“That didn’t take long.” Irini looked up at Sotir.

She thought she’d sleep fourteen hours and wake up feeling like her life had passed her by. Instead, Sotir came to get her after an hour’s nap.

He smiled back. “No, it didn’t. Before we get started, do you think you can ask your thread a question for me?”

Irini nodded. “Sure.”

“Ask it to locate Soffigen arcanes. Not just Era. How many threads do you see?” Sotir waited.

Irini’s mouth drifted open. “I never thought of that…”

“That’s alright. I just thought of it myself. Now, would you mind?” Sotir gestured for Irini to get on with it.

Irini closed her eyes and envisioned Era with some groupies. She opened her eyes and saw one strong gold thread. She saw several weaker ones, but they weren’t quite gold or very visible.

“I think this might be a maybe.” Irini wiggled her fingers.

Scant points of glitter danced in the air. The one thread that stood for Era bobbed and waved.

“That’s not good,” Sotir said in a low voice. He looked at the floor and held tight to his staff. A moment passed, and he refocused on Irini. “A problem for another time. For now, how do you want to handle this task?” Sotir gestured to three screens – all blank.

Irini shook her head. “I guess I could ask another question.”

Sotir nodded.

“But, you could just run the scenarios on all the planets and figure out which one is best.”

“So far away, I won’t get a good read. You have better range. You’re the better arcane for this job. Let me help you.” Sotir guided her forward.

Irini started to sweat. She glanced at Alban. He didn’t look her way, but soon, he would present three planets. He would display each on its own screen. Irini would do her thing and see where the golden thread led.

“You really think I can do this?” She gazed up at Sotir.

“Yes, of course you can. You just did wonderful on your practice question.” Sotir nudged Irini forward. “Think of your question. Take a few moments to get it just right.” Sotir stopped near Alban. “In your place, I would ask for the planet with the best chance of a successful outcome. Our survival, Pan’s victory, information…and barring that – a good opportunity for me to do a reading on Era.”

Alban called, “Avoid crowds if you can.”

Irini nodded. Then, she got quiet. She didn’t want to make a fool of herself. This question would be harder than the one concerning Era’s contemporaries. So, Irini worked on an idea of the perfect planet – the perfect place to battle the terrifying Soffigen arcane. She repeated the requirements: survival, Pan’s victory, read on Era, information, no crowds. But, those requirements didn’t feel just right. So, Irini adjusted them: mostly deserted planet, answers to the question of arcane-hood, survival for all, and the best chance for Pan to clear her name to the Scaldin people. Once Irini had those ideas circling in her mind, she couldn’t help but wonder how Era got to be so arcane.

“Alright, Irini,” Alban called.

Irini jumped.

He beckoned. “Here are your choices. I want you to use your power and choose one.” Alban held up one finger as if to ensure she knew her numbers.

Irini felt mildly insulted, but she nodded. She didn’t question the big, scary navy guy, as per Pan’s advice. When Irini had asked Pan if she – the reaper – was afraid of him, Pan just scoffed and said of course not. Then, Pan’s eyes grew wide. She had said she feared Sotir more. Irini didn’t understand. Sotir was so nice.

Three planets appeared on the screens. One looked brown, dotted with little spots of enclosed settlement. Another showed small continents and an abundance of water. The third looked average and sparsely populated.

“These planets, along with their satellites, are known and suspected Soffigen research sites. Please proceed.” Alban stepped aside.

Sotir waited nearby, a comforting presence, not at all scary.

Irini almost rushed into the whole endeavor. Then, she remembered to take it slow and get that good, solid image in her mind of what they needed. Deserted, clear Pan’s name, discover the truth, survive, and beat Era. Which of these planets was best? Irini repeated it like a mantra and closed her eyes to keep from seeing the planets. She created a vague image and then opened her eyes.

