Their last sight of Delia was the escape vehicle hurtling towards the stars. The fiery engines grew smaller, the higher it went.

Ben whispered. "Farewell again, my love."

Daddy laid Clarence onto the ground.

Ben knelt beside them, solemn, but he was thorough in his examination. "He was struck in the head, when we landed. His breathing is shallow, but his pulse is regular."

Lily peeked through the foliage, watching the crash site. She heard the enemy's approach, well before she saw them. The hum of thrust rotors preceded the transports, the drifter robots whining alongside.

"This isn't good," Ben said, as he inspected the swelling along Clarence's skull. "He's bleeding internally, and I don't have the necessary equipment. I'm afraid I can't do much more for him."

Lily gulped. "Is my brother going to die?"

"If he doesn't receive the proper treatment soon, it's likely."

Daddy slumped to the ground. "There has to be something we can do."

"There's an option," Ben said with hesitation. "But I loathe to even mention it."

"Tell me." Daddy looked desperate in the moonlight.

"Surrender to the Pruessians. Their medical knowledge is superior to ours, like their robotics."

"How can you even consider such a thing?" Daddy sounded angry. "They'll kill us on sight."

Ben sighed. "Not necessarily. The Kaezer prefers taking prisoners, when he can. His ultimate goal is to convert his enemies, and create a new society. It's merely a suggestion. You may decide, Mr. Fairpoole. I'll abide with whatever choice you make, seeing as my fate has been thrown in with yours."

"I don't have the strength to make this decision, Sunshine," Daddy said. "You know what will happen, if we turn ourselves in. They'll take you away from me, and there's no guarantee that they'll save him. I'll leave this up to you. I trust your judgment, more than anyone else's."

Lily could scarcely breathe. The Pruessians were the murderers of her family, and the destroyers of her home. The alternative would be that they flee, and search for the resistance. Finding someone to treat Clarence might be impossible, if they took that route. She looked at her brother's still, pallid face, and knew what to do.

"Let's take him to the Kaezer," she said.

Daddy nodded, and grasped Clarence's hand.

"It's settled," said Ben. "Krept should follow behind us, to appear passive."

Lily agreed.

I have one last call to make," Ben said. He spoke a name to his wristcom. It chimed pleasantly, and the holographic display flared blue and silver above his wrist. A man's face appeared, stern, with a finely curled mustache.

"Mr. Keene, we're on schedule to retrieve you," the man said. "How goes the flight so far?"

"We were shot down mid-launch. Magnus and Mrs. Reider have been killed in action. The Kaezer is far more efficient now, in his surveillance. Be cautious in any approach."

The man shook his head. "I'm sorry to hear this."

"Indeed. It's a great loss. However, the mission still stands. Miss Swann launched the emergency rocket, and needs to be retrieved as soon as possible. The vehicle can sustain her in orbit for about twelve hours. Please, find her, and take her to the Vestal Coil."

"Affirmative, Mr. Keene. But what about you, and the others you're bringing up?"

"We're taking our chances with the Kaezer, for the sake of a young boy's life."

The man on hologram saluted. "This is dire news, but I commend your courage. We'll find a way to rescue all of you. Keep the faith, my friends."

Ben disconnected, and looked as if his heart had shattered. He smiled weakly at Daddy and Lily.

Daddy picked Clarence up, and turned toward the clearing. "Here we go," he said.

They walked across the barren ground, toward the enemy.

The robots spotted them first. It was a fleet of drifters, their disc-shaped bodies mounted on multi-rotor frames. Compact weapon turrets were attached to their burnished copper hulls.

"Kneel, and raise your hands to the sky, if you can," said Ben, winking at Daddy. He threw his arms up, and approached the drifters, shouting. "Ergivelset sidach."

The robots stopped, and swiveled their lights forward.

It was blinding. Lily winced, and looked away.

Ben knelt, and put his hands behind his head, a submissive silhouette, placing himself in the line of fire.

Lily prepared for any sign of attack. But the robots remained observant, and held their ground.

The sound of many boots followed. At least thirty troopers arrived, with their customary black uniforms, harsh voices, and brandished weapons.

She remembered the night she'd used Test to defend. It had been so thorough. She could unleash the full capability of Krept 1A, the ideal of the model, at any moment. These troopers wouldn't stand a chance, and the drifters would just be a nuisance.

Soon, there were armed opponents, men and machines, in every direction. Yet none made an aggressive approach.

Ben was right. The Kaezer did value captives more than corpses. It was surprising, as she'd assumed the enemy had no mercy, after Harmony Valley was bombed to ashes.

An officer stepped forth, a barrel-chested giant of a man. He grabbed Ben by the collar, and yanked him to his feet.

Ben remained steady, never flinching.

"Il varfuer?" The Pruessian officer intoned an obvious question. His eyes held no kindness, and his men held their rifles ready.

"Freidmir," Ben said.

Lily knew the word. It was part of a passcode she'd used before, to access an assimilated walker. It meant two things—peace, and freedom. The Pruessian language didn't distinguish between the two concepts.

All of the troopers laughed at Ben's answer.

The big officer threw back his head and guffawed. He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, then shoved Ben to the ground. Waving a hand at his men, he trudged away.

The troopers seized Lily and Ben, and slapped steel restraints onto their wrists.

Daddy looked at Ben. "Tell them he needs help."

