Chapter 17

“I needed an answer,” Moja responded. “I have been working non-stop on the information we uncovered. I am so close to finding the answer, but I need you. What else did you uncover about its formation?” Moja asked.

Andie took a deep breath. “There are more. Many more, in fact. Most of them remain buried or lost to time. But I think you are perhaps referring to the one, the source of its growth.”

“This is why we need you. You have found it? The source to its growth?” Moja asked intently.

“And what do you plan on doing with that information?” He asked her quizzically.

She thought for a moment. “I have a team. Perhaps we can destroy it. It needs to be wiped from existence.”

“If you can get to it,” he said. He poured the kettle’s water into the press.

Lena was barely paying attention to their conversation. She was more focused on the coffee. He collected two mugs and poured the steaming contents of the press into them. He looked to Lena.

“Cream or sugar?” he asked.

She shook her head.

He handed her the mug by the rim. She took it, warm within her grasp. She inhaled the scent. It eased the lingering headache that had been with her since their escape from the waterway.

“Thank you,” she said as she liquified further into the couch.

“How much of a defense do you think Fenix has on it?” Jazun asked.

“Oh, I doubt there’s much, if anything,” Andie responded. “Doesn’t need one.” He took a sip from his own mug.

Moja and Jazun exchanged concerned glances.

Andie scanned the library of hard drives on the wall before pulling one down. He sat down at the table next to Jazun and connected it to a display. A bright hologram of the entire planet appeared.

Andie expanded the spherical hologram by extending his fingers within the image. It inflated to about a meter in size. Mountains and canyons carved the surface of the planet. Longitudinal lines divided the sphere into the Seven Sectors. The longitudinal lines all ended at the edge of a circular cap at opposing ends of the planet, creating 8th and 9th divisions.

Andie hunched over the globe, examining it closely. “Because this is where it is.”

“Which side are we looking at?” asked Jazun.

“Subsolar,” answered Andie. “The zenith, to be more precise.” A red dot appeared within the exact center of the subsolar cap. “We referred to it as The Conservatory.”

Jazun looked at Moja and sighed. “This is gonna be more trouble than we thought.”

Moja paced, thinking. She walked back over to the paper map of Zarmina on the wall. She examined the bottom, searching for something.

“We can get to it from Beacon.” She pointed to a spot in the extreme south of the map.

“You want to go through Beacon?” Andie asked dubiously.

“It is the only way to remain underground. Out of the sun.”

“You think they don’t know that? That’s why they set it up as a quarantine zone. They wanted to keep it infected. It’s the perfect ward to anyone trying to get into the Infernal Sea.”

“We don’t know that. Beacon could be empty now,” Moja responded.

“No one’s getting through that passage, unless you’ve transferred since then,” Andie scoffed.

Moja stared at him, obviously offended by the statement. A hostile pause filled the air.

“I’m sorry,” Andie apologized. “Moja, I didn’t mean…”

Lena looked up from her coffee. Moja redirected her gaze towards Lena. It was an uncomfortable feeling. Lena looked away quickly.

Moja took a breath. “No. Andie, you need not apologize,” she said. “Your concern is valid. But I fear this may be the only way.”

“Andie, we’ve got a good team. I trust each of ‘em with my life.” Jazun reassured. “We’re gonna do what it takes to find this thing and figure out what Fenix is doin’ with it,” Jazun added.

“I think it’s already too late,” Andie said hopelessly. He sipped his coffee despairingly.

“No… No! We’ve gotten too far, and I refuse to sit and do nothing!” Jazun exclaimed.

“We should take this information and bring it back to the rest.” Moja suggested. “We can plan during the return.”

“Right,” Jazun agreed.

Jazun looked back at Lena. Before he even asked, Lena stopped him.