"We're going to help Ello ourselves?" Gliss cried.
"But how? He's trapped on Skellia, remember?"
"We went to Skellia before," Perda said. "We can go there again."
"You mean through the vortex?" Zann felt a shiver of fear, but he shook it off.
"You're right. It's the only way to help him."
"We've traveled through the vortex before," Perda said.
"In fact, we've spent more time in the vortex than anyone we know—except for Wyssa and your parents."
She looked at Darb and Gliss. "We can do this."
Zann smiled, impressed by Perda's courage.
"Okay," Zann said. "Should we try to use the wormhole in Wormwood, or—"
"Stop!" Gliss exclaimed. "We can't just rush off through the closest wormhole."
"Again," Darb added, tickling Zing under his chin.
Perda frowned. "Are you two saying you don't want to help Ello?"
"He saved us when we got stuck on Skellia," Zann said.
Gliss shook her head. "That's not what I'm saying at all."
Her voice was shaky, but she sounded certain.
"I'm saying that if we're going into the vortex, we need to be sensible about how we do it."
"Okay then," Zann said. "So what should we do?"
Darb spoke up. "I have an idea. What about that guidelink Zann's parents invented?"
Perda gasped. "What a great idea! They said it might help people navigate the vortex."
"It should be able to help us find sources of magic too," Zann said.
"On Skellia the gulpers usually eat wormholes as soon as the wormholes appear.
But the guidelink might help us find more wormholes. Then we can all get away."
Darb nodded. "That's exactly what I was thinking."
Zann smiled at him, impressed again. Darb didn't have any magic, but he was one of the smartest people Zann knew.
"Do you think your parents would let us use the guidelink?" Gliss asked Zann.
"No way," Zann replied. "Not if they knew we were planning to travel in the vortex.
We'll have to take it from the lab without telling them."
Zann felt bad saying that. He didn't want to deceive his parents.
But they were so worried about other things.
He didn't want to add to their worries now by telling them about Ello.
"It's a good thing the adults are distracted by politics," Perda said.
"We can probably rescue Ello and get back before they notice we're gone."
Zann hoped she was right. Navigating the vortex was tricky, and they wouldn't have Wyssa to help them find their way home this time.
Gliss looked out the window. "It's getting pretty late.
Let's get a good night's sleep and then find an excuse to visit the lab in the morning."
"Are you going to the lab today?" Zann asked his parents and Boz at breakfast.
He was nervous about how he and his friends would sneak the guidelink out of the lab.
"Yes." Nax helped himself to a goofruit muffin.
"We need to store the relics safely until after the election."
"I still can't believe Laddno wants to be king," Boz said.
Once again the adults started talking about politics.
A few minutes later, Perda and Gliss arrived with Saffa.
"Ready to get to work?" Saffa asked the other adults.
"Can we tag along?" Perda asked. "I'd love to see more of the lab."
"Of course," Asta agreed. "You'll have to stay out of the way though. We have a lot to do."
When everyone arrived at the lab, Perda and Gliss distracted the adults with questions.
Meanwhile Zann and Darb slipped off to the room where the guidelink sat.
Zann grabbed the device from the shelf.
"Uh-oh. Someone's coming!" Darb whispered.
Mari had just walked in. Zann tucked the guidelink into his pocket.
"Sorry I missed your party, Zann," Mari said.
"I had to do something with my family instead."
"Oh, that's too bad," Zann said. "It was fun."
Just then Zann's mother hurried over. She looked serious.
Zann felt the guidelink in his pocket. Had she seen him take it?
But Asta was looking at Mari. "I'm glad you're here, Mari. We need your help."
Zann cleared his throat. "I guess we'll get out of your way then," he said.
He shot his friends a meaningful look.
His parents and Saffa barely seemed to notice his comment.
But Boz looked up as Zann and his friends headed toward the door.
"Hold on," Boz said. "I'll zap home with you.
I have some work to take care of at the house."
Zann gulped. "Um, you're coming home now? But you just got here."
Nax heard him and looked over. "It's better if your grandfather is with you.
These are unsettled times in First City, and there's safety in numbers."
Zann sighed. This wasn't part of their plan!
How were they supposed to sneak away from Boz long enough to get to a wormhole?
Boz was already rubbing his hands together, preparing to zap away. Just then Mari approached Darb.
"I almost forgot," she said, smiling at him.
"I heard about a Void Rights meeting that's happening today.
People will be talking about some new breakthroughs in magic sharing."
"Magic sharing?" Perda echoed.
Mari nodded. "It's the future of equality for Voids," she explained.
"You should go to the meeting, Darb!"
"Um, I probably won't have time," Darb mumbled.
"Here's the information, in case you change your mind."
Mari told him when and where the meeting would be taking place.
Then Saffa called her, and she went over to get instructions from her.
"Ready, kids?" Magic was sparking from Boz's fingertips. "Let's zap!"
Zann rubbed his own fingers together, trying to hide his dismay.
How were they supposed to save Ello now?