"You've always been strong, brother. You're a fucking hero," he said.
I shared a glance with my dad. His forehead creased with concern. "That's the fucker who came after you, right?"
I grinned and lowered my dad's weapon. "He's one of the good guys, Dad."
"But—"
"Just trust me on this, okay?" I asked.
Dad sighed. "It's getting a little hard to keep track of the bad ones."
I snorted. "Isn't it always?"
I jogged over to Kahn and hugged him lightly. I felt guilty for what happened. "I'm sorry we didn't come back. He attacked us in the wetlands."
"No worries. I didn't expect to stay alive," he said. "Check out my sweet battle scars."
He lifted his shirt and showed us the healing wounds. It was a miracle he didn't get another infection. "You need a safe place to take a shower and lay down," I said.
Another lightning bolt fell from sky, crashing miles away from us. I walked back over to the coils that rose from below the dirt. They were silent and still.
Lucian groaned. "Thought we agreed on staying back from the weird machines."
I ignored him and circled around the center rod. "I think I know what these are," I said.
Their shape inspired a deep curiosity within me. I tilted my head and stared at the odd mushroom-like head of the coil. The prongs were carefully designed to form a perfect circle around the center. All six of them were the same shape and height. Together, they formed a hexagon.
The rain was relentless. More thunder pounded overhead, and a bright flash illuminated the sky. I ran to the side and yelled, "Stand back!"
Everyone ducked down. The bolt hit the coil, and wild electrical sparks shot around us. The power spread and connected to the other coils. A loud humming noise resounded on the other side of the wall. It was providing power to something concealed by the wall.
"What is going on?" my dad asked.
I swallowed and glanced up at the watchtower. I could have sworn I saw someone standing inside, watching us. The eyes glowed heather green. As soon as I blinked, the apparition disappeared.
Bolts of electricity connected and whipped above us. I marveled at their power. "They're Tesla coils," I said.
"They're what, now?" Lucian asked.
I remembered the designs in my mother's books. These models didn't appear to be working that well. "They seem to be a variation on the standard model," I said. "When the current hits the coil, the electricity will oscillate. See it? They're used to transfer energy."
All of the men stared, dumbfounded by my response. My dad cleared his throat and said, "You've lost us, darling."
I was no expert on the subject, but I knew enough to explain. "Electricity, Dad. These coils are advanced energy conductors."
"You mean we could have had TV this whole time?" he joked.
I grinned and shook my head. "More like we could have had a working stove," I said.
As the rain cleared, the coils lost their connection. The humming noise slowly died down, and the sharp current of electricity shot away from the coils before it disappeared completely.
"They're inefficient models," I muttered. "I wonder what they were using them for?"
"They?" Kahn asked.
I turned toward Lucian's brother. "Look at this place. Whoever built these things is long gone. I don't think we have to worry anymore."
The threat of being met by antagonistic force lay possible on the other side, but I was no longer concerned. Our family had come together with the death of Micah. Nothing could stop us now. This was our time to shine.