Melody rises from the swing. The woman layered in fabrics sits behind a screen. Candles line the walkway. Scattered along the walls. Melody sits.

  The woman tosses stones onto a table. "Muriel can be perceptive. I'd understand if you weren't ready to hear what she had to say. Her message is clear, yes?"

  Melody hangs her head. "She told me the truth."

  Stones clack. "The man you travel with holds a part of you that no longer exists. He sees the girl, but not the woman. You feel stuck because of him."

  Melody hugs herself. "He's learning..."

  Flames flicker. "Life's fallen into routine for him. Wake, hide, repeat. He stands in the present, yet he's trapped in the past. Survival made him rigid." Clack. "Unyielding!"

  Melody's nails dig into her arms. "He can change!"

  The woman sighs. "A choice he won't make alone. There are forces urging him into becoming the man you wish he could be. If it is true, then it will be."

  Melody picks at her skin. "I've seen my future and I want to understand. I'll become a prisoner of war. They'll try to change me, but I'm worried about what will happen if I let them."

  The woman nods. "Your destiny is intertwined with his. One takes and the other gives. If you are to leave, then fate will be rewritten."

  Melody shudders. "What do you see?"

  The woman tilts her head. "Much suffering is ahead of you both. He will pursue you, but at a great cost to himself. You must grieve him as he will do the same for you."

  Melody shakes her head. "I don't want to lose him! I don't want to become his enemy!"

  The woman gathers the stones. "If not his enemy, then you will become your own." The candles go out.

  Melody shivers on the ground. "Wait! Please... Tell me there's another way!"

  The woman's voice cuts through the dark. "Climb the steps and view the past. You will find more answers there."

  Melody wipes her eyes and leaves the chamber. She looks at the tree, then joins Hyme in the library. The scholars still debate.

  Melody marches towards them. "Where can I learn about the DPFI?"

  One mocks. "Pathetic Ulsam wants to learn our ways!"

  They laugh.

  Another barks. "Begone, thief!"

  She grits her teeth and slams a fist on the table. It cracks. "I am Melody Ulsam, Executive Intelligence Officer for the Wyre's Armed Forces, and you will show me respect!"

  They stare.

  A young scholar motions to her. "Save your breathe!" He snarls at them. "They're a pack of dogs!"

  The scholars ignore him.

  He smiles. "I'll tell you whatever you want to know about the Defense Procedures for Foreign Invasion."

  Melody nods.

  They walk up another set of stairs and stand at the top of the library. He grabs some books and sets them at a table. "The DPFI was created before SAAF had formed." He passes her a book. "The KWCR formed after."

  Melody looks at him. "Why are you helping me?"

  He grins. "We're on the same side... And if you are who you say, then you can help me in return."

  Melody rolls her eyes. "Not interested."

  He chuckles. "Information is only as powerful as the one who controls it."

  She purses her lips. "You're not wrong, but how do I know you won't use what I tell you to hurt others?"

  He shrugs. "I can't leave."

  Melody raises a brow. "You're trapped here?"

  He laughs. "No, I swore an oath as a student of research to keep certain information safe. Releasing it would sentence me to a fate worse than death. It's better to remain here where I can protect the truth."

  Melody grunts. "What does that mean?"

  He taps the book. "Read..."

  Defense Procedures for Foreign Invasion Article 1, Clause 1 grants Wyre Armed Forces the ability to try, imprison, execute, and release foreign entities inside Pelaris. Clause 2 grants Val Basec sector leaders the right to conduct trials against aforementioned entities. Clause 3 directs entities with MuCaRe to be turned over the Known and Wanted Criminal Registry.

  Violation of Article 1 will result in the imprisonment of Wyre officials, including sector leaders, and all those believed to be abetting such crimes.

  Melody looks up at him. "What is MuCaRe?"

  He locks his fingers behind his head. "Mutants, Cannibals, and Regenerators. They're 3 of the rarest classes."

  Melody hums and taps her nails. "Mutants could be a number of things. Regenerative abilities are uncommon, but cannibals? Why the interest in them?"

  He smirks. "You came here with one. You tell me."

  She shifts. "Zachariah... He may be a cannibal, but he's not a monster. Why would the KWCR let him loose? Why allow him to carry on?"

  He blinks. "The Zachariah you know falls into 2 rare classes." He giggles. "The Shepherds may not have thought twice about putting him 95 miles under, but..."

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Melody shivers. "His regeneration is impressive. He can heal people. Resurrect the dead as I'm told."

