Jaden’s shoulders drooped. Markov was right. Maybe not about Tarise. But about rising above this disaster. If he didn’t pull himself together, they would not finish this mission. And then what was the point of all of this suffering? Slurpy’s already won if we do nothing except sit around and mope.
“What now?” Wary, Markov studied Jaden.
“It’s time for us to win. To find that last artifact. End this once and for all. If we do, all of you will be safe.”
Markov looked incredulous. “Bro, whose decision do you think it was for us to get involved?”
“No, don’t lay that on yourselves. I roped you into this. I told you what was going on in the realm you couldn’t see. I crossed timelines and set those monsters free.”
Markov put a hand on Jaden’s shoulder. “Who do you think asked to know? And whose decision was it to attend your meeting so we could find out what was happening? Don’t you think we deserved the truth? The right to decide our own fates? Don’t be such a jerk.”
Jaden gaped, then started laughing. He shook his head. “Well, when you put it like that . . .”
Markov smiled for the first time since entering the room. “Now that we’re finally on the same page, how about we make some plans?”
Chapter Three
Jaden inhaled deeply, savoring the crisp, clear air. He was leaning against the doorway on their rooftop landing deck. It had been two days since Markov’s visit. Only fifteen minutes ago, Atu had pronounced him well enough to get out of bed.
Jaden had stumbled up to the roof, disconcerted by how weak he was. Steadying himself against the doorjamb, he closed his eyes and raised his face to the sun. Rustling overhead had him opening his eyes. Han was hovering.
“Han! It’s great to see you!”
“You’re back on your feet.” Han’s relief was tangible. Then he scowled. “You really need bigger houses.”
“Why?”
“It wasn’t fun being the only one who couldn’t get in to see you while you were recovering.”
Jaden chuckled. “Sorry about that. I’ll see if my folks are up for putting in bigger windows. That way, you can at least hover outside and talk to me through them.”
“That won’t help,” Han grumbled.
“Why not?”
“Do you think I can squeeze between the walls of your house and the next?”
Jaden hid the smile this time. “Ah, friend, I have missed you! How’s Taz?”
Han’s face clouded. “Not as good as you, but getting there. Want to go see her?”
“Absolutely!”
Jaden wasn’t sure if he’d manage the aerial mount, but whatever magic allowed it didn’t seem impeded by his lack of strength. In minutes, they reached the open space Atu had set up for recovering gliders. Pallaton was circling Taz protectively. Jaden grinned. “Greetings, Pallaton!”
“Gatekeeper! It is good to see you back with us again.”
“I see you’ve been busy,” Jaden said, nodding his head toward several of the Legion patrolling the recovery area.
“It seemed wise to take precautions,” Pallaton rumbled. “We didn’t want any Gaptors attacking those wounded in the battle.”
“I’m grateful you weren’t one of them. I’m sorry for those you lost.”
Pallaton dipped his head before darting away.
Han angled them down, and seconds later they were on the ground. Jaden approached Taz, shocked by how frail she looked. Had he looked so awful? He glared at Han. “She is getting better, right?”
Han’s face was solemn. “Yes, but she lost a lot more blood than you did.”
Reaching Taz, Jaden sat down next to her, as much as to give his legs a rest as to be close enough to talk. “Hello, friend.”
Taz’s eyes opened, and she attempted a smile when she saw Jaden, but Jaden noticed how much effort it took. “Jaden. I’m relieved to see you up and about again.”
“I’m looking forward to being able to say the same about you. I’m guessing you aren’t resting because you’re worried about Kayla?”
Taz grimaced. “I’m trying not to worry, but every time I fall asleep, all I can see is her in some dire situation! Much as I try, I can’t get to her, so I wake up again. It’s like a recurring nightmare where the scenery changes but the situation remains the same.”
“Yeah, like those dreams where you’re doing something fun, and then next minute you’re falling out of a plane, down a waterfall, off a cliff. The only way to escape death is to wake up. But you know, someone told me how to get rid of those kinds of dreams.”
Taz perked up. “Really? How?”
