Artemis Volume 6

**The Rising Phoenix**

Started August 18th

Finished August 31st

Line Count:

Terra - 310

Millie - 145

Sae - 115

Themis - 71

Amelia - 47

Phobos - 59

Tempest - 31

## Issue 1 - Slowing Down

Terra was sitting down on a chair. With a bunch of other people around her in a circle. She was wearing A grey button-up crop-top and jeans under a fur coat. Her hair was completely let down. And she had socks and slides on. She wasn’t paying attention to the person talking at that point. The therapist in the middle looked over to Terra

Terra: Look, Mr. Hudson. I get why I was invited here. But I didn’t agree to take part.

Mr. Hudson: Don’t be so pessimistic Miss Lorenz.

Terra: You can call me Terra.

Mr. Hudson: Okay Terra. Please share with the group.

Terra: U-um sorry. What was the question again?

Mr. Hudson: How do you believe the last couple weeks have changed you?

Terra: Uh...I don’t know if I changed. I guess the world around me has changed into a better place. And I guess that makes me happy.

Mr. Hudson: So you care about the people around you deeply?

Terra: I mean, who wouldn’t?

Two younger men were whispering to each other.

Cheap man: Such a goodie two shoes...She acts like she actually did something to change it.

Vulgar man: I know right. Helluva bod though.

Mr. Hudson: Anything to say men?

Both men stayed silent.

Mr. Hudson: I thought so. Thank you Terra.

Cheap man: Hudson, isn’t that everyone? Doesn’t that mean we can leave?

Mr. Hudson: Yes. You can go.

Everyone went but Terra.

Terra: Is she okay?

Mr. Hudson: Stable at least.

A couple men wheeled in A tied down Amelia. She had dampening cuffs on. Along with an arm cast.

Mr. Hudson: Hello today Amelia.

Amelia: What do you want?

Mr. Hudson: We have someone here today.

Terra: Hi Amelia. How are you holding up?

Amelia: Shitty. Thanks to you.

Terra: I came to check on you. And I wondered if you wanted to go somewhere.

Amelia: The graveyard.

Mr. Hudson: Is that a threat Miss Ashi?

Amelia: I want to see my brother.

Mr. Hudson: I don’t know if we ca-

Terra: That’s fine. I’ll keep an eye on her.

Mr. Hudson: \*sigh\* That’s fine.

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

Terra and Amelia got dropped off at the graveyard. Amelia had power dampening cuffs on her arms and legs. Like bracelets. The guards in the car stayed close by. Amelia led Terra over to Donny’s grave.

Terra: Amelia…

Amelia: Back off.

Terra: Seriously? You know I can’t do th-

Amelia: I said back off!

Terra went silent and left Amelia by herself. She walked across the street into a store. The two guards in the car kept their eye on Amelia.

Amelia took a deep breath.

Amelia: I’m sorry I couldn’t save you. I don’t think I ever will now. Please forgive me. Because I’m a failure. Everyone around me doesn’t understand. Things would be better if you were here. I could kill everyone that wronged us! They’re sick. Disgusting.

Terra came up behind Amelia. She hadn’t heard what she said.

Terra: I miss him too.

Amelia: Yeah.

Terra: Are you ready to go back?

Amelia: No. One more thing.

Amelia took off the choker she had always worn. Red with a charm in the middle. She set it on the grave.

Amelia: That was a gift from him. I don’t deserve it.

Terra: Why? I mean. He gave it to you. Why wouldn’t you keep it close.

Amelia: You remember what I did when I went back in time. I failed him.

She thought about the moment she killed Terra in the erased timeline. Donny’s screams at her echoed through her.

Terra: Didn’t you…?

Amelia: I killed you.

Terra: Yeah…

Amelia sat the choker she had down in front of Donny’s grave.

Terra: Look. Whatever you did is in the past. Look at what happened to you when you tried to take it back. You’re in an insane asylum now.

Amelia: I’m not insane!

Terra: It doesn’t matter whether you are or not. I’m just saying, try and start a new life. I bet Donny would be happy for you.

Amelia: You don’t-

Terra: Yeah! I don’t know what he would say. But it doesn’t look like you would either. He wasn’t that complicated. Shouldn’t be hard to know he'd be happy to know you got over him. Instead of suffering for his death that you had no part in.

Amelia: But I was the leader of the blue coats! I agreed to it!

Terra: He’d probably go anyway.

Amelia: But he didn’t go when I said it was a bad idea!

Terra: Then what happened?

Amelia: Then...Millie died. And you died eventually.

Terra: Maybe someone had to die. There was no way around it.

Amelia: There had to be a way!

Terra put her arm on Amelia’s shoulder.

Terra: We aren’t gods Amelia. We can become as powerful as them. And pretend to be them. But our roots are human. We were brought up human. We can’t change that.

Amelia: You spent years trying to change something you thought was wrong. Why couldn’t I have?

Terra: I-it’s different, isn’t it? You went back selfishly.

Amelia: Don’t take the high road on me. Let’s leave.

Terra: Wait.

Terra took out a flower. One she had gotten from across the street. She sat it on the grave.

Terra: It just feels right. Come on. We have a little while left. Do you wanna go somewhere?

Amelia: Mhm.

Amelia and Terra walked past the guards in the car. Who started to follow them. But Terra waved at them to stop.

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

Amelia and Terra arrived at a dojo that Millie attended. Where she sharpened her skills. Millie was sparring with someone. She seemed to be going easy. He blocked a kick from her and then caught the next one. He flipped her on her back and looked down at her.

???: Don’t go easy Mills! You know I’d still take you if you were going all out.

Millie got to her feet. She seemed flustered.

Millie: Amelia!

Millie came up to Amelia and hugged her. Amelia didn’t react. Just blushed.

Millie: Thanks for filling in for me at the therapy session today Terra.

Terra: No problem. It was actually kind of interesting. You know what else would be interesting?

Millie turned to the man she was fighting.

Millie: Hazel, is it okay if me and Terra here spar? I promise, she’s more skilled than she looks.

Terra: Hey!

Hazel: You don’t call me Hazel, it’s sensei! But yes, you may spar.

Terra squared off against Millie. Hazel came over to Terra.

Hazel: Don’t be surprised if she goes easy!

He repositioned himself in the middle of the room.

Hazel: Slap hands and go!

Terra and Millie approached each other and they slapped hands. They distanced from each other and Terra closed the distance with a jump front kick. Millie dodged and threw a punching combo at Terra. She blocked all Millie’s blows and kneed her once. Millie blocked Terra’s second knee and pushed her away. She lunged forward and punched at Terra. She dodged and Millie’s hand landed in the ground. Terra came in with a punch. But Millie did a leg sweep and dropped Terra to the ground. She rolled back and did a back handspring. Millie jumped back. While Terra did a flip into a axe kick. And turned to where Millie dodged and kicked her in the stomach, side and then side of the face. Followed by a kick. Millie barely slid back. She came in and punched Terra in the face. Terra went flying back and slid across the ground. She realized the punches and kicks she was hit with from Millie actually started to hurt a lot more.

Hazel: That’s time!

Millie put her hand out to help Terra to her feet. Terra got up on her own.

Hazel: No hard feelings kiddo. This is a martial arts studio for metas and mutants after all.

Terra: Oh, I’ve dealt with my fair share of metas and mutants. Promise me.

Hazel: Not like that I hope. You’re completely unprotected!

Terra: ...That’s right.

Millie: It’s hard to adjust without your armor. Huh?

Terra: Yeah I guess. Maybe I could train somewhere.

Hazel: I mean, it’s not like you did half bad against Millie here. Why don’t you stop by here if you wanna train?

Terra: Okay.

Hazel: Any previous belt rankings?

Terra: I was a Blue belt where I trained.

Hazel: Seriously? You should totally be a black! You use mostly simple moves. But your form is nearly perfect. And even your advanced moves are executed great! I bet if you and Millie’s fight wasn’t stopped you wouldn’t have stayed down. Where’d you train?

Terra: We had to really earn our rank where I trained. It was like being a soldier.

Hazel: I hope our training is enough for you.

Terra: I’ll pop in on occasion.

Terra bowed to Hazel. He was surprised. But he bowed back.

Hazel: So does paying per class work for you?

Terra: Oh yeah...that’s fine.

Hazel: Looking forward to seeing you!

Millie: Come on Terra.

Hazel: Oh yeah, is your other friend okay?

Amelia had been fixated on Hazel for a while. With an envious look on her face.

Millie: U-uh. She’s fine!

Terra, Millie, and Amelia walked outside.

Millie: Wouldn’t want to go to all classes?

Terra: I doubt they have the routines I’m used to. I’d rather train alone. I’ll spar there though.

Millie: So be it. Amelia, are you doing okay?

Amelia: I’m fine.

Millie: Are you jealous or something? Me and Hazel only train...now.

Amelia: Sure. There’s something devilish about him. He might take you away.

Millie could barely say anything.

Terra: Don’t worry Amelia! That’s not the case at all. He treats all his students the same.

Amelia: Yeah right.

Terra: Ugh...insane people…

Millie: I’ll bring Amelia back to the mental asylum. You can go about your day Terra.

Terra: Alright...thanks.

Millie: Yeah, no prob.

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

Terra walked to her apartment. She saw a paper on the door. She laid down on the bed.

Terra: Ugh...I have to get a job.

She had looked at the paper on the door. “First rent due in a week.”

Terra got up and started searching for jobs on her phone.

Terra: None of these are remotely interesting! Why would I pick up trash to make some money? Ugh, it’ll only be due in a week…

Terra looked at a calendar she had on her wall. There was a date two days away. “Funerals”

Terra sighed. She thought about her killing Amala with Leon’s sword. Then to Michael being pulverized by Empyrean.

Terra: That’s enough tragedies for you Leon. And for me.

## Issue 2 - Fallout

Terra got up in the morning. It was early. She went down to the gym in the apartment complex and worked herself with her normal hardcore workout regimen. She thought about the dojo from yesterday. Her chaste training was a blessing and a curse. She kept in shape, and could face up against anyone in a fight. But her training was way ahead of normal dojos. Hours pass. An alarm went off on her phone. Terra rushed up to her room and clicked on the news. A newswoman came up. “Breaking news” came up on the TV.

Newswoman: Popular celebrity and progressive entrepreneur Jilaya Springer has pleaded guilty to multiple crimes. Including human trafficking, unlawful imprisonment and other crimes. She has been arrested and labelled a terrorist after the attack on San Francisco that was caused by her. Here we have the video conference of her pleading to her multiple crimes.

Jilaya sat in front of a camera in an empty room.

Jilaya: I, Jilaya Springer plead guilty to unlawful imprisonment, Lying to the government, destruction of U.S soil and landmarks, possible genocide against metas and mutants, unlawful experimenting with humans without their consent.

Jilaya kept going, and going. So many crimes. And she knew them all. The newswoman came back on.

Newswoman: This shocked the president. Who had been working closely with her for some time. Here we have president Jayden Borden in a press conference.

President: This is a tragedy. I can’t believe I let this slip under my nose. She had the backing of the government and multiple others. And I was not allowed to interfere. To me, Jilaya was not only a partner. But a true friend. Many super powered individuals were put into these jails unfairly and against their will. It is here that I announce that forty six million metahumans and mutants. Are freed into the world. We will be making sure jobs are opened for them. And multiple shelters will be made up in place of the MFI’s jail camps.

Terra shut the TV off. She got a text. It was from Millie.

Millie (text): We did it! Come on, let’s meet up at Bibble and Sip.

Terra texted back with a “sure.” She took a quick shower and threw on some clothes and got to Bibble and Sip to meet with Millie.

Millie: So? How do you feel?

Terra: I’m as excited as you! I mean come on. I freed that many people? I’m like the next Abraham Lincoln!

Millie: Without the hole in the head. And instead of getting taller you shrank.

Terra: Eh. I gained an inch. It’s probably the last one. I’m 5’4”!

Millie: Well I bet you feel pretty big after all that.

Terra: All those people had to be freed. But I feel problems on their way.

Millie: I mean, there will probably be some shit that comes up.

Terra: Where are the millions of people who were freed going to live? How many of them slipped past and are still bad? Everyone deserves to be free. But there’s going to be consequences.

Millie: It’s like time. The bad always has to be balanced out by good.

Terra: I guess you could put it that way.

Millie: I mean. You can see it everywhere. Bibble and Sip is more busy now. I see it everywhere. I mean, imagine how many decided to move to New York?

Terra: I thought the problems would be over once Integer was taken care of. I should’ve thought ahead.

Millie: It’ll pass. People will get used to it.

Terra: I hope so.

Millie: Oh. It’s almost time for Amelia’s conference.

Terra walked out of Bibble and Sip. She walked down the street. Towards her apartment. She felt her phone ring. It was an unknown caller. She picked it up.

Terra: Hello?

???: Terra Lorenz. Come to 280 St Nicholas Ave. It’s in harlem.

Terra: Who is this?

???: Doesn’t matter. Come armed if you must.

Terra: Tell me who you are. And maybe I’ll think about it.

???: The president wants to speak with you.

Terra kept down her laughter.

Terra: Is this some kind of joke?

Someone walked up behind Terra. The man behind Terra was slim. His hair was practically white. He wore a black suit of armor with a mask over his mouth. He had words on the front of his armor. T.H.O.R.N. He swiftly got her into a chokehold and put his hand over her mouth. He dragged her into an alley. And his grip was too strong. Terra blacked out.

???: Target secured.

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

Terra awoke. She sat up and looked around. The same blond man from earlier walked into the room.

???: This way of securing you was much easier.

Terra: Who the hell are you?

???: Tempest! Back off. We don’t want to scare her.

A dark skinned man in a blue and black suit with an eye patch came in front of Terra. His dark hair was spiky.

Tempest: This is President Borden.

President: We just wanted to talk. Sorry for the harsh way we had to take you in. But you weren’t complying-

Terra: The president of the United States?! Wants to talk to me?! It’s so good to meet you...uh..sir! Oh, sorry. Go on.

President: I want to talk about what you did.

Terra: What do you mean? Shutting down the MFI?

President: Now we know you definitely did it. I’m just about as excited that so many people saw peace. But metas are crowding areas now. People are getting mad. Metas don’t have homes, nor jobs. And another thing. While the ones who deserved to rot in jail did indeed keep rotting. Some slipped under our radar. And crime rates are going up. I want you to clean up the mess you made.

Terra: Why don’t you have your little assassin do it for you?

President: What do you think they have been doing? We want you. You caused this after all. And with your armor. It shouldn’t even be a problem. I pay well.

Terra: Actually. I do need money. My rent deadline is almost up...And it’s my first rent!

President: If you do these simple tasks you’ll get paid handsomely. So slap on that armor and I’ll give you your first mission.

Terra: Well here's the thing. I don’t necessarily have it.

President: What do you mean?

Terra: It was destroyed in the fight against Integer.

President: Of course it was. So your just another human?

Terra: No! I might be weaker without my armor. But I can still hold my own.

Tempest: I can test that.

President: No, I trust her. Her level is still well over the level of a human. You are even more powerful than most metahumans.

Terra: What makes you say?

President: I can see your power level.

Terra: Oh. So you have a soul blade?

President: Yes I do. Either way, what you did was great. But there are more problems that are arising at the moment. So we have to think about that first. Now I have a few metas we want you to take out. I’ll give you a modest first job. Vera Thorne. Take her down and bring her to me.

Terra was quiet.

Terra: I wanted to live a normal life for at least a month. And it’s been two weeks!

President: You are late on your rent, aren’t you? This is a good paying job. I would take it if you know what’s good for you. So what’ll it be?

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

Terra was wearing black, thin pants, her grey button up crop-top. With a black jacket over it. She pulled her hair into a ponytail. With her bangs left hanging down. She took a deep breath. Terra, Leon, Millie, Amelia, and Riley were all grouped together. Around the graves of Amala and Michael. Everyone said words about each. Amala first, They moved on to Michael’s memorial services. Everyone went up and gave their condolences. Riley came up.

Riley: Until I met Mike, I was manipulated by everyone in my life. More or less. He motivated me. I’m going to make everything right now. He showed me that kindness and taught me to use my speed. He wasn't’ even from this world. And he fought to protect it.

Not long after everyone was outside the cemetery.

Leon: We still doing dinner?

Riley: Dinner?

Terra: Why not.

Everyone else: Alright.

Millie: I have to pick up Kris from school. Then I’ll meet you all there.

Millie went to leave. And Amelia went with her.

Millie: Amelia. Try staying with them. Spend some time with your sibling.

Amelia: Fine.

Riley: Doesn’t Kris go to the super school?

Millie: Yeah actually. GS Super Academy.

Millie left. While everyone tried tracking down a restaurant. Amelia walked silently with the group. Riley looked at Amelia. She realized Amelia was wearing dampening cuffs.

Amelia: What?!

Riley was startled by Amelia’s harsh tone.

Riley: You look good. Less disheveled from last time I saw you. Who did your outfit?

Amelia: ...What? Um, Millie helped me pick out this outfit. Apparently I have “horrible” fashion sense.

Riley laughed. Amelia took a second, but she smiled and chuckled too. Then went back to her “I want you dead” expression.

