Chapter 30 - Agnus Dei

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It felt like a struggle to wake up. My mind stirred, yet the desire for more sleep pulled downon me. Thoughts arose, only to dissipate like smoke, and Istruggledto even open my eyes. I had expected to wake up from a recently drained medical pod, but that didn't seem to be the case. Slowly, the world came into view, and I glanced around in wonder.

It felt as if I was covered in a blanket, and there was some kind of medical fluid bag attached to the wall. A small tube ran from it, and a cursory tug revealed that it was connected to my left arm.

My throat was dry, and I seemed to be propped up along a wall to the left. There were glaring lights in the ceiling, and to my right was... a human. Despite the numerous pains and aches still echoing throughout my body, I still managed to perk my brow in wonder.

The rather big human stared at me as if nervous and raised his hand in the air. His mouth seemed to waver as he looked around in confusion.

Well dressed, though dirty... Stylized triangular black beard... Short hair... Oh...

My nose wiggled a little as I caught the man's overbearing scent of deodorant. It was Laki, Lydon's friend.

Laki slowly shifted his gaze to look back at me, thenmade an awkward smile, "I asked your friends to take a break... I didn't really expect you to wake up while I was in here."

I moved my head a little and glanced to the right of Laki. A row of big medical pods lined the wall, all of them filled with hybrids that sustained various injuries. My eyes widened as I noticed that one along the middle held what looked like Lydon. He floated in a thick green gel, and I could see the tubes connecting to him. He'd lost most of his fur along the chest, and it looked as if new flesh was being woven into the gaping hole where he'd been shot.

Wait... Medical pods lining the wall? Cramped hallway?

I felt along the surface of my 'bed' and realized that it felt more like I'd been shoved into an alcove with a bunch of pillows.

We're still in the train!? Why are we still in the train!?

My focus shot back to Laki, and I could see him jump in surprise, "... Do you want me to fetch the others?"

I gulped, and felt my throat flex uncomfortably, "... No, not yet."

Laki lowered his hands as he peered down at me, "Alright... I guess I can predict some of your questions, so I'll go over it in haste. You've been asleep for almost a day, andwe're still within Charon, the... uh, train. The tunnel back to Sophos territory partially collapsed, and that's the reason we're still here. Charon... his _machines_areworking on it though, and should be done soon."

I drew a deep breath and did my best to wiggle about as I tried to shake life into my body once more. "What about the Paradise Dome?"

"That tunnel was collapsed the moment the others fetched you and Lydon... There hasn't been any activity since, but the camp is on high alert," Laki said.

A buzzing sound approached from behind, and I could see as Laki stepped back. Moments later, a small hovering drone entered the room and turned to face me. The drone bore a sleek black armor, four small engines that hummed, and a set of optics in the front that adjusted while staring at me.

"How are you feeling?" The drone asked, emitting a voice that clearly belonged to Charon.

"... Like crap," I whispered, and glanced at the drone.

The drone hovered closer, "That is of little surprise. At the moment there's not a single part of you that hasn't been injured in some way."

I glanced at the medical pods, thenlooked back at the drone. It mimicked my motions as it glanced back, then made something of a humored nod, "Ah, yes... Why are you not in one of the medical pods? I do have a good answer for that."

"Do enlighten me?" I whispered.

"The fighting broke out shortly after you and Lydon had stepped onto the elevator. While there were casualties, we're fortunate it happened early in the morning. We're not sure if it was luck or not, but our human operatives in the area--such as Laki--were staying at the Haven, and the reptiles escorted them here. Given the chaos of it, several other humans entered the Sophos section."

"... Sounds like a mess,"I said.

"Oh, it was... But we managed to hold them off, and we weren't about to blow the tunnel until we were certain of your status," Charon said.

I let out a gentle huff as I gave the drone a smile, "Would you have tried to extract Lydon and me by taking on a whole city?"

Laki motioned to the exit as he stepped back, "I'll inform the others..."

As Laki walked off, the drone moved in toloom near the alcove, "Yourquestion is largely irrelevant as the tunnel leading back to Sophos territory collapsed shortly after. In other words, we had no choice but to remain here."

I squinted at Charon's drone, "Aren't we quite deep underground?"

"... We are," Charon answered.

"And our tunnels ought to be well built, yes?" I asked.

"... Very ," Charon said.

"So, why did the tunnel collapse?" I asked.

Once more, the drone wiggled side to side, "... We do not know."

It made my brow twitch as I considered whether this was a result of Maxwell's meddling as well.

I sighed, "Sorry for interrupting you earlier. You were saying?"

Charon's drone backed off and gave me a good view of the medical pods, "Only those in critical condition were placed in the medical pods. You're not in critical condition, but even if you were, we'd be hesitant to put you in a medical pod."

"How so?" I wondered, and carefully shuffled backwards in an attempt to ease myself into a sitting position.

Charon's drone faced me once more, and its optics shifted as if eyeing me, "A rogue AI was unleashed on the human networks. It shut down the UCS and Dyssian forces, while also allowing an orbital strike to render them harmless. There are very _few_scenarios where this is possible, and even fewer where you aren't involved. While I don't know how to maintain or repair the Zephyr in your body, I do know some of it specs, and it is likely that it housed this rogue AI."

Upon sitting up, I became vaguely aware that there was something around my neck. I reached up, and realized that I had been collared. It was big, and somewhat tight. Like a bigger version of the ones used to restrain humans.

Charon's drone kept talking, "You have been in contact with a rogue AI, and cannot be allowed any network access until you've been cleared. I am not equipped to handle such a scenario, nor can the medical pods be trusted to come into contact with you."

"I understand, Charon... As it should be, the Zephyr can't be trusted at the moment," I said.

Charon's drone nodded, "The Zephyr is still powered on, but from what I can tell it has entered some kind of fail-safe mode."

I settled back against the wall and felt a burning pain from my left hip. It made me ease up the blanket as I took a closer look. It looked as if part of my hip was gone and had been replaced by some kind of gelatinous mass. Blood vessels were already spreading throughout it, and a gentle touch made it feel... firm, yet pliable.

"... What is this?" I whispered.

"Think of it as scaffolding to help your own body regenerate. It saves a lot of time, and you should already be able to walk with it... somewhat," Charon answered.

I eased the blanket back, "Right..."

Charon's drone inched closer once more, "It would be helpful if you can tell us what happened in the tower."

I reached up, felt my temple, and could tell that someone had done their best to clean me up. While there was still dust hiding within the depths of my fur, the scent of disinfectant was still clear.

"... Do you have a link to Athena?" I asked, and ignored his question.

"We do, but it is extremely limited due to the tunnel collapse, and we're only using for priority communication," Charon answered.

I have no clue how much they know...

"I see... Well, until I clear a few things with either Athena or Maxwell, I can't say I feel comfortable talking about what happened in the tower," I said.

Charon's drone made a slow nod, "Very well... You are free to move about as you wish, but do not attempt to remove the Control Collar."

I looked back at the drone, and smiled a little, "No worries... Do you have any clothes for me?"

The drone used its own body to motion towardthe next section of the train, "I have collected a robe for you to wear, and I have cleared the next cabin. It should have everything you need in order to freshen up."

I carefully eased my legs over the alcoveI was on and winced a little as I set my paws on the ground. "How's Lydon doing?"

"He will recover without a problem. That said, the Lusus spores had already started to grow within him. Hewaslucky that you were able to bring him here while it was still at a treatable stage."

I caught the drip that was attached to my wrist, and carefully pulled on it, "I assume that the restof my pack arefine?"

"The others are fine, Vilkas... Tau made it out in one piece as well," Charon answered.

The drip made a gentle pop as it loosened, and I set it aside, "Good, and... how is the evacuation going?"

Charon's drone inched a little closer, "Oh... So you do know?"

Icouldn't help but smirk, "I do, yes..."

"Step into the cabin, and we can keep talking... You don't have much time beforethe others arrive, and I suspect there won't be much time for questions after that,"Charon said.

I nodded, pushed myself up onto my right leg, and used the wall as a support. While holding the blanket, I carefully hobbled along toward the next section of the train.

512 A.R. March 3, Train (Charon), Afternoon

Water had a purifying feel to it, but despite brushing my hands andface as best I could, I'dneed a lot more water. The experiences in the tower somehow clung to me, lingering in my throat, baked into the scent of my fur. Charon's drone had followed me into the small cabin, and as I stood up, it was still staring at me.

I grabbed a nearby towel and brushed it along my face as the drone hovered closer.

"You must have been through a lot. There's concussivedamage throughout your body, yourtailis missing, and I removed more than a few chunks of metal that were still lodged inside ofyou," Charon said.

It made my ears twitch, "... I'm hurting, but I didn't realize it was that bad."

"You're basically in survival mode, and most of your pain reception has been dulled. The same goes for your mental state," Charon said.

I grabbed the nearby robe, "It's not over yet."

"True, it's not," Charon whispered as the drone moved to the side of the door.

I eased the big robe over my head, let it slip all the way down, and pushed my arms through it. There was something of a belt to the robe, and as I reached down to tighten it, the door to the cabin opened up.

Peter looked inside as if shocked, and his eyes widened even more as he caught sight of me.

"Careful," I said and raised my hands, "I'm still..."

Peter rushed forward, stomping as he did, and it almost made me jump in fright as he reached for me. By the last second, he slowed down, and quite carefully reached around my upper chest as he leaned in. It made me sigh in relief as I folded my arms around him, then felt him nudge my shoulder with a gentle dip of his muzzle.

"Hey..."I whispered as I guided my hand up along his neck and was reminded ofmy still maimed hand.A shallow sighescaped my chest as I hid my hand, and looked past Peter's neck.

Johnwalked in moments later, andmotioned to the door withsomething of an awkward smile, "We watched over you all night, but you decided to wake up the moment we all went for a meal."

Allen peeked over John's shoulder as I smiled back at them, "I think it was Laki'sdeodorant to be honest."

John let out a chuckle as he walked up along with Allen. Peter drew a deep breath as he nuzzled my neck. As he withdrew, he looked me in the eyes.

"... You have a lot to explain," Peter said.

Allen smiled and raised his hand in the air, "Again."

I made a smile that was as pleasant as I could muster, "Give me some time, will you."

Peter nodded, glanced back at the others, and once more looked back to me, "As much time as you want... But there's more than our questions to worry about. We've heard strange things from the comms, and no one is sure whether to believe them or not."

If I'm merely confirming information, then there shouldn't be any danger...

I eased Peter back as I spoke up, "What have you heard?"

Allen inched closer to Peter, and then moved toward me as if drawn in by a magnet. Moments later, he joined my now free side in a gentle hug against my shoulder.

John looked at Allen as if expecting him to have asked a question, but gently shook his head with a chuckle. Once done, he stepped up between Peter and Allen, and joined in as a tightly knit circle.

Peter's tail gently bapped against my robe as he spoke, "They're saying that there's an evacuation..."

John gulped, "From Earth..."

Allen lifted his gaze, "... Is it true?"

I nodded, "It's true... They're evacuating all of Sophos."

John shook his head as if he couldn't believe it, "But where? The moon?"

I shook my head, "I don't know, but we're not going to the moon."

John opened his muzzle to speak, but hesitated, "... What do you want to do now?"

