Part X

Piet used the confusion brought on by the explosion as a perfect opportunity to strike and quickly dashed through the broken stone gate into the massive chamber behind. Silently Talin fell in behind him surveying the room as he gracefully avoided the crumbling rubble underfoot. As the dust began to clear he could see the forms of six stocky humanoids angrily gathering themselves and preparing to charge while a lone white faced creature stood behind them barking loudly in a foreign tongue.

‘Get the platform. I will handle the others.’ Piet said coldly as he pointed in the direction of the control panel.

Talin watched as Piet pulled up the hood of his cloak further obscuring his features and began to move towards the lumbering group of snout-faced men. A frown passed over his lips as the first creature fell but he put it out of his mind and turned his back on Piet advancing for the controls. As he approached the largest of the strange men Talin waited until the last possible second to draw his blades looking for any sign they could come to a peaceful arrangement.

‘We seek only the boy.’ He called with one arm outstretched in a defensive posture. ‘If you have not harmed him we will forget all of this.’

The large white-faced creature snarled and grunted at him before struggling to speak in a language he could understand.

‘ALL… WILL… END…’

‘What?’ Talin questioned as one of his eyebrows raised.

The large creature did not answer as it retrieved two small mallets from behind the control panel and moved closer.

‘SKAR… KILL’

‘We just want the boy.’ Talin said placing his hands on both hilts preparing for the worst.

He watched as Skar twirled the matching hammers between his thick short fingers while rhythmically advancing towards him. He unsheathed both blades from his shoulders and felt the Allon surging between them as they flared to life with a pale magenta glow. From below the control panel Piet watched as Talin engaged the large creature while still fighting off his own attackers.

His shifting cloak flourished as Piet spun into a roundhouse kick sending one of the snout-faced humanoids to the ground before leaping over the fallen man and engaging another. His twisted blades sliced through the air in numerous feints and counter attacks as Piet fought mercilessly with the four still standing. He focused every muscle in his body as he snapped out a quick front kick sending a reverberating crack through the chamber as the plated armor covering his opponent’s torso broke into pieces sending him stumbling backwards. Without pause he spun his leg sidelong into another of them knocking the oxygen from his lungs as the creature fell in a heap grasping its stomach and retching violently as Piet stood above him. The remaining three put up little fight against just a skilled adversary and before long all six of the snout-faced creatures lay motionless on the stone floor.

Standing still for a moment to catch his breath Piet noticed Tosh restrained behind a strange device and quickly moved to free him.

‘Are you hurt?’ He asked but got not reply.

‘Tosh De’Larus, can you hear me?’ He asked more formally.

‘They…’ Tosh began but trailed off.

‘Is he dead, boy? Where is the other? Get your wits about you!’ Piet grasped Tosh by the shoulders shaking him.

‘They used that device to transport him somewhere.’ Tosh said pointing in the direction of Talin.

The shock going through Piet’s mind was obvious by the expression on his face as he stood up and began to rush towards the white-faced creature still engaged in combat with his friend.

‘We need him alive. Talin.’ Piet called approaching the rear flank of his target.

Skar snorted his disapproval and doubled his attacks swinging the hammers wildly against the magenta glowing blades that arced before him as Piet looked for an opening in his defenses. He slid in beneath the flailing attacks and drove both palms into the creatures’ lower back focusing all of his energy and sending Skar reeling in pain.

A guttural cry rang out through the chamber as Skar clutched at his abdomen and slowly backed towards the control panel with both men advancing hands outstretched instructing him to stop.

‘Talin we must not let him get to the controls.’ Piet whispered keeping both eyes fixed on his prey.

‘Easy, Piet we need a chance at questioning him.’

Skar continued slowly retreating towards the controls growling under his breath as he felt a dizziness passing over him. He stumbled and reached for something to support himself with before collapsing in a heap near the controls.

‘You poisoned him?’ Piet asked chuckling as he walked closer to the snout-faced man.

‘I was not sure if it would work on them but it appears they metabolize the blue tear at the same rate we do.’ Talin said kneeling to check on the odd humanoid.

‘De’Larus, come tell Talin what you told me.’ Piet said moving to the control panel to study the strange markings covering the various keys.

‘I am glad you are not hurt. What is this Piet is talking about?’ Talin asked watching as Tosh gingerly crossed the chamber to sit nearby.