Terra: Hey Riley, what do you like? There’s Cabby’s cabbyshack diner, Dan’s delectable dishes, or Henry Hall’s Tasty Snacks.

Riley: Cabby’s or Henry’s.

Leon: Dammit!

Terra: Amelia, what do you like better?

Amelia: Henry’s a pervert.

Leon: Cabby’s it is!

Terra: I’ll tell Millie.

Terra took out her phone. Now a normal phone and not a flip-phone. Before she could text Millie she got a call from Themis. She let it ring out. No more distractions. A normal life. Going to eat was a normal thing, right? She texted Millie the restaurant they were going to.

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

Millie was driving Kris to the restaurant. There was an additional person in the backseat. She had pale skin and wore a beret on her head and had pigtails. Along with a black shirt with the band “CA/CD” on it and a red flannel. She had grey pants on.

Millie: So Kris, whose she exactly?

Kris: Don’t act like dad! She’s a friend.

???: I’m new to the school just like him.

Millie: Nice to meet you. What’s your name?

???: I’m Mallory. You’re Millie. Right?

Millie: The one and only.

Mallory: Shit...Your sister really has a robotic arm?

Millie: Cool, huh? How do you two know each other?

Mallory: We both agreed that most of the kids in school were egotistical assholes.

Millie: It’s high school. That shouldn’t come as a surprise. Either way, we’re going to dinner with a bunch of family friends. I hope it’s not awkward for you.

Mallory: Don’t worry. I don’t care.

Kris: We do have some weird friends.

Mallory: Weird how?

Kris: One’s clinically insane and she’s Millie’s girlfriend.

Millie: Me and Amelia are not a thing yet!

Kris: You said yet.

Mallory: I dunno Kris. You’re pretty weird. You talk to invisible people.

Kris: I-It’s mediumship!

Mallory: You mean ghost whispering. Right?

Kris: It’s all the same. What’s your power again?

Mallory: I can mimic most powers. You know this already.

Kris: Show her what you can do Millie!

Millie: I’m able to counter any attacks as energy blasts. I can also do other stuff.

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

Everyone got together at a table. They ordered drinks and were all waiting for their food.

Amelia: So why can’t I drink again?

Millie: The doctors said no. That’s all I got.

Riley: You were right, little dude.

Riley gestured to Kris.

Riley: They act like a couple.

Mallory: Or a mother and a baby with a knife.

Terra: It’s weird that I’ve never even done this.

Riley: Done what?

Terra: A gathering at a restaurant like this.

Millie: What is it you're going to say? “I’m from the woods so it’s weird.”

Terra: I mean, I am pretty much from the woods.

Leon: There’s not much of a normal anymore. It’s like it’s nonexistent.

Terra: It is! I’m like a weirdness magnet.

Mallory: Is that right?

Terra: Who are you again?

Mallory: Kris’s plus one. Don’t worry. When you said weird I hope you didn’t mean good weird.

Mallory shook Terra’s hand. A server walked behind them. She fell to the ground and dropped a couple drinks. Mallory laughed, and jumped out of her chair and helped the server up.

Mallory: Sorry about that. Are you okay?

Server: It’s not your fault! I’m not usually this clumsy. Thanks for your help.

Mallory sat back down.

Kris: Why did you act like it was your fault?

Mallory: I did? I was just helping her out.

Everyone received their food and ate to their heart's desire. Terra ate all of her food. She had gotten a triple decker reuben. Along with a side. She even ate some of her friend's food. There weren't many days that Terra could eat this much in one sitting. Terra and Leon were outside chatting before the night winded to a close.

Terra: You wouldn’t believe how much I need a job right now. My rent’s almost due.

Leon: Why don’t you get a job at a fast food joint or something?

Terra: I really just want something that I can apply my skills in.

Leon: Like fighting?

Terra: That’s not my only skill! But yes.

Leon: I know someone that might have a job you could help with.

Terra: That sounds extremely shady.

Leon: Big money. And don’t worry. Amala knew her.

Terra: What’s her name?

Leon: I’ll text you the info. If not, Just get a shitty job as a cashier. We’ve all been there. Don’t take the high road Terra.

Terra looked at the info Leon texted her.

Terra: Leon. This sounds like a drug deal or something.

Leon: I don’t think it is! Listen, there’s a reason I think you’d wanna help.

Terra: Try me. And don’t say money.

Leon: The MFI might be tied up in the mess.

Terra stopped talking.

Leon: Terra?

Terra: Leon, after I took Integer down I thought you would stop chasing after danger like I did.

Leon: I get everything Integer related was hard. But I can’t just slow down. I don’t know if you remember. But I’m still trying to learn magic. Without Amala to guide me it’s been...weird. Either way, whether you go or not is your choice. Do as you please.

Terra: Thanks for the help. I’ll see you around. Be well.

Leon: Same to you.

Terra walked away from Leon. She checked her phone. She had gotten a voicemail. She played it back. It was President Borden.

President: Today is the day you said you would be ready. And I was willing to wait. Go to the alleyway Tempest pulled you into. And you’ll meet one of our agents from B.L.A.D.E.

Terra responded in a video message.

Terra: On it.

## Issue 3 - Kennedy Remastered

Terra arrived at her apartment and opened her closet. There were a couple things covered up with sheets. She took the sheets off. Revealing a fully finished breast plate. And two almost finished gauntlets. They were both raw metal. She looked at the text from Leon. The info about the job. Hunt down rouge MFI remnant. Need an extra set of hands. Signed “Gashadokuro” Call this number. But the president’s offer was better.

Terra: Gashadokuro?

Terra searched up the Gashadokuro. A gigantic skeleton creature from Japanese mythology. It creeps around town at night. Killing any humans it can find. It bites off the heads of humans and drinks their blood. Making it even taller and more of a threat.

Terra: Person must be crazy.

Terra equipped the two gauntlets and the one breastplate. The armor fit well over her button-up crop-top. There was a sling on the breastplate. It fit Terra perfectly. Along with the gauntlets. She took a deep breath and tried to bring in the power of olympus. Nothing. Before she left she opened her closet again and grabbed her spear.

Terra: Just these jobs. That’s it.

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

Terra was walking down an alley. With a feeling of dread in her stomach. She’d be free for 5 months of rent with the money she’d be making. In that time she could get a good job. She traveled down the alleyway. Her hand on her spear. She could hear something on the building above.

???: Ginger? Didn’t expect to see you here.

Terra: ...Sae?

Sae jumped down. Terra held out her spear to block an attack. Sae landed on her spear. Balancing on it. She looked into Terra’s eyes. Sae backflipped off of Terra. Landing right in front of her. Sae wore a large cloak. She slipped it off, and tied it around her waist. Revealing her battle-ready gitup. A black sports top, her cloak was over briefs that came down to augmented MMA shoes. That seemed like they could hold something. She kept her long white hair. One of her arms was prosthetic and so was one of her legs from the knee down. Very obviously prosthetic too.

Terra: I saw you...I saw you die.

Sae: No you didn’t. You heard an explosion and assumed I died. Stick was nice about his bomb placement. One in the leg. One in the arm. Either way, you look like you’ve been places since we last saw each other.

Terra: You aren’t...mad? I mean, it was my fault that the hand and MFI attacked us.

Sae: I wasn’t thrilled. But that was still two years ago. Plus, I wouldn’t be who I am now if it wasn’t for Stick pressing the big red button.

Terra: Of course…

Sae was inspecting Terra’s armor.

Sae: New armor. You look so tempting.

Terra: ...I’ve been through multiple sets of armor.

Sae: Come.

Sae jumped all the way to the top of the building above them. Terra had to jump up using multiple balconies. They started walking across buildings.

Sae: I heard that you were the one to take down Integer. Well, not with that armor.

Terra: Exactly. My armor was destroyed in the fight against her.

Sae: So what did you do to em? Kill? Toture? Murdered their family in front of them?

Terra: I’d rather not talk about it. I did what I had to.

Sae: Still trying to stay pure? Guess what? This job proves you aren’t exactly an angel.

Terra: I know...Where are we going exactly?

Sae: Vera Thorne. You’d guess her power was plant manipulation. But it’s not.

Terra: And what are you exactly?

Sae: Oh, I’m part of B.L.A.D.E now! We are the stealth unit. T.H.O.R.N.

Terra: Cool I guess. So you’re the Gashadokuro right?

Sae: That’s what they call me.

Terra: Why were you in Leon’s text then?

Sae: I do other things then be a B.L.A.D.E dog. I have ambitions. Plans for the future.

Terra: That doesn’t sound good at all.

Sae: And it starts here, Ginger. Getting rid of the trash you left when you took down the big lady.

Terra: You know we’re supposed to keep them alive, right?

Sae: She’s close by.

Terra: Sae, you heard me. Right?

Sae: Yes yes Ginger. She is supposed to be right below us.

Sae flipped her sword up into the air. She jumped down after it. And caught it with both of her feet. She fell down. But saw nobody below her. The sword was stabbed into the ground. And Sae ripped it out. Terra jumped down and landed with a roll.

Terra: Nobody’s here, and you were supposed to be stealthy!

Sae: Well yelling at me isn’t exactly stealthy either.

Terra: Whatever. Let’s look for her.

Sae: The store is empty. Let’s find out if anyone is in there.

Terra: Got it.

Terra went to move.

Sae: Stop! What are you doing?

Terra: Oh. I get it.

They both stood next to each other and closed their eyes. They heard one person sneaking around.

Sae: Wait for it…

Vera was seen through the window glass. She was wearing an orange button up shirt with rolled up sleeves. Along with black pants and a belt. She had unkempt brown hair they came a little past her shoulders. Sae quietly stood up and positioned her sword. Terra realized what she was doing. Sae stabbed her sword straight through the window. Sae felt a cold chill. And realized Vera was gone.

Sae: What the hell?

Terra: There’s someone else involved.

Someone stood at the end of the alleyway next to Vera. He had white hair and wore armor made out of ice. It covered all of his body but allowed movement. Someone else stood on top of a car. The street light in the alleyway broke. And a spark fell out of the light. Vera held out her hand and held it out like a finger gun and shot a beam out of it into the sparks. And a gigantic fire erupted in the alleyway and spread to the store.

Sae: Come on. Let’s get out of here.

Terra: What about the store? It’ll cause a fire all the way down the block!

Sae: You’re insufferable sometimes. It doesn’t matter! You can’t even do anything.

Sae kicked off the wall and jumped onto the next wall. Jumping up on top of the building next to the store.

Sae: Lets. go.

Terra jumped atop the building. They ran away.

Terra: We probably could’ve taken them.

Sae: According to the pres, they are all 25,000 and above. You couldn’t take them by yourself. He was expecting you to have your armor!

Terra: He should be thrilled I have no armor. I freed all those people!

Sae: You love running in head on! You didn’t really change. Same old Ginger. You trained for years with the Chaste. A group who has to stay concealed. You didn’t take from our example at all!

Terra: The Chaste are bad people! As far as I’m concerned they're no better than the MFI.

Sae: And? You blew up San Francisco! Great job at being stealthy.

Terra: …

Sae: Yup. Nothing to say to that, eh? Come on. We’re going to meet with the pres.

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

Terra and Sae met up with President Borden.

Sae: We got a good look at them. We just need to catch them off guard.

Terra: If I can ask, why are we after them anyway?

President: They have a plan. To assassinate me. They think I allowed the slave camps to be a thing.

Terra: Well, did you?

President: That is none of your interest.

Terra: So yes?

President: It’s complicated.

Tempest: Don’t speak ill of him.

Terra: I’m sorry I don’t trust most higher-ups in our society. The last one I met happened to be the fucking anti-christ.

Tempest: You met one. That doesn’t make all of them the same.

President: Stop it you two. Terra and Sae will go and find intel about these people.

Terra: And if you know they are going to assassinate you, then don’t you have proof?

President: That’s not how that works.

Terra: What do you mean?

President: I don’t have evidence. I have a lead. It’s a warehouse by the Hudson River.

Terra: I’ve been there before.

Sae: Great. Lead us there.

President: Trust my words Terra. I have humanity’s best interests in mind.

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

Terra and Sae got to the warehouse. She thought about the day Krilla was killed in front of her by Ivan. Among other things.

Sae: Hey! Earth to Ginger!

Terra: Sorry.

Sae: Come on.

Terra went to walk into the warehouse. Sae grabbed her and dragged her to the side.

Sae: The fuck are you doing? You’ll die if you think you can go into there without dying. Wait here, listen in.

???: Come on, let’s get out of here.

???: V. We’re trusting you here.

Sae: I’m going to follow them. You take care of Vera.

Terra: Okay.

Sae snuck off. She quietly jumped to the top of buildings and followed the pair. Terra stayed where she was. She took Sae’s advice. She listened in until she heard footsteps. But something clicked in her. She couldn’t be an assassin like Sae. She couldn’t senselessly kill like her. She saw Vera walking around. Terra snuck up behind her and got her into a chokehold. Vera lit up her hands and shot Terra in the chest. Lucky for Terra, it clinked off her armor. But she was blown back just a bit.

Vera: Are you another one of those assassins?

Terra: I’m not an assassin.

Vera: But you were with that girl. She killed one of our squads in one night. I’m not letting her or you get away with it again. We were freed out of those sites for a reason! And I’m getting justice for all the people that died in them!

Terra: I get where you’re coming from. But sometimes we lose sight of why we fight.

Vera: What do you know?

Vera shot a bunch of blasts at Terra. She dodged two and rolled under one. She got to her feet and just barely dodged the last one. Which breezed past her arm. Burning it, and cutting off some skin. She felt her arm and quickly dodged another blast. She took out her spear and slashed at Vera. She jumped back and shot a bunch of blasts. Terra rolled under them. Vera timed it right. She threw out a blast. It hit Terra straight in the stomach. She folded like a chair. Vera’s arm started to change the same color as her blasts. She stuck her arm through a blast and burst through it. She came out on the other end. Right in front of Terra. She pushed her back into the air. Terra landed with a back roll. She kicked up and hit Vera back. She blocked it and jumped back. Terra realized Vera’s bad stance. Terra ran up and threw a punch at her face. She shot a blast right at Terra’s face. She ducked out of the way, burning off some of her hair. Terra tackled Vera to the ground. She restrained her hands to the ground. Vera lit up her hands. And her powers came down to her wrists. She went to shoot a blast up. Terra quickly headbutted her. Knocking her out. Terra got to her feet. She slung Vera over her shoulder.

## Issue 4 - Wiping Out All

Sae’s sword stabbed through the door of the top of a roof. Sae kicked the door open. With her sword pinning a man to the door via penetration. She ripped her sword out of the man’s chest, and he fell down. Sae was covered in blood. Oddly, her face was almost stained with it. Sae knew where the two were going. She was on top of a building. She listened down under her. It was quiet. But she didn’t care. She stabbed her sword into the roof and cut through. She landed and looked around. Nothing. Tempest teleported behind Sae.

Tempest: The president is gone.

Sae: How? You are literally stupid fast! Faster than me!

Tempest: They have a speedster. I will track him down. Don’t worry.

Sae: Ha. I don’t care. I’d rather keep a steady flow of income though! Come on.

Tempest: You aren’t any slouch in the speed department either,

Sae: I killed another group of those bastard’s forces on the way here. We can kill two men if we have to.

Tempest: We have a job. This is why I prefer to do my work alone.

Sae: I like the change of pace. Why would you join a team if you like working alone?

Tempest: President Borden sends me on solo missions. I kill my target, get paid. Go home.

Sae: What a boring way of living.

Tempest: It’s the only thing I’ve ever known.

Sae: Come on.

Terra ran in the room. She was a little out of breath. She sat Vera down on the ground.

Sae: You killed her? Oh my god!

Terra: She’s unconscious. She deserves to be locked up.

Tempest: Is she always like this?

Terra: Like what?

Tempest: You think you have some sort of principal over who lives and who dies. Why?

Terra: If I can stop an unnecessary death then I’m going to! What kind of question is that?

Tempest: You can’t control others actions. And…

Tempest put his hand on Terra’s forehead and closed his eyes.

Tempest: ...What a hypocrite. Is this a mask I see? You’ve killed multiple men, and caused the death of more.

Terra: I-it’s not like that! I didn’t know what I wanted!

Sae: You can’t tell us who we can and cannot kill when you did it yourself!

Terra: Those people had to die! I had no choice. Vera doesn’t have to!

Tempest: She had plans to kill the president. She won’t be a problem if we eliminate her now.

Sae: If you get to choose who lives and dies. So do we.

Terra: She doesn’t need to die!

???: Yes. But you do.

Out of the blue Terra felt a shot go into her back. Vera got Terra in a chokehold and put her hand up to her head.

Vera: Everyone back up!

Tempest took one step closer.

Vera: Hey! I said back the fuck up!

Tempest took out his sword and sat it on the ground.

Tempest: We don’t want any trouble.

Tempest put his hands up by his head. Sae tried to hold down her smirk. She did the same thing.

Vera: Good. Tell me, what do you all fight for?

Tempest: What kind of question is that?

Vera: I fight for justice. This shit that the president tried to cover up is sickening!

Tempest: I don’t fight for justice. Nobody should. Justice is such a skewed term. But Answers? Self betterment is what I search! And you…

Tempest quickly stuck out his hand towards Vera. He made a finger gun, and shot a blast straight through Vera’s head. She dropped Terra and fell to the ground. The power Tempest used faded away. Sae laughed with glee.

