Finding Power Cores

“Again.”

Talon and Wren had been sparring for the past hour, and Talon showed no signs of easing up. He had not been rude to her like the day before, but he was still quick to point out her mistakes and make her correct them over and over again.

Wren was tiring fast, even though she had changed her schedule around. Training in the evening sucked.

In the middle of the next series of attacks, Talon threw her off by suddenly asking her the question that everyone wanted to know.

“Where is your power core?”

***

“Why did he ask her that?” Emerald and the others had once again gathered to watch the two practice. It was fascinating to see how quickly Wren picked everything up.

She was like a sponge, and of course, Talon was always a pleasure to watch.

“Because she knows where it is and she’s not sharing,” Carrie informed her.

“Are you sure?” Michael asked.

Carrie nodded. “I am sure.”

Shorty smiled when Carrie turned to him. “Her power today?”

“Quite strong, but not nearly as controlled,” came the answer.

Carrie nodded. “She knows.”

***

“Where is yours?” Wren retaliated.

“You have not figured it out yet?”

Wren looked him straight in the eyes. “Your eyes.”

“Very good,” Talon said.

He attacked again, his dagger slicing dangerously close to her inner thigh. She blocked his dagger with one side of her weapon and spun around, hoping to catch him with the back side as she pivoted.

Talon was ready for her and easily blocked her attack, grabbing her wrist and spinning her away from him.

“Dead.”

Wren popped her neck and attacked. This time it was her turn to almost slice his inner thigh.

“Where are the others located?”

He was pushing hard now, and she needed to conserve her energy, but at the same time, she wanted to speak with him while he was willing to converse.

Decisions, decisions.

Talon shrugged and pulled back for an instant before coming at her again.

“Mine is obvious to others if they know what to look for, but as for the rest, ask them yourself. Or just watch them.”

“Why?”

“Because they tend to touch their power cores together when they meet.”

***

The group in the booth looked at each other. “That is not true.” Emerald was the one to speak the thoughts out loud. “Tell me it is not true.”

Shorty let out a laugh. “You guys should see your faces. Talon is right. It is easy to know where your cores are if you just watch your interactions.”

“Well, damn.” That was the only response he got.

***

Wren jumped back and looked at him. “How can we do that, if yours are your eyes?”

“Tell me where your power core is and I will tell you how we do it,” he retaliated.

“Put away your weapons.”

“Huh?” Wren just looked at him.

After pressing her for so long, he was suddenly stopping? The man had ADHD.

“It is time we figure out your abilities. It will be harder without the knowledge of where your power core lies, but since you already know where it is, I can only assume that you are ready for this.”

“Huh?” For some reason, Wren’s mind did not want to compute what he was saying to her.

Talon rolled his eyes. She could be so dense.

“Your power core activates an ability that only you can produce. You have discovered several of your abilities that we all share. Your barrier, speed, reflex, and healing. However, you have an ability that is all your own, and we should find it.”

Talon rolled his eyes at her blank look. It was obvious she was still not getting it.

“It is easier to show you than explain to you. Watch.”

Wren watched as a bolt of fire came out of Talon’s hand and destroyed the boulder across the room.

“Hey! Stop destroying my work,” Shorty called over the system. “I do not have the right system up for you to destroy things like that.”

“Then get it up. She needs to learn,” Talon said.

“Are you sure she is ready for this?” Shorty replied.

“Yeah, I am sure,” Talon hollered back. “Now get the damn program up!”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. It is going to take a few. Take a break and come back in five.”

“Fine. Whatever.” Talon headed for the door with Wren following.

“You can shoot fire,” Wren commented.

“Fire is my specialty. I can control any fire, and I can create it from my body.”

“Go figure. It suits you.” Wren walked into the other room to find everyone there. Great, they had an audience today, too.

“So,” she commented dryly to the audience before her, “what are your specialties?”

“Water,” Lily spoke first.