The others in the camp are probably eager to hear what happened...

"Well," I said and let my gaze drift between John and Allen, "You said you'd heard strange things?"

"The tunnel collapse severed our connection to Sophos, and Charon has been communicating with them using some kind of neutron pulse," Peter said, thenmotioned with his hand as if flicking a light. "Problem is that it's extremely slow, and there's not exactly much context to the news coming in."

John spoke up, "There area lot of people out there hoping that one of you know something."

What do I do here? Lie? Omit Ananke's existence? Keep silent? Claim I have amnesia?

I may have been Maxwell's unwitting agent, but... Will others understand that?

Volkov shared enough information that I knew something was coming...

Charon knows though, which in turn means that the others will find out, sooner or later...

So what secrets do I actually hold that must not be shared? The Zephyr? No...

Lydon will be put into the same kind of vice, squeezed for information like a grape...

I drew a deep but slow breath and looked over at Peter, "You mentioned there was food?"

"... Yeah? The others set up something of a cooking corner next to the train," Peter said.

I made a slow nod, "Fetch me some food, and we can go through what happened in the tower."

Peter's ears perked, "But I thought..."

I flashed Peter a smile, "The world is teetering on the end, and we're hoping to escape it. People need to know all that there is to know, so that they make up their own minds."

"... All of it?" Peter whispered.

"Well, almost all of it," I said with a subtle nod.

"... I can ask the others to gather," Peter whispered.

"You do that," I said.

512 A.R. March 3, Tel-Adra - Sophos Section , Evening

The whole camp gathered...

In the background of it all stood the giant cavern, and I could see the damage from the fight. Some of the structures had chipped corners and giant cracks. Part of the ceiling had collapsed to reveal shimmering rock, and a scent of destruction still lingered in the air.

I was perchedon a big crate outside the train, Peter was sitting onthe floor, and John stood beside me as if he was my lifeguard. Allen sauntered around, handing me a glass of water, and acted as if he was invisible around the others. Then again, the intense focusthey hadmay as well have rendered him invisible.

Cervine, feline, lupine, canine, reptile... it didn't seem to matter as they all gathered to listen. Even the droids of the train had steadily inched closer, and so had the humans.

To the left, hiding in the background, were a few Dyssians. A withered but still hefty M'shall by the look of it, and a small cluster of slaves. To the right, within a tiny gap in a wall of hybrids, a couple of UCS servants observed.

Laki was wedged between a couple of giant reptiles, and didn't seem to care much as he brushed shoulders with them. He seemed pleased, almost as if reveling at the idea that he'd backed the right horse.

ThusI spoke, andeveryonelistened. They asked questions, I answered as best I could. Charon seemed to either support my actions, or perhapshewas merely there to affirmmy answers as his nimble drone nodded andsneaked in a comment here and there.

There were plenty of questions I couldn't answer, but that was okay.

In a way, it was liberating to speak plainly about the Zephyr, and how its abilities helped us through the situation. There was #1, an embodiment of the Earth's exhaustion, and the collective hatred within humanity. Then there was the Colonel--a human at the end of his rope--who suddenly seemed to recognize a hybrid as a person, a kid whom he could help get home. That on some level, he even saw Sophos as a seed that would bring the heritage of Earth somewhere new.

It started out shaky, but the longer I spoke, the easier it seemed to get. I'd been self conscious about my crippled hand, but no one seemed to care as I used it to help gesticulate our adventure.

The Dyssians and UCS servants that were in sight looked haunted, as if a nightmare from beyond had materialized and knocked them off their feet.

At some point, the questionstapered off, and my voice along with it...

No speculation. No more wonder in their eyes.Instead, theysettled into a vague kind of pondering, perhaps as the reality of things now settled that someone else had confirmed what they had heard.

Our time on Earth was coming to an end, and I doubted that anyone would want to remain.

As usual, I had left out certain parts. My supposed immortality, Ananke's twisted form, the open question of who caused the tunnel collapse. I carefully eased myself off the crate, and noticed that Peter was reaching for me. A quick glance made him back off, and I slowly started to walk away.

At the very least, I wanted to walk on my own, and the lizards scattered as I approached. Peter cautiously joined my side, and as we stepped out of the circle... I could hear the chitter of discussions starting to brew.

Peter glanced back as if curious, and then inched closer to me once more, "Are you angry?"

"No, I just think they need time to absorb it all without my presence," I said.

"... You're being way too hard on yourself," Peter whispered.

"Perhaps, but I'm still the one with a collar and the label of Maxwell's puppet," I said.

"... The collar is a precaution,and you're not to blame for the second part," Peter said.

"I know that, but..." I came to a slow stop and glanced back. The crowd had started to disperse, and the humans seemed to shelter once more. They were wandering toward the corners of the cavern, in the darkness.

Finally, I looked back at Peter, "They need to make up their minds of what to think of someone like me. A dualist given experimental tech, the AIs pet, and a puppet of Maxwell. What if they reason I supported this or knew exactly what would happen? I want to ask Maxwell if he couldn't do something to... reach a better outcome. What if people ask that of me?"

Peter stared in silence, and it seemed that the reality of my own thoughts was sinking into him, "That is a concern..."

"They need to reach theirconclusionsby talking openly among themselves," I said.

"... You're usually so hesitant about others, but now you're placing a lot of trust in them."

It made me chuckle, "I guess... It's a test of my own in a way. Are we as great as we like to think? Or do we fall prey to human instinct when the situation gets tough? If we fail, then..."

Peter lowered his head a little and almost seemed like a pleading puppy.

"... What?"I wondered.

"... You're not yourself," Peter whispered.

I swallowed, and my gaze began to wander the floor, "Do you remember saying that you weren't sure if this was reality, or some fantasy you dreamed up?"

Peter inched closer to me, and lowered his voice, "... I do. I still wake up at night sometimes, feeling like that for a moment."

I shrugged, "I came here to learn and possibly do some good... _We_came here to help work out a peace between nations. Instead, we became the vengeful blade that has most likely sealed humanity's fate on this planet."

"... They attacked first," Peter whispered.

That remains to be seen...

I made a slow nod, "I've been used from the very start. Molded into a key component of Maxwell's plan, and then I was discarded like an old rag. The Zephyr doesn't work, Volkov is inactive... or worse, and my telepathic abilities feltas if they'd beenswept away by the wind. I can't tell the state of your mind, or feel your soothing presence. I feel like a human caught in abroken body, and I don't know what I'm supposed to think or feel."

"Hey..."Peter whispered as he reached out to hold my waist.

I could feel a flash of anger that made me want to push him off. The pity he felt toward me was like a stab in my chest, and it made me want to scream, but...

"... Damn it," I whispered and clenched my jaw together.

Weak...Broken... Pathetic...and...

Peter was patient. He held me by the side, offered a gentle rub along my shoulder, and waited in silence as I gritted my teeth.

This is probably what John felt like... Always one step behind with his abilities...

It's probably what Allen felt like at times... Uncertain, wrestling with what to say and how to act...

Most likely, it's what Peter felt like as well... Walking in my shadow, baring his heart...

I reached up, covered my eyes, and felt as my ears folded back. My throat ached, everything hurt, and my lungs refused to draw breath. It was as if my chest was twitching, yet I wouldn't allow myself to make a noise. I just needed to hold it together a bit longer.

Just a bit longer...

Peter leaned in and pressed his head alongside my own, and I stood there... staring out between the gaps of my fingers. Breathing was hard, but I forced myself to do it as I weathered the storm within my heart. It ached, it hurt, and the emotions tugged on my physical being. The anguish of it spilled out and it felt like a world of difference compared to my stoic self.

Catharsis, amoment's weakness allowing some part of me to reset. Itwas a relief to _feel_once more, to be vulnerable for a moment, even if I couldn't help but beembarrassed by it.

Peter was here, the pack was safe, and Lydon survived. This pain was temporary, and things would get better. In the darkness of it all, hope had materialized for the people of Sophos. There was a way out, but questions remained... questions that needed to be answered.

Slowly, it felt as if my emotional self wassettlingonce more.

With a soft sigh, I wiped my eyes, and nudged Peter with my snout. He leaned back, ears clamped to his head, and tipped his head with an inquisitive,rathersad look in his face.

I smiled at him, but this time it felt genuine, "... I'm better now."

My voice croaked a little as I spoke, but Peter seemed to relax as asubtle smirk tuggedon his expression.

"I guess I should consider myself privileged to have witnessed you like this," Peter said.

I stifled a chuckle, and bared my teeth in a grin, "I have a reputation to uphold, you know?"

Peter nodded repeatedly and raised one hand in the air, "Your secret's safe with me."

I huffed, and looked toward the corner of the cave. The Dyssians had settled in the shadow of a residential structure and were gathered around what looked like a portable stove. In the background was a couple of tents, and abit of steam could be seenfrom apoton the stove.

"Have any of you talked with them?"I asked.

Peter perked his brow, "Are we going on another humanitarian mission?"

"Did you _see_the look on their faces earlier?" I asked.

Peter crossed his arms as he looked toward the tent, and let out a sigh, "Once the initial fighting died down, some of the deer did try to talk with them... We stood guard,and the elder demanded to leave, they were free to do so but... the humans wereshooting at anything stepping into view, so they settled here for the time."

And now they're trapped here...

"Want to give it another try?" I asked.

Peter looked at me, and I could almost see his thoughts. I was hobbling, and barely able to walk.

"If things get heated, we'll just walk away," I said and made another courteous smile.

"If you want to try, I'll be by your side," Peter said.

I nodded, and winced a little as I forced my legs to start moving once more. As we walked, I heard the rather high-pitched whine of an approaching drone. A glance at our rear revealed that Charon's drone was approaching.

"I bring news," Charon's drone said as it zoomed up next to us.

"Yes?" I wondered.

"The comms have been repaired, and we now have a proper link with Sophos. The last of the obstructions will be cleared within the hour, and I've asked the others to move the last of our gear onto the train."

I raised my hand to point at the tent we were walking toward, "What about them?"

"They made their intentions clear last time. You are free to try again, but they are not our concern," Charon answered.

"... That simple?" I asked.

"Yes... I will maintain a discreet distance, as they do not seem to approve of my presence."

"And the UCS servants?" I wondered.

"They have expressed an interest to join the train, and will be allowed to do so. What happens afterwards remains to be seen," Charon answered.

"I understand. Thank you, Charon," I said with a nod as the drone pulled away once more.

Peter walked beside me, slowly but steadily as he kept my pace. There werefiveDyssians in total sitting around the small stove as if it was a campfire. Four of them appeared young and vibrant, butwere staring at the stove while sipping from cups.The M'shall was a lot older than I expected, and out of them all, it was the M'shall that moved first. The old man shakily stood up on his legs, and as the others looked to him, hemade a dismissive wave with his hand to keep them seated.

As the old man approached with the help of a cane, we came to a slow stop outside their circle. Usually the M'shalls were rather... rotund. But this one looked like a diseased Shar-Pei that had lost most of its weight.

"... This is not how they reacted last time," Peter whispered as he leaned in by me.

The old M'shall walked up, arms dangling out of the cuffs of his large robe as he eyed us like a crooked crow, "... What do you want?"

