“How are you?” Si asked.

  “O, good, my energy is strangely tired, but all is fine,” Taj slowly answered.

  They met at Si’s house, where there was a room that Si had cleared of detectors. He didn’t tell Lukai about this one. It was ten-step by ten-step; so ‘huge.’ No doors; to go in was possible only with Shadows’ swirl. Such a surface—easy to miss during monitoring.

  Of course, Taj found it the same day Si proudly prepared it for himself. Quite funny. It also said a lot.

  Taj had projected himself, and they were standing close, trying to summarize briefly before going to see Lukai.

  “… So, the next one at 3 a.m., we have a moment; do you need to rest?” Si asked.

  “Later, let’s go to talk to Lukai. I even created a data dashboard that shows all the numbers. Si, I see your dimples, truly. It is disrespectful to the whole situation, no?”

  “I am sorry. I truly am. Taj? I won’t ask what you used to do what you did. Though Lukai will. Did you think about what you wanted to tell him? Lukai will want to have it. The weapon you used, he will ask about. Is it Commander’s? He will ask, and he will demand to have it. Then what?”

  Si was worried.

  It was the truth. What he saw, and the scale. It was, he was sure, the worst nightmare for Lukai. Taj or whoever, having a weapon that could destroy his ambitious plan of being in charge. In control.

  “I have already thought about how I will punish myself, so Lukai will feel safe. Si, I won’t explain what I used—to you, to him, to anybody. I also do not plan to tell whose creation it was. For now, let’s go to him and talk. We need to confirm the official communication. I am afraid the rain will last longer. There were more bodies than we were aware of, no? After, let’s go to Planet Two to repeat it. And Si… later, I will need to stay in Gates for longer. Rest and serve my punishment—”

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  Taj was talking, but Si decided to interrupt.

  “So, I understand what you plan to say to Lukai. I have to admit, it should work. Taj, to be sure, the second projection, will you be fine after Planet Two? You looked very sick,” he asked.

  “Thank you for asking again. I expect to be tired after the second planet, as I said, but I can feel that I will recover faster than I should… honestly, I know. Song would do it as well. I know—yet. Regardless, Si, it was me a few days before I died; I was ill then. But also, I managed my energies better; this is why I used this version. You didn’t need to do anything, which is good. I need to think about how to manage by myself in the future, as only today I realized that if I couldn’t go back to Gates, my projection might get stuck somewhere. I need to think about my limitations—”

  Taj was talking; Si interrupted again.

  “I have an idea. Avery, Luna’s friend. He was there; he saw us. Either way, we would need to take care of him. I have to say, he has potential. I talked to him many times, and I also talked about him with Luna. Taj, to say it in a blunt way. You need ‘a human.’ Don’t look at me like that. You shushed me before; now this look, you, and Luna, you spend too much time together.”

  Si tried to joke; it worked—Taj slightly relaxed.

  “I think you require someone who can physically help you, but not only. You can project wherever, but you cannot take things with you, and sometimes you cannot go somewhere easily. Someone should know who you are, how you operate, be for you, and work with you. Especially if you plan to steer Lukai into this kind of punishment for yourself. Someone, let’s say, alive, would be of help to you. And this person needs to be trusted—no strangers. So, what would you say?”

  “O, Si, but…” Taj started and fell silent for a moment.

  Si waited.

  “Good, the idea is good. Let’s arrange it after everything is done here.” Taj agreed.