Arion's back was to him as Soren came in, his shirt hanging in vivid crimson tatters. In stark contrast, his face was desperately pale with shock as he turned and looked up.  Soren's first impulse was to make a joke, but he suppressed it; Arion's composure was clearly tenuous, so he opted instead for brisk efficiency.

He worked swiftly and silently, getting him as fit to travel as he could, though his doubts grew stronger and stronger. While the fresh wounds were not terribly serious, it was all too visible that he had been severely abused, and Soren couldn’t help but wonder how much stamina he had left. "Here, hand me that laser and I'll lock it up for you," he said when he had finished.

"It's not a laser," he answered distantly.  "It's Raach's brotik."

"The stun gun?"

"Yeah."

He gave a low whistle of appreciation and smiled.  "So we have two trophies to take home!"

"Two?"

"You're a trophy all by yourself pal.  First human ever captured to come back alive! But we need to get you settled so Sparrow can get us up and out."

Arion nodded but failed to smile, moving over to the pressure tube and climbing in. Without a pressure suit, it would provide him with what Soren hoped would be sufficient protection. He sealed it, then thumped the lid and gave Arion the thumbs up. Arion smiled briefly in return and closed his eyes.

"Let's get out of here!" he said to Sparrow as he jumped into his seat.

"It's about time," said Sparrow as the Valerian responded. "How delicate is he?"

"I don't know," he answered shaking his head.  "He seems awfully shocky.  The laser graze is basically nothing, but he bled quite a bit from the bites." He paused, choking on his anger. "I'm not sure what all else might be wrong with him. He's got some fairly fresh cuts on his back and an awful lot of color on his ribs."

Liam and Ellis fell in behind the Valerian as they picked up speed. "Request permission to destroy," came Ellis's voice.

"No," Soren answered tightly. "I gave my word."

"Soren," said Liam, "I thought the idea was to take them captive.  If you don't want them destroyed, why'd you let them go?"

He paused, gritting his teeth. "Arion wanted it that way. I'm not sure yet why, but they just don't matter that much. What matters now is getting him home." He smiled then, laughing slightly.  "If it’s any consolation though, he had the venat's stun gun with him."

Ellis gave a whoop of laughter as Liam exclaimed,  "That Arion!  Maybe we better throw him back. We'll never be able to live with him now!"

"What do your scanners show?" he asked, still feeling  blinded within the Valerian, which lacked the long range abilities of the Starphires.

"Clear skies Soren," said Liam.

"Good."  The trip home seemed endless, though in fact it took less than an hour. Sparrow guided the Valerian in and Soren was rather impressed by the reception. He hadn't even considered quarantine, but clearly the council had. Masked personnel directed them down a separate aisle and into a chamber, sealing the doors behind them. Soren groaned, realizing only then that he and Sparrow would be kept in quarantine as well.

Sparrow looked over and grinned at him, unsympathetic. Together they went back and unsealed Arion's tube. The trip had evidently taken its toll despite the anesthetic, and Kinoshi's lighter gravity had undoubtedly sensitized him as well. He tried to sit up, succeeding only with help. "I'm sorry," he said softly, closing his eyes. “It's really not that bad. I just..." He trailed off and Soren wondered briefly if he was going to pass out.

"Don't sweat it buddy," he said smiling. "You're just not supposed to be gallivanting all over space when you're all chewed up. Just down the ladder, they've got a gurney waiting and we'll give you a ride into the Medicat. Looks like we're in for some quarantine duty."

“Can’t just stay here, can I?”

“Nope.”

He nodded. "I thought not." He groaned heavily as they helped him climb out, leaning heavily on their support. He steadied then and managed the ladder on his own, though he seemed more than grateful for the gurney, closing his eyes and going quite limp.

"Relax Soren," said Sparrow smiling. "He'll be fine." Soren glanced at him, startled, then down at Arion.

He opened his eyes and smiled at both of them. "Piece o' cake," he said, and closed his eyes again.

