Daniel and Katrina made their way to his old quarters. Which of course, she now occupied. They were escorted by nearly twenty royal guards, but as they opened the doors he quickly walked inside. Katrina followed and slid the door shut, leaving their ‘protection’ outside.

“Alright, Dan. What the fuck, are you doing here!?” She said, grabbing his shoulders. “This is literally, the last—”

Daniel held his finger up to his mouth, bringing her to silence. He slowly shook his head and motioned her toward the large couch in front of the balcony. They sat together and he held her hands in his. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes, trusting she knew what he was trying to do. Within several moments, he opened his eyes and found himself, and her, in his Dunem Dae Espa.

“There we go. Now we can talk.” He said, seeing her expression of surprise. “This way they can’t hear us.”

“Honestly, Dan. This is genius.” She smiled. “I never thought of using the Dunem Dae Espa as a way to have a private conversation.” She looked around at the vast and empty desert. “This is uh… kinda bleak though, don’t you think?”

“You’ll get used to it. Regardless, I need to speak to you without any curious ears. As to why I’m here? There is literally nowhere else to go, Kat. All of the Torre’ forces are looking to kill us now, and I found out you were captured.”

“So. You came to… what? Rescue me?” She smirked.

“Is that so surprising?” Daniel asked, “Once I found out you were here, alive, but in the ‘protection’ of the Rexunii.” He emphasized the word with air quotes. “I made the decision to come. It wasn’t even a decision, actually. I’m here to get you out.”

Katrina looked at him for a bit, her eyes lingering on his while her smile grew. “That’s sweet and all, but now we’re both stuck here.”

“I don’t think so.”

“So how do you plan on getting us out of here?”

Daniel grinned, “We don’t… just yet.”

Katrina’s smile fell. “Really. That’s your plan? We sit here and wait? Wait for what? They need us up there.”

“Oh, ye of little faith.” Daniel jibbed. “Trust me on this. It’s dangerous out there right now. The Torre’ have lost their damn minds again. If we leave now, where are we gonna go?”

“Avria, Telmos, and Boros won’t let anything happen to us, Dan.” Katrina huffed, turning to face away from him. “We can’t just do nothing. I can’t bear to sit here, walking around these halls with our friends’ murderers just going about their daily lives. It’s too much.” She shook her head then looked at the sand below. “Speaking with Alektor, while he’s perched on Agron’s throne makes me sick to my fucking stomach.”

“Alektor isn’t the problem, Kat. Not to me at least.”

Katrina whirled on him, her face one of shock. “Are you serious?”

“Robert’s the one I want. Alektor was a common denominator in Pelemont long before we arrived. It’s the law of these lands. We need to focus on Robert.”

“Robert’s situation is complicated, Dan.” She didn’t meet his eyes as she spoke. “So much happened to him here. He’s changed so much.”

“They’ve gotten to you.” Daniel said, lowly.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean!?” Katrina shouted. “I’ve had time to think about it, that’s it.”

“No, you’ve had time to let Alektor and the rest of them give you some sob story about how much of a tortured soul he is. I don’t fucking care. He killed my best friend in this world. We were on the verge of something, Kat. A way to find my friends. To get more of us here.”

“Yeah?” Katrina hissed, “And what about the Doulos, Dan? The people we just walked past every single day who were suffering in slavery. The Dae are people, Dan. We’re new here, but I know you felt the same way I did about them when we first saw them.”

“We would have figured something out, Kat. We weren’t in a position to do anything about them.”

“Keep telling yourself that. Robert was fighting for his life. He—” Katrina stopped speaking abruptly, as if realizing what she was saying.

“Yeah, you hear yourself now.” Daniel clenched his jaw. “You’re spouting the same crap the Rexunii are. This asshole was responsible for killing everyone who protected us when we arrived. We could have ended up just like him, or worse. The human that was burned alive in Torre’.”

Katrina sighed clenching her fists. “I don’t want to argue with you about the morality of it all. Since I’ve been here, I’ll admit, Alektor kind of got to me. And Demessa… She… she’s been talking a lot about him.”

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“Who’s Demessa?” Daniel asked, genuine curiosity in his voice.

“Robert’s baby mamma.” She chuckled, “one of them, I guess.”

“Wait.” Daniel’s mind reeled at the statement. “Hold on a second. Back up. His what?”

“Robert slept with a Dae girl named Demessa.” Katrina shrugged, “didn’t know she got pregnant. Then Alektor married him off to Queen Athica of Visgo. Slept with her also. She tried to kill him, blah blah blah, she’s pregnant too, but he hates her. That about covers it.”

Daniel blinked in stunned silence for a long moment. “Uh… ok. Lots to unpack there. First off—”

“Yeah.” Katrina interrupted, “Dae and humans can make babies, apparently. And yes, our value to these people just skyrocketed. If our abilities can be passed on… yeah there’s a good chance, we’ll be sold off to the highest bidder for our… services.”

“Not gonna happen.”

“That’s what Alektor said. Eh, in not so many words. But he was pretty clear that we needed to be protected. And that particular information. Trust me, I won’t let it happen either. I don’t care how powerful they are. I’m not gonna be some Dae’s baby machine.”

Daniel brought his hand to his chin, now in deep thought.

