Stardust 2: The Nexus Project

**Started April 29th**

**Finished May 19th**

**Line Count:**

**Sky - 416**

**Geno - 167**

**Rosa - 156**

**Mateo - 237**

**Takes place in 2045, June 1st**

## 23 Days - 24 Days To Die

Violet was in some sort of chamber. She still had a bullethole through her head. Someone was standing in front of the chamber. He had long straight brown hair. Going a little past his shoulders. He had a blue collared shirt and a tie. Over this he had a long blue cloak. He had long black leather pants. There was a necklace around his neck with a clock on it. It was lightning up. He made a blue magic circle. He was spinning it around, and Violet’s wound was being healed. He finished up, and Violet awoke with a deep breath. She opened her eyes and fell down and held her heart. The chamber opened. She felt her head. The wound was gone.

Violet: Ugh...Jeezus. I fucking hate that. What’s up Charlie?

Charles: Jackie’s got another job for you.

Violet: She said that job was the last one. I’m paid, I’m done.

Violet walked past Charles. Jackie was standing in the side of the room.

Jackie: You know that’s not how this works.

Violet: Oh is it?

Charles: I mean, you seemed like you were having a good time fighting Kara.

Violet: Does that mean I want to keep this painstaking fucking job? We had a deal. I paid off my debt. I’m going.

Jackie: You do good work for me Violet. The thing is, when you get into a field like this, there’s no quitting. Your debt is paid off. But you still owe us.

Violet put her hand on her face.

Violet: Owe you? Owe you what?!

Jackie: Did you manage to forget?

Violet: A bullet through the head might cause me to feel a little forgetful.

Jackie: Pandora’s box is a valuable piece of tech. You have to get it. Maybe I’ll pay extra if you aren’t such a bitch about it. Plus, you get shit done. You take care of most of your jobs. Kara is a strong opponent. Even our Riley couldn’t put her down for good.

Violet: Yeah, I’m good at what I do. So what?

Jackie: We’re sending you and Charles on a mission. It’s important. We need you to contain the Nexus. It seems we couldn’t trust B.L.A.D.E to contain it.

Violet: Oh fuck off.

Jackie put her hand on Charles’ shoulder and whispered in his ear.

Jackie: Keep an eye on her.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Geno: Are you really that much of a kid?

Sky was sitting on a bed watching a superhero show.

Sky: Are superheroes seriously still a kid thing? There’s complex plots here that go right over people’s heads.

Rosa: Including yours, dumbass.

Sky: Screw off.

Geno: C’mon, change the channel.

Sky: Hey, it’s my TV time.

Rosa: You know, we can’t buy hotel rooms for this long. My parents might notice that it’s actually making a dent in their wallet.

Geno: Anyone have parents they can go back to?

Everyone was silent.

Rosa: Hey, where’s the spic?

Geno: He’s probably out stopping a bank robbery or something. He’ll be back.

Sky: Yeah.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mateo brightened himself in front of a bunch of robbers. He took a gun from one of them and crushed it on the ground. He backhanded the robber and held him against the wall.

Mateo: Have you learned your lessons? Or do I have to deal out just one more?

Robber: No! No! Stop it!

Mateo stopped and dropped the robber. His head was splitting.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Geno: Alright, I think It’s my turn for TV-

Geno reached for the remote. He jumped away when Sky’s head suddenly started splitting.

-̸ ̵-̷ ̷-̵ ̵-̵ ̴-̷ ̸-̷ ̴-̷ ̷-̷ ̷-̷ ̷-̷ ̷-̶ ̶-̸ ̵-̶ ̵

Someone grabbed Sky by the neck. She was towering over Sky. They were floating in space next to a huge destroyed spaceship. One of her eyes was covered, her other was bright blue.

Sky: Yuri...

Yuri: Yeah, say my name. Look into my eyes.

Yuri slowly squeezed Sky. Bringing her closer and closer to the edge of death. Sky actually started to become scared. She tried kicking away at Yuri. Firing blasts and then trying to pull her hands off for a little bit of air.

-̸ ̵-̷ ̷-̵ ̵-̵ ̴-̷ ̸-̷ ̴-̷ ̷-̷ ̷-̷ ̷-̷ ̷-̶ ̶-̸ ̵-̶ ̵

Sky was broken out of the vision. Violet was next to her. She had stabbed Sky with a syringe.

Geno: Who the fuck are you?!

Sky pushed Violet off of her.

Sky: Violet?! How are you…?

Violet: Time reversal, not a big deal. Look, we need to talk.

Sky: Why would I talk with you? You tried to kill me!

Violet sat down on the other bed across from Sky. She took a towel and put pressure on a wound on her side.

Violet: It was just a job, and I was supposed to kill Kara, not you.

Sky: What do you want?

Violet: Things went wrong. You’re going to die, kid.

Sky: What?! I don’t believe you!

Violet: What happened in that flashback?

Sky: I...I was being choked out by someone. Her name was...Yuri? She nearly killed me, it felt so real…

Violet: Things went wrong. The Nexus is out of its cage. You're going to die in 24 days. 23 days as of now.

Sky: How can I trust you? Why would you even tell me this?!

Violet: Because fuck DRU. I hate them. I don’t have all the answers though. If you want to live, you have to cut yourself off from the Nexus. Look, if I do anything huge, DRU will kill me before I can do it. It’s a lose-lose anyway. Take this.

Violet gave Sky a USB drive.

Violet: Pandora’s box should be able to find The Nexus. Then you can save yourself.

Sky: Why are you doing this?

Violet: I want to do something right for once in my life. Here, these will snap you out of those flashbacks. They probably won’t help as much anymore. Someone stab her with one of these when it happens.

Violet gave them to Geno.

Geno: Why is this happening to Sky of all people?

Violet: Guess she was born unlucky. But I’m not letting them kill me. You know what to do. Find pandora’s box.

Violet took one of the syringes and stabbed it into her neck. She dragged herself out of the room as the life escaped her body.

Sky: What the fuck…

Mateo walked in from the balcony.

Mateo: That was intense.

Sky: You heard it all?

Mateo: I didn’t know whether or not to intervene.

Sky: I’m going to die in 24 days…Well I guess it’d be 23.

Geno: Unless you cut yourself off from The Nexus. Whatever that is.

Sky: It was a project, Toast was part of it. Violet talked about it like a person. Kara had that thing...pandora’s box.

Mateo: So what’s that mean?

Sky: We go to Kara’s house.

## 22 Days - Becoming Nomads

Kara stumbled into her house. She looked over at Pandora’s box. She looked down. It had formed into a cage. Which Riley was trapped in. She was laying down, looking up at Kara.

Riley: What’s up? Long time no see. I’ve been pretty bored in here. See? Can’t even phase out.

Riley vibrated her hand very fast. She was shocked upon hitting the side of the box.

Kara: Too bad for you.

Kara was looking around for something.

Riley: Hey! I’ve got a deal for you!

Kara: Not interested.

Riley: You know you are!

Kara looked down. Riley was holding up some sort of remote.

Kara: What...What is that?

Riley: Your little remote control for your daughter. Keeps her on her leash. Want it?

Kara: Ugh...Seriously?

Riley: Yup, let me out and you get this shiny remote. Or maybe I’ll just slam it on the ground.

Kara: Fine. I’ll let you out.

Riley: Hey, you’ll let me go too. I won’t kill you. I’ll be on my merry way.

Kara: Just give me that control.

Riley: You know, it’s kinda fucked up trying to control your daughter like that. She could’ve died, but you just really wanna keep her alive! It’s disgusting.

Kara: I’m not going to let her die.

Riley: How noble of you. Now let me out.

Kara let Riley out. Riley handed over the remote. Kara looked at Riley for a second. Riley stared back with snake eyes.

Riley: I always keep my promises.

Riley walked away. Kara looked around anxiously. She gathered some things and stuffed them in Pandora’s box. She picked it up and put it in a backpack and took it with her.

Kara: They're coming back. They used to call me nomad for a reason.

Kara walked out of the house.

Kara: Wait, one more thing.

Kara grabbed the crest of the lion and took it with her.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Hours later

Sky flew above Kara’s house. Her and Mateo flew in.

Sky: dammit, there’s nothing in here.

Mateo: Looks like she flew the coop.

Sky: Goddammit Kara…

Sky sat down on Kara’s couch and pondered.

Sky: Am I really going to die in 22 days?

Mateo: I don’t mean to be the bearer of bad news, but Violet sounded serious. You seemed like you knew her.

Sky: She tried to kill me and Kara one day. She was from a secret organization called DRU. I thought she was loyal to them.

Mateo: Well, we either do nothing and watch you die in 22 days. Or we do something and celebrate when you don’t die. Do you want to die?

Sky: What kind of question is that?

Mateo: We need to find Kara. How could we talk to her?

Sky: Her demon arm…

Mateo: Demon arm?

Sky: I had a disembodied arm of hers in my closet-

Mateo: Okay, what the fuck?

Sky: I can contact her through it. Maybe if we can find it, we can tell her that we need her.

Mateo: An arm seems harder to find than a whole person.

Sky: It’s T.H.O.R.N. Maybe if we find those guys, we can get the arm and get that box!

Mateo: Who knew there was a brain in there. How do you expect to find T.H.O.R.N? That’s an advanced B.L..A.D.E unit. One of their members beat me to shit.

Sky: Not this time, they won’t. Come on!

Mateo: Where are we going?

Sky: I know someone who can help us out. Plus, Rosa will have to stop spending money on hotels.

Mateo: Okay then.

Mateo and Sky went back to Geno and Rosa.

Rosa: What’s up? Where’s the box?

Sky: Wasn’t there. But I think I know a way we can get to it.

Geno: How?

They got in Sky’s car. Mateo drove

Mateo: I really wish you two could fly.

Rosa: I can, just takes a quick phone call.

Mateo: Isn’t worth it. You said this guy who knows stuff lives on the Florida line, right?

Sky: Yeah.

Geno: Who is it?

Sky: It’s my uncle.

Rosa: You have an uncle?

Sky: Who doesn’t? He’s my favorite uncle!

Geno: You sure he won’t rat us out?

Sky: He’s just about the only adult I feel like I can still trust. He got me into music.

Sky took out her phone, she showed Geno a picture of a flyer. “Tony Sako performing at Vidar’s pub on 6/4 from 1 PM to 5 PM”

Mateo: What are we going to do until 5 tomorrow?

Sky: I’ve always wanted to drink.

Mateo: You aren’t old enough.

Sky: Tomorrow I am! I’ve got 22 days to live! I have to make it count!

Mateo: Fine. Hopefully it’s worth it.

Sky: It will be! I promise!

## 21 Days - Uncle Sako

Sky and Company snuck into a backyard.

Sky: It’s probably safer to go in the back. Considering we’re fugitives.

Sky went up to the backdoor. She knocked in a certain rhythm.

Geno: What’s your uncle like anyway?

A man burst out of the door. He was holding a shotgun.

Man: Goddamn kids! What are you doing here!? I don’t want any fuckin’ cookies!

Rosa cowered and screamed, Geno jumped back. The man, Sky’s uncle threw the shotgun away and started laughing.

Sky: He does this every time. Should’ve warned you.

Tony: How’s my favorite niece? Here, come in, come in.

Sky: We’re well, kinda in trouble. It’s bad.

Tony: What kinda trouble did you get yourself into this time?

Sky held up her hand and lit it up.

Tony: You can light yourself up? Shitty power.

Geno: Yeah, he’s right.

Tony: Right again, brother.

Geno: Yeah...brother.

Tony: So, who are the rest of the strangers I let out of my house?

Sky: That’s Geno, Rosa and Mateo.

Tony: So, where’s your parents?

Sky: ...I can’t go back.

Tony: No! No! I understand. I don’t side with my brother. Even though it sucks to have to pick sides. I’ll bet it’s been hard. You can all come with me to Vidar’s pub. Blow off some steam!

Sky: I’d like that. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you perform.

Tony: What about you? I want to see you up there.

Sky: I-I don’t know if I wanna go upstage yet.

Tony: You never know until you try. Come on, you have your guitar, right?

Sky: I have a new one, yeah.

Tony: We’ll have to go in an hour or so. I don’t know if I can hold all you folks here. But you can find something to do.

Tony looked at Mateo.

Tony: You look like a big guy. Go chop some wood or something! We can have a fire tonight!

Geno: Sounds cool. Come on Mateo.

Rosa: You guys are just going to leave me?

Geno: You can cut wood too.

Rosa: You think these arms can cut wood?

Geno: We’ll find out.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sky and Tony were sitting in his studio. She was strumming her guitar. He sat down next to her and gave her a soda.

Tony: Alright, what’s going on?

Sky: What’s going on? I’m thinking about a song.

Tony: Doesn’t look like you can think of a good song with your head in the gutter. You stuck on that guy out there or something?

Sky: No, that’s not it. Can I uh, tell you something that sounds crazy?

Tony: I’ve heard everything. Throw it at me.

Sky: I’ve got 21 days to live.

Tony looked at Sky and laughed.

Tony: Very funny. What was the punchline?

Sky: …

Tony: You’re being serious? Oh god...What can I do to help?

Sky: Let me sing tonight.

Tony: Sky, you aren’t being serious. Come on. Tell me, there has to be something I can do to help whatever’s wrong with you.

Sky: It’s not a disease. Not cancer or anything. I don’t really know what it is. Imagine there was something killing you. But you didn’t know what it was, and you couldn’t stop it. I mean, maybe getting rid of my powers. Which I don’t think is possible. I heard about that war you were part of. There were so many metas killed. You could’ve just taken their powers if you had the tech. Right?

Tony: No tech has come up that can do that yet. You’re telling me you can’t stop it?

Sky: I might be able to. But I need to prepare for the worst.

Tony: Don’t beat yourself over it too bad. Focus on living, and please. Survive.

Sky: Well, maybe you can help us with something.

Tony: Anything.

Sky: You were a soldier with B.L.A.D.E right? Do you know where T.H.O.R.N might be?

Tony: Woah, T.H.O.R.N is a high-ranking group in B.L.A.D.E. I wouldn’t mess with them.

Sky: Well, they have something. It might be considered sensitive material.

Tony: Like an artifact?

Sky: Yeah, kinda.

Tony: They put artifacts in an old facility. It’s an old run down base. I used to bring material there.

Sky: Can you point us towards it?

Tony: Yeah. But be careful. People say there’s something powerful there. Something strong

Sky: Hopefully I’m stronger.

Tony: Hopefully...

Sky: ...Even if I don’t want to later, make me sing. I need people to hear me.

Tony: On that note, how about you record something in the studio?

Sky: I have some lyrics I wrote.

Tony: Your own song? Even better? Thought you were suffering a block.

Sky: Not yet.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mateo and Geno were chopping wood in the backyard.

Geno: That dude just said hi and then made us go chop wood. That’s some bullshit!

Mateo: He probably wants some time with Sky. Don’t worry about it.

Rosa: It’s also a way for me to enjoy myself.

Geno: Oh shut up.

Mateo: Jeez, you all have to stop being children. This situation is serious.

Geno: For Sky, you know I don’t want her to die either.

Mateo: A kid shouldn’t have to worry like that. Either she’s special, or everyone like her is going to die in 21 days.

Geno: What? You think you’re going to go too?

Mateo: We’ll have to find out.

Geno: That’s not a good answer. We have to start doing something, now!

Mateo: This situation isn’t ideal for me either. We need to make haste.

Rosa: Yeah, we do need to “make haste”. But we also need to let Sky live for as long as she might have left. If she wants to spend her time with her damn uncle, then let her. I bet she wants to save herself more than you do Geno, O knight in shining armor.

Mateo: So now you're serious. I just don’t want her wasting valuable time.

Geno: Don’t worry. You can go back to stopping bank robberies and kidnapping children when we’re done with this.

Mateo: You know, you recorded the man I love being killed. What did you do about it? You didn’t face judgement. You’re just a scared little kid. You’re no hero. No pride, you don’t even have any real beliefs. No strong beliefs. I protect the city, the little people because that’s the kind of person Mike was.

Mateo ripped a piece of wood in half.

Mateo: I’m going to see if Sky’s ready.

Mateo walked away.

Rosa: He’s more moody than a middle school girl.

Geno: What do you think?

Rosa: What do you mean?

Geno: Do you believe what he said? Sunspot?

Rosa: Well, obviously I wouldn’t have interjected. Look at me. But as far as I know you’re just that kid that plays football. I don’t know what Sky sees in you. Plus, you don’t play football anymore. So I guess you have no beliefs.

Geno: You know, I won’t be pushed around. I have beliefs. I’m not just a robot!

Rosa: I know, I know.

## 20 Days - Before I Die

Sky, Mateo, Rosa and Geno walked into the bar from the front entrance.

Geno: Did Tony really mean we could have whatever we want?

Rosa: Sounded serious.

Geno went to the bar and asked for beer. He was turned away. Mateo sat down.

Mateo: Whatever your hardest is.

The bartender got Mateo the drink.

Geno: Can’t you put in the good word for me?

Mateo: No.

Geno: Come on! You get to have whatever you want!

Mateo: Because I’m old enough.

Rosa was at the other end of the bar eating ice cream.

Mateo: See, Rosa doesn’t even care. Why do you want to be such a man? Really, why do you even care about your image so much?

Geno: Because I don’t need dicks like you coming over and saying I’m a scared little kid. If I could advocate for meta rights without being arrested and probably killed I would.

Mateo: That’s the point of a cause kid. It’s a leap of faith. Take it.

Rosa Hey, where did Sky go?

Mateo: Wasn’t she with you?

Sky and Tony walked out onto the stage. They both had guitars.

Tony: For my first song tonight, I’d like to give my niece the spotlight! Everyone give her a hand.

Sky took a deep breath,

Sky: Okay…

She stood in front of the crowd. Silent. Tony put his hand on her shoulder.

Tony: You’ve got this.

Sky took a breath again.

Sky:
I’ve got 24 days to die
I can’t look you in the eye
I’ve got 24 days to die
Still can’t ask out this guy
I’ve got 24 days to die
I don’t wanna say goodbye
Oh I can’t find my fam
Got a worn out picture of them
Talk to my friends
They give me a small tip and a hand
But I feel less and less grand

It’s no fun
My life was a short one
I face it it’s a ruse
I’m a scared child at the core
I don’t fight any battles
Except the one inside my head
I try to stop being a coward
I try and try and try
To do the things I wanna do before I die

Sky played a quick guitar riff.

Sky:
Drink a shitton of whiskey
Then I’ll pass out and fly
Get my first kiss from
This boy who makes me feel alive
Teach this old friend of mine there’s more to life than crime
Teach my girlfriend there’s a bigger reason to be alive
And I’ll love deeper
And I’ll speak sweeter
And I’ll give forgiveness
I’ve been denying

Sky and Tony played a guitar solo together. The crowd was entranced. Geno, Mateo and Rosa were in shock.

Sky:
Oh…24 days isn’t that short anyway
So maybe that’ll be enough time to play this song.

Sky stepped down from the stage. People clapped. She came down and sat next to Geno.

Geno: Damn. I didn’t know you had it in you.

Mateo: You did a good job Sky.

Rosa: I should make you a record!

Sky went to the top floor of the bar. She was leaning on the side of the balcony by herself. Looking down at the cars on the highway. Geno came up behind her. She jumped.

Geno: Scare you?

Sky: No, I’m fine.

Geno: That was a good song. You should be celebrating with us.

Sky: I just feel like I need a little time up here. Alone.

Geno: Okay okay, I’ll go.

Sky: No, no. You can stay. I didn’t really mean it.

Geno: Hey, that boy you talked about in your song. It was me, huh?

Sky: That’s one of the reasons I didn’t wanna perform.

Geno: Nah, I’m not completely opposed to the idea anymore.

Sky: I thought I wasn’t your type.

Geno: A dick said some stuff’s a leap of faith. Plus you weren’t very good at hiding that you fell for me before.

Sky: Yeah, it was stupid of me.

Geno: So, Sky. You wanna go on a date or something? Maybe this can be our firs-

Sky: No.

Geno: No?

Sky: If I die, then I don’t want to commit to a relationship. I don’t want to hurt you.

Geno: That’s uh, admirable of you. I guess.

Sky: Disappointed?

Geno: Eh, kinda. I thought you’d be excited.

Sky: Excited about getting with you? You’re crazy.

Geno: What about that kiss?

Sky: What?

Geno: You said it in your song. Your first kiss.

Sky: Won’t it be awkward?

Geno: Not if you die.

Geno got close to Sky. He brushed her hair back.

Sky: How do I…?

Geno: Hey, I’ll show you.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

They got back around midnight. Mateo and Geno were sleeping in the living room, while Sky and Rosa slept in Tony’s room. He walked into the living room and sat in his recliner chair and laid back. He looked at his text messages. It was a text from David. His brother. A long paragraph.

