“Here ya go now.”

Vala blinked. She saw the sky in tattered hues.

“Come on now, Colonel.”

She remembered an evening on Albion of a human girl, five years old at most, asking her why she blinked.

“Maddy,” her mother cautioned, “don’t be rude.”

“It’s fine,” Vala said. She hadn’t been on the ship long and was eager for the citizens to feel comfortable with the strange new beings sharing their home. In a way, Vala mused, they were the first refugees.

“Who’s this pretty girl?” Ramses said when they first met. They’d fought a tough battle against a rathi slaver band in an asteroid field.

“I ignored you,” she said, laughing.

“Eh?”

“I blink because you blink,” Vala told the little girl.

“Oi, this is bad,” said Ramses. “Better get her to the cave with the others.”

“Ramses,” she said, seeing him finally, on one knee and looking down at her with worried eyes. “I haven’t blinked in a long time.”

“Aye, and you haven’t been blown up by a missile in a while, either.”

“A missile?” She tried to sit up, but only her neck responded.”

“Yeah. Orak sent a volley as he left. Most of us died. Some of us got back up. Some are healing in that cave.”

She wasn’t used to seeing him so sad. Every feature of his seemed tired and half alive. “The humans?”

He shook his head. “All gone.”

“Oh no!”

She tried again to sit up, but still she could only move her neck.

“Hey, easy pretty girl. You were near a blast center. You took a bad hit. Been dreamin’.”

“I...” The images of a man in fetters returned to her. Her hand on his face, her lips on his, then beheading three hundred captives and her own neck on a block. “Yes. Yes, I have. Oh, Ramses. Those poor creatures.”

“Yeah. Ulro’s got something to answer for. We’ll find him and make him Dead Orak.”

Three other Harbingers brought a stretcher and carefully lifted her onto it. All her limbs felt loose and numb, like they were only attached by her skin. She caught a glimpse of her armor while they lifted her. “I’m gonna need some new gear.”

“I’ll get you some printed right away,” Ramses said from beside her stretcher. “Have your measurements changed?”

It hurt to laugh. It hurt more to see the devastation left by Orak. The land around the obelisk was pitted with deep craters. Duraloy tank chassis bent like ribs out of the soil, smoking from the violence of Orak’s retreat.

“Where were our ships?” she asked as they placed her in a quiet corner in the cave where Black Fountain healed so recently.

“Out of defensive formation,” Ramses answered, “patrolling the perimeter we gave them in case we wanted air support.”

“I never made that call.”

“No. I did. You were busy keeping the enemy where we wanted them so I thought I’d have the fleet on standby. I got cocky and now all those humans are dead.”

Had she feeling in her limbs, she would have grabbed his wrist. Instead, she held his gaze. “Ramses, don’t.”

He tried to smile. “I know. It’s Orak who killed them. We’re out of our league, though. We’re gonna hafta learn a new way of fighting. We can’t run wild playing heroes anymore. Not just ‘cos we can end up in those shells, but because we got others fighting beside us.”

Heat trickled down her arms, elucidating the many fractures in her bones to her ragged nerves. “Keep talking.”

“Ah, I’m just rambling ‘cos I’m sad. You don’t need to hear that.”

“Yes, I do.”

He managed a smile. “You just want me to keep you distracted.”

“Maybe.”

“Well, maybe you should just shut your eyes and sleep, Colonel.”

“No. You’re right, Ramses. We need to fight differently. We’re outmatched and we need to be smarter, more disciplined.”

He nodded, his eyes looking towards some faraway place. “It’s like they say, we’re always ready for the last war.”

“We’re going to do better, Ramses. We’ll tell Sensus everything we’ve learned here and we’ll do better. We’ll define the terms of the next war. Mark my words, Orak will pay.”

His face warmed considerably. “That’s why I like you, Vala. You don’t make threats. Only promises.”

They shared a smile, and then she asked the question that had been growing in the back of her mind. “Where is Harbinger One?”

Ramses took a deep breath. “I'm not sure what happened to them on the other side, but I know I don’t want to go there myself.”

“You managed to avoid answering my question while responding to it. Where are they?”

“They’re outside, in different places doing different things. Mostly they’re all being strange: floating, singing on top of the tower, ranting and raving inside that big head that looks like Orak’s. I’m super confused about that.”

“Inside the head?”

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

“Yeah. The young captain. He’s not himself. The Master Seargent and the Lieutenant are trying to look after them, but the team is in really bad shape.”

“Bring them to me. The Lieutenant and the Master Sergeant.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” He squeezed her shoulder before leaving. She felt it; barely, and it hurt but she felt it.

Her pain brought her awareness, though, so she was grateful. Because her awareness was of a sweet thing. The warmth left over by that unknowable artifact was ambrosia for her battered vessel.

They came almost an hour later, both at attention. By then Vala managed to lift her head and saw them coming, skullforts under their arms, having felt their approach in her soul. They were an attractive pair. She with dark alure in her stride, but a noble brightness in her eyes. Her features were velvet, but her expression was iron. And he with boyish features that were somehow not fully at odds with his disciplined poise and powerful build.

“Ma’am,” the young man said with a bow.

“How are you feeling, Colonel?” asked the young woman.

“Oh, I’ve had worse. At ease you two. I have to admit, it’s a little strange to be under your old captain’s authority. I remember when Maya of the Cedars put his name forward for section chief. I didn’t think he was ready. Now he’s giving me orders.”

