Chapter 21: Prospects

A green progress bar crept across the monitor. The estimated wait time beneath it jumped to different results every few seconds. Dash paid no attention to either. As far as he was concerned, the computer could spend all the time it liked debugging his code. It wasn't his gene editing test simulator that Dash was patching.

To get hold of his grandfather's old research, Dash worked carefully to make friends at the Empire's headquarters. Specifically, with the small team of scientists who Oikonny retained after the war. Dash initially expected them to all be decrepit eccentrics, like the balding, mad scientists in movies. Some did possess questionable views on the ethics around their work. However, when Dash met them, the scientists were more normal than he'd have thought.

His first shock came from meeting a gecko named Harvey, one of the team's data analysts. Harvey didn't join the Empire per se. More accurately, he was raised in it after his parents lost their home on Zoness to the mafia. Due to his father's criminal history, having served a sentence for multiple car thefts, their government refused to provide Harvey's family with state protection. They couldn't afford to travel to Corneria to seek sanctuary there, either. So, they staked their lives on joining the new world that Andross had created on Venom. With the way that Harvey casually made jokes and wore slippers around the lab, Dash would never have assumed that the guy had such a troubled childhood.

Then there were the other members of the team. Archimedes was an ape born native to Venom. If not for Andross's genetic modifications, his species wouldn't be able to breathe without a gas cylinder pumping toxic air into their lungs. His people owed Andross for the chance to live and thrive beyond their poisonous, little world. The only evil thing that Archimedes did was swipe food from the fridge that wasn't labelled.

The otter, Chantelle, was the least threatening person in the room. She and her husband, Josh, fled their home system 10 years ago. A coup de ta led to the vicious persecution of their species. Unfortunately for them, Chantelle and Josh jumped out from one war to land headfirst into another. They spent days adrift after their food and fuel ran out before Andross's soldiers found them. Indebted for their rescue, the couple stayed with Venom even after the war. They feared what might happen if they chanced the cosmos again.

Now every time Chantelle returned from MacBeth with supplies, she'd bake treats to lift the team's morale. Dash munched on one of her lemon squares while waiting for his code to compile. He offered the scientists his time and skill as a way to keep himself off the battlefield. The more that he got to know these people, the more Dash realised that they were just that: people.

The mercenaries and pirates on Oikonny's payroll were scum through and through. Yet for the rest of the folks serving the Empire, a lot of them were here because they had nowhere else to go. They'd face prosecution or worse if they fled to start a new life anywhere else in Lylat. Dash saw their discomfort around the soldiers and Oikonny himself. He understood the fear that someone might discover that his heart wasn't as into the Empire's cause as he claimed. He felt bad for them.

But there was nothing that he could do about their situations. His mission had to come first.

An alert appeared to tell Dash that the code finished compiling. Some error stopped it from running correctly. It was as Dash designed. If he tried, he could have gotten the program working hours ago. His goal was simply to waste time while looking busy. So long as Dash made the chief scientist's deadline, no one would notice.

He pretended to be engrossed as people gradually left the laboratory. The clock soon read 6:32 pm. It was just Dash and Harvey by that point. Harvey stretched out his arms and yawned. After a few more taps on his keyboard, he locked the computer and stood up.

"Welp, that's enough for one day." He scratched his side unceremoniously. "You wanna head over to mess together?"

"I'm going to stick around here for a little while longer," Dash replied. "See if I can't get this data transfer to stop crashing."

"Just make sure you eat before the kitchen closes," Harvey warned. Dash acknowledged with a wave. The gecko then walked out of the room, leaving Dash completely alone.

Perfect.

When it didn't seem like Harvey was coming back, Dash moved to the chief scientist's desk computer. He had staked out the setup for almost a week. A fingerprint scanner was plugged into the machine. It was an old model, one that most people stopped using even before the Lylat Wars. The reason was because the device had a major vulnerability. Dash fully intended to exploit it. All that he needed was a strip of office tape.

Once his preparations were complete, Dash pressed his index finger over the scanner. A green light blinked. The scan yielded a false-positive result. Dash grinned as the computer logged in to the chief's account, equipped with all the security privileges that came with it.

