Lights flashed in the room but faded into a steady flow as he stood to his feet. Leaning on the table, Kaladin tried sucking in a full breath of air.

“How long has it been?” Kaladin asked but started spitting up fluid from his mouth and coughing again.

“Three thousand years, old friend.” a deep voice pierced his mind. “Much has happened.”

“By my calculation, it has been 3,086 years.” a female voice echoed through the empty room.

“Run diagnostics, Pilgrim.” Kaladin told the A.I. “Why did you wake me, Fel?” he asked. “Did something go wrong? Or have you found them?”

The enormous Vog shifted inside the room and clumsily sat down. “They have been awoken. I found them many years ago with the help of a human but… he died before he could wake them.”

“I am running on 21% functionality. My mainframe was damaged in the blast. Unable to fix main functions. Limited access to personnel.” Pilgrim spoke softly with a melancholy voice.

“Where are we?” Kal asked both Felkuru and Pilgrim. “Where are Yvlana and Lamir? Why didn’t you wake me sooner?”

“Unknown,” Pilgrim responded immediately. “The effects from the bomb disconnected me from the network and the planet’s plating has shifted. All access to reawaken you were transferred to the current Vog in the room. As you ordered.”

“We are in the mountains of a kingdom called Vulkira,” Fel answered. “As for your friends, they are on the other side of this world, in a kingdom called Kligira. I thought to wake you once I found them, but once the human that I was bonded to died, it became impossible for me to get to them without extreme force. So I’ve waited till now.”

“I see. Thank you, friend, for finding them. I’m sorry you lost the human you were bonded to.” Kal coughed up more blue liquid. “But how do I get to them now?”

“I will take you,” Felkuru replied.

Kaladin shakily stepped over to the panel on the table and ran his hand across the screen. “Prepare my F.S.A.P. suit, Pilgrim.”

“Manual override required,” she said. “Identification required to access F.S.A.P. suits.”

Kaladin placed his palm on the scanner, his muscles and bones aching from centuries of sleep.

“Access granted.” Pilgrim chimed. “Welcome, Kaladin Valhorn. You must open the chamber manually. Please open when ready.” a hiss came from across the wall and a red light blinked over the manual handle.

Kaladin walked over to it, still naked and shivering, and reached down to grasp the cold metal bar. Pulling it up, he twisted then pushed it back into the socket.

Another hiss came from his right and a large panel slid from the wall. Stepping up to the nano-gel, Kal stepped inside and was sucked in further.

The nano-gel engulfed him, solidifying around his body, forming the inner suit of armor. It was soft and comfortable as it would be the cushion for any impact. A moment later after the nano-gel fully formed around him, long mechanical arms stretched out and placed each piece of frostrium steel plating onto his body methodically. Each piece gently situated perfectly and slowly molded to the nano-gel sealing the armor to his body.

“Do you have a color preference?” Pilgrim asked.

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The standard color was light blue, a similar color to the frostrium steel’s natural hue. Nano-gel could be color changed in an instant as long as they were inside the chamber.

“Dark metallic grey. Keep the frostrium plates as standard.” Kal ordered.

“A fine choice, Kaladin.” Pilgrim praised. “Your F.S.A.P. suit is complete.”

Kaladin was pushed outward from the chamber and he lightly dropped to the ground, warm and rejuvenated. The F.S.A.P. suit boosted his vitals and he felt normal again. The cryosleep was a past side effect now.

“Kaladin,” Fel said to him from across the room. “Humans rule this world. Both humans I bonded with were kings.”

“I didn’t think humans could survive a fusion.” Kal sucked in a breath of air into his now clean lungs. “How are humans on Isulia? I haven’t seen one since the invasion on Votis.”

“I do not understand the question,” Pilgrim said over them. “I am unable to scan the planet's surface.”

Pilgrim kept answering questions Kaladin asked but what she didn’t know is that Felkuru and Kal were communicating with their minds. Kal usually spoke aloud in response, however, it was a habit he had formed since the first time they had bonded.

“A human ship crash-landed on Isulia nearly a thousand years ago,” Fel said. “They have been here ever since. Their ship was destroyed and slowly sunk into the ocean off the east coast. Many lifeforms from earth also survived the crash.”

“Hm. It must have been an old colony ship from when they had their exodus.” Kal guessed. “What of the wildlife native to Isulia?”

“I do not understand the question,” Pilgrim spoke over their conversation again. “Please provide more information.”

“I’m not talking to you, Pilgrim.” Kaladin huffed, slightly annoyed. “I’m talking to my friend here.”

“There are not many left,” Fel said sadly. “The blast neutralized most of Isulia’s native wildlife. Most of what remains, are the creatures of the deep.”

“Well, that’s disappointing.” Kal lowered his head. “I knew the risk, I just wish I could have done more.”

“You risked your life.” Fel comforted him. “If you hadn’t acted, nothing would be left.”

“I suppose.” Kal scratched his head.

“There is something else,” Fel said more seriously. “It’s why I woke you now. Your friends are awake. They were revived by the human I am bonded with.”

“Good.” Kal looked over at him. “Will you take me to them?”

“Of course my friend.” Felkuru nodded his head.

“How long can you be bonded with a human?” Kal asked. “How did you get them to help you?”

“Many years ago, I met a human named Armin who ruled over the lands in which you said they’d be.” Fel began. “I fused with this human as well. Before he died I had revealed a way to wake your friends. He found two Emarine beneath a castle in his lands. Buried deep beneath the mountains.”

“Then there’s no doubt, it is them.” Kal turned his head, hope in his eyes. “It has to be.”

“Who else could it be? You three were the last.” Fel said. “I did, however, see that they were in the kingdom of Kligira. My currently bonded human has seen them sleeping in their pods. I can sense he is under an enormous amount of stress and has seen something that upsets him. I don’t know for certain what has happened. But…” Kal could feel his hesitation.

“But?” Kal asked. “What is it?”

“I am unable to see what he sees unless I force a connection,” Fel explained.

“Well. Can you force a connection?” Kal asked. “Just an image perhaps? I don’t see the problem unless you feel that you are violating his mind.”

“I am sorry. I do not understand your question.” Pilgrim interrupted them again, still unable to hear Felkuru. The A.I. was obviously concerned for Kaladin’s sanity. For her, it seemed he was having a conversation with himself.

Kaladin ignored her again, focusing on Fel’s answer.

“I could do it, but I am afraid each time I do, the human comes closer to his death. It was not a successful fusion as his mind was too frail. I fear if I force it too many times, he will die.” Fel said. “My last connection, I showed him how to wake the two Emarine and he was successful in doing so. But… I do feel as if they are in great danger. My daughters have seen the Thrak. They are on the move again. He has come back.”

“I see. That is a problem. Do you know exactly where they are now?” Kal asked the Vog.

“Do I know where who is?” Pilgrim tried to be helpful.

“I saw into his mind four days ago. They were in a castle called Riqun.” Fel said. “Though it is a far distance, we may be able to aid them with whatever is causing him such emotional turmoil. We will find your friends with them. That is where they are.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Kal asked. “Let's go find them.”