Hey guys~
I haven't been writing much lately but I thought maybe if I post my current novel here, and possibly get some feedback, I would be motivated to keep going. So here it is! I hope you enjoy, please let me know if you have any ideas for what happens next.

Chapter 1: White
I briskly stride through the angled hallway with one emotion riding my veins. Fury. I want to know where my sister is, what they did to Oliver, and where I am. My eyes dart around under my lashes as I walk with my chin up to look strong. My eyes, however, are narrowed.

The passages I walk down are narrow, the walls are thick, cold steel with an inward incline. It's like walking through a triangle. The way the passages are designed make you feel like your walking faster than you are, lit up with strange blinking lights.

None of us know what they mean, they blink as if on key. Color coded messages for us to see, but not understand. I ponder on these as I stop before a small, double door. Only one side is unlocked, so I tug on the handle and it creaks open slowly. Peaking in, I'm nearly blinded with white light.

I blink, training grounds? I see advanced monkey bars, racks and racks of various weapons, a pool, followed by racks and racks of different armor, boulders, fire, arrow shooting booby trapped obstacle courses, and many other things. I can't take it all in at once, what is the meaning of this?

I step in, an the door closes behind me. I whip around to pull it back open in caution, but it won't budge. Growling, I make my way over to the armor station. May as well play around with provided toys.

I gaze over the different protection outfits. Some bulkier than others, not my style. As I walk forward, they start slimming down, more sleek, agile-based armor. One in particular catches my eye. It is made up of rounded steel plates. I knock on a few, and discover a strange setup.

The ones on the chest, belly, and sides are hollow. The spinal cord, collarbone, and pelvis are all solid. They are like iridescent steel scales, I think. Anywhere without scales is given a thin sheet of protection. These steel pieces have razor sharp edges. A few stick corner up down the spine and I suspect it's for sharp turns in the water.

The inside of this armored suit is padded aside from the thick, waterproof material directly under the scales. One layer of cushion, then one layer of memory foam. All these are thin and surprisingly sensitive
.
Stepping in, I move my arms and legs, finding that the scales are implanted in a coiled design. My body moves sleekly and easily in flexible maneuvers.

I find my hands in strange gloves. The hardest bones have a similar scale design to the rest of the suit to cover them, but they are smaller and more moveable. At the second knuckle they stop like the ending of a tunnel, and my finger tip is covered by a perfectly molded, clear, skin-like wrapping.

I try to tear this clear part, but to no avail. It is strong, and I grin at that. The fingers are all webbed with this material, if I lock my fingers it locks with them. But if I make a fist, they fold. And that's when I notice the webbing is made up of tiny, microscopic little sharp razors that form blades between each finger when fists are made.

Both the blade form and webbing form of the flexible razors have grooves for easily moving through liquids. I find a similar design of this on my feet, but they have extendable toes for swimming. When I step into the water and start swimming, the pressure is released from a button on the soles of the feet and the toes extend.

I chuckle at how clever this manual is, I'm reading it because it was inside the suit. Looking on the shelf above where the suit was kept, I see a helmet. It is angled, the back is rounded with a sharp, thin, pointed crest down close to the skull shooting behind the suit. Sort of like a hitchhiker's thumb. The crest is about eight inches long.

The front of the helmet has a cover over the face, like a shield. It looks like a glass material, so I can see through it as I put it on, but it is strong enough to hold up against extreme water pressures. The inside of the glass has better vision that a human. Not only does it not fog up, but it has mirrors so I can see what is on either side, or behind me.

The breathing piece in the helmet automatically kicks in when you attach it to the suit. There is a hidden filter in the chest that gathers oxygen from the air or water. Or any substance, for that matter. And that's what I'm breathing through. I find springs in my heels as I walk to quicken my steps.

In a lighter mood, I make my way to the racks of weapons not far from my previous location. As I near them, just before I'm there a burly man steps in front of me.

"Hey chic." He smirks, towering over me, not budging from my way.

"What do you want?" I snarl, making fists and popping out my web-blades.

"The question is, what do YOU want?" He hurls it back at me. I lift my chin up and huff. He was easily 6'5, heavily muscled and broad. He wore bulky armor that resembled a futuristic knight's, but his helmet was similar to mine. He wore bands around his wrists that attached to small devices on his forefingers, they looked like lasers.

"I want to look over the weapons." I say to sweetly, brushing past him. He grabs the crest of my helmet and sneers,

"Like a wimpy piece of meat like you could wield a weapon." He emphasized on the word "you." I whirled around and threw a punch at his arm, my razors clashing against his armor. Leaving a snag through the metal. I see his body tremor, in fear or fury?

"Like a fat lump of arrogance thing like you could move fast enough to stop me!" I spit the words with confidence. I hear a high pitched bell ring out, and freeze. Through a sliding piece hidden in the wall, three people clad in white come marching towards us.

They take us by the shoulders and rip us from the quarreling we had begun.

"Get your hands off me!" I scream, thrashing till I am dropped to the floor. I expertly pick myself back up and take a fighting stance.

"Stupid girl! They made these suits, you can't fight them with it." The jerk rolled his eyes. But he was right. I turned my back on them and made the rest of my way to the weapons, only to find them barred in by an invisible force field. I'm thrown back.

"Oooh!" I hit the ground, and dizzily blink my eyes. "WHAT IS GOING ON?!!" I shriek, causing all eyes to look at me. I look over my shoulder just in time to see one of the white clad men shoot a small metal spider onto my suit. It attaches to it and begins to vibrate, sending an electromagnetic impulse through the metal, paralyzing it's ability to move.

I grumble, the suit, like a second skin, holds me in unbreakable bonds. I feel trapped, very, very trapped. One of the men comes in front of me. I glare up at him, despite the nearly blinding white lights that direction, as he jerks off my helmet. I gasp as my lungs meet all the elements in the air.

I watch him ready the tranquilizer, and just like that, black.

I slowly blink awake, groaning. My whole body is stiff. I try to wiggle my arms, legs, shoulders, but the only thing I can move is my head. I open my eyes to find myself still in my suit. I'm in a chair, sitting beside an unfamiliar face. Oh wait, I know this guy.
"Hey Chic." He smirks, narrowing his eyes at me. I scowl.
"Quit calling me that, my name is Lucy." I hold my nose in the air and huff. "Now look where you got us, jerk!"
"Hold on, hold on, you remember your name..?" I look over at these words, his face is astonished. I nod,
"Do you not remember yours?" He shakes his head, and his face falls.
"I don't remember anything. I woke up at the end of a hallway, with only one way to go." He says sadly, his gruff voice no longer arrogant. "How can you remember yours? What else do you remember, Chic?" His eyes now glazed with jealousy.
At that moment, the wall slides open and a man in a gray suit steps in. He is followed by two white clad men. They sit at the opposite end of the table from us, and whisper among themselves. I growl.
"Explain!" I gesture to myself with a jerk of my chin. The men look up, surprised, and settle in their seats. The one in the suit speaks.
"You two are Agents 1 and 53, of SOE, our ship." He gestures to me, then to the boy. "You were taken here by our men and are being tested for combat skills." He keeps going. "Earth is being attacked by creatures we like to call Eclipse Drones." He types on a keyboard and a hologram is brought up between us and the man.
"These are humanoids, but are not in their right mind. None of them." He takes a deep breath in. "We have been studying ways to use intervened beams of nitrogen and sunlight to shoot information from an electronic device directly into the human brain."

A drone on the hologram resembles a human, but it is hunched over and snarling like an animal, and foaming at the mouth. The hair is thicker, longer, and darker. Eyes flashing like a cat's. Equity with long, sharp nails it seems. Clothed in torn ragged material, what's left of the hard worn fabric they used to love.

"But one night there was a major disruption and are nitrogen rays spread out like a horizontal plane through the troposphere, engulfing the heads of people ranging from heights 5'5-6'5. It was a solar eclipse at the time, and moonlight affected their brains much differently than anticipated."

We watch the computer animation of the scene carefully. "Instead of giving them memory, it wiped it out. They have only instinct, inheritance, and imprints. 89% of the population taken by this reaction lost their minds. The remaining 11% we took to our outer space lab- here."

