[Inaius] Amidst the Ruins

Draevin stood alone, his gaze moving across the landscape taking in the mounds of orange dust piled up against and in between towering gray structures slowly being eroded away by wind and time.

A full company of Guardians moved about silently, restlessly, as they watched the gloom among the buildings, wondering what lay hidden within. Around their perimeter another company of Shyanar patrolled, their hunting spears (upgraded with bio-energy tips) at the ready. At the center of it all over four dozen Skyrre beasts were kept calm by their Shyanar riders. All waited with silent anticipation.

Draevin wondered if their presence had already been spotted. The first time they’d come, when it had just been seven, they’d gone hours before their first spotting of the faceless. But how long had they known they were there? They could have known from the moment they’d stepped through the bridge, or much later when they’d made it to the surface. Were they already watching this new invasion?

And then there was the matter of Kruza. Certainly he would know they’d eventually follow. Was he waiting for them, ready to attack?

The sound of a Skyrre above drove his attention to the sky. Two of the beasts dropped swiftly, landing solidly on the ground. Izine and Shaifur dismounted and approached.

“No sign of movement in any direction,” Shaifur reported. Though they hadn’t expected any. “And my instruments didn’t pick up anything. Now that the signal is silenced this planet is truly dead.”

Draevin nodded. It wasn’t a surprise. Even HEL’s sensors hadn’t been able to pick up a faceless on Helgadae until they started moving. HEL was sure he’d fixed that issue and had made sensors that could locate them, even if they were deep underground. Draevin told him to stay near his equipment and let him know if anything changed.

When he’d left he turned to Izine. “Something’s troubling you,” he stated. She’d kept her face stoic but he recognized when she was uneasy.

“I scouted towards the Pellacon,” she said quietly. “Since that was the direction we’d gone before. I didn’t want to say anything, but something’s been done to it.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Like what? Was it destroyed?”

“No,” she said, trying to choose the right words. “It’s been changed, reshaped into something new.”

---

Shaifur set up his equipment to get readings. HEL’s sensor bot floated around, helping him with the new devices which were a mix of Archon and Frondauri tech, though more a hybrid than a direct mix.

“Sensors are up,” Shaifur said, bringing up the display.

“We should spot any nearby right away,” HEL informed him, extending an appendage out to plug a wire into a port.

Nothing displayed on the screen. Though Shaifur was unsure exactly how to read an Archon holo-display. He much preferred the more analog read outs of the bioscreens.

The HEL sensor hovered behind him studying the readouts. “Sensors aren’t picking up anything,” he confirmed.

“Because they aren’t out there or because the sensors won’t pick them up?”

“Either is possible.” HEL moved away and started adjusting an antenna. “Extend the range and let’s see if we can pick anything up.”

Shaifur was distracted by two Skyrres jumping up into the sky. Draevin and Izine, with a half dozen hunters and two Guardians disappeared behind the towering ruins. He wondered where they were going.

“There,” HEL said, finishing with his adjustments. Shaifur turned his attention to the holo display. To his surprise there was a green blip blinking softly.

“Uh, does this mean we’ve found one?” Shaifur asked.

HEL returned to the display, watching from over Shaifur’s shoulder.

“Is it a lifesign?” he asked the bot.

“No,” HEL replied. “But the faceless do not have lifesigns. They’re not alive, at least not by any definition of alive I’ve ever encountered. But what they are able to do is generate a field around them that absorbs or deflects light, what appears to you as a cloud of darkness. The sensors, in theory, should be picking up on that field, or at least its effect on anything around it.”

“So that’s one of them?” Shaifur asked, pointing at the green blip.

“Possibly. I wasn’t able to field test it since we had no access to any faceless to test it on. But if it does work as expected, than yes, that is one of them.”

Shaifur stepped away, rubbing his horns with anxiety. Where had Draevin and Izine gone to? He didn’t know how to proceed.

He looked at all their gathered strength, guarding the entrance to the rotunda which led to the tunnels and the Starbridge back to Pendragost. They had to keep the faceless from following them back through, but if there was an attack he doubted they’d be able to repel it. He’d seen what the faceless were capable of. How fast they were.

“We need to check this out,” he said to himself, then repeated it to HEL. “We need to go see if it really is one of them. At the least to verify your sensors work.”

“Shall we wait for Draevin to return?”

Shaifur kept rubbing his horn, thinking. Draevin made it look so easy to take charge. Shaifur had never been trained for this stuff. Just a year ago he had been a desk sitter, just one tech out of many at the Maelstrom Watch Center. Now he was on a dead planet looking for alien life that wanted to destroy him.

He looked at HEL and came to a decision. “You’re probably the safest of us all. Being a robot and all.”

“I’m a fraction of my main AI uploaded into an autonomous drone body,” HEL corrected. “I'm guessing you want me to check it out?”

“I think that would be safer. You go look, while I stay back here and monitor. I doubt Draevin would want me traipsing off and putting myself in more danger.”

“Very well, send the brave robot to face certain doom,” he said jovially. Then raced off into the distance in search of the source of the blip.

---

Crystal City - Isidor

A dark dread settled within his gut. The Skyrres flew over what had once been the Pellacon. It was as if the building had been turned to liquid, stirred up, and then reshaped. Buildings around it had also melted and been stirred into this new shape. A great towering archway.

There was no doubt what it was. Despite its immense size there could be only one conclusion. A Starbridge.

And at its top a massive control crystal. Draevin had only seen ones that were white. But this one was dark, black, flecked with reds and purples. This bridge could have fit ten great Starbridges within it. A starship could have flown through with room to spare.

“Down,” Draevin ordered. The two Skyrres complied, landing on the ground.

Draevin hopped off his, and the Shyanar with him took up a defensive position. They were joined by their comrades from the other skyrre.

Izine met up with Draevin, staring up at the great curving arch made from the twisted material that had once been the center of the vast Archon city.

“They’ve escaped,” she said.

Draevin stamped a hoof in the ground. “This is Kruza’s doing. He found a way to create a Starbridge. I don’t know how, but he did.”

“But where does it lead?”

Before he could speculate one of the Shyanar began chirping loudly, motioning for them to come over. They rushed across the uneven ground to where she waited.

A slab of gray crystal had been erected and on it was inscribed three words: WILL YOU FOLLOW?

Izine must have seen the look in his eye for she grabbed his hand. “We can’t,” she said. “We don’t know where he’s gone. Or what waits for us.”

He let the anger fade and nodded, putting his other hand gently over hers. “You’re right, we need to…”

He was interrupted by a loud echoing boom and then a flare, burning bright, rose up into the sky.

“That’s coming from the way we came,” Izine said in panic.

Draevin lept into action. “Let’s go,” he hollered. “They’re in trouble.” They were on the Skyrres and up in the air before the flare had fallen from the sky.

---

Shaifur watched a feed from HEL’s sensor not it raced away through the city ruins. It made as strait a line towards the blip as it could, sometimes having to fly around, or through, the monolithic structures.

Shaifur kept upping the sensor's range until it maxed out covering a thousand leagues around them. Nothing else showed up on the sensors. Just the one reading.

HEL approached the blip, letting Shaifur know. “It looks like it’s on an upper floor,” he said, aiming his view up the side of a ruined tower.

“Alright,” Shaifur responded. “Approach with caution. We’re just checking that our sensors work.”

HEL obliged and started lifting up along the side of the building until it was level with the blips location. Then he entered through an empty window frame.

Shaifur watched as he navigated the maze-like interior, heading towards the center. Once away from the windows the interior grew gloomy. HEL activated a spot light, shining it ahead. He approached closer until the blip was just on the other side of a wall from him. He made his way around, looking for an entrance.

He turned a corner and saw a doorway leading into the chamber beyond. As he turned to face into the room the spotlight struck against what appeared to be a wall of shadow.

Shaifur’s heart skipped. “I can definitely say there’s one in there,” he informed HEL.

“That’s their field of darkness?” HEL asked even as he verified it with his own sensors.

“Yeah,” Shaifur responded. “Why don’t you back away and come back. We know it’s in there. Let’s wait for Draevin to get back before deciding what to do.”

“Understood,” HEL said. But before he could comply something stepped forward out of the darkness. A pale creature with no eyes but a dark red mouth filled with sharp fangs. It faced down HEL showing no emotion.

Shaifur wondered if it could see or could only sense HEL’s presence. It made no other move. HEL also didn’t move, giving Shaifur the chance to study the creature. It was very much like every other faceless he’d ever seen except for two differences. This one, unlike all the others, had horns like a Frondauri. And it was wearing the tattered remains of a Guardian’s uniform.

Realization dawned on him and he covered his mouth in shock and horror. “It’s Ghisa,” he said. “By the twelve gods, it’s Ghisa.”

As he spoke the faceless form of what had once been a Frondauri bared its fangs wide and lunged at HEL. The sensor not shot backwards, bouncing off a wall behind.

“I think it heard you,” HEL said as he attempted to flee. But it was fast and was on the sensor not in an instant. Shaifur watched as the faceless Ghisa smashed and tore at HEL, eventually ripping him from the air and smashing him repeatedly.

“Error, error,” HEL reported. “Transmitting data to backup storage. Abandoning sensor bot body. This is all your fault, Shaifur.”

Then the feed went dead. Shaifur stared in horror at the now dark holoscreen. He felt a rising panic, wondering what to do. His gaze fell to the sensor screen and he saw the blip move away from where it had been. It was now racing directly towards them.

“Oh no,” Shaifur said. He started screaming at the Guardians around. “We’ve got trouble. It’s coming right for us.”

At first they gave him a bemused look, thinking he was perhaps crazy. But when he screamed “Faceless!” they jumped into gear. They readied their weapons as orders were screamed back and forth.

The Shyanar rushed in from their patrols, forming a close perimeter around the Frondauri. A flare went up signaling for Draevin that they were in trouble.

Shaifur watched the blip rapidly approach. He tried to calm his nerves and drew his plasma pistol. The whole time he prayed to the gods and the archons for protection.

---

Ripples in the Sand - Hans Zimmer

The Skyrre hit the ground with a rough thump. Izine was already leaping from the beast even before it landed, her bioblade drawn and activated. Chaos had erupted all around.

The Shyanar were trying to protect the Frondauri, but faceless (newly formed from the good condition of their armor) were tearing at the small winged creatures. Plasma bolts would hit a faceless and they’d go up in flame, but elsewhere with just one touch another Frondauri would turn joining the horde.

“To me!” she heard Draevin bellow across the pandemonium. “Everyone to me! Hunters use your pole arms, keep them back. Guardians don’t let them touch you! Blast the foul monsters.”

Izine rushed to aid two Frondauri who had been separated from their Shyanar guards. As a faceless reached for one she sliced its hand off, and then severed its head.

Moving into a defensive stance she checked for any other attackers, but none were coming.

“Oh gods,” moaned one of the Frondauri she’d saved. “It’s still alive.” He pointed at the faceless and she watched in horror as its arm, head, and body seemed to turn into shadow and meld back together.

“Shoot it,” she ordered him. He hesitated, unsure. “Shoot it now or we’re dead!”

But still he didn’t move. The other pulled the pistol from his hand, and then she shot it point blank. It erupted into fire.

“That was Bargraf,” he said, breathing heavily.

“No it wasn’t,” the female said. “Not anymore.”

Izine helped the two pull back towards Draevin’s position where he’d set up a firing line, decimating the faceless. Keeping up the fire their remaining troops pulled back to safety and soon the faceless were all dead.

“What the hell happened here?” Draevin asked. “Where’s Shaifur?”

To her relief Izine saw him stand up from where he’d been hiding behind his sensors.

“So that whole machine was a waste?” Draevin asked him.

“No it worked,” Shaifur said. “It’s just she was faster than your troops expected.”

“She?”

Shaifur looked at Draevin and Izine. “Yeah, it was Ghisa.”

Draevin was the most shocked, demanding to know how he knew. Shaifur told them about picking her up on the sensor and HEL going to investigate. They watched the playback and Draevin clenched his fists.

“She hit us and turned two Guardians really quickly. If you two hadn’t arrived we’d all be dead.”

Draevin reacted by grabbing Shaifur’s horns and violently shoved him to the ground. “How many people died because of you? You picked up one on your sensor and instead of calling for me you sent HEL and his sensor bot got destroyed.”

The reaction shocked Izine, but Shaifur wasn’t going to take it. He launched himself of the ground, and tackled Draevin. “How dare you?” he screamed. “You run off, gods know where and have the audacity to blame me.” He landed two blows on Draevin’s face, but Draevin struck back, hitting the side of Shaifur’s head and then kicking him off with a hoof.

Izine had seen enough. Dropping her bioblade she pulled out her pistol and shot the ground next to the two quarrelers, startling them both. “Enough!” she commanded. “What the hell has gotten into you?” she asked directing her attention at Draevin.

“Me?” he asked incredulously. “I wasn’t the one who—“

“No!” she said forcefully. “He did what he should have done and everything went badly. You’re upset because it’s Ghisa. Because you missed your shot before. When she was turned. You think this is your fault.”

The anger went out of Draevin. He gave Shaifur a guilty look and then stormed away.

Shaifur made as if to follow him, anger still on theWatchets face. “Are we safe?” Izine asked, moving to intercept.

“I don’t know,” he hissed.

“Check your sensors, please.”

He reluctantly complied and checked his sensors. There were no more blips. He extended the range as far as it would go, but nothing.

“We’re gonna have to settle this,” Shaifur told Izine angrily.

“Oh shut up,” she said flatly. “It was a heated moment and he was in the wrong. When he’s ready he’ll apologize and you’ll accept it. We’ve been through too much for this to be what breaks us apart.”

Shaifur’s face remained angry but she saw the resignation in his eyes. “Yeah,” he said at last. “You’re right. But I’m gonna be mad about it for awhile.”

She gave him a sardonic smile. “That’s allowed.”

She then left him by the sensors, heading to follow Draevin who was checking the burnt remains of the faceless. The female Guardian who she’d saved earlier followed.

“Lady Izine,” she said shyly.

“It’s just Izine,” Izine corrected. “What can I do for you?”

“Was that faceless, the one that attacked, really a Frondauri?”

“Yes. One of our party that first crossed the Tomb.”

“And she was your friend?”

“Yes,” Izine said. “Draevin tried to…kill her. When she was changed. But he missed.”

“Oh,” the girl said. “Well, I killed her. I think. She’d just turned two of our friends, and I shot her.”

Izine gave the girl an appraising look. She seemed timid at first glance, but what she said, what she’d done earlier, showed a true strength.

“What’s your name?” Izine asked.

“Went,” she answered.

“I’m pleased to meet you, Went.”

They met Draevin who was walking among the scorched faceless remains. Izine told Went to wait to the side.

Izine approached but didn’t say anything, just giving him an intense stare.

“That was very stupid of me,” he admitted.

“You think?”

“Does he hate me?” he asked, gazing towards Shaifur.

“No, but he’s very angry. Justifiably so. You should apologize.”

“I will,” Draevin said. “You were right about my outburst. It was my fault. I didn’t kill her before she was changed and I was just putting my anger at myself on him.”

“Glad you can admit it. But if you’re out here looking for Ghisa, don’t bother. She’s dead now.” She waves Went over to join them. She introduced her to Draevin and told him what she said.

“Thank you,” Draevin said. “You’ve done Ghisa a favor by stopping her. She wouldn’t have wanted to be a faceless and hurt others.”

“I wish I could have stopped her sooner.l,” Went said. “You told us they were fast but we didn’t understand just how fast.”

“It’s not your fault. Until you see them with your own eyes you just don’t know. You can’t be prepared until the day happens. But you’re now a member of a very exclusive club. You’ve survived and killed a faceless.”

---

Draevin addressed his troops. Brydleif had counted her own dead. Seventeen hunters had been killed. But twenty-nine frondauri Guardians had been turned into faceless before being killed by their comrades. The numbers were too high.

“This is the enemy we face,” Draevin said. “They are fast, they are strong. But worst of all, they were once your friends. If they make it to the commonwealth they will be your families, your Kells. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters. That is the faceless threat.”

He made eye contact with Shaifur before looking away in shame. “The news today is worse than our dead. The faceless have escaped the Tomb.” He then told them all about the gate that they’d grown from the Pellacon.

No one spoke a word. The realization about what that meant.

“I don’t know where they’ve gone. But I do know they want us to follow. One of our own, Guardian Kruza, is among them, his mind inhabited by one of their kind. He knows us, how we think. He believes we will give chase. But we can’t. Because that’s what he wants.

“The Rhodoni rebels are even know trying to take the citadel. We have to stop that war before we can fight our true enemy. Now that we know they’ve escaped the Watchers will come to study that Starbridge, but the rest of us, we will return to Pendragost and prepare to fight the rebellion.”

---

Blood on the Scales - Bear McCreary

Dust drifted down from the ceiling following a dull distant thump. The returning force were greeted by Guardians and directed where to go. Draevin gave his report to the relief force commander.

“So there’s still Faceless on the Tomb?” the older Sundasha woman asked.

“I don’t believe so, but additional sensors will need to be set up across the surface to be sure.”

She looked at her waiting troops, their Shyanar escorts, and the unit of Watcher techs waiting. “Alright,” she said. “We’ll move out. Get sensors up as far as we can and study that gate. The gods be with you.” They then filed through the archway and disappeared as they traveled to the Tomb.

Izine and Draevin made their way towards the stairs. They needed to make their report to the Grand Prior. Draevin looked for Shaifur but he’d already disappeared into the bridge to Kolonae.

“He has his own report to give,” Izine said, noticing where he was looking.

“I’d hoped to speak with him before he left.

“You’ll just have to wait.”

They found Grand Prior Kaob in an old armory which had been turned into a military command center. Additional tremors from bombings reminded Draevin of why they’d abandoned the citadel tower.

Kaob was speaking to a bunch of Priors and regular military Warmasters. One of HEL’s sensor bots floated around displaying tactical information. When Kaob saw the two Guardians he excused himself.

“Let’s talk in my office,” he said and then lead them into a small pantry which had been converted into a cramped office.

Draevin and Izine sat down as Kaob took a seat behind the desk. They gave their report on their mission to the Tomb.

“Do you think there’s any faceless left there?” Kaob asked.

“Frankly, no,” Draevin answered. “Ghisa’s presence was obviously orchestrated by Kruza.”

“You think he was making a statement?”

“I think he was letting us know what he plans for the commonwealth.”

“Turn us all into those things.” Kaob leaned back in his chair, rubbing at the little growth of beard on his chin. He looked exhausted. Before they’d left for the Tomb the Guardians had been put in charge of the battle on Pendragost. So far it hadn’t been going well.

“The only question I wish we knew was where they’ve gone?” the Grand Prior mused.

“I considered following—“

“No, you were right not to,” Kaob interrupted. “It would have been a trap. Hopefully our Watcher friends can figure that out.”

“Hopefully,” Izine agreed.

“What’s our new orders,” Draevin asked. “We’re ready for whatever you need us for.”

“No doubt,” Kaob said, giving both of them an appreciative look. “But for now the fight is at a stalemate and command is still deciding what the new war plan will be. So for now, you both are ordered to Kolonae for some resting up.”

Izine and Draevin shared a look of satisfaction. “Thank you, sir,” she said.

“Oh don’t thank me yet,” he warned as he stood up. “The order comes from the Council of Twelve. So expect them to have their own plans for the two of you.”

“More public appearances,” Izine said, discouraged.

“No doubt,” Kaob agreed with a sympathetic look. “Dismissed. And enjoy what rest you can.”

---

Passacaglia - Handel/Halvorsen (piano solo)

“Thank you for your report, Watcher Shaifur,” the Supreme Watcher said. He turned off the recording device and leaned back in his chair. “I hope you don’t mind me prying, but you seem distracted.”

Shaifur opened his mouth to say something but no words came. He sighed and tried relaxing, but the truth was the fight with Draevin had left him seething. He’d been blamed for deaths that weren’t his fault but worst of all he’d been physically attacked in front of a crowd. How could he explain that to the Frondauri that ran the entire organization.

He realized Kaifur was still waiting expectantly for him to say something. “The Watchers have put me in charge of the Faceless investigation,” he finally said, “and I can’t deny I’m currently the most qualified person for the job.”

“I sense a ‘but’ coming,” Kaifur said.

“The honest truth is, I feel like I’d be better serving the commonwealth back on Helgadae trying to get the starship foundry up and running.”

Kaifur steepled his fingers, just giving a noncommittal ‘hmm’.

“The Faceless have left the Tomb and the study of that Starbridge is better left to those more experienced in that technology. My focus was astronomical engineering anyway.”

“Okay,” Kaifur said. “You’ve made your case. And I can’t deny it sounds reasonable. But you’re going to have to tell me the real reason you want to be assigned to Helgadae before I give my answer.”

