“It is time to repay your debt.”
“The moment has finally arrived.”
“Did you truly believe that changing your face and identity would allow you to escape?”
Blade slowly raised his cracked sword and aimed it at Dan Heng.
“I have already explained this to you and that woman countless times.”
“I am Dan Heng.”
“I have nothing to do with your past.”
Frustration and exhaustion filled Dan Heng’s voice.
Blade showed no interest in accepting that explanation.
“Dan Heng.”
A hollow laugh escaped him.
“You believe that adopting another face and another name will erase your former sins.”
“You have not even experienced death.”
“I will make you understand that pain.”
“Dan Heng.”
“I will teach you what it means to die.”
Blade vanished.
A streak of crimson light flashed past Dan Heng and appeared behind him.
The cracked sword descended.
Dan Heng spun Cloud-Piercer into position and blocked the strike.
Metal collided with metal.
The corridor was filled with a rapid series of violent impacts.
Dan Heng defended himself with everything he had.
Blade still overwhelmed him.
A final strike launched Dan Heng across the corridor.
He hit the floor and struggled to recover.
Blade immediately pursued him.
He raised his sword and drove the point toward Dan Heng’s head.
Emerald light appeared within Dan Heng’s eyes.
The glow became brighter as the sword approached.
He had resisted using that power for as long as possible.
With death only a moment away, Dan Heng finally reached a decision.
The sword stopped directly before his face.
Dan Heng stared at it.
Before he could understand what had happened, Blade’s body dissolved into smoke.
Kai stood where he had been.
She smiled down at Dan Heng with obvious amusement.
“My.”
“Were you about to transform already?”
“Imbibitor Lunae.”
Dan Heng’s eyes widened.
“Who are you?”
“How do you know so much about me?”
The power gathering around him did not disappear.
He watched Kai closely, prepared to complete the transformation at the first sign of danger.
Kai covered her mouth and laughed.
“Our stoic dragon looks surprisingly charming when he is angry.”
“Relax.”
“Kai has no intention of harming anyone aboard the Astral Express.”
“She will even help you deal with the Antimatter Legion.”
“As for how she knows your secrets.”
Kai leaned closer.
“You may guess.”
Dan Heng fell silent.
Kai had drawn him into an illusion without him noticing.
Her power was undeniable.
Even if he assumed the form of Imbibitor Lunae, he doubted that victory would be possible.
Kai’s behavior was infuriating.
However, Dan Heng could sense no true hostility from her.
Had she genuinely wanted to kill him, she would not have wasted time constructing such an elaborate performance.
The emerald light slowly faded from his eyes.
Dan Heng gave Kai one final, complicated look.
“Come.”
“Arlan still needs our help.”
He turned and continued walking without waiting for an answer.
“There is no need to rush.”
“Arlan can take care of himself.”
“Dan Heng.”
“Wait for Kai.”
…
Herta Space Station.
Inside an unmarked resting room.
Himeko felt warmth beside her.
Something soft rested beneath her arm.
Her eyelashes trembled as her mind emerged from a heavy fog.
She slowly opened her eyes.
Kafka’s face was only inches away.
Burgundy curls brushed against Himeko’s neck.
Kafka’s quiet breathing passed over her collar.
Their arms were wrapped around one another beneath the blanket.
Himeko’s entire body became rigid.
Her first instinct was to push Kafka away.
She stopped herself before moving.
Kafka was dangerously clever.
There was a good chance she was already awake and simply waiting to see how Himeko would react.
Himeko spoke quietly.
“You can stop pretending, Kafka.”
“How long were you planning to continue holding me?”
A lazy smile appeared on Kafka’s lips.
Her rose-colored eyes slowly opened, filled with amusement.
She did not release Himeko.
Instead, her embrace became slightly tighter.
Kafka leaned closer and spoke beside Himeko’s ear.
“We rarely receive opportunities like this.”
“Why not enjoy it for another moment?”
Himeko calmly but firmly freed herself and sat at the edge of the bed.
“You did not bring me here simply because you wanted an embrace.”
“Tell me what you are planning.”
Kafka remained stretched across the bed.
She supported her chin with one hand and smiled at Himeko.
“That accusation is terribly unfair.”
“As you can see, I am as much a prisoner as you are.”
“You do not know Kai.”
“So she truly is an Emanator.”
“That explains why I could not resist her.”
Kafka appeared completely unconcerned by their imprisonment.
Her attention remained fixed upon Himeko.