Soren laughed and did relax, following Sparrow's lead. He seemed comfortable with the situation and familiar with the procedures, knowing where things were and what to do. They left the Valerian behind doors that automatically sealed as they closed, entering a quarantine unit almost immediately. With Sparrow available, the other personnel stayed out, so the two of them bedded Arion down themselves after Sparrow gave him a more thorough repair. That done, they admitted themselves to the adjacent unit and sealed the door.

Soren gazed through the dividing panel at Arion, already sound asleep, and felt a profound sense of awe. It had been over a cycle since he disappeared, and yet he was back, safe if not sound. So much had happened since that heart-breaking day... He recalled easily how vividly he had dreamt, over and over, of the look on Arion's face when he looked up at the screen and saw the venator, of the laughter that had churned his stomach, knowing they could never reach him in time, of the Ealdred's voice recalling Liam, Ellis, and Rick. So much had happened since then; and Arion, what had happened to him during all that time?

Soren rose, restless, and gazed through the window yet again. His victorious elation had subsided to be replaced by a choking anger and an indefinable fear. Arion was lying on his side, slightly curled, sleeping peacefully. He understood Arion's ability to tolerate quarantine, and yet it impressed him too; impressed him, and dismayed him.

Arion had spent somewhat over a full cycle in captivity, in a single, windowless room. Yet this was the man who had been constantly on the move, who had consistently and strenuously denied the claustrophobia so readily apparent to the others of their squad.

First human ever captured to come back alive. His best friend. His wingmate. But he barely knew him now. Arion had always been somewhat insecure, but never a coward, and the two together had undone him. Too weak to hold out, to strong to give in, he had returned home a ruined man.

Soren’s anger rose again, and again there was nothing he could do. For the last two weeks, despite his obvious shame, Arion had been telling his story for the record, earnestly trying to convince everyone of the lies he'd been fed. And here he himself sat, forbidden to say a word. Not a word!

Arion recognized easily enough that no one believed him, but it only served to push him further, digging deeper to try to prove his outrageous claims. So patient now, would he understand when they finally told him the truth? Or would he feel, as Soren so often did, that he was still at the mercy of captors' heartless whims?

He recalled the sight of Arion's back - the laser graze, the torn shoulder, half healed whiplashes, and the bruising in front that marked a broken rib. Not for an enforced message, as he had originally supposed, but for sport. How, how could Arion possibly defend what they had done to him? And yet that was exactly what he was doing.

"You won't have any fingers left if you're not careful," said Sparrow.

He looked at his hand, startled. Quarantine had not been kind to his nails, and he'd taken to chewing at the cuticles as well.

"You're still worried about him, aren't you?"

"Aren't you?" he demanded irritably. Their mutual isolation would end today, but the first order of business would be a council to confront Arion's "problems."

"Yes and no," he answered calmly. "We've heard his side, it's well past time he should be allowed to hear ours." He rose suddenly and tapped on the glass. Arion woke instantly, lifting his head. "Rise and shine, Mr. Celebrity," Sparrow said through the intercom. "You don't want to greet freedom in your bathrobe do you?"

Arion laughed. "Definitely not! Thanks." He climbed out of bed, moving more easily now, though he still favored his right arm.

Never in six years of fighting had Soren hated the marauding venators, but he knew hate now. How he would love to get his hands on that black vampat! It might be larger and stronger, but it could never equal the rage he felt.

He watched Arion dress, his depression deepening. Gone was the banter they should be sharing now. He had given up trying when so much of what he said seemed to distress Arion, rather than make him laugh. And he seemed to prefer the silence...

Gone too was the uniform. While it certainly wasn't required, Arion had always been proud of it. He still had his ring, but even that came off at times.

Arion faced the glass and presented himself. "Am I ready for the records?" he asked with a smile.

"Never," he sneered, "but it'll do."

Arion dropped his arms and shook his head. "Jealous," he said to Sparrow. "He always was you know."