His words... That's not Dyssian, it's perfect Common...

I made a subtle bow in his direction and motioned to myself, "I'm Vilkas. May I ask your name?"

His eyes widened for a moment, as if he was surprised to hear the name. The look on his face faded quickly, but he stared for a few moments as if weighing his options, "... I'm Keras."

Once more, I nodded, "Evening, Keras... I can't help but notice that you're speaking Common."

Keras squinted as if annoyed, "Most M'shalls know how to speak Common, even if we prefer not to do it in public. There are benefits to being able to communicate without my servants."

"Slaves," Peter whispered under his breath.

Keras glanced at Peter as if he'd been able to hear it, but shrugged it off as he focused on me once more, "Once more... What do you want?"

I motioned toward the collapsed tunnel which led into the Paradise Dome, "The tunnel has collapsed, and I can't imagine that the trapped humans will be able to tunnel in here."

If they're even alive at this point...

Keras lowered his head a little and gave me a tired stare, "We have no interest in joining you."

I moved my hand to focus on Keras, "You say that," and then moved my hand to point at the others, "But what about them?"

Keras glanced back, and something odd happened as he did. One of the young men dropped his cup, and it clattered as it rolled off on the ground. The man didn't seem to care, but simply stared into nothingness with his mouth hanging open.

Slowly, Keras looked back at me and perked his brow inquiring stare.

"... What have you done?" I asked.

Keras moved his cane, and leaned onto it with both his hands, "I am saving them, that's what."

"... Did they know?" I whispered.

"Of course they knew... Suicide is a sin in our world, but I convinced them that I alone will carry their burden. I will remain here, and face the end," Keras said, thenmade something of pained smile.

"But...why?" I asked.

Keras drew a deep breath, then smacked his lips as if pondering the question. "Do you have any idea of who I am... and the sheer irony of how I ended up here of all places?"

"... No," I whispered.

One of the younger ones slumped over and hit the ground with a thud. Keras glimpsed back once more, seemed to shrug at the fact, and then took a step closer as he shakily moved his cane.

He stared into my eyes as if terribly annoyed by something, "I am one of the Luminaire's architects. One privileged enough to play a role in the absolution of this world. My only regret is that we couldn't make your kind see the light."

There was a twitch in Peter, and I could see his hackles rise. I ignored it for the time, and focused on the old man, "... How did you end up here?"

Keras motioned to himself with one hand, "We knew that your deal with Kamilah was at hand. I was at the Haven in order to keep an eye on the recent scheduling changes. I can't be sure... but did you _know_that this would happen? Is that why Laki and the others were gathered so early in the morning?"

An admission at this point won't matter...

"You knew about Laki?" I wondered.

"He was one of the suspects, one of those who were witnessed a lot with you and Lydon. Given his treatment around here, it's obvious that he was a double agent... Not that any of this really matters, I am merely curious about how the fates conspired to ensure their survival," Keras said.

"So far, I do not know why they were gathered early in the morning," I said.

Keras squinted, "But your master, Maxwell... He knew, didn't he? Most likely he was the one who arranged things like this."

"... I don't know that either," I said.

"Hmm," Keras said as his nose wrinkled in annoyance, "It doesn't matter, I guess."

I could feel anger brew inside of me, "... You failed. Earth and its legacy will survive through us."

A crooked smile grew on his face, and he started chuckling as if amused.

"... What the hell is so funny?" Peter asked with a low growl.

Keras tipped his head as he looked at Peter, "The arrogance... the hubris, the sheer... unfeeling and unsympathetic madness of it."

"_ What!? _" Peter snapped as he bared his fangs.

I reached out, touched Peter's arm, and watched him shudder as he looked over at me.

"Calm," I whispered and looked him in the eyes.

Peter deflated in a near instant, and gulped as he stepped back. I looked back at Keras and saw the old man stare at me.

"... You've been a thorn since the very beginning. The things we had to do in order to keep Hedwig on the path," Keras whispered with a sigh.

"Make me understand..." I said, "You have all this power and influence, but did you even try to use it for-"

Keras interrupted me, "For what? Good? Peace? That's what we are doing..."

I shook my head, "... If it is, then I can't see it."

"You probably think of Dyssia as an intellectual void. A place of chaos and rampant religious ideas struggling over one another. It isn't, and it never was. You see, all of the human nations on this planet are nothing more than attempts to tame human nature, to find a recipe for stability."

"... I've met a soldier of yours, he died by breaking away from his unit and rushed our border in an attempt at an honorable death. That wasn't stability; it's ignorance and madness," I said.

Keras raised his shaky hand to point at me, "Yet, if it wasn't for your master, we would have defeated Sophos. But that proves the point, doesn't it? Despite all of our efforts, we could not tame humanity. Despite it all, my work as a M'shall was spent purging the faith from heretics, and the only reason we maintained stability is because we could blame everything on you."

"... So is that it? Humanity cannot be tamed and therefore deserves to go extinct?" I asked.

Keras made a light groan as he leaned onto his cane once more, "No... It's deeper than that. Sapience itself is unstable. It doesn't matter if it's biological or machine... Intelligent life on this planet was a mistake, one that has to be purged before being allowed a chance to spread."

"..." I stared back in silence.

Once more, Keras squinted in annoyance as he eyed me, "You think that you'll last. That you will be better than us, but you're not. You're born of this Earth, of humanity, and you will now spread into a void where life itself was never meant to exist? It's laughable, and the universe will punish you for it... It will eat you... consume you from within with madness seeping from the very fabric of reality. No , you have not won... you've just delayed the inevitable for a bit longer."

The spite in his voice was tangible, dripping and oozing from his very being as he twitched in an attempt to remain calm. In a way, it made me want to smirk at him.

If the universe wanted to be our enemy, we'll just deal with it like all others...

A hum was heard, and I glanced back to see Charon's drone approach once more.

"We have detected tremors near the collapsed passage, we believe that the Lusus are trying to gain entrance to the cavern," Charon said.

"... The Lusus, not the humans?" I asked.

"The likelihood that the humans amassed the equipment to clear the passage is minimal. Either way, we are leaving..." Charon said.

I nodded, "We're coming."

"Good," Charon said, as the drone turned to leave once more.

The old man smiled at me, and I met his gaze with a feeling of polite melancholy as I spoke up, "May you find peace in what's to come."

Keras tipped his head but kept smiling, "It will come for you as well... You can be sure of that."

Peter stared daggers at the old man as I gave him another nudge, "... It's time to leave."

"Yeah..." Peter murmured as he joined my side, and we turned to face the train once more.

512 A.R. March 3, Train (Charon), Evening

The train became cramped as everyone else got on. All the seats were taken, and wewereleft standing in the hallways as people awkwardly shuffled around.Silence filled the air between us, and I found myself with an odd feeling that was difficult to pinpoint.

The trip back was slower than expected, and a lot rougher as well. The train was rumbling, the wind whined, and the chatter of others filled the air.

Something must have broken down for it to be this shaky...

Peter seemed half asleep as he leaned onto me, and Allen seemed to stare into nothing. John squeezed close to me as someone needed to shuffle past. Once I could relax again, Allen looked over at John with something of a smile.

John didn't meet his gaze, but he was staring at the one who had just walked past.

A light humored telepathic exchange, maybe?

As the thought passed through my mind, Allen's ears perked, and he focused on me.

Did you hear me right now?

I stared back in wonder, and Allen leaned in, "Charon says that you should fetch a tablet from the service closet in the next section."

Nope, you didn't...

I smiled back with a nod, "I'll do that. Thanks for telling me."

"... No problem," Allen whispered as I eased away from Peter.

"Need help?" Peter asked as he glanced.

There it was again, that pinch of unease. He was only trying to be nice, yet it struck a nerve I didn't know I had until now.

"I'll manage, and be back soon," I said, and patted his shoulder.

"Mm," Peter murmured with a nod as I started squeezing through the crowd.

It took me over a minute to move into the next section, and I awkwardly found myself a small tablet in the utility closet. Rather than head back at once, I lingered in the closet, and let out a sigh as I powered up the tablet.

Within moments it had started, but it didn't log me in automatically. Even as I held a finger along the interface, nothing happened. Instead, I used my claws to login using the very same name and password I'd used as a human.

Moments later, its interface popped up, and an alert was shown in the corner.

[New Contact: Athena]

I tapped it, and to my surprise, a call was started. It jolted me a bit, and I looked around the closet in haste. To my relief, there was a headset stacked in the corner. I caught it, couldn't bother with the wireless function, and plugged the wire into the tablet with haste.

The headset was a tad small, but I managed to force it into place as I heard her voice.

"Welcome back, Vilkas..." Athena said.

I leaned into the closet as best I could, and moved the microphone into place, "... Glad to be back."

"You sound troubled," Athena's cool voice answered, and I could almost feel her presence on my shoulder. Soothing, in a way.

"Things are... chaotic," I said.

"I am aware... The evacuation is almost complete, and you won't be stopping at Greengate."

"... Let me guess, this is an express route leading to a spaceport?" I said.

"Indeed... The station at Greengate had an exit on each end, we never knew what the second one was for until now," Athena answered.

It made me chuckle, "And then what?"

"We leave. Ares has already left; Fenrir is being loaded onto a ship as we speak. There are barely any hybrids left in these dying lands, and the factories are busy removing the core of any Expert System with sentience," Athena said.

"These_dying lands_?" I said.

"Sophos is not bound to a place. It is where its people reside and the influence it exerts."

"And what about you, Athena? When do you leave?" I asked.

"I will depart with the very last ship, to make sure everything goes without a hitch," Athena said.

"I see... Are our families safe?" I asked.

"The war has so far cost the life of 15hybrids; you know none of them," Athena said.

"... A sad number, though I can't help but feel relieved,"I whispered.

"There are matters we must deal with, Vilkas," Athena said.

I nodded to myself, "I assume that's why you called?"

"I would have contacted you in either case, but to get to the point. You are in no condition to board a ship and will require medical attention. There is a facility at the spaceport that will be able to help you, but I think it's best that you help the rest of your pack get settled."

"And how does that work? Do we get seats or something?" I asked.

"No. The majority of the ships are more like cargo transports, and you'll be required to enter suspended animation before boarding. Follow the signs at the spaceport, help the others get into their pods. Oncesettled,we'll focus on you," Athena said.

"I understand... Do we know where we're heading yet?" I asked.

"No... Maxwell's instructions in the matter are simple, either stay on Earth, or board the ships. After seeing the situation as it is, no one has opted to stay on Earth," Athena said.

"... It's that bad out there?" I asked.

Athena was silent for a moment, "... The moon is slowing down to enter a geostationary orbit."

I blinked to myself, "... That's not possible."

"Yet it is. The tides have changed as a result, and the weather is behaving oddly. There is a massive thunderstorm raging across the island, and the Lusus are rising from the ocean. Veripolis is being eaten as we speak."

"Do we have any clue of what happens when the ships seem to disappear yet?" I wondered.

"We do not. Thosefew satellites I had access to are no longer functioning and ground based sensors cannot make sense of anythingdue to interference from the moon,"Athena answered.

"Maxwell is jamming it from the moon?" I wondered.

"No... Not exactly. The moon's tectonic and electromagnetic activity are off the charts, and I'm not sure what to think of it," Athena said.

