Hot Wheels Battle Force 5: Ophelia's Reach
Chapter 1
"Do you think you can change back now?" he asked.
"Yeah," the mermaid looked at him with an eager smile on her face. Zoom waited in the corner as Silver closed her eyes with her hands over the pendant lodged between her collar bones. A minute of silence passed. It started to feel awkward. Zoom watched her, confused. Finally, Silver opened her eyes.
"I… can't." she stammered.
"What do you mean?" the scout came up to her.
"I'm concentrating but nothing's happening," a scared look crossed her face. "I can't feel my mother's magic..."
"Hold on, mother?" Zoom tried to make eye contact, but Silver seemed too anxious to focus. Her breathing audibly quickened.
"I can't be stuck like this…" she said, panicked. "the moon's magic grants me transformation… it's supposed to come from my pendant..." She nervously fiddled with the little circle at the base of her neck. "but it's not working any more…"
"Do you know how to fix it?" he asked.
"No," exasperated, she flopped her hands out to her sides and slapped the water. "no Zoom, I don't know how to fix it."
"I'll get Sage," the scout rushed to the door. "hold on."
I doubt she'll know what to do… Silver submerged, concentrating on the silence while trying to slow her breathing. Now was not the time to panic. She needed to problem solve. The door opened again as Zoom returned, followed by Sage… and the rest of the team. They all filled the room very quickly. Silver resurfaced hesitantly as Sage went directly to the monitor.
"I'll check your body systems and make sure things are functioning correctly." The sentient said. "The favian body and genetic makeup is almost identical to that of a human, but this 'mermaid' form is entirely unknown to me. Give me a minute. I'll recall the data I found earlier on the oceanic organisms of earth you seem related to." Silver looked around at the team crowded in front of the tank.
"Sorry," the scout chuckled nervously. "didn't mean to bring a whole welcoming party."
"Hey," Spinner exclaimed, a teasing tone in his voice. "looks like the little mermaid finally woke up! Did our prince show you the magic of true love's kiss?" Zoom shot him an angry glare. Shut up, Spinner, he mouthed. Silver made a face at the Cortez, ignoring the scout's reaction.
"There is no such magic," She stated flatly.
"He has his fairytales mixed up anyway," Sherman rolled his eyes and whacked Spinner on the back of his head. "that's from Sleeping Beauty, bonehead."
"I didn't take you for the Disney type, Sherman." Vert commented. The big guy sheepishly shrugged. "Silver, you look better," The blonde smiled.
"The tunes I played for her must've helped." Stanford puffed his chest proudly and leaned back against the wall.
"What tunes?" the guardian asked.
"Stanford had some beats going on his boombox yesterday while you were out," Zoom said and glanced at the brit, annoyed. "He started playing metal and I made him change it."
"It seemed her style," the brit shrugged. "but Tibetan bowl sounds wasn't a terrible idea." Silver made a face of: I have no idea what either of those are.
"We're all glad to see you up again," Agura chimed in. "how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine," Silver mumbled, swimming up to her uneasily. "but… I can't seem to transform back." Sage tapped around her computer rapidly, bringing up scans and charts of the mermaid, even some readings of her blood type and DNA.
"I didn't find anything out of the ordinary, but I have never analyzed a favian before," Sage faced her. "and as you have probably guessed, I don't know how the transformation works. Perhaps if you explained the magic, we can find a solution."
The guardian rubbed her forehead, thinking. "When I found as a baby, the Order said that I was holding this," she fingered the round, smooth stone at the base of her neck. "this is what lets me transform. They didn't know what it was but the woman who found me made it into a necklace. I didn't even learn that it had magic until I was about sixteen… I really don't know much about it and didn't tell anyone. Only one person in the Order found out that I could transform from it."
"Did that person tell you anything about it?" Vert asked. "Anything about its powers?"
"No," she looked down and stammered as she continued. "he didn't… didn't take a close look at it. No one did. All we could assume is that it was the moon's magic, my mother's. I don't know how to explain it other than it just feels like it, it must be her... somehow her magic is fused within it."
Zoom tilted his head. "I mean, it doesn't look like much. Just a little black rock."
