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Chapter 2- Radioactive

Part 1

February 8, 2016--- Hydrogen Ocean cliffs, Silver’s residence (eight hours before the attack)

Silver awoke to the sound of knocks at his door. He grudgingly got up from his bed and opened it. Cadmium walked in.

[Silver]: “What’s up?”

[Cadmium]: “We’ve been assigned for tonight’s search. Mercury wanted me to tell you.”

[Silver]: “Who else is coming?”

[Cadmium]: “Chromium, Oxygen, and Gallium.”

[Silver]: “So six of us. Quite a big group for a search.”

[Cadmium]: “Mercury thinks there will be a battle. He’s going to take the chance if we get it.”

Silver shook his head.

[Silver]: “That’s a bad idea.”

[Cadmium]: “Why?”

[Silver]: “We have no idea who we are up against. And… I can’t promise that I will be able to stay calm. I might go berserk again and jeopardize the mission.”

[Cadmium]: “That was one time. Um… don’t worry so much about it.”

[Silver]: “I’ll do my best.”

Cadmium nodded her head in encouragement.

[Cadmium]: “Okay. Meet us at the main hall at dusk. We will start the mission then.”

[Silver]: “Roger that.”

[Cadmium]: “And Silver?”

[Silver]: “Yes?”

[Cadmium]: “Do you really think what the Nobles told us yesterday was right? About the newly restored elements?”

[Silver]: “There must be a good reason for keeping the past a secret.”

[Cadmium]: “But Gold… He’ll never learn about what we had.”

[Silver]: “Gold deserves a new life with new memories. The past is nothing but pain for all of us.”

[Cadmium]: “It had its good moments too…”

[Silver]: “…We have to move on. I’m sorry, Cadmium.”

[Cadmium]: “It’s okay…”

She exited the small house and walked back towards the village. Silver sighed as he thought about what she had said.

[Silver]: “I know it’s hard to move on… Rubi…”

Part 2

Hydrogen Ocean village, Family 12 Residence (six hours before the attack)

Mercury paced nervously around his room. His younger sister, Cadmium, should have notified the other elements by now. He was feeling confident about the team he had assembled except for one- Silver.

Mercury had mixed feelings about the blue element. On one hand, Silver had been the only element to survive the battle with Fluorine and the rest of the rogue elements. His strength was something that couldn’t be ignored. Mercury had been Silver’s teacher in the art of dual-wielding so he knew how well he could fend for himself.

On the other hand, ever since that fateful battle with Fluorine, Silver had been unstable emotionally. There was the incident where he destroyed a large part of Carbon Forest. Cadmium had been able to calm Silver down when that happened, but she wouldn’t have time to do it again in the middle of battle.

Mercury stood still as he remembered what Ununseptium had said.

There were five Radioactives, all of them possessing lethal powers and the skills to back them up in combat. A surprise attack would be the best way to go about obliterating any of them. Mercury had wanted to take more elements to fight, but the Nobles wouldn’t allow it. They needed Palladium to watch over Ununseptium and Roentgenium. Rutherfordium, Sodium, and Hydrogen were supposed to stay behind as backup. Backup for what? Mercury didn’t know. The Nobles seemed to know things he didn’t.

[Cadmium]: “Brother! I’m home!”

[Mercury]: “Welcome back.”

He turned to face his sister who had just walked in.

[Cadmium]: “Are you okay? You have that face you make when something’s bothering you.”

[Mercury]: “I am the Navigator of the survivors. Their lives depend on me being able to ensure they are safe. I suppose things are always bothering me when I have so much responsibility on my shoulders.”

[Cadmium]: “Can’t I help you?”

[Mercury]: “No.”

[Cadmium]: “Please?”

[Mercury]: “I said no. I can handle it. Go get ready for tonight’s assignment.”

[Cadmium]: “Okay...”

Cadmium felt down. Her older brother never seemed to trust that she was capable of helping manage the elements. She was stuck being his little sister and nothing more. She made a mental promise that, after tonight’s assignment, she would confront him about it.

Mercury’s thoughts were elsewhere. Radioactives, Nobles, security, Silver, assignment… Something big was going to happen tonight. With a feeling of dread, Mercury got his sword from the house wall and began to silently train in preparation.

