Luca nods. “There's not much to do around here except wait to die. So, if there’s something I can do that will ensure I make it out of here alive, I’m in.” He gestures outside, and I follow his lead.
Around the corner, in the room next door, Irene taps away at her DataPort and then glances at Javen’s Connect. Luca steps in behind me and hangs in the doorway.
“I think that should do it,” Irene says.
Javen lowers his shoulders at her words and peers my way. The corners of his lips tilt into a tiny smile, and I walk over to wrap my arms around his neck. He inhales deeply at my touch.
“How are you?” I ask.
“Better now that you’re here,” he says.
Irene closes her DataPort. “I made several adjustments to the flow of power. The changes were subtle but necessary. I need to keep that in mind when I program Connects for the rest of the Alku.”
A female guard with short, brown hair and a severe expression enters the room, holding a walnut-colored box in her hands. “I have the Connects you requested, sir.” She places the small box beside Irene and asks Luca, “What do you need them for?”
Before he gets the chance to answer, Irene says, “We’re doing some testing.” She reaches into the container, pulls out a handful of devices and inspects them one by one. “Is this all you’ve got? We’re going to need more than three. A lot more.”
The guard straightens. “I apologize, ma’am.”
Irene lifts a single eyebrow. Maybe she’s not used to being called ma’am.
“These were all the non-essential ones,” the young woman says. “I believe they're still trying to round up more, but with Primaro on lockdown, it’s going to take extra time. All airborne traffic out of the city is grounded. Everything is by foot or small vehicle.”
Irene purses her lips together and tosses the Connects back into the box. “Well, thanks for doing your best. I can start with these.”
The guard delivers a brisk nod, swivels on her heel, and exits the room.
Irene sighs. “I guess it will give us more time to perfect the programming before we outfit all the Alku. So, not having them may be a blessing in disguise.”
“Release Wirrin and Beda first,” I say. “They’re leaders, and we’ll need them for the next steps.”
Javen pushes his brows together slightly. “But you’re going to be here to help, right?”
“Irene has got this and . . . I need to return to the Intersection.” I study a kidney-bean shaped stain on the ground to avoid Javen’s eyes. “Luca and I just got an update from Alina. Hammond made a wrinkle in our plans, and I must let Dad know.”
“What is it?” Irene asks.
I wave my hand like Hammond is just a pesky fly. “Oh, just Hammond messing things up like always. Something about fuel supply rationing.” I smile to make the problem seem less of a big deal than it is, and fortunately, Luca stays silent. “It will all be fine.” I shrug. “Just stay focused on this project. It’s important.”
Javen straightens his shoulders. “I’m going back into the Intersection with you.”
I finally meet his gaze. “You should stay here to help Irene. When you wake Wirrin and Beda, they’ll need to see you instead of strangers. And you’ll need to help them adjust.”
He softly clenches his jaw but doesn’t argue. He knows I’m right.
“All right,” he says. To Irene, he asks, “When can we start working on the others?”
Irene glances into the box and then tucks her DataPort into the same bag that holds the small Starfire crystals we brought. She hands the box of Connects to Javen. “Right now, as long as someone shows us where to go.”
“I can do that,” Luca says.
“Are you coming too?” Javen asks.
I reply first with a slight shake of my head. “If I go down there, I know I’ll want to help.”
“Do you need me to open the portal?” Irene rifles through her bag.
“No, I can take care of it myself,” I say. “But thanks.”
Javen takes my hand and leans in to kiss my cheek. As his lips graze my skin, a shiver runs down my spine. Longing to stay—to remain connected to him—burns in me. But I must leave. Briefly, I lean into the kiss and cradle his face. His cheek is rough with stubble and my heart does this little flip that momentarily steals my breath.
I stand on my toes and stretch to meet his ear. “Good luck,” I whisper.
Javen bows his head slightly and whispers back, “Return to me. Soon.”
