Caedes and Pehton babysat Pax while I dragged Tameka into a room I'd forgotten existed and sought refuge in her warmth. I knew what awaited me when we returned, and I loathed it. So much so that I kept us locked in there for over an hour.

With Tameka was better. She was my shelter.

Eventually, my shelter dragged me back to the study, where I noticed Sagan wore Korac's button-down over her transparent dress. Some honeymoon. I should apologize to her for stealing their reception.

As if sensing my thoughts, Sagan caught my eye from the loveseat, and her smile radiated love, comfort, and happiness.

I tried my best to return in kind.

I could do this.

"Let's wrap up L. Capra before moving on. Does anyone have any questions?"

All hands went up. Except Bethany. She'd returned to my study, hugging her knees and staring straight at me with only an occasional blink. Her expression was eerily similar to T.a.o.'s, but I knew my fae Progeny chased the cosmos. What did Bethany chase?

I called on Karter first.

Glowing in her grandmotherly duties, she asked, "How does Celindria tie into L. Capra?"

This was expected. "Kombuchi asked about my daughter and what Nox did to her. I told him an abbreviation of events and let her name slip. I'll never forget his face."

Kombuchi's mouth hung open, and his eyes went wide. "The Celindria? My friend, you keep interesting company."

Baffled, I pressed, "Why? How do you know her?"

Bewildered, Kombuchi said, "All Caprents know her. Celindria cured us of a reproductive malady caused by a radioactive mineral the Primary asked us to mine in exchange for our nacres."

"What was your opinion of her?"

Kombuchi gave a little shrug, as if making an allowance for something. "A scientist through and through. Clinical, but Celindria's work saved us, so we revere her as kind. We created an annual festival in her honor. She recently joined us for it. Is that why you came here?"

Something wasn't adding up.

Primary.

Celindria.

Gas. Mineral.

I'd gone too long without answering his question and finally offered, "I seek resolution."

Kombuchi bowed with his head, saying, "A worthy endeavor. I wish you luck on your journey. Thailea is no easy place to traverse. Beware of Inanis."

"No shit," Korac muttered.

Pehton agreed, "I'm glad that won't ever happen again."

For the first time since they'd arrived in my study, Torch and Aria contributed, providing a simultaneous whistle.

I nodded. "I understand. There are so many mysteries still unsolved. For instance, recall the conduit into L. Capra was a plummeting trap? Tumu, do you want to share how you and Rem accessed it since Tritans can't fly?"

Tumu shrugged before answering, "We had Icari or drones fly us down. It was too deep for us to enter at thirty-five feet, and before Sagan split Gait in two, conduits couldn't stretch larger than sixty-five feet."

I confessed, "To this day, I'm uncertain how Celindria traveled there."

"None of us First Wave Progeny have wings," Devis confirmed.

Andrius muttered, "Yet."

Chris said, "I know how." All eyes fell on him. "She could manipulate shadows for travel. I can't tell you how many nights I was in the room guarding Pax when she'd manifest from darkness."

Jack turned to his girlfriend with a hand on her shoulder. "Ross, remember how she appeared in the room right as you opened the only way in?"

Ross shuddered while confessing, "I still dream about it."

Bones chuffed. "Nightmare fuel."

I let them discuss it before changing the subject. "Who's next?" I called on Kyle for some Elden-forsaken reason.

"What was Legir saying to the arbiter?"

All right. That was a good question. I'd give him that much. "This was how I first became an ally with Legir. He was letting the arbiter know I could break my bonds at anytime and fly away. It didn't sit right with him. He also mentioned I wasn't the same proportions as Nox. After which, I talked to him in depth about his sons. Apparently, Celindria had recently visited Yu and asked Legir for specimens. He'd denied her, of course. At least in this one instance, there was no complaint about her demeanor. I think she was having a good day when she met with our friends on Yu."

Lamassau raised his hand, and I regretted calling on him as he asked, "Did you also sleep with Legir?"

Fortunately, Tameka laughed this time.

I shook my head, refusing to answer. Let them speculate. Instead, I snapped my fingers and asked, "Did I mention X and R were there?"

The Shadow blinked or shook their heads.

With a gesture toward Tumu, Yito, and Lamassau, I asked, "Did you know Umbra stole an entire generation of Lukemore females for Remorse's breeding program? It nearly left them unable to reproduce."

They looked clueless. Tumu said, "Remorse committed so many misdeeds, it was hard to keep track. I think I was investigating Gait's children when this could've occurred."

