Sarhea pulled the cloak tightly around herself as she sat in the quiet darkness of the large observatory cubby.  It was hard for her not to be on edge, even with the normally calming aurora dancing across the starry night sky above.  She had never been in this particular cubby, with its much larger space and benches that lined its entire perimeter, but it was not the space that had her on edge…

“You alright?  You’ve not said a word since we arrived,” came Aleena’s voice from behind her.

Sarhea slowly turned toward the sound, her keen blue eyes locking to the lean shadow of her friend leaning against the dark opening to the corridors beyond.  Aleena was trying hard not to show it, but Sarhea could sense her quickened pulse, could see the slight twitching of her dark rounded ears and tip of her spotted tail.  She sighed quietly as she turned back to gaze up to the heavens above.

“I’ll be fine once the meeting starts and there’s no way to back out,” she muttered as she slowly sat.

Quiet footsteps approached and soon, Aleena arrived and sat beside her.  Several moments of silence settled between them before Sarhea heard Aleena sigh.

“I think everything will work out, and this meeting will definitely help them all understand why you did what you did.  And you also don’t have to worry-Raith will honor his word and not tell any about this other than those who already know, and they respect him far too much to break their agreements with him.”

A slight chill raced down her spine, causing her to close her eyes and shake her head.  

“I’m not really worried so much about the possibility of being discovered by more creatures, though I really want to stay unknown to Mouser.  I worry more about the fact that I’m about to reveal things about myself to those I consider friends.  Doing this has never fared well for them in the past…”

Aleena’s hand came to rest on her shoulder.

“You have to stop thinking like that.  From the beginning, you have mentioned how this place is different…You’re experiences will be different, as well, if you give it a chance.  You’ll see-we are stronger together, and together we’ll help each other face the challenges to come.”

Sarhea shot her a sideways smirk.  “You sound like Raith,” she grumbled.

A slight grin spread across Aleena’s face.  “Sometimes he has smart things to say.”

“Sometimes,” she replied with a heavy sigh before returning her gaze to the stars.

Sarhea fell silent as she recalled the week since she had awakened.  So much had taken place as she continued healing.  Finny had become an almost permanent fixture in Aleena’s small apartment, and his presence had sped her healing along nicely.  Only a few small bruises and minor soreness along her left side remained from the ordeal.  The boy had also helped keep her mind from dwelling on the huge mess she’d made and how she could fix it.  

Askar had been the first to suggest a possible solution.  The Cassarian had stopped by several times around lunch to check in on her.  She had no clue who told him she was here and injured, but seeing his kind face had brought her hope that perhaps things would be alright.  He was the first to suggest that perhaps she could let them all in on some of her past, that perhaps if she helped the rest of them understand her motives, it would help them overcome their conflicted feelings.

Raith had quickly agreed.  The commander had become a surprising evening regular.  He claimed the reason for his presence was to collect Finny, but she’d sensed hidden motives, could see the curiosity and questions burning in his gaze.  But he never acted on them, and it puzzled her.  He had every opportunity to sit and drill her for answers, and she probably would have given them.  Instead, he would simply inquire about her healing progress and visit pleasantly with Aleena.  Aleena definitely didn’t mind his presence.  Through their conversations and his interactions with Finny, Aleena was able to catch a glimpse of the man she thought had been lost to the first attacks.

Sarhea had her own curiosities about Raith to figure out.  Something had changed, his energy had changed, and she had not noticed it until that night after they had sealed their commitment with energy.  She could not shake the notion that the energetic boost she’d felt had somehow come from him.  At first, she’d thought it had originated from Finny, but now, she just was not sure.  There was something about Raith’s white soul that was unusual, unusual beyond the fact that it was normally only seen in infants and at death.  It had to be the reason he’d been able to handle her daggers, why the sentinels had sought him out…But why?  What hidden mystery was there to uncover about the commander?

Sarhea shook her head.  Such maddening thoughts only served to further frustrate her.  The answers would come in due time…The questions would never let her be until they were resolved, but for now, she forced herself to concentrate on the odd realization of how Raith had gone from her most frustrating adversary to a potential friend.

She felt Aleena stand and quietly move to the cubby entrance and felt the charged atmosphere arriving ahead of the approaching group.  

“I think I hear them coming,” Aleena whispered as she peered out into the dark corridor beyond.

Sarhea sighed quietly as she concentrated on reigning in her wandering thoughts and focusing on the task at hand.  It was time to lay everything out, to pull the secrets out of the shadows and into the light.  She only hoped that Aleena’s earlier assumption was correct…

It was not long before Aleena stepped aside and the sounds of a sizable group paused just outside.  Sarhea sighed and tried to ignore the quiet whispers as she sought some measure of peace from the starry night sky.  Movement drew her weary gaze back to the cubby entrance as the uncertain group began filing into the room.  Mixed emotions adorned her former friends’ faces.  When the last one cleared the doorway, Raith hit a previously unnoticed switch on the wall, activating a roll down door that soon sealed them from the outside world.  The action brought a small hint of relief; at least what was said here tonight would stay here.  She nodded approvingly to him as he turned and joined the rest of the fidgeting crowd.  Out of all of them, Nakyla appeared to be the least happy to be there.

“As agreed, only those you revealed yourself to are present, and no one else even knows this meeting is taking place,” Raith said quietly as he moved through the gathered group to stand next to where she sat.

