In Devastating Loss, an unexpected alarm tears through the night, pulling Tarian from restless sleep into a fight for survival. When he sees the lights bathing the compound, he rushes out to meet the unknown. But as the smoke clears, he learns that bravery and loss often walk hand in hand. Every act of courage demands its price.
As the siren fades and silence returns, Tarian is left to count what remains. This is a story about duty in the face of despair, about the quiet strength that follows tragedy, and the weight of every decision made in darkness.
Moments of Rest accompanies this tale with a slow, soulful blues progression that mirrors Tarian’s exhaustion and reflection. The music breathes between lines, carrying the ache of loss while offering a fragile calm. It’s a reminder that even after battle, a moment’s rest must come.
This story continues the Colonization saga, where the Larian colony is teetering on obliteration. As the end of the series bore down on me, I knew I needed to lay some groundwork for what was planned. As a result, I leaned into the recent installments and used them in order to explore the composure of Tarian. Despite wanting to weigh his worth, I wanted to explore the burden of leadership and the silence that follows chaos.
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Tarian lifted his head from the desk as the alarm blared. With a groan, he turned toward the noise. When he couldn’t locate the source of the racket, he started blinking the sleep away and stumbled toward the window. He leaned on the sill and saw the ordnance storehouse lights flashing across the field. As his gaze tracked the beams, the scene made sense. Tarian spun and bolted from his quarters.
When he burst out of the building, Tarian dashed toward the depot. As he crossed the courtyard, a hand yanked him to a stop. Tarian reached back, grabbed the stranger and twisted his arm behind his back. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing,” Lloyd said with a whimper, his face paling. He raised his free hand in surrender. “However, you rushing headlong into an unknown raid isn’t one of your better ideas.”
As Tarian relaxed his grip, he spun toward the armory as his hand flew to his side. He reached for his sidearm, but his fingers brushed an empty belt. A curse flew from his mouth as he whirled toward Lloyd. “Do you have a spare gun?”
“You’re lucky you ran into me first.” Lloyd drew a handgun and thrust it toward Tarian. “Next time the alarm blares, you might remember to secure your sidearm before you try to take on a mystery unarmed.”
“That’s enough,” Tarian said as he took the weapon. After a brief check, he aimed the small firearm at the depot and inched forward.
“You shouldn’t be the first to enter,” Lloyd said, pulling Tarian’s shoulder. With a few long strides, Lloyd pulled ahead of Tarian and placed an ear against the depot’s door.
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