19. P O W E R : Family

CHAPTER IV

Uneasiness practically flowed through Zill's veins as he and his family gathered around the cylinder. "Place your hand on the terminal, Zillion," he ordered. "It's time to see if your theory is correct."

"Okay..." Zill took a deep breath and let it out slowly, putting his hand on the terminal. "So... do I just... power up, or...?"

He was interrupted when the air in the chamber began to vibrate, making the room hotter by effect. "Incoming vessel detected," an unheard voice said, detected only by the arthrogons' antennae. "Bombardment imminent."

"Activate countermeasures," Valafar responded through his antennae while simultaneously saying out loud, "Concentrate your Phoenix power through your hand. And do it quickly."

Zill nodded, and his hand began to glow orange as holy fire enveloped it.

-

-Sir! The Reviver's weapon systems are coming online!- an officer cried.

-They must've started fueling it!- Atar growled. -Raise shields!-

-Prep the ion cannons!- Raade ordered. -Take aim and wait for my command!-

-

"Countermeasures activated. Awaiting command to fire."

"Fire," Valafar said. He narrowed his eyes at the terminal before looking around as the circuits on the walls began glowing orange.

The Reviver shook as energy blasts rocketed out of its cannons and into the air. "Incubation chamber fuel at 25 percent," the disembodied voice reported. "Beginning Revival."

Sweat began to bead on Zill's forehead as he poured more energy into the terminal. "Is it working?" he grunted.

"Yes!" Alexis exclaimed, staring into the incubation chamber excitedly. "Look; they're growing!"

Zill glanced over his shoulder and almost fell over when he saw the eggs bulging and pulsating with orange light. "No way!"

Cierra smirked. "Looks like you didn't need me after all," she said to Valafar.

"It's good to have you here anyway," Maricella told her, trying to force a smile onto her face. "For all of us to be here... at this moment... it means a lot to me."

"Incubation chamber fuel at 50 percent. Countermeasures failed. Bombardment imminent."

"Keep firing," Valafar growled through his antennae and out loud. "Increase your output," he commanded Zill. "The Trozians are coming closer."

"On it!" Zill nodded sharply and did as he was told, sweating even more as he emptied his reserves of Phoenix fire into the terminal.

-

-We're still taking fire, ma'am.-

-Shields are holding?- Lt. Raade asked.

-Yes, ma'am. Integrity at 40%.-

-Should we fire on the Reviver?- another officer asked.

Raade glanced at Atar. Atar merely gestured to her as if to say, -It's your choice.-

The lieutenant sighed and mumbled something under her breath. -No,- she answered at last. -Take us down. I still want to try reasoning with them.-

-The youngest didn't seem to understand what the others are actually trying to do,- Atar put in. -He may be unaware of their true plan. We might be able to get through to him.-