Chapter 9: "Old Friends"
Not for months had he felt so rested. Though the darkness was still engulfing him, he could actually relax, feel the warmth around him. A deep, appreciative breath followed, and he let his body deflate with the exhale. At last, Frost's bright, glowing red eyes drifted open, seeing smooth stone, feeling warm sunlight on his face. He could feel the Metal-Heads without effort, but he also sensed someone near him, and he turned his head on the pillow to see Seem smiling gently down at him. Frost's expression turned wistful, almost dream-like in distance as he glanced from one of her eyes to the other and back. Seeing her face, smiling and peaceful as ever, was the best thing that could have happened to him in that moment.
Only somewhat suspecting the effect waking up to her might have on him, Seem tipped her head gently. "Welcome back, Frost."
"Thank you," he rasped quietly, his warped voice quite soft, the ethereal echo almost louder than his actual words. "Is everyone safe?" he checked sincerely, tilting his head a bit. He seemed weary, but very relaxed.
"Yes. Thanks to you," she emphasized faintly, her expression becoming serious in her sincerity.
Frost's mild, dry humor returned to his face, and he started to sit up with some difficulty. "I think I was… a little late, myself…"
He caught himself inhaling sharply as she came close, gripping his far shoulder and near arm with her hands in a secure, gentle hold of support, helping him rise. The energies in his body almost reacted, but something in her presence soothed him infinitely. She could actually be so close, and he wasn't harming her.
"I believe we would say you were just on time," Seem replied casually, as much so as she ever became, allowing him to feel she missed his sensitive reaction to her touch. Once he was sitting upright, she pulled away, sitting on the stool again.
Frost gave her a gentle smile and tip of his head in thanks. "I'm glad…" he added to their mild conversation. He noticed the Metal-Heads in the room with them, and the open door, but focused back on her. "…I'm sorry if I scared you, Seem. I had to get her away from you to do anything…"
The monk's expression softened with surprise. "How would you have scared me…?"
"When I said I would take her offer. I swear to you that I never intended to, but I couldn't see another way to get her away from you…" he trailed off, his face etched with anxious uncertainty as he looked at her.
Seem let her expression fade to a calm but sincere one. "I was, indeed, concerned for a moment, because I could sympathize if you had honestly accepted. …I believe it is quite clear that you are very concerned for me," she phrased it as delicately as she could think to, and he looked down. "I was, however, not surprised when I realized you had used it as a means to protect me. Do you regret lying, even to an enemy?" she finished with gentle curiosity.
Focusing, he nodded, and looked back up at her, his own expression controlled and calm. "I know it was practical, but I've never liked using dishonest means to protect people. If it worked, however, I am quite relieved," he finished with his gentle smile returning.
She smiled in kind, and then they both tried to speak at once. Each stopped, pausing to control their own embarrassment, and looked to the other. Frost gestured. "Please…"
"I only wished to let you know that Sig, Jak, and possibly some others are coming to see if we need help here at the temple. I tried to dissuade them, but they were quite concerned." Seem tipped her head to him, almost as an apology.
"Because I'm here, or because of another attack?" Frost asked quite sincerely, no hint of regret or guilt in his tone.
"I suspect a bit of both is at play, but the latter is more their primary concern."
Frost nodded, and gestured down to the Metal-Heads near the door. "Were there any difficulties?"
Seem glanced down, incidentally to the very Leaper that had nudged his foot and allowed her to pet it, and found herself smiling gently before she looked back to him. "No. They remained quite docile in the temple, and guard it outside."
A soft relief appeared on his face as he closed his eyes, and then the darkened man focused on her. Seem tilted her head gently. "You also wished to say something…?"
Frost nodded, but looked down, obviously working through how to actually word it. Seem patiently waited for him, understanding it was a matter of personal importance. He finally looked up, and started, "I wished to…" he winced faintly, "I wished to apologize for my remarks back at the nest. I know I have not shown the proper respect for your devotion, I should have guarded my feelings better. I would never wish to challenge your choice of life, Seem, I respect it immensely," he finished more smoothly, his sincerity pushing the words out before his anxiety could cut them off.
