Magic Metal Girl

Evangeline paced the mostly empty field impatiently. Whatever plan Farley had had to happen soon or she was never going to pass as Oliverara to the expert Barrow boys. Any other Red could be fooled and awed by her abilities, but Bree and Tramy knew what Oli could do. Evangeline couldn't compare to that. A few interested Reds that lived on the base were idling around. Even a couple guards appeared interested. The wait was making Evangeline nervous. She curled and uncurled a chain on her wrist a few times and the Reds nearby watched the movement with wide eyes. They'd probably never seen a Silver power used for anything but violence before. It was really too bad they couldn't watch Oli at work. She could fly through the air, build large metallic structures, and conjure beautiful creatures from metal that came to life under her fingertips. These people would never look at a Silver power the same way again.

No, they'd never look at a Red freak the same way again. They would no longer fear Mare or Shade or any others, but worship them. Oliverara is no Silver, and the Reds will still fear us no matter how brave they think they are. That's why the system works. But the only thing stronger than fear is reverence.

Evangeline couldn't help it! All the conflicting thoughts in her mind made it so hard to think. Did she support Reds or Silvers? Did she love or hate her sister? Did she fear or respect her? Did she fear or respect the system, and Maven, and Elara? Evangeline without a second thought flung the chain across the field till it hit a barracks and cemented itself to the wall. The onlookers stepped backwards away from her. At least I can make them fear me.

"Practicing Oli?" Tramy and Bree appeared on the hill with wise ass smirks on their faces. "All for us?"

Evangeline smirked back "Just having fun boys." She unfurled another chain from her belt and wrapped it around her wrist like a bracelet. Oli had taught her how to do that when they were younger. The boys split up and each circled her on opposite sides like predators circling prey. Evangeline scanned the crowd for Farley but found nothing. Where was she?

Bree came at her first. He barreled towards her and narrowly missed her shoulder. Evangeline threw her chain and tangled it around his ankles. He fell over and rolled down the hill. Tramy snickered.

"That all you got Oli? Chain tricks? How childish," Tramy stalked around her. More people had joined to watch and now Evangeline could feel the pressure increase. Tramy charged her this time and instead of dodging Evangeline chose a different path. She jumped over and off his back, landing on the grass as Tramy fell off balance and rolled to the side.

Bree came back up the hill holding the chain in his hand. "I was actually prepared for you to throw me that time," he smiled. Evangeline called the chain to her from his hands and wrapped it around her hand.

"I felt like giving you a surprise." She twirled the chain some more but neither boy looked impressed. They're expecting me to throw them or fly or something! Where's Farley? Where's Mare or Shade? Where's anyone to help me?!

Both boys geared up to charge her again. Evangeline felt out but they weren't wearing anything metal on them. So no way to push them back or hold them off; unless she put metal on them without them knowing. As Evangeline watched their feet she slowly slid two metal clips off her uniform and along the ground to their shoes. The clips locked on their heels right as Tramy leaped at her. She pulled the clip and his feet fell to the ground with a thump. He coughed out grass as Evangeline held Bree's clip so his body never moved. Now they were grinning from ear to ear, and more Reds had joined to watch in awe. Evangeline was actually starting to feel more confident about this whole exercise when someone started shouting her name from the crowd.

"Samos! Hey Samos!" Kilorn was jumping up and down; waving his arms like an idiot.

"I'm busy!" Evangeline snapped.

"Farley and Mare need your help with some, uh, planning things," Kilorn stammered a she pushed through the people.

"I don't care Katron."

Kilorn grabbed her shoulder as he was pushed from the clamored Reds. "First, it's Kilorn," he snapped "and second, they really need your help." He leaned closer to her. "The Colonel has Mare imprisoned with your Silver husband, so I'd recommend you come with me," Kilorn hissed in her ear.

Evangeline quickly excused herself and released the clips on Bree and Tramy before following Kilorn down the hill and to one of the many barracks. "First," Evangeline glared at him, "Cal is not my husband. I don't even like him! Second, what do you mean they're imprisoned? What did they do?"