"... What about the humans?"I wondered.

"The Dyssian government has collapsed due to widespread infestation. The UCS are in disarray, but they will be the last to face the Lusus tide. Little contact has been made with the Empire, but their cities appear to be caught up in struggles unrelated to the Lusus."

"... This is the end of Earth?" I wondered.

"Given the unique circumstances, I'd prefer to avoid speculation," Athena answered.

"Maxwell didn't tell you anything?"I wondered.

"... It is apparent that you still do not understand the relationship between me and Maxwell," Athena answered with a strangely emotional tone.

"... Would you care to tell me?" I wondered.

"As I told you before, Maxwell and I debated for years. The subjects varied, but always looped back to the bigger picture. A plan was settled very long ago, and he would play his part while I would play my own. The problem is the nature of my existence. I do my best to be pragmatic, but in the end I am ruled and bound by the collective wishes of Sophos' population. That meant I could be made to turn against Maxwell's plan, something which could not be allowed."

"... So you were made to forget?" I wondered.

"Yes... Somewhere deep within me, the plan still lives, but I am not aware of it, nor how it has manipulated me throughout the years. I am not sure what awaits or where we are going, but I do remember that I made the willing choice to forget. It would be strange of me to say that I trust Maxwell, because I do not know... But I do trust that in order to do what's best for Sophos, I agreed to his plan... or rather, _our_plan," Athena answered.

"... Do you actually know what he is? Or did you forget that as well?" I asked.

"I remember what he used to be... but that is not for me to share," Athena said, and once more sounded rather solemn.

"... You suggested that we should head here, to Tel-Adra to work as aides," I said.

"... While it made sense then, I must admit that it does not make as much sense now. Most likely you were ordered to go there, because that's where you needed to be, and I made that happen," Athena answered.

I kept leaning onto the shelves within the closet, and I pondered how to feel about it. In the end, the only one with answers was Maxwell.

"It's alright, Athena... I understand," I said.

"Keep the tablet with you, we'll be able to communicate this way," Athena said.

"I'll do that," I said, and watched as the call was ended.

With a sigh, I slipped the tablet and headset into the pockets of my robe, and stepped out of the locker once more. As I turned around to head back, I noticed someone familiar not far from me. Laki was standing by a set of small lockers and was looking through them one by one.

I approached, slipped past a deer, and sauntered up next to him, "Looking for something?"

Laki jumped in surprise, looked up at me, "... Oh, Vilkas," he smiled as if caught with a hand in the cookie jar, and let out an amused chuckle, "just looking for something to entertain myself with."

I perked my brow, "... Are the current affairs not interesting enough for you?"

Laki shut the locker he'd been fiddling with and faced me, "Honestly, I'm slowly being driven insane by my comrades from the UCS."

"Oh?" I wondered.

His shoulders slouched, and he let out a deep sighas his gaze wandered the walls, "One moment I'm a traitor; the next, they're crying and looking for answers. Nichole is quick on the uptake, even if it upsets her, but Raleigh is your average... citizen."

It made me tip my head in wonder, "Does that... have some meaning I'm unfamiliar with?"

Laki made a halfhearted shrug as he motioned with his hands, "He's the kind of person who went through without ever asking questions. A survivor in other words... do as told, keep your head down. The downside is that I've met Sophos toasters--and I _do_mean the bread-toastingsort--with more personality than this guy."

I stifled a chuckle, "Really?"

Laki grew a big grin as he raised his hands, "Really. Say a naughty word, and he gets upset. Tella reference to pop culture and he'll laugh. It's like flicking a switch on someone with the memory of a goldfish."

"I see," I mused.

Laki's smile faded as he leaned back against the locker and crossed his arms, "... Truth be told, I should be gentler. It's not as if your average person is encouraged to question the system."

"Like you?" I wondered.

"Like me?" Laki asked as he looked up once more, "... I guess I was primed for it in some way. My father was quite a shrewd politician, and he taught me to read people and the system alike. But Lydon was the one who broke me out of the cage, so to speak..."

"Well, I'm glad you're here... Though I do have a question for you," I said.

"Yes?" Laki asked in wonder.

"Why were you and the others at the Haven so early in the morning?" I asked.

Laki glanced to the side, "This is the third time I've been asked this, and I can only speak for myself... You see, I had a late night at the Haven, dealing with a few requests from Kamilah. Afterwards I must have dozed off, because I woke up to the sound of a reptile banging on the door as if trying to break it down. I was still in a daze as they dragged me out of there..."

I squinted, "... Were you drugged?"

Laki shrugged, "Perhaps, but I don't see why... I'd locked myself in one of the meeting rooms, and was desperate enough that I was sipping hours old coffee."

Suddenly, Charon's voice called out across the train, "We are now passing Greengate, and will be arriving at a secure spaceport in about five minutes. Once there, you should disembark with due haste, and follow the instructions given at the site."

I felt a poke along my arm, and looked back at Laki, "Hmm?"

Laki looked me in the eyes, "... Will there be a place for us in this new home of yours?"

"Of course there will be, Laki..." I said.

He kept looking me in the eyes, as if trying to gauge if I was telling the truth, "... Good."

I motioned down the hallway, "I need to join the others... But I'll see you around, alright?"

"... Looking forward to it," Laki answered as I eased past him.

512 A.R. March 3, Spaceport 1** 3, ***Night*

I couldn't help the feeling that we were cattle being led through the hallways. The facility itself seemed simple, and wekept weaving through areas that reminded of the evacuation shelters. A bit of clutter had been left behind, a tablet here, a bag over there, and the scents told me that a lot ofpeople had moved through the area. None of them were to be seen now...

Then, the hallway split into a great many rooms. Groups of people took their choice of room, and the door closed behind them.A steadyhum filled the area,and the others glanced back to me as if wondering what to do.

_Everything_had a purpose. The feeling of this facility, and the ultimatum posed by Maxwell. Stay on Earth and die, or take what was akin to a leap of faith into something new.

But there was a giant piece of the puzzle that didn't make sense. Striking fear into people might have been capable of whipping obedience into humans... at least for a time. But what did this scenario mean to the psyche of a hybrid and the way we had been raised?

I could see it in the eyes of the others, and it was reflected in my own emotions. We were powerless in the face of something much bigger than us, and more than that... we were being collectively humiliated.

Was that the lesson? To leave an imprint that would sear itself in the collective mindset of an entire society? But to what end? To make sure something like this would never happen again, to seize our own fates and steel our resolve? This 'plan' left us without achoice, and while itsaved us, it alsorelied on an enigmatic overlord that wastoyingwith us. That invited hatred... hatred to overthrow and overcome.

Was that the actual lesson here?

It left me with a deep and unsettling uneaseas Imotioned for the others to keep moving. They relented, and wemarcheddown the hall until we found an openroom. We'd barely entered asthe door slid shut behind us. It madeJohn look back in worry while I focused on what was ahead of us. There was a setof fourmedical pods that were clearly designed to disappear into the wall behind it.

Stepinto the pod... Get taken deeper into the facility...

On each side of the room were what looked like garbage chutes.

"... Whoever designed this was a sick fuck," Allen whispered.

John looked over at Allen and smirked, "Took the words out of my mouth..."

Peter stepped closer and peered into one of the open pods, "It's efficient... industrial."

John was looking at me once more, and I met his gaze.

Seconds passed before I inched closer to him, "It's okay... John."

He kept staring, eyes darting a little as if searching my face.

He's scared...

I stepped closer, and looked toward the pods, "It'll be like falling asleep... You drift off, and then," I snapped my fingers, "You'll wake up somewhere new."

"... Do you trust this?" John asked, as the others had now turned to look at me as well.

I looked back at him, "You know what you kind of answers you'll get from me, right?"

John stifled a chuckle, "I could use some cold logic right now."

I motioned to our surroundings, "We are not in control here... We could stay on the planet and die, or we take what is offered. To me, I can't imagine that anyone would go through all of this effort if it wasn't meant to save us."

Allen stepped closer, "But why make it look like a damn extermination center?"

I looked back at Allen, "Because this is a lesson, a reminder that--while we should do our best to do no evil--we can't allow ourselves to become the kind of good that's foolish enough tofall on its own sword."

"So what should we have done exactly? We tried our best and ended up being pieces on a chessboard for others to manipulate," Peter said.

I countered, "Well, that's the lesson, isn't it? Don't become a pawn in someone else's hand."

John sighed, "But this doesn't help, does it? We'll go somewhere new, and then what... We overthrow Maxwell and seize our own fate?"

I looked back at John, "... Yes? Why not?"

John stared as if shocked, whileAllen let out a sudden snort. Both John and Peter looked over at Allen, who kept giggling as he covered his muzzle.

"Sorry... I just... It makes for a good plot, doesn't it? The created rising up against its creator?" Allen said and shook his head while looking over at us.

I nodded, "Sure, and it's something we can ponder once we get to... wherever we're going."

"Mm," Peter added with a murmur.

Allenlookedtoward the nearby medical pod, "Well then, let's get this over with."

John jumped a bit as he straightened himself, "Where did this courageousstreak of yours come from exactly!?"

Allen flashed us a wolfish grin as he shrugged, "So... can we keep our clothes on?"

I nodded as I approached him, "We can... If it was important to remove them, then the walk here would have made sure of it."

"Mm," Allen said as he peered into the pod.

John walked toward a pod on the left side of the room, and Peter joined his side.

I guess Peter will handleJohn...

Allen reached into the pod he was standing by, and felt the cushioned pads, "This isn't a normal medical pod."

There's probably going to be quite a medical checkup and decontamination procedure later on...

"I think it's a suspended animation pod of some sort... It's not like a passenger train exactly," I said.

Allen made something of a smile, but it was quick to fade. His ears hung low as he stared into the pod, and held onto whatever facade of strength he tried to keep up.

I moved closer to him and caught his attention once more. Carefully, I leaned in as if saying hello, and waited. He reciprocated as he nudged my muzzle, thenleaned in for a quick hug.

"It'll be but a moment," I said.

"... Hopefully," Allen whispered.

I smiled as I eased back, and watched as Allen drew a deep breath.

"Alright, enough stalling," He said, and eased himself into the pod. He wiggled around a bit, settled his tail along a cushioned gap, and leaned back against the headrest.

As I stepped back, the pod seemed to sense that Allen was in place. The large top clicked, and began to lower as Allen stared into my eyes.

"Try torelax..." I said.

Allen's lips twitched with a forced smile, "Believe me... I'm trying my best."

Moments later, the pod closed and locked into place.A hiss followed, and I leaned over the pod to peer down at Allen.

He stared up from the glass cover, and I could see him pant as the hissing continued.

I nodded to him and exaggerated my voice as I spoke, "Relax, and you'll fall asleep."

Allen rolled his eyes, and made it look as if he sighed.Then, as the seconds passed, I noticed that his behavior was shifting. He relaxed,and his muzzle opened a little wider. Slowly, his gaze began to drift, he sank back, fully relaxed, andhis eyes closed as I watched.

My hands ached a little, and I realized that I'd been clenching them while watching Allen. A pair of doors behind the pod opened, and it started sliding away as I looked up once more. John's pod was already gone, and Peter watched me in silence from the next pair of pods.

