Chapter 6: Prelude to War

Fegan, a young Ice pilot stood nervously in the office of the consul who was now crowned king. Fegan's eyes were cast sideways as his lips fumbled to explain what had happened, Shard's frozen glare chilling him to the core. He shuffled his feet uneasily and jumped when Shard slammed his fist against the granite table.

Shard growled in disgust. "So you are telling me that Crystal, the murderer of our beloved Empress, was taken off of the Peak of Penance by a Bone cruiser?"

"Y..y..yes, my Lord." Fegan swallowed hard as Shard slowly raised his colorless glare to him.

"And you let them get away!" Shard spat as he spoke in anger. The young fool shuddered and cringed at his tone, and Shard had to fight to keep from wrapping his fingers around the boy's neck and squeezing until his anger subsided.

"We…we did not think it was …wise…" Fegan began.

"Choose your words carefully." Shard warned.

Fegan jumbled for words. "We just thought…we shouldn't fire on an Alliance vessel. Its in the peace agreement, and…"

Shard slammed his fist against the table again, silencing the boy. "Obviously, Bone has taken it upon themselves to rewrite that agreement, wouldn't you say? Wouldn't you say that coming here, without my permission, and stealing that girl…that criminal from us and saving her from her punishment is breaking such an agreement of peace?"

"I…I.."

"Well, speak up!" Shard's thin layer of patience was breaking apart.

"Yes, my Lord." Fegan spilled out the only words he could think of to please the ears of the new king.

Shard eyed him for a moment longer before turning his back on the man and gazing out the window of his office that overlooked the city in the valley below. "I am glad we are in agreement. Now, what to do…what to do. The people deserve their justice, and now that right has been stolen from them. Who shall repay the people for this outrage, this theft of their rights, the breaking of our laws? Perhaps we should find a replacement for Crystal to put on that mountain." Shard turned and eyed the young man again. "Perhaps the fool who let Crystal get away?"

"Your Highness, I…" Fegan began, then swallowed hard. He took in a deep breath and then quickly knelt. "I accept any punishment that you see fit, my Lord."

Shard smiled at the young soldier bowing beneath him. He had no intention of throwing this child onto the Peak of Penance, that would be political suicide. It had simply been a test, and Shard was happy to see its result. His followers, his loyal subjects, his foolish flock would do anything he asked. "Lt. Fegan, you are herby charged with the crime…" he paused as Fegan gave a noticeable cringe in expectation of the worst. Shard, however, knew that he must wear the mask of compassion to get them to follow him in the war soon to come, no mater how much he did indeed want to strangle the young fool. "of being too trusting and compassionate in an uncertain time when friends are becoming our enemies. Your punishment is to inform the rest of the fleet of how you were deceived, and to prepare them for an inevitable battle that is to come with those traitors on Bone."

Fegan looked up in shock and relief. He had been handed a deadly knife by the Fates and now his new King was telling him to use the knife against others instead of himself. His mind hung on the half truths, only seeing the side that set him free of his folly. "I will do as you wish, my Lord."

"That's a good lad." Shard forced a warm smile to his lips. "Go on now. I need to have a word with Emperor Sternum about the acts of these mercenaries I am certain he will gladly turn over to us. It would be foolish to start a fight over the life of one criminal girl, don't you think?"

"Yes, my Lord, it would be." Fegan nodded and believed his own words. He turned stood up slowly and began walking out of the office.

"Oh, and Lieutenant, " Shard's voice stopped Fegan in mid-stride. "do not fail me again."

Fegan understood the warning in Shard's voice clearly. "I wont, my Lord."

"Good." Shard watched the boy go in thoughtful silence. It was obvious that child wasn't the traitor he was looking for, just a fool following the orders of that ridiculous peace agreement. Shard turned to look out his window again, his hand stroking the small iced beard on his chin. If not the one commanding the small group of fighter ships, then perhaps the man controlling them on the ground? Shard scoffed at that. Captain Nordic was many things, including rough and rock headed, but he was no traitor. It wasn't in his blood. He was a soldier who had been bred to be loyal to the crown. Shard sighed. But would he be loyal to the person wearing the crown in such times of uncertainty? He had left the announcement ceremony rather early, and…

"My King?"