David: Something bad happened with Sky, I know you don’t like to talk to me. But this is important. We found out she was a metahuman. She didn’t take it well. I guess we should’ve been more understanding. She took matters into her own hands and ran. Now it’s raining hell in Orlando. There’s metas who seem just like her. We want our daughter to be safe, and I know that you and her always had a bond. Just, please. Please tell me if she comes to you. We need to find her and make this right.

Tony sighed and looked elsewhere on his phone. He typed in a number.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sky woke up. She realized she and everyone else had slept into noon. She sat up and looked around. Rosa was asleep next to her. She got up and stretched. She felt something around her neck. It was familiar. A metahuman collar. She gripped her hands around the collar. Tears ran down her face. She went outside and saw Tony.

Tony: Sky, I can explain.

Tony came over to Sky and put out his hand. Sky pushed him away.

Sky: What the hell is this for?! You think I’m a virus too?! You think I’m sick?!

Tony: No! No! I did this to save you! We can live together! You and your friends can stay if they want! You said your powers were the reason you were going to die. So if their suppressed, you should live!

Sky: I’d rather die than be locked up like this! What if your wrong?! There’s more people with powers like me! What if they die as a result of me doing nothing?!

Tony: Look, I’m sorry! I’ll take it off, I was just trying to help.

A bunch of B.L.A.D.E soldiers came into the house.

Soldier: Stay away from the subject!

Everyone else was awake by this moment. Mateo had a collar on too. But for some reason he could still let his power flow through him. He fired a blast at a soldier. He was smashed through the glass door.

Soldier: Look alive! Sunspot is here!

Mateo came over to Sky and ripped her collar off. Sky lit up. The soldiers fired on her and Mateo. Geno broke his powers loose and fired a blast of air. The bullets flew back at the soldiers, they just barley missed. Mateo and Sky shot away their guns. Geno jumped in and palmed a soldier in the chest. He cracked his armor. Geno shot a huge blast of air, everything in the house was blasted by air. Sky raised her hands and made a bunch of diamonds. She made them come together. Forming one huge diamond. It flew at the soldier, it stabbed through his armor, and pierced his chest. He was slammed against the wall.

Geno: Jesus, Sky!

Tony: Sky…

Sky: Shut up!

Sky flew out of the roof. Blasting a hole in it. Mateo picked Tony up by the neck and slammed him against the wall.

Mateo: What were you thinking?

Tony: I just wanted to save my niece! She told me she was going to die! Do you think I’m just going to stand by idly and watch her slowly die?!

Mateo: I understand. But we have a plan of our own. She doesn’t need your help.

Tony: You think that would’ve stopped me?

Mateo: Your a disgrace. Give us where B.L.A.D.E stored that arm, and maybe I’ll think about not telling B.L.A.D.E that you also held criminals with you, and caused a B.L.A.D.E soldier to die.

Tony: Let me go and I’ll get you the address.

Tony gave Mateo the address. Geno and Rosa went with Mateo.

Rosa: She’s sensitive about that meta-collar junk.

They all left Tony’s house. He slammed his hand on his counter.

## 19 Days - Trust

Sky was sitting in the woods.

Rosa: Hey, let me talk to her.

Geno: Why should you?

Mateo: Let her. It’s fine.

Geno: What?

Rosa: Seriously. Give me and her the day. She needs some time. You guys go do your thing.

Geno: And our thing is what?

Rosa: Listen to me.

Mateo: I get it Rosa. She probably needs time to process, and she doesn’t need as many of us around her. I don’t want her to lash out.

Rosa nodded, and walked in the woods to Sky.

Geno: You seriously think she’s going to lash out at one of us?

Mateo: Did you see that B.L.A.D.E soldier? Sky has been betrayed by every blood relative she has. Don’t you get it? Who were your parents to you, Geno?

Geno: Like I’m telling you.

Mateo: Then it is what it is. We need to kill time, and I guess I can’t leave you here.

Geno: What the hell are you planning on doing?

Mateo: I’m going to get us some money on the side. A job from Nakano.

Geno: A side hustle?

Mateo: I was a vigilante. But sometimes I had to slip into the criminal underground to keep myself afloat.

Geno: So the shining star Sunspot has an even darker side.

Mateo: I did what I had to to continue protecting the city. Besides, I never hurt too bad for money for one. My parents figured if they couldn’t be around they could give me lots of money instead.

Geno: How did you protect the city again?

Mateo: I kept people like the girl we’re about to meet off the streets. By beating the shit out of them and dangling them off buildings. Sometimes blinding them worked too. Or giving a good burn.

Geno: Seems like you just kick ass to kick ass.

Mateo: You’re the one who believes in metahuman rights so much.

Geno: I do, I think your one of the reasons metas are so looked down upon. You do your superheroing in the most shady way possible.

Mateo: It’s the only option that is available to us.

Geno: Who cares? We should start moving towards actual rights instead of continuing doing this?

Mateo: You’re so naive. You think this is the land of the free? This is B.L.A.D.E’s land. They own us. We’ll be killed or jailed if we protest. Nobody will listen. There’s not enough metahumans.

Geno: Of course there are!

Mateo: Our numbers are only in the thousands. We were exterminated by the red devil. Or whatever they called it.

Geno: The Glowing Red Devil. What about her?

Mateo: She killed millions of us.

Geno: Millions?!

Mateo: The thing is, we don’t understand her motives. She killed millions. But spared millions as well. She put them in jail.

Geno: I’ve heard of her, but I didn’t know she did all that.

Mateo: It’s all a coverup.

Geno: How do you even know about all of that?

Mateo: I got my powers young. I heard stories. Horror stories of the red devil. It’s a story they’d tell little kids. “The red devil might be under your bed!”

Geno: Jeez…

Mateo: Look, all I’m saying is that you need to tread carefully. If you want to start a movement, you need good backing, and enough power to go against B.L.A.D.E. Don’t be a dumbass. Anyway, here we are.

Mateo and Geno were next to an alleyway. Where Katniss from before walked out of a tattoo shop.

Katniss: Oh! Hi Mateo! You decided to take my job?

Mateo: Yeah. Make it quick.

Katniss: Woah, you're working with him now? I never expected that. I mean. He could’ve saved Mike.

Mateo grabbed Katniss by the scruff and slammed her against the wall.

Mateo: I’m not here for you to evaluate me on my life. We do this job, You keep 20% and stay off the streets for a while.

Katniss: Off the streets? How long?

Mateo: Two months.

Katniss: That’s too long!

Mateo: If I see you on the streets, you go to alcatraz. I bet the metas there would have fun with you.

Katniss: Fine. I really shouldn’t offer my jobs to you.

Mateo: Well, let’s do this job.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Rosa sat down next to Sky on the log. Sky was just sitting there. Paralyzed.

Rosa: Sky? I’m sorry about the whole uncle thing…

Rosa realized she didn’t really know what to say.

Rosa: Look, I’m here. Right next to you...On this log.

Sky: What do you want me to say? I impaled someone with my powers. He probably had a family. All at the same time I was led into a deathtrap by my uncle. He taught me music. He know me the best. Maybe better than my parents. Well, I thought he did.

Rosa: Well, what do you want to do now?

Sky: I don’t know who I am anymore. Maybe I’m not even Sky. Nothing is real anymore. That’s what I’m doing this for. I need to know what’s real and what’s not. Maybe I’ll find something I don’t like. But that’s okay. My goal hasn’t changed. The only difference is…

Rosa: You’ve been betrayed by everyone in your family?

Sky put her hand on Rosa’s shoulder.

Sky: Not everyone.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mateo and Geno walked onto a bay. With a bunch of storage containers stacked all over. It was dark out.

Geno: Why’d you even come. Mateo? Aren’t you useless in the dark?

Mateo: Our powers can be harnessed through more than the sun. Sky uses the sun because she’s inexperienced.

Katniss was on coms.

Katniss: It’s the red container with the star on it.

Geno and Mateo hid and looked around. Mateo looked at where Katniss was.

Mateo: She’s going to shoot him…

Geno: Shoot who?

Mateo: The kid in that box.

Geno: What? There’s a kid in there?

Mateo: She’s doing a job for Nakano.

Geno: What’s Nakano doing with kids?

Mateo: Their her kids. That’s how she brings them into the country. It’s not the right way. But I’m not letting a mother be separated from her kids.

Geno: Why would she shoot a kid?!

Mateo: Shh. She’s got a score to settle.

Mateo put on his com.

Mateo: What the hell are you doing?

Katniss: You really think this kid is just her daughter? You have no idea what Nakano’s planning on doing, Sunny. The world’s cruel, and sometimes you have to shoot a kid to save the world, and get more money from my other client.

Mateo: Of course. What was I expecting?

A bunch of men came out and opened the storage container. There was a kid, asleep on a hospital bed. He was rolled out.

Geno: Here, I’ll protect the kid, you go stop Katniss.

Mateo: What? How can I expect you to do that? If she sees you she’ll shoot!

Geno: Get up there fast. I’ve got it under control.

Mateo: No you don’t! Stop being a-

Geno: You stop being a dumbass! Trust me! You seem to have faith in Sky. Or some shit. I get your mad at me about Mike. I’m sorry. I was a scared little kid. If you have faith in Sky. Fuck, in anyone but yourself, then trust me!

Mateo: ...Okay. Fine. Don’t let me down.

Mateo jumped on top of the storage containers, he ran over to Katniss. She was blocked off by a storage container. He put both of his hands on the storage container. He took light from lanterns and lights all around, they were flickering. He began to burn through the metal.

Katniss: Not enough Mateo! You really don’t understand what Nakano does to these children. She will mutilate them.

Mateo: You aren’t killing a kid! There’s a better way!

Katniss: No there isn’t.

Katniss shot her bullet. Geno was listening into the conversation. He jumped out at just the right moment and unlocked his powers. He fired a concentrated blast of wind in the bullet’s direction. The bullet was stopped in midair. Katniss reloaded. But Mateo broke through. She hit him in the face with her gun and threw a punch at him. He dodged and she slammed her hand against the wall. He got her into a chokehold. He knocked her gun down.

Katniss: Placing your trust in the kid who killed your boyfriend? Nice moves. I bet he liked that.

The guards behind Geno started speaking in a different language. They took out weapons. They all swung at him. He blasted up into the air and landed on a guard’s shoulders and shot air on the ground. The guard went flying. He kicked the other guard in the face, and began to weave gracefully past their hits and take them out with wind-amped kicks. Mateo jumped down.

Mateo: Let’s get this kid someplace safe.

## 18 Days - Professor Jane Pita

Mateo had rented out a hotel for everyone. Just for the next day. Sky was still asleep. Everyone was sitting out on the deck.

Rosa: You know, I could’ve gotten the room, Mateo.

Mateo: I don’t really care. You said you were going to make a dent in your wallet if you spent anymore of your money. What are your parents like about that anyway?

Rosa: Well, maybe they’d yell at me a little. Or ask questions. I dunno.

Geno: How long has it been since you saw them?

Rosa: Maybe two years. I was taken care of by my guards for a while.

Geno: We should probably wake Sky up. I could use something to eat.

Mateo: She’s probably still shaken up.

Geno: breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

Mateo: Fine, fine.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Everyone was at the local breakfast restaurant. Sky was still waking up.

Geno: You going to wake up sleeping beauty?

Sky: Shut up, I didn’t sleep well.

Mateo: I didn’t sleep well either. The only one of us that got good sleep is Rosa.

Rosa: Me?

Geno: I heard you snoring all night.

Rosa: Not my fault I’m good at sleeping.

Geno: Well, hopefully we can take it easy here.

Mateo: We’re in Georgia now. Out of Florida.

Geno: I’ve never actually been out of Florida. Always stayed nearby.

Sky: Me and my parents drove through this town.

Geno: Things must’ve been simpler then.

Mateo: Seriously Geno?

Sky: I don’t really care. Things were pretty simple. I almost wish I could talk to my friends from New York.

Geno: So you did have a life before?

Sky: I didn’t really do much. Hung with friends, did schoolwork. I played varsity soccer as a freshman. I was a lot more into it back then. I was friends with everyone on the team.

Rosa: Sounds boring.

Mateo saw a police car pull past the breakfast joint slowly. Then he saw another police car pull up and stop.

Mateo: Hey...Act normal.

A police officer walked into the restaurant. He scanned the area. He went up to the bar and got a coffee.

Rosa: We’ll just pay him off if we need to.

Mateo: That’s not how it works.

Geno: Anyway, Mateo, where are you from anyway?

Mateo: Illinois originally. My parents sent me to Florida. There was a good school here.

The waiter came over and passed out their food. Sky was given her food, eggs, toast and bacon. Sky heard a voice in her head. A woman's voice.

Voice: (Mmm...Food.)

Sky: Uh, guys. Did you hear that?

Mateo: Hear what?

Sky: Nothing.

Voice: (You can speak to me, you know. It’s like you're talking to yourself.)

Sky: (Who are you? What’s going on?)

Voice: (Your mind talk is pretty shit. I’m the mysterious voice inside of your head that’s telling you you should eat your food.)

Sky started eating.

Voice: (I should also tell you, that cop is here for you. He’s going to take you.)

The cop picked up his coffee and wandered over to Sky’s table.

Sky: (What’s going on?! Who are you? Seriously!)

Voice: (You’ll see my face soon. )

Sky: (What do you mean?)

The cop came over to the table.

Cop: Hey, how are you folks doing?

Mateo: Hi officer. We’re doing good. Anything you need?

Cop: I’m just checking up. There’s a couple of fugitives around. Have you seen anything weird?

Rosa: Fugitives? Here?

Mateo: We haven’t seen anything at all. But thanks for checking up.

Cop: Of course.

The cop went back to the bar and kept drinking his coffee.

Voice: (Wait for it…)

Sky: Guys...Something’s wrong.

Mateo: What? What’s up Sky?

Sky: We should get out of here.

A huge laser was shot through the restaurant. Everyone ducked down. The cop left. Someone in a huge robotic suit flew down and walked into the restaurant. The suit pressed a button on the side of it’s huge mask. Her suit had red lines that went across its face. Emulating eyes. The mask condensed down, to show a woman with short red hair. The suit was muscular, and had a large laser gun attached to one of its arms.

Voice: Hi Sky. You can call me Jane. Everyone out! This is B.L.A.D.E jurisdiction!

Everyone else in the restaurant ran out.

Mateo: Who the hell is that?

Jane: Like I said, Jane. I’m the leader of The Nexus program! I think it was time we met, Sky! Even Sunspot’s here! You must be skilled! Show me!

Jane shot another laser, blasting through the table. Everyone scattered.

Mateo: Geno! Get Rosa away from danger!

Geno nodded and grabbed Rosa’s hand. He ran away with her. He and Rosa got to a couple houses over.

Rosa: Hey! Stop! I’ve got a plan!

Geno: What’s your plan? Be slightly more useless?

Rosa: Shut up! It’s to be useful! Help me with this, I need the right materials.

Sky and Mateo dodged out of the way of Jane’s laser. Mateo jumped over it and punched Jane. His punches only slightly dented the suit. Jane punched Mateo in the face. He stumbled back. Sky fired a blast at Jane. It did nothing.

Jane: Your little fireworks do nothing!

Jane flew forward at Sky, blasting through her blast. She grabbed Sky by the face and slammed her against the ground. Mateo jumped in to help. But Jane kicked him away. She threw Sky at the roof. As she fell Jane punched her square in the gut. Sky went flying through the wall. Jane walked through the hole and held her hand up.

Jane: Let me show you some real fireworks.

She made a huge red ball of energy above herself. Sky fired some blasts at Jane. Nothing. She summoned her diamonds and shot them up. One diamond stuck into the eye of the mask. It did something to make Jane back up and pull the diamond out. Mateo came up behind Jane and punched her in the back with an amped punch. Jane was pushed into the building in front of her. She cracked the wall. Mateo threw a bunch of small light blasts on Jane’s suit. He got up close and grabbed it’s arm. He sliced down with his arm. Breaking off Jane’s arm. She made the arm fire it’s laser. Blasting Mateo back, and leaving a gash on his stomach. Sky had been charging a blast. She shot it in Jane’s face. She was pushed back. But she took her free hand and grabbed Sky again. She slammed her against the concrete wall. Sky was nearly flattened. Jane held her there and flew up. Her jetpack firing on. Sky felt the burn of the side of the building. Some of her skin was torn. Jane was laughing all the way through.

Jane: You're doomed!

Sky used her power to take some of Jane’s electrical energy. She took it and blasted it away. Jane lost power and dropped Sky. Sky fell down. She activated her power and reduced her fall. Jane landed next to Sky.

Jane: Nice moves. For a rookie.

Rosa ran over. She had clumped up some sort of ball of electric parts. She threw it at Jane, Geno used his powers to push it forward. It hit Jane and exploded. It deactivated her suit.

Mateo: Go go go!

Everyone ran away as fast as they could. Sky saw Jane quickly recover. She flew in the air and blasted towards them. Everything around Sky turned the inverse of its color. She engulfed her friends. Everyone was teleported away.

Jane: Lucky bastards. We’ll meet Sky again. I still have experiments to do.

## 17 Days - Gao Garment

The team was laying in the middle of a busy road. There were cars coming at them. Mateo stood up and shot a blast to blind them. They slammed on their breaks and everyone got off the road. Mateo rushed them into an alleyway. Sky fell down.

Mateo: Ugh, stay still, Sky.

Mateo took a bottle containing raw light energy out. He harnessed the power and healed Sky’s wounds. She was still hurt. But she could now stand. She sat down against the wall.

Sky: She...That lady was with B.L.A.D.E.

Mateo: Yeah. That’s right.

Rosa: Hey, why’s it night? It was just morning!

Geno: That’s weird...What time is it?

Rosa: You mean day...It’s the 7th.

Mateo: What was that power, Sky?

Sky: It happens when I get stressed.

Mateo: Well, I’ve never seen it be used by people with our powers.

Sky: I dunno. I’ve always been able to use it.

Mateo: We need to examine that sometime.

Sky: First, we need to lay low.

Rosa: We could go meet my parents.

Sky: What? Where even are we?

Rosa: New York.

Sky: I teleported us to New York!?

Rosa: This is New York City. That’s where my parents live.

Mateo: Well, we need somewhere to stay.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sky and company walked into Rosa’s parents house, a huge building in New York City. There was a sign on it that read “Gao Garment”. They took an elevator.

Geno: Rosa! You own all of this?! How did we not know that?!

Rosa: Well, I don’t own it. My family does.

Geno: That’s the same thing!

Rosa: We’re going to meet my parents too. Maybe. They were pretty mad when they heard about my guard’s deaths. They seriously just thought of them at playthings. Just like I did. Fucking animals.

Rosa led everyone into the top floor of the building. A huge area filled with a big TV room, huge dining area for many people. A pool area, Rosa’s kitchen with personal maids. One of the maids came over and picked up Rosa and hugged her.

???: Rosa! You’ve grown up so much since last time I saw you! What are you doing here?

Rosa: Me and my friends need a place to stay, and we were in the area. Good to see you again, Cecilia.

Cecilia: Wow, and so civil too!

Sky: That’s a recent thing. When I met her she still was as snobby as ever.

Cecilia: Promise me! I know the feeling. Oh! I should tell your mom you’re here!

Rosa: Where’s dad?

Cecilia: ...He’s on a business trip.

Rosa: Oh yeah, as always.

Cecilia: Well, we weren’t expecting such a sudden return from you.

Cecilia led them. Geno and Sky looked around at all the expensive things they had, amused.

Rosa: Let me guess, Mateo’s above expensive things.

Mateo: They're pointless. Such a waste.

Cecilia: Himari! Look who we have a surprise visit from!

Rosa: Hi mom.

Rosa’s mother looked down at her.

Himari: Rosa, what a surprise. Hello. I see you’ve made friends.

Rosa: Y-yeah. We wanted to stay here a little while.

Himari: Well, I suppose we were never given the time to touch up your floor. So they may sleep there.

Rosa: Well, what’s gone on since I left?

Himari: What? Look, I’m getting a call. I’m very busy. Just show your friends to their rooms.

Rosa: Yeah…

Rosa turned and walked everyone back to the elevator.

Sky: Your mom seems kinda...busy.

Rosa: The busiest woman I know. You know, they sell drugs and all kinds of illegal shit through our business.

Mateo: Gao Garment...I knew that name sounded familiar.

Rosa: They think I don’t know. But I do, It makes my mom more of a shittier person.

They went down a couple floors. To an old looking floor. Seemingly modeled for Rosa.

Rosa: It looks like nobodies been here for a long time. Anyway, pick your rooms for the night.

Geno: For the night? I wanna stay here for as long as we can!

Sky: You really don’t like being with your mom, huh?

Rosa: My family sucks. I used to like staying here, until she sent me away. Now that I’m back, I’d like to minimize our visit.

Geno was looking at a touchscreen that was in the wall. He was scrolling on it,

Geno: Hey look, there’s supposed to be a party here.

Sky: A party?

Geno: Hosted by Gao Garment. Seems like it’s for rich people.

Sky: We should check it out!

