Page 126 of The Edge of Dawn

What if he’d put too much trust in Tarak, and the general really wasn’t as brilliant or in control as everyone seemed to think?

What if this was all a fucking monumental miscalculation?

Tarak had better arrive soon because, right now, the slightest provocation would tip him over the edge.

FORTY-ONE

“What is that?” Jade stared at the thing in the Kordolian’s hands.

The Kordolian in question was an elder; his once-sharp features softened with age.

Jade had never seen an older Kordolian before. It was something of a relief to know that they physically aged like humans. She wouldn’t have been surprised if they were undying or something. With all the longevity science floating around these days, it wouldn’t be so difficult to imagine that they’d cracked the secret to immortality.

But this guy actually looked old. The corners of his eyes were etched with wrinkles, and his movements were a little less fluid.

His name was Elgon. At first glance, he gave off wise, benevolent old-man vibes, but Jade had caught a sharp glint in his eyes now and then.

Noa seemed to trust him, though. That was reassuring… right?

Elgon held up the artifact, momentarily silhouetting it against the backdrop of the stars before taking a step forward to offer Jade a closer look. “This is called a krisalix. Although a number of these were supposed to have been made, it’s the only known example we’ve come across. After an extensive search, it was found on an abandoned planet in Sector Two. ”

It was an oval-shaped thing made from dark metal similar to the stuff she’d noticed seemingly everywhere on the fleet station.

A ring-like thing, only it was large, about the size of her head. It was perfectly symmetrical, one edge smooth, the other shaped into undulating, asymmetrical waves.

A strange, otherworldly crown.

As he rotated the object, it caught the light, and Jade realized it was inset with hundreds of smooth, polished gemstones. They were arranged in an intricate interlocking pattern that was both alien and familiar.

They looked like… fractals?

That was what they were, right?

The craftsmanship was insane. She knew how difficult it was to cut and shape gemstones. Human hands couldn’t have made this. Nor could machines.

But that wasn’t the most astonishing thing about the krisalix.

The thing hummed.

Not through sound but through the very essence of the Universe itself.

She wasn’t imagining it. She could feel it in every fiber of her being.

A low, powerful, mesmerizing hum.

It was immensely soothing. The murmur of a hundred voices in the background was completely silenced, and she immediately felt a great sense of relief. She hadn’t realized how taxing it was to have to filter the noise all the time.

Before she realized it, Jade was reaching out. The urge to touch it overcame everything else.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Noa remarked. “It makes me feel like I’m a toddler reaching for a pretty, shiny thing, only I feel the need for it in my bones.”

“Have you tried it?” Jade couldn’t help but feel wary. Shiny, attractive, addictive things could be dangerous.

“I have. It’s… something else. Not bad, just… intense.”

“Are you sure I should be doing this? I have literally zero experience with any of this.”

“I would suggest you try it first.” Noa projected complete certainty, and after peering into her innermost thoughts, Jade couldn’t distrust her.

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