The Starlight Lancer

Chapter Three: Shadow Emergent

"Crisis—the clashing of good and evil, light and dark, is an essential element to forging who we are. There are those who would not stare this truth in the face. Every choice matters. Every battle we win, even against ourselves and our nefarious impulses, matters. And anyone can choose to be a hero."

—Ridarr Fronkep, Chidron to Elvruste, in her speech commemorating the Memorial of the Unknown Savior

The residents of Ildegor packed into Central Hall. With nothing to do but wait, Beni and the guards argued about what had happened. Zaina sat next to the door, her imagination running wild.

"No," one of the town guards said, "it was an orbital bombardment, or some kind of chemical weapon. Why do you think the air's like this?"

Another replied, "Who the fuck would attack Demelia? What kind of message are they trying to send?"

"It's the fucking Future Wars again," one piped up. "I'll bet that's why they're coming all the way out here. Hoping to avoid drawing the attention of the Synatorium."

Zaina frowned. Their conjecture only fueled her torturous worries. She tried to tune them out as she sat off to the side in silence, waiting for her family.

A dim light pierced the smoke in the distance, growing in size and intensity until a large transport lined with six eight-foot-tall tires emerged from the shadow. On the back was a large metal flatbed packed with masked people from the outskirts. Among them were Zaina's mother, father, and siblings. The vehicle came to a stop, and Two-dye Tohm stepped out from the driver's cabin atop the transport's colossal engine, climbed down the rusted ladder, and walked around to open the back.

As people jumped off, Tohm shouted instructions, "Go on, now, get into Central Hall! Orderly fashion, orderly fashion! Come on! No pushing now, these are your neighbors!"

Zaina's mother made a beeline for her, clutching young Dessa to her bosom as she walked. She pulled Zaina in for an awkward hug, pressing Dessa against her older sister. "Zaina—Zaina, are you all right? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine, Mom," she replied. "How are all of you?"

Zaina's mother cast a glance over at her husband, who was slowly climbing out of the flatbed. Deril and Elanta were helping him. "Your father was outside when—well, I don't know what happened, Zaina—but he fell. Do you know what's happening?"

Zaina shook her head. "I don't know, but they're talking about evacuating the whole planet. Here, you need to get inside. The ships should be here soon."

Beni walked over, his face flashing concern as his eyes fell on Zaina's father, who coughed into his hand, then let the blood roll from it as his arm fell limply over Deril. "Zaina—help your family into the Central Hall, please. Once everyone's in, we'll hole up 'til the buzzards get here." He leaned over Elanta and Deril and said in a warm tone, "Hey, now, kids. Don't worry. Everything's going to be all right. We'll be going on a little adventure, is all."

Zaina turned to her father and slipped under one of his arms to support his weight, with her brother helping from the other side.

"Zaina—Zaina..." he said in a weak, distant voice.

"I'm here, Pops," she said. "I'm here. It's me."

He tried to stand up straight. "I—oh—" A pained expression jolted across his face.

"Don't move too much, Dad," she said. "Let's get you inside. You can rest until the buzzards get here."

"Zaina—Beni, I have to—I have to help—"