Dash worked quickly. He accessed the Empire's research database. It contained everything that the Venomians had ever developed, including Andross's own work. Unfortunately, the database was enormous. There was too much for Dash to sort through. He found several folders labelled 'secret.' A password request prevented Dash from opening the files.

Even though it was late, anyone could walk into the lab at any moment. Dash was operating on limited time. He plugged a flash drive into the terminal and copied as many of the files as he could fit onto it. While that was happening, Dash went through the database and gave himself access rights to its folders. Now he could read through more records from his own account.

Altogether, it took Dash 20 minutes to do everything he intended to. He didn't dare spend any more time than that. He ejected the flash drive and locked the computer. Everything looked exactly the way that the chief scientist had left it. With the flash drive shoved deep into his pocket, Dash left the room and hurried for the mess hall. He hoped that no one would check the metadata of the files he'd taken and get suspicious. Dash pushed those fears to one side for the moment, for another fear became more pressing. Unless he got to the mess hall right away, he wouldn't receive a single bite to eat until morning.

If he was going to risk his life committing espionage, Dash sure as hell didn't want to starve for it.

It was the hottest day thus far in Cabbot Valley. Fox panted heavily as he walked. Although he wasn't as well-equipped against stifling heat as a full-blooded fennec, he felt grateful for the little tolerance he did possess. At a distance, he could smell Andross sweat to regulate his own body temperature. Fox became uncomfortably acquainted with the ape's scent during their time together.

Their dust detectors shone over the ground. Every flash was a signal of failure. It was a denial of Fox's growing wish to find the dust meteor and finally go home to Kezamat. They had been searching for more than a week now. Each day passed by long, fruitless, and exhausting. Fox felt increasingly frustrated with the lack of results, as well as with Andross for putting them through this hellish venture in the first place.

They wandered through a small forest. Their map promised there would be a river ahead where they could refill their waterskins. Andross continued to crank his dust detector throughout the trek. Fox wound his begrudgingly.

"We've searched almost everywhere in this damned valley," he complained. "Are we ever going to find that dust?"

"I don't know," Andross sighed. Fox's hopes sunk to rock bottom. "But we have to keep looking. There must be some truth behind the legend of Arethan's Tear. If it does exist, then we can't let this opportunity slip between our fingers."

Fox watched the desperate gleam that slowly took hold in Andross's eyes. It started to feel like the madness was coming back to him. "Props to you for the optimism, but sooner or later we're going to have to face facts. We're already stretching our supplies to their limit. We can't keep wandering around here aimlessly."

Andross grumbled softly to himself. "Just a few more days," he said aloud. "Just a few more days is all we need. If we don't find anything by then, we'll go back and try something else."

It didn't please Fox. However, this was likely the best compromise that they would reach. "Fine. Two more days. But after that, I'm going home."

He missed having a roof over his head. He missed having a soft bed. He missed having people to talk to apart from Andross. Fox's thoughts turned to Krystal. After suffering through this lousy trip, he started to miss her terribly.

Fox followed the soft trickle of water in his ears. Wild berry bushes grew alongside the stream. He would have liked to have a nibble, though sadly he recognised the lumpy berries as poisonous. It made Fox acutely aware of how light their food packs were of late. There was only so much time that Andross would let him spare to hunt fresh meat.

He and Andross knelt next to the riverbed. As they dipped in their canteens, something lunged from the water. A curtain of spray obscured Fox's vision. Pale tendrils reached out at Andross. His surprised shout broke off. He clawed at the creature seizing his throat. Fox's heart leaped out of his chest. A pink, wrinkly head dangled underneath Andross's chin.

The egrint tightened its grip. It refused to give Andross's fingers any purchase to pry its arms off. Fox quickly drew his hunting knife. The second that he raised it to strike, blinding pain filled his head. Both he and Andross collapsed. Fox screamed through clenched teeth. He pressed his palms over his ears, but the pain did not stop. The egrint was attacking them with a telepathic shock.

Andross kicked and squirmed. His movements were starting to slow. 'No…' Fox pushed himself up onto his hands. His migraine brought him close to vomiting. It was worse than when that ordus attacked him. Andross rolled towards Fox. His eyes bulged from his skull, swimming with tears brought on from strangulation. They begged for help.

