Time stopped the moment Holden's brain registered what was about to happen. His processor calculated the trajectory, timing, and distance, then returned a single, absolute result.
Aldous was going to die.
The pillar of dark energy was six inches from the Headmaster's chest and moving at missile speed. Aldous's body was turning, his Rank 4 energy surging into a defensive formation, but the turn was only halfway complete. His left side was exposed, and his guard was open. He needed another 0.3 seconds to finish the movement.
He had 0.1 seconds.
Holden's Gale-Step activated. The world froze around him as he moved toward Aldous, already calculating the intercept trajectory. His 10,000x processor ran the numbers again, searching for a way through the distance.
He couldn't reach Aldous in time. Not even at Gale-Step speed. The pillar was too fast, and the distance was too great.
He couldn't save him.
But someone else was closer.
Vespera moved.
