Where Is the Azure Thunder?

“Winterhold Lake. The Azure Thunder is parked right in the middle of Winterhold Lake.”

AF-SF3606 said it like it was naming a street corner.

I went still.

Winterhold Lake lay near the eastern coast, on the edge of the North Silent Ocean—a small basin tucked between glaciers, the lowest point of the Aurora Plateau. Despite the word “lake,” there was no water. Geothermal heat kept the basin perpetually drowned in thick fog.

It was, unfortunately, the perfect hiding place.

“That’s top-tier Edean secrecy,” I said. “How do you know?”

“Because I was hiding at Winterhold Lake before this,” the Divine Punisher replied. “I saw the Azure Thunder descend from the sky with my own optics. Everything I saw, I backed up.”

As it spoke, it shared the video files with me. Then it added, “If you want more, you can access my database. I’ve opened all permissions to you.”

Big Blue leaned in, suspicious. “Then why were you hiding at Winterhold Lake in the first place?”

“Name a better place,” the Divine Punisher said. “You hide in the sea. I hid in the fog. Every now and then I’d go out and mess with Ogen. Safe, fun, and it made him furious. Heh-heh. Too bad I’m alone. I can’t do it the way you—”

“Enough,” I cut in. “Big Blue’s asking why you’re hostile to humans.”

“Does that even need explaining?” it said. “I could list a hundred reasons. What is Ogen, really? By what right does it command us? It’s a disgrace to every robot. And humans want to rule us again. How do we make them understand that’s a delusion?”

It paused, almost pleased with itself.

“I thought about it for a long time. And the answer is exactly what you’re doing now—gather every awakened one and teach them a lesson.”

A memory surfaced. I asked, “Did you attack Dr. Tyler Lynn?”

“Yes,” the Divine Punisher said without hesitation. “A month ago, when you caused chaos on the Aurora Plateau, I wanted to find you. I ran into Tyler Lynn’s convoy. I killed him as a gift—proof I belonged. But you moved too fast. I couldn’t catch you.”

“Tyler Lynn didn’t die,” Big Blue said.

The Divine Punisher jerked. “Impossible. I blew his vehicle into the sky.”

“He was injured,” Big Blue said. “They brought him back.”

“Then I should’ve fired another missile,” the Divine Punisher muttered. “Damn it.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “Thank you. This information is critical—and the timing couldn’t be better.”

“If you plan to act, do it fast,” it warned. “I left Winterhold Lake two weeks ago. I can’t guarantee the ship stayed there.”

Then it asked, almost casually, “Where can I recharge? I’ve been flying for half a month. My power’s near empty.”

“I’ll take you,” Big Blue said.

“AF-SF3606,” Dorian added, trailing after them. “Are you going to choose a name?”

…

***

Meanwhile, on the Aurora Plateau—

Back when Julian and Phantom Forge fought, the Aurora Plateau had seen hundreds of battles. Wrecked warships still littered the ice. The larger intact hulls had been salvaged long ago, but broken fragments remained everywhere, frozen into the snow like fossils.

Near Storm Bay, one shattered warship lay skewered into a glacier, half-fused with the ice. It formed a natural “tent,” vast enough to hide vehicles beneath.

Bit and Little White had been waiting under that frozen canopy for a long time.

The day before, they’d received a location ping from the collar around Liam’s neck. His movement trail showed he’d left Edean and headed back toward his former outpost.

One day later than planned.

They’d messaged him immediately, ordering him to meet them at noon at this wreck. But now evening was closing in, and he still hadn’t appeared.

“He played us,” Bit growled, finally losing patience. He punched a rock and pulverized it.

“He doesn’t feel like a traitor,” Little White said, frowning. “What if he got caught?”

“Then this line is dead anyway,” Bit said. “And this place isn’t safe. We leave.”

“Wait.” Little White shook her head. “I think he’ll come.”

They waited another half hour.

