Cleaning up after the assault on the mine took ages, and further reminding the commander why he habitually avoided desk assignments. He’d had several opportunities to rise further in the command structure, after all, having a Master only serving as a Commander could be viewed as embarrassing. Askren liked the opportunities his current rank afforded him though. And the distinct lack of paperwork.

He reflected briefly on what they’d accomplished in the past few weeks, taking down a budding terrorist organization, weeding out a small amount of local corruption, and dismantling a slave ring. If it weren’t for the fact that his career would be ruined as soon as the Emissary found out they’d almost lost her new heir he’d be happy with how he’d spent the time.

Speaking of the heir, he’d once more far surpassed his expectations. Not only had he jumped a realm in his cultivation, having completed his viscera training and made good progress on his muscle and ligament enhancement, but he’d managed to almost escape the mine on his own.

Not exactly on his own, he thought to himself. That was another issue he didn’t know what to do with. Lieutenant Eldren Fisk, wanted criminal, deserter, ex Imperial Marine. Askren browsed the man’s records. Seven tours of duty on the frontlines against the beast hordes. Exemplary reviews. One tour as a Peacekeeper, started directly after his daughter was born and his wife was lost during birth. Near the end of the tour he had assaulted his commanding officer, and destroyed a government building. For the past several years he’d been on the run. The unfortunate side of the impressive span of the Roc Empire was that people like Fisk could blend into the background.

“What to do with you Fisk?” Askren asked aloud as he glanced at the holding cell the man was currently sitting in.

---

“This is bullshit!” Alex shouted at Lieutenant Basti, “I’d be dead if it weren’t for him! How can you just toss him in a cell?”

Basti pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to fight off a growing headache.

“As I’ve said a dozen times, Lieutenant Fisk is a wanted criminal. He destroyed government property and assaulted his superior officer. He’s been on the run for three years now. Him saving your life doesn’t negate the wrongdoings of his past.”

“Why not?” Alex demanded, “Can’t we give him some sort of pardon for meritorious acts for the Empire? He saved the Heir of house Skaya, doesn’t that count for anything?”

“I don’t know, Alex,” Lieutenant Basti replied, “We can pursue that route when we get to the capitol. Until then, he has to remain in the brig.”

“What about the collar, isn’t that unnecessary?”

“Enough!” the Lieutenant finally snapped, “He’s a dangerous man, a god damned Journeyman. With the right spell he could rip this ship to shreds and take all of us with him. The collar stays. He stays. Your whining changes nothing!”

By the end of her rant, Basti was panting. How could this kid be so damned frustrating? Then it occurred to her that she’d yelled at a noble. A noble that was very powerful and currently very pissed off. She took a step back.

Alex stared at the image of Fisk sitting patiently on the bed in his holding cell, oblivious to the drama unfolding on the other side of the wall. He took a deep breath and looked back at the lieutenant. He was surprised to see a flash of fear cross her face, but decided to ignore it for now.

“Can I at least talk to him?”

She sighed, deflating somewhat, “Yes, that should be fine. But don’t get close to him, and for the love of the Emperor, don’t do anything stupid like trying to break him out.”

“Where would I even take him if I did?” Alex asked rhetorically. Basti shook her head and swiped at a panel on the wall. A door slid open revealing Fisk sitting on the bed behind a translucent screen. He looked up at Alex, face tightening into a frown.

Alex looked back at the lieutenant, “Can you give us some space?”

“Just don’t do anything stupid,” she reiterated, and swiped the door shut.

Silence stole the room. Fisk continued to glare at Alex, and Alex took a moment to evaluate the man.

He’d be healed, none of his injuries remaining, washed, and dressed in a plain red jumpsuit. His beard was significantly less scraggly than it had been, but with the improved lighting of the ship versus the mine, Alex could tell the man was malnourished.

Alex opened his mouth to speak, but Fisk beat him to it.

“You’re a noble,” he said. It wasn’t a statement, it was an accusation.

Alex cocked his head to the side in confusion, why was that a bad thing?

“Was it all bullshit?” Fisk continued, “Acting like you couldn’t speak common, pretending to be ignorant about literally everything? Why even bother?”

“Technically, yes, I’m a noble,” Alex said, “but the rest was not bullshit. I’m from a planet that was just integrated into the empire. I caught the attention of the Emissary in charge of integration, and she named me her heir. I can’t go into much more detail than that, but I never deceived you.”

“Let's say I believe you, what does it matter anyway?” Fisk leaned back against the wall behind him, “I’m in Imperial hands again, and the punishment for desertion is execution. I’m a dead man, my body just hasn’t realized it yet.”

“Not necessarily,” Alex replied, “I’m hoping we can use you saving me as an argument for giving you a pardon.”

