When John exited his Mind’s Eye, he was dangerously close to the ground. He slipped through the shadows, and slipped again, until he landed safely, running to lose momentum as he veiled his soul. He felt ridiculously stronger. It was extremely hard to adjust to his new level of speed and strength. He thought a lot faster too.

The world seemed to have slowed down, far more than when he entered into his battle-mind or used his enhancement buff. John wished he had time to get used to it. He also wished he could think of a way to escape and save Avatar. He checked out his surroundings. It was the dark of night. He was in a lightly forested part of Gani. He jumped up and looked around.

There were huge farms in every direction. He thought he could be seeing the city of Gaan far in the distance past the farm to his north, though he wasn’t certain since he no longer had the info function of his NCS.

John stretched his senses out as far as they’d go. They extended out much farther than he was used to. It didn’t seem like anyone was coming after him yet. He tried infusing essence into Adumbration, but the cloak was too damaged to work. His helmet was missing. His biosuit was in tatters, as were the robes under it. Defiance was in his hand, but his sword wasn’t on his back or anywhere near him.

As John nervously looked around for his sword, it surprised him to feel it calling out to him. It was just south of the CQ building at the farm to his northwest. He quickly sprinted there.

None of the Servitors cared about John’s presence. Once he grabbed Ah’krat’ra, something strange happened. Even though the sword was attuned to him, it felt like it was attuning all over again. Like it truly belonged to him, and he was now the sword’s true master, in command of all its functions, not just some of them.

John could feel a presence, a Platinum, running away north. He figured it was the Mele on CQ. He looked at the portal and saw that it had been destroyed. He could have caught up to and killed his fleeing enemy, but he needed information. He cast [Hide] and entered the CQ building.

They were coming for John. The screens that usually showed recaps or ads were flashing mandatory instructions.

The portals anywhere near John were deactivated or soon would be. For worlds connected to Gani by portal, any Kauwa that could be spared were being called back.

Most Peerless were dealing with Gani’s critically damaged docking station, but an Alii had been tasked with taking out John. She was hand selecting a force and mustering them to her location to the north between Hub City and Gaan.

John had hoped he’d figure out a way to save Avatar. Failing that, he had hoped to face his enemies piecemeal. Now he’d be facing organized foes coordinating attacks under the direction of an Alii and her Melua.

A few of the monitors for the Mele CQ desk flashed a warning that the Alii of Heiau Koa, Kauwa Mara Pi was a heretical traitor to be captured on sight or killed if capture wasn’t possible.

Amber had escaped. She had gotten away to deep space. Her ship was the fastest in the Peerless fleet. They’d never find her. Betrayal had kept his word.

John sighed in relief. Having confirmed that his wife was safe, that it was really done and over with, made him feel so much less heavy. A giant weight fell off his shoulders. He extended the tentacles of his smart-link into the screen on the wall. All the types of screens that showed the recaps were connected and only lightly protected. No one had a reason to mess with them.

John doubted it’d do much damage, but he wanted to inflict every bit of damage he could. He tried uploading all the footage he had, such as the old crone exchanging credits for golden nectar and engaging in sexual activity forbidden by the Aikapu, to all the screens.

It didn’t work. Either the NCU wasn’t yet rebuilt or rebuilding it wiped all stored footage.

John tried thinking of something he could do while he was hacked into all the connected screens. Before he could think of anything that would help or cause damage, a Mele blocked his access and kicked him from the system.

The Peerless would be coming for him soon. John walked out of the building and knelt. He put his sword and shield on the ground and clasped his hands.

Dear God. I don’t know if you listen to prayers. They say you don’t. I’ve never asked anything for myself before, but I must this day.

Since you seem to be on friendly terms with Betrayal, could you please thank him for saving my wife and children?

And thank you very much for the new Class and everything else. I’m much, much stronger. I’ll need every bit of power to do any damage that matters to the Peerless.

I don’t really understand what you said about making friends of enemies. That doesn’t make any sense. And these are your enemies too. I think enemies are for killing so that’s what I’ll try my best to do. I hope you approve. I assume this is what you really want, or you would’ve told me something that made a little sense.

For six thousand years, I’ve been toyed with and twisted up. No matter what was thrown at me, I took it all. I didn’t break. Here I am, still standing.

And at the end, my nightmare finally turned into a dream. Now my dream is being snatched from me.

But my new wife and children will live. That’s a tradeoff I’d take any day. I did at least one thing right in this life.

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So, whatever my fate may be after I die, and I assume it’s the cold-dark by the comments I heard from you and Betrayal, I’ll meet it with my head held high and my chest filled with pride.

I don’t ask for help in this battle. It’s mine to fight. I do ask that after I fall, please don’t let Avatar die. She deserves better. Better than me. Much better than being stuck with me. I beg of you this favor.

Though I don’t know it, please tell that ch’ran girl I executed that I go to slaughter in her name. I will give her what vengeance I am able to and pray that it is enough to grant her soul some peace.

And if I don’t get a chance to see those that preceded me after I fall, please tell my children, my mother, my wives, and my friends that I love them all dearly and always will.

Tell my father I died facing a grand empire of powerful enemies. That I, like no other, was born for war. Tell him I fight and die so my wife and our children don’t. I didn’t fail. She escaped to safety.

I did it right. I won. My enemies have already lost.

