Free Hellhole Inferno by Brian Herbert

“I now have Tryn within me as well as Balcus, my first companion.”
    Sophie nodded. “Tryn could not be healed, and so she surrendered to the slickwater in order to join Tel.”
    â€œThat means only two Originals remain,” Adolphus said. “Do Lodo and Encix know?”
    â€œI am still here,” the man said in an otherworldly voice. “I am now Tryn-Clovis.” The eyes spiraled and the voice thrummed. “And I have a message, a new possibility that will let us reach ala’ru faster than we expect.”
    Adolphus glanced at Sophie. She said, “You’re not going to like it, Tiber, but hear him out.”
    They joined the General in his well-appointed study, where he had once kept transparent display cases of alien artifacts found by prospectors, long before anyone knew about the Xayans. He took a seat at his desk, firm and businesslike, despite his casual robe. “And what is it you propose?”
    Tryn-Clovis said, “Someone must recover the remains of Cippiq and Zairic from Sonjeera. Zairic was the original visionary who fostered our march toward ala’ru , and he was the one who saved us by creating the slickwater. A vital part of him remains in the residue in the quarantine hangar … and that would be very useful to us.”
    Adolphus drew his dark brows together. “Their remains are completely inaccessible, according what my spies have reported from Sonjeera—sealed in resin and under heavy guard. Michella is terrified of any contact with the Xayans. How do you expect to get in?”
    Tryn-Clovis was unconcerned. “We must find a way. Bringing the memories and energy of Zairic back into our shared pool of telemancy will be an invaluable catalyst. I—and a group of companions—will require transport to Sonjeera.”
    Sophie let irony creep into her tone. “He’s quite convinced, but not very practical.”
    Tryn-Clovis continued, “When I was in the pools, I experienced a powerful vision through telemancy. We are all in agreement that we need to rescue Zairic. Even from such a great distance, we are all connected, and I could sense the power still there in the Xayan residue trapped in that hangar. I know that if I can absorb what remains of Zairic and incorporate the afterimage of his presence, I will be able to accelerate ala’ru .”
    â€œAnd how do you expect to get there?” Adolphus asked. “The direct stringline from Hellhole to Sonjeera is cut. You’d have to go via one of the other Deep Zone nodes.”
    â€œThen that is what I will do. Once I reach Sonjeera, I will find a way to enter the quarantined hangar and retrieve the remains. That will give me what we need to save the Xayan race and alter the fate of this planet. It is a chance we have to take. The memories of Tryn inside me know the true powers that Zairic can awaken, if we liberate his memories, his telemancy, and all of his companions.”
    The General exchanged glances with Sophie. He said to Tel Clovis, “Keana Duchenet may have information to help you, since she spent her life around Sonjeera and she had access to isolated areas that no one else knows about. As a shadow-Xayan, she’ll want to help you.”
    Sophie said, “First, you have to get to the quarantined hangar. And that means you have to get past all the Crown Jewels security around the spaceport and the main stringline hub.”
    Adolphus smiled. “We have people who’ve done that before. Don’t underestimate the risks, but if you succeed, it seems that we have a great deal to gain.”
    Clovis stood straight, as if nothing would move him. “I’ll have far more shadow-Xayan volunteers than I need, General. Just give us a chance to get to Sonjeera.”
    Adolphus nodded. “I already have a couple of good operatives in mind.”
    *   *   *
    According to flight records, two of his most trusted pilots,