I stand on the edge of town and watch Starke leave in his flying machine. It looks like some sort of steam powered dragonfly, according to some of the spectators behind me. I'm caught in a corner right now. He knows I can't doing anything to stop his conquest, not now at least. He's throwing it in my face. I could go down there and stab him in the back, but then Ulfric will do the same to me. I only have the resources to really handle one of them at a time. At least in a manner that doesn't require me conquering the world. I'll have to set up some listening post in the south. Maybe even set up drones above to keep an eye on things. A squadron of Aquilas should suffice-

"Miles?" I pause my thought to look over to E'Claire. "Everything alright?"

"... The answer that question is too long and convoluted to respond properly." She gives me a blank stare before leveling her unnamed gaze.

"Fantastic. Are you still going to be able to assist around town or am I pulling an all nighter again?" Oh yeah, no one here seems to care about global politics. I guess I can't really blame them for that though. If I could, I wouldn't.

"I'll start with the minotaurs. Sounds easy enough," I tell her as I start to make my way into town. She doesn't follow me, though I did hear her mutter something under her breath.

I make my way through town with the hopes of solving a simple issue. With everything going ballistic around me, it would be nice to definitively solve something for a change. When I approach the building though, those hopes are immediately crushed. I can hear the distinct sounds of hardcore sex thundering from within the building. They've only been here, what, two days or so? I can understand that... but now I have to deal with it.

I approach the door and slam my fist on it a few times. I'm pretty sure they can't hear me over their... activities, so I try again. They're in the throes of things though, so they clearly can't hear me. Patience is something I'm lacking today, so I draw my pistol and fire around into the ground. Sure enough, everything stops inside. I knock again, getting them to scramble within. I can't understand their whispers, but I think I can get the gist of their fears. The door opens to reveal Nederige, clad in a slightly damp bed sheet. A prominent smell of sweat and sex wafts from within and burns at my nostrils. He's panting slightly, a scared look taking over his face. Sappige is inside, hiding most of her boy behind a wall as she peeks over to listen in. Nederige goes to speak, but I cut him off before he can say anything.

"You are not in trouble. But the fucking is too loud," I tell him, getting a confused look. "I've also been told that you aren't working yet. While you are not being forced to work, we still need to debrief you as part of our deal. Now if you can't keep things down we can relocate you to a home on the edge of town. There are less people there because of the proximity to the forest. I can't put a noise damper enchantment on the building because of security reasons, so it's the only choice really. Unless you think you can keep it down?"

He looks back to Sappige before sharing an embarrassed laugh with her. "I guess we will be moving then, Spartan."

"And we are working!" Sappige yells from the back. "We are growing our new home nations population!" She laughs at that, Nederige is clearly uncomfortable with the joke. I try to shrug it off, when a thought occurred. How many pregnant women are citizens? Probably not the hundreds I need, but every bit counts.

"Marvelous. Pack your things, you'll be moved to the empty residence to the northeast part of town. Try to speak with E'Claire about employment as soon as you can. We'll debrief you within the next few days. Understood?" He nods to me, so I turn to leave.

I take a few steps away from their home before I come to a stop. Starke bartered a deal to keep our people from fighting, why not barter with Longhorn? It's clear that he's been colluding with Ulfric, what if I can offer him a deal to remove him from the equation? Why haven't I thought of this before? Ulfric is gathering his allies to aid in his future war effort. Why am I allowing this to happen? I should be doing the same, while also trying to divide him from those that would support him. I've been going about this in the worst way possible.

I turn back and rush to the door. I slam my fist against it over and over again until he answers the door. Before he can say anything I rush into his home and start to pace around. I have a dozen ideas running around my head right now and I need to think them through! But where do I start?

"Miles, what are you doing!?" Sappige asks as she rushes to hide in the bathroom.

"Why would Ulfric be investing in slavery? Or slave fights? What's the angle there?" I ask aloud as I try to think of the answer. The first thought would be to enslave those that he conquers. But that doesn't make sense to me. The ponies are too numerous. It would be easier to just evict them, assuming his best case scenarios.

"What are you talking about?" Nederige asks as he hurries to put some clothes on.

"You showed me those slave pits for a reason, right? Clearly Ulfric is set on enslaving-"

"I showed you the Passion Fruits, remember?" he asks as he takes some clothes to the bathroom, passing them to Sappige. I think about it for a moment before it all starts to catch on.

"Right! Psychosomatic drugs. And a lot of them. But who are they for? Celestia? Luna? Maybe. It would make sense though. He needs to keep them to move the sun and the moon. Turning them into slaves would-"

"He doesn't need them to move the sun and the moon," he states matter of factly. I stop in my tracks and stare at him in bewilderment. "According to the spy reports I was privy to, the Kroth are capable of doing the task. As far as we are aware, he aims to kill them in his first assault."

