The Millridge College campus was bathed in the gentle glow of autumn sunshine, golden light filtering through the maple trees that lined the quad. Traci Walholme checked her watch for the third time in ten minutes, her foot tapping an impatient rhythm against the weathered brick pathway. Celeste was late, which wasn't like her at all.

"Come on, come on," she muttered, readjusting her backpack. Her fingers brushed against the hidden pocket where her Ruby gem rested, its familiar warmth providing a measure of comfort.

The campus was busier than usual for a weekday afternoon. Students lounged on the grass, soaking up what might be the last pleasant day before winter settled in. A group of freshmen tossed a frisbee with the exaggerated enthusiasm of people trying desperately to appear carefree. Traci watched them with a mixture of envy and amusement. How simple things must be when your biggest worry was passing Intro to Psychology.

Her phone buzzed with a text from Celeste: Running late. Meet at Aldridge Library instead? Second floor, southwest corner.

Traci frowned at the message. Celeste was usually meticulous about their meeting locations, preferring open spaces with clear sightlines in all directions. The library's southwest corner was notably isolated—perfect for privacy but terrible for security. Still, Celeste wouldn't change plans without good reason.

On my way, she replied, slinging her backpack over her shoulder and heading toward the imposing brick building at the north end of campus.

The library was an architectural oddity—a blend of colonial design with modern additions that never quite meshed properly. Inside, the air carried the distinctive scent of old books and the slightly antiseptic smell of industrial carpet cleaner. Traci nodded to the student working at the circulation desk and made her way toward the stairs.

The second floor was quieter than the first, with individual study carrels lining the walls and small group study rooms branching off the main area. The southwest corner housed the rarely-used cartography section—maps and geological surveys that had been largely digitized, leaving the physical copies to gather dust.

Celeste was there already, her long auburn hair tied back in a practical ponytail, bent over a large book spread open on the table. She looked up as Traci approached, dark circles under her eyes suggesting she hadn't slept much recently.

"Sorry about the change of plans," Celeste said, her voice low. "I needed somewhere we could look at these without attracting attention." She gestured to the book, which Traci now recognized as an atlas of Georgia, opened to a detailed topographical map of Millridge and the surrounding counties.

"What am I looking at?" Traci asked, sliding into the chair beside her.

"Leylines," Celeste replied, tracing a finger along a marked path that ran through the county. "I've been taking readings for weeks now, visiting each section of the lines and recording the energy pulses with my gem."

Traci studied the map with renewed interest. Celeste had marked several locations with colored pins—red for high energy readings, blue for historical sites of interest, and yellow for unusual fluctuations.

"This is impressive work," Traci said, genuinely impressed. "But why the sudden interest in mapping the leyline energy? We've always known they run through Millridge."

Celeste looked around cautiously before answering. "Look at the pattern," she said, pointing to her notations along the lines. "My readings confirm what I suspected. The energy isn't just fluctuating randomly—it's pulsing in a coordinated wave, flowing inward toward the Infernal Mount, then reversing and flowing outward."

Traci examined the map more closely. Celeste had noted time stamps beside her readings, showing the progression of energy pulses along the leylines.

"The pulses are increasing in frequency," Traci observed, seeing the pattern. "That's concerning, but not unprecedented during seasonal shifts."

"It's not just the frequency that concerns me," Celeste replied, pulling out another map from her bag. This one showed the same area with additional notations. "It's the symmetry and precision. Look at these waveforms—they're identical at each measuring point, just offset in time. Natural fluctuations would show more variation."

"And you're seeing this activity outside the park too?" Traci asked, pointing to markings along the leylines that extended well beyond Millridge State Park.

"Yes," Celeste confirmed. "The pulses are moving along all the leylines, not just the ones that run through the park. I've taken readings at the Johnson farm, the old mill, and even near the high school. Same pattern everywhere, all feeding into the Infernal Mount."

Traci felt a chill that had nothing to do with the library's aggressive air conditioning. "That's... deliberate. Someone's manipulating the energy in the leylines."

"Exactly," Celeste nodded grimly. "Someone or something is creating artificial pulses, pushing energy toward the Infernal Mount, then pulling it back out again."

"The Infernal Mount hasn't been this sophisticated in the past," Traci mused, studying the pattern. "They usually go for brute force approaches—tear open a dimensional weak point and pour through before we can respond."

"Maybe they're evolving their tactics," Celeste suggested. "Or maybe it's something else entirely."

Traci sat back, considering the implications. "Have you shared this with Lucy yet?"

"I'm planning to meet with Heather first to get her perspective, then take everything to Lucy," Celeste replied. "With something this unusual, I wanted to gather as much information as possible before making an official report."

