Elements of Earth: The Element Trials

Synchronous 4; Cold memory Extension: Trade Negotiations

Estrellita re-merged with herself in the hallway, momentarily forgetting where she was.

"Ummm, is she going to be ok?" Dak asked.

Kira looked behind her where 3 was still twitching and shrugged. "She's a healer, she'll be fine. I've seen her come back from worse."

"That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt." 3's response came out muffled against the floor. Kira looked down at her.

"You told me you could shut off the pain."

"Only when I know it's coming."

"What did she do?"

"I tried to help her pick up her notes." 3 finally righted herself but remained sitting on the floor, holding her head.

"So then I probably shouldn't offer to help pick the rest of those up." Dak gestured as if he was going to do just that.

"No!" Panicked, Kira quickly blocked him.

"You have more?!" 3 asked from the floor.

"Yes, I mean, no. No, thank you. I've got it handled. But thank you for offering." Kira tried to put on a pleasant smile but her face was twitching.

Dak's perception wasn't always great but his instincts must have been warning him off. He took two steps back and waited until Kira had collected her things. "Sorry about that 3." Kira whispered as she helped her up.

"You owe me." 3 growled. Kira noticed an element down the hall staring at her. She recognized him. Expected him. One of Salt's little helpers.

"Looks like I might be able to pay you back sooner rather than later. A little bird has our intel."

Kira walked down the hall towards the element. 6 and 3 followed but maintained a distance of 5 steps behind. The element held Kira's gaze and gestured to an empty classroom with his chin. He held one finger up at a forty-five-degree angle and flipped it down like it was a light switch. Then he subtly flashed three fingers and walked away. Estrellita followed apprehensively. Even though she had witnessed the memory many times before, it never lasted this long. Maybe if she interacted with the internal memories, the memory itself would last longer. Or if she cultivated a greater affinity to who she was as Kira that would do it. The second was the same as the first. The more internal memories she experienced the more Kira-y she felt.

"Salt said we have three minutes. Sweep the room. No people, no cameras. 6, use your magnets to create an EM field. Fry any mics or other electronics. Then turn off the lights. I want it done before the source gets here." They did. Kira, Dak and 3 hid behind the door. In the dark. For five minutes. Estrellita ducked down behind them. She felt ridiculous.

"I don't think anyone-" Dak covered 3's mouth with his hand. Moments later a shadow fell through the windowed door. The knob rattled, and the door opened. Estrellita panicked. It was a guard. He held a submachine gun strapped and slung around his chest. He was humming. Even though it's the past I panicked. He's on patrol and they're going to get caught acting suspicious!

Then, to the same tune he was humming, he sang. "I whistle like a bird at sunrise." He returned to humming but did not enter the room. Kira looked at Dak and 3 and they shook their heads. The man sang again. "I said 'I whistle like a bird at sunrise.'" Kira made a noise.

"CAW CAW." Admittedly it did sound like a bird. The guard shut the door behind him and began patrolling the entire room, fastidiously ignoring the existence of the side of the room where Kira and the others were hiding.

"I said to whistle." The guard said. No matter where he searched in the room he kept his back towards the door.

"I don't know how. I would have brought someone who did, but I assume you're on a tight schedule. What do you got?" Even though Dak is the commander it looks like he's going to let Kira do the talking.