Chapter 5
Primera was vaguely aware of a shadowy presence. Slowly she opened her eyes to see a girl with bright pink hair and long bunny ears staring at her. Her green eyes sparkled.
"Hi there!" she said waving, "I'm Seraphita."
Primera reached out and touched Seraphita's face, then began curiously tugging at her ears.
"Owie!" protested Seraphita, "Hey, they're real!"
They both looked up to see a banged up Marinebasher settle into the bay next to them. Kelvina climbed out. Primera tried to sit up but saw she was still in the metal talons of Skyghene.
"Tolone, let her go!" said Seraphita.
The giant bird relaxed its grip and Seraphita pulled Primera free. She began sniffling and immediately ran over and embraced Kelvina.
"Primera?" said Kelvina in shock, "How did you get here?"
The little girl just sobbed and Kelvina picked her up and cradled her in her arms.
"How'd you know her name?" asked Tolone as she jumped to the ground.
"I've met her before," said Kelvina.
"Wow, that's great!" said Seraphita, "You're already friends."
Tolone smirked. "She may be the key we need."
"Where's the lock?" asked Seraphita blankly.
Tolone sighed and began to walk away but Kelvina's voice stopped her.
"Promise me something," she said.
Tolone didn't turn around. "What?"
"This child must not be harmed," said Kelvina holding Primera close.
"She's just a lamb," said Tolone.
"Promise me," said Kelvina in a dark undertone that Tolone had never heard before.
"Of course," said Tolone, "She's of no use to us dead."
Tolone left through the double doors. Seraphita put her hand on Kelvina's shoulder.
"Don't worry, I'll look out for her," she said quietly.
Kelvina nodded. "Thank you."
Seraphita leaned in close to Primera. "Aw, the poor thing must be terrified."
Primera reached for her ears again and she backed away.
Seraphita giggled. "Leave my ears alone!"
"Her name's Primera," stated Kelvina.
"Can we be friends?" asked Seraphita as she held out a hand.
Primera looked up at Kelvina and then put out her hand. Seraphita took it.
Aboard the Yggdrasil Bart knocked on a door.
"Billy?" he asked.
There was no answer so he tried the door. Locked. He punched in the override code. The door slid open and he peered into the darkness beyond.
Bart began to sweat. "Billy, are you in here?"
"Come in," said Billy's voice, "Leave the lights off."
Bart walked in and found as his eyes adjusted to the darkness he could make out the form of Billy praying at the foot of his bed. The jacket and holsters hung neatly on hooks on the wall. A book lay open on the nightstand.
"This was meant to happen," said Billy eventually.
Bart frowned. "What do you mean?"
"She was meant to be taken," explained Billy quietly, "It had to happen."
"You're nuts!" said Bart shaking his head, "I don't buy that stuff about destiny!"
Billy permitted himself a faint smile. "That's because you wish to escape it."
"Yeah, maybe," said Bart slumping in a nearby chair, "But nobody ever gives me a break about it."
"Join the club," said Billy as he slowly stood up.
Bart switched on the light switch. Billy stood dressed in dark gray pants and a bright green shirt. He smiled to Bart as he began to strap on his holsters.
"I've chosen to place my faith in Kelvina," he said evenly, "She'll take care of Prim."
"You so sure about trusting our enemy?" asked Bart in disbelief.
"Adversaries, "corrected Billy, "And sometimes that is the nature of faith."
He put on the long jacket pulling his arms through the sleeves. "Are we still following them?" he asked.
Bart stood up. "Yeah, we're keeping far behind, but as long as they don't use a gate we'll be able to track them."
Billy nodded. "Good."
He walked out into the corridor. Bart followed him out, switching off the lights as he went.
In a conference room Ramsus stared down at Primera doubtfully. She merely looked back at him, puzzled.
"Run this by me again," he said slowly, "And don't leave anything out."
The Elements exchanged glances.
"We found her in the Zeboim metropolis below the lighthouse," began Tolone, "I saw her demonstrate sympathetic powers."
"So she feels sorry for us?" asked Seraphita gushing, "That's so niiice!"
Tolone ignored her. "She was able to remotely influence Bladegash."
"Remotely?" interjected Ramsus, "So Dominia wasn't in her gear?"
The Element's expressions answered that question for him.
"I recommend we put her in Bladegash," suggested Tolone.
"She's just a lamb," said Kelvina.
"Lamb or not, we may be able to use her to find Dominia," retorted Tolone.
Ramsus looked down at Primera. She stuck her tongue out at him.
