As the Bardiche approached Lurren, Camellia joined Commander Rooks on the bridge. She crept through the open door and saw only Rooks, the bridge crew, Eva, and Meladee. Everyone else waited in the docking bay, ready to board the shuttles.

No one noticed Camellia, so she observed her friends.

Eva stared through the windshield, arms crossed. Camellia followed Eva’s gaze and saw stormclouds: the Northwest Squall. Eva seemed grim and a bit regretful.

Meladee also spotted the clouds. She frowned, sat on the floor, and tucked herself against a wall as if worried the Bardiche would go through that very moment.

Far from the wall, Rooks watched the darkening horizon, with concerned eyes. Perhaps, Rooks had second thoughts about sending the shuttles into the monster of a storm.

Camellia hung back. She looked at the floor and twisted her hands, one over the other. Minutes ago, she placed her mirror in one of Bardiche’s lockers. Actually, she had placed a decoy in the locker.

She’d boarded Halfmoon to get the mirror and trotted ahead of Adalhard and the others. Camellia entered her room, found the velvet bag, and froze. At that moment, she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t give it up, at least, not yet.

Camellia knew it could jeopardize Adalhard’s trust, but that whole situation was a bit of a mess anyway.

Camellia switched her mirror with a piece of stale bread. She found the bread in the lounge, left out, waiting for just such a purpose. No one would know. After all, no one could look at the object in the bag.

Rooks’ crew put stale bread in the locker. Camellia kept the mirror. How would she get out of this one, and was it worth it to get in?

I will give it to them – when this is all over. But, I can’t face this place, not without it.

“They’ve reinstated the security measures,” Eva said. “The storm generator is running.”

Camellia looked up, still unnoticed.

“Well, you did say this would happen. No way around?” Rooks asked.

“The entirety of Lurren is inside the storm.” Eva bowed her head.

Meladee still sat on the floor. “So, this is what the weather was like all the time, before you shut off the machine.”

Camellia stepped forward. “No, Meladee. Lurren has flora. Sun reached Lurren. It doesn’t storm all the time.”

All eyes found Camellia.

“Good to see you with us,” Rooks greeted.

Eva turned around. “The storms cycle, and it storms any time someone tries to enter. From our point of view, it might as well be all the time.”

Camellia nodded. “If we’d known how soon we’d be back, we could have avoided this part.” She looked between the storm and Rooks. “Can the shuttles get through?”

Rooks raised her eyebrows. “The only way to Lurren is through that storm. The Bardiche can handle it, but as discussed, we are not setting the Bardiche down. We’ll never be able to keep it clean.” Rooks studied the clouds and keyed her screen. “The shuttles will have some difficulty, but we’ll deal with it.”

“Maybe, I could whip up a spell. Or the Ferrans could.” Meladee stood up. “I don’t know what though. Some kind of stability for the shuttles.”

“That could help. A shield from lightning might be of use.” Rooks continued to read her screen. “Now, where to land?”

“I say, we go straight to the bunker.” Eva joined Rooks at the screen and pulled up one of their hand drawn maps. “The creature shouldn’t be able to reach, and I would rather cut out the walk in the storm.”

Rooks nodded. “The bunker then. We’ll leave soon. But first…” Rooks faced Camellia. “Give me your handkerchief.”

The bridge went silent.

“Why?” Camellia stammered.

“This is our last chance for intel. As I understand it, the closer we go, the less resistance we have. Out here, you should be able to have a pleasant conversation.” Rooks held out her hand. “Your handkerchief, please.”

Camellia’s mouth fell open.

Rooks looked around the bridge. “Any concerns?”

Eva scowled. “I think any communication with Ul’thetos is bad. How do we know it will show her the truth?”

Rooks inclined her head. “It might not, but we can find clues in the intel whether its good or bad. It’s worth the try.” Rooks stepped back. “You can hold her handkerchief if it makes you feel better.” Rooks gestured for Eva to step up.

Camellia walked to Eva’s side. “Probably best not to tell the others about this.” Especially...Florian. Camellia loved to use his personal name, but she was careful to say it only to him or in her own mind, especially since she was not yet clear of her web of lies.

She handed her handkerchief to Eva, letting it drop jerkily from her hand.

“Talk to it,” Rooks ordered. “Be subtle but try to get some information about its plans and its location.”