"We had to wipe your minds clean of any core memories to steer clear of viruses that would be the biggest downfall to our era. The first few might have a few flaws, but nothing fatal. One defect is that our mind washing substances increase hostility." The man went on.

"As for the suits, they are built around your condition. You can't take them off, they are a part of you. You can, however, add tweaks to their designing through our computer engineering. If your suit is destroyed, you can pick another, but you have lost a part of yourself and will be weaker. If you are killed and your suit is fine, you will still be dead, but your body and suit will still be functioning. Meaning, if you are attacked by a friend, it's probably being controlled by the enemy like a robot, so don't let it get under your skin."

"Anyway," The man seems flustered now. "Don't try to leave the ship lab. If you have any questions, my name is Captain Lunar. You will be shown to your rooms tonight, welcome to the Secret of Earth."

Chapter 2: Green
I lay on the velvety white sheets of my bed, panting. I run my fingers over the rich fabric, soft and warm. My body heaves from a hard day of training. Brandy, my assigned trainer, taught me secrets of my suit. I could control some parts of it with my mind, like exposing my fingers out of the gloves.

This has come in handy for eating and shaking hands. The webbing over my finger tips slices at the touch, so if I wanted to touch anything I'd have to retract the razor skin. After much practice, it was perfected. I'm very proud of myself, but in all honesty, I'm scared.

Once I reach the highest level of my training I will be recruited for battle. It's my sole purpose to purge Earth of the Eclipse Drones. I sigh, closing my eyes. Suddenly, there is a knock on my door. I slide off my bed, and rush to open it.

"Evening!" Says Brandy, leaning against the doorway when I open it. He's dressed in a suit and bow tie. I laugh,

"What is this, trainer?" I leave my room and we begin walking to the mobil room.

"It's the trainee recruitment dinner of course!" Brandy exclaims, giving my hand a firm shake. "All the trainees that score the most points in their training get to come to dinner with the crew at night. You earn points by behaving, leveling up, achieving goals, and mastering skills." Says Brandy as we enter the mobile room.

The mobile room is literally a small circular room that moved from level to level, wing to wing, and pretty much anywhere on the ship. They are like their own personal little train stations.

"That's good motivation," I say as we enter. "So is it bad that I can remember my name?" I ask, lowering my voice. I only told Brandy about my memory flashes, like remembering names and age. For example, my name is Lucy. I'm eighteen. I don't need a mirror to know that my hair is long and naturally red with blonde roots, and that my eyes are vivid blue and my skin is porcelain with a few freckles.

"I don't think so, you haven't told anyone though, right?" Brandy asked, as we both lean our backs against the wall. Brandy is tall and twenty-four years old. He is muscular, and broad in the shoulders. While he is lean and has messy brown hair on his head. He has a bristly beard, too.

"Nope." I smile. His eyes are brown with specks of gold and green. But they are behind circle wire-rimmed glasses with lenses that are hardly visible. "Except for that rude, burly dude." I huff. "But that was brief."

"Good, I wouldn't want them to take my only trainee hostage!" He blurts sarcastically. I laugh,

"To late! I am already a prisoner of your command." I stick my tongue out at him as the room stops moving. Stepping out, I follow Brandy through the biggest room I've seen on the ship. It's surprisingly rustic, looks just like an old country restaurant at home. "This is so... So memorable." I say, taking it in.

"It's the only place on the ship you will find so, but it's comforting nonetheless." Brandy says, directing me to take a seat. "So tell me, do you have any questions?" My eyes light up at first, and then blur out with tears. I blink them away,

"Mhmm.. I have some people of importance to me that I'd like to locate..." I gulp, hoping this wouldn't cause Brandy any fear for my mind.
"What can you remember about them?" He asks, waving the waitress off with food orders. I rub my temples and think.

"Oliver.. He is two years older than me with black hair and blue eyes. Melody, she's my older sister. She looks a lot like me with darker hair and green eyes. The last time I saw either of them...." I gasp and my breathing quickens as my eyes roll back.






~Flashback~

"Oliver wait up!" I call, jogging up behind him. I grab his shoulders and spin him around to face me, smirking. "You really thought you could outrun me?"
"Yeah, but Lucy you are fast!" He laughs, giving me a playful shove backward.
"I know," I say, collecting my heavy load of geography books from him. "Now where am I, Oliver Royce Finley?" I look around, we are on an old abandoned road. Surrounded by trees, the backs of peoples' tall fences, and uninhabited houses.
"This is where I grew up." Oliver sighs, looking around. He leads me to an old tree stump as my mind fills with questions.
"What do you mean 'where I grew up,' Oliver?" I grow suspicious, suddenly knowing what's coming, but to stubborn and attached to believe it.
"I got accepted to the University Lucy, I'm moving away in three days." My heart pounds.
"Your leaving?" He must not have noticed my face fall, he kept going as chipper as before.
"I get to study car engineering and repairing." His face is so bright I don't want to let him down. "Lucy, we can text, call, and all that good stuff!" He beams, showing me the letter that accepted him.
"That's wonderful Oliver..." I sigh, sliding off the stump. "I'll be around.. Maybe." And these were the last words I spoke to him before I trudged down the dirt road alone, trying to find my way home before dark.


~Present~

I gasp for air, eyes closed. Brandy is shaking my shoulders hard.
"Lucy! Your awake, what happened?" I try to answer but I can only whimper. I struggle for the strength to lift my head up. Opening my eyes, I blink, and figure out I'm overreacting. I sigh.
"I'm sorry Brandy, sit down, we're getting stares. I'm okay, really. It's nothing." I grumble, brushing him off.
"Lucy, as your personal trainer I find it my duty to take your troubles and share them in support to help you achieve your highest level of recruitment." Brandy firmly holds my hands to the table and looks me in the eyes. "So. Tell me what happened." He says the words so stern I know I can't lie.
"You have to come with me..." I gulp, "I can't share it with anyone else." So I lead him out of the cafeteria and into an empty hallway just outside. Taking a deep breath in, we lock gazes.
"So?" And I tell him everything, everything in my flashback. I explain the scenery and any detail I can remember. I see the interest in his eyes as I finish up. "Do you remember anything after that?"
"Flaky images and sounds, not much. What does it mean?" I press my forehead to the wall and claw it with my web-blades.
"It means we need to track down Agent 2 and have a little talk." Brandy states firmly, "But we will eat first. You must be hungry eh?" It's a relief to me that Brandy is so easy going. I nod, and we retake our places at the table like nothing happened.

~A half hour later~

"Mmmmmm that was so good! Thanks for bringing me along, Brandy. How did you know I love pasta?" I rub my inflated tummy and look longingly at my empty plate for sauce to lick clean.
"Knowing people's food choices you mean? I guess it's just a hidden talent!" He chuckles, "Stay here, I must have a word with the captain's secretary." And he swiftly leaves the table, I watch him go, and then scan the rest of the people in the cafeteria.
All the different trainer suits are very unique. Some clear, some solid, some look like they aren't there at all. Glancing around, I notice a big chunk of a man coming towards me. 53? What would he want?
"Hey Chic." He dumps himself in Brandy's chair and waits for me to speak.
"What do you want?" I grumble, crossing my arms. To my surprise, 53 has a softened gaze.
"Come on Lucy lets at least try to be civil? Have you not heard the news, captain?" 53 sighs, resting his chin on his right knuckles.
"53, what do you mean? Captain? News?" I narrow my eyes and furrow my brow. I want this man off my table. Now.
"Captain Lunar is assigning teams to take turns landing on earth and contributing to the purge. You are the captain of ours. He has decided that since we are already introduced, we should work together." 53 lifts his face and smirks.
"Back off you jerk, watch me WIN." I slam my fist on the table as my body quakes. "If Lunar wants a captain, a captain he will get! You wait and see, soldier." My glare burns into him, I can feel it. I've won, he will never, ever make my heart speed up. No matter how hard he tries.
"Someone is feisty today eh?" 53 raises an eyebrow. I snort. What does he know?
"Feisty? Aggravated. Get out of Brandy's chair." I lift my chin and huff. He doesn't move. "OUT!" I shout, receiving many stares in return. 53 gets up and leaves without another word, leaving me grumbling, fidgeting with my hands.
Me? A leader? I roll my eyes, examining a butter knife. Captain Lunar must be crazy, or it was just a lie.
"Lucy?" I feel a gentle tap on my shoulder, and look up. Not meaning to glare. "You was zoning out... Is something wrong? Another flashback?" Brandy blinks, concerned. I jerk my head, whimpering.
"My aggression..." I sigh. "Is it true that I am a field captan?" Brandy nods. "Why? Who is agent 2? Oh Brandy I have so many questions." I hide my eyes with my palms face down on the table.
"Come." Brandy says softly, leading me blindly through the corridors of Ship SOE. It's not long before we come to a stop before a sliding door of steel. "We're here." Brandy presses a button on a panel on the wall beside the door. A green light flashes, followed by a soft chime.

