A New Beginning: Passing The Torch

Chapter 61

My ear tufts pinned back as I growled faintly at the press of people, but I wanted to know where Tessa was more than I wanted my rather large bubble of personal space left intact. Taureen flowed in with the crowd, allowing us to hear shouted instructions.

"Fighters to the East Wing! Medical personnel down Corridor B! Other emergency responders to the Northeast Wing! All others to the West Wing!"

The crowd barely slowed as they split up, leaving the person to repeat his instructions again to those now within earshot. Vick and Tran flanked Taureen as we went down a hallway.

A female Kymari standing in the hall asked us, "What skills do you have and how may they assist?"

Taureen replied, "Fire lizard handler. Another fire lizard handler was on the spaceship, and I am well acquainted with his bond animal if he is injured. My side guards can assist wherever their particular skills lie, but the bond animal will also likely allow their touch as well."

Her eyes flickered to me momentarily. "Your companion won't be allowed near the spaceship until it is deemed safe and secure. If you wish to wait in one of the side rooms, we can keep you updated. Your guards can join the infiltration teams. There is nothing preventing them from changing their priorities if we locate the bond animal and its handler."

Taureen spoke to Vick and Tran. "Please keep me updated."

They nodded seriously and took off at a run, heading through a different door. Shaking my head, I chittered my agitation and lashed my tail. Taureen stroked my shoulder as he walked up the hallway and went through a different door, which led into a small room. He closed the door behind us.

Finally, in the privacy of the tiny room with no observers, I screeched my internal anguish. I didn't know if my daughter lived or not. It tore at me – and I could do nothing to help! Pulling me into his arms, Taureen cradled me against his chest in an attempt to comfort me.

"Can you hear her yet? Do you have any idea what happened?"

"It keeps bouncing back! I've been trying non-stop. She was fine at lunchtime, but I haven't tried to speak with her since. Keegan can't get through, either." My worry and turmoil saturated my mindvoice.

Taureen knew what the bounceback meant, and his jaw clenched with his own anger and pain. We waited in silence for any update or for Aeria to arrive.

"We are almost there! Where are you?"

Taureen also heard Keegan's voice and sent the directions to Aeria's wrist comm. The silence seemed far too loud, and was finally broken when Keegan spoke again.

"We are outside the door."

I climbed up to Taureen's shoulder as he opened the door to let Aeria, Keegan, and Dirk come in. Rhay and Sadria were absent, likely on their way to the spaceship to try and locate Tessa and Soranto.

"Any news?" Aeria asked.

"Nothing yet. The city's shields are set to activate at a moment's notice, and the turrets are at full power."

An idea occurred to me, and I turned my head to look at Taureen with sudden hope. "Can you access Tessa's tracker?" The elaborate piece of technology would be able to tell us her vital signs and even her exact location.

"The frequency is only keyed to Soranto's wrist comm," Taureen said, pressing buttons on his wrist comm again, "but, Soranto's wrist comm will have some basic sensors. I won't be able to access the information, but Adeline can request it from the medical groups. I'll send her a message."