Traci nodded, recognizing the wisdom in that approach. Despite her younger age, she'd risen to her position as Ruby Leader through a combination of raw talent and hard-won experience. If Celeste valued her perspective, there was good reason.

"We need to establish a monitoring rotation along the leylines and at the convergence points," she said decisively. "Teams of two, using their gems to take regular readings. If there's a pattern, we can predict when the next major pulse will hit the Mount."

"I've already started," Celeste said, a hint of pride in her voice. "Erica's been helping me. She's taken readings at several points along the western line."

"Good," Traci nodded. "But let's coordinate with everyone. Heather's far-sight might pick up something our gem readings miss, and William's connection to the earth could give us additional insights."

They spent the next hour developing a surveillance plan, marking critical monitoring points and discussing patrol schedules. The work was familiar, almost comforting in its procedural nature, but Traci couldn't shake the feeling that they were missing something important.

"What about that incident in the park?" she asked as they were finishing up. "The red light that the civilian boys reported?"

Celeste frowned. "That's another anomaly. The timing matches one of the major energy pulses, but the manifestation was different. Usually, these energy fluctuations aren't visible to untrained observers."

"Unless they wanted to be seen," Traci suggested. "What if it was deliberate—a message or a distraction?"

"From whom? And for what purpose?" Celeste asked, though her expression suggested she was already considering the possibilities.

"I don't know," Traci admitted. "But we should increase patrols near the park entrance. If they're going to make another appearance, I want one of us there to witness it directly."

Celeste nodded, making a note in her planner—an old-fashioned paper one, not a digital calendar. The Ruby Terranaut insisted that some things were too important to trust to technology that could be hacked or disabled.

"I'm meeting with Lucy later today," Celeste said as she carefully returned the maps to her bag. "I'll update her on our conclusions and the monitoring plan."

"Good. And I'll talk to William about setting up additional patrols," Traci replied. "His Emerald connection to natural systems might pick up something our standard readings miss."

They packed up their materials in companionable silence, the practiced efficiency of teammates who had worked together long enough to anticipate each other's movements.

"I've been thinking about checking the main convergence point near the Infernal Mount tonight," Celeste said as they prepared to leave. "The last reading I took showed an unusual resonance pattern that I'd like to verify."

"Want company?" Traci offered. "I can reschedule my study group."

"No need," Celeste assured her. "It's a routine check, and I know the area well. Besides, you need those study hours if you're going to maintain that GPA."

Traci gave her a skeptical look. "Just follow standard protocols. No unnecessary risks."

"Always," Celeste promised with a slight smile. "I'll take readings and report back. Nothing adventurous."

They left the library together, squinting slightly as they stepped into the bright afternoon sunlight. The campus had grown quieter during their meeting, with most students now in afternoon classes.

"I need to head to class," Traci said, checking her watch. "Calculus III waits for no Terranaut."

Celeste laughed softly. "I've got a couple of hours before I need to meet Lucy. Think I'll grab a coffee and review these readings again."

A flicker of concern crossed Traci's face. "Be careful out there. Even routine checks could be risky with the current energy fluctuations."

"Always am," Celeste assured her. "Standard protocols, no unnecessary risks."

They parted ways at the library steps, each heading toward their respective responsibilities. Traci watched Celeste's retreating figure for a moment, noting the slight tension in her shoulders. Despite her assurances, Celeste was worried—more worried than she was letting on.

Traci turned toward the Mathematics building, her mind working through contingency plans. If Celeste's readings were correct and someone was systematically manipulating the leyline energy, they needed to be prepared for a potential breach at the Infernal Mount. Which meant they needed all hands on deck, every Terranaut ready and fully trained.

Her phone buzzed with a text from William Beck: Something unusual at the southwest junction point. Tree roots growing toward leyline pattern. Very localized. Need to discuss.

Traci typed back a quick reply: Tomorrow morning? Breakfast at Millridge Café, 7AM?

His response came almost immediately: I'll be there. Bringing samples.

Traci pocketed her phone and continued toward her class, mentally adding the breakfast meeting to her already packed schedule. Between college courses, Terranaut duties, and trying to maintain some semblance of a normal social life, her days were stretched thin. But that was the reality of their calling—the responsibility they took on when they accepted the gems and their power.

As she climbed the steps to the Mathematics building, Traci's thoughts returned to the map in the library and the pattern of energy pulses flowing through Millridge's leylines. Whatever was coming, they would be ready for it. They had to be.

________________________________________

Heather Lockhart's home was nestled in a quiet corner of Millridge's older residential district, a modest cottage with a garden that seemed almost impossibly vibrant even as autumn advanced. Stone pathways wound between carefully tended plants, many of them rare herbs and flowers known for their meditative or healing properties.

