Survival is not enough. C. 27 hours since the assassination of rebel leadership Uuchantuu frowned at her canned fish ration, nearly spitting it out. It was a ration, however, not a meal, and they were running low.

She forced herself to swallow the bitter, over-spiced and over-salted chunks of fish, then looked across the small table to Koruuksi.

He was making the same face as her, even as he fidgeted, bouncing his heel. His nostrils flared, upper lip curled back as the rest of his mouth tightened, doing everything it could to keep him from spitting out the bite he'd just taken. His light, blue violet skin was paler than usual.

"Ugh," he groaned, taking a quick draft of water from his bottle to wash it down. "We really need to make Svemakuu teach us how to cook. I still don't understand how he’s made these taste good."

Uuchantuu nodded in agreement. "We're not allowed to try anything with these next time. They're not great on their own, but we really screwed them up."

Koruuksi snorted. "That's putting it mildly."

He looked down at his can and fork, scratching his silver hair between his antlers, then looked back at her. Uuchantuu frowned, looking down at her own rations. She had to force down her gag-reflex as she remembered the taste.

Uuchantuu looked back to Koruuksi. "On three?"

He frowned, but nodded. "One?"

"Two."

"Three!"

Uuchantuu tried to ignore the taste as she shoveled the food into her mouth. She didn't even pause to let the oil drip off like she usually did. The less time each chunk spent in her mouth, the better.

Once the last piece of salted fish was down her throat, Uuchantuu slammed the can down on the low stone table and grabbed her water bottle. She wanted nothing more than to empty the entire thing into her mouth, washing away the salt and conflicting, powerful spices they had stupidly tried to flavor the rations with.

Instead, she took just enough. They had more water than food down here in the caves, but like everything else, that was still rationed.

Wiping her mouth on her sleeve, Uuchantuu looked to Koruuksi. His face still showed regret for what they'd done to their mediocre rations, but there was a hint of a smile on his face.

"Never again?”

Uuchantuu nodded. "Never again."

Koruuksi laughed, then pulled his small plate of crisped tubers and cooked mushrooms before him—those, at least, tasted good enough on their own that they hadn't tried to improve them. They were bland, but fibrous and nutritious.

They’d had less to work with over the last three years, and it took particular skill and creativity to make their rations taste good.

Hopefully not for much longer, though, Uuchantuu thought, picking up one of her own tubers and popping it into her mouth. The crunch helped her put the slimy texture of the fish behind her. After munching on a few, she walked over to her bunk and picked up her project tray, then set it back down on the table.

"Svemakuu would smack you for that," Koruuksi said through a mouthful of mushrooms. "No work during meals.”

Uuchantuu rolled her eyes. “Your brother isn't here. And you're not exactly providing any engaging conversation."

Koruuksi let out an exaggerated sigh, but he was smiling. "I guess as long as you're still at the table, it's fine."

Uuchantuu smiled at that.

She, Koruuksi and Estingai—Svemakuu’s wife and their adoptive older sister—had all resisted Svemakuu's little ritual at first, but they'd soon come to treasure it. It was one of the last bits of normalcy they clung to when hiding out in subterranean caves on a dying world. They'd rarely had a chance to do this before everything had gone wrong, but it reminded Uuchantuu of the few dinners she'd had with Koruuksi's entire family after they'd taken her in. And the ones with her own family, though they'd usually sat around a roaring fire instead of a table.

"What are you working on, anyway?" Koruuksi asked, walking around to peer at her project. "Svemakuu already has the frying pan Estingai made for him when they were kids.”

Uuchantuu smiled, inspecting the copper and titansteel pan. She'd had to search the ruins around their base for old copper pipes that the Imaia hadn't taken with them when stripping the land of nearly everything of value, but hopefully, it would be worth it. Working on projects like this centered her even as they tugged at her heart.

She, Estingai, and Uncle Suulehep had often worked together on georaural tech, figuring out the puzzles and inventing useful little devices, before he’d…

Uuchantuu took a deep breath, swallowing the tightness in her throat.

