Chapter 18: Reject the impossible, right?
Tuesday, 9 June 2024, 7:06 am
A woman runs, bobbing and weaving between trees and playground equipment. Desperately dodging lasers buzzing all around her as she dives and rolls to short moments of safety. She barely has a chance to catch her breath before she is bombarded with another barrage of blinding beams.
A little boy runs behind her, his short legs struggling to keep up with her superior agility. He quickly plods through the tall grasses, being extra careful to watch his step, lest he fall into a puddle or mole hole.
"You'll never get me!" the woman yells out confidently. She weaves between trees and ducks under bushes, peeking her head out occasionally to confirm the position of her enemy.
"Wait, you're going too fast, mom!"
"Weakness, boy! Come! Show me your true power!"
She rolls beneath a playground slide, popping up on the other side and doing her best to hide her tall body among construction's thin rails.
"Bang, Bang!"
She dodges and dives through the sand, vaults a park bench and sprints toward a large tree. In an instant, she disappears.
"Mom! Mom! Where'd you do?"
"Seek the truth, and you shall find your destiny, boy!"
"Ha! I see you! Bang, Bang!"
The woman rapidly rolls from her hiding-spot revealing herself for a final confrontation.
"No more running. We stand and fight. Show me your power boy!"
"I will defeat you! B-Bang!"
She dodges, but the beam finds her chest. She screams out in anguish and falls to the ground wailing in agony as her limbs fly wildly in all directions.
"Argh! You… you got me. Come… closer, boy. I need…"
The little boy stands over the woman's quivering body wearing a grin of accomplishment on his chubby face.
"I win, mom! You owe me ice cream!"
The woman suddenly springs to life.
"Never! The Queen of the Elements rises again!"
She grabs the little boy into the air as she spins him around boisterously. The child pouts.
"What's wrong, baby?"
"That's unfair. I won. You have to lose."
"Ah, honey. But how can the good guys lose?"
"Why do they always have to win? It's unfair!" He says aloud as his pout sinks deeper into his face.
The woman chuckles.
"Honey. The good guys don't always win." She says with a pout as she snatches the boy's cheeks and turns his face towards hers, garnishing his forehead with a wet kiss.
"Listen, Reyn… real life, it's not like your games and movies. The good guys don't always win. Matter of fact, they lose a lot too. But sometimes, the good guys can't lose, right? Not because they're stronger or smarter than the bad guys. But because losing means they lose something they love." She hugs the boy tighter as he stares up at her intently. "No matter what happens Reyn, we have to fight for the ones we love. We can't give up. We can't lose. Because if we lose, they lose too. Do you understand, honey?"
He nods earnestly, his brow furrowed with intensity as she laughs at the charming display.
"You cutie!" She smiles while playfully poking at his tummy.
"Mommy!"
"So, honey, that is why, sometimes, the good guys just have to win, no matter what. Reject the Impossible!" She says commandingly as she throws her fist into the air.
"Victory or Death." Her little boy shouts, stretching on the tip of his toes to hold his first next to his mother's.
Reyn wakes with a smile on his face as the dream fades back into memory. He slowly opens his eyes, and lets out a frustrated sigh to discover he is once again in a black-light room.
"Ah, he wakes! Welcome back, Mitchells." A gravelly voice greets him from the dark. "This is becoming a habit. Not often we see recruits this often. Rick again?"
"Ugh. Nah, one of Ravinok's other tests." Reyn groans.
"Right… makes sense… I guess."
"It's my ARCH-type. Ravinok can't figure it out and I can't figure out how to control it. We've been trying all kinds of tests to try and understand." Reyn says, sighing as he recounts his final memories before being knocked out again.
"Ah, I guess that makes sense. So what is your ARCH-type?"
"Uh..." Reyn hesitates.
"Say no more, I get it. Who am I to judge, right? You've never seen my face and I'm constantly staring at yours. Oh, did I ever tell you, you look just like your mom? The eyes especially."
"Oh… uh, no, I don't think so."