Irini looked down at her hands. Six gold threads veered off in varying directions. Three went to the monitors, and three headed far off, beyond the ship’s hull. Every thread looked faint. A couple were so hard to see, Irini had to wiggle her fingers. Only then did they sparkle. The best thread went tenuously ahead, but Irini didn’t want to follow it. She’d expected to see one sparkling thread, maybe two to show the way to the planet and the screen. Instead, Irini got six pathetic strings. Did this mean all the planets kind of sucked for their purposes?

“Well?” Alban coaxed.

Irini looked up at him. Her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. She began to sweat. Irini felt she sweat a lot, certainly more than normal.

“Uh…” Irini sang the word and drew it out. “They’re all kind of bad.”

“Really?” Alban looked to Sotir.

Sotir shrugged. “I can do a read, but I trust her judgement.”

“Alright.” Alban stared at an officer. “I need you to make up a new list. I want to see it in half an hour.”

The officer looked side to side as if to say who me? “These planets are the best choices. They have known research facilities, and they aren’t overcrowded. Besides, they’re in easy travel.”

“Find me a few planets outside of easy travel.” Alban turned and addressed Irini and Sotir. “You two might as well rest while we do this, unless you think you can find a planet without an image?”

Irini thought she might, but she shook her head. She didn’t have the confidence. Besides, if they found a planet unknown to Scaldigir, they wouldn’t have its exact location. They would need to play that triangulation game that she and Aria did to find Pan. It took a while.

Irini said, “You should find me something.” She felt a little better – almost good – telling him what to do.

Alban nodded. He looked at Sotir. “What about you? Care to try your hand at it?”

Sotir laughed. “Mother Tree no. I don’t want to run scenarios for dozens of planets.”

Alban smiled. He waved them off. “Go rest. Irini, go...play.”

Irini felt her eyes narrow. She almost said that she didn’t play anymore. She was thirteen, but she knew the truth. She held onto playthings a little long. No need to draw attention to it by vehemently disagreeing. Irini hurried off the bridge. She might be able to find something to play with on the ship. Maybe, a board game, and maybe, Aria would play with her. Sotir and Pan too – if they promised not to cheat.

A golden thread, strong and true, appeared before Irini. She chased it towards fun.

On a tablet she brought from home, Aria composed her letter. She hit a button and put it into speaking mode. Then, she began to dictate. Usually, she spoke fluently and, upon hearing her words spoken back, made only minor changes. Today, Aria struggled to get her ideas down.

It probably had to do with her broken promise. She was not, as Gavain asked, following a straight, easy path back to Scaldigir. She was in danger, and in some ways, she was putting her future with Gavain in danger. She didn’t plan to say any of that in her letter. She would make it light and cheery.

So far, she had: Dear Gavain.

That was it. She needed more.

Dear Gavain, Aria thought again, as she’d done fifty times in the last ten minutes. “I know it’s still a year from now, but maybe, we could make some plans. I really like a few houses I saw in Sched…” Aria stopped.

She sounded controlling, already looking at houses for sale and in her home area too. Gavain might be all in for Aria but probably not Sched. The houses were nice but expensive, and the area catered to the older generations. Aria should tell the computer to backspace it. Instead, she thought she’d wait to hear the computer read it back to her.

Aria kept going, “We don’t have to live in Sched or buy one of those houses. We can’t exactly house shop a year in advance, but maybe…we might consider building a house. I know that takes a while, and we could have things just right. Maybe, plan out how many bedrooms we’ll need.” Aria turned her head and looked away from the aura-ridden tablet. “No, I can’t say that directly.”

Aria paused the dictate function. She sighed. “I need to write this in more proper terms. If someone else read it…”

Probably nothing would happen. Everyone knew what Gavain had been up to. If someone read Aria’s letter, the only consequence would be embarrassment.

Aria resumed the dictate function. “Now that we’re both aware of the potential for an early break to my service. I would like to discuss possible living arrangements. I would like to be prepared in one year, so that we may take full advantage of our decade together.”

