The Simmi family dining room gleamed with polished marble surfaces and crystalline chandeliers. Vespera sat perfectly upright, her silverware aligned with geometric precision, her movements controlled and deliberate, every feather on her mane pure white.

  Ceter Kalik Simmi studied his daughter carefully, watching for any sign of her previous rebelliousness. Beside him, Hanni Simmi served a traditional meal–rare Arx beast meats prepared with intricate Thunderland spices.

  "Tell your great-grandfather about your mission, Vespera," Ceter ordered.

  Vespera looked up, her gray eyes flat and compliant. "I am to facilitate the merger of the SimmiTech and Golden Star corporations through my marriage to Zheng. Our combined resources will create a 99.3% probability of Omnid survival during the upcoming Celestorm events."

  Her voice was clinical, devoid of the playful shortened and hashtag-laden speech she once used. Each word was precisely measured, each syllable sharp like the blade of a two-dimensional knife.

  Ceter nodded, satisfied. "And your personal feelings?"

  "Personal feelings are irrelevant," Vespera responded. "The mission takes precedence. Zheng is my optimal genetic and corporate match. We need more resources to save Omnithornia."

  "Very good," Arch-Elder Altair nodded, the multiple, pale, crystalline angel-wings that framed his lanky body catching the chandelier light.

  "Father," Vespera turned to Ceter when dinner was over. "May I look at my Stats? I would like to see if I levelled up during my latest delve."

  "No," Ceter shook his head. "A vile human criminal infected your soul with a memetic. It must be purged. Psychopomp Krakthulluius will remove the infection tonight. The procedure will be... unpleasant, but necessary."

  "Of course, father," Vespera nodded demurely. "Will it hurt?"

  "Yes," Ceter admitted. "But you are strong. The procedure will sever the memetic infestation. Dr. Krakthulluius is the best soul surgeon in Omnithornia."

  "I understand," Vespera nodded. "Will I be able to attend classes on Monday? I need to study Crystallography with Instructor Gilgamesh to begin my Thesis on modifying Leviathan strata below Leviathan's Cradle next year."

  "If you swear to me that you will not attempt to search for Alexander Glock, or interact with any other nullie or human scum." Ceter placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder, scanning her soul for the truth. "Do not befriend, nor interact with any humans without my permission. Is that understood?"

  "Understood. I swear it father," Vespera nodded. "I will not speak to any humans without your approval starting tonight. I'm sorry for my prior indiscretions."

  Ceter nodded, satisfied. The mental reconstruction appeared to be functioning as intended. "Very good. The Psychopomp will be here in an hour. After the procedure, you will rest, and during the weekend you will focus on your Crystallography studies."

  "Of course daddy," Vespera agreed. "I wish to save our people with my entire Fractal Engine heart."

  . . .

  "There is an unusual familiar bond registered in her," Psychopomp Krakthulluius's skeletal black hands waved over Vespera's shaking body as the Thundergirl tried to hold herself together after something had been carved out of her soul. "Something called... Possy."

  "A familiar?" Ceter frowned. "Vespera, explain."

  "I cannot remember. I was searching for an Electrofractal Kitlix familiar on Arx for a few years now, daddy," Vespera answered. "Perhaps I found one during my last delve but cannot recall it due to memory loss? Maybe it has something to do with how my Lazarus bracelet is now clear?”

  Lord Center frowned, noticing that her bracelet was indeed oddly clear. He tapped his talons on it. It was perfectly functional but the immovable metal had somehow inexplicably become transparent. He had no idea how this was even possible. Maybe some kind of unique dungeon magic did it.

  “What else can you tell me about this bond?” Ceter turned to Krakthulluius.

  "The bond is recent. Made within the last week."

  "Can you determine the familiar's nature?" Ceter demanded.

  "No, Lord Ceter." Krakthulluius shook his head. "I cannot. It is in another dimension right now. It is presumably back on Arx. I do sense that it is a high-level crystalline creature with Kitlix-like properties."

  "I see," Ceter nodded slowly. "Can you carve it out?"

  "Carving the familiar connection will have to be done in another week," Krakthulluius said. "Her soul is already damaged and I do not wish to tear it further. I will stop by once every few days to slowly repair the shears I've made so that I can disconnect the familiar bond."

  "Very well," Ceter nodded slowly. "We'll deal with this familiar matter later as the delve to Arx won't happen for another week."

  He turned to his daughter. "Vespera, how do you feel?"

  "It hurts, but I endure. I feel... pure, father," Vespera answered, her voice just as sharp despite her trembling body. "Thank you for cleansing me of that vile memetic, Dr. Krakthulluius. When may I meet Zheng to discuss our upcoming soul-bond and begin our optimization process?"

