Undercurrent

[Snoofman]

Author’s note: I changed the end of chapter 5 to that, instead of fetching medicine, Undercurrent must steal human consumables for Frostglass’ treasure.

6 - Tigomersin

Undercurrent returned to White to relay the news. Good and bad. Though White considered it anything but good news, seeing how they had been coerced into a brokerage with gangers. Worst of all, they agreed to sell their remaining romara for half its value. Something that was not going to sit well with Freeway. At least this trade would generate just enough for their guild to break even.

In the days that followed, the smugglers transported their remaining cargo to Frostglass’ tigis. White took Firewater and Dew back with her to Eshorg to prepare the next shipment of fuel cells and secret romara. And the scolding of a lifetime once Freeway found out what Undercurrent did. Undercurrent meanwhile was taken west with her new coworkers, or partners in crime as it were, to Ieba.

The gangers drove into Ieba under nightfall through an old drainage tunnel, hovering above the flow of sewage in their power beitar. Despite being in this undesirable situation, it amazed Undercurrent how resourceful these gangers were. She became nervous just watching the beitar barely squeeze through narrow corridors, with nothing but the vehicle’s lights and extra lamps from the gangers to illuminate their way. She froze with dread when the beitar seemed to jolt as it got caught on something. Verglas, the team’s appointed leader, just casually opened her passenger door and bent down to unhook some junk that blocked their path.

All while this was happening Verglas kept up her lotai. Undercurrent understood that this was necessary should they happen to pass any Loroi nearby.

<Pay attention now, Bright,> Verglas sent to Undercurrent. <We are under an arcology where warriors grow Terran food for the Terran Raiders imprisoned at Ieba’s Reformatory.>

<So the rumors are true then,> sent Undercurrent. <The warriors really are holding human prisoners at Ieba.>

<That doesn’t matter. Focus! This arcology also processes and stores this food. Since buildings like this one do not house Loroi of great importance, their security is more lax on the lower levels where we will enter from. But we have to make our way to the higher levels to the storage area.>

<But even your lotai can’t make us invisible to warriors’ eyes,> Undercurrent sent her concern.

<Just watch and learn, Bright.>

<Why do you keep calling me that?>

<Because that’s what you are. A Bright. You’re not a Shade like me.>

They pressed on through the dark maze until they arrived at an underground platform. Undercurrent was forced to disembark with Verglas and Rime.

<Keep the engine rolling,> Verglas sent to their driver, Ice.

Ice complied, keeping her lotai active.

The three climbed ladders, walked and turned through a maze of stairwells and corridors, eventually entering a ventilation alley leading up to a wall grid. Rime undid the restraints and opened it, leading them into a what Undercurrent could only assume was a maintenance room before fitting the grid back in place.

<Off with your shoes,> Rime ordered.

Undercurrent was surprised. <What?>

<Just do it.> Rime withdrew three pairs of foam shoes. The three smugglers slipped them on and put away their original footwear. Next Rime took from her pack a disk, tapped its top button and tossed it into the air. With a few inputs from Rime’s wristcomm, the disk hummed and hovered just above them.

Undercurrent asked what the disk was for. Rime grinned, directing Undercurrent to take a few steps away. She did as instructed and watched, dumbfounded as Rime and Verglas seemed to fizzle out of existence. She moved forward, watching them flash back into existence. She repeated this movement, watching them disappear as she stepped back and reappeared as she came closer.

<Impressive, isn’t it?> Rime sent with a smug grin.

Undercurrent was indeed impressed. <How do you do that?>

<The disk is a hologram projector. As long as we stay within its range and Verglas’ lotai, we will be invisible.>

<Stay close and do not wander away,> Verglas instructed Undercurrent. <And no matter what happens, do not make a sound. If you do, we will be caught. If you have to send, do so only to me. Your job, is to keep a lookout while we work.>

Verglas lead them out of the maintenance room through several hallways without seeming to be lost. Undercurrent thought to ask just how times they had done this, but stayed silent. Their foam shoes were surprisingly silent.

Undercurrent stiffened as she heard approaching footsteps and froze momentarily as a green-clad Paset rounded a corner just ahead. But watched, completely astonished as they silently moved aside and allowed the Paset to walk past them.

They ascended the levels of the arcology completely undetected, eventually coming to a large storage area manned by a few guards. All within detectable range. Not one of them could sense or even see the three smugglers moving silently in between the stacks of storage units.

Rime lead them to a particular storage unit. She read its tag, confirming this was what they were looking for. She entered a few commands into her wristcomm to the disk before she set to getting the container open.

<Won’t the warriors see the disturbance?> Undercurrent sent.

<The disk projects an image of the container in an unchanged state, as I instructed it,> Rime answered. <Now I need to focus.>

When the container was finally opened, Rime motioned Undercurrent over and began loading packs of alien food onto her carrier pack. As the goods were strapped onto her back, Undercurrent noticed an armored Paset approaching with a pistol holstered to her hips.

<Incoming,> Undercurrent discreetly warned her comrades.

Rime stopped what she was doing. The three smugglers stood perfectly still, daring not make a sound. The Paset seemed content to walk on by. But she stopped just two-body lengths from them.

Undercurrent’s pulse raced faster as the Paset took a step closer, sniffing the air. Although she could not see the smugglers, she smelt something strange.

Rime pulled out a small rod with a conical dish at the end. At first Undercurrent thought it was a weapon, but it proved something else when Rime aimed it down another aisle of containers and clicked it.

Tap!

The Paset turned her head toward where she was certain the noise came from.

Rime hit the clicker in her hand again.

Tap! Tap!

The Paset followed where she thought the noise came from. Rime holstered her echo-caster before sealing the container again and double-checking the straps on Undercurrent’s carrier pack. Hefting the food’s weight was strenuous combined with having to avoid occasional obstacles, but being concealed allowed them to move at a comfortable pace. Stuffing the goods into the ventilation alley, they made two more trips back up to the storage area, unnoticed by the warriors. After their last run, Rime fastened the ventilation grid back in place and deactivated the disk. They had to make several trips to transfer the stolen goods to their beitar.

When the all the food was finally loaded, Ice guided their beitar out of the underground. When they exited Ieba’s sewage and sped away into the Zaral woodlands, Verglas lowered her lotai. They were finally in the clear.

In a rush of stress and exhilaration, Undercurrent hollered her relief. Despite the danger they had been in, never had she felt so alive.



On their journey home, the gangers made a stop on the outskirts of Laibela to buy some pozets and hot nectar juice after a job well done. Their beitar allowed them to stay off the main roads and bypass security checkpoints. During the drive back to Nottinrer, Undercurrent took the time to learn more about Mestirot’s Underworld and how the Shadow Lords ruled through each of their respective tigis’.

A tigis was organized into a circular hierarchy. At the center was a Shadow Lord herself, usually a chosen successor. This position could be taken by force, but more often such actions destabilized a tigis. A Shadow Lord secured her position by surrounding herself with a circle of trusted Seinens and appointing the most devoted Loroi as her enforcers.

Beyond the Shadow Lord were her progeny and kinsfolk, the Shades. Like her predecessors, a Shade inherited the power to willfully generate a lotai as far as her telepathic scope allowed. From the moment of birth, she was indoctrinated to follow in her foremothers’ footsteps. Young Shades were often given the task of concealing their den, hence how Frostglass’ shadow den and arcade were shielded from outside detection. The most reliable and competent Shades went on to becoming scouts, charmers and thieves. Shades could also be traded between tigis’ in exchange for goods or to strengthen alliances. Shades who became skilled in business were eventually elevated into the Shadow Lord’s circle of Seinens. The most favored would become the Shadow Lord’s successor.

As a means of controlling their numbers, all births had to strictly be female. Male conceptions were aborted. If a tigis had need for new Shades, they either stole semen or secretly conceived with menfolk not involved in the order of Nedatans.

Any child of a Shade who failed to develop the lotai skill were called Brights. These were either culled, sold or kept if they proved useful. Loroi born outside the Shades’ lineage were also Brights.

Verglas was the grand niece of Frostglass, and a Shade of great import herself. Ice was a young Shade and great granddaughter to Frostglass, working as a scout and entrusted to keep their den hidden. She was also ideal to serve as driver as she kept their vehicle concealed. Rime, Verglas’ younger half-sister, sadly never mastered the lotai. But the Bright’s knowledge in tech and ability to make useful tools made her invaluable to the tigis.

Many Brights found by the Shades’ charmers were fugitives like dishonored children fleeing from their wrathful elders, lawbreakers or by-blows conceived without Imperial registration. A few warrior insurgents had found their way to the Shades as well, but often were turned away or as their presence disrupted the Shadow Lord’s tigis. Brights were granted sanctuary either for a fee or if the tigis recruited them. As long as Brights brought something of value to the tigis and swore a lifetime of loyalty, she was under the Shadow Lord’s protection.

Magnates cooperating with the gangers used their entrepreneurial knowledge to maximize the tigis’ wealth and provided assets for the gangers’ use. Such tribute could earn Brights a seat in the Shadow Lord’s circle of Seinens. Thus these influential Brights sometimes came into conflict with the Shadow Lords’ kinsfolk, especially Shades feeling entitled to their Astem's favor. Brights were allowed to influence the tigis’ affairs so long as they remembered that only a Shade could become a Shadow Lord.

<So that’s how the Shadow Lords kept their power in the Underworld all this time,> Undercurrent observed. <By right of lineage.>

<Bloody well yes,> sent Verglas.

Undercurrent took a sip of noiller. <Have any Brights ever tried seizing power in the Underworld?>

Verglas scoffed, popping a pozet into her mouth. <Tried and failed. The Brights stupid enough to exploit or threaten the Shades found themselves quickly exposed. The Brights need us and they know it.>

<I’ve heard stories of Loroi captured by the Shells, how the husks cloaked themselves by instilling Farseers with drugs and cybernetics. I’ve heard of a few Loroi that can turn invisible, but it takes a lot of effort. Yet you seem to make it seem so effortless.>

Verglas smirked, popping another pozet in her mouth. <You flatter us.>

<How long have the Shades been around?>

<Long time. We’re not sure exactly ourselves, but we have old stories since the Chaos Era. Our ancestors were a clan of lotai masters surviving the wilderness as nomads, using what they had at their disposal.>

<I’m surprised the Imperialists never considered incorporating people with your talents into their caste system.>

<Why would they?> Verglas spat. <The warriors have always distrusted us. Our stories can attest to that. A Loroi who can hide her presence can hide her intentions. Something that makes warriors uneasy. Paranoid even. Our ancestors did try to bargain with warriors on a few occasions. But it always ended in disaster. The warriors rewarded our tributes by putting us to the sword. Not even the Perreinids trusted us when their kind settled on Deinar.>

That surprised Undercurrent. <I thought someone like the Sentinels would love to have a masked sneaker.>

Verglas scoffed, <Those mind-twisting bootlickers?! When Seed of Zaral took control of Deinar, the Mizols captured a few Shades. A few of our captive kinsfolk managed to escape, warning our foremothers that the Mizols and Seed of Zaral were planning to wipe us out when they realized they couldn’t control us. We Shades have suffered the warriors’ cruelty for eons. The shadows protect us.>

Despite the unwanted situation she found herself in, the story of the Shades intrigued Undercurrent. <But how are you able to achieve the lotai so easily?>

<How are Sentinels able to cast their wicked spells on unsuspecting minds? Why can Listels remember everything they see and hear? What makes Unsheathed so powerful? No one knows. It’s a mystery. It’s just something we’re born with, passing it on from mother to daughter.>

<What about the story of Tigomersin?> sent Rime, sipping some noiller.

