The heart of the Enclave administration had not been easy to reach. Thinking it would be better to come without any of June’s Sisters along to stir up hard feelings, Pierce, Archie, Lieutenant Jackobson, and the Templar had ventured out without them. The team had met numerous patrols. It took some arguing to convince each patrol to let them continue. Each time, they had asked if they could meet with the Matriarch, and each time they were laughed at and told if they met her, she’d kill them.

“Go on,” they told the team. “Since you’ve made it this far we want to see how the Matriarch kills you.”

“This isn’t looking good,” Pierce muttered after the latest encounter.

“At least we haven’t had to fight them,” Archie said cheerily as she all but skipped along, planting her repeaters at random places.

“What has you in such good spirits?” Pierce asked her, genuinely curious.

“I’m just happy to be doing this with you,” Archie said sincerely. “I mean, in person. Sort of. You know what I mean!”

“This is our first mission together like this.” Pierce couldn’t help smiling at that.

“’Mission’? No. Adventure!” Archie insisted with a grin.

“Look alive, you two,” the lieutenant admonished. “This isn’t a picnic. People are getting hurt and dying here.”

That sobered up Pierce and Archie.

I’m sorry, Archie said to Pierce as they walked along in much more somber mood. I got carried away.

Me too.

The team rounded a corner. A pack of stern-faced Matrons marched to meet them, blocking their progress down the wide corridor.

Pierce and the rest stopped.

“Who are you to be so bold as to approach the Matriarch?” one of the women, the oldest one there—her severe visage of hard eyes, wrinkles, and iron-gray hair spoke of a woman used to others obeying—demanded when they were no more than a few yards away. The rest of her group spread out to form a solid line.

Lieutenant Jackobson stepped forward. “You know who we are. We just seek an audience with your Matriarch to find common ground and discuss our options moving forward.” The spokeswoman stared down her nose at him. “I am the Matron of Security. I have been commanded to turn you away. The Matriarch will never speak to the likes of you.”

“Is there a way to relay a message to her, at the very least?”

“No. And if you value your lives, leave now. The Matriarch has been merciful and withheld her hand against you, but her tolerance wears thin.”

What now? the Templar asked. Do we push past them?

Negative. We don’t want this mess to explode, the lieutenant responded, sounding more than a little frustrated.

“We understand,” Jackobson replied.

There was nothing more to be said. The team turned and left, casting looks behind them to see if they were followed. The Matron stood there, rooted in place, scowling sternly at them.

The one small blessing they had was returning to June’s makeshift headquarters in one piece. None of the Matriarch’s forces so much as hindered their return in the slightest.

“Well, that was a bust,” Jackobson grumbled as he sank into a chair.

“I hate to sound like a broken vidrecording, but—“ Pierce began cautiously.

“Yeah, yeah. I think she’s forced our hand.” Jackobson leaned back as far as he could go, the chair creaking under his weight, and closed his eyes. “Man, I hate this.” He opened one eye and looked at Pierce. “Did either of you see any signs of Legion?” Archie and Pierce looked at each other before shaking their heads.

“Nothing concrete,” Pierce admitted. “Legion can be subtle, but once they have their hooks in a place, it’s apparent. They like to show off how much control they have.”

“I did notice one thing,” Archie mused. “I didn’t think much of it at the time, but many of the Matrons seemed scared and worried. I thought it was because of June and our presence, but then again, maybe not.”

“Great. Well, that’s not enough to base any decisions on, but we don’t have many options at this point. I don’t want to wage a full assault on idle musings, but we have to end the stalemate somehow.” The lieutenant chewed on what he knew. ”Any news from Beta?”

Archie shook her head. “The last thing I heard from Abacus was that they were still stuck trying to access the airlock. Apparently, the Enclave had completely sealed that exit. I believe they were going to return to either the Refulgent or the Santa Maria about now.”

There goes that backup, Jackobson thought grimly. There weren’t many choices left, and none he liked.

“Alright, Pierce, Archie, do your thing. We’re stuck otherwise.” He sat up and looked Pierce in the eyes. “But what happens is on you two. Everyone okay with this?”

