4. P R O T E C T O R S : Primordial

CHAPTER III

The Protectors stood in another cave now, artifacts in hand. This one was larger than both the conference cave and the main cave, and there was what appeared to be a small pond in the center of it. It would've been pitch-black in the new cave, but Mr. Barakoa's presence had spawned more glowing mushrooms that cast aside the darkness.

"At our international headquarters," Mr. Barakoa began, "we've been researching ways to reawaken the Protectors. It took a while, but during a visit to one of our labs, I discovered something interesting." He turned to Cameron. "Ms. Walden. Please give me your artifact."

Cameron nodded and handed him her obsidian shard, frowning in confusion. "Okay. What do you need it for?" she asked.

Mr. Barakoa took the artifact and replied, "Watch." Closing his eyes, the wolf-man's mask and hands began to glow bright white as healing power flowed through them into the shard.

Suddenly, flames burst from the shard, dancing in the dim light of the mushrooms. Some of them were a fiery orange while others were a sickly green.

Mr. Barakoa opened his eyes and tossed the artifact to Cameron, saying, "Think fast."

Startled, Cameron reached out and grabbed the shard.

The reaction was instantaneous.

The shard suddenly expanded and transformed, forming a wickedly-sharp sword made entirely of stone. Cracks filled with green-and-orange fire ran through it, giving off a dull light.

Cameron was transformed as well: her body was gradually covered in stone armor with featherlike imprints, a helmet shaped like a phoenix's head covered her own, and a pair of stony phoenix wings protruded from her back.

"Whoa! Hel-lo!" Cameron exclaimed, looking down at herself in astonishment.

"Blimey," Davey breathed.

Tián's eyebrows leapt upward.

John took off his glasses, eyes wide. "Extraordinary."

Páiúni gestured rapidly and Royale cried, "Sacre blue!"

"Eh. Iz not so impressive," Endar muttered.

Mr. Barakoa nodded toward Cameron and said, "Behold a Double Avatar. Using the mask's healing powers, I reawakened the dormant Protector Safiya el Nar and her opponent Petrus Draconis. They are now one in the form of Ms. Walden's sword."

I stand with you once more...

You will fail in this exploit, mortal...

Cameron grimaced and shook her head. "That's... weird," she said. "I can... I can hear them."

"Who?" John asked.

"Safiya... and Draconis," Cameron replied, scowling after speaking the name of the latter. "Is that supposed to happen?"

"It was expected," Mr. Barakoa answered. "The Protectors can be defeated, but never destroyed. They are immortal."

"So I'll have to deal with Safiya's backseat driving and Draconis's trash-talking during the mission?" Cameron asked, incredulous.

"Yes," Mr. Barakoa responded simply. "I trust you can handle that, hm?"

Cameron shrugged. "I mean... I guess, but... it's really annoying."

"I'll issue you a scabbard in which you can keep the sword," Mr. Barakoa told her reassuringly. "That way you won't have to hear them constantly."