Now that interested Undercurrent. <Who’s Tigomersin?>

<Our oldest story,> sent Verglas.

Undercurrent wanted to know about it. Seeing it would be a long while before reaching Nottinrer, Verglas told the tale:

<Long before the Great Fall, there were two sisters, Starblade and Thunderlance, also known as the Twin Blades. Their reign was absolute. The warriors boast of the sisters' exploits, but neglect to acknowledge their failures to rule all their subjects fairly. Or that other Loroi desired a life without the sister queens. This prompted four warriors to rise up together and oppose the Twin Blades.>

<I know this legend,> sent Undercurrent. <You speak of the rebels called Ironwrath, Gloomfang, Dawnwhisper and Ashveil.>

<The same! The Twins' power was too great for the four rebels. And so the rebels fled together deep into the earth, the Twins and their army followed the rebels into Rallersel, the Underworld. There they braved the violence of the heart of the world, navigating treacherous terrains filled with pillars of fire and rivers of lava and saw terrible creatures that never will be seen again. After days of pursuit and enduring the terrible heat of the Underworld, the Twin Blades and their army finally cornered the four rebels.

<But the rebels had made pacts with Mollei Badii, ruler of Rallersel and master of monsters. The rebels offered their souls in exchange for the power to destroy the Twins and so were turned into monsters. Mollei Badii held Ironwrath by her ankles and dipped her into the rivers of lava. She emerged as a monster of metal and molten stone. Next Mollei Badii slit his wrist and filled a cup with his blood, offering it to Gloomfang. She drank it and her teeth morphed into venomous fangs. Every word that came out of her mouth became mind poison. Mollei Badii gifted Dawnwhisper a magic script from which she learnt the secrets of the Dead. Finally Ashveil, having grown weary of fighting and not wishing to be a monster herself, accepted no gift. She was left to grovel in the darkness and dust.

<A terrible battle shook the heart of the earth between the Twin Blades and Mollei Balii's monsters. The war was so fierce that it sent tremors up through the earth. Entire continents were split or sank beneath the ocean. Ironwrath burnt a portion of the Twins' army by vomiting rivers of fire. No sword or lance could pierce her iron flesh. But the Twins found that Ironwrath's heels were still mortal flesh. Thunderlance drove her spear into the monster's heel. Ironwrath bled entire rivers of fire until she succumbed to her wound and fell.

<Next the army turned against Gloomfang. But Gloomfang's words of poison drove the warriors insane. Her venom made them rabid, turning sister against sister. Another portion of the army perished. Her skin was like tough leather, too tough to cut. So Starblade used her cunning to defeat this foe. First Starblade cut out Gloomfang's tongue so that she could not speak words of poison. Next Starblade plucked out Gloomfang's teeth and drove the tip of her poisonous fangs into the monster's eyes. Not even Gloomfang could survive her own poison and was the second to perish.

<Finally the Twins and what remained of their army faced Dawnwhisper. Dawnwhisper began to read her scripts of magic. From the back of the army, the Twins watched in terror as the last of their warriors were cursed. Their light and souls were drained from their bodies, making them into empty husks. Thus these soulless warriors became the Fearful. Many of them perished while a few escaped to the surface, cursed to wander the world with no hope of redemption. Far from the wicked touch of Dawnwhisper's magic, Thunderlance hurled a spear of lightning into the witch's belly.

<The rebels were beaten. Mollei Badii fled deeper into the heart of the earth, where even the bravest of warriors are too scared to go. As the Twins approached the dying witch, ready to finish her off, Ashveil mustered up what little courage she had left and hurled herself at the feet of the Twins. Ashveil begged the warriors to show Dawnwhisper mercy in exchange Ashveil would reveal the secrets of the Underworld. Thunderlance, haughty and harsh, laughed at Ashveil. For Ashveil's cowardice, Thunderlance would let the craven live only to be tormented and tortured day after day. But Starblade, the kinder of the two, said that Ashveil's selflessness should be commended, and insisted that Ashveil should be spared. As the Twins argued over Ashveil's fate, Dawnwhisper snuck up to Ashveil, blood and guts oozing out of her belly. So touched Dawnwhisper was by Ashveil's attempt to save her life that the witch touched Ashveil's stomach before succumbing to her wounds.

<As the Twins had not finished their debate and wished not to remain in Rallersel, they took Ashveil with them back to the surface, where a final judgement would be passed. Along the journey, Ashveil gave birth to a child. But this was no ordinary child. As the child grew in captivity with her mother, it became apparent that it had been touched by Dawnwhisper's magic. The child could turn invisible and bend the shadows to her will. The Starblade wanted to use the child's power for the good of the empire. Thunderlance feared the child's power and wanted to kill her. Fearing for her daughter's life, Ashveil broke free of her cage and ran with her child in her arms back to the mouth of Rallersel. Ashveil urged her daughter to live and survive in the shadows. The child wept as she was forced to separate from her mother and descended back into Rallersel. To protect her daughter, Ashveil sealed the cave before the Twins could pursue and was slain.

<Legends say that the Twins triumphed over the rebels in the Underworld, but warriors continue to neglect to acknowledge one child of the rebels who survived.Every now and then, Ashveil's last child of darkness would emerge from the Underworld, preying on travelers or vulnerable males to steal their seed, thus enabling her to spread her progeny both above and below the earth. She is remembered as Tigomersen, the Shadow Maker.>

<So you Shades think you are the descendants of the very rebels that fought against the Twin Blades?> Undercurrent asked, skeptical yet intrigued.

Verglas shrugged. <It is the story we have been raised up with since the Chaos Era.>

A thought came to Undercurrent. <We just snuck in and out of a military outpost without even being noticed. If the Shades can do these amazing things, why haven't the Shadow Lords organized armed resistance against the Imperialists? There are plenty of civilians who would support you.>

<We're not interested in politics,> sent Verglas. <Warriors don't bother our kind so long as we don't do anything stupid or take violent action against them. That's why we haven't killed any warriors during this run, Undercurrent.>

<So none of the Shades are interested in taking a stand against the warriors?>

<Don't try revolutionizing this tigis, Bright,> Verglas warned. <Those who try wind up dead. I'd hate to see a Bright with so much potential go to waste. There are rules in this tigis.>

<I'm surprised the gangers have rules.>

<Even we who live outside the current power base of the Imperialists' have to obey rules. To even think of raising an army against the Imperialists invites danger to the Underworld. We gangers are not interested in war.>

<But gangers have killed people,> Undercurrent pointed out.

<Only those who threaten our business. We are interested in survival and making money.>

Undercurrent accepted this truth, but still could not help but wonder what such talents could achieve. <So none of the Shades want to make a change in Mestirot?>

Verglas shrugged. <we have to compromise with our harsh reality. The only Shade I've heard of to try is Eternal Endurance.>

Now that Undercurrent was not expecting to hear. <Eternal Endurance?! The infamous farseer?! She's a Shade?!>

Verglas picked up wonder and admiration in Undercurrent's sending. <You've heard of her?>

<Who hasn't? Lots of civilians talk about her. They say she is a philanthropist, fighting for the dignities of civilians.>

<She's a pretender,> Verglas sneered. <A traitor to the Shadow Lords. Frostglass has forbidden us to even consider doing business with the likes of Endurance.>

<Frostglass doesn't like Endurance?>

Verglas confirmed, <Neither do we. Endurance boasts being a champion for civies, but she's divided the Shadow Lords. Putting the Underworld in danger. She even tried coaxing Frostglass with gifts. Including Bobo.>

The stream of surprises overwhelmed Undercurrent. <Wait! That's how Frostglass got that human? As a gift from Eternal Endurance? If Frostglass hates Endurance, why did she keep the human?>

<Would you part with a handsome male that you can easily hide? Frostglass has made it clear we are not to associate ourselves with Endurance or her revolutionaries in any way. You'd do well to remember that and not encourage any sympathies for the pretender if you want to survive in our tigis.>

[Cthulhu]

Okay, it finally became properly Loroi-ish

Summoning creatures? Sounds like someone found a Soia artifact. I wonder what those were. Hmm, this gives me an idea...

[Snoofman]

7 - Mashrat Lollas

A lot happened in the nanapis that followed.

Undercurrent was officially recruited into Frostglass’ tigis after making a successful smuggling run into Ieba. She served the tigis by running with Verglas on more sneaking missions. They had snuck into guild storage units to steal goods or snuck away weapons and ammunition from unsuspecting warriors. She even watched as Verglas and her Shades snuck into a guild factory to sabotage manufacturing machines or steal information, all to help Frostglass’ business associates seeking to undermine their competitors.

While the gangers practiced larceny, among their other illegal trades, they did not steal without forethought. In fact any act of theft had to first be approved by the Shadow Lord. Undercurrent watched a few youth guilty of mugging or petty theft receive severe beatings from their elders. She watched Frostglass severe a repeat offender’s finger. Honoring the civilians’ dignities gave the public reason to sympathize with those who lived on the fringes of Loroi society.

When they were not going on missions, Undercurrent was given guard duty at the shadow arcade. She had even been prompted to fight in the brawl pit, impressing spectators with her powerful kicks. She had even earned herself the nickname, “Thunder Legs,” much to her embarrassment. As reward for raking in profits in the brawl pit, Frostglass gave Undercurrent authority over the other Brights of their tigis along with a disposable income of extra tinnets.

While these new privileges and tasks excited Undercurrent, she still thought of her home in Eshorg and her fellow guild workers. She missed them terribly. She messaged her Guild Master, asking for temporary leave from work for personal reasons. Seeing it as an opportunity to pay one less guild worker, Undercurrent was granted temporary leave without further inquiries.

Meanwhile White, Dew and Firewater continued to smuggle more shipments of romara into Nottinrer. Thanks to the gangers, the smugglers had learnt which routes to exploit, leading to the subterranean tiers still left from Mestirot’s Golden Age.

Frostglass extended her hospitality to White, Dew and Firewater, even allowing them to adore her human pet. Dew and Firewater were ecstatic to be in the presence of a male, even if it was alien. He was a playful creature, much to the Loroi’s delight. Firewater went so far as to request a mating encounter, to which she received a strict warning that Bobo was exclusive to the Shadow Lord. Frostglass dealt harshly with the few who tried to touch his blade.

White did not care as much about human males, or authentic menfolk for that matter, as she had more pressing matters. After making five shipments of romara, White started to press Frostglass to pay more.

The Shadow Lord refused, much to the smugglers’ confusion. Frostglass made clear her intentions that she wanted more of their romara, but for half its value. White was outraged but powerless to do anything against armed gangers.

Undercurrent tried reasoning with Frostglass to understand their guild’s plight. Half value would not only undermine Freeway. There would not be enough profit to bail out the Lifespark Guild. If the the smugglers could not generate a sufficient enough profit, Freeway would have no choice but to cut off their supply of romara. To which the Shadow Lord showed little concern.

Frostglass further shocked the civilian smugglers that should they consider backing out of their arrangement, they would die. Undercurrent and her companions were trapped.