“Air,” Eric chimed in.

“You would think it would be water and fire,” Wren replied.

“We do not want to cancel each other, we want to help each other,” Lily replied.

“I control energy, and Michael controls ice,” Carrie went next.

“Emerald controls sound, and Evan has earth,” Eric told her.

“I can see it,” Wren commented as each was pointed out. Each ability seemed to fit the personality of each person.

It would be interesting to see what hers would say about her.

“I do not suppose you would tell me where your power cores are?” she asked nonchalantly.

Michael let out a laugh. “All you had to do was ask. Usually, the power cores are located in roughly the same place as your partner. For example, mine and Carrie’s are located in our fingers. Though which ones, we shall not tell.”

Wren could respect that.

“Eric’s and mine are located in our shoulders,” Lily explained.

~Which is why they are always hugging each other from behind,~ Wren thought.

“Evan and I have ours located in our legs,” Emerald finished the show-and-tell session.

“Now that you know where ours are, how about telling us your secret? It is obviously not your eyes like mine,” Talon commented before continuing.

“It seems that you have been experimenting with the level of power. We have never seen anyone have that kind of control over their power core. It is highly unusual,” Talon said, looking at Wren pointedly.

“Shouldn’t the eyes be a bit unusual as well?” Wren countered, still avoiding the question.

“Which is why we would expect nothing less from you,” Michael said, giving Wren a pointed look as well. “Now. Spill.”

“Well… I am not for sure, but I am pretty certain it is my hair.”

Everyone stared at the hair she had left down in a loose ponytail. The hair was long, past her waist, and straight, and although she had left it loose, she never left it down completely.

“Makes sense,” Carrie commented finally.

“Your hair was in a tight braid yesterday, and your power was less. Today, you have it in a loose braid, and although there is more power, you struggle to control it. Have you tried it with your hair completely down?”

“No. I am afraid that I will have no control and destroy something.”

“That is a very unusual place for your power core. Your hair continually grows, so it would seem there is no limit to your abilities. However, just like Talon’s power core, easily destroyed once it is discovered,” Lily commented.

“Are you sure that it is there?”

Wren nodded. “I am pretty sure. I am just unsure how I am going to control it if my hair is not tightly bound.”

Emerald looked thoughtful. “I wonder. Is it all the hair on your body or just your head?”

“Why would you want to know that?”

“Well, if it is over her body, if she shaves her legs, she will lose power.” Only Emerald would think like that.

Everyone looked toward Wren. “I do not care if it is all over my body. I will not go without shaving my legs. No way, no how.”

Everyone burst out laughing at the thought of Wren, hair coming out of her skirts and pants. It was some time before they could get back to the conversation at hand with any seriousness.

***

“Shall we confirm it?” Talon asked quietly when all had calmed down.

He had remained quiet during their conversation, thinking about what Wren had said. Whether or not he was willing to admit it, he wanted to see if she was right.

“How do we do that?” Wren asked.

“I told you. When you touch the power cores together, they react to each other.”

Talon reached out, giving Wren plenty of time to prepare for his touch.

Wren knew he was giving her time, and she watched as he slid his arm around her waist and drew her toward him, pulling her up against his body.

The rest watched the scene in fascination, feeling the tension in the air between Talon and Wren go up several notches. They continued to watch as Talon placed his closed eyes against the crown of her hair, and they all held their breath in anticipation.

Talon and Wren immediately felt a small jolt of electricity shoot through their bodies while everyone else watched Talon’s eyes open and start to glow.

Wren’s hair rose, wrapping around the pair for a second before Talon stepped back and the connection was severed.

Talon and Wren stared at each other, unaware of their audience as they felt their connection strengthen and change.

“It seems you were right,” Talon commented, finally breaking the silence.

“Is the program ready?” he asked Shorty.

He was too aware of her. He needed to focus on something else. It would not be long before the emotional bond happened.