Jaden hadn’t known the blade would work like a sword. Whether Sven failed to mention this by design or ignorance, Jaden didn’t care. He was just grateful it had worked. The Gaptor had come in so fast he’d almost been unprepared. He had to adjust for that next time. Stuffing his DD back into his belt, Jaden resumed climbing. He did his best to block out the intermittent, distracting, thunderous cracks, heralding the demise of yet another foe at Kayla and Atu’s hands.
As Jaden reached for the next rung, his fingers slipped. Cool air washed over him, warning of the impending night as it slicked the metal with condensation. Concentrate! Kayla and Atu had enough to worry about without him adding to their burden. Tightening his grip, Jaden boosted himself toward the ladder’s apex as rapidly as he could. The top reached, Jaden stole a moment to check on his companions.
The Gaptors had swallowed the bait, hook, line, and sinker. They hunted his friends with an intensity born of insanity.
Atu and Han, drawing a pursuing group into a play, swerved past a large, rectangular block jutting out from the side of the structure. The two closest Gaptors, lacking agility, smashed into the stone with such force the structure literally shuddered from the impact all the way up here. Both Gaptors tumbled to the ground, senseless.
Meanwhile, Kayla and Taz simultaneously executed a roll out of their parallel flight with the boys, perfectly positioning themselves above the remaining group.
Curiously, the Gaptors all raised their heads and lifted their antennas. It was the first time Jaden had ever seen them do something so strange, made even stranger because nothing happened. The Gaptors cast confused glances at one another a split second before Kayla and Taz raced over them, Kayla cutting a swathe through their ranks with her DD.
Jaden grinned. She’d figured it out, too. They were doing okay. If they could just keep it up.
Jaden faced his next obstacle. The ladder ended abruptly less than halfway up the needle, its rusted metal ends suggesting it had gone higher at one time. Weirdly, this exact spot was also where the tower’s needle morphed from a triangular shape into a rectangular one. What the significance of that was, Jaden couldn’t tell.
But is this where they hid the object I’m searching for? Jaden had to be sure. Unlocking the map, it glowed softly all around him, confirming the item was indeed at the very top of this tower and not here. Jaden sighed and put the map away. He would be climbing.
Studying the stony, rectangular walls rising steeply above him, Jaden was glad now that he had told Kayla to leave. He would’ve been even more worried if she had to climb this without Han or Taz around. This could be a difficult ascent, even for him.
Jaden ran his fingers over the surface overhead. Countless tiny ledges riddled the area where the stones of the rectangular section of the tower overlapped. He grinned. Not so difficult. Plenty of handholds. Selecting one, Jaden pulled down on it, confirming it would support his weight. It would.
Firmly keeping his weight over his feet, Jaden gripped the ledge with his fingers and pulled himself up, using only the one limb. Then he lifted the opposite foot to the hand he had just used, and, pressing himself against the tower, he inched up further. Alternating his hands and feet, Jaden clawed upward, all the while alert for more Gaptors.
Another beast took a run at him when he was about halfway to the top. Wedging himself into a more secure position, Jaden loosed his DD’s blade. This time he didn’t wait for the Gaptor to close the distance. He flicked his wrist, and the light beam flew off, hitting the Gaptor square in the face.
With an almighty boom, the Gaptor disintegrated. Only black smoke filled the area. Impressive! Sven will be pleased. Although Jaden didn’t recall the sound being so loud. He jiggled a finger in each ear, thinking he must’ve tuned the sounds of battle from Kayla and Atu out. Or had it just been quiet? Panicked, Jaden searched for his companions.
There! Taz and Kayla, closely followed by Han and Atu, led a group of three Gaptors. But Taz’s flight was not the thing of beauty it typically was. She was favoring her left side. Jaden scowled. Han and Atu were far too close to the girls—almost protectively so.
Put some distance between you, he wanted to shout. Hadn’t they learned anything from their drills with Sven? The two pairs rolled away from the three Gaptors gaining on them. His breath caught. A long, wide wound split Taz’s side, running crosswise over her ribs. Kayla had swung both her legs over to Taz’s other side and flew sideways. The smart suit must be working overtime to keep Kayla balanced. Suddenly feeling sick, Jaden scanned Kayla for signs of injury, but he was too far away to make an accurate assessment.