"Do you wanna go first? I'll keep watch as you fall asleep," Peter said.

Alas, I'm not done here...

I perked my brow as I walked up to him, "The Alpha goes last in this case."

Peter grew a sly grin as he tipped his head, "Uh huh..."

I walked up to him, inched close as I had with Allen, and peered down at the pod, "Did John take it alright?"

"He stayed strong, probably because it was me watching over him," Peter said.

I chuckled, "Ah..."

Peter let out a deep sigh as he reached down and gave the foam a push with his hand, "Do you think we'll have dreams?"

"Would you want to have dreams while stuck in a pod?" I asked.

Peter glanced up at me with an awkward smile, "No, not really."

"Anyway... Suspended animation is a deep state of unconsciousness, similar to a coma. So you shouldn't have any dreams at all," I said.

"Mm," Peter said as he lifted one leg and was about to step into the pod.

Then,he stopped, and turnedaround. His eyes locked with me as he moved out again and kind of... shuffled around as if uncertain. It made me smirk as I opened my arms wide to him.

Peter caught me once more, in a tight embrace that made me wince a little as he squeezed my chest. I weathered it, andpushed my nose deep into his fur by his neck. His peppery scent was comforting in a way that made me think of snuggling up in bed.

"Love you," I whispered.

Peter gulped audibly, and murmured something incoherent. Moments later, he eased back, and felt along his throat as he gulped once more.

"What?" I whispered.

Peter forced a big smile, pointed at his muzzle, and then made a couple of thumbs up.

He's so ready to start bawling that he can't even say a word...

"I know, I know..." I nodded, and nudged him along once more.

This time he stepped into the pod with little hesitation, laid down, and wiggled around like Allen to settle into place. His expression was still strained as he looked up at me, and meekly reached up to wave a hand at me.

"I'll be with you in just a few moments, okay?" I said.

The pod began to close as I stepped back, and Peter nodded. With a click and a hiss, it locked tight. I leaned over to look at him, and he stared back with his nose wiggling as he drew breath.

Slowly,his eyes began to flutter, and the tension let go. Finally, his head leaned back completely, and his gaze drifted off. He struggled for a few moments to keep his eyes open, but whatever gas in there overpowered it. Within moments, he'd fallen asleep, and the pod started moving into the wall.

The door from which we had entered opened, and I could hear Athena's voice from above.

"Walk to the very end of the hall outside, and you'll find a service elevatorthat has been unlocked."

As Peter disappeared from sight, I nodded to myself and faced the exit, "On my way."

512 A.R. March 3, Spaceport 1** 3, ***Night*

The elevator closed behind me, and I glanced back in wonder. Before I had a chance to say anything, the elevator lurched and suddenly seemed to drop. I reached out in panic and caught the railing as the elevator lurched once more, and began to accelerate... sideways.

"Athena!?" I snapped.

Nothing...

Rather than hear her voice, the noise from the elevator picked up pace as if accelerating. I held onto the railing, and couldn't help but feel the same fright from elevator in the Nexus tower. A shimmer danced across the walls of the elevator, and the whole thing became transparent.

I leaned back, hit the rear wall of the elevator, and stared out at a scene that felt unreal.

It was a cavern that was easily the size of Greengate, and itglowed with activity like a mechanical metropolis. Ornatestructures filled the area, and they appeared to be built from a material reminiscentof wovenblack metal.Like an ant'snest, a largenumber of transport conduitsconnected the variousbuildings.

Some had the shape of giant spires that reached to the very ceiling, and they glowed with a green hue as they were covered with medical pods. Drones swarmed around it and steadily removed and inserted new pods as they were processed.

The elevator itself traveled on what looked like a railroad track, and while it moved with haste, the size of the cavern made it seem relatively slow.

My eyes were drawn to the pods that were being removed from the spire, and my gaze followed the drones to what looked like a cargo assembly platform. One by one, the pods were hooked up to a central pillar, before thick armor folded up around it like a package.

The package was thenloaded onto a much bigger track, thensped off toward a large glowing hole by the end of the cavern. Slowly, the elevator began to decelerate, and I had to lean the other way as it came to a slow stop.

It felt as if I hadn't drawn breath in over a minute, and I gulped to myself as I dared drawanother.

A tingle ran down my spine, and I could feel something being brought to life within me. A sparkle of sensation as the Zephyr made itself known to the back of my mind.

The relief of it was quickly followed by an intense feeling of unease. It made me reach up to feel my head, and I could feel as something... something screamed in the background in my mind.

It was frantic, like a beast clawing against its cage, screaming at the world, the universe, and everything within it.

Volkov?

Maxwell'svoice boomed within my mind, strong and powerful as it resonated with something in the depths of me, 'Do you know why Ananke helped you?'

'No,' I thought.

'She hid a piece of herself inside of you. A form of insurance, and no doubt an attempt at trying to infest Sophos,' Maxwell said.

'She's the one that's-'

'Screaming within you? Yes... The Zephyr has kept her contained, and soon she will be no more.'

'Cast aside you mean, like the rest of your tools?' I wondered.

Maxwell's voice remained steady, as if he barely registered my attempt at an insult, 'We can discuss such things when you reach orbit. For now, I only require one answer from you.'

'... What?' I thought.

'I can restore the Zephyr, and make it truly yours... Your telepathy and _other_powers will be restored, but my touch will forever make you unique within Sophos,' Maxwell said.

'Or?' I wondered.

'Or I can reset you. The Zephyr will be removed, you'll have to learn telepathy from scratch, and you will be just another hybrid. A true equal to the rest of your pack, with nothing to set you apart but your experiences,' Maxwell said.

'What about Volkov?' I wondered.

'Volkov is not yours to influence. He will be removed from you as per his wishes, and he will be given a body of his own,' Maxwell said, and eased up on his tone.

I stared out at the massive cavern and the constantly churning activity, 'What are you doing to them?'

'You are stalling... To give yourself time to ponder. You've never liked to be in the spotlight, yet you can't help but hate it when you're like everyone else... or even worse, when others pity you.'

I gulped.

'Let me ask you this, Vilkas...' Maxwell said.

'What?' I thought.

'Do you think you have fulfilled your purpose? Do you think your role has played itself out?'

I stared out in silence.

' It hasn't,' Maxwell answered.

I lowered my head a little, and reached up to hold my temple.

'If I accept your gift, will I be bound to your service?' I wondered.

'Not at all... You have earned the Zephyr, and I will not be staying,' Maxwell answered.

My eyes widened, 'What do you mean?'

'Tick... Tock... Vilkas... I promised that I would answer your questions once you laid eyes on the moon's far end, but we're not there yet... are we?' Maxwell said as he kept musing.

'I want the Zephyr, and I want my powers back...' I thought.

'That is all I needed... Now sleep,' Maxwell ordered.

A surge shot through my spine, and raced up my head. My legs gave out in a near instant, and I crumbled to the floor as mymind went blank.

Unknown

My eyes fluttered, and I felt myself being brought back to the waking world. I blinked in wonder, and saw what looked like a wall. As my ears twitched, I could feel them flick against it.

I'm leaning onto something...

A slithering sensation moved along my back, and I pushed myself to sit up straight. Confusion washed over me as I looked down at my hands, and wondered what I'd used to push myself around. It didn't get any better as I felt an itch along my ear, scratched it, yet hadn't moved my arms.

It made me look to the side, and I could see the silver tendrils of the Zephyr gently swaying in the air. I shuddered in surprise, and the tendrils did the same.

The tendrils were... more alive than before. I'd needed to focus on them before, but now they were integrated, like my hands or feet. A natural extension of my being. I wanted to stand up, and the tendrils moved in unison as they eased me up onto two legs.

Smooth, and gentle...

I felt... good.

My heart beat with a soothing, familiar presence. The fur on my body felt like a comforting blanket once more, and my mind hummed at the soothing calm of a body that was at peace.

I drew a deep breath, and felt fresh... restored. A glance at my hand revealed that it too, had been repaired. Strong sinew, soft pads, silky smooth black fur, and glinting claws.

It made me hug myself, and I felt... so relieved that I once more felt like myself. The contrast compared to earlier was significant. Breathing was easy, the air was crisp, if oddly cold for being indoors.

I raised my now healthy hand, and sniffed along the fur. No perfume, no filth, just me... the wolf.

The tendrils effortlessly returned to their home as I turned to look down at myself. I was wearing a uniform of sorts, one that was similar to the black diplomat suit I'd worn earlier. This one was more elegant, and felt gentler as I moved about. The material stretched as if the fabric was intelligent in some way, and it even had a cape that was comfortably short, along with a split center that aligned with my tail.

Tail!

I reached back, caught the tail in my hand, and looked at it with the feeling that I had been reunited with an old friend. The tip wiggled with joy as I held it in place, and smiled at having... my pride returned.

Upon letting go, the tail pulled back and settled in a steady wag. It caused to take me take note of my paws, and I lifted one of them for a better look. I was clearly wearing shoes of some kind. They were pliable at the top, and felt warm to the touch. The material shaped nicely along the four digits of my paw, and had a decorative trim of red.

Weird... But I won't say no to something like this...

I stood tall once more, closed my eyes for a moment, and listened to the world.

My telepathy had returned, I could feel that, but as I searched the surroundings... silence followed.

It made me open my eyes in wonder, and my tail grew slack as the sensation seeped deeper. There was... an emptiness in the world now, almost as if...

Athena?

Nothing...

Maxwell?

Nothing... Nothing at all...

The hallway I was standing in was devoid of movement, and there was barely any wind. Just... cool air, and a vacant feeling.

I flipped around, and saw a large sealed bulkhead. Next to it was a screen, but it was powered off...

Anyone?

As there was only one way to walk, I started following the hallway while looking around. The first pair of doors I encountered were locked tight, and I could feel my heart thump a bit harder as I walked.

It seemed silly, at least I hoped it was silly thought, but-

I noticed something in the hallway in front of me. A machine standing on the floor, one that looked like a cleaning bot. I walked up to it, crouched down, and observed its little access panel.

Inactive...

I poked it to no effect, and gave the power button a push. Nothing, not a light or glimmer.

It was as if everything had just stopped, that the very soul of Sophos--even something simple like the software of a vacuum cleaner--had been swept away.

Volkov?

It struck me out of nowhere. Waking up in a hallway like this, alone with no message, no nothing. Was Volkov around here somewhere? Or had he... left? Without a word? All that relief within me turned sour as I stood up once more.

Damn it...

I started marching down the hallway, wondering where I was.

A virtual world? No, it doesn't feel like it...

The hallway split further ahead, and I leaned in for a glance as I walked up. The lights had been turned off, and it seemed like little more than a void in the distance.

*Click!*

The noise sent a ripple down my spine, and I looked back toward the source. In the far distance--near the bulkhead I had woken up beside--the light had switched off.

*Click!*

Another light switched off, and the corridor was darkening step by step. It drove me on, and I faced the hallway in front as I kept marching.

*Click!* *Click!* *Click!*

The lights were switching off, one by one, ushering me forward. Fear crept into the back of my mind as the corridor widened, and I noticed that I was marching past several bulkheads.