Blue scampered from beneath the prison she had been hiding under and quickly caught up to Tosh barking quietly as she nuzzled up to his back. He reached around and scratched the rough blue fur covering her chin before responding to Talin.

‘They brought us down here in some kind of box and Blue managed to get us out but we were already inside of this chamber. We fought the best we could but before long they subdued us and moved Etian to that platform.’ He said pointing at the platform.

‘They charged it up somehow and then in a flash, just like all their supplies, he was gone.’ He finished before lowering his head.

Talin stood quiet for a long time caught up in his own thoughts before Piet interrupted bringing him back to the present.

‘Where could it go? Why would they want the boy?’

‘I have absolutely no inclination as to where it could go. The only thing it said to me was that all would end.’ Talin responded before the room settled back to silence.

After a few moments it was Tosh that spoke. ‘Why do you want Etian?’

Talin cleared his throat as he watched Piet binding the wrists of the odd creatures together assuring when they wake they would still be restrained.

‘That answer is far too complex for a time like this.’ Piet snapped back before Talin could begin to speak.

Tosh stood abruptly and walked back to the collapsed prison he had been transported here in and began to search for his belongings. In the rear of the box he found a container holding both blades, bucklers and his pack and after a moment had it all secured on his person.

‘I have to go after him.’ He said grasping the hilt between his fingers as it flared with energy.

‘No.’ Talin dismissed him with a waved hand as he looked over the device.

‘I will not stand by while he is in danger that I helped put him in.’ Tosh said trying to muster all of his courage to deepen his voice.

‘The danger that surrounds us all is so much more than any of you understand.’ Talin said still trying to deduce the working order of the machinery behind him. ‘Be quiet for a few moments.’

Tosh grumbled as he sat back down on the cold stone floor with Blue nuzzling up beside him. He sat and watched as Piet and Talin worked over the large device helping them with the order the colors changed and his best idea of which buttons were pressed. Before long Piet believed he knew the firing order and was ready to power up the machine.

‘We should all go through together.’

‘We have no idea what is going to happen.’ Piet barked arguing with Talin behind a furrowed brow. ‘I should go through then you and the boy can follow.’

As they sat debating the best possible solution Etian awoke in a small dark cell with shackles bound to his wrists and ankles. Above him an air vent let in a small sliver of light that carried down through the center of the cell pooling on the floor at his feet.

‘Will nothing go in my favor?’ He mused aloud while checking the integrity of his bindings.

‘Things could be worse. You could be dead.’ A somber voice cut through the small chamber.

‘Who is there?’ Etian demanded against the darkness.

He heard the old man grunt lifting himself to lean forward as the beam of light caught his features washing him with pale luminance as Etian squinted looking over him. His dark ebony skin appeared to glow with a soft radiance as the light trickled over his bushy eyebrows and tightly knotted beard. Etian watched as his large dark eyelids slowly slid open revealing the dull grey pupils beneath and he wondered if the man was blind.

‘You are a wanderer? Where are we?’ Etian asked pondering what he knew of wanderers.

His uncle had told him about the Ilumina men that spent their lives wandering the world in an attempt to seek out untold secrets and wonders. So many adventures the story tellers had chronicled and retold throughout the war-torn south his uncle had said. 'A man needs something to find a little peace now and again.'

‘My name is Anu’Lian. I am no wanderer. I was a trader like my father and his father and where we are I do not know. They speak little to me and even less that I can understand.’ The old man responded coughing into his torn burgundy robe. ‘You should get some rest while you can. They like to get an early start with us.’

Etian wanted to ask what the old man meant but he thought it might be best he did not know and kept silent as he lay down on the cold stone floor and patiently tried to rest while his mind raced with possibilities.

Part IX

The grass surrounding Etian felt soft and healthy as he twirled one of the long green blades between his orange fingers. The scent of freshly cooked agavu berries drifted from a nearby window drawing his attention and reminding him of how hungry he was. He abruptly awoke from the dream and tried to sit up banging his head against cold metal in the darkness surrounding him.

‘We are inside of something.’ He heard tosh say in the inky black.

‘What happened?’ Etian asked bringing his hand up to rub the sore spot on his forehead.

‘We got one of them but I saw Lyla fall and then things just went dark.’ Tosh answered him in a whisper.

‘Is she with us, Tosh?’

‘Not that I can tell.’ He answered and the pair went silent.

