Main Core
Jen Sin ran down the approach hall. He had snatched a starbar from the dockside tool kit. The bowli ball was still in his left hand, furiously trying to break his grip.
He was a fool. Lorith had tried to warn him, and he had put her fears aside.
There were lives in his care, and Tinsori Light would not have them.
The door to the core was six steps away, and for an instant, he doubted—then the door slid away, and he was in.
“Jen Sin, no!”
That was Theo, who had of course come after him. That was regrettable, but he had also seen Tolly Jones in passing. He had nothing but admiration for the mentor’s good sense and survival skills; he would take care of himself, and of Theo.
He slowed to a quick walk as he approached, the field weird and blue above the array. The bowli ball was fighting his grip. He shook it.
“Little man, have you returned to your service?” came Tinsori Light’s voice.
“I never left my service,” Jen Sin said.
He flung the bowli ball aside as he moved forward, both hands around the starbar now, as he raised it over his shoulder.
“Jen Sin, no!” Theo shouted again, jumping forward.
Tolly grabbed the back of her jacket, yanked her against his chest, and got both arms around her, pinning her tight.
“Let ’im go, Cap’n Theo. He’s the light keeper—it’s his to solve.”
“Does he know about the field? He’ll die!”
Ahead, the slim figure strode on, flinging something away with his left hand, and hefting the starbar two-handed over his right shoulder, like he was going to bring it around and start smashing tiles. Tolly did a fast calculation, hefted Theo off her feet and threw them both at the floor, rolling toward the scant cover of the worktable.
The field crackled before him. Tinsori Light roared.
“I am in control of all systems!”
“No,” Jen Sin said. “You are not.”
He centered himself—and the bowli ball slammed into the array from the rear, unseating tiles and twisting racks.
There was a flash, a crash, tiles spilled. The field flickered.
Tinsori Light screamed.
Jen Sin brought the starbar around, releasing it into the face of the array, and kept spinning, away, now, hoping the momentum would be enough to get him out of—
A bolt of heat hit him in mid-leap, igniting his very bones.
He slammed into the floor.