"Oh, shut up!" Oliver threw his hands in the air. "Gods, Bee-Bee! Will you just let me finish this thing?"
Beatrice smiled rather innocently. "Okay, Ollie."
"Anyway. She offered to come along. And now we're both here to keep you guys from getting yourselves killed!" Oliver jutted his chest out, dramatically nodding his head.
"Because he cares," Beatrice whispered.
"Bee-Bee, please!"
"Great timing," Evan said. "Professor Lemming's in trouble."
Oliver's eyes widened. "Really?"
"We could use volunteers," Isis said.
Chapter 24
"Well, this might be it."
Isis, Samantha, Evan, Joby, Oliver, and Beatrice were all standing outside a huge building of some sort. Wired fencing surrounded the place, along with off-limits signs. The building could've passed for a warehouse, a manufacturing facility, or a prison, but the Tranlude guard who walked around the front seemed to hint at what the rest could contain.
Located deep in the woods, right next to a sharp drop, this place didn't exactly seem like a typical work environment. Instead, it reminded Samantha of a hidden science facility. Or maybe it was just her science-obsessed mind speaking again? Either way, it seemed fishy.
"You're sure he's in there?" Evan asked Isis.
She shrugged. "Well, this is the only high-security building around here that's not even on the map. It's either government-run, or it's something unofficial and possibly illegal."
Beatrice's eyes were saucers. "And we're going inside?"
"Breaking inside, but yeah." Isis glanced around. "Anyone not up to this, this is your time to turn back now. I have no idea what they'll attempt to do to us."
Samantha was sure she heard Beatrice swallow. "They might kill us?"
Isis shrugged. "Possibly."
"I told you, Bee-Bee," Oliver said. "I told you this wouldn't be easy."
"But," Isis said. "If anyone here doesn't have a moonstone, don't even bother. No one's here to play babysitter. You can keep in touch with the police and continue to pressure them to come here, but that's it. To go inside would be suicidal."
Samantha glanced at Evan. What would he do?
To her surprise, he pulled out a moonstone. "Well, I've got mine now. Thanks to the professor..." He stared down at the stone. "The last thing he gave me before those Superiorists showed up... Crystallized urine."
"Crystallized what?" Oliver started laughing.
"Be serious," Isis said.
Oliver covered his mouth, shaking hard.
More because of him than anything else, Samantha had to look away, only to see Joby's lips pinned shut and a strained smile on his face. She brought her hands up to her face. "You idiots..."
Isis let out a loud sigh.
"Ollie!" Beatrice slapped him. "Shut up! You're holding everything up!"
"I'm holding everything up? Evan talking about crystallized pee right before we storm Lord Visero's hideout!"
Joby chortled.
"Ha!" Samantha covered her mouth at the look Isis shot her. "Oh, uh...sorry."
"Anyway," Isis said. She turned to Beatrice. "You don't have a moonstone?"
"No."
"I do have some extras here that the professor wanted me to hold on to, as backup. Assuming you have one of the common ones..." Isis dug up a plastic bag from her back pack. Rocks clanked as she held it out. "Touch them and see if any flicker."
Beatrice reached inside the bag. "What do you mean by flicker, exactly? Is it going to glow or..."
"Yeah, that one right there. The rain stone."
"Rain?" Oliver looked over. "I thought those were flexible people?"
"Doesn't mean she has all of the traits," Isis said. "Good, everyone's all set."
"But wait," Beatrice said. "How do I use this?"
"Yeah," Evan added.
"Try to visualize the energy," Samantha said. "Imagine how it moves and try to feel its flow and direct it."
"Well, that would be nice, Sammy. But I have no idea what I'm supposed to be imagining." Evan held his stone up. "All joking aside, what element is this for?"
The other five all stared at the shiny yellow stone. The only thing that came to Samantha's mind was lemonade, and a certain other thing that lemonade so famously resembled. But she was sure it was because of his earlier comment.
