The great grooves where Archibald had dragged Fiarre into the light were visible before he was. Oh, Fiarre, I murmured through our connection. I’m so sorry I left you.
His answering grumble didn’t need interpretation. It wasn’t the first time I’d apologized, nor the first time he’d told me to stop, but I hated that I’d had to leave him.
If you must apologize to someone, apologize to that being that brought me into the light. Though, I believe he also does not require an apology. But perhaps your gratitude.
I sent my dragon a mental hug and thanked him for his wisdom. Thanked him for all that he’d done to save Finn and me. If it hadn’t been for Fiarre’s clear head and the plan he suggested, Finn would have died.
As if aware of what I was thinking—and maybe he was, as the bond between us had somehow become more than it had before—Finn swept the hair off my neck and kissed me beneath my ear.
Is it safe? I asked as Fiarre slowed to land near the prone Servant. Even though Serantha had trusted him, I never in a million years would have believed Dom could turn against Finn. It made me wonder where Missy was in all of this. Was she working with Natalya, too? It wouldn’t surprise me. I hadn’t felt her symbionts at all since before the trial.
“We’ll be careful,” Finn said aloud as he lifted his leg across Fiarre’s back and slid down to the ground. He grinned as he reached up for me. I didn’t need his help, but it felt good to see him there, waiting to catch me. And when I slid into his arms and he kissed me with all the hunger and joy at not being separated anymore, I decided there were distinct advantages to letting him take care of me.
When he finally pulled back, Finn’s blue, blue eyes dove into mine as he pushed my crazy hair off of my forehead. I patted at it self-consciously, but he grabbed my hand and kissed me again.
Fiarre, surprisingly, didn’t complain about us leaning against him, kissing, but it wasn’t long before Finn looked to where Archibald lay.
“In her last message, Mother said Archibald held the key to putting an end to the Superiority.” He moved to the Servant’s side, crouched, then rolled him over.
“He looks like he’s completely out of power.” I crouched beside Finn, observing the sand stuck to Archibald’s lax face. I looked at Finn. “Does he need to have power to do what we need him to do?”
Finn brushed the sand off Archibald’s face. “I don’t know. I assumed he’d be awake for this.”
Silently, Fiarre moved his bulk so he, too, had a view of Archibald.
“Do they have an on switch or something? Some way to reboot them?” I asked.
Finn cut me an incredulous glance then cracked up laughing. “No!”
“Well, I don’t know,” I said defensively. “It’s not like they taught us every little detail about syns in class—and nearly nothing technical about the Servants.”
Finn kissed my forehead. “I know. I’m sorry.” Since he was still fighting the laughter, he didn’t look very sorry to me. “If we were on ship, yes. Out here?” His silence said enough.
He put his hand on Archibald’s shoulder and closed his eyes. I figured maybe he was trying to reach him through the small connection they shared through Serantha. I’d begun to fidget when Archibald’s body twitched.
He’s unable to power on, Finn told me, and I felt the faint cord of Archibald’s presence with us. But it’s enough. See this? He directed my attention to a repeating thought in Archibald’s mind.
“Carry on?” I asked Finn aloud.
He nodded and met my gaze. “I’m not sure what that means, but I think we ought to find out.”
I nodded, but I wasn’t sure it would be anything at all. It seemed like something Archibald might have said to himself as he pulled Fiarre through Obscuridad. Something that might have kept him going when he ought to have broken down and quit.
“Archibald,” Finn said aloud and through Archibald’s connection. “Carry on.”
We waited, watching the android carefully, but nothing happened.
Fiarre stirred and moved away. I glanced at him and saw him watching the barrier at the edge of the T-zone. What’s up? I asked him.
He didn’t respond.
“Archibald,” Finn repeated more forcefully. “Carry on.”
I waited a beat before leaning my head on his shoulder. It’s okay, I told Finn. It was a long shot anyway, right?
He turned his head toward me, and I sat back so we could see each other. “We can’t leave it all to Birch and the dragons. Our people need us.”
It took a second, but Finn finally nodded once and stood. “I want to take him back with us.” He reached down and took my hand, pulling me to my feet.