It was after their sixth shipment to Nottinrer that Verglas invited the civilian smugglers to join a few of her fellow gangers to watch a public event by the river docks. As a way of distracting them from the unpleasantness of their situation. A distraction the guild smugglers accepted, judging they had nothing better to do. A few of Emperor Greywind’s human wards would be performing to entertain the residents of Nottinrer.

Concealment was unnecessary since the gangers mingled in a mob of hundreds of thousands of spectators, warrior and civilian alike. There would be too many minds for a single snoop to pick through. Besides, Verglas rented them a comfy perch on a rooftop where they could enjoy the show above the masses.

Every Loroi’s focus was drawn to a ship barely thirty-body lengths from the docks, where a small group of human children played music and sang. While it lacked the harmonious melodies of a sanzai-filled chorus, the human music was strangely touching to the spectators on dry land.

The Loroi were particularly moved when a young human male stepped onto the ship’s stage and sang a most strange tune:

“Everywhere I'm lookin' now
I'm surrounded by your embrace.
Baby, I can see your halo.
You know you're my savin' grace
You're everything I need and more.
It's written all over your face
Baby, I can feel your halo.
Pray it won't fade away.”

A wave of hysterical bliss washed through the crowds. Undercurrent could sense from her spot on the roof the auras of civilians emanate with hues of vulnerable blue. Civies held hands to their lips, holding back tears as the music penetrated them.

<I don’t understand the song,> sent Dew. <What does 'bay-beh' mean?>

<It's a Terran word for 'infant',> Ice sent.

Dew furrowed her brow in confusion. <Is the human addressing us as inferiors?>

<No, stupid! It's a human term for endearment.>

<I see. Also what does the human mean when he says, 'I can see your halo'? Is it a metaphor for signature detection? I thought humans were immune to sanzai.>

Ice groaned, frustrated with Dew's naivety. <This is an old Terran song about human affection.>

<How would you know, Ice?> Undercurrent sent.

<Fragrant Thorns explained it to me. She’s obsessed with Terran culture. According to her, humans have written lots of songs emphasizing pair-bonding and sex.>

<Why?>

Ice shrugged. <It's a human behavior. We don't understand it ourselves.>

<Frostglass seems to understand it,> Rime pointed out. <Perhaps that's why she keeps Bobo all to herself.>

<She's the Shadow Lord,> an elder called Snow pointed out. <Bobo is her property. If she decides no one touches him, then that's how it is.>

Undercurrent noticed Firewater’s face shrivel into a scowl as she squealed out something unintelligible. <Firewater,> she sent discreetly, <are you crying?>

Firewater tried to hide it in vain. <This human music makes me feel weird.>

<For shred’s sake, civie,> Verglas sent, embarrassed to be in her company. <Pull yourself together. You’re ruining the show.>

<Leave me alone,> Firewater sent amidst her poorly concealed sobs. <It's so beautiful.>

<Strangely it is,> Undercurrent agreed. <I never thought that a melody lacking sanzai could have such an effect.>

Snow snorted. <This spectacle is just a publicity stunt by the Imperialists to distract civies from Mestirot’s problems.>

<If it’s free, I see no reason to complain,> Verglas countered. <Besides, that singing male on the ship is quite handsome for an alien.> Her kinsfolk agreed.

Rime licked her lips. <I wouldn’t mind sheathing his hot blade.> Her kin laughed.

<Xenophile,> sent Snow, disgusted by the idea.

<As if you haven’t thought of Bobo.> Ice yelped as she was telepathically pinched.

<Mind your sending when we’re in public, seedhead,> Snow warned.

<Killjoy,> Ice shot back.

White, who had been glumly silent, moved closer to Undercurrent’s side. The elder surprised the younger Loroi when she clasped Undercurrent's hand.

<What are you doing?> Undercurrent sent her shock.

<We need to converse,> White sent privately through their touch. <How are you faring with the gangers?>

<Well enough as long as I do what they say.>

<Have you made any progress with this Shadow Lord Frostglass?>

Undercurrent could not conceal her shameful disappointment. <It’s still the same. I’m afraid if I bring it up again, she’ll become more aggressive.>

White sighed despair. <You should have never gone to that cursed arcade in the first place.>

<It wasn’t my fault,> Undercurrent defended. <I had to keep an eye on Firewater. It was her idea.>

<It doesn’t matter who’s at fault. We are now stuck in an undesirable arrangement with criminals.>

<What do you want from me, White?!>

<We're barely generating enough profit to satisfy Freeway. It's also only a matter of time before our Guild Master suspects something amiss. You've been away from the Guild for too long. We need to find a way out of this arrangement!>

<How?! Frostglass will not let us go. If we try to run they'll kill us. Or worse.>

<Then help me find a solution, Under! We need a way out!>



After the concert, the gang could not stop gossiping about how wonderful the performance was and how beautiful the human children were, especially the males. As they proceeded through the dark alleys of the consumer district, Snow sensed a small group of Loroi lingering at the edges of her scope.

Snow sent as discreetly as she could to her comrades, <I think we are being followed.> She urged her comrades to follow her down another alley. Her heart raced faster as their pursuers stayed just outside their detectable range. They were definitely being followed. Snow led them to a maintenance stairwell descending to the underground, but stopped as a small mob of new signatures stood in waiting in the tunnels.

<I think we are being cornered,> Verglas sent, nervous. <Is it warriors? Has the tigis been compromised?>

<I don’t know,> sent Snow. <But I don't think so since we got no warning from Frostglass. Maybe they are trying to capture us.> She led them back up the stairwell and into the alley to find another route. But another mob of Loroi entered their scope. The gangers could not descend. They could not flee through the alleys. They were trapped.

Upon Snow’s command, the gangers drew out their pistols, finding whatever cover they could, but the alley offered little protection. White, Firewater and Dew were unarmed, crouching against a wall.

Everyone’s essence suddenly vanished. Someone had put up a lotai.

<Who’s doing this?> Snow demanded an answer. <Verglas? Ice?>

Verglas and Ice denied activating their masks. A stranger broke the silence as her light pierced the darkness, <Lay down your weapons. You are surrounded.>

<You will not take us without a fight, warriors,> Snow warned, her back to a wall as she swung her head left and right down the alley, anticipating an attack any moment.

<We are not allied with the Imperialists,> the stranger sent again through the lotai’s veil. <My seinen wishes to meet you.>

<Who is your seinen?>

<You will see when you meet her.> This stranger was sly with her sending.

<It must be a rival gang,> Verglas sent to Snow. <Maybe they’re sent by… her!>

Snow understood and employed her own tact, sending back to the stranger, <I hear your seinen has an unusual appetite for blood. I’m not going to be captured just to be her meal.>

<We could kill you now,> the stranger sent cooly.

<We’re out in the streets for all to see, idiot! You start a firefight and the warriors will descend on us!>

<We are in a dark alley under concealment by the most powerful Shade to ever live. Here we are the superior power. By the time the firefight is over, we will have vanished into the shadows. You can die now or you can surrender and speak with our seinen.>

<Take the offer,> Undercurrent broke the veil, urging Snow.

Snow sent viciously, <You have no say here, Bright!>

<Whoever this stranger is, she’s right. If we fight, we die anyway. If we comply, we have a chance to live. My guild workers and I are not dying over your feuds.>

Snow wanted to lash out and punish Undercurrent for defiant cowardice. But without Loroi willing to fight, they stood even less chance. The Shade snarled out a groan, smacking the butt of her pistol against the wall. Dropping her pistol, she ordered the rest of the gang to release their weapons.

Under cover of the lotai, the strangers approached. Every one of them armed with blaster rifles. A few were even equipped with armor lacking warrior rank tabs or any mark of military sigils. These strangers inspected the gangers and civies for any other concealed weapons before binding their wrists.

Amidst the small mob, a muscular giant emerged. Scarred tissue and a shredded ear tainted the right hemisphere of her skull. The stranger commanded the captured gangers and civies, <Move! She is waiting for you.>

[Snoofman]

8 - Togessel Tegi

It was hard to tell how much time had passed, but Undercurrent and her companions were simply ushered along, threatened at gunpoint that they would meet their end should any of them try to send for help. Shoved into power beitars, they were taken across the river and driven out toward the northern mountains. In the forested hills, under the cover of the trees, they were brought to a camp.

Dew shivered with dread as the captives were filed out of the beitars. <I don’t want to die,> she sent terrified.

Undercurrent tried to comfort her, <Don’t be afraid, Dew. Whoever these gangers are, they want to talk. There might be a way out for us.>

All around were thousands of Loroi. Some civilian clad, others dressed in more armor lacking military sigils.

<This must be some sort of insurrectionist faction,> White sent discreetly to Undercurrent.

<How do so many Loroi avoid detection by the warriors?> Firewater asked.

<Their signatures are concealed, just like at the shadow den,> sent Undercurrent. <That big Loroi mentioned that she and her comrades were being shielded by a powerful Shade. But which one of them I wonder?>

The captives were brought to a marquee at the heart of the camp where the giant led them inside. Therein they came face to face with a Loroi of great import, orchestrating the movements of the camp. She turned to face the captives. She was slightly shorter than a typical Loroi, but she walked with confidence, sporting a dark grey cargo jacket with golden shoulder guards draped over a black jumpsuit etched with vibrant lines, giving the illusion she was entwined in wires of gold. Her bronze hair concealed half her face, the blinding bangs reaching down to her chin, revealing one silver eye.

<Welcome, comrades,> the silver eyed one sent.

<We are no comrades to you,> Snow spat.

<That will be most unfortunate for you,> the stranger replied, turning her gaze to the civies. <And you must be the Lifespark Guild’s smugglers.>

<How did you know?> Firewater asked, receiving a telepathic pinch from White for sending without forethought.

The stranger grinned. <I’ve been monitoring your activities.> Her eyes fell on Undercurrent. <Particularly yours.>

Undercurrent sent in awe. <You’re her, aren’t you? The Eternal Endurance.>

Eternal Endurance crossed her arms. <Are you afraid?>

Seeing how this was not the place to display heroics, Undercurrent admitted, <Yes.>

<You’d be right to fear me,> Endurance’s smile broadened, <if you were my enemy.>

<Whatever you want, I’ll gladly give it if you just not harm my companions, White, Firewater and Dew,> Undercurrent pleaded.

Endurance laughed, <Harm them? I did not bring you here to harm them. I brought them here to save them.>

Undercurrent was taken aback. <Save them?!>

<If we can come to a mutual understanding.>

<There will be no mutual understanding between us,> Snow spat. <You are a traitor to your own kind. A pretender. A freak of nature.> She winced as the giant behind her squeezed her shoulder painfully, forcing her to her knees.

<Watch your tongue,> the giant warned.

<Enough, Luckstar,> Endurance commanded, turning her focus back to Snow and her fellow gangers. <Why do you and your kinsfolk continue to resist me?>

<You’ve sent Rallersel into disaster,> sent Snow. <Endangering the Shades. Our Shadow Lord and our allies were right about you! You are mad!>

<I thought so too,> sent another. The captives turned their focus to another Shade seated behind Endurance. Her hair was a mop of fiery, red curls, her eyes violet and bitter. A small human male lay his head on her left lap, her blue hand gently stroking his sandy hair and pale skin. <Until I saw for myself the brilliance of her plan.>

Endurance sent to the captives, <I believe some of you are familiar with Swordbreaker.>

<I am,> sent Snow. <All too well.>

Swordbreaker shoved her pet aside and rose, taking slow steps toward Snow. <Your tigis stole everything from us.>

<So you’ve allied yourself with the pretender just for a chance of revenge,> Snow sent.

