Colt opened his mouth but nothing came out.

  Toyahdoh leaned forward. “You carry shinki within you. The corrupted breath. Every time you take it, you poison yourself further.”

  “I need it,” Colt said. “To get stronger. To fight them ninjas. To stop them, this is my earth.” Colt looked down at the fire. “This is our earth. And I can’t let them destroy it.”

  Toyahdoh tilted his head. “There is a difference between taking what is offered and stealing what is not yours.” He paused. “Shinki is stolen breath. Taken by force. Ripped from the dying. It carries that violence with it.”

  Colt thought about the crystals. The way they pulsed violet. The way they felt when he absorbed them, like swallowing something that didn’t want to go down.

  “Puha is different,” Toyahdoh said. “It is given freely. Shared. It flows like water finding its path. It does not corrupt.”

  “So I been poisonin’ myself this whole time?”

  “Your software was already corrupted.”

  Colt froze.

  The word hit him like a fist. Software. That was Kevin’s word. That was HUB talk. That wasn’t something a Shoshone elder sitting by a fire in a hidden village should know.

  “What did you just say?”

  Toyahdoh’s white eyes held steady on him.

  “Software,” he said again. Slower this time. Like he knew exactly what he was doing.

  Colt’s mouth went dry. His brain tried to make it fit but the pieces didn’t line up.

  “How do you know that word?”

  Toyahdoh didn’t answer. He just reached across the fire and grabbed Colt’s wrist. The one with his port.

  “Wait—”

  Toyahdoh’s grip tightened. His eyes flared bright white, so bright Colt had to look away.

  The lodge disappeared around him. The cold floor under his boots, the fire crackling in the pit, the smoke rising through the roof. All of it went away like someone had blown out a candle. He went back into that world of dark. It felt like he was floating on his back, staring into a black sky without a single star.

  Words appeared in front of him.

  INITIALIZING LINEAGE 2…

  The darkness shifted. Words formed in front of him.

  LINEAGE 2: SPIRIT WEAVER

  UNLOCKED

  New words scrolled past.

  SKILL ACQUIRED: CLEANSING BREATH (PASSIVE)

  All absorbed shinki will be purified upon intake. Corruption negated.

  The colors wrapped around him tighter. He felt warmth spread through his chest, down his arms, into his legs.

  Then something else.

  A pulling sensation deep in his gut. Like something was being dragged out of him. He tried to move but couldn’t. Tried to speak but his mouth wouldn’t work.

  The violet came next. He could see it now, bleeding out of his chest in thin streams. Dark purple smoke rising up and away, dissolving into nothing. All the shinki he’d absorbed. All the corrupted breath he’d been carrying.

  It was leaving.

  His chest felt lighter. His lungs pulled air easier. The warmth kept spreading, pushing into places he didn’t know had gone cold.

  It didn’t hurt. It felt like taking a breath of the cleanest most fresh air he’d ever tasted.

  His display changed.

  PROJECT: LAST STAND v1.10

  Shinki: 1

  Puha: 130.2

  The word Power Bank was gone. Puha sat in its place.

  The warmth faded. The colors dimmed.

  A white flash hit him so bright he had to close his eyes.

  When he opened them, the lodge was back.

  Toyahdoh sat across from him. His white eyes had returned to normal. His hand was still on Colt’s wrist.

  He let go.

  Colt sucked in a breath. His chest felt different. Clearer. Like he’d been breathing through cloth his whole life and someone had finally pulled it away.

  “What did you just do to me?”

  “I gave you what the Father intended,” Toyahdoh said. “A way to take without being taken.”

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  Colt looked at his hands. They looked the same but something had changed.

  Toyahdoh looked towards the doorway.

  “The corruption spreads faster now,” Toyahdoh said. “Every day, more of this world falls to the poison. You must grow stronger before it consumes everything.”

  Colt’s throat tightened. He thought about the map. The violet patch over the ninja fort. The way it had grown since the last time he’d checked.

  “How long do I got?”