Shard turned around with a raised eyebrow. Well, isn't that interesting. "Ah, Captain Nordic. Just the man I need to speak to. Your advice on a matter would be greatly appreciated."

"I am honored that you find my advice worthy, your highness." Captain Nordic rose from his half bow, the deep etched lines of age and battle on his face doing their best to soften under the gaze of the usurper king. "However, my Lord, I come bearing news that is most unsettling."

"Oh?" Shard's mind continue to evaluate to what extent he could trust the man before him.

"Princess Tekla has disappeared."

Shard fought to keep the angry scream growing in his throat to a croaked hiss. "What?"

Nordic was enjoying every minute of this. His mother always wanted him to be an actor instead of a soldier. Perhaps she had been on to something. "After you mentioned her traitorous actions in your speech, my best soldiers and I went to go and find her to detain her for you because we were certain she would try and leave once your words gossiped their way to her. But, when we reached the medical lab, she was already gone."

"How…how could she just…leave…" Shard was fighting the screams at every word.

"We believe someone else has betrayed you, my King, and helped her escape."

Shard's eyes became glaring slits of a viper ready to strike. "Who?"

"The Chief Medical Officer, Tal." Nordic hoped Tal could look after himself. It had been his crazy idea to use himself as a scapegoat, after all. Nordic had to smile at his bravery. No smile came to Nordic's lips, however, under the gaze of the snake in front of him.

Shard inwardly blanched. His mind would have never thought of that pompous technician as being capable of such deceit and treachery. Perhaps that is was made the man dangerous. Shard hated himself for not seeing it. "What brought you to such a conclusion?"

The pieces were in play, no turning back now. "He too is missing, my King, and it was his access codes that were used to take the ship from our hanger. It appears they left just after Lt. Fegan's squadron, so they must have used them to cover their escape."

"Yes." Shard nodded slightly. "Fegan mentioned something about an extra ship appearing on his radar and then disappearing. He thought it was simple inference from an ice sheet reflection."

"It seems that it was not, my King."

"Indeed." Shard thought in silence for a few moments, his mind working the pieces of the puzzle into place and trying to determine what was still missing to complete the picture of the night's events. "One point that does not add up, however, is how Bone got word of Crystal's banishment."

Captain Nordic's insides twisted. He hadn't though of that. "Perhaps Princess Tekla or Tal told them?"

"No, I think not." Shard stroked his beard thoughtfully. "The time frame doesn't add up. Tal was at Crystal's sentencing, yes, but he stayed afterwards for a few minutes to go over something with Regent Vorence, and we all know how long winded the Regent of Resources can be. The message would have had to been sent before I saw Tal leave the Great Hall."

"Princess Tekla, then?"

"No, my good Captain, that is quite impossible. She wouldn't of found out about the proceedings in time. I gave strict orders than no off-worlders were to know. It was an Ice matter, and Ice's private business."

Nordic drew in a shallow breath. He was running out of people to suggest that wouldn't draw eyes where they weren't wanted. "Forgive me, my Lord, but I am unable to think of any others who would betray our people in such a way."

"That is why I am King." Shard stopped stroking his beard and looked a the Captain. "I can think of not just one, but six others."

The number immediately troubled Nordic. His rebel forces had only started on a plan to get them out of the palace. "The Drach'Mar?"

"The Drach'Mar." Shard almost smiled. "Thank you Captain, that is all."

"But, perhaps, I could help in ascertaining their part in this?" Nordic desperately didn't want to leave until he knew what Shard was planning for them.

"Your desire to help is most appreciated, Captain, but no." Shard still wasn't sure about the man. "I have someone else to take care of this matter."

