I do not own Lorien Legacies or any of the characters.
Meeting
I open my eyes, staring up at a crystal chandelier, one that looked to have diamonds on it. I sit up looking around. Comfortable chairs, a comfortable love seat, comfortable couch, soft comfortable rug that I'm already laying on, and thousands of books on shelves taking up every wall of the relatively small room. I stand, stretching until several spots along my back pop, then sigh contentedly and walk over to the book shelf. Less than a minute ago, I was floating around disembodied, watching Setrákus Ra's life story and his fall from honorable Garde hero and elder to psychotic freak that sucked up Loric Energy to harvest into black goo and then used to give his servants Legacies, weak versions, barely strong enough to lift a small stone, but still. The vision, courtesy of the Entity through Ella, also showed Pittacus Lore putting a noose of some kind of razor-sharp plant that made wounds no legacy could heal around Setrákus Ra's neck then giving him his now signature scar, then failing to execute him, as he was supposed to.
Personally, I really don't care. I mean, sure, it's interesting to know that Pittacus Lore had a legacy that let him copy any other, and it was helpful to know that he actually could, in theory, create legacies given enough Loric Energy, which he definitely has now, but it was essentially pointless. Unless we kill Setrákus, it really doesn't matter who he was. He's a psychopath who needs to die now. And in the end, that's what matters.
I pull a book off the shelf, opening it to see it's a picture book. I start to flip through the pages, seeing it's the car chase we had while fleeing the Mogadorians with Marina and Héctor Ricardo, except that it's from Ella's point of view. I close the book putting it back. I don't need to snoop through her memories. That's just rude.
"What's in it?" a voice asks behind me.
I turn to see Marina standing in the middle of the room, where there was nothing a moment ago.
"Ella's memories," I say, walking away from them. "I kinda wish we could wake up. Ella stopped me from impaling Setrákus's head by about a second after he passed out. Does the fact that I'm here mean I have Legacies?"
"I guess so," Marina nods grinning. "And don't worry. I asked Ella to make sure you wake up before Setrákus Ra does. That should give you just enough time to do what you need to."
I grin, nodding and then sigh, sitting down in one of the chairs. A moment later, Marina's in my lap, legs tucked under her and head on my shoulder.
"It feels good to relax, even if it's just in a dream," Marina sighs.
"I agree," I nod. "When we wake up, it's going to be hectic."
"I know," Marina nods. "Can you handle Setrákus while I heal Adam?"
"I should be able to, yeah," I nod.
Just then, light begins to collect in front of us until Adam is standing before us. He looks around confused, then sees us and his eyes widen a little.
"Oh, sorry," Adam says. "Didn't mean to interrupt."
"Just relaxing," I say. "How's your face?"
"Caved in," Adam says. "I'll survive for the time being, don't worry about that."
"I'll heal you first thing once we're out of the pit," Marina promises. "Then we're going to go back in to help James."
Adam nods but I shake my head.
"No," I say. "One of you two get Ella out of the pit while the other helps me keep Setrákus Ra in it. I'm pretty sure he can't effect Legacies all the way across the crater, so if he tries to follow say Marina up one side, Adam can collapse the ground under him, dropping him back into the crater."
"And then he'll go after me," Adam says.
"And I'll make it not worth the effort," I say. "Me and Six, probably."
"Probably," Adam agrees. "So much for stealing the Anubis."
"Yeah, no kidding," I snort.
"Alright, thanks for waiting," a familiar voice off to the right spoke up. "Right this way, if you please."
I look over and stare at Eight, who's bowing and grinning at us from a doorway that had materialized in the door.
"Eight!" Me and Marina gasp.
"One?" Adam breathes, covering his mouth before looking at us confused.
"We each see someone specific to us?" I guess. "Then why are me and Marina both seeing Eight?"
"Maybe there's something you haven't told us," Adam suggests, then grins.
"You're kidding, right?" I growl.
"Well obviously," Adam says.
I sigh and shake my head. Marina climbs off and stands and I stand as well, looking at Eight but find I can't meet his eyes.
