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shiver, glanced from one woman to the other, and swallowed hard.
    "Cyra was part of a scientific expedition to Incendra about six cycles ago," she began, focusing her gaze on Raina. "The ruler of the kingdom of Farsala requested the Imperium's help in locating a deep vein of precious aureum that reputedly ran through the vast Ar Rimal desert. While there, she made the acquaintance of the leader of one of the desert tribes"—she slanted Cyra an enigmatic look—"who led her to some caves at the base of the Barakah Mountains. These caves are quite unique in that they arc—"
    "Guarded by firestorms," Raina dryly supplied. "I don't need a geography lesson on my own planet, even if I did leave when I was but fifteen cycles old. Just get on with explaining what Cyra has to do with this little quest to Incendra."
    "Fine," Marissa muttered flushing in anger. "I intend to do just that, if you wouldn't be so impatient."
    "Sorry," muttered Raina in return. "This is making me very uncomfortable, that's all. The sooner we get to the end of it, the better."
    "Yes, perhaps it would be best to get this over with," Cyra briskly interjected. "I found some very interesting crystalline formations within those caves," she said, picking up the thread of the discussion. "A rare form of a high-frequency resonating type of stone, to be exact. The only other kind I've ever encountered were at the pools of Cambrai."
    "The pools of Cambrai?" Her interest finally piqued Raina leaned forward, her forearms coming to rest on her outspread thighs. "But that's where the stone for the Knowing Crystal was mined. Are you saying this Incendarian stone is made of the same kind of crystal?"
    "Not exactly the same kind of crystal," Cyra admitted, "but very similar. It's why we need it. The theory is that the Knowing Crystal kept the Volans at bay all these hundreds of cycles while they roamed the universe, seeking out and decimating other galaxies. It seems too great a coincidence that the Volans never once encroached on the Imperium until about four cycles ago, when Marissa and Brace managed to destroy the Knowing Crystal in the pools of Cambrai. We now think the stone of power must have been instrumental in keeping the Volans out of the Imperium."
    "So now you want to create another Knowing Crystal." Raina slowly shook her head. "I'm not so sure that's wise."
    "We're designing a device that'll utilize only what we believe are the neurologically disruptive aspects of the stone while screening out the other, potentially more troublesome properties. And since the two forms of crystal are different in many ways, from their hardness, color, and transparency to their specific gravity, electrical properties, and magnetism, we hope to avoid re-creating the same problems we encountered with the Knowing Crystal . . ."
    "A very nice theory," Raina agreed, "with us, once again, the unwitting test cases."
    "There seem few other choices, Raina." Her hands locked behind her back, Marissa began to pace to and fro. "The Volans aren't going to wait around for us to sort through all our options. We have to make the best decision we can with the time and resources available."
    "And what of the electromagnetic storm about Incendra?" Raina rose and strode over to confront her. "I won't be much good to you if I arrive on Incendra dead."
    "We've a Volan spy ship specifically designed to carry the occupants through the field safely. It seems strange that they possess such a craft, almost as if they, too, were planning on infiltrating Incendra."
    "Or had their own purpose for the crystal in the firestorm caves," Cyra supplied from behind them.
    Raina wheeled. "If that's the case, time is of the essence."
    The blond woman nodded. "Exactly. And why we want two Incendarians to go. As natives, you'll both be more easily able to blend into the population. You know the land and language, and have a vested interest in preventing the Volans from succeeding with whatever nefarious plan they might