Again, Aria paused the dictate function. Now, her letter sounded too businessy. She might as well write it as a contract. Aria needed to strike a balance of propriety and heart. She also wanted to keep it veiled, just in case.

Actually, what Aria really wanted to write wasn’t appropriate at all, not even for Gavain’s ears. She wanted to ask him to please save her from responsibility for a decade and let her enjoy her young life while she had the health to do so. It seemed Pan’s dissatisfaction was contagious. Aria still wouldn’t say she hated reading auras. She just hated the endlessness of it.

“If I could take Gavain, I might run off with Pan. But, I shouldn’t let her hear that. It would never work. Gavain wouldn’t agree. If I want them both, I have to bring Pan back.”

Aria took a deep breath. She thought of Gavain and his offered rescue that he didn’t fully understand. He, after all, loved serving as an ambassador. He chose it.

“New Document. Scrap the old one. Dear Gavain.” Aria resumed dictation. “Let’s meet in whatever time of my vacation remains. I want to talk to you about...hearth and home. I’d like to go to that garden again – I can’t remember the name. You took me a year ago. We had a chaperone in the form of six young arcanes.” Aria smiled.

Gavain had been surprised to see all the tagalongs. But, Aria held him back and made him move through the grounds slowly. Soon, they saw the kids at a distance. Unfortunately, they also heard them, but they put up with it.

“Let’s be alone this time. This might surprise you, but I’ve succeeded in getting Pan back. She’s going to come home, and she’s going to help the Scaldin navy and military with...projects.” Aria sighed. “It’s not exactly what I wanted. She can’t really live on Scaldigir. She’ll be dead in all but truth. It bothers me a little. I guess I want to talk about that too.”

Aria thought what Pan’s life might be like. She hoped it would be good.

“Can you help with Pan?” Aria shifted and hoped the recording didn’t catch the sound of fabric. “I want her to be able to have a life, even if she can’t be near me. When we were young, she used to talk about how she would use her break – the places she’d take her kids, the drawings she’d do. She wanted to go on playgrounds and do slides, without looking like a creeper. Those were her words not mine.”

Aria paused. Her finger tapped the edge of her tablet. She knew Pan couldn’t do all of those things if she had to play dead.

Aria continued, “She loves Sotir. At least, I think she does. I know he loves her back.”

Aria would never again declare something so powerful about Pan. She’d failed to see the reaper behind the girl. She would wait till Pan outright said she loved Sotir. So far, Pan just gave hints and games.

Aria let the dictation run. “I remember when I first met you. Your aura reached for me. Now, we have a long-term connection. Our auras greet each other. I love you, and I’m glad I get to spend some time with you. That’s all I want for Pan. Time to use how she wants.” Aria drew her next breath.

“Aria!” Irini shouted.

Aria jumped. She almost dropped the tablet. As she grabbed at it, she accidentally hit the button that switched her out of speak mode. Then, Aria’s thumb clumsily swiped the screen. Her tablet pinged. Something had been sent. It already worked its way into the ship’s waiting system, ready to escape into space at a moment’s notice and head to Gavain.

Aria’s mouth dropped open. “Irini! You scared me.”

“Sorry.” Irini held a box over her head. The box’s aura dripped around Irini. It spoke of frustration, anger, and thrill. Irini’s own yellow aura flushed from happiness to anxiety.

“I just sent a love letter to someone, and I didn’t even get to read it over.” Aria stared at the tablet, unable to see the screen. It was a swirly blue finger painting to her eyes. She growled.

“I’m so sorry.” Irini lowered the box. “Who’d it go to?”

“Ambassador Gavain.” Aria put her face in her hands. After this mess up, she’d require stories of Gavain’s exploits and pursuit of her. She hoped it would be equally embarrassing and not at all dashing.

“I don’t know that guy,” Irini said.

Aria laughed.