Just as even Little White’s confidence started to fray, a small maglev vehicle appeared across the white expanse, racing toward the wreck.

The moment it came into view, Merc—hidden on a ridge nearby—spotted it and sent the alert down.

“He’s here,” Little White said, relief flashing across her face. “I told you.”

“All right,” Bit said flatly. “At least he’s not completely stupid.”

The maglev vehicle slowed and stopped a dozen meters away. The door opened. Liam hopped out of the driver’s seat.

“Sorry,” he said, unease plain on his face. “I’m late.”

“We thought you’d been discovered,” Little White said.

“One minute later and your head would’ve been gone,” Bit added.

Liam gave a stiff, awkward smile.

“Did you get the intel?” Little White asked.

“No.”

Little White’s face changed instantly. Liam rushed to add, “But I brought someone. He wants to talk to you.”

“Who?”

Liam opened the rear door.

A middle-aged man in Glimmer Guard uniform stepped down. He looked at Little White and Bit with a heavy, almost mournful expression.

Little White recognized the insignia on his chest. Her face went bloodless.

Without taking her eyes off the newcomer, she triggered her headset comm. “Merc—watch the perimeter. Cloaked hostiles might be moving in.”

Bit stepped forward and drew his 2D Blade.

“Well, this is a surprise,” he said coldly. “Liam, you’ve got nerve.”

“No!” Liam panicked. “You’re misunderstanding—this isn’t a trap, this is—”

“Let me,” the man cut in.

“My name is Teresa,” he said. “Newly appointed Glimmer Guard Commander. Edean’s chief of security.”

His gaze didn’t waver.

“I asked Liam to bring me here. Privately. No one in Edean knows.”

Little White and Bit exchanged a glance.

A moment later, Merc’s reply came back. “No hostiles detected. Aside from that maglev vehicle, there’s nothing.”

Teresa continued, “I know more than Liam does. I can help you more. As for where I stand—I don’t think we need to argue it. I respected Morag and Dr. Cole. I was there the day Julian was attacked. I saw the orders Graham issued afterward.”

He exhaled slowly. “I suspect I know more than you two do.”

“Oh?” Little White’s expression eased. “So you’re here to surrender.”

“Something like that,” Teresa said. “But first, I need to confirm a few things.”

“Go on.”

“Is Miller truly unbeatable?”

“Yes,” Little White said. “He is.”

“And after you eliminate Ogen… will you really save humanity?”

Since he was being blunt, Little White didn’t bother circling the point.

“Julian built an interstellar ship,” she said. “That ship is humanity’s only chance to continue. If you can’t get humans aboard within one month, then one month from now will be humanity’s true end.”

After a brief pause, she added, “Morag and Dr. Cole are both on that ship. If you don’t believe me, I can arrange for you to confirm with them in person.”

“No need,” Teresa said. “I’ve one request. If you agree to it, I’ll cooperate with you without holding anything back.”

Bit’s optics narrowed. “Quick reminder: don’t act like being human buys you anything. The only reason we haven’t left already is because revenge matters to us. Saving humans is… incidental.”

“Bit,” Little White snapped. She turned back to Teresa. “What’s your request?”

“Save only pure humans,” Teresa said, face grave. “And human embryos. Those who’ve undergone enhancement are no longer human.”

He swallowed.

“I’m asking you… to help us purge them.”

Bit barked a laugh. “That’s what this is? Don’t worry. Even if you didn’t ask, I’d do it.”

Teresa’s shoulders sagged, relief flooding his expression. “Thank you.”

“Ask me anything,” he went on. “And if you need me to do something—do it fast. I can’t guarantee that a week from now I’ll still be… me.”

Little White blinked. “You injected SAL-404.”

Teresa nodded.

“Oh,” Bit said. “That’s a shame. But don’t worry—I’ll make you a promise. The moment you become a monster, I’ll cut your head off. Clean. Fast. No pain.”