The Spectrum Force Volume Three by Heather Ray (ready player one ebook txt) 📕

but with the nose and lips of a human being. And the size of her head in relation to her body most resembled a child of six or seven.

*I am called Mashal. I brought you to our sanctuary.*

Craig blinked in surprise as the high-pitched voice registered. "You! You're the one who spoke to me in the fight!"

The girl nodded. *I apologize for distracting you. Warrior Gaius had assured us he would contact his allies, and I had searched you out.*

"You know Gaius?" Craig marveled. Spectra did say something about him having friends on Edenia somewhere.

*We are the Midjinari, sworn protectors of the great Diadem.*

The Blue Enforcer frowned. "Midget army?"

Well, if the shoe fits…

*Midjinari. Direct descendents of the First Ones, who fatefully tore a hole in the fabric of the universe and released the Opposed Forces. The Opposed ravaged our planet, circling the star of Deneb.*

His eyebrow rose. "You're Denebians?"

*We are not of the same planet as Gaius. Our planet was the nearest to the star, but was destroyed by the Opposed in the Before Time. Only a few escaped, and searched the universe for a way to balance the scales of Life and Death. Now, we protect the Diadem, which is the key to restoring interstellar peace.*

"Riiight." Craig couldn't help it; the girl's story sounded way too much like the prologue of Star Wars to be of any use to him. He changed the subject. "Why did you bring me here? Did you disrupt my powers?"

*Your power stone still works. We silenced your energies and hid you here, to protect you from the Shadows. They sense the Light, and douse it.*

Craig gaped. "Then… my friends!"

He leapt to his feet, eyebrows drawn.

*No!* she protested, *You cannot win alone! You must not use your powers… you must stay hidden! Only the Diadem can help you now!*

Craig clenched his fist, his frustration mounting. Without the armor, he was completely defenseless against whatever evils existed outside the small oasis. And without his powers, he had no way to contact his friends, find out if they… survived…

His heart sank to his feet. The Midjinari saved me, but the others are out there! Even if they haven't been captured yet, they've got to be using their powers! They're walking with targets painted on their backs, and they have no idea…

"Can you take me to the Diadem?"

The girl glanced back at her three silent companions. A few shrill words were exchanged, and then, she set her impossibly large amber eyes on Craig. *I will be your guide.*

Chapter Thirty-Three

"Dammit!" Keith suddenly hissed, kicking a rock in frustration, "I can't believe this!"

Rachel watched as the Red Enforcer's enhanced strength dislodged the heavy stone, sending it crashing into a thick tree trunk ahead. Her lips thinned angrily. "That's won't help."

"Well, it sure as hell won't hurt. We still have no idea what happened to Craig, and now, we… are… LOST! I didn't even think this planet was big enough for us to get lost in!"

Matt offered a feeble grin. "Keith, you get lost in your own neighborhood

. Remember the time they closed off our exit on the Turnpike for construction? We circled the city for almost an hour until we found a street name you knew!"

Keith opened his mouth for a heated retort, but was distracted as fingers laced between his own. He glanced at Tamara, who gave his hand a gentle squeeze. Instead of yelling, he released a long, tense breath.

Jocelyn, who had lingered near Matthew during most of the arduous walk, took advantage of the momentary respite. She practically collapsed onto the soft ground, holding her heavy head with both palms.

Matt was instantly at her side. "What's wrong? Another dizzy spell?"

"I just feel… wrong

," she groaned, rubbing her temples. "Off balance, weak, and now this stupid headache just won't quit."

"You're probably hungry," Keith suggested, mournfully patting his own stomach. "If I'd known we'd be pulling an interstellar field trip, I would've packed a Snickers or something."

"Where?" Tamara wondered, "These suits don't have pockets."

Keith frowned thoughtfully. "Remind me to talk to Spectra about that when we get back."

Rachel wandered over to the tree that had borne the brunt of Keith's outburst. The beach-ball-sized stone had fired like a bullet, embedding itself nearly halfway through the resilient wood. If the trunk hadn't been three meters thick, the ancient tree would've tumbled right on top of them.

She ran her fingers along the edge of the angry hole, shaking her head slightly. She was exhausted. They were all

exhausted… roving for hours through an endless forest without any food, shelter, or even a clue. Somehow, they had to find the Diadem, Gaius, and Craig. And they had no idea where to begin looking.

Rachel stared up into the twilight. We've been wandering since that sun rose,

she realized, How much longer can we-

She blinked in surprise when a faint flash cut across her vision.

"Guys, did you see that?"

Keith turned his head. "See what?"

"That… light."

