III – Tracer

“Danni… wake up.”

Stretching her arm before placing it back under her head, Danni twisted her body slightly away from the noise, trying to hide from it. “Danni, you need to get up.” Danni opened her eyes just enough to see a starlit Cerberus standing inside her room, hovering over her. Startled, she yelped. Or, tried to. Surprised that she had not, she looked down to see Cerberus’ hand covering her mouth. “Please… don’t do that. I do not think your father is highly pleased with me right now.”

Tiredly pushing her body from laying, Danni leaned back against the wall behind her bed, adjusting the blankets around her, and tried to focus on Cerberus, albeit the darkness. “Sorry about that.” Danni arrived home last night and explained everything to her inebriated father, which, in hindsight, was not an intelligent decision. Terov went house to house, banging on doors, demanding the man who was “kidnapping his daughter.” It had taken the Town Watch and a very drowsy Mayor to get him back in bed after explaining she was only going to be gone for a couple of days. “I could not go without telling him, and I knew he would be dead asleep this morning from drinking so much last night.” Danni sleepily looked over at the window, through which she could still see a darkened sky, the faintest hues of dawn barely above the horizon. “Or is it still tonight?”

Cerberus looked to the window and back to Danni. “It’s early morning. I’d like to be off while there’s still some cover of twilight.” He blinked at her twice, and then swiftly turned to exit the room. “Be ready within a half-hour. Everyone else is waiting.”

Danni blinked at the open door. “They’re ready already? Come oooon!” She kicked the blankets off and stretched as she stood up. Fortunately, she had packed everything she thought they might need last night; she had gone by the Doctor’s to acquire a number of herbs and medicines. She had cloths and bandages, and a sewing kit, just in case. So, she took her time in the bathtub; half an hour was plenty of time. After getting dressed, she stomped into her walking shoes, and grabbed her bag.

Walking outside, she blinked as she focused on the village. The twilight was lifting, and the sun was just beginning to cross the horizon; it was significantly brighter than it was when she awoke. She stepped onto the dirt path towards the town gate.

Xia and Fenix stood at the gate in conversation, each with a pack on their backs. Danni smiled slightly at their clothes. As close as they were, they were indeed as opposite as two people could get, and their clothes were just the beginning of that.

Xia leaned casually against the gate, his green wrinkled pants already somewhat dusted with the dirt of Tel’s paths. A matching green workman’s shirt under his brown leather jacket betrayed Xia’s thought that although he had agreed to accompany Cerberus, he intended to travel comfortably.

The image clashed visibly with his friend, who had donned the matching uniform he had been given by the Captain just the night prior. Crouching, his hands lay on his knees over the black slacks that, to Danni’s surprised, had found time to be cleaned and pressed since last night. The jacket, done up with wooden buttons, seemed just as clean, unspoiled save for the metallic pin he wore to denote his new rank.

As Danni approached, they turned their attention to her as she asked, “Where is Cerberus?”

Xia pointed down the path that led east from the village. “He and the Captain decided to go on ahead for a bit. Said for us to start walking.”

“Captain Ternagis is coming?” Danni asked.

Fenix stood straight and nodded, dusting his hands off by rubbing them together. “Yeah… Not sure why, but apparently Cerberus asked him to.” He looked down the path. “I think the Captain is interested in Cerberus himself, wants to find out more about him.”

Xia nodded. “I would. Think about it. He is not even from our planet! He landed from somewhere that has all the lost technologies, and they use them like it was nothing.”

Smiling, Fenix agreed. “Imagine, people being moved from village to village by a self-moving cart. Or, talking to each other from long distances as if they were standing next to each other!” Fenix’s childish grin shattered the professional look he had been straining to hold all morning. “Or flying!”

“But,” Danni blinked, “I thought Earth’s Sin came about because of all that.”

The two young men grew silent. They looked at each other quietly. The sun chose that moment to breach the horizon as they reflected on the thought, drowning the area in sunlight. Dropping their eyes to the ground, Xia and Fenix turned their backs to the sun. Danni shielded her eyes, peering at them from underneath her hand.

“I don’t think so,” Fenix finally answered, “I think it was because it was used improperly. Look at Cerberus. It’s hard to think of him doing anything evil. I mean, he’s here to stop a murderer. He’s kind of like a soldier, from what I can tell. He used his technology to track him down.”

“Don’t forget that the murderer stole technology as part of his crimes. The technology motivates greed.” Danni said.

Xia looked at the two of them. “It sounds like Tailz was trying to run away, or hide, and the technology was there for him to use, so he did. I think that no matter your technology, you have evil people and good people. The same technology is available to both, and as it’s developed, gets used in both evil and good ways. It’s not technology that’s bad. It’s us.”

Danni looked at the ground, and Fenix nodded. Xia had a way with words that Danni always admired. It came from spending so much time around his father. She was sure that when it came Xia’s time to lead Tel, everyone’s respect for his father would transfer in full.

“I suppose your right,” Fenix said. He drew his sword, glimmering in the sunlight, and held it in front of him. “Even with technology as ‘primitive’ as this, compared to what Cerberus’ got, there are people who use the sword to kill people, and those to defend people.”

“You there! Hey!” The three friends started, and looked down the path from where the call came from. “Please!” An elderly couple, covered in dust from travel, was struggling down the path, carrying between them a young man. The man’s brown robe draped around his pale body, and his short red hair was matted and dirty. Danni noticed blood dripping from the robe, and ran forward instinctively.

“What happened?!” Danni called as she reached them and threw back the man’s robe, looking straight to the wound, near his stomach, just above his left hip. Xia and Fenix rounded to either side of the body, taking an arm over for the old couple.

“He took a sword in the side,” The old man said, rubbing the shoulder he had been using to support most of the injured man’s weight. “We were coming from Metson when they came on us.”

“Yes, bandits it was.” the old woman said flatly.

“Don’t worry about a thing,” Xia said, “How’s it look, Danni?”

