The Astralaceaes

Chapter 45: Into the Darkness

"Umm, okay!" Spark responded immediately and levelled her arm with the glass. The world darkened and came to light again, revealing the unaffected window. "Ummm—" She groaned loudly before releasing an awkward laugh.

"This whole section must be stabilized against gravitational fluctuations," Mek-Tek mused as he transcribed runes in the air. "Most likely to maintain the structural integrity of the engine's protective shell."

Mek-Tek aimed at the glass with an outstretched hand and fired a pea from his palm. Thread-like roots stretched to the four corners, impacting the window before tracing the perimeter.

"Try once more." Mek-Tek chirped, and Spark obeyed.

The room darkened again before the light returned, revealing an opening to the cavern beyond.

"What? How'd that work?" Gazeas asked.

"I destabilized the glass with just a little of our organics. The singularity tugged the plants, thus tugging the glass out of place."

"Fascinating," Haledon responded, looking to Witch-Hazel, who had already hoisted themself through the portal and disappeared beneath. "Witch-Hazel?"

Peering over the edge, Haledon could see Witch-Hazel twenty feet below, quickly inspecting the space around their landing. Without hesitation, Haledon followed, landing hard on the ground but keeping his footing. Gazeas and Spark, wielding Mek-Tek, followed closely behind, landing with an elegant surefootedness.

"Where to?" Spark asked as she scanned her surroundings.

"Towards the engine," Witch-Hazel answered as they began to run. "Let's migrate, Asteraceae."

The Guild raced across the obsidian-metal floor, dodging the pale pink glowing crystalline trees that towered twice Haledon's height. As lightning struck one of the nearby spires, it illuminated the space and sent a high pitch ring through the air. The electrified blue of the tree acted as a beacon, allowing Haledon to see much farther than before. And, for a second, he thought he saw something stalking the Guild.

"Mecharrion," Haledon said. "I think."

"We're on a Mecharrion ship." Mek-Tek chirped. "So I bet it's a Mecharrion."

"He knows that." Gazeas cut in. "He was trying—"

"Shh," Witch-Hazel hissed from the front of the group. "Stay quiet unless you can actually see something."

They continued on in silence, the Astralaceaes Druids struggling to keep up with the Earth Druids who had gained their stride in the open expanse. Several minutes into their run, the distant chirps and metallic whines of Mecharrion began to echo through the chamber.

"They're through," Spark whispered. "Witch-Hazel."

Haledon swung his head around, looking in the direction the Guild had fled. The faint pink glow of the trees appeared to be dimmed by the oppressive and unnatural darkness of the room. There Haledon thought he saw movement once more. A slender figure that was fast and low to the ground.

"Something is here." Haledon insisted, turning to the group.

"This spot will have to do then," Witch-Hazel grunted as they stopped and tossed the oversized acorn to Spark and Mek-Tek. "Mek-Tek, prime the bomb."

"Just need a second." Mek-Tek insisted as he crawled down Spark's shoulders to her hands.

Haledon watched as the Druid twisted the acorn's cap, revealing the glowing crystal concealed within. The light soon filled the vicinity, giving Haledon better visibility through the darkness, which he took advantage of to scan once more.