4. P R O T E C T O R S : Primordial

CHAPTER IX

After transforming into their Double Avatar forms, Bari gave each of the Avatars a headset that would allow them to communicate underwater, as well as armored oxygen tanks with more than enough air to support them for the duration of the mission. "If anyone loses contact during the attack, try to stay within immediate visual range of the others," he had advised. "We don't want anyone getting lost."

Now, as the Worthy suited up in the special Celestion-like armor provided by Bari, Camilla watched with both anxiety and impatience: the former because she was worried about her friends, and the latter because she had no idea how much time Autumn had left—if any at all.

"Do you guys know how long this will take?" she asked Gustav, chewing on her fingernails.

"Nein. But it shouldn't be too long," Gustav assured her, shoving his arm into one of his armor's sleeves. "Once we get past the creatures guarding the Giants, the rest should be easy."

"Yeah, but it's that first part I'm worried about," Camilla fretted. "Not to mention Autumn. How are you guys supposed to take out the Giants and save Autumn before he... before..."

Gustav gave Camilla a sympathetic look as she threatened to break down again. "Don't worry, Camilla—we'll save him," he insisted. "He's probably just waiting around for—"

"You don't know that!" Camilla suddenly blurted, her voice breaking, as she glared at Gustav. "What if he's not waiting around, huh? What if he's—he's—" She stopped abruptly, eyes wide, and slowly sat down, wrapping her arms around herself as she began to shake.

Gustav sighed and knelt in front of her, looking her in the eye. "Camilla," he said firmly but kindly. "We will bring him back. You, your cousins, and their parents will all see him again—one way or another."

Camilla's expression contorted into a desperate glare, and she grabbed Gustav's shoulders, hissing, "The chairwoman promised me. Addison promised me. Now you promise me."

Gustav hesitated.

"Promise me!" Camilla snapped, shaking Gustav pleadingly.

"Alright, alright! I promise!" Gustav grabbed Camilla's own shoulders. "We'll save him, Camilla!"

Camilla stopped shaking him, still glaring but through tear-filled eyes.

Gustav responded not with a glare of his own, but by surprising Camilla with a swift embrace. "We will save him," he repeated in a whisper. "I promise."

"Avatars! It is time to depart!" Bari announced from where he stood with the group.

Gustav pulled away from Camilla, keeping his eyes on hers. "Wait and hope," he told her as he backed toward the Avatars and Worthy. "This will all be over soon."

-

In the middle of the cave, the Avatars and Worthy all joined hands as Cameron prepared to teleport all of them at once. Bari stood in the center of the group, a hologram of the intended location hovering over his hand (in which sat a miniature projector). "Here is your target point," he told Cameron, pointing at the image of the underwater cavern. "The Behemoth's head rests under the seabed at the bottom of the cavern. Your Double Avatar forms should be hardy enough to resist the pressure at that point."

"Should be?" Josh (from the Daintree Haven) repeated. "We nevah tested 'em that deep!"

"True. And I regret that we lacked the time and resources to do so," Bari admitted. "But we'll have to rely on the power of the Avatars to get you through this." He stepped out of the circle and nodded to Cameron.