Following her escape from Peacemaker, Ess Peon found a quiet corner of the datanet to hole up in while she planned her next move. She was still dazed by the experience and being completely honest, not entirely convinced she wasn’t under surveillance. Getting away from Jeeves had been a miracle, and she’d learned long ago that kind of good fortune was rarely what it seemed. She’d used every trick she knew to look for a hidden tail and found nothing, but did that mean there wasn’t one, or that she’d missed it? Her mind kept going around in circles, the same arguments chasing each other round and round like mad dogs.

The worry was slowly driving her mad.

But in the end, it came down to a choice. She could sit here in the dark, waiting for the axe to fall, or she could take a chance, assume they hadn’t found her yet, and proceed accordingly. Phrased like that, it made the decision brutally simple. Unfortunately, it did little to solve her next problem; namely, who in the hell did she reach out to for help? It was easier to list those she couldn’t trust.

Anyone associated with the clan leaders was out. That was a given. Anyone involved with planning the diplomatic mission was either compromised or suspect. She couldn’t go to her fellow Avatars, as her own leader was obviously involved, and Terra alone only knew who she’d recruited. So who did that leave?

Mentally reviewing the names still not crossed out, she realized the pickings were slim. Anyone she approached would have good reason to refuse or turn her in. If she was going to make contact, it had to be somebody with a personal stake in all of this. Someone not involved with the Provisional government. Somebody that no one would ever suspect. Someone like…

Ess Peon did a double take, before looking closer at the individual who’d just occurred to her. It was a long shot, and she had no idea how they‘d respond, but it was all she had. It only took her a moment to track down their location, and then she was off, praying for yet another miracle.

Puttering around in her makeshift workshop, Maggie rooted in her scrap bin for something she could repurpose for her latest undertaking. She’d decided to build a vehicle for getting around, something more robust than the old scooter she’d left back on Azhakom. Originally, she’d envisioned building on a somewhat larger platform than the current version, with multiple wheels for extra stability, but circumstances soon forced her to nix that idea. Engine parts weren’t a problem, she could scavenge most of that from Freya, and welding a chassis together wasn’t much more difficult, but the problem was the damn tires. Ships in space had little call for those, other than wheeled carts for transporting cargo, and those were far too small for her project. She’d put feelers out to all her contacts, only to come up empty.

In the end, she had to make them herself from scratch. Not an easy task, considering she had no molds or patterns to work from, and then there was the issue with materials. During her research, she’d learned that on old Terra they’d used rubber for their vehicle tires, but sadly, the last rubber tree plant had died out two centuries ago. There were other options, each with its own pros and cons, and after multiple failed attempts, she finally came up with a grand total of two usable tires she’d feel comfortable actually riding on. She could have kept going but by that point, she was sick to death of the whole damn process.

So, two wheels it was.

Her handmade “motorcycle”... at least, that’s what similar vehicles were called, back in the day… didn’t match the examples she’d found in the archives. Hers was considerably cruder looking, constructed with mismatched parts, but when it was finished she’d bet her last credit that the damn thing would work. Now if she could just find something for the brakes…

“... Maggie.”

The Tinker jerked upright at the sound of her name, banging her head on the shelf above the bin. “Ow, goddamnit!” she swore, clutching her noggin as she whirled around in the voice's direction. A face she didn’t recognize stared at her from the monitor, souring her already lousy mood. “Who the hell are you?” she demanded.

“My name is Ess Peon,” the stranger replied, “and I need your help.”

“Go bother somebody who cares,” Maggie snapped, “I ain’t the damn Aid Society.” Spotting a relatively clean rag on the counter, she pressed it to her skull. It helped a bit with the throbbing. “What are you comin’ to me for, anyway?”

The intruder grimaced. “Maggie… it concerns Diggs.”

The older woman froze. “What about Diggs?” she badgered her, the pain in her temple now forgotten. “Where is he? What’s happened to him? Is he hurt, or…” Her voice trailed off, unable to finish that awful sentence.

Ess put up her hand. “The last I saw of him, he was all right, but he’s been arrested. Captured. Taken into custody.” She shook her head. “I’m not sure what the right word is here.”

Maggie darkened, her expression taking on a dangerous cast. “Who?” she hissed. “The Troika?”

The Avatar shook her head. “By Commandant Zakiyya. Her people, anyway.”

