“Speak what is on your mind.” I say, breaking the silence that had fallen between the three of us.

“Alakin, my brother and I – we wish to join your tribe.” Maki says finally.

“I am not the leader of my tribe.” I say to him, somewhat confused by the notion I continue with “You will have to speak with Nekam, he is my chief.”

“We have spoken to him, Alakin.” Daki says now, finally speaking. He is timid to find his words.

“What did he say?” I ask, now more confused.

“He said we have his blessing to follow you.” Maki says meeting my eyes, searching them for answers.

I turn towards our lodging room, and I see Nekam standing in the entrance of it. His arms are folded, and he stands tall – looking at me. He gives me a nod.

My mind wanders, thinking of everything that has happened. If I accept them, they will become my charges. Their actions will reflect upon me, good and bad. I think back to when Daki stabbed me, a phantom pain in my belly. Back to when I beat him nearly to death. It surprises me they wish to follow, after everything between us. Questions form words using my mouth to ask them.

“Why do you wish to follow me?” I ask them.

“Alakin… in you we see hope.” Maki says.

“In you, we feel the rising of our people. Alakin, we will not disappoint you.” Daki says.

“You will follow my orders, even if they may take your life?” I ask them, peering past the flesh, searching within their souls.

“Uton Ul Jaka Talen.” Daki says dropping to a knee.

“Uton Ul Jaka Talen.” Maki says also dropping to a knee.

My eyes grow wide at this, it is a sacred vow among my people, I have never seen it given before. In does not translate well from the old tongue, but it means roughly – Where you go, the honor of my blade seeks to follow. It is an old vow, spoken amongst the whispers, of the time before the fall of my peoples Empire. A time when we thrived. A time I wish to see return. Their words strike me deeply.

They both pull from behind them a blade, extending it upwards, handle towards me, as is the custom in the stories passed down. I grasp both of the blades by the handles and measure them in my hands, symbolically measuring their honors weight against the blade. If I wish to see my people rise, I must embody the change, I must show them the way forward.

“I accept the honor of your blades. Rise my sworn kin.” I say extending the blades back, hilt first. In the stories it is symbolic to me showing I will always return the honor they give.

“Thank you, Alakin.” They both say, taking the blades back.

Grabbing them each under the shoulder, I raise them up to eye level and embrace their arms. The pact between us sealed. Their burdens now mine, mine now theirs.

“Get some rest.” I say to them.

They both nod and depart, leaving me alone. I see Nekam slap them on the back as they pass, and he gives me a final nod before following them. There is a buzzing on my wrist that draws my attention to my holopad. There are so many notifications I haven’t been able to read yet, having focused on training. There is no tiredness in my bones, all of it left after the deep meditation. I sit against the wall and begin to swipe through the notifications.

There are messages from other hunters in my grouping. Many of them. Thanking me for getting them a sponsor. My jaw flexes, I did not even ask on their behalf, this person decided to do it of their own volition. There is a bile trying to rise in my throat as I read all the messages, a bile that stems from the fact that their hope rises from a masters actions, not one of their own peoples. I think on Dargo’s words about opening my heart to those not of my people. The thought of it makes me sick, it spurs the anger. I know I should be grateful; I should be overjoyed that they decided to help my people, but I know there is always a cost with the masters – I fear the price for this will be the souls of my people.

After I finish reading through the hunter messages, I see there are some from the system. Regarding changes to rules, but there is nothing said about what rules or how they have changed. Before I can look further, my holopad begins to chime and a system announcement follows.

“Attention Hunter – System Announcement – This is an official notice of an injunction filed against an injunction, which was filed against an injunction that was filed against an injunction relating to yourself – Originating within the Grand Senate of the Republic of Hekat – In accordance with subsection 893.756-B486 – Your sponsorship account has been reopened – End of message.” The system says, chiming off once more.

That’s the fourth injunction filed, with no explanation of what it even means. I swipe the notification away; my wrist buzzes multiple times. The sponsor tab, my teeth grit, I will have to thank them now, I will have to swallow my pride, for the sake of those I care about. Not now though, it can wait until the morning, my pride can have one more night before it breaks.

