February 8, 2019, 11:03 am. Two weeks earlier.

Tipan watched as Alexis and Rufka cuddled together, unbothered by the rolling waves while looking out over the rolling ocean. She fought down a surge of jealousy but reminded herself that it was only for another few days. Then she wouldn't be stuck on this horrible deathtrap that threatened to upend her lunch at every unexpected swell.

Shit, shit, shit. Going through her memory at a time like this?

Kellica came onto deck, and as if planned, Rufka split off from Alexis, moving to join her. Tipan felt a wave of relief when Lexi waved at her. They'd be able to read soon. Even now, Tipan didn't trust herself to read alone. Without Lexi's steadying presence, she was worried she'd get drawn in, and forget that the voice wasn't actually her sister.

As Alexis came over, Tipan constrained herself, giving a polite nod instead of grabbing the girl's arm and dragging her downstairs.

"You want to take another crack at the book?" Lexi asked.

Wait, do I really sound like that? Oh my god. I'm perky?

"If you'd be so inclined," Tipan replied, instead of screaming out 'of course, you lovely fool'.

"Cool, I think I've figured out how to constrain my aura," Lexi said, leading the way as Tipan fought down the urge to shake her head, though she wasn't able to suppress her smile.

Huh. Yeah, can't believe I was so cheerful about that. Boyza was I wrong.

Tipan joined Alexis in the room that Beth had sequestered for this purpose. Once she put up the mana-blocking stand, Tipan took a breath of relief. The motion of the boat wasn't as bad when she couldn't feel the sudden changes in mana that clashed with the boat's actual movements. Lexi was already seated in the corner, slouched against the wall instead of the crossed legs she sometimes preferred. A soft smile tugged at Tipan's lips, and she suppressed the urge to reach over and ruffle her friend's hair.

Then she drew out The Book. It had been getting harder to go without reading it. Without hearing her sister's voice.

As Tipan opened it to the first locked passage, running her finger along the text, the low rumble that was Ivicka sounded in her ears, "Welcome back sister. Where were we? Ah, yes."

A tear threatened to form, but Tipan whisked it away with a small burst of fire. She'd heard the words before; it wasn't her sister. Not really.

"My mistake was in thinking that Folthka could be trusted to know what she was doing. Merging two cores. The next stage of K'tharn development, she promised. It was... I was… less confused those days. More myself."

Tipan took a deep breath. These pauses happened at times. Sometimes Ivicka would shift tone suddenly. Tipan was pretty sure these were interruptions to whatever recording process Ivicka had used. This pause wasn't like that though. This was just her sister being lost in thought.

"I was more myself, but I was more a fool too. Do not be like me, sister. Don't let them use you," Ivicka said, her conviction sending a thrill up Tipan's spine. "The merging of our cores seemed to work perfectly, at first. I had access to a second Resource. With Storm and Swagger, I was twice the K'tharn."

A long sigh, and Tipan moved to the next section of the book. Running her finger down it, her sister's voice continued. "It turned out, I really was two K'tharn. I first realized something was wrong when I was going to spend an afternoon with you, then the next thing I knew, I was on the southside of Aethire, holding some K'tharn I didn't even know by the throat. I almost miss those days. At least then..."

"It took her three months before her voice started influencing my waking thoughts. And when she took control... I saw everything. And now… My moments of clarity are fading. More and more, I am a passenger. This... this is the only time she doesn't fight me, a recording I’ll never give you. And she only allows it because she knows it's pointless. Afterall, this is her most prized possession. You'd have to kill us to get this book."

Well, that... kinda happened.

Tipan squeezed her eyes shut and glanced over at Lexi. Tipan had been there when it happened. She’d seen the horror in Lexi's eyes when she'd realized what she'd done to Ivicka. Tipan hadn't been able to hold it against her friend.

Wow. Uhm, thanks Tipan.

Tipan held her hand away from the text. The next passage would be hard to hear. But the way the records worked, she had to listen through them in order. Either that or they'd restart. Tipan considered restarting again. Some of the earlier messages were Ivicka reminiscing about memories from their childhood. They were special moments.

"Ah, the sister," the voice that wasn't Ivicka said, making Tipan's spine shiver. She once more glanced to the side where Lexi sat, her face scrunched up in concentration. A small smile tugged at Tipan's lips as she firmed her resolve and continued running her finger down the text. "I've decided these messages should serve a purpose. If, for some reason, this book does pass into your hands, who better to ensure my mission continues. Afterall, your sister has been so useful."

Twice, Tipan had closed the book at this point, restarting the messages. But she owed it to Ivicka to find out everything she could. So, Tipan moved to the next section, running her finger down the text.

