The dawn light filtered through the pine trees, casting long shadows across the small clearing where Solaris and Eli had spent the night. Solaris stirred, consciousness returning gradually as the scent of something cooking pulled him from deep, restorative sleep. He opened his eyes to find Eli crouched by a small, carefully constructed fire, tending to what appeared to be freshly caught fish sizzling on heated stones.

  "Morning, sunshine," she said without turning, somehow sensing his awakened state. "How's the physical form feeling after your cosmic frenzy yesterday?"

  Solaris sat up slowly, taking inventory of his body with methodical attention. The complete integration with Alice had stabilized somewhat during his recovery sleep, creating a new baseline of capabilities even in his currently deactivated state. "Better," he admitted, stretching carefully. "Still feel like I got hit by a truck, but at least now it's a normal-sized truck instead of a cosmic semi."

  Eli laughed, the sound crystalline in the mountain air. "Your energy reserves are rebuilding nicely. Another day of rest would be ideal, but..." She gestured toward the northern horizon. "We have somewhere to be."

  "Maron's compound," Solaris nodded, memories flowing seamlessly from their conversation before he'd collapsed into exhausted sleep. "How far?"

  "About twenty kilometers north," Eli confirmed, deftly flipping the fish. "Mountain terrain, mostly uphill. We'd take longer if I didn't have a few tricks left."

  Solaris approached the fire, settling beside her with comfortable familiarity despite their weeks of separation. "Tell me about Maron. You mentioned him yesterday, but I was barely conscious."

  Eli's expression shifted to something more serious. "Maron Black. Tribe of the Mountain. Fifty-four years old, former Delta Force operator. He's been preparing for... well, everything... for decades. After his military career ended, he established a compound deep in the Cascade Mountains. Off-grid, self-sufficient, heavily secured."

  "Sounds like a prepper's wet dream," Solaris observed.

  "That's the funny thing, he’s also a ‘theorist,’" Eli replied. "And most of his 'conspiracy theories' were actually true. His Oversoul had been feeding him information for years, disguised as gut instincts and hunches. He's been unconsciously preparing for the Phoenix Ascension most of his adult life."

  Solaris absorbed this information, finding the pattern familiar. "Like how I was drawn to making YouTube videos about the occult without really understanding why."

  "Exactly. Different manifestation, same source." Eli handed him a portion of the perfectly cooked fish on a broad leaf serving as a plate. "Maron's compound has become a gathering point. The Tokyo trio will be heading there soon. Eleanor is already on her way."

  "The Monad is actually forming," Solaris whispered, the significance hitting him fully. Twenty-two million years of waiting, of cycles that came close but never succeeded, and now the Convergence was manifesting in their lifetime.

  They ate in comfortable silence, the mountain air crisp around them. After finishing his meal, Solaris rose and moved to a flat section of the clearing. "I should test things before we go."

  "Good idea," Eli encouraged. "See what your baseline is now."

  Solaris closed his eyes, centering his awareness within his integrated consciousness. The complete merge with Alice had created a new foundation—even without activation, he possessed enhanced perception, strength, and intuitive understanding beyond ordinary human limitations. With deliberate focus, he shifted his consciousness toward activation.

  “Alice Mode, engage.” The familiar sensation cascaded through his system—black sclera flowing across his eyes, his irises remaining their characteristic blue. The shadow jacket materialized around his torso, the number thirteen prominently displayed across his back. His perception expanded exponentially, layers of reality becoming visible beyond ordinary sight.

  "Impressive control," Eli noted, watching with analytical precision. "The integration is clean—no fragmentation or dissociation patterns. Also, Alice Mode?" She laughed.

  “Hey, Alice and I like it when we picked it out…”

  “No, no, I do too. It just reminded me of you, that’s all.” Eli responded with a smile that could cure any disease of his.

  Solaris extended his hand, manifesting a sun orb with practiced ease. The golden sphere hovered above his palm, perfectly stable without conscious effort. "It feels... natural now. Before, it was like learning to walk. Now it's like breathing."