Seem was touched by his anxiety over the issue, but was, in truth, not surprised. She gently smiled, and then bowed her head, gesturing between them with a hushed, melodic prayer. "…You need not apologize again. The first was appreciated but unnecessary, as is this one. You have only shown me respect and kindness, Frost. I wish to reciprocate in the ways that I can."
She could tell it gave him further relief, but he faintly smiled as he looked back into her eyes.
"I still made you uncomfortable with my questions, my approach. I was just trying to protect myself, make sure of the situation before I put myself in a worse position, but it was actually part of exactly what it was supposed to avoid. Your kindness to me has… I believe I owe any peace I currently have to you, Seem," he said at last with a soft nod, and saw that this time she became a bit troubled herself. "I almost consider my current state a blessing, because it allowed me to experience your kindness. And I understand that the nature of your character is greatly tied into your choice of life. In my selfishness, I allowed myself to ignore the fact that your role as a monk, the choices it implies, and your kindness to me are deeply connected. If I am truly grateful for your kindness, I must respect your choices. I do understand that, but I am not as noble as I try to be…" he admitted quietly as he finished, trailing off and looking down.
Seeing him expose himself so sincerely to her only made her own, growing conflict twist painfully in her heart. Indeed, his sincerity in apologizing, his genuine understanding, only deepened the conflict within her. She could respect him so easily… Controlling her own selfishness, she exhaled quietly, and looked at him without anxiety. "I deeply appreciate that you would tell me this so honestly, Frost, and your understanding of my position. I apologize, deeply, if I have done anything to tempt you unfairly, if my methods have been ill-applied…"
He shook his head instantly, his crimson eyes blazing up into her own, natural ones. "No!" he said clearly, not loudly, "Not in the least, Seem. You have been entirely appropriate and kind to me. I have allowed my emotions to be unfair to you. You need never apologize to me."
Though, in her own mind, she felt she had been unfair to him, she accepted his words with a deep bow of her head, and smiled gently at him to reassure him. Frost managed to smile again, and then slowly stood up. Seem rose to her feet, watching to see if he needed some help still. He seemed to be recovering by the moment, and took a few firm steps out into the center of the room, nodding to himself.
"I'll be back to normal in a short while now," he explained, looking at and flexing his claws.
Seem found herself smiling gently, and gestured down to the Metal-Heads as he came around to look at her again. "They have been quite worried about you, it seems." She had already chosen not to mention her own effect on them during his rest.
He laughed faintly, and knelt down with the closest ones. "I admit, I've grown fond of them. Especially the Leapers," he explained, rubbing the head of the same one she'd petted, and it gave a similar, soft hiss of contentment. "Of course, I have the haunting suspicion that may not be entirely my choice," he muttered quietly, rising to his feet as the Metal-Heads finally started to flow down the hall and out of the room.
Seem watched him sympathetically. "You fear that your change has affected your mind that much?"
He tapped the skull-gem embedded in his forehead as he looked to her seriously. "I have an army of dark creatures linked to my mind. I don't know how much of my thoughts are what I would have agreed with before this happened."
Easing, Seem tilted her head, looking him in the eyes shrewdly. Frost grew curious, looking at her expectantly.
"Do you truly believe you are not simply growing fond of them because they are no longer a threat, and seem to be changing into perfectly good animals?" she challenged sincerely.
The hall outside was all but empty at last, the Metal-Heads all going outside to help guard the temple under his mental command. Frost, however, smiled gently. "I'd like to think so."
Seem tipped her head. "I believe it is safe to do so." She turned more serious. "How do you wish to handle the others who are coming?"
He pulled his hood up. "If I may, I will greet them with you. I need to demonstrate that I am not an enemy."
"If your actions to date have not, perhaps letting them know who are would assist in that light?"
Frost tipped his head. "Perhaps, Ms. Monk, but I fear they would be more disturbed than reassured."
She bowed with another hand gesture. "We shall see how things progress. Please follow me, they should be arriving soon."
Frost only bowed to her, and followed her out of the chamber. As she led him down the hall, Seem let her expression turn troubled. Hopefully he would reveal it to them, and they would not be distrusting as he feared. She wanted him to feel like himself again, not only through her. It was unfair to him to be his only connection to personhood, it forced too much of his heart to invest itself in her. That she was also afraid of feeling the same way for him didn't help matters. Hopefully, regaining old friendships would help him reach a comfortable distance with her… and allow her to relax as well.