“There’s too much blood for me to tell from here. There’s quite a bit here, and who knows how much is already lost.” Danni stood up and twirled around, striding back into town. “We need to lay him down. Come on; let’s get him to the Doctor.” The younger men lifted the unconscious fellow between them and quickly shuffled towards the gate, Danni leading the way and the old couple following behind. Across the dirt path, she led them down to Johens’ office. Knocking the door open, it slammed against the wall, revealing a startled Victor staring up at them from his desk.

Danni stepped out of the doorway and motioned everyone through. “Get him on the table! Hurry!” Xia braced the body against Fenix long enough to grab his legs and swing him up onto the wooden surface. “Doctor! Sword wound!”

Victor, who had already jumped up from the table and grabbed bandages and ointments, ran to the table, dropping them next to the injured man’s head. He vaguely shooed everyone else away, pointing at the door, as he brushed away the robe covering the man’s body. He cleaned away some of the blood with a cloth,

Danni looked on pleadingly before moving. “Is there anything I can do, Doctor?”

Victor spoke without looking up. “You have done all you can.” He grunted as he lifted up the man’s body enough to get a wrap underneath it. “There’s really nothing that can be done. Nothing was really hit, so it’s just a matter of blood loss here. He’s really damned lucky, to be hit just that way. I’ll have him patched up quickly, and hopefully he will still have enough blood to keep going.”

Everyone watched silently as the Doctor rubbed a white liquid in his hands and applied it to the skin around the wound. Grasping needle and thick thread from under the table, he quickly laced the small wound, swift strokes, using the liquid to seal anything between stitches. With that, he grabbed the wrap dangling from beneath the man’s back and folded it over his stomach. Tying it tightly, Victor went to the corner of the room and thrust his hands into the washbasin long enough to remove all the fluids from them.

Shaking his hands dry, he went back to his patient and opened one of the eyes, peering into it as if he would find all his answers within it. Nodding to himself, he stood straight and looked towards the elderly couple. “I think he’s going to be just fine.” Danni exhaled deeply, relieved. “It looks worse than it is. Some rest, and he’ll heal up nicely.” He shook his head. “Xia, you can leave these folks to me, you have somewhere to go.”

Xia nodded. “Yes sir. Come on guys, we’re going to need to catch up now.”

The older man turned to the two young men and Danni. “Thank you so much for helping us with him. We were afraid that we wouldn’t make it in time.” He eyed the injured patient, and worriedly pulled a small ring off his finger, handing it to Xia. “Please, take this…” The man stared Xia in the eye, clasping his hand with Xia’s, as if trying to emphasize the importance of the gift.

Xia accepted the ring, and turned it over in his hand. He nearly gasped as he saw a familiar symbol embossed on it. “It has a Master Farmer’s—“

The old man nodded and hushed Xia, still looking nervously at the red-haired man lying on the table. “I am Trab Venger, of Metson. We were coming to Tel, like I said, when the bandits came upon us. They attacked, but young Miles here was able to ward them off for us. He saved us, and,” he sighed, “we had to do what we could to save him.”

“I’m Lara,” said the older lady, quietly. “We’d be dead without him.”

Trab pointed at the ring in Xia’s hand and looked him closely in the eye. “You show that to any merchant in Metson, and they’ll know that you are a trustworthy fellow, and should accommodate you in their shops.”

Xia bowed, confused. “Thank you very much, but we were just doing as anyone should do.”

Victor stood up from where Miles lay and walked to the door. “Come on now, let’s let him rest. You three," he motioned to Xia, Fenix, and Danni, “need to get a move on. And as for you Master and Mistress Venger, let me direct you to the Mayor’s Office. I will stay here to watch over Miles myself, but it’s pretty easy to find….” The voice went out of earshot as the three entered the street.

Xia, Fenix, and Danni looked at Miles, and then each other. “Bandits? On the Metson road?”

Xia shook his head. “Regardless, we had better catch up with Cerberus. We don’t want to run into bandits before we find him. No offense to you, Fenix, but I would rather not get into anything dangerous with Cerberus.”

Fenix just sighed and nodded.

Xia looked at the silently breathing body on the table, then turned and exited the office.

The three of them trotted out of town. At the gate, Danni looked back at the village, towards the Doctor’s office. She stopped, and then turned to glance up the path. Xia and Fenix looked back at her, waiting. She looked towards the office once more. There’s something not right here.

* * * * *

Fenix noticed Danni looking back over her shoulder until Tel was out of sight. He put a hand on her shoulder, to console her. “Don’t worry, he will be fine. He was lucky though, to have you already out there waiting for him and all.” He put on his most charming grin, but lost it when Danni did not smile in return. The threesome walked in silence along the path east towards where Cerberus and Ternagis would be.

The sun was still just cresting, and some of its rays pushed through the trees on either side of the dirt trail leading away from Tel. The morning dew glistened in the trees and soft grass, the sun not yet strong enough to burn any of it away. Fenix heard jays already calling and flittering from tree to tree, keeping an eye out for their morning meal. The dusty path that crushed under Fenix’s boots was hard packed, but the soft earth next to the trees probably held something tasty for breakfast.

Every so often, Fenix drew his sword while they walked. He looked forward, then pointedly to his left, and then to his right. He turned around, walking backwards for several paces, then spun back around and sheathed his sword.

After several repetitions, Xia could not ignore it any longer. “What ARE you doing?”

Fenix shook his head at him. “I’m keeping watch.” At the blank surprised stare, he explained. “Soldiers do it to make sure they don’t get caught by surprise.”

“Oh, come ooooon!” Danni said, shaking her head. “What are you going to do even if you DO see someone? Huh?”

Fenix stood straight and glared at Danni. “Well… I’d try and stop him. Or something…”

“Yeah, I’ll bet on the something…” Danni said. Fenix put his arm up as if to hit her. Danni stuck her tongue out at him.

“Regardless, you two, Fenix has a point. We really should be keeping watch. I’d hate to have something happen that we COULD have prevented. We may not be able to do anything about Tailz without Cerberus, or even against those bandits, but we don’t have any chance at all, if we don’t get the opportunity to try.”

