The Lost Senshi
Episode 1: Awakening
Tanen's eyes slowly focused on the world around her. It was dark, despite the bright noonday sun of the Sahara. The brilliant rays of sunlight were not able to penetrate the walls of the underground chamber. Only a few wisps of the golden beams played upon the upper walls, allowing enough light for her to see shapes around her. Her mind was clouded, the fall had caused her to forget how she'd even gotten to this strange, dark place. Slowly, the memories began to fill the holes in her mind. She remembered leaving the base camp and wandering through the sand-filled desert. She clearly remembered the feeling of sand giving way beneath her feet and falling into a darkened pit. She must have lost consciousness for a bit because everything went black after that.
A movement caught her attention. "Is there anyone there?" There was no reply to her question. And yet, she knew she had seen movement. Thinking quickly, she chose a different language. She tried Arabic, Spanish, English, and even Japanese with no result. Now she was no longer curious, but angry. She struggled to her feet, ignoring the pain in her ankle. "I know there is someone there!" Groaning she spoke angrily in Arabic. "Muhammad, you had better not be playing a trick on me or you will die."
Again there was movement as the figure left the protective shadows. He was dressed in the ceremonial robes of the ancient Egyptians. Tanen backed up a few paces and reached into her jacket to find her pocketknife. "Who are you?" Her voice did not quaver with fear, but with a challenge, as if she was provoking the man.
"I am Amun."
"Yep, sure you are!" She began to laugh. "Muhammad is up to this isn't he, he thinks it will be funny to make the little American girl believe a mummy is after her. Well, I am not going to fall for it. No way! I know who Amun is, no fooling this 'Yankee.' Amun, is an Egyptian god. He isn't alive. He isn't even real."
The man seemed a bit puzzled by her outburst. His face softened with understanding. "Wosyet was wise to send Amun to you. You are indeed the girl Amun has been seeking."
"Girl you've been seeking? Listen buddy, whatever you're selling, I don't want any!"
"You said Amun could not be alive. But, you are mistaken, young one." He smiled at her again, as if he was sharing a secret with her. "Chons could aid in Amun's transport through time."
She nodded. "Yes, the Egyptian god of time could certainly do that, if he existed!"
Amun sat down slowly on a slab of limestone in the center of the room. "Come to Amun's side, child. You have much to learn of your destiny. We have very little time to spare, they need you as soon as possible."
Tanen took a seat next to the man, drawn by the force of curiosity to hear a story which would change her life forever.
~~LS~~LS~~LS~~LS~~
Tanen stared up at the foreboding building in front of her. "I think I'm going to go home now." She said softly to herself. "Nothing is worth going in this place. It looks like it should be called the "Alcatraz Academy for Gifted Students."
"Can I help you?" The voice shocked Tanen into a squeal and a quick about-face.
"I'm just looking for my dorm room." She held out the paper she'd been given when she registered.
The woman looked at it for a moment and smiled. The grin gave her face an insincere, almost nauseating air. "Third floor. It's a big red door, you can't miss it."
"Thank you." Tanen responded politely. She entered the building cautiously and mounted the stairs. Why had she come here anyway? She couldn't quite remember. It had seemed like such a good idea when she'd filled out the application. At least she wouldn't have to sit through another one of the boring lectures she'd had to undergo at her public school. However, this building looked like it should be the gateway to the underworld. And, she had no idea what her roommate would be like.
Tanen mounted the stairs carefully, looking around at the deserted stairwell. It looked like the stuff of which horror movies are made. She almost expected a man in a strange mask to burst from the shadows and attack her with a machete. Of course, she was allowing her imagination to run wild. "Well, Amun, I'm here. Now, what?" She questioned as she finally reached the red door she'd been told to find.
The voice filled her mind with a warmness and a calmness she had never before experienced. 'You will go into your room. You know why you are here.'
Yep, I'm on an ancient lost civilization goose chase. She thought wryly as she entered the dorm room.
A girl looked up from her perch on the bed. She was slightly taller than Tanen, but thinner. She had long strawberry blond hair falling in natural curls to mid-back. Her eyes were a beautiful green color, like polished jade. She smiled invitingly. "You must be Tanen! I'm Leilani Sina, your roommate."
Tanen brightened immediately. So, she hadn't been stuck with a complete loser. This girl seemed to have all the makings of a best friend. "Yep, I'm Tanen Roberts, nomad extraordinare."
Leilani raised an eyebrow at the remark and patted the bed next to her. "I think before we start unpacking all our stuff, we should get to know each other better." Leilani spoke with a foreign lilt. Tanen prided herself in her ability to place accents. It sounded Southern Pacific, but she couldn't be sure.
"Okay, let me see, a five minute bio. Well, my mother is an anthropologist and my father is an Egyptologist. I spent most of my early childhood in Egypt. I was born in the middle of the desert while my parents were on a dig. So, I have a joint citizenship, Egypt and the US. I used to stay with my grandparents during the school year and attend my mother's alma madder. But, when I got the pamphlet for this school, I thought it might be nice to strike out on my own and see the world. It's hard being away from the folks, but I get to visit them every vacation. So, I'll survive. In my free time I like to read historical novels, visit museums, hang with friends, or learn a foreign language. My mother calls me a linguistic sponge because I can learn any foreign language in a little under a week." She smiled with pride. "That would be all about me. Your turn, Leilani."
Leilani shyed a bit. "Call me Lani, most of my friends do."
"No problem, Lani. So, where are you from?" Tanen asked when she realized the information was not forthcoming.
Lani frowned. "You'll laugh at me, everyone does."
Tanen shook her head. "Nope, I can't laugh, it's not in my chemical make-up. Besides, there's nothing funny about where people live. Home is home. Heck! I live in a tent, can't get any worse than that."
Lani smiled appreciatively. "I am from Easter Island. I lived in the village there with my parents. The town is very small, and the school has only one room. My parents thought it would be best if I left the island and received some education from here. I learned to speak English from our teacher. She also runs a mission."
Tanen looked at the girl in awe. "Really? You're from Easter Island. I didn't even realize there was a town on the isle. That is amazing! I would give my eyeteeth to see those Moai. I've heard the ancient carvings are unbelievable."
Lani looked a little puzzled by the girl's excitement. "You know of the Moai?"
Tanen nodded. "You bet! I've read just about every book on ancient cultures my old school library had. Laugh? I would never laugh at Easter Island, that is way too cool!"
Lani beamed pulling a necklace from beneath her shirt. "My grandmother gave me this before she died. It is a piece from a Moai. She said it coursed with the magic of the ancients."
Tanen put an arm around the girl's shoulders. "Lani, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
~~LS~~LS~~LS~~LS~~
The woman entered the darkened room quickly, closing the door behind her. "I am here, Dark One. The girls have all arrived and are becoming acquainted in their rooms."
"Good." A voice hissed from the shadows. "You have done your job well, Priestess."
The woman bowed her head in submission. "My purpose is too serve you only, Master. When will the girls' show themselves?"
"Patience, Priestess. You must have Patience. You and the others have done your job well. You scoured the world looking for these Lost Senshi. I do not believe any of them are aware of their gifts yet. We must find them, and kill them before they become fully awakened."
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