“It’s you!” Ryle said, a childlike smile spreading across his face.
“It’s you,” Aphiemi said, smirking back at him.
He moved slowly toward her, but she ran into his arms. The smell of her hair across his face brought a rush of memories. After an indeterminate amount of time, they pulled apart and he turned toward Qusam.
“You brought her into a war zone?” said Ryle.
“Well, I—” he started.
“I chose to come,” said Aphiemi.
“Aphiemi, you made it!” said Jyssa as she grabbed her in a big hug.
“Hey, Jys!” said Aphiemi.
The rattling booms of explosions popped in the sky as fighters chased other fighters right over the base.
“It’s dangerous here!” said Jyssa. She pulled Aphiemi underneath the cover of the hills to a more fortified area. The others followed including Lygalia who caught up with them.
Qusam pulled out what appeared to be a scroll.
“Is that the scroll? I mean, the scroll?” asked Ryle.
“Sort of,” said Qusam. He unrolled a blank white piece of fabric. “This receives a live camera feed from the palace original in order to protect it. Apparently, we now know the original needed only be present for the lighting of Mount Phengos and not the mountains on other worlds.” He pressed a button on the side and an electronic image of the Scroll of Apothena appeared on the fabric.
Ryle, Aphiemi, Jyssa, and Lygalia gazed upon it.
“The new word next to Mount Anecho of Onyx is…Elethros,” said Qusam.
“What does it mean?” Jyssa blurted.
“He’s getting to that,” said Ryle.
“I know! I’m just anxious because I was there.”
“It means, ‘mercy on enemies,’” said Qusam.
“Mercy?” said Jyssa.
“I must ask…what happened to Dr. Zermal?” said Qusam.
“We had him, but I made Ryle let him go,” said Jyssa. “I don’t know about much mercy in my heart, though. It was all about saving Jez. Zermal said Jez’s life depended on him. I couldn’t risk it.”
“Understandable. Mixed motives often guide our actions,” said Qusam.
Jez. Ryle’s attention had been consumed with the light and with seeing Aphiemi again. Thoughts of Jez overcame him again. He turned to Jyssa. “How did you find out about Jez, anyway?”
She pointed to Qusam.
“You told her?” said Ryle.
“I felt she needed to know before she entered the battle,” said Qusam.
“Yeah, Ryle. Why didn’t you tell me?” asked Jyssa, glaring pointedly.
“I was going to. I just...I don’t know. It was too difficult to bring up,” said Ryle. “To be honest, I still don’t believe it.”
“Me either,” said Jyssa as tears formed in her eyes which she tried to wipe away without being noticed.
“In any event, I need to go after him now.” Ryle checked his pistol and armor as if he was about to run off at that very moment and jump onboard the Arrow.
“Wait,” said Aphiemi. “You can’t just leave yet.”
Ryle paused. Obviously he would love to spend more time with her, but that wasn’t looking realistic.
Qusam rolled up the scroll and tucked it away inside his robe. “There’s a slight wrinkle.”
“What wrinkle?” said Ryle.
“We just heard. Rez escaped from prison, presumably to pursue the same goal as you,” said Qusam.
“Escaped? How?”
“Your mother,” said Qusam.
Ryle chuckled at first, but such a scenario was not farfetched. His mother had been worried sick over Jez and his multiple disappearances. She would have had easy access to the prison area.
Jyssa gawked at Qusam and Aphiemi in disbelief. “My mother?”
Aphiemi put her hand on Jyssa’s arm. “Evidently Odura went to Rez and convinced the guards to leave them alone. Then either she or he opened the force fields.”
Ryle shook his head.
“She’s now being held in custody,” said Aphiemi.
“My mom’s in prison?” said Jyssa. She paced for a moment, then sat on a storage container and stared at nothing.
“There’s more,” said Aphiemi.
“More?” said Ryle.
“One reason I came was to help negotiate between the factions here. The light has already brought progress! But also...” Aphiemi nodded to Qusam.
“Based on my investigating, I believe Jez is gathering diamonds from around the system and bringing them to Aqtal, and it’s likely Jez was here recently.”
Ryle nodded. “We hacked an Archon recording that could only have been referring to him. He’s had dealings with Zermal, though I can’t imagine what they would be.”