“You force yourself to stay in the dream—to reach the end of that fall. Or in your case, reprehensible as the thought is, to not be able to get to Kayla as she meets whatever fate awaits her.”
“Does that really work?” Taz sounded suspicious.
“It did for me. In fact, after I pulled off not waking up, it was the weirdest thing. The nightmare stopped, and there was this blank section. Then I dreamed about something else. The best part is that I’ve never had one of those types of dreams since.”
Taz frowned. “How do you force yourself to stay asleep?”
Jaden shrugged. “I think in some part of your brain you know you’re dreaming. You know what you’re seeing isn’t real. This allowed me to order myself to stay asleep until I hit the bottom. Not sure how it works for bat brains though.” Jaden smiled when Taz’s face soured.
“How many times have I told you we aren’t bats?”
“Ah, but you look like bats,” Jaden chuckled. “So —” Han’s wing clipped him on the ear, cutting him off. “Ow!”
“You deserved that,” Han sniffed.
Jaden laughed. “I did indeed. Now, let’s ask Taz what we came to ask so she can get her rest.”
Taz tried to sit up, but, catching Han’s stern gaze, she sank back again. “I have little to tell you. I lost my link with Kayla, so Han and I went to your house to investigate. When she wasn’t there, I took off for her home.”
“Alone?”
“Yes, there was no reason to think anything would happen to me. Flawed reasoning, I know, but hindsight is always twenty-twenty. They ambushed me on my way to Kayla’s home. Didn’t see the brutes who took me out. I’m not sure how many, but more than two.”
“I’m sorry.” Taz waved his apology away. “Did you see the ‘pod Kayla was going home in?”
“No, I’m sorry, I didn’t.” Taz grimaced and rolled her head to one side.
“What’s wrong?” Jaden leaped to his feet, alarmed. He regretted the sudden movement when spots danced before his eyes. They vanished as quickly as they had appeared.
“Every time I try think too hard, my head . . .” Taz wilted where she lay.
“Atu! Atu!” Jaden yelled, not even sure if he was there. Reaching down, he touched Taz’s neck. He couldn’t feel anything through the thick fur. What am I thinking? I’m not a medic. How would I even know where to find her pulse?
Just as he really began to panic, Atu came running. Slamming to a stop next to them, he panted, “What?”
Words weren’t necessary, though. Atu took one look at Taz and closed his eyes. That golden glow Jaden had seen only once before streamed from his hands and bathed Taz. Taz’s eyes flicked open briefly; then she was out again.
Atu leaned back with a tired sigh. “What were you doing?”
“Just speaking to her, I promise! Is she okay?”
“Yes, she’s breathing again. And she will be okay if she gets her rest. Leave her to do that!”
Jaden nodded vigorously, stopping the motion when the spots came back. “Yes, we will.”
Atu raised a weary hand to his head. “I think I’ll take a nap right here next to her.”
For the first time since Atu’s appearance, Jaden studied him. He had black bags under his eyes, and his skin was pale beneath his tan. “Don’t you want to sleep at the house? You look like you need the rest.”
&nbs
p; Atu shook his head. “No, if Taz has another episode, I need to be right here.”
“I’ll get Markov or one of the others to bring you a sleeping shell.” Jaden thought about what else he could do. “And some food.”
“Thanks.” Atu lay down next to Taz. Almost instantly, he began snoring.
“So much for the sleeping shell,” Jaden muttered.
“Taz will keep him warm enough,” Han observed. “What do we do now?”
Chapter Four
Jaden’s legs wobbled. He sank down next to Taz and Atu again, panting as he waved off Han’s concern. “I just need a moment.”
Silently cursing the blood loss he’d suffered in the battle, Jaden wished the near-constant weakness would vanish. He slumped onto his back, allowing himself a minute’s respite.
What’s the point of trying to find out where Kayla disappeared to or how it happened? She’s gone. There’s no way I can reach her in that other dimension, which is surely where Slurpy’s taken her. He wouldn’t have risked leaving her here in this world. That’s where he whisked my and Atu’s parents off to. No, Slurpy wouldn’t have wasted time getting Kayla across the breach.
