Dark Nine ❈ Dark Nine Universe Bk1 ❈

Chapter Twenty-Six

After I feel many Kors from the assembly leave up the bridge or leave through the portal, when all movement and vibration stops through my hands, I climb back up onto the bridge as I watch Ninth Squad look to Mars for guidance, still all standing by the Estori's throne.

"We still have to defend Dark Ninth, I'll stay here with E," Mars commands, "The rest of you return home... until we find Diana."

They agree and I watch as they line up to leave this place through the ET portal.

Mars and E stay close to one another and whisper in each other's ears some ideas about me.

I am betting on their ability to track me down via my screams – when Alpha Centauri, in their minds – captured me.

I run up the bridge toward the cells and my nose picks up the burning star scent of Alpha Centauri off a descending spiral into the crevasse... a deeper, darker area below.

I move slowly now, as I let my eyes adjust to the darkness.

I take one step at a time, hunting the Estori, King of all Kors, with excitement.

I don't know where he thinks I've run, but I know he's in front of me, the wind blows back and toward me down here, taking me his scent, and keeping mine away from him.

At the bottom of this spiral, is a dark ledge, that runs along the crevasse.

I follow it, toward a single blue light, sparking from around a corner in the architecture.

The wind is much stronger down here.

I get to the end of the narrow walk way, to look around the corner.

I see an ET portal glowing, the sparks were shooting out because it had just been used.

It's still on, slowly powering down.

Adjacent to the portal is an opening to the dark blue skies of Planet Apastron, which is where the wind is coming in sharply off the side of a mountain peak.

I don't have time to view the landscape of this alien planet.

I know where Alpha Centauri went.

The blue sparks are tinged with purple, green and silver.

The portal itself smells of home.

Dark Ninth.

Of course. He thought I ran straight home.

I realise quickly that I have to rush because Alpha Centauri will soon face seven of Dark Ninth Squad. I wanted to face him alone.

Just before I barrel headlong into the portal back to home... I hesitate... I feel a strong sense of hesitation.

ET portals only lingered with power... when multiple beings were passing through.

Unless Alpha Centauri had no time to adjust the settings.

That annoying gut instinct is sharp and powerful the closer I get to the dimming portal, almost shut, my time to make a decision is running out – time I don't have to ponder as I usually do.

I think quick. I am at war with myself, my instincts saying stop, and my mind saying don't let this opportunity slide.

Alpha Centauri was on the other side.

I was pursuing him and he had no idea.

This kind of surprise attack may be the only opportunity I have to take his breath, to kill him, to prove myself.

Surely proving yourself, would require courage. Bravery. But what is courage and what is stupidity?

My ancient instincts infused into my DNA say to stop.