【67 - Unexpected Conversions and the Pioneers of New Discoveries!】
A sand-runner blasted its way across the desert toward the excavation site. The motorbike pulled up and various workers drifted over, trying to peer through the sun. The female rider hopped off and removed her helmet. With the visor gone she eyed everyone with featureless blue eyes.
That blank colour was stark against her coffee-coloured skin and spiky hair. Some had to get a closer look but there was no mistaking it - a lieutenant had come to pay them a visit.
One of the workers knew about them from stories the others told. He ran down the entry to give everyone else the bad news.
"A lieutenant? Here?" Engyo panicked.
"If a lieutenant knows we're here so does Urobach." Tsukumo pointed out. "He could plant a bomb and wipe us out."
"Then we have to take Sinan and evacuate?" Kanoa asked.
Engyo turned to the robot "M-006, go to the ship and get us ready! Also do a scan to make sure nothing's been planted on board!"
"Roger!" The droid moved out.
Heidi glanced at Hillary who was the only one sitting calm, she lowered her head and said nothing.
"Let's go!" Jayden announced. Heidi and him ran for the corridor.
"Heidi!" Summer chased her, a maternal instinct kicking in.
They raced to the top of the stairs and everyone saw the lieutenant amidst the sand, standing by her bike. She was young, only a few years older than the chosens. She had pink overalls and a yellow shirt. M-006 took a sideways path for the ship. They watched their unwelcome visitor bend a knee while taking a theatrical bow.
"Huh?" Summer was confused.
"Bitch…" Heidi knew it as their usual behaviour.
When the girl straightened she smiled.
"How'd she find us?" Jayden asked.
"Don't tell me… Marcus." Summer murmured and they looked at her. "He was the newest of our team. When he left with Tom to get our digging crew he dipped on us without a word. He never came back. We all thought it was weird."
"Urobach planted a mole on your team, cause you're my sister." Heidi glared forward. "Of course he would."
"Marcus? A spy? I… don't believe it…"
"Believe it." Jayden told her.
"I'm so sorry, Heidi." Summer burst.
"It's my fault. Urobach could've just kidnapped you but he was spying on you instead. Natsu and Tailee are probably in the same situation." That thought made her voice break on the last sentence.
"I guess, what are we waiting for?" Jayden jogged out to meet her, alarming the girls behind him. After recovering Heidi ran too then Summer followed suit.
Jayden's hand was glowing red as soon as he stopped at duelling distance.
"You want to duel? Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Henka Pre-"
"I don't give a shit who you are!" The redhead interrupted her just as she was about to take another bow.
"My business isn't with you."
"Tough, cause I'm making this my business! Now get your deck out!"
"Wait, Jayden!" Heidi called. "Please don't get involved! Let me take care of this."
"Actually I didn't come for you either-" Henka started before they both interrupted her.
""Shut up!""
"Heidi… you and the other chosens need to get out of here." Jayden said over his shoulder. "Go on…"
"No… I'm not leaving!" Heidi felt Summer grab her arms and she immediately started thrashing as she was pulled back. "No! Jayden!" She fought but it was no use; Summer cried as she pulled her away.
Jayden faced forward "You wanna get past me? You'll have to win."
"Alright… have it your way." Her hand matched his red glow. Tables emerged from the sand and they got their decks ready.
Jayden charged a zero civilization card, followed by Henka charging light.
"I cast Ura NICE and draw a card!" The zero civilization spell shone a soft white.
"Come to think of it, I recognize you." Henka stated while drawing. "Aren't you that rich billionaire kid? I suppose you were behind the resources helping these guys?" She didn't receive an answer. Her mana tapped "I summon Chara Lupia!" A yellow fire bird flapped forth. "My dragons cost 2 less."
Jayden charged nature "I cast Pixie Life and ramp one!" A fire card flipped over. It seemed his deck was mostly colourless but with nature and fire splashed in.
Henka charged light-water "End."
"I cast another Pixie Life! Turn end." He'd ramped up to six mana but was running out of cards in hand.
"I cast Senyuu! Bomber MAX. Now by discarding Dynabolt I can draw 3 cards." The fire-light spell let her replenish her hand and she smirked.
