Gaump walked up the stairs to his Haragath office.  It was in another part of the Imperial Palace.  Two guards stood outside, and saluted him as he passed.  He opened the door, and walked in.  The office had a few personal belongings.  Gaump had never been one for creature comforts.  He walked toward his desk, when the door closed behind him.

“So, The Emperor is planning a mass-murder of the inferiors,” a woman said.

“Indeed, Siren,” he said.  He did not need to face her, as he could tell from her voice.  “He would kill our own if it meant the annihilation of the underbreeds.”  Guamp turned and faced her.

The Siren pushed her black hair, behind a long elven ear, and wore a dark violet dress.  “He oversteps his authority.”

“So, you are Talia?”

She nodded.  “It is The Goddess’s will that I am here.”

He noticed how she had a hand on her stomach, and how it was larger than most Sirens.  Through his visor, he saw her confident face.  “I am surprised The Emperor hasn’t cut it out of you.” Gaump walked behind his desk, and sat down.

“Do not threaten me, Arbiter.”  She walked toward the desk and put her hands on it.  “The Emperor is not taking my child.”

“Is this also, the will of your Goddess?”

She nodded.

Gaump lowered his head.  “The Emperor is a good man, Talia.  Sometimes, he is far too zealous for our species’ benefit.”  He picked up some papers, and looked over them.

“Why do you not show your face?”

“I have my reasons.”  He looked up at her.  “One being the same reason your kind wear masks, in the field.”

She understood.  “An identity is an important thing, huh?”

“Indeed.”  Gaump put the paper down, and grabbed another stack.  He flipped through them, finding one, before signing it.

“Arbiter?”

“Yes?”

“If there were a way to save those Breed lives, would you?”

“Yes.”

“What about the inferiors?”

“They surrender, they’ll be treated as POWs, according to The Griffin’s Tome.  By that, I mean humanely, as if they were Breed POWs.”

“You put a lot of faith in your own work.”

Gaump looked up at her.  “I’ve been a legionnaire for the past seventy years, and know that our enemies are fighting for their very survival.  If they have openly opposed us, like these rebels, they deserve death.  Those who surrender, or are unable to fight, should be treated as POWs, much like what happened with The Ascension Uprising.”

“The what?”

“It was before your time.  I was just a centurion then.  There was a rebellion in the Gevia Province.  They had every right to rebel too.  Emperor Osiris sent the legions in to quell it.  This was the only time in modern history, that Breed fought Breed.”

“Why’d they rebel?”

“The governor’s family was corrupted.  He should have been brought to justice.”

“What happened?”

Guamp looked back down.  “The rebels murdered every one of the family.  Those individuals stood trial and were hanged for treason.”

“But you just said they had a right to rebel.”

“The corruption was discovered after the execution.  With the governor dead, all we could do was investigate what had happened, and make sure other governors didn’t.”

Talia narrowed her eyes.  “Arbiter, you are telling me, if The Emperor commits this act, you will rebel.”

“And you have not already?”

She tilted her head, becoming cross.

“You know exactly what will happen to your child.  Maternal instinct is not common in Sirens, but you are different, Talia.  The instinct of survival is strong in those whose numbers are few.”

Talia understood all-too-well, and nodded.

Gaump picked up an envelop on his desk.  It was from South America’s Basilisk Province.  He opened it.

Arbiter,

Know that I cannot share my name with you, for if I do, my life is forefeit.  All you need to know is that I have been working with chronomancy, and came across an event.  A glimpse of the future, where our people are dying and degenerating.  I have also stumbled across a vision from the past.  The first Seteshan and The second in the Scarab’s Holy Linieage.  They were fighting.

I also saw several of our own, turning into animals.

I know sending this will possibly sign my death warrant, but it must be done, for the survival of our species!  The Imperial Family has know about a genetic problem in all Breed, which makes us more like the animals we came from.  I’m guessing that in less than ten generations, The Empire will no longer exist, and so will The Breed.

I know I am committing treason of the highest level, but it is to save our species from extinction.  If you are a true member of The Breed, as a species, you will save our species!  Lambda Legion is in chaos right now, despite whatever The Emperor has told you, because of my vision.

