by C. W. Trisef
After a few moments of thinking, Nika came up with another idea: “You can control the elements, right? Remember when we first met and you rolled away that boulder without even touching it?” Ret nodded. “How about you collect the element and then keep this place from caving in on itself?—you know, hold it together? It’s basically one big rock, after all.”
“Who do I look like? Atlas?” Ret glared at her. “I can’t hold it together—there’s too much water—in the dirt, in the plants—and that’s the one element I don’t control yet. Besides, even if I could prevent this place from imploding, what would keep it together? Without the tree, this place is toast.”
“Maybe you could collect the water element first and then come back for this one?” Nika sheepishly suggested.
“That’s going to be the hardest element of all to collect,” Ret sighed. In his frustration, he got up and started to pace around the barn. “I don’t even want to collect elements. It’s just a game—it’s not the goal.”
“Then what’s the goal?” Nika wondered.
“It’s this!” Ret insisted, holding up his arms to signify his surroundings.
“A smelly old barn?” Nika joked, hoping it would get Ret to smile.
With a stifled laugh, Ret said, “No, I mean this land—your people.”
“My people?”
“Yes,” Ret reaffirmed. “It’s your way of life here, just as you told me: love of deity and love of man—everything else hangs on those two laws. And because of that, look what you have: peace, acceptance, freedom from strife. What you don’t have are the problems that plague our old world: greed, tyranny, selfishness. That world has been set up incorrectly. The people there work for money, but the people here work for others. And because everyone here works to meet each other’s needs, everyone’s needs are met. That’s why I stayed here—because this is what I’ve been searching for. This is what’s missing. This is the goal. If there’s one element that will ‘cure the world,’ it’s love—it’s this place. I can’t destroy it; I want to propagate it. I want to take it back with me and graft it into my languishing world in order to save it.”
“You want us to go back?” Nika asked with absurdity. “To the world that cast us out? Why should we do that?”
“Because they need us,” Ret answered.
“What do you mean?” Nika questioned.
Ret returned to the pile of hay and sat down next to Nika before continuing, “We are given differences to teach us how to love. I used to see them as opportunities to judge, but now I know they are really opportunities to love. We have done the world a great disservice by removing ourselves from their society. If we truly love them, we will go back and return to them the opportunity to love.” Looking her in the eye, he pled, “Would you do that?”
Nika blushed. It was hard for her to say no to Ret.
“Would we ever be able to come back?” Nika hoped. “After our job is done? Or if it doesn’t work?”
“Of course,” Ret told her. “By not collecting the element, this place will remain safe and sound.” Suddenly, Nika seemed much more willing.
“Then I guess it’s worth a try,” she said.
“Great!” Ret cheered. “Thank you.” He hugged her.
“I would do anything for you, Ret,” Nika said tenderly. Staring into his eyes, she tilted her head and moved to kiss him.
Suddenly, there was a commotion heard from outside. Before their lips met, Ret sprang up from Nika’s side and stared out the window. A large company of military men was marching into the town square. The townspeople were scurrying out of the way, shutting themselves indoors. Alarmed, Ret hurried out of the barn.
“What is it?” Nika called out, sensing trouble and getting up to follow. “What’s going on?”
Ret ran out to the square, firmly planted his feet in the dirt, and unflinchingly faced the approaching brigade. His fearlessness faded into puzzlement, however, when he saw who was leading the group.
“Lionel?” Ret wondered aloud.
“Ret!” Lionel exclaimed, rushing toward him with a warm embrace. “I’m so glad I found you.”
“What are you doing here?” Ret asked.
“I’m here to help you, of course,” Lionel said affectionately.
“Help me with what?” Ret queried.
Lionel leaned in close and whispered, “Collecting the element.”
“Oh,” Ret sighed, “well actually—”
“Shh,” Lionel said softly. “It’s okay, I know.”
“You know?” Ret asked incredulously.
