Tormented
Epilogue
Last Chapter of Tormented! Finally years later, got the edited version done lol. Its sequel, Redacted, will be out soon.
Edited: 06/12/2022
Amara Carina Wahl and Nahala Aleeza Wahl.
Those were the names of the two little girls that Neve had brought into the world. And to Akiva, they were beautiful.
Amara, the first to be born, holds the same blue eyes and skin as her mother but, her dark brown strands were obviously inherited from Akiva. Nahala is identical except for her eyes, a light shade of turquoise. A mixture of Akiva's gold and Neve's blue.
Both were born healthy – much to Akiva's and Neve's relief – and with permission from Matt, Akiva had brought little Oraxsis to meet his sisters. At first, the toddler looked bewildered, confused as he looked upon the newborns. But after holding Nahala – with help – Akiva spotted a twinkle in his eyes. This was telling enough that Ora is going to do everything he can for them, no matter the cost.
Another quick check up on the girls and the mother, Akiva found himself and Ora shuffled outside by Matt, the Medic claiming that Neve and the daughters needed rest. Despite his protest, Akiva relented when Ora yawned in his arms; close to nap time he realizes. Although, he agreed to leave the Medical Wing, that doesn't mean Akiva was going to wander far.
Pacing back and forth in the middle of the Plaza, Akiva patted the now sleeping Ora's back. Despite their time together, he can easily sense the bewildered look from Gaia.
"The more I spend time with you 'organics', the more I am confused by your actions." The Ghost hovered close, their gold optic narrowing, "How does patting a back lull one to sleep?"
"It's comforting." Akiva laughed at the puzzled look Gaia gave Lex; the latter continued, "It is gentle. A reassurance that you are there, even when you are asleep."
"So, he has to do this even when he is grown?"
"Until he gets old enough when he doesn't need it anymore." Akiva answered, earning another bewildered look from Gaia, "But right now, at this stage, he needs as much love and care he can get."
"Speaking of getting old enough, are you going to enroll Ora in that little Academy they're starting?"
Akiva paused in his steps, pondering upon his Ghost's question.
The Academy.
Back when Akiva saw the little girl with the Ghost, he had thought that she had taken the fragment of the Traveler into her care. But, after a bit of digging, the truth came out: the Ghost had chosen the little girl as their Guardian.
At first, Akiva had thought against of informing the Vanguard but, the desperate look in the mother's eyes made him rethink that decision. After reporting it in, news spread of the little girl, a living individual being selected as a girl. And that is when more like her started to make their way towards the Tower.
It wasn't just children who were selected either. There were adults, some who had hardly come of age, those who were beyond their years, and even infants, freshly born, were chosen. When the Speaker finally heard of the news, he announced the building of an Academy that will be built near the Tower, a place where those young in years will attend to learn how to wield their light, to be educated on the life and duties of a Guardian. It has been decided that those older in years will be placed in the Tower.
"Perhaps." Akiva finally answered, "Counting on how well it goes."
Hearing his son whimper in his arms, Akiva then rubbed his son's back, hearing him quiet down to gentle breathing, "and who is exactly attending the Academy."
"Hopefully people who are trustworthy. And competent." Gaia bluntly said, "If my Guardian is attending this so called 'Academy', I am going to be stuck with him as well." Akiva then heard them scoff, "I am not going to float around and listen to some nonsense. Waste. Of. Time."
"Then let us hope this Academy will do its job." Lex hummed, "A new generation of Guardians, living Guardians, will be joining our ranks soon. It will be a waste if it does not work"
A harsh breath can be heard from Gaia, "Living Guardians. Who would have thought that Guardians sleeping around down in the City will produce offspring born naturally with Light?" Akiva watched them shift their shell against their core, "They need to find another way to pleasure themselves 'without' risk of impregnation."
"Oh geez." Lex sounded exasperated, "You sound like as though you aren't too happy about Guardians who haven't experienced their first true death. What is wrong with that?" His Ghost spun his back fins, "True, it may take them a few years to accustomed to being a Guardian, but it is nice to know that our ranks are growing."
"Are you so sure?" Gaia asked, "True we're gaining numbers but what makes you think that the 'living'and the 'dead'Guardians will intermingle positively?" Another scoff from gold and crimson Ghost, "You have a 'human' as a Guardian so you wouldn't understand, but, back when Sun was my Guardian, the two of us learned that even the smallest of differences can lead to extreme prejudice."
"That is not going to happen here."
"Maybe not now, but it will happen later."
Taking in Gaia's words, Akiva glanced at the sleeping form of his son in his arms, listening to his steady breaths. No doubt years from now, when little Oraxsis comes of age, he is going to take up the mantle as a Guardian but, Akiva wonders how others will treat him because of it. How will Guardians who were previously dead react when they learn that there is a Guardian who had never experienced a true death amongst their number? Of one who holds all memory of his childhood, the love and care he received from family? Will they accept him then?
"Do not worry about it, Akiva." Lex's words snapped Akiva out of his thoughts, "Lord Negativity here is just being too pessimistic."
"I am not pessimistic; I am being realistic."
"Same thing." Akiva smiled sheepishly as Gaia glared at Lex's retort, "Or as Angel would say, 'Pessimism and Realism goes hand in hand when everything seems dour'."
Hearing the Hunter being mentioned, Akiva's smile quickly faded. It wasn't long after Aleeza's death when Angel packed up and headed out into the Wilds; an occurrence that Akiva understands is how Hunters mourn. Since then, all the Tower had received from Angel were a string of short messages and white noise. He hadn't even come to visit when Akiva sent a frequency of the birth of his daughters.
He just hopes that he will return soon.
His thoughts wandering, Akiva then thought of Ianos, remembering Matt repeatedly stating repeatedly how he was 'upgrading' the Warlock's system; in other words, keeping Ianos bedridden. All Akiva had to comment was that it was taking longer than everyone had anticipated, and questions asked are quickly brushed aside.
"Soon" was all Matt would say.
He hadn't seen Ianos since then either.
Nonetheless, with the Awoken on medical leave, Akiva and Angel are currently the only 'active' members of Fireteam Redacted and with their current condition, they were placed on standby. At least, until they regain their numbers, their strength.
Hearing Ora let out another whimper, Akiva smiled softly as he said, "Alright, alright, we're going inside." He then breathed out, spotting the faintest fog, "Getting a little chilly out here."
Before he turned towards the apartments, Akiva turned and glanced at the broken form of the Traveler. His thoughts wandered over to his team.
Angel, alone out in the Wilds, Ianos stuck in the Medical Wing, Pluto struggling to revive his old Clan, and Carina and Aleeza gone from the world of the living.
Akiva couldn't help but utter a single sentence.
"Let the Light of the Traveler guide you."