  He eyes the stack of books. "Zachariah's reputation predates the Wyre. They knew of him before he left Karthwitherspire. There were rumors of him and his...friends."

  Her brow furrows. "What kind of rumors?"

  He laughs. "Oh the usual! Raiding settlements and eating people. He was quite popular for it back then, but after he suffered a mysterious case of amnesia... He renounced those ways."

  Melody bites her lip. "You're saying, you knew him over 200 years ago?"

  He stretches. "Not personally. His doings reverberate through these walls." He passes her another book. "Why it's right here..."

  Melody stares at it. She reaches, then stops herself. "Does Zachariah know you have this?"

  He sighs and rests his arms on the table. "Zachariah is complicated. Yes, he knows. No, he won't read it."

  She tenses. "He's told me... I've heard... I'm not sure if I want to know more. As if eating people isn't bad enough..."

  He snickers. "Eating people? Zachariah was tyrant! His group... You've met them! Though it seems they're at odds with each other."

  Melody jerks. "Met them?" She shakes her head. "Who are they?"

  He blinks. "You don't know? Nebula? His arch nemesis? She was his biggest supporter! And her minions... What do they call themselves?"

  Melody scoffs. "Wait... You're telling me that Zachariah and Nebula were on the same side? That can't be true! She wants him dead! She wants all of us..."

  He grins. "If Nebula wanted to kill Zachariah, why doesn't she? What ulterior motive could she have for keeping him alive?"

  Melody shudders. "He told me that Chuboki said... If they can't kill him, then they'll take the things he loves... But that still doesn't explain..."

  He nods. "There's always a better offer than the deal on the table. Zachariah took a deal that wasn't his. It costed something."

  She holds her head. "What kind of deal? Why would... How can I trust anything you're saying?" She rises. "I don't know you!"

  He clears his throat. "Name's Methylasteinē." He picks up a book. "A lovely little rabbit once pleaded for Zachariah's extinction. Upon meeting him, she realized that she was chasing the villain in someone else's story." He eyes Melody. "You...remind me of her." He snickers. "You two would have gotten along!"

  Melody growls. "Tell me about the deal he made!"

  Methylasteinē sighs. "Well, it was some time ago. Nebula was sharing Pelaris with someone else. Theodore. He and Zachariah were like brothers, but not quite matched."

  She glares. "The deal..."

  He nods. "Right... Nebula needed something. Theodore didn't want to give it to her. He believed that in her hands it would destroy all of us, yet Zachariah took the deal."

  Melody lifts her fist. "Answer!"

  He rolls his eyes and huffs. "You're very impatient! You know that?" He shifts. "Truth is Nebula wanted a machine... Not like any we have here. She needed something to cure him. His blood or his mind was... I don't know. The book doesn't explain everything."

  He scratches his chin. "Where Theodore went? If he's alive! Did Zachariah kill him? Is he hiding?" He nudges a book. "The only reason I know about it is because someone named Sylvan left this journal. I've speculated for years what it could have been. Never finding an answer."

  Melody sits down. "He can wipe people's minds... What if he made a deal, but not to help Nebula?"

  Methylasteinē stares.

  She hums. "If Theodore and Zachariah were like brothers, why would Theodore refuse to give Nebula something that Zachariah would? Even if it was to help Theodore... Why would Zachariah betray Theodore's trust?"

  He shrugs. "I don't know." He tilts his head. "Maybe he didn't. Maybe... The deal was to keep it from Nebula."

  Melody shakes her head. "But... If he could, then why wipe his own mind? Why would Nebula engage in conflict with him? Why... Why?"

  Methylasteinē groans. "I wish I knew."

  She growls. "This doesn't make any sense!"

  He huffs. "I know."

  She gulps. "The machine... She has it... It's not to cure anyone. It's to alter their DNA."

  His eyes widen.

  Melody grunts. "You look like you're about to barf!"

  He coughs and wipes his face. "I think I get it now."

  She stares.

  He scoffs. "Zachariah made a deal for blood!"

  Melody freezes. "Blood?" Her voice shakes. "Whose blood?" She cover her mouth. "What if he's...a mutant?"

  He laughs and leans back. "That is a very good question!" He settles down. "Only one person might know the answer."

  Melody listens.

  He stands and moves closer, whispering in her ear. "Q'an Ijou."

  Book of Q'an (Part 3): Machine

  Q'an tried to breathe. Heart thudded in her ears. Vision blurred.

  Nebula snickered. "Now that you know the truth... Go and retrieve it for me." She hung up.

