{Enki | Cinder’s Shrine}
Pehton did not envy Xelan. His normal mid-tone gray complexion had paled to a shade which competed with Korac’s skin—Ashen. The Traitor Prince of Cinder had to perform a rousing address under these conditions. Queen F8, sans earpiece, wasn’t aware of the tumultuous exchange occurring on Tameka’s frequency. Meanwhile, all the tuned-in Shadow bore the same tight expressions.
On the other end of the earpiece, Celindria had just returned to her lab while the Progeny were working together to spare Ross from a horrifying fate.
Pehton liked that girl, commiserated with her over their unrequited love for a man perfectly happy with his Seamswalker—
Overstimulated, Pehton closed her eyes to shut everything away.
What remained of the Lyriks formed a phalanx behind her, ready for marching orders. General Pehton. Sure, her forces were minute compared to the rest, but hers could fly and sing nacres to pieces. Not to mention that working in a prison under Triss and eventually forced to serve Razor left them all thoroughly ruthless. Deadly.
Pehton was so proud of how far they’d come in their rehabilitation, and they, in turn, trusted her to lead their army into battle. Again.
Progress.
A hand tapped her shoulder, and Pehton turned to find the Traitor Prince towering over her. All the Icari towered over her.
Kindly, he asked, “Will you join me up at the front, General Pehton?”
She liked Xelan, too. Her easy smile said so. “Of course.”
Waving to the next in her chain of command, Pehton approached the window with Xelan and the other Shadow Generals. Korac stood on his Prince’s left. Sagan to her man’s left. Then Iuo and Pehton. Tumu, Kyle, Andrew, and Lamassau filled out the right side. They saved a space on Xelan’s immediate right for Tameka. Those other planetary Generals, turned from their armies and faced the Prince in front of the glass.
Stolen story; please report.
With the spectacular view of Torrentus swirling in the background, Xelan addressed the armies of the Vast Collective.
“We don’t ask for much, do we? We only ask for deliverance from a near omniscient parasite which begs our submission at every turn. I’m defying that parasite, and so are you or you wouldn’t be here. Are you tired of it? The constant hindrance to the evolution of your people in every way—socially, intellectually, economically, and physically. Are you sick of it? Fearing the next opportunity because it always comes with a price which the parasite asks not only you to pay, but your race. Your planets. Your families…”
A pause.
Pax.
Xelan continued.
“I’ll tell you what I am. I’m done with it. I’m here to end it. Every single one of you is here to free yourselves from this cancer, and finally meet some progress which doesn’t cost you your souls—”
“Celindria, take my volition. I’m ready to give it.”
Pehton clenched her fists until blood ran from her nails all to avoid crying out. With a glance at the others, she saw the same distress on their faces. Xelan’s back was to her, but it didn’t take a mind reader to know how badly it affected him. Everything on the man constricted.
“Repeat the words I say. ‘Under my own will, I forfeit my volition. Perfectly and consensually until she returns me unto myself.’”
The other Generals and their armies stirred at Xelan’s sudden freeze. The passion ignited by his words was already dousing from his unexpected silence.
Sensing this, Xelan continued, despite the transaction occurring on the other end of the mic.
Pehton pitied him.
“That’s right. Imminent asks for your souls. I ask for your courage and your might. The Vast Collective asks for your will to win this fight.”
A thunderous, deafening grunt erupted from the millions—possibly a billion—soldiers inside the station and trailing out of it into worlds beyond.
“After you separate Chris from Ross. We’ll all give you our volition to keep her safe.”
“Then you’ll be free to guide your people into whatever ventures you seek, and I will be with you, fighting on your side to see you into all those opportunities you’ve turned away. All that progress you could have made—”
“You come out first, Tameka.”
“I will lead you into battle today so I can take you into a tomorrow where your hope for a future can finally begin.”
“Under my own will, I forfeit my volition. Perfectly and consensually until she returns me unto myself.”
The Shadow held a collective breath as their allies cheered.