My eyes shot open before I immediately closed them. There was a light that was far too bright, causing me to turn away from the beam that found its way directly in my eyes. Raising my hand I shielded my face from the blinding glare. Squinting I saw a ceiling of green above me and one small hole allowing the offending stream of light through.
"Trees?" I muttered to myself as my mind caught up, seeing the slight sway in the leaves above. Glancing around I saw a small wooded area with some odd seemingly partially complete buildings nearby. My ears heard the chirping of birds and beyond that odd noises that tickled something unknown in the back of my mind.
Sitting up I got a better look at my surroundings, outside of the nearby trees were a conglomeration of buildings that I felt were houses of some sort. What really caught my attention were the huge structures reaching toward the sky in the distance. Something was very wrong. Where was I, where was my castle? I was certain that I had last been in Titan Castle. My memory seemed fuzzy, and everything was confusing, especially when I couldn't remember what I had last been doing before waking here.
There was a peculiar sense of familiarity to this place, if I had to guess from the vague planetary aura I was somehow on Earth. However, I didn't think that Earth had any buildings similar to what I was seeing nearby, and I had never seen anything like the towers in the distance. Some of them seemed to be made of glass, how they stayed standing boggled the mind.
Standing I took a deep breath and rolled my shoulders, before brushing the bits of grass and dirt off of my dress. It wouldn't be proper for a princess to look so unkempt. It was in the act of tidying myself that a thought occurred to me. I had thought that if I had just woken up, I would have fallen asleep in my castle. However, I wouldn't have gone to sleep in my dress, my retainers wouldn't have allowed it.
Thinking for a moment, I could only come to one conclusion; magic. The old staple of when in doubt; magic, was often the best answer to many questions as well as the solution to most problems. However, today it sadly fell short in explaining the situation I found myself in. I could neither guess the details or sense anything obvious, but I was certain magic was somehow involved. I had somehow been transported away from my home and from the fuzziness I felt, it was likely my memories also altered. It was quite worrying, for not only was I alone in a strange place, I could hardly feel my own magical power. My mind kept coming back to an odd feeling that I should recall something about this place, the sense of familiarity deepening as I stood pondering.
My thoughts were interrupted as the sound of running feet reached my ears. Slipping behind a nearby tree I hid and glanced out, spying three children along a path of solid stone. Two older boys were outpacing a younger girl as they passed by, heading to the odd unfinished structures.
"Looks like you're going to lose Cassy!" One boy yelled over his shoulder. "Hurry up!"
"I didn't want to race anyway!" The girl yelled back, he breath coming in swift gasps. "You promised you'd push me!"
"I said I might push you if you could keep up." The boy answered, from the slight resemblance and identical dark colored hair I suspected they were siblings. The two boys had reached the edge of the structures heading to a metal skeletal dome, and immediately began clambering up it. They reached the top about the same time that the girl caught up and stood at the bottom.
"I kept up, you have to push me!" She declared, grasping one of the metal rungs for support as she panted.
"You didn't keep up, you caught up!" Her brother countered.
The girl responded was a drawn out whine, before gasping. "Why are you so mean? You promised!"
"Don't be a crybaby!" The dark haired boy snarked. "Are you going to run home and whine at mom?"
Before the girl could respond the boy's companion at the top of the dome spoke. "Calm down Cassy, I'll make sure that one of us pushes you on the swings before we go back in. Okay?"
"Thank's Josh!" She sniffed, and smiled at the boy with dirty blond hair, as she rubbed at her eyes with a sleeve.
The girl then began climbing the dome while the two boys argued about the differences of having little siblings verses no siblings. However, I didn't pay attention to their conversation. There had been something about what the boy had said that pricked at my memory; swings. Looking around it seemed laughably obvious now when it hadn't before. It was a playground.
The three were climbing on a jungle gym, there was also swings, teeter-totters, and one of those tower things with attached monkey bars and slide. I knew what they were because I had been on similar things before, worryingly I couldn't remember when or where. That decided it in my mind, my memories had been altered. I struggled to remember any details, hoping something would become clear how my mind had been changed. I needed more information to decipher how my memories may have been changed, and if I could recover.