Fox's fingers found his knife. If he didn't do something right now, Andross was going to die! Then he'd never be able to leave Cerinia! "Not yet," Fox growled. He began to crawl.

The egrint sensed his thoughts. It struck Fox with a more powerful shock. He stumbled onto his face but did not let go of his weapon. "Not yet." Pushing through the pain, Fox dragged himself to Andross's side. He grabbed the egrint and lifted the knife high.

"I need him alive!" he screamed.

The blade plunged. The egrint shrieked. It's ugly, four-pieced beak gaped wide as its tentacles writhed wildly. Andross gasped and spluttered for new breath. The creature quickly fell limp. Andross seized it by the limb and threw the egrint off him.

Fox rolled onto his back, panting just as hard as Andross. His headache began to settle. "Are you… okay…?"

Andross coughed. He clutched one hand to his throat. "I think… I think so…" He took another deep breath. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Fox sighed. He propped himself onto one arm and jabbed a finger at Andross's chest. "And that is what it fucking feels like to get attacked by a brain monster!"

Andross glanced over to the egrint. Its blood washed over Fox's knife, which sat hilt-deep inside its fleshy, sightless head. "Duly noted…" he shuddered.

They fell back onto the ground. After that ordeal, Fox needed rest. He rubbed the migraine from his head. Egrints were nasty things. It's no wonder that the Cerinians avoided them. Eventually, Fox sat up. He pulled his knife out from the carcass.

"At least we have dinner sorted," he said as he washed the blade in the river. Egrints fought zealously over territory, so Fox didn't fear another one popping out at him.

"That creature tried to kill me, and now you expect me to eat it?" Andross laughed wryly. "And people call me mad."

"Someone who used to be scared of egrints taught me something." Fox dried the blade on his shirt. "They're pretty damned delicious."

He decided to let Andross sleep off his recent brush with death as noon crept upon them. Fox yawned as he kept watch for more hungry animals. The body clock that he had developed over the last year made him sleepy. He splashed cold water over his face to keep himself alert.

After enjoying his turn to nap, Fox followed Andross to their next destination. They were taking wild stabs in the dark now. All the likely places on the map had been scoured. Yesterday they spent more than an hour standing atop a tall hill, scanning the area with telescopes. They marked five new possibilities. So far, three of those turned up nothing.

This latest site felt like the least likely. It was little more than a bog, worse than the first place they tried in the valley due to the stink of plant rot. Fox wrinkled his nose. The sooner they checked the whole area over, the sooner they could move on.

To ensure he didn't miss a thing, Fox followed a strict process. He checked off every step under his breath. Stand still. Crank the handle on the dust detector. Confirm that the light turned on. Wave the detector around him. Confirm that the light is still on. Step forward. Stop. Repeat.

Slowly, painstakingly, Fox worked his way through the bog. He pushed all other thoughts away. His eyes were only for the little bulb on the end of his stick. He hardly paid attention to Andross doing the same thing on the opposite side.

Step forward. Stop. Crank the handle. Light on. Wave around. Light on. Negative. Step forward. Stop. Crank the handle. Light on. Wave around. Light on. Negative. Step forward. Stop. Crank the handle. Light on. Wave around. Light on. Negative.

'Come on… Come on…' Fox pleaded.

Step forward.

Stop.

Crank the handle.

Light on.

Wave around.

Light on.

Negative.

Step forward.

Stop.

Crank the handle.

Light on.

Wave around.

Light on.

Negative.

Step forward.

Stop.

Crank the handle.

Light on.

Wave around.

Light off.

Negative.

Step forward.

Fox stopped. His hand went still over the crank. Something didn't feel right. Why though? He began to turn the handle. The lightbulb wouldn't turn on. Fox lifted the dust detector higher. He tried again. Nothing came from the globe. Was this…? No, maybe it was just busted. Fox brought the lightbulb close to his eyes. Its tiny length of filament was burned through. Maybe he broke it? No… That wouldn't be possible if he were powering it by hand. That had to mean…

"Andross!" Fox shouted. "I think I've got something!"

Immediately, Andross charged through the deeper bog water to Fox's side. Fox showed him the dead lightbulb. Andross's eyes widened. "Stay right there," he ordered. He palmed his own dust detector to Fox and unslung his pack. Andross took the shovel strapped to it and jammed it into the water in front of Fox's feet. After removing several scoops of mud, the shovel struck something hard.