  "Soon," Ceter patted her white-feathered head. "Zheng was hurt speaking to his family's Archangel, so he needs a week at least to recover. Rest now."

  "Yes, father," Vespera bowed her head submissively. "May I request some crystallography texts from the library? I wish to study while I heal."

  "Of course," Ceter nodded approvingly. "Your dedication to saving our people is admirable. Butler Oppohosh will bring you any arcane texts you require."

  . . .

  I stood in the prison's wide courtyard, the view of the evening sky above me, the clouds painted violet-orange by the setting sun. My phone stood in front of me on a tripod, keeping the frozen frame of "The Day After Tomorrow" displayed.

  In a few minutes, a dark gate manifested into existence in front of me. Cinder, Katherine, Io and Emerald became visible inside it.

  Cinder burst through the gate first and smothered me in a sunset-red-angry hug. "Don't scare me like that," she let out.

  "Wasn't my fault," I hugged her back.

  Katherine stepped through next, her emerald eyes narrowing as she looked left and right. "I see you've been busy."

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  I nodded. I noticed that Katherine was moving a bit sluggishly. I guessed that the dress wasn't a perfect solution. She was still dying, just slower.

  Emerald followed, looking distinctly uncomfortable, her snout looking busted. "This is kidnapping." She whined nasally.

  "You started it first," I pointed out. "Your Scrut kidnapped me and brought me here. By Clan law I only retaliated fairly."

  "You're an effing human, Omnid Clan laws don't apply to you," the dragon girl growled.

  "And yet I have a Clan. Cry me a river, Emmy," I shrugged at her. "I'm far nicer than you. I won't feed you to a shark. I'll just keep you as a hostage till your family pays me one hundred billion O-bux."

  "You can't be serious!" She growled. “That's an outrageous sum!”

  “What, you think that your value is less?” I asked.

  She sent me the traditional ‘I will get my revenge and murder you, just you wait’ glare.

  “Such glaring,” I said. “You should appreciate me more! I’ve made you my Sixie, which means you get a small salary, dental, corporate benefits and protection of Rainbow and Thunder Omnicorp.”

  "My parents will take this island apart stone by stone!" She growled.

  "They won't even be able to find you," I said. "I'm not going to keep you here."

  "Where are you..." she choked.

  "Fun places," I said. "Another dimension, where no Scrutimancer can track you down since Scrutimancy doesn't work across dimensions. Unless you sign a bunch of contracts, of course."

  Emerald blanched.

  "I've given you plenty of chances to be cooperative and cordial," I said. "Now it's going to be contractual obligations. Kat, take her to a cell."

  Katherine grabbed Emerald by the collar, her emerald eyes shining with gleeful predatory intent. "Come on, little dragon. Time for your new accommodations."

  Emerald struggled, but Katherine's grip was firm. "This is illegal! I'm a Prima-born! My family will—"

  Everyone ignored her.

  "So, how was your date with June?" I asked Io as we began walking across the prison courtyard into the administrative area.

  "She's definitely... intellectually stimulating,” he replied. “We watched Day After Tomorrow in one of the student lounges and had an extensive discussion about doomed worlds afterwards. But..." he hesitated.

  "But what?" I prompted.

  "She's just... too wet," Io said with a slight shudder.

  "That's usually not a problem for a girlfriend to have," I wiggled my eyebrows at him.

  "Uh-huh," Io exhaled. "My everything gets damp just being near her. It's rather uncomfortable for a Mothman."

  I couldn't help but chuckle. "At least you found common ground with the disaster discussions?"

  "Indeed. Her obsession with aquatic catastrophes is delightful. However, I prefer to observe such events from a safe, dry distance." Io adjusted his duster coat.

  "Hang on, how do you even shower?" I asked.

  "I don't," Io said. "I use dry shampoos to clean my mane and wings."

  "Ah," I rubbed my chin. "So why not sprinkle yourself with talcum or cornstarch-based powder? Or maybe powder yourself with aerogel? That stuff would make you somewhat fireproof as well as waterproof."

  "An interesting suggestion," Io mused. "I haven't considered such. Hopefully… it would not bother June..."

  "Better than being uncomfortable the whole time," I pointed out. "Consider it 'watery-disaster-proof coating'."

  "Very well, I'll try it, see if it helps," Io said. "Speaking of disasters, I sense multiple approaching catastrophes centered around you. More than usual."

  "Yeah?" I asked. "Give me the rundown."

  "Several death-vectors," Io said, his gray fluffy antennae tapping my head and shoulder. "The doom indicators are off the charts. This is worse than the Undertown assassins."

  "That does sound bad," I nodded. "Any specifics?"

  "Mmm... hard to tell," Io sighed. “I just know that you are going to die unless you do something different.”