Standing up now, walking towards the sleeping quarters, my wrist buzzes still, but I do not look until there is another system announcement. This time it is preceded by the Republic’s Anthem, something that has not happened before.

“Attention Hunter – System Announcement – This is an official notice of a summons to the Grand Senate in regard to legal actions filed on your behalf – The summons originates from the Grand Senate of the Republic of Hekat – In accordance with subsection 12.7.402-D39 you are hereby ordered to appear before the Grand Senate – End of message.”

Ordered to appear? I don’t understand. I look down to my holopad, gritting my teeth as I open the message from my sponsor tab, hoping to gain understanding about the order to appear. There is a series of messages.

There isn’t much time, be ready.

I will guide you.

You must trust me.

Please, there is more at stake than you realize.

Suddenly the lights all around the Assembly room and the sleeping quarters begin to flash red, like the night we were taken, my heart begins to beat faster. Sirens begin to blare loudly, rousing people from their bunks.

“What is going on?” Nekam yells to me over the blaring sirens.

When he is closer, I reply, “I do not know.”

“Alakin, we are with you.” Maki says coming into my shadow with his brother Daki.

“Arm yourselves!” Korra yells throwing spears and shields from the walls to people, the points dulled but it is all we have.

“Korra!” I yell. She turns and moves my way.

“Kale, what…” she begins, but I interrupt.

“Get it, we may need it.” I say into her ear.

She nods and rushes off.

“Kada, what is happening?” Neeba asks as he runs to me, his face has crease marks from the deep slumber he just awoke from.

Before I can answer, the sirens stop, and a system announcement begins over the intercom.

“Attention Hunters – System Announcement – Message from Warden Akaria – H777 is to be remanded into custody, do not resist or you will be dealt with. That is all – End of message.”

“H777 – that is your number – what do they want with you?” Nevari asks, her hair pulling from the messy bun on her head “What have you done?”

“Kada?” Neeba asks.

The crowd begins to form around me now, seeking answers I cannot give. One of the walls opens, a troupe of thirty soldiers move into the room with weapons raised. There is silence except the whir of their metal suits. Tension rises in the crowd as we begin to group in the center.

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“H777! Step forward!” one of them yells.

I begin to move, to reveal myself. I fear for the others safety, but Nekam puts a hand firmly in my chest grasping my clothes, his eyes on the soldiers.

“My chief…” I begin, but he gives me a look that means silence must follow.

I feel Korra’s hand touching mine, a warm piece of something encased in metal being slid into my grasp. I hide it in the folds of my clothes.

“Make it count.” She whispers then forms around me with the others.

They circle around me, all of them forming a wall. Beginning a chant that we only sing for war. There is dread in my heart, I do not want any of them to die because of me.

Pop – Pop – Pop as they shoot their weapons at the ground near the crowd.

“We will not ask again!” another says pointing their weapon with intent.

The crowd still does not move, the chant is growing louder. Arms begin interlocking together. I am about to reveal myself when I feel a tug at my arm.

“I am sorry Kale.” Nevari says, in her eyes there is fear and something else, something I have not seen before from her. My heart begins to hurt as I see it.

“Nevari no!” Nekam yells as he sees the look in her eyes.

“He is here! H777 is right here!” Nevari yells throwing up my arm with hers.

My eyes blink as they take in what fills hers, it is a look I have known many times in my life as an Ulima, a look that always preceded horrible suffering. It is the look of betrayal. There is no anger in my heart though, I was about to reveal myself for the sake of everyone else – what I feel is the breaking of a piece of me, the small ember I held for her snuffed out in an instant. It wouldn’t have surprised me if one of the others not of my tribe did it, but for her to do it causes a deep pain in me.

“You really thought I would let them die for me?” I ask her, pulling my arm from her grasp “I thought you knew me better.”

I can tell she realizes now I was planning to reveal myself, her face skewed with tension as she feels the guilt rise. Guilt I will not take from her.

“I am here.” I say pushing through the crowd “Do not fire upon them, I come willingly.”

“Alakin, we can fight them. The gods protect you, we can win this.” Daki says grabbing my shoulder.

