Hot Wheels Battle Force 5: Ophelia's Reach

by mikelaanna

We continue where we left off in "Battle Ship 5" with Silver stuck in her mermaid form. Now it's up to the team to help her figure out her transformation, and maybe some of the troubled emotions as well. We learn more of Silver's past and what her planet is like as this story reveals more memories. The friendship between Zoom and this girl is just beginning, but maybe there's more?

8. Chapter 8

Hot Wheels Battle Force 5: Ophelia's Reach

Chapter 8

Osekaiya-Lenka, raced over the salt flats, feeding energy and excitement into its rider. The guardian couldn't help but smile with the thrill that comes with the danger of dying at a single wrong move. The ground flew beneath her feet as the rock face in the distance slowly grew bigger. The creatures she rode on Faven were fast, but not like this – this was precision and command that easily rivaled a lifeform. Granted, there was teamwork and a relationship built with a heesomate, but that left room for miscommunication. This was just her and her machine, working as an extension of her body.

Saber, Tangler, and Reverb caught up and Silver let off the throttle to ride even with them.

"So, how's she drive?" Vert looked over.

"Smoother than any creature back home – perfect control," Silver commented with a smile. "maybe even faster than Chopper,"

"Hah," Agura leaned back as they cruised. "don't let Zoom hear that,"

Silver laughed and leaned forward with the turn of her handle. Lenka accelerated faster than the others and it took them a moment to catch up again. Vert was always right on her tail though.

"Alright, love," Stanford's voice popped up in her helmet. "as the battle force noob, there are a couple things you need to know to work with us pros."

"What's that,"

He cleared his throat. "First, remaining calm is of the utmost importance. In battle, you need to think clearly, and problem solve quickly,"

"Uh – Stanford, I don't think this is necessary," Vert arched his eyebrow.

He continued anyway. "Second, you must prove yourself to be able to stand on your own,"

"She went up against Kyburi on her own," Agura remarked. "I think she'll be fine. What I'd like to know is what can Lenka do?"

Silver looked at her controls. "There's a button on my right… let see…"

The back end of the bike inched forward, closing the bottom half of the pod as the glass panels slid up, encasing her inside. The cockpit dropped in line with the wheels, and the holding cells lit up with little blue bars, matching Silver's eyes. A camera view popped up in her helmet. Lenka shot ahead, furiously kicking up dust. The team's eyes widened. Vert grinned and floored the gas pedal, catching up to her.

"Saber has always been the fastest," he boasted.

"If I practice and get stronger, it might not be for long – this speed is from my magic. I'm pushing the water in the cells and they're pushing Lenka, but I'm not sure for how long I can do it… it's tiring."

"Nice,"

Suddenly, the bike disappeared, and all Vert could see was the dust trail, and then even that disappeared. "Uh… Silver?"

"I'm still here," her voice gave away the smile she was wearing. Lenka re-appeared on the other side of Saber.

"Cloaking – nice," Vert grinned. "alright, let's loop back around and do some tests on the track. We'll take the main road – follow me,"

The two swooped around, came back to Tangler and Reverb, and headed back. Once they hit the pavement, Silver felt like she could breathe easier with the smoother ride. She switched to the open-air driving and the pod elevated again, opened, and the back extended once more. This is amazing… she thought.

Vert dropped his speed considerably. "For the roads, you gotta drive the speed limit,"

"Sheriff Johnson is all over the speedsters since there's nothing else going on around here," the huntress rolled her eyes.

"I once got a ticket for 'disturbing the peace'," Stanford grumbled. "there wasn't anyone around with 'peace' to disturb."