“Ma’am,” said the sergeant, “I think I speak for the whole team when I say that we were glad when his promotion was delayed. We all enjoyed serving under him.”

“I can understand that. He’s the finest soldier I’ve ever known. I know I’m not at my best, but I’ll have your debrief.” They exchanged a wide-eyed look that told Vala she’d asked for something monumental. “I trust you to tell me what’s most important. And don’t fear my reaction. I’ve seen enough to be cured of doubt. One request, though. Please remind me of your names?”

They both looked to each other, nudging the other to speak first. The young man was just enough more insistent, and the woman stepped forward to salute.

Vala laughed softly. “You’re Haruspex, Corporal First Class. And you’re Revol, Master Sergeant, considered twice for officer commission.”

Revol bowed.

Vala sized him up: his readiness, his discipline, the love for the corporal that he couldn’t contain. “You’ll have your command, son. Keep fighting and learning.”

“Yes ma’am,” he said with a swift nod.

“Okay. Now the briefing.”

-----------------

“You’ve healed quickly,” said Black Fountain.

Vala turned, slowly pivoting her crutches. “I’m still broken, I’m afraid.” She stumbled, then held up her hand. “I never thought I’d use such contraptions. I’ve seen exos use them on their homeworlds, but here I am, a harbinger of Albion.”

Black Fountain’s heads all laughed. The eating one sounded almost comical. “An orbital bombardment warhead hits you, and you complain about needing crutches. This is why I follow your commands, Vala.”

“Well, I’ll let the general know his authority has nothing to do with it.”

His hunting head hissed, and the thinking one spoke. “Sensus is a glorious man.”

“Don’t take me so seriously, Fountain. I need cheering.”

He came to her and took away her crutches. She caught herself with a wave of power.

“Give me those back.”

He threw them off the pinnacle of the tower. “Let Imogen hold you.”

She sighed. “I haven’t seen her.”

“You will.”

She turned, exerting her radiance to keep herself standing. “Did you call my shuttle?”. The wind gusted and she breathed deep, her golden hair lifted like autumn leaves.

“No.”

“Good. I’m not ready to go back down yet. I wish you hadn’t thrown my crutches.”

“Keep your inward lamp lit.”

Vala sucked in a thin breath. “Fountain, sometimes you task me. I know you mean well, but...”

It came in a rush. She thought it first to be the cold wind raging around the obelisk, but then she felt it swirling so around her bones, cooling the fire inside her into an obsidian aspect; power of control and control of power. But it was fleeting, and as soon as it left her, she was gifted with nothing more than accelerated healing.

“It took you,” he said.

“It left me,” she said.

All three heads shook in frustration. The hunter had snapped.

“What did the Archeus do to you?”

He walked to the edge of the pinnacle and looked upward, downward, and straight ahead. “It died. And so did I.”

“But my body too was shattered. It’s no matter. I just want to understand. I’m happy for your transmutation. But if we could all become so matured, our battles would be more quickly won. And maybe we’d have the strength to defend those who follow us.” A tear streaked down her cheek.”

His thinking head turned to look at her. “There is power in this structure. There is power in that device. There is power in this planet. You are receiving the power of this structure. It is passive power, tapped into a deep well. The lifeblood of the Archeus bathed me. I am no scientist, but this is what I see.”

She went to his side, the pain in her limbs much diminished, and put her hand on his high shoulder. “We own this world now. Our researchers will study its secrets while we pursue our enemy.”

He turned to face her. “He had us.”

She sighed. “I know. But what Revol and Haruspex told me gives me hope.”

“What did they say?”

“I don’t understand it, but when Orak came across the Verge, he remained in Ulro, sending an emanation into our domain. But it seems the specter is the man, and an ally, a powerful ally, battled with him in Ulro and won. So now we are left with the emanation, and then he will be gone forever.”

Black Fountain laughed. “And then his father will come, and we will know real pain.”

“I hope not. But I can’t think that far ahead, not with the kzinti close by and the Surge on the way. I worry too much to look beyond this single moment, Fountain. What if the whole of Kzin’Ra comes after this ring of planets? And what if the Brethren arrive before we fight them off? What if Albion is destroyed? We’re in the middle of the pincer, and I’m beginning to doubt our strength.”

He raised all four arms and clenched his fists. “Wade into the tempest, Vala, and you will master its fury!”

She wanted to laugh. His bravado was useful when stirring up the teams, but here, after what they’d seen and endured, she found it annoying. “I’ll wade into anything with you by my side, Black Fountain.”

He looked past her, then held her shoulders and turned her around. Vala gasped.

“Our lady...” She held out her hand and tried to touch Imogen’s face, but it was not there. What she was was only light. “What is this? Fountain, we need to scan this tower and analyze its energy signatures.”

“I ordered scans while you slept. This is no hologram.”

“Then what...”

Imogen cupped Vala’s face in her hands and Vala’s cheeks burned. “You’re not real. You’re not here.”

She looked down at their feet. Vala followed her gaze but saw nothing but the roof of the obelisk and its symbols. Then Imogen dispersed into a cloud of particles that absorbed into the the painting of the spheres.

“I don’t have time for this,” Vala said. “Let the Artifexus worry over these things. Will you walk down with me, Fountain? I need to contact the general. And I have many other things to do.”

“Now that you can.”

“Yes, now that I can. Wait. You think... Don’t expect me to grovel before some three-dimensional interface as if it were my God.”

“Would you not thank a surgeon?”

Vala shook her head. “Come down with me. I need you. That’s an order.”