“Ah, phooey.” Danni said.

Xia frowned at a victoriously grinning Fenix. “Let’s just keep an eye out while we walk, okay? No need for all that.” Fenix’s smile dropped.

Danni whispered loud enough to be heard clearly. “Still, I doubt Fenix could do anything if Tailz showed up right in front of us.”

Fenix shook his head, ignoring the comment. Sure, she was right, if Tailz was anything like Cerberus, but, that was not the point.

Fenix blinked and looked about as Danni and Xia began moving down the path again. He decided on keeping his sword drawn, and followed.

The group walked on in silence. Fenix realized that he had no idea what Tailz looked like, and started imagining. He probably looked similar to Cerberus, standing out like a sore thumb, but he wondered if that line of thinking was really smart. If Cerberus put on proper clothes, he could blend in with any of the villagers without a problem. Then, Fenix thought about Cerberus’ reaction to the ‘primitive’ village. Well, maybe not, but long enough to hurt someone. As they continued on, Fenix kept fingering his sword, anxious to make sure he had first eye on anything that threatened him or his friends. He would not let anything hurt them, or take him down without putting up a fight, a battle, a…

“Watch out!”

Fenix looked straight up the path in time to see a wooden carriage barreling at him, its two lead horses breathing heavily. The tarp covering the carriage flapped in the wind. “Move, brat!” The driver called to him. Fenix dove out of the way and rolled in front of Danni and Xia, who had already backed up to the edge of the road. “Damned kid!” The carriage barreled on towards Tel.

“What in hell!?” Fenix cursed, and jumped up, waving his sword. “Watch it!” he called after the retreating carriage. After realizing its futility, he sheathed his sword. He started to dust himself off, turning about himself to get all of the path dirt off. Then he caught his friends’ expressions. Xia was smiling, and Danni obviously trying to hold in laughter. Fenix frowned, and spoke slowly. “What…is it…?”

“Well, Mr. Adventurer, I think you just lost your first battle!” Danni burst out. Xia was looking elsewhere, trying to hide a smile, and not succeeding.

“Oh come on you guys! I… didn’t …see it… oooooh…. you guys didn’t do any better!” Fenix stammered, pointing at them.

“Well, it’s okay, friend, at least it wasn’t Tailz or anything,” Xia smiled.

A whistle in the brush sent a jolt through the three. Fenix jumped, redrew his sword, and pointed it past his friends towards the sound. Danni and Xia even each pulled out a small knife from their belts and swung around, ready to hurt the first thing they saw. They studied the surrounding trees and brush carefully, waiting for something to jump out at them.

They heard Fenix’s cry from behind them. “Ah! Hey!”

Danni and Xia swirled around again. Cerberus looked up from where he sat, on top of Fenix’s back in the middle of the path. Fenix’s sword laid just a few inches out of his reach. Fenix’s stretched fingers could not grab it, no matter how much he clawed the ground.

The two knives quivering under their owners’ hands barely got a glance from Cerberus. He shrugged. “…What?”

Fenix growled, still clawing for his sword and getting only dirt. Danni turned a bright red and clutched the knife to her chest, her face visibly twisted in anger. Xia just put his own knife away, laughing.

A gruff chuckle came from the brush on the other side of the road. This time, Danni yelped, jumping and turning swiftly with her knife, and slashed out in front of her. Her arm slammed solidly into Ternagis’ grasp, who had moved out of the forest to a spot no more than a foot from her. “Whoa, lass.” He slowly inspected her hand, and the knife in it. The briefest hint of a smile appeared on his face. “Where did you get this, young lady?” He calmly gazed at her face.

Danni’s red anger was completely drowned out by purple embarrassment. “Well… I borrowed it from my father’s tool chest… in case… just in case…”

“In case someone was to try and hurt you?” Ternagis scoffed. He tossed her hand away. Danni quietly replaced the knife in her belt, and did her best to seem as small as possible, placing her hands together in front of her.

“Come on here, Cerberus. Not funny,” Fenix said to the ground. Sighing and shaking his head, Cerberus obliged. Fenix grasped his sword while pushing himself up, and then took several steps away from Cerberus before dusting himself off again.

Cerberus glanced at Ternagis patiently. After a nod from the older man, Cerberus nodded in return and strode away, heading east again. The Captain shook his head, smiling, and followed after him, sharing a brief look between the three others.

Danni narrowed her eyes at the retreating men, pointing at them with a quivering finger. “Well, they seem to be getting on well.”

Xia cocked his head to one side, watching Cerberus and Ternagis. “It does seem odd… ”

Danni looked at Xia, confused. “What do you mean? Cerberus could probably take the Captain apart, no problem. You see how well trained he is.”

Nodding, Xia replied, “Yes, I know….” He continued to look after the pair. Sadness. Ternagis walked a pace behind and to the side of Cerberus. Pride. Xia shook his head. “I just…” He sighed, and stepped forward. “Come on, let’s catch up.” Danni followed close behind.

Fenix trotted until he walked flush with Xia, and matched pace with him. “How did they do that?”

Danni rolled her eyes at Fenix’s back. “We were making so much noise; they were probably settling a bet to see who could find us first with their eyes closed.”

“Even if that’s the case,” Fenix said, “shouldn’t we have seen them? I mean, they came right up on us without us knowing about it.” He nearly mumbled at the end, “I was keeping watch and everything…”

“No…” Xia said softly. “We weren’t paying much attention anyways after the cart went by. And making a racket. Why don’t we all just be quiet for a change, and pay attention? I think there was a lesson in it.” Fenix’s face twisted in on itself, but then dropped in defeat. The three continued on in a more prolonged silence.

The sun had completed reaching its peak and was beginning its daily journey to fall from the sky. The thick forest on either side of the path blocked out much of it, just enough let through to let the journeyers know that daylight existed. A light breeze traveled with them, lightly dusting the trail they walked.

