{Enki}

Tails.

Right on time, Sagan knocked on the zeppelin. “I got it,” Lucas announced as he answered.

Andrew listened to the muffled voices as he finished dressing in the bedroom. Warm chatter and a request for her axes and coat. When she appeared in the doorway wearing a man’s sweater and the same man’s axes on her hips, Conscience shook his head. “Which one of them ripped off the collar—never mind. I don’t want to know the answer.”

She blushed, and now he knew. But quickly she changed the subject. “Do you think they’ll punish us?”

“If Kyle admits to his responsibility in the matter, the Tribunal will likely only punish him,” Lucas explained.

Nah. “No way. If they decide there’s fault on our end—of any kind—they’ll use it to take us all down.” Andrew did not like this. Kyle jeopardized not only the mission, but their lives.

Sagan took his hand and smiled sadly at him. “Are you ready?”

Her pupils looked blown. Her chain was missing. And when Andrew gently tested her intentions, he came back with a mixture of exhaustion and self-loathing. Like after instant-regret sex. He pulled her in for a hug. Hiding the wince at the slightness of her usually muscular frame proved difficult. Against her hair, he whispered, “I’m always here for you.”

Leaning away with a smile, she assured, “I’m the one that does the saving, remember?” She turned to Lucas. “How are The Brethren in their recovery?”

“The chateau is lost, I’m afraid. We salvaged what we could from the libraries and such. Fortunately, the quantum facility is retrievable with an impressive amount of excavators and two crawlers. Imminent sank it without damaging it. But it’ll take some time.” The Icarus smiled genuinely for her.

The hope that sparkled in her eyes warmed Andrew through. Sagan pulled both of them into a hug. “We can do this.”

With the power of thirty excavators, yes, they could do this.

Heads. Doable.

“Ready?”

They nodded, and she took them through the Seam.

Tameka waited, leaned against a glass wall with her arms folded. She looked pissed.

Across from her, Kyle and T.a.o. looked unaffected.

“What is T.a.o. doing here?” Sagan gasped.

“Yup. Yup. Already did this,” Tameka grumbled with a “hey” to Lucas.

The joint in Kyle’s hand only slightly excused his serene demeanor. Even stoned, he usually rose to the bait. Instead, he cooly explained, “T.a.o. is here to appeal to the Tribunal for her freedom. Isn’t that what we wanted for the First Wave Progeny?”

The ancient Seamswalker remained silent, evidently fine with Kyle speaking for her.

Andrew shared an incredulous look with Lucas who offered, “I await you with Caedes.”

“Hug Pax for me.” They went in for a quick squeeze.

“You will hug him, yourself,” Tameka ordered.

Andrew chuckled at her bossiness. “Well, this way he gets two from me.”

Heads. Shit.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“It’s time,” Tumu cut into the mostly warm conversation.

Sagan headed through the glass corridor first. The rest followed, with T.a.o. bringing up the rear. Andrew kept between their girls and Kyle. He wanted to form a barrier in the tunnel. Beneath their feet, a forest of cranberry-colored trees stretched forever in a sea of red leaves and black branches.

Tameka and Sagan whispered to one another. Andrew caught words like “Cinder” and “Li.” He’d ask later.

The corridor opened into a stadium with glass rows. The three surviving members of the Tribunal stood at glass podiums. They didn’t waste time.

“Progeny, we consider today your complicity in an upheaval that disrupted the fabric of Tritan society and resulted in the demise of a beloved member of our Tribunal.” Eminent Abresson, the darkest and shortest of the three, glared down at them.

Andrew stood straight and kept his chin high. This wasn’t the Probability he hoped for, but dammit, he’d face it with his family head on. Although Kyle he might consider leaving. The bastard stood beside him, as smug as Celindria. Whom he refused to acknowledge as Eminent.

“After which, we’ll consider Tumu’s matter,” Eminent Lance added. The others turned on the kind Tritan with narrowed gazes. So much suspicion among equals.

