Episode One, Part 6:

P r o p h e c y

Some truths are sewn into our DNA.

Sol stood on the podium, watching as the last of her people gathered around, the combined chatter of everyone beginning to die down. She knew they expected her to be delivering news of their Sovereign: to either tell them that Kodiak was dead, or that he had pulled through, but the truth was they would hear something that would jeopardize each of them far greater than a loss of one of their leaders. 

"I'm here to tell you that in 86 hours, Blood Riders will march for war." 

She looked over at Joren who was standing to the side of the podium with Dreea, trying to figure out how she would get control over the crowd. Joren nodded towards her, trying to give her the confidence on her own to continue. 

"Hey!" Sol called, but she wasn't loud enough to be heard. "Hey!" She called again, people eventually turning to look at her, every set of eyes full of fear. 

"If we're afraid, if we don't listen, if we don't unite, then they'll win. But that's not gonna happen. We will win." Sol declared. "Kodiak is alive: they couldn't take him down, and like your Sovereign, you will follow and rise up. We have 86 hours." She repeated. "We're not gonna spend that time in fear. If they want a war, we'll make sure we give them one." 

//

Quill walked with Elara over to the medic tent; she was nervous about seeing Kodiak partially because of hurt he was the last time she saw him, and partially because she knew that the only reason he was out there was because she had decided to sneak out of camp. 

Aeryn greeted them at the entrance. It was fairly quiet inside as almost everyone was at the centre of camp after hearing Sol's news, so it was Kodiak and one other person in there. 

"Don't be shy. Go over to him." Aeryn encouraged, nudging the young girl's arm. As Elara was about to back track, tell Quill that she couldn't do it, Aeryn told her something that calmed all her fears. 

"I told him you were coming to see him. He's been waiting since he woke up. He wants to see you, Lara." 

Elara looked over at Quill for a last moment's reassurance, moving forward as he nodded towards her. As her brother sat down to talk with Aeryn, Elara approached Kodiak's bed, coughing slightly to announced her presence. 

"Elara." Kodiak breathed out her name, a tired smile appearing simultaneously. He tried to shift himself up, but winced at the pain it caused his stomach. 

Elara rushed over, pushing him down and adjusting his pillow until he looked comfortable. 

"Thank you." Kodiak smiled again. 

"It's the least that I could do." She murmured as she sat herself on the edge of his bed, avoiding eye contact. 

Kodiak sighed. "I knew you'd be feeling this way." 

"What?" Elara questioned,, trying to determine his mood. 

He tilted his head to look at her fully, reaching his hand out for her's. Elara was unsure, but let him take hold nonetheless. 

"Do not blame yourself." 

"Kodi..."

"I mean it, Ell." 

"If I just listened to Ares and everyone else when they told me to stay behind..." She trailed off. "You got hurt because of me. Because I dragged you into this." 

"Well I don't see it that way." Kodiak told her. "I see it that went out to save my people, and that I took the fall so they didn't have to. So you didn't have to  ." 

"You shouldn't have done that for me." 

"And let you get hurt instead? No way." His voice cracked a little, searching for understanding, trying to figure why she would want that for herself if there was someone willing to save her. "Ell, I won't let that happen. Yesterday, today, or ever... No matter what the cost." 

Elara was squeezing on his hand, and his thumb was tracing circles over her skin, the weight of his words sinking in. Now she just had to break the news to him... 

"I should probably tell you that Riverly's taking me out to see my dad." 

Kodiak arched his eyebrows, hoping he had simply heard her incorrectly. "You're not seriously going back out there? Not only do we have to worry about Targo, but Riders have announced war. If their people find us out there, they won't show mercy. Tell me you understand that..." 

"I do." She choked out. "But this is my dad, Kodi. And I haven't seen him in months, and all I know is that he's asking for me. Not Ares or Wynn or Quill. Me."

"Exactly." Kodiak argued. "And you need to consider why it's only you." 

"I have. I promise. But until I go, we won't know why. He won't even tell my brothers." 

"I could have a guess." The young Sovereign muttered under his breath, not meaning for Elara to hear it. 

"Then tell me." She remarked. 

Kodiak sighed, meeting her eyes as he debated telling her. "He wants you to go with him." 

