***Tirnanog, The Old Camp***

***Magnus***

What a night!

I was glad that one of our mutations allowed us to stave off tiredness to a certain degree. We would inevitably have to sleep at some point, but we could keep going for a night or two with only minor drawbacks to our mental capabilities.

Slowly, I stretched out my leg to test the knee. The fourth time we had been called upon for assistance, a night-terror had given me a good kick to make me lose my footing, but thanks to my armour the ploy hadn't succeeded. Nonetheless, I still felt the pain of what would certainly turn into an impressive bruise.

Unlike the firehorn, the night-terror had ripped through the mostly unenhanced exiles, causing twenty-four deaths while forcing us to play tag with the creature. There was a sinister intelligence to its behaviour as it used our weaker comrades as shields.

In the end, we managed to chase the creature away, but the whole incident still left a sour taste in my mouth because it managed to escape with the corpse of a guard. The monster had grinned at me like a fox departing the hen-house with its prize as if it was just leaving the rest of us for later.

This didn’t sit right with me. Humans were truly foolish. To fight among ourselves when things like the night-terror were out there just waiting for their chance.

Then again, it was probably better this way. Woe for anyone or anything giving humans a reason to truly unite. I was a humanist, so to speak, but I had no illusions about humanity being a scourge upon the earth if left unchecked. Nonetheless, if wolves and bears had gone down the path of extinction on Earth while being relatively harmless predators, then I certainly shouldn't worry about exterminating things like the night-terror.

“I am glad the flagship is scheduled to arrive soon,” I said, more so to myself than to Astra. “Once they take over we can go and inform Balthasar of the situation. And I can get away from Gunnar. I wish he would put back on the personality he displayed while he called himself Crowford.”

Astra scoffed.

She was lazily dangling her feet from the bunker’s roof while we were watching the rising sun together. And it couldn’t rise fast enough in my opinion. No wonder people avoided the night when large settlements attracted so many monsters hungry for human flesh.

While the camp had suffered a few deaths despite our help, I wouldn't have liked to imagine the number of casualties without our help. With the arrival of more warriors and supplies, the exiles could be protected more easily and taught to fend for themselves.

“I think Gunnar is fine,” Astra said. “Yes, he is far from being a responsible person, but he isn’t too bad. You are overdoing it with your attitude towards him. Who knows, maybe you can warm up to him?”

“You don’t understand, Astra. As Crowford, he was my instructor. He taught me most of what I had to learn to work in espionage – if his story is to be believed and no real Crowford is running around back on Earth. Seeing the guy just messes with my brain. I kind of understand his reasoning for staying silent while I was still just some random civilian, but he had plenty of chances to set things right once I became deeply involved with the organisation and he never said a word! Not a single one.”

I shook my head. “And now I am suddenly supposed to be all ‘family’ with him after he told me his old persona was just an act? He is essentially a stranger. I am sorry, Astra, but I simply can’t overlook it just like that.”

Astra played with her filaments, seemingly listening only half-heartedly to my plight. “You have to do things fast or not at all in this world. At least that’s how I see it. If you want to keep him at arm's length, then that’s your decision. I am just saying he sounded like he intended to turn over a new leaf with you. May I remind you that the two of us also got going relatively quickly without really knowing each other?”

I cleared my throat. “That’s different!”

“Because we essentially started our relationship with sex?” Astra asked with a smirk on her lips.

“That’s not the reason and you know it,” I replied vehemently before I pointed at the sky, hoping to change the topic. “Look, drake riders. They should be here soon.”

“Probably scouts from the fleet.” Astra didn’t look up. She was more interested in weaving her filaments together before separating them, a training exercise I had also been taught by Etan. It was supposed to increase your skill and speed with the armour-weaving techniques.

“I think Gunnar deserves a chance,” she said after a moment of deliberation. “He is a high-ranking member of your organisation. The other two listen to him, even if they don’t seem too impressed with his antics. I believe you won’t be able to avoid him anyway. Not if he is going to take a position of power on par with the other leaders of the organisation. And I don’t see him doing anything else. There isn’t much he can do as a spy at the moment since he doesn’t know his way around clan society, so if there is no avoiding him it would be beneficial to be at least on a good footing.”

“I suppose so,” I sighed. “I nonetheless reserve the right to keep him at an arm’s length for as long as I want to. And you should too. No matter how I look at it, Gunnar feels like trouble.”

