Page 22 of Alien Guardian's Vow
"There," she pointed to a series of spikes in the data. "Massive energy drains starting approximately three months ago. But they're not originating from within the facility."
I leaned closer, studying the display. "External interference?"
"Let me cross-reference with the Seraphyne survey data I downloaded." Her fingers moved across the interface, pulling up overlapping maps. "There. The source is here, northwest of the ruins."
The location registered immediately. "That's near the human settlement."
"Not just near it." Rivera's voice hardened. "That's Hammond's drilling operation."
She pulled up another display - chaotic vibration signatures that pulsed with irregular patterns. "These are consistent with repurposed salvage tech - geo-survey drills, energy emitters pushed way past safety limits. He's targeting deep energy signatures near the ruins."
Cold fury replaced horror as understanding dawned. "Hammond. The human leader."
"Son of a bitch." Rivera slammed her hand against the edge of the console. "He's tapping into energy sources he doesn't understand, creating resonance patterns that are accelerating the decay."
"The Elders left warning glyphs in that area," I said, remembering the Council discussions. "Markers indicating instability and danger."
"He would dismiss it as superstition." Rivera's disgust came through clearly. "This is for his power needs - for his 'decontamination' plans! For controlling the artifacts!"
The pieces fell into place with terrible clarity. Hammond's recklessness, his arrogance, threatened everything - not just the human settlement or the Nyxari, but the stability of the region itself.
I felt Rivera's anger burning as hot as my own through our bond. Her markings pulsed with it, silver light flaring in response to her emotions. For once, we stood in perfect alignment - united against a common, catastrophic threat.
"He must be stopped," I said, the words carrying the weight of absolute conviction. "And this facility must be stabilized."
Rivera nodded, turning back to the console with renewed determination. "We need to understand exactly how he's interfering with the systems. Then we can develop a countermeasure."
I watched her work, my earlier distrust of human ambition now focused entirely on Hammond. Rivera might be human, but her goals aligned with mine - with survival itself. Her skills, her understanding of the technology, had become not just useful but essential.
"There's more," she said after several minutes of intense focus. "The drilling operation isn't just accelerating the decay. It's creating new fracture points in the containment systems. If he continues..." She looked up, meeting my eyes directly. "The release won't be gradual. It'll be catastrophic."
"How long do we have?"
"At current rates? Three days, maybe four before the system reaches critical instability."
Three days to stop Hammond. Three days to save our peoples from a disaster none of them even knew was coming.
I made my decision. "We need to return to the surface. Warn the Elders. Stop Hammond's operation by whatever means necessary."
Rivera nodded, already downloading critical data to her scanner. "We'll need proof. And a plan to stabilize the system once we stop the interference."
"Can it be done?"
"Theoretically." She didn't look away from her work. "But we'll need access to both this facility and Hammond's operation."
The implications hung between us - Nyxari and human working together, sharing ancient knowledge and modern technology.
A level of collaboration, of engaging with the dangerous past, that my people had shunned since the Great Division.
Yet the alternative was unthinkable.
RIVERA
The consoles around us flickered in urgent, angry patterns, blinking red across the ancient data archive chamber. A low-pitched alarm groaned to life, vibrating through the floor and up into my bones.
"That can't be good," I muttered, grabbing Varek's arm.
His golden eyes narrowed, lifelines brightening across his skin. "The system is reacting to something. Hammond's drilling, or perhaps our access."