“Yes,” Lionel repeated. “You’re right: we have to be very careful about this. That army back there,” he motioned behind him, “they’re expecting me to stop you from collecting the element—the whole world is, in fact. But I want you to collect it. I’ve come up with a plan that will allow us to collect the element even while it looks like I’m trying to stop you. Just do exactly what I say.”
“But Lionel,” Ret protested, “I don’t—”
“Trust me, Ret,” Lionel reassured him. “It’ll work.”
“But—”
Lionel spun around and announced to his forces, “As promised, I have led us to the Cooper criminal, and he has agreed to cooperate.” A few cheers emerged from the group.
“Criminal?” Ret mouthed to himself. He could see the worried faces of townspeople pressed up against the windows, watching the proceedings.
“Now Ret,” Lionel loudly addressed the accused, employing a sterner tone than just a moment ago, “hand over the Oracle.”
“What?” Ret asked, stunned by the request.
Lionel discretely nodded at him, a subtle reminder to just follow along.
“But I—I don’t have it,” came Ret’s truthful reply.
“Oh, Ret,” Lionel laughed. “It’s okay, just—”
“I’m being honest,” Ret avowed.
“Ret, give me the Oracle,” Lionel said, his patience growing thin.
With more conviction, Ret repeated, “I said I don’t have it.”
“Give me the Oracle, boy!” Lionel shouted, echoing in the square.
Lionel’s angry words seemed to ring a bell in Ret’s mind, for suddenly a strange (though increasingly familiar) scene flashed before his eyes. For a split second, he was taken back to a moment in time when he was aboard a burning ship, amid billowing smoke and howling wind, with someone yelling those same exact words at him—someone who looked very little like Lionel but a lot like…Lye?
“Ret!” Lionel screeched, shaking Ret from his memories.
Confused, Ret shrugged his shoulders and shook his head, unsure of what Lionel wanted him to do. Ret was shocked by his friend’s behavior. Was this all part of the act?
“Argh!” Lionel growled with frustration. He turned around and barked to his men, “Search the town!”
“What? No!” Ret countered.
“Leave nothing untouched!” Lionel instructed.
“Stop!” Ret begged as the soldiers fanned out, charging through the doors of houses and stores.
“I know it’s here!” Lionel told them, ignoring Ret’s pleas.
Ret grabbed Lionel by the arm and asked pitifully, “Why are you doing this?”
“Like I already told you,” Lionel answered, “the entire United Nations is counting on me to stop you. As their emissary, I am against you. But as your friend, I want to help you. This is an incredibly difficult position for me to be in, but I’m doing it for you.” Nika emerged from the barn and wandered within earshot.
“You’re doing it for me?” Ret questioned.
“The whole world is against you,” Lionel explained, “but I control the international effort to stop you. So although I need to make it look like I’m trying to stop you, I can also ensure that you collect the last two elements.” Nika didn’t like the sound of that. “I am your key to filling the Oracle! I just need you to do exactly as I say.”
“Ret doesn’t want to collect the elements,” Nika i
nserted matter-of-factly, stepping to Ret’s side from behind. “He told me himself.”
“Nika…” Ret quietly scolded her.
“Who are you?” Lionel sneered.
“I am the leader of these people,” Nika boldly declared. “I would ask that you and your men leave immediately.”
“I’m not leaving without the Oracle,” Lionel threatened.
“Ret doesn’t have it,” Nika told him flatly. “Now leave at once!”
Lionel stared at Nika with suspicion and asked, “Did Ret tell you that, too?”
“Yes,” Nika replied, unsure of Lionel’s reasoning.
“I wonder what else Ret has shared with you,” Lionel wondered with an unsettling smile.
Just then, one of Lionel’s men arrived with a status report: “We’ve looked everywhere, sir. There’s no sign of the Oracle.”
With displeasure, Lionel glared at Nika. Her confidence buckled under his penetrating gaze. She instinctively covered the scarred portion of her face.
“Bring her,” Lionel commanded his soldier, who promptly grabbed Nika.