Xia wondered about Cerberus. He acted like a well-trained soldier, but Xia could also feel something about the man, something… childish. It was as if Cerberus was still uncomfortable with his surroundings, and felt as if he did not fit in. Of course, he was not sure that was what he meant either, but he sensed that Cerberus was at least unused to the compassion shown to him by the people of Tel so far.

Xia shook his head. More oddly, it was strange how Cerberus, after having spent probably a good portion of his life flying through space, seemed to not be worried about being stranded on a planet that would have no possible way of him getting off of it. Maybe he’s already dealt with it, and is trying to fit in here… Xia thought. Or he could have a plan already, and isn’t worried. Xia shook his head again. Or maybe someone will come to rescue him. Placing a hand on his head, he sighed. He thought too much, and really had no idea what Cerberus would or would not do.

Several bends in the path led the Telians to Cerberus and Captain Ternagis, standing next to a fork in the path, both leaning against trees. It was apparent they were waiting for the others to catch up. Upon sighting them, the two men stood up and approached them.

“Fenix, which way is it to where you found me?” Cerberus asked.

“We were coming from Chalen, which is to the right.” Fenix replied, motioning to the proper fork path. “The left path leads you to Metson, and then to Halvaren, the capital. We’re about halfway to where we found you; it’s just a little ways beyond here, but then we’ll have to search the area for your craft. We’re not entirely sure how far you were from it when we found you… we just saw you and picked you up.”

Cerberus nodded, and the five of them walked towards Chalen.

* * * * *

“Commander, there is a delegation from the Union Command here to see you!” the young field officer announced, surprised. Travis could hardly blame her; a delegation had never come directly from Command to see him without announcing it in advance. It had to be related to the Scout incident. He immediately felt sick.

“Tell them I’ll be right there.” The Commander responded, and began suiting in his finest dress uniform. The field officer left the room.

I wonder what they have to say to me… Maybe we’ll get some more information on what’s going on… He knew it was wishful thinking at this point. Travis had noticed that no communication had come across whatsoever in the days since his last discussion with Command. For them to come out unannounced had to mean something big. And most likely not good.

He finished dressing himself, and leaned against the wall, glancing at his watch. Seconds later, his door opened without a knock, and a figure dressed in flowing white robes entered the room. Travis froze in terror, squeaking out a “You?” Travis was barely able to make out the figure’s face, but neither would he try to. A hooded arm pointed out the door, and a deep man’s voice intoned, “You are summoned.”

The Commander did not say another word, not at all concerned at being summoned on his own command from his own personal quarters. Travis walked through the door, and then waited for the hooded man to lead on.

As they walked through the belly of the battlecraft, Travis made especially sure to stay paced behind the hooded man. It was his craft, sure, and he had an idea where the audience would take place, but the last thing he needed was to anger the High Command beyond what they possibly already were. Best to let the man lead.

Officers moved to the wall as Travis and his mysterious guide moved through the craft. Reactions varied, but they mostly fell in the category of total surprise: mouths dropped open, and then a snap to attention, looking anywhere else than the strange pair. As they passed, Travis noticed officers running—running!—in the opposite direction. He made mental notes of who they were, for later.

They arrived at the craft’s main command center, a room filled with electronic maps and holographic images of the galaxy around them. An image of the Milky Way, with its one long arm of planet and star clusters completely gone since the Disaster, remained suspended in one corner of the room. He left it there as a reminder to everyone who passed through the command center of what had happened long ago. Almost a quarter of the system erased, because of men trying to be more than what they were.

In the middle of the room stood three tall men, all old and bearded, their hair a snowy white, in similar robes as his unenthusiastic guide. The guide had been proof enough, but until now, he secretly hoped that perhaps it was a delegation from the Willers, not the Willers themselves.

He approached the three men, and lowered himself to his knees. Travis leaned forward, kissed the floor, and intoned, “As you have summoned, I have come.” He kissed the floor again. “The Union gives me great honor.” Again. “How may I serve the Will of the Union?”

The old man in the center spoke first. Although his body looked frail and weak, his voice resonated in the room, full and strong. “Ah, one who knows the proper respects for the Will. Commendable, that. Have you been in our presence before?”

Travis never took his eyes from the floor. “Yes, Willer.”

“For what purpose?”

“I was honored with a commendation for bravery. I am honored by having the rare opportunity to submit myself not only once, but twice in my life.” Honestly, he was scared to death. It is considered a life achievement, being recognized by the Will, but he had nothing spectacular. The Willers showing up unannounced for no reason was unheard of. Travis was not a man who liked setting precedents.

“Ah, yes,” the wizened old man continued, “Commander Franklin Travis, you are of Fongen, are you not?”

Travis winced at the reference. “Yes, Willer, I was once of Fongen.”

“And yet, you joined the Union to fight against your people. Entertain us, and explain yourself.”

Travis’ eyes bugged at the floor. He did not like where this was heading. “I saw their ways were detrimental to Humans as a whole, and the Union way was far safer for Humans to coexist and persevere in this universe.”

“So, you saw past their slighted, narrow views, and carried out your missions in the best interest of Humankind?”

Travis nodded. “Yes, Willer. The needs of the many outweigh the wants of the few.”

“So they do.” A silence filled the room for several moments. “If you were called upon to serve the interests of Humankind again, would you do so?”

“Of course.” The question baffled Travis. What was he doing, serving in the Union, if not fulfilling the Will’s desire?

“Good. Then look upon me, Commander, and sit.” Chairs were moved into the room by Travis’ guide, and Travis took one. The Willers sat as well, and then remained, unmoving. “I have a tale to tell you. You will have questions for me concerning this, and you will ask them freely of us. We will answer those questions. Now, attend.”

Travis looked at the three men that made up the Will of the Union. He could only stare, as still as they themselves were.

“Do not worry, Commander. We come to you because the tale I have for you today is a secret one. One that can only be given to those who are considered trustworthy in the Will’s eyes, who will safeguard the secret, and carry out the Will of the Union. You, we consider so, and it is necessary in the light of your current task. This tale is the origin of the Scouts.”