"Right," Silver said. "it's incredible. For being a talisman with magic from a parent, it masks its power extremely well. Normally magic of that caliber can be felt from great distances."
"Um, I don't feel anything when you use your magic," Spinner interjected, awkwardly raising his hand a little. "are we supposed to?"
"Really?" Silver looked at him surprised. "Like, you don't feel anything?" Spinner shook his head.
"I don't either," Sherman commented. Everyone else shook their heads, sharing the same information.
"Maybe it's only sensed by Favians," Sage speculated.
"I guess so," the guardian said, pushing a lock of wet hair out of her face. "That would actually explain a couple of your reactions to some things…"
"How do you use it?" Sage's voice floated as she asked.
"I normally focus on it, try to pull its hidden energy and invite it into my body," Silver closed her eyes, trying once more to find a flicker of magic. "sometimes it's like she's whispering to me from it… but then I just feel like I'm imagining things…"
"Does she speak to you?" the sentient asked wonderingly.
"No," Silver looked disheartened. "apparently oracles could talk with her, but I've only felt her presence a couple of times…"
"So why can't you transform this time?" Sherman asked. "You were able to back on Vandal, what's changed since then?" Stanford muttered something under his breath and frowned.
"I can't feel anything in it…" she said quietly. "and I don't know what that means…"
"Maybe you just need to go back to where you transformed?" Zoom suggested.
"We are NOT going back." Stanford immediately jumped. "Can't we find an ocean here? A little beach party on the coast?"
"I don't want to go back either," the girl agreed with an exhausted expression. "I've had enough of that planet."
"Thank you," Stanford let out a forceful breath.
"But being in an ocean again might not be a bad idea," Silver remarked. "magic works best in natural environments."
"Is that why your civilization was so… organically built?" Sage asked cautiously. Silver looked at her, a glint of sadness in her glowing eyes.
"Yeah…" she replied. "it let us use magic for everyday things."
"Well," Agura tilted her head and looked at Vert. "going to the ocean is a start. Then maybe we can also get some real R and R… don't you think?"
Vert looked hesitant. "We need to be here, ready for something Krytus might try to pull."
Everyone let out a slight groan.
"Speaking of," Silver interjected. "did the data log have any useful info on him?"
"No," Vert said. "but it did have a record of blue sentient names and faces. We think they are in stasis, but we don't know where."
"Ok," she nodded, not sure how to react. "I'm sure you guys will find them eventually."
Agura brought the conversation back. "Just one day at the beach wouldn't hurt," her eyes pleaded with the blonde. "and Sage can remotely modify a key and we would be back and kicking red sentient butt like usual."
"Yeah Vert," Spinner chided. "just imagine the sun, the surf, the sand between your toes, cold drinks… bikini babes? Maybe you'll wear one, Agura?"
Agura arched an eyebrow of disapproval and Vert coughed into his fist uncomfortably.
"Chill, I was just messing." Spinner laughed. Sherman put a hand on his little brother's shoulder and made eye contact. Spinner seemed to receive a silent message and put his hands up in surrender. "Sorry. Sheesh."
Everyone knew Agura didn't do bikinis. She barely wore shorts, and never crop tops.
"If we go," Vert looked around at his team. "we go at night and keep things on the 'DL' so we don't attract attention to Silver. We don't know what the public would do if they saw her."
"Maybe she can perform at kids' birthday parties," Stanford chuckled. The guardian looked unamused.
"Sage," Vert turned to the blue sentient. "what do you think?"
"Very well, if Silver thinks this can help then I support your decision. I will remain here and contact you in case of storm shock or emergency."
"We won't be gone too long," Vert nodded. "we leave in 5 hours for Cali, guys. I suggest you get some sleep."
"Sweet!" Zoom pumped a fist, but Stanford looked displeased.
The brit looked disappointed. "Again, there's no sun." Everyone ignored it and filtered out the room, leaving Zoom and Sage with the mermaid.
"Is there anything you need?" Sage asked kindly. "I'm sorry I cannot be of further help... but I cannot thank you enough for your help retrieving the data log."
"Thank you," Silver returned a small smile. "actually, if someone could get my bag that's in the bedroom, I'd appreciate it."
