Chapter 34

The moment they give the signal to head out I grab Kira. Out of all the females, she will be the safest, because of her Symbots and that's why I chose to take her first. MyJade is small, but Kira feels almost childlike in my arms. No wonder Father is so protective of her, I am scared I will break her accidentally just holding her close to me.

Wemist through an opening near the roof, appearing on a high shelf above the Waldrin. When we rematerialize, I push us back against the wall. WhenI set Kira down, I motion for her to be quiet. From this height, our voices would carry easily across the open cavern. The marks on my arm start to pulse, causing me to stop and look around. If you call for the Guardians, they will come.

Closingmy eyes, I place both hands on the wall, searching, only to be shocked to find several sleeping Guardians embedded in the walls all around us. Several start to stir and, as they are responding to my call, awaken them. A deep voice suddenly echoes through my mind.

"Guardian keeper, I felt your presence when you stepped on the soil above. How may we be of assistance?"

"Thank you for answering my call. There is a blight invading this planet. I have several females that need your protection, while others defend their females and younglings from afar. Can you help me?"

"Your mate has also summoned one of us to her and a Guardian now stands guard between them and this parasite infecting the waters below. Deliver all that you need wrapped within the safety of my limbs and it will be done."

Pullingmy hands away, I turn back towards Kira, who has been standing behind me watching the Waldrin below. Her eyes are big and I realize it's because of the sheer numbers of them below. I lean into her, whispering as softly as possible. "Move towards the rear. I will be right back with Luna."

Shenods and I mist away, back into the crack that brought us here. Luna is tapping her foot impatiently when I get back. "I thought you forgot me."

"Kira is waiting for us, don't say anything when we reappear, things are going to get crazy fast. I am going to leave you in the capable hands of a Guardian. You and Kira will be safe with him, so for no reason do you leave his limbs."

"Ok."

Pullingher close, it takes a moment for me to mist with all the weapons and the ammunition she has strapped to her body. Our combined particles flow through the cracks and emerge right next to Kira. SittingLuna down, I wait until she is steady on her feet before letting go. Some mist well, others hate it.

Ihave an idea of where they are holding Tessa, but the area is so heavily guarded I can't mist through the gate without someone seeing me inside and I don't want them to move her again. Touching the ground again, I say, "Guardian, here are the first two I am leaving to your care. There is another, but she is not going to be anywhere near this area, and she needs to be high. Is there another willing to awaken and assist us?"

"Several are awaiting the arrival of CommanderZoD, ready to assist in any way needed. Warn the females that the ground under them will move and feel unsteady, but in no way are they in any danger, as my limbs reawaken."

"Girls, hang on, things might get bumpy for a few minutes."

Suddenly, I see the Waldrin start to move towards the main entrance of the cave. I wasn't able to mist Alana to her location because of all the drones she was going to use. She is taking another route with Raya and Zura. WhenI meet them at the entrance, Zura hands me a weapon. All three of us stand guard in front of Alana, giving her time to get the drones online and up in the air. She gives me a thumbs up and I grab her, misting her to a ledge that overlooks the pools below. The ledge is so small there is barely enough room for both of us to stand on it.

Idon't even have time to tell her about the Guardians that are helping out when I hear SoL fire the first flash grenade into the mass. The noise the Waldrin suddenly start making is deafening. The ground shifts and a large limb unfolds out of the side of the wall.

"Here is your guard, Alana, hold on."

Shelifts her arms up out of the way and nods when a small root wraps around her waist. Her eyes never leave the drones that are now hovering over several of the pools the Royals stay in. I don't hang out any longer but mist to where I believe they are holding Tessa, simply waiting for some of these Waldrin to move towards the fight so that I can get her out of here safely.

Despitenot being able to see SoL, I can hear his laughter as I hear one large explosion after another echo through the tunnels leading this way. I see a few of the Royals taking off towards their ships and I have to make myself stay here and not go after them. I am not used to relying on others to do their job, but I need to trust that RaZ will take care of them once they are out of the atmosphere.

Suddenly, the gate is clear and I mist through the crack in the middle immediately reappearing on the other side. Instantly, I am at her side, but she doesn't even acknowledge my arrival. Putting my hand under her nose, I am relieved to see she is still breathing, but her lips are blue and she is trembling all over. There is no way I can mist her out of here in this shape. The male she is leaning against coughs and her eyes open slowly. I reach down for her and she puts her hand on my arm, stopping me from lifting her up.