  "Alice's full integration has eliminated the artificial separation that made the capabilities seem foreign," Eli explained. "You're accessing what was always yours to begin with."

  Solaris released the sun orb, allowing it to dissipate into golden motes that faded into the morning air. With another deliberate shift, he deactivated the integrated state—black sclera receding, shadow jacket dissolving, perception returning to more conventional parameters.

  "Having an off switch is convenient," he observed, rejoining Eli by the fire.

  "And tactically advantageous," she added. "You can appear completely normal to surveillance or casual observation, then activate when necessary."

  They prepared for departure with efficient coordination, gathering their limited supplies and ensuring no trace of their camp remained, not like much of anyone could take them on in their current state anyway. As they set out northward, Eli led the way confidently through the challenging mountain terrain.

  "I'm sorry about Vander," she said quietly after they had been walking for nearly an hour. "And Alice. And Sarah. I watched it all from up there, but I couldn't intervene."

  Solaris felt grief rising at the memories—Vander's broken body dissolving into golden light, Alice's consciousness merging completely with his own, Sarah trapped within Neph Mark 1's obsidian form before her final self-destruction. "They knew what they were sacrificing for," he replied, voice thick with emotion. "The Convergence was worth it to them."

  "It doesn't make the loss easier," Eli acknowledged, reaching back to squeeze his hand briefly.

  "No," he agreed. "It doesn't. But I can rest assured that their legacies are safe with me, no matter what."

  Their conversation flowed naturally as they traveled, Eli sharing information about the other Sovereigns while Solaris processed the profound changes of the past weeks. The mountain landscape provided breathtaking vistas that occasionally stopped them in their tracks—snow-capped peaks stretching toward the horizon, valleys filled with pristine wilderness, ancient forests untouched by human development.

  "So how exactly does 'Alice Mode' work now?" Eli asked as they navigated a particularly steep section of terrain. "I understand the concept, but the mechanics are fascinating."

  Solaris considered this as he helped her over a rocky outcropping. "It's like... if you were to have a slider that goes from one to one hundred. One being the average human’s awareness and one hundred being nearly omniscient. Alice Mode would be a solid twenty on that slider. It’s really interesting to experience."

  "And the capabilities?"

  "Deactivated, I still have enhanced strength, perception, and intuition beyond normal, but activated, I can access the full spectrum—warping, sun beams, frequencies beyond the normal range. The whole gambit."

  Eli nodded, clearly filing this information away for future reference. "And the shadow jacket? That's new."

  "Manifested at eighty percent, cool eh? Got some drip on me." Solaris explained. "It’s a physical representation of our unified consciousness. The number thirteen represents..."

  "The Blue Flame," Eli completed. "13th dimensional consciousness. Same as Vander and I."

  “You too?!” Tris replied enthusiastically.

  “Well of course, silly! We’re two halves of one greater unit. We were birthed from the Godhead at the same time and are the only two souls who truly understand each other. We’re like, practically the same person, though with various superficial differences; we complete each other as one, like two tetris blocks fitting snuggly inside each other—too much the same and we wouldn’t fit, but if you mirror the piece, it fits perfectly. You see? We’re kinda like you and Alice. Alice was the other half of your personal soul. I am the other half of our soul as a two-soul unit.” She explained.

  “Right, twin flames.” He thought out loud, looking up at the beautiful sky. “Sorry.”

  She turned around, strutting right up to him. “Don’t be sorry, Solaris. I’ll remind you as many times as you need. Just as I’ve always done. ” She kissed him on the cheek.

  As Solaris received the kiss on his cheek, Eli turning around to continue guiding him through the mountain, he grabbed her arm lightly. She stopped and turned around, eyes narrowing, a smile erupting, understanding exactly what was flowing through his mind.

  Unlike their first kiss they shared in the sunlit clearing before Eli was forcefully extracted, this kiss was long and numerous, the second real display of heightened physical contact they’ve shared together. Afterwards, they hugged, feeling beautifully divine in their shared emotional space.