Chapter 3: Orange
As the door opens my heart flies into my throat. Tears glaze my vision thoroughly as the tall, slender girl comes to view. Beautiful, elegant, strong, perfect.

"Melody!" I gasp, dashing to her and wrapping her in a suffocating hug. "Melody your alive..." My sharp intakes of breath deafen my ears from Brandy's frantic calls. It's no longer than three seconds that I'm thrown hard on my back, back against the stone floor.

"DO I KNOW YOU?!" Melody shrieks, landing a kick on my chest that sends me sliding to the doorway. Brandy kneels beside me and holds up a hand to tell Melody to back off.

"Lucy! Slow down girl, she was brainwashed, remember?" Brandy barks, holding me down with one hand. He may appear to be a nerd, but boy his arms are lined with muscle.

"But... She's my sister. Sisters don't forget?" I say between breaths. Brandy just shakes his head.

"As your solution was to light and caused a frequent occurrence of flashbacks, Melody's was far to strong. She is extremely aggressive and remembers nothing." Brandy helps me up and brushes me off.

"Oh." I hang my head, fidgeting with my fingers. "I'm sorry Melody." I sigh, looking at the floor. What more could I do? Glancing upward, I see my sister. My older sibling, fuming mad, blazing red eyes ready to kill me.

"Touch me again brat and I'll rip your throat out." She snarls, staring ever so seriously at me. At this moment, I wish I had my helmet.

"It won't happen again." I say with a little more confidence, regaining my daring posture. "Agent 2." I offer my hand for her to shake, but she just stares at it like she could tear it off with her teeth alone. Letting it fall to my side, I turn to Brandy for an explanation.

He shrugs, "She is to be your Co-captain in the field." I whip my head back and scream. "Lucy!" Brandy says firmly. "We will put the two of you through training sessions first, I promise. Just work with me here?" His pleading eyes are to much for me to deny.

"Fine." I grumble, turning around and speed walking to my room. Why me? Why now? 53 approaches me from the side but I say nothing, do nothing, keep walking. I block everything out, finally shutting myself in my room. As free as I'm gonna get.

Before I get a minute's peace, the trim of lights along the edge of my ceiling flash orange. I roll my eyes and stare intently at the door. It slides open, and I see it. The tranquilizer gun again. I duck and roll as soon as I register what it is.

I hear the whiz of the tranquilizers flying into my previous places as I summersault forward and kick my attacker with both feet square in the chest, landing on him still on my feet as he collapses on his back against the ground. Crouching over his helmet, I try to push it off. Intending to know who chose to disturb me.

Before I can slip it away I hear Brandy down the hall. It's enough to get me to lower my guard, seeing he is running toward me as if he cares to be more just as my trainer, but perhaps a friend.

"Don't hurt----" his mouth moves but more footsteps rain down on top of the words. "Leave-----be!" His voice, muffled against many bodies, I can barely make out the words. I tilt my head to the side, stepping off my previous attacker and walking towards him slowly.

"Brandy?" I ask gently as I can, I hear my voice trembling. Gulping, I see him being held back by the men in white. "Brandy?" Before I reach him I feel a sting on the back of my neck. Before I can decide or see what it was, my world turns black. Black with echoing voices in the distant abyss.




I wake up, strapped into a chair which I cannot escape. Opening my eyes, I see again, Captain Lunar.

"Is it always gonna be this way?" I find my body trembling for how much tranquilizer has been in its system the past two days. My eyelids droop as I await an answer.

"Your public attacks have got to stop, Lucy." Lunar firmly states. I frown.

"MY public attacks? You can gather attendants without putting them under ya know." I roll my eyes. "I prefer to meet people consciously." When Lunar doesn't respond I ask, "Where is Brandy?"

"Brandy is busy with another trainee, Lucy. He asked me to let you know that he would be training with you this evening." Lunar says. I sigh, for some reason I thought they had hurt him. When I had nothing, confused in this harsh new world, Brandy was there. He has become my go-to guy for any questions or needs I could ever have.

"Why did you make me a captain of a field team?" I ask confidently, not about to look weak to Lunar.

"It's simple, Lucy. You have flashbacks, yes?" I nod in response. "Well we are using that to our advantage. You remember more about Earth than any of us, so it is only obvious you should lead a field team. You know where your going, it's our job to make sure you know what your doing."

"That's why you assigned me to Brandy. Who is on my team, Lunar?" I growl, making sure he gets the message that I am not backing down to any challenge set before me. Lunar slides five pictures in front of me.

"2, your co-captain. We are thinking of assigning you a new one, based on the start to your companionship.." Lunar sighs. "If it's true that she's your sister, she will never remember. 2 is aggressive, fierce, and extremely hostile. Make her trust you and she follows the toughest commands." I nod, my sister sounds like a boss. "53, miscellaneous. All five teammates aside from 2 are to be sorted by you. 53 is a strong, mighty male agent who specializes in up close combat. Basically, he's good with a sword, battle axe, you name it. Just don't put him at a far range." I nod, this was good to know. "26 is a slender man high in intellect. He is a decent archer but does best with laying out plans. He can tell you almost anything you need to know about anything." Lunar explains.

"So I've got an extremely aggressive girl, a jock, and a brainiac." I huff.

"72, your average hero, basically. 72 is smart with his words, and quick with a weapon. You'll find him trustworthy and obedient beyond worth." Lunar grins. I twitch.

"And the use of that?" To my question, Lunar shakes his head in momentary disbelief.

"You don't like my descriptions? See the rest for yourself tomorrow." I nod, and try to stand.

"What is it with you and holding your agents hostage?!" I grumble, struggling under my bonds.

"You never know when you guys are gonna turn on me." Lunar smirks. I freeze.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because of your increased aggression, of course. Now I believe you have a training session in an hour, better get ready eh?" Lunar flips a switch and I am released. I exit the room, annoyed, and head toward the training grounds.


~Flashback~

"Lucy!" I feel a warm embrace tighten around my waist. I'm twirled around and I feel a gentle peck land on my cheek.

"Oliver..." I mumble, comforted by my nose nuzzled into his chest. "I thought you were leaving...?" I sigh, my shoulders drop noticeably as he rubs just where my neck meets my spine.

"Well I couldn't leave without saying goodbye to my best friend... Lucy, you have always been there for me. Through all these years, since we met in middle school. I want you to know that I'll never forget you." Oliver whispers in my ear and the Japanese cherry trees shed their petals to the breeze around us.

"I will see you again, right?" I choke on tears, looking up into his eyes. Eyes so blue. Eyes wearing a look of uncertainty. "Right?" I see the tears brimming on my eyelids. Saying goodbye to someone so close, it's the hardest challenge I'll ever bear, I think.

"Lucy...." Oliver says under his breath, and I hear the sharp honk of a car horn from the road.

"Oliver!" Calls a chipper, melodious lady's voice. I shake my head slowly at Oliver as he backs away.

"You never felt the way I did Oliver? We were just friends... Just friends? All this time...?" I cover my eyes, turning my back on him, but not moving.

"Lucy.. I always looked up to you with a sisterly love. I never thought about us as a couple, not once." Oliver chose to break it to me now.

"Oliver!" The voice, echoey, calls again. I close my eyes and trudge forward, blindly, feeling my way with the palm of my hand on the thin metal fence's rail guarding the arched bridge.

