“How did all this happen so fast?” I ask.
She hands me a protein bar from her pocket. “Well, you were healing over the last several days. But the Starfire energy has the ability to manifest our housing and items we need with the help of the Alku. We made the homes for the survivors.”
My mouth slacks open and my eyes widen, but she doesn’t blink an eye at my surprise at both statements. This must have to do with how Dad was generating items in the Intersection like the apples. He just didn’t know how he did it.
Beda waves me forward. “Let me take you to our fathers.”
I study Beda’s face. The constant scowl I’ve known, ever since the first time I met her on the streets of Primaro, is absent and instead is replaced by an expression glimmering with hope. Her soft, brown eyes are filled with excitement and expectation even though all could be lost outside of the Intersection. Beda is truly beautiful when she feels like the resources to save her people are within her grasp. I follow her past a scattering of Alku and humans who are busy working toward whatever our next steps will be. A few of the people we pass are holding containers of Starfire.
Beda points to a hill on our left. “Over the hill is a Starfire field. My mother has been helping everyone harvest a sample of mature crystals to use. The power the Starfire from this dimension have is amazing. The field is where I’m taking you.”
My chest constricts. I still think we risk the Starfire from this place becoming all-consuming and we need to be cautious. That was the risk of bringing anyone here. I hope Dad has made sure the Alku and refugees understand this drawback . . . if even he knows. Still, he seems to have returned to his former self—no more strange behavior.
I eat my bar and pocket the wrapper while Beda picks up our pace toward the hill’s summit. My lungs struggle for breath from the climb. Leaning over my knees, drawing in deep breaths, I spot the field, and the soft glow from the sea of crystals takes my heaving breath away. Of course, I knew the crystals were here, since Dad gave me one. If I thought the field on Paxon was beautiful, that sight is nothing compared to this expanse.
The field pulses as if to different beats, and a low hum accompanies the vibrations at various tones. And although I had grown used to the almost musical tone of the Alku’s voices, seeing and hearing these crystals reminds me of the Alku’s lyrical quality again. I shiver when recalling Javen’s beautiful voice, and the longing to return to him tugs mercilessly at my heart.
Beda grabs me by the shoulder, releasing me from my thoughts. “The meeting is down here.” She gestures to the field’s right, where I spot a small gathering. As we move closer, I make out Dad, Wirrin, Analya, and General Atkins in company with a few others who are unfamiliar to me.
“Where are Max and Irene?” I ask.
“They’re assisting the two refugee ships,” Beda says. “Both vessels contain a limited amount of defense capability, and Irene is helping to link the computer system to the Starfire power. Apparently, it’s going well.”
When I draw closer to the group, Dad spots me. “Cassi. Thank goodness.” Relief washes over his face and he rushes to my side, throwing his arms around me. “Analya kept reassuring me that you would pull through as the Starfire hadn’t permanently damaged you.” He pulls away, holds me at arm's length and then looks me over. “But I had to see you with my own eyes to be sure.” When I don’t speak, Dad loosens his grasp on my upper arms. “You are okay, right?”
“I think so.” Any other time I would want to share my experience with him, but there’s no time for any of that. “What are you planning?”
Dad returns his attention to the group and then gestures for Beda and me to follow him. Yaletha steps forward and I want to be jealous of her like I was before. But I can’t. She glances at me briefly and then flits her attention toward the crystals.
“After speaking to Wirrin,” Dad says, cutting through my thoughts, “we plan to open a large portal, enough to allow the two ships as well as the Alku resistance back through to the other side. Most of the refugees will stay back here unless military-trained. Using the newly upgraded ships, we will then create a distraction so the Alku can move in and destroy the device Hammond uses to depress the Starfire energy.”
“But how will you be able to use the refugee ships if the energy is blocked?” I ask.
“I’ve run the terrain through the Earthscape program,” he says. “We’ve tested the firing distance of the new weapons, and I’ve also been able to estimate the range of the Inhibitor Hammond is using.”
“But she had airborne ships with Inhibitors the last time,” I say, “moving them toward the source of unwanted energy.”
“Before we execute our mission, we’ll send a few individuals through to retrieve information,” Wirrin says.
“We’re hoping our spy is still alive and can provide intel on how the Inhibitor is being used. There was talk of one device being permanently installed at the mine,” General Atkins says.
“Your friend Irene believes she can shut down the computer technology used by the humans by doing something called . . .” Wirrin looks to Analya for help.
“Hacking . . . she called it hacking,” Analya reminds him.
“Yes, hacking,” Wirrin says. “She says by hacking she’ll create a disruption in the mine’s communication, allowing us to stop mining operations with as few casualties as possible.”
I look from Wirrin to Dad. “And what will I be doing? Right now, I can’t help with any of those plans.”
Beda steps forward. “That’s not where we need your help. Irene found something your father and you both need to attend to.”
“I don’t want her to come,” Dad says. “She’s healing and can stay here.”
“This is Cassi’s fight, too,” Beda presses.
“Come where?” I look at Dad.
