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

Rachel stared up at the smaller of the two suns. Due to the rapid rotation of the planetoid, after only twenty minutes, half of the dimming disk had disappeared behind the horizon.

They only had a few minutes left before twilight.

The Purple Enforcer forced her breathing steady, in a valiant effort to keep calm despite their no-win situation. The army of Shadows was limitless; at least, it seemed so. They had fought reasonably well before, but that was hours ago. Now, they were all exhausted, and while Spectra's presence would increase their collective strength, she was obviously too distraught to be counted on. Also, Craig was still absent, and Jocelyn hadn't yet recuperated from her terrifying experience.

Unless a miracle happened, they could never tear through the entire Shadow army, and make good an escape. And even if they did, that would leave Edenia without a protector… what would stop Phaedra from eventually finding the Diadem?

There really was no light at the end of the tunnel.

Rachel sighed deeply, and moved closer to Spectra. Gradually, she had managed to calm Gaius' hellish howls into more subdued murmurs. Still, it was clear from the torture written on his face, and the anguish that clouded hers, that she could do little else.

Unless, she were persuaded to help Phaedra.

Rachel doubted Spectra would do so. After all she'd done to protect Earth, a mere ball of rock floating in the far reaches of space, how could she bring herself to give Phaedra a weapon powerful enough to forever tip the scales of the war?

But she couldn't be completely sure. The way Spectra sobbed for Gaius, shaking with emotions Rachel didn't know the level-headed woman could express, spoke endless volumes.

When Spectra first advised the Force on the situation, she'd described Gaius as an "associate" of hers. It was clear he meant more to her than that.

Much more.

"Spectra?"

Her tears had dried, and her sobs had eased, leaving her unnaturally quiet and withdrawn. Perhaps she was still in his mind, calming his fears and maybe even numbing some of his pain.

She still managed to hear the Purple Enforcer. "Yes?"

A purple-gloved hand fell to her shoulder, and gripped it gently. "Who is he?"
Rachel noted her friends had all snapped out of their own minds at the question. No doubt they were wondering the exact same thing.

Spectra swallowed, moistening her dry throat. "He is my father."

The following silence was deafening.

Then, Tamara spoke. "Why didn't you tell us?"

Her tone was hurt; as if Spectra had kept a dark secret from them.

They could never understand. How could she tell them the truth? That she hadn't even called him "Father" in thirty years? How her rage over her mother's death and his apparent indifference forced a wedge between them so monumental, they'd hardly spoken in three decades?

She had been so young… barely the equivalent of a human teenager. She didn't understand duty. She didn't understand the Diadem.

She still didn't quite understand it now. It was yet hard to comprehend how one could sacrifice those he loved for a lifeless object, without a second thought. However, now faced with such a gut-wrenching decision, Spectra discovered a surprising amount of insight into her father's mind. And for the first time, she genuinely pitied him for having to make such a decision.

He is my father, but he is only one person. One life. Even if we all die today, that is only eight. Eight lives cannot balance the weight of the Diadem.

She breathed in deeply, saturating her strained body with oxygen. Her skin began to numb as she moved toward a conclusion.

He would not surrender the Diadem for his life. He wouldn't surrender it for mine, either. He knows how precious it is… more than I ever could. This is why you left us behind, isn't it, Father? You didn't want us to make this kind of decisions.

A long silence hung before Spectra finally answered the Yellow Enforcer's question. "I told you he is my ally, and that is true. Whatever else he may be shouldn't matter."

Tamara kneeled beside Spectra, and wrapped her in a compassionate hug. " Maybe it shouldn't… but it does."

Spectra found herself returning the Yellow Enforcer's embrace, and took a small measure of comfort in the simple gesture. She also felt the remaining Force gather around tighter, offering their sympathy and unspoken support.

The humans had heart; more than many of the more sophisticated, "superior" races in the galaxy.

"Your time is up, little girl," Phaedra's voice drawled. One could hear the wicked smirk in her triumphant tone. "What fate have you decided for yourself and your friends?"