Her workshop, a converted garage attached to the main house, was divided into two distinct spaces. One half contained her woodworking tools and materials—a lathe, bandsaw, workbenches covered in wood shavings, and shelves of carefully labeled wood samples. The other half resembled a meditation studio, with cushions arranged on a polished wooden floor, crystals positioned at precise angles around the room, and delicate wind chimes hanging from the ceiling beams.

The soft tinkle of those chimes greeted Celeste as she entered the space. Heather looked up from her workbench with mild surprise, quickly setting aside the wooden box she'd been carving.

"Celeste! I wasn't expecting you today," she said, wiping her hands on a cloth. "Give me just a moment to put on some tea."

"I don't mean to interrupt," Celeste replied, closing the door behind her.

"Nonsense," Heather smiled warmly. "I was just finishing up this commission. Tea is always welcome, and you look like you could use some." She moved to a small alcove where an electric kettle sat beside an array of tea canisters. "Something's troubling you."

It wasn't a question, but it wasn't mysterious precognition either—just the observation of someone perceptive enough to read the tension in Celeste's shoulders and the concern in her eyes.

"I've been taking readings along the leylines," Celeste explained, setting her bag on a stool. "The energy patterns are... concerning."

"Show me," Heather said simply, measuring loose tea leaves into a ceramic pot while water heated in the kettle.

Celeste spread out her maps and notes on a clear section of workbench. She described the readings she'd taken, pointing out the pattern of energy pulses and their increasing frequency.

"The symmetry is what concerns me most," she concluded. "These pulses aren't natural fluctuations—they're too precise, too coordinated."

Heather poured steaming water over the tea leaves, then joined Celeste at the workbench. She studied the maps carefully, occasionally running a finger along one of the marked leylines.

"You're right to be concerned," she agreed after a thorough examination. "I've been feeling disturbances, though I couldn't pin down the pattern like you have." She gestured toward the meditation area. "My distant sight has been cloudy lately, like trying to look through fog."

"That's unusual for you," Celeste noted with concern.

"Melanie's been experiencing similar issues with her precognition," Heather added. "She can see further than I can, of course—that's her specialty—but even she says the future paths are blurring together. She's getting fragments of potential outcomes but can't establish a clear timeline."

"Both of you having difficulties at the same time is concerning," Celeste said. "Could something be deliberately interfering with your abilities?"

Heather nodded, returning to check on the tea. "Whatever's manipulating the leylines may be deliberately obscuring itself from detection. Not just from our readings, but from our sight as well."

She poured the fragrant tea into two cups and handed one to Celeste. "The town meeting tomorrow night—I think we should have a presence there."

"The town meeting?" Celeste repeated, surprised by the apparent change of subject. "What does a civilian gathering have to do with leyline energy pulses?"

"Not everything important happens along leylines," Heather replied with a smile. "Sometimes the most significant events happen in plain sight, where we're least expecting them." She took a sip of her tea. "My sight may be cloudy on most matters, but the town meeting appears regularly when I try to look ahead. That suggests it's important, though I can't see exactly why."

Celeste considered this as she sipped her tea. The blend was one of Heather's specialties—herbs from her garden combined with imported teas, selected for both flavor and their subtle effects on mood and perception.

"I could attend," she offered. "I've been meaning to check on the Lamb boy anyway. He was at the park that night when the red light was seen."

Heather nodded. "Good. I'll be there as well, though not too obviously. We don't want to draw unnecessary attention."

They finished their tea in companionable silence, each lost in her own thoughts. When Celeste finally rose to leave, Heather accompanied her to the door.

"Be careful at the Infernal Mount tonight," she said with genuine concern. "The energies are unsettled, and not all dangers announce themselves with dramatic displays."

Celeste looked at her sharply. "How did you know I was planning to check the Mount?"

Heather laughed softly. "No mystical insight required. It's what I would do in your position, given these readings. Just take the eastern approach—the western path will be muddy from yesterday's maintenance work on the drainage system."

"I'll be careful," Celeste promised, relieved by the practical explanation. "Standard protocols, nothing heroic."

Heather's expression grew more serious. "See that you are. We need every Terranaut at full strength for whatever's coming."

Outside, the afternoon had started to wane, the golden sunlight taking on the amber hues of approaching evening. Celeste checked her watch. She still had time to meet with Lucy before heading to the Infernal Mount for her evening readings.

As she walked toward her car, Celeste's mind worked through the implications of her conversations with Traci and Heather. The pattern of energy pulses was concerning enough, but the sense that something was deliberately obscuring itself from their detection methods added another layer of anxiety.

