Audrey and I sit side-by-side on the posh couch of my hospital room as we stare at the glimmering dark soul gem in my palm. Now that I’d spotted it, I can’t stop seeing the shining star of blue life force within the gem — so small, so easily snuffed out… but still there, still alive. What does that mean? Could fallen sentinels really be resurrected? Could Audrey have Jessie back?
Once more, I look up and meet Audrey’s eyes, “Jessie is alive,” I say with wonder, “maybe all dead sentinels are. Just locked within their gem.”
Audrey’s eyes shine with power; literally, the pink light of her assault state had started to bleed into her green irises until they shone. “This… this is it, Serena. This is how we win. If we can bring Jessie back, if we can bring them all back… we can hold out against the volcora. Sentinels could become functionally immortal.”
I close my eyes and, for a moment, see the vision Audrey must. If we can find a repeatable way of bringing sentinels back using their soul gems, then we could hold out indefinitely. We would be a virtually undying army so long as the soul gems of our fallen could be recovered. It would be a solution against the Volcora’s constant assault, sentinels that don’t die and only grow stronger with battle.
“How do we do that though?” I ask, eyes wide. “I don’t even know where to start.”
“Who do you go to when you want to do the impossible?” Audrey responds in a tone that says she already knows where to answer.
Oh… oh! “The Sanctum Collective!” I exclaim, remembering Professor Rhinebeck's words from my meeting. She asked me what impossible thing I wanted to accomplish, and while I haven’t yet gotten to start my classes, I’m still extremely excited for them. Maybe they will offer some clues as to where to start looking.
For the first time in a while, Celeste perks up once more, her ears pricking as she looks between Audrey and I. [Serena, Audrey,] she starts, her tone serious, [You should know that this would be far from the first attempt at reviving a fallen sentinel. I also feel that I must warn you that attempted revivals have universally resulted in the destruction of the soul gem used in the attempt, and sometimes also the researchers attempting it.]
Audrey glances down to Celeste, “I know that, but this is at least a start, no? I have been looking into this possibility for years now, and there has never been even a hint that the fallen sentinel could be revived other than theory. Serena’s title, however, is proof that it is possible. Maybe not with our knowledge today, but with our knowledge in the future. Don’t you think that it’s worth a shot?”
Before Celeste can respond, another familiar appears in a shimmer of stardust. Astra, looking like a small, star-speckled panther, looks up at her sentinel. [Audrey, I’m afraid I must agree with my fellow familiar,] Astra says in a purring voice. [Making this attempt with Jessie’s soul gem and failing… I don’t like to think of how it will affect you.]
Audrey’s face darkens, “I know… but…” Her eyes fall, face full of uncertainty.
Gently, I place my hand on Audrey’s shoulder, “Let’s at least talk with the Sanctum Collective. That can’t hurt anything, right? Maybe making an attempt is the wrong move, but giving up definitely is,” I say, wanting to help my mentor. Audrey had already done so much for me; I want to repay her in any little way I can.
Audrey swallows and nods, and there is wetness around her eyes now that the incandescent pink has faded. I understand how she feels. If there was even a possibility of getting my mom back, I would do anything. How could I deny that to Audrey? If there was any way I could help her get Jessie back, I would do so without hesitation. Even if it came at my own risk.
Before I can think of anything else to say, however, the door to the hospital room bursts open, revealing Baylee, who looks far less put together than she usually does. Her eyes are bloodshot, her left arm is wrapped in bandages, and her hair is messy. Despite all that, she wears a massive smile as she sees me.
“Serena!” Baylee cries before proceeding to practically launch herself towards me.
Baylee embraces me as tightly as she dares, tears leaking from her eyes as she tucks her head into the crook of my shoulder. She seems like she wants to speak but can’t manage it from around the wracking sobs running through her body.
“Hey…” I say, keeping my voice soft as I wrap my arms around my friend. “It’s okay, everything is okay now.”
