Chariya sat cross-legged in her seat in the Butterfly's cockpit while the pilot made a landing run on the pad outside the half-constructed stronghold in Kemaria's Northwest Corridor. With closed eyes, she engaged in silent meditation, focusing her mind especially on the overall profitability of her journey. 

The road had been long, and full of ups and downs, mostly the latter. She'd endured much grief and anguish as setbacks and roadblocks aplenty hurled themselves into her path. But at last, the princess enjoyed a glimmer of hope and a moment of optimism. 

It was also true that seven of the recruits she'd gathered in the mountainside had deserted upon hearing of the calamity Buzzard had caused, declaring it was their duty to rebuild their home. But the remaining 25 recruits persevered with her, and even now prepared themselves to disembark and officially join the ranks of the Insurgence. Brant and Ace also had proven welcome additions to her crew, twisted as their paths to loyalty had been. 

Both Danlash and Antapeño had refused to give aide to Chariya's cause, but ultimately, she found herself satisfied with the alliance of only Innutuk. A military and industrial powerhouse equal to the Alcontean Empire, the nation's willingness to assist the Insurgence encouraged the princess and assured her that victory was still possible. 

Chariya finally rose to her feet and entered the main cabin. She swept a reserved smile over the men standing around, among whom Baird stood. She stepped over to a drawer, unlocked it, and pulled out a bundle of papers, the completed first draft of her new Kemarian constitution. She held the bundle to her chest and grinned as she imagined the prosperity and happiness of her people if her proposed changes to the government were ratified. Under her watch, Kemaria would prosper again. 

Once the landing had been completed and the pilot shut everything down, he lowered the ramp, and Chariya descended first. She stood outside and basked in the sunlight while inhaling the familiar scent of her homeland. The sweet aroma of pine filled the air and brought a still larger smile to her face. 

When both the Butterfly and Sand Dollar had emptied themselves onto the landing pad, Chariya led the throng to the drab entrance of the unfinished stronghold. Lumber and unused stone blocks lay strewn about closer to the building, along with small cranes and forklifts. Dirty-faced men scurried about the disorganized construction area, hardly bothering to acknowledge the princess' presence as they carried out their work. 

Chariya perked up when a patchy-bearded man in a well-fitted uniform sprinted out from the front door. "Your highness!" he exclaimed, bowing with clasped hands. "I apologize for the...less than hospitable welcome. But it brings me joy to see you." 

The princess grinned. "Do not concern yourself with such things. I am no vain lady." 

"Well, that's good." he said, "Because pretense isn't my speciality." 

Chariya nodded. "I do confess, I had not originally intended to leave you in charge of overseeing both the construction and operation of this base simultaneously for so long." 

The man shrugged. "It's only right that I should exert myself for my princess and my people." 

"Now, that is a blessed spirit that lies in your breast." Chariya remarked, "So, how goes the construction?" 

"We're falling a little behind schedule, I'm afraid, but progress is steady nonetheless. The process hasn't been without problems." 

"I understand. Well, as I informed you, I succeeded in gaining the favor of the Innutukian king, and one of his legions should arrive here in approximately four days. Will you be able to prepare sufficient accommodations in time?" 

The man grimaced. "I'll try to make it work. But it won't be easy." 

"We must accommodate to the best of our ability, so as not to leave a bad impression." 

"Agreed." he said with a nod. "Well, follow me, and I'll show you our progress. I guess we can also discuss those arrangements." 

"Good idea. Lead the way." 

With that, Chariya followed the man inside, and the throng followed her for a while. However, she eventually dismissed them, so they fractured off and went their own separate ways. 

******************** 

Two hours later, Ace and Brant stood side by side in a line with the 25 recruits. They stood at attention, with perfectly straight posture, heads held high, and hands clasped behind their backs. 

When Princess Chariya entered the room, the men bowed, immediately returning to their attention stances upon rising. She strolled down the line with half a dozen uniforms draped over each of her arms, as did the assistant trailing behind her. 

"I am blessed to see such an increase in our ranks." Chariya said, "We normally get a solitary man here and there, perhaps a pair, and seldom a trio. But surely, an influx of 27 able-bodied men, all willing and able to fight for the liberty and happiness of the Kemarian people, is to be celebrated." 

