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‘I don’t have enough data to give you details.’

The darkly beautiful synthetic android beside him delivered the statement. The AI’s energy shimmered beneath its ebony skin.

The figure wore a two-piece xentium and gold-threaded suit. Its jade green eyes glittered, yet its face clouded with concern.

They sat at a huge, dark textured altiphyte wood table polished to a mirror sheen, surrounded by four other men.

‘Not good enough,’ Kainan Sable rasped, the flames in his eyes blazing.

Zane lifted a hand. ‘Let’s all calm down. Mirage, please play back the last message your Glimmer node sent.’

‘With no pleasure.’

Moments later, the expansive boardroom’s speakers lit up with the sound of the AI’s Glimmer node.

‘Riders, Riv has let himself be taken hostage in the badlands region, too far off for direct neural node contact. His kidnapper is piloting his ship and is about to enter a nebula that will mask our signal and hinder further communication. Riv is in their ship’s hold, which docked into Glimmer’s bay before lift-off. I am in contact with Riv. Rest assured, he’s alive and in full health. However, the situation is delicate, and we may need your assistance. I’ve launched a relay drone that will act as a beacon and point you to our last position and trajectory. It’ll also bounce this message to you and keep cycling the transmission until you get here.’

‘Riv let himself be snatched? By whom?’ This came from the rugged, handsome Rider with a scar down one side of his face, dark hair, and narrowed silver eyes.

‘Not sure,’ Mirage murmured.

Zane cursed under his breath. ‘But for what reason? He must believe this will aid in his mission to capture Ankis.’

Xion hissed. ‘He’s going into a super-heated nebula, though?’

Mirage piped up. ‘Glimmer will be fine, and so too shall Riv. Sometime back, Riv and I included a savvy upgrade to Glimmer’s cloaking layer, a cryo liquid material that turns it to black frost and bounces off even the largest boulders from its surface. This will boost the shields and keep them safe, even through a nebula storm.’

‘Riv’s a cannykinai, so this must be the only way he saw fit to advance his search.’ This time, the words came from a meta with dark ebony skin, long dreadlocks, and flashing green eyes.

‘Plausible, Xion. The thing is, what are we going to do about it?’ Kage growled.

‘We go after him. It’s our way. The only way.’ The quiet, firm words came from Ki’Remi, a tall, lean, hazel-eyed meta, as the Rider’s medic.

Kainan jerked his chin in agreement. ‘We first need to find him.’

‘I can try and search for him psionically,’ Zane offered.

The Sable Riders’khosinodded. ‘Do it. But before you, I think it’s time we shared what we know with our brothers. So they understand why finding Ankis is so imperative.’

Zane gave Kainan a sharp look, and there was a neural battle of words between them until Zane lifted his hands in surrender. ‘As you wish,khosi.’

‘It’s only fair.’

‘What the hell are you two going on about?’ Kage groused. ‘Out with it.’

Kainan extended a hand towards Zane. ‘Floor’s yours,kaka.’

Zane took a breath, bracing himself. ‘It’s better if I show and tell. I’ll need to connect to your nodes using a psionic link. I suggest you all lean back, relax, and close your eyes. Don’t try to yank out until I’ve pulled you out of the vision.’

‘One more thing, Kainan warned, ‘What you’re about to witness will be harrowing. Brace yourselves, brothers.’

Ki’Remi, Xion, and Kage exchanged worried glances.

Kage pushed for more in his customary stubbornness for digging for the truth. ‘Why was this kept a secret from the rest of us?’

Zane sucked his teeth. ‘Because it took me a long while to figure it all out. I’ll explain more when you’ve seen it all. Ready?’

The trio nodded.