The CO/IN ships veered off in evasive action, swinging around to target their ship. The Reapers’ whole ship shook. Nothing good happened when equipment functioned like that. They’d taken a few hits. The lights fluttered in indecision whether to wink out or not. A faint smell of fire wafted for an instant before internal suppression systems snuffed it. The ship spun in an attempt to keep the heaviest shielding in front of their weapons fire. The crew lurched about, the gravitational system already taxed, sending Robin bouncing against the floor and walls. She rose, still clutching Fela’s elekes.

Their new course cleared out more space for the Reapers’ ship to maneuver. Chandra shouted something indistinct. But she was shouting so Epyc Ro knew. The CO/IN had a ship full of computing AI. The Reapers had Chandra. Epyc Ro would take that bet every time.

“Mark!” Epyc Ro shouted.

Robin punched the command. A thrum shot through the ship. She felt the acceleration of the engines. She swore she felt the sensation of moving forward, but knew it was an illusion of motion. The universe slowed down. As the ship lurched, space elongated. Light bent, space shimmered. Before they could gather their bearing, another vibration coursed through the ship. Almost a counterwave. The stars reconfigured about them. They were in a new sector. Anitra retched in the corner. Ellis held her hair back.

“Any sign of the ships?” Epyc Ro asked.

“No pursuit. Yet.” Robin adjusted the restraints on her seat, which protected them from the intense gravity. “Reapers, eh?”

“You like the designation?”

“I’ll miss the HOVA Hellfighters.”

“So will I.” Epyc Ro stared out the view port. “But I look forward to seeing what story the Reapers will write.”

“You need a shower.” A smile creased Robin’s face.

“Six showers!” Anitra yelled from her amen corner.

“And sleep,” Robin said.

<And then what?> Chandra asked, and she and they all turned to their captain.

Epyc Ro stared into the blackness of her view port. So many stars, so much potential. She chewed on her lower lip. Her crew had to adjust. Learn who they were and what they were going to be about. They had to mourn. They had to heal. It would be a long, difficult journey. “We regroup. And once we’re ready, we take the fight back to the Interstellar Alliance … and finish what they started.”

Epyc Ro sat back in the captain’s seat and took in the sweep of stars.

27 MAULANA BUHARI
The Dreaming City

The Ijo chamber thrums with the gathered crowds. Folks fill all the available seats and stand in the aisles, crowding the entrances. The energy radiates across the Dreaming City. The assembly is live-linked, the holovid of the events data-streamed everywhere in Muungano.