“No, not today, not like this.” I say, then louder to the group I yell “Agar Buki T’Akor!”

There is a hush that goes out over the crowd as they hear my words, in the old tongue they mean – Live today so we can rise tomorrow.

“Kada don’t go.” Neeba says trying to reach me through the crowd, but it is too late.

The soldier in the front grabs my shirt, pushing me through the archway where the wall used to be. The others move through it after us, the yelling from my people growing dull and then silent, as the thick metal wall closes once more. The only sound now, the metal boots upon the floors echoing in the hall.

They push me through the expanse of the labyrinth of halls, my heart still hurting from the betrayal. Did she really think so little of me? Did she not know I would die for them? I must focus, betrayal does not deserve my attention, survival does. There is work to be done, my people still have need of me, whether they want me or not – I am here.

One of the soldiers puts a hand to his head, near where his ear is. I have seen them do this before, he must be receiving an order inside his helmet.

“Roger that, good copy, target acquired – enroute to new coordinates.” One of the soldiers says.

“We’re changing routes Sir?” another asks.

“Guess so.” The first replies, he appears to be in charge.

We change directions, loading into an elevator, half of the soldiers must ride a separate one as there is no space. As we move an error message pops up on the panel, the lights flicker off then back on.

“What was that?” the one in charge asks.

“Don’t know Sir, looks like it’s back up though.”

“Can’t wait to rotate out of this dump.” The one in charge replies with a sigh.

I see we are on the thirteenth floor now, recalling it was off limits when I took the doctor hostage, my eyes search for details about its purpose. Around me I see loading stations for the metal suits they wear. Some of the racks have the powered suits open and partially disassembled to repair them it seems. My eyes taking in as much as I can about their construction, searching for more flaws in their design.

The one in charge puts his hand to his ear again. Then puts up a fist, all the soldiers halt.

“Roger that Warden. Good copy. Enroute.” He says.

“Again?” one asks.

“Pit stop, Warden wants to speak with him before he’s transported.” The one in charge says.

The soldiers groan through their helmets but do as he bids, moving into a small chamber. Only three of them can fit with me. It looks like a larger version of the pods they make us use.

“Rendezvous on this location. Do not make me come find you.” The one in charge says to the soldiers that must wait.

Why does she want to see me? Where are they taking me? This has to be about the order to report from the Grand Senate, whatever it is, it seems important. There is no other explanation. Pushing the questions from my mind I try to focus on absorbing as much as I can. There is information here to be found, information I may have use of later.

“Sir, getting interference on the main comms channel.” One of them says, but it is strange, I feel like their voice is familiar.

Brushing it off trying to focus on the layout of the glass tubes we move through, they are less random than the ones hunters normally travel.

“Getting the same on my end.” The one in charge replies.

“Only static on my end.” The third soldier says.

“Missions the same, report to the Warden then…” he begins, but stops as the elevator lurches to a halt slamming us against the walls.

The light flickers red then back to its normal hue.

“That didn’t seem right.” The one in charge says.

“Everything seems to be in order sir.” The one whose voice sounds familiar says.

The doors open and the one in charge exits first looking around the halls.

“Let’s get off this elevator, something is wrong with it.” The one in charge says motioning to the other two.

The first one follows, I am about to do the same, but I feel a tug on my shirt pulling me back as the door slams closed – leaving me alone in the pod with only one of the soldiers. The soldier whose voice sounds familiar is the only other person with me now. They punch in a command to the elevator panel, a slot opens where they slide a device. The light turns red, then green. A series of text plays across the screen rapidly.

“Check your holopad.” The soldier says.

My arm slowly raises as I lift it up. Eyes wary of the soldier. There is a single message from my sponsor tab that appears a moment later.

Trust them.

My eyes look upwards at the soldier again, they are with whoever is sponsoring me. Is this what they meant by be ready? What have they planned, why have they planned this? My mind is turning, my hand grips that which I have hidden in the folds of my clothes.

“Why do I recognize your voice?” I ask them, still wary.

“Adar Ulic Bekara.”

“While there is life, there is will to keep it…” I say, then it hits me, where I know the voice from.