“Always. I’ll always return to you, Javen.” Pulling away, I force myself to smile at Irene and Luca and say, “Good luck to you all.”
Irene pats her bag and glances to Luca. “Lead the way.”
Luca pilots them from the room, leaving me alone. I look around to the rough stone walls. Taking in a deep breath, I summon the Protectors’ essence inside of me. Am I doing the right things here? They don’t answer in words, but a sense of calm trickles over my body like gentle rainfall.
I hold my hands up and close my eyes, envisioning the Starfire field in the Intersection. When my eyes flutter open, the sky is dark and my surroundings have changed to a blue-green cast.
I did it. I’m back.
An ache forms above my eyes and I rub my eyebrows. Must be the stress.
I ignore the blossoming pain and scan the landscape, settling on the Starfire field. Just over a hedge of crystals, Dad and several others are working on the portal. My eyes widen. Two large metal pillars rise from the ground and tower over the fields, the columns about fifty feet apart. Enough space for smaller ships to easily travel through the opening.
As I study them, I pinch my lips together. The structure isn’t as big as Dad would have liked. But larger ships are going to be too difficult to smuggle without getting caught anyway.
Moonlight and Starfire illuminate strange engravings on each pillar, symbols I’ve never seen before. But the crystals can create all sorts of things, like the Alku villages and the refugee camp. Javen’s hut was amazing, but quite simple—not beautiful and intricate like these structures.
As I near, Dad turns to me and his eyes light up. “Oh, Cassi. Are you all back?”
“When did this happen?” I ask, peering up the nearest pillar.
“Not long ago. They were amazing to watch form.” He smiles and wraps his arms around me and squeezes. “Glad to have you back.”
Warmth spills through me with his hug and my headache lessens a fraction, but I quickly break the embrace and tell him the news.
He flattens his lips as he listens. “The Senate members were trying to get a few hours of sleep,” he says. “But I’ll need to call a meeting. I was really hoping we’d be able to keep the majority of the Starfire here and take very little to Earth. We need a few to convince Harris, but the more we take from the Intersection, the more likely the crystals are going to fall into the wrong hands.” He looks at the ground and drags a hand through his hair.
“Not sure what else we can do,” I say.
“Not much.” He faces those who are working on the portal, including Kate Morris, Sadler, and Tucker. “I need to take care of a few things. You keep working.”
Dr. Morris walks over to us. “Everything okay?”
“Just trying to stay positive,” Dad says. “Hopefully we’ll be able to do a run in the morning.” He taps his Connect and sends a message to Senator Simmons, and within a few minutes, the Senate, Vihann, Zarah, and Max arrive at the test site.
Max rubs his eyes, and his hair is sticking up a bit in the back. He must have enjoyed a touch of shut-eye while I was gone. He gazes at the portal’s closest stone pillar. “I still can’t believe the Starfire made this.” He considers me briefly before turning his attention to the others.
“Tomorrow is the day,” Dad announces. “We’ll activate the portal and cross over.”
“Have we decided who will be going?” Senator Simmons asks and folds his arms over his chest.
“I believe the Se
nate should stay behind,” Dad says.
Senator Simmons opens his mouth, probably to protest, but Dad holds his hand in the air to stop him.
“We need to diversify the risk,” Dad says. “I was on the Board who led us to Arcadia. That distinction carries a lot of weight. Max will join us too.”
Max nods sleepily while watching the toe of his shoe move foot-flattened grass back to its vertical form.
Dad continues. “Not only is he Harris’s son, but he’s well versed in his father’s circle. He will be an asset.”
“The Senate members would be an asset as well,” Simmons argues, but none of the others protest.
“Of course, you would,” Dad says. “But if we are killed, then you will be as well. Dr. Morris will be here to carry on the process.”
Simmons closes his mouth but tenses his jaw. He stands there for a moment in thought and then finally nods.
“Good.” Dad looks thoughtfully at Vihann. “And I would like for you to come.”