From beside me on the couch, Audrey and Astra look at us as if such a display of emotion was practically offensive — as if Audrey herself hadn’t been nearly in tears a few minutes ago. I only give the two of them a moment of my thoughts; however, Baylee looks rough, and right now, she definitely needs a friend.
For a long few minutes, I return Baylee’s embrace, patting her gently on the back even as I desperately try to hold back the pain the hug causes. Tears are starting to well in my own eyes when Baylee finally releases me, and my pain blessedly returns back to its previous level; still awful, though.
“Sorry,” Baylee says, wiping at her eyes, “I didn’t know you were awake until General Novak told me to come and fetch you. The last time I saw you, I’d just woken back up as Lucas was waiting for the medical team to come pick us up. Neither of us thought you were going to make it.”
“Wait, back up,” Audrey says, frowning, “General Novak is requesting Serena?”
Baylee nods now that she has better control of herself; she sits up straight and attempts to smooth the skirt of her blue dress. “Yes, ma’am. She wants you, Serena, and the rest of Team Picnic to meet her in the hub as soon as we are able.”
I bite my lip at Baylee’s words, familiar nerves starting their dance in my stomach. A general? She couldn’t mean the general who runs the GDF branch in Shinara, could she? What could this General Novak possibly want with me and my team? I’m certain a general should have better things to do than meet with a bunch of rookies.
“Did she say what she wanted?” I ask. Absently, I scoop up Celeste’s small form and clutch her to my chest; she doesn’t protest, only nuzzling in closer.
“She said that she wanted to apologize,” Baylee responds, although she looks slightly confused by the prospect.
Audrey, however, is nodding as if that made sense. “Karma takes the position she has and the power she holds very seriously. A decision by her, or someone below her, led to us going into that incursion zone wildly underprepared. When someone fucks up, Karma always takes that to mean that she fucked up. She probably wants to say sorry for what you went through.”
[That makes sense, I suppose,] Celeste chimes in. [There is no way that space should have been classified as low-grade.]
“Actually,” Audrey says, narrowing her eyes in thought, “I can see how such a mistake was made. The stygis density in that space shouldn’t have allowed a mind flayer to exist within it. It’s like the Volcora intentionally reduced the population within the space to allow the mind flayer to occupy it.”
“What’s the point of that?” Baylee asks. “Also, aren’t the incursion zones just random in terms of what comes through?”
Audrey winces, “That is, uh, restricted information, I’m afraid. Can’t say more than that,” she responds as if she hadn’t already basically given it away. Yeah… Audrey and rules really don’t seem to go together very well.
Baylee and I share a glance; the mere idea that some kind of alien intelligence could be guiding the incursion zones sends shivers down my spine. My mind conjures an image of the mind flayer looking down at a map of Earth and tactically deploying its troops, and the wound in my stomach flares with pain. Suddenly, the cold weight of dread settles back upon me like the icy rain of the incursion zone. I’d thought I was safe in the city, but if the Volcora can deploy wherever they will? The loss of most of Northern Japan suddenly makes a lot more sense. I clutch Celeste tighter to me, trying to find comfort in her silky, soft fur. How many more cities will be lost? How many more people need to die before this is done?
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
While Baylee and I stare at each other with horror, Audrey stands, looking around. “We shouldn’t keep Karma waiting; I’m sure she has a lot to do. Come on, kids. Let’s go.”
Scene Break [https://i.imgur.com/LLJwEOR.png]
One very painful walk supported by Baylee later, we arrive in the small park General Novak had apparently reserved for our meeting. One of the many small parks within the hub, this one is just as beautiful and varied as the others. A collection of marble benches are scattered around beds of blooming flowers that give off an aroma of peaceful tranquility. A small, obviously artificial, stream burbles its way between the flower beds. The sound of it covering up much of the talking elsewhere in the hub — probably being aided by hidden inscriptions much like Silver Ridge has.
By now, I’d determined the reason for having so many parks like this in the hub. They act as little places for sentinels to come and destress. After wading through the hell of an incursion zone, it’s nice to be able to see what we’re fighting for. Besides, sentinels with various magic powers exploding from stress does not seem good for morale… or health and safety.