Gaump folded the letter, finding two runes on the back of it.  He examined them, finding they were recoding runes.  He, or she, must have their proof on those runes, he thought.  Those are listening runes!

“What is it?” Talia asked.

He looked up at her.  “Lady Talia, I have a favor to ask you.”

“Oh?”

“I need you to examine Alpha Legion.  I need you to find out who is loyal to our species, and who would betray The Emperor, if it meant the continued survival of our people.”

“You speak of high treason!”

“Would you not commit the same act, if it meant the survival of your child?”  He stood up.  “Talia, do you know what The Emperor would do to your child?”

“I have an idea.”  She swallowed hard.

“What would you do to make sure she is safe?”

Talia merely nodded.

“In exchange, I can help make sure the child is born without The Emperor’s knowledge.”

“Agreed.”

“Get to it.”

Talia nodded, and left Gaump.

He looked down at the letter again.  After a second or two, he pushed a button on the intercom.  “Guards, ensure the Siren’s safety.”

“Yes, Lord,” someone replied.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Echo was awakened by a banging on the door to her room.  “Cassandra!  You in there?” Kip shouted.

She sat up in the hammock and rubbed her head.  “What?!” she shouted.

“I need some help!”

Echo sighed.  This was the seventh time in two days that he’d come asking for her help, and her patience was beginning to wear thin.  She couldn’t really refuse him though, as he was doing everything he could to help the resistance.  She got out of the hammock and walked to the door.  She didn’t want to open it unless she had to though.  “What with?”

“Just…”  Echo heard glass breaking.  “Great.  Be right back.”

She raised an eyebrow at the sound.  With a sigh, she opened the door.  She hadn’t changed out of her clothes at all since leaving, and was beginning to feel filthy.  “Kip!” she shouted.  “There somewhere I can wash-up in here?

“Uh…”

She pushed the door to his lab open.  He was sweeping up a shattered beaker.

“Oh, what I wouldn’t give for an assistant…” Kip muttered.  “I just ask for a little help down here, and they don’t send anyone at all…”

“Kip?”

“Oh…”  He looked up at her.  “Yes?”

“Is there a place I could wash-up?  I haven’t had a bath in days.”

He bowed his head.  “Sadly, not at the moment.  I keep telling Harriet to find someone who knows how to work the pipes and everything in here, but I don’t know if she has.  And I’m in a bit of a pickle right now here with these chemicals.”

“Just tell me if there’s a place I can wash.”

“I just said there isn’t.”  He grabbed a makeshift dustpan and knelt down, sweeping the glass into it.  “We need all the water for drinking water right now.  When we get back on land though, we’ll have water for all sorts of stuff.”

Echo cringed.  “What about filters?”

“I’ve been trying my hardest to fix them, but I need newer metals and materials.  Something that have always been scarce for us.”

“Fine…”  She leaned against the table.  “How long until we hit land again then?”

“A day or two.”

“WHAT?!  Boston’s just north of Manhattan!  There is no way that is more than a couple hour journey on this thing!”

“We need to avoid Breed patrols.”  Kip found a seat.  “There’s an Imperial Holiday in a day or so, and that will allow us to slip in easily, without being noticed.”

“Okay…”

“You seem on edge.  What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”  Echo closed her eyes.  Maybe it’s ‘cause I haven’t taken a hit in so long…

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Kip was about to say one thing, but something else came out.  “Your tone of voice doesn’t make it sound like nothing.”


Echo scoffed and turned around.  She began walking.

“Hey!  We humans have to stick together!  You have…”

She’d closed the door to his lab and was already in her hammock, again.  She found her pack and opened it, before taking the inhaler, along with one of the cylinders she’d bought from Jimmy.  She loaded it into the inhaler and put it to her lips.  Her index finger pressed down on the cylinder, and she breathed in the drug.  Just as it had always done, she found herself in a paradise of emotions.  Nothing as bad, and she was all that existed.

*****

Echo didn’t know how many hits she’d taken when she came to, but she was not in her room.  At least, she thought she was.

“Just keep an eye on her,” Harriet said.  “Ill be throwing those things overboard before she can use them again.”