Part 3

Hydrogen Ocean cliffs, Silver’s residence (two hours before the attack)

There exist many methods for coping with high-stress situations. For Silver, that particular method was drawing. He had learned the skill from his late sister, Copper, and ever since her obliteration, he had made the most of every last piece of paper he had. Silver had been in the middle of his latest work when he heard more knocks at his door. He opened the door, expecting to see Cadmium, but was surprised to see it was Roentgenium.

[Silver]: “You, you’re one of the Radioactives from yesterday.”

[Roentgenium]: “Yes. I’m Roentgenium, but you can call me Geni.”

[Silver]: “Geni then. Well, it is a pleasure to meet you. Where is your friend?”

[Roentgenium]: “Ununseptium has to stay in the village. But it’s okay! I was the one who wanted to talk to you.”

[Silver]: “Hm? About what?”

[Roentgenium]: “Do you remember me?”

[Silver]: “No. Should I?”

[Roentgenium]: “Silver… I’m your sister.”

[Silver]:” HUHHHH???”

If Silver had been even the slightest bit sleepy still, he was completely awake upon hearing the news.

[Roentgenium]: “It’s true. If you look underneath Gold’s place on the Periodic Table, you’ll find my number there. 111.”

[Silver]: “I’ve looked at the Periodic Table many times, and I am very sure that I have never seen your number there. Aren’t you in the Radioactive family?”

[Roentgenium]: “Haha. There is no Radioactive family, silly Silver. Our “group” is made up of elements from different families.”

[Silver]: “So you’re part of two groups?”

[Roentgenium]: “Uh, sorta?”

[Silver]: “Why is that?”

[Roentgenium]: “It’s… complicated. Let’s not worry about that. You have a new sister, Silver! How does it feel!?”

[Silver]: “Um, honestly, I’m still absorbing all of this. I am very happy to know this of course. Now I’m not the only one left.”

[Roentgenium]: “What happened to Copper and Gold?”

[Silver]: “There was a feud with the Halogens and Chalcogens. Both of them were obliterated in the conflict before it finally came to an end.”

[Roentgenium]: “I am so sorry, my brother…”

[Silver]: “It’s alright now… Geni. We’ll find their protons and bring them back. I almost have all of them. I look forward to the day when I can talk to them again.”

[Roentgenium]: “Me too. I’ll help you as much as I can.”

[Silver]: “Thank you.”

[Roentgenium]: “That’s what I came here to say. I should go back so Ununseptium isn’t alone.”

[Silver]: “I’m sure he can manage.”

[Roentgenium]: “He and I have been through a lot. Maybe I’ll tell you about it someday. When the time is right…”

She exited the house.

[Silver]: “Wait! What do you mean? Geni!”

The element had already begun to run back to the village when Silver got to the door. It was pointless to give chase since she clearly didn’t want to share any more information. What could she mean?

[Silver]: “Ugh, come on! I hate when someone is being deliberately vague…”

Frustrated, he closed the door and returned back to his drawing. It would be difficult to keep his focus now with this new mystery in the air.

He placed the pencil on the paper. After tonight’s search, he would look into the mystery. Then he would ask Ununseptium for more information. If there was one thing Silver hated, it was being kept in suspense.

He’d find out what was going on soon enough.

Part 4

Hydrogen Ocean village, Hydrogen’s residence (approximately one hour before the attack)

While Roentgenium was talking with Silver, Ununseptium was having his own conversation with Hydrogen, Sodium, Oxygen, and Palladium. The small white element didn’t seem very pleased.

[Ununseptium]: “Is this really where we have to stay?”

[Hydrogen]: “Yeup! Does Septi have a problem?”

[Ununseptium]: “How confining.”

[Hydrogen]: “H-Hydrogen is sorry!”

[Oxygen]: “Don’t be. It’s not like they will be stuck here forever.”

[Palladium]: “He is correct, madame.”

[Hydrogen]: “Hydrogen just wants to be a good host, ahhh!!”

[Oxygen]: “Calm down, Hydrogen!”

[Sodium]: “My poor big sister!”

Sodium hugged her sister.

[Ununseptium]: “You’re certainly one energetic, little element.”

[Oxygen]: “She means well.”

[Ununseptium]: “Oh I’m sure.”

The door opened as Roentgenium walked in.