"I have no idea," Isis said. She glanced around at the others.
"Lightning?" Beatrice guessed.
"Nope." Joby held up his stone. "This is lightning. It's kinda got a bit of purple in it too."
"Could it be something not so element focused?" Oliver asked.
"What do you mean?" Isis asked.
"They're from space," Samantha said. "Maybe it's for something not on Areth?"
Evan's eyelids moved up for a second. "Well...that would be pretty cool."
Isis eyed the guard in the distance. "Either way, you and Beatrice will both need to learn to use them. Practice by staying here behind the bushes, and taking out that guard."
Evan and Beatrice looked equally horrified by this request.
"If you can't do it with the rest of us here," Isis said, "and getting in an element of surprise, then you won't be able to handle it when we separate and break inside the building. I'm not trying to be mean. It's better to tell you upfront instead of have you get hurt in there."
"But it's easier when someone's attacking you first," Samantha said.
"It won't help if they can't summon their element. Or aim." Isis shot Joby a look.
"Hey... What's that supposed to mean?" he asked.
Beatrice glanced at Evan. "So, all I can do is make it rain? That doesn't sound that great to me."
"Well, uh..." He scratched his head. "Just try to think of ways to use it. Like, uh... Can you make it slippery?"
"Oh, maybe. I'll try." Beatrice clutched her moonstone in both hands, staring the guard's way. The bushes really did make their task a lot easier.
An awkward pause followed. Samantha didn't see a speck of rain come from the clouds above. Was this really such a great idea? She was beginning to think it'd be better if Evan and Beatrice sat this out. At least they wouldn't get caught in something and end up hurt.
But four people storming that huge building? That sounded like trouble too. She and Joby couldn't do much while indoors, and Isis's element wasn't that great either. Just Oliver seemed like he'd be formidable.
At such a desperate time, maybe any help was good help.
Finally a light drizzle began.
Stopping, the guard looked up at the sky. Only a single cloud seemed to be responsible.
Samantha saw Evan raise his moonstone.
To her surprise, there was suddenly a blinding burst of gold light. It landed right on the guard. He let out a scream before jumping back. "Who goes there!"
Figuring this was enough, Samantha decided to end this quickly. She sent a powerful blast of wind at the guard. He was knocked off his feet and hurled into the side of the building. He collapsed and stayed put.
Isis didn't seem exactly tickled by this, but let it go. "Fine, he's out. Now we need to split into pairs and slip inside. This will create confusion, as they won't know how many of us there are. We'll be harder to track this way. But remember: we're not choosing friends. It's important to choose someone you work well with, both personality-wise and regarding elements."
The other five all glanced at one another, remaining silent.
"I have one suggestion." Isis turned to Beatrice. "I think we'd work well together. Rain and ice."
"Oh yeah. That does sound good."
"Now, it's just the giggle squad."
"Giggle squad?" Oliver repeated. "Ah, whatever. Veto me or whatever, but I think Evan and Samantha should stick together."
"You do?" Evan asked.
"You guys are always on the same page."
Samantha glanced at Joby.
He shrugged. "Guess he's right about that. You'd probably think I was try
ing to be a pervert with my lightning bolt or something."
Isis whistled. "Your lightning bolt, huh?"
"What?" Samantha laughed. "I'm not that bad, you know." She looked over at Evan. "Want to work together then?"
"Yeah. As long as I don't have to hear about Joby's lightning bolt again."
"And that leaves us, Mr. Shocker!" Oliver slapped Joby on the back with a laugh.
"Just remember, everyone," Isis said. "Save your energy. If you use too much, it's going to affect you. Now, let's go."
At first, Samantha half-wondered if they'd all be better off sticking together. However, once she was inside the building and saw the rows and rows of doors and turns, she realized a large group charging in might have even more problems. Besides having no idea where the professor was being kept, they'd get attacked by everyone in the place while searching. Instead, smaller groups scurrying here and there would be harder to follow.