"Yes, of course, my King." Nordic bowed at the waist again and turned to leave, a troubled frown appearing on his face as he left the room. He wondered just who Shard was planning on using, and better yet how he and his rebels could get to that person first. With a set jaw, he headed down the corridor with a long stride, his squadron falling in line behind him. They knew from the expression on his face not to say a word until they were well away from Shard's office. Nordic took his legion around a corner and out onto a balcony facing the west wall of the city. The soldiers waited patiently as Nordic paced a few times in thought.

Lorna sighed. "I'm sorry ,Captain, but you're making me dizzy."

Nordic stopped in mid-stride and looked up at her with a frosted glare. It turned to a small smile has he reminded himself where his anger should be aimed, and it wasn't Lorna. "Sorry. I've just had some most unsettling news."

"Shard didn't buy the bit about the escape?" Lt. Valsh asked as he leaned back on the railing.

"Oh, no, he lapped that up just fine. Damn fool." Nordic harrumphed.

"Then…" Lorna watched as Nordic became still again. He was bad for thinking instead of talking. "what is the problem?"

"The Drach'Mar." Nordic stated grimly. "Shard has figured out that they were the ones to inform Bone of what was going on. He seems to have a taste for blood again, and the Drach'Mar are next on his list."

"Oh, of course." Lorna growled. "Why not get them out of the way? That would completely clear out any challenge to the throne. I bet he even has a recording of them conspiring with Emperor Sternum, Blokk, and Jewlia all at the same time!"

Corbius smirked lightly. "Yes, quite handy how he just happens to have these recordings laying about."

"Indeed." Nordic rubbed his chin. "Jaren had the right idea. We need to get that original tape Shard had of Crystal. It will help convince the people of the truth."

"How are we going to manage that?" Lorna huffed. "I bet old frost butt has that tape hidden in his underwear."

Lt. Valsh shuddered. "Oh, gee, thanks Lor. Just the image I wanted in my head."

"No problem." Lorna gave a sideways smirk. Something behind Corbius caught her attention. "Hey, there's the kid now."

Captain Nordic looked up to see Jaren walking through the large gallery that lead to the balcony with a grim look on his face. "Jaren?"

Jaren stopped and looked in the direction on the balcony. He could barely make out the figures standing in the darkness of the night sky. When he realized who it was, he looked around the empty hall a few times before heading over. "Greetings, Captain."

Lorna looked over the young soldier. "Why the grim face, kid?"

Jaren sighed heavily. "Let's just say I have been assigned a task most disturbing."

"So," Captain Nordic continued to rub his chin. "you're the one Shard is getting to do his dirty work with the Drach'Mar."

"Y..yes." Jaren blinked a few times. "He wants me to interrogate them in order to find out who sent the message to Bone."

"Perfect." Nordic almost smiled.

"I do not follow…" Jaren raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"You do have a lot to learn." Valsh gave a small grunt of a laugh.

Lorna liked the grin that was growing on her captain's face. "So, what's the plan?"

Nordic looked around at his soldiers, and the newest member of his legion, Jaren. "I think I may have a way to get a hold of that tape and get the Drach'Mar out of here before that vicious insect has any clue about who is on what side of this war he wants so badly."

...

Shard had watched with little interest as that young pompous ice soldier Jaren had left his office to do his dirty work. Drumming his fingers lightly on his desk he turned his chair to face the communication console. The Drach'Mar problem was being dealt with, so now he had to turn his attention to the problem of Bone. He turned on the screen and brought up the system's connection log. It dialed in to static at first, Bone's horribly out-dated equipment the cause, Shard had no doubt. Soon it brought on the face of a Bone female sitting in full armor at a large desk. Shard had to force a smile on to his face, finding Bone females to be the most repulsive of all the races. "This is King Shard of Ice. I must speak with Emperor Sternum immediately."

The female looked up from sharpening the clawed nails on her left hand, none to impressed by Shard's tone. "The Emperor is occupied at the moment, but if you would like to leave a message, I will be…"

"I am not going to leave a message!" Shard glared. "I want to speak to him, now!"