Shaifur took a moment to formulate his thoughts. “I think I need to be somewhere less complicated,” he stated diplomatically. “My life has been thrown off course since returning from that first mission, and I think a structured routine will help me figure things out.”

Kaifur gave him a knowing, sympathetic look. “Alright. I think we can swing it. One condition, you’ll take charge of the research team on Helgadae. I won’t take no for an answer.”

---

He didn’t have any personal affects to pack. Those were all at his apartment on Pendragost, if it still stood. The Watchers provided him with clothing and other necessities. He stayed only one day on Kolonae, not even bothering to see the local city.

He grabbed his packs and started heading to the waiting transport to take him to the Starbridge. Draevin and Izine were waiting for him as he left the dormitory building, and they were accompanied by four Shyanar. He recognized Brydleif, Wyllu, and Meddozjem right away, but it took him a moment to recognize the last. It was the dark Shyanar Reodblom who’d accompanied them to Helgadae.

“You were going to leave without saying goodbye?” Izine asked, giving him a warm hug.

“I didn’t know you were even onworld.”

“Yeah, we were ordered to get some rest.”

“You definitely need it,” he said. “Always running from one mission for the commonwealth to the next.”

“Where the Guardians need us, we go,” Draevin said.

Shaifur didn’t answer him. He didn’t have anything to say, but he hoped Draevin did.

The Pendari shuffled his hooves in the dirt. “Look,” he finally said. “I want to apologize. I acted like a complete fool.”

“You’re damn right you did,” Shaifur stated vehemently. He then softened his tone. “I've already forgiven you but I’m still mad. I don’t know what issues you're working through right now, but you need to deal. Hopefully before we see each other again.”

Draevin merely nodded in understanding. Izine gave them both dirty looks, and they both consented, grabbing each other’s horns and pulling themselves in for a friendly head but.

They all shared a lighthearted laugh and a genuine moment. The Shyanar even joined in with their musical chirps.

“So what’s with the posse?” Shaifur asked.

“Oh yeah,” Izine said. “Apparently they’ve been commanded to protect the Champion Triad.”

“The who?” Shaifur asked, puzzled.

“Who do you think?” Draevin said. “That’s what the Shyanar are calling us.”

“We’ll good luck with that,” the Watcher chortled.

“Your number three,” Izine said. “So you’re going to be accompanied by Meddozjem from now on.”

Shaifur stood there dumbfounded. “I, uh, guess it’s an honor.”

“It great honor,” Meddozjem responded in her chirpy broken Frondauric. “Mother commands.”

Draevin gave him a sympathetic look. “We don’t want to insult Mother, do we?”

“It’ll be nice to have a traveling companion,” Shaifur said diplomatically.

“Good luck,” Draevin told him.

“Me? You’re the ones staying on Kolonae. You’re going to need luck more than me.”

---

Dirty Hands - Bear McCreary

They took a Lightcraft from Koloz city out across the grass plains to see the towering basalt columns. The old volcanic formations were a reddish gray color and they towered like a wall against the horizon. Waterfalls dotted the cliff face, pouring into dark blue pools. The lightcraft dropped them atop the cliffs and they walked the rocky trail along the ridge looking out over a vast sea of grass with lone Drasul’s standing apart here and there.

Draevin stopped and picked a yellow wild flower, putting it in Izine’s hair. They were alone on a vast cliff side, no one around as far as they could see.

Izine spotted a water pool up ahead, a stone bridge spanning out over it. “Race you!” she said and took off running towards it.

Draevin followed at a run, but he didn’t attempt to overtake. She reached the pool first. The water was deep and still, and fish swam around in the pool.

She dropped her pack atop the bridge and jumped into the water. Draevin watched her from the bridge as she swam around.

“Get in here,” she called to him. He gave her a defiant head shake. “Don’t make me drag you in.”

He acquiesced, leaving his own pack and taking off his jacket. They swam in the pool, enjoying the cool water. Draevin splashed water at her and chased her around the pool.

As the sun dropped low on the horizon they climbed out of the water and dried off by laying in the tall grass.

To Izine’s surprise Draevin reached out and took her hand. She felt her heart racing but didn’t say anything out of fear of making things awkward. They watched the clouds and the dull swirls of maelstrom light drift across the sky and just enjoyed the day.

“We should go to Tamaraes and see the ice ruins,” Draevin said. “I’ve always wanted to see them.”

“We could be called back at any time,” she told him.

“It would only be a day trip. They could spare us another day.”

She rolled onto her side to look at him. He rolled to meet her, their bodies nearly touching, still holding hands.

“I would love to go with you,” she said, taking his other hand entwining her fingers in his. “I’d travel the twelve worlds and beyond if that’s what you wanted to do.”

“But we can’t,” he said as his face became serious.

“We have duties,” she reminded him.

He sighed. “I should still be an acolyte. Under normal circumstances I’d be getting ready for my final tests before becoming a Guardian. But instead…”

“We traveled across the Tomb, met the Shyanar and stopped the Doom Engine, and then discovered Helgadae.”

He smiled wryly. “And then met the Sekari. We did more as acolytes than most Guardians do in their lifetime. What test could ever be harder than that?”

She gave his hands a comforting squeeze. “Are you worried you’re not ready to lead?”

He set his jaw in determination. “I have my own doubts, but…” and he gave her a warm smile, “if you can successfully lead the first meeting with an alien spacefaring society, than I can lead a troop of Guardians.”

She smiled back at him thankful for his belief in her. “The Council nearly wrecked that,” she said grimly. “It’s no business of the Sekari to know all our secrets, but they kept the Rhodon uprising secret and nearly kept the faceless threat to themselves.”

“Why did you push to tell the aliens about the faceless?” he asked.

“Do you think we can defeat them ourselves?” she asked. His silence was answer enough. “There may come a time when we will need whatever help we can get.”

He must have heard the fear in her voice. He answered her by leaning in closet and placing a light kiss on her lips. “We’ll defeat the faceless,” he assured her. “Together no one can stop us.”

She thanked him by returning the kiss.

---

Casper’s Lullaby - James Horner

A loud knocking on the door woke them up. Draevin rose out of bed, whipping the sleep from his eyes. He manipulated a glow tube and it bathed the room in a warm yellow glow as he put on trousers and a jacket.

“What’s up?” Izine asked still groggy with sleep.

“I’m going to check.”

A Frondauri dressed in the armor of a Guardian waited outside. He bowed when Draevin answered the door. “Commander,” he said, “I’ve come directly from the Grand Prior with new orders.”


He handed a piece of paper which had been rolled up and sealed with wax. Draevin thanked him as he broke the seal and unrolled the orders.

“I’m also trying to locate Lady Izine,” the Guardian said. “She wasn’t in her quarters. Have you seen her?”

“I’m here,” Izine answered, stepping up to the door. She’d thrown on a shift as well as her own jacket.

The Guardian saluted her as well, and Draevin noticed the look of surprise on his face. But it was only there for a second. He handed her a sealed roll as well. “When you’re both ready there’s a Lightcraft waiting for you.” He saluted one more time and retreated away from the dormitories out onto the Drasul branch.

“We’re gonna have to answer questions about this,” Izine sighed as she watched the messenger make a hasty retreat.

“That’s the least of our worries,” Draevin said as he read the orders. “The Rhodoni have broken through Commonwealth defenses on Horrathus and now control the main Starbridges. I’ve been ordered back to the Citadel to take command of relief forces”

Hearing that she quickly unrolled her own orders. She had expected to read that they were both being ordered back to the citadel as well, but she was surprised by what they said. “I’m to be made a mediator between the Council of Twelve and the Shyanar. The mother is sending a delegation which includes a Matriarch.”

“I thought matriarchs never left their burrows?”

“Me too,” Izine said. “I guess this must be important enough for one to come here.”

They shared an intimate look, knowing that if they were to be separated, they might not see each other for a long time. They put their orders down and embraced, holding each other for as long as they dared.

“Hurry back,” she told him, her face buried in his chest.

“I will,” he told her as he rubbed her horn. “You be safe too. Don’t let these politicians push you around.”

They shared one last kiss before they got dressed and packed.

---

Draevin arrived at the Starbridge plaza and Izine waved goodbye to him as the craft carried her away to meet with the council. She left with Wyllu accompanying her, as Raedblom and Brydleif came with him. Five minutes later they were on Harklaedus. The military was already throwing up additional fortifications. The plaza had become a veritable fortress against the possibility of a Rhodoni attack.

He and the Shyanar were whisked away by train to the Guardian tower on the planet, and just over an hour after leaving Kolonae, they were back in the Citadel on Pendragost.

The Grand Prior met him in the underground Starbridge chamber. The place was packed with armed soldiers, Guardians and Commonwealth militias alike. Orders were being barked and the place echoed with thousands of voices and the hustle of troops.

“Are we mobilizing to Horrathus?” Draevin asked Kaob.

The Grand Prior merely shook his head and motioned for Draevin to follow. He led him away from the troops, deeper into the catacombs and away from prying ears. The two Shyanar followed, but the Grand Prior either didn’t notice or didn’t mind.

They found one of HEL’s sensor bots awaiting them nearby some old crumbling starbridges. Here the lights were dimmer. There were no working bridges here, so maintenance was not a priority this deep into the catacombs.

“What’s going on?” Draevin asked.

“The situation is worse than we thought,” Kaob informed him. “The rebels have already attacked Ithycar from both Horrathus and Pendragost. We’re already reinforcing them from Tartaradae and the lines are holding, but it gets worse.”

Kaob noticed Brydleif and Reodblom, and gave Draevin a quizzical expression. “They’re my personal body guard from the Mother,” he said.

Kaob raised an eyebrow, but continued on with his report. “They’ve attacked Atasha and Abzydae. They pushed us out of the Starbridge plaza on Atasha, but we’re holding them on the islands. Abzydae is going better, they haven’t managed to take the Plaza but the fighting is very intense. We’re preparing to bolster both defense forces. We need to keep them on Pendragost because if we lose either planet, then the other will fall.”

“So where do you need me?” Draevin asked.

Kaob turned to HEL. “You tell him what you’ve discovered.”

The AI obeyed and brought up a map of the Maelstrom showing the Twelve worlds plus Archaeus, Persephone, Khodos, and Helgadae. But there were also a number of worlds Draevin didn’t recognize. “If you remember when you first arrived on Helgadae I was able to access all active starbridges, which is how we discovered Khodos and the passage into the interior.”

“I do,” Draevin said.

“Well I’ve been sending sensor bots to them to see if any are still habitable. I’ve discovered a number that are, more so than I expected actually. There’s a bridge on Atasha that leads to a planet that I’ve identified as the former Archon world Irulaes, which is in turn connected to Karnaeth, and there’s a connection there to Grimaez.” He showed them on the map the connections.

“But what is really interesting,” he continued, “is that there is a connection from Grimaez to Rhodon.”

“But the Rhodoni starbridge plaza is a veritable fortress,” Draevin said, reminding Kaob about the military’s failed attempt to retake the plaza after the rebels had first siezed it.

“The bridge doesn’t lead to the plaza,” Kaob said.

“Indeed,” HEL interjected. “It comes out in a very remote location on Rhodon.”


Draevin smiled. “That’s great,” he said. “We can hit them from behind.”

Kaob shook his head. “It’s not going to be that simple. From HEL’s description of the place I think the gate comes out in the Myurlik Vale.”

Draevin felt a knot rise in his stomach. “The origin of the fungal phage? The darkest place on Rhodon.”

“That’s why I can’t order you to go,” Kaob said.

“But you’d like me to volunteer?”

“I’d like you to decide for yourself.”

But Draevin already knew what he would do. He knew the conflict had to end. They had to get to Rhodon and stop the rebels. “I’ll do it, sir.”

Kaob sighed, giving him a relieved smile. “I’m assigning you two dozen Guardians. It’s all I can spare. None of them are green, but few of them are experienced veterans.”

“Understood.”

“One last thing,” the Grand Prior said. “I’m hereby granting you the rank of Brigat of the Order. Congratulations. Now put a stop to this war.”

---

The Battle of Stirling - James Horner

“It’s a problem of energy,” the old Sundashi said. He gave Shaifur an exasperated sigh. “Helgadae’s generators weren’t built to power the ship factory.”

“Then how did the Archons do it?” asked another Frondauri. She was a stocky gray skinned Atharbi.

“Probably magic,” muttered the old Sundashi.

“What was that?” the Atharbi asked in a confrontational tone.

“I said, maybe it was magic and that knowledge is lost to time.”

“Listen…”

Shaifur coughed loudly, drawing their attention to him. “We could ask our resident AI,” he told them in a patronizing tone. “Instead of making useless statements.” He gave the Sundashi a stern look. “Constructive comments only from now on, Guels.”

Guels made a grumbling noise in his throat, but reluctantly nodded.

“HEL,” Shaifur said, knowing the AI was always listening. “How did the Archons generate enough energy to power the foundries?”

“Helgadae’s core is massive generator.” He then launched into a long explanation about planets, molten cores, and a bunch of other things that were way above his head. The other two Frondauri were listening with fascination.

“The entire planet is artificial,” Guels asked.

“Indeed,” HEL responded. “This facility was constructed around the generator itself, with everything else including the foundry being secondary.”

“But this core is turned off?” Shaifur asked.

“Unfortunately, yes. The cooperative shut it down in fear of the faceless threat. There initial plan was to deactivate everything, but I and a number of subsystems were left active at the last minute.

“So this whole damned situation is still a bust,” the Atharbi blurted.

“Constructive comments only, Kiht,” Guels told her.

She gave him a deathly stare. Shaifur didn’t know what it was with these two, but they’d been at each other’s throats since before he arrived. He’d need to get them to act more professional or he’d have to send one of them back to the commonwealth. The only problem was he didn’t know who he’d send since they were both experts in their field and vital to what he was trying to do here.

“And what would it take to restart the core?” Shaifur asked.

“We would need to channel enough energy into the capacitors and use it to jump start the core.” Again he launched into a long explanation of what they’d need. When he was finished Shaifur asked the only pertinent answer. “Can your generators create enough energy to do this?”

“No.”

It was a simple and definitive answer. Shaifur had already expected as much.

“Is there anything at all that could generate the energy to get the core started?” Kiht asked.

“The Maelstrom,” HEL answered. “If we could tap into the energy bleeding off from the subspace tears that would be enough.”

“How could we do that?” Shaifur asked.

This time he was surprised by the answer. “I don’t know. There is nothing in my database that would help. By time the Maelstrom formed the Archons were long gone.”

Shaifur stood up, pacing back and forth, rubbing his chin. The commonwealth needed him to get the ship foundry up and running, and yet there was no practical way to do that. There had to be something they were missing.

“Hey HEL,” Guels said, tapping his nose as he pondered something. “How are the starbridges powered? Do they get their energy from the control crystals?”

“The energy from the control crystals is only used to activate the starbridge. They draw their energy from subspace to maintain the quantum tunnel used for travel.”

“That’s what I thought,” Guels mumbled to himself. He kept tapping his nose in thought.

“You have an idea?” Shaifur asked.

“Maybe,” he answered. “I doubt one starbridge would be enough. One more question HEL.”

“Yes?” the AI responded.

“Can starbridges be linked together?”

“Yes and no. They can’t be linked in a way that you could travel across the network in one go. But energy can be moved between archways and passed through the starbridge, as long as they have their correctly shaped control crystals. No generic ones for this task. The Archons often used this method to move energy across planets when needed.”

Kiht must have seen where Guels was going with his reasoning as she followed up with her own. “Theoretically, with enough active starbridges, could we draw enough power from subspace to charge the capacitors?”

“Let me calculate that,” HEL responded. He went silent as he did.

“Are you saying we use the starbridges to tap subspace energy?” Shaifur asked.

“Basically,” Guels answered. “If each one draws power from subspace we could in theory harvest any excess energy.”

Kiht chimed in. “It would be a bit more complicated…”

“Done!” HEL said, interrupting. “It would take at minimum two thousand active gates to draw enough energy to charge the capacitors.”

Guels hung his head. “Well that’s another bust. There aren’t that many starbridges in the whole commonwealth.”

“So we go back to the idea of tapping the MAelstrom,” Kiht said.

But Shaifur had his own idea. “Who said we needed only to use bridges within the commonwealth.”

“Even including the new planets HEL found that are habitable, it’s still not enough,” Kiht said.

Guels eyes lit up as he realized what Shaifur already had. “They wouldn’t have to be located on habitable planets.”

“Exactly,’ Shaifur said. “There’s still dozens of planets inside and outside the maelstrom with bridges that could be reactivated, even if they’re dead worlds now. HEL could send his sensor bots to set up the needed crystals. Which we can make even with Helgadae’s limited power generation.”

“There’s two problems that will need to be addressed,” HEL said.

“The extreme shift in the passage of time,” Guels sighed. “I’d already considered that was possibility.”

“What’s this about?” Shaifur asked.

“Drawing that much energy will likely have an effect on the rate at which time passes for us,” Kiht answered.

“So time will slow down inside the Maelstrom?”

“Actually,” HEL said, “it will speed up. We will experience entire years while outside the Maelstrom area, seconds will have passed.”

“But that also addresses the second issue,” Guels said.

“What’s the second issue?” This time both Shaifur and Kiht asked the question together.

“Even with all the starbridges we need linked together,” HEL explained, “It will still require a great deal of time to get the core going and may require multiple attempts.”

“How long are we talking?”

“Anywhere between thirty and fifty years.”

“But,” said Guels. “That’s thirty to fifty years to our perception. It would be mere days to the rest of the universe. So if the faceless have in fact escaped the Maelstrom, we could rock up with massive starships and new weapons to fight them and they wouldn’t even know what was happening.”

---

The Greatest Story Never Told - Murray Gold

Went rushed through the catacombs which were bustling with troops staging for the counter offensives to Abzydae and Atasha. She nearly bumped into a militia officer, but dodged at the last second with a half-hearted “sorry!”

“Watch it,” the officer hollered after her but she was already gone.

She found Draevin in the designated area. His troops had already gathered and were busy sorting and packing equipment. She rushed up to him, and came to attention, stomping her right hoof twice as expected.

He gave her a quizzical look. She passed the note she was holding to him. “My orders, sir!”

He took the paper and opened it up, reading carefully. “Went, Right?” he asked, remembering her name. “You volunteered for this mission?”

“Yes, sir!”

He looked over the orders again, then nodded and handed them back. “Very good. Fall in. You’ll be with Straffa’s team.” He waved over an Ithari woman and let her know about the last minute addition. “Let her know where she’s expected and have her stow her equipment,” he told Staffa.

Staffa brought Went over to meet the rest of their team. Draevin had been given command of a small squad of twelve, divided into two teams of five and their team leaders. Went had been assigned to the second team and brought their total up to seven. There were also two of the winged aliens, the Shyanar, but they stuck close to Draevin.

“What weapon are you proficient with?” Staffa asked.

“Energy bow,” Went answered. “And pretty good with a bioblade.”

“Good. Have your bow at the ready and your blade on your hip. Give your pack to Druom, and he’ll find a place for it on one of the Prachyerms.”

Druom was a Koloni, his long golden locks tied up in a very neat topknot. He was in charge of packing the Prachyerms. The beasts were tame around Frondauri but also known for their viscousness. They could climb, run, and even use their front claws to scratch and grab ke in battle. Each team had three for a total of six, and though the beasts could be ridden, these ones were to be used to carry their equipment.

“Welcome to the mission,” Druom said as he took her pack. He secured it to the beasts back, checking that it wouldn’t shift in transport. “I’m the teams quartermaster, cook, and medic. So if you need anything, I’m probably the guy.”

“Thanks,” she said. One of the Prachyerms nuzzled it’s snout against her, painting excitedly, it’s razor-like teeth out in a terrifying grin.

“Ah, he likes you,” Druom mused. “That’s good, means he’ll let you ride him if you ever need to.”

She scratched his snout and he made a low rumbling on his throat to signify his pleasure. Getting situated didn’t take long. She was to be part of the second team's forward line, along with Staffa and another Frondauri.

She noticed that the first team had two Briekars with them, handled by two very scary looking Ithycari men. They were giant men with bulging muscles and numerous tattoos. They were talking with Draevin who seemed to be giving them instructions.

As she watched one of the weird sphere machines floated towards their group. She remembered it from their mission to the tomb. It was apparently some kind of probe for an artificial intelligence that had been found on another world. She’d only heard bits and pieces of the trio’s travels, but to be able to see such wonders with her own eyes was amazing enough.

Draevin addressed the spherical robot and it replied in a soothing mechanical voice. Went could barely hear anything among the din and considered moving closer. But Draevin addressed everyone assembled. “Everyone needs to finish up. Orders should be coming any minute now.”

As if on cue a Frondauri came running over and got Draevin’s attention. Draevin listened intently, a strange look on his face. He nodded to the messenger, gave a quick answer, and turned to his gathered group.