Jayden hesitated then drew. On one hand, he was leading by having more mana. On the other, Henka had the most options. Of all the risky stunts he'd attempted, this duel seemed the most dangerous. He'd drawn Time Stopon… With this colourless spell he could send Chara Lupia to the bottom of his opponent's deck, preventing her from bringing out dragons easier. But, suppose she brought out a stronger creature next turn anyway - he should save it for that. Also, he needed her to break his shields to give him more cards.
It was one of those moments in the game when you had to weigh possibilities. The fact his life was on the line didn't make it any easier. But Jayden decided he had to keep it and the one finisher in his hand, instead… he charged Lightfang Falconer and ended his turn.
On seeing that Henka grinned widely. "Alright! I summon Bolshack Cyberex!" A dragon in crystal-blue armour appeared in her zone, a 7000 speed attacker. "Chara Lupia attacks and revolution change! Walkure Lupia, Sky Lord Dragonmech!" The cute critter was replaced by a mechanical monstrosity. It was a fusion of dragon and fire bird, with 6000 power. "Double break!" After spreading metal wings a series of missiles launched from its body, converging on Jayden's table and making him stumble back.
"Shield trigger!" He fought to stay strong. "Hakushon Mask enters play!" In being a Jokers card it looked strange: an ice-bag wrapped in a blanket with a surgical mask on. "Your weakest creature is destroyed!" At Jayden's statement Walkure Lupia began to dissolve upward like it was getting eaten by microbes. It wheezed before coming apart into dust.
"Hm. Bolshack Cyberex attacks and revolution change again! Katsuking Jr, Kung Fu Generation!" The dragon flashed and was replaced by another, this one in silver armour. Blue light shone through its mouth and eye holes. It swung nun-chucks overhead, having an impressive 10,500 power. "Before it continues the attack, it automatically breaks a shield on entry, and I gain one too!"
A panel was clobbered down. Then the dragon pulled its weapon back, swung it overhead before twirling it through the remaining shields. Jayden had to duck down as glass spewed by. When he straightened up he received no more triggers and his opponent stood smiling with hands on her hips, six shields protecting her.
Fire and light undoubtedly made a strong offensive and defensive combo. Jayden drew then his eyes widened at the field.
Time Stopon could only remove creatures that cost up to 6. It would've worked on Walkure Lupia or Bolshack Cyberex, but not her Katsuking Jr. He'd wasted his chance to use it after all.
"I summon Bullet the Silver!" A sniper-armed centaur reared up. "I reveal my top card and if it's another Jokers I can summon it!" Jayden prayed for a speed attacker but got "Tyke Tysons…" A comical gang of athletes began running on the spot, a mere 1000 creature. Jayden pressed on "Hakushon Mask attacks and rev change! Jogiragon & Johnny ~ J's Journey ~!" It was another colourless double breaker, a big dragon on 10,000. "I draw then discard a card, if it's a Jokers I can activate its come into play effect! I discard Iron Manhattan, now I choose two shields of yours and break all the rest!"
"No way!" Henka yelled as an invisible pulse blew up four shields at once. She cried out as her clothes ripped, one strap of her overalls cut and hanging loose.
"Then Jogiragon breaks those last two shields!" The dragon breathed blue fire and the girl fell back on her butt.
All six of her shields wiped out at once, and none of them were triggers. Henka sat there blinking before she pulled herself up and dusted off the sand.
"Guess you were really counting on Silver the Bullet saving you, huh? But with no speed attacker you can't make the final attack. You also couldn't take down Katsuking Jr since he's a mere 500 power stronger. Tis my victory."
"Nooo! You idiot, Jayden!" Heidi couldn't help wriggling harder against Summer's grip. "Why'd you face her instead of me! You should've just…" She sagged in defeat, tears falling as every other death she'd seen felt like they were on replay in her mind.
"Sorry, Heidi… guess I was willing to be a real hero after all." He forced a smile even as grief closed its way around his heart. With no ninja strikes in hand it would be over the moment she attacked with Katsuking Jr.
Henka started slow clapping "Bravo… bravo… But I'm not going to declare the final attack."
