Children of the Vindicated (FF, Adult) Thread #1

[nickimlow]

Alexander

Everything began to come back into focus. My father, my mother. Sarah, Justin. A bald man whom I didn't know.

I felt weakened, somehow. Maybe it was because all that power was pulled away at once. Power. When did I develop powers?

No. I had always had them, only they were blocked. By the Oracle.

"Nooooo!" Xadalyn screamed in rage. Her skin was still bright from the power that had yet to subside, her hair still white.

And then the Oracle appeared. "Xada you must remember who you are."

I watched as my sister's face changed, her lips curved upward in a crazed smile. She looked . . . twisted. "REMEMBER THIS!" she yelled, sending a surge of power straight at the Oracle, whose pain was evident as she fell to her knees and screamed.

The bald man tried to grab hold of Xadalyn, who was getting out of control. But he withdrew almost immediately, his hands seemingly scorched.

When Xadalyn turned to the rest of us, her glowing eyes intense with the need to torture, burning with anger. Evil.

"Xadalyn, NO!" I said forcefully, running up to her and taking her by the arms. I felt as if I had placed my hands in a fire, but I didn't care. Let them smoulder. My sister needed to come back. Our powers could blind us. I shook her and forced her to look at me. Trying not to wince at the pain of her powers singeing my skin, I told her calmly, "It's me. It's Xan. Don't be deceived by power, Xada. Listen to me, I'm your brother."

[isabelle]

*Max*

As Xadalyn destroys Khivar's body, I feel relief. Nobody will be able to clone him into a hybrid like they did us. He won't be coming back in 50 years to kill my family again...

Liz steps forward, helping Xan remember, and Justin, not understanding at all, speaks innocently and openly and I see that Xan hears.

I'm about to recall more of the Xan we both know, when he was older -- hitting the winning homerun in junior high. he didn't need powers to be a hero...

But he's already coming back, and Xada sees it too. The Oracle tries to help but Xada actually blasts her.

"NO!" I shout, echoing Xander's cries. I put my hands over the oracle, willing her pain away, her life to stay. Xan shows a degree of bravery I'd never thought to expect as he plunges into the powerstorm still surrounding his sister. Sarah stands ready to put up a shield, although I doubt it will be of much use against Xadalyn's power. Still, it will be better than nothing, I'm sure.

I fight back with the only thing I have at my disposal. Worlds. "Xada! You know who you are! You stood up to Khivar! And even 'though he wanted to hurt you, you tried to spare his life. You're not a killer. You care for everyone. You care for Antar. You called for us and we came, because you needed us. We're here."

"We care for you, Xada! Don't let this destroy you!" I beg her. I know it's been too much, needing to look after Antar and never knowing her family, her childhood. I know she's paid too high a price already...

.

[Athenea]

~Xadalyn~

"Xadalyn, NO!" he says grabbing my arms and forcing me to look at him "It's me. It's Xan. Don't be deceived by power, Xada. Listen to me, I'm your brother." I know my power is scolding his hands but he is still holding on to me as if his life depended on it.

"We care for you, Xada! Don't let this destroy you!" the man echoes

He is my brother and the man is my father and they have saved my life more times today than I can even count right now. I look into Xan’s eyes as my power starts to recede back into that hidden place from which it came. I take in a sharp intake of air as if it is the first time I have breathed this whole time.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…well I did mean…but I just felt so…unstoppable.” I say as tears start to fill my eyes. “Everyone I love either dies or leaves me, and I thought if we kept our power then at least I would have you forever and nobody could take you away from me.” I say to Xan.

[isabelle]

*Max*

The Oracle is strong enough to recover now, although I'm feeling very drained. It feels like this day has lasted a month already. With a sigh, I release the Oracle and walk forward. My footsteps are a bit heavier than normal, showing my lack of energy to knowing eyes like Liz's although I don't know if anyone-else would notice. I reach up to put my hands on Xan's shoulder and Xadalyn's, pleased that neither one pulls away. I step a little closer, making the touch a little more like an embrace.

"I'm so proud of you both," I tell them. "And Liz and Sarah, too. But the two of you faced down this overwhelming power and found yourselves again. You found control."