She slid into the driver's seat of her modest sedan—practical, reliable, and entirely unremarkable, perfect for a Terranaut who needed to blend in. Her Ruby gem rested securely in her pocket, a comforting weight against her leg.

Whatever was coming, they would face it together, as they always had. The Terranauts had protected Millridge for generations, standing as guardians against forces most residents couldn't even imagine. This time would be no different.

Yet as Celeste started the engine and pulled away from Heather's house, she couldn't quite shake the feeling that something fundamental was about to change in their carefully ordered world. The question was whether they would be ready when it did.

________________________________________

The Infernal Mount—misleadingly named, as it was neither infernal nor a mountain in any conventional sense—was located in a secluded section of Millridge State Park. To casual observers, it appeared to be nothing more than a gentle rise in the landscape, unremarkable except for the distinctive rock formation at its peak and the unusually dense vegetation surrounding it.

To the Terranauts, it was the most important location in Millridge—the primary convergence point where all the local leylines met, creating a nexus of energy that occasionally thinned the barrier between dimensions. When that happened, things could slip through from other realms, ranging from minor annoyances to major threats requiring the full Terranaut team to contain.

Celeste knew there were other places like this scattered around the world—points where the dimensional barriers naturally thinned. Each was monitored by its own group of Terranauts, all connected through their common purpose but focused on protecting their local territories. The Infernal Mount was their responsibility, their piece of the global defense network, and they took that duty seriously.

Celeste parked in the eastern lot as Heather had suggested, noting with amusement that the western entrance did indeed have maintenance vehicles and muddy tire tracks visible. The park was quieter than usual for a weekday afternoon. Recent disappearances had made people wary of isolated areas, which suited Celeste's purposes perfectly.

She shouldered her backpack and headed down a narrow trail that led deeper into the woods. To casual observers, she looked like any other hiker enjoying the park's natural beauty. Only another Terranaut would notice the deliberate way she scanned her surroundings or the slight bulge in her jacket pocket where her gem rested.

The path gradually inclined, winding through increasingly dense vegetation until it opened onto a clearing where a formation of three large boulders stood in a triangular arrangement. This was the visible portion of the Infernal Mount—the actual convergence point lay directly beneath the center of the triangle, deep underground where the leylines physically intersected.

Celeste glanced around to ensure she was alone, then moved to the center of the triangle. She removed her Ruby gem from her pocket and cupped it in both hands, closing her eyes as she concentrated. The crystal responded immediately, growing warm in her palms and emitting a soft red glow.

The reading was alarming—energy levels far exceeding what she'd recorded previously, with complex patterns that confirmed her suspicions. The pulses were stronger here, naturally, as this was where they all converged, but the intensity suggested they were building toward something significant.

Most concerning was the timing. Based on the energy signature, if the pattern continued accelerating at the current rate, a major energy spike would hit the convergence point within the next forty-eight hours—possibly during the town meeting Heather had mentioned.

Celeste continued taking readings for nearly an hour, moving methodically around the perimeter of the clearing to chart the energy flow from different angles. The results were consistent and troubling. She recorded everything in her notebook using the specialized shorthand she had developed for field work.

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the clearing, Celeste reluctantly prepared to leave. She'd need to report these findings to Lucy immediately, and they would likely need to establish round-the-clock monitoring of the Mount until they understood what was happening.

The setting sun painted the sky in vivid oranges and purples as Celeste packed away her notebook and began the walk back to her car. Night came quickly this time of year, and already the forest was filling with shadows, the spaces between trees darkening rapidly. She kept her gem close, more for the comforting warmth than any expectation of danger.

The readings troubled her deeply. The energy pulses were not only increasing in frequency but also in intensity, suggesting a deliberate build-up toward some critical threshold. Having studied the Infernal Mount for years, she knew that when energy levels reached certain peaks, the barrier between dimensions grew thin enough for things to pass through.

Most concerning was the precision of the pulses—the symmetrical pattern that showed careful manipulation rather than natural fluctuation. Someone or something was pushing against the barrier, testing its strength, looking for weaknesses.

By the time she reached her car, the parking lot was empty, the last day hikers having departed as darkness fell. Celeste started the engine and turned the heat on, letting the car warm up while she jotted down a few final notes. Tomorrow's town meeting might provide an opportunity to observe the civilians for any signs of unusual behavior, and they'd need to establish a rotation for monitoring the Mount.

As she pulled out of the parking lot, Celeste couldn't help but feel that they were approaching a critical juncture. The peaceful evening around her seemed suddenly fragile, a thin veneer of normalcy stretched over a reality far more complex and dangerous than most could imagine.

Whatever was coming, the Terranauts would be ready. They had to be.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

End Chapter!

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