Serpents and Descendants

Prologue (last part!)

Libra crept through the narrow halls of the freight ship, doing his best to keep any metal floorboards for creaking. It had been about six hours since they all left Fasmore, and he couldn't shut his eyes for a single second of them.

Everyone else had since retired to their own chambers. Fair, considering the day's circumstances. Libra figured this would be the most decent time to get a closer look at the baby without freaking the others out. Just being in her presence earlier caused his head to ache fiercely, and he was afraid he knew why.

When Leo first told him that Nemina was expecting, Libra was excited for his friends, Aries' covenant aside. He tried to remain open to the fact that they would probably be able to succeed where Aries and Sagittarius had failed a few thousand years before. Nemina and Leo were...warmer. Softer. Their child would likely be the same.

And yet...

Libra peered into the worn out medical bay, the first time he'd seen it that day with his own eyes. As he looked at the empty bed, memories flashed through his mind. Memories that weren't exactly his. He cringed as he saw the frightened faces of his friends as he attacked them, shuddered at nearly drowning his own complimental.

Libra shook his head. He should've seen it coming. He had heard Gemos' messages loud and clear. He was on his way to the west wing of the temple, planning to tease his fellow air prime about beating him to the speeder. He had even packed some of his favorite Fasmoran fruits for the trip.

He had made a quick stop to grab another snack when he nearly plowed right into Cancer and Sagittarius.

"OH." Libra waved. "You both look serious." He tried to scoot past them. "Look, I'd love to stay and chat, but I told Gemos that I'd go on a speeder ride with him."

He remembered watching Cancer glance at Sagittarius as if begging him silently for something. But the archer only shook his head.

Libra had known immediately. "Cancer, don't-"

The last thing he remembered was a bright blue glow after making eye-contact with the empath. Sagittarius probably made him tell them everything under the manipulation.

Idiot.

Libra glanced around the medical bay until he saw the baby's sleep capsule. Libra ran his hands down his tunic nervously and hesitantly inched towards her, every step bringing him more and more discomfort. The energy she gave off was incredibly overwhelming. But he had to know.

He had to know if she was the same.

Libra loomed over the child. He watched her belly rise and fall as she slept soundly. He squinted his eyes; her aura was a more intense up close.

With a small glow, he activated his heightened senses. She looked and sounded like an average human. At least, as far as Libra could tell. He hadn't seen a real one in thousands of years. He may have looked like one, but that didn't mean he had everything biologically right.

Even though everything within him was screaming not to, Libra took a deep breath and reached out his hand, barely grazing her arm with his fingertips.

Libra hissed, immediately overwhelmed by her energy and yanked his hand away. He flipped it around, swearing she had burned him.

The sensation was all-too familiar.

Libra breathed heavily, adrenaline coursing through his organic form. The ringing in his ears was so loud that he didn't even hear Aquarius enter the room.

"I figured you'd be back after your first encounter with her."

Libra swerved around to face him as he walked towards the baby. His shoulders slumped and he sighed. Aquarius stopped in front of the sleeping capsule, completely unaffected by the baby's energy. Libra envied his immunity.

"Your troubled face tells me that perhaps our innate loyalty to our complimentals blinded us to a repeatable reality." Aquarius looked curiously at Libra, whose eyes were clenched shut while he rubbed his temples. "Will she...be like-"

"I don't know, Aquarius!" Libra snapped. He glanced at the baby, ensuring he hadn't awaken her. His face softened. "I don't know," he repeated quietly.

It was unlike him to be so wound up. Aquarius had only ever seen him like this one other time. Back on Earth all those years ago.

Libra sighed. "At least she's the product of my complimental and not my polar," he muttered. "That makes it more...bearable." His eyes shot to Aquarius, immediately regretting the comment. "Oh, I didn't mean-"

Aquarius lifted a hand. "It's alright. I actually don't feel anything towards her." He frowned. Libra wasn't sure if he was relieved or disappointed. "I suppose both auras are cancelling each other out for me," Aquarius guessed. "I can feel however I want to about her."

"Oh." Libra stepped away and took a breath. "Look. I haven't felt anything like that in a long  time." He whined. "I was just starting to forget. I had already sensed an increase among us, but I really felt it when I touched her."

Aquarius watched the baby as she slept, blissfully unaware of the fear she instilled in the ancient beings above her.

"Are you going to tell them?"

"Of course I am." Libra furrowed his brows. "But not yet. They need rest. And I need time. At least to think of something we could do to...get ahead of this."

There was a brief pause.

"Elemental Synthesis?" Aquarius offered. "It may work this time around since she's so young."

Libra lifted his brows. "That's actually not a bad idea." He looked down at the baby again and tugged at his collar. "We'll need Gemini for that."

"I'll talk to Gemos and Nemina," Aquarius assured. "I'm sure they'd be willing to form them if it means keeping her power under control."

"Fire and air." Libra whistled. "That'll be fun to try to detain," he said sarcastically.

Aquarius nodded in agreement. "So, with that combination, her power could surpass even that of Serpentarius'," he pondered aloud.

Libra flinched at the name.

"What does that make her?" Aquarius asked, keeping his voice steady.

Libra looked at the floor. "I...don't really know. But to ensure history doesn't repeat itself, it's in our best interest --the universe's best interest-- to act sooner rather than later." He looked towards the window, taking in the stars surrounding the ship. "The less she knows the better."