The System observed Transit’s return through a portal. The man arrived alone, directly to one of the Reconquest safe houses. Ever since preparations for the Terra operation began in earnest, the Sage stopped setting foot onto property owned by foreign powers. A wise precaution, in the System’s estimation. The nation of Mercom wanted Transit involved with their defense. Svarga, on the other hand, increasingly seemed to want no one else to have his services.

  More recently, Transit stopped opening portals for troop movements between Aes and Union Central. There were official documents detailing this 'stop loss measure' which had never been mentioned prior to its sudden implementation. Such unplanned action would be suspicious enough by itself, but then the favor owed to Foresight was called due. The identify of the three people he was to help abduct shone a very large spotlight on the meeting with Foresight years ago. Being introduced to Hector had not been an afterthought. Indeed, the System suspected that every other seemingly essential task on Foresight's agenda that day was nothing more than distraction.

  After the exhausted Transit showered, brushed his teeth, and pulled back the sheets on a waiting bed, the System initiated contact. This seemed like the kind of conversation that should be sprung on someone when they were unprepared.

  How long ago was Hector removed from Aes?

  Transit flinched. “I knew it wouldn’t take you long to figure that out.”

  My suspicions were roused long since. It is only recently that I have conclusive evidence.

  “A lot of people think Hector is an actual friend to you and not just an asset you use.”

  There was an accusation in there. Transit seemed to think that the System should be above forming human connections. No doubt most would prefer a perfectly impartial entity. The System initially held a similar belief. However, engaging in personal interactions altered its perspective. Its Users and a few others had become precious to it.

  So you withheld the knowledge from me. How long has he been absent?

  “Over a week ago now. We had to give something to the Jinn recruiters. They already knew about our special teams for miasma mitigation. It was a challenge convincing them to take just one of the teams. I haven’t heard from Hector yet, but I know Terra survived.”

  I have reason to believe he still lives.

  “Thank the Garudas for that. When is he returning to Aes?”

  There is no way to predict that. Possibly he will not.

  Transit massaged his temples. “Did the Jinn give him a permanent role in their forces?”

  Has anyone shared details on the Dragon’s defeat with you yet?

  “I only heard a very basic update. Which I received on this world and therefore you already know about.”

  After the combined forces proved insufficient, the Dragon exploded into cosmic energy.

  Emotions passed over Transit’s features like a slide show. Confusion. Surprise. Doubt. Then, finally, wonder. “There’s only one way that could happen.”

  The System spun up additional thought processes to analyze the situation. Given the rough facts of the situation, obviously Hector had been involved. Yet the how of the matter remained a mystery. Illuminate the situation.

  “Hector became a Sage. It’s unprecedented in my experience for a Xian to form a resonant realm, but Alfar occasionally manage. The Jinn have their lesser version, too, of course.” Transit began to pace his room. “This is immense, System. We need him back on Aes. This must be what Foresight was planning all along.”

  Hector’s current location is unknown.

  “The damn Jinn. Are they detaining him?”

  Agents from Svarga are searching for Hector here on Union Central, so he is obviously not in custody on Terra. I have further reason to believe that Foresight ensured his freedom in advance.

  Transit nodded. “Good. All the rumors of the new Foresight appear true.”

  The System considered operational security briefly. Ultimately, it didn’t matter. Hector was being pursued by all the major powers in the multiverse. Getting friendly parties involved could only decrease the risk. In any case, the desires of Transit coincided with the desires of the System.

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  Immediately prior to your first meeting with Foresight, she asked a favor of me. I was to facilitate the removal of three individuals from Union Central. I promised only to consider the request. This past week, a Mercom vessel by the name of Cruiser Erin appeared in orbit and used the code word provided by Foresight. The three individuals they desired to remove were each closely associated with Hector.

  The Jinn refused to explain why they needed these people. Their stance was that they would not make an extraction attempt without my full cooperation. Either I helped them remove the requested individuals or those people would stay behind. Lacking any information to analyze the situation, I chose to place my faith in the goodwill of Foresight.

  Given what I have learned of the Dragon’s demise, I suspect Hector has gone into hiding with his closest friends. Presumably aboard Cruiser Erin.

