Melody sits in the sunroom. Her breaths are slow and deep. Eyes shut. Posture fixed.

  The plants say strange things about her.

  "The one who sees without eyes."

  "Disfigured by violence."

  "Hopeful for daybreak."

  "Sunken by shame."

  Shame... What does she have to be ashamed of? Melody's done well for herself without me. I trained her in combat, but she sought to exploit technology. Information as a weapon. The things she must know...

  Experiments are nothing new. Those Axeheads. They're part of the experiment. If I told her or if I ever told anyone... They'd never know who to trust. Neighbors turning into rivals. Families eradicated. What makes us Noble and what makes them not?

  Ever since the war began, people keep their head down. Abilities are no longer a commodity. We've all turned to disguising ourselves as a typical human. Pretending our power doesn’t exist.

  It's my fault. I thought I'd free people from oppression. Instead I made them scared. Now our enemy's empowered. We're too submissive. Too complacent.

  Melody wants me to fight. I can. I would. But the last time I fought...

  Chuboki’s brow twitched and his heavy foot tapped the ground. The same look of annoyance stamped on his face whenever he saw me. “Have you gone mad, Zachariah?”

  I didn’t reply. Instead I marched further into the mine. Small orange lanterns lined the floor.

  Chuboki trailed behind. “They’re more powerful than you realize!”

  That line again… “How many times will you repeat yourself?” He was becoming irritating.

  He blocked me. “Until you stop putting other people’s lives in danger.”

  At the time, his concern was fixed on finding his sister. I promised to help him, but he was certain the Sentients had her. It wasn’t until many years later that I realized who she was and what became of her. Not that knowing would make much of a difference now.

  Still, I shrugged him off and met up with Pon. He had a mean streak. Mighty and infamous before I came along to scoop him up. I eyed him. “Did you get it?”

  Pon nodded and tossed a candle over. “Dunno why they’d guard it. Took a hell of a loss. Better have been worth the trouble.”

  According to our intelligence, the candle was used during a ritual to allow the user to talk to the dead. While the candle remained lit, one could summon the spirit of their choosing. There were only stories about them, but after sending a scouting team and learning the Sentients were guarding the artifact nearby, I gave Pon the go ahead to rile them up.

  Chuboki was not pleased. “It isn’t safe anymore since you plunged us into war. Now this? Do you want everyone to die?”

  I glared at him. Chuboki is a victim. One of thousands. He and I have never gotten along. I’d guess it’s because we’re too much alike. “Do you have a better idea?”

  He blinked.

  I scoffed. “Now you hold your tongue?”

  His fists clenched.

  I snickered. “You’ll never agree with me, Chu. You think this war can be won by a lack of killing, but you know better than anyone that blood is a deterrent.”

  Chuboki growled. “I think you want them to react because she’ll appear.”

  Wasn’t a secret… That bitch… Nebula… Leader of the Sentients… All she’s ever been is a thorn in my side… No one sees her… No one knows her… She’s a nightmare among us… And I was stupid enough to doubt her…

  My hand extended towards him. “Trust me. I’m your friend.” I meant it.

  He took my hand, then yanked me close. “I will trust you, Zachariah. Promise me…when the violence doesn’t stop that you’ll quit pretending all those deaths never happened.”

  I swallowed my words and continued walking. We pushed deeper into the mine.

  It’s not simple. Targeting the Sents. They’re clever, strong, and these new Nobles have experience in battle. Melvin said they take down anyone who stands in their way. They aren’t reported to use abilities which I thought would make a fight with them easy. Melvin’s plea had been pushed to the back of my mind until the Axeheads came out of the woodwork. Tearing through my bases. Laying waste to my armies.

  Neither of us knew who we were dealing with.

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  We met with Pon’s squad. All of them came from Z3’s wasteland. Hardened by the famine and their humanity eroded. Pon was so young back then… Such a gentle boy once you saw past the cannibalism. I expected him to try and eat me too, but the moment his eyes gazed upon me he begged for help. I could only offer him time. The wounds he held were beyond repair. However, in place of healing I took his mind.

  Most of my armies had asked for their memories to be wiped. To never again know the worst parts of themselves. I don’t know if regret is the right word to describe how I feel. Maybe I feel ashamed for having done it. Yet, they found real peace. As much as one can in war.

  Fiona, a brutal and intimidating ally, had followed Pon’s squad. “Saw these creeps lurking about. Thought I’d join in the fun!” She cracked her knuckles. “Who we fighting?”

  Fiona was a force of nature. Another victim of the Sentients reign. She tried killing me and failed. Instead of executing her, I granted her release. She’s been on the warpath ever since.

  Ike is a faceless pal from my newborn days. I told him to join Pon’s squad. He doesn’t talk. Only wears a mask. And he hunts like a snake. If not for him, then I’d probably be wondering around the field I woke up in.

  We discussed the plan and talked about the candle. The Axeheads were taking longer than I thought. We were becoming restless. Fiona ached for a fight. Pon hung around Ike and poked at his mask. Chuboki remained on lookout. The rest didn’t seem bothered.

  A clap echoed in the distance. 2 Axeheads appeared. One of them cackled. “Nice job stealing that relic!”