“Okay.” I wished I had the right words to comfort him. He’d really believed his mom had left him with some miracle, and finding it wasn’t there was like experiencing her loss all over again. Not to mention Dom’s betrayal. I needed to help him stay focused. We’d deal with all we had lost later.
The Superiority ship was gone, but we still had syns in our midst, and there was no telling which ones might be part of that crazy town. We also had countless injured and sick colonists and only three bonded dragon pairs. We’d need all the dragons if we even hoped to put an end to the pathogen.
Fiarre swung his massive head toward me. We are Fieren.
I patted his flank. I know, big boy. With a glance back at Finn, I said, We need to get back to Sol and Finn wants to take Archibald.
Then we shall. But he moved away from us instead of coming closer so we could mount.
“Hey,” I said and turned to glare at him.
Except it wasn’t Fiarre my gaze fell upon.
At first, for just a second, I thought the wrao had somehow crossed the barrier, but that thought flew away almost before it had properly formed. Because I knew these beings. Their presence in my mind was warm and welcoming.
Slellen? I asked incredulously as one figure drew ahead of the others. They all wore the bodysuit they’d created from the wrao’s skin, its dark shimmery green so much brighter in the light of Sol. I reached back for Finn, tugging on his shirt when that’s all I could get a hold of.
It is I, Wylielen. She inclined her head. We have come to lend our assistance—if you will have us.
Finn stepped up beside me and gripped my hand in his. Perhaps fifty Xel stood a little way behind Slellen, and I had to press my hand over my heart to ease the painful squeezing it was doing.
“Welcome,” Finn said.
Oh! I said belatedly. Finn, this is Slellen, the leader of the Xel—the people who used to live here, in Sol. And these—I gestured to indicate the wonderful, marvelous gathering before us—are some of her people. The anness? I asked Slellen, who nodded.
It is my honor, Finn said to Slellen.
Please, she said, the honor is mine. Though we only knew her for a short time, Wylielen became a part of our family, and family does not leave another in need.
No, Finn agreed with a grin.
Slellen relaxed a little then, as much as she ever seemed to relax. Forgive our appearance. We have long grown accustomed to the shadows and dark, and we can no longer tolerate the conditions of Xel-anin unshielded.
I completely understand, Finn said. Thank you for the sacrifice you have made to help us today.
Slellen faced me, and though I couldn’t see her eyes behind the green-black covering of the suit, I knew what she and her people must have endured traveling Obscuridad on foot.
We are needed back in Sol, Finn said with a glance over his shoulder. Behind us, the city burned, smoke billowing up to greet the clouds.
Yes, I agreed. We have to hurry.
Of course, Slellen said with another bow of her head. Go, and we shall follow.
Thank you, I told her. Thank you, I said to them all. I glimpsed a compact figure among the anness, but movement near Archibald distracted me.
“Archibald?” Finn was asking. He had his hands on the android’s chest, trying to calm the violent jerks of his body, but it didn’t help.
I watched on, helpless, as Archibald continued to flail and then went suddenly still.
“What’s going on?” I asked, my hand on Finn’s shoulder.
He looked up and my heart squeezed at the sorrow on his face. “I do not know.”
“Let’s go,” I told him. “Our people need us.”
He nodded then shifted Archibald into his arms and stood in one smooth action.
As he took Archibald to Fiarre, who had drawn closer after his big revelation, I turned to face Slellen. The Fierens are rescuing people as best they can from the wreckage, but—I glanced back at the city again. I have no—
Slellen touched my arm, drawing my attention back to her. We will assist in that effort. Where shall we bring the survivors?
To the main street, you know the one?
Slellen nodded. We know it.
Take the injured to the mossy courtyard between the homes, Finn interjected.
“Okay.” I heaved a sigh, looked at the Xel again, then back to Slellen. Okay. Thank you. I wrapped my fingers around her wrist and squeezed gently. Thank you.
Go, she said with another nod.
With one last smile for her and her people, I turned away and leaped onto Fiarre.
Well, it was less of a leap and more of a light-footed climb, followed by a leap, but I was getting better at it every time. Even with Archibald’s still form in his arms, Finn made it look more like leaping.
I am the only one who truly leaps, Fiarre interjected into my thoughts. The only true leap is that which leads to flight.