Page 20 of Spectral Seas (Spectral Worlds #2)
T HE TEMPORARY HABITAT constructed to accommodate the Alpha Plane visitors consisted of a shipping container that Nahl’s people had hastily painted, sealed, and pumped full of oxygen. The interior of the boxed room was as simple—a table, four chairs, a portable toilet hidden behind a screen, and a humming wall unit filtration system that despite its constant flow still failed to evacuate the strong stench of new paint. Regardless, Abby was enjoying the freedom from his helmet and the breeze blowing from the filter’s fan onto the back of his neck. Leta stood beside him, free of her suit and arms crossed. Both contemplated the Umbra sitting in the chair before them.
The Umbra, typical of the males of his species, had his long black hair tied into a braid that fell the length of his back. His eyes were closed, and he hadn’t moved or said a word since they’d brought him in, plopped him on the chair, and removed his helmet.
“How much longer?” Abby chin-chipped to Leta.
“Oh,” she said. “He’s awake.”
“I know,” said Abby. “I mean, how much longer do we let him go on playing possum?”
“I don’t think he wants to talk to you.”
“Ask him what his name is.”
“I’m not sure he wants to talk to me either.”
An intrusive psionic wave pushed into Abby’s forehead. He shut it down, then pushed back. The Umbra raised his head and opened his black orbed eyes.
“Hmm,” Leta said aloud. “He says his name is Soren.”
“Ask him what he’s doing here.”
“He says he’s been sent to investigate the incidents in the mine.”
“Why him?”
“Because he’s a level eight.”
“So he’s a hypersensitive,” said Abby. “Level eight no less. Which is it? Sound, sight, touch?” He grabbed Soren’s helmet from the table and flipped it over to see inside. “I recognize this. It’s the Hanja symbol for Sun. A Korean mining concern, the Alpha Plane arm of the Mining Consortium. Which tells me you’re a sniff.”
The Umbra’s brow wrinkled.
“Hey, pal,” said Abby, “you can keep talking to her with your shadow speak, or you can talk to me directly. If you’re here representing the Koreans, then we’re pretty much on the same side.”
“Pfft,” said the Umbra. “How could you and I be on the same side, Warlock?”
“Hey now.” Abby shrugged. “Past is past. I’m one of the good guys. You notice you’re not tied up.”
“You brought me here against my will. You abducted me.”
“I don’t think you want to get into a passport discussion with two Homeland Agents. You just happened to take us by surprise, and we took you into our custody for your own safety. Let’s call it a misunderstanding.”
The Umbra glanced at Leta.
“One of the good guys,” Abby said again.
Leta nodded.
“Okay,” said Soren. “I am not sure as to why the princess would work beside you, but if the princess says that you are okay, then I guess you are.”
“See,” said Abby. “That wasn’t so hard.” Then he turned to Leta and chipped . “You’re going to have fill me in on the princess stuff.”
“Not now,” she chipped back, then aloud, said, “Soren. My brother. Please tell me, have you learned anything about these incidents that’ve been occurring in the mine?”
“I have learned much,” said Soren.
“So,” said Abby. “Care to share?”
“The incidents are being caused from another plane.”
“We suspected,” said Abby. “A quantum orb, a transfer of matter.”
“Right,” said Leta. “We suspect the apparition of the orb is a Bubble event. The instability of a remote quantum device would explain the loud cracking, the flashing lights—”
“The unintended damage,” said Abby.
“The question is,” said Leta, “from where? We learn that, we’ll find those responsible.”
“Ask yourself,” said Soren, “why is the orb blue?”
“Of course,” said Abby. “A quant is without color. It’s a crossover, a temporary, unstable portal. The blue is from its originating plane.”
“Blue?” asked Leta. “The Indicus Plane?”
“Yes,” said Soren. “I suspect the Indicus Plane.”
“That would mean,” said Abby, “that the monks—”
“That’s right,” said Soren. “I believe that the Indici monks are the ones stealing crystals.”
~*~