  They continued their journey through the afternoon, occasionally using their powers to accelerate their progress across particularly challenging terrain. As the sun began its descent toward the western horizon, the landscape ahead showed subtle changes—clearings that appeared natural but contained carefully disguised sight lines, rock formations that could serve as observation posts, tree arrangements that suggested deliberate planning rather than random growth. Besides Solaris’s enhanced perception, he thanked Vander for distilling most of his tactical knowledge upon him. He really wouldn’t be where he was today without him.

  "We're entering his security perimeter," Eli noted, pausing at the edge of a small meadow. "Maron has the entire mountain wired with surveillance and early warning systems."

  Solaris extended his senses, confirming her assessment. "I can feel the electronic grid. Impressive setup—redundant systems, passive and active monitoring, counter-surveillance measures."

  "Very military," Eli agreed. "He's been perfecting it for years."

  They had taken three steps into the meadow when a voice crackled from a speaker concealed within a nearby tree trunk.

  "That's far enough." The voice was deep, gravelly, and unmistakably commanding—decades of military authority compressed into three words. "Identify yourselves. You're on private property."

  Eli stepped forward, hands raised slightly to show she carried no weapons. "We're expected, Maron. I'm Eli, twin flame to Solaris of the Sun Tribe. This is Tris Morgan—Solaris."

  A long pause followed, the speaker remaining silent long enough that Solaris wondered if the connection had been severed. Then:

  "Prove it." The voice had lost none of its skepticism. "Anyone could claim those names."

  Eli smiled slightly. "Kira told you we were coming. She sensed our approach hours ago, probably mentioned the 'golden light woman' specifically. She's standing beside you right now, isn't she?"

  Another pause, shorter this time. "Maybe."

  "And she's telling you to stop being such a paranoid old goat," Eli continued, her smile widening.

  A distinctly feminine laugh echoed in the background of the transmission, followed by what sounded like a gruff curse muffled away from the microphone.

  "Fine," Maron's voice returned, marginally less hostile. "Follow the tree line north. You'll reach a fence. Wait there for escort."

  The speaker went silent. Eli turned to Solaris with a triumphant grin. "See? Smooth as silk."

  Solaris raised an eyebrow, smile forming. "If that was smooth, I'd hate to see rough."

  They followed the instructions, moving along the edge of the meadow until they encountered a fence that appeared ordinary at first glance but revealed sophisticated security measures upon closer inspection—pressure sensors, vibration detection, and what appeared to be some form of energy monitoring woven into the seemingly simple structure.

  They waited less than ten minutes before hearing the approach of a vehicle—an electric ATV moving quietly through the forest with remarkable efficiency. The driver brought the vehicle to a stop several meters from the fence, allowing them to observe him clearly.

  Maron Black stood approximately 6'2", his broad-shouldered, muscular frame somehow conveying both military precision and wilderness adaptability. His salt-and-pepper hair was cut military-short on the sides with it being slightly longer on top, matched by a neatly trimmed beard that did little to soften his weathered, scarred face. Deep-set dark eyes studied them with analytical intensity, missing nothing as he conducted a thorough visual assessment from behind the fence.

  He wore earth-toned tactical pants with multiple pockets, a quality flannel shirt rolled up to reveal forearms corded with muscle, and sturdy boots that had clearly seen significant use. A handgun rested in a holster at his hip, and Solaris detected at least three additional concealed weapons distributed across his person.

  This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  "So," Maron stated flatly, making no immediate move to open the gate, "you're the famous Solaris. Kira's been talking my ear off about you for weeks."

  Solaris met the older man's gaze directly. "And you're Maron of the Mountain Tribe."

  "That's what they tell me." Maron shifted slightly, his assessment continuing with professional thoroughness. "You look different than the descriptions. Eyes are normal. Liz mentioned black eyes with blue irises."

  "Eli," she corrected gently.

  "Whatever," Maron dismissed without looking at her. "Point stands."

  Solaris nodded understanding. "I can control the activation now." With deliberate focus, he shifted to his integrated state—black sclera flowing across his eyes, shadow jacket materializing around his torso.