Standing side-by-side, I have to admit that Team Picnic looks rough. I’d had another tearful reunion with Akari, who looks just as disheveled as Baylee does, and I’d been told she’d been visiting me frequently during my convalescence. Haruto also looks a little worse for wear, but he seems far more put together than anyone else. Apparently, he had been the only one to escape the incursion zone relatively uninjured, something he’d been berating himself for, given that he was our green sentinel.
The worst off by far is Claire; her right arm is wrapped heavily in bandages… at least, the remainder is. Near where the middle of her right bicep should be, her arm simply cuts off, leaving behind only a bandaged stump. She looks bad, with bloodshot eyes, wild blonde hair, and wearing a hospital gown not too dissimilar to mine. Still, when she’d seen me, she’d managed a pain-tinged smile, just a hint of her manic intensity still gleaming in her eyes. The sight had warmed my heart. Claire will be okay; I’ll make sure of it.
Claire and I stand beside each other as we look over to the group across from us, Baylee, Akari, and Haruto cluster around us protectively. The uninjured members of our team doing their best to shield us from whatever was to come. In Akari’s case, she quite literally helps me stand, given that I really couldn’t be here without help. I’d been offered a wheelchair but refused it. Watching Audrey had taught me an important lesson: before everything, sentinels are strong, and I can’t be strong from a wheelchair.
Standing across from us is a group of three people, two I know and one I don’t, but suspect is General Novak.
Obviously, among the three is Audrey, standing tall and confident… or, well, she’s shorter than both of the other two, but she gives it her best attempt. As ever, her green eyes gleam with intensity, even as she looks over our ragtag team with a soft smile.
To the general’s other side is a mountain of a man that I’ve only seen once before. Kayne, the man with black eyes that even Audrey had been wary of. He wears a pair of black jeans with a simple gray t-shirt stamped with the GDF logo, and he looks down at us with disdain. Towering over everyone else present, he looks at us as if we weren’t worth his time.
General Novak herself is a tall woman with dark skin, made even taller by the fact that she’s wearing heels. She wears a crisp black business suit and looks like the picture of an authoritative woman. Even so, her eyes had softened upon seeing our group, and I can see a deep kindness behind her stern expression.
Once all of us are watching the general attentively, she speaks up. “I’m sorry for calling you all here on such short notice, Team Picnic. I know that a few of you are still in recovery from the disaster that was the previous incursion zone.” General Novak’s voice is deep and rich as she speaks; clearly someone who had spent a lifetime going from important meeting to important meeting and coming out the victor in each one.
Baylee steps forward, her hands nervously straightening her rumpled blue dress. Even so, she is, as ever, the leader and spokesperson for our team. “I apologize we couldn’t assemble faster, ma’am. I know that we are still on our GDF time, even if we are towards the end.”
I wince at that knowledge; today is Saturday, which means I’d been unconscious for the vast majority of Friday. Sunday would generally be our rest day, but I have a nagging suspicion that it isn’t going to be so restful.
General Novak waves a hand dismissively, “None of that; I know you kids just went through hell. I’m not about to hold you to formality while you are still healing. Instead, I would like to apologize and explain my thought process for sending you into an incursion so early in your training.”
I’m forced to hide my surprise at her words. Even though Audrey had told me that General Novak was the type of person to take extreme ownership, she had said that it was her decision, not that of one of her underlings. Why would the general of this entire GDF branch be paying us this much attention? I know that sentinels get special treatment, but this seems a bit much.
In response to the general, Baylee just nods respectively, although I notice her clenching her fists behind her back. Clearly, she feels the same as I do. We hadn’t been ready for an incursion at all, let alone one so deadly. The decision to send us in there had not only ended up killing multiple sentinels but almost an entire contingent of GDF soldiers. That level of death is just unacceptable to me. We should have had more training or… well, any training before going into that incursion.