For once, his close proximity brought her comfort.

“Thank you,” she whispered before turning her gaze to the others in the room.  “I suppose you are all wondering why you are here.  Feel free to make yourselves comfortable, sit if you wish.”

“I think I’ll stand,” Nakyla spat promptly and leaned against the far wall with her arms crossed.

Sarhea tried not to flinch at her biting tone as she nodded her understanding.  “You are free to do as you choose,” she replied quietly and diverted her gaze to the others.  “We are here today because I wish to help you defeat the drones, but before that can happen, I must attempt to restore the unity that my dishonesty has eroded away.  I know that my deception cannot simply be forgotten, but I wish to be given a chance to start anew, to regain your trust.  I figure the first step in that process is to open myself to your questions, however difficult they may be.”

Hesitant silence fell over the room as everyone but Nakyla found a place to sit.  Her gaze fell to each of them as she awaited the eventual questions.  When none came, her uneasy gaze settled on Aleena.  Her friend could only offer a slight shrug.  She sighed quietly and turned her gaze to the floor; she was quickly losing her confidence.

A quiet sigh from Raith’s direction caught her attention and she finally looked up to see his pensive gaze locked on his clasped hands.  When he finally looked over at her, she saw the questions burning from his eyes as they had been all week, only now, the intensity she saw made her nervous.  He diverted his gaze as he straightened his posture.

“I have so many questions, I don’t quite know where to start.  I suppose I’ll start by clearing up something that has been bothering me from the beginning,” he started, pausing to cast her a quick sideways glance.  “Most of us are aware that an unknown species has been discovered among us.  Samples pulled from the field confirmed the original sample found here.  During our last encounter in the field, before this mess started, you called yourself Damiri.  I don’t understand; I can find no reference to a species or race called Damiri.  Was it just another one of the stories told to throw me off your trail?”

Sarhea hesitated.  She’d been expecting the topic to arise eventually, but was surprised that it had come up first.  Someone’s breath caught sharply from among the others gathered, but she did not have to wait long to find out from who.

“Wait…You are not Cassarian?” came Askar’s confused voice.

Sarhea sighed quietly as she glanced over at him.  “No, I am not Cassarian,” she confirmed and turned back to Raith.  “To be completely honest, I do not know what I am.  Those of you who have seen the analysis of the samples know that I share genetic traits with many of this city’s species, yet I am none of them.  I honestly did arrive here believing that I was Cassarian, but then I saw the report…”

Sarhea hesitated when nearly all eyes suddenly turned to Aleena, who wilted under their questioning gazes.  She shook her head.

“After I discovered how truly different I was, the only thing I could fall back on was Damiri.  I have no idea if it is a species, a race, or if it was simply the name of the tribe I grew up in, but it is all that I have, so I call myself Damiri.”

“So you did not come from Cassan Minor…” Askar mumbled absently before anyone else could respond.  His bewildered eyes met hers once more.  “Do the others of your kind look like you?” he continued.

Sarhea smiled weakly.  So he’d been checking up on her, but was obviously in the dark about her true identification…She found it hard to decipher the odd mix of emotions that made up his conflicted expression.

“I have been to Cassan Minor, but no, I did not originate from there.  Cassan Minor was the first world I arrived on…” she hesitated as a barrage of painful memories suddenly tried to flood her thoughts.  “…when my world was attacked.”  

She paused as she forced the memories back.  “To answer your second question, yes and no.  Some of my fellow Damiri looked like me, but others bore traits resembling many of you in one degree or another.  Perhaps it is why my genetics are so similar to many here?  This may be a mystery that I never fully understand.”

“Are there more of your kind here?”  The question came from Madrick.

Sarhea’s ears fell back as she diverted her eyes.  This was another questions she knew would eventually arise and knew would be difficult to answer.  The painful memories once again surfaced, but this time, she could not force them back.

“No,” she whispered.  “I am the only one.”

Tense silence fell over the room.  Sarhea refused to look up at anyone for fear of losing control of her emotions.

“You…you are…the only one?  Surely there were more of your kind with you when you arrived…from wherever you came from,” Askar continued.

Sarhea’s ears lowered further as she closed her eyes.  How she wished he’d just left it as is, but the question had been asked and now she would have to answer.  She tried to force back the tears that threatened to dampen her eyes.

“No.  I am the only remaining Damiri, the only one that made it off my world before it was destroyed.  I had to watch as everything and everyone was taken from me in a matter of seconds and I was helpless…helpless to prevent it…” 

Her voice trailed off at the end and she did not need to look up to know that her audience was stunned by the news.  Silence fell once more and she could feel their eyes boring into her.

“You…you are the only survivor of an entire world?  You know this for certain?”

It was Raith’s voice that broke the silence.  Her sorrowful gaze finally lifted to meet his troubled eyes.

“My world was very primitive compared to everything I’ve seen since leaving it.  We had no technology, no ships.  We lived simple lives, lived off the land.  If none made it off with me, then they were lost with my world.”

“I don’t understand.  If your world was so primitive, how did you make it off?” came Bud’s confounded voice.

Sarhea shook her head.  She had hoped she would not have to go into this much detail on this topic.  

“I’m not entirely certain.  I was in a daze, injured from the blasts.  I remember …” she started before hesitating as flashes of long repressed violence filled her thoughts.  

