A Conversational  Gem

(Editor’s Note: This takes place between Episodes 21 and 22 of Heroes of Tomorrow, and before Episode 32 of Freedom League Dark.)

“So, why don’t you tell me what happened?” Gemma asked as she took a couple of mugs from her kitchen cupboard, then set the electric kettle on the counter to boil.

“Oh god,” Cassian groaned, throwing himself down into the kitchen chair and burying his head in his hands. “It was horrible. I totally lost my cool. I was a complete whack job.”

Gemma turned back towards him, a couple of boxes of tea in her hand, and raised an eyebrow at that statement. “Putting yourself down isn’t the best way to start telling me this story, Cass. Just start from the beginning with what actually happened and we can unpack things as we go.”

He took a deep breath in and raised his head, staring into the distance but not really looking at anything at all. “It started Saturday morning. We were awake at the crack of dawn for some stupid Next-Gen tradition where we all eat cereal and watch cartoons together. I had been up with Jason, just talking, way too late and I barely got any sleep. Once we got down to the basement where the meeting was, I got a bowl of cereal and was just sitting down to eat it when something really weird happened? I can’t remember exactly how, but all of a sudden the character in the show was talking to us? And then it’s like we got sucked into the TV somehow. I know it’s hard to believe, but it really happened. We started out in this weird cartoon where we all had blue skin and white hats, and there was some crazy kid there controlling it all. Quirk, I think his name was.”

At the mention of Quirk’s name, Gemma took in a short breath, recalling her own experience with the interdimensional imp. She put the tea down on the counter, then turned to give Cassian her full attention.

“Anyway, so we got pulled through a bunch of really traumatic scenarios; we fought a dinosaur which was cool but then we ended up in Leifandi. I couldn’t believe it. I was actually there, seeing it with my own eyes. And then, even weirder, I saw Mari. Mari! But she wasn’t how I remembered. She was my age, or close to it. She was 7 when I left. She should be 12 at most, but I was staring at an almost fully adult Mari. I hugged her as tight as I could, but soon we were transported away again and eventually Quirk got bored or something and let us out. I was exhausted physically and emotionally, but Jason had been hurt pretty bad so I wanted to make sure he got up to his room okay. Once we got up there he asked if I wanted to go for a jog. That’s not really my ideal form of exercise, but he was looking at me with his big brown eyes and he looked so sad that I ended up saying yes. Thankfully I had a pair of athletic shorts and an old T-shirt all the way at the bottom of my trunk, so I threw those on and off we went. I really am not good at jogging and I embarrassed myself to the point where I’m pretty sure he faked a cramp just to help me save face. It was really sweet of him, but of course I played it off like a jackass and acted like I was fine still. We ended up having a strange conversation about trauma, like an idiot, because what else would you talk to the guy you like about? Then we did some parkour stuff instead of just going back to jogging, which while I wasn’t great at it, it was much more forgiving since I’m used to flinging myself around to build up energy for my arm. When we got back we were called to meet with Headmaster Summers and he launched us into some big trial thing where we had a limited number of time to save a hostage and a bunch of walls went up, separating us from each other. I jogged as fast as I could through the maze, and even got Damien to punch me so that my arm would be charged, but all I could hear were grunts from Jason as whatever was in there was kicking his butt. It took me a while, but I finally found him and he had just been thrown into a wall by some giant gorilla man, and all I felt was rage inside. I wanted the gorilla dead for hurting him.”

With a concerned look, Gemma started to lean forward, trying to find a moment to catch Cassian’s attention, but the animated teenager just kept going, sparing little time for breath.