[Ununseptium]: “There you are. These elements want to put us under house arrest in this little hut. It’s unacceptable!”

[Roentgenium]: “It’s just for tonight, Septi.”

[Hydrogen]: “I-Is Geni happy with the house?”

[Roentgenium]: “Of course! It’s a nice little place!”

She stooped to pat Hydrogen’s head.

[Hydrogen]: “Ahhhh!”

[Oxygen]: “Okay, that’ll be enough. Your bed is there, Roentgenium. Palladium and Hydrogen will be here if you need anything. I’ll be back later tonight if things go well.”

[Hydrogen]: “Please be careful. Hydrogen doesn’t know what she would do without Oxygen…”

[Oxygen]: “Don’t worry, I am the second most electronegative element in the Periodic Table! I can handle this. So until I get back, Palladium is in charge.”

[Palladium]: “Your household is in good hands, my liege.”

[Oxygen]: “Good. I will see all of you later.”

[Hydrogen]: “B-Bye Oxygen…”

[Palladium]: “Farewell.”

[Sodium]: “See you soon.”

[Ununseptium]: “Goodluck.”

[Roentgenium]: “May Ununoctium be with you…”

Part 5

Alloy Mountains, southern range

Dusk came sooner than expected for most of the elements. Gallium had been the first element to arrive at the designated location. The colossal element had laid down to sleep while the others gathered. Mercury had arrived next with Cadmium, followed by Chromium, Oxygen, and finally Silver. The six elements then embarked to the Alloy Mountains where their enemy awaited them.

Snow slowly fell from the night sky. The journey had been a silent one. For one, there was little to talk about. All of the elements knew the plan of attack. Secondly, none of them wanted to speak for fear that the enemy would hear.

Silver walked slowly behind the other five elements. Anxiety was flooding his core, but he was able to stay calm and in control. The stakes were too high to let himself become berserk. He steadied his train of thought as they got closer to the mountain.

The group saw a large chasm in the mountain’s wall. Ununseptium had said this was the Radioactives’ lair. From what they could see, no one was home. Mercury slowly led the others closer.

[Mercury]: “All of stay here. I’m going to-“

[Chromium]: “Mercury!”

The little element jumped on top of Mercury, while a large green fireball shot over them. The remaining four elements got into battle positions.

[Mercury]: “We’ve been compromised! Who’s there!?”

[Ununtrium]: “My, my, look at you elements sneaking around. Did you really think we wouldn’t notice?”

A green element with a metal pyramid for a helmet emerged from behind a tree.

[Mercury]: “You must be Ununtrium.”

[Ununtrium]: “So Ununseptium told you about us. That traitor!”

[Copernicium]: “He isn’t the only traitor.”

Copernicium walked out of the chasm. Mercury had been wrong to assume it was empty.

[Copernicium]: “All of you are traitors for turning your backs on our leader, Ununoctium!”

The titanic Livermorium followed behind. Even Gallium, who had been the largest element on the Periodic Table, was dwarfed in size.

[Livermorium]: “Trespassers… must be punished.”

Ununpentium took her cue and soared in, bow and arrow in hand.

[Ununpentium]: “You should see how silly your little group looks! It makes me giggle!”

Ununquadium was the last to join his fellow Radioactives. The neutral element spoke first with the voice of a male artist, then with a psychotic feminine voice.

[Ununquadium]: “Silly? No. They are a horrendous sight for the eyes. But I will fix that!”

Mercury’s group watched in shock as Ununquadium’s metal backpack unfolded and revealed that it was actually a device with four arms, all of them equipped with swords. Silver knew this would be his foe. He was the only element with experience fighting an enemy that could use four swords simultaneously.

[Copernicium]: “You made a terrible decision coming here. We know now that are you an enemy to our cause.”

[Mercury]: “Ununseptium told us you five would eventually cause trouble for us. We’ve come to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

[Copernicium]: “You will find plenty of trouble here.”

[Ununtrium]: “And much more heat than you can handle!”

Ununtrium held up his hand, igniting it in more of his green flames. Cadmium was disgusted by his cocky attitude. Only one element could handle flames properly and that was her Gold.

[Livermorium]: “It is time… to crush another rebellion.”

[Ununpentium]: “Tee hee, I’ll take on the small gray element there!”

Chromium kept his eyes fixed on the winged element who had called him out.