"Take him, he has been here for days." She is so weak she can barely whisper those words out.

"Tessa, if I don't get you out of here, ZoD will destroy this place with all of us in it. I will come right back for him, I give you my word, but you are my priority right now. I am going to mist out and open the gate and double check that all the guards are gone. Then you and me are out of here."

"I won't leave him here. They will know something is going on in here when the gate opens. He is injured too severely to be able to protect himself."

Allthis time I don't realize the male is listening as I am used to their eyes being bright orange and his are dull. "Get her out of here, I am not worth the breath she is breathing. Thank you for your kindness in these last moments, Tessa. Now, live for me."

Tearsflow down her face and I allow her a minute while I mist away to open the gate. Slinging the door open, I gather her in my arms before she can react. "I am going to leave you with this weapon. Can you hold them off us while I pack her out of here?"

"I still have one good arm."

Igive the weapon to him, making sure he has it securely in his hand before I start running towards their dock. Tessa's tiny arms are wrapped tightly around my neck as I weave in and out of the Waldrin. Pulling the shadows of the cave to me, masking our movements. The winds hit us practically pushing me back inside when I clear the main opening heading to the surface and the Wonderer where a crew of med bots are waiting for our arrival.

Ifight my way through the sandy terrain, looking around for the Wonderer that's supposed to be docked here, but it isn't. I start to turn back when I hear a noise from above and I see the shuttle hovering above me. A small ramp lowers down and I run up it, a med bot is waiting at the top.

"MasterSiN, we apologize for your wait. One of the Waldrin ships tried to ram us when it left their dock and we had to use evasive maneuvers to escape damage. Bring the female here; we have a chamber prepared for her."

Ilower Tessa down gently and her arms flop lifelessly from around my neck. Several bots instantly surround her as a scan starts being performed.

"I will return, there is another in need of your services."

"Is it another human?"

"No, it's one of this planet's species, but the male is in rough shape."

"We will prepare another bay and await your return. This human will be in stable condition once we get her warmed up and a transfusion."

Mistingback out of the shuttle, I head back to where the male was only to enter the gate and find several blobs on the ground. I am relieved to find him sitting there with a smile on his face. He hands the gun back to me weakly.

"I really could have used one of these a few rotations back. NowI am so pretty, all the females are going to come running, … away that is." He grits his teeth, trying not to scream as I pick him up as gently as I can. "This is humiliating."

"Nah, dying would be worse. Take it from me, the right female won't even see the scars. A wise woman once told me, don't sweat the little shit. You need to concentrate on the fact that you survived when many others did not. TheLord of Light has plans for you yet. Now let's get you to a healer and see how quickly we can get you on your feet. I believe you have been here long enough."

"Best news I have heard in rotations."

Thoseare the last words he says to me as he passes out just moments after I start moving through the tunnel. When he first goes limp in my arms. I am worried I have lost him, but I can still feel the beating of his heart. His body is still fighting with everything it has. Once again, I have to fight the sands to get to the Wonderer. Once there, the ramp lowers and I head towards another chamber. The same routine, I lay him down, and they get started. I take a moment in all this chaos to concentrate on Jade, making sure she knows how much I love her. The moment I know she is safe, I mist back towards the entrance, enjoying hearing her voice in my head as she tells the younglings a bed-time story.

Witha smile on my face, I grab the extra weapons I had stashed here when this was being planned and head back out. There is no way I am going to allow Father and my brothers to have all the fun. The few guards that I have been avoiding as I have gone in and out are the first to go. Now that I don't have to be quiet, I decide to make some noise.

Shouting, some of the Waldrin turn back my way. When they see that the weapon I am using is destroying their kind, they start running down the tunnels, only for several of the Guardians to block the entrances so they can't squeeze through. It's not long before I am walking disgustedly through piles of goo on the floor, as their numbers are decreasing drastically from all the firepower being thrown at them. Kira's voice comes over the comm I forgot I was wearing.

"SiN, Alana is over the main pools now, be on the lookout for the remaining Royals."

Icheck my ammunition before replying. "I'm good, tell her to do her thing."