As Tosh turned back onto his side he could again see out one of the tiny air holes in the massive container and he watched as the strange snout-faced men walked beside it. Thick black matted hair that more closely resembled fur hung in shoulder-length braids on each that passed through his vantage point. Tosh could see that one of the creatures stood a bit taller than the others and had a white stripe splitting the center of his face making his large black eyes stand out even more than his companions.

‘They appear to be taking us somewhere.’ Tosh whispered turning away so his voice would carry less. ‘I have no idea how we will get out of this.’

‘Get some rest, Tosh. There is nothing to be done from inside this box.’ Etian said still rubbing his temples.

Further behind them in the tunnels left by the lumbering group Blue darted from rock to rock still trailing them diligently. Her little black nose sniffed furiously at the air as she drew in the boys scent before pushing further after their captors. The only sounds she made were the tiny clicks her claws left against the broken rock beneath them.

As the time slowly passed Etian let his thoughts drift to just days before when the worst part of the day had been cleaning up animal dung in the stables out back and he let out a tired sigh.

‘We can get out of this.’ Tosh whispered reassuringly as if knowing what burdened him.

‘I wonder if Lyla is still alive. Do you think, Tosh?’

‘She managed to defeat that Piet fellow so I want to believe she is. Etian what happened on the platform?’ Tosh asked still peering through the air vent.

‘All I remember is bringing up the blade and feeling it contact with the protector before being flooded with energy and feeling my face burning so badly I think I blacked out.’ Etian responded while subconsciously tracing his fingers along the silver markings dotting his face. ‘I really hope Lyla is okay.’

‘I do too, Etian.’

Her dense fur that normally hung loose was laid back tight as Blue stalked past one of the large captors trying to get closer to the lingering scent coming off of the large cube one of them guided through the tunnel. Beneath the polished metal box she uncoiled her tail from the tight wrap she had kept it in while stealthily approaching and pulled herself up onto one of the supports before taking in a large whiff of the air and allowing herself to rest a minute secure in knowing the boys were just above her.

‘Did you hear that?’ Etian quietly asked.

Through the small opening in the polishing steel container Tosh could see the rough rock passageway begin to look more refined as if the stones were cut and placed intentionally and he wondered how deep into the planet they had descended. Abruptly the caravan came to a halt after passing through what appeared to be a massive set of stone gates that the creatures had somehow easily manipulated before slamming them shut with a trembling roar through the metal prison the boys were locked inside of.

‘We are some…where, be ready.’ Tosh said beginning to flex his hands and feet trying to stretch his muscles after being confined for so long.

The sound of metal on metal rang through the box with an echo sending both boys to grab for their ears in a frantic rush to shield from the blasting pain. After what felt like an eternity Etian slowly allowed himself to withdraw both palms from the side of his head and he waited with every heartbeat for the cascading audible barrage to begin again.

‘I think they have completed the task that caused for all of the banging.’ Tosh said watching as Etian waited in fear.

Etian nodded at his friend in the darkness and laid his head back against the metal to rest before again hearing the scratching beneath him.

‘I hear it again.’ He said into the darkness.

‘I hear it too.’ Tosh replied with a hint of curiosity in his voice.

The bottom of the container was lined with support beams that Blue easily used to transverse it while she looked for a way inside still occasionally sniffing the air for the scent of the boys. On the beam below the left side of the box a blinking crystal caught her attention and she rushed to inspect it. From behind onyx black eyes a hint of much greater intelligence flashed as she studied the locking mechanism that held Etian and Tosh captive. Wrapping her paws around it she clicked the device into the unlocked position and heard the release pop above her as the cube began to open and separate.

The sound of tiny turning gears flooded through the interior of the container as it opened and the darkness suddenly gave way to light from the cave beyond as Etian and Tosh tried to quickly acclimate themselves to the change in luminosity.

‘Arrgghhnnsccccccc scnsssss!’ Squealing sounds of outrage poured from the creature with a white stripe marking the center of his strange features as Etian watched him angrily gesture towards them.

With one eye still squinted he called towards Tosh. ‘This is bad.’

Tosh stood beside him turning in all directions as he tried to assess the situation at hand and quantify the numbers of their attackers.

‘I count ten of them.’ He said quickly jumping down to the rock floor below as Etian followed.

From behind them Etian heard a low chirping bark as Blue rushed out from beneath the still transforming container and stood beside him growling at the approaching beasts.