Camellia sighed and stepped away, to the edge of the upper bridge. Below everyone shimmied as far from Camellia as their stations would allow, and Rooks waved the second-level crew back.

Camellia stared at the storm and heard silence. She waited. I won’t initiate contact. I’ll wait for Ul’thetos. Camellia sighed again and waited more. Still, nothing. Just as she was ready to declare the monster asleep, Camellia heard the call.

Hello again, puzzle maker. You’re back, and soooooo soon. Ul’thetos tried to send images, supposedly joyous ones.

Camellia caught only hints of snake filled balloons. So, what are you up to? Camellia sent a vision of reclining flesh, adding a soda complete with a straw in one of its tentacles. Resting?

No, thinking of swallowing you. Ul’thetos showed her the options from infection to literal consumption.

First, Camellia saw herself infected. Monstrous flesh trickled across her own. Then, she saw a tentacle pull her into its bulk, and finally, she saw the creature’s mouth open wide.

Camellia blocked her view of the fantasy. You have a mouth? Where? How many?

Here. I’m all around.

Camellia frowned. That answer didn’t really follow. She kept her next thoughts to herself. She found it easy to block Ul’thetos from so far a distance.

Ul’thetos was obviously awake. Camellia wondered how to get more information. Maybe, she could design a game and sneak through Ul’thetos’ memories while the creature was distracted.

Puzzle maker? Puzzle maker? PUZZLE MAKER?

Sorry, I’m still here, Camellia thought.

Ul’thetos sent only its petulance to tell her what it thought of the pause.

A month is no time at all to you. Besides, I was trying to think of a puzzle. Would you like one?

Yeeees, the thing called across the distance.

Give me a moment to finish it. I’ve not gone. Camellia tried to think of a puzzle to interest the thing. Something distracting...Volanter spells! No wait, that’s a terrible idea.

She turned to the others, keeping her metal defenses strong. “I need a puzzle. Any ideas?”

“A puzzle?” Rooks asked.

“It likes puzzles,” Camellia said. “I need an idea for a very good one, but I’m drawing a blank.”

Rooks drummed her fingers on her console. “I could think up a military puzzle.”

“How about a magic one?” Meladee said.

Camellia shook her head. “No, we don’t want to teach Ul’thetos magic.”

“I could design one based on the circuitry of self-aware synthetic beings, but I have no way to communicate it to you,” Eva offered.

Synthetic beings? Circuitry? Military puzzles? Camellia let the options tumble through her mind. I just need something… Recent memories of her trip outside the wormhole sparked, and an idea took shape.

“Oh.” Camellia held up a finger and faced the windshield.

I’m sorry. I was having some difficulty thinking of a puzzle.

It’s fine. A year is but a blink of my eyes. What is your puzzle? asked Ul’thetos.

Camellia hid her skepticism at Ul’thetos’ calm. Moments ago, Ul’thetos had panicked at her perceived absence.

Camellia began, Your goal in this puzzle is to analyze several languages and cultures. You will determine whether these peoples have visited Iruedim or sent colonists in centuries past.

Camellia organized her knowledge of Girandola: its languages, species, and government. Thoughts of the Finial and the Galactic Enchanter came to the forefront, but she planned to show Ul’thetos every planet, every person, and every artifact.

Ul’thetos sifted through the puzzle. A hard one.

The best part is that even I don’t know the answer, Camellia said.

You want me to perform your duties. Ul’thetos laughed. How sneaky, Puzzle Maker.

Still, Ul’thetos took the bait and spent long moments sorting through Camellia’s memories, carefully building its picture of the place outside the wormhole.

While the creature puzzled, Camellia cozied up to the thing. She shivered as she performed the mental equivalent of a snuggle with the pile of flesh. Sinking into the wide space that was the creature’s mind, she forced herself to a place of tentative comfort.

As she sank, she became aware of Ul’thetos’ body, just as she would be aware of her own. She saw where the creature’s tendrils snaked, thin and winding. They reached far and almost touched the robots’ bunker. The thing had resettled itself.

Camellia saw where the bulk of the monster festered, deep in the heart of a city, but she could not locate the head. Ul’thetos did not think of its head as so unique from the rest of its body, and it became lost in a mass of flesh. Although Camellia was sure they would find the head in the northwest, she abandoned that pursuit and checked the rest of the creature’s whereabouts.

