Koda hesitated. “The toxin hasn’t been sent out of the airlocks yet?”
“It’s in the airlocks, but not yet released.”
Koda bit his fingernail. “Damn. If Payson seizes the toxin, then what?” He paced, thinking. “The airlocks connect to the air ducts. Could he get the toxin into the air ducts?” He pinched his upper lip. “I mean, who knows what will happen if he lets the toxin loose through those air channels. How many people would it effect?” Koda wrung his hands together, his heart picking up speed as panic raised the hair on his skin. “We have to go to Sphere One. There, we’ll find the toxin and send it out of the airlocks, and then investigate the Starhawks.”
Devon rubbed the ridge of his nose.
Koda halted his own pacing. “Are you having second thoughts?”
“I just want to rest. I have a family. You know, my mom, dad, and my sister. Maybe I should see them and tell them I’m alive. Or, I could stay here in Zim’s office and hack for hours and hours, grabbing more information for us. Other than Shae, don’t you have a family?”
“No, just Shae. My mom and dad died a while back.” Koda stood in front of the doorway. “And now I got you as family.” He winked. “I need your help, Devon.”
Devon dropped his head in his hands, rubbing his face. “Oh, Guild. I guess you’re right. We have to do this, don’t we?”
Koda motioned for Devon to follow him down the hall. “Yes, it’s a must. After we let the toxin out of the airlocks, then like I said before, we’ll look at the Starhawk Transports. It's just another lead to what Destination “N” is, and if it’s indeed the planet Nibiru it may lead us down another rabbit hole that will help us discover more about the Anunnaki and what else they have in store for us.”
Koda paused and stopped in the hallway. What was he doing? This was his mission, and he was dragging the poor kid along. He had no right, especially if Devon wanted to see his family.
Koda turned and placed his hands on Devon’s shoulders. “I’m so sorry. You’re not going anywhere except to your family. I can do this on my own.”
Devon dropped his chin and stared at his feet, nodding his head. “Yeah, but…” He lifted his chin and his lips slowly perked into a smile, a gleam in his eyes. “I won’t have a family if we don’t open the airlocks and suck the batrachotoxin into space. And I won’t have a family if we don’t detach and free ourselves from the Anunnaki race. They are a pain in all of our asses, Koda. You’re right, you probably need my help.” Devon flexed his skinny arm, grinning.
Koda snorted. “You think that will convince me to take you along?”
Devon shook his head. “Yeah, I know. I need to work out.”
“Yep.” Koda took a step toward the exit and put his hand on the door handle. The handle shook, and heat radiated from it. Everything slowed, and he looked out of the glass window. A loud concussion pushed him backward and into the air. Broken glass flew, sticking into his body and littering the floor and walls.
A blast of fire erupted in front of him and he smacked into Devon, sending them both to the floor.
11
Ali
Dirn Garum, Eos
Daf gave Ali a blank stare. “You're pulling my leg, right?” Daf looked at the green leaf wrapped around her shin and ankle. “Actually, don’t pull my leg.”
Ali stood over Daf. “I’m telling you the truth.”
Daf lay on a small bed in an earthen hut, her leg raised on top of a few pillows. “How could these Bawns get a ship like that?”
Ali couldn’t believe it either, and wouldn’t have if she hadn’t seen it for herself. “They want me to lead a crew of Bawns to take out the Anunnaki. I told them it had to be right away, and they liked that idea.” She unsheathed her sword and held it up. “This thing may get me into more trouble than I can handle.” Purple plasma flames rose an inch off the blade’s edges.
“You’re ready to fight now?”
Ali pursed her lips, her eyes narrowing. “We have little choice. We have to save Sirona right away.” She stared at the flames dancing off the sword, her voice lowering. “I’ll make them think we’ll attack the giants, but I’ll deviate from that plan and get our asses to Sirona. It ain’t going to be easy, but maybe we can convince Sirona’s crew to board. We’ll then head to my father’s coordinates.”
“Starship Tranquil?”
“Yeah, that’s what the Bawns call the ship, the one I’ll be captaining.”
