{Enki | Tumu’s Sanctum}

It was different this time than all the millions of times before and all the simultaneous ones and split from here—

Heads.

Andrew shifted between the seams of the blazing realities and practiced focusing on the one with his corporeal body. The one in which Tameka and Sagan had dressed Andrew in a blue jumpsuit with black elbow, shoulder, and knee pads. They braided strands of blue ribbon through his hair. After much protest, even Kyle couldn’t escape the girls, forcing him into an inverse of Andrew’s ensemble. It was a grooming ritual similar to painting the black band across their eyes for the Volcano Day battle, distinguishing Progeny from the average soldier. They all prepared in their own ways.

Tameka snuggled against Xelan. Caedes and Para separated to their respective groups, with him meeting Pablo and Lynn at Triss’ bedside. There, Miy wiped away the perspiration from the comatose woman’s brow. Twenty-One, Bethany, and all the Lyriks finished carpeting the floor with beds for the wounded. Devis meditated on the floor, while Para joined Bones in explaining what supplies they needed to T.a.o., Jack, and Ross. Tumu walked in with Lamassau, probably after some more alone time, and met Kyle, Iuo, and Pehton on their way to Sagan and Korac at the weapons cache. All of them under one roof.

It was the perfect time to make Andrew into a fucking prophet. Predictions and the Probability Matrix. He couldn’t afford to wait, so Andrew stepped up and said, “Every—”

His voice failed him with a serious case of performance anxiety. Lucas was the diplomat. Andrew just tended the crops—

Xelan caught his eye from across the room. Tameka, too, with a warm smile. Cheesily, the Icarus who’d codenamed himself “Wingmaster” gave Andrew the most dramatic thumbs up since the T-800 self-terminated in T2. It was almost enough to make Andrew groan and roll his eyes. It was perfect.

“Everybody, listen up.” With renewed confidence, Andrew took to the center of the room and met everyone’s curious glances. It damned near crossed his eyes as the Probabilities blurred into one layer plus or minus a member of the Shadow. Clearing his throat, he continued. “The Probability Matrix gave me some insight into our next missions. If we don’t act immediately, we fail in all but two hundred Probabilities. That’s out of hundreds of thousands.”

Sagan, frowning, raised her hand. She even bounced so Andrew would see her over all the six-foot energy in the room. Korac smiled openly at her cute behavior, and Andrew felt an unfair pang of loss in his chest.

“Go ahead, Sagan.”

She asked the same question in one hundred and fifty Probabilities. “I get you’re saying Tameka and the others need to leave now, but what about our mission?”

Kyle lit another joint and blew out some smoke. “Yeah, what about F8 and all that?”

Across the way, Xelan opened his mouth, paused, and closed it. He pulled Tameka against his side and waved for Andrew to go on with a reassuring smile.

Andrew appreciated all the support, but he’d never felt more alone. He wet his lips before saying, “They’ve already gather at their shrines, waiting for Tameka to disable the weapons in Cinder’s station.”

Tameka frowned. “Aren’t they monitored—”

Lamassau cut her off with a laugh.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Tumu cut him off with a glare and said, “There’s not enough of us. Cinder was the first planet to outright abuse our passive surveillance. Eventually, we assigned someone to monitor that single conduit at all times—Yes, General, we knew of every pirate and smuggler you entertained.”

Korac shot a knowing smirk over his shoulder at Xelan, who gave Tumu a shameless shrug.

Sighing, the Primary folded his arms and continued. “But the Icari required more force. Once Peaches drains the nacre-turrets, there won’t be any defenses left. And you’re saying it’s time, Andrew?”

Their eyes returned to Andrew again in all their varying shades and shapes. Each held a wealth of respect and curiosity. Andrew ran a hand through his hair before blowing the air from his cheeks. “Yeah. Yeah, I am. We go now, or there’s a real chance we don’t win.”

“Then we go.”