Why was she chosen for this? What will I do if something happens to her? If only I could see better. Jaden considered engaging the magnification lenses on his goggles, but that would take too much time. Besides, he had to be wary of more Gaptors coming his way, and the goggles wouldn’t allow that. He just had to believe Kayla wasn’t hurt. That she would make it through this.
Sighing, Jaden looked around, searching for more Gaptors but found none. The three chasing his friends were all that remained of the group that had made it through the barrier. To have killed so many Gaptors in such a short time, they must’ve been fighting like loons. No wonder Taz was injured.
Jaden continued watching, helpless, as his friends executed a play to place the Gaptors in a straight line between them. Sven had theorized the relic stones were potentially far more powerful than they could comprehend, conceivably able to kill more than one Gaptor at a time. Is this what his friends were aiming for? It was quite a gamble.
Jaden bit his lip, hoping they had already put Sven’s theory to the test and this wasn’t a last-ditch effort to kill their remaining enemies with one fell swoop.
Taz was decidedly slower than usual. Han was continually adjusting his flight path to accommodate her. Getting into position took far longer than it had in practice, but they finally succeeded. Jaden stopped breathing. Light suddenly flashed between the two pairs of gliders and voyagers, more than blinding. Jaden whipped his head away from the brilliance, spots dancing in front of his eyes.
When he chanced turning back, thick black smoke billowed in gigantic waves over the area the Gaptors had occupied, but no Gaptors remained. The relic stones really were more powerful than they could’ve imagined.
Jaden peered into the thick smoke, trying to find his friends. Where are they? A second later, they emerged from the cloud. Taz wobbled in her flight. Han was right beside her, almost supporting her. Away from the smoke, Han dropped below Taz. Atu stood up on Han’s back, rubbing something over Taz’s wound.
Yes! They’ll make it. Jaden whooped, giving an enthusiastic fist pump when they glanced in his direction. Their grim smiles reminded him he still had a task of his own to complete.
Checking his position, Jaden found the peak wasn’t much further. He set out with a vigor born of desperation. Stabbing pain in his leg momentarily loosened his grip. Scrambling for purchase, Jaden clamped down on a handhold and peeked at his leg—in time to glimpse the scaly tail disappearing around the tower. Where did the Gaptor come from? Was I stung? If so, is the sting venomous? Jaden laughed bitterly. How could I think it isn’t?
But Jaden couldn’t dwell on it. The Gaptor was already curling up and around the other side of the tower, its massive body not concealed by the skinny structure. Shakily withdrawing his DD, Jaden flipped the safety. Through the waves of pain now crashing over his entire body, Jaden fumbled for the best course of action.
With the Gaptor so close, the sword would be more effective—though that risked him being knocked off the tower. The safer option would be to wait for his blade to lengthen, but that would take time. Time he might not have. His eyes tracked the blade’s extension. Come on, come on!
Perspiration beaded his forehead. Jaden swiped it away. The Gaptor was closing in. The last inch of the blade slipped into position. Finally! A nanosecond before the Gaptor rammed into him, Jaden snapped his wrist. Sparks showered him as t
he beam of light collided with the Gaptor. Amidst glittering light and thunderous sound, the Gaptor vanished. Jaden’s ears rang. He hazily wondered whether he still had eardrums left. The acrid smoke denoting decimation drifted into his mouth, tasting like death. Too close.
Still clutching the tower, Jaden searched the skies for more Gaptors. His earlier assumption they had destroyed all the Gaptors was no longer true.
A shadow grew on the horizon, pulsing toward them with unwavering conviction. Before Jaden could distinguish the individual shapes, he understood a whole new fleet of Gaptors were winging their way toward them.
He roared at his friends. “Kayla! Atu! Move! More Gaptors!”
They glanced in his direction, puzzled. They’d heard his shout but were too far away to perceive the words. Jaden frantically pointed at the sky behind them. They turned. Jaden knew they understood when they abruptly picked up their pace. Atu plopped back down on Han, Kayla swung her legs behind her so she lay flat on Taz’s back, and they rocketed off, away from the tower.