"What?"
"Yeah I'm totally here cause I wanna change sides."
"Huh?" Heidi joined in with Jayden's confusion.
"That spy working with your sister was working for me. Since I know Hillary is here I want her psychic powers to break the mental connection between me and Urobach."
"So… you mean…" Heidi mumbled.
"Yeah. Urobach doesn't even know I'm here, or that you're here. But I did cause you guys some major distress, so I must still be a little evil." She chuckled at that then removed her deck.
She walked, casually, across the sand and passed Jayden who was still frozen and staring ahead at his almost-death. Heidi, Summer and a few others watched as the girl approached. They parted for her. Humming, she passed them and made her way down the stairs.
"...a lieutenant wants to change sides. Did we hear that correctly?" Summer finally let go of her sister.
"I once spoke to a lieutenant who was being held captive in the DMA after I beat her." Heidi explained. "Urusai Torcon. She told me that to Urobach, the lieutenants are all disposable but they have no choice but to obey him cause of a 'psychic link' they all share with their boss."
"And this Henka girl thinks Hillary can free her from that?" Summer asked.
"Seems she does… I mean if they were just being forced to obey Urobach it explains why they're all so nutty." Heidi said.
They looked at each other for a few seconds more before racing down after the new arrival.
Heidi shouted after Jayden but refused to wait "Come on, numbnuts!"
The redhead was now kneeling in the sand amidst his cards "Going from a brave hero to numbnuts in the space of a few seconds..." He took a heavy sigh, needing more time to process the fact he was still alive before he could get up and follow them down.
Heidi could predictably hear voices that were angry and incredulous. She came to a stop in one of the bigger rooms and found everyone talking with the lieutenant.
"We can give it a shot," Hillary said calmly. "It might not be easy but I'm willing to try."
"Much obliged." Henka nodded. "And in exchange, I'll tell you guys everything I know about what Urobach's planning. It'd be my pleasure."
So the girls needed a private room for Hillary to work her New Age witchery. It involved sage and various other burning herbs, the assistance of the so-called 'angels' and various crystals, of course. Kanoa and Tsukumo had both struggled with Sinan but were all too happy to throw him back in his cage. Putting him in a headlock was necessary for handling such an unreasonable prisoner. Heidi drifted over to where the others were talking excitedly.
"Could this be a trick?" She asked.
"I doubt it." Tsukumo said. "What would be the point?"
"Think of the implications here, Heidi!" Engyo was the most excited. "Finally, a valid lead! An inside source into the Gatekeepers' plans!"
"We already had that! Remember when you pulled off Urusai's fingernails for information?" Heidi raised her voice.
"Now Heidi, the DMA didn't have a hand in her torture."
"No, but you facilitated it."
"This is a different location where disaster hasn't struck yet. And think of all the plans that might've been made in the months since then." Engyo remained patient with her.
Heidi held her tongue. They all waited to see what the result of Hillary's strange ritual would be. When Heidi wandered out and descended the stairs she joined some others peeking and could see both girls kneeling in the smoke. Hillary had her thumb between Henka's brows, her third-eye, both had eyes closed concentrating with faces turned up. Just by being close Heidi could feel an undeniable presence. A feeling of heat inside her, something pulling at her chest.
It was different. Other. And yet at some instinctive level, she recognized it.
Heidi turned and fled deeper down the corridor. She slowed to a walk after a while and tried to gather her thoughts.
Magic was real. She supposed it had to be. After all, everyone knew about kaijudo energy and the creature world. Those were proven to be true. So maybe it wasn't so strange for other kinds of magic to be real. If both Grandma Kaleo and Hillary could know things about people just by feeling… that means that magic is real and some people are psychic. Also, Heidi herself had felt things, sensations she couldn't explain in Kaleo's tent and while around Hillary. That means magic gets a tick in its checkbox.
What about ghosts? And life after death? Heidi, like Kanoa began to feel like she could sense ancestor spirits, especially on sacred sites on the island. And Hillary's 'angels' - she can definitely feel their presences even if she can't see them. But just because they were feeling things, didn't necessarily mean those things were what people said they were. When Hillary mentioned Meilani the other night, even Heidi thought she could feel her. For a moment, she thought she could even smell the Frangipanis and various other flowers that were always in her hair… Heidi mentally imagined the checkbox next to 'ghosts' and left it blank.
