The continuous stream of Arkens unloading from the truck made Xena feel anxious. One by one, Arkens entered the large opened door into the science center. A grave sigh escaped Aqua's mouth. Seeing their kind entering what could be their deaths stressed her out.
"What the hell…" she mumbled, clenching her fist in anger. Had she not met Xena, Aqua wouldn't have known about any of this at all. Her refusal to open her eyes to the genuine issues many Arkens faced disturbed her. She tried to look away from the painful sight. Both Xena and Aqua felt the same way. However, Aqua felt much worse.
Guilt filled Aqua up after remembering her brother's face. She feared knowing what happened to him because, as she said, she's one big coward. It pained her to think her brother could have gone through the same things and faced the same fears. And while he was suffering on his own, Aqua was comfortably living in Astrid's home.
Aqua shook her head and thought this wasn't the time to dwell on the past. Instead, she put all her focus on what was occurring meters in front of them. Her eyes darted from one person to another; she noticed guards standing near one open entrance of the building. Aqua looked left and saw another one standing beside a closed door. She turned to Xena, who was staring intensely with her fists clenched.
A sigh left Aqua's mouth. Somehow it hurt her to see Xena, a child, witnessing the disturbing treatment of their kind. "Xena…" she called. However, Xena kept looking. There was sheer determination in her eyes.
Aqua called once again, and this time, Xena snapped herself out of her state. "S-sorry. I was just--"
"I know," said Aqua, already knowing what Xena planned to say. "It's hard to look at it. But if we want to gather more information, we have to stay here for longer," advised Aqua. She turned toward the soldiers.
"I've noticed some guards near each entrance of the building. If we want to enter through one of them, we'd have to take at least one out," Aqua said, her face serious.
Xena nodded at the suggestion. "Okay. But how are we going to do that?" she asked curiously.
"Well, you control blood, don't you? It's time to put that power into the test." The ends of her lips lifted ever so slightly at her idea. And in response, Xena shook her head no.
"I-I can't do that…" said Xena. She was unsure of her powers—she doesn't even know if it was her who killed that man.
Aqua raised a brow. "That's why I said we'll test it out," she reiterated. Xena didn't like the idea; it sounded ridiculous. However, if that's what it takes for her to find her mother, complaining should be the least of her worries.
"All right," she sighed. Both sat in silence for a few seconds, rethinking their decisions. "I'll try," Xena said.
Just when Xena opened her mouth to say something—she caught sight of someone familiar in her peripheral vision. She quickly turned her head to the person's direction. A surge of shock filled Xena; her eyes widened, and a gasp escaped her lips. Her mother, the person she's trying so hard to look for, stood right there.
Abruptly tapping Aqua's shoulders, Xena pointed at her mother.
"That's her! That's my mother! We have to save her!" Panic, stress, and a plethora of emotions overcame Xena. Aqua immediately looked to where she pointed her finger. She then saw a woman, tall and fair, with her hands clasped behind her back, walking toward the opened entrance. Dianne stuck out like a sore thumb. Her prominent ginger hair made her unique from all the other Arkens in lines. While her appearance made her easy to spot, the apparent difference was the two Arkenian Soldiers clutching her arms on both sides.
"Please! Come on. We have to go. We have to save her--" Aqua's eyes jolted towards Xena. The poor girl was shaking in stress and panic and she had to calm her down before a disaster happens. She gripped her upper arms and looked at her firmly.
"Xena, calm down, okay? Nothing good will come out of panic," she commanded, but Xena didn't seem to follow. Aqua noticed her breath quicken with every inhale.
"But my mom!--"
"I know, I know. But think of it this way. We now know she's alive. Now we just have to come up with a plan, all right? So for now, follow my words," Aqua reassured her with every word. A hug was all Xena needed, and she gave it to her. Aqua had never acted this way to anybody, not even Astrid. But meeting Xena slowly changed her. Because deep inside, Aqua knew that she once wanted to be like the little girl in front of her—brave and courageous.
Even if she couldn't save her brother, saving Xena's mother would ease Aqua's mind. Xena's determination opened Aqua's eyes to reality. All this time, Aqua avoided what the world outside of Grand Valley looked like. She had forgotten everything���No. She chose not to remember her traumatic past.
