Back in the lab, Dad, Tucker, and Irene are scanning the Starfire data again. Standing in the door, I blow out a shaky breath and let Max go in front of me. Mom’s journal is still resting on the counter within reach. I pick it up and tuck it into the back of my pants. Dad still doesn’t know I was able to open the lock.
“I’m pretty sure Howard is still over at the refugee camp,” Irene says. “He was helpful back at the base on Arcadia. That guy is a better analyst and hacker than me. We need to pull him into this conversation.”
Howard is the balding guy I saw when I arrived at the base with Max.
“He’s still there,” Tucker says. “I performed a head count last night. Fifty-nine survivors. Howard was among them.”
“I’ll go get him,” Max says.
Dad stops scrolling through the data. “That would be helpful. But don’t fill him in on the situation. We’ll do that when he arrives.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t.” Max jogs out of the lab.
Irene points to the screen in front of us. “On Arcadia, General Atkins had me tap my Connect into her spy’s data feed,” she says. “She had a couple of people on it from different locations within the city since she wasn’t sure who would make it out. But before the Alku went nuts, some new data came in.”
“What did it report?” Tucker asks.
“That the Starfire Inhibitor doesn’t work against the crystals from the Intersection,” she says as an image of the Inhibitor rotates on the holographic screen.
“But you and Max and Beda took out the device before the attack even started,” I say. “How would you even know?”
“Apparently, Hammond sent in two more Inhibitors,” she says. “And there were no effects. The design was built with the separate Paxon and Arcadia crystals in mind, not the combination. So, unless Hammond gets her hands on a sample, she can’t block the power of the Intersection crystals.”
“It also means that innocent people in Primaro are practically defenseless if the Alku attack,” I say.
“All the more reason to get back to Arcadia and locate the missing Senate members,” Dad interjects. “Maybe we can bring the survivors here.”
I bite the inside of my lip, knowing what I’m about to say may be impossible. “And then after that, I need to find Javen and the rest of the Alku with him.”
Chapter 3
Irene considers me, worry brewing in her dark eyes. “Find the Alku? It’s way too early for that.” She purses her lips. “You saw what they did at the mine—the power Javen was able to use.”
“I can use the Starfire in the same way they can. I can protect us,” I say. “I wasn’t ready then, but I am now.” Knowing I’m part Alku makes me want to help them even more. They’re no longer just Javen’s people, but mine too.
Dad places his hand on my shoulder. “Cassi, there’s only one of you and at least fifty Alku who have regenerated by the Intersection Starfire.” He hangs his head. “I’ve seen what you can do, but you’d be going in blind, untested. It’s a huge risk.”
Mom’s journal presses against my lower back. Should I tell them about her and my grandfather? What if I can influence Javen and the others enough to bring them back to normal? It happened before.
Tucker clears his throat. “If we can avoid contact with the Alku until we know more about the present situation on Arcadia, that would be best. When their current hostility levels are determined, then we can make choices about the best course of action to contain the situation.”
“Meeting with the missing Senate members is our number one priority,” Dad adds. “And I’m not willing to needlessly risk your safety.”
I grit my teeth. That plan will never work unless humans and Alku can present a united front. Having two enemies is just going to make winning the war that much more difficult.
“It’s just that when I transported the Alku into the Intersection, my mind connected to each of theirs. In the end, not one of them had true evil intent. I’m sure you noticed the change in Beda’s behavior. She didn’t hate me anymore.”
Dad nods. “Wirrin was very willing to work with us after that, true.”
“So, something went wrong with the Intersection Starfire,” I say. “I don’t know what yet, but it’s like the power overloaded their systems or something and set off a glitch.”
“Like a computer virus?” Irene asks, her eyebrow raising in interest.
“Honestly, I don’t know what it did,” I say. “But when I first found Dad here, he was affected—distracted, even a bit aggressive.”
Tucker glances to Dad.
“I was,” Dad confirms.
“But the feelings passed,” I say. “Maybe because Dad is human, maybe because he didn’t actually absorb the power like the Alku have.”
“You’re using the energy, too,” Irene says. “Why didn’t the crystals ever negatively affect you?”
“I don’t know.” My stomach twists at the partial lie. I don’t have all the answers, but my mom’s journal entries might at least partially explain my immunity. I’ll tell them later when we have more time. “But the energy did affect the Alku negatively. Maybe if I can make that mental connection to them again, I can heal the problem.”
“And maybe the connection would cause your mind to snap,” Tucker says. “I see your point, but the risk is too high. Right now, other than the portal device, your ability to use the Starfire to protect or defend us is one of our biggest advantages. We can’t lose you.”
My chest tenses at his words. I hadn't considered that somehow the affected Alku might be able to make me aggressive if I were to summon and connect with them. As much as I hate giving up on Javen for now, Tucker is right. We should test my theory before I try anything.
“The first thing we need to do after crossing to Arcadia is to contact Luca Powell,” Tucker says. “I still can’t believe he was Matthew Owens’s contact. But at this point, options are limited.”
