ZAN CONSIDERED. Whiskey had asked him what their orders were. "What is our next move, indeed?" Zan questioned.

  Switching to aloud thinking, Zan told the group, "We have to stop Mentality. Otherwise, he could overwhelm us and the region. But... we have no idea where he is or even if he is capable of activating that golem-army-in-hiding. Then, we have these bunkers. Can we do both at once?"

  Jiehong was the first to speak. "No. We can't do both. I saw we locate the bunkers. It feels like we have done and catered to everyone except ourselves, lately. If this bunker system is as MAC said, and capable of defending the whole province against enemy attack, then now is the time to strike. We have to secure those bunkers. We'll deal with that Mentality guy later."

  Whiskey argued a few points in favor of hunting Mentality. Zan thought Whiskey was arguing more for the sake of thinking a problem fully through though and less because she truly believed they should hunt Mentality first, then locate those bunkers.

  "You both make good points. I concede. We will pursue the bunkers," Whiskey said.

  "It seems we are in agreement, then," Zan said, twenty minutes having passed since Jiehong and Whiskey returned.

  Zan paused and looked to both of his friends and Order fellows. "I can see you're tuckered from your travel. Let's rest. Fill our bellies. Then resume our march."

  WITH HIS FRIENDS EATING and cleaning their bodies, Zan waited outside for them while smoking on some Medy-Em, the medicinal herb which helped with minor aches and pains while elevating mood and psychology. He loved puffing away on Medy-Em and its many strains. Rarely, though, did Zan have a chance to partake. With Jiehong as a friend and brother, and with the war enabling their travel, acquisition of the plant became easier.

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  "Why?" Zan asked himself. He had no answer to why war forced itself on his life. He could only fight and live another day. One day at a time.

  "But I can choose to do more," Zan told himself. "Look at Whiskey. Joining us after deciding a Martial Order would be better for her than a rebel outfit. Even a ragtag group like mine. Then Jiehong. Joining Praline like that. What an honor for him. And me and my religious trip. We're all growing. We'll all changing..."

  Although the notion of changing and drifting away from people put a sad shade into Zan's insides, the feeling was temporary. "Change is good," Zan reminded himself, mouthed, as he waited for Whiskey and Jiehong. People who weren't only his friends but were more than friends. "Friendship isn't the only equation. Both of them are my Order Fellows. My underlings, technically. They're with me because they believe in me, believe in us, and how we work together. If I forget that, I am a fool."

  Dwelling too deeply on these matters and for too long, Zan blinked, only belatedly registering the return of Whiskey and Jiehong.

  Habing already prepared himself, Zan stood at attention. His satchel on his upper back, bedroll on his lower back. Jiehong, his exo-suit standing proud and clean after their hectic trial by fire. "Whiskey, you look great in your Order gear. Pink tinted fairy silk is quite the show,"

  "Well, my parasite was pink-colored. I guess that's why?" Whiskey guessed.

  By now, the Screen Master chimed in through their earpieces. Having received hers on her way out from the barracks, post-bathing, Whiskey heard the Screen Master as well. Zan could see when her head jerked back in surprise as hearing his voice unexpectedly. "The color of the Crystalline Creatures have no relation to you as individuals," Simulacrum spoke.

  "Really? So, it was only a coincidence mine is Red?" Jiehong said. "And how mine is rainbow?" Chimed in Zan.

  "That is correct," answered the Screen Master to the both of them.

  "Huh. You learn something new every day," Zan said under his breath.

  "We ready?" Jiehong asked the group.

  "Yeah, bud. We're ready. Whiskey. Let's give this our all: Prophecy, fate, why the war's happened... we're going to get it all in the open. I don't think any of this is a coincidence. The world has answers for us. It's time for us to find them!"