“You know, even though he was a traitor, I still feel bad about Hojae.”
Cherish looked at him. Shadows danced like small nightmares across his face. “That is a natural reaction. Though he was a spy, for so long you thought of him as a friend and a teammate. It is perfectly normal to feel some conflicting emotions about his death.”
“I just don’t understand how he could look all of us in the eye while he was stabbing us in the back. What kind of a person does that?”
“That’s why you’re such a good leader.”
“Huh?” Makram looked up. Hojae’s words from the tower platform still echoed in his mind. The thought that he was chosen because he was easily manipulated by the Council had burrowed into him, like Hojae’s final act of destruction.
Cherish smiled and placed her hand lightly on his arm. “You care. You don’t see people as weapons, or as different species. Once you accept someone onto your team, that’s all they are: part of your team. You would do anything for them…even if you had to kill one of them because they became a threat to the rest of us. What you did was hard, but it was what was necessary.”
A lump rose in his throat. He placed his hand on top of hers. Despite being made of metal, it was surprisingly warm to the touch. “Thank you. I really needed to hear that.”
“You are very welcome.”
“How did you find me anyway? I didn’t think anyone knew I was here.”
She smiled, and a lens switched in her eyes. “Heat vision. I saw your pattern and thought you might need a friend.”
A friend. Makram had thought of his team as a unit for so long, it was strange to hear himself called a friend instead of a soldier or a commander. Cherish may have been an augmented human, but sometimes she seemed to be the most human of them all.
“How are you doing? We’ve been talking about me this whole time.” Makram leaned back until his back rested against the side of the auditorium’s bleachers. The cold cement brought a welcome cooling to his still bruised back.
A sigh slipped out from between her lips. “I feel much more at peace than I have in a long time. I also feel lighter. I know that’s just from the upgrades, but it’s almost like I have a greater understanding of things now. The old religions talked of being one with the universe. I feel as though I understand that, just a little.”
Makram smiled sadly to himself. “Do you ever wonder what would have happened if we had chosen different paths? What if we hadn’t joined the cause or ever met one another?”
“I try not to focus on such things. Each choice that we make, each life that we encounter, helps to make us into the beings we are meant to be. Without the pain and suffering in our lives, we would not be able to truly grasp what it is to be kind or strong. I think that each incident in the universe is woven together to make us into what we are meant to be. We may not understand it, but we all have a purpose to serve, and I can tell you that you and I and the rest of the team share a purpose.”
“Hubard really did an overhaul on your settings, didn’t he?”
“Perhaps.” Cherish chuckled. Makram couldn’t tell if she was looking at the flickering flame, or at the sea creatures still swimming beyond the glass.
The two teammates sat in silence. Makram’s eyes rested on the candle in front of them. It was a small gesture to honor the departed, but it made him feel better. When he had come down to this room, it was because he had wanted to be alone. Now, he was thankful for Cherish being close by—and even more thankful that she was able to sit with him without feeling the need to fill all of the silence with words.
Twelve
The bio-lights cast shadows on the ceiling above the bad. Theo was making shadow puppets with his hands, the same way he had when his children had been young. He had thought that one day he would have done the same thing with his grandchildren. That dream was gone the instant Relisse had burned. First, he had lost Mari. Then, he had lost Naia. Part of Theo wondered if he had somehow offended the gods. It seemed like extraordinarily bad luck.
His mind drifted back to the kiss he had shared with Cierra. He tried to convince himself to remain emotionally distant from her. Theo knew it was silly, but he was worried that if he did allow himself to get any more attached to her, he would lose her, too. He didn’t think he could come back from that.
Naia had told him not to give in to the darkness inside of him, but with each loss it was like the evil dug its claws into him even deeper. How was he supposed to stay positive with so much death and heartache around him?
Theo absentmindedly touched his lips again. If he closed his eyes, he could still feel Cierra’s mouth on his. His heartbeat fluttered at the thought. No. He mustn’t give in to that either. They had to work together. Plus, she had been married to his brother. Did that really matter anymore, though? Theo closed his eyes, and tried to quell his confusion and turmoil.
Suddenly, a noise from the hallway made Theo sit up straight in bed. His feet swung over and landed on the floor. Flinging open the door, Theo saw Hubard sprawled on the ground in the hallway. “Are you okay?” Theo rushed over to help the older man to his feet.
“Yes, yes. Wasn’t watching where I was going.” Hubard dusted himself off and started picking up chunks of Relissarium that he had dropped.
“Here, let me help you.” Theo reached down to pick up one of the pieces. As soon as his skin touched the mineral, he felt the same bloodlust that he had felt in the monastery on Turtiez. It was like the mineral awoke the most animalistic part of him, whenever he came into contact with it.
Hubard noticed the change pass over Theo’s face. He squinted at the young man. “Are you okay?”
“Never better.” Theo handed a chunk of the mineral back to Hubard, while pocketing a small shard with his other hand. The Relissarium stirred the darkness inside of him, and he didn’t want to fight it anymore.
The Adventure Continues…
If you liked Firestorm, you’ll love Ascent.
Team Carbonari must now penetrate the very heart of the Yasta: the main monastery on their home planet. But, to pass as acolytes, they must endure a four day mountain climb. On the trek, they mysteriously start dying, one by one. It must be an inside job, but who would murder their own in the darkness? Will they even make it to the summit?
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Firestorm: The Relissarium Wars Space Opera Series, Book 4 Page 6