Clone Earth : MELVIN

Russ kicked off his shoes and carefully set them by the door, an interesting action based on the state of his side of the room. “Still having a hard time getting comfortable?” He motioned to Trevon’s current sitting position. Everything he had, had been carefully placed in the top shelf of the dresser his new course books were carefully stalked on the foot of his bed. Trevon himself sat crosslegged in the center of his bed with an e-book in his lap. Nothing out of the ordinary to Trevon. “Remember I told you to make yourself at home.”

Trevon started at the word. Home. “You know, you keep using that word.”

“What word?”

“Home.”

“What of it?”

Trevon pointed to himself, “Orphanage Space station.”

Russ let the words roll around in his head for a moment, “You look comfortable. Nice shirt.” Trevon pulled at the soft planet fabric that Russ had referred to. He loved the airy feel but he was still getting used to it.

“I braved the closet.” Trevon said.

“You and Robie match sizes though he’s a bit taller.”

Trevon put his e-book down and leaned forward on his knees. “Who is Robie?”

Russ looked up from his whiteboard. “Huh?”

“Nicki said something about you waiting for Robie to get here,” Trevon explained. “And you said as long as he doesn’t chicken out and come back, the space is mine.”

Russ laughed. “I didn’t mean that. Even if Robie comes back, the space is still yours. Robie is one of the most laid-back people on the planet.”

“So he’s still on the planet?” Trevon noted. Russ chuckled but offered no additional information. “Seriously, who is this guy? And where is he since he’s not here?”

Russ went back to running diagrams on the whiteboard, directing their paths with his fingers. “He’s a friend and my cousin. Right now he’s at a special training program,” he said vaguely. “If he does well, you may not meet him at all.”

Something about his roommate’s tone suggested this was a sensitive topic. If he were Ari, she’d keep pushing until she got a straight answer but Trevon was more patient.

He sighed glancing over at the computer set-up in the corner. Trevon wondered what kind of lecture Ari had gotten when they dropped her off at Meckem. He imagined her with extra labor time in the mess. Or even janitorial in the girls bunks and washrooms. She would be so mad at him if he disclosed what had actually happened on Midway, or where he was at now.

How angry will she be when he tells her that he’d passed on the Academy to come to a planet and work at the stables.

He looked away from the computer. No, not yet. He couldn’t face her yet. Whatever messages she had sent to him, whatever response he was supposed to give, he couldn’t do it. Not yet.

“I have to go to library later, do you want to come with me?” Trevon offered. A sharp, gagging noise from Russ completed his side of the conversation. Trevon smirked, “I get it you loath the library,” Ari would too. But the physical books with paper pages and leather covers still sent a thrill down Trevon’s arms.

“What are you reading today?”

Trevon’s hands returned to the book in his lap, “Medical school journals. The university recommend’s Healers attend Medical School. I would need money, clan connections, get admitted to and graduate from this school first, but to go to Medical School - How amazing is that.” He was filled with awe at the possibility, not matter how distant.

“Nicki’s grandma is picking medical schools for her. I always thought that was stupid. Go through all the pain to become a doctor but not being allowed to become one.”

“You’d be allowed but you just won’t be able to use magic.”

“Ever.” Russ emphasized the word. “You couldn’t use magic in any capacity. You’d basically have to let it fade from your life. Which I was taught wasn’t easy.”

“Whats exciting is getting to learn all of it. The in depth workings on medical practices can really make using magic more efficient. Even without becoming a certified doctor.”

Russ shrugged. “Science and magic, it’s all intertwined.”

“The problem is I haven’t done much.” Trevon sighed. “Healing is my ability and it’s not like I can practice on someone.”

“I am not volunteering.”

CRASH

“No. No. No. No.” Startled by the noise, Trevon scrambled to keep his study materials from jumping out of his hands. Sound didn’t usually carry between floors but it was obvious, by the desperate echo, that this was from the floor below. However the scrambling and voices were getting closer.

“Someone stop him!”

In one smooth motion Russ jumped from his bed, dodged each pile, and disappeared out into the hall. Without thinking Trevon followed, stumbling through a pile of clothes. Running to the stairs he caught a glimpse of Russ hustling up the next level, three other boys following after him.