She closed her eyes and tried to remain in control of her emotions.  “I remember being violently pulled back, led away, then thrown into darkness.  I was helpless to resist.  When I was finally able to move, I found myself staring out of a small hole, remember seeing the darkness of the expanse and the form of my world beyond.  Then it all disappeared in a massive explosion.  I don’t remember anything after that until waking up just before I arrived on Cassan Minor.  I didn’t know until later that the thing I was on was a ship.  I have no idea where it came from, but I think it was the energetic forces guarding my world that swept me away.”

Her eyes finally opened and settled on Raith.  His eyes abruptly widened as revelation washed over him.  Yes, it had been the sentinels that had forcefully removed her from her world.  They had saved her but left everyone else to die.

“So you kill the drones to avenge your world?” Madrick finally asked.

Sarhea was grateful the conversation was moving away from her loss.  “In many ways, yes.  But it is not only for my world.  I do it for all those lost on every world I’ve been on, for the friends I made that did not survive, and even for those here who have lost so much.  When I arrived here, my hatred of our enemy burned so strongly within me that if I had not unleashed it on the drones, there is no telling where I would be right now.”

“Why all the secrets, all the pretense?  Why couldn’t you just tell us this from the start?” came Nakyla’s demanding voice.

Sarhea shook her head as she cautiously turned her gaze to the fuming Malkaian.  “I was afraid…”

“Afraid?  Are you serious?  All that crazy shit you did out there and you were afraid to tell those who thought they were your friends the truth?”

Sarhea diverted her eyes again as she released a trembling sigh.  “It was because you were my friends that I couldn’t tell you.”

There was no reply and the air was charged with tension and confusion.  She kept her eyes trained on the floor.

“This is the sixth world I have been forced to escape to.  When I first arrived on Cassan Minor, I was lost, confused, and injured.  A kind, caring family took me in.  I shared with them everything that I currently understood and they helped me adjust to my new surroundings.  They became my friends, my teachers, a second family…I was there for nearly a year when the enemy caught up with me and the attacks began again.  My friends looked to me to help them, to save them, but I couldn’t, no matter how much I wanted to, tried to.  I lost everything again.  As I jumped from world to world afterwards, the only common factor I could see as to why my friends kept getting killed was that I told them about the real me and they would unwisely put their trust in me.  Each world, I told fewer and fewer, until I finally told no one-only then did my friends quit dying around me, leaving me with the burden that I had been the reason for so many previous deaths.”

Sarhea’s weary gaze finally lifted and settled on Nakyla.  The Malkaian could only stare at her with wide amber eyes, eyes that no longer blazed with fury as they had before.

“Why tell us now?” she finally hesitantly asked.

Sarhea sighed quietly as she cast a careful glance around to everyone present.  Even Aleena’s gaze matched Nakyla’s; she’d not told the Kalatian that version of the story.  Her eyes briefly lingered on Raith before she turned her gaze back to Nakyla.

“It has been mentioned more than once that perhaps, I’ve been going about this all wrong.  I was never taught about my abilities growing up, never understood why the energy was so much a part of my life.  I learned what I could over the years by trial and error.  When the attacks came, and I could do nothing to save those I loved, I suppose I began to fear them.  Even here, in this place that seems safe from outside threats, I find myself at a loss.  My energy has been changing, evolving…new abilities are continuously surprising me, some of which I don’t understand.  It scares me, makes me feel like I’m losing control and when I feel this way, I do lose control…So it was suggested that perhaps my fear has been the problem the entire time, and that maybe it was time for me to quit hiding, let others in, and perhaps together, we can help each other.  I can help you with the drones and just maybe, you all can help me stay grounded, help me stay in control of this…whatever this thing is.”

Silence fell over the room once again and for the first time since the meeting began, she didn’t sense the air of hostility she had earlier.

“You…you hinted at our last encounter that your…energy…is potentially dangerous.  Just what are we going to be dealing with?” came Bud’s concerned voice.

Sarhea’s gaze fell to the broad shouldered Kalatian.  “There is a strong defensive aspect to whatever this is.  As I mentioned at that meeting, this energy acts as if it is living, and from what I’ve learned over the years, it exists in an almost symbiotic relationship with me.  It often overwhelms me before I even know what’s happening, almost like an instinctive response to threats that I often don’t see until after it starts.  I suppose I’ve had to rely on it so much since the destruction of my world to keep me alive that now I’m barely able to control it.”

She paused as her gaze fell to Raith.

“Take for instance our first encounter, when you and Nakyla cornered me.  I never wanted to hurt anyone, and knew that you were not trying to kill me.  But I could not stop the instinctive response.  Any potential threat that arises, especially ones that risk exposing my identity, is greeted by this immediate, automatic response that most of the time, I’m helpless to contain.”

Raith sighed heavily and turned his gaze to Nakyla.  “Nakyla knew something was about to happen.  She recognized the signs and tried to warn me, but I did not listen.  What happened that night was largely my fault now that I know the facts.  I should have listened.”

“Does that mean you plan on listening to me now?” Nakyla grumbled.

Chuckles sounded around the room and even Raith’s hesitant laughter joined in.  The lightened mood was a welcome change that allowed her tense nerves to calm.