“The Rhodoni have broken out of the Plaza on Atasha,” he reported. “They’re assaulting the Guardian outpost. Looks like we have our orders to move out.We will cross the starbridge with the second wave. It’ll be their job to secure the surrounding area, but we will immediately be heading for our destination which will be across the planet. We’re likely to experience heavy incoming fire and maybe some close combat. Everyone knows their duties. Stick together, stay low, and move fast.”

---

The first wave had cleared the gate. Nearly two hundred Frondauri militia troops with heavy weaponry had stormed through to relieve the Guardian defenders. The battle for Atasha was well under way.

The second wave started through. Two by two they marched through the bridge, weapons at the ready. Went watched them go, a rising anxiety in her gut. She took deep breaths, trying to calm her nerves.

“It’s all right,” Druom told her. “We’ve got the beasties. Nobody will shoot at a bunch of defenseless animals. And then he laughed madly at his own joke. Prachyerms were considered very deadly up close. They’d be a big hulking target.

Staffa waved her forward. “You’ll be on my left. Have your bow at the ready, and don’t hesitate to defend yourself.”

“Yes, maam,” she said, her voice shaky.

“The first team will clear the way. Just follow close, and make sure your team follows close behind.”

“First team, on me!” Draevin Roared as the last of the second wave passed through. “Second team, follow as soon as we’re clear. Move out!”

And then he was through the bridge, followed by a half dozen Fondauris and the two Shyanar. And then the second team’s turn came. Staff led the way, and Went kept pace. She stepped through the archway, the familiar tingling of the passage moving over her skin. And then she was no longer in the catacombs, but in a small open plaza surrounded by thick stone walls.

It was pandemonium all around her. Plasma fire was raining down inside the walls, there was screaming and cursing. Something heavy crashed down behind her. She turned to look but Staffa pulled her forward.

“Clear the archway,” she screamed over the din of battle. “We have more people coming through.”

Went saw the first team moving towards the gates in the walls. She and staffa moved to come up behind them. They brought up the rear, right behind first team’s Prachies. Went gave one quick glance behind her and was relieved to see all of team two falling in.

Draevin moved up right next to them. “Looks like the Rhodoni are throwing a major assault against these fortifications,” he reported to Staffa. “Something tells me they’re trying to secure our back door here, use it to assault the citadel from within.”

Staffa gave him a knowing look. “But we still have our orders?”

“We do. The militia’s job will be to throw them back. We have our own starbridge to reach.”

He moved back forward to lead the teams out of the fortress. Outside the walls was a massive fortress of reeds and horsetails. Much of it was on fire. She could see plasma discharges lighting up the sky, but the foliage obscured anything. The second wave had already moved out ahead of them and were passing into the foliage.

But they didn’t follow. They swung to the left, moving quickly. They rushed across the open space. A few heavy globules of plasma dropped down around them from plasma branches somewhere beyond the reeds.

They rushed into the reeds and horsetails, breaking through the foliage. They had to make it beyond the combat zone where boats would be waiting for them to rush their group ahead to the starbridge.

Somewhere close by, Went heard someone scream in agony. The scream was cut short by a plasma bolt. The sound of voices could be heard.

“They’re moving our way,” Staffa said in a hushed tone. She turned to her team and gave orders to move quicker.

They rushed through the reeds, pushing through their thick stalks. Still water was coming up to their knees but they pushed ahead as fast as they could.

Somewhere ahead she heard someone call out. “Halt! Surrender to the Black Order!”

And then a reply. It sounded like Draevin. “Eat flies, Rhodon bastard!” and then there was an exchange of fire.

From all around them plasma erupted. Went kept low, crouching. She held her energy bow at the ready, watching for a target. A plasma bolt passed over her head and set a bundle of reeds on fire.

She lost her footing out of shock. She dropped to her knees, the water coming up to her chest. She used one hand to grab at the reeds in front of her and pulled herself out of the muck, and back to her feet.

And then right in front of her a Rhodoni rebel came out of nowhere. He was wielding a bioblade. HE saw her and with a blood curdling scream he charged. She lifted her bow, hooked her fingers into the energy trigger, and drew back the firing mechanism. A bolt of energy appeared as the magnet in the mechanism was drawn across the ionized rod.

She released the bolt and it hit the Rhodoni square in the chest. HE stumbled a few more steps forward and then fell down in the water face first and didn’t move again.

The battle was short, and their attackers were either killed or driven off. “Sound off!” Draevin ordered. “Anyone hit?”

They were lucky. No one had been killed, though one of theirs had taken a slash across the arm from a bioblade.

Went couldn’t stop staring at the dead Rhodoni floating in the water. She’d killed him. She thought it would be easier to kill a rebel than a faceless, but having done it, she was more in shock. This hadn’t been a monster. This had been another Frondauri, just like her.

She looked up and saw Draevin looking at her. He gave her an understanding look, then cocked his head, silently telling her to fall back in.

“Let’s get moving then. Before another group catches up with us.” And then they were moving again, wading through the water and pushing through a thick forest of reeds and horsetails. Leaving the dead behind them.

---

Violence and Variations - Bear McCreary

Izine had found herself with a few hours of free time. The preparations for the visiting matriarch were being finalized and the council hadn’t sent for her yet.

She travelled into the city and found her way to the temple of the Hwerdz. It was a massive structure made of white marble that sparkled in the sun.

The statues of the twelve gods stood in the grand basilica, each one representing a world in the commonwealth. There were many prayer goers but the place remained quietly subdued, only the faintest echo of whispers.

Wyllu had tagged along, and she stared at the great construction with wonder. Izine could only imagine what she was thinking. Perhaps she was comparing them to the great crumbling ruins on Archaeus.

They found a place to kneel at the feet of the statue of Tartaradae, God of Fire and Industry. His beard and mane were shaped to look like flames, and his staff ended in the head of a forge hammer.

Izine was content to kneel and contemplate, but Wyllu was unable to sit still. “Who ee’ that?” she asked looking up into the terrifying face.

“That is Tartaradae,” Izine explained. “He embodies the Khaiga of the commonwealth world of the same name.”

“Why he matter?”

“Because he’s the Hwerdz of my world,” she said, not really sure how to explain. “My people are from Tartaradae. They revere him there, and say they feel his power, and his drive to build and create. I can’t say that I do, though. I’ve never been to Tartaradae.”

Wyllu made a clicking sound but spoke nothing in her limited Frondauric. Still she gave Izine a sympathetic look. “Why never been?”

“I was born on Pendragost. My father…well, let’s just say he moved the family there before I was born.”

Somewhere behind them someone shushed them. Their voices were carrying across the normally hushed room. “Let’s go,” Izine said standing up. “Let’s find something to eat. And then we can head back.

---

The Matriarch arrived through the Starbridge, escorted by nearly two hundred Commonwealth militia and over a dozen Guardians. She strode regally through the shimmering portal and made only a cursory glance at the towering architecture around her. She was flanked by two patriarchs of the darker skinned Shyanar race. Here in the sun of Kolonae their darker skin was a deep blue, like the depths of a clear mountain lake. There was also at least a hundred Shyanar hunters, of both the light and dark varieties, all carrying their long hunting spears.

Wyllu greeted the party first, saying something in her chittering language. The matriarch responded with two quick chirps, and then Wyllu flew back to Izine’s side.

It was now Izine’s turn. She strode forward and spoke. “The Frondauri people welcome you to the commonwealth, Matriarch of the Shyanar.”

“I am honored to be greeted by the Izine, friend and hero of our people,” she responded.

With pleasantries exchanged they were led from the Starbridge plaza to board a lightship which carried them across the city to Kolonae’s governmental Drasul.

The eleven current members of the Council of Twelve awaited. Jazulian was first to greet the matriarch with a well prepared speech. She listened patiently and thanked him when he was finished. The other ten each introduced themselves in turn and then they were led to the council chambers.

“Are you not short a counselor?” The matriarch asked Izine as they walked.

“Rhodon is in rebellion and we don’t know if their counselor is even alive.”

“Yes. The mother said your people were in conflict.”

When everyone was situated, the matriarch had taken a seat facing the council with her two patriarch companions on either side, she addressed the eleven.

“The Mother wishes to express her gratitude to the Commonwealth. You have offered to help us clean our atmosphere of its radiation, and one day our children shall be hatched without the painful calcium growths that now plague us..”

“You are most welcome,” Jazulian responded. “Any help we can render our new friends.”

“There is also the matter of the remains of the hero Stebner,” she continued. “I understand there is a conflict over who shall take possession of his body.”

“Indeed,” said Shunaevin of Horrathus. “He is a natural born Horrathi, and as such our world wishes to take possession of his body and bury him with honors on his home world.”

Then Isaldo of Tamaraes spoke up. “But his Klith was of Tamaraes and he should be buried with his matriarchal clan.”

“I see,” said the matriarch politely. “And this decision no doubt is a difficult one.”

“Indeed,” Jazulian answered. “The place of burial for such a heroic man is of utmost importance to our people. Some have even suggested that he be buried on Pendragost in the great church of the Hweldz. After the war has ended of course.”

The looks on Shunaevin’s and Isaldo’s faces was enough to know neither liked that decision. Izine could only feel for the status of her passed friend. She had no real home world, and certainly no Klith.

“Then perhaps the Mother can offer another solution. Since we promised Draevin we would look after him until this matter was decided, many of your people and ours have made the long and dangerous journey to see his body where it lies in Skurradagg. They come to pay their respects. Your people to see the man who slew so many Phytodaemons, and ours to see the one who destroyed the doom engine and saved our world. The Mother wishes that your people would chose to allow him to remain where we’ve put him to rest, so that his spirit may continue to watch over us.”

Izine was moved by the request. She hadn’t known Stebner well, but knew he’d have been honored by this.

“The Horrathi would be honored to allow this,” Shunaevin said. “If the Tamari also agree.”

“We do,” Isaldo said. Both delegates nodded at each other with respect and what Izine gathered was likely relief. An option that both could accept and they knew their peoples would too.

There was a round of fists bumping on the table tops in approval. The matter had been very heated between the two worlds, and Jazulian’s attempt to put Pendragost in the mix had greatly flared up the debates. That a solution could be reached so easily was one to excite everyone.

Izine noticed, however, that Jazulian didn’t seem that particularly pleased. Had he actually wanted Stebner buried on the capital, or was his intention to keep Horrathus and Tamaraes at each other's throats?

The Matriarch watched the fist pounding with obvious delight. To see how differently things were done by the Frondauri must have been as interesting as it was when Izine was learning about the Shyanar.

When the excitement had died down the Matriarch addressed the Council again. “And this brings us to the most important reason the Mother sent us here. On behalf of all Shyanar, of every clan and color, we formally submit our proposal for Archaeus to join the Commonwealth.”

---

Terms - Harry Gregson-Williams

Once through the bridge they found themselves in a tangle of jungle vines. HEL had warned them that’s what they’d find, a jungle that had long ago overtaken the starbridge plaza.

HEL orbited high above, circling among the canopy as he made sensor scans. Draevin turned his attention back groundward. The first team was through. They were pushing their Pachyderms out of the way as the second team came through. The Pachies didn’t like being corralled in, and they were restless, but there was no biting or kicking from them. Yet.

Thank the twelve for small miracles, Draevin thought as Staffa and Went came through, followed by the second team.

“How’s your readings, HEL,” he called out to the sensor bot.

HEL dropped through the branches to hover in front of Draevin. “Completed,” he reported. You’ll be glad to know we are roughly about fifteen kilometers away from the Karnaeth starbridge.”

“That’s good to hear,” Draevin said.

But HEL was ready to rain on their day. “Unfortunately, the jungle is very thick around us and we’ll need to cut through. Because you can’t fly.”

“Perhaps we should brought Skyrres,” Brydleif said. She was perched on a thick root growing over a crumbling wall and had been listening in.

“Irulaes has an extreme axial tilt and generates storms that can blow at over 200 kilometers an hour and would blow the Skyrres out of the sky.”

“HEL with all the bad news,” Draevin joked. “Aside from that, the Skyrres would be a liability on Rhodon. We’ll just have to walk.”

He turned to face the direction HEL had indicated they’d need to go. “Looks like we’ll need to cut our way through.”

“I can assist in that endeavor. This sensor bot is equipped with a plasma cutting tool.”

“You get the big stuff, and we can clear the lighter foliage with our bioblades. We’ll take it in shifts and we should make it to the next bridge in no time.”

“I calculate it will take us roughly five days to cut our way through to the far bridge.”

“HEL does love bad news,” Brydleif said, mirroring Draevin’s statement. She chittered loudly, which Draevin took as a laugh.

Izine escorted the Shyanar to the accommodations that the commonwealth had provided. An apartment high up on a cliff side overlooking the city.

The commonwealth had tried to accommodate the Shyanar by making it look as close to Izine’s description of their burrows, but it was still a clean and polished apartment. It would be very alien to the guests. But the Shyanar did not complain but looked on with wonder and amazement.

The matriarch had her own room, the patriarchs shared one, and the hunters were given the common area with plenty of hammocks and cushions on the floor.

The Matriarch asked Izine to join her in her room. Six Shyanar hunters carried a large black chest in and placed it at the center of the room.

“What’s that?” Izine asked.

“My attendants,” the Matriarch answered. She opened the chest and a dozen ten legged Amokks crawled out. They were carrying a large white garment.

“I must change,” the Matriarch. “You do not mind?”

“No ho ahead.”

She took off her current attire, dropping it to the floor. The Amokks rushed forward, helping her into the new garment, tightening and snipping where necessary. The Matriarch in her clothes looked vaguely Frondauri. But undressed Izine was reminded how insect like they also were. Tall and slender with angular joints. Spindly, she’d describe them.

Once she was dressed the Matriarch stood before Izine. “When first we met you seemed so innocent and afraid. Now there is a maturity to you.”

“We’ve met before?”

“Yes,” the Matriarch said. “I am the Matriarch of Brydleif and Wyllu. You arrived first to my warren and I was first to learn your language.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you.”

“That is alright. You had just experienced a great trauma. The Faceless as Mother called them. I volunteered to come here, as I wanted to see the three champions.”

“And you get only me.”

“That is enough. I have learned you have all become important to your people. That is well. Shall we sit?”

They took a seat among the cushions provided. Izine still felt awkward among the Shyanar but she at least had met this one before and that helped.

“I’m sorry the Council can’t agree to your proposal.”

“I did not expect them too. We are…alien…after all.”

“They’re just unwilling to change. We’ve been The Twelve Worlds for so long the idea of adding another is hard to swallow.”

“I appreciate your attempts to assuage my concerns. But it is not the truth. They do not really know what to do with us. We are different; not Frondauri. Accepting us as equals is not something they are ready for.”

Izine sighed. “That’s definitely true. I don’t even know how to feel about it. But I do think you should be given the opportunity.”

The Matriarch put her hand on Izine’s shoulder. “The proposal was just a pretense to justify our trip here. The Mother knows we won’t be allowed to join your commonwealth so soon.”

Izine gave her a quizzical look. “Then why are you really here?”

The Matriarch sat up straighter, and took a deep breath. “A few weeks back the mother was alone in her chamber. The golden Archon face, the one you saw while you were there, spoke to her.”

“I thought it spoke FOR her.”

“So did she. But it spoke to her this time. The voice was different too. Instead of her own it sounded like one of your group. The fourth member, the dark one…”

“Kruza?”

“If that was his name. Mother said he did not enter the chamber while he was there.”

“No, it made him ill to approach.” She then made a realization. “Because of the Faceless spirit inside of him. That’s he couldn’t enter. Something in that chamber repels the Faceless, same as the chamber with the broadcast on the Tomb.”

“If you say true,” the Matriarch said. Though she really wouldn’t have understood. “Mother said it was his voice. He spoke only three words and Mother decided you must hear. You particularly.”

“Why me?”

“The words were: Izine, Answers, Ximballa.”

Izine covered her mouth which was agape in shock. “He told me he had traveled to a place called Ximballa for answers. This was in the catacombs on Pendragost, right before he escaped the Tomb with the faceless.”

“Then you know what it means?” the Matriarch asked.

“No,” Izine admitted. “I know I’ve heard the word Ximballa, but I don’t know what it is.”

“Then for all our sakes you must find. For if the golden face speaks, it is wise to heed its words.”

---

Nothing Else Matters - Apocalyptica

“What are you doing?”

HEL had been floating about the Starbridge plaza in his sensor bot body, tinkering with the control crystals.

The small voice brought his attention. A group of young Frondauri were watching him as he worked.

“I’m just fixing some issues with the Starbridges,” he answered.

“Why?” They seemed skeptical. Which was to be expected from seeing a robot messing with the most important devices on their planet.

“When you go two hundred thousand thousand years without performing routine maintenance, things have a tendency to not work properly.”

The children looked at each other. His words must have seemed like nonsense.

“The crystals in these bridges are old and no longer adequately work,” he said, trying to be more straightforward. “I am fixing or replacing them, so the bridges function properly.”

“Oh,” the leader of their little group said. His explanation must have made sense to her because they left him alone after that, backing away to watch him. He finished what he was doing. What he’d told them was partially true. Replacing the control crystals would make the bridges more efficient. But he was also preparing them for restarting Helgadae’s core.

---

The negotiations had stalled. As the matriarch had said, the council wasn’t ready to consider what it would mean to add a thirteenth, and alien populated, world to the commonwealth.

But the Shyanar were unperturbed. Once they were sure that negotiations for their admittance weren’t going to go anywhere, they made their thanks and left Kolonae behind.

Izine bid them farewell at the Starbridge plaza. This time only a handful of the council were there to say farewell. Jazulian hadn’t even bothered to show.

The message given to Izine has piqued her curiosity. As the Shyanar assembled and began making their way through the Starbridge, all she could think of was the word ‘Ximballa’. It was so familiar, she’d definitely heard it before as she associated the word with something dark. As the matriarch stepped through the archway and disappeared a memory came to her.

When she was a child her father had told her stories. Some of them were meant to scare. He told of a place of fire and ash where even the Archon’s had feared to tread. He’d called it Ximballa.

“HEL!” she called. The familiar sphere of the AI’s sensor bot was floating about in front of one of the archways. Upon hearing her call to him he approached.

“Hello Izine,” he said. “What can I do for you?”

“Do you have access to Helgadae’s database from here?”

“This sensor bot has limited access, yes.”

“Can you do a search for me? Keyword: Ximballa.”

“Ximballa was a temperate planet within the Archon Cooperative. It housed an important scientific research station. The Archons abandoned the planet after a cataclysmic event left the planet's core unstable and filled the atmosphere with toxic chemicals.”

“Do you know which Starbridges connect to Ximballa?”

There was an obvious pause as HEL checked the database. “None,” he answered. “All Starbridges to the planet we’re deactivated after the catastrophe. The planet was deemed too dangerous to allow return travel.”

She sighed in frustration. Kruza had gone there. Somehow. And he’d found some ‘answers’, whatever he’d meant by that. And now that she knew what he meant, she was blocked.

“I should have known it wouldn’t be that easy,” she said.

“Why are you interested in this particular planet?” HEL asked.

“Because I think it’s important,” she answered. “Kruza went there after he left us on Archaeus. And now someone else mentioned it to me.”

“I see,” the AI said cheerfully. “I will do a deep search of my database once I return to Helgadae. Perhaps I’ll find something in there that can help.”

“Thanks,” Izine told him as she tried to remember more of the stories her father had told her. There had to be something important she was missing.

---

One Last Shot - Klaus Badelt

They’d carved their way through the dense foliage of Irulaes, and stepped through the Starbridge once again, arriving on the next planet. HEL informed them it had been called Karnaeth by the Archons.

The Starbridge was located among a grotto of rocks and thorny vines. A trail passed between the stones, leading down into what appeared to be a vast open plain. In the distance they saw a massive herd of some kind of animal grazing slowly across the grasslands.

“It’s so beautiful here,” Went remarked.

“Planning to settle here?” Druom asked with a friendly smile.

“No,” she answered. “But many in my Klith would gladly move here to farm.”

“Maybe after the war the Commonwealth can open up colonization,” he mused.

They were interrupted by Draevin calling everyone’s attention. “We’re moving on,” he informed them. “Thankfully we don’t have to travel too far.”

The next bridge was located in the same grotto, part of an ancient plaza. HEL had installed a new crystal and powered up the archway. With group one leading the way they filed through to the next world, a planet once called Grimaez.

---

Draevin’s nose wrinkled from the stench. They’d stepped through the Starbridge into a rocky hillsides overgrown with moss and lichen. Massive gnarled trees towered over them. But all around the stench came. The moldy stench of plant rot and stagnant water.

“Smells like a bog,” one of Draevin’s companions muttered.

“It is a bog,” HEL responded in his cheery mechanical voice. “About 54% of Grimaez’s surface is covered in wetlands.”

“And is the next Starbridge nearby?” Draevin asked, wrapping a cloth around his mouth and nose.

“It’s seventeen kilometers to the east.”