Skipping stairs Trevon caught up two floors later. The boys huddled close to the hall entrance, Russ knelt beside a natural auburn haired boy who was wheezing as if his lungs were somehow handicapped.

“Why’d he run up floors?” One of the boys in the huddle asked. The rest shrugged.

“Get off my floor.” Doug shouted from down the hall. It was a surprise he had been the only one to emerge to see the commotion.

“We’ll leave when we can, Doug.” Russ snapped back without taking his eyes away from the first year boy in front of him.

“No. Now.” Doug approached his hand flexed.

Trevon saw Russ tensing and he knew if Doug attacked, nothing could keep Russ from retaliating. Rushing between Doug and Russ, Trevon opened his hands in the most submissive stance he knew. Doug hesitated. Clearly no one had dared step between the two so quickly before.

“Hello, Doug. I’m Trevon, we’ve met before.”

“You’re standing in my way.”

“Yes. I am. I’m sorry about that. The last thing I want to do is be an inconvenience to you.” Trevon used his most sincere tone. He knew from his first meeting with Doug, this boy was extremely proud, so he had to make Doug feel like he had the power in the decision to leave. “That’s also why I followed. I’m a healer, and I know I can help this boy and get him off your floor as quickly as possible. Do I have your permission to do that?”

Doug’s hand relaxed as he blinked at Trevon. At this point Ari would usually fan the flames and still end up getting hit. So far, Russ’s focus was elsewhere.

“Just do it fast.” Doug rolled his eyes. “None of you are welcome in the McAllister Wing.” Doug turned and walked back to his room. Appropriately slamming the door behind him.

“McAllister Wing?” Trevon questioned turning back to Russ. Crouching down beside the boy, Trevon realized he was muttering. It was too fast and too soft for Trevon to understand.

“It’s a panic attack.” Russ explained. “I’ve already hit him in the face. Do you want to try.”

“He’s hyperventilating,” Trevon guessed, and it was a complete guess at this point. Hopefully he didn’t have any chronic lung illness. “If we can’t get him to calm down, then we somehow have to slow his breathing for him.”

“Slow his breathing? I can get him to hold his breath.”

“That might make him panic more,” Trevon’s head tilted “He just needs to know there is plenty of oxygen around him.”

“I can prove that.” Russ shifted himself back until he was sitting on his heels. “Sorry about this kid, I haven’t brushed my teeth yet today.” Using his arms Russ made two large sweeping movements pulling all the air around them into his lungs. Cupping his hands over his lips he leaned forward while pushing the wind out.

Trevon’s jaw almost dropped. He could see the wind rush out of Russ’ hands at a force not humanly possible. It hit the boy square in the face. Pushing him back against the wall. Eyes wide open. Mouth wide open. Cheeks pale. Jaw trembling from the chilly burst.

After Russ stopped, it was obvious the boy’s panicked breathing had stopped as well. He managed to cough and sputtered for a moment. The cold chill had caused enough of a shock to his system that the boy’s senses returned. The rush of the wind had been enough to pump a stabilizing amount of oxygen back into his blood. Now, he could control his breathing on his own.

“There. You’re going to be fine,” Russ reassured the boy.

The boy shook his auburn hair before finally glancing around. “Where am I?”

“On the wrong floor,” said Russ honestly. “In fact I might be getting hives from being on this floor, so can you boys come help your roommate?” Russ finally turned to the three boys that had been watching. They quickly jumped at his request. Gathering up the very disoriented boy before they hauled him back down the stairs.

“That was interesting.” Said Trevon watching the scene and following Russ back down the stairs.

“Yeah. Panic attacks don’t usually happen until midterms, but you’ll see more of them. Especially when kids start to discover their strengths aren’t targeted to what their family wants it to be.”

“I meant how gathered pure oxygen and forced it right into his lungs.” Trevon clarified.

Russ shrugged. “Well it was either that or have you do mouth to mouth.” Holding a gag from escaping his throat, Trevon stared dumbfounded, at his roommate. Russ awkwardly laughed, “I’m just kidding - sort of.”

Trevon stopped in the middle of the stairs as an epiphany came to him. “I want to do that.”

“What? Trev, I really was kidding.”

“You just used Elemental Magic as medical treatment.” Trevon went on, while Russ returned a very confused look. “That’s what I should try. Elemental Magic!”

CHAPTER END