Extinguished

by jalpari

A conflicted Noor crumbles under the burden of yet another destructive power.

A/N:

Aaaahh! Eeeeep! I can't stop, just going to post a few more even though I wanted to space them out over the span of a week!

I can only hope there are people out there who are trudging alongside me on this journey, reading the chapters, understanding what's going on, maybe even jumping with anticipation and excitement as the story progresses. Hehe.

Keith walked to Noor who was now on her knees, hunched forward, panting and shaking.

"Noor", he hesitated as he approached her.

"Stop", she whispered hoarsely.

"Are you alright?"

"Go back to the Olkaship. You...you both need to treat those wounds immediately", she stood up.

Noor barely managed to hold herself up. She felt dizziness overtaking all her senses. It felt as if all her blood had drained out in the form of fire.

"Hey...look at me."

Noor slowly looked up and tears flowed down her cheeks.

"You're alive", she began reaching out for him but stopped.

"We're all fine…", he reached out to the girl but Noor stepped back.

"Don't...you might get burnt."

"No, I won't."

He stepped forward once again and held his hand out.

Noor was shaking. She looked around and saw everyone. They were all standing. Injured but standing.

"They're alright", he stepped closer.

Noor looked at his blood stained suit. He clutched his chest with the other hand.

"Noor…we're not leaving without you."

He winced as pain tore through his chest. Noor rushed forward and helped him steady himself. He grasped her hand firmly and led her to the team. Everyone came rushing forward to help them but Keith shook his head.

They went into the Olkaship silently. As the hatch slowly shut close, Noor looked over her shoulder at the destruction she had unleashed on the town. A shiver ran down her spine. She felt a squeeze on her hand and turned back to see Keith looking at her. She took a deep breath and followed him in.

Once inside, Bani led Keith to the infirmary, followed by Luten who carried Shiro. Noor went straight to her room.

"No", she whispered as she turned to see Hunk follow her. "And please keep Kosmo out."

Keith frowned as he sat in the infirmary. Bani had patched him up and even though it was a severe wound, he couldn't care less. He kept seeing her face. Her terrifying yet terrified face.

You're alive.

Her words rang in his ears. He exhaled and stood up, determined to go see her.

"No", Hunk stopped him as he stepped into the corridor, "She's...she wants to be alone."

"I need to talk to her."

"I don't think this is the right time. She doesn't even want Kosmo in there with her."

Keith paused in surprise. He looked at the dog that sat wistfully outside her door.

"All the more reason for someone to go in there", he clenched his jaw.

"Give her time."

Noor wanted to go check on him. She wanted to see how the others were doing. But she didn't move. She couldn't move. She wasn't ready to see the burns and ash on them, scars that were her doing. She knew what she had to do.

Later that night, she peeked out of her room. Much to her relief, no one was there. She heard straight for the pool. Once there, she paced back and forth hoping the cool water would extinguish the embers of the fire that still lurked inside her. She could feel it.

She paused and looked at her hands. Unlike Sepi, she could remember the events with clarity. As she blocked everything else out and focussed on her heartbeat, on her breathing, on the tingling sensation in her palm, she thought she saw sparks. She concentrated harder and it seemed like the spark was turning orange. But nothing happened. She collapsed to the ground in frustration.

"I can't go on like this", she whispered as she pulled her knees closer and rested her chin on them.

"Noor…" she heard a soft voice behind her.

She shut her eyes and cursed herself for leaving her room, wishing she could teleport herself away. She felt the person stand behind her. Her eyes remained fixed on the water. She was not prepared to face him yet. She heard him wince in pain as he sat down beside her.

She exhaled and lifted her arms up to support him. As their eyes met she felt her composure falter. Keith sat down with her help and saw her eyes flicker with many emotions. Her hands had not left his arm as he adjusted himself by her side. She was looking at his chest. She closed her eyes and returned her gaze to the water.

Neither said anything as seconds, maybe minutes, passed them by. Keith glanced at her every few seconds, unsure and awkward. There was so much he wanted to say and do, but he couldn't get himself to say or do any of those things. Noor began to stand up but felt a hand on her shoulder stop her.

"Wait…please..."

Noor settled down again and stared at the water.

"Don't shut everyone out."

"I could have killed them."

"But you didn't."

"Only because you...", she felt her heart race and sat silently once more.

"It's not your fault. It's their fault. The shadows. The terrorist. The experiments", Keith's voice grew angrier with every word.

She remained silent.

"But that's why we're all here together. I won't...we won't give up."

Noor looked at him. There was no hope in her eyes. Just a numb resignation.

"Noor", he turned his body towards her, "...you can't give up. You were just trying to protect us back there."

"I thought you were dead."

"Huh?"

"I saw you both go down…after the explosion...and then you got hit in the chest", tears began sliding down her cheek as she placed her hand on his bandaged chest.

She looked at him her hand still pressed against his chest. Keith was taken aback by her touch and followed her eyes. It felt strange seeing her small hand on his chest. He turned gaze back on her. He was relieved to see some emotion return to her eyes.

"It was like Sepi all over again. If I surrender to it…I can destroy everything...and I did surrender...this time, willingly", she pulled her hand back. "I can't control it."

"It's difficult to accept, I know", he finally managed to mumble, "but that doesn't make you bad. Your going to figure out how to control this power. We will stop the creature. You will not be a weapon. I won't let that happen."

"It's too late, Keith. I'm already a weapon. I'm a ticking bomb. And next time, I'm not sure you or anyone will be able to get through to me."

Her face had gone blank again and she stood up and left.

"Noor...pleas…"

"Goodnight Keith."

Keith found Hunk in the cafeteria the next morning.

"Is Noor up yet?"

"I don't think so….but let her sleep. I'll take breakfast to her later", Hunk replied.

"How's Shiro" Pidge joined them.

"He's resting too. But he's better."

The table was silent and the usual chatter was absent. Keith stared at the muffins in the basket. There were two left and he didn't have the heart to eat his share. He grew restless with every passing minute.

"That's it", he jumped up and put some food and the muffins on a plate. "It's been long enough."

He left the kitchen and headed for Noor's room. He stood outside her door, where Kosmo still lay, and took a deep breath.

"Noor", he knocked softly.

There was no response.

"You should eat something…"

Silence.

"Everyone is worried", he leaned against the door and sighed.

He waited for several seconds and then rested his forehead against the door.

"Noor, please let me in."

"Keith!" Hunk ran towards him.

Keith was startled at the sudden intrusion and jerked back up, straightening his posture.

"Noor…I don't think she is…the po...the pod…", Hunk looked flustered.

"Spit it out, Hunk!" Keith rolled his eyes.

"A pod...is missing."

"Where is it?!" Keith's rushed into the control room. "Where's the pod right now?"

"There's a tracker on board. We're setting course now", Bani replied.

"Where could she be going…", Pidge wondered.

"Wherever it is", Keith muttered get us there now."

"Wait...what...this can't be…", Bani exclaimed.

"What?" Luten frowned.

"This is strange...she's gone…"

"Gone?"

"I can't track the pod anymore."

"What do you mean? Is it cloaked? I thought we could still track them even when they're…"

"Hmm...this is weird", Pidge walked over to the screen and recalibrated the receivers. "It's like...it's like the pod doesn't exist. She just vanished."