Elements of Earth: The Element Trials

Synchronous 8; The Brutal Trial: Part 1 - The Beginning

"This trial will be a fifteen-minute bounty." The judge's voice called down from the balcony. "There will be no random equipment provided. To maintain element diversity for the final trial only twenty tens will be participating. The bounty is on the head of Silicon's commander, 14-5." No gasps or muffled whispers filled the auditorium. Although no single element had ever been the sole target of all the others, every element maintained rigid military discipline. Kira shifted from attention to parade rest. Normally there would be so many elements in the auditorium that none of the judges would have noticed. Perhaps the judge was waiting for her question because he responded to her nonverbal inquiry. "Yes, Silicon?"

In a voice that was dry and formal, Kira asked. "What will be my ten's goal for the trial?" She then returned to attention.

"To survive." The judge sneered. The words he used conflicted with what the statement truly meant. A death sentence. The judge shifted his gaze and his tone to address the elements as a whole. "To succeed in this trial Silicon must die. If any element succeeds in killing silicon's commander their ten will earn two purge passes. For Silicon To succeed in this trial she must survive fifteen minutes. Per standard practices, any failing ten's with no casualties will have their lowest ranked element purged." The judge abandoned his podium in lieu of the balcony's stadium seating.

Then a guard I recognize stood at ground level in front of the elements. He was the guard from the tribunal. The guard who found evidence of treason in another judge's office and traded that Intel to Dak. That judge was never seen again. "Lithium, Nitrogen, and Oxygen come forwards and these guards will escort you to your start points." One by one each ten was led out of the auditorium and into the labyrinth. None of them were blindfolded. Kira soon saw why. The guards had needed to use flashlights to lead their charges through the darkened halls. Along with the labyrinth, part of the auditorium lighting hadn't yet been repaired. Only by flashlight could the elements see which turns they would need to take upon their return through the dark. Only the truly incompetent would actually get lost. The judges never called Silicon. Kira realized that was because the auditorium would be her starting point. Just like the previous trial the goal, herself, would be here. She surveyed the soon to be battlefield. The judges had removed the tower from the previous trial, leaving no obstacles or high ground. Kira sensed 4's approach. "I know what you're going to say 4. You have to protect your brother. Do that. And stay back. You don't have to get involved in this."

"Kira..." 4, who never used her real name, never used anyone's, hesitated. I can see he was conflicted. Kira thought he was honorable enough. Forced by his own code to forsake all other ties to protect his little brother. A comrade who, when his brother was out of harm's way, had gladly fought alongside her. But that's the problem with honor. If an honorable deed forces a dishonorable action and you have to choose, then by guilt or blade you get torn up inside. Best to let him down lightly. Better to make a request that would serve to salve his pride and her conscience.

"But there is something you can do for me. Protect Marcus." Kira's words were like the echo of a stone dropped in a pool. The entire memory rippled but I can't quite reach into Kira's past for the internal memory they referenced. It's like she's buried it down, down. Deep enough to hide the relevance of those words.

Kira stood firm, awaiting the onslaught. But there was one more presence she needed to banish. One that she couldn't face. "Leave." No footsteps, no sign that presence would leave Kira to her fate. "I don't want you by my side." Kira snapped her head around to glare at 3. Leave. Leave. Leave. But she didn't.

"4, remove 3 from the battlefield." No response. Kira never removed her eyes from 3's stone face. in her peripheral vision, she saw that 4 remained motionless. No attempt to pretend he didn't hear the order. No one spoke, but the message was clear. He couldn't help her, but he wouldn't let her refuse 3's aid. "Insubordinate." Kira hissed.