Part IV

The sunlight playfully danced on gently swaying leaves as they brushed against the still form of the Gyro. Lyla abruptly awoke bringing a hand up to shield her eyes as she surveyed the dense forest around her. After a few moments she gathered up the protective chute and packed it into the deployment canister before removing a small alloy box from beneath the seat.

Looking over the damage to the dashboard Lyla shook her head and opened the small tool box at her feet. With a large wrench she carefully bent the valves back to shape and tested each one for pressure.

‘This dash looks ruined.’ She muttered rummaging through the tool box.

With her eyes closed Lyla turned the key hoping not to overload the remaining gauges. The dash gradually illuminated allowing her to determine which of the crystal indicators still functioned after the surge.

‘I could be here for days fixing all of this. Just the critical read outs will have to do.’

As the afternoon sun passed overhead Lyla lay beneath the dash repairing as much as she could. She cautiously spliced into the mass of wires reconnecting all of the critical gauges needed for flight. With the last pair of wires bonded together she pulled herself back into the seat and pushed the key into place.

'Come on little girl.' She pleaded patting the dash. 'Please work.'

Lyla clicked the key into position and waited with one eye closed.

‘Whhirrrrr…vrrrrrriii….rrrrrrrrrrrrrrpprtttttt…’ The exhaust sputtered and blew out a cloud of white smoke as the disc began to spin at an idle purr.

Lyla danced in her seat praising the fortitude of the little craft before replacing the tool box and securing her safety harness. The Gyro slowly came to full power and she smiled watching as the indicator changed from blue to red.

‘Here goes.’ She said nervously.

With a firm grip on the controls Lyla brought the craft up from the forest floor through the dense foliage that helped to slow her fall. Gingerly she pushed through the tree tops for the open sky above leaving the tightly packed branches behind her. The directional needle hung lifeless as she slowly turned acclimating herself to a southwestern course before gradually accelerating forward.

‘I just need you to hold it together for a little while girl.’

The air around the Gyro still felt charged with energy sending a chill through Lyla as she navigated the skies.

‘It feels like we might be the only ones left.’ She said surveying the ground beneath them.

Lyla retrieved some of the pilfered agavu berries from a plexo jar and fed the nervous rumbling in her stomach. She wasn't quite sure what to expect after the traumatic events of the day prior and her mother’s haunting message. The small recording crystal felt cold as she squeezed it in her palm.

‘Daughter I apologize for not sending for you sooner. Know you are always in my thoughts and I wish only for your safe return. South of Caahin you will find a Tran station with Gyros you can use to return home. I fear time is short for this world but you must not invoke fear among the villagers. Wait for the cloak of night and make your escape.’

The message signaled it's end and went silent. Lyla leaned back in the seat pondering the meaning of her mother’s words as she continued course. Ahead of her the towering white walls broke through the horizon shifting her thoughts back to the present.

‘This could get interesting.’

She began climbing higher above the forest to prepare for an approach as the city loomed in the distance. From this height Lyla could make out large columns of black smoke to the south and west of her and sadness crept in. Frowning she thought about the loss of life in Shar’Caahin but quickly pushed it out of her mind.

‘Stay on task or it might be you too.’ She thought steadying the controls beneath her shaking hands.

As she grew closer the walls of the city began to encompass her vision as huge towers stretched upwards away from her. Guiding her in to the landing pad stood two flashing amber crystals that blinked in unison as she approached. Lyla slowed the Gyro and gracefully touched onto the sturdy stone of the landing pad. With the craft locked into place and the key switched to the off position it sputtered and coughed before going silent.

Still tied to the hitching post were two very frightened geldings that had managed to survive the failing rubble and debris that lightly cluttered the pad. Lyla made her way past the anxious mounts and into one of the circular lifts before pressing a large amber crystal. Beneath her feet the floor was decorated lavishly as she waited for the trip upwards. Lyla secured her pack and began to twist the Mishun staff in her palms building a charge in case she found obstacles in her path.

The doors slid open after a low chime and Lyla rolled out into the street ahead of her ready for anything. The danger she found was not opponents but broken crystal shards and shattered stone covering the once beautifully polished street. Amongst the rubble Lyla could feel the Allonic metal inside of her charging with energy from the city below.

'Who could have turned on the grid?' She questioned walking towards the center of the city.

Inside the central keep she found it remarkably untouched as though an invisible barrier held overhead. Finding the massive courtyard of the keep empty of the bustling vendors she recalled from her youth sent a shudder through her. She quickly moved across the yard and into a small passageway between two large buildings. Closing the secret door behind her Lyla called for her mother as she went room to room searching and finding nothing.