"I got it." Zoom stepped out and then it was just sentient and favian.
It was quiet for a moment, then the guardian looked over at her with a serious expression. "I just want you to know that I haven't forgiven your people for what they did to me… to my home… I don't know if I ever will. But I guess the universe played it out fairly and now we're both stuck…" The sentient kept silent. Silver continued. "You might be right that fate brought us together – my honest thoughts are that you're the better twin. Your brother is ruthless and needs to be stopped. If he gets the chance, he'll turn the multiverse red and wipe out everything. But you," the guardian tilted her head, trying to peer into Sage's mind. "I feel you want peace… balance… but does that include Faven?" The blue looked up, about to speak, then Zoom walked in.
"Got your bag," he held it out, then felt the breathless tense communication between the two and stopped. "oh… sorry – did I interrupt something?" Silver took the satchel from him.
"No," she replied. "we were just chatting."
"Thank you, Zoom," Sage took her leave.
"What did you say to her?" Zoom asked, watching Silver rummage through the burlap. The mermaid pulled out what she had been looking for: a perfectly shaped, firm grey orb about the size of her palm. She dropped her bag to the floor.
"I didn't threaten her if that's what you're wondering," she responded and then took a bite out of the thing as if it were an apple. The inside oozed a red goo which she proceeded to sip like a coconut drink. Zoom made an apprehensive face. Silver grinned and held it out to him. "Want to try some?"
"No thanks," he held his hands up in objection. "I'd rather live." Silver smiled and took a large loud slurp of it. The scout's tongue slipped out of his mouth in distaste. "What is that?"
"It's a pip," she said between sips. "it's part of the root of a plant back on Faven."
"Not gonna to lie," Zoom seemed to shudder a little. "that looks like something out of an alien movie. Nasty." Silver kind of giggled into her drink as she finished the last of it and then ate the shell.
"Maybe I can get Spinner to try some," she said.
"Uh," Zoom looked doubtful. "good luck with that. He'll think eggs will grow in his brain."
"You people have very strange ideas of aliens," Silver remarked, rolling her eyes. "aren't you going to get some sleep now?"
"I don't know," he shrugged and pulled the chair up to the tank. "will you?"
"I've been asleep long enough," Silver sighed and rested her chin on her arms at the tank edge. "I think I'll just wait this one out."
"Ok."
Silence settled in as they looked at each other and Zoom started to feel confident enough to ask about her past.
"What was is like growing up? Were there other kids training with you?"
Silver took a moment before responding. "Yes, each master had at least one apprentice that they would take in as one of their family. I was friends with some of them, but I didn't see them too often."
"Who was your master?"
Again, the guardian took a long pause before saying anything. Zoom wondered why she was so selective in her answers.
"I was apprenticed to master Arena. She's taught me how to use water magic."
"But you were taught by all the masters?"
"Correct. They gave me lessons on mathematics, history, scripting, current events, everything you can imagine for making decisions when it came to making peace between the light and dark domains."
Zoom leaned forward with curiosity. "What's the dark domain?"
"Favians born with the mark of the Beast are in the dark domain. The dark domain is just like the light with the sun and moon parents and all the same branches underneath them. The difference is that they are rumored to serve an unknown master that whispers to them in dreams. Most of them wander aimlessly, practice forbidden arts, deal in the underground market, your typical evil cult stuff..."
"You were expected to make peace between the light and dark," Zoom reiterated, thinking through it. "how exactly?"
Silver sighed and blew some bubbles in the water like a kid. "I don't know… I doubt it was even possible. I started to believe that it was some sort of fake destiny assigned to the title of 'Guardian.' I guess now I'll never know…" she drifted off and it was quiet again.
Zoom wanted to ask more but was afraid it would upset her. She's been through a lot – he contemplated – lost everything... the scout studied her as she zoned out in thought. She looked around eighteen but the way she acted sometimes suggested she was a little older. Zoom tried to remember how long ago it was that they first met and then added on the year that she had been stuck in Tors Ten's test facility…
"What about you?" Silver suddenly piped up. "You have a different fighting style than the others, you must have learned it from somewhere."