“We will all have to learn to be in tune with one another if we are ever to become an effective force against this enemy.  I’ve witnessed their movements for years and across multiple worlds-one thing is always the same.  They are extremely organized and function in well planned, coordinated attacks.  We have to learn from their tactics,” Sarhea said as she glanced around the room.  

Her gaze settled briefly on Kaden.  The small Cassarian had remained silent the entire time.  Everyone’s mood seemed lighter, everyone’s but his.  Even now, he seemed to be content to be ignored in the shadows.  

“Kaden,” she called quietly.

He flinched as his eyes widened and the group’s focus abruptly fell on him.

“I owe you an apology for the way I treated you that day so long ago.  I lost control, said some things I had no right to say, reacted in a way I’m not proud of.  I hope you can eventually find it within yourself to forgive me.”

Kaden’s ears fell back, his wide eyes darting about to everyone watching him, everyone except her.

“I…” he started but then paused to scowl fiercely.  “I will try.  Just…just keep your distance and I’ll keep mine,” he finally muttered quietly with a huff.

Sarhea nodded without word; it was a start.

“I realize there are things that you fear about your abilities, things that you don’t understand-there will be time to figure out how to help you deal with them in the days to come.  For now, perhaps you can help us understand what you do know, starting with the positive things,” Raith offered.

Sarhea cast him a quick sideways glance.  The conversation had started on such a serious note that the chance to move past that was more than welcome.  She made a mental note to thank him later as she leaned back against the stone wall and briefly watched the color dance across the night sky above.

“It’s difficult to know where to begin,” she muttered almost absently before turning her gaze back to her curious audience.  “Manifestations of energy color even my earliest memories.  My kind-we lived in harmony with an entity known as the Guardians.  I still am not certain if my Guardians and the guardians mentioned here are the same, but there are many similarities that point to such an assumption.  But there were always two elements to the manifestations.  The red element,” she paused as she allowed gentle red flames to erupt off her right hand, “represented what we called the Fire of Life.  The other element of blue, represented the Light of Peace,” she continued and allowed blue flames to rise off her left hand.

She stared at the flickering manifestations thoughtfully for a moment before continuing.

“Unity with the energy around us was a part of our daily lives, was something we fell naturally to and did not fear it.  Keeping the unity was of utmost importance and the responsibility of which resided with the tribe leaders, my parents.  The power of the Fire of Life was entrusted to my mother, the Light of Peace with my father.  The stories I remember hearing were that those were times of great peace and prosperity for our world.  Our tribe was our world’s central hub of activity, much as your Keylar City was this world’s main cultural center.”

“Stories?  What do you mean stories?” Askar abruptly asked during her pause.

Sarhea hesitated.  She’d not realized she’d worded it that way and now would have to explain.  At least this loss was much older and had been dealt with long ago.  She sighed quietly before looking over at him.

“I was roughly Finny’s age when the unity of energy was disrupted and our tribe was attacked.  My parents were killed, but somehow, by the Guardians’ will I suppose, I survived.  But perhaps this is a story for another time,” she started.

Askar’s ears fell flat as he diverted his gaze.  “I-I’m sorry,” he stammered.

“It’s ok.  This was a long time ago and I remember it only because of the stories told.  But this loss is one of the main reasons I do not know what I should about the energy and its connection to the Guardians.  Much of the old ways and teachings were lost during the chaos that reigned in the period after my parents’ death.  To make a long story short, I did not reclaim my tribe, my inheritance, until much later.  By that time, I had learned what I could about the energy on my own and I have no idea if it was correct or not.  I’m leaning toward the assumption that many of my ideas concerning it are incorrect.”

As she finished speaking, her gaze was drawn to the flames flickering off her fingers.  They gradually strengthened in intensity until both spontaneously lifted off her hands and condensed into to swirling orbs of their respective colors.  The city’s guiding energy then began interacting with them, pushing them toward the center of the room.  She found herself wondering if anyone else was seeing the unusual display.

“Um…Sarhea?  What are you doing?” Aleena whispered from beside her.

Sarhea cast a quick glance to her friend whose gaze was locked on the anomaly at the center of the room.

“You see it?  All of it?” she whispered in return.

Aleena arched a nervous brow as her gaze finally locked onto her.  “All of it?  There is more than two weird energy balls floating in the middle of the room?”

Sarhea cast a quick glance around at everyone gathered.  All their gazes were locked on the spheres and various mixed expressions adorned their faces.  Aleena didn’t see the guides, but everyone seemed to see the orbs.  Sarhea could only shrug.

“Actually, I have no idea what is occurring.  Sometimes, well…most of the time, the energy seems to have a mind of its own.  Seen or unseen, it is all around us, a part of every living thing and even several non-living objects.  It is especially strong within this city, for reasons I’ve yet to discover.  When I first arrived here, the strength of it nearly overwhelmed me.  I had wanted to escape its influence, to find some measure of peace away from it, and it figures that I end up in a place so saturated with it that there is nowhere to escape.  I’ve not encountered such a strong energetic presence since…since what I felt on my home world.  It has been increasingly interacting with the energy that resides within me, revealing new abilities.  Sometimes what is revealed is rather bizarre.”

She watched as the orbs and the guiding energy slowly combined into a singular violet orb that remained hovering in place at the center of the cubby.

“What is that for?”  she heard Raith ask with a mild hint of apprehension.

