The Joining: The Cycle of the Shards Book One

8: The Journey Begins

"Yes, you're coming with me." Tomkari was very confused, yet slightly honored as Critock explained the request that Qua'roti Alpha had agreed to. "I'm going to be one of them, and I'm going to have to act like one of them. That means I'm going to need someone there whispering in my ear the things I need to know."

"Well that's all well and good, but I'm not a spy! The Qua'roti gives me tasks, and I do them! This isn't part of what a tender does!"

"If this doesn't work, then there's no Marconian Empire, Tomk. There'll be no Qua'roti, and you're going to need a new line of work anyway. Might as well get a head start."

"No, I don't understand, why me? Surely there are other tenders, other soldiers..."

Critock smiled. Just a few minutes ago, it was him asking the same questions. The pair, Critock walking and Tomkari floating alongside, were being led by Qua'roti Beta, a slightly younger and absolutely silent member of the religious sect. After Alpha had finished, he had quietly spoken to his second in command, who had gestured for the two to follow. Leaving the Qua'roti chambers behind, they had moved deeper into the compound. As they moved, Tomkari was blindsided by the sudden demand. "You're coming with me because I neither know nor trust anyone else the Qua'roti have to offer. Anyone that Marconia or the Qua'roti themselves actually want to send is someone I don't want with me."

"But...I'm nothing. I was just doing a job. How do you know you can trust me?" There was no accusations or challenge in the wisp's words, just genuine questions, and Critock could detect a lack of self-confidence. He turned to face Tomkari, while the Beta continued moving.

"You're devoted to your beliefs as a soul, which I can respect. You're devoted to the Qua'roti, which typically isn't something I can really endorse, but you're sincere. And you're the first person in a hundred cycles that actually was excited to see me. I'm not looking for a spy, and I'm not looking for a soldier. I'm looking for someone to give me a hand that's not looking to make a name for themselves." Critock started to walk, and Tomkari followed. "You're not in any danger there, you can shift your wavelength to match my optics. I'm the only one that'll be able to see you. You'll just have to be quiet, if you can. Besides, I need to keep an eye on you if I'm going to get my ten thousand."

Tomkari sighed. "I should probably have told you..."

"I know, no money. I assumed I would have heard the Alpha say something about it to add to the pot. Nice bluff."

"No, there's money. I pay my debts. Just need a little time to get it out of my vault."

"Your debts?" Critock shook his head. "The ten grand is yours?"

"I needed to get you to the Qua'roti. You can see how important it was." The Beta nodded to the left, and then moved down a hallway. Critock walked faster and followed him, with Tomkari slightly behind.

"Well, I'm here now. Save your money, and come with me. I don't know a damn thing about this planet, and it looks like you're about to get an info dump." Critock pointed towards the door at the end of the hallway where the Beta had disappeared. In it was a small machine that neither Critock nor the beta could fit anything but their head into, surrounded by two souls and three female Qua'roti. Tomkari groaned as Critock continued. "You're going to be my eyes and ears of Earth. Makes sense they'd want to load you up before you go."

Tomkari shuddered. It wasn't the first time he had been in one of the machines that Critock had elegantly referred to as an info dump, and while it wasn't the worst sensation in the world, he would have preferred to never undergo the procedure again. Designed as a quick way to train soldiers on infrastructure and etiquette when visiting foreign worlds, the machine beamed an entire schools worth of education directly into the learning center of the brain. It was the only thing that could still give the soul a headache, and left him dazed for a time afterward. "Why can't you go through this?"