Mateo: Rich parties aren’t really my thing.

Geno: Well I’m checking it out.

Sky: Fine, if you are then I will too.

Cecilia came down. She gave Rosa an ipad.

Cecilia: It’s your father. He said he’d talk to you.

Rosa: Oh.

Rosa went into another room and answered the call from her dad, Tadashi.

Tadashi: Rosa! I haven’t seen your face in forever! What’s my little jagiya doing at home?

Rosa: I happened to be in town. Not that mom bothered to ask for me to come back.

Tadashi: You know your mom is very busy. I’m sorry I can’t be there. Business has been slow. So I had to go out of the country to get work done.

Rosa: Yeah, thanks dad.

Tadashi: It’s just my job. I love you, I really mean it. I know your mama might seem detached. But she loves you the same.

Rosa: Yeah, I know.

Tadashi: I hear you’ve been making friends. I’m happy for you. I’ll try to put in the good word with your mama.

Rosa: Mhm. Love you dad.

Tadashi: Love you too jagiya. Talk to you soon.

Rosa took a breath.

Rosa: Yeah.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sky and Geno went to the party, while Rosa and Mateo stayed behind. Sky and Geno walked up to the party. To their surprise, they saw people dancing and having a good time.

Geno: Damn, I thought this was going to be a fancy rich party.

Sky: Yeah, I’m surprised.

Geno: So?

Sky: Come on!

Sky went to run, but she felt her wound from earlier.

Geno: Hey, go easy on yourself tonight.

Sky: Yeah.

They went to the expensive food, and ate.

Sky: I dunno what this is, but it’s amazing!

Geno: Yeah! We probably should’ve gone on the dance floor before we ate.

They went onto the dance floor. Eventually romantic music began playing. Sky and Geno stayed awkwardly apart. Geno grabbed her hand. He pulled her in. They began swaying and moving slowly to the music.

Sky: Geno...Am I holding you hostage?

Geno: What do you mean?

Sky: Well, I told you we shouldn’t be together. I’m going to die. But if I don’t then…?

Geno: You aren’t going to die. That lady you fought back there was powerful. But she caught us off guard. We’ll kick her ass next time.

Sky: Yeah, next time.

Geno: I thought before you were kinda annoying, and kind of ugly.

Sky: Wow, thanks.

Geno: But, I dunno. I don’t feel like that anymore. You know me, the real me.

Sky: Yeah.

The music dragged to a close. They looked around as all the couples kissed each other. It was like Sky and Geno were in their own little bubble. They looked at eachother, and hesitated for a second, and then kissed.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Rosa was watching the cameras at the party. She saw her mom talking to a younger guy. She saw exactly what she was doing. She was acting drunk. She pretended to fall. The guy caught her. They walked off somewhere else.

Mateo: That’s kind of creepy.

Rosa jumped.

Rosa: What? Didn’t you see what she was doing?

Mateo: It’s ugly, yeah. I know.

Rosa: You seem like you have a good hold on bad parents.

Mateo: My parents didn’t give much of a shit about me. Once I got my powers I was sent away, and that was young.

Rosa: I know what my dad does is bad. But he does it with a good heart. My mom’s over here probably cheating on him while he does his best for us.

Mateo: Well, tell him.

Rosa: It’s not that easy. Dad would lose it, so would mom. Everything would get worse. It’d all be my fault.

Mateo: Depends on what you desire more. The truth, or whatever lie your mom has constructed. Your mom should be put in her place.

Rosa: Well, I think I have something that might piss her off.

Mateo: Ugh, why not? What have you got?

Rosa and Mateo took the elevator. They went to a lower floor with a bunch of equipment.

Rosa: I need something good.

Mateo: What are you going to do?

Rosa: Hmm, I think I’ll take the teleporter and the big-ass samurai sword.

Mateo: Stealing shit just to steal it?

Rosa: No! I’m stealing it to help us! I’m so useless in a fight it’s laughable. I need something good.

Mateo: You’ve got guts kid.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

The next day, Rosa and Mateo came out of their rooms. They saw Sky and Geno still asleep in the living room. They had passed out on different parts of the sofa. Rosa had packed her bags and was ready to leave.

Rosa: I hope they didn’t party too hard.

Mateo: They needed good sleep.

Rosa and Mateo went to the top floor. They saw the remnants of the party yesterday. The maids were cleaning up. Rosa’s mom came over to her.

Himari: Rosa! Before you go, We will give you new guards.

Rosa: Nah, I’m good.

Himari: If you say so. Those guards were pretty decent. A shame they died. We’ve got hundreds more. Just call.

Rosa: Do you really think of them as playthings? Toys?

Himari: Well, they do what I ask. Hey, someone also took some equipment from the armory. Do you know what happened?

Rosa: Yeah. I did, bitch.

Himari: I thought you had grown more civil. Go put that back! It’s valuable equipment!

Rosa: I don’t think so.

Himari: What?

Rosa: You don’t even need it. I’m useless to people like this guy. I need to help. I’m trying to save my friend from death here.

Himari: What are you talking about?! Yeah you're useless! You're a weak little girl.

Rosa: I’m taking what I need, I’m going. I’ll see you in another two years mom, maybe.

Himari: Don’t talk to me like that!

Rosa: I will when you stop…

Rosa hesitated.

Mateo: When you stop cheating on her dad.

Rosa: Yeah.

Himari: How do you…?

Rosa: He works his ass off all the time! Don’t let dad down. He’d hate that.

Mateo: I think you forgot who your kid was. Or maybe you never knew in the first place.

Sky and Geno were woken up. They went to the bottom floor and walked out.

Geno: So where to next?

Mateo: We need to get back on track. To that B.L.A.D.E artifact place. Sooner than later.

Rosa: Well, anyone got any ideas?

Sky: I kinda have an idea of how we can get there quickly.

Geno: Teleport there?

Sky: I can’t really control that, but I have the next best thing.

Rosa: Well?

Sky: It sounds stupid. Maybe we can talk to Nakano.

Mateo: Nakano?

## 16 Days - The Deal

Sky: Where’s Kara’s arm again?

Mateo: Well, we need to go to South Carolina.

Sky: South Carolina?

Geno: Sounds like flying might be quicker. Unless we steal a car. I dunno if it’s worth it.

Mateo: Tread lightly with Nakano.

Sky: I mean Nakano said she owed us one. Does she usually keep her word?

Mateo: That’s her thing. Keeping her word. That’s what she likes to say. You can never trust someone like her.

Sky: I think we should take our chances. Unless Rosa can help us out.

Rosa: I’m a kid, I don’t have unlimited reach in my company. They never let me use planes. Ever.

Sky: Why?

Rosa: Maybe they think I’m going to see my dad. Who knows. Guess I picked a bad time to out my mom as a bitch.

Mateo: Sky, with people like Nakano, nothing is sacred. No promises, no friendships. We could easily get killed.

Sky: Well, you said she keeps her promises. I saw we at least try.

Mateo: Fine. But that’s it.

Sky: Well, do you know where to find her?

Mateo: I can get in contact with her. Can I use your phone?

Sky: Uh, sure.

Sky gave Mateo her phone. He called a weird looking number. Nakano answered. He put it on speaker phone.

Nakano: Hello…?

Mateo: Nakano. It’s me, Mateo.

Nakano: Who?

Mateo: Sunspot.

Nakano: Oh! Sunny! Hi!

Mateo: You said you owed Sky a favor.

Nakano: Ah! Yes! Let her speak for herself!

Sky: Nakano, we need a flight from New York to South Carolina. Can you do that for us?

Nakano: A flight? Sure. Where are you?

Sky: Uh, New York?

Nakano: No, what street?

Sky looked around.

Sky: 44th.

Nakano: Hmm...Give me a second…Ah! There’s a UPS Store close by, correct?

Mateo: ...At the end of the street.

Nakano: Go in there, go to the fax machine. We will fax you plane tickets. You’ll land in the middle of North Carolina. I will be waiting there, though.

Mateo: Why?

Nakano: Well, That was a big favor I did for you, Sky.

Mateo growled.

Nakano: It’d be nice if you paid me back with a job. I’ll give you something that’s worth your while.

Sky: What is it?

Nakano: I know things, about you. About the old version of you. I know that Kara didn’t want to tell you the whole story. So let me help you. For one more job of course.

Sky: No joke. You aren’t lying?

Nakano: I’ll shake your hand when you arrive.

Sky: ...Deal.

Nakano: Amazing! I’ll see you all there!

Mateo: ....You shouldn’t have made that deal. She’s going to fuck us over.

Sky: What am I supposed to do? What if she does have info?

Mateo: I wouldn’t be surprised if she did. But you are on thin ice with her! I’m just saying, we have to be careful.

Sky: Yeah, I think I know that.

Mateo: You clearly don’t. You said yes to a deal without questioning anything. She knows you’re a sucker.

Sky: I mean, I’m probably more powerful than her anyway. I’ll be careful. I promise.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

They got on the plane. Sky and Geno sat with each other and Mateo and Rosa sat across. Rosa was looking over at the two, They had put in earbuds and were watching a movie together.

Rosa: Wow, They really can’t help themselves, can they?

Mateo: What are you talking about?

Rosa: Have you really never felt love?

Mateo: I know for a fact you haven’t

Rosa: You’ve seen the way they look at eachother. They're clearly together.

Mateo: So what if they are. It is what it is.

Rosa: What if Sky dies?

Mateo: Geno’ll be devastated and it’ll be hard to move on. Maybe it’ll take him years.

Rosa: You talking from experience?

Mateo: I never really got over Mike. If that’s what you're talking about.

Rosa: Oh yeah, him. That dude that Audrey killed.

Mateo: He wasn’t just some dude. He was one of the best cops in the force. He had an elegant way of convincing people. He’s the reason I am who I am today. I’ll never forget that.

Rosa: You and him must’ve been really close.

Mateo: I never really let him get too close, to be honest. But we did go on a couple dates.

Rosa: You guys smooch and stuff?

Mateo: Why do you have to talk about it like that? We did all the normal things people in relationships do.

Rosa: Huh...Cool.

Mateo: You’ll learn one day. There’ll be someone that comes your way.

Rosa: Maybe.

Mateo leaned back.

Mateo: Ugh. I can’t shake the feeling that Nakano is going to have something horrible in store for us. Sky’s so naive.

Rosa: She’s just some bimbo with a lot of money. We could probably take her.

Mateo: That’s it, money. She could buy herself 1,000 assassins to kill us. Who knows. Or that Jane lady. Who seems to want to get us for whatever reason.

Rosa: We’ll figure it out. All I know is that I want some sleep.

Mateo: It’s not a long flight.

Rosa: It’ll be almost midnight when we get there.

Mateo: I guess a little rest is what we need.

Mateo and Rosa laid back. Sky and Geno were at the end of a superhero movie of Sky’s choice.

Geno: So that’s why you want to be a superhero? You watched a bunch of movies.

Sky: Well, it definitely was something that spurred me. My parents had this weird hatred of heroes. Ones that actually did good for us.

Geno: Yeah, your parents are kind of dicks.

Sky: There’s still a part of me that wishes I could see them again...Uncle Tony too...I must’ve really scared him…

Geno: You probably did what you really didn’t want to. Demonize people like you.

Sky: Maybe...Maybe there’s a reason we’re demonized. I got mad and killed someone. That’s not who I usually am. Remember what Mr. Untouchable said in the movie. Power only makes you more of who you are. I can’t let it corrupt me. I want to use it to help people. Not to kill them.

Geno: Yeah. That’d be nice. I guess I should be careful too.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

They touched down in North Carolina at night. They got out of the plane and into the airport. The airport was empty. Nobody was there, not even security. Nakano was sitting in one of the chairs in the waiting area. She had a bunch of guards around her.

Nakano: We had a deal, correct, Sky?

Sky: Yeah. Correct.

Nakano held her hand out. Sky hesitated. It was only two jobs. That was all. Then they were out. They could find the Nexus and get to Kara’s lost arm and Pandora’s box. With 9 or so days to spare. Sky shook hands on their agreement.

## 15 Days - Ashes to Ashes PT 1

Nakano led Sky and company into a criminal base. Everyone eyed Mateo in particular.

Mateo: This was a bad idea…

Nakano led them into a briefing room.

Nankao: Welcome to the criminal underground! This is where the Red Sun does much of our operations. Don’t forget, we go by the same rule here as anywhere else. No killing in here. There’s no beef in these headquarters! So, let’s talk about your job!

Geno: What’s it you want?

Nakano: Oh, it’s simple. I want a cute little puppet!

Sky: A puppet? What are you playing at?

Nakano: Everyone loves puppets! Seems like a small price to pay to learn all the secrets of your identity.

Sky: Okay...So how do we get it?

Nakano: Well, it’s locked in a secure spot.

Sky: Is it an artifact?

Nakano: Yes.

Sky: Hey, we might have to go there to get Kara’s arm.

Nakano: Well, there are not many places with special artifacts. So maybe what you seek will be there. You’ll find a labyrinth of storage containers there. To my knowledge, it has the name of the original owners of the object on them. Maybe that’ll help. To my knowledge, the original owner of my puppet was someone with the last name Baker. That’s all the information I have.

Mateo: Why do you even want a puppet anyway?

Nakano: You’re a master at this, Sunny. Remember? Don’t ask questions. Now go!

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

They were given a car by Nakano. Mateo drove them to the location. Sky had changed into her superhero suit.

Geno: Two birds with one stone! What are the chances?

Sky: I dunno, it’s insane. Maybe we’ll be okay after all.

Geno: I think you’ll be able to pull through.

Geno and Sky hugged.

Geno: Oh yeah, me and Sky should probably be honest with the both of you, we’re-

Rosa: Dating, we know. Like c’mon. It’s obvious.

Sky laughed.

Sky: I guess it was pretty obvious.

Geno: But I guess what matters more is getting this shit over with. Then Nakano can leave us alone and we can find Kara.

Sky: Yeah!

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

They parked far away from the facility. It was a small facility in the middle of basically nowhere.

Sky: Hey, now we don’t have to wait up for you.

Mateo: Maybe we should have Rosa stay.

Rosa: Come on! Now I’m useful, so I can help.

Sky: Alright. Whatever you say.

Sky and Mateo lit up and flew over, Geno jumped through the air, shooting himself through the air, Rosa tried using her teleporter.

Rosa: Alright Rosa, don’t get stuck in between a wall.

Rosa teleported away. Sky, Mateo and Geno got to the side of the worn down building.

Geno: How do you think we’re going to get in?

Sky: I know.

Sky punched a hole in the wall. She punched through only one layer of the wall. The concrete layer. There was another layer that was protected by a powerful steel.

Mateo: Well, you tried.

Sky: Why don’t you do it?

Mateo: I’m strong, but I can’t break through that, and look.

The door to the facility was open.

Geno: I guess Rosa made it in alright.

They went over to the door. Expecting to see Rosa standing there, well. She was. But she was being held by Petra. The girl from B.L.A.D.E. There were two members of B.L.A.D.E standing before them. Petra and Kabuto. They wore some sort of special tracksuit on instead of their normal suits. Geno shot himself at one of them and threw a kick at Petra. She dodged under. He threw a couple kicks at her. She took out her weapon and redirected the first, and then opened her weapon with the second kick. She had a tactical umbrella. Geno went to punch again.

Kabuto: Hey! Calm down gunpowder. We know what you all want.

Kabuto held up Kara’s disembodied arm.

Sky: We need that!

Kabuto: I’ll bet you do. You are going to die in how many days? 15?

Mateo: Violet really wasn’t lying…

Kabuto: It’s not just you who will go. You’ll suffer a mental shutdown. It’ll be very agonizing. Don’t get me wrong. Anybody like you will die. Sure, you thought you were saving your life. But we’re talking a good bunch. Mateo, you, any capacity soldier. Or as I like to call them, CI soldiers.

Sky: I need to cut myself off from The Nexus. Can’t you just contain it again?

Petra laughed.

Petra: It’s too late for that. She’s gone nuclear. It’s us or them. The CI soldiers are less of a loss. We’re talking about knocking a leg or so off of B.L.A.D.E. Or letting a small army of people die.

Sky: Both of those are bad, but isn’t there a better way?

Petra: You people are all the same. Trying to play the hero game. Guess what, you are useless. You aren’t helping anyone by flying around in that suit.

Sky: What happens if I do nothing? I might die!

Kabuto: Well, there’s nothing we can do. I heard about that stunt your uncle pulled. It wouldn’t have even worked. You would’ve still died, and you would’ve wasted time doing it.

Geno: We’ll get through you to get that arm.

Kabuto: Oh really? I have a proposition for you both.

Sky: What is it?

Kabuto: First of all, Let that little girl free, Petra.

Petra hesitantly let Rosa free.

Rosa: Bitch!

Kabuto: Nobody intervenes. I will fight you for this arm, Sky. If you win, you can have it. Fair and square.

Petra: What? Don’t be dumb!

Kabuto: Don’t worry. I can handle myself. Nobody on your team or mine can intervene until the fight ends.

Sky: You want to fight me?

Kabuto: I think you heard me loud and clear.

Sky: ...Alright.

Mateo: Sky! He could kill you!

Sky: He’s got the arm. We need it. What’s dying 15 days earlier anyway?

Geno: You’ve got this, Sky.

Rosa: Break his legs Sky!

Sky and Kabuto stood off. He took out two hook swords.

Sky: (I can beat him, I can beat him.)

Kabuto got in a stance, he held one sword high and one low. While taking a low stance. He beckoned Sky.

Kabuto: Come on!

Sky looked up, no light was shining in. She’d have to use her powers sparingly. She lit herself up and fired small diamonds at Kabuto. He moved forward slowly, dodging each diamond. He swung his sword around and caught one of the diamonds and fired it back at Sky. She was stabbed in the shoulder. She lit up, making the diamond fall out. She flew at Kabuto and threw a punch. He hooked his sword onto her hand and slammed her on the ground. She flipped up and slid across the ground. She shot a blast on the ground, Kabuto jumped out of the way. She flew in the air and punched him in the chest. He fell down and slid across the ground.

Kabuto: Hm. Nice right hook, kid.

Sky flew up and grabbed a light beam. She channeled electricity and fired it at Kabuto. He was electrocuted.

Kabuto: Wow, so you aren’t a one trick pony.

Sky flew down at him. He spun around and grabbed her by the leg and slammed her on the ground. She lit up brighter, blinding him. She fired a big blast of energy. He blocked it with his swords and absorbed it. He fired the blast back at Sky. She held up her hand and absorbed the blast. She fired it back at Kabuto. He was blasted back into the wall. Cracking it. Sky charged up again. But nothing came out.

Sky: (I’m out of juice….

Kabuto flew off the wall and slashed Sky across the torso. She winced in pain.

Kabuto: What happened? Giving up?

Kabuto slashed her again.

Sky:(Ugh...How does Mateo do it? He always has enough power.)

Kabuto slashed at her again. Sky moved out of the way. He kicked her in the leg and she fell on the ground with a thud. He plunged his sword into her shoulder. She let out a cry. It ripped through her skin, tearing her skin asunder as Kabuto spun around and threw her off of his sword. She held her wound, looking at the roof. She looked at the light. She held up her hand and tried pulling energy from the light. It started flickering. Sky shot out a blast on all sides of her, blasting Kabuto back. She lunged towards him with a punch. He did a hook kick and slammed her onto the ground. Her back ached.

Kabuto: Sorry, I know you want to find yourself. But isn’t that what we all want?

He put his foot on her. She grabbed it and tried to push it off as Kabuto celebrated. Sky didn’t feel skin. She felt electricity burning through his legs. She harnessed the power in his legs and shot it back into his legs with a concentrated blast. He felt his legs overheat and jumped off of Sky. She ducked down, still slightly flying, and kicked him off his feet. He dropped one of his swords. Sky grabbed it and held it at him.

Sky: I win!

Kabuto started laughing. A black aura began to come around him.

Kabuto: Oh kid...I wish you knew…

Kabuto stopped himself.

Kabuto: I wish you knew how happy I am to give you this arm.

Kabuto stood up. He grabbed his sword with the hook of his other sword and flipped it in the air and caught it. He picked up Kara’s arm and gave it to Sky.

Petra: Kabuto, we can’t just let them leave.

Kabuto: Oh shuddup.

Petra: Shut up? We have orders! You really want to disobey!?

Kabuto: I made a deal. Why would I break it?

Petra: Ugh. you're so annoying.

Petra took out a key and put it into a slot in a storage container. It was broken open. Something flew out disjointedly.

Petra: You will now die.

Petra grabbed Kabuto’s hand and took out a ball. It encased both of them in blue light, and they teleported away. A monster stood before them.