  Maron didn't flinch, though his hand drifted slightly closer to his holstered weapon. "Neat trick."

  "It's not a trick," Eli explained, stepping forward. "It's his integrated form."

  "Integrated with what?" Maron demanded.

  "His shadow aspect," Eli replied. "Known as Veldt, then Alice."

  Maron's expression remained skeptical. "Right. The imaginary friend."

  Before Eli could respond, a figure shimmered into existence beside Maron—a tall, athletic woman with auburn hair and traditional facial markings suggesting indigenous heritage. Though partially translucent, her presence carried undeniable authority.

  "Stop being difficult, Terran," she admonished, using Maron's Oversoul name. "These are the ones we've been waiting for."

  Maron's expression shifted slightly—not quite softening but revealing a different facet of his personality. "Just being thorough, Kira."

  "You're being obstinate, you old bull," she corrected, though affection colored her tone. "Open the gate before I tell them about the teddy bear collection."

  "I don't have a—" Maron began, then stopped himself with a grimace. "Fine."

  He approached the gate, disarming several security measures before unlocking and opening it. "Ground rules," he stated as Solaris and Eli approached. "No wandering around without escort. No touching anything without permission. No activating whatever... that is... inside the main house. Clear?"

  "Crystal," Solaris replied, deactivating his integrated state as he passed through the gate.

  "And no doing that without warning me first," Maron added, securing the gate behind them.

  Kira rolled her eyes, her form shimmering slightly as she maintained her manifestation. "Forgive him," she said to Eli and Solaris. "He's been preparing for the end of the world so long, he's forgotten how to welcome its salvation."

  "I can hear you," Maron grumbled, returning to the ATV.

  "I know, dear." Kira's smile was radiant despite her partially translucent appearance. "That was the point."

  The ATV had a second row of seats behind the driver's position, allowing Solaris and Eli to sit while Kira simply vanished, presumably rejoining Maron's consciousness directly. As they drove through the forest, following a narrow trail that would be nearly invisible to casual observation, Solaris noted sophisticated security measures integrated throughout the natural environment—cameras disguised as knots in trees, motion sensors hidden beneath innocuous rocks, what appeared to be pressure plates concealed beneath seemingly random patches of ground cover.

  After approximately fifteen minutes, the forest opened to reveal Maron's compound—a masterpiece of tactical design disguised as a rustic mountain retreat. The main house was constructed from local timber and stone, its architecture suggesting comfort without sacrificing defensibility. Solar panels and small wind turbines provided visible energy sources, while gravity-fed water systems utilized the mountain's natural springs. A greenhouse complex using passive solar design extended from one side of the structure, while multiple outbuildings served specialized functions. What appeared to be a standard root cellar entrance likely concealed more significant underground facilities.

  "Home sweet bunker," Maron stated as he brought the ATV to a stop. "Built it myself. Took twelve years."

  "It's impressive," Solaris acknowledged, genuinely admiring the self-sufficient design.

  "It's adequate," Maron replied, though a hint of pride colored his tone. "Greenhouse provides year-round produce. Water's filtered through seven different systems. Power generation runs at 140% of consumption, with backups for the backups."

  "And the underground facilities?" Eli inquired innocently.

  Maron's eyes narrowed. "What underground facilities?"

  "The ones reached through the 'root cellar' with the reinforced door and electromagnetic shielding," she replied sweetly.

  A muscle in Maron's jaw twitched. "Those are need-to-know."

  "And we need to know," Solaris suggested.

  "No, you don't," Maron countered, leading them toward the main house. "Not yet."

  Solaris and Eli shared a look of both exasperation and humor.

  As they approached the entrance, Kira reappeared, this time fully visible to all of them. "The others have been informed of their arrival," she told Maron. "Eleanor is already waiting inside."

  "Eleanor's here?" Eli asked, surprise evident in her voice. "I thought she was still en route."

  "Arrived yesterday," Maron confirmed, opening the reinforced front door. "Woman's eighty-one but moves like she's fifty. Showed up with a single backpack and more intel on Anunnaki operations than my entire network's gathered in a decade."