~Present~

Coming back to consciousness, I find my eyes sealed closed, feeling crusty. I must have been crying. I'm propped up against a wall with a hand on my shoulder, feeling very empty. As my mind registers, I begin to hear a voice calling my name.

"Oliver?" I gasp, forcing my eyes open. Brandy.

"Not Oliver, no." Brandy shakes his head, his face more worried than normal. "It's me, Brandy? Care to tell my why I found you a day late for our training, on the floor twitching in a pool of tears?" Brandy sighs. I cringe.

"I'm so sorry.... It was another...another..." My voice trails off as the scene reflects over my vision. What a childhood friend he had been. Childhood and ever on. I would never- ever see him again. And even if I did, he wouldn't want me there. I look at Brandy with bloodshot eyes.

"Lucy?" Brandy searches my face for answers but I shield it with my hand.

"I'm abandoned, broken, unwanted, denied, and left behind. What am I to do Brandy?" I whimper, hugging my knees to my chest. I find myself locked in a hug, although I batter against his chest trying to break away.

"You are going to come and train, that's what. And tell me if you ever need any help. I will be here Lucy, always. Your my favorite trainee." Brandy promises. I sigh, and give up.

"Fine........fine... But I'm holding you to that." I whisper, standing up and leaning against the wall. "Will these mood swings ever end?"

"I have no idea captain, no idea."

"How long have I been here..?" I ask, finding myself a flaky memory from the mental and physical exhaustion my body has taken ever since I got here.

"Hm... I think this is your fourth day?" Brandy responds. I gasp, and Brandy chuckles. I tilt my head to the side, are my facial expressions so entertaining?

Brandy leads me into the training grounds and retrieves a clipboard. The door slides shut behind me when I enter.

Chapter 4: Cerulean
I approach Brandy slowly, taking in my surroundings. Pedestals stand up in a strange pattern in and around a large, snaking pool of water with underwater tunnels and caves. Some areas are darker than others, some areas are furred with kelp.

"What is all this?" I ask, as Brandy hands me my helmet.

"Your personal training grounds! Do you like it?" Brandy grins. I say yes as I slip into my helmet. "In those waters you will find different life, some helpful and some deadly."

"What do you mean? I will be on Earth, not in some monstrous dimension.." I say, puzzled.

"True, but the over exposure nitrogen proved to have affected life on earth in dangerous ways. You might find your pet goldfish, a large scaly man-eating beast." Brandy explains. I shiver, uncomfortably. "Okay, your first task."

Brandy holds up a baseball-sized glowing white orb. "This orb is as precious to you as Oliver-"

"Never mention his name again!" I shriek, jabbing a finger at the orb. "Or I'll break it!" Brandy blinks in surprise.

"This orb is as precious to you as our friendship. Protect it with your life. If this orb is damaged, you lose 50% of your protection in the universe. This orb is your heart and soul, let's say if this orb breaks, you die." Brandy raises an eyebrow inquisitively at my raised hand. "Yes?"

"Will it give me awesome superhuman powers?" My eyes must have lit up dramatically for Brandy chuckles.

"No.... But it is your ticket in to the modifications lab, so." Brandy throws the orb into the middle of the pool. "Go get it, bring it to me without a SINGLE SCRATCH!" Brandy has to shout the last two words as I have already dived into the water.

The sensation of water washing over my suit is amazing. I feel the cold liquid like a third skin, I feel it as if I were wrapped in nothing but the water itself. So to speak, it is like my suit is as flexible as I am, or become.

I sigh, spinning as I bolt through the water. There seems to be another thin layer of razor webbing over each side of my suit, but only attached along the longer edges. They act as a place for the water to flow through, propelling me through the water with less drag.

I look under myself, seeing the suit's webbed toes expand into flippers. The webbing in my fingers as well help me push the water back. I zip through the liquid at speeds I thought I'd never reach with this aquatic gear. The dorsal fin on my back extends with the water's touch, so any direction I lean affects where I turn.

I giggle, shooting forward towards where I think is the middle of the pool. I find my sense of direction underwater slowly increasing the more time I'm submerged.

I find myself advancing on an underwater tunnel, very intimidating. I stay close to the bottom, my belly brushing the thick coating of sandy carpet.

Entering the tunnel, I find all the walls to look very close to rocks in resemblance. They pulse with an eerie green glow. I see light at the end, and before long, I'm out. First, I figure this training will be pretty simple.

Letting my guard down, I pass over a kelp forest without a care, till I hear a gurgle-sounding cry from below. It's not long before a leathery whip-like tail coils around my ankle.

Yelping, I jerk my leg. The coil grows tighter than before. Uncomfortably tight. I look down as I am drug into the thick kelp. I only see a tentacle, nothing more. And it blends into the kelp dangerously.

Making a fist, I use my razor webbing blades to slice through the
tentacle. I see four or five more shooting at me in all directions, so I take advantage of the webbing on my sides and curl into a ball.

Razors pop out of my sides, and between my fingers as I do various somersaults in place, shredding the tentacles like a spinning blade. My sharp crest and dorsal fin contribute to this attack as well.

Taking the few seconds the beast needs to recover, I shoot up and out of the kelp forest and toward another tunnel with a bit of underwater wildflower spilling out of the edge.

As I am swimming toward it, even more tentacles from the kelp rise from the depths to bring me down. I bolt faster, they follow me like missiles. It's a disturbing thought, being drug down to the bottom of an underwater kelp forest in a pool in space to be eaten by a mutated beast.

I barely make the tunnel, the tentacles seem to be blocked by a clear force field. Or maybe they can't survive in confined space. I take a moment to relax before I'm on my way again, finding the acceleration of my suit in water to be quite high.

I find the tunnel taking me deeper underwater, and my head starts to ache from the increased pressure. I bear with it, trying not to make any sudden moves. I'm very grateful that my ears are covered at this moment.

I rapidly dart out of the tunnel as soon as I see the exit. With such speed I have gained, I find myself coming up to tall, sharp blades with no time to stop. And I see a gleam, an ivory gleam rushing downward. The orb!

Moving my body in a dolphin movement to further increase my pace, I shoot toward that precious glow. I turn my body sideways, narrowly slipping between two of the blades. Then I twist, rocketing downward and slipping through the center of two razors parallel to each other.

Then I see it, the orb. My token, trophy, ticket. It's dropping to fast for my liking, right down toward a pillar with the top a point like a needle. It sparkles with the light of the orb reflecting in it, my adrenaline speeds up.

With one final kick of my flippers, and a scoop of my fingers, I retrieve it. I curl my body around the sphere like a human container, shielding it from the piercing point it almost hit.

Oh no. I immediately feel the cold water on my skin. It must have put a hole in my suit! I gulp, at least my gills remain operational. I direct a route strait up, and speed in that direction. Air, I need air, that's fatal for my survival right NOW.

I feel water on my chin. My body feels heavy. I keep pushing upward, clutching the orb to my chest, keeping it away from the razor webbing between my fingers. Thank goodness for my crest, dorsal fin, and flippers. I hold my breath as my nose is submerged.

In this time of sudden death, I break the cerulean surface and search desperately for land. Seeing a stone platform three feet from here, I heave myself onto that moments from reaching it and rip off my helmet. Gasping for air, I double over and watch as water spills from the neck of my suit.

Retracting my razor skin, I hold the orb up before my eyes. It glistens with it's coating of water, it seems to be a thick glass ball with a swirly, wispy substance flowing inside of it.

"Lucy!" I hear Brandy call. Sitting up, I turn and look at the ground I covered. I came far in very little time. That brings a toothy grin to my face, I succeeded.

"Yeah?" I ask, observing the rocky platform on which I'm perched. My flippers have retracted by now, so I stand up.

"You need to bring the orb to me, did something happen to your suit? You've been out of the water for a period of time." Brandy says, very observant he is.

"Yeah, I must have got a hole. It filled up with water." I say, creeping over to the edge nearest to Brandy.

"Alright, that will be an easy fix. Come on back girl." Brandy gives me a warm, reassuring smile. I admire how well sound travels over water. So I scale the rock, finding nothing, to my disappointment. I would not be able to swim with this defect! I stand up, grumbling to myself when my foot hits a hidden pressure plate.