A warmth brushed Andrew’s hand, and he open it to grip Sagan’s. The Seamswalker also took Tameka’s. And in a show of solidarity, Andrew took Kyle’s. He was their responsibility.

Celindria’s cadence always came on high like some celestial being. She dressed almost exclusively in white in an attempt at an angelic aesthetic. Or something older than angels. She graced them with her voice and its slightly murderous tone, “We know everything. Our investigation was thorough. You retaliated against Imminent and struck several of their bases. Impressive. But, unfortunately, the Eminents were inspecting a known location for their operation. You interfered, and it cost Eminent Wiw his life.”

Eminent Lance shifted uncomfortably. Eminent Abresson nodded dubiously.

Andrew made to defend them, but Kyle spoke up, “I acted alone, and I alone hold responsibility. Eminent Wiw was a good man, and I deeply regret my part in his death.”

Tameka’s eyes widened as she and Sagan gaped at him.

T.a.o. kept her solid eyes front.

Lance nodded along solemnly, and when Kyle finished, he offered, “We understand completely. Earth’s defenses are desperately in need of our help. Which is precisely why we’ve agreed to officially grant Earth entry into the Vast Collective and all the technology that entails.”

Sagan punched the air with an emphatic, “Yes!”

Tameka kept her eyes narrowed. Both she and Andrew waited for the other shoe to drop. They gripped their chains. Except Sagan. And Kyle, who also lost his somehow.

Eminent Abresson mastered smug face. “But in penalty for the loss of our dear Eminent Wiw, we fine each of you with one year service under Eminent Celindria starting once your affairs are in order. A few weeks should suffice.”

Tumu scoffed, “You can’t be serious?!”

Even the mostly serene Kyle took up an argument, “What about T.a.o.? We—”

She touched his arm and shook her head. “I accept the penalty.”

“Well, I don’t. What about my son?” Tameka failed to veil the murder in her eyes as she glared at the First Progeny.

Sagan squeezed their hands, waiting for the signal. With two squeezes from either Andrew or Tameka, she’d get them all out. And then they’d live as fugitives.

Andrew shook his head at her and let go of her hand. They couldn’t do this. If they left, it likely nullified the acceptance of Earth into the Vast Collective. They needed that.

“The son will join the mother in my lab,” Celindria stated formally. Cold and clinical.

Sensing the shift of power in the room, Andrew went around Sagan to take Tameka by the shoulders. “Don’t. Not yet. Think about Earth.”

The redheaded Progeny opened her eyes and revealed that green Atramentous. Shit.

“Fury, listen. This won’t be the end. It gets better. Hang in there.” Andrew knew. He knew for certain. It would get better.

“What about Rayne? We’re her guards.” Sagan reminded them.

Automatic, as if on reflex, Celindria and Abresson simultaneously declared, “Rayne is safe.”

What the fuck did that mean?

“Quiet,” Eminent Lance called for order. “Our friend was several cosmic years old. And you snuffed out that life. It doesn’t matter your intentions, there must be a punishment.” He held up his hand to stop their protest. “We will reconvene with the Primaries to discuss alternatives for your service to us. I, for one, agree a lab is no place for a child.” Shooting an uncomfortable look at Celindria, he continued, “After we decide a proper atonement, we’ll grant you two weeks to prepare.”

Was this really fair? He made an excellent point about Eminent Wiw’s life and death, but dammit. They didn’t do it. Kyle did. And they weren’t through with their retaliation against Imminent, yet. One more job. Shit, Andrew planned to kick Kyle’s ass as soon as they got back to Earth—

“As to your petition, Officer of the Third,” Eminent Abresson sneered. “We reviewed the case, and we unanimously grant it. In three days, we’ll formally induct the Icarean warrior, Karter, into the Tribunal.”

Okay. Everyone without “Eminent” in their title turned and gawked at Tumu.

He paid them no mind. “Thank you, Eminents. I look forward to passing on the news.”

Well, Andrew didn’t see that coming.

Tails. Not again.