with Phai's unnerving news that it was time to head out. The trip would take approximately 37 Imperial Standard Days. Their destination – the Sentinel planet and gateway to Etxan'Ir, Atmos Prime. The end time was closing in.

Second came the scrambled preparations for departure. They had cleaned out facility stores to make certain enough food was aboard to avoid a stop for supplies. In the midst of that hecticness, the Eilu attacked and yet another narrow escape. It was the story of Warren's life, so for him, the emotional impact wasn't great. Others, though, were left jittery and unnerved. Flint, Gatebi, and Ettwanae had required days for emotional regrouping, each in their own way. Flint pretended he was fine and fooled no one. Gatebi withdrew to her world of PI books, and Ettwanae had been inseparable from Warren in spite of Aru's on again/off again nagging.

Phai traveled on her ship, Uulophar, with the Esha'Aru cloned pair, and Hercjell, who was acting as N'Adiaera and N'Ollein's glorified babysitter. Her inclusion grated, but he had no say in the matter. Warren had only interacted with the winged pair a few times on Ekkamm as they were kept in a segmented portion of the Ekkamm facility, but it was obvious how innocent they were. Children in adult bodies. As clones, their limited knowledge and scant life experience was the explanation. They were intelligent, but emotionally on par with 8 year olds. He felt it was both a sad thing and perhaps, given the dire circumstances, a blessing that they didn't fully comprehend what would happen if the mission failed.

Thinking of emotions…thankfully, Ettwanae's molt was mostly over and she was nearly back to her old self. Thirty-seven days of confinement would be difficult enough without molt-induced histrionics.

Before departing, Phai warned that trouble with the Eilu waited at Atmos. Hence, both their Commonwealth operatives and Ztar were sending armadas. That came as a shock. When had working with Phai come about? Was that why Ztar seemed down in their last comm? How much did the man know?

Ettwanae remained steadfast in her determination to tag along with Phai on the hope the Sentinel may know more of her people's history and where some may had fled to escape the Eilu's genocidal campaign. Surprisingly, or perhaps not, T'Qilla supported Ettwanae's decision. Finding a way to break Warren's bond to Ztar was another driving force.

"And," Ettwanae had reminded him, "we must rid you of the nannites." The garden incident weighed heavily despite all of Warren's efforts to reassure. Who had he been fooling?

If not for her resolve, Warren would have argued that they part company from the Shozen, maybe even head to Earth. Flint and Gatebi had again declined offers for rides home to spend what could be the galaxy's final weeks with loved ones. Both were firm – they wanted to finish what they started with Ettwanae. Their loyalty and determination impressed him.

And so Volu and company stayed with the Atmos contingent. 'You'll have a front row seat to The Dark Coming,' he gave himself as consolation. Whether that would be good or bad remained to be seen.

The sound of Ettwanae's laughter jerked Warren from ruminations. Her face held the most beautifully wistful expression. "What are you thinking?"

"How wonderful it is to watch other Eshaaru – I mean Esha'Aru," she shook her head without taking eyes from N'Adiaera and N'Ollein as they streaked through the air. "Don't know how long it will be for the correct pronunciation of our name to stick." A sigh escape her lips, and she turned her gaze to Warren. "I've dreamed of being with my own people my entire life. I know those two are clones, but they are still my kind. I wanted to get to know them better, but we so rarely saw them on Ekkamm."

"Never did understand why the Etagllot kept them mostly isolated. Vague answers were all I ever got."

"Likewise for me."

Just then, T'Qilla emerged from Bae and called over. A leap, a couple strong wing beats, and she was alighting next to Warren and Ettwanae. "Thank Ozshi'wanae Phai relented and let us stop." She extended her arms to embrace her daughter, then pulled back. "I so wanted to see you in person. Can't embrace holo-images!"

"Me, too, mother!"

Hesitantly, T'Qilla stepped over to Warren. "Would it be inappropriate for us to hug?"

Warren appreciated the politeness. "Not at all," he reassured and they wrapped arms around one another. If all his dreams miraculously came true, someday she would be his mother-in-law.

Greetings completed, a twinkle filled Ettwanae's eyes. "Last one in the air is a quoonda!" she exclaimed and launched into the beckoning sky.

Warren and T'Qilla exchanged puzzled looks.

"What's a quoonda?"

T'Qilla shrugged as Ettwanae's giggles quickly faded as she rose ever higher. "No idea, but I don't think it's flattering."