‘Do you see our weapons?’ Etian asked both of them as he surveyed the massive chamber they stood in.

Above them a massive dome carved from the rock ceiling had been etched to appear like the night sky with beautiful sparkling stones in place of the stars. He could make out no exit from the room other than the large stone gates that were closed tightly behind them and he wondered what they had planned to do with him from here. At the far end of the room a strange device built from polished metal that appeared to him to be Allon pumped and hissed as two reservoirs filled with alternating liquids slowly poured into a mixing chamber.

‘Focus, Etian.’ Tosh whispered sliding his feet apart as he moved into a defending stance and prepared for combat.

With a last guttural roar the largest one charged headlong through the chamber directly at Tosh as Etian slid to the side allowing his friend a bit more room to maneuver. Tosh stepped back with a feint and whipped his right foot around to connect solidly with the skull of his attacker sending him flying past into the container and down in a heap before centering both palms at his hips and driving upwards and out of his chest into another attacker. Beside him Etian was caught in his own dance for survival swinging wildly at a pair of the creatures before sending one of them to the ground with a resounding clunk against his snout.

‘That one is going to be a problem! Blue, you get under the box and stay there!’ Etian called out as the white faced beast began a grumbling roar of commands for his troops.

The creatures had massively sculpted arms stretched too long as if they could touch the ground while still standing upright with thick stocky legs and hips and each stood as if with a hump in his back bent backwards puffing out his chest. They all were covered with short mottled fur that grew long and hung in braids and thick locks where they chose to groom it and each of them had plates of armor fitted to his own body and marked with various symbols and designs neither boy could begin to articulate.

‘They are so strong.’ Tosh said coldly as gracefully moved through the many styles he had learned trying to frantically hold off his attackers.

As Tosh brought his hardened fists together hammering down into the kneecap of an opponent he heard Etian cry out from behind and quickly turned to help defend his friend. He watched as a massive gauntlet made contact with Etian sending him hurling backwards into the container as Tosh took a couple of quick steps and launched himself into a flying kick that crumpled his target.

‘Get up Etian!’ He yelled as he tried to regain his positioning but it was too late.

The remaining captors surrounded them and easily subdued the pair as Blue dashed beneath the unfolded metal prison behind. Tosh struggled in vein to free himself from the stone like grip of the massive hand clamped down on his wrists but he could not budge him and felt confined to saving his energy as he watched them drag Etian towards a small platform connected to the strange device.

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Outside the massive stone gates Piet stalked silently up to them and began to look for a weakness in the structure he could exploit as Talin prepared a small amount of the grey beads to be used as an explosive.

‘We must be sure we do not kill us all.’ He whispered watching Piet survey the cracks in the stone.

‘I wish not to die also, Talin. Be quiet and let me work I think I see a fault we can use.’

Talin gently smashed the beads into a paste with a small rock before applying it to a hair thin piece of silver filament he attached to the fault line Piet had pointed out in the stone. With the explosive secured the pair withdrew to a safe distance and prepared to set the charges.

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Tosh stood patiently trying to understand the foreign gestures and language of the odd creatures that held him captive but next to nothing made sense to him as he watched them unload the rest of their cargo. The device that had held him and Etian captive for their short journey appeared to also have been host to additional prisoners making him wonder just how that had all folded into such a small space. From within the metal container they unloaded many different items that Tosh could not recognize but the strangest of them all was a large silver block of metal that appeared to hang suspended in the air as they moved it across the chamber and onto the round platform near Etian.

The rods connecting the different pieces of the strange device all fluxed with energy as the mixing chamber color changed to the deepest black Tosh had ever seen before erupting into a burst of blinding white light the flowed into the tubes surrounding the platform as the air above it began to shimmer and crackle. From the controls of the device the massive creature with the white stripe began to bark out orders again as his minions moved each component of their cargo onto the metal slab before he manipulated the small levers and switches. Again and again he charging the device and unleashed it as the platform became so bright Tosh had to look away and each time when the light faded the metal base was again empty.

‘They are transporting it all somewhere else but I have no inclination as to how.’ Tosh whispered as he watched in awe of the technology he witnessed.

With all of the cargo sent through the device the creature restraining Etian moved him closer before striking him hard in the temple and leaving him unconscious on the metal slab.

‘No! No!’ Tosh shouted again and again as he watched the device charge before his friend disappeared in a white flash leaving him to whisper at the empty platform. ‘No.’

