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Chapter 3- Midnight

Part 1

December 20, 2016 ---Origin northern hemisphere, treetops

Darkness was setting on the elements’ second day of exploring Origin.

[Polonium]: “Wait.”

Polonium’s group stopped walking.

[Polonium]: “It’s getting late. What do you think, Promethium? Good time to call it a night?”

[Promethium]: “I would say that’s been your best idea since we arrived.”

[Polonium]: “Alright, set up camp! Come on, get moving!”

[Promethium]: “Nobelium, activate your sentry subscripts. Curium, prepare a fire.”

[Curium]: “Why does a plant-loving element have to be a fire user? The cruelty! Hmph.”

[Nobelium]: “It is a scientist’s dilemma to achieve knowledge through any and all obstacles.”

[Curium]: “So true, so true.”

Rutherfordium mused to himself.

[Rutherfordium]: “It’s my dilemma to deal with you two hotheads…”

Gold and Copper approached Polonium to discuss an important matter.

[Copper]: “Hey, Polonium, have you noticed anything… off?’

[Polonium]: “Nothing yet.”

[Copper]: “You wanna tell her, Gold?”

[Gold]: “You’re better at approaching these things.”

[Copper]: “Okay… We’ve been going in circles! You see that tree?? I marked it in the morning before we left!”

[Polonium]: “Huh. Well what do you know.”

[Copper]: “Admit it. You’re lost!”

[Polonium]: “If you’ve got a better camp site, I’d like to see it.”

[Copper]: “Moving in a straight line would be nice!”

[Gold]: “Forget it, Polonium. We just thought you should know.”

He and Copper walked away.

[Polonium]: “That’s what I thought.”

Iodine, having eavesdropped on the conversation, flew in.

[Iodine]: “Perhaps they have a point. As fun as it is returning to my perch, we don’t have much time on Origin before something goes wrong.”

[Polonium]: “Everyone’s got complaints, but no one has ideas.”

[Iodine]: “I have one. Reconnaissance. For one night. I’ll have half of Origin mapped out before morning.”

[Polonium]: “Someone’s feeling brave.”

[Iodine]: “You know if anyone has the skill to recon, it’s me.”

[Polonium]: “If you’re feeling so confident, by all means, teacher…”

[Iodine]: “I won’t disappoint.”

Iodine took off into the night sky. While Copper and Gold had been in conversation with Polonium, Samarium talked to her friend, Promethium, in private.

[Samarium]: “Don’t you think the Originals will see our fire?”

[Promethium]: “If the Originals are plant-based creatures, fire should repel them. That’s my logic anyways. If I’m wrong, we have four subscripts positioned. And… Plutonium?”

A voice answered from Promethium’s remote.

[Plutonium]: “Yes?”

[Promethium]: “Monitor the subscripts’ activity and alert us if anything.”

[Plutonium]: “Of course. I almost feel insulted you are asking me to do the obvious.”

[Promethium]: “I can’t afford to not ask.”

[Plutonium]: “Double negatives aside, I realize we are in need of help which is why I’m arranging for a team to pick you up.”

[Promethium]: “No. I can’t risk more stranded elements.”

[Plutonium]: “Are you sure? It would be an easy pick-up.”

[Promethium]: “I’m sure. No one, absolutely no one is permitted to go to Origin. Make the use of Project Unit when it’s ready.”

[Plutonium]: “Got it. Plutonium out.”

[Samarium]: “I’ll stay awake. If the subscripts don’t do their job, I will.”

[Promethium]: “You’re free to do as you please as long as you stay close and don’t endanger yourself.”

[Samarium]: “Hah! Implying I’m insubordinate? What an insult! You’re letting Origin get to you, Promethium.”

[Promethium]: “Perhaps I am. I’ll get some rest before I insult you again.”

[Samarium]: “You better.”

Samarium gave her old friend a playful shove goodnight. Her night was just beginning. For Samarium, sleep never came easily and being on a foreign world didn’t help. If she tried to sleep, she would spend the next few hours tossing and turning. Rather than waste time, she accepted her fate and stayed up to keep watch over the search party. She sat down next to one of the sentry subscripts and began pulling at twigs to pass the time. One twig, two twigs, three twigs, fifty twigs…

Part 2

Euclid Tower, Floor 81 main laboratory

Plutonium sat back in her chair. Despite the formal tone between her and Promethium, these calls never ended well for her, mostly because she was left feeling more anxious than before.