The Shadow mercifully turned their collective eyes to Tameka, who truly glowed under their trusting gazes. Xelan beamed behind her as she said, “This is it. Gear up. I’ll go with Sagan now to prepare the shrine, then we split up and get it done.”

With all their backs to him, Andrew flipped his coin.

Heads.

Relief washed over Andrew in such a sweeping force it knocked a sigh out of him. “Thank, Elden,” he muttered. A glance upwards caught Tumu watching him with something unidentifiable in the depths of his voids.

Arms still folded, the Gargantuan Tritan dipped his chin in a nod of… deference? Why—

“…Is everyone’s role clear?” Tameka met all their eyes as she finished.

Assent rang through the Sanctum as the Shadow moved off into their assigned groups. Tameka took a step toward her team, but Xelan pulled her back to him for a kiss which left Andrew aching with concentrated envy. A shade stepped over him, and he turned to find Tumu towering behind him. Andrew asked, “Sup?”

“They’ll need you to tell them the most likely outcomes.”

Tumu’s suggestion had occurred to Andrew who asked, “But won’t that effect the Probabilities in someway?”

Lamassau, who was aggressively packing a bag with snacks, said, “Not if you tell them several outcomes and keep it vague. That’s how the Tritans use the Probability Matrix. Likely Imminent, as well—Whoa!” The bag slipped out of his hands in an uncoordinated explosion of chips and ramen. “Aww, man. Tumi, help me.” A whining Tritan.

Ignoring his lover, the Primary gripped Andrew’s shoulder. “You’re doing good.”

The words cut like a hot knife. There was too much warmth in them not to hurt. Andrew blinked back tears and swallowed to say, “Thanks,” in a strangled voice.

“Don’t worry, Lam. ‘I got you.’” Tumu went to help the Chef, who groaned at the use of Xelan’s catch phrase.

Iuo laughed abruptly at it.

The green Tritan rolled his eyes. “Come. On.”

Taking a deep breath, Andrew crossed the room to Tameka’s group. “Hey, I think I should tell you some things which could help. Jack, too.”

Hearing his name, the teenager stopped helping Ross pack and came to attention. “I’m listening.” His hazel eyes were so serious and so young, even compared to the Progeny when Xelan first started training them.

Empathy, not pity, warmed the cold emeralds in Tameka’s eyes as she squeezed Andrew’s bicep. “You have our attention.”

Bones and Para inched their way over to catch the briefing. As for The Afflicted One… Well, T.a.o. was watching her skirt as she twirled in the blue dress she borrowed from Sagan.

Andrew closed his eyes and sifted through the outcomes, their threads glowing in a white light which followed a black flame across his vision. Prophet. Freak. “Someone else may be there. Don’t engage the target until Celindria’s alone. Otherwise, in thirty-eight Probabilities, everyone dies. Watch each other’s backs. Give nothing away. Answering any questions with the truth ends badly in thirteen Probabilities. Just avoid answering, if you can. Jack, when it’s your time, you’ll know it. You’re almost always successful.” Opening his eyes, the group surprised Andrew with their expressions. Not horrified or freaked out. Just impressed.

As if she sensed his reticence, Tameka pulled him into a hug. “Thank you.”

Ross said from behind Jack, “Yeah, that’s pretty cool, Conscience.”

“What about…” Bones paused mid-sentence and glanced at Para, who shared the concern. “Will we successfully rescue Karter, Chris, and Andrius? Are they okay?”

Without hesitation, Andrew said, “They’re alive, but I can’t answer more than that. Trust yourselves.”

Sagan Seamswalked over and smiled at him before turning to Tameka. “Ready?”

The redhead asked, “Oh, Andrew. Will Sagan and I manage the turrets okay?”

Both girls beamed at him with love and confidence. Warriors. Leaders. Family.

“Trust in each other, and nothing will stop you.”

Andrew didn’t need the Probability Matrix to see that. Sagan’s and Tameka’s eyes burned with it.

They couldn’t lose.