CRACK! The makeshift automaton received a large dent to one of its cardboard arm.

"Good job! Remember to flex your wrist to give your swing maximum impact." Tobias said gently, demonstrating the swing for his younger sister. He brought his hammer across the dummy with a mighty swing, causing the head - which consisted of a tin can and an apple core - to topple off its, place on the scrap metal body.

Emersyn frowned, her face in a pout. "I'll never be as good as you Toby... I'm pretty much useless." She tossed her hammer down the alley, promptly turning on her heels to leave. Tobias grinned.

"Em, come on. You'll get it eventually! You're doing great, all it takes is time." Tobias' bright blue eyes held a loving look.

No longer able to upset, Emersyn smiled slightly. "Fine. But you'll still always be better than me at it."

Tobias grinned and picked up his sister's hammer, delivering it back into her hands. He ran a hand through his dark hair as a smirk caressed his lips. "I wouldn't be so sure... I know a gal that's got some great potential..."

"Oh yeah? And who might that be?" Emersyn matched her brother's smirk.

"Well, let's see... she's got long brown hair, pretty blue eyes, and a little splash of freckles right across her nose." Tobias said, tapping the end of Emersyn's nose. She shooed him away, grinning.

Tobias' eyes suddenly became shadowed, as though haunted by some painful memory. "Just remember, Em," he said softly, "the Scarlet Man can use anyone in the Resistance's work. Including you."

The first thing Emersyn saw when her vision swam into view was stone. Cold, gray stone. She heard the familiar crackle of a fire nearby. A delicious scent found her nose. She blinked. Where was Tobias?

Reality hit her and a dull ache pounded her chest. Tobias was gone. Had been for four years. 'It was only just a memory...'

Emersyn attempted to sit up, but ground her teeth and quickly gave up on the effort as searing pain sliced through her side.

"Ah, you're awake!" A familiar gentle voice said from somewhere behind her. Emersyn turned her head to see a tall man draped in a scarlet cloak. He had kind, brown eyes, and a short, scruffy beard. Her heart skipped a beat. 'The Scarlet Man?'

"How are you feeling?" The man asked, kneeling beside her. Emersyn gaped at him for a moment. 'I'm actually looking at the Scarlet Man!'

"I... I'm okay..." she stammered, trying to find words to say. The Scarlet Man smiled.

"You took quite the hit back there... you must be hungry."

Emersyn nodded, smiling slightly.

****

"How come you don't show yourself more often?" Emersyn asked, taking another gulp of the warm soup.

The Scarlet Man was silent for a moment. When He replied, His words were thoughtful.

"The Great Engineer's ways are not always easily understandable..." He said slowly, "I find that oftentimes people learn to trust me the most when they cannot see me."

Emersyn stared at the ground for a moment, contemplating this. "What does that mean?" She asked softly.

The Scarlet Man smiled. "Say for example that someone made a promise to always come back to you if they left. If they only left for a day or two at a time, you'd find pretty easy to trust them, right?"

Emersyn nodded.

"But say this person leaves for months, even years at a time. Maybe you start to doubt that this person will ever return... but when they do, your trust in their faithfulness increases far more than it was before."

Emersyn gazed into the warm, crackling flames of the fire. She'd never thought of that before. "That... makes sense, I suppose..."

The Scarlet Man smiled. "What's on your mind, dear one?"

"I suppose I just wonder... well... how someone can have such strong faith in something they cannot see..."

"Seeing isn't everything, dear one. You must have faith to be able to make it through life's toughest times. One will crumble without it."

Something inside of Emersyn stirred and a new string of memories flashed before her eyes.

"Welcome to the Resistance, Em." Tobias grinned wide, standing beside his sister as they entered the Resistance's Headquarters: the basement of the Landing Gazette.

Emersyn marveled at the sights around her. Boards strewn with photos, scribbled notes, string, pins, maps, and sketches hung on the walls. Several warriors that had to range from ten to forty dotted the room. Some pored over books and maps while others talked among themselves. Some crafted or welded new and old weapons, while others tested them.

"This place is amazing!" Emersyn said, awed by this secret community of people who sought to defeat the emperor.

"I knew you'd like it." Tobias grinned. "This is Joshua, our commander." He said, leading Emersyn up to a tall young man with black hair and gray eyes. He looked to be about twenty, and had several weapons attatched to a belt. He cocked an eyebrow when he saw Emersyn.

"So you're the newcomer, huh?"

She nodded.

A smirk found Joshua's lips as he fingered with a blaster. "Let's see what you're made of."



Emersyn fingered the pistol, remembering fondly the day that now seemed so long ago. She had surprised Joshua with her skill, and Tobias had beamed with pride. How she longed for the comfort of her brother.

His words of wisdom, his gentle hugs, his constant encouragement. She drew in a sharp breath as she and the Scarlet Man stopped in front of The Landing Gazette.

"Remember, dear one. I'm always near, even when you cannot see it." His kind eyes sparkled with a knowing look. Emersyn nodded. She took a deep breath, and opened the door. When she looked back, the Scarlet Man was gone.

*****

(DISCLAIMER: This is based off the game, "The Aetherlight" All names of places and characters belong to them except for: Emersyn, Caleb, and Joshua.(My Characters))