Fire

by Terra Harmony

  Chapter 51

  Adding it Up

  Before six the next morning, I was dressed and on my way outside with a water bottle in hand. Alex was already leading the Elementals in a stretching exercise. I approached the group. Several raised eyebrows, and the fact that almost everyone paused in what they were doing, told me I was not expected.

  "Oh, Kaitlyn," Alex interrupted his loud, rhythmic counting. "Did you want to take the lead on this?"

  "God, no." I snorted, accidentally. My cheeks grew hot with embarrassment. "I mean – continue." I walked into the middle of the group, taking my place among the ranks of Elementals. They needed to know I wouldn't put them through anything I wasn't willing to do myself.

  Those around me edged away, because apparently I needed more room to stretch my legs than anyone else. Alex started up his counting again. As we moved, shifting with each exercise, the empty space around me closed up. By the end of it I blended in with the group.

  Alex started our run. Thankfully, that was all we were doing today. The long columns he organized us into quickly morphed into a misshaped oval, then broke off into several smaller circles as our separate running abilities became apparent. I was somewhere in the middle, but to be fair, I had just given birth a few months ago.

  "Hey, chief." Brandt came up alongside me.

  "Hey," I said through heaving breaths.

  "So what'd you find out about plasma?"

  Now? We are going to do this now?

  Two hours in the library last night gave me plenty to go on, but it wasn't something I could rehash while trying to match Alex's pace. Several had already fallen behind. I didn't want to be one of them. I was their Gaia.

  "Fourth state of matter," I said, as quickly as I could. "Ionized gas. Made by pumping gas with energy."

  "So, how do you think he's going to do it? Ionize his own gas or draw it down from the sun?" Brandt actually turned and began running backward while talking.

  Show-off. I am hating this boot camp thing.

  "Hey!" Alex yelled at us. "You there – your circle is falling back!"

  Nina and Natasha lagged behind the larger group. Brandt sighed, gave me a two-fingered salute with his bandaged hand, and slowed down to run with his circle.

  I sent a silent thank you to Alex, even though my breathing was out of control and my legs felt like jelly. It was getting harder and harder to stay with the group. I considered drawing in energy, but would people notice? Caught cheating would be even worse than falling behind.

  I caught Alex's eye.

  Please don't let me fail my own training regime.

  Alex, the ever faithful friend, slowed his pace to collect the stragglers like a sheepherding collie. Once he had us all in a group again, he began belting out a cadence. Something about dying in a combat zone. I'm pretty sure he was substituting everything 'Marine Corps' with 'The Seven'.

  Repeating his monotonous, rhythmic chants helped take my mind off the physical activity. The group fell into step, matching Alex's calls, "Left, left, left, right, left," with their feet. The synchronized pounding on the ground reverberated up my spine, giving me goose bumps.

  I am liking this boot camp thing. Maybe I missed my calling.

  I met the eyes of the woman running beside me, and she gave me a small smile. I was finally melding with the group. A faceless one of many, no longer sticking out or feeling like the outcast. It felt different; it felt good.

  After one loop around the Chakra, Alex slowed us down to a walk. He made general announcements as he led us through cool-down stretches, "We will meet for an exercise session every morning. For most of the runs, I'll divide you into groups according to ability. But once a week you'll run with your newly assigned elemental circles and we'll also run as a whole group once a week."

  I looked around at the faces, hoping our new training regime wouldn't push some away. There were no groans, and no eye rolls. Some even looked eager.

  Alex stood up from the final stretch, "That's it for now. Anything you want to add, Kaitlyn?"

  People shifted away to look at me, and just like that I was singled out again.

  Thanks, Alex.

  I sighed. "No."

  "Ok, then." He clapped his hands once. "Showers and breakfast, then meet back here for study assignments. Good first run, everyone!"

  *

  Three weeks had passed since our first exercise session, and I had even been moved up a running group. I was able to meet more of the Elementals, and could now – at the very least – name them. Still, the weekly 'circle' run irked me. There was no circle to which I belonged. Alex picked up on it and joined me for that run, along with Micah. He tried cajoling Susan into it, too – but someone had to watch after Bee. Alex let it go after mumbling something about ordering a running stroller. Five months old now, Bee had yet to sit in a stroller. I kind of liked that.

