I do not own Lorien Legacies or any of the characters.
Eight
We stare at the being as it falls. Well, more floats than anything. When it hits the water, it passes into it without so much as a ripple. Then, it stays down there.
"I'll go first," Marina volunteers, being the only one capable of breathing underwater.
"Be careful," I mutter and she nods before diving in. Six turns, grinning at me, as does Hawkeye.
"Boy, could you be any more transparent?" Six grins.
"Shut up," i grumble, turning away.
"I'm actually quite impressed she hasn't figured it out yet," Hawkeye chuckles. "I mean really. You've been doing everything but drooling over her since we met up again. Hell, ever since she saved us the first time."
"Shut up," I growl, struggling to keep my temper in check. "You don't know anything."
"Oh is that right?" Hawkeye grins. "I don't know you? I don't know that you haven't tried to pick up a chick the entire time I've known you? Boy, you fell in-"
I wheel around, grabbing him by the front of his shirt and spin again, hurling him. He lands in a roll, grunting but not hurt. He lays there, staring at me for a moment.
"You don't understand," I growl. "I'm not...I can't...nevermind. Just keep your fucking mouths shut."
The others stare at me in confusion until Marina returns to the surface a moment later.
"What happened?" Six asks.
"She passed," Sharma states from where he is seated in lotus position a little distance away.
"What do you mean she passed?" Crayton demands. "That was one of his tests?"
"Who's next?" Sharma asks, pointing to the top of the waterfall.
We all turn and look, seeing a giant bearded man with a massive axe. Six wades into the water up to her knees, determined to get it over with.
"Me," Six says.
The figure walks to the third waterfall and dives in, this time making a huge splash before swimming toward Six. As he approaches her, he emerges from the water, axe held high above his head. Six doesn't react at all until he swings at her. She sidesteps the axe then kicks the handle, breaking it. The man swipes at her with what's left but Six ducks under the strike then kicks the man in the knee cap, causing him to howl in pain.
"Way to go Six!" Marina cheers.
Then, Six picks up the fallen portion of the handle not holding an axe blade and swiped at the man, but he is gone before the handle hits.
"What the hell was that? Six demands.
"You passed," I guess. "But I think I know how these tests work."
"How?" Six asks.
Before I can answer, a deafening roar rings out as a third creature rises from the water. This one is ten feet tall with the head of a lion and a total of ten muscular arms, five per side. It roars again, shaking water from its mane as it marches toward Ella.
"No," Crayton growls stepping in front of her. "You're not ready for this. It's too much."
"I can do it," Ella says, pushing the glasses on again.
Suddenly, all ten fists flash toward her at once. She ducks under them, allowing the tree behind her to take the hit, bits of wood flying past her and hitting the creature in the face and chest. It pulls its arms back and begins to try again, a few arms at a time, but Ella avoids everything, each punch that hit the tree creating a crater.
They begin to move around the tree but suddenly, Ella shrieks, "Oh no! What have I done?"
Before anyone has time to react, the treak groans and begins to fall. Before it can crush the creature, it, once again, vanishes. The tree does, however, manage to swipe Ella's glasses off of her face and crush them.
"Marina I'm so sorry," Ella apologizes. "I knew they were going to be broken but I couldn't do anything to stop it."
"Don't worry about that Ella," Marina smiles. "What's important is that you're okay."
"That was amazing," Six ads.
"Congratulation," Sharma says, standing. You've just defeated three of Lord Vishu's avatars. Now we await Lord Vishnu's arrival."
"We're done waiting," Craytan growls. "He'd better show himself fast."
"Chill chill chill," a voice says from the tall grass of to the side. "The commander was just following my orders. I was being cautious. I needed to make sure you were who you claim to be. I've been waiting a long time to meet you."
We turn and stare at the statue of Vishnu, alive and smiling.
"Teleportation and shapeshifting," I speak up. "Am I wrong?"
"Very good," the statue nods. "Yes, I'm a shapeshifter and a teleporter. How did you know?"
"The avatars never actually lost," I said. "They disappeared at the last second. And then the next would appear a moment later. Including this statue form."
Eight claps and nods, grinning.
"Very observant," Eight commends. "You are very unlike any human I've ever met."
"So, Number Eight, right?" Six asks.
The statue stares at her for a moment before his skin turns a copper tan, his black hair grows into a mop of curls, his crown falls off, and twor of his arms vanish. He wears a glowing green pendent around his neck and pulls his ankle up, displaying three circular scars.
"My Cêpan originally named me Joseph, though I've had many names," Eight states. In this region, I'm known as Naveen. But yes. I am Number Eight."
"It's nice to finally meet you Number Eight," Crayton says offering his hand. "We've come a long way to find you. I'm Ella's Cêpan."
"I'm Ella, Number Ten," Ella introduces herself and Eight stares at her.
"Whoa, what do you mean you're Ten?" Eight asks. "There were only nine of us. Who said you were Ten?"