[Ununquadium]: “I’ll slice all of these ugly elements to pieces!”

[Silver]: “You won’t be getting that far. I’ll make sure of it.”

Silver unsheathed both of his swords and approached his foe.

[Oxygen]: “I don’t suppose we can talk this out?”

[Copernicium]: “We’ll let our swords do the talking. Or do you have any last words?”

[Mercury]: “We don’t plan on being obliterated tonight.”

[Copernicium]: “Hmph! Ununoctium has decided your fate. We Radioactives will carry out her will!”

Copernicium pulled out his rapier and charged at Mercury. Oxygen came to his leader’s aid and they both engaged the Radioactive. The battle had begun.

Ununquadium’s two upper metal arms began to rotate. Slowly at first, then faster and faster until the two blades became whirling circles of instant obliteration. The lower metal arms were held to the element’s sides in order to counter Silver’s eventual attack.

[Ununquadium]: “I will give you a beautiful end… and a quick death!”

[Silver]: “That’s not happening!”

Silver quickly decided his best approach and swung both swords to stop Ununquadium’s from spinning. The other two swords moved in to slice Silver in half, but the blue element managed to duck in time. Silver struck his opponent in the chest three times. Ununquadium’s armor, however, was too strong as the attacks didn’t even dent it. Silver was back on the defense as his six-armed opponent began slicing forth with its four metal arms.

[Ununquadium]: “Hahahahaha…”

Cadmium was growing frustrated with her opponent. Ununtrium would not let her get in close with her sword as he shot fireball after fireball at her. She tripped on the dead remains of a tree and felt a sharp sting on her back as Ununtrium took the opportunity to whip her with his metal chain. The element cried out in pain.

[Cadmium]: “AGHHH!!!”

[Ununtrium]: “What’s. The. PROBLEM??”

Cadmium moved her sword up and blocked what would have been the chain’s fourth strike. Enraged, she stood up.

[Cadmium]: “I… I won’t let you dishonor Gold!!!”

While Cadmium was becoming fueled by anger, Chromium was becoming bothered by annoyance. He had been creating pillars of metal to squash Ununpentium, but she was a fast flyer and dodged each one with ease.

[Ununpentium]: “Neh, neh! Is that all you got!?”

Chromium was making his towers bigger, but his efforts were in vain.

[Ununpentium]: “Now it’s my turn to have some fun!”

She pulled out an arrow from her quiver and took aim. Chromium made a barrier in time to block the arrow’s hit. The onslaught of arrows continued. Ununpentium laughed in glee.

[Ununpentium]: “Tee hee! Look at my quiver dance!”

[Chromium]: “UGH, you’re so annoying!”

Of all the smaller fights happening, Gallium’s was the most epic in proportions. He was a six-foot element going up against a nine-foot element. Livermorium, of course, would not budge. The titanic Radioactive blocked all of Gallium’s strikes with his equally-large shield. After a few blocks, Livermorium had decided his smaller enemy had been given enough free hits. He began to strike down on Gallium with his long spear. It was Gallium’s turn to be on defense. Fortunately, he was well equipped for the task. He put away his two swords and brought out his dual-shields. It was as if both elements had decided this battle would be won by sheer force alone.

[Livermorium]: “Feel… Ununoctium’s wrath!”

Mercury had decided before the battle that taking out the leader of the Radioactives was the most important objective. If they could obliterate Copernicium, the Radioactives would surely lose morale. This was why Mercury and Oxygen were both battling him. The numbers game, unfortunately, was not working as well as they had hoped. Copernicium held his own, countering all of Oxygen and Mercury’s attacks while never losing ground. Mercury stretched out his gelatinous hands to restrain Copernicium’s movement, but both arms were wounded in the process.

[Mercury]: “Urgh…”

[Oxygen]: “I’ll take him!”

Using his power of atmosphere control, Oxygen summoned a whirlwind and caught Copernicium within it. The winds swirled furiously and tore apart the very ground. Copernicium was unaffected, however. He held a hand up and, within seconds, the windstorm disappeared.

[Oxygen]: “What!??”

[Copernicium]: “Hmm… I’m disappointed, Oxygen. It seems my experience is far greater than your inherent power.”

[Mercury]: “You have to hold him down, Oxygen!”

[Oxygen]: “Argh! I’m… trying!”