The Bone female bit her tongue, but did not suppress the sneer forming on her lips. "Yes, of course…your highness," She hissed. "I will inform him of you urgency. Please hold."

"Hold? I most certainly will not h…" Shard snarled as the woman cut his sentence off by placing him on hold. Repulsive. Certainly repulsive creatures, and horribly rude. Having no other choice for the moment, Shard leaned back in his chair and resumed drumming his fingers against the top of his desk.

...

Emperor Sternum stood at the edge of the table, his arms crossed behind his back and his eyes surveying the other leaders. It had taken no force to get them all to assemble in such a short time. He looked to his brother who sat at the other end next to Tibia. Femur returned his steady gaze, and it was then that Sternum realized how much things had changed between them. He also knew how much he would be in need of a brother in the days sure to come. His eyes traveled to Jade and Graveheart who waited quietly for Sternum to begin. Jade would certainly side with Bone in this matter, even if she would not side with Sternum. Shrugging off that thought, he looked to Zuma and her two Maji, those that kept her connected to the collective mind at all times. This problem had warranted the rare event of Zuma leaving her people. They had been distant since Zera's passing, and Sternum could not imagine feeling a sadness as great as that shared by a collective mind. Unless, perhaps, that sadness existed in the heart of a certain young King of Fire. Pyrus did not meet Sternum's gaze. Sternum could tell Pyrus was seeing only one thing; how he would repay Shard for Zera's death. Tekla sat to Pyrus's left, leaving the group almost complete. Ice was the only planet left out of this meeting. A meeting set at deciding it's fate.

Fate.

Sternum would have normally laughed at such an idea. Fate had certainly not been his friend in life. As Tal walked into the room, Sternum swallowed any doubts of fate. It had saved that girl's life. Crystal's life. At least he hoped it had. He addressed Tal as the man of Ice sat down across from Tekla and Pyrus. "How is she?"

Tal took a moment to look around the faces of the leaders. He did not feel he belonged in such a meeting. He was just a simple technician. "She is stable, for now."

Pyrus looked up out of his thoughts. "How long until she recovers?"

"That is hard to judge, my Lord." Tal sighed. "It is out of my hands. I have done all we can do here. Her Nideth…her Fate…is in the hands of Marcus now."

"Marcus?" Sternum raised an eyebrow.

"Well, his nanonites at least." Tal corrected himself. "She would have died before their ship landed if had not been for him. Scared the poor lad to death. He has no concept of our ways."

"That is my fault." Sternum looked back up, now leaning on the table in front of him. "I never encouraged him to learn."

"It is lucky he was with you, though." Tal looked to Tibia.

"That boy usually is lucky." Tibia smirked.

"So…" Femur eyed his brother again. "Now that we've gone an' broken the charter rules with Ice…"

"What do we do?" He finished his brother's sentence with a small sight. "What do we do now," Sternum looked around the group again and crossed his arms behind his back. "could decide a great many things. According to the letter from Captain Nordic that you have all had a chance to read, it seems Shard…" Sternum stopped and sneered slightly. "King Shard…is looking to start a fight."

Jade scoffed. "Well if he wants to start a fight so bad, then why don't we just give him one."

"We have to be careful though." Graveheart, ever Jade's calmer half, looked at her. "Do we really want to start a war with Ice right now?"

"Not with Ice, just Shard." Jade responded.

"I think that right now, it is impossible to accomplish such a thing." Tekla looked along the table. "Many, if not most, of the people of Ice see Shard as their leader now."

"Yes." Tal agreed. "They will follow him if he commands them into battle. Shard has begun a campaign of blaming the Alliance for the cluster's problems."

Pyrus glared and the space between Tal and Zuma . "So, he just wants to start another Resource War while the Beast could return at any moment? How is that going to solve any problems?"

"Simply put, my Lord," Tal could hear the hate for Shard in Pyrus's voice. "Shard is insane."

Zuma spoke next and immediately gained the room's attention. "He sees things from only one view. He has a great thirst for power and authority. We have seen what future lies in his mind. He will not stop until the Alliance has fallen, either bowing before him or to the claws of the Beast."

