ROTU: Chapter Twenty-Eight

Jalena landed the ship in an underground bunker that Lyons had created at some point over the past years near the Colorado headquarters.

"How do you get the workers to remain quiet about building all this?" Jalena asked him.

"I have connections that were sent to me through the Federation. The same one I hired when I created headquarters. Most contractors believe it is for the government, so they don't question it."

"Did you update the shields?"

"Yes."

"Good. Then we can get to work."

Lyons sighed. "Will you please try not to blow the roof off? That light you unleashed in Costa Rica was insane." He looked at her wrist. "Give me the band back. It obviously isn't strong enough to mask your superhero mode. I should have done this already but I want to upgrade the shield to an adaptable mode in case your power keeps growing."

Jalena smiled as she unlocked the band and handed it to him.

Shakou introduced himself to Nyhra as he grabbed Jalena's hand and the three walked the length of the underground tunnel linking the bunker to their headquarters.

"You are working with the dragons," Nyhra stated as she scanned Shakou's energy. "I would like to familiarize myself in training with their energy more."

Shakou nodded. "Of course." He turned to Jalena. "Now, I am sure I will never get the best of you again in the sparring ring since you carry the dragon's blessing."

She chuckled and pulled his arm in front of her waist to bring him closer. "I'll go easy on you."

Nyhra and Shakou were already training together when Jalena entered the simulation room hours later. The three worked in sync, discussing Drasúl's abilities and formulating a combat strategy that would enhance the strengths of those within the group.

"I could certainly use Master Brogan's ability when facing Drasúl," Jalena pondered aloud.

"Why?" questioned Shakou. "What does he do that you cannot?"

"Mysteis teleport at a frequency that is faster than even a warrior. By reading the vibrations of the ground, Brogan could tell where the energy was gathering so we could detect a Mysteis's destination."

Shakou smiled. "You do not need to read the vibrations of the ground to detect this, Okami-chan. All you need is the ability to read dead energy."

"Dead energy?"

"When your energy centers were dormant during the time that you forgot who you were, you relied almost entirely on your physical strength. Since you were blocking your own energy, I was reading the absence of your energy to tell where you were relative to the life energy around us."

"This is what you were doing when you sparred me blindfolded?"

"Yes. I think your star wizard was showing me how it all works through my experience, so I could say it to you now. Your energy was of a lesser vibration than that of our natural surroundings at the time, so I used it to my advantage. However, the process is the same in any movement. Before energy arrives at a destination, there is a vacuum that forms, which is referred to as gathering or dead movement. It is subtle but still occurs in a flash before a fist or foot reaches its target in combat.

"The same thing must occur in the process of teleportation. The vacuum occurs along with the intent, then the energy gathers, and action follows. You just have to tune your focus to the vacuumed energy that occurs in the location where the one teleporting will appear. It will be different than the surrounding energy. It may be difficult to detect the higher or different frequency, but it can still be done."

Jalena smiled. "Thank you. I understand." She addressed Nyhra. "Elder master, now that I have a partner that can teleport, let's work on predicting destinations."

Nyhra nodded and lowered her stance as she gave Jalena an eager smile.

In between training, the days to follow involved formulating a plan to retrieve the Conduits. Lyons and Jalena work together on identifying their whereabouts, matching the information regarding store sales that Nadia had provided with the energy surges on Lyon's grid.

The group gathered in the office to review the results of their research one evening, so they could discuss the next steps.

"I have narrowed it down to the areas where the most surges have happened," Lyons said. "Of course, the paintings could have been purchased by a relative and then shipped to any of these spots I have detected the most activity in, so you may have to check several connecting locations before you find the Conduits."

"These locations are all in the states," Shakou said. "There are no other possibilities in other countries?"

"When I was speaking to Fern at the apothecary, I learned that it is most logical that the Conduits would naturally gravitate toward my energy over time," replied Jalena. "This is similar to what happens on our planet. Not all light warriors are born in Alsar, but eventually gravitate to the kingdom to begin training unless the timing of synchronistic events interferes for a greater purpose." She stared at the map. "So, although the Conduits could indeed be from other countries, they are likely to have moved here or are visiting here at this time to increase the probability of me finding them.

"I will start here," Jalena continued as she pointed to Maryland. "Elder Master if you would search here." She pointed to a flaring light on the grid in Washington. "There is no record of sales that match this area in Washington, but the way the particular light is acting makes me want to see who this is." She turned to Shakou. "Shakou-chan, if you will look here in Colorado that would help. You may not be able to use Relasu, but I am sure the dragon messenger has an equivalent alternative for detecting Conduit energy."

Shakou smiled. "Indeed."

"I think we should heed Lunara's words about the Conduits also," Jalena continued. "Do not take it personal if they are not eager to hear or join our cause because they do not understand who they are. Resistance from them should not surprise us. However, there is also a chance that they could even be angry because now that the light is activated within them, they must clear any remaining blocks within their vessel before their power can flow freely."

