Irini needed to pee again. She shifted side to side. The other two shuttles briefly parked near theirs, and she got ready to move onto one. She wouldn’t see her companions, until Era was dead.

Alban beckoned the arcanes close. He addressed Sotir, Aria, and Irini. “I have a job for each of you.”

Irini hurried to his side. She knew she would have a shuttle to herself, plus some crew.

Alban continued, “Aria. There’s not much you can do during the battle, but you can read Era. If all goes as planned, we’re going to talk to her and get her to make an admission about Tingaran station. We’ll record the confession and use it as proof against the Soffigen.” Alban paused and looked at Pan. “And to partially clear Pan’s name. We’re going to try to lead Era to say the things that need to be said. But, let’s not make her too mad.”

“I’ll read her while you question her,” Aria said.

“Yes.” Alban gave her a short nod. Then, her turned to Irini. “Irini, you’re going to help Pan during the fight. Let her know Era’s location. Offer guidance on the best places to go. Keep track of Pan for us. I fully expect her to lose her tracker at some point.” Alban gestured to Irini’s shuttle. “Your corner of the shuttle is all prepared.”

Irini nodded. “I’ll do my best. But, what happens if Era comes to the shuttle?”

“You should be able to move. If Era gets to the shuttle, Pan has the pictures, so she can portal you and the crew an escape.”

Irini nodded again. She liked to hear that.

Alban faced Sotir. “You know what to do. Help Pan win and read Era – if there’s time.”

Sotir headed towards his shuttle.

Irini wandered towards hers. She kept looking back. “Do you think…Era would want my power?”

“She’s not a reaper,” Sotir said. “She just has many powers.”

Irini meandered two more steps.

“I’ll keep her distracted,” Pan promised. “I can be quite the thorn in a person’s side when I want to.”

Irini took a deep breath. “Okay.”

Alban waved her off. Aria would get to stay with Alban. Pan couldn’t stay with anyone. Sotir and Irini both had a shuttle to themselves. They would have pilots and a handful of crew. Irini wished she could have more, in particular an experienced arcane. She felt unprepared. Though, she had to admit, her threadwork had really improved. She could get the thread to go where she wanted it now, assuming she asked the right questions.

Pan waved goodbye to Sotir. He waved back, so confident. Had he played it all out in his head and knew they would see each other again?

He gave her a final look – one that suggested she shouldn’t worry. Though, he frowned as he turned.

Pan still couldn’t decide what she would do. At some point, would Alban and Brynn disagree? Would she play the game Brynn’s way? Or Alban’s?

“Come on, Pan.” Aria beckoned her to the ship.

Pan lingered in the shuttle doorway. “What if Era comes for you? What if she just takes you all hostage?”

Alban waited inside the dim shuttle. “Don’t worry. We’ll keep moving. And, at some point the Ischyros will return. They’re effecting repairs as we speak.” Alban watched Pan. “If any of us seem to be in danger, Sotir will know. He’ll warn us. He thinks you’ll win but admits to some unknowns.” Alban stared hard. “Brynn.”

“What about her?” Pan slowly crossed the shuttle threshold.

“You tell me. Is she still around?” Alban gestured to Aria. “No lies. I’ve got the aura reader here.”

“She has some kind of plan. She wants me to fight Era, and then, at some point, the battle moves into a phase two. I have no idea what that means. She says it’s important.” Pan winced. “I’m still a bit scared of her, but I’m also curious. She makes a compelling argument.”

Aria’s eyes widened.

Alban’s narrowed. “That is not what I want to hear. You take orders from me. Not some dead mentor. Do you understand?”

“She promises...” Pan didn’t really know what Brynn promised. “Nevermind.”

Alban glanced at Aria as if to ask whether Pan meant it.

Aria rocked a hand back and forth, indicating that Pan was wishy-washy. “She’s uncertain.”

Well, she read me right this time. Pan tried to muster the resolve to do as Alban asked.

Slowly, he handed her the suppressant. “You do not waste an opportunity to use this. Do you understand?”

Pan nodded. “I will do my best.”

Aria said, “She means that.”

“Alright. Time for practice.” Alban turned away. “This might be short, but let’s do what we can.” Alban mumbled into his com, telling all three shuttles to go to their positions.

Aria grabbed Pan’s arm. “Good luck. No matter what happens, just know I see you in gold.”

Pan felt her face go warm. “Me, gold? I think that’s a better color on you.” Pan paused. “You never gave up on me.”

Aria wore her surprise. “And, I never will.”