Sae: That was fucking badass!

Tempest: Yes yes, I know. Let’s go.

Terra was silent. She couldn’t even muster the energy to fight anymore.

Tempest: Nice job being a distraction.

Terra lightly blushed.

Terra: That wasn’t supposed to happen!

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

The president was tied up in a dark room. He tried finding defining features of the room. But it was difficult to see out of his one eye.

President: William Malachi, and Ernie Hudson. What is the meaning of this?

Ernie walked into the light.

Ernie: You know what it is.

President: Yes, it’s because of all the experiments she did on you. You take your anger out on the man who wasn’t responsible.

Ernie: How do you…?

President: You did say I knew what it was.

Ernie: We have to kill him now!

President: And William Malachi. What would your employer think?

William and The President: Apparently nothing, because he disappeared!

William: What? How did you know I was thinking that!?

President: You all are so predictable. Make me try, please. You have a girlfriend at home Ernie. What would she think? You killed the president! And Will. You have a wife and kids. Do you want to go back to the slammer?

Ernie: Son of a bitch! Get out of my head!

William: How many times did we kill you?

President: Enough times. I know everything you are going to do.

Ernie: Whatever, let’s waste him.

The door was kicked down. Tempest walked in, he was holding a shotgun. He shot Ernie. His armor was shattered and he was blown off his feet. He smashed into the glass case behind him. He had been hit by the shell just a bit. He started bleeding.

William: Shit! Ernie! Get up!

Tempest reloaded the gun and fired another shot. Terra’s heart sank. The lights in the room were turned on, and they blinded everyone. Tempest missed his shot. By that time Ernie had recovered. He made a wall of ice come up in front of everyone. He grabbed William and sped off. Tempest shot another shot, and the ice wall was broken down.

Sae: Fuck! Terra! Grab the pres. We’ll catch up with those bastards.

Sae and Tempest busted the door down and jumped onto the next building.

Tempest: What do you think?

Sae: Hospital is too obvious. Willy can control tech, right?

Tempest: He could heal him. Let’s end this, I want to go home.

Sae and Tempest jumped onto the ground. They weren’t slouches in the speed department. They ran quickly to the closest tech store. Tempest slashed the door open. The store was dark. Ernie peeked his head up and instantly manifested his speed. He ran through both of them, slamming them out of the door, the glass shattering as they were knocked down. Ernie ran down the next block. Sae and Tempest quickly got to their feet. Sae ran at blistering speeds. Tempest teleported above her, grabbed her hand and teleported the next block over as they saw Ernie take a turn. Tempest came from the air. He drew his sword and slashed down. Ernie slid under his slash and shot a bunch of ice spikes at him. Tempest let them come to him, his blue eyes glowed and he got a kick of something. He cut all of them in half. As they flew in the air he grabbed them out of the air and threw them all back at Ernie before he could even react. They pierced through Ernie. Tempest blitzed Ernie and slid, kicking him up in the air. Tempest swung his sword through him over and over, like it was slow motion to him. Ernie was cut into pieces. William came out into the open.

William: All of you...You’re monsters!

William fired on his powers.

William: Come at me...

Sae came from behind William.

William: Wait, wha-

William screamed out in terror. He struggled. And then stopped.

Tempest: Drinks? Then your place?

Sae: This a date?

Tempest: I don’t have time for dates.

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

Terra untied the president.

Terra: Have you seen your people in action?

President: I know the work they do is stellar. And yes, I have seen them a couple times?

Terra: How do you do nothing about it? Their insatiable desire to kill?

President: We kill because we have to. These people came for me. To kill me, do you know how much chaos that would cause? We are getting rid of them, and sweeping them under the rug.

Terra: That feels wrong…

President: I have to keep the state safe. If it costs a few lives, then so be it.

Terra: I guess I understand.

President: You killed men. You should understand.

Terra: How did you know that?

President: Beck Robertson, Ivan Springer, and more. Beck was a lead general in the military before he joined the MFI. Ivan was even higher up then he was. You’re a good kid. I had to cover that up too. Even when Integer labeled you as a terrorist. Your welcome.

Terra: That doesn’t answer everything. What is Tempest? He seems...off.

President: How so?

Terra: He’s calm. Sae is crazy. He doesn’t even seem like a killer.

President: He is a weapon. A killer. Don’t forget it. You could use your spear as a walking stick, but that will not change its nature.

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

Terra met up with Sae, and Tempest.

Tempest: How was the boring part?

Terra: Boring I guess.

Tempest: I wouldn’t want to see a girl with your eyes see what we did to them. Innocent, or are they?

Sae: Stop fucking with her.

Terra: Well, I guess that’s a wrap. Uh, when am I getting paid?

Sae: After you do one more mission with me.

Terra: What? We made a deal!

President: A mission is a mission.

Sae: Come on! I’ll show you!

## Issue 5 - Same Old Ginger

Sae: Ah, here we are. We have two targets to take down.

Terra: Wait. Take down as in what?

Sae: Ah, same old Ginger. To kill of course. I guess we could take them alive. But that would be harder. Right?

Terra: That’s one of Integer’s old soldiers…

They were high up on a rooftop. Looking down at Three. She The Integer soldier that wasn’t hypnotized. There was another person. A tall black man with short black hair. He had sunglasses on, even though it was night. And a full white tux on. Along with dress pants. They were surrounded with a bunch of guards. They were walking somewhere. Three had a fancy outfit on. Contrasting her normal sweatshirt.

Terra: We’re going to kill a kid? I know all the shit you did was bad. But a kid?

Sae: You want the money right?

Terra: Fuck it, I’m not doing this. I was wrong to go on this mission. Everything about this is wrong.

Sae swiftly leg swept Terra. She nearly fell off the side of the building.

Sae: You aren’t fit for the job, you die. You’ve pleased us so far, don’t make me do this.

Terra violently grabbed onto Sae.

Terra: You’re coming with me if I fall.

Sae: You think I’m scared?

???: The Gashadokuro!

All the people walking around Fifty and Three drew their guns and started shooting at the pair. Sae pulled Terra up with her. Terra landed on top of Sae. They both got up and ran across a couple buildings. Terra sat down, and so did Sae. Terra felt her shoulder. It was bleeding. But only a little. Sae quickly wiped her mouth of blood.

Terra: What the hell…

Sae: Must’ve been a stray bullet.

Terra: Are you sure this looks like a stray bullet?

Two marks were on Terra’s shoulder.

Sae: Two stray bullets? Whatever.

Terra: Well. Looks like your mission is forfeit. Since they saw us.

Sae: Not quite, They were going to a party. And we’re not far from a rich asshole’s house.

Terra: What rich asshole?

Sae: Dude’s name is Hunter Kunai. He disappeared a while ago. So most of his properties were sold. To a guy named Cyrus West. Either way, we can still pull this off.

Terra: This is MFI. Right. This should be a very serious mission.

Sae: And it is. We’ll take them down.

Terra: You can’t just jump in there like you did with Vera!

Sae: Fine. We’ll send both of those assholes to the pen.

Terra: You’re joking, right?

Sae flicked Terra on the nose.

Sae: There might be some people who disappear though.

Terra: You're insane.

Sae: Charming right? We need disguises though.

Terra: Seriously? We’re doing it that way?

Sae: Yeah! I think it’s worth it. I doubt you’ve had this much fun in a while.

Terra: ...You wouldn’t believe the amount of fun I’m having right now.

Sae moved the entrance to a vent.

Sae: I bet!

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

Two women walked out of a changing room. Sae came from behind them and jabbed a pressure point to knock the two out.

Sae: Take your pick.

They both dragged the women into the two changing rooms. Not long after they walked out with their outfits on. Terra walked out with her armor. Trying to find a place to hide it. Sae hid her prosthetics with a legging and her arm with an arm tight.

Sae: Nope. Armor stays.

Terra: Fair enough.

Terra put her armor back. Sae blocked off the changing rooms.

Sae: Hopefully we’re the last to this party.

Terra: This outfit is so uncomfortable.

Sae: Don’t complain.

Terra: I don’t think I’ve been to a party since my childhood.

They walked into the main room. A huge room with chairs, A pool table, a big TV, and a hot tub in the corner.

Sae: Just watch me.

Sae walked up to a random man.

Sae: Hey there.

Random man: Hello. Who are you?

Sae: Why would that matter? I want to know about you...A man as striking as yourself shouldn’t be interested in a little lady like me.

Terra: Ugh.

She walked away. And grabbed some wine on her way.

Terra: This is illegal.

Terra sipped up the wine quickly.

Three: It should be illegal. For us to be all doll’d up like this.

Terra turned and saw Three unhappily sitting on the couch next to her.

Terra: ...Wait. Uh. Hi. I’m Terra.

Three: Pretty bad intro. How old are you?

Terra: Not old enough to be drinking wine.

Three: Like twenty? You look younger than you are.

Terra: I’m eighteen. Not far off. What’s your name?

Elaine: Eliane.

Terra: Nice to meet you. I’m Ter-...i. My name is Teri.

Elaine: You don’t go to parties often?

Terra: No. Especially parties like this.

Elaine: My families super overprotective. Especially since…

Terra: Especially since what?

Elaine: Oh, don’t worry about it.

Elaine: You want to ditch this stupid party?

Terra: You wouldn’t get the half of it.

Elaine got up.

Elaine: Come on.

Sae saw them leave. She smiled.

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

```
Elaine opened a secret door somewhere in the mansion.

```

Elaine: Check this out.

Terra: Woah!

Terra and Elaine were surrounded by a bunch of swords. All old relics. Encased in glass.

Elaine: That’s Ecalibur. King Arthur's sword. That’s old as dirt.

Terra: I thought King Arthur wasn’t even real.

Elaine: There’s all the proof you need. This is Wolfsbane’s sword. Wielded by Kira Luiza. She fought valiantly at the Invasion of Ryukyu. Oh, and here’s Shi Sun’s Odachi. He was a chinese mercenary.

Terra: What’s that one? Isn’t that a soul blade?

Elaine: So you know your swords, huh?

Terra: Not really. Mainly soul blades.

Terra: I’ve actually seen soul blades in action.

Elaine: Oh? Me too. Hey, I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere.

Terra: Must be someone else. Do you know the powers of soul blades?

Elaine: No. Not all of them.

Terra turned and examined the soul blade. She saw there was a 3 embedded in the steel. Terra turned around and saw Elaine holding a sword. She swung at Terra. Terra jumped back and got in a fighting stance.

Terra: Hey! Put the sword down.

Elaine: Terra! I don’t have a sword! Look.

Terra’s eyes adjusted. Everything was blurred and she saw Elaine standing there with her hands up. No sword.

Terra: Ugh,

Elaine: You need help or something? Like, mental help?

Terra: Heh. no. I’m fine.

Elaine: You sure. Because you scared me a little bit.

Terra: I’m sorry to scare you. I learned from a friend that I can’t always trust my eyes.

Elaine: Just don’t do it again.

???: Eliane. What are you doing in there?

Elaine: Ugh. How did you find us Phobos?

It was the tall black man with short black hair from earlier. Terra was still confused by the sunglasses he had on,

Phobos: I can read you like a book. And who is this?

Elaine: This is Teri. I met her at the party. I mean, you did want me to have fun. Right?

Phobos: Ugh...children. Very well. Don’t break anything.

Phobos walked away.

Elaine grabbed Terra’s hand and they ran off. Elaine led Terra over to a living room with nobody in it. There was a guitar sitting next to the chair. Elaine played a couple notes.

Terra: Wait a sec...Keep going.

Elaine started playing more. Putting together a song.

Terra: Hey. I know that!

Elaine: You know the song?

Terra: Yeah actually.

Elaine: Sing along with it.

Terra: Uh...I’d rather not. I don’t usually-

Elaine: Come on! Just try and go along!

Terra: Ugh...Fine.

Elaine started playing again. Terra went along with the notes.

Terra:
Watched my world burn through my eyes
He killed my family by surprise
Bred to fight with my own guise
Purpose to kill all these guys
My heart urges time to stray
I tell myself no bloodshed today
Jumping off bearing armor
Destroying who took them all away
One day they’ll all scream hurray
Call myself a castaway
Through this war I disobey
A girl from the woods led astray

And there, Elaine stopped playing.

Elaine: And that’s all I have from the song.

Terra: Uh...so.

Elaine: Have you even hung with friends. Like normally. I mean it’s not like we’re even friends, we just met.

Terra: ...you showed me that you all aren’t really bad.

Elaine: What?

Terra: What other things can you do?

Elaine: Well, I can play guitar, I did gymnastics a while ago. Oh and I can kind of juggle!

Terra: My only talent is really used to hurt people.

Elaine: What can you do?

Terra: Throw that water bottle up in the air.

Elaine grabbed the water bottle next to them and threw it up in the air. Terra did a hook kick and kicked it across the room.

Elaine: Woah! That was awesome!

Terra: Imagine if that was your face. I am only great at hurting people. Because of the martial arts I was taught. I was almost molded into a monster. Almost like Sae…

Elaine: Well I don’t know who Sae is. But I do know that everyone has multiple things their good at. I sucked ass at guitar when I started. I mean, I still do. But I can play part of a song. Think about it. What are you good about?

Terra: I mean. I’m pretty good at fabrication I guess. Like bending metal into something usable. The shit I make is made to hurt people!

Elaine: Isn’t it made to protect yourself?

Terra: I guess.

Elaine: What is it? Are you trying to get a job? I mean you just turned eighteen. It usually takes a long time to even know what you wanna do.

Terra: I want to protect people I guess. Make sure justice is served.

Elaine: Isn’t that what you're doing?

Terra: I guess.

Elaine: This is weird for me though. I never get along with barely anyone. Because of this.

Elaine made a fireball over her hand.

Terra: You can make fire. So? Metas and Mutants are all human. Some just get power hungry. They become misguided.

Elaine: Even men with the greatest intentions can start believing their own lies.

Terra snickered.

Terra: Nice. Where’d you hear that?

Elaine: A video game…

Terra: Hey, it’s a pretty good saying actually.

Elaine: Should we go back?

Terra: Not yet. Don’t feel like dealing with the rich assholes in there.

Elaine: I feel ya.

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

Sae saw Phobos walk back into the party. Sae went to walk up to him. But someone put their hand in front of her. Sae turned to see a man in a black tux. He was wearing glasses and appeared to be blind. He had dirty blonde hair and looked about Sae’s age.

Sae: Az…What are you doing here?

Az: Stick told me to send a message. The Chaste is back in town.

Sae: So? I’m kind of busy.

Az: We don’t want you. As far as Stick’s concerned. You’re dead. But he is interested in your friend, Terra.

Sae: Why?

Az: She is and was a valuable asset. Rough around the edges. But still valuable. Stick knows of her powers.

Sae: I’ve got news for you. Little Ginger doesn’t even have powers.

Az: Stick wanted to know if you could meet up and come to an agreement at some sort.

Sae: Only if he’s paying.

Az: He’s more than willing.

Sae: Great. Now get out of my face.

Az: ...Have a good night Sae. Enjoy the party.

Az walked off. Sae lost sight of Phobos.

Sae: Ugh. I need a drink.

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

Terra was standing on a balcony with Elaine.

Elaine: Teri. Can I actually tell you something?

Terra: Sure.

Elaine: Have you ever heard of Jilaya Springer? Otherwise known as Integer.

Terra: ...Yeah. I-I saw her on TV sometimes. And then she admitted to all the horrible things she did. Like hypnotizing a bunch of people into being her personal slaves. Disgusting.

Elaine: Yeah. But she was like a mother to us. Even some of the people she hypnotized even kept following her after they were set free.

Terra: Oh really?

Elaine: Yeah. People thought I was crazy because I was part of the small percentage who weren’t hypnotized. But she was like a mother. She wasn’t a bad person!

Terra: She did a lot of bad things though.

Elaine: You say that like you knew her!

Terra: I guess it was just a feeling.

Elaine: She was gentle to all her soldiers. We weren’t considered slaves. Don’t listen to the media coverage. Listen to someone who really knew her.

Terra: I guess I getcha.

Elaine: Either way, it looks like the party is going to end soon. We should probably get back.

Terra: Alright.

Terra walked ahead of Elaine for a bit. Then it hit her. She had a job to do. She had to still betray Elaine and bring her in. Terra started getting a nervous feeling.

Terra: Hey, Elaine.

Terra turned around. Terra was all of a sudden blinded by fire. She dodged the fire and grabbed Elaine’s arm and snapped it. And pushed her off. She heard lightly in the back of her head.

Elaine: No please! I didn-

Elaine jumped on a chandelier. Terra jumped up and dodged a fire blast. She wrapped her hand around the chain holding it up. Terra snapped it in half. She heard a scream of terror and betrayal. And Terra fell on the ground atop the chandelier. She was knocked out for a second. And then came back into the real world. She got up. And saw Elaine crushed to death under the chandelier. Terra was quiet for a second. Whatever she did was still going through her mind. She started tearing up.

Sae: We’re the same Terra. You don’t like to show it but you are a super killing machine! You have the power. Use it. Just like you did with Three here.

Terra: Her name was Elaine! And I was fighting back!

