Wren's POV

Further along those large tube cables spiderwebbing the floor is a miracle of technology. Right in the center of the room is a radiant glow strobing from the bottom to the ceiling, pulsing in its brilliance, a light liquid and alive. Elliptis are so fucking rare...
“The second Parojan ever created. It can send radio waves as far as 2500 million light years.” There’s this look of pride on Kilian’s face as I gap. Dork.
“We call those Elliptis. How did you get hold of one?”
“I stole it.” Feeling proud about it, hey?.. Keep your chin high, Kilian; you can be proud.
Indeed, there is something legend-like about Elliptis. Few have ever seen them in real life.
“A rebel and a little thief. Do you have anything else up your sleeve?” I tease, winking at this adorkable smirking man.
Kilian’s eyes dart away from me as he laugh-gasps shily.
“You have a code with you?” he then asks.
“I know it by heart.”
“Daddy’s little girl, I see.” Shit, that lip curl of his...
“I’m always my daddy’s little girl,” I snarl, but then this incursive sharpness in me leaves. My dad led a fox in the hen house...
“Here.” Kilian pulls a chair deemed ancestry and invites me to sit at a desk, sweeping some old papers out of the way. When was the last time I saw paper? Ah, yes. At the city center museum.
I settle in my seat and bring this old keyboard to me.
Right...
///100*_0*JiOp#**/LLIM/A
I press Enter, and soon, a radio signal switches in response.
Kilian hands me a black box and says, “Speak into it.”
“Distress signal Alpha code LLIM/A to Pallamir Base zone 4.”
My call is immediately picked up. Of course, it is.
“Pallamir Base Zone 4. Awaiting Key.”
“J98767823.”
“Pallamir Base Zone 4, received.”
I hope it works.
This guy is supposed to rush to my father. I mean, it’s a top-line emergency code, so this fucked up Bear of Wolves should take it.
Please pick up...
“Alpha Kilian speaking, line secured.”
Kilian folds his fingers over my shoulders, and it’s enough for me to summon my courage.
“Dad.”
“Winnie!”
“Please listen to me.”
“Are you hurt?!”
“Fun question to ask when you sent Bret to kill me.”
My gaze lingers on the extreme amount of dust sprayed over the desk.
A sea of specks just as my doubts...
“Where is Bret?”
“What?”
“Winnie!”
“He’s dead.”
After some shuffling, a whispery stream of “Fuuuck...” follows.
“King Daryl is on his way along our fleets.” He’s smoking. I can hear his blows and puffs through the mic. He’s dragging in his cigar like a chimney.
“I’m with Kilian. The real Kilian.”
“Line compromised.” What?..
“Line compromised like my wolves inside or the fact that you experimented on a child,” I spit.
There is silence. And I pray, pray the line won’t cut.
“Mistake me not, Winnie. The truth came to me. There is more at stake than meets the eye...”
What the fuck is wrong with him? Is he drunk? What is this gibberish nonsense?!
“Mistake you!?”
“A child, Winnie. You are a child. One of an Alpha. Never forget this. But you know well that crossing the Alpha of Aztarix means death.”
“You want to kill me?! You took me away and played with my soul!”
“Witness the atrocities of war, and it changes a man. To start life anew is every soldier’s dream...”
What in the actual fuck is he on about!?
Once again, my tears burst forth.
“Why did you put these wolves in me? Yeah, I know a little more about myself since I left!”
“War is ugly. I won’t explain this to you.”
“No, you won’t. Rather than confronting what is right from wrong, it is better to hide behind excuses, right. Following orders shields us from guilt. You do that, dad. Or should I call you Hayden?”
“There is always more than meets the eye. Rest assured, the traitors will be punished. We are coming.”
“You-you’re ready to kill us all!?”
“Smoke’ em and Gas ’em, Winnie. You’re good at it.”
Line disconnected.
...Bip.
Line Disconnected.
My mind goes blank.
...
That.
Didn’t.
Go.
Well.
At.
All.
...
“We must fly out of Galathena right now, Kilian!”
