Two Strands of Fortune

Season 2 Episode 31 - Family Meeting

[DYLAN'S POV]

We walked in through the main doors of the Town Hall into the main hall-space. I could feel how much everyone expected us. The tension in the room was thick as butter. The pattering of our shoes on the wood floors felt deafeningly loud thanks to the silence of the crowd of reporters and camerapeople. We made our way onto the stage and sat down behind the big black table that was set out for us, decked out in microphones. Moments after we took our seats, there was an uproar from all the overlapping voices of the reporters.
The conference coordinator called for quiet among the storm. "Hey! One at a time, please." She bellowed.
"What is the current situation with the Anti-Elementals?" One reporter asked.
Everyone looked to me, expecting an answer from me. "As you all know from last year's situation, the Anti-Elementals have the inherent ability to absorb normal humans, and use them to increase their power. Last year, if it wasn't obvious enough already, the Absorption Crisis of 2020 was not as bad as it is now. Since these are different Anti-Elementals, they have boundless potential that I'm not sure my team and I have even scratched the surface of."
"This boundless potential means that they can absorb more people at once, making them more difficult to get under control." Margot explained.
"What do we do about the foot-soliders that storm the streets and scare locals into submission?"
"Those foot-soldiers are called Votaries," Martha began. "The Anti-Elementals can summon them at will. Since more people are being absorbed now, they can summon more at once."
"But, the others from last year did not have this ability, did they?"
"No, they did not. Like we said, they are different from the previous batch of Anti-Elementals. They are the polar opposites of the Elements Light, Shadow and Magic."
"Since our Elements, being Light, Shadow and Magic, are stronger than the ones you have come to know as Fire, Water, Earth, Wind and Nature, it only makes the most sense that they are more powerful as well." Oliver looked to Eric and Margot, as if to signal them to do something. The three of them held their hands up and channelled their energies to form their respective Elemental Symbols.
"Are there emergency measures to mitigate the Absorptions?"
"We do have a plan," Eric looked at Margot and Oliver, "Our strategy is called Osmosis."
Oliver took over. "Osmosis is the process whereby we Absorb the Anti-Elementals."
"In the process," Margot continued after that, "when the Anti-Elementals are absorbed, all the victims that they previously absorbed will be returned to their corporeal forms."
Ivan put his hands together. "The problem is that the more people they absorb, the more powerful they become and the more erratic and destructive their attacks will become, as well. That will only make our job a lot harder, and will leave more casualties in the crossfire."
"It is for that reason," I continued, "That the President, in the currently declared State of Emergency, has called for a nationwide lockdown."
"Lockdown? What does that entail for regular South African citizens?"
"The President has called for the dissipation of large gatherings and for people to self-isolate. Things will have to change and fast if we want to prevent the Anti-Elementals from gaining more cannon fodder at once. Since they won't be able to sense large groups of people like they do now, the amount of Absorptions occurring per instance will decrease exponentially." I expressed.
"The less human traffic there is in public spaces, the easier we will be able to access the places where the Anti-Elementals appear. Therefore, you won't just be helping yourselves, but you'll also be helping us, as well." Alec shrugged.
"Well, there you have it folks." The coordinator stood up. "I hope that answers some of the questions you have for the Guardians at this time. They will be taking to social media to dispel any confusion or fake news around the situation, should it be necessary."