Panic widens Zarah’s eyes, and she bites her lip.
“I agree,” Vihann says to his wife. “This is the best way to protect our people.”
“I know,” she whispers. “To be the Luminary, you must be selfless.”
Vihann returns his attention to Dad and the others. “I will join you to meet this Harris.”
“Thank you.” Dad brings his attention to Dr. Morris and Howard. “Please explain the process so everyone knows what to expect.”
Morris clears her throat. “From the Earthscape program and known intel, we’ve determined that Harris has an old test site that is rarely used but still functioning.” She glances to Max. “Mr. Norton has informed me that he still has a secure contact for his father and that your Connects should function normally once on Earth. Max will contact his father, and if all goes according to plan, Mr. Harris will send someone to retrieve your group. The negotiations will go from there. Hopefully the Starfire you bring to him will be enough to convince Galaxis to take the risk.”
“We will give Harris a demonstration on how to convert one of Harris’s ships to run on Starfire,” Dad says. “Hopefully, it will convince him to help, and we can start transporting his ships through the portal as soon as possible.”
“What are your calculated odds that this plan will work?” I finally ask.
“My dear,” Morris says. “The plan will either work or not work. Odds are not our focus.”
My mouth runs dry as the blood leaves my head. Morris’s words can only mean one thing.
The odds aren’t good.
Chapter 20
The morning sun peeks over the horizon, bathing the surroundings in cyan light.
Dad stayed up all night with the Senate and Vihann, planning how to persuade Harris once on Earth.
I keep rolling the thought around in my head that I could probably be of more help with the Starfire inside of me. But it’s safer if the portal project is completed without me. I might not always be around to make sure it continues to operate.
My grandfather’s memory keeps reminding me that his ticket to Earth was one-way. He was unable to return to the Intersection. The portal will prevent this from happening to me, thankfully.
“Is it ready?” I walk toward Dad. He stands next to the closest large stone column. A bag of prepared Starfire rests near a portable computer Howard is manning while waiting for Dad to transport the crystals to Earth.
I brush my fingertips along the column’s rough material—an unknown conglomerate flecked with sparkling crystal shards—and my skin tingles.
Dad turns to Howard. “How much longer?”
“I’m putting on the final touches,” Howard says.
“You should call everyone else down here,” I say to Dad.
He lets out a long breath. “Yes, yes . . . I think it’s time to do that.” Dad swipes his Connect, types a quick message, and hits send.
“I can’t believe this is really happening,” I say.
He turns back to me, his jaw tight with stress. “Me neither. In my mind, I was never going back to Earth. You and I were supposed to come to Arcadia and start a new life. Nothing has happened as I expected.”
“Well, you got the new life part right,” I say, trying to lighten the mood.
He ignores my stupid joke. “I don’t know what we’re going to do if this doesn’t work.”
I pull Mom’s ring from my finger and clasp the treasure in my palm. “You should take this with you, for luck.” I hold it out to him, and he stares intensely at my open hand.
“No, no . . .” he protests and closes my fingers. “You need to keep Mom’s ring. She left that to you in her will, and you’ve had it since she died.”
“It’s a way for her to go on this journey with you again.” I think of the words in Mom’s journal: her biggest goal was to get me to Arcadia. Well, I’m here, and she needs to be involved with every step of this journey, even if she couldn’t come.
I push the ring into his hand.
He tips his head and then finally takes it. With a sigh, he wriggles it onto his pinky, right next to the matching band he still wears on his ring finger.
Conversation reaches my ears from behind me. Over my shoulder, I spot the four Senate members, Dr. Morris, Tucker, and the rest of the refugees walking down the hill to our location.
“Vihann and Zarah will be here shortly,” Morris says.
Dad gives me one last look and I smile. It’s okay if you take care of business, I try to convey in my returned gaze. Then, I search for Max, but he’s not here yet. Earlier he was working in the lab, so I jog the five-minute trek back there.