“Me either, my friend,” said Qusam. “I’m almost afraid to know.”
“What does Aqtal want with the diamonds?” asked Jyssa.
“I am not sure yet,” said Qusam. “But I know someone who should be able to help us. We brought a, uh...sample.” He glanced at Aphiemi.
Ryle’s internal antennae shot up.
Aphiemi reached to her neck line, pulled up a necklace Ryle hadn’t noticed, and a large, sparkling diamond emerged. A lump filled Ryle’s throat. He wanted to blurt out: You sure you should be wearing that? But he wisely held back. He supposed he should take this as a good sign.
“That is stunning, Aphiemi,” said Lygalia.
Jyssa glanced at Ryle with a knowing glance. She knew what it was.
“Perhaps,” said Qusam, “we should let Ryle and Aphiemi catch up in private.”
Ryle’s comm buzzed. “Hold on, it’s Turj.” He put the comm up to his ear. “Yes, General.”
“Colonel, congrats on the light, but what happened with Zermal?”
“Um...,” Ryle hesitated. “Target escaped. It appears, however, the battle is won.”
“Ar-right, good. We’ll discuss Target Z later. Did you hear Mitchett’s team has gone dark? We’ve lost all contact. Likely captured.”
Jyssa heard Turj’s loud voice through the comm and jumped off her supply container. “What? He what, General?” She put her face up next to the comm beside Ryle’s.
“Is that Master Sergeant Jyssa? I’m afraid so. We’re not sure if he’s alive or dead. The fleet took a beating and we’ve ordered them to retreat for now. Ryle, I need you and your team to head back to Topaz to figure out a way to penetrate the shield that’s growing larger and larger all around the planet.”
Ryle heard the order, but his mind was made up as to other priorities. The battle for Topaz was clearly important, but he couldn’t shake what he knew he needed to do. “Did not copy that last transmission, sir. We’re under fire here. Interference,” said Ryle as he shut off the comm. “Finding Rez first will be the key to tracking down Jez.”
“I’ll come with you,” said Aphiemi.
“Aph, I’m thrilled to see you, but you can’t come!”
“Why not?”
“You’re not a soldier, and this will be highly dangerous.”
Qusam said, “I’ll join you for at least the first leg of the journey.” Qusam’s presence would certainly improve their chances.
“Jys?” Ryle asked.
Jyssa stared blankly ahead. “I want Jez back, but...Von needs me. I’m going to Topaz.”
“By yourself?” said Ryle.
“If I have to.”
“Shouldn’t you at least regroup with your squadron? Who’s your commanding officer?”
“Lieutenant Capax was killed saving your ship from the tractor beam,” said Jyssa.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t know.” News like that was never pleasant to Ryle, but over the years he had gotten somewhat used to it, especially in wartime. He wasn’t sure if that was good or bad.
“Jyssa, I’ll help you,” said Lygalia. “I’ll go.”
Bao ran up to the group. “Qusam! Aphiemi, you’re here! Aph, someone here is calling for you. I think she knows you.”
/> Aphiemi ran after Bao as he led her over to the cots with the wounded. Ryle followed them. Aphiemi shrieked with recognition. “Prys! Prys...” Aphiemi gripped Prys’s hand as she lay on her cot with an IV in her arm. Edward lay on the cot next to her, breathing slowly but smoothly. He turned his head toward Aphiemi and smiled for the first time in days.
“Oh, Aphiemi...” Prys struggled to speak, her parched throat cracking. “The fact you’re here gives me hope. And the light, Aph, the light!”
“I know,” said Aphiemi as she wiped Prys’s hair out of her face. Tears dripped out of Aphiemi’s eyes onto Prys’s chest. “I was so hoping to find you. Where’s Malaiya and Brayden?”
“I...I saw children being loaded onto transports...must have been thousands...and they took off. Don’t know where to,” said Prys.
Bao leaned in. “Reports say there’s a mass of Archon transport ships headed toward Topaz.”
Crying overtook Prys. Edward reached over and clutched her hand.
Aphiemi had not tucked her diamond back under her blouse yet, so it hung there gleaming and sparkling amidst the dim light of the base.
Edward pointed at the diamond. His parched voice scratched out, “It’s those! They’ve taken the children to Topaz to dig for those.”