Sae: Illusions bring out the hidden letter. You don’t even trust Integer’s soldier who has moved on!

Terra: But I...I did.

Sae: Then why did you fight back? Or well, as I saw it. Kill her in cold blood.

Terra: That’s not what I saw! I lost control...Oh god.

Terra threw a punch at Sae. She dodged it and pushed Terra out of the way. She grabbed the back of Terra’s head and slammed Terra on the ground. Sae came down and grabbed Terra’s chin.

Sae: Come on! Make it dramatic!

Sae punched Terra in the chest and then hit her in the throat at a pressure point. Terra spit out blood onto Sae’s hand.

Sae: Good little Ginger. Phobos offered me a better deal. He probably will also be delighted when he finds Artemis herself unconscious at the party.

Terra: You know President Borden is going to be pissed. Right?

Sae: You think he’s the only one who I’m partnered with?

Sae stood up and did a slight wave of her hand. And Terra’s small wound from earlier started gushing blood. Terra got even more lightheaded. And her consciousness started to fade.

Sae: It was nice working with you Ginger!

Sae blew a kiss at Terra. And jumped out a window.

## Issue 6 - For Justice

There was a knocking at Terra’s apartment door.

Millie: Come on Terra! Open up!

Kris: Let me try something.

From the inside the doorknob twisted open. And the door opened.

Kris: Ta-da!

Millie: So someone told you that Terra went off and did something she shouldn’t have? Where would you even get that info?

Kris: I know people. And Terra has someone in the afterlife who looks out for her. He made it easy.

Millie: He…? No way…

Kris: Look. Her phone.

Millie picked up her phone.

Millie: No passcode...classic Terra.

Millie opened Terra’s texts. She saw the text from Leon. “Hunt down rouge MFI remnant. Need an extra set of hands. Signed “Gashadokuro” Call this number. “

Millie: What the… Gashadokuro?

Kris: You could try calling the number on there.

Millie: I guess.

Millie called the number. Sae picked up.

Sae: Wow, smart move on Terra. She left her phone at home.

Millie: Who are you?

Sae: Oh yeah, I’m the-

Sae put a voice changer on.

Sae: Gashadokuro. You’re friends I presume. Terra is not around.

Millie: What…?

Sae: She’s not dead. But not sitting tight either. Or well, she’s probably stuck sitting tight where she is. As a matter of fact.

Sae hung up the phone.

Millie: Dammit!

Kris: What is it? What did she say?

Millie: I have to gear up.

Kris: What?

Terra’s phone went off again. It was an unknown number. She picked it up. President Borden was heard on the other end.

President: Sae turned on us Terra. If you want your money, make her go away. Millie hung up.

Millie: Terra’s in trouble. She was obviously fucking with something she didn’t understand.

Kris: You can’t just go off! You don’t even know where she is!

Millie: Only lead I have. I’m going to try and find out any recent crimes. Maybe wherever Terra is will come up.

Millie went into her apartment and slipped on a blue coat.

Kris: Why are you wearing that?

Millie: I’m a member of the blue coats. Remember?

Kris: Millie!

Millie: I’m sorry Kris. I have to go.

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

Millie headed to the police station. She went up to the front desk. A random cop running the place came up.

Cop: Who are you?

Millie: I’m a member of the blue coats. You’ve met me before.

Cop: When, exactly? The blue coats are...gone.

Millie: I-I know.

Cop: In that case. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.

Millie: I’m led to believe there’s been a kidnapping! I just want to help!

Cop: The cops can handle it from here.

???: No, no they can’t.

A women came up by the desk. She was wearing a blue collared shirt with a tie and jeans.

???: Ashley Feria. Nice to meet you.

Ashley shook Millie’s hand.

Ashley: Prosthetic. Interesting. Walk with me.

Ashley came out in front of the desk by Millie and led her outside by the park.

Ashley: We’re still working on bringing in Metas and Mutants for a police force. We’ve found the police aren’t enough. You came in wearing a blue coat like you didn’t know they were all dead.

Millie: I figured it’d be easier to get information.

Ashley: You think there was a kidnapping and it’s meta related? I don’t know if I have time for this.

Millie: It’s important. Why would you come walking with me if you didn’t have time?

Ashley: Because I’ve seen you in action. Repulse. In San Francisco. You weren’t one to scoff at. Even able to almost take down a speedster.

Millie: You gonna give me info or not?

Ashley: Alright, alright. We did get a call in about a killing at a mansion. And there was also a person who went missing. The alleged Gashadokuro was also reported around the scene.

Millie: I think that’s what I’m looking for.

Ashley: Address is down west 53rd street. The big white building on the right. Apartment is the very first floor.

Millie: Who or what even is the Gashadokuro?

Ashley: A person who goes around and kills people at night. A ruthless killer. It’s human. And has been identified as a woman.

Millie: Is she a meta?

Ashley: That’s what scares everyone in New York about her. She kills and even mutilates supers. There’s no sign that she’s a meta or mutant herself. We’ve never been able to identify her prints or signs. All we know is she’s a woman and has a prosthetic arm and leg. Wait…

Ashley came over to Millie and lifted up her pant leg.

Ashley: Good. You aren’t a suspect.

Millie: I would never do that!

Ashley: Well you are considered a vigilante.

Millie: Alright. Well. See ya around.

Ashley: Think about our offer. B.L.A.D.E could be a good home for you.

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

Terra was startled awake when she was splashed with a bucket of cold water. She sprung up and saw Phobos in front of her. She was chained down. Chains around her arms, legs, and holding back her torso. Terra tried to move. She was shot with vials of paralyzation. Into her arms and legs.

Phobos: Greetings Miss Lorenz.

Terra: Look! I didn’t mean to do anything to Elaine! It was all an accident! I was influenced by something! Maybe the wine I drunk!

Phobos: Oh, I don’t care about her. She’d always been a hindrance.

Terra: What? What is wrong with you? Why am I here?

Phobos: You should know that by now Miss Lorenz.

Terra: You’re just her guard!

Phobos: I’m more than that. We were all tattooed with our numbers somewhere.

Phobos showed a tattoo on his neck. It was the number fifty.

Phobos: I was also one of her many soldiers.

Terra: There were fifty of you?

Phobos: Much more than that. Thousands.

Terra: She hypnotized thousands? You here to get revenge for me taking down your boss?

Phobos: You're very short-sighted.

Terra: What?

Phobos: Your dumb, stupid, untntelligent. And all the other words.

Terra: Saying things like that don’t help the situation.

Phobos: Don’t worry. I have tools for that.

Phobos came out with a wheelie cart. With tons of toture weapons on it.

Phobos: I have one personal question for you. Two actually. First, where is the Artemis armor?

Terra: The armor? It was destroyed.

Phobos: Then why were you given the armor? It wouldn’t be entrusted to you if you were going to destroy it.

Terra: I didn’t know that was part of the deal. How do you even know that?

Phobos: I’m the one questioning here Miss Lorenz.

Terra: Well the armor was destroyed in my final fight with Integer.

Phobos: Convincing. But I studied you Miss Lorenz. You are a skilled liar. I hear you were trained by the Chaste. A weapon of divinity is very hard to be destroyed. Especially that armor.

Terra: It was! I don’t know what to tell you.

Phobos: Well do tell. Your life's on the line. And maybe the rest of your family.

Phobos took out a rusted sickle.

Phobos: Providing bacteria the way into a body. That can lead to tetanus. Ever had a tetanus shot?

Terra: Wha-

Phobos stabbed the sickle violently into Terra’s side. She screamed a horrible scream.

Phobos: My paralysation serum is just enough to make you unable to move. But still enough for you to feel this deeply. The further I drill it into your body.

Terra was trying to focus on her breathing. She tried to headbutt Phobos. She hit him square. But her head started bleeding.

Phobos: You are too weak to do any damage to me.

Terra: Then let me down!

Phobos: ...Okay.

Phobos unlocked all of Terra’s chains. Terra fell on the ground. She smashed her chin on the ground.

Phobos: Seems you aren’t a good listener. It disappoints me to hurt you like this. You would be a great model. But you run away from self-perfection. Just like Elaine.

Phobos took out a pole with a metal slab on the end of it. His hands seemed like they turned to molten rock. He spread fire over it.

Phobos: Please. Don’t die from this. It’s far too enjoyable. I also have the power of fire. I remember you were the cause of Artemis’s death.

Terra: She came willingly!

Phobos: Doesn’t matter. It’s ideal that if one of us falls another takes the place. Even if they aren’t Zeus and Hera’s child.

Terra: For the last time! I’m not Artemis!

Phobos: We will find that out later. You don’t have a choice. You remember Delta?

Terra: Yeah. She actually has working armor! She’s just like Artemis! A complete egotistical dick!

Phobos: Exactly, she’s a spitting image of her adoptive mother. We all hated Artemis. So entitled. You are also entitled. You think there’s such a thing as choice in this world.

Phobos had crafted a phoenix out of the metal.

Phobos: Artemis was the last child of the olympians. She was going to be the phoenix out of the ashes after the raid of Olympus. Hesial said she would rise above. Ironic considering what will happen now.

Phobos took the burning hot phoenix and held Terra down by the back. He burned it onto her. She tried to control herself. But she cried out. Screaming into the abis. It was like Phobos couldn’t hear her.

## Issue 7 - Shepherd of Fire

Kris was walking to school. He glanced behind him. And then kept walking. Someone tapped him on the back. He looked behind him and got startled.

Mallory: Hey Kris!

Kris: Oh, hey Mallory.

Mallory: Hmm. Something wrong? You usually actually act startled.

Kris: No. I’m fine.

Mallory: Oh come on! Talk to me.

Kris: Nothing’s wrong!

Mallory: Pretty please!...With a cherry on top?

Kris: Okay fine. Millie went off on one of her missions again.

Mallory: Oh. What’s the problem with that? She’s helping people.

Kris: Yeah but what about herself! She could get hurt. Or even killed. Like when she lost her arm.

Mallory: I think her efforts are for a good cause. Isn’t this actually normal? There has to be something more.

Kris: We think one of her friends has been kidnapped.

Mallory: Who?

Kris: Terra. She was with us yesterday.

Mallory: Oh, sorry. How is that much different even still?

Kris: She should be far powerful than Millie.

Mallory: How so?

Kris: I probably shouldn’t be telling you this. But she defeated Integer.

Mallory: Really?! There’s no way she’s that powerful!

Kris: But she also lost her armor.

Mallory: Armor?

Kris: Her Artemis armor. It gave her a bunch of power. And it was destroyed in the battle.

Mallory: Do you think Terra made any new armor?

Kris: I dunno. Maybe.

Mallory: What about Amelia? Isn’t she a speedster?

Kris: Wait? How did you know that?

Mallory: U-uh. I...saw the news when she was fighting Empyrean.

Kris: Empyrean?

Mallory: I do lots of research. But can’t Amelia help?

Kris: Yeah. But she lives in a mental hospital.

Mallory: Which one?

Kris: That’s oddly specific. The Hall mental hospital I think.

Mallory: Look. I think Millie can handle herself. I don’t think the stories you told me about her are fake. She should be safe.

Kris: ...I guess she’s more powerful then she looks.

Mallory: We probably haven’t even seen her full power!

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

Millie arrived at the mansion. There was a group of investigators there. She went over to the scene of the crime. She saw Elaine’s body crushed by the chandelier. Millie took out her phone. She showed a picture of Terra to someone who was at the party.

Millie: Excuse me. Did you see this woman at the party last night?

Man: Yes actually. She was sitting with Phobos’s child. The one who…

Millie: Uh, can you tell me the last time you saw Phobos.

Man: He was outside on the phone.

Millie: What’s he look like?

Man: Are you NYPD? I never saw a badge.

Millie: Doesn’t matter.

Man: Don’t try and act tough!

The man grabbed Millie’s arm.

Man: Oh, I like that face.

Millie’s face of fear and surprise turned to pure anger. The man could tell. Millie took a deep breath and ripped her arm out of his grasp.

Millie: Lucky for you, there’s cops around. If there weren’t. Your head would be in that wall.

Man: Ha! Doubt it!

Millie: I’ve met people like you. You think you're better than everyone because you have power over them. But if you were stripped of all your belongings. Then what do you have? Nothing!

As she finished her sentence she smashed her robotic hand against the brick wall. Cracking it.

Millie: Like I said, head through the wall.

Man: He’s black and wears a white tux. He also wears sunglasses. He has this tattoo on the side of his neck. Hard to miss.

Millie walked off. She got outside and saw Phobos walking down the road. She followed him. Trying to stay normal. Eventually someone walked in front of Millie. And he was nowhere to be found. She looked to her side and saw him down an alley. He had somehow gotten to the roof.

Millie: Come on...

Millie looked around for stairs or something. But there was nothing. Millie kicked off the wall and jumped off it. And then to the wall across. Kicking off the wall over and over until she got to the top of the roof. He turned around. Millie could feel his staring eyes through his sunglasses.

Phobos: Hello there.

Millie: I know you did something with Terra.

Phobos: Excuse me?

Millie: You have something to do with the MFI. Right? Number Three.

Phobos: Why does everyone keep bringing her up?

Millie: ...You killed her, didn’t you?

Phobos: Oh no. That was all Artemis’s doing.

Millie: Terra? She wouldn’t kill someone like that!

Phobos: Think again.

Phobos started walking away.

Millie: You can’t just walk away! I have reason to believe you're involved with this!

Phobos: Yes. Yes I am. Is that what you want me to say?

Millie: So come peacefully. Or we can do this the hard way.

Phobos crossed his arms.

Phobos: The hard way. Really? Show me.

Millie: Stop playing!

One of Phobos’s hands solidified into rock. He backhanded Millie off the building and across the street. Into another building. She burst through a window. And frightened a family in the house. A woman screamed and hid behind a wall. She peered over the wall at Millie.

Millie: Sup.

She smiled and waved. She jumped out the window and saw Phobos jumping across a building. Millie got to the ground and found a motorcycle sitting on the curb. She let out some sort of electric charge from her prosthetic and the motorcycle fired on. She kept her eye on Phobos and followed him on the machine. Until he stopped on top of a building. The mental hospital. He went in through a vent. Millie went in the front doors.

Millie: Everyone evacuate now! Get out of here!

Most people did just that in fear. The man at the front desk stayed.

Millie: There’s someone here. He’s dangerous. He’s a meta. Or something.

Man: Are you Repulse? We thought you quit!

Millie: Just...Needed a hand. Or an arm in this case. Get out of here.

The man ran out. Millie walked down the hallways. She tried to move quietly. All of a sudden the lights went out. There was only a little light shining in from windows. She trailed through the halls. Until she heard screaming. She ran towards the screaming. And rounded a corner. Phobos grabbed Millie by the neck and slammed her against the wall. A patient was screaming in pure fear from Phobos. Millie opened her hand. And targeted his lung. She closed it. But an energy blast shot out of her hand. And the pain still lingered.

Phobos: Did that hurt?

Millie tried it again. And aimed the energy blast at Phobos’ face. He got hit straight and dropped Millie. Millie clapped her hands together and hit Phobos back slightly. He solidified his hands and shot a huge blast of fire and magma at Millie. She ripped one of the doors next to her off its hinges and blocked the shot. She kicked it forward at Phobos. He caught it and threw it straight back at Millie. She caught it with both hands and was pushed back a little. Phobos shot a wave of magma at Millie. She slammed down the door she had and shot back some of the magma at Phobos. But he was untouched. He walked through the magma and kicked at Millie. She guided the kick to the ground and hit him with a roundhouse. Along with a punching combo. Phobos kneed Millie in the stomach. She punched him across the face. And then let out the blast. Phobos guided it down with fire and grabbed Millie by the leg. He threw her at the roof and let her fall. Phobos put his boot over Millie. And an explosion destroyed part of the mental hospital. Right in the center of where Phobos and Millie were standing. Phobos waved some smoke out of his face. He looked down at Millie. And the same exact explosion was countered out by Millie. Millie stumbled to her feet through the explosion. She could barely move. Phobos got to his feet.

Phobos: You took that explosion. Point blank. Impressive.

Millie: Yeah and then you took it like a bitch. You can’t even take the full force of your explosions coming back at you?

Phobos: Oh don’t worry. I’m not done.

Millie took a deep breath.

Millie: Why are you here?

Phobos: I’m here to retrieve your little friend. I have a friend who would love to toture her. Just like I did to Terra.

Millie: What did you do to Terra?! You better not have…

Phobos: Don’t worry she’s alive.

Millie: Then what do you want with Amelia?

Phobos: I don’t care about her. But he does.

Millie felt a sword be stabbed through her from the back. She fell to her knees. A man walked past her with shoulder length black hair. He wore a white button up collared shirt with a yellow tinge to it. Along with a long scarf around his neck. He wore long sweatpants and dress shoes.

Phobos: Good job Mr. Enaj.

Mr. Enaj: You can still call me Raphael. This is the one you were so worked up with about capturing?

Phobos: No. I already retrieved her. Now you get your prize.

Raphael: Thank you Phobos. I couldn’t have done this without you.

Phobos: Don’t thank me. Thank her.

Raphael: Oh...You are Repulse. Millie Koruba. I learned about you too. I can’t believe you would support a killer. Disgusting.

Phobos: Shall we kill this one?