“I admit that I am curious.”
“Kai went through a remarkable amount of effort to place us together in this room.”
“What does she expect us to do?”
“If my judgment is correct, we will not be permitted to leave until she achieves whatever result she wants.”
Himeko’s expression became serious.
She crossed the room and tried the door.
The handle did not move.
She opened her weapon case and transformed it into its combat configuration.
Then she struck the door.
The impact shook the room.
The barrier remained intact.
Himeko attacked again.
Not even a scratch appeared.
Concern settled over her.
“This is a problem.”
“The station is filled with Voidrangers.”
“I need to return to the others immediately.”
“If we remain trapped here, the researchers could suffer heavy losses.”
Kafka looked remarkably relaxed by comparison.
She offered Himeko a reassuring smile.
“The station will survive.”
“Kai will not allow anything truly disastrous to happen.”
Himeko turned toward her.
“She manipulated you only a short time ago.”
“You still trust her.”
Kai was an Emanator of Elation.
She had recently destroyed the IPC headquarters for reasons that appeared to involve little more than amusement.
There seemed to be no limit to the trouble she might cause.
Kafka’s smile became difficult to interpret.
“I can sense that she is a good person.”
“She is simply a little mischievous.”
“Besides, worrying will not open the door.”
“Until we discover a way out, there is little else we can do.”
Himeko released a reluctant sigh.
Kafka was correct.
“Then what does Kai want from us?”
Himeko examined the room.
It contained an ordinary bed, a cabinet, several chairs, and the standard equipment of a temporary station resting area.
Nothing offered an obvious clue.
As she continued thinking, an uncomfortable warmth began spreading through the room.
Himeko frowned.
“It is becoming unusually warm.”
She removed her coat and placed it over a chair.
The heat did not improve.
When Himeko looked toward Kafka, she found that the Stellaron Hunter’s cheeks had also turned red.
A faint sheen of perspiration had appeared across Kafka’s face.
Unlike Himeko, Kafka seemed more amused than worried.
“I understand now.”
“So this was your plan, little Kai.”
Himeko narrowed her eyes.
“What plan?”
Kafka removed her own outer coat and settled comfortably against the pillows.
She remained fully dressed, but the casual movement made Himeko immediately suspicious.
Himeko examined the faint pink light drifting through the room.
Then she understood.
Kai had not created anything truly dangerous.
The mist appeared to be an elaborate dream effect that produced warmth, drowsiness, and exaggerated emotional openness.
It was designed to make two guarded people stop avoiding an honest conversation.
Himeko pressed one hand against her forehead.
“That woman.”
“She trapped us here for an interstellar relationship exercise.”
Kafka laughed softly.
“It appears that we have both been assigned a mandatory bonding session.”
“I refuse to reward her.”
Himeko tried to remain standing.
The dream mist made her increasingly tired.
Kafka extended one hand toward her.
“You could continue fighting the inevitable.”
“Or you could sit down before you fall.”
Himeko hesitated.
Another wave of drowsiness passed through her.
She reluctantly sat at the edge of the bed.
“This does not mean I trust you.”
“I would have been disappointed if it did.”
Kafka’s smile softened.
For several moments, neither woman spoke.
The station’s distant alarms could no longer penetrate the barrier surrounding the room.
Himeko looked toward Kafka.
“You knew Stelle before today.”
Kafka’s expression became gentler.
“Yes.”
“You left her behind.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Kafka looked toward the ceiling.
“Because the script required it.”
Himeko disliked the answer.
However, the emotion behind Kafka’s voice did not sound indifferent.
“You care about her.”
“More than she currently understands.”
Silence returned.
The unnatural warmth slowly faded.
In its place came a heavy, peaceful exhaustion.
Himeko’s thoughts became increasingly distant.
Kafka was affected as well.
“This conversation is not finished.”
Himeko’s voice grew quieter.
“I would expect nothing less.”
Kafka closed her eyes.
Moments later, Himeko also drifted into sleep.
Neither had revealed much.
Still, it was more honesty than either would normally have offered.
Kai’s duplicate emerged from concealment.
She carefully adjusted the blanket around them.
Then she studied the two sleeping women with a satisfied smile.
What harmful intentions could Kai possibly possess?
She merely wanted her two favorite maternal figures to stop glaring at each other long enough to have one civil conversation.
The operation had been a complete success.
Probably.
“Hehe.”
◉◉◉◉◉
Save to library!