At first, Travis was confused, but as the Willer laid out his story, Travis’ eyes widened to their limit. The Willer spoke for nearly an hour about the birth of the Scouts, their reason for existence, and why they are “bound to the Will of the Union,” which was considered to be the motto of the Scout. The other two Willers sat still, never making a sound as the story proceeded.

At the end, the Willer nodded, and looked to his two brethren, whom also nodded. Leaning back in his chair, the Willer asked, “Do you understand the tale? Ask your questions.”

Travis, shocked as thoroughly as he had ever been in his life, thought very carefully before answering.

* * * * *

Just beyond sight of the front gate of Tel, past the farmland belonging to Danni’s father, on the other side of Xia’s hill, rested a horse-drawn carriage. An oddly short and thin man hopped down from where he had been lounging atop the carriage, and pushed the tarp aside, revealing a wooden door on the carriage’s side with a green tree emblazoned on it. He opened the door and climbed inside. It smelled cramped and sweaty, but he credited that to the two dirty men sitting within. You could barely notice the young woman gagged and bound hand and foot between them.

“Hey, Pete. We there?” one of them said. He was of average build and weight, with a crooked nose that had come from too many encounters with local town guards.

“Yeah,” the driver nodded, “We’re there. Hey Jif, how’s the lass?”

Jif, an enormous and pudgy man, sniffed the young girl’s hair. “Hmmm… smells delicious!”

The girl started to cry underneath her gag. Crooked-nose reached over and backhanded her across the face. The crying stopped, only a sob now and again.

Pete shook his head. “Skippy, she’s no good to us if ya keep knockin’ her around.”

Skippy growled. “So what are we doing here anyways? When are we going to get rid of her?” He nodded towards the sobbing heap.

Pete looked up at the man, and pointed in his face. “When we get our pay. That’s when. That Miles fellow promised us quite a bit.”

Jif’s face contorted in confusion. “Are you sure he didn’t lie to us, Pete? I mean, can you trust him?”

“Come on Jif, open your eyes!” Pete yelled. “Did you see how much gold he had?” He patted his side, and the fat purse he had received from the man clinked with gold. “If he’s just handing out that much, he MUST have more.”

Jif shook his head. “I don’t know, boss. I’ve never seen that much gold in my life. I just wonder where he got it from.”

“I don’t care if he stole it or sold his entire collection of authentic throwing knives. It’s gold!”

Skippy raised his hand. “Uh, that brings me back to my question. Why are we here again?”

“Miles said he’d be in the village by now. We’re just supposed to wait until he and the couple came back. Then we are supposed to let the girl go.”

Jif looked up again. “Why did he do all that to get into the village anyways? Ya could just walk in.”

The short man reached up and smacked the giant’s face. “What do I care? Gold… remember?!”

A small silence came upon the carriage. Then Pete got up and started heading out. “You guys stink. I’m waiting outside.” The carriage door slammed shut behind him.

Deia sobbed, and was promptly smacked again.

A muffled voice from outside called. “…And stop hitting the girl!”

* * * * *

The five of them kept barely far enough apart that they could still see one another in line, and carefully made their way through the forest, searching. After several hours, they had come to the point where Cerberus’ unconscious body had been found, and turned off at an angle into the trees to look for his craft for several more. The sun was almost set, and it was getting harder to see anything through the thick trees of the Mahn.

“How far could you have gotten!?” Fenix asked in wonder as they trenched through the tall grass and squeezed through tightly packed trees. “You were barely alive…” No one answered him.

“Cerberus,” Ternagis called from where he was. “We do not want to get lost, and it is getting dark. We should go back and set up a campsite for the night.”

“When the sun completely disappears, we will rest.” Cerberus replied.

Eventually, Danni called off from the far left of Cerberus, sounding amazed. “Oh for sakes!” Cerberus called out to the others, and they ran towards her cry. The group poured out into a clearing that had obviously only been recently created, burned into the forest. Throughout, various scraps of shining metal and other unnaturally shaped objects laid strewn about. Cerberus walked forward and picked up a piece. He shifted it from hand to hand and inspected it. He turned it over, blinked at it a moment more, and then dropped it to the ground, sighing.

“Was this…. your craft?” Fenix said, looking questioningly at all the scraps that littered the clearing. “How did you survive?”

Xia sighed. “We get it, Fenix, he’s lucky to be alive.”

Cerberus looked around. There was nothing discernible in the jumble of metallic glinting that resembled the legendary machines that flew through space. He moved and kicked over some of the metal, revealing giant burn marks. “These were forcibly destroyed after the crash.” Cerberus shook his head, placing his hands on his hips. “Tailz got here first.”

At the mention of Tailz’ name, Xia stared carefully at the burn marks Cerberus was transfixed on. Ternagis began looking around the clearing, and Fenix drew his sword.

“He’s not going to be here…” Cerberus said to his companions.

Ternagis looked at Cerberus. “He obviously knew you were headed here, and destroyed it. It could be a trap.”

“No, I do not think so.” Cerberus began rummaging through the debris, tossing metal aside, and two piles began to form behind him. Of what they were, Xia had no idea. One pile consisted of large, single pieces of debris; the other seemed to be a much smaller pile of tiny boxes and pieces. “If he had wanted to try and kill me this morning, he’s had ample time to attempt it by now. I think he already decided he needed to destroy my craft ahead of time. He’s not dumb enough to let me off the planet.”

“That’s right…” Danni said. “He has his own craft, and you’re stranded here.” Everyone looked at Danni. She gulped and looked at Cerberus. “Ah…sorry…”

“It’s okay.” Cerberus replied. He groaned while he turned over a big chunk of fuselage. It crashed with a large scrape of metal hitting the ground. “But there’s one thing that’s not adding up.”

Xia realized it. “But he did try to kill you.”

Cerberus nodded. “Exactly.” More metal clunked behind him.

