Author's Note: Hello everyone! Thanks to all my reviewers – the finale is near...
Previously on We Stand As One...
I looked into Three's mind during the fight in my room – that sounds very weird...
Anyway, I wanted to read it so I could talk to him telepathically, but his mind was blank.
Nothing was on his mind, no thoughts, no emotion, nothing. Just blank. I'm starting to get worried about him; it's not like a normal blank mind, it was actually isolated.
Normally when I read someone's mind, there's like a setting that I'm plunged into – in Three's case, there was nothing there. I think quietly to myself for a while.
He's not talking as much as before, maybe he's just tired. Yeah, anyway he was carrying me that whole time, running through Kenya...
But an off feeling is still fresh in my mind. I want to read his mind again, but I really respect people's privacy. But I'm also very curious...
What if he's secretly working for the Mogs, or he has made a call to the Garde. Maybe met another traitor to the Mog race – the only one I've heard of is some Adamus kid. Maybe he's thinking of Lorien, memories... maybe thinking of me...
My curiosity gets the better of me. I telepathically read his mind. The tree branch I'm telekinetically lifting, goes shooting out into the sky when I finish reading.
Nothing...
Three flinches at this and opens his eyes for one more second. I almost scream... his eyes are black, fully black, no emotion or feeling shown. He looks around before drifting back to sleep. I stay there frozen with fear and worry. What's going on with Three?! Now I definitely know that he's not himself,
Something is very wrong...
Emily/POV
I love flying, its freedom, its serenity and it's just plain awesome. Everyone besides Nine and me has drifted off to sleep. Eight and Marina were talking in hushed tones behind us but now I guess they've fallen asleep. I'm happy that Eight finally got back to Marina.
When he was with One and me, he talked about her so much. When we first reunited I felt like I had already met her.
"Hey Emily, can I ask you something?" Nine asks from beside me, I snap out of my daydream and look to him. I'm on the window side; the air conditioning makes me shiver a bit. I smile at Nine,
"Y-yeah sure" I stutter a bit – I'm quite nervous around him, I don't know, I haven't been around many people let alone boys before I met Eight. But even so, I feel like Nine's different. Eight would say, that's because of his ego or something funny, but there's something else underneath the tough exterior his built around himself.
"Um... If you don't mind, could I ask about your Cepan?" he asks quietly, I'm a bit shocked. The only people I've opened up to about my Cepan are Eight and One – they're like my siblings; I'm serious, the amount of times that Eight pisses me off or the times I have to pull him into line; I'm technically his sister – older sister, even if I maybe be shorter than him. And One... oh don't get me started, she's like the immature sister that everybody has – the one that messes up everything. I return to answering Nine's question, his face has a soft expression on – I doubt he shows this to anyone else, which gets me thinking...
"Um... OK... well her name was Kentra, she was Kate in Argentina and Kessandra in Jamaica... she died in Jamaica... she was funny, kind – pretty much everything the average Cepan was-" before I can continue I start to sob, tears form in my eyes and one plummets down my face. I'm stuck there in silence; just Nine, me and my stupid emotions.
I'm about to continue, but suddenly someone takes my hand – I open my eyes to see Nine holding it, he gives a reassuring squeeze then let's go, allowing me to wipe away my tears. I continue,
"After the earthquake in Argentina... I was caught lifting a slab of concrete off a trapped man... some stupid teenagers caught me... and Kentra and I left as soon as I got home... Jamaica was the bad part... the Mogs followed us to Jamaica, they killed Kentra in our hotel villa... when they caught me short after, they experimented and cloned me..." I say, wiping the last of the tears away.
Nine pats me awkwardly, he grins a bit at my raised eyebrow from his weird gesture. I'm about to ask him about his Cepan but something catches my eye.
Sitting on the other side of the plane in our row is a man dressed in a trench coat and hat that covers his face. he's wearing sunglasses and his bag next to him has a faint glow of red coming from the inside.
My heart drops and the feeling of flying doesn't seem so amazing...
I nudge Nine and usher him towards the strange person. His eyes widen and he puts his finger to his lips. He mouths something, Mogs...
Mogs won't attack a plane full of people right? maybe he's a scout, only to collect intelligence. I stare at the Mog and Nine leans back and quietly wakes up Eight.
I look again at the Mog, his mouth curls back into a shark-grin.