The beach.

Camellia remembered the place where she had designed her original puzzles. That secret beach had remained open, but now, she saw the reality of it: surrounded on all sides by flesh. Flesh even floated deep in the south sea and snaked underground.

This can’t be new. Ul’thetos has always been in the south sea?

Camellia checked the creature’s mind and found that Ul’thetos still focused hard on Girandola. Camellia searched for one last piece of information, anything that might become the ace in her deck. Nothing really stood out.

So, Camellia checked the southeastern waters and prayed they remained clear.

Want to land? Ul’thetos seemed to pounce on Camellia’s activities. Come. Land. I’ll let you.

Damn.

You can land right here. It showed her its secret beach, and she heard its distant laugh. Fuzzy memories of celebrations on that beach followed.

I have to go.

I haven’t solved your puzzle.

That’s fine. Me either. Camellia held out her hand for her handkerchief.

Eva returned it.

“I trust it’s awake?” Rooks raised an eyebrow.

“Very much so.”

“What’s the situation?” The question came from Eva.

“We could land on the beach by Faustina. Or, we could try to get close to the synthetic’s bunker. Unfortunately, Ul’thetos can almost reach.” Camellia hated to report the bad news, but she had worse.

“Reach what?” Eva knit her brow. “The bunker?”

Camellia nodded.

“Dammit.” Eva tossed her hands up. “I’d like to avoid a day long trek, but if we have to…”

“I think we should take our chances with the bunker,” Rooks said. “You are aware that Ul’thetos can move? Ul’thetos could just pick up and cover any place we want to be. Now, Sten says that’s unlikely, but what do you think Camellia?” Rooks set an intense gaze on Camellia.

Camellia thought back to her recent conversation. “Ul’thetos isn’t going to move. Ul’thetos is sick and tired. A little scared, and very lonely.” Camellia frowned and bowed her head. “Besides, parts of Ul’thetos are buried. It would be difficult to move those. Especially the ones that lead into…the south sea.”

The group fell silent.

“Excuse me?” Rooks asked.

“Ul’thetos has a lot of tentacles in the south sea.” Camellia raised her head and watched Eva.

Eva did not seem particularly surprised.

Rooks stood straight and drew a sharp breath. “That’s not good.”

Camellia shook her head.

“We’ll fix this before it becomes a problem,” Eva promised.

Camellia had the distinct impression that Eva had known.

“You’re right we will, but it still complicates cleanup.” Rooks crossed her arms and shook her head. “Dammit. Alright, let’s go.” Rooks headed for the exit. She beckoned the others to follow. “Bardiche, hold position. And keep coms open.”

Rooks led them off the bridge to an elevator in the hall. She put her hand on a pad. The device scanned her palm, and the door sprang open.

Rooks got inside and waited for the others to join her. “Camellia, where do you think we should land?”

Camellia entered the elevator. “The bunker…but let’s send something to the south beach.”

Rooks nodded. “A decoy. But, I have to say it sounds expected.”

Eva narrowed her eyes and added, “Ul’thetos has already presented that location as a trap. It will never believe we want to send someone there.”

Camellia held up her hands. “Just listen. We could send a small shuttle.”

Eva interrupted, “Camellia, we could program a course into the shuttle, but I don’t know how it would stay on course in a storm.”

“Please just listen.”

The elevator got quiet.

Rooks waved for Camellia to begin again. “Go on.”

Camellia took a deep breath. “We don’t need the shuttle to stay on course. We can contact Ul’thetos and make it think that someone is in the shuttle and wants to land. Ul’thetos will use its limited energy and focus on the shuttle. It’ll grab and pull it to the beach.”

Rooks cocked her head. “That does solve the storm problem and would serve as a good decoy, but…” Rooks held up a finger. “Who do we say is inside? Do we pretend we kept a few cultists from the battle? Say we’re sending them?”

That wasn’t a bad idea, but Camellia thought she had a better one.

Camellia looked down. “Well, I was actually thinking…me. I can telepathically communicate with Ul’thetos and act like I’m in the empty shuttle. I know exactly what to say...Uh...think, I mean.”

Rooks rubbed her temple. “Alright. We’ll try it. What are you going to pretend?”

Camellia straightened. “I’m going to pretend you’re all sick of me and are sacrificing me to the creature.”

