Page 165 of Light Leech

She raised an eyebrow. “Is that a rivalry that I hear?”

“That shac would like my domain, but I digress. I despised him before, but even more now that he directed your mess towards me.”

I almost laughed at hearing the and before me calling something that had at least been human, a shac.

“He didn’t,” she said.

He furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?”

Naoma chewed on her lip. Her focused gazed showed how much thought she was putting into her response.

She went right for it. “Where do you fit in the Gongtide?”

“Where do you stand?”

“What do you mean?”

“For, or against.”

“It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it?”

He shook his head. “Not as much as you might think. This isn’t a simple corporation or club. Even for those there are often plenty of disagreements. Just look at the world. Plenty of countries and conglomerates claim to fight for the proliferation of humanity while they end life in pursuit of that very thing. Humanity is illogical.”

“And that’s why you’ve betrayed it?”

“Humanity betrayed itself first.”

“And that is an excuse for this?”

He glared at her. “Just tell me what you want and we can move on. I’ll–”

“Fine, I’ll start. Who are the Eclaines to you?”

“Those dead zealots? What would an elite like you want with their filth?”

We needed to be blunt. I was already tired of receiving his opinions where I was seeking facts.

“Are you a Beacon?” I asked.

“Who are you besides some hitman for her?”

“Answer him,” she demanded.

“Why? Tell you so you can kill me after? I’m done with this guk.” He closed his eyes. The light lines on his body faded.

Naoma and I exchanged panicked glances. We ran to his seat, looking for anything to repower the body as it slumped towards me. I pushed Zhou back up, then ripped his silk robes off as I felt around his body for a reset button.

The seat’s charging light continued to glow.

Naoma pulled me back. Her hand started to glow with white light. She held it out, just above Zhou’s chest.

“Close the door!” The orca obeyed her command. I could still see the sea-mech’s presence through the crack of the door, but we had enough privacy.

“No one to see me now, right?” she asked.

I nodded.

She grabbed his face, nails digging into his cheeks like talons. Her hand pulsed and white filled the light lines throughout his body. His head shot up, mouth agape, with only white in his eyes.