Looking around for any obvious signs of danger I decided to go to the easiest source of information, the children. Stepping away from my hiding spot I slipped into an ingrained posture, confident and gentle. I didn't want to scare them away, especially since I didn't know if their parents might be hostile.
Approaching with a leisurely pace it didn't take long for all three to notice me, their little faces flashing thought a mix of emotions. Staying at a comfortable distance I smiled, hoping they would be feel safe because of their elevated position.
"Good morning." I greeted the wide eye children. "How are you today?"
It took a few moments before the blond boy responded. "We're fine, how are you?" He asked politely, although an edge of suspicion could be heard in his voice.
"I'm enjoying this nice weather." I answer with a smile. "However, I find myself lost, could you tell me where we are."
"We're in uh- the park." He muttered unhelpfully, glancing around the surroundings before looking back at me.
"Oh yes, it does seem like a very nice park." I nodded, before continuing. "I know this might seem odd, but am I correct when I say we are on Earth?"
"Yeah, of course." The dark haired boy laughed. "Where did you think we were, the moon?"
"Oh I didn't think that." I answered honestly. "Not enough white to be the moon."
Before I could ask another question, the three leaned closer to each quickly conversing in quite rushed tones. I could only make out a few hissed words before the girl spoke up.
"Are you a cape?" She asked, a tone of wonder in her little voice.
Confused by the question I glanced behind myself. "Cape? I'm not wear-." I trailed off as my memory seemed to reach for something elusive. Cape was a title of some sort, I was almost certain of it.
"Cape's wear masks dummy." Her brother groaned.
"Not all of them!" She shot back. "New Wave doesn't and Saturn didn't."
My name suddenly snatched my attention. "How do you know that name?" I asked, barely keeping surprise from my voice. If I had done something here that my name was common place, it worried me I couldn't remember.
The three looked at me like I had grown a second head, and quickly started to whisper to each other again. Eventually the blond boy turned back to me. "Everyone knows her name. She killed Leviathan."
"Are you sure you're not a cape?" The black haired boy asked suspicion in his tone. "Cause you look a lot like Saturn. Are you related?"
I decided it would be best to play dumb. I didn't know who or what Leviathan was, I hoped whatever I had done was a good thing since the name seemed to hint at something sinister. Regardless, not remembering killing something could be a very bad thing depending on the details. "Do you really think I look like her?" I asked deflecting but not lying, hoping to direct them toward more information I could glean.
"Yeah! Saturn had hair that looked just like yours, She wore purple too!" The girl chimed
"Saturn didn't wear a big dress, and she doesn't have the spear." Her brother argued.
"I know! But, purple is the best color!" She growled, before turning back with a smile. "Your dress is really pretty."
"Thank you." I smiled, trying to think of what I could ask without raising too much suspicion. Something about the name Leviathan, seemed to unsettle my thoughts. So much around me teased at the edge of mind, but something felt wrong about the ghost of memory that came from Leviathan. Before I could ask more a call interrupted us.
"Taylor!?" Someone gasped distantly.
Looking over, a boy on the cusp of adult-hood walked slowly down the stone path. He seemed to be shocked, like he couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing. I was slightly wary, children shouldn't be dangerous, something that might not be true for this individual. It took all my willpower to stop myself from reacting when he reached into a pocket and withdrew a small black rectangle.
"Oh my God!" He gasped. "Taylor? It's you isn't it! I- how- nobody- people are going to freak!"
A small click noise issued from the thing in his hand, and I was struck with a wave of annoyance. That feeling was quickly followed by confusion as I couldn't understand why that noise offended me. Examining the device closer, I again felt the sense of recognition. With another click sound the stranger pulled the rectangle close to himself, prodding at it with his finger.
"Did you call me something?" I asked him as I battled with the confusion caused by his appearance, and my own memories.
"What was that?" He asked, glancing up from his device. Seeing my face he blinked dumbly a few times.
"What did you call me?" I asked, a sliver of the annoyance I felt slipping into my tone.
"I j-just said your name, Taylor. I didn't call you anything." He stuttered, his eyes trailing back to his hand.
His answer jolted at my mind, it felt right, but at the same time I knew my name was Saturn. This persons arrival seemed to bring even more questions and odd ghostly shards of memory. Still he seemed convinced that he knew me, so hopefully he wasn't dangerous. "Excuse me, but who are you?" I asked to both be polite, as well as hopefully recall something.