Zoom was surprised. Unless it had something to do with Krytus or Spinner's outbursts, she never asked anything about anyone.
"I also had a master," He started. "but instead of magic, he trained me in martial arts. I learned the ways of the Order of the Flying Fists. It's old school stuff but it was good for my mind and body."
"When was that? Do you still train?"
"Master Takeyasu found me when I was little and took me in. He's a great teacher, but over time I just wanted more than meditating. I wanted to see the world, so I left… and ended up here with the team."
Silver thoughtfully tilted her head. "He must be proud."
"I wouldn't say that exactly," Zoom mumbled. "I left without permission... Zen – we used to train together – tried to bring me back once, but I have a bigger responsibility here. If I don't do something, Sark, Vandals, and now the reds will invade earth and then there for sure won't be a compound to return to… not that I'd even want to."
"You don't miss your old home?"
Zoom laughed, "No. All we did was meditate and eat rice. Not exactly a thrilling lifestyle."
"What's rice?"
"A white tasteless grain."
"Oh. Well that's disappointing."
"Yeahhhhh." He nodded his head vigorously. Silver laughed at the exaggeration, then the room was quiet again.
It wasn't awkward. The two were actually comfortable without words being exchanged. Silver closed her eyes and rested her head on her folded arms with a contented breath and Zoom leaned back and spaced out while gazing into the water, watching her dark tail gently glided back and forth. Their thoughts drifted about the room in little wisps. Unknown to them, their minds converged on the shared memory of their mission back on Vandal. They were in the back of the mobi…
Silver's mind quickly closed the thought. She shook her head and looked at the scout. His eyes met hers.
"What?" he asked with a small, questioning grin. Silver dropped her arms from the tank's edge and leaned back a little, her long black hair swirling around her in the water.
"Oh, nothing." she responded as her glowing eyes shifted away. The guardian suddenly felt a desire to hide but seeing as her tank was completely transparent that was impossible. She looked down and sank into the back corner instead. Zoom wasn't convinced and stood up to lean over the glass, watching her image ripple with the water.
"Are you sure?" he asked softly, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," her airy voice said without looking up.
"Something about Faven?"
Silver didn't move or speak.
"you don't have to talk about it, but I'm always here to listen." The scout gently reassured her. She nodded and her hair swished about her head with the movement.
"I'm going to go catch some 'Z's," he scooted the chair back in the corner. "will you be good?"
Silver couldn't speak, as if something was holding her mouth shut. There was a tightness in her chest, and a feeling of dead weight on her shoulders.
"Sil?"
"I'm fine." She snapped. Zoom stepped back, startled.
"Did I say something?" the scout looked at her, confused.
"No, you're fine," Silver turned so her back was to him. "I'll see you later. Get some rest."
Zoom took one last look at the mermaid before walking out. While heading to his room, he reviewed their conversation – specifically what he said. What is her deal… he thought while going through the last couple sentences once more. Agura passed the scout in the hall and noticed his thoughtful expression.
"How's our girl doing?" she asked, figuring something had happened. "Did she shut down again?"
Zoom shrugged. "She's gonna stay awake until we leave. I'm going to bed for a bit."
"So she shut down." Agura repeated.
"Yeah I guess so…" Zoom sighed, rubbing his neck in frustration. "we were talking, and everything was fine… then she just got really quiet – and then snappy for nothing."
Agura put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry," she smiled encouragingly. "I'm sure she's not upset with you. She probably just had a triggering memory from her past… you know how she gets. You just have to give her time."
"Thanks," Zoom smiled gratefully. "I'll see you later."
In his room, Zoom sprawled out on his bed and tried to quiet his mind to sleep, but he didn't like how things were left. He wanted to go back and resolve the tension. Zoom had to remind himself that she had been alone for so long, communication must be a bit of a challenge for her. Agura is right, he thought, I bet she just needs space... should I apologize though? I don't even know what happened… Zoom's eyes closed, and he drifted off to sleep.
Author's note: Hello my wonderful readers! I have worked long and hard at portraying my thoughts and vision through words and I finally felt confident enough to release the first chapter. There is much more to come, but I hope you enjoy this beginning! Thank you for waiting so patiently.