Elara shook her head. "That doesn't make any sense. He wouldn't wait for me to say that. He'd have asked the boys by now." 

Kodiak looked away, not sure about what to say back. He didn't know Kane, so he couldn't argue otherwise, but all the possibilities swarming his mind, this was the only one that seemed to stick. 

Elara noticed that he wasn't focused on her anymore, and that he seemed to disappear back into himself after what he said. She knew she needed to tell him what was on her mind. 

"If that's what's worrying you, then forget it." She smiled, trying to reassure him. "I'm not going anywhere. Basilisk is my home." 

"That's good." Kodiak murmured, seeming to relax a little more. "'Cause I like having you around." 

//

Sol was hesitant to leave Basilisk again, especially with the risk of taking her people into the open, but with Riders on their way, she needed to get rid of the new threat someway or another. 

As Basilisk began to approach in, and the sound of Targo could be heard, Elara began to feel the fear wash through her. She couldn't bring herself to walk, suddenly stopping in her path which caused both Wynn and Ares to do the same. 

"Lara..." Wynn spoke her name softly, moving closer to where she stood, hoping to snap her back into reality. 

"Tell me why this doesn't feel like a good idea." Elara said, her gaze frozen on the ground. "Because I know you guys feel it, too." 

"Hey," Ares took hold of her arm, bringing her to look at him. "You're safe." He reminded her. "We're here. Bas is here. Riverly and Dreea. They've got more shooters covering our area this time." 

"I know." She told him. "But it's not just that..." 

"What is it?" Ares pulled away, slightly confused what she was talking about. 

Elara looked to Wynnlow, wondering if he knew what she was going to say, but he didn't - eyebrows arched in uncertainty. 

"They want me."  

Wynn exhaled, stumbling in his stance, not knowing that she was aware. "How did you-" 

"Kodiak told me." She beat him to it, predicting what he was going to ask. 

"It's probably because you're the youngest, or something like that. Or because we were there with Quill, and you weren't." 

Elara shook her head to Ares' suggestion, afraid to say what they were all thinking. 

"Guys." They were interrupted, looking over to see Bas up ahead, calling for them to join the others. 

Wynn looked back at Elara, searching to see if she was ready. "There's still time to turn back. Sol would understand." He told her. 

"No. I have to." Elara exhaled, initiating the step away to join the rest of the group. 

Wynn looked over at Ares, sharing his doubt about the situation as they caught up with their sister. 

They could see Kane making his way over - one of the people following close behind Rhea as she drifted over. Her's, Kane's, and every other set of eyes were focused on Elara, gaze wide as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing. 

Sol held her arm out stopping Elara from moving any closer towards them, but it didn't even make a difference; Kane, despite the relief on his face, showed no sudden desperation to reach her. 

"Extraordinary." Rhea breathed out, breaking the silence, her focus unable to draw from the young girl as her lips raised up into a faint smile. 

Elara was immediately uncomfortable, unsure who this person was, and why she had said that, presumably to her. She took a step back until she felt herself collide with one of her brother's, stopping once she could remind herself that they were still there. 

"You were right about her." Rhea directed to Kane, not even turning to face him as she spoke. "She is The One." 

"What are you talking about?" Elara had finally found her voice, asking Rhea straightforward what she meant. 

"You should be the one to tell her," Rhea looked over, ignoring Elara's question as she stared at her dad, hope and excitement lighting up her eyes. 

Kane nodded, gulping nervously, as he gathered the courage to face his daughter. She looked fragile in the light, not standing tall, leaning back slightly against Wynn for support as if she felt that she needed to be protected from Kane. 

He looked up, seeing both Ares and Wynn glaring him down - shooting warning looks his way, as if to let him know that he better not be preparing to screw up everything they had built in his absence. 

"Elara..." Kane stepped forward, reaching for her hand. 

Wynnlow instinctively moved in front of her, a fear that she would be ripped away from him. Now Kane couldn't get any closer to her until he explained what they came back for. 

Kane exhaled, challenging Wynn's behaviour, clearly frustrated with him, but Wynn wouldn't back down. 

"Elara," Kane repeated, changing his focus towards her, "Before we went into the Bunker, before you were born, your mother, Ares, Wynn and I lived with the City of Targo." 

