Novek was midair, lining up his next target when a strange flicker in his vision hinted that Nat had made it inside. Half a second later and his guess was confirmed, as every soldier in the room jerked or fell over, manacles and leather strips binding hands, arms, and legs. As he landed, a flurry of activity around the soldiers themselves became apparent, as guns, crossbows, knives, and other weapons crashed into walls, fell to the ground in pieces, or simply shattered spectacularly in hands.

  With a growl, he swiveled his head, looking for the others; but saw nothing — down a hall, maybe. One of the humans recovered faster than the others, and Novek clotheslined him to the ground. “Stay down, or die!” As he pulled his arm back, he noticed there was a bracelet of rough leather strips wrapped around one wrist, tied with a loose bow — cute, Lyn.

  Moira's glowing humanoid form blinked into his peripheral vision at the edge of the hall, looking his way. A blue-white glowing ball with tiny wings blinked into existence above his shoulder, and the heads of every soldier were suddenly encased in a glowing ball of light — ah, she'd needed Nat looking, to target.

  Moira's voice rang out, at more than double her usual volume. Soldiers! You are my captives, and will not be harmed as long as you do not resist or attempt to escape. Kneel with your hands on your heads, or be considered an enemy combatant.

  None of them said anything, and all knelt where they were — or tried to, at least. Those manacled together by the legs were not having an easy time of it, while unable to see.

  Novek, I'll keep them blind, ensure they're properly restrained while holding cells are being prepared.

  Novek started to growl out an objection, but bit down on his tongue and coughed to cover the false start. Instead, he took a cue from Moira's unnatural manner of address, “Sir, yes sir.”

  I'll debrief you after the situation has stabilized.

  “I look forward to it, sir.” Without waiting for some awkward attempt at dismissal, he stepped between crouched figures and the sprawled bodies. His voice a low growl, he addressed the kneeling humans, shoving them into a rough line, “You heard her. Sit — stay.”

  And so Novek went to work — in a far less viscerally satisfying manner — ensuring that the sudden potential prisoners didn't return to combat readiness. He spent a short time with each, binding or rebinding limbs, removing hidden weapons, and whatever else the others had missed with their hasty, amateur attempt. The weird silence was disconcerting, as the moans of the wounded were the only utterances they made the entire time. Novek very much had the impression that these men were communicating — or, no, being communicated with — in a manner similar to Moira and Nat.

  A few minutes later, and Moira's larger form — presumably containing Nat — led a mixture of Brin and Ber through the room towards the door. Lyn followed along, their limp heavily exaggerated — which made exactly one thing going to plan so far. They triaged the wounded; then treated those still in need — the smell of burning meat wafted through Novek's nose as the cuts rent by his clawed only minutes before were closed by deft application of faintly sparking fingers. The dead were easy to identify — Moira ceased to encase their heads in glowing fishbowls, each vanishing after an indistinct mumble from Lyn.

  The Brin and Ber volunteers trying to close the doors finally managed to figure out the mechanism, and the doors began to close quietly, and smoothly. Through the remaining gap, Novek now saw that there was a barrier of aetheric fire just outside, discouraging any potential reinforcements. Just before the door closed completely, Novek saw what looked like Rezzan and a flurry of smaller clackaw dart through and into the room, but they did not stop, and quickly vanished down the opposite hallway from the cages. He took a moment to calm himself, and smoothed his hackles down again.

  The door closed, the helpers turned and walked quickly back towards the hallway from whence they'd come. They were talking among themselves, but did not seem to be engaging with Moira at all, nor did anyone greet or otherwise acknowledge Novek — though he did catch a few surreptitious glances when they thought he wasn't looking. Novek, Lyn, and Moira were obviously not with the soldiers, so why the avoidance? Strange.

  While Novek was staring down the hall, he saw Tanner, flanked by two other Wolfen peek back into the room — time to ask some questions. “Tanner! Come lend a paw!” The incredulous look Tanner gave him told him that he really would rather not, but Novek ignored it and continued to wave him over. As Tanner slowly approached, he gestured at the soldiers, “They're all disarmed, and blind, but keep your distance.” To the soldiers, he turned and said, “And if any of you even think of harming a non-combatant, I will make sure the healer doesn't bother checking you for a pulse.”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  Once Tanner was close enough, Novek purred at a level below what most humans could perceive, let alone overhear. “So, what's with the cold shoulder? I know it's a little bloody, but didn't we just help save people?”

  Tanner leaned in and gave his own rumbling growl in response, “It's Moira. The Humans have someone who looks similar — too similar.”

  Novek raised an eyebrow and gave a questioning look, to which Tanner nodded twice. “Skies above. Just what we need — are they still here?”

  “Moira asked that — nobody knew for sure. But he's apparently in charge of the Human soldiers — someone named Klaxon.”

  “Huh. Doesn't ring a bell for me. Can he — do — the same type of things that Moira can?”