Four power legs crouched and two pairs of wings spread wide. Then in a rush of wind and swirling foliage, Warren and T'Qilla followed the younger woman into Trais's firmament.

The clones were a delight – so full of playfulness and wonder – and it was contagious. They lived in the moment. Within their sheltered innocence, there was no impending doom, no enemy seeking to destroy them, no one to fear. It amazed him that Etagllot scientists 'raised' such gentle and warm beings. Likely, under Phai's strict orders, the precious Esha'Aru clones were treated with care and compassion.

For the next standard hour, five winged beings soared and chased, dove and swooped, darted, dodged, and sometimes laughed so hard it was hard to remain aloft. It was joyful and perfect. Warren felt a connection he'd never experienced before, not with his family, not with his fellow mutants…no one. What he felt with the Esha'Aru was kinship of wing and sky. He…belonged.

Deciding on a break from the games, Warren slowly spiral upward above the antics. He watched Ettwanae and her mother attempt to catch N'Ollein and N'Adiaera in a renewed game of tag. His heart swelled watching his intended mate. She was so beautiful with white wings flashing in the sun, golden hair flowing, her lithe body easily maneuvering quick course changes as N'Adiaera attempted to elude her. He knew she could take them easily as their flying experience was limited, but she held back and let them get away.

'Beauty that goes all the way to her soul,' he felt. That tender, brave, playful soul had captured his heart. 'You really never had a chance of escaping her, did you Worthington?' He admitted. Tears sprang up unexpectedly. 'God, if you're listening, please let there be a happy ending. Just this once, let me get the girl and hang on to her. I so need Ettwanae for the rest of my days,' he prayed.

The trip thus far, while overshadowed by pending galactic crisis, had been a good one. He and Ettwanae spent much time together, pushing Aru and Ura urgings to the max at times. Thoughts that life may be coming to an end had set priorities right…loved ones are a gift to be cherished and time spent in their presence to be treasured.

They'd spent hours talking, sharing stories, dreams, thoughts, and fears. They shared physical delights as far as Ura would allow, and Warren took care not to tempt Ura's harsh rejection too much for he never wanted her to feel that pain again. Each time they were intimate, the limitations were difficult to bear, but the emotional bonding was worth temporary physical discomfort.

The whole Volu contingent had grown even closer in the face of potential annihilation. They'd shared key life moments and hopes and dreams for a future that was in danger of never being. Gatebi spoke of her brother, his tragic death, and the surprising ability the Etagllot had wanted her for. Questions still surrounded how they knew about her "gift," but that may forever remain a mystery as Phai found no explanation in the records. It was plain that the revelations were difficult for the private Alcab, and everyone offered sympathies and support.

Flint admitted he'd someday like to 'find the right girl and settle down,' but not yet. "Wanna live the adventure a while longer," he'd laughed. But Warren had caught the darting of green eyes to Gatebi at certain moments. 'Oh, yes,' Warren mused, 'there are sparks there, at least for the fire-starter!'

Ettwanae mentioned she wanted children, her eyes searching Warren's for confirmation of like desire. He did and said so, and her beaming face had sent his libido into a tailspin. Gatebi admitted she, too, desired a child or two at some point in the future, and he'd noted Flint nodded a bit too enthusiastically.

All in all, the preceding 20-some days had been good ones for the group in spite of and because of the looming cataclysm.

Suddenly, he jolted in surprise as a body gently hit prone against his back and outstretched legs, tucked itself between his beating wings as arms wrapped quickly around his ribs.

"Got you!" the familiar feminine voice filled his left ear.

"Ettwanae! You scared the bejeepers out of me!"

"You've were up here so long, I was getting worried."

With her wings held close, Warren could easily maintain their flight. Many an X-Man had piggybacked likewise over the years. Ettwanae was so light compared to most of them; her added weight had barely an affect.

"Was just thinking."

She giggled; her warm breath tickling his inner ear. "You do that too much sometimes, my handsome ponderer. What about this time?"

An updraft tickled the tips of one wing; so dipping left, he rode it higher. "About everything since leaving Ekkamm. The future. About how you and your friends have wormed your way into my heart," he shared with a snicker.

"Wormed our way?!" She pinched his stomach, causing another jerk.

"Hey! That was a compliment…of sorts."