“My question is how’d she get a hold of them,” Kip answered.

“I think she’s a Siren,” “Alysdir replied.

“Alysdir,” Harriet began.  “If she was a Siren, just about every man on the tanker would be affected!”  Besides, this stuff is far purer than anything I’ve ever seen.”

“You mean, more pure than what was made aback home?”

“Far purer.”  Harriet gave her brother a look.  “You take some of this and…  And you might not wake up.  This stuff was designed only for Breed physiology.  Only something with their unique genetics could take it and not die.”

“Then how do you explain her?” Kip asked.

Echo was still plenty out of it, as she turned in the bed.

“She’s awake,” Alysdir said.  “Do you think she’ll like to know you just tossed some of her belongings over…”

“Her life is at stake!” Harriet snapped.  “If she gets her hands on it again, a single hit could kill her.”

Alysdir growled.  “Durathel Nuvi…”

“Don’t you dare say that again.”

“I will not get in trouble for this!”

“You found her like this.  According to the old commander’s will, you have to help her.  Keep an eye on her!”

Alysdir began to speak in his native language again, when Harriet raised a TMP and jammed the barrel in his mouth.

“Think, Alysdir!  You kill me, and you have the entire ship against you.  There’s only one thing keeping me from pulling the trigger and that’s because you’re my brother.”  She looked at Kip.  “Take care of her.  I gotta go cool my brother off before one of us does something.”  She left, keeping the TMP ready.


Kip looked at Echo.  “You okay?” he asked her.

Echo mumbled a response.  

Kip sighed.  “No… Don’t worry about Alysdir.  He’s always on edge.”  He glanced back at her.  “Rylin says he’s got some girl named Talia he’s worried about.  What about you?”  Kip found a chair and sat down.  “Anyone you’re worried about back home?”

She was still al little intoxicated, when she spoke.  “No one’s worried ‘bout meh…  Mom prolly nevah forgive meh fer…”  Echo sighed.

“Mothers can be very understanding.  Take Harriet, for example.  She can be perceived as a mother to this resistance...  Someone has a problem, they can go to her.  There’s a feud, they can go to her.  I’m pretty sure Ryan’s going through a rough-patch right now, and she’s been supporting him, and helping him through it.  We have to stick together in times like these.”

“It…  It shouldn’t have…”

“It wasn’t made for humans, Cassandra.  You’re lucky to be alive!”  The door opened.  Kip looked back and Saw Ryan wave a hello.

“Holy cow,” he said, seeing Echo in the bunk.  “What happened?”

“She O-Ded on jolt,” Kip shook his head, speaking.  “Or rather, she O-Ded on jolt, which was designed for Breed.”

Ryan looked at her.  “You okay?”

Echo moaned.

“She’s stable, for the moment,” Kip said.  “We’re lucky the sea is pretty calm too.”

“Good.”  Ryan folded his arms.  “Where’s Harriet?”

“She took Alysdir topside to cool him down.  Bit of a fight between ‘em down here.”

“Thanks.  There’s something that needs her attention.”  Ryan left right after that.

Echo sat up.  “What’s going on?” she asked.

“Kip looked back at her.  “You O-Ded.”

Her face became worried.  “Where’s my pack?”

“Still in your room.”

She shook her head.

“Well, you seem to be sobering up.”


Echo climbed out of the bed and began to look around the room.  She had panic in her eyes.  No…  They can’t take it…  I won’t let them.  She left the room, followed by Kip.

“Cassandra!” he shouted.  She was ignoring him though.  “Cassandra, wait!”

Echo turned a corner, seeing two men talking.

“Stop her!” Kip shouted.  The men grabbed her by the arms, and easily lifted her off the floor.

“Put me down!” Echo shouted.  She fought until an ethereal katar appeared in a hand.  She thrust it at one of the men, but Kip was already there.

“Calm down!” he shouted.  When she didn’t, he reached for the compressor on his belt and a needle was in his hand in seconds.  He put the needle into her.  

“No!”  Echo shouted.  “NO!  …no…”  Her eyelids slowly closed.

“Get her back in bed,” he said.  “She’s still in withdrawal.”