Gravity Rises (S3)

CW: Part Six

Andrew, understandably, had a lot on his mind. He and Gideon left the Museum and flew across the forest. The trip wasn't long, but it gave Andrew time to think.

He didn't want to think. Already a voice in his mind was condemning him for killing Lee. Murderer, the voice said. You have agreed to become a murderer. How can you ever hold your children in your arms again if your hands are stained with blood?

He tried to ignore that voice. There were plenty of other things to think about. Like Caleb — what about him? Should I go to him and ask him to join us in fighting against Bill? This would be a good opportunity for him to serve penance for what he did, but what if he betrays me again? Can I ever trust him?

Both topics were ones he'd bring to the elders tomorrow, along with the recruitment efforts for the other minotaurs. Tonight, though, he and Gideon were recruiting the fairies. Andrew tried to keep his mind on that.

True to his word, Gideon really was known by the fairies. They flew up to him, asked him a few questions (mostly about something called the Northwest's Relief), and then listened as he told them about their plans related to the Cipher Wheel.

At first, they didn't want to "come and risk ourselves fighting against Cipher's magic when we could easily kill one human and fix all this." It was true that tomorrow would be a risk — large spells always were — but Gideon tried to convince the fairies that it would be worth it. There was a possibility it would work, he said, and they wanted to do everything they could to avoid any deaths.

"We'll use every precaution," Andrew promised. "There will be some risk, but isn't this what our ancestors came here to do? To take risks if it meant keeping Cipher contained?"

The fairies couldn't very well ignore the ancestral argument. They agreed, although from their looks in Gideon's direction, Andrew suspected it was more sympathy than argument that convinced them.

Sympathy. For a human, no less. Andrew hadn't seen that from fairies before.

Andrew and Gideon spent some time planning with the fairies, deciding who would visit what other groups and when. The planning gave Andrew something to focus on, though his thoughts kept trying to slip back into worry. Would one day be soon enough? It would be an impressive feat if they could gather so many species so quickly, but surely everyone would recognize the urgency in stopping Cipher. Andrew just hoped Cipher couldn't get up to any mischief in one day.

Maybe that was too much time. Maybe they should spend the entire night gathering the others. The sky wasn't going to be getting any darker or lighter, so maybe that would trick their brains into staying awake. But as Andrew looked at Gideon, he could see signs of fatigue. The Cipher Wheel had taken a lot out of the Symbols today; they would need their rest tonight before trying again tomorrow.

So Andrew didn't say anything, and when they were done talking to the fairies, he went with Gideon back to the Museum. They found the place quiet, with only one woman in the living room. "Hello, Mother," Gideon said.

"How did it go?" the woman asked, standing up from the couch and approaching.

"It went well," Gideon said. "The fairies are going to help us."

"Wonderful," she said. "And they're going to get other species to come here? Stanford says you're going to try the Wheel again tomorrow with their help."

"Right," Gideon said. "Andrew and I are also going out tomorrow to get people."

The woman nodded. "Well, in that case, you two should get some sleep. Andrew, Melody put some blankets in the lab for you. She hopes you don't mind sleeping in there with the perytons."