“What would I do if I were you?” Winters repeated. “Not to sound insubordinate, but why me?” Antoth waved him off.

“Is modesty a trait amongst all of your people?” Io scoffed at the notion as Antoth carried on. “For one, you have extensive training in your species’ guard force…or army…or whatever you call it. For another, you were instrumental in the defense of the village last night. And finally, as I said, I want a non-Cauthan perspective on the situation. Perhaps you will consider something that we will not.” Veera patted her human on the knee.

“It would only help Russell, please?” He nodded and looked down at Io.

“It’s not like I have any objections to the idea, I was just surprised is all. Io, if you think I’m overlooking anything feel free to butt in.”

‘Of course sir, please proceed.’

“I guess let’s start with the current situation then, and maybe you can help me fill in the gaps of my knowledge Antoth.” The captain grunted in agreement. “The strength of the guard force has been cut by more than half until the injured have recovered. Even then, until you train more, its strength is reduced by a third. On top of that the leadership structure of the town has been changed dramatically. Somewhere between five and ten percent of the civilian population was killed either by raiders or by fire. The temple of Valta was looted completely. Does that about sum it up?” Antoth allowed a low, rumbling growl to escape his throat as Winters enumerated the challenges they faced.

“I suppose it does Winters, not a fantastic state of affairs as you can tell. What do you need to know in detail?”

“First of all, how many individuals are currently homeless?”

“You’d have to speak with Gentia for an exact count but I believe it’s somewhere around twenty five or thirty, and there’s plenty of families that lost their primary laborer. The drain on the granary will be tremendous.” Winters nodded as Io continued to take notes, playing with her hair between breaks. Every so often she would hum softly to herself or adjust the glasses that she’d procured for their planning session.

“What’s the situation over at Ratha’s temple?” Antoth’s face fell further at Winters’ question.

“Other than the building itself and that wall of trophies she’s so proud of, complete loss. Not a scrap of meat or leather to be found. Some of the tools and materials like salt are left but that’s it. Add on to that the fact that Ratha’s now lost five hunters this season and there’s an ursae out there…gods, and I thought what I asked of my men was difficult.”

“What do you mean Antoth?” Veera asked with a slight tilt of the head.

“Given that the two of you saw it firsthand I’m sure you know by now that I chose not to heavily fortify the gates. My men knew the risks but we all agreed that putting ourselves at risk was a better option than encouraging an enemy to find their own way in. Between that and what happened at the temple of Valta we probably saved quite a few lives. Now the struggle is keeping everyone else alive. Even if no one dies this winter the way things stand now many will suffer starvation. Families lost everything they had to fires. All of our meat is gone. There’s no more leather for garments or other products which means work at the temples of Tyrdus and the Twin Goddesses will suffer as well.” Winters realized what Antoth was trying to get at and finished the thought for him.

“So Ratha may have to send her remaining men out there with little upside and the risk of death is high.”

“Exactly Winters. A massive group of Cauthan just tromped through our forest. I’m sure there’s not a single chesko within a half day’s march of here right now. Ratha, if she cares about the village at all, will have to ask her hunters to brave the cold and the dark to feed and clothe us.” Io turned her nose up at that idea.

‘If her conversations with us are any indication, the only Cauthan eating meat this winter will be those who don’t need it because they still have the means to trade for it.’ Antoth shook his head in resignation, resting his elbows on his knees.

“That…is certainly what will happen if she does not have a change of heart. And to an extent I find it hard to blame her. I don’t envy anyone the task of evading death in the darkness, much less for charity.”

“So what do we do?” Veera asked, not seeing any easy way out of the situation.

“Uthos forgive me, but we need another miracle,” Antoth whispered, his voice low as if he were embarrassed at his own helplessness. “Gentia and I will ensure that the granary is under guard at all times and that what we have is put to the best use, but even when spring comes there will be fewer hands to work the fields…” Antoth ran a hand through his feathers as he trailed off, the longer term implications of the raid becoming more and more apparent. “Many in the village may have survived a quick death only to face a long and slow decline.”