  The Fires made progress in the lab, figuring out how to create their own plasma, and then how to disburse it. They weren't nearly fast enough, though. Shawn's EMP burst would be lightening quick, causing untold damage. We needed more time.

  We didn't get it.

  Alex paced the room. "One Less moved and closed off all communications. I can't get word to or from my contacts."

  "Where did they go?" Micah asked.

  "Lost track of them after they landed several of their private jets at Addington Field, in Kentucky."

  "Kentucky?" I asked, changing Bees diaper on the floor. "What's in Kentucky?"

  Alex shrugged. "Don't know – but nothing is picking them up. Not my satellites, none of my radio comms, traces on the internet – nothing."

  Susan walked over to one of her computers. They all now sat on individual tables that were rolled into a large enclosure while the Fires and I experimented with EMPs. Hopefully, the enclosure Alex had built using metallic shielding, along with surge protectors, screened isolated transformers, spark gaps, and backup generator would keep them safe.

  Susan pulled up a map of Kentucky. "That is Elizabethtown Regional Airport. Let's see…Fort Knox is there. Could the military be helping them?"

  Micah shook his head. "Not possible; they have no connections to military – it's been confirmed."

  My mouth dropped open, then tipped up in a smile, "You've been busy."

  Micah shrugged. "His coal fires in China were enough to get the ball rolling."

  "Focus people," Susan said. "We also have a bunch of national forest area, and Louisville is the closest big city."

  I strained my neck up from my position on the floor. "Scroll south – what’s that big green area?"

  Susan clicked on the terrain map. "Mammoth Cave."

  I stood with Bee on my hip. "He likes caves. That's what he was operating out of Heard and McDonald Islands."

  Alex nodded. "And that would explain not being able to trace him. He's probably closed himself off there."

  "Isn't that a National Park Service Area? They wouldn't just…let him move in." Micah lifted the hem of his shirt and wiped baby powder from my nose.

  Susan brought up the Mammoth Cave website. "The world's longest known cave system, with 390 miles explored. They can't constantly monitor all of it."

  Alex leaned over her shoulder and read, "They are still discovering new passages and often report, 'there is no end in sight'."

  Susan turned her head slightly, and suddenly they were nose to nose. A small smile formed on each of their mouths. I held my breath, not wanting to disturb their intimate moment. I glanced up at Micah. He cleared his throat.

  Alex straightened at the interruption. "Anyway, he's probably finalizing plans. We don't have long now."

  "We should probably go stop him," I said.

  "Yeah," everyone else mumbled, but no one moved. I had no idea what to do next, and judging by their lack of response, neither did they. I just wanted to crawl back into bed with Micah. Susan and Alex probably wanted to do the same; minus the Micah part.

  I looked at Micah. "Has this ha
ppened before? This EMP thing, I mean."

  He nodded. "In 1989 solar gas hit the planet, triggering a geomagnetic storm. Six million people lost power, and the northern lights were visible in Texas. If an EMP hits the right spot in the atmosphere, it could put the entire US out of business."

  "So if several happen at once, around the world…" Susan trailed off.

  The phrase 'worldwide blackout' had been on all our minds the past few weeks.

  "But what is the point?" I asked. "So we have a blackout. It's repairable. Mankind would just start down the same path again."

  "Shawn would've thought about that," Micah said. "He's going to need a plan for 'after', too. Probably wants to maintain whatever damage the EMP causes."

  I rubbed my temples. It was all so complicated – too much to think about. "He's one step ahead of us, as usual. We don't have the numbers to compete with him. Before or after. How many Elementals do we have now?"

  Alex answered, "We're up to 103, with a dozen more due to come in next week."

  "Wow," I said. Seemed everyone had been hard at work while I was busy running…and breastfeeding. I turned to Susan. "Any Ardwyads or Medwins?"