Samantha and Evan headed down a random hallway. It was just as sterile gray as the rest of the facility, with the walls completely barren. Nothing seemed willing to give away the purpose of the place. Somewhere off in the distance, they heard a door slam, then a voice shouting.
They both flinched at a loud thud.
"Well, they know we're here," Evan said. They resumed walking.
"Are you sure you're comfortable using your stone?"
"What choice do I have? I'm not leaving Professor Lemmings here."
"I haven't really known him all that long... But I can tell you guys are close."
He didn't say anything for a minute. "If it weren't for him, you'd be dead. He was the one who pointed us to the Kenaip. He didn't know the drool was the cure to your Tranlude poisoning back then but still."
"He wants everyone to get along, just like Dr. Gemia. If we can stop Lord Visero, maybe that might shut up the Superiorist movement. Maybe, finally, we can all stop this stupid fighting. I'd love to learn more about them. I'm tired of books and rumors. I just want to talk to one, maybe as friends."
"If we get through this, I don't think it'll take long."
For the twins, their path was suspiciously quiet and free from Superiorists. Just one empty hallway leading into another, with most of the doors being locked and dark. The whole place was starting to creep Samantha out, but she kept this to herself. What was the point in such a huge, carefully secured building then? Backup storage?
Finally, they found a door leading outside. The area seemed to be a large parking lot, with just one eighteen-wheeler parked right up against the building. But then, they heard voices coming from the truck. Familiar voices.
"You know the other day, when you were wondering just how weak humans actually are? I think I noticed something!"
"What?"
"Well, you know human marriages? The female wears a gown while the male wears a tux?"
"Yeah, yeah. And?"
"Did you ever notice how the male is always carrying the female? Really, look it up in an image search or something. I don't think human females can actually walk while wearing that gown."
"Whoa! Really?" Laughter.
"Yeah! I saw some guys talking about it on a forum. They say how human females are like half the strength of the males, yet the males are like a third of our strength! Crazy, huh?"
"Damn, humans are weak! How can they even survive?"
Lots of laughter.
Samantha and Evan looked at each other, each raising an eyebrow. Of all the ignorant conversations to be listening in on...! She was dying to set them straight. But no. They needed to find the professor and get out.
The twins started to cut across the parking lot. Just ahead on the other side was another large building. This one had been hidden from view from the front, so it must've been important. That or just more empty rooms, wasting rent space and an electric bill.
They hadn't gone far when they suddenly heard: "Whoa there! Halt, trespassers!"
Samantha and Evan turned around. The two brothers from the other night were heading their way, their walk a rather childish swagger. In fact, seeing them in the daylight, Samantha realized how tough-guy-wannabe their jackets looked too, with their collars yanked straight up. These were nothing but a bunch of kids, alright. Tranludes, but still kids.
A brother snickered. "It's you two again!"
"Is Roger Lemmings here?" Evan asked.
"We don't have to answer to you humans!"
"Yeah!" The second did a hop, bunching his fists. "You filthy, disgusting, useless humans!"
"Alright, that's enough!" Yanking her wind stone from her pocket, Samantha sent a swift gust in their direction.
The two were sent spiraling backwards, sliding and scraping on the pavement.
"Yeow!"
"Weak bitch!" One pulled something out from his own pocket.
Before Samantha could even figure it out, her shirt suddenly burst into flames. She screamed.
Evan let out a scream too. "Put it out, put it out!"
But seeing the glowing embers right under her nose sent her into a panic. She had no idea what she was doing. Running, slapping at it one second, trying to tear her shirt off the next, all the while sending wind crashing in one direction, then another.
"Sam, Sam! Stop!" Evan managed to catch up to her. Yanking his shirt off, he shook it in a giant flap. The gust put out the fire. Finally her sense returned.
"Th-thanks," she said.
The two brothers laughed. "Lord Visero knew he could count on us!"
