{Enki}

Razor routed a few satellite feeds to Ishkur, which wasn’t completely within the same internal interface, and therefore limited, but he wanted the galaxy to witness his last feat. After all, it had been a long road to this moment, and he’d enjoyed the ride immensely. Everyone deserved to witness it.

Silence battled Remorse in a storm which raged over the Pantheon, making herself a target. Yet without her, nothing would prevent the Gargantuan from a last-minute escape.

Still…

“Dear, Silence.”

Shining like the sun in the rain, she finished delivering a blow to the Tritan’s solar plexus and turned to face Razor in the gray sky. “Yes, Three Two Four?”

Razor grinned. “I hope you survive.”

The woman’s smile was truly fantastic as she said, “May the stars shine on us both.”

Drenched, Lucas and Smith waved from the sidelines. “We hope so, too.” “They’d fucking better.”

Black blood spat from Remorse’s mouth and poured from his eyes. He grunted through the agony of breathing and cursed, “You haughty, overbearing, racist, female-murdering, filthy Aegis—”

Razor’s grin crooked into a smirk. He bowed under his umbrella. “May you find Vi in Eternity, Remorse. And may she kill you again.”

Beyond the Pantheon’s stormy sky, light triangulated into one central column and unleashed on Razor’s oldest and dearest friend. For one dazzling moment, white light engulfed both Primaries—

“Silence!”

Was Razor dreaming, or was Tameka jetting in to—

No.

Xelan would never forgive Razor.

Lucas cried, “Tameka!”

Smith called, “No, it’s suicide!”

But it was too late.

Tameka flew into the light at the exact moment the Chorus fired, claiming the target area in brilliant disintegration.

The second the explosion cleared, Razor released several projections of himself to locate any sign of a body. Hers or Silence’s. He wasn’t alone. With Smith still on his back—the longest piggy-back ride in history—Lucas also searched the area.

The dust cloud made it difficult for his limited vision. Amid the clearing debris, Razor asked, “Do you see them anywhere?”

Lucas shouted from across the battlefield, “No, but—There!”

As the blow back dissipated, Razor made out two forms on the ground. He flitted another projection closer to find they were indeed Tameka and Silence.

They’d survived the Chorus.

In all his projections, Razor shook his head. “Progeny women are so impressive.” But his relief was short-lived.

Silence was holding Tameka in her lap, shaking her. “Wake, child. The new galaxy awaits you. Wake.” She searched the men surrounding them. “We can’t let this be.”

Lucas pointed at Silence’s chest. “That should do it.”

For the first time since Razor could remember, Smith frowned.

Wow. Why was this so monumental? Razor asked, “Am I missing something?”

Silence looped the chain over her head and stared at it in her glowing hands. Quiet.

Lucas answered for her, “She was planning to use it to prolong her nacre’s expiration until she arrived in Ishkur.”

So bright was the light emanating from Silence that she formed a starburst halo, making it difficult to see her. Resolute, she said, “My time is over, but not hers.” She fed the drop of Rayne’s blood to Tameka.

Fury sat up, gasping for air. “Did I save her? Did I—Silence, we need you—”

Silence fell over, and Lucas finally alighted. Smith hopped off his back and checked her pulse. He said, “She’s almost gone.”

“No. No. I came here to save her.” Tameka lived up to her namesake. “Razor, open us a conduit to Ishkur.”

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The Pain Curator winced, sincerely. “My apologies, but I’ve no more power to give.” Not exactly the truth. “The last conduit to Ishkur is on Enki’s bridge. I don’t know if she’ll survive long enough—”

“She will.” Tameka lifted the woman in her arms. “Anything between me and it?”

“Besides the continent of Torrentus, you might want to know Rayne is in the final stage. Enki has minutes left.”

A strange expression crossed the future Empress’ face, as if she warred in some internal conflict. Begrudgingly, she asked, “What happens to you?”

Razor didn’t answer.

Lucas did. “The captain goes down with the capitol of his people’s empire.”

Smith saluted Razor.

Again, came that unfamiliar feeling…

No.

There was no need to examine it now. It was far too late for him. Razor gestured to the Torrentus conduit. “Go now. You haven’t much time.”

Tameka swallowed hard before saying, “Thank you, Razor.”

“Go.”

They left Razor with his thoughts in his failing Dyson’s Sphere. At least he wasn’t completely alone. In the heart of Enki, Rayne did the galaxy a favor. What a complex on that one. He thought he knew what a martyr was before he’d met Rayne Callahan, but now he was certainly educated. He had a few parting words for her—

“My lonely friend.”

T.a.o.’s voice was soft from within the Seam.

The words touched Razor. “It’s good to hear your voice.” He wished he could see her solid Atramentous eyes one last time, but… “It’s not safe, as you know. Stay away.”

T.a.o. said, “Safe in the birdcage, all gilded in blood. Years without you. My friend. Now no more years.”