Rooks raised both her eyebrows. Eva half-smiled, and Meladee narrowed her eyes playfully and laughed.

“I bet it’s going to love that.” Meladee grinned.

The bay bustled with final preparations. Everyone worked or waited in an anxious lump, except for Camellia.

She thought of a way to convince Ul’thetos she was onboard shuttle number four. She walked into the small craft and sat down, getting a feel for the atmosphere.

Sten and Eva worked on the shuttle’s pre-programmed course. Camellia closed her eyes and blocked out their presence.

This little ship would be desolate and depressing on its own. I’ll pretend they’re tired of it. They’ve got their own problems to deal with. By now, Ul’thetos knows me well enough to consider that a possibility.

“Camellia? What’s going on?” Adalhard stood at her elbow.

Camellia opened her eyes and looked up, only to find that Adalhard knelt. She needed to look down. “I’m thinking of a good way to convince the creature that someone will be in this shuttle.”

“Anything I can do?”

Camellia looked at Adalhard’s intense stare. She shook her head.

Adalhard nodded and began to turn away.

Camellia grabbed his arm. “Oh, wait. Maybe, find me some sad music.”

Adalhard rose to his feet. “Sad music? Alright.” He left the shuttle and spoke to one of Commander Rooks’ men.

His Ganden sounded fair. Camellia knew now that Corentin had performed a spell like Meladee’s increased learning. Evidently, it had a faster timetable associated with it. Rooks and the rest of the team learned the opposing language so quickly.

Camellia watched Adalhard and smiled. She was still fond of him, though she was digging herself into a lot of trouble. She couldn’t think about him. She needed to think of something else if she wanted to convince Ul’thetos of her exile. Or, maybe, she could think about him. They were starting out with some fine lies. She lied about the mirror, and he was lying about Cernunnos’ involvement, simply by saying nothing.

Camellia’s face went blank, and she stared into open space.

Yes, that’s just right.

Everyone packed in the shuttles.

Camellia shared shuttle one with Rooks, Meladee, Eva, and Adalhard, as well as ten of Rooks’ people.

Shuttle two housed the Ferrans, Sten, and Benham with their own complement of military personnel from Girandola and Iruedim alike.

Shuttle three took Cernunnos and the remaining military.

Shuttle four made its way out of the bay, racing to Lurren, empty and alone.

While everyone huddled together, Camellia was the exception. She had a little corner to herself, sitting among the stacks of food, sans protective handkerchief. She closed her eyes and held headphones over her ears. Nearby, a little device played the saddest songs known to one of Rooks’ men. Camellia had found a good one, and although she could not understand the words, the melody made her feel like she was underwater.

Puzzle maker? Is that you? Why so sad puzzle maker? Is it because you can’t solve your puzzle?

With the Bardiche hovering a little closer, Camellia could catch more of Ul’thetos’ communication. Images reached for her, things from Lurren’s past.

Camellia saw cities in their prime, a mix of silver, wood, and brick. She saw Lurriens out for strolls by the beach, and she saw synthetics, attending the organic Lurriens.

The scenes changed. Camellia saw the same spaces, but, now, she saw how Ul’thetos fit into them. Ul’thetos showed Camellia where its flesh lay. It just gave her the information but stopped short of its head.

These are the things you wanted to know? More about Lurren. More about me.

Camellia inhaled. They were. Now, it doesn’t matter.

Oh? Ul’thetos conveyed a tone of great interest.

They’re sending me to you. To your beach.

In a private corner of her mind, Camellia listened to the sad music and remembered a time as a child. She sat in alone in her room, having thought uncomplimentary things about an older sister. The room was dark, and she reached for her father and mother’s minds. Neither answered. Just the pure, deep silence her father could generate on her behalf.

What? Puzzle maker. This cannot be. Your friends wanted you so much they stole a ship from under me and sought you on my beach. And, this Adalhard would never let them do that. Ul’thetos pried into Camellia’s mind, trying to determine exactly what had transpired. Ul’thetos seemed to be buying it.

Camellia erected a mental wall. She allowed Ul’thetos to see only what she wanted to show: a vague impression of despair and dark fantasy.

Camellia shared three downcast images. Adalhard wary that he could make a long-term relationship with her work. Meladee and Eva tiring of being there in the face of their own problems. And, Commander Rooks shaking her head, wondering why even space-age psychologists could offer no solace.

