And so, it begins, the Elementals...Minx...and Aereon. Enjoy.
The Priming Time
The sound waves jutted through the air like a vibration of wind. The Council was meeting on a blazing day in the center of the Elemental home planet. The commotion was unusual for the serene creatures, but this didn't surprise the 5 Journeys that sat at the head of the golden hall.
"We will have order in this sanctuary!" Bara said sternly, her energy hitting each in the heart and flowing around the circular room. The women and men of the Council quieted, and soon the 5 Journeys looked out among their council, then at the wind elemental that stood patiently before them, her expression mirroring their own.
Bara looked to Aereon, "What news have you brought of the Necromongers?" She asked the elemental clad in white, "Is our home safe from their greed?"
"Almost. They haven't been completely tamed." Aereon looked at her with indifference in her eyes, "With the fierce Necro-warrior Vaako still alive there is still a chance of an uprising. It is a slim chance, but there is still a chance."
"And what is your solution to this uprising?" Another Journey asked her.
She took a breath, "I have none. Only what our calculations have already told us." Aereon paused to look at each of the 5 Journeys, then she spoke slowly, "We must raise the new Elemental, bring her to the Furyan Riddick, and then let fate take its course."
A murmuring roar rose up amongst the council behind her as they whispered about the Furyan. Then Bara looked behind Aereon at someone in the crowd, Bara nodded in acknowledgement, "Fellow Elemental what say you?"
Aereon turned to look at who was about to speak; she saw it was a man clad in deep blue, telling her that he was a water elemental. His age was undecipherable as he stood tall and strong, his eyes latching on to her very skin, "How can you let a girl whose a half blood and a barbaric man who is a serial killer hold our fate?" He was forced to pause as the crowd voiced their scattered agreement.
Aereon looked at him with a patience that made him rave on, "She hasn't even been razed among us, how do you know that this girl won't betray us?" He heatedly questioned.
She took a breath, and shook her head, "That girl is our last hope with this Furyan, she hasn't been blinded by our ways, and I believe she has strength from not only her Elemental blood…but from the other places she has been." She paused to give him a small smile, "Plus, she is my granddaughter. That should ease any doubts you have."
Some of the council gave a short chuckle of amusement, but Bara's voice silenced their laughter, "This Court is now closed until the next sunrise. The Council is adjourned all except the 5 Journeys and the ambassador Aereon."
The tension was released in a flood of air as the Council stood from their seats and began to shuffle out of the circular hall of marble and gold. The light was almost blinding within the immense room, due to the sun and the calculating minds of the elementals leaving the hall.
She ventured forwards and followed the 5 Journeys through a set of double doors. Two attendants closed the doors behind her as she watched the 5 Journeys seat themselves in the semi-lavish room. It was the private office of Bara, the head of the 5 Journeys, its walls were white marble which had some wisps of black, the chairs were woven with plush cushions, and the indoor plants never seemed to be anything lesser than emerald green.
This setting seemed to give Bara more of a presence and strength than out in the Grand Hall, "So, now that the big ears of the Council have been dismissed tell us more of the plan." Bara requested smoothly, her cunning hazel eyes reflected an unknown source of light.
Aereon took a seat next to the youngest Journey and took a moment to smooth out her dress, she was aware of Bara's gaze so she continued smoothing out her dress in defiance, "Well, there isn't much more to tell. Trusting the new Elemental and Riddick are our only answer."
"The task they have to perform is a little more than impossible." Mensa exclaimed, she was the youngest Journey, "Wouldn't it be wiser to send our best elemental ambassador instead of a learner half blood?"
Aereon felt herself smile, but she didn't get a chance to answer Mensa's question, "From what Aereon has told us Mensa, this new Elemental might have a little more influence on Riddick. Isn't that so Aereon?"
She nodded with a slight sigh, "Yes, Minx has a history with Riddick. From her dreams and nightmares I have learned she loves him. I've also learned they share a young girl named Jack."
At this the rest of the Journeys sat up in their chairs, they were no longer calm, they looked almost panic stricken, this was slightly amusing, "You mean a daughter?"
"No, not a daughter thank heavens, we have enough trouble as it is." Aereon said quickly, then stood to slowly walk over to the window, then she picked up her dragging dress and walked to the other side of the room, suddenly feeling restless for the Journeys decision, "Riddick is the most able Furyan, the Alpha Furyan; which means he is strong, fierce, and defiant. Not to mention stubborn."
"If anyone can get under Riddick's skin, it's her." Aereon said vacantly.
"How do you know for sure?" Bara asked, "Furyans are unpredictable when it comes to affection."
Aereon smirked, "I mentioned her once to him and that was all it took." She drew a breath and looked at Mensa, "Once I tell her about her past, then with some molding and training I believe that Minx can handle the task that is before her."
Bara gave her a slightly sour glance, "I hope so Aereon. This girl could mean the death of our race."