"Solid rock just underneath us," Andross muttered aloud. He struck again around the spot. His arms jolted when he reached the same results. "It's all around here… If the rock is all one object, then… the dust deposit could be as large as either of us!"

Fox glanced at his feet, imagining the size of the stone beneath them. "How are we going to dig it up?"

"We'll need to drain the water first." Andross brought his fingers to his chin. "There's not much that we can do with the tools that we have here. We're going to need help."

"From Galthumarata?"

"That's assuming they're willing. Otherwise, we would need to wait for help from Kezamat." Andross then hummed. "Scratch that. We'll have to call on both. If this cluster is as large as I'm guessing, we'll require help to transport it."

Fox kicked the lump underneath him. There'd be no possible way for the two of them to carry something this size out of the valley alone. "Then let's mark the location and head back to town."

"I agree." Before Fox could react, Andross ripped the spear from his back and drove it into the bog. Its shaft stood off-kilter like a poorly raised flagpole. Fox's hackles bristled.

"Hey! That's mine!"

It took spending another night in the valley before they finally reached Galthumarata. As soon as they found an inn, Fox's first order of business was to wash the grime from his fur. He relished in a warm bath, followed shortly by a hot meal fresh from the kitchen. Fox slept like a rock afterwards. The feather bedroll was softer than a cloud after roughing it outside for so long. By the time Fox awoke late the next morning, Andross had already sent a message to Kezamat. With the array of telepaths across every town and village, it would arrive at its destination within hours.

They then took their plight to the High Priestess of Galthumarata's temple. She assembled the skilled hands that Andross requested. He set them to work over the next week. Fox bristled as the ape ordered him to help. Nonetheless, he did as he was told. Together, they constructed a crane atop Cabbot Valley's rim. Its sturdy rope and frame would lift a dozen people down the cliff within minutes. The hunters and woodcutters in Galthumarata were ecstatic from that alone. Now they had convenient access to a wealth of new resources.

Midway through building, Andross advised Fox that volunteers from Kezamat were on their way to assist them. On the day that their arrival was due, Fox stood alone outside Galthumarata's gates. He fidgeted in place. Impatience kept him from waiting at the inn with Andross, out from the wind, heat, and sand. A part of Fox was curious about who had chosen to come. He wanted to hope, but he dashed it quickly. It was a silly thing to expect.

Past noon, something stirred Fox from his dozing. It tickled at his thoughts. A flush of excitement filled him. Fox realised that the feeling didn't originate from himself. That ignited a second, similar surge that did. Fox couldn't see or hear, but he could feel it.

Without thinking, Fox began walking. His pace quickened gradually until he was just short of running. The mind at the other end of the tether hurried as well, yet not so fast as to abandon the ones behind them. Soon, Fox saw them. A leash of foxes walked the road alongside a large cart. Just ahead of their beast of burden, Fox found the source of the earnest and joy calling him.

It was Krystal.

His arms opened to receive her. Krystal nestled into the crook of Fox's neck. She embraced him with a firm tenderness that seeped deep into Fox. He returned it in equal measure. "I can't believe you came," he said into her ear.

"Of course, I did," Krystal answered softly. "I'm so glad that you're okay, Fox."

Fox's smile grew. "It's really good to see you, Krystal." He pulled away and gazed into her eyes for the first time in nearly a month. They glistened brilliantly.

"It's good to see you too," she smiled back. Fox's tail wagged gently with hers. A brash voice then cut between them.

"Hey, Fox! How's it going?" Fox looked up as the cart stopped behind Krystal. Sabre perched behind the driver, waving his arm. A broad grin stretched across his muzzle.

"Just when I was having a nice moment, you butt your nose in and make a noise. I see how nothing's changed, Sabre," Fox smirked. The other tod jumped down. Fox clasped his arm heartily. He looked between Krystal and Sabre. "Thanks for coming. Both of you."

"Yeah, well, it's been boring at home, to be honest," Sabre yawned, stretching his arms behind his head. "I figured this would be a good excuse to get away for a while and see someplace new. Plus, I wanted to be here for Krystal. She's been anxious ever since oof!" Krystal cut him off with an angry jab in the ribs.

