Staring into the cook fire the night after the Canyon, ruminating about what had happened while listening to the crackle of the flames, I was given a visit by the silver-eyed girl herself.

"Keia?" she said to me. "I am Astra. I'm pleased to meet you, and glad to know that we and our cargo are in such capable hands."

As was expected of me as a Relian, I stood and made the hand sign for "I am honoured" under a bow.

"I'm pleased to meet you as well, Astra."

She bowed back and led me aside a little way, gesturing for us both to sit down facing the fire, a stare about a thousand kilometres too distant for that young face.

"That was a most peculiar fighting style you were displaying back there," she said without emotion. "Most peculiar. I admit I have never seen the like in my time out here."

My heart beat faster as I thought about my responses, quick as lightning.

"It's a secret style passed down by the monks I trained with," I said. The best lie is obviously the near-truth. "It's considered a family secret, so I would just as soon that it's forgotten."

She looked at me then, a piercing sort of look like she'd measured you to fit a tailor and knew the state of your underwear. The moon and fire light reflecting from her eyes seemed to match some inner thoughts she didn't share.

"Of course. How is your arm?" she asked as she casually touched the bandage.

I reeled, dizzy. The world seemed to rush away and then back to me. Like losing the signal on your Carad video set, but on reality. Almost like a resonance of the feeling I get from using my BPG.

When it finally stopped, short as it had probably lasted, my head was still spinning wildly.

I should pull the chute from this assignment, I thought*. There's too much attention on me from those who would apparently know what they're looking for. My identity abstraction is also failing me, and I'm slowly turning into the character I created. Something also seems to be physically wrong with me, now.*

I made it all the way to starting to consider escape plans when I shook my head. I still felt confused, and I was tired from my fighting exertions, which was probably affecting my judgment. But either way, I still wanted to see it through. If I can't take them down... who can?

How would I even escape, out in the middle of the desert?

"Are you well?" Astra asked me, a slight smile on her face as if she damned well knew the answer already. But I kept my facade.

"Yes... perhaps a bit tired."

"Then I shall leave you to your sleep," she replied, standing. "We have a trek ahead of us tomorrow into Belio."