Pleasantly surprised, Lokni's brow relaxed, his mouth agape before he found his words, "That's great news! Makes your load a lot lighter too." He wanted to ask if she had found time to do anything that she enjoyed in her free time, but somehow Lokni got the sense that she found comfort in her work and business. Less time to think about all that was happening. "Still, if you're short on supplies I can still make runs into the ship- better to risk losing a looter than a medic if you ask me. Thanks to Lindi, we have a plot of medicinal plants growing as well in the communal garden. Don't be no stranger now. It's practically all yours anyway. There's plenty for me to forage on my own near my campsite."
Akhila informed Lokni that they had removed the remains down to the morgue. Any further questions that Lokni may have had seemed to die in his throat. Of course, the bodies would have been moved- It would be a biohazard to have that uncovered pit exposed to the elements and air; not exactly the healthiest environment for the Medcenter. It was a convenient mercy that Akhila had gone inside- to return with a bag of chips. Guess he better put on a good show, after all, she even brought snacks.
Even for someone as inept as himself, Lokni noted Akhila's skillful misdirection. Maybe a tender spot for her? Most folks had them- Lokni was just surprised that Akhila seemed to have her own. She held herself with confidence and control, it was hard for him to imagine her having any insecurities. Even when the hornets had attacked the Medcenter, she kept her head and was able to give orders.
After the patchy, sunbleached grass gave way to sand, Lokni took a deep breath, preparing for whatever was to come. It had been a while since he had used his abilities- Maybe it was the guilt or fear of what might happen, but for the two weeks he had spent away from the hubbub of the bungalows and the more populated areas, he hadn't attempted to tap into that well of the storm within himself.
Lokni nodded in reply to Akhila's instructions. His bare toes clenched into the sand before releasing- a kind of self-reassuring habit. Lokni always felt more at ease when his soles had contact with the unhindered earth. "I usually just- kind of tap into what I'm feeling," he began before heat crept up into his cheeks as he realized that he sounded like some dumb kid. But you're not. You gotta' get this under control. Now be a man, this is your responsibility, he mentally chided himself. He took a deep breath, meeting Akhila's eyes. "I mean that I have to be feeling something strongly, which doesn't come naturally to me... I spent a lot of my former life on autopilot, I guess."
A watch? Lokni knew he could manage that much at least, but why? "I think I could handle that much," Lokni tipped an illusionary hat.
On command? Lokni pondered her question for a moment. "There's been only two times that I can think of- One of them was because Zaid was being rude to me- but I asked him to do it," Lokni scrambled to explain. "Because I know that my feelings trigger it, so I asked him to have a go at me. If he hadn't done that, the fire probably would have spread even farther throughout the wilderness," he explained, weighing his words.
The memories of Selin getting stung swam past his vision like a film reel, playing out every moment up until the point where his powers hadn't reacted at all, despite his desperation. "There was this one time," he began hesitantly, his voice faltering with shame, "when Selin got stung, I tried to use my powers to kill the hornet but it just- ended in smoke. I couldn't use my powers to destroy it, ended up havin' to beat it in with a rock."
"I can give it a go," Lokni replied, turning to face the outcropping that Akhila had indicated. He focused on it, a stagnant outcropping on the horizon; unable to move or fend for itself. Lokni thought back to his bulldogging days- a target that didn't move wasn't exactly a challenge, so why was he having such a hard time with it now? He focused, trying to picture something that would stir the storm within- but nothing happened, like a dirt devil that had run its race only to disappear, leaving the dust of the earth in its wake. Frustration welled inside Lokni. He was trying to take control, so why was that so hard? He had almost killed Darcy because he got a little too hot under the collar, so why was he struggling with this scenic beachfront practice range?
Lokni ran a stiff hand through his sweaty hair, wishing he could escape his own inadequacies- especially in front of Akhila. He got the bright idea to give her some spotlight and help take a little heat off of himself, "are your abilities fueled by your feelings?"
