SWNOVELS Chapter 23: Diving into Darkness
Alice took the remaining children into the Star Gazer's private library. Shutting and securing the doors, the teens gathered around, Alice pulled the purple gem from her pocket.
"We need to practice with this thing. Calvin, I want you to try first." Alice exclaimed. Calvin nodded and stood, taking the gem from Alice. Immediately, a swirl of purple mist enveloped the boy, just as Alice and Eary before.
After several minutes, he emerged. His tale was different than the ones Alice and Eary had. His was one of communicating with a strange spirit. With great training and practice, the spirit had taught Calvin a power of an entirely different color. Like his brother, Calvin possessed purple light.
However, he didn't replicate like Sakile. On contact, he summoned the powers of others for a time. The other students, at first, were afraid of Calvin's touch. But it was Mei who bravely embraced Calvin. He conjured a ball of flame in his hand, albeit smaller than Mei's. Mei seemed to have no negative side effects, a fact that had the other kids having Calvin experimenting with their power.
Alice looked over to Earhart. "You're next!" Eary looked confused. He had already been interacted with the gem. He asked in confusion. "Why?" Alice stated,"Because you don't have any purple powers yet, and you need 'em most. Here!" She shoved the crystal to Eary.
He rolled his eyes, knowing full well this would yield no result. He quickly swept up the jewel. "See!" As soon as he spoke, purple light enveloped him, and he was once again hurdeling through the purple sky.
As he righted himself in the maelstrom, fed up, he yelled out, "What left do you have to show me?" As the words left his mouth, he stood in a vast garden courtyard. A golden skinned woman with long red hair and large emerald eyes sat at a fountain before Eary. "Come." She announced as she patted the seat next to her.
Eary took his place, and upon inspection, he uttered, "Ilia? You're Ilia, aren't you?" Ilia smiled, the radiance of her aura illuminating the air around her.
"It wasn't fair when you were called. You had not been prepared for the duties of Claris like I was. It is commendable that you have chosen your duty so freely." As Ilia spoke, Eary's heart felt heavy."I felt as if I had no choice. First, Ephraim was sick, and then all hell broke loose around the city. Now this whole abduction thing and the existence of the Scions." Eary took a deep breath."Honestly, Ilia, it's a lot. But I have to do what I must." Ilia smiled."And that is why it was you who was chosen. I have many descendants, but just one that would give up their life for another. It is why you were entrusted with the power."
Ilia's words made eary feel better, but still, a great weight was upon him. He spoke, "I haven't received a power from the crystal yet. I don't think I'm strong enough for this." Ilia placed her golden hand on Eary's back. With a tender look, she stated, "The power of the mind can be a formidable power. Some are gifted in different ways. You, for example, are defensive in nature. So, your abilities manifest as such. I will teach you the power to break the will if others over you and your comrades." With a hand of glowing purple, Ilia placed her hand on Eary's head. A swirl of purple enveloped him again, and in a flash, he was back in the library.
Eary recounted the events of his conversation with Ilia. And extending his hand, a swirl of purple sparkles surrounded the heads of those in the group. Alice sighed a sigh of relief "That's fucking awesome! Thank you Ilia!" The group knew that this new power would be instrumental against Johnathan's mind control.
As the crew wrapped up from the day, they proceeded out to the animal sanctuary to retrieve Ben and Mote. As they proceeded deeper in they were met by shocking sight.
Ben, cowering behind a large beast, while Mote and two others fought off what appeared to be magically gifted individuals. One manifested and then hurled spears of plasma, at Mote. The other seemed fast and strong as he tangled with the cockatrice and some sort of strange scaled horned bear.
Mote easily dodged his assailants projectiles, while the cockatrice flashed a glance at Mote's opponent. In and instant the man was turned to stone, the next, Mote shattered him with his force field.
The horned bear charged the man, only to be deflected by the man's brute strength. The cockatrice glare seemed to ricochet off the man.
Eary in defense sent out a jet of white flame. Strangely, an aura of darkness became visible as it also bounced from the assailant.
The man charged into the group of teens, knocking them all to the ground. Alice attempted to grav the man with her telekinetic ability, put the man easily shrugged off her power.
Mei, Hannah, Maggie and Eary let loose their elements, still no effect.
Calvin charged the man. As he charged back at the teen, Calvin used the wind to quickly whip around and grab hold of the man.
As he absorbed his strength and speed, he quickly placed his hands around the man's mouth. With a great gust of wind he filled the man.
The super strength brute struggled in vain as his own power was used to seal his fate. With a loud pop, and the man's collapse, signaled the end of the conflict.
Upon reaching Mote, who was consoling Ben, Eary couldn't help but notice the several shattered statues and several dead unusual animal strewn about the cave.
Mote looked at Eary an annoyingly said "Took you long enough!" Alice looked around "Where's Maxwell?" Mote replied "Looks like yous was wrong about something, Missy. They grabbed him, dragged him off and try'd offin' Ben here, for witnesses.
