Fight or Flight

Introduction

A sharp cry of a baby pierces the crisp night air. Two shadowy figures slip through the dark streets, moving with a purpose that only they know. One of them hushes the baby, whispering words in an unknown language. The other walks ahead, stopping at each door until finally the two arrive at the nicest-looking house on the block.

"This one, Al-Semar?" the lilting voice of one the figures asks the other.

"Yes Sharna. This is the one. This tiny ray of hope will be hidden here from all darkness and evil."

"Al-Semar, you know as well as I do that darkness and evil are only around that 'chancellor' we have. I never liked him from the start. He seemed like a sort of..." The words are cut off suddenly as the two hear rumbling coming from down the street. Darkness envelops the small party as a car passes by. "And what was that? It looked like our ships but with whatever those things on the bottom were. Oh Al-Selmar! How can we leave her like this?"

"You know why we have to do this Sharna. Master has said that she and five others are the ones. This family will take care of her. Besides, she is young, so young she cannot possibly have memories."

"And how will she find the other five?"

"Time and fate will tell. Come, let us leave her here and we will go about our business. We must be getting back home."

"Of course." The two place a small bundle on the front porch of the house and slip once again into the night. The baby who lay in the bundle slept on soundly not noticing that the two who carried it had left. It never noticed the strange ship leaving the area. Only two hours later, the sun rose tinting the sky orange, yellow, pink, and gold. Still the baby slept. Only when a tall man stepped out the door, did it awake.

"Darling, come see what was left on our front porch last night." The loud voice woke the child who started to cry increasingly.

"What is it now? Did John leave the... Oh!" The woman's train of thought was interrupted at the sight of the baby looking up at her. "Oh the dear. Can we keep her Josiah?"

"How can we possibly know it's a her? Who knows where it came from?"

"Well I know that it is hungry, looks about half-starved if you ask me, cold and in need of shelter, and needs a family. Therefore I think we should keep the darling. Besides, I can no longer have children of my own." The man hesitated before slowly nodding his head.

"Alright Marcia. But you better be right about keeping the baby. Work is tight and I really don't want too many mouths to feed.

"No worries darling. No worries. You go off to work now."