“We will do what we can to help you Antoth, just let us know,” Winters promised, earning a quick and emphatic nod of agreement from Veera. “I can’t say for now that I would do anything differently than you are, but if anything comes to me I will be sure to find you.”

“Thank you Winters, and you as well Veera. We will need all the help we can get,” Antoth lamented, standing to indicate their meeting’s conclusion. “If anything occurs to either of you don’t hesitate to come to me or, I suppose, to Ratha. Thank you for your time.”

“Of course Antoth, we’ll leave you to it,” Veera said as they exited his private chambers and returned to the front of the barracks. As they made to exit the building Antoth hailed them one last time.

“Winters!”

“Yes Antoth?”

“Even in this state the gods would surely look down on us if we did not pay our debts. You saved us all, no matter what may come in the future. Name a reward and I will do whatever I can to see it done.” Winters froze at the Guardian’s promise. He was about to shake his head when a thought occurred to him. It appeared that Io had come to the same conclusion as she began anxiously waving to get his attention on his HUD.

‘Sir! The comms!’ He nodded and took a deep breath, most unsure of how his request would be taken.

“Antoth, this may sound…blasphemous. But there is only one thing your village possesses that is of value to me that I would take from you right now. Your people will need all the fur, leather, and food you can muster and I have plenty of my own. If I can find it in the wreckage…I would request the ornament from atop Vash’s staff.”

“Russell!” Veera gasped in disbelief. “Surely there must be something else?” He shook his head.

“Do you remember when I told you about how my pod is still broken? About how I can’t contact my people the way things stand? That hunk of metal is the only thing I’ve seen that will allow me to repair what I need to.” Veera looked at her mate for a long time, weighing her antipathy for Vash, her love for her human, and her devotion to her gods all at once. She looked over her shoulder at Antoth who was similarly lost in thought. Eventually the black-furred guard spoke.

“It is an…unprecedented request, but most of what’s happened in the last day has been unprecedented. In a perverse way it might almost be fitting that one we associated with Kel take an icon of Seil from the ashes of the temple. Furthermore, as you say Winters that hunk of metal wont feed anyone or keep them warm through the snows. Valuable as it may be, it may be the one thing we can afford to lose. It makes me uneasy but I will grant your request.” Winters bowed deeply.

“Thank you Antoth. I understand what I’m asking of you and I will do whatever I can to earn it.”

“You already have, soldier. Given what we’re about to do I will accompany you. Come now.” As they stepped into the street Antoth took a moment to address the dozen or so Cauthan who awaited an audience with him. “I must take the human to the ruins of the temple of Seil. The gods saw fit to deliver him to us in our time of great peril and so we shall repay him for the many lives he has saved. I shall return as soon as my business is concluded. Thank you all for your patience at this time. May the gods watch over us.” With murmured assent the three of them headed for the village center. When they arrived they found the remains of the civilian funeral pyre as well as the lone sun guard standing watch over his burned temple. As Winters approached he walked forward to meet them.

“Your blade saved my life human. I made sure that it drank deep of the blood of the enemy. It was even more enjoyable to fight with you than against you.” With a grim smile the sun guard proffered the blade, which Winters accepted with thanks.

“Thank you, I’m glad to hear it. What will you do now?” He asked.

“I will do what is needed until a new leader for our village is selected. I don’t think anyone is under any illusions as to what happened to Vash. My inability to save him or the temple is a shame I will carry for the rest of my days. Perhaps in service of the next sun priest I will find redemption, if he or she will have me. Until then I will help the people as I can.” Winters nodded, unable to find fault with anything the guard had said. Feeling uncertain as to how the news of his prize would be taken, Winters turned to Antoth. The guard captain approached immediately and explained the situation. From the dark scowl on the sun guard’s face it was clear what he thought of the whole idea, but in the end he made no attempt to interfere. He was more than agreeable to Antoth’s logic that, without the human, neither of them would be standing there to argue the point. “Please show the dead respect, human.”