"Put her in the gear," he said darkly as he strode out of the room.
Kelvina looked downcast. Primera rubbed her eyes and yawned.
"We'll begin tomorrow," said Tolone.
"Time to sleep," said Seraphita, "My favorite time of the day!"
They walked down a hallway and entered into a long room with a pair of bunk beds on opposite walls. Primera could immediately identify the occupant of each. She hopped onto the lower right bunk decorated with mobile made of seashells and a sculpture of a dolphin.
"Looks like she found your bunk," said Tolone with a smirk
Seraphita stripped off her uniform, leaving just a sleeveless white shirt and shorts. She bounced onto the opposite top bunk. She picked up a stuffed pink lion and held it out.
"Wanna play with Growly?" she asked.
Primera pointed to another stuffed animal on Seraphita's bunk. She sighed and tossed down a stuffed blue dolphin. Primera squeezed it tight.
"She likes Bashy better," said Seraphita sadly.
Kelvina smiled quietly as she took off her own uniform. Underneath she wore black form fitting long underwear.
"Just keep her quiet," said Tolone, now wearing an undershirt and boxers. She undid her ponytails.
"She can't speak," said Kelvina putting her hand on Primera's head.
"She's got a healthy pair of lungs," retorted Tolone now brushing her hair, "I heard her screaming earlier."
"Yeah but that isn't talking," said Seraphita sitting cross-legged on her bunk.
Kelvina gestured for Primera to get under the covers. Kelvina then tucked her in.
"No one will hurt you, I promise," she said.
Primera nodded.
"Will you help us find Dominia?" asked Seraphita.
Primera thought about it and nodded.
Kelvina began to stand up but Primera grasped her hand. She nodded and lay down next to her.
"Aw, how cuuute!" said Seraphita, hugging her lion.
"Just get some sleep," muttered Tolone as she slumped into the lower bunk under Seraphita. Seraphita hit the switch and rolled over. They drifted off together.
The next day Ramsus sat looking at a monitor on his desk. Miang entered the room through a side door.
"Couldn't sleep again?" she asked.
"I've almost forgotten what that word means," he said as he watched the Elements lead Primera into the hanger bay.
They stood before Bladegash. It sat in the fourth bay, the fingers interlaced together around the hilt of the sword as if it were meditating. They walked up a staircase to a catwalk that led behind the gears. Primera began to look fearful as they reached the access hatch for Bladegash.
"This is Dominia's gear," said Seraphita, tapping the hatch.
"She knows that already," Kelvina pointed out.
"Just open it up," muttered Tolone.
Primera nodded and to Tolone's surprise slid up an almost invisible access panel and pushed a button that caused the hatch the smoothly swing open.
"How did she-" began Tolone.
Primera climbed inside. Kelvina began strapping her in place.
"Now just focus your thoughts on Dominia," explained Kelvina, "Just picture her in your head."
"Can she really fly Bladegash?" asked Seraphita nervously.
"We'll soon find out," stated Tolone grimly.
"We'll be right behind you, ok?" said Kelvina.
Primera nodded solemnly. Kelvina took a step back and the hatch slid shut.
"Let's go," said Tolone.
Ramsus watched as the Elements boarded their own gears.
"Find her safe," he murmured.
Bladegash awkwardly stood and started lumbering toward the bay doors. The doors slowly opened up, revealing a blue ocean far below. Primera began to feel dizzy.
"Picture yourself soaring like a bird!" said Tolone.
Bladegash fired its boosters and took off into the sky. A moment later Skyghene flew out, followed by Marinebasher, and finally Grandgrowl. They caught up to Primera.
"Are you alright?" asked Seraphita.
Bladegash nodded. Seraphita began to giggle.
"Can you take us to Dominia?" inquired Kelvina.
Bladegash began heading north. They had to fire their rocket engines to keep up with her. The four gears flew in a cross formation with Bladegash in the front and Grandgrowl to the rear with Marinebasher and Skyghene to the sides. They passed over small island chains and large stretches of open water until the sun began to set in the sky. Eventually they came upon an island with a large forest. As they followed Bladegash they saw a plume of smoke coming out of the center of the forest. Bladegash landed in a clearing next to a circular house nestled in the deepest forest. Smoke was curling from a chimney on the roof. The Elements landed nearby, and Tolone climbed out cautiously.
"Hello?" she called out.
Kelvina went over to Bladegash and opened the hatch. Primera sat in the cockpit, dwarfed by the pilot's chair looking white as a sheet. Kelvina gingerly unstrapped her.