I gasp as I see a stepping stone path rise before my eyes. They lock in place with a series of clanks. I chuckle, this should be easy.

Trying my luck, I hop onto the first one. It dips in like a bowl! How convenient. I leap to the next one, it has a rounded top. I slip, clutching it so not to fall. It is textured on the surface, and that helps me balance. Not to slippery.

The next three are simple flat surface stepping stones, and they go by easily. The next one is a bit wobbly, so I take my time slipping to the next, and that's when I hear a crunch.

The crumble is obvious, the stones are falling! I panic, and move in sprinting leaps across the rest of the stones. The springs in the souls of my feet help, but I nearly fall. I stumble on the last, and feel the sensation in my stomach as I fall toward the water.

I reach my feet, struggling for balance as I hop up the falling stones. At the last minute, I grip the edge where Brandy stands with my only free hand. The other I have clutching the orb.

I close my fist and use my razor blades to dig into the stone. It's like nails on a chalkboard as the blades slip deeper into the edge. I pant, and swing a leg up onto the edge, pushing the blades backward and soon, I have crawled onto the pool's edge.

Chapter 5: Silver
"Well done!" I hear Brandy's applause as I stand up and present the orb to him. "You have earned your modifications Lucy! I am very proud of you." Brandy grins, patting me on the back.

"Thanks Brandy, I couldn't do this without you." I say through spurts of breaths. Brandy winks,

"This way m'lady." Brandy offers me his arm, to which I giggle and take him up on. It's not long before we are standing before the door to the lab that would literally change my life.

"Now I've got to warn you," Brandy begins. "Our modification guy is indeed a man, but... Sometimes he doesn't even seem human." Brandy says, looking grossed out. "Well, a gothic chic?"

"Good one Brandy, good one." I laugh, pressing the entrance button. As I step in, I am greeted by a scrawny man with a pink pixie cut. He has five piercings on his left ear and seven on his right. Why I took the time to count, don't ask. His tongue has the snake do, and his eyes are tattooed. The freaking white of his EYES.

"Oh my, you are simply stunning in that suit!" The man gawks, flicking his slitted tongue as he emphasizes on the word 'stunning.' I shriek.

"CREEEEP!!!!!" I howl, jabbing a finger in his face. The man, taken back, huffs in disagreement. I narrowly miss as I take a swing with my webbing blades.

"So rude." He rolls his eyes and runs his fingers through his hair. I continue to glare at him barking words at him.

"Lunatic sicko! You disgusting man!" I yell as Brandy grabs my shoulders firmly and leads me out of the room. He shuts us in a rather large cleaning closet and turns me around to face him.

"What do you think you are doing?!" Brandy scolds.

"WHAT DOES HE THINK HE IS?!!" I scream in disgust, choking on a bit of throw up.

"I know it's sick and disturbing but you can't react that way okay? I'm sorry but you just can't." Brandy steadies me with his hands on my shoulders. "Lunar says if your aggression gets to out of hand he will have to put you down..."

"He thinks mine is bad? He's seen Melody!" I throw my head back in frustration.

"Melody is verbally aggressive, she doesn't attack people. At least not in public." Brandy says firmly. "Come on Lucy, you are special friend to me. I don't want to lose you because I failed to train you in both combat and fighting the aggression."

I sigh, Brandy's words are so sincere. So honest, so full of truth and protection. I hug him gently to show I understand.

"You are a great friend too, if not my best, Brandy. In this crazy ship where my life is flipped upside-down, you are my guide. You have been here to help even at my worst, so I will do my best to follow your directions at the hardest and the easiest."

I look up to meet Brandy's smiling eyes. He releases me and puts a hand on the doorknob. "Ready to go get your hard earned modifications?" He asks, to which I nod, and take a deep breath.

As we exit the closet, I see that gross man again. Every part of me wants to scalp him of that awful pink hair. Brandy squeezes my hand reassuringly as we approach him.

"Lucy and I were hoping to get some repairs and modifications done on her suit." Brandy says casually, giving me a nudge forward.

"Hmm..." The name tag on this man reads "Fletcher." Fletcher taps a pencil on his chin as he looks my suit up and down. "Mhmm.." He gets uncomfortably close and I cast a weary glance at Brandy.

He just winks, and I furrow my brow. What does a wink mean? Fletcher trails his pencil over the mouthpiece of my helmet, down the left side of the suit, over to the right.

"Aha!" Fletcher taps his pencil right above my right hip. "This hole won't take long to fix, Brandy..?"

"Yeah, yeah one moment." Brandy takes me around the corner and has the "I need to tell you something" look.

"What is it..?" I mumble, brushing myself off from Fletcher's touch.

"Erm..." Brandy takes a deep breath in. "As you can't take your suit off, fixing it will mean you have to spend an extended amount of time with Fletcher...."

"No!!" I protest, grabbing handfuls of my hair. Brandy shushes me, and gives me a stern glare.

"Listen, it's not that bad. I'll be there the whole time, and you can pay full attention to the modifications list?" Brandy persuades.

"Modifications list?" I ask, sighing. "Brandy, maybe I should just go back home. This really isn't-"

"Don't you dare! You are my best trainee yet, you are not quitting on me now. Besides, this training is the only way for you to survive down there." Brandy scolds.

"You actually think I can do this?" I ask, glancing around the corner. Brandy takes my hand,

"I know it, really." And with that, we return to Fletcher. He has prepared a chair and gathered some supplies that make no sense to me.

"Take a seat Lucy, this will take no more than an hour." Fletcher says, strangely he is no longer offended of my earlier actions. Or at least, he's really good at hiding emotions.

"Fletcher, the modifications?" Brandy demands casually. I take them quickly as they are handed to me, they surprisingly fill a rather large book, with a pretty silver cover. "We have come up with quite a few, miss Lucy." Brandy grins.

I open the silver book, and flip through the table of contents till I find "Aquatic and Land Mods."

"Hmmm...." I look though the list, a few catch my eye. Reinforced scales, Retracting Wrist Cuffs, Gravitational Water Manipulations, Thermal Scales, and Night Vision Lenses. Brandy, seeing my interest, hands me a highlighter pen.

"What are these about?" I highlight my choices and push the book to him.

"Reinforced Scales, another mind controlled use in your suit. If you are in a risky situation you can strengthen, stiffen, and harden your scales to brace for a hard contact without damaging your suit. Retracting Wrist Cuffs, you will press a button on your palm that folds, and somewhat shrinks your whole suit into two cuffs around your wrists. You can then wear whatever you choose, and that can stay even when you let the suit out again." Brandy explains.

"Those two sound great, what else?" I ask, on the verge of a lighter mood.

"Well, Gravitational Water Manipulations. You have gravitational devices up your sleeves you must use with your mind. You can create a magnetic field opposite to the water's that will raise it. And you can change the pole of your magnetic field easily which shoots the water away like bullets." Brandy grins. "Thermal scales. There's a great use for these, as some of the nitrogen, because it was so dense in the air, settled into liquid pools you might have to swim in. Thermal scales heat your suit."

"And Night Vision is pretty self explanatory." I say. "Will that help in dark caves?" I ask.

"Yes, and a prop comes with that. Headlight!" Brandy chuckles, patting my shoulder. Fletcher rises into the conversation.

"The repair is complete, I can get all these mods done in two and a half hours!" He chirps, he must love his job. And Brandy must see the annoyance on my face.

"Don't worry Lucy, you could always take a nap. Or we could put you under so it will feel like no time at all." Brandy suggests.

"Grr.... I'll just hang tight." I grumble.


~Three Hours Later~

"Why is it taking so long? Why isn't it done?? It's been over two and a half hours!" I complain, rolling my eyes.

"Forgive me sweetheart I'm afraid I ran in to a few difficulties but I'm just finishing up-" Fletcher says, causing himself a whack on the head by me.

"I am NOT your sweetheart!" I huff. Brandy rolls his eyes.

"Shhhh now Lucy, can't you please contain it? I really wanted to bring you to dinner tonight but your points have been low regarding behavior." Brandy sighs, ruffling my hair.