Amid the snow, Pan shivered. She couldn’t afford to wear heavy clothes because the quarry, beach, and canyon all offered warm temperatures. Pan decided she might not use this location all that often. Then again, Pan had better success levitating snow than water. She didn’t know how other telekinetics did it. Moving a church, as if a toy built of blocks, was one thing. Moving amorphous masses of matter was another.

“Getting the hang of it?” Alban called. His voice came into her com, which sat inside her ear. Alban expressed his opinion that the com and tracker wouldn’t last long, but he gave one to Pan just the same.

“I can move between locations just fine. I have it memorized. It’s almost like I just learned the layout of my new apartment.”

“Good, but I meant the complex telekinesis.”

Pan sighed. “I just can’t do it. I think I might just levitate some sharks onto her head, jaws first. That should do something.”

Alban laughed.

It surprised Pan.

“If you find any fish with dagger like protrusions, don’t forget to grab them.”

“Dagger-like protrusions. I’ve never heard of that.” Pan imagined fish with dagger arms, dagger horns, and dagger…

A second voice came over the com. It belonged to Sotir. He sounded like he smiled. “They exist. Fish with sharp limbs. Maybe not on this planet, but the possibility remains.”

“Can’t you figure that out?” Pan asked. “Read the oceans. Look into their futures and their pasts?”

“Only if it’s useful to you,” Sotir answered.

Pan felt a bit warmer, but the sensation only lasted so long. She could think of many things that Sotir might look at – many things she had a use for. And, she came to think that his previous digressions were not all that bad, considering she now wanted him to run the readings on her behalf.

“Alright, enough practice. Come to the quarry,” Alban ordered. “Era hasn’t found you yet, but she must be getting close. Let’s try to get that recording of her.”

Pan sighed. “I’m coming back. Don’t move the shuttles till I portal.”

“Of course not. Alban out.”

“I forgot to give you luck,” Sotir said. “When you come through my shuttle, I’ll remedy that.”

“Yeah.” Pan shut off her com. To the barren landscape, she announced, “I waited two damn years to return. Who knew it would be this easy?”

Pan bowed her head and considered Brynn. In two years, Pan tried to make sense of her former mentor. She still didn’t get her.

Brynn destroyed every chance she had to have a normal life. She’d waived her right to produce children. She’d waived her right to seek a spouse. She’d gone so far as to make sure she got herself sterilized. Then, Brynn forced worse on the other reapers. Pan couldn’t understand that kind of guilt. Did Brynn grow up with no confidence or trust in herself?

Pan should take the Scaldin’s deal. She would take it. Because if Brynn found herself in Pan’s place, Brynn wouldn’t.

A light glinted over the snow. Pan raised her head and saw Brynn. She seemed almost alive and glittered with a weak light.

“Waiting for your orders?” Brynn asked.

“I thought I had them.”

Brynn smiled. “You can’t stay too long. She’ll locate you. As soon as she wakes up that is.” Brynn brushed her skirt. The fabric glittered. “One more stretch left. Shall we review your goal in this battle.”

Pan narrowed her eyes. “You want me to fight her and be loud about it. Then, comes phase two, and I have no idea what that is.”

Brynn nodded. “Fight Era. I’ll give you more instructions when you need them. Don’t use that suppressant first chance you get. You might want to save it for later.”

Pan held up the small gun. She looked at the suppressant liquid inside. “I’ll never be free of you, will I?”

Brynn just smiled ruefully. “Stay the course.”

“Is there some rule that you can’t speak plainly?” Pan tucked the gun away.

“Kind of. But the rule is my own.” Brynn regarded Pan with a strange look in her eyes. “I think I finally understand you – after all these years.”

“That’s great.” Pan pulled a picture from her breast, the one with Irini’s shuttle. “I still struggle to understand you.”

Brynn smiled plainly. “That’s fine. Understanding should trickle down.” Her dress floated up and revealed her lack of feet or legs. “It’s never too late to make a change, Pan. You, first. Now, me. Promise you’ll stay the course.”

Pan exhaled. “I will. I’ll stay the course.”

Brynn raised an eyebrow. “Good. Soon you’ll see the last of me.” Brynn faded away.

Pan’s heart beat fast. She didn’t feel the cold. Instead, she sweat.

“Pan,” Sotir called. “You need to get to the quarry.”

Pan rubbed her forehead. Then, she activated her com. “I know. I know.”

“Are you alright?”

“I’m cold. I’m going now.” Pan drew her portal and hopped to Irini’s shuttle.

“Hi. Alban thinks you’re taking too long. He wanted to call you, but Sotir said he’d do it. Did you get the call?” Irini hopped up from the corner and ran to Pan. She stopped, knit her brow, and took a good look. “You okay?”