"Yeah, right."

"Why don't you two take this sparring to the chessboard and entertain me?" suggested Sparrow.

"Oh, so that's why you got me up, huh? To entertain you?"

"At least you're good for something," Sparrow replied calmly.

Soren allowed a smile to weaken his depression, grudgingly admitting to himself that the banter had not entirely disappeared.

Chess had always been his game, but Arion had improved enough during his imprisonment to become a challenge. "Well of course if you feel safer sparring words..." he said mildly.

"O-oh," he chuckled, "you're just begging for it, aren't you? Okay then. Bring it on up." He came over to the console on his side as Sparrow filed his bookmark and opened the chess game from their side of the glass.

"White or black?"

"Challenger takes white." They played silently, and Soren mentally thanked Sparrow for the comfort of the setting. Conversation always, inevitably bogged down, leaving everyone feeling awkward, but during the game it wouldn't be noticed.

The contest, however, was left undecided. Ealdred Tovi, several councilors, and a records crew paraded into quarantine. With quiet, simple ceremony, the Ealdred unsealed the doors and welcomed Soren and Sparrow out of their shared cubicle. "Congratulations on a successful mission," he said, shaking their hands as they came out. "It was truly stupendous."

"God was willing," said Sparrow in standard reply.

He unsealed Arion's door and held it open. They looked at each other, both undoubtedly conscious of the discussion to come. "Welcome home."

Arion nodded, smiling. "Thank you, sir." They shook hands, and then Sparrow came forward and hugged him. Arion turned to face Soren, no longer separated by the wall of glass.

Soren gazed steadily at him as Arion searched his eyes. A lump rose in his own throat as he realized that he was seeking a way through the wall that remained. "Don't worry," he whispered as they hugged each other. "We'll build a bridge."

Arion squeezed in answer and stepped back, his eyes wet. He tossed his head and laughed, smiling at the crew. "And I told myself I wouldn't cry!"

Everyone laughed, and then the Ealdred took control. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we have some demands on them. We'll arrange for an interview as soon as possible." He moved off, followed by Arion. Soren and Sparrow came after him while the records crew brought up the rear.

"To begin," said Ealdred Tovi when they were seated in the privacy of his office, "I would like to remind you, Soren, and you, Sparrow, that you are here as witnesses, chosen because of your close contact during quarantine. If you have insights or new information to offer, you may do so, but only in an orderly manner. Other than that, I must ask you not to interrupt. Do you understand this?"

"Yes, sir," they replied in unison.

"Very well. Arion, you have made three highly impressive assertions that obviously must be dealt with. I hope you are not offended by my choice of a private council. This is preliminary to a general, and possibly a full council if warranted."

"Yes, sir. No offense."

"Your assertions are: one, that the Lenisats are human. Two, that the venators have souls. And three, that Satan is loose. Is this an accurate summation?" Soren watched Arion, relieved to see that he was not surprised by the Ealdred's list - a list that neatly and directly stated the items to be disputed.

"The venators have something. I don't know if it should be called a soul, but they're not just animals."

"Thank you. Two then, that the venators are not just animals. Acceptable?"

"Yes, sir."

"Very good. Do you understand the weight of such claims?"

He opened his mouth, but hesitated, then smiled and gave a soft laugh. "In all honesty, probably not entirely. But yes, I understand that it's very serious."

"Are you prepared to claim the role of a prophet?"

Soren again looked at Arion. Predictably, by the look on his face, he had not expected such a question. "No, sir. I'm not."

"Then I must ask you, Arion, by what authority can you make such revelations?"

Soren took a deep breath and held it, schooling himself to silence. The Ealdred wasn't pulling his punches, but the sooner Arion realized the truth, the better.

Arion frowned, considering. "...I can't claim the role of a prophet, but I.. I can't help believing that God helped me get home so that.. so I could share what I learned. I have done my very best to describe for you, as accurately as possible, what I heard, saw, did, and thought. These 'revelations' are a part of that answer. You are asking me now for authority, but.. all I can offer you is honesty."