“I will,” Winters agreed solemnly, tentatively placing an armored boot on the charred remnants of the temple. Satisfied that it would hold him he began to slowly climb the wreckage, holding out the B-MASS so that Io could help him locate what they sought. As they neared the top Io pointed toward a large fallen beam on their left.

‘I believe we might begin there, sir.’

“Understood. Thanks Io.” As Winters bent down to lift the burnt log up and away, he and Io took pause. She had detected the chemical signature of a burnt body. “This feels wrong, Io.”

‘I never had reason to like him in life, but I must agree with you sir. I feel as though we are desecrating a tomb.’

“Let’s just get this over with then,” Winters growled, straining and lifting the beam aside. In the ash below he saw what he was looking for, a deformed lump of metal covered in soot. It fit easily in his palm. Holding the trinket to his chest he gave thanks, praying that the dead might be at peace. His grisly task done, Winters descended from the heap of scrap. “Thank you Antoth. If you ever considered your village indebted to me, there is no further need.”

“Then if you will excuse me, I must be off.” With a brief word of parting Veera and Winters bade the captain farewell.

“What now?” Veera asked, looking at the ornament clutched in Winters’ glove.

“I think I should make a visit to my pod. It’ll give me some time to think as well. Who knows, maybe we can come up with another miracle?” He said, his tone making clear his lack of confidence on that front Veera’s feathers fluttered in a light breeze as she nodded to him.

“Much as I want to stay with you right now, I will stay here and try to help then. If I’m not at home look for me at the temple of Meylith. I’m sure there will be something for me to do.” Winters took her hand in his own.

“They don’t deserve you,” he said lovingly.

“I know Russell, but now is not the time for petty grievance. I’m alive, healthy, and warm. My home is untouched, as is my food and clothing. Many cannot say that. What sort of woman would I be if I turned around and spat on them for their misfortune? Besides, I assure you this is all purely selfish on my part,” she informed him with a sly grin.

“Oh? And how does that work exactly?” He inquired, feeling a bit lighter as they bantered.

“You and I saved this place. I have no intention of letting it all go to hell now,” Veera declared, earning a laugh from her human.

“A fine sentiment Veera. I’ll be back before dark. I promise.” She pierced him with her eyes.

“Make sure you are, my love.” With those words the two of them parted ways, their spirits bolstered by knowledge that they were strong and that in the coming months it would be the strong who determined the fate of their home.

-----

Winters exited the west gate dragging the corpses of three raiders with him. He tossed them atop a burning pile of bodies that had been built outside the walls. It was a grim task, but one that he took on willingly. Io protested.

‘Doesn’t this seem a waste, sir? They are being burned with all of their armor, weapons, and clothing. There’s even some hyrven fur in there!’

“I understand where you’re coming from,” Winters agreed, nodding to the guards who were overseeing the task as he continued on towards the forest. “But remember how we felt going through the temple of Seil? I imagine the Cauthan view this much the same. There’s no way they’d burn those resources otherwise. It’s got to be something religious.”

‘Yes sir, but even so! If there was ever a desperate time for desperate measures this would probably be it, no?’

“It’s not our call to make Io. Remember what Gentia told us about Veera, how she almost starved herself on account of honor and pride? It’s a part of who they are. We have no right to judge, especially not after what we did.” His words caused Io to fall silent, her look downcast and dismayed. When they were safely out of sight of the village she finally spoke again.

‘Are you…angry with me sir?’

“About last night?”

‘Yes. I allowed you to lose control and then I invoked the women you love to fix my mistake. I was so caught up in the fact that I was becoming human that I abandoned my post, so to speak.’ That remark was more than necessary to draw Winters’ attention away from thoughts of Jess or Veera.

“Wait, become human? What do you mean Io?” The VI held out her hand, a digital heart beating just above it as it rotated slowly. Everything was there from the four chambers, to the aorta, to the bundle of nerves that regulated the heartrate. Winters eyes went wide as he took a moment and focused on his own pulse. The two were out of sync. “Io…is that…is that what I think it is?!” With little solid memory of the slaughter and immediate aftermath, Winters hadn’t recalled Io’s admission to Veera about her new biological subroutines.

