Undoing
London, Greater London, England, The United Kingdom
Eilene stretched as she stepped out of the transportation pod. Scott and Dwayne exited on her heels. The trio’s tall frames made the space cramped. Dwayne rolled his shoulders to release the pressure in his joints and let out a low groan. The foursome from the first pod exited slower as they woke from their naps. With their identities hidden as the Council—when they visited the human world for short trips where they didn’t meet with other dignitaries—they didn’t have to wear their robes. They hid the robes in the storage compartment of the pods, so it wouldn’t tip off passerby if they happened to glance inside.
Series touched each of the Council members on the shoulder before they separated in the library. Luck flowed through their veins as they approached each shelf.
Dwayne knew he should look for information on their people, but the letters burned a hole in his pocket. He didn’t know why he grabbed them off his desk before they left for London. He didn’t have an address to send them. Rather, he didn’t know if the recipients still lived.
He sunk into a chair at one of the study tables and removed the folded envelopes. They uncurled when he tossed them on the desk. Dwayne grabbed the first one and pulled the sheets of paper loose from the unsealed envelope. The papers were folded into messy thirds and some of the previously wet ink stuck to the clean sides of the paper. When he opened the pages, several words became illegible. Dwayne bit his lip and wondered if he should write them in Setswana instead of English.
He stood and asked the front desk for some paper and a pen. Back at the desk, he turned the table lamp to the clean printer paper and started a scrawl across the page in his heritage language.
Thisipuni:
It’s been a while since Tsaya Ya Mogale Orphanage. Sometimes I wonder what happened to you and Drummer. Were you informed I died? The Council is good at hunting people down and letting them know when that happens—but I don’t know if they could find you. I heard in passing, before we separated, they adopted you for factory work. I hope you remain safe with all those machines. I’m scared to go near them as an adult. You were always braver than me.
Sometimes I think about how you’d be in your thirties now. In my dreams, I see you with a loving husband and several children. All are cared for and loved. Your children get along with each other, unlike us three. I’d be a doting uncle and buy them too many toys and sweets. You’d be mad at me; I’d never call any of them by their real names.
Do you still live in Botswana? I still don’t like celebrating my birthday. I’m twenty-seven now. I hope you remember my age without the reminder.
I’m sorry we couldn’t stay together as a family. I don’t know if things would’ve been any different. I’m the oldest member on the Council here. I’m not the main kgosi though. That’s Molelo. She’s been on the Council the longest of any of us.
I miss you, Thisipuni. I plan on seeing you again before I die. Maybe in your early forties. Wait for me, wherever you are.
Dwayne Tebogo
He was more confident in his second draft. It would never leave his hands because he’d burn it when he returned home. Dwayne tucked the new papers into the envelope and folded the old into a tight square before returning the set to his pocket. One more letter to go.
Drummer:
Have you ever thought about how strange our names are when our parents ended up dropping us off at an orphanage? Of course, I’m thinking more along the lines of yours and Thisipuni’s names. I think they gave up on mine.
Abeje means our parents asked to have our sister, and you—Chimelu—were what God created. Why did we end up where we are?
I heard the nice man in the suit was a slave trader. It’s hard to think this stuff still goes on today. I don’t know where you ended up. I hope you’re making music wherever you are. I loved listening to the songs you wrote. The beats still pound in my head at night when I can’t fall asleep. It sounds like home.
A few years ago, I might’ve told you I didn’t know where home is. Perhaps I still don’t know. I like to think I have two homes… I have a home at the orphanage with you. The other is in Elementōrum Patriam. It’s on the third floor behind the locked door. I don’t think you know the one I speak of. Everyone here does. They’re terrified of it.
I’m a little scared of it, too.
There’s seven of us here. Dickens is my best friend. She’s great. I think you’d like her if you ever met her.
If we both make it out alive of whatever comes next, I’d love to see you one last time. I hope you escaped and have a family now. I want you to be safe. Perhaps I worry over you and Thisipuni more than I should as the youngest sibling.
I’ll give myself a deadline. I’ll see you in the next five years, and you’ll be happy. I know it. You can’t deny it.