I stare at him for a moment longer before rushing towards him. He tries to back away, but I grab him too quickly and toss him on the floor. He tries to scramble away, but I kneel over him and set my hands on his shoulders. My fingers dig into him and force him down, shaking with rage. Sappige bursts out of the bathroom and tries to beg for me to release him, but I barely hear her.

"What have I said!? What have I done!?" He begs as he grabs onto my arms.

"Why the fuck didn't you tell me about that!? Why am I hearing about this in small talk!? Why are you keeping secrets!?" I demand from him before slamming him against the ground. He lets out a pathetic whimper as he begs for my forgiveness.

As if someone turned off a switch, I suddenly realize what I'm doing and release him. I've never lost my temper like that before! Was that... was that the other me? The one that took over last time? But... but I recall what I did! I was cognitive the whole time! What does that mean!?

I back away from Nederige until I find the wall. My heart is racing and a cold sweat is starting to wash all over me. There's a lump in my throat that I can't seem to swallow and a pit in my stomach pulling down on me with tremendous weight. Sappige has rushed to Nederige's side but I can't understand what she's saying. Nederige is just staring back at me, the fear in his eyes prevalent.

I try to gain control of myself, but I can't seem to. My breath is racing to catch up with my heart, but my heart won't slow down. I'm trying to stare at the floor to keep my head from spinning, but the lines in the wood are waving back and forth. I grab my head and force my eyes shut. Sweat races down from my hair and over my fingers, making my hand shake. There's a slight ringing in my ear that's starting to drown out my own thoughts too.

"AAAAAAAHH!" I shoot up from my bed with a slight scream. The room I'm in is too dark to make anything out right now. There's a slight breeze in the darkness, chilling the sweat that's over my entire body. I bring a hand up to my head and rub my face, forcing large droplets to race down my cheek and neck. What the fuck was that? Where am I and how did I get here?

"Miles?" A light turns on in the center of the room, revealing my dorm within the P.C.H. I look over to see Auxy looking back at me. She's in her blue sleeping gown with her pregnant stomach poking out slightly. Dolum is behind her, still asleep. She looks concerned, but is too tired to fully register anything completely. "Everything okay?"

"... Yeah... yeah, just... uh, just a bad dream." I tell her, looking around the room. What's going on? Wasn't I just-

"You look pale, you sure you're okay?" she asks, slowly becoming more awake. I look over the pristine room some more, still confused over everything going on. Everything is as it should be. The clutter, the dim lights of the various devices throughout the room, even my phone looks perfectly fine. No cracks, no dust, no evidence of war and destruction.

Auxy starts to move to get up, tossing the blankets over Dolum. It takes her a moment to stand, but she eventually gets up and waddles over to me. I'm too confused to protest, but I do feel a pang of guilt for causing her to get up. She waddles over to me and cups my cheek with a hand. She holds it there for a moment before moving it to my forehead.

"Miles, you feel a bit cold. You should go to the Med-bay and get checked up," she tells me quietly. I stare up at her for a moment before putting a hand over her hand. I can feel the smooth texture of her skin against mine. The warmth is still present from her slumber too. "Miles?"

"Right! Right... I'll... I'll go right now. Sorry to wake you. I'll... I'll go right now..." I tell her quickly as I remove my hand. She gives me a concerned look before shrugging.

"Well, good. I'll be sure to get Dolum to follow up with you, make sure you didn't skip out on a check up," she tells me as she starts to waddle towards Dolum’s closet. She grabs a bathrobe and carefully puts it on, tying the front lazily. "I'm going to go pee now. Text me when you finish up your check up, or else."

I watch Auxy leave the room, the light from the hall showing the room with more clarity for a moment. Everything is as it should be, right? I bring my legs off the bed and rub my toes against the carpet. It feels as I remember it. Slightly coarse but not unpleasant. I stand up and go to the window. I pull up the blinds and stare out at the city. Streetlights dot the roads beneath as many of the windows are darkened from inactivity. Dim lights shine down from the dome above, giving just enough light to make your way around. A few vehicles are flying about, performing their various duties. Everything is as I remember it. It's almost as if nothing has happened.

"You better get going Miles. It's bad enough you woke the pregnant lady." Dolum mutters from the bed. His voice stabs at me like nothing before has. I never thought I'd hear it again. I rush to his bed and pull him over to look at him. He tries to fight me, but I manage to pull the blankets off to see that's he's perfectly fine. No stab wound. No blood. He's.... fine. "What the fuck are you doing!?"