"Cheer up James," Eight laughs. "You take life way to seriously. Everything's going to turn out just fine. I promised I'd watch over the two of you didn't I?"
I nod, glancing at the others. Adam's moving his mouth like he's speaking but he's barely whispering.
"I know," Marina says, gaze dropping to the floor, obviously having a conversation I can't hear. "I'll wait. Of course I'll wait. But, how will I..."
She trails off and I look back at Eight as he gestures for me to follow. I start forward, Marina and Adam walking beside me. On the other side of the door is a long white hallway. Eight holds a hand up to stop me, Marina and Adam continuing to walk then fading from sight a few feet away. Before I can even think to panic, Eight chuckles.
"Relax," Eight laughs. "Their going a different way than us. You don't get to sit with them, not yet, at least. Soon though."
"Eight, are you really Eight, or just a projection from my mind?" I ask.
"Both?" Eight shrugs. "Hell if I know. Anyway, you can start kissing my boots now."
"Why?" I ask.
"How do you think you really got through that barrier alive?" Eight laughs. "A pair of Loric pendants and Marina hugging you?"
He chuckles and I blush a little.
"Relax," Eight laughs. "Anyway, we should go."
I nod, following him down the hallway.
"Did you get the Entity to give me Legacies too?" I ask.
"No," Eight says. "That I had no sway over, though I'm glad you do. I'm rooting for you to get my set, or at least, teleporting."
"That would be nice," I snort. "I'd take telekinesis to."
Eight nods laughing.
"All in due time," Eight laughs. "Now, about you and Marina."
I groan. I knew this was coming.
"Why are you still holding her at arm's length?" Eight asks seriously. "I told you to drop the curse crap. And I told you to take care of her."
"I am taking care of her," I say. "And I'm still trying to hold her at arm's length because..."
"Because you're scared?" Eight asks.
I sigh and nod.
"Don't be," Eight says. "You are strong, even without your legacies, which haven't even come in yet. You just have to have faith."
"I know," I sigh. "But..."
"Enough," Eight says stopping as a door formed in front of us. "Just stop worrying about what could happen. Both of you are still alive despite what's currently going on. That should be proof enough that you can keep her safe. No, go through that door, find a seat, and be patient."
"But..." I trail off as he fades.
With no other options, I sigh, opening the door and finding myself in a stadium, in the stands overlooking a round table with a Loric symbol carved into it, the same that the old Loric Elders sat at in the vision the Entity had shown us. I sit in a seat in the front row, looking around. Alone. Alright. Patience. Great. Slowly, whispers begin to grow around me. They grow louder as people form, the other new human Gard. All several hundred of them. To my right is Sam, and on his other side is a girl with dark brown hair pulled back into rows of braids and a runner's build.
"Sup Sam," I greet making him jump.
"Jesus James!" he snaps. "When the hell did you get there?"
"Just now," I smirk. "How you guys holding up?"
"We're under attack by some giant alien monster right now actually," the girl says. "It's trying to step on us all as we speak so, not great. But thanks for asking."
"You must be Daniela," I guess. "Sam mentioned you. Pleasure to meet you."
"Well aren't you polite," she grins. "Gonna ask me for a date next?"
"You wish," I snort. "I'm kind of spoken for."
"Oh did you finally kiss her?" Sam asks, knowing my answer already.
I roll my eyes looking away.
"Thought not," Sam grinned.
"Oh really Sam?" I grin. "You wanna play the 'who's further ahead game' with me? Alright. How about we explain you and Six's wild night to Daniela. I'm sure she'd be interested."
Daniela grins evilly.
"Shut up," Sam grumbles, blushing.
"That's what I thought," I grin. "Next time don't try to embarrass me. Oh, and about the giant alien monster, we're fighting the alien ruler right now, so I really don't want to hear it."
Daniela rolled her eyes but I saw Sam pale.
"She's fine," I say. "We all are."
Sam nods just as people begin to appear at the table in the center of the room. Ella sits in one chair with a bound Setrákus Ra to her left, followed by Five, then Adam, Nine, John, Lexa, Marina, and Six. Setrákus has a black bag over his head and apparently can't see or hear, and he's struggling against his chains.
