Igniting the Rebellion

"We can't just go back!" Heidi protested. 

"Of course we can," Elaine stated. "What else can we do? Think about it rationally for a moment. There are two of us and a barracks full of celestial soldiers. Not to mention the ordinary citizens who support them. We try to get him out, we die. Even if he is a friend, I'm not going on a suicide mission for him."

"Don't you see? That's why you can't get the rebellion any traction," Heidi said. "People who side with you know that they can't depend on the rebellion for help. We need to show everyone that siding with us offers them protection. That we won't back away and flee the moment things get difficult."

"It's not as simple as that!" Elaine argued. "There are a lot of people who recognize the need to fight against the celestials and their occupation of our homes but we have to be smart, choose our battles carefully. If we try to respond to every move they make, we won't last. You think it's been easy for us? Having to abandon companions because we didn't have the strength to fight back? You think it's ever an easy decision? Don't presume to lecture me on what my rebellion can realistically do. I've been fighting in it for years while you've been living a comfortable life on Earth."

"But we don't need to run away this time," Heidi stated. "We can save him."

The pair heard a loud throat clearing sound. Moricia stepped forward. "Let's at least listen to Heidi's idea, okay?"

"That's what I've been feeling!" Heidi declared. "This whole time I've been sensing your presence! I was starting to think I was just feeling a bit peculiar."

Moricia and Elaine exchanged a look. "Heidi, focus," Moricia said. "You sound like you have a plan."

"Oh, right," Heidi said. "I... I think I can distract the celestials while you two rescue Elaine's friend. I'll attack their barracks and you can slip into the place they're holding him."

"You'll die," Elaine said. 

"And then you two can abort the mission and run away," Heidi argued. "Look, I don't claim to understand what this power within me is or even how to fully control it. But I do know one thing. I'm strong and I just... sense that I can use the power to hold off the celestials."

"It would be extremely risky," Moricia said. "Are you sure you can't figure out an invisibility spell or an illusion spell to get us to cells instead of just taking the direct route and just attacking them head on?"

Elaine scoffed. "That kind of magic requires a delicate touch and practice. I don't think your little friend here has that. Even if she would stand a better chance of pulling that off."

"Just let me try drawing their attention," Heidi said. 'You have nothing to lose, right? If I succeed, you'll show everyone that the rebellion looks after their own. If I fail, you'll just be back to where you were before I was brought here."

Elaine and Moricia glanced at each other. "Just to be completely candid," Elaine said "if you get overwhelmed and end up in serious trouble, we can't come to your rescue."

"That's fine," Heidi said. "It's my risk to take."

*****

Elaine and Moricia took up their positions near the detention facility. 

"Your human friend is mad," Elaine said. 

"She is very unusual," Moricia agreed. "But I kind of like her. She has a sincerity about her and an openness that you don't seem often. I think it's cute." 

"Don't be too enamored with her," Elaine cautioned. "Even assuming she somehow survives this stunt, people who are open and sincere don't tend to live long lives. Besides, a human's natural life span is... what? Ninety years, maybe a hundred. She'll be gone before you reach middle age."

"I never said she was cute like that," Moricia said. 

"Maybe not but you were thinking it," Elaine teased. She sighed, heavily, "and now we're standing here like idiots waiting for a brief distraction so we can take two steps forward before running away."

"You didn't see the power behind her chain lightning spell," Moricia pointed out. "As strange and irrational as it may be, I believe in her."

"I'll show enough decorum not to say 'I told you so'" Elaine promised. 

*****

Heidi steadied herself. Why had she made such a grandiose speech and why was this insane plan the best she could do? Maybe it would be best to go back to Elaine & Moricia, apologize and say she couldn't do it. Sure, she'd look pathetic and they'd think she'd just been talking out her arse, but at least she'd be alive. 

She felt the magic surge within her as if to say "We can do this." She'd never been much of a dreamer and this kind of power fantasy was a little beyond her. But there was no choice. If her new friends were going to get their rebellion reignited and stand a chance of accomplishing their goal, she had to help them. 

She began forming a massive fireball. It was time to get this party started.