"How do you plan to do that?"
"Go back to the lab and see if I can activate something. I don't know if I have enough information but there's only one way to find out."
"The day's half over. We have time to go there and try and come back. I don't know how long Quinn will be gone for so I am having the kids spend the night here."
"Okay."
She let Shalt know the plan and they quickly got everything ready. Lana also informed Caser who went and got Griddlebone. The maccavity babies would walk on their own this time and she planned to begin teaching them how to hunt on the way. They also stopped by the command post to let Kattie know she was going out. Before she knew it, Duff, Biff, and Alto were also coming along. Lana just thought so much for a family outing.
They took their time, enjoying the scenery of the plants. They all greeted Lana and wished her and her family well. Lana was also given blow-by-blow updates on the progress of the baby maccavites and chuckled quite frequently as the babies failed spectacularly.
At the entrance, Griddlebone chose to guard the entrance while the rest went down. All the walls Sil built were still in place and they found the lab easily. Lana first tried drawing some arcane markings on the door. They didn't work. She placed the sword against the wall and the sword lit up but the door wouldn't budge.
"Damnit! What am I missing?"
She was frustrated.
"Well, you know one thing. That sword is part of the key." Dobin said.
Lana nodded, "maybe I need to bring those crystals with me. Should I study magic a bit more? I don't know if she'd put tests in the way or not."
"Would you?" Alto asked.
Lana chuckled, "Of course! Remember the trees said the Bree people were trying to gain access? I'd put a trap in there."
"Butterfly, are you sure Eno hasn't deceived you in any way on this magic thing? He wasn't happy you had his books." Sil said quietly, in her ear.
"Right now, I have no reason to distrust the exchange. The tenth ability was equal exchange. If I gave him truth, then he must give me equal truth for the exchange to work."
To the group, "let's head back guys. We'll try again in a few days."
Back at the surface, the group found 6 maccavity-cubs eating a beast corpse. She waited a second while the trees replayed their hunt. She both laughed and cried at their follies and successes. She gave Griddlebone a hug. "You're an amazing mom!"
So are you, Lana heard. She smiled.
Back at the shelter, Lana cooked for everyone. After dinner, "Sil, since you're going back to Blade Island soon, do you want me to make a few energy bars for you?"
He grinned.
Lana chuckled, "why did I ask?"
They went to the lab as family. While she did her thing, Sil played with the kids in the other room. The twins were asleep pretty quickly and Sil ended up playing lab assistant and finally understood what his wife went through to make these.
"I promise to be more responsible with them from now on."
"You better."
Halfway into the night, Lana was finally done. She cut them and put them in Sil's container.
They each picked up a baby and headed back home for some sleep. Caser and Griddlebone were asleep in their own bed. They worshiped each other for a short time and slept peacefully in each other's arms. Shalt took care of the twins when they got up and let the parents sleep.
When Sil and Lana woke, they got their shower and just as she was getting ready to cook, Kattie informed her Mona's assistant was on the line at the command post. Sil kissed her and went back to the ship to allow her to get her day started.
Shalt had the babies ready to go, having fed and changed them when they woke up. In the command post, she saw a person on the hologram on the conference table on the second floor.
"You must be Ms. Plantwell? Mona didn't tell me you had a transformation ability."
Lana nodded, "were you able to find something about my mother?"
"Yes, it turns out she was studying the plants and animals on the planet and discovering some interesting things. There are high level beasts that communicate together. One could almost consider them as having their own society. Your mother had a relationship with them. If you can find them, you may learn more. She refused to share that information with us but she was able to let us know that most beasts there were willing to work with humans as long as they had good intentions. Hunting was a problem for them."
Lana nodded, "I don't want hunting to go on forever, either. If I can broker peace, I intend to end hunting. The people can hunt on other planets. Did she send anything or did anything she owned end up in your hands?"
It was Tonko's turn to nod. "I'd prefer to pass these to you myself, if that's okay."
"Of course. When would be good?"
"I'd like to come through the teleporter in a few minutes. I'd also like to ask the Cursed what happened to Owen Graylash? We aren't getting a full answer and if Mona returns, I want to be able to give her one."
"Okay, come to the old Crow planet. I'll meet you there."
Lana flew to the command center which meant she went without her usual entourage. She saw Shiro enter and she was not far behind.
She threw the door open, "What the hell happened..." she noticed the number of people and changed her tone, "to Owen Graylash" the last being addressed to Quinn who she didn't expect to be there.
There was a minor uproar in the room for the way Lana just burst in. Quinn held up his hand for everyone to be quiet. Next thing Lana new, they were back in the dark room.
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