The Crimson Nexus

before the floating shard, its crimson glow casting jagged shadows across the walls. Around him,

pered, her disruptor clut

ed, outgunned, and, if Revenant was telling the truth, outma

aid quietly. "You focus on neutra

ng artifact. "I can try, but it'll take time. If that thing is f

el muttered, pulling a small EMP gre

link, and for a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a high-pitched whine, the grenade erupted in

harging into the room

s their comms and devices shorted out. Revenant, however, rema

voice cool and unflinching. "I

r arrest for the murder of Councilor Solen and possession

you can stop this? The Nexus has already chosen i

rimson energy flared to life, deflecting the shot. Revenant's voice echoe

, Detective," he said. "Now,

el like a freight train. He was thrown backward, skidding

sruptor, aiming it at the shard. Blue arcs of energy leapt from th

unreadable. "Ah, the mage," he said. "How quaint. Yo

as the disruptor strained against the shard's

osure slipped. He stepped toward Nyssa, raising his hand to

t Revenant, striking him across the side with all his strengt

ch," Kael growle

catch the pipe mid-swing. With a twist of his wrist,

aid, his tone almost admiring.

the energy crackling around it carving

charge nearly depleted. She glanced at Kael, her

. He spotted a series of conduits snaking out from its base, thei

ad the conduit

in her eyes. She redirected the disruptor's en

orce knocking Revenant off balance. He staggered backward, clu

e distorted and echoing. "You d

ng inward with a deafening roar. The chamber was plunged into d

to his feet, his e

ed from behind a fallen support beam. S

e room. Revenant was gone, leaving only

about?" Nyssa asked, staring

grim. "I don't know, but whatever

at this was only the beginning. The Crimson Nexus had been stopped-

the darkness, Rev