It's one thing to have a supernatural experience. It's quite another to take that experience and use it to justify an idea, or type of spirituality.
So what about religion? Could any of them: Solvusism, New Age or anything else possibly be correct? The main problem with religions is that they tell a story, and any deviation from that story - including rational critique - leads to eternal hellfire. That means followers are expected to surrender their own evaluating abilities because anything other than the story they're told is simply an invisible enemy trying to harm them. The devil, or Jinn. Back in her hometown there'd been religious students in her classes. Heidi showed them respect and they did the same to her. Secretly she'd thought religious people were kooky. But if these were people who'd had real supernatural experiences like Heidi had seen from Hillary, it wasn't so strange for them to try to find an explanation.
If you can pray and feel peace, even receive answers in return, then it might mean God exists. But also, it might not. Heidi had tried praying in her life, once or twice by her bed, and she'd not felt a single thing. It'd been crickets for her.
An idea occurred to her and she paused mid-step. The candle fires flickered in their brackets. Heidi turned and made her way back up.
"Heathen cow!" Sinan jumped at the bars once Heidi entered the room of his cell. "Release me now! Or by Solvus, fury will be upon you!"
"Sinan, I want you to tell me about why you became religious." Heidi explained.
"And why would I tell an outsider anything?" He demanded. He stunk and Heidi recoiled from his body odour.
They had a retractable camping shower in one of the rooms, but it seemed Sinan had proved so unreliable that they couldn't even let him out for that. There was a hole in the far corner for toileting. Aside from that all water and food had to be passed through the bars or slid under his door. After biting Jayden he'd not been let out for over a week now. There was a bruise around his neck and one on his face. Obviously caused by struggling against Kanoa and Tsukumo before when they thought they'd have to evacuate.
"Come on, I just said I wanted to hear you talk about your god? Shouldn't a religious person like you be ecstatic over that?"
"You mock me." He turned his head with disgust.
"Well how about this: Maybe Solvus, in being all-powerful, let you get captured so you could minister to me? And maybe save more souls from his fiery wrath?"
Sinan sighed "...what do you want to know?"
Heidi took a seat on the floor, leaning against the wall "You were obviously born into your religion because you were born in Solvus City, right?"
"Yes, we are Solvus's chosen people."
"Right, well, do you ever feel your god? Like… psychic-"
"It is not 'psychic'! Do not compare my relationship with God to those heathens deceived by other spirits!" He was immediately angry, back to clutching the bars.
"Okay, okay… but you do feel Solvus. And you have a relationship with him…? What does that mean?"
Again he looked away "Me and Solvus are in constant communion. He knows my heart. It's not just the worship or following his commandments. Not that I'd expect an outsider to understand… As for the situation I'm in now… maybe I have sinned against him. Or maybe as one of His closest, I've been called to suffer for his glory. A test to be rewarded for… or it is simply His will…" Sinan paced with his thoughts.
The encroaching confusion, which was edging its way into doubt took Heidi by surprise. She resisted the urge to try comforting him. As much of a prick as he was, he was clearly deluded at the same time. She didn't want to risk his fury and make him uncooperative, so she stuck to the purpose of the talk.
"Were you always able to feel Solvus?" Heidi pushed.
"No… I distinctly remember being fourteen and praying. I was just talking, as I was taught to do. Then I felt something invisible say to my heart 'what do you want?' So I blurted out: I want a close relationship with Solvus. As soon as I said that I felt warmth fill my chest. I was baptised by His spirit that day, and since then I've constantly felt His presence."
"I see…"
"Then the following morning I saw a rainbow outside my window. It rains so little in our climate, but I saw it and knew it was Solvus's gift to me. It brought me to tears." His head dipped and eyes glistened, but then his soft smile became a scowl once more as he remembered his current position.
"Thanks, Sinan." Heidi got up and left him, hearing enough for the time being.
He didn't say anything, merely faced away in his cell.
