The Spectrum Force - Heather Ray (ebook reader below 3000 .txt) 📗

six heroes heard a strong voice echoing in their heads. *Spectrum Force, this is Spectra. Please go to the parking lot outside the building you are now in. There is a portal waiting for you, and the coast is clear of onlookers. And hurry. It is important.*

Chapter Twenty-One

After about ten minutes of flight in the form of a beam of light, Tamara reverted herself into her normal form. She could feel the pressure building in her chest, giving testament to her low energy supply. But she ignored the pain, and flew forward. Her expression hardened when she slowed to a halt, just outside the black cloud that masked the sun.

"Incredible," she whispered, just within the space of the cloud. To her surprise, her voice carried through the Nightfall. Whereas sound cannot pass through the void of space, the Nightfall served as a sound medium.

Here goes everything...

she thought, passing deeper into the cloud. Inside the cloud was an eerie sound that was slightly reminiscent of suction. Without giving it another thought, Tamara pulled off her glove, revealing her ring. She held her breath and concentrated, as if trying to push her focus through the gemstone. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw the blackness start to pour into the ring as if it were a drain.

It's working!

she realized in excitement. But after a few minutes, she shivered in fear at the realization that the ring had turned from bright yellow to heavy black.

"Oh God," she whispered in panic, as the inky blackness continued to pour into the ring. First, the gemstone turned black. Then, the silver band turned black.

"What's happening?!" she shrieked, as the Nightfall continued to drain. Suddenly, Tamara felt her arm grow numb. She stared at her bare hand, and in horror, she noticed her skin. It had turned pitch black.

A terrified, anguished scream was the last sound to pass from Tamara Fox's lips.

Chapter Twenty-Two

"What's going on?" asked Keith wearily, folding his arms. At this point, it took all the strength in his body to keep himself at all calm. His father was dying. He failed his planet. His love was nowhere to be found. There was enough tragedy weighing on Keith's mind to bring him to his knees.

"Spectra?" Rachel asked, stepping closer to the podium. Spectra's eyes were closed in deep concentration, and a grim frown crossed her face. The former Spectrum Force knew it could only mean bad news. All the individuals present noticed that the Spectrum Stones remained on the podium beside Spectra's throne, indicating that she hadn't yet joined them into the White Stone to capture Nightfall.

"Guys!!" Jocelyn shrieked, staring out the large window, "Look!!"

Matthew, Rachel, Chris, and Craig joined Jocelyn at the western window, and gazed out in shock. Although it was early evening, the Sun was visible over the horizon. The entire sky was slowly taking on a navy blue shade, far brighter than the thick blackness that covered it for hours.

"I... I don't understand," Matt choked, glancing from the Spectrum Stones to the window and back again, "I thought there was no hope..."

"I told you not to give up!" Jocelyn shrieked with excitement, tightly hugging her good friend. Overcome with relief and joy, Rachel enthusiastically kissed Chris, who returned the gesture with equal gusto. As a team, five young heroes then embraced in a group hug of victory. Once again, against impossible odds, good triumphed over evil. Miraculously, the Nightfall was defeated, without the sacrifice of the White Stone.

But Keith didn't join his friends at the window, in their celebration at the salvation of the planet. Of course, he was greatly relieved that Earth would continue. The dark empire of the Denebians hadn't won yet. But in the core of his being, he knew the future wasn't as bright as it looked at the moment. And Spectra's frown was a testament to that.

"Spectra," Keith said again, turning to the wise sage, "where's Tamara?"

"Yeah," said Craig, stepping away from the window, "She disappeared at the hospital! Do you know where she went?"

But Spectra was still oblivious to the words of her Spectrum Force. In frustration, as well as in response to the overwhelming dread that began building in his heart, Keith ascended the golden stairs, intending on jarring Spectra from her magical reverie. From atop the podium, he had a clear view of the pillar upon which lay the Spectrum Stones. His eyes widened when he noticed only five stones were present.

