The Telerin Force: Beginning

Panic

Cyphid and Rough-Pound are in the Overlord control station, trying to track down Zack's location on the large monitors in the back of the room. Since Cyphid is the only one skilled enough to use the monitors, he's the one typing while Rough-Pound is giving moral support.

Rough-Pound: If da tracker's beepin', da boy's alive! Simple as dat!

Cyphid: I know, R.P., I know! Just let me concentrate!

He sighs.

Cyphid: Poor Zack... All alone and helpless... I can't imagine how scared he is...

Rough-Pound: Dat kid's as tough as nails, bro! But we're gonna get 'em back, you'll see!

Cyphid: Oh, but the process of uncovering the tracker is going to take ages!

Rough-Pound: How come?

Cyphid: I have to bypass the mainframe, decode the coordinates of the solar system he's in, which is a challenge in itself... And hope he's even in the same galaxy as us!

Rough-Pound: Huh. So there are other galaxies.

Cyphid: Loads. And if he's in another galaxy, that's a whole lotta more work for me.

Rough-Pound: Well... I'm at yer service, Cy. Tell me what I can do.

Cyphid: All I need now is to focus and work in peace. I need time.

(?): Time is limited...

Rough-Pound turns to see Slee-Kor entering the control station.

Rough-Pound scowls at him.

Rough-Pound: Ya little punk... Happy wit yer new position there, Sleek?

Slee-Kor: Believe me, being second-in-command to the Admiral is not a position you want to be in...

Rough-Pound: What are ya even doin' here?

Slee-Kor: I've come to give my theory as to why these events have occurred...

Rough-Pound: It don't matter how! All we care about is dat dis kid is safe!

Slee-Kor: Not with Grabblenacht after him...

Cyphid stops typing and turns to Slee-Kor, with a face of concern.

Cyphid: You're not saying that...?

Slee-Kor: The reason Grabblenacht is not at his post is because he most likely went after Zack...

Cyphid: How could that be? We were there. We would've known Grabblenacht was there with us.

Slee-Kor: Grabblenacht is smarter than we may give him credit for... And when it comes to the life of that boy, he'll do anything to take it... Grabblenacht hates Zack...

Rough-Pound: Yeah. Wit' a burnin' passion.

Cyphid: Th-then we gotta find Zack before Grabblenacht does! Assuming they didn't end up at the same location!

Slee-Kor pulls up a chair and sits next to Cyphid, with Rough-Pound watching carefully.

Slee-Kor: I have done my research about the Korrupton crystal... Its properties are unpredictable... Chaotic, even...

Rough-Pound: What does dat have to do wit' anything?

Slee-Kor: If the crystal were to have been "activated" by means of force, it can teleport the holder to the crystal's home planet... Where its chaotic properties are strongest...

Rough-Pound: {huffs} Oddly specific for sum crystal!

Slee-Kor: Indeed...

Cyphid: Where is this planet, then, Slee-Kor?!