"We always feel like this after our first time in a gear," explained Kelvina.
Primera climbed into Kelvina's arms. She carried her outside as Tolone approached the door and knocked.
"Maybe nobody's home," suggested Seraphita.
"Go away!" barked a grouchy old voice from behind the door.
"Sounds like someone is home," said Kelvina.
"We're here for Dominia," yelled Tolone.
The door opened a crack, revealing a rotund old man in a white jumpsuit. Small black eyes peered out of a blue face with a fringe of white hair.
"I'm the only one here!" said the old man, "Now get lost!"
He began to close the door, but Tolone stuck her foot in the way.
"Now, that isn't very polite," said Tolone with a deadly smirk.
"Are you sure she isn't here?" asked Seraphita, looking worried.
"We have reliable information she was here," said Kelvina.
The old man paused at that. "What sort of information?"
They all turned to look at Primera. The old man let out a huge sigh and opened the door.
"Wipe your feet first!" he groused.
Primera and Seraphita dutifully wiped their feet as Tolone tracked dirt onto the hardwood floor. She admired a pair of giant cylindrical tanks in the center of the room. Tolone began playing with one of the control panels. The old man swatted her wrist.
"Stop touching things!" he admonished, "This equipment is very delicate."
Tolone crossed her arms. "I know how a nanoreactor works."
The old man stared at her strangely for a minute. "You must be Tolone then," he said eventually.
She blinked. "How did you know my name?" she asked.
"My name's Taura," said the old man, "And your friend Dominia told me."
"Where is she?" asked Seraphita.
Taura pointed to an interior door. Seraphita ran through to the next room. Everyone followed her to find a young woman lying in a small cot next to the curved wall. She has dusky skin and long white hair. Her uniform hung on a hook above her. Seraphita was gently shaking her.
"She isn't waking up," said Seraphita.
Tolone began to tremble. "What's wrong with her?"
"She was like this when I found her," said Taura, "I tried scanning her brain."
They all stared at him expectantly. He cleared his throat.
"We'll have to wait for your boss," he finished.
"Why?" asked Kelvina.
Taura shrugged and set a tea kettle on the stove. "He was the reason she left in the first place."
They heard a rumble overhead. Seraphita peered out a small window.
"The boys are here!" she said.
Tolone followed her gaze and groaned. Outside Stier was inspecting Grandgrowl.
"Elements!" boomed Bart's voice through his gear's loudspeaker, "Release your hostage at once!"
Kelvina patted Primera's shoulder. "Go to your brother."
Tolone blinked in amazement. "She's the Etone's sister?" she demanded.
Kelvina nodded. Tolone walked over to the door and leaned against it.
"Then she's our trump card," she said.
Kelvina shook her head. "I can't let you do that Tolone."
"You can't let me?" sputtered Tolone.
Taura sat by a small table and poured himself a cup of tea. "What a racket," he grumbled.
"I won't let you either!" said Seraphita.
Tolone laughed grimly. "You can't even tie your own shoes!"
Kelvina smirked faintly. "Can you defeat both of us?"
Tolone looked between them and moved aside. Kelvina opened the door and Primera ran into the front room. She turned to look at Kelvina who nodded. She pushed open the front door and ran outside. She looked up to see Renozukan looming over her.
"Prim!" called out Billy.
Renozukan's hatch swung open and Billy jumped to the ground. He swept Primera up into his arms and kissed her face.
"Oh thank goodness!" he exclaimed.
She began to sniffle and buried her head into his shoulder.
"Wow, they let her go," mused Bart.
Stier opened up and Rico jumped to the ground. "Those chicks aren't so bad."
Bart climbed out of Brigand. As he hopped to the ground the door to Taura's house opened and Seraphita peered out.
"Aw, I love happy endings!" she said gushing at Billy and Primera.
"It's the ditz," said Bart with his hands on his hips.
She giggled. "You're the cyclone guy."
"She means Cyclops," said Rico.
"Come on in guys," she said gesturing.
Reluctantly they followed her in. The other Elements stood around in the front room, drinking tea with Taura.
"I've had nightmares like this," muttered Bart.
Billy walked over to Kelvina. He smiled shyly at her.
"Thanks for looking after Primera," he said.
She nodded demurely and handed him a cup. "It was my pleasure Mr. Black."
Rico watched Billy and Kelvina talking. Seraphita sidled up to him.
"I think I'm gonna be sick," muttered Rico.
Seraphita blinked. "Why?"