Oh sh*t
Ella POV
After our little campout in the tree, Three and I set off on a hike towards Lore-knows-where. I'm still thinking about last night – the way his eyes were; the colourlessness and emptiness, it was like he was possessed – similar to those scary movies, where the girl always gets possessed. Nine always let me watch them with him.
We are both hiking; I recommended that Three doesn't use his supersonic speed to get us across the land, it'll draw attention and he will get tired.
We are still in the open plain, the sun is relentless, and it beats down on my skin. And worst of all, I think I am sun burnt. I'm wearing a singlet-top, I've rolled up my tracksuit pants and the backpack still remains on my sweaty back. I haven't talked to Three about what I saw last night. I'm afraid if I do, something bad might happen – or he'll deny it or something worse. The awkward tension is killing me; I am so close to breaking,
"SowhendidyougetyourfirstLegacy" I blurt out a bit too quickly, he turns to me, his eyebrow raised, he chuckles a bit. The truth is I'm nervous – very nervous. I haven't talked to another Garde, let alone someone I can relate to since Two disappeared... I hope she's alright.
And besides, Three is a year older than me – I'm use to being the youngest Garde, with everyone treating me like their little sister. But now...
It's different.
"Haha, slow down there speedy" he says with a small grin, I blush immediately from my awkward burst of words. Three is an interesting character. He's not cocky like Nine, not funny like Eight, not as fearless like Six, not a leader-like John, not very thoughtful like Marina or even smart like Two! He's well reserved and sometimes a bit witty. But he knows his place, so I guess that's also a good quality.
"Um... sorry... when did you get your first Legacy?" I say, more controlled now, looking into his eyes. The wind is blowing harder now, whipping my hair and tiny bits of sand into my legs. Three's hair is fine. His closely cut hair doesn't budge, his hair style is pretty much similar to an African American's hair cut. I like it – it suits him. Three answers my question,
"Um well, it was just an everyday training session... I was with Randon, and I was running the obstacle course he and I made together. He was teaching me a lot of free running and agility exercises... I was running up to try out a distance jump test... but instead of my usual running speed, I sorta zoomed forward and ran into a tree... I broke my nose... but I got a new Legacy!" he says finishing, I giggle a bit at his tiny bit of added wit. We walk for a bit more before Three turns to me,
"So when did you receive you first L-" he suddenly starts to convulse, he falls to the ground, I scream and kneel by his side.
"THREE?!" I scream trying to stop him from shaking, his eyes roll back and he stops shaking. I start shaking him, me doesn't budge, but something happens...
His eyes open with lightning quick speed, and a scream is caught in my throat. His eyes are black. Nothingness. The same as last night. Three speaks, but it's not his voice,
"The Garde have risen, Second Phase initiated. Subject has been retrieved" there's a pause,
"THREE?!" I scream at him, shaking him, trying to snap him back to his self. The voice continues,
"They will fall Number Ten. A second betrayal is on its way, and not from who you suspect. Two will fall, eight will stand. The final stand for the Garde is far from here...
Ra will find you, and when he does there's no turning back. Tenth is rising. No Legacy can help you now..." there's another pause, I'm still crying and shaking Three, I can't give up on him, the voice said the Garde have risen – we have to get to them! The voice speaks again,
"He has found you"
Eight POV
So I'm having a wonderful dream about something I've already forgotten. Then Nine wakes me up and Emily and him explain the situation.
Mog + plane = bad situation = replay of the other plane trip.
I'm really starting to see why Marina hates flying.
"Mog at my 9 o'clock" Nine says, I grin at his unintentional pun and refocus myself.
"Oh c-mon, we can't have one good plane ride can we?" I whisper loudly to Emily and Nine. Em giggles and face palms herself, and Nine just grins a bit. We don't want to wake the others, Two will freak – no question, Sam and Marina will probably follow Two's lead. Six will walk up to him and kill it in front of the other people on the plane. I'm surprised Nine didn't do that... Em must be rubbing off on him. Joy.
"OK plan... Eight it's all you" Em says, pointing at me. I raise an eyebrow and my mouth drops open.
"What?! Why me?" I whisper back to them, I'm starting to get a cramp in my back from leaning in this awkward position. Emily rolls her eyes and Nine sits there also wondering why he's not getting chosen by his crush to kill Mogs. I smirk a bit.
"Because dummy, you have Superman skin" she whispers back loudly, Nine and I both make quiet 'Ohhhh' sounds. Emily face palms again,
"Ya know, if you keep doing that – you're going to come dumber by the face palm" I say grinning, she breaks into a smirk but tries to put on a pissed off face. Nine laughs – trying to keep it a tone down.