Draevin made his way to the edge of the rocks. The rocks protruded from the stagnant pools forming a ridge line running from the northeast to the southwest. The pools didn’t seem particularly large and there was hills forming high ground to travel by.

Once they’d prepped their equipment to keep the damp out they set off. HEL showed them the way down the rocks and scouted out a path eastward.

Travel was brisk at first. The ground proved firm. Here and there they were forced to ease through the muck, crossing between hillocks. After just a few hours they were soaked, muddy, and smelled.

They also had to deal with insects. Nasty Biting midges and larger flying blood sucking insects. Some of them even came out of the muck with nasty clinging critters that had to be burned off. The Prachyerms failed the worst and it took a long time to clear them of clinger ons.

The night was just as bad. Darkness came and new types of insects arrived. These glowed a sickly green and their bites left welts.

Draevin and the Shyanar weren’t as bothered. These tiny insects were only annoyances compared to Archaeus insects. The Shyanar even had their own tricks. The stuck poles up encircling the camp stuffed with aromatic herbs and set them to smoldering. To everyone’s relief it reduced the number of insects dramatically.

The next day the traveling got harder. The solid lands became less firm, and the spaces between them grew wider. They spent as much time wading through muck as traveling across ground. Their progress slowed.

Every time they moved out of the muck they had to clear the Prachyerms of the leech like things they collected.

It took them three whole days to cover the distance to the Starbridge. The Starbridge was located atop a great column of basalt. They had to circle around it to the north to find passage up. Even then it was difficult going as the rocks were cracked and unstable from centuries of erosion caused by moisture and moss.

At the top they did one final once over of the Prachyerms and themselves, making sure they weren’t carrying any unwanted passengers. Finally they gathered and filed through the archway to Rhodon at last.

---

It was dark on the other side. They quickly activated their glow lanterns, casting soft blue light around them.

They were in a cavern. Numerous tunnels lead in and out. A pool of water stood at the center of the cavern, reflecting twinkling stars from a hole in the cavern ceiling above.

Went made sure everyone had passed through and then Staffa reported to Draevin. Went studied the archway they’d stepped through. It was slowly being encroached on by the cavern walls around them. One whole side of the archway was nearly engulfed by a stalagmite. In the gloom if you weren’t paying attention you wouldn’t even notice it was a Starbridge.

“Area secure,” she heard someone say, their voice echoing in the cavern.

“Which direction to go out?” Draevin asked HEL.

The bot activated a spotlight and shone it towards one of the tunnels. “This way will lead us out the quickest.”

They followed the bots lead down the tunnels. In a couple places it got so narrow they had to force the Prachyerms through. Eventually they made it out of the caverns. All around them were massive towering mushrooms and other fungal growths. Some glowed with faint bioluminescence in the darkness of Rhodon.

“This is the Myurlik Vale,” Draevin informed them. “Even the Rhodoni avoid coming here. This place is the supposed origin of the fungal phage. So we’ll need to be extra careful.”

Brydleif chimed in. “What is fung all phage?”

HEL answered her in his cheery voice, which made his words sound all the more sinister. “The phage is a fungal parasite capable of infecting nearly all living tissue. It can devastate crops and is exceptionally virulent. In living animals it can cause severe skin irritation and sores. If it infects the brain it can even cause cases of extreme agitation and violence.”

She took the information silently, a look of sorry on her face. She relayed the information to her hunters.

“You’ve all received your inoculations. And HEL has an anti-fungal spray for us once we’re out of the Vale. They’ll help prevent the phage from infecting us, but we can still carry it back with us if we’re not careful. So avoid touching anything while we’re here.”

Shaifur met the Supreme Watcher in the starbridge room on Helgadae alone. The only other one to know of his arrival was HEL who was ever present in the massive facility. The Ai guided them through corridors, keeping them away from any other Frondauri who could possibly run into them.

They were led to a small conference room with a table and six chairs, its long ago occupants lost to time. They took seats across from each other.

“So I’ve reviewed your plan,” Kaifur said resting one arm on the table. “The Watcheer’s support this whole plan. Anything to get us a working starship factory. But…”

“But the Commonwealth is against it,” Shaifur finished.

“They’re hung up on the fact that you intend to accelerate time. They’ve objected because they don’t like that years will pass for us while only a few days will; pass for the rest of the galaxy.”

Shaifur threw his head back and stared at the ceiling, trying not to get angry. “We’re already cut off from the rest of the galaxy. What does it even matter how much time passes for us?”

“It doesn’t,” Kaifur agreed, “But no matter how much I explained it to them I get the feeling they think everything will speed up and they’ll lose time, as it were.”

“You told them we’ll perceive the passage of time normally?”

“They’re not scientists. They’re politicians. I didn’t expect them to go along with your plan anyway. Did you know the Shyanar applied to join the Commonwealth and the council decided not to accept? If the can’t see the benefits in allying with the first alien beings we met how can you expect them to understand the benefits of starting Helgadae’s core.”

“I didn’t know the Shyanar applied to the commonwealth.”

Kaifur waved his hand in frustration. “No matter now. The council’s useless. I did run into Grand Prior Koab on my way back. I explained your plan to him, and while he couldn’t wrap his head around time dilation, he did see the benefits in being prepared. If we don’t do something the Faceless will spread across a galaxy that’s unprepared for them.”

“So he supports us,” Shaifur exclaimed in excitement. “He can go to the council and give his support.”

Kaifur laughed. “He agrees the council is useless. So he won’t waste his. He did however, suggest an alternative.”

Shaifur raised a quizzical eyebrow.

“What’s this facilities AI called?” Kaifur asked.

“Hello. I am HEL-929,” HEL’s voice came out of the very walls.

“Hello HEL, I am Supreme Watcher Kaifur. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Thank you. It’s good to meet you.”

“I have a couple questions for you. If you don’t mind.”

“No I don’t.”

“That’s good,” said Kaifur. He cleared his throat and began. “These questions might seem strange but please bear with me. Are you the property of the Twelve Worlds Commonwealth.”

“Absolutely not!” HEL answered, and Shaifur felt like there was a hint of offense in his voice.

“If Shaifur instructed you to go ahead with the plan to restart your core, would you comply?”

“Yes.”

“And if, after you begin the process, the Council was to come and command you to stop, would you?”

“No.”

“Why not? Why follow Shaifur’s instructions but ignore the Council’s commands.”

“Because Shaifur is my friend. I don’t know this council.”

Kaifur gave Shaifur a wicked grin. “Unfortunately,” he continued, “as a commonwealth citizen, Shaifur can’t instruct you to continue or else he’d get in a lot of trouble.”

“I understand,” HEL said, and their was definitely a conspiratorial tone to his voice.

“I knew you would,” Kaifur said.

---

Draevin lead his troops through the Myurlik Vale. Among the towering mushroom caps. They kept away from everything, choosing not to even stop and rest.

Eventually they left behind the mushroom forest and the valley. It didn’t get any lighter. Rhodon was a dark world, lit only by a single dwarf star which gave off only a faint blue glow. They passed signs which warned people from entering the Vale.

An hour beyond they came across a farmstead, with neat rows of what looked like a leafy vegetable, but in closer inspection proved to be a wavy fungus.

An old Rhodoni man was tending the field and once he noticed the group he stood silently and watched them approach.

“I was wondering how long before the Commonwealth would send troops. I’d always heard the Guardians had back doors to every world. Didn’t know there was one in the Vale.”

“You know we came from the Vale?” Draevin asked.

“Ain’t nothing else in that direction. Thought you Guardian’s would have a Starbridge in your outpost.”

“We did,” Draevin confirmed for him. “But it was destroyed over three hundred years ago. During the last rebellion.”

The old Rhodoni just grunted. “I suppose you’ll be heading towards Setmal, where the Starbridge plaza is.”

“That’s the eventual plan. We were first hoping to meet with any resistance, people loyal to the Commonwealth.”

The old man laughed sardonically. “You won’t find any resistance. While most aren’t willing to help these Black Banner fools, there’s also little love for the rest of the commonwealth.”

“Black Banner?” Draevin asked.

“Ha! They’ve got you commonwealthers on the run I hear and you don’t even know that’s what they call themselves.” He laughed long and hard.

“So no one will help us?” Draevin asked crestfallen.

“There might be a few who will,” he answered once his laughter was under control. “But not many. I don’t think anyone will hinder you, least not until you get to the city. But don’t expect a warm welcome.” He cleared his throat and spit a wad of phlegm onto the ground. “Now if you were looking for help, your best bet is the city Strazwer. To the south. Heard councilwoman Habba is holed up their, away from the Black Banner.”

“Thank you,” Draevin said.

“Don’t thank me. Just get off of my farm as quick as you can.”

---

“...barely enough material to complete a single ship,” Guels was saying as Shaifur entered the room.

“We need to find another source of the crystalline material that the Archons used to build,” Kiht agreed. She noticed Shaifur and waved him over.

He greeted both his head researchers, taking a seat next to them. They’d converted an old machine lab into a common area and mess hall, and the two Frondauri were having lunch.

“HEL says the source of the crystals for building was a planet called Osytrus,” Shaifur told them, letting them know he’d been thinking about the same problem.

“Any idea if the planet is still around?” Guels asked. He was in his usually crotchety mood.

Shaifur shook his head. “But HEL tells me the planet orbits the same star as Tamaraes. The fact it’s located within the Maelstrom gives me hope it’s still there. He’s currently checking starbridges across the commonwealth. Hopefully there’s one that still works and the crystals are still there.”

Guels just looked skeptical, but Kiht seemed excited. “I have faith the gods will provide,” she said. “Once we get the core running again and can build spaceships our very existence will change. We’re just waiting on the Council’s approval now.”

Guels must have seen Shaifur’s reaction because he placed the cup of spiced fungal ale he was sipping at back down. “The council isn’t giving us the go ahead,” he stated.

“Yeah, I just got word a few hours ago.”

Kiht started cursing out the council, but Guels just gave a half-hearted smirk. He’d already made his opinion on the council known. He’d also suspected they wouldn’t support the endeavor.

“So that’s that then,” Guels sighed, standing up. “Guess we should pack it in. Because there’s no other way to get the ship foundry running.”

“So it would seem,” Shaifur half agreed. “The Commonwealth has ordered, and we will obey.” He stood up as well, joining Guels in preparing to leave the mess hall. “I guess all we can do is hope the owner of Helgadae decides to follow the plan.”

“Owner?” Kiht asked. “What do you mean?”

“Helgadae is the property of the Archon Cooperative, and in lieu of them, we must defer to their last remaining representative and the facilitator of this…facility.”

“HEL?”

“The same. He is not a member of the commonwealth, nor is this planet under their jurisdiction. So as soon as he has prepared the necessary number of starbridges, he will make the decision to continue or not.”

---

Izine couldn’t sleep so she decided to go for a walk among the city. Kolonae had a very temperate climate so even the evenings were warm. Wyllu had joined her. She flitted about around her as they made their way through the city.

The lights of the maelstrom danced overhead and from time to time she could peek distant stars shining through. This was the time of year that the planet passed nearer to the maelstrom’s edge. In a few weeks these rare sights of stars would be gone, replaced only by the lights of the Maelstrom.

She was mulling over the events of the last few days. Mostly on the mystery of Ximballa. She was no closer to an answer then she had been, despite knowing deep down she’d heard of the place before.

Her thoughts were interrupted by HEL’s sensor bot gliding up to her. “Good evening,” He greeted her.

“How are you tonight?” she asked in response.

“Functioning at peak efficiency. Shaifur sent me here with some information. There’s not enough crystalline material left on Helgadae to make very many starships. I have located the planet the Archons mined the materials on, called Osytrus, and after an initial scan I’ve found the atmosphere is suitable for Frondauri’s to breathe. However there is serious magnetic interference which affects my sensors so he hoped you would be willing to carry out any further investigation.”

“Sure,” she said. “I’ll inform the council and they’ll probably put together a survey team.”

“With that in mind I also have news of my own. I (my full self) dug into Helgadae’s files and I think I found a reference to a facility on Osytrus that may still have a starbridge that leads to Ximballa.”

A feeling of both elation and dread passed over her. If she could make it to Ximballa perhaps she could find what answers Kruza had discovered and perhaps find what his plans were. But what little she knew of Ximballa, and the things she couldn’t remember, all told her it was a very dangerous planet.

She also realized that if she informed the council of Osytrus they wouldn’t let her tag along. They would keep her around as a public figure to rally people to the cause of fighting the Rhodoni rebels. And if she wanted to investigate Ximballa she’d need to go on her own.

“Well. the crystal is probably the most pressing so I’ll inform the council right away,” she lied. She had a feeling the most important thing was to find Ximballa.

“One last thing,” HEL said. HE then explained to her the plan to restart the core and get the machinery up and running.

Most of it went over Izine’s head. And the idea of speeding up time in a localized area disturbed her more than a little. Still, she agreed that getting the ship foundries up and running was paramount.

“How soon until you’re ready?” she asked.

“I’ll be ready…right….now,” he answered.

Izine had expected something big and dramatic to happen, but after waiting a few seconds for something she was disappointed. “Nothing happened,” she said.

“Yes it did,” HEL said. “Look up.”

She did, and for a moment she didn’t know what he meant. But then she noticed that the stars she’d been able to see twinkling in the sky were now racing past at incredible speed.

“How are they moving so fast?” she asked in shock.

“They aren’t,” HEL answered. “Kolonae is moving faster. Time is moving faster. The stars will disappear soon as the planets orbit moves away from the edge.”

And even as he spoke the sight of the stars passed low on the horizon and then they were gone. Time within the Maelstrom had sped up.

---

Time Travel - Klaus Badelt

Went was amazed at the city of Strazwer. She’d never been to Rhodon and had always pictured it as rural, wild, but this city was large.

Like on other Commonwealth worlds where the city was built on and around a Drasul tree, it was the same here. But instead of a Drasul it was a large colony of mushrooms. They were nowhere near the height a Drasul could reach, but they were still big.

The city was built underneath the mushroom caps, hanging down. Buildings on the ground reached upward, and met many that were hanging down. And there were lights. The mushrooms glowed with their own inner luminescence, and the lights of the city twinkled in the ever gloom of Rhodon.

As the old farmer had said, no one hindered them. Many watched with mild interest or straight up hatred. They’d stopped in a small town to verify they were heading the right way and many booed them. The only help they got was after Draevin had explained to an indifferent barkeep that they were Guardians and not here on orders from the commonwealth.

“Guardians aint as well liked as they used to be,” the barkeep mused. “But I’m old enough to remember the aid they gave us during the last phage outbreak.”

So he gave them directions and even provided them with some food and water. He also warned them that there were some in town who would notice the direction they went and then would notify the Black Banner. Draevin thanked him and now that they knew they were on the right road it didn’t take them long to reach Strazwer.

There was no wall around the city. Rhodon had little in the way of dangerous fauna. Instead the city had spread out on the plain around the stems of the giant fungal colony. The people watched them pass down the streets with mild interest or indifference. HEL had decided not to enter the city with them and said he’d meet up again once they left, and then he headed out into the countryside to ‘explore’.

Eventually they were met by what passed for the city’s law enforcement. After explaining that they were here to see Councilwoman Habba, they were escorted to the government building. It hung from the edge of the tallest mushroom. The Prachyerms were left in a plaza on the ground. Druom and three others of their troop stayed behind to watch them.

Habba met them in a spacious office. She was a tall woman, with horns that pointed nearly straight up. Her skin was the typical ashy gray of a Rhodoni. She wore a plain gray skirt. Around her chest she’d draped a light gray cloth. The Rhodoni were not known for their modesty and often went bare chested. Men and women. That the Councilwoman had draped a cloth around her chest was obviously done for their benefit.

“It’s a very small force to fight the Black Banner,” Habba said.

“We were actually sent to make contact with any resistance on Rhodon and coordinate an attack to retake the Starbridge plaza.”

Habba nodded at the information. “Unfortunately there isn’t a resistance on Rhodon.”

“So I’ve been told,” Draevin said without betraying any of his feelings. Went would have been nervous to be speaking with a member of the Council of Twelve.

“You can’t really be surprised. Not after the council provoked this whole conflict.”

Draevin cocked his head in confusion. “As far as I’m aware this is an unprovoked uprising.”

Habba laughed dryly. “And so was the last one and the one before that and the one before. Funny how they were all unprovoked despite the Commonwealth's policies to treat us all as infected carriers. But this time, we really are justified.” She stared them all down, her eyes shining with a pale cold light. “Have you known anyone who has had the phage? Any who survived?”

“Yes,” Draevin answered. “I’m in love with a survivor.”

Her eyes lit up with understanding, and what Went read as a new respect. “Most people wouldn’t take the risk with survivors. Because the phage can resurface.” Her voice trailed off and her eyes went out of focus as if she was remembering something.

She continued. “Did you know we found a cure for the phage? From your expressions I can see you didn’t. It forces the phage into dormancy, and with yearly treatment will keep it there. No worries about a resurgence, and it can be treated after the first effects of the phage begin. Imagine, freedom for my people. No more quarantines. No more restrictions on travel. Freedom, like every other Commonwealther.”

It was a shock to Went. “Impossible,” she blurted out, but Draevin held up his hand to silence her.

“You brought this cure to the attention of the council?” Draevin asked. Habba nodded. “And what was their reaction?”

“Mostly positive and supportive. At first. They wanted to test this cure, make sure it did what we were claiming it did. This was a way to end centuries of conflict and distrust. But then Jazulian spoke. And he was able to convince enough of the council that this cure was just a fantasy. It wouldn’t hold up to scrutiny and it was a waste of time. By the end they shot down any further investigation. My only allies were the councilors from Sundasha, Ithycar, and Atharbus. Not enough. When I returned home and reported the decision to the High Chief of Rhodon, he threw his support behind the Black Banner. Thus the war began.”

“Who are the Black Banner?”

“Veterens and their children of the last rebellion. They’d been hiding out in the mountains near the southern pole. It’s a very rugged and wild place. They’d been calling for complete independence from the Commonwealth for some time. The council’s actions were enough for our leaders to throw their support behind them.”

Draevin nodded. “So they’re nothing more than a paramilitary?”

Habba waved her finger. “Don’t let that label fool you. They’re better organized then our regular forces. They’re better prepared, and they’ve been planning this conflict since they lost the last one. More than that they’ve been preparing new tactics to fight a war for the most important thing in the Commonwealth. The starbridge network. Whoever controls the network, controls the twelve worlds.”

“Those war machines,” Draevin said in shock. “They built them to assault and hold bridge plazas.”

“Indeed,” Habba said. “They’ve trained and practiced and their fighting skills all revolve around assaulting and taking the plazas. And then the regular military fights the commonwealth's forces.”

“Hold the plazas and you cut off reinforcements. Effectively cutting the other eleven worlds off from each other.” He turned to Staffa. “You need to get back to the commonwealth the way we came. You need to inform them of all this and have them reinforce the plazas with troops and defenses.”

“It’s probably too late for that,” Habba said. “Even I know you came from somewhere in the Vale. So the Black Banner will certainly know and will watch for your approach. So it looks like you’re stuck here.”

---

Izine arrived on Osytrus with only Wyllu to accompany her. All around them massive crystalline growths towered high up into the sky.

“Looks like this is the place,” Izine said. The crystals certainly seemed to match the material of the starbridges. And the crumbling buildings of the Tomb. So once they got back she would definitely report this to the council.

HEL had provided her with a map from the bridge to the facility she needed. He did warn her it was two hundred thousand years out of date. “A lot has probably changed,” he’d warned.

She checked her bag. Four newly made generic crystals sat at the bottom. HEL had also provided those. She’d thanked him saying she’d pass them on to the council. It was a lie, but she felt HEL knew it was. As she’d turned to leave he wished her “Good luck!” in his pleasant mechanical voice, but there was a hint of something else underneath. Worry? Understanding? He was an ancient intelligence. She didn’t know how perceptive he could be.

They made their way across the terrain. The crystals towered into the sky. Clustered together like many turreted castles. While they didn’t match up to the massive structures on the Tomb, they were impressive and imposing nonetheless.

Around the crystals grew a forest of thin white trees with red leaves. They grew spaced out and as such the going was easy. The ground around was flat, covered in a green-blue moss. They made good progress.

Every now and then in the distance, between the crystals, they could see crumbling ruins. Massive structures of Archon architecture covered in moss and red leafed shrubs. Even two hundred thousand years later evidence of the Archons remained.

---

Something Dark Is Coming - Bear McCreary

“They’re demanding we hand you over,” Habba informed Draevin.

He took the information with little surprise. He’d expected as much. About fifty Black Banner soldiers had arrived in the city. Habba had spoken to them and was now reporting back.

“Perhaps that is the best course of action,” Draevin said. “We came here to end this conflict and talking to the Black Banner could achieve that.”