“Where are you taking me?” Nika demanded, futilely wailing on the soldier’s armor.
“Wait!” Ret called after Lionel, who was striding away. “What are you doing?”
“Ret!” Nika cried for help.
Lionel stopped in the center of the town square and proclaimed, “Listen well, mutants.” The frightened citizens peeked from behind doorjambs and windowsills, trying to make sense of their ransacked homes. “Somewhere in this town, there is a sphere called the Oracle. I know you know what I’m talking about. I want it, and I’m going to kill you one by one until I get it—starting with your leader.”
“Lionel!?” Ret said with perplexity. “What has gotten into you? You’re like a different person.”
“Restrain him,” Lionel said. A pair of guards seized Ret.
“You know what I’m capable of,” Ret warned him. “Don’t make me—”
“I’m waiting,” Lionel told the town.
“These people are innocent,” Ret implored. “They don’t know anything about the Oracle.”
“She does,” Lionel said of Nika. He pulled a gun from his soldier’s holster.
“Please don’t hurt them,” Ret besought. “These people have been nothing but good to me. They’re my friends.”
“These aren’t people,” Lionel mocked. “They’re mutants—worthless, ugly mutants.” Many of the townsfolk looked down in shame. “They’re a scourge to our society. I’ll be doing us all a favor by ridding the world of them.” He raised the gun in the air.
Ret had had enough. He had tried to reason with his so-called friend Lionel but to no avail. He wasn’t about to let the innocent get hurt.
Ret focused on the gun in Lionel’s hand. Made of metal, he knew he could easily manipulate it. But before Ret could do anything to it, the gun suddenly flew out of Lionel’s hand. Someone had shot it. Lionel jumped in alarm, inspecting his hand to make sure it was unharmed. He angrily spun around and demanded of his men, “Who did that?!”
“I did.” Everyone turned to look across the square at the brave stranger.
“Well, well, well,” Lionel said with disgust. “If it isn’t Sergey Topramenov.”
Nika’s eyes bulged to hear her brother’s name. She looked at Ret, who nodded with an equally surprised smile.
“Let her go,” Serge ordered, his gun still aimed and ready, “or you’ll be next.”
Lionel laughed and asked defiantly, “You and what army?”
Suddenly, masses of Russian infantrymen poured into the square, surrounding Lionel’s men.
“This one,” Serge answered after his men had finished assembling.
With a disgruntled grimace, Lionel exhaled and instructed his soldier, “Release her.”
Nika rushed to Ret’s side.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she told him.
But Nika’s attention was focused on something else. She looked across the square. Someone was watching her. It was her brother. Despite the presence of two locked-and-loaded armies, there was silence throughout the town as the two siblings stared at one another. Separated since childhood, they were both in awe—the brother that his sister was still alive, the sister that her brother cared enough to find her. They slowly stepped forward, the sound of their footsteps heard by everyone.
“How did you find me?” Nika asked, clearly moved.
“I’ve been searching for you since the day you left,” Serge replied lovingly.
Serge was about to hug his long-lost sister, but she turned away with the shame of a leper. She brought her hand to her face to cover her unsightly scar. Delicately, Serge pulled her hand away and then, without any hesitation, used one of his own to caress her face.
“I’ve missed you so much,” Serge said softly with tears in his eyes, “my beautiful sister.” They embraced.
“I love you, brother,” Nika whispered in his ear.
Ret was touched as he observed the reunion. He stepped toward Lionel and, still profoundly confused by the man’s actions, said, “You should probably leave.”
“You’re right,” Lionel sighed with feigned dejection as he dragged himself back to his troops. Ret turned to join Nika, just in time to miss the evil grin on Lionel’s face that meant he wasn’t leaving just yet.
“Serge!” Ret rejoiced as he approached the siblings.
“How good it is to see you again, Ret,” Serge replied.
“Thanks for your help,” Ret said with relief. “How did you get here?”