A duo of unruly brothers gave forth a raucous cry of agreement. Chariya gave them a sharp glance before continuing. 

"So we shall commemorate our good fortune while also officializing your status as members of the Kemarian Insurgence, with the first donning of your uniforms." 

She stepped back down the line, passing out the garments as she passed each man. Once her arms had been emptied, her assistant continued down, until his hands were likewise empty. 

Chariya scanned her eyes over the men. "You may now put them on." 

"Excuse me!" called the taller of the unruly brothers, "Where're the dressing rooms?" 

The princess frowned. "We are a rebel base, not a clothing store. You are perfectly able to dress right here." 

"Not with you looking! You don't need to be seein' what I got!" 

Chariya rolled her eyes. "Fine. Merely for your peace of mind, I will face the other wall. But such things should not concern you at this time." 

The man muttered something to his brother and yanked his shirt off. Ace eyed him with a furrowed brow before sharing a disappointed glance with Brant. They shook their heads on him before they also undressed. 

After he finished putting the articles on, Ace glanced at the mirror fixed to the wall. Somehow, the outfit hardly seemed like a military uniform, if only for its simplicity. Comprised of a long-sleeved henley shirt, slim-fitted jeans, and combat boots, all in black, it hardly seemed to encourage a militaristic attitude. The Commercian Insurgence had its faults, but at least they actually put some thought into our clothing. 

With a sigh, Ace spun back around and cleared his throat. "Hey, Chariya, is there any insignia we're supposed to have with this?" 

Chariya also turned to face the men. She shook her head. "Kemaria's colors are taken by a military that does not actually serve its people. So in honor of our people, we shall not devise our own colors, but instead stick to simplicity until our authority is legitimatized. Then, Kemaria's colors shall be a source of pride again." 

Ace nodded. "Cool." 

The princess opened her mouth to say something more, but a messy-haired man raced into the room and slid to a halt before her. "Your highness, I can't hold it back anymore!" 

She frowned. "What is it?" 

"It's the Overseer! You left him in charge to take care of things, yes. But you also trust him as a man, don't you?" 

"Of course I do. Otherwise, I would not—" 

"You trusted him to give you a full account of the things that happened while you were gone!" the man shouted, "But he's sugarcoating! He's held something back!" 

Chariya drew in a deep breath and slowly released it. "And what, pray tell, is that?" 

"It was one of our men, your highness. He's always been...iffy. But a week ago, he started to really go unhinged. I told the Overseer all about it, but he just ignored me and kept him goin'!" 

The princess held up a hand. "You have labelled this man 'unhinged', but on what grounds?" 

"Well, he used to be mostly fine. I mean, I knew him! But then all of a sudden, he started constantly talkin' to himself, and laughing at nothing. Later on, he was startin' to hear voices that weren't really there!" The man took several seconds to catch his breath. "But the other day, he went into the cafeteria with a machine gun, and he...he...he bathed the floors in blood!" 

Chariya gasped. "Why would this be concealed from me?" 

"Heaven forbid I know! We tried to contain him, and figure out what was wrong with him, but he fled, and heaven knows where he's at now." 

"This is not good. A deranged man such as he, if found, would likely spill any and all secrets asked of him. And the Overseer's failure to report this to me, this also concerns me." 

The princess spun on her heel and strutted out the door. 

******************** 

Dove sighed and floated down from the clouds above. His white robes fluttered softly behind him as he drifted downward. His breezy descent carried him down to the Alcontean royal palace, majestic in architecture, expansive in size, and blessed by the gods. 

Dove alighted on a grandiose balcony lined by aromatic roses. Eagle, Albatross, and Cormorant stared at him from where they stood in a huddle several yards back from the railing. He strutted over to them with a grin that was as forced as it was wide. 

"My friends," he began, "for what reason have you summoned me?" 

Eagle's gaze dropped to the ground as he scuffed his feet. "Two reasons, Zoko. The—" 

"Do not call me by that name. Thou wouldst strip me of my honor by doing so." 

"If you insist. Anyway, the Emperor has asked me multiple times how the search for Falcon has gone, and I've had nothing to tell him. You've instructed me to keep my mouth shut on the matter in your absence. But yet you, who ought to be the one divulging such information, now hold yourself aloof." 