Jaden regarded their retreating forms. Where are they going? The only explanation didn’t bolster his spirits; they could give him more time if they battled the Gaptors further away from the tower. Which meant they didn’t think they stood a chance. Nausea was a lump of fiery clay in the pit of his stomach, churning, burning. The thought of something happening to Kayla was intolerable. Jaden had vowed to protect her. He had to get this done. Now.
Daring a glance at his injured leg, Jaden assessed the damage. Blood oozed through his smart suit, smearing it with sticky red gunk. The pain was excruciating. Gritting his teeth, Jaden fumbled for the next handhold unsteadily. He dragged his body upward.
The movement intensified the pain, and Jaden almost blacked out. Only sheer force of will kept him conscious. One hand, one foot, one hand, one foot. That mantra became the essence of Jaden’s being. His throbbing leg and aching body spun each minute into an hour.
The needle’s pinnacle beckoned. Only two feet to go. Jaden felt like a chameleon, rocking forward and backward several times before committing himself to any forward momentum. But move upward he did. Then he was there. Blankly, Jaden stared at the four-sided pyramid topping the tower. Now what?
Chapter Thirty-Three
Kayla wished she could’ve explained to Jaden they weren’t deserting him. When they left, his shock had reverberated in every stiff line of his body. If only she hadn’t seen his slumped shoulders, hinting at the betrayal he surely felt. Like she was leaving him. But she had no way to communicate the truth to him. Spittlebugs! Sven should’ve built comm systems into our suits. Why didn’t he think of that? An oversight she’d insist he rectify when they saw him again. Because no way she, Atu, and their gliders would fail and leave Jaden to finish this mission on his own.
When Han recommended their departure, it was a shock, Taz more surprised than any of them. She sputtered, incredulous. “We can’t leave Jaden here alone!”
“We can, and we will,” Han shot back. “It’s the only way we’ll give Jaden, and ourselves, a fighting chance.”
Taz snarled. “Explain!”
“Facing our enemies as far from the tower as possible will increase Jaden’s chances of success. No matter how many Gaptors we dispatch, there’ll be stragglers who get past us. And the further we are from the tower, the more time Jaden will have to deal with them—assuming they don’t group together and attack Jaden all at once. Which, considering their mental fortitude, is unlikely.”
Kayla nodded. “You’re right. Distance provides a tactical advantage.”
“Hopefully, that won’t be our only advantage. I remembered why the place we passed over after lunch was so familiar.” Han grinned.
Taz pounced on the revelation. “Why?”
But Han had refused to elaborate. “No point getting your hopes up. I might be wrong. If so, we must beat the Gaptors there. Tazanna, are you up for some speed?”
“Yes, Atu’s salve is already helping. There’s no longer a tearing sensation every time I move my wing.”
Although it didn’t negate the quantifiable amount of blood she’d lost, it was also true only rest and time would remedy that. So the decision was made, and they’d sped away in hopes of better odds.
Now, with the sun almost lost in the horizon’s embrace, providence wouldn’t favor them much longer. Arguably, the onset of twilight had broken the barrier’s hold on the Gaptors, but Kayla’s mind still picked at what else could’ve let them through.
It wasn’t the only conundrum occupying her mind. Taz hadn’t said a word since they’d agreed to follow Han’s lead. Was it because Taz had nothing to say or because Taz needed more effort than she would admit to for her to keep pace with Han?
Mentally tallying the diminishing distance between them and their approaching enemies, Kayla doubted they’d reach their destination before the two groups clashed. Chewing on her lip, she contemplated their options as they pressed on, silent, each bound by their own thoughts.
Then the tops of the octagonal formation of rocks appeared. Hope fluttered. Kayla was tentatively revising her assessment when the single Gaptor appeared without warning, yet again. It was unnerving.
Kayla balanced her weight as Taz rolled, avoiding the waiting Gaptor. Taz’s smoother movements soothed Kayla. Atu’s salve was working its magic. With the threat behind them, Kayla swiveled on Taz’s back, checking on the boys. Deftly dipping past the Gaptor, they took off to the right instead of the left. Oh, so this is how we’re playing it. Kayla scanned the rapidly dimming skies ahead. This Gaptor seemed the lone attacker. Not that I should put any stock in not seeing others!
