Chapter 22
Armathea
Orbiting Calypsta
“Have you heard from Garrett and Quinn?” Odin asked as he strode onto the bridge with a swift stride.
“Yes,” Tia said. “They have landed at the rendezvous point. They are bored and restless with nothing to do but wait, but they are doing as instructed.”
“Have they tried to kill each other yet?”
Tia let loose a laugh. “Not that I am aware of.”
“Good.” Odin slid into the captain’s station. “Any word or movement from Talear?”
“Other than a couple of check-in type communications, nothing to note.”
“Very good.”
“I do have some great news.” A smile lit her features. “I discovered the secret to Reyne’s implant.”
Odin leapt from the chair. “Tell me.”
Tia directed his attention to her computer monitor, which displayed a three-dimensional rendering of the metal implant. The image revealed the intricacy of its design, highlighting the skill involved in its creation. "The material is kalininite."
“Kalininite.” Odin reached behind him and kneaded the cords of his neck. “That is exactly what our chemists deduced as well. But our copy was a complete failure.”
“I know why. Kalininite is a porous metal, easily bent and manipulated. That’s how your Taleari druids are able to create such intricate designs.
But if you look closely at Reyne’s implant, it's completely solid. Unbreakable.” Tia manipulated the display, causing the screen to zoom in on Reyne’s implant.
The metal surface appeared smooth, without imperfections.
She displayed another image. “This is raw kalininite.” The image depicted a metallic material with a pitted surface.
Odin brows dipped into a frown. “Meaning?”
“Meaning it’s not the kalininite that the Taleari scanner verifies, but rather the substance used to bind the kalininite, filling the pores to solidify it.”
“You mean the substance the druids use to cover the implant with? The one that dissolves the metal and creates a deadly toxin?”
“Yes. That substance.” Tia confirmed with an affirmative nod. “There is only one known compound that can bind with kalininite and also create a deadly toxin upon contact with air, and that's arageon, in its liquid form.”
“Arageon? So, we were chasing the wrong thing the entire time?” Odin wanted to dent the nearest wall with an imprint of his knuckles, instead he pounded his fist into his other palm and let loose a litany of curses.
Tia placed a comforting hand on his arm. “I’m sorry about your brother,”
Odin shook off the memory of that fateful day. “Can you replicate it?”
“Of course I can. I’m half Dracarian,” she reminded him with a sassy smile. “Should be relatively easy. I’ll start working on it immediately.”
Odin stepped towards his station, but Tia stopped him. “Wait. I also discovered something else while I was digging through the Dracarian database.”
“What?” He was only half listening; his mind focused on Tia’s discovery and how to best use this newfound knowledge.
Tia cleared her throat. “I believe I have found the weapon the Dracarians were commissioned to create for the Valerian king. The weapon Kendra was sold for. Apparently, Mordrick wasn’t the only one ready to start a war.”
Odin perked up, the implant momentarily forgotten. “Really? You mean it’s been under our nose this entire time?”
“It appears so.” Tia grinned with satisfaction. “It’s not fully complete. According to the notes, they abandoned the project after the death of their crewmen. I am confident I can complete it. I just need a day…”
“Tell me about this weapon.”
Tia tsked at his severe tone. “Not just yet, Odin. Patience. I will say it could be a game changer.”
He leaned his hip against the control panel and crossed his arms over his chest with an annoyed huff. “So, you are just going to leave me in suspense then?”
“For now, but only until I’m sure. I don't want to give false hope.”
“Fair enough.” He walked to the front of the bridge, his gaze settling on Calypsta, its surface a swirling pattern of blue, green and white beneath the ship.
He held fast to the belief that Kendra had survived the crash because entertaining any other outcome was simply unacceptable.
She was down there, somewhere, fighting for survival.
Despite her seeming naivety, Kendra was strong and resilient. But was her subtle strength strong enough to fight Reyne? Her enemy? A trained Ramachii hunter?
And Reyne was dangerous in more ways than the obvious.
Odin hadn’t missed the way Kendra gazed at Reyne in the combat ring—with bright eyes and flushed cheeks.
Nor had he missed the way Reyne cradled her in his arms when she lost consciousness, with an unexpected gentleness that seemed odd, considering the circumstances.
Odin released a sigh. Whatever was going on down there, Odin hoped Kendra kept her head about her and didn’t let Reyne’s charms lead her into another trap.