"Xadalyn. We're all here for you now and this power is there for you, too. But together, with your brother, it might be a bit more than you both can manage right now." I tell her, sincerely.

I look over at her brother. "Alexander, you showed a courage I had hoped you would never need. I'm amazed at all you did, especially your control. It's not right for you to have to master so much power all at once, when you've never had a chance to make small mistakes..." I see the flash of fear in his eyes, I run my fingers through his hair over his ear as I quickly try to re-assure Xan. "But I can't ever imagine closing you off the way you were before. These powers are part of who you are."

[KatnotKath]

~Liz~

I can see Xan coming back, his hair returning to it’s usual colour, the anger in his eyes dimming. I know that this is still going to be hard for him, but I can only hope he’ll let us help. One thing is for certain, he’s dealing with this new found power a whole lot better than I did the first time my powers emerged… An image of a burning book, and a hole in the wood at Winnerman’s comes to mind…

Xada isn’t convinced yet though, and although her power is less now, without Xan, it’s still far more than I expect any of us would be able to handle.

Xan runs forward, holding her and reminding me over and over again, not that I really need to be reminded, of why I am so proud of him… Sarah stands ready too, obviously preparing to make what she can of a shield if it comes to it.

Xan makes another attempt to convince her to stop, joined by Max as he struggles to protect the Oracle as Xada attacks her.

I don’t know exactly what it is that the two of them say which works, but something must have done because eventually, slowly, Xada does calm down and ends up in tears. I stand back, feeling that this isn’t my place to intrude, knowing that she needs Xan probably more than anyone.

Now that the danger is over though, I feel the tiredness I’ve been fighting taking over. My energy is practically zero, and it’s the most I can do to back up to the wall and lean against it, using the support in order to keep me on my feet.

My eyes half closed, I look over as Max walks towards Xan and Xada. I can’t help noticing the way he walks, the heavy steps which tell me that he too is tired. He’s putting up a good front, but I know that saving the Oracle probably used a lot of energy, and he had obviously been using his shield before… *You okay…?* I send to him, at the stage where even that needs a real effort. I just want to sleep, to lie down and rest…

[nickimlow]

Alexander

Tears began to shine in Xadalyn's eyes as she choked, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…well I did mean…but I just felt so…unstoppable.”

“Everyone I love either dies or leaves me, and I thought if we kept our power then at least I would have you forever and nobody could take you away from me.”

At that moment, I felt her pain, her sorrow, her need to be loved. All her life, she had been a leader- to Antar, to her people. But beneath that tough exterior, this girl was just a normal person- as I was, as Sarah was, as Justin was. She had never had the chance to experience a life without worries. When did that little girl in the hologram I had seen earlier grow up?

I didn't notice my father's presence until I felt his touch on my shoulder. He pulled the both of us closer to him.

I wondered how Xadalyn felt then. She had lost her childhood and gone straight to be the ruler of Antar after her mother- our mother's death. Had Dad been more responsible to his planet, maybe things could have turned out differently.

"I'm so proud of you both. And Liz and Sarah, too. But the two of you faced down this overwhelming power and found yourselves again. You found control," our father said. I heard the pride in his voice, but had he the right at all to that pride, especially over Xadalyn?

He looked at my sister and went on, "Xadalyn. We're all here for you now and this power is there for you, too. But together, with your brother, it might be a bit more than you both can manage right now."

No. There was no way we were going to be separated again. I was not leaving my sister alone- it was too late to make amends, to undo what had already been done.

And then he turned to me. "Alexander, you showed a courage I had hoped you would never need. I'm amazed at all you did, especially your control. It's not right for you to have to master so much power all at once, when you've never had a chance to make small mistakes..." The thought of all that power running through my veins was a little frightening, especially when I had always thought that I was human. I didn't quite understand how it had felt so natural using those powers, though, considering I had never used them before. "But I can't ever imagine closing you off the way you were before. These powers are part of who you are."

They were. But Xadalyn was a part of me too, a part that had always been there- just too far away for me to reach. And I wasn't about to forsake her. I was never going to forsake her.