Sarhea shook her head as the guides began showing her through brief flashes of memory the discoveries she’d made since arriving at this city.  They did not reveal the violet orb’s purpose, but she now had a clear response to Raith’s original question.

“I’m not sure just yet what it’s for, but I can now answer your previous question-the benefits of my abilities.  First, I suppose it can lead me, prompt me in what to do, when to act.  If I place my full trust in it, I can do some pretty crazy stuff, like leap off a dark ravine ridge into complete nothingness and know I’ll land on the back of a drone. Or…” she paused with a mischievous smirk.  “I can seek its assistance in getting down from a spinning contraption without getting hit.”

“Wait…That’s how you got down from Talen’s machine?  You had an unfair advantage the entire time,” Raith huffed.

She shot him a sideways smirk.  “I spoke the truth when I told Aleena and Nakyla it was all about timing.  I was just shown the timing.  But now that it’s been brought up, Talen has fooled us all-his puzzle cannot be completed; the energy showed me no path to the top.”

Raith’s forehead scrunched together in a fierce scowl.  “Figures,” he muttered.  “I’ll have to have a chat with him about that.”

“What about those moves out in the field, when you always were one step ahead of us, dodged Raith’s stunner blasts?” Nakyla asked.

Sarhea nodded.  “Yes, I followed the energy’s guidance.”

“So does that mean you’ve been holding out on me during our duels?”

Sarhea’s eyes widened as she stared back at Nakyla’s demanding amber gaze.  “No…and yes,” she responded slowly.  “Most of the time, I’m only guided if I seek the energy’s assistance.  I’ve never sought it during our duels as there are just some things I prefer to accomplish on my own.  And with the energy, it would not be a fair fight.”

“What if that’s for me to decide?”

“Nakyla, must everything be about fighting?” Bud grumbled and shot her a stern glare.

Nakyla simply shrugged in response.  “A good challenge only strengthens my skills.”

Sarhea smiled weakly as she shook her head.  “Perhaps one day, when I know I can control it, I’ll duel you with energy.  Until then, we’ll have to add challenge other ways.”

“Fair enough-I’ll hold you to that,” Nakyla quickly responded.

Sarhea turned her gaze back to the violet orb as the guides prodded her with more memories.

“I suppose I can also manipulate the two elements to achieve different affects.  The two I’m most confident with are healing and peace.  Healing is achieved through a precise balance of both life and peace, while peace is pretty self-explanatory.  Both of these I must use sparingly these days as it seems the more I use them, the weaker their effects become.”

Askar, Madrick and Raith all nodded silently in agreement with the comment; all three of them had experience one or both occurrences.  Sarhea sighed quietly as she considered how to approach the next bit.

“There is a reserve of unusual energy that resides within me that originates from my home world, the part of me that I still don’t fully understand or trust.  But I’ve found that if I allow this city’s energy to interact with my reserves, I can obtain enhanced vision.”

“Enhanced vision?”

Sarhea’s knowing gaze fell to Raith.

“Yes.  It can come in handy when trying to detect sources of unseen injury and can even allow me to see one’s energy signature for great distances or through obstacles such as stone.”

Raith’s eyes widened slightly with understanding.  He’d been the most recent beneficiary of both talents.

“Ok, this is something that I’ve never quite understood,” Aleena cut in.  “You told me once about energy signatures, and I’m still a little confused.  You mentioned we all have a soul or spirit or something of certain colors.  I’m not sure if I said that right…” Aleena started with a scowl.

Sarhea’s thoughtful gaze lingered on her friend for a moment.  This was one topic that she’d been looking forward to discussing.  She felt a sudden familiar prodding to allow herself limited access to energized sight.  When she did, she saw the guides flowing around each member of the gathered group and they were strengthening the flames burning within each one of them.  She felt led…led to show them…Was that even possible?  Heat began to build and move down her arm.

“Sarhea…are you alright?  Your eyes are doing some crazy stuff,” Aleena whispered in alarm beside her.

“They are?”  She shook her head.  Of course they probably were.  

Violet wisps were beginning to rise off the fingers of her right hand and almost begged to be released to join the energy already flowing around them.

“Yes, I suppose you all can see my eyes doing crazy things, which happens under heightened energetic circumstance, and perhaps you even see the violet flames trying to build on my hands,” she mumbled absently before glancing around at them and their now blazing energy signatures.  “I could tell you all about the energy that resides in each of you, or I could show you-if you will allow me to.”

“Is it dangerous?” came Raith’s hesitant voice.

She turned to him.  “No…at least I do not believe so.  I’ve never tried to do what I’m being shown, but I do not feel any warning associated with it.”

She watched as Raith’s gaze darted quickly around the room, his questioning gaze falling to each one present.  She sensed his building curiosity and also his hesitance.  There was no reaction from the group other than a few shrugs and confused stares.

“Alright, if you feel it is safe, then show us,” came his eventual reply.

Sarhea nodded as she slowly stood.  The excitement and anticipation was quickly building within her.  She moved to the center of the room, positioning herself before the still hovering violet sphere, and closed her eyes.  

“If this is to work, you all must be open-minded.  I’ll do my part, but I cannot make you see; you have to make the choice to see for yourselves,” she said as she concentrated on the energy’s leading.

Heat burst forth from her hands, causing her eyes to open.  Violet flames had finally erupted and from the expressions she saw around the room, everyone could see them.

