{Enki}

Phase II had commenced compliments of Primary Rem. Lucy was ready. So ready that when her shift started that night, she wasn’t surprised Yito approached her separately from the Second Half-Day team.

“Yes?” Lucy forced every ounce of unassuming innocence into the high lilt of her voice.

The Tritan guard fidgeted with his arm behind his head, scratching nervously. “Well, Remorse asked if you’d consider working on another project for them in Enki proper. He was so impressed with your enthusiasm here, he thought it was an honor to extend the privilege to you.” Yito added an abashed grin. “It’s really a good thing for you and Matt. I’m glad I put the word in for you.”

Lucy knew better, but also understood that Yito did not. “Of course, I accept. Matt will be so excited. Can I tell him now?”

“Sure. Yeah. Before you get your things together.”

Lucy paused. “What?”

He grinned with all those sharp Tritan teeth, still not understanding. “They want you to start immediately. Isn’t that great?”

“Truly. Excellent.” Lucy beamed at him while her heart fluttered in her chest. “I’ll let Matt know.” She moved through the equipment panel in the shrine with the other team members looking on. Their faces were full of smiles as she’d already charmed them all. She nodded and waved. “Sorry. I need a second to talk to my husband.”

One day, the couple would make time for a wedding. Maybe.

“Ginger. This is Morning Star. Over.”

There was a pause until Puk came on the line. “Hey, Morning Star. Don’t worry. Your boy will be on the line soon. You caught him after he fell into a pile of—”

“I’m here, Morning Star. Over.” There was a squelching sound in Matt’s background that made Lucy snicker.

She glanced at Yito’s earnest face before sharing the good news. “They reassigned me to Enki. I don’t know for how long, but I’ll reach out as soon as I can. Over.” Matt never gave Lucy cause for concern. He understood how she hunted.

In a wry voice, he said, “Don’t have too much fun without me. Over and Out.”

Lucy’s smile in response was real and filled with how much she loved him.

Yito practically vibrated with eager energy. “Great. Get your things, and we’ll head further into Enki.”

She grabbed a pack and followed him through the Shrine’s conduit. It led to a platform surrounded by a flat ocean. The Shadow called these “landings,” and there were supposedly hundreds of millions of them designed into a maze. Lucy followed Yito through three more conduits, making note of… not much. Everything looked the same. Either ocean or white stone and glass hallway.

“Here we are,” Yito said as he entered the last conduit.

Lucy straightened her hair and adjusted her suit to best display her assets before following him inside.

Primary Rem waited on the other side in an amphitheater. White, like everything else, it could sit several hundred audience members. Instead, it was her, Yito, Remorse, and a woman who could only be Celindria.

Lucy waved in a friendly gesture. “Hello again.”

The Gargantuan Tritan and his Imminent colleague exchanged a look. Her with one eyebrow raised, and him with a firm nod. Celindria approached first in a sweep of her breezy white dress. She circled Lucy as she said, “Morning Star. Lucy. Primary Rem passes along high praise of you.”

Lucy lowered her eyes and shifted her weight awkwardly. “Thank you, ma’am and thank you, Primary.”

“I am Eminent Celindria. Address me by my title.” The beautiful woman’s voice took on an icy edge that nipped Lucy’s usual composure.

This was a contender. “Yes, Eminent Celindria.”

Yito gave Lucy an encouraging thumbs up from across the theater.

Celindria stopped circling her and stepped back to get a better look. “Do you know why you’re here?”

“To help with some work in Enki.”

Primary Rem took over. “That’s right. We’re launching a special measure to decimate the half of Gait on its way to Enki’s hull. Eminent Celindria will brief you on the schematics.”

That wasn’t entirely the truth. Lucy tried different approaches with Remorse, but the Tritan retreated rather than took the bait. Resisted. It intrigued her, and she wondered if he somehow learned of her tactics. If that were the case, Celindria was here to test as a female participant.

Lucy raised her chin. “I’m ready.”

An hour passed after they transferred Lucy to an adjacent arena where she came face-to-face with a familiar sight. The colossal Tantamount occupied the entire space with its ominous capacity for planet-wide destruction. Eminent Celindria explained the purpose of it, not realizing Lucy understood it perfectly. All the while, Lucy kept her eyes down in deference and smiled kindly when it suited. She wanted to come across as interested, but not suspicious or conspicuous, but she knew what this solo conversation was actually about. It was her mission.

