Mother Earth.

Chapter 13: Lydia.

Lydia Armageddon, Svivla Falla.

Ukraine: Barrens of Kharkiv,

The year 2168.

"If your journey runs long, you always have a home here. Love ya' Lydia. Be good, got it?"

Those were Saffi's last words to Lydia and Svivla as they were on their way out after their dinner the day after they arrived. Bags strung over their backs, walking down the ruined streets of a long mummified city, torn apart by the horrors of war. The buildings bore craters, and some were toppled by missiles and bombs raining down on the people. Now, it was empty. The cries were gone.

"Are we gonna visit her after our journey is done?"

"We will, I promise-"

In the empty city, something felt off to him. Svivla's demeanour stiffened as he sensed something in the air, stopping in place. Lydia's head tilted slightly.

"Svivla?"

The air moved differently here now. It wasn't as it was when they first arrived. Creeping tension of fear of the unknown stirred within him just like the changing air, he felt it moving. He felt breathing, but he couldn't figure out what.

"Lydia, have you ever felt the surrounding electricity?"

"The what? Why?"

"I can feel the air and its shifting ways, breathing and people, feeling along the air like it's my own hands. Can you try to feel any surrounding electric current?"

"I mean... sure. I don't know if I can."

Lydia took a deep breath. Similar to how she controlled lightning within her, she thought long and hard about its snappy, fast, and rushing nature. She spread out her field from beyond her body, looking for the very essence of energy in anything, to feel even a single spark as if she were trying to draw it to her. She felt, and felt.

She jolted in pure, primal panic at the realization they were not alone. Not just alone.

"Svivla. I feel two planes, one helicopter, and soldiers all around us." Lydia said in a monotone, horrified voice. Svivla's eyes widened.

He grabbed onto Lydia suddenly.

"We are leaving now!"

"You will not." 

A gargled, mechanical, filtered voice called out from in front of them. Svivla stopped and turned to him with Lydia.

"If you fly away, our fighter jets will gun you two down in an instant. But, more likely, the Cyber-Militia we have surrounding this area will kill you first." 

Lydia's stomach churned, and chills struck her spine. Her face went pale when she saw Dr. Meyer standing in the middle of the street, walking closer. The sunlight shined off of his neon blue, silver eyes and jaw.

"D-D-Dr. Meyer..." Lydia stammered. Svivla looked down at her as she trembled.

"Meyer?" He asked aloud, he stepped closer, and Svivla looked up at Dr. Meyer. He could hear the crackling of lightning from Lydia's body.

"Convergence, you are as quick to temper as ever. I didn't expect you to master the power we gave you." Dr. Meyer commented, stumbling for a moment where he stood.

"Why are you here, Doctor?"

"I'm here to retrieve something that slipped from my hands, a weapon that ran when I wasn't looking." Dr. Meyer stated, stepping forward again. Svivla pushed Lydia back and stood his ground in front of her.