“And you thought of this plan that quickly?”
Ali sheathed Sol. “It’s the only plan that would work, the only way I can save our people.”
Daf pointed to the sword sheathed in Ali's new baldric. “You're telling me you need that sword to start the starship?”
Ali nodded. “Yes. That’s what they say. It activates the ship. I don’t know why or how, but I have little time to question.” She glanced at Daf’s leg. “How’s your leg?”
Daf’s nose curled. “It was gross. They put a strange mixture of green plants and smeared it all over my leg. It smelled like chicken crap mixed with mint. Made me gag a few times.”
“Does it feel better?”
“Yeah, mostly. I can walk better, but I’m letting it rest for the moment as they ordered.” Daf took a long breath. “So, when are we going to get that ship running so we can get our people to safety?”
Ali shrugged. “I don't know, but it has to be soon. S was correct about the people in the mountain, which means she was probably correct about that large weapon heading Sirona’s way. So, again, we need to get going right away.” Ali huffed and bent down, rubbing the ground with her thumb. She tapped on it a couple times with her knuckles as if knocking on a door. “How stupid are we, Daf?”
Daf crinkled her brow. “What?”
Ali eyed the ground, her palm now touching it. “Sorry, change of topic, but there are plants on Eos, not much, but some, and plants give off oxygen, and yet we still went with the story that there isn't an ounce of oxygen here.”
Daf turned her head and stared at the ceiling. “Next topic, please.”
“Why?”
“Because when you get on a subject you're angry about, you freak out. You go on a tirade, and it’s hard to pull you out of it.”
“We’ve been lied to.”
“Yes, I understand, and I’m pissed about it too, but there's nothing we can do about it. Bring it up to the governance if we all survive this. Until then, can we just figure out how to get everyone off this planet? Heck, get everyone on Sirona to safety before they get blown to the sun and back.”
Ali gave Daf a stony expression. “The Bawns will mutiny once they figure out we’re not going after the Anunnaki, won’t they?”
Daf shifted in her bed. “Then we don’t take them.”
“What?”
Daf gave Ali a mischievous look. “Don’t take them with us.”
“We have to take them.”
“Why does it matter? They have a great place to live. It’s peaceful here. It’s gorgeous. They have everything they need.”
Ali cringed. “The Bawn won’t like this one bit.” She thought for a moment, letting the idea percolate in her mind. She slowly gave a wry grin. “Are you ready then? We’ll head to Sirona and save our friends.”
“What about Diana?” asked Daf.
Ali’s shoulders dropped. She almost forgot about her. Another liar that clouded Ali’s life the moment she arrived on Starbase Matrona. Diana probably set Sirona up, keeping it grounded on Eos for her own evil reasons. If she had, then Diana would do everything in her power to keep those people on board.
Ali needed a quick in and out; land, evacuate, take off. With thousands of people onboard Sirona, this would be harder than she could imagine. She frowned. Could she actually pull this off? “Do you think we can get a hold of Wrench and tell him to get everyone ready? Or tell him to cuff Diana to her desk so she can’t stop the evacuation?”
Daf lifted an eyebrow. “Since the Bawns have a ship, they probably
have a way to communicate with Sirona from said ship.”
Ali cocked her head to the side. “You’re right.” Ali tapped her fingers in deep thought.
Daf fell silent.
After a few moments, they looked at each other.
Ali grinned.
Daf grinned back. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“It’ll be the easiest way around all of this, except Diana.”
“Are you seriously thinking what I’m thinking?”
“I thought so.” Ali couldn’t help but smile. “We take Starship Tranquil now without the Bawns, communicate with Wrench, and see if we can get him to stall Diana somehow, perhaps figure out a way to throw her in the brig, then we can do this. Hell, we know he’s buddies with officers in the Sirona Guard. Maybe he can convince them Diana isn’t on their side.”
“Well, that’s not exactly what I was thinking, but we must leave now. Like right now. We’ll take this Tranquil craft and figure out things more easily when we’re away from the mountain, away from the Bawn. But like I said, we leave this moment.”