Everyone was gathered in the room overhead. Henka was hugging tightly onto Hillary with sheer gratitude.
"Did it work?" Heidi asked the room and was shocked when the new girl jumped over and hugged her.
"H-hey! Get off!"
"I'm freeee!" The quirky girl let go of Heidi and attached herself to someone else. She proceeded to make her way around the room, hugging people.
"I'll take that as a 'yes'..." Still baffled, Heidi straightened out her clothes.
"So there's no risk in remaining here?" Engyo asked and Hillary shook her head. Henka's laughter echoed off the walls.
"I inserted a psychic wall into her mind. Then I did energetic cord-cutting. Urobach shouldn't have any access to Henka's mind. If he tries to reach out he'll probably just think she's dead." The blonde explained to everyone.
Kanoa stepped up to Heidi with a small frown "...My people believed in the power of curses and witchcraft. I think we can both see that Hillary here is the real deal." As he said it Heidi peered over his shoulder at the other girl.
"It's true. She's no phoney." Heidi was forced to admit.
"So I want to learn about her New Age teachings. I need to commune with Meilani. I desperately need healing, and I know you do too."
"That's right. I do." Heidi said to him. She made up her mind and walked around Kanoa, tapping the blonde girl on her shoulder. "Hillary, we want your help with healing. And all that enlightenment shit. If we're to keep going we need to get our strength from somewhere. You said your angels told you Aurellia isn't doomed? Well, I want to believe."
Hillary stared surprised at Heidi and then looked at Kanoa who stood behind with the same determination. She smiled and her eyes twinkled.
"I'll happily teach you both how to get in touch with your true selves."
Heidi felt relief at this decision. It was worth it to investigate spirituality since it was so clearly something.
"Good to see you committed to getting yourself back on track." Tsukumo joined in on their talk and held out a card. "I believe this is yours?"
"Dokindam X...?" Heidi looked at her new finisher. At the memory of power, temptation pulsed through her. She reached for it but stopped herself. "No... Thanks for believing in me Tsukumo, but I'm not ready yet."
Kanoa put his hand on Heidi's shoulder in support.
"I understand." He slipped it back into his pocket. "When you are, let me know."
"Don't worry, you two." Hillary smiled. "I'll get you back in fighting shape."
And now, the indoctrination could begin.
Meanwhile, Sinan lay on the floor of his cell. He was looking up sadly at the roof. It felt like the isolation was causing him to slowly lose his mind. He was relying on his faith to give him strength, but even that was a limited resource. This was a true test, and he was failing.
"Why me?" Sinan murmured miserably. "Haven't I always served you whole-heartedly? Why have you allowed this, almighty Solvus? Could it be that what the heathens say about you is true? Do you really not care?"
It was blasphemy of the highest order, brought about by desperation. Sinan yearned for his luxuries. He missed blocking out the suffering of the world from within his wealthy home, in his fortified city. He could ignore everything about the outside world and not even spare a thought, because life obeyed the will of his perfect God. He knew that people suffered: disease, accidents and poverty. But since Solvus's wisdom was immeasurable and his justice absolute, those people must have deserved their suffering. Or it simply wasn't as bad as it seemed. Also, no suffering could come to someone truly close to His heart. Sinan should've lived in comfort all his days, and not be left rotting in a cell at the hands of heathens. He'd done nothing wrong. So why?
"Why…?" The boy continued miserably. "Why test me like this, when you know I will fail…?"
He started to feel delirious. Never would the old Sinan question his God. But by doing the wrong thing, at least he could find some sense in a situation that made none. He'd thought he'd always be protected. He knew he hadn't done wrong. By being guilty of blasphemy his God would remain perfect, because the alternative: criticising his own religion, would break down all the pillars he'd long sustained to form his ideas about the world. About life. Everything, literally everything, would collapse if this truth he'd believed in for all his life was proven wrong.
Sinan wept, but turned over and kneeled. He lowered his face to the floor and prayed for release, but only if his God willed it. Mostly, he asked for the strength to maintain his faith.
Believe in the strength of your Almighty God. The answer came to his mind, but still Sinan wrestled within his imprisonment.