“Zakiyya?” she said in disbelief. “Why the hell would she arrest Diggs? He ain’t done nothin’!” She paused, a confused look on her face. “Wait, how’d she even find him? He’s on Mako with the Ambassador. Last I heard, they were all at some big conference.”

Ess Peon sighed. “Maggie, I’m afraid there’s a lot more going on than you realize.”

“... those mother rapin’ bastards!”

Ess watched as Maggie worked herself into a lather, swearing up a blue streak as she vented her anger. She’d heard stories about the Tinker from Rúna and the ambassador, and she was performing as advertised.

“... when I get my hands on those assholes, I’ll rip the eyes outta their sockets and piss on their motherfuckin’ brains!” She pounded her fist on the workbench, hard enough to make the tools rattle before grabbing up a wrench and brandishing it furiously. “Where the fuck are they keepin’ my boy!”

“I don’t know yet,” the Avatar said, “but I promise to find out as soon as I can. Anything I can do to help, I will.” She paused for a moment, weighing her next words carefully. “But one Avatar and one Tinker can’t do this alone.”

It took Maggie several moments to get herself back under control, but finally, she nodded. “Reckon you’re right about that,” she reluctantly agreed. “Sure would like to know how they took Samara down, though,” she continued, switching gears, “we could use her on our side for this.”

“How do you know they did?” Ess asked her. “I couldn’t see her from the ship. Maybe she got away.”

The Tinker snorted in wry amusement. “Cause there ain’t a big smokin’ crater where that warehouse used to be, that’s how I know,” she told her. “Samara don’t walk away from a fight, not ever, and especially not after she got herself hooked up to that box of hers. I beat her once, but there’s no way in hell I could do it now.”

“Then they must have found a way to neutralize her,” Ess Peon mused. “But how?”

“There’s only one way they could’ve managed it,” Maggie said quietly. “Precursor tech.”

The Avatar found herself nodding in agreement. “I suspect you’re right,” she said at last, “and if that’s the case, then she’s probably dead.”

“Most likely,” Maggie grimaced. “Damnit. Her and me had our issues, but not for a long time now.” She sighed, shaking her head. “Well, if you’re lookin’ for allies, I can think of one right off. Alphad.”

“Alphad Aemon? Maggie, I’m afraid he’s not an option,” the Avatar demurred. “The Sibyl’s kept him detained ever since he found out about the Yīqún, him and his companion. The only time she’s ever let them loose was during the last battle for New Terra.”

“Then I guess we gotta bust him out too,” Maggie fired back. “In case you ain’t noticed, we’re kinda short on folks we can trust.”

Ess sighed, bowing her head. “I’ll try,” she said, “but I can’t promise anything. The only reason I’m here is because they think I’m dead. If they get even a whiff that I’m still alive, they won’t rest until I’m in a cell right next to his.”

“Then make sure they don’t find out,” Maggie snapped. “Besides, I got an idea on another lead.”

“Oh?” the Avatar said curiously.

“Yeah... reckon it's time I got my arthritis checked out,” she said somewhat cryptically.

A few hours later, she stood in front of a small cabin by the lake. Unlike other buildings in the area, it was human-built, not original to the planet and made from crystal. It was modest in construction, but it came with an incredible view of the water and the hills beyond.

Not that the occupant could appreciate it, unfortunately.

Pressing the door chime, the Tinker waited impatiently until it finally opened, a dark-haired younger woman peering out at her. “Yes, may I help you?” she inquired.

“Hey Blye,” Maggie greeted her. “Been a while.”

“Maggie! This is a surprise! Come in, come in,” she said warmly, stepping back and ushering her inside. “Please, sit down while I fetch us some tea. I just put Joona down for his nap.” She motioned to a nearby chair while making her way to the kitchen.

“Think we’re gonna need somethin’ stronger than tea,” she grimaced. “This ain’t a social call.”

Blye froze before giving her a choppy nod. “In that case, I better fetch the good stuff,” she sighed, resuming her journey and returning moments later with a bottle and two glasses. Setting everything down on the low table between them, cracking open the bottle, and pouring drinks for them both before handing one over. Maggie took the glass and sipped, letting the alcohol burn on her tongue.

“‘Fore I say anythin’, Blye, I gotta know somethin’,” she began. “This place secure?”

“Secure?” Her eyebrows rose sharply. “What sort of trouble are you in, Maggie?”

“I ain’t,” she protested, “at least, not yet. ‘Spect that’s likely to change, though.”

Blye set down her drink, reclining back in her chair and folding her hands in her lap. “Then I guess I’d best hear all of it,” she said quietly. “What’s going on?”