"Look!" a Japanese girl shouts, pointing at the table.
The room is suddenly buzzing with questions, but it eventually dies down. Those sitting in the middle of the room begin to look around at each other, waiting for someone to speak. Out of all of them, most look uncomfortable, and a couple look like they might hide under the table. Nine, on the other hand, is looking around the room, nodding to random people.
"What's up?" Nine grins, a few people around the room snickering.
Finally John stands. Several people whisper things like, "It's John Smith," or "It's the dude from Youtube." I have no idea how he's suddenly so famous, but I suspect Sarah may have something to do with it. John asks Ella something, getting a short response then nodding to himself.
"Hi," John begins, raising a hand. "I'm John Smith. We're what's left of the Loric."
"And going to shrink one," I whisper to Sam and he grins.
"Better be only one from your end," Sam whispers back.
I nod as John continues.
"I guess you probably saw what we saw, right?" John asks. "Well, that story ends with Setrákus Ra here coming back to our planet, Lorien, and massacring everyone on it. Everyone except us." He pauses, either to let it sink in or to think on what to say. "If you're not sure what this has to do with you, well, maybe you noticed all the alien warships on the news? Setrákus Ra is here. He is going to do to Earth what he did to Lorien. Unless we stop him."
John's eyes sweep the crowd as he speaks, making eye contact with as many as he can. He's a pretty good leader, and a natural public speaker. Good. That's not my job.
"I don't mean we as in my, uh, friends here sitting at the table," John continues. "I mean you and us. Everyone in this room. I know this is crazy. It probably doesn't even seem fair. A few days ago you were leading normal lives. Now, without warning, there are aliens on your planet and you can move objects with your minds. Right? I mean...is there anyone here who can't do Telekinesis yet?"
Several hands rise around the room, including mine and a young Hawaiian kid who's been crying this whole time. John's eyes find me for the first time and he cocks his head, squinting, then grins and shakes his head before becoming serious again.
"You must be really confused by all this then," John speaks up. "Try it when you get out of here. Just, uh...visualize something in your house moving through the air. Really focus on it. It'll work, I promise. You'll amaze yourself and probably freak out your parents. Has anyone developed any other powers, besides Telekinesis? We call them Legacies, by the way. Anyone else...?"
A stout guy with brown hair stands up.
"My name is Bertrand," the guy says in a slight german accent. "My family, they are beekeepers. Yesterday, I noticed the bees, um...they talk to me. I thought I was going crazy but the swarm goes where I tell them too, so..."
"That's amazing Bertrand," John says. "That's really quick to develop a Legacy. I promise the rest of you will get them too. And they won't all be talking to insects. We can train you to use them. We have people that know, people with experience..." John pauses to glance around the table and I grin. He's making them all Cêpan. "Anyway, there's a reason you're getting the Legacies, especially now. In case you haven't figured it out yet...it's because you're supposed to help us defend the Earth."
I look around the room. There are some that look ready. A lot cheer. I can even spot a handful more military. But almost all of them are just kids. Most begin to murmur amongst each other uncertainly.
"Children," I breathe. "He's recruiting children."
Sam nods.
"Not much choice," Sam says.
I nod in agreement just as John raises his hands for silence.
"I'm not going to lie and say that what I'm asking you to do isn't dangerous," John says. "It most certainly is. I'm asking you to leave your lives behind, and leave your families behind to join a fight that started in an entirely different galaxy."
John's eyes flash to Daniela and she smirks.
"I obviously can't make you join us," John continues. "In a few minutes, you'll wake up from this little meeting back wherever you were. Where it's safe, hopefully. And maybe those of us who do fight, the armies of the world, all of us...maybe that will be enough. Maybe we can fight off the Mogadorians and save Earth. But if we fail, even if you stay on the sidelines for this battle...they will come for you. So, I'm asking you all, even though you don't know me, even though we've royally shaken up your lives, stand with us. Help us save the Earth."