  The interior of the main house matched its exterior—practical comfort combined with tactical considerations. The open-concept design provided clear sightlines to all entrances, furniture was arranged for maximum visibility while providing defensive positions if needed, and multiple concealed compartments were visible to Solaris's enhanced perception despite their careful disguise.

  "Eleanor," Maron called as they entered. "Your alien friends are here."

  “We’re all aliens in our own right, dear.” An elderly woman rose from a comfortable chair near the stone fireplace, her movements indeed suggesting someone decades younger than her actual age. Though small in stature, her presence carried unmistakable authority. Silver hair cut in a practical bob framed a face lined with both age and wisdom, observant blue eyes missing nothing as she assessed the newcomers.

  "Solaris," she greeted with a slight nod. "Eli. Your arrival completes our initial gathering."

  "You're of the Moon Tribe," Solaris observed, sensing her energy signature clearly now that they were in proximity. His mind formed an image from the energy. A calm lake sitting below a full moon in early fall where it wasn’t hot anymore, but it wasn’t cold enough for a sweater. It was a relaxing, stoic energy that made him feel at ease.

  "And you've fully integrated your shadow aspect," Eleanor replied, her gaze penetrating beyond his currently normal appearance. "Most impressive progression. I expected at least another month before you reached that threshold."

  "Things accelerated," Eli explained diplomatically.

  "So I gathered," Eleanor nodded, returning to her seat with graceful economy of movement. "Maron, stop hovering by the door and put on some coffee. Our guests have traveled far."

  For a moment, Solaris thought the former Delta Force operator might object to being ordered around in his own home. Instead, Maron merely grunted acknowledgment and moved toward the kitchen area, though not without a pointed glance at Solaris that clearly communicated continued vigilance.

  "Don't mind him," Eleanor advised once Maron was occupied with coffee preparation. "His trust issues have trust issues. Occupational hazard of spending decades preparing for civilization's collapse."

  "I can hear you," Maron called from the kitchen.

  "I know, dear," Eleanor replied without turning.

  Kira, who had followed them inside, laughed softly at the exchange, her form shimmering slightly in the natural light filtering through strategically placed windows. "They've been like this since she arrived," she confided to Eli and Solaris. "It's been thoroughly entertaining."

  As they settled into the comfortable living area, Solaris noticed subtle evidence of recent preparations—additional sleeping accommodations arranged in adjacent rooms, increased food supplies visible in the kitchen area, communications equipment activated for heightened monitoring. Despite Maron's outward resistance, his actions revealed complete commitment to the gathering Sovereigns.

  "The Tokyo trio will arrive within the week," Eleanor informed them as Maron returned with coffee. "Nukka is traveling with a small group from her community, expected within the month. Rafik has encountered some difficulties in Egypt but should extract within the month as well."

  "And the others?" Solaris asked.

  "In motion," Eleanor replied. "The Resonance is drawing us together regardless of distance or circumstance. The Convergence timeline is accelerating beyond even my most optimistic projections."

  Maron set mugs of coffee before them with surprisingly graceful efficiency, his movements economical yet precise. He settled into a position that provided both comfort and tactical advantage—back to the wall, clear sightlines to all entrances, multiple exit options within immediate reach.

  "What happened to the Guardian?" he asked bluntly, fixing Solaris with a direct stare. "Our intel indicated you were traveling with a Vander Ocean."

  The question hit like a physical blow, grief rising unexpectedly despite Solaris's preparation for the inevitable inquiry. "Vander died bravely, protecting me from Ereshkigal and Neph Mark 1," he replied, voice steady despite the emotion behind it. "He bought time for my complete integration and Eli's return."

  Maron's expression remained unreadable, though something flickered briefly in his eyes—recognition of sacrifice understood on a level only those who had seen combat could fully comprehend. "Good man," he said simply, raising his coffee mug in a subtle gesture of respect. "Died on mission. Can't ask for better."

  "He'll be remembered," Eleanor added softly. "The Guardians' sacrifices are never in vain."