“I suppose I’ll start with me.  As you can see, my signature is violet, the color taken when the red and blue elements are in perfect harmony.  All creatures bear a signature ranging in color from red to blue, but no one creature that I’ve seen since my parents has had a pure red or pure blue signature, nor have any had a pure violet signature.  I’m not entirely sure why, but I’ve come to believe that at my parents’ death, the Guardians had no choice but to place both elements in my care.”

“Sarhea,” Askar started.

Her gaze turned to the Cassarian who wore a concentrated expression.

“Perhaps…perhaps this is why you have a hard time controlling your talents.  Your earlier description seems to place the two at opposite ends of a spectrum.  Perhaps they are in conflict with each other,” he continued.

Sarhea eyed him curiously.  Askar’s insight never ceased to take her by surprise.  She gave him an approving smile.

“I’ve often wondered the same thing as I constantly feel like there is a battle raging inside of me.  It is not often that I see violet manifest like this; unity of energy is difficult to achieve.  Usually I feel either fire or peace.”

“Then maybe that’s how we can help you…help you figure out how to keep them in balance,” he replied.

Sarhea allowed a genuine smile.  “Perhaps.”

She turned back to the entire group as she concentrated on the guides once more.  They swirled about her before finally converging in on the flames on her hands.  When they flowed back out, they had taken on the color of unity themselves.  They then flowed into the violet orb before her, the intensity of which grew until it abruptly burst into a flurry of violet sparks that flew across and filled the room.  Both Askar and Madrick flinched back at the display, attesting to the openness of their minds.  The sparks settled over everyone and were instantly absorbed.  Before long, wisps of color began flowing forth each of them and grew in strength until an orb of swirling color hovered before them.  As she now expected, she saw Askar and Madrick’s eyes widen.  Kaden, Bud and Nakyla showed no reaction.  Aleena appeared confused and Raith’s expression was unreadable.  

She turned first to Aleena.

“Do you see it?”

Aleena’s eyes widened as her gaze lifted.  “I-I’m not sure.  I felt something happen, but then nothing.”

Sarhea slowly reached a hand out to touch Aleena’s blue-violet orb, causing its signature to intensify immensely.  Aleena gasped as her eyes widened.

“I-I see it!”

Stunned expressions could now be seen from everyone.

“It has taken me years to put some kind of meaning to the colors I have observed, and I cannot guarantee that my reasoning is correct, but it makes sense when carefully considered.  I feel the colors are strongly related to the bearer’s personality.  Aleena, as you can now see, your signature is blue-violet, which does suit you.  You enjoy helping others, bringing them peace, but I have seen that spark of fire in you.  You are strong and protective when you need to be but greatly prefer everyone to peacefully get along.”

Aleena simply smiled and nodded approvingly before her gaze fell back to the orb before her.  Sarhea’s gaze turned to Bud.  The burly Kalatian’s gaze was bewildered as she touched his signature of mostly blue.  His yellow-green eyes widened.

“Bud-I realize that I do not know you as well as some here, but this signature seems quite fitting of you.  There is a steady, solid strength about you, a strength that allows you to act as the anchor that keeps this team level headed and grounded, a gentle soul who also prefers peace but will stand and fight if the need arises.”

“Ha, that’s Bud alright.  If it were not for him, there have been times where we would have been at each other’s throats,” Nakyla muttered as Bud reached out and watched his hand pass through the orb.  He didn’t appear to have heard what Nakyla said.

“This-this is in me?” he asked.

Sarhea smiled warmly down at him.  “Yes, along with so much more,” she replied before turning to Nakyla.  

The Malkaian shot her a mischievous smirk.  “Let me guess-If I understand this correctly, you’re probably going to tell me mine is heavy on the red side.”

Sarhea smirked back at her as she brought the signature into view.  Nakyla’s expression melted to triumph.

“Yes, you have a healthy dose of the Fire of Life, which serves you well on the battlefield.  But, from experience, I can tell you that too much can be hard to control, and it can make getting along with others quite the chore.”

Nakyla’s smirk faded to a scowl.

“But your signature also bears a touch of peace, so not all is lost.”

Nakyla sighed heavily as she shook her head.  “I suppose we both have some control to master then.”

Sarhea grinned.  “There will always be a new challenge to master, some more difficult than others.  I only hope you fare better than I have,” she replied as her gaze settled on Kaden.

Her grin faded as her eyes locked on the puzzling signature hovering before the quiet Cassarian.  Not a word was said as she reached out to bring it into view.

“Blue?  How is that possible?” Nakyla spat, a fierce scowl upon her face.

“It is puzzling, though not so much because of the blue element.  There is red there as well, but it hides at the center, showing itself in flashes.”

“Ha ha!  Kinda like his courage, or lack thereof!” Nakyla snorted.

The remark was quick to bring a snarl to Kaden’s lips, and in that moment, the red spark hidden in his energy flared, adding a strong hint of fire to his once blue signature.

“Very interesting.  I’ve only seen this a few times in my life.  The bearers of such energy always surprised me with what they were capable of.  Mostly, they were quiet souls, preferring to stay in the background, but when the hour of their trials arrived, the fire came out in full force, their true potential realized.  Perhaps we all have underestimated you, Kaden.  Your team should expect surprising things from you.”