“Can you get it back?”

Aria pushed her hands through her hair. “I don’t think I can get it back. Irini, what did you want?”

Again, Irini raised the box. “I have something for us to do together.”

Aria stared hard at the object. Aria wasn’t certain she wanted to do frustration, anger, and thrill with Irini. “What is it?”

Irini glanced up and looked at the box that she still held aloft. Slowly, she lowered it. Once again, her aura blazed with yellow excitement. “It’s a game. Pan doesn’t want to play. She says she’s busy with her pencils. And, Sotir says he can’t help but cheat at it.”

Aria looked at the box. Pan had made the right call. Sotir too.

“Are you sure you want to pick that one?” Aria asked, pointing at the mess of color.

There must have been something else to offer. Something that glowed with fun.

“Well, I had one great thread. Then, I got into a hallway – crew quarters.” Irini stepped into the room, carrying the dripping box with her. It left stains on the floor. “My thread suddenly burst into so many lines. A lot of great threads, but I couldn’t get into any of the rooms.”

“So, you got this.” Aria gestured to the oozing box. She guessed Irini had to revise her search criteria.

Irini nodded. “Yeah, I got lucky. I knocked on every door, and the person who owned this game was the only one who answered. He’s letting me borrow it. He said he’d play it with me, but he had to go on duty.”

A good thread led to that thing?

Aria beckoned. “What’s it called?”

“Peril.”

Aria didn’t know it, but it sounded like a terrible way to spend a few hours. Irini handed the box to Aria. Aria opened it and saw pain inside, as well as glimmers of excitement. She searched for some fun, anything in a nice even yellow.

“Wow,” Irini stared at Aria’s tablet. “You sent this to a guy?”

“Irini. I’m not publishing it.” Aria flipped the tablet over. “Let’s play this thing. I might as well take my mind off the real world.”

Pan held a pencil to her breast. A somber song played softly in the background, and Pan focused on the words to evoke the appropriate feelings to charge her violet blue. She tried to cling to the mood even as her door swung open, and Alban stepped inside.

He didn’t knock. Pan should be annoyed, but she ignored him and stayed somber. Pan found herself way behind on her charging schedule. She needed to take control of it again. There must be art for Aria, and it must have a shade of somber violet blue.

“What are you doing?” Alban asked.

She barely looked at him. “I’m charging my pencils.”

“That is damn strange. Stranger than Sotir.” Alban came close to the table where her pencil case lay open. He looked inside and reached for them.

“Don’t you dare touch,” Pan said.

Her words stopped Alban, and for a moment, he looked at her. He withdrew his hand but continued to study her pencils. Every pencil had two labels: one for the emotion and one for the day on which Pan should charge it.

If she couldn’t conjure up the proper emotion, Pan sometimes skipped a pencil. She found some easy to do. She could always get angry, and with her new job and memories from her old jobs, she achieved somber most days. Other flavors of negativity came easy enough. Though, Pan struggled to worry properly. She had lost so much, that with nothing to really lose, she had few worries. Pan achieved positive emotions on fewer days, but she did it enough to draw with them, except for happy. Pan wasn’t convinced that came through at all. Maybe, now that she saw Aria, it could.

“You want to draw something for Aria,” Alban said. “I wondered how you do that.”

He seemed determined to stay. He might make her taint the violet blue.

Pan put it down on the table and shut off her music. “I wanted to, but you’re helping to ruin the charge.”

Alban drew himself up. “I’m sorry. What was I thinking? Wanting to talk to my prisoner about the act of murder I’m asking her to commit.”

Pan shot up. “Prisoner?”

She stood in a nice guest room, small and private. He’d let her sleep in the room and have her things – all ankle cuff free.

She swept her arm around the little space. “Excuse me. Who’s a prisoner?”

To Alban’s credit, he stood his ground, but he did lean back a little. “I’m sorry. I meant to say captive.”