I know I can’t count myself among the best of men. I know that. But who among them stands as fell and tall as I do?

Now, bear witness to my deeds.

As John prayed, a force of about 400 Peerless approached him from the north in a mixed battalion formation led by none other than the old crone. There were too many Transcendents in the ranks to accurately judge their numbers. More than half the force was flying or hovering in the air. He could tell at least three had passed the bottleneck, if not more. He was certain the old crone and her Meleua had.

John gripped his sword and shield and stood tall. He felt no fear at all. Only sadness for what could’ve been. What he’d miss out on.

The old crone said, “Oh, John, praying isn’t going to save you now.”

John appreciated being called by his name again at the end. “I know,” was his reply.

The crone sighed. “This is all so unnecessary. I’ll never understand how you could just throw it all away. We accepted you. We raised you up high. We loved you. We made you Peerless. One of us. Now you’ll just be a small stain on the ground.”

“I know,” said John.

The crone smiled. Her hand lit on fire, bathing her face in strange light. “You feel a lot more powerful. Good. I grew up during the dark times, you know? Things were different back then. I often couldn’t avoid fighting. Even though I’m not supposed to, I’ve always fought right beside my boys, right in the thick of it. I’m good at it. I love nothing more than a good battle.”

“As do I,” replied John. “And my last will be glorious.”

John slashed his sword in front of him, releasing a massive and wide arc of blade energy. Too many peripherals to count streaked towards him. Rifle fire and manifestations illuminated the night sky. His sword lit up brightly as he charged forward bellowing a mighty cry of hope and despair.

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

Purchased message sent 27 days ago.

“My amazing husband,

This is your wife, Amber. I hope this message gets to you. We kept flying by and it kept saying the recipient was not in message range, so I just finally paid for it to wait for you on Gani. Another’s waiting for you at the meeting spot you decided on with Meleua. I miss you so much.

And I have great news! Your children miss you! You’re a daddy! Four beautiful babies! I guess pregnancies are shorter the higher someone ascends. My water broke a little after 7 months. And the kids are huge! Big suckers. All four of them. All healthy. And beautiful!

You’ve given me everything. Everything I always thought I’d never have. You gave it all to me. You made all my dreams come true. Every day I thank God you came into my life. I never thought I’d get a happy ending, but I’ve been so blessed. I keep thinking it’s a dream and I’ll wake up any minute.

Now you just have to come back to me. Your loving wife and kids miss you so much! Me, Belle, Ariel, Adam, and Eric. That’s the names of the princesses and princes from “Beauty and the Beast” and “Ariel.” They’re so adorable!

The labor was easy. Too easy. I guess it stops hurting after Silver or so. I wanted it to hurt. That should be part of the price for becoming the most wonderful thing ever and receiving the best presents ever. Being a mother! I’m a mother now! And a wife! I made four wonderful babies!

When I was back in Asia, I used to always watch women in labor. There’s something so magical about a woman becoming a mother. All the pain and suffering of labor would always turn to such joy when the mom held her new baby. Pain was like the price of admission, and I didn’t have to pay it, and I should’ve paid because they’re perfect and wonderful and they make me so happy.

I can’t wait for you to come back and meet our babies. For us to live as a family. I miss you so much. And all your babies miss their daddy.

When you swore to my kauwa, I kind of count that as our official wedding ceremony. When we got married in your Mind’s Eye, you said vows and I never got the chance to, so I’ve been writing my own. That’s why we need just one more wedding ceremony, so you can hear my vows. I know you’ll really love them!

Uncle Baba is doing really well too! That’s what I call Meleua now. He’s great with the babies. Well, he won’t touch them or be around them, but he’s a great uncle. It’s hard to explain. You’ll have to see it to understand.

Oh, guess what? We found the best reward for him. I wear a lot of protective stuff that completely covers me, and I disinfect and clean some stuff. He even wants my whole head covered when I do it. He’s always in a different room watching so I don’t even have to see him. That’s not bad at all, right? See? It all worked out fine.

Please, please come home soon.

I send all the tremendous amount of love within my heart and soul to you,

Your loving wife,

Amber

P.S. I love you! And I have some more really good news for you too. It’s a surprise though!”

Amber read the message again for the millionth time. She checked to see if she had received any messages. Or anything. She was starting to get worried but forced herself to stop. Her husband was the toughest man she knew. He fought like a god. She wouldn’t doubt him. He said nothing would stop him from getting back to her. She just had to have faith in her husband and be patient. He’d be back as soon as he was able.

She knew it.

Just like before when Nine told her John was dead, she had somehow known he was alive. She would know if he wasn’t. Somehow.

He was alive. She knew it.

After hearing one of the babies fussing, Amber went to go check on them.

All four of her angels looked to be sleeping peacefully. And adorably. She couldn’t stop a few tears of joy from leaving her eyes as she looked at her babies.

My adorable little angels, she thought. I’m so lucky. I can’t believe I really get it. I get the Disney ending! I really get it! I get everything I ever dreamed of!

She didn’t want to tell John and cause him to worry, but one of the babies had a few minor medical issues. It was still perfect though!

A few minutes later, she forced herself to stop staring at her babies and leave them in peace.

After Amber left the room, Belle let out a little giggle as she turned her head to look at her sister, her eyes sparkling with the mind power.