“You’re a perfect candidate for the program.” Celindria wasn’t smiling. Her blue eyes were dead. She faced Primary Rem and delivered in a flat, hard voice. “Good luck with this one, Remorse.” She disappeared through a conduit.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Meanwhile, Yito itched and fidgeted beside Lucy. She tried to shine him a reassuring smile, but something about the briefing bothered him.

Remorse walked over to Lucy, where she sat in the stands. “Well, she approved of you. Once you’ve finished with this assignment, I’ll call you in for another. Of course, if you can part from your husband for that long.”

Lucy smiled warmly. “We’ve worked separately in the past, and everything turned out fine. I look forward to our next encounter, Primary.”

He almost shrank back from her, as if unnerved.

It amused Lucy. This close, she smelled the coconut and pineapple aroma of Tritan blood in his black veins. She wanted to slice him open now, but that wasn’t the mission. Besides, she knew without a doubt, Primary Rem would squash her like a bug.

So this hunt went on.

Yito escorted Lucy to the conduit where the Tantamount-installation team waited. He was quiet and a little squirmy. Gently, she pushed, “Is everything all right?”

Yito stopped and grabbed Lucy by the shoulders, pulling her into a hug she wasn’t sure they were ready for. In her ear, he whispered, “Don’t mind the hug. We are being monitored. They want you in the breeding program. That’s why Eminent Celindria was there. I’ve lost so many women I’ve liked to them, friends and confidants. I respect you too much to let you die that way.”

Finally.

Lucy squeezed him in the perfect imitation of a genuine embrace. “Don’t leave me. Help me when it’s time. Until then, let’s keep working to avoid their attention.” A thought entered her head, and she asked, “How do they die?”

“Used up and spat out.”

This was Lucy’s mission.

“Here’s what I’ll need from you, Yito. The rest I can do on my own.”

|~~~~~|

{Reipon}

So much hustle and bustle in this place. Busy people gathering and preparing. Bethany stayed out of their way, sitting with her legs dangling from the banister of the foyer’s second floor. Pax grinned at her with all his baby teeth and kept asking her to play with his toy train. No matter how many times she declined, it seemed to only make him more determined. The massive tree that spanned all three floors played sentinel to it all, reaching to hug Bethany in its branches.

That was fine with her. Bethany only left her room to appease Kyle and Ross. If she shut herself inside, they’d come looking for her. She hated that. It made her feel without a choice of how she wanted to spend her time. How she wanted to heal.

Korac understood. He always walked Bethany to her room and left her alone, without letting Ross know when they finished their walk. It bought her some time. Like the last Quarter night. She’d heard Ross open the door and check on her, but Bethany kept her back turned until the door latched on a mournful note.

One day at a time.

Sagan rushed by behind Bethany, calling below, “Xelan, let Tameka know I borrowed her boots. After we separate. She’ll know which pair. Oh, and am I getting Legir or is he already on Earth?”

Xelan craned his neck to answer her from the lounge entryway. “Is that the pair with X’s blood on it from that one time on Pil? At the Caprent restaurant? And Legir’s waiting for them with The Brethren. Stop worrying. I—”

“—Got you,” Kyle and Andrew mocked him from the third floor banister.

“Nice one, boys.” Lynn rushed down the stairs with three more packs. She nodded to Bethany and Pax on her way by.

Lamassau followed behind her, saying to Xelan, “Have you considered rebranding?”

The Prince of Cinder grinned, and Bethany swore he winked at her. “Why change when I’m known for such a positive and reassuring catch phrase?”

“Maybe because it applies no small amount of pressure on you to live up to it.” Tumu tossed him a rifle. “You and Tameka might want one.”

In his gravelly voice, Caedes said, “Firepower. Everyone got it?”

Lamassau patted his ribs beneath his robes. Bethany made out the guns in his shoulder holster.

Andrew and Kyle both shouted from the stairs behind Bethany. “Got mine!” “Yup, C-man!”