“Those two words are synonymous.”

“Yes, but captive has more of an innocent ring to it while prisoner makes you sound as if you’ve done something wrong.” Alban somewhat smiled.

“I have done something wrong. Besides, when you call me your captive, you might as well stroke your goatee and laugh an evil laugh. Captive makes you sound like a villain.”

Alban raised an eyebrow. “So, you want to be a prisoner now? Or, should I do as you suggest…” Alban raised his hand to his goatee.

“Oh stop!” Pan narrowed her eyes and let them unfocus. “I want to be a detainee.”

“A detainee,” Alban scoffed. “Alright. We’ll call you that.”

Pan smiled. “That implies you’ll let me go, and I’ll be free to participate in Scaldin society as I chose.”

“No, it doesn’t. It implies you’re a political hostage.”

Pan knit her brow and looked away. Since he came by to talk, she might as well talk. “Do you think…do you think that Era could be affixed with an ankle cuff?”

Alban startled. “If you’re asking, would it work? I think so. If you’re asking, will I do it? No.” Alban shook his head, short and sharp.

Pan paced away from her pencils. “We have two options to deal with this girl. Kill her or suppress her.” Pan frowned. “I think they’re both kind of bad. Besides, I don’t want her to haunt me.”

“Oh…” Alban said darkly. “I see.”

Pan looked at her feet. The last time she killed someone, she paid the price.

“The ankle cuff is out of the question. You allowed us to affix it willingly. It’s the only reason I didn’t have you immediately suppressed,” Alban said. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what to tell you about haunting, unless you agree to use the suppressant. She can’t come for you if she’s in a prison.”

Pan bowed her head. She could feel his eyes on her. She tried to make her expression uninteresting.

Alban continued, “What will it be then?”

“I don’t know. The suppressant is a bad choice.”

“Consider that it’s temporary,” Alban said.

Pan felt her eyes narrow. “But, it’s never been tested on Soffigen, so how do you know?”

“I don’t.” Alban crossed his arms. “You know…I think there’s hope for you yet.”

Pan backed away. “What’s that supposed to mean? Of course, there’s hope for me. There’d better be. I’m a calm, sensible person.”

Alban looked skeptical. “Yes, and in two days, you’re going to be…” Alban looked down at Pan’s pencils. “Happy – so you can make art for a very specific person. Nothing in this regimen looks exactly calm or sensible.” Alban stroked his chin. “But, it does look redeeming.”

“Oh, just get out.” Pan pointed at the door.

“Not to mention your resistance to using the time message – all because you wanted to see more of Aria. I wonder how that must feel – to be so adored by a reaper.”

“Get out,” Pan spat.

Alban put up his hands. “Alright. I’m leaving.” He turned and headed for the door. “We’ll talk more later.”

As Alban swung the door open, Sotir walked in. Alban greeted Sotir with a short nod and walked out.

“Your turn?” Pan maintained a calm exterior, but her heart beat secretly fast.

Sotir closed the door to her room. “If that’s alright?”

“It’s fine.”

Sotir looked at the pencils. He just looked. He didn’t walk close or reach for them. “Drawing for Aria?”

Pan nodded. “I was. I was trying to charge a pencil, but Alban wrecked the mood.”

Sotir made a small noise of sympathy. “Let me ask you? Did you miss me as much as I missed you? Or, was it…just Aria?”

Pan felt her face grow warm. She narrowed her eyes. “Of course, I missed you. I missed a lot of people – Scaldigir itself. But, you and I knew each other only six months. I mean we knew each other, but we didn’t really know each other.” Pan frowned at him. “Does that make sense?”

Slowly, Sotir nodded. “Yes. You’re saying that we didn’t talk much before then.”

Pan relaxed her shoulders, not realizing they had been tense. “I knew Aria – all of Aria – for years.” Pan rubbed her forehead. “Not that she knew me. Sometimes, I think…you should pick someone else.” Pan backed away. “You could pick anyone else.”