[Plutonium]: “Keep it together, Plutonium. You’re better than this. You are a genius. You are a scholar, and no amount of anxiety can make a mess of your talent.”

She sleepily went outside her laboratory and entered the nearest elevator. She clicked on the number “1” and let the elevator do its work. Once at the bottom floor, Plutonium exited the building Hard metal flooring turned to soft grass. Her body collapsed in a heap. The beautiful thing about living in world with no other living creatures was that she could fall asleep outside without the fear of dying. The tired element lay motionless on the ground.

When she awoke, she was back on Floor 81, but in her private quarters on a pleasantly soft bed.

[Uranium]: “Miss Plutonium! You’re awake!”

[Plutonium]: “What happened?”

[Uranium]: “Neptunium found you sleeping on the grounds. We’ve checked the security recordings. You were sleep-walking.”

[Plutonium]: “I remember I wanted some fresh air. I must have passed out when I felt a soft surface underneath. Hmm, imagine that. I’ve kept to the same sleep schedule for 10 years and two days after breaking it, I suffer my first fainting incident.”

[Uranium]: “You’re overworking yourself, Miss. Continue sleeping. Neptunium and I will be on watch tonight.”

[Plutonium]: “Where is Neptunium anyways?”

[Uranium]: “He’s in the main lab, monitoring the subscripts.”

[Plutonium]: “I’ll take over for one more night. If all goes well, I will leave night watches to you two.”

[Uranium]: “Are you sure?”

[Plutonium]: “Yes. I must know if they can survive a night without incidents. If something were to go wrong while I’m snoozing, I would never forgive myself. I simply refuse to be a failure!”

Plutonium got out of bed and walked with purpose to her laboratory. Uranium giggled to herself.

[Uranium]: “Oh Plutonium, you’re something else when you’re on fire.”

Part 3

Euclid Tower, Floor 17 Room “S”

Someone knocked on Molybdenum’s door. At first, she paid it no attention. It was almost midnight. Whoever it was could wait… The knocking obnoxiously continued then grew to loud banging.

[Molybdenum]: “You can quit it now! I hear you!”

Molybdenum sheepishly got out of bed and walked to her door. She opened it.

[Molybdenum]: “Hello?”

No one was there. She felt a rough, jagged surface slam the side of her face. A big rock fell at her feet. Her mysterious guest had ambushed her!

[Molybdenum]: “Who’s there!?”

Molybdenum heard a quick rush of footsteps near the elevator at the end of the hall.

[Molybdenum]: “You’re not getting away!”

Despite her bold words, the elevator silently closed shut and proceeded to move up with its passenger safely on board. Molybdenum called it down, but by the time the elevator returned, it was empty.

[Molybdenum]: “Drat. I wonder what all that was about…”

Molybdenum did a walk of shame back to her room. When she returned, she found the door closed. The sleepy element distinctly remembered leaving it open…

[Molybdenum]: “Weird…”

She pulled at the door knob. It was locked.

[Molybdenum]: “You’ve gotta be kidding me…”

The same knocks from before came again, this time from the inside of her room. The mysterious element hadn’t run off after all.

[Molybdenum]: “Hey you! Open up or I’ll make this door open and make you regret it!”

More knocks from the door, mocking her words. Molybdenum had enough. She ignited both of her hands on fire and began melting the door’s hinges. When they were weakened, she charged forth and broke her door down. She looked around. Her window had been left opened. The intruder had gotten away for good. Molybdenum frustratingly hit the wall with her fists. There was nothing she could do except return to sleep. She got back in bed and closed her eyes, only for a moment until she realized something was missing. Her door was wide open, or rather, the space where her door once was. For an element as civilized as she was, she felt uncomfortable sleeping in a room without any privacy. She took her blanket and attempted to open one of the neighboring rooms. It was locked as was every other vacant room. Now exhausted and out of options, Molybdenum walked to Family’s 1 residence across the hall. Unlike her intruder, she made sure to knock quietly at their door. Hydrogen opened it.

[Hydrogen]: “Moly!”

[Molybdenum]: “Shhh… Hi, Hydrogen. Um, I know you’re crowded, but could I stay here for the night? I’m really tired…”

[Hydrogen]: “Hydrogen loves sleepovers! Moly can sleep next to Hydrogen and sister.”