Swordbreaker responded by smacking Snow across the face, drawing a few streaks of blood. <Bloody well I am. You took Nottinrer’s tunnels from my tigis.>

Snow mustered up what courage she could as she blearily glared at Swordbreaker. <Well, here’s your chance to strike back, piss artist. Why don’t you kill me and get it over with?> She yelped as Swordbreaker grabbed a fistful of her hair.

<By all rights I should,> Swordbreaker snarled.

<Stop!> Endurance commanded. <I want these Loroi alive.>

<You promised me revenge, Endurance,> sent Swordbreaker. <Snow here will never yield. Better to get it over with!>

<You’ll get your revenge,> Endurance assured the Shadow Lord. <But all these Loroi deserve a chance. We can’t build an army with the dead.>

Swordbreaker snorted, throwing Snow’s head down and stormed back to her seat. Her pet obediently rested his head once more on her lap.

Endurance turned her attention back to the captives. <I have not brought you here to kill you,> she assured them. <Not unless you prompt me to do so. I brought you here to give you an opportunity to be part of our revolution. To rise up against Emperor Greywind.>

Verglas snarled, <You mean force us under pain of death! How does that make you better than the shredded Emperor?>

<Because unlike Emperor Greywind, unlike Frostglass, I don’t toss scraps to my loyalists. I will give you a choice; serve my cause and profit, or refuse and die.>

White spoke up, terrified for the first time in her long life, <Eternal Endurance, you are called?! I beg you, my friends and I are just guild workers. We have no interest in interfering with your plans. We are excellent secret keepers and swear never to speak anything about you if you just release->

Endurance marched up to her and silenced her with a kiss. White tensed by such taboo contact, too shocked and frightened to resist.

<You worry too much,> Endurance soothed, plunging her tongue into White’s maw. <You take too much burden onto your shoulders. Let go of these concerns and just yield yourself already.>

She sent waves of euphoric bliss into White’s system. The smuggler relaxed. Not even romara could ease her as this ganger did. White speechlessly gazed back as Endurance released her.

Endurance smiled. <My gangers will take you and your friends elsewhere where you may enjoy yourselves.> She side-glanced Frostglass’ gangers. <And you too, of course.>

<Enjoy ourselves?> Snow was bemused.

<Well, we all deserve to enjoy ourselves before we die,> sent Endurance. <Unless you agree to join me. You all have until tomorrow to decide.> With a wave of her hand, the guards took the captives away. She ordered her gangers, <Leave that one!>

Undercurrent was surprised that the ganger wanted her. <What do you want with me?>

Endurance motioned Undercurrent to come sit with her and Swordbreaker. A servant came with a tray of refreshments. At Endurance’s behest, a famished Undercurrent dove into the food. Endurance watched passively as Undercurrent satisfied her hunger. Swordbreaker helped herself to some pozets. Her pet sat up, helping himself to some alien grub. Luckstar remained, looming behind Undercurrent as she feasted.

<You seem tense,> Endurance observed.

<I’ve been thrown into a sea of trouble in a desperate bid to save my guild, unsure if I am even going to live tomorrow,> Undercurrent shot back, scarfing down a strip of glazed miros. <I have more than enough reason to be tense.>

<I understand exactly how you feel.> Endurance offered Undercurrent a cup of rich, blue fluid.

Undercurrent hesitated to accept anything from this ganger. <How would you understand?>

<Because I have been watching your companions’ movements for a while. Especially you.>

Undercurrent was surprised. <You’ve been watching me? How?>

<I am a farseer. I see every spirit’s light flickering on this planet. Most of them anyway.>

<But why? What do you want with me?>

<Have a drink with me, Undercurrent.> Endurance lightly shoved the cup toward Undercurrent. <And I’ll explain.>

Undercurrent reluctantly accepted the cup, its pungent and sour smell giving her pause. She was pleasantly surprised as a mild, sweet flavor washed over her tongue, and gulped down the rest. <This is good! What is it?>

Endurance moaned pleasantly as she drank her own cup, <Fermented blood.>

Undercurrent’s face turned cyan. She burped out a gag, fingers covering her lips as she set the cup down. Not wanting to know what kind of blood it was, she asked, <So… what do you want from me exactly?>

Endurance lay back in her seat, swirled her blood-filled cup and explained, <A new power is rising. My associates and I are organizing a resistance movement against the Imperialists. But it requires more able bodies. And strategic locations. Nottinrer’s tunnels being one of those. Frostglass and her tigis has refused all my offers to join my cause. Not even had the decency to thank me for the gorgeous male I gave them.>

<Well, Frostglass does seem like a double-dealer,> Undercurrent thought bitterly.

Endurance scoffed out a laugh. <I’m glad we agree on that at least. We are preparing to take on Frostglass’ gangers in the tunnels. But her Shades conceal their movements even from my farsight. If our fighters are detected, Frostglass will flee. Unless you help us, Undercurrent.>

The complexity and stress of Undercurrent’s situation overwhelmed her with anxiety. <Getting dragged into the gangers’ affairs has only caused me and my friends trouble. Even now we are stuck in an unfavorable deal with Frostglass. She cheats us while she profits.>

<I know her treacherous nature all too well,> sent Swordbreaker, chowing on some strips of miros. <My grandmother, Hidden Blade, was the former Shadow Lord of Nottinrer’s Underworld. Frostglass and her kinsfolk came from a tigis that crumbled in Reidon, begging for help. Hidden Blade gave her kinsfolk sanctuary. And Frostglass repayed that kindness by murdering my grandmother and a few of my kin who resisted. I and a few others fled, forced to survive in the Arran plains. Frostglass thrives by offering scraps and then thinks those who accept owe her their lives.>

<Indeed,> sent Endurance, taking another sip from her cup. <Frostglass and the Shadow Lords opposing us control the Underworld of the western cities. If our movement is to succeed, we must remove our opposition.>

<How could I possibly help?> Undercurrent sent.

<Frostglass has not moved her shadow den to a new place yet,> Endurance explained. <We could probe Snow’s and her kin’s minds for Frostglass’ location. I could keep our fighters under lotai long enough for them to reach the shadow den and attack.>

<How would you keep them under lotai?> Undercurrent asked. <You'd have to be there to hide them.>

<No I don't,> Endurance boasted.

The surprises seemed to never stop coming. <Wait, that lotai we felt in the alley,> Undercurrent sent her shock. <That was you?>

Endurance took another sip from her cup. <Though I am farseer, I am also the daughter of a Shade myself, and can conceal any mind over great distance. If we strike Frostglass’ tigis now, we win the tunnels, but both sides could suffer heavy losses. A terrible waste of able bodies that could aid our cause. Unless you change their fate.>

Undercurrent scowled. <Me?>

<Here is my proposal, Undercurrent: go back to Frostglass. End her! While the tigis is momentarily leaderless, our fighters will move in under cloak and catch them off balance. Swordbreaker will be there to assert herself as the rightful Shadow Lord of Nottinrer. The death toll would be far less than if we launch a direct assault.>

Undercurrent was stunned. <Kill Frostglass?! I am not an assassin! She’ll know something is amiss if I return alone. I can’t lie with sanzai.>

<But you are a master of secrets. You can weave convincing narratives to conceal your true intentions. This will be your weapon.>

Undercurrent panicked, trembling with anxiety. She knew she could not refuse this ganger but she had never killed anyone before. So many things could go wrong. How could she do it?

Feeling the smuggler’s turmoil, Endurance closed the distance between them. Undercurrent stiffened under Endurance’s electric touch as she was forced into a deep kiss. All thought of resistance lasted but a few solons before Undercurrent felt the ganger’s passion flow through her lips. This strange essence was fire shielded in darkness. Yet the dark never quelled its light. It was a flame that endured forever. Never had Undercurrent felt such power. Such charisma. Such confidence. Endurance’s touch alone broke down walls, compelling even the most steeled minds into vulnerability. Undercurrent’s anxieties and doubts were suddenly washed away.

Endurance gazed into Undercurrent’s eyes, lips smacking as they released her. <Feeling better now?>

<Yes,> Undercurrent replied, lips shuddering at the touch of such passion. Not even the tenderness of a Tiret could compare to the way this Shade, this farseer, touched her. Just who was this Eternal Endurance? Where did she come from? How was she so powerful?

Endurance stroked her cheek. <Good. If you complete this task, I will reward you and your friends generously. And then.. you can go back to your guild… if you like. Tomorrow… I await your favorable reply. For now… you are going to feel hot lust as you’ve never felt before.>

Undercurrent trembled.

Endurance giggled. <Not from me, of course. I have something else in mind. Luckstar will take you to your friends.>

Undercurrent stared back, dumbfounded even as Luckstar hefted her to her feet. She stumbled a bit as she was led out of the marquee.

Luckstar led Undercurrent to another end of the camp that seemed a bit more isolated, populated by only a few tents with a few guards standing watch. The closer Undercurrent came to these particular dwellings, the more she felt the lascivious auras coming from inside. Even more perplexing was when she recognized the essence of her comrades from within one of the tents.

Luckstar clasped Undercurrent’s shoulder as they stood outside the tent, forcing her to look the giant straight in the eye. <Remember you are being watched,> the giant gestured to the guards surrounding them. <You make any hostile gesture or attempt to flee, and you die!>

Undercurrent held up her submissive hands. <Warning received.>

Luckstar released her and strode back to the marquee.

Afraid yet curious by the grunts and lustful broadcasts coming from within, Undercurrent entered the tent and was shocked by the sight.

The Loroi were all nude, sitting or lying on a large cot in the tent. Except for Snow and White who abstained in a corner. The atmosphere reeked of sweat and something Undercurrent could not quite place. In the center of the party, Firewater groaned and gyrated. She stopped, heaving and sweating as she finally noticed her friend enter. <Ah! I thought they’d never let you go.>

<What are you all doing?> Undercurrent sent, shocked at what she saw.

“Ha, ha,” Firewater laughed, dizzy with euphoric pleasure. <Come here! You’ve got to try this!> She dismounted, making way for Undercurrent. <Come! You haven’t felt for yourself how hot he is!>

A young human with dark hair and pale skin lay among the Loroi. <Come,> the Loroi ushered her forward.

<I-> Undercurrent had no idea what to do. <I don’t know. This doesn’t… feel right.>

<Indeed it doesn’t,> White sent horridly from her corner.

<Don’t listen to her! Stop worrying and just enjoy yourself,> Verglas urged Undercurrent. <If they kill us tomorrow, might as well sheathe some hot blade.>

Undercurrent reluctantly approached, crawling on top of the human. For a while she just stared at him. He stared right back. Undercurrent had seen Loroi males before, but never laid with one. She had heard the rumors of Loroi finding these secretive mating dens to enjoy these alien creatures smuggled onto Deinar. The Imperial Broadcasting Network had warned citizens that seeking out these dens was illegal. The Emperor herself had condemned the act of mating with abducted humans, warning her citizens about the immoral implications in a public broadcast and vowed to punish those involved in the trade.