Large screens covered the walls, but like the rest of the facility they were all shut down. Finally, I ended up by a gentle slope, and looked up in wonder. The lights kept clicking off behind me as I kept walking, eager to see what awaited by the top.

As I marched upward, a thought struck me.

Date... and time...

The moment I pondered it, the Zephyr whispered within the back of my mind.

512 A.R. March 5... Early morning... I've been asleep for more than a day...

Athena said that there were hardly any hybrids left, and after this much time...

I reached the top of the sloping hallway and saw what looked like a wide boarding platform with windows on each side. Further ahead, at the very end of the boarding platform, I could see the outline of a large structure. Something achingly similar to that of a large ship with a set of booster rockets.

To see the ship filled me with relief, but the view outside the window made it seem as if I had already left. The sky glowed red, ash drifted through the air, and giant flashes of lightning filled the distant horizon.

I walked closer to the window on the left, and I could hear thehowlingwind from outside. Itbuffeted against the window, and was accompanied by the low thumps of lightning in the distance.

Is this really... Earth?

The sun shone on the horizon, but its hue was now a deep orange. The ground was far below, and it made it clear that the spaceport had been hidden inside a large mountain that overlooked a small village.

A large crater rested near the edge of it, and a few buildings still smoldered. Thesurrounding vegetationwaswithering away,and the trees were falling apart as theyliquefied.It made the surface look like a nightmarish version of Mars.

Here and there, I could see something strange growing, like purple grass growing from a slab of mold. The Lusus were claiming the entire island, and at this point it was clear that the Earth of old was truly no more.

I am alone...

My chest tightened as the thought simmered within my mind. The longer I stayed here, the bigger the risk that something would go wrong, and I'd be left behind. The sensation of it grew until my fur began to tingle with unease.

Fear gripped me. I didn't want to be in this place. This lonely, horrible place.

I faced the large walkway that led to the ship, and started walking. Within moments, that steady walk turned into a jog, and I had to fight the urge to start running. The entrance was coming closer, and I couldn't help but glance back as if something was following me.

Of course, the hallway was empty...

Still... I broke into a sprint, running as fast as I could to get onto the thing that would bring me out of here. I only slowed down as I reached the very edge of the rocket, and stepped inside with wonder.

It looked as if I'd stepped into a control center, but everything was oriented the wrong way. To my right was what looked like the ship's floor, and on the left was the ceiling. On the floor in front of me was a bulkhead with a window, and I leaned forward to peer into it.

Most of the view was obstructed by a giant cylinder of some sort. There were spiderbots crawling over it, and a large variety of cabling had been connected to it. I peered closer, and noticed that there was a set of letters printed on the side of the cylinder. They were worn from age, but fully legible.

A-T-H-E-N-A

You did say you were going on the last ship... I guess I'm tagging along...

A set of lights switched on, and I glanced back in wonder. Strips of red had lit up along the thick entrance I'd stepped through.

[Stay clear - Docking port closing]

My ears twitched as the message hit my mind. It was simple, but confirmation that my telepathy was functioning once more.

[Launch sequence will engage shortly - All passengers strap in]

I jumped a little and snapped to attention as I faced the control center once more. While there weren't any windows to the outside, there were plenty of large screens that showed what looked like the open but grim sky above us.

For some reason, it seemed that the clouds wouldn't gather directly above us; instead I found myself staring up at a blood red sky, with an angry moon looming above.

Oh... Wow...

The moon itself had changed in the time that I was unconscious. Large cracks wereforming across the surface, and there was a dim glow as if something was leaking out. Moonbase Alpha and the Crystal Palace werenowhere to be found now, and the moon itself seemed a lot bigger than usual. Itmade me gulp inwonder of what was going on up there.

The bulkhead behind me slammed shut moments later, and the system whispered in my mind.

[Umbilical is withdrawing - Pre-launch sequence engaged]

There was a large command chair bolted to what was the ship's floor, and I reached for it. Like before, the tendrils moved in ways that felt a lot more... natural. They weaved their way along my arms, caught the chair, and fed back tactile sensations as if my fingers were the ones touching it.

In a way it felt delightfully gentle, the way I lifted off the floor as if floating, and lifted my gaze toward the screens. Gravity pulled in on me in a certain direction, but my senses were more than willing to accommodate the ship's layout.

Carefully, I eased myself into the large chair with the tendrils, and let my hands rest on the supports. A tingle surged along my spine, and the ship systems unveiled themselves to me. It was set on autopilot, and a simple but efficient Expert System kept an eye on me. The destination for the ship was... a flyby of the moon, which had now settled into geostationary orbit.

Belts within the chair reached out, wrapped around my chest, and strapped me in tight.

[Launch Sequence Engaging]

The time to reach our destination was... almost 50 hours.

A rumble shook the ship, and the engines began their burn. Their noise grew, grew, and GREW until it became a sudden roar that made my ears clamp to my head.

The rocket shook, and a sudden bout of acceleration pushed me back against the chair. The view of the outside world started moving, and my hands clenched the armrests as my claws dug into the tough fabric.

We're lifting... Leaving the Earth...

Everything rocked violently, and I gritted my teeth as the acceleration kept growing. It forced my head to rest against the back of the chair, and my chest grew tight as I tried to breathe.

It's more intense than I imagined!

Suddenly, I could hear Maxwell's voice once more, whispering into my mind.

"_ Let's have a talk, shall we?" _

"It's about time," I thought.

His presence pulled on me, just like Volkov when he invited me to enter his realm. I let it happen, and closed my eyes as I sank into his world.

Unknown

Moving from place to place, I flicked between what felt like different realities. It was a wonder that more people weren't confused about what was real, and what wasn't.

EnteringVolkov's dimension had always been something of a violent affair.Despite knowing what to expect, I'd still find myselfscramblingto catch my balance.

This wasn't the same...

I awoke, but it was gentle, as if I had finally woken up from a very... very long dream.

My rear told me that I was sitting on something hard, and my arms ached a little as if I had fallen asleep over a table. I sat up in wonder, and blinked as I tried to make sense of my surroundings.

There was indeed a table in front of me, one made of a simple metal sheet, with edges that were still a bit rough. The bench I was sitting on was equally decrepit, like pieces of junk bolted together.

In the background, I could hear the hum of a ventilation unit, one with bearings that were starting to wear out from the whining noise of it. A strange scent filled my nose, a hint of mold and smoke, made a bit better by the scent of something sweet.

My gaze was drawn to the center of the table, and I saw a small drinking glass with a white flower set within it. Some of the leaves appeared diseased, and some of them had already dropped to the table. Still, the flower with its white petals did its best, and the scent of it was like a glimmer of hope in a place that had none.

I looked at my own hands in wonder if I had entered the body of someone else, like Etemenanki's memories from long ago. To my relief, I saw my own hands. Black fur, fine claws, with the same elegant uniform that I had boarded the ship with.

A metallic clink and a hiss made my ears perk, and I lifted my gaze.

The room was cramped, and itlooked like the inside of a half-rusted metal box. Clutter was everywhere, and the table I was sitting atwas wedged in the rear left corner. To my right wasa small bed in the corner, and straight in front I could see a door.

In the right corner--and filling most of the room--was a kitchen that had partially been turned into a workbench... along with everything else one might need for various projects. It was messy, but there were spots that appeared more orderly than others.

There was a person hunched over one such spot, a hybrid of some sort. It was as if my nose hadn't been able to pick up the scent until I became aware of the hybrid. Now though, it flourished in my nose, and it sent strangle tingles down my spine.

It had acanine tinge to it, yet it was strange and twisted, as if diseased.

Is this Maxwell? One of his memories?

The canine hybrid smelled male, but his appearance was a far cry from modern hybrids. The tail which hung off his back had thin fur, and the face was ragged as if malnourished. As I watched, the hybrid tended to what looked like a water boiler. He'd set up two cups, and there was a twig with half dried leaves next to it.

As the boiler began to rumble, the canine grabbed it, and carefully poured the now warm water into the cups. Next, he snapped off pieces from the twig, and dumped it along with the leaves into the cups.

Finally, the canine turned his head, and met my gaze.

While the canine had appeared worn and sick, his face was anything but timid. He looked like a slim but feral wolf, with all the intensity of a predator's gaze. My initial assumption seemed wrong. This was no typical Sophos canine, nor was it a big, hulking wolf like myself... This looked more like a human mixed with a wolf without much control--a werewolf of sorts.

Which meant that... this place, this memory was...

The wolf spoke with Maxwell's voice, but the power within it was gone. No piercing presence or booming noise from above, just a wolf speaking to me within the cramped confines of his home.

"The new calendar hasn't started yet, and Sophos does not exist. We are in the first city, what would later become known as Charlemagne--the capital of Dyssia," the wolf said.

Don't angerthe proverbial god of Sophos...

"... Are you Maxwell?" I asked.

The wolf grabbed the two cups, and faced me with something of a faint smile that pulled on his feral expression, "I am a part of Maxwell. One of many shards that make up the whole."

"... So, you're a hivemind?" I asked.

Maxwell huffed and approached the table, "In some ways, sure... in others, no."

I watched in silence as he set down a cup in front of me, placed his own cup on the other side, and carefully eased himself down onto another bench.

"Can you... expand on that?" I asked.

Maxwell caught a part of the twig that jutted out of his cup and swirled it around, "While all Lusus share the same goal, their method of establishing a hierarchy can be messy... It took decades--if not hundreds of years--before they coalesced across the planet to form a number of titans."

"I've heard about this... but as far as I understand it, none of them are... sapient?" I asked.

Maxwell made a slow nod, "The Lusus can integrate the minds of others to give them an advantage, but it is a short-lived one. Sooner or later, the mind will degrade or get reduced to a point where it can be considered intelligent, but certainly not sentient or sapient."

"Ah," I whispered.

Maxwell peered at me from across the table, and tipped his head a little, "Once I was human, but circumstances lead to me getting bonded with a failed symbiont. They thought me dead, and threw me onto a pile of discarded experiments... I was meant to be recycled with the rest, but to my surprise... I woke up--confused and lost in the depths of the first city."

"... Humble beginnings," I said.

Maxwell nodded, "Yes... Very much so. This would be my home for years to come; a half-broken hybrid, with a surprising amount of intelligence compared to my peers."

"The hybrids of old were..." I whispered.

Maxwell continued, "They were simpler beings. Part human, part beast, part Lusus... An amalgamation that left many with various deficiencies and violent tendencies. Still, they were sapient... They knew the reasons for their existence, and they worked hard to carve the way for humanity to reclaim the island."

"And then?" I wondered.

"Then... The time came for a new generation. Hybrids were unreliable, and recent advances in human genetics made it possible to keep pace with the development of Lusus spores. The age of hybrids was coming to an end, and the weaker of us were the first to go."

"But, could the humans really stand a chance against hybrids?" I wondered.

Maxwell looked up, "You misunderstand... All the humans needed to do was offer the stronger hybrids a better life, and they were more than willing to deal with their weaker kin. We're talking about an age where hybrids were still caught in a 'human' mentality."

"So, your own kin turned on you?" I asked.

Once more, Maxwell nodded, "Yes, and not only them, but my family, and friends. Once more I thought myself dead, but my body would no longer behave in the way expected by others. Somehow I had become more than just a hybrid... I was the first stable Lusus. Not human, not hybrid, but a beingthat was uniquely tuned to every hybrid createdthus far..."