Millie kept the sword wedged into her. She had been injuring her wound more and more. She gripped the sword and ripped it out of her. A huge energy blast came from the wound and blew back Phobos and Raphael. Millie ran back to Amelia’s cell.

Amelia: What happened? Are you okay, Millie?

Millie: Just a little banged up.

Millie fell to her knee.

Amelia: Let me out of here. I will take care of them.

Millie: No! They’re here for you. And you’re unstable!

Amelia tried to phase.

Amelia: I don’t care. Let me out! You’ll…

Millie: Fine. but please. Be okay.

Millie ripped Amelia’s cuffs off. She felt speed flow through her.

Amelia: Get out of here. You know if you don’t I’ll make you.

She ran out of the cell and blitzed Phobos. She pushed him back violently. Making him slide backward until they crashed into a collapsed wall. Amelia threw a bunch of punches at Phobos’s face. Until he caught one of her punches. She phased her hand through him. But nothing happened. She got blasted in the back and a whip tied her hands back. There was A women with huge mechanical wings on her back. Flying in the air. She was wearing a dirty MFI uniform. She had long white hair. It was Four. Another woman stood on the ground. She had a lasso of some sort in her hand. She whipped Amelia back. She had shoulder length black hair. She had grey arm tights. And a pink tank-top under a black jacket. She wore shorts that came down to just over her knees. And wore a pair of boots. She pulled Amelia to the ground.

Raphael: Good job, Psyche.

Psyche: Yeah, yeah. You’ve been getting sloppy.

Phobos: I think you are the one who is sloppy. You were late.

Psyche pulled Amelia back and she was tied up in the lasso. She put her foot on her head.

Psyche: And I caught the human.

Amelia started struggling. She tried to vibrate but the lasso tightened more around her. She quietly wrapped her leg around a part of the lasso. And whipped her leg down with super speed. Flipping Psyche onto the ground. Amelia got to her feet. Lasso still wrapped around her. She tried phasing again. And screamed violently when it tightened around her more. So much so it knocked her out.

Four: Repulse. She’s gone.

Phobos: She’s much more powerful then she looks. Psyche. Do you think you can handle her?

Psyche: Don’t ask stupid quesitons like that. I’ll handle her.

Phobos: Excellent.

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

Again, there was knocking at Terra’s door. And then it stopped. And Themis materialized in Terra’s room.

Themis: This would’ve been a helluva lot easier if you just answered my calls…

## Issue 8 - Dying Alone

Themis: \*sigh\* What a waste of time.

Someone jumped in Terra’s window. She took out a knife and threw it straight at Themis from behind. Who caught it in the air and turned around.

Sae: Intruding on Ginger’s property. I’ll have to tell the owner of the building.

Themis: Just because your an impossibly hot girl doesn’t mean you get to do whatever you want.

Sae: Well actually. I think it does mean that.

Sae took out Terra’s armor and spear and dropped it on her bed.

Themis: You...Your the Gashadokuro. A gigantic skeleton is a weird role to take for what you are.

Sae: Oh? Then what am I?

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

Amelia opened her eyes and saw her feet hanging. She looked next to her and saw an unconscious Terra. And then in front of her. Where she saw Phobos and Raphael. She tried to phase. She could only slightly. She struggled. Nothing.

Raphael: Amelia. I heard a lot about you. The former leader of the Blue coats.

Amelia: What’s it to you?

Raphael: Do you remember the last name Enaj?

Amelia: No.

Raphael: Then the Shadow Squadron. The people you killed. In cold blood.

Amelia: ...I get it. You’re mad at me. Aren’t you?

Raphael: No. I’m thankful. Because now I have this chance. Or well, she does.

A singular red eye shined through the light. And she walked out. Amelia’s eyes widened. She had long brown hair and orange pants with a black crop-top of sorts. Leaving her midriff exposed. Mary Enaj of the Shadow Squadron.

Raphael: I would’ve brought everybody back. But complications arose.

Mary: Remember me? Right here you stabbed me.

Mary touched her chest.

Mary: And then you...You killed them all. Let me show you how it felt.

Raphael: Don’t go overboard Mary.

Mary: Shut up!

Mary drew her sword and held it up to Amelia’s stomach.

Mary: I wouldn’t want you to die too fast though.

Mary stabbed the sword into Amelia’s stomach. Going in slowly.

Mary: I hear speedsters heal fast. So this should be nothing to you.

Amelia: I killed all of you three times. I remember watching your head roll one time. I cut off your head with that sword right there…

Mary stabbed her sword all the way through Amelia.

Amelia: Pain...Try harder than that! Because I’ve felt pain much worse than that.

Mary grabbed Amelia by the chin and pulled her up to her face.

Mary: You haven’t seen anything yet.
- - - - - - - - - - - -

Millie got into Terra’s room. She saw Themis in the bathroom with his shirt off. Cleaning up a wound on his shoulder.

Millie: Themis? What the hell are you doing here?

Themis: I was looking for Terra.

Millie: Then how did you get a huge gash on your arm?

Themis: I met Terra’s friend. The Gashadokuro.

Millie: How does that connect? What did she do?

Themis: The bitch bit me! If she looks and acts like a vampire. It’s a damn vampire.

Millie: Vampire? Are you joking?

Themis: Oh, and surely the entire world must be joking about men who can fly and lift ten times their own weight.

Millie: Right…

Themis: I have to make sure she didn’t inject me with her blood too.

Millie: Don’t vampires take your blood?

Themis: If she injected me with some of her blood, you’d better steer clear of me.

Millie: Why?

Themis: Do you want this exposition?! I can start hallucinating and seeing illusions. If it’s that bad I’ll act irrationally. My emotions will take full control.

Themis took out a needle and stabbed himself in his neck. And drew some blood out.

Themis: Yep. This is vampire blood. Was going straight for my brain. Either way, tell me. Where’s Terra?

Millie: She’s not here.

Themis: She died?!

Millie: No! She got captured.

Themis: Captured? Can’t she handle herself?

Millie: Her armor is destroyed!

Themis: Damn. Guess I really missed something.

Millie: It was destroyed when she fought Integer.

Themis: That’s a problem. So this is her new armor?

Themis picked up a gauntlet off the bed.

Millie: Did she make that?

Themis: I bet she did. You think you might have a plan?

Millie: I...Uh don’t. You?

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

In Millie’s apartment, Kris was sitting on a bed and Themis was sitting in a chair. While Millie was pacing in the middle.

Millie: Phobos broke into the mental hospital and took my...friend Amelia.

Themis: So we have two hostages. We can’t just barge in. And knowing Phobos...He’s definitely not going to be nice.

Millie: Well then, we break in. And-

Themis: We can’t break in! Sneak in. Even though I doubt you’re very good at being quiet.

Millie: What does that mean?!

Themis: Exactly.

Kris: Millie.

Themis: Quiet kid. Adults are talking here.

Millie: What’s up Kris?

Kris: When I was with Mallory on the way to school she was asking me weird questions. Like what mental hospital Amelia went to. Then later she was on the phone.

Millie: So was Phobos.

Themis: So? You think shorty here’s girlfriend is friends with Phobos?

Millie: There’s no way. But why would she ask questions like that?

Themis: Either way, we need to sneak in the place. And get those two out. I could even get Hermes’ speed shoes…

Millie: We don’t have time to find something!

Kris: Guys! Duck!

Themis: Seriously? I’m not falling for that sh-

Millie got on the ground and pulled Themis down. The window was burst open. And Psyche stood above everyone.

Themis: Bitch!

Themis took out a knife from his hand. And it morphed into a huge gauntlet. He punched Psyche out of the room. Right through the wall. She threw out her lasso and wrapped it around all of them. She pulled them out of the room and into the street.

Millie: Who the hell are you!?

Themis: That’s Psyche. The demon daughter of Ares.

Kris: How is an olympian a demon?

Themis: She’s adopted.

Psyche smiled at all her targets.

Psyche: My brother sent me to kill all of you. After his laughable fight against you.

Psyche pointed at Millie.

Millie: I don’t want to hear it! Kris. Remember that attack we practiced?

Millie and Kris put their hands side-by-side. A blue energy appeared over Kris’s hand. It was in the shape of an arrow. Millie clapped her hands together and Kris shot his blast. The blue blast became engulfed with Millie’s white light. Psyche seemed disinterested and didn’t even make an effort to move. She got hit head on. The blast did absolutely nothing to her.

Psyche: So you're metas? That certainly felt like an attack from a meta. Well. If I could feel it. You are all cute. I’ll put that on your tombstone. “They were cute”

Psyche drew a blade. It was glowing a vibrant orange. She slashed it a couple times. Making shockwaves travel at everyone. Themis made his gauntlet turn into it’s normal sword form. A long golden sword. The hilt was covered with two straight golden parts of the sword going around. Psyche was caught off guard. She marveled at the sword. Themis took the chance to hit her hard with the sword. Sending her flying down the street.

Themis: Leave the kid and come with me.

Kris: I can help!

Themis: She can’t be hurt by your powers. And if your like your sister and you can fight or use it indirectly. I’d bet on you staying back.

Kris: ...Fair enough.

Millie picked up Kris and jumped back up the their apartment. She brought him to Terra’s apartment.

Millie: Stay safe.

Kris: Same to you…

Millie ran up the stairs of the apartment and to the roof. She started jumping across roofs to get to the fighting. Themis ran up and parried a shot from Psyche. He ducked under and punched her in the stomach. Sending her flying back. Millie jumped down and kicked her back further. She wrapped her lasso around Millie’s legs and whipped her up in the air. Themis came up with his sword. She kicked Millie at him. Knocking the pair down. She stabbed her sword into the ground. It burnt into the ground like a knife through butter and ran at both of them. She heated her sword up more. She cut a car in half and kicked the two halves at both of them. Millie stood up and caught one half and set it on the ground. Themis cut the car in half and blitzed Psyche. She brought her sword up from the ground. Knocking Themis’s sword off course. She redirected the sword and slashed down across Themis. Well, she would’ve. Millie outstretched her prosthetic arm. The sword cut straight through it. Millie fell back. Themis kicked Psyche back. She repositioned her sword and looked at Themis hungrily.

Psyche: I’ll be able to prove myself to father...I can bring his sword back.

Psyche felt something stab through her from the back. It wasn’t Themis. It was Terra’s spear. Kris was standing behind her.

Themis: Damn! Good aim kid!

Psyche put her hands over the spear. Themis came up and wrapped her lasso around her arms and legs. And tied it around a lamppost.

Themis: Hmm. It’s missing something.

Themis took out a notepad. He wrote on a sticky note and put it on Psyche.

Psyche: That was pure luck! Should’ve had Mallory here.

Millie: Mallory...Kris. That’s your friend. Right?

Kris: Let’s go and get you fixed up.

Themis: No. We can’t take more time then we need to.

Themis made his sword into scissors and cut off part of Psyche’s lasso. He made the scissors into a needle.

Themis: Sit down for a second. Watch my pro sewing skills.

Themis sewed Millie’s hand back on. She was able to move it again.

Millie: How?

Themis: Stupid ass Olympian magic. Oh, and thanks for willing to lose your hand for me.

They walked off. Leaving Psyche in the public. Strung up. The note on her said “please throw tomatoes at me, I like that.

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

Terra saw Amelia next to her. She was awake. But looking straight down. Amelia was constantly phasing slightly to stop the bleeding from her wound. She felt her hands in their chains being stabbed over and over by needles.

Terra: Amelia…

Raphael: Ah! You are awake too!

Terra saw Mary in the corner. Preparing a tool of some sort.

Terra: Mary...Amelia, didn’t you…?

Amelia: I know. Raphael resurrected her.

Terra: Can’t you revive the rest of them?

Raphael: Don’t you get resurrection? I lose a part of me everytime I do it. That’s why I’m having so much fun watching you be tortured.

Phobos walked into the room.

Phobos: I have a bit of trivia for you Miss Lorenz. Four. Please take her down.

Four: Wait. I want my turn.

Phobos: ...Nice to see you as enthusiastic as I am.

Four came up and grabbed Terra by the neck. She pulled her close.

Four: What were you thinking? When you decided to take out one of the government's legs! The only leg it could stand on when it came to metas!

Four grabbed a hammer and hit Terra on the side.

Four: Not only that, but you got rid of my mom! She wasn’t my real mom. But she was like one to all of us! Hypnotized or not!

Terra: Then why are you one of the few that stayed loyal?

Four unlocked Terra’s chains and dragged her to a long table and plopped her on top.

Four: You deserve punishment for your sins.

Phobos: A device from medieval times. Called the rack.

Four strapped Terra down.

Phobos: And here’s my question. Artemis. She led a band of girls. Right? Big enough to form a small army.

Terra: Who wants to know?

There was a roller at one end with a lever on it. Four pushed it. Stretching Terra from head to toe. She felt her bones and ligaments wanting to give way.

Phobos: Eventually this device will sever all your limbs and you’ll die slowly.

Four spun the lever even more. She felt her shoulders snap and cried out.

Terra: Enough! I-I know where they are.

Phobos: Where?

Terra: T-they’re in california. San francisco. Anyone there can like-make a door.

Phobos: Oh really?

Terra: I swear on my life!

Phobos: I believe her.

Four: Can I kill her?

Phobos: No.

Four: Not yet?

Phobos walked away.

Mary: What’s next for you? Maybe reverse hanging?

Raphael: Daughter. I think that’s enough. Put her out of her misery.

Raphael walked up to Amelia.

Raphael: Wouldn’t you rather be with your brother? He died quickly too.

Amelia: I’m carrying on his name…

Mary: By killing anyone in your way?!

Amelia: They deserved it! They killed everyone I love!

Raphael: Seems you focus on the dead more than the living.

Amelia: Let us go.

Raphael: Already thought about it. No.

Four slammed her hand on the wall.

Four: Why won’t he listen to me?! You deserve it! You ruined my life! I have nothing left. I’m going to make you nothing.

Four started spinning the lever. Terra felt her limbs slipping. And her head getting numb. This was it. All because of Sae she was dead. And by toture. Terra felt a snap. She tried to scream. Nothing. Then she felt nothing. Because it was all over. A last snap was heard.

Amelia: Hey! What are you doing to Terra?!

The door down the hall was kicked open. Tempest walked through, along with two others to his side. One was wearing an all black uniform with armor over it. He wore a black mask over his face with orange eyes. He had tons of bombs strapped to his side. A girl was on Tempest's other side. She wore a armor plate over her torso. With briefs and a belt above them. She wore a grey cloak with a hood. She had wraps around her arms and legs. With some sort of gauntlets on her arms. She wore no shoes, just shin guards.

Tempest: Lobo! Get Terra. Detonator, you’re with me.

Tempest took out his rifle. He shot at Raphael first. Raphael clicked out his sword and deflected the bullet. He rolled towards Tempest and slashed his sword. Tempest took out his sword and clashed with him. Tempest disappeared through Raphael. He came from behind and slammed his sword down. Raphael put his sword behind him and clashed. He threw Tempest a little off course. And stabbed forward. Tempest walked into him, his armor protecting him. Mary cut in and slashed at Tempest. He was driven back. Mary slashed at his neck. He narrowly avoided it and kicked up. Mary’s blade was knocked off course.

Tempest: Ugh. Say your prayers.

Tempest took out a vial and shot it into his neck. He started to light up with a red aura. He blitzed Raphael and threw out hits at an immeasurable speed. Raphael blocked and blocked. But Tempest was moving too fast. Tempest kicked him to the ground. He blocked a hit from Mary and grabbed her by the face and threw her into the ceiling. Knocking her out.

While that was all going on, The Detonator walked over to Phobos. Phobos threw a haymaker punch. The Detonator put out his hand and caught his punch. He kicked Phobos back.

Phobos: What are you?

The Detonator took out a bomb, he pointed at it. He threw it right onto Phobos.

Phobos smiled.

Phobos: Try it.

The Detonator kicked Phobos back through the wall. He ripped off Amelia’s chains.

Lobo stood off against Four.

Four: She’s already dead. Try it.

Lobo smiled at Four. She took out a handgun. She shot straight at Four. Four was hit right in the chest. She fell down. Lobo stepped over her.

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

Terra looked around. Her heart instantly sunk. She remembered this place. The place where Ivan had killed Donny.

Terra: I really…?

???: Nice to see you here.

It was Ivan, in his human form next to Terra.

Terra: Ivan...Fuck! Let me back into the real world! Let me out!

Ivan: That’s not how it works. You are dead. Nice to see someone succeeded where I failed.

Terra: ...

Ivan: I can’t be locked away that easily. With a simple spell? You’re crazy. I’ll be back. And it’ll be an explosive finale for you.

Terra: ...It couldn’t have ended like this.

Ivan: Don’t worry. You got lucky. But you’ll be back here, just you wait.

Terra: What? Are you going to send me to hell?

Ivan: Ask him.

Something huge loomed over Terra. Her face turned from pissed to petrified in a heartbeat.

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

Terra’s breath came back to her. She could barely move. Lobo was standing above her.

Tempest: Move out!

Tempest was carrying a paralyzed Amelia.

Lobo: Alright. Up.

Lobo picked up Terra.

Tempest and Lobo walked out. The Detonator walked out of the building. It was heavily armed with explosives.