The others nodded, if slowly.

“Good,” Pierce said. “Archie, go get her. Everyone else, we’re going to have company. Let’s get ready.”

Archie bounced to her feet, a strange light in her eyes. “You got it, big brother,” she gushed enthusiastically.

“Archie, wait!” June dashed over to a table covered with lab equipment. She rummaged around and brought back three syringes. “Use these. They’ll counteract most of her pharms to make her easier to handle.”

“Thanks!” Archie took them. And with that, she was gone at a run, moving fast and picking up speed.

“Hold on a second, Pierce,” Margaret interjected, a bit dazed by how quickly things were moving. “What are you planning to do?”

Pierce held the three girls in his gaze. “Save you from this place. Save you all.”

The Matriarch Mother paced around her private office, picking at the lace of her long black robes. To any Sister looking in, she would have seen a determined Matriarch looking lost in thought, never realizing her inner turmoil. She had sent out several distress calls to Legion, but hadn’t heard anything back at all. Not even an acknowledgment. She was beginning to worry about her choice. And that insufferable June had been holding her own, even gathering more Sisters to her side. All that prattling about how she was the next stage of evolution just because she had been lucky a few times. Well, the Matriarch would win and show everyone just what sort of reject June really was. After she was done with June, she’d hand her off to Legion. They didn’t care what condition June was in, as long as she was still alive.

Some part of her was surprised at how she was nursing a grudge like this against a younger member of her family. But it felt too good to do so. The Matriarch didn’t want to address her own insecurities. Better to blame someone else and focus her anger and hatred at her instead.

The Matriarch opened the doors to her office and strode onto the main floor of the Enclave’s administrator sector. The floor was a large, open-air office space where typically dozens of Sisters worked to ensure the Enclave ran smoothly. Now, it was where the Matriarch and her most trusted Matrons worked to quell June’s little tantrum. But it was empty. She had expected someone to be out here.

“Sisters? Huntresses?” the Matriarch called out.

“Sorry, it’s just you and me.” The girl stepped into view.

The stranger wasn’t a Sister, that much was clear. She had an odd scent, certainly nothing the Matriarch had ever experienced, and didn’t sound like a human. No beating of a heart, no pumping of lungs. Just a low hum and odd sounds that reminded her of the machinery running the Enclave.

“What are you? Are you with those humans infesting my home?”

“Pierce is requesting an audience with you, Matriarch, but on his terms now, since you wouldn’t meet him earlier.” The girl walked toward the Matriarch with a determined tread.

“That human boy June knows? The little rat running around in my Enclave? Why would I do that?” The Matriarch scoffed, trying to hide her growing worry. Whatever this thing was, it seemed confident. Far too confident.

“You can come with me nicely and with some dignity. Or not. The choice is yours,” said the girl.

The Matriarch had had enough. She activated a few chemical responses and lashed out faster than the human eye could follow, intending to kill the unknown girl with one blow.

She hit something as hard and unyielding as the asteroid itself. There was a crack as her arm broke, and a searing pain burst as something struck her head.

Archie dumped the unconscious Matriarch at Pierce’s feet.

“Any problems?” he asked.

“She tried to kill me,” Archie said, nudging the Matriarch with her foot. “It didn’t work out for her. I tended to her arm and injected her with the drugs June gave me.”

Pierce hugged her. “Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Me neither.” She hugged him back, grinning.

Pierce cleared his throat and surveyed the room. The gym was packed with June’s followers, all standing with quiet intensity. The team stood at the ready. Archie had come in hard and fast with no one following, but that was bound to change soon.

We don’t have much time,” Pierce announced. “If we want to end this conflict with the least amount of blood spilled. I don’t want to kill any of your Sisters—it doesn’t matter if they are following the Matriarch or not. We have to get her to concede to at least a cease fire.”

“Why not just kill her?” A look of pain and disgust twisted up Margaret’s features.

