"Are you ready?" Patrick asked, shouldering his own bag.
"Yes." Ella said, nodding. She turned back for one last look at the apartment that had been her home for the past two years. Time to say goodbye.
They began their trek towards the metro. "We'll get out of D.C. first." Six said, her breath freezing in icy clouds before her. "Then try to get as far north as we can. At least Pittsburg, hopefully New York."
"To throw the Mogs off our tail?" Daniel guessed. Six nodded, bestowing a smile on his understanding.
"Exactly." She replied. "We don't want to take a plane to Beijing straight from here, it would be a dead giveaway."
"Six," John hedged. "I know we have to be paranoid . . . but don't you think this is a bit extreme? I mean, come on, couldn't we just take a connecter flight or something?"
"No." Everyone responded at once. John sighed, mumbling something to himself and hunching his shoulders against the wind.
The metro was crowded, as usual. After a little less than an hour of the full to bursting cars, they spilled out mid-Maryland.
"Are we walking the whole way?" Sam asked, a hint of a complaint in his voice.
"Still a while yet." Patrick answered. "We can get a car or something once we get farther away."
As the only human among them, Sam was taking it the hardest, but he just set his mouth and nodded.
They walked for mile upon mile, the tress and towns fading by, blurring into the past and future. Gradually, Ella fell into step with Tyler, and the two slipped into conversation together.
"So you were in Berlin before this?"
"Yes, around there. Teltow, actually."
"Had you been there long?"
"About five months."
"That's not too bad."
"No."
"I passed through Germany once, but I've never lived there." Ella said, shoving her hands into her pockets. "Did you like it?'
"It was alright. Not my favorite, but not the worst either. I prefer the warmer climates."
"Oh, I'm the opposite. Winter's my favorite season."
"You must be happy then." Tyler said, with a rueful look.
"It's better than the sweltering sun." She replied with a smile, glancing up at the sky. "So, which was the worst?"
"Russia. Definitely."
"Really?"
"Absolutely."
"Why?"
"I was only ten, and there were no other kids around. I was so lonely all the time. And you couldn't exactly just go outside and play."
"I hope you didn't stay there long."
"No, only a few months. But that was more than long enough." He looked over at Ella. "What about you? How long have you been here?"
"About a year." She answered. "I like it here."
"I'm sorry we're taking you away."
"Oh no, it's not your fault Tyler." She glanced over at him. "So, if you don't mind me asking, - Tyler, is that a name Patrick gave you, or . . ." She trailed off.
"I picked it when we moved to Germany." He said. "I guess it looks like I'm keeping this one now. It's a good enough name, not sure if it would have been the one I'd have picked if I knew it was going to be permanent though."
"What would you have picked?"
"I don't know . . . I don't think I can anymore, anyways. I'm Tyler now. You can't change a name once you have it."
"I guess not."
"Did your protector pick your name?" He asked.
"Not exactly." Ella said. "I've always been Ella. But every time we'd go somewhere new, we'd pick a new variation of it. Isabella, Daniella, you get the point. Here I was Arabella."
"Doesn't that make you easier to trace though?"
"Maybe slightly . . . but there are so many names with Ella, you'd have to really be looking for it to see the pattern. And anyways, it gave me a real name. I'm glad she did it."
They were quiet for a moment. Then Tyler asked "What happened to her?"
Ella looked up at the cold, clear sky. "She didn't come back one day." She answered simply. She didn't elaborate, and Tyler didn't ask any more questions.
"I never realized," He said instead, "How lucky I was. I just kind of assumed that every number got a protector. But none of you that I've met so far have had yours. They've all died. I've taken Patrick for granted."
"I'm sure you haven't." Ella said.
"I have." Tyler stated benignly. "I just thought that he'd always be around, to take care of me, to protect me, to help me, you know. I thought it was a given." He looked across the group, he gaze grazing each of them in turn. "But now I know it isn't." He finished, turning back to Ella.
She nodded, casting her gaze into the distance. They continued walking, their footsteps reverberating against the ground, slowly trekking a path further and further down the road.
"This looks good." Six said decisively, surveying the campground. Patrick nodded his assent, along with the others.