"Don't be so cynical and fierce Bara, people might think you are more Furyan than Elemental." She told the hazel-eyed leader, then looked to the rest of the 5 Journeys, "I'll go see Minx now. She still has a day left of Priming Time."
She bowed her head to the guard that stood at the mouth of the tunnel. The guard returned her nod and stepped in front of her; the guard wrapped both hands around the gold handle and pulled back. The door glided open as the guard kept pulling. The door itself was as thick as a normal adult human, maybe thicker, definitely heavier.
Once inside, the windows showing the glowing three sons began to become less and less until they disappeared. As Aereon walked down the sloping hallway, she felt her skirts brush the dirt path and her feet touch the uneven surface.
Without thinking she shivered, she hated the dark. But her eyes were locked a head of her, at another door, where behind it Minx was kept. She put her hand to the metal pad-lock while slipping the gold key from around her neck. A small click filled the air around her then she instinctively walked foreword into more darkness.
Aereon drew a shaky breath, she hated this humane dungeon. The feeling was suffocating until the she spoke, "You've been here for five weeks."
"You know who I am. Why don't you just turn me in to the Mercs?" Minx openly asked, her voice was small and tired; Aereon could tell she was almost broken.
"You don't know who you really are Minx. How can you find out in a Slam prison?" Aereon reasoned, feeling like she was talking to Minx's mother.
"Just tell me what I'm doing here." Minx asked slowly, her voice heavy.
"This is your home and I'm your grandmother." Aereon turned to leave, but she felt the girl grip her shoulder. So, she is getting to sense it more than see it, Aereon mused to herself.
"No please! Just tell me the truth. Why am I here?" Minx asked quickly.
She took Minx's arm and led her back to the far wall, "One more day of darkness." She took a moment to back away, "I'll return then with answers."
Aereon closed the door on the girl, doing her best to ignore the sadness she felt from Minx. She hated to do this to her, it seemed almost wrong to do this to her own blood.
She headed back out of the tunnel, closing her eyes right before she stepped out into the blinding light of her planet.
Minx watched the door close, feeling a tear run down her cheek. She curled her fingers around her mother's locket. Sometimes she could still hear her mother's voice, but lately her mind was empty. The darkness around her was suffocating.
Her eyes drifted to the faint out line of the door, feeling a chill run down her spine. She didn't trust the woman that kept visiting her, all her life she was told that she didn't have any other family, and now she suddenly had a Grandmother?
Minx blindly curled her leg under and pressed her back into the earthen wall. By now she knew where things were, the only things in the room was a soft bed, dusty sheets, and one side table. The rest of the room was bare.
She put her chin on her raised knee, feeling her hair fall around her face. She tried not to breathe. She never knew whether it was night or day. She only felt emotions. Sometime she closed her eyes and slept, the next thing she knew she was dreaming of how she got to this planet.
A mist rose from the dark grey pavement, the days rain was filled with acid, filling her mouth with a heavy taste of chemicals. Minx walked along a sea of people much like herself; they were also faceless and clad in rubber suits. Their protective gear appeared slick and gleaming under the minimal lights of the lampposts above.
With every step her back flared in a dull ache, four years of hard labor wasn't the best way to earn a living. Under her mask she looked around to see the rest of the people that surrounded her, their movements much like her own, slow, tired, isolated, impersonal, almost like a set of criminal robots.
This was no slam, it was the freest planet known to criminals this side of the five systems, she knew she was lucky to survive here, but she could never take her chances of being recognized, this planet wasn't Merc proof. She watched the booted feet hobble by in uniform rows, every pair of boots looking like the last.
She counted the beats in her mind like she'd done so many times before. On the twelfth beat she found a break in the line and shoved her way into the alley that led to her meek home. She climbed the semi-steep stair way from the outside into the shelter of the dimly lit hall. Light bulbs hung low from wires that came out of the low-ceiling; she walked with her head slightly bowed to keep herself from hitting them.
She slipped the heavy left glove off of her hand and pressed it against the palm reader next to her door. She waited a moment and the door slipped open to reveal nothing but darkness. Not stopping to turn on the light she ripped off the suffocating mask and chucked it against the wall. With a muffled thud it rested against a broad hook and was soon out of her mind.
She inwardly sighed and removed her other glove then took to the task of taking off the heavy rubber cloak. The heavy rubber buckles were nothing more than hinges riveted to the front of a slab of rubber with armholes. It was strong but crude and necessary because in the last year the acid rain had become lethal, five minutes in the rain and a person was gone, no trace could ever be found.
Her filthy clothes that lied underneath the rubber were bone dry and covered in a thick layer of black dust. She dared not to put her hands to her sides until she bought the lights up to a dim glow. Cautiously she peeled away the work shirt and dropped it into the heavy bin; she'd deal with it later.