His head hung low as pain racked his thoughts wondering where they had sent Etian and what they now planned to do with him as Tosh slumped against the firm grip on his wrists. As he silently raced through the possibility of escape the chamber around him was suddenly filled with the reverberating sound of an explosion as rock fragments landed all around Tosh.

Part VIII

Lyla watched Etian hobble onto the stone platform and subconsciously ran her pale fingers along the band of the sepulca resting on her neck. The polished metal felt freezing cold against the silver Allon pooled at her fingertips.

‘Etian we cannot just leave them here.’ She said looking to Tosh for assurance.

Tosh cleared his throat and began to speak but Etian interrupted. ‘I know she is right, Tosh.’

They all patiently waited, silently watching as the massive red orb passed over the horizon and out of view. As the moments passed Etian’s vision slowly returned and he began to study the tiny markings covering the edge of the hatch. From behind him he could hear Lyla moving to each of their pursuers checking to make sure none were seriously injured as Tosh gathered their remaining equipment and prepared to breach the site. Etian felt a strange tug as his hands passed over a symbol resembling a small fork and suddenly the hatch came to life as cascading patterns illuminated the cover.

‘What is that?’ Tosh asked his eyes going wide in wonder.

‘I think he is opening it.’ Lyla responded as her jaw slacked.

The top of the hatch vibrated in his hands as Etian traced his fingers in the same patterns as the cascading lights before it clicked loudly and popped open spewing out stale rancid air. He gasped and barely kept himself from retching up the little food he had eaten before retreating to the grass of the mound.

‘That is a horrible smell.’ Lyla said turning to gather a piece of cloth from her bag.

She also retrieved a handful of small berries and mashed them into a pulp slowly ringing them inside the cloth before wrapping it tightly over her nose.

‘Smash some of the agavu berries and cover your noses. It helps.’ Lyla said handing them both a few berries.

‘We should try to find out what is in there. They will be waking up soon.’ Etian called moving into the hatch.

Beneath he could see a large room still illuminated by blue crystal as he slowly climbed down the ladder to the floor. Etian felt uneasy waiting for his companions as he peered down each of the four long hallways exiting the room.

‘We look to be the first here in a very long time.’ Tosh said stepping down from the ladder behind Lyla.

‘Why would they send us here if they are not here?’ She pondered aloud looking at the thick layer of dust covering the room.

‘We will have to answer that for ourselves. We may not have much time so we should get moving.’ Etian said before turning to walk down the southern corridor. ‘We can try this one first.’

Blue chirped from above before climbing down the ladder hanging onto the rungs with short black claws before landing gently on the tile floor.

‘Stop messing around.’ Lyla said pointing at the darting blue fur that shot past her feet down the hall.

The passage stretched out as far as they could see when they began moving quietly down the length of it but before long they reached the end and stood atop a large stone platform overlooking a massive room. The floor of the room below them was littered with strange devices that appeared to Tosh to be full of materials not found in the lands of the empire.

‘My father spoke of things such as this but I never believed it.’ Tosh whispered scanning the floor below. ‘Do either of you see a way down?’

Etian helped Lyla onto the ladder and soon they were all safely on the floor below. He watched as Tosh tried to manipulate one of the devices while Lyla propped herself up with the dull Mishun staff.

‘I have never seen anything like this.’ Tosh said trying many different combinations of the strangely coded keys covering the control panel.

‘Are you sure that is such a good idea?’ Lyla asked watching him begin to smash his hands against the pad depressing multiple keys at once.

‘No but it is something.’ He answered as frustration covered his face before smashing the panel once more and walking away from it. ‘Etian you try it. The door opened for you.’

Etian stood silently for a moment wondering what had changed inside of him. It felt like forever since just days before when everything came crashing down. It started in his stomach as a growing bubble of fear and quickly expanded upwards through his shoulders like a stampede of anguish rushing past his arms drawing in electric sparks from the air around him. As it reached his hands the silver tracing pathways along his palms began to glow a burning white and he reached for the control panel before him. The air between his fingers and the softly glowing keypad hissed and crackled with electricity as he brought them together in a roar of knowledge that flowed up his arms and into his subconscious. Instinctively he clicked the correct keys and sent the device into motion releasing the object trapped inside.

‘Can you understand all of that?’ Tosh asked him watching as Etian worked on the strange control panel.