Looking down at him I realize that I'm wearing the Potestatum Anuls. I grab one with a hand and start to pull on it, only to have it pull back on me. Dolums asks me a question, but I don't understand it. I'm too unsure of everything to comprehend him. He starts to get out of bed, so I do the first thing that comes to mind. I run. I go straight for the door and throw it open. I sprint into the hallway and race for the Mico platforms, passing Auxy along the way. She let's out a small scream when I scare her and calls out for me, but I don't stop. I make it to the station and wait for it to send me into the main lobby of the P.C.H., where I run to the main entrance. A few people here stare at me as I run pass them in only my pajama bottoms, but I don't care. I'm running. I don't know where I'm going, but I have to move. This isn't right.

I make it to the mico station and head straight for the teleporter to the main entrance. I flash into the hall and continue running, scaring the few people in here. I go straight through the main doors and slow to a stop at the stop of the steps. Out before me is the city I grew up in, Topaz Falls. None of the destruction. No death. Ships are flying through the air as they go about their usual business. Everything is as it once was.

"What the fuck is going on?" I ask as I bring my hands to hold my head. This can't be happening right now.

"Whoa... are you... oh shit!" I look to the side to see some fat, greasy reporter staring at me. He pulls a camera up and starts to take pictures of me, amazed that I'm just standing here... in my underwear.

"Miles!" I look back to see Dolum running through the door. I feel my head start to spin a bit at the same time. This all feels so real, but it can't be! I can recall too much for it to be! And this never happened before, so it can't be a memory. A flash of light from the side derails my train of thought. The photographer is still taking pictures. Annoyed, I ignite my hand and suck the energy from the camera.

"What's the big idea!?" he asks, pulling out a new battery. Dolum grabs my arm and starts to pull me away. I stagger after him, staring back at the photographer. He seems like a normal person. There's nothing telling me that he's not real. Just some fat guy with long curly hair, and clad in his cargo shorts, greasy shirt, and vest. He looks real. "Who are you dating? Were you posing for the camera? Are you going to get retribution for losing your gems?"

Dolum pulls me into the lobby and through the mico platforms. When we make it to the lobby Dolum pulls me to a nearby chair and sits me down. He grabs my face and starts to look me over. I try to push him away, but he keeps a firm grip on me. In the corner of my eye I see Auxy on the phone talking with someone.

"Who is she calling?" I ask dryly.

"Who do you think? Are you in pain? Is your soul under control? What's wrong?" I think through all of his questions and can't find a single complaint. There's no pain. I don't feel any pressure. As far as I can tell, there's nothing wrong with me. "Was it another premonition?"

"No... I don't think so... if it was, it was one fucking long one." I tell him, thinking about everything. Dolum gives me a concerned look before looking back to Auxy. She gives him a thumbs up and he looks back to me with a new look of concern. "What's happening? Who is she talking to?"

"Who do you think? We're calling the Captain over to have a look at you."

"What? Why?" I feel my heart skip a beat as I start to panic. I don't want to see him! Real or not, he's the last person I want to talk to right now! I thought they were calling Eximius! "Don't call him!"

"Too late, he's already on his way," Auxy tells me as she waddles over. "I'm going to the bathroom. Get some pants on and wait for him here."

"But-"

"But what?" she demands, glaring down at me. I try to form an answer, but can't. There was always something about Auxy that made me incapable of arguing with her. At least when she was pregnant, now that I think about it. "Uhuh, pants first, talk with Susurrans after."

She doesn't wait for me to respond. She knows I'm going to do as she says. I've pissed her off, at least for the moment. I don't want to make matters worse. I always thought it was some sort of fear of causing harm to her baby, and that may be part of it, but... I don't know. There was always something more to her threats. It was almost as if she realized how to threaten each of us so perfectly that she reigned in control.

"C'mon, you heard her," Dolum tells me, nudging my shoulder. "And by that pace you have at least thirty minutes before she makes it back."

"Fuck me... what the fuck is going on?" I mutter to myself as I look down to my hands. They seem real enough. I pinch a part of my arm and start to twist it, grimacing from the pain. That was real. I start to look around for other factors to tell me whether or not this is a dream. Dolum has sweat on his brow, a clock on the wall is keeping pace perfectly, a magazine I've never read before has clear text on it. As far as I can tell, this is all new and alive.

But that's impossible! I felt pain! Time passed before as well! Did something send me back in time? No, that can't be it either. None off this happened before. If I went back in time, I'd either run into myself and cause a paradox, or end up in a later part of the timeline where I didn't exist. But Dolum exists! None of this makes any sense!

"Miles? You okay buddy?" Dolum asks, giving me a confused, concern look. I try to find an answer, but I can't. I can't accept that this is real, but I can't disprove it either! What am I going to do?

FLASH

"You know, for once, I'd like to get a call and not have to find you half naked." That voice sends a shiver down my spin. That old, gruff, quiet voice. It's the voice of a veteran. The voice of a leader. Susurrands Bellum.