She pointed excitedly at a large bed in the corner of the room. Molybdenum slid in next to Sodium who was already sleeping soundly. Hydrogen took a seat in front of the room’s large television and turned it back on. Bright lights flooded the room.

[Molybdenum]: “Ugh, what are you doing?”

[Hydrogen]: “Hydrogen always watches anime at night.”

[Molybdenum]: “You should be sleeping like your sisters…”

[Hydrogen]: “Sleep? What’s that?”

Hydrogen tilted her head curiously. By this point, Molybdenum had given up. She reached over and patted Hydrogen’s head.

[Hydrogen]: “Ahhhhh…”

[Molybdenum]: “Goodnight, Hydrogen.”

[Hydrogen]: “Goodnight, Moly! ♥”

Molybdenum covered herself in blankets to block out the television’s lights. Finally settled in, promptly fell asleep.

Part 4

Origin northern hemisphere, treetops

Samarium was dozing off when she heard a rustling in the leaves. It was coming from the sleeping elements. She quietly turned to face the source of the sounds. Two elements were standing up. Curious, Samarium stalked both of them. They were Copper and Gold.

[Copper]: “Coast is clear.”

[Gold]: “Let’s go.”

[Samarium]: “Hey, you!”

[Gold]: “I thought you said the coast was clear…”

[Copper]: “I could have sworn-”

[Samarium]: “Quiet you trouble-makers. Seriously? Sneaking off in the middle of the night!? Don’t you have any idea what kind of mess we’re in you ungrateful traitors!?”

[Gold]: “Shhh! Keep it down, will ya? Why do you always have to be a pain in the neck…?”

[Copper]: “We know what we’re doing, Sam. As much as we respect Polonium, she’s going to walk us in circles for days and we-”

Copper motioned to her brother and herself.

[Copper]: “-don’t have the time. Our brother’s out there, and he needs our help.”

[Samarium]: “So you think both of you can handle every danger there is?”

[Copper]: “We’re confident enough to try.”

[Samarium]: “You’re idiots!”

[Gold]: “If it helps our case, we were going to be back before morning...”

[Samarium]: “It doesn’t.”

[Gold]: “Eh, I tried.”

[Copper]: “Are you going to try stopping us?”

[Samarium]: “You know, I’m not really sure. I can do my job and report you to Promethium. Or I can let you go so you can learn your mistakes the hard way. That’d be funny too.”

[Gold]: “Do what you want. We’re outta here.”

Samarium suddenly reached out and grabbed Gold’s arm.

[Samarium]: “Too bad for you; I take my job seriously.”

[Gold]: “Oh boy.”

[Samarium]: “Prom-”

Copper froze Samarium’s head within a block of ice before she could finish calling Promethium. The element fell forward on the treetop and lay there silent, eyes wide open in shock. Copper followed up by freezing the rest of Samarium’s body.

[Copper]: “We’ll be back by morning.”

They disappeared in the brush of the forest canopy.

Samarium stood still in her ice prison for the next hour, unable to think, let alone communicate in her cryogenic-like state.

Once alone, Gold and Copper discussed their plans.

[Copper]: “We have eight hours until morning, maybe one before Samarium breaks free.”

[Gold]: “We’ve got this.”

They ran within the treetops for about seven minutes. Sounds of wood scraping could be heard underneath.

[Copper]: “That doesn’t sound right.”

Gold and Copper peaked through the thick layer of grass below them and saw at least ten scout Originals climbing up the trees. Such a technique had never been seen before on Origin.

[Gold]: “That’s new.”

[Copper]: “The others!”

[Gold]: “Why did they have to attack us now? Everything’s getting in our way. Like brother would say-”

[Gold, Copper]: “-it figures.”

Samarium was still encased in her frozen tomb when Gold and Copper returned. Copper thawed her out while Gold awoke the sleeping elements.

[Gold]: “Hey, wake up! The Originals are coming!”

[Promethium]: “Plutonium, what are the subscripts showing?”

[Plutonium]: “Nothing yet.”

[Promethium]: “Expand the search radius. Give me an idea of our odds.”

[Plutonium]: “Working on it.”

[Promethium]: “Has anyone seen Iodine?”

[Polonium]: “Iodine’s out until morning. You don’t think we can handle it?”

[Promethium]: “I have my doubts.”

Polonium made a cracking sound by popping her knuckles.