Pierce shook his head. “I’m not a cold-blooded murderer. And it would only make her faction more ready to kill us in return.” He sat down in the chair June had been using, wearing his armored vacc suit for effect. This time, June and Archie flanked him, with Mags and Becky next to June on Pierce’s left hand side. They made for an imposing force on the dais.

“Templar Basil, a word of prayer?”

The Templar nodded.

“Almighty God, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, come to our help and deliver us from this difficulty that besets us. I believe Lord, that all trials of life are under Your care and that all things work for the good of those who love You. Take away from us fear, anxiety and distress. Help us to face and endure our difficulty with faith, courage and wisdom. Grant that this trial may bring us closer to You for You are our rock and refuge, our comfort and hope, our delight and joy. We trust in Your love and compassion. Blessed is Your name, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.”

“Amen,” the men and Archie said. Several crossed themselves.

The Enclave Sisters remained silent, observing their actions with great curiosity.

Pierce felt as ready as he would ever be. He nodded to Braddock, who waved smelling salts June had prepared under the Matriarch’s nose. The woman took a deep breath and jolted awake, struggling to regain control of her legs.

“I’ll… kill… you… all…” she slurred as she flailed around, clutching her right arm where Archie had wrapped an instacastt, staggering to her feet unsteadily.

“Sit down,” Pierce ordered.

“Never…” she slurred.

Pierce nodded to Basil. The Templar put a hand on the weakened Matriarch and guided her into a chair in front and below Pierce’s level.

“Matriarch Mother of the Enclave, you are charged with conspiring with Legion and using your own kind as bargaining chips. By the authority of the Coalition and the Holy Church, we hold you now on trial for your actions. How do you plead?” Lieutenant Jackobson boomed out. He still would report up his chain-of-command about Pierce’s attempt at assuming control, but for now he was following Pierce’s lead in this.

“Plead? That’sss, uh, that’s not a crime. I did what I had to do,” her voice still slurred as the Matriarch slowly regained control of her faculities. “Who gave you authority over me and mine? I did, uh, I did it for the future of the Enclave! June and others had to be sacrificed. We had to make a deal with Legion.”

Pierce stood, clenching his fists, blood starting to boil. Archie’s gentle hand on his shoulder helped him regain some of his composure.

“You’re a damned fool, then,” Pierce spat out. “Legion won’t honor any deal you make with them.”

“You don’t know that,” the Matriarch said, almost peevishly.

“I do. They are demons.”

“Your demons. Not ours.”

“What?” Pierce’s confusion was plain.

“Your God, your demons, not ours,” the Matriarch repeated, her voice more steady and clear.

Pierce floundered for a moment, not expecting that line of attack. His mind raced, trying to think of a way to respond. He wished Father Justinian were here. He’d know what to say.

June stepped closer. “Whatever you believe them to be, Legion is a threat to all of life!”

The Matriarch shook her head. “To the normal humans, perhaps, but they want to deal fairly with us. Trading information we have for their protection.”

“They are a danger to anything living! I saw it with my own eyes!” June snapped, frustrated at how thickheaded the Matriarch was being.

“Shut up, heretic, you miserable piece of trash!” snarled the Matriarch at June.

Pierce closed the distance between them in a heartbeat and slapped the Matriarch hard enough to be heard. The audience sucked in their collective breath and held it.

“Get this through your thick head, right now,” Pierce said quietly. “June is my friend. You will not speak to her like that in my presence.”

“Or what?” spat back the Matriarch.

Pierce looked hard into her eyes. Behind all that hardness and bluster, she had nice light gray eyes. He could see her anger and somewhere deep inside he swore he could see fear.

“I want to save you and your Enclave, you daft old bat,” Pierce snapped, not looking away.

“You arrogant child! You think we are so weak that we need you?”

“Everyone needs help sometimes. Legion wants to carve you all up to see what makes you tick and they’ll have fun doing it!”

The Matriarch struck Pierce with her uninjured arm, like she had done to June. Pierce, not prepared for it, went flying back. He slammed into the wall, cracking it where he struck, his suit’s crash pad protecting the back of his head. He collapsed to the floor in a tangled heap.