"Thank you, Arion. That is an admirable answer. But you must understand also, by your own description of your experience, that everything you heard and saw was very tightly controlled by the venators. What you were allowed to do, even what you were meant to think was directly manipulated by the venators. Do you agree?"

"...Yes, sir."

"In light of that," said the Ealdred slowly, emphasizing his words, "isn't it possible that your conclusions are a direct result of carefully planned manipulation?"

"Sir?"

The Ealdred sighed heavily and sat back. "We have been over the transcripts of your report again and again. It is the opinion of the council that the venators carefully controlled everything you saw, heard and did in order to convince you that," he held up his hand, ticking off the points, "the Lenisats are human, the venators are not just animals, and Satan is loose. They lied to you, Arion. A cruel, vicious, careful lie."

"With all due respect, sir, that doesn't make sense."

The Ealdred sighed, looking down in thought. "And if I tell you some good news, what then? What if I tell you that Liam is alive? That he most joyfully flew escort to bring you home? What if I tell you that no pilot was captured trying to rescue you, contrary to what the venator Sharsa told you?"

"...Liam's alive?" He looked at Soren for confirmation.

Soren nodded. "That's right," he said softly, grateful for the lack of reproach in Arion's eyes.

Arion took the information inside himself, gazing at the floor with a sigh, his smile slight without, yet clearly brilliant within. "You have no idea..." he whispered without finishing.

He looked up at the Ealdred then, composed. "I know Sharsa lied to me, sir. Raach had already told me he had, just not what. But I don't think Raach lied to me. It just wouldn't make sense."

"Why? Why doesn't it make sense to you?"

"I just... Well, if nothing else, Raach meant all along to kill me. Almost did. Why go to all the trouble you mentioned and then kill me?"

"Are you dead?"

"No, sir, but..."

"The threat of your death was also a lie. They never meant to kill you. If they had, they could have done so. ...They wanted you to come back."

"But that was as bait. That all fell apart when Raach warned me."

"And then allowed you to escape."

"...But if they wanted me back here, it was all set. Why mess it up like that?"

"Because they wanted us to believe you. Arion, when you very first spoke to me, we were all certain that you were being forced and told what to say. It was clear from the way you held yourself, the way you spoke, and what you said. Do you remember?"

"Yes, sir, but I wasn't being forced. Or told what to say."

"But you knew you didn't trust him then. Do you trust him more now just because you are home and safe?"

"...No, sir. Quite frankly, I don't trust Sharsa. But Raach didn't lie to me. He never bothered. And at the end, he helped me."

"He helped you because they wanted you to believe them. They wanted us to believe you. They knew that we would have exactly the suspicions we are having now. Layers upon layers, Arion. Convolutions to hide the truth. Giving you to us freely would have made it even plainer that your message was constructed. Your escape was planned and calculated."

"But why offer me back in the first place then? Why not just let me escape?"

"Two reasons. Good ones. First of all, to let us know that you were alive and to give them an excuse to remove hindrances. And second, to test you. What would you say if given the chance?"

"But... Then why did they follow me?" He hesitated, uncomfortable. His eyes dropped and he said softly, "They had no way of knowing I would ask Soren to leave them alone."

He nodded. "It was Raach who tore your shoulder open, was it not? To force the promise of safety from Soren?"

He opened his mouth to object, hesitated, and dropped his eyes. He nodded. "Yes. But Sharsa was the one demanding a promise. Raach... The whole situation was falling apart. Raach had to do something, and he apologized afterwards."

The Ealdred paused, quite possibly biting back a caustic retort such as the one that Soren snarled so vehemently within his own mind.

"...Taking this from the other side," said the Ealdred, "how would you explain Raach's desire to help you escape?"