Fenix and Danni looked at one another. Then Fenix scratched his head. “Uh… a clue?”

“Tailz tried to kill Cerberus,” Xia began. “If all he had to do was destroy the craft, he would not have had to risk himself to fight against Cerberus.”

Danni rolled her eyes. “Oh, come oooon, you yourself said he was mad. Maybe he just wanted to kill Cerberus for no reason? How do we know the logic in his head?”

Cerberus’ gaze pierced through Danni. “Because I do.” His eyes shined with a fervor and certainty she had not seen before. She decided not to touch that topic again. Everyone else stood uncomfortably not watching his intense look.

Cerberus blinked and started rummaging through the scraps of metal again. “There is something here that Tailz is looking for, or perhaps already has, whatever it is, I could interfere with that plan.” He motioned to Xia. “Start finding metal pieces like this,” he held up a silver, shiny piece, “and make a pile of them over there. Its just scrap metal now. Getting it out of the way will help me find what I’m looking for.”

“What are you looking for?” asked Danni.

“Well,” Cerberus replied, “I am looking for my computer. It’s normally heavily shielded to keep it intact in case the craft is destroyed. Hopefully Tailz did not think of that.”

“Comp-u-tar?” The unfamiliar term rolled off Xia’s lips. “It computes… what?”

Cerberus nodded and looked at Xia momentarily before resuming his search. “Yeah, kind of like a thinking machine.”

“Wow! That’s cool!” Fenix exclaimed. “How does it work?”

Ternagis answered the question. “A computer uses a set of codes in it to help it make decisions based on input of the user.” He nodded to himself, quite satisfactorily.

Fenix blinked. “What?” Xia shrugged, and Danni shook her head.

“Its kind of hard to explain it,” Ternagis said, “A computer can be programmed for many different things. Much like the Radar from the Landing is programmed to make maps. Actually, a Radar IS a computer, now that I think of it, except it’s programmed to do only one thing.”

Fenix nodded slightly. “Okay, what does Cerberus’ computer do?”

Ternagis shrugged. “I don’t know.”

A large crash revealed a larger piece of fuselage with part of the cockpit intact. “Ah.” Cerberus dusted his hands and climbed on. He looked around, studying, and then started grabbing and tossing spare wires and metal out of the cockpit. After a moment, he cried “Aha!” and pulled out a small box, the size of his fist. He put the box down behind him, and continued rummaging around, adding to the box an assortment of various wires, plugs, and gadgets.

“You all might want to go ahead and set up the campsite here. This is going to take a while.”

* * * * *

Early in the morning, Cerberus had quite a contraption in his hands. Xia looked on it in awe. The small black box was flipped open, revealing smooth glass that Cerberus called a “vidscreen,” glowing a soft green color. It all manners of wires hanging out of it, and it was tied to two other smaller boxes, a “speaker” and a “sensor,” by more wire.

“Okay,” Fenix said. “Now what?”

Cerberus did not answer. Instead, he pressed on something inside the computer. The speaker crackled, and the screen lit brighter. Then, it spoke!

“TERRA PRIME ACTIVIX BEGINNING…. DIAGNOSTICS FAILED…. SYSTEM FAILURE…”

Fenix, Danni, Xia, and even Ternagis stared in amazement at the talking device.

“Skip diagnostics.” Cerberus commanded. “Begin Transport Mode.”

“UNDERSTOOD. TRANSPORT MODE ACTIVE. UNIT TERRA PRIME ALREADY DISENGAGED FROM SPACECRAFT.”

“Begin scan for energy readings in the local area.” A small beep was heard from the little device, and the black sensor box turned blue. It was not a light, but the box was suddenly just blue. Xia blinked at it to make sure it was even black in the first place.

“What… is it doing?” Xia asked. The others continued staring.

“It’s looking for anything in the area that is emitting an energy field.” Cerberus offhandedly said, focused on his contraption.

“I’m sorry, but that really didn’t answer my question.”

Cerberus looked over at Xia, confused. He was plainly struggling to come up with a simpler explanation. “You see, everything has energy. Sunlight and heat, plant and animal.” He pulled out his pistol, opened it, and inside was a glowing blue tube. “We take some of this energy and compress it very finely. This is what gives us our weapons.” He flipped his gun shut and reholstered it. “All weapons with compressed energy emit a field… an aura… that can be detected using certain tools that my computer has.”

Fenix nodded. “So you’re trying to locate Tailz using the aura of his gun? The one he shot at you?”

“Yes, that, and also the energy that powers his craft should be emitting a much larger field as well. Hopefully I should be able to find THAT too.”

Danni inched forward, trying to catch a peek of the device. “Can Tailz do this too?”

“Yes. However, we have an advantage. Only the computers can do this, and the computers are built not to be able to be reused in a craft once it is disconnected. So unless Tailz permanently disabled his craft, or thought to pack a portable emission scanner, which I doubt, he can only do it from his craft, and then follow blindly on foot.”

“Yeah,” Fenix said. “Unless he chases you down in his craft.”

“Well, hopefully, he won’t decide to do that. Too much attention. I’d think he’d want to avoid that.” Cerberus’ little box beeped. Looking at it, he studied the screen. After a few moments, his eyebrows drew together, confused. The group crowded together around him.

“What is it, Cerberus?” asked Ternagis.

Staring at the screen, Cerberus frowned. “I’ve got a pretty good grasp on the local landscape now. Also, I see the field from my gun,” he tapped his waist, “I see a larger field off this way,” he pointed, “that must be Tailz’ craft.”

The group cheered. “Alright! We can go find him!” Fenix cried.

Cerberus remained still. “But… I’m getting an incredibly large reading… I’ve never seen so much energy concentrated… but its there. It’s coming from the same direction as Tailz.” He looked up, and spread his gaze among the few there, and then gazed off to the west. “Based on how far we walked, and if I’m reading this correctly, whatever it is emitting this much power, both it, and Tailz… are very close to Tel.”