“I flung some flame at him that didn’t seem to do much. It wasn’t until after I did that that I realized he was holding on to a hostage. My flame didn’t go near her, but I was so hyper fixated on Jason being okay that I literally didn’t even see the girl we were trying to save. The gorilla hit me, recharging me and I ended up jumping on his back and blasting flame right into his face. It didn’t really help, but it gave Vincent a chance to swoop in and grab the hostage. And then, what really made me mad, as I’m literally grappling a gorilla, Jason gets up and just runs right past me. Off by himself. Again. He did it in the first fight that I fought with them, he did it when we were in the TV and he was doing it again. It’s like he has no sense of self preservation. Here I was, doing everything in my power to save him and he was literally plunging right back in BY HIMSELF. Alex rescued the 2nd hostage pretty soon after that, and the simulation ended. Summers came in and he and a couple other people who had been involved said some words about us not sucking as much as they thought, but I couldn’t even focus on what they were saying. I was so angry. None of us were working as a team that whole time. Especially Jason, who is supposed to be our ‘leader’ or whatever. Jason said something about getting my car into the lab and I said something short, and ran out of there. I needed to get away from them. Jason ran after me and asked me what my problem was and I exploded. God, Gemma, I yelled at him. I started screaming about him not going off on his own and not knowing how to work as a team and I don’t even remember what I said, I just remember this burning feeling inside. I thought it was rage, but now I’m sorta worried that it was fear? I had known this kid for one day and I was absolutely terrified of losing him. And he’s ready to throw himself at anything that comes our way, dangerous or not, with or without me. And then I’m having this stupid, weak moment and I sense Alex just standing there. Just watching me have a mental breakdown. I ended up snapping at them too, and then I stormed off again. I got up to my room and just screamed and kicked things and did a lot of unnecessary damage to my stuff. I just don’t know what to do. I had been hesitant to join the group in the first place, but I thought… god, I thought that maybe they could help me get back to Leifandi. And then watching everyone just throw teamwork out the window made me realize that’s not going to happen. I’m never going to see my parents again. I’m never going to see Mari again. I’m stuck here. And, honestly, what makes it worse is that just for a second I thought that maybe it wouldn’t be horrible to be stuck here. Maybe I could work out these feelings for Jason, and maybe he would have feelings back for me. Maybe I could work with this team and have a new family. And that feels like a betrayal to my real family.”

Cassian’s eyes filled with tears as he forced himself to look into Gemma’s eyes. “I don’t know what to do Gemma. I don’t know how to exist here without feeling the immense guilt that I should be somewhere else. I don’t know how to be happy here without feeling like I’m betraying the people who used to make me happy.”

Ignoring the now boiling water, Gemma pulled a chair out from the table and sat down, reaching for Cassian’s hand. When she had it, she squeezed it gently. “First off, that was a lot to deal with in a really short period of time, and Headmaster Summers shouldn’t have put you through an exercise right after dealing with Quirk. He did know about that, right?”

Cassian averted his gaze, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. “Uhhh. We may have, uh, forgotten to tell him beforehand?” Cassian’s cheeks blazed red as he knew what was coming.

Gemma frowned. “Not telling him what happened wasn’t the best idea, but I understand why you didn’t. I know it’s not easy trying to fit in, trust me, but part of learning how to be a hero means knowing when to trust those who have been doing this for a while. Chances are they’ve been through similar things and can help you develop techniques to deal with them. And besides, that way you can call them out when they forget their own lessons.”

Cassian smiled, letting out a small laugh. “In my defense, I didn’t know that Summers was going to shove us into a room and directly into a fight. But I understand what you mean. I should have told him as soon as I saw him.”

She smiled as he chuckled, then released his hand to stand up and prep their mugs, adding the water to them. Dropping in some honey, she stirred that into the water before placing a mug before Cassian, the boxes of tea following closely onto the middle of the table. Taking her seat again, she placed a bag into her own water, then looked at him again.

“Doing the right thing isn’t always easy, and your friends would have been mad had you said something to him. But knowing that you’d all just had an ordeal, that you’d all suffered both physically and mentally? That’s the time to ask for help, and not just pretend nothing happened.”

“I was just,” Cassian paused, searching for the right word. “Distracted? So much had already happened that I really wasn’t thinking about telling him.”

Giving her tea a stir, she set the spoon onto the napkin and brought her mug to her lips, sipping at the hot liquid to test its potency. Setting it back down, she looked at Cassian with understanding.

“I know seeing your sister, your home, must have brought a lot of emotions forward for you, and to have it all ripped away so quickly, it’s enough to magnify those emotions significantly.” Gemma’s gaze drifted down to her own mug, watching the leaves shift as the tea steeped. “It’s not easy for me, knowing I can’t go back to my Leifandi, to always process those emotions healthily. But, you know your sister is ok, and that’s something I know you were very worried about. And she knows you’re ok too, and with everything that’s going on right now, it’s possible we can find a way to get you back home.”

“But what if that’s just another universe and not my sister? It doesn’t make sense how old she was, unless I somehow missed 5 years. I don’t know, can time work differently in different universes? I can’t stand the thought that I completely missed her growing up.”

“It absolutely can. Centuria is from ten years further along in her universe than we were when she swapped places with ours. And from what you’ve told me, your universe is a lot further along in its timeline than here.” Gemma shook her head, thinking about what he’d told her about the life her other self led in his universe.

