November 4, 2111
James Stone
It was almost time to pay for my sins. I sat in the lounge on the Striking Star, nervous as all hell, and I couldn't keep from rubbing my hands against each other. Ever since Erryn told me the Striking Star would be arriving at the destination of the Tempest of Titans, I couldn't help thinking about the punishments Commander Sizar had in store for me. These thoughts were interrupted as I heard Erryn and Uslar in conversation at the table near me.
"Uslar, I can't accept your money. You hired me to rescue Landis, and we failed… I failed. Therefore, I don't deserve to be paid," Erryn told Uslar.
"That may be true, but you could've left when Landis was killed. You chose to stay with us, and because of that, we were able to escape alive. Honestly, I think you deserve it." Uslar paid her the jemns from his account.
Valiic walked into the room and took a seat across from me. He studied my expression. "You're nervous. I've seen that look long enough to tell."
"Haha. Nervous like a dog about to get fixed," I tried to joke it off.
"A reasonable reaction. Although, just know all of us will be facing the same thing… together." He smiled his always day-cheering smile.
"Actually, Valiic, I won't let you all take the hit, too. I'm going to tell them I commanded you to follow me… all of you. I want you and the others to second that story."
"Out of the question, James. We--"
"Valiic, I don't want to see punishments passed around to those who don't deserve it. Hell, it was my idea to go rogue."
Valiic raised both his hands and shrugged. "I see there's no arguing with you. I'll let the others know, although you'd better bet we'll still be there for you."
"I expect nothing less from family," I said before Valiic left.
In solitude again, I sat, wondering what to say. The last thing I wanted was to be dishonorably discharged. Hell, my entire life revolved around the military. Truly, the only family I had were the brothers and sisters I'd made here.
Minutes later, Erryn informed me, "We're pulling into the Tempest of Titans' hangar bay."
"Erryn."
"Yes, sweetie."
"Thank you for everything. It has been a fine honor to work besides you."
She smiled and walked back into her ship's control room. I felt the bump as we landed in the hangar. The Striking Star's hatch opened, and a troupe of soldiers marched on board. When they reached the lounge, they surrounded me.
Commander Sizar weaved through his soldiers until he was in front of me. "Where is Captain Landis?"
"They killed her," I mumbled as all the pain from her death quickly drowned away my anxiety.
"You threw away your military career for a failed mission. What a shame! You are under military arrest for desertion." He signaled to his troops. "I want all of them in cuffs!"
Without resisting, I let them cuff me. Moments later, I heard a scuffle in the room where Narrisa was. My heart sank, and I bulldozed my way into the room. Soldiers had their guns pointed at the dytirc children, who trembled in fear behind Narrisa. She refused to back down. I drove into a few of them, knocking them down. Soon, Kalvin arrived.
"What, might I request, is commencing here?"
"Kalvin, I need a solid. Those children aren't our enemies! They need a home. Would you care to supply them one?"
He gestured for the troops to put down their guns. "I will take care of such matters at hand, at least until your situation is resolved. After that, we can proceed to iron out every detail."
"My situation?"
"Absolutely. During your trail, I have opted to partake as your defense lawyer."
This news hit me like a black curveball at night. Could this be the Kalvin I remembered?
Finally, I let out the question, "Why?"
He smirked as if to show he was waiting for that question. "Because your potential exceeds that of a typical soldier, James. I always understood that fact, and you demonstrated it with that assignment you took upon yourself to complete. Moreover, I cannot allow Sizar to remove you from our military."
"And how do we keep that from going down?"
"I believe the situation is under control. Although, we have been giving only an hour to prepare - Sizar pushed for a near immediate hearing. You must have drastically infuriated him."
"Lately, I feel like that's becoming a specialty of mine," I joked.
After everything was in order, we were escorted off the ship with enough soldiers around us to block a sunset. Only Brad walked out of that ship a free man. Both of the children walked at Narrisa's side.
Brad handed Kalvin a document. "Malcolm wanted y'all tah have dis. I had dis shit printed out all professional-like."
Kalvin grabbed the document. "My appreciations. Additionally, I extend my apologies for your recent loss. My men informed me minutes beforehand." Brad nodded, almost without acknowledging Kalvin's words, and left us. Kalvin glanced at the document. "This will indeed aid your current situation."
Our group was escorted out of the hangar, and we were later separated. I went with Kalvin to his office, while everyone else in my squad was taken down the hall to God-knows-where.
"Kalvin, did you see the present I left you?" I asked.
"The deceased dytirc?"
"It's Steion."
"Fantastic! At last, my hypostasis on those nano-bugs can be confirmed. I will instruct one of my men to collect the body."
"I've also come across some foundation-shifting intel on my recent journey."
I stepped into his office, lit entirely by candles. The ceiling lights were off, and it was decorated with some old world artwork. Inside was a center desk and two designer chairs near a few secured, closed doors. I sat down in the comfy, squishy cushion of the designer chair in front of Kalvin's desk.
He sat in a matching chair across from me. "Proceed."
I pulled up the details Larno gave me about the true reasons why the dytircs had joined the Wersillian Legion. Kalvin glanced at them and back at me with an increasingly slack-jawed expression. "Where did this information originate from?" he asked, baffled.
"A first-hand account…a boney from a rebel tribe."
"Reliable?"
"I admit I wasn't sure at first, so I had Erryn Wolph, our mercenary guide, fine-check it with some of her other contacts. The story matched."
Kalvin rubbed his head in thought, then sighed. "The ARW had this mistaken. I cannot even fathom how we have let this information go unnoticed! If information this simplistic has remained false this entire time, then I cannot even understand or envision what else we have mistaken!"
"What are you going to do?"
"I would imagine updating the ARW database would serve as a splendid first step. To follow up, I will probably be gathering with the chief admirals to dispense this news."
"That's not quite all the information that's entered my boat recently."
"What else?"
"When we finally saw Landis for the first time, she managed to mention artifacts before she, er… finished her final ride on life's coaster. She also wanted me to tell you something, but she never had the chance to finish her dying sentence."
After hearing this info, Kalvin drifted deep in thought. Suddenly, his eyes widened. "How could I be such an imbecile? That is what the Wersillian Legion required her for! Landis knew the whereabouts of the artifact we recovered a while back. I completely blanked that out. Steion took one artifact, and now the Wersillian Legion are after another. I have to make some calls!"
"Wait, Kalvin. What are the artifacts for? Did you have a chance to find out?"
"They are crafted from the same material the maelkii's shields are crafted from - forcidion. Meaning, they are virtually unbreakable. Although, that's simply the surface value. When we deciphered some of the symbols – the ones we could, anyway – we theorized it was some type of key. To what, I have no knowledge of. Nevertheless, if these warlords are after it, they might contain knowledge of what these artifacts unlock. That is a disturbing thought."
"And my trial. Let's not look over my possible imprisonment!"
"As I stated before, I believe I have it under control."
"Believe. That in no way takes the stress out of my breath!"