  Toyahdoh didn’t answer right away. He stared into the fire like he was reading something in the flames.

  “Not long enough,” he said finally.

  Colt swallowed. “What do I do?”

  “You hunt. You fight. You take what you need to become what you were made to be.” Toyahdoh’s white eyes found his. “And you do not waste time.”

  The weight of it settled on Colt’s shoulders. The whole world was counting on him. Worlds, were counting on him.

  “I don’t know if I can do this,” Colt said. It came out quieter than he meant it to.

  “The Father created you with intent and with purpose,” Toyahdoh said.

  Another white flash hit. Brighter than before.

  When Colt opened his eyes, he was standing outside.

  The ceremonial building was right behind him. Grass under his boots. Sky overhead. The village spread out around him, alive with motion. Smoke rose from cook fires. Children ran between the lodges. Women worked near the flames, scraping hides. The sun sat high and bright.

  He turned around slow.

  The white-haired girl stood a few yards away. And next to her was Clay.

  Colt’s chest loosened. “Clay.”

  But Clay didn’t look right.

  He was thinner. His face looked drawn. His clothes hung looser on his frame than they had before. His eyes were red like he hadn’t slept in days.

  Clay stared at him. His mouth opened but nothing came out.

  Then he started walking.

  Fast at first. Then running.

  Colt barely had time to brace before Clay hit him. His fist caught Colt square in the jaw and snapped his head to the side. Pain jumped across his face and he stumbled back a step.

  “What the—”

  Clay grabbed him. Pulled him into a hug so tight Colt’s ribs ached.

  “Five months, Colt.” Clay’s voice cracked. “Five fuckin’ months.”

  Colt’s arms came up slow. He patted Clay’s back, still trying to catch up.

  “What are you talkin’ about?”

  Clay pulled back. His hands gripped Colt’s shoulders hard enough to hurt.

  “You left me there for five months.” His eyes were wet. “You think I’m stupid? You think I don’t know what you did?”

  Colt’s gut dropped.

  The time ratio. The HUB. He’d been gone a few hours here but Clay—

  “Oh shit,” Colt breathed. “Clay, I didn’t—”

  “Five months!” Clay shoved him back. “I was alone in that place with that metal bastard for five goddamn months!”

  “I didn’t know it’d be that long. I swear, I didn’t think—”

  “You didn’t think.” Clay’s jaw was tight. “Yeah. That sounds about right.”

  Colt looked at his brother. Really looked. The weight he’d lost. The bags under his eyes. The way his hands were shaking.

  “What happened?”

  Clay let out a sharp breath. He dragged his hand down his face.

  “First week wasn’t so bad. Figured you’d be back any minute. Kevin kept showin’ me numbers, tellin’ me you were fine.” Clay’s hands curled into fists. “Second week, I started askin’ questions. Where’d you go. When were you comin’ back. Kevin just said the same shit over and over. ‘Colt’s biological readings are stable. There is no indication of distress.’”

  Clay’s voice had gone flat, copying Kevin’s tone. He rolled his eyes.

  “Third week, I tried to leave. Went to that teleport room. Hit the button. Nothin’ happened.” He looked at Colt. “Kevin said I wasn’t authorized. Said only you could open portals. Said I had to wait.”

  “Clay—”

  “Month two, I stopped askin’ nice.” Clay’s jaw tightened. “Started yellin’ at him. Told him I didn’t care about his damn protocols. He just stood there with that stupid light in his face, tellin’ me to calm down.”

  Colt’s throat felt tight.

  “Month three, I tried to break things. Thought maybe if I smashed enough stuff, he’d have to let me go.” Clay let out a bitter laugh. “Couldn’t break nothin’. Everything in that place is too damn strong.”

  “I’m sorry,” Colt said.

  “Month four, I stopped talkin’ to him. Just sat there eatin’ them gray balls and drinkin’ that recycled piss and waitin’.” Clay’s voice got quieter. “Thought maybe you were dead. Thought maybe somethin’ happened and Kevin was lyin’ to me.”