(Later…)
"I'm having trouble not reaching for my gun…" Ashelin muttered quite seriously as she looked up at the temple mountain from the right side of the Dune Hopper Sig was driving. The buggy had just landed from the last jump onto the island mountain itself, taking the twisting, sandy path up to the summit.
Sig chuckled. "Same here, Governor. Hell, I've never seen this many Metal-Heads out in the open and in one spot before." He had to slow down and steer gently around the legs of the massive cannon-backed runners, but he and Ashelin both noticed that the dinosaur-like Metal-Heads only glanced at them before focusing outward again. "If they decide to turn on us, there isn't much we can do about it in here."
"No kidding," the red-haired woman muttered ominously, looking up through her bangs at the leapers and other, smaller Metal-Heads practically flowing over the walls on their 'patrols'.
Above and behind the buggy was Keira's special desert Zoomer. The blue-green haired woman herself was piloting, Jak keeping himself curled up just behind her. Jak's eyes tightened as he looked down at the view, seeing so many Metal-Heads around them, watching them, but never moving to attack.
Keira swallowed, adjusting her grip on the controls. "After that battle back at Haven City, this is really making me nervous, Jak."
"Same here," he whispered slowly. "On the other hand, it's such an obvious trap that it wouldn't make sense."
"I guess I understand Torn's view of things better now. If he wanted to, this new leader could really cause some damage," Keira continued quietly, watching Sig drive around the last of the largest Metal-Heads, and leap across the last gap in the path. Now the walls were swarming with leapers and a few of the four-legged, hunch-backed blaster types.
Jak just nodded, knowing she'd see it in her peripheral vision. To keep her mind relaxed, he started with a new topic, "This Zoomer handles like a dream, though. Are you sure it's not ready for mass production?"
She giggled a bit. "I'd like to clean up a few parts of it functions first… but it's near that stage, yeah…"
He patted her back, and Keira felt her cheeks getting hot.
Sig, meanwhile, eased his vehicle to a halt some meters away from the tall, welcoming gate of the Temple, little more than a sculpted stone frame with large torches. Seem was standing there, with the cloaked figure that led the Metal-Heads waiting calmly in her wake, his claws folded into his sleeves, looking rather like a monk himself… at least one that had gotten a cloak run through a burning house.
The desert Zoomer floated down with a whine of its vertical thrusters, and finally landed, the cockpit opening as Ashelin and Sig climbed out of their car. Keira hopped out on the left of the Zoomer, Jak the right, and all four came up as Seem bowed, her hand gesturing. "Welcome, friends. As you can see, we are quite well protected," she actually gave a faint smile as she finished.
Keira was trying to keep her curiosity subtle, but her faint glances around Seem were clear enough. Frost, privately, kept his eyes down once he noticed her looking at him. His hood kept his identity quite hidden in combination with his other changes.
Ashelin tipped her head to Seem herself, "Yes, very well protected, Seem. We just wanted to come see if we could assist with anything…?" she looked to Sig.
"And what exactly happened," the desert King was more direct, stepping forward with his peacemaker in hand.
A wave of low hisses swept across the walls, and Jak and Sig tensed, Seem controlling a wince. At this, Frost glided forward, coming up on Seem's left with a faint smile. "Nice armor, King Sig."
Sig paused, blinked, and glanced down at himself. "…Oh… right…"
Even Jak held a hand to his forehead in realization. Sig was wearing Metal-Head carapace all over his body. It would be like a Metal-Head wearing skins from people all over itself and walking into a city.
Frost, however, calmly raised his hand, and all of the Metal-Heads in that part of the temple smoothly vanished from sight. "I am not your enemy."
Sig coughed a bit. "Didn't really think you were… But we'd like to know what happened here."
Seem nodded sagely. "And I would appreciate hearing what happened to Jak and his companion as well. Please come with me. We can discuss these matters more appropriately inside." She gestured back with a step in that direction.
Keira, though embarrassed for Sig's sake like the others, had the dark, Metal-Head leader in her gaze almost the entire time. There was something about him, something she couldn't quite place…
"We'd be glad to," Ashelin replied to the monk with a nod.