The drake riders interrupted our conversation when they landed in front of the bunker, bringing us a few surprise guests.

Astra’s mother, elder Teresa, as well as ancient Mary, rode together on one drake. It was a sky-blue female who settled lazily on the field in front of the bunker.

Thalia’s parents, the Tates had their own mounts.

Finally, elder Skye Rumen of all people dismounted the biggest drake I had ever seen. For a moment, I wondered why one of the highest-ranking elders of Aerie would bother with a personal visit, but then I reminded myself that Aerie liked to do things differently. Both in war and in politics the clan’s leaders were expected to take a personal hand in things.

With Skye, Gurney also slid down from the large drake’s back while studying the camp with an expression of distaste. I couldn’t tell whether the reason was seeing his home in such a desolate state, or whether he despised returning to the place of his exile.

Their arrival had also drawn the attention of the organisation, causing my people to emerge from the bunker together with Conla Leece.

Astra raised a hand to wave at her mother and we jumped down to land next to the two groups.

“What brings you out here?” I asked. “Aren’t you guys a little bit too high profile to be running errands?”

“Vanya is currently handling the troops together with Juliana and the other elders. There are more than enough skilled people taking care of things,” Skye answered. “And I have to admit the girl is doing a fine job of it, so we thought it would be prudent to accelerate things on this side. Also, I heard there are a lot of new exiles here who are in dire need of some guidance regarding their mutations and we happen to have three specialists at hand. So, why don’t you introduce us?”

“Of course,” I turned to my people. “Jakob Lang, leader of the resistance cell I was working with. Chloe Pastell, also a high-ranking member and she is in charge of logistics. And Gunnar Elrod, spy in charge of this operation.”

Astra poked me in the side when Gunnar put on a hurt expression. “… and as I recently learned a ‘distant’ relative of mine I didn't know existed.”

I turned to the others and introduced them one by one while the two sides began shaking hands and exchanging niceties.

When it was Gunnar’s turn to shake hands with Mary, instead of letting go, he went down on one knee and kissed the back of the ancient’s hand, shocking everyone.

“My old ocular implants never laid eyes on a beauty such as yourself and I can only call it attraction at first sight. Allow me to be at your service… and please tell me you are still available for courtship, ma’am.”

Mary said nothing and raised both eyebrows before giving us a pointed look.

“Gunnar, what are you doing!?” Astra hissed.

“I am only doing what we talked about yesterday, Astra,” Gunnar replied, sounding like he had done no wrong. “Weren’t you the one who said the local culture was all about going for it quickly and not looking back because each day could be our last one? I was also told it was important to find someone to hook up with.”

“You can't just walk up to an ancient and propose!” my partner protested.

Gunnar turned to Mary and waggled his eyebrows. “Oh, ye young people and their little experience. If you are searching for love, there is no time to wait and see whether she is the right one. You have to walk up to her and tell her your intentions so you can find out whether you fit together, or you will end up old and grey. And it so happens Lady Mary just ticks all my boxes. Please ignore the complaints of the young and allow me to present myself in the best light. I am sure bad rumours about me are aplenty, but you have to get to know the man behind the spy's persona before you judge.”

“I just wonder where you got the idea I would be available?” Mary asked.

Gunnar pulled at his earlobe. “Ultrasonic receivers and a data uplink! I can listen to everything within a five hundred metre radius and record it, then review it at my leisure.”

Astra turned to me. “Magnus, he is your uncle! Stop him!”

I raised both hands. “I wash myself in innocence here! Weren’t you the one who told me to make up with him just a minute ago?”

The spy touched his heart and smiled at my partner. “You tried to smooth things out between Magnus and the worthless me? I am truly thankful.”

Skye cleared his throat. “Gunnar, was it? I am sorry, but you should probably know that Mary is an ancient. It’s a title of great honour, not just in status but also literally. She was already around when your great-grandparents were little kids.”

Gunnar wasn’t impressed. “I can control my attraction to a woman just as badly as the next man. And what is age in a society with a potentially limitless lifespan? I am also way past my prime, so I find not going after the young lasses only to be prudent. But shouldn’t Lady Mary be capable of speaking for herself in this matter?”

“Uh,” Mary looked… flustered. “Can I have my hand back?”