I look over to the mico platform to see him standing there. Clad in his signature jacket and jeans. He looks as I remember him; older, but still in his prime. A captain. A Spartan veteran. I can feel myself shake. Like a child who's been caught stealing snacks or a student cheating. A sense of anger and confusion washes over me, making me colder than I've ever felt. If this is real... I can talk to him, knowing what I know. If this isn't real... he'll avoid answering me. This is it then. This will be the test! But... how should I do it? Should I just ask? What am I saying? Just ask! There's no need to be discreet. Just... Just be direct and face him like a man!

"Sus-" I stand to address him... but it doesn't go as planned.

"That's Captain, Lieutenant. What's going on with you? Did you turn stupid or do you like showing your junk to the world?" And just like that, all of my confidence is gone. Is this what it's like to talk to a... parent? They just cut you down before you can even ask anything? Maybe I was better off not knowing...

"Like we said," Dolum cuts in, answering for me. "He woke up, freaked out on us, and ran. He... seems to think this is all a dream." And there goes Dolum! Telling the Captain everything I would word differently! Like the caring ass that he is! I try to form a response, but tense up when Susurrans puts a hand on my face. He squeezes my cheeks and looks me over, squinting his old grey eyes.

"This another Soul Fire thing?" he asks me, turning my head from side to side. His gaze on me feels like icy daggers dragging against my skin.

"U-uh... n-no sir... I don't think so, at least." Why am I stuttering? I'm fucking thirty years old and I'm stuttering like a... like a child.

"Hm... You're going to take the day off. Lay off the magic and take it easy. If this persists go to the hospital immediately. And call me. I don't want to hear this from someone else, got it?" I swallow a lump in my throat and nod to him. I still can't look him in the eyes.

He turns and moves to talk with Dolum across the room. He's speaking quietly, a trait of his that always got under my skin. He's the only soldier I know that spoke so softly. It makes no sense whatsoever. But, it worked, somehow. Maybe it was because he doesn't give too many orders? I could never figure it out actually.

He starts to leave for the mico platform, and I start to panic. I have too much to say to him to let him just walk away! Even if this is some sort of dream or hallucination. I jump up and rush to cut him off. He gives me a surprised look and tries to say something, but I cut him off with the first thing that comes to mind.

"Who is Eremita?" The question hits him like a steel wall. He steps back and stares back at me, lost for words. Though, truthfully, I don't know what to say either.

"Eremita... you're Eremita-"

"Don't give me that shit! You know what I mean, Captain! Who is Eremita!?"

"... You're-"

"Who!?" I step closer, making him back away.

"Miles-"

"Tell me!?" I rush forward and grab his arms, holding him in place. I can feel him shaking. I can feel the fear within him. His charade is over and now he has to face me. What is he going to say? What is he going to do?

He fumbles with his words at first. Trying to coordinated his thoughts. When he makes his plan he drops all his fears and puts on a stone face. It surprises me slightly. Enough so that when he pushes me back I let go of him.

"We will meet at the training grounds later today, as we were scheduled. There you will get the answers you seek. I... must prepare something beforehand." He doesn't look at me when he says this.

"That's not good enough!" I bark at him.

"No... no, it wouldn't be. Nothing would. Nothing ever has been, nor will it ever be. There is... too much to that question Miles. But... you will get your answers... I will try to at least... I have to go... don't be late."

He pushes past me and takes the teleporter out of the room. I stand in a daze as all of the adrenaline starts to leave my body. I can feel a cool sweat chilling over myself. And hands are shaking slightly and I feel lightheaded. This can't be a dream. This is too real. What has happened? What's going on?

"Come on buddy. Let's... let's go back to the room and try to get some rest," Dolum tells me quietly, putting a hand on my shoulder. I don't respond to him. I just let him guide me back to the room. I feel... drained. Confused... I'm scared to see what he has to say.

"Miles!" I look back to see Inficiunt running towards me, holding his night cap to his head. He stops before and tries to catch his breath, but tries to talk anyway. "Did... did I miss it? Did he... little... did little orphan Annie have... have her... big moment?"

"I'm amazed I missed you." I tell him, too stunned to fully grasp the moment. He ignores me and pulls me in for a soft, sweaty hug. I know better than to question why he's sweaty.

"It's okay baby girl... it's okay... I'll help you with your daddy issues-"

"And you're done!" Dolum tells him, prying him away from me. "Go back to your room and don't be late for briefing tomorrow. It's rankings tomorrow and I doubt they're going to let us reschedule. Now let's go! Back to bed! Go go go go GO!"

Next Chapter: Chapter 251 Susurrans Bellum Estimated time remaining: 7 Hours, 48 Minutes