"He wanted me to know that Sharsa was using me. ...I got the impression that he resented Sharsa's using me as bait. Raach was always adamant about hypocrisy, and to betray trust like that... There is also apparently a high level of competition between them."

"May I point out two key words that you just used - impression, and apparently. They gave you the impression. You said before that they were brothers. Brothers can plot together as well as compete, and Raach went far beyond simply spoiling Sharsa's plan. It wasn't necessary to allow you to escape, but according to you he deliberately made it possible."

Arion frowned, considering. "He could have stopped me, and he didn't. He had the brotik. It would have been easy. ...He let me go. It had to be on purpose."

"Why would he do that?"

"...Because he wanted to."

"For the first time in history, a venator liked a human enough to help him escape."

Arion flushed, angry and embarrassed. "I didn't ask for this. I didn't even want it. But he - " He broke off and sighed, calming himself. "Everything he did was always for a reason. He hated me, just like we've hated them, because he thought I was a hypocrite. Kirtika. Vampat."

"Everything he did, you say, was for a reason. Liars are very calculating, Arion. They have to be."

"That's not what I meant. What he did..." He hesitated then, struggling on the words, dropping his eyes to stare at the floor. "He felt I deserved it. ...I broke my vow," he said slowly, his voice thick. "I killed two humans. What reason did he have to think he was wrong? ...But God does forgive, and when Raach changed his mind, he helped me. All I could think was that God wanted me to get home."

"Yes," the Ealdred said smoothly, soothingly. "That makes sense. Because God wanted you home. But not necessarily to tell us what the venators want us to think. God was not punishing you, Arion. You did not break your vow, because the Lenisats are not human, and that venator knew it. Sharsa tried one approach and it didn't work, so Raach tried another."

"The Lenisats?" he echoed softly, startled and deeply troubled. "What do you mean, they're not human? Of course they're human!" He stared at the Ealdred, searching his eyes with mounting alarm. Soren sighed. He had thought Arion realized that the Ealdred's list was to be disputed. Apparently not this.

"Arion, if God wanted you to deliver such an important message, don't you think He would have made it very, very clear?"

He gazed at Ealdred Tovi, his shock settling into a quiet anger. "Which part, sir, do you find unclear?"

"Why we should believe that this isn't a carefully planned lie."

Arion's frown deepened to a grimace and he dropped his eyes, the anger crumbling. This alone, however, was fuel for Soren's private rage. Polite argument was not only permissible, it was encouraged to increase sharp thinking on all levels, but the venats had so thoroughly ravaged Arion's confidence that he was ashamed to debate.

"I didn't want to know," he said softly, "didn't want to believe, but... I know the Lenisats seem awful, but when they sold me to the venators, they didn't even realize at first who they were going to be dealing with. It was almost an accident, really."

The Ealdred's eyebrow went up, skeptical. "The manner in which they first greeted you can hardly be called an accident."

Arion shook his head, growing more and more miserable. "They've been alone for so long... Satan is loose, sir. And they've been alone for so long. Maybe since the first raids, even. They don't know who we are. They don't even know we exist! He thought I was being obnoxious, on purpose..." He trailed off, searching the Ealdred's eyes, then dropped his own and shook his head, grimacing. "God touched me. I know He did. That was real."

"Yes, I'm sure it was. No one's trying to take that away from you. But does that actually mean that these claims are true? The first 'touch' you mentioned, He prevented you from killing yourself. Correct?"

"Yes."

"The second incident, by your description, you were panicked and He gave you comfort. Correct?"

"Yes."

"That does not tell me that these claims are true. It tells me that He cared for you in two very difficult situations."

Arion remained silent, his eyes on the floor.

"Let's try another direction. If Satan is truly loose, why haven't we seen any evidence of it among ourselves? Why would he confine himself to the Lenisats?"

"Maybe he didn't. Raach said -" He broke off even as he looked up, realizing that anything the venator had said would be worthless. "...The Lenisats got chased out there in the beginning raids. They made it to that planet and couldn't get back. They were alone and vulnerable, and believe me, I know how that feels. It makes it a whole lot easier for Satan to whisper in your ear. Besides, if the venators aren't just animals, it is affecting us."