That night everyone was around the fire again and under the stars. It was freezing cold, which seemed absurd for a desert but apparently that was also normal. Summer sat in the stretcher chair beside Heidi. Jayden was still eating dinner, using a fork to push mince around his plate. Kanoa sat next to Hillary. On her other side was Engyo, then Tsukumo who often stayed by his mentor. M-006 stared into the fire looking thoughtful, or was he simply on standby? With their newest and arguably strangest member of the team their numbers continued to grow. Henka was sitting weird on her chair, the soles of her feet touching as she watched the flames with those monochrome sky-blues. Various diggers were toasting marshmallows, not with sticks but at the end of metal prongs with rubber handles.
"This seems like a good time for someone to tell a story." Jayden pointed out.
"Ooo anyone want to hear stories about Heidi from when she was growing up?" Summer immediately gushed.
"No! They do not!" Heidi yelled. Kanoa grinned.
"She was so cute in her vigilante hero days! And the cape - ouch!" Summer rubbed her knee after Heidi slapped it.
"Older siblings are so annoying." Heidi brought her legs up and wrapped her arms around them.
"I wouldn't know." Kanoa said. "I have many siblings but they're all younger than me."
"I had an older brother." Henka spoke up unexpectedly and they all looked at her.
"You mean, before you came to Aurellia?" Engyo asked with much curiosity.
"Yep..."
"That's another thing," A thought randomly occured to Heidi. "If you know the Gatekeepers are unbeatable why would you ever want to change sides?"
"The Gatekeepers could destroy Aurellia, but they probably won't. Instead Urobach will likely kill off most of the population and enslave the rest. Even so, a life on the run will be better than being on the winning side."
"Why is that?" Engyo asked her.
Henka smiled up at the stars "Because we spent our whole lives being controlled. The moment we began researching the populace on Aurellia, we fell in love. We fell in love with individuality and freedom! You have no idea how happy these bright colours and polka-dots make me." She pulled on her shirt. "Where I came from nobody was allowed to stand out and everybody dressed the same. We didn't have separate countries or cultures. We didn't have trees, oceans or mountains. We didn't have movies or anime or comic books! It was all just work, work, work! And everyone wore the same grey uniforms."
"Like Urobach's." Kanoa recalled.
"But here people actually entertain themselves, or others. Man, the moment the thirteen of us came here we immersed ourselves as much as we could. We were away from the colony and could dress however we wanted! We could forge unique identities! It was roleplay, in a sense."
"So much is making sense now." Tsukumo said. "But on a different note, aren't you now our best chance at capturing Amira? She thinks you're her ally, you could inject her with the paralytic we used on Sinan."
"Wouldn't work." Engyo said with remorse. "She'd just teleport away the moment she woke up."
Heidi lowered her gaze while thinking of her former friend. The fire crackled.
"I suppose, if it's a story you guys want I may as well tell you what the asteroid's like." Henka slapped her thighs and sat up.
"Your race lives on an asteroid?" Heidi asked. "We fly around in a ship called the Carmen's Comet, but you guys actually came from a comet?"
"Keep up, Heidi." The ex-lieutenant chided. The younger girl frowned; Henka leaned closer so the light of the fire played against her face. Her voice became dreamy "If it's a story you all want I'll tell you about where I come from. How the lieutenants and generals were formed. An alien society based on conquest, and how it came to know the Gatekeepers of the Outer Path. I'll tell you all I know about Urobach, before I was enlisted in his battalion." She looked up and saw every eye on her. Henka took a deep breath "Alright. It all started when..."
『AN: Yep, that's right. Next chapter is an Urobach one. Are you telling me that bland antagonist is actually gonna receive depth? Believe me, I'm just as surprised as you are. In other news thanks to Acuma and Shuriken for reviewing! As of this moment in time, Acuma is one chapter away from completing his third arc in Shishima Chronicles. Meanwhile Shuriken has just finished reviewing all of Darkness Arc and decided he liked the less-depressive tones of Fire Arc more. In terms of my chapter plans for this arc I'm still behind, which is better than being ahead. I have been slowly getting into the spiritual aspects this quartile, which for those of you who aren't aware, is real personal. But more on that in due time... oh boy...』
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