[Polonium]: “I’ll show you. So they’re learning new tricks, huh. This’ll be fun.”

Copper finally thawed out Samarium who was eager to relay her message.

[Samarium]: “Promethium! Copper and Gold, they-”

[Promethium]: “We know. Originals are coming. Keep your guard up.”

[Samarium]: “What? No, they were about to-”

[Plutonium]: “Originals detected! Ten climbing up. Nine in the treetops.”

[Promethium]: “Weapons out!”

[Nobelium]: “These will make fine specimens.”

[Promethium]: “How much time, Plutonium?”

[Plutonium: “One minute.”

[Promethium]: “Which direc-?”

An Original leapt from behind Promethium onto the winged element’s back. Samarium came to her friend’s aid and cut off the creature’s head. More of them jumped in from the shadows. The elements found themselves immediately outnumbered.

[Polonium]: “The little dickens!”

[Plutonium]: “A surprise attack!? But how!? I… I was monitoring. I should have seen-!”

[Promethium]: “Ouch, never mind that! How many more are coming!?”

[Plutonium]: “Ten! No, twelve! Twenty! They’re coming in too fast!”

[Polonium]: “It’s gonna be a long night.”

[Oxygen]: “Hold the lines!”

[Gold]: “Let’s make short work of ‘em, Vivi!”

[Nobelium]: “Get me that specimen, Curium!”

[Curium]: “Yes, sir!”

The ten elements fought into the night. While they were more than capable of defeating the increasing amounts of Originals, exhaustion began to take a toll. By the end of the first hour, their weapons, drained of battery, were lying useless on the treetop surface. Left with no choice, they had to resort to using their powers.

[Promethium]: “There’s too many! We need to retreat!”

[Polonium]: “Haha! Retreat? I’m having the time of my life! Keep fighting! We’ll outlast them!”

[Promethium]: “Ugh, you fool!”

Promethium would have continued arguing with Polonium if it weren’t for the three Originals closing in to its left. Slice, slice, slice! All three lost their heads. But how much longer could the elements last?

Part 5

Origin southern hemisphere, Apogee Tree

Ununoctium sat atop one of the tree’s mighty branches. It was rare for Silver to appoint her to a task, especially lookout duty so she was doing her best to stay awake. She eyed Silver’s golden sword in its sheath. An idea formed. Ununoctium pulled it out and walked away from Silver. If tomorrow would be as dangerous as she imagined, she had to be more than something needing protection.

“Try to carry your own weight then so I don’t have to.”

Silver had been joking when he made the comment, but the words resonated with Ununoctium. She practiced her swinging technique with the thick bark of Apogee Tree. Left, right, left, right.

[Ununoctium]: “It’s not the same without Silver.”

She considered waking him up and decided against it. He needed to recover his arm as fast as possible. What could she do to help? Bored, she cut out a small section of the tree’s trunk, then carved it until the tip was perfectly sharp. A knife. Ununoctium continued cutting and carving out pieces until she had 17 small wooden knives in front of her.

[Ununoctium]: “I need something else…”

Ununoctium thought back to her time at Euclid Tower. Flashbacks of different elements and their respective weapons came to mind. None of them suited her. She reasoned she was too small to wield a shield and too clumsy for a sword.

Her core was beginning to fill with dread. It was the familiar feeling of uselessness coming back…

[Ununoctium]: “Think, think!”

Silver rolled on to his side. For a brief second, Ununoctium thought she had woken him up.

[Ununoctium]: “Phew… Thank goodness he’s a heavy sleeper, hee.”

She remembered stories he had told her of the Radioactives he fought. One of them had been a tiny element with wings who attacked from afar. Her weapon was…

[Ununoctium]: “That’s it!”

With a renewed sense of purpose, Ununoctium started carving and continued long into the night. She’d do whatever it took… to take care of Silver in return.

Part 6

Origin northern hemisphere, treetops

Roughly three hours had passed by since midnight. All of the elements were feeling drained from the nonstop fighting. Around them, countless bodies of dead Originals were strewn about.

[Promethium]: “Now can we, oof… consider… retreating to the mountain peak?”

[Polonium]: “Maybe you have a point…”

A voice interrupted them.

[Plutonium]: “Subscript 4 is sensing large seismic readings approaching your location.”

[Nobelium]: “The colossal Original.”