"Mmhm.." Fletcher clears his throat. "If there is any color you'd like your suit to be, I can do that in less than ten seconds." He offers. I sigh, how pretty a ivory with silver detail be?

"Can you do... Ivory... With silver?" I ask, trying to be polite. Brandy nods, I had done well. I have to hold the aggression in, I have to at least try.

"Yes I can, please put this on." Fletcher hands me my helmet, and I brace myself. For some reason, my whole body seems to lock in place and I barely feel the cold, feathery touches of the dye.

"Your done! Beautiful!" Brandy claps. The men lead me to a mirror where I examine my suit. The wrists are a little bulkier from certain mods in that area but I don't mind, they slim down in such a way that they don't stand out.

My helmet's shield looks a deal more tinted from the outside, which contrasts nicely against the iridescent ivory of my scales. And trim or detail on the suit is done in a shiny metallic silver. A few long, thin, oval, overlapping scales fan around my waist to resemble a skirt.

"What are these for?" I ask, they are all about as long as my crest. Eight inches.

"When you take off, those flaps will work the way a squid's tentacles do, pushes the water back and increasing your acceleration." Fletcher says, looking proud. I nod, taking the rest in.

There is a little glowing gem on the chest, it is glowing with a golden amber light. "That gem will be lit as long as you are alive. It's a little reminder." Fletcher informs.

I look at my wrists, on my right wrist is the button to retract the suit. On my right palm is the gravity button. On the back of my right hand is an embedded compass that's going crazy.

"That compass won't work till your on Earth." Fletcher explains. I nod again. I'm happy with how my suit turned out, elegant, sleek, and tough at the same time. Moving around, I find it more mobile than before.
"I had to increase the agility of your suit so that when you reinforced the scales you wouldn't be immobile." Fletcher says. I grin, I could live in this. Which is good, because I have to.

Chapter 6: Opaque
That evening, Brandy escorts me to my room. When we get there, I turn to him before I enter.

"Thanks for everything today.." I sigh, taking of my helmet.

"My pleasure, really." Smiles Brandy. "I'm sorry it was a day late, you must be exhausted. Get a long rest, tomorrow morning we will practice with your new mods."

"Okay, you too." I yawn, pressing the entrance button on my door.

"Thanks Lucy, good night." And with that, I enter my room. Just before I close my door, I yawn again.

"Good night Brandy." And collapsing onto my bed, I fall asleep.



~Flashback~
"What's wrong Sis?" Melody asks, noticing my tear-streaked cheeks as I enter the house.

"Oliver..." I choke. "Is leaving for college with his girlfriend.." I sigh, screaming into a couch pillow after Melody sits me down in the living room.

"Aw Lucy.." Melody wraps me in a tight hug. "Don't worry, I'm sure the man of your dreams is coming. You'll find him someday, and he will be out of this world." Melody comforts.

"But me and Oliver grew up together.. Melody, we were best friends. I'll never forget him, how could I love another while I'm still thinking of him? That wouldn't be fair." I whimper.

"Aw Sis," Melody sighs. "Oliver has moved on, it's time you do too. Don't worry about it, go with the flow. Someone nice will come around, just wait and see okay? Trust me." I cry onto Melody's shoulder.

"I don't know what I'd do without you Mel." I say, my voice shaky. How much could this little heart of mine take in so little time?

"You don't need to, I'll always be here for you. Always, no matter what. Lucy we are sisters, and nothing can change that. It's in our blood." Melody comforts.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

I shiver as cold rushes over me, my head feels frozen. I hold it, and my hands feel numb too. What's going on? I look at Melody who seems to be cold too. Suddenly, there's a knock on the door.

~Present~

I shiver, my pillow is wet as I open my eyes. My head is in a cold pool of tears. No, I have to be strong. Sitting up, I hear a knock on my door.

"Who's there?" I croak. Brandy's voice answers.

"It's me, your late for training again. Twice in a row is not acceptable Lucy, might i be told why?" Brandy questions. I sigh, trudging over to the door to open it.

"I'm sorry.." I say with a hoarse voice.

"Oh dear you look awful, did you get any sleep?" Brandy asks, eyes widening.

"I think so?" I say, rubbing my temples. "I mean, I had a weird dream.. But come to think of it, it could've been a flashback." I mumble as Brandy leads me over to sit on the bed.

"These flashbacks seem to be draining your energy instead of the opposite. And if sleep is filled with them, your going to be sick. How bad this would be if you had one on a field mission, or in training!" Brandy exclaims, clearly worried.

"I'll be fine..." I say quietly, a little lightheaded. "So... I think I'm sea sick.. I want to go home." I grumble. Brandy shakes his head in disbelief.

"You can't go home Lucy... You need something hot to drink and a good rest, wait here-"
"Don't go." I choke, clinging to him. "Don't go, please.." There's no noise from Brandy or a while. Finally, he sighs.

"I have to, Lucy. I'm only your trainer and friend, besides, I'm no therapist. I will assign you someone to be with you all the time okay?" Brandy says softly. I feel something drop in my chest.

"But I don't trust anyone else, they all tranquilize me and tie me up, they can't sooth my aggression like you do, please Brandy?" I beg, starting to get a headache.

"Agent 1...." Brandy sighs. A tear rolls down my cheek.

"I've lost everyone and everything. It's not like the others, because they don't remember. But I do, and it hurts Brandy. My best friend left me hanging while he left to chase his dreams with another girl. My sister promised she'd always be here for me but now she doesn't even know me.." I hug Brandy tighter. I really need someone right now.

"Lucy how about you come meet your team..." Brandy tried to change the subject. I instantly let go and get up.

"I am truly alone then." I sigh, slipping on my helmet and leaving the room. My headache hurts with ever step, but it doesn't stop me from sprinting to the mobile room. Not necessarily fully in my mind.

I get there just in time to move it without Brandy in it. I need time to myself. I go to the very top of the ship SOE. I'm going to watch the ocean and all the waves lap the sides of the ship.

I listen for the ding, and enter what I think is the deck. But it's all stone floor, with a glass dome over this round room. I walk over to the far end, and look out.

No ocean, no blue sky, but stars. Stars all around, and planets. I rub my eyes, mind foggy. Is it nighttime? No? I glance at the digital clock sitting on a table near the mobile room door.

If it is 10:00am, why are there stars? I sigh, sitting in front of the glass cross-legged.

"Melody?" I whisper, pressing my palms to the glass. "Melody are you out there? If there was ever a time I needed you, it's now Sis." I choke, watching stars shoot by in the distance.

"I've lost Oliver, you, and now Brandy too, if I ever had him. My mind is so muggy and flaky, I feel like I'm almost with you. Where are you Melody? Your heart must be somewhere out I'm that starry abyss. Where Melody? I need you.." My forehead nods forward, resting on the glass.

I hear a sigh behind me, but I don't budge. "It must have been so hard being the oldest, with no one to look up to. Expected to be perfect all the time. I'm so lucky I had you when I did, Melody." I whisper.

I hear someone sit beside me. "Who's there?" I whisper, hugging my knees and glad to be wearing a helmet with a tinted shield over my eyes.

"It's Brandy." He says, resting a rough hand on my shoulder. I shiver.

"Why are you here." I say, with the hidden meaning of "Go away."

"Captain Lunar wishes to see you." He says gently.

"I don't wish to see him." I huff, looking away from Brandy. I feel him remove my helmet, my long, burgundy red hair waterfalls down my back.

"Please see him, for me Lucy?" Brandy pleads, rubbing my back.

"No. I don't trust you." I cringe. "I don't trust anyone anymore, you used to be the only one, but when I needed you most you pushed me away." I said with a trembling voice.

"Please, Lucy.." Brandy says, resting a hand on my shoulder. "At least tell me how you feel? This might be a serious side effect we need to look into."

"I don't know.. My mind is all clouded and flaky, echoey, even.. And I feel isolated." I shiver, suddenly I feel a warmth flood my body. "It's passing..." I gasp, and remember where I am.

"This is very interesting, Lucy. I am so sorry you have to go through it, I'll try to help if I can." Says Brandy gently. "As your personal trainer and close friend, I want to be here for you."