Sighing, Cassian slowly lifted his cup up to his lips, taking a small sip. “This is really good. Thank you for making it. I can’t really do anything about not being in the correct universe right now, but do you have any advice on Jason and the team? I need to figure out how I can bring them closer together and get Jason to stop running off on his own.”

Gemma tapped a finger on the table. “I know we’ve talked about how it’s important to take care of yourself before others, but I think you’ve been following my own example of not doing that to heart. I’m trying to be better about it, but it’s not easy. It sounds like Jason really should have stayed in, if he was hurt as bad as you say he was, and you should have known that both he and you needed your rest after something like that. But, it sounds like he’s a lot like Fletch; always trying to prove that he can keep up with those of us with abilities, pushing himself to, or beyond, his limits to prove he belongs.”

“Well, he didn’t choose his dad’s best quality to adopt. I’m trying to help him, and it’s like he doesn’t want it. And I’m afraid if I continue pushing him on it I’m just going to make him hate me, which is the last thing I want.”

She took his hand again. “He’s not going to hate you. Sometimes it just takes someone a while to realize that they need someone else, that they need that help. It’s not easy to say you’re not able to do everything yourself, and, knowing Jason, he’s struggling with that. He needs you, and the others, to help show him that he’s not alone in all of this.”

“I will keep trying, but I might have blown it. We haven’t really talked since Saturday and it feels like we’ve been awkwardly avoiding one another even though we live like 2 doors down from each other. I’m not really sure how to bridge the gap I’ve created by yelling at him.”

“Well, first start by apologizing.” Gemma scolded him. “All this talk about wanting to help, to be there for him, you can’t do that by avoiding him. Own up to what you did; it’s going to be painful, but it’s the only way to move forward. You tell him exactly what you told me, as part of that.”

“That sounds like the worst thing ever. I don’t really know how to be that open with him. Like it should be easy, but I don’t want him to laugh at me if I start going super heavy on the feelings.”

Gemma shook her head. “The only thing you can do is control your response, not his. I know it’s not easy to apologize, to tell someone the why of what you did. But clearing the air will be good for you. It should be helpful to both of you to get this out in the open. Jason needs to know that what he’s doing is actually hurting those around him, but also that you have his back and want to help him make the team better.”

“I guess you’re right. I’ll talk to him. I promise.”

“As for the exercise Headmaster Summers put you all through, I remember that one myself.” Gemma’s gentle smile turned into a slight frown. “And if you are sure they told you all that you didn’t ‘suck as much as they thought you would’, then I’m going to have a word with those so-called teachers. That sort of negative bend to what should have been a positive moment, albeit also a teachable one, from the rest of that story, is not the way to encourage you all to be better heroes. It’s just going to erode the confidence you do have, make you question whether or not you’re right to rely on your own instincts. And that doubt, that fear, is going to end up hurting you.”

Gemma stopped for a moment, and Cassian could see her trying to collect herself. As she took in a deep breath, he searched his brain for something he could say to help.

“That’s not what they said, exactly… and it was members of the previous Next Gen team, so not really teachers. The teachers seem… nice, I guess?” Cassian ran a hand through his hair, dropping his head back in his hands. “And even if they had said that… They aren’t wrong. We were a mess in there, Gemma. Everyone was completely split up and doing their own thing. Not much of a team, if you ask me.”

Gemma looked back up at Cassian. “That it’s the previous Next Gen doesn’t make it any better. They’re your predecessors, and my guess is that there’s some underlying desire to live up to their legacy living in your teammates.” She sighed, remembering her own time at Claremont. “It’s not easy to work as a team, especially with people you’ve just met. And the previous Next Gen should have remembered that. It’s also easy to say that you’re a leader, and expect everyone else to follow you. Good leaders need to communicate what their expectations are, but they have to be open to listening to those they are leading, who’ve had different experiences and can provide a different point of view. Can you tell me if your team appointed Jason the leader, or did he take that mantle on himself? Or did one of the teachers pick him to lead?”

“I think Jason was picked as the leader before I even got there. He has experience from his time with Bowman, and when I got to the scene at the bank he was already giving orders. I guess I never really questioned it. I think he could be a good leader, if he learns how to actually depend on his team.”

Gemma smiled. “From what I know of him, I’d agree with your assessment. But he needs to learn a few lessons that Fletch has, and part of that will come from you and the others on your team. The rest, well, maybe I’ll have to give Fletch a head’s up on how Jason’s settling in.”

Cassian’s eyes widened. “Oh god, don’t tell him I told you. He’s going to think I just snitched on him to his dad. It’s bad enough I’m telling you! And I’m really sorry to burden you with my teenage drama, but…” he hesitated and looked down at his hands that were laying open on the table. “I don’t really have anyone else to tell.”