Dwayne Tebogo
He didn’t like his letter to Chimelu. He always found his brother harder to talk to. He shoved the pages and envelope back into his pocket without neatly folding them. The letter needed serious work—even if Luana wouldn’t let him send it. Dwayne leaned back in his chair and grabbed the first book he found off the shelf. A chill ran up his spine. Luana watched him closely from across the study area. He shuddered and immediately went to work.
Eilene wandered into the history section by herself and started toward the aisle with a plastic sign advertising it as the elementalist section. She reached the end of the row and stared at the long columns of books. Eilene skimmed her fingers past the ones she recognized from their home library and pulled the others down onto the middle table between the rows.
One text caught her attention among the worn, dusty, brown, and gray covers. Wine colored with gold filament accents. Eilene pulled at the top of the spine and the book fell into her hand. She held it in her open hand and ran a finger across the cover. Elementalists Across the Ages. They didn’t have the book in their personal collection.
Eilene opened the cover and heard the binding crack. She flipped the pages softly. The book was made from heavy-weight paper, but the text didn’t look dense. She could see the places where the restoration team repaired the book a few times—new binding and tape on the inside cover. The publisher stylized the book to imitate old bibles with a large, calligraphy based, ornately drawn first letter at the beginning of every chapter; the rest of the text kept a single column of serif style lettering. Eilene thumbed the first few esthetic pages of the book until she located the table of contents.
One of the chapters listed a breakdown of each element and she turned to page ninety-two. The chapter had a boldface font at the top with decorative pieces above and below the title. Eilene stared at the page. Nine elements, not seven. She slammed the book down onto the table and several other patrons glared at her. Ethan is an elementalist.
Excerpts from Elementalists Across the Ages: British Library Collection, Published 1946
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
Elementalists (Homo elementa) are a group of people who emerged from a genetic mutation on the thirteenth chromosome. The mutation allows them control one of the natural elements of the world. There are certain limitations to the mutation. While elementalists run at a higher core temperature and thin air doesn’t affect them the same as it does Homo sapiens, their body is quick to break down when it receives damage from external sources.
External sources include tobacco products, which damage the lungs, and alcohol, which is known to destroy the liver. While these can cause irreversible problems in humans, for the elementalists, it kills them. One cigarette breaks down the lungs capacity and erodes the mutation in their lungs which adjusts to the elevation. A single sip of beer (or any stronger form of liquor) performs the same action in their liver, and their organs shut down accordingly.
One orientation of the mutation causes what the elementalists label as a glitch. The glitch occurs when the nucleotide Thymine (T) lines up with a Cytosine (C). The combination is rare and causes a malfunction in the elementalist’s body which doesn’t allow them to fully control one element—they can use pieces of all the elements. The elementalists call this mutation “Rogue”.
In comparison, children without the genetic mutation can be born to elementalist parents. Instead of the term human, the elementalists labeled the “demutation” as Un.
…
HISTORY OF SEPARATION
The first Council formed after strenuous warfare across Pangea. There are few records which indicate what happened at that time. A lot of the history for the forming of the eight main continents, with only seven on the Earth’s water level surface, comes from speculation. The original Council created Elementōrum Patriam. The oldest cities in the country are named after the original nine Council members.
The nine Council members created nine cities on Pangea before tearing the world apart. During the first war between humans and elementalists, all nine cities—Moscow, Jerusalem, Ekurhuleni, Venice, Hong Kong, Shikaakwa, Kaerlud, Pompeii, and Cochabamba—were destroyed. The remnants remained. Humans built new cities on the foundations, and those nine cities remain safe havens, or harbor cities, for elementalists today.
Vasha is credited with tearing Pangea into the seven lower continents. According to historians, she died during the process—but the elementalists never ruled the event as accidental.
…
ELEMENTALIST PRESENTATION
Elementalist researchers report ten possible mutations on the thirteenth chromosome which result in someone with elementalist genetics.
The tenth mutation is the Rogue, while the eighth and ninth are two elements in addition to the widely known seven. These two elements report regular dips in presentation and typically have less overall representation among the elementalists.
The last recorded population spike of these elements occurred in the early 1900s. During the world wars, young elementalists with the eighth and ninth mutations were recorded as great warriors on the field. Their elements made formidable enemies. Many accounts report one of the mutations allowed an elementalist to cross no-man’s land in seconds. They could avoid bullets and act as sting operations behind the opposition’s backs. Some reports include a gas-like substance emitting from one of the elementalists and killing everyone in the trenches.