“I can use the Earthscape program to locate a secluded exit point outside of the city,” Dad says. “Once we’re there, I’ll send an encrypted message, and we’ll wait. Hopefully, an ally will show up. I don’t want to go into Primaro yet. There are too many risks. It’s likely we’ll have better control of the situation outside of the city.”
“And if the meeting still goes south?” Tucker asks. “What are your plans?”
“Cassi can cloak us, and I’ll set the portal device to open immediately upon my call,” Dad says. “If there’s any suspicion of a problem, Cassi, Max, and I will come straight back here.”
“Do you think it’s a good idea to bring both Cassi and Max across?” Tucker asks.
Dad’s brows push together as he flicks a look my way. “I need Cassi to control the Starfire in case everything really does go wrong, and Max knows some of the Senate members. He may be able to use his family influence to sway them.”
Tucker rubs his chin. “It’s a risk we’ll have to take.”
Max’s voice echoes from the corridor outside of the lab, and a moment later he brings in Howard, who appears forlorn and completely out of his element. He barely acknowledges us before he sees Irene working at the holo-computer and immediately heads her way. He pulls up a seat next to her and starts scanning through data.
Well, then.
Howard, apparently, is infinitely more comfortable with computer code than people. These days I can see the appeal.
Dad and Commander Tucker begin to discuss the plans again, and so I grab Max by the arm and lead him a few steps away from earshot.
“Dad told me we’ll be crossing over to Arcadia soon,” I say. “Plans are to locate the missing Senate members. You’re coming too.”
A look of worry sweeps over Max’s face, and I can only assume he must be reliving our last moments at the mine.
“I knew we couldn’t stay here forever.” Max grasps my hand, and I don’t pull away from him.
“It’s going to be okay.” I give his palm a squeeze and then release our hold.
A tiny line forms between his eyebrows. “You have no idea if that’s true, Cassi.”
I inhale deeply before I speak. “You’re right. But if I go in believing anything else, I might as well not even try.”
“Then I’ll show you something while we wait. Howard asked me to.” Max motions me to the door.
I make eye contact with Dad and gesture toward outside.
Dad raises his hand at me. “Check back in an hour. We’ll be ready then.”
“Let’s go,” I say.
Max ushers me into the hallway and toward the lab’s exit. “When I found Howard, he and the other refugees were already working on bigger plans for the portal device. They were in a meeting.”
“Do Dad and Tucker know?”
Max shrugs as I pause before my sleeping quarters. “Not sure yet. But we can get all the details and then fill them in.”
“Hold on for a sec.”
After I tuck Mom’s journal away, we exit the lab and race toward the refugee camp under the early morning sun. Twenty-five organic housing structures created by the Starfire come into view.
Max points to a larger building on our left. “In there.”
As we approach, the sound of a heated discussion, peppered with an occasional grumble, meets my ears.
“That will never work,” a woman says firmly.
“How do you know before we even try it?” a man asks.
The woman scoffs. “Forty years of experience in engineering. That’s why.”
Max and I reach the door and he opens it. Inside the room are multiple rough-cut wooden tables and chairs—very similar to the handmade furniture in Irilee. And a thought hits me. The Starfire doesn’t simply power everything for the Alku; it generates organic items they need—their housing, tools, furniture, maybe even some of their food. That’s why Dad was able to produce his items in the cave, including the apples.
The room is packed with the refugees who didn’t join the battle at the mine. A group of four stands near the front of the room, arguing. The rest hang back, watching. I can see why Howard had no problem leaving this place and coming to the lab. On the largest table in the room are multiple giant sheets of paper covered with drawings and scribbled formulas. A few crumpled pieces litter the floor.
The door smacks the wall as Max and I step completely inside. The arguers quiet and all eyes turn toward us.
“You come to help or are you taking away more of our think tank?” says the woman, whose voice I recognize from outside. Funny thing is that her tightly pulled back gray hair and chubby face make her look more like a doting grandma than a woman who speaks her mind. But I kind of like the contradiction.
“Max told me you were working on a plan out here. Since my dad and I are crossing to Arcadia soon, I thought we should consider all our options.”
The woman smiles. “Well, pull up a seat then.” She waves us over and straightens the mess of papers in front of her. “I’m Kate Morris. I basically voted myself the leader here in our little community.”
I look to the blond-haired man in his thirties next to her, who must be the man I heard arguing back. “She did, but Dr. Morris has the most experience, so we agreed.”
“As well you should have, Brett,” Morris says with a raise of her eyebrow.
On the table is an extensive map of the area within the Intersection, including the refugee camp, the Starfire field, Dad’s lab, and the mountains and forest surrounding us. The range goes out quite a bit farther than I have ventured. Apparently, the refugees sent out scouts.
“We know your plan is to contact the missing World Senate members and initiate help from Earth . . . if anyone from Earth is willing to help,” Morris says.
“But since the Turner Space Fold is controlled by Hammond, we must determine an alternative,” Brett says, and then points to a large open area to the south of the Starfire field.
“And we have a theory,” Morris adds with a twist of her lips.
Brett releases an exasperated sigh. “I think it’s a huge risk. One that could destroy this entire dimension—”
“You need to think on the positive side,” Morris scoffs. “The theory will work.”