"Hell yeah," Nine says clapping. "You heard him, newbs. Quit being wimps and join the goddamn fight."
The silence breaks the moment Nine starts talking. Questions ring out all around the room, and some comments.
"Is that a Mogadorian at the table?"
"Go back to your galaxy, freaks!"
"How do I quit breaking stuff with my Telekinesis?"
"I want to go home!"
"How can we stop them?"
"What's up with your eyepatch, bro?"
"Can the scary guy see us?"
"Why do they want to kill us?"
Then, finally, some kid with a bleach blond mohawk and dressed like some punk rocker stands and then stomps hard. His combat boots make a sound loud enough to silence everyone.
"You lot are in America, right mate?" He asks in a British accent. "Let's say I did want to join the fight and take it to these pasty wankers. How the hell am I supposed to get to you? In case you haven't noticed, there's no bloody transatlantic flights on account of the giant spacecrafts."
"I can answer that," Ella speaks up, voice ringing and melodious.
The Entity speaking through her. Above her on the ceiling, there's a world map I hadn't noticed before. Dots of light begin to appear on the map. The brightest I recognize as the stones Eight had been able to teleport around with, but there are new ones. However, without a teleporter, there's really no way to use them.
"These are locations of Loralite stones," the Entity says. "The brightest ones have existed on Earth for a long time. The others are only now beginning to form as I bond with the Earth. Soon, they will surface."
Marina says something to Ella, probably pointing out only Eight could use them before.
"The Loralite are attuned to your Legacies," the Entity says. "When you are close, you will feel their pull. All you need to do is touch them and picture the location of another stone. The Loralite will do the rest."
"Is that Stonehenge?" the Brit asks. "Alright. That's doable."
"I think another of those is in Somalia," another says.
"There will be more changes to your environment-" Ella stops, hands melting into the table as she shook violently, sparks flying off of her. Then, she spoke again, this time with her own voice. "He's breaking through!"
The chains binding Setrákus Ra explode, clattering across the table and ground, passing harmlessly through everyone. In an instant, Setrákus is on his feet, hood off and snarling. People begin to scream and scramble over their chairs, though, there's nowhere to run. Setrákus Ra lays a hand on Ella's shoulder but she doesn't react so he turns to the nearest Garde, Five.
"I don't know what they told you!" Setrákus bellows to the human Garde, eyes sweeping the crowd, memorizing faces. "I assure you, it is foolishness! If you saw what I saw, then you saw how the Loric tried to murder me for the crime of curiosity. Come! Swear allegiance to your Beloved Leader and I will show you how to truly harness your powers!"
No one rushes to pledge allegiance, but almost all look terrified.
"I'm releasing you," Ella warns, speaking loud enough for Six, Daniela, and I to hear as well. "Be ready, it'll happen quick."
Then, she slumps forward. The room begins to dim instantly, and John and Nine wink out of existence after a moment. Setrákus is not pleased.
"I have seen your faces!" Setrákus Ra seethes. "I will hunt you! I will kill you! I will-"
I leap off the balcony, Marina holding her hand out, catching me with Telekinesis and quickly dropping me on the table in front of Setrákus, blocking him from seeing the human Garde.
"Hey there beautiful," I grin. "Remember me?"
"James," Setrákus growls. "I'm surprised you didn't kill me after I passed out."
"Not from lack of trying, I assure you," I snarl. "Your granddaughter wouldn't let me."
"I see," Setrákus nods. "Well, while we have time, tell me, do you worry about Marina? Aren't you afraid your curse will reach her too?"
I stiffen. My eyes narrow at him.
"Kind of funny wasn't it, how the one girl you sent away died in a plane crash the next day?" Setrákus smirks.
I swallow hard. There was no way. The Mogadorians couldn't have been behind my curse. Why would they? It had to be a trick.
"Tell you what," Setrákus grins. "When we wake up, I'll see to it your curse gets some exercise. How does that sound? That should repay you for thinking you are strong enough to defy me without any active Legacies."
"I'm going to tear you apart," I snarl.
Then, everything goes dark.
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