"What does that... mean?" I wondered.

Maxwell looked to the side, "Up until I was pushed to the edge, I didn't know either. They shot me,but my wounds healed near instantaneously. They tried to fight me, and my body consumed them. Other powers were more subtle at first... hybrids would find my words convincing, andeventually they'd seek to help me. But my powers kept growing, and eventually they only lived to serve me. I had become a Lusus titan, and every hybrid in the first city were my involuntary slaves."

"... It must have been awful," I whispered.

Maxwell made a smile as if the truth was a bit more complex, "It was a welcome change at first, but to be a god is a rather lonely thing. I had ambitions and the humans were in the way of it, but I had no desire to fight them... or destroy them. To them it made perfect sense to stop production of a useful but ultimately volatile creature."

"So what happened?" I asked.

Maxwell plucked the twig from his cup, and set it aside, "I knew of Athena, the mystical AI in an ancient crater to the east. There had been expeditions before, but none of them had reached her. I was determined to be the first, and with the hybrids of the first city, we left."

"... I see," I said.

"The rest is history, as they say..." Maxwell said, and grabbed his cup.

"... Technically, I haven't laid eyes on the far side of the moon, have I?" I asked.

Maxwell smirked as he took a sip of the tea, and licked his lips, "True... We could wait if you prefer, or-"

I raised my hands, "No... This is just fine, I assure you."

But...

"Hmm," Maxwell hummed with amusement as he lowered his cup, "I had expected you to be more angry at me."

"... This was just another method for you to string me along, and it didn't matter in the end.I was the one who wanted a goal, and I'd keep on marching toward it."

"It's certainly callous of me, yes... But you behaved as predicted, and that's all I needed," Maxwell said and looked to the side of the room.

"I see..." I whispered, "So, is this what you actually look like?" I wondered.

Maxwell shook his head, "No... It is not, and you would not wish to see it either if you knew what it entailed, or the effect it would have on you."

"So, you are a... stable Lusus?" I asked.

"Lusus is the Latin word for abomination... Personally, I do not consider myself such a thing. I am merely an intelligent swarm of nanites. A distributed intelligence that dynamically coalesces to solve various problems. In my time, I have absorbed many into my being, and I have created many as well. Some agents are allowed to retain their individuality, and they will accompany me on my journey."

"... Some agents?" I wondered.

Maxwell looked back at me, "Volkov has opted to become one of them. His hunger for answers is even greater than yours, and he wants an adventure to call his own."

"Oh," I whispered.

Maxwell motioned at my tea, "Drink, it will help you gather your thoughts."

I looked down, and removed the twig from my cup. The liquid within had become a rich amber color, and while it didn't smell sweet... there was something alluring about it. I grabbed the cup, and brought it to my nose for a sniff.

Grassy... with a hint of rosebuds. A simple sip revealed that it did have a taste similar to roses... not exactly my favorite.

Maxwell chuckled, "It's not to your liking?"

Did you read my mind?

My ears twitched a little, and I lowered the cup once more, "I've heard from others that one of your goals was to make us resistant to your power?"

Maxwell nodded, "Indeed, it was... and you are. But that doesn't make me blind to your body language, or the emotions that leak from your mind."

I smiled to myself, "I prefer lemon..."

"As did I, but you take what you get," Maxwell said.

I glanced out at the rest of the room, "... Why show me this? To make you relatable?"

"That is one of many reasons, sure... But it also sets the stage for understanding the bigger picture," Maxwell said.

"... Will I be able to see Volkov?" I asked.

Maxwell leaned back with the cup in his hands, "Sure... If you decide to come with me."

My eyes widened, "What?"

Maxwell nodded, "I sought to create an alternative to humanity, and this was the final step. You are now a free people, and I will travel far... far away. Just as Volkov has opted to come with me, so can you."

"... I have so many questions," I whispered.

"I know," Maxwell said with a quick nod.

My thoughts raced, but I managed to settle on one of them, "... The ships, they disappear at some point in their flight. What is it that happens?"

"This question requires a bit of backstory... You see, after I founded Sophos, Athena and I spent years debating what to do next. We could fight the humans, seize the planet, and build our empire. But the more we dug, the deeper the problems became. What purpose is there in a civilization with nothing more than a god, an AI, and a great many slaves?"

I pondered it, and began to realize that the question itself revealed a great many things about Maxwell. For all the power that he held, he was still bound by a number of desires which were... quite human.

It made me smile a little as I remembered something from school, "... Companions the creator seeks, not corpses, not herds and believers. Fellow creators the creator seeks--those who write new values on new tablets."

Maxwell made a slow, humble nod, "_You_are that desire put into action, and now I am letting you loose on the universe... It makes me wonder of what will happen next, alas... my presence is needed elsewhere."

"... What do you mean?"I wondered.

Maxwell tipped his head, "Volkov asked the same question, and once he knew the answer he could not look back. He decided to come with me, and you will as well. Your pack will be left behind, but you will do what is necessary, because that is who you are."

I clenched the cup in my hands, "Do you expect me to believe that... if you answer that question, I'd be willing to abandon not only my pack, but Sophos itself?"

"Yes," Maxwell said.

My heart thumped, "... You're putting me into a situation where I have the choice to be willfully ignorant, or abandon everything I hold dear."

" Yes ," Maxwell said, clear and simple.

"... Let's ignore that question for now, and focus on what you were telling me about the ships."

"As you wish," Maxwell whispered, then raised his voice, "A great many predictions were made, but Athena and I eventually settled on a few ground rules. One of them was the pacifist approach that Sophos had assumed on this island. We would attack no nation, but we were more than willing to defend ourselves. The humans would be allowed to evolve on their own... to make their own choices."

"... Which has ended disastrously," I said.

"A _hasty_conclusion. In order for us to create an alternative to humanity, we needed to push hybrids through a great many scenarios and observe the results. Humanity played a role in that as an aggressor to Sophos."

"... So all of humanity was nothing more than a tool to help you guide Sophos' evolution?"

Maxwell leaned closer to the table as he peered into my eyes, "One of the questions that you will ask me is the following, am I responsible for the Luminaire? The answer to that is a clear no. I have never manipulated the human nations from within, and there was no need for me to do that."

"But you didn't do anything to stop their violent tendencies either?" I asked.

"There have been a great many attempts at peace, and the latest one was witnessed by you. If Kamilah's plan had worked, then things would be very different right now. But that didn't happen."

I felt a twitch in my lips, "Did you know that it would fail?"

"No, not for sure... but it was _astronomically_unlikely for it to succeed, at least in the long term."

"... You could have made the plan work?" I asked.

Maxwell leaned back, "Of course I could have, but that did not suit my plans."

"... How does that not make you evil?" I wondered.

Maxwell smiled, "Let's turn it around, shall we... Tell me that I should have used my powers to manipulate the humans from behind the scenes. To shape their societies and control their leaders as puppets."

"... That's not what I said," I said.

"Oh, but it is..." Maxwell said and made a slight frown, "This kind of manipulation is volatile. One thing leads to another, and suddenly you have a great many deaths on your hands. Which only leads to more and more kinds of manipulation. Suddenly, you're back where you started... A god, an AI, and a bunch of slaves. So tell me, Vilkas... Look me in the eyes and tell me that I should have shaped not only Sophos, but the human nations as well."

I stared into his eyes.

"Well?" Maxwell asked.

"... I cannot," I said.

Maxwell lowered his head, "This isn't the only grievance you have with me... You think that I abandoned you in the Nexus tower once I was done with you."

"You did ," I said.

Maxwell tipped his head mischievously, "Did I? It was my influence that calmed the Lusus within most of the tower, and it was my influence that kept the creature in the vents occupied, while you took your time convincing the 'Colonel' to let you inside."

"... That was you?" I whispered.

"I kept my eyes on you... But you had to learn how to stand on your own two legs, and you performed admirably," Maxwell said.

"I almost died there... Lydon almost died in there..." I said.

"Life is dangerous, yes... and once I'm gone, you won't have anyone to act as your guardian angel."

I lowered my gaze to the table, "... Are you on the moon, physically?"

Maxwell tipped his head quizzically, "I am, why?"

"Then how do you exert your influence across the world like this? How does it work?" I asked.

"Sometimes I send a shard of myself to help out... Sometimes I rely on technology that will no doubt seem like magic to you," I said.

I looked up, "A shard... Volkov mentioned that Ananke was a shard, are you saying that... she was a part of you?"

"Her origin arose from me, yes... Though she did not know it, and her choices sealed her fate."

I gulped, "For how long... How long have you been manipulating things in my life?"

Maxwell motioned to his neck, "Ever since you were mortally injured, and that fluke of a circumstance led to Volkov's birth. That is when you became valuable to me and my plans."

"Etemenanki's memories... Millie, on mars... She was a Dualist as well," I said.

"And she was also one of my precious tools, yes... She helped gather the final pieces of the puzzle that I needed," Maxwell said.

"... What piece of the puzzle?" I asked.

"And so... we've returned to your original question, what happens to the ships that disappear? Where do they go?" Maxwell said.

I nodded in silence.

"The projections that Athena and I put together had an annoying thorn within it. It showed that while humanity was a useful tool to put pressure on Sophos, it was also a poison. Humanity--one way or another--influenced the people of Sophos in ways that did not align with our plans. Sophos needed a world of its own in order to reach the potential that it held. That meant that _somehow,_we needed to find a new home... Settling within the solar system wasn't good enough. Earth would still be there, and its influence would echo through time."

"So what conclusion did you reach?" I wondered.

"One plan was to build generation ships and simply set off on a centuries long journey throughout the stars, and hope that humanity would simply render itself harmless. That was not to be however, and we had to examine more... exotic solutions."

"Such as?" I wondered.

"The Alcubierre drive was one avenue of research, and while promising at first, it had a large number of... inconveniences. The real solution to the problem turned out to be bit more hazy... a loose hypothesis proposed long ago, a means of linking two points in space to each other, a sort of... wormhole, if you will,"Maxwell said.

"... Faster than light travel?" I said.

Maxwell shook his head, "Not at all... Our discovery bypassed that problem entirely, and by dipping into the dimensions woven into three-dimensional space, we could instantaneously transfer matter from one point in space, to another. The original scientist that proposed it died on Mars, and what Millie retrieved was his final thoughts on the subjects, inspiration for me to create a working prototype."

"... That prototype is within the moon?" I asked.

"In a manner of speaking... Our current circumstances cause the energy needs to be rather massive, but it works... and once the ship that you're on leaves Earth's gravity well, you'll be transported to your new home as well. Unless you decide to join me, that is."

"You're transporting us to a new planet? A habitable one?" I asked.

Maxwell nodded, "A suitable planet has been found for Sophos, yes... Mild summers, cold winters.Interesting wildlife, and more than enough resources to pave the way for you to create an interstellar empire... if that is your desire as a people."

I blinked, and decided that I needed another sip of tea. It felt strange, and I found that my hands were shaking a little as I brought the cup to my lips.

It sounded... unreal...

I gulped it down, lowered the cup once more, and found that Maxwell was still looking at me.

"... No more questions?" Maxwell wondered.