Sotir stepped closer. His staff traveled over the floor in steps of its own. “I realize that. But, Pan, when I look ahead… You and I…” Sotir gestured between them. He stopped and sighed.

Pan regarded Sotir. “You’ve looked again?”

Sotir nodded. “I have spent many hours in that pursuit. Should I be ashamed to say it?”

Pan exhaled. “What did you see this time?”

Sotir came closer still. “The same things I saw before – although this time, I know you’re a reaper.” He held up a hand. “And it doesn’t matter whether you’re a reaper or not. You could have no powers at all. Better yet, I could have no powers, and even with no vision of the future, you would still be a dear friend to me. More if you let me.”

Pan paused and studied him. He was calm, except for the earnestness in his eyes.

Sotir continued, “Do you remember when I told you that I accidentally see other arcanes in private situations, and you said I could watch you when I wasn’t there?”

Pan felt her eyes fill with alarm. “I took that back.”

“I know.” Sotir stepped back. “And, it’s a hard promise to keep because that’s all Alban has wanted from me for two years.” Sotir drew a long breath. “It’s all I’ve wanted for two years – to know you were okay…and that there was a path forward for us.” Sotir held his staff in both hands and twirled it slowly. “Anyway, it got me thinking…you have always wanted someone to know you were a reaper. Even back then. You were daring me to find out. Well…everyone knows now.” Sotir took one hand from his staff and spread it wide.

Pan felt angry tears in her eyes. “I wanted that until I knew what it would really be like.” She stepped forward. “It’s awful.”

“It’s awful now,” Sotir agreed. “But, I promise you there’s a way through. You can have good things.”

Pan shook her head. “I might have good things, but the problem is whether I can be good.” Pan looked at the ground.

Sotir was silent so long that Pan looked back up to study his expression.

He frowned. “You’re good enough.” Sotir touched her shoulder. “I see a few foggy paths that can lead you back to some semblance of normalcy. Better than this pretend to be dead deal. I know you can’t see it. In fact, you’d have to kill me to believe it, wouldn’t you?”

“I would never kill you.” Slowly, Pan stepped closer.

Sotir smiled. “I know you wouldn’t. You don’t like my power.”

Pan cocked her head. “Well, I would like it very much if it wasn’t mine but was still in my service.”

“Oh? I should inform you that I work for Scaldigir first.” Sotir’s smile faded. “But, it is in your service. I will help.”

Pan stepped askance and picked up a sketch book but didn’t open it. “Our lives are like this book; you’ve read more than me. You tell me you know the ending, but I can only guess.”

Sotir’s smile returned. “It doesn’t work exactly like that, but by any chance, is this book a comic book? I know you vastly prefer books with pictures.”

“Naturally.” Pan reached for his staff and gently tugged.

A flicker of excitement passed over his face, but a flicker of movement captured Pan’s attention more. Pan saw Brynn’s ghost waiting against the wall. Pan let go of Sotir’s staff and let him keep it. She held her book of sketches tight.

Brynn cleared her throat. “Go ahead. I’ll wait.”

Pan glared.

Sotir followed her gaze. “Is something wrong? Are we not on our own?”

“You should go,” Pan said. “Brynn’s here.”

Slowly, Sotir shook his head. “I’m not going to leave you alone with her ghost.”

Brynn huffed. “Tell him that I have no intention of harming you or whatever it is that’s got him bothered. We need to talk. You need some direction…some encouragement.” Brynn looked like her old, living self. She crossed her arms. “I won’t say it when you’re distracted. And, Mother Tree, are you distracted.”

“You really have to go.” Pan glared at Brynn, but she directed the words to Sotir.

She would show Brynn that she could focus. Pan thought focus was one of her strengths, but Brynn could never acknowledge a good thing in Pan. Pan would prove herself over and over, if that was what it took.