Graveheart frowned. "But why, Zuma? What makes him want to destroy everything?"

Zuma did not speak for a few moments. "What makes the Beast destroy as it does? What makes you want to see the Alliance survive? What makes a heart feel the way it does? We do not know these things. They simply are."

"Then he must be stopped." Jade clenched her fist. "We just need to remove him from the throne before the Beast shows up again."

"But," Tibia raised an eyebrow as she thought. "if he was dealing with the Beast before, to get Zera…" Tibia grimaced after she spoke without thinking. "..to deal with some of the things in his way, then how can we be sure he wont simply call on them again?"

"And why is the Beast working with him in the first place?" Pelvis questioned from the corner her was standing in. "I mean, what could he have offered them?"

"Us." Pyrus looked up to the group.

Graveheart thought on that for a moment. "But what makes Shard think that after the Beast is done with us, that its not going to go after Ice?"

"Fate." Sternum had his back to the group, his word barely audible.

"What?" Femur eyed his brother curiously.

Sternum turned to the group. "If what Zuma said is true, then Shard believes he is doing what he is destined to do. He can not see anything but that path now. He probably believes that we and the Beast will destroy each other, saving him the trouble."

"He is mad." Femur swallowed.

"Which is why he must be stopped." Sternum continued. "Before he has a chance to get the Beast back into the cluster."

"Agreed." Jade, just as Sternum had surmised, was the first to join. "I hereby commit the forces of Rock to stopping Shard and preserving the Alliance."

"We will aid in what ever way we can." Zuma was next to join.

Pyrus noticed the eyes turned his way. With a small smirk on his lips, he looked at the rest of the group. "Do you even have to ask?"

"Just makin' sure, kid." Femur grinned.

"Good." Sternum eyed the group in satisfaction.

Graveheart was the only one to offer an objection. "We just need to make sure we keep the number of Ice casualties to a minimum."

"Agreed." Tibia nodded. "It aint their fault they got a crazy fool for a leader."

"We will do what we can." Sternum had to agree, although he didn't think it would be a possible hope to have in the battles that were sure to come. There would be casualties. There were always casualties.

"Emperor Sternum." A female voice on the communicator cut into the meeting. "Shard is on hold and wants to speak with you."

"One moment." Sternum turned the communicator on hold and turned to the group. "How shall we handle this?"

"I say tell him to pack up or watch his tale," Femur grunted a short laugh.

Pyrus looked at Sternum with a larger smirk. "I have a better idea. Shard likes to play political games, right? So, why don't we start one of our own. I say we keep him…friendly…for now. At least until we can establish some sort of communication with the resistance on Ice. If we play our pieces right, we may be able to take his throne out from under him before he realizes what's going on."

Sternum eyed the young king respectfully. He had certainly grown up. He had such a great desire to make Shard pay for Zera's death, and yet he was being clever and patient. Sternum looked at the others who seemed to be in some agreement. "Very well. I will go speak with him. I suggest you all go and begin informing your forces about what is going on."

"Very well." Jade stood up. "We'll be in touch."

"Good luck." Graveheart offered Sternum a nod and then turned to follow Jade out.

"Thanks." Sternum watched as the others left the room silently. He sighed heavily and turned the communication unit back on. "Alright, patch Shard through." He hated this part of being Emperor. Pretending to be nice to someone when you would rather be shoving your fist down their throat. As Shard's face appeared on the screen, he forced the growl of hate back down his throat. "Ah, Shard, what can I do for you?"

"You can hand over those criminals to my authority!"

Sternum was not impressed by Shard's bluntness. Did the man take him for a fool? "Criminals? What criminals would those be?"

Shard eyed Sternum with a bit of a malicious glare. "A Bone cruiser just came to my planet and helped the murderer of Empress Zera escape!"

Sternum blinked in mock surprise. "Are you sure it was a Bone cruiser? None of my officers would do such a thing with out my authority."