"Exist," Kilorn sighed. "Mare wanted to break into the Colonel's office but when things went south I pretended to catch her and throw her in a cell with the fire dude. Then the Colonel went nuts and has ordered Farley arrested because she wants to try and find more Reds with powers. So I have to fake her capture." He pulled out a box of syringes. He held one up to the sunlight. The liquid inside wasn't milky like the others, but clear. It was nothing more than water. "And you're gonna help me pull this off."

"Pull what off?"

"Once the Colonel thinks Farley isn't a problem anymore I'll put the real syringe in him and then Shade's gonna get us all out of here, but in case things go sideways I need you to pull some Silver magic and take him out."

"What makes you think he won't imprison me too? If he's just throwing people in jail what's to stop him from throwing me in a cell?"

Kilorn laughed. "Because he thinks you're Oliverara. He wouldn't make you angry then throw you in a useless cell. He's not stupid, trust me."

Evangeline grabbed his shoulder and spun around in front of him. "Okay, lay this out for me again, and this time don't lie to me. What does the Colonel want with my sister that's SO important he'd overlook his own fears?" Kilorn averted his eyes down to his shoes. Evangeline grabbed his chin and twisted his head back up. "Spit it out Cilantro," she growled.

"Again, it's Kilorn. But I'm not cleared to know that information about your sister."

"But you do, because you're friends with Mare Barrow, who managed to hide her Red blood from the entire Silver elite while aiding a rebellion." Evangeline leaned closer to his face. "And you know Shade Barrow, who hid his powers from the entire army and faked his own death well enough to fool every Silver. I'm betting you know how to find out some information in a place so simple as this." She smiled as Kilorn just nodded.

"I tend to overhear some things when assisting the Colonel," he admitted. "And I know that after Shade and Farley informed him about Oliverara returning from the war front he was determined to get his hands on her. There's a prison somewhere in Norta, and I swear I truly don't know where, that holds Silvers who have betrayed the crown. It's made entirely of Silent Stone to keep them pliant and-"

"Why would the Colonel want to help Silvers?" Evangeline interrupted. "Just to piss off the crown?"

Kilorn sucked in a breath through his teeth. "No, he doesn't want to help Silvers; he wants to prove the Scarlet Guard's strength. If we had a member who could destroy a Silent Stone prison and release every convict then Norta couldn't deny how powerful we are. We'd finally be a force to be reckoned with!" Kilorn was grinning like a madman the whole time and Evangeline slowly backed away from him.

"My sister isn't that strong. No one can destroy Silent Stone," Evangeline snapped. "Your Colonel is an idiot." She turned and kept walking towards the barracks.

"That's not what Shade says!" Kilorn yelled. "He says your sister is the only person alive who can break Silent Stone!"

"That's a lie!"

Kilorn just shook his head. The smug smile on his face was begging to get punched but Evangeline refrained. Oliverara, warping under Silent Stone? Breaking it? Impossible. More impossible than a Red being born to a Silver? Evangeline cast the voice from her mind. There was no way. There was absolutely no way Oliverara could do that. Right?

She had to admit, Farley could put on a mighty good show of being taken against her will. The bruises and scratches on the guards trying to handle her proved that. Kilorn followed behind with his fake syringe and Evangeline behind him, twirling her chain around her arm. The underground prison was eerie with low humming lights and glass windows highlighting the insides of cells. One in particular had red and silver blood spatter on it. Inside, lounging on twin chairs, were Cal and Mare. They were trying to look tough, but they just looked like tired kids in a cage. Their eyes went wild when they saw Farley's performance, and Mare started beating on the glass as Kilorn injected the fake syringe into her neck. Farley passed out easily and lay limp in her cell. Kilorn slipped the real syringe into his hand under his jacket as the Colonel opened the cell with Cal and Mare inside. The man looked proud of himself. Idiot.

The Colonel walked easily into the cell, his Red blood under no effect of the Silent Stone. Kilorn followed him just as easily. Evangeline sucked in a deep breath and entered the crushing presence. Her bones cried out under the density of the stones. Their glowing light made her eyes burn and her skin crawl. They were embedded in every corner, looking down on the occupants. Sucking the soul, the breath, from whoever entered. Her hand twitched as the chain fell limp at her side. Her powers were gone. She wrapped it manually around her arm to appear like she was still powerful. Mare and Cal were both watching her and Kilorn in shock. Mare looked like she wanted to electrocute everyone and everything she possibly could. Cal just looked done with trying to fight.

