While most of the expedition members were taking down tents and packing their gear the following morning, the five leaders met again. Jal explained what they had seen, described how it fit Jal’s vision, and laid out a plan for the next few days.
“Are you crazy?” Sage Elvan asked. “You’re asking us to go into a bunch of caves, set us up to fight these beings that we don’t know anything about, and think we’re going to kill them?”
Jal didn’t respond.
“I believe we can do this, Sage Elvan,” Luminary Dev spoke up.
“You’re asking people to intentionally put their lives on the line,” Luk said.
Golsho rubbed his chin. “We’ve had little to no warning of the dangers we faced so far. This time, we sort of know what’s coming. We might be more prepared.”
“How many people will die in the process?”
“I can’t say,” Jal answered.
“I think you know.”
“I don’t.” Jal’s voice became low. It fought back the emotions that threatened to take over. “Luminary, what happens if we don’t do this?”
“The Protectors will remain where they are. They’ll continue as legends. I believe that the world will continue to fall into ruin, even more so than it is now.”
“We can’t un-know what we know,” Luk said. “I, for one, will walk around with guilt for the rest of my life. Count me in.”
“I’m in,” Golsho said. “It can’t be as bad as you think it will be.”
Luminary Dev looked at the others. “I came along to do this.”
“I want to see this to the end,” Dr. Gyasi muttered. “I’ve come this far.”
“Now we have to tell the others,” Jal announced.
“You tell the others,” Sage Elvan said firmly. “I haven’t decided what to do. Maybe I should go home. Maybe we should all go home.” It looked at Jal sadly. “If something happens to you…”
That morning the group walked in a northwesterly direction. In mid-afternoon, Jal called everyone together and they gathered around it noisily, asking why they were stopping.
“I have information that I want to share with you.” Jal told them about the dream and about what it had seen when Golsho and it had seen when they’d gone ahead as scouts.
“Here is the reason that I’ve called you together. We can release the Protectors from their pillars of captivity and defeat the Gimorans. I’m not going to tell you what to do or not do. You have made it this far. Dr. Gyasii and I have talked it over, and we believe that you’ve fulfilled your contracts. You can choose to leave today, receive your pay, and go home. Or you can stay and fight. You may die in the process. If we win, we may get nothing but the satisfaction of returning the Protectors to the life they had in past centuries and the world to a better, peaceful place.”
“Can we think about this for a day or two?”
“You can think about it. We need a decision from each of you by midday tomorrow. Tomorrow night we’ll discuss strategies we can use. The following day we’ll have all our equipment and anything else we need transported in. We’ll stay in the caves the second day, observing the Gimorans. That night we’ll work out the final details. The third day, we’ll fight.”
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“What if no one decides to stay with you, Jal?”
“I don’t know.”
The pizzas and alcoholic beverages were transported in just then. “Surprise!” Jal said. “I thought we’d have some food from home today.”
“A last meal,” Sage Elvan muttered as it went off to set up the tent.
Expedition members discussed the pros and cons of staying to fight versus going home. Some of them said they had only come to do scientific research and talked about what they would do with the information they had gained. Others were confident in their magical and fighting abilities. A third group formed of those who simply weren’t sure. They asked Jal question after question about the terrain, the hiding places, what the enemy was like and how much power they had. Jal did its best to answer them positively, although it wondered if it were leading people to their deaths. There were several who weren’t talking with anyone; they ate pizza and drank the alcohol and tried to sort through their thoughts.
Throughout the following morning, members of the expedition team came to Jal, Dr. Gyasi, and the Luminary to tell them of their decisions. Badas was the first ones to approach the leaders. “I don’t know what to do, Luminary Dev. I have decided that I am at your disposal. I was created to serve the planet. I ask that you make the decision, if you would.”
“Very well, I’ll let you know after we hear from everyone else. Thanks for your commitment to Zuphreon.” Badas went on his way, thinking about which pieces of equipment it would need, should he be needed.
Ladi and Sidi came together, saying that this was what they’d been hoping for. “Fighting is what we live for, Luminary. We will join your cause.”
Verle and Tomas had noticed that Morti was very good at fighting, even though she was an environmental scientist. They talked her into staying, saying that she would provide knowledge about the terrain and the best way to use it to the group’s advantage.
The leaders noticed that Lallo and Kir were waiting a short distance away. They approached the leaders reluctantly. “We don’t see how you can win without magicians, Jal.” Lallo said. “I would support everyone by being available to provide potions and heal injuries. I’m not too keen on being in the front line of fire.”
“I want to fight, but I’m scared too,” Kir said hesitantly. “I’ll need to be teamed up with someone that knows what they’re doing.”
Three female scientists, Mila, Andi, and Maya, decided they should go home. They felt that their skills lay elsewhere, not in fighting.
“I’m not really programmed for fighting,” Cirus told Jal, “But I’ll stay to fight because I believe the Protectors should be freed and our world should be returned to a better condition.”
“We have twelve people,” Jal said to Dr. Gyasi.
“I think we need Badas to stay,” the Luminary said. “I hope I don’t regret my decision.” When the Luminary went to him, Badas agreed to stay and fight.
Luk reluctantly came to Jal. “Look, Jal, I want you to be successful in this, but I’m not really into fighting. I’m going to go home. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, Luk! You’ve been so great to have along. You got us through some crazy mountain climbing. Will you stay in touch with me?” Luk went off relieved. He didn’t realize how worried he’d been about Jal’s reaction.
“That leaves Sage Elvan,” Luminary Dev said. “Have you seen him, Jal?”
“He was packing up his things when I came over here. Let’s wait a bit. I’m sure he’ll come with an answer.”
As they waited, the group leaving was transported to the Protectorate Enclave, where their belongings had been stored and they were to receive their pay. Many people wanted to stay in touch with Jal, mostly to hear how the group turned out. It readily agreed to send messages.
Everyone who was leaving was gone, and all the tents had been packed up. Sage Elvan’s pack was full, and appeared to be deserted in the middle of the camp. “Where is it?” Jal wondered. “Is it going to drag this process out? Is it going to be a big dramatic scene?”
Finally, Sage Elvan came from some nearby bushes. Instead of going to Jal, Dr. Gyasi, Golsho, and the Luminary, Sage Elvan went to get its backpack. Slowly, it trudged to where the group stood. “Everyone else has decided?” it asked.
“They have,” the Luminary responded.
“Jal, I cannot believe that you would make me choose like this.”
“Jan, if you cannot choose, the choice will be made for you.”
“What do you mean?
“You will be sent home. If you won't participate w.wholeheartedly by your choice, we don't need you here!"
“I just want us back at Ridali Tower in one piece. I’m tired of worrying, Jal. Just end this craziness now. Please! Let’s go home!”
“I can’t, Jan. This is what I was brought here to do. Someone needs to do it.”
“Let the others do it,” Sage Elvan said quietly. “You have done enough.”
Jal looked at his guardian’s face, then at the others. “I thought it would come to this. I choose to fight for Zuphreon. Do you want to be here!, or would you rather go home?”