Atu called the play. “Three!”
Kayla flashed a thumbs-up sign, and Taz spiraled lower, losing altitude but maintaining their same general position. As expected, the Gaptor focused on them. Kayla couldn’t believe the plays were still working. Han and Taz’s assertion about the Gaptors being “dumb brutes” was proving true in spades.
Taz held their position as the Gaptor approached, raising its antennae toward them. What’s that about? Or is that just what they do before attacking? Another group had done the same thing back at the tower. But there was no time for idle thoughts. The boys were almost in position.
The Gaptor leered at them, thinking it had the easy kill. Han and Atu zoomed overhead. Kayla raised her arm, and the relic stones flashed. Light and sound rent the air, and the Gaptor was history.
Kayla smirked as the boys settled next to them. “Nice work!”
Atu grinned. “Thanks.”
“Let’s not waste time gloating. We need the high ground,” Han said.
Kayla rolled her eyes at Atu over the gliders’ heads, and he chuckled.
“Whatever you say,” Atu replied.
Their gliders used the heat still drifting up from the stony floor to both elevate the group and drive them onward. Activating their goggles’ magnification lenses, Kayla and Atu observed the now not-so-distant group of Gaptors. Close enough now, the teens verified the group wasn’t a jumbled mass. Rather, the Gaptors fanned out in a jagged V. Two Gaptors followed the lead Gaptor, not quite in line, and then three further back created another squiggly line. Small clumps of Gaptors formed in similarly arranged groups at intervals. The groups toward the back had greater numbers.
Studying the strange formation, Kayla understood. “He’s found a way to send multiple Gaptors through simultaneously!”
“I agree,” Atu said. “You heard my discussion with Jaden in the tower then?”
“Even though I was working on the translation, it was almost impossible to ignore you. You were so loud!”
Atu ignored her veiled complaint. “How did the Usurper solve the problem?”
“What matters isn’t how he did it. It’s what we will do about it.”
Atu nodded. “Any ideas?” he asked the gliders.
“Make it to the haven before they reach us,” Han snapped.
Their gliders surged forward. Appr
ehensive about the effect of the increased speed on Taz’s injury, Kayla kept sneaking glances downward. But whatever Atu had done, it was holding. Grateful and relieved, Kayla considered what lay ahead of them. The advancing Gaptors were still some distance away. Meanwhile, the peaks of the conical formations were within reach.
Bam! The Gaptor slammed into Taz, ramming her head squarely with his armored chest. The impact knocked Kayla free, her grip already compromised by lying prone to minimize Taz’s pain. Tumbling off, Kayla caught the glint of the whirring blade at the end of one scraggly wing the instant before it bit into her shoulder. She screamed. Then the blade disappeared, and she was plummeting in the open sky, pain lancing through her.
With difficulty, Kayla orientated herself for Taz’s pickup. Only then did Kayla notice Taz was falling too. A split second later, Taz fluttered past, unconscious.
“Han!” Kayla yelled.
“I have you!”
His deep voice rumbled from somewhere nearby. “No, get Taz!” Kayla ordered, the rest of her words cut off when she landed with a thunk on Han’s broad back.
“I can’t help her—you have to,” Han explained. “Atu has something to bring her to her senses.”
Even as he said the words, Atu pressed something into Kayla’s hands. Her fingers closed reflexively around the slim tube.
“Just pour it out in front of Taz’s nose,” Atu directed.
Then Han tipped her off. Kayla gasped, stunned. The shock of landing on Taz’s back juddered through her, rattling every vertebra in her spine and spearing a white-hot poker into her shoulder. Kayla groaned, digging her fingers into Taz’s soft fur and securing her grip on the still-somersaulting glider. Jaw clenched, Kayla blocked the pain and swung her legs into position around Taz’s chest, then scooted up Taz’s neck until she could reach Taz’s nose. Without ceremony, Kayla dumped the tube’s contents.
Jerked alert, Taz instinctively tucked her wings close against her sides until she had the measure of the surrounding air. Then, at the precise moment she leveled out, Taz extended her wings. The movement jarred, but they stopped spinning. Unfortunately, they didn’t slow down.
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