Out of options and desperate, Tora dashed towards the amulet core at full speed, dragging the lightning sword behind him. He forgot Timmy was still there—got a full metal arm swung into his chest.

The room blurred around him as he was sent back the way he came. His body hit the wall near the entranceway, expelling all the air out of his lungs. He crumpled on the floor, wheezing, trying to remember how to breathe. Timmy hit hard, real hard. The pain screaming from his ribs made him feel sure something had broken.

“Finally!” Rakak cheered. The password must have worked. Through spotty vision, Tora could see the rat limping over to the tube, and plucking the amulet core out. “T.I.M.M.Y. come here! It’s time we installed this in you.”

The thief reached for the magic sword, but it was gone. He must’ve dropped it when he was hit. His pistol was empty, too. Try something else.

“Ya sure… that’ll work?” Tora said between breathes. His vision was starting to stabilize again. He needed to stall for time. Somehow. Stop whatever was about to happen. “Ain’t that just… Bolli’s research papers?”

“Are you daft?” Rakak snarled back, waving the data crystal in the air. “This is Bolli’s legacy—her life’s work! You think this is just some data log of her school assignments?! No, idiot! It’s the result of it!”

“No!” FPS gasped. A glance revealed the elementalist some feet away from him.

Liked it? Take a second to support Griffin North on Patreon!
Become a patron at Patreon!