“Ugh! It’s so frustrating.” Katrina ran her fingers through her hair. “I hate them so much, Dan. For everything they did. But… you’re right. We can’t just leave without a plan.

“Yeah…” Daniel mumbled, half paying attention. “I think we need to get word to Avria somehow. We can gather information in the meantime.”

“How do we do that?” Katrina asked, “the only way I’ve seen it done here is by a Dae-Jin. They use wind-talking; basically, sending their voice through the air to pass messages to specific locations of specialized spiritual energy. It’s actually pretty complex.”

“Are there any other elements capable of something like that?” Daniel knew he couldn’t do it. Dae-Roh weren’t exactly known for such things. Then again, he was far from a true expert in the Dunamis.

“Other than examples of Dae-Leu using it while on the water; like to pass messages from ship to ship.” Katrina shook her head. “I don’t really know.”

“Maybe we can use a similar method through the ground. You’re a Dae-Voh, so maybe that’s possible.”

“Maybe.” Katrina pondered. “It’s worth a shot. The problem is, even if we could somehow figure out how to do it. Would they be able to reply?”

“I don’t know. Maybe we’re overthinking it. I’m sure Lokkon has spies here still. If we can find someone here who could help us pass word.” Daniel perked up. “That’s gotta be it.”

“I’ll start asking some nobles.” Katrina smiled, “It feels good to finally talk to someone I know, Dan. You have no Idea.” She reached her hand out toward him, and clasped his own. “I really missed you, you know.”

“Yeah.” Daniel rubbed his head awkwardly. “We had a rough few months for sure.”

“I’m sure you had a fun time.” She chuckled. “I heard you were traveling around with Avria. How was that?”

“She’s…” He shrugged. “She took some getting used to. But in the end, we really ended up relying on each other a lot. Even going so far as to be called friends… maybe?”

Katrina let out a laugh, and was about to continue, when Daniel held up his hand and looked at the sky above.

“Someone’s at the door.”

With a bright flash, they found themselves back in reality, and he heard the knocking.

The doors swung open, and a Dae woman strode in, with piercing green eyes. Daniel blinked several times as his consciousness adjusted to the transition, but he faced her.

“Am I interrupting something?” She asked.

Daniel stared daggers at her, but answered. “Actually, yes.” He crossed his arms. “We were trying to catch up. What the hell do you want?”

“Hey, Demessa.” Katrina said, placing her hand on Daniel’s chest and glaring at him. “Dan is just a bit tired from his trip. What did you need?”

“This can’t wait.” She said, looking directly at Daniel. “I don’t know you, and it’s irrelevant to skirt around the issue, so I’ll just come out and say it. I need to know if you’re planning something. I know you must hate Reku, but I can’t have you harming him. There are things he needs to live for. Things that go beyond his crimes against you.”

“So, you’re his girlfriend, huh?” Daniel snorted. “Is it true? You’re carrying his kid?”

Demessa placed her hand on her belly instinctively. “I am…”

Daniel took several seconds to answer, his eyes hard and unwavering. “I’m not a monster, I wouldn’t hurt you or your baby.”

Demessa tensed. “And Reku?”

“He has to pay for his crimes. Today or some time down the line. He’s gonna find someone there to collect. It may be me; or some very pissed off Lokkadonian. Either way, it’s coming.”

Daniel could see the uncertainty and despair in her eyes as she processed the words. “Please…” She said, her voice soft. “I’ve only just got him back… Spirit-Sent, please. There is far too much at stake for us. Katrina promised me she wouldn’t harm him. Please…”

“Dan…” Katrina whispered, squeezing his arm. “It doesn’t have to be today.”

Daniel felt a pit in his stomach as he looked upon the Dae girl. Fuck, why can’t shit like this ever be simple, he thought. “Fine.” He grunted. “But keep him away from me, and Katrina. I don’t want to see his face.”

Demessa’s face visibly sagged in relief. “Thank you, Spirit-Sent. I am in your debt.”

Daniel turned from her, and walked out onto the balcony. Patience was key in situations like this. He looked up to the sky, now dark and filled with a sea of stars. Robert would get what was due, eventually. Then there was that strange spirit that was floating around his head in the throne room. It didn’t seem as though anyone else had noticed it. But it was there; clear as day. Speaking into his ear like some little gremlin.

“She’s gone.” Katrina said, standing beside him, and looking up at the stars. “Thanks for that, Dan…”

Daniel grunted in response, too lost in his thoughts to comment further.

“You remember when we first met?” She nudged him. “I asked if you were an astronomer?”

This brought Daniel’s attention back to her, and he couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yeah… that was.”

“Idiotic.” She laughed. “You don’t have to deny it. I actually felt stupid as soon as the question left my mouth.” She turned to face him, and he looked at her. “You helped us so much back then. Fought for us and kept us together. Even though we were strangers. I’m not the scared girl I was, Dan. We’ll get through this. Together.”

She leaned in and embraced him. “It’s good to have you back.”

Daniel let out a deep breath. The weight of their situation lifting slightly.

“Dan.” she said, letting go and backing up from him. “It’s a touching moment and all. But you really, REALLY need to take a shower.”

“Yeah.” he said, chuckling and turning to walk back inside the room. “I’ll go do that. Also, I’ll take the couch.”