'Have I failed then?' Lyla wondered aloud pondering her fate. 'Mother wouldn't have just left me.'

As Lyla sat quietly in her mother's chambers wondering what to do next she began to hear a faint tapping from the Holicron at the bedside. Reaching down she clicked the button and the image of her mother came into view spouting out messages in the coded tongue of the Matsu'Tet.

'The council has sent summons for me and I fear the outcome. Take the remaining Zakir circlet and head for Genoha. May favor hold with us both.'

Lyla held the crystal down to erase the message and proceeded into the chamber adjacent to her mother's room. Around the room were small alcoves marked with symbols and holy rites. Standing in the center of the room was a granite statuette adorned with an etched silver band. Gently she removed one and slipped it over her pointed ears letting the band rest on the back of her neck. A calm focus washed over her as the runes slowly began to glow against the pale of her neck.

Making space in her pack Lyla secured the six remaining bands and began her journey back to the landing pad. The light blue of her robe stood out in harsh contrast against the gleaming white stonework of the city as she pulled it around her. Standing in the center of the yard was a colossal Allon statue of Grace Al’Suan the first High Mother. The silver metal looked wet as light fractured against its surface reflecting back in a multicolored shimmer.

‘At least you managed to hold up.’ She said making a protective gesture across her abdomen.

Underfoot crystal fragments crumbled to dust as Lyla walked through the lifeless city avoiding the larger piles of broken rock. In her peripheral she caught a sudden movement and quickly turned to look that direction but found nothing. A look of confusion passed over her pale features as a single brow came up in a furrow.

‘Is someone there? Hello?’

Pushing the light blue hood back she waited silently for a reply but none came.

Assuring herself it was nothing Lyla continued for the elevator at a quickened pace. Shadows suddenly appeared to vibrate and flux as the light rippled through the air around a stalking form at her flank as panic set in. Without allowing time to surrender to her fears she brought the Mishun staff around in an arc as a cyan glow rolled off the shaft. Black leather gloves covered his hands as he easily parried her furious attacks. His cloak shifted as they struggled creating a blur of cascading light and shadows obscuring his features to her.

‘Lyla Jan’Dior. Initiate of the Third Sphere. Cease before harm finds you.’ He said stepping under the twirling staff.

Worry passed over her face as she wondered how this man knew her and what his true intentions may be. Without allowing him more time to explain she doubled her attacks looking for any weakness in her opponent’s stance but could find none. The two danced together caught up in a whirlwind of tracing cyan attacks and the dull black leather that deflected her blows.

‘By order of the…’ He began and Lyla saw her chance for an opening.

She quickly feigned left bringing the end of her staff upwards to the chin of her attacker. With a resounding thud it crashed into his jawbone sending him backwards in a heap. Lyla took no time to check his condition and began running at full speed for the elevator and the exit out of the city.

As the walls began to shake around her the massive red sphere crested the horizon.

‘No…’ A single word escaped her lips as she recalled the violent trembling of her village.

Towers bent and twisted sending huge stone blocks crashing to the tile floor as the sky darkened around the burning red energy of the orb. The Zakir band between her ears grew cold as it repelled the forces of the sphere and kept her conscious. The eastern tower supports creaked loudly under the strain and gave way sending falling rock and debris hurling down around Lyla as the echos of destruction carried through the empty streets.

Jumping from rock to rock she twirled the staff in her hands sending broken fragments of stone harmlessly to the ground. The motion of Allonic being focused into a snap shield caught her eye.

‘What now?’ She thought seeing the bright flash.

Ahead of her Lyla could make out the forms of two young men in distress and wondered if this was some kind of trap. As the shorter of the two went limp and slumped to the floor she felt something tugging at her to help them. Lyla darted under the protective shield as she secured a circlet onto the one who remained standing as the city tried to come down around them.

With the barrier steadied Lyla reached out her hand towards her new companion and watched as little sparks jumped from the delicate silver lines of his palm towards hers. With a low crackle the energies introduced them and a blur of quick images passed through them both.

'Lyla Jan’Dior. Initiate of the Third Sphere. It is nice to meet you.' Tosh said in a formal tone as he bowed slightly.

'Tosh De’Larus. Son of the Watchers. I also find comfort in our intersection.’ Lyla said with a nod.

'We are normally much more cordial but we've found ourselves in quite the... situation. Why are we not also in a heap?' Tosh asked their new guest.

‘The Zakir circlet holds us in place.’ Lyla answered.

