Three hours later, Josh and Sen had worked up the courage to return to Alysa’s med bay. They told her what they knew of cultivation and how to recharge her free Essence. They spoke on the difference between her core Essence and free Essence and about how she could absorb Essence from other spiritual organisms as well as the warning that she should absolutely not try to absorb any undead Essence.

“It’s definitely not recommended. Besides... they really smell—at least the ones I’ve met,” Josh added with half a smile.

They evaluated her by sensing the Essence in her core. Both agreed that she was as they had been back in the alley with the Clone and explained the possibility of expanding her core and not trying to do it without medical support.

They also explained Attunement as a cultivator’s path to advancement and what they had learned about it so far.

Alysa sat in her bed and took it all to heart while Symbal sat beside her, taking quick notes.

“--Why not collect Essence from food animals like chickens and cows?” Alysa’s father interjected the idea into the ongoing conversation about finding space-living spirit beasts to harvest.

Josh and Sen had both pivoted their heads in unison, back and forth between themselves and the two Nangs, each apparently waiting for the other to find a reason why it couldn’t work.

Josh even screwed his eyes up and vocalized a disjointed kind of gurgle, “... Ahhh... umm... ghahh...”

Sen raised a brow, ~Would that work?~

Josh raised two, ~I got nothing... I can’t think of any reason it shouldn’t work...~

~One way to find out, I suppose…~

And it had worked. Symbal had a chicken brought in and killed right there behind the curtains of the medical bay. Josh couldn’t help but think it paid to be the lieutenant commander in charge of supply.

Sen looked at the chicken’s carcass, “It has a wisp of Essence in a tiny core near its center of mass... Earth Essence even.” He smiled at Alysa and handed her the small fowl. “Use your Intent to feel its Essence as you feel your own. Then, will it toward the meridians of your hand and absorbed into your core. It will feel... ungainly. But don’t give up. You’ll get it.”

Alysa accepted the small dead bird with a serious intensity that, if Josh was honest, scared him. He and Sen both academically knew that cultivation and its actions were much easier for them compared to others because of the benefit of Josh’s mastery of physical laws and their Karmic Bond to share it. But now they got to see an actual cultivator’s struggles.

Alysa chased the hint of Earth Essence around the dead bird’s meridians like a toddler chasing food around a plate the first time they used cutlery.

~Do you think she is struggling too much? Neither of us had this much trouble.~

Sen’s smile was a knowing smirk. ~Alysa is a very competent soldier and, I am certain, an excellent student. But cultivation is a learning process for all that don’t have our... particular benefits. We are seeing the difference between us and even a very motivated person... but watch out... she has all the markings of someone who doesn’t give up. I am sure she will ultimately run down her prey through sheer tenacity.~

~I agree with that. One thousand percent.~

The next day Josh and Sen explained to Alysa how to cycle Essence and use it for healing, enhancing senses, and improving physical performance.

Again, what had taken the two of them mere moments to learn had become the work of several hours of guided teaching. But both felt that Karma demanded they care for this newborn cultivator they had created. There was no other road to walk.

Alysa could now enhance her eyes and ears. She was still working on enhancing her meridians for actions. But she would have the rest of her life to dedicate to it.

Over the days, Josh and Sen continued their sword training. Josh noticed a leveling off of his training gains but continued when Sen chuckled and told him how small his own personal gains were and had been over the centuries. Josh then felt lucky to be getting 8 percent on his basic sword level per ninety-minute lesson compared to Sen, who only got 1 percent, and sometimes only that every other day at his advanced level, and even that level of progression was one that Sen considered blisteringly fast and a result of their unique Bond.

After the battle in Epsilon 97 and their ongoing training, Josh’s skill level percentage was 43 percent of the basic category.

Weapon: Titan Short Sword

Weapon Skill: Bladed Weapons

Skill Level:

Basic (17% → 43%)

Damage:

Superior

(Earth Enhanced)

Quality: Mundane masterwork.

Allows interface guidance for optimal usage.

100% probability of 1005% (x5 while Earth enhanced) increased damage vs. standard hand-to-hand.

* * * * *

Josh dodged to the right, in a blur with fully enhancing upper and lower body and limbs. Alysa’s spear slash hit the mat where he had stood less than a tenth of a second before. She was wielding one of the Titan dory’s heads mounted on a practice shaft. It had been Sen’s idea, and Josh had agreed that the budding cultivator needed the best mundane weapon they could provide. She would still need an Earth Attunement to enhance her weapon as they did... but for now, the dory was a good fit for her.

“Missed me by a mile!” Josh laughed, standing behind Alysa.

She gritted her teeth and spun around with a diagonal slash from a partial crouch.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“Whoa!” Josh raised his sword and blocked the faster-than-expected attack as Alysa successfully cycled her Essence for a brief full-body enhancement. “Aha! Now that was much better at cycling your Essence. You’re getting the hang of it!”