Seem and Frost moved back toward the temple, and Jak, Keira, Sig, and Ashelin followed swiftly. As they moved into the temple proper, Seem glanced back to Frost with gently raised eyebrows. He tilted his head down, and she looked forward again. He was still unsure. Unfortunately, she could see why. Their companions were obviously anxious in his presence, though Keira seemed the most welcoming with her gentle curiosity. Seem led along, keeping her thoughts to herself.
In a few minutes they were all sitting around a modest table in one of the rooms higher up in the temple, in fact just down the hall from the very chamber where Maia had attacked the monks the previous day. Frost sat down on the far corner of one side of the table, Seem choosing to sit next to him, and then Ashelin, Sig at the head, Jak, and Keira down the other side.
The monk began calmly. "Yesterday evening, the dark creatures we'd fought in the desert came into the temple. We fled, but they soon cut off our exits, and we were forced to barricade ourselves in the meditation chamber. It does not have a ceiling and one wall is open to allow a clear view of the desert, so I used one of … the signal devices given to me to call for aid." Her faint hesitation in explaining the origin of the device got the others' attention, and Frost winced privately. She was only trying to keep her word to him.
Continuing, she said, "Soon, they forced their way in, and took us hostage, their leader coming to me directly. I can only imagine she was watching—?" she glanced up as Jak cut in.
"She?" the hero asked in obvious surprise.
Seem nodded. "Yes, it was a woman, though twisted by dark powers. I can only imagine she was watching during the battle in the desert, because she knew what I had done during that battle. She knew… that the Metal-Head leader and I were acquainted, and came here to force me to ask him to serve her, or we would all be killed."
Everyone abruptly focused on Frost, who frowned firmly for himself, keeping his head bowed. Seem glanced back to him sympathetically, and continued to the others. "Then he arrived to aid us, and successfully fended her off. She said her name was Maia."
"What?" Jak blurted out, Keira gawking at Seem herself.
Seem was a bit startled, as were Sig and Ashelin. Even Frost was looking at Jak curiously.
"What else did she say? Did she mention where she came from, who she was?" Jak rapidly listed off, rising so that he was leaning over the table, his eyes blazing with emotion.
The monk was too startled to react immediately, so Frost finally spoke, trying to keep his voice a little deeper than normal. "No. She only gave her name. Her appearance was similar to mine, but she had greater control over the energies themselves, and the Prowlers obeyed her commands. She had a black gem embedded in her chest."
Jak calmed a bit, focusing on the Metal-Head leader gravely. "Prowlers? The monster I fought in the desert, trying to get the contact device, called them that as well. He looked like a big one of them, and had a lot more power… and a black gem in his chest." He finally sat back down, but Keira was looking at the Metal-Head leader intently.
His voice… she realized it was familiar, but it was different, perhaps only similar.
Seem was thoughtful, but then spoke. "Perhaps it is these black gems that express the Darken's power here on our world?"
Jak nodded. "And he mentioned another, that he wasn't the only one controlling the Prowlers. I guess… Maia would be the other one…" he looked down, dark and serious.
Keira looked to him. "It couldn't be her, though. It must be another person."
Seem focused on Jak intently, Sig, Ashelin, and Frost just watching with rapt interest. "Hero…" the monk began carefully, "you recall how I sensed something in this darkness… connected with you?"
His eyes shifted up to meet hers ominously. "I was just thinking the same thing."
Everyone looked from him to the monk and back. Keira finally focused on Seem. "Wait, what do you mean?"
Seem looked to her respectfully. "I believe it is the woman you know."
Keira was stunned. "…B-but… that was in the past… before Jak ever came back here. Gol and Maia were the Dark Eco users that threatened to open the dark silos and ruin the world… centuries ago by now. They were dumped in a silo before it sealed over…"
"There was a vast reservoir of Dark Eco beneath the sands where I felt… what I believe to be Maia's presence." Seem tilted her head down a bit, emphasizing the gravity of her point.
Keira and Jak stared at each other. Jak finally looked down, holding a hand to his head. "…So you're saying…"
Seem nodded. "Her body has been corrupted by Dark Eco for centuries. It is small wonder she would draw the Darken here now."