“They’ll kill you,” Habba said. “It doesn’t matter that you’re Guardians. They see only commonwealth agents.”

“I won’t ask you to protect us.”

Habba stared into the darkness of the Rhodon day. She bit at her lower lip deep in thought. “I have no love for the commonwealth,” she admitted. “But I have less for the Black Banner. Besides…” she turned and gave Draevin a roguish look “…I already told them to go rot.”

Her words were punctuated by a blast of green plasma racing up out of the darkness beyond the city, striking a building hanging from the mushroom cap and setting it ablaze.

“That didn’t take them long,” she said. “Let’s go defend the city.”

---

Izine and Wyllu found the Archon facility. A tower of crystals had long ago grown up around it, pushing it down into the ground. Only a good part of a corner remained visible.

Izine used her bioblade to cut a hole into the wall to enter. She activated a glow lamp and ventured inside, Wyllu right behind.

The floor leaned at an extreme angle as the crystals pushed the building slowly deeper and deeper. Izine picked her way forward carefully, afraid if she fell she’d keep sliding forever.

She’d been in many ancient Archon ruins by this point and had begun to feel comfortable navigating through them. She stayed to the main corridors, and took the wide stairs as she found them.

She checked HEL’s map often but her instincts lead her down the right way. Eventually she found what she was looking for: a large room with a half dozen Starbridge arches arranged in it.

“Time to find the right one,” she said.

“How you find?” Wyllu asked.

She held up her small computer device which was showing the images HEL had provided. A series of nine symbols was displayed on the screen. “It’ll say something like this on it.”

They started inspecting the archways, checking for symbols. Wyllu found the right one. It was the second one she looked at. Izine checked the symbols and they matched. But there was also more symbols. She didn’t recognize them but once again HEL had come through by uploading a codex of Archon writing systems and symbols. She held up her device and translated them for her.

XIMBALLA. ONCE A PARADISE IS NOW A HELL. TRAVEL IS RESTRICTED. NO ENTRANCE WITHOUT PROPER PROTECTIVE GEAR.

Izine had expected as much. She’d brought an environment suit for herself and Wyllu. They dressed up in them and then put a crystal in the arch. It glowed to life, crackling with energy.

It was too late to turn back. Izine stepped through without hesitation. They came through the gate into darkness. She shone her glow lantern around. They were in a large room. The walls were of strange shapes, as if they had been heated and melted repeatedly. Stacks of what appeared to be large containers stretched out in rows. They too looked like they’d been melted, cooled, and melted again many times.

The arch they’d stepped through had once been in a container but it had warped and melted away around them. She stepped away from the arch using her device to scan the air.

To her surprise it was breathable. There was a higher amount of nitrogen, and traces of sulphur, but well within acceptable tolerance.

But there were also microbial life forms which the device couldn’t match to anything on record. So for the time being they’d keep the biosuits on.

---

Leaving Caladan - Hans Zimmer

Izine and Wyllu found their way out of the structure they had arrived in. What had once been a massive complex was now a twisted and crumbling ruin. In many places they could not tell where the ground ended and the building began as they’d long ago fused due to obvious volcanic energy.

The air was even more breathable on the surface, but still they kept on their suits. One day the Watchers, or HEL, would have to come here to study the planet to see if it was safe.

A large plain of cracked rock stretched out before them. Here and there were plants. Tufts of red and purple grass looking plants, and thick tangles of some orange shrub. But aside from those everything else looked empty and bleak. A gray haze hung in the air and the sky had a sickly green tint to it.

“Where go?” Wyllu asked, looking comically unbalanced in her environment suit.

“I don’t know,” Izine said. HEL could find no maps or geological information on Ximballa, so they were going in blind. “The Starbridge Kruza used on Archaeus didn’t come directly here, so who knows where he went.” She scanned the horizon from one edge to the other, but no additional structures could be seen. “Perhaps this is where he came,” she mused looking at what was left of the structure they’d just left.

But they’d seen no sign of anyone having been here in a very long time, and Kruza would have left marks behind since his body was still Frondauri.

Still it wouldn’t hurt to take another look around. Maybe there'd be another entrance and they’d find signs that he’d been here.

BEEP!

She looked down at her device which had just made the noise. It had been scanning for signals or any other anomaly and had come back with something. Somewhere in the distance across the plains it had picked up on a strange metallic substance. She checked the readings and it matched the strange amber colored metal they’d seen in the signal room on the Tomb, and again in the Mother’s chamber on Archaeus.

It was a good enough lead for her. “Let’s go,” she said to Wyllu, and started out towards the plain away from the old ruins.

---

The ground had looked broken and uneven from a distance, but up close it was even worse. Large slabs of jagged rock would pitch and lean as they walked over them. There were deep fissures as well, invisible until right on top of them, narrow enough to jump over, but wide enough to fall into if they weren’t careful.

The only places of relative safety were where the plants grew. What they thought was red grass turned out to be similar to a reed. They rested next to a bunch after the hard going across the plain.

“Wish could fly,” Wyllu sighed as she scratched at the back of her environment suit which was holding her wings flat.

“You’ll probably get your wish,” Izine said after a quick inspection of her own suit. Where the legs met with the hoof-boot, something had sliced a nice deep gash. She could put her fingers through and feel the fur on her lower leg. She assumed one of the sharp, unbalanced rocks they’d had to cross had done it as it shifted under her weight.

On inspection of Wyllu’s suit she found a similar gash on the back of the leg, just below the knee. Both of their suits were compromised, so keeping them on was now pointless. But if the rocks could tear through the thick stretchy material then they would definitely cut through their skin. They removed their masks, and then pulled down the suits to their waists and used the sleeves to tie them up.

Gathering their supplies they continued on. With their arms freed they made better progress. Wyllu could fly over objects and scout a steadier path ahead, and Izine could better utilize her arms to shift her balance.

Night started to fall, the sickly green sky giving way to an ill gray. And a new dimension to the plains took shape. The deep fissures that criss crossed the plains, that seemed dark and bottomless in the day, began to glow with a deep orange light that flickered like flames.

They found a solid spot among brush and reeds to make camp. They made a quick meal from their rations, ate it cold, and bedded down to sleep. But before they could close their eyes something in the distance howled.

Izine jumped upright, trying to see anything in the flickering gloom. Wyllu flew above her head, then hovered in place as she looked in the direction the howl had sounded from.

“I see!” Wyllu said in agitation, pointing off in the distance back towards the ruins.

Izine’s eyes were not as keen. She couldn’t see anything. “What is it?” she asked.

Wyllu dropped to the ground, her wings tiring her out. She would have to rest a few seconds before she could return to the air and see again. “Beast,” she told Izine. “Not like I seen before. Similar to beast you had when first on Archaeus, but bigger.”

“A Briekar?” Izine asked.

“As you say, but not same.”

The howl sounded again, and this time it was answered by another from a different direction. And then another answered, and then another until there were many from all directions. They were surrounded.

Izine readied her bio-blade. It crackled with energy and the weapon took on a blue-green hue. Wyllu pulled out her own sword and also readied a shock grenade.

“This place isn’t defensible,” Izine said, panic slowly rising in her gut.

“I fight behind,” Wyllu said. “Back to back.”

A beast was now close. They could hear it sniffing and growling. The sound of rocks shifting under weight could be heard. It got closer. Then into the light cast by their glow lantern a great big beast stepped forward. It was massive, standing nearly as tall as Izine, with long wicked looking teeth. It gave out a vicious low growl and then, unexpectedly, in lines along its back and forward haunches the beast seemingly caught fire. Flames leaped up from its body. And then all around the night was lit up by a dozen others also catching fire. And Izine remembered the beasts that were with Kruza when he’d attacked them in the citadel’s catacombs. Coal hounds, he’d called them.

If the flames hurt the beasts it didn’t seem to bother them. They stalked closer and closer. Izine, with her free hand, pulled her plasma pistol from her belt slowly. Taking careful aim she fired at the closest one. To her satisfaction the beast’s head went up in green flame, much of its jowls burning away in an instant.

This only enraged the others. A great cacophony of howls rose up into the night and all at once, the dozen or so others all charged.

---

Glamdring - Howard Shore

The Black Banner continued their attack on the city, green plasma lighting up the gloomy skies around as they flew towards the city. The city responded in kind. Great plasma cannons built for defense long ago launched their own returning fire, lighting the fields around the city with green and orange fire.

The black banner must have been prepared for a conflict because only a few minutes after the conflict had begun large airships came into view. Plumes of smoke rose from exhausts and their massive engines roared as they headed towards the city.

“They’re making for the upper city!” someone cried. An alarm sounded and defenders rushed to prepare to repel.

Light craft dropped from moorings on the underside of the mushroom caps and raced out to meet the larger airships. The smaller craft buzzed around the bigger ones, both sides exchanging fire, and the sky itself was lit up with a brilliant display of plasma.

Went and Staffa rushed through the pandemonium of the city, followed closely by second squad. Draevin had ordered everyone to ground level to ready the Prachyerms for combat. But soon after both squads had been separated in the confusion.

They pushed through crowds of panicked civilians and soon made it to where they’d left the Prachies. Druom and a first squad member had been left to watch the beasts. They looked relieved when Staffa came into view.

“What are our orders, maam?” he asked.

“Get the Prachies ready to ride.”

He complied and soon the second squad was pulling the pack harnesses off and putting riding saddles on. Weapons were pulled from packs and distributed. Went strapped a pistol to her hip and switched out her bioblade for a lance.

Staffa kept watching for first squad but they hadn’t showed. All around them city militias were arriving. They were organizing around the plaza, even as plasma rained down around them. They flagged down an officer who was kind enough to let them know what was happening. They were preparing to march out and meet the Black Banner on the plains.

“Scout fliers have seen an entire battalion of reinforcements a few hours out. If we don’t break their lines now they’ll burn the city down.”

“We can’t wait for them,” Staffa said, taking one last look around the plaza hoping to spot Draevin and first squad. “We’ll follow the main body and act as rearguard. You have your orders. Mount up!”

---

As Draevin attempted to make his way down a spire to the lower city a massive airship rammed its nose directly into the building below them. Rhodoni rebels poured out from the airship and pushed into the building, cutting down anyone in their way. Civilian and militia alike.

Draevin took a moment to study the airships. He’d never seen anything like them. Massive furnaces on the deck billowed out smoke as they turned gears and pistons to power the ship. But the most interesting thing about them was the armored hull. Thick sheets of amber colored metal welded and bolted together protected the vessel from plasma fire.

He knew the color, the strange metal that much of the Archon’s old machinery had been built from. As far as he knew no deposits of such an ore had ever been found on one of the twelve worlds. So where had the Black Banner found some?

He turned to first squad who were gathering up behind him. A dozen Frondauri and two Briekars waited for his orders. “They’re butchering civilians,” Draevin said. “As Guardians it is our job to protect all commonwealthers, whether they remain loyal or not. I’d estimate there's three hundred rebels below us. It’ll be close quarters fighting, so bioblades and horns. May the gods protect us!”

They cheered in approval and he turned and led them further down the spire. It was chaos all around them. Men, women, and children fleeing the slaughter below. The militia were trying to keep order even as they advanced downwards to meet the enemy.

Cheers rose up as they saw the Guardians marching to aid. “Keep moving upward!” Draevin told the people. “We will protect your retreat.”

As they made their way forward the militia joined them and their numbers swelled. They met their first black banner rebels as they crossed an open park area. The rebels, in their black uniforms saw the approaching Guardians and militia and they let out a primal howl and charged.

“With me!” Draevin roared and he rushed to meet them. The two briekars raced out ahead and lunged into the chests of the first rebels they met. Draevin picked out his target, a large Rhodoni who seemed to be the officer. He dodged a swing of an bioblade to his head, came in low and under, and drove his own blade into his opponent right below his ribcage.

The battle raged around them. Plasma bolts from pistols at short range set the garden and combatants alight. Blades met blades, horns met torsos as some used their heads to butt at enemies. Frondauri grappled with Frondauri. More and more militia, pouring down from the upper levels joined them turning the battle one sided. The black banner were cut down.

But there were more in the spire below. Draevin took a minute to catch his breath after the battle. He tried to see how many of his squad he’d lost but the garden was filling up with too many militiamen for him to see. And they were all looking to him for orders.

He realized he wouldn’t be meeting with Staffa and second squad. Hopefully they’d made it to ground level, but they’d be on their own now. Doing his best to look like the Guardian commander he was, he raised his blade to get everyone’s attention. “We sweep the entire spire, room to room and house to house. Let’s push these murderous rebels through the very gates of death themselves.”

With a loud cheer he led his troops forward to defend the city. Cries of “For Rhodon!” and “For the Guardians!” rose all around him. But he was also glad to hear a number of “For the Commonwealth!” cheers as well.

---

Duel of the Fates - John Williams

Izine’s reality had become one of fire. It leaped up around her, clawing and burning, the air too hot to even breathe. The sound of roaring flames was so loud, it nearly drowned out the howls of the beasts.

“Wyllu!” she called out, trying to locate her Shyanar companion. But no words came out of her throat, only a weak croak as the words burned away in the heat. The beasts had attacked, but flames had risen up all around them from beneath the ground, hissing as they rose in columns from cracks between rocks. A beast would lunge, and the flames would rise pushing the beats away.

Izine and Wyllu had been separated as a column of flame rose up between them to deflect a leaping beats. She’d lost track of the Shyanar, seeing only a glimpse of her wings in the heat distorted air.

A fire beast rose out of the heat and flames and smoke. She fired her plasma pistol, hitting it center mass. Green flames engulfed the beast and when the flames had died down all that remained was a mound of smoldering flesh.

The flames crackled and popped around her, as if agitated. “It did not need to kill.” It was almost like a voice on the wind, a whisper, or the aspy escape of air from a burning log.

Izine spun about, looking for the source of the voice. But there was no one. Nothing. Except the beasts and the flames. “Who’s there?” she called out, her voice still croaking in the heat. She realized she might be hallucinating from the heat and the smoke. Perhaps there had been no voice.

Then another fire beasts leapt at her, faster than she could react. A column of fire rose up, caught the beast from below, and sent it hurtling off among the broken rocks. “Away with you,” the whispering voice said again. And this time Izine didn’t think she was crazy. Something was controlling the fire to drive the beasts away.

“Izine!” she heard someone call. She spun around to see Wyllu dropping out of the sky. She landed too hard on the crumbling ground and tipped over, smashing her side against the rocks. Izine helped her up, noticing one of her wings seemed to have been damaged. “Something in flames,” she informed Izine.

“I know,” Izine answered as another column of fire rose up out of the cracked ground near them. But this time it was different. There was no fire beast to drive away. And this time the fire didn’t dissipate as quickly as it appeared, but formed a Frondauri like shape. It had massive horns like a Frondauri, but the hair atop its head danced and waved like fire. Similar in shape and color to flames. Its skin was a warm orange tone like the skies at sunset on Pendragost. It folded its arm in front of it, and Izine saw long sharp looking nails, and at the end of its legs there were no hooves, but feet with toes like on the statues of the ancient Archons.

More flames rose up around them and formed into these beings. Seven in total in a circle around them. Wyllu readied her spear in a defensive position. Izine kept her posture relaxed but gripped her pistol in readiness.

“This one looks like the one from before,” one of them spoke in their raspy voice. From her similarities in body shape to a Frondauri, Izine deduced this one to be a female. She had a finger pointed at Izine as she spoke.

The first of the beings that had shown themselves looked from Izine to Wyllu and waved a dismissive hand. “This is not the same one,” he said. “And this creature with it is unlike either.”

“You were cautious with the first one,” the female said aggressively. “Kill these ones before they seek out the Aukmur as well.”

“We are not murderers,” the male said firmly.

“But they are,” the female screeched. “They have already extinguished many flames. We cannot risk the same happening again.”

“Who are you?” Izine asked, but they either didn’t hear her or they ignored her.

“They seem different,” the male said. “They showed fear at the attack upon them. The first one did not.”

“Yet this one killed one of the Ullivar with her green fire weapon.”

The male didn’t seem happy at her statement, “Should they not defend themselves?” he asked, his eyebrows lighting up in flames as he said it. He turned his gaze to the rest of his kind who had remained silent during this argument. “How many of you feel the same? Do you agree with Perfa? Are we to be murders now?”

None answered. The male continued to stare them down. Finally he unfolded his arms. “Your silence is answer enough. Go, return to the flagration. I will deal with these newcomers. Unless any wish to challenge my authority?”

One by one they disappeared, turning into flames and sinking back into the cracks among the rocky ground, until only the female, Perfa, remained to defy the male. “I will remain and protect you from yourself, Tunhar.”

“As you wish,” Tunhar answered. “But you will abide by my decisions.” He stared down Perfa and she stared back, until at last he broke their gaze and looked towards Izine and Wyllu.

“We didn’t mean to cause trouble,” Izine said.

“That remains to be seen,” Tunhar sighed. “If you seek the other of your kind he has already left this world.”

“Other?” she asked. But then it dawned on her. “Kruza. He came here before.”

“So she does know the other one,” Perfa said in smug satisfaction.

Tunhar ignored her. “He never told us his name. He didn’t seem interested in communicating with us. He tore the information he needed out of the minds of our kin and then made his way to the Aukmur. But his defilement went both ways, and we learned his intent as all is known to us through the flagration.”

Izine had many questions, but a sudden realization crossed her mind. “How are you speaking Frondaur?”

“Because we took the knowledge from your kin and shared it among the flagration. Like he took our knowledge, we took his.” Tunhar stepped forward, menacingly. “Do you intend to do the same as him?”

“No,” Izine answered earnestly. “He said he’d come looking for answers but found something else. I need to know what he found.”

“Why?” Perfa asked, and the menace in her voice was unmistakable.

“Because he used that knowledge somehow, to release something terrible from its imprisonment. And I need to know how to stop him before he can do more harm.”

“Very well,” Tunhar said. “Perhaps it is wisest to believe you. I will take you to the Aukmur and perhaps you will find the knowledge he did.”

“You can’t!” Perfa objected.

All he said was, “I have spoken.” The hatred in Perfa’s eyes as she stared at Izine and Wyllu was unmistakable.

She means to kill me, Izine thought. She would have to tread carefully.

---

Burning Palms - Hans Zimmer

Staffa had gathered what fighting force they could. It wasn’t much, maybe no more than two hundred. Mostly city police and militia, but they had brought with them a few dozen Prachyerms. So now she commanded a cavalry force.

“Infantry out in front, clear the fields as we march out. Once we reach their main body our mounted troops will engage.” With her orders given the troops they had marched out, leaving the city behind as it fought off the airships.

Overhead Black Banner ships crashed into the buildings, and troops poured out. Went took a quick glance wondering where Draevin and the first team were. They were likely fighting in one of the spires.

Staffa’s forces crossed the gloomy moss covered ground quickly. Their forward infantry line would hit groups of approaching Black Banner and there would be short bursts of fighting before the Black Banner would fall back.

They headed towards the plasma artillery firing towards the city. It wasn’t until they got close that they found the main force. There were a lot fewer than anticipated. The rebels had likely thrown the bulk of their forces against the city in the air attack, not expecting an armed force to ride out from the city.

Staffa didn’t wait for the rebels to get ready. She drove their few mounted forces forward as the infantry line broke in two to let them pass.

The prachyerms smashed into the defensive line, their claws tearing at anyone in their path while the riders on their back unleashed plasma fire. Once past the defensive lines they kept right on going, straight towards the artillery. They needed to stop the bombardment of the mushrooms on which the city was built.

The rebel defenders turned to pursue the riders. With their backs turned they didn’t see the infantry come charging out of the gloom until they started opening fire. What was left of their organization disintegrated.

Went rode on the left flank beside Druom. They hit the first artillery piece and swept aside its defenders and operators. Staffa ordered someone to find its plasma reservoir and overload it. The weapon disintegrated in a green explosion a few minutes later.

But they were already moving off. They split up into five smaller groups each headed for a different artillery cannon. One by one they destroyed them and their rain of green fire stopped.

---

The militia of Strazwer were beginning to turn back the Black Banner assault. Soon the rebels were retreating from their airships and pulling away from the city.

Draevin led his makeshift force down the spire, eliminating any resistance they could find. Soon the fighting slowed and then stopped. The black banner had cut their losses and ran.

City air skimmers whizzed after them, taking final shots at the enemy as they retreated. Draevin watched an airship take a direct hit to its hull and then burst into flames as it fell from the sky and crash into the ground below.

The next few hours he led whoever he could find in search and rescue operations. Fires were put out and the wounded taken to hospitals and makeshift medical sites.

He’d just finished pulling people from the rubble of a collapsed building when Habba arrived. “I’ve been looking all over for you,” she said. “The black banner’s main force was spotted a two hours' march away, heading directly for us. Their airships have already regrouped and met up with them.”

Draevin wiped his dirty hands on his trousers. “What’s our strategy?”