* * * * *

When the doctor finally figured that he would not die moving around late the next morning, Tailz was allowed to walk around. He ran his fingers along the bandage on his side. Rumor probably was already milling around town about his dramatic entrance into the town, the injured guy saving the couple. Classic!

Leaving the doctor’s little hut, Tailz took a look around the small village, excited. Although he knew when he arrived here that there would be several planets that had yet to succumb to the Union, he had no idea what he would find. He had only been looking for a place to live his life in peace, away from the Union, but if he found what he was looking for… It would be revenge. Revenge on the Union… it would pay a dear cost, and Tailz would be left alone forever!

He stopped a random person, and introducing himself as “just arriving from Metson” and making sure his bandaged side showed, there was an air of recognition from him as to who he was. Everyone had heard some version of what had happened by now. Then he was very friendly in pointing Tailz in the direction of the village’s leader.

Opening the door slightly, he looked around before entering. No one was really paying him any mind, everyone carrying on with their morning tasks. Tailz realized that it was not unusual for people to approach their leader, and would not be commented on. That was good. He turned and entered the building.

The small room was lined with papers, books, and various strange items and artifacts. Tailz saw a man squinting over eyeglasses at some paperwork littered on his desk, and his long curly brown hair was held back with a strip of cloth. Hearing the door open, the man looked up, and seeing Tailz, raised an eyebrow. “Can I help you, son?”

Tailz stepped into the office and closed the door. Arranging his robe so his bandaged side showed, he started to speak. He only started, then was cut off by the most melodious sound he had ever heard, a humming noise that pulsated softly, calling to him from a heavy chest against the wall.

“Son?”

Tailz blinked and refocused on the man. He wondered briefly what had drawn his attention away. “Morning, sir, I’m traveling the countryside buying and selling old wares—“

The Mayor put his hand up towards Tailz, cutting him off. “Aren’t you the young man who got carried into the infirmary this morning?” His eyeglasses slid to the end of his nose as he peered over them to gaze at Tailz.

Tailz smiled. “Why yes, sir, I am.”

“It seems we’re having all manner of injured kids dropping in on our poor doctor.” Sam shook his head.

“I’m sorry…?”

The man waved his hands. “Please, pay it no mind.” He stood up, and offered his hand. “I am Sam Townsend, Mayor of Tel. You’re a waresman?”

Tailz nodded at Sam. “Yes sir, Miles by name.” Glancing past Sam, Tailz felt a pull to something across the room. A heavy chest, sitting against the wall.

“You look a bit young to be traveling around already…” Sam said behind a raised eyebrow.

Tailz blinked. He had not thought of that. Tailz was only twenty years of age, and the practical equivalent of still a child on this world. “Well, I was actually with my father, and when the bandits attacked us, we ended up getting separated in the whole ordeal.” There, that was easy enough.

Sam’s eyes went wide. “Oh, bandits! In this area? That’s odd; we haven’t had any bandit problems in the past few years. How did it occur?”

Tailz panicked. Those damned two were supposed to come in here and already tell him about the bandits! After only a moment’s hesitation, Tailz spun a story about him and his father meeting up with two kind people from Metson and walking with them awhile along the road to Tel. The bandits who surprised them were vicious and strong, and Miles’ father had led them on a chase with his goods while Miles helped the other two escape, but not before taking a stab in the side. “And then we helped each other to here.” Tailz nodded, satisfied.

The tall man stood there for a minute, studying Tailz, weighing him. Tailz blinked again; normally they would be falling over in their pity for living through such an ordeal. After a moment, Sam stood up from his desk, leaned forward with his hands on his desk, and quietly said, “You need to leave now, Miles.”

That panic feeling rose in Tailz again. “I’m sorry? I really need to continue selling…” He felt a call, a song singing just for him, from a chest in the back of the room.

“The couple that came with you, Trab and Lara, made no mention of another man saving them to escape. They say that they had just met you, alone, on the path. Being he’s the Master Farmer of Metson, and, therefore, known to me, I take his word. So I do not know why you have the need to lie like this, but you need to leave now.”

Tailz mouth dropped and his eyes widened. They did come here! He tricked me! It is calling me… Closing his mouth and shaking his head, Tailz realized there was only one thing to do.

Tailz turned and locked the door.

* * * * *

Somewhere along the road to Tel, Cerberus and Ternagis stopped to view Cerberus’ vidscreen. Several moments passed while they studied it, and Danni, Xia, and Fenix caught up to them, falling in a heap at their feet.

“So…tired…” Danni breathed.

Fenix was panting hard. “I’ve never… run this fast…. before…” Xia nodded his head.

Cerberus ignored them. He was not even breathing heavily. Xia was gulping air as if suffocating. The computer had Cerberus’ entire focus.

“Well?” asked Ternagis.

Cerberus explained without looking up. “Well, now that we’re closer, I can see the two distinct patterns.” He waved a hand to the southwest. “I see Tailz’ field coming from outside Tel.” He pointed directly down the path. “The more powerful field is almost coming from the center of the town.”

Xia, still catching his breath, stumbled next to Cerberus to look at the tracker. “So Tailz is not in Tel? That’s a relief.”

“Well, it’s just his rifle that is emitting a field, not Tailz himself, so either that, or he left his rifle outside the town.”

Xia slumped. “That makes sense. But why would he do that?”

Fenix spoke up, bending over on the ground. “So no one would take notice of him… his weapon… they’d see it.”

Cerberus tapped his phase pistol. “That they would. I think it’s better for us to assume he’s already in the town.” He looked at Ternagis. “Do you know of anything that could be giving off so much power?” Ternagis could barely open his mouth as Cerberus’ eyes widened on the tracker. “What?!” he cried.

The ground quaked beneath their feet, throwing them all to the ground. Cerberus’ hands flung out in either direction, and he spread his legs out on the ground in attempt to keep himself standing. The Telians did not react so fast and had their feet whipped out from under them. They fell to the ground, each attempt at moving only causing more impact with the earthen path.

The trembles faded and quickly subsided.