"Wha- OH! It's me Greg. You know, from school, you probably didn't recognize me because I've been growing out my beard." He smiled proudly, indicating to his mouth where, quite frankly an embarrassing patch of dark fluff shaded his upper-lip and parts of his chin.
He then began mumbling as he tapped at the device in his hand. If he was trying to speak to me I didn't care as another burst of inspiration hit me. He was holding a cell phone, a non-magical device for communication! My thoughts paused for several moments as new understand shot though my mind. I could remember many of the nearby technologies, when just seconds ago I couldn't recognize the cars surrounding the park. Part of my brain remained boggled, seemingly coming to terms with what I could now clearly remember.
"Are you bothering her?" The voice of dark haired boy asked accusatory, from behind me.
"What? No!" Greg looked up, then back down at his phone before tapping its screen a few more times before putting it in his pocket. "She's a friend from school."
"She's your friend?" He asked skeptically
"Yeah! What's it to you anyway." Greg shot back, before he paused unsure of what to say next. "Um- Chris?"
"Kyle! You live three houses away from us dummy!"
"Don't call me that!" Greg return to the now identified boy.
"Why not? Mom says you never go outside!" Kyle accused. "And that you're going to live in the basement till you're 40!"
"Show's what she knows, I'm outside getting milk!" A victorious half grin tugged at Greg's lip. "Come on Taylor, let's leave these brats."
Greg curtly turned away taking a few step before looking expectantly back toward me. Uncertain of my next action I looked between the children and the teen that professed to know me. Making my choice, I decided to go with Greg, he seemed harmless and there was something about the name he called me. I wasn't sure how, but I suspected that for the moment he was the best option for repairing my fractured memories.
"Thank you for your help." I nodded politely to the three children, before turning to follow Greg. Seeing me following he continued walking, leading the way out of the park. I was struck with a brief flash of disappointment, as I was forced to trail behind him. If he was as he said; my friend, calling me by name he should then at the least offer me his arm. Although, as soon as the thought occurred to me my stomach clenched slightly. It seems my subconscious wasn't comfortable with that idea, either way even if he were an acquaintance it would better to be with him than lost and alone.
As soon as we exited the park Greg slowed down, letting me catch up so that we were walking side-by-side. "This is crazy, everyone said you were dead!" He uttered, giving me smile as his eyes roved down my frame.
I couldn't decide if I should be flattered or insulted by the way he examined me, but neither option would help my circumstance. "I've been-, lost." I answered as honestly as I could, while also obscuring the details.
"What do you mean lost?" He questioned, still walking slowly to wherever we were going. "You've been gone for nearly a month."
"It's complicated." I answered with a schooled tone, keeping any uncertainty out of my voice. I was hoping to gather information from him, while avoiding any questions I couldn't answer. "How have things been here?"
"Cape stuff huh, I got it." He nodded stiffly. "Well after you killed Leviathan things have been insane here. New capes everywhere, oh and things at school got flipped upside down. After you disappeared police and PRT agents started to question loads of people about, well everything. You know those three girls that kept picking on you? Well I didn't even see Sophia after Leviathan, but Emma and Madison only stuck around for like two days before they were gone; heard they got expelled or something. But, yeah; it was like a switch had flipped, one day they were the super popular girls and the next nobody wanted anything to do with them. Lunch was wild, one day surrounded by girls and suck ups and the next, gone; like they had the plague."
The three names he mentioned seemed to tug at something in the back of my mind, it wasn't a pleasant feeling; but at least I felt like I was getting somewhere. It seemed my suspicion that Greg would be a good source of information had been correct, now what I needed to do was piece things together into a complete picture. Slowly, as he continued his tale I felt as though the complete fog that had obscured everything was lifting. Little things like sidewalks, fire-hydrants, and street-signs changed from being alien to things I could easily remember, and knew were common place.