Vert chuckled. "Plus, they don't exactly give out licenses to aliens – so if you get pulled over, he'll have a reason to arrest someone for the first time in the past five years,"

"I don't really understand your road signs," Silver announced. "your numbers are in a different code – somehow, Sage's tech was able to translate my computer into favian code… I can read we're going around forty-five miles per hour, but I can't match it to the signs,"

"Blimey…" Stanford exclaimed. "maybe we should ask her to make a translator,"

"We might have to teach you basic reading…" Agura mused. "forty-five is normally the safe speed. Don't worry, we'll give you pointers if you're not sure of something,"

"Ok, thanks,"

Vert had an idea. "We'll ask Spinner if he can hack into the DMV and make a license – you need one to drive legally and we don't want any questions asked if you get caught,"

"It's not like I'm going to be going out much,"

"Maybe not, but we'd better cover all our bases,"

The team pulled up to their track and Vert hopped out. His glasses pulled up a holo-screen to give the rundown on how they train. With the intro course complete, Silver took Lenka for rounds on the track without obstacles. She recognized that the key takeaway of this first part was homing in on the control of her bike, perfect the feel for spatial awareness, and the inertia involved. So, with every other lap or so, she would up her speed until taking turns was a little shaky, then she would focus on the details of when to let off the throttle, when to accelerate past the turn, how much drift she would get out of a specific speed, and the angles to take. Eventually, Vert brought up the barriers for agility testing. The first couple of laps resulted in a lot of bumps and crashes, but Silver got up every time and kept going.

"Silver I think it's time to take a break," Vert, who had been coaching her, exhaustedly closed the computer. Stanford and Agura had left a while ago.

"No way," she voiced, determined. "I've got a lot to work on – I can keep going,"

"That's great, but I don't want you overworking yourself," he shook his head. "how are your shoulders?"

"They're fine," she sped past him, going for another lap. He could make the training protocol extra difficult to force her off, but he had a feeling she wouldn't give up so easily. He admired the work ethic, but this was overkill.

"Training is done – time for a break," Vert declared. "that's an order,"

"Sorry teach," Silver shook her head and continued anyway.

The blonde left to grab a couple waters. He'd leave her to train alone except that he didn't want her to faint when no one was around. Silver just didn't know when to quit. So stubborn… maybe Zoom can get her to stop or she's going to pass out from dehydration…As he was about to leave the garage, the elevator opened, and the scout appeared. Perfecting timing. He handed Zoom a bottle and stayed in the shade.

"See if you can convince her to take a break," he sighed, cracking open the seal and taking a swig. "she's not listening to me,"

"How long has she been going?"

"Two, maybe three hours,"

"Woah… hardcore," he whistled. "how are her arms?"

"She said they're fine, but I think she's pushing too hard,"

Zoom sighed heavily and watched her go around the track again. She was doing amazing and had already picked up the feel for riding a motorcycle to the point where it was natural at high speeds. Her agility had immensely improved as well. Her leans were smooth, and she didn't falter at the turns, didn't hesitate. All in three hours, he thought, impressed. But, he agreed with Vert – she was pushing it, and the sun must've been boiling her alive in that black suit.

Zoom stepped out onto the middle of the track after she'd passed again and waited, arms crossed, for her to loop back around. Lenka drifted to a stop before him. Silver sat up, panting a little. Her arms dropped to her sides and he thought he saw her flinch.

"Nice driving," he smiled, holding out the bottle. "but you really should take a break – you just got back today, and I can tell your shoulders hurt,"

"Osekaiya-Lenka," Silver's muffled voice came through the helmet. "I said I won't stop until Krytus is stopped or killed,"

"A warrior who denies the need for rest falls asleep when the walls are invaded," Zoom declared.

"What?"

"It means we're not immortal," the scout responded. "if we ignore our basic needs, our body will fail us at the worst times. You need to take care of yourself,"

"I've never been good at metaphors…"

Zoom chuckled. "Master Takeyasu taught me hundreds more,"

"Oh please," she huffed. "spare me the poetic lecture,"

The scout smiled as Silver tried to take off her helmet. She had to tip her head down so her arms wouldn't hurt as bad. Once it was off, he could see her face was dripping with sweat. She gratefully took the bottle and tried to uncap it, but her arms were too stiff and tired from driving. Her eyes glowed, and with a flick of her wrist, the cap popped off like a bottle rocket. The magic snaked it into her mouth, and she slurped water up like spaghetti and ended up finishing the entire thing.

Zoom took back the empty bottle. "C'mon, take a break – there's something I want to show you,"

Silver silently gave in and slowly guided Lenka off the track, parking next to Splitwire in the garage.

"How did you do that?" Vert whispered to Zoom, shocked at her compliance.

"Chinese proverb," he grinned.

Vert laughed and hopped into Saber to take the secret back door into the hub while the other two took the elevator down.