The Ealdred paused, pinching his lower lip. "If the venators have souls, or something similar, what would you have us do about it?"

"I don't know, sir. I honestly don't know."

"Don't you think that this question was seriously, painfully considered by our fathers?"

"Yes sir."

"But they were wrong."

"I don't know," he said unhappily. "I wasn't there. If Satan's loose... We've got people, have always had people who weren't convinced the venators had no souls."

"Yes, but they aren't running around saying Satan is loose."

"No sir."

"Then is that a necessary element? If you cannot find it in your conscience to fight, then by all means you will not be asked to fight. But those of us with the God given faith have sworn an oath to protect all those with souls. Not just our own people, but everyone."

"Yes sir, I know," he said tightly, his anger returning. "I took that oath. If the venators have souls, and I know it, then I have to do something about it, don't I? And..." He spoke with difficulty now, visibly trembling.

"Go on."

"What about the Lenisats? Sir, they are human, so Satan must be loose. And if he's loose, then there's no telling what mistakes we may have been making."

"You have to understand, Arion, that while this past cycle has been so very difficult for you, the rest of us have not been standing still. The Lenisats represent the single greatest threat we've faced since the coming of the venators themselves." Soren noted from his tone that he had completely abandoned the pretext of considering Arion's position.

"Threat?" asked Arion, confused. "But they're humans. What else could they be? And they have nothing. They can't threaten us."

"No Arion. They're not human. And that's exactly why they are a threat. Consider this: if the Lenisats are human, why haven't the venators eaten them all? The answer is, because they aren't human and the venators aren't eating them. If they were, there wouldn't be any left. The fact of the matter is, we offered to evacuate the Lenisats, but they refused. We offered protection, and they refused. When we attempted assault, the Rikshastika actively defended them."

Arion looked up sharply. "You attacked them."

"Yes."

Arion struggled with the information as the Ealdred waited silently. "Why?" he whispered, his indignation deep and obvious. "What could they possibly do to you? ...Because of me," he stated flatly, frustrated fury etched in every word. "Raach told me, but I didn't want to believe it. Even then he didn't lie to me. ...Oh God, what have I done?"

"They are not human, Arion. That's precisely why they are a threat."

He shook his head, anguished and angry. "Threat. How?"

Ealdred Tovi gazed at him stonily, waiting. Soren shifted his weight, moving something other than his lips, and Arion's challenge melted under the Ealdred's disapproval.

"The Lenisats are genetically engineered creatures, an abomination produced by the venators."

"Produced..?" Arion's nose wrinkled in distaste and rejection. "Why? How?"

"The entire planet of Kinoshi is dedicated to a research center. A lavish expense, but it offers unparalleled containment. Maybe the Lenisats started as a project to produce food for themselves, we don't know. But the end result now, besides the slave labor you glimpsed, is a supply of imitation humans. Undetectable imposters by sight, though blood tests have revealed a certain trace element unique to them."

"Spies... That's why Silas was so upset."

"Yes. A tragic mistake on his part, but an honest one," agreed the Ealdred, recognizing the reference. According to Arion's report, Silas was another captive who had attacked him, believing him to be a Lenisat. "If in fact he was human and not another Lenisat."

"No, he was from Aditi," Arion said almost absently. "I recognized the accent. And his hair was longer."

"Accents can be learned and faked, and hair can grow. It may well have been totally staged to further convince you. The venator returned handily enough."

Arion's attention returned. "Sharsa. He… watches. To see what happens."

"In other words, you were carefully monitored. Carefully controlled."

Arion sighed and dropped his head, shaking it slowly. "I'm sorry, but... How can they be so like us if they were produced? I just can't see it."