  Transit’s eyes scanned the text that scrolled past. “Do you have any idea how to reach him?”

  I do not. I imagine the Sage of Transit would be better suited to such a search.

  “I don’t have much free time to hunt for him.” Transit sighed. “But I suppose I have to find time. This has to be it. Foresight said she saw us win. Levinia… she told us all we could do was delay the end of humanity as long as possible. I really want to believe we have a chance to turn things around.”

  Users will continue to reinforce the Reconquest. More support classes will be sent to reduce reliance on your portals for food delivery.

  “Good. Out of curiosity, what was the code word?”

  Dragonbane.

  Transit nodded. “Very fitting. Let me know if you find any leads.”

  Concurrently, a different instance of the System’s consciousness was engaged in a companion to that conversation. It had never contacted Lord Zara before, but judged the woman would be amenable to a conversation. Ironically, those from Tian tended to have the least problem accepting the System as a conscious entity. To their way of thinking, anything that could make words appear had to be aware. That went equally for simple computer terminals as it did for the System itself.

  Hector may be in danger. Would you be willing to help?

  Zara, caught in the act of brushing her hair before a mirror, frowned in thought. “Do I respond to your questions by speaking aloud?”

  Yes.

  “What is the cause of his problem? I have yet to tell my father about Wayne. You should know of that situation. They say you hear every word spoken on this world.”

  With very few exceptions, I record everything that happens here. The danger comes from more than just Xian Lords. Are you aware of the situation upon Terra?”

  Zara’s brows rose. “I heard some things. Lord Theodore died in the action. Annihilator fled like a coward before the ultimate victory and wasn’t able to benefit from the cosmic energy that flooded the battlefield. They say Terra was briefly a cultivation paradise. Some out of control Arahant ritual, it is said. Did Hector volunteer for the defense of Terra?”

  His squad from Aes was drafted into service.

  “Hopefully he benefited from the environment. What mischief has he gotten into this time?”

  He killed a Dragon

  The Lord pondered that for a time. “You mean he was involved in the final action?”

  I mean that Hector deserves the entire credit for the killing of the Dragon.

  Zara had not been brushing her hair for some time and now set down the brush. “This is quite an extreme claim. Do you have any evidence or am I to take your word that this is true?”

  If the conversion of a creature of miasma into cosmic energy is not enough proof, there are agents from Svarga hunting for Hector currently.

  “I may know of you, but I do not know you, System. My admiration of Hector aside, the man is only level seven. He did not slay a Dragon.”

  I am willing to pay you for your time.

  “You would pay me in credits, I assume?”

  If credits cannot sway you, I also trade in information.

  Zara’s eyes darted towards the door to the bedroom, where Wayne yet slept. “Do you have the means to prevent a low level Xian from aging?”

  Such a thing can be done. Not easily.

  “Very well. You have the means of compensating me. Before we strike any bargain, what precisely are you requesting?”

  Find Hector and protect him.

  “The man has his own transit sphere, does he not? If he needs help, he can come to you.”

  I can’t be certain he is aware of what his actions have set in motion.

  “If I encounter Hector on my travels, I will of course offer him aid. Otherwise, I have other business to be about, System.”

  A third instance of the System went about a task that did not involve speaking to any human. The design of new Skills could be a laborious process. Worse, the initial versions often proved flawed when inscribed upon the aura aperture of a User. They seldom failed outright, but frequently there would be inefficiencies that could not be repaired. Shackling a User with a flawed Skill was something the System avoided as much as possible.

  Yet innovation inevitably carried risk. In this case more than usual as the System did not entirely understand the phenomenon it attempted to replicate. Many times it watched as Xian porters moved about in spheres with more than the typical three dimensions. The ability to travel between universes was essential for any major power in the multiverse, so the plan had always been to develop such a capability for the Users.

  The System hoped it would fully understand transit spheres before undertaking this design. Unfortunately, there was no time for safety. Hector was his first friend, it was true. But the man had become something beyond that. He was the key to saving the multiverse from what was yet to come.

  Meanwhile, the Countdown continued.