“Pierce!” Archie and June shouted in unison. Both girls were frozen in shock.

The lieutenant raised a closed fist, indicating no one should move. Things would turn ugly quick if anyone overreacted now. His team shifted uncomfortably, but stayed in place.

The room gasped.

Both Archie and June whirled on the Matriarch, murder in their eyes. She looked back at them with a smug expression.

“See? Why do I need help from someone so weak?” she sneered at them.

“I’m going to see what color your insides are,” growled June as Archie nodded in agreement.

“Wait!” gasped Pierce. He pulled himself up before Archie could rush over and help him. He stood up straight as he could and limped back slowly, clutching his side.

The Matriarch watched him approach, a puzzled expression on her face.

“If you don’t want my help, fine,” Pierce wheezed at her. “Just let me take June and her followers off this rock. If you want to be Legion’s chew toys, that’s on you.”

“How are you still standing?” the Matriarch demanded. “That should have ruptured your insides!”

June winced, rubbing where she had been struck, remembering the pain that lasted for days.

“Will you stand in our way or not!” Pierce demanded, ignoring her question. His side was on fire, but he couldn’t let that affect him, not now. He shoved that pain aside, using every trick he had to ignore it.

The Matriarch rose unsteadily to her feet. Her system was still trying to neutralize the injected drugs. “You insect! We’ll grind you under our feet!” Her voice grew shrill. “Legion showed me your end! The end of all of you!”

Pierce’s anger flared. He couldn’t believe how stubborn the Matriarch was being.

“SHUT UP!” he shouted, surprising even himself. “Legion will kill us all!”

“Legion wants to deal with us, human!” she retorted.

Pierce’s anger boiled, his breath coming in quick rasps, his chest heaving and not just from the pain. This idiot wanted to deal with demons that had taken so much from so many, taken his family from him? He balled a fist, not sure if he wanted to hit her or not. Yes, he did want to hit her. He wanted to beat sense into her. A low growl rumbled in his throat.

Suddenly, he felt Archie’s hand on his arm.

Pierce, take a breath. You are starting to scare me.

Pierce struggled for a moment, he knew he was close to crossing a line he didn’t want to cross, especially in front of Archie. But he wanted that release of anger, that feeling of helplessness transformed into direct physical action. He looked at Archie, a wild expression in his eyes.

Please, brother. This isn’t you, she pleaded.

And that was enough. Pierce, with both a great effort and no effort at all, let his anger go. Archie was right, at least in part. He wouldn’t let his anger overcome his rationality. People were counting on him to find a way to resolve this, or more would die. June would be caught up in the middle of it. Pierce shook his head. Lord, help me!

“You see? You can’t control your emotions! What chance do you think you have against Legion?” The Matriarch visibly bristled, her own fear and frustration apparent.

Pierce exhaled a long, slow breath. If Job had endured so much more than his troubles, or any of the saints and martyrs, the least he could do was attempt to emulate their calm acceptance of fate, knowing the Lord God was master of all things. Not that it took the pain of loss away from him, but it granted clarity of his own heart and soul. And from there, he could see the situation more clearly. The Matriarch was acting how he had wanted to. No, more than just that. He and the Matriarch weren’t so different. He saw that now. Pierce offered a slight smile to Archie to let her know he was back in control of his emotional state.

Archie’s concern melted from her expression. She patted his arm and stepped back, giving them some space.

Pierce turned his attention back to the Matriarch. She glared at him, her emotions clear as day now. His expression softened as he understood some of her anger. “I see now. I understand. Forgive me. I almost let my temper get the better of me. But you’ve been having dreams—no, nightmares—lately? The worst nightmares you’ve ever had?”

“It probably started when you found an odd artifact near the asteroid? You brought it in and wanted to keep it hidden?” Pierce continued. Already his own anger had faded away. With each passing second he felt greater clarity and peace. Now, he wanted to give the Matriarch the same relief.

The Matriarch swallowed, confused. How could this boy know anything?

