Far above the surface of Noha-3, deep into the void, Shisoka hovered.

Are you certain these are them? I know the Kaizuko aren't what they once were... But have they really fallen so far?

Utsuki's tone was doubtful, and Shisoka couldn't blame her. The tall talker and the topknotted youth were an unlikely pair to have gained Stuado's trust and favor. Neither demonstrated significant power, wealth, or—based on their meaningless meandering up the face of the shield wall, acumen.

Utsuki mentally continued. Aside from the fact that when he is under pressure, the tall one swings his weapons like a squirrel trapped in a sack. They are only dually-Attuned Cultivators and don't even carry Spacetime! Technically, they can't even be called danshaku. How could they have saved an entire Brigantine and stopped a Savoy plot against the whole empire? Whatever you paid for this information was wasted.

Utsuki watched through Shisoka's eyes as she had for the last twenty thousand standard solar rotations. Shisoka decided to play with her.

Well, my heart, perhaps you should come out and see for yourself. My old eyes may be deceiving you.

You know I can't... But if I ever do... It will only be to squeeze that marble bag between your legs that got us into so much trouble when we were younger!

Shisoka smiled wide with innocence. You consider raising children trouble? Really?

Every day and three times on Nundinea!

But instead of bantering with him like she would if she was without worry, Utsuki took the opportunity to get serious. You know Radin has been keeping things from us. I'm concerned that he might be influencing his little brother as well. We give our children too much latitude in their duties. If it hadn't been for your promise not to delve into their minds, I would have learned the secrets of both, and I’d rest much easier as I pass from the Path.

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Shisoka’s face tightened up at rehashing old arguments. They had never been able to agree on how much to include their children in the truth of the Talan Clan. Nor why they were hiding in the outer rim from the Kaizuko, from their own people. So Shisoka had agreed with Utsuki and kept the greatest portion of the tale from them. The logical part of his mind had to agree with her that their children weren’t their parents. They would be unlikely to abide by the sacrifices that had been made and would continue to be made to reach his and Utsuki’s goals. This was certainly true of Radin as it was more than apparent their oldest son was driven by his pride...

But... Shisoka wouldn’t tolerate Utsuki’s constant pessimistic view of always being one step from death nor the thought of moving on through the veil of life without her. It was a fight he was willing to have now. She well knew that when it was time for her to go... he would accompany her.

“Stop talking like that.” Shisoka couldn't help but snap out loud. And then immediately regretted it. Forgive me, my love. I didn't mean—

Yes, you did... And, of course, you are forgiven, my foolish husband... Why you forsook everything to stay with me in the first place, I will never know. But you can't change what the fates have decided for me. You will need to let me go. Sooner rather than later... And you know it.

Not today nor tomorrow. I'm much too busy and far too in love to think about anything further than that.

Through their melded mindscapes, Shisoka felt Utsuki's happiness at his usual response to her fears he would leave her. Shisoka was encouraged by her joy and glad to remove her worry. After almost fifty thousand standard cycles, he could not imagine life without her.

I will never leave you... We have a date with a star and don’t you forget it, my love.

Utsuki was the one who had sacrificed everything to save his dream. She had defended it by breaking down all of her Essence to protect the treasure they had risked everything for when they took and hid it from Daibosu so long ago. It prevented the brute from wasting the Kaizuko's one chance to change their lot—but the cost…

Shisoka and Utsuki sharpened their attention on the location of Stuado's two ‘danshaku’ as something unimaginable occurred.

Shisoka finally said what they both had been thinking: This may be a problem...