One Quadrum Later

Planet: Eteran

MERYN

Music sounded throughout the pub. It rang through his ears as he leaned in the corner, where the bartender, Lorin, returned with his payment for a job well done. Meryn nodded at them when they joined him on the wall. "Thank you for filling in for Urya today," they said as they handed him a bundle of cash. "You moving on from this place, Meryn?"

"Yep." Meryn tapped his brow. "A Hunter's work is never done, or so I've heard the saying go among Hunter Guilds," he said with a smile and placed the cash safely into his bag. "It was quiet today."

"It's usually quiet when you're filling in, I've noticed," Lorin pointed out. "I'll hate to see you go. You do bring a sort of calmness to the pub — that, and some of my patrons are a little scared of you?"

"Whatever for?" Meryn questioned, but dragged his attention to the nearest table, where a group of gossips chittered among themselves without care of who overheard. A dangerous game — and his specialty as a Hunter. Information gathering, to avoid and prevent whatever disaster flew his way.

"I heard the pirates have been completely pushed out of this solar system," one woman said. "Good riddance. I heard from my partner that they have some sort of superweapon in the Strike Forces — whatever or whoever it is, they have the pirates running far from here."

Meryn waved his goodbye to Lorin and left the pub. Flames tickled the edge of his view, but he brushed it with the incoming winter chill. Every breath counted, smoke no longer burned his world. Activity bustled within the small Eteran city of Quvta, so he dipped into one of the side alleys. Winter's going to hit early... He studied the blue-grey sky, full of clouds heavy with snow. Maybe I can pick one or two more odd jobs before I have to go on my way...

He reached the outskirts of the city to find the nearest holoboard before taking out his datapad. No news reported save for the aforementioned pirate bands erased or shoved out of his home solar system. It feels like it's been ages since Eastpoint... Since I've seen any of my friends... He sucked in his lips and listened to his heartbeat, grounding him back into the chill of winter. Fingers wound around his own collar, he sat in the biting wind with a memory of Aelius, who returned from a housecall with James, expression grim.

He sighed, then let go of himself. Thoughts intruded on his mind at another terrifying possibility, that the Eastpoint Massacre had taken James in the end.

No. Dwelling on it won't help me. One more breath, he exhaled. Time to get moving.

As he headed deeper into the alley to head for the shipyard where he parked his scout, the chill shifted into an eerie sense of foreboding. He rubbed the bridge of his nose at the clanking boots against fire escapes. "You've got to be kidding me," he mumbled. "How many times do I have to tell you people I'm not interested?"

Two shapes blocked his escape routes. "We want to talk, Matthey," the smaller one said. "That's all."

Meryn scoffed, then raised his fists to energise his edevic gauntlets. Guarded claws extended from the knuckles. I don't want to have to use lethal force, but I'm getting really tired of this. "I warned the last two who came that if you all kept bothering me, I would hurt you," he hissed. "How in the Void Hells do you keep finding me? It's creepy."

"We'll answer that question if you come with us."

One came too close for comfort, and he reacted on instinct. He shoved his wrist into their neck, and his back slammed into the wall of the alley. He yelped, but Meryn didn't stick around to check on him, not with their dogged determination to 'talk' to him.

"Still not interested!" he called back while the smaller one regained their composure.

Movement on the fire escapes above his head caught his attention. Celestials, they're worse than last time. No wonder the First Insurgency hasn't been crushed yet. He bolted down another alleyway to throw off the one hot on his tracks. I hate these people.

Meryn skidded to a halt and brought his fist to stop the person rushing from behind him. They gasped and tumbled onto concrete, but he kept an eye on the third part taking solace on their high ground. Meryn scowled at them both and dashed for the escape.

I just have to reach the shipyard and get out of here.

The third Insurgent bounced across the fire escapes and left white shimmers behind each jump. Meryn faltered to a stop at the plaza when they hopped from platform to platform with effortless ease, and threw barriers against the walls to block the exits. He readied himself for a fight when they rolled onto the ground with their last jump, back on their feet to face him. A mask hid their features as they rolled their shoulders. Two edevic scabbards sat on their belt, but they brought their fists up with a tip of their head at him.

"Good of you to make this easy," Meryn taunted before popping out his elbows. "You asked for it." He raced for the masked figure before they made their own move, and sent a jab for their jaw. He matched their pivot and refused to lose his advantage. He tested his opponent's guard with two flint strikes, before following up with a side jab to put distance between them.

Meryn grunted when they acted with natural instinct, and he ducked from a kick, ubt he grunted when an elbow cracked against his chest. One step back, he tested the gap when his enemy kept their stance in a defensive position. "Okay," he said and rolled his neck. "So you're not like those other ones... I'm still not interested though." He raced forward to press his aggression, each hit pushing his opponent to the wall. When they went to grapple him, he back-handed their face, and at their stumble, he kicked them to the wall.