She laughed and nuzzled his neck, which was all it took to start the libido pot stirring. "Don't believe you. What shall Warren's punishment be for saying bad things about his friends? Hmmmm…"

Her tongue darted into his ear, while a hand found a nipple through his shirt and tweaked it. He moaned. She wasn't playing fair. She had all the advantage, and he was pretty much helpless.

"You're evil, Esha'Aru!" he hissed, feeling an erection threatening.

"Insult upon insult! What will it take to teach the man manners?" she teased, while running a seductive hand down his chest and abdomen to hovered tantalizingly just above his groin.

"E-Ettwanae, remembering who's doing the driving here."

"Depends on what kind of driving you're referring to."

"This kind!" In breathtaking suddenness, he dropped a shoulder and wing and spun into a peregrine spiral dive toward the prairie. Faster and faster. Wings pumped. The ground rushed up at breakneck speed.

Her delighted laughter filled his ears, competing with the roar of the wind. At the last moment, he extended wings, caught air, and turned their plunge into a grass-swooshing swoop, using momentum to propel them toward the heavens once again, stomachs left on the plain. Keen hearing caught exclamations from the others and he picked out Flint's whistle of appreciation for the maneuver. Ettwanae's excited breaths on his neck warmed his heart.

"Is that all you can do?" she taunted.

"That was one of my best moves!" he protested. "Very well. I can tell it will take a lot to impress the fair damsel. Let's see if this does the trick. Hang on, Lady Ettwanae!" Their legs entwined, her grip tightened around him, and a cheek nestled against his.

"Show me want ya got!"

"You learned that phrase from Flint."

"And I've been waiting for the perfect time to use it. So, are you all talk and no action?"

Laughing, he sailed toward a rugged area of the mesa-studded prairie. For excitement's sake, he swooped suddenly downward until wing tips kissed the ground with each downbeat before kicking in the afterburners.

Warren focused on his self-made thrill ride – up, down, right and left – he followed the contours of the ground, narrowing missing rocky outcroppings and dodging clumps of alien vegetation that came at him with stunning speed as powerful muscles propelled them across Trais's landscape.

"Faster!" Ettwanae urged.

"The lady's still not impressed?" he managed to ask between gulps of air.

"Nope."

Warren cut sharply and headed directly toward one of the many mesas. Straining muscles to the max, Warren increased speed until maxed. Wind roared and Ettwanae's grip became almost painful as they streaked in tandem toward the rocky monolith. Closer. Closer.

As he heard Ettwanae gasped when it appeared they'd crash headlong into the rock face, he changed wing attitude to grab a huge chunk of air while shifting the angle of their bodies – the result was an abrupt change in direction, but little lost of speed. Up and up, parallel to the mesa, its features a blur. Breaking the crest of the mesa, Warren shot high above the plateau before stilling wings and allowing momentum to carry them. Then as upward motion slowed to a halt, he played out a classic tailslide aerobatic maneuver as they began to fall backward. With a twist of their joined bodies, he dove downward, retracing their path of ascent.

Leveling out above the prairie floor, Warren performed a horizontal corkscrew, morphed it into a standard barrel roll, followed immediately by an inside loop. Returning to level, he ended with a Cuban Eight to the squeals of delight from his passenger. Finally, he pulled himself into a hover near the others, breath and heart quickened as whistles, claps, and calls of appreciation floated to them from their standing and flying audience.

"Is the lady impressed now?"

Her body detangled from his, she dropped away, then flew up to face him, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"Very impressed! That was fun!"

Swiftly, her mouth closed in around his for a passionate kiss that reignited Warren's libido. Wrapping arms around his love, he pulled her in to deepen the kiss. The move resulted in more whistles and hoots that could have only come from Flint. When he eased back, Ettwanae's crystalline blues had darkened.

"So, the lady likes show-offs?"

"The lady likes this show-off." Her voice was husky with desire as she tapped index finger to his nose.

"He has a few maneuvers in bed that may also impress." Fire was growing in his groin. How he longed for the day when they could truly be intimate. Would that day ever come?

"Show the lady what you got," she breathed headily.

Three minutes later, they were in her chambers, naked, and in bed ravaging one another's mouth. Passion seized so fiercely; neither knowing where to grab or caress first. Warren wanted to be everywhere at once on the beautiful body beneath him. Heart racing, he explored Ettwanae with his hands and mouth. He relished the smooth, curvy terrain. Snarled fingers into the silken hair spread like a golden halo on the pillow. Slid his growing shaft between her warm thighs.

