Starfinder

ALLIES

MOTH MOVED IN A FOG, following Alisaundra and Skyhigh to the place where the dragonfly waited, a huge platform jutting out from the cliff of Korace’s tower. True to Artaios’ word, no one had followed or tried to stop them. The platform was eerily quiet, as if all the Skylords in the city had gathered to watch Merceron’s death. The dragonfly stood poised at the edge, ready to take flight. Skyhigh hurried to the craft, running his hands over the wings, inspecting it with his critical eye.

“She looks okay,” he said, as though he’d expected some sort of sabotage. He popped the canopy and inspected the inside, too. Alisaundra waited, rocking impatiently on her clawed feet. Skyhigh was still talking, but Moth was a million miles away, his thoughts all on Merceron.

They’d left him to die. After Merceron had come all this way to save him, Moth had run away. He realized he was shaking. He hadn’t stopped crying, either. He wiped at his cheeks, unable to make sense of things.

“What did he mean?” he asked. “Blood for blood and all that. What did he mean?”

Alisaundra said, “A sacrifice. It takes life to work the changing magic.”

“What?” exclaimed Moth. “You mean someone died to change you into what you are?”

“I died,” said Alis. “But to change me back would take another life.”

“Merceron’s life, you mean,” said Moth. “For Esme. Skyhigh, did you know this?”

Skyhigh pushed him toward the dragonfly. “Moth, we don’t have time. Merceron made his choice. Hurry up….”

“Wait.” Alisaundra spun Moth around. “I will come with you.”

“Alis?”

“I can help you,” said the Redeemer eagerly. “I know the way to Pandera. We can make it quickly.”

“Alis, why?” asked Moth. “You’re sworn to Artaios.”

“Because…” Alis searched for an answer. “You need me.”

“No way!” Skyhigh jumped in. “I don’t even have room for her!”

“Skyhigh, she’s right. She can help us,” said Moth.

“Are you crazy? She’s the one who kidnapped you! Now you want to take this thing with us?”

“She’s not a thing, she’s a person,” argued Moth. He looked at Alis, sure of himself. “She’s human.”

Skyhigh gave a miserable curse. “Fine,” he snapped, “but she needs to keep up with us. We’re going full throttle, and there’s no room in the dragonfly.”

“I can fly faster than your machine,” said Alis. “Have you forgotten?”

“Alis, you can come,” Moth decided. “But we can’t leave yet. Skyhigh, get the dragonfly going. Alis, come with me.”

Moth bolted from the platform, back toward the tower. Skyhigh called after him.

“Moth! Where you going?”

Moth shouted back, “Get in the air and wait for us! I’m going back for Comet!”