Mateo: What the fuck…

The monster had a tag on it’s neck. It said ASH. She wore a mask over her eyes that resembled wings. One of her eyes lit up. Her other eye was gone. An entire half of her body was scorched. Burnt to a crisp. Her entire half was a deep red, Swollen and swollen like they had been there for years. Her skin was a light yellow. Like the sun. She wore some sort of suit. Maybe a superhero suit that was tight to her skin. With the burns, it was woven into her. What once may have been beautiful was made into a disgusting combination of human and hero. It had long blonde hair. It was mind-boggling that it was still intact. She held up her burnt hand. It was shaking as if it had just been burnt. It lit up with energy the same color as Sky’s and fired at her. Sky fired a blast back, but was hit back anyway.

Mateo: It’s just like us…

## 14 Days - Ashes to Ashes PT 2

It had fallen to midnight. Ash seemed like she tried to talk. But anything that came out was scrambled chattering. It let out a cry.

Rosa: Sky, I found the name Baker before those assholes attacked me. The bad news, I don’t think that thing is letting you get through it.

Sky: I-I mean, we could just leave.

Mateo: We’ll fear Nakano more than we fear that thing. Plus, I don’t think it’s letting us get away.

Sky: It hasn’t attacked us though.

Mateo: Look.

The lights started to flicker frantically. Ash was taking energy from everywhere. It started to light up. Just like Sky. It’s burnt, empty eye lit up with energy and it fired a blast from it’s eyes. It shot at Sky and then swept at everyone else. Mateo grabbed Rosa and pushed her out of the facility. He was hit. Sky and Mateo fired blasts back at Ash. But it blasted through them and the lasers burnt and blasted back Geno, Sky and Mateo.

Mateo: That power…

It fired a concentrated blast with a cry. The blast burst through both layers of the wall.

Mateo: We’ll have to work as a team to take it down.

Geno: I’ve got something. Which one of you is faster?

Mateo: Sky’s probably quicker than me.

Geno: It seems focused on Sky. Sky, you distract it, I’ll go behind it and get it from the back, Mateo will hit it with something big once I distract it.

Mateo: How do you expect to distract it?

Geno took something from his backpack, a sword.

Geno: It’s the big sword Rosa picked up.

Sky: Awesome! Let’s do i-

Ash was charging up again. This time it fired a blast of lightning into Mateo. His armor was cracked.

Sky: Shit, Mateo!

Mateo: Well? Do the move!

Sky made a bunch of diamonds and made them fly at Ash. Ash was irritated. Sky threw a small blast at its face, it stuck to its face and exploded. Ash stumbled back. Geno took out Rosa’s sword. He brandished it on Ash. He slashed it across her back. Mateo had charged up a small sun despite his energy and blasted it at Ash. It screamed in agony and fell against the Baker storage container. Geno got out of the way.

Geno: Nice! Mateo, finish it!

Ash convulsed. It lit up and let out multiple lightning bolts. It electrocuted everyone but Rosa. As they recovered it smashed it’s hand into the storage container. Making a hole. It pulled out a puppet. It looked surprisingly professional for a puppet. Like a ventriloquist used it. It held up the puppet, and a pulse came from it that spanned the room. Sky was the only one unaffected. She looked at her friends. They both had blue eyes.

Sky: What…?

Geno & Mateo : Sky...Sky Sako...Stardust. Stole my face…

Sky: Guys! Snap out of it!

Geno grabbed Sky’s face.

Geno: Stole my face!

Geno threw Sky across the room. She stopped herself before she hit the wall. Mateo fired a blast that Sky just narrowly dodged. Geno jumped at her and punched her straight in the gut.

Sky: Geno! Stop!

Sky pushed Geno off. She was hit by a blast from Ash. Sky fired a blast at Ash’s head. She flew at Ash and punched it in the head. Ash grabbed Sky’s arm as she moved back. It was suddenly less frantic in its movement. It put Sky’s hand on its head. Sky was flung into a flashback. So was Mateo. Geno was left useless.

-̸ ̵-̷ ̷-̵ ̵-̵ ̴-̷ ̸-̷ ̴-̷ ̷-̷ ̷-̷ ̷-̷ ̷-̶ ̶-̸ ̵-̶ ̵

Sky was looking from Ash’s point of view. It was wearing the same superhero suit that covered its body. Sky could clearly tell Ash used to be a woman. She was laughing with a soldier. Who had the words B.L.A.D.E on his shirt. She laid down in a testing tube. Sky felt a feeling of excitement. Nothing but giddiness. The machine turned on. It began to whir loudly. There was muffled yelling. The machine began to burn Ash.

-̸ ̵-̷ ̷-̵ ̵-̵ ̴-̷ ̸-̷ ̴-̷ ̷-̷ ̷-̷ ̷-̷ ̷-̶ ̶-̸ ̵-̶ ̵

Back in the real world, Rosa looked at everyone. She saw they were all stuck in their own heads. She took out one of the syringes Violet had given them. Rosa stabbed the Syringe into Sky. Sky gasped and awoke. She was crying and moving frantically.

Rosa grabbed the puppet. She smacked it in the head. Mateo and Geno were snapped out of it. Mateo was nearly crying too.

Mateo: Sky...We have to kill it.

Sky: Yeah…I know.

Mateo: If you save us from The Nexus, that thing will be stuck like this. We have to kill it.

Sky: Yeah…

Sky walked up to Ash. Still stuck in its trance.

Geno: Sky…Are you seriously…?

Sky: You didn’t see what I saw.

Sky put her hand up to Ash’s head. Sky lit up with the exact same energy as Ash. She fired a blast straight into it. It’s top half of its body was incinerated. Sky was still crying.

Geno: Sky…

Sky: Let’s go back to Nakano.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

They were walking back to the criminal base.

Sky: This puppet...What do you think Nakano might do with it?

Mateo: If we had a choice, I wouldn’t give it to her. But Nakano is powerful. That’s why I didn’t want to make a deal with her. We have to give her that thing. Or we will be killed.

Geno: Jeez...Maybe that was a bad idea. You know Sky, don’t you think that she might not even have information about you. Maybe she’s just screwing with us.

Rosa: We’ve got only one way to find out.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

They walked in. Nakano was sitting on a chair. A couple men were painting her nails. Her feet and her hands.

Nakano: You’re back! You survived!

Mateo: Yeah, we got nearly beat to death.

Rosa: Here’s your stupid puppet.

One of Nakano’s guards took the puppet and showed it to her.

Nakano: Beautiful. You two did a great job! Get some rest before your next job tomorrow. I’m excited!

Mateo: Yeah, I’m dying to see what you have in store for us,

Nakano: Your so funny, Sunny!

The group made it to their quarters. Which Nakano had labeled. They slept in a room with four queen beds. Sky sat on her bed and took out Kara’s arm.

Sky: Does anyone have a knife or something?

Mateo: Just burn whatever it is you have to say on.

Sky: I don’t even know if it’s going to work. But what if I burn Kara’s real arm?

Geno gave Sky a knife.

Sky: Ugh...This feels wrong.

Rosa: You just obliterated someone.

Sky went quiet. She was frozen.

Mateo: Here, let me do it. What should I write?

Sky: Help.

Mateo took the knife. He wrote the word HELP in blood on Kara’s arm.

Sky: I still feel bad. About that puppet thing. We shouldn’t have given it to Nakano.

Mateo: So now you're doubtful? I wonder why. It was a bad idea. But we have one more job and then it’s over. It’ll probably be hard. So get some rest.

Rosa: Way ahead of you.

Sky: Yeah.

## 13 Days - Curiosity Kills Cats

Sky woke up, she realized Mateo and Geno left. Rosa was snoring loudly. Sky walked out of the room. She saw other criminals prowling around the base. They all looked dangerous. Even to Sky. Who felt confident she could beat your average human. Even one wielding weapons. She went to Nakano. Geno and Mateo were standing around. Nakano was giving them their next mission.

Nakano: Ah! Sky! Just in time!

Nakano had a map up. She was tracking someone.

Nakano: This is a tracking device. It’s tracking one of Mateo’s old friends. Katniss.

Mateo: Katniss? What do you want with her?

Nakano: You need to kill her, of course.

Sky’s heart sank.

Sky: Kill her?

Nakano: She went against me. Imagine the look on her face when Mateo kills her!

Mateo: We don’t kill, Nakano. This isn’t our job.

Nakano: What other job would I have you do? Get the job done. You know what happens if you don’t.

Sky: Me and Mateo don’t kill! We aren’t really criminals!

Nakano: What about Ash? That monster you killed. It was human once. So what about that? Get the job done!

Geno: We will, ma’am.

Sky: What?

Geno: Don’t worry, we’ll get it done.

Sky: What?

Geno: We’ll do it. Sky, you want to know about your past, right?

Nakano: That’s that then. Go. I have someone who will help you with the job.

Sky: Who?

Nakano: Old bunny-face. You’ll like him. Don’t worry.

They went outside.

Sky: Geno, what were you doing?

Geno: She thinks we’ll do it. But we’ll find a way. We didn’t want to kill people. We already broke the idea.

Sky: Katniss isn’t suffering. She has a life. Ash was...was….She was being tortured in the mind constantly. She couldn’t even put together a coherent sentence.

Geno: Well, we’ll work it out.

A man came up to them. Sky was surprised to see Ben. The guy who was taken by Mateo so long ago. When Sky got her powers.

Mateo: Ben…

Ben: Sunspot. Long time no see. Your back in the underground?

Mateo: Just for a quick visit. Then I’m going.

Ben: Splendid.

Mateo: So, let’s go. We have places to be.

Ben: Katniss, right. I thought you guys were friends.

Mateo: A job’s a job.

Ben: You’ve become much colder since Audrey killed that cop.

Mateo was clearly holding himself back.

Sky: Alright. Let’s get going now.

Geno: Are we leaving Rosa?

Sky: We can’t leave her with Nakano.

Geno: Well, she did really want to help before.

Sky: She doesn’t have powers like us though, and whatever Ben has. But I guess we have to bring her.

Mateo: Let’s just start following the tracker.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

A while had passed. They had driven a certain distance and then had to walk from there. They were walking through a small town. Ben seemed to be interrogating Mateo.

Rosa: They clearly have some sort of beef.

Geno: Look, we need a plan. We can’t let her die.

Sky: I think I have something.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mateo: I think we’ve found her.

They were next to a department store and the tracker was showing the dot in there.

Mateo: Well, let’s be stealthy about it.

Sky: (I wonder what Mateo’s planning...)

They walked around slowly.

Mateo: Pretend that we’re shopping.

They prowled through the store, checking around to see if there was anyone resembling Katniss.

Ben: Those ears of her’s, she can’t remove them. She might have her hood up.

The lights were shut off. They seemed to be the only ones in the store. Along with Katniss. They heard a gunshot echo through the store. One of the models on a stand’s head was blown off. Everyone ducked for cover. Sky left the group. She started moving through the store. Slowly. Sky looked through the darkness. She saw the shimmer of something, a gun. She snuck up behind her. She put her gun on her shoulder and fired it into Sky’s stomach. She flew back. The bullet stabbed into her like a knife. She was bleeding badly. She pulled it out. Mateo and Geno dreaded what was happening.

Ben: So your little friend left. It sounds like she’s dead now.

Mateo: Yeah.

Mateo leg sweeped Ben.

Mateo: You might have to be next.

Ben: I don’t think so,

Ben put his hand over his face. Mateo was pushed off of him. Ben was covered in a large purple mist. Rosa took out her big samurai sword. That she could barely ley hold and held it above herself in front of the purple mist. She dropped it down. It turned around and slammed into Ben’s head with the broad side. He fell down, unconscious.

Rosa: Wow, he sucks.

Mateo: What the hell?

Rosa: We came up with a plan. We’re going to bring Katniss to the Red Sun.

Mateo: What?!

Geno: People can’t kill there. Nakano knows that. We can work something out there.

Mateo: I know Nakano would like to make a deal. Maybe.

Sky got to her feet. She was gasping for air.

Sky: We’re here to help...Katniss. I want to help you.

Katniss: Help me? How?

Sky: We need to take you to the red sun. Maybe you can work out a deal with Nakano.

Katniss: I tried to kill one of her kids. She won’t make a deal. Trust me.

Sky: Can we try? She can’t kill anyone in the Red Sun.

Katniss: I’m done being a criminal. I’m tired of all this shit.

Sky: Then come with us.

Katniss: What?

Sky: Come with my people. We might be able to help you. I want to help people. But because of all these rules, I can’t be a hero. You might be misguided. But you want to help people. Don’t you?

Katniss: I want to-

A gunshot rang across the store again. Sky’s ears were shattered. She saw Katniss fall down. Someone was holding a smoking gun. It was Charles, of DRU. He was now wearing a suit and tie. With his necklace woven into his tie. He stood over Katniss.

Charles: Still breathing.

Katniss jumped up and hit Charles in the face with her gun. She held it in front of Charles’ face. She fried. The clock around Charles tie lit up. Time paused. A bullet was paused in front of him. He moved out of the way and took out a shortsword. He stabbed it through Katniss’s stomach and unpaused time. Sky jumped back as time resumed. A sword had suddenly appeared in Katniss’s stomach. She fell down.

Katniss: I want to help the weak.

Charles: You can’t help yourself.

## 12 Days - What We Fight For

Charles: I am a member of the Dimension Regulation Unit. As such, you have to die.

Sky: What?

Charles: Your continued existence means nothing but trouble for this dimension. So as I said, you have to die.

Sky: Your part of DRU. A dimension regulation unit? How do I connect to that?

Charles: Everything would be even more compromised if I told you that.

Charles tried activating his necklace. But nothing happened.

Charles: Ugh, out of juice.

Sky took the chance and flew into Charles. She grabbed him and threw him through a glass door.

Mateo, Rosa and Geno looked around as soldiers with the word DRU on their backs came piling in.

Geno: Hey! What’s going on?

The soldiers walked in a circle around Geno and Mateo. They put down caution tape. It lit up and formed into a cage. Geno touched the side, the cage felt like rubber. They could still see the soldiers. Someone walked up to them. Seemingly a higher soldier.

???: It’s a pocket dimension, neat, right?

They put tiny handcuffs on Rosa and kept her contained.

Rosa: Hey! I’ll have you sued for this!

Sky shot a couple blasts at Charles. He took out his sword and blocked them.

Charles: No sun. You’re useless.

Charles teleported behind Sky with his relic. He slashed her back. He shot at Sky a couple times. She instantly shot a blast, destroying the bullets. She flew over Charles and lit up, He was blinded. She flew down at him and grabbed his gun. He shot her in the gut. Everything around her got blurry. But she burnt Charles’s hand, and he dropped the gun. Sky kicked it away and fired another blast. But nothing happened. Charles smiled and chuckled and kicked Sky off of himself. Sky made a bunch of diamonds appear around her and shot them at Charles. He was hit in the eye by one of the diamonds. He yelled out in agony. Sky suddenly heard a voice.

Voice: (Grab the gun!)

Sky did it. She felt like she had no control of her body.

Voice: (Now shoot it!)

Sky shot it twice. Charles paused time. He ran away. To Sky it looked like he teleported. She dropped the gun, shaking. She swore she had shot him.

Sky: (Jane. Get out of my head!)

Jane: (Sorry, not happening. I need to guide you.)

Sky took power from the sign for the department store.

Jane: (There’s a vent next to one of the letters. Go up there, then you can get to the second floor before the pigs do.)

Sky flew up to the next floor. She climbed through the vent.

Sky: (What about my friends?)

Jane: (They’ll be fine, they aren’t what DRU wants. They want you.)

Sky: )Then why’d they try to kill Katniss?)

Jane: (If Katniss killed you it’d be...Bad. )

Sky: (Are you saying Katniss was going to kill me?)

Jane: (I dunno.)

Sky went by a filing cabinet. She heard soldiers walking up the stairs. Jane became visible in front of her. She was wearing some sort of suit, It was more flexible than her other combat-oriented suit. It had long almost see-through strands that came down from an obnoxiously big hat. She wore a tracksuit under this.

Jane: It’s more complicated than that.

Sky tried kicking at Jane. She did a flip over Sky and turned invisible in mid-air.

Jane: (Why don’t you just leave this pointless quest behind? We could just help you start a new life. You could forget about all of this. We’d get The Nexus back and continue our experiments. You can do whatever it is that you do. But better.)

Sky: (Who is The Nexus anyway?)

Jane: (You wouldn’t fathom what The Nexus is. The Nexus is you. The Nexus is all people like you.)

Sky: (So what? It’s Mateo too?)

Jane: (Yes. Your powers come from it. That’s why you die if it dies.)

Sky: (Then whose DRU?)

Jane: (A very naive bunch of soldiers. Weak, and they put their head where it shouldn’t be. They do this out of duty. It’s their job. Boring! Duty is bullshit! It’s an excuse to serve a cause you don’t believe in!)

Sky: (What’s wrong with you? We all need a cause. What’s yours?)

Sky felt a syringe be stabbed into her and something was shot into her.

Jane: (My cause is to research. To protect the world. Metahumans are far too powerful compared to humans. You took a point-blank gunshot there! Don’t you see? I need a world where we are protected against scum like you! Heroes are last decade. We can make soldiers. Living or automated. Or fully controlled!)

Jane stabbed two more syringes into Sky. Sky punched the air. She hit a cabinet, and it fell over. A bunch of soldiers were up there now. Searching with their lights. Sky ducked down. Jane appeared behind one and slit his throat with her syringe. She went invisible when the soldier behind shot his gun, She grabbed his gun and forced it to his head and pulled the trigger. Blowing his brains out.

Jane: (These suits, they rival metahuman power. This is the power you possess!)

Sky: (I’m not going to do something like that! Your insane! A-and what are you stabbing me with?)

Sky could feel herself getting weaker. She heard Charles’ voice.

Charles: Stop! Don’t waste your time! I’ll get her!

Jane: (Well then, what is your purpose?)

Sky: (Now is not the time for that!)

Jane: (Tell me! What do you fight for?)

Sky: (So...I’m dying because of The Nexus? I’ve been getting flashes of memories. I had to have caused them because everyone with my power gets these flashes since I got my powers. My answers lie with the nexus. I’d rather die finding out who I really am than die not knowing if I’m even who I think I am!)

Jane: (Cute.)

Charles turned and took out his gun and pointed it directly at Sky. He shot her in the center of the chest. It stung, everything was numb. She was breathing heavily and holding the wound, trying to keep blood in. Jane appeared in front of Charles and grabbed his necklace and ripped it off. She threw it away.

Jane: Sorry, I need her alive.

Charles shot at Jane, she went invisible and grabbed Charles from the back and suplexed him over her. He was slammed on the ground, he scrambled to his feet. He slashed at Jane with his sword. She ran away.

Jane: That’s enough for you. I would leave, unless you want our deal to fall through.

A bunch of B.L.A.D.E soldiers poured into the buildings and take jurisdiction. DRU soldiers started to withdrawl. Jane became visible again and smiled at Charles. He left the room through the vent. Jane picked up his clock necklace.

Jane: Interesting.

Soldiers came upstairs. Jane took out a syringe and stabbed herself in the stomach a couple times. She threw the syringe next to Sky,. who could barely talk.

Jane: H-Help! Help me! She stabbed me! She’s right here! Here!

A couple soldiers put cuffs on Sky and put her to sleep with a syringe. They dragged her away.

Soldiers: Dr. Pita! It’ll be okay!

Jane: She’s unhinged….Crazy. Bring me to a hospital, and bring her to Alcatraz! Along with her goddamn friends!

Soldier: We have them in custody as you speak. I should get you some help…

## 11 Days - Wishful Dream

Sky was still aching. She sat up. But could barely move. She was chained to a table. She shook around. Someone stood above her. It was Petra. She was walking with the soldiers that were pushing her in.

Petra: That little stunt Kabuto played was not okay. So we had to take this back.

Petra held up Kara’s arm.

Sky: How…

Sky could barely talk. She was suddenly numb all over.

Petra: Nakano let us right in. She even let us search the place. We found the one thing we needed. This.

They rolled Sky into a room and unstrapped her. They went to put a meta collar on her. But she suddenly fell into a fit of pain. Falling to her knees. She held her head.

-̸ ̵-̷ ̷-̵ ̵-̵ ̴-̷ ̸-̷ ̴-̷ ̷-̷ ̷-̷ ̷-̷ ̷-̶ ̶-̸ ̵-̶ ̵

Mr. Untouchable: Okay Sky. Freya will be coming down stream. I want you to get in the lava-

Sky: Get in the lava?! I’ll die!

Mr. Untouchable: No you won’t. Not if you put a sun shield around yourself. You’ll be fine.

Sky: B-But what if it doesn’t work?

Mr. Untouchable: This is what heroes are about. Risking your life to save another's.

Sky: Yeah! And that’s why I don’t know why I was chosen for this stupid team.

Mr. Untouchable: Sky. Look into my eyes.

Sky took a breath and looked at Mr. Untouchable.

Mr. Untouchable: You trust me right?

Sky: Yeah…

Mr. Untouchable: Then try it. Be a hero.

Sky: ….Ok.

