Read The Starborn for Free Online

Comet was even with her, she pointed to an empty space next to the largest building in the city.
    “So, we are just going to hover here?” Comet raised his eyebrows.
    She sighed. “No. But there is something here that the normal eye cannot see. I am going to run through the spectrum. Keep your eyes on that empty space.”
    Wiali pulled light from the surrounding stars and picked out the wavelengths that she wanted. One after another showed nothing, but finally Comet said, “There. That one.”
    Wiali intensified the light waves, and they floated toward the structure that was taking shape in front of them.
    Once they were over the stairs, they lowered themselves to the steps and walked into the disappearing structure.
    “Do you think they will be able to see us?” Comet reached out and took her hand.
    Wiali shook her head. “There were references to Jesku, the invisible, creator of all, power of the world. I am guessing that this is a planetary consciousness holding.”
    Comet looked around, whistling softly. “I have heard of them but never seen one.”
    “Neither have I. They were myth and legend, but most legends have more than a whisper of truth in them.” She smiled shyly at the warmth that rippled through her at the small contact.
    “You certainly lived up to your legend.”
    She winced. “I did?”
    “You are as intelligent and wise as Sovalli said.”
    “How much time did you spend with Sovalli before the end?” She walked with him through the entry corridor, and the space opened up into a huge chamber.
    “A year. He was concerned for my wellbeing when Suek went nova, but he had nothing but respect for the star and its child.”
    “He was a good man. Quiet, but good.”
    “Yes, he was.”
    She fought tears and swallowed. “This is the altar, and I am guessing that it was the conduit to Jesku.”
    Comet pressed his hands to the altar, and he pulsed some power into it. “It is dead.”
    She sighed and stroked the stone. “That would be very sad if it was accurate.”
    “What?”
    “They were puzzle makers, Comet. This altar is not the true one. Look at this.”
    Intricate marks and carvings depicted a glowing world, a happy, living world. “The world was happy and alive, it was bright and shining. Something fell from above, and the world lost all of its people. Grieving for the loss, it went dead.”
    Comet looked at the glyphs, and he nodded. “I understand. This is the history of a dead world.”
    She wrinkled her nose. “Well, there is one problem with that. If everyone was dead, who carved this stone?”
    His blue eyes widened, and she desperately wanted to kiss the surprise from his face.
    Biting her lip, she frowned. “The images of the planet are buttons. What order do you think we should choose?”
    Comet frowned. “If I was going to be bringing something back to life, I would start with death and work backward.”
    He reached out and pressed the worlds in succession, each sunken stone began to glow.
    When he finished with the first image, the stone groaned and slid backward. “Nice.”
    Wiali looked into the altar and the stairway it contained. “Shall we?”
    He chuckled. “Please. This is turning into a surprisingly fun day.”
    She laughed and led the way down into the altar. Light warmed her skin as they went deeper and deeper into Jeskulan.
    When she put her foot on the final step, the light glowed all around them, focussing on the figure in the sealed tank in the centre of the room that looked as if it ran under the entire city.
    Wiali walked up to it. “This is an apparatus I am familiar with.”
    “I can imagine it would be.”
    As Wiali touched the status screen, a hologram sprang to life.
    The language was low and liquid, so Wia looked and found the translation keys.
    “Welcome to Jeskulan. If you have made it this far, you are already dead. The surface of the planet is infected with a deadly pathogen that attacks water in any living thing. No amount of medical