It took us almost six hours to fly to Half Circle the next morning. It was my first time wearing the halfant armor with thermal gear, and the wind currents slowed down our flight. 

Half Circle Compound looked like a collection of high-rise buildings all clustered together and surrounded in snow. If I thought the air around the Redwood Compound was nippy, it was practically frigid here. 

"How does anyone stand it here?" I asked as my teeth chattered. 

"The little kids call it Penguin Compound," Alana said. "No one wants to be this cold. That's why the giants let the half-giants build their community here. It's warmer inside. Trust me."

She led me into the largest of the buildings. In the lobby, we were greeted by a halfant who looked like a middle-aged Samoan mom with tribal tattoos down her neck and on her chest covering her light brown skin. Her dark brown hair was pulled back, and she embraced Alana. 

When she let go of Alana, she looked me over under her beady gaze. Her eyes softened after a moment, and she led us over to a station of warm drinks. She made us both cups of tea, and I gratefully took the styrofoam cup from her. 

"This is Gia Smythe," Alana said. "She's the unofficial mom here at Half Circle. She helps with training and looks after the various kids that find their ways here."

"I've always wanted to meet you," Gia said. "I'm so glad Alana brought you here. I love it when my kids come to visit."

"I assume Doc told you we were coming," Alana said. 

"Of course," Gia said. "She flew back this morning to meet Terri. I think she's up in her office with Cato. There's been some trouble with Hoarfrost Jotnar, and of course, they want us to spare Lyssa to sort out the problem."

Alana frowned. "We could send Abel in her stead. He's not at the siege."

"They won't accept him," Gia said. "They should be about done if you just go up to the office now. I've got to make sure lunch is ready."

Gia walked off down a big hallway off the lobby. Alana turned and gestured to a staircase. We walked up the stairs and found a short hallway with more stairs at the end of the hall. 

I half expected us to keep climbing, but Alana turned halfway down the hall to a big frosted glass room. The door had a sign that read: Commander Headquarters. 

Alana didn't knock. She pushed the door open and led me straight inside into a large conference room. 

A man and a woman sat in front of a holographic map of Jontun, and a screen on one of the walls showed a second woman. I did a double take at the woman on the screen because she had the strangest appearance I'd seen in Jontun. 

She had a blue undertone to her pale skin and patterns of scars or birthmarks that looked like frost scattered the surface. Her hair was stark white and swooped around her head. Her dark blue eyes matched her blue lips, which I wasn't sure was lipstick.

"You could spare me," the woman on the screen said. "My cousins won't listen to anyone else, Doc."

"We'll retain positions," the woman in the room said. "I'll go to Corin myself tomorrow with Magdalena."

Alana sucked in a breath. Whatever it was they were talking about sounded bad. The strange woman on the screen clearly wanted to protest but thought better of it. 

The screen shut off. The man let out a deep sigh and ran a hand through his dark, graying hair. He reminded me of someone, but I couldn't think of who. 

"Our guests are here," he said. 

The moment he spoke, I realized his amber eyes and proud nose were exactly like Mrs. Dorkepski's. Even his tone of voice vaguely reminded me of Emma. 

"Terri, this is Commander Cato Valan," Alana said. "He sees to operations at Half Circle and to the battle readiness of all halfants."

"I read you already met my mother and niece," Cato said. "And my daughter helped bring you to Jontun. There were also those curious logs you made Alana about her training. If I hadn't pulled the footage myself, I might not have believed you."

"It is curious," the woman stood. "Very curious indeed."

There was no doubt in my mind that this was my Great Aunt Doctiana Sims. She looked younger than my grandmother, but that might have been because her hair was only streaked with gray. She didn't seem older than forty, but Granmam also had a youthful complexion. They had the same eyes and proud lips. 

"Cato," Doc ordered. "Check the cameras and resume regular operations. I need to have a conversation with my great-niece."

Cato left the room with only a nod. Doc gestured for us to sit at the table and retook her seat at the head. Once we were situated, she spoke again.

"Commander Bryan says you've exceeded expectations, Miss McDonald," she said. "I see no error with this assessment. Your colleague Lord Ethesis, on the other hand..."

"Moreno has exceeded my expectations," Alana said. 

"Then you should raise your standards, commander," Doc said. "You cannot show favoritism. Moreno Ethesis can perform at a higher level. We both know that."

"He saved my life," I said, feeling the urge to stick up for Alana as well as Moreno. 

Doc looked at me. "Well, then he performed his job successfully. He, however, gambled much to bring you here. The king is furious. War is looming. Our very way of life is in danger, and Moreno Ethesis knew that."

"He made the right call," Alana said. 