Sky fired up her powers and made a shield around herself. Her powers covered her body with a ball of heat. She dipped her foot into the lava slightly. It was hot. But she wasn’t burning to death. She saw Freya’s unconscious body floating down stream. It was that blonde girl she had seen in many of her dreams. As she fell, Sky grabbed her and quickly got out of the lava.

Mr. Untouchable: See? Look at tha-

-̸ ̵-̷ ̷-̵ ̵-̵ ̴-̷ ̸-̷ ̴-̷ ̷-̷ ̷-̷ ̷-̷ ̷-̶ ̶-̸ ̵-̶ ̵

Petra stabbed Sky with one of her syringes. Sky was snapped out of it. Her head was throbbing. She floated up in the air and made a shield around herself, it burnt every soldier around her, they jumped back, yelling for help. Some of them readied their weapons. Petra waved her hand, making sure nobody noticed. Sky fell down, asleep. A soldier came over with a gun.

Petra: Hey, no killing her. Put her in solitary confinement.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Geno was put in his cell. He laid against the side of the wall. He slammed his hand into the wall.

Geno: Godammit! How the fuck do I get out of here?!

???: You don’t. Dumbass. Guy tried to break out of here a while ago. He succeeded. The security has really been beefed up.

Geno: What...Audrey?

Audrey: That’s me.

Geno: You’re here?

Audrey: This is where Sunspot sends most of the criminals he finds. He doesn’t kill us, you know. He’s going to be making a lot of enemies here.

Geno: He thinks he’s going to die in 11 days. I think he doesn’t have much to lose.

Audrey: 11 days? He got cancer?

Geno: No. It’s complicated. Something I don’t feel like explaining to you.

Audrey: Passive-aggressive much.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mateo was being brought to his cell. Metas in their cells were becoming rowdy. Mateo knew he could still activate his powers with a collar on. But he couldn’t reveal his one trick yet. He looked ahead of himself. There was a girl being brought to a cell ahead of him. She had long blonde hair, and was very skinny. She only wore a sports bra and shorts. She had blood on her. She turned and looked at Mateo.

???: Hi, I’m Tia.

She chuckled at him. He looked away. She was put into a cell. Mateo was brought to the top row and was put in a cell. He silently walked in and laid down.

Mateo: Mike would’ve liked this one.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Red Sun headquarters were empty. Kara walked into the headquarters. This is where she remembered her arm being when she was sent the message.

Kara: So empty...Where is everyone?

Kara looked around. She had lost Sky again. She put down Pandora’s box. She walked into the main room. She saw someone across the way.

Kara: Hey! Who's there?

Rosa: Shit...Kara?

Kara: Hey! Your Sky’s friend! What are you doing here?

Rosa: Sky’s in prison, Alcatraz.

Kara: Alcatraz?!

Rosa: Mhm.

Kara: Well how’d you get here?!

Rosa: I paid them off. I don’t have any powers. They said if I left Sky behind then I’d be fine. I obviously wasn’t going to do that. So I went to Nankao to rip her a new one. But she isn’t here.

Kara: It isn’t safe here, just, come with me. Okay?

Rosa: Fine. But not because you asked. Sky’s been looking for you forever.

Kara: I’ve been looking for Sky.

Rosa: Look. Sky has 11 days to live. Some bad shit is going down with DRU and B.L.A.D.E. We’re trapped right in the middle.

Kara: I’ll do my best to help.

Rosa: How can we get Sky outta jail?

Kara: I have an idea.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sky was in line for the shower. It was 50-plus strong. There weren’t as many women in the prison. But there still weren’t enough to jam in the shower room all at the same time. Sky was stuck behind a chatty girl. Who was talking to another girl ahead of her. She was quiet as a rabbit. Not a peep came out of her. She was already embarrassed to have to shower with a bunch of girls who she didn’t know. At least there were lady-cops patrolling the area. Sky was eventually led in. The room was as uncomfortable as she could imagine. Everyone seemed not to care. Like it was normal. Sky scanned the room. She was astonished when she saw Audrey’s face. She really had been brought to prison. She remembered what Jules said.

Jules: Bitch got sent to Alcatraz. She’s the only human there to my knowledge. Won’t be long till she’s raped and murdered.

Sky went over to her awkwardly, there was an open spot in the shower next to her. Sky walked up next to her. It took a second for Audrey to register Sky was there.

Audrey: That chest...Sky?

Sky: Very funny.

Audrey: So, what are you doing here?

Sky: I’m here for the same reason you are, right? I’m a criminal.

Audrey laughed. She talked to Sky in a babying tone.

Audrey: Little Sky is a criminal, aww.

Sky: I was working with Nakano. Things went bad. We got entangled with B.L.A.D.E

Audrey: So you got a special escort. What happened to Nakano.

Sky: I don’t care. She would have packed up and left for all I know. I mean, B.L.A.D.E had the…

Audrey: B.L.A.D.E had the what? Come on! You’ve gotta fill me in!

Sky: It doesn’t matter. I’m going to die in 11 days anyway.

Audrey: You have a death wish? Death comes suddenly here. Couple guys hanged themselves last week. Another girl was raped and killed and a guy was beat to shit since I’ve been here.

Sky: That’s not what I mean! I was told that I had 24 days to live. Trust me, the evidence is there.

Audrey: If you say. Well, to your eleven days! Your stuck in here, but at least you’re here with me!

Sky didn’t even have the energy to laugh. She just finished cleaning herself.

Audrey: Guess being in jail wasn’t on your bucket list.

Sky: Shut up.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mateo was walking back to his cell with lunch. He walked past the other inmates cells. They were allowed to walk in and out of their cells. With heavy supervision.

Criminal: Hey Sunspot! Mrs. Atlas sends her regards!

A criminal threw something, he knocked Mateo’s tray out of his hand. Mateo paused. He looked over at the guy.

Mateo: Hey, what’s your name?

Criminal: Call me Big Mike. What’s it to you?

Mateo: Big Mike. Your name is Beverly. You know how I remember that?

Big Mike: You’d better watch it…

Mateo: I put you in here.

Mateo looked around, a group of people were looking at Mateo now. He started pointing at various criminals he noticed.

Mateo: You...You....You...and you.

Criminal: You can’t play with your little sparks in here! You're in our house now!

Mateo came up to Big Mike.

Mateo: That guy speak for you?

Big Mike looked around, and laughed.

Big Mike: Sure he speaks for all of us. Everyone in agreement?

Everyone seemed to be in agreement.

Mateo knocked Big Mike’s plate of food out of his hands. He walked away.

Mateo: Go eat your food off the ground. 5 second rule doesn’t apply to you.

Big Mike stood up, he towered over Mateo. He grabbed Mateo by his shoulder. His eyes were blazing. His unibrow had turned into an ugly scowl.

Mateo: Maybe when the guards are gone.

Mateo pushed him off of him and walked away. Big Mike laughed again. His laughter booming throughout the cell block. Mateo went back to his cell. The girl from yesterday, Tia, was sitting in his cell.

Mateo: What the hell are you doing here? Get out.

Tia: Sorry, did I annoy you?

Mateo: Uh...Yes. So get out.

Tia: I want to help you, Mateo. I’ll help you beat these pompous dickheads. Just give me the word.

Mateo: You must weigh what? 90 pounds? You can’t fight that many people. Get over yourself.

Tia: Such a bore.

Tia stood up and got out of Mateo’s cell.

Mateo: And put some clothes on. Why didn’t they put you in the jail uniform?

Tia: I’m just too pretty!

Tia walked away, she went back into her cell. Shortly after, cells were closed again.

## 10 Days - The Interrogation

Sky was sitting on her bed. She was playing with some plastic silverware she had. She put it against the wall and scraped it down. Her head had been throbbing. She was brought back to Jane. Slamming her against a concrete wall and dragging her up it. Being shot by Katniss. The meta collar that her parents and uncle had put around her neck. She remembered Jules being killed by Arthur, The memory didn’t seem to be something she saw. But she saw Violet stumble out of the apartment and get in the elevator.

Violet: I want to do something right for once in my life.

Sky saw her body in the elevator. Slumped over. Lifeless. Why? Why did she do this? Sky’s mind jumped to Ash. Suddenly. Her screams, they sounded more like screams of agony the more Sky remembered them. Agony and pain.

May: Are you really going to play into the hero fantasy? I’ve seen it before. A crazy girl with powers. Thinks she can save the world. People like that ended up killing people. Lots of people.

Sky got a painful headache. Was it going to be like this until she died?

???: God. You really do look cracked up.

Sky looked at herself in the mirror of the sink across from her. Her hair was down, there were bags under her eyes, her jail suit was already somehow dirty. It was Emeric who stood in front of her. The man who interrogated Mateo.

Sky: Cracked up?

Emeric: Well, like you’re on crack. I’m seeing fatigue, pain, desperation.

Sky: Are you trying to remind me that I’m in pain? I’m well aware myself.

Emeric: Desperation is cause for a bit of that attitude there. Come with me.

Sky: What? Why?

Emeric: I want to talk. You didn’t seem too busy.

At the very least maybe Sky could distract herself. Emeric made sure she followed closely. He brought her into a bright all white room. The door was safely locked. He took out his sword and slashed it across Sky’s neck. Her collar fell off. It was somehow still operational.

Sky: What was that for?

Sky didn’t admit it, but she did love it. Her powers being free to be set off. The energy being right at Sky’s fingers, condensed into the perfect amount, not enough to overflow.

Emeric: It’s a part of the way I do things. I want to talk.

Sky: About what?

Emeric: T.H.O.R.N could be saving people. But I’m talking to you now. Ugh, what a waste.

Sky: So why are you interrogating me?

Emeric: I want to know what you know. About that arm, what were you going to do with it?

Sky: Why would I tell you that?

Emeric: We’ll be here until you die if you’d like.

Sky: Shouldn’t you be able to put it together? Didn’t your team search me? You took my superhero suit, there should’ve been a USB on one of my friends.

Emeric: There was. We have it. We plugged it into a computer. Lucky for you, it showed code we made no sense of. Then fried the computer.

Sky: Why are you telling me this?

Emeric: I’m the one asking questions. That was a freebie. So, that demon arm. Tell me.

Sky: Demon arm? Why do people call it that?

Emeric: Ugh...you ask lots of questions. That’s what it is. A demon arm. The arm came off a demon.

Sky: Kara’s a…?

Emeric: Kara? Kara Acosta?

Sky nodded.

Sky: Look, all we needed that arm for was to find Kara.

Emeric: How does finding Kara relate to anything?

Sky: Uh...nothing. It relates to nothing.

Emeric: Well, I doubt you're that good of friends with Kara that she’s the last person you want to see before you die. What about your parents? They’ve been worried sick about you. Calling B.L.A.D.E almost everyday. How many times do we have to tell them we can’t find you, or even better, that we have you in custody.

Sky: Shut up! They don’t even care about me! The real me!

Emeric: The real you has landed you in prison.

Sky leaned over the table and shot a blast into Emeric’s face. He reached through and grabbed Sky’s head and pushed her down on the table. She thought. She could teleport. She could teleport out.

Sky: I don’t want to hear you interrogate me! I was going to use Kara’s arm to find her! Then I would’ve gotten answers! I would be able to stop The Nexus!

Emeric: Cute.

Sky focused. She thought about her anger and stress. On what people had done to her. What Emeric was doing to her. Her surroundings turned the inverse of their colors. She floated up in the air. Emeric put a meta collar around her neck. It instantly stopped. Sky fell down.

Emeric: Thank you. Your information will help us dearly.

Sky had started crying.

Sky: I don’t want to die! Just let me go! Let me save myself! I didn’t ask for these powers! I don’t even want to be a hero anymore! I just want to go home! I want to go back to the way things were! Back to dinner with my parents everyday! Back to doing tedious homework assignments and normal work! I just want to be normal!

Emeric: Sorry Sky. That’s not how it works. This is your normal.

## 9 Days - Searching for DRU

Rosa and Kara were walking. Kara was walking silently ahead of her.

Rosa: So what the hell even is DRU? They’ve been chasing our asses around everywhere, I think I deserve an explanation! And don’t just shrug off my question again!

Kara: Do you have an idea of what DRU stands for?

Rosa: I’ve got no idea! What kind of name is that anyway?

Kara: Dimension Regulation Unit. They regulate dimensions. Sometimes even step into the time aspect of it. But mainly dimensions.

Rosa: What does Sky have to do with that?

Kara: Sky’s um....Special. She’s more than a capacity soldier.

Rosa: Capacity soldier.

Kara: You know what I mean. She’s more than that. I knew it from the moment I met her.

Rosa: The hell are you talking about?

Kara: You’ve seen her teleport. She doesn’t just have Capacity Inducement….She’s a meta, Rosa! Maybe I’m going insane, but how does a carbon copy of one of my greatest friends just appear out of nowhere?! Is it god giving me the finger? Sky looks just like the Sky I knew years ago.

Kara sat down on a bench and opened pandora’s box. She shuffled around in it, and pulled out a picture.

Kara: I just found this. They hid it well.

Kara showed Rosa a picture. She was in it, so was someone who looked like Sky. Probably older. There were others. Mr. Untouchable, the girl from Sky’s dreams, Freya. She held a sword over her shoulder. Kara had her arm over someone in the picture. He was a strong man, even bigger than Untouchable. He had a crest of a lion on his chest.

Rosa: The fuck are all those suits? Superheroes?

Kara: We were a team. Sky was one of us. We didn’t last long, after James’s death.

Rosa: James?

Kara: Mr. Untouchable isn’t just a hero. He was a person. With a family. Two kids. His name was James Wilson. He died in 2020 during a crisis. The Sentinels didn’t last long after that.

Rosa: The Sentinels? What kind of name is that?

Kara: Our team name. We didn’t choose the name. It just stuck. But we fell down like flies.

Rosa: You all eventually bit the dust…?

Kara: Most of us..

Rosa: Your immortal right? It must suck.

Kara: If I die then I won’t be able to help people anymore. I made a promise. To my people. Why would I let them down? It gets tiring sometimes. Life is sacred. I remember everything, I regenerate too. I transcend human life and values themselves.

Rosa: Jeez...That’s a little insane, you know? You think you're above us humans?

Kara: I think that I can help you all. That’s all.

Rosa: Well, it’s funny. When I was little I thought the same way. I was better and more valuable than people. I thought I was helping them out. I….Wasn’t

Kara: You were a little kid. I’m 5,000 years old. There’s a difference. Trust me. Maybe I should find somewhere safe to bring you while I go in there.

Rosa: No goddamnit! I’m going in!

Kara: Why so eager?

Rosa: Everyone thinks I’m a useless piece of shit. Or at least that’s what it feels like. I’m useless because I have no powers. I can’t access my parents' money anymore. So what use does Rosa have, hm? What can I do but stand by and make a funny comment every once and a while?

Kara was struck off guard by this.

Kara: Power doesn’t make us any better of people. Sometimes it makes us worse off.

Rosa: Yeah, you and your 5,000 years of experience says it all. You must be stuck in the stone age. The world’s changing. People are enhancing themselves with robotic parts. People like that are so powerful they can fight metahumans. My guards were. I know that much.

Kara: You want a taste of power? Here.

Kara dropped Pandora’s box in front of Rosa.

Rosa: What does this stupid suitcase do?

Kara held up her hand, the case broke into pieces and covered Rosa like armor.

Kara: This box suits your every need. It can manifest various artillery and traps, among other things. Here.

Kara opened the box. There was a place to put your hand.

Kara: Put your hand here. Try it.

Rosa: Really?

Kara: You want power. You want to help your friends. Why do you think I became immortal?

Rosa tried controlling pandora’s box. She made it break into pieces and wrap around her hands. It made two small cannons

Kara: Many of its constructs can make cannons and guns. You can bring it further and make weapons and protection like Violet could.

Rosa: I can seriously shoot you?

Kara: Yeah. Just not the face.

Rosa: What happens? Do you die?

Kara: No. I just don’t want to have to regenerate my face.

Rosa held out one of the cannons. She gripped a handle and pulled, a bunch of bullets came flying out of the cannon. Kara’s stomach was shredded. Rosa could barely control it, and she stopped.

Rosa: Oh my god….Kara!

Kara: I’m fine, I’m fine.

Kara’s skin healed slowly.

Kara: That’s the damage you might do to a human. Well, I’m stronger than a human. So maybe a metahuman.

Rosa: Hell yeah! That’s what I’m talking about! Once I learn how to control this thing, I’ll be unstoppable!

Kara: We’ll see about that. But I know that Pandora’s Box lives up to its name.

Rosa: This is so cool…

## 8 Days - Swarmed

Mateo was sitting in his cell. He saw Emeric walk through the jail from far away. What was he doing? He saw him with Sky close to him. He saw her face. It made her feel just like her, desperate. All of a sudden, his cell door slid open. Was it lunchtime? He peeked out of his cell. He looked both ways. The cell block was closed. But all the cells opened. Mateo knew he had to save his powers for something important, maybe to get out. If he compromised himself now, well. Things could go bad. He broke off a pipe from his sink, it started pouring water. He walked out of the cell. Lots of thugs walked out of their cells. The guy from yesterday, Big Mike walked out.

Big Mike: You got unlucky, you’re stuck in the red sun block!

Big Mike’s people ran at Mateo. Mateo swung his pipe at a guy’s face. He ducked under and threw an uppercut at Mateo. He locked his arm with the pipe and snapped his arm, he ducked under a punch and knocked another out with his pipe. He jumped back from two guy’s punches. He kicked a criminal in his knee, he fell down in pain. Mateo slammed the pipe into his head. He was punched in the face by another criminal, he blocked his next punch. Mateo drilled his fist into his face quickly. He kicked him down, knocking down another criminal. At this point, 5 people got onto Mateo and started beating him down.

Big Mike: See! That’s what happens when you don’t play by the rules!

Mateo went to light himself up, but stopped when he saw Big Mike be stabbed in the head by Tia. She flipped over to one of the criminals on Mateo and stabbed him in the back over and over. She threw him off and slit the throat of another.

Mateo: Hey! What the fuck are you doing?!

Tia: I’m saving you!

She went to slice another. But he punched her in the face. Mateo was astonished when he jumped back, his hand broken.

Tia: What’s wrong?

Tia stabbed him in the face. Mateo grabbed her by the throat and chokeslammed her. The criminals that were left had backed off.

Mateo: What the fuck are you doing?!

Tia: Helping you, asshole!

Mateo: You just killed four people!

Mateo and Tia looked ahead, cops were standing ahead of them with riot shields. Telling them to stand down.

Mateo: That’s what I was talking about.

Mateo looked to his side, Tia was gone. Mateo realized the knife she had was in his hands. Mateo put his hands on his head.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mateo was brought into solitary confinement. Where he found a group of B.L.A.D.E soldiers waiting for him. They had a TV in front of them.

Soldier: Sit.

Mateo was covered in blood from head to toe, He sat down.

Mateo: Can I get a change of clothes?

They turned on the TV. Nakano was on the screen.

Mateo: What the,,,What’s this?

Nakano: A deal. You killed some weak links for me. Now, I’ll let you out if you work for me.

Mateo: I’m not working for you.

Nakano: You heard me. If you work for me, then I’ll let you free, maybe even your friends. I’ve gained a new interest. A powerful thing called The Nexus.

Mateo: What…?

Nakano: It’s something you're interested in, right? Maybe you can save lives. To make up for the ones you took. I knew you’d break eventually.

Mateo: That wasn’t me. It was-

Nakano: Don’t act crazy! They know what they saw!

Mateo: Then what? You want me to work for you, and find The Nexus?

Nakano: I even know where it is. My connections were able to track it down.

Mateo: Really?

Nakano: Make a choice, you can rot in prison, or help that little girl that follows you around.

Mateo thought about Sky’s face. She had lost hope.

Mateo: Fine.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sky was in her cell. Tia walked in front of the cell.

Tia: Sky Sako, right?

Sky: Who are you?

Tia: I’m Tia. With the Dimension Regulation Unit.

Sky: Wait...What?

Tia: You heard me. I’ve been sent on a mission.

Sky: A mission? What do you want?! Are you going to kill me?

Tia: You, and maybe some others. It’s the name of the game. I was sent here, to kill you.

Sky: Why do you want to kill me so bad?! Why do all of you want to kill me?!

Tia: You are a mistake, a fake. A glitch in the code we caused. But everything’s been compromised. The Nexus has to die.

Sky: Why do I have to die?

Tia: You're getting in our way. Ruining our efforts. You even killed Violet with Kara. Then she decided to bitch out! Why did she have to say something?!

Mateo was being brought up. He saw Tia up at Sky’s cell. She was on the top row.

Mateo: Hey, there’s an inmate that’s free! She’s free! Get her!

Tia looked down at Mateo.

Tia: Well, now you have to die.

Tia’s eyes turned red. A robotic voice spoke from inside of her.

Tia: Initiate self-destruct. Terminate in 3…

Mateo broke free from the grip of the guards he lit up and flew in the air.

