No one could have possibly foreseen the attack on their ship. It was another time of testing. How many fires would he be doused in, revealing his innermost fears and doubts about the recent decisions he had made? The purging and refining process was enough to make any man break.

These thoughts ran through is mind as he let out a soft groan.

Darkness. He found himself in darkness. Only the sharp jagged pain in his side jolted him awake. Max forced his eyes opened; above him were wires, and a cloud of smoke blowing from an opening in the roof of their aircraft. He groaned again, except louder this time.

"Maxwell."

It was Larek's voice.

"Get up. We must reach the safety of the Base."

"The Base?"

"Yes," Larek replied hastily. "Quickly. I have Viland...Isabel."

Isabel.

"Is she all right?" Max opened his eyes again, furrowing his brow, trying to focus his blurred vision. "Is she breathing?" he asked worriedly. Trying to sit up, he felt a sharp stabbing pain in his side again. His hand slid down to his left side, where he felt a small sharp piece of metal jutting out of his flesh.

Just what he needed.

"What is it Maxwell?"

Max did not need to look up to know that Larek's expression matched his voice of concern. "I guess Isabel won't be the only one that needs a doctor."

Nicholas led the troops as they marched down the dingy, archaic quarters, which the Loyalists had been hiding within so well. The soldiers had arrived moments prior to Barak and himself. Once they managed to crack the security codes of the stone fortress, it was just a matter of locating the heart of self-imposed dungeon. If they destroyed the power source of the Loyalist's army base, it would be tantamount to cutting off an appendage of the beast, which was sure to be a threat of attack.

"Here, this way," Barak barked, gesturing towards the scuff marks upon the ground. "The tracks say they headed towards the dead-end. There must be some passageway through that rocky surface.�

With a wave of his finger, Nicholas ordered several of the accompanying soldiers to research Barak�s suspicions. After mere minutes the darkly garbed officers had fastened several small detonators upon the rough surface in the outline of a portal. Nicholas crouched behind a wall of soldiers, who knelt several feet from the explosive charges. Once the remaining soldiers returned, falling behind the measured distance of safety, he gave the signal to detonate the plasmatic devices.

The ground beneath them shook. Nicholas knew it was a controlled blast, but something felt off. Dust and smoke was to be expected, but along with the expected came a bright shining light above opening that traveled at lightening speed across the cavernous ceiling; it exploded above their heads.

Before he could react, there was a shower of rubble and large stones , several nearly crushing him. As a piece of large slated stone hurled towards him, Nicholas was pulled forwards, narrowly escaping death. His heart raced, pounding against his chest; he could barely catch his breath. Glancing up he found his saving grace was Barak. �You saved my life,� Nicholas stated matter-of-factly.

�Of course.� The well trained officer seemed calm after that near unexpected calamity. �You have so much more ahead of you,� Barak replied knowingly. It was almost mysterious in its deliverance.

Nicholas paused a moment, giving thought to what hidden meaning could be found behind those green-tinged brown eyes. There is no time now. The Loyalists must be up in arms by now. He spun around to see who was left of their small platoon of men.

Under the rubble he saw many bloodied appendages. The blast had taken many of their men; now they only had a handful. His anger flared. However many times he had dealt with the �chosen people of Antar�, it always surprised him as to how they managed to remain one step ahead of him - elusive. �Well,� he glared at the dusty, shell-shocked officers, who were scattered throughout the corridor, �let�s move!�

�The intruders are past the south gate entrance,� Quirinius informed, as he frantically tracked the unmarked DNA signatures. �But it seems there is a prisoner in their midst.�

Fadilia stopped her pacing as Quirinius relayed that information to her. �What did you say?� she asked. Coming up behind Quirinius, she watched as he pulled up the weak DNA signatures upon his screen.

The Loyalist architects developed a system of ionized scanning which gave the Loyalists the ability to distinguish the DNA signatures of every Loyalist born within Mount Freiweil�s walls. They had even managed to locate several DNA strands of various well-known Iturian families. It could also distinguish between the genetic makeup of Kedrans and Iturians.