These stories discuss the eighth and ninth types of elementalist, the Supernatural and Death elements.
…
A BREAKDOWN OF THE NINE ELEMENTS
Among the nine elements, there are histories of power struggles. Some elements are built to fare better against others to keep their power in check. It is a natural system of checks and balances.
Fire
They can control flames created by friction, spark, or their body. Fire is versatile for these elementalists. Many train to create specific shapes. Fire is best combated by those who control the element of Earth.
The first Council member: Messina of Pompeii.
Water
Water is not limited to the liquid form; it includes the gas vapors and frozen forms. Many water elementalists can create boiling water at will. Water elementalists are best combated by those who control the Air element.
The first Council Member: Ricci of Venice.
Earth
Earth elementalists can form precious jewels, control mud and quicksand, and even create new land formations. They are weakest to those who control Water—as seen in the natural wonders of the world.
The first Council member: Vasha of Moscow.
Air
Air elementalists can make air thinner and harder to breathe, remove oxygen in a small zone, and manipulate air currents to fly. Those who control Air are most vulnerable to Death.
The first Council member: Victor of Cochabamba.
Storm
Storm elementalists are better described as Natural Disaster elementalists. They are known to generate tornados, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters. Storm elementalists are best combated by Life.
The first Council member: Brooks of Kaerlud.
Fortune
Fortune elementalists see the future and affect the good and bad luck of those around them. Studies found that Fortune elementalists only see the future when they are asleep. Fortune elementalists are weakest against Supernatural.
The first Council member: Xia of Hong Kong.
Supernatural
Supernatural elementalists control space and time; they can speedily expand the universe or stop time on Earth while they move at full speed. The Supernatural elementalists are best combated by Fire.
The first Council member: Wabaunsee of Shikaakwa.
Life
Life elementalist powers have a wide range. They can heal any illness (unless it is a genetic mutation). If a Life elementalist isn’t inclined to follow the path of doctor, they often work in agriculture. Life is weakest against Fortune.
The first Council member: Yahav of Jerusalem.
Death
Death elementalists appear immune to death as they are difficult to injure or kill. Researchers found they can be weakened (starvation, exhaustion) and injured by any item. They are best combatted by those who control Storms.
The first Council member: Ubuntu of Ekurhuleni.
Eilene snatched her phone from her pocket and lifted the slim piece of glass close to her face. Her thumbs tapped hurriedly on the screen. The message to the other Council members contained numerous errors. She hoped the garble of letters on her screen would be coherent. Eilene pressed send and heard six text tones in rapid succession like gunfire. Patrons grumbled around her about the excessive noise in the study area, but Eilene paid them no mind. She opened another app on her phone, allowing her to scan the entire text of the book. She moved to a better lit study table and set her phone on top of the cover.
“Found something good?” Dwayne came up behind her and rested his chin on her shoulder. She prayed he couldn’t see the flushed color spread across her face from his angle. “Your message is barely coherent. Something about Ethan being an elementalist.”
“There’s nine elements, not seven. It’s why there are nine Council members originally,” Eilene whispered. “According to this book, the Supernatural and Death elements have low numbers. Based on the descriptions on page sixty-five, I would guess Ethan is of the Death element. There’s a theory that ties the elements to times of war, but I’m not sure it’s true. However, if Ethan is a Death elementalist, someone out there is going to be a Supernatural elementalist.”
“Even if Ethan is a Death elementalist, we have another problem to solve,” Scott said, walking to the other side of the table.
Eilene’s phone showed a progress bar halfway through scanning the book into their electronic database.
“He hasn’t eaten anything in weeks, he might be dead,” Series finished his thought.
Luana drew attention to herself as she marched across the library toward them. Her feet hit the floor hard with every step, Hans followed obediently on her heels. She shoved her phone into Eilene’s face. “Ethan is not one of the seven.”
“He’s one of the nine, Luana,” Eilene said.
“There’s not nine—”
“There is.” Series’ eyes widened. “Whenever there is a trial for a new Council member, there are nine doorways. We ignored the other doorways because the crystal colors never matched up with our own element. We even have two rooms we never used because the Council chambers housed all seven elements we knew.”
