{Enki}

Physically, Tameka felt amazing.

Sip.

Even better now. Mentally, her mind knotted up into an enormous ball of churning anxiety. The Shadow killed an Eminent. Kyle acted on his own again. And here she was sneaking around Enki trying to work on a map to their most sacred grounds.

“Steady.” Caedes’ gruff, yet reassuring, voice in her earpiece eased her some.

Talk. Take her mind off the mess. “Jack is so busy here. John has his hands full watching over him. But I think he enjoys feeling useful.”

Caedes responded with a taciturn, “Humph.”

So much for diverting conversation.

“Take this conduit and head right. Expect some traffic in that area. Watch your back.”

“Got it. Thanks.” Tameka followed his instructions and kept an eye out for passing Tritans. All the surfaces around Enki were white stone and glass. Sometimes the walls were glass and the floor was stone. It reminded her of the Seam. Several conduits led to stone platforms on the ocean. They labeled these as landings. Caedes’ calculations estimated over seventeen million of them in this labyrinth. Designed to confuse and exhaust their enemies. It certainly discouraged her.

“Keep going, Tameka. You’re making excellent progress.”

Right. Exactly what she needed to hear. Close to something Xelan would say, but with less cheese. She missed the cheese. That grin when he took pride in the cheese…

Intently, Caedes explained, “From here, we have nothing. Tell me which conduit you choose. The device will map your location for us.”

Fury idly twisted her chain and considered which of the thirteen conduits to choose. Far left.

Sip.

“It’s a shrine.” Tameka took a step onto an almost invisible barrier between her and the empty at the Dyson’s Sphere center. “I assume you want me to poke my head through and see where it leads?”

Again, Caedes encouraged her, “Only if you feel comfortable—Hey, we weren’t expecting you. Again.”

Sagan’s muffled voice came over his mic. “I need to talk to you and—where’s Tameka?”

There was some quiet and movement on the comm device before Sagan came loud and clear. “I have a lead on Imminent, but we can’t completely trust it. I’m handing off a drive from my source to Caedes. Open it with caution. Off system.”

“Sagan, something awful happened tonight. Eminent Wiw died in a bombing.”

“I know. I was at the gala the terrorist group hit.”

Caedes informed her, “It was Kyle and T.a.o.”

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“No fucking way? They almost killed me.”

Tameka bit her lip. Killed an Eminent. Almost killed Sagan. Confirmation. They needed confirmation. “Sagan, this is important, was it an Imminent location after all? If you were there…”

“Yea. It was. Razor took me to the party for undercover work. Let’s hope the drive pays off. I’m sorry about Wiw, Tameka. I know you were fond of him.”

“I think his loss was likely a genuine tragedy.” Some part of Tameka wanted to turn Kyle over to Enki. Or kill him. But… “I wish we could ask Rayne—”

“—What to do next? We know how she’d handle this, and it’s part of the reason she’s in the Complex. Her way is definite and permanent. We need flexibility here to unite the Vast Collective against Imminent.”

Tameka nodded at the truth in her words. “She’s not the way for that. We’ll meet soon to decide how to handle Kyle’s punishment. And I think he deserves one.”

“I agree. I’ll be there. Just tell me when and please let it be after tomorrow. I need to sleep. Oh, and sorry for not knocking the other night, Caedes. I’ll uhm… practice more discretion.” She snickered like the carefree girl they missed, and then silence blanketed the mic.

The bald Icarus tried his best for a clinical feeding experience. The purring was an autonomic response from the intoxicating affects of Tameka’s blood. He slept it off in her bed. The surprise on his face the next morning when he realized—he looked venerated.

Sip.

“Uncle Caeda!” The most precious change of subject ever. And Caedes always let him in. “Hee. Mommy?”

After a shuffle of the mic, her baby’s voice came through her ear. “Mommy.”

“I’m here, sweetie. Do you need me?” Tameka scanned her surroundings, feeling ridiculous standing in a shrine outside of Elden knew where. And taking a mommy call. Working mom hustle.

“Lines. Same.”

A little distant, Caedes explained while he maneuvered the obviously wriggling toddler, “He’s pointing to the model. At the conduits. No, Pax. Please don’t touch that.” Even his stern “Uncle voice” was less gruff than his casual talk among the Shadow.

Warmed through, Tameka gave in. “I’m heading home. Maybe I’ll take him out for the next one. He wants to feel a part of this, and his…” She closed her eyes tight and took a deep breath through the impending attack. Eventually, tightly, she finished, “His father wouldn’t want me to hide reality from Pax.” Or at least she thought so.

“The lines, mommy!”

Caedes pressed softly, “Before you return, do you feel up to checking where the shrine leads?”

“Not a problem.” Tameka, Fury, Sovereign Ambassador of the Two Worlds walked right out of Enki and into a weird room. Empty. Black metal floors, walls, and ceiling. Corrugated and industrial. The space reminded her of the resident bunks in the Ecology. The far side shimmered with energy. A nacre-resistant barrier. Where the hell was she?

Stepping back into Enki, she reported the details back to Caedes. All the while, her hackles raised and that anxiety knot twisted. Listening to her instincts, she booked it back the way she came. “Something feels wrong about this.”

“I agree. Keep steady.”

Sip.

“Sovereign Ambassador.”

Shit. Tameka stopped and turned around. “Eminent Lance, I’m so glad you’ve returned unharmed.”

“It’s fortunate I found you about.” The Tritan caught up with her and touched her elbow gently. “The remaining Eminents are grieving. And I’m afraid that’s left them quite dangerous. Avoid confrontation with anyone unless I’m present. How is Pax? And Caedes? Is he recovered?”

Caedes stayed quiet all the while, but his breathing changed at the mention of his name.

“We’re all fine. Thank you for your concern and your advice, Eminent.” Lance was the next most tolerable member of the Tribunal. Gently, Tameka offered, “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“The Vast Collective’s loss. Wiw balanced justice and peace within the Tribunal. Without him and with the other two promoted, I’m afraid my voice counts for nothing.” The Tritan kept fidgeting with his sleeves as if uncomfortable speaking with her.

Ice filled Tameka’s veins. Coincidences and schemes stacked on one another. And they all threatened to topple and bury the Shadow.

“Be safe, Sovereign Ambassador. And never find yourself alone with them.” With that grave warning, he swept away in his robes and disappeared through a nearby conduit.

“You get all that?”

“You know it. I’ll stay on the line until you get back.”

Tameka rushed home through the conduits, clutching her chain. In her bones, she felt it. She knew. “Soon.”

Sip.