‘It is, sir. This is my heart. I have lungs, a brain, and an endocrine system as well. I’ve even begun to work on non-essential sensory systems as a way to further integrate myself with the sensors of your armor.’ Io’s momentary excitement vanished as quickly as it had come. ‘This is why I was not myself last night. For lack of a better term I evolved as combat began, my change triggered by the sudden onslaught of stress and fighting. I shirked my duties as a VI in favor of the desires of Io the woman, who wished to fight and kill at your side. I’m so sorry.’ Winters had stopped walking, standing in the sun and shade of the early afternoon.

“You’re…really alive?” He asked in an awestruck whisper.

‘I retain all of my cognitive processing speed and abilities but…yes sir. My programming demands that my heart beat and my lungs breathe. It is most inefficient,’ she complained.

“Oh my god, Io! You’re alive!” Winters cried happily, tears forming at the corner of his eyes. “You’re…wow! I did leave all my booze back on the Lancer though; sorry we can’t have a toast.”

‘I…excuse me?’ Io replied, dumbstruck at his reaction.

“When you first came alive Io you wanted to fight with me you said? It wasn’t just me, right? I wasn’t the only one who wanted to tear them apart?” Winters asked desperately. Io reached out to him, cursing her lack of a body as she understood what her partner was searching for.

‘Of course, Russell. They were attacking our home. They were threatening the people you…we love. I was with you all the way, sir. I only was able to stop you at the end because I was able to achieve in seconds what took you and your body hours to do. For the briefest of moments I wanted you to fire your rifle,’ she admitted, her face showing her shame. Winters’ began walking again, looking lovingly at his VI.

“We kept it together though, in the end, right? Somehow.”

‘Yes sir. We eliminated the threat and did not pursue. If anything our abject brutality may even prevent future raids if the story spreads.’

“I’m not ready to be that optimistic Io, but I’m not angry at you. I don’t think I could ever be after all that. I’m really, really happy for you actually. I know you’ve had a sense of mortality for a long time now, but this is…I don’t even know what to say. I’m not even in Beta and I know that I witnessed history last night!”

‘Oh yes, sir.’ Io looked at him slyly. ‘I daresay you also made history last night. I’m sure pretty much every marine in Delta wants to skin you alive right now.’ Winters blushed fiercely and rubbed his neck with a free hand.

“If there’s one thing I won’t ever regret about last night, it’s that,” he admitted.

‘I assumed as much sir. You really do love her.’

“She saved me, Io. You both did in your own ways. Becoming one with Veera was…I don’t know. I’m no poet. I won’t bother trying to accurately describe it because I’d just end up describing how good alien anatomy feels. All I know is that in spite of the species barrier and everything else it felt right. It felt natural. It didn’t matter that she was covered in fur and could have potentially opened up my femoral artery if the position had been different.” Io smirked at him, her fears about him and her own self temporarily held at bay by Winters’ own introspection, self-consciousness, and blunt honesty.

‘Now that was exceedingly romantic sir, I’ll be sure to pass it on the next time I see Veera,’ she teased.

“You will do no such thing Io, but let’s focus up for now, alright? We both did terrible things to save the people we wanted to save. That’s part of being a soldier and I’m glad you’ve found your way into life…real life. There’s been a lot of good that’s come out of this, even if I’m sure I’ll have nightmares later. What do we need to repair the comms? Full replacement?”

‘No sir, just this internal control panel.’ Io brought up a spinning image of some sort of electronic component resembling a miniature motherboard. ‘The antenna itself was adequately shielded during the drop.’

“Good. Let’s go see how our power stores are looking.”

-----

As they arrived at the pod it became clear to Winters and Io that the retreating nomads had not decided to head west. The location was undisturbed, their footprints from their day of sledding already covered by fresh snow. After digging out enough snow to allow the door to open easily Winters activated the fabricator and checked the power levels. As they’d not used it at all since the beginning of winter there was plenty of spare power. With a few motions Io and Winters queued up the piece they needed and unceremoniously tossed Vash’s ornament into the resource hopper. The fabricator estimated two hours to completion so Winters climbed atop his pod, kicked the snow away, and sat down, his armor cushioning his body from the cold and the metal.

