1.

Jik didn’t know why Pyrn and Genys joined forces, he didn’t know why they had failed to discuss anything about this operation with the entire body of their troops, and for sure he didn’t know why they were being outfitted with glitz-lights and goggles. It had been secrets inside of secrets—that had been the way of the Yarvan rebellion, and apparently, that was the way it would stay until the end.

And what was that end? Why were they here?

Why Ortni?

The question nearly maddened him, and he couldn’t ask for clarification. He couldn’t confide in any of his former recruit mates, neither on the Yarvan side nor to those several which stayed under gunpoint—several meaning four, there were four recruits remaining loyal to Tinaria.

And Genys ignored them. The ones who had been most ardently patriotic, the ones who had oathed to die for the Republic cause—to die for her—and she pretended they didn’t exist.

The desire to kill her grew and grew.

But when and where and how were answers that, for the moment, eluded him. He followed silently, asked no questions, and caught no one's eye. The opportunity would present itself, and when it did, he wouldn’t hesitate.

Silently he marched out of the town square, followed the troops down the rocky hillside to the west of the town, and stood in formation. They had assembled in a large, muddy meadow directly beneath a sheer portion of dark cliff wall. The grass glowed gently in the morning light, almost enough to see by. The faces of Genys and Pyrn were lit by the dull, multicolored glow. The troops around him seemed to be in their element—comfortable but ready.

Jik knew he was the only one out of the loop, the one who was caught between being an outsider and being welcome. Pyrn lifted his gauntleted hand, he was about to speak.

And it was suddenly—as if by revelation—Jik’s next few actions became clear. There were seven or so lines of soldiers in front of him, and it just so happened that when they had fallen into formation there was revealed a perfectly straight, unencumbered path between him and the two leaders. He could see straight to both of their heads. All in one moment he realized the time was right, the moment was now.

It was as if he could see it already in his mind.

Behind him was only forest. He probably couldn’t escape, but at least he could try, besides, it wasn’t about escaping, it was about justice. It was about being mistreated and getting back at the abusers. It didn’t matter what happened after today, it only mattered that he was going to do what he was going to do.

Suddenly nervousness filled him. His fingers began shaking as he started lifting his glitzer. He could hear his heart pounding and he tried to keep his breathing normal.

Pyrn first, and then Genys.

“I suppose you’re all wondering why we brought you here today,” the General’s voice boomed.

Jik froze with his weapon half-raised.

The General continued, “Long have you been kept in the dark, but I assure you it was for reasons of great security.”

.Jik’s finger itched. His arm was almost completely raised.

The General looked slowly around at all of the rebels. “Long have you waited to know the nature of our plans here.”

I can do it, I can do it right now. I have the shot

Pyrn laid a hand on Genys’ shoulder. “And now that The Commander is sympathetic to our cause, I believe it would be prudent for her to demonstrate that sympathy by explaining what will happen next.”

Jik hesitated.

Genys cleared her throat and stepped forward. “Behind us is the largest deposit of glitz in the Republic.”

There was an audible murmur.

“The entrance is well hidden, but we have information which will allow us to access the horizontal mine shaft. Once inside we will have security to contend with.” She glanced over to Pyrn. “I am confident we will overcome any resistance with which we are met.”

Genys looked down. There was silence for a moment as she seemed to contemplate her next words. Slowly she drew herself back up and looked around the crowd.

“I have given many speeches about the might of Tinaria and the glory of the Republic. Time after time I have acted as the fist—the spearhead of our Militia forces.” She glanced at Pyrn. “We have conquered and suppressed many nations in the name of civilization, and for the duration of my entire life I believed ours to be a cause of liberty, safety, and progression.”

She paused a moment before continuing. “But Pyrn has opened my eyes in more ways than one. He has made me see the plight of the Yarvan people—your people. Your freedoms were stripped from you and it was done by leaders like me acting as I have acted time and time again.

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“For this reason, we think it should be known that the Tinarian Republic is in reality—”

In no more than half a second she and Pyrn were both violently cut down by glitz blasts. The recruits' glitzers rose in unison and the entire formation whirled around.

And there was Jik standing behind them with his weapon raised, an expression of shock on his face.

“Wait I—”

A barrage of blasts instantly filled the air, and Jik’s body was torn to pieces by the energy of a hundred glitzers.

“No!”

The recruits whirled around again. Pyrn had hoisted himself up on one elbow and held his bleeding abdomen.

“Help the General!” someone shouted.

“No!” Pyrn winced. ““It wasn’t him!”

“The trees!” Screamed Genys. Blood was running freely down her face. She pointed desperately. “The trees!”