"Thank you..." I purr, comforted. "Didn't we have training?"

"No, Captain Lunar wants to talk to you. He has your field team waiting to meet you and being late isn't a great first impression." Brandy says softly

"Fine!" I huff, crossing my arms. "But I want you to come okay?" Brandy nods in return. I stand up, brush myself off, and face Brandy. I feel a bit more confident, and give him a firm nod to show that I'm ready.

Chapter 7: Bronze
I followed Brandy to Captain Lunar's meeting place, and shyly stepped in behind him, though I hoped no one noticed. I then gained a confident stance and tried to look like a leader as I strode into the room.

"Your late." Scolds Lunar as I stand before him, Brandy by my side.

"Be grateful I came." I spit back. Brandy shoots me a sideways glance. We're standing in a large room, the floor is dome shaped so leaders can look down on their teams. Get a good, easy look.

The walls are circular, as the room. There are no windows, and a pattern of blinding white lights line the walls closest to the ceiling. It's all a bit powerful looking for me, but I force myself to get used to it.

I tell myself I must take advantage of any powerful image I hold. If I expect this team to take orders, I must appear strong and clever. I feel Lunar look me firmly in the eye.

"So." I begin, turning around. I see five people standing on the incline, looking up at me. "I will be calling no Agent by their assigned number." I say boldly, looking each in the eye in turn. "I will be giving each of you a name to go by when you are under my command."

"You can't do that." Lunar scoffs, rolling his eyes arrogantly.

"Watch me." I snap back. "First," i indicate to agent 2. "You, Melody, are my beloved sister and co-captain. I trust you to be second in command to me, and I know you will make wise decisions." I nod respectively at her. She watches me curiously.

I turn to 53, "I will be calling you by Xavier. I hear you are skilled with il close combat, and I know about the lasers on your gloves. You will be a leader when I paid you guys up, and you are to always go first." I say. "Your lasers can take care of lock systems, and if there's any surprises you will be able to take them at close range."

Xavier nods in respect, I size up my next team member. "You will be called Kip. I hear you are the smartest guy here, so everyone will ask Kip if you have any questions. Kip I trust you to help us with the long distance shots on your bow." I say.

The whole team seems to be seeing me differently now. I chuckle inside, they assumed I'd be weak eh? Stifling a snort, I see the other guy Lunar had mentioned. Motioning to him, I say,

"You will now be called Rusty. I hear you are similar to Captain America." I mock, doubting the muscular man's abilities. "I hope you will be just as skilled and obedient as the tales say." I tell him. He returns my welcome with a glare. Your worth my praise? I think. Prove it, pretty boy.

"You, Rowan, are my 6th and final teammate." I say, nodding to the mysterious girl standing a step back from everyone. "I see you have not yet picked a suit, and I have heard nothing about you. Care to introduce your interests?" I ask sternly. Rowan stats still, and speaks quietly.

"I have always had an interest in winged creatures." She begins. "I find myself more powerful on top of the situation, striking from surprise. I prefer to hang back in the shadows because there I can't be seen." She finishes.

"You sound like a good member to have hanging back for surprise back up if we're in trouble." I give her a respective smile. "We'll be happy to have you." The girl's icy gaze seems to soften with trust.

"As for the rest of you, let's get training! We need to learn to work together as soon as time will let us." I announce. Lunar seems pleased with how I took on leadership.

"Now hold on, captain." Lunar interrupts. "I believe you have a training session with Brandy directly after this? He told me you didn't get it done earlier." I shivered.

"Yes." I say, removing my helmet to get one last, clear look at my team. I can work with this, I think to myself.

"Then you two better get going." Lunar prods. "And then meet me first thing tomorrow." He adds, giving me a stern look. It takes me a minute to realize he means my flashback meeting. I nod to acknowledge him.

Brandy turns, and I follow him out of the room. "You did well, Lucy. I think you will make a great leader." Brandy looks warmly at me. I return the smile.

"Thank you, I hope so." I reply. Suddenly, I hear the door swiftly open.

"Lucy?" It was Xavier.

"Yes?" I ask, turning to face him. He removes his helmet.

"I came to ask you, will you be leading us through wet territories when we land Earth?" He asks. I scratch my head, carful to retract my razor skin first.

"I haven't given it much thought." I say truthfully. "But I will let you know when I decide." He nods, and is about to turn away when I say "Stop by my room later so I can show you my mods?"

"Okay." Xavier says, the first time I've ever seen him smile.

Brandy winks at me, and I raise my eyebrow. Our of Xavier's earshot as we make our way to the training grounds I ask. "What? I was only trying to set a good impression on my team member." I huff.

"Which I'm proud of you for! Your doing so much better with your anger Lucy!" Brandy beams, bringing light into my eyes.

"You really think so?" I ask shyly, entering my personal training ground once again. It has been updates, there is a sheet rock wall shooting yo from the middle of the lake.

"Yes! Now to practice your new mods." Brandy begins. "I first want to see how your reinforced scales do, so try that out for me please."

I try reinforcing my scales, tightening my skin, but to no avail. I sigh, "Any tips?" Brandy suddenly wraps a rope around my neck tightly with my back pressed against his front. "Wha-" I choke as he holds me over a drop into a ravine-like training section I've never seen before.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't drop you!" Brandy snarls, teetering my feet on the edge. I choke again, and tense up. I feel a secure wave rush through my body and my scales feel harder. "Perfect!" Chirps Brandy, pulling me safely away from the edge and releasing me.

"What was that for?!" I shout, glaring arrows at him. I imagine sharp arrows of water rising to either of my shoulders, my fists clenched. I imagine them shooting briskly, narrowly missing Brandy's head. He leaps back in fear.

"It looks like your mods are w-working just fine." He stammers excitedly, shyly grinning at the fear he had caused and received. It was then that I realized he had deliberately scared me so my scales would reinforce naturally!

And on top of that, my imagination wasn't really imagined at all. That was my new mod, Gravitational Water Manipulations. I managed to control it without practice at all!

"Your a genius." I whisper in awe. Brandy proudly raises his chin and stands tall.

"You don't say?" He huffs sarcastically. I roll my eyes with a smile.

"So... Let me try again?" I say in part question. Closing my eyes, I try to send my thoughts to my hands. I imagine a graceful water dragon rising above the surface, curling around my ankles and slithering it's slick tail out of a coil.

Opening my eyes, and keeping my concentration best I can, I glance down. What I see resembles my image but not by much. It looks more like a lizard with wisps flittering away from its back.

"You might not be able to mimic such advances shapes yet because it's your first time trying it on command." Brandy encourages. "You'll get it, I believe in you."

"Thanks buddy." I say, feeling accomplished. What next? I got two down, three to go!"

"Slow down captain." Chuckles Brandy. "Night vision and thermal scales should kick in on their own when the suit, or you, sense you need them. We will do the retracting wrist cuffs when we are done in there." Brandy points into a dark cave leading under water. "Good luck!"

I walk into the cave, slowly descending into the water. Almost instantly, my night vision kicks in. Like a camera lens, the suit turns everything I see into a light shade of dusty blue. It's slightly grainy, but it works.

The cave gets colder and colder as I move downward, and I shiver. The suit kicks in as soon as that sense is shown, sending heat waves over to warm my body. I suddenly hear Brandy's voice in my ear.

"Lucy are you there?"

"Yes," I respond. "Did Fletcher add an earpiece without me knowing?" I ask.

"Yes, I forgot to tell you. Keep going through the cave, and retrieve the flag at the end. Over!" With that, I hear a muffle, and then silence.

So I swim through the cave, brushing the sandy bottom with my belly. It seems to go on forever, till I finally see the fuzzy outline of the flag at the end. I retrieve my razor webbing and clutch it to my chest, keeping my body strait as I propel myself back through the water with only my flippers.

I am swimming easily till I hear a rumble like thunder above me. Oh no! I yelp, kicking faster. But I'm to late, huge rocks come crashing down, blocking my way out of the tunnel. Going to fast to stop, I brace myself for the impact.