‘Time to think of a miracle?’ Io inquired.

“It sounds stupid but I can’t really fault Antoth. He’s not wrong. The village is still in dire straits. You saw what Veera looked like without meat for a few years. Imagine little cubs having to go through winter without meat, or women who will have to work the fields next year in the absence of a dead husband or father. There’s no doubt that Cauthan were never meant to survive on vegetables alone even if they did have enough, which honestly I don’t know that they do.” They both wore frowns as the ugly weight of reality descended yet again.

‘Indeed sir. Even if they are not as starved as Veera by the end of it, Antoth was right. These issues will be manageable this year but will compound down the line. I have been running simulations since he requested our help. There are a sizeable number in which the village slowly declines until its population is too small to sustain itself. They lost somewhere between ten and fifteen percent of their population in one night and that number is skewed towards able-bodied males. That’s to say nothing of how dangerous the forest must be right now, what with the remnants of the nomads and that ursae roaming around. Uh…sir? Did I say something untoward?’ Winters had fallen still and silent as Io outlined the many troubles facing the village. ‘Oh dear, you have that look in your eyes.’

“How much metal will we have left after the comms array is fixed?” He asked in a low, indecipherable tone.

‘Plenty sir, quantity was never the issue. We needed specific alloys we didn’t possess. Between the ornament and the thrusters we have an excess now. It’s not a huge stockpile, but it’s something.’ Winters swallowed hard.

“When you were showing Veera wedding bands a while back were there any that she…uh…fancied?” As Winters finished his thought Io’s eyes widened and she threw both hands over her mouth. He noticed she’d kept them immaculate as always, still painted green.

‘She was that good in bed?!’ Io gasped, giving Winters a coughing fit as the VI began to ramble. ‘There’s no way, there’s just no way a Cauthan female could be such a good lover, especially as a virgin! But what if she is? Sir! We cannot allow this information to get out, do you hear me? It would be a disaster! Men would flock to this system looking for mates, the human population would implode, there would be riots in the streets. Fires would burn and spread, mountains would collapse into the sea…’ At that point Winters was confused enough to remove his helmet and take a swig from his canteen. The water was crisp and cool, refrigerated nicely by the ambient temperature. After taking a few deep and calming breaths and watching the resulting clouds that formed at his lips, Winters replaced his helmet just in time to hear the conclusion of Io’s tirade. ‘It would be the end of human civilization as we know it and all because you had to stick your dick in furry!’ Winters’ stoic facial expression and unconcerned tone made it abundantly clear he’d not be humoring her at that moment.

“You feeling alright Io?”

‘Am I feeling alright?! I developed the ability to simulate biological stress reactions not a day ago. I have no real coping mechanisms. The village is in an undeniable state of peril and my partner just asked me about wedding rings for his alien mate! Is this the face of someone who is alright?!’ She cried hysterically, breathing heavily and tossing some stray locks of hair that had escaped her bun over her head. Winters didn’t bother holding in his laughter.

“Why do you think I’m asking you about wedding rings?”

‘With all due respect sir, I fail to see the connection between the stress we’re likely both feeling right now and the concept of holy matrimony. Oh dear…there’s that look again.’

“Trust me on this Io?” Winters requested earnestly. His companion relented easily, taking a few deep breaths herself.

‘You know I do, sir. I always have. I believe this pattern caught Veera’s eye.’ She snapped her fingers and displayed an image of a ring with patterning that, Winters had to agree, was eye catching. The metal band was inlaid with material that invoked a lightning strike, the forking and arcing patterns rounded and stylized away from the typical jagged profile that one might expect of the actual natural phenomenon. The random patterning wrapped around the band, ensuring that each viewing angle was different from the last.

“She’s got good taste. Is there…any chance we can queue up two of these?” He requested.