"Why'd you keep my helmet?" Silver asked suddenly now that they were in a more private space.

Zoom paused before answering. "Seemed wrong to toss it… and I wanted to keep the memory alive," he looked at her. "isn't that why you gave it to me?"

She hesitated. "I don't know… it seemed right to give it to you at that moment,"

They left it at that. Zoom led the way, passing Spinner playing video games on the couch.

"Hey! Silver! Just the alien I wanted to see," Spin paused the game and waved the controller in a greeting. "ready to learn in the ways of the prime form of earthly entertainment?"

"Maybe later, Spin," she politely declined.

"Where are you two headed?"

"I don't know – Zoom said he wanted to show me something,"

"Ohhhhhhh," Spinner waggled his eyebrows. "Zoom you're gonna show her the new…"

The scout slapped a hand over the Cortez's mouth and shoved his head into a pillow. Spinner surrendered and nervously chuckled once released.

"I'll see you guys later," he said, turning back to his game. "have fun,"

Zoom sighed and continued to lead the way to the bedroom hall a level up. The guardian wondered what that was all about. Have fun?

"Here's your room," he waved her to the last door on the left. "We figured you were coming back eventually, so we kept it from last time you were here. Sage and I added a few modifications – hope you like it,"

Silver stepped in and the light flicked on. To her left, a cozy and simple bed with tall wooden bedposts was made with white fluffy sheets and her knapsack sitting on top. A wooden chest sat at its foot, and a grey stone nightstand accompanied the head. On the back wall were a couple of stone floating shelves to match the earthy tone, and to the left of those was the door to her bathroom. Along the wall with the door that she had walked through was a deep purple and red curtain that closed the closet. Right in front of her was a table and chairs with navy cushions, and the walls climbed and curved to meet in the middle of the room, creating a dome ceiling. It smelled of earth and water at the same time, like freshly fallen rain. She turned to Zoom, speechless, then back to the space.

"This is amazing… it's almost like home…" she breathed as she walked in.

"You like it?" Zoom questioned, hands sheepishly tucked in the pockets of his sweats.

"It's beautiful…" she said as all the colors in her eyes glistened in wonder. "my room as an apprentice looked like a prison cell compared to this,"

"Really?" He grinned and walked over to the nightstand. "You haven't even seen the best part – check this out," Zoom picked up a small remote and pressed a button. The lights lowered softly little bright dots speckled the ceiling. Silver gasped as she carefully gazed upward.

"The stars… they look just like… even the constellations… and the moon…"

"I had Sage pull up a star map from a satellite, and once we go the angle down of what it looked like from your home city, the rest was re-sizing and placing them." Zoom explained. "another cool thing we designed: there are tanks of water behind all your walls so you can use magic. That's what these little holes are for." He pointed to a couple on the wall on either side of her bed, and others around the room.

"Are you sure…" Silver thought about what happened with water last time she was here.

"If you want, you can press this button to drain it out of the tanks." He showed her. "And I'm right across the hall if you need me. Tezz wanted to trade rooms around when he first got here… not sure why though."

"Why are you being so…" Silver peered at him, surprised they trusted her around water. He could tell she was trying to read him.

"Nice?" he finished with a laugh. "Is it wrong for me to want to do something nice for a friend?"

"No… but Zoom, this…"

"…is your home away from home," he continued. "I know it's hard… and the team can be dysfunctional at times… and there's a lot of change for you just in the past three months… and Vert can get bossy, and Spinner can be so annoying… and Stanford too… and I'm sure I am as well…"

Silver laughed quietly, her bashful smile and colorful eyes laid on him.

"so… I thought you would want to process in your own space where it felt at least a little familiar,"

"Thank you…"

"Sage did all it," he confessed. "I just gave her some pointers."

"Still, thank you,"

"You're welcome," he smiled as he rubbed his neck. "I'm glad you like it,"

Silver hesitated, and Zoom could tell she was deciding whether she should give him a hug.

"It's ok," he put his hands up in a show of understanding. "don't feel obligated. Whatever you're comfortable with – I'm cool."

The guardian smiled shyly and looked around as she awkwardly crossed her arms, holding in her strong urge to wrap her arms around him.

