A portion of the Metaship opened.
Not a door.
A transit region.
Space folded between the command citadel and Karma's headquarters until several impossible distances briefly became adjacent.
A black platform extended into the opening.
Sorrow walked onto it.
Five Generals followed several steps behind.
Behind them stood rows of elite Corps personnel.
None accompanied her farther.
This was not an invasion.
Not yet.
The platform crossed the spatial fold.
Sorrow stepped out beneath Karma's sky.
The Metaship remained visible behind her.
Or rather, pieces of it did.
There was too much of the structure to observe at once.
One portion resembled a wall stretching beyond the stars.
Another looked like several artificial constellations moving in formation.
Weapons platforms orbited command structures so large that lesser fleets traveled through their internal transit lanes.
From Karma's territory, the Metaship did not look like a vessel.
It looked like the Continuum Corps had brought a horizon.
The spatial fold closed.
Sorrow stood before CT headquarters.
Five Generals stood behind her.
The doors opened.
Karma sat loosely against a throne formed from folded atmospheric code, one hand supporting the side of his face.
Only two Chaotic Generals stood with him.
One was Vhal Corren.
The Contradiction.
The other remained silent.
Sorrow entered.
The room noticed her before Karma appeared to.
Personnel straightened.
Conversations stopped.
A CT officer stepped forward.
The officer announced, "Chair to the Epithet. Lord of Darkness. God of Sadness. Sorrow."
The words settled over the chamber.
Chair to the Epithet.
Above Generals.
Above ordinary Martial command.
Only one position within the Continuum Corps stood higher.
The Epithet herself.
Anxiety.
Sorrow's mother.
Karma finally raised his eyes.
Sorrow stopped several meters from him.
Karma said, "Anxiety's daughter."
Sorrow replied, "Karma."
Karma looked beyond her toward the five Generals.
Then toward the sealed doors.
Karma said, "You brought a large ship."
Sorrow replied, "You created a large problem."
A faint smile formed across Karma's face.
Sorrow raised one hand.
A projection appeared between them.
Flick measurements filled the room.
The numbers climbed.
And climbed.
Regions began flashing.
Sorrow said, "Flick activity throughout this Archaverse has increased continuously under your governance."
Karma glanced lazily at the display.
Sorrow continued, "Unauthorized factions have formed. Anomalous entities are accumulating. Continuity violations are spreading toward neighboring sectors."
Karma said, "Sounds lively."
Sorrow did not react.
Sorrow said, "Your appointment as a God was not ceremonial."
That got the attention of both Chaotic Generals.
Sorrow continued, "You were appointed to govern Chaotic influence within this Archaverse, suppress excessive Flick development and maintain Continuity."
Karma said, "And?"
Sorrow replied, "You have done none of those things."
Silence entered the chamber.
Sorrow said, "If you are unwilling or incapable of fulfilling your appointed function, your title will be revoked."
Karma stared at her.
Sorrow continued, "Continued refusal will result in termination."
Nothing moved.
One second passed.
Then another.
Then five.
Karma lowered his head.
His shoulders shifted.
One of Sorrow's Generals subtly adjusted his stance.
Then they heard it.
Karma was laughing.
Not a controlled laugh.
Not intimidation.
Genuine laughter.
Karma leaned farther back in his throne and covered his mouth with one hand as if Sorrow had said something genuinely delightful.
Eventually, he looked at her again.
Karma repeated, "Termination."
Sorrow replied, "Yes."
Karma smiled.
Karma said, "Go ahead."
The room changed.
Karma's eyes sharpened.
Karma said, "Try."
The floor stretched.
Walls tore backward into impossible distance.
The ceiling disappeared.
CT headquarters dissolved around them as the ground expanded until its horizon became meaningless.
Crimson fractures spread beneath their feet.
The atmosphere turned dark red.
Sorrow watched the transformation without moving.
The Karmic Battlefield had opened.
Karma's throne remained with him.
Sorrow glanced around.
Sorrow said, "A private battlefield."
Karma replied, "I dislike cleaning."
Sorrow looked back at him.
Karma pointed toward Vhal.
Karma said, "Show me what she can do."
Vhal Corren stepped forward immediately.
He knew her title.
He knew her rank.
He knew who her mother was.
And outside the Karmic Battlefield waited a Metaship larger than a supercluster.
Vhal drew his sword anyway.
Vhal said, "Chair."
Sorrow replied, "General."
The blade flickered.
Then Vhal existed in two places.
Sorrow's eyes narrowed.
Reality stuttered.
And the first fight began.