"It was probably the best for them in the end, everyone was bad mouthing them after school started up after the attack. It was the entire school though, not just the preppy clique like with you. I, myself talked with this one PRT guys about the sick shit they pulled on you with the locker, but I doubt I'm the only one who told." He smiled at me as though seeking my approval, I returned a faint smile hoping that would get him to carry on. "Oh yeah, Blackwell got fired, although some people said she was fired and arrested; didn't get to hear the details. But, Gladly definitely got arrested, I guess some junior and senior girls were giving him head for skipping some major assignments."
The way Greg talked was somewhat odd, but I found myself able to follow easily enough. One of the last things he mentioned caused my memory to pause slightly, before my face suddenly flushed as I recalled the jargon. I was sure I glowed red as I was struck by the scandal of students doing such an act with a teacher. Taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm my nerves, I took a moment to looked around. The houses had shifted to larger block like structures, and we were approaching a street with more traffic. With the combination of being so lost as well as listening to Greg I hadn't thought where we were going.
"Greg, where are we going?" I asked.
"Wha- uh." He started, as though uncertain himself, looking around and glancing my way several times. "Well, um I was going to get something, but I can get it later if you need something; or wanna hang out."
I didn't want to lose my new source of information when he seemed so talkative, and I didn't have any clue what else to do. "No, I didn't have plans or anything, I've just recently returned." I answered, hoping he would be content with my vague answer. Because if he asked, I myself didn't know where I might have returned from.
"You just got back?" He questioned, before his eyes light up. "Oh, then you wouldn't have seen your statue!"
"I have a statue?" I gasped, unable to keep the surprise from my voice, and a sense of unease washed through me. I feared my apparent notoriety was going to come to haunt me. Here I was lost, with weakened magical power and fractured memories, while the strange Earth I found myself on had erected statues for me; and children knew my name.
"Oh yeah!" Greg crowed, taking a few backward skips away, beckoning me to follow. "Come on, I can show you! They only just put it up, like a week ago!"
My curiosity compelled me to follow despite my uncertainty, besides; I still didn't have any other plans. "Alright, I would like to see that please." People usually didn't create statues for individuals that had done something terrible. Even if I couldn't remember exactly why I had earned a statue, it was unlikely I would need to run from any mobs carrying torches and calling for my blood.
"Cool, its not too far, come on!" Greg's bright smile was only slightly darkened by the fuzz gathered around his mouth, as he jerked his head in an inviting gesture.
It didn't take long for Greg to turn the corner, following the sidewalk along a busy roadway. I spotted several of the drivers head's turn to glance at me as they passed, but none stopped. My forgotten acquaintance lead the way toward a small black metal overhang that would only be useful for keeping rain, and the midday sun away. As I tried to recall what the purpose of the little structure was for Greg stepped ahead and sat on the bench under the overhang. I followed and sat down as my mind slowly filled in the basics of a bus stop.
"Oh, good the next bus should be here soon." He smirked after pulling out his phone glancing between it and a nearby map several times. As though content with his assessment he again began to tap on his phone, before he suddenly exclaimed. "Oh! Son of a bitch!"
"What?!" I jumped, unexpectedly taken by his outburst.
"I just got banned! I was going to post some more about meeting up with you. Whatever, I'll show them." He growled, staring intently at his phone before he perked up looking at me expectantly. "Um- hey could I take some more pictures of you when we get to your statue?"
As he held up his phone I connected the dots as to why my subconscious was so annoyed when he first approached me. However, I didn't see how a picture could hurt anything, and at least this time he asked beforehand. "I don't see why not, you've been quite helpful so far. Could you please tell me what else has been happening since I disappeared?" I asked, again hoping he could provide some more clues I could use to piece things together.
"Oh, yeah sure!" He agreed, and began a long rambling tale about capes, that I couldn't really follow. I didn't want to stop him and ask for clarification, worried that he would become suspicious of my lack of seemingly common knowledge. However, many of the things he mentioned gave that odd tug at my mind. It was as though my memory was stretching, reaching for something just out of grasp. It wasn't long before a large box-like vehicle pulled up beside the shelter, the bus; I happily realized as my memory recovered forgotten information.
Greg confidently stepped up onto the large steps waiting for me at the top. I suppressed the annoyance that he hadn't offered me a hand up, pulling up the hem of my dress I carefully followed. My companion pulled out small card for his fare, sliding it along the top of a box near the driver. Reflexively I searched my clothes for pockets, before the action struck me. Of course my dress wouldn't have pockets, why would it? It was such an odd out of place thought, it worried me. I feared that whatever magic was responsible for my current state was more heavily influencing me than initially suspected.