"Yeah!" The other waved around a moonstone of his own. "He let us be some of the first to try that new injection! We can use these dumb stones better than any puny human can!"
"You're just his guinea pigs, you stupid morons!" Evan yelled.
"Say that again, Red!"
Now it was Evan's coppery hair that went up in flames.
But this time, Samantha was ready for it. She sent a light gust at him, putting it out.
So both the brothers had fire stones. Fitting, considering how aggressive most fire people were. "Don't you boys have anything better to do?" she asked them. "Like study for a test?"
"What? It's summer break!"
"Don't talk to us like we're kids!"
A column of fire appeared in front of the twins. Then another behind them. It seemed awkward to assault two teens, but what else could be done? Fire was one of the nastier elements, and the two Tranludes might as well have been deaf.
Samantha put out the flames with another strong breeze.
Evan gave them a taste of his strange, gold flash.
Despite seemingly being nothing more than a blinding flash, the brothers both yelped out from it, with one even screaming, "That burns!" Maybe his element would throw them off as much as it did the twins themselves.
But instead, the brothers wasted no time in countering. Flames began to pop up all over the parking lot, like tiny flowers bursting into fiery bloom. Flames at their feet, at their heels.
As Samantha focused on putting these out, she and Evan suddenly caught on fire again. With a growl, she had the wind change tracks, suddenly doing a sharp spin back into the twins to extinguish their flames.
Almost immediately, the flames returned. Their hair, their clothes, it was getting bigger with each repetition.
Aware of being stuck in a pattern, Samantha was forced to put out the flames again, leaving Evan to attack.
Another explosion of flames. It was starting to get painful now.
"Really let them have it, Evan!" She whipped up another gust.
"I'm trying! They keep attacking together! I'm not sure if I'm doing much." This time, his light burst knocked the two Tranludes to the ground.
Would they stop now?
No.
The ground under Samantha and Evan seemingly erupted in a blaze.
The brothers weren't going to back down.
She needed to do something.
She needed to fight back.
Whipping up a strong torrent of wind, she had it
zoom around past the twins then charge towards the brothers. Using all that was out there, she drove them into the cement, then on a whim, sent the wind spiraling upwards, bringing them along with it. Around and around they went, picking up speed. Faster and faster and faster...
"You made a twister!" she heard Evan say.
But she was hardly even watching. Her eyes closed from the effort, she instead focused on the upward spiral of the wind.
She had them. This needed to be it.
Finally her control broke, the flow of the wind dying with it. The two Tranludes were dropped, just two small forms gradually becoming larger. They hit the cement with a jiggle, then there was stillness.
"You got them!" Evan said.
But Samantha just stared at the limp forms. Had she overdone it? Had she... Suddenly she felt her strength leave her.
She also hit the cement.
Chapter 25
Evan had no idea what just happened, but seeing his sister go from twister mistress to passed out was startling. It actually scared him quite a bit.
"Sam!" Falling to his knees, he shook her. "Are you alright? What's wrong? Say something! Anything!" She flopped like a beanbag as he attempted to lift her head up. "Sam! C'mon!"
Off to the side, he saw her fallen wind stone. Its once gentle blue was now a bright cyan. It flickered like a broken TV screen. Had she burned out?
"Sam..." He stared down at her. Her hair, clothes, and arms charred, she looked terrible. If she'd only open her eyes... He had no idea what to do. He half-considered a light slap to the face, but instead tried a brush on the hand. "Do you hear me?"
"...Irsty..."
"What?"
Finally she attempted to sit up on her side, her head still drooped down. "Really thirsty..."
"Don't have any water. Lie down for a minute." He pushed her back down. "What happened?"
"Not sure. Just felt weak." Her head turned to the wind stone. "Think I got carried away..." Her eyes moved to the two still limp brothers. "I killed them?"
"Don't worry about that now." Yet when he took a glance over, Evan had a feeling the Tranludes wouldn't be bothering them anymore. There was no way they could've survived such a high drop onto the pavement like that.
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