“They’re probably sleeping,” Allison said.
“Even so, where are the night guards? We haven’t run into anyone.”
“I agree. It seems weird,” Ethan said. “Maybe we’ve just been lucky.”
“Hopefully our luck holds out.” Allison nervously fingered the trigger of her plasma rifle.
Farther up the corridor, another hallway broke off to their left. Grant ran ahead and peered into it. “Uh, guys, I think we’ve found it.” The other three ran excitedly to him.
It was a particularly long hallway with no doors on either side, just a large half-domed chamber at the end. A small entryway jutted out of the dome, the front ending in a brilliant opaque white energy shield. The hallway opened slightly as it neared the chamber, then wrapped around either side of the object.
“That’s it!” Aleena said excitedly. “I’ve seen the pictures in school. That’s Valaan’s chamber!” She rushed to the entrance, stopping abruptly in front of the barrier. “I think I better go in alone.”
“I want to go,” Grant said.
“You can’t. The barrier won’t let you pass.”
Grant moved forward to look at it closer.
“Don’t touch it,” Aleena warned. “It’ll hurt you if you touch it.”
“What about me?” Ethan asked. “I was able to go through the one in your chamber.”
“I haven’t figured that one out yet,” Aleena replied. “I don’t know why you could get through, so I don’t think we should risk it. I’ll go inside and get him, and then we can all get out of here.
“Assuming he’s still alive,” Allison said.
“Right,” Aleena agreed.
“He’s alive,” Ethan told them. “I know he is. I can feel it.”
Grant gave Ethan an amused look. “And feelings are always right.”
“Mine are,” Ethan said flatly. “At least they are when they feel like this.”
Grant looked at Aleena, clearly skeptical. “Well, there’s only one way to find out. Go get him.”
“I’ll be out as fast as I can.” Leaving her friends, Aleena walked through the barrier.
The white shimmering field let her pass as though it wasn’t even there, the light emitted by the barrier increasing in intensity as she did. It blotted out her vision with an image of pure white. She could’ve closed her eyes, but she knew the energy wouldn’t hurt her. After passing through, she stood momentarily blinded in the chamber while her eyes readjusted to the dim interior lighting.
A few seconds later, with her vision restored, she found herself standing before a small ornate control pedestal. Unlike her own, which had been constructed quickly due to the pressure of war, this pedestal was decorated with intricate engravings running up from the floor. It was wide at the bottom, tapered in the middle, and then flared out at the top. The carvings made the pedestal look like entwined metallic tree branches sprouting from the chamber floor.
Directly behind the pedestal stood an equally ornate bed—and on it, Valaan Trel. He looked just as Aleena had seen in pictures growing up. He had matured, with wise-looking features with a particularly angled jawline, long white hair, white eyebrows to match, and a neatly trimmed white beard. His eyes were closed, but concentration was frozen on his face. In the last moments before the sleep took over, he’d clearly been focusing much of his energy into the chamber’s systems.
Aleena pulled the small silver memory chip from a holding slot located on the belt built into her armor. She flipped it over in her hands and rubbed her thumb over the engraving on the top. It was the emblem for the office of the Councilor of Magic. On the reverse side was the crest of the Elven High Council.
She looked at Valaan and smiled. He wasn’t Earthborn, but at least he was an Elf. She wasn’t completely alone.
At the back of the pedestal, near the base, a small door was open that allowed access to the bosonic control boards inside. Someone’s already been here. Aleena’s stomach turned over a bit. This doesn’t make sense. Why didn’t they wake him? Fear ran through her as she turned to look at Valaan. Is he dead? Her hands trembled as she slid a small board out of the console and snapped the chip into its position. Slowly, carefully, she pushed the board back into the computer, then shut the door.
She stood up and looked again at Valaan lying regally in his purple robes. The garment was decorated with silver piping and rose to a silver collar that fit snugly around his neck.
Don’t be dead. I need you. We all need you. I can’t do this alone.