After the meeting ended, Lyons had Kana prepare for their travels while Jalena checked on Shamira. The healing chamber had been moved into Shamira's room so she could easily be attended to. Kana reported that all drugs had left her system, but Shamira still maintained her human form. Jalena touched the side of Shamira's neck where her Lumsigne was once visible.

"I know you don't like your scars, Shamira," Jalena whispered, "but there is beauty that lies within authenticity of heart, no matter the state of the surface."

As Jalena packed for her trip to Maryland, she thought about Kaelon. She retrieved the necklace he had given her and laid it next to Gyan's bracelet on the dresser. She was finally able to remove the bracelet from her wrist the night that her memories had returned. She smiled as she thought about the amount of power contained in such a small item. Malik must have put more magic in the bracelet when it was created than even Gyan had realized.

"Okami-chan," Shakou said from her doorway.

Jalena turned and followed him without a word out the facility door. Part of the reason she enjoyed his company so much was because she never had to express herself to him and vice versa. She laced her arm through his as the two walked the trails near the facility beneath the full moonlight.

"She is here," Shakou said.

Jalena turned just as Haku leaped at her from the trees behind them. She laughed and stumbled back as Haku stretched to lick her face. "I am happy to see you too," she said as she hugged the wolf.

Haku dropped to all fours again, lifted her nose to the moon, and howled. Five more wolves emerged from the trees.

Jalena petted Haku as she watched the wolves. The wolves sat quietly or eagerly rubbed against the two as Shakou and Jalena interacted with the pack.

On their walk back, Shakou confessed that Malik was teaching him to alter his frequency so that he could interact more readily with the Federation.

"I know you will not be on this planet forever, Okami-chan, and that makes the light here shine a little less for me," he said. "I plan to travel and learn of other civilizations to distract me from your absence."

Jalena nudged him with her shoulder. "Whatever," she replied softly. "Besides, I may not live to see this through. If I do though, you could come to Elsaria with me. I would be happy to have my favorite dragon friend all to myself."

"I would do whatever you ask if I was not a messenger, but there is still a drive to fulfill my duty and when it is time to leave here, I must join more of my kind…at least for a while. Malik says other messengers are willing to travel together into more realms."

"As long as you promise that our paths will cross at some point. It is the only way I shall let you leave my sight."

"I promise, and Okami-chan, I know you will live to see this through."

Jalena stood at the large glass doors in the kitchen that led to an outdoor patio early the next morning as she sipped her coffee. She thought about how odd it would feel to return to Elsaria and back to the headquarters at the Ira Aug—to return to a life routine that now seemed foreign to her. She thought about the view from the windows in the common room of the master chamber floor and knew it would never feel the same as it had in the past. After being gone so long from her perspective and without Gyan there, thoughts of her old life no longer fit. If she did live to see the mission through, she knew her old life would have to be altered to fit who she was now, which felt vastly different, but somehow more.

Jalena. It came as a whisper.

Jalena turned sharply, almost dropping her coffee cup.

There stood Shamira, looking like her old self, in the kitchen doorway.

Jalena sat her cup on the counter and moved to go to her but paused when Shamira held up her hand.

Shamira blinked rapidly as she surveyed her surroundings. Large tears fell freely down her cheeks. "Jalena, I can't believe… I can't believe I did that…" She inhaled deeply and shook her head as her hands dropped to her knees. She fell back against the open door. "I can't believe I abandoned…uh…" Her chest heaved as she tried to get the words out, but the depth of emotion blocked her breath as a sob escaped her.

Jalena's eyes filled with tears as she felt Shamira's pain. Ignoring Shamira's outstretched hand, which rose again as Jalena crossed the room, she grabbed Shamira's wrist and turned her to face her.

Breathe, Jalena coached as her hands lit up with soothing blue energy. I already know.

Shamira gasped as another sob escaped. Fuck, Jalena. There are no words to express how sorry—how broken I've made this…I am not worthy to fight alongside you…

You know self-judgment leads to nothing but more heartache, Jalena said soothingly as Shamira took deep breaths. I forgot who I was too after you left.

How? Shamira sniffed. Her face relaxed some as she allowed Jalena's soothing energy to take effect. Did they drug you also?

Jalena shook her head.Mine was because of heartbreak. I wouldn't miss someone that much who wasn't worthy of it.

This made Shamira cry harder, so Jalena held her in silence until she became too exhausted to continue.

You are to rest for now, Shamira, Jalena said as she led her back to bed. None of us have been through an ordeal like you have. It is not like before when it was just you and I. We have a team here now. Lyons will introduce you to Shakou when you wake, and he will explain everything that happened from the time you left. He helped me return to who I was so he knows everything about us. Nyhra has returned also.

The Conduits? asked Shamira as she lay on her bed and closed her eyes. She held onto Jalena's hand tightly with both hands.

We are about to gather them now.