Jim and Gill repeated the promise as well, then removed their hands. “Good. Now let’s go save a spaceship.”
Chapter Nine
Alex and Jim took off toward the rocky hills that rolled through the green valley as the ship above continued its slow, constant descent from the heavens. Alex couldn’t keep herself from wondering what was inside. All of the time she’d spent with the riders had been concerned with how they were going to get to the ship, not its contents.
That could have been because none of them wanted to think about the last time they’d had to deal with anything from space. Their last excursion had ended up with them defying direct orders, most of them nearly dying, a harrowing psychedelic experience, possibly sharing a mind-meld with the Dark One, and Alex losing her arm.
It was easier not to talk about those things, and on the whole, that was what Team Boundless had been doing. That was probably why they hadn’t been seeing much of each other. Sitting in a room with Jollies for too long would have prompted conversations Alex didn’t want to have. She was already getting weird looks from other students. Everyone’s eyes gravitated toward her arm.
Alex hadn’t had a chance to have the robotic nature of her arm covered. Myrddin had mentioned something about it when it was first installed, and now she almost wished she had gone the magical route instead. She still wasn’t used to seeing steel bones instead of skin, but then again, she was only recently getting used to seeing anything.
The arm worked perfectly and she rarely realized it wasn’t the one she’d been born with, except when she accidentally exerted too much strength. But she was quickly learning to control that.
Alex had been glad to be alone with Jim for a little bit but had been worried the conversation was going to turn to her arm, or even worse, what she’d seen within the meteor that had fallen from the sky.
The experience had been too much to wrap her head around. Sometimes she would think about it during the day, and a well of dread would creep into her stomach, the room would get distant, and things would become fuzzy. She tried to keep from thinking about it.
That didn’t stop the nightmares, though. Alex had never been so happy Jollies was a night person as when they had returned from that mission. The nightmares had arrived in droves, each of them concerned with the rock in some way. She hardly remembered them when she woke. She figured it was just stress, but part of her worried there might be something deeper. She had been connected to the Dark One or one of his minions on a mental plane. Maybe she’d brought something back with her.
Alex shook her head. That was why she had been avoiding everyone, even her own thoughts. Studying was easier. Hell, getting lost in a crush was easier too.
As Alex looked at the green streak left by the ship, she couldn’t push aside the fear growing in the back of her throat like a bad nasal drip. Soon her hands were going to start shaking, then she was going to throw up. After that, she’d be useless.
Alex wondered where all this fear had just come from. Only a couple of seconds ago, there had been nothing. She’d been fine. Maybe meeting with the Nest’s shrink wasn’t such a bad idea. Talking almost sounded nice. Alex wished she could have talked this over with her parents, but they would have worried. But if they could get past the worry, they would have understood.
The hills were coming up. Time to get your head in this, Alex thought as she focused on the giants who were riding mammoths across the plains. Alex wouldn’t have assumed mammoths could move so fast, but those things were hauling ass. Hopefully, they’d be able to make it to the boulders before the mammoths passed.
Chine’s mind tugged at hers. Sometimes when there had been a long interval, Chine would politely nudge Alex before interrupting her thoughts. What’s up, Chine?
The dragon’s thoughts were soft and almost timid. As the two got closer, Alex was starting to pick up on the emotions behind his words. You seem distracted, Dustling. As if something is troubling you.
Alex should have known better than to not talk to Chine about it. She should have at least let him know what was going through her mind. Even if she tried to hide her feelings from him, he usually picked something up, and they needed to be in sync. They depended too much on each other.
This is too much like last time, Alex finally said. It’s freaking me out. The last time, it was…
I know, Chine replied. I was there. I’d never felt anything like that before. It was disturbing.
What if this is the same thing?
Alex felt her dragon’s positivity wash over her and wrap around her like a warm blanket. It was almost as good as getting a hug from her dad. It isn’t going to be the same. For one thing, if this were nearly as dangerous as the rock was, Myrddin would have had it on his map for months. And whatever it turns out to be, we’ll be able to handle it.
He was right. If this thing was as dangerous as the meteor, there was no way Myrddin wouldn’t have prepared for this situation. That was all the wizard did. And, Alex reminded herself, reinforcements were on the way. Maybe this would be an easy one.
Except for the horde of giants riding mammoths. Comparatively, though, that wasn’t as bad.
Alex and Jim sped up, flying around the giants so as not to give away their position until they got to the hills. They found a spot with a number of boulders. Alex pulled up her tactical display to see how Jollies and Gill were doing.
The display showed