Just looking at the young human aroused Undercurrent. She wanted to touch him, but hesitated. Maybe she should listen to White and Snow and not indulge. But something took hold as her finger tentatively rubbed along the little one’s jawbone. He shivered under her touch. His skin set her fingers ablaze with sensations. Soon her fingers and palms were completely on fire as they felt the texture of his hair, the warmth of his face, the soft skin of his shoulders and chest. Her hands kept navigating, exploring these wonderful feelings.

So hot.

So ecstatic.

All hesitations dissolved as all this delightful touching melted her logic. Her mouth watered. Her loins ached. Her heart thumped like a drum. For the moment she did not care if she lived or died tomorrow. All she wanted in that moment was to feel more. A hoarse, primal cry scraped its way out of her mouth and she dove in.



Endurance exhaled a long stream of vapor, enjoying her spice pipe with Swordbreaker in the marquee.

Swordbreaker grumbled, puffing out angry fumes of spice as she stroked her pet. <You’re stalling.>

<Those civies are easy to bend,> sent Endurance. <They will accept me. But they need time to come to that conclusion on their own. Free will is like fire. You don’t control it. You feed it just enough to burn as you wish.>

Swordbreaker rolled her eyes. <All this preparation for the uprising and silent battles are dragging on, Endurance.>

<Patience, my friend. Soon the rebel warriors will come to Deinar. Until they arrive, we wage our campaign here… in the shadows.>

<It’s getting costly. I agreed to join your cause in exchange for revenge against Frostglass. And the chance to finally take my tigis out of that forsaken desert.>

<And you’ll get it.>

<I better.> Swordbreaker tapped the boy’s shoulder. “Come, Max.” Before leaving the marquee, she sent, <One more thing, Endurance. I want another male.>

<Is Max not satisfying you?>

<I am quite pleased with Max.> Swordbreaker possessively stroked her pet’s neck. <These humans grow slowly, but age too quickly. I’ll need a replacement.>

<These humans are not cheap,> Endurance countered. <I can’t just toss them around like beinzols.>

<I’ve already lost a handful of Shades because of you. I need compensation. So a new male will suffice.>

<I don’t have anymore young males.>

<Lies! You have few here in the camp.>

<Lent to me by the Salt Twins,> Endurance corrected.

<What about the children of your Terran Raiders?>

<They’ll never part with their own children. What if I lend you one of my human pirates? Some of them are quite good in->

Swordbreaker scowled disgust. <Too old and too big. I want a young one. Just send your Terran Raiders to fetch some more.>

<Smuggling from the Terrans is too difficult right now.>

Swordbreaker was getting annoyed. <Not my problem! If you won't give me a male, then it's time to discuss a fee for this war of yours.>

Endurance groaned, mildly frustrated. <What if I give you a female?>

Swordbreaker scoffed, <I’m not interested in females.>

Endurance rolled her eyes. <Not to satisfy your diié denzi! I am offering you a breeder, young and fertile. She and Max will give you another male. A whole litter of them if you want. It's the best I can offer.>

Swordbreaker did not want to wait so long for a new male. But the Shadow Lord conceded, <When Frostglass is removed and my tigis has settled in Nottinrer, I expect it to be delivered.>

<Done!>

Swordbreaker left with Max.

Endurance sighed, tossing aside her spice pipe.

Upon Eternal Endurance’s return to Deinar, the Shadow Lords were intent on wiping her out. However, thanks to Luckstar and her enforcers, a base of operations had been established. On top of that, Endurance had brought powerful outsiders from across the Union to Deinar. And while most of these gangers were not Shades, Endurance’s far-reaching cloak and the armaments provided by Oceantide gave them a strategic advantage against Mestirot’s Shadow Lords.

Immediately Endurance and her allies set to work, dispatching her charmers to appeal to the civilians on her behalf. Endurance devoted a portion of her efforts to philanthropy. Her gangers gave food and medicine to random civilians in need. They offered discreet funds to failing guilds. And, thanks in part to the Salt Twins who had moved their operation to Deinar, civilians were further seduced to their shadow arcades where Loroi could satisfy their lusts. All this generosity drew more praise and sympathy to Eternal Endurance and her gangers from the civilians.

This charity gave some Shadow Lords pause to oppose Eternal Endurance. They were especially surprised when Endurance sent her envoys to give her regards, her intentions and a young human male for each Shadow Lord. Excited by these gifts and hopes that Emperor Greywind could be deposed, the Shadow Lords of Menelos, Deishen, Lotam as well as the wayfaring tigis' pledged themselves to Endurance’s revolt.

This sent a schism throughout Rallersel, dividing the Shadow Lords. Now the Underworld was in a silent war, each side spying and making splinter attacks to disadvantage the other. Neither side would risk open conflict for fear of bringing the warriors down on them.

While Endurance still had a mountain of supporters, Swordbreaker was right. Endurance's allies were getting impatient. Most of her accumulated wealth had been spent on this revolution, putting her bargaining power at stake. So Endurance kept her alliances through compromise or by offering her powerful friends some hefty favors, just as she promised Swordbreaker her revenge against Frostglass. While these dirty deeds cemented her allies’ allegiances, it further divided and devastated the rest of Underworld.

Apart from fowl play, the only other thing keeping Endurance’s allies satisfied was the allure of the human children brought by Lagertha and her pirates. The Shadow Lords and their underlings were simply addicted to them. Since not all Shadow Lords were keen on sharing their personal mates, the Astems' children and confidents began demanding human males for their own use. Even the Salt Twins needed more specimens for their expanding enterprise, a few of whom Endurance had to borrow to satiate her subordinates.

For a while Endurance was able to meet some of this demand. Until the Terran Confederacy tightened interstellar security. Now abducting more humans from Terran space was simply too risky for Lagertha and her pirates. As there was no telling if sneaking in and out of Terran space would be possible in the near future, Lagertha and her pirates were now managing a hidden den on Deinar, inhabited by the female abductees still in Endurance’s possession. Endurance hoped to breed more humans from these captives, but it was a slow, resource-consuming process.

If the Shadow Lords began making more demands, maybe they'd accept a pretty human breeder like Swordbreaker, Endurance resolved. It would be disappointing to part with her pets, but a small price to pay for victory. Lagertha and her pirates were unwilling to part with their own children, and she needed their cooperation. Nor were the Salt Twins willing to sell their own stock, and she needed their support.

Endurance was beginning to taste the pain of her revolution. But as long as she got her revenge against Greywind, all the strain would be worth it. She called her servant back and ordered, <More blood.>

[Snoofman]

One more chapter after this.

9 - Biti

Frostglass had been particularly busy lately, from managing the shadow arcade to disciplining her Shades in training. Being forced to stay on alert ever since Eternal Endurance’s return to Deinar had certainly added to the stress. If there was one good thing Endurance had done for her it was sending her Bobo. Though his Trade was still shaky, he had shared many intriguing stories about his former life on Aldea. Apart from sharing fantastic tales about human culture, Bobo entertained the tigis with playful games and even performances. The gangers were quite amused by ritualistic dances he taught them, including a strange rhythmic music called ‘hip hop’.

Bobo’s exoticness and innocently charming personality made him all the more desirable in the Loroi’s eyes. They wanted him. But no matter how much they pleaded with their Astem, Frostglass would never let any of her gangers touch him.

Ever since humanity’s discovery, Frostglass had heard the rumors of the euphoric highs Loroi received simply by grasping warm human hands. After she received Bobo, Frostglass slowly explored the validity of these rumors, shocked to learn how two sapients could achieve intimacy by mere physical touch. Her Seinens had warned her of the potential hazards of getting too intimate with Bobo. But the more she touched, the more she wanted.

The night of the concert in Nottinrer, Frostglass had decided to spend some time alone with Bobo. After digils of intimate indulgence, Frostglass was content to cradle her pet and drift to sleep. Their tender moment was ruined when one of her guards barged in, warning her that a few Shades and their newest Bright, Undercurrent, had failed to report in. It would not have been the first time young gangers decided to get up to mischief on the surface. But Snow was not reckless and would have informed Frostglass of their activities. After failing to get a response, Frostglass began to worry if perhaps the gangers had been compromised on the surface.

Fragrant Thorns returned with information from a trusted civie. There had been sightings of armored Loroi moving through the streets of the consumer district. It certainly seemed the work of warriors. But the witness also felt the signatures of these armored Loroi suddenly disappear. Frostglass could safely assume who these armored strangers were and who they served.

Without wasting a moment, Frostglass shot out of bed and ordered the tigis to prepare to move out. Scouts were dispatched to survey the tunnels in anticipation of incoming danger. Despite her Seinens’ advice to rotate in the tunnels, Frostglass had another plan.

<I must go to Gondar,> Frostglass sent to her small council within the old atrium. All around gangers moved with purpose, transferring goods from the arcade and packing their supplies.

<You can’t just leave your tigis in the middle of a move,> Seinen Frozen Steel sent.

<If Fragrant Thorn’s informant can be trusted, it’s a safe bet that Eternal Endurance’s gangers are in Nottinrer. They could be planning to attack any moment.>

<All the more reason why you need to stay here,> Frozen Steel insisted. <Find a new safe place first.>

<Steel is right,> Seinen Copper sent. <Leaving the tigis now without a Shadow Lord makes it vulnerable.>

<Shadow Lord Black Hole is the most powerful of the West Astems,> sent Frostglass. <If we hunker down in the tunnels here, we can make our stand. But not with a continual onslaught from Eternal Endurance. Remember how easily they wiped out the gangers in Adadis?>

<They also lost it very quickly to the Imperialists,> Steel pointed out.

<We are equipped to take on another gang, Steel! Not a small army. And especially not one with military-grade weapons! I must go to Black Hole to seek her advice and support.>

<If you want to run, why not take the whole tigis to Gondar?>

<If we all leave now, we lose our foothold,> Frostglass argued. <I have not worked a lifetime to secure my lineage in Nottinrer just to throw it all away. Once I return to Nottinrer, we will decide the next course of action. I’ll be taking just a few Shades with me for protection and Bobo.>

Steel could not believe what she was receiving. <You’re taking your pet in the middle of a crisis?!>

<I’m not leaving him here alone.>

<You’re worried about one of us sheathing your little human?! Have you deranged your priorities?! They way I see it, you’re fleeing just to save yourself!>

Frostglass rose indignantly. <How dare you, niece! The tigis is nothing without the Shadow Lord! I cannot protect it if I’m dead! We will proceed as I dictate!> She was interrupted as a scout approached. <What?!>

<One of the missing Brights has been spotted in the tunnels,> the scout sent.

Frostglass received the image of a familiar face. <Undercurrent? Any sign of the others?>

<None, Astem. Undercurrent says she wants to speak with you. It concerns Eternal Endurance.>

<Bring her at once!> Frostglass dismissed the meeting. Each Seinen left, a few with a bit of trepidation or hopelessness, to carry out her duty.

The scout returned along with two guards escorting Undercurrent inside the atrium. She looked bruised and beaten, practically limping. Children crowded around the Bright to admire her wounds. A few prodded Undercurrent with questions:

<Were you captured?>

<Is it true Eternal Endurance has come to Nottinrer?>

<Where are the others?>

<Is my mother, Ice, with you?>

Frostglass shooed the little ones away, ordering the guards to take Undercurrent up to her personal room. As soon as the Bright was seated on a chair, Frostglass arranged for some refreshments. When they were alone, Frostglass passively observed Undercurrent tenderly munch her food.