"Of course it was a Bone cruiser!" Shard scoffed. "I hope you aren't thinking me the fool, Sternum. This had better been without your knowledge, or…"

"Do not think me a fool, either, Shard." Sternum cut the man off with a dark glare. "I know nothing of what you are talking about." He leaned back from the screen and took on the air of nobility again. "But I can assure you I will look into the matter."

"Yes, well…" Shard swallowed his pride slightly and decided to be more diplomatic, and even slightly polite. "I trust you will inform me of any findings?"

"Of course." Sternum had had enough of this. "Good night to you, then." And he shut off the communicator, leaving Shard with his mouth open. "We will see who is the fool." Sternum walked out of the meeting hall and headed toward the main hanger to see how repairs were coming and to talk with Una. If she was anything like how he remembered her father, she would be a vital asset in the upcoming battles. He watched Marcus approach, wiping greased hands with a rag. "How are things going in there?"

Marcus gave a small sigh. "Could be better. The Tul is going to need a complete transmission and injector refit. Una told me to go and get some rest. She's put me on afternoon shift to try an keep things going."

Sternum nodded at the good planning, then smirked slightly when he realized what direction Marcus was heading in. "Aren't your quarters back that way?"

"Oh…yes…" Marcus cleared his throat. "Just thought I'd see her…I mean Tal… him...ask him… if he needs any help"

Sternum had to suppress a laugh. "It's alright, Marcus. She is the first Ice female you've seen in a while."

Marcus sighed. "Yes, she is."

Sternum watched as Marcus seemed to trail off into a world all his own. "I'm sorry about that."

"Hmm?"

"I should have encouraged you to learn more about your people after your parents died."

"Bah." Marcus waved it off. "I'm happy here, on Bone. You know that. Besides, its not like you had any obligation. I more or less just tagged along and learned what I could. I was grateful just for that."

"You earned your keep." Sternum stated proudly, remembering what seemed like such a long time ago. A whole different world. "You still do."

Marcus gave a small smirk. "Thanks."

Sternum nodded and returned the smirk. "Well, go on then."

"Yes, my Lord." Marcus gave a small bow of the head with a large grin on his face before heading off down the corridor. He walked into the medical bay to find Tal hunched over a desk with his head in his hands. The man was obviously tired, and probably worried and unsure of his future. Marcus looked over to Crystal. She would be too, when she woke up. Her whole world had just been turned upside down. He quietly made his way over to her still form on the medical table, not wanting to disturb Tal from what was probably a much needed rest. He looked at her for what seemed a small eternity before a noise behind him caught his attention.

"Marcus?" Tal said in a groggy voice, wiping sleep from his eyes with his secondary arms.

"Sorry, I didn't want to wake you." Marcus said as he walked away from Crystal.

Tal gave a small smile. "It's alright." He gave a small laugh. "I'm really getting to old for this adventurous life-style."

"Bah. You're not that old." Marcus leaned on a nearby stool. "Besides, think about all the fun you would be missing!"

Tal shook his head in another laugh at the youth's attitude. "I admire your spirit, but I hardly did it for fun. I did it for a friend."

"Tekla, you mean?"

"Yes." Tal nodded.

On the other side of the room, Crystal's eyes opened into tiny slits, the laughter and conversation of the males was a garbed mix of echoes. She was no longer cold, or numb, or drowning. Her eyes could barely make out the shapes in front of her. She was disoriented, and in an incredible amount of pain.

"What is she like?" Marcus was curious about the princess of the long dead world.

Tal shrugged slightly. "Tekla is very…studious. She has a great deal invested into the fight with the Beast."

Tal. Crystal's mind recognized that voice. The other one was unfamiliar, but it sounded Icean. She must be in an Ice medical lab. But why? Why was she here and not on that mountain? A throbbing pain shot up from her stomach, but she clenched her teeth to keep silent. Perhaps Shard had merely sent her to the Peak of Penance as a show, and now she was being imprisoned for another reason. Her mind fogged over again. Something wasn't right. It smelt different. And what about the Bone ship. She tightly closed her eyes as she tried to remember. Had the Bone ship been merely a dream?

