"I have an idea that needs your opinion, my sisters," I said formally. Their ears pricked up with interest. It was unusual for me to assert the commander's role in this fashion, and they wondered if what I was about to say would be significant.

"I believe I have come up with a plan that, if properly executed, could free the Earth."

They stared at me and exploded into a cacophony of voices as they all asked questions and demanded I explain further. I waited until they were quiet again to resume speaking.

"It was Lucina's mother who gave me the idea in the first place," I told them.

"My mother?" Lucina said, surprised.

"Yes. She was never a victim of the Surtu because she never let herself feel, act, or be prey. There was something different about her from the beginning. In her head, she was always a warrior." For illustrative purposes, I tapped my temple and continued. "She killed her oppressor before he had a chance to brutalize her."

Lucina had a glimmer in her eyes.

"The other women should act in the same way," she said, breathlessly. The group was still murmuring, but the tone was different. Instead of skepticism, I sensed an excitement.

"Exactly. We must act like a virus, attacking the Surtu from within, just as Mrs. Whitmore did."

"But they are civilians," a new voice said. As always, Bellona appeared mysteriously. She leaned casually against a tree. "They can't slit the throat of a Surtu. They wouldn't know how. Even if they did, they wouldn't have the courage."

"Bellona," I cried, jumping to my feet and running over to the woman - the Red Assassin - and my friend.

"You're still alive, Nightshade," she said.

"I'm difficult to kill."

"We heard that Fore captured you."

"I'm hard to keep," I said, and she finally cracked a smile.

"And hard to stop once you get an idea in your head," she added. "Let's hash out the details of your plan."

LUCINA.

The rest of our sisters had retired to bed already, and I was awake by myself. The wilderness was quiet around me. I enjoyed the solitude, but my head spun as I tried to process the events of the evening.

It was always hard being around Terra. She was my best friend, and I loved her. But she was a dominant personality. When I was with her, sometimes I felt invisible.

I felt free to be myself, not requiring any masks since there was no one around me. I sighed deeply.

"Why are you so sad, Lucina?" Kylu said, emerging from the shadows. I jumped in fright but tried to conceal my surprise. The firelight danced across his face, making him seem more handsome than in daylight. He also appeared more dangerous.

I drew in a shaky breath. It wasn't good for him to be here at this time.

"I'm not sad," I said, pasting on a fake smile. It was time to put on my mask again.

He studied me for a moment and ambled over to sit beside me on the log. The fire sputtered down to a crackle.

He put his lips against my ear. "I don't believe you," he whispered. Kylu put more wood on the fire, causing it to burn brightly and light up the clearing.

I quickly drew away from him, moving to the edge of the log. "Well, you should," I said.

"I know what someone looks like when they're putting on a brave face," he said, staring into the fire. "I see it in the mirror most mornings."

I turned to face him, skepticism taking over my face. His openness surprised me.

"Do you expect me to think you know what it's like to pretend to be happy? Who's unbelievable now?"

He looked at me, and there wasn't a trace of the charming, joyous Surtu I had thought he was since I had met him. His eyes were entirely serious.

"Let's look at my life, Lucina. I've abandoned my race to work against them. My father despises me and would kill me if he had the chance. I have no one who cares anything about me except a few human friends in the resistance. To continue my line, I need to find a mate. What do I have to be happy about?" he asked. His face was a picture of empty desolation.

"I'm sorry, Kylu," I said. "It's easy to forget that the universe doesn't revolve around me."

He turned to me, and I could see the light from the fire reflecting in his eyes. "It doesn't?" he said solemnly. "Maybe it should."

His eyes dipped down to my lips. Was he going to kiss me? I had wondered what it would be like to kiss a Surtu of my free will, but right now, I didn't know if I wanted him to or not. I shivered at the thought, and my movements woke him from his spell.

"What a jerk I am," he said. "Are you cold? Let me get you a blanket."

I tried to protest that I wasn't cold, but he was already up and searching. It was for the best. I could say nothing honest.

"I wasn't shivering because I was cold. I was trembling at the thought of you kissing me?"

I would never say those words.

He came back, unfolding the blanket and draping it around my shoulders. He took care to pull it together in the front and make sure he wrapped it snugly.

I smiled though he wasn't looking at me.

"You're a good soldier, Kylu," I said.

He shrugged.

"I think I heard that enough today. You didn't have to make it seem like I did so much for you."

"He was going to do some dreadful things."

"Please." He held up a hand as if the thought pained him. "Don't say it."

"I won't. But we both know what he was going to do, and the reality is that you stopped him. I was in trouble, and I was the one who got myself into the situation. Even warriors require assistance sometimes, and I was thankful to see you."

I took his hand, and he looked into my eyes. "Thank you," I said. For a moment, time stood still.

"You're welcome." He pulled his hand away.

We sat there in silence, but it was a comfortable silence as if we were friends.

However, friendly was not the correct word for my feelings right now. I didn't know what I was experiencing or if it was anything unique. The way I felt when I looked at his large muscular body was not how friends felt about each other.

I wondered what the sensation would be like when my hands touched his chest. I wondered how his lips would taste. The train of thought led me down a path that got me hot. I needed to leave. I couldn't stay here with him, or I would do something I might regret.

