As we began our return to Earth, Velke and Corai's nanobots caused them to slacken in their seats twice over—first to cross back to Ahnar's dimension, then to use their portal to Sol. It was a strange thing to cradle the Elusian's lifeless body in my arms. I was no closer to finding a proper path forward for humanity, aside from appeasing the Fakra and trying not to put a target on our backs; I didn't want us to be forced to genocide her people. If Velke had seen that she was different, perhaps other Fakra could be discerning.

The Earth Space Union was disgruntled after the second time being unceremoniously dumped back in Sol, and were reluctant to start any plots again. However, Velke persuaded them by insisting we had critical information about the future; Takahashi was amazed to see our return, and wanted to hear all of the details of what happened. Sofia and I didn't elaborate too much, not wanting to have the prophetic details hashed out over a call. We explained that they retrieved our human bodies to put us back in them, and knowingly sent us with the probe to guide it.

When Velke let it slip that the Fakra had gone to war with the Elusians and rescued us from Suam, the tone became much more serious. I think Takahashi began to understand that our help was a request in name only, though she was alarmed to hear that our creators had been—and might still be—about to attack Sol after the probe. We waited in orbit for the ESU to arrange a diplomatic meeting spot, and I tried to mentally assure Corai that we could fix this together.

"Maybe you can help us barter for some leniency from Velke," I told her. "No matter what, humanity will remember how you helped us—how you loved us. You know that, right?"

Corai, still a little fogged-up from dying twice in the span of a few minutes, nodded. "I will have to think long and hard about speeding your progress. I know you could use the same technology that the Fakra have come up with."

"Yeah." I didn't want to say it and pressure her, but…an Elusian's help would be invaluable, if she didn't want us forced into playing by the Fakra's rules. "Well, they stole our R&D on raisers, so Takahashi must've been getting close to that."

"You just need a sample of the nanobots. Perhaps they could extract enough to reverse engineer it from your blood. I could help you untangle how it works, and now that we've escaped the network commands, I could teach you how to open portals."

"That'd be fantabulous. As much as I'd love to appear right behind people and jump scare them, wouldn't the limiters reactivate when we're in range?"

"Not if you could build a console with command access, and render yourself anonymous and impervious to interference. Don't worry about that now. If Velke makes you run straight off to war with us, it's all a moot point."

That comment made me feel all the more uncomfortable about how human-Fakra negotiations might go, as Velke steered the Fakran vessel down through the atmosphere. I tried to distract myself, and issued a mental reminder not to show my hopelessness to Sofia; she was vexed by the idea of an immutable future. On one positive note, Mikri was acting normally again, and by normally, I meant he was stabbing a juice box repeatedly with a pair of scissors and clapping. I owed Sofia big time.

The android wordlessly extended the sharp object to me with a paw. "Perforation. Makes slushy!"

"Aw, Fifi. I'm still making him dumber!" I exclaimed, slapping the scissors out of his paw and onto the floor. I karate-chopped the juice box, causing it to spray liquid like a geyser—with droplets coalescing into Mikri's mane. "You were in the splash section, bud. It's a shame you're too ugly to carry an umbrella."

"I do not see a logical reason why my refined beauty would prevent me from carrying a rain repulsion instrument. You are mean."

"Well boohoo, Mikri. I got a joke for you. You ready?"

"I have a joke for you first. It goes like this: Preston Carter. That's the joke."

I blinked several times in irritation. "Knock knock."

"Get the fuck off my lawn, you big-butted bison."

"That's not your line. Say your line, or I'll destroy Fifi's science notes to make her sad."

"Don't do it, Mikri," Sofia pleaded. "Not for me!"

The android gave her a rueful glance, before relenting. "Who's there?"

"Mikri," I said.

"…Mikri who?"

"Mikri doesn't believe restraining orders apply to him! Hello! No, don't call the cops. Let me live in your pantry!"

The Vascar stewed in his thoughts for a moment. "This is an inane joke. If it got to the point where you tried to keep me away with a restraining order, I would not knock. We would be past that."

"You wouldn't knock because you'd respect people's wishes and privacy, even if it hurts, right?" Sofia prompted, as I leaned back nervously.

Mikri smiled and picked up the scissors. "No."

That was it: the tin can was psycho. If we ever had a friendship breakup, I'd be lucky if he only slashed my tires, but at least I knew about it ahead of time. There was the real reason we couldn't be romantic, because of the golden rule: no putting fun-pickles in crazy. Shooting a glance at Corai for help, I backed away from the robot with my arms raised above my head. Fortunately, Velke touched down on a landing strip at an ESU base, and I had the opportunity to make my escape into fresh air.

Mikri needs a wheelchair here, supposedly even with his stronger frame. He, at least, isn't going to win if he chases you. Safe for now.

"Welcome home—again." General Takahashi was waiting outside to greet us, her tan skin sticking out against my gray limb when she offered Sofia, then myself, a curt handshake. "Let's skip the pleasantries and get to business. I don't even want to wait long enough to take us in to a conference room. I want to be up to speed in the next 90 seconds."