"Yeah, just like her. Which is why, I'm sure whatever's going on with your ARCH-type, you'll figure it out. Even if it's through pure stubbornness and spite." The voice chuckles. "Your mom… man, she was a force. I think even the director was scared of her. Once Lunara got an idea in her head, there was no stopping her. You'll be fine, Mitchells. Reject the impossible, right?"
Reyn solemnly nods a confirmation.
"Well… um, that being said. The Director said he wants to see you as soon as you're up. So, I guess you better head over there, buddy. Dunno what it's about, but, um… best of luck to you, Mitchells. See you around."
Reyn's startles at the news. The man disappears with fading footsteps, quickly followed by multiple sets of feet approaching Reyn through the darkness of the black-light.
"This way, please, Mr. Mitchells. Director Martinez would like to have a word."
A hand firmly grabs his arm in the dark, and multiple hands pull him off the bed he lay on. He is forcefully dressed, despite attempts at protestation, and led out the black-light and into the familiar halls of the medical facility located in the compound.
Reyn is quickly led by several black-suited agents to a car waiting outside, and the group arrives shortly at the GAARD HQ administration building. He is hurried through the lobby and straight to the 20th floor, rushing through the halls of the office setting and quickly arriving at the Director's door.
Reyn barely has a chance to collect his thoughts and contend the outcomes of his last test with Ravinok before he finds himself sitting on a chair meters away from GAARD's commander in chief.
He sits, staring at the floor in panicked contemplation and mental damage control, trying to figure out how he could worm his way out of his current predicament while he fights off anxieties and thoughts of self-doubt.
"Reyn Mitchells, Director is ready for you." A voice calls out.
Reyn turns to the Director's secretary who points him to his office entrance. He begrudgingly lifts himself from the chair and forces himself inside.
Ravinok sits on the large, leather couch. Slumped into himself, his head buried deep into his hand as he sits mumbling in Russian.
Director Jesse Martinez sits at the foot of his desk, arms crossed as he stares at Reyn entering his office.
"Welcome, Mitchells." He says as he gestures for Reyn to take a seat on his couch.
Reyn hurries over, greets the Director with a stern nod and sits himself on the leather couch, allowing it to swallow him as deep as it can.
"GAIA, replay the footage." The Director yells out and a display on one of his walls abruptly lights up.
Reyn watches intently as he sees a recording of his reaction-time tests done the previous day. The machine's holographic curtain was up, and Reyn stood in the cubicle with his arm extended. A ball shoots out from the machine and he catches it effortlessly, before another shoots out shortly after and hits him violently in the face.
He squints as he relives the event.
"GAIA, replay. Zoom in on the anomaly." The Director calls out again.
The video plays again, but as it starts, the image zooms in on the machine's barrels. The video slows down to a frame-by-frame slow-motion and Reyn squints. On the screen he see a blue rubber ball materialize from a shimmer of light, just before the machine's barrels. It instantly launches itself towards Reyn.
Reyn's mind is left in a sudden state of shock as he comes to the realization of what he had just witnessed. In his concerted effort to catch the rubber ball, Reyn's ability, in the absence of him being able to see the ball, had instead created a ball for him to catch. And in an instant, Reyn gained a new understanding of the scope of his aetheric ability.
"Do I need to explain this to you, Mitchells?" the Director asks, leering at Reyn with a scowling face.
"N-No, sir." Reyn promptly responds.
"Good, because whatever the hell it is, it's got Ravinok spooked. And if he's scared, I'm fucking terrified! I'm only gonna ask you this once, Mitchells. What the fuck am I looking at here?"
The Director's anger and intimidation doesn't leave much room for Reyn to consider his options. He realises the show of his aetherics has completely exposed him and the questions it raises could not be answered with half-truths or lies.
He quickly confesses, going into details about his aetheric ability and the things he has seen in his mind.
"Jesus… Ravinok, what the fuck am I listening to here?" the Director shrieks as Reyn concludes his testimony.
Ravinok sits wide-eyed and quivering as he tries to settle the glasses on his nose.
"This… this, is beyond anything I could have imagined. Mitchells! Why would you keep this from us? The implications alone! My god, child. Have you any idea what this means? What you possess… I… I need to think. Please, Jesse, give me a moment."