Aphiemi cupped the diamond in her hand and put it back under her blouse. Qusam and Jyssa arrived to the conversation.
“I once overheard two of the commanders talking after they beat me and thought I was unconscious.” Edward coughed. “They said they needed more labor on Topaz for Aqtal’s treasured items.”
“We’ll get them back,” said Aphiemi, gripping Prys’s hands tightly. She let go and faced Ryle. “Maybe we should go to Topaz.”
Ryle exhaled. Aphiemi’s desires were understandable, but his purpose was clear. “Aph, I know this is tough, but my mission now is Jez.”
“But the children...how can you be so sure?”
“My gut,” said Ryle. “Besides, there’s no way I would take you to Topaz now. Our fleet’s been turned back and there’s new shields covering the planet.”
Aphiemi remained silent for a moment, deep in thought. She turned toward Qusam. “What do you think?”
“I don’t wish to butt into the middle of a difficult decision, but my old friend on Carnelian will have answers for us. I believe the diamonds hold secrets, and we must ascertain some of those secrets before moving forward.”
Jyssa re-zipped her flight suit. “Well, if I can find Mitchett’s team we can work on locating the children.” Her spunk cheered up Aphiemi a bit. With a slight grin, Aphiemi nodded in agreement.
“Jys, are you sure that’s the wisest plan?” said Ryle.
“Well, Mr. Gut Feeling, at least I’m not disobeying direct orders from the Head of the Armed Forces.”
“Fair point,” said Ryle. “Just stick close to Lygalia. She’s practically the reason for our success. Part of that shining light belongs to her.”
“Where’d she go?” asked Bao. They all glanced around.
Qusam spotted her off in a corner, head down, and kneeling on one knee. “Ah, meditating, as a true wizard should. She puts me to shame, actually.”
Chapter 24
Prevwahn, with two armed guards, escorted the wizards Izil, Neyla, and their perky, mahogany-colored furry friend into the minimum security wing of the military prison. Dippers bounded down the hallway to Odura’s holding cell, barking with excitement.
Odura slid out of her cot, nearly falling over with joy. She drew near to the force field to greet her bouncing dog but couldn’t touch him. “You cruel, heartless overlords! Let me touch him!”
Prevwahn arrived. “Try to relax, Odura.” He personally turned off the force field so Dippers could tackle her with love.
“Oh Dip, I’ve missed you so much. Are they feeding you? Are they walking you down your favorite path beside the lilac garden?” She rubbed his face with both hands and kissed him.
“We’re taking good care of him,” said Neyla.
“Thank you, dear,” said Odura.
Izil stood there, holding Odura’s art supplies—a new holographic pen, two standard paint brushes and a small canvas board. “Oh, here, almost forgot.” He handed them over to her.
“Thanks. I guess this means I’m stuck here for a while.”
“Well, Mrs. Gelibor, you were an accomplice to escape by a treasonous enemy of the state,” said Prevwahn.
“My son, you mean?”
“Son or not, what you did was serious. We’ll need some time to figure out what to do with you.”
“You figure that out, Mr. President. Meanwhile, my son is off trying to find my other son who...,” she choked up into a teary-eyed shudder and had to pause to collect herself.
Neyla put her arm around Odura’s shoulders to comfort her.
“No touching, please,” said Prevwahn.
Neyla withdrew her arm.
“My son is trying to stop my other son from turning into a servant of that monster, and I believe he has a better chance of succeeding than anybody else. Ryle has a decent chance too, but that’s different.”
“I understand, Odura,” said Prevwahn.
“You don’t understand. You never will. You have no children.”
Prevwahn tried not to be rude and roll his eyes at her, but it took effort. “Time to go, Dippers. I’m sorry, my boy, but you can’t stay.”
Dippers whimpered and sulked out of Odura’s cell back to Neyla.
Odura’s eyes bored into Prevwahn with a glare that could kill. “What do you think he’s gonna do, help me escape?”
“Well, he is quite the talented dog, right Izil?” Prevwahn said with a smirk.
“Yes, sir, he is,” Izil said quickly, then received Odura’s glare. “Oh, sorry, Madame.”
Prevwahn reconsidered. Dippers couldn’t cause too much trouble, could he? “I suppose he could spend one night.”