In addition to themselves, Krystal and Sabre brought four more from their clan. All young and able-bodied foxes who had time and a burning desire to dig up a fabled tear shed by the Sky God. Andross was pleased when Fox brought them to him. Once the Cerinians had time to rest, they would set out for Cabbot Valley. Fox and Krystal stayed awake talking until late into the night. It felt wonderful to hear her voice again.

The High Priestess insisted on accompanying them with her acolytes. Fox worried about her pregnancy, though Andross allowed it with no notable concern. Between the workers, the priests, and Krystal's family, it took three trips for the crane to ferry everyone down to the valley's base. They made their way to the bog Andross had marked. A long tree branch stood where he had initially placed Fox's spear.

The workers raised wooden walls around the dig site. Priests with strong affinity for water magic drained the box until the muddy bed became exposed. Andross finally confirmed the size of the dust cluster below it. Any adult present could curl comfortably within the outline that he marked. Digging it out with shovels would be a herculean task. Fortunately, they had a lythan and a lythan's son with them.

Krystal and Sabre stood at opposite sides of the markers. While he did not have a lythan's staff like Krystal, Sabre's spear held a similar gleaming gemstone beneath its head. The pair closed their eyes. The gems shone softly near their foreheads. Fox couldn't perceive mana well, though he could feel something charge in the air beyond mere anticipation.

The mud rippled and gurgled. Compacted soil split across the bed. Fox's jaw hung half an inch as globs of earth lifted upwards. No matter how many times he watched Cerinians cast magic, the sight of it always took his breath away. The globs flew off into the water outside. More continued to raise until something translucent and pink appeared beneath the muck.

"There it is!" Andross exclaimed.

Fox's lips split into a bright grin. "We found it!" He turned to Andross. They clasped each other by the arm, laughing excitedly after almost three weeks of searching and waiting. The mood then passed, and they quickly parted. They turned their backs to each other as though nothing had happened.

Krystal and Sabre uncovered most of the cluster. Strained grimaces creased their faces as they began to lift it out from the earth. A couple of the priests lent them their power. Fox, Andross, and everyone else lashed ropes under and around the stone. They added their physical strength to telekinesis and earth magic. Even then, the stone felt heavy. Rope tore into the pads of Fox's fingers as they carried the stone up and out of the bog. As soon as they loaded it onto the cart, Fox joined the Cerinians in celebrating with lively whoops.

Andross stood over the stone alongside the High Priestess. He wiped away a spot of mud still caked over its surface. Soft pink gleamed up at them. The cluster looked like a giant, egg-shaped pearl. Large cracks spread across its base where it struck the planet's surface 100 years ago.

"Arethan's Tear," Ovia breathed, brushing the stone. "I never imagined it would be so hard… and large."

"And heavy," Andross added with a nod. "Thank you, Your Grace. With this stone, I'll be able to study Arethan's power extensively."

"Then hopefully you and Mister McCloud will be able to return home," Ovia said. Andross nodded again silently.

Behind them, Fox caught hold of Krystal as she swayed on her feet. She leaned against his shoulder, exhausted. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'll be fine," Krystal panted. "Earth magic isn't my strong suit."

Fox stroked her back. Her soft fur glided underneath his fingertips. "You did great." She hummed happily in response.

Sabre puffed beside them. "Hey… I helped too… What about a little support for me?"

Fox leered at him. "I've only got two arms. Find someone else to give it to you."

"Fine! I will!" Thus, Sabre turned to a pretty priestess and, unsuccessfully, sought her care. She merely sniffed before turning away, leaving Sabre now tired and dejected.

Krystal opened her eyes to meet Fox's. He smiled warmly to her. Thanks to her help, along with everyone else's, they finally had the pink dust that Andross needed. Now they only had to wait for him to study it. At long last, they were taking a step forward to getting home. Fox could already see Peppy, Falco, and Slippy standing on the Great Fox waiting to greet them. He thought of his mother, holding him for the first time in too many months. Fox tightened his embrace around Krystal. Her hold tightened as well. He never felt his heart feel so warm before as it did right in that moment.