�See here,� Quirinius tapped the green blip on the screen, �this is one of ours.� He then slid his finger over to the many red blips traveling along with the singular green blip on the screen. �These belong to the Iturian army, who by the looks of it, know exactly where to go.�

�I think the prisoner might be leading them straight to us.� Fadilia frowned. Who could it possibly be? She knew her people would never lead any of Khivar�s men to her. There were none that cowardly. �Do we know who he is? Are they just Khivar's foot soldiers?� She watched as Quirinius ran a search within their genetic database.

�Your Highness, it is Commander Barak - the traitor.�

Fadilia closed her eyes and nodded. �I understand.�

Quirinius spun around with a confused expression on his face. �Are you not worried? He betrayed us, Queen Fadilia. I trained beside him. I looked up to him and the loathsome creature betrayed us to Khivar!�

Fadilia�s eyes widened at the quiet, mild-mannered soldier�s outburst.

He quickly realized he had overstepped his bounds and lowered his eyes respectfully. �I am sorry, your Highness, that was not my place to say anything.�

Fadilia shook her head. �What you say is true,� she answered softly. �Barak did leave the Fold under horrible circumstances. But we cannot question the workings of the Unseen. He has a plan for Barak, whether you know it or not. It is not for you to question why.�

�You still speak of him as though he were one of us,� Quirinius frowned. �How do you possibly look at him with anything but hatred? Under him many of the Loyalists have died."

Fadilia could not explain her reasons. She had looked into the heart of this child; she had held him in her arms when he was born. Barak had come to her when his parents were killed by Khivar�s men when they had raided the forest. A traitor he was not. �You must trust me, Quirinius.�

Larek had prayed that Queen Fadilia and her contingent would have realized it was him and secured the backdoor entrance into the mountain. When he reached the door, they were locked; but the visage that hid the entrance vanished when he scanned the metallic chain General Steren had issued him, hidden beneath his robe across the security pad, revealing a key code console. Relaying the pass code to Max - who was injured but still mobile - he quickly ushered Max and Isabel into the safe haven - or what used to be one until moments ago.

�Where are we going?� Max asked, limping along while cradling his wounded side.

�We are finding Queen Fadilia; and then we�re going to get you out of here.� The secret entrance - thankfully - was near the Com room, which in a situation like this, was like a war room. Whoever was securing the base would be in there.

�Wait.�

Larek spun around and stared incredulously at Maxwell, as the weight of Vilandra was weighing in his arms. �There is no time to spare, my friend.� He let out an exasperated sigh before approaching Zan. �Your sister needs treatment and so do you,� he glanced down at the growing dark blue stain growing on the would-be king�s new robe, which Zan had been garbed in during their flight. �No time for fear or worries. We must board upon a ship and find a safe haven for you and the rest of the royal family.� With that, Larek passed the metallic disc across the greyish panel, opening wide the sliding doors and into a spacious grey room.

He had managed to get them home and keep them safe. He just wondered whether the other half of the Royal Four had managed to do the same - stay safe that is.

Tess knew from the first blast that flew past her cheek, barely missing her, that her mind could no longer be anywhere else except the present. The contingent of soldiers guarding the generator room was unexpected; nonetheless, they could not be avoided and needed to be dispatched. She had intentions to mindwarp them, but Michael dismissed the idea. �It could alert Khivar in some way. We cannot use our powers until we are ready to show ourselves to him.� She had agreed.

Using the 'special' quarter-staff which General Steren had given her - he had pulled her quietly aside presenting it to her almost ceremonially before they left Mount Freiweils - Tess swung the weapon down upon the stumbling soldier in front of her, knocking him out cold. She turned to see Yasu taking on two of the guards, who seemed surprised at his swiftness for his size, and dispatching them with ease. The other two soldiers with them were also making short work of their opponents. Apparently the time of focused training during their time at Mount Freiweils was not in vain.

�Who has the electro-magnetic distorter?� Michael barked, anxiously waving an open palm.

�Here.� Lt. Siothrun thrust it into his hand.

Tess watched up the stairs for any signs of back up for the unconscious guards. She frowned. She could not remember whether the guards had managed to call for reinforcements. Everything had happened so fast.

