The Book of Gemma VOL. 2

40: Always, you.

The next morning I had every Zodiac help me build the blueprints Deecon had made of the force field generator. We had found a spot in the forest that would be hidden enough to dig down into. I had melted in the sun before, it seemed only right to put my life in danger by going towards the core of the planet. It was my idea of what Vyx had been using for an energy source and I didn't want to see any Zodiac get harmed if I was incorrect. We would have just sent the drill down but making a machine that could attach God's blood to the transmitter once set properly at the right angle, it would take too much time that we didn't have.

The hole was around four feet in radius, my hands inside the invention Deecon had made for my hands to drill downward.

"Remember, if it gets too hot.. Come right back up and we will figure out another way." He says to me as he lowers me into the hole, each Zodiac crowd around it. Kyto and Hercules kept a close eye on Albi, Akira and Edna to make sure they didn't jump in after me if something were to happen.

I turn on the hand drills, my strength tearing through each layer as I go further and further into it. The transmitter tied to my ankle as it follows behind me, the temperatures rising already.

Edna had thankfully braided my hair and tied the length of it over in a cloth tie to keep it above my shoulder blades.

I felt like a bolt of lightning with my pace and my eyes began to burn in the heat. I needed ice, I needed an icy chill.

'Pollux, please lower my temperature.'

I beg her and I feel the ice form and melt over as she tries to help.

I feel my hands inside the drills begin to burn and I halt myself.

Too much.. It was too hot. Vyx must have killed Starzithians until one could reach near the core.

I won't quit.

I won't quit.

I won't quit.

I repeat to myself but can't find the strength as my flesh burns form the sides of the tunnel. I think back to the smell of my burnt flesh from being hurled in the sun and I begin to panic, feeling like the tunnel is growing smaller and smaller.

I felt trapped.

"I.. can't.. do it." I cry, screaming out as I try to turn my body back to the exit.

The hot rock burning my legs and singeing my cheeks. I drill around me to make a larger space for me to turn and I shoot my body upwards, tearing my limbs at the speed as they bash into the rock. I see the exit and fly straight out, landing face first into the grass.

Cane and Pisces gripping onto my limbs and trying to heal the burns, Aqua cooling me down with a cold mist of water.

I flop onto my back and see them all stare down at me, waiting for me to speak.

I wipe the sweat from my forehead, "I'll get it on the second try.. Ju-..just give me a minute."

I hear Deecon's strong voice next to me now.

"No. We will figure out another way."

I try my best to sit up, Edna assisting me. "Deecon, I just need to heal. Then I can try to go further, half of the tunnel is already done."

Deecon took the drills from my hands and I had no strength left to fight him. I feel the rope on my ankle being untied from the transmitter and I look down to Sage tying it to his.

"What are you doing?" I say weakly to him. Sage grabs the drills from the ground and Deecon smacks it out of his hands.

They exchange no words, just deathly stares as Sage goes to grab the drill again. Deecon kicks it further from him and Sage darts for it, scooping it up and running towards the hole.