JR14 clicked his metallic front claws, his voice analytical. “Assessment: The unpredictability factor increases mission risk by 0.47 percent. Organic recommendation: Avoid emotional instability. Current probability of catastrophic amplification: Less than moderate.”
Azazel raised an eyebrow, glanced down at the bot on his shoulder, then at his suit. “Unpredictable how?”
Vaeloryx’s blue-hued crystalline face hardened. “The suit reacts to your intent. If you lose focus or let your emotions overwhelm you, it may act of its own accord, amplifying what you cannot control.”
Toni frowned, running a hand over the smooth fabric at her side. “Well, doesn’t that sound like a lot of fun?” Sarcasm aside, it sounded like a recipe for disaster. Especially if she had to control her emotions while on a hostile alien ship. Not like she had a choice.
With a snort, she glared at everyone around the room, daring any of them to suggest this was something she couldn’t handle.Look at her career in the film industry, how she’d clawed her way up. Dealing with entitled douchebags on Earth was tougher than handling psychic alien invaders from another dimension. Thank you very much.
“Think of it as a necessary challenge,” Vaeloryx stated. “Wearing these suits will hide your psychic and physical presence from Baelon—at least for a time. Without them, Baelon would have a better chance at detecting you once you left this section of the ship.”
When Azazel flexed his hands, the gold veins in his arms brightened before dimming again. “If I’m not mistaken, I believe they’ll help us in a physical fight as well.” His voice was thoughtful.
JR14’s iridescent wings shifted from under his back panels before sliding out of sight again. “Observation: The organic man demonstrates commendable confidence in managing advanced alien technology. Probability of successful adaptation increases with continued focus and discipline. Outcome: Encouraging trajectory.”
Vaeloryx inclined his head. “Precisely.”
Toni glanced at Azazel, her breath catching as she watched him again. His bound dark hair around his face was tousled, as if he’d run his hands through the strands and loosened them. His muscular frame reminded her of a warrior created from some ancient myth—dangerous, regal, and heartbreakingly out of reach. Something about him stirred a part of her deep inside. Something she didn’t dare name. Heat rose in her cheeks the longer she fixated on him.
Tearing her gaze away, she focused on her own suit instead. She relaxed and smiled as she stroked the material covering her stomach. It looked like the more she wore it, the more comfortable it became. “I hope it doesn’t take long for us to sync with one another,” she muttered under her breath.Understatement of the year.
“I trust you will adapt quicker than you expect,” Vaeloryx said. His tone softened. “But remember, the suits are tools. They do not replace your skills or resolve.”
Azazel nodded. His mahogany-brown eyes met Toni’s. “I know we’ll both manage just fine.”
Before she responded, JR14 clicked his front limbs from his perch on Azazel’s shoulder as he chimed in. “Observation: The organics have sufficient intelligence to maintain vigilance.”
Toni gave the small android a wry smile. “Aw-shucks, gizmo-brain. Appreciate the vote of confidence.”
Azazel’s lips twitched into a one-sided grin as he shifted, the crystalline plates on his suit catching the light. “Are you okay with wearing the alien suit, Toni?”
Head thrown back, she straightened. “Oh sure. Wearing a superhero suit always helps when diving headfirst into a deadly situation. It’s what I live for.”
“Well now, darling, we all know the ancients didn’t design this technology with you in mind,” Tharion whispered, winking. “But there’s a secret about it I haven’t shared with you yet.”
“What? Oh, goodie. Another surprise.” Toni touched her throat.
Tharion’s golden-yellow crystals shimmered in the dusky light of the vault when he leaned toward her. “Since the suits have allowed you to live this long, you’re in no danger of them killing you.” A heartfelt sigh with his golden hand over his heart. “I have to say, I’m so excited that you two are the first to work with them. It is an honor to witness how the technology of the ancients has adapted to you.” He squealed, placing his hand over his mouth. “Who’d have thought it took organic aliens from another dimension to make that happen?”
“Yeah.” She shuddered, then turned a glaring eye on the Krystalii. “Good thing you didn’t warn us that these things might kill us before we put them on.”
Now didn’t that just ramp up the creepy factor?But since the freakin’ suit didn’t kill her, maybe she had nothing to worry about. It’d sure be great if it kept her hidden from the sparkle-tyrant. Hard to ignore Vaeloryx’s warning, though. Wearing this suit might amplify something about her she wasn’t aware of. Oh well. She’d just have to make sure she didn’t lose control or anything.She snorted.Yeah, no problem. Honing her Mr. Spock impersonation would come in handy about now. She’d just suck it up and pretend the whole situation didn’t scare her shitless.
At least she wasn’t freezing any more.
Toni followed Azazel back to the rebel command chamber. Lost in thought, she watched the walls shimmer with crystalline threads. Their moving parts created a mosaic pattern that was soothing as well as mesmerizing.
When she and Azazel entered the main room, a group of the Krystalii rebels turned to face them. Most of them sat around a table made of clear crystal while others were wandering about. Some had expressions of curiosity, but others scowled.
An unfamiliar noise buzzed in her head, faint but persistent. As the weight of the Krystalii stares weighed her down, her body suddenly stood taller, her back straight. Then she felt the suit coat her mind with a layer of protection. How she knew it was the suit that blocked the sound was beyond her. But the sudden absence of the buzz made her catch her breath. Strangely, she hadn’t noticed the background noise until it was gone.
“You all right, Toni?” Azazel came close enough to whisper, his voice a low, soothing caress. “You seemed startled for a moment.”
“I think I just felt the suit working,” she murmured. “It’s keeping the Krystalii out of my head.” She bit her bottom lip and glanced at the rebels. “Do you think it’s protecting me from them?”
“That’s possible,” Azazel assured her. “I tried to do a brief scan on you to test it, but I couldn’t penetrate the mental shield over your mind. Which is good, since it’ll keep the Krystalii from invading your thoughts as well.”
Now that was something she could get behind. Maybe she had a chance to keep Lord crystal-creepy-ass out of her head.