"Well, yes, I would imagine so." Marcus nodded. "So how do you think that discussion with Shard went?"

"Well, I hope." Tal sighed, hoping Emperor Sternum had been able to keep his temper.

Crystal clenched her teeth at the mentioning of that man's name. She had to get out of here. She had to find him. She had to kill him. Her fists clenched, and she could feel the Drach'Mar enhanced nanonites coursing through her system, feeding her fury. The Drach'Mar. She had to save her sisters. With a furious howl, she leapt up from the medical table, grabbing a long and sharp surgical knife from a nearby tray.

"Oh my dear Gods." Tal gasped and stood up.

Crystal waved the knife in a warning at the two Ice males. She took up a defensive pose and glared at them. The nanonites in her system were responding to the fury of the Drach'Mar within her, telling her brain to ignore the pain and her muscles to prepare to fight. Her eyes set on the male she didn't recognize first. He seemed in shock at her sudden rising from the almost dead.

"No sudden movements." Tal hissed at Marcus. "She could kill you in a mere second. Now, Crystal…just wait a moment and…"

Crystal snarled in anger, her grip on the knife tightening. She could not wait. "Zut'chi carneth-mar Tal. Vormir!"

"What is she saying?" Marcus gave a sideways glance at Tal, realizing this wasn't the best time to ask for a translation of Icean.

"Crystal, please." Tal lifted his hands up slowly. "I can't let you go, you see…"

"Vormir!" Crystal growled again and began to move forward, slicing the knife at the air in warning. "Vormireth mir Drach'Mar neth!"

"You can't get to the other Drach'Mar, Crystal," Tal knew her memories flooding back was going to be painful for her. "You are no longer on Ice." To Tal's relief, that seemed to have grabbed her attention. Her hold on the knife faltered slightly as her arm lost some of its strength. She darted her eyes about the room in confusion. "Don't you remember what happened? The trial? The peak? The Bone ship?"

"The ship." Crystal formed the words slowly, the knife in her hand becoming heavier. As her anger subsided, so to did the fury of the nanonites. Her eyes looked along the green walls of the room, the smell becoming recognizable. Bone. "The ship." She repeated in slower breaths. Her eyes suddenly locked onto Marcus as she brought her empty hand up to her lips. "You."

Marcus lowered his eyes in shame. She obviously remembered the kiss. "I…I'm sorry."

"Saved my life." Crystal continued to stare at him as he raised his eyes again to hers. "My life." She repeated and looked into the distance. Her other hand dropped the knife and it fell to the floor with a large clang. The now freed hand went to her stomach, to the injury now bandaged. A small choked cry broke through her resistance. "Jaren."

Tal sighed grimly and nodded. "Yes. Jaren was the one who shot you, the blasted fool." He could tell her strength was leaving her, the nanonites were becoming exhausted. He made his way over to her and she looked at him with a shake of the head.

"Please no." She pleaded as her hand searched her neck frantically for the family pendant. "Please, say it was a dream, Tal. Say it was a dream!"

"I…I wish I could." Tal's eyes were ready to brim with tears at her distraught site. He pulled something from his pocket and held it out to her. It was her family pendant, once white with the life connection to her father, now black because he was dead. He couldn't look at her as she slowly picked the pendant up out of his hand and looked at it. "I am truly sorry about your father, Crystal."

"No." Crystal's mind was edging on madness as she backed away from them. She had lost everything. She was alone on a strange world. She was alone. "No…no! NO NO NO!" She screamed as her knees buckled from underneath her.

Tal caught her just in time as the nanonites finally gave out, and her sadness took over. She continued to meekly scream between sobs and fight his grip on her with what little energy she had left. Tal remained steadfast and held her tightly until she stopped protesting. He stroked her hair in a fatherly manner, patiently waiting for her cries to quiet and for fatigue to reclaim her to sleep. He kept telling her that things would be alright, knowing in his heart that things would never truly be alright for her again.