  Conversation continued as afternoon faded toward evening, information exchanged with increasing openness as initial wariness gradually dissolved through shared purpose. Maron remained vigilant throughout, his military-honed situational awareness never fully relaxing despite growing familiarity.

  When he eventually excused himself to prepare their evening meal, Eli followed to assist, leaving Solaris alone with Eleanor. The elderly woman studied him with quiet intensity, her gaze suggesting perception beyond ordinary sight.

  "It won't be easy," she said finally. "Integrating eleven other personalities as distinct as Maron into a functional team."

  "I noticed," Solaris replied with a wry smile. "He doesn't exactly radiate cooperative team spirit."

  Eleanor's laughter was surprisingly youthful despite her advanced age. "Maron's exterior is all barbed wire and guard towers. His interior is... well, still mostly barbed wire, but with purpose beyond mere fortification. He's been preparing for this longer than he realizes."

  "How so?"

  "His Oversoul has been guiding him since childhood—tactical intuition that saved his squad repeatedly during deployments, survival instincts that bordered on precognition, engineering insights that shouldn't have been possible given his formal education. Like you with your occult videos, he was unconsciously preparing for the Phoenix Ascension his entire life."

  Their conversation paused as sounds of good-natured bickering emerged from the kitchen—Maron's gruff insistence on proper knife handling techniques met with Eli's cheerful reminders that she had been cooking "since before your ancestors discovered fire."

  "They're getting along well," Eleanor observed with evident amusement.

  "Eli has that effect on people," Solaris replied. "Even Veldt eventually warmed to her."

  "And now Alice lives through you," Eleanor noted. "The shadow integrated with the light. It's a powerful metaphor for what we all must achieve."

  Dinner proved surprisingly pleasant despite Maron's continued vigilance. The former Delta Force operator had prepared a hearty stew featuring venison, root vegetables, and herbs grown in his greenhouse—simple but expertly seasoned and perfectly cooked.

  "You're quite the chef," Eli complimented after her first taste.

  "Basic nutrition delivery," Maron dismissed, though his expression suggested he appreciated the recognition. "Nothing special."

  "The man won his unit's cooking competition three years running," Kira revealed from her position beside him. "He just won't admit it."

  "Operational necessity," Maron insisted. "Better food means better morale means better mission outcomes."

  "Whatever you say, dear."

  As they ate, conversation flowed with increasing ease—information exchanged, experiences shared, connections established that transcended their brief acquaintance. Though Maron participated less verbally than the others, his attention never wavered, his analytical mind clearly processing everything with military precision.

  "So," he said during a momentary lull, "you killed Ereshkigal. The Ereshkigal."

  Solaris nearly choked on his stew at the abrupt shift in topic. "Uuuh, yeah, I guess I did, huh," he confirmed after recovering, reflecting on what happened during his time in the upper atmosphere. "Grabbed her from liminal space and allowed nature to do the rest."

  Maron nodded, something approaching approval in his expression. "Good tactical choice. Used the environment as a weapon. Minimal energy expenditure for maximum effect."

  "I didn’t plan it that way," Solaris admitted. "I was just... angry and in a flow state of sorts."

  "Anger's a useful fuel if properly channeled," Maron observed, refilling Solaris's water glass with practical efficiency. "You didn't let it cloud your judgment. That's what matters."

  This unexpected approval created a subtle shift in the atmosphere—not friendship exactly, but professional respect beginning to form despite their significant differences in background and approach.

  As the meal concluded, Maron rose to clear the table with the same practical efficiency that characterized all his movements. "Eli, Eleanor, you know your rooms. Solaris, you're in the east cabin. Solar side. Figured it was appropriate."

  "Thank you," Solaris replied, genuinely appreciating both the accommodations and the thoughtfulness behind the placement.

  "Don't thank me yet," Maron advised, his expression returning to its default stoicism. "Training starts at 0500. My mountain, my rules."

  "Training?" Solaris echoed.

