There is more to being a Child of Izumrud than a green-tinted element and an insect summon. There is a lesser-known passive ability in the C.O.I. package. A psychic link among the genetic family of C.O.I.s that grows with familiarity and focuses with age. Boris and Ludmilla can’t use this link to find their parents, as they weren’t together for that long. All they know from the psychic link is that they are alive. Boris and Ludmilla have a much stronger link with each other. They know the location of the other if they’re within a 30 mile radius, and if they’re within a 150 mile radius, they know the emotions of the other. While Ludmilla still has to concentrate a small bit to tap into this power, Boris doesn’t need to focus to know how Ludmilla is feeling and where she is.
The Year is 2020. The Day is April 11. The Mood is Joy.
Ludmilla was at the 11th street arcade, dancing up a storm at Dance Dance Revolution, as she usually does every Saturday. The crowd was loving it, she rarely had to pay for her own dances as others were willing to pay for her just to see her set another high score. Ludmilla was happy, too caught up in the song to pay attention to anything but the game and the crowd. Boris knew she was happy while he was at home, playing Final Fantasy XVI. However midway through a boss battle, suddenly Boris detected an alarming string of emotions.
Joy.
Disappointment.
Pain.
And then nothing.
Ludmilla was in trouble, so Boris abandons the game and starts running to the arcade. He let nothing stop him as he ran, dodging traffic, taking shortcuts, even riding on top of several cars. He carefully made sure he wasn’t using his powers of fire, as he didn’t want to risk detection for the sake of a small rocket boost. As he ran, he detected another string of emotions.
Relief.
Confusion.
Morbid fear.
Pain.
Betrayal.
Helplessness.
When Boris got to the arcade, Ludmilla was on the floor, doubled over in pain, crying. Furiously, Boris demanded “What did you do to her?” his eyes glowing and green embers flying from his mouth as he shouted. Boris detected a twinge of relief, Ludmilla felt a tiny bit safer with Boris nearby.
One of the arcade patrons sheepishly answered “She was possessed, and we assumed it was a Puppetmaster’s doing.”
“Possessed?” Boris was afraid. “What happened?”
One of the arcade employees scratched the back of her head before answering “We don’t know. One minute everyone was having a good time, the next the power went out and some sort of pulse came from the DDR machine.”
Boris kneeled laid his hand on Ludmilla’s shoulder, consoling her. “I’m sorry this had to happen, but don’t worry Ludmilla. I’m going to make this all better.” Boris put a hand to his chest and grabbed something. He pulled out a Silver Clocklike item, an extra life. He sparked a green fire within it, making the clock explode in a small green fireball.
Time ticked backwards. Boris felt Ludmilla’s emotions rolling back with time.
Despair.
Helplessness.
Betrayal.
Pain.
Morbid fear.
Confusion.
Relief.
Nothing.
Pain.
Disappointment.
Joy.
The boss fight in Final Fantasy XVI was starting, the extra life granting Boris a few more minutes to save Ludmilla. Boris wasted no time, and started running immediately. Ludmilla was too enveloped by the song to detect Boris’ distress and urgency. Through traffic, through shortcuts, on rooftops, on car tops, the arcade was in sight. But despite Boris’ determination…
Disappointment.
Pain.
Nothing.
He wasn’t fast enough to prevent the disaster. He reached within, grabbed a clock, and tried again. This time he was using his powers of fire to give himself a rocket boost, making him slightly faster. Some took notice of the green flames, but Boris valued Ludmilla above the secrecy of his powers. He was one crosswalk away from the arcade when…
Disappointment.
CRASH!
Boris was hit with a car at the same time Ludmilla got hit with the strange pulse. The extra life activated immediately.
Pain.
Disappointment.
Joy.
Boris tried time and time again to get to the arcade before Ludmilla was hurt, but to no avail every time. He either wasn’t fast enough, or got hurt badly before he got there. His secret was compromised multiple times, but no green fireball could rocket him fast enough. One attempt, Boris tried a different route to see if that and conserving his powers of fire would do the trick, but on the way he stepped on a pillow with an icon of the extra life clock on it. Cushion time. The midway points. Shortly after, Boris let loose three streams of fire, one for each of his hands, one for his feet. Boris was flying through the air as fast as he can, but alas…
Disappointment.
Pain.
Disappointment.
Joy.
But Boris was in shock because the extra life did not bring him home. It brought him to the alley he just went through. The traffic was the same as the second he stepped on the cushion time. He had no time to prevent the disaster. He has failed Ludmilla. Boris fell to his knees and let Ludmilla’s emotions hit him again.
Joy of the song.
Disappointment of the shutdown.
Pain of the pulse.
Nothing of the knockout.
Relief of the wakeup.
Confusion of the inability to move.
Morbid fear of the lack of control.
Pain of the well-intentioned mob.
Betrayal of the fans.
Helplessness of the situation.
Despair of what will happen to her.
It has been hours of failed attempts since he last felt the full range of Ludmilla’s emotions as she suffered. He couldn’t let her go through all of that. Boris might not be able to stop the disaster, but that doesn’t mean he can’t stop the suffering. Boris had one extra life remaining. He made it burst in a green fireball.
Time rolled backwards as Boris’ location remained the same.
Despair.
Helplessness.
Betrayal.
Pain.
Morbid fear.
Confusion.
Relief.
Nothing.
Pain.
Disappointment.
Joy.
Boris was on the move, not using the powers of fire because there was no way they’d help him enough. He ran as fast as he possibly can without the aid of Izumrud’s ancient arts.
Disappointment.
Pain.
Nothing.
Boris was within range of the 11th street Arcade where Ludmilla was currently unconscious as some otherworldly force begins to take control of her body.
Relief.
Confusion.
Morbid fear.
Relief.
Thankfulness.
“Ludmilla, I’m so sorry this had to happen. I wish there was something I could have done.”
