Lance noticed Monique stealing Trent away to dance, leaving Rebecca with Fenton. He wraps up the conversation quickly about the possibility of opening a new factory in Ylishia, and heads over to his date. Lance arrives, having just missed the end of Fenton’s story, which left Lance to awkwardly stand around while the two laughed so hard they started attracting looks from nearby patrons.

  “While I appreciate you keeping my date entertained, I was hoping Rebecca would accompany me to the dance floor.”

  Rebecca's smile turns to a teasing smirk.

  “I am having such a good time with Fenton… but I guess I’ll give you one more chance.”

  The two walk to the dance floor where they merge into the crowd doing the waltz. Lance taps into his ancestral memories to guide him on the dance floor. While Rebecca has to rely on her own ability, and is unsure of her footing. Lance takes the lead and deftly moves Rebecca across the dance floor. As Rebecca becomes more confident, Lance adds in more complicated dance steps. Slowly the pair start attracting the attention of spectators, as they stand out for their grace. Lance finishes with 360-degree lift, which works, except for Rebecca losing a heel during the spin. Lance kneels down and helps Rebecca into her lost shoe. The pair, hot from exertion on the dance floor, escape to the cool night air on the balcony.

  “Wow, that was fun! I’ve never danced like that before! I guess you’re an alright date after all.”

  “I am impressed you managed to keep up. You don’t have ancestral muscle memory to guide you, yet you moved as if we had practiced.”

  “I never really thought about what it means to be splintered. What’s it like?”

  “Like I am hundreds of years old and this is my first week of life at the same time. I am no longer Thesh from before the ritual. It’s like suddenly having the perspective of multiple people in your head at the same time. The only thing that the perspectives are unanimous about is that there needs to be an independent state named Ylishia.”

  “Okay I’ve learned some philosophy. Why ought there be an independent state named Ylishia.”

  “Because it is just and right.”

  “Okay but let us say that someone disagreed with you. They think that life as-is is morally neutral but you fighting for independence will cause people to die and is therefore morally wrong. How would you change their mind?”

  “I would not change their mind. We were betrayed, split in pieces, and put under separate governments all with the purpose of keeping us down. If they can’t see the injustice then they are an obstacle to our reunification. We were taken advantage of because we were vulnerable and we won’t make that mistake again.”

  “What about when you have an independent Ylishia there will be people that want to live as a part of Falcon Rest. They feel betrayed by your revolution and oppressed by their new government. Do they have a moral right to fight against your government?”

  “Elder Whistler would have the answers for you.”

  “What’s up with you and him? You are always so deferential towards him.”

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “The Elder has dedicated his life to achieving the dream of the Ylishian people. To go against the Elder is to go against Ylishia.”

  “What is best for Ylishia and what is best for the Elder are not always the same thing. You should decide for yourself what is worth fighting for.”

  “I am just a soldier. I take orders and I have to believe that those who issue the orders are doing so for the best.”

  “Lance, you can be so much more than just a soldier. You can decide for yourself what is right or wrong.”

  “What about you? When is it worth it to take a life?”

  “I don’t know but war isn’t the answer. Mechs have so much room to do good in the world, why do they need to be used for killing instead?”

  “There are things worth dying for and my independant homeland is one of them. I will use my skills as a pilot to achieve my goals. It’s not like others would stop fighting with mechs if we stopped using mechs.”

  “What if they did? What if you could achieve an independent Ylishia without ever engaging in combat.”

  “Look at Merchese or Treaaw, they are barely states there is no one to negotiate with. The only way we will reunite Ylishia is by using force to control the areas from anarchy.”

  “What about the parents who will give their life to defend Ylishia? What will you say to their children?”

  “That they gave their life so that their children may live a better life.”

  “My mom died having changed nothing. She died in a training accident. Even just preparing for war meant my mom was a necessary sacrifice. I just can’t accept that my mom needed to die. That others will lose their parents just like I did over nothing.”

  “You asked what it is like being splintered. I have memories of many parents that raised me, most are dead, fewer still did something in life that transcends the generations. The parents of Thesh are still alive, but they are just two of crowd of those who raised me. Thesh’s parents were neither cruel nor especially loving. The thing that I am most proud of my most recent parents is their joy at hearing that Thesh was going to be splintered. Your relationship with your mom is special because you value your time together, cherish that.“

  “My mom was my hero. I just miss her so much.”

  “Tell me about her. All I know is that she was a Mechabelli pilot.”

  “My mom was always like an older woman in a younger woman's body. She was a morning person always bright and full of energy first thing in the morning. It was a tad annoying seeing as I am not a morning person in the slightest. However she would take naps whenever she could, saying it was something the military drilled into her that she could sleep anywhere and through anything. She was always a mother hen, even to those under her in the military. She felt that anything going on was her business too. Mom had high expectations and if you didn’t meet them the look she would give would melt you like butter. I try to live every day like I am living up to my mom's expectations.”

  “What would she expect of you now?”

  “That I would dance my heart out! I am starting to get cold. Let's warm up on the dance floor!”

  Lance and Rebecca re-entered the ball to hear the band was playing faster music now and took to the dance floor. They already had a reputation and held most of the ball's attention as they showed off to the crowd. By the time they left the dance floor people clapped and whistled at the couple having enjoyed the show. Fenton waved them over in between putting four fingers in his mouth to whistle above the noise of the crowd. He was standing beside Trent, who seemed unfazed, and Monique, who was shrinking away from the vulgarity.

  “Now that was downright impressive. You two are quite the pair of jitterbugs.”

  “It was mostly Lance. I've never danced like that before. I feel so alive!”

  “I couldn’t have done it without a capable partner.”

  Trent steps forward and bows ninety degrees. Head still facing down.

  “I want to apologize for the way I was at dinner the other night. I look forward to working with you on the Quarst Cup.”

  Lance gives Fenton a wink who is dumbstruck by his friend's action.

  “We start tomorrow at 0600 for PT, then we have the tournament grounds rented for the week.”

  Monique grimaces as Trent and Lance shake hands.