  "Not yet – but we are testing the Elementals we have here for those capabilities."

  I nodded. "Well – let's reroute that dozen to the States."

  "You think we should go in now?" Micah asked.

  "If anything, we need to be there before the EMP goes off. Otherwise we'll have very limited transportation options." I switched Bee to my other hip. She was getting heavy.

  "But what about the numbers?" Alex asked. "Do we plan for him having militias after that fact?"

  I thought about it, then turned back to Susan. "How do you recruit? Where do you find all of these Elementals?"

  "We follow the bloodlines, for the most part. Track each individual in the family, screening for potential powers." She pulled up some of her genealogy data.

  I scanned the list for Eastern Islanders. There were none. I opened my mouth, thinking to mention bringing them in. I froze, then snapped my mouth shut. They had been through enough.

  "Is that it?" I asked, nodding to the screen.

  She turned away from her computer. "No. We also reach out to a few key Wiccan covens. Our kind tends to flock toward that religion."

  "That's right," Alex said. "A lot of the Elementals here are members of covens back where they’re from."

  "Considering all of the Elementals here, how many countries around the world do we represent?" I asked.

  Alex thought for a moment, "Maybe fifty – I'd have to check our records to be sure."

  "Well people," I said. "We have our numbers."

  Chapter 52

  Make it Right

  "Again," Ahi said, her eyes blazing with focus.

  Shawn could swear she was enjoying this. Both covered in sweat, the heat of all the failed attempts at conjuring Akasha surrounded them, trapped in the small cave.

  For the twentieth time, between the Athame's powers and his own, Shawn tried to meld the four elements together. First fire and earth, then air and water. He condensed them, forcing them closer. His arms tensed as his mental exhaustion gave way to physical exertion.

  A cross between a scream and a growl escaped Shawn's lips as he gave up yet again. The gathered power released into the cave, and Ahi and Shawn both threw themselves to the ground to avoid the rebound off the walls and ceiling.

  "You don't even have the control to send them down the corridor anymore," Ahi said. She slowly got up, brushing herself off. It didn’t help. Her jeans were irrevocably brown from repeated trips to the cave floor.

  Shawn glared at her. She was losing confidence in him. With each failure, Ahi was coming to the conclusion Shawn wasn't meant to wield Akasha. He needed it if he were to succeed stopping the Chakra's recruits long enough for him and his Fires to carry out their plan. His planted Elementals at the Chakra told him they had drastically increased their numbers within the past few weeks. It was anyone’s guess how they were funding it. The accounts he still had access to were practically zeroed out, some even in the negative.

  "It's like the more I try to force the elements together, the more detracted they are from each other." Shawn removed his sweat-soaked shirt.

  Ahi looked away and quickly busied herself with re-braiding her hair. "You don't force Akasha. It comes when it is meant to be. We should stop for now."

  "No!" It came out more forceful than he intended. Shawn cleared his throat. "I mean…there may not be much more time. If our bait is working; they'll be here within the week."

  Ahi wouldn't let up, "Besides, I can tell just by watching your Fire when you try to meld. Something is wrong – almost like…"

  "Like what?"

  Ahi finished her braids, turned, and put her hands on her hips. "Like the power is corrupted."

  Shawn wanted to strangle her with those braids. Instead, he took a deep breath, and said through gritted teeth, "Even if that were the case – which it's not, how would I uncorrupt it?"

  Ahi didn't have a chance to answer. The lead Fire, a blue-eyed, blonde-haired twenty something, Alexia, entered the cavern. "They're leaving."

  Shawn snapped his head around. "How many?"

  "Is Kaitlyn with them?" Ahi stepped in front of Shawn - her long, silky black braids taunting him.

  Alexia craned her neck around Ahi to look at Shawn, answering her leader's question first, "All of them, sir." Her eyes flitted back to Ahi. "Including the Gaia."

  He walked to the side of the large cavern, retrieving a clean shirt. The women's eyes never left him. "Contact our Indonesian team; tell them to target the airport."