<How are you feeling?>

Undercurrent was not shy in expressing her bitterness. <What do you care?>

<I care that a few of my gangers are missing. And I care to know their state of being. Tell me what happened.>

One tender bite after another, Undercurrent relayed the details of their capture, from being intercepted in Nottinrer’s alleys to being dragged all the way out to the northern mountains. Just as Frostglass suspected, their captors were indeed working for Eternal Endurance. The farseer and thousands of her followers were camped dangerously close to Nottinrer and preparing to strike.

<How did you escape?>

<I didn’t,> Undercurrent admitted. <Endurance released me just to come back to you with the message. But not before beating me and forcing me to watch her carry out some executions.>

<Of who?> Frostglass received the Bright’s memories of watching Verglas forced to kneel before Endurance herself, offered a chance to join the farseer’s cause. Frostglass felt Undercurrent’s anguish and jumped slightly as she relived the awful memory of watching the Farseer press her index to Verglas’ forehead and, with a flash of her silver eyes, lobotomized Verglas with just a thought.

<I liked Verglas,> sent Undercurrent. <She was not so bad. Had many good stories. I wish there had been another way.>

<And the others?>

Undercurrent bowed her head, as if flinching from bad memories. She leaked the painful memory of Snow's death. <I… don’t want to send more,> she sent stubbornly.

Frostglass accepted this. She poured up a glass of romara from her storage, offering it to Undercurrent.

Undercurrent waved her hand, her head still bowed. <I don’t want to drink right now.>

<Drink! You need it,> Frostglass insisted, shoving the drink forward until Undercurrent took it. <I’ve lost some good kin today. My condolences to the loss of your guild friends. But at least I got back a fighter. A bloody strong survivor at that. You’ll have time to heal on our way to Gondar.>

Undercurrent’s tone turned surprisingly more bitter. <Gondar? What makes you think I’m going with you?>

Frostglass was surprised at being talked back to. <Careful, Bright. My sympathy is shortened only by my temper. Remember you work for me.>

Undercurrent scoffed. <Work for you? I’m your slave.>

<We are all bound to something or someone. You are bound to me. As I am bound to this tigis. And in times like these we must stand together against a common threat. That threat is Eternal Endurance, the great pretender.>

Undercurrent’s head tipped up slightly, her eyes locking with Frostglass’. <Why do you hate Eternal Endurance? Why do you seem to think she is so dangerous?>

Frostglass sighed, pouring herself a glass or romara. She took a tender sip, swirled the liquor around and sent, <I have only heard the stories. From what my fellow Shadow Lords have shared with me, Endurance came from a small and weak tigis of wayfarers, surviving on what they could salvage from the cities’ leftovers. So beggarly that they made a habit of subsisting on blood just to stay alive. Sometimes animal. Sometimes from a fallen. I don’t know all the details. What I do know is that the tigis was tracked down by Mizol Operatives after one of its members carelessly broke into a Nedatan monastery and lay with a young seer. The tigis was completely wiped out. Save for its last child.>

Frostglass took another sip. <A rare occurrence it is for Shades to be captured by the warriors and live to tell about it. Endurance, still young and fragile, was lucky to be spared by the warriors. According to rumors, they were intrigued by her farsight combined with her ability to achieve lotai effortlessly. Even hoped to indoctrinate her and exploit her talents. But Endurance, refusing to accept Imperialist dogma, escaped them. Found haven with Shadow Lord Black Hole. According to the stories, Endurance’s tigis was wiped out just a few tozons after Emperor Greywind’s ascension.>

<What does that have to do with anything?> Undercurrent sent.

<Before Greywind’s rise to power, the warriors mostly left us Shades alone. As long as we never tested certain boundaries, the warriors never bothered us. Since we were no threat to their dominion, why would they? It was Greywind’s policies that reinvigorated the warriors’ pursuits against criminals. Endurance believes that Greywind was the cause of her tigis’ demise. But she has lost perspective with reality, driven by false pretenses that she can beat an Emperor. An Emperor whom she never even met. She tried to charm us Shades into her service. Endurance’s madness and delusions of grandeur will be our undoing. That’s why we drove her out of Deinar. It would have been better just to end her, but Black Hole would have none of it.>

<If Endurance was so dangerous, why would Astem Black Hole spare her?>

<I know nothing except the rumors. There was an intimate connection between those two. I suspect Black Hole spared Endurance's life out of sentiment. Big mistake on her part. But Black Hole may be our only hope to stopping Endurance.>

<But Eternal Endurance has helped civilians,> sent Undercurrent.

Frostglass regarded the Bright with mild suspicion. <You seem to have gotten close to Endurance, sampled her alluring essence. Do not be fooled. Endurance is a pretender. She gives her followers what they want to believe in order to control them.> Downing the rest of her drink, Frostglass rose. <Now we must prepare to move out. You’ll have plenty of time to heal up as you journey with me to Gondar.>

<I’m not going anywhere with you.>

Frostglass was taken aback by such brashness. <Don’t try my patience, Bright. I've killed Loroi for lesser offenses. Now that your friends are dead, where else can you go? Back to a failing guild? Your dhalid lies with me, Under. Come with me to Gondar and we will avenge your dead comrades.>

Undercurrent smirked. <Who said they were dead?>

Frostglass froze with alarm. Something about the Bright’s return suddenly did not feel right. She asked, <Why did you return to me?>

As if released by the constraints of her injuries, Undercurrent slowly rose from her seat. <You said you’d do what you must for your tigis. Tell me, Shadow Lord. Would you give your life for it?> She took a step toward Frostglass.

Frostglass took a step back. She suddenly realized her error in letting Undercurrent back in and made to summon the guards. But her sending was jammed. Who was doing this? Undercurrent was not doing anything. So who?

A touch of skin sent an electric shock to her brain as something ensnared her neck from behind. Frostglass recognized the essence of this intruder as two more hands restrained her biceps. Ice and Rime came out of hiding from their cloak and held Frostglass securely.

<Ice, what are you doing?!> Frostglass sent, terrified and shocked at this betrayal.

<Sorry, Astem,> sent Ice. <I have loved you. But our tigis will be wiped out if we don’t.>

Frostglass could not fight back against Ice’s psychic intrusion. She pleaded to Rime, “H-help me! S-s-stop them! I am your lord!”

Rime simply sent back, <All my life I’ve been forced to hide in your shadows. Eternal Endurance offers an opportunity to rise above. I’m tired of the shadows. It’s time to reach for the light.>

“Don’t be fooled,” Frostglass groaned. “Eternal Endurance… is a pretender! She will doom us!” She tried to scream for help, but Ice’s telepathic grip restricted her vocal cords.

Undercurrent drew out a small assassin’s hammer and swiped it into Frostglass’ left temple. With a resounding crack, the hammer pierced. Frostglass went limp. Ice released her elder, letting her collapse. The elder spasmed and twitched as her body went into shock. She clung to life for well up to a bima until her essence faded.

Ice sniffled, her eyes blearing as she suppressed tears. Rime seemed to have no sympathies at all and accepted that their Shadow Lord and elder was dead.

The hammer fell from Undercurrent’s grip, cluttering to the floor. She felt a terrible thrill shake her being. The smuggler turned ganger was overwhelmed with so many conflicting emotions in that moment. Horror. Dread. Shame. Relief. Excitement. Pent up rage now set free. Liberation. Undercurrent had just done what she thought she was incapable of doing. She just killed a Loroi.

She let the emotions run their course while not losing focus on their mission and sent to Rime, <Send the signal! Call them in!>

Rime tapped her wristcomm.



Luckstar’s wristcomm peeped. It was done. <Move in,> she sent to her comrades.

After their capture and given a day to consider Endurance’s offer, Undercurrent and companions gave their answer. Undercurrent agreed to help Endurance in exchange for her comrades’ lives and freedom. Though Ice had no desire to see her elder harmed, she knew that her tigis was doomed unless they made a terrible sacrifice. Rime, reluctant at first, was charmed and intrigued by Endurance’s offer to ascend with her, tired of being a mere Bright in the eyes of her fellow Shades. White, Dew and Firewater swore secrecy.

Verglas and Snow refused. Though Endurance’s offer was tempting, Verglas did not have the will to turn against Frostglass. Especially not Snow. And so the two were executed. Undercurrent watched, saddened to see Verglas go. Endurance wanted her to watch the Loroi die so that the memory of Verglas’ and Snow’s deaths would serve as a distraction. Undercurrent also had to be beaten to make it look convincing. Frostglass’ sympathies would compel her to lower her guard and let Undercurrent get close enough to kill her. Not one Loroi noticed Ice and Rime enter the shadow den under concealment of a lotai and Rime’s holographic cloak.

Now that the deed was done, Luckstar lead her armored fighters through the abandoned hallways leading into the atrium. They hunkered down in the shadows out of their enemies’ sight.

Luckstar sent while under their Shades’ concealment, <Pick your targets. Shoot if they reach for their weapons. Remember, we need as many alive as possible.>

Securing their hold on their blasters, the Loroi signaled their readiness. With the unsuspecting gangers in their sights, Luckstar and her fighters stepped out of the shadows.

Luckstar broadcasted, <Don’t move! Drop your weapons!>

The shadow den erupted into a moment of chaos. Its massive lotai crumbled as Shades lost their focus. Only Luckstar and her fighters remained concealed. A few gangers reached for their pistols. But a few lances of light burning through their flesh robbed them of that chance, and they collapsed. The rest of the gangers fumbled, deciding whether to reach for their guns or throw up their hands in defeat. Crates were dropped. Some Loroi fled the chaos. Others fell to their knees, begging. Children screamed, clustering together as Luckstar’s fighters poured in from all sides.

Within less than a bima, any Loroi that meant to fight back was either shot or gave up. The gangers of Frostglass dropped their weapons and surrendered. By the second bima, Frostglass’ gangers were herded into the center of the atrium, forced on their knees and held at gunpoint by the invaders.

A few gangers made to flee, but never made it as they were either shot or wrestled before being dragged back to the kneeling mob.

Luckstar checked her wristcomm. One by one her squads confirmed their hold of the area. She opened up a channel to her boss and transmitted, “Area secure! We have them!”

The subdued gangers were speechless as Eternal Endurance and Swordbreaker entered the atrium. Endurance stopped in front of her scarred giant, tenderly stroking her cheek. Endurance strode in front of the crowd of subdued gangers, undeterred by their gazes full of fear, disbelief and hatred.

<Why all the distrustful loathing?> Endurance sent to her new captives. <is it the lotai?>

Endurance lowered her lotai. The signatures of Luckstar, Swordbreaker and every one of their comrades flashed back into existence. Endurance noticed a few captives’ surprise and wonder.

<Impressive, isn’t it?> Endurance sent. <Being a farseer and a Shade certainly has its advantages.>

One of the captives, holding her daughter close, cried out, <Please don’t hurt our children!>

<Hurt your children? I have not come to hurt your children. I came to liberate them. As I came to liberate you.>

<You just killed our kin,> another of the captives cried out.