Fisk scoffed, “You think saving some small time noble is enough to wipe away my ledger?”

“I’m the heir to house Skaya.”

His eyes widened, “The house Skaya? Headed by the Emperor’s niece, who happens to be an archmage? Owns a huge chunk of the empire? Almost never interacts with anyone except for official Empire reasons? And you want me to believe you’re their heir?”

“Yes,” Alex said, “That is the truth.”

Fisk stood up, “If you’re telling the truth, you might be able to save me. At the very least, you would be able to do something for me for which I would be eternally grateful.”

“Fisk, I’m pretty sure you saved my life in the mines. Anything you want, if I can do it, I will.”

Fisk shook his head, “We saved each other, kid. I wouldn’t be standing here if you hadn’t saved me from the grenade. That’s beside the point. Whatever happens when we get to the capitol, can you promise to find my daughter and have her looked after? I just need to know she’s safe.”

“You have a daughter?” Alex asked in surprise, “You never mentioned her. Where is she?”

“It wasn’t relevant at the time,” Fisk stated, “And I don’t know. The last I learned of her, she was taken in by the Convent of the Twelve Sisters. She should be relatively safe there, but the Sister’s don’t exactly have the best reputation.”

“What exactly does that mean?” Alex said.

“They are extremists in service to a group of immortals that have been missing for several millennia. On the surface they are relatively benign, offering orphanages, food for the homeless and poor, shelter for those in need. Beneath that benevolent facade is a malevolent organization hell bent on finding their founders and bringing back their prior regime. The Emperor tolerates their existence because of the good they bring, but their underlying goals would bring further war to the galaxy, and they indoctrinate their orphans to their beliefs.

“I don’t want my daughter to become a zealot for uncaring Immortals.”

Alex took in the information silently, then nodded, “If I can I’ll have her found and brought to safety. Will it be difficult to get them to release her?”

Fisk shook his head, “The Emperor has made it clear that they are not allowed to hold hostages. If someone comes to find an orphan they are law bound to relinquish them to the appropriate guardian or next of kin.”

“I don’t want to make empty promises,” Alex said, “But if it is within my power, I’ll have her brought out of their clutches. Do you know where she would be?”

“If you’re really the heir to house Skatya, this will be nothing for you. She was on my home planet, designation 876433T. It is unlikely that she has been moved.”

After that conversation, they chatted briefly about their time in the mines, but Alex could tell Fisk wanted to be left alone.

As Alex exited the cell, he found Lieutenant Basti waiting for him, her expression tight with concern.

“Alex, I know you promised you’d find his daughter, but the Convent is not a group you want to meddle with. Once they get their hooks into someone, they can be difficult to pry out.”

“Moving past the fact that you were eavesdropping,” Alex said with a sharp glare, “What is that supposed to mean?”

“His daughter has been living with the Sisterhood for three years, ever since he went on the run. That is three years of indoctrination. Do you really think she would leave willingly at this point?”

“If it meant finding her father?” Alex responded.

“They preach the importance of the Sisters and the fleeting value of familial relationships. Don’t think that this will be an easy task to accomplish,” Basti stated, “I know from personal experience how persuasive the Convent can be.”

Alex raised an eyebrow, curious about the lieutenant’s tale.

“I can tell you another time,” she replied, “For now you should go rest. You’ve been in captivity for weeks, and I imagine the Commander plans on accelerating your training after the scare we just had.”

“Alright, I’ll head to my room,” Alex replied, “thanks for the advice.”

“Any time, my lord,” Basti replied.

He turned to the exit of the brig, when a thought occurred to him that froze him in his tracks. Guilt wormed its way through his gut, and he turned back to the Lieutenant.

“What happened to Vill and the rest of Torval’s squad?” He’d been so caught up in everything that had happened at the mine, he hadn’t forgot to ask about the team that had been caught up in the explosion at the market. The memory of Vill’s shouts resurfaced in his mind and he flinched.

Basti’s expression darkened, “Three dead. The sergeant made it, but she’s still in recovery.”

“Vill?”

Basti shook her head. The bottom of Alex’s stomach dropped.

“She was a good soldier,” Basti said simply.

Alex nodded dumbly. He felt… he wasn’t sure what he felt. Vill had helped him settle into his new world. She seemed so hopeful. It didn’t feel right that she was gone now. He couldn’t really believe it.

“Head to your room Alex, don’t dwell on this. As unfortunate as this situation is, her death helped directly save lives. A slave ring and terrorist organization no longer exist because of her sacrifice.”

He nodded again, but her words rang hollow in his ears. It was an unnecessary sacrifice, and didn’t seem worth it to him.