“Of course, my lady!” Gunnar let go immediately and got back to his feet. “It was never mine to begin with! But I must insist you join us for tea inside the bunker! We brought some blends from Earth and they are a limited commodity, given we can no longer call for resupplies!”

He ushered Mary towards the bunker who allowed him to lead the way after giving us a look questioning what was wrong with this man.

With Gunnar's scene finally over, the group moved their discussions into the bunker. For a moment, I thought about stopping Gurney to have a chat with the man, but it looked like he was occupied for now and likely would be in the near future.

Well, it wasn't like we had something important to talk about. I was sure there would be time to catch up at some point.

As he was about to enter the bunker, Jakob turned on his heels to address me, “Before I forget again, I deposited the package with your request with the bunker's quartermaster. Big fella, you find him right around the corner in the warehouse management.”

Having said his piece, he turned and hurried to follow the others.

“Package?” Astra asked.

“Aah, just something I requested them to look into back on Earth,” I said and clarified after a moment of thought. “Back when I sent the message to Earth I added a small extra wish. I am not sure whether it's the right time for it.”

“Is there ever a right time with our current schedule?” She asked, then looked after the others. “I still can't believe Gunnar did that. So embarrassing...”

“Just imagine Mary saying yes. I mean, is that even possible? She has a full set of mutations and Gunnar is... some kind of cyborg.” I let out a non-committal grunt and went into the bunker, looking for this so-called quartermaster. Getting involved with Gunnar's antics was the last thing on my list.

As far as I knew, Mary was perfectly capable of punting him through a wall if he got annoying, so I wasn’t concerned with playing watchdog.

“Theoretically, yes,” Astra admitted. “Practically, probably not.”

What she was forgetting was that, if she wanted to, Mary had the political resources and the connections to make it happen, but I didn't want to argue.

The quartermaster was quickly found. He was an impressive, pure-bred Hochberg warrior towering above us. The man was a least 2.5m with the top of his head threatening to scratch the ceiling.

Upon inquiring about my package, I got a large metal shipping container which looked a little banged up and an envelope. The service was a little surreal, reminding me of the good, old times of ordering items back on Earth and having to get them at the post office.

“What's that?” Astra asked while touching the container. She unhooked the clasps and took a peek inside, only to be greeted by lots of packaging material.

Yep, just like the good old times.

“That's the newest and sturdiest surround sound system my people got their hands on. Including everything to maintain it,” I explained while opening the envelope.

“Surround sound?” Astra repeated, sounding perplexed, which was when I realized the society she grew up in never had a reason to connect certain terms to specific functionalities. An exile who grew up on Earth would know what I was talking about, but Astra had been abducted while she was still a child and probably forgot.

“It's a music player,” I clarified, which got me a gasp of excitement.

“For real?” Astra was instantly all over the box as if she would love nothing more than to unpack it right away. “When? How?”

“When I used the supercomputer back at Aerie to send my people a message,” I explained. “I was abusing your family's political weight, so I thought levering my connections to give something back was the least I could do.”

Asking for the delivery hadn't cost me anything, even if having the request actually fulfilled wasn't certain. I wondered what Jakob thought when he read the little attachment to my report.

I took a look at the documents and sighed, folding them back together.

Unfortunately, Astra noticed me doing so despite the distraction the present provided. “And what's the envelope for?”

“It would spoil the mood,” I answered, wondering whether I should burn the paper and forget about it ever existing.

Astra thought for a moment and shook her head when she came to a conclusion. “No, I can imagine what else you asked for. Show me.”

I handed her the documents and she had a good, long look, going through them slowly one by one before blinking at the last file. “They aren't dead.”

“They might as well be dead,” I clarified. “They got deported through the Europe gateway station. Which means they aren't here. I am sorry.”

“No.” Astra folded the papers and stored them with her filaments before hugging me. “I got to terms with losing them a long time ago and I got a new family. But thanks for trying. I didn't even realize I told you my original name.”

After hearing about Astra’s exile and those of many other children, I sent the organisation all the names I could gather and asked them to investigate. Sadly, it seemed like standard practice to either dispose of or deport the parents of the abduction victims through a different gate.

“You didn't!” I answered, proud of myself. “I asked Teresa and she told me when I explained why I needed it.”

Astra used her filaments to raise her lips to my ear and purred, “Tonight you are getting luckier than ever.”

Being a guy, I couldn't hold back the stupid grin on my face. “I always like to hear that.”