"Don't react," I told the general mentally, using the secondary technique Corai taught me about directing meaning toward the Wernicke's area of the brain. Takahashi jolted a bit, then steeled herself and looked at me out of the corner of her eye. "The Fakra have been spying on us. They stole your raiser research. They're going to force us to join forces with them, because they want Sol troops to partake in the ground invasion of Suam. And they think it's our destiny."

Velke stepped forward. "We came here to discuss an alliance in our war against the Elusians. Earth's aid would be valuable, to stand up to our creators together. We only get one chance, so we need it with immediacy. As I said before, they believe you cause their extinction, so we need to hit them first. They would have come here for a preemptive strike if we didn't draw their attention."

"That's true," Sofia broadcasted to myself, and presumably Corai, Mikri, and Takahashi as well. "Preston saw a future where the Elusians are all destroyed. Humanity appears to create some kind of superweapon to destroy them all."

"That's not good at all," Takahashi said, ostensibly to Velke, but looking sideways at us. "It seems rather suicidal to throw yourself at the Elusians, so I'm concerned how that might turn out for all of us. Humanity simply isn't at the technological level to engage a species like them. What do you suggest?"

Corai caught on that the question was directed at us. "You cannot refuse, as you well know, or the Fakra may turn on you. Stall for time, and perhaps the war will backfire on them fast enough that you're not dragged into this. Express a clear plan to catch up, and that this is reasonable given your state. Try to push back these negotiations themselves, if possible."

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Velke clashed four fists together. "We equip your soldiers with the technology to catch up. In return, you land with our troops and tear through Suam."

"Forgive me, Velke, but this is all very sudden." Takahashi's expression was a tad strained, since she clearly wasn't used to juggling mental conversations as well as verbal ones. "We'd require time to train and grow accustomed to this technology. If you want an alliance, sharing would go a long way as a gesture of good faith."

"Just like we shared the secrets of crossing through the portals with you, expecting nothing," Sofia attempted.

"It took weeks for Preston and Sofia, and presumably your own people, to learn to use raisers and to acclimate to nanobots. You'd have an ineffective fighting force on your hands that we'll tear through," Corai ventured, frowning. "Coordinating with them earlier could've given the help you needed from day one. I know you want to work alone, but you must realize you need to hold the line until they can have any semblance of readiness."

Mikri beeped in agreement. "The humans were stopped very easily by the Elusians in their current state, so I do not think they will change much either way. According to my calculations, no ground forces will alter your odds of success, even if they could harness the technology."

"We already know we succeed, robot!" Velke protested. "It's a matter of figuring out their weakness. They will always be a threat to us, so we took our chance to hit them first. Your plan about cuddling up to them and fixing everything through the probe didn't work. Now is the time for humans to act—to decide which enemy you want!"

Takahashi raised her hands. "We don't want any enemies, Commander Velke. We're asking you to understand that this is an impossible situation. While I can't send my forces to a slaughter and be left with nothing, fucking us both over…we are willing to help in the meantime. This back-and-forth can be diplomatic and productive. Don't you need to consult the Marshal, and ascertain what conditions your leader might be willing to accept?"

The Fakra barked out a laugh, red eyes gleaming with mirth. "I have the authority to negotiate and make decisions about the direction my species will take."

"I hear what you're saying, but dude, I'd totally get in trouble for doing something this big without bringing it back to our leaders. We can't know we worked something out or what's nonnegotiable if we don't run it by the top dog, the Marshal. Can we speak with him?"

"You already are. I am the Marshal."

I recoiled in shock, as did every member of our posse, staring at each other with uncertainty. I wondered why we'd never seen or heard details about the Marshal, but it was difficult to believe it was Velke all along. Sure, the Commander acted with impunity that seemed beyond a simple station at times, but he'd also gone off to check with the Marshal or blamed decisions on that figure several times. I supposed that was code for, "I'll run it by my advisors?" What the fuck was he doing on this mission himself?

Velke raised a skeletal hand toward me. "Yes, Preston, I'm aware that I've spoken of the Marshal in the third person, but that's by design. You're less inclined to litigate my decisions, if they're passed off as coming from over my head. It's also an excellent excuse to spend a few hours mulling over my choices. Non-Elusian aliens are new grounds for us…in fact, we never really imagined life outside of them."

"Don't 'yes, Preston' me! So you led the Fakra to war?" I exclaimed, unable to bridle my emotions. "You wanted this debacle?!"

"Of course I did! Every Fakra does from the moment they're old enough to read; we dream about being the ones to get revenge on our creators. It's one of the most common dreams for what we'll do when we grow up, like yours want to be a doctor or…more accurately, a superhero! What they did to us can't just be let go. They'll pay for a million years of suffering—I'll make it right."

"Does this really make you feel better, Velke-tremai?" Corai asked with a surprising gentleness, tilting her head and stilling me with a hand on my shoulder.

The Marshal hesitated. "No. I've been disillusioned for so many years waiting by The Gap, but now that the time has come, I find it to be stressful and unpleasant to behold as much as anything. The anger we feel toward the Elusians could never have been anywhere else."