Korac admitted, "I knew nothing of this."

I elaborated, "No. You and Nox were too young when this happened. That aside, I met X and R at this trial. The Caprents invited them to witness Nox's execution."

The next person I called on was Tameka. She gave me kind, apprehensive eyes as she asked, "What was your position on Celindria at this point in time?"

I took her hand and kissed it. Such a good question, which I slightly skirted. "Although she'd done some good, the galactic leaders were understandably concerned. Tumu, what happened next?"

The old Primary leaned forward, placed his elbows on his knees, and steepled his fingers to his chin. "I was there to detain Xelan for Celindria's meddling and take him back to Enki for interrogation. Her trajectory was drawing a decent amount of attention, but now, I believe it was a ploy to distract me from Razor's Inanis trail."

Lamassau muttered, "It wouldn't be so distracting if you'd quit looking at Xelan's royal ass."

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Korac chuckled, hidden behind his hand.

I ignored them and pushed, "What did you tell me, Tumu?"

With his voids on me the entire time, Tumu said, "Across the Vast Collective I have followed you and judging by eyewitness accounts, I thought you would be taller. But no worries, Traitor Prince. I prefer my men short."

Lamassau scoffed.

Sagan and Tameka shared the same grin.

With a toast of his cheesecake plate, Bones repeated, "Messy!"

Pehton asked on the end of a snicker, "But what were your first impressions of Tumu?"

This was no ordinary Tritan. Officer Tumu was a Primary. It wasn't his compression orb which gave him away, although I recalled as much from the Tritan Umbra had referred to as "Primary." It was in Tumu's posture. He was ancient and out of his element. Here was a man whose beliefs once carried the weight of a civilization now reduced to arresting galactic fugitives.

Tumu slouched with a heavy burden on his shoulders. We'd get along just fine.

I grinned at him. "Take me to your leader, Officer Tumu."

Iuo balked.

Seps glanced between us, calculating the effect for his people.

Tumu winked.

It was the second time I'd been handcuffed in as many hours, but this time, the cuffs were made of nacre glass.

When Tumu linked my wrists through them, he assured, "I promise to remain professional while you are in such a compromising position. Contradictory to your explicit opinion on Tritan affairs, you can trust me to be honorable. Until the cuffs are off." He turned to Iuo. "I require you and your Monarch 3 friend to witness the arraignment."

"Am I to be indicted? And here I thought we would become good friends." I let all the humor sparkle in my eyes. "Come now, the last thing you want from me is submission."

In my study, Lamassau toasted himself. "You heard him right, folks. I'm the top."

Abashed, Tumu hid behind a long drink of lobster juice.

In the story, Tumu was less chastened as he said, "Friend, we both know you would never give me what I want. Lucky for you, I like the chase. Now come on."

An entourage of drones escorted us to Enki, where Lance and a more wizened Tritan named Wiw awaited us.

"You paused again, superman."

While I told the story, Tameka was staring at me with the most bright, mischievous grin on her face. One I'd seen many times on our son's face.

I know I've mentioned it before, but I am so lucky.

"Ask."

Tameka vibrated with excitement as she asked, "Is this it?" She peered over at Tumu. "The story you told me about on Iron Hope?"

Pax cheered, while Tumu said, "Nothing gets past you, Peaches."

For the formal citation of reacquiring materials to outfit an army of Progeny in partnership with my First Progeny, the Tribunal snatched Lucas out of The Brethren and Triss from Gait as witnesses. Iuo recorded the history while Seps represented my testimony.

The proceedings were boring. Lucas and Triss both explained I was trying to stop Celindria. Seps and Iuo confirmed it. Tumu looked convinced, but Eminents Lance and Wiw needed to consult a higher authority.

We now know this was Imminent stalling to let Celindria reach her next destination—I was catching up faster than she'd expected.

Either way, Tumu escorted me to Primary Rem's sanctum, where I'd await ultimate judgment. On the way there, Tumu and I were alone, so I asked, "Where is your sanctum?"

Tumu's voids widened slightly in surprise. He muttered something about having a thing for geniuses—

In my study, Lam toasted himself once more.

—I took it as a compliment and preened the rest of our silent journey through the maze of conduits.

Why did I preen? Why was I beaming with so much elated enthusiasm when I was facing a potential lifelong confinement on Gait?

My cuffs were undone. I discovered this fact midway through my arraignment, and I worked hard to keep them looking secure.