"Good. A good student. Now, I believe proper introductions are in order. My name is Jethico. Though you likely know me as the great Empress."

Tipan shuddered as the voice continued to speak, extolling her own virtues. Because she did know who Jethico was. She was Uthica's aunt, the one who remained to rule the Aetherium after Uthica left. She was the start of the lies Tipan had held close all her life.

With one last glance at Lexi, Tipan straightened her shoulders and returned her attention to the book. She'd get everything she could out of it. And then she'd tell Lexi everything. But first... first she had to know.

She had to know the truth.

...TPWM...

February 23, 2019, 8:33 pm.

I snap back to my body, and I know that less than a second has passed since I was in the K'mintar's office, viewing everything through Tipan's eyes. The playback hasn't cost me any time.

"Your mum was visiting the K'mintar, just like planned. But something happened in... the cells? And my tethers..." I attempt to find the tethers leading to the others, but they're all gone. "I can't feel them!"

"The cells?" Rufka asks, squinting while pulling back. "I feel like mum's mentioned something about Taken cells but..."

"They're stasis chambers, for storing dangerous prisoners," I say, looking towards the other table. Raising my voice, I call, "We need to get that tracking array online. Come on."

The others look over at me, but I'm already moving. Vethel said the rest of the parts would be coming in tomorrow. But there's another source of parts, and they should be done using them.

With a plan in mind, I set off through town, jogging as I grumble about the stronghold's restriction on flight and all-out running. On the plus side, it makes it easy for Rufka and Smoulder to catch up to me.

"Uhm, the array is that way," Rufka notes, pointing south towards the house where we're building the array is.

"Yep. But we need the rest of the parts first," I say, my eyes locking on the spire in the distance.

"Oh... oh, yeah, that could work," Rufka agrees, nodding as we run up to the former Fallen's compound.

There are groups of K'tharn around, slightly scruffy but leagues better than they were before. As I scan for Trellani or Thetilda, a K'tharn ducks into a hut. Which I notice is already looking a lot better than it was, with a few artistic flourishes over the entrance. A moment later, Trellani emerges from the same hut. She turns towards us with a smile as we approach, and I nod my head in the direction of the Cleansing chamber. "Any chance I could borrow some parts?"

Trellani frowns, but as I explain the situation, her eyes light up. "Of course, we'll help." Then, before I can explain we just need a few parts, Trellani starts calling orders. I share the actual list with her before she tears the whole spire apart. But she tells me it'll have to be rebuilt from scratch anyway. I watch in bemusement as several K'tharn come over and help Trellani break the spire down. Less than five minutes after we walked into camp, Trellani is nodding in satisfaction. "Lead the way."

Turning, I start off at a jog back towards the house. Roberts is waiting on the steps when I arrive, his chin resting on interwoven fingers as he takes in the entourage following us. "You believe this is necessary?"

"I do," I reply as we make our way up the steps.

"Very well," Roberts says, holding the door open for the following K'tharn.

I share the plans with Trellani, and she directs the accompanying K'tharn to drop off the parts, then shoos them away. The next hour is spent with Rufka and Trellani calling back and forth while Roberts and I help where we can. Josh and Rose are standing nearby, watching, but no longer underfoot.

Finally, the array is complete. However, the only focus we have for it is the quest one.

"It's fine. We can use that to test it, then Rufka can put in something personal that's tied to her mum," Trellani reassures us as she settles the focus in place.

"I... just what level enchanter are you?" Rufka asks, squinting at Trellani.

"Didn't your mum ever tell you it's not polite to ask an Enchanter her tier?" Trellani laughs as she makes another adjustment.

"I didn't ask... you're copper?" Rufka sounds shocked. And I don't blame her. Trellani's not copper ranked according to her status. Or... at least, I don't think she is. It's not like my analysis tells me anyone's tier. But her stats are all lower.

"Hmm. Could be," Trellani replies before asking for another tool, adjusting the focus until it starts glowing. "Okay, let's try it out."

When she activates the controls, there's no fancy effect like with the cleansing chamber. Instead, the interface just lists off a few numbers.

"Oh... it's going to take a few minutes to calibrate," Trellani says, frowning at the display. Then she turns around, looking over everyone. After a second, she steps forward, holding her hand out to Roberts. "I don't think we've been introduced."

Roberts chuckles as he takes the time to introduce not just himself, but Josh and Rose as well. When she shakes Rose's hand, her grip lingers as she looks him up and down, her eyes narrowing.

Then there's a ping from the console and we all return to the tracking array.