"Alright, cool," the scout started to head out. "I'll let you get some rest. See you around."

"Zoom, it's good to be back… I… I missed you…"

"It's good to have you back," he grinned, pausing in the doorway. "but are you sure it wasn't just my annoying questions?"

"Haha, yeah, I'm not so sure about those,"

Zoom laughed. "I… missed you too… get some rest, you earned it."

"Hey… I meant what I said earlier…" she said quietly. "I'm ready to talk when you are,"

"Don't stress it," He smiled and left, and the door slid closed. Zoom wanted to do a silent fist pump but held it together and walked calmly back to the rec room. Maybe he would try his hand at beating Spinner's butt in 'Forza'.

Later..._

Sorren held out his hand and pulled her out of bed. His presence was so familiar, so comforting. The guardian ached to throw her arms around him, pull his face to hers, kiss his lips, tell him everything she never got the chance to…

"Our people need you," he said sternly. "and all you can do is sleep… well then – SLEEP, SILVER!" Sorren drove his staff through her stomach. Shock, pain, grief, and defeat flooded her mind. This is what I deserve…

Silver's eyes shot open and she finished the scream she'd been holding in. Her vision cleared as she managed her shaky breathing and trembling body. She was in her room, sitting up in bed. Her skin felt like it was heated even though she'd changed into her wrap top and sash. Her hands and underarms felt clammy with cold sweat. The door opened and two figures quickly walked to her bedside.

"Hey, it's ok," Agura soothed, sitting next to her. "you're with us, you're safe,"

Zoom took the other side on her left. "Just breathe… everything is ok, it was just a dream,"

Silver focused on their voices and pushed out another breath. She was with friends. It's ok. It was just a dream. Another breath out. Agura comfortingly rubbed her leg through the bedsheets and watched her calm down.

"What happened?" she asked. "Nightmare?"

Silver nodded, eyes closed, and combed her hair back. Her fingers dug into her hair, holding it back as she held her head, swallowing hard.

"You ok?"

She started nodding again, but then paused and shook her head 'no' instead. The guardian let out another shaky breath. It was getting a little easier.

"Do you want to say what it was about?"

A couple more silhouettes appeared in the doorway.

"Everything ok?" Vert asked worriedly.

"She had a nightmare," Agura responded quietly.

The leader walked in, thankful that the room hadn't turned into an icy deathtrap this time, and leaned against the bottom bedpost. Silver had her eyes squeezed shut and was holding her hair out of her face against her head. He spoke gently.

"Hey, what's going on?"

"I… I had a bad dream… that's all," she mumbled. "It was the night I was attacked…"

"The red sentient?"

She nodded, choking out the words. "Sorren was there and killed her… it was just like I remember it... but then he – um… he…" her hand moved to her stomach covered in burn treatment patches. Zoom saw the fear in her eyes as she stared into the white bedsheets, how scared she really was. He gently moved a comforting hand to her back. Her eyes moved to his. The tears pooled, making the colors in her irises glisten. Without a second thought, Silver leaned into the scout, her head tucked beneath his chin. Zoom solemnly held her as the tears silently flowed.

Her body felt dead inside. She'd woken up like this so many times. It was wearing her down. Zoom kept his arms wrapped around her, hearing an occasional sniffle.

"It's ok," he reassured softly.

"I let my people down," she whispered into his chest, eyes squeezed shut. "I failed them…"

"No, you didn't,"

"Yes, I did…"

"No, you didn't – you couldn't control what was happening. It wasn't your fault,"

"I should've fought alongside them… helped them, at least have the decency to die with them…"

"If you'd died with your people, then what? You're alive and here now with us… Faven still has a chance, and this time, with the sentients,"

"Even if you're people had won the war," Vert added. "the sentients and favians would still be enemies… you and Sage change all that,"

"It all happens for a reason, Silver," Agura patted her friend's knee reassuringly. "but I know it's a lot for one person to handle…"

"It hurts…" Silver choked, pulling herself into a tight ball. "it hurts so bad…"

Zoom squeezed her a little, his heart breaking for hers. "I know…"

She cried some more, then was quiet for a bit. The team stayed present for her. Tezz stayed in the doorway with Sage, but the Cortez brothers and Stanford quietly filtered in and kept their distance. The blue sentient sadly watched the result of her people's doing. They had caused this much pain in another living being without a second thought… they had wrecked a whole world and left a single inhabitant. The product of perfect and refined fear and cruelty was sobbing in the arms of her scout. Sage wondered how the guardian ever found it in her heart to move forward with an enemy while still enduring so much pain.