Her smile disappeared, as she settled her gaze back on Cassian. “I’m sorry I haven’t been around to be more helpful. Things are a bit crazy with what we’re trying to stop, and I have to focus everything on that. We’ve had to leave a couple of issues to Daedalus and the rest of the Freedom League, and that doesn’t sit well with me. But, I have to trust in their ability to get things done, even if it’s cleaning up a mess we couldn’t. After all, they’ve been doing it longer than I have. They’re pretty good at this hero stuff. Just like you are.”

Cassian smiled. “Please don’t apologize. You had a random teenager show up on your doorstep, and you’ve done so much more than anyone else would have done for me. You don’t have to worry about me while you’re saving the multiverse. I will be okay.”

“Can’t tell me to stop worrying about you, even if I’m not here.” She said, sipping her tea. “I know how easy it is to feel lost, like you’re totally alone here. We both share the experience of being taken from everything we knew and dropped somewhere that was completely…..alien, for lack of a better word. I wouldn’t be much of a mentor if I didn’t try to do what I could to ease that burden for you.”

“I appreciate the thought, but please don’t let my burdens add to the burdens you already have. I don’t want to be blamed for weighing down one of the greatest superheroes of all times.” He flashed a small smile at Gemma.

She scoffed. “I’m not one of the best superheroes of all time. I really don’t know if I consider myself a hero. If I was, I wouldn’t have abandoned my friends for almost ten years because it got to be too much to try to help everyone, to see nothing really change even though we ‘beat the bad guy’. That said, I know why I did, and they do as well. It took me a while to be able to tell them that though. Don’t wait to tell your friends what you’re feeling; it’ll go a long way towards making you a better team.”

Getting up, Gemma headed to the fridge, leaving Cassian to think on what she said. Opening the freezer, she rooted around until she found what she was looking for; the last two ice cream sandwiches. With a grin, she grabbed them, and tossed one his way.

“As for your last thought, that you’re betraying your family? That’s utter nonsense. Your family will always be a part of you, no matter how far away from them you are. I know because I still have a connection to mine, even though I can’t get to them. But you’re allowed to find a new family, to connect with people with similar thoughts and interests. It’s part of growing up.” Gemma said, unwrapping her ice cream.

Cassian tore open the wrapper to his ice cream sandwich and closed his eyes as he took a bite. “If it makes any difference, you’re my favorite superhero. And I guess you’re right, but I still can’t get over the feeling that I’m not where I’m supposed to be. That I’m not who I’m supposed to be. But I suppose there’s not much that I can do about that now.”

Gemma paused before taking a bite of her ice cream. “Think about this then.” She said, angling the sandwich towards him. “Maybe you’re where you NEED to be, so that one day you can be who you ARE supposed to be. Don’t be in such a hurry to grow up and take on responsibility you aren’t ready for.” She brought the ice cream back towards her, but the smile slowly disappeared from her face. “If you do it before you’re ready, it can become a weight that drags you down until you hit rock bottom, even if you don’t realize what it’s doing.”

Cassian set his half eaten ice cream down on the table, carefully placing it on the wrapper to avoid making a mess. Standing, he made his way over to Gemma and threw his arms around her. “I hope you know that I appreciate you more than words can say. I think you should take your own advice sometimes.”

Gemma sat there for a moment, surprised by Cassian’s embrace. Smiling, she returned it, feeling a bit of the weight release off of her shoulders. “I know.” she said, letting him go. “Sometimes it’s hard for the healer to take time to treat their own wounds. But, I’ll try.”

Cass held on a little longer and then moved to sit back in his chair. Taking another bite he looked back at Gemma. “I worry about you sometimes. That there’s too much on your plate. I know that I’ll always be that 12 year old boy that wandered into your store, lost and confused, but I’m always here if you need to talk. And I’m also always here if you need to get away from work. Both of your jobs, I mean.” He smirked, and finished his ice cream sandwich.

Gemma returned his smile, then grabbed a couple small bites of her ice cream before it melted any further. “Look at you; the student becomes the master.” She giggled, then downed the last of her sandwich in three big bites. “You’ve grown a lot from that lost boy who showed up here as I was figuring my own life out. So I know I can count on you to be there if I need you. How’s this; once I get back from the mission we’re on, you can give me a tour of campus. It’s been a while since I’ve been there. I can meet your friends, get away from work for a while. And maybe tell you all a couple stories of my own days at Claremont with Overdrive and Mortis.”

