{Enki}

John hated that he returned to Enki alone, but he understood the mission Tameka put him on. Alone was necessary. While he enjoyed the privacy of the empty bungalow, he preferred hearing Caedes’ grumping, Tameka’s motherly admonishing, and Pax’s cries of delight.

He missed his family.

The walk to the lecture hall reminded him once more that things were not right in the Dyson’s Sphere. Every Tritan he passed ducked through the halls. The few he passed anyway. Maybe two of them? In a trek that spanned one colony and three continents. Two seemed awfully light for a dominating species.

Thirteen conduits later, he walked into the open amphitheater surrounded by ocean. Wiw waited in the stands. John expected more of an audience, but welcomed the fairly benign Tritan.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Eminent, hello.” John greeted him by pounding his fist to his own nacre.

The Tritans learned to expect this salute from the Shadow without fully understanding its significance. Wiw smiled warmly from his great height. Thin fingered-hands waved for the human to relax. “Hello, Educator. I am pleased to see you. I missed your lessons.”

“I’m honored, sir.”

“How was the Sovereign Ambassador when you left her? Not so saddened by the embargo with her son on Earth, was she?” Did the old man just wink?

John was pretty sure he winked. Err on the side of caution, “It’s unfortunate that Primary Bol enacted an embargo—”

The Eminent’s double-take almost gave John whiplash. The Tritan’s black voids doubled in size, genuinely startled. In the course of a second, his face warmed and softened. “You’re mistaken, Educator. Primary Rem issued the ban. Not Primary Bol.”

What the fuck—

Eminent Lance rushed into the lecture hall. “John! John, come see. It’s Earth. It’s happening all over Earth.”

Heart in his throat, John ran as fast as his prosthetic would tolerate. No. Not again.

Please. Not again.