"Maven has offered us a proposition," the Colonel began, "he will put the age of conscription back to where it was and disband his new Silver elite army. If and only if, we give him you." He pointed at Cal.

"He'll be executed!" Mare roared. She leaped from her seat, looking ready to charge the Colonel, but stopped as Kilorn waved one of the syringes in the air. She stood still; her body shaking with rage.

"That is none of my concern," the Colonel continued. "My concern is for the children who will be sent to die on the front lines, and for those elite Silvers Maven is currently marching against us."

"He'll kill me and still march his armies and kill those kids," Cal spoke. "He has no respect for deals or allegiances. You are playing into his hands."

"It is too great a risk to not give you up, and if he is lying we'll just be right back here, but without a Silver liability locked in our basement." The Colonel scanned both Mare and Cal. "But Maven has also made another request." The Colonel took a deep breath and Evangeline swore he looked, almost, scared. "He said he will stop executing Reds and he'll relax current investigations into the Scarlet Guard's whereabouts if we give him-" the Colonel paused. Evangeline felt her stomach twist. It had to be Mare. Maven was such a sick freak he would even disappoint his country just to have her back?

"Give him who?" Mare's voice sounded small. She knew exactly who the Colonel meant.

"Oliverara."

Evangeline never stabbed someone so fast in her life. The knife was out of her pocket and against the Colonel's neck in seconds as his body crashed against the wall. His one good eye was wide with fear. She was panting from the exertion under the Silent Stone but her nerves were alive. Maven would kill her sister and keep her chained forever as his puppet!

"You will not send me back to him," she hissed. The Colonel looked terrified but his body gave out and he dropped limp to the floor. A syringe was sticking out of his leg.

"Well that was one way to do it," Kilorn said, stepping back from the body.

Evangeline rounded on him now. "Did you know about this?" She screamed. He shook his head quickly but Evangeline slit his cheek with her knife anyway. Farley was leaning against the glass of her cell with a grin.

"You really do got some spunk in you Samos," she joked as Evangeline unlocked her door.

"I just want to protect my sister."

Shade suddenly jumped right next to her with a crutch under his arm. "Everyone ready to go?"

Mare ran to him and threw her arms around him in a hug. "What do you mean go? Where are we going?"

"The Colonel doesn't care about any others out there like you and Shade and Oliverara," Farley answered. "But Maven will care. He'll kill all of them, so we need to get there first." She smiled. "Ready to escape again?"

Everyone took hold of Shade and suddenly they were outside. Guards were running from other barracks but they jumped again to another roadway. Then again to a grassy meadow. Then again to a flat black road. A runway! Then at last inside a hangar with two Silver planes inside. Evangeline gasped, the missing jets! The Scarlet Guard had stolen jets?! Shade collapsed on the ground panting and heaving. "We're here," he choked.

Farley pulled open the hatch on one of the jets. Sounds of footsteps in the distance reminded everyone how urgent it was that they leave. The inside of the jet was cold and dark; no energy pulsed through the batteries. "Mare do you think you can start this thing?" Cal asked as he took a seat in the pilot's chair. Mare nodded and started fishing through wires looking for one to spark. Evangeline watched as Farley and Kilorn helped Shade into a seat. She felt so useless; a feeling she wasn't used to having.

"Don't just stand there Samos," Farley snapped, "open up that hangar door so we can get out of here!" Evangeline was going to say something smart back but the whole jet shook as it roared to life. Mare let out an excited cheer as her energy flowed through the machine. Now for that damn door.

Evangeline felt for the metal hinges, but an electronic lock held them in place. The old fashioned way then. Evangeline pushed with all her energy and blew the doors clean out of the hangar. They flew right into the horde of guards charging for them. "Now Calore!" She yelled. Cal gunned the engines and the jet took off across the blacktop. Metal crushed underneath the wheels before the plane soared above the island and into the clouds. Evangeline fell into one of the seats as the wind jostled the plane, but Cal evened them out in no time.

It was silent for a few moments before Kilorn spoke: "Now what?"