Keira's brow creased. "But what about Gol?"
Seem shook her head. "I sensed no other presence, but perhaps he is elsewhere?"
"No," Jak said flatly.
Everyone focused on him.
"What is it, Jak?" Ashelin asked when he didn't continue immediately.
Jak slowly answered. "Gol is dead, now that I'm not…" He nodded slowly, as if to himself on some private matter. "I think Maia just got lucky, if you can call it that. Some combination of circumstances let her stay alive, sustained by Dark Eco. I think Maia is what drew the other monster here, and they're the source of the Prowlers."
"Prepping the place for their boss," Sig muttered, leaning on the table with one elbow. "Considering how powerful those monsters are, it's a pretty sound idea."
"And they draw their power from Dark Eco," the Metal-Head leader announced abruptly.
The others turned to him, Seem more considerate, her eyes tightened with concern as she remembered what he'd told her.
"When I fought them, they were pulling on my power, drawing their own from it. I was simply using enough to overwhelm them."
Jak frowned faintly, looking up and off. "Now that you mention it… yeah, I felt the same thing when I was using my dark powers."
The hooded figure nodded faintly.
Sig leaned back. "So what's your story, fella?" He was looking at Frost. "You just came out of the wild blue, it seems like."
It seemed the Metal-Head leader was considering his response as Seem glanced at Sig anxiously. She wasn't sure how this would go.
Frost finally looked up with a slow exhale of his unnatural voice. "I was never in the Wasteland before the assault on the Haven City Metal-Head nest."
Jak looked at him. "So have you been in control since before the attack?"
Seem's expression fractured with saddened shock, and Keira and Ashelin both noticed it, giving each other a curious glance.
Frost's jaw clenched, and everyone tensed as energy startled crackling over his arms. He slowly breathed, his body shivering, and the energy slowed, vanishing. "…No… I was not controlling them during that battle…"
Seem looked at him directly, and only he could see her face clearly. His glowing eyes focused on her, and he winced at the pleading look on her face. Strangely, his own pain at being thought of as the mind behind the force that killed so many good guards vanished as he saw her sympathy for him. She was almost in as much pain for him. He looked down, calmed, closed his eyes, and spoke. "I do not know how you will react to this…" he trailed off, and reached up, pulling his hood back, revealing his head.
Seem was abruptly surprised, and the others weren't quite sure what to make of it. Indeed, he seemed like a humanoid Metal-Head, only with black skin. Keira, however, changed from uncertainty to growing shock. "W-wait… your face…" Her face exploded with joy, relief, and disbelief. "Frost?"
"What?" Ashelin and Jak both blurted out at once, focusing on Keira, and then Frost, who was looking at her in sincere astonishment himself.
"Y-you… recognize me?" Frost managed, his expression adorably bewildered.
Seem bowed her head with a relieved smile, even if it was only Keira who reacted so well.
"It is you! Frost!" Keira shot out of her chair, running around the table, tears already in her eyes.
Seem winced, looking up, and Frost leapt back, knocking his own chair away as he raised his hands. "W-wait, wait! Keira stop!"
The woman did, but was a bit hurt, unsure why he'd asked her to not come closer, embrace him. And why had he not revealed himself before?
"I… I can't always control the energy, Keira… I don't want to hurt you just for wanting to be kind to me…" Frost explained painfully, guilt and sorrow melting his expression and lowering his arms.
Ashelin, now that she was seeing his emotions and reactions, slowly stood up, sliding her chair back. "I… don't believe it…"
Keira's pain was gone before she even thought about it further, replaced with deep empathy. "Oh Frost… But… why didn't you tell us you were alive?"
Frost bowed his head. "It was safer for everyone if I was believed to be dead. I could take the Metal-Heads out of everyone's way, learn better how to control the energy in my body, and no one would have to worry about me. I wanted to stay a secret, but…"
"Frost… you're my friend…" Keira trailed off sadly, her gentle voice powerful with emotion.
His glowing eyes focused back on her own. "I am very sorry for deceiving you, but I thought it was for the best…"
"You must have been so lonely…"
Seem finally stood up, and came nearer to Frost. He glanced at her from Keira, caught between them, and Seem gently put a hand on his shoulder.