“They built the rooms for Death and Supernatural.” Dwayne nodded. He snatched the book away from Eilene’s phone when it finished scanning. He opened to the page Eilene specified earlier and read through the section on the Death element. “If we don’t get to Ethan now, we might have another problem on our hands.”
“What is it?” Scarlet tried to read over his shoulder. He set the book on the table and pointed at the specific line.
“In a weakened state, he can be injured and killed by anything.”
“If you have it in you, Series,” Luana started, their eyes met, “we’re going to need a lot of good luck.”
Transportation Pod #1
Eilene forwarded the book document to them once inside the transportation pods. Each of them remained silent as they read through some of the information on the two unknown elements.
“How many of them have I killed?” Luana whispered.
“‘We’, Luana. You weren’t the only one involved,” Hans said. “You can rule out the Death elementalists. After seeing Ethan, it’s clear we’ve never come across them before.”
“But the Supernatural—”
“We have no way of knowing. The fault is on the previous Council’s heads because we did not know.” Hans placed a warm hand over hers. “It’s been over three-hundred years since the last known record of Supernatural and Death elements. Our history is lacking. It was a mistake.”
“Over three-hundred and fifty,” Series corrected in a soft mumble.
“No need to be pedantic, Series.” Scarlet rolled her eyes.
“It’s been too long for us to say we killed them knowingly. It’s not a big deal. If Ethan is here, it means other Death elementalists will arrive again, too. So will Supernatural. We’ll have to figure out a test for them to take based on the information in this book.” Series waved her phone in the air. “No problems going forward.”
July 22, 2316
Transportation Pod #2
As the resident Life elementalist, Dwayne became their only healer for the group. He held no fondness for the doctoring profession and often complained in private about the duties he filled. In moments like these, he prepared in the only way he could. He slept. The only one in their pod to sleep. He needed his strength for the battle waiting for him at the Academy. No other elementalist could rival his knowledge and skill. No matter how much he hated the job. Ethan would be in bad shape, and they’d leave it up to him to make sure he remained okay. Eilene picked up her phone and typed a quick message to Series in the other car.
She didn’t receive a reply, and Eilene prayed it meant Series already slept. Scott bumped her with his elbow. He offered his shoulder for her to rest on.
Eilene shook her head. “I’ll be fine. I don’t need to sleep.”
“Sleep anyway,” he said.
“Alright.” Her head dropped to the left side of her body and rested against Scott’s bony shoulder. Her eyes settled on Dwayne.
When she first met him after joining the Council, she lashed out at him when he touched her shoulder. A reaction caused by the trauma from her uncle. It took months before she realized they could be friends, and he wanted to get to know her as a genuine person.
October 5, 2312
The Council Chambers, The Academy, Elementōrum Patriam
“What do you like doing for fun?” Dwayne nudged her with his knee as they sat in the video game room. Twenty-year-old Eilene felt like napping over playing games.
“Reading—it lets me avoid people.”
“What do you read?”
“Classics, online comics.” She shrugged. Her hair spilled across the back of the couch. She scooted down the cushion until her butt hung off the edge and all her weight rested on the small of her back. “What do you do in this pit of politics?”
“Whenever I can escape kgosi, I hide out here or in my room. I like video games and music.”
“What kind of music?” Eilene asked.
“Old music, a classic. I’m talking like three-hundred years old at least.”
“Lame.” She covered her mouth. “I’ve wanted to ask for a while—why do you call Anika, kgosi?”
“It means ‘king’ in Tswana. Since she’s currently the head of the Council by seniority, I gave her that title. It’ll transfer to whoever is the next senior member.”
“You speak Tswana?”
“I’m from Botswana,” Dwayne chuckled. “The elementalists pulled me from an orphanage in Maun. Where do you come from?”
“City of Barren, long line of elementalists.”
“Impressive.”
“My death ruined their line though,” she snorted.
“Better you than anyone else. Anika likes having you here so far.”
“She’s like a mom to the rest of the Council,” Eilene said. After her trial to join the Council, Anika helped her transition the most.
“She’s forty-nine, though.”
“Disappointing.” Eilene chucked the controller for the game onto the coffee table in front of them. Humans and elementalists alike had short lifespans. Most barely lived to see a day above sixty. “See you later, Dwayne.”
“Thanks for hanging out with me.”