Brynn raised her hands. “Oh, don’t let me stop you from breaking any rules, Pan. Please.”

Pan felt her cheeks flush. “I’ll break any arbitrary rule I like. Sotir, go for now. We’ll talk later.”

Sotir didn’t move.

“Go.” Pan nudged him toward the door.

“I’m staying nearby.” Sotir opened the door and drifted outside. He closed the door slowly, very slowly behind him.

Brynn looked towards the ceiling. She carried her own spectral staff, which looked like a pipe of smoke. “I thought he’d never leave.”

“What do you want? Just spell it out for me.”

Brynn smiled. “Era. Fight her. Hurt her. Make enough of a show of it that you can get a bigger audience for your mischief.”

“I’ll fight her, but I don’t want any more of an audience. And, the Scaldin don’t want me to have one. After all of this is over, I’m going to pretend to be dead. Did you miss that part?” Pan crossed her arms. “What exactly do you have in mind?”

“Just focus on Era for now,” Brynn said.

Pan threw up her hands. “Why don’t you just tell me what you want to happen. You clearly know.”

Brynn’s expression turned hard to read. “I’m still trying to work it out. I just need you to follow my guidance. After all, I’m your mentor.”

“You are a dead woman, who missed her chance to be a mentor to me,” Pan said. “… or to Aria, Sotir, and just about everyone else along the way.”

“Ouch.” Brynn smiled a little.

“They don’t think I should trust you. And, I think they’re right.”

Brynn held up a single smoky finger. “As if I’m the only one who tries to manipulate you. They’re doing the same. Aria wants you home. She wants you to fall in line. Sotir wants you to be his wife. Alban wants you to do the bidding of Scaldigir. I have it all right, don’t I?”

Pan said, “Go on.”

“I’m offering you something that you’ll find valuable. This entire time I’ve been trying to give you a little freedom. But you’ll have to believe in me.” Brynn begged.

Pan frowned and spread her hands. “Freedom? Explain to me how I can be free, and I’ll decide if I want it.”

A long silence followed.

Brynn shook her head. “No. I could have explained it before. Now…I can’t. Because the chance that you’ll throw it away is too great to take. Stay the course, Pan. I will visit you again, once you reach the planet. Who knows? If you find the right place, you could botch all my instructions and still get where we’re going.”

“Really? Maybe, you should spirit board all this information to Irini. Sounds like she’d be a bigger help. In any case, you might have let me have my fun with Sotir.” Pan turned away.

“Don’t be blind. And, remember I’m not the only one who exerts control over you. Now – stay the course.” Brynn left through a wall.

Does she know me? When have I ever quit?

Pan watched Brynn go. She wondered what little gift Brynn had in mind.

“Alright, Irini, which of these planets fits our needs?” Alban gestured to the three screens again.

Irini didn’t look at the pictures. She just closed her eyes and repeated her requirements: deserted, find truth, clear Pan’s name, and they all survive the fight with Era.

She felt Sotir at one side and Alban at the other. With her eyes closed, they seemed like tall columns of warmth.

Irini thought again: somewhat deserted, clear Pan’s name, get a good read for Sotir, get the truth, and survive.

Irini opened her eyes. She startled to see Aria and some newly arrived officers. Irini started to sweat. She had enough people to perform for.

She looked down at her hand and saw only two, fairly strong threads. One thread led to a screen, showing a green and blue planet. The other led off, beyond the bridge, out ahead. Irini’s mouth opened and stayed open.

She looked at Sotir and smiled. Then, she told Alban, “The middle one. That one looks really good.”

“Wonderful. We’ll head there. Sotir do a quick read on it for me.” Alban waved Aria and Irini away. “Back to your Peril.”

Irini guessed he’d heard her talk about the game.

Aria sighed. Aria was winning. She had nothing to complain about. Or, at least, Irini thought Aria was winning. Neither of them could really tell. It looked like it might go on for a few hours.