  "Right," I said. "Come! I'd like to introduce you to my new Scruts."

  I led Io and Cinder into a meeting room where Magdaline and Satosh were waiting. Magdaline had traded her prison orange robe for a sleek hexamesh suit. A gray security officer uniform with a tie sat atop it, making her look even more dangerous. Her white-blue striped scales gleamed with a metallic sheen under the fluorescent lights.

  "Io, Ci, meet Magdaline Satoshi," I announced, gesturing dramatically. "And her dad Loom Cernix Satosh.

  "This is my Door Knight," I pointed at Iogann. "And trusted right hand-man!"

  "Big shark," Io murmured as Magdaline shook his hand.

  "Smol moth," Mags smiled, showing off multiple rows of saw-like teeth.

  "And this is my lovely Hearth Keeper Shield, Cinder," I introduced Ci to the Scrut family.

  We sat down, Cinder squinting at Magdaline with blue-eyes.

  "Okay, team. We're going to do some predictive analysis. Io, you've got your disaster sensing. Magdaline, your Scrutiny skills. Satosh, your decades of intelligence work. We're going to map out the incoming catastrophes and try to arrive at a solution."

  Magdaline leaned forward. "What exactly are we predicting?"

  "Threats to my person that Io can sense," I explained. "Take my hands, Io, Mags. Push your skills through me."

  The two Omnids grabbed my hands. Cinder's glare in the direction of the shark-girl intensified.

  She suspected things.

  "Okay," I said. "Io, you first. What disaster vectors are you sensing?"

  "Danger from..." Io began thoughtfully.

  "Frontenachii Scruts, the Stratos and Simmi assassins," Magdaline said. "Wherever you go."

  "The Stratos will absolutely send assassins to take you out," Satosh nodded. "A sniper rifle bullet from afar aimed at the only human in school and then a rapid retrieval team to grab your Lazarus bracelet."

  "What else? What about our lost black and white bird?" I pulled out Vespera's feather from my pocket and let the shark-girl sniff it.

  "Vespera..." Io let out.

  "Lost her soul bond to you," Mags said, squeezing my hand.

  "She no longer remembers you," Satosh nodded. "As I expected. Her father most likely fully overwrote her personality. The new Vespera will hate all humans and will refuse to speak with you.”

  Cinder paled, colors leaking from her body. "H-how are we going to get her back?" She let out.

  "Don't know," I shrugged, which only made Cinder's wings darker. "What else? What about the duel?"

  "Zheng..." Io began.

  "Will not show up," Magdaline said. "A different champion will take his place.”

  “Lord Ceter Simmi himself,” Satosh added.

  "Vespera's father?" Cinder's feathers bristled. "That's... that's really bad."

  "Indeed," Satosh nodded gravely. "Ceter is a Prima Thunder-Lord. He's killed hundreds in duels. His lightning can pierce through any defense. He can stop bullets and arrows and redirect spells away from himself."

  "Right," I said. "I'll email Lord Ceter and resign from the duel."

  "And... lose Vee?!" Cinder barked.

  "We already lost Vee," I pointed out. “Those assholes cut the connection. There's no point in fighting for it.”

  "What?! How are you so freaking calm about this?!" She shook me.

  "Freaking out won't help us solve any of these issues," I said.

  "But..." Cinder's feathers flared orange-red. "You can't just give up on her!"

  "I'm not giving up," I said calmly. "I'm being strategic.”

  “Fighting Ceter head-on is suicide,” Satosh nodded.

  “We need to think outside the box, sidestep away from everything," I said.

  "How?!" Cinder demanded.

  "I think that it's time for Alexander Glock to leave Skyfall," I said. "To go back to North Acadia."

  "WHAT?!" My Quetzi GF sputtered.

  I stared at her with a smile.

  "It's the best way to protect everyone," I explained, squeezing her hand. "Alexander Glock has to go away."

  "But..." Cinder's feathers drooped. "What about our classes together?"

  "Oh, so you actually enjoy classes with me?" I teased her. "Weren't you all like, 'get outta my face, you annoying human'?"

  "Shut up," Cinder growled. "You know what I mean!"

  "No, I don't know what you mean," I grinned at her.

  "Ughhh," she let out. "Yes, you're an incredibly annoying chuppy... but I like having you in my classes. Happy now?"

  "Ecstatic," I smirked, greatly enjoying our verbal game of angry dragon and annoying human. "But Alexander Glock still needs to disappear. The Frontenachii Clan wants him captured. Stratos Clan wants him dead, SimmiTech wants him dead, and Golden Star wants him dead too. Four major Omnicorps gunning for one guy is a bit much."

  "So what's your brilliant plan then?" Cinder crossed her arms.