"Uh- Taylor?" Greg questioned upon seeing my actions. However, he seemed to be quick enough to realize that I didn't have anything for the expected fare. "Don't worry I can cover for you."
The bus unexpectedly moved and I reflexively reached out, unintentionally steadying myself on Greg's shoulder. "Thank you." I muttered quietly, as my guide dropped some coins, before jerkily dropping down to pick them up.
"No problem." He said, his voice seemingly pinched as he stood back up, placing the coins in small slot near the driver. With a mechanical spin he strode toward the back. After a quick examination of the interior I saw that the passengers that weren't looking down at their phones or books were sending questioning glances in my direction. Gathering up my skirts, I followed Greg; using the bright metal poles to steady myself.
Moving carefully down the middle of the bus, I heard some muttering from the other passengers. I didn't like the attention, and it took a slight effort to keep my face passive after a girl slightly older than myself pulled out her phone before it also gave a familiar 'click'. Suddenly very uncertain about myself, I was glad when I made it to the pair of seats that Greg had found. Taking my own seat, I tried to keep my eyes down on my own hands but a noise and movement from the corner of my eye drew my attention. Looking across the aisle I noticed an old woman giving me a very nasty look.
She was short, thin and her fluffy white hair was secured under a floral print scarf. I tried not to stare back, but her bold glare surprised me; what had I done to her? So many thoughts, and worries were passing though my mind that I might have been looking for a bit longer than what would be considered polite.
"You should be ashamed!" The silver haired woman suddenly chastised. "Couldn't get her same costume but, you had a nice purple dress eh?"
I didn't even response, unsure why her wrath was directed toward me. It seemed that she wasn't done harping at me, as she continued. "How long did it take you to get your hair to look like hers? You shouldn't take advantage of her sacrifice, just because you look like Saturn!"
"She is Saturn!" Greg leaned over, returning his own harsh tone. I quickly glanced between them, uncertain if I wanted Greg to defend me or to be silent. It was becoming more and more obvious that whatever had happened with Leviathan was considered a very major event. Most worrying from what she had said was something about sacrifice; my sacrifice. It felt very important, and might explain why my magic felt so weak or why my memory was fractured. Perhaps the same things I couldn't remember were directly responsible for everything I couldn't explain. Regardless, I need to uncover the truth, because nothing seemed to fit correctly in my head. Answers and insights simply led to more questions. Sadly I was unable to ponder more as the older woman turned her attention toward Greg.
"Ha, Saturn?! Is that what she told you?" She scoffed. "I'm sure she's been leading you around town as she gets you to pay for whatever she wants."
"No! She's my-" Greg paused in his retort as I placed my hand on his arm just above his wrist. Looking into my eyes I gave a subtle shake of my head, hoping that he would get the idea that I didn't want more attention. He seemed to get the idea as he crossed his arms with a humph. "Whatever you old hag."
"Why I never!" She gasped. "Foolish boy! You'll see, not that you'll listen now. Let that girl lead you around by the nose, not like it hurts me."
For several minutes Greg angrily looked out the window, often stealing glances back at me. I tried my best to keep my face placid, but the woman's accusation had attracted a lot of attention. However, the looks the other passengers directed at me had changed from surprise to a mix of annoyance, or amusement.
Several stops went by before the older woman go to her feet, making sure to send another glare my way before she made her way to the front. New passengers that had entered had either ignored my presence or given me a few curious looks before taking their own seats.
"How much farther is it?" I questioned.
"Uh- two more stops." He answered in a whisper. "There was a lot of talk about where to put it. It was either, Captain's hill, near downtown, or the boardwalk. They eventually decided on the boardwalk because it's the closest to where you killed Leviathan."
I took a deep breath, sorting through my thoughts and concerns. I was still lost, and flying blind. My only resource was a boy I either didn't know or couldn't remember. This place didn't seem hostile, but it also didn't make me comfortable, being so very different from the earth that I could clearly remember. I wished for something solidly familiar, or that I wasn't so useless with my weak magic. I was still so very confused why I was here, I began to really miss my castle.
