Avatar: {Hybrid and Alien]

{49}

The rest of Asim's memories were either long or short fragments of what happened later. And she could move now as if she were almost floating.

Layontsin looked around her and saw images of various fights that Asim took part in other places. Eventually, bit by bit, she saw that he and Kentaro became close friends with each other. And that wasn't everyone in there. Layontsin saw that in one fragment, Mikhail joined them. His positive and loud attitude wasn't that attractive to them, but they accepted him. Later it was Emeralda, whose cold yet affectionate demeanor to others made her acceptable. And finally there was Shaka, his skills at fighting like the rest as well as serving as an interpreter made him a fine addition to the group. They looked happy to be with each other despite the situation they were in, but soon Layontsin noticed something change with the people around them. The adult skypeople were becoming more wary of them for some reason, the young skyperons they supervised sensing the tension amongst them. There came to a point where she saw some of the younger skypeople being trained expressing some effects. They included a sort of sickness, erratic behavior, or even aggression and breakdowns. Some of them that exhibited those types of behaviors were restrained or taken to other places where the young skypeople didn't have access to. This caused some of them, close friends of those that have been taken away, to start worrying. They were smart about it, as they focused on not bringing attention while a few did their best to go though secret passages and find the truth about them. There came a point where Layontsin found herself watching over a lone skyperson crawling their way through a confined square tunnel, stopping to look at a blocked opening. There, down in another larger confined space, they saw one of their own strapped to a thing and unable to move. Some adult skypeople came by and approached the young restrained skyperson, one of them taking out a sort of needle-like object that contained a red fluid on top. Whatever it was, the adult that had it carefully inserted the needle in one of its arms, making Layontsin hiss a bit as she imagined how painful it would be with that delicate skin. Once the needle was in, the adult pressed on the top of the thigh containing the red liquid, which slowly lowered until there was nothing of it at all. Then the adult skyperson removed the needle and stepped back. Each of the adults started to carefully watch the eyes of the young skyperson, and Layontsin watched as well to see what happened.

Slowly...the eyes of that young one became dull.

Layontsin heard the hidden young skyperson watching from above gasp quietly, and she looked to them and saw that they were very worried. Whatever the adults recently did to the restrained young one, the one that watched in secret knew it was not good at all. So, they started to back up and return from where they came to the resting places. Once there, they told what they have done to one of their own. Some of the words that they said were unfamiliar for Layontsin, but she did understand one word, which was "control" as she had learned from Asim. This caused the others to also become worried and murmur in concern as they began to unravel what this will mean for them. Eventually, one of them began to move in the center to speak to them. It was Asim, as well as his close friends, as he started to speak. What Layontsin could understand was that they started to plan how to avoid getting dragged to that place where the one that came back said it was dangerous. Each would act normally and divise a plan to escape from this place. Some will not make it, but they swore that they will come for the others and rescue them. The memory continued, with fragments of other young skypeople whispering to each other as they spread the word and worked in the shadows on things Layontsin did not understand yet. They even used tools not meant for them and stole objects that looked important. However, further along as time passed, she realized that they were set on making something that would distract the adults while they escaped.

And that's exactly what happened.

In an instant Layontsin was transported to another memory, which she saw that there was the sound of an explosion and the flat floor shook. Whatever happened, each of the young skypeople in the place looked at each other for a split second before they all rushed towards a direction. The whole place was in chaos as adults with armor and weapons rushed to where the supposed explosion happened, while the young skypeople stealthily made their way through hidden paths and tunnels towards another direction. Any adult that was spotted or heard approaching them was taken down with swift skill from some few of the young ones that were escaping. They took their weapons and wasted not a singe second returning to running towards their destination. Layontsin did her best to keep up with everyone, trying to find Asim in the multitude. A loud noise almost unbearable for everyone began to sound all around, red lights flashing brightly and continuously. Whatever it meant, the young skypeople began to hurry more than ever as they ran.

Finally, they came to a long path that led straight to an opening to the outside. It was blocked by one of those things, but one of them moved in front to handle it. They were about to open it when there was a shout from behind, making everyone look back. Layontsin also liked back and tensed up when she saw a group of skypeople adults in armor and carrying weapons, also carrying dark rectangular shields. Leading them was one that wore the long white cloaks, and some of the young skypeople escaping move in front of the rest and aimed their stolen weapons to the adults. The one with white clothing stepped forwards from behind and raised both of their hands, speaking something that sounded like "Stop...do not do this" to the young ones escaping. They kind of listened as some lowered their weapons, but Asim was the only one who didn't. The white-coated adult spoke again, saying "Please. Return to us...and you won't participate in fighting ever again" as he approached them. Asim glared at them with a fierce look, not backing down and standing firm without breaking eye contact.

Then, after a moment of tense silence, Asim shook his head slowly, saying "No. We will never be a part of this. Ever" before he aimed his weapon and fired at the other ones with shields and armor. While that happened the obstruction that blocked the opening slid upwards midway, letting all of the young ones outside. Asim fired until he couldn't no more and started to run to the others, getting out just in time before the obstruction closed up and locked the adults on the other side. The young ones, Asim and his friends included, registered each other quickly to make sure everyone was out before running to the other side of the new place they have arrived. They headed to a tall wall, another moveable obstruction that looked like the final way out, and started to fiddle with something beside it. Seconds later the two things began to open up from the sides, and a bright light shone through the opening.

With that, the young skypeople went outside, and Layontsin followed right behind towards the blinding brightness.