“What will work?” Max asks.
“We’ve been studying Dr. Foster’s plans for the portal device since we got here,” she says. “And before the Alku left, a few of them explained how their people use the Starfire energy to transport. Apparently, there are set traveling points through the Intersection, but they can also open a portal by envisioning the location they want to go. Dr. Foster’s device uses the second option through tech and a small amount of Starfire energy.” Morris pauses a beat. “We believe that there’s a possibility of scaling the technology.”
“Scaling?” I ask.
“Building a larger device and tapping directly into the Starfire field as a massive power source,” Morris clarifies.
“To open a portal large enough to bring a fleet from Earth into the Intersection,” Brett adds, pointing to the open area on the map again. “They’d enter here.”
I share a glance with Max. I know it is possible to create a portal to Earth. My grandfather did so using the Starfire, and on his own. “What are the risks?”
“Probably about a million of them,” Brett says. “This is a completely untested theory. Who knows? The tech might completely collapse this dimension or even Earth’s.”
My eyes widen, and I swallow the lump forming in my throat.
“Stop scaring her, Sadler,” Morris says. “Of course, we’ll test the theory on a smaller scale first. But time is short. We know that.”
“All we need are the materials to build the device,” Brett Sadler says.
Excitement builds in my chest. The plan is risky, but if we have a way to bring in reinforcements from Earth, the missing Senate members might be more likely to back us.
“I can’t be sure, but my dad has quite a bit of computer equipment at the lab,” I say. “And Matt Owens was doing research. So, everything you need might be there. While Dad and I are trying to contact the missing World Senate, you can start working.”
Morris nods her thanks and a few murmurs come from the rest of the group. “Our goal is to do everything we can,” she says. “None of us was of any use at the mine. But maybe we can fight this battle differently. We have some of the best minds from Earth here in this room.”
“Good thing,” Sadler says. “Because we have about a one in a billion shot at success.”
Chapter 4
Dad steps through the portal first. I grip Max’s hand and we follow, leaving behind the Intersection’s bright, blue-green morning for Arcadia’s shadowy night. The crescent-shaped moons float high in a sky streaked with cyan gas. I drop Max’s hand to tuck my laser pistol into my waistband, once we’ve confirmed there’s no need for weapons. We’re alone.
An open field stretches in front of us, and to our left is a cluster of boulders and small trees. I walk toward the trees since they’ll provide cover while we’re waiting.
“Where exactly are we?” I ask Dad.
“About a hundred miles northeast of Primaro,” he answers while activating his Connect. He brings up the encrypted line to Luca, or maybe even Alina. At this point, we still don’t really know who Dr. Owens’s specific contact was. We never found out the last time we met with them.
From my memory of the Earthscape data, the topography of this area wasn’t as compatible as the spot chosen for Primaro. The distance should be far enough away for us to escape detection but still close enough for a hover to arrive within thirty minutes.
Dad taps the face of his Connect to send the message. “I laid the situation all out. We want to be taken to the location of the Senate members in hiding. I told them that if they don’t agree, we’ll simply find another way to get help from Earth. But in the end, it’s going to be better if we work together.”
“Let’s see how they respond,” Max says as we arrive at the trees and rocks.
Then we wait. And wait. When the response takes longer than expected, each of us finds our own spot with enough personal space to be alone with our thoughts.
I stare past the open field where a scattering of grass with illuminated tops sways in the breeze. The sound of hooting comes from one side, but I don’t see anything. Must be an Arcadian night bird hiding in the trees. I want to keep my mind focused on our meeting with Luca and Alina, but instead, my thoughts continue to drift in two directions—Javen breaking our bond and the kiss I shared with Max in a moment of confusion . . . weakness. Maybe twenty feet away, Max leans against a rock while stretching his legs over the ground. The moonlight casts enough light on him that I can see his unsuccessful attempt at sleeping while sitting up. I like Max way too much to hurt him on purpose. I vow not to let that happen again.
My heart aches for Javen. And it’s a sensation that takes me entirely off guard. I kept questioning before whether my feelings for him were caused by the Starfire. But that connection is gone now, and all I want is to have him back. Every fiber of my being cries for his touch, support, and strength. My feelings for him are deeper than ever. Our being together is meant for harmony—in each other and everything around us. I just doubted my feelings until now. So stupid.
Dad’s Connect buzzes and I flinch.
He taps the face of his device and reads the message. “They’re coming.”
Max stands and shoots me a fleeting smile as he walks over.
“How long?” I ask Dad.
“Any minute.” He asks Max, “You have the list of government officials and patrons on Earth who might be willing to side with us?”
“It’s all in my Connect,” Max replies. “I added a few from memory while we were waiting.”
After about fifteen minutes, the light of a hovercraft finally glows in the distance. I grab Dad and Max’s arms and cloak us from sight.
The hover lands not too far from our secluded location, and then two figures exit. Alina and Madan, the man who was with Luca and Alina in the apartment in Primaro. Unless they’re hiding an army inside of the ship, it looks like no one else is with them. We wait a few seconds as they glance around for us.
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