Page 98 of Alien Warlord's Fury
I ate slowly, savoring the simple, hearty food after days of travel rations. Around us, the settlement hummed with activity—people coming and going, sharing news, working together. For the first time since the crash that had stranded us on this planet, I felt a sense of belonging.
"What will you do now?" Nirako asked after we'd eaten in comfortable silence for a while.
The question caught me off guard. In the urgency of rescuing the children and stopping Hammond, I hadn't thought beyond survival and revenge. Now that both were accomplished, what remained?
"I don't know," I admitted. "I've been so focused on stopping Hammond, on making him pay for what he did to me—to all of us."
Nirako studied me. "And now?"
I looked down at my markings, at the silver lines that no longer represented pain and trauma, but connection and power. The visions that had once been chaotic intrusions were now accessible, controllable. Through them, I could sense the Nexus energy flowing through the planet, through the children we'd rescued, through Nirako and me.
"The children will need help," I said slowly, the realization forming as I spoke. "They've been connected to the Nexus like I was. They'll have visions, abilities they don't understand."
Nirako nodded. "They will need guidance."
"And the Nexus itself—Hammond corrupted it, but he was right about one thing. It's powerful. It could be used to help both our peoples, if we understand it properly."
A small group of Nyxari children ran past our table, laughing. Among them were two of the rescued children, already beginning to play despite their ordeal. Their resilience struck me deeply.
"They recover quickly," Nirako observed.
"Children do." I watched them disappear around a corner. "But they'll carry what happened. I want to make sure they don't carry it alone."
Something shifted in our bond—a wave of pride and affection from Nirako that made my markings respond.
"What?" I asked.
"You speak of helping others now. Not revenge."
I hadn't realized the change myself until he pointed it out. The burning need for vengeance that had driven me since escaping Hammond's experiments had transformed into something else—a desire to protect, to understand, to build rather than destroy.
"Hammond took enough from me," I said. "I won't let him take my future too."
Nirako reached across the table, his fingers intertwining with mine. Our energies mingled where we touched, gold and silver light dancing together.
"The Aerie have a saying," he said. "'The strongest trees grow not in shelter, but where the wind tests them.'"
I smiled. "Is that your way of saying what doesn't kill us makes us stronger?"
"Perhaps." His lips curved. "Though I find your human phrasing lacks poetry."
A comfortable silence fell between us, broken when Varek approached our table. His expression was serious but not hostile.
"The council requests your presence tomorrow at midday," he said. "To hear your account of what transpired at Hammond's compound."
I tensed slightly, but Nirako's calm flowed through our bond.
"Will there be consequences for our actions?" Nirako asked directly.
Varek's mouth twitched. "The council does not appreciate being... circumvented." His gaze moved between us.
"But results speak for themselves. The children are safe. Hammond is no longer a threat."
He hesitated, then added, "Your quarters have been prepared. Rest well."
As he walked away, I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
"That was almost friendly," I remarked.