The falconlings were an efficient people. A bit crude in development, but efficient.

They had yet to develop teleporters or commpads, but they’d evolved enough to reach a space fairing capacity. Their rudimentary knowledge of gear tech and electricity allowed them to harness most of their planet's energy, though it wasn't until the AIC arrived that they began to truly tap the resources at their disposal. The other graduate and her liaisons were supposed to be helping the Rutune citizens with the transition. Their sudden arrival only made that issue more complicated.

"Are you always so flippant on protocol, General?" Winly asked as they were installing the ion core.

"Believe it or not, I used to be the high-strung one," Erin replied, burning the seal with a blowtorch.

Of the grad's liaisons, he much preferred Winly's company to that of Olivia. The latter had all the anxiousness and mannerisms of someone who'd just been promoted, her every action punctuated with a "but the protocol says" this or a "but they taught us in training" that. It made Erin more nostalgic than he cared to admit. At the very least, Winly was more carefree, her sapient half shining through every time he spoke to her. After dealing with Xan's lazy keister for so long, he enjoyed the cyborg's company.

"There," she said, the screw end of her arm returning to a mechanical hand. "Should be nice and secure now."

Erin lifted up his mask, sighing with relief. Installing the core was always the most tedious part. They'd had to build it from scratch using elizium and nitrite minerals they'd picked up planet-side. Though Rutune was rich in alloys, its citizens were still learning to harness their power. That left him and Winly to make the installation by hand. The job alone had taken three days to finish.

He wiped the sweat from his brow. "I'd say we've earned a rest after that."

"You can rest," Winly said, standing up. "I'm gonna go make sure Olivia's not freaking out over policies again."

"Sweet whiskers."

She waved with that, the half-human passing through the hall and disappearing around the corridor. Erin pulled off his safety equipment, moving for the table. Oh, the joys of a sapient body. He chugged down a water bottle, finishing with a gasp. Hmm. Wonder if I should have offered her oil? No. She's a cyborg so...Electricity? He scratched his head. Robots were one thing. Cyborgs were a different beast altogether.

He chuckled to himself as he sat back.

How in the world did you end up here, General? If your SOs could see you now, they'd be livid.

He smiled, reaching over to his sandwich ration. His break would have to be short-lived. There was still work yet to be done.

Though the assistance was appreciated, he knew they couldn't impose on the Rutune citizens much longer. At the rate they were going, he estimated a departure within the next day. He'd delay it for two so Sasha could spend time with her friend, but that was as far as he was willing to push it. The longer they stayed, the more danger they'd be putting everyone in. They were technically fugitives of-

His nose twitched, Erin feeling the hairs of his arm rise.

He could feel signals. Numerous signals. More than what should have been physically possible, at least in a sentient being. He jumped off the table, yanking up his wand as he narrowed on the spot where it all accumulated. A supernova was materializing in the corner of the room. And he couldn't see it.

“H-hello,” he said, trying to keep his voice calm. “May I help you?”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

The supernova took shape, a pair of gloved hands appearing. They connected to slender arms tucked under a slim ballroom dress of a radiant yellow color. White locks fell into place, a pale face emerging as Erin slightly relaxed. The Lady of the Scales always enjoyed her flashy entrances. She tapped her heel against the metal flooring, nodding in approval.

“Mistress Elisia," the weasel greeted. "For what do I owe the pleasure?”

The Goddess didn't respond, moving to the ion core and wrapping her knuckle against the glass.

“Sturdy," she said. "How soon can she fly again?”

“By tomorrow, but-”

“Good. You’ll want to make haste. The fool’s on the move, and planets need saving.”

Erin gave the Goddess a curious look. She always was difficult to deal with. Even more so than Xan. But as a liaison, learning to deal with the harshest people in the galaxy became second nature. If he had a chet for every student who threatened to kill him, he’d be a very rich weasel.

“Now where is…Ah. There’s my child."

She waved a hand, a screen of light appearing in front of her.

A view portal. Across the flat projection was the panther Erin knew all too well. She was sleeping soundly in bed next to her friend, both tucked peacefully in their shared room. Elisia cooed.

"Oooh. And she’s found Apoli’s kid. Perfect."

Erin's wand lit up.

"I better go say h-”

A barrier rose around the Goddess.

The view portal vanished, Elisia looking up to the translucent walls boxing her in place. Her gaze landed on Erin, who kept his wand trained in her direction, signals pouring out as he shot her a warning glare.

“Stay away from her,” he said.

Elisia's red lips drew back in a smile, a gloved hand touching the barrier.

“General. Is that a threat?”

The weasel didn’t respond, his gaze never leaving Elisia’s. Not even for a moment. For a Goddess, that would have been all the time she needed.

“Whatever you're planning,” he said, “Sasha stays with us. Don't even think about touching her. As long as Xan and I breathe, that little girl is ours to protect. And I won't hesitate to kill a Goddess to do so.”

Elisia tapped her finger against the barrier, the wall vibrating each time. Her eyes scanned his, but he didn't move an inch.

The Lady of the Scales. The Goddess of Judgement. The Goddess of Mercy. He didn’t know which stood before him, but Erin knew none were good for Sasha. Not now. Not when she'd just found her friend again after so long. Not when she'd finally learned to trust them. Sasha was happier now than he'd ever seen her before. He'd die before he let anyone take that away. No matter who it was.

Elisia's smile disappeared, her entire hand resting against the barrier as she stared back at him.

“You can’t keep her in the dark forever, weasel,” she said. “It just makes her a better target.”

He didn’t relent, his wand held in place.

Elisia continued to stare him down. Even as her frame began to dissipate, the golden dress turning into flecks of yellow that rose across her body. He felt the eyes boring through him as the Lady of the Scales became a bundle of yellow mist, completely dissolving into nothingness. Yet even so, her voice remained, if only for a few seconds.

“You’re only delaying this, Erin."

And then, she was gone.

The barrier fell, Erin dropping to his knees with it. His hand shook violently, bile rising in his stomach that he pushed down. Sweet whiskers. He tried to rise only to feel his legs buckle under him. He could barely stand as much as his body was quaking. Sweet whiskers. I just threatened a Goddess? Her Goddess.

Sweat ran down his forehead. Perhaps it was the madness of the situation, but a chuckle began to rise. One tinged with anxiety.

"I really must be losing it, huh? 'I'll kill a Goddess?' Who am I fooling?"

He grabbed the edge of the table, using it to lift himself up again. After a while, the trembling subsided enough for him to take a bite of his sandwich. That helped him push the danger away. There was still a ship to fix, his near demise aside.

Sweet whiskers. Now I understand why Xan's always pushing for a vacation.

He continued to chuckle as he picked up his supplies, slowly shuffling back into the flow of work.