  Q'an dropped her phone. "All this time... I've been... Aiding her... Pushing her research along..." Q'an punched herself. "Get a grip!" She breathed into her palms. "This is... This will be the last thing I ever do for her... Then I'm out... I'm done..."

  A guard stopped the vehicle at Tio Fort's entrance. She showed her badge and he let her through. Tio Fort was tall. A castle. Black bricks. Patrols. Inside is a city...

  Q'an stepped out of the limousine and was met by an older man. He bowed. "Your grace!"

  She adjusted her collar. "I'm here to pick up."

  He nodded. "As requested!" He whistled and a large, muscular man approached. "Please escort our VIP to the shaft."

  Q'an followed the man to an elevator. 10 minutes of silence... She glanced to the man, then to the top of the elevator. The cord rolled along the joint. She tugged at her collar. The elevator stopped in a dark tunnel. The man stared ahead.

  Q'an raised a brow and stepped off. He bowed, then stood frozen in place. She waded through the darkness. A green glow ahead.

  She walked into a small chamber. A giant tube of green liquid. Q'an swallowed and scanned the area. She eyed a shelf. "The missing parts..."

  A sharp pain. She spun around. Silver eyes. As soon as she hit the floor, she woke up to someone tapping her face. "Hey!" He grunted. "That was some fall you took! You all right?" He held up a hand. "How many fingers do you see?"

  She tried to focus her eyes. The man's voice bounced inside her head. He laughed. "Don't puke on me!" He moved out of the way.

  Q'an toppled out of a chair. "Where..." She reached for him. "Where am I?"

  He grabbed her hand and set her back into the seat. "You're in Tio Fort."

  She blinked, then looked around. "Tio Fort?" Her grip tightened. Q'an yanked him forward and headbutted him. She threw him on the ground. "What did you do to me?"

  He whined. "It's a sedative! I needed a few viles of your blood!"

  She growled. "Are you with Nebula?"

  He groaned. "Let me up!"

  She twisted his wrist. "Are you with Nebula?"

  He nodded. "Yeah! Yes! Now let me go!"

  Q'an released him and stumbled into the giant tube. It bubbled. She stared. "What is that?"

  He rose and rubbed his wrist. "You're pretty strong!" He tilted his head. "That? Just something I'm looking after." He knocked on the glass. "Wanna taste?"

  She hissed, grabbed her stomach, and wretched by his foot. Zuna shook his leg. "Don't worry!" He chuckles. "That's normal!"

  Q'an glares at him. "Why did you need my blood?"

  Zuna shrugs. "Wanted to see if you're compatible."

  She leans against the tube. "With?"

  He grins. "Come on, Rabbit! You aren't that naive." He struts to a handheld contraption. "This machine emits pure radiation!" Zuna waves it. "Nice, huh?"

  Q'an growls and wobbles back to the chair. She huffs. "What's it for?"

  Zuna tilted his head side-to-side. "Undoing the Calzarian sequence."

  She gasped. "She'll use it on the KTP?"

  He nodded. "If it works..." Zuna pointed it at her. "Hold still."

  Q'an tried to move away. Fell to the floor. A blinding white light burned through her skin. She screamed and writhed on the ground. The light stopped. Q'an jerked. Her skin covered in blisters.

  Zuna laughed. "Holy shit! That looked painful! You all right?"

  Q'an curled into a ball. Zuna set the machine down and approached her. "You should be proud, little rabbit." He held up a syringe. "You're my first subject!"

  The needle drove into her neck. She gasped. Eyes rolling back. Zuna removed the needle and watched her skin crisp. He wiped her arm and the irradiated skin fell off. "Cool..."

  Q'an picked herself up. "What did you give me?" She brushed the skin off her arms. "How?"

  He snickered. "I gave you a dose of DNA carrying the ACC gene. You're a full fledge Noble now!"

  Q'an flexed. "I feel..." She chuckled. "I feel stronger." Her hand morphed. Talons stretched from her fingers. Fur along her arm.

  Zuna smiled. "You should have a few abilities, but it's best to take it slow."

  She looked at the machine. "So this is what Nebula wants? A radiation ray?"

  Zuna hummed. "I've been calling it the Rusher."

  Q'an grunted. "Whatever. Just... Get me out of here."

  He sighed. "After I perform another test..." He walked to the table and grabbed the Rusher. He pointed it at her. "Hold still."

  Q'an flinched. The light. Nothing. She gasped. "It worked!"

  Zuna sulked. "Awe..." He passed her the Rusher. "Now do me!"