As we continued to our destination Greg stuttered a few times as though he wanted to say something but the only thing he was able to complete was. "You look very pretty in your dress."
Nodding, I gave him a faint smile. It was nice, the compliment seemed sincere, but I was more thankful that he wasn't asking any questions. It wasn't long before Greg stood up as the bus started to slow. Quickly following suit, I allowed him to lead again. Making our way to exit the bus I again heard the click of a phone, but ignored it. Stepping out of the vehicle I saw a large crowd of people strolling down a long planked walkway. This was obviously a well liked attraction of the city and I could see why. There was a pleasant beach, and bright white and red buildings with large glass storefronts drew the eye. Sea gulls squawked as they soared over the ocean, its light blue surface shimmering in the bright sun.
My admiration was cut short as I again noticed that I had attracted the attention of several bystanders. Following Greg as we left the bus-stop I battled to keep the proper bearing of a princess. I struggled with the desire to pull close to my guide, ironically; so that I could use his slightly shorter frame as a place to hide. However, my sense of propriety wouldn't allow it, a princess has no need to shrink away and hide her face.
Calming myself, I was able to really examine my surroundings. This place weighed heavily on my ghostly memories, there was something that made me feel like I had been here many times. I couldn't recall anything specific, but the store's large windows and expensive merchandise didn't seem alien. It was almost comfortable, and I felt as though memories of when I had visited specific stores were just out of reach.
I didn't realize that in my intense study of my surroundings I had fallen behind, but Greg grabbing my elbow pulled me out of my musings. A mix of emotions washed through me as he ungracefully pulled me along the planked walk. However, I held my tongue as we approached a raised gathering of colorful flowers, its centerpiece was a darkened bronze statue that struck me dumb.
"See, you have a statue." He proudly pointed, and started to ramble at me again.
Whatever he had begun to say I didn't give one ounce of attention. My mind had gone into overdrive, requiring all my mental capabilities to decipher was was before. There I was, a life-sized metal image in a short revealing outfit. The Statue's artist depicted me in a confident, upright pose. My feet close in a readied, yet comfortable stance. The statue's face had an almost somber look, to my sightless, unblinking metal eyes. A bronze recreation of my glaive was held in a close guard, its pole angled across the body, blade high.
The statue's appearance wasn't really important, it was the flood of memories that it triggered. Distant memories sharply came to the forefront of my mind and crystallized. I could remember the dread I felt before fighting the invader Leviathan. He was too powerful for anything but my full magical strength- magic? No, it was just my cape powers, I thought- I felt so confused; but shook my head knowing the underlying source of my power. If I had used my final magic, why wasn't I dead? I could even remember the grip of death tightening around me. I had brought my glaive down, Leviathan was dead; and I should have followed suit. My final power was just that, final. Why was I still alive?
I was jolted from my internal crisis, as I realized that someone was shaking my shoulder. Greg was insistently calling my name in a stressed tone that was steadily gaining volume with each repeat. "Taylor, Taylor, Taylor!"
"Y-yes." I stuttered a response, Taylor; that was my name. Not just the name that Greg had been calling me, and I had accepted as a cover. My name was Taylor as much as Saturn.
"Are you alright? You just blanked out there, sorta staring off into nothing." Greg asked, concern ringing in his voice. "Something happened with your forehead, there's this weird symbol on it."
"Symbol?" I questioned absently, still reeling from my revelation.
"Yeah, here." He muttered, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his phone. A few taps on the screen and he presented the device to me showing an image my face. In the middle of my forehead was a symbol that a layman might describe as a stylized h with a line through it. "It sorta appeared there with a bit of light."
"It, wasn't there- before?" I asked bewildered. I should have always had that, it was the Symbol of Saturn. It designated me Sovereign of Saturn, proof of my magical right to rule. Things that I had always taken as unfailing fact seemed uncertain now. I was Saturn, but I wasn't because I was Taylor; could I be both?
Reality pulled me back, before I could try to sort out the details between my two identities. A insistent muttering rose from the ring of people that had seemed to have formed while I had been wrestling with my memories. The distinctive, and annoying click of a phone's camera could be heard around me. The crowd's attention focused squarely at me caused my breath to quicken. I felt an intense desire to shrink down and disappear, this feeling battled with my heavily ingrained training to stand tall and stately. I felt as though I would be pulled in two if I couldn't appease both.