The glare faded from Kaden’s gaze as his focus returned to her.  She could sense his mixed emotions as his eyes bounced between the odd signature before him and her.  A look of quiet gratitude finally came over him and she tipped her head to him before turning to Madrick.  The Rigon stared wide-eyed at the red-violet orb swirling before him.

“You see it, don’t you, Madrick?  And you as well, Askar?”

Askar looked up from his blue-violet signature and glanced over to Madrick.  Both then looked up at her and nodded.  She reached down to touch both signatures, bringing them into view to the rest of the group.

“It is more than simple chance that the two of you are friends.  Your energies perfectly balance one another out, making you the ideal team, a pair to be reckoned with.  I have already seen this out in the field, and even here within the city walls in the way you stand up for one another.  This, along with your unique openness to the energy’s presence, will help you go far in our war against the enemy.  Great things should be expected from each of you, both together and individually, and with this greatness comes much responsibility.  Trust in what you feel, what you sense around you, and you will never be led astray.”

The air around them was charged as she finished speaking, and for a moment, no one could respond.  Askar’s gaze finally lifted to hers with mixed emotions shining from his eyes.

“Sarhea,” he started quietly before pausing to contain a sudden rush of emotion that brought a hint of moisture to his eyes.  Sarhea paused, arching a brow.

“I never had a chance to properly thank you for helping Lyle.  Seeing all this now, it reminds me so much of his last moments.  I felt the energy then, only didn’t know that’s what it was.  I wish I had known it was you sooner.  But thank you, and thank you for helping me through that rough patch.”

Sarhea hung her head and allowed a sad smile.  “I wish I could have done more,” she replied quietly.

“You did all you could, and it was more than you had to, for me and for Lyle.  No matter what lies in store for us all, I’ll always consider you a friend,” he said and abruptly stood.

Before she could react, Sarhea found herself in his strong embrace.  The shock at his sudden move quickly faded as his peace flooded over her.  A smile played at her lips as she returned the gesture.

“Thank you,” she whispered as he slowly released her and gazed down at her with his recently familiar flirtatious smile and a hint of affection shining in his eyes.  

It still unnerved her to recognize his developing, yet misdirected affections, but now was not the time to dwell on it.  Askar finally stepped back and returned to his seat and she prepared to face the room’s final occupant.

Sarhea froze.  Raith sat motionless, his confused, distant gaze locked on the strong, festering ball of white energy before him.  Her eyes widened.  This was quite unexpected.  It was almost as if his signature was resisting exposure.  Sarhea hesitated, unsure of how to proceed.  No warning was felt from her guides, but something about what she saw struck at the core of her.  A slight gasp was heard from Askar and the sound was enough to draw Raith out of his daze.  Bewildered green eyes locked onto her.

“I…I don’t understand,” he whispered.

“Nor do I.  You have been a mystery to me ever since I discovered this belonged to you,” she whispered in reply.

“What?  What is it?  Show us Raith’s already,” Nakyla prodded impatiently from across the room.

Sarhea was hesitant to touch the festering white orb and honestly did not know what would happen.  The energy boost during their recent pact came rushing back to the front of her thoughts; it had most definitely originated from Raith.  She finally stretched out timidly to touch it.

Heat flared in her hand and raced up her arm as blinding light filled her vision.  She suddenly felt weightless, and almost sensed that she was falling, but she was helpless to stop it.  Distant voices called her name in alarm.  She was completely overwhelmed by a power the likes she experienced only once before during the dark period when the Guardians united the energy’s elements within her so that she could prevail in her battle to save her tribe.  She felt extreme peace, but at the same time, the strong desire to stand firm against the evils plaguing their world.  She felt her reserves being restored, the lingering pain of her injuries fading.  It was almost as if the Guardians themselves had reached out and touched her…

Then it hit her.  Raith’s energy had somehow been given, touched, by the Guardians themselves.  She had no clue as to how, when or why, but the hint of their signature mixed into that blinding whiteness was unmistakable…

Sarhea felt the embrace of gentle strength around her shoulders and little by little, the effects of the energy jolt began to wear off.  The distant voices around her became more distinct and soon, she recognized Aleena and Askar’s voice.  She recognized the gentle strength of Askar’s arms as he supported her.  Her dazed eyes slowly began to focus and she soon looked up into Aleena’s worried gaze.  

“Sarhea!  Sarhea, are you alright?”

She slowly tried to move her sluggish limbs, discovered that she was on the floor.  Askar helped her to sit upright.  Her first coherent thought was of Raith and her gaze quickly sought him out.  She found him slumped against the stone wall right where he’d been.  Bud and Nakyla were at his side, frantically trying to help right him.  Whatever had happened to her had affected him as well…

“Is…is he alright?” she finally managed to mutter weakly.

“I’m ok,” came his thick-tongued reply.

“Yes, Raith will live.  Now please tell me if you are alright,” Aleena snapped.

Sarhea managed a weak smile before attempting to turn to Askar.  “Help me up,” she whispered.

Askar needed no further instruction and slowly helped her to her feet.  Her legs felt like dead weights and she was grateful for the arm he offered to her for support.

“What the hell was that?  I thought you said this was not dangerous!” Nakyla demanded.

“It wasn’t supposed to be…”

“Take it easy, Nakyla.  I told you, I’m alright,” Raith insisted.  His eyes had finally opened and gazed lazily over at her.