General Novak watches us with a sad expression, her eyes lingering on Claire’s right arm and Akari supporting me so I can stand. Taking a deep breath through her nose, she continues. “I know your mentors explained part of the reason for sending you into that incursion zone, but let me tell you the rest. From what you’ve already learned in your time with us, it shouldn’t be too hard to put together the fact that we are losing. Every day, the Volcora push us harder, more of our sentinel protectors die, and salvation is still a long way away. If nothing changes, all of Japan will have fallen before the close of the year.”
My heart seems to seize in my chest, and the wound in my stomach burns with pain. To hear those words from the GDF’s leader in Shinara, the one who knew better than anyone else the state of this war… it terrifies me to my core. If nothing changes, my father, Benny, and everyone else I love will be dead — Silver Ridge High School, my home, and the beauty of the hub all reduced to rubble.
Gritting my teeth, I glare up at General Novak. I will not allow that to happen. I will not allow Shinara to fall. “What change is required?” I ask, meeting the dark eyes of the GDF general and potentially the most influential person in all of Shinara.
“I’m going to let you in on restricted information,” General Novak says, causing Kayne beside her to shift side to side uncomfortably. The general, however, doesn’t seem to care. I suppose I wouldn’t either in her position; with the end of Japan on the horizon, a few broken rules shouldn’t stand in the way of getting things done.
“In our last meeting with the Centurions,” General Novak continues, “we asked for aid — we told them that we would not be able to survive for much longer. The solution they sent us was you. A team of sentinels with more potential than any before them. That is why we sent you into that incursion zone and why we will continue to do so. We need you to grow, to be the elites amongst elites, to be the difference when the Volcora decide to end Shinara once and for all.”
I swallow nervously at General Novak’s words; how could she be expecting us to be the ones to turn the tide? I will do my part, of course; I will die trying if I have to, but do we really have so much potential?
While everyone else stands shocked by the general’s words, Celeste shifts from her position on my shoulder. She had been invisibly and silently watching the conversation, but now, she speaks directly into my mind. [Serena, the general is right. There is no limit to how strong we can grow.]
I blink, startled, “But… isn’t that true for all sentinels?”
[There is a lot you still don’t know about me,] Celeste says, her tone sad and more than a little uncomfortable. [I have been forbidden by my mother from telling you much until the time is right. Until then, just know that we have certain… advantages.]
There’s a part of me that wants to demand answers right now, but… Celeste is my familiar — a part of me just as much as my own arm. If I needed to know, she would tell me. “I trust you,” I respond simply before Baylee steps forward once more.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but we aren’t the elites you need,” Baylee says, and while there is fire in her eyes, her shoulders are slumped. “We’re high school students; while we somewhat know how to fight from our electives, we are far from elite warriors.”
General Novak nods sadly, “I know, and now some of your mentors are dead. As such, we are creating a new training program for you, led by the two most powerful sentinels in Shinara: Stardust Angel and Voidfire Warden. We need you to be elites, so that’s what you will become; we need you to grow faster than any sentinel before you, so that’s what you will do. What I’m asking of you won’t just be hard; it will be next to impossible. But right now, if we’re going to survive, we need a little impossible.”
For a moment, General Novak pauses, looking us over before she finishes. “Now you know the plan. However, if there are any among you who want to be moved to a normal sentinel team, tell me now. Otherwise, your training begins tomorrow.”
Audrey, Kayne, and General Novak look over our group as if expecting someone to step up and say that they wanted out. No one does, though, and pride swells in my chest. We may just be high school students, but we’d all made the choice to accept our sentinel roles. Now, it’s time to earn it.
Finally, General Novak nods, the slightest hint of a smile on her face. “Good. I’ll make sure that your two injured get enough healing to participate in training tomorrow; otherwise, you are dismissed. Expect an email documenting your new schedules to be arriving shortly.”
As the others around me turn to leave, General Novak locks her gaze directly on Akari and me. “Serena, Akari, you stay. We have one more matter to discuss.”