Rata Sum

Original timeline

It sounded like some form of cursing but an estimated translation of what was said is only known to other Asurans. Something was happening outside her control and Diina didn't like it.

"Calm down already! That's not going to help us find them!" Zigg insisted.

Selene Lion and Azeena Videll disappeared from their timeline completely, their vortex manipulator signals not detectable in any way, history remaining unaltered.

Without even responding back, Diina went from console to console, checking data, reviewing field notes multiple times, searching for an answer to the problem. She was so certain and confident in her complex calculated equations, only to discover there may be a possible error. If there is one thing a genius despises the most, it is admitting being wrong. Diina refuses to do so just yet, determined to figure it all out. All of UHoT present were now concerned but remaining calm and professional about it. All Asuran guild members was working together on the situation, or at least trying to.

"I thought we had a lock on them to bring them back to the present," Ellie asked her ranger twin sister Lynni.

"We did," said Lynni, "but a power surge of unknown origin disrupted signal communications."

Azelia tried to make sense of what the consoles were displaying but it was too hard for her to understand. She was not as calm as the others, clearly showing signs of slight nervousness. "We don't even know if they made it to the right point in time," she wondered out loud.

Zigg re-confirmed a speculation on his monitor just to make sure. "They definitely arrived at the Awakening and engaged Zhaitan. We received manipulator data sent from them almost immediately after their timejump cycle was completed."

Bat Shaft and Engie Videll may not have experience in equations and time travel applications but as engineers, they do possess a greater knowledge of machines than others, on average.

"Possible mechanical failure in the main circuits?" Engie asked Bat.

"Hmmm, hard to tell. After all, we did help construct the time portal gate. Perhaps something burned out or is not properly connected?"

"Let's do a quick rundown check and hope that's the case."

As they headed over to the gate's foundation, where the main circuitry is stored, Bat noticed Diina was about to smash the nearest console in anger with two overhead fists. He quickly pulled Diina aside at the last moment to prevent that.

"Hey! We need that intact or there's no chance of rescuing them!" he told her.

Diina pulled away from his grip and walked a short distance from the console in an attempt to remain focused. "I... I... I cannot formulate where they went to... or when!", she said.

Bat paused, not knowing how to respond, then returned to Engie at the gate foundation. Himedahl had an idea no one mentioned yet.

"What about the absorbing crystals? Could they have somehow caused that power surge?" he asked, not referring to any certain individual. After a few moments of speculated thought, the Asurans all looked at each other as if discovering a new revelation.

"I didn't even think about those things," Zigg said first.

Diina returned to her main keyboard and entered some commands, running a search and comparison subroutine. She paused to see the results on her console as they were also shown on the monitors for all to see.

"Bat, Engie, stop what you're doing. You won't find any hardware malfunctions," Diina told them. They both stood up, wondering why.

Ellie spoke up next. "Analysis confirmed. The wavelength of the crystal's energy harmonics matches the power surge frequency almost exactly."

"I kept telling you there was a slight phase variance in the upper band levels," Lynni said to Diina, "Yet you insisted that it was already properly calibrated when you programmed them."

Diina was about to reply in clever Asuran fashion but didn't, realizing Lynni might be correct. She stood there, head down and leaning forward with her hands on the console to prop her up, wondering what to do next.

Engie tagged Bat on the side of his arm. "Let's check the circuits anyway and see if there is a way to improve them for the next timejump attempt, assuming there will even be another one." They resume their planned inspection of the foundation.

Tesla approached closer to Diina. "How about sending someone else after them, only this time, with a fully calibrated crystal and instructions on how to repair Selene and Azeena's manipulators?"

"I strongly advise against that," Zigg said, "At least not until we conduct further tests first. But we will keep that option on the table when the time comes to choose one."

Azelia, the current acting guild leader in Selene and Azeena's absense, sat down in a nearby chair, hoping her friends are safe wherever, whenever, they are.