Today I’m amongst the elements for the first time since my arrival. Aihl and I are on the training field for those with Black Seeds located behind the facility. Aihl brought me out here to train me to use my Seed. He is standing at the far end of the five hundred yard field opposite me. I must start on the path to master the primary function of my Seed; acceleration and supersonic acceleration.

I’m wearing a prototype outfit designed by Dr. Genome—a tight white leather suit. The suit is plain. No seams, stitching or designs. My suit, unlike Aihl’s, stimulates the muscles in the body allowing greater synchronization with the Black Seed. In theory, the white suit will allow me to achieve the full potential of the Seed faster and with ease.

Dr. Genome’s two assistant doctors, Dr. Kevlar and Dr. Hackly, are overlooking the training from a bunker on the left side of the field. Dr. Genome cannot join us because one of his old friends is imprisoned for stealing a Black Seed called Vortex. Dr. Genome has been gone for three days and has not contacted anyone at the base.

“Are you ready?” Ailh asks through an ear piece.

“Yeah. What exactly am I doing?” I ask.

“Run as fast as you can to the end. It took Reaka five tries to get across the field in just over three seconds.”

“Did you say three seconds?” I ask astonished. “To cross a five hundred yard field? How fast is that?”

“Three hundred miles per hour. A snail’s pace compared to the speed she did after.”

“Well, then let’s get started,” I say as I get in position.

“Go,” he yells.

I run as fast as I can to the other end of the field. The longer I run, the lighter I feel. My heart beat and breathing aren’t increasing. I push myself to go faster and see Aihl is getting closer and closer only a few yards away. I pass him then come to a stop instantly.

“How fast was that?” I ask.

“Roughly twenty miles per hour. How do you feel?”

“Like I was walking. Not even the least bit tired.”

“You won’t have to worry about tiring yourself out. The Seed Adrenaline won’t allow it.”

“How is that even possible?” I ask.

“Technically it isn’t,” he says. “I do know while Reaka had that Seed, she never slept, not even once.”

“What about you?”

“My Seeds don’t work like that.”

“Seeds?” I say surprised.

“Yes. Azure Fang and Knight are my Seeds,” he says. “But enough about that. Go.”

I start running back to the other end of the field. I can feel the power of my Seed Adrenaline course through me making me lighter than air. Now I can see why Reaka thought this is immortality. It’s pure power and freedom on a level beyond any other. I will not lose myself to the Seed. I, a man, will control a God’s power.

I reach the opposite end and once again stop instantly with little resistance. A holographic screen materializes above the field. I look up and see the number one hundred seventy-five on the screen showing me my speed. I look down and see Aihl standing in front of me. He walks up to the starting line. I am behind him.

“Are you ready?” he asks. “My Seed Knight has a top speed of four hundred miles per hour. Do you think you can beat me?”

“Four hundred? Piece of cake,” I say as I take the line.

“Run on zero,” Aihl says as he points up to the screen.

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The screen starts the countdown at five. I ready myself and secure a firm starting position. The clock counts down to zero. I can feel the energy surge from the seed. Aihl and I run. He starts with an amazing burst of speed much faster than I, but I am quickly catching up to him. It looks like Aihl is slowing down as I continue to increase in speed. He is ahead of me but continues to move slower and slower until he is nearly at a complete stop. It is a second before he speeds back up again. However it is too late for him. I have already crossed the finish line. He stops when he crosses and looks up at me.

“You use supersonic,” he says. “You aren’t like, Reaka. She could not beat me her third time. She certainly could not go supersonic this quickly. You are not someone to be underestimated.”

“You shouldn’t compare me to her,” I say.

“Your right,” he says with a slight smirk. “Anyways, let’s continue.”

“Actually there is something I have to do now,” I say as I start to run.

“Where do you think you are going?” he yells as he chases after me.

“Aidon. I have some unfinished business there.”

My speed increases again freezing Aihl in his tracks. The world slows down as I continue to move faster. As I travel through the forest everything zooms by so quickly it is nothing more than a blur. I feel the Seed Adrenaline within me guiding my every step, moving me closer to my destination.

Rapidly I am engulfed in darkness as I run. I can feel myself drift from my body as I fall into a deep sleep. The darkness shifts all around me then forms into a familiar house from long before I met Nova, Timpuji or Fantasia. It is the cozy living room of a small two-story townhouse. The smell of bacon frying and eggs fills the room. I find myself sitting on the beige couch in front of a holographic TV screen that is turned to the news. No sound is coming from the television even when I try to turn up the volume with the remote.

“Kai, come on. Breakfast is ready,” a deep voice says from the kitchen.

“Yes, sir,” I say instinctively.

The curiosity pulls me closer to the kitchen doors eager to see who is on the other side. As I stand I instantly realize I am much shorter than I should be. Why is the house so identifiable that I feel this relaxed and safe? And how did I get here? I push open the cracked door. I slide inside and see a very thin man turned to the stove cooking. He looks up at me as I walk in. I run to him as soon as I see his face and brown fedora he always wears to hide his receding hairline.

“Uncle Lex,” I say as I hug him as tightly as I can.

Lex was my mother’s brother but he died years ago. My mother and father were both in the military and were called on border patrol duty when the relations with the Gandole climaxed before the war. I never saw them again after they left so I assumed the worst.

“Whoa. Slow down, sport,” he says surprised. “Sit down. Food’s done.”

I walk over to the chair and take my seat as my uncle places a plate of eggs and bacon on the table in front of me. I look down at the plate with a sense of déjà vu. I try to remember why, but the memory fights me refusing to reveal itself faster than I can relive it. I pick up my fork and try to eat my eggs in frustration, but find that I cannot. The fork passes through the plate. “What’s wrong sport?” uncle Lex asks as he sits in the chair next to me.

“I guess I’m not hungry,” I respond not knowing what else to say.

“Are you still upset about your parents?” he asks. “They’ll be fine. Now let’s eat up and see how I can spoil you for when they return…”

He is interrupted by the abrupt loud screeching sound of something flying over the house. Suddenly there are three more zooms over the house just as loud and fast.

“Everything is okay stay there.” He says as he stands up and walks over to the kitchen window and opens the shades.

A bright light floods the house blinding me followed by a loud explosion and a quake that violently throws me to the ground. My uncle grabs me and lies down on top of me to shield me from falling plates and light fixtures as three more explosions shake the house just as pugnaciously.

“Are you alright?” he asks loudly.

“Yes,” I respond.

“Stay here!” he yells as he gets up and runs to the back door.

As soon as he opens the door I get up and run to the kitchen window. I see Mount Kyro and at its top the temple Allaco, the home of the Great Oracles, engulfed in a plume of fire and ash. I feel the connection with the Oracles sever as a sharp pain pierces my heart, and I feel fear like never before.

Darkness again shifts around me until I find myself standing in front of my old home, Haven Café. I walk to the door and reach my hand out to open it but something grabs my heart telling me not to. I pull away. I take a few steps back until the entire building is visible. I see myself walking inside and being greeted by a fake family as if this never happened but, times have changed. Timpuji and Nova are dead and Fantasia left me for dead.

I turn back around and run so fast only seconds pass before I see Timpuji lying face down in the street just as he was the last time I saw him. Insects had already come to stake their claim on his corpse. His body is withered and his dried blood stains the side walk. I cannot manage to shed a single tear. Not for him or any other Aidoshian, but where is Nova? He should be here too. Did he survive?