“This isn’t about June, not really.” Pierce leaned in closer, their faces inches apart. He studied her expression. “I can see it now: you’ve been afraid as never before and needed to focus all that emotion somewhere. June’s actions made her the perfect target.”

“That’s not—no!” she cried. “She’s a heretic!”

“True, and yet she’s gathered a lot of followers who believe she’s the next stage forward and it’s you who’s no longer fit to lead.”

“She wouldn’t be the first to think so!”

“Matriarch Mother,” Becky said in a small voice, “if I may?”

Pierce and the Matriarch looked over at her. Pierce with a smile, Matriarch with a frown.

Becky curtsied out of nervousness.

“Go on,” Pierce encouraged her.

“It’s just that, well, June is more than just the next stage of evolution for us. She’s spent time with each of us, gotten to know everyone personally, despite everything going on. She’s been our teacher, friend, and confidante.” Becky became more sure of herself as she talked. “She weeps bitter tears when one of us is hurt or, worse, killed. We call her ‘Mother’ because of her actions. She’s a heretic only because she’s different to the rest of the Enclave, including us.” Becky stopped talking and smiled, tears in her eyes.

June’s mouth fell open as Becky spoke. She had no idea the girls saw her this way. She helped because it was the right thing to do. Pierce and the others had shown her that.

“She cries over all us Sisters,” a voice called out from the watching crowd. The rest murmured their agreement.

Pierce had an idea.

“June, do you want to fight your Sisters?”

“Oh, no! I never wanted any of this!” June insisted.

“Do you want to fight your children?” Pierce asked the Matriarch.

She opened her mouth, then shut it with a snap. Something shifted inside her thoughts. “It’s been a while since I called them that,” the Matriarch admitted. “After they hit puberty, they are Sisters, and I stop being their mother, but now? I’m not so sure that’s correct.”

Pierce reached out and gently placed a hand on the Matriarch’s upper arm. She didn’t flinch, merely looked at him coldly. “Then let’s stop the fighting. I’ll take June and whoever wants to come and we’ll leave,” he said calmly.

The Matriarch looked at Pierce’s hand on her. She felt calmed without knowing why or how. Her face lost some of that hard edge. She found herself wanting to believe Pierce and feeling more like herself than she had in a what felt like ages.

“What if,” the Matriarch licked her lips, suddenly finding them dry. “What if we—I—don’t want a deal with Legion anymore?” It had seemed inevitable, but now, seeing how Pierce just negotiated a cease-fire with her and June, maybe, just maybe there were other options.

“Or a deal with us?” Pierce asked softly.

The Matriarch hesitated for a second.

“I don’t think I will have a choice. The things I’ve seen in my dreams…” she shuddered. “I think if I defy Legion, at all, I have to side with you. We’ll be dead for certain, but I…”

“We’ve stood up to Legion before, Matriarch. We can do it again, God willing,” Pierce reassured her with a gentle squeeze.

The Matriarch wiped away a tear. It felt like a great burden had been lifted. She turned to face the rest of her girls. “I am so sorry, girls, for what I’ve put you all through. Imagine a heretic showing me how to be a mother again!” She shuddered and dropped to her knees, weeping openly. “Will you forgive me for the anguish and sorrow I’ve caused?”

The whole crowd broke into tears and rushed to embrace the Matriarch.

Pierce and his team moved out of the way as the girls sobbed and clutched each other. Even the Matrons wept openly. The Matriarch moved slowly to each girl and apologized individually.

Way to go, Pierce, the lieutenant said. You took what could have been an exciting battle and turned it into a show my girlfriend would have loved to watch. He laughed and slapped Pierce on the back.

The other men and Archie laughed.

Pierce winced in pain. “I’m glad we aren’t going to have to kill anyone today. But I think I need some medical attention. That Matriarch packs a wallop.”

“Sure thing, big brother,” Archie said as she drew him into a screened-off area.