"No," he whispered, falling to his knees to see if the yellow stone had fallen, "it's not what I think it is..."

"Keith?" Chris said, watching his best friend's actions, "Are you okay, man?"

"No I'm not!" he yelled, standing up and grabbing Spectra's shoulders, "Wake up, dammit!!"

Spectra's eyes shuttered open, and she gazed into Keith's panicked eyes. He released her, and stepped back, allowing the White Denebian to walk past him, and descend the stairs. She stopped at the window, and gazed at the sun in the distance. Sure enough, it looked healthy and strong.

"Success," she said quietly. While her voice carried some sense of relief, her frown didn't soften. She then turned back to the six teenagers, who stood in a row.

"Can you please explain what's going on?" Matt said, still in shock at their sudden victory, "It doesn't make sense."

"And where's Tamara?!" Keith demanded, "Her stone's gone!"

"What?!" said Rachel, turning to her friend with wide eyes, "You're kidding."

"No, I'm not," Keith said, an impatient frown on his face, "Would I kid around about something like this?"

Spectra held up her hand, signaling silence from her young team. "Tamara came to me about twenty minutes ago, asking for permission to attempt a very dangerous method of capturing the Nightfall without putting an end to the Spectrum Force. She hypothesized that a single shard of the White Stone, as opposed to the entire crystal, would be sufficient in capturing the Nightfall. She was determined to save the planet. And so she went into the Nightfall as the Yellow Enforcer, intending to seal the Nightfall in her Spectrum Stone."

"But, even if it did work, there's no way Tammy could survive it... is there?" Jocelyn whispered, her hand slowly rising to her lips.

Spectra shook her head solemnly. "I lost telepathic contact with the Yellow Enforcer minutes before I contacted you. I tried to re-establish communication, but there is nothing out there. I cannot locate the yellow stone either. It is as if she has vanished from reality. Moments later, the Nightfall completely disappeared, allowing the Sun to shine on Earth again."

"She's... dead?" Keith inquired quietly, his voice weak with denial.

Spectra nodded, her grim expression deepening. "Tamara sacrificed her life, so her planet can live on. The Spectrum Force may be down one, but they can still provide ample defense against the Denebians."

"And that's it?" Keith growled, clenching his fists tightly, "She's just dead, end of story? Why didn't you stop her?!"

"I couldn't," Spectra answered, "Tamara was determined to try her best to save Earth."

"Why... why didn't she tell us?" Jocelyn choked, tears forming in her fawn eyes, "I mean, she could've at least... said goodbye."

Spectra smiled weakly at the young Orange Enforcer, at to the girl's surprise, she noticed a watery film over the sage's eyes. "She knew you would try to discourage her," Spectra said gently, "She told me to tell you all that she had to do this, and that she loved you all dearly."

At that, Rachel squeezed her eyes tightly, and covered her face with her hands. Chris' eyes gathered moisture, and he gathered Rachel into his arms, stroking her deep brown hair gently as she leaned weakly into his chest. Jocelyn too began to cry outright, and sat down on the golden floor right where she was standing. Craig leaned against the nearest wall, his eyes wide with shock, and wet with tears of sorrow. Matthew was crying as well, wiping at his eyes and trying his best to fight it. Keith looked at all his friends, his fists clamped so tightly that his knuckles became white. His entire body trembled with anguish.

"First my father, and now Tammy," he whispered, tears spilling from his eyes. He looked up at Spectra, his blue eyes enraged and crazed. "Get me outta here! NOW!!"

"Take back your Spectrum Stones," she commanded, "You are the Spectrum Force again, sworn to protect Earth. Tamara sacrificed her life so the team could continue to fight for the planet."

Keith hurried up the steps, and grabbed the red stone immediately. He then transformed himself into a beam of light, and streaked out the window, leaving the other Enforcers to mourn Tamara Fox without him.

His mind swimming, his last clear thought was to escape. He couldn't bear to fall apart in front of his friends.

Epilogue