Vajira

She doesn’t know how to feel after what Geniva has told her. On one hand, there’s uncertainty. Being the Queen Mother isn‘t a walk in the park and with the current Empress, this makes Vajira the most wanted Menkar in the whole universe. But on the other hand, there’s relief. Now she knows why Talliomere has always been so protective of her and always made sure she’s unharmed.

„It isn’t like he doesn’t trust the other Walkers, Jira,“ Geniva explains. „The Empress and her followers are strong, inquisitive, and ruthless. Even without a mindreader, they would torture the truth out of everyone they come across.“

„Then why am I still here?“, Vajira asks while trying to force away the tears collecting in her eyes. „My existence alone is enough to endanger everyone here. I should be somewhere far away.“

„Please don’t think this way,“ Geniva says in a pleading tone and takes her hand. „Locking you up alone isn’t a solution. Just by taking you along and changing our encampment on the regular, we protect you more than a solitary fortress ever could.“

„But what if the Empress finds out I’m here? She’ll surly send the whole Fleet after us and kill everyone no matter if I’m caught or not.“

„Pondering what-ifs doesn’t achieve anything, Jira. All this time since your Morphlinghood we managed to protect you and keep you secret. After all, beyond Tallio, Welden and me, no one knows about your true identity.“

„But now I know as well. What if I accidentally blurt it out?“

„You won’t. You’re too smart and thoughtful to mindlessly spread this information.“

„But what about Tuo? I never kept any secrets from him.“

„Then you should tell him.“

Vajira looks down at her hands. She wants to, no, needs to tell him, but part of her fears his reaction. I’m still myself, no matter if I’m the Queen Mother or a normal Menkar. I’m myself no matter what my role in life is, she tells herself to gather her resolve.

Before Vajira can truly clear her thoughts and make sense of everything, an alarm sounds. Judging by the muted siren, it’s not an active attack, but someone has tripped the motion scanners, scattered around the encampment.

Since Geniva, Talliomere and Weldenwall are considered the leaders of the Desertwalkers, she stands up and heads out of the tent. Vajira immediately follows her to Talliomere‘s tent. Outside the tent stands Weldenwall with his rifle slung over his shoulder.

„Do we know what it is?“, Geniva asks worried.

„An Executioner Transporter,“ answers Talliomere as he leaves the tent. „This ought to be some scheme of the Empress. Vajira!“

„I’m here!“, she calls out and hugs her braids close to her chest.

„Please, go inside the tent,“ he tells her gently. „And don‘t leave it until one of us three allows you to come out again.“

„Are they here because of me?“, she asks thin voiced.

„Oh, my dear, why should they…“, he says. „Geniva! You did tell her, didn’t you?“

The sudden shift in expression and tone of voice shocks Vajira to the core. If she didn’t know him as well as she does, she would fear for Geniva. But considering this, do I really know him?, she wonders and feels a void opening up within her.

„Yes, I told her everything,“ Geniva replies steadfast. „She should've known way earlier than this.“

For a moment, Talliomere looks like he fights with himself. His expressions shift into grotesque amalgamations before settling on one of defeat and reluctant acceptance.

„I… know,“ he finally says. „We talk later, for now, we might need to fight.“

Without another word, they run off to get their remaining gear, leaving Vajira frightened and confused in front of the tent. Tuonis, please, come home, she thinks with tears in her eyes as she enters the tent to hide underneath the covers of her resting place.

—

Topasa

The transporter lands so smooth that Topasa doesn‘t notice at first that they have stopped. But the moment Umbra opens the door to the cockpit, all questions regarding the matter answer themselves. Again with the mask covering her face, the strange alien walks past them and the cells to the far end of the transporter. There she opens the doors and steps aside, with an almost lurking posture.

„Is there a problem?”, Topasa asks while the others gather around her.

„We've arrived,” she answers bored, her voice muffled by the mask.

„What do you mean?”

„Are you dense or what? We arrived at the camp of the Cult. Besides, all of you should change into other clothes. The Cult doesn’t like members of the Fleet.

„We don't have any spare cloths,” Topasa tells her after a short glance towards the others around her.

„What about you?”, Nethra asks annoyed and steps forward. „Don't you think those Cultists will react any better to an alien wearing a creepy mask?”

„They can't freak out if they don't see me,” she replies smug.

„How quaint…” Nethra sneers.

„How kind of you,” Laapis chimes in. „First you save us from the Fleet, and now you get us killed by a bunch of Cultists.”

„I don't think they're as trigger-happy as you think they are,” remarks Maurus and pulls her back. „If we tell them we're deserters, they won’t kill us. At least not immediately on the spot.”

„Sure…” Laapis replies unimpressed.

„We can tell them about the Starblazer,” Serfin muses.

„If they believe us…” Topasa remarks.

„They will.” Umbra says with what sounds to be a smile.

„How can you be so sure about that?”, Laapis asks insistent.

„I simply am,” she replies and leaves the transporter.

„What do we do now?”, Serfin asks once Umbra vanished.