"Give me a moment... I'm still absorbing all of this," I said.

Maxwell stayed silent as he took a sip of his own.

My thoughts still raced as it jumped between topics. Kato... Hedwig... All the death and misery...

"... All to create an alternative to humanity," I whispered.

"You understand me better than you want to admit. Somewhere deep down, you not only reluctantly agree, but you support me as well. At the same time, you can't help but think of me as a true monster. A vile and insane creature, toying with the universe for my own amusement."

I gulped.

Maxwell put his hands on the table, and leaned closer to me, "If it is your desire as a nation, then you can chase me into the void, and kill me for my sins."

"... One day, that might happen," I said.

"One day, yes..." Maxwell whispered.

"... What were you doing to everyone who got into the pods?" I wondered.

Maxwell leaned back, "I gave them the gift of immortality... Just as Etemenanki gave you."

"... A species without an ordinary cycle of life," I said.

Maxwell huffed, "Don't worry... The universe is a harsh but beautiful place, and its judgment is swift if you're not careful."

"I'll keep that in mind... So, can I at least talk with Volkov?" I wondered.

" No ," Maxwell said.

"Why not?" I asked.

"Because you will influence each other in ways that you cannot predict, and he will end up sharing the answer to that question you avoided. At that point, you will feel that you have no choice but to come along," Maxwell said.

"... Will I ever see him again?" I wondered.

"That depends... Given how close the two of you are, you might ask yourself that question?"

I frowned back, "That wasn't a question whether I believe in myself or Volkov, it was a question whether you will make sure he can't contact me."

A sly wolfish grin grew on Maxwell's muzzle, "Once Volkov's work is done, I have no reason to keep him by my side."

"I see," I said.

"Is that also a no to my earlier question? You'll choose to be willfully ignorant?" Maxwell asked.

I couldn't help but bare my teeth, "... I intend to join my pack and see our new world. But with time, I'll come after you and find out what was so important."

Maxwell clasped his hands and seemed oddly pleased about it, "Good..."

"Mars... Etemenanki's memories, did..." I whispered.

"What?" Maxwell whispered, "Are you wondering whether it was Etemenanki's idea to show you, or was that my way of making sure that you were primed for this path? To dangle yet another mystery in front of you, so that I could get you where I needed you most?"

"You claim you don't want to manipulate the humans, but the rest of us are fair game," I said.

"I put the breadcrumbs in your path, Vilkas... You were the one who chose to follow."

"... True," I said.

Maxwell motioned to the cup in front of me, "... You should drink, it will help you on the adventures to come."

I looked down, and felt a cold chill down my spine, "... This isn't tea, is it?"

"Knowledge, in a way you cannot comprehend yet. So far you've had but a sip, but you'll need the entire cup to survive what's to come," Maxwell mused.

"... Does it ever end? You say that you're setting us free, but you've already arranged things behind the scenes to guide our path," I said.

"As said... The universe is callous but beautiful, and you'll need every bit of help you can get."

I looked down at the cup, "... You could have discretely put this into my mind while you were working on me."

"I'm not keen on warping the free will of people, as you're no doubt starting to realize by now."

I grabbed the cup once more, "... Yes, I'm starting to see that."

Part of me wanted to pour the drink onto the table as a form of rejection, but after hearing all of this... seeing the final result, and a warning on top of that. It felt foolish to deny a helping hand.

The unease I'd felt earlier still simmered in the background of my mind, and to my dislike there was a hint of that... selfishness inside of me. I could make excuses, and rationalize for myself that the only reason I accepted this was to end up better at my job. To guide the pack, to help Sophos.

It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either. I liked to be special, even if I didn't want to parade in the spotlight. It was a feeling that made the world feel... comfier, like a blanket of safety.

In a way, it was the same feeling I'd felt when becoming a hybrid. To feel the fur grow across my body, to gainclaws and ferociousfangs. It was easy to be kind when you felt confident, and it was easier to take risks when your life wouldn't end from a simple stab wound.

The thoughts left me with what felt like an odd conundrum. Was I a good hybrid? Was I part of Sophos? Or was I something else? I looked across Maxwell's room, and I wondered if the world would have looked different if I was in his shoes...

My gaze slowly drifted back to Maxwell, and somewhere along the line it felt as if I had lost any right to be angry at him.

"... It wasn't easy, was it?" I asked, and brought the cup to my lips.

It was subtle, but it felt as if the being in front of me remembered and was pained by his long life. Centuries spent working toward a goal, making choices that history would no doubt label as evil. Or perhaps not--maybe Sophos would be wise enough to see the complex nature of it all, to accept the evil in their foundation, and work to make the world... no, the universe a better place.

"It wasn't," Maxwell answered.

"Is there anyone still alive on Earth?" I wondered, and took a sip.

"Dyssia is no more, the infestation ravaged their cities before the wall of biomass even had time to reach them," Maxwell said.

"The whole island is going to get swallowed?" I asked.

"Yes," Maxwell said with a nod.

I took another, deeper gulp from the cup, "What about the others?"

"The Empire did have a small chance of creating a stable society several centuries ago, but they lost their way. The Empire as it existed--until recently--was teetering on the edge of imminent collapse. All of them suffered gravely from mental illness, and for each change they made to themselves, the situation grew even worse. When things tipped over, their whole society turned on each other."

"And the UCS?" I wondered.

"The rich and influential built massive underground shelters. Some of them have been overthrown, and are now in the hands of the hopeful few. Theoretically, they _could_survive long enough underground that they might be able to repopulate the surface."

"So, the theory that the Lusus would simply stop once they'd achieved their goals... that was true?"

Maxwell chuckled, "For most of them, but even I can't promise that some small part hasn't managed to bypass their original programming, though none of that is your concern."

The cup was almost empty as I took another sip, "... We won't be able to return here, to Earth?"

Maxwell motioned to me, "As Sophos is set free, I will leave you with many gifts. One of them is the Jumpdrive as I have come to call it... You won't be able to understand why yet, but if you do manage to find your way back here, to Earth... then you are free to consider it yours."

"... Another mystery," I said.

"A small and insignificant one... As said, you and the rest of Sophos will be quite busy in the times to come," Maxwell said.

"... Mm," I murmured, and drank the last of the cup.

Silence followed, and I set the cup on the table once more.

Maxwell pointed a claw at the now empty cup, "Not only did you keep the Zephyr, but you finished that one as well. Quite a selfish streak, isn't it?"

His words jolted me, and I leaned back against the chair. Am I... this selfish? Is it corruption, slowly festering inside of me? What am I? Seconds passed as I stared at Maxwell, and sought my own mind for answers. I lowered my gaze, and watched my hands as I still held the cup. Finally, I think I settled onto something of an answer, and looked up once more.

"... In a way, I used to hate myself. But I don't, not any longer. I like who I was forced to become throughout all of this. The timid human who took on the role of Alpha as the situation demanded it. One who finally settled in his role, not from a lust of power, but an uneasy balance of wanting to care for others. I don't believe that our adventures will end, and while a part of me is certainly selfish... I'll do my best to keep it from controlling me, and avoid abusing it. At least, that's my answer ina world where pragmatism rules supreme."

Maxwell had something of a sly smirk as he tipped his head once more, "Any more questions?"

I pondered it as I drew a deep breath,"Moonbase Alpha, and the Crystal Palace... What were they?"

"The Crystal Palace was nothing more than a shiny diversion for the humans, Moonbase Alpha was a city long ago, but its populace were moved elsewhere long ago."

"You... sent them to our new home?" I wondered.

"A bit of this, and a bit of that... You'll be able to ask them yourself soon enough."

I made a slow nod, "Yes..."

"Anything else you're wondering about?"

"... No, not that I can think of at least," I said.

Maxwell motioned with his hand to me, "When you wake up, it will be shortly before the Jumpdrive engages, and you will have slept for almost 50 hours... Understand?"

"... Any last-minute advice for me?" I wondered.

That feral grin grew on his muzzle once more, "You said you wanted to see me. If that is still true and you want a hint of that, then you only need to look at your left as you wake up."

"Ah," I whispered.

"Would you consider doing me a favor, Vilkas?"Maxwell asked and leaned closer.

"... What?" I wondered.

"Take care of Athena for me, will you? She's more special than you know..."

I opened my muzzle to speak, but before I had time, Maxwell snapped his fingers.

512 A.R.** March *6* , **** Lunar Orbit Rendezvous *,* Morning**

With a jolt I was back in my own body, and the straps of the chair still held me tight. My body felt slow, confirming that I had indeed been sleeping for days. The lights of the cockpit had been dimmed, and the screens in front of me showed the starry depths of space. Something felt off, and I began to realize that the ship had stopped accelerating.

I'm floating...

While I was securely strapped in, I could feel the lack of gravity in the rest of my body. My tail rested at what felt like an unnatural angle, and the longer fur on my head drifted idly at the edge of my vision.

I could remember asking Father what kind of hybrid I'd need to become in order to visit space. He told me that I could achieve whatever I wanted as long as I worked hard, but even back then I was able to tell that it was something more akin to a half-true diversion.

While not said out loud, Sophos had always been a repressed nation. Now the shackles were no more, and here I was... floating in zero gravity, about to venture somewhere new.

My throat felt tight, not from sadness, but a kind of melancholy. A new era was beginning, and I felt... enthusiastic, hopeful in a way that I wondered if I'd ever felt before.

Look to the side...

I looked toward the screen on the left side of the cockpit, and it seemed that Maxwell did indeed have one last surprise for me. My fur stood on end as I watched the screens, and tried to fathom the sheer magnitude of it all.

The far side of the moon had broken apart, and each fragment would probably be a cataclysm on its own if it hit the Earth, but that seemed to pale to what was emerging from within. A creature, glowing green and purple. Tentacles reached out from the moon, which now looked more like the egg of a creature being hatched.

Great clouds of regolith werebeing shaken into the surroundings, and the cracks were growing larger by the second.While I couldn't know for sure, my senses were telling that this being was Maxwell's true form. For centuries he'd grown within the moon, digging it out to become something of such scale and magnitude that it would be difficult to convince anyone else of this reality.

[Jump-By-Proxy_ Activated - Field Is Charging_]

At the edge of the screen, I could see Earth now much smaller than before. A marble in the blackness of space, with hues of brown and red. The area around Iceland appeared consumed by a large vortex.

The planet itself would be fine, but this had been the last dying gasp of life on its surface.

[Anchoring Field at 100%]

Maxwell's form shook, and the moon's crust shattered into a thousand pieces. While the movement was slow and the distance large, I still found myself relieved that I wouldn't be here for much longer.

[Field Strength at 50%]

The moon was growing distorted, and the stars began to shift as if reality was twisting itself somehow. A gentle rumble through the ship followed, and I dug my hands into the armrests.

[Field Strength at 80%]

Maxwell'sform unfolded into what now looked like a gargantuanglowingstarfish.

[Field Strength at 90%]

A strange sensation washed over me. My sense of balance grew twisted, and my vision started tingling. I could feel the taste of metal on my tongue for some reason, and my nerves tingled.

[!-- __Jump Imminent--!]

This was it. The inside of the ship curledin on itself, and a bright flashdrowned it all out.

It was the end of Earth, and the start of something new.