Emergency blaster in his hand, he primed it then pointed it at their head.

"Wait," a soft voice whispered behind the mask after one long moment — full of familiarity and chilling deja vu.

Kestran, from the windswept accent.

Meryn refused to release his finger off the triggers at the clamored footsteps behind him. "Tell your two buddies to back off," he hissed and took a step closer to the dominant figure he had against the ropes, who raised their hands when he lowered the blaster to their heart. His opponent nodded and the footsteps came to a stop.

"Now." Meryn rested his finger off the trigger. "I said I wasn't interested. I want nothing to do with the First Insurgency or the Strike Forces. So... Piss off before I change my mind."

It took a few moments for a response.

The masked Insurgent laughed.

A horribly familiar laugh.

It flashed in his memory, and echoed with the black-haired maker, who smiled whenever James came into view, who laughed at all his dumb jokes. Each time, without fail and with a grin. It reverberated and seared with the flames with a golden-eyed blink. In a single moment, where the truth became clear and he held someone else's secret.

"Message received, Meryn," the all too familiar voice replied. "Except I wasn't here to recruit you to the First Insurgency."

Meryn lost the strength in his arm to hold the blaster. It whirred into defeat. He took a small step back from the Insurgent when they lowered their head and brought their hands to the mask. Ice swallowed the scorched flames in his heart when it unlatched from their face.

Strong and proud, hair as black as the void with golden eyes which enraptured both Ava and James.

Rayan Falae.

He raised his head where the spurts of snow reflected off the golds and made them pale. Rayan blinked at him, then smiled with the same haunted flames which plagued his mind. "It's nice to see you after all this time, Meryn." He waved off the two waiting Insurgents, while Meryn stared at him in disbelief.

"So... you're the one that's been following me incessantly," Meryn rasped at the shaken reality in front of him. "Rayan Falae."

I have to be dreaming. Rayan Falae — missing, presumed dead. Another life he assumed was lost to the flames — if not to pirates or fire, by their own hand. A fate Meryn feared for James. His heart crushed and split, and he resisted the urge to pinch himself and shake away the false hope.

This can't be happening. Meryn accepted the death of all he knew, and walked through the immolation of his mind time and time again to ease what time could never heal. It wasn't true.

It wasn't.

Rayan's smile fell and the dream never ended.

His fists clenched as he glared at the two Insurgents who waited for them. Both of them retreated into the shadows before he returned his attention to Rayan. "I thought you were dead," he pointed out with caution. "What happened to getting into contact with people and saying 'Hi, I'm alive, by the way.'" He folded his arms and scowled at Rayan.

Rayan frowned. "It... got complicated," he mumbled, but forced a smile back on his face. "I'm glad you're alright, though."

"That's it?" Meryn asked. "You've been missing for a couple quadrums and all of a sudden you appear." He waved at Rayan, who returned to his sullen frown and creased brow. "How long has it been, Rayan? Why are you here?" He threw all his questions, all his flaming heart at his old friend. "Why are you here with Insurgents? You went missing! I thought you were dead!"

"I... I know it's been a while, but I am here for a reason." Rayan clasped his hands together. "I wanted to talk to you, I'm not here to recruit you. Not after what I heard about what you did to the last Insurgent who tried."

"I didn't kill them."

"No, only broke a bone and his dignity." Rayan scoffed and swept his gaze over him. "You hit a growth spurt." Meryn forced himself to relax when Rayan leaned against the wall. "The last guy you messed up doesn't want to get ten feet in your direction."

Meryn echoed his position. "He got forceful when I gave him a warning." He studied his old, unfamiliar friend. Heavy shadows rested underneath the golden browns. "So... you are an Insurgent."

"And you're a Hunter, from what I hear," Rayan's tone shifted into a chill. "I am what I am, and you are what you are."

It all became clear in an instant. Meryn brushed his nose. "Ah... it's starting to make sense now. I've been hearing that the Insurgency has someone knowledgeable about the Strike Forces and giving the Insurgency a foothold. Is that you?"

Rayan didn't answer.

Meryn caught the unspoken reply. "You're not here just to chat and catch up."

"Let's take a walk," Rayan said. "Where's your ship?"

"In the shipyard outside the city, but—" Meryn groaned when Rayan walked off without another word. He resigned himself to follow, out of curiosity more than anything. "Rayan, I am not interested in joining the First Insurgency."

"And I'm not here to ask," Rayan replied with a wave of his hand. "I think the Insurgency leader learned his lesson trying to get you on our side."

Our side... Meryn scowled. I never thought...

