“Many people have been hoodwinked into rebellions on fake promises of success. A mountain of bodies throughout time, all unsuspecting souls who wandered into a cause they didn’t fully understand. To the rebels, they’re little more than useful meat shields.”

—Drobr Dathow, renowned Humanoid Psychologist

Zaina stared at Bilvane’s headquarters in the distance. It wasn’t right to let the people of this world suffer—but this seemed too big for her. She didn’t know what to do. “I—I—”

“I can even make it worth your while,” Reida said. “We have a bit saved up in our coffers. If you help us with one mission—one big one—we’ll make sure your ship gets fixed up right as rain. From there, if you want to leave, that’s up to you.”

Now it was even more tempting. The thought of another week—another month—of toiling away behind the counter at Hobst’s shop made her numb. The sooner she got off Otmonzas, the sooner she’d begin her lancer career.

“How do I know if I can trust you?” Zaina asked.

Reida shrugged. “You don’t. It’s all faith.”

Zaina’s thoughts turned to Jveldaq, who only wanted to take care of people—and how he was gunned down by those security droids. They’d almost killed Reida, too—and Zaina herself, multiple times now. Plus, if there was a chance she could get to Kaado faster, didn’t she have to take it—no matter the risk? Despite being grateful to Hobst for his help, if she could get the money together, wasn’t that better for both of them?

Indecision paralyzed her mind. She sighed.

“What’s holding you back, partner?” Reida asked.

“I—I don’t know.”

“This is a chance to do some real good. We can make people’s lives better right here. Plus, you’ll get everything you want out of it—you can even still be a lancer after all’s said and done, if you still want to.”

Despite Zaina’s misgivings about getting involved in a war, it was worth the risk. “I—I wouldn’t have to kill anyone, would I?”

Reida’s eyebrow rose. “What, you’ve never killed before?”

“What, you have?”

A grimace came over Reida’s face. She turned toward the dark tower looming in the distance. “I’ve been in this game for a long time.”

Zaina frowned. She couldn’t imagine growing up in this—spending your whole life fighting. Despite Reida’s outward exuberance, there was a deep sorrow that came through in glimpses. This whole world needed help—maybe stopping Bilvane was a start. And if, in doing so, she got help getting offworld, all the better.

“Well,” Zaina said, “what would we be doing?”

Reida faced her and said, “Bilvane’s a crafty bastard, he is—but there’s a flaw in his system. A big one. All of his security androids are controlled by a central processing station beneath the basement levels of that tower.”

“So we shut it down?”

“Sort of. We’ll be taking its power source—the Vahataman Crystal. One of the rarest substances in the galaxy—and superior to Celestium in energy processing, in every single way. One rock off that crystal could power an entire neighborhood up here for centuries with the right engine setup—but instead, it’s down there powering his mechanized army.”

“And without that, he won’t have his army,” Zaina remarked. “Pretty smart.”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Reida nodded. “Exactly.”

“So that’s the plan, then? Steal the crystal and—then you want to kill Bilvane, I’m assuming?”

“No. We’re not going to kill him. It’s better if he stands trial for his crimes—there are many who see the Angels as the enemy. If everything he’s done is brought to light, he won’t die as a martyr. Our top priority is securing the crystal and making sure Bilvane can’t get it back. If he does, it’ll all be for nothing.”

“Makes sense,” Zaina replied. “Look—I don’t want to hurt anyone, and I definitely don’t want to kill anyone. But if you can still find a use for me, and still want to help me out—” She let a deep breath in and out. “I’ll do it.”

Reida’s lips curled into a cocky half-smile. Here, in the light, it struck Zaina how pretty she was. Light from the city’s dim glow danced off her smooth skin. “I’m so glad to hear you say that. I’m sure we can arrange something. I’ll talk to my captain tonight—maybe you can come meet her. I think you’d like her, she doesn’t take shit from anyone. She’s been my hero for as long as I’ve known her.”

“I’d like that,” Zaina said. “So—can I ask, uh—why me?”