They could have exchanged telepathic advice, but they didn't need to. They were of one mind.

"We came to Edenia to protect the Diadem," Spectra declared, rising to her feet. The Force assembled behind her, mimicking her ready stance. "And that is what we shall do."

It had taken him far less time to wander through the labyrinthine tunnels the second time around. He had arrived in the foyer, the magnificent weapon he knew was called the Dia-Staff secure in his grasp, just in time to see his friends congregate around something just out of his line of sight.

He had intended to join them; but the fierce voice of the Empress froze him in his tracks.

He realized his friends were trapped. If he gave away his position, they'd lose whatever element of surprise he could offer.

Instead, he draped the invisibility cloak over his broad shoulders, and took extra care to hide the Dia-Staff, lest its brilliant inner light give away his position.

He watched everything from beneath the cloak, its magical properties masking him from both visual and telepathic detection. He wandered close enough to hear Spectra's startling confession, as well as Phaedra's chilling offer. He observed the ocean of Shadows encroach upon his friends, mutely awaiting the Empress' final order.

He watched, and he waited for something to happen. And when Spectra rose to her feet, boldly declaring her team would fight to the end, a proud smile stretched his lips.

He would do the same.

The moment the Shadows moved forward, he did as well. He launched himself into the air, hanging above his comrades while still cloaked, and pulled out his weapon.

Let's see what this thing can do!

His hands tightened around one segment, and it flashed in response. The energy seemed to climb along the length of the pole, creating a blazing blue aura that could've blinded any normal human being. Craig squinted instinctively, muscles trembling in reaction to the energies flowing through and around them.

Immediately, a whirlwind of energy erupted from the staff's tip, so powerful it ripped into scores of Shadows, reducing them to puffs of the evil magic that spawned them.

Slowly, his shocked expression pulled into a fierce smile. Wicked…

"Craig!"

He hadn't realized the force of the blast tore the cloak from his shoulders, until the remainder of the Spectrum Force joined him in the air.

He grinned sheepishly. "Hey guys… long time, no see."

Rachel flew the closest, leaning forward and planting her hands on her hips. "What the hell happened to you? You've been missing for hours!"

"Well, for starters, I found the Diadem!"

The questions came all at once.

"Are you serious?"

"How'd you find it?"

"Where is it?"

"What does it look like?"

"What does it do?"

Craig was too absorbed in the battle ahead to truly hear his friends' frantic questions. Instead, he gave them a brief summary. "I left the Diadem where I found it, to keep it safe." He held out his long granite staff. "And look at the present it gave us!"

"Us?" Matthew repeated.

Craig nodded. "It's the Dia-Staff. Six sections for six heroes."

He held tightly onto the end segment. "Take your pick!"

The team each gripped one segment of the staff. Once all had taken hold, each segment began to glow in the respective color of its new owner.

Then, it broke apart.

Jocelyn, Matthew, Rachel, Keith, and Tamara marveled as the short staffs stretched to about two feet in size. The sturdy granite weighed securely in their hands, unyielding yet startlingly light.

"Split up, Spectrum Force," Rachel decided, "It's time to try out our presents."

The team separated into six directions. Craig descended to the ground immediately below, and picked up the fallen cloak.

"Spectra," he greeted with a small wave, "Good to see you got my message."

She smiled. "You just may have saved us all, Craig. And to think; you didn't feel you could handle this mission."

He awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. "So… you could tell, huh."

"Easily."

He shrugged. "Don't worry, though… I feel differently now." He then took the cloak with both hands, and draped it over Spectra's shoulders. "We'll handle this. You've gotta take your old man and get out of here. The cape's big enough to hide both of you, and you won't be detected. You should be able to get back to your ship unseen."

She grasped his hand. "Thank you."

Wasting no more time, she tucked the gilded scroll in her belt. Carefully, she lifted Gaius into her arms, and Craig helped fasten the cloak around her.

He watched her vanish before his eyes, and then lifted off the ground to join the rest of the Force.