  "Shouldn't we just let them come – as long as they're bringing Kaitlyn to us?" Ahi asked. "My guys will be ready for them."

  Shawn looked at her, considering. "We'd rather fight on our turf, for sure. But we don't know what they've told her, or done with her. Or what they could be using as collateral; including the child. She very well could be fighting for them. Best we take every advantage we can get."

  Ahi's face turned white.

  Shawn turned to Alexia. "Get me more intel."

  She nodded and left.

  Ahi turned to go after her, but Shawn grabbed her arm, stopping her short. "Tell me now. What do I have to do for Akasha?"

  She turned back to him, and his hand dropped to his side. "Consider those you have wronged; those you feel you have wronged the most."

  A long list of names flashed through Shawn's head. He kept his face blank. "And?"

  Ahi flipped a braid over her shoulder. "And make it right. The power of Akasha must be pure."

  Chapter 53

  Roots

  "What's all this?" I asked. The first wave of circles were set to leave for the States today; the rest throughout the remainder of the week. Most were running around like mad men, trying to pack their belongings, plus all their standard issue gear, in what little luggage they were allowed. Alex, on the other hand, was in the library unpacking several cardboard boxes.

  "Our new iPads. One for each circle, plus a few extra," he explained absentmindedly, intent on his task.

  I picked up one he unpacked. It could probably fit in Alex's cargo pockets. "This is a computer?" I asked no one in particular.

  "Or a coaster – whatever comes in handy at the moment," Susan said, coming up behind me. "This was the last of the Seven's money. Your money brought in a shipment today, too. Want to see?"

  I set down the coaster. "Sure."

  We walked over to a new set of cardboard boxes. Condensing the books and files into computers gave us a lot more room in the library, and it was now judiciously being used as storage space.

  I helped Susan rip open a box. She reached in and pulled out a pair of pants - dark gray, with three sets of pockets down each leg, plus one in the back. She handed them over to me and I felt the material. Sturdy, with reinforced knees.

  Alex joined us. "Water resistant. If caught in water, yo
u take them off, cinch the waist here, tie off the legs, and use them as a flotation device.

  "Are they all the same color – you decided against labeling them by element?" I asked.

  He reached into another box and pulled out four riggers belts of different colors; red, blue, brown, and white. "Elementals are identified by belt. Their shirts can be pulled down over the belt – or the belt simply removed if they are in a situation where they need to hide their element. Here." He handed a blue belt to Susan.

  She made a face. "Doesn't exactly go with any of my shoes."

  "No shoes – I ordered boots for everyone, too."

  Her shoulders sagged.

  "I had a belt made on special order for you, Kaitlyn." He dug deeper into the box and pulled out something wrapped in too many layers of plastic.

  He tossed it to me and I opened it, grumbling about the packaging, "You know – in Europe they've started to tax companies based on how much packaging they use for their products."

  I caught the belt that dropped out. It was another riggers belt that consisted of all four colors, interlaced into an intricate design. A smile lit up my face. "Thanks, Alex."

  "Ooh, pretty," Susan said, running her hands over the nylon webbing.

  "Pretty?" Alex looked offended. "This has a military grade D ring buckle with two inch nylon webbing and over 8000 pound tensile strength."

  Susan ignored him.

  He sighed. "I got something for you, too." He opened a much smaller box, and pulled out two boots. "Everyone got tan boots. Waterproof, but with a breathable lining. Triple density sole. Slip resistant. But yours have a special modification." He handed the boots to her, turning them over to show her the soles.

  They had heels – not stilettos, but at least two inches. As if she needed the extra height.

  Susan squealed, "Oh my God, these are perfect! Thank you!"

  She popped up onto her toes to give Alex a kiss on the cheek. His face went red.

  Susan didn't notice; she was trying on her new gift.

  I turned, busying myself with another box. This one was lightweight jackets. Gray to match the pants with reinforced elbows, drawstring waist, zipped front and plenty of pockets, including hidden compartments. I turned it over. On the back was the large design, same as the one carved into the library's wooden doors. The spiral of life, drawn from one single line with no beginning and no end.