June was still trying to process everything. For what felt like since she returned to the Enclave, she no longer felt out of place. A great burden felt like it just rolled off her shoulders, and the new burden was much lighter and more pleasant. That sour smell that had been around the Matriarch had started to fade, too. Eyes swimming in tears, she hugged all the Sisters around her, laughing and crying with each one. A change was sweeping the Enclave. June could start to see her new role with her Sisters.

“Let’s see how many ribs you broke,” Archie said as she helped Pierce sit down on a chair.

“Oof, thanks. And what’s with the ‘big brother’ stuff?” Pierce asked as he gingerly took off the armored vacc suit, the only thing that kept him from being turned into paste. He examined the damage. It took the kinetic force and spread it over the whole front and back, rupturing the seals. It was useless for space walks. He thanked God he had it at all.

“Oh, nothing, really. I just didn’t want anyone to get any wrong ideas about us,” Archie said as she carefully examined his body, starting with his side. She glanced over at June, Margaret, and Becky who were all excitedly talking to the other girls.

“So, how does it look?” Pierce asked, oblivious.

“Ugly. Three broken ribs, two dislocated, and your spine is out of alignment. But no internal bleeding. I can’t tell for certain, but I think your organs are bruised. We’ll keep a close eye on that. No lung or heart damage. Expect some blood when you use the restroom next. Some dizziness and vomiting. As long as you aren’t passing out or running any high fevers, you’ll mend just fine.” Archie wished she had more equipment to really examine Pierce. She’d have to make do with what she had. “And you are going to need painkillers with a round of antibiotics.” Archie carefully rotated her brother’s arms. “Nothing else seems damaged.” She held his face in her hands and checked his pupil dilation while feeling along his skull. “No concussion or breaks, thank the Lord.” She wasn’t sure how he survived that hit. It was for reasons like this she loved him. He took a beating, got up, and turned things around for everyone. Even when he stumbled, he always found a way back.

“That’s good news, at least,” Pierce grunted. It was starting to really hurt to breathe.

“I’m so sorry I let this happen to you,” Archie apologized. “I should have seen it coming, been ready, moved faster.” Now that the initial fear about Pierce’s condition had been allayed, she was feeling like she had let him down. She didn’t like feeling this way; it hurt. Seeing him in pain also stung.

“Don’t worry about it, sis.” Pierce managed a half-smile. “She should have been too drugged to do that.” He held both her hands and gave a gentle squeeze. “I’m going to lie down.”

Knowing none of his injuries were life threatening, Archie felt a little better. She fussed over him as he got settled on the floor using whatever they found for padding. She swore to herself she’d never let something like that happen to him again.

“Let me know if you start feeling worse, at all. I’ll be right back,” Archie promised. “I’ll get something for the pain. I’ll realign your spine after that. Try to stay awake for a bit longer.”

Pierce only grunted.

Archie went to talk to June. Maybe she’d send Becky back to attend to Pierce instead of returning immediately. Archie hummed to herself, feeling pleased about how other things were going, despite Pierce’s injuries.

The nightmares had started in the Guild. Martin knew what that meant. He was reasonably sure how they started, too. Whatever Phinas had brought back must have acted as some sort of carrier for Legion. Guild mental defenses should be strong enough to hold back an attack, and yet—Nightmares.

Brother Thomas had been looking especially sour lately. Finally, he slammed down his quill and stared at Martin. “It’s past time you told Father Justinian. If you don’t, I will, and I’ll take this straight to the top. You know this is Legion at work.”

Martin coughed. “The Guild doesn’t succumb to mental manipulation. We control it.” But he didn’t sound like he believed it, not as much as he used to.

“Do you? How long has the Guild been playing around? A century or two? And you think, what, that’s enough to counter beings that have no concept of time like we know it?” Brother Thomas scoffed. “Never mind. I’ll report to the Father now.”

Martin sat glumly, arms resting on his knees, shoulders sagging, while Thomas made the call. The monk was right, the Guild was nothing compared to the demons. They wouldn’t stand a chance. They were doomed. Everyone was doomed. It was no use pretending otherwise.