“Well,” Reida replied, “for one, you’re fast—and strong. We can use that. Two, you’re brave enough to jump into a fight—and three, kind-hearted enough to do it for a complete stranger. I’d say you have what it takes.”

A chuckle escaped Zaina’s lips at the absurdity of it all. “You know, a week and a half ago, I was a boring farm girl. I thought I’d stay in my little paradise forever. Now, here I am—a rebel fighter on my way to become a lancer.”

“Life is weird,” Reida said. “What, you can’t go back?”

Zaina shook her head. “There’s nothing to go back to.”

Reida’s lips twitched downward. “I’m sorry to hear that. What happened?”

“My world was attacked by a creature called the Eldritch,” she said. “It gave me this mark. It’s part of what’s making me so much stronger and faster than I used to be, but it’s also—I don’t know how to explain it. It’s a part of myself that isn’t... me. Either way, I couldn’t stop it in time to save my homeworld.” She turned to Reida. “But it’s not too late for yours.”

Reida’s eyes widened, a big smile stretched across her face. “Thank you, Zaina. Truly. You really are a hero. And who knows, maybe you’ll decide to stay one.”

Warmth flushed Zaina’s cheeks. “Oh, I’m no hero. Besides, you’re helping me out too.”

“Yeah,” Reida replied, “but I don’t think that’s why you’re in it. You strike me as the type of person who can’t just walk away from a situation where people are suffering.”

“I don’t know—I never saw myself that way.”

“Well, have you ever been in a situation like this before?”

Zaina didn’t have an answer. Even the crisis back home on Demelia was different. The enemy was more ethereal—but somehow simpler. It was an evil so obvious that it had to be resisted. Here, everything was muddled. There were cruel actors, of course, but the system itself was cruel.

“Okay,” Reida said. “I’ve got to report back to the boss now. You should go on and get some sleep. Where can I find you if I need to reach you again?”

“I work at Hobst Ralfert’s repair shop during the day, and I’m staying at Sister Tyza’s CDP right now. If I’m not at one, I’m probably at the other.”

“Got it. Thanks again, Zaina—for everything. I honestly don’t know if I’d be alive if not for you.”

“Don’t mention it. I’m glad you’re alive.”

Reida chuckled. “All right, we should probably get down from here.” She fired her hook-gun at point-blank range into the concrete edge of the building; Zaina took her hand and they descended to the streets below.

“Okay, partner,” Reida said, spooling the hook-gun up and reattaching it to her belt, “here’s where we part ways. You know how to get home from here?”

“Um—no.”

Reida pointed to an alleyway behind them. “Take that out to the main road. You’ll take a left, and it’ll be there on your right. Got it?”

After repeating the directions a few times in her head, Zaina nodded. “Thanks, Reida. I’ll see you again?”

“I’ll be in touch soon,” she replied. Then she slipped away into the night.

Zaina turned and followed her directions with a skip in her step. She thought getting off Otmonzas was going to be a long, drawn-out affair, but an opportunity had fallen into her lap.

If it pays off, I’ll be on my way to Kaado before I know it—and maybe I can even improve things here.

The lights were out by the time she returned to the CDP, but the doors were unlocked. Sister Tyza was the only one in the common room.

“How was Hobst’s?” she asked, standing once she noticed Zaina.

“It was good. Long day.”

“No kidding. I was worried about you—I’m glad to see you made it home.”

Home. The word struck Zaina like a ton of bricks. A twang of guilt pulled at her heart—despite all the hospitality and help she’d received, she still couldn’t wait to get out of here. To leave this world behind and never come back. It couldn’t be helped—Otmonzas wasn’t her home.

She smiled. “I’m all right, sister. Thank you, though.”

“Are you hungry? The buffet’s open—”

Zaina shook her head. “I think I’m gonna get some sleep. I’ve got another long day ahead of me tomorrow.”

Sister Tyza nodded. “I understand. Go on, then. I’ll shut everything down out here.”

After saying goodnight, Zaina stalked to her room. Part of her was excited to have met Reida, part of her was apprehensive about the scope of their mission, and part of her was exhausted. The latter won out as she collapsed on her bed and fell asleep in seconds.