"You're so much like him," Silver said quietly, breaking the silence.

"Who's like who?" Zoom asked.

"You," she whispered. "you're so much like Sorren…"

Zoom hesitated before asking the question that had been pestering him since the last time she stayed with them. "Who's Sorren?"

Silver exhaled and the scout felt a slight tremble run through her body. "He was… my love… my first and only love…"

Zoom didn't know what to say. What do you say to a comment like that? He wanted to ask what she meant exactly, what was Sorren like that he also seemed to have…

"You must miss him," Agura empathized.

"He's in almost all my dreams…" she shook her head.

The air hung stale around them, unmoving and depressing. She sighed and pulled free from Zoom's arms with a sniffle.

"I'll be ok…"

"You sure?" Vert looked concerned.

"Yeah…" she nodded. "I just need a moment… and I know you must be a little confused… I haven't been fully open – I promise I will… it's just… challenging for me,"

"Hey, no rush,"

"How about a snack?" Sherman suggested kindly. "I've got some Pillsbury cookies I've been wanting to heat up,"

"Sherman and sugary food," Zoom was happily surprised. "I thought all you ate was protein drinks and club sandwiches,"

"I think the chaps onto something," Stanford remarked humorously. "I think I'll put the kettle on for tea,"

Agura grinned. "You know, Stanford, that's a great idea,"

The brit took a noble stance. "It's the royalty in me,"

"Oookkkaaayyy… cookies and tea it is, then," Vert chuckled, inwardly deciding he'd stick to energy drinks. "we'll give you a moment, Silver. C'mon guys,"

Silver made a small smile and they filtered out. Zoom patted her gently on the leg before getting up to go, but she reached out and took hold of his arm. He could tell in her eyes that she didn't want to be left alone. He sat back down. Vert stopped in the door and looked back to see his scout taking the guardian's hand. It made sense now why Zoom always seemed to get through to her – he reminded her of someone from her past.

Zoom nodded to his leader, letting him know he'd stay. Vert left and the door slid closed. The room darkened again with the star map dimly lighting the room.

"Is there something I can do?" he asked.

Silver shyly looked up at him. "Is that pillow offer still standing?"

Zoom smiled. "Of course," He sat up at the head of the bed next to her, and Silver tiredly laid against his chest, her knees pulled in. Zoom thought about it, then carefully wrapped an arm around her, his hand resting against the exposed small of her back. He figured this was the training wear she had mentioned – the tight cropped wrap top and loose shorts with a thin sash tied around her waist. He wondered what else favians wore, or if this was all she had salvaged from home. He wondered if Sorren was the first one she'd fallen asleep on, and if so, how many times… he wondered what they used to do together, how close they were…

Silver spoke abruptly. "He… was an apprentice with me most of our lives – a fire bearer with Master Salamandstrom… we grew up together, trained together, pranked the masters when we were kids," She droned in a trance-like remembrance. "he was my best friend. We talked about everything, I told him about my pendant… he was the only one who knew. When the war began, Master Sal died protecting a province from raids, and Sorren was automatically given the title of Master in his stead… then we realized how short our lives were… how little time we had left."

Zoom listened quietly. He felt sad for her, but also a little… jealous? Why? Why do I wish it were me growing up with her?

"Arena left to fight, some of our apprentice friends left, but Sorren was assigned to be with me as a stand-in teacher and protection – ready me to fight in Faven's last stand when the masters hoped they would have weakened the sentients enough for me to handle with the remainder of our troops – they were buying me time. Though we didn't hold the same magics, Sorren trained me, taught me strategy and strength. He was with me every day, pushing me to be better, believing in me… even when others doubted whether their Guardian Savior would ever show.

