Shadow Slave

Sunny did not recall falling asleep, but he was woken up by someone banging on the hatch of the Rhino. Sitting up, he looked around and realized that he must have passed out while studying the weave of the Midnight Shard. The austere tachi was still laying on the holographic table, glinting as if to mock him.

He had almost solved the problem. That elusive element of the weave was almost isolated, but to...

As someone banged on the hatch once again, making the massive APC shake a little, Sunny flinched, rubbed his face, and went to the hatch.

"Coming! Who the hell…"

He opened the hatch and froze, swallowing the rest of his irritated shout.

"Oh, ah… Master Jet. Good… morning?"

She glanced at him with amusement.

"Technically, it's evening. Go wipe the drool off your face and come out, Sunny. We've been summoned to attend a meeting."

He frowned, then threw an angry look at the gloomy shadow, which was hiding in the darkness not too far away. The bastard was supposed to warn him if anything approached, protecting Sunny from a sudden attack… or from embarrassing himself, in theory.

The shadow shrugged innocently and looked away.

Shaking his head, Sunny returned inside and quickly washed his face. A couple of minutes later, he left the APC and closed the hatch behind him. Since Soul Reaper mentioned that he had to come out, they were most likely heading for the complex that the local branch of the First Army Command used as headquarters. It was only a short distance from the barracks.

Indeed, Jet walked in that direction, with Sunny following as he looked around with sleepy eyes. A few moments later, he asked:

"...What is the meeting about?"

She shrugged.

"We'll find out. All I know is that White Feather wants to see us."

'White Feather, huh…'

The two of them made their way to the army headquarters, but then walked past it, approaching a heavily fortified compound instead. Winter and Dale were already waiting for them near the gates, looking as ragged and fatigued as Sunny.

He greeted them.

"I heard you retook Breach C yesterday? Must have been a tough fight."

Dale simply shrugged.

"Not really. We still hold both sections of the wall above the breach, so all I had to do was persuade the abominations to stay put until the garrison forces shredded them with ranged weapons."

He remained silent for moment, and then added:

have been much worse if they were better

Sunny nodded somberly.

to a spacious room on one of the underground

a false window, studying the projected image of the night sky. His face was painted ghostly green by the ethereal tapestry of the swirling aurora. Saint Tyris was motionless, sitting in an imposing chair with her

in a while — at least in her human form. She looked…

blood. Her hair, which had once fallen down like a cascade of pale gold, now looked lifeless and bleak. Her

that holding the Winter Beast back was taking a toll on the Transcendent of

still aloof and stern, however, and her amber eyes burned

turned at the

Ascended Jet, Ascended Winter, Ascended Dale, Sunless… welcome. Sorry

acting uncharacteristically subdued, his usual charisma gone. That did not bode

Jet waved a

What did you

Roan smiled slightly.

it is for the

projection in front of them. On it, the map of the surrounding area disappeared,

body with six segmented legs, a tail that ended with a long, jagged stinger… and three long necks, each ending in a harrowing circular maw. The abominations looked like a mix between a

A Fallen one, but still a dire

Winter cursed.

We figured as much, after

Master Roan slowly nodded.

on Falcon Scott today.

each other. After a short

that the swarm

he could answer, Saint

clan will

incredulously. Sky Tide met their gazes with a calm

would you

deeply, then turned

comes. If they attack together… you can imagine the devastation. The window of opportunity grows narrower with each day, so we can't passively wait for the Devouring Cloud to

glanced at the Irregulars, studied them for

Winter will contain the swarm. Roan will bring the Tyrant down. The three of you will make sure that the creature

Sunny smiled darkly.

to isolate the Tyrant?

gazed at him for a while, her amber eyes both beautiful and

"Don't fail."

laughed. Shaking her head, she patted Sunny on the shoulder and walked toward

like that plan. Let's

***