The Noble Queen-A Shadow Slave Fanfic

Chapter 844 844: Unfriendlies

A spark was all they got. An ember, really, a remnant of what a spark should have been.

The water dwindled to a trickle, and the steam dissipated. The turbine slowed to a stop.

Brock pulled at his chin. "I know this was a trial, but when you said light the bulb, that isn't exactly what I was picturing."

"I saw the spark," Fort pointed to the bulb. "That's a promising development. You just ran out of steam…"

Noble wasn't sure if the pun was intended or not, and she wasn't about to point it out. Either way, he had a point.

"Something's wrong," Blaze furrowed his brow. "The pressure did not build up like it was supposed to."

He climbed the structure only to find that Teddy was right beside him. Noble, too, rose higher to examine what the issue might be.

Reaching the top, Blaze squinted.

"I need to check the temperature on this. Mom, could you…"

"I've got it!" Teddy held out her hand, and a strange coating formed on it. She placed it by the base of the bulb and whistled. "That's pretty hot!"

"Thank you." Blaze looked at the woman's hand. "Did that not burn you?"

Teddy grinned. "No, my friends are used to heat. They made the perfect barrier like an oven mitt!"

"Teddy, what exactly are your little friends?" Noble watched as the thin film on her skin receded.

The assistant shook her head.

"You don't want to know…"

"Mom?" Blaze prompted again.

"What? Oh, yes." Noble floated one of their canteens to him, and he poured a drop of water on the upper surface of the machine.

It sizzled and turned to vapor. Blaze frowned.

"It shouldn't have gotten that hot up here."

He poured a little more water on the top of the machine to cool it, careful not to get any near the bulb. Then he opened the compartment with the shard. More steam poured out.

Noble saw the soul shard, and her eyes opened wider. It was pulsing with energy.

'It reminds me of the Source in Northgate.'

Nothing was shooting from the shard in all directions, but Noble could envision it doing so. What's more, the air directly around the shard was not hot. Though Noble didn't try it, she was pretty sure that she could pick up the piece and it would be cool to the touch.

'Fascinating!'

"What seems to be the trouble?" Fort stood with Brock at the base of the structure. Both were anxiously awaiting the verdict.

"The steam seems to have leaked and heated the upper chamber. It also depressurized around the bulb's fixture." Blaze gave his two most obvious observations.

"Your seal isn't tight," Teddy pointed. "There are tiny irregularities in your connections."

"I don't see what you mean," Blaze tried to focus on the spot. As far as he could tell, things were properly seated.

"I deal with microscopic things," the assistant nodded. "I have to be able to see them, so my eyes are very keen."

"Can you help repair the seal?" Noble knew they only had one more full set of water with them.

While she could go get more, it would take at least an hour or two to refill the containers and bring them back. Ideally, they would be able to solve the issue quickly before they lost any more time.

Teddy nodded, and some special heat resistant polymer was fished out of one of the packs.

Brock brought it up himself, and this time he did not fumble the hand-off.

"Thanks, bro!" Blaze took the tube and carefully coated all of the places where Teddy noted problems. It was surgical, painstaking work. And Blaze's hand grew tired as it sweated inside his glove. Finally, the repair was done.

"That will need time to set." Blaze climbed down from the tower.

"Good, we can take a break. You all must be dehydrated." Fort led the group back to a safe distance.

The mundane humans removed their helmets, happy for a reprieve from the heat and the stale air in their suits. They drank from the canteens and ate a mid-morning snack. They chatted idly about their hopes for the rest of the day and the days to come.

"Imagine this place lit up with electric lights at night. It will be like the NQSC only better," Brock smiled widely, "and it will all be because of you, little brother!"

Blaze leaned back against a rock and glanced up. "It's already better. Aside from the fumes of the volcano, the air is cleaner, and the stars and three moons are stunning. I hate to lose the view."

"But we will get video games and communicators again. Imagine being able to message all your girlfriends instantly." Brock elbowed his brother.

The younger twin rolled his eyes. "I only ever like one girl at a time. But yes, it would be nice to communicate with Janie more freely."

"Is that her name right now?" Fort teased. "You really should bring one of these girls by the house. If it weren't for Brock knowing them, I would think they were imaginary."

"I will bring Janie by one of these days, I promise," Blaze waved away the comment as his ears burned.

"Your father tried to hide me, too." Noble shook her head.

"You found your own way," Fort smiled at her, "even if it did give me a small heart attack at the time."

"Is that the night you met Seb?" Blaze jumped on the change in topic.

"Indeed, it was. It was one of the best nights, too." Sitting with her boys, Noble often felt nostalgic. "Come to think of it, Seb had the girls chasing after him, too. He just never paid them any mind."

"Sounds like we would have gotten along well." Brock took a bite of his food. "Let the girls chase all they like. I have my own goals to fulfill before I settle down."

"You say that until the right one shows up, and then you won't be able to get her out of your mind," Fort winked at his wife. "And yes, I think you and Seb would have gotten along with all of you very well."

Noble glanced at Teddy, who was idly chewing on a piece of meat. "Seb is our oldest, who died before any of our other children could meet him."

"I'm sorry to hear that…" Teddy's reaction was lacking in her usual exuberance.

'She wasn't even surprised. Fort must have told her about Seb, or she read it in a file somewhere. I doubt there is much that girl doesn't know.' Noble mused.

Teddy continued to stare off. Noble followed her gaze toward the volcano. From their spot, lava could be seen on the far side.

Noble stared at the gentle movement of molten rock. She couldn't touch it, not that she wanted to try. She had been burned enough not to want to repeat the experience.

"Still, it is beautiful in its own way," she mumbled to herself.

Teddy furrowed her brow.

"Wait, do you see it too?"

Noble's stomach clenched. "See what?"

The assistant pointed to the volcano. "The Unfriendlies. They are gathering."