Episode Two- Secrets

Starting Over: Athame’

As night falls, Athame’ makes her way to the evening ball in a taxi. The city is filled with flying cars, flying people (some without or with magical assistance such as broom sticks or flying shoes. Or technology such as jet packs) and various mystical creatures (like pagasus,’ hypogriffs etc). The building where the ball is taking place resembled that of a large concert hall/opera house/ museum like castle. A large virtual ensemble plays throughout the ball as people enter. Lights and orbs of magic fill the air as some dance in the distance, some dine and others drink and converse. Performance artist do tricks with their abilities ranging from magic to juggling and aerial performances. The walls around the hall are lined with silver plating’s, glass floors, and various engravings. There are various drones and robots serving the patrons as well as filming the festivities, other drones clean or repair any dmaged left over from the attack.

Athame’ arrives sits down as she is greeted by her family. Her brother sits eating (dressed in a tux) as her mother stands up to greet her (dressed in a white ball gown).

Marien: Honey, I’m so glad you were able to make it! (saying as she kisses her cheek and she kisses back)

Athame’ sits down calmly. Jay continues to eat. Athame’s father J’on sits across the round table with little expression on his face. He’s older middle aged man with white hair but balding down the middle and wears black and green robes (looks and dresses similar to emperor palpatine in star wars episode 1-3)

Athame’: Father…(saying nervously as she greets him with a knod and half smile)

J’on stares at Athame’ with his continued vague expression. Every one sits at the table as the activities around them move forward.

Marien: I’m happy to see you are better sweety… I was a bit…

J’on: Yes… your mother told me you were feeling under the weather earlier today and you wouldn’t be able to attend tonight.

Athame’: Ye…yes. I was feeling ill and…

J’on: Needed to take an extended leave of absence from the school?

Marien: J’on…

J’on: You see your mother tells me you chose to leave the academy… abandon your studies, your duties as a teacher, your students…

Marien: J’on we said we wouldnt discuss...

J’on: Even told me you were given a special position with the new headmaster after the treachery of the old one…

Jay: Come on Dad…

J’on: She even tells me that…

Marien: Patel!!

Marien interrupts exclaiming as a young man walks by in a cream color tux with gold trim. He is Athame’s height, wears glasses, facial haired goatee, ivory colored skin and brunette close cut hair due. Unlike most Atlanteans, Patel doesnt have the aura sense like Athame' and the rest of her family. Marien stops to greet him.

Marien: Warm greetings! (saying as she hugs Patel)

Patel: Thank you Mrs. Starfire. (saying as he hugs her back with a smile) you look amazing.

Marien: Thank you, Patel I’d like you to meet my son, Jay.

Patel shakes Jay’s hand.

Marien: My husband and partner you know…

Patel: Councilman Starfire…(shakes hand)

Marien: And my daughter… Athame’.

Patel: Ms. Athame’ Starfire (shakes her hand and kisses it as he smiles charmingly, Athame' smiles back nervously). I've heard much about you.... (saying as he smiles at her with a charm)

Small pause between every one as they look toward Athame' and Patel.

Marien: Patel, won't you sit down for a moment? (saying with a smile) Join us.

Patel sits down next to Athame' in an empty chair and a servant droid (similar to c-3po from star wars only it's white and black and short like R2D2) pours him a glas of water.

Marien: So Patel, did you come here with anyone special?

Patel: No, Mrs.... just a simple night out with friends for a good cause... we figure wouldnt hurt to come out for a little bit at least... meet new people... see old faces.

Marien: That sounds amazing; doesnt it Athame?

Athame' sits quietly and knods.

J'on: What's that a knod? I don't think we understand a knod... can you speak please? I'm sure you're not mute.

Marien: J'on (whispering).

Jay: You like sports man?

Patel: Uuuhhh Yea, I've dabbled a little in Powerball when I was a kid.

Jay: (Smiling) Oh yea? What happen?

Patel: Uh I broke my arm (chuckles) was in medical wing for weeks. Tried again when I was at the academy and broke my leg only to end up in the medical wing for about 6 months.

Jay: Wait six months that doesn't make alot of sense... even a fracture takes days maybe weeks to heal in a rejuvenation tank depending on size, body mass, and health...

Patel: Well there were complications.... the healing tank malfunctioned... and as you know when in one it can't be interupted until it is done... that being said my leg healed improperly to completely function.

Jay: So what'd they do?

Marien: Jay, it's rude to ask someone of their personal medical business.

Patel: It's alright Mrs. Starfire... Um they had to do an ERO...that's an Ermergency Restoration Operation.

Athame': I've heard about such things... they're rare but they happen....

Patel: That's true... rare (saying as he looks deeply at Athame')

Jay: Well... uh what do they do in an ERO....

Marien: Jay...

Jay: It's just for research purposes... I mean just in case...

Patel: It's ok, I really don't mind... It's um... when they remove the bones mysticlly then grow them back with potionism.... A medical mystic comes, removes all bones with a charm... then a potion nurse administars a series of potions which help you grow them back. They taste... horrendous... and the uh... pain is almost unbearable...

Athame': Which is why they induce the patient in soothing euphoria during the process... but it's a...inconsistent practice.

Patel: Yes...inconsistant.... some patients here and there have a high resistance to the euphoria spell and requires it being ministered anywhere from a a few times in weeks to a few times a day...

J'on: Interesting... tell me Patel... in this time what did you do? I mean you were bed riddon and... ill...(saying as he look annoyed at Athame')

Patel: Yes Sir, actually in that time I stuck to my studies... read everthing I could when I was conscious and requested virtual education when I slept.