"Estingai's pan isn't as precise as it could be," she said, inspecting the wireframe she'd made around the edges. "I know Svemakuu loves it, but that's because she made it for him when they were kids. She could have made a better one for him, but I'm assuming it never came up since he never lost it."

Uuchantuu had polished the copper cooking surface better than the small mirror she and Koruuksi kept in their little alcove. It gave her deep red skin and light golden-brown eyes a warmer cast than she was used to in this base of dark, cool stone.

Plucking two blue biogems from the little pouch on her tray, Uuchantuu set them next to the frying pan. These were small but well-cut, and shining bright with Auroralight. It made it a bit harder to see what she was doing as she placed them in the settings of the wireframe encircling the outer rim that she'd prepared for them, but this way, she wouldn't have to wait a week to recharge them with Auroralight and be able to test her project.

"Competing with Estingai is dangerous," Koruuksi chided. "Especially when it comes to Svemakuu."

Uuchantuu rolled her eyes as she completed the first setting. "Then it can be a present for both of them. He’ll love cooking with it, and she’ll love eating what he cooks.”

She set down the pan, then looked to Koruuksi again. "I want to have something to celebrate when they get back."

Koruuksi smiled at that, full lips making the expression look a bit suggestive, but Uuchantuu knew that was just how his face was.

"They're gonna make it work, aren't they?" she asked, voice a bit smaller as doubt started to creep in, tightening her chest.

Koruuksi's smile widened. "Of course they will. They're pretty hard to stop. Svemakuu will charm everyone into agreeing, or Estingai will bully them into it. Failing that, Raima will lay out all the facts of why they need to agree in a way that would make them seem like idiots if they didn't."

Uuchantuu grinned. "Right."

It wasn’t just Svemakuu’s charm that won people over. Somehow, Koruuksi’s brother managed to smile despite all he’d lost, and he did his best to make sure others smiled, too. Whether it was through cooking, finding a joke where no one else could see any, or thinking about a future where they got to live rather than just surviving.

"Even if all that somehow doesn't work…" Koruuksi trailed off with a shrug. "They're the last of the Knights. People have to listen to them."

"Unlike us, who everyone just tolerates because we keep the two of them sane."

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"Exactly."

Uuchantuu tried to hang onto the bit of mirth she'd brought up with her joke, but her worry quickly overshadowed it. She had no doubts that Svemakuu, Estingai, and Raima would be able to convince the other faction leaders to join them against the Imaia. The Imaia was what scared her. This was the first time they'd been one step ahead of the God King and his empire of Lightforged warriors that had consumed the planet, and Koruuksi had paid dearly for that small bit of ground.

It seemed too good to be true.

Uuchantuu took a deep breath, glancing around the empty room, then back to Koruuksi. She frowned when the glint of white light above his brow caught her attention.

How long has he had those brightened?

Uuchantuu tried not to be jealous of Koruuksi's Auroraborn abilities. She was skilled with the hardlight her ruby gemcrest granted her access to—better than anyone not related to Koruuksi had a chance at being. The way things were now, though, sneaking around whenever they went out to scavenge for more supplies or replenish their gemcrests, the ability to enhance her senses seemed far more valuable than creating temporary constructs of golden light.

Uuchantuu reconsidered that thought the next moment as the ventilation system turned on and both she and Koruuksi jumped at the way the click and hum echoed off the stone walls of their little suite and the hall beyond. Old scraps of cloth hung over most of the surfaces to dampen the noise, but they could only do so much.

She glanced back to Koruuksi, and thought he might have dimmed his clearnodes a hair, dulling his senses. It was hard to tell, though, especially in the dim light.

Uuchantuu had grown up in the constant darkness of Darkside, but lacked Koruuksi's natural night vision.

"They should be back soon, right?"

Uuchantuu frowned at her friend's tone, then smoothed her expression.

He doesn't need to worry about me, too.

Koruuksi had enough to deal with after the fallout from infiltrating Bonde’s radicalized faction. His mission had been a success, but…

"Maybe negotiations took a while," she suggested, turning her attention back to the pan. She picked up a pair of pliers and started carefully bending back the wireframe for the second setting.

"You know how careful they had to be when setting this up."