Alysa’s follow-up leg sweep was ineffective as she was nearly out of free Essence. Josh’s interface projected the guidance function as a shimmering mirror image that demonstrated the recommended action to avoid her attack as well as an appropriate counterattack. He jumped over her sweeping leg and pushed her back onto her backside with a light kick to her shoulder.

Defeated, Alysa fell flat on her back and lay panting on the ground. Cycling Essence was new to her, and there had been no chance for her to increase her baseline core yet. She also didn’t benefit from a probability interface like Josh and Sen. But based on Josh’s back-of-the-napkin calculations... if she had the same size core he and Sen had started with, her free Essence is likely only forty some-odd cultivational units–

Alysa interrupted his thoughts.

“--You’ve had some hand-to-hand training, haven’t you?” She asked, as she pulled herself up. A fine sheen of perspiration beaded on her brow.

Josh changed gears to the present. “... Well, a little as a kid–some formalized grappling and boxing as a teenager, some fights in the streets. But the sword is new. Just like I imagine it is for you. I doubt spear usage is part of the typical Marine boot camp experience.” He grinned. “I admit that I’m also cheating. My cultivation units are significantly higher than yours, and I can keep myself fully enhanced during our whole fight... which isn’t, strictly speaking–fair to you.” He smiled the Cheshire’s Cat grin. “But in my defense, we both started at the same point as you and had to punch above our weight class in order to survive. The experience was both… unpleasant and valuable, so it seems wise to pass it on as well as we can.”

Alysa didn’t take his bait to complain. “Nothing is fair about fighting. My old instructor used to say that the more you sweat, the less you bleed. Your enemies won’t be taking it easy on you. You win, or you lose.” She turned to the side and wiped the sweat from her forehead. “... I’ll figure it out. You’d better not slack off. I won't be. I’m coming for you and Senyak, and when I surpass you, you’re going to be the one down here flat on your back while I get to monologue.” A truly wicked grin spread over her lips and reached her eyes.

“I’m not monologuing,” Josh muttered with a smile as he wrapped up his monologue. “Are you sure you’re not from Chicago?” Josh offered her his hand to get up off the floor and channeled Essence into her meridians, refilling her tank as he did so.

She perked up immediately.

“Thanks!” Alysa nodded to his hand. “That saves me a trip to the ship’s forward-section animal pens. It takes me half a waking period in travel time to go back and forth. My father is opening a satellite slaughter pen in his supply section, but it will take two days to set it up fully.” Alysa leaned in and spoke with a lower voice, “... I don’t like being empty, you know?”

Josh nodded and toweled off his head, looking down as he sheathed his sword. “Yeah, I know what you mean.”

Alysa placed a hand on his cheek that felt somehow smaller and more delicate than he’d expected from the Marine.

“Thank you soooo sooooo much, Daddy!” Sophie’s voice and the intonation of a four-year-old girl suddenly spilled from Alysa’s mouth.

Josh’s head flashed up, and he stared wide-eyed at Alysa. She blinked several times, confusion writ across her face.

Then her eyes rolled back in her head as she fell into his arms.

Josh had to keep his legs locked to not fall himself… so many things that hadn’t made any sense during his time in Epsilon 97 now made so much more and so much less sense at the same time… the spirit was Sophie… it had to be… how had that happened? Like so many things that had been going on since he got in that Jacksonville elevator, Josh had no real idea.

Sen had told him about the strange way Alysa had spoken when he had been knocked out by the Star Gen’s discharge. How she had ‘not been herself’. Josh also remembered the gentle spirit’s presence in Alysa when he had spoken with it. He now realized why it—no, she—had felt so… familiar.

Sophie.

Alysa and Sophie were never connected in some vague, Karmic manner. They were literally connected, two souls somehow sharing the same body. The spirit he had joined into Alysa’s newly formed core to save her life was his daughter.

As he held Alysa in his arms and signaled for the training room attendant to call EMS, Josh looked into Alysa Nang’s face. Sophie had chosen her as a way to reconnect with Josh. Josh had no idea how or why she had done so. But without question Alysa’s importance to him was beyond measure.

The next thought sent chills down his spine, and he didn’t know exactly how he could or should react to it.

I irrevocably tied the life of my daughter to that of Alysa’s forever…

* * * * *

Josh, Sen, and Symbal were standing in the medical bay over an angry Alysa’s bed. Fed up with their over-protectiveness, she stood, pulled off the last vital lead from her hand, and brazenly donned her duty jacket, completely ignoring them. She then pushed through their collective mothering and into the passageway beyond with a determined stride.