Walking to the front of the pedestal, she placed her hand on the control surface. Immediately it lit up, flashing a violent red. At the same time, the room lighting, which ran along the outer edges of the floor and similarly in the ceiling above, turned to a light shade of red. Text began scrolling across the screen faster than she could read. Slow down. Slow down! Her thoughts didn’t affect the computer at all. Plots of various system functions appeared and disappeared, each showing critical system levels. When the power levels were displayed, Aleena’s eyes grew wide. The system was dead. The console shouldn’t even have been working. She slowly looked up from the console to the concentrating face of Valaan a few feet away. How are you doing this? Somehow, he’d done something that maintained the system’s functionality without drawing any power. It doesn’t make sense.
Dropping her gaze back to the control surface, she scrolled through the different command options available. Her chamber was designed to wake the inhabitant due to a number of circumstances, one being the entry of someone else. It was why she woke when Ethan found her.
She looked at Valaan again and waited another minute. He didn’t so much as twitch. So much for that. She resumed her search through the control console’s commands, finally finding a sequence titled ‘Reanimation.’ Holding her breath, she activated the commands. At the end of the sequence, the lights in the chamber stopped flashing red and turned a light shade of green. She saw Valaan’s eyes slowly open just as the room went black.
The white glow of the energy barrier disappeared in a flash. “The barrier’s down,” Ethan said. Beyond the entrance, the inside of the chamber was pitch-black. Ethan yanked a flashlight from his pocket, turned it on, and ran into the chamber. Grant and Allison did the same.
“Aleena,” Ethan called out, “are you all right?” The light from his flashlight settled on her standing before the control console.
She squinted, trying to see Ethan behind the light. “I’m fine. I think he’s awake.”
Allison and Grant both pointed their flashlights at the older man on the bed. His eyes were open and he was staring at the four of them, though he appeared dazed and confused.
Aleena moved to his bedside and began speaking in elvish. “Councilor Trel. I’m Aleena of Avenfall, an Earthborn.”
He slowly looked into her eyes, showing no signs of comprehension.
“You’re in a hibernation chamber,” Aleena continued. “Something went wrong with the test.”
“This doesn’t look good,” Grant whispered to Ethan.
Ethan nodded in agreement. “Aleena, we need to get out of here. Can he walk?”
She looked back at Ethan and shrugged with annoyance. “I don’t know. This may take a minute. He’s been out for a very, very long time.”
Allison joined Aleena by Valaan’s bedside. “Can I help?”
“Maybe.”
“Councilor,” Aleena said, switching back to her native tongue. “We’re in danger. Your chamber is in the middle of an Urlowen outpost, and we’re at war. We need to leave. Can you walk?”
He blinked a few times, trying to wake from the sleep. “Aleena,” he said slowly. His voice was smooth and calm. “You said your name was Aleena, did you not?”
“I did,” she replied, excitement creeping into her tone. “Councilor, can you walk?”
He took her in, then turned and did the same to Allison. “Interesting,” he said. His gaze returned to Aleena. “Child, call me Valaan. ‘Councilor’ seems su
ch a formal title.”
“Valaan,” Aleena pleaded, “we really do need to leave. We’re in danger. Tell me, can you walk?”
Valaan wiggled his toes, moved his feet back and forth, and then slowly brought his legs up a bit. “My legs appear to work, yes. I suppose I could give it a try.”
“Good. This is my friend Allison. She and I will help you until you’re sure your balance is fine.” She motioned to Allison, and the two helped Valaan sit up and swivel around so his feet touched the floor. Slowly, and with the girls’ help, Valaan stood. He was at least a foot taller than everyone in the chamber.
“Do you need help?” Grant asked.
“I think we’ve got him.” Allison said.
“All right, let’s get moving,” Ethan commanded.
Valaan was quite unstable at first. Aleena and Allison were positioned under each of his arms, helping to hold him upright. Every few steps he’d lean heavily on one of them. Once, Allison nearly dropped him when his weight shifted onto her. She grunted, pushing hard with her legs to stay balanced.