Tia: 2…

Mateo shot an energy blast at Sky. Aiming for her neck. Tia exploded. She blew a hole in alcatraz. Killing everyone directly below Sky’s cell. Mateo and the guards were blasted back. Geno was blasted back from the blow too. He was blasted into Audrey’s cell. Audrey stood up, Geno did too. His collar was broken.

## 7 Days - The Vessel

Sky opened her eyes. All she saw was blurry splotches of color. She felt immense pressure on herself. Her ears hurt. Her hair was flowing with the current. She breathed in, and swallowed a mouthful of water. She tried activating her powers. Nothing. Her instincts kicked in. She swam out of the water to get some air. Panicking all the way through. Her heart beating faster than lightning. She found some debris from the explosion and held onto it, coughing out water, gasping for air. She closed her eyes and laid on the debris. She looked at Alcatraz. Alarms were blaring, and helicopters were flying overhead. Sky had no choice, the bullet wounds she sustained days ago still hurt, but she flew in the air and blasted away. Not for long, she was closer to shore. But fell out of the air. Back into the water. She was knocked unconscious from the freezing water.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sky was asleep on a pile of hay. She was awoken by the feeling of a sloppy lick from a horse on her face. She jumped out of bed and hid behind one of the stables.

Sky: Ew….Hey! Go! Get! Come on! Leave!

The horse stood there. Not responding to any of Sky’s commands. It came over to her and put it’s muzzle on Sky’s head. Sky was calmed down. She pat its head. Feeling a smile go across her face for the first time in what had to have been a week or so. She realized her jail outfit was taken off. It was hanging on a stable door. It was still wet and stained with blood.. Someone had changed her into loose-fitting jeans. Her torso was bare, her chest and stomach were bandaged all around, tight to her body. She walked out of the barn. Wondering where she was. She looked around, there were some shirts hanging from a drying rack. She grabbed a clean shirt. It was much too big for Sky. But she didn’t care. There was a duplex in front of her, and an RV playing loud old music. It sounded like it was from the 30s. She knocked on the door. To her surprise, Amala opened the door.

Amala: You're up.

Sky: Amala…?

Amala: Well, what are you waiting for? Come in.

Sky went into the RV. It stunk of weed. Amala sat down in the seat next to the door and took a hit from a blunt.

Sky: Amala, how did you find me? What are you doing here? Where’s Kara?

Amala: Ugh, that’s too many questions. One question at a time.

Sky: T.H.O.R.N...They have the arm. Amala, do you know where T.H.O.R.N might’ve gone?

Amala: So no thanks for saving your ass? I’m offended.

Sky: I’m being serious! Where would they be?

Amala pointed up?

Sky: Up? What’s that mean?

Amala: Space, dumbass. They went back to the B.L.A.D.E vessel.

Sky: B.L.A.D.E vessel? What?

Amala: B.L.A.D.E does most of their operations in space. At least they used to.

Sky: So can I get there?

Amala: Get there? Good luck.

Sky looked Amala dead in the eyes, she wasn’t amused.

Amala: Okay okay, you can. With like, a spaceship. Or the big elevator that takes you there.

Sky: Elevator?

Amala: There’s an elevator attached to a place called Volantes that takes you there. But you-

Sky walked out of the RV. She looked up. Amala came out.

Sky: That?

Amala: The dot on the sun. Yeah.

Sky: Stand back.

Sky activated her powers.

Amala: What do you think you're doing?

Sky was brightening up, condensing her power. Like a spaceship. She let the light in. Slowly healing her wounds.

Amala: Hey dumbass! I bet you have better things to do than that! Maybe finding your friends?

Sky flew up, she left an indent in the ground as she flew straight up. Amala’s blunt was burnt away.

Amala: Damn, that was my last one.

Sky created a sun shield around her, she resisted the pressure. She reached mach speeds. Mach 2.There was a loud boom as Sky traveled. She was nothing but a streak of light flying straight up. She got into space. She was afraid she would freeze to death. But her powers stopped it. It was like being underwater but she could use her powers. She looked ahead, the B.L.A.D.E shuttle was bigger now. It was huge. Sky fired a blast at the shuttle. She flew straight into it. She broke through it’s metal shell. She blew through multiple walls before an alarm started blaring. She slowed down, and lost her footing. She went skidding across a flight bay. Where futuristic spaceships sat. She looked around. She saw soldiers fly out at Sky. There were more CI soldiers. They all shot blasts at Sky. She summoned her shield.

???: Stand down! Stand down!

Jane walked out in her combat suit.

Jane: It’s really weird of you to barge in and cause all of this destruction because of a measly arm.

Jane held up Kara’s arm.

Sky: Give it to me!

Jane: You think you're the hero. The knight in shining armor. If the nexus dies, only some people die. How many lives will you take to accomplish that? If there’s two spoiled eggs, why throw the whole package out?

Sky: I don’t want to hurt anyone else.

Jane: If you keep going the way you are, you will.

Sky flew into Jane. She punched her twice and fired a blast at the suit’s face. Jane flew up in the air and kicked at Sky, she moved out of the way and grabbed Jane’s leg and pulled her to the ground. Jane fired a laser blast into Sky. She was hit, but made a shield around herself. She fired a blast into Jane’s jetpack.

Jane: Ugh! Asshole!

Sky jumped up and flew into Jane. She flew Jane into space. She felt something be stabbed into her from behind. She turned to see a barrage of diamonds coming at her, from the CI soldiers. She tried to block, but was pierced all over her body. She saw Jane floating, she had lost the arm. It was floating idly in space. Sky flew to it and grabbed it. She was being pulled back to Earth by its atmosphere. The soldiers flew out and grabbed Jane. Sky tried to turn on her powers. But there was nothing. Space was too cold. She was being pulled back to Earth quickly. She took the arm and tucked it under her shirt. Then promptly lost consciousness. As she fell through the air, she was stopped on a dime, the environment turned the inverse of its color. Sky teleported away.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sky was laying safely on a pool floatie. Cradling the arm like a baby. A little boy came over to the pool area. Sky was still out of it, like it was a dream.

Boy: Uh...Ellie. Whose that?

A little girl came next to the boy.

Ellie: Hey, there’s a homeless girl in our pool. Come on Tarlow! We should feed her!

Tarlow: We can’t feed her! Mom will notice it’s gone!

Ellie: No she won’t! You just want to eat it all!

There was a splash. Sky was soaked, she climbed out of the pool.

Tarlow: Woah, what’s that?

Sky: Uh….It’s a prop. I’m a moviestar!

Sky flew away.

Sky: See! All special effects!

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sky went into a phone store with the arm in a bag. She was looking at one of the phones that was on display. She searched google maps for the farm that Amala was at. She wrote down the address.

Employee: Hey! How can I help you?

Sky said nothing. She went into the store’s bathroom. She created a small diamond, and stabbed the arm. She wrote the address in blood. Sky threw the arm down. She felt a wave of relief come over her. She leaned back. She wiped some tears from her eyes.

## 6 Days - White Rabbit

Geno washed up on the coast of New York. He coughed up loads of water. He crawled up. It was the suburbs of New York. He walked up the road. There was a convenience store close by. He realized that there was nobody there. There was a sign on the store. “CLOSED DUE TO EMERGENCY.”

Geno: Dammit….

He was starving, so he punched through the glass of the door and opened it from the inside. He walked into the empty store and grabbed food. He stuffed food and drinks into a backpack. He had taken it before he left. It had the USB drive that Violet had given them along with Sky’s superhero suit. He saw helicopters flying above him. He waited until they were gone and got out of the store and ran. He ran as fast as he could. Activating his powers and propelling himself with air. He stopped and hid in the backyard of a house. He saw a car pull up, and kept hiding. He saw purple mist rise up, and a figure jumped over the house and took out a huge weapon. A gigantic knife. It stabbed it into the ground. Right next to Geno.

Geno: Ben…?

Ben: You remember this mask?

Geno: Ben, can’t we work this out peacefully? You know, I’ll do you a favor to make up for knocking you out and getting you put in jail.

Ben: Maybe you did me a favor. Now I can be together with Audrey.

Ben threw his knife in the air. Geno watched it in the air. Audrey jumped up and grabbed it. She threw it down at Geno. He dodged out of the way with a backflip.

Geno: Hey, things don’t need to escalate, you know. I didn’t even do anything to any of you.

Audrey landed next to Ben. She pointed at her eyepatch.

Audrey: Oh really?

Ben: Alright, you’re dead. We’ll kill you, and then find the rest of your friends and kill them too.

Audrey handed Ben the knife. He transformed it into giant scissors. He ripped them apart and gave Audrey half of it. They locked hands and tried to close the scissors on Geno. He jumped out of the way.

Geno: Goddamnit, stay back!

Geno fired a blast of air at the both of them. Audrey was blown back, but Ben stayed his ground. He jumped at Geno as he was pushing him back and pulled back to punch. Before he met Geno, Geno palmed him in the stomach and pushed him away.

Geno: I can’t do this for long…

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Amala: Are you serious? You told her to come here?

Sky: Well, yeah. Where else would she go to meet us?

Amala: I dunno. Nowhere, maybe.

Sky: Okay, what even is your problem with Kara? What’s so bad about her that’s worth all of this pain and suffering?

Amala: What’s wrong with Kara? Oh, many things. She’s a pompous jackass who thinks she’s better than everyone she meets. She’s tried controlling me my entire immortal life. I just want to die! Peacefully!

Sky: Why don’t you just...y’know?

Amala: Kill myself? If I did, I’d just be a brain. Floating around. This body wasn’t sustainable. But my brain and heart, well. That’s a different story.

Sky: Oh…So you can’t do anything about Kara?

Amala: Besides stay away from her. I’ll keep living my shitty life. I’ll keep-

Amala put her hands on her head. She suddenly started flickering like a light. She sat on the sofa, still flickering. She sat motionless. She stopped, and was sweating.

Amala: Jeezus fuck.

Sky: What....was that?

Amala: Don’t worry about it.

Sky: No! Seriously! You just had some sort of superpower seizure! What was it?

Amala: Look, there was this one time I died. How do you think I found out my heart regenerates? I was killed, I stayed dead for a while. I got to hang in the underworld.

Sky: The underworld? Like hell?

Amala: Worse, their two different things. The underworld is for the Hitlers and Stalins of the world.

Sky: What did you do to get there?

Amala: Whatever I did, I forgot. You and your friends probably won’t go there, don’t worry.

Sky: My friends….Shit! We need to find them!

Amala: What, too focused on meeting that old bat?

Sky had left the RV. Amala sighed and opened a pill bottle and took two pills. She flickered once.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Geno dodged in between Audrey and Ben’s slashes. He dodged a hit from Audrey and kicked her in the face. She dropped her blade. Ben grabbed it. He transformed it into two big sawblades. He slashed at Geno, Geno shot out air on both sides of himself and pushed the saws up. He kicked Ben in the face. Ben changed them into swords and slashed Ben across the torso twice. Ben jumped in the air. Ben changed the swords into a huge spear. He threw it. It stabbed into Geno’s shoulder. He fell to the ground, with the spear stuck into the ground. Ben was bleeding, and trying to set himself free. Audrey and Ben stood above Geno. They heard a crash behind her, the air picked up. Sky landed in the middle of the yard. Leaving an indent in the yard.

Audrey: Look who it is.

Sky said nothing. She fired a blast at Audrey. Audrey fell down.

Ben: Audrey! Hey!

Ben came down to Audrey. She was burnt horribly. Half of her body was scorched.

Ben: Hey...You're going to be okay. Come on, we’ll get you some help. I know it. You’ll be…

Audrey put up her good hand. She took off the mask that Ben was wearing. She smiled and cried out of one eye. She kissed Ben. He lost his powerful form. He stood up. Purple mist radiated off of him. He ran at Sky. His weapon had turned into a swiss knife. He was covered in his mist. Geno stood up. He threw the spear. Ben was stabbed through the back. Geno stood up, holding his shoulder.

Geno: Sky! You okay?

Sky was looking at what she just did. Her vision was getting blurry. She was instantly reminded of what Jane had said.

Jane: If the nexus dies, only some people die. How many lives will you take to accomplish that?

## 5 Days - Ever Put A Dog Down?

Mateo: You want me to track down The Nexus?

Nakano: Well, now it’s in my interest. After seeing the power your little friend possessed, imagine what The Nexus could do for me? It’d be a nexus of power! Maybe I’ll call it The Power Nexus!

Mateo: So now you’re interested, you know. That was why Sky came to you.

Nakano: Well, Sky isn’t my problem. The Nexus is giving off boatloads of energy.

Nakano gave Mateo a tracking device.

Nakano: You can find it there. See that dot?

Mateo: You’ll find my friends if I help. Right?

Nakano: Have I ever went back on my word?

Mateo: Yes.

Nakano: Well, do you have a choice?

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sky was back at Amala’s RV.

Amala: Well Geno, if you’re a meta, that wound should heal in due time.

Geno: Really?

Amala: We are all much stronger than humans. In all aspects. You know that very well.

Geno: Yeah,

Amala: Here, take a shower, then we’ll clean that wound up.

Geno: Okay.

Geno went to take a shower, Sky was sitting there, pondering.

Amala: So kid, what are you going to do from here?

Sky: I’m killing people. How many more might I have to kill before I can go through with this?

Amala: Let me give you a piece of advice, how many days till you die?

Sky thought for a second. Her expression got even more stressed.

Sky: 5.

Amala: Well, finish the job. You really want to quit when it’s almost over?! Dumbass!

Sky: ...Then, what do you know about The Nexus?

Amala’s expression finally changed. She had a grim look on her face.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mateo was following the tracking device in a car that Nakano had given him. He saw multiple houses were destroyed. They looked like they were vaporized. He was getting closer to the energy readings. As he approached, he saw waves of blue energy going across the ground. Like the ocean. Everything it hit was being blown back. Sometimes vaporized. There was a beam of energy being shot in the air.

Mateo: What the fuck….

He got out of the car. The energy blew him back. He created a sun shield and started moving forward, he was still being slightly blown back.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Amala: The Nexus is strong, she’s the one everyone with CI powers come from. You and Mateo are connected to her. She’s where you get your powers.

Sky: She? Everyone calls The Nexus an it.

Amala: Well The Nexus is a girl. Keep listening.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mateo was pushing further in. The Nexus was surrounded by trees. As he got further in, he looked up, there was a figure in the middle of a beam of light. Mateo rolled out of the way as a laser blast came out of nowhere, it seemed uncontrollable. Mateo lost his footing and was pushed back.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Amala: She’s gone crazy. I don’t even know how she thinks. She does things with no purpose, she destroys everything around herself. Maybe she does things to destroy.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mateo got closer and closer in. He jumped in the air and was pushed back, he started flying. He flew in. Things got easier.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Amala: It’s possible she’s looking for something. But there’s one thing about her that creeps both me and Kara out.

Sky: What is it?

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mateo flew in, he saw a figure of The Nexus form. She was blasting out energy mindlessly. She turned around, her hair waving from the immense amounts of energy being produced.

Mateo: What the hell….?

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Amala: She looks exactly like you.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mateo: ….Sky?

The Nexus had the face and hair of Sky. She wore a blue unitard. Her eyes were flared up, almost covered in light. The only difference she had to Sky was that she was older .

Mateo: What the hell…? Can you talk?

The Nexus: …

The Nexus had a blank face. No expression. Except for her eyes. She was crying.

Nexus: Sky….Worry….Worried for you….

Mateo: Sky? My Sky?

Nexus: She will die….You will die….

Mateo: Shit….Sky….

The Nexus got brighter, she blinded Mateo. She got brighter and brighter. Mateo realized what she was doing. He tried to fly away, The Nexus caused a gigantic explosion. Engulfing the entire neighborhood of houses, and Mateo.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Kara and Rosa walked into a bar. It was a bar from the 60s. There was a sign in the bar that said “WHITES ONLY” Jackie was sitting next to the sign.

Jackie: Wow, brings back good times. Right Kara?

Kara: Very funny.

Jackie: Well, welcome to DRU headquarters. What do you need?

Kara: I need to work out a deal with you.

Jackie: A deal? Not really my thing. The safety of the multiverse is not something to make deals over.

Kara: I want to talk about The Nexus.

Jackie: The Nexus? What about her?

Rosa: We need you to keep her alive!

Kara: Deal with the problem peacefully, instead of with blood.

Jackie: Have you ever put a dog down, Kara? I doubt it. We put our dogs down because we know their suffering. It’s more peaceful to put the dog down than let it live and hurt itself and maybe even more people.

Kara: If you kill her, people will die!

Jackie: What about Amala? Doesn’t this apply to her? She wants to die. She’s been the dog hopping on one leg for what, 1,000 years? You could put her down, you surely have the power. But you're too attached to her. Your precious Amala. Now she hates you.

Kara grabbed Jackie by the neck. She pushed her down on the counter.

Kara: You can’t talk about her like that.

Jackie: She hates you.

Rosa: Hey! Stop! Or I’ll unleash some kickass on you!

Jackie: Some kickass? Work on that.

Jackie pushed herself off of Kara.

Jackie: The terms of The Nexus’s execution can’t be changed. B.L.A.D.E thinks they can do whatever they want with a weapon as powerful as that. Even worse, it’s on the loose. Like a rabid dog.

Kara’s arm started hurting. Just like it had before. She looked down. There was the address to Amala’s RV on it.

Kara: Come on, Rosa. Lets go.

## 4 Days - Jesters Out The Box

Sky was sleeping on the couch, with a thin blanket over her. She was cold. But when she got up, she was sweating.

Sky: 4 days left....

There was a fresh set of clothes in front of Sky. They were newly bought, and fit her well. She got dressed quickly and peeked outside. Geno and Amala were awake. Amala was making eggs.

Amala: Figured you’d wanna die with fresh clothes on.

Sky: Very funny.

Geno: Sky, Amala actually makes some pretty good eggs. I’m impressed.

Amala: That's all I’ve cooked for the last 1,000 years. Besides roasted duck. Which is harder to come by. Damn tree huggers…

Sky sat on the picnic table next to Geno. He kissed her on the cheek.

Geno: Mornin’.

Sky: Hey…

There was a wave of silence. Only the crackle of Amala’s grill.

Sky: Why are you two acting like this?

Amala: Like what?

Sky: Normal. Nothing’s normal. I’ve got 4 days to live!

Geno: I thought you’d like it. Less insanity.

Sky: That’s all this is. Kara, are you really sure The Nexus looks just like me?

Amala: You really don’t want to accept it. She looks a shitton like you. Couple more wrinkles. But black people don’t age.

Geno: Well, you really want to finish this job, right?

Sky: Yeah. I’ve killed people, innocent people.

Geno: And not so innocent people.

Sky: Does it matter? We need to find Rosa and Mateo after Kara meets us here.

There was a loud crash close by. Amala had dropped Sky’s food. There was a sharp pain going through her head.

Sky: Amala! What’s wrong?

Amala held up her hand weakly. She pointed to the distance. Kara and Rosa were walking to them.

Sky: Kara! Rosa!

There Kara and Rosa were, Rosa holding just what Sky had been looking for this whole time. Pandora’s box. The source of all her answers.

Amala: Are you fucking serious?

Sky: Amala?

Amala stood up, her head throbbing. She moved almost robotic, like she was being held back by something.

Amala: You said you got rid of that thing! You got rid of it!

Rosa: What’s she talking about?

Amala: Put the suitcase down.

Rosa obliged. She sat it down in front of Amala. She picked it up. She shuffled through the box. She pulled out a remote. The same remote that Riley had given Kara earlier.

Amala: You’re still controlling me. You’re still controlling me! You said you stopped!

Kara: Amala, just try and understand. I don’t want to do this right now.

Amala: I do.

Amala punched Kara in the gut. Kara’s hair turned half-white. Kara pushed Amala off of her with her staff.

Kara: There’s people here, Amala. We don’t have to do this now.

Amala: Bullshit! In 100 years you’ll forget this ever happened! You won’t care! Because you’re above us! Right?!

Kara: You have a higher purpose! How many times do I have to tell you? This remote is to keep you from killing yourself!

Amala held the remote in her hand. She went to crush it, Kara knocked it out of her hand.

Kara: No!

Amala grabbed Kara’s arm. She squeezed, so hard Kara’s arm was snapping violently. Sky fired two blasts into Kara and Amala, they both slid apart.

Sky: You both need to stop! Your problems can be worked out later! You both have forever to live! I have 4 days! If you can’t make-up, then leave eachother alone! Amala, it’s fucked up that you want to kill your mom, Kara, it’s horrible that you control your daughter like that, however it works. None of you wins this fight!

Amala squeezed Kara’s arm a little more, and then let go.

Geno: Hey, Sky.

Geno dug through his bag, he took out the USB drive that Violet had given them. .

Sky took the drive. Kara got on one knee and opened up Pandora’s box. Sky looked around, there was a spot to insert the drive. She put it in. There was a silence. Everyone looked in anticipation. The box turned into a laptop. The top half of the suitcase turning into a screen, it folded up to face the group. Pixels gathered together on the screen. Forming something that resembled Violet’s face.