“What just happened?”  Bud finally cut in, his voice strained with pent up concern.

Sarhea could only shake her head.  “I’m not quite sure.  I only know the commander has some rather unique gifts of his own that I was not prepared for.”

“How-how is his energy white?  What does it mean?” Askar asked as he slowly led her back to her place on the bench and helped her sit.

She felt the lingering weight of Raith’s questioning gaze.  “This has been a mystery that I’ve yet to solve.  Usually, only very young children or those on their deathbed bear white signatures, and the commander doesn’t fit in either category.  Before discovering this, I felt the anomaly to symbolize purity…”  She paused and shook her head as fragmented possibilities flooded her thoughts.  “None of this makes any sense.  A child’s soul begins to take on its true color as it ages.  This is the first time I’ve seen a healthy adult with a white signature.  My understanding of the phenomenon is at a complete loss…”

“What happened to us?” Raith asked, repeating Bud’s previous question.

Sarhea weakly shook her head.  “The best I can describe it was an energy transfer,” she finally replied.

Raith nodded his approval.  “Yeah, I guess that would be one fair description.”

“Well, let’s keep it from happening again,” Nakyla grumbled.

“Oh no, I don’t think I mind so much, just next time, I’ll be a little more prepared.”

“What?!” Nakyla exclaimed with wide eyes.

Sarhea arched a brow as she shot him a half-cocked smirk.

Raith managed to push himself off the wall and slowly moved to stand.  Bud was immediately at his side to offer any needed assistance.  She watched as he wavered unsteadily for a moment before waving off both Bud’s and Nakyla’s insistent offers of aid.

“I told you, I’m alright,” she heard him grumble. 

Sarhea wondered what he had planned as he began to take a step forward.  He didn’t make it two steps before his legs nearly gave out and he toppled forward.  Bud was instantly there to catch him.

“I don’t know about you guys, but perhaps we’ve all had enough excitement for one night.  There will be plenty of time for more questions and answers later,” Bud suggested hesitantly as he help Raith back to his feet.

Aleena was quick to step up as well.  “Yes, I would have to agree…”

“Guys, please-I’m fine, just a little unsteady at the moment…” Raith began with a hint of frustration but paused as he cast a quick glance around the room.

Sarhea noticed the change as well.  The energy had dissipated, the harmony and concentration broken.  She noticed mixed gazes of confusion and concern, even a hint of apprehension.  Raith quietly sighed as his ears fell back.

“Fine.  Perhaps tonight is done.  Enough information has been presented to give us all something to dwell on and consider, formulate any further questions we may have.  As Bud said, there will be plenty of opportunity to continue this later.  For now, unless anyone has anything else to add, I suggest you all enjoy the rest of your evening.  I have a feeling things are going to become busy in the days to come.”

Mumbles soon arose across the room as everyone began to stand and move toward the door.  Askar moved back in next to her and sat, his blue eyes silently offering her assistance.  She smiled at him as she linked her arm with his.

“Help me up again?” she whispered. 

A wide grin spread across his face.  “Anything for a friend,” he replied and gently helped her stand.  

The quiet growl of mechanical motors sounded as the cubby door slowly began to lift.  Sarhea was grateful for the easing of the tense mood that had started to settle.  Many more things could have been discussed tonight, but she was glad it had ended where it did.  She watched as everyone began filing out of the room in much better spirits than they had entered with.  Hope surged through her, hope that perhaps everything really would work out. 

Askar tugged gently on her arm, his questioning gaze beckoning her forward.  She sighed quietly and shook her head.  

“Thank you, Askar, for your assistance, but I think I’m going to stay a little while longer,” she told him quietly.

“Are you sure?  I don’t want to…”

“Do not worry about me.  The effects of that energy jolt are already wearing off.  I’ll make it to where I’m going just fine on my own.  But thank you for your concern.”

He hesitated before sighing and gently releasing her arm.  “Alright.  Will I see you tomorrow?”

She smiled up at him warmly.  “I’m sure you will.”

“You will be coming to the training center tomorrow, correct?” came Raith’s voice from the doorway.

Sarhea’s ears perked as she gazed back at the dark opening to see him standing just outside.

“Are you reinstating my access?”

Raith hesitated as he moved a few steps back into the room.  “I almost forgot about that.  Yes, the issue will be resolved shortly.  I hope to see you there, and maybe, you can put an end to all the fools who’ve been asking about you, waiting to get their asses kicked.”

She couldn’t hold back a chuckle.  She could already imagine the ones he was most likely talking about.  Even Askar had that crazy gleam in his eyes.

“Yes, I will be there,” she replied.

“Awesome!  Madrick and I have been waiting patiently for the lessons to resume!” Askar exclaimed in excitement as he moved toward the door.

“Well then, we shall see you there.  I bid you ladies good evening, then,” Raith replied and turned back toward the corridor beyond.

Sarhea nodded and soon, only Aleena remained.

“Are you sure you’re going to be ok?”

Sarhea’s gaze drifted back to the quiet night scene beyond the cubby’s protective glass barrier.

“Yes.  I just would like to spend a few moments alone with my thoughts,” she mumbled quietly.  

She felt Aleena hesitate, but then the Kalatian sighed quietly and began moving toward the door.

“Good night, Sarhea.  I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Good night,” she replied without looking back.