{Enki | Cinder’s Shrine}

It took the work of a memory to locate Cinder’s shrine. Sagan opened a conduit to the black corrugated metal station, contrasted against the usually serene, seamless glass foyers to other planets. That’s right. The Tritans built the post which guarded the planet they ruined to match Gait’s prison. Plus one extra detail.

Horizontal, rectangular boxes with a split down the middle. The nacre detecting sentries added real menace to the harsh red glow of the perimeter lights against all this bleak darkness.

As Sagan and Tameka stepped through the conduit, the blond Progeny placed her exposed back against a chilly wall to peer around its corner. “Shit.”

The redhead crouched, prepared for a roll to the next zone. “This place is the size of a football field. There must be dozens of those things.”

Sagan raised her brows and made a face which reflected her words. “Well, you’re not wrong. Try hundreds. I don’t remember seeing this many when Tumu led us here for the Pretiosum Cruor.”

“Let’s not bring that day up ever again. And…” Tameka took a deep breath which steadied herself before darting her head around and back as quickly. No pew pew energy sounds. “Yup. Hundreds.” She sat back, peering up at Sagan. “I have an idea, but you won’t like it.”

Nerves fluttered in Sagan’s stomach. She trusted her girl, but… “What happened to draining them?”

Tameka ducked her head, conceding to the turrets. “There’s too many. I think I might overload, so I’ll do the opposite.”

Wow. “Like at the Queen’s Fare?” Sagan felt her eyes widened, impressed with her bestie. “I got your back.” She reached out a hand.

Tameka clasped it and closed her eyes. One deep breath in, and one long breath out. When she opened them again, the green irises swallowed her corneas, and Sagan wondered why Imminent was ever dumb enough to challenge someone as powerful as Fury—

A tiny explosion followed. And another and another. They thundered from the expansive corridor around the corner. Sagan grinned at all the smoke. “I think it worked.” Still holding Tameka’s hand, she risked a glance around the corner.

Sure enough. Two dozen turrets, lining the winding passage, were reduced to scorch marks. Sagan let out a cry of triumph. “You did it!”

“Take me down the corridor, and I’ll smoke the rest.” Tameka stood and squeezed Sagan’s hand, strong and confident. “Like I said. We’ll get it done.”

Damn, her smile was infectious. “Yes, ma’am.” Sagan opened a conduit, and they passed through into another corridor—

A dash of light speared by them. And another—

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“Ow, Fuck! I’m hit!” Tameka let go to apply pressure to her wrist.

Sagan tackled her through a set of conduits to safety outside the passage. “Sorry! Are you okay?” Little pelts sounded against the corner as the sentries battled their impotence out of range. At least eighty of them lined the corridor. Sagan ground out, “I know there weren’t this many last time.”

Tameka peeled her hand away from her arm and wiped the first blood of the battle on her shorts. “It was a glancing shot. The damned thing nearly ruined my bracer, but it’s already stopped bleeding. I’m fine.” After Tameka took another deep breath, Sagan recognized the increasingly familiar thunder from the turret’s exploding. Glowing with energy, Sagan’s best friend said, “We’ll need to be more careful this time. There’s not much of my gear to destroy.” Tameka smirked.

“It is a fantastic outfit.” Sagan had to agree. “Come on. Next one, we’ll tuck and roll out of the conduit, like spies in an action movie.”

Both girls dove through it and rolled out into another alcove with zips of energy firing on all sides. They pressed their backs against their safety wall, and Sagan wanted to test Tameka’s multi-tasking concentration. It’s one thing to focus her ability in these more controlled circumstances, but soon, they’d face an army. Could Tameka drain and overload things while distracted?

Sagan hugged herself and said, “I’m really glad you’ve found a place for Kyle in your forgiveness.” She meant every word. The two of them being at odds since high school was a real detriment to their group. And okay, yeah, Kyle messed up pretty bad, but he tried to make up for it. That mattered.

Tameka took a deep breath and focused. She answered with the thunderous roar in the background, “Well, after Silence, I guess I decided he’d had enough punishment. When Rayne gets back, I’ll be the first to petition he gets his wings. Although, I understand her position and reasons.”

Right. Silence. Sagan frowned because that was one piece in this sliding puzzle she’d swear wasn’t turned right. “Even after everything I’ve been through, I couldn’t imagine falling for someone who sided with people capable of… all this…” She opened the next conduit and bent her knees.

“I know.” Tameka did the same. On three, they both jumped, rolled, and repeated the process of finding cover. “Have you noticed Andrew lately?”

Poor Andrew. Sagan sighed. “How could I miss him? He wears his heartache in his eyes.”

Explosions thundered. Tameka nudged her as she teased, “After helping with his Verse, are you picking up Korac’s way with words? Or is this one of those things where couples become more alike? Please don’t start smirking, too. Xelan’s getting enough shit from one General.”

It was warm and familial, but Sagan still halted the casualness with a serious touch on her friend’s arm. “I loved Lucas, too.”

With a hard swallow, Tameka looked away. Smoke from the destroyed sentries clouded Sagan’s view of her best friend as Tameka confessed, “I can’t. I can’t look at everything more seriously than I’m already addressing it. You know what I mean? I’m taking the steps to do the things I have to do, but if I spend too much time dwelling on it, then Pax is really…” Sagan felt like an asshole when Tameka gave her the full weight of her Atramentous gaze. Tameka’s next words came out in three pitches. “I have to move forward to get to him.”

“I’m really sorry, Tameka, I—”

Her best friend dragged Sagan into a hug with that grip of hers. Softly, Tameka assured, “I’ll get to Pax. You’ll get our army to the battlefield. Hell, maybe Rayne will be waiting for us.”

Sagan squeezed back. What a beautiful notion. All of them together and finishing it. “Do you think so?”

“There isn’t a doubt in my mind. This is when we bring the family together. Now, come on, Seamswalker.” Tameka pulled them apart to smile for Sagan. “We’ve got less than a hundred sentries to go.”

It was different this time.

The Vast Collective would unite to back the Shadow as they finished Imminent for good.

Rayne.

Pax.

“Let’s get it done, Fury.”

“That’s my girl!”