Violet: Looks like it worked.

Rosa: What the hell? Violet?

Violet: I am not Violet. More like a replica.

Sky: A replica? Wasn’t that USB supposed to show us where The Nexus is?

The screen changed, a map of New York appeared. There was a blue dot on the map. It was blinking.

Violet: That’s her. But listen to me.

Violet started showing small constructs that looked like Sky and her friends. Along with The Nexus.

Violet: You need to separate yourself from her. You have multiple choices. You could kill The Nexus. You’ll stay alive and absorb her power. Saving thousands. Maybe millions. You can separate yourself from her. Losing your powers, but saving yourself. Now, if DRU succeeds and kills The Nexus. People die, including you. According to my calculations, the second option is the worst. You save yourself, what do you do about The Nexus?

Rosa: Your acting like we’re going to get nuked or something.

Violet: The Nexus is the nuke. You remember Professor Toast? I heard he exploded.

Geno: Yeah, he did.

Violet: Imagine that, but the resulting effect is half of the continent being wiped out.

Everyone went very quiet. Their hearts sank. Especially Sky’s.

Violet: Not to mention Sky killing The Nexus is also an extremely risky move. She could explode. Or Sky could absorb her powers, and then explode.

Sky: Goddamnit…

Violet: But hallelujah! There’s another option! You could sever the connection between The Nexus and all CI soldiers. You would lose your powers. But The Nexus’s power would fade too. Definitely the safest option. You’ll have to go into one of those dream stages, and keep your consciousness. Then find what tethers you and The Nexus. It could take the form of anything. It’ll be something you two have in common.

Geno: That’s super complicated! Can’t you see your stressing her out?

Violet: People’s lives are at stake here, jackass. Inside of The Nexus, you’ll destroy that object.

Violet showed a cartoon of Sky destroying a large crown.

Sky: How do I do it anyway? I don’t usually get one of those hallucinations by willing myself to do it.

Violet: You get in by using your powers, of course.

Sky: How!?

Violet: So you haven’t figured it out. You will, I promise. So, make the right choice.

The screen turned off. Pandora’s box turned back into a suitcase.

Sky: ...We’ll get moving tomorrow. We should also try and find Mateo. He seemed distressed when he saved me. I hope he’s okay. He might still be in Alcatraz for all we know.

Geno: It’ll give you time to think things over. Sounds good, tomorrow.

Kara: Yeah.

Amala: Kara, you get to sleep in the barn.

## 3 Days - An Old Friend

Sky and Rosa were sleeping across from each other, each on a side of a table. Amala was sleeping in her bed. The lights were completely off. Rosa was sleeping on the ground in a sleeping bag. Kara was sleeping on a stack of hay. She was startled awake. She scanned the area. It was dark, but she could still see outlines. She picked up her staff and walked out of the barn. She heard the horses’ breathing. Then she heard rustling. It wasn’t the horse. She saw a figure lumber through the yard. They went up to the RV and began banging on the door. Kara walked up slowly to them. They were disjointedly hitting the door. She grabbed their shoulder.

Kara: Hey! Who-

Kara pulled them away from the door. She saw their face. It was Mateo. Part of his body was burnt. Scarred.

Mateo: Let...Me...In....

Kara: Mateo...In the morning. You need rest.

Mateo: No…I need to talk to Sky.

Kara: The morning!

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Morning came, Kara saw that people were beginning to get up. Mateo had just woken up from a short nap.

Kara: Where did those burns come from?

Mateo: The Nexus.

Kara: Okay, I’m being serious. Where did they-

Mateo looked at Kara.

Mateo: Do I look like I’m kidding?

Kara: Shit….

Mateo: I partnered with Nakano to get out of jail. She got interested in The Nexus. So I went after her. I saw her face. Imagine-

Kara: Sky. Yeah, I know.

Mateo: You know?

Kara: I wanted to tell Sky. But I couldn’t find her.

Mateo: Who is Sky anyway? The one I know.

Kara: Sky? I don’t really know to be honest. I think there’s only one person who knows.

Mateo: DRU.

Kara nodded.

Kara: So, if you want to go in, go in.

Mateo got up. He walked up to the RV and knocked on the door.

Amala: Fuck off Kara!

He knocked again.

Amala: Jeez, what is it?

Amala opened the door.

Amala: You hungry or somethi-

Mateo: I could use something to eat.

Sky: Mateo?

Mateo: Yeah, it’s me.

Sky hugged him, and he got in.

Rosa: Thought you were down for good.

Mateo sat down.

Mateo: I saw The Nexus’s power first-hand.

Sky: You fought it?

Mateo: It’s a her. She looks just like you.

Sky: Oh yeah, it’s still hard to imagine. Does she really look exactly like me?

Mateo: Maybe a little older. I dunno.

Kara walked into the RV.

Kara: That Sky, the one you saw. She was the one I knew.

Sky: What?

Mateo: The one who was with the Sentinels?

Kara: Mhm. She was supposed to be dead. I may be old, I’ve seen many people die. But…

Kara looked at everyone. Back and forth.

Kara: The Sentinels was the closest thing to a family I’ve had for a while. It was hard to let go of Sky. She was so innocent, and it took another Sky losing her innocence to get to my Sky. To finally put her out of her misery.

Sky: You want us to kill her?

Kara: I want her to be free. That girl’s suffered enough.

Mateo: I say we get moving. There isn’t much time.

Sky: 3 days.

Kara: Pandora’s box gave you everything you need to know.

Sky: Yeah, but Mateo. If I had to guess, The Nexus caused that.

Mateo: Yeah.

Kara: Well, if we’re to make haste now, we should pack up. Do we have a car we can take?

Amala: Fuck yeah we do.

Amala pushed some food off the driver’s seat of the RV and started it up.

Sky: Alright then.

Rosa opened Pandora’s box. She put it’s screen on the dash of the RV.

Amala: Like a GPS.

Everyone sat down, Amala drove through the fence of the backyard of the farm.

Kara: Are you planning on killing someone?

Amala: Yeah, you when I throw you out of this RV and run you over!

Kara: So fresh….

Rosa was standing next to Amala. She was messing with pandora’s box.

Amala: Hey, grab a seat. Don’t want to get pulled over here.

Rosa sat down next to Kara.

Rosa: So I can really use Pandora’s box like a real weapon...Maybe I can be a vigilante. “Pandora”.

Kara: A little on the nose, but not bad. You’ll need to be careful if that’s the road you want to take.

Rosa: I’ll at least keep the weapon around. I don’t want it falling into the wrong hands.

Kara: Well hopefully your hands are the right ones.

Mateo: Yeah, if you know how to use a weapon like that, you could kill me. Even Sky.

Kara: If she learns how to use it correctly.

Mateo: I think I’m just about ready to hang up the cape. An adventure like this is well...Draining. I can’t be mad at the world my whole life.

Kara: Sky gonna take your place?

Mateo: If she wants to. I’m going to protect that kid. No matter what. She has big things that she can do in the future.

Rosa: Like what?

Mateo: Well, she’s got a lot more hope for people than I do. Even if I was a superhero, I couldn’t be a public face. It’s not my thing.

Geno: We’re going to make it, Sky. You’re going to live.

Sky laid down next to Geno. Looking up at the ceiling.

Sky: Don’t waste too much of your worries on me, Geno. If I die, do what you want. Play football, find a better girl than me, there’s plenty of fish in the sea.

Geno: Eh, I dunno if football is my thing. I mean, it’s fun and all but I really did it because of my family.

Sky: You have the perfect powers for it. You know how all those people on TV are getting enhancements to play well. You have your own enhancements, and you can turn it on or off!

Geno: Well, if you think about it like that, maybe I could go pro. It would really piss people off. Cybernetic enhancements aren’t really my thing anyway. But if you do die, I won’t forget you. The girl who got me into the weirdest adventure ever. At least things changed. I will probably be kicked from the team though. I’ll have to do tryouts next year.

Sky: Well, let’s hope I’m around then, I guess.

Geno: Yeah.

A familiar feeling hit Sky like a bag of bricks. Her head began throbbing. Even worse than last time. She fell on her knees. She put her hand on her head, she was crying.

Geno: Jeezus christ, Sky!

Sky: Syringe! Geno!

Geno dug through the bag and got the last syringe. He put it in Sky’s neck. Sky wasn’t snapped out of it. She fell on the ground and fainted.

## 2 Days - The Nexus Project

Sky was sleeping on a couch, she woke up with a beer in her hand and leaned over. She looked much older. She got up. Freya came out into the room. She sat next to Sky with two beers. She had a grey top that was accented with red. She had a short cape that only came halfway down her back. With long khakis that were tied around her ankles. She had some small work boots on. She had short blonde hair that only hung down to her chin.

Sky: Ugh, that’s the last time I party with you.

Freya offered Sky a beer.

Sky: No no, I’m good. Drank enough yesterday.

Freya: Hey, you deserve to party every once and a while. I mean, what do you have to do? Be a superhero?

Sky laughed and took the second beer Freya had.

Freya: Hey, to surviving to the end of the war.

Sky: Yeah, to surviving.

They clinked beers and drank. Freya drank her’s in one gulp. Sky took a sip. Freya went to get another.

Sky: You really need another one?

Freya: Demons are a little more resistant to this shit than you. You’ve got your squishy insides, and your blood isn’t very powerful.

Sky: I don’t love being Meta. It’s got its pluses and minuses.

Freya: Yeah, do that thing again.

Sky: Alright, alright. What do you want?

Freya: Get me something exotic. Not from this dimension.

Sky: Alright.

Sky opened a portal next to her and stuck her hand in it. She pulled out a beer that had never been heard of on Earth.

Freya: Hell yeah.

An alarm went off on Sky’s phone. At the same time an alarm went off on Freya’s phone.

Sky & Freya: Oh, that’s work.

They both suited up. Freya grabbed a sword off a hangar. She put it in a sheath. Sky wore a blue unitard and an orange and white bomber jacket. There was a bulletproof jacket under her unitard.

Freya: Don’t spend too long getting ready!

Freya walked out of the building. It seemed to be a store. There was the name Sentinels on a big sign above the store. But it was crossed out with red spray paint.

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Sky and Freya drove deep into a desert. They got out of their car.

Freya: This is the coordinates they sent, right?

Sky: You see anyone?

Freya: Maybe they bailed.

Sky: It’s a pretty common occurrence at this point.

Two people became visible next to Sky. A girl held a gun to Sky’s head. She fired. Sky’s ears rang. She could barely hear. She saw Freya yelling. She drew her sword. Freya grabbed Sky’s hand. Sky put her arm around Freya’s shoulder. Freya held her sword at the people in front of them.

Freya: Stay the fuck back! Are you asking to die!?

The two people in front of them were a tall man with a sword and a futuristic mask over his eyes. He wore silver armor all over his body. There was a girl next to him. She had a dead look on her face. Like the life had been drained from her. She had long red hair and red armor covering her body. A red chest-plate, knee-guards and gauntlets along with a belt across her waist. She was glowing a raging red. Her gun was smoking red.

Sky: That’s….That’s the red devil.

Freya: No shit! Get back up so we can fight! Walk it off!

Sky: Yeah yeah, I know. I’m okay now. Just a little headache.

Freya: I hope that’s all. Because we have to fight these guys, we don’t have much of a choice.

Red Devil: Tempest, take the demon.

The Red Devil blitzed Sky. She punched Sky in the stomach and kneed her in the face. She threw another punch, Sky ducked under and fired up her powers. She flew backward and shot a huge blast at The Red Devil. Sky shot just until she got a little tired. The Red Devil didn’t have a scratch on her. She walked towards Sky. Even though she was far shorter than Sky, Sky felt like she towered over her. Sky summoned a bunch of diamonds around her and fired them at The Devil. She took out her gun and shot all the diamonds out of the air and then shot at Sky. the environment around Sky became inverted colors. She teleported behind her and blasted her in the back. Sky held out her hand in a palm, She slashed at The Devil. The Devil dodged under. Sky left a rip in the dimension. A blank spot in space. The Devil uppercut Sky. She took out a spear and spun it around slicing Sky all over. Sky blasted herself back and landed safely on the ground.

Freya: Sky!

Sky heard Freya’s voice, and then felt the spear of The Devil go through her stomach. Freya was trading blows with Tempest. He was like a blur of slashes. Freya started moving at his speed. They were moving so fast they couldn’t be seen. Freya slashed through him twice. Tempest turned and they clashed blades. Freya fired a blast of fire into Tempest’s face. His mask was shattered. He stayed level-headed and stabbed Freya through the stomach.

Freya: You gonna want this back?

Freya did a back handspring and slashed Tempest with both swords. She was engulfed in a red energy. She turned into her demon form. She had big wings and her eyes were blood red. She had two horns coming out of her head. She had spikes coming out of her shoulders. Her skin had a hard texture to it. She was now all grey and had a fire burning out of her heart. She fired a gigantic fire blast at both of them. The Red Devil picked up Sky. Freya slashed The Devil back and grabbed Sky. Freya turned around and flew away as fast as possible.

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Sky opened her eyes. She was in the hospital. Her ears were popping. She felt lighter than normal. She realized she was on the B.L..A.D.E Vessel.

Sky: Freya...Why’d you bring me here?

Freya: This is the only hospital that can take care of metas.

Sky was in a hospital gown.

Freya: You remember what happened?

Sky: I….The Red Devil was there.

Freya: We were set up. I should’ve known. With work being so slow.

Sky: No, no. It’s okay. I was stabbed with her spear.

Sky’s head throbbed. She put her hand to her head. It was like her head was splitting apart,

Freya: That headache is probably worse too. You were stabbed through the stomach with The Devil’s spear. They stitched you up. Here, talk to the doc.

A much younger Jane walked into the room.

Jane: Hi Sky. How are you feeling?

Sky: I’m uh….Okay. A little bit of a headache, a little woozy all over. But aside from that I feel fine.

Jane: Well, that would be the bullet you took to the head. Very impressive. We’ll get to the woozy part. So, do you want the bad news or the good news first?

Sky: Good news I guess. Today’s been filled with bad news.

Jane: Well, you survived, and will make a full recovery.

Freya smiled for Sky.

Freya: That’s my girl!

Jane: And the bad news, well, it’s nothing too major. Because of the blood loss you sustained from the attack, we’ll need to do a blood transfusion on you.

Sky: A blood transfusion?

Jane: We’ll have to get donated blood for your body to ensure you can make a full recovery.

Sky: That doesn’t sound too bad. How long until I’m on my feet?

Jane: Providing everything goes well, 3 months tops. Do you know your blood-type?

Sky: Uh...AB negative I think.

Jane: That’s a very rare type of blood. But we shouldn’t have much of a problem getting it for you. You may have to sit tight for a few days. Freya is here for you. I’ll leave you two alone.

Jane left the room.

Freya: Blood transfusions are pretty common. You’ll be alright, kid.

Sky: Yeah.

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The days leading up to the surgery had flown by for Sky. Freya had been by her side the entire time.

Freya: Hey, I think when this is over we should go on a vacation.

Sky: A vacation? Where?

Freya: A totally different dimension. One where metahumans are accepted, and where barbecue fritos are still in stores.

Sky: We need to go to a beach, or something. I think you aren’t thinking hard enough. We can go anywhere we want. I can warp us to a dimension that is a gigantic beach.

Freya: A nude beach?

Sky laughed. She coughed a little at the end.

Sky: Sure.

Freya: Maybe I can find some cool guys. Y’know. You have access to any dimension, and both of us are still single. How?!

Sky: We’re hopeless romantics. I’m too innocent, you’re too much of an edge-lord.

Freya: Touche.

Shortly after, Sky’s blood transfusion happened. She was put to sleep for the day.

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The next day, Sky woke up. She felt like herself again. Filled with energy. A secretary walked into the room. Sky recognized her.

Sky: Hey, Ashley. Long time no see.

Freya’s voice changed into a more passive-aggressive tone.

Freya: What are you doing here?

Ashley: Well, I was in the area, and I wanted to congratulate Sky on her successful surgery.

Sky: Well, thanks.

Ashley: I also have an offer for you.

Freya: Hey, we aren’t doing your dirty work for you!

Ashley: No! No! This is all Sky’s choice. It’s an offer from B.L.A.D.E’s director.

Freya: Fury can fuck off. He should come down to talk to us himself.

Nick Fury walked into the room. He seemed a little older, and tired from all the work with the war.

Nick Fury: I’m a busy man. I couldn’t be bothered to drag my ass down here to talk to you two quitters. But this offer is greater than either of you. Maybe it’s even greater than me. Which is debatable.

Freya: What do you want from Sky?

Nick Fury: We want her to offer her powers to a program.

Sky: What program?

Nick Fury: It’s called The Nexus program. The war showed me that I need to step up our national security. We are going to make soldiers, created after your powers, Sky. Your Capacity powers aren’t quite metahuman. You’d volunteer some of your power, and then get on with your nude beach vacations.

Sky: God….

Nick Fury: You have a week to make a decision. This is to protect people. It’s also to reduce the shortcomings of teams. A lot less casualties. Think hard about this.

Nick Fury walked out of the room.

Ashley: Well, that’s pretty much it.

Freya: Don’t feel pressured, Sky.

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A week passed, Sky was back at the B.L.A.D.E vessel.

Sky: So you said there was a test before, right?

Jane: Well, there was a girl who tested it.

Sky: What happened?

Jane: Things were….Hectic. We’ve made changes to the hardware now. You’ll be fine. She was burnt, bad. Be prepared for things to go wrong, that’s all I’m saying.

Sky: I think I can do this. I can’t help people the way I used to, so this is how I’ll do it. I’ll help in spirit.

Jane: (What a dumbass….)

Jane: You've got a good heart Sky. Are you ready to get this show on the road?

Sky: I was born ready.

Jane: I like the sound of that.

Sky walked into the middle of the room.

Jane: Hop in that pod there. It’ll be alright.

Sky was wearing a blue unitard. She got in the pod. It slowly closed over her. Inside of the pod, it began to light up. Sky felt a sudden wave of doubt come over her. She calmed down and fired up her powers. The machine began to power up. Sky started to get lightheaded. Then her head began to hurt. The machine was getting hotter. Sky felt more and more claustrophobic. Her heart was racing. Something was wrong. Everything was wrong. What was B.L.A.D.E doing? She began to convulse, her head was throbbing. It was like she was colliding with herself over and over. She banged on the pod. Yelling into the mic.

Sky: Pull me out! What’s going on!? What are you doing to me? LET ME OUT!

Jane was sitting next to the machine’s control panel whistling. She jumped when the B.L.A.D.E vessel shook. A gigantic pulse came out of the middle of the pod. Jane’s head started to throb. She was being pulled into The Nexus. She got out of the room. She fell over as soon as she got out as a result of the vessel shaking violently. Pulse after pulse came out. Echoing through dimensions.

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In another dimension, there was Sky. Sky was 1 year old. She was in the back of a car with her family. Suddenly she started wailing.

Sky’s father: Ugh, can you get her to shut up?

Sky’s mother was trying to calm Sky down. Nothing was working. Sky began to let out the same dimension pulses as The Nexus. She let out another pulse, but this time it was pure energy. It was a slice in dimensions. She slashed the car in half. Along with both of her parents. The car slid across the highway. It hit another car, Sky went flying out of her mother’s hands. Time slowed down. Jackie looked around at the car crash. Sky was just about to hit the windshield. Jackie picked her up. Sky was still crying. She held her hand out at her parent’s bodies. Jackie started swaying her.

Jackie: Hey...Hush hush. Hush little Sky.

Sky quieted down.

Jackie created a portal. She brought Sky through the portal. The world of Sky’s old dimension began to fall apart. The dimensional rifts were too much for it. The laws of physics were falling apart.

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Jackie reappeared at a hospital. Time was still paused. She walked around the hospital. She looked at a baby. Sako. She pulled the baby out, and replaced the baby with Sky. She wrote a note next to the baby Sky. “Sky sounds like a nice name ♡.

## 1 Days - Kill The Nexus

Sky woke up suddenly. She was crying, it was like she had felt the same feelings The Nexus felt when she was put in the pod. Amala drove the RV to a stop. Everyone gathered around Sky.

Kara: God, Sky. You gave us a scare. Are you okay?

Sky: What’s the day?! Are we too late?!

Rosa: It’s the last day. But we’ve got time.

Sky looked out the window. It was dark. Except for a figure in the distance.

Sky: It’s dark out! What’s the time?!

Mateo: 11.

Sky: We have….An hour.

Mateo: More like a half an hour.

Sky started panicking.

Sky: Are we close?

Amala: Look.

Sky looked out of the window. There was a gigantic light ahead of them. She wondered how she even missed it before. There was a figure in the middle. Flying away from them. Sky instantly powered up. Slightly brighter than before. Sky retained some knowledge that The Nexus had, after seeing the memory. Sky felt everything around her. Every shred of matter. All the atoms. The electromagnetic energy. She let it fall into her.

Geno: How are you so bright? It’s dark out!