Alice collected Ben and the group returned to the Star Gazer.
Entering the large ski resorts double doors, Alice, Eary and the others were met by Sakile, Denby and Luke, also the rarely seen Victoria.
The teens rushed in and informed the away team of the situation. Victoria stated "we need to find Maxwell. His research is invaluable to us. It is of the upmost importance!" She turned to Ben "Did they say anything? Anything at all?" Alice interjected "Hey lady! He's been through a lot. But I think maybe my friends and I can find the professor. But I need to leave Ben here, who can keep him safe while we are gone?" Victoria replied "Your friends and these three are the only defense we have against these threats." Alice nodded "Got it! OK, Hannah, Maggie, Decan, you three are going to stay with Ben and Vicki, over there. The rest of us are going after the professor.
Decan protested "I am not leaving Eary!" Alice looked at Decan matter of fact "You have to. We need to split up and I need our strongest heading in. And Eary is the only healer, and the other stuff. I need you three to hold down the fort, and fend off any more attacks.
Decan grew silent and agreed. He and the other ascended the elevators as Alice teleported the rest away, thinking hard of the professor in the process.
A swirl of purple light enveloped the rescue team. As Eary opened his eyes, he was alone, standing in a hallway resembling the one from the previous lab.
He called out "Hey! Can anyone here me?" Just then, a small squad of armed men rounded the corner. They commanded Eary to surrender and lay on the ground. Eary rolled his eyes and erected an amber wall. The troops opened fire, but after his training, they were no match for his wall. The bullets reflected back at their masters, killing them instantly. Eary continued "Guys? Can you hear me?"
Realizing he was alone, Eary made haste down the hallway. After a short distance and rounding another corner, he found Sakile, and an army of himself fighting off a group of guards.
Eary once again use his barrier to end the conflict, and catch up to his friend "Hey! What happened? I was alone when we ported in." Sakile nodded "Me too." He continued "You ok?" Eary nodded "Nothing I couldn't handle." Sakile laughed as the two continued on, looking for their friends.
As they made their way down the corridor, the sound of a great tempest, could be heard in the distance. "Calvin!" Sakile stated as the two young men bolted to the rescue.
However, once they arrived, it seemed that Calvin did not need their assistance. He was commanding small tornadoes, shredding the small force he was fighting alone. Mote backed him up, reflecting bullets away from the teen.
The two fought masterfully, as Eary and Sakile approached, their was nothing left to do. Calvin greeted them "Hey, good to see you two. Di you know what happened?" Sakile replied "No, we were hoping you might."
Mote shook his head "Nah, I ain't got no clue. I don't sense and dark magic protecting this place, so it gotta be tech."
Eary, Sakile joined forces with Calvin and Mote. Together they moved deeper into the facility in search of Maxwell. The labyrinthine hallways and chambers seemed to go on endlessly. As they navigated the complex, they encountered more guards and security measures, but their combined abilities made short work of any obstacles.
As they pressed on, they finally stumbled upon a control room where they hoped to find information about Maxwell's whereabouts. Eary used his electric powers to breach the room, and once inside, they discovered a series of monitors displaying various sections of the facility. It became clear that they were dealing with a well-organized operation.
Sakile started hacking into the facility's computer systems to gather information. After some time, he managed to access files related to the capture of Maxwell. The records indicated that he was being held in a high-security area deep within the facility.
Sakile then used the security cameras to locate Alice, Mei and Denby. The three had already united and were making their way down from the other side of the facility.
As Denby and the girls entered a small room, Sakile used the security interface to communicate with them "Hey you three. Stop fuckin' around, we got work to do." The three friends located the camera and extended their middle fingers as they laughed.
After the moment, Sakile informed them "We are all head down. The professor is being held on level 7, cell block S. Think you can all get their on your own?" The three teens gave the ok. As they departed, the looked for Luke. They located him several rooms away. A great robotic monstrosity roamed as he ducked in the shadows.
Eary announced "We have to help him!" Sakil urgently replied "Yeah, yeah, let's move. NOW!" The gang of three hastily moved to the distressed Luke's location.
Eary let loose a great lightning bolt at the great war machine. Although it appeared to be shielded, the robot was affected, notable by the sparks that shot through the machine now.
Eary did not let up. In defense of his brother he sent out a lightning storm of bolts, quickly disabling the contraption.
As the team reunited, Luke, out of breath, exclaimed "Thanks. That thing was armor plated, couldn't hurt it at all."
Eary replied "I'm just glad nobody's hurt. We've already located the professor, and the girls and Denby are on their way down there now!"
Sakile inquired "You hurt?" Luke shook his head "You know I'm too fast for these chumps." Sakile laughed.
Calvin inquired "So which way to the professor?" Sakile, recounting the blueprints in his head, directed the team to a nearby elevator.
As they boarded, the uncertainty loomed over them. What dangers awaited below?