Page 33 of Alien Guardian's Vow
I watched her work, this human who had somehow become essential to saving my people. Our bond hummed with shared purpose, strengthened by our confrontation with Hammond's interference.
We would stop him. We would save Claire. We would find a way to stabilize the ancient systems before they collapsed.
There was no other choice.
RIVERA
Iswept my gaze across the chaotic control center, searching for anything salvageable among the mess of overloaded systems. Sparks erupted from a nearby console, casting brief flashes of light across Varek's tense face. Water pooled around our ankles, rising slowly from some unseen breach in the ancient facility.
"There has to be a way to contact the settlement," I muttered, pushing through the knee-deep water toward a secondary console that looked less damaged than the others. The water swirled around my legs with each step, cold and persistent. "This relay might still have an external link!"
Varek followed, his movements precise despite the deteriorating conditions. "The Elders mentioned these systems retained some communication capabilities." He placed his hands on the console, his golden lifelines brightening as he attempted to channel energy into the ancient interface. "There are protocols... voice commands paired with specific energy signatures."
I watched as he spoke words in the ancient Nyxari language, his lifelines pulsing with each syllable. His face contorted with pain as he pushed more energy through his palms into the unresponsive system.
Nothing happened.
"Damn it," he growled, pulling back. "Hammond's interference has corrupted the recognition systems."
I studied the console, noting the damaged circuits and bypassed connections. "I might be able to work around it." My markings tingled at the proximity to the ancient tech. "The damage isn't complete—just enough to block traditional access methods."
"How would you bypass it?"
"With your help." I held out my hand. "My markings can interface with the system, but I need your lifelines to amplify the connection."
Varek hesitated only a moment before placing his hand in mine. The instant contact sent a jolt through my body—not unpleasant, but startling in its intensity. I guided our joined hands to the console's surface, placing my palm against the interface panel with his hand covering mine.
"Focus on creating a connection," I instructed, trying to ignore how perfectly his hand fit over mine. "Like you were trying before, but let me direct the energy."
My markings flared silver-bright beneath his touch. The pain in his expression intensified, but he didn't pull away. Through our contact, I felt his discomfort as if it were my own—sharp and electric, burning through his lifelines as he channeled energy into the ancient system.
"Just a little more," I urged, adjusting our hands slightly to better align with the damaged circuits. The console hummed beneath our touch, ancient systems responding to our combined energy signature.
A burst of static filled the air, followed by faint, fluctuating pulses – not voices, just noise. Varek sagged against the console, exhaustion evident in the set of his shoulders, but he kept his hand firmly over mine.
"Is that... anything?" I asked, straining to hear something coherent through the noise.
"Interference," Varek stated grimly. "Strong jamming signals, likely from Hammond's operation. Or perhaps the system itself is too damaged."
"Lazrin?" I called into the relay, hoping against hope. "This is Rivera. Can anyone hear me?"
Only static answered, punctuated by electronic squeals. We held the connection for another minute, pushing energy through the console, but the result was the same – impenetrable noise.
The console beneath our hands sparked violently. Varek pulled me back just as a section of the panel erupted in a shower of sparks and debris.
"It's useless," I said, staring at the now-dark relay. "We can't get through." The realization hit hard. No confirmation of help, no updates, no coordinating with allies.
Varek straightened, his golden eyes meeting mine across the ruined console. The unspoken reality settled between us: we were completely on our own. "Then we proceed," he said, his voice low but firm.
The water had reached mid-calf now, cold and persistent. The main control center hummed with unstable energy, systems flickering and failing around us. Our objective remained, but the path felt infinitely more dangerous now. Stabilize the local systems, block Hammond's interference, and find a way to the western compound. Find Claire. Because it seemed no one else could.
I pulled away from the relay and moved toward the main control interface, my mind already mapping out what needed to be done. With each step, I felt Varek's presence behind me—solid, reliable, essential. Whatever happened next, we would face it together.
"Okay, Varek," I said, rolling up my sleeves as I approached the main console. "Let's save the world."
He didn’t speak, but I felt him at my back—like gravity. I used to hate the idea of needing anyone to steady me. But with him there? It didn’t feel like weakness. It felt like armor
VAREK