  “The way they talked, I think perhaps more. He can apparently talk to the soldiers anywhere, without needing a voice, though apparently they have a limited ability to talk back.”

  “Hmm — I think I need to ask Nat, or Moira something. So why aren't they talking to Lyn? Guilt by association?”

  “Yes, but no. Apparently there's a small second group here, led by some Ber, pretty sure it was the guy you were talking about on the way here. Anyway, they made some threats and then got into it with the Humans before taking some casualties and locking themselves in one of the rooms — which still held some staff, and children.”

  Novek put his paw to his forehead and massaged his temples, “When it rains…”

  “The corpse worms come out. Exactly.”

  “Okay — first things first. Can you find somewhere safe to stash Khe for a few minutes, then help me fill those cages with some more… fitting occupants?”

  “Why, Davon — you can't be giving a married man gifts like this, even if he is the father of your child — what will people say?”

  “Nothing, if they have any idea what's good for them. Let's get this done, and then I need to talk with the others.”

  Moira's voice cut in, softly but audible to the both of them. Don't take too long, there is a significant amount of aetheric activity nearby — in the building.

  Tanner and Novek both started at the unexpected comment. Novek turned to Tanner, “Right. Fast it is — these guys know you? Can you get two of the bigger guys to help out?”

  “Sure thing. Be right back.”

  As Tanner walked away, Novek whispered to the empty air, “Also, is that what you think the military sounds like?”

  Is it not? I thought I did a fairly good impression of a far-rear echelon officer used to having resources available. I certainly didn't want to sound like we're a small group of recent acquaintances who have stumbled on something above their lack of a pay grade.

  “Well… Hmm. Task failed successfully, then.”

  Novek sighed — at least thoughts of putting the kidnappers in their own cages held some promise of satisfaction.

  A few minutes later Tanner returned and Novek gave a quick explanation of how the escort to the cages should go — groups of four, one student with Tanner, one with Novek. He was fairly certain they'd volunteered with the intent of some light revenge. Novek's imposing bulk and stoic demeanor put a damper on their expectations — as he reiterated that the prisoners were to be unharmed.

  The prisoners stumbled their way to the cages, though it was no act on their part — they were well and truly trussed and bound. On his second trip with the last four of twelve, Lyn also returned from the entryway and was heading towards Novek, when a voice called out to them by name.

  “Lyn? Is that really you? Why are you here?”

  Novek couldn't turn away from his prisoners safely, but he followed the exchange with one ear turned to listen.

  “Doctor Savron — well, this is certainly unexpected. I'm providing healing services to a group of Clackaw — for their broodmother. What are you doing here? I'd heard you retired.” Lyn's tone had lost the surprise too quickly, to Novek's ear. Interesting.

  “Yes, I did. I've only had to return to work very recently.”

  “Oh? Money or boredom?”

  “Neither, really. I have no time to — Tanner?”

  “Why Hello, Doctor. It's been a while — how have the years been treating you?”

  “I see the therapy has been effective. You look, and sound, like a new Brin.”

  “I feel like one, thanks to Lyn — and a new aetheric therapy.”

  “Really? Fascinating. You must tell me all about it. For now, I have business near the Clackaw, myself. Lyn — would you and your… friend… care for an escort?”

  Novek was quickly distracted, and pushed the last of the captives into the crossbar cage a bit less roughly than he'd have liked. He latched, then locked the door, and turned just as an older Human — if the shock of bright white hair was any indicator — dressed in the white leathers common to the profession addressed Moira.

  Lyn answered smoothly, while glancing to quickly catch Novek's gaze, “This is Moira, a lesser-known agent, but one nonetheless.”

  “I'd heard there was a second agent on the premises, a pleasure to meet you.” He held out his hand, but the gesture seemed empty, or performative to Novek.

  The aetheric fire coating Nat's hand retreated, exposing they grayish tones of his hand and forearm, which grasped the Doctor's own — and who seemed slightly surprised to be receiving the standard greeting. The motion was somehow just as awkward from Nat's side.

  A pleasure, Doctor.

  Even stranger, the doctor held the handshake for a noticeably overlong duration, and his eyes narrowed as he glanced at the hand in his own.

  In the meantime, Novek handed the cage key to the nearer of the two student helpers, with a quick instruction, “Hold on to this, or give this to whoever is in charge here.” Notably, they did not turn to the doctor — which surprised Novek not at all.

  The doctor had finished his strange inspection, and followed up with a relatively cool response, “Moira, is it? I'd been told you were just a projection, not an embodied avatar.”

  News travels fast. But I am, as you can see — embodied.

  The doctor put his hands out in front of him, and knocked for emphasis, “Unfortunately, I have some inquiries demanding my immediate response — you understand, I'm sure. May I escort you to the Clackaw?”

  Lyn hobbled forward at half the speed Novek knew they could maintain. “Of course — lead on, Doctor. Let us see what we've gotten ourselves into.”