He appeared to be only interested in being friends, so I needed to cool down my libido. There was nothing more pathetic than a woman who threw herself at a man who didn't want her.

"I have to go," I said abruptly into the silence. I stood up, handing the blanket back to him.

"Okay, I'll walk you," he offered. I shook my head.

"I can find my way back."

"Okay," he said, and I turned and headed off into the woods.

"Lucina," he called after me, and I faced the firelight once more.

"Yes?" I said.

"I know you're not helpless. I know you're strong."

I waited, wondering if he had a point.

"Everyone needs somebody sometimes. You can be strong, but not feel secure."

I stared at him, and he continued. "If you ever need someone when you're feeling weak..." He trailed off again, but I wanted to hear what he was going to say.

"Yes?"

He shrugged. "I'm here," he said, looking directly into my eyes.

I was surprised, and an unfamiliar feeling spread through my body. It was happiness - something I hadn't felt in a long time.

I nodded, afraid to speak.

He turned away and awkwardly retreated.

Meanwhile, I started humming and smiling as I walked. I wondered what it would be like to be light bonded to this Surtu.

TERRA.

We had been traveling on Earth for a week. Our mission was to save as many humans as possible from the Surtu invaders. A rescue ship was scheduled to arrive tomorrow, and we wanted to have it full of people.

We had participated in many raids, sometimes three in a single day. I was exhausted and missed Jidden.

He had stayed behind at the Surtu encampment with Kylu. Daniel would be furious if he knew, but he did not, and there was not enough time to communicate our plans with him. Jidden and Kylu's faces were too well-known by now. They couldn't help us, and their presence might even be a hindrance.

They had reluctantly agreed to remain behind. Jidden's assignment was to train civilians. We had a lot of work ahead if we were going to start a revolution successfully. The first order of business would be equipping the general populace with the skills they needed to defend themselves and fight back against the Surtu.

The training would be Jidden's first encounter with civilians who were not soldiers or fighters. I wondered if he was up to the task.

The last raid of the day was near sunset. We were returning to the encampment and had about a hundred civilians in tow. I was determined to reach home sometime before midnight rather than spend another night on the road. I looked forward to a hot bath and some good food when we arrived.

"Commander." Bellona greeted me with my old title. "We have identified an additional house with potential. It appears to contain human women held against their will.

A week ago, the news would have sounded terrific. Right now, all I wanted was to get back to the encampment, clean myself, eat a delicious meal, and go to bed in Jidden's arms.

But I was a warrior, not a whiner. I nodded and tried to look encouraging.

"Good. Send the refugees ahead. Gather a small team, and we will stay behind to rescue the new recruits."

She nodded sharply and moved up the column of people. They were walking a little faster now. News had spread that we were getting close to our destination.

In a few minutes, she returned to me with Juventas, Lucina and a few other women from the Fortuna.

"Ready?" she said.

"Always," I returned.

The six of us melted away into the night.

The grass was wet with morning dew. We lay on our stomachs as we observed the house. It was isolated, and from a distance it appeared abandoned. Up close, we heard sounds indicating there were people inside.

The door burst open suddenly, and a woman ran out heading towards the woods across a field. A Surtu emerged sprinting through the grass. Although he staggered and looked clumsy, he was going to catch her. We readied our weapons.

"Don't take a shot unless you can hit him and kill him immediately. We don't need the hassle of an injured Surtu," Bellona whispered to us.

We watched as the Surtu caught up to her and dragged the woman down to the ground. He was on top of her, and she screamed and fought him. He yanked up her dress and fumbled with his pants, muttering something about the glory of the Surtu empire.

"I can't take this. I'm going to finish it," Bellona said, and I instantly pitied the man. She disappeared into the wilderness.

We watched carefully, but we couldn't see Bellona anywhere. I strained my ears listening. I couldn't hear a sound from Bellona. The noise of the Surtu trying to take the woman's integrity and her vigorous resistance filled the area. The moon went behind a cloud, and the field became cloaked in darkness. A moment later, Bellona strode across the area with the woman in tow.

"There's four more in the house," she said. Juventas and the others moved off to retrieve them.

"Four women for one Surtu?" Lucina said, asked.

"This one says the others are away on a mission. They'll be in for a surprise when they return to find all their women are gone," Bellona said. A smile curved her lips up like the blade of a scimitar.

"They won't be back for two more days. Now that he's gone, we can escape," the woman said, shuddering. Any doubt in my mind that the Surtu had died disappeared with her words.

"There's a place away from Earth for refugees like you," Lucina told the woman. "The ship leaves tomorrow. We'll take you back to the outpost, and you can leave this place. Back at the refuge, you'll be able to choose a mate for yourself, whether it be human or Surtu."

The woman nodded.

"Thank you so much. It's not that I have a problem being with the Surtu. They are attractive..." I nodded. Yes, they certainly were. "It's being forced into something against my will that galls me."

"We understand," Bellona said. "We all feel the same way, and we will free as many of you as possible. Juventas, will you go ahead with the women? Terra and I have one final place to investigate."

"Are you sure the two of you will be safe together?" Juventas asked.

"The Red Assassin and Nightshade?" Bellona smiled wickedly. "I think we'll be all right."