"Did he?" Doc challenged. 

"I can help with your war," I said. 

"You've only started something that cannot be undone," Doc said. "This war will end with either the halfants eradicated or we'll be stronger than ever. If Ellenora wins, the giants will overrun Earth. If the king wins, he'll likely see you dead, Terri, and he'll have my head and the rest of the Oakeleys for defying him. I don't want him to hurt my family again."

It was the first time I'd seen her show any emotion. Doc did care about her family, and I was her niece. 

"What about Victor?" I asked. 

Doc laughed. "That boy doesn't have the stamina to deal with the war that's been brewing since before his birth. He's not a solution."

"So what do we do?" I asked.

"You stay at Redwood, and you do not leave the premises again," Doc said. "I'd keep you here, but I think the range of halfants closer to your age at Redwood is better for you. Advise the Oakeleys to stay groundside and keep your head down. Once we figure out how to end the siege at Snowdon without bloodshed, we can talk more about your future here."

She wanted to lock me back up in that compound and hoped all the giants forgot about me. Based on my recent kidnapping attempts, I had a feeling that this wasn't going to die down soon. 

"Miss McDonald, I need you to convince Moreno Ethesis to allow his sister to return to Half Circle," Doc said. "With a high-profile target like Terri at your compound, it is no longer the place for a child. I understand this will be difficult for him, and I'd rather you convince him than look like the villain giving the order."

Alana nodded. "We've tried this before, and he wouldn't consent to the relocation. He's determined that his sister is safer in his care."

"I understand his trauma, but it is compromising the safety of Carisma," Doc said. "If something happens to the young noble, there will be consequences on all sides. Please convince him. You may be the only person who can."

"He doesn't want to lose his sister," I said. "He's already lost his brother."

Alana looked stunned. "He told you about Enrique? He never talks about his brother."

"I mean, he said he died," I said. 

"Alana, were you intending Moreno to make a friend when you assigned him to Terri?" Doc asked. 

"I assigned him because he's a noble, and I thought that would help the situation," Alana said. "I didn't anticipate him becoming emotionally intimate. He doesn't do that with anyone except me and his sister."

"Then perhaps Terri can persuade him and succeed where we've failed," Doc said. "Just beware of Moreno. He's not always the most stable member of our community."

"Moreno does his best," Alana said. 

"And every day, I'm afraid someone will push him too far, and he's my next Drake," Doc said. "I can't have another problem."

Alana's eyes hardened. "Moreno is nothing like that monster. He would never abuse his position. He's too smart, and he's not cruel."

"You weren't around, girl, when we were forced to deal with him," Doc said. "Sometimes what seems like brilliance is just madness." 

Doc let out a large sigh. For the first time, I could see her age on her face. Doc was a commander, and her decisions affected everyone around her. She was tired, and she'd been doing this for far longer than she had preferred. 

"Why are you so afraid of Moreno?" I asked. 

"I cannot control him," Doc said. "Halfants exist as a delicate balance within Jontun. We're maligned but necessary. Rogue halfants who break the rules threaten our community. If Moreno does something to anger the king, and Tytan hurts our community, I'd never forgive myself."

Even the great Doc Sims was afraid of my grandfather, the king. The longer I was in Jontun, the more I wondered if maybe my mother had the right idea to get him off the throne. She was just going about it in the wrong way.

"I'm not trying to threaten what you've built," I said. "And neither is Moreno."

Doc smiled softly. "I know. Clarissa, my sister, raised you well. You're safe in our world, but until we can guarantee your safety, I'd suggest you stay only in our world."

I understood the sentiment. I couldn't go poking around in the world of the giants. If Doc thought it was too dangerous, it probably was. 

"Doc is right," Alana said. "We should get you back to Redwood, Terri."

I hadn't expected the two to agree. Still, Alana respected Doc, and there was something between them. Doc wasn't quite the mentoring type, but I could tell that she was still trying to teach Alana in her own way. 

There were bits of Granmam in her sister. Despite her responsibility, Doc cared about her family, which was related by blood and her found community. 

"You've grown so much, Terri," Doc said. "I delivered you out of Jontun as an infant. I'm glad you've found yourself back to us."

I smiled at my great aunt. "This place... Jontun is amazing, Aunt Doc."

The door flew open. Cato stumbled back into the commander's headquarters with a worried expression on his face. 

"Finn Hassan'son is at the entrance demanding to see Terri," he said. "There's a dozen followers with him. They're armed and threatening the compound."

Hey friends!!! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Terri's family just keeps getting bigger and bigger. What did you think of Doc? What do you think will happen to Terri as her mother's followers reappear?  Until next time!!!