Ali nodded. “Yes.”
Daf sat up. “We don’t have a choice, really. Sirona doesn’t have much time.”
Ali stood. “For the sake of Sirona.”
Daf pushed into a standing position, keeping more weight on one leg than the other. “When the Bawn find out we took the craft, they’ll crap their pants.”
Ali shrugged off the comment. “You ready?”
Daf nodded, a smile hanging on her lips. “Ready.”
12
Ali
Dirn Garum, Eos
Ali helped Daf around the mushroom top structure, her hand against the building’s hard exterior surface.
“I told you not to help me,” whispered Daf, her eyes nearly burning a hole in Ali’s forehead.
Ali glanced at Daf’s leg and let go of her arm. “If you don’t want help, then stop hobbling. It looks like you’ll topple over any minute.”
Ali looked around the corner of the building. Bawns amassed at the town square, trading foods and supplies with one another. Ali eyeballed Daf, thumbing over her shoulder. “That way.” Ali raced to the next building, Daf limping quickly behind her.
Dirn Garum’s public square and all the surrounding streets leading through small little neighborhoods and eateries were busy with small people, but none in Ali’s vicinity or on her path to the boulder.
Good.
Ali pointed to the massive boulder that sat between two buildings. “We’re almost there.”
“Got it.”
Ali tiptoed to the stone, hoping the workers in the facility down below milled around up top, taking a break and mingling with their friends. It was late, and she figured their shifts must be over. If a few Bawn remained at their stations below, she had the sword, and they seemed to obey Sol and would probably let Ali and Daf observe Starship Tranquil.
Maybe.
Ali pressed the button on the wall.
“What are we waiting for?” asked Daf.
“An elevator.”
Daf’s head slightly jerked back. “An elevator?”
“I just told you they had a starship and other vehicles, and an elevator is what’s impressing you?”
A portion of the boulder moved inward, leaving the door frame exposed. The door slid to the side, rock crunching against rock. Ali turned, hoping no one heard. She put her finger up for Daf to be quiet.
No one seemed to notice.
Ali stepped inside, motioning for Daf to join her. “We’re heading down.”
She pressed the only button inside.
Daf leaned against the back wall, her arms folded, watching the door close. The door shut, and she gasped. “Did you see that?”
Ali glared at the closed door, her shoulders drooping. “What?”
The elevator descended.
Daf looked down, blinking as if trying to remember. She shook her head. “I’m probably seeing things. I thought I saw someone walking between a building, heading our way.”
The door opened.
In front of them sat the rock stations, all empty. She remembered how Harak had opened the long slab door.
She hurried out of the elevator with Daf in tow. Ali grasped Sol’s hilt, just in case someone jumped her. Boots in the distance sliding across rock carried to Ali’s ears. She froze, holding a hand up, and Daf halted.
“Did you hear that?” Ali whispered.
“Sure did.”
“Which direction?” Ali glanced around.
Daf pointed at the ebb slate that reached from one end of the structure to the other. “I think it came from over there.”
“Perhaps a drudge,” said Ali. Those creatures probably liked it underground here. Regardless, Ali’s eyes darted around, her senses on high alert. She didn’t want anyone catching her snooping. What would they think? They’d probably accuse her of wanting to steal the starship. She’d deny it, but they’d be right.
“Let’s go,” Ali whispered. “But keep it down.”
They walked quietly to the ebb slab wall, planting their feet in front of it.
“Are you ready to see it, Daf?”
Daf put a hand on Ali’s shoulder, steadying herself on her good leg. “I’m not only ready to see it, but I’m also ready to get our friends off of Starship Sirona and back home.” Excitement practically oozed out of her.
Ali nodded. “Me too.” She sheathed her sword and raised her hands. “Awake.” The door rumbled, then cracked open.
Moments later, the rock fully opened, and Daf’s eyes widened. “Holy mother of ebb.”
“Yeah, isn’t she a beauty?”
Before them sat Starship Tranquil, its orb-like body glistening. It glowed silver and dimmed a gold, then shined in gold, and dulled to silver, only to brighten to a silver sheen an instant later.