Dove crossed his arms. "And for good reason have I done so. I have been communing with the novel spirit that lieth in my breast." 

"That's all well and good, but you have to return to the normal world at some point, don't you? When are we ever gonna come clean?" 

"Come clean?" Dove echoed, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. "Thou speaketh foolishly. Thou speakest as if I have something to hide." 

"You do!" Eagle exclaimed, "You're afraid to report, not that we haven't found anything, but that we have, and failed! You told me before you left Buzzard's festival, that you were going to retrieve the artifact and bring Brant back, preferably dead. You failed!" 

Dove glared. "I did not fail! Thou speaketh still greater folly than at the first." 

"You have failed, Zoko. You either failed to fulfill your promise then, or you fail to speak truthfully now." 

Dove sneered. "What is thy other news?" 

Eagle stepped away, shaking his head. Albatross and Cormorant glanced at one another before the former cleared his throat. 

"A strange man showed up at our gates this morning. He seems a little...out of it, but he wants to speak with us. The Divine Flock." 

"Where, then, is Buzzard?" Dove asked with an exaggerated glance around. 

Albatross shrugged. "We haven't been able to contact him. Much use he'd really be to us anyway, if I'm being honest." 

Dove nodded. "Lead me to this man." 

Albatross sighed and led Dove, Eagle, and Cormorant inside. They traversed several corridors and descended a flight of steps before they came to a confinement cell. He opened the barred door, and they entered the room. 

A dirty-faced man stared at the newcomers with a wide grin pasted across his face. His tattered clothing hung off his body, the garments so old that even the patches holding them together now required patches of their own. 

"His voice..." the man began with an airy laugh, "it rings in my ears! His voice is so beautiful!" 

Dove towered over the sitting man with his hands on his hips. He raised an eyebrow. "Whose voice dost thou speak of?" 

The man's eyeballs rolled around in their sockets, the gleeful grin still remaining on his face. "He told me to do it, and I did! It was wonderful!" 

Eagle's brow furrowed. He glanced between Dove and the giggling man before stepping between them. "It would do you well to answer the questions we ask you." he said, "What's your name, sir?" 

In an instant, the man's face dropped all traces of levity. "My name is Vinhan Pulung." Immediately after speaking, he burst into laughter again, the transition as instantaneous as the flip of a light switch. 

Eagle exchanged a puzzled glance with Dove. "If your accent doesn't mislead me, you're from Kemaria, correct?" 

Vinhan nodded vigorously. He whispered inaudible words to himself and subsequently snickered at them. 

Albatross glanced up from the data-pad in his hand. "His name does appear in the social registry. Redistributed from the Divy Parvat to the Kemarian lowlands last year, only to disappear from his assigned apartment six months later." 

Eagle nodded and took the data-pad from his hand. He turned to Vinhan and held the screen up to him. "Place your right index finger on the screen, please." 

The man threw his head back in laughter before giving the device's screen a forceful poke. A prerecorded voice on the data-pad declared the fingerprint didn't match the selected profile. 

Dove squinted. "Place thy finger upon it again, and withdraw it not so quickly." 

Vinhan complied with a suddenly solemn face. This time, the data-pad announced a match. 

Eagle cleared his throat. "So, would you mind telling us where you went during those six months?" 

Vinhan stared back with a deadpan expression. "I joined the Kemarian Insurgence. Now, let's skip all the introductory garbage. I've got some nuggets of information you need to know." 

Eagle leaned forward, as did his companions. "Please elaborate." 

"I can tell you the coordinates to the two remaining strongholds of the Kemarian Insurgence. But also..." he said, licking his lips, "I know where you'll be able to find Brant Nayan." 

******************* 

A/N: Oh boy oh boy, there's always some new fresh trouble brewing for these guys, isn't there? Especially Brant. I guess that's what happens when you rebel against the Alcontean Empire. 😆 

Well, if you liked that chapter, don't forget to vote and comment. 

Just curious, what're your thoughts on the dynamics between the god characters we've met? 

And let me finish up with some random inquiry. Digital or analog clock? And to add to that, 12 or 24 hour? 

(Give me sweet simplicity. A 12-hour, digital clock will suit me fine. Although I guess it's only simple to me because that's what I'm used to, but whatever.) 

Have a great day! I hope to see you in the next update six days from now, or whenever you find time to read.