Where Weavers Daire

Chapter Eight

In Darkness They Ride

"This isn't going to work," Pan said from the cockpit. "I can't see a thing."

"Trust me. It will," Thom's static voice said of the coms. "The Iron Shielding and the defense suite just saved our lives. I'm getting them secured now then we can get out of here."

"Huh, what did we land on?" Pan's co-pilot, Nat Stukari, Jr. said from his seat.

"On a sarcophagus, what else?" Thom said.

"Sarcophagus as in a resurrection chamber?" Nat said.

"There's a difference?" Vernon said from the engineering station. "There were too many people down there."

"So?" Thom said.

"I'm getting interference from something in the cabin." Nat pointed at several red screens. "And it's growing."

"Wait, what's growing where?" Thom's raised voice said.

"The defense suite doesn't have a hard seal," Pan said. "I can't lift off until we do. Thom stay where you are." She nodded to Nat. "Go."

Nat unstrapped himself from the co-pilot's chair. He popped the iron crash axe out from its cradle above the door and was down the stairs only to stop short at the sight in front of him. Selene and Alita with swords drawn, Thom with his shotgun and Cheri ready with her spell book all pointed at the middle of the cabin where Spence MacGregor, Melinda Scott and an unnamed Necrocloak sat atop a resurrection chamber. The litany languages overlapped until he put his fingers into his mouth and whistled loud enough so everyone in the lower cabin would stop.

"Thank you. Everyone not associated with the trio of idiots sitting on the resurrection chamber needs to take a seat," Nat said. "Selene and Al sheath the weapons. Cherie just keep doing what you're doing. Thom, back it up."

"I am helping!" Cherie said and waved her spell book around.

"Now, as for Mister MacGregor, Miss Stuk and the uninvited guest. Get off the resurrection chamber before you do anything else," Nat said.

"Oh, this is where you've been hiding?" Melinda said.

"Not hiding, Mindy. It's called a paying job. Now, shuffle off the chamber." Nat pointed to the Necro. "Mister Mystery Guest that hasn't introduced himself over there where Al and Selene can see you and keep those gauntlets spun down."

"Alita. Alita," Alita said.

"Al," Nat said. "Now, as for the person who happens to be in the resurrection chamber would you mind spooling down your defense wards, you're interfering with the hard seal."

"There's no one in there," Selene said.

"Why put defense candles around a resurrection chamber if you're not going to use them," Nat said.

"Wha?" Spence squinted at the chamber. "I think he's right."

"And if you can't see him you really do need to sleep it off," Nat said. "May I?"

"No, you cannot touch my sword," Selene said.

"Not talking to you. I'm talking to him," Nat said.

"Who him?" Alita said. "There's nothing there."

"He's right," the Necro's mask chittered.

"Thank you, Mister Mystery Guest." Nat nudged past Thom and stood in front of the chamber. "May I?"

The ship's deck plates shuddered along with the rest of the ship.

The chamber's cover parted much to everyone's surprise. The emptiness that resided within brought a collective sigh to the cabin.