If Razor weren’t a projection, he would consider crying. He cleared his throat of emotion before saying, “You have Korac and my daughter. Look after her. She’ll be small like you. Like her mother…”

T.a.o. sniffled, and he knew she cried for him. She said, “Eternity is glass with a view of all your best deeds. This will be your largest window.”

It was too much. “I have little time remaining…”

Understanding, the ancient Seamswalker said, “Go. See her. Not alone and afraid. Goodbye, friend.”

“Goodbye, T.a.o. Thank you.”

The Seam grew cold without her warmth, like a part of Razor’s heart when she’d left so long ago. How so many things could’ve been different…

Razor emerged in the heart of Enki. Rayne was a sight to behold. Like Silence, light emanated from her skin in a blinding brilliance. But unlike Silence, Rayne was separating on a molecular level. The light permeated between each atom of her making. And it hurt.

She was gasping when she said, “You did good work… soldier.”

Razor tipped his hat to her. “You’re a wonder, and I’m not entirely sure you plan to die. If that’s the case, you’ll need this.” He held out his hand, glowing with interface computations.

Rayne’s light dimmed and then recharged as she conferred with Nox. She asked, “What is it?”

With a flare for the dramatic, Razor pressed a key on his palm and let the pictures flash on a screen. “This contains the dossier Sagan sought with Imminent’s proximal vendors and benefactors. By touching my hand, I can transfer it to your nacre’s memory banks.”

For a moment, Rayne contorted with pain, and the light spread nearly to Razor. He flitted back an inch and waited for the spasm to pass.

When it did, Rayne asked, “How did you know?”

“Oh, you’re a paragon. No matter the fate of Enki, you always planned to finish what Nox started.”

Again, the light dimmed. Then, “Go ahead.”

Razor tilted his head. “You aren’t afraid?”

The King of Earth and Cinder’s voice was crystal clear when she challenged, “What’s left to fear?”

Admirable.

Before the others arrived to make their goodbyes, because surely they would, Razor clasped Rayne’s shining palm and transferred the dossier to her. The glow of the computations traveled across her skin and disappeared beneath her clothes. This close, looking into her eyes, he saw pure determination.

Brave soul.

In consolation, Razor assured, “I’d like to present you with a choice. And you, Nox. The others will come for you, either to force you to leave with them or to say farewell. With my help, you can offer them an interface upload of Nox’s nacre for them to resurrect. I’ll do this free of charge.”

Something flickered in Rayne’s eyes, and a tightness consumed her features that wasn’t about physical pain. “Are you offering to separate our nacres and take Nox’s so that if I die, at least he lives?”

“Yes.”

Rayne asked an important question. “Why not both of ours?”

Razor shook his head, genuinely dismayed. “Your nacre has breached beyond its stability. Some time ago, in fact. Perhaps from the moment you stepped out of the Martyr Complex.”

Rayne winced at his words, but she nodded her understanding. After which, her eyes dimmed. They stayed that way a long time as Razor watched her discuss the option with her… Mate? Adversary? Partner?

Partner sounded good.

After another second, Rayne’s voice held a great deal of awe when she said, “No. He asked to stay.”

Wow.

Bewildered and impressed, Razor tipped his hat once more. “Very well.” He glanced around the space before settling back on her dissipating form. He asked, “Was it worth it?”

Despite the pain, Rayne smiled. “You tell me.”

Touché.

Razor spun his cane and tapped it once. “See you in Eternity, War King.”

“I’ll look you up in the section for martyrs.”

Nearly smiling, Razor flitted to Triss’ final resting place. Here, he’d ride out the last of Enki’s apocalypse in peace—

“Razor, is that you?!” Dr. Suarez asked from around the corner. What was he doing here?

“It is. But—”

“Oh, this is rich.” Miy sounded bitter. “He’s our last hope?!”

Would Triss want Razor to waste his final moments holding her lifeless hand? Or would she rather him save the doctor who treated her with respect and kindness in the least friendly of company?

Razor laughed, readily and gladly. Yes. Indulging in Miy’s misery would have to serve as an emotional palette cleanser. “I’ll be your knight in shining armor.”

Dr. Suarez said, “I didn’t want to leave her—But Echo’s safe with Lynn.”

“I wouldn’t dare keep the two of you apart.” Razor meant it, but this was it.

The end.

Three Two Four, the Last Aegis, and the Pain Curator used Enki’s remaining power to open the conduit for Dr. Suarez and Miy. She slipped through without a word, but the good doctor paused on the threshold. With sincerity in his eyes, Dr. Suarez pounded a fist over his nacre. Then they were gone.

Enki’s dying breath.

Destroyed by Tameka and obliterated by Rayne.

Razor’s final moments were full of thoughts—of windows—but the last was his best. No longer removed from greatness. With Remorse’s death, Razor finally eased the Vast Collective of its troubles. Diminishing in power, he made it to Triss’ bay and reached for her hand before Eternity claimed him.

“The Eternal Bind, my lethal siren… Yes… They will never forget us…”