To this day, I still don't know how it happened. I don't believe in divine intervention, but I think Elden was watching over me. I was grateful as Tumu set me in front of a sixty-five foot Tritan surrounded by a cascade of black fire. The sanctums remain some of the most beautiful structures in my recollection. This one was no exception.

Primary Rem waved Tumu off. "Your presence is not required for this interview, Officer Tumu. I will summon you to fetch the Traitor Prince once our business is finished here."

I winced and let Tumu see it. Let him see I was a friend as he left the space. All the while, my eyes kept flicking back to the fire. I desperately wanted a sample of it.

"Touching it would change your world, son. Perhaps not for the better."

Son.

In my study, Korac humphed at the word. As he'd mentioned earlier, scholars still puzzle over Razor's exact motivations for turning on Remorse. This term of affection meant more between the Pain Curator and the villainous Primary. Or did it ever matter as much to Remorse as it did to the Aegis he'd required for so much?

Back to the story.

I stepped over to where the fire falls pooled around Primary Rem's feet, surrounded by columns. It was tricky to maintain my ruse while itching to examine the phenomenon. I asked, "Where does it come from?"

"A conduit of its own making." Primary Rem shifted to keep his eyes on me from such a great height. He asked, "What can you glean from it?" There was something... It wasn't assessing—

What was in his voice? Adoration?

Ignoring it, I answered, "If this—"

"Cascading Light."

"—Is naturally occurring, then the conduits are spatial folds or rifts determined by the flames' path."

I could hear the smile in his voice without looking all the way up to see his lipless face. Primary Rem glowed with pride as he said, "Yes. Most cannot see it. Conduits are the natural result of the Probability Matrix. Paths for instances seeking the optimum thread. We want you to study it, as well as continue your research here on Enki. Rather than serve your sentence on Gait." He compressed to seven-feet tall and faced me. "Imagine it. All the resources of Enki at your disposal. The races—the worlds—you could save. The Icari and Cinder from your own brother."

Preteen you scoots to the edge of your seat, enraptured as you ask, "Were you tempted?"

I can't explain it. Something about the Probability Matrix repulses me. With every mention of it, I want to get as far away as possible. It's unnatural. Everything else... Well, of course I was tempted. But I knew the truth of what they wanted from me.

Little you asks with a cute tilt of your head, "What?"

For the same reason any government kidnaps an innovative scientist. Weapon design.

Still pretending to be confined, I feigned contemplation before saying, "I only want to find my daughter and save my race. In peace and solitude."

Too much knowledge flickered in Primary Rem's voids, along with an emotion close to disappointment. He said, "Very well. Convert Celindria into an ally, or bring her to face the Tribunal. If not, you'll face it in her place. She makes for Thailea."

I nodded with gratitude and relief until...

"After you spend some time reflecting on my offer," the Primary added. "I will leave you in my sanctum here, with the gateway to the Probability Matrix at hand. Consider wisely, son. We could use someone of your intellect and imagination."

In my study, Lamassau scoffed. "He left you alone?"

Sagan, a little in her cups and draped across her husband's legs, snickered. "Big mistake."

I grinned at her and continued, "As we all know by now, one entrance to the Pantheon was in Remorse's sanctum. In a manic frenzy, I explored as much of the continent as I could afford to do with the short time left to me. I drank deep from the well of history and science—Learning everything I know of the Tritans."

Tameka asked, barely containing the giggles, "But why were you naked?"

"Oh, yes. That."

Korac barked out a laugh. It was a rich sound which warmed me to the bone.

With permission from Tumu, I said, "I was pale enough to blend into the white scenery of the Pantheon. The Overseers couldn't detect me without my clothes. It was the last time I'd seen this coat until Tumu returned it to me."

"We could see you the entire time." Tumu burst my bubble and left me gaping incredulously as he continued. "Primary Rem must have programmed them not to attack you–Seriously? 'Pale enough to blend in?!' How does that even explain your hair?!"

"I..." I closed my mouth.

Lamassau pointed and laughed hard enough to hurt his ribs.

Korac frowned. "But if Tumu found your coat, where did you get that atrocity from in the first place?"

Iuo snorted into his drink, muttering, "It was a prop."

Everyone looked at him until Bones cried out, "Wait a damn minute!"

Twenty-One asked, "Do you have a film, imperial majesty?"

Tameka's eyes grew wide and sparkled, both with humor and curiosity.

"Well do you, Superman?"

A wink is my only answer.