“Oh, sorry,” Aleena said. She gave Valaan a tug at the waist and his weight moved back toward her.
“Thanks.” Allison eyed Aleena with suspicion. Aleena wasn’t showing any sign of struggle. In fact, she appeared as though she were barely lifting any weight at all. Allison had one good guess as to how she was doing it, and it wasn’t fair.
They made their way back through the corridors of the central building and finally found themselves in the reception area. Ethan walked over the broken glass and peered outside. “Still looks clear out there,” he said.
“Um, Ethan.” Grant’s voice sounded a little shaken.
“Yeah?”
“Do you remember any of us moving the body behind the desk?”
“No. What are you talking about?”
“The dude you shot behind the desk,” Grant said, now clearly concerned. “His body’s gone.”
“What do you mean, it’s gone?” Ethan walked toward the receptionist desk.
“I would think that statement’s pretty self-explanatory. It’s gone. As in, not lying on the ground where we left it.”
Ethan leaned over the desk. Sure enough, there was no body. There wasn’t even blood on the floor. “Someone knows we’re here,” Ethan said, panicked.
“Switch with us,” Aleena told the guys.
“But we’re good shots,” Grant said.
“Not as good as me. Ethan, Grant, help steady Valaan. I’ll take the lead with Allison. Besides, we’ll move quicker with the two of you holding him.”
Ethan and Grant did as Aleena told them, and Aleena inspected the courtyard. “We don’t have time to cross in pairs. We’ll all go together. I’ll cover us.” She looked at Valaan, hoping to get some help, but he was still half asleep and dazed. I guess I’m on my own.
Setting out across the courtyard as fast as they could, they were almost to the corner of the far building when Aleena caught a glimpse of movement in a window across the way. Allison had already made it safely around the corner, but the rest of them were still in the open. Aleena shoved Ethan, Valaan, and Grant out of the soldier’s line of fire just as a plasma bolt sizzled through the air where they’d been standing. Ethan and Grant scrambled to their feet and dragged Valaan by his arms out of the courtyard.
“Um, sorry, sir,” Ethan said.
Aleena sent a blue-white sphere hurtling across the field, but she could sense her aim was off. The energy burst through the window with a flash of light. To her astonishment, the soldier didn’t return fire. She expected to see him pop out of the window again, but he didn’t. Yet she was absolutely certain she’d missed.
“What are you waiting for?” Grant called to her, sticking his head back out from around the corner of the building. “The way’s clear. Let’s go!”
Aleena ran to catch up with the others. They found her holes in the fence unprotected and hurried out of the compound. Aleena watched as Ethan and Grant struggled to keep Valaan balanced while descending the slope leading back into the forest.
He’ll have time to recover on the hike.
She hoped she was right.
Kalma stood out of sight next to the shattered window in the barracks, one hand covering the mouth of the soldier in front of him while the other gripped the hilt of the knife he’d buried in the man’s back. Slowly, he lowered the soldier’s body to the ground. “Thank you for your service,” Kalma whispered. He peered around the room at all the empty bunks—his handiwork. We really need to invest in better training for the troops. He dragged the man’s body into another room and over to the pile with the rest of them. Kalma laid the soldier next to Colonel Yaneen, whom he’d extracted from behind the receptionist’s desk.
Just a few more pieces to put in place. The resistance had a great victory here today. Now I just have to finish making sure it looks that way.
He noted the direction Aleena and her friends went in his multiband. He’d catch up to them soon enough.
Chapter 29
Traven sat in darkness on his mat, his eyes wide open. His thoughts and dreams were a perilous place to dwell. The loss of Malik shook him to his core. They’d been friends for years, and Malik’s death wasn’t something Traven would forget—ever. When sleep came, Traven would inevitably find himself watching his friend’s execution—no, murder—replayed over and over again. Even worse, he found his anger was centered on Councilwoman Denetaa, and the government that would find her actions acceptable. It wasn’t that situations such as this were rare, but that this time it’d happened to someone close.