They avoided the crowded camp areas filled with trailers, heading instead for the most deserted campsite they could find. Finally arriving at a dirt circle, surround by trees but devoid of people, they, gratefully, sat down. Ella gazed up at the mosaic ceiling of tree leaves. This would be new. She'd never slept out in the open before, at least not that she could remember. It hadn't been something she'd particularly wanted to do either, but there was no point in complaining now. Better a slightly uncomfortable night than the Mogs.
"I don't suppose that there's a chance any of you have a fire-starting power, is there?" Sam asked, rubbing his hands together and eyeing Six. She glared at him.
"You know full well that I do." She snapped back at him. "But I'm not going to use it now, because burning down the entire forest would be a bad thing, let alone a dead giveaway. Besides, some of us aren't even fireproof." Sam looked down at his shoes. Six rummaged through her bag and came up with some hot pads, tossing one to Sam. He flinched as it soared towards him, but gave a smile after he caught it.
"Thanks." He said to Six, who grunted in reply.
"I'm going to go get some food." Patrick said, standing up.
"Could you get some cheese fries?" John asked.
"I'll see."
"Thanks."
"I'll come too." Tyler said, getting up as well. They walked off, hardly making a sound as they slipped through the trees and out of sight.
"So, we're seriously sleeping out here?" Sam asked sidelong to John.
"It's called camping." John replied, smiling. Sam did not look amused.
"What, not even a motel?"
"Why, you got the money to pay for it?" John asked.
"Hey, you know how much money I've used up on this stunt?" Sam demanded, getting heated up.
"Hey, hey, calm down." John said, putting up his hands. "I know. That's why we have to be careful. We're saving up, still have to rent the car, buy the plane tickets. . ."
"Yeah." Sam said, disgruntled. "But it's still cold . . ."
Daniel walked over to them, bearing the bag filled with hot packets. "Here." He said, handing one to John, who took it gratefully. "Would you like another one?" He asked Sam.
"Yeah. thanks." Sam said, taking it and attempting to shove it inside his shoe.
"I'm really glad we've got you around here now man." John said, looking up at Daniel. "It's good to have someone really trained around, especially now, with, you know." He said, tilting his head back and forth towards Ella. Daniel just stared at him.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I mean, she's not exactly a fighter, is she, and now we've got to protect her too." John explained.
"Well, aren't all you Lorien super good fighters anyway." Sam put in, noting Daniel's darkening demeanor.
"Well, yeah," John said, turning to Sam. "But I mean, look at her. She wouldn't be able to hold up in a fight."
"Dude," Sam said, lowering his voice. "She can probably hear you. She has super hearing, remember?"
"Yeah, sure." John said, rolling his eyes. In his opinion, she just wanted to have two legacies like everybody else. He couldn't say he blamed her, he had been extremely relieved when he had developed telekinesis. "She says she does."
"She could tell that I hadn't showered in two weeks."
"Dude, everyone you meet can tell you haven't showered in two weeks."
"I don't know." Sam said, throwing up his hands.
"But I do." Daniel said, stepping back into the conversation. Looking at John, he said "How about you and her practice, so you can see for yourself?"
"Like, a fight?" John asked, staring at him quizzically.
"Yes. And you'll see that she'll beat you."
"Beat me?" John repeated, smiling. He glanced over at her. He was twice her size, even without his legacies it wouldn't be a fair fight. "I don't think so."
"Yes." Daniel said, nodding. "Maybe not Five or Six. But you – definitely."
John just looked at him for a minute. "Alright." He said, standing up. "Sure. I don't have any problem with it, if she wants to." Why not? What did he have to lose? Might as well get some practice in.
"Alright." Daniel said, nodding. Now he was starting to smile. "I'll go get her."
John stretched his arm behind his back, watching as Daniel walked across their camp to Ella. He was speaking to her – her face brightened and she stood up, nodding, and they began to cross back.
"Good luck man." Sam said, clapping him on the shoulder.
"Come on." John said. "This'll be a piece of cake." How could it not be? She was tiny.
Sam made a noncommittal noise in the back of his throat as he slowly backed away.
"Hey John." Ella said. "So, you want to have a match?"
"Yeah." John said, nodding. "If you want to."
"Of course I do!" Ella said, smiling. "I'm so glad you asked, it'll be really nice to spar with someone besides him for a change." She jerked her head at Daniel, who crossed his arms, grinning.