<Every war has its casualties,> Endurance justified. <But their deaths will not be in vain. I commanded my own fighters to take as many of you alive as possible.>

<Just so you could conquer us!>

<I have conquered you so that I may help you ascend,> Endurance sent, her essence flaring with ardor.

The mob stared solemnly as Undercurrent walked up to Endurance and Swordbreaker. Ice and Rime followed close behind, carrying a lifeless Frostglass. A few captives moaned sorrow and despair at the sight.

<Behold,> sent Endurance. <This Shade, Frostglass, was a master of tricksters. Swordbreaker’s clan showed her and her kinsfolk mercy ages ago. And Frostglass rewarded their kindness by murdering the rightfully chosen Astem of Nottinrer’s Underworld. Worse yet, Frostglass forged bargains through blackmail and ruthless threats, all to profit at the cost of those forced to do business with her. Like this smuggler, Undercurrent.> Endurance rested a hand on Undercurrent’s shoulder. <And now Undercurrent is free. As are her compatriots. As you may be, my fellow Shades and Brights of Nottinrer. But only if I have your loyalty. A new power rises. But it requires able bodies. Though it seems you all need a little time to think it over. Give me your hatred if it comforts you. Vent out your rage. But I think, in time, you will come to accept me. Once you see the glorious future that awaits us in the light of revolution.>

The captives were herded away by the fighters, guided and crammed into rooms with no way of escape.



Digils passed as more of Endurance’s gangers and fighters flooded into the underground atrium, seizing Frostglass’ assets and moving in their own supplies.

<Well done, Luckstar,> Endurance congratulated her subordinate. <With this victory, we have secured another strategic location.> She turned to Swordbreaker. <I trust you are satisfied now?>

Swordbreaker laughed. <Satisfied? Who knew that an enemy tigis could be subdued so easily? Stars, it feels good to be home.>

<And our bargain?>

Swordbreaker bowed her head. <I and my tigis are fully committed to your cause, Eternal Endurance.>

A few of Endurance’s fighters approached. One of them, Arrow, came forward, her hold secure on Bobo’s arm. <Boss, we found this hiding amidst the children.>

Endurance stroked his dark hair. “Hello, little one,” she cooed, feeling him shiver as she stroked his cheek. “I remember you. Glad to see that Frostglass took good care of you at least.”

<Boss, we want to have some fun with him,> sent Arrow.

<First work. Then you can have your fun.>

<That human belongs to this tigis we just took,> Swordbreaker interjected. <Which means he belongs to me.>

<These fighters just won you Nottinrer's Underworld,> sent Endurance. <Surely you will not deny them their fun.>

Swordbreaker sighed. <Fine then. But he’s still mine.>

The fighters skipped away merrily with their prize, bickering over who would sheathe him first.

Endurance turned her focus back to Undercurrent, who just stood by patiently waiting to be acknowledged.

<I am impressed, Undercurrent,> Endurance sent sincerely. <Few could execute such a convincing impersonation as you did.> By her command, Luckstar came forward with a small box, presenting the contents to the smuggler.

Undercurrent gazed speechlessly at the neatly stacked rows of golden ingots. Enough to give Freeway her profits and keep the Lifespark Guild financed and fed for five tozons at least. <So that’s it then? I can take my payment and just go.>

<That was the deal,> sent Endurance. <I wish you and your guild the best of luck. You’re free to go.>

Undercurrent graciously accepted the box, securing its seals and made her way for the atrium’s exit.

<It is a pity that a Loroi with your talents must leave us,> sent Endurance. <You’re not like most other Loroi, Undercurrent. You are bold. Strong. Determined. Selfless. You think about the well-being of your comrades. I admire such qualities. You would have made an excellent ganger.>

Undercurrent’s initial desire was just to take her payment and go. But something about Endurance’s sending stopped her. It was not force. It was not hypnosis. It was intrigue.

<How long will that box of gold last you, Undercurrent?> Endurance sent. <How will you continue to provide for your guild when the warriors seek to suck the civilians dry for every talent their worth? And when your guild collapses, do you really think the warriors will come to your rescue? Emperor Greywind says her policies are meant to encourage the common good. I say her policies are a fixed game. I say she will abandon you and your friends. As she has abandoned so many before. Believe me, I have seen it. You could go back to your guild and never think of us again. Or you could stay.>

A part of Undercurrent just wanted to go. But she could not go. The safest course of action was just to leave, but she did not want to go.

<If you decided to stay,> sent Endurance, <I could make you rich. I could make your compatriots rich. Better yet we could transform Deinar for all its civilians. The warriors think they can trample all over us. And have the audacity to demand our gratitude for it. I say it's time we make a stand. Have you ever thought of serving a good cause? A cause for civilians like yourself.>

Logic told Undercurrent to take her gold and leave and never look back. But standing there, basking in this ganger’s aura, filled her with confidence and hope that she had never felt before. She turned back to face Endurance.

<Frostglass said you are a pretender,> sent Undercurrent, unapologetic in her straightforwardness, but not intended as disrespect. <I don’t know if I should trust you. I have been let down by so many who I once considered friends.>

<I will not,> Endurance assured. <If you are willing to listen and risk everything for something greater than yourself. Fight for me... and I will fight for you. All I demand is commitment.>

Undercurrent set the box down, gazed admirably at the farseer and sent, <What do you want me to do?>

[Snoofman]

Final chapter of Undercurrent. I hope you have enjoyed and welcome your constructive criticism. I'll be taking a break from writing for a while but will be back with at least two more installments. My next planned story takes us to Earth. To everyone who has read, commented and offered their suggestions, thank you! You keep me motivated.

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10 - Sinadas


Winter had come to Eshorg. The streets were covered in snow. Snow-plowing mitas cleaned the roads routinely for all terrestrial vehicles, since not everyone had the luxury of a power baitar. Since the plows could not clear pedestrian lanes without causing damage, the Viscounts decided this would be an opportune moment for the unemployed at Eshorg’s welfare centers to offer some community service by cleaning snow off the pedestrian lanes.

When the call was put forward, none seemed thrilled by the idea, considering there was no offer of payment. Most of the unemployed were not keen on offering free labor, and cared even less of being looked upon as shirkers. Then the Viscounts received the call from the Emperor.

The moment the welfare center wardens announced that the Emperor was sending a few of her personal wards and civilian adoptees to aid, the unemployed civilians of the welfare centers were quick to action. They would not miss the chance to be in the presence of some handsome males.

The children of the Emperor were playful, much to the civilians’ delight. Even more touching was when children would distribute cups of hot soup to keep the civies warm and motivated. Some civies got lured into snowball fights with the little humans, in which both parties would receive reprimands from the children’s guardians. The civilians got a bit more excited when the little humans invited them to participate in recording rituals with their electronic devices. They embraced, made strange faces and even received warm kisses on their cheeks. Soon more civies were demanding warm kisses from the little humans. The guards under the Emperor’s employ were ever watchful, ensuring that the mobs of civilians did not get inappropriate with the children.

Soon most of Eshorg was gossiping about the adorable little aliens coming to clean their streets. Even civilians lucky enough to still have their occupations were rushing out just to see them. The guards had to be even more vigilant, protecting the Emperor’s adoptees while keeping the crowds calm.

During this commotion, the Lifespark Guild received an order for some of its microbial power banks to fuel heating units for the Loroi working in the snowfall. Its guild master dispatched several teams to distribute the fuel cells where they were needed.

One such team consisted of none other than White, Firewater and Dew.

White and Dew lifted one fuel cell off their sled cart after the other, grunting as they set down the heavy batteries near a heating unit.

Firewater was distracted by the spectators huddling around the humans some distance away. <What I’d give to see another one of those cute aliens,> she sent giddily. <Can’t we just go take a quick peek?>

White sent firmly, <No!>

<Just a moment!>

<Firewater, I will personally urge Undercurrent to give your buttocks a kick you will never forget if you don’t do your job! No stop your whining and hook up the fuel cells already.>

Firewater grumbled, kicking away snow as she wretched out some cables from the sled cart. The heating unit hummed to life as she connected it to the fuel cell. Loroi huddled around the unit, relishing the heat.

White pricked off one more activated heating unit from her list. <On to the next one.>

Firewater groaned. <Why isn’t Undercurrent here helping us?>

<Do not mention her in public,> White chastised Firewater discreetly.

Even as they mounted the sled cart and drove off to their next heating unit, White could not help but think about how eventful their lives had turned in just the last few nanapis. Ever since willingly joining with that Eternal Endurance, Undercurrent had become less invested in her official job at the Lifespark Guild and more in her new role as a ganger. A fact that White, Firewater and Dew had no choice but to protect. White did not approve of Undercurrent’s choice to serve Endurance’s revolution, but her involvement allowed them to keep up their secret trade in Nottinrer.

As long as their Guild Master did not suspect anything, they could carry on and hope for the best.



At another end of the city, where the warriors had minimal presence, Undercurrent had decided to drive the power baitar to their next destination with Ice beside her. Rime lounged in the back along with another Shade, Sleet.

Ever since agreeing to serve Eternal Endurance, Undercurrent had been given a few perks as a full-fledged ganger. Among those benefits, she could order a few members of Frostglass’ former gangers around. Seeing how well she worked with Ice and Rime, Undercurrent chose them to be part of her team, along with little Sleet. Sleet was a small child, but could make an effective lotai. Most of the other experienced Shades that had chosen to side with Endurance were dispatched on other assignments.

Rime and Sleet had accepted their new situation. Ice herself was still shaken by the deaths of some of her kinsfolk who had refused to yield to Endurance, but was coming to terms with her reality. As a means of comfort and giving Ice more reason to fall in line, Undercurrent assured she would never abuse her new authority so long as they obeyed. Their current task was to seek out civilians in Eshorg who might be interested in joining the revolution and plant the seeds of dissent.

<The military presence here is much smaller than in Nottinrer,> Ice remarked.

Undercurrent smirked. <Eshorg has always been a civilian-friendly city. Managed by civilians. It wasn’t until Greywind’s reign that the military began to expand here.>

<Well, the warriors are masters of ruining things, that’s for sure,> sent Sleet.

<But we’re going to change that,> sent Undercurrent, pulling their baitar into an alley. <While most of Eshorg is focused on the Emperor's humans shoveling snow, we will conduct our business here. Rime, you keep a look out. Sleet, you keep Rime and yourself under concealment.>

<Will do,> Sleet answered.

Undercurrent and Ice left the baitar and moved into the lozanir nearby. Rime guided the baitar atop an adjacent building, Sleet covering them in her dark shield.

The two gangers walked up to the entrance of a lozanir, sensing a small party within.

Ice looked up at the lozanir’s street sign and read, <Sinadas? Really?>

<It’s meant to be ironic,> Undercurrent commented.

<How would you know?>

One of the dwellers opened the door. A Barraid-looking Loroi poked her head out and remarked, <About time you got here. We’ve been closed for nearly a whole digil, waiting for you.>

<Just wanted to be sure you got rid of any unwanted company first,> Undercurrent sent with a coy grin. <Can’t be too careful these days, Freeway.>

The Barraid, Freeway, scoffed out a laugh. <I can never be too careful with you, Under! Get your fat hips in here. And your scrawny friend too.>

Ice winked, sticking her tongue out, <Who you calling scrawny, baldy?>

<Defiant! I like you already… Miss?>

<Ice!>

Freeway locked the door behind them. <Never seen a Shade before. The others are anxious to meet you. Come! Teel, fix some drinks for our guests.>

Undercurrent and Ice stepped up to the bar, where sixteen other civies stood or sat. A few wore common attire. Others sported exotic fashion to reflect their status. Undercurrent laughed happily as she got reacquainted with a few she knew herself.