Sky: I don’t think my power is just drawn from the sun. It’s drawn from the universe.

Sky flew up in the air, she flew out of the top of the RV. She saw The Nexus far ahead, it’s blue waves moving across the earth like a beautiful, yet tragic flowing ocean.

Sky: Focus….Focus….

The environment around Sky turned inverted, she summoned the power of dimensions. She teleported far in front of The Nexus. Sky readied herself and flew towards The Nexus. As The Nexus rocketed forward, time stopped on a dime. Sky was paused. Jackie walked out of a portal along with Riley and Charles. Jackie reached into one of her pockets and pulled out a special gun. She shot up at Sky. Sky was shot down. She was surprised when she found she could move. She was conscious.

Jackie: Oh, that’s interesting.

Sky thought she could fake Jackie out. She acted like she was knocked down. Jackie walked up to her.

Sky: I don’t belong here. Right?

Jackie: What do you mean, hun?

Sky: I saw it all. I saw you take me from my home dimension. That means my parents aren’t even my blood parents.

Jackie: So what does that make them? They raised you as their own.

Sky: I want to know why you did it.

Riley: I can waste her right now, Jackie.

Jackie: No, no. Stand down. She wants answers, why would I deny her of them?

Sky: So?

Jackie: Well who you know as The Nexus caused rips in dimensions. This dimension nearly shattered. Sky of dimension Y-062 was turned into a Nexus being. So this dimension needed a “placeholder” Sky so things didn’t go belly-up. You are the bandaid on a dimensional wound. Since your dimension fell apart due to your own reactions, everything fell together beautifully. But considering you will die with The Nexus. The wound will close itself up. If you continue to live, you’ll live as a Sky without a dimension. A lost kitty. A very annoying, naughty kitty. Our record of dimensions could be changed with you around. You are a time bomb. Just waiting to explode.

Sky: My dimension is destroyed?

Jackie: Dimensional rips have varying effects. Your dimension was weak. But it worked out, it was your fate, kitten.

Sky: So now you’re going to kill me?

Jackie: No, I’m going to kill The Nexus. Then you’re going to die. We should’ve forced our way into B.L.A.D.E before. Things got much worse than they needed to.

Sky fired a blast at Jackie. But it didn’t travel at all.

Jackie: Yeah, that’s not how time works.

Jackie punched Sky in the face. She spun around and slammed her fist into Sky, and then kicked her in the leg. She fell down. Sky lit up and flew up. Jackie’s power faded, and time unpaused. The Nexus was rocketing through the air, with boatloads of energy emanating off of her.

Jackie: Slow her down Riley.

Riley ran around The Nexus at super speeds. She kicked up a tornado around The Nexus. Stopping her from moving.

Jackie: Here Charles. The E-Blade.

Jackie gave a blade to Charles. He took it and helped Riley.

Jackie: I know you can’t get past me-

Someone slashed their blade across Jackie’s back. She went flying through the air. Into the tornado that The Nexus was stuck in. Nakano stood in front of Sky.

Nakano: Sky! I can’t believe it! You’re still alive!

Sky: What are you doing here?

Nakano was holding a red sword. She slashed at Sky. Sky flew up higher.

Nakano: Cheater! You know Sky, you killed all my best people. I barely have any more elites now! All because of you!

A group of criminals ran up behind Nakano. The RV came around The Nexus and ran into the group, running over almost half of them. Everyone got out. Rosa used Pandora’s box as a cannon and shot at a bunch of soldiers. She was pushed back by the pure power. But took down multiple soldiers.

Nakano: So annoying!

Nakano slashed at the RV. With one slash, the RV exploded. Sky flew at Nakano, she turned and slashed at Sky. Sky dodged out of the way and shot a blast at Nakano. The blast was deflected by her sword into Sky. Mateo slid over to Nakano. He grabbed her by the leg and flipped her on the ground.

Mateo: Your criminal days are over.

Nakano: You can’t put a poor woman out of business! Plus, my blade cuts down anyone. It gives me the touch of luck.

Nakano slashed at Mateo. Mateo dodged, the sword automatically moved to Mateo and slashed him across the chest. Nakano slashed again at him. Mateo caught the blade in between his hands. She kept slashing down. Mateo fired a blast into the blade. Nakano was thrown off balance, and she dropped her blade. Mateo shot a weak blast at Nanako. She fell down.

Nakano: I think everyone knows that the real greatest superpower is money. Soldiers! Kill them all!

Nakano’s soldiers came running at everyone. Mateo picked her up, and got her in a chokehold.

Mateo: One more step and she dies! Back off! I’m doing you a favor, Nakano, leave. Bring your soldiers with you.

Nakano: I’m not a wussy, focus your fire on Mateo!

Mateo knocked out Nakano, he put cuffs on her.

Riley’s tornado was slowing down, and The Nexus’s power began to diminish. She was condensing it back into herself. Charles ran over to Riley, and she gave him a boost into the air as The Nexus was falling. He slashed her across the stomach. She screamed in pain. Charles came above her and raised his blade. Sky tackled him out of the way. He dropped his sword. Sky let out a huge burst of energy. Everyone, even her friends were blown back. Sky put her hands on The Nexus’s head. Sky’s head hurt just by looking at someone that looked just like her. The space around The Nexus and Sky turned inverted. It was like a prison was locked around them.

Jackie: Look at the time.

Jackie took out a watch. It was midnight. She put her hand in her pocket. She took out a large weapon. It looked futuristic, and like it didn’t fit in her pocket whatsoever.

Jackie: Hear the lullaby? It’s time to go to sleep, Sky.

Jackie shot her weapon, a gigantic laser came out of it. Debris shot up around Sky. The weapon disintegrated all of Nakano’s soldiers. Her friends looked over. There was a rip in the inverted prison Sky had locked herself in. But Sky was still okay. It was like she was paused. Mateo stood in front of Sky with a hole in his chest. Rosa and Geno gasped. Rosa was welling up with tears.

Mateo: Not yet.

Mateo fell to the ground. Jackie reloaded her weapon. Kara pushed Jackie’s weapon to the ground, and Amala snapped it in half.

Amala: You’re dead.

## 0 Days - Save The Nexus

Sky woke up, she was in a small room. She had never seen it before, but it felt nostalgic. She got up.

???: Sky! Get ready for school!

Sky: Okay!

She clasped her hands over her mouth. Sky had no idea why she obliged. She didn’t even recognize that woman’s voice as her mother’s. Sky got dressed and looked in the mirror. Her reflection started moving on it’s own. It put its hand up to Sky’s mirror.

S̷͜͝͠k̵̞̈́̉͜y̸̢̛̲: Snap out of it. Now!

Sky’s head hurt again. She felt nauseous. She went into the bathroom, and threw up in the toilet. She went up to the mirror.

S̷͜͝͠k̵̞̈́̉͜y̸̢̛̲: Feeling good? Remember your mission.

She had to disconnect herself from The Nexus. Something that was sacred to Sky.

Sky: Something that’s sacred to me, and you. You are The Nexus. Right?

S̷͜͝͠k̵̞̈́̉͜y̸̢̛̲: I’m me, Sky. Maybe the last shred of humanity left in The Nexus.

Sky: So, what do we have in common?

S̷͜͝͠k̵̞̈́̉͜y̸̢̛̲: You’ve seen my memories, you’d know better than me.

Sky’s mother came into the bathroom.

Sky’s mother: What are you doing? You’ve gotta get going! You’re going to be late for the bus!

Sky’s reflection was crying.

Sky: Yeah, sorry, sorry. I was just getting ready.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sky was at school. Everything looked foreign to Sky. Much older. Sky took out a mirror. She saw S̷͜͝͠k̵̞̈́̉͜y̸̢̛̲ in it’s reflection. Sky had no time to sit through lessons. She skipped her first class and walked around the school.

Sky: Maybe it’s in the lost and found…?

S̷͜͝͠k̵̞̈́̉͜y̸̢̛̲: Give it a try.

Sky looked through the lost and found. Nothing.

S̷͜͝͠k̵̞̈́̉͜y̸̢̛̲: Don’t you know you’re on a time limit? DRU could kill us both at any second.

Sky: Yeah! I know!

S̷͜͝͠k̵̞̈́̉͜y̸̢̛̲: We need to go home. Now.

Sky: Is mom or dad home?

S̷͜͝͠k̵̞̈́̉͜y̸̢̛̲: We’ll see.

Sky fired on her powers. She flew home. She quietly went in through her window. Sky started looking through her room. Opening drawers and throwing things. Sky felt like it had to be something they had in common. Something that clicked.

Sky: Hey, we have this same top. Maybe that?

S̷͜͝͠k̵̞̈́̉͜y̸̢̛̲: Hmm, probably not.

Sky: Yeah, that’s stupid.

Sky kept looking. There was still nothing. She heard someone walking up the stairs.

Sky: Shit!

Sky tried activating her powers. But nothing was working. She looked in the mirror. Her reflection was very stressed. Sky’s dad came in her room.

Sky’s father: Sky! You’re supposed to be at school! What are you doing to your room?!

Sky: Dad?

Sky’s father: That’s all you have to say?! Alright! Come on!

Sky’s father roughly grabbed her arm. He pulled her. Sky fell on the ground.

Sky: Hey! Dad! I-I was looking for something! It’s important!

Sky’s father: What could you have possibly been looking for?!

Sky: It’s important to me, it means a lot.

Sky’s father: What, are you talking about that stupid necklace?!

Sky: Necklace?

Sky’s father: Yeah, that dumbass necklace with your dad’s ashes in it. You left it at your friend’s house.

Sky didn’t know who her dad was. But she was starting to get pissed. She began to light up.

Sky: Whose house?

Sky’s father: I don’t care, that short haired bitch friend of yours! Stop playing games! You’re going to school!

Sky: No I’m not.

Sky’s father: You what?

Sky: No I’m not. I need to die. I need this cycle of pain to end.

Sky again felt like she had no control of her words.

Sky’s father: Don’t try and get sympathy from me.

Sky’s father raised his hand. Sky instinctively flinched.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Rosa got on top of Jackie and started smashing her with Pandora’s Box.

Rosa: Fucking bitch! What the hell’s wrong with you?! You killed him! You killed him!

Jackie was putting up her arms and blocking the best. She was starting to bleed. Jackie stopped Pandora’s Box and opened it’s lock. She put her hand on the handprint in it and took control. She threw Rosa off of her and turned Pandora’s Box into a gun around her hand. She fired it right through Rosa. But no bullets came out. She tried firing again. Nothing.

Violet: I told you, I’m not working for you anymore.

Pandora’s Box turned into a cannon. It wrapped around Jackie’s arm and crushed it. Jackie winced in pain. She fell on her knees. Amala nearly smashed Jackie’s head in. She rolled under and shot Amala multiple times in the gut. Riley punched Amala away. She ran past everyone, kicking up dust and blasting them back. Jackie wrapped her arm up with part of her coat. Charles paused time. He came over to Jackie. He gave her the E-Blade.

Charles: We’ll take care of the rest.

Riley ran at Kara and punched her at sonic speeds. Kara waited till the perfect moment and hit Riley in the stomach. Riley phased through Kara and kicked her in the back. Amala grabbed Riley and threw her far away. Riley rolled across the ground and eventually found her footing.

Amala: Shit, I do remember you. Who even are you?

Riley: I’m Riley of the Dimension Regulation Unit. Always have been, always will be.

Riley punched Amala in the face. She grabbed her arm and palmed her in the elbow. Snapping her arm. Riley leg sweeped Kara and started punching her at rapid speeds. She was churning away at skin and bone.

Amala: Shit...Mom.

Amala grabbed Riley and slammed her on the ground. Riley started phasing. Amala began to phase too, She kept her hands on Riley. She squeezed Riley against herself.

Amala: Mom! Take the fucking shot!

Kara regenerated her eyes and took her gun out. She looked up, and shot Riley in the head. Geno and Rosa blocked a hit from Charles. Rosa turned Pandora’s box into two huge gears with gun muzzles going across the front of one of them. She shot a barrage of missiles at Charles. He sliced one of the missiles in half. Geno used his power to direct the missiles around. He came over and kicked Charles a couple times. A missile came from behind and hit Charles in the back. Geno watched as Charles was blown back. He palmed him hard in the stomach. Charles fell down.

Rosa: That was pretty awesome.

Amala: Yeah. It was.

Amala took Kara’s gun and shot Charles multiple times.

Kara: What the hell?! In front of the kids?

Amala: You’ve done it.

Rosa gasped.

Kara: What is it now?

Rosa pointed at Sky and The Nexus. Jackie was bloody, she was standing next to The Nexus. The Nexus had a cut across her neck.

Jackie: Why did I kill Sunspot? It’s part of the job. You were in my way.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sky was at Freya’s house.

Sky: This is it?

S̷͜͝͠k̵̞̈́̉͜y̸̢̛̲: Yeah, should be. You can walk right in.

Sky went into the house. She went looking around. Freya walked out into the room. She looked slightly younger.

Freya: Hey Sky, what’s up?

Sky: Uh, H-hi Freya. Have you seen my necklace?

Freya: Oh, that sun thing?

Mr. Untouchable walked into the room. He was drinking a beer.

Freya: Ask James.

Sky: Oh my god….Nice to meet you sir!

James: Uh, nice to meet you too, Sky. Is that a saying you kids use?

Sky: Y-yeah. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you. Uh, can I hug you?

James: You feeling okay Sky?

Sky hugged James. She suddenly felt like she lost her ability to speak again.

Sky: I’m going to paradise. It’s the last time we’ll see eachother in a while. Do you have my necklace?

James: Yeah, right here. I was going to hold it for you. Here.

James gave Sky her necklace.

Sky: Uh...See ya.

Freya: Ugh, kids. Right?

James: Sky’s one of the good ones. I believe in her. She gave hope to people. Even to you when things got hard. Me when we fought Yuri. The new generation is...untrained. Some of them have a bad outlook. But maybe Sky can give them a better one.

Sky got out of Freya’s house.

Sky: We did it.

Sky felt the necklace emanating with energy. This had to be it.

S̷͜͝͠k̵̞̈́̉͜y̸̢̛̲: Hey Sky. Hadn’t you wondered what it’s like when you die?

Sky: Well, I’ve been anticipating it for a while now.

S̷͜͝͠k̵̞̈́̉͜y̸̢̛̲: I’ve been thinking, maybe you shouldn’t be scared. Imagine what more waits for you after it ends. Life is just the beginning. Plus, I had a great one.

Sky: ….I’m sorry you had to-

S̷͜͝͠k̵̞̈́̉͜y̸̢̛̲: It’s okay. I’m in pain. Everything is wrong. Carry on for me.

Sky: I will.

The Sky in the mirror began to fade away.

Sky: Hey….What are you doing? Why are you going now?

S̷͜͝͠k̵̞̈́̉͜y̸̢̛̲: In the real world, I’ve passed on.

Sky looked at the necklace. It faded away.

S̷͜͝͠k̵̞̈́̉͜y̸̢̛̲: Get out. Now. Save yourself.

Sky: I-I don’t know how to! Stay! We need to do this!

S̷͜͝͠k̵̞̈́̉͜y̸̢̛̲: I’ll do it for you, don’t worry.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sky woke up, she was on top of The Nexus. Her throat was slit. Jackie was next to Sky.

Sky: What did you do?!

Jackie lunged onto Sky with her blade. Sky instinctively made a shield with her powers. She shot a blast at Jackie to push her off of herself.

Sky: It didn’t work….

Jackie: Well, my work here is done.

Jackie made a portal. Portals appeared under Riley and Charles. She walked through them, and the others fell through theirs.

Rosa: Sky! You’re alive!

Sky: Mateo….

Sky looked at Mateo’s body.

Kara: He passed protecting you, Sky.

Amala: Plus, we don’t have time for this. Sky, look!

Sky turned around. The Nexus was emanating power. She was getting brighter and brighter.

Kara: We’ve gotta move!

Sky: No….We don’t have time. I’m going to absorb her energy.

Amala: What are you talking about?! You’re going to die!

Sky: No I’m not. I can do it.

Kara: Guys….She’s right. She has to try. We have no other way to keep the explosion back.

Rosa: Violet said it could be nuclear.

Sky: I need to try.

The Nexus got brighter and brighter. Sky stood her ground. Her heart beating out of her chest.

Sky: Well, I was supposed to be dead anyway.

She couldn’t think like that. If she did, everyone would die. She was going to absorb The Nexus’s power. Sky put out her hands. As The Nexus exploded, there was a huge flash of light. Sky’s friends were forced to look away. Sky let out a cry.

Sky: I can do this...I can do this…

There was an explosion. Everything went white. Through the dust, there Sky was. She was glowing bright blue. She was panting. Everything went fuzzy, and she fell unconscious.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Kara and Amala were standing in front of the hospital. They were sitting on a bench together.

Kara: So, what do we do from here?

Amala: What do we do? I think you know the first thing.

Kara took out the remote.

Amala: That controls me. It controls everything, keeping me alive. Right?

Kara nodded.

Amala: Even….Even my brain.

Kara: You were cursed with immortality. When you died in 2021 , and then were resurrected when?

Amala: 2030s.

Kara: This is keeping you alive. That curse had to have been broken when you died.

Amala: So what are you going to do?

Kara: You don’t want to be immortal? You’ll live your life like a normal human.

Amala: It’s all I’ve ever wanted.

Kara threw the remote on the ground. She smashed it.

Kara: So, what are you going to do now?

Amala: Get drunk, have sex, and do drugs.

Kara: Amala! Seriously?

Amala: Just kidding, just kidding. I probably will do those things though. I’m going to live a life. My own life. Maybe I’ll visit Terra.

Kara: Yeah, okay. So, no more threatening to kill each other, right?

Amala: No more controlling me like your puppet.

Kara & Amala: And no more fighting each other.

They shook hands. Kara tried to hug Amala. Amala turned her back and moved away.

Amala: See ya around, mom.

Kara: Yeah. I’ll see you.

Amala walked away. Maybe this was the last time Kara would see her.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

The next day, Sky was back on her feet. Rosa brought flowers in for Sky.

Sky: You’re a little late. I’m good now.

Rosa: Dammit, these flowers cost 500 dollars.

Sky: So you’re good with your parents now?

Rosa: With my dad, yeah.

Sky: Good. Awesome.

Sky got up. Geno walked into the room. Him and Sky joined hands and kissed.

Geno: Morning.

Sky: Hey.

Rosa was gagging herself.

Geno: Don’t be so immature, Rosa!

Rosa: You two are disgusting.

Geno and Sky laughed and kissed again.

Rosa: Don’t do it again!

Geno: So, what are you going to do now?

Sky: I really never thought about it. I was expecting to die, and was focused on not dying. I didn’t have any idea what I’d do after this.

Rosa: Well, you have any idea?

Sky: I do, yeah.

Geno: What is it?

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sky arrived at a house, it felt nostalgic to her. But she had mixed feelings about being there. It was The Nexus’s old house. She knocked on the door. Her Mother opened the door.

Sky’s Mother: Oh my….Sky!?

Her mom started crying. Her tears came down like a waterfall. She wrapped her arms around Sky.

Sky: Hey mom….

Sky’s Mother put her hands on Sky’s cheeks.

Sky’s Mother: You look….Younger.

Sky: Well, it’s complicated. I may look like your daughter. But I’m not her.

Sky’s Mother: Sky did have a complicated life….But explain please.

Sky: I just wanted to tell you, your daughter passed away peacefully yesterday.

Sky’s Mother: I….She was pronounced dead 16 years ago.

Sky: She wasn't, she was kept alive by B.L.A.D.E and experimented on. Your her mom, I wanted you to know the truth. It might be hard bu-

Sky’s Mother: I thought something bad may have happened. She was having a blood transfusion and the next moment she was pronounced dead. Thank you for telling me. How do you know she died?

Sky: I was protecting her. There were many bad ways she could’ve gone. She went peacefully...In her sleep.

Sky’s Mother wiped her eyes.

Sky’s Mother: Thank you for telling me.

Sky: I did know things about her past….Like I said, it’s complicated. That asshole guy who used to live here, does he still live here?

Sky’s Mother: He was arrested not long after Sky was pronounced dead. I was stuck with him when I had Sky. He became even worse after she died.

Sky: I’m happy you’re living your own life.

Sky went to leave.

Sky’s Mother: Um, hey. Would you like to come in for dinner? I know you aren’t her. But I would like to have dinner with my daughter one last time.

Sky: Uh, sure.

The food that Sky’s Mother made her tasted nostalgic too. Even though she had never tasted it.

Sky’s Mother: Well, Sky. What are you going to do after this? Things must feel complicated for you.

Sky: Yeah, they are. I think I’m going to go home for a while. I’ve got a boyfriend, he’s really good at football. I hope he can get back on the team, and well. I owe an apology to my own parents. I want to see them again. I hope they can accept me for who I am now.

Sky’s Mother: I think they will, they may not be your real parents. But they are your family.

**End.**