Jay: Oh cool, yea I have been injured once or twice in Powerball...

J'on Interrupting.

J'on: I see... so what were your field or fields of study?

Patel: I ventured into the medical field... mainly in potions... I'm still in study... being teacher assistant is part of that study, sir.

J'on: And what do you hope to become Patel? Potion Master? A Teller?

Marien: J'on.... Patel is planning to be a EPT (emergency potion technician, similar to EMT's in a medical ambulance) right?

Patel: Yes Mrs. Starfire (saying as he takes a sip of water).

J'on: So you plan to spend your life savings lives in emergencies.... why?

Patel: Well after recent events sir... why not?

J'on smiles.

Jay: So what position did you like to play in Power ball b...

J'on cuts off Jay.

J'on: I was just telling my daughter how one needs a plan and purpose to actually move foward in life.

Marien: J'on...

J'on: When one abandons everything they have to swallow in whatever self loathing they have; it simply slows this process down wouldn't you agree?

Athame' begins to looks upset as the table slightly trembles.

Jay: Come on dad...

J'on: Leaving work... ignoring your family... carrying your father and mothers legacy.....

Marien: J'on please...

The lights flicker as Athame' grows more upset, various people in the room begin to worry.

J'on: I say it is all wrong... all for some selfish unexplained reason no one knows.

Athame': Dad.... (whispers)

J'on: Could it be a for something...

Athame': Dad... (whispers)

J'on: Someone...

Marien: J'on...

J'on: Maybe a man...

Table all tables rumble more just as Patel interupts.

Patel: Would you care to dance Athame'?

The lights stop flickering and everything stops rattling around the room as if an earthquake after shock was passing by, bring everyone at ease. Patel takes Athame's hand as he walks her to the dance floor away from her families table. J'on looks on intrigued. Marien looks angry at J'on.

J'on: Hmm...

Meanwhile, Athame' begins to dance with Patel on the other side of the room. She awkwardly puts her hand onto Patel's as they begin to slow dance. Athame' looks off away from Patel as she talks to him, avoiding eye contact.

Athame': Th..Thanks for that...

Patel: It's no problem really... I uh...heard your Father was tough but... didnt think it was anything like that.

Athame': Yea... it's.. it wasnt so bad this time... trust me when he wants to let loose he will. He's trying to save face since we are in public.

Patel: Ah.. the old share one face with the public the other in private...

Athame': Yea... ( still avoiding eye contact)

Patel: Your mother seems alright with you though... your brother too.

Athame': More or less...

Patel: Yea... so uh... all that commotion in the room... that was you?

Athame': ...

Patel: I've seen such commotion only in presence of new powered individuals... unable to control thier power due to heighten emotion...

Athame': ...

Patel: I u.h... studied such a thing in school....It's alright... you don't have to tell me... let's just.. enjoy the dance. (smiles)

Athame': Since the... incident.. I have been having some anxiety issues.. it has rendered me unable to control my magic when under stressful situations..

Patel: Like the grilling of your dad about your life...?

Athame': Yea...

Patel: You know they have treatmeants for that. Medicines.. potions... elixirs... some therapy.. all to help with such things.

Athame': I know... all that can be done by a doctor or user of magic of any kind. (saying with disgust)

Patel: (chuckles) you really don't like the medical field...

Athame': No.. it's not.. I mean one of my friends.... Sorry... It's just.. (grunts in pain holding her stomach)

Patel: Are you ok?

Athame': Yea... just.. ugh... something I must have eaten earlier. (grunts slightly louder as she holds her stomach and the lights begin to flicker again) Excuse me. (Saying as she leaves the room to the outside balcony) I need air.

Patel looks on curiously as Athame' flees through the crowd of people.

When Athame' gets outside the lights stop flickering as she commands people on the balcony to leave and closes the doors magically behind them.

Speaking to herself.

Athame': NO.... not yet.. it's too soon... AAAHHHHH!!!! (a tremor of force breaks out around her alarming people inside)

As the building begins to shake commotion begins to stir up more as Athame' curls up in fetal position on the balcony floor. Patel grows concerned and heads toward Athame' on the balcony. He finds her on the floor of the balcony through the windows, with the doors locked from the outside. He struggles to get in trying to help Athame' as he sees the ground around her begin to crack from the massive tremors. He pushes and shoves then screams for help. Athame' continues to scream in pain but manages enough focus to shield Patel and any one elses eyes from seeing her on the balcony when she cast a frost and ice spell on the door blinding visual of her. She then rolls back over to breath and pant to gain control of her self. Various people begin to help Patel try to break open the door but all magic is useless. A small security team arrives to try to break it down with great strength and finally begin getting somewhere as the door and ice begins to crack. Rescue teams from outside begin to make thier way to the building as quakes begin to shake it more and people begin to exit to safety. Seeing all the commotion around her, Athame' realizes she has to get off the balcony before she either gives birth or is saved... both situations which would have dire conseqeunces.Athame' takes a deep breath and stands holding her stonach still contracting. She struggles to cast one final spell. A teleportation spell. But it doesnt work... so she tries again... but the spell takes too much energy. As the security team begins to break through, the rescue team is only miles away., Athame; realizes the one ability she has that has worked is the baby is levitating her the more she focuses. She takes a deeps breath, the security team breaks through with one final charge as Athame' has already flown away, rocketing through the air. The security team along with Patel finall punch through the door to find Athame'no where in sight.