The Director swiftly moves behind his desk and slumps into his chair.
"Ravinok, I need you on this. Full priority. I don't know what the fuck I just heard, but if it is what I think it is, we either found a way to win this war, or… I don't even wanna think about the alternatives. Figure out what fuck were dealing with here. And now! I don't want this kid anywhere near a power-core until we know he's not a threat, got it!?"
Ravinok nods vigorously before quickly dipping his heading back into deep calculations.
"Mitchells, listen to me clearly, boy. What you did, around here we call that insubordination. Had anybody got hurt, I'd be calling it treason. So, let me make myself crystal clear with you right now. I sniff a whiff of disloyalty coming from anywhere, anywhere, in your general fucking direction, you'll never see the light of day as long as this organization stands. Do we understand each other, Reyn Mitchells?"
Reyn jumps to his feet and nods wildly. Ensuring he maintains a proper posture and eye contact.
"Fuck! I don't have time for this shit. Ravinok, I'm leaving this to you. I've got terrorists to take care of. I'm expecting a daily report on this Mitchells situation. I need to know what part he's gonna play in this, if any." The Director turns his gaze to Reyn, hardening his eyes and cracking his brow. "As for you Mitchells… don't fuck this up. I don't know what your story is. But… I see your potential. Do whatever Ravinok says and show me we can trust you. Now go."
Reyn immediately turns toward the door and Ravinok soon follows after. As they exit the Director's office, Ravinok grabs Reyn's shoulder.
"Mitchells… you've hurt me, boy. To lie to me about this. About the science, the aetherics…" Ravinok says as he looks deep into Reyn's eyes. His face turned to sadness. "Please, Reyn. I seek only to understand. To help you understand. I will forgive and forget your folly. But can you trust me, now? Can you promise me no more secrets, no more lies? If not, how can we find the truth, Mitchells?"
Ravinok's earnestness and compassion seeps from every pore on his face, and Reyn can't help but be gripped by a sense of guilt and shame.
"Sir, I-I'm sorry… I was… I was trying to…" Reyn sputters.
"Boy! Promise me! Give me your word as a man, right now. Or else we have nothing more to discuss."
"Yes sir! I promise! You have my word!"
"Good. Now go, Reyn. I have much to think about. I will call for you when we are ready. In the meantime, keep these discussions between us. Even an inkling of knowledge regarding your ability getting out there could spell unknown disaster. Go! I will call for you soon."
Reyn nods and swiftly moves toward the elevator while Ravinok slips away between the floor's tiles. He quickly makes his way towards the dorm, his mind wrapped in contemplation as he makes sense of the last 24 hours. His wall of lies and misdirection had come crumbling down around the Director's intense questioning and his life and future now hang on the outcomes of Ravinok's investigations into his aetherics. He slaps at his forehead, regretful of his decisions to hide his ability from his superiors, especially Ravinok who had shown a genuine interest to help him understand himself.
As he enters the dorm, his head hanging low and his body consumed by dejection, a soft hand suddenly grabs him.
"You ok?" Jocelyn asks as she presses against him, gripping his hand tightly between hers.
"Joze! Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Are you ok?" Reyn asks, concerned, as he immediately notices Jocelyn's red, glazed eyes. "Have you been up?"
"Yes! I was worried. You disappeared! Ugh. Sorry, I'm sure it was nothing, right? But I dunno… I just…"
Reyn wraps his arm around her, her genuine and deep concern over him pushes aside thoughts of self-doubt and shame as Jocelyn digs herself into his chest.
"I'm fine, Joze. Ravinok just ran some extra tests on me. Trying to figure out my ARCH-type."
"Oh… thank god. Thought you got hurt or something. Argh. Sorry, I'm freaking out over nothing. This is embarrassing. Please don't think I'm, like, weird or…"
"Well, I did get hit in the face by a rubber ball. Apparently, it ruptured my eye." Reyn says with a shrug as the two move through the dorm entrance and towards their rooms.
"I knew it! What the hell are they doing to you? What's your ARCH-type anyway?"