In the end, it wasn’t Adalhard, or my friends who made the decision.

Camellia imagined a make-believe vaccine to prevent infection and Rooks giving it to her, promising that they would be back for Camellia later. Right now, Camellia would only get in the way. On the beach, she could help. She could serve as distraction.

Oh, no! Ul’thetos decalred. This cannot be.

You don’t know the commander of this ship. She’s willing to do what it will take. She needs Lurren for her people. She sent me to you. Camellia let more snippets of her false memories flow to Ul’thetos.

They’re wrong to think they can retrieve you this time. You will be mine. My priestess. We will find a way around this vaccine. A thrum of worry came from Ul’thetos’ mind, dividing the creature’s attention further. Don’t worry little puzzle maker, we will figure it out and be together forever. Ul’thetos comforted Camellia with thoughts of its own exile.

Camellia glimpsed the creature’s prison again. She held on to the memory but buried it away and hid her excitement.

I think the storm will take me. I’m not a skilled pilot. Camellia opened her eyes to check shuttle number four’s progress on a little handheld device, it disappeared into the storm. Camellia let relief wash over her as she imagined flying into the storm, relief that Ul’thetos could not and would not get her.

No, little puzzle maker. I will get you to the beach. Then, we can have some more fun. Perhaps, tempt your friends to you. Ul’thetos promised Camellia a reunion, with all four of them on the beach.

The Bardiche and other shuttles still hadn’t moved. Camellia feared Ul’thetos would notice that Camellia’s mind never seemed to get any closer or easier to control. So, Camellia absorbed Ul’thetos’ imagery. She let her mental shields drop and created the illusion that she traveled closer.

Ul’thetos offered a vision of reunion. It was a happy thing. Adalhard’s arm – no tentacle – wrapped around Camellia. Eva’s arms were replaced by tentacles as well, and Meladee sprouted a crown of slimy branches. Camellia wondered at the lack of Sten and Benham, and Ul’thetos added them.

Camellia recoiled. She feigned difficulty at blocking Ul’thetos’ communication.

Almost close enough, Ul’thetos promised.

Ul’thetos snatched the small ship, and Camellia saw the blip on the tracker. She panicked, not because she was inside the shuttle but because she needed to the tell the others to go. She allowed her panic to mask her feelings and gestured for Rooks to hurry.

“All shuttles ahead to the bunker coordinates,” Rooks said quietly into her com.

The shuttles raced ahead. They had been creeping closer, and they cleared the edge of the storm quickly.

Wind rocked the shuttle, and Camellia startled as a food crate nearly toppled over her head. She pushed the crate back into place. She almost forgot the sad music in the near miss. Yet, she recovered and translated her panic into an image of Ul’thetos squashing her.

No, no, Ul’thetos assured her. Friends. We’ll be friends.

Ah’nee’thit thought its parent wouldn’t care about us, but I think Ul’thetos cares a great deal. It’s like they don’t understand each other at all, Camellia thought.

She let the thought float free, wondering how Ul’thetos might interpret it. She glanced over to find Eva poised to throw her a handkerchief. Lightning struck the shuttle, and Camellia’s eyes grew wide. Still, the shuttle flew on. Camellia shook her head, refusing the handkerchief. She wanted them to get as close as possible.

“Land against the bunker,” Rooks instructed.

“We’re going to hit the robot house,” Meladee said.

“I know. Camellia, watch your head,” Rooks warned.

Camellia threw her arms over her head.

Where…? Ul’thetos probed deeper into Camellia’s mind and saw her real surroundings. They gave you a feast. Oh wait...

Camellia reached for the handkerchief, and Eva threw it to her. Then, Eva dove and grabbed Camellia’s arm, just as the food boxes toppled. Eva pulled Camellia out from under the spilling vegetables.

The shuttle shook. Nearby cucumbers rattled and rolled to the floor. The shuttle stopped with a hard jolt.

Camellia sighed. She was safe, but the little music player was gone. Camellia looked up. She found herself next to the device’s owner – a grim faced man.

“I can’t replace that,” he said.

Rooks stood up. “I commend your sacrifice. Good job, Camellia. I wasn’t sure you could trick a continent sized monster. I’m pleasantly surprised.”