When Zan returned from his whirlwind encounter with Luxley, he found no rest.

Traversing his way back through the Backroads and then into the White Chamber, Screen Master Simulacrum took notice of his presence right away.

“Zan! It is good to feel your energy once again. Are you okay?” Simulacrum asked.

“Yeah. I am okay. Just some delays in getting the list translated. My contact has a lot on his plate. Family issues. Social issues. One thing after another. He said he would need at least a week — probably longer, I am guessing — before he can translate it for us. I will not worry about it, then. Everything good in my absence?” Zan asked, already on his way to the war room.

“Yes. Everything is fine. However, Colonel Winters made an appearance yesterday asking for you. Sigma-Prime met him outside. He said he needed aid in an expedition beyond the Western Way. I would recommend visiting him in Thundervale to see what is happening.”

“Very well. I will do that once I rest and eat. Anything else?” Zan again asked, now standing in the war room before the large, translucent and blue-tinted face of the Screen Master.

“Jiehong is away visiting his parents. He said he would be back shortly, but that was also a day ago. Colonel Winters appeared agitated when he visited. For operational saftey, my suggestion would be to wait until Jiehong returns before you visit the colonel. Yet, the issue might also demand an immediate visitation. We do not know when Jiehong will return, after all,” the Screen Master said.

Zan shook his head in agreement, thinking it over. Sigma-Prime woke up from her charging table and greeted Zan. Greeting her back, Zan told the both of them what had transpired over the course of his venture.

“Astonishing. You are receiving a firsthand look at the complexities of imperial culture within the Expanse. Please pay close attention, Zan. What you gleam here from your contact could mean the difference between victory and defeat,” Sigma-Prime told.

“I know, I know…” Zan said.

Finally, waving the Wardens off enough to grab a (cold) bite to eat from the meal Jean Paul-Paul (the Fourth) had made for him and left out, as stipulated in his contract, Zan relished his meal. He hardly had anything during the day long visit with Luxley.

Peeking out the window, Zan saw it was nighttime here as well. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Zan wondered about the time difference between where he and Luxley lived. If Luxley lived within the Expanse and he lived here, quite far from the Expanse’s capital, how could it be night in both places? Zan didn’t know and refused to waste time dwelling on it. Though he would like to ask a learned man about it sometime.

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Zan rested in his personal chamber. Staring at the ceiling. He thought about how empty his chamber was when compared to Luxley’s chamber. Luxley had wealth, of course, so Zan knew the comparison wasn’t fair. Yet he still noticed the stark difference, how his room said nothing about him as a person. Was this important? No, but it still formed in Zan a core, something like a passion to explore the world. Perhaps then, after a lifetime of exploration, he would find his home filled with color?

Zan fell asleep. He rested for a couple extra hours than he normally would sleep.

Waking up, he asked the Wardens, but Jiehong had not returned yet. ‘No matter,’ Zan said. ‘I will ping him.’

Pressing his communication device, Zan said, his voice low and soft, “Hey buddy. You there? I am back. Colonel Winters paid us a visit recently, and we need to head to Thundervale. Are you going to be back soon, or should I go by myself?”

Zan waited a while for a response.

While waiting, he had breakfast. Sleeping in as he did, he missed by the thinnest of hairs, the chef’s visit. A shame, Zan thought. It would have been nice to speak to him. Jean was always a happy guy to speak with and it boosted his spirits to speak with someone so bubbly and happy.

Even so, Zan eat the egg-heavy meal and got to work.

Hearing nothing back from Jiehong, Zan figured he would head to Thundervale by himself. ‘This should be fine,’ Zan told himself. ‘Thundervale Path hasn’t been infested with golems since we helped end the siege. Should be nothing more than a stroll.’

Yawning as he entered the war room and prepared himself for the battle, Zan changed out of his fancy clothing the night before; he praised himself for having the peace of mind to grab his combat gear before leaving Luxley’s place. How inconvenient it would have been for him to have to return all the way to Luxley’s space, interrupt his life at a potentially dangerous time, and all to grab hold of his shirt, pants, and blade. Embarrassing is merely one word which Zan would use to describe the situation. Luckily, Zan remembered. So, he had that going for him.

“I haven’t heard from Jiehong yet…” Zan said as he prepared. “But this is fine. I will go by myself. I don’t want to keep the Colonel waiting. If he was desperate enough to come all the way here by hearsay — since I do not recall ever giving him exact directions to the command center — he must be desperate,” Zan told the Wardens.

“Very well. Remember, Zan. If you ever need help, Sigma-Prime and I are but a mere button press and talk away. More of the command center we repair every day. Our functions grow. Aid from afar is not so silly, not anymore,” the Screen Master said.

“I will keep that in mind! And sorry if it seems like I am ever unappreciative of your support. I try to be self-sufficient while out on mission or recon or with Luxley, you know? If I get too reliant on help, I won’t know what to do when that help isn’t there,” Zan explained.

“We understand,” Simulacrum said. “True leaders attempt to not only not become a burden but lessen the burden for others. Please realize, however, that a responsible amount of aid from us will only strength you. Not weaken.”

“I will attempt to learn that lesson. Thank you, Screen Master. Thank you Sigma-Prime.”

Zan made a curt bow, merely out of his desire to show his willingness to learn and how much he respected the Wardens, even if his words sometimes didn’t match up. Then he went off; the road to Thundervale wide open.