A bar of iron sat within a small wooden box. The box floated in a tub of water. Thene's eye fixed upon the bar with sharp interest. No matter how she turned it in the water, it would always twist its little boat back towards north. So, this was the power of magnetism at work.

Thene straightened next to the tub. Now that she had her baseline set for control, she turned to the collection of crystals set to one side. Each was infused with varying types and quantities of mana. Thene selected one at a time. She held them near the magnet to see if the magical forces could influence it.

When Thene tested against the amount of mana, only the most potent crystals diverted the magnet by a few degrees. The effect was minimal, though a traveller could be led astray if guided by a compass. Most Cerinians used other means to navigate, so the results remained practically useless.

Thene's next step was to apply elemental magic. As she expected, lightning crystals drew the magnet's end like meat would a starving predator. Fire and ice had no greater effect than with the raw mana; at least while exposing their energies passively, Thene noted. Testing the direct influences of temperature was a separate experiment for another time. None of the other elements showed different results.

With the tests concluded, Thene pondered her findings. Since lightning magic was the anomaly, its strong influence over the magnetic field likely had more to do with electricity than mana. Based on that reasoning, magic only had a negligible effect on magnets. Thene felt satisfied in learning that truth. It was a pity that she had no one to discuss her conclusions with though.

Living at the laboratory was lonely without Dr Andross. It reminded Thene of the months following her expulsion from the Lythan Jad. Bitter memories clenched her fangs. The masters labelled her actions perverse. They didn't understand that all she wanted was knowledge, to learn the secrets of the world that were their responsibility to teach their students. What did it matter how she gained it, whether it be through books, spoken words, or harvested from another's mind? She didn't care for the personal garbage that people kept private inside their heads. It didn't interest her. Yet the masters refused to listen.

After that disgrace, as they called it, Thene's family cast her out of home as well. She turned her back on them as much as they did theirs. Her next few months were spent in a disused hunter's cabin. There, she did her best to continue her studies alone. She made slow progress. Every lesson had to be learned through experience. Every experiment had to be conducted with nothing but the materials that she gathered herself.

In the autumn of that year, Thene heard whispers in the marketplace while selling herbs she had collected. A stranger arrived recently in Kezamat. He did not speak their tongue. Nor did he look anything like a fox. Such rumours stoked Thene's curiosity. It took like a wildfire. That same day, she climbed the hill to the old storehouse. There she met Dr Andross for the first time. Thene remembered how his hairless, flat face took her aback at first sight.

Neither of them could understand a word from the other. Through her telepathy, Thene expressed her interest to meet Andross and observe him. He huffed derisively. Andross went on to continue setting up his new laboratory, ignoring Thene entirely. The objects recovered from his strange vehicle inspired awe. Thene wanted nothing more than to ask about them, but the damned language barrier denied her. It left her with no choice but to seek the answers from Andross's mind. Like a serpent through the grass, she slipped inside.

She expected a lake but became swept up into an ocean. A twinkling void; iron giants; monolithic beasts asleep in transparent chambers; death; creation; rebirth. At the end of it all was a pearl so grand in size that its mountains were mere blemishes across its surface. Thoughts too complex for Thene to comprehend echoed through her head. Underneath it all burned an unyielding drive, as well as a terrible rage. She dug through it, seeking to find the coals that fuelled such an inferno. When she caught a glimpse, the flames billowed and Thene felt lost for breath. She awoke to find her back pinned to the wall and a dagger pressed to her throat.

Andross's glare was fierce. His snarls were senseless to her ears, yet Thene had stepped on enough toes to understand his emotions. All she could do was stare into his eyes. The mind that laid behind them was unlike any Thene had ever touched. It knew many things that the lythans did not. Magnificent and horrific things in equal measure. It enamoured her.

With the blade still at her windpipe, Thene touched Andross's mind once again. Into it, she sent a single, heartfelt desire: to learn from him. She pleaded with her will for him to take her on as his student; to teach her all the knowledge that he possessed. The grand and the terrible. She wanted it all.

Andross blinked in surprise. Suspicion creased his brow and rose through his mind in a smoky haze. A flicker of empathy sparked within it. Thoughts flowed through Andross. He weighed them on a set of scales. One thought that Thene saw was of her and Andross working side by side in pursuit of his goals. She threw herself behind it. Yes! Yes! That was what she wanted! Teach her everything that he knows, and she would repay him with her talents! It didn't matter to her what he used them for!