"S-Seem…" his far hand came up, trying to stop her, but she shook her head gently.
"You can control it. Let her embrace her friend."
His frame sank sadly, but he lowered his hand, and nodded. Knowing she was doing the right thing, Seem smiled gently out to Keira, and extended her other hand. "Come, Keira. He will not let himself harm you."
"I don't want to force him…" Keira said anxiously.
"You are not."
Keira looked at Frost, and only saw the kind man who had sympathized with her in the cargo bay, been willing to sacrifice himself for everyone. "Frost!" She ran forward, and grabbed him in a hug.
He flared with surprise, Seem backing away, and then let his head fall onto Keira's shoulder, his claws coming up, and just resting on the top of her back. She didn't even seem to notice his hardened carapace or the damaged armor as she embraced him.
"I thought you were dead," she whispered tightly, tears dripping down her face.
"So did I," he strained back, tears just starting to drip down his own face. But they were crackling with energy.
Frost eased back, trying to push her away. She went back with his gesture, blinking, and saw the energy crackling across his face. Keira let him pull a few steps away, hiding his face with his hands as he tried to calm the energy down. Keira only seemed to grow in sympathy, she and Seem looking at him in remarkably similar manners.
Jak and Sig were finally on their feet, Jak beginning to feel guilty for his questions. They watched Frost slowly pull his hands down, and nod to Keira.
"Thank you for your kindness, Keira…"
Jak came around the table, Ashelin finally coming closer as well.
"You're the one… you led them out of the city…" Jak muttered seriously, looking at his friend with his own kind of sympathy.
Frost slowly nodded. "Yes… I knew I could control them, so I thought it best to just get them away from everyone."
Ashelin eased closer, tilting her head down to the side. "Did you really think we'd turn on you?"
"I wasn't sure I wouldn't deserve it at first, Governor." His body actually stiffened, going into a military style pose as he returned more to his old self. "I could barely control the energy at all."
Jak sighed, shaking his head. "So you were just watching out for everybody again?"
Frost glanced down with a dry laugh. "I'm not sure if it was all that noble, but it was definitely part of my thinking. I knew I was a danger… still am."
"You're one of us," Ashelin said firmly.
Seem eased back, smiling gently as she watched them interact. Frost already seemed much more at ease, more peaceful than before.
Frost gave the governor a surprisingly gentle smile. Keira wondered if he'd not become even more kind-hearted since she'd last seen him. For all his power and darkness, he came off so… humbly.
Ashelin smirked at last. "So… think we can talk you into a full alliance with Spargus and Haven?"
Frost laughed. "I'm just a commander in the Haven City guard, Governor."
She shook her head. "Not anymore, Frost. You've made the Metal-Heads our allies. You really are their leader. So let me ask you, again, as equals." She offered her hand confidently. "We need your help."
He took a moment to focus, but then reached out, taking her hand in his with a solid shake. "You will always have it."
Keira giggled, and Jak smiled easily.
"Never thought I'd see the day…" Sig muttered.
Seem just smiled to herself, closing her eyes for a moment of gratitude. Now, maybe, Frost could really start healing. When she opened them, however, she saw him looking over at her, the gentlest, deepest gratitude in his own. She was affected deeply herself, her expression turning soft and surprised, but he was forced to focus back on the others as they asked him something.
A weight on her shoulder made the monk turn around, looking up into Sig's organic eye. He half-smiled gently. "He opened up to you almost from the start, didn't he?"
Her mouth opened, and Seem wasn't sure why her cheeks were getting so warm.
Sig grinned, almost in a fatherly manner. "Don't worry about it." Then he turned serious, "But there's something about this whole mess we need to discuss."
Seem was curious, but he just came closer to the others, clearing his throat. They all focused on him, including Frost, who, now that he realized he was rather like Jak, seemed like quite a nice, polite young man… with a strange body. Sig explained, "Since we know they hit this place to get at Seem so they'd have something over Frost here, I think we should bring both of you back to Spargus."
Jak nodded. "I agree. This place is vulnerable, and we can defend Spargus better from a larger assault."