A large statue made from polished blue crystal began to tilt under the pressure of the quaking floor. Tosh watched in wonder as pieces gave way to new shapes in a hail of broken shards. The large red sphere passed out of his vision long before the quakes began to subside and slowly the city calmed.

Etian awoke from his slumber and quickly jumped to his feet ready to bolt.

'Tosh, Blue, are you both all right?' Etian said scanning the area around him.

As Etian looked over his shoulder she came in view for the first time, features delicate and smooth she gracefully moved closer. Etian turned to face her and clumsily caught his left foot on a large piece of debris sending him back to the tile below again. Lyla stood over him watching as his orange features reddened in blush. Seeing the silver tracing along his palm she tilted her head to the side in contemplation and slowly reached to help him up.

As their palms met the Allon roared to life sending crackling blue light between them. A rush of her childhood blew through his mind followed by a quick secession of images of the village she fled and her journey back to the city. With a gasp he pulled free of her wondering what she had seen in the exchange as he panted for breath.

‘Etian of Shar’Bascor and the long plains. It is nice to meet you.’ Lyla said formally.

Blue darted past Lyla barking in her direction as he made way for Etian.

'Blue. Let Lyla check Etian for trauma. He was out for a moment.’ Tosh said motioning Blue to back down. .

'You appear unharmed. Do you feel dizzy at all?’ Etian shook his head at her questioning.

‘I can stand.’ He said pushing himself to his feet. 'This one looks worse than before. Look at all the broken crystal.'

They all stood looking over the damage around them before Lyla broke the silence.

‘I fought someone back there. He knew my name but something felt wrong.’ She said looking in the direction of the skirmish.

‘I knew I saw someone.’ Etian said proudly.

‘He was upon me before I knew it. I think he may be wearing a seeker cloak.’ Lyla told them as she gathered her cloak.

'We should get out of here then. My father instructs we go to the Geno…' Tosh began.

Lyla quickly interrupted him. 'To the Genoha stones? My mother said the same thing.'

'Then we should go together.'  Etian finished.

They all agreed as Blue echoed a chipper bark.

The four moved quietly through the fallen debris littering the street as they continued for the elevator. Etian slipped the Zakir band down over his ears as Lyla instructed feeling the cold runes begin to charge against his skull. The elevator shaft had been destroyed in the rumbling quake so they took the empty stairwell down to the exit and strode out onto the landing pad.

'Is that a Gyro?' Etian asked pointing at the strange craft. 'I thought they were just talk.’

Noticing as Tosh cleared his throat to speak Etian quickly added. 'And do not go off thinking they are magic.'

Tosh chuckled before nodding at Etian.

Lyla studied the two boys as they walked ahead of her. They were both so different in appearance but so similar in spirit. Tosh stood in a tall slender silhouette while Etian’s form was more squat and broad his dusky orange skin appearing more rigid than the soft pale flesh of his friend. She pondered how he came to have the Allonic pathways tracing his palm and opened her mouth to ask before being interrupted.

‘This is it.’ Tosh assured them opening the doorway to the landing pad.

Lyla placed her things down at the base of the gyro and moved into the control seat as the boys methodically began calming the horses. Tosh grimaced as he cleaned pieces of broken stone from the valves connected to his saddle. Behind him Lyla sighed as the Gyro let out a hiss and began shaking violently before returning to stillness.

'She was struck by a charged field on the way up and barely held it together. I think she may be done for. Poor little girl.' Lyla said patting the dash of her downed craft.

Tosh and Etian exchanged a knowing nod before facing off hands drawn. With three fist pumps they opened closed hands to reveal a winner. Tosh stood with his hand flattened palm up as Etian held three fingers outstretched to replicate a trident.

Tosh laughed as Etian spoke. 'You ride with me, Lyla. We will need to make sure you only carry what is needed.’

Lyla paused briefly before gathering her satchel and walked to the gelding. Securing her staff along the wing power base Lyla swung the lightened pack onto her back and slipped into the saddle with Etian.  Blue carelessly played near the edge of the platform as the door to the stairs flew open. 

Piet stalked angrily onto the landing pad as his shifting cloak hid the dual ebon hilts at his waist.

‘By order of the Council of Hands I command you all to stop.’ Piet declared.

‘Come here Blue!’ Tosh exclaimed holding his hands out towards the Jibrec.

‘We need to go now.’ Lyla said behind Etian as he pulled on the reigns.

With a graceful charge the animals pushed forward off the ledge as their hooves churned to find ground pumping the silver wings in flight as they put the city behind them.