Fenix pushed himself off the ground. “What in sakes was that?!” Looking around, he saw Danni and Xia stumbling to their feet. Cerberus was looking in the direction of Tel. Ternagis was already up and walking towards Cerberus.

Cerberus shook his head, his face painted with surprise, something no one thought to ever see cross his emotions. “The field… it is huge!” He looked at his tracker, and then turned his head sideways. “No, wait, it’s back to normal again… Whatever it was, it doesn’t sound good.” He nodded to Ternagis, who returned it, and they took off at a dead sprint.

Fenix shook his head, and grabbed Xia and Danni by their hands. “Come on!”

* * * * *

Jif reappeared at the clearing around the large hill their carriage was parked adjacent to. Pete called out to him. “Did you find her?” Jif shook his head.

From on top the carriage, Pete cursed. “You idiots! How can you be so stupid! She’s practically half your size!” He shook his head. After Pete had got up to leave, the girl lashed out unexpectedly, somehow with her bonds cut, and had given Jif a bloody lip before rushing out into the forest. A jagged shard of wood had been found, obviously broken off from the carriage itself.

Skippy emerged from the trees behind Jif. “What should we do, boss?”

Pete called back to the approaching men. “Well, we wait for now. Even without the girl, our effort is worth something. Besides, we still have the other two.”

As he finished his sentence, a powerful quake rocked the ground beneath them. The carriage shook, tossing Pete off its side and onto the ground. The horses panicked, rearing into the air and stomping the ground. As quick as it came, it passed, leaving three very baffled men staring at each other on the ground.

Standing up, they all looked at one another. Pete said, “What…?”

Skippy shook his head. “I…don’t know… I never heard of quakes out this far.” He saw the carriage turned over on one side. “Let’s get that up first.”

Shaken, Pete agreed. The three men went over, and, after some groaning and struggling, turned the carriage upright. Pete opened the door to check on their two prisoners. Trab and Lara were holding one another tightly, and a line of blood ran down Trab’s cheek. Lara was crying, and they were both terrified. “Please, what did we do to you?!” She cried. She started screaming at him. “You promised! We did what we were supposed to! Where is she!? What have you done with…?” Pete slammed the door. They had arrived shortly after the girl escaped, and he saw no need to tell them what had happened.

Pete looked back at the other two men. They were bruised, but that was all.

“Get over here and help me, you fools.” Pete started at the familiar voice. Turning around, he saw Miles slowly dragging himself around the hill. Miles was in horrible shape, covered in blood, and burns ran up and down his side and arm. His mouth dropped. Miles called out to them again. “Get over here NOW!”

Jif and Skippy each ran over and grabbed an arm, and carried the young man to the carriage, setting him down carefully on its steps. “Are you alright?” Jif asked.

“Come on…” Miles said. “…We need…to leave… Let’s go…”

“What about our money!” Pete cried. “We’ve been through hell for you, and you haven’t paid us our second half yet! We go nowhere until you do!”

“You’ll get your money once we’re gone from this place. Now, let’s get moving.” Miles motioned at the wagon.

“Hold it!” Pete pointed a finger up into Miles’ face. “I said nowhere, and I mean nowhere.”

Miles looked at Pete and focused his eyes. Miles pushed himself off the carriage, and walked to the back, where there was a metallic box strapped on. Opening it, he took out a large silver object and fiddled with it until it started making a humming noise and glowing a pretty blue. He hefted it onto his good arm, and pointed it at Pete. Pete blinked, and saw a flash of blue light. Then darkness.

* * * * *

Pete’s body fell to the ground, its head burnt beyond recognition. Tailz looked to Jif and Skippy. “Let’s go.”

Skippy did not hesitate; he jumped up on top the carriage and began readying it for departure. Jif moved to the other side of the carriage, out of Tailz’ view. Tailz limped to the carriage, and pulled open the door.

The wailing he had heard from outside stopped the minute the couple saw Tailz. Their eyes widened, and they sat there in stark terror, clasping to one another. He called out unemotionally. “Where’s the girl?”

A faint voice came from beyond the carriage. “Pete let her escape…”

Trab’s mouth fell, and Lara’s eyes rolled back into her head. Her husband caught her and looked at them. “You mean… she’s safe?” Tailz sighed. He reached in and grabbed the older couple out of the carriage, toppling them to the ground.

“We’re ready, ah …boss?” Jif called from on top the carriage. “We can go now.”

Tailz looked a moment at the couple on the ground, contemplating carefully. Trab stood up, holding his wife in his hands. “What… can we go now? …Please?”

The carriage began to roll down the trail south, away from Tel, leaving behind three burned dead bodies in its wake. The girl in the tree saw everything.

* * * * *

Xia and the others had been left behind by Cerberus and Ternagis long before, but they struggled to catch up. Xia hoped that no one would be hurt by a confrontation in the village. He could just imagine the chaos that would reign from a fight with Tailz and those legendary weapons within town.

Then the village of Tel came into Xia’s view.

He dropped to his knees, vaguely aware of the gasps sounding from his companions behind him. The building that had been the Mayor’s office no longer stood, splintered into pieces outwards, as if it had been ripped apart from the inside. Nearly every other house and stable in the village that had not already burned down, was in the process. The sky itself seemed to burn orange overhead.

Danni turned aside and vomited loudly into the grass. Fenix was on his hands and knees, his eyes closed tightly, shaking his head vigorously, refusing the sight. Unable to move, Xia’s eyes stood transfixed on what was once his home.

Emerging from the town, Cerberus jogged up the path, and approached the three. His face and hands were covered in ash, and his clothes were torn and burnt. He spoke softly to the three of them. “You may stay here, or you can help. There aren’t many, but there are survivors, and we’re among those who can still help.”

Xia nodded and stood up. Helping Fenix off the path, they looked at Danni, wiping her mouth with her sleeve, and staring wide-eyed at the village. Nodding, she leaned against Fenix. With Cerberus leading the way, the three friends made their way towards what was left of Tel.