The Storm of Elements

Reuniting and Reminisicing

They say I passed out as soon as we arrived, from my rib injuries and the strain of teleportation.

There are bits where I'm not sure if I was conscious or in some weird dream. Like when I could feel Jake's strong arms holding me on the floor, looking up to see his green eyes unusually bright, but his face blurry, the white light of the room nearly engulfing him. Another where I feel soft cushions beneath me and a sheet covering my body, turning my head to the right, the white lights burning my eyes as I barely make out a figure lying a few feet away in a bed next to me. Then finally, seeing Crystal's face leaning down, her smile making an imprint in my brain. You're going to be just fine, Jamie. I'm so proud of you. 

Then everything blurs into a peaceful grey, and I sleep from there. 

 "Jamie." 

The voice forces its way into my subconscious, and I feel myself coming back to reality. 

As I open my eyes, all the recent events with Rave flood back, and I'm suddenly very awake, immediately sitting up, my ribs flaring, wide-eyed. What happened? Where am I?

Someone bursts out laughing to my right, and I look over. 

Crystal is sitting in an armchair in the corner, grinning at me. She's still the same old Crystal, her blonde hair parted in a side braid and a flower headband on her head. Her blue eyes are sparkling. "Calm down, sparky. You're safe." 

My shoulders relax with relief. "Crystal." 

She stands and comes to sit on the side of my bed, putting her hand on my shoulder. "Lean back. You've messed up those ribs enough times this week." 

"Amen to that," I say, carefully scooting backwards so my back is leaning against a pillow she props up behind me. 

Then I remember the figure I saw on the bed next to mine, in another room. 

"Alex!" I exclaim, searching her face. "How is he? Where is he? Did he-" 

She holds up her hand, cutting me off. "He's fine. He was taken to the hospital, where the doctors removed the bullet and set his leg bone. He and his leg survived, don't worry. He's going to be staying there one more night, then he'll be released tomorrow, and join us again." 

"Did he stay last night, too? What time did we get back?" 

"Well, let's see. You appeared out of thin air on Sunday, the sixth of December. It's now Monday, the seventh. So, yes, he did." 

I gawk at her. "It's only been about four or five days? It felt like we were gone for weeks!" 

She smiles. "With all the stuff you did and went through this past week, I'm not surprised." 

"Where are the others?" 

"Resting, just like you've been. You had been sleeping for over 16 hours by the time I woke you up just now. I suspect the others are still asleep. But you guys deserve a lazy day, after everything you've done. " 

Everything we've done. 

"So," I start slowly, hesitantly. "Did we.......succeed? Are the generators gone? Are the plans destroyed? Did all production permanently stop? " 

She strokes my hair in a comforting way. "Yes. But I'll leave all the details for when Sara comes in to visit shortly. She's very proud of you. All of you." 

I smile, thinking back and picturing the faces of Obsidian and April, smiling in my memory. "We couldn't have done it on our own, to be honest. And I'm not just saying that to be humble or anything. I really don't think we would've accomplished anything if we didn't have each other and people like April and Obsidian. And Shadow, too. And Gray, most of all. Especially him."