“Our strategy is to surrender,” Habba said. When Draevin went to protest she held up a hand to silence him. “We don’t have the capabilities to drive back their main force. We barely survived this assault. It’s over for us.”

“I understand your position,” Draevin said. “But if we turn ourselves over they will execute us, and don’t intend to die on Rhodon.”

“And I wouldn’t ask you to do so. But I have to think about my people. Gather your Guardians, and anyone else willing to go with you. Ride north two days to a little hamlet called Inhauer. I have friends there, people who still think positively of the Guardians. They’ll help you get wherever you need to go next.”

Draevin thanked her. He gathered up what remained of first team and set out to find second team. They didn’t have long to get away.

Tunhar lead them across the cracked and fire blasted surface of Ximballa. Wyllu, her wing wounded in the battle, rode on Izine’s back. Wyllu’s feet were perched on Izine’s belt, her arms wrapped around her shoulders. Perfa took up the rear, but her eyes rarely left the stranger’s backs.

Izine could feel her gaze but chose to ignore. Whenever their was a flat and easy area to traverse she’d ask Tunhar questions. “Those beasts back there, what were they?”

“Ullivar,” he answered succinctly. Then he realized the answer would not suffice. “The previous one of your kind called them coal hounds,” he continued. “Apt enough name I suppose. They are pack hunters. Predators with few to match them. Like everything else on this world they are touched by the flame.”

“The flame?” she asked.

“The fire that eternally burns on Ximballa.”

“Are you touched by the flame?” she asked and then stumbled as her foot came down on a loose rock that nearly caused her to fall.

Tunhar reached back to steady her. He checked to make sure she was okay before they continued on their way. “I suppose you could say so,” he answered with caution in his voice. Hesitantly he continued. “We believe we were born from the flame. The fire was our first mother. In that way we are touched. But there is a vast difference between Ullivar and Angfaejr. Us.” He clarified pointing at himself and Parfa.

“And what’s that?”

Parfa, listening from a few paces back laughed derisively. “We are not flame touched because we are flame.”

Tunhar didn’t deny it but he chose to clarify. “We are partially flame, capable of moving from this form you see and a form of pure fire.”

They started up a steep incline with loose shale and large boulders perched precariously atop them. One wrong move could spell a massive rock slide. Wyllu climbed off Izine’s back and they helped each other find footing.

The tow Angfaejr easily climbed the slope. If what they said was true, that they were somehow beings of fire, then their light footed skill made sense.

They climbed a final basalt rockface and came on to a plateau, yellow orange grass stretching away into the distance. And far off stood a lone gray building, similar to the Guardian citadel, it’s tower and parts of its wall long ago fallen into rubble.

“Aukmur,” Tunhar said.

Izine checked her device. It pointed directly towards the building. Somewhere in those ruins was the amber colored metal of Archon machinery. All her questions about the Angfaejr fled from her mind. She only had one pressing question. “What does Aukmur mean?”

“Hall of Whispers,” Parfa answered, an evil glee in her eyes. “Isn’t that where you wanted to go?”

Izine didn’t answer. Kruza had found answers there. What answers, and to what questions, she didn’t know. But she had to find out. And still something deep inside her mind nagged at her, telling her this was all familiar. But clarity still alluded her. Helping Wyllu up again onto her back she started towards the ruins undaunted.

---

The Last Agni Kai (Epic Remix) - Benjamin Wynn/Samuel Kim

Draevin arrived at the hamlet of Inhauer with his troop of Guardians and about a dozen volunteers from Strazwer. It was a very small community nestled in a shallow dell underneath two bioluminescent mushrooms which provided a welcoming green glow to the town. HEL had met up with them along the road, rejoining the Guardians.

They were met by a handful of the residents who let them know Habba had sent word ahead that they’d be arriving.

“We can provide you with transportation wherever you need to go,” their leader said. Draevin thanked them and they were shown to lodgings for the night, a chance to rest up and reorganize.

“We need to go south,” Draevin said over dinner. “To where the Black Banner were holed up before the rebellion.”

“What are you thinking?” Staffa asked.

Draevin scratched absentminded at the place where his horn met his head. “Did you get a look at those airships they had? At the material they were made of?”

Staffa shook her head. “I did not, sorry.”

“It looked like it was brass,” Went chimed in. “Or some kind of bronzed steel.”

“That is a good assumption,” Draevin said. “But it was something else. An alloy that the Archons used to construct machinery from. I’ve seen it on the Tomb, Archaeus, and even Helgadae. But it’s never been found in the commonwealth, and its creation is beyond our knowledge, so where did the Black Banner get it?”

“You think they found a source? Like a bunch of old Archon machines they’ve been salvaging for materials?”

Draevin shrugged at Staffa and took a sip of spiced fungal tea. “It’s not outside the realm of possibility.”

They went to bed with a plan for the morning, and when they woke up the town leaders had prepared two air skiffs for them. They’d be large enough to carry their small force southward. They’d have to leave the Prachyerms behind since they wouldn’t fit on the skiffs.

The leader of the town let them know there’d been news from the Strazwer. “The Black Banner burned the mushroom colony to the ground. The city’s gone. And the executed Habba.”

Draevin took the news silently ,thanked the town people for their assistance and set about getting ready to leave.

“They didn’t have to do that,” Went muttered about the news.

Leaving their mounts in the care of the townspeople they climbed aboard the skiffs and soon rose up into the gloomy dark sky and headed south on a course that would avoid any large cities and hopefully Black Banner patrols. HEL floated out ahead scouting their passage to warn them of any potential dangers.

---

Seven days passed as they made their way south. They successfully avoided being seen. Though there were a few close calls that HEL was able to warn them about in time. They made it out of the more populated equatorial areas and into the southern hemisphere.

The Black Banners home territories was a mountainous region that divided the warmer climates towards the north from the frigid forever night of the southern polar regions. They were hoping that with the rebellion in full swing that the mountains would be lightly populated.

They kept low to the ground, flying low over the mushroom forests so they wouldn’t stand out against the Maelstrom’s auroras. They had to hope that if they were spotted from the ground that no one would suspect they were anything but Black Banner.

The southern mountains eventually came into view as a brilliant display of greens, blues, and reds lit up the southern sky. A small energy storm bouncing off the planet's atmosphere.

The mountains were dark and jagged. Few mushrooms or any other form of plant life grew in the craggy hills and valleys of the mountains. White snow glimmered atop the peaks.

But also contrasted against the aurora lights were three black shapes, easily distinguished as Black Banner airships. Draevin ordered his two skiffs to drop even lower to the ground, mere feet from the caps of the mushroom forest.

The airships were heading north at a swift pace, and away from them. But everyone still watched with bated breath until they had passed beyond sight. Draevin did some quick mental calculations, guessing their point of origin from their course, and he adjusted their own, making for a low valley between two ridgelines in the mountains.

They navigated into the valley, slowly heading further into the mountains. Here and there they spotted solitary houses, but they were all dark. There was no sign of life.

Eventually though they heard the unmistakable sound of machinery at work echoing down the valley. As their skiffs came around a sharp bend the valley widened. A large industrial city stretched from one side to the other. Factories and machine shops spewed forth black soot from forge fires. And at the center of the city three new airships were in various stages of construction.

But there were also rows of other war machines. Wheeled war chariots, just small enough to fit through a starbridge arch, mobile platforms for heavy plasma artillery. Weapons of war.

And all around the sky small skiffs patrolled the air. Draevin took this all in as only one heartbeat passed. “Back,” he ordered. “Before they spot us.”

They turned around, heading back around the bend, the mountains concealing them from the patrol craft. But Draevin knew they were still in a dangerous position. He looked around and saw a short ways down the valley a small cleft in the rocks filled with fallen boulders. He had the skiffs make to that point and they came to land on the ground among the rocks. The skiffs would be concealed unless someone flew directly above.

---

After a few hours of climbing among the bare rocky mountains, Draevin led them to a concealed spot overlooking the city and its factories. They sat and watched, seeing hundreds of Rhodoni’s moving back and forth among the buildings. They were carting in raw materials and organizing finished machines that were ready to be transported north.

But Draevin was only interested in one spot. Using HEL’s more advanced sensors he had the probe watch from where they were transporting the amber colored alloy. They were bringing it out of a forge in large sheets to be welded together to cover the airship hull. Scabs of the alloy were being brought in to the forge on carts. HEL traced the origins of the carts.

“They are coming from a tunnel on the far side of the city. Beyond that I can’t say.”

So Draevin ordered them to move out and they spent the next few hours making their way around the city, staying to the mountains, until they were positioned above the tunnel entrance.

“We need to get in there,” Draevin said.

Staffa nudged him in the shoulder and gestured to the Rhodoni’s that had joined them after Strazwer. “You think they can scout down there without drawing attention?”

Draevin liked the idea and presented it to the Rhodoni. Two of them volunteered before he’d even had a chance to finish. They left their weapons and gear behind so they could blend in better as workers. Draevin watched them enter the tunnel and then all that was left was to wait.

While they waited HEL continued to scan and catalog all the different factories and the production coming from them.

Less than an hour later the two Rhodoni came back out of the tunnel and snuck back up to where Draevin waited.

“What’s in there?” he asked. “Is it an old Archon ruin?”

One of them shook his head. “It’s nothing like that,” he answered. “There’s a functional starbridge down there. They’re carting in the scraps from off world.”

“We decided to cross through as well, see where it was all coming from,” the other Rhodoni added.

“And it’s no place I’ve ever seen,” the first continued. “And it sure isn’t anywhere in the commonwealth.”

---

The Kraken - Hans Zimmer

The plains were easier going. The ground less cracked and broken as then elsewhere on the planet. Izine continued to carry Wyllu who perched on her back.

She’d tried asking Tunhar further questions, but as they passed through the waist high grass he’d grown silent. Behind Parfa’s sly smile continued to grow across her face. Izine could only surmise every step closer to the Hall of Whispers brought her closer to danger. A danger the Angfaejr knew but she did not.

Around them heat shimmers swirled around. Only the sound of the breeze across the grass could be heard.

The sun was dropping low towards the horizon when they approached the ruins. Tunhar brought them to a halt and Izine helped Wyllu down to rest.

“Are we going in?” she asked him, noticing his hesitation.

“We wait,” he answered.

She studied the ruins, noting how parts of the building seemed to have been melted long ago, long before the rest had even begun to crumble. “What are we waiting on?” she asked.

Parfa laughed. “Waiting on your judgment,” she mocked.

Izine ignored her, keeping her attention on the friendlier of the two. He noticed her gaze and sighed. “You must address the conflagration and plead your case.”

“Conflagration?” she asked. But now sooner had she spoken then she noticed they were now surrounded by heat shimmers which were approaching quickly. As they approached flames rose up out of the ground and took on physical forms. There was now a large host of Angfaejr in a semicircle around Izine and Wyllu.

“Why have you lead this creature here?” spoke one to Tunhar. He was massive, larger than all the others by nearly twice.

“I used my judgment and decided that was the prudent course.”

There was a multitude of murmering voices that died away quickly. The large Angfaejr seemed unimpressed and took a closer look at Wyllu and Izine. Eventually he spoke again. “The little one has no issue with the conflagration and my continue on, but…” and he turned his attention to Izine… “this one appears to be of the same kin as the interloper and will answer in kind.”

“She is not guilty of the others' sins,” Tunhar spoke.

“I will decide that.” The big one came forward, right up to Izine. She could feel a great heat rising off him, and there was something terrible in his eyes. But she did not flinch or cower from him.

“The ‘interloper’ was once one of my kind but he now follows a different path.” Her words sounded formal and commanding but deep down Izine felt so very small in the presence of the surrounding crowd.

“Silence,” he commanded. “You will have a chance to plead your case. He turned to face Tunhar and now addresses him. “You would choose to help this one after what the interloper did to your beloved?”

“And when I meet the interloper again I will exact my revenge,” Tunhar stated coldly. “But I do not believe this one shares the guilt.”

He then turned again and addressed Parfa. “She was your sister, what say you?”

Parfa glared menacingly at Izine. “Fire for fire,” she answered. “Put out this one’s flame as payment for my sister’s flame.”

It was now that Izine began to understand. She remembered something Tunhar had said before. He tore the information he needed out of the minds of our kin. “He killed her when he tore knowledge from her mind, didn’t he?”

This brought the large Angfaejr back in front of her. “You know something of this?”

She took a deep breath. “What does the word Faceless mean to you?”

Again there was murmuring, this time filled with fear and anxiety. The large one roared and the murmurs turned to silence. “What do you know of the destroyers?”

“One tried to turn Kruza, but we stopped it. Or so we thought. Now I think one of them lives inside his body.”

He made a quick glance at Tunhar, but he just shrugged. It was not information Izine had given.

“Perhaps Tunhar’s instincts are better than I thought.” He spoke directly to Izine. “How did you come across the destroyers? We believed them to be gone.”

“They weren’t. The Archons trapped them but didn’t destroy them. And now, with the answers Kruza found here he’s managed to free them from their prison.”

“It’s lying,” Parfa screamed.

“Silence,” the large Angfaejr roared.

“Kill it,” screamed Parfa ignored him.

With one great bound the large one lept to Parfa and slammed her forcefully into the ground with only one hand. “This is beyond your petty need for violence,” he bellowed at her. “Be silent and listen like your sister’s beloved has been.”

“I need to go into the ruins,” Izine plead. “Into the Aukmur. I have to know what he found.”

“And so do I,” Tunhar said. “I knew it since she first spoke to me. Answers and justice must be sought among the whispers.”

The big one stood in silent contemplation. “There are great happenings going on around us. It seems the great fires may return. So be it. You will take this one into the Aukmur and find her answers.” He looked down at Parfa still cowering on the ground. “Take this one with you. Perhaps she will find her vengeance. But be warned…” and he leaned down to speak directly to her. “Should you harm this one there will be no place for you in the conflagration ever again.”

And with those words the crowd turned back into flames and passed into the ground, leaving only heat shimmers which also soon dissipated.

---

Into the Fire (feat. Evie B.) — Everything Must Go, KJ Sawka, & A_Rival

The world engine had started to come alive. This was vindication for Shaifur. He’d made the right call. Soon the planet would be up to full power and they could get the foundries up and running. The reports from his department heads were all good and HEL backed up the reports.

“The core generator should be up and running at full capacity within the next ten days,” the AI reported in a cheerful tone. “Well, ten days local time,” he corrected with amusement in his artificial voice. “The bridges are providing enough energy from the Maelstrom, as we predicted.”

Shaifur took a deep breath, sighing with relief. He placed his hands at the side of his head, rubbing out the tension. “And then we get to decide the next step in our plan.”

“Build weapons to fight the faceless,” HEL said.

“But what will those weapons look like?” Shaifur asked rhetorically. “What will be the best strategy for fighting them?”

“I can start running simulations,” HEL offered. “The Archons weren’t successful in fighting them, but I can at least tell you what won’t work.”

“That won’t be necessary right now,” Shaifur said absently. “There will be plenty of time to go over that. I’ll need to speak with the Grand Prior of the Guardians about bringing in experts on tactics who can help us out.” He sighed wearily. “Another thing to do.”

“Then right now is your best chance,” HEL said. “The Grand Prior has just arrived through the starbridge, along with an armed escort. It appears they’re with what I assume is one of your political leaders.”

“What?” Shaifur coughed in surprise as HEL brought up a video feed. The Grand Prior was indeed there with what looked like five heavily armed Guardians. They were standing behind the unmistakable figure of the High Chairman Jazulian.

“They are requesting I lead them to you,” HEL said.

“I wasn’t expecting him this soon, but go ahead and direct him here.”

He had known the Council would figure out he’d moved ahead with his plans but had thought it would take them longer. As he waited for Jazulian he checked the progress of the installation. Power levels were virtually the same. They hadn’t really expected them to have changed in the few minutes since she’d checked it last. It was just to distract himself from the anxiety he was feeling. He was about ready to face off against the High Chairman of the Twelve Worlds.

Jazulian burst into the room with a furious energy. He stormed across the control room, the Guardian escort hustling to keep up. The High Chairman came to a stop in front of Shaifur, his face red with anger.

“We told you we didn’t support this plan,” he raged. “And yet you went behind our back and did it anyway.”

Shaifur met his furious gaze and answered calmly. “I did no such thing.”

“The commonwealth may be distracted by this ongoing conflict, but did you think we wouldn’t notice the stars moving faster?”

“I expected you would notice, but I followed your wishes. I never went ahead with the plan.” The condescension in Shaifur’s voice was unmistakable. “I am still a loyal citizen of the Twelve Worlds.”

“Do not not play games with me, Watcher,” Jazulian said leaning menacingly, his breath hitting Shaifur. “Observation of distant stars proves that our region of space is moving at a quicker pace. A time dilation bubble is what you called it.”

“That’s what it’s called,” Shaifur confirmed. “And I can’t deny that what you’ve observed is true. I just didn’t order it.”

“Then who did?” he asked.

“Hello,” HEL responded through the overhead communications, his voice cheery and polite. “I believe you wish to address me.”

There was a look of surprise on Jazulian’s face, but it was quickly replaced with annoyance. “Ah yes, you’re the planet's intelligence. Are you saying you ordered Shaifur’s plan to go ahead?”

“No, I proceeded with the plan on my own. No Frondauri was involved.”

“I ordered the plan to be forgotten,” Jazulian said, “which as High Chairman of the Twelve Worlds…”

He was interrupted by HEL. “This is not the Twelve Worlds,” the AI stated. “Your authority does not extend here.”

Jazulian opened his mouth in shock. Shaifur couldn’t help but notice the amused smile on Koab’s face. The Guardian caught Shaifur’s gaze, giving him a knowing head shake.

But Jazulian hadn’t yet come to realize what HEL was saying. “This is ridiculous. You will comply.”

“No,” HEL answered. While his tone was still cheery there was nothing friendly in that one word. “I do not recognize the authority of the Commonwealth. I was created for the purpose of managing and maintaining this facility under the authority of the Archon Cooperative.”

Jazulian was aghast. “The Archons are gone,” he stated feebly.

“Indeed this is so. Yet before they became extinct they did not tell me to obey the Frondauri, so until the Archons return I will make decisions based on what I deem necessary to maintain this facility. Including taking Shaifur’s idea under consideration and taking steps to put it into practice.”

The High Chairman realized he’d get nowhere arguing with the AI. He turned his attention back to Shaifur. “I’m no fool. I know this machine didn’t think of this on their own. Who’s idea was it? Yours or Supreme Watcher Kaifur’s?”

“I think you’re underestimating our mechanical friend,” Shaifur responded.

“And I think you’re a traitor.” He turned to the Guardians. “Arrest this frond,” he ordered.

Koab didn’t move but the other Guardians obeyed, readying their weapons they moved to approach Shaifur. But hidden doors in the command room, which Shaifur didn’t even know existed, opened and out came six large armed robots.

“Watcher Shaifur has requested sanctuary on Helgadae,” HEL said in a menacing and cheery voice. “And we have granted it. I suggest you lower your weapons.”

The Guardians looked to Koab who motioned got them to comply. They registered their weapons and moved back from Shaifur.

Jazulian looked at the armed robots and then looked angrily at Shaifur. “So your little machine is declaring war on the Commonwealth?”

“Only if that’s what you think is necessary,” Shaifur said. “But I don’t think it’s in anyone’s best interest for you to try and fight us. Especially when you’re already losing to Rhodon.”

“I think it’s time for you all to leave,” HEL suggested.

Jazulian took one last look at the robots and knew he had no choice but to leave. “This isn’t over,” he said and stormed out.

Koab gave Shaifur one last friendly smile. “Good luck, Watcher.” And then he and the rest of the Guardians left, following the High Chairman.

---

Fire Escape - Civil Twilight

Rhodon

Staffa found Draevin perched on a rock, staring absently over the Rhodoni factory town below. He was stroking his chin where the wisps of a beard were beginning to grow.

“Something on your mind?” she asked.

“Just considering how to solve a problem,” he answered, continuing to stare into the distance.

She took a seat on a rock just to the side of where he was perched. “And what’s the problem?”

He gave a wry chuckle. “We have to go through that starbridge,” he explained, nodding his head in the direction of the tunnel. “We have to know what’s going on over there. Possibly put a stop to it. And I don’t think any of us will be coming back from there.”

“That’s what I was thinking too,” she said. “Because we’re gonna have to storm that archway, and once they know we’re on the other side, they’ll put up defenses on this side so we can’t come back through.” She stared off to where she could just see the tunnel entrance off in the gloom. “But I wasn’t expecting to live forever. So no problem for me.”

“That’s not the problem,” Draevin said. “Dying doesn’t bother me. But we were sent to scout out the situation on Rhodon, and now we have information the Commonwealth needs to have. Information about the Black Banner, the cure for the phage, and the fact that the Council of Twelve knew about all this and has done nothing. This all has to be reported. To the Guardians or the Watchers, preferably. But that means getting off Rhodon. Another problem that I don’t have a solution to.”