Tempest: Terra. The president wants you to take out Sae. He knows it might be...personal.

Terra: Now it is.

Tempest and Lobo set down the pair.

Tempest: We aren’t supposed to interfere like this. But President Borden figured you deserved a thank you gift. I have a feeling our partnership in the future will be beneficial to the both of us.

Tempest, Lobo and The Detonator jumped off. Detonator detonated the bombs in the place. It crumbled to the ground from the explosions. Terra could still barely move. She looked next to her. Amelia started to get the movement back in her legs.

Terra: Amelia...Don’t...

## Issue 9 - No Place For A Hero

Millie and Themis were both running as fast as they could to Terra and Amelia.

Millie: Are you sure we’re going the right way?

Themis: Of course. I can sense Olympian power.

A blue wave of lightning blew past both of them. They both fell to the ground. Amelia stopped at the end of the street. She was constantly phasing. Her eyes red. She was holding Mary by the neck. She slammed her against a wall. Cracking it.

Amelia: You stabbed a blade through me. I survived. Not the case for you.

Amelia took Mary’s blade from her and stabbed the sword through her. She turned it into her and slashed out. She fell to the ground and bled out. Raphael appeared behind Amelia. One of his eyes a burning red. He slashed at her. She held out Mary’s blade and parried. She got hit hard and was knocked off course. He watched Amelia stumble with the sword. He quickly slashed up. Blood ran down her neck.

Millie: AMEL-

Phobos grabbed Millie from the back and threw her behind himself. He kicked Themis to the side.

Phobos: You came directly to me. But I have bigger problems right now.

Amelia started phasing so much she looked like a glitch on a computer. She ran right through Raphael in the blink of an eye. He fell down. But in a puddle of blood. He was cut into nearly millions of little pieces. Amelia was covered in blood. She lightened her phasing. Revealing that the slice on her neck had completely healed, She looked down at her lost hand. She got hit head on with a fire blast from Phobos. She flew backward. Phobos shot a wave of lava at Amelia. She phased violently and ran through the lava. She punched Phobos with one hand. A singular jab over and over and over. Until he grabbed her arm and flipped her over him. He stomped his foot down. Surly crushing her head if she didn’t move to the side. She spun super fast and flew up as a blur. She came back down into the ground. Literally phasing through the ground like a drill. Phobos made a pool of lava all around him. Amelia burst through the ground and was burnt badly once she landed.

Millie: Amelia! Listen to me!

Millie’s eyes started watering.

Phobos: Stop it! This is a wonderful fight!

Phobos made two cages, trapping Millie and Themis. He pushed them back with lava. Amelia threw a roundhouse kick. Pushing Phobos back. He caught her second one and threw her off of him. He ran up and threw a brutal punch. Amelia ducked under and vibrated her hand. She stabbed through Phobos.

Phobos: My internals are all rock. You will find nothing.

Phobos grabbed Amelia by the neck and started squeezing hard. She screamed and phased through his clutches. She grabbed him and kneed him over and over. She ran right into him and blasted him back. Phobos fell down and rolled to his feet. He made an explosion under Amelia. She didn’t feel the blow. But was blown into the air. She started spinning in circles again. And fell to the ground. Drilling through it again. Phobos made a floor of lava once again. Amelia instead drilled up the side of a building. Breaking it down like an earthquake. She kicked all the walls down. Sending chunks at Phobos. He got hit head on by almost all of them. She blasted out of the top of the building. He fully solidified himself. Amelia spun around once again and jumped down at Phobos. He threw a haymaker punch. But Amelia hit him dead in the chest. And he was blasted into bits. The cages that Millie and Themis were locked in went away. Four flew over. She shot ice blasts and fire blasts at Amelia. She was heavily breathing. She jumped off of Four’s ice projectiles and tackled her to the ground. She kicked her wings and pushed them down with her legs. She phased her hand and brought it down.

Millie: AMELIA STOP!

Amelia slowed her vibrating. Her wound from the sword had healed. But she was still bleeding from her hand.

Millie came over and embraced her. She started vibrating again.

Amelia: Last time you did this…

Amelia thought about the time Millie hugged her and then incapacitated her. She pushed Millie off of her,

Amelia: Last time...You hurt me. You’ll never hurt me again!

Millie: That was because last time you were going crazy. Just like now! But I won’t do that again! Do you think this is what Donny would’ve wanted? This isn’t you anymore! You aren’t a murderer!

Amelia: But I am! I’m a killer. This is my doing.

Amelia started bawling out, She was almost Hyperventilate-crying.

Millie: Calm down! Take deep breaths. Just show us where Terra is. Please.

They walked away. With Amelia crying. Themis got up off the ground and followed. The rocks that were Phobos started moving on their own. Four got into a sitting position. She slammed her flist against the ground and angrily cried.

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

Terra was laying down on her bed. She awoke and sat up violently. Heavily breathing. Almost dragging into hyperventilation. She slowly stopped herself and took a deep breath.

Themis: That was dramatic.

Terra looked ahead of her. Themis, Millie, Kris and Amelia were sitting in front of her. Amelia was sitting on the ground. With a wrap over her hand that was now a stub. She had cleaned herself up and was just wearing a black tanktop and black pants. Leon walked in the room.

Leon: Terra! I heard something happened so I rushed over!

Themis: A little late bud.

Leon: Then...what happened?

Terra: I think I died.

Themis laughed.

Themis: Who are you and what have you done with the real Terra?

Leon: You know this isn’t a joke Terra.

Terra: I’m not joking. I literally died. I was killed by Four.

Millie: You’re sitting in front of us though. Right?

Amelia: I think I heard her bones snap. But then-

Terra: They didn’t paralyze Amelia enough. So she broke out and...you know the rest.

Themis: You were dead. How would you know?

Terra: Uh...Amelia told me afterwards.

Leon: Suspicious. But who cares.

Terra: But when I was dead, I saw Ivan.

Millie: How?

Terra: I think I was in the Astral Plane.

Themis: You see Maxarkes?

Terra: Who?

Themis: I’ll skip the boring details. There is a group of gods who are probably the most powerful beings in existence. The 8 beasts. Who all ha-

Millie: The most powerful beings in existence?

Themis: Yes, They all can’t leave their realms. Which there are also 8 of.

Leon: Like Heaven and Hell?

Themis: Exactly like that! They all live in their own realm. And they can’t leave it. But they can possess a vessel in the real world. The one I’m thinking of is a beast called Maxarkes. He looks like-

Terra: I know what he looks like.

Themis: You saw him?

Terra: You are pretty knowledgeable Themis. Who was Phobos?

Themis: Phobos is Ares’s son.

Terra: Phobos is what?

Themis: Ares, one of the olympians. Had multiple children. Most of the olympians did actually. Psyche is his sister. He is her brother. So maybe Ares is behind this. Which means that bastard is probably mad at me.

Millie: Why would an olympian god be mad at you?!

Themis: Probably because I took his precious little sword. So this means two things. This is probably my fault.

Terra; No! It’s not. He also wanted info out of me. He wanted to know where Artemis’s small army of women was.

Themis: Ares probably wants to add them to his army. He’s the god of war after all. So he probably sent Phobos and Psyche down to do his bidding.

Terra: Jeez.

Themis: But after Amelia brutally murdered all of them. I don’t think we’ll have to worry about remnant. However, if she really killed Phobos. His soul just goes and reincarnates back at SkyLand. Where most of the olympians live. That’s why I made sure Psyche stayed here. She probably got out at this point,

Leon: So that means we have to go to SkyLand?

Themis: Yup.

Terra: Okay look, I get it that you want to be heroic. But no. I can’t do this anymore. I do some jobs for the president. Because it was “my mess”. To make a little money. And it snowballs into this! I don’t know how long I can do this for!

Themis: You know he came for you. Right? You can’t just back out just like that.

Terra: Well I am. Ares is the god of war right? What if there is no war ready to be raged?

Themis: He probably would get disinterested...But there’s still me and Artemis’s soldiers! Something is going to happen eventually.

Terra: My head isn’t taking this right now! I’m not a hero! I never really was.

Terra struggled out of bed and walked out of the room.

Themis: Millie? You have to have some sense.

Millie: I just can’t right now.

Millie got up with Amelia and Kris. They all left.

Leon: I’ll do it!

Themis: Who are you again?

## Issue 10 - Snowballing

Terra was sitting on top of the roof of the apartment. Looking over the whole city. Taking in the view. She thought about the night she shared with Donny. Millie came up the stairs.

Millie: Hey Terra.

Terra: Oh, Millie. Didn’t see you there.

Millie: You uh. Wanna go get a drink?

Terra: You know I’m not of age. Right?

Millie: I know.

Terra: Alright then, sure.

Terra and Millie traveled not far down the street to a bar. Millie sat up there and Terra sat next to her.

Bartender: Ah, Millie. Haven’t seen you in a while.

Millie: How are ya?

Bartender: New friend?

Millie: Old friend actually.

Bartender: How old is she?

Millie: I’ll tip ya extra if you give her something extra hard.

Bartender: That’s my girl!

The bartender went and got Terra and Millie two wine glasses.

Millie: So, what do you think about Themis’s hero thing?

Terra: I’m done being Artemis. I just wanna be Terra. You know?

Millie: I get you.

Terra: All my actions. They caused death. Heartbreak. Murder. All kinds of bad things. What is that worth next to the good things I did? Now that I beat Integer. I just think I want it to be over.

Millie: I haven’t told anyone about this. Not even Amelia. I’ve been thinking about moving away again.

Terra: Why? I think here is a good home for you.

Millie: I’m never giving up on Amelia. She can be helped if the correct person puts in the right amount of effort. And here she’s too destructive. You saw what she did. I brought her to dinner and she wanted to kill the waiter!

Terra: Uh, actually I didn’t see what she did. What exactly did she do?

Millie: She pretty much cut Mary in half. She phased so fast she turned Raphael into a pile of dust. She blew Phobos into pieces. And then almost skewered Four. Thank god I stopped her. I think a speedster that has that much power and drive to kill could level a city. Like New York. I want to take her somewhere slower. You know?

Terra: You really love her. Right?

Millie blushed.

Terra: Both you and Leon have been through enough. Everyone has. I can’t put you in harm's way the way I did when we went after Integer.

Millie: You know it was our choice to help you. Right?

Terra: That still doesn’t excuse me.

Millie: Look kid. You still have lots of life to live. Don’t waste it being worried about yourself.

Terra: But I could die at any second. Especially considering the way I live my life. I did die!

Millie: Your little scrape with death was just that. A scrape. Scrapes turn into scars. And scars fade. The way Themis makes it sound. This might be unavoidable. Face it. You love wearing the armor.

Terra: I...do. But I can’t let you put it all on the line for me.

Millie: I get it. You aren’t my mom though.

Terra: I know! But I have a conscience. I can’t have your death on it!

Millie: ...I guess you're right. It would suck for you. It would be my choice.

Terra: Things have to be resolved here anyway.

Millie: Sae…

Terra: You know her?

Millie: No actually. She left your armor at the apartment. Then she bit Themis!

Terra: What the hell? Like a vampire?

Millie: She is one. According to Themis.

Terra: That explains…

Terra pulled one of her sleeves up. The marks on her were still there.

Terra: A vampire bite look like this?

Millie: Yeah! That’s it!

Terra: Did she…? Holy shit.

Millie: And apparently Sae can make you see things that really aren’t there. Like illusions.

Terra: Oh my god...Sae caused this. She made me see illusions!

Millie: The whole thing where you killed Three?

Terra: Her name was Elaine. And I didn’t mean to. But then after that I woke up in Phobos’s toture chamber. That’s how it snowballed. That’s what’s going to happen if I go with Themis…

Millie: You have a lot on your plate. Huh?

Terra: Who knows what will happen?

Millie: I’ll let you sit on it.

Terra: One thing I know. I have to deal with Sae.

Millie: Don’t you think it’s going to snowball?

Terra: It probably is.

Millie: To snowballing!

Terra: To snowballing.

Terra and Millie clinked their glasses together.

Millie: So, are you going?

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

Terra came into her apartment. Themis was sitting in the back of the room.

Themis: Made a decision?

Terra: No.

Themis: I don’t think you get this kid. We have a dude with the destructive capability to destroy the entire United States. We’re talking about country level threat here! Nearly billions of deaths!

Terra: If you know so much, then how powerful was Empyrean?

Themis: He wasn’t at his peak. But he destroyed all of if not most of San Francisco.

Themis took out his phone.

Themis: San Francisco is 32,000 Acres. If he kept going, atleast California would’ve been a ghost-town.

Terra picked up one of her armor pieces.

Terra: This is armor I made. Not mystical olympian armor! By that logic Ares could crush me like a bug! He probably could do the same to you!

Themis: Doubt it.

Terra: Didn’t you almost lose against Psyche?

Themis: If we go to Skyland we can get you new armor. And I could get tricked out.

Terra: Why do I need to go? I’d be leaving behind my life! What’s so important that you need me?!

Themis: I’m not sure you’d understand.

Terra: Then how would I justify going with you to an entire different realm!?

Themis: They want you there. That fucking asshole will regin bloody hell on us if I don’t bring you there!

Terra: What are you talking about?

Themis angrily smashed his hand on Terra’s dresser.

Themis: Zeus! He wants you! He got me by th-

Terra: No Themis! Zeus can wait! There are things here that need to be settled before I go on another quest to save the fucking world! I don’t know if I can do that again.

Themis: Last time Ares’ presence was felt we got hiroshima, we got both world wars, oh and Christianity. I wouldn’t even want to talk about Zeus.

Terra: If I don’t get involved with him, nothing is going to happen.

Themis: Terra!

Terra: I’m not ready. I’m sorry. If we don’t bother them, they won’t bother us.

Themis: You know that’s not true!

Terra: Besides, their gods. We can’t hurt them. What do you expect me to do?

Themis: You are very strong. You could take one.

Terra: Not Zeus! Or Ares! Zeus is like the strongest one!

Themis: It’s not a matter of defeating them! It’s a matter of persuasion.

Terra: That’s your thing. Isn’t it?

Themis: If you want to give up on the universe when it calls your name, so be it.

Terra: ...Get out.

Themis: Make me.

Terra grabbed her armor and put it on. She grabbed her spear. She slipped on her fur coat over it.

Terra: Don’t stay for too long.

Terra walked out of the room.

Themis: Fucking dumbass.

Thunder rumbled.

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

Terra had equipped her armor. And had her spear. With her fur coat over it. She picked up her phone and called Sae’s number.

Sae: Hello?

Terra: Hey Sae.

Sae: Oh! Ginger! You must’ve gotten out alive!

Terra: I want to settle this.

Sae: Settle what?

Terra: Your actions led to my death. You need to be stopped. So play fair this time. We have a one on one duel to settle our differences. Like the Chaste used to do.

Sae: Like old times. Fine. I accept.

Terra: No tricks.

Sae: I know your bringing your “tricks.” So why can’t I use mine.

Terra: Meet me on the roof of Henry Hall’s apartments.

Sae: Like old times. I’m excited! See you there!

Terra hung up. She then called the president.

President: Are you recovered, Terra?

Terra: Yeah.

President: You take down Sae, I will pay you your full paycheck.

Terra: I’ll end this.

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

Terra opened the door to the top of the apartments. She looked around. Nobody was there.

Sae: Looking for someone?

Terra: Remember when we had that dispute about food? We settled it in a match. Whoever pins for 5 seconds wins.

Sae: How about a fight to death?

Terra: No! You know the rules.

Sae: Yeah. One of them is hand to hand. Unless both combatants have weapons.

Terra: Come on Sae.

Sae playfully sighed. She put her hands behind her and took out a katana.

Sae: Come on Ginger. Can you win this time?

Terra: If I win you leave me and my friends alone.

Sae: And if I win I get to stay and do whatever I want! Maybe I’ll bang a bunch of your friends to piss you off!

Sae jumped forward and slammed her sword down. Terra knocked the sword out of the way and did an axe kick to Sae’s shoulder. She spun and kicked her back. Sae stabbed her sword into the ground and slid backward. She jumped off of her sword insanely high. Taking it with her. Terra held her spear out. Sae came down and slammed it into the ground. Leaving it stuck in the ground. She kicked Terra in the face with a hook kick and stung her in the shin. Sae kicked high again. Terra parried and threw a side kick at Sae. She sidestepped and grabbed the underside of her leg and flipped Terra on her back. She got on top of Terra. Terra threw Sae off of her.

Sae: Almost 5 seconds!

Sae grabbed her katana out of the roof and slashed down at Terra. She held her gauntlet out and blocked. Terra summoned about as much power of olympus as she could and punched Sae in the stomach. And firing an energy blast into her. She went flying into the air. She kicked off a vent and did a flip to the ground. She landed and swung her sword under Terra. And then swung it with elegance at Terra. She held her gauntlets up and only blocked two of her many cuts and strikes. Leaving Terra’s arms cut up. She slashed up at Terra. Clinking off of her breastplate. Terra pushed the sword to the side and threw out a side kick. Sae slid under and flipped Terra on the ground. She did a backroll and landed on top of her. She started punching the back of Terra’s head.

Sae: 5! 4!

Terra summoned all the power she could muster.

Sae: and for 3!