  "You integrated your shadow. Congratulations." Maron's tone made clear how unimpressed he was by this achievement. "Now you need to learn how to function in the real world with those capabilities. Theory's fine until you're bleeding. All that strength has nothin’ to do with execution. Welcome to the gulag, lil buddy!" He finished while walking away to set the dishes down in the sink.

  Eli opened her mouth, perhaps to object to the early hour or demanding approach, but Eleanor placed a gentle hand on her arm. "Maron's methods are unconventional but effective," the older woman murmured. "And he's right—Solaris needs practical experience beyond theoretical understanding. Being on the run changes you, but this will be different."

  Solaris met Maron's challenging gaze directly. "0500. I'll be ready."

  Something that might have been respect flickered in the former Delta operator's eyes. "We'll see."

  After dinner, Maron showed Solaris to the east cabin—a small but well-appointed structure situated to catch the morning sun. Like everything in the compound, it combined comfort with practical functionality, providing both security and reasonable amenities.

  "Solar charged batteries under the floorboards," Maron explained, indicating a control panel beside the bed. "Comms system links to the main house. Panic button under the nightstand if something gets past the perimeter security, which it won't."

  "Thorough," Solaris observed.

  "Minimum standard," Maron corrected. "Place is designed to withstand everything from tactical nuclear strike to electromagnetic pulse to conventional assault forces.” He continued explaining. “Shit-Lizards,” one of Maron’s many words for ‘Anunnaki,’ “are just another threat variable in the equation."

  As Maron turned to leave, Solaris felt compelled to address the underlying tension. "You don't trust me yet."

  The older man paused in the doorway, his weathered face revealing nothing of his thoughts. "Trust is earned, not given. But Kira sees something in you worth investing in, and her judgment's never been wrong before."

  "What about your judgment?"

  Maron considered this, head tilting slightly as he formulated his response. "My judgment says you're either humanity's best hope or its greatest potential threat, depending on choices yet unmade. My experience says hope's a poor tactical foundation compared to preparation. So I'll prepare for all contingencies while hoping I only need the positive ones."

  With that assessment delivered, he nodded once and departed, leaving Solaris alone in the cabin. Through the window, Solaris watched the former Delta Force operator return to the main house.

  Later, as Solaris prepared for sleep in the comfortable but functional accommodations, Eli appeared at his door.

  "Settling in okay?" she asked, leaning against the doorframe with casual grace.

  "As well as can be expected," he replied, gesturing her inside. "Maron's an interesting character."

  "That's one word for it," Eli laughed, settling onto the edge of the bed. "He's exactly what the Monad needs, though—practical grounding to balance the more... idealistic among us."

  "Who, me?" Solaris said while framing his face and smiling.

  Eli giggled. "Like most of us, to varying degrees. The Convergence requires both cosmic awareness and practical application. Maron embodies the latter with remarkable consistency."

  Solaris considered this, recognizing the truth in her assessment. "He doesn't fully trust us yet."

  "He doesn't fully trust anyone," Eli corrected gently. "It's how he's survived this long. But he's committed to the Convergence, whether he articulates it that way or not. His actions speak louder than his words—he's been preparing this compound as a gathering point for months, expanding accommodations, increasing supplies, enhancing security specifically to protect the Monad during formation."

  "While maintaining his gruff exterior the entire time?"

  "Of course," Eli replied with a grin. "He's all about operational security, even with his emotions."

  Their conversation continued until exhaustion began to overtake Solaris, the day's journey and emotional processing finally claiming their due. As Eli rose to return to the main house, she paused at the door.

  "The others will arrive soon," she said, her expression turning excitable. "The Monad will form for the first time in twenty-two million years."

  “Exciting, right?” Solaris replied.

  As Solaris drifted toward sleep, his thoughts ruminated. The next however long would bring Maron's training, the continuing arrival of other Sovereigns, and progress toward breaking the Phoenix Ascension system permanently. For tonight, rest came with the knowledge that despite incomprehensible challenges, he was exactly where he needed to be—on a mountain bugout prepared by a stubborn ex-Delta Force operator who had been unconsciously readying for this moment his entire life.