“Yeah, it’s happening for sure, Father,” Martin heard Thomas say. “Nah, he’s out of it already. Sure, I can put him on. Hey, Grandmaster!”

Martin raised a weary head. What did it matter? “Yeah?” he asked woefully.

“Ah, there you are, my dear Grandmaster!” Father Justinian’s voice boomed. “On your feet, man! Stand up square! Deep breath! There you go!”

Martin did feel a bit better.

“Now, my good man, what has you in the doldrums?” Father Justinian’s image flickered for a second before Brother Thomas stabilized it. The holodisplay was something the monk had shipped to him last week. Martin didn’t know why he didn’t just use the Guild’s. Now, he had an inkling. The Guild hadn’t touched this one. But what did it matter?

Martin shrugged, slumping back into himself. “We’re nothing but worms before Legion’s might.” He wasn’t going to cry. He just wasn’t. “There’s nothing we can do. And if we can’t do something, no one can.”

Father Justinian burst into peals of laughter, shocking Martin. Finally, he got hold of himself and wiped tears from his eyes. “Ahaha! Thank you for that, Martin!” His beard seemed bushier than ever, his eyes almost hidden behind his smile. “I know you of the Guild are enormously proud of the Guild, and you have much to admire, but what is the Guild in the end?” His blue-tinged image carried expectation.

“What do you mean?” Martin asked despondently. “We are nothing but ash. Dust and ash.”

“Exactly! And why do you think that matters?” the monk pressed.

“We lose.”

“Who loses?”

Martin shrugged. “Everyone? Humanity? Who cares?”

“Lose what? Your life?”

Martin was starting to get annoyed with these questions. “I don’t know what you are driving at here, but yes, our lives. All our lives!”

“And your soul?” Justinian asked patiently, his smile softening into an earnest expression of compassion.

“My soul?” Martin hadn’t thought about that. “My soul is God’s.”

“What if you were offered relief from your sorrows in exchange for your soul?”

Martin blinked. Something was tugging at his thoughts.

“And what if your sorrows were created by the same source offering relief?”

“Why? How does that matter?”

Martin tried, but his tongue felt stuck. He struggled against something unseen. “Christ is the Lord!” Something broke. He could breathe again. His mind felt free. Then it struck him. Martin sat down. “I see now! Dear God! We need help!”

“Ah-ha! Understanding breaks like a new dawn!” Justinian chuckled delightedly.

Martin tried, but his tongue felt stuck. He struggled against something unseen. “Christ is the Lord!” Something broke. He could breathe again. His mind felt free. Then it struck him. Martin sat down. “I see now! Dear God! We need help!”

“Ah-ha! Understanding breaks like a new dawn!” Justinian chuckled delightedly.

Martin swore. “But how did Legion get past our security?”

Justinian shrugged. “We’re facing demons that have had eons to practice their Hellish arts. They’ll find a way in.”

Martin stood up, feeling better. “Thank you. If you’ll excuse me, I have a lot to do.”

“Take Brother Thomas with you.”

The aforementioned man scowled, sighed as his features softened, then nodded resignedly.

“I’ll see you on the other side of this mess, Father,” Martin said, determination making his voice ring soundly.

“I shall pray for that! Godspeed!”

Martin opened a small closet and pulled out his official robes—metallic blue with an iridescent sheen, they were something rarely worn outside of specific events. Now, he donned the robes, strapped on his firearms, one around the waist in a holster made of the same material as his robes, the other in an under the arm rig in something else flashy. He made sure he had a few magazines on his body. Martin rummaged around before finding a walking cane he hardly used. He pulled out the hidden blade and made sure it was in decent condition.

“Looks like you are getting ready for a fight,” Thomas commented.

“I am,” Martin said grimly. He tapped a few things on his console. Somewhere, an alarm started ringing. “There, that’s started things. Come along, Thomas, we’re going to see my bosses.” With that, Martin strode out his office, his cane tapping a beat, as he felt a surge of confidence he hadn’t felt in a while. So Legion was attacking his Guild? Well, he wasn’t going to go down without a fight.