Bruen's dust eater is still young. She displays almost no visible sign of physical degradation, though the same cannot be said about her mental state. She sways almost constantly, as if listening to something far away and trying to angle herself to catch the faintest sound.

I do not trust her.

Bruen allows her to tend to his implants calmly, although rather than ignoring her as would be proper, he thanks her quietly. I refrain from reprimanding him, however. She's clearly his first Somner, and it is excusable that he favors her. Besides, his soldiers treat him with more than adequate respect and to speak up would weaken his status among them.

"What was your first assignment?" A safer topic of conversation, and one that should reinforce his standing among the warriors guarding the entrances.

"Fighting tribals. There have been peace talks with the hold out cities," Bruen replies. Is he twisting his tendrils in embarrassment?

"I see. Met your first chieftain yet?"

His tendrils wrap more tightly around each other, but he signals affirmative with a snap of his pedipalps. Han takes a step back at the sudden clack. The dust eater waves her upper tendrils in mock menace at the youth, shaking with mirth.

"Demon from the outer dark," hisses Han. I agree, though dare not voice such thoughts.

"What did the creature say?"

"He was remarking that your thaumatist lacks discipline," I reply. Yosip snorts, clearly aggrieved by the lingering odor of monstrous ichor.

"Lyin'll just make the translatin' take longer, ye know," quips Gelly from where he leans against the wall. For whatever reason, Bruen is second to have his translator upgraded.

My brute fidgets in place. I cannot fathom the source of his discomfort. He clearly favors his Somner and tolerates her probing tendrils with obvious affection; could he be irritated at the aliens among the group? I do not wish to further disturb him by questioning him.

Yosip and Han both have the language files I had hurriedly put together installed, and their own systems are working to refine the program.

Zek steps away from Bruen, satisfaction oozing from her. Bruen flexes his body slowly, checking that everything functions smoothly.

"It's nice not to feel like the only freak walking around," mutters the Supply-Master. His comment earns a chuckle from Operative Gelly.

"You'd fit in well with the Squivers," jokes Gelly. "Don Yosip does no sound too bad, eh?"

Yosip grunts in irritation, but it becomes a choking fit. The others in the cavern look at him with concern, including the dust eater. She moves over to him, summoning her energies.

By ignoring the camera feed and focusing on my innate senses I can trace pathways in her body gathering the power of higher realms. Organlike structures within her thorax manipulate and focus her energy before returning it to her tendrils. She reaches out to him, but he bats away her appendages and lurches back.

"The witch wants to heal ye," explains Don Gelly. The caste designation is a great honor, one reserved for aliens our leaders wish to incorporate into the greater empire. Gelly, of course, being a member of only the second species to hold the title.

If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

I wonder who he impressed to be granted the designation. Once we're safely back in friendly territory, I'll be sure to ask him.

"I've had enough healing, thanks," Yosip growls.

"Demon," mutters Han.

Faint traces of the same energy cling to the members of the other group. Bruen, Gelly, and all three soldiers have the fading remnants of Zek's energy signature at various places on their bodies. Not surprising, that a veteran squad should show signs of healing. What does surprise me is the other energy patterns upon Bruen's form. At least eleven, twelve including Somner Zek.

"She might be able to help you, Yosip."

He turns his fierce mechanical stare upon me. Twisted runelight glares off both lenses. Han cringes and Yosip's scowl relaxes fractionally.

"Gelly takes to it like selberclaw to grass, and no surprise. But I thought you didn't trust the 'dust eaters'?"

"Ha!" Why is Zek so happy?

"Trust her or not, she's a healer. All the work done upon Mos Bruen bears her mark," I explain.

How badly was Bruen hurt that he required that much healing? Zek's signature is present upon him in varying intensity, often tightly intertwined with the other patterns, indicating healing beyond the capabilities of a single thaumatist. Bruen stands slightly taller upon hearing me speak, tendrils twisting in mild embarrassment.

"So she wants to give me a new paintjob as well? Complete with glowing graffiti." He points one fist at the healer, threateningly. "Stay back, I'm fine."

He stomps over to the soldier guarding the tunnel leading deeper, grabbing Han by one arm and dragging us along behind him. The casteless warrior looks to Bruen and, upon getting confirmation, moves out of the Supply-Master's way. The other party follows him.

Gelly hurries to catch up, and places one hand upon Yosip's mechanical shoulder. Yosip sighs but slows his pace.

Whatever Gelly wants to say remains unspoken, as a beast with purple shards sprouting from its misshapen body howls and jumps at the pair. Yosip raises his spear, but the worn weapon fails to find purchase and snaps under the weight of the abomination.

Splinters of synthetic amethyst scrape across hardened alloy. He grunts as its bulk pushes him back, but he remains standing. His arms wrap around the creature and he squeezes. It thrashes in his arms and bites at his metal shoulders.

Gelly curses as he stabs the monster. When he severs the spine, the beast grows still. Yosip releases it and kicks the bleeding corpse aside. He grimaces as he tosses the broken haft of his weapon away.

"I'll take lead," volunteers Gelly. Yosip nods and lets the other gray officer pass him.

Han walks in the center of the group, behind the Supply-Master but ahead of Bruen and the dust eater. The casteless soldiers guard the tail of the formation. The air gets warmer as we continue deeper. Patches of colorful crystals dot the walls and glimmer in the runelight.

Yosip stops to document a particularly stunning formation, greens and blues growing together, when the next group of bestial savages emerges. One collides with Gelly, knocking him prone. Han fires into the group, killing one before his aim is obscured by friendly bodies.

The monsters run howling down the tunnel, more than there should be. Even if every ship out there had been fully crewed when they had disembarked into this labyrinth, still there should not be so many. The soldiers charge with spears ready into the multihued mass.

Bruen rushes to Gelly's aid, stabbing his attacker. Ebon ichor sprays the stones with clinging darkness. Yosip rushes past them, flames trailing his movements. He crashes into the horde, and they break before him.

Limbs snap and splinters of jagged gemstone crunch into dust beneath his propelled charge. Reinforced metal legs sweep out and fire roars out to slow him. He slides to a halt behind them, an open lane of bloody ruin between him and the rest of the party.

And he collapses, blood leaking from his face.

The soldiers leap into the opening Yosip provides them, stabbing the confused monsters before they can recover. Mos Bruen leads Zek through the carnage to the side of the fallen Supply-Master. The rest of the battle is quick after that.

Gelly and the soldiers subdue the beasts with Han taking shots at any creature that breaks from the skirmish. Only one creature makes it close to where the thuamatist works.

As soon as it's clear, Han rushes over to Yosip's side. Zek flicks her tendrils dismissively before moving aside. She tucks an empty vial away into her bandoleer before leaning wearily against the wall.

The wounded officer coughs and looks up when the youth reaches him. His gaze takes a moment to focus on the young Tserri, but when it does his scowl softens.

"She didn't even have to cut anything off," mutters the dazed Selber as Bruen and Gelly help him to his feet.