Page 58 of Solar Bound
"Solar's light energy is here," Bob explained frantically. "Eclipse's twilight energy is severely depleted from his captivity. The field cannot stabilize without proper triangulation."
"Can't you fix it from here?" Dani pressed.
Gary shook his head so vigorously it looked like it might detach. "Field parameters locked at surface level. Need physical presence to adjust."
Dani watched Solar's expression harden as he processed the implications. The extraction field would collapse without balance. And if it collapsed...
"The dimensional bridge is going to implode," Solar stated. "It will destroy any chance they have of coming home, and potentially damage our vessel if we're still connected to the energy stream."
"Sever the connection. We can’t let them attempt it," Dani said immediately. “Let’s fly down and get them.”
"Cannot," Bob wailed. "Extraction protocols engage automatic link with mothership. Safety feature!"
"Safety feature my ass," Dani growled. "So we're saying Eclipse can't make the extraction because he's too weak, but if he doesn't, we all die? And if Solar can’t somehow go down there and travel back up with them, we all die?"
"Not necessarily," Solar interrupted, his calm flowing over her. She could practically see his mind working through scenarios. "Lunar's shadow energy could substitute. His signature is strong enough to balance the field. He could make the trip alone."
Dani felt her heart sink. "What about Poppy?"
Through the viewport, she could see the faint glow beginning to form at the extraction coordinates. The field attempted to establish itself despite the imbalance.
"Incoming transmission," Gary announced, his fingers dancing over controls.
Harris' panicked voice filled the command center. "Problem. Big problem. Extraction field unstable. Energy matrix destabilizing!"
"Can we talk to them directly?" she asked.
"Negative," Bob replied. "Energy interference from the unstable field. Harris is barely getting through."
Solar leaned forward, his golden light pulsing with intensity. "Harris, this is Solar. Tell Lunar he must take Eclipse's position in the extraction field. I can try to supplement his energy from here. His shadow energy can stabilize the matrix."
There was static, then Harris' voice again. "Eclipse too… Lunar saying..." More static. "...must go up. Must warn about Milano."
Dani felt tears prick her eyes.
"Five minutes to extraction," Gary whispered, his usual cheer absent.
Through the sensors, they could see Milano forces closing in on the extraction site. Helicopters swept searchlights across the desert. Ground vehicles kicked up dust clouds as they raced toward the coordinates.
"They're not going to make it," Dani whispered.
Solar's hand found her shoulder, his warmth steady and reassuring. "Lunar is resourceful. He will ensure the extraction succeeds."
"But at what cost?" Dani turned to face him. "He loves Poppy. You've seen them together. And now he has to leave her behind?"
"Sometimes duty requires sacrifice," Solar said quietly, though she could hear the conflict in his voice.
Dani felt a cold chill at the thought. What would Solar have to sacrifice? What would she?
The extraction field on the surface began to pulse more rapidly, its glow visible even from orbit as the energy built to critical levels.
"Field stabilizing," Bob announced suddenly. "Shadow signature detected. Lunar is in position."
Dani pressed against the viewport again, as if she could somehow see the individual figures from orbit. All she could make out was the growing glow of the extraction field and the converging lights of Milano vehicles.
"Milano forces have reached the perimeter," Gary reported. "Weapons discharge detected."
"Eclipse," Solar said suddenly, his attention focused on a separate display showing energy signatures. "He's shielding the others. Using his remaining twilight energy to protect Rowan and Poppy."
