Page 62 of Alien Guardian's Vow
Her silver markings brightened in response to our proximity, the faint glow illuminating the tiny space between us. My own lifelines responded, a warm pulse of gold beneath my skin. The connection between us had grown stronger with each passing day, impossible to ignore even in these dire circumstances.
"We need to keep moving," she said.
RIVERA
My pulse quickened as we crouched in the shadowed alcove outside the central lab. The corridor lights flickered, casting uneven patterns across the sterile floor. I peered around the corner, careful to keep my head low.
Claire lay strapped to a metal table inside, her limbs restrained by shimmering energy fields that pulsed with sickly blue light. Ancient ruin tech, repurposed by Hammond in the worst possible way. Her silver markings flared erratically across her skin, like lightning trapped beneath the surface, searching desperately for escape.
"Bastard," I whispered, my fingers curling into fists.
Varek's hand settled on my shoulder, a silent reminder to stay focused. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing thoughts.
Martinez stood guard at the entrance, rifle propped against his shoulder, expression bored but alert. His presence complicated things. I'd worked with him before Hammond went off the deep end—he wasn't a bad guy, just following orders. Still, he wouldn't hesitate to shoot us if we gave him reason.
"She doesn't look good," I murmured to Varek. "Her markings are destabilized. Whatever Hammond's done, it's pushing her system to the breaking point."
Varek's lifelines dimmed slightly as he studied the setup. "The restraint field draws power from that junction box." He nodded toward a panel on the far wall, partially hidden behind a stack of equipment. "How do we disable it without harming her?"
I scanned the room, taking in every detail of the restraint system. The energy fields fluctuated in a rhythmic pattern, pulsing stronger then weaker in a predictable cycle. Zara's intel flashed through my mind.
"The restraints cycle power every ninety seconds. There's a brief dip near the primary node—there, that silver disc above her head. If I can access the system during that moment, I might be able to overload it without the backwash hitting Claire."
"And the human guard?" Varek asked, his voice low and steady.
I studied the guard's movements. Martinez had a pattern—three steps left, pause, check his data pad, three steps right, pause, scan the room. Predictable.
"I need you to take him out quietly. No permanent damage if possible."
Varek nodded. "When?"
"Wait for my signal. I need to be in position when the power cycles." I pointed to the secondary console near the restraint table. "I'll need about ten seconds at that terminal."
"You'll have it."
I touched my fingers to the wall, letting my markings sense the power fluctuations running through the facility. The energy signature pulsed against my skin, information flooding my awareness. Zara was right—Hammond had created unstable pathways, forcing connections that were never meant to exist.
"The next cycle is in twenty seconds," I whispered.
Varek's golden lifelines brightened slightly as he prepared to move. The connection between us hummed with silent communication—no words needed, just absolute trust.
"Go," I breathed.
We split apart, moving with practiced precision. I slipped along the wall toward the secondary console while Varek circled wide, positioning himself to intercept Martinez at the perfect moment.
Martinez turned away, checking his data pad. In that instant, Varek struck—a blur of controlled motion. One hand covered Martinez's mouth while the other applied pressure to a specific point on his neck. Martinez struggled for only a moment before his eyes rolled back, his body going limp in Varek's arms.
I darted to the console, fingers flying across the interface. The ancient tech responded to my touch, my markings flaring silver as they connected with the system. Numbers and symbols scrolled across the screen, a language I shouldn't understand but somehow did.
"Hurry," Varek called softly, dragging Martinez's unconscious form behind a storage unit.
"Almost there." I located the restraint controls, diving deep into the code. The system was complex, layers upon layers of security protocols. Hammond had bastardized the original design, grafting his own crude modifications onto technology he barely understood.
The energy fields around Claire pulsed brighter, then dimmed—the power cycle dipping exactly as Zara had described. I struck in that moment, fingers dancing across the interface as I entered the override sequence.
ERROR flashed across the screen.
"Damn it," I hissed. The cycle had passed too quickly.