Ettwanae raked fingernails down his back sending shivers along his spine. Then those same fingers twirled the small, delicate axillaries where wing joined back and he moaned with pleasure as wings splayed involuntarily. Taking a nipple into his mouth, he twirled his tongue around the nub, returning the shivery favor. Her quick inhale fanned lust. Her very scent…the scent of promised sex…the growing heat radiating off her body fueled lusty flames into an inferno.

Maybe this time they could cheat Ura. Perhaps this time they could bring things to conclusion. Possible? He knew better, yet in the exploding kaleidoscope of sensual pleasures, logic lost its hold on his brain.

Warren devoured his intended mate, and she responded equally until there was only the burning lust, throbbing need, and each other. Carnal drives took hold and the couple bit, sucked, grasped, moaned, and deeply breathed in the musky smell of each other…tasted the saltiness of skin.

"War-ren, try! I need you!" her throaty cry sent shockwaves through him as her legs spread wide with invitation.

Blinded to reason, he readily accepted the summons. His shaft was at her opening, twitching in eagerness, posed to sink deeply into her warm recess. A distant voice of warning went unheeded.

With the swiftness of an enemy lying in wait to pounce, Ura sprang and searing pain swept from the inside out. His howl was only a split second behind Ettwanae's. Scrambling away from the reason for his agony, passion vaporized as if it had never been. Two bodies lay curled on opposite sides of the bed, trembling silently as the last vestiges of pain dissipated.

'You know better, Worthington. What's the matter with you!' he reprimanded silently. They'd been so careful for so long, skirting the edges of what Ura would allow. He felt ashamed and guilty for allowing things to progress too far. 'Your fault she's hurting.'

He reached out a hesitant hand to brush the hair from her moist face, fearing another rejection, but Ura was quiet, having accomplished its harsh censure.

"I'm so sorry. I should have stopped."

A tear escaped as she blinked. "It was me. I asked – I shouldn't have."

He traced her cheekbone with his thumb. "Doesn't matter. I shouldn't have tried. Are you still in pain?"

She shook her head and pulled a wing forward to envelope them both beneath its shielding whiteness. "I pray Etxan'Ir knows how to break your bond, but I'm so scared it won't be able to help us," she whispered.

He took her hand and entwined their fingers. "Let's keep positive thoughts. I want spend the rest of our trip living in hope rather than hopelessness. Just like we need to believe the Shozen will stop the Dark Coming."

She smiled weakly. "Look who's being the optimist."

He couldn't help the smirk. "I know…a bit out of character."

Squeezing his hand, she planted a tender kiss on the knuckles. "That's not really true. You're just more pragmatic. I usually fly off on hope alone. Your hope is always anchored in something solid."

"Hmmmm, a fair assessment. Yet sometimes, all you have is hope and faith. The trick is knowing when to go with blind faith and when to look for something more."

"And sometimes, there is no way to know which is right."

He sighed. "Agreed. For now, let's go on blind faith that Etxan'Ir will have our answers and will save the galaxy. If all is lost, we'll at least have spent our final weeks in a better frame of mind."

The sweet smile she gave sent warmth to his soul. "Still my pragmatic soulbound."

Warren chuckled. "Can't seem to help myself."

"Ettwanae, Warren…we are leaving Trais momentarily."

The couple sighed in unison.

"Thanks, Volu."

"T'Qilla has asked to join us for the rest of the journey. How shall I reply?"

Ettwanae's eyes lit up. "Yes! Tell her, yes!"

"I'm a little surprised she'd leave Bae."

"I am not. We face a potentially deadly situation at the Sentinel. I believe she desires to spend these next days with her daughter."

Nodding, Warren realized he would have come to the same conclusion as Volu if he'd bothered to think before speaking.

"Do you truly believe we have a chance? That the Shozen can stop the Dark Coming?"

Ettwanae was searching his face intensely. Was she merely seeking reassurance, or did she sense the doubt he was trying to shield her from?

"Considering that U'larr technology has apparently held off the Dark Coming many times before, I'd say yes."

She relaxed and snuggled closer, tucking her face into his chest. "So do I."

Warren rested his chin atop her head. 'I pray our faith is justified, my soulbound.'

###

Playtime is over and worries reassert themselves. Oh well, fun while fun lasted. Next time, we check in with Ztar, Sukja makes a brief appearance, and a truth is revealed with devastating impacts. See you in a few days!