As he sat, he considered focusing his thoughts inward to feel for that small spark of magic within but refrained. Each time he attempted to practice, the vision would return, and with it, the blonde Elven girl. Earthborn. His mind dwelled on the only words he’d ever heard her speak. I am Aleena. I am Earthborn. He shivered, seeing her disappear from the cell once again. He wanted to be mad at her, wanted to blame her for Malik’s death, but she wasn’t the enemy. She was simply trying to escape. It wasn’t Aleena who killed Malik. It was Denetaa, and through her actions, it was Malikyne.
Traven shook his head, trying to regain control of his thoughts. I’m a Council Guard. I serve the Council. He stood, donned a T-shirt, and went for a walk, wandering the hallways of the abandoned tower for an hour until he found himself standing outside Kalma’s door.
Kalma was still missing, having disappeared the night before. Wren should’ve been furious but wasn’t. Traven suspected Wren was cutting everyone some slack to deal with Malik’s loss in their own way. Except he disagreed. He wasn’t sure that Kalma’s disappearance had anything to do with Malik at all, knowing they weren’t that close. Traven mulled over the possibilities but was at a loss. He sighed. For now, Kalma’s disappearance would remain a mystery. Grieving or not, he knew Wren’s patience wouldn’t last. Especially with the resistance starting their raids again.
Traven had spent the entire day combing through the remains of the weapons depot with Wren, Zavier, and Alex. Most of the buildings were destroyed with rudimentary explosives, the type usually used by the resistance. It was impressive really. Somehow they’d managed to destroy every system capable of recording their attack. Even stranger, a skimmer was left in front of the gates, nearly all the data associated with the skimmer’s origin wiped from the computer systems by some sort of virus. The only recoverable information indicated the skimmer was issued to a nonexistent Guard commander. It doesn’t feel right.
Traven started walking toward his room. The more he thought about the day’s work, the more convinced he became that the resistance couldn’t have been working alone. There was really only one conclusion. They’ve made contact with the Alliance. Only the Alliance could’ve orchestrated the skimmer confiscation, the virus, and an attack that wiped out the entire base.
Closing the door to his quarters, Traven flopped onto his mat. And the weapon was gone—whatever it was. Traven grimaced. When the
y’d gotten to the depot, the first thing they’d checked was the weapons room. The barrier, which prevented entry previously, was gone, and inside was a console and an empty bed. It wasn’t exactly the weapon they’d been expecting.
Zavier wasn’t sure it was a weapon at all. He and Alex spent at least a half hour wisecracking about the resources wasted guarding an empty room. Wren, on the other hand, looked deeply concerned. Traven couldn’t help but feel the same way.
His thoughts were once again pulled back to the blonde girl, and the old man next to her. There were stories. He thought of the ancient legends he’d heard growing up, and the speculation in the academy that the Elves had experimented with stasis. One rumor in particular stuck out in his mind. If it was a stasis chamber, and if the man in my vision is who I think he is, we’re in trouble.
Traven’s eyelids slid shut as sleep took him, and he watched Malik die—again.
Thump, thump, thump. Traven bolted upright at the sound of Zavier pounding on his door. “Let’s go. Let’s go. We got ’em!” Zavier called out excitedly.
“I’m up,” Traven called back. Jumping to his feet, he frantically assembled his gear. “What’s going on?”
“Wren got a call from Kalma. Apparently he picked up some intel with the location of the resistance hideout. We’re rolling out as soon as you get your butt downstairs.”
“I’m coming!”
“He’s calling out the troops,” Zavier continued impatiently. “With the whole depot thing, he thinks the Alliance is involved. We’re going in with everyone. It’s gonna be great.”
“You always like showing off. Sounds like we’ll have an audience.” Traven finished placing his last few knives into his armor and opened the door. Zavier was decked out in all his gear.
“Sometimes it’s nice to remind the troops what real fighters can do,” Zavier said, smiling. “Gives ’em someone to look up to.”
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