“I would like that.” Cassian leaned back in his chair and gave it some thought. “Actually, I’m really interested to hear what you three got up to together. It’s a deal.”

(co-written by Andy and Kat)

Designed and created by Aunt Puppy and Jo

Rectangles of Romance

Hello heroes! I have some special shapes for you today! As you may remember Oggrus and Gruk recently exchanged mixtapes with the Moon-Moon Twins, one commemorating a possible new romance and one signifying that perhaps friendship was still a possibility. They both feature some excellent Earth music that celebrates their variety of emotional states and I’m excited for you all to get this fun snapshot into their lives. Hopefully this won’t be the last rectangle Oggrus gives Elara…

Oggrus’ Rectangle “For the Queen of the Dark Side of the Moon”

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6KgzuKE2x1hgkVEqmWKXr9?si=ce1e389a4dd34547

Special shoutout to Deuce for lots of great song suggestions for Oggrus!

Gruk’s Rectangle “She Said She’s Gotta Frakkin’ Boyfriend”

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/29ZtoetZxGvP7AjaN69uLd?si=b0c69028cf834c86

Risk vs Reward

“We should go back, show those jerks who we really are!”

“Please, keep going! We need to get away while we have the chance!”

“We need time to think, somewhere to catch our breath. We need quiet!”

The poorly lit backstreets of Starhaven’s Draffsnarl district are interrupted by a lone silhouette limping through them, cradling an injured arm against their chest. Anyone not minding their own business in the less than reputable section of the refugee center that Starhaven was becoming would hear three distinct voices arguing in hushed tones, though the sight of a single individual would then leave them confused. The shadowed figure pauses for a moment, seemingly assessing their situation. The sound of several heavy footfalls bounce off the strange buildings making up the labyrinth of this section, making it impossible to tell how close they are. A moment longer and the figure darts off down another alleyway, away from the approaching footsteps.

“No, not away! Back towards them! We can beat them! Let us have control!”

“Keep going, keep going! Let us have control, we’ll make sure we get somewhere safe!”

The shadowed figure lurches in different directions for a moment, arms and legs spasming as though they were pulled by invisible forces apart from the center. A slight whimper echoes off the close walls of the alleyway as the injured arm flails, and the figure stops, clutching the arm once again.

“Stop! We are not giving up. We don’t have what we came for, and we are not leaving without it. We need to work together for a change, instead of bickering! Else we may as well do those thugs jobs for them.”

A moment of silence hangs in the air, as the lights flickers on above the figure, outlining a feminine form clad in utilitarian clothes. Fox-like ears sit atop their head, a mane of reddish brown hair with highlights of yellow and purple frame their face. Three tails swish back and forth seemingly in annoyance, before the light flickers out once again.

“….Fine.”

“….ok.”

“Good.”

Moving again, the figure heads towards the only lit doorway in the alley. Testing the door and finding it unlocked, they push their way inside, the door closing behind them silently. Inside, the room is shadowed, the only light coming from the streets outside. Debris from a makeshift camp, long abandoned, litters the room. They move into the mess, grabbing pieces of tarpaulin and long pieces of broken supply crates as they head towards a rickety looking discarded chair. Slowly they sit down, testing the chairs integrity, and when it holds they begin to set their injured arm as best they can, clawed fingers easily ripping through the tarpaulin to create strips to tie the sling together. The process is slow and seemingly painful, as the figure winces several times during the process. Ears perk up halfway through as the heavy footfalls get closer, and they freeze, breath stuck in their lungs for what seems forever before the footfalls depart. A long sigh escapes into the night, and the last few knots are tied on the makeshift sling as time passes once again.

“Hmmph, idiots. Didn’t even check the door.”

“That’s a good thing though, right?”

“Yes, and now, we have the advantage. Let’s hunt, sisters.”

“FINALLY!”

The doorway opens, the darkened interior broken only by a slight flash of light, as a mirror reflects the scene outside of it. The figure steps out into the alley once again, their stride, before limping and afraid, now full of confidence (if not also limping slightly still). No footfalls are heard as they retrace their steps through the alleys, even as they move quickly back towards the point of their previous confrontation. Slowing their pace, anyone watching would see the figure take on a predatory gait, almost disappearing amongst the shadows. Finally, their gaze settles on their target; another worn looking building, but this one guarded at its lone entrance.

“Only two? We are disappointed.”

“We must have drawn off a fair number of them….that’s helpful.”

“Let’s make this quick then, shall we?”

