The ship arrived at the south of Ulyrn Nezys, in a grove far enough from Hudun's compound to avoid the radars and scanners. In the grove were two people, associates of Greiant, with their weapons visible, constantly looking over their shoulders.
Akeron walked out of the ship, accompanied by the rest except for Gonje who remained in his seat. One was named Runue, and the other, Orko. They were as young as Zuri, but carried themselves in a way that expressed experience and competence.
"We got your call," Orko said, extending his hand toward Hudun. "We have to get back as soon as possible before they start to suspect anything."
Greiant said. "Where is Fred?"
"He's in the compound, preparing for the arrival of the Dunis tomorrow. Hudun's orders."
The Dunis, Akeron thought. That was Kelienne's plan, to acquire the element but would she dare do it herself? The risk was high, but then Kelienne thrived under pressure, and the element was something worth risking her life for.
Greiant asked. "Where is the element located?"
Orko answered. "I have not seen it myself. The bandits don't allow any outsider in their quarters, not even Hudun. But it's in there, I'm sure of it."
"You can leave tracking the element to me," said Akeron. "The quarters, is there any way to get in?"
"Not without being seen," said Runue. "Their security is tight. Especially now that they have a buyer for the element."
There would be no other option than to consider force. Not much of a hurdle once he acquired the element, another thing to consider was extraction. These bandits would undoubtedly give chase, with the help of Hudun's men, and even if they managed to escape, leaving the planet could prove difficult. Not even considering the matter of Kelienne. There were a lot of factors to consider, a lot that contributed to the failure of the acquisition.
Akeron asked. "How many bandits are in the quarters, give me a number."
"Fifteen, probably more inside guarding the element," said Orko. "What are you thinking? Blasting your way through?"
"As a last resort, I'm not leaving here without the element."
Greiant grunted. "The Dunis wants the element, what if we let her have it? We could—"
"No," Akeron interrupted. "We cannot let her get her hands on the element."
"Well, we can't take down the entire compound either. The risk is not worth it."
They stood there, silent, pondering on what to do. Then Zuri said. "How about a distraction? Something to pull their attention?"
Akeron glanced at him. "What distraction?"
"Me, the son of Lord So'lan," said Zuri with hesitation. "Coming to the compound after hearing words about an element. With an offer."
"You don't have the kind of money for the element," said Greiant. "And not to talk of the danger."
"We already know what he wants, my father's seat," Zuri said. "I can offer him that, in exchange for the element."
"That is not a balanced offer," said Orko.
"It doesn't have to be, just enough to keep his attention, and Akeron can take the element," said Zuri. "What do you think?"
The plan was imperfect, but better than any that they all had. Hudun could sniff out the holes of the offer, endangering the boy's life in the process, Akeron thought to himself. And even if he was successful, the boy would need to escape the clutches of Hudun. The boy lacked experience and bravery, a dangerous plan, clearly.
"No, we are not doing this, it's too dangerous," said Greiant. "Your life is not worth an Orod trinket."
Zuri answered. "Is there a better plan, because I'm not hearing one?"
Silence again, thoughts were running around everyone's minds. This was an opportunity to take down Hudun and retrieve the element at once. Akeron had promised the boy's father that he would be returned in one piece and that promise is superseded by the duty to the Orod. But then, an innocent life need not be endangered unnecessarily.
Akeron glanced at Zuri. "You stay with Gonje on the ship."
"But—"
"It's too dangerous. We wait for dusk and move then. We use the dark to our advantage."
At night, the team arrived at the tunnel entrance prepared for the Hudun compound. The tunnel was dark, lit only by the lights provided by Akeron. The team maintained silence, shuffling their feet through the mud.
Akeron could feel the cold through his clothes, reminiscent of the time he spent with Kelienne. Her warm embrace was not something he would think to miss. The peace, the modicum of love, all seemed like it happened to a stranger.
Greiant, walking behind the rest of them, moved forward to get close to Akeron. "The boy's plan, it could've worked."
Akeron answered. "Perhaps, but it's too dangerous. And he's just a kid."
"You might lose the element tonight, have you considered that?"
"The element cannot be destroyed. I tracked it down once, I can do it again."
The team reached a corner and turned right. The tunnel stretched farther into the distance, echoing every step they made. Akeron caught a whiff of something irritating, and let out a slight cough.
The tunnel came to an end, and they stood below a hatch. Orko got out into a room and called to them as soon as he finished scanning for people. Everyone got out of the tunnel and crouched down to avoid being seen from the windows. Akeron moved to one of them, and peered through, observing several men walking back and forth with their weapons. He counted twenty-two, but he knew there was more.
Orko moved to Akeron, pointed at a building in the distance, and whispered. "There, that's their quarters."
Akeron observed the building. Down below, there were three people standing guard, and in the windows, he could spot the light from a cigarette. The place was packed, and he had to think of a way to enter the quarters without being spotted.
Between the quarters was a tower, with a spotlight moving back and forth. There was someone on there, wouldn't be hard to take him out.
Akeron asked. "Is there a way to access the roof from here?"
Greiant, standing by the door, turned to them. "Well, yes, but you'd have to get through the people here first."
Akeron looked at the window, there must be a way to climb out without being seen. He looked around, contemplating, and then an alarm went off. What could it be? Couldn't possibly be them.
He watched as a craft landed in the compound. It opened up and a woman stepped out with the technological aura all over her body.
"She isn't meant to arrive until tomorrow," said Orko. "Something isn't right."
Kelienne, she's here. Her transformation was perfect, only to fool a non-Orod. Akeron then realized that the secrets behind her tincture were open to him as much as his were to her. She whispered something into the ear of one of Hudun's men, then pointed right in their direction. Loud orders flew around and their door flung open, with blasters trained on their heads.
Akeron whispered. "She knows I'm here."