  “Clay—”

  “Month five, I couldn’t take it anymore.” Clay’s hands were shaking now. “I grabbed Kevin. Shook him. Told him if he didn’t let me through I was gonna tear his metal head off and throw it in that damn teleport room.”

  Colt blinked. “You fought Kevin?”

  “Yeah.” Clay wiped his eyes. “Little bastard flashed me with that eye light. Couldn’t see for a full minute. But I didn’t let go. Just kept shakin’ him and yellin’.”

  “Then he let you go?”

  “Eventually.” Clay’s voice cracked. “Said my mental state was deterioratin’. Said there was a risk of damage. Opened a portal and told me to get out.”

  Colt didn’t know what to say. His throat felt too tight.

  “I been out here for a couple hours,” Clay said. “Couldn’t find the way through. Kept walkin’ in circles. Thought I was losin’ my mind.” He nodded toward the white-haired girl. “Then she showed up.”

  She stood quiet a few yards back, watching them both with those blue eyes.

  “She led me through,” Clay said. “And here you are. Lookin’ like nothin’ happened.”

  Colt swallowed hard. “I’m sorry, Clay. I didn’t mean to—”

  “Don’t leave me like that again.” Clay’s voice went flat. “I don’t care about your missions or your modules or whatever the hell you’re doin’. Don’t leave me.”

  Colt nodded. “I won’t.”

  Clay stared at him for a long second. Then he pulled him into another hug.

  Colt hugged him back. He could feel Clay shaking against him.

  “I thought you were dead,” Clay said into his shoulder. “I really thought you were dead.”

  “I’m here,” Colt said. “I’m right here.”

  They stood like that for a while. The white-haired girl didn’t move. Didn’t say anything. She just watched with those calm blue eyes.

  When Clay finally pulled back, he wiped his face again and let out a long breath.

  Colt turned to the white-haired girl. She tilted her head a little, like she was waiting for him to say something.

  “Thank you,” Colt said. “For bringin’ him through.”

  She didn’t answer. Just nodded once.

  Then she turned and started walking. She looked back over her shoulder at them and motioned with her hand.

  Colt and Clay followed.

  She led them through the village to a small lodge near the edge. Inside, a fire burned low in the pit. Woven mats covered the floor. Clay dropped onto one of them with a groan.

  The girl left and came back a minute later with a wooden bowl and a clay jug. She set them in front of Clay.

  Clay grabbed the bowl and started eating. Fast. His hands scooped the food into his mouth like he was afraid it would disappear if he slowed down. Some kind of stew with meat and vegetables. He didn’t even chew half of it.

  Then he stopped. Looked up. Wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

  “Sorry,” he said. His voice was rough. “It’s just—I been eatin’ them nasty gray balls for the past—” He looked at Colt. “FIVE MONTHS.”

  Colt winced.

  Clay grabbed the jug and lifted it to his mouth. He drank deep, his throat working. Water spilled down his chin and soaked into his shirt. He drained half the jug before he pulled it away and gasped for breath.

  “Been drinkin’ that piss water too,” he muttered.

  “Clay, I swear I didn’t think about the time stuff.”

  Clay set the jug down and patted Colt on the back. “All good, brother. Water under the bridge.”

  The girl handed Colt a bowl and another jug. He took them and nodded.

  “Thank you.”

  She started to walk away.

  “Wait,” Colt said.

  She stopped and turned back.

  “What’s your name?”

  She was quiet for a second. Then she said it soft.

  “Tavi.”

  Colt repeated it. “Tavi.”

  She didn’t leave right away. She looked at Clay, then walked to the corner and came back with a blanket. She set it beside him on the mat.

  Clay looked up at her. “Thanks.”

  She nodded. Then she looked at Colt one more time before she walked out of the lodge.

  Clay watched her go. He leaned over and whispered, “I think she likes you.”

  “Oh shut up,” Colt said.

  Clay grinned. It was the first real smile Colt had seen on his face since he got here.