“I’m fine, and yeah, I got the call. The snowy landscape is just spooky. Very desolate. I couldn’t help staring for a while. I won’t be going back there alone. Unfortunately, next time, it’ll be with Era.” Pan looked at the beach picture and drew her portal.

“Okay, I’ll tell him you’re coming,” Irini said.

“Who?”

“Alban.” Irini stared hard at Pan.

“Right. Do that.” Pan stepped into her beach portal.

The wind picked up her hair, and the air smelled of salt. Pan’s heart fluttered. She waited not a moment on the sand. She drew her portal to the next shuttle – Sotir’s shuttle.

“There you are.” Sotir faced her portal as she arrived.

She glanced sidelong at the pilots; then, approached Sotir. Pan walked slow. “You have my good luck charm?”

Sotir shot a glance at the pilots too. “I do.” He curled his finger and beckoned her.

Pan reached Sotir and stopped.

He whispered in her ear, “You’re fading from my sight.” He drew back and looked into her eyes.

“It’s too late to stop now,” she whispered back.

Poor Sotir had reached another hiccup in his view of Pan. They’d come to another history shaping choice, and Pan still didn’t know what she would do. She told Alban she would fight Era, use the strategy to its full effect, and suppress the Soffigen arcane. She told Brynn she would fight Era, make it flashy, and wait for phase two.

“Good luck.” Sotir grabbed her arm. Then, he gave her a short kiss on the lips.

After the kiss, Pan avoided his eyes. She wore a sad smile, turned away, and stepped through a portal to the quarry.

Alban and Aria waited about two hundred feet away. They seemed relieved to see Pan, and Aria waved as Pan approached the shuttle. Alban walked out to greet her.

Once he got close enough, he started talking, “Aria told me you might want to leave after we defeat Era. At least, she’s worried there’s still a possibility.”

Pan felt a flicker of surprise. She stammered and tried to make a response.

“None of us wants that. Not Irini, not Aria, not…Sotir,” Alban said Sotir’s name in a teasing tone. “I don’t want you to leave either. I’m supposed to return with a reaper to rehabilitate. Aria wants to see you again. Sotir wants to see you a lot. They’re important to you. I’d even go so far as to say they’re the reason – Aria specifically – that you consider coming home at all.”

Pan waved a hand. “You have it all wrong. I’m coming back. I only wanted to avoid Scaldigir when I thought I would have a terrible life. I’ve decided anything the Scaldin offer is better than me on my own.”

Alban narrowed his eyes. “Really?”

“Yes,” Pan said. “I’m going to be like a normal arcane again, right?”

“Maybe. We’ll see what we can do.”

Pan sighed. She still felt the aftershock of Brynn’s appearance. Weakness flowed through her limbs, but her sweat began to die. She would face Era a thousand times if it would allow Brynn to go.

“Nerves getting the better of you?”

“No,” Pan half-lied. Her nerves weren’t for Era.

Alban clapped her on the shoulder. “What do you want, Pan? Why have you done all of this?”

“Right now, I just want to survive an encounter with Era.” Pan waited to see if Alban would take that answer.

He didn’t. He waited for more.

“I don’t know half the time. I want to be myself and not hide it. I want a little freedom. Maybe, not as much as I had when I was adrift in space, but I need more than the Scaldin gave me to start.” Pan paused and took a slow breath. “Later, when I get bored of all the fighting, I want to do all the things I could have done if I’d said nothing. I want to do them with Sotir and Aria.” Pan spread her hands. “So, I guess I’ll let Scaldigir absorb me back into its flow.”

Alban nodded.

Pan met his eyes. “I also want…”

“Yes?” he prompted.

Pan took a deep breath. “Aria says…” She struggled to find the right words.

Alban listened, and Pan wondered if he remembered that they needed to keep their eyes open for Era. Judging from his attention, the concern of Era seemed forgotten.

“Aria says that there are colors reserved for people who do very good things, like bronze and silver and...”

“Gold,” Alban supplied. “For acts of heroism and selflessness. Fire-fighters, navy officers, rescue crews, nurses…”

Pan felt her eyes go wide. He knew?

Pan said, “I never thought that described me, but…”

“She disagrees.”

Pan looked at Aria and found her friend debating against walking over herself. Far off, Aria paced back and forth. She watched Pan.

Pan turned her attention back to Alban. “It might bring me trouble, but I can’t help it. I want you all to see me in gold.” Pan’s eyes felt warm and a bit wet. She thought it would embarrass her to say, but she said it anyway. “I wanted Brynn to see me that way.”

Alban nodded slowly. “I figured. Come on.” He beckoned.

Pan followed him back to the shuttle.