"Um, it's kinda complicated…"
"Oh… ok. I understand…"
"No, no it's not that I'm trying to hide it or anything. We're still trying to figure it out, I guess. And, um, Ravinok actually told me I'm not allowed to discuss it with anyone, so…"
"Oh… shit. But, do you know what it is? Have you used it yet?"
"Yeah, kinda… it's, um, complicated."
"Right… ok, Mr. Mitchells. I get it. I'll leave it at that. Just happy you're ok. You are, right?"
Reyn confirms with a smile as the two reach her room.
"Well, guess I'll see you at breakfast." Jocelyn smiles, slipping Reyn a quick peck on the cheek. "Goodnight."
"Goodnignt, Joze." Reyn says while trying to hide his coy smile.
Jocelyn enters her room, seeing him off with a blown kiss and he trots back to his own room slightly less depressed concerning recent events. He quickly prepares himself for the day's lectures and proceeds to meet the rest of the recruits for a shared breakfast.
Meanwhile, two floors below the Director's office, the combat command center is abuzz with activity as the Director once again leads his archaners into a new battle.
"Do we have eyes on them yet?" He barks out. His face is stuck in a deep scowl as he considers various mission outcomes.
"Negative sir. We've tracked them to this location but the visuals are clean. We're scanning for audio and heat, but there's too much local wildlife. Too much interference, sir." a response quickly comes back over the radio.
"Do we have Intel on their aetherics? Do they have teleportation or some kind of cloaking?"
"Intel's light. Not much besides the men that hit the ATG. Ferro, Electro, Pyro and Geo are confirmed. We counted 6 users, sir. Trained. They know what they're doing."
"Fuck." the Director, grunts. 'Ok, hold position. We have tracking drones incoming. 8 minutes."
"Holding position!"
"Vera, Ayame… we need the aetherite. I don't care how you do this. I know you not gonna listen to my fucking orders anyway, so just bring back the rock and come back in one piece! Over!"
Vera lets out a long sigh as she finishes her commune with the Director. Her GAARD training has taught her all the lingo and jargon, but she still hates the technicality and formality of it all, especially when communicating with superiors.
"Oh! He makes me nervous!" Ayame shudders as Vera closes off the communication. She ogles at many different kinds of trees below her while fighting off strands of long hair that keep whipping into her face.
Vera laughs beside her while fluffing her dress.
"I know, right. So mean and grumpy. Always shouting." She says as she rolls out ruffles.
Strike Team Split Nova floats in the sky above the jungles of Venezuela in the dead of night, watching moonlight bouncing off dancing leaves across the treetops. The jungle sways with songs of animals and insects going about their twilight business.
Vera holds them both effortlessly aloft in a sphere of low-gravity while they survey the area below them, slapping away insects and trying in vain to keep the structural form of her dress intact against the high altitude winds. She relents and decides to pass the time with her favorite activity. Consuming gourmet confectioneries.
"Oh, you want hard candy? I made them myself. They're pretty good!"
"Yes, please." Ayame happily replies.
Vera digs around in her elaborate, flowing dress for the tiny pocket that holds her sweet treats, eventually digging it out from a pouch on her waist.
Ayame giggles. She has long since given up trying to convince her partner to wear more suitable attire for their combat work, but Vera insists on fashion over function.
"Shut up! I found it, ok." Vera snaps.
She hands Ayame the treat as they gently twirl above the jungle, upside down, staring at the world above them in a pocket of weightlessness while the moon hangs at their feet.
"I love this view." Ayame gushes. "It makes me feel… ticklish?"
"I know, right! Upside down full moons are the best."
"Will you two fucking focus!" The Director scolds loudly, startling them from the magical view and causing Ayame to drop her candies.
She pouts at Vera while she whimpers over the communicator. "Y-Yes, sir! Ready, sir! Over… sir!"
"Drones will be there in 15. As soon as they pass, we'll have the aetherite's location. You have to move immediately! We don't know what aetherics they have access to. They could disappear before we know it. We need to lock down their movement and secure the package. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!" Both members of Split-Nova answer and begin to ready themselves for the jungle assault.
"Drone on approach! Stand by."