Rachel had never been a fan of the Tribunal. She felt disconnected from them. Vague guidance and confusing summations were customary. From what she’d been told by her own family, that’s how they’d always been.

And that was before she’d been snubbed for promotion. It wasn’t possible for her opinion of them to sink any lower. So she felt annoyed when Marcus told her to speak with them.

Now she stood before the three vague, floating images. With the shadows obscuring their details, she pictured them as large black blobs hovering in the air. Even though she knew both Marcus and Candace were in the room as well, she still felt completely alone in that situation.

“Knight Kim,” the center Tribunalman began. “Agent Kane tells us you have information regarding the recent breach.”

“I’m not sure how much information I can provide,” said Rachel. “Truth is I don’t remember any of what I saw. All I know is that when I touched the crystal, I saw something.”

“Agent Kane referenced a symbol. What can you tell us about it?”

“I don’t know what it was a symbol of. I’d never seen it before, but it was on the shard.”

“And you’re certain this wasn’t some sort of hallucination? Nor a visual mirage? A trick of the eye, so to speak?”

Rachel nodded. “Yes, I’m sure. It looked like it was carved into the crystal’s surface.”

“Did any of your teammates remark on this symbol?”

“No one said anything about it and I didn’t bring it up.”

“Why not?”

Rachel sighed. “Truth be told, I’m really not sure. I didn’t even really think to mention it. And it wasn’t until I saw it just now in the research lab that I noticed the symbol was gone. I guess I had just assumed it was a feature of the crystal before I saw it wasn’t there.”

“Do you believe you could replicate the symbol?”

“Since I spoke to Dr. Wu and Agent Kane an hour ago, I’ve been trying to see if I could draw it. But whenever I put pencil to page, I just freeze up. It’s like a word on the tip of my tongue.”

Silence filled the air for a few moments. Rachel tried to study the obscured faces, but with no use. She looked over her shoulder at Marcus and Candace both standing in the rear of the chamber. Their faces offered no guidance. Rachel wondered if the Tribunalmen were conferring with each other.

“We don’t follow, Knight Kim. What do you mean by ‘on the tip of your tongue’?”

Rachel’s eyes expanded. “It’s…a common expression. You know, when you can’t quite say the word you’re thinking of. That’s what it’s like when I try to draw the image.”

“So you cannot replicate the symbol. Interesting.”

“Is there anything you can describe about the symbol?”

Rachel shook her head. “Not really, no. If I saw it again, I’d definitely recognize it.”

“We believe an examination might be in order.”

“Examination?” asked Rachel. “What sort of examination?”

“The link between Titan and Knight, as you know, goes quite deep. We believe a session with your Titan could provide some insight into these images you saw, but cannot recall. Would you be willing to submit to such a procedure?”

Rachel didn’t quite understand. She thought the link between Knight and Titan was always present. But it sounded like they were proposing something different.

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“I’m sorry, but what is the procedure exactly?” she asked.

“Similar to the first meeting you had with your Titan. You would enter the chamber and you would connect with the Titan on a deeper level.”

“I…guess that’d be okay?”

“Excuse me, I hate to interrupt, but I feel I have an obligation,” said Candace, moving beside Rachel. “This is more invasive than first contact. You’re essentially talking about a mind meld with the Titan. That’s only been attempted a handful of times in the past and it’s very risky to the Knight.”

“We appreciate your professional opinion, Dr. Wu. However, this is something of great concern to the Quantum Group’s mission and we must explore all possible avenues.”

“Risk is part of an Omega Knight’s duties.”

“Not unnecessary risk,” said Candace. “We don’t know how important this symbol even is. I say we need to explore other options first.”

“And what sort of options would you recommend?”

Both Candace and Rachel could hear Marcus behind them, sucking in his breath through clenched teeth.

“We need to bring in some outside experts,” said Candace. “I’m just a medical doctor, I’m not a physicist. We need someone with experience in quantum physics to weigh in on this. Talk with people at CERN or something.”

“We already have trusted physicists who are part of the Quantum Group, Dr. Wu.”

“We will be happy to share the findings with them, but that is as far as we are willing to take it.”

“Moving beyond the confines of Quantum secrecy risks the integrity of our mission.”

“I understand your apprehension, but what choice do we have? This thing is unlike anything we’ve ever seen,” said Candace.

The Tribunal grew silent in light of Candace’s impassioned plea. After a few beats of silence, one of them spoke again.

“Agent Kane, what is your recommendation? Do you concur with Dr. Wu?”

Marcus sighed and stepped forward. He tossed a look toward Candace that Rachel could only describe as apologetic before he returned his attention to the three floating images and spoke his mind.

“While I understand Dr. Wu’s frustration, I think consulting with anyone outside the Group at this stage would be premature,” he said. “The security of the Group and the sanctity of the mission is of paramount importance. I think a three-pronged approach is best. First, we consult with our own experts within the Group. Second, we send a recon team back to the site of the breach to see what else they can find. And third and finally, Knight Kim communes with her Titan to see what sort of images can be reproduced from her subconscious.”

Candace’s glare toward Marcus was so intense, Rachel wouldn’t be surprised if she saw lasers firing from the doctor’s eyes. She imagined the two of them would have it out later once they were away from the Tribunal. But Rachel herself couldn’t let this go without first speaking her own mind.

“Excuse me,” she said, holding up her hand. “But considering it’s my mind and my Titan we’re talking about here, do I get a say in it?”

The chamber grew silent again. Candace gave an audible sigh, suggesting that she knew what Rachel was about to say and didn’t approve. Rachel wasn’t even sure she approved of what she had in mind. But beyond the need for the Group to know about it, Rachel had her own curious itch that needed scratching.

“If the only way to reproduce what I saw is by communing with my Titan, then that’s something I’m willing to do,” she said. “But Dr. Wu mentioned previous instances when this was attempted. I’d like to know what I’m getting myself into first and read up on those cases.”

The Tribunal grew silent, reflecting on Rachel’s request. The way their shadowy images just hung there, apparently staring at her, left her unnerved. If she at least knew whether or not they were communicating with each other or if this was some delay tactic, she’d feel better.

“We regret to inform you that your request cannot be fulfilled.”

“May I ask why?”

“Those records are highly classified.”

“Don’t you have the power to declassify any records you want?” asked Rachel.

“That power is in our purview, yes. But there is protocol to consider.”

Rachel sighed. The Tribunal was a slave to protocol. She supposed it made sense. That protocol had worked for them for centuries, so who was she to say it should be thrown out the window?

“Yes, but this is something that directly impacts me,” said Rachel. “I believe I have the right to know the risks.”

Silence again lingered. But the Tribunal’s answer ultimately remained the same.

“We apologize, Knight, but we cannot break protocol.”

“If you wish your mind to be set at ease, then the question to ask yourself is this: do you trust your Titan?”

Rachel nodded. “Without hesitation.”

“Then trust that your Titan also has your best interests in mind.”

“There is risk in communing on this level, but with great risk can come great reward.”

“You are uniquely suitable to such a union.”

If I’m so unique, then why did you pass me over for leadership and choose Tom instead?

That’s what Rachel wanted to say to the three floating heads. It wouldn’t do any good. They were set in their ways and nothing would change any of that. Rachel had her own theories about why she was passed over and she wasn’t quite ready for a confrontation like that just yet. She felt that no good would come from it anyway, so what was the point.

“I wish you’d reconsider,” said Rachel. “However, I know this is a unique situation. So I’m willing to put aside my own concerns for the good of the mission.”

She glanced back at Candace, also giving her an apologetic look.

“I’ll commune with my Titan.”