Can I cross it if another one of those mysterious rings opens again? No, the last time I was near it, it zapped me full of some weird energy and left me unconscious. And I didn’t go through the breach. I closed it.
A ragged sigh escaped. Suddenly sick to his stomach, Jaden leaned forward, putting his head between his knees. He dragged in several deep breaths. When the nausea passed, he lifted his head, then lay back down again. He closed his eyes. Desolation. He knew how it looked. He’d never known he could experience it.
Yet that tiny speck of hope persisted. Kayla might not be in Slurpy’s realm yet. And as long as that small chance remained, he had to find the ‘pod.
“Jaden?”
Han’s worried voice reminded him he wasn’t alone. “I don’t know what to do. This isn’t a problem I thought I would ever have. But whoever would’ve guessed I’d have to know how to cross the breach? Or know how to fight mutants from other worlds? Or do any of the other unbelievable things I’ve had to do since all this began?”
Han was silent for so long Jaden wondered whether he would respond. But he did. And it wasn’t what Jaden thought it would be.
“If we’re trying to find Kayla, shouldn’t we use the arcachoa?”
“You have nothing to say about the mission? About how it’s my destiny? Or how I’m doing okay?”
“You don’t need that. You need Kayla.”
The insight struck Jaden dumb. It was true. If he had Kayla, he wouldn’t be doubting himself. He wouldn’t be wallowing in self-pity. Instead, he would move onto the next step. Reaching over, he touched the only part of Han he could reach—his leg. “Thanks, buddy.”
Han eyed the hand on his leg. “If you’re done feeling me up, how about we try the arcachoa?”
Jaden laughed. “Yeah, because I’ve always wanted to touch your leg! It’s pretty scaly. You might want to consider using some lotion.” Han lifted a wing and Jaden rolled away. “No, you’re not clipping me on the ear again!”
Han looked pleased with himself. “In that case, time to get to your feet. We have work to do.”
Han launched himself into the air and Jaden watched as he gained altitude, then curved around to head back to where Jaden waited. Stumbling to his feet, Jaden wondered for the second time about his ability to aerial connect. He was weaker now than he’d been on the roof. But he needn’t have worried. As he landed on Han’s back and moved to his familiar position, he was thankful for small mercies.
“Let’s head for my home. That’s the last place we know Kayla was before she disappeared.”
They flew the familiar route, coming up on Jaden’s house in seconds. Jaden retrieved his medallion from his wrist pouch.
“Ready?” he asked Han.
Han nodded, and Jaden inserted the medallion in Han’s arcachoa, the perfect medallion-shaped space between Han’s ears. Time dilated as light blazed before settling into the glowing circle that would take them through the time tunnel. As it sucked him and Han in, Jaden forced himself to relax. Sound became as dead as the surrounding air. Light swirled in untamed wild arcs across their path, making him nauseous as usual. Then the light closed in on itself, encompassing them before the tunnel spat them out.
Jaden gulped down air, taking stock of where they’d ended up. “We’re in the right time and place.”
Grimly, they watched the replay of Kayla’s departure. Jaden heard himself offering to go with her. Kayla declined. She settled into the ‘pod and then zoomed away.
Without a word, Han followed. Jaden flinched when a Gaptor darted in front of them. His DD was in his hand before he remembered this had already all happened before. He couldn’t help Kayla from here. Desperate, he leaned forward on Han’s back, silently urging Kayla to pay attention.
But as Han drew level with the ‘pod transporting her, Jaden could see her eyes were closed. She reclined in her seat, oblivious to the danger lurking outside. In fact, all around. Three other Gaptors had joined the first, and they now ringed the ‘pod.
Jaden couldn’t stop the cry of rage as they attacked. Tearing into it with claws and teeth, they ripped the engine off. The tiny craft wobbled, then flipped sideways before spiraling downward.
“Kayla, get out of there!” Jaden knew Kayla couldn’t hear him, but he had stopped breathing. If the ‘pod crashed in the state it was in, Kayla likely wouldn’t survive. Helpless, Jaden watched as Kayla scrambled around the cockpit. What are you doing? Why aren’t you using the escape hatch?
