The acid that had been rising into my throat plummeted, taking my stomach with it.

Janis wanted to raise the shielding.

The enormous dome-shaped grid had been built around Selecon to protect it from the devastating storms that had ravaged our planet, leaving it a shadow of its former self. It was a defensive shield meant to protect us, yet in the end it had separated Selecon from the rest of Arterra, leaving the outside lands and those who had chosen to stay in them to be decimated. It had begun as a haven, but it had become an isolation unit. More – it had become a weapon.

I knew the story well.

My father taught it to me, knowing that one day I was destined to take his seat on the council, even if he'd had no idea how soon that day would come.

"Those outside were left to face the raging skies and seas," he recounted with a face that was both sad and hard with bitterness. "It was meant to protect, yet we discovered that some who had petitioned for sanctuary were ignored, denied simply because of their race or their beliefs. Political factions used it as an opportunity to destroy those who opposed them, and to rescue those who upheld them."

His hands had twitched as if he relived it, his eyes haunted.

"When we found out, we vowed to never use the shielding in this way again. Never to destroy, only to protect. Only a unanimous vote of the council can enact its use ever again."

Here he would turn to me, as if by his gaze he could impart to me all of his knowledge and meaning. As if he could convince me of his truth by sheer force of will.

"Even one who does not agree can stop it."

His voice echoed in my ears as I looked through my screen at Janis, her iron gaze looking out at all of us.

"Will you stand with me, Councilors?"

Councilors Wella and Rill were immediately on their feet. Janis nodded to acknowledge their support.

"Are there no other options, Prime Councilor?" D'hana Tor asked.

Even on her dark skin, I could see traces of red flushed along her cheekbones and down her neck. Raising the shielding would cut off several of the smaller islands, many of which were home to her people.

"We will not leave those outside unprotected," Janis answered her unspoken question while deflecting the one she'd voiced. "I have deployed the Outer Guard to each remote area as provision. They will stand firm against any attack that should come."

D'hana must know that the guards were not only to protect, but to ensure the threat against the Prisms did not come from somewhere within our own borders. D'hana could not openly accuse Janis of this without risk of losing her seat.

"What of the rift, Prime Councilor?"

Every eye turned to Blade Rillingate. Her fiery hair was pulled back from her face in several braids, each threaded with some token or icon. Instead of appearing foolish, accompanied by her supple red armor it added to her already savage appearance. Her green eyes were as dark as a troubled sea as she surveyed the others.

"The rift is too dangerous," Rellic was quick to counter. "What good would it do to send them through only to lose them to the nethers?"

Blade's countenance remained calm. "There are ways to ensure the safety of those who travel through."

Rellic frowned. "Yes, but can we trust those who provide it?"

Blade was on her feet in an instant. "Do you accuse my people of being traitors, Rellic?"

Rellic refused to rise to her challenge. "No one is safe from scrutiny, Councilor Blade." His tone was calm, yet his words held a threat only partially veiled.

"Please Councilors," Janis intervened. "It is true that we must all endure higher scrutiny during these uncertain times," she placated, "but we must stand together if our society is to survive this treachery."

At least they recognized that there might be a traitor among us, although Rellic would bend such suspicion to his benefit any way that he could.

Rellic slowly rose to his feet. "I stand with you, Prime Councilor."

Janis inclined her head toward him, although there was a gleam of distaste in her eyes. "Thank you, Councilor Rellic." She turned to Blade. "Councilor Blade?"

"I still think the rift is worth considering," she answered, "but I stand with you Prime Councilor. Let us raise the shielding, at least until we can determine a better solution."

Janis blinked and looked away without nodding.

"Councilor D'hana?"

"We have your promise of protection, Prime Councilor?"

"You do."

"Then the people of Sha'hiri stand with you."

Janis nodded more deeply. D'hana's support was a win for her.

Others began to stand now that the tide had turned. Before I even realized it Janis had turned to me.

"What of you, Councilor Bane?"

Never to destroy, only to protect – that was the mantra etched into the plaque at the top of the memorial, erected in honor of all those lost during the great annihilation.

Did we dare to raise the shielding again? Would it be only to protect this time? The prism children would be safe inside, unable to be spirited away. No one would be able to enter from beyond without coming through the single entry field, which would certainly be heavily guarded. It would also mean that those of us inside could not get out without notice.

My mission, my existence, was to find the people who had stolen Camille and deliver retribution by any means. If I could not leave the confines of the shielding, I would not be able to complete it.

One vote – my vote, could stop it. Still, to openly defy the Prime Councilor would mean not only scrutiny of my intent and my loyalty, but exposure of my plans. More, it would likely mean the loss of my seat on the Council. The house of Riftkin would fall, and all of the many people who depended on it for their existence would fall with it. Even if I found Camille, she would have no home to come back to.

I couldn't let that happen.

Slowly, my legs creaking like an old man's, I stood.

"I stand with you, Prime Councilor."

Janis paused nearly as long as I had, her eyes narrowed and probing, before finally inclining her head just the barest fraction in acknowledgment of my delayed support.

She had so far been an ally. I could only hope I had not lost that support by hesitating.

Janis let her gaze move to look around once more at each of us.

"Let the record show that the vote is unanimous." Her voice was as hard as her countenance. "We will raise the shielding."

I saw D'hana's lips moving and heard her faint whisper, "God help us all." Then her monitor winked out and her green light faded to gray.

The others followed one-by-one. I jabbed at mine, not wanting to be caught alone with Janis, and hurried back out into the hall. Saka was nowhere in sight. I didn't know whether to be happy or disappointed. How many times had we argued since I had become Bane? How many times would he look at me as if he had already lost me? I could ill afford to let his melancholy and pessimism infect me. I would be successful in my mission.

I had to be.

Still, Saka was one of only two people who knew about my mission, and I could use his sharp mind right now. He was nothing if not a master tactician, and the rules of the game had just changed. I needed a plan. A strategy.

It would take Janis a few days to register the Council vote with the Senators, and another few to gather all of the key people currently living or travelling outside of Selecon's borders back inside.

I had five, maybe six days to find a way to escape.

I needed to be gone before the shielding went up, cutting me off from any hope I had of finding Camille.

And no one could know.