It was Toni. Standing in the middle of the room as if she didn’t have a care in the world.
And perched on her left shoulder was JR14, as if he’d always been there.
Fists on her hips, she cocked her head. “What are you doing tied up like that?” She looked behind him. “And why is the gemstone jerk lying on the floor?”
The psychic lattice tendrils wrapped around him disintegrated, leaving him free to move. He jumped off the small dais he’d been standing on and spun around to see what she was talking about.
Baelon lay flat on his back, eyes and mouth wide open, as if frozen.
Sending out an exploratory psychic ribbon to the prone Krystalii, Azazel grabbed Toni’s hand. “We’ve got to get out of here before he wakes up. Ready?” Not waiting for her to answer, he teleported them out of the room.
Azazel took them to the only place he could think of—the rebel hideout. If that bright light was what he suspected, things were moving faster than he’d hoped.
“Toni,” he turned her so she could look at him. “Did you disrupt the Nexus Core?” He held his breath as he waited for her to answer.
Her eyes widened as her mouth opened.
“You bet she did!” Tharion’s clear whoop from behind them answered before she could.
Azazel released Toni but wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He wasn’t ready to part from her yet. The pain of leaving her behind tore at him when he hadn’t known if she’d be safe or not.
“All the ship’s communications are down or sporadic,” Laytrii announced. She sat at a command console on one side of the room, her emerald crystal body turned away from them as her fingers flew across the device. “The abrupt silence from theNyrlithto the fleet is causing panic.” She turned to look over her shoulder at them. “And no one has to be psychic to know that.” With a wink from one of her verdant eyes, she curled her mint-green lips into a smirk. “As the other Krystalii relearn how to use antiquated communications, it’s giving Vaeloryx and the others a chance to disrupt the Dimensional Rift Epicenter.” Turning back to the console, she resumed her frantic pace on the 3D keyboard floating in front of her. “Unfortunately, I doubt they made it since it’s still online. And I can’t contact them. I’m afraid we’re running out of time.”
“Is it because Baelon is dead?” Toni’s hand covered Azazel’s stomach as she leaned close to ask the question.
Even through the battle suit, Azazel warmed with her touch. He shook his head. “No, he was just stunned by whatever you did. That’s why I had to get us out of there before he woke up.” He turned to Tharion. “Did you try the Resonant Node to contact either of them?”
“Of course we have.” The golden crystals on Tharion’s body dimmed. “When we took the Nexus Core out, it somehow interfered with that as well.”
“JR14—” Azazel turned to the spider-bot still sitting on Toni’s shoulder. “—can you interface with the ship’s computer and locate Vaeloryx and his companions without getting caught?”If that worked, he’d teleport to their location and help them.
“Affirmative.” The small android jumped off his perch, his wings fluttering out as he buzzed over to Laytrii and landed on the transparent counter. “Attempting interface.” One set of his front claws clicked together before a thin wire protruded from one to land on the console.
After a few tense moments, the bot retracted his line and swiveled his head to Azazel. “Analysis: I am now synced with theNyrlithand have complete access to their communications. Elite forces have captured the subjects who are now en route to the detention center.” JR14 tilted his head. His multifaceted eyes shimmered in a rainbow of colors.He must be accessing another part of the network.“Announcement: Lord Baelon is waiting there for them.”
Ezeru!
“Then we’ve got to disable the Dimensional Rift ourselves.” Azazel stood behind the jagged console panel next to Laytrii. “When we do that, it might draw Baelon and his Elites away from them and give Vaeloryx and the others a chance to escape.” He looked over his shoulder at Tharion. “Is there anyone else who can help them do that?”
Tharion shook his head with a thoughtful frown, glancing at the ragged group behind them. “I’m afraid not.” He gestured to the motley crew. “Vaeloryx took the best we had. I’m afraid the rest of us relied on them in more ways than one.”
“Speak for yourself,” Laytrii grumbled, then sighed. “But I’m afraid he’s right. We’d put them in more danger if we tried and failed.” She nodded to the moonstone-colored Krystalii healer, Lyrentha. “While she and I could be of use in the field, our best use is here overseeing operations.” Pounding her fist on the platform, she grunted. “Such as they are.”
“Interjection,” JR14 announced. “I will coordinate with theNyrlithand keep the lines of communication open, so when Azazel completes his task, you will be informed.”
Laytrii’s emerald eyes softened as she watched the spider-bot fly back to his perch on Azazel’s shoulder. “We would appreciate that.”
“While we can’t help you in the field, I’ve got something much better for you to use.” Tharion announced with a wide grin. “Can’t let you go empty-handed!” He gestured for them to follow him. “Come on. You’re gonna love this!”
The golden Krystalii led Azazel and Toni to the same chamber where they’d gotten their form-fitting suits.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t think about this earlier.” Tharion gushed, looking over his shoulder. “But after you left, I came back in here to look around and noticed this!” He gestured to a pile of strange poles and sticks. “Here are some weapons we, ah, confiscated from an organic race from our dimension. Maybe you can use one of these. Hopefully they’ll help.”
He handed a weapon to Toni, his crystalline features glinting under the ship’s dim lights. “Trust me, this is no ordinary weapon!” His voice echoed in the large room. “The same lattice resonance that fuels the Dimensional Rift powers this baby. It bypasses standard shielding and destabilizes crystalline structures at the molecular level.” He tapped the sleek, angular barrel. “Perfect for disrupting Baelon’s guards—and the rift itself.” He gave a theatrical sigh. “We’re lucky Baelon missed this before. I bet he thought he had them all destroyed.”
Azazel raised an eyebrow. “Missed?”
The golden-crystal male shrugged. “Well, you know.”