Frost winced. "I would be afraid to stay in a city too long, King Sig… I can control my powers for periods of time, but it wears me down quickly."
"That's a chance we'll take, Frost," Sig replied frankly. "And your Metal-Heads can help guard Spargus."
Though worried, Frost nodded. Seem however, came around. "But my place is here. I can not abandon my duties, my lord…"
"You're the biggest asset we have against the Darken until the Precursors get here anyway, Seem. Just think about it as a temporary vacation from the temple."
She looked down, but knew he was right. She finally nodded. "Of course…"
Ashelin clapped her hands together. "Then we better get going. There's no time to lose."
Sig looked to Frost. "Can you transport Seem and yourself with us? We're low on space."
The Metal-Head leader actually smirked a bit. "If she wishes, I can get her there quite well."
Seem smiled gently back at him, tipping her head. Addressing the whole group, she said, "I must go explain my departure and leave some instructions for the other monks. I will meet you outside the main passage."
They agreed, and Frost watched her leave softly, the door shutting her from view at last. Keira smiled as she looked at him, and he finally noticed, blinking at her. The mechanic giggled. "You're pretty cute when you're staring at her like that, Frost."
He would have blushed, but had to leap back, startling everyone as energy burst of his hands. He slowly closed his fists, and managed an apologetic smile at Keira, who was blushing.
"Sorry…" they meekly said to each other in unison.
Then they both laughed, the others managing to relax into mild laughter themselves.
"It's tied to your emotions?" Keira checked more calmly, her eyes completely sincere and open as she looked at him, not disgusted or pitying.
Frost nodded. "Especially… certain ones."
She couldn't help but giggle gently again. "Sorry. I won't tease you then. I know how awful you'd feel if someone was even injured a little."
He smiled sincerely back. "I appreciate it. …And I am sorry for making you think I was dead when I wasn't…" he looked down.
Keira wanted to hug him again, but kept herself where she was, just smiling. "I understand why you did it. I'm just so glad to see you again."
"I missed you, too."
Her smile brightened.
Jak leaned over, and 'accidentally' put his arm over her shoulders, giving Frost a dry stare. Keira blushed, but was giggling.
"You wouldn't be moving in on my girlfriend, would you, Frost?" Jak continued in the mood of his 'glare'.
Frost sincerely laughed. "Don't worry. I'm not competition with a genuine hero."
Ashelin actually swatted up him upside the head. It startled him, but he was actually more concerned when she shook her hand from the sting of his armor, Keira holding her hands to her mouth in light sympathy, Jak just cringing a bit.
"G-Governor, are you o—!"
"I'm fine! But don't go on like that. You're one of Haven City's heroes, and we'll be glad to welcome you back after this mess," she explained sincerely, smiling at him.
He relaxed again. "As you wish."
Ashelin nodded in over-important acceptance, smirking, and then Frost looked back to Keira with his gentle smile. "Congratulations, Keira."
She blinked, but then blushed, smiling happily. "Thanks, Frost."
Frost leaned toward Jak, actually showing some dry humor himself. "Of course, you better make her feel like a goddess, or I may have to take certain steps…"
Jak was blushing this time, but they all laughed.
(Later…)
Seem stood at the end of the leaper-lizard stable, whispering gently to her favored ride, her old friend. Siluna, her young apprentice, was standing by quietly, watching Seem bid the creature a temporary farewell. At last, the elder monk came up to Siluna, and they shared a bow, their hands gesturing.
"Be safe, Siluna. Please look after Sandwind for me. Should anything happen to me, I am entrusting him to you," Seem explained seriously, but there was a sincere fondness in her eyes.
Siluna was stunned, but nodded. "I pray that will not be so, my lady, but I will do all I can in your absence."
Seem smiled. "You show great promise, Siluna. Please, trust me when I say that you can stand without me. You have demonstrated great strength and discipline, especially during these recent difficulties. Do what you know to be right."
Siluna was blushing, her eyes growing wider until her mentor finished. "M-my lady…"
"Be safe," Seem repeated gently, tipping her head, and then started out of the stable.
"And you, my lady…" Siluna breathed, watching her go.