"Genetic mapping. No one has ever accused the Venatorista of being stupid. They are extremely intelligent. If you take the egg of a rabbit and replace the nucleus, the egg becomes something new."

"That's cloning. That's not new. And it wouldn't make them inhuman."

The Ealdred sighed, his irritation showing, marking just how unhappy he truly was. "That was merely an example of what can be done. I am not a scientist. We don't know how they did it, but their very behavior makes clear what they are.

"You recognized it yourself before those animals got hold of you. You know so little of what has transpired. Arion, they treat each other in the same vicious manner that they treated you. They sell each other to the venats on a regular basis!" He might have said more, but he checked himself and fell silent. Though Arion tried to hide it, he was clearly intimidated by the Ealdred's anger.

"...Because Satan's loose," Arion said softly, stubbornly, staring at the floor. "But they helped me. They needed..."

"Who? Raach's Lenisats? Did you see them help you? Or did Raach just tell you they did? Did they ever talk to you? Or was the only communication the slips of paper that could have been written by anyone? For that matter, as cohorts of the venators, wouldn't they willingly have taken part in his charade?"

"But God..." He closed his eyes and continued softly, "I didn't want to sing anymore. It wasn't worth it. But God wanted me to help them. To tell them... And I couldn't have done it if God hadn't helped me. Why would He ask that of me if they had no souls?"

The Ealdred nodded, then glanced at Soren and Sparrow, reminding them of their obligation to support Arion in this most difficult area. Soren's jaw tightened as he took another deep breath, holding it. He had argued at length with the Ealdred, the intercoms giving them privacy, wanting to allow that Arion's unseen audience had been human, that his efforts to reach out to them had not been pointless. But the Ealdred refused. If they started playing games with the definitions now, he'd said, it could only confuse Arion more. A clean sweep was necessary.

"Arion," said the Ealdred quietly, "God is most patient and loving in how He deals with us. He gave you the strength to face what was for you an incredible challenge. This has been His gift to us throughout history.

"You desperately needed a reason for living, and Raach fed you the purpose you had chosen, strengthening his own ends. What reason could that beast have had, to care what some Lenisats thought? More to the point, if he truly had a soul, or something similar, why would he object?

"Because the call was real to you, God responded and provided you with the power to meet the challenge. Your faith and desire in that situation were a wonderful oblation, a true sacrifice offered in all sincerity. But the request that you sing came from Raach."

Arion listened, sitting quietly, his eyes focused on the edge of the table. "You're saying I did it for nothing." He spoke smoothly, with only the faintest hint of anger.

"No. You did it for God. And in return, God taught you strength that you will never lose."

He gave a sudden, short and bitter laugh. "Self important. I never gave up trying to earn it."

"The fantasy of their need in no way cheapens the reality of what you did. It was truly remarkable. That they were willing cohorts of the venators is not your fault."

Arion looked up sharply, then slowly shook his head. "The little boy that Reegat held was not willing."

"Which little boy?"

"Reegat held him, suffocating him to make me fight." His anger seemed to be rising, and Soren prayed that it might properly direct itself against the venators rather than himself or the Ealdred.

He nodded. "They are, after all, slaves without a choice."

"...But he brought me water."

The Ealdred shook his head. "You said yourself that was only a dream. Wishful thinking in the middle of a worsening situation." He paused, then sighed. "Let's say he did. He brought you water when the venator was supposedly trying to kill you. He could just as easily, more easily, have been sent by the venator to keep you alive. You might ask yourself, if Raach truly is more than an animal, why then is he so ruthless?"

Arion froze, then seemed to sag, the anger melting away as well. "I have. Constantly. And it's so weird..." He shook his head and sighed. "Sharsa always acted so nice, and it drove me crazy. I wanted to trust him, but I couldn't. I just couldn't." He paused, his mouth silently searching for words. "But Raach... It was always so clear with him. On or off. Black or white. I always knew where I stood with him. I..."

"Always? Not from your record."