Just then, the sound of a gunshot filled the air. Taken by surprise, everyone leapt and then looked around. One of Lionel’s men fell to the ground, struck by the bullet. A Russian solider was guilty, his gun still smoking. Serge’s speechless scowl demanded an explanation.
“It wasn’t my fault!” the solider confessed. “Something moved my finger—I swear!”
Lionel rushed to his fallen soldier, then indignantly grunted, “Dead.” Heated murmurs spread throughout his men. “What are you waiting for?” he addressed them. “Attack!”
The square erupted in gunfire—Lionel’s forces sending a barrage at the Russians, Serge’s forces firing back in defense. Doors were splintered and windows shattered as chaos engulfed the scene, everyone running for cover.
“Nika? Serge?” Ret said aloud, searching for the siblings amid the pandemonium. As he scanned the area, he saw Lionel leave his men and sneak out of the square. He was up to something, and Ret was going to find out.
“Ret!” Nika shrieked, pulling him into the bushes where she and her brother were protecting themselves from the onslaught.
“You alright?” Ret asked.
“Yes,” Serge answered.
“What do we do now?” Nika besought.
“Nika, I need you to get your people out of here right away,” Ret told her. “Take everyone to the trilithon, and wait there until sunrise. Tell everyone to be thinking about a place called the Keep—it’s where I live. You’ll be safe there until I can clean up this mess and bring all of you back here. Okay?”
“What if we’re spotted?” Nika worried.
“Serge, can you spare a few men to go with them?” Ret asked.
“Of course,” the president promised.
Ret got up to leave.
“Wait!” Nika stopped him. “Where are you going?”
“I’ve got some business to take care of,” Ret told her. Before Nika could object, Ret had already left to pursue Lionel.
Serge and Nika prepared to emerge from their hideout. They froze, however, when the nearby bushes began to tremble. Serge leaned in front of his sister, shielding her from whatever enemy had found them. He held out his gun, ready to shoot. A man’s head popped out of the bushes. It was Mr. Coy.
“Ben!” Serge breathed with relief, lowering his weapon.
Mr. Coy spit out a leaf that had gotten lodged in his mouth and then asked
, “What happened?” He seemed displeased. “An actual battle wasn’t part of the plan.”
“I’m not sure,” Serge told him. “It seems one of my men fired on Lionel’s forces, but I know my men—they never betray orders.”
Just then, two more heads appeared in the bushes.
“Ana, Leo,” Coy addressed them. “Any sign of Paige?”
“Not a trace,” Ana answered, defeated.
“Who’s this?” Mr. Coy wondered of Nika.
“My sister, Nika!” Serge beamed. “The one I told you about, remember? Can you believe it?”
“Incredible!” Coy cheered. “How do you do, madam?” He mistook the branch on his head for a hat but still tipped it with all chivalry.
“Where’s Ret, Mr. Coy?” Leo wondered.
“Wait, you are Mr. Coy?” Nika interjected. This was the man who had the Oracle, according to what Ret had told her just recently.
With an air of pride, as if pleased to be well-known, Coy returned, “You’ve heard of me?”
“Yes,” Nika answered. “Ret told me about you.”
“You know where Ret is?” Leo asked.
“He was here just a moment ago,” Nika said.
“Where is he now?” Ana wanted to know.
“I’m not sure,” Nika expressed. “All he said was he had some business to take care of.”
Mr. Coy, Ana, and Leo stared at each other, all thinking the same thing, and said: “The element.”
Nika didn’t like the sound of that.
Mr. Coy turned to Ana and Leo and said, “I’ll go after Ret. I need to give him the Oracle so he can collect the element. Odds are he’ll lead me to Paige.”
“I’ll go with you,” Nika interrupted. Coy glanced at her quizzically. “I—I know the way to the great tree. I can get you there safely.”
“Very well,” Coy agreed, somewhat reluctantly.
“So what do we do?” Ana queried.
“Ret asked Serge and me to get all of my people to the trilithon by sunrise,” Nika explained. “He said we should be thinking about a place called the Keep?”