"Okay. So... this is... hmm, that's weird. It's across the river?" Trellani says, squinting at the readout. I look at the coordinates and recognize them from when we crossed the river earlier. They're in the empty Builder's City. "Hold on, I'll go make sure the antenna's adjusted correctly."

As she leaves, I trade a look with Roberts and Rufka. I don't know why the control module might be there, but I suspect Trellani isn't going to find anything.

Still, we let her run a diagnostic, then we run it again and the results come up the same. We put that discovery off for the moment, as Rufka places her mother's locket in the machine. Trellani explains the adjustments she's making, and how it relies on the intrinsic System link between a mother and daughter. Rufka gets excited as they continue, and all I'm able to confirm is that this will probably work. And it'll probably destroy Rufka's locket in the process.

"Okay, only gonna get one... maybe two chances at this," Trellani says once they have the locket in place. There's an entire second set of enchantments holding it in place, all forged from metal summoned by Rufka.

"My mum would love to talk to you," Rufka says, as she double checks the enchantments.

"Sure. I love talking about enchantment," Trellani replies, her hands hovering over the controls. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah, let's find her," Rufka replies.

Again, there's almost no noticeable result. Other than the small string of coordinates.

"That's not in Aethire," I say, and I realize that my Explorer subclass is helping me pinpoint the location. "It's... in Betheryne?"

Rufka is nodding as Roberts claps his hands. "Makes sense. Free security and close to the Aetherium."

"Kay, gather round. Thanks for the help Trellani," I say. Technically, I'm supposed to use the Nexus for teleporting out of the city. But since we have Vethel's support, I'm sure she'll forgive us this little indiscretion.

"Yeah, no prob-" I don't catch the last of her words as I whisk everyone away to Betheryne.

Turning, I place the rough location of the coordinates in comparison to my mental map of Betheryne. They're on the opposite side of the city from where Folthka's lab was. I lead the way, flying over the city’s neat stone buildings. Our destination appears to be a low domed building, with several tiered gardens along the sides.

When I get closer, I see the entrance has been blown in.

"Looks like the right place," Roberts observes, his barrier armor shimmering into place as we land.

"Me and Roberts first," Josh says, as Petals fold into place over his head. "Assault formation JR."

Rose and I move to the middle while Rufka takes the rear. Then we move inside. I'm throwing out thin webs of Facet, hoping to catch the edge of someone. Immediately inside the door, I get a response. Buried under a collapsed wall is the battered form of Lik'tik.

"Alive," Roberts says, energy flowing out of him as Lik'tik's wounds heal. "And they're stable."

Nodding, I motion us forward. We make it another two halls, following the destruction. We find Ael'thani and Kellica flanking a staircase. Neither of them appear injured, and I retether to both.

"What's happening?" I ask when Kellica glances over.

She sags against the wall for a second then straightens out. "Unknown forces have breached the lower cells. The K'mintar ordered us to remain here. Tipan..."

Her eyes drift down the stairs, and the meaning is clear enough. Tipan followed them.

"Got it. I'm going to get her. Alone," I say, turning to Rufka to stop her from objecting. But she just nods. Then she points to Smoulder's pocket with a smile. I smile back, adding, "Okay, not totally alone."

"You know it's dangerous down there, right? The K'mintar doesn't think she'll be safe," Ael'thani asks, looking at me like I'm... well, like I'm me.

"Yeah, and Tipan's down there. Be right back," I say, channelling Pause as I throw myself down the stairs. As I come around the bottom step, I dodge an errant spike of metal, a twisting silver-grey shard the size of my arm. It impales the wall and keeps going. Flicking my attention back to the hall, I spot a flash of red fur as it crosses a distant hall. Then I see a flash of white.

I tag them both with tethers before moving forward. Another shard of metal emerges, and I realize there's some sort of wolfadillo in the hall, nearly perfectly blended with the collapsed stone. But it's twisted, the face half the size it should be compared to the oversized body. A quick analysis reveals that it's an immortal mana-warped wolfadillo. Its physical resistance is listed as infinite.

So, I do what any totally rational person who isn't terrified for their friend would do. I teleport next to it, then wrap half of it in my aura and teleport blindly ten kilometers up.

It slices cleanly, and I teleport upward again, carrying my half of the wolfadillo with me.

This time, the air is too thin. Even the mana is thin.