"Besides," Rayan continued, uninterrupted. "You won't have to worry about the Insurgents after this. I came because..." Hesitation littered his next words, "Well, I guess I'm a little sentimental. I... thought you wouldn't really be willing to hurt an old friend."

"Very bold assumption to make, Rayan," Meryn pointed out while they walked through the backstreets. "I almost hurt you."

Rayan said nothing for a few moments. "I still have my head, so my assumption was correct in the end," a sense of caution eeked past the heavy exhaustion in his voice. "I'm here because we've been getting some disturbing intel — and considering your family and your line of work I was hoping to have something cleared up for me."

Outside the city limits, Meryn took the lead. "What do you mean?" he asked. "Can you explain?"

"It's reports from both sides. Here." Rayan took out his datapad and flicked to another tab. Meryn grabbed it to sort through the information. "I've been keeping track of death tolls among the planets. Notice anything odd?"

"Rayan, I don't know if you noticed, but we're at war," Meryn said, but flinched at his own venom. "All out war. After Eastpoint, the First Insurgency switched from their cold tactics." He frowned at Rayan. "It's not safe for you here. If anyone gets wind of who you are, your head is going to be the least of your worries. If what I've heard is true, you're one of the biggest reasons the Strike Forces are struggling and the First Insurgency is gaining traction."

Rayan never tore his golden-brown gaze away. Meryn scoffed and clicked another tab, but frowned at the death toll, unlisted.

"Strange?" Rayan asked.

"I mean..." Meryn frowned at him. "I've been hearing that there's another bout of Kestran wind sickness, but..." He held the datapad tighter. "What are you getting at?"

"They've been quarantining entire cities," Rayan pointed out. "We're in the dark."

"And you want me to ask Aelius what's going on?"

Rayan nodded with a bit of energy. "Whatever it is, it's scaring people. I've heard some pretty... disturbing stories but nothing concrete."

Meryn closed the datapad. "Ever thought that the spread is war related? In these kind of conditions, this sort of thing can tear through. People die everyday and this war isn't helping."

Rayan raised an eyebrow. "I... wasn't expecting that reaction from you."

"Yeah, well." Meryn folded his arms to protect himself. "Look, I haven't talked to Aelius since Mom died... but for old times sake, I'll see what I can get for you. I just don't want to be involved with the First Insurgency."

"Dr. Matthey died?" Rayan questioned, then lowered his head. "I'm... I'm sorry to hear that."

"Speaking of Mom's... seen yours lately?" Meryn asked.

Rayan folded his arms and sank into his shoulders. "On the news, flanked by Elites. I'm technically her enemy now... I'm sure she's forgotten about me. Better that way."

Ice punched him in the heart, but Rayan sighed with a stretch. "If that's all you have for me—"

"Wait." Meryn dove into his bag to retrieve one half of the wolven necklace. "I... I know you might not have anything to remember them by and... I don't need it anymore." He handed it to Rayan, who stared down at it with a deepening frown. "And, don't be a stranger, Ray. I thought you were dead all this time." Meryn swallowed his tears and stayed strong. "If you need anything unrelated to the Insurgency, let me know. Give me a call. Something."

Rayan took a small step back to clutch the necklace against his forehead with a weighted breath which bordered with tears. He trembled, but when he faced him, a calm, focused expression knitted across his brow. "Thank you, Meryn. I appreciate it." He donned the necklace without another word. "In that case, I do have something for you." He unshouldered his pack to rifle through it.

His heart stopped when he tugged out a piece of parchment and handed it to him.

He unfolded it and came face to face with Ava's immolated dream. A wolf against a black field of stars. "Is this..."

"I..." Rayan hesitated. "Ava wanted me to keep it safe, said she'd probably lose track of it in her house, so..." He rubbed his arms while a plume of mist escaped his lips while Meryn folded the dream for safekeeping in his own bag. "I can't say what'll happen to it if it stays with me."

"I..." Meryn scowled at his own inability. "I'm glad you're alive, Ray."

Rayan gave him a weak smile. "Likewise... the news said everyone at Eastpoint was dead, so when I realised my mom was alive... I thought maybe if I could just find someone... like you... or-or even James... by the time I realised I thought it might've been too..."

Meryn jolted when Rayan walked away without finishing his thought. One part of him longed to scream out the truth. If Rayan was alive, it was possible James still lived too.

It died on his throat when Rayan disappeared into the mist of winter.

Meryn brought his hand against his chest. Wait... James! General Falae would know what happened to him! He went with her! He took out his prismkey to rush to his ship and tapped his prismtooth to contact Aelius.

Whenever I visited him he's been running himself ragged... don't be Mom, Aeli...

Meryn launched off the shipyard and farther from his home to escape the hope clawing into his chest.

Light fluttered on the edge of a black hole, and he refused to let it go.