Sae pulled up Terra’s arm and bit her on the back of it. Showing two sharp fangs. She sprung off of Terra. Doing multiple backsprings. She dodged under Terra’s flying spear just narrowly.

Sae: So you still can do your tricks?

Terra got up. Breathing heavily. Sae seemed to disappear from Terra’s sight. And not long after Elaine appeared in front of Terra.

Elaine: It’s your fault that this happened Terra...You blame Sae. And yet this was your doing. You killed me.

Terra took a deep breath and listened closely. She felt a heartbeat coming right next to her. She ignored the illusions of Elaine by closing her eyes. She dodged under Sae’s sword. Which would’ve decapitated her. Terra did a leg sweep. She fell to the ground. Terra slammed her spear down next to Sae and got on top of her. Sae tried to struggle for a second. But just laid down and let the 5 seconds pass.

Sae: Impressive little ginger.

Terra got off of Sae.

Terra: Now like I said. You leave us alone. Never get involved with T.H.O.R.N again. Leave town.

Sae: Yeah yeah. I’ll heed your little request.

Sae got up and grabbed her katana.

Sae: You won’t see me lurking around anymore.

Terra: You’d better keep up your end of the deal.

Sae: Oh and also. Watch your back. Because I’m not the only one from your past back in town.

Terra: What are you talking about?

Sae: The Chaste. Their back. Stick’s back for you and another dude.

Terra: Another dude? Anyone I would know?

Sae: Maybe. Wears red all the time. He’s mixed.

Terra: His name Kai?

Sae: Yeah! Kai. Good looking specimen.

Terra: I should talk to him.

Sae: Thought you were done heroing.

Terra: The Chaste is my problem.

Terra rushed away.

???: You aren’t leaving town. You know that right?

Sae: Yeah yeah I know.

Stick came from behind Sae.

Stick: Come on. We’re going.

## Issue 11 - Operation Malice

Terra had trouble sleeping that night. She awoke and rubbed her eyes. She sat on the side of her bed and looked at a backpack she had packed her armor into. Who knew what would happen when she met with Kai. She dragged herself out of bed and threw on clothes that would fit her armor well. She quickly straightened her hair and walked to the elevator for the bottom floor. She realized there was another person in there.

Terra: Hey, you’re Kai, right?

Kai: Yeah, who are you?

Terra: Like, six months ago we beat EOL together! How did you forget who I am?

Kai: You're forgettable.

Terra: I guess you haven’t changed since last time I met you. I’m Terra.

Kai: Now I remember you. You got captured by Stick too.

Terra: Yeah, that’s actually what I wanted to talk about. Are you going to Bibble and Sip?

Kai: Sure, I wanted a coffee anyway.

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

They walk to Bibble and Sip together. Kai orders his coffee and Terra orders a tea. They sat down across from each other.

Kai: What did you want?

Terra: I saw you in the newspaper. The “Crimson Dragon.”

Kai: Mind not saying that in public?

Terra: Oh yeah, sorry. Bad habit. What happened to you since we last met?

Kai: I chilled. Then all my friends died, and now I’m here. The rollercoaster of life, am I right?

Terra: Uh...Sorry. When did that happen?

Kai: I don’t know. Like a week ago.

Terra: Uh, you see that thing about Metas and mutants going free?

Kai: It was all over the news. So… yes.

Terra: Shit… It was really everywhere? Well long story short, I freed them.

Kai: Millions of mutants were freed. Of course it would be everywhere! Wait, did you just say you freed them?

Terra: I know, I know. It sounds like a joke, but I did.

Kai: No, it sounds stupid.

Terra: Why?

Kai: For one, me believing that you freed millions of Metas. Second, releasing millions of Metas onto the world is about the dumbest idea I have ever heard.

Terra: They were locked up like dogs! You can’t say the innocents shouldn’t be allowed to go free!

Kai: Did I say that? You release, what, forty million Mutants? Now they have no homes, and nothing to lose. What else are they going to do? They're going to try and get money. Cops can’t take them down. So they are just going to rob banks.

Terra: Yeah, Repulse and I are working on that.

Kai: I just fought Repulse. She was kind of an asshole. Now you have dragged me into helping stop the problem you caused.

Terra: I guess we’re all trying our best. I’m working on bringing down the meta crime rates, but there’s another problem I think we both want to resolve.

Kai: Nah, I’m good. You seem to cause a lot of problems.

Kai tries to get out of his seat.

Terra: Wait!

Kai: What?

Terra: It’s the Chaste. Their back in town. I just want to get them out of the picture. I bet you do too.

Kai sighs and sits back down.

Kai: What were you planning?

Terra: I don’t necessarily have a plan, but I have info!

Kai: Should have expected as much. Let’s go somewhere that chaste members aren’t listening in.

Terra: Do you have a white board at your house or something?

Kai: No I don’t have a white board!

Terra: Alright, your house it is. I’ll grab my armor and spear on the way.

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

Terra had a backpack and laid her spear against Kai’s couch.

Terra: Wow, your apartment looks way different than mine.

Kai: What floor are you on?

Terra: Floor four.

Kai: Oh, your poor.

Terra: That’s the long and short of it.

Kai went around and shut all his curtains. He shut the doors.

Kai: Onto the important stuff. What information do you have?

Terra: There’s a chaste member called Sae. I fought her, and by the end of our fight she said the Chaste was back in town. I also saw a mysterious blonde guy talking to her.

Kai: That’s Az.

Terra: Oh, and she said that they were back for us.

Kai: Is that it?

Terra: Yeah, what else did you expect?

Kai: What you're telling me is there are ninjas after us. We have no idea where they are, or how many there are. Let me guess, you just wanted to charge in?

Terra: When you put it like that it sounds bad. That may or may not have been what I was thinking.

Kai: You're absolutely useless. Can you even fight? Why should I even keep you around?

Terra looked at her armor and spear.

Terra: Wanna spar?

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

Terra and Kai stood across from each other on the rooftop.

Terra: Can I use my spear?

Kai: What if you lose it? Fist to fist.

Both of them got into fighting stances. Kai walked towards her and threw a roundhouse. Terra parried and ducked under a spinning back kick from Kai. He threw a straight punch at Terra. She dodged and kicked Kai in the stomach. She threw a couple punches at his head. He dodged under and kneed Terra in the stomach. She flinched and grabbed Kai by the neck and chokeslammed him. She punched her hand into the ground. Kai did a back handspring, kicking Terra twice in the chin. She wiped the blood off her face and backed up. She threw a superman punch and let out an energy blast. Kai dodged under and hit her clean in the stomach. She went flying in the air and landed on the ground with a back roll. Kai teleported above her and fell into a flying axe kick. Terra put her hands above her head, caught it and slammed Kai on the ground. She held him by the leg.

Kai: At least you’re good for something.

Kai kicked up with his other leg and got it behind Terra’s shoulder. He threw her off of him. She landed and rolled to her feet.

Terra: I’m not done! Let’s go!

Kai: That’s all for now. Use your mind for a second. Do you have anything we could use to trace the Chaste?

Terra: Uh...I have calls that I got from Sae. She worked with people called T.H.O.R.N. But was obviously working for the Chaste undercover. Can you like, track the calls?

Kai: I got a guy for that. Give me a minute.

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

Kai and Terra are back in Kai’s house. Max knocks on the door, and Kai lets him in. Max takes his laptop out of his bag and sits on Kai’s couch.

Max: Give me your phone.

Terra gives Max the phone. Max plugs the phone into his computer and starts typing.

Terra: How do you even do that? You’re just clicking keys on a keyboard!

Max looks annoyed and starts speaking slowly.

Max: Because I'm coding your phone.

Terra: You don’t need to talk to me like a lost kitten.

Max: I’m not. Lost kittens don’t speak english.

Terra: Why are all you guys assholes?

Kai: Because you ask dumb questions, and make stupid decisions.

Terra: I had no idea I was being judged by god himself.

Kai: Thanks.

Max: Alright, call your friend.

Max hands the phone back to Terra.

Terra: Call her? Wouldn’t she be suspicious. I told her to skip town!

Max: Who would expect someone like you to be able to track someone off a phone?

Terra: Fair enough.

Terra opened her phone and called the number.

Someone picked up the phone. A distorted voice picked up.

Sae: Terra? I thought I was skipping town?

Terra: Uh…

She looked at Kai.

Terra: I wasn’t able to find the guy you were talking about. Kai. Do you have any more info about him?

Sae: Is this a joke? He’s the Crimson Dragon. Fights with a staff. He can teleport. High 30s power level.

Terra: Hmm. Found him.

Terra hung up.

Terra: They know a lot about you Kai.

Kai: They’re stalkers.

Max: I found their location.

Kai: Where?

Max: 3419 48th St.

Kai: Thanks Max. You're a lifesaver.

Max: No. I just found an address.

Max gets up and leaves.

Terra: Alright. Let’s go.

Terra put on her fragments of armor. She put on gauntlets and half of a chestplate. Kai put on his suit and grabbed his staff. Terra grabbed her spear.

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

They headed to the address.

Kai: Come on, let’s go around back. We’re not walking right in!

They snuck up to a window.

Kai: Look.

They saw a group of ten people in a circle.

Terra: I thought there would be more. How are we gonna go in?

Kai: I can teleport us in, but I need to know a room without anyone in it. Then we can start taking them down one by one.

Terra: That’s a better plan than I could come up with.

Someone teleported right behind Kai. He swiftly grabbed Kai’s head and slammed it against the wall. Kai drops to the ground. Azazel knees Terra in the stomach. An extremely high pitched sound came from Azazel, and shattered the pair’s eardrums. Azazel took out two needles and stabbed it into their necks.

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

Terra opened her eyes. She tried to get to her feet. But hit her head on the top of a dog cage. And she was electrocuted.

Terra: Goddamnit! I guess I do bring trouble wherever I go.

Kai: I know, and you took forever to wake up.

Terra: How long has it been?

Kai: Like two hours.

Terra: Ugh, where are we?

Kai: I think we’re on a ship or something.

???: Correction! The Notorious Nautical, and you can call me Mr. Notorious!

A fat dark skinned man in a business tuxedo, a fedora, and khakis smoking a blunt walked in.

Mr. Notorious: The Crimson Dragon took down my biggest competition. And this little girl turned him into the monster he was painted as! Everythings too easy! No competition!

Kai: Isn’t that a good thing? He would have stayed richer than you.

Mr. Notorious: It’s boring. I’m halfway to owning all of New York by this point!

Terra: You picked the worst time to knock us out and capture us though.

Mr. Notorious: I have connections. Stick knew you were coming from a mile away. So I had my boys take you out and bring you here. We’re going out to sea. We’ll probably dump you there too.

A girl in a lab coat and white hair tied into a ponytail walked into the room.

Kai: Hey, it’s the Blood Surgeon.

Terra: Her real name is Kuzu.

Kuzu: Oh yeah, I remember both of you! How are we planning on killing them?

Mr. Notorious: Don’t worry, I have many options. Go put it up to vote with the rest.

Mr. Notorious: Here’s some food, it’ll be your last meal.

Mr. Notorious sat down two bowls of cat food in front of the two.

Kai: These are dog cages. At least get the food right.

Mr. Notorious: Something about cats spoke to me.

Mr. Notorious left the room.

Terra: These should be pretty easy to get out of, right?

Kai: Just bend the bars open.

Terra kicked the cage hard enough that the cage’s front fell over. Terra rolled out of the way of the rest of the cage falling on her. She only got electrocuted a little bit.

Terra: That was stupid.

Terra unlocked Kai’s cage and let him out.

Kai: That’s why I wanted you to do it.

Terra: Don’t you have regeneration?

Kai: Who wants to get electrocuted?

They went to leave. But a red laser system appeared. And it sensed both of them. The entire room was sealed with metal walls.

Kai: Shit.

Terra: Hmm...You can teleport right?

Kai tried.

Kai: Dampeners.

Terra held out her hand and threw a punch. She extended it with an energy blast.

Terra: Not for me.

Kai: And let me guess. You can’t teleport.

Terra: Nope.

Kai: I expected as much.

Terra: I have an idea. It’s kind of stupid.

Kai: Looks like we don’t have much of a choice. What is it?

Terra: What can you do? Powerwise?

Kai: What does it matter?

Terra: Just get your head out of your ass and tell me!

Kai: I can teleport, regenerate, and I can use my spiritual energy to do all kinds of things.

Terra: My power must not be dampened because I use olympian power. It’s called the power of Olympus. Creative right?

Kai: Sure. What do you want to do?

Terra: I wonder if I can like, transfer my power into you for a second. Enough time for your powers to be sparked.

Kai: Don’t put anything in me.

Terra: Have any better ideas?

Kai: Fine. Let’s try it.

Terra held her hand out to Kai. He grabbed it. Terra focused her power on her inside. She thought of Amala. Letting it channel through her. She brought it up to Kai’s hand.

Kai: It feels like spiritual energy, but different.

Kai quickly teleported out of their prison. They teleported into a parlor room. Where two guards were setting the table. They immediately pulled their guns and started shooting. Kai did a flip off the table and kicked a guard in the face. Knocking him out. Terra tackled the other person. She quickly punched him out.

Kai: Come on.

Kai went to leave.

Terra: Hey, look.

There was a closet door that was labeled “breaker room”. Kai and Terra quickly snuck in there.

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

Mr. Notorious walked into the room. He had a group of familiar faces walking behind him. Lefty and Righty, two identical huge, muscular guys in tuxedo suits. Azazel, he had a red mask along with a black cloak lines with some red. He wore black boots with red tape around them, and he had his hands fully wrapped in hand wraps. There was Mr. Jelly Time. A happy man in a jumpsuit carrying a plate of jelly. Jin Girkew, a man in a speedster suit and tight jeans. Along with glasses. His hair was slicked back. Phoenix, a man in a big red power armor suit with wings to his side. Megalodon, a huge shark-man. Smiley, a white haired man with dark skin, he had an everlasting smile on his face. The Chemist was also there. He wore a lab coat and had goggles on. Along with gloves. Kuzu followed behind next to the Chemist. Saber, An innocent looking girl walked behind everyone. She had a pink sweater on and blonde hair. Along with warm-up pants.

Kuzu: There’s fresh bodies here.

Chemist: They're not dead yet.

Saber: Emphasis on yet.

Chemist: Who are you again?

Saber: Doesn’t matter.

Saber smiled. At first it was a normal smile you’d see. But her teeth widened, and so did past her lips and into her cheeks. She revealed gigantic sharp teeth all throughout her mouth.

Mr. Notorious: No! Not here. My suit is too fresh to get blood on it.

Mr. Jelly time: You promised free jelly samples!

Righty: And you promised meat samples!

Mr. Notorious: Settle down everyone. I have something even better than jelly and meat. Two people all of you hate for one reason or another.

Mr. Notorious clicked a button. And a camera feed came up on a TV. Of Terra and Kai’s cell area. Lacking Terra and Kai.

Jin: You think we hate empty metal rooms? What kind of racism is this?!

Mr. Notorious: Dammit! How did they escape?!

Phoenix: Maybe you didn’t plan for everything.

Mr. Notorious brought pictures of Terra and Kai up on the TV.

Mr. Notorious: Do any of you know these people?

Lefty: Yeah!

Righty: Kai! I really want to beat him up!

Mr. Jelly Time: He is a jelly murderer!

Chemist: Both of them caused me trouble. It would be useful to be rid of them…

Phoenix: I beat him last time I saw him. I think I’m good.

Mr. Notorious: What about killing him? Even better!

Jin: I hate that girl’s speedster friend! I suppose killing her would cause the suffering of others. That’s enough for me! Plus she broke my glasses!

Kuzu: Looks like we’re all in agreement that we hate them.

Chemist: Well, let’s split into groups and track them down.

Mr. Notorious: I thought you were supposed to be a mad genius. Go in a big group!

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

Terra: Ready?

Kai: Let’s do this.

Terra punched the breaker switches. They made a sputtering out sound. And the small light in the breaker room went off.

Kai: The Chemist is there. And he has a paralyser. I say we sneak up to and slow down as many as possible, and then take out who we can.

Terra: I hope this works.

Kai: Don’t worry. It always does. Take this.

Kai gave a gun from one of the guards they had knocked out to Terra.

Terra: A gun?

Kai: We need to slow them down. Make them panic. I hope you have a good aim.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Jin: Where’d the lights go? Now I’m blind!

Chemist: Don’t worry.

Chemist activated something on his suit. And lights shown out of his goggles.

Kuzu: That’s a little better.

Jin: Why did he make us stay in a group?! I could check this boat in not even a minute!

Saber: I wouldn’t expect to do that in the pitch dark.

Jin: I’ve mastered the art of radar sense. I can’t ever see!