<Thought for a moment you were dead,> a broad shouldered civie with a short neck laughed.

Undercurrent playfully punched her chest. <No, but I came bloody well close, Coal.>

<You know all these Loroi?> Ice asked Undercurrent.

<Many in this city know each other,> sent Undercurrent. <Most of the Loroi are private business owners. The civies of Eshorg have always looked out for one another.>

<Bloody well we do,> Teel added from behind the bar, pouring up some amber spirits in two glasses and handing them to her guests. <Two sun-rivers!>

<Sun-river?> Ice swirled the drink around curiously. She coughed as it stung her throat. <Shred, that’s strong.>

<Best romara in all of Eshorg,> Teel boasted. <Part of a secret recipe we learnt from our predecessor. No one makes it better than Sinadas!>

Ice coughed. <Why do you call it Sinadas anyway?>

<Warriors can’t stand to be in the presence of the Fallen.>

Ice couldn’t help but chuckle. <A place for the Fallen! Well, that does seem ironic.>

<Freeway, I mean no disrespect,> Undercurrent interjected, taking a sip of her sun-river. <But we got friends waiting for us and other places to be. So let’s not procrastinate.>

<Alright,> sent Freeway, pouring herself a misesa ale. <Time to discuss business.>

The assembled Loroi were in awe as Ice, upon Undercurrent’s command, cast them into a lotai. As disconcerting as it was, it offered some reassurance that no one else could peek on their conversation.

<Now then,> sent Undercurrent, <I’m sure Freeway has given you an idea of why I’m here. I want you to know that I, my comrades, and the Seinen we represent, are interested in helping you. But before we carry on, you must understand this: once you agree to do business with us, you are all bound under a strict oath of secrecy. Nothing more. If for any reason you become unable to continue working with us, our Seinen can forgive such shortcomings provided you are forthcoming. But you can never break your oaths of secrecy. Any Loroi suspected of betraying us will suffer the consequences. We will do what we must to protect the cause. We will murder if we must. But I have faith that each of you, who has more to lose to the warriors than to us, will commit. So what say you all?>

Overcoming their hesitations, each of the Loroi swore secrecy.

Undercurrent accepted their answers. <Then let’s proceed. Perhaps Freeway can begin by sharing her story first.>

Freeway took a swig of ale and shared, <It was many octennials ago. I had finished my diral training and was studying at the Soroin Academy. I went home to celebrate Aurora with my kinsfolk in Laibela. It’s a wondrous sight, watching the meteor shower at that time of year. We did as Zaralids typically do on Aurora. We feasted, we sang, we danced, we recounted the tales of the Thirteen Sisters of Aurora.>

Freeway wiped her wet lips with her fingers after taking another swig of ale. <As we celebrated into the night, I thought of my daughter, Bitterpod, who I assumed was still away performing her trials. The warriors warn never to get attached. Attachment is not a crime, but a sin. But when I birthed Bitterpod, I could not help myself. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Obnoxiously bitter to her peers, but submissively affectionate to me. Even while I was studying at the Soroin Academy, she contacted me endlessly to show me the silly objects she constructed at home. I took the chance I could to get away from the Academy just to see her. Her mind was brimming with ideas. She even made up her mind to be a Gallen. It’s hard to switch castes, I warned her. But she stubbornly refused to give up her wish. I promised after she finished her trials that we’d discuss it with the elders.>

Freeway downed the rest of her ale, tossing the bottle into the recycler. <My kin noticed my reminiscence, giving each other fearful looks. Before anyone sent anything I knew something was amiss. I swore I heard one of them utter, “Should I tell her?” I demanded to know what they knew that I did not. And so they revealed bluntly my daughter was dead.>

Freeway leaned against the bar’s counter, her eyes bleary. <Without thinking, I rushed home to my elders, demanding the truth of the matter. They admitted to euthanizing Bitterpod. The stresses of the trials and fear of failure had broken Bitterpod’s mind. She had developed the paranoia sickness. Loroi that suffer this illness never recover. Our elders did not even think of contacting me before they decided to kill her.>

Freeway’s fist tightened. <The audacity. The cruel arrogance of them. Bitterpod may have become unsuited for warrior life, but there was medicine to keep her mind stable. She could have served the needs of the warriors as a civilian. My greatest mistake was failing to notice my daughter’s reluctance to enter the warrior life. But I swallowed my own selfishness, as it were, and went back to my studies.>

Freeway’s lips curled into a bitter scowl as she fought back the tears. <After graduating from the Academy, I decided to return home to make amends with my kinsfolk and accept my role as a Soroin. Until I witnessed a terrible sight. One of my distant cousin’s was threatening to kill her daughter, Teel, for refusing to enter the trials, dreaming of a comfortable civilian life. They call it the honor killing. A way to save a failure from disgrace. The elders were divided on the matter. I wouldn’t let them. I took her away from that place and fled. We had just enough tinnets to make it to Eshorg. Many civilians take their chances in warmer cities like Nottinrer or Adadis, but wrathful elders are known to pursue deviants to the borders.

<We had no idea where to go. Guilds would not take us. I was educated to be a warrior, but I had no skills in the labor fields. That’s when Teel and I stumbled upon this place, Sinadas. The former owner gave us work and lodging. As we settled into our demoted roles as civilians, I felt as if my world was crumbling. I built my identity around the way of the warrior. But Teel and I found comfort in the work we did. Our mentor taught us how to manage a small business. Even taught us how to brew.

<In time, I found the stories shared by the civies intriguing. They did not seem to care about our background, only how hard we were willing to work. We found comfort and companionship with them. By coincidence, that is how I happened to meet White, long before meeting Undercurrent. Soon I began learning of other youth whom were being threatened with disownment or even outright death if they failed their trials. It was frowned upon for Loroi to euthanize children in Zaral without just cause. But it was legal. If Zaralids hate anything more than Shells, it’s weakness.>

Freeway tapped her knuckles against the counter. <When Greywind came to power, publicly stating that she wanted to uplift civlians, I truly believed in her. But her policies have made no difference. There are still dropouts and failures, on the run from their wrathful elders. The worst part is that, when these innocent youth die, their murderers are barely punished. What good are laws if the ones who make them are allowed break them.>

<That's why we must support Eternal Endurance,> Undercurrent insisted.

Freeway sighed. <Under, I forgave you and your guild friends for your mess up with that cheat, Frostglass. I can't forgive or trust you a second time. I am reluctant to do business with gangers.>

<But Endurance is not like other gangers,> sent Undercurrent. <She is special, touched me like no other Loroi ever has. She wants to give civies like us a better life. And she is true to her word. If you could only stand in her presence, you would know what I mean.>

Undercurrent's euphoric tale of Endurance's empowering presence intrigued them. Freeway was still skeptical. <But can she protect our children?>

Ice cocked an eyebrow. <What children?>

Freeway poured herself another ale and explained, <Ever since the Great War’s end, life has been getting more difficult for us. Civies are depressed and broken. Guilds that have been here since the Golden Age have shut down. Shops are closing one by one. The welfare centers are packed and overcrowded, with not enough beds or food for distribution. Civies that have never been part of a guild are forced to wait for vacancies, deemed the most irrelevant priorities.> She took a swig. <Which brings us to our next problem: a civilian must be a registered citizen to receive aid from the welfare centers. Unregistered Loroi that have entered those places and their mothers, who illegally conceived them, are detained.>

Ice felt the party shiver with dread. <What happens to the detainees?>

<According to the stories, their assets are seized and confiscated. The detainees themselves are sent to reformatories before being shipped off world. Never heard from again. The Loroi you see here have conceived children without Imperial registry.>

Ice could not hold back her incredulous laughter. <What by the bloody Well of Souls was going through your heads when you decided to sheathe the wrong blades?>

<Mind your attitude, Shade,> Teel warned. <You’re in our territory.>

<Surely you all were aware of the consequences of illegally conceiving children! Even we Shades have never been that careless!>

<You don’t seem to understand, Shade,> sent Coal. <The Imperialists indoctrinate us to accept that their rule. They promise to protect so long as we work and obey. But being hard workers and law-abiding citizens is not enough. Eventually we die and everything we built is eaten up by the warriors, who toss the scraps to their rejected daughters. The warriors think that only their stories matter. But what about the civilians that nursed their children at the creches when veterans had to take the place of their sisters killed in the Great War? Who built their cities, grew the crops that became their rations and labored in the mines? Who remembers their stories? We have just as much right to have our own children to inherit our stories and our fortunes.>

Loroi smashed fists on the bar counter or beat their chests in applaud.

<How did you manage to keep these illegal children hidden?> Ice asked. <And without any help from Shades?>

<Since Eshorg has practically no security checkpoints, civies have always enjoyed a carefree lifestyle here> sent Coal. <Civilians who managed their own affairs without government interference were more productive. More productivity means larger tributes. As long as we caused no trouble, warriors barely interfered in our affairs. But ever since Greywind came to power, the military’s presence has grown. The warriors make everyone nervous. The Mizols are trying to poke their noses into our affairs. They know there are unregistered Loroi in this city, but we have protected those civies by banding together. But now there’s news of the Viscounts planning to hand over more control of the city to the Imperialists. If this happens, the warrior presence will only grow. We will not have the strength to stand against them.>

<That's why we need to turn public opinion in Eshorg against the warriors,> sent Undercurrent. <Let them know this is our city and that it stands with Eternal Endurance and her revolutionaries. You protected your children by banding together. Join our cause and we will have greater strength in numbers.>

Freeway was still not convinced. <Won't that only give the warriors enough reason to blast us away? We can't resist them without attracting more attention!>

<Then we must demonstrate an equal show of force. There are private shops in Eshorg with manufacturing tools and material printers. We can make our own weapons. Already there are pockets of resistance throughout Mestirot. And Eternal Endurance is the beacon. When she gives the signal, we will take our stand together. The warriors will be overwhelmed, and forced to yield to our demands. No civilian, no Shade, no unregistered child, no dropout will ever have to be afraid of warriors again.>

There was an aura of great interest and trepid doubt. On the one hand, the prospects of winning more liberties for the civilians was most enticing. But the fear of incurring the warriors’ wrath was great.

<If this revolution fails, we could lose everything,> sent Coal. <Our property. Our homes. Even our very lives.>

<We’re already losing,> sent Undercurrent. <So let’s save this city while there’s still something left to save. Now are you with us?>

<I think you're mad,> sent Freeway. <Then again... they thought me mad for turning down a life as a warrior. Maybe it's a mistake to follow this Eternal Endurance. But... there comes a time when every Loroi has to take a stand against injustice.> Freeway chugged her ale before smashing in on the counter. <I will help you, Undercurrent. Who will also help?>

One by one the civilians of Eshorg voiced their approval, swearing allegiance to the revolution.

Freeway hollered for joy, with invigoration she had not felt in tozons. <They called us Sinadas! They called us the Fallen! But the Fallen will rise!>

The civies cheered together under the protection of the lotai, <The Fallen will rise!>