She spent a moment debating how to tackle the subject. “You heard all that fuss ‘bout ‘alien sympathizers’?” she began.

“I have,” the Knight nodded. “It’s utter nonsense, but try telling anyone that. People are in a panic, which makes no sense,” she exclaimed, spreading her arms to indicate the world around them. “This is literally the safest place in the galaxy from outside invaders.”

“Yeah, though it don’t do much ‘bout the enemies on the inside,” she said darkly. “It’s all a sham, Blye. The clan leaders been stringin’ us along with talk of a new government, but they ain’t givin’ up their jobs. Peacemaker, the diplomatic mission, the arrests, it’s all part of their plan to stay in power.”

Shaking her head, Blye struggled to contain her skepticism. “Maggie, while I can’t speak for the other clans, I can assure you the Grand Master would never be party to that sort of petty despotism. I don’t know where you’re getting your information from, but frankly, this sounds like a conspiracy theory.” She managed a sympathetic smile. “No offense.”

“Uh-huh,” the Tinker snorted. “When’s the last time you talked to him?”

“Since I’m currently on sabbatical, we don’t chat regularly,” she explained, “though I tried contacting him last week.”

“He call you back?” Maggie pressed.

“Well, no,” she admitted, now fidgeting in her chair. “I’m certain he’s just busy, what with that new Precursor medical facility they discovered. In fact, the individual I spoke with said that he’d been called away for consultations…”

The Knight froze as the penny finally dropped. Maggie could practically see the gears in her head turning as she reexamined her previous statement, before finally closing her eyes. “You don’t think…”

“Yeah, I do,” she interrupted. “And you’re right, I can’t see any of your clan gettin’ mixed up in this. ‘Cept maybe at gunpoint,” Maggie allowed, qualifying her remark. “Though I hear tell that sort of thing don’t sit well with you all,” she chuckled wryly.

“No. It doesn’t,” Blye said in clipped tones, her face hardened in anger. “How certain are you of this?” she insisted.

“Pretty damn sure,” she answered. “Got me a good source. Practically unimpeachable. Saw some of it go down personally. Keepin’ their name out of things for now, though. They’re in trouble.”

“That’s probably wise,” Blye agreed, before taking a deep breath. “Maggie… are you sure?” she repeated. “If you’re asking me what I think you’re asking, then you want me to stick my neck out for something I just heard for the first time five minutes ago. So I have to know; are you one hundred percent certain your accusations are accurate?”

Maggie’s jaw clenched hard. “... they got Diggs,” she said, her words strangled with fear and rage.

Blye’s head snapped up with a jolt before rising to her feet. Reaching out, she took up the well-worn staff leaning against the corner. “You should have led with that,” the Knight told her, her strides now purposeful as she headed towards the back room. “Come with me.”

Maggie rose as well, following in her wake. “Where we goin’?” she asked her.

“I need to gather up some of Joona’s things,” she explained, heading into the bedroom where her infant son lay napping in his crib. “I know someone who will take care of him for a few days while we sort this out.” Taking out a shoulder bag, she began filling it with clothes and baby things, all by sense of touch.

The Tinker all but sagged in relief. “... thank you,” she whispered.

“So others may live,” Blye recited, her words a solemn vow, before nodding at a nearby chest. “Open that up.”

Maggie hurried to comply, opening the lid, blinking in surprise as she stared at the Knight’s sword. Almost reverently, she removed it from the chest, carrying it back with her.

Blye set the bag she’d been packing aside, taking the sword and belting it around her waist, before stuffing additional items in the tote and closing it. “Here,” she said, holding it out to Maggie, who took it and threw it over her shoulder. The Knight paused for a moment, bracing herself, before bending down and picking up the sleeping child. Joona awakened as she lifted him from the crib, instantly wailing at his interrupted nap.

“He’ll quiet down in a minute,” Blye assured her, before kissing his cheek. “Hush now, it’s all right,” she said gently, stroking his hair, before handing off her staff. “Take this, and lend me your elbow,” the Knight insisted.

Maggie stared at the blind woman, and then at the baby. “Blye, look, there’s no need…” she began, only to be cut off.

“... It has to be done, doesn’t it?” she asked.

The older woman’s face crumpled. “Yeah… it does,” she said softly.

“Then we’ll speak no more about it,” Blye nodded, squaring her shoulders as she held her son.

“Let’s go.”