Page 60 of Abalim
The small bot nodded. “Yes, Ms. Lisa, ma’am. None of them have suffered any lasting complications. But they have to stay in their pods and rest for a while.” He waved a foreleg at Aollu. “The machine is now programmed to let them out at the appropriate time.”
Lisa eyed the Krystalii. “Won’t you scare the crap out of them when they wake up and see you?”
Aollu’s booming laugh made Abalim smile.
“I would never do that to them! I will look like this whenever I appear before them.” His form quivered, then morphed into an image of a young male Lumarian with his arms widespread. “My natural form holds when I’m in the cavern by myself. But when I go to the surface, I’ll appear to them as a hologram. When I do that, I’ll retrain them to take care of themselves and show them the best way to appoint someone to maintain the machine itself.” He reverted to his normal crystalline self.
“You’d better replace the two power-hungry jerks that call themselves the council as soon as you can.” Lisa nodded to the pods. “They planned on sending more people to be killed to terrify the village into obeying their every whim.”
“You don’t say.” Aollu rubbed his chin with his forefinger and thumb. “After escaping a maniacal dictator, I’ll not allow that to happen to the Lumarians.” He crossed his bulky, muscular crystal arms. “Trust me, I’m not going to let them suffer like that.”
Abalim glanced at his bot companion.
JR15 nodded in answer to his unasked question. “I am positive he will do as he says, Mister Abalim, sir. The Lumarians are in good hands. No need to worry.”
“All right.” Abalim faced the Krystalii. “It seems you have everything in order here.” He tilted his head toward the open door leading to the endless hallway. “You were about to tell us something?”
“Oh yes, that’s right.” Aollu gestured at the corridor. “See those doors? They are portals to various enclosures housing a plethora of species that were facing extinction at one time.” He nodded to the cave behind them. “This, too, is one of their compounds. You are not on a separate planet, but have remained on Qorath.”
“So that’s what you meant when you said zoo?” Lisa’s voice cracked at the last word.
“What’s a zoo?” Abalim whispered to JR15.
“It’s an establishment that maintains a collection of wild animals, typically in a park, for study, conservation, or to display them to the public.”
Abalim’s chest tightened. How could he have been so blind to where they were? And what did that mean about the Xeltrians’ purpose in all this? Had he and Lisa become pawns in a ridiculous distraction game to prevent them from coming up with a way to protect them from the Krystalii?
“What about the Xeltrians?” Abalim addressed Aollu with his arms crossed. “Are they willing to work with your people?”
The ridge above the crystal man’s eyes raised. “No.” He rubbed his chin again. “At least not as far as I know. If I understand your purpose here correctly, the Xeltrians hadn’t decided about their involvement with my people.” When he smiled, his clear blocky teeth were easy to see. “While I gave up my psychic abilities when I merged with Echovara here—” He thumbed toward the massive circular machine. “—I can tell you’ve impressed them. I wouldn’t be surprised if they end up working with you.”
Lisa cleared her throat. “And just how would you feel about that?”
“Ah, little female. It is my hope that when Lord Baelon finds his way here, he will encounter such as you and realize his campaign is fruitless, like I have.” He gestured to the sleeping Lumarians in their crystal coffins. “Even if my people somehow find me and insist I go back with them, I’m unable to leave here.” He waved a hand around the cave. “I’m happy and content that my life continues here, with them. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Rest assured, I shared with Rerqel various ways to defeat Lord Baelon, so my people never enter this dimension.” He crossed his arms over his chest with a slight bow. “Now, my new friends, it is time for you to discover your own purpose. And we all know it is not here.” He opened a palm to indicate the doorway to the endless corridor. “May the Sacred Spirit of all, the Omnipatron, guide and bless you on your endeavor.”
Now there was an exit line if Abalim ever heard one. He returned the formal bow with one of his own, one arm crossing over his heart. “If you have need of our services, don’t hesitate to reach out.” He had no doubt if Aollu decided he needed them, he’d find a way to do so.
“Just so,” Aollu replied. “As you humans like to say, good luck.” His smile was warm. “But I don’t think you’ll need it.”
Giving Aollu one last look after that cryptic promise, Lisa followed behind Abalim. Dang, once again, they faced the endless corridor. Well, hell. She didn’t like it any better the second time around. The place had a damp, musty odor that made her nose wrinkle. “What are we supposed to do now?”
“I guess Aollu thought we’d find a way back to the Xeltrians through here.” The sound of his fingers scratching his bristled jaw echoed in the spacious hallway. “I’m not sure how we’re going to do that.” He gestured to the never-ending row of doors. “What are we supposed to do? Open each one?”
Now that was an odd thing for him to say. “Can’t you just use your psychic mojo and see if you can feel where we should go?” She tried using her own newfound psionic abilities, but all she got was a headache for her efforts.
He gave her a sheepish smile. “I would if it was that easy. But the only thing I’m getting is blank space. I suspect the Xeltrians purposefully put a psychic blocker down this corridor so none of the species could communicate with each other if they had the ability to do so.” He glanced at the ever-present silver-and-green spider-bot on his shoulder. “What about you, JR15? Can you analyze anything…”
“Mister Abalim, sir, I do believe our new friends are headed this way.” The little droid squeaked and scurried back to his favorite hiding place underneath Abalim’s long, dark dreadlocks.
“Friends?” Lisa stood her hands on her hips and peered at the subdued light filtering down the hallway. She couldn’t see anything, but the sound of raised voices and running feet echoed toward her. She took a step back. “Whoa, sounds like somebody’s headed this way. And boy, are they in a hurry.”
Abalim’s warm palm covered her hand. “It’s going to be okay. It’s just Saphira and her crew. I recognize their mental signatures.” He grunted. “I can’t believe they’re here. The last time I saw them, they were frozen in stasis on their ship.”
Lisa eyebrows shot up as she glanced at him. “Oh really? How in the world did they get here then?”
“Good question.” He answered with the side of his mouth curled in a slight grin.
Her eyes widened as the group barreled toward them, blasters drawn. Complete with snarls and rumbling growls. What she didn’t expect was the leader skidding to a halt just before them, raising a pistol, and aiming at the middle of Abalim’s forehead.