Staffa nodded at what he said. She hadn’t thought about that, but he was right. They had been sent on a mission and dying on a previously unknown planet would not fulfill that mission. “Somebody has to go to the capital. Make it through the bridge at the main plaza. I say send two of our Rhodoni friends.” She cocked her head back towards where the rest of their group was waiting. “They’d have the best chance of making it through.”

Draevin nodded in agreement. “Good idea, but one flaw. Neither of them are Guardians. And two Rhodoni trying to report back to the Commonwealth probably isn’t going to work.” He turned his attention towards the rest of their group. “So one of us is going to have to go back with them. HEL can help them get to the city, and the Rhodoni can hopefully through the gate, back to Pendragost.”

“Who do you have in mind?” Staffa asked.

Draevin didn’t have an answer, but then one of the Guardians caught his gaze. She was busy walking around the perimeter, her energy bow held loosely in her hand. He hadn’t interacted with her too much but knew she was capable. She’d already killed one faceless and a number of rebels. He turned his gaze back to Staffa. “Send Guardian Went up here,” he said to her.

---

Ximballa
“The Hall of Whispers awaits us,” Tunhar said with muted determination. Izine’s attention was brought back to the crumbling ruins in front of her. She checked to make sure Wyllu was ready and then helped her up onto her back. She then started towards what looked like an old gateway in the wall.

“Staying here would be the wisest choice,” Tunhar said, bringing Izine to a halt just as she had started to step through the gate. She turned to him, but he was addressing Perfa, who hadn’t moved from where she’d been slammed into the ground. “They would demand penance,” he continued, “for ignoring their command. But it would be safer than this path you walk now.”

“I am not afraid of the Aukmur,” she said angrily, pulling herself up off the ground.

“I am not referring to this place, but the spark of hate you have let blaze in your heart.”

She only stared at him, and didn’t answer his accusation. But his own gaze did not aver, and though Izine could only see his profile, his gaze wasn’t harsh. It seemed more sad then anything. Finally without a word, she started moving and met Izine at the gate. With a stern expression she spoke “I’ll lead the way” and then started into the ruins.

Tunhar followed, giving Izine a reassuring half smile. “She heard our words,” he told her. “Now it is up to us if she lets the hate burn out.” He then motioned for her to follow Perfa, and Izine complied.

She found these half-fire people interesting. She didn’t know yet what to make of them, but they had chosen to trust her and not hold her responsible for Kurza’s acts. So she would risk Perfa’s anger, and trust Tunhar’s grace.

The ruins of the Archon structure were similar in layout to the Guardian’s Citadel on Pendragost, but most of the buildings had collapsed to varying degrees. Strange orange shrubs and purple vines grew in the ruins of the buildings, among the cracked rubble and collapsed walls.

Perfa led them through the rubble, but Izine could have likely found her own way. There was the ruins of what would have been the initiates barracks at the citadel, further along the chapel and beyond that the armory. Here the roofs had collapsed and the place was overgrown, but she could make out the similarities. It wasn’t until they passed what would have been the cookhouse on Pendragost, and headed out across the training yards, where things became different. On Pendragost a large tower with stairs leading up into the main hall dominated the citadel, but here, there was a low dome without windows, overgrown with vines. A doorway at ground level created an ominous entrance into the structure, like the opening to a dark cave.

Both Perfa and Tunhar appeared uneasy as they approached the dome. She hadn’t seen them with any sort of weapon but now they both carried very intimidating looking blades which were carved from what looked like obsidian.

Izine rested her hand reassuringly on her plasma pistol. “Are we expecting trouble?” she asked them.

“Many Angfaejr enter the ruins in search of lost secrets,” Tunhar said. “Few return, and few return as they were before they entered.”

She didn’t ask any more questions. They stayed close together and entered the dome together. Both Tunhar and Perfa’s hair caught ablaze, and the light from the burning lit up the darkness a little. They couldn’t see to the other side of the building, but they could see the ground ahead. The ground was littered with dirt and rocks, and here and there large pieces of stone that had likely fallen from above, which had embedded into the floor.

Izine wished she could see further, but then remembered her glow lamp. She fished it out of a pouch on her hip and shook it. The chemicals inside the tube mixed together and a bright blue light radiated out from the lamp. The interior of the dome was now fully illuminated.

She nearly jumped in fear as large gray figures seemed to rise out of the darkness around them. But she caught herself and her brain finally registered what they were. Pillars, rising twice her height, ringed around the dome. At the top of each pillar a black orb. Some of the pillars had broken and fallen over. She didn’t know what they were for but they reminded her of an Archon ruin she’d once been to on Tamaraes as a child.

Perfa and Tunhar stared at her lamp with amazement. “Amazing,” Perfa muttered, before realizing she’d spoken out loud and replaced her look of awe with her normal stern look.

Tunhar said nothing but looked out across the interior of the dome. “There,” he said, and pointed with his obsidian knife. Another doorway awaited directly across from them. With their path now illuminated, they made there way across to the other doorway. They went down a short hall and then came into another room. This room wasn’t very large, and the floor ended abruptly at a ledge. Beyond the ledge was a deep pit that stretched down into a darkness that Izine’s light wasn’t bright enough to see to the bottom. At the edge was a silver panel, and Izine recognized it. She’d seen something similar on Archaeus. She put her hand on the silver panel and could hear gears began grinding from deep in the pit as something started to rise towards them.

“Looks like we’re going down,” she said and waited for the lift to come up to the top.

---

After the Fall - Chelsea Wolfe

The lift dropped into the abyss, taking only a few minutes before coming to a halt. Only a few stories down, Izine presumed. A single corridor led away ahead of them and she took the lead, plasma pistol at the ready. Wyllu, still mounted on the Frondauri’s back, held the light up to show the way.

Izine had expected it to be like the Mother’s sanctum on Archaeus, a warren of crumbling stone tunnels. But instead it was more industrial. Pipes and tubes lined the passage. There was no rust, the air was too dry on Ximballa, but when she bumped against a pipe it cracked easily from the age.

A layer of fine dust covered everything but along the floor ahead of them it had been disturbed not too long before. She saw the prints of a pair of hooves, and some kind of padded paw. Kruza, she thought, and his coal hounds.

They reached a branch in the passage which split off in two directions. Kruza had gone down both, but the one to the left he’d gone down and come back up as his tracks pointed away and then back. Down the right he had not returned.

“Which way?” Petra asked impatiently.

Izine at first thought to go down the right, since Kruza had had to retrace his path back from the left, but another thought had occurred to her. Perhaps he had found his answers to the left. She was here to retrace his steps and that meant all of them.

So she led them down the left passage. It ran straight ahead without branching. On and on she followed the track through the dust. But eventually the trail came to an end. Kruza had stopped and then paced about the hallway. A couple of pipes had been cracked and strewn, as if he had broken them in anger.

“This is as far as he went,” Tunhar stated. “We should go back and follow his track down the other passage.

Izine nodded and turned to go back, but something up the hallway caught her eye. It glinted just for a second, but it brought her back to stare into the darkness. She moved her head about until the light from the lamp caught it again. The unmistakable glint from something golden ahead.

“Hold up,” she said, bringing out her scanning device. As she’d suspected it was telling her that there was a lot of the Archon amber colored metal directly ahead. “I think we should continue down this way first.”

Perfa looked irritated at her, but Tunhar gave her a quizzical look. “You suspect something?”

“I think he wanted to go down this way, look at how he paced about,” she pointed at the mess his hoofsteps had made in the dust. “Something stopped him, and it infuriated him. And he smashed these pipes in frustration.”

“If something stopped the interloper then it’s not something we want to mess with,” Perfa said irritably. “We should go back.”

Izine ignored her, thinking instead of her meeting with Kruza in the catacombs beneath the Guardian citadel. “‘Not the answers I was looking for,’” Izine muttered. When Tunhar gave her another quizzical look she realized she’d said it outloud. “He said he’d come here looking for answers, but he’d found answers that he hadn’t been looking for. I think he was being literal, and he couldn’t get the answers he wanted.” She was remembering how the faceless had them trapped in the depths of the Pellacon but hadn’t attacked them. And then, in the underground sanctuary of the Mother on Archaeus something had made Kruza ill. And now, he couldn’t continue down this hallway. “I think we’ll be alright,” she concluded and continued down the dark hallway.

She didn’t truly believe the hypothesis that was forming in her mind, so as she stepped past the furthest print, she half expected an invisible force to stop her. But nothing did and soon she was paces beyond where he’d stopped. The glint was from a piece of machinery set into an alcove before a closed door at the end of the hall. The machine was made out of the amber metal the archons had used. Even now it remained unrusted and unblemished and the light reflected off it even under a thin coating of dust.

She wondered at the substance, to withstand such a long time without deteriorating. She brushed the dust from it, expecting it to crumble like the pipes had, but it remained solid to the touch. Whatever the machine had been, whatever task it once performed, it now stood cold and silent.

She looked at the door which blocked the end of the hallway. It was an old door, and looked to be made out of the same material as the pipes. She reached forward and pushed on it, and like the pipes it cracked and crumbled from the pressure of her light touch.

Not wanting to hurt Wyllu, she helped the Shyanar down off her back. Once unrestricted she used her whole body to push through the door. Tunhar came forward and also helped her, though Perfa stood back and merely glared.

Once they were through, Izine took the lamp from Wyllu and stepped into the room beyond. Perfa followed her, while Tunhar helped Wyllu through the broken door.

The camber on the other side of the door was filled with machinery, of different forms and sizes, all made from the amber material. She wondered what they had done, what functions the machines were once used for.

A computer console sat in the middle of the room and she headed towards it to investigate. But to her dismay it was broken. Part of it had caught on fire and melted from the heat a long time before. Scorch marks were still visible under the dust and much of its panels were warped out of shape from heat.

Not like she would have been able to make it work. She would need Shaifur for that. He was the expert on Archon tech anyway. Though she remembered the blinking button she’d pressed on Helgadae which had allowed them to communicate with HEL. But there was no blinking button here. The entire panel was cold and dead.

“Was this what the interloper was looking for then?” Perfa asked mockingly.

“Obviously not,” Tunhar answered her. He was looking around the room marveling at the size of the machines. He’d let his flame die down to a mere glow, and had hoisted Wyllu up onto his back, letting her stand in the palm of his left hand which he held behind his back.

Wyllu was making her own chittering noise and then turned to Izine. “These are like below doom engines.”

“They do look like what Shaifur described,” she agreed.

“Doom Engine?” Tunhar asked.

“Great Archon machines we found on Wyllu’s home planet,” Izine explained. “They were used to poison the air with radiation to kill the invading faceless. But it also poisoned the whole planet.”

Perfa seemed aghast at the thought. “And now the interloper came here to find the means to do it to our planet.” Her eyes gleamed with a fiery glow as she stared down Izine.

“I don’t think…” she had begun to explain, but her words were drowned out as a new sound filled the room. At first it seemed to be a rushing of air, but she felt no breeze on her. As the sound grew it seemed like she could almost pick out words. A thousand whispering voices seemed to rise up in cacophony around them, but as quickly as it had come, it died down and the ruins were once again quiet.

They all stood listening in silence to see if the sound repeated. When it didn’t come again after a few minutes they all relaxed a little.

“The whispers,” Tunhar muttered in terrified awe.

Perfa though hadn’t forgotten what they’d been talking about. And she continued the conversation. “Was the interloper looking for this Doom Engine?”

“If he was he would have returned to Wyllu’s homeworld,” Izine said. “We destroyed one but there are four left. No he was here for something else.”

Tunhar, who had been wandering around the room, called to them from behind one of the great metal machines. “Come see this.”

Izine hurried over, and Perfa reluctantly followed. Tunhar pointed to something laying on the ground. At first Izine thought it was just a random pile of scrap, but she then saw what it actually was. It had two legs and two arms, and a large torso. It had fallen over, its legs having buckled, and its head underneath its torso. She bent down to examine it.

She now really wished Shaifur was here, then he could compare it to the machine they’d fought in the doom engine. The one that had claimed to be a long dead Archon. She had to assume it was similar, though not the same. This one had simple mechanical fingers, while Shaifur had described the other as having a cutting torch and other implements for hands.

She bent over to examine it, and brushed against one of the legs. Like the pipes it too crumbled when touched. But the wires inside the machine did not, as they were made out of the amber material.

Wyllu made some excited chittering noises, then pointed at the robot. “In hand. Look. See in hand,” she said.

Izine looked. It was holding a long slim cylinder with three metal spikes at the end. It was made from the amber metal, so she was able to pick it up. She knew what it was. They’d used one to power up doors and open them on Helgadae.

“Look around,” Izine said to the two Angfaejr. “See if there’s another entrance out of this room.”

It didn’t take them long to find it. It was just between two machines. The door was made of the same golden material and was sealed shut. A dead control panel was placed at waist height by the door, but it had no power. Izine placed the key into the port on the control panel and was surprised to hear a mechanical buzz as the panel lit up. On Helgadae they’d had to enter a code provided by HEL but this time only a single round light came on.

With nothing else to try, Izine pressed the light. There was a loud click and then the door opened, swinging backwards into another chamber on the other side. This chamber was small, barely wide enough for three people to stand abreast. But all along its walls were numerous control panels and computer consoles.

Wyllu shined the lantern around the room as they looked around. Here there was no dust. The room seemed perfectly preserved, as if it hadn’t been touched since the Archons abandoned the planet.

“Nothing is working in here either,” Tunhar said with disappointment.

“And there’s no more doors,” Perfa said snarkily.

“The end of the road, then,” Izine said. “I’d really hoped to find what Kruza was….” But her words were drowned out by the whispers returning. The loud cacophony of voices filling the air. But this time as they came something strange happened. The panels and consoles all lit up, like power was surging through them. Lights came on and began blinking. The console screens lit up, displaying data in the Archon language. The voices grew louder and louder, and then just as quickly as they came, it faded away and everything went dead again. The room, the ancient tunnels, was silent except for their own shocked breathing.

Went had gone, taking Druom as her escort. They were to take the air skiff, find HEL, and get off planet. She’d also taken Raedblom with her, while Brydleif had refused to go, demanding to stay with Draevin.

Draevin knew the odds she’d face weren’t great. But he had put his faith in the young Frondauri and so could only focus on his own current task. He’d gathered his forces together, the Guardians and the Rhodoni that had chosen to come with them.

“Are there any guards in the tunnel?” he asked the two Rhodoni who’d already scouted ahead.

“Two at the starbridge, and a patrol of an additional two in the tunnel.”

“That’s not very much,” Staffa said.

“Why would they need more?” Draevin asked rhetorically. “There’s no fighting here, and the commonwealth never gave a shit about this place anyway.”

He didn’t wait for a response. “We’re gonna charge straight down the tunnel. Hit the patrol and move on and secure the gate. Are there any other passages out of the tunnel?”

“Maybe,” one of the Rhodoni answered. “The starbridge is in a large chamber stacked with supplies and equipment. There may have been other passages we didn’t see.”

“Alright, secure the tunnel and the bridge. If there’s other passages out, secure those. Once that’s done you’ll take defense of the bridge, Staffa. Your squad will watch our backs and protect our retreat. Everyone else will follow me through.”

“And what will you do then?” Staffa asked.

“Find out what the black banner are up to over there, and stop them. And failing that, destroy the bridge.”

---

They hit the tunnel at a run, Draevin in the lead, with Staffa’s squad taking up the rear. They were deep into the tunnel when they met up with the patrol. They were heading back up towards the gate and didn’t seem to be alert to any threat.

Draevin took out one with a blast from his plasma pistol, and someone else took out the other. They didn’t stop, jumping over the fallen bodies and hurried on.

The two guards at the bridge were looking down the tunnel as they rushed in. They’d likely seen the flash from the plasma shots but didn’t realize the danger. Draevin fired his pistol, taking out one of the guards. The other got his own weapon up and fired off a shot before someone got him.

The shot hit the side wall of the tunnel, melting rock before it fizzled out. But none of his own had been hit.

“Secure this chamber,” he ordered.

His people moved among the equipment and made sure no one else was there. Two more smaller tunnels lead off from the chamber. One was blocked off with a heavy steel door, while the other ended in another smaller chamber without any way out.

“Prepare your defenses as you see fit,” Draevin told Staffa.

“Good luck?” She replied.

He readied his squad and with a quick nod to them he dashed through the glimmer of the starbridge. He rushed out into a massive cavern. The size was immense, large enough a Drasul tree could have grown in it. And all around them filling up the chamber were massive constructions, like towers but laid on their side. And they all had the golden glint of the amber metal.

As his people followed him through he motioned for them to take up defensive positions. But aside from some half filled carts, there was nothing.

He looked around at the cavern. Someone had strung up powerful glow lights around the cavern which gave off a blue glow. He’d thought they were in a cave but he realized the cavern was too regular. The shape of it reminded him of facilities on Helgadae. Was this another constructed world?

His soldiers swept the immediate area, and found no one. Giving orders to two Harklaedis, and three of the Rhodoni to defend the starbridge, he ordered the rest to follow him.

A well worn track ran from the carts leading up among the strange structures. He guessed if anyone was to be found, it would be up the track. They moved into the shadows of the structures that filled the cavern. The amber metal had been stripped from the first structures, up to a few feet above their heads.

This left the structures open, and Draevin could see that the metal was riveted together across a skeletal frame, one that seemed to be made of the crystalline material like the starbridges. Dead computer terminals, also stripped of the amber metal, were now just piles of wires and tubes. He wondered what the structures were, but didn’t think too hard about it, instead, keeping his eyes open for any potential threats.

Brydleif fluttered up onto the structures, moving from one to the other. Draevin and his troops kept to the track. It lead in between the structures, winding back and forth. The buildings seemed to be lined up in rows, almost like a city, but Draevin mused that the ‘streets’ between were irregular and not well thought out.

They had passed between two structures when Brydleif dropped down to the ground in front of them with a chirp. “Many dark Frondauri ahead,” she warned.

“What are they doing?” Draevin asked.

“Cutting into these things,” she answered, gesturing to the metallic structures. “None are armed.”

That took Draevin back for a second. But then he realized they didn’t need to be armed. Because the commonwealth didn’t even know of this place.

“We’ll take them alive,” Draevin told his troops. “Perhaps we’ll get some answers from them.”

They readied their weapons, and with his orders Draevin lead them forward.

Just as the Shyanar had said they were all busy cutting into the amber metal. They didn’t even notice the approaching Frondauri until Draevin lead them out.

“Put your hands up,” he ordered, drawing their attention. “Nobody needs to get hurt.”

The Rhodoni were taken aback. Most froze in place or raised their hands. A couple leapt to action, with one leaping to pick up a plasma cutter, but a precise shot from Draevin disintegrated the device.

“The next shot kills,” he said. The last few who had also grabbed for something to use as a weapon realized the futility of the situation and dropped their weapons, raising their hands.

“So the Commonwealth has finally discovered this place?” a Rhodoni asked. He was a tall muscular male, with dark ash gray skin. He looked over Draevin’s troops, lingering his gaze on the few Rhodoni with him. “They sent their Guardian lackeys to kill us.”

“I have no intention to kill you,” Draevin said. “But we can’t allow the Black Banner to strip this place for materials to build war machines. This war has to end.”

The Rhodoni laughed. “This war will never end until Rhodon is free. Free from the commonwealth and the murderous council of twelve. It was them who started this war.”

“We know,” Draevin replied. “We know about the inoculation for the phage. We know that Jazulian tried to hide the cure to keep Rhodon quarantined.”

The Rhodoni seemed generally surprised to hear Draevin’s words. “Then why are you here instead of bring that murderous Pendari to justice.”

“Because of we’re to stop him, to bring these allegations before the commonwealth, then this war has to end first. As long as it continues do you think the commonwealth will want to listen to your charges against him?”

The Rhodoni looked at each other wondering what their response was to be. Finally the Rhodoni who seemed to speak on their behalf turned back to Draevin. “The Black Banner will never submit to commonwealth again. Nor will we listen to the hollow promises of the Giardians.”

With a gesture of his hand the Rhodoni leapt into action. They charged Draevin and his troops, but without weapons they never stood a chance. Plasma fire erupted from the Guardians weapons. When they were done the Rhodoni mostly lay dead on the ground. Except for three who had kept their hands up and stayed put.

“Do you intend to follow your fellow countrymen?” Draevin asked, gesturing at the still smoldering corpse of the Rhodoni’s leader.

“No,” one answered. “I only supported the black banner because I thought no one in the commonwealth was willing to listen. But here you are.”

Draevin ordered his people to lower their weapons. He didn’t want to see any more Frondauri blood spilled.

“Do any of you know what this place is?” he asked.

“I believe this planet is called Hecataez,” one of the surrendered Rhodoni answered.

“And what are these buildings?”