Taking a swift scan of the ring of people, I saw a thin section where less had gathered. Fixing a placid mask onto my features, I moving decisively heading for my exit. I only had to get by a few curious onlookers.
"Are you a cape?" One person asked as I neared.
"You're a changer, right?" Asked another. "You look just like Saturn!"
I didn't answer that yes, now that my memory had caught up; I was a cape of sorts. I could easily recall what capes were, or at least Taylor knew what they were. It felt so odd that people thought I looked like Saturn. The reason I looked like Saturn was because I was Saturn. Shaking off the confusing barrage of thoughts I made a beeline to a nearby building. The building was a small clothing store, and luckily a line of changing booths occupied a side wall. Ignoring the attendant that greeted me near the door I swiftly entered a small changing room, glad for the privacy it promised.
Now alone I took a deep breath to center myself. Closing my eyes I was glad that I didn't hear the sounds of feet following me into where I had hidden. Reaching up I twirled a finger around a lock of my hair, glad for its familiar comforting feel. Opening my eyes, the changing room had a long mirror for customers and I gazed deeply into it. Everything seemed right, my dress and hair were clean; and despite the fact that I should be dead, I looked and felt healthy. I just couldn't shake the indistinct sense of wrongness. I couldn't decide if my appearance was slightly wrong or if the symbol on my forehead comforted, or worried me. Searching through my recent revaluations I tried to sort out the truth.
I felt pulled in two different directions, memories clashing to form a paradox. I wasn't lost anymore, I knew this city. It was just radically different from what I knew of Earth. Nothing felt certain anymore as I delved into my memories, things I thought I knew. I was the Princess of Saturn, I had a castle and subjects. However, now that I took time to think on it, I couldn't recall a single one of my people. I couldn't remember the layout details of my castle. Everything seemed to contradict itself. I had grown up in this city on Earth, but I was from the planet Saturn. I had died fighting an extra-solar invader, but I was still alive.
I spent several long minutes thinking, trying to pull more meaning from my memories that might explain what was going on. Hoping something would happen that would clarify things for me. Sadly, no new revelations came, and I felt lost in a completely different way.
A soft knock sounded from the changing room's door, pulling me back to the present. "Taylor?" Greg's voice called to me.
"Yes?" I answered after taking a moment to rein in my emotions.
"You are Taylor, right?" He questioned, uncertainty clear in his tone.
I grimaced behind the door as his question hit far too close to home than I would have had thought possible several minutes before. I decided that I to needed to leave if I wanted answers, because hiding here hadn't help me.
"Yes Greg." I replied opening to door to see his confused face looking at me. "Or at least to the best of my knowledge I am."
"What do you mean?" His confused look only got worse from my statement.
"I must apologize." I said giving him a short bow. "I'm having trouble with my memory. I am Taylor, but I can't recall how I know you. I don't know if I can really explain what is going on. But, thank you, what you've done has been very helpful."
"Memories? How have I helped with that?"
"You've-." I paused uncertain how to answer him I was so so confused. I feared that information I had until just recently thought mundane, might actually harm me. Eventually I decided that telling falsehoods when I couldn't determine truth would only serve to confuse me more. "You have helped me figuring out why I'm not dead."
"What!?" He hissed conspiratorially. "I thought that- that after seeing you alive, that the dying thing was a cover or something? You actually died?"
"To the best I can remember." I nodded.
"Um- not to be rude or anything, but you sure you aren't a bio-tinker creation or anything?"
"Bio-what?" I asked, as my memory unfortunately didn't fill in the details.
"A Bio-tinker, the guys that make-, Never mind." Greg muttered shaking his head. "If you were I doubt you would know if you were. Also, you haven't tried to eat me."
"I don't plan on eating anyone." I informed him, slightly scandalized and still confused.
"Good." He chuckled, before looking around, his hand raising to the scraggles of hair on his chin. "So- um, what are you going to do now?"
"I'm not sure. When you were talking about what's been happening recently and seeing the city has helped me remember things, so unless you can think of something more we could continue doing that."
