previously
Chapter 1: The Door
Chapter 2: The Pilot
Chapter 3: The Priest
Chapter 4: The Warmaker
Chapter 5: The Emperor
[Original fiction, 9k words this chapter]
6. The First Step
Stiff and sore, I nevertheless hunched in the direction of the new arrival, left hand glowing with the key as I extended my right cythorn. Saffa was exposed in space to my left; Dufore stood to my right, spreading their hands in a placating posture of surrender. I did not have spare thought to scorn their choice, my mind racing with what I might hope to do with only the power of my cystem against a chrononaut. I could see no more sign of the Emperor than had been left of Birleg.
"Who are you?" Saffa said, her high voice wavering. There were new tears in her clothing, some of them bloodied, from the explosion of violence that had knocked us all down.
The chrononaut looked at her. "You're not one of Lucius' tree people."
"I'm from the Commonwealth," she said, with a hint of what might have been hope.
"The fuck is that?" Their voice was deep and curt, unmistakably tired.