“Buildings?” the third one asked bewildered. “You don’t know what they are?”

Draevin shook his head.

“These were starships. This was a hangar for Archon starships. This was one of their fleets.”

A messenger from the Commonwealth had arrived on Helgadae to deliver a message. Shaifur met him in the starbridge room and took the message from him.

“I will await your reply,” the messenger said, making no move to leave the now heavily guarded starbridge room.

Shaifur thanked him politely and left him there. He didn’t read the message until he had returned to the command center.

The message was about what he’d expected. The Council of Twelve had declared Shaifur a traitor and demanded he surrender. He had been stripped of his commonwealth citizenship, and that furthermore the council was going to demand the Watcher’s kick him from their order.

That the Watcher’s hadn’t already done so meant Supreme Watcher Kaifur had stood his ground against the council. The news gave Shaifur a smile.

But the message continued. Any Frondauri who did not immediately return to the Commonwealth would be considered in open rebellion and would also be stripped of their citizenship.

Shaifur called them all together for a meeting in the command center. There were only a few dozen scientists, and six Guardians for protection, but he told them what was happening.

“I suggest you grab your things,” Shaifur told them. “I’ll be giving my reply to the council’s messenger in an hour. All of you should leave with him. This is my fight, not any of yours.”

There were a couple who immediately left the room to go pack their things. A few still stayed.

“Don’t stay out of some misplaced loyalty to me or the Watchers,” Shaifur continued. “Because there’s gonna be a fight. And while HEL’s defense robots are formidable, he has limited ability to repair or build new ones.”

“That’s why you need our help,” Kiht said. “We can do repairs, help prepare this place for a fight.”

“No,” Shaifur said. “I’m not looking to fight the commonwealth. We need to delay them so we can charge the planet’s core. We need to get this facility back up to full power, not kill each other.”

“That’s likely what’s going to happen though,” Guels responded. “Quite frankly I’m not willing to die for any of this nonsense.” With that he turned and left, taking quite a few scientists with him.

“I’m definitely staying,” Kiht said firmly.

Shaifur gave her a grateful smile. He turned his attention to the six Guardians who were still there. “You should go. I don’t want to drag your order into this.”

“We have orders from the Grand Prior to stay,” the commander, an Ithycari named Udal, stated.

“Why would he want you to stay?” Shaifur asked.

“I didn’t ask,” Udal answered.

Shaifur was surprised, but also relieved. He’d have some experienced fighters to help him out. He addressed the last few scientists, all of whom were Watchers, giving them one last chance to leave. They stayed firm. He’d have nine Watchers and six Guardians to help prepare. Because Jazulian would definitely send a force to take Helgadae. With the technology that was here, he’d be a fool not to.

---

Went had pushed the skiff as hard as she dared, racing away north towards Rhodon’s capital and the starbridge plaza that would get her back to the commonwealth. Her and Druom met up with HEL’s sensor bot a few hours after leaving the southern mountains behind.

When informed about their plan he offered to scout ahead for them in his cheery robotic voice. It took them the better part of two days to race across Rhodon, but as the pale blue sun of Rhodon sank below the horizon they could make out the lights of the Rhodoni capital.

They landed among a mushroom forest, finding a place to hide the skiff. They’d have to make the rest of their way on foot. HEL went out ahead. His robotic sensors would better detect any patrols or threats long before they could.

Edarra, the capital of Rhodon, was built between four large mushroom caps, covering a small open plane. The starbridge plaza was at the very center of the city. They made it to the outskirts without being noticed. HEL had helped them avoid patrols.

The city was quiet, with no one out on the street. They were able to move unimpeded through the dark streets. Went wondered where the people were, but then she found a sign stating there was a curfew in effect at night.

“At least we won't run into anybody,” Druom said, “but there’ll probably be heavy patrols the deeper we get into the city.”

“We’ve already avoided nine street patrols,” HEL said cheerfully. “I have made sure to navigate us around them.”

Went was disturbed to hear that they’d been close to so many patrols. When she’d volunteered for this mission she hadn’t expected to do anything but follow orders, yet here she was having to figure out how to get back. She was grateful for HEL’s presence. If they were to stand a chance, it would be with him there.

“How far to the starbridge plaza?” she asked HEL.

“The most direct route would get us there in about twenty minutes,” he answered. “But that route is well guarded. I will try to get us around but it will take some doing.”

They continued to navigate down the streets of the city, but as expected the patrols became heavier. They had to hide down alleys a number of times, once even ducking into a closed market stall, as patrols passed. HEL’s large metallic frame made it hard for him to hide at ground level, so when a patrol approached he’d rise up to the roof of a building and hide there, but that was dangerous due to air patrols. When a skiff passed over he’d have to hide under awnings, balconies, or walkways.

So far they’d been lucky and hadn’t had to hide from ground and air patrols at the same time. But their luck didn’t hold long. Two skiffs approached from the sky so they hid under a bridge that crossed over the street to hide. But as they waited HEL informed Went that a street patrol was headed towards them as well.

She looked around for somewhere they could all hide, but there were no alleyways or market stalls close by.

“What do we do?” Druom asked.

She had no answer. She realized they would likely have to fight the patrol, and at that point any hope of secrecy would be gone. She drew her plasma pistol. Druom noticed noticed and did the smame.

It was then that a door across the street opened and a Rhodoni woman poked her head out. “Quick, in here!” she commanded.

Went didn’t even process what was happening. She acted. She dashed out from under the bridgeway and into the building, pushing the door open wide enough for HEL and Druom to follow. The Rhodoni woman closed the door behind them and it was only a few seconds later that they heard the patrol march past.

They sat in silence and darkness, listening to the patrol pass and march away into the distance. When it was safe a glow-lantern was shook and blue light filled the room. There were about seven Frondauri in the building. The woman was the only Rhodoni, the others were a mix of different planetary races. But they were all dressed in battered Guardian armor.

The Rhodoni woman greeted them. “It’s good to see some fellow Guardians,” she said. “I’mElami. Our informants told us two strangers were making their way through the patrols. You’re lucky we found you.”

“Thank you for your help,” Went answered. “I’m Went, and this is Druom.”

Elami then introduced the rest of her squad. She explained they’d been part of the first attempt to retake the Edarra starbridge plaza after the Black Banner had siezed it over a year ago. “We were lucky to get away from the bloodbath that happened at the plaza. We’ve been laying low ever since, with help from the locals who still have loyalty to the Commonwealth. We’ve been waiting for the rest of the military to come and drive these rebels off, but they haven’t come yet.”

Went then told her how badly the war had been going. “The Black Banner now controls the capital on Pendragost and have taken Horrathus. They’re driving our forces back on Ithycar and Abzydae, and there's heavy fighting on Atasha.”

“How is this possible?” Elami asked.

“They’ve gotten ahold of some new war technology,” Druom said. “We don’t know where it came from. We were sent by a back way to Rhodon to find that out. That's where the rest of our squad is, in the far south. We’ve been sent to get back to the commonwealth to report.”

“If you came a back way why don’t you use that to get back?” one of the other guardians asked.

“That way is now blocked by the Black Banner,” Went answered. “If we can get this report delivered, it will help the commonwealth know what they’re up against. We can find a way to counter the Black Banners' new war machines and end the war.”

Elami looked at the round figure of the HEl sensor bot. “I see the commonwealth has some new technology of their own. Why haven’t they used it against the rebels yet?”

“Because I’m not a war machine,” HEL answered, startling the other Frondauri who hadn’t realized it could speak. “I’m just along to help their mission succeed.”

“What is that thing” Elami asked in shock.

“It’s a long story,” Went answered. “And HEL is just here to help us. He won’t get involved in our fight. But we are running out of time. We need to get to the Starbridge and get off Rhodon.”

Elami was silent as she stared in wonder at HEL. “Okay,” she answered. “We can get you unseen to the plaza. But I don’t know how we’ll get you across all that open space and through the bridge.”

“I have some ideas about that,” HEL responded. “But we’ll need to get close before I’ll know for sure.”

“Alright,” Elami said. “We’ll wait for the next patrol to pass and then we’ll get you to the plaza. But that’s as far as we’ll take you. We’ve been building a resistance here in Edarra and we’re not about to abandon them. No matter how much we’d all like to go home.”

Tunhar and Perfa both recoiled from the whispers, their fire dying down to only a warm glow. Perfa’s tough demeanor disappeared and she cowered down, covering her ears. Tunhar continued to stand erect, but his eyes went wide in fear. He lowered his hand, which Wyllu was still standing on and she tumbled onto the ground.

Izine moved to help her up, dropping the lantern in the dust on the floor as she hoisted the Syanar into a sitting position against the wall.

The whispers faded.

“Something somewhere is still providing power,” Izine said, straightening up. “That seems like a surge…” She stopped as she noticed that Tunhar and Perfa were still both shaking, still rattled by the sound. “Are you alright?” she asked Tunhar.

His eyes turned to her and she saw a deep terror in his eyes. “They call to me,” he answered. “The voices from beyond. They say they can return me to my beloved. That her soul is trapped in-between fire and ash. That I can reignite her spark.”

His words disturbed her. She hadn’t heard anything specific in the whispers. “What did you hear?” she asked Perfa, turning to her. The other Angfaejr was now looking at Izine, a cold menace in her eyes. Izine had thought she’d hated her before, but now she saw a new and deeper hatred in their depths.

“I heard my sister’s voice,” she answered in a growly tone. “She spoke of her death and of the interloper. She said that when he tore out her mind, his thoughts were of you and another of your kind.”

Tunhar heard this and finally snapped out of his fear. He turned to Perfa. “Enough!” he bellowed, his flames flaring up for a moment. “The whispers are tricks, meant to break our minds.”

Izine was shaken though. “Who was this other?”

“See!” Perfa said Tunhar. “She already knows the voices spoke true.” She then addressed Izine. “A male of pink complexion.”

Draevin, she thought. Kruza had called Draevin his only friend. But Izine had little time to contemplate. Perfa had stood up straight, her fire beginning to return and burn hot. She stared full of hatred at Izine. “Why would he have thought of you at my sister’s death?”

Izine had no answer. But Tunhar had had enough. With a fierce roar his flames leapt out from him and he lunged at Perfa, pinning her arms in a strong embrace. Both their fires blazed up, but Tunhar’s burned the hotter. Their flames scorched the roof and walls, but then his fire engulfed hers. Her fire fed into him and his flame grew and grew, while hers died low. Finally with a screech of pain she collapsed and he let her fall to the ground.

Her fire was gone, and all that was left was a dim red glow as of a coal before it grew cold.

Tunhar stepped back, breathing heavily. His fire also dimmed, no longer blazing as it had before. “That will cool her off for a while,” he said.

Izine stepped forward to check on Perfa but Tunhar held up his hand and stopped her. “She will survive,” he assured her. “I have burnt out her flame, the fire has not been quenched.” He gave his prone companion a sympathetic look. “She allowed hatred to fuel her fire. Hatred burns hot, but it burns quickly. I only sped up the process.”

“Thank you,” Izine answered, realizing he’d done it to save her life.

“She will not forget this,” he lamented. “So you should find what you seek before her fire returns.”

Izine nodded. She turned to pick up her lantern that was still laying on the floo. As she did so a small flickering light on one of the panels caught her attention. The computers were still dark and silent except for the one blinking light. She retrieved the lantern and stepped over to the panel.

The light on the button wasn’t very bright but it was blinking steady. She pushed the button. At first nothing happened, and her heart sank. Then with a buzzing sound a holographic figure was projected. It was the small figure of an Archon and it started speaking in a language she didn’t know. She quickly dug her translator from her bag and turned it on.

“...inconsistent power to the facility. The generator continues to compensate, but this has resulted in surges throughout the network which is exacerbating the already existing damage. Main control will need to be restored immediately to prevent further deterioration. Do you need assistance in this process?”

Izine was flummoxed for a moment, but as the hologram continued to stare at her wordlessly she knew it was expecting a response. “Yes. I require assistance.”

Her answer was translated through her device which spit out the correct response in the ancient Archon language.

“Acknowledged,” the hologram responded. “I will take you through the process step-by-step. If you get stuck on any of the steps please say ‘Further Assistance Needed’ to troubleshoot. Let’s begin.”

---

As she worked the little Archon hologram grew dimmer as what power had been put into it faded. She worried it would run out before she finished.

Perfa at some point had regained consciousness and upon realizing what Tunhar had done had curled up in a corner and seethed, ever staring at Izine. Izine had ignored her as she worked.

Wyllu had grown weaker as the hours passed, and Tunhar attended to her. It was obvious he didn’t know how to treat her wounds, but he did his best at the Shyanar’s broken instructions. Eventually she slept and Tunhar kept an eye on her, though he helped Izine whenever she required extra hands.

At last as the hologram had dimmed to a pale glow it cheerfully exclaimed: “Main control has been restored. Power rerouted through non-damaged systems. All that is left is to reboot.” It pointed out its holographic hand to indicate a switch. “Place this in the off position, then press and hold the button next to it for six seconds. Release and flip the switch back into the on position.”

Izine followed the instructions, and once the switch was flipped back on, the entire computer panel came on. Dials buzzed to life. Light returned to information feeds. Glowing buttons lit up. The hologram though turned off.

Lights in the room came on, replacing the glow of Izines lantern with harsh bright light. She stood up, brushing dust off her clothes.

“Now what?” Tunhar asked.

She didn’t really have an answer to that. She looked at the computers, trying to see if any of the readings matched the ones on Helgadae during her stay there. It seemed familiar, but nothing was exactly the same.

A familiar static buzz came on and to her astonishment a voice sounded over the speakers in the room.

“Hello. I am XIM-203, overseer of this research installation. You are not authorized to be here. State your clearance before security is called.”

The robotic voice was similar to HEL’s, but where his had been warm and welcoming, this one seemed cold and demanding.

“I’m Izine. We don’t have any clearance. This facility was abandoned by the Cooperation over two hundred thousand years ago.”

The voice did not respond for a few minutes, but when it did it wasn’t welcoming. “Intruder alert!” it called out. “Intruders in main command. Security to main command. Dispatch defense drones.”

Izine and Tunhar stood to attention. The loud noise had woken Wyllu, but she only sat up and leaned against the wall, drawing her little sword. Perfa remained where she was, glaring angrily at the speaker the voice was coming from.

Nothing happened. There was no sound of approaching drones. Nothing stirred in the facility. Izine realized that there was probably very little for the XIM facilitator to actually control.

“Listen,” she said to the air. “The Central Authority has fallen. The Cooperation is long gone. I came here at the request of the Helgadae artificial facilitator, HEL-929. He sent me here to track down a possible security breach and theft of Cooperation technology.”

It was a bluff of course. But she hoped it would get the facilitator talking. To her astonishment it did. “If this is true the Helgadae facilitator would have provided security codes.”

“Please check your internal chronometer. Two hundred thousand years have passed. All security codes would be long out of date. Old codes are not stored that long.”

Again it was a bluff, but one that seemed logical to her. Even the Guardians would change passcodes often and not keep old ones around very long.

‘Security alert canceled,” XIM answered. “This is all suspicious. But since you were able to follow the directions of my hologram that means you are at least familiar with Archon technology. Your language though is very different from what was spoken by the Cooperation. I suppose that is to be expected after so long. Now, what technology do you believe was stolen?”

Izine took a moment to collect her thoughts. Her bluffs had got the intelligence to listen to her, but she doubted it would last forever. So she would tell the truth as much as she could. “We don’t know,” she answered. “We know that one of our enemies came here, retrieved something, and used it to help our enemies escape.”

“This enemy came here just a few months ago?” XIM asked.

“Yes,” Izine answered. “How do you know?”

“There was a breach a few months ago. Someone accessed a number of storage rooms on the lower levels. Internal security is down so I can’t see what, if anything, was taken. I only know because the door locks were broken severing their seal and triggering an alert. Which thanks to your restoration of power, I am now able to receive.”

“Okay then. That’s where we need to go.”

“These storage rooms are classified with the highest security levels. Only the highest members of the military and the cooperation can access them. You are not allowed.”

“Like I said, the Cooperation is long gone. I assume you know exactly what was stored down there. What kind of things could have been taken. If these things are dangerous, they can’t get out. And we’re the only ones here who can help.”

XIM was silent for an uncomfortable length of time. Izine listened intently. Perhaps the facilitator had found some way to get its security drones online. But nothing in the facility stirred. At last XIM’s voice came back. “Very well. I will have to trust you. I will guide you as best I can. But be warned, many sections of this facility are offline and I cannot guarantee your safety.”

“We understand,” Izine responded. “Thank you for any assistance you can give.”

She turned to Tunhar. “I can’t ask you to go any further.”

“I shall continue to help you in any way I can.” He then looked to Wyllu. “Besides, with your companions' injuries you will need my help.”

He then looked ant Perfa. “You should return to the surface,” he said coldly.

She didn’t respond, just stood up and motioned for him to take the lead. Izine was not looking forward to the return of her fire.

---

Into the fire – Everything Must Go

Izine could feel the lingering anger from Perfa as they descended deeper into the facility. But she did her best to ignore it, focusing on the task ahead. XIM led them on their way, lighting up what lights were left, like an arrow pointing their path. Soon they had returned to where Kruza’s tracks had stopped, and once again they were following the disturbed dust.

They turned down the corridor they hadn’t followed before, and made quick progress. Tunhar took the lead, carrying Wyllu on his back. She held onto her little sword with one hand, Tunhar’s shoulder with her other. Izine followed closely, her senses on high alert. Perfa came last, trailing behind, her eyes simmering with anger, but cast down towards the ground and stealing glances at Izine’s back from time to time.

The corridor ran straight ahead, here and there another passage crossing. But XIM’s lights and Kruza’s footprints lead them straight on. They came to a staircase, spiraling downwards, so down they went. The air grew hotter, stuffier, as they descended. Izine wondered what kind of Archon secrets this place held. What weapon or technology had brought Kruza here, what knowledge he might have learned? These questions churned in her mind until they finally reached the bottom of the stairs and stood before an amber metal door, its surface unmarred by the passage of time.

The dust on the floor had been swept aside by the door being opened recently. But it had been closed since and though Izine and Tunhar tried it would not budge.

“How do we get in?” Tunhar asked, examining the door closely.

“There is a manual override,” XIM’s voice echoed from hidden speakers. “However I do not have direct control over the inner chamber, so the security protocols may still be active.”

Izine nodded, understanding the implications. There could be automated defenses set up to protect whatever lay within. But she’d come too far to turn around. “Show me the override.”

A small panel slid open on the side of the door revealing a lever and a series of switches. XIM explained the order in which to set the switches and then Izine pulled the lever. With a heavy groan the door slowly swung open.

The room was vast, filled with rows of ancient crates and containers., some sealed tightly, others having slowly worn away and crumbled to dust, exposing contents that had also crumbled to dust long ago.

“Stay close,” Izine whispered, leading the way with her glow lantern. She continued to follow Kruza’s tracks as it led into the stacks of containers. “We need to find out what was taken.”

XIM’s voice crackled through the speakers again. “The records indicate that this storage was reserved for prototypes of non-military technologies.”

“Are you sure?” Izine asked.

“I am,” XIM replied with an offended tone in his voice. “Military proto-types and research is stored on the other side of this facility, thirty-three levels lower.”

Tunhar stopped suddenly, his hand raised to signal the others. Over here,” he said, pointing to a section where a large crate had been violently pried open, its covering tossed aside.

Izine knelt down, examining the remnants. “This must be what he took. XIM, can you identify what was stored in this crate?”

“I cannot see inside the room,” the AI admitted. “Can you read the crate label? It will be on the top of the lid.”

With Tunhar’s help she lifted the lid, but her spirits fell when she saw the label was written in the Archon language. Once again she wished Shaifur was here. “I can’t read it,” she told XIM.

“I can,” Tunhar said. He then read out the series of letters and numbers for XIM.

There was a brief pause before XIM responded. “These crates contained components for a self replicating starbridge. This technology is capable of breaking down mass from the surrounding area to quickly repair a starbridge, or grow an entirely new one that can insert itself into the existing network and exit at any preprogrammed location.”

Izine then remembered the starbridge that had seemingly been grown out of the ruins of the Tomb. Now she knew how the Faceless had escaped. Kruza had grown a new starbridge and allowed them to escape. “Why didn’t the Archons continue to use this technology?” she asked.

“The starbridges grown this way were unstable,” XIM explained. “They burnt out quickly and unpredictably, often while in use. This prototype was scrapped, though it did lead to breakthroughs in starbridge technology which allowed for a new and improved design.”

Izine knew about the improved design. Starbridges which left permanent tunnels through subspace, and which allowed the faceless to enter this universe.

So they’d found what Kruza had taken. Now she needed to know how he’d left Ximballa. “Let’s go,” she said, gesturing to Kruza and his coal hounds tracks which led off deeper into the vault. “We still have some tracks to follow.”