Ella suddenly shrinks doen to six years old but Crayton taps her and she returns to twelve. Eight grins, growing a few feet.
"That all you got Ten?"
Ella looks like she's concentrating for a minute before shrugging. "I guess so."
"I'll fill you in later but there was a second ship that made it off of Lorien and she was on it," Crayton says.
"Is that it, or is there a Number Thirty-two I should know about?" As he spoke, Eight shrunk back down and smiled. Despite the sarcastic comments, his voice remains kind.
Off to the left, in the corner of my vision, I see Marina nervously tuck her hair behind her ear, glancing at Eight a few times. I feel my teeth and the muscles in my back clench. I turn, walking to the water and staring down at my reflection. I've got dirt everywhere and my clothes are torn with dried blood where I had been shot and on my knee. My blond hair has grown out, and while it's still short on the sides and dowesn't look too different from before, I still feel like I need a haircut. I'm not seeing my reflection right now though. I'm seeing some of my past. Parts I prefer not to revisit.
After a moment, Hawkeye steps up beside me, giving me an apologetic and sympathetic look. "Sorry for earlier. I didn't mean...I'm sorry."
"Forget it," I say. "It's done. It doesn't matter anymore."
Hawkeye stays silent so I turn back to the others. Just as I do, Eight, who's currently skipping along the surface of the water, skids to a stop, sending a wave of water at Marina. She uses her Telekinesis to redirect it at him. He blew it into the air like a geyser and a moment later, the wind spontaniously kicks up, creating a wall of water on three sides of Eight, courtesy of Six.
"What else you got?" Six shouts over the wind.
Eight flashes a grin and is suddenly on top of the jagged rocks. Then, he's about an inch in front of Six. On muscle reflex she drives a fist into his ribs and he grunts, staggering backward.
"Six what are you doing?" Marina gasps.
"Sorry, it was a reflex," Six says.
"I deserved it," Eight assures them both.
"Teleportation is so cool," Marina says just before Eight appears beside her, leaning on her shoulder.
"I'm a fan of it," Eight grins.
Marina giggles and my stomach drops. I feel Hawkeye's eyes flash over to me but I ignore him. I force myself to keep a neutral expression, though, judging from her expression, Six sees through it instantly. Fortunately, or maybe not, Marina is too distracted by Eight to notice. Then, he reappears on Crayton's shoulder, arms out to keep his balance.
"Sometimes I pick stupid places to land though," Eight says.
Joy. A commedian. I suddenly wish Chad was still alive. It had been a while since I thought about him. After a moment, Crayton leans forward and Eight flips to the ground, landing on his feet and clapping.
"Where's your Cêpan?" Marina asks.
Eight's expression grows serious instantly. I glance at Marina and see sorrow on her face, and suddenly I'm thinking about Adelina. Adelina fighting a Mogadorian with a kitchen knife. Adelina, who had never properly trained Marina. Adelina who tackled a Piken off of a cliff to protect Marina, then fell with it. Her body would probably still be where it landed, if no animals had desided to clean it up. I suddenly feel guilty for not killing the Piken before she tackled it, and for not making sure she got a proper burial. I look to Marina again and can't remember her having grieved for the loss of her Cêpan.
"Com on," Eight says, turning to the tall grass on which side, which parts before him. "The light is going. I'll tell you about Reynolds and Lola when we get there."
"What about me?" Sharma asks. "What should I do? Please tell me."
"Commander," Eight says, voice even. "You have been a loyal friend to me and I would like to thank you and your soldiers for all your hard work. Vishnu would be happy with your devotion. But this is where we must part ways."
"But...I don't understand," Sharma says. "I've done everythi g you asked. I brought you your friends. My men died for you."
"I never wanted anyone to die," Eight states. "That's why I refused to leave the mountain and walk in the streets with you. Believe me, I know what it's like to lose people, more than you will ever understand. But this is where we must go our separate ways."
"But..."
"Goodbye, Commander," Eight cuts him off.
"You're leaving me," the commander says after a time.
"No," Eight says. "You're leaving me. A wise man once told me that only by leaving someone good, can you meet someone better. You will be with your Vishnu. But only after I am gone."
Sharma opens his mouth to speak but remains silent. Eight begins walking and everyone hesitates.
"Hey! Wait!" Crayton shouts after a moment. "The base of the mountain is the other way! We need to get to the airport!"
"First, I need to show you all something," Eight responds, stoppi g and looking back. "And we may not need an airport."
He continues walking and Crayton speaks up again. "Where are you going? There are things that you don't know yet! We need to sit down and talk. We need to make a plan!"
Eight simply continues walking. After a moment, we follow, Ella and Marina first, followed by Hawkeye, then Crayton, then Rookie, then me and Six. As we walk, everyone remains silent. My eyes watch the trees for a bit but after a bit, the trees thin until it would be hard to hide in them. My eyes drift to Marina. I see Six catch me staring and make a sympathetic face before my eyes fall to the ground and memories once again begin to play behind my eyes. I can already tell. I'm not sleeping tonight.
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