�I�m in,� Michael declared triumphantly. He turned and pointed at Siothrun. �Lieutenant, you�re handling the hardwire, right?� The dark-haired officer nodded eagerly. �And Esmond, you�re security�s measure.�

The 2nd Lieutenant nodded determinedly. �I will have it down in seconds, Commander Guerin.�

�Good.� He glanced over at Tess and Yasu. �You two, you�re look-out.�

Tess nodded anxiously, noting that Michael kept glancing at her with an odd expression. �Go and do what you have to.� She dismissed him with a wave. She did not want him worrying about her when the outcome of a war depended on the success of this mission.

Michael seemed to take the hint and slipped behind the black door.

Meanwhile she slowly and carefully crept up the narrow staircase, peering into the hallway at ground level - the passage way was clear. This was good.

�Now is the time, your Highness.�

Tess spun around and frowned. �What is that supposed to mean?� Her voice was high - she hadn�t realized how wound up she was until that moment. Clearing her throat, she quietly closed the distance between herself and Yasu. �Why do you keep saying these stupid cryptic messages?� she exclaimed in a hushed tone. �Am I supposed to know what that means?�

Tess was torn. She did not want to leave Michael during this important mission. They had split up during the previous mission and it bore neither of them much fruit. No, she should remain at her post.

�You must find him.� The older Kedran seemed restless, even maybe a little anxious in her midst. It was a emotion-filled state she had never seen from Yasu before.

�This mission must be a success. I promised I would be here.�

�It is and has been. You have played your part well, your Majesty,� he replied gently. �Now you must find your next role.�

�How do you know this?� Tess asked suspiciously. It seemed, all of the sudden, to her that he was trying to get rid of her. Then a thought dawned on her. Could Yasu be a spy?

The thought chilled her to the bone. She had whole-heartedly placed her trust in this soldier and not once had she given thought to the possibility that he could be working for Khivar. It made the hackles on her neck stand.

�No.� Obviously the soldier read her mind - whether it was literal or not, Tess did not know. �I am not a spy.�

"Then what are you?" Tess knew they had neither the time nor the opportunity to truly have an in-depth conversation about this. "Tell me straight out why you are pushing me to ditch this mission?" she demanded through clenched teeth. "Or I swear I will find out in other ways."

Yasu's expression was now back to its usual, blank slate.

"Don't place your eggs in one basket on this one," Tess glowered. "I am willing to use whatever means necessary to find out the truth about this dire need for me to find my son." She moved closer to him, reaching out to touch his temples - to make contact - to see whether he would flinch.

He did not.

"That will not reveal anything," Yasu replied, meeting her with a steady gaze. "I have no information that will bring to light any new reality. I just...I just know that this must be done and soon." He knelt before her on one knee. "Your Highness, the lunar eclipses are complete and soon the spring season will be here."

"And what use will he have for Zander?" Tess said under her breath, as she glanced towards the light of the corridor.

"Yes."

Tess knelt in front of him, locking eyes with the stoic soldier pressed her index finger into his chest. "I am trusting you to watch Michael's back and if I find out that this is some scheme or trap, I promise you I will hunt you down and make you pay with your life." He nodded once. And Tess knew he understood that she would come back from the dead once more if only to see that he pay if he were betraying them. "Explain to Commander Guerin the circumstances," she ordered, pushing herself up onto her feet. "I have my comlink if he needs to reach me, but that is only in emergency."

Tess took a deep breath and crept up the stairs. While clutching her quarterstaff, she prayed that she would not meet guards so soon during her search. She had no inkling as to where she should begin. The layout of the palace seemed to become more familiar the more she surveyed it. Please help me God...if you're up there. I need to find my son. I need to remember.

Glancing back towards the almost hidden staircase built within the narrow corridors of the unused wing of the palace, she hoped Michael understood.

Stay safe Michael.

Michael watched as Essmond made quick work of the Iturian technology, which had kept the Loyalist forces at bay until now. The force field surrounding the generator was ancient by Kedran standards; in fact, he could not understand why the plasma shield had not been dispensed of earlier.

"Hurry up Sachtoro," Lt. Siothrun barked.

Michael furrowed his brow as he observed the young officer's restlessness. He twitched as one inexperienced in the ways of battle. "Settle down, Siothrun. Essmond will tell you when he is ready." Siothrun seemed to flinch at his verbal rebuke, while Essmond's glanced up gratefully, as beads of sweat trickled down his face, while juggling several chips and metallic discs in his hand. "Go on," he motioned with his head to continue, "finish. We've got 40 seconds to rig the detonator."