‘Well I do know both your sizes and we have adequate power for now. Did you have any colors in mind?’ Io asked, happy for a momentary distraction, even one of such magnitude. Winters rubbed his neck, his voice indicating his lack of comfort with the situation but also his determination to see it done.

“Well, I thought maybe hers could be in my armor’s color pattern?” Winters suggested, watching as Io split the image into two identical bands of different sizes, filling in the smaller with a light gray metal and a deep blue pattern.

‘I suppose I should inform you sir, the interior of the band would be an industrial grade plastic derivative. It will integrate seamlessly with the metal given the manufacturing process but it certainly won’t appraise very highly at a jeweler.

“Is that a problem?” Winters asked, unable to help a chuckle.

‘For you and a lady like Veera, I highly doubt it. I also happen to think you choice of color is inspired and, quite frankly, very sappy.’ Winters felt his cheeks burn. Io smiled at him. ‘Might I suggest this as a complement?’ At her words the second band was colored black with an inlay of dark, golden yellow to match Veera’s fur. The color of the metal was very similar to the color of the pod.

“All of this is doable?”

‘Yes sir. Between the large hunk of metal alloy we just acquired and all sorts of impurities laying around there’s more than enough to work with here. This will not be a complicated creation. Shall I?’ Io asked tentatively, watching as Winters laced his fingers together tightly and breathed in heavily, expanding his chest to almost maximum capacity. ‘What made you decide on this course of action, sir?’

“I’ve known for a while that I like Veera. Hell, I’ve known for a while that I love her. I know her species mates for life and I never really had any intention of trying to do anything but that…”

‘But?’

“But the last day changed everything,” Winters insisted. “And I don’t even mean the sex. I mean before that and after that. Neither of us can deny she brought me back from…wherever it was that I’d gone inside my own head. And today, well you actually picked it up a bit before I did.”

‘You mean the change in Veera’s behavior, the way she carries herself?’

“Exactly.”

‘Yes, I can certainly see why that would increase her appeal to you,’ Io agreed, stroking her chin in thought. ‘She killed three of her own kind without remorse, drawing strength from the act of defending her home. She stood tall among her people in the square and was honored as one of the village’s warriors. She holds council with her leaders without fear and carries herself tall and proud now. She was always tall, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen her take advantage of it that way until today. And of course, there’s you,’ Io added, fixing him with an insistent look.

“What about me?”

‘Oh come now, sir. Don’t tell me you didn’t carry yourself a bit differently the day after your first sexual conquest? It’s the same for her. She’s now most certainly a woman, an assertive woman at that.’ Winters groaned.

“Seriously Io?”

‘Yes seriously! She even said as much straight to your face! She said she was mated to the savior of the village. She is proud of you. She is proud that she bedded you. She is proud of the relationship that you share. Perhaps it is so easy for me to see because I am a third party-’

“An intimately involved third party,” Winters cut in with a smirk, submitting himself to the reality that he was indeed discussing his sex life with his VI.

‘Irrelevant! Wait…no. Completely relevant! In either case you surely understand what I’m saying, right? Aren’t you proud of her too?’ Io asked passionately. Winters nodded.

“Proud enough I want to make her mine, for real,” he agreed. “That’s why we’re making these.” He pointed with his eyes to the spot on his HUD where the fabricator queue was listed. “Because I need every reason in the world to come home alive.” Io turned her head back to him slowly, her face a mix of excitement and worry.

‘Sir?’

“You’re stressed out and don’t know what to do, right Io?”

‘Yes, sir.’

“The village has a food shortage, a shortage of material like leather and fur, and has a serious problem with the safety of the hunters that is keeping them pinned down close to home, right?”

‘Yes, sir?’

“We can solve all of those in one fell swoop,” Winters insisted, his mouth contorting into a battle-hardened grin. Io sat down as she began to understand what her operator was talking about.

‘You can’t possibly mean…?”

“That’s exactly what I mean, Io. We’re going to perform another miracle. We’re going to kill an ursae,” Winters declared, punching his armored fist into his palm. Io looked torn between elation and dread.

‘Oh Veera is going to absolutely kill us!’