ASBO-Boy - The Elementals: Part 3

November 5th 2016

The late autumn weather continued into early November with many trees expected to keep their greener leaves right up until the early January frosts. Night was descending fast and the wind was beginning to gather a chill. Nia was just glad to be out of the purple cloak and back in her own clothes.

At the Sketty/Uplands Gate she flashed her card to the guards but they waved her on without a comment. They were more interested in the group of townies who were trying to barge their way through. She had walked all the way from SA1, through the Marina and across the bay as far as Mumbles before turning back. The fresh air and real exercise was enough but the chance to gather her thoughts was enough to relive the battle with the Secretary to leave the building every week from now on.

She’d never walked through the Wards before – her basic civilian pass had never allowed her to. The Elemental right of way was a strange novelty. The Secretary had tried to warn her that awful things would happen. She’d get mugged, attacked or worse. But it wasn’t like that, and in a way she found that more unnerving.

The walk was a stark and bitter reminder of the sheer number of different people she’d signed up to protect and they seemed to recognise her. Her name was all over the papers, there weren’t any secret identities like there were in the old comics. She pulled a bag of sweets out of her pocket that a small girl had given her. The wraith-like child whisked up to her from the shadows without a word and disappeared just as quick -

“Penny for your thoughts.”

Nia looked up sharply and saw Elixir standing in front of her. She was wearing her skin-suit and looked lithe and beautiful. “I’m sorry – I was hoping to meet up with you. I didn’t meant to scare you.”

Nia nodded. Elixir was strange, guarded and very polite. She never seemed to betray her feelings like the other two. She had to laugh at poor Swelter and Beacon – they reminded her of Mike, so eager and genuine. Elixir in contrast, was unreadable.

“I was just thinking about people.” Nia replied, “A small girl ran up to me and gave me these sweets. It’s just the feeling of being recognised – it’s unnerving. I’ve never felt it before.”

“It’s nice. Isn’t it?” Elixir replied, stepping into rhythm with Nia. “You wait until they start wolf-whistling.”

Nia blushed. “What brings you outside then?”

“The fresh air – the heady stench of testosterone was beginning to give me a headache.” Elixir quipped, Nia laughed and for the first time in weeks it felt genuine, “Bless them. The darlings, they are sweet.”

“They mean well.” Nia nodded. A thought occurred to her. “Do ever feel as though the suit and the name take over?”

“No. I’ve always been Elixir. Our Otherness developed very early, so my brother and I were almost baptised with these names. Only we use our birth names.” Elixir nodded, attracting the attention of passers-by, “The suit is a handy wall. It keeps the private stuff private.”

Nia nodded. “I’m not sure I can live like that.”

“Part and parcel of living in the public eye. The good thing is you don’t get treated like celebrities. The tabloids aren’t allowed to touch us.” Elixir said. “I’ve wondered – did you choose Siren?”

“Yeah. It’s a name I’ve always quite liked. I’d rather you called me Nia though, to be honest.”

“Nia? That’s pretty. I was just wondering whether it had anything to do with your ability to ensnare boys.”

Nia blushed again, beginning to feel uncomfortable. They’d reached a crossroad. In front of them the road carried on into the Uplands but to their left and right an avenue lined with tall, lumpy trees cut across them. On the corner of the street was a TARDIS. Big, blue and hideous, the Police Boxes were street-corner prisons. This one looked under-used.

“How barbaric.” Elixir sneered, running a gloved hand against the reinforced steel surface. Nia looked down at her feet, the street light was casting an eery orange glow over them. It was cold now and above, the police helicopters were warming up for the night as their search-lights swept the city. The Uplands was so quiet – hardly anyone ever got arrested around here. But over there… In the distance the walls loomed over the tops of the houses. Keeping them out and us in. Us and them – on every poster, on every corner. Dimly she wondered what had happened to Mike, whether he was really as bad as everyone had said. She wrapped her arms around her in an attempt to warm up.

“Do you want to meet my parents?” Nia needed to see friendly, familiar faces and had an urge to get to know Elixir better. After all, they were teammates, why couldn’t they be friends?

“Yes. That would be nice.” Elixir replied, smiling. Nia felt glad, it looked different, less fixed.

They walked on in silence, turning to walk down the avenue of trees, down the hill and towards her house away from the garish blue box.

Then came the explosion and the sky lit up with great arcs of white lightning. Nia turned to see that Elixir had gone, darting off down the street towards the noise and light.