Try as he might, the very wind refused to submit to Oxygen’s will. Copernicium raised both hands and commanded it forward to completely envelope his hapless foe. Mercury stretched out his hand and struck at Copernicium, breaking the element’s concentration and freeing Oxygen.

[Mercury]: “Stick to using your sword!”

The battle continued. It didn’t take long for the survivors to realize they were outmatched. Even Silver was having a difficult time keeping up with the four swords that Ununquadium wielded. Gallium could not match Livermorium in raw strength and Cadmium found herself taking far too many hits to last much longer.

In the end, it was Chromium who broke first. He had been falling behind Ununpentium in terms of speed. His pillars of metal could only protect him from her arrows for so long. He miscalculated her next move and, in the span of a split second, found an arrow lodged directly in his chest. The little gray element stared at it in fright before disappearing in a flash of white light. An electron slowly emerged from the sight of his obliteration.

[Cadmium]: “CHROMIUM!!!”

She ran as quickly as she could towards where her peer once was. Ununpentium saw what she was trying to do and soared downwards at incredible speed.

[Mercury]: “Cadmium!!!”

Mercury shifted his focus to Ununpentium and stretched his arm out to strike at her. She blocked the attack, but lost her balance in mid-flight, allowing Cadmium to reach the electron first. Extraordinary amounts of power began to enter her core. She thought of Gold’s obliteration. Power and grief merged into rage.

[Cadmium]: “I… WON’T LET YOU DISHONOR HIM!!!”

[Mercury]: “Everyone, retreat!”

Cadmium held both hands in front of her and fired a super-powerful photon beam at the Radioactives. Ununtrium was caught first in the blast, followed by Copernicium, Ununquadium, Livermorium, and even the fast Ununpentium. The giant laser continued to scorch forth until the electron’s effects wore off. Cadmium fell to her knees, exhausted. The land all around her was badly damaged. The Radioactives were in much better shape. Livermorium had brought up his great shield to take the force of the attack while his comrades took cover behind him. Even against the power of an electron, all of the Radioactives had only suffered minimal damage. The battle was lost.

Mercury pulled his tired sister towards him as they joined their allies in retreat.

[Copernicium]: “You think you can run!? We already know where your village is! We’ll be watching you from now on. Ununoctium will be watching you. If you try to migrate, we won’t hesitate to obliterate all of you. Hmm!”

Copernicium continued yelling threats until Mercury and his party were too far away.

[Ununpentium]: “Aww, that battle was so short!”

[Copernicium]: “We will have another chance at them. Soon…”

[Ununtrium]: “Is that all they got?”

[Copernicium]: “Hmm… it appears so. The feud must have obliterated more elements than we thought. We will confirm this later. Tonight, we celebrate. We have definitely intimidated those elements.”

He looked at Ununquadium.

[Copernicium]: “…Even with your little problem.”

[Ununquadium]: “Is there truly something so ugly as having another self? I certainly don’t think so!”

Copernicium sighed.

[Copernicium]: “Nevermind. Let us return to our home.”

The Radioactives walked into the chasm.

Part 6

Hydrogen Ocean village, main hall

The survivors were not as satisfied with the results of the search. Mercury stood before the Nobles, informing them of what transpired.

[Xenon]: “So we’ve lost Chromium… and the Radioactives are far stronger than we ever could have anticipated.”

[Helium]: “Is there anything more you could have done?”

[Mercury]: “No. We had Oxygen on our side and still lost. Copernicium said he has experience on his side.”

[Krypton]: “Experience, hmm…”

[Mercury]: “Now you tell me. Is there anything more you could have told me beforehand? We needed more knowledge on our enemies. I lost an element because despite our best efforts, we weren’t prepared. Chromium didn’t deserve to be obliterated…”

[Xenon]: “We only know what you know. These Radioactives are unpredictable fanatics that must be obliterated. We know of their power from tonight’s search. Their intentions are still a mystery.”

[Mercury]: “They talk about Ununoctium, that she is there even though she really isn’t. Does she really exist?”

[Argon]: “Those stupid elements make too much out of nothing. Ununoctium isn’t some all-powerful element like they think she is!”

[Mercury]: “So who is she?”

Xenon glared at his sister before answering the question. Mercury noticed the hesitation.