Eilene walked out of the room and down the hall. A door cracked open, and she pushed it further. The room had a desk light on in the corner, but it didn’t give enough light to see who occupied the room. Eilene pressed the button for the lights and stared at the body on the floor. Anika stared back at her with eyes glossed over. Bile rose in her throat.
July 22, 2316
Transportation Pod #2
“Hey, Dickens, time to wake up.” The voice sounded familiar; she groaned. “You too, Mosupologo.”
“You’re supposed to be the one sleeping.” Eilene pushed herself off Scott’s shoulder.
“I woke up to eat food. We’re approaching the northeast coast of America. We’ll be home soon.” He pressed a sandwich and a bag of chips into her hands.
“Thanks Dwayne. You should sleep more.”
Dwayne shook his head. “If I sleep anymore, I’ll be of no use. I need to be awake to think about medical things properly. I hate to admit it, but I’m a bit rusty.”
“I’m sure you’ll do fine,” Scott reassured him. He took a bite of his sandwich, and the pair watched him closely. “What?”
“If Scott’s telling you ‘You’re fine’, then you’re fine.” Eilene pulled at the seam of the chip bag, and it popped open. She leaned into the smell. “Nacho cheese.”
They ate in silence for a while and a frown marred Dwayne’s face. Eilene pressed her foot against his on the floor until he looked at her.
“You look like something’s bugging you,” Eilene said.
“Did either of you have siblings before coming to the Academy?” Dwayne asked.
“Little sister.” Scott reached for one of the water bottles.
“Two older sisters and an older brother,” Eilene said.
“I had an older brother and sister. I’ve been thinking about them lately. I don’t know much about them outside of where they were taken after the orphanage.” A frown slid across Dwayne’s face.
“My sister died from pneumonia. She got sick trying to take care of my father, and he didn’t notice,” Scott said.
Eilene placed a hand on top of Scott’s. He looked at her under heavy eyelids. She lifted her free hand and swept some of the hair out of his eye. His breath quickened, and Dwayne narrowed his eyes from across the pod.
“You look tired. Go back to sleep for an hour or so. We’ll wake you at the ascent.”
Scott managed a nod before he leaned against the seat cushion again.
“I wrote letters for my siblings,” Dwayne confessed.
“It helps, doesn’t it?”
“I didn’t realize it had, until now.”
“I wrote a letter to my parents once. Asked Luana to burn it. She can be helpful sometimes.” A laugh crept past her chapped lips. “Do you think you’ll be able to save Ethan?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “I’m going to try my hardest. I haven’t had a patient die on me yet, but I don’t know his case.”
“The book says he can be weakened by starvation and exhaustion. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had both.”
“I wouldn’t either.” His brows crinkled together. “Will I be able to use medical instruments on him?”
“If he’s in that state. If he’s not, I’m not sure.” She opened the application on her phone and scrolled at a rapid pace down the screen. “I don’t see anything.”
“I don’t know if we’ll get there in time.”
“We can at least try.”
“Scott.”
A hand shook his shoulder, and he pulled away. He tried to roll over, but his legs collided with someone else’s. His eyes shot open. Scott didn’t remember sharing a bed with anyone. Eilene crouched over him in the transportation pod.
“We’re about a half-hour away from home. We thought you’d want to be fully coherent. Luana sent out a text, she plans to run since it’s an emergency.”
“We’re gonna scare the entire population of our country running through the Academy for our base of operations,” Dwayne laughed. “I don’t know what Molelo’s thinking.”
“After this ordeal we might need to call in a Code Birthday.” Eilene winked at her best friend.
“I could go for a Code Birthday. I’ll put on my vintage music.”
“No. It’s gonna be Snow Patrol again.” She hit her head against the glass of the door.
“They happen to be a wonderful band from three-hundred years ago.”
“They’re so old.” She fell into a fit of laughter, and her head landed on Scott’s shoulder unsolicited. He stiffened. “Sorry, Scott.”
“I’m afraid to ask.” He pointed between the pair.
“Code Birthday?” Dwayne cocked his head to the side. “Yeah, it’s a top-secret thing for us.”
“It’s not that big of a deal.” Eilene rolled her eyes.
“I beg to differ. It’s an especially important time where I am allowed to wallow in my ancient music and not do my job. Alongside a pretty lady, I might add.”
“If I called the Code Birthday, then I get to pick the music.”
“You’re ruining the mood, Dickens.”