„I say we take the transporter and leave her to rot,” Nethra says and crosses her arms.

„I second that,” Laapis says and steps next to her.

„I say we go to the Cult and talk with them,” Topasa objects, certain that the Cult is their only hope at the moment.

„No matter how you all decide, I go to the Cult,” says Serfin determined, which makes Topasa smile.

He does it for Respin I guess, she thinks. I wish I had a Bondmate this loyal.

„What about you, Maurus?”, Laapis addresses her companion sternly. „You're the tiebreaker. Make it quick.”

Nervous, Topasa looks to Maurus. With a frown, he takes his square glasses off and looks at them. As the silence grows too tense, he starts to clean them with the lapel of his uniform and takes a deep breath.

„We go to the Cult,” he finally says and puts his glasses back on.

„What?”, blurbs Laapis out as if the word was suffocating her.

„You heard me right, Laapis,“ he responds with a serious expression. „I want to get their help. It's ludicrous to believe we alone can fight the whole Fleet.”

„I say we go back and tell the Empress the truth,” Laapis replies angry. „I'm her Steward! I'm the highest ranking Menkar in the whole Fleet.”

„You were the second-highest ranking Menkar,” he corrects her with a worried expression and dropped ears. „They'll kill you on the spot once they see you. Despite everything, I don't want to lose you.”

Laapis looks away instead of saying something. What in the Voids name has happened between them?, Topasa wonders. Damn, I wish we’d more time.

But before she can make the call for the next step, the whole transporter shakes violently. Afraid they might be under attack by the Fleet, Topasa jumps out of the transporter, her eyes glued to the sky. But once she arrives at the side of the transporter, she sees Umbra wrecking the engine of the vehicle with her sword. Sparks along bits and pieces of the engine fly around before it finally gives in with a sad puff of smoke.

„What are you doing?!”, she asks shocked.

„I'm helping you decide,” she replies and points the tip of her sword towards her. „And don't even think about stopping me.”

A second later, she vanishes right in front of Topasa‘s eyes. Confused, she calls after the alien but receives no answers. Suddenly, the sound of hoofbeats fill the air along a giant dust cloud, causing Topasa to tear up and start to cough.

The moment she partly regains her composure, she notes that the transport is surrounded by a bunch of Menkar riding Nailwalkers and wearing light armour as well as helmets with visors, reminding her of Toddy‘s large eyes. Makeshifts spears, a few guns as well as swords point at her and the entrance of the transporter from all directions. Immediately she raises her arms and backs away until she feels the transporter in her back. At the same time, the others leave the transporter and keep close to her.

After a moment, three riders pull past the circle and stop right in front of Topasa. One of them readies a mean looking rifle and points it right at them.

„If you know what’s good for you, you leave this place,“ says the only unarmed one at the forefront of the trio, who seem to be the one in command. „Imperial puppets aren’t welcome here.“

„We’re no Imperial puppets,“ Topasa says, holding her hands up. „We need your help.“

„The Fleet is full of trickery and deceit,“ he replies. „Who’s to tell us that this isn’t a lie to gain our trust?“

„Please, we’re fugitives,“ she pleads. „As the survivors of the Starblazer, we need the helps of the Cult of the Pale God!“

„Then why are you using an Executioner Transporter?“

„We got ambushed by a squat on the crash site of the life-ship we used to escape the Starblazer,“ Topasa explains carefully, as she doesn’t deem it wise to mention Umbra. „Luckily, we outnumbered them and took their transporter.“

„Then they’re going to hunt you down.“

„We… umm… They’re dead.“

„Dead? You killed a whole Executioner squat?“

The one with the rifle leans towards the leader of the group and whispers something to him. Topasa tries to listen in, but she can’t make out anything. A moment later, the leader pushes a button on the underside of the helmet, causing it to open and reveal the soft features of a male aquatic Drone. At the same time, both Menkar flanking him do the same. One of them is another male aquatic Drone with some scars on his face and the other one a masculine-looking female aquatic Drone. Judging by the size of their horns, they seem almost ancient.

„Where’s the proof you killed them?“, the leader asks distrustful.

„The transporter is proof enough,“ says Serfin, which makes Topasa jump.

„Weldenwall, go and disable the tracking system of the transporter and take everything useful from it,“ the leader tells the one with the rifle. „As for you,“ he points at Topasa and the others. „Each one of you will take of the hyperspace-bracelets and give them to us, weapons included. From now on, until we gathered enough proof of your claims, you’re considered prisoners and if one of you decides to flee or attack even one of my people all of you are dead. Understood?“

„Loud and clear!“, Topasa says and glances at Laapis and Maurus.

Especially, Laapis seems like she just waits for an opportunity to regain the favour of the Empress. Particularly the barely contained sneer as the Cultists take away her hyperspace-bracelets, doesn’t go by unnoticed. We should’ve left them behind, Topasa thinks, and a moment later feels shock at this thought. But before she can truly comprehend her feelings, it’s her turn to give up her bracelets.