Ben translated.

One of the troopers took Clarence's hand, lifted his arm, then dropped it. He turned to his comrades, and said something long and guttural.

Another yelled toward the wreckage of the shuttle. Minutes later, two men arrived with a stretcher.

Daddy shuddered as he offered Clarence to the enemy, and wept openly as they carried him away.

The troopers clamped the restraints across Daddy's arms last.

Not long after, they rode in the hold of a rotorcraft.

Lily regretted making this decision, and giving their freedom away. She'd sold them to the killers of innocent millions, in exchange for an uncertain hope of saving someone she loved. Heavy sorrow fell upon her. She felt old at that moment, as if she already shouldered the burdens of a lifetime.

A song rose from the weary depths of her mind. It was the one she'd never finished writing, yet couldn't stop singing. The final verse came to her, in a flood of inspiration and despair. She felt tears on her face, but kept her head high, and sang until she was breathless.

Daddy and Ben listened, awestruck.

"Black sky burnin,'I can't see,

"Seems those clouds gonna rain on me,

"Not afraid of the cold, dark night,

"Always gonna find that light,

"Perfect world today, I can't stop smilin'..."

"That was beautiful," Ben said. "Your voice lifted me to a different place just now. I can't describe it. You have a rare gift, Lily. You should sing often."

She gave him a sidelong glance. "I do. And, thank you."

"What Delia says is true. You're an extraordinary girl."

"That's my Sunshine," Daddy said. His smile was a thin veneer for the fear and sadness in his eyes.

"The Kaezer will separate us," said Ben. "And subject us to his conditioning. I want you both to know what I represent, as I didn't get the chance to tell you on the shuttle."

"There's one thing I want to know first," Lily said. "How did you learn to speak Pruessian?"

Ben grinned. "Funny you should ask, as it's part of what I'm about to tell you. My birth parents were Pruessian, and I spent the first seven years of my life in the homeland. My given name was Venyamin Schnegiryov. Some people treat me differently, when they find out I'm descended of the enemy, though I've encountered this prejudice more among the powerful space families than here on the surface. The truth is, I'm neither for nor against my people. In no way do I condone the atrocities that Hir Wilhauf Kaezer has committed. Yet, I can't deny that in the deepest core of my being, I support my country, and the proud culture that was nearly stripped from me by forced assimilation, in much the same way the Kaezer treats young people."

"I never would've thought you were Pruessian," Daddy said. "You don't act like them at all. There's a resemblance in looks, maybe. But you seem a fine man in every other way, Mr. Keene."

"Thank you. And in all due respect, I'm honored to have met you. Delia praises you and your children much, and she isn't one to speak highly without due, as I'm sure you know."

Daddy chuckled. "I know all too well."

"My Delia," Ben said. "I hope to see her again. But, I digress, and our tenure together grows short. What you both should know is that my ultimate goal is to end the War. Pruessia has suffered under two generations of dictators. And now, the entire world wears the chains.

"When I was seven years old, I was adopted by the Keenes, one of the most influential families on Celestine. My birth parents were assassinated. It's a long story, and one too painful for me to recount. Suffice it to say, I adjusted to the elite world above us as best I could. I was never fully accepted among them. There are always limits, for a person such as myself, among the rigid old bloodlines that rule the colonies.

"On Celestine, where I spent much of my adolescent years, there's an attitude that Earth is merely a source of novelty. This attitude is quite prevalent among other habitats, as well. The colonies can exist entirely on their own. The only thing we need to replenish on a regular basis is water. Which, as you know, is quite a controversial issue. Aside from this, we can produce our own commodities, and sustain ourselves indefinitely. The problem is, that it's a bland existence, without the variety of goods from the homeworld.

"I work with an independent faction, formed mostly of free-thinkers and revolutionaries, the kind of people that are viewed with disdain by more conservative types, such as Mr. Swann. Delia's father. If that man had the chance, I'm sure he'd love to launch me straight off into space with no return. He disapproves of my political views, as well as my heritage, and removed Delia from her inheritance when she announced our engagement three years ago. What I oppose most are the bigots, like my future father-in-law.

"The organization I work with calls itself the Fist of Heaven, in reference to the single fist emblem of the true Pruessian flag. We have operatives in place, both above and below, and we seek freedom, for all of the worlds. Now that Delia has returned home, she'll continue our fight. If she can sway Richard Blane to the cause, we stand a chance.

"Unfortunately, we must persuade those who are resistant, like Mr. Swann, that it requires the overthrow of the Kaezer to end the War. Many colonies believe making peace with the Pruessian Empire would be the more profitable course of action. It's a daunting task, but we work constantly toward it."

The rotorcraft dipped, the engines rising to a more rapid hum.

"We're descending," Daddy said. "Looks like they're bringing us home."

Ben smirked. "How quaintly you put it." His eyes narrowed, and he leaned closer. "I trust both of you, and I want you to know my plan. When we're brought before the wardens, tell them your profession. Robotic technicians are highly sought after in the ration camps. As are medics, in my case. We stand a chance of being treated more fairly, if we're put to work in the most valued areas. I'll do my best to find out what happens to your son, and I'll do all I can to save him. We won't be able to communicate or meet directly, but I'll find a way to reach you. Watch for the symbol of the fist and star. You'll know that it's a message from me, or my allies."