For guards, the two at the doorway are not good at their jobs. Neither one notices the figure move up behind the one to the left, just as he leans over to light a cigarette, the one on the right scanning through a magazine with scantily clad human females on it. The figure’s look of concentration as they strike changes to a feral grin, the guard’s cigarette falling from his mouth as his muscles seize, dropping him unceremoniously to the ground, momentarily paralyzed. Moving quickly, the figure dances to the right, the feral grin snapping back into rigid determination as they catch the guard’s chin in a powerful uppercut, knocking him unconscious. Standing amongst their downed foes, a look of concern crosses the figure’s face before they turn to the door.

“Sorry, we’re in a bit of a hurry. You’ll be able to move, just not until we’re done.”

“Oh don’t pity them. Wasn’t even a good fight!”

“Come on, let’s not waste time, or we’ll still be here when the others return.”

Inside, the warehouse is a mess of goods and sundries strewn about, almost as though they were in various stages of sorting at some point earlier in the day. The figure walks among the tables strewn with various goods and, grabbing a bag, begins filling it with items. The items going into the bag are a bit eclectic; clothes, knick knacks, various dried foodstuffs, no multiples of the same thing. As they work through the tables, they stop, noticing a humanoid figure slumped against a wall, it’s grey skin almost blending in. Small Preserver robots surround the humanoid, attempting to move the humanoid from it’s location. Casting their gaze back to the door, they quickly move over to the individual, shooing the small robots away from it placing a hand on it’s shoulder. It’s eyes open, and it looks up at the figure.

“Curious. Most of my memories appear to be missing. I do not know how I came to be in this place, and I am unsure as to who you are. Have we met?” the grey humanoid states, slowly rising to it’s feet.

“We are Ailynn, and no, we don’t believe we have. Are you alright?”

The grey humanoid rolls its neck and shoulders. “No permanent damage to my being is detected, though I detect I am not operating at one hundred percent capacity. I am Chimera, though I am unsure how I recall that designation. Query; what is this place?”

Ailynn shrugs her shoulders. “Drop off point for some of the gangs of Starhaven. Things they “collect” as taxes or “protection money” are brought here. We are just taking a few things off of their hands.”

Chimera looks to the bag, and then back at her. “I do not believe I am payment for these gangs.”

A wide grin spread across Ailynn’s face, showcasing her fangs, and she gave a short laugh. “No, we don’t think so either. Want to help us get what we came for?”

The emotionless grey face considered Ailynn for a moment, then nodded.

As the two spread out among the tables, filling bags with items taken from their rightful owners, those that had once chased Ailynn return, finding their comrades on the ground unconscious. Shouts and calls over comms commenced, before several individuals stand before the door, kicking it in.

“Shit, looks like they’re quicker than we thought.”

“We’re in trouble again, aren’t we?”

“Stow it, and help us figure a way out of here.”

Chimera drops the ration pack he is holding, as the thugs swarm into the room. They number about ten, and most of them spread out to surround the pair, a few staying back to guard the exit.

“Mistress Ailynn, it appears we have company. How should we handle this?” Chimera asked, no trace of fear in his voice.

“Mistress? Hmmm….looks like we need to fight our way out. Can you assist us with that?”

“Affirmative.”

Chimera doubles in size, startling both the thugs and Ailynn. The thugs hesitate for a moment, before one rushes forward, swinging a large rod at Chimera. It bounces off his chest and the thug looks at him agape, before Chimera’s fist is the last thing he remembers for quite some time. The room devolves into a rather one sided brawl, Chimera acting as a shield as Ailynn moves around the room utilizing hit and run tactics. Soon, the fight is finishd, all of the thugs either downed or fleeing.

“Oh, we like him.”

“We think so too…we should help him. We think he’s a bit like us; he doesn’t have anyone else.”

“Well Chimera, what do you say? Do you want to come with us?”

Chimera looks to Ailynn, then grabs the bags they had filled. “I find that agreeable. After you, Mistress Ailynn.”

The two leave the warehouse, stepping over the bodies of the unconscious thugs on their way out of the Draffsnarl and back to Ailynn’s home. There, they check the items against the requests on Ailynn’s data pad, sorting the goods into various piles to be delivered after a good night’s rest.

A Captain’s Sacrifice, Part 2

by Calvin

(This is a continuation of last week’s vignette. If you haven’t read it already, do so here and then come back.)

Elara sat on the edge of her bed with her fingers tented, leaning forward with her eyes staring at the floor in front of her. She calculated and recalculated, trying to come up with a way out of the new prison she and her sister found themselves in. Despite the situation, her mind couldn’t help but consider the spaciousness of the room, the softness of the bed and even the window that offered a view of the gleaming blue orb that was their neighboring planet.