One day, we got a message that he was to be moved to command a defensive unit on the outskirts of Takesh – he was to prepare to leave the next morning. It wasn't proper, but he slept with me that night… he was the only reason I was able to close my eyes. When I woke up, he wasn't there and the sentient was watching me over the wall of my room… just like in my dream… Sorren saved my life… he grabbed my hand and we ran…

There was a passage in the forest that lead down… he hid me deep underground… he said he was going to come back and get me once it was safer, so I waited… it was dark… lonely… it felt like a couple days but when I woke up to a glimmer of light, it had been thousands of years… everything was gone… I should've fought with him…"

Silver shook her head, eyes shut tight, and squeezed some of Zoom's shirt scrunched in her fist.

"He was gone… and I never told him how much he meant to me – how grateful I was to have him in my life… that I loved…"

She broke down and cried into his shirt. Her body was wracked with sobs. Zoom had never heard so much pain come from a single voice in his entire life. A tear slipped out and he pulled her up close to him and held her.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered painfully. "so so so sorry…"

She gripped him like a lifeline, crying until her eyes were puffy and tears had long since stopped coming. Zoom didn't know what to think. Was the only reason she could talk to him because he was like Sorren? What if he hadn't been like him at all? Would she have still talked to him? He wasn't sure he wanted to know right now… and he wasn't sure why it mattered so much. Zoom felt a twinge of sadness but he didn't know why. He felt deep sorrow for her loss, of course, but there was something else bothering him and he couldn't figure it out. It felt like a selfish kind of sadness…

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Zoom glanced down at his friend, unmoving in his arms. She didn't invite them in so he decided he would for her.

"Come in," he called out. The door slid open to reveal Sherman's burly silhouette.

"Hey, cookies are ready!" the big guy said with a little cheer. He came and sat on the bed, making it creak a little, and put a comforting hand on her. It was cute how she and Zoom were cuddling, even if it was a sad little huddle. Her face was hidden between his chest and a curtain of her long, black hair. Zoom had his arms around her, one hand on her back and the other resting on her arm, holding her closer to his body. The scout looked just as depressed as she was, and like he might've cried a little too.

"I promise you'll love this earth food," Sherman said gently. "but… I can't promise the same for Stanford's tea,"

Silver sniffled and turned over. She was wearing a small smile. The little guardian crawled up and gave the Cortez a tight hug.

"Feel free to tell him if it's terrible," Sherman chuckled, returning the embrace. "he wouldn't stop ranting about family tradition and his required course in tea brewery. I'm all for the health benefits, but as far as I'm concerned it's still hot leaf juice,"

Silver giggled a little and pulled away. "Thanks, Sherman – I'll be down in a sec,"

He smiled and headed out, feeling like a big brother to their new family member. Zoom watched Silver, her back to him. He couldn't tell what she was thinking. He nudged her arm. The guardian turned back to him with a small smile and a grateful expression.

"Just let me know when you're ready," he said. Silver's smile grew bigger.

"Thank you," she breathed. "I'm ready,"

"Sweet, sugary goodness here we come," he grinned. Silver got up and shuffled to the bathroom. After splashing water on her face, she grabbed her cloak and followed Zoom to the rec room.

"Hey," she paused in the hallway behind him. "I'm sorry if I made you feel weird… about linking you to Sorren… I know you're your own person,"

Zoom smiled and faced her. She looked so shy in reaction to his confrontational stance that he couldn't help but comment to himself how cute it was. "It's a… different feeling, being linked to someone from your past, but I'm glad you're cool to talk about it… I know it's been hard – I can't imagine…" he drifted off. "I'm glad you're letting me be there for you,"

Silver smiled and stepped forward, gently wrapping him in a hug. "Thank you,"

Zoom returned the embrace. "anytime,"

As they continued to the rec room, they could smell the heavenly aroma long before they reached the source. As soon as she stepped foot in the kitchen, Stanford shoved a hot mug toward the guardian.

"Family recipe," he winked. "best in the west,"

Silver gratefully took it and joined the circle of chatty people.

"I'm just saying," Spinner was going on. "that if I had a butler, I'd make sure he did more than just open the door and get me food. They literally have to do anything you tell them – imagine all the jokes you could get away with,"

"If a guy is called an actor and a girl is called an actress," Zoom pondered, joining in on the conversation. "would the girl version of a butler be a 'buttless'?"

