Chapter 36: No Messing Around

Minor

I relayed the information and location we had acquired and we met up with my siblings in a corridor on level 13. This section was supposed to be chemical storage.

The storage room Hor'rom had indicated looked normal at a glance, but thanks to his intel, I was able to spot the small security camera hidden above the door.

"Well, I can't tell if there's anyone in there." Shooter clicked his tongue as he stared at the door with a far off look. "Guess that tech could be hiding him from psychic detection even from this range."

I sniffed the air. Qualin followed my lead, but shrugged like he didn't pick up anything.

It was hard with the strong scent of the various harsh chemicals, but there were a few hints mixed in.

"I can smell people... and food... but it's real faint." The effort made my nose burn a bit, and it wasn't even enough to know for sure if anyone was currently in that room.

"Can we teleport in?" Qualin asked.

"Nah. None of us have ever been in that room." I explained. "Even Hor'rom has only been to the door, never inside. Since we've never seen in there and can't connect to any living thing inside, there's nothing to aim for."

"So let's just bust the door down." Shooter shrugged and started walking.

"Hold on!" Qualin grabbed his arm. "Maybe I can just knock and get him to open the door. that way we won't set off any alarms and attract attention."

"Good idea." Galaxy nodded, gesturing for Shooter and the rest of us to step back and for Qualin to head to the door.

He nodded and headed down the hallway; we tried to stay out of sight, but it made me nervous. Once he got to the door, Qualin knocked three times and looked up into the camera. "It's me. Murkoross sent me."

I held my breath and waited. The hairs on the back of my neck started to stand on end. Something felt off. In my beastling form, I could see the threads of energy begin to move oddly. Before I could think of what it could mean or react, Qualin dropped to the floor just in time for a loud blast of energy to burn a hole through the steel door and the wall behind where he'd been standing.

Rage and fear overtook me and reflexively teleported to shield my partner. I crouched over him protectively and whipped my head up to snarl through the whole in the door, my eyes struggling to focus through the smoke and crackling energy. Another blast came for us, but I blocked it with a shield of psychic energy.

"Let's move!" Qualin called, scrambling to his feet. One hand reached out and snapped a thread of energy leading into the room and it crackled to life, sending a lightning bolt at our attacker. He started to pull me away. It took me a second to realize he was worried about protecting me.

How cute! His concern broke my murderous rage and I took a moment to nuzzle his cheek to reassure him. At the same time, Galaxy used telekinesis to rip the door from it's hinges and sent it flying down the hall as a crumpled ball.

"Don't worry. This is nothing we can't handle." I gave Qualin a peck on the cheek and helped him to his feet. A few more shots were fired from whatever energy gun our attacker was using, but they dissipated against my shield as my siblings converged on the room. I led Qualin in casually, projecting calm so he knew he didn't have to worry.

***

Qualin

Everything happened so fast, I felt the blaster charging up and barely ducked in time. Then Minor was beside me and all I could think of was getting him out of the blast radius. Silly me. I forgot who my partner was. The next blast shattered against a wall of energy that would be invisible to most people. Minor nuzzled and kissed me sweetly with a nonchalant smile on his face.

We walked hand in hand into the room as his siblings led the way, crushing the door, a table and the gun in Abujar's hands as if they were tossing aside paper mache.

"What the hell?!?" Abujar turned and tried to run but was caught by the shirt collar and lifted off the ground by Galaxy. The man struggled, but may as well have been a kitten being held by the scruff.

"But how did he know--" I looked around the room and found my answer: security screens. he had cameras all down the corridor, and at a few other places in the station. Seeing me arrive with strangers out of thin air definitely would have made him suspicious, and he wasn't the type to wait and see how things played out. "Uh oh." I pointed to the blinking light. "That alarm is probably altering thugs on his pay roll."

"Then I guess we'll have to have our conversation else where." Galaxy spoke calmly, but his words were oddly chilling. I could see the color draining from Abujar's Violet-grey face as Galaxy's energy weaved around him like a fist tightening around his body.

Minor pulled me closer and I felt his energy gather to teleport as an image of a far away place filled my head. I gathered Galaxy had chosen our destination. I really was getting the hang of teleporting and jumped just slightly at the moment Minor pulled us into the strange space between locations. We landed smoothly on rough rock. I was a little taken aback by the sudden rush of hot air buffeting my face.

We were standing on a small rock island in a lava field. Galaxy released Abujar and he fell, clearly disoriented. He stumbled, trying to get his feet as he turned, trying to get his bearings. Then the panic set in. "Ah! Wh-what the fuck!?!"