At Converter Two, Ms. Mary stood watch, monitoring the process as items transformed into steaming bowls of food. She handed portions with a smile, the crowd orderly, grateful. For the first time in weeks, food anxiety was not strangling the people.
The ship's captured parts had done more than repair the machines. Some were refitted into transportation vehicles, allowing scavengers to travel farther and bring back more material. For a few brief days, the Zoners had tasted stability.
Inside the chambers of the Zoner Knights, the mood was anything but stable.
Around a heavy oak table sat the Knights, faces clouded with uncertainty. Jett sat at the left, his jaw tense, frustration smoldering in his eyes. Naggi stared off, her mind adrift. Lanni presided, calm but sharp, the weight of command evident in her posture.
Jett broke the silence first. "I reached out to the animal tribes. Wanted to see if they were under attack as well, if we could find common ground, maybe lower the tension. But mid-conversation..." His eyes darkened. "...the King hacked our live channel."
Euly stiffened. "That must have been terrifying."
Lanni leaned forward. "And you're certain? He said it outright? That the Selection will continue?"
Jett nodded grimly. "Yes. He'll even go as far as conscripting Zoners into the military."
Raffi frowned. "Not surprised after their first attempt, question is what are we going to do about it? It's not like we can fight back against the King."
Euly's voice rose in defiance. "Actually, we can. Isn't that what we're supposed to do? We're Knights, the Knights of the Zoners!"
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Jett cut in, his tone sharp. "Don't be na?ve. We cannot fight the King. Or the Royal Family. They'd wipe us out easily. There are the Delta robots, the Elda Knights, the King himself, and don't forget the Artimancers. They have the strength, the numbers, the power."
Euly faltered, his bravado weakening. "...But we're artists. And art always finds a way... right?" His own words sounded hollow.
"Be realistic," Jett said coldly. "This isn't a fantasy. The King is powerful. It will take more than just the six of us."
Raffi leaned forward. "Then what if we ally with the animal tribes? They're already waging war."
"That," Lanni said firmly, "is the most viable option we've heard. If what Jett says is true, then we have no other choice."
Jett slammed a hand on the table. "No. We should reach out to Sephiss again. Negotiate. Make peace."
Lanni's gaze hardened. "Enough, Jett. Have you not witnessed what's happened? There is no peace. The King does not see us as people. He sees us as pieces on a board, tools to exploit or discard."
Raffi nodded. "If not for Lanni hijacking that cargo ship, thousands of Zoners would have starved. Now we have three functioning converters and transport vehicles. That act saved lives."
Jett's voice rose. "At what cost? Do you not see what her actions have unleashed?"
Euly snapped back. "Drop it, Jett! The Deltas attacked before Lanni ever hijacked that ship. Don't twist it."
Jett gritted his teeth, realizing the truth, but anger kept him silent.
The chamber doors creaked. Naggi suddenly rose, her wristband flashing with a message.
"Leader Lanni," she said quickly, "may I excuse myself? It's urgent."
Jett sneered. "Excuse yourself? What could possibly be more important than this meeting?"
Naggi's voice cracked, emotion surging. "It's my son. They've found him. They're bringing him back."
Lanni nodded. "Very well. Euly will brief you on what you missed."
Naggi rushed from the chamber, her heart racing.
Outside, she pressed her wristband. A holographic screen blinked alive.
"Leader Grax," she said, breathless.
The great bear's stern face filled the projection. "Good evening, Zoner Knight Naggi."
Her voice trembled. "My son, Levy... is he alive?"
From the background, Grinex's gruff voice rumbled. "Yeah. He's just taking a nap."
Relief softened Naggi's shoulders. "Thank you... thank you for not harming him."
Grinex growled, still bitter. "He tried to kill us."
Naggi lowered her gaze. "Please forgive him. I take full responsibility. He's troubled. His father poisoned him, filled him with hate for artists, animals, even women. It's my fault too. I wasn't there when he was young. I let Levin shape him."
Grax's tone softened. "We'll have the boy delivered to you today."
Tears welled in Naggi's eyes. "Thank you, Grax."
Her gaze shifted, catching sight of a smaller figure on the screen. "Is that... the child who defeated a Sedmo?"
"Yes," Grax said, pride swelling in his voice. "That is Braxill, he's an artists and a fellow bear"
Naggi's lips curved faintly. "My leader Lanni told me much about you, It's an honor to meet you, Braxill."
The boy glanced at her, brooding, and scoffed. Without a word, he turned away. Gravixor followed after him, leaving Naggi silent, her hand still hovering over the dimming hologram.
She stared at the fading light, torn between relief and sorrow.