It was all far better than the cold cruelty of the cryo chambers.

A shiver went up her spine, unrelated to the regulated warmth of their palace room. Elara glanced up to watch Ersa, her twin sister, pacing back and forth, feeling just as tense if not more. Their jailer and controller, Lady Lunar, had allowed them a semblance of freedom for longer than expected. Usually, their aunt would only allow them to be unfrozen for short periods of time. Long enough to put down any unrest stirring against the monarch’s reign, to ward off curious Earth heroes or to be subjected to experiments involving the ancient Moonstone. For whatever reason, likely paranoia, Lady Lunar had kept the Twins unfrozen for longer, allowing them to rest in their old room while handling the occasional security issue. Something had their aunt concerned that she would need her favorite weapons at the ready and it left the Twins time to think and to make new allies in the palace.

Elara’s brow furrowed at a knock at their door after a short conversation with her sister. In truth, Ersa was the one who had made those allies. Elara wasn’t a match for her sister when it came to making connections. One example of that had just entered the room. Erik, Captain of The Royal Guard and deeply in love, if his repeated proclamations were any indication. Elara didn’t trust him, and made that known. She couldn’t trust anyone working with Lady Lunar, regardless of what she saw in their heads. Still, Erik had a plan and it was far better than having nothing at all.

The plan itself was simple. A lieutenant loyal to Erik would stand guard at their door while the captain himself would sneak them out. Once in the courtyard, it would only take a short jump to escape. Elara had tried to probe the mind of the lieutenant named Mayar, but was only able to glean his surface thoughts. His mental defences were surprisingly strong but she didn’t have the time to dig further. She had to put aside her nervous feelings to focus on the job at hand. Looking forward, she could see Ersa looking at Erik. She didn’t need a mental link to know what was happening in her sister’s head. Elara’s eyes narrowed as she told her sister to focus, ignoring her own hypocrisy.

Moving through the halls of their home, Elara was struck by how much of it changed since their youth. The same old walls and rooms that were once draped in the emblems and history of the royal family were now dressed in Lady Lunar’s symbols. Each door held another hidden potential for treachery. Ersa was busy locking the doors to prevent anyone inside from exiting, or at least slowing them down. Which left Elara to deal with the minds inside.

Elara couldn’t expand her reach too far, out of fear of making Lady Lunar aware of her presence. She was still able to catch the minds of the occasional guard or member of the castle staff busy at work on the other side of those doors. Should any have a thought or a task that required leaving their rooms, Elara would give them a nudge to consider otherwise. There was feedback from surface thoughts as she walked on. Bits and pieces of the lives of the workers of the castle, ever loyal to their ruler. Elara sneered in contempt, wishing she could take every cruelty her aunt showed onto them and apply it to these people tenfold. Perhaps then they would see the tyrant for what she truly is. But doing so would lead their aunt right to them, and everything would be over.

Erik interrupted her thoughts, turning to address the Twins but focused on Ersa. Elara allowed herself an eyeroll but kept silent. After everything she heard, the telepath thought it impossible to trust any guard, much less one so highly ranked. And yet, he made Ersa happy. Happier than Elara had seen her in years, perhaps ever. His charms were obvious, as were his looks, but there was more to it than that. Elara could see it on both of them.

Part of Elara knew what it was that really bothered her about the Captain of the Royal Guard. Beneath the disdain and distrust. For so long it had just been Elara and her sister. And now that Ersa had Erik, she felt that she would have to share her sister’s attention. Elara found that she had one more thing to fear. The possibility of being completely alone.

Erik interrupted again, giving the agreed-upon signal. Elara exhaled, clearing her thoughts before establishing mental communication. He slipped out of a door, moving towards the courtyard as the Twins watched.

Have you seen anything yet? Elara asked across the psychic connection, only a few seconds after Erik left.

Nothing yet, Erik replied, moving stiffly in his route.

Well, make sure to say something if you see anyone. I don’t want to be caught by surprise.

I…Yes, I know. You can trust me, Elara.

Oh, I’m sure I can, Elara said across their connection, with much sneering sarcasm. Just like all the others in the palace that have been here working for our aunt while we’ve been on ice. I’m sure you all have a secret desire to disobey her. A chance to rebel is all you need, right? Don’t make me laugh…

Most of them don’t know any better. Lady Lunar has been the ruler for as long as many of us have been alive…but some of us know our history.

A simple history lesson for you. The worst day of our lives for us.

I know…and I’m sorry. I can’t change the past but I can do whatever it takes to save your sister, and you as well. Even if you don’t want me to help.

