The New Kid
Chapter 17
Meep! Soooooooooooo sorry this took forever. Ran into some problems with grades and family and getting sick a lot and other stuff, got put on academic probation, and all creativity went straight down the drain as far as writing goes. So, unfortunately this is a rather small update, and I'm even more sorry to say that it's more or less a filler chapter. I hope it isn't too boring or too much a disappointment, though. n-n;;
And as probably everyone knows by now, this site doesn't allow writers to submit works with review responses included anymore. Loop hole time! Hopefully starting next chapter (and possibly some for this chapter later), all review responses will appear on my homepage because I don't like responding the way this site has it set up. I might have to move the muse commentary over there, too, just to be safe.
Disclaimer: Anyone who thinks I own the rights to Golden Sun needs their head checked. In other words, me no own it. And I also don't claim all the supposed scientific reasoning given in this chapter to be true, so don't quote Picard on your next geography or science test.
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Isaac dozed off and on over the next few hours, only really waking up when Felix began to scold Garet for falling asleep. Felix had decided to stay awake after that, considering how the newfound Fire Adept had fallen back asleep before Felix could even finish his rant.
"You could give him a little slack, Felix. These Psynergy-draining cells aren't exactly cruise ship worthy."
Felix sighed and leaned back a little more heavily against the wall. "None of these cells are." He looked between Mia and Jenna still sleeping on their benches. "I just wish I could at least get the girls out of here, but I'd never hear the end of it if I did," he said, finishing with a sad smile at the ground. "There's no way they would leave as long as you or any one of us is stuck here."
Isaac was silent for a bit. "But…what if Iodem tries to use you guys to force me into using my Psynergy? Mia doesn't want me giving in like that again, but…" he sighed, "I don't think I could take not giving in if it happens."
"Isaac." Isaac lifted his head to look back at Felix, who was also now looking at him. "If it comes to that again, you just need to look out for yourself. Those idiots can only do so much since they need you to willingly use your Psynergy. We'll be alright."
Again, there was a pause before Isaac copied Felix's words. "I just wish I could believe that as easily as you."
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Sheba, how's it looking?
Iodem's planning to try again sometime soon. Ivan, are you sure we shouldn't-
You're the one who had the vision, Sheba. You know we can't help them yet.
I know, but-
We can't afford to make this any worse.
…Alright.
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Isaac was dimly aware of approaching footsteps sometime later, each step somehow working into whatever it was his mind was playing through this time. He tried to wake up, but something seemed to hold him back, making him feel tired and weak. He was surrounded by a violet light and thought he heard the voices of his friends calling to him, while also yelling angrily at someone else, but just cracking his eyes to see figures swimming around him was a struggle.
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You didn't tell me that was going to happen, Sheba.
I…didn't foresee it… I can't foresee it…
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Kraden leaned back in a black upholstered chair in a corner of his lab. "I must confess, Picard. I still do not quite comprehend this whole – theory shall we say? – on how Isaac's powers can go so far as to control climate, weather, the topography of the land… The list just seems to go on and on from what you have said."
Picard took his hands from his pockets as he too took a seat in a second chair nearby. "In Lemuria, it is common knowledge that water currents are capable of controlling weather conditions."
"Well, you did say you were all Mercury Adepts there."
The Lemurian nodded. "The power Isaac possesses is ancient. If it were to reach its full potential, he would ultimately have control over all the elements with but a flick of the wrist. However, that would take many lifetimes worth to achieve for a normal person, valuable time no one outside of Lemuria has. Thus, such potential has never been reached."
He stood again and started to walk along the wall, absentmindedly glancing at the labels on jars and flasks on the shelves yet not really reading any. "There is a loop hole, though. The topography of the ocean floor is an important factor to controlling water currents, and one with great control over the earth would be able to perform such a feat as changing that layout. Not only that, but he could make deserts of forests and forests of deserts, disrupting air flows and precipitation levels, not to mention levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide and other natural gases in the air that the trees would normally affect."
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Lord Babi gave another hacking cough before laying back on the propped up pillows. "What's taking so long?"
"Forgive me, milord. There were some… setbacks." Iodem bowed low.
"This isn't acc-acceptabl-" Babi was cut off by more coughing, this time sounding much weaker when he was able to speak again. "Iodem… This body is turning against me. It's grown used to the Lemurian draughts. I need that boy's Psynergy!" He fell into another coughing fit as he said the last word, his hand resting over his heart when it was over. "Time… is no longer in my favor."
Iodem could only watch silently, but finally nodded before making another bow. "Milord, you have my word I will not fail you."
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"Aaron Jerra?"
Aaron looked up at the man wearing a dark suit, tie, and shades. "Y-Yeah?" He had just gotten out of school and arrived at the nearby section of the park with some friends to wait for rides home, though the other kids were already swarming over the jungle gym. He hooked his thumbs in his backpack straps nervously.
"I'll have to insist you come with me." When the boy started to ask why, the man cut him off with, "It concerns your brother Garet. It's urgent that you come along at once."
"But I- I dunno… What's wrong with Garet? Is he okay?"
"That remains to be decided." Before Aaron could pull away, the man had grabbed the boy's arm.