Greg continued scratch at his chin in his pensive pose. His eyebrows perked, before he looked me down and back up. "I would like to hang out with you some more, show you around. But, it might be better if you talk to the PRT, they might be able to really help you. Your choice."
The corners of my mouth twitched into a tiny frown. "I fear this will sound foolish, but what or who is PRT?"
"Oh, they deal with cape stuff." Greg answered, and with a twitch of his head began heading toward the exit. Following him I noticed one of the store's clerks had been standing out of sight behind a display of jewelry, concealing herself within easy listening range. In a feigned display of nonchalance, she turned away avoiding eye contact. However, as we left the store I saw her steal a glance back at us. A list theorizing potential dangers or spies popped into my head before I silently chastised myself. Why would a nosy store clerk be a spy, I was so confused I was becoming paranoid.
Outside most of crowd that had seen me around my statue had moved on, but I did notice a few strangers pointing phones at me. It was becoming exceedingly annoying. As a princess I often received excess attention, but I didn't like my every move being recorded.
"So what do you think?" Greg asked. "I would like to show you around, but I wouldn't mind helping you contact the PRT."
I thought hard, trying to provoke my memory to give up details. The best I got was a vague sense of law and authority. "If you think they would be the best. Would we need to go somewhere?"
"You can use my phone and call them, maybe ask them-" Greg did a double take looking down the boardwalk. "Holy shit! Its Armsmaster and Gallant! Er- or you might be able to talk to them."
Greg's surprise was obvious as he pointed at two people I would best describe as knights. The two of them were attracting just as much if not more attention as I was. Phones that had been pointed at me, swiveled round to them; some even calling out to the duo. I couldn't see their eyes but it seemed obvious that they were looking directly at me. It didn't take long before their long confident strides closed the distance between us, and the crowd seemed to part till it was just us four.
The shorter knight Greg had called Gallant spoke. "How are you doing on this fine day?." He greeted, an obvious smile in his voice, even though I could not see his face.
"I am well, thank you." I curtsied, not dropping too low as I did not know his station, if he even had any. "How do you do?"
His head tilted slightly as though he was surprised, before he continued. "Armsmaster and I were just out on our patrol, and we saw you. Not that there's anything wrong, we just wanted to mention that impersonating a cape can attract trouble."
"I-I'm not entirely sure what you mean." I answered, although I had a very good idea. My answer seemed to not have been what the knight with the halberd wanted to hear as grunted and stepped forward.
"Facial recognition software pinged you for a 98% match to the hero Saturn." He stated with a firm tone. "Our software is advanced enough that a match that high shouldn't be possible unless powers are involved."
It took me a second but my memory helpfully filled in the details of facial recognition software. I was feeling very self conscious, as it seemed to me they thought I was impersonating myself. I fought down the strong desire to shrink and hide as I turned to the person that had helped me most today. "These people are with the PRT?" I asked Greg
He had been staring a bit wide eyed at the two, but he looked at me and nodded. The crowd around us were still muttering and pointing phones, so I stepped forward so what I said wouldn't be heard by every gawker nearby. "I am Saturn." I spoke in just above a whisper.
I couldn't see their faces but from their change in posture I guessed I had surprised them. "Truth?" The larger man in blue and silver said incredulously, before his head snapped to his companion. Gallant met his gaze before nodding, then turning back to me.
"Saturn; as in, statue over there Saturn?" He asked.
"Yes, I feel, I am even more confused than you." I answered, hoping that these knights could help. "I woke up in a park earlier, when I should be dead."
"You are coming with us." Armsmaster impolitely stated, before reaching up to the side of his helmet. "Control, I need a retrieval team at my location. Highest Priority."
There was something in Armsmaster's tone that made me uncertain I was doing the right thing. I felt as though what little control I had before was slipping from my grip, but I had little other idea what else to do. I was about to turn to Greg when I felt the world lurch and my vision suddenly change. I wasn't on the boardwalk anymore, from the view I was on top of a building. Turning I saw a man in a black suit, wearing a red mask. I didn't get a chance to organize my thoughts before he spoke.
"Sorry about this." He said, before a loud crackling noise rang in my ear. My neck and arm twitched as a violent jolt shot through my body. I could only remember pain before my legs gave out and my senses numbed into nothingness.