  The other cooed behind him. “Makes me reminiscent, brother!”

  The dim glow of the lanterns illuminated their thin bodies. No armor. Only cloaks.

  One of them gasped. “Mmm… Damn! What is that smell?”

  The other moaned. “I don’t know, brother! It’s making me miss someone…familiar.”

  My body felt cold. Numb. There was something thrilling about meeting these Axeheads. At the same time I felt worried. What do they know?

  We attacked before they could, but it was a feeble effort. Fiona charged in. Pon and his squad backed her up. The Axeheads hopped over them. Somersaulting between kicks. Throwing them overhead. Stomping heads flat.

  Chuboki and I followed up the attack. Wish we hadn’t. The twins were unpredictable. Pouncing out of place and targeting someone else. No defense. Chuboki defended against them well enough, even saving Fiona from a piercing spear of ice.

  Our intel was wrong. They can use abilities. But how?

  I managed to single one of them out. He struck me in the diaphragm with such force my lungs popped. I wobbled in place, then he threw me into a wall causing rubble to fall. I was unconscious.

  When I came to, I dug my way out and came face to face with corpses. My friends… Their friends… I'd seen mountains of bodies and every time it felt like a piece of me died. This was bigger than myself.

  How many families had I torn apart? How many people had I killed? What do I do to atone for the deaths I took part in?

  That was the day… The most gruesome day of my life… That I vowed never to kill again…

  I cradle the infant in my arms. My vow brought me here. To a town I’d never have thought about. To a family… To Melody…

  Melody sighs. "Zuna Yako..."

  Who's that?

  She trembles. "A human who collects trophies (Nobles)."

  I raise a brow. "Human?"

  Melody nods. "Has even them scared."

  Theresa calls to us. "Lunch!"

  We go into the dining room. Greene, Theresa’s husband, sits at the short end of the table. His small eyes follow the infant. Theresa takes the infant from my arms and coos. I know not to argue with her. She puts a bottle in its mouth. "Made something special for you. Drink up."

  Michael, their son, sits by his father. Melody lands next to him. They've met on occasion, but not long enough to know one another. Michael smiles at me. "I have a new game I want to show you!" His eyes vibrate with life. "It's on my laptop."

  He's a sweet boy. Younger than Melody. Son of carpenters.

  Theresa grins. "Michael, eat your food while it's warm."

  They eat with enjoyment. Slurping yolks into their mouths. Chewing on fat. My plate never empties... Looking down at the two pieces of bacon forming eyebrows, eggs forming eyes, and sausage forming a smile. I see their faces... Will... Heathcliff... Lada... Jarrell... Maury... Wren... And I gag.

  I rub my neck and chug water. Theresa eyes my plate, then averts her gaze to the infant. Greene watches Theresa and smiles. "Why don't we build a crib for the little one?"

  Theresa gasps. “And a hanging mobile!”

  Melody hums. “All it does is sleep.”

  Micheal laughs. “Isn’t that what babies do?”

  I tilt my head. “Not all of them.”

  Theresa looks at Micheal. “When you were a baby, all you wanted to do was explore. Oh, you’d crawl around in your diapers!”

  Greene chimes. “There’d be wet streaks all over the place!”

  We share a laugh. I’d like for the infant to have a normal childhood, but I don’t know if being here will allow that. This town is a few miles from the ocean. The Sentients haven’t found me yet. It might be time to relocate.

  Theresa strokes the infant’s face. “Have you thought of a name?”

  I shake my head. “Not yet.”

  Micheal suggests. “Why not Nathan?”

  Greene holds his chin. “That”s a strong name. I’ve always liked Gabriel.”

  Theresa smiles. “Little baby Nathaniel.”

  I nod. “That has a ring to it.”

  Melody grunts. “Baby Nate!”

  We continue talking about babies. Theresa gives me tips on changing and feeding. She even offers to bring Micheal’s old baby clothes. Melody and Micheal discuss computers. Greene pulls me aside…

  His voice stays low. “I hate to ask, but have you any money to spare?”

  My brows furrow. “Is the business going under?”

  Greene pulls me into the sunroom, then checks over his shoulder. “Micheal is getting older and our apartment is too small for the 3 of us. We’ve been talking about moving. Theresa’s worried about you being alone.”

  I nod. "I’ll give you 100 fractions for a crib.”

  Greene’s eyes widen. “You have that kind of money? Why are you hanging around here?”

  I shrug. “Never know what to spend it on.”

  Greene pats my shoulder. “Deal.”

  I walk them out, then come back to Melody staring at the infant. She has a grim expression. Does she not like babies? I approach her and we watch Nathaniel sleep.

  She huffs. “I should be heading back soon.”

  My hand reaches for her. “You just got here.”

  Melody crosses her arms. Her eyes never move from the infant. “Barthelemy will be expecting a full report. I’m not allowed a vacation. Remember?”

  My shoulders drop. I want to spend more time with her. Thinking about it. She does have a birthday coming up. I chuckle. “Wanna bake a cake?”

  She smirks. “As a goodbye present?”

  I smile. “As a celebration.”

  Melody’s arms hang and she looks confused. “What are we celebrating?”

  I tug her into the kitchen. “You!”