Just a few minutes later, Seem was walking out to the join the others near the Dune Hopper and desert Zoomer. Frost was with them, but he stood at a mildly greater distance. He looked almost jovial compared to his usual troubled, disciplined state, and it allowed Seem to smile gently herself as she joined them. "I am ready."
Sig nodded. "Then we'll escort you to Spargus. Or should we say the Metal-Heads are escorting us?"
Frost chuckled faintly. "How about allies making a coordinated change of location?"
Sig, Ashelin, and Jak shared the joke more than Seem and Keira, but it lightened the mood further. Jak and Keira hurried to the Zoomer, Sig and Ashelin the Dune Hopper, and Frost called down a Metalpede. After it arrived, Frost politely helped Seem climb up onto the creature's back. "We'll trade to a dune-runner once we're nearer them," he explained as they settled, and the large Metal-Head crawled along the wall after the Dune Hopper and Zoomer.
Seem simply nodded, sitting just behind him on the silver-blue creature's back. She couldn't help noticing the same gentle fear in Frost's eyes when he looked at her… and she still found it hauntingly comforting. She looked down at her armor with concern. Then her face firmed. The very world was at risk, she could not let her mind wander to trivial matters. She would have time to properly consider her inner conflict after they had dealt with the Darken… or she wouldn't have to worry about it anyway.
At the bottom of the mountain, Frost helped her climb up from the Metalpede and onto the dune-runner. Sig started leaping to and from the islands back to the mainland, and the Zoomer loomed above, waiting. Once the massive beast set off, leaping the gap with a thunderous rush, Frost and Seem securely held to its shoulders beneath the cannon, the rest of the Metal-Head army on the mountain started to flow down, some swimming through the water. One of the ape-type Metal-Heads was carrying Frost's warped rifle before it dove down into the water itself
"Would you have preferred to go with someone else?"
Seem blinked, staring at Frost on her left with surprise. "W-what?"
He looked at her kindly, but she saw a type of pain behind his glowing eyes. "You seem a bit tense. I thought you might have preferred to go with Sig or Keira."
The monk shook her head. "No, I am perfectly grateful for your help in returning to Spargus. I apologize if I have…" she trailed off as he shook his head gently.
"Perhaps I was mistaken, but you were doing nothing wrong," he said simply, and focused ahead.
Seem glanced down, her expression softening sadly. He's trying to help me push him away… Makers, I do not know what to do…
(Elsewhere…)
Far away from Seem's turmoil, on the cliffs near the coast, Maia was leaning on a rock by one leg, Jalnoth perched off to her right. Her eyes glowing eyes were not focused on Frost, however. She was gazing sharply at the Zoomer above the moving mass of beasts and their comrades. "So the hero has the usual weakness… I have a simple plan, Jalnoth. We let them get back to their city, let things quiet down, and then we strike."
Jalnoth shifted faintly, his tail lashing like a cat. "To what end? They will have an army with them, of the sand people and metal animals. Why not strike now, for that much risk?"
Maia smirked. "Because only you and I will be going into the city. You will take Jak's little beloved hostage. In his distraction, I will kill him. If he gets past me, you kill them both."
"Very well." He flowed back over the rocks, soon gone from sight.
The darkened woman lowered her head, her eyes narrowing down at Frost and Seem, and then back to the Zoomer, her mind picturing Jak and his unfortunate choice of girlfriend. "Samos' daughter, isn't she…?" Maia pondered aloud, her mood turning darker by the second. "I may be trapped, Jak… but I will make you suffer before my own end."
Her fist crackled with power, and she rushed out of view herself.
(Author's Note)
These previous two chapters are, as you may notice, a sort of 'calm before the storm' in the story, with the Darken still approaching. I'm doing my best to be both swift and not sacrifice quality, but as I've said, please forgive any bigger pauses between chapters. As planned, the story will end with chapter 13 (14 by count).
Though it lacks action, I hope this chapter was entertaining. Character-interaction is really my favorite part of writing (battles are a bonus), which is why I do spend so much time on it. I apologize if these are boring for you, but don't worry, the next chapter will have some action.
Again, thank you for all the glowing reviews, and I'm glad the last chapter was still enjoyable, if lacking in explosions (chuckle). I hope you found this one enjoyable, too. Critiques and reviews always welcome. Thank you for reading this far.