Taking a deep breath in, Xena nodded and calmed down. Her lips still quivered, though. But it was all right since Aqua was by her side. Xena used her last leap of courage to look at her mother once more. There, she stood in between two soldiers. Dianne was the last Arken to come out of the truck, for one crucial reason. However, Xena noticed something different.
Her mother looked defeated. Her face was pale, and the orange in her hair looked dyed paler compared to before. Dianne was slouching as she walked toward the door.
It deeply pained Xena to see her mother so miserable. She caught the last glimpse of Dianne before the entrance closed, blocking the view of what happens inside the building. Xena bit her lip. She had bitten it so hard that she noticed the taste of her blood.
"Aqua…" Xena called out. Tears welled in her eyes while her voice became brittle, and Aqua looked at her in pity. The fierce expression of Aqua softened after seeing Xena's teary eyes.
"Please save my mom…" Xena pleaded, and this time, she bowed her head, which showed the desperation seeping in her. Aqua quickly raised Xena's chin and stared into her eyes.
"I will save her. We will. So stop crying and let's focus on the task at hand, okay?" The ends of Xena's lips curved downwards. She wiped her tears and nodded her head.
Just as promised, both Xena and Aqua stayed longer until the sun began setting. The skies turned into a mix of bright orange and a hue of blue. The beauty of the sky above contrasted with the dull atmosphere below. The town where Xena and Aqua stood slowly became quiet. The curfew rule of the former president, Ethan Walters, remained in place to this day. Before the clock strikes seven, the people must enter their homes, staying there until the next day comes. Twenty years ago, the prosperous city of Arkenhill fell into despair when the first generation of their kind destroyed towns. And at seven in the evening, the Arkens had already taken the lives of many people.
The president became paranoid—so paranoid that he released strict rules for the city to obey. He did it for the people's safety, many people believed. But his intentions were never clear.
Remembering the rule, Xena immediately warned Aqua about it.
"We should go. The sun had already set," said Xena. Aqua didn't notice it, nor did she remember a thing about the rule. In a panic, Aqua immediately stood up. They had been observing the science center for hours, and luckily they've gathered enough information to plan.
"Let's head back to Grand Valley and rest. Tomorrow, at dawn, we'll try to break in," announced Aqua. Both agreed and headed back.
"Damn it. It's dark," Aqua complained upon seeing the darkness of the forest. Thankfully, she hadn't forgotten her phone.
Xena widened her eyes once she saw Aqua press the screen, and a light so bright instantly shined. "Woah…" amused, Xena mumbled under her breath.
"Come on," Aqua held Xena's hand as they walked another hour back toward Grand Valley. It was a tiring journey, and they expected the exhaustion that comes along with it. Once they jumped from the tall cliff, entered through the tall gates, and walked back to Aqua's home, a sigh escaped their mouths.
"Finally," Aqua uttered under her breath. Astrid greeted them with an expression full of worry. She stressed and complained about Aqua's lack of responsibility. All of which Xena didn't mind.
"So, what 'information' did you get?" Astrid asked. Her mouth had a spoonful of pasta.
Aqua sat on the chair and sighed. "Classified information. Only us Arkens should know about it," she replied.
"Just because I'm not one doesn't mean I shouldn't know about it," protested Astrid in frustration.
"Well--"
"I found my mother," Xena replied. Astrid's expression then changed. She hasn't been taking this ordeal too seriously until now. And once Xena replied with what she said, Astrid realized all of it was serious.
"Oh. H-how is she? I mean, did you guys know where she is?" Both Aqua and Xena nodded yes.
"I was right—no, Sasha's painting was right. I saw my mother at the science center. There were a lot of them unloading off a truck...
"It had already been weeks after they took her. It's possible they sent her somewhere before the science center." Aqua furrowed her brows while Astrid continued to listen.
"It could have something to do with the new Metamorphosis Plan," said Astrid, causing Aqua and Xena to look at her for an explanation.
Astrid took a deep breath and exhaled. "I vividly remember… when I was your age ten years ago, that Arkens stood no chance of living once found out."
"They would either get killed or… punished, dare I say."
"So, I think the president has plans for you, Arkens. And knowing him, he's probably planning something terrible," Astrid concluded. The surrounding atmosphere had gone awry, and there was silence among them.
Underneath the table, Xena clenched her fist so tightly that her growing nails dug through her palm. Yet Xena didn't notice. Her mother's life relies on Xena, and if she could save her, she'd be content. Until then, Xena must rest and prepare herself for a full day ahead.