I remember the voice clearly now, it was from the soldier who let me pull from the dead Arrum, the one who held the others back. The one who ordered they search the dead once more. They showed me kindness once, and now again, why?

“Didn’t think I’d be seeing you again.” They say.

“Nor I you.” I say then continue warily “Why are you helping me?”

“Let’s just say, I’ve been properly motivated to do so.”

Before I can reply they raise a hand up to their helmet at their ear.

“Roger that sir, elevators still acting funny. Will get out when it stops and update my position.” After he stops he swears quietly “Comms weren’t supposed to be back on this fast. You need to be quick.”

The elevator door slides open on the fifteenth floor, I have been here before with the doctor. It is where they process the dead. My wrist buzzes, I swipe open the notification.

Left.

“Go. I can’t be seen now that the comms and surveillance are back on.” The soldier says pushing me out of the elevator. The door slams shut behind me.

Sekat. I turn left as it says, another message appears telling me to go right and I do. The doors open as I walk towards them. I come upon blood streaks from the floor originating from an elevator, leading to a large door. Taking pause for a moment at the sight, I feel a buzz on my holopad.

Turn right, there isn’t time to waste.

Something inside of me wants to know desperately what is behind the doors where the blood leads, something dark lurks in there, the stench that wafts from the crack in the door tells me this, it is putrid and sickly. My holopad buzzes again.

They are coming, get into the pod, hurry!

“Sekat.” I curse turning right and rushing through the open doorway to a pod. As I do, I hear the pounding of metal boots running through the halls. They are close.

The pod whirs faster than normal after flickering, ripping across the glass tube line. A hole in the tube opens at one side after less than a minute of movement, darkness at the end of it, there is no tube after the darkness. Sekat. My eyes grow wide as I realize why there is no tube.

Whoosh – the pod ejects from a hole in the side of the floating city, now free falling. The pod spins wildly in the air, there is a flashing red light, the pod detaches into pieces, the air rushes past me, disorienting me. I fight against the wind trying to correct myself, all the time as a child riding the storm’s wind with Arrum coming to fruition.

Finally, I am able to right myself, the only light I see is from the three moons in the sky and a floating city owned by the masters. Sekat, I am outside and falling. I look down and see the clouds below, I don’t have a parachute. I’m going to die. Think – Think – Think. I look around me, moving through the air, contorting my legs and arms to push me towards the pieces of the pod, and to my dread I find nothing I can use. My eyes are wide. Thoughts rushing in my mind, I hear something to my right and turn.

Blinding lights erupt thirty meters away from inside of the clouds, my arms try to shield the light as I feel something grasp my leg. I hit the clouds and feel myself becoming drenched in water. Whatever has attached itself to my leg pulls me towards the light. Then I am pulled past the light into a ship’s hull, the size like that of the carver ship I was on before. My heart is racing as I see the people who have saved me. They wear mismatched pieces of metal armor with weld marks to repair old holes. The door closes and there is a hiss of air, my ears pop.

“Strap him in. Burn to orbit and go dark.” One of the people says, their voice distorted through the facemask they wear.

“Need to get his chip out first, or he’s going to get toasted boss.”

“Right – right. Get to it.”

One of the metal men moves towards me with a tool in hand, instinctively I move out of the way, diving under his arm and pushing against the suit. To my surprise I knock him over, a massive thud against the wall. My own strength surprises me, but I do not stop, I move towards the tool he had.

“Tranq him.” Another says.

I feel a sharp prick in my side and reach my hand towards it, pulling the object out, it looks like a dart of some kind. My vision becomes blurry. Stumbling against the wall of the small shuttle. It does not stop me as I move forward punching and kicking whatever I can. My strength again surprises me when I connect with one of their helmets, leaving a small dent in it.

“Again! Tranq him again you slagging idiot!”

I feel a sharp prick twice more in my back, my body becomes heavy like lead, knees buckling as I crash to the floor.

“Slagging hells.” One curses, his voice distorted as my ears begin to ring.

“What the frag are they feeding these gloweyes, bastard dented my helmet.” Another says.

My eyes try to strain themselves to stay open. But I feel another prick in my back, and it sends me to the darkness’s embrace.