The moment she moved, her laser welder unhooked and dropped to the floor, cursing she bent to pick it up. With tired slowness she stood straight once again and felt the warm clammy metal fill her hand. There was a moment when she didn't move, and something new filled the room, a presence, it was then that she realized that she wasn't alone.
A slight spark of fear jolted her stomach then logic took over and she held her breath, waiting for the attack to come. She waited through long moments where she didn't move at all, she stood and listened, but heard nothing. Then finally she felt a strange sensation slip up her back, a hot energy that brought warmth to her face. Her muscles tensed in her arms as she slowly brought her arm down to her side to feel for the blade that rested at her hip.
She gripped it in her palm with the laser welder in her other hand. She felt herself squint as if to see something she couldn't, although there was nothing there. Then she heard it, a slight creak of the wooden floor behind her, then a gust of wind brushed against her skin, making her hair shift to the side of her face.
"There is no need for blades." Said a womanly voice, making Minx look around but again she saw nothing. The voice was followed by a long silence, during that time Minx listened intently; finally resigning it to finally loosing her mind, get a grip girl, She told herself.
Then another creak came from the floor behind her, only this time it was closer. Finally she had enough and spun around while kicking out her leg. As she turned she found a red-haired woman in purple robes drifting to the side to barely doge Minx's blow, "You're a quick one Minx. You almost got me."
Minx looked at her slightly puzzled, the woman knew who she was, yet she didn't look like a Merc. The red-haired woman smiled slightly, then a look of recognition became a mask over her craggy chiseled features, "You look so much like her." The red-haired woman stated quietly, confusing Minx farther.
The room seemed to be getting warmer as the woman took a moment to study Minx then wrap her hand around Minx's arm, a moment later she felt the pain, a dull ache that started at her arm and worked its way like liquid through the rest of her body. Minx gritted her teeth and swung her body away and jerked her arm up and out to loose her grip.
She watched her arm move to the side, make contact with the woman but then to her horror Minx's arm went right through her like it would air. Shocked Minx stepped back to try another kick, but just like before her leg went right through her as if she wasn't even there.
Soon the woman's hand wrapped around her arm and the pain started to build once again. After a moment the woman abruptly let go and the pain went away. Her breath, strangled in her lungs, didn't return until she looked into the black eyes of the woman that stood in front of her. "Why are you here?" Minx asked her, her breath leaving her in half gasps.
"I'm here to take you home." The woman replied.
Shaking Minx sat up quickly with her eyes wide, but all she saw was again semi-darkness. She held her head as it spun and felt light. There was nothing for her to do but lean against the wall and take it, wait for the spinning to stop, and ultimately wait for the time when she could get out of here.
The Next Morning…
Aereon looked out at the vast city, the warmth of the day was nothing to the people below her; they were used to such temperatures. She let her eyes stretch over the city towards the very edge, where a small raised piece of earth marked where Minx was kept.
She was just like her mother in so many ways; the boldness, the stubbornness, the beauty. She had the same dark hair, dark eyes, everything about her, so much that Aereon almost felt she never lost her daughter and grandchild.
She remembered the day she lost both of them. The day that Minx was taken from the safety of their planet:
"The marriage isn't legal. We can still save the child." Aereon told Bea. But the young woman continued packing.
"I love him mother. Nothing you say can convince me to stay on this blinding rock a moment longer!" Bea declared, "My daughter will be raised human, altered to be completely like her father. No elemental light shall shine from her skin. Do you understand me?"
"The oracle has told me of your fate if you leave." Aereon wrapped her arms around her daughter, "Please don't leave."
Bea pulled away from her mother's voice, defiance was in every line of her body as Aereon continued, "In trying to change this child, it will kill both you and your husband."
Bea turned away, "I don't want your lies."
"The absence of you and your husband in your daughter's life will turn her to a life of pain, dishonesty, and darkness." Aereon explained, "Do you want her to suffer?"
Bea nodded, "Then I will raise Avolene to be headstrong before Greg and I die."
Despaired Aereon shook her veiled head, "Her name, Avolene, the name you chose as a mother shall die with you. From 16 she'll be known only as Minx. By taking your daughter from this place you might as well start calling her Minx, daughter of the motherless children, and the Queen of a crime lord."
In her heart Bea feared the Oracle but instead she scooped up the dark haired baby girl and met Aereon's eyes, "I'll die for her not knowing any of this place, or of you."
Areon blinked and the memory was gone. It was nearly twenty years later, the baby girl had turned into a young-woman who'd seen too much darkness, too much pain and suffering. She'd lost her parents then some years later she lost her love, Deo, that cold-hearted crook.
A slight shift in wind told her someone was coming, a moment later Mensa called her name, "Aereon…is the child ready?"
Aereon closed her eyes and for once in a long time she felt the weight of fear fill her heart, "As ready as she'll ever be."
There is more for Minx to face than just Aereon. More to come. Thanks for checking this out, hope you leave a little review you know I love em. If not just keep reading.
Love + Strengh, Anne