"What happens now?" I asked, looking down at my hands that I had only just noticed were still burning. Maybe healing Xadalyn had been lucky- I couldn't quite heal myself. "Where do we go from here?"

[isabelle]

*Max*

*You okay…?* I hear Liz in my mind.

I give her a nod that's entirely mental, not physical. *I'll be fine,* I promise her. *You sound pretty tired.* I add, glancing back to see her propped up against the wall. Hopefully we'll all be able to go get some rest in a short while.

I see Alex look down at his hands and only then do I notice that he's hurt. It's a testiment to how over-extended I've been today. I can't remember the last time I've used my powers so much in such a short time frame. Probably last summer when Michael and Isabel were both visiting and we went out for a practice session. Still, I don't heal him right away. I have a feeling I'll be needing my powers just a bit more.

Alex had used his powers to heal almost effortlessly a few minutes ago, but then he had been in the grips of that overwhelming power. Now, he seems a bit unsure. I feel a hint of a smile reach my face as I realize that I don't need to extend myself any further. Alex has more than enough energy for such a small task.

Sliding my hand around to touch his skin, I borrow some of that energy the way his mother first showed me back in Copper Springs. In the next moment, his burns are gone.

"What happens now? Where do we go from here?" Xan asks.

It's a good question. I look at Liz and Sarah who are still standing a few steps away, and then I turn my glance to Dom and the Oracle. I remember one of the first things I thought of as the Oracle was explaining the situation in the first place. Together, all that power was dangerous, especially in children still un-experienced in so many ways. Still, it was true, I couldn't ever consider blocking Xan completely again.

"With your consent, maybe I can find a way to cap the power, temporarily. To block the connection that blows away your limits, without depriving Xan of who he is," I suggest. "Your power will still be strong. Maybe a bit stronger than before," I tell Xadalyn. Turning to my son, I add, "but you'll have some time to learn to work with it on a more normal level, for a few years before you have to deal with all that again."

I hope they'll both understand what I'm proposing. Just temporary limits to help them learn. Much like Xan had initially only been allowed to ride his bike around the block on his own until he was old enough to safely cross the streets and explore further. I think they've seen for themselves how dangerous all that power is right now. They were strong enough to find themselves. I hope they'll be wise enough to understand.

.

[Athenea]

~Xadalyn~

"With your consent, maybe I can find a way to cap the power, temporarily. To block the connection that blows away your limits, without depriving Xan of who he is, Your power will still be strong. Maybe a bit stronger than before, but you'll have some time to learn to work with it on a more normal level, for a few years before you have to deal with all that again."

I simply nod my head in agreement. Maybe it’s for the best. I don’t know what’s for the best of anyone anymore. I look at my father and for the first time realize how tired he is. “Let’s sleep on it and we can try it tomorrow.” I say



Ooc: do you guys want to say it’s the next morning? I think its been a very long day…If that cool then just start your next post with waking up.

[isabelle]

*Max*

I'm enormously relieved when I see Xadalyn nod her head in agreement. I was rather worried about what she would think. Xan knows me better. I think he knows he can trust me to do what I think is in his best interest, although it doesn't mean that we always agree. I'm sure he would object strenously if I had suggested removing the power completely, but as long as he is not so handicapped as that, I hope he'll also consent.

Xada's suggestion to wait doesn't please me as much. I remember what the Oracle said about them subconciously reaching for one another. We'd just seen what happened there. I'd hate to think what their subconciouses might concoct while they both sleep.

"I think it would be best to take care of it now," I say. I know my power reserves are low, but I won't need them. Xan and Xadalyn have more than enough power for me to use to construct the barriers that they'll need.

[shadows]

Kyria

I woke up the next morning, and I felt like hell. Though, I could only imagine how everyone esle must feel. If we have another day like yesterday then... well let's just say Im not going to be a happy camper.

I quickly dressed and checked in on Xadalyn, she was still sleeping. Good. She needed to rest. I headed toward Maxwell and his wife's room, they too were there in one piece and after checking in one their daughter I headed toward Xan and his earthly friend's room. Justin was sleeping but Xan seemed to be awake, I walked in again without knocking. Knocking wasn't my thing.... I walked in and sat down in a chair.