He shook his head. "I hate mushy scenes."
Seraphita elbowed him. "I'll bet you're a really mushy guy deep down!"
Rico snorted. "Dream on, bunny girl!"
"Where's your twin?" asked Tolone.
Bart frowned for a second. "You mean Sigurd?"
"Tell him you really suck at cards," she said with a glint.
"So why is everyone trampling over my house?" demanded Taura.
"We just wanted to get Primera back," said Billy.
"And we came for Dominia," said Kelvina.
"Fine, take them both and get out!" he snapped.
Tolone disappeared into the back room and came out carrying Dominia over her shoulder. She had her uniform draped over the other shoulder.
"Is it okay to move her?" inquired Kelvina.
"Too late," said Tolone walking outside.
She looked up to see Ramsus' ship slowly come into view. A golden gear with long wings descended from the rear bay and landed in front of her. It drew out its sword and scanned the nearby gears.
"Where is he?" demanded Ramsus through the loudspeaker.
"He's not with them," said Tolone holding out Dominia's prone body.
Wyvern reached down and gently scooped up Dominia. Ramsus clambered out and sat next to her.
"Why did you do this to me?" he muttered placing a hand on Dominia's forehead.
The Elements emerged from Taura's house. They looked worried.
"Oh, not him again," said Bart peering up at Wyvern.
Taura shuffled outside. "Khar Ramsus, correct?"
Ramsus looked up with a confused expression. "Who are you?"
"You have to call her back," said Taura, "Then you can all get lost!"
Ramsus stood up angrily. "You can't talk like that to me!"
"Commander, he took care of Dominia!" said Seraphita.
"Maybe I should have let her die," grumbled Taura.
Ramsus tried to remain calm. "Why is she like this?"
"You should know that already," said Taura, "After all, you did it to her."
"What?" demanded Ramsus, "How?"
"I scanned her brain," pointed out Taura quietly, "You told her to go."
Ramsus paled and looked away.
"That can't be true!" said Seraphita.
"Why would you do that?" asked Kelvina.
Ramsus refused to look at them. "I-she questioned Miang's loyalty."
"So you told her to leave!" snapped Tolone.
Ramsus slumped next to Dominia. "I was angry."
"Call her back," said Taura.
Ramsus looked up helplessly. "How do I do that?"
Taura sighed and looked at the Elements. "Ask them."
He pushed between Bart and Billy and walked through the door to his house, slamming the door shut behind him. A second later it reopened and he deposited Primera into Billy's arms.
"What should I say?" asked Ramsus, looking adrift.
"Tell her the truth," said Tolone.
"Tell her how you feel," suggested Seraphita.
"Tell her how much we need her," said Kelvina.
Ramsus put his hands on the sides of Dominia's face and leaned over so their foreheads were touching.
"Dominia…I'm sorry," he began, "I was mad for a while but I didn't really want you to leave. Please, I need you."
Dominia's eyes slowly opened. It took a minute for her eyes to focus. She blushed furiously.
"Commander!" she asked, "What's happening?"
He pulled her into an embrace and tried to fight off the hot stinging tears.
"I'm sorry Commander," she stammered, "It wasn't my place to question your judgment."
"Just shut up!" he snapped as he held her fiercely.
The other Elements jumped up and hugged both of them.
"Dominia you're okay!" exclaimed Seraphita happily.
"Don't scare us like that!" lectured Tolone.
"I'm glad you made it," said Kelvina.
"Thank you guys," said Dominia quietly, "But what happened to me?"
"It was all just a bad dream," said Ramsus, almost choking on the words.
"Yeah, I guess it was," said Kelvina.
"Thanks guys!" yelled Seraphita waving down to Rico, Billy, and Bart.
Billy smiled and waved back. Primera followed suit.
"I think this our cue to skedaddle," said Bart with a lopsided grin.
Billy nodded.
"This has been one frickin weird head trip," rumbled Rico.
"Amen to that it," said Bart.
They returned to their gears and flew out of the forest back to the Yggdrasil.
A few days later they were sitting around a conference table when the door opened and a young man strode in with long brown hair gathered into a ponytail. A beautiful young woman with flowing orange hair stood beside him.
"Fei, Elly!" said Billy, "How was your trip?"
"A nice change of pace," said Fei glancing to Elly. They shared a secret smile.
"We researched more of the history of Nissan," said Elly.
"So, what did we miss?" asked Fei.
They exchanged helpless glances.
"Nothing much," said Sigurd finally.
Rico and Billy nodded hastily in agreement.