[Rutherfordium]: “It’s been a pleasure knowing you guys…”

[Promethium]: “Everyone, follow me to safety. We’re pushing our luck every second we stay on this forsaken world.”

[Nobelium]: “Understood.”

[Curium]: “Aw, we’re going to miss it!”

[Rutherfordium]: “I’m not complaining!”

The five elements retreated far away from where the incoming battle would take place. Polonium followed them

[Polonium]: “Go ahead, leave, cowards! I’ll take care of it by myself if I have to!”

[Gold]: “Except you won’t.”

[Copper]: “ ’Cause we’re gonna help you!”

Gold and Copper had stopped retreating to join Polonium’s side. The Colossal Original’s footsteps became louder.

[Oxygen]: “You have more backup! Gallium?”

[Gallium]: “…”

Gallium took two steps to Oxygen’s sides and clanged his arm shields together in a show of strength. The five elements lined up to face their newest archnemesis.

[Polonium]: “Gallium, block from the front. Oxygen, Gold, burn it from the right. Copper, you and I are finishing it off from the left.”

She looked back over her shoulder at where Promethium and Samarium used to be.

[Polonium]: “Watch how a master gets the job done.”

[????]: “RWAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!”

The remaining elements saw the Colossal Original run forward. The first thing that struck the group was the creature’s difference in size. Whereas it had been the size of a mountain the day before, it was now about as tall as the highest of the treetops. Polonium saw its furious eyes looking down upon them. Gallium ran ahead and lifted his two shield arms above him to take the Original’s attack. It pounded and pounded downwards with all its strength. Fortunately for Gallium, his shields held up against the attacks.

[Polonium]: “Now!!”

[Gold]: “Have a taste of fire!!”

Gold blasted the Colossal Original’s side with fire, melting off large chunks of its skin. Oxygen used his control of atmosphere to further nurture the flames’ power. Now faced with serious damage, the creature roared in pain.

[????]: “GRWAAAAAAAHHH!!!”

[Polonium]: “Copper!”

Copper created stepping stones of ice to get Polonium up to the creature’s head. Polonium jumped from the highest pillar and came crashing down in the same way she had defeated the tyrant Original.

[Polonium]: “THE RAW POWERRRR!!!”

Polonium punched it straight in the head and splattered it into millions of pieces. Patches of grass, pieces of wood, and green blood flew everywhere. The Colossal Original, once a mighty unstoppable beast, slowly fell backwards, dead. The forest shook with the thunderous sound it made upon impact.

[Polonium]: “Who’s next?”

[Copper]: “We… We did it! We actually did it!”

[Polonium]: “Please, was there ever any doubt?”

[Gold]: “I’d be lying if I didn’t think we were all crazy back there.”

[Oxygen]: “Let me sit down and uh, process it for a minute…”

[Gallium]: “…”

Half an hour later, Promethium flew back to the group with Samarium in tow. The three scientists returned as well. Everyone had heard the Colossal Original’s impact.

[Promethium]: “How? How did you do it?”

[Polonium]: “Where’s your “I told you so”, huh? It was obviously weakened from our first battle. All I had to do was finish it off. 1, 2, 3, done.”

[Promethium]: “I just, I cannot believe you did what all of us combined couldn’t with Axiom’s best technology.”

[Polonium]: “No one’s asking you to believe it. We’re getting back to business if you don’t mind.”

[Promethium]: “Do you seriously wish to stay on Origin?”

[Polonium]: “Why should I leave? I told you I have everything under control. Our “biggest threat” is in a pile of ashes.”

Promethium sighed.

[Promethium]: “If I did agree to go along with your plans, what would your next move be?”

[Polonium]: “We wait here until morning when Iodine gets back. When I get my recon, I’ll know where Silver is.”

[Samarium]: “Promethium, don’t tell me you’re going to trust her again.”

[Promethium]: “Taking down the Colossal Original is no small task. I have to give credit where it’s earned…”

[Polonium]: “That’s what I like to hear! I knew you’d see it my way.”

[Samarium]: “So… we’re stuck here even longer… all for a fluke I bet.”

[Promethium]: “Consider this a warning, Polonium. If I feel for one second that you can’t handle the job, we are leaving, with or without you. Any responsible leader knows they go down with the ship.”

Promethium walked away to make a call to Plutonium. Meanwhile, Polonium thought about what was just said.

[Polonium]: “Sure, except… this ship’s never going down with me in charge.”