The soldiers turned once more, but for the back row, it was too late. Glitz tore out from the foliage and mowed them down. The meadow soon erupted with Thori warriors.

Everything became chaos. Rebels tried to move into formation, and some half-succeeded, but many fell as quickly as the Thori shot. Some dove behind the sparse rocks and trees scattered around the meadow. Glitz and shouting filled the air.

About ten rebels rushed to the side of Pyrn and Genys.

“Get us inside!” Pyrn shouted, pointing to the rock wall. “Gersha knows where.”

An older woman nodded quickly. “And the locking mechanism is disguised as a smooth black stone?”

Pyrn nodded, wincing. “Yes, turn it twice clockwise.”

The rebels moved in a tight formation toward the cliff several meters away. Two of them fell to Thori glitz on the way. Gersha leapt up to turn the rock and managed to do so before being glitzed as well. A low, narrow doorway swung open soundlessly. Pyrn did what he could to push Genys inside before crawling in himself. He looked back at the remaining rebels.

“Inside, quickly,” he motioned.

One of the Yarvans shook her head. “Complete the mission. Cripple the Republic.” And then she slammed the door shut. Pyrn cursed and leapt toward it, his one arm banging uselessly on the hard metal. It was only him and Genys inside.

“We have to move,” Genys said. Desperately they hobbled forward for a few hundred paces or so. It was pitch dark and they could only feel their way along the walls. When the sounds of battle became distant enough, they both collapsed to the ground.

“It’s dark,” Pyrn said. “You have your glitzlight?”

Genys ignited it, and in the low purplish light, they could see a narrow rough-hewn tunnel extending far and deep in a generally horizontal position. And that wasn’t the only thing they could see. The stone floor was already covered in blood.

“You’re dying,” Genys said quickly.

“Stupid. I was stupid!” General Pyrn said. “They weren’t supposed to know about us. I verified and re-verified. But I still knew we should have tried under cover of darkness.”

“It could have been worse under darkness,” Genys said. “We might not have made it inside.”

“I should have come alone,” Pyrn said. “I was planning on entering here with a small force and keeping the Yarvans outside. You were supposed to be outside.”

“You don't have long,” Genys said. “We have to find medical equipment.”

“Jarush,” said Pyrn acidly. “He disappeared last night on a scouting mission and I considered him killed. Now I realize he was warning the Thori of our intentions. It was stupid of me. My thoughts have been slow and—”

Pyrn winced again.

“You need treatment,” Genys said.

The General shook his head. “Commander, I don’t need medical supplies. I need to complete the mission. It’s my… my mind hasn’t been right for a while. I should have seen the attack coming, it should have been obvious. I’m slow and weak. This was supposed to be—I was never planning on making it out of here.”

Genys nodded. “You were going to die either way.”

Pyrn responded by rolling up his sleeve. Where his arm had been was only a stump, and that stump was spiderwebbed with different shades of black and green.

“Thori poison,” he said. “Enough to kill me. I only had a few days left anyway.”

Genys sunk down and laughed. Slowly she rolled up her sleeve as well. Green-black strands traced their way up and down her arm as well.

“Makes two of us,” she said.

Pyrn simply nodded. There was emotion in his eyes, but she couldn’t tell exactly what it was. Anger, fear, sadness?

“I’m proud of you,” was all the General said. “Shall we finish this together?”

“Glitz is explosive,” Genys said. “Even in the raw state. You were going to detonate the entire vein.” It wasn’t a question..

“We have a long walk ahead of us,” General Pyrn said. “We may find some resistance on the way.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Genys said. “I was only nicked. I should be fine to walk.” She hoisted Pyrn up and over her shoulder. He was concerningly light.

“We end this together,” Pyrn said. “I promised your father I would die before you. I hope he forgives me.”

“We’ll call it a tie,” Genys said.

And together the General and Commander walked down the dark, rocky tunnel toward their end. This was it… this was the moment both of their lifestories had woven them towards. The threads of fate winding and glowing toward an untimely death. That was the way it went in the stories, wasn’t it?

Genys didn’t know why folkloric images started pushing their way into her mind. She had never been superstitious, but the gods and heroes of childhood books started to float up into her mind’s eye. Maybe it was the poison.

She shook her head and continued down the passageway, that is until three people suddenly fell through the ceiling in front of them.

“Well that was all of a sudden,” Orvalys said, picking himself up off the ground. “It is dark down here isn’t it?”

Jack agreed. “The ground is hard.”

“Jaak? Orvalys?” Genys asked in a daze. “What… what are you two doing here?”

“It’s damp as well,” said Jil as she brushed her long hair out of her eyes.

Genys’ eyes widened and she seemed to lose balance for a moment, “And what are you doing with my sister?”