Things were running smoothly, which Michael liked; he did not want another debacle on his hands, like last time. They had enough liquid explosives to blow up the entire wing. He would not leave the architects anything from which they could rebuild the plasma field.

"Go!" Essmond declared, as he dropped to his knees, slumped over and breathing heavily.

Michael could not help but smirk at the seriousness to which 2nd Lt. Essmond had taken this mission. He strode over and offered his hand. "Good job." The young soldier looked startled at his offer. A moment's hesitation and then he slipped his hand into Michael's.

"Thank you, Commander."

"Siothrun, are you finished?" He glanced up to see the Kedran standing and admiring his handiwork. "Hey," Michael growled. "I said are you finished?"

Siothrun glanced over at Michael, a dubious expression on his face. "Do you see the beauty that is before you?" he said, striding with what Michael would have almost called a swagger. "It is a work of art!"

"Save it," Michael sighed, and gestured for both of them to file out. "We can listen to your 'work of art' from west corridor; for now, we have to get out of here and fast." He waited as Siothrun carefully stored the two remaining vials of liquid explosives within a twelve-inch, padded, steel container and placed it in the bag he had slung over his shoulder. "Okay, let's move out!"

"What do you mean she left on another mission?" Michael had Yasu by the scruff of his neck, pressed against the wall. "There was no other mission!" he said through clenched teeth. "Now where is she?"

"Commander Guerin, she went to look for Zander," Yasu stated calmly. "It was understandable."

Michael narrowed his eyes and shoved Yasu back as he released his now wrinkled uniform. "This was not in the plan," he growled. His mind raced, wondering whether she had already been captured by Khivar's men or not.

Damn it. This was not part of the plan.

"We should go after her!" Lt. Siothrun bellowed. "Khivar might get wind of our plan before General Steren and the men are in place!"

Michael closed his eyes, wracking his brain at what needed to be done. He knew very well that Tess was quite capable, but if she were faced with Khivar and several hundred of his men...that was a different story.

"No," Yasu declared vehemently.

"Why?" Michael asked, his eyes snapping open in suspicion. Moving towards Yasu, he cocked his head to one side and repeated himself. "Why? Why wouldn't we go after her?"

"One person can move undetected." Yasu did not step back as he approached. The soldier stood his ground. "We must attack on another front - create a diversion for her."

"Since when did you become acting commander?" spat Lt. Siothrun, as he came up along side Michael and nudged Yasu back. "He's probably a spy."

Michael pushed Yasu against the wall. "Is that right? Are you a spy?" He leaned his forearm against the Kedran's throat. "Tell me why Tess felt the sudden need to go find Zander?" he hissed. There was something about Yasu - he couldn't quite put his finger on it. The Kedran did not act like any 19-year old he had ever met. "What are you up to?"

"Your and Queen Ava's hybrid forms are quite emotional."

"And your point?"

"I am not 'plotting' against you," he gasped, as Michael's arm dug into his neck a little more. "I am doing what is best for our mission."

"Sir?" 2nd Lt. Essmond's voice piped in.

"What?" Michael turned his head and glared at the jumpy 18-year old.

"Do we have time for this?" Essmond asked quietly, glancing at the generator door. "General Steren is preparing for an attack, and we have yet to signal the General that we are in place?"

Michael gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, knowing the officer was right. If Yasu had sent Tess into a trap, they would have heard about it by now. They had spent several minutes in the generator room without having new guards dispatched, and then more time interrogating Yasu on the spot. "You are lucky that she trusts you, as does General Steren," Michael breathed, releasing his grip on him." He watched the tall, thin frame fall to the ground, gasping for air. "Because this is the only break I'm giving you. If you're messing with me, I will tear you apart."

He knelt down beside Yasu's slumped form and grasped his chin and looked him in the eye. "Because no one is getting in the way of me and Khivar this time."

Time to get up.

The voice was familiar, but the pull of the darkness was still quite formidable.

Get up. Get up. She's almost here.

There was a groan. It was soft - barely audible. The darkness began to recede and in its place was a pinpoint of light.

I'm so glad you're awake!