"Hey! You!" The man turned to come face-to-face with a maroon fake leather handbag, though that encounter only lasted until he hit the ground. "No messing with my kid brother, you got that?" Kay stood with one hand holding Aaron's now that he was free, and the other hand held her handbag in a threatening manner while the man fumbled to readjust his glasses.
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Kraden nodded to himself as he listened. "I see… So while the four elements are in themselves separate, enough control over one could consequently affect the others. The control over one of the elements, when used in the proper amount, can actually adjust the amount of control over the other three…"
"That is the theory. Fortunately, it has yet to proven." Picard paused in front of the setup used to create the Lemurian draught. "There is… another theory, or rather a story that perhaps holds some amount of truth. The story says that ages ago, in a phase of history lost to the knowledge of most, there was another power; a mass of raw alchemic power that was unleashed unto the world. If this power were left to its own devices, the elements and their Adepts likely would have been thrown into a state of war over it. However, legend tells that this power was instead broken up soon after its appearance when an individual tried to claim it. It was then taken unto three hosts, and once again contained. Alchemy and Psynergy became commonplace for some time, but gradually began to fade again to the point that those that still held the remnants of the power were shunned. After all…"
"…No one wants to be forgotten." Picard turned to see Kraden nodding to himself again. The scholar glanced up at Picard and continued as though to answer an unasked question. "Those that lost the gift of Psynergy… perhaps they felt left out, misplaced, and consequently… forgotten, because they lacked what others had. But then their numbers grew, they needed a reason for the change, superstitions arose, and those with Psynergy became the enemy. Besides, aren't you always the one saying how mankind fears what it cannot understand?"
Picard had to smile faintly at that. "Yes. Yes, that is one fact that shall always remain a truth."
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"Name: Isaac Wood. Age: seventeen. Status: Venus Adept. ID number 200103-"
"That will do." The scientist that had been reading off the data glanced over at Iodem, then put down the clipboard. Iodem stared through the glass into the small room where Isaac was being held. The walls were covered in white tiles and the light would've almost been blinding to the Adept laying on the medical table had he been conscious. The only other items in the room were the machines that were monitoring his vitals and keeping him sedated. Each hand was held in a device with a dull Psynergy stone embedded in the top, a yellow light next to the stone showing that there was no transfer of Psynergy to the Adept. "Let's get this over with, shall we?"
A shorter man nodded near him and hurried over to another group around a computer system. Isaac's information appeared on the large wall screens, and Iodem turned to find himself staring into the blue eyes of the boy's mug shot. "No mistakes this time."
A smaller team of four entered the tile room, adjusting the monitors and reemerging into the main room a few minutes later. One walked over to a machine near the wall and injected a small blood sample that had been taken, numbers and charts soon appearing on the screens above the device. Iodem smiled slightly to himself as he watched. No mistakes, there couldn't be any mistakes.
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"So, what do you plan to do?"
Alex glanced over at his instructor, taking a deliberate sip of his drink as they took a break from training. "What do you mean?"
Saturos' mouth turned up in an amused grin. "Do you really think me to be that clueless?"
Alex felt a slight tinge of panic, but it never showed on his features. "I don't know what you're talking about."
What he didn't expect was to hear Saturos chuckling lightly. "Is that so? Sometimes, Alex, you really make me wonder why Agatio and Karst and the rest of your cronies actually follow you around." He took a sip from his own drink can. "Of course, Menardi would grill me alive if she heard me refer to Karst like that."
Alex was quiet for a few seconds, not sure what to say that would seem normal of him anymore. "Why do you do it, Saturos? You and Menardi… why are you here?"
"If you really want to know that, Alex, I think a better choice would be to ask yourself that same question instead."
"What, we're supposed to be the same all of a sudden?"
Saturos chuckled again, though Alex wasn't seeing the humor. "Far from it, though underlying reasons might have something in common. Alright, that's enough resting." Saturos drained the last of his drink and put the empty can aside as he stood.
Alex swirled his slightly, realizing he still had at least half left. "Wait a minute. Just because you're done means break's over?"
"Oh, so you really do learn at times!"
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Dun dun duuuuuuuuuun! Okay, so a little suspense, slight comedy, a bunch of jumping around, hopefully no one died of boredom when Kraden and Picard were talking, starting to bring in more and more of the original game details/aspects, and more of Babi coughing up a lung. Fun fun?
And I can't take it, I just gotta write a response to the 20 awesome reviews chapter 16 got, so I'll make it a general response disguised as an author note 'cause I'm just sneaky like that. ( XD yeah right! I'm as sneaky as a fan at a ball game with a blow horn!) And now, a speedy "author's note."
I'm not answering the pairing question anymore because I've already answered it in probably more than half of the past chapters. My lips are sealed on who all has Psynergy by the end. 5 chapters 'til the end? Even I don't know, but small parts of the final chapters and climax are already written. I'm still being semi-suspenseful on who the inside help is. Ha! I kept my promise on this story being the next to be updated! Yay, I don't have to tear apart my high school English notes to find the alchemy properties anymore! Don't worry, I'm not going to suddenly quit writing these stories and I actually do read ALL the reviews I get multiple times since they (believe it or not) do have an effect on my writing. AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO REVIEWED OR HAS REVIEWED IN THE PAST! It honestly really does make my day better!
So much for quick… I'll write up a real response for all chapter 16 reviews and put them on my site (the link is in my profile) sometime later, possibly next weekend since I have 2 more big tests this coming week.