Something flickered in the back of John's head, suggesting that there might be something to worry about in the fact that she was sparring with Daniel, who was twice her size and looked like he could snap John in two – but he dismissed it.
"So – any rules?" He asked.
"How about no legacies?" Daniel suggested from the side. "To make it more fair."
"Sure." Said John. "That works."
"That sounds good." Ella agreed. "Although," She turned with a worried expression to John. "I can't exactly turn my super senses off – especially not in a fight. But I promise I won't use my force fields, and I won't try to use my senses. So do you want to use one of your legacies, to make it even?"
"No," John said, waving her off. "That's fine, it's fair this way." He figured he could afford to give her an advantage, and anyway, he had heightened senses too.
"Okay," Ella said doubtfully.
"Ready?" John asked.
"Ready."
For a split second they both just stood there, staring into one another's eyes. Then John lunged, swinging a punch towards her shoulder. She dodged him nimbly, kicking him in the back of the knee as she turned. He twisted after her, trying to get a hold of her, or at least a hit in. He made a connect with her arm, but even he could tell that it was weak.
She was quick, he'd give her that. He couldn't seem to get a jump on her. Maybe there was something to her super senses after all.
This wasn't anything like the fights he'd had before, fights with normal people, where everything seemed to happen so quickly, where the others seemed slow, as if moving through jello, soft and weak. Now he was the one who felt slow and bulky. Now he was actually fighting someone near his skill level. Yes, he admitted it, she was good. He had underestimated her.
He fell with a jerk flat on his back, the wind knocked out of him. His neck snapped, and he groaned. John opened his eyes, finding himself staring up at the painfully clear blue sky. Ella was crouched over him, staring at him warily.
"Match?" She asked.
John nodded. "You win."
She gave a smile and extended a hand to help him up. He took it, wincing as he stood. Yes, he was definitely going to have bruises by tomorrow. "Thanks." He said to her, brushing off his back. "You're a pretty good fighter."
"Thanks." She said, pushing her hands into the small of her back. "You're pretty good too.
"I had an advantage anyway, like we said, kind of using one of my legacies." She was being kind, and he well knew it. She'd completely creamed him.
He nodded, and they both turned away.
Ella walked over to Daniel after the match, who had been watching with a wide grin on his face.
"Good job." He said, holding up his hand.
She obligingly high-fived him, but her face was not enthusiastic. "He's . . ." She cast a glance over at John, and lowered her voice. "He wasn't that good."
"I know." Daniel replied.
"Oh." Ella said, sinking into silence. After a minute or so, she gave a sigh. "I mean, he's a fine fighter, I guess. He just hasn't really been trained, obviously. And I was kind of looking forward to sparring against someone new."
"Oh well." Daniel said, shrugging. "You'll get someone, eventually. It just won't be him. Come on, we can work on some of the stuff from that."
Ella got into position, giving a dramatic sigh but smiling. "Come on, I think I did pretty good that time around."
"You did." Daniel answered seriously, also getting into form. "But there's always room for improvement, right?"
"Naturally. Am I allowed to use force fields?"
"No."
"Fine. I'll beat you anyway."
"I'd like to see you try."
"Well then buddy, you're about to get your wish."
John walked back over to Sam, widening his eyes to mirror Sam's own expression.
"Dude . . ." He said slowly. John gave him a look, warning him not to continue, but Sam either missed the cue or chose to ignore it. "She totally beat your ass."
"Thanks for the support Sam." John said dryly, sitting down.
"Sorry." Sam said, quickly raising up his hands. "Just saying. I mean, and she's a girl too! I mean, Six could totally kill any of us, but Ella . . . we're gonna have to watch our backs."
"They're on our side Sam." John reminded him.
He really wasn't that upset about the fight. It was a good thing that Ella knew how to fight, and fight well, it had been a wholly pleasant surprise to be proved wrong. If only it hadn't been in such a humiliating manner . . .
He watched as Ella and Daniel began sparring. Their moves were so much more graceful than his own jerky improvisations – they almost looked as though they were dancing. A strange, ethereal, deadly dance. John settled his chin on his hand, watching as became lost in his thoughts. Henri had never trained him, not like the other protectors obviously had their charges. John had never really had an interest in it, until now. Now he needed to step it up. It was time to start taking responsibility, time to start becoming what he was destined to be.