‘No not exactly.’ He answered as the crystal tank shuddered before releasing a hiss of air and then slowly retracting.

Etian reached into the machine and withdrew the small metallic fragment from the green gelatinous goo that held it in stasis.

‘What is it?’ Lyla asked him looking at the small shard he held between his dusky orange fingers.

‘It feels warm in my hands.’ He said looking at her with question clouding his eyes.

He wrapped the small piece of metal in cloth and placed it gently inside his pack while Tosh and Lyla looked over some of the remaining devices.

‘We need to check the other passages while we have time.’ Etian called to them beginning to climb the ladder.

They followed him up the cold dusty rungs and onto the platform above silently moving through the long passage as Blue slalomed between their feet. Without notice the roar of an eruption flooded the chamber pounding against their ear drums and sending them all crumpling to the ground beneath. It felt like an eternity that Tosh knelt against the tile as dust and small pieces of debris harmlessly fell around him. Placing his hand down on Etian’s shoulder Tosh nodded and they all began moving back to the center. The central chamber was still in one piece when they stalked through the square cut opening that led down the passage.

Ahead in the northern hall Etian saw a strange form moving through a large cloud of dust and motioned for the others to look that direction. Tosh and Lyla watched as the stocky creature gathered large pieces of stone and easily cleared a path through the newly formed destruction.

‘What is that?’ She whispered.

Above them the grass was still littered with broken protectors and the fallen forms of Talin and his crew. He lay motionless on his back slowly opening his eyes to see the afternoon sky above and no sign of the red pulsating orb. As he sat up Talin realized all of his companions were still slumbering around him and he began cautiously trying to wake them.

‘Shari, Nhari, wake up girls.’ He called watching to make sure they both responded before continuing. ‘Piet, Sumas. The event has passed.’

Piet stood trying to maintain his mask of icy calm but inside his fear of the orb still resonated as he struggled with the dark images flashing past his subconscious. He quickly pulled his hood up to cover the shiver trickling up his spine.

‘You look like out of sorts.’ Sumas said adjusting the main flow value on the control panel mounted to his belt.

Piet watched as glowing green liquid flowed through the tubing connected from small tanks on Sumas’s back to the polished joints at his hips. A low groan escaped Sumas as his massive leg muscles rippled and increased in girth empowered by the liquid.

‘We must find them now Talin.’ Piet said watching as Sumas finished recharging himself.

‘Boys, what is that?’ Shari asked pointing in the direction of a large column of smoke.

Just a few meters north of them a large sinkhole pouring smoke tore the ground wide open between two of the pillars.

‘How long could we have been out…’ Nhari began before Piet interrupted.

‘There is no time!’ He shouted stalking to the top of the platform.

Standing atop the dais Piet could see the hatch had been opened and quickly rushed to hurry down the ladder calling to his companions to follow.

‘What has happened down here?’ Talin asked covering his mouth to block some of the smoke.

Seeing Lyla lay motionless against the tile Shari tugged at his sister’s hand and began pulling her towards the pale form. As they reached her Lyla coughed up a mouthful of dust and tried to clear her throat.

‘They have them.’ She managed between quick coughs.

‘Who has them?’ Nhari demanded with anger obviously covering her features.

Lyla coughed loudly and Nhari watched as she pointed towards a broken opening in the passage. Inside the fragment chamber she saw what Lyla drew her to. Crumpled against the tile floor a stocky snout faced creature lay lifeless in a pool of black blood.

‘Oh my, that is quite peculiar.’ Shari said tilting her head to one side as she studied the scene.

Piet slammed his black glove against the wall of the passage sending out an echoing thud as a snarl passed over his lips.

‘Sumas, take the girls and this… thing and figure out what the council has neglected to tell us.’ Talin said before continuing. ‘Piet you come with me.’

Sumas opened his mouth in protest but seeing the look on Talin’s face he kept quiet and gathered the disgusting corpse in his arms.

‘The transceivers will not work down here without modification, Talin. You two may be on your own until we can find answers.’ Sumas grumbled looking back over his shoulder.

Behind him Nhari and Shari followed as they gingerly helped Lyla stand and supported her uneasy steps back to the ladder.

‘You just worry about getting communication restored and finding answers. Contact us as soon as you can.’ Talin called following Piet into the opening as he withdrew both of his blades preparing for an ambush.