“Max,” I call out as I enter the building, but no one answers. I move to head outside but then stop to speak instead. “AI? Is Max in the lab?”
The hologram of my mother appears, and my chest tightens. I’m not sure if I’ll ever get over seeing Mom in this way.
“His location is in the kitchen,” she says.
“Thanks,” I say and wave her away. She vanishes into thin air like a ghost. I walk through the space she once occupied and make my way to the kitchen.
“Did you hear me calling for you?”
Max slips a look my way as he rifles through a kitchen cabinet. “Uh . . . no, sorry.” Without pausing, he continues to pack his bag with a few packages of shelf-stable snacks from an open drawer.
My fingers dig into my palms. Maybe he’s nervous to go through the portal. I know I would be.
“So, you’re still going too?” I ask.
He nods, still not looking my way. “Yeah. It’s my dad we’re trying to get help from. He and I don’t get along all that well, but I still think this plan is best.” Max loads in another handful of granola bars before he closes the drawer.
“You know, there’s food on Earth,” I joke.
Max shoots me a glare, but then he shakes off the expression and zips his bag. “Just trying to be prepared.”
“You’re still upset with me, aren’t you?” He has every right to be.
He slings the strap of his bag over his shoulder and twists toward me. He opens his mouth to speak but quickly closes it. He leans his hip against the counter and crosses his arms over his chest. “We have much bigger problems to deal with than you kissing me—but yes. I am still upset about that.”
“You know—”
“If you’re going to tell me that you never meant to hurt me,” he interrupts, “then stop. Because an apology isn’t making me feel better.”
My stomach swirls with nausea and I drop my gaze, heat flushing up my neck and face.
“You told me that I’m your best friend—”
I whip my attention to him. “You are!”
“Then I’m not sure you know what a best friend is because friends are honest with each other.” He fiddles with the strap of his bag. “I think I could have handled the idea if you had just told me you wanted to be with Javen. I wouldn’t have liked it . . . but I’d have been fine.”
“I
didn’t know what I wanted,” I plead.
“Then you should have taken more time to figure out your feelings, Cassi.” Max’s eyes are glossy, but no tears fall.
I take a step toward him, but the narrowing of his gray eyes makes me stop.
“All I know is none of . . . this—us—matters.” He waves his hand my way and then back at himself. “Who knows if we’ll even make it out of this war alive. But for now, I’m heading to Earth, and you and Javen can do whatever you want. Hopefully, the two of you will be able to save the world or something.”
I start to speak, but Max steps all over my words before I get anything out.
“And if I can help it, I’m not coming back to Arcadia,” he says. “Right now, neither place is safe. But here? I’m too focused on you . . . which is stupid when the world might be ending soon. I should have listened to my dad and never come here in the first place.”
With those barbed words, he pushes past me and disappears down the hallway.
When I’m alone, I throw my back up against the doorframe, and pinch at the bridge of my nose. Blinking back emotion, I swipe my Connect. I can’t crumble. I need to remain strong just for a little while longer. “Max is on the way,” I choke out into the comm.
“Good,” Dad's voice returns. “Get down here, too. We’re starting in ten minutes.”
“Be there soon.” I swipe off the comm and close my eyes. When I open them, I’m twenty feet from the portal. The Earth-bound travelers watch Dad, who stands near a pillar, holding a second portable portal device. He must be taking it with him to Earth.
I sweep my gaze over the crowd and catch Zarah’s eyes. Pain zips through my temple. Great. A new headache. Just what I need right now. Then my knees go weak, but I catch myself. The pain in my head is getting worse each time.
Zarah leaves her husband's side and comes to mine. “What are you doing?”
“Coming down to see them off,” I say.
“That’s not what I mean. Why did you use the Starfire to get here?”
I attempt to shake off the headache, but it doesn’t work. “I didn’t mean to. It just happened. One second, I was at the lab, and the next, I was here. But then a headache and dizziness started.”
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