Once there, she turned around and faced them. Starting with Josh, “I know what I said. Have you forgotten? I was there!” Next, she turned to Symbal. “No, I don’t fully understand it. Yes... I am… was… linked... to Josh’s daughter, even before…” She gestured at her abdomen vaguely. “This. That link is simply more… real, now. More present. If she hadn’t reached out to me... I’m sure I wouldn’t have survived... she lent me strength when I needed it... and I owe her a debt I am going to try and repay.”

She finished with Sen. “I would appreciate it if you could discuss with me the... Bond you and Josh share. It’s not exactly what Sophie and I have... but I think it might be close.”

Sen’s overriding politeness caused him to nod in the affirmative, instantly drawing glares from Josh and Symbal. He held his hands up in surrender as they chased Alysa down the hall.

At the door to the lift, she turned back to Josh. “Look... she’s been with me since I woke up in Epsilon 97. I can’t explain it ...” Alysa shook her head minutely with wide eyes conveying the internal mystery she was struggling to understand herself. “... Usually, it’s just a feeling or fleeting vision– A girl running through her backyard. Picking flowers to give to her blonde mommy ... Chasing the cat that keeps sneaking in and staring at her hamster–”

“Mr. Snipps!?” Josh overrode Alysa, the shock evident in his voice.

Alysa cocked her head as if reflecting on a memory. “... Yes... him.” She smiled minutely at what the confirmation meant for both of them. “I’m not sure how Sophie used our connection as powerfully as she did to allow herself to speak through me. She was just suddenly much closer for an instant and couldn’t seem to help herself... I can feel that she is very sorry. She didn’t mean to scare you.”

Josh closed his wide-open mouth and then spoke with a dry throat. “Can you tell her... tell her I love her to the mo—”

“To the moon–around two times and back again?” Alysa grabbed Josh’s hands with both of hers. “She knows, Josh. I swear…” Her eyes shone brightly. “She knows.”

The dumb grin only a proud dad could possess split Josh’s wooden face as he nodded in agreement. Silent tears began to run down his cheeks.

Alysa next turned to Symbal whose mouth was hanging open as well. “Bàba…” She grabbed her father in a hug. “... I am also sorry for scaring you...” She whispered in his ear and then looked into his eyes. “This is just part of my new normal... I’m trying to get used to it. Please give me the time and understanding I need?” Pulling back from their hug, Alysa finished with a raised left eyebrow.

Swallowing, Symbal Looked in the eyes, his nasal voice for all to hear, “... Ancestors give me strength! Now you are channeling your mother’s power looks at me! How many of you are in there?!” He gently shook her shoulders, then pulled her back in for a tighter hug. “... Of course, I—” He looked at Josh and Sen, who were nodding vigorously as well. “We... will be here to support you, nǚ’ér–”

“It is time to depart.” An unmistakable voice cut through the warmth of the moment. Then Josh and Sen were gone from the passageway and back before the Clone where they started experiencing a different type of moment.

“We have arrived at the long-abandoned Sanctuary of the Mind Breaker, orbiting Baroo-7 on the atmospheric moon of Mwezi. There are Items of Power located within this outpost that will attune your Mind Aspect. Acquire them.”

This is too much! At the very moment I have reconnected with Sophie the Clone pulls me away!? No! Not this time Big Blue!

Josh raised his fisted index finger, pointing at the Clone wearing a firm frown. His open mouth was on the verge of shouting angry words–

But Sen was faster. He knew that it didn’t matter how angry a person was or how unreasonable Zenyak was.

Nobody approached the Patriarch of the Marztanak Hegemony in rage. At least not if they expected to get away unscathed.

Sen’s body check sent Josh down. A quick scramble and a rear-naked choke put an end to the insurrection.

“Th-thank you, Lord Clone...” Sen managed to get out as he struggled, only able to subdue Josh after fully cycling his Essence to his upper body.

Sen could tell through their Bond Josh didn’t have the heart to fight with him... he just wanted to scream at the Clone. “We are ready to depart.”

“I see...

“This is for free, gentlemen. Just because this sanctuary is abandoned doesn’t mean it is desolate. You have progressed much too far not to have competition. Be ready for it.”

Then they were gone again... appearing in a small courtyard of a crumbling ruin. Knee-high green and yellow weeds grew through cracks in the few flat gray stones not covered over by large blocks coming from the tumbledown stone building that had once stood here. A large, amber sun rose behind the pink and orange striated gas-giant planet covering most of the horizon.

A feral scream exploded from Josh’s throat. No different from an animal gnawing its own leg off to escape a deathtrap. Blood in his eyes, he closed them tightly for thirty seconds... then sanity reigned... again.

Josh nodded to Sen. ~Thank you, brother...~

Sen nodded back and narrowed his eyes. ~When the time comes... I may well need you to do the same for me.~