Koruuksi sighed. "I know. No vehicles within a thirty-five kilometer radius. They had to walk and pause between the designated shelters, and they all had to leave at separate times. It's just…"

He sighed, then smiled, rising from his seat to sit down next to her, taking care not to bump her with his antlers.

Uuchantuu could tell the expression was forced. She didn't call him on it.

"You want any help?" he asked, gesturing at the pan.

She arched an eyebrow at him. "You realize this is a georaural, right?"

He rolled his eyes. "I know how they work. I just don't trust myself to do any of the cuts correctly, especially with how scarce biogems are now."

Uuchantuu held the pliers out toward him. "Can you get the setting in without breaking it?"

"I've diffused explosives."

"I know. That usually involves cutting and bending things you don't need to put back together."

Koruuksi rolled his eyes and took the pliers.

Uuchantuu tensed a bit as he started bending back the last few tongs of the setting, but Koruuksi was careful. She knew he would make sure not to damage anything.

After bending one back, though, Koruuksi raised an eyebrow, then glanced at her.

Uuchantuu frowned. "What?"

"You still label the wires?"

"How else am I supposed to tell aluminum from silver from steel from platinum without proper equipment? They all look silver.”

He shrugged, then went back to bending back the setting nubs. "Fair point."

When he finished, he handed her the pan and let her set the stone.

Uuchantuu placed the carefully cut blue biogem into its setting, then used her fingers and the edge of the pliers to bend back the wires.

"How is this one different than the one Svemakuu already has, again? Other than it being more precise?"

"And bigger?" Uuchantuu pointed out.

Koruuksi shrugged again.

"Nothing, really," Uuchantuu admitted. "It's sort of a stepping stone for another project I wanted to try—I have the metals, but not enough biogems, yet—the cooling system."

Koruuksi smiled. "Oh, right. That will definitely be nice. You're making one for me after Svemakuu, right?"

Uuchantuu grinned at him. "Depends. What do I get?"

Koruuksi rolled his eyes, and she giggled.

Koruuksi and other Samjati had no problem with the freezing temperatures of Darkside, but here on Lightside, it was always warm. At least, that was how it felt to Uuchantuu, since she was Natari. Samjati like Koruuksi and Svemakuu, and even half-Samjati like Estingai had issues with the heat. Wearing armor and lightcovers to protect their blue skin on top of that just made it worse. Since Svemakuu and Estingai were their two best warriors, Uuchantuu thought making something to keep them cool and comfortable was the least she could do.

When she was almost finished with the setting, Uuchantuu glanced to Koruuksi.

She frowned, setting down the pliers and the pan, and took his hand, squeezing it.

He blinked up at her.

"You're fidgeting again.”

He gave her a half-smile. "Sorry."

Uuchantuu frowned. "Don't—" She cut herself off with a sigh. "Are you okay?"

Koruuksi snorted. "You mean aside from the handful of existential crises we need to deal with every day?"

Uuchantuu frowned, and Koruuksi placed a hand over hers.

"I'm fine, okay?"

"I know you still have trouble sleeping."

He hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "It's just something I need to work on. You know how sometimes your mind races with ideas for things to make?"

Uuchantuu nodded.

"Mine just does a depressing version of that, overthinking things, wondering if it was all worth it."

Uuchantuu's mouth drew to a thin line.

She wanted to reassure him, but that wasn't something they did. They'd been through too much for empty platitudes to have a place in their relationship.

Uuchantuu was still trying to find something to say when Koruuksi perked up. A few seconds later, Uuchantuu heard booted footsteps echoing down the hall.

She rolled her eyes, looking to Koruuksi's clearnodes, then to the entrance to the little suite they shared with Koruuksi's brother and his wife. The privacy was a rare privilege among any of the factions, as far as she knew.

The woman that pulled back the cloth door and poked her head through the entryway had round, prominent cheeks, a strong jaw, and a deep red complexion. Her dark hair was a multitude of tiny braids tied back in a loose bun. The way she grinned at Koruuksi made Uuchantuu want to roll her eyes again.

"Oh, it's just the two of you," Araana said.

Koruuksi nodded. "Just had breakfast. What do you need?"