I feel a secure wave rush over my body as my scales reinforce, bouncing me harmlessly off the rocky barrier. I take in my surroundings carefully. Where is a way out?

Reaching up to my forehead, I click on my headlight. I swim up to where the rocks fell from, seeing a narrow passageway upward. Wriggling into it, I wish for luck as I make my way up.

To my surprise, I soon run out of water. My eyes widen in surprise, what now? I can't extend my razor webbing without tearing the flag, I think. Then I remember, my gravitational water ability!

Directing my focus below me, I imagine a geyser bubbling upward from the depths. Reinforcing my scales, and clutching the flag to my belly, I shoot the geyser up, as well as myself.

I feel my body smacking the walls as the water keeps pushing. Soon, I see light above me, and brace myself to be shot into the air. How I wish I had gliding fins! I gasp at how high I am, and do my best to control the water, carrying me downward gently and placing me on the ground.

Brandy meets me, clapping.

"Well done! What happened down there?" His eyes were wide with alarm. I sit down, recovering from the painful blasts the geyser caused me.

"The tunnel caved in, I had to find another way out." I say between breaths, looking up at Brandy. He was holding a beautiful bronze medallion.

"What's that?" I squeak, dazzled by it's shine.

"My personal reward to you." Brandy bows, handing it to me. I beam at him, after taking off my helmet.

"It's beautiful." I whisper, touching it. At my touch I feel a shock, and watch it shimmer in blue light. "What does it do?" I ask.

"In the hour of your greatest need, it will summon creatures of the water to stand beside you and fight. Keep it with you always." Brandy softly says, pressing it into my hand.

Chapter 8: Luster
Sitting on my bed, razor skin retracted, I wait for Xavier to arrive. I have promised to show him my new mods, and I am holding to that. I don't mind, I almost catch myself putting as I feel the tingly warmth of Brandy's medallion on my lower neck.

Hearing the long awaited knock, I call "Come in!" And the wall slides open. "Xavier, I wondered when you'd get her." I say joyfully, springing up and meeting him in the entrance to my room. "Check this out!"

I show off my retraction cuffs, revealing my beautiful bronze medallion on its thin chain of white gold.

"Cool move, what's that though, Chic?" Asks Xavier, gesturing to the medallion.

"A gift from Brandy." I say proudly. "Isn't it lovely?" I strike it's metallic gleam, sighing in awe as I do.

"It's got the affects of a love potion." Xavier huffs, rolling his eyes.

"What do you mean?" I confront, flicking a half glare at him.

"I mean, I've seen how you too are inseparable. And I've never heard of a trainer presenting their trainee with any gift but praise or a recruitment dinner. Are you sure what you share is more than just friendship?" Scoffs Xavier, rolling his eyes again.

"Brandy is a great friend of mine, if not my best, but I have never thought of him as anything past that." I hesitate, pondering those words. "I have a strong attraction to him, but it's not romantic. Then again, I wouldn't even know how that felt to begin with." I sigh.

"That might be how Brandy feels, but are you sure that's how YOU feel, Lucy?" Presses Xavier.

After a minute, I reluctantly nod. "And do you regret that?" Xavier presses even farther. I shoot him a look.

"It is not your place to ask me that." I snarl. "And you will call me Captain Lucy as long as you are on my team!" I prod, noticing Xavier's lack of respect.

"Wow, once feisty, always feisty." Xavier mocks. "Alright Captain Lucy."

"Xavier!" I jab my finger toward the exit. "I lack sleep, and you best be on your way to the recruitment dinner." I out as politely as I can. Xavier nods, and leaves.

I shiver, I do have feelings for Brandy, don't I? But I know he doesn't have feelings for me, he told me himself. It doesn't matter though, because I've always been destined to be alone.

I don't mind, I have felt heartbreak twice before and I don't need it again. If I can have Brandy at all, I will be happy to accept him as my best friend, and best friend alone.

These thoughts snag my mind as I prep myself for a short night of sleep. I toss and turn for hours before I'm finally anchored into strange dreams, dreams like cobwebs that entangle me in their midst to the point that I barely return to Ship SOE.

I stretch in the morning, waking up to the third rounds of screeching coming from my alarm clock. I snap it off quickly, unfolding my water suit and opening my sliding door.

Behind it I find Brandy, standing right before the entrance, fist raised ready to knock. I smile warmly at my close friend.

"Brandy!" I give him a quick hug good morning. "What are you doing here?" I ask, yawning.

"Since yesterday, you can expect I'll always be here to check in on you in the mornings." Brandy says, which is quite comforting.

"About that, I'm sorry Brandy. The flashbacks are really taking a toll on me.." I say, sighing. Brandy shakes his head.

"It's fine, really." Brandy insists. "I don't mind, I have nothing better to do in the morning. Come on, Lunar has someone to help your flashbacks." Brandy takes my hand and leads me down the hall.

"I don't know what I'd do without you buddy." I say, smiling up at him. He smiles right back.

"You'd be fine Lucy, your a strong girl, I know you'd pull through." As much as I appreciate Brandy's comfort, I cNt believe that what he says is true.

"No way, Brandy, I need you. Your the only encouragement I get." I point out. "Without encouragement this mission would feel impossible!" Brandy's eyes are thoughtful.

"I see what you mean, but I still know you'd make it." He gives me a playful shove. I roll my eyes and give in, seeing that we've reached our destination.

"See you this evening." I tell him, getting ready to enter Lunar's meeting place. Before I can object, Brandy hugs me tight.

"Your gonna do great in there, don't give up." He mumbles into my hair. I giggle.

"You can let me go you overprotective man." I grin, squeezing him back.

"I KNEW it!" A man's voice calls from behind. "I knew you liked him Lucy!" I whip around to come face to face with Xavier.

"But you don't understand! Brandy was just-" Xavier cuts me short.

"No, you don't understand." Huffs Xavier. "How can everyone else see it and not you two?" I glance shyly at Brandy, who looks just as shocked as me. I'm suddenly ashamed I let myself fall for him.

"I have to go." I say quickly, and without waiting for an answer, I turn on my heel, helmet under my arm, and enter Lunar's meeting room.

"Lucy! I'm happy to see you on time today." Lunar nods respectively toward me. "That's a good start, I'll be glad to see more good behavior from you. Brandy is to thank, I assume?"

I just nod in acknowledgement, feeling my face grow red at the mention of his name.

"Who are you" I say, directing my curiosity to the woman accompanying Lunar. She is tall and lean, her whole body thin and angled. She appears as sharp as her tongue proves to be.

"What do you think you are? The only person on the ship?" She spats, her slick white bun of hair doesn't so much as quiver.

"I am going to be looking into your flashbacks and helping you control them." She firmly states. Her eyes are narrowed, like chips of green obsidian.

"Erm... Looking into them?" I ask, struggling to keep my voice level.

"Yes. Lunar, your service here is no longer required." After Lunar leaves, she says "Agent 1, follow me." I do as I'm told, but adding a few words too.

"My name is Lucy." I say sharply in return to her's.

"Lucy? Hmph! You are and always will be Agent 1 to me." She huffs. "And to you I am Miss Bella Travison. But you will call me Miss Travison." She orders.

Miss Travison leads me into an all white room, horribly plain white with a big screen on the wall directly behind the leather padded chair sitting in the middle of the room.

"This chair has a device on the headrest that will project your flashbacks." Explains Miss Travison dully. "You are to sit in it, go." I do as I'm told, and cuffs come over my wrists so I can't get away.

"What is this?!" I exclaim, struggling. "I told Lunar I won't be held captive at meetings!"

"This is no meeting, Agent 1." Miss Travison glares at me. "This is training."

"Brandy is my trainer and I will take no other." I huff, looking away from her venomous eyes.

"Yes, you will. Stubborn child." Miss Travison steps in front of a console and presses a few buttons. The headrest becomes a helmet, I yelp.

"Now, what triggers your flashbacks?" Miss Travison's voice reaches my ears through the helmet as if it were a pair of headphones.

"Mentioning Oliver, or my home..." I begin to feel light headed, darkness grows thicker. As I drift into flashback, I open my eyes to see identical blue ones looking back into mine. Reflecting a fearful girl struggling for her bravery.