Lightning coarsed through Jin’s body. Just as this was happening Kai teleported behind the Chemist. He did a strike to the side of the neck to make him fall down. He swiped his paralyzer. He jumped back and shot Jin, Megalodon, and Azazel. Everyone scattered into rooms to their sides. As they scattered Terra aimed down from far away. She hit Saber right in the chest. Blood flew off of her and she went flying back from the hit. Kai took out his staff and pinned down Saber. She opened her huge maw and bit down on Kai’s staff. Hitting both of Kai’s hands. He jumped back. She stood up, the shot had healed. Kai got slammed in the head by Lefty’s fist. He had punched through the wall next to him. Kai dropped the paralyzer. Smiley came into the aisle and took out two electric whips. He swung one at Kai. Kai flipped back and slammed his foot down. Trapping one of the whips. He drew his staff and slammed it on the whip. Smiley fell on his face. Saber jumped out and slashed across Kai’s side. Kai dodged a second swipe. But got hit by a gigantic Jelly fist. He fell back into Lefty and Righty’s arms. They grabbed him and threw him at the ceiling. Kai rolled backwards. Surrounded by the group. Terra shot Lefty in the shoulder. And jumped in with her spear. She slashed Righty across the back. Her and Kai stood, surrounded by the group. They came out into a restaurant section.

Terra: Kai, duck!

Kai ducked down, and Terra swung her staff around the crowd, backing them up. Kai did a back roll and tripped Jelly Time. Kuzu made a scythe out of blood. She swung it at Kai. Kai dodged and kicked Kuzu twice. Kai looked at Terra like he had a plan. And Terra was ready for something. Kai jumped past Terra, and handed his staff to her in midair. She grabbed it and spun Kai around like a top. As Kai spun he hit every member surrounding them. Lefty and Righty jumped back and locked arms. And started spinning like a helicopter.

Righty: Can you beat our super move!?

They collided. And Kai jumped high. He spun his staff and slammed it onto Lefty’s head. Terra ducked under and charged a punch. She punched Righty straight in the stomach and knocked him to the ground with an elbow from said punch. Phoenix flew in and knocked Kai to the ground. Terra jumped up and uppercut Phoenix. He violently hit the ceiling. A bunch of turrets came from his shoulders. Terra and Kai ducked under dinner tables. Saber punched through the table and grabbed Terra by the neck. She slammed her against the back of the table. Kai grabbed Terra’s staff and slashed off Saber’s hand. She jumped back. Smiley threw in both of his electric whips. Terra and Kai dodged. As Phoenix flew through the room. Kai kicked up and slammed him into Smiley’s electric whips.

Mr. Jelly Time: It’s jelly time!

Jelly Time punched with a gigantic fist. Terra punched as well, and collided with the fist. She let an energy blast go into it. And the fist was destroyed. Kai ducked under and hit Jelly Time in the stomach. He fell down on the ground with a thump. A bunch of clones of Kuzu surrounded the group. The two quickly dispatched the fakes. Kuzu slammed her staff into Terra’s side. She put up her gauntlet. And blocked it. She felt how devastating it would’ve been. Kai came from behind and kicked her in the side. She slid back just a bit. Saber came from beside Kai and bit into his arm. Terra stabbed her spear straight through Saber.

Kai: This is going to hurt.

Kai kicked Saber further down Terra’s spear.

Terra: Yeah it is.

Terra punched Saber in the face. So hard it shattered the teeth in her mouth. She flew off of Terra’s spear. Down for the count. Terra got hit in the shoulder by a couple shots from Phoenix. Smiley wrapped his whip around Terra. She started to get electrocuted. Kai went to slam his staff down. But Kuzu slipped it out of his hand with her scythe. Phoenix came from behind and stabbed his wing across Kai’s back. Terra grabbed Smiley’s whip with one of her hands and pulled him towards her. She spun and threw a kick. He fell down. Kuzu swung her scythe at the pair. Terra ducked, and Kai jumped up and knocked down Phoenix. Terra blitzed Kuzu and punched her in the face. She broke into a pool of blood. Phoenix took out his turrets again. He shot at both of them. Terra jumped behind a wall quickly. Kai jumped up, tanked the shots and broke both of his turrets. Terra took the chance to jump up and punch him in the face. He fell down. Both of them were out of breath.

Terra: Come on, that was pretty fucking awesome.

Kai: I’ll give it to you this time.

Kai went back and picked up the paralyzer. Jin ran in. Megalodon and Chemist did too. Kai unloaded on them with the paralyzer. Azazel came from behind. And let an extremely loud pulse out. Terra and Kai both covered their ears. Terra struggled to stand up. Azazel threw a punch at her. She dodged under and took out her spear. She stabbed it behind her. Right through Azazel’s stomach.

Kai: That was quick.

Terra: That was a lot easier than spending months tracking them down.

Mr. Notorious walked in the door.

Mr. Notorious: I didn’t think I’d have to do this. But I have no choice! You muthafuckers are dead!

Terra socked Notorious in the face. He fell down with a hard thump.

Mr. Notorious: No! My awesome glasses! And my blunt!

Kai stood above him and knocked him out with a hit from his staff.

Kai: I wonder where we were headed.

All of a sudden, the boat shook like an earthquake. Both Kai and Terra lost their balance and fell down. They both struggled to their feet. The windows in the room had been blasted open. They crawled through there. To see they were on land. An island.

Kai: Shit. They drove us off the coast of New York.

Terra: Who do you think crashed the ship?

???: I hear you were looking for me.

## Issue 12 - Facing the Chaste

Kai: Stick?!

Stick: It’s pretty obvious that it’s me. I’m the blind one here.

Terra: Took you long enough to find us again.

Stick: I knew where you were. I just wasn’t trying to capture you, but I am now!

Terra: It’s obvious we were done with you. I thought you were going to leave us alone!

Stick: Your an… investment. I expect to get a return on that investment.

Terra: What? An investment for Sae stabbing me?

Stick: What does that have to do with anything?

Kai: How did you know we were going to be on this island?

Stick: I have connections. Lots of connections.

Kai: And I’m tired. Tired of your shit.

Stick: Well I’m tired of your shit. You caused me lots of trouble, or at least you did Terra.

Terra: What did I do?

Stick: You set free a shitton of metas and mutants, and threw around the Chaste’s name like a drunk irish sailor.

Terra: Sae got me kidnapped, tortured, and branded.

Stick: Not my fault. I hate those olympian bastards. Either way, about that investment…

A group of ten walked up behind Stick. Fenix was there. Still looking the same, just a bit older, Mina was there, with a crop-top on and sweats. She was holding a beer bottle. A man with a suit of armor walks up. The base of the suit is black with red armor over the torso. He has red gauntlets, a silver belt, gold plated shin protectors, and gold knee protectors. He has a samurai looking helmet on. The helmet is black with red eyes to see out of. Then he has a giant gold U shape on the top of his helmet. Sae came up next to them. She wore A black sports top, her cloak was tied over briefs that came down to augmented MMA shoes. That seemed like they could hold something. She kept her long white hair. One of her arms was prosthetic and so was one of her legs from the knee down. She smiled at Terra.

Sae: You told me to leave town. We’re not there.

A man stood next to Sae. Blackout had a black full body suit of light armor. With a red scarf. A looming figure stood next to him. Red Akuma. He wore a red ninja mask, and wore samurai armor. There was a girl with a grey sleeveless top and a blue scarf. She wore large mma pants, and had boots on. Outburst, a man with a red shirt and a short blue cape. There was Rhea, and Azrael walked up next to her.

Kai: What happened Az. All of my life we were best friends. You were my brother. I would have helped you with anything.

Az: Then you decided telling your friends that a killer is after them wasn’t as important as your new business.

Kai: That’s not it-

Az: Then what, Kai?

Kai: It’s the way everything happened. I didn’t think anything of the killer until Jax died-

Az: You knew about him before Jax died!

Kai: He killed some random dude! Then I went to Natalie after Jax died. I told Natalie everything. She started looking around for the killer.

Az: Let me guess, while you worked on your business?

Kai looks down at the ground.

Kai: Then Natalie died. I couldn’t get into contact with you and I was spiraling. Natalie was my childhood crush! I watched her die!

Az sighs and gets into a fighting stance.

Az: That’s what you get for bringing this upon us.

Stick: Prove to me you are both worth something.

Terra and Kai stood in fighting stances. And backed up slowly. Az ran up quickly and threw a superman punch at Kai, Kai dodged under, grabbed him by the arm and flipped him on the ground.

Kai: I’m on a whole different level compared to you.

Rhea: Back off!

Rhea drew her sword and swung at the both of them. Terra blocked with her spear and danced around her. Kai kicked her in the stomach, she blocked. Terra went to throw another attack. But an explosion came up behind her. Rhea dodged as Terra was blown into the air.

Outburst: Check out my bursting balls!

Kai: You mean bombs right?

Outburst: Bursting balls!

Outburst threw a bunch of bursting balls on the ground. Kai and Terra scattered. Terra came face to face with Fenix.

Fenix: Long time no see Terra.

Terra: How have things been?

Fenix: Great!

Fenix hit Terra in a pressure point with two of her fingers. Terra felt just about nothing. And Fenix’s fingers broke. Terra kicked her in the head. She got a beer bottle smashed on her head. Rhea jumped in and slashed her sword at Terra, she dodged under and threw a kick. She fell back and rolled to her feet. To be met with a hit to the head from Terra’s spear. Outburst threw down more bursting balls. Kai picked one up and threw it right back. He got hit and flew back. Terra came from behind and slashed across his back. Sae stood in front of Kai.

Sae: I heard stories about you. They must be true.

Kai: And I never heard shit about you.

Kai threw a hook kick at Sae. She caught his leg and swung her sword at it. Kai slammed his foot down and threw a tornado kick. Sae ducked under, flipped her sword onto her foot and did a slide. Kai fell on the ground. She stabbed her sword into his leg. He kicked up, kicking Sae in the stomach. She fell back and did a flip over Kai. Terra came from behind and knocked Sae down.

Stick: Alright! Alright! That’s enough! You’ve grown a lot since last time. In power I mean, not mentally.

Kai: Are you giving up?

Stick: Me! Give up! Never. I will just give you the opportunity to win your freedom.

Terra: I’m tired of all your stupid metaphors!

Terra slashed her spear at Stick. Stick caught it in his hand. He effortlessly ripped it out of Terra’s hand. He snapped it like a twig.

Stick: That wasn’t a metaphor. Last opportunity!

Kai: What is it?

Stick: You will be obtaining a treasure for me. You will find the Muramasa blade. I blade that can kill enemies that can regenerate limbs. Do you accept the challenge?

Terra: No! You just wanna kill Kai or something like that!

Kai: We’ll take the challenge.

Stick: Great. Come with me, we’re taking a flight to Canada. Many secrets are held there.

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

Terra and Kai sat down on a plane. They had changed their clothes and freshened up.

Stick: You get to ride third class. Call me if you need anything, actually. Don’t.

Stick walked away.

Terra: Was he trying to bait us into the Chaste so we could ride first class?

Kai: I wouldn’t put it past him.

They sat in silence for a couple minutes.

Terra: ...Hey. I never asked what your life was really like. Aside from all the shitty things. How have you been?

Kai: Uh, okay. I’ve been working on some dope ass glasses.

Terra: Glasses? Sunglasses or something? I had no idea you were so into fashion.

Kai: I fucking hate fashion. No, these glasses allow you to see power levels.

Terra: Power levels...I remember that. I have a friend who can read them. She had a soul blade. With its power, she could read power levels.

Kai: Soul blade allows you to read power levels? That would have been good to know.

Terra: You must have some of those glasses on you. Can I try em’ out?

Kai: Fine.

Kai takes glasses out of his pocket. He takes them out of a small case and hands them to Terra. Terra put the glasses on.

Terra: Holy shit, how did you get to be that powerful? What about me? What are my numbers?

Kai: Well, give me the glasses.

Terra handed the glasses to Kai. Kai slipped on the glasses.

Kai: 31,000.

Terra: Last time I asked Amala I was like 15,000. But that was years ago. You were 38,000.

Kai: It’s about time we jump.

Terra: What?

Stick came down.

Stick: He’s right. Put on some parachutes.

Kai grabbed a parachute, he threw one over to Terra.

Terra: I prefer my feet on the ground. Why don’t we just land?

Kai: This is much quicker and more fun.

The door for the plane opens up.

Kai: See ya on the other side.

Kai salutes and jumps out of the plane.

Stick: What? Are you seriously afraid of heights?

Terra: Not the biggest fan.

Stick: As a kid I was afraid of heights too. And I eventually had to jump too. So what i’m trying to say is, have a nice flight.

Stick pushed Terra out of the plane. She fell through the air, panicking. She anxiously rested her hand on the string to pull the chute. The ground is coming closer and closer. She got close enough to the ground, and pulled the chute. And landed in a tree.

Kai: Get down! We have a job to do!

Terra took off her backpack. She fell on the ground. And took the backpack off.

Kai: You took a while to get here.

Terra: First time parachuting. No more questions.

Kai took out a map. He started walking the way towards the muramasa blade.

Terra: You got an extra pair of shoes or something?

Kai: Of course not. You’re bad for walking around barefoot.

They eventually made it to a cave. There was a light fire shining on the walls. Kai and Terra walked straight in. They saw an old man with a long beard. He wore a red cloak, and had a crutch that was stained with blood. He wore no shoes. There was a blade in the ground behind him.

Old man: Ah, I have visitors. What can I do for you two on this fine day?

Kai: We’ve come for the blade that’s behind you.

Old man: Blade? I have no blade.

Kai points at the blade.

Kai: That one.

The old man looks at the blade.

Old man: Ah, my toothbrush. You can’t have it. I need to keep my pearly whites.

Terra: He seems senial.

Old man: I’m only one hundred and forty four years old, thank you very much! I am barely past my prime!

Kai: Looks like we’re gonna have to take it.

Old man: If you take my toothbrush, you will be cursed.

Kai: With?

Old man: A terrible curse!

The old man picked up his crutch. He got into a fighting stance.

Old man: Beat me, and maybe I’ll curse you.

Kai and Terra surrounded the man.

Terra: This is a little crude, isn’t it?

Kai: We’re not killing him. We’re just taking the blade.

Kai took out his staff and burst out at the old man. He caught Kai’s staff in the handle of his crutch. And swung Kai around like a ragdoll. Terra kicked him in the side. When Terra landed he kicked her hard in the back of the shin. He did a spinning hook kick. And kicked Terra in the face. Terra did a punch, and an energy blast came out. The old man wasn’t bothered by this at all. Kai teleported above him and did an axe kick in the air. He dodged out of the way and pushed Kai off his feet. Terra grabbed him and threw him on the ground. He spun his crutch on the ground. Terra and Kai jumped back. The old man got to his feet. Terra ran up and threw a quick jab. The old man caught her fist. She threw another punch. He caught her other fist. He pushed her into his fire. Terra screamed out from the pain. A red aura quickly flashed around her. The old man turned around to face his attention to Kai. Terra got up, her eyes red as if she had hit destruction form. She grabbed him by the back and threw him at the ceiling of the cave. He hit the ground, and bounced up. Terra kicked him towards the opening at the beginning of the cave. She turned around. Kai had gotten the blade.

Terra: Come on! Let’s go!

Terra and Kai ran out of the cave. Blade in hand. They ran past the old man.

Kai: Hope I remembered the way back!

They both ran at top speed. But came to a violent stop. The old man emerged from the woods. With an armada of moose on his side. He was sitting on a moose in the middle.

Old man: That curse, I foretell that the one you love will be your undoing. It’s a truly terrible curse!

Kai gripped the muramasa blade. He blitzed through a moose, and cut it in half. Terra ran just behind Kai. Stick came above them with a helicopter. He threw down a ladder. Kai scaled it easily, and Terra went up it anxiously.

Stick: Good work. My cousin’s crazy, right?

Terra: That was your cousin?!

Stick: He’s an asshole. Everyone has that one drunk cousin.

Terra: He was much more than drunk.

Stick: He was a good sparring partner, but never as powerful as me.

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

Stick flew them back to New York. They landed on a helipad. Stick let them out.

Stick: Until next time.

Terra: You said you were going to leave us alone!

Stick: I’ll leave you alone when I die. I don’t leave my family.

Stick flew off in the helicopter.

Kai: He never leaves you alone.

Terra: Well, that was fun. I think we got cursed.

Kai: Yeah. So uh, wanna get high?

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

Terra took a puff of a blunt. She coughed.

Terra: How do you like this?

Kai: First time is always weird.

After a little while they both were pretty smoked out.

Terra: You ever sparred while doing this?

Kai: Are you tryin’ to challenge me?

Terra: Yeah! Let’s go.

They both squared off. Terra did a sliding kick at Kai. Kai jumped above her and kicked her in the face. Terra threw a lazy uppercut. Kai got hit. They both threw a roundhouse kick at the same time, and collided shins. They both fell on the ground holding their shins.

Kai: fuck.

His words were drawn out.

Terra: You should make those glasses into awesome sunglasses…

Kai: Sunglasses are pretty cool. Say it with me. Mari...juana.

Terra chuckled

Terra: Mari...juana.

Kai: No, you’re saying it wrong.

Terra: No I’m not! Mari...juana!

They both laughed.

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

Terra and Kai both woke up in the morning. Terra had a headache.

Terra: What the fuck happened last night?

Kai: Don’t worry about it. I think I got you addicted.

Terra: I’m fine. That was pretty fun though.

Kai: Your eighteen, you can make your own decisions.

Kai passed Terra a water bottle. She took a drink.

Terra: Well, I wish you luck with your glasses or whatever.

Kai: Yeah sure, thanks. Uh, good luck with whatever you do.

Terra grabbed her bag and waved goodbye to Kai. She walked out the door.