Araana bit her lip before stepping into the entryway and leaning against the stone frame. She was one of Estingai's friends, but Uuchantuu knew her well, too. She wore dark, rough utility pants like pretty much everyone else in their faction, though her jacket was tied around her waist. Other than that, all she wore was a tight, sleeveless white shirt. Her emerald gemcrest sparkled with Auroralight at her clavicle just above the neckline. From the way she glanced at Uuchantuu before looking to Koruuksi again, Uuchantuu could guess she wished she'd only found Koruuksi here.

"Any idea where Svemakuu and Estingai are? Or Raima? Aaden wanted to go over a few things with her, but couldn't find her. She figured your brother or his wife might know."

Uuchantuu tried to keep her expression smooth and let Koruuksi answer.

"They went out early. For some reason they felt the need to wake us up instead of just leaving a note."

"We are short on paper," Araana pointed out.

"Estingai could have carved it in the rock then," Koruuksi said, yawning for effect. “I don't like missing sleep unless I'm having fun doing it."

Uuchantuu couldn't help rolling her eyes this time as Araana smirked at Koruuksi. "I'll keep that in mind."

Uuchantuu brightened her ruby gemcrest and stuck her hand behind her back, conjuring a little ball of hardlight. She started running it through a cycle of shapes to distract herself. One or two of them happened to mimic rude gestures only Koruuksi could see.

"Anything else?" Uuchantuu asked, trying to sound pleasant.

Araana blushed, shaking her head. "That was it. Let me know when they get back, though."

Koruuksi smiled. "I'll tell Estingai you were looking for her."

Araana flashed another smile at Koruuksi, then walked off.

A few seconds after the woman's footsteps disappeared, Koruuksi turned to Uuchantuu and raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"You're playing with hardlight."

Uuchantuu pointedly did not stop cycling through the shapes, including a few more rude gestures. She didn’t respond, either.

Koruuksi grinned. "She must have heard I'm fun to blow off some steam with."

Uuchantuu smacked his arm. He stuck out his tongue.

"You're the one that wants to be in a relationship instead of just having fun."

Uuchantuu sighed. "That's because I know I'd get too clingy, which doesn't exactly work too well in this situation."

Koruuksi frowned, putting an arm around her, "I know."

"Would you have kicked me out if she had tried harder?" she asked, trying to brighten the mood.

"Depends on how impatient Araana was."

Uuchantuu tried to grin at that. It didn't work.

She hesitated for a moment, then leaned against Koruuksi, clutching at him. She dismissed her hardlight and dimmed her gemcrest.

"What if something bad did happen?" she asked, voice small. Knots started to form in her stomach.

Koruuksi squeezed her, wrapping his other arm around her.

"They'll be fine. Estingai is too stubborn to die; Svemakuu could talk anyone there out of a fight…”

Uuchantuu took a deep breath, then pulled back a bit, looking up at Koruuksi.

"You think we'll really be working together with everyone once they get back?"

Koruuksi grinned. "It'll be great. I'll introduce you to Jaran and Lysanda and some of my friends in the other factions. We'll probably get to travel a bit more, rotating bases, so you'll have a better pick of women to not flirt with."

Uuchantuu punched him in the ribs.

Koruuksi just laughed. Then he smiled. "We'll actually have a chance at getting out of here. I was talking with Svemakuu, and he—"

Koruuksi cut off, shooting to his feet.

Uuchantuu did the same. The echoes of hurried, booted footsteps reached her ears a moment later. She primed her gemcrest, knowing Koruuksi had done the same.

Kozasana, a muscular Natari woman with black stripes lining her deep red skin—one of Estingai's friends—skidded to a halt in the entrance, one hand on her rifle. Her usually full lips were drawn tight, dark eyes wide as she looked between them.

"Someone's approaching the base," she said, breathing heavy. "It looks like Estingai."

Uuchantuu was already out the door. Koruuksi would catch up once he got his medkit and threw on his lightcover.

Kozasana came up beside her as they ran through the tunnels. “Shouldn’t we—?”

“Koruuksi and I will get her. Have Marjatla lock down the base.”