Odura’s icy glare melted away into a loving gaze upon her dog whose tail wagged uncontrollably.
Chapter 25
As the fighting in the skies over Kudra grew quieter, a tiny one-man space craft swooped around the blazing light on Mount Anecho. The craft, defined by sharp metallic corners and a triangular cockpit section, angled toward the mountainside and set down.
A figure stepped out of the craft. Not a man, but a figure made of a silvery substance with no eyes and only one arm—his right. The figure lifted up his arm and absorbed light from the mountain peak. His torso bobbed in and out like mercury and a deep noise reverberated outward. Newly grown shrubbery on the mountain around him wilted and died. When he finished, he lowered his arm and re-entered the craft.
The ship lifted up and blasted into the stratosphere. Soon it tore away from orbit and sped away into space at ultra-high speed.
* * *
A few hours later, the craft raced past the outlying moons of Amethyst. The outer-most moon, Kaidu, was loaded with Archon installations and troop garrisons, eager for Chrysolite to make another move. Thousands of ships surrounded Amethyst, the center of Archon activity. Full squadrons of Gak Destroyers and Havoc fighters flew in formation at all hours, perpetually ready for action. The one-man craft slipped through, entered a brief orbit, and raced toward the city of Had.
The craft approached the upper tower on the roof of the Archonage—the Tower of Aqtal. A hatch retracted, letting the ship enter and land in the midst of a circle of twelve purple-robed wizards led by one named Nawrosh. Nawrosh carried a staff made of crushed pieces of the bones from his victims, melded with iron.
The right-armed silver figure stepped out of the craft. Another figure—the mirror image left-armed silver man—approached and stood next to him. They faced a twenty-foot-tall cone-shaped pillar of pure diamond which dominated the center of the room. The diamond was a source of sparkling light in the midst of its gloomy abode, though its shine seemed to duel with the forlorn shadows surrounding it. The cone narrowed to a point at its peak, but the top-most piece was
missing.
A tall, pale-skinned man with hollow, blackened eye sockets, emerged from around the diamond pillar. “My Eyes have seen the light, and it was glorious,” said Willdon Aqtal. “My dear Eyes, fill me.”
The Eyes—the silver figures—lifted up their respective hands, and light gushed forth out of their bodies, pouring into the diamond pillar, transforming into a mixture of darkness, noise, and twisted luminosity. The mass of energy rushed upon Aqtal. His body shook and radiated with power beyond comprehension. The floor beneath him cracked. He lifted up his hands and energy shot forth to the ceiling, blowing the pointed roof off of his tower with destructive ferocity. The gathered Qesem scrambled to dodge chunks of ceiling raining back down on them. Nawrosh waved his staff above his head, blowing to the side a large falling ceiling chunk. The room swirled with the cold, blustery, high-altitude air.
Aqtal lowered his arms, his energy abating. “Gawbolos and Orebolos, come.” Gawbolos—the Right Eye—and Orebolos—the Left Eye—approached Aqtal. Their silver bodies melted inward on themselves until all that remained were small, oval-shaped diamonds hanging in the air. The diamonds floated toward Aqtal and slid into his eye sockets. Aqtal’s eyes glowed, sparkling with twisted light.
Two guardian Qesem parted, allowing the door to the chamber to open. Dr. Togh Zermal tottered in, heaving a heavy bag over his shoulder. He dropped the bag down next to the diamond pillar and caught his breath, practically panting. “There’s more stairs than I remember, Lord Aqtal,” he said, chuckling nervously. The metallic tinge in his voice echoed through his raspy snickering.
“You brought what I requested?” said Aqtal, his eyes shining on Zermal like flashlight beams.
“As always.” Zermal opened the bag and there sparkled a huge, pointed diamond larger than a man’s head. “The personal diamond of King Mautor Gelboraq.”
Aqtal approached the bag and stood over it. The diamond floated up into Aqtal’s waiting hands. His eyes glinted with radiance while he admired the ancient gemstone. “Excellent work, Doctor. This was Mautor’s most treasured, and sharpest, specimen. It will cap my latest design.” Aqtal let go of the diamond and it rose upward and set down on top of the pillar, its sharp tip pointing to the stars now visible through the roofless tower.
The Topaz Operation Page 10