I'm not even sure how high I went. But it's high enough that Akilo doesn't seem to be getting closer. And the air in my lungs is fighting against my increased Strength to try and escape. I don't wait for it to get worse, locking onto Tipan's tether and using it to return to the action, activating Anchor the second I reappear. My first loop, I get smashed to the side by something I don't even see. The second time, I duck, and discover the wolfadillo had a friend. The chitinous form of Pogell is standing in front of me, bereft of his fur. Except... analysis says it's not him. It's another Malkog. This one wields a pair of thick blades of dark blood. I don't use the third loop of my Anchor, ending the ability early. Ducking again, I lash out at the unknown Malkog with a combination Torrent of metal and fire.

It's more effective than I expected, the molten metal trapping him in place as he screams.

His scream is cut short a second later as the K'mintar removes his head from his shoulders. She nods in my direction as I blanche. A quick turn reveals an uninjured Tipan next to me. She pulls me into a brief hug, which I return before pushing her away. "Tipan, we should-"

Tipan nods, then dashes after the K'mintar.

"Not what I meant," I hiss as I teleport after her. As she takes her third step, she transforms into a being of wind. Between that and the rate she's moving, I don't feel comfortable teleporting her.

I follow, making sure Smoulder is awake and ready to move. We round another corner, and I immediately Pause before I've finished flying out.

Which is great, cause it lets me blast Tipan to the side, preventing both of us from being bisected by a.... razor sharp cog?

Down the corridor is another of the Malkog, this one wearing a suit of gears. A quick scan reveals this guy's a cog-knight. I'm reluctant to trap him in place after what the K'mintar did to the last one. But then he shoots another blade in our direction. Two, while we're in Pause. And those things look sharp. I return fire with a full set of Piercing arrows while pulling Tipan down with me. Then the Pause ends, and she gusts forward, slamming the cog-knight into the ceiling. The K'mintar ends this one's life as fast as the first, beheading him while he's still plastered to the ceiling.

"Tipan!" I yell, my frustration mounting. I don't even know what's happening here, other than the obvious fight for our lives. "What's going on?"

"They're trying to break out a Reaper!" Tipan yells back and my blood goes cold. Why hasn't the System gone off?

Instead of questioning, I inform the others of the stakes. And I override the K'mintar's orders. I want my friends here. Hopefully we can stop them without more...

But neither Tipan nor the K'mintar are waiting around, already moving deeper into the compound. "Where's Genitha?"

"Dead," Tipan snarls, and the answer almost causes me to stop in shock.

"I... what?" I can't help but ask but Tipan is already around the corner. The next corner is another set of stairs, and when I reach the bottom, I see collapsed rubble filling the entire hall. There are several dead corpses and another of the Malkog. This one is already missing both arms but hasn't collapsed yet. It hisses at the K'mintar, but that's its last action, the K'mintar driving one of its lost arms through its head. "What do you mean Genitha's dead?"

"Pogell was waiting for us. He knocked us all out, they killed Genitha before..." Tipan trails off as she and the K’mintar start moving again. "Anyway, Pogell extracted the location from the K'mintar's mind. But then a pulse of energy hit Genitha’s body and triggered an explosion. Which disrupted the paralysis."

"And now we need to stop them before they destroy Akilo," The K'mintar adds, hesitating before dashing across a ruined section of hall. She stops a second later, looking into a side alcove like dozens we've already passed. She nods at us, spinning around the corner. Before she's stepped out, I've Paused time, and am moving across the opening. Pogell is at the far end, a web of thin strands blocking the entrance. He's working at a console. I see sparks from it even as I teleport past his hallway of webs.

But then... time passes. I watch it as though I'm stuck outside, my time sense telling me that 7.32 seconds will pass before I'm able to return to the flow. In that time, the K'mintar comes around the corner, slashing down at the webs. They oblige her, snapping. And triggering an explosion that knocks her and Tipan away. Rufka and Roberts appear atop the rubble, Roberts already moving to Tipan. Rufka is a blazing ball of plasma, and suddenly the hallway is filled with burning light. Then she reaches Pogell, and her form is sucked into a cube at his feet. I can see singe marks on his chitin. A shudder passes through the tunnel, and Rose throws up earthen pillars, keeping the roof from coming down. Josh joins him, a thin layer of roots wrapping the earth and reinforcing it.

Then Pogell makes a high-pitched cry, and the blank wall in front of him shimmers and reveals a creature of black chitin. While it could be said to resemble the Malkog, that would be like saying a killer whale resembles a guppy. It is four meters of pure lethality, glistening arms ending in claws that look like they can pierce steel, a maw of equally nasty looking teeth and dark ridges in place of its eyes. I can practically feel the malice rolling off it in waves.

And it’s not even standing up.

Then I'm back in the flow of time, right as this horror wakes up.

I Pause as its arm reaches out, grabbing Pogell.

And snaps his neck.