“I can’t believe it. It’s immaculate.” Daf stepped forward. “What type of ship or what class is that?”
“I don’t know exactly, but Chan called it a starship. To me, it’s a little smaller, but who knows how the creators of this vessel labeled their ship class types.” Ali quickened her pace, hurrying toward the ship. “But we can figure it out once we get on board and—”
“Halt,” boomed a voice, its inflection reverberating off the walls.
Ali and Daf stopped dead in their tracks, Ali’s spine tingling and her gut clenching. She squeezed her eyes shut, opening them a second later, hunching in her posture. “For Guild sakes.”
They turned, and Harak stood near a corner of the mammoth room. He held an axe and pounded the handle’s knob on the slated ground. “What are you doing here?”
Daf jostled Ali’s arm. “What did he say?”
“He wants to know what we’re doing here.”
“Oh, fabulous. Just tell them you were showing me the ship.”
Ali put her hand up. “Yeah, yeah. I got this.”
Harak tilted the toe of the axe toward the ship, and then the butt of the axe toward Ali. Footsteps and movement echoed in the building. From behind the ship’s landing sleds stepped several Bawns, some carrying small swords, and others hammers or pickaxes. More footsteps and Ali flicked a glance over her shoulder. Another set of Bawns, all smirking, ambled toward her.
Ali lifted her sword, its blade gleaming brightly. She squeezed the handle, and a flame encircled the sword from the top of the hilt to the tip of the blade. “I’m the Chosen One.”
The Bawns hesitated, pausing for a moment, then continued advancing toward her. This Chosen One nonsense didn’t help much.
Ali placed one hand on her hip. “What do you want, Harak?”
Harak raised his axe. “Hold.” The Bawns stopped. He lowered his axe, his eyes narrowing. “What are you doing here? You came here to steal Tranquil, did ya’?”
“Are you serious?” Ali acted shocked. “I wanted to show Daf the ship. She didn’t believe it existed.” She curled her lips into a feigned smile. “I won the bet.”
Harak shifted his eyes from Ali to Daf. “Is what she says true?”
Daf shrugged. “He’s talking to me. What the Guild is he saying?” She elbowed Ali in the arm a few times. “What’s he saying?”
“She can’t speak Bawn, Harak.” Ali went into a defensive crouch. “You’re taking this prophecy a little too far. I’ll bet my left toe no one in your family will die because of my arrival.”
Harak looked a bit surprised Ali knew about the prophecy. He shook it off and scowled. “I don’t want to wait and find out.”
"What were you going to do, try to kill me?” said Ali.
Harak chuckled, his shoulders bouncing up and down. The rest of the Bawns followed suit. “Did you say try? No. I would not try. I will kill you. Plus, it’s against Bawn law to use this craft without the king or the king’s heirs onboard.”
“Fine, then we’ll leave.” Ali went to turn, then stopped, and faced Harak, a fire igniting in her belly. “The next time you try to kill me, you’ll have this sword down your throat.” She eyed more Bawns. “All of you.” She flattened her lips. “Do you understand?”
Harak nodded to his cohorts, grunting loudly. “Kill them,” yelled Harak, going into a run, his long hair trailing in his wake.
Daf put her hands up, her fingers curled into fists. Ali brought the sword in front of her. As they neared, Ali went into a lower crouch, and a force she didn’t understand took hold of her like a tornado forming in the clouds. The sword vibrated, and tingling went through her body, up to her crown and down to her toes. She let out a ferocious yell, squeezing her hands around Sol’s hilt. “Daf, get on the floor.”
When Daf hesitated, she twisted and threw a kick at the back of Daf’s knees, sending her friend tumbling to her side. Ali squeezed the hilt harder and raised the sword above her head, squaring her body in front of Harak, who approached quickly, readying to put his axe in her chest.
A blast of purple fire blew from Sol, sending flames out and upward. Gasps filled the room, and the Bawns fell back, skidding to a halt, some landing on their rears. Their weapons flung from their hands, including Harak’s.
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