He sighs. “Irene finally gave me Matt Owens’s belongings. Among them was encoded information on the World Senate. Members who were die-hard loyalists to Hammond and Hirata, as well as the people on the fence. The information perfectly coincides with the intel General Atkins has on the members who were executed, the ones who migrated to Hammond—”
“I’m sure some of them did so to save themselves,” I say.
“Likely,” Dad quickly replies.
“What about your team, though?”
“Apparently, after the explosion, Hammond wouldn’t release information about my disappearance. So, Owens went underground, so to speak. From his notes, he tried to convince the rest of my team to do the same. But Jonas and Abbot resisted, wanting to continue our work. They believed they could handle Hammond since we always had before.”
“But it didn’t happen,” I say.
“Matt saw through how she was using my disappearance—or death, as far as he was concerned—to go in another direction politically.”
“Good for him.”
“Owens, however, was always the most suspicious of her on my team. Apparently, he broke off with the rest, telling them he needed time for a mental health break because of my death and witnessing the explosion. The excuse was accepted, and he used the opportunity to use the lab. But he also had a contact who was helping to cover all his tracks.”
“Do we know who?”
“No,” Dad says. “But there’s a possibility this group or person is doing the same thing for the missing Senate members. We need to find them as soon as we can.”
“So, the MIA Senate members can get help from Earth, if they haven’t already done so.”
“Yes.” Dad nods. “That’s exactly what we need to do.” He looks back to the Alku and the others in the group. “The Starfire and these ship upgrades will not be ready to cross over for at least another twenty-four hours. But I believe we can initiate a small portal for a few of us to cross over to find Owens’s contact. I think if the World Senate members in hiding learn that I’m alive, the survivors may follow me. I wasn’t the highest-ranking member of the Board, but I was still a Board member.”
/>
“Your crossing over to Arcadia was not part of the agreement.” Wirrin steps up to Dad as his eyes swirl with cyan. From my and Wirrin’s previous conversation, I know that he was concerned about the Starfire’s effects on Dad. I was, too. But Dad has returned to his usual self, and thankfully, I don’t see the crystals negatively affecting anyone else. It seems quite the opposite, in fact. Maybe Wirrin and I were wrong.
I touch Wirrin’s forearm. “I understand your concern. But look around . . . there’s nothing to validate your worries. Humans and Alku are working together better than ever. The Intersection Starfire can be used for good. We can use these crystals together to take back Paxon and Arcadia. We can live in peace. And my dad is right. We need to shock these Senate members into remembering who they are and what is right. These people believe my father is dead. Seeing him again will remind them that standing up to Hammond isn’t impossible.”
Wirrin presses his lips into a thin line, then nods.
“We’ll be back before the primary launch.”
I pull Beda aside. “I need for you to come with us. I can’t cloak myself, and it’s something we may need to find Owens’s contact.”
She purses her lips. “You’ll have to find someone else. I’m needed here. I volunteered to be one of the first in at the mine. And there are preparations to be made.”
I pull away from her, stunned. “You know that’s likely to get you killed.”
Beda sets her jaw and doesn’t answer for a second. “I’m not afraid to give my life for my people. We knew the attack before was likely suicide, but we were unwilling to go down without a fight. It’s the same this time, but the plan is better. There is a chance for success, for peace. I want to be a part of that.”
I sigh. “Then cross with us and summon Javen. I need to know if he was able to gather any more Alku to fight—”
“With or without Vihann’s permission?” she interrupts.
“If Vihann wouldn’t agree, then Javen was going to stand up as the future leader and summon his people into action.”
A proud expression falls over Beda’s face. “I will cross with you and stay until Javen arrives. But I must return after he does.”
I look at Dad. “We need to do this as soon as possible.”
Analya’s face takes on a pinched expression, and she lays her hand on my sternum and closes her eyes. She takes in a long breath. I feel the tingle of her Starfire energy throughout my body, and when she opens her eyes, the irises swirl with color.
“You are healing quickly. More quickly than I would have expected,” she says. “But you are still not ready to use the Starfire.”
I consider my body, and somehow, I know what she says is true. “How will I know?”
“You will know.”
I bow my head slightly and internally hope I won’t need to use Starfire energy before that time.
Dad clasps Wirrin’s upper arm and nods to the rest of the group. “You know what to do. We’ll return as soon as we can.” He gestures to Beda and me.
“I have a few things to take care of first.” Beda glances at her parents and then me. “I’ll meet you at the lab in a few minutes.”
“Don’t be long.” I wave to her and then allow Dad to lead me from the group.
“When you are ready again, I have it.” Dad leans into me and pats his shirt pocket.
“What?” I ask.
“Your Starfire.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I close my eyes and take a deep breath in preparation for the words I’m about to admit. “Dr. Owens . . . he gave me a leather journal that belonged to you.”
Dad’s eyes light up. “Where is it?”
My stomach twists into a knot, knowing what I have to say. “I lost it . . . your journal may have been stolen.”
“Stolen? How?” He stops walking and faces me.
“It’s a long story, but I think I trusted the wrong person, and they may have taken it.”