A decision was reached. Wary calm settled as Andross withdrew the knife and released Thene. She rubbed at the tender skin where he had gripped her. Andross pointed to his temple. Thene read his thoughts. She saw herself carrying objects from the broken carcass of some metal bird. Thene nodded. That she could do.

Over the following years, Thene worked alongside Andross to build and improve his laboratory. She taught him her language, the ways of her people, and about magic and the psychic gifts that all Cerinians possessed. In return, Andross schooled Thene in every field of science that he had mastered. She studied ravenously under his wing. Every day spent with Andross meant something new to learn. The laboratory became her home. Her new master became her family.

Thene's reminiscence compelled her to project her mind in search of Dr Andross. It was a foolish habit brought on from the loneliness of this last month. If only she could have gone to the Cabbot Valley to help retrieve Arethan's Tear. Alas, a damned imiccila allergy stood in Thene's way, as did the instructions given in Andross's message. "Prepare the laboratory." Her mentor knew best, so Thene obeyed despite the aggravation it caused her.

It was a foolish habit, yet Thene's breath caught as her search found Andross. He was in the city! On his way to the lab! She felt his mind. Excitement crackled through it. Thene's heart raced in her chest. In haste, she cleared the equipment for her experiment away. Just as Thene returned the last tool to its proper place, Andross burst in through the door.

"Welcome back, Doctor," she purred. Her tail flicked unabashed.

"It is good to be back, Thene," Andross greeted. Travel had tired his body. However, his mind flared with boundless energy. Thene wished to take him into her arms and soothe his aches away; to feel his spark trickle into her own mind. "Is everything prepared like I asked?"

She nodded. "The lab's floor has been cleared, and a temporary shelter has been set up outside for the Tear. I've also ordered the materials from the blacksmiths and glassblowers to your specifications. Unfortunately, they will take a full month to complete everything."

"That will have to do." Andross swept through to his desk. He reached into his pocket and placed two items onto the table. The first which caught Thene's eye was a soft pink, fist-sized stone.

"Is that it?" she asked, standing beside Andross for a closer look. "The Tear?"

"Only a small fragment of it," Andross grinned. "With the amount that we've brought back, we can run experiments to our hearts' content."

That set Thene's heart aflutter. She then looked to the second item that Andross placed down. It was a sketch of some sort of device. Thene believed she had seen a memory of it but could not recall the name or purpose of it. "And this is?"

"The next thing we need to understand the Tear's influence over technology." Andross brushed the paper carefully with one hand. "Use the time remaining to rest, Thene. Once the crafters have completed the parts, we'll be hard at work to put this together."

"I don't believe that I'm the one who's in the most need of rest," Thene remarked. She shared her sight of Andross to him. He shrugged as her point was taken. "What will we do with this machine once it's finished?"

A glorious smile stretched Andross's lips. It was one shown when an ambitious idea took root in his mind. "We're going to create lightning."

"We have lightning crystals."

"For this experiment, we need to remove all unnecessary magic from the equation."

Thene's interest grew. "I look forward to seeing your plan in action, Doctor." She moved to sneak her arms around him, but a whiff of his scent made her reconsider. "But before you do anything else, I strongly recommend that you take a long, hot bath and change. I will brew you some tea by the time you're finished."

Frowning, Andross sniffed under his arm. His nose twisted as he noticed the odour built up over the course of his journey. "I might take you up on that suggestion."

"As you should."

In spite of her teacher's unkempt state, Thene smiled brightly as she walked away. Her tail swished freely upon feeling Andross's presence so close to her once again. She never wanted to be apart again, even if he stank like a dead animal. This world was far too dull without her dear, beloved Simon.

End note:

I'll leave this chapter off by cautioning people not to attempt the security hack that Dash performed themselves. I've got no idea if the trick even works, and it probably involves more steps than what I've included in this chapter. The moral of that part of the story is to always keep your security measures up to date, otherwise your old boss's grandson will steal secrets in order to rescue your enemy from an alien planet. That's not going to reflect well on your performance review.