Page 77 of Alien Warlord's Fury

"Which way?" I asked.

Claire closed her eyes briefly, sensing through her connection to the Nexus. "This way," she said, pointing down the left corridor. "The younglings' pain... it's stronger in this direction."

I drew my blade, holding it ready. "Lead on."

We moved deeper into the compound, the smell of lubricant and ozone growing stronger. The hum of machinery vibrated through the floor beneath our boots—the sound of Hammond's ambition, powered by innocent suffering.

The clock was ticking. Less than an hour remained before Hammond reached his final phase—whatever that entailed. I had no intention of letting him reach that point.

Urgency flowed between us through the bond, sharpening our focus on the goal ahead. The younglings' lives depended on it. Perhaps much more.

CLAIRE

Ipressed my back against the cold stone of the corridor wall, my heart pounding as Nirako's hand came up to stop me. We'd made it this far, past guardians and security systems, but the final stretch to the Nexus chamber loomed ahead.

"Something's wrong." Nirako's voice dropped to barely a whisper. "The air—it feels dead."

He was right. The usual electric tingle of energy that permeated the ruins had vanished, replaced by a strange emptiness. I peered around the corner and spotted the problem immediately.

Two human guards stood at attention outside the Nexus chamber entrance. Not the usual security personnel we'd encountered before—these wore specialized gear with glowing blue emitters built into their chest plates.

"Elite guards," I whispered. "Hammond's personal security."

Nirako's eyes narrowed. "They're carrying something new."

I studied the small devices mounted on their belts. "Energy dampeners. Experimental tech Hammond was developing before I escaped."

"They're designed to neutralize Nyxari lifelines."

"And human markings?" Nirako asked.

"Probably." I clenched my fists. "We need to take them out before they activate those things."

Too late. One of the guards glanced in our direction, his hand moving to his belt. "Movement! Sector three!"

A wave of numbing cold washed over me as the dampening field activated. My silver markings dimmed instantly, the familiar warmth of their energy replaced by a hollow emptiness. Beside me, Nirako staggered, his golden lifelines fading beneath his skin.

"The bond—" I gasped, reaching for the connection between us and finding only a whisper of what had been there moments before.

Nirako straightened, his jaw tight. "Physical combat it is."

He lunged forward with surprising speed despite his weakened state, drawing his blade. The guards responded immediately, pulling shock batons from their belts.

I tried to summon energy to my hands, but my markings remained dim, unresponsive. The dampening field had cut me off from the power I'd come to rely on. I was nearly useless.

Nirako engaged the first guard, his movements slower than usual, his strikes lacking their typical precision. The second guard circled around, trying to flank him. I could see Nirako struggling, his strength diminished without his lifelines' energy.

A baton connected with his shoulder, and Nirako dropped to one knee. The guard raised his weapon for another strike.

No. I wouldn't watch him fall.

I focused on the main dampener emitter mounted on the wall between the guards. If I couldn't access my full power, maybe I could channel what little remained in one desperate burst. I closed my eyes, reaching deep inside for any scrap of energy I could find.

There—a small reservoir of power, hidden beneath the dampening effect. I grabbed it, pulling it up through my coreand into my hands. Pain lanced through my skull as I forced the energy against the dampener's suppression.

"Cover!" I shouted to Nirako.

I thrust both hands forward, directing every ounce of power I had at the wall-mounted emitter. Silver light erupted from my palms in a concentrated beam, wild and unstable. The backlash hit me immediately—like someone had driven a spike through my temples.

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