Ares shifted, frowning as he tried to remember the few years of his life before the Bunker; a couple visions of him and Wynn playing in a field somewhere, but nothing else that came to mind. Not people or places that stood out particularly. 

"For a short period, Martha was in line to become Commander, but then the Great War came and we were forced into hiding." 

"What about everyone else in the Bunker? Did they come from Targo, too?" Ares interrupted. 

"Junius, Fabian and MaReya." Kane confirmed. "That's how we got our place in the Bunker - because Junius was in relation to Azha. Anyway," he diverted back to the subject focus. 

"Before the Bunker, there was a Prophecy. About 'a girl of fire, and a descendant of the Commander succession.'" He quoted. "You weren't born when we were in Targo, and we didn't think about it in the Bunker, but these people found me and took me to their city. They asked me about my people and I told them about you." 

"I-I.. I don't understand. What are you trying to say?" 

"Your mother was first in line to be Commander. When we left, someone else took her place, until now. You're the heir to the throne, Elara. You're the prophet our people have been waiting for." 

Dreea and Sol traded glances beside each other, the news a complete revelation to them, both Sovereign's wondering if Kane had any idea about what it was like being a Commander, let alone for a 15 year old girl. 

"We're here to take you to the City of Targo." Rhea declared, not expecting any form of hesitation. 

"Just her?" Wynn turned to Kane suddenly, his voice spiteful. 

Sol glanced across at him, swallowing back her fear, for a moment not sure what he was asking. Her knees weakened just thinking about him wanting to leave. 

"If you and Ares wanted to return to City of Targo, we would make a place for you, seeing as you were born there. But your sister is the heir. The dynasty that awaits will not be for you." 

Wynn's fists tensed at his sides, clenching down on his teeth as he waited to see what his father had to say about Rhea's statement. 

"What about Quill? We don't know where he came from. You do remember that he's still your son, though. Right? And what about Bas and MaReya, and everyone else back home?" 

"Yes, I know he's my son!" Kane lashed out at Wynn, stomping closer as his frustration took over. 

Sol moved in front of Kane, staring him right in the eye to let him know that she wasn't going to let him get any closer to them. 

Kane held his hands up, backing away as he breathed out his anger. 

"I know that, alright? But this- This is too important to turn your backs on. Elara..." Kane's voice cracked a little out of desperation, "You were born for this-" 

"No." Elara argued back, insisting that she wasn't. 

"Yes you were." Rhea replied. "And we roamed eleven days out in the desert to get to you. People died so we could get to you. Your city is waiting for your return, Commander." 

"Elara... Wynn, Ares.." Kane murmured, suddenly void of all his rage. "Come back with us. To your people. To your home." 

Sol lost her breath in the silence following his words, anxiously waiting to hear what they would say. She was grateful that Wynn couldn't see her face - biting down on her lip to stop it from quivering, desperately trying to swallow back the lump in her throat. 

It was then that the realization hit her: how she needed Wynnlow around. 

"No. We're not going anywhere." Wynn answered, finally allowing Sol a chance to breathe. 

"If you don't want to join us at Targo, that's your decision." Kane replied, indifferent to his choice. "Elara, let's go." 

Wynn pushed Elara over to Ares as he stepped forward in line with Sol. She drew out her gun, aiming it at Kane and Rhea as Joren guided everyone further back from where they were. 

"She's not leaving, dad." 

"Wynn, don't-" 

"He's right. I don't want to go. This is where I belong now." Elara spoke up from herself, much to Ares' dismay who was trying to keep her quiet. 

"You can't turn away from who you were born to be. You are a prophet. Someone destined for great power." 

"No, I'm not. I'm just a kid, dad. You shouldn't be asking me to do this." Elara pleaded with her father, even hoping that Rhea would see she wasn't fit for Commander, but they didn't stir. Instead, Rhea pulled out a radio bringing it close to her lips before uttering something inaudible down the line.  

Everyone waited to see what Targo's next move would be; whether they would leave without Elara, or try to fight their way to get to her. 

There was a rustling in the bushes behind them, two figures approaching behind Rhea as silhouettes, slowly coming into view until the light no longer obscured their faces. When Sol realized who it was, she felt her heart drop to her stomach and her mind spun around in betrayal and despair. 

One // Part Six

To your people. To your home.