She lifted off the ground, slowly rising above the tree line to get a better view. After exactly ten seconds, the light flashed again.

"There! It looks like it's coming from that cliff."

The rest of the Force followed, and stared at the cliff in question. The light flashed after the same interim.

"It's a beacon," Keith noted.

"Maybe its Craig?" Tamara proposed.

Rachel frowned. "The light is white, not blue. But, it could be Craig, if he found some kind of machine to send off that beacon."

"I… I don't see anything," Jocelyn confessed, squinting her eyes.

Matthew glanced at her, worry pinching his masked face. "Maybe you're too tired," he offered. He then turned to Rachel. "We have to check it out."

She nodded. It was, after all, the first sign of intelligence they'd found on the planet… beside the Shadows.

"Let's go on foot," she decided. "Just in case the Denebians are watching."

The team traded nods of agreement, and descended into the forest. They immediately continued their journey, though their pace was quickened by the hope that dawned through the dark shroud of failure that had smothered them.

Less than twenty minutes later, the Force found a small clearing, with the sharp incline of a rocky cliff reaching into the sky.

"The light's coming from the wall," Keith realized. "Right out of the rock."

"That's so weird," Tamara admitted, walking closer to the pulse. "Why would anyone give away their location if their planet was being invaded by the bad guys? Phaedra must've found this place already!"

"Unless… only we can see it?" Matt proposed. He felt the questioning gaze of his friends on him. "Lemme try something."

He stepped back a few feet, making room as he spread his arms apart. At his mute command, his green armor dissolved into a brilliant cloud of energy, swirling back into the Spectrum Stone like water into a drain.

He stared at the cliff with his own eyes. "I can't see anything now," he revealed. "The light's outside our visual spectrum."

"So it could mean the beacon is only visible to the good guys," Tamara hypothesized.

"Or… that it's only visible to species with better sight than humans," Rachel pointed out. "We can't be too careful here, guys."

"But

we also can't ignore this," Tamara countered. She stepped closer still, reaching for the light. "It's the only clue we-"

Her words were cut off by a yelp as she sank into the wall.

"Tam!" Keith shouted, racing forward. The entire team immediately convened at his side, staring at the wall that had swallowed their friend.

After a few seconds delay, her excited voice proclaimed "Guys, I'm okay!" Everyone jumped back when her head suddenly emerged from the wall.

"A… hologram?" Matt murmured.

"A secret entrance," Tammy informed them. "Somebody lives here. You gotta see this place!"

Keith followed without hesitation, stepping through the false wall. The others soon followed, and all were struck speechless as they stood in the foyer of a large, spacious building.

"Incredible," Rachel awed, walking deeper into the room. Torches lined walls apparently composed of solid granite, casting flickering shadows everywhere. Yet, despite the creepy ambiance, there wasn't even a trace of malevolence.

"It's like someone carved a house in the side of the mountain," Matt observed. Slowly, he rounded a corner, his ring casting a brilliant green glow to amplify the dim lighting. "Wow… this looks like something out of Star Trek!"

Curious, the rest of the team followed. They were all treated to a complex series of computer systems, lining the wall and creating a soothing humming sound. In the corner was a large cot, with metal bars on both sides and its own computer near the head.

Rachel ran her fingers over the cushion, eyeing the aqua blue lamp hanging over it. "This looks like the healing device Spectra uses."

Tamara smiled widely. "Then this must be Gaius' home!"

All eyes fell upon Keith, as a cloud of red energy burst around him, dissolving his armor. He sighed in relief. "And it's got air-conditioning!"

"We can't get too comfortable," Rachel chided, "Even if there's no threat in here, we have to find Craig and Gaius."

"Maybe Craig's already here," Tamara proposed, "Or even the Diadem!"

Rachel felt the hopeful gazes of her friends. "Well… we do have to investigate. And we could use a break…"

Keith pumped his fist excitedly.

"But, we have to stay on our guard," she continued. "Okay, Spectrum Force… we'll split up into two groups. At least one member of each group must be Synced at all times, to keep our telepathic rapport open in case of emergency. Jocelyn-"

Rachel swallowed her words when she noticed her young friend leaning against the wall, one arm hanging listless at her side.

Matthew noticed her lethargy as well. "I think Jocelyn should get some rest," he stated, "She can sleep right here, on this cot. I'll stay with her."

"That okay with you, Jocie?" Tamara asked gently, touching her shoulder.

The Orange Enforcer nodded. "If you guys don't mind."

Keith threw her his winning smile. "Of course not. Just try to relax." Then, he rubbed his palms together. "Now… point me to the kitchen!"