He looked up, struggling with himself, then sighed. "No, you're right. Not always. But it made sense afterwards. I was always scared of him, but.. I trusted him too.

"...Ruthless. Yes, very. But always for a reason. The more important it was to him, the harder he came down. I made mistakes, but I always knew afterwards what it would cost me to make it again." He paused, lost in his own thoughts.

Soren looked at the Ealdred, frowning, and shook his head.

"He abused you, Arion," the Ealdred said firmly. "Viciously, unforgivably abused you. The situation you were in was simply intolerable, and some degree of confusion is to be expected. But you must let go of the fantasy."

For the first time Arion looked truly lost. "But if it's all nothing," he asked faintly, "if Satan isn't loose, why did He let it happen? Why didn't God just let me die?"

"God may show you in time. Perhaps you will never know. We cannot choose our time to die, nor what lessons we are meant to learn. It could even just be one of the harsh realities of life. The rain falls where it will," he said gently. "Instead, concentrate on the fact that He stayed with you throughout it all. It's hard right now, but you'll emerge from this with great strength of spirit."

He was trembling again. "Self important," he said, attempting a smile.

"We're all important to God. And you are still a hero in your own right. You are, after all, the first human ever to come back alive. No one has ever suspected that could even be possible. Perhaps that was God's purpose. The people are looking to you as a beacon of hope. That's a great responsibility. Do you think you're ready for it?"

"No."

He nodded. "The people are not aware of your present difficulties, and I think would have trouble grasping them. We are prepared to shield you until you're ready. In the meantime, I believe I heard something on the radio about snookering time off for Soren?" He paused, smiling slightly as Arion looked up. "Both Soren and Sparrow have been given on-call status. You yourself are being placed on mandatory leave for a minimum of four weeks.

"Arrangements have been made to provide you with a new gremlin, complete with cabin. Donations toward the effort were bountiful enough that it has been fully stocked and furnished with anything you might need, and we seem to have an unassigned transport that can move the gremlin if need be.

"You will of course be expected to report back to discuss the future, but right now it's time to consider the present. Do you know what you want to do?"

Arion sighed slowly and carefully, looking at Soren. Soren grinned and winked, hoping to elicit a smile, but instead he dropped his eyes. He had withdrawn again into the pensive, ghostly region so dismally familiar now. "This is all coming very fast," he said quietly.

"Some time to think it over?"

"Yes sir, please."

"Take all the time you need. Meanwhile," he said, growing somber again, "I have two other things which must be mentioned."

"Yes sir."

"First of all, Chelsea. She thought you were dead, Arion. She's married."

Arion gave a ghost of a smile and nodded. "That's good. And don't worry, sir. That's.. really, it's a relief. So what's the bad news?"

The Ealdred nodded in return, then hesitated, staring down at his desk. "It's your father. I'm sorry, but he was released while you were gone."

Soren studied him uneasily, but Arion took the news stoically, silent for several moments. Death was a loss, but the soul's release was cause for celebration. To have missed both essentially left him mourning his loss alone.

"How did he die?"

"A malfunction on his boat caused an explosion. It killed him instantly. His partner received the boat and your father's business, but if you want -"

Arion cut him off with a frown, impatiently waving his words away. "He can have it. Is there anything else you want to tell me?"

"No. You're free to go. I do, however, expect you to refrain from sharing your confusion at this time. Understood?"

He paused. "Yes sir," he said, accepting an order. "At this time."

"Thank you, Arion."

He stood and began to leave, turning stiffly at the door. "I don't seem to have quarters anymore."

"You'll be bunking with Soren and Sparrow. 14R509."

He paused, recognizing the contrived arrangement, but said nothing. He nodded once and turned to leave.

"Want to see it?" asked Sparrow, rising from his seat though he had not been dismissed.

"Thanks," he answered, still with the formal, forced control, "but I'd really rather be alone for awhile. I'll catch up with you at lunch or something. Thanks anyway." He hesitated, then walked out the door.