In slow motion, Jaden watched the ‘pod spin through the air. Kayla pushed on the escape hatch, then turned, and her hands flew over the controls. Then back to the hatch again. He understood. The attack had somehow disabled the hatch. Kayla couldn’t get out.
He let out a guttural cry, wrenched from his very soul. Jaden didn’t know if he could watch Kayla die. But a small part of his brain told him she had to have somehow survived, or they would’ve found her by now. Partly hiding his face behind his hands, he stared as Kayla snapped back into the pilot’s seat. She put on her safety harness, then assumed the brace position for the inevitable crash.
Just before the ‘pod hit, the Gaptors swooped down and flipped the ‘pod right way up with their wings. For a second, Jaden thought they would latch onto the craft, pick it up, and cart it away. But the dumb beasts had waited too long. The ‘pod was too close to the ground and they couldn’t get under it.
The ‘pod smacked down, the sound horrendous: a sickening thud followed by screeching metal as the ‘pod skidded along the ground before cracking into a tree. Literally cracking. The ‘pod split open like a pea pod, spilling Kayla onto the ground.
Blood. So much blood. It was everywhere. Covering the interior of the ‘pod. Smeared along the ground where Kayla was dumped out. Over the back of her head. The back of her head!
Jaden leaned over Han’s side and retched. He couldn’t take any more. He wanted to die. Why can’t they attack me? Do they always have to attack those I love?
“Jaden, she’s moving. Look!”
Had Han really said that? Convinced he was hallucinating, Jaden half-heartedly looked at Kayla. His heart skipped a beat. She was moving! “Han, get down there! We have to help her.”
“We can’t.”
Han’s voice was soft and carried all the pain Jaden felt. He was about to yell at Han when he remembered where they were. The sobs broke loose.
His body heaving, Jaden watched as Kayla tried to draw her DD. As she tried to defend herself. As the monsters swept the DD aside and snatched her up in their hideous talons. His heart broke hearing her cries of agony as they subjected her injuries to this brutal treatment.
Jaden closed his eyes. He couldn’t watch anymore, couldn’t take this. His energy gone, he slumped onto Han’s neck. Abruptly, the air rippled.
“No!” Han cried.
&nbs
p; Jaden sat up to find the cause of Han’s distress. Light shimmered. Then he and Han were sucked back into the time tunnel, the silence their only companion as it shunted them back to their own time.
As soon as they exited, Jaden shouted, “What happened?”
“They opened a breach and took Kayla through it.”
“What? How did they do that?”
“I don’t know. I can only guess the usurper has worked out how to open the breach at precise locations. It’s the only explanation.”
“But why are we back in our own time?”
Han gazed back at him, his concern evident. “Jaden, if she went through the breach, every artifact she had went with her when that gate closed. With no artifact to keep us there, the arcachoa couldn’t continue operating.”
Jaden scrubbed a hand over his face. He had to get with the program. If he couldn’t keep it together, he would be incapable of completing the mission. It was the only sure way of getting Kayla back. Realizing Han was still casting anxious glances his way, Jaden rubbed the fur along Han’s neck.
“I’ll be okay, buddy.”
“I don’t know whether to believe you.”
Jaden put effort into a smile. “Let me rephrase. I will be okay as long as we keep moving.”
Han brightened. “And where are we moving to?”
“We need to gather the crew. Let them know what happened to Kayla. Make some plans.” Jaden thought a moment. “Let’s meet in the mountains where Sven set the ambush for the Gaptors.”
Han’s eyebrows shot up. “So far away? Why do you want to meet there?”
“First, we know we already have one traitor. If Taz’s suspicions are correct and we have more, identifying others might be easier if the gliders aren’t all crowded together. This is the second reason for going there—the gliders can be part of the meeting without being squished together. Finally, that place is so isolated, we’ll know if anyone is there that shouldn’t be there, meaning we can minimize prying ears overhearing what they shouldn’t.”
“You want us to be part of the meeting?”
Destiny Series Boxed Set Page 89