The team burst into laughter.

"Right, Zoom," Stanford put a chummy hand on his friend. "cause that's a title women love,"

Silver shook her head, not really understanding the humor, but still smiling with them. They went back and forth for a while, exchanging banters and cajoling lightheartedly. Tezz tended to stay back a bit and listen, but even some of the statements amused him and a grin pulled at his mouth. Silver sidled up to him.

"You didn't want any tea?" she noted the absence of a mug in his hand.

"Not my preferred beverage," he shrugged. "though cookies I don't mind,"

He lightly picked one off the cooling rack and happily munched while they watched the others talk. Silver was content listening, sipping away at the human-made concoction. It was a mix of earthy and sweet, and the flavor stuck to the roof of her mouth a little after swallowing. The cookies looked very plain, but to her surprise, tasted so much sweeter than the tea. It was like an instant happiness potion. She probably shouldn't tell Spinner that she liked them better than pizza…

The question came up of whether Faven had servants. Silver said no, but some would have liked to. It was considered immoral to have servants and forbidden to have slaves. It was part of a dark art to enslave anyone in manipulative magic.

"Interesting…" Agura commented.

"I'm ready to answer any questions, guys," Silver nodded in assurance. "and I mean any. I'm ready – I've been preparing myself for this. So please, go ahead,"

The guardian scooted to sit up on the counter, waiting for the first inquiry.

"Are those your pajamas?" Stanford pointed to the two-piece beneath the cape.

Silver glanced down at the earthy-brown set, surprised that the first question was about her clothes. "Uh, sort of… it's my training uniform. I don't really have pajamas – nothing really lasted the last thousands of years,"

"Where are your clothes from?" Spinner looked quizzical.

"I was wearing this when I disappeared… I made the others but I'm not a very good craftswoman,"

"What really happened, Silver – that night you disappeared?" Vert asked. "I don't mean to be rude, but what's been happening to you – your magic and the transformation problem that happened last time, and the nightmares? It's like it all comes from that moment," He knew it was sensitive but now was the time to ask. Zoom glanced at her nervously, but she wasn't troubled.

This was the question the guardian had been preparing for, and thankfully she had gotten the tears out earlier with her friend. This time should be easier. She smiled a little. "How much detail do you want?"

"All of it," Vert declared firmly.

Silver sighed and sipped a bit of tea. It had gotten a little cold, so she heated it with her hands. Tezz's eyes got wide as he watched hers take on an other-worldly light. The steam rising from the mug told him she'd done something, but he couldn't make sense of what it was.

"Do you want to see my memories again?" she asked. "I brought my cube…"

The team looked around at each other, a little hesitant. Did they want to see?

"Yes," the leader decided. "show us, please,"

Silver mysteriously hovered her hand over her mug. "Sol tai brama tesh. Sol tai brama tesh... Solurishka amon mirrell…"

Tezz had never seen something so eerie in his life. Her eyes glowed as a line appeared in the air between her hand and the mug. A rift opened, and a blue cube jumped from thin air into her palm. Zoom grinned at the horror in Tezz's face. He was getting the creepier introduction to what she could do. The rest of the team's first encounter with her magic was more violent.

Silver put the tea down and grasped the tool in both palms, taking a breath. She was ready. "The reason I didn't want to share this with you when we first met is because I was scared… I didn't want to be vulnerable… I didn't want to make a bond with you only to have another war tear it apart... and I was still trying to make sense of everything: my emotions – my memories – what Krytus said versus what actually happened…

While back home, I got some answers and I've been able to process with a little bit more clarity than before. So, here are my memories… my bad dreams… everything. You all deserve to know – but before I begin, I want you to know that I'm so grateful to all of you…"

Her eyes looked around at each person, resting lastly on the scout. Thank you, Zoom. The cube sprang to life, forming the scene to tell the story, completely and fully.

[Author's note: Hey readers! Stay tuned for the next chapter that reveals exactly what happened! This story isn't done yet ;) We can tell Zoom has got some processing to do on his own , and we still don't know what the men at the diner are all about... What are your thoughts? Does Zoom understand his feelings for Silver? Does Silver like Zoom for who he is or just because he reminds her of someone she once loved? Thank you for all your support and patience!]