“C-man…?” Sagan’s nose scrunched. “I don’t think that works. Caedes, what do you think?”

The gruff man scowled.

“Too generic,” Bones announced from the third floor stairs. “What about Gravel-nator? Yeah? What do you think, ‘the Chef?’”

Lamassau shook his head. “Lame, Icarus. So very lame. Clearly he’s Master Graveller.”

Bethany held her breath as Caedes glared at Bones.

Xelan smiled into his task of checking his gear without contributing.

Tumu rolled his eyes. “Children.”

While they carried on, Kyle knelt beside Bethany. “Hey. We might be gone a while. Caedes, Bones, and Pehton are here if you need anything. Put them to work, okay?”

For the first time in… Elden, she didn’t know how long. Bethany wanted to hug Kyle. She sat in on the mission discussions. She knew how dangerous and involved this was for him and the others. For the people she came to like, who made so much noise in this big house. Andrew’s friendly smile beyond Kyle’s patient openness was further proof of that.

But Bethany just couldn’t. As she thought about reaching for him, her skin itched and burned. Instead, she returned the friendly smile to them both and nodded. That was her best.

“Hee. You’re pretty,” Pax said beside her.

Kyle held a stern finger out to the boy, but exaggerated his “mad” voice. “I already gotta keep my eye out on one delinquent after another sister in this house. I don’t need a second one.”

Pax gripped the finger and bent it back into Kyle’s hand, making Bethany’s brother raise a brow. “Strong, aren’t ya? Okay, Bethany. You’re in Master Graveller’s—”

“Quit that.”

“—hands now.”

Bethany liked the way Kyle beamed extra big with Caedes’ interjection. Andrew even snickered.

She loved them.

Ross stopped by next. “I shouldn’t get into any trouble while I’m out. We’re helping locals clean up after a disaster. One day, you can come along and help, if you’d like.”

Bethany nodded. She might.

Beyond Ross, Korac left the suite he shared with Sagan. He gave Bethany a nod of mutual understanding.

Her sister saw Bethany’s reaction and turned. “Oh, hello, Korac.” Ross’ cheeks glowed like a nuclear reactor.

Korac offered her a polite nod. Completely different from his gesture to Bethany. It wasn’t dismissive, but it didn’t invite further attention. The Icarus majestically swept by them, down the stairs, and into the waiting arms of his lover. Sagan got on the very tips of Tameka’s boots to peck him a kiss and mutter something in his ear that made him smirk.

Ross sighed beside her sister. Bethany nodded.

Staying on task was hard in this house with all the pretty people to distract observers. Which was Bethany’s primary occupation, as far as she was concerned. Maybe next time, she’d ask to go along. Put herself to good use. She could look out or something. Was she able to whistle? She should try.

Pablo blundered in from the Infirmary hall, arms filled to the brim with supplies. He even made Iuo and Devis help carry it. Jack, Miy, and Twenty-One followed.

Tameka appeared in tactical gear and kissed Pax. “Be a good boy for Peh Peh and Uncle Caeda.”

“What about Uncle Bones?” Pax swung his legs emphatically with his question.

His mother smirked and ruffled his curls. “Give him hell.”

“Looks like it’s time. Bye, Bethany. I love you.” Ross made to hug her.

Bethany leaned away. Instead, Pax jumped in Ross’ arms and squeezed her around her neck. It hurt to see the dismay in Ross’ eyes. The rejection. But that reaction only sent Bethany further into retreat.

Korac was easy because he held no expectations for her. When would her siblings ever see that and take note? Carrying Pax, Ross gave one last wave to her little sister before heading down the stairs.

“What a parade.” A voice muttered behind Bethany. She turned to see Pehton approaching the banister. Leaning against it, she said, “Look at all those brave people.”

Lynn, Lamassau, and Andrew stood to one side with various bags, empty and full, between them. Xelan, Tameka, Sagan, Korac, Kyle, Pablo, Tumu, and Iuo stood across the open foyer from them, letting the tree keep them apart. Ross, Jack, Miy, Devis, and Twenty-One formed the last corner of the triangle. Bones and Caedes waited at the bottom of the stairs.

Everyone looked brave. Everyone looked ready.

Bethany wished them luck, knowing they would need it.