“And you can’t get it back?”
“I don’t think so.”
Dad starts walking again. “That was your mother’s journal.”
“Mom’s?”
“She wrote in the pages every day after visiting Arcadia for the first time. Which means she wrote in it right up until she died.” Sadness creeps into his voice.
“What did she write about?” I ask as the lab comes into view.
“I don’t know. She never shared her journal with me, and I didn’t have the key. I guess I could have tried harder, but I didn’t have the guts to read her words after she died.”
I twist her gold ring on my finger with my thumb. And now Hammond probably has Mom’s journal, pried the lock open, and read my mom’s private thoughts. “I’m sorry I was so careless.”
Dad turns to me. “Cassi, I never expect you to be perfect.” He reaches for the palm scanner near the door. The device beeps, and the door slides away. Irene stands on the other side and lifts an eyebrow.
She smiles when she recognizes me. “I came to check on you, but you were gone.”
“I’m glad you’re here, Irene,” Dad says. “I need your help manning the program.”
Beda runs up and joins us as Dad ushers us all into the lab. Inside, there’s a clear container of Starfire next to one of the computers, and to the side, an experiment of some sort is happening with more crystals. I wrinkle my brows and lean in closer. A beaker is partially filled with what looks like cyan-colored water, but it must be a liquified piece of Starfire.
Beda hands me a laser pistol. “You may need this.”
“Thanks,” I whisper and shove the gun into the back of my pants under my shirt.
“Load up the portal program,” Dad says to Irene.
She activates the holographic display, and her fingers fly over the keys.
“Configure the settings to open on Arcadia for three travelers.” Dad retrieves a black device, the one on the table I noticed from previous visits, and then places it in his pocket. “Leave the entry open. I can activate the portal from Arcadia when we need to return. Beda will be doing a turnaround.”
A crackling sound sparks from behind as the room lights up in brighter blue-green. I turn and spot an electronic portal on the opposite side of the lab.
Dad eyes Beda and me. “You two ready?”
I tilt my head at Dad and cock an eyebrow. “I think the question is—Are you ready? Because stepping through to Arcadia brings you back from the dead.”
Chapter 21
Javen appears before us, and his eyes immediately flit to Beda. He tips his head with a quizzical look, as if sensing something has changed within her.
She gives him a tight smile, turns to the still-active portal and walks back through the opening. After she disappears, the crackling and glow of the opening fades into nothing.
My heart skips and I hurry to him, taking his hand. His smile is warm like sunshine and the heat of his gaze flushes through me. I kiss him on the cheek and then bring his attention to Dad before Javen decides to deepen our affection. And then I freeze, remembering myself. I kissed his cheek in front of Dad!
“This is my dad, Richard Foster,” I say.
Javen approaches Dad and extends his hand. “Dr. Foster, I’m pleased to see you once again.”
“You’re Vihann’s son, right?” Dad asks.
Javen bows his head slightly. “Yes, sir.”
The corners of my lips tip up at his evident respect for my father. Javen is too honest for me to ever think he is simply putting on a show. Dad’s gaze flits my way and I try to remain sturdy beneath the questions burning in his eyes.
“I saw you several years ago when my wife and I were first on Arcadia.” Dad’s face takes on a serious expression, I’m sure with the recollection of those memories. But then he turns his sharp attention back to me and raises an eyebrow. “You haven’t told me anything about Javen.”
A blush snakes its way up my neck. “Sorry. It’s complicated and there was—is just way too much to share . . . ri
ght now.” I have no desire to tell him that the Starfire bonded Javen and me together. Its sounds crazy and I don’t even know what to make of the story myself. I continue to meet Dad’s searching gaze, hoping my features are schooled into innocence.
Dad flattens his lips into a straight line.
“Dad, I’ll explain everything later. We need to find Owens’s contact, okay?” I re-direct his attention away from my fluttering pulse and reddening face.
“Fine,” Dad says and taps on his Connect. “But I’m making it a point to stay alive so I can hear this story.”
“Deal.” I let out a small, nervous chuckle while rolling my eyes, relieved that he’s not pressing for answers. But then I remember there’s not much right now to laugh about and my smile fades.
I return my attention to Javen and fill him in on everything that has happened.
“So, you can’t use the Starfire?” he asks, concern filling his eyes.
“Not until my body makes the adjustment.”
Javen curses under his breath. “I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of this before now. This sort of sickness can happen to us as children when we learn to control the energy, if we progress too fast. I should have warned you.”
“I don’t think it would have mattered if you had. I would have tried to save those people anyway.”
Javen brushes flyaway strands off my face and tucks them behind my ear. “I know.”
His touch sends a thrill through me, even more so when I realize Dad hasn’t noticed. I quickly attempt to change the subject before he does. “What about Vihann?”
A muscle in Javen’s jaw twitches.
“Still? He won’t budge?”
“The earthquakes are picking up on Paxon, too. This means the mining process is still happening.”
This time I curse under my breath. Not that I believed Hammond would halt production but because we’re running out of time. “Are you going to call on your people? Let them decide for themselves?”
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