"And what happens after the Elusians are defeated huh? Then what?" I prompted, following Corai's lead. "There has to be something more to you, and the Fakra."

"I have no idea what we'll do. We've never had that chance. We'll learn, the same way we had to relearn everything else from scratch." Velke folded his arms, scowling. "Enough discourse: my mind is set. And don't get any bright ideas about knocking me off, Takahashi. Not only would that earn a blistering attack from my people, but whoever comes after me will be worse. I, at least, only judge you for your actions, not that you're hominids."

Takahashi's face tightened. "I wouldn't dream of it, Marshal Velke. Since you're new to other aliens, I can forgive a faux pas here and there. I'd like to be friends, but if that's what you want, you can't coerce us and be unfair to our simplest requests. Please, don't take the Elusian way."

"You're asking us for the wrong thing," Sofia interjected, intelligence in her brown eyes. "Velke, you know of the vision. We're destined to build a weapon that can destroy them. If you want our help, then you should let us devote our resources to that entirely, not a hopeless ground war. That's what tips the scales. Buy us time to research, and we can deliver their demise. Isn't that the foreseen future where we succeed?!"

Velke leaned back. "You have a point, Dr. Aguado. However, I've seen your R&D projects, and there's nothing that could scratch them there yet."

"Because we haven't made it yet. We lost our Caelum research and the collaborative alliance there that made our rapid scientific advances with portals possible. Let us reassemble our team and have time to try."

"What good could those backward fools do?!"

"Buy time, and give us anyone extra on our side," I told Takahashi, who was nodding along when Sofia had voiced the idea. "By the way, remember that brilliant asset, Capal? Our best researcher? He needs a rescue out of prison, oh—and a human's taken over Jorlen!"

"What?!" Takahashi exclaimed aloud, disbelief in her eyes. "Ahem. Velke, Preston told me that a key researcher who made the breakthrough that corrected our portals has run into trouble. There was a power vacuum left in our absence in Caelum, much like the Elusians vanishing from Ahnar. We'd like to start by recovering our assets on Jorlen."

"I meant it! Are the Caelumites really capable of making a difference?" Velke spat.

Corai shook her head. "You know, the same was said by us about you. People are always capable of more than they're given credit for. Don't write them off so easily."

That argument seemed to slap Velke in the face, and his demeanor switched to a faltering tone. "We're…nothing like you. I'm all for helping them, when it's not critical. Just survival first; you didn't have a reason."

"If you need a reason, you cannot doubt that my people, vacillating as they may sometimes be, are a lynchpin for any research," Mikri countered. "The fact remains that our calculation is far superior to organics, irregardless of technological advancement. You need my people, and that means calming Caelum."

"How can I ever trust humanity, let alone your self-absorbed network?!"

Takahashi forced a smile. "I'm going to send these four to rescue their buddy, Capal; in and out. You can go with them, if you'd like, as a gesture of good faith. We should have more of those, if you do want to figure out positive endeavors after the Elusians are gone. If you're not convinced of the guy's brilliance, then you can tell me this isn't the right idea."

"Deal. It's the only way I can ensure you're not trying anything…and it seems it's the only way you'll work with me. I do want to be in your good graces. Still, I don't see what good 'Capal' can do compared to what we've already accomplished in his absence."

Corai's blackened eyes had a glint of skepticism. "Preston, I hate to agree with Velke, but he has a point. It would require great effort to bring Capal up to speed on how any of our technology works. I understand he's a friend of yours, of course; just don't expect him to wow the Fakra when they have knowledge far beyond his own scope."

"Capal is a genius. You'll see," I responded.

"I chased him in a wheelchair," Mikri added with a proud smile.

General Takahashi cleared her throat. "Excellent. Let's not waste any time. I'll make plans to stabilize Caelum and reassert an ESU presence, but it sounds as if Capal is in constant peril. Can you bring one vial of nanobots with you, just to bring him back?"

"Multiple," I interjected. "There were…four others with him. One of those is a kid."

Velke looked exasperated. "Fine. I suppose if we wind up using them as cannon fodder, we'll have to juice them up anyway. I'll give your people time to train as well, without stinginess on the tech. They do need the leg up. A gesture of…good faith. But you fuck us and our ships can still swallow Earth."

"Understood! No fucking the Fakra," I said cheekily.

Mikri slumped his shoulders. "Aw. I'm not allowed to romance anyone."

The Marshal rolled his eyes, before waving us back onto the ship to go retrieve the necessary supplies for our rescue mission. Sofia and I being the only two humans with raisers and nanobots right now, it was sensible enough to send us to bust Capal out; it wouldn't even be my first prison break this week! I hoped Meganerd the Brown would be enough to impress advanced individuals like Corai and Velke, because if he let us down…I wasn't convinced we had anyone better in our corner.

The chances of us being allowed to research an Elusian killer, instead of being tossed headlong into war, depended on how well Capal could adapt to the mindblowing developments we figured out without him. It would be a lot, but unlike the Fakra, I'd choose to believe in Caelum's finest.

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