Is it that obvious? Elara’s eyes narrowed with suspicion, her hands balling into fists.

You might not be as subtle as you think…For what it’s worth, I really do care about your sister. I meant everything I’ve said about her. But I understand I need to earn your trust. Maybe I can do that after we get out of here…Speaking of, it looks like the coast is clear.

Elara avoided giving herself a moment to consider his words by telling her sister that the way ahead was clear. They stepped into the courtyard, moving towards one of the walls. Elara looked upwards, thinking of old memories of this place and how the tall walls made her feel safe. Now, she was jealous of her sister’s mastery of telekinesis as she would love nothing more than to tear this place down and bury everything in it. If it couldn’t be hers then it certainly shouldn’t belong to their aunt. Elara caught herself mid-thought, reminding herself that it should belong to her and her sister. That moment almost distracted her as she heard a door open. She roughly yanked Ersa into the closest cover she could find as someone else entered the courtyard. The last person she wanted to see.

Aunt Selene. Lady Lunar.

A horrid shiver ran up Elara’s spine again. In an instant she felt helpless. Her fantasies of vengeance and destruction shattered upon seeing the real thing only a few meters away. Moving with ethereal elegance, she approached Erik, who was already in the process of making up a story. She didn’t dare maintain a mental connection with him in this moment, but she could see a conviction and calmness on his face. One she couldn’t have held in the same situation. Just as she thought she might change her opinion about him, Lieutenant Mayar entered the courtyard.

They had been betrayed.

Lady Lunar was giving orders. A smug grin played along the face of the newly promoted Mayar. Erik was being detained by a cadre of guards that spilled into the courtyard. Lady Lunar left them to their work, not even bothering to capture the Twins herself. Elara tried her best not to panic but could hear the fear in her sister’s breathing. Ersa’s telekinetic powers were about to reach a boiling point.

Elara gave a warning a moment too late. Ersa let out a beam that tore through the courtyard, knocking down the guards caught in its force. The telekinetic twin fell with exhaustion. Elara felt terror, her head in her hands as she tried to think. She wasn’t a fighter like her sister, she couldn’t get them both out with force. A mental attack might work, but not against this many people in so large a space. Attacking one at a time would be too slow. She could take control of one and…

No. Elara shook off the thought. Even now, she wouldn’t commit the worst transgression that a telepath could make. To steal the free will of another, especially while she had lost so much of her own. Still, when Captain Mayar stood over them, she felt a sensation unlike anything she had felt before wash over her. Much like the palace around her, if she wasn’t going to rule Mayar’s mind, then she would just tear it down.

Elara reached into Mayar’s head, piercing through the mental protections he had shown before. It seemed that in his arrogance, he had let his guard down. That would be his last mistake. Mayar’s entire life was laid out before Elara. The vain ambition, scrambling to make a name for himself, climbing the ranks of the Royal Guard, betraying Erik and proving his loyalty to lady Lunar.

The telepath held it all in her hand and squeezed.

Captain Mayar fell to his knees as Elara stood, gazing down at him. She watched as the last of his defenses was destroyed, shattering his mind with a painful crunch. Ersa said something to her in concern that she could hardly hear with the thudding of her own heartbeat in her ears. All Elara could manage to say was that it was deserved.

She didn’t dare to mention how much she enjoyed it.

Elara was in a haze as they were returned to their room to await being imprisoned within the ice again. She replayed Mayer’s last moments over and over, trying to understand what came over her. A tapping at the door made her more alert. Another guard entered, an older one this time. Elara was ready to pounce upon his mind, expecting to have to fight, despite her exhaustion. Instead, the guard handed something to Ersa. A coat. It looked like the one Erik wore just moments ago.

As the guard left, Elara could catch stray memories of his. Being a young, new recruit to the Royal Guard, the whispers of a coup, the day that everything changed and the decision to try and stay out of trouble long enough to survive and the knowledge of who rightfully deserved the throne. Elara let the guard go as Ersa sat beside her. Elara held her sister as she cried. Soon, the exhaustion of the failed escape overcame her and she couldn’t hold back her own tears.

Still, there was something new brewing in Elara. She realized that Erik was right. Some of the people of Farside still knew who the Twins were and what Lady Lunar had done. That they had more right to rule the Selunites of the Last Refuge than she did and could be useful during another escape attempt. Elara had also discovered something about herself. That she could be merciless to her enemies, even without her aunt’s influence. Elara let the tears flow but held onto that in her heart.

She would be as cold and cruel as the ice itself until she got what she deserved.