[Xenon]: “Ununoctium was an element long ago who tried to rally the Radioactives into obliterating all elements who wouldn’t follow her. They wanted to make an absolute rule. She was obliterated in combat and what was left of the Radioactives must have gone into hiding.”

[Mercury]: “So you knew these lunatics were out there somewhere.”

[Neon]: “We had a feeling, but we could not tell for sure. Besides, there were more important tasks at hand. The feud with the Halogens especially.”

[Mercury]: “What about before that? We had many more elements at the time. We could have taken them down then!”

[Xenon]: “Mind your tone of voice! We wouldn’t risk the safety of the elements on a phantom enemy whose power we were unaware of. Just look at what happened tonight. Remember your priorities, Navigator.”

[Mercury]: “I… I am sorry. This recent loss troubles me so much...”

[Neon]: “Get some sleep. We will discuss a new plan in the meantime.”

[Mercury]: “As you wish. Farewell Nobles.”

Mercury exited the hall.

[Radon]: “So you’ve been withholding information from Mercury.”

[Xenon]: “What are you talking about?”

[Radon]: “He didn’t know about Ununoctium’s past. Neither did I. Why didn’t you tell us?”

[Xenon]: “Was it really necessary?”

[Radon]: “I don’t like hidden information. Why hide it in the first place?”

[Argon]: “Why are you being so stubborn? Mercury failed because he wasn’t good enough. It certainly wasn’t because he didn’t know a small bit of history.”

[Radon]: “You are hiding things. I feel it. Ever since Ununseptium and Roentgenium showed up in the village, all of you have been behaving differently.”

[Krypton]: “Perhaps it is you who is feeling paranoia.”

[Neon]: “We are committed to finding the moral solutions to our dilemmas as always.”

[Argon]: “I’ll tell it like it is. You’re getting annoying, Radon.”

[Xenon]: “She has a point. You continue to badger us over such small details.”

[Helium]: “Perhaps you are in need of sleep too?”

[Radon]: “Didn’t you say we would discuss a new plan?”

Xenon moved his hand, indicating the other four Nobles.

[Xenon]: “We will discuss a new plan. Get some rest. You aren’t helping our thought process at the moment.”

[Radon]: “But-!”

[Argon]: “He said to go!”

[Radon]: “Fine…”

Radon wasn’t used to being reprimanded by his siblings. He got off of his chair and solemnly walked to his chamber. A door closed behind him.

[Argon]: “He’s becoming a real pest.”

[Xenon]: “Calm down, sister. Let’s get back to the real matter at hand…”

Part 7

Hydrogen Ocean cliffs, Silver’s residence

Silver had insisted on bringing Cadmium back to his residence while Mercury debriefed with the Nobles.

[Silver]: “How do you feel, Cadmium?”

[Cadmium]: “Tired and very dizzy.”

[Silver]: “What are your thoughts?”

[Cadmium]: “Gold. When I saw that Radioactive and his fire, I couldn’t stop thinking about how Gold would use his fire so freely. So confidently. It made me so… ANGRY.”

She stood up, enraged and ready to fight. Silver had to grab her before she could do anything reckless.

[Silver]: “Calm down, Cadmium. This isn’t you. Focus on a single, peaceful thought. You’re going to need a purpose to keep yourself from going berserk.”

[Cadmium]: “Purpose… purpose, okay, I think I have it. I know what I will focus on.”

The energy of rage left her. She sat down again.

[Silver]: “Are you alright?”

[Cadmium]: “Yes, I-I think so.”

[Silver]: “Stay here for the night. I need to make sure you don’t go berserk. And if you do, this place is isolated from the village.”

[Cadmium]: “You don’t trust me?”

[Silver]: “Do you trust yourself? Look at what almost just happened.”

[Cadmium]: “You’re right. I can still feel that rage inside... I want to make them pay so badly for mocking him…”

[Silver]: “Stay here. I’ll teach you how to better control your emotions.”

[Cadmium]: “Okay.”

Silver worked to set up a make-shift bed in the spare room of his household. Tough times were ahead. The Radioactives were watching over the survivors. Cadmium had a lot of mental training to undergo, and all of the elements had to prepare for the incoming storm. He looked outside. There was still the mystery of his new sister, Roentgenium. So many questions… but in time, he would make sure to find the answers.