Page 8 of Alien Guardian's Vow
"By interfering further with technology you don't understand?" I countered, anger flaring despite my attempt at control.
Her markings flared brighter, silver light pulsing beneath her skin as she matched my glare. "And your approach is working so well?"
The field pulsed again, stronger this time, a visible wave rippling across its surface. A crack appeared in the stone floor beneath it, energy seeping through like liquid light, widening the fissure. Time ran short.
I stepped back, forcing myself to assess our options rationally. The Elders' instructions echoed in my mind:observe only, never interact with the ancient technology. Report any human interference immediately.The rules existed for good reason—the Great Division began with technological arrogance, with Nyxari believing they could control forces beyond their true understanding.
Yet strict adherence to those rules now threatened the settlement, threatened everything I was sworn to protect. The containment field deteriorated by the second. If it breached with Rivera inside... the explosion would likely kill her instantly, but the shockwave, the energy release... it could trigger a chain reaction.
My duty extended beyond simple observation, beyond merely containing the human. I was responsible for protecting our people fromallthreats—including this one the human had inadvertently unleashed.
"Can you access the power routing from inside?" I asked, scanning the corridor for structural weaknesses, potential intervention points.
Rivera looked surprised at my abrupt shift from accusation to tactical questioning. "I'm trying, but the system's locked me out since the overload. It's cycling through some kind of purge protocol."
My gaze caught on a section of wall where thick power conduits converged near the field generator alcove. The stone there showed signs of previous damage—faint scorch marks, hairline fractures—perhaps from an earlier malfunction centuries ago. A potential weak point. Alternatively, the primary external power conduit running along the ceiling might be overloaded, vulnerable to physical disruption. Either option required direct physical interaction with the technology's infrastructure—violating thespiritof my orders, if not the precise letter.
I weighed the choices. Strict adherence to tradition against practical necessity. The safety of one reckless human against potential catastrophe for hundreds of my people. The decision felt heavy, wrong, yet unavoidable.
"Stand back from the field," I instructed Rivera, my voice low and grim. "As far as the alcove allows."
"What are you going to do?" she asked, her eyes wide as she pressed herself against the back wall.
"Something that violates several sacred prohibitions." I moved toward the damaged section of wall where the conduits converged, retrieving the heavy metal bar I'd found earlier. "But technically not my direct orders regarding system interface." The distinction felt hollow, a weak justification for necessity, but I needed some anchor against the weight of tradition I was about to defy. Physical intervention wasn't the same as attempting tooperatethe technology. I wasn't accessing the systems—merely disrupting their physical structure.
"The field generator connects through this junction." I pointed to the damaged section with the metal bar. "If I can overload it physically, sever the connection forcefully, the emergency systems might release the containment field safely."
"Or it could accelerate the breach," Rivera pointed out, her voice tight with fear but her engineer's mind still analyzing. "Or trigger a feedback loop that detonates the emitters." She pressed her hand near the field, then pulled back quickly as energy sparked against her palm. "But... I don't see many other options right now."
Neither did I. The corridor temperature continued rising, the air thick and difficult to breathe. My lifelines pulsed with urgent warning signals—the energy buildup approached critical levels.
"If this works," I said, testing the weight of the makeshift tool, hefting the metal bar, "be ready to run the moment the field drops."
"And if it doesn't?" Her voice was small through the field's roar.
I met her eyes through the flickering, unstable barrier. "Then we have made a poor situation significantly worse."
My training demanded I follow orders without question. My instincts as a warrior demanded action. The safety of my people required intervention, even at the cost of tradition, even if it meant saving the human who caused this crisis.
I raised the metal bar, aiming for the weak point in the wall, the conduit junction glowing faintly beneath the damaged stone. The decision made, I struck with all my strength, the impact echoing through the corridor, sending reverberations through the ancient stone and jarring vibrations up my arms.
RIVERA
The energy field flickered violently between us, a nauseating strobe of shifting colors—blue, purple, angry orange—casting erratic shadows across Varek's furious face on the other side. I backed away from the unstable barrier, pressing myself against the cold stone of the alcove's back wall. My markings pulsed with warning, a frantic heat beneath my skin.
The air hummed, thick with the smell of ozone and the high-pitched crackle of stressed energy emitters. The sound vibrated through my teeth.
Outside the field, Varek moved with controlled fury. I saw him pry at a conduit junction on the outer wall, muscles straining against the ancient tech. Sparks showered around him, thick and orange, as the field fluctuated dangerously in response to his interference.
"What did youdo?" His voice barely carried through the field's roar, distorted and muffled, heavy with accusation.
"I didn't do anything!" I shouted back, my voice thin against the noise. I glanced desperately at the diagnostic panel beside me—it still flashed red warnings, meaningless symbols scrolling too fast to comprehend. "The system was already failing! I barely touched it!"
"You triggered a containment breach!" Varek abandoned the conduit and struck the wall beside the field emitter with the metal bar he carried. Another shower of sparks erupted, closer this time. The field buckled inward momentarily, its energy washing over me like static discharge, making the hair on my arms stand on end. "The entire settlement could be at risk because of your recklessness!"
My markings flared hot against my skin, responding to his anger—or maybe just to the unstable energy saturating the small space. I couldn't tell anymore. It was all just noise and pain and fear.
"I was trying to diagnose the tremors!" I yelled, pressing closer to the field again, needing him to understand, needing him to stop hitting things andthink. "Someone had to assess the damage! Your precious Elders were just sitting around debating!"