"Just hurry up and kill the stupid Mog" she says, gesturing for me to get up. I get up and slowly slide out of my seat, trying not to wake Six who's on the other side of me. I turn around to Emily and Nine, and give a thumbs up and a wink. Nine grins and points to the Mog, he starts gesturing his hands in a breaking motion, like he's snapping-Ohhhh. I nod slowly. Em face palms AGAIN. I stifle a small laugh as I make myself visible to the Mogs line of sight.
I very slowly walk to the bathroom; as I predicted the Mog gets up and follows me, placing something into the inside of his jacket. Oh yeah Eight! who's the strategic master of the Legacies? I am! I think to myself, at that moment I almost trip over – some dude has his limp leg out in the walk way. I hear a small shuffle from Nine and Emily's area.
I continue my very slow way to the bathroom; the Mog is right behind me. I slowly open the blue door and slide in; the Mog pushes it more open and shoves me back into the opposite wall in the bathroom. He locks the door behind him. Just what I wanted. He turns to face me,
"Dude I've got a girlfriend... so this cannot happen" I say motioning the space between us, I'm enjoying my taunt. He scowls,
"Loric scum" he spits through his teeth, I wave my hand in front of my nose and put the best grossed out face on,
"Duuude two words... Breath. Mints" I say, pinching my nose shut to make a funny voice. Mister Mog here doesn't like my insult – the toothpaste they sell at Mogs'r us must be pretty bad.
"Enough games Garde – surrender and I won't kill the rest of you pathetic race that's on this plane" he says, taking out a sharp, long, silver knife from the inside of his coat.
"I was going to ask you the same thing" I taunt back, getting ready in fighting stance – but the problem is... THIS IS A FRICKIN TOILET! So in reality I'm being crammed in one side of the stall – and it's not like the Bourne films or the movies where someone is getting beaten up in a bathroom stall on a plane – no. This is just plain weird.
"ARGH!" the Mog semi-shouts, and runs towards me – by run I mean, take half a step towards me. And thrusts the blade straight towards my chest. The sword breaks on impact from my indestructible skin; the Mog is shocked and still smells gross. He tries to stab again, but this time I catch his hand before he thrusts. I break his wrist; he cries in agony but it quickly muted by me slitting his throat with the broken shard of sword he was still holding on to.
He disintegrates into ash or dust – whatever it is, it's just downright nasty.
"It's not you... it's me" I say grinning at my continuation of my original taunt. Turn to exit.
Before I can open the door, there's a pile of ash sitting on the bathroom stall floor. I carefully step out, and dust off the remaining ash and make my way back to Emily and the rest.
I get back and they look at me, their eyes wide. Nine leans forward,
"That Legacy it f*cking awesome... Tell me everything!" he says, Emily seems to want to listen on it as well, so she leans in.
I smile widely and begin to tell my short and amazing tale.
Three (strange voice) POV
"The Garde are ready, I can smell their blood.
Mogadore will rise from the ashes, the Legacies will be killed.
The Tenth will claim this planet...
The Great Expansion continues.
The Second Phase is pending,
Our army is hungry,
The Betrayal is set,
The Fallen are ready,
Setrakus Ra, the Mogadorians – all will kill you Loric, they will find you, and when they do scars to your ankles will be meaningless.
Our Weapon has been retrieved,
The Tenth is rising..."
Author's Note: Hope you guys enjoyed this! Chapter 35 – I feel like we should be celebrating or something. Please keep reviewing – congrats to The Robot Reader; you have officially created the longest review ever seen! Thanks to all those who read and review my story; ZazzyZ, The Robot Reader, I am number 10, MichaelTheBoss, ChildOfChaos, I'm Number Eleven, the Guests and anyone I missed out!
Who is the bluish hue figure from Eight's vision?
Who is the figure who steps out from behind Setrakus Ra?
What's up with Three?
Whose voice is Three speaking through?
Who is the Weapon?
Who is the Tenth?
Who will Fall?
Who will betray the Garde?
Sorry for the cliff-hangers and mysterious questions. Poll is closing tomorrow! It's a tie between two awesome names (I don't know if you guys can see the poll results but I'm keeping it a surprise just encase)
Thanks again you awesome peeps,
Agurra (Basque for goodbye)
Paragon 8