​     Noel and Trevor got to their feet​ even as the other four surrounded him. They were all together once again. 

​     All except for Adam, and who knew whether he was there or not? Like Gramps, he was probably still invisible. 

​     And the cavern? 

     "Whoa," Estelle muttered. "This place is huge. There should be an echo."

​     And now the cavern contained two dozen black clad soldiers. 

​     Algrim. 

​     And behind them? What they defended. 

​     The portal to Domitika. 

     It looked like a cross between a computer and a cauldron, a cube three stories high and made of metal and circuitry and blinking lights. From the top of this cube silver mist emitted, just like with a cauldron. Looking at it, Estelle was also reminded of a tree, kind of, because these thick, stone pipes emerged from it to run along the floor and walls, and these pipes reminded Estelle of roots.

     Also, things emerged from the top of this cube.

     Silver things.

​     They dropped to the floor beyond the cube to crawl eyeless across the floor. Misshapen. Limbless, a lot of them. They licked at this new universe they found themselves in before dissolving into goo and mist. Things flew from this cauldron silver and already melting. They'd fly a foot or two, some even got as far as halfway across the cavern before they, too, disintegrated into mist.

     "That's where Silveria came from," Noel said. "From that cauldron. From Domitika." 

​     In front of this cauldron was a place to sit. A throne, as it were.  

     And on this throne?

     Valtair sat as if, indeed, he was a monarch seven feet high and nearly as thick. To his left, Egoneg stood, fretting, hunched over even though he could stand up perfectly straight if he wanted to. He licked his lips like he was constantly thirsty. 

     And to Valtair's right?

     A woman warrior stood. Tall and straight and proud. She didn't look entirely unlike a member of the algrim. She certainly carried as many weapons with her as they did. Assault rifle. Grenade launcher. Ray pistol. She looked like one very formidable person. 

     "And who the hell is that?" Estelle asked. 

     "I'm not entirely certain," Gramps said, "but I think she's an Adam. Which Adam I have no idea. I've never seen her before. I've never seen a female Adam before."

     "It doesn't look like she's on our side," Brock said. 

     "She looks pretty aligned with good old Valtair, there." Estelle said. 

     "Great."

​     The Silvers circled overhead. 

     "Let the next phase of the plan begin," Valtair said.

CONTINUE