Page 115 of Akur

V’Alen spoke up. “It must be delivered to the Tasqal lifeblood.”

“Only putting the odds against us even more.” Diana leaned on the table. “What if we synthesize it? Attach it to our blaster fire.”

“That’s what we were thinking,” Alaina nodded. “But there’s no way for us to target them all. It’s not efficient. Not effective. And most of all, they’d shoot us from the skies before we even land to start.”

“Their central treatment facility,” V’Alen spoke up.

“Their what now?” Diana sat up.

“The Tasqals manufacture all their treatments there,” V’Alen replied. “The Restitution has been searching long and hard to find it, to no avail. I have no doubt it is on that planet.”

Diana jerked her chin to her chest a few times, wheels obviously turning in her head. “Yes, because those assholes probably don’t trust anyone else to do it.” Her gaze slid to his. “Akur, did you see anything there? Anything that might suggest a large facility like this?”

He thought for a moment. He hadn’t been looking. But then Kon-stahns spoke up.

“Yes.” Her throat moved. “Before we saw that Arois…we saw something else. It looked like a factory. The gator-guards there were walking in protective suits. I remember because I’ve never seen them wearing clothes before. It must have been the plant.”

Silence filled the table; everyone caught in their thoughts as they mulled over the next steps.

“If we could get the vial’s contents into their next production run…” Alaina finally spoke, her eyes widening at the possibilities. “Every Tasqal in existence receives these treatments?”

“Affirmative,” V’Alen replied.

“They have to,” he affirmed, too. “Without them, their deterioration accelerates.”

Diana shook her head. “That only puts the odds against us even more,” she said, leaning on the table. “Getting into that facility—ifit’s even the one you saw—won’t be easy. Security will be extreme.”

“But once we’re in,” Yce’s eyes glowed a little, “their own distribution network becomes our weapon. They’ll deliver it themselves, to every outpost, every ship, every colony.”

“The vial’s contents won’t activate immediately,” Alaina warned. “We’dhave a small window before whatever effect—death or salvation—becomes evident.”

“Long enough for the shipments to reach their territories.” Diana seemed to perk up. “By the time they realize something is wrong…”

“It will already be everywhere…” he murmured.

Qrak him. He knew exactly what they needed to do. Gaze shifting to Kon-stahns, he saw her smile, too. He knew that look. Trust. Her unwavering trust in him.

“E’lot,” he said. “We need to get those vials to E’lot.”

Confusion was evident across the table, but Kon-stahns’ hand tightened on his arm. Whatever risks he was about to take, he could see the fear in her eyes. But there was also unwavering support.

“Yce.” He turned to the Arois. “You can reach minds across space. Find E’lot through me. Send him a message.”

“What?” Kon-stahns stood now, alarm clear in her voice. “Is that even possible?” Her protective instincts were as strong as his own, he realized with a surge of affection.

Yce’s eyes glowed slightly. “The Tasqals have defenses in place. Barriers even I struggle to breach. It is why I could not find you in the first place, Akur. Why that base of theirs is so elusive. And if they’re using one of my kind…” He trailed off, the implications hanging heavy in the air.

“Try.” He moved closer to the Arois, but Constance’s hand remained firmly on his arm. “Through me. I was the last one with him. I saw the planet. I was there. Perhaps that will be enough.”

Yce stood slowly. They all watched as he moved around the table to stand right in front of him.

“Akur…” Kon-stahns’ voice carried a wealth of emotion—fear, something warm and deep that felt like a cloak around him, and concern.

He turned to face her fully, cupping her face in his hands. “I won’t die, bright eyes.”

“So you’ve been telling me…but you’ve sure as hell come close to it one too many times.”

His lips twisted into a smile as he pressed his forehead to hers. “I’m tougher than you think.”

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