Free Warrior Chronicles 4: Warrior's Wrath by Shawn Jones Page B

spoke to Bazal.
    I need you to do something for me.
    Yes, Cortland, what is it?
    I want you to go with us, and when we are close, I want you to calm the ones guarding Dalek. I don’t want them to hurt him.
    Of course. I was hoping you would ask me to help you.
    You’ve been helping every minute of this, Bazal. My son is not alone because of you, my friend. I will never be able to repay you for that. Not for as long as I live.
    You are my family, Cortland. I am not alone because of you .

Five
    Nill
    “Director Pagztay, there is a private communication for you, sir.”
    “Thank you, Sirai.” Pagztay turned from the door and closed his eyes. When the message queue projected, he opened his eyes in shock. After composing himself, he closed them once again and looked at the symbol being projected onto the inside of his eyelids. Speral. It must be her. I have never told anyone of the symbol. She would not have either. It was our secret. Why now? Of course it is now. If I am honest with myself, I expected it. Please do not ask me to violate the sacrament, Speral. With the last thought, he entered the phrase Speral must have used to protect the message. A moment later her image appeared, wearing an Ares Federation uniform.
    “Pagztay, old friend. I hope this message finds you well, but I will not delay with niceties. I am coming to the Core. I intend to help Cortland, General Addison, to trace the transition signature of the Tapon. Yes, old friend, the attack was carried out by our ancient enemy. General Addison has lost his spawn because of the sins of our ancestors. Because he protected us. I must do my part to make that right. I hope you will sense the same obligation.”
    The image of Speral was silent for a moment before she continued. “Pagztay, the humans accepted me. I have seen General Addison kill his own kind to avenge me. They are my family now. We are coming, Pagztay, and if you help us many lives will be saved. If you do not we will still come, but your world will forever be burdened with the guilt of both our past and your decisions now. I must do what I must and you must do what you must, but it is my hope that we may stand together when the Life Giver rises to warm us again. I will be saddened if we cannot, but I will understand. You are my friend, Pagztay, and I love you. Please do not follow the law because if I have to, I will kill you, and I would forever be darker if that must happen.”
    Another pause emphasized Speral’s closing words. “If you cannot help us, at least do not be there when we arrive. We will not allow anyone to stop us. When we arrive, if the H’uuman ships we are in are attacked, the Nill world will be destroyed.”
    Pagztay deleted the message and opened his eyes. How has it come to this? Speral threatening to kill us. Has she told the humans the secret of our past? She called them her people . Does she mean that? We scorned her for embracing a human. And the H’uumans. Why do they fight beside Addison now? Or did he just take their ships? That seems more likely. But if not, does he really  inspire such loyalty?
    Pagztay stood and faced the direction of the dawn. When you rise tomorrow, Life Giver, where should I stand? Do I betray my people? Do I stand by my friend? Can I take the whole of the burden of the Nill upon myself? And when will they be here? The message clearly did not come through the Core, so when was it sent?
    Bergh Station
    “What will he do, Speral?” Cort asked as the head of the medical bed raised, allowing him to see her without craning his neck.
    “I don’t know, Cortland. That I mentioned the Tapon will carry some influence. Very few of our people know the full extent of that